MISSING PROJECTS: Buhari to return 2016 Budget to NASS

C M Y K

PAGE 2 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 3

C M Y K

PAGE 4 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016 — PAGE 5

Alamieyeseigha laid to rest amidst tears

By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio

T

EARS flowed freely, yesterday, as the first civilian governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was laid to rest at his Amassoma country home in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan led prominent Nigerians, including his wife, Patience; Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Alli Modu Sheriff; A former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, his wife, Olu- Acting BoT Chairman of funke, flanked by their children, cutting the cake to celebrate the 60th PDP, Alhaji Jibril Aminu; birthday of the former governor, at his Sagamu residence, last Wednes- Senator Godswill Akpabio; day.

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State; a former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido; and a former governor of Taraba State, Rev Jolly Nyame, to the ceremony.

Others include former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, Senator James Manager, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, Professor Kimse Koko,Prof Lawrence Ekpebu, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Chief Uche Secondus, deputy governor of Delta State Amos Utuaro and his Nassarawa State counterpart.

A major highlight of the funeral was the reading of

Saraki alleges plot to sponsor protests against him •Says some politicians desperate to remove him as Senate President

BY HENRY UMORU, ABUJA

S

ENATE President Bukola Saraki said, yesterday, that some politicians were plotting to remove him from office.

Part of the plot, according to Saraki, is sponsored protest marches and demonstrations in which some hired people would be giv-

en placards to disturb public peace.

A statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said: ‘’The Office of the Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has uncovered a plot by some politicians to sponsor protest marches and demonstrations in which some hired people will be

given placards to disturb public peace.

“As part of the plan, they are already distributing money and other materials to some civil society organisations, market men and women associations and other shadowy groups with a view to instigating demonstrations in Lagos, Abuja and Ilorin starting from Monday, April 11.

“They believe that the on-going trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal provides them the opportunity to stampede Dr. Saraki out of office so that their defeated objective of getting their lackey into the office of Senate President will be realized. This is another desperate move by

these spineless politicians to achieve through the back door what they failed to realize on the floor of the Senate.

“We are alerting members of the public to the antics of these desperate politicians which may result in the breach of public peace, order and health. Dr. Saraki is a peace-loving and law abiding politician”.

Missing projects: Buhari to return 2016 Budget to NASS

*Lagos-Calabar N60 billion coastal railway removed *Idu-Kaduna rail line cut by N8.7 billion *Major federal roads slashed *Polio eradication, essential drugs for HIV/AIDS expunged *Agric/water resources re-allocated to constituency projects that provisions for major na- Team, it was discovered that

By Soni Daniel

RESIDENT Muham P madu Buhari appears set to return the 2016 Budget to

the National Assembly to rework because what the lawmakers sent to him on Thursday for assent, according to Presidency sources, fell below his expectations.

By implication, Buhari will not sign the Appropriation Bill into law, as earlier planned, before jetting out of the country this weekend to China for economic and business deals for Nigeria.

The sources confirmed to Sunday Vanguard that the President felt disappointed

tional projects and programmes that could turn around the economy were either outrightly removed or funds for them ridiculously slashed by the lawmakers.

It will be recalled that, in a bid to urgently assent to the bill, which was transmitted to him on Thursday, the Presidency had convened an emergency Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Friday where the document was distributed to Ministers to review as it affected their respective ministries, departments and agencies.

At the review meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is the Head of the Economic

many strategic projects were either removed or provisions made for them significantly slashed to the point that made a mockery of the projects.

Among the key projects removed from the budget by the lawmakers are the all-important Calabar-Lagos coastal rail line for which Buhari had made a provision of N60 billion in the 2016 estimates.

Incidentally, the railway project is one of the key issues taking Buhari to China.

While that was removed, the lawmakers left the Kano/ Lagos railway project untouched but also went ahead to reduce the amount set aside for the completion of the Idu/Kaduna railway project, which has reached an advanced stage of completion, by N8.7 billion.

A top government official, who was privy to the fiscal document, summed the discoveries in the budget that shocked Buhari this way: “At the meeting, it was noticed that some very key aspects of the budget, which have to do with government’s core infrastructural focus, were removed. One of the projects is the subject of the President’s trip to China – the Lagos/ Calabar coastal railway project - for which a counterpart funding of N60bn was provided, but which was completely removed by the National Assembly.

“The executive is working on two major rail arteries,

among other rail projects, to service the northern and eastern parts of the country – the Lagos/Kano line and the Calabar/Lagos line.

While the Lagos-Kano provision was left untouched, the Calabar/ Lagos line was removed. The projects are to be funded jointly by governments of China and Nigeria.

It is one of the main reasons for the President’s scheduled trip to China.

“Also, the amount proposed for the completion of the Idu/ Kaduna rail project which has reached an advanced stage, was reduced by N8.7bn, a development which will make it difficult for the project to be completed”.

The source added that another fundamental area noticed in the document was the completion of on-going road projects.

It was learnt that while the executive had provided for the completion of all major road projects across the country, the National Assembly reduced the amounts provided and instead included new roads which studies have not even been conducted.

The source lamented: “The amounts provided by the National Assembly for the projects can neither complete the on-going road projects nor the new ones proposed. At the end of the year, no progress would have been made”.

According to the source, a top Presidency official, allocations for the purchase of essential drugs for major health campaigns like polio and AIDS for which the store is fast depleting, were removed and the amounts allocated to provision of ambulance, which the health

ministry did not ask for.

“It was also observed that certain provisions made in the areas of agriculture and water resources to further the Federal Government’s diversification project were either removed or reduced while the funds were moved to provisions of rural health facilities and boreholes, for which provisions have been made elsewhere,” the official said.

“The President is desirous of signing the Bill into law so that implementation of the provisions could begin in earnest for the benefit of the people. That is why the moment he received the document on Thursday, a meeting was convened for Friday to immediately start work on it”, the source concluded.

the emotion-laden latter of a former Delta State governor, James Ibori, to the Alamieyeseighas.

Jonathan, in his remarks, described death as a necessary end that will come, adding that the circumstances surrounding Alamieyeseigha’s death left a bitter taste in the months of Ijaw people.

Captured Boko Haram leader bombed UN Hqtrs, murdered nine expatriates — DSS *Accuses IPOB of abducting five Hausa-Fulani in Abia

T

HE Department of State Security (DSS) alleged, yesterday, that arrested Boko Haram Deputy Commander, Khalid Al- Barnawi, was responsible for the bombing of the United Nations (UN) building in Abuja, on August 26, 2011 and the attack on troops in Okene, Kogi State, while in transit to Abuja.

The suspected leader of ANSARU, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, according to the DSS, was also responsible for the kidnapping of two European civil engineers in Kebbi State in May, 2011, and their subsequent murder in Sokoto State.

DSS, in a statement by Tony Opuiyo, alleged that the suspect planned and executed the kidnapping of a German engineer, Edgar Raupach, in January 2012 and the kidnapping and murder of seven expatriate staff of Setraco Construction Company at Jama’are, in Bauchi State in February, 2013.

The DSS also alleged that the Service had uncovered the role played by members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), in the abduction of five Hausa-Fulani: Mohammed Gainako, Ibrahim Mohammed, Idris Yakubu, and Isa Mohammed Rago, at Isuikwuato LGA in Abia State.

Abuja council polls: Residents shun elections to queue for petrol *Tight security, low turnout By our reporters

T

HERE was strong security presence in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as voters cast their votes for candidates of their choice in the Council chairmanship and councillorship polls.

At the Garki Area 10 headquarters of the FCT INEC, there was massive security presence as Sunday Vanguard counted up to 10 pick-up patrol vans loaded with stern looking police officers made up of counter-terrorism officer, MOPOL and anti-bomb units providing heavy security into and out of the commission’s office.

The FCT Commissioner of Police in charge of the elections, CP Foluso Adabanjo,

who monitored the polls and security arrangement, warned politicians to play by the rules.

At the Garki Model Market, over 2,000 voters had registered and cast their votes by 12 noon when Sunday Vanguard visited the polling station located there. Ditto for the Area 7 traffic junction interception where several voters heaved a sigh of relief about the new INEC system of accreditation and voting simultaneously.

A drive round the Abuja city center, however, showed that the turnout was relatively low but peaceful as many prospective voters preferred to drive their cars to filling stations to queue for petrol rather than vote. The presence of officers of the police, Civil Defence Corps and the Road Safety Corps was highly visible.

PAGE 6—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016

From left: Mr Tony Agenmonmen, 1st Vice President & Vice Chairman, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria; Mr Yaw Nsarkoh, Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc; Mr Ganiyu Koledoye, President &Chairman, Governing Council, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria; and Mrs Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe, Brand Building Director, Foods, Unilever Nigeria Plc, during a courtesy visit by executive member of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria to Unilever Nigeria Limited, last Thursday. Photo by Kehinde Gbadamosi

From left: Olusola Teniola, 1st Vice President, Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria, ATCON; Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Communications; and Kamar Abass, CEO, Ntel, at a reception organised in honour of the minster by ATCON last Friday, in Lagos.

GOtv Airs Cooking Shows, new series on Zee World

BLOODY RAID IN OGUN

Smugglers injure four Customs men, snatch three rifles*NCS says three suspects arrested

By Daud Olatunji, Abeokuta

P

ANDEMONIUM broke out in Ilashe in Ipokia local government area of Ogun State when some suspected smugglers reportedly chased some officials of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and injured four of them.

The officials of the NCS were said to have been hospitalised following the serious injuries they sustained in the clash while others were said to have fled the scene.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that, the incident occurred when some Customs officials stormed a warehouse in Ilashe and reportedly broke into the

warehouse and attempted to evacuate bags of rice suspected to have been smuggled into the country.

But the people of the area resisted, leading to a gun duel between them and the Customs officials. In the process, four of the Customs officials were seriously injured.

The affected officials were also said to have lost their guns while their colleagues fled the scene.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that three rifles were snatched from the affected customs officials.

It was further gathered that the rifles were later dumped in the premises of the palace of a traditional ruler in the area,

Oba Olurotimi Fagbenro, who handed them over to the Customs in the state.

Confirming the incident, Customs Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abubakar Uthman, said his men were waylaid by suspected smugglers and attacked four officials.

Uthman said the Customs seized eleven motorcycles, 250 bags of rice during the raid while three suspected smugglers were arrested and have been handed over to the police for investigation.

Meanwhile, Governor Ibikunle Amosun has charged men of the NCS to curb smuggling and ensure that international borders in Ogun are ef-

FG to end monopoly in oil & gas logistics supply •Customs set to look into laws

By Emeka Anaeto and Naomi Uzor

T

HERE are indications that the Federal Government would review the laws and other directives guiding private sector operators in the maritime logistics services to ensure level playing field.

This followed series of complaints trailing alleged monopoly and domination of the sector by one of the leading operators.

Jagal Group, owners of Nigerdock and Snake Island Integrated Free Zone (SIIFZ), one of the major operators in the sector, said uneven playing field had existed for over 20 years, adding that it had driven away investments from Nigeria.

Speaking during a visit of the Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Col. Hameed Alli

(retd), the Chairman of Jagal Group, Mr Anwar Jarmallami, said the Nigerian economy was being sabotaged by the monopoly.

He noted that the monopoly had used a non-existent law to justify the claim that all oil and gas cargo

must first be discharged at its port of preference and that the monopoly had consistently used this non-existent law to coerce the industry and service providers into doing its bidding and thereby undermining the economy.

fectively manned.

The governor, who gave the charge when the management team of the Customs, led by its Comptroller General, Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), paid him a courtesy visit at his Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta office, said this was necessary in order to raise adequate revenue for the country.

Amosun said Ogun is strategic for the success of NCS because it is the state with the highest number of land borders in Nigeria.

Apart from that, he said Ogun is home to the highest number of industries in Nigeria.

“It is so important for the Customs to be alive to their responsibilities. If the economy must be active, then the Customs must be active,” Amosun said.

The governor also spoke about how the construction of the Ilara-Ijoun Road, a 110km highway being built by the state government, will go a long way in helping the Customs in doing its job.

This is because the road runs through the four local governments in Ogun West, the area bordering Republic of Benin.

Ondo is a success story — Mimiko

O

NDO State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has ascribed the tremendous success recorded by his seven - year-old government to its taking off with the determination to address the day-to-day concern of the people because of its conviction that government is about the people.

Mimiko, who made the submission while addressing a large crowd of the youth wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in

Akure, the state capital, yesterday, said, aside making tremendous impact in all sectors of the state economy, including health, education, agriculture, infrastructure and rural development, the government has been receiving encouraging comments following success being recorded in its quest to create jobs for the youth through agriculture.

He cited the agro had business cities across the state, chicken processing plant, cocoa revolution

scheme and the cassava farm projects as some of the government’s initiatives through which many youths in the state had been gainfully engaged, insisting that his administration had retooled to show the people that governance is about them.

Mimiko submitted that he had really worked for the people of the state as he promised during his electioneering campaign when he said “I will work for you”.

C

UISINE shows from India and other parts of the world have been earmarked to air on GOtv this month. The programmes include The Great Indian Kitchen, Healthy But Tasty and Course with Pankaj on ZeeWorld Channel 25, while Funny Cooking with Spongebob will show on Nickelodeon, Channel 62.

Also, a new series, East Meets West will premiere Monday 28 April at 9pm

on Zee World. East Meets West is a story based on the lives of two grandsons of a Punjabi family (The Singhs) from Delhi, who get married to girls that are culturally and geographically poles apart.

One hails from a small town in Punjab, while the other is a foreigner, who has been brought up overseas. The story takes many turns - romantic, emotional, dramatic and purely funny when the two girls start living under the same roof.

Mark celebrates 68th birthday with Agatu victims, urges aid for them

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

S

ENATOR David Mark, yesterday, marked his 68th birthday with the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Agatu local government area of Benue with a plea to corporate institutions and non-governmental organizations, NGOs, to come to the aid of the IDPs. Addressing the IDPs at the Aila community where he distributed relief materials to the inmates, Mark said spending time with

them gave him a sense of fulfillment “because I have devoted the rest of my life to serve God and the less privileged in the society.”

Represented by his wife, Helen, he said, “I identify with you . I share in your pains and frustrations. But don’t lose hope. Help will come your way.

“Nothing can be more fulfilling for me on my birthday than bringing joy and relief to you in Agatu.

I will do whatever I can to improve your condition.

The situation is not palatable but there is hope.”

Online media boss warns against unverified reports

By Yinka Ajayi

C

HAIRMAN, Associa tion of Online Media Practitioners of Nigeria, AMPON, Wole Arisekola, is displeased with the way some media houses publish stories without proper investigation.

He voiced out his frustration when a newspaper published what he described as falsehood on Mahmood Ahmadu, as being one of those being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the immigration recruitment that led to loss of lives under the last

administration.

Arisekola, who is also the publisher of Street Journal, an online news magazine, said, “Contrary to what was published in the said newspaper, Mahmond is not wanted and is not on the wanted list of Interpol and the Metropolitan Police”.

He added: “Findings by The Street Journal indicated that at no time has the Interpol declared Ahmadu wanted or invited him for interrogation of any kind contrary to reports that he was being sought to answer questions regarding immigration job tragedy’’.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 7

Enugu government, Fulani herdsmen raise committee to curb criminality, violent clashes ULANI herdsmen and F Enugu State govern- dial relationship with the “We are all witnesses to ment, yesterday, agreed to cattle breeders and curb the rising wave of undesirset up a committee to foster peace between host communities and herdsmen and also to curb criminality suspected to be perpetrated by herdsmen.

The decision was the outcome of a meeting between herdsmen and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu.

Ugwuanyi, who played host to the herdsmen operating under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, South East zone, explained the reason for the meeting, saying it was to forge a cor-

frictions between them and their hosts, especially in view of the recent clash between Fulanis and the people of a community in Awgu council area of the state.

The governor told them: “This meeting has been summoned essentially for purpose of entrenching peace in Enugu State. It will, however, dwell on recent happenings in the State which are not only posing a significant threat to peace and the security of lives and property but are also threatening to spiral out of control.

able incidents and criminal activities in the state particularly kidnapping, armed robbery and clashes between Fulani cattle rearers and farmers in some rural communities in Enugu State.

“We are aware that such incidents are currently promoting a sense of insecurity and restiveness among our people and if not promptly and effectively checked, could lead to a breakdown of law and order as well as, avoidable but potentially lethal clashes between groups or communities in the state”.

From left: Mr. Jeff Corey, Chief Operating Officer, Seven Energy; Ms. Funke Amobi, Head, Human Resources, Stanbic IBTC Bank; Ms. Amina Oyagbola, Human Resources/Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria; and Mr. Oshiomha Irumekha, Area Head, Talent and Organisational Effectiveness, British American Tobacco, at the HR People Magazine Award Night in Lagos.

$40m pipeline contract: My story, by Robert Azibaola

By Soni Daniel, Abuja

R

OBERT, the Managing Director of Kakatar Construction and Engineering and Oneplus Holdings Nigeria Ltd, in this piece, speaks on his detention by the EFCC. Excerpts: “I was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on March 23 in respect of my company’s dealings with the Federal Government.

It is a fact that in 2014 government was in dire strait over its revenue shortfall as a result of massive crude oil theft onshore and offshore in the Niger Delta and urgently needed to shore it up.

At that time, the single most significant threat to our national security, apart from Boko Haram, was the theft of crude oil worth billions of dollars.

Efforts by the government of the day then to deal with the situation, using conventional security solution, were were not working. Some of the security forces were suspected to be hands-in-glove with the oil thieves.

The Federal Government was, therefore, left with no choice but to fashion out alternative ways of dealing with the situation.

It was at that point that I met with the then General Owoeye Azazi (a former National Security Adviser, NSA), and his successor, Col Sambo Dasuki, to explore ways of dealing with the decline in revenues of the Federal Government.

I had been involved in the Niger Delta having been the leader of the NDHERO and doing extensive environmental and humanitarian work in the Niger Delta long before this newbrand of militancy, economic sabotage took roots.

Indeed, the goal of government in dealing with the

challenge posed by oil thieves was both shortterm and long-term. The long-term plan, which involves building a state-ofthe-art security infrastructure, was to be implemented over three to five years.

This project, the Command and Control Centre, is currently being executed by Israelis.

The short-term plan was a local initiative which I was requested to handle.

It was a highly classified security assignment which involved great risks to personnel to deal with alternative ways of demobilising criminal elements standing in the way of government revenues.

The initial discussion was for $60 million operations over a six-month timeframe. However, they eventually agreed to start off with $40 million, with 10% honorarium (that is, $4m) to be paid at the end of the operations to Oneplus Holdings, my company. The $4m honorarium is still outstanding even after the assignment had been successfully executed and which had significantly improved the revenue profile of government by at least a billion dollars in additional revenue.

However, on January 21, I was invited by a contract verification committee of the NSA. I honoured the invitation and explained the nature of the assignment which the company handled for government.

Surprisingly, on Monday, March 21, the EFCC invaded my office and took away the Senior Finance Manager, Mr Ndubuisi Dike. EFCC invaded my home same day at about 8pm when my family was asleep and demanded to open the door or they break it down. They threatened to arrest my wife and take her away that night.

On Wednesday, March

23, my wife and I honoured the EFCC verbal invitation based on several pleas on the night of the invasion that we would voluntarily appear. Since then, the company’s Executive Director in charge of Projects, Mr. Dakoru Atukpa, and I have been dumped in the EFCC detention without charge or bail and requesting refund of the $40m which has been expended for the assignment and from which Nigeria has reaped ten-fold benefits.

Mrs. Helen Mark, wife of Senator David Mark, yesterday, presented gifts to members of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Agatu to celebrate the 68th birthday of the former Senate President.

Varsity students protest killing of colleague in Ondo

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

H

ELL was let loose, yes terday, following protest by the students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko of Ondo State over the death of their colleague, Daniel Afolabi The deceased was reportedly knocked down by a vehicle.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that Daniel was a 200level student in the Department of Economic Education of the institution.

He was knocked down on the Owo-Ikare Expressway on Friday night and died while he was being rushed to hospital.

The death of Daniel sparked off protest as the students blamed the school authority for not providing adequate facilities in the

school ambulance.

The angry students who barricaded the Ikare-Owo Expressway prevented movement on the highway, thereby causing traffic gridlock for several hours.

Bonfires were also made by the protesting students on the expressway The spokesperson for the university, Sola Imoru, denied that the students were protesting

Group faults Senator Olujimi’s Bill on gender However, the Bill, accord- not aimed at promoting

By Ben Efe

T

HE Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill, sponsored by Senator Abiodun Olujimi, had the potentials to legitimise abortion, if passed into law by the National Assembly, a group, Foundation for Africa Cultural Heritage and the Civil Society of Nigeria, has claimed.

The Bill was sponsored by Olujimi, representing Ekiti South, but it was thrown out for lack of merit on March 14.

ing to FACH and the CSOs, is still been dressed up for reintroduction to the Senate. It is also incompatible with the language of the Convention on the Right of the Child CRC (1989) and in particular the language of African values, and in particular with the language of African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (1981) which upholds the human rights of both the child and the mother,”the group said.

It argued that the Bill is

This is not the change we voted for, Kano residents tell Osinbajo Kano economy”, “This is not

By Abdulsalam Muhammad, Kano

V

ICE President Yemi Os inbajo came face to face with placard-carrying residents of Kano, yesterday, saying “This is not the change we voted for”.

against the school management.

Imoru told Sunday Vanguard that they were protesting against the killing of their colleague who was knocked down by a reckless driver.

The incident occurred around Yoruba Road by Court Road Sabon Gari quarters where he inspected projects.

The crowd displayed placards with inscriptions, “We are suffering”, “Non-availability of fuel is crippling

the change we voted for”, “Baba Buhari, come to our aid”. The protesters were dispersed by security operatives.

Meanwhile, Osinbajo carried on with the inspection, accompanied by his host, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

equality between men and women, promoting economical, political and cultural empowerment of women, but to incorporate and enforce in Nigeria the provisions of the Africa Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women 2003 otherwise known as the Maputo Protocol.

“The Bill has no respect for the religious and philosophical convictions of the Nigerian people. Clearly sections 3(b) (c), 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 14, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24 should be expunged from the Bill. Section 7 promotes gay practices and gay marriage in Nigeria in violation of Same Sex (Marriage) Prohibition Act 2014.

“Sections 12 (c) and 17 (e) of the Bill seek to legalize abortion in Nigeria contrary to the Nigerian laws and the religious, cultural and philosophical convictions of the Nigerian people,”it added.

PAGE 8 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016 dark days of senseless rancour as the constitution of a Tenders Board for a N150 billion bond proposed by the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, ended in fracas. In Edo, lawmakers went physical on each other, in June 2014

Let’s remove fighters from our legislature

T

he latest incident of fighting in a House of Assembly took place last Monday when Nasarawa State legislators engaged themselves in a free for all fight inside what is often called their ‘Hallowed’ Chambers.

According to media reports, the “lawmakers punched each other while glasses were shattered, tables and chairs were also upturned in the violence that engulfed the House for hours. Some legislators sustained injuries during the violence while some had their clothes torn.”

Although a school of thought to which the Nasarawa Deputy Speaker belongs imagines that the trend is a global phenomenon in which legislators often disagree to agree, the development is certainly worrisome and condemnable. Indeed, juveniles are not likely to approve of such a bestial inclination. The House itself showed that it deprecated the despicable

act hence it suspended those it felt were involved. How we wish it didn’t happen.

Unfortunately, it has always happened everywhere and every year in Nigeria since the nation’s return to democracy in 1999.

In 2002, for instance, legislators loyal to the multimillionaire businessman and leader of the Anambra Peoples Forum (APF), Emeka Offor, and supporters of the then Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju were on December 24 engaged in a brawl inside the Anambra state House of Assembly.

The bone of contention was the presentation of the state appropriation bill. Similar acts of hooliganism prevented the Ogun State House of Assembly from official business for not less than 6 months during the administration of Governor Gbenga Daniel. As if to establish that it is their area of strength, unruly Ogun lawmakers in March 2013, took the nation back to the PhD,Depar tment of Philosophy, University of Lagos 08116759758 opuruiche2000@yahoo.com

An unbeliever's interpretation of Easter (4)

O

ver 99.9 percent of Christians are unaware of the numerous books left out of the New Testament, including the Gospels of Mary Magdalene, of Philip, and of Barnabas. In its embryonic stages, Christianity was a chaotic movement, with different sects declaring each other heretics, which led to periodic bloody confrontations.

Emperor Constantine of Rome, a brutal and bloodthirsty misanthrope, was instrumental to the crystallisation of Christianity by changing profoundly the course of its history.

Indeed, Constantine influenced the selection of books that ultimately became the New Testament. During Constantine’s reign, the major dispute among Christian apologists was whether Jesus was God. Whereas followers of a priest named Arius asserted that Jesus was not God, that God created him.

However, Bishop Alexander affirmed the divinity of Jesus by claiming that he had existed throughout all eternity. Constantine was irked by the unnecessary turmoil generated by a minor theological storm in a teacup.

Therefore, as a proactive measure to prevent escalation that might disrupt peace and unity in his empire, he convened, in 325 A.D., the Council of Nicaea. Bishops and leaders of different

Christian sects were invited.

The amorphous group of attendees included the educated and illiterates, hermits and zealots. M. Biagent, R. Leigh and H. Lincoln report, in their illuminating work, The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail, that the Council established the date for Easter. Rules were formulated which codified the powers of Bishops, thereby making possible the concentration of power in the hands of ecclesiastical authorities. Most crucial of all, the Council of Nicaea decided by vote, 218 against 2, that Jesus was God, not a mortal prophet. Some Christian apologetics claim that Emperor Constantine did all this because he was genuinely converted to the fledgling faith called Christianity. But there is evidence that even before his purported conversion, he was an initiate of the cult of Sol Invictus, or the Invincible Sun, and acted as its chief priest throughout his life. For political expediency, not piety, Constantine introduced unchristian practices into Christianity, which modified and facilitated the spread of the latter. Four years before the Council of Nicaea met, he decreed that the sacred day, “venerable day of the sun,” Sunday, must be observed as a day of rest. Previously, Christians had adopted Saturday, the Jewish

The nation needs to put in place a system that can remove fighters from our legislature to where they can be useful as they tried to enforce the suspension of some of their colleagues Benue and Plateau legislators have in recent times showed that they too believe in the culture of fighting. In June 2015, the defection of a member, Nick Eworo from the PDP to the APC which made the latter claim the leadership of the House triggered the free for Sabbath, as sacred. For the cult of Sol Invictus, the most important day in a year is December 25, the birth (or rebirth) of the sun, which is now the canonical Christmas.

Until the fourth century A.D., Jesus’ birthday had been celebrated on January 6.

From the foregoing, it is clear that the most important components of orthodox Christianity are thoroughly soaked in paganism which was rampant in the defunct Holy Roman Empire.

Now, to the plausible phenomenology of the personage named Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospels. At the outset, we must accept the honest admission of scholars such as George Brandes, Joachim Kahl, Alfred Reynolds and others that, based on historical sources, we know extremely little about Jesus. Believers who dogmatically assert the historicity of the New Testament, particularly the four Gospels, are simply naive and pathetically ignorant.

The New Testament, as it exists presently, is essentially a product of 4th century editors and writers who are custodians of the emerging Christian orthodoxy with vested interests to protect.

Reconstructing a historical Jesus from the Gospel narratives and very scanty direct evidence of his existence has been a tantalising challenge for researchers. But, according to Prof. J.D. Tabor, Joseph, to whom the already pregnant Mary (Miriam or Maria) was betrothed, could not have been the biological father of Jesus. Tabor mentions the historical possibility that Tiberius Julius Abdes Pantera, a Roman soldier, perhaps a Jew from the North of Galilee, was Jesus’ biological father. No one knows precisely what became of Pantera. There are indications that Jesus had four half-brothers and at least two half-sisters, may be not

all fight in which every type of weapon was in use. One month later, the sitting of the Plateau state House of Assembly was disrupted when lawmakers physically attacked each other before the commencement of the session. Journalists later gathered that the content of the day’s ‘order paper’ was the issue at stake. Painfully, why an issue cannot be discussed for the majority opinion to carry the day without fighting remains a puzzle. It is indeed heart rendering that even the National Assembly often degenerates into the uncivilized culture of being unruly. When a group led by Dino Melaye, now a senator, called for accountability from the leadership of the House of Representatives in July 2010, he and his team were thoroughly beaten as shown on national television as if it is easier to fight than to account for stewardship.

In June 2015, our Representatives once again exchanged blows over leadership tussle leading to the disruption of plenary.

This time, the fighting took place in the presence of some secondary school students who were on excursion to the National Assembly. The issue at stake was whether or not to allow Yakubu Dogara to become the Speaker. Whether fighting is the best way to deal with the subject is a question which cannot be answered simply by looking at the issue at stake. There

is the persuasive perception that it is time for Nigeria to take another look at the quality of its legislators.

When in 2012, business mogul, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim lashed out at our lawmakers over the way they handled the investigation of ‘Air Nigeria’, he was not only an angry man but one that was sure “some legislators behave as if they are not educated.”

We obviously need to review the provisions of Sections 65 and 106 of our constitution which say any Nigerian citizen who has been educated to “at least school Certificate level or its equivalent” can be a legislator, both federal and state. Which school does the constitution have in mindcould it be primary? What is its equivalent? We imagine that our political elites see this as a loophole to sponsor their cooks, drivers and messengers into our Houses of Assembly. While there, for want of enough intellect to make a point, they spoil for a fight whenever anything against their principal is mentioned! All that the ‘Oga at the top’ needs to do to keep them doing his bidding is to monetize their thoughts. In Taraba for example, an achievement which Speaker Haruna Gbana of the House of Assembly amplified for 2008 was that state legislators were sponsored to 68 foreign trips in the year.

For the poorly educated, that appears sufficient to blindly fight the cause of the Oga? Last Monday’s barbaric

show in Nasarawa is one too many of unacceptable lawmaker behaviour matched only by the fight in the Rivers State legislature in 2013 where it was extremely hard to convince anyone that the dramatis personae were legislators and not hoodlums. That has been the quality of our legislators since 1999. Even in a state like Enugu regarded as generally enlightened, two legislators were removed from office “over habitual drunkenness, lawlessness and persistent improper dressing to the sittings of the House.” The two legislators from Enugu South who had served as Deputy Speaker and Minority Leader respectively were sent on indefinite suspension according a statement by the then clerk of the House, J. C. Ani. It is time to address the issue and our well behaved legislators ought to take the lead if they do not want the bad eggs to destroy the legislative arm of government. The nation needs to put in place a system that can remove fighters from our legislature to where they can be useful.

From the Rivers and Nasarawa episodes alone, I could see on television excellent long and high jumpers as well as boxers who can, without coaching, win for Nigeria, several Olympic medals. Surely they would do better in sports than lawmaking.

from Joseph (who probably died childless) but from Clophas, Joseph’s brother.

Jesus was raised in a very humble background. Some New Testament scholars have challenged the widespread idea that Jesus was a carpenter because his father was one. Prof. Tabor used the

so-called lost years of Jesus, some Oriental traditions state that Issa or Jesus left his family at the age of thirteen, when an Israelite should take a wife.

He travelled with some merchants to Sind so that “he might perfect himself in the divine word and study the laws of the Great Buddha.” Jesus became an itinerant religious teacher in Jewish lands. He selected twelve disciples to accompany him, comprising mostly the uneducated who were engaged in menial trades. From the outset, Jesus restricted his preaching to the Israelites (Matt. 10: 5-6; 15: 24, 18:17). He claimed that he did not come to abolish the Mosaic or Jewish law but to fulfil it. Jesus preached some ideas and lived in a manner that deviated from orthodox Judaism. For instance, he abandoned the Jewish reluctance to eat, drink and keep company with sinners and publicans who were considered unclean by the faithful. He paid little attention to ritual, ceremonies and outward display of religious piety. Jesus discouraged public worship, ostentatious fasting and almsgiving. Probably, he disliked institutionalised religion, preferring that believers should seek the kingdom of heaven that is within them (Luke 17:21).

Scholars are agreed that the accounts of Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate in the Gospels are not historically credible.

They are the products of a later Christian theological tradition that sought to ingratiate Roman authorities by putting the blame for Jesus’ painful death on the obduracy of the Jews so that the new religion can survive in a hostile environment. Although no one knows the true details of the trials, it is highly probable that Jesus was condemned to death as a rebel and pretender to the Jewish throne. He was put to death by crucifixion, one of the most

shameful forms of execution and the most popular way the Roman government dealt with political offenders.

Christian bigots can insult those who question the veracity of the Gospels as much as they please. But as an attentive student of critical thinking, I must work within the parameters of a scientific world outlook. A woman cannot get pregnant, let alone produce a male child, unless her egg is fertilised by a y chromosome-bearing sperm from a male. Thus, Jesus had a human father. Aside from cases of human error, clinically dead persons do not rise; therefore, the idea that Jesus resurrected after three days in a tomb is out of the question. Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Islamic sect, Ahmadiyya, in his book, Jesus in India, argued that Jesus recovered from his ordeal during the crucifixion and went to India in search of the “lost tribes of Israel,” where he eventually died at a ripe old age with his grave located in Srinagar, Kashmir. But Prof. Tabor reports that Ahmad’s theory is not backed by reliable historical sources.

To sum up: scholars who devoted themselves to New Testament research, not ignorant and knuckle-headed bigots ready to pounce and abuse those that do not share their antiquated superstitious views about Jesus, accept that the Gospels are overwhelmingly theological documents, not veridical historical accounts of actual events. No one knows who wrote them, and the names they bear were invented by the writers who compiled them to project a religious worldview.

Until Christians realise this, and deemphasise those aspects that are too mythological to be objectively true, Christianity would continue to be weighed down by repugnant and arrogant self-indulgent irrationality.

Concluded.

Jesus’ ministry ended abruptly when some of his enemies brought him before Roman authorities for trial on charges of sedition

Greek word, tekton, which means a builder, labourer or stoneworker to describe Jesus’ vocation. In addition, a tekton was like a day labourer who had no land and worked on whatever was available without any security or guarantees. Echoes of the lowly origin of Jesus was reflected in the Gospels’ stories about him buttressing his teachings with allusions to daily labourers that either worked in vineyards or did menial job in construction sites. Jesus was baptised in line with Jewish tradition, a ritual meant to indicate purification and religious devotion. The New Testament is silent about the life of Jesus from around his twelfth year to the time he was baptised, which occurred at the beginning of his ministry.

Meanwhile, although there is no consensus among New Testament historians on the

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 9

SocialEtiquette With Janet Adetu

info@etiquetteconsortium.com JSK Etiquette & Image Training Janet@JSKEtiquette JSK Etiquette Consortium

In The Gym Etiquette (Part 2) 4. Mats, Steps & Weights Use and Replace y favourite gym time is when I am in an aerobics class that involves everything from dance aerobics to body basics, step aerobics and abdominal exercises. In the course of the class there is always a need to bring out the steps and mats for the final cooling

M

down exercises. It really beats me when the class is over and some women simply leave there steps and mats for who to clear I continue to wonder. The etiquette of using the gym is to have respect, kindness and consideration for all those around you. Apart from these items being a hazard left on the floor it is inappropriate not to place them back to where they were obtained from.

Not many people are into the use of weights but for those who enjoy using them as part of their exercise routine returning them back is essential.

5. Cell Phone Phobia It is interesting when you see a lot of people attached to their phones almost

expecting it ring every minute. I know for those of us with small children it may be difficult sometimes as you have to constantly be on the alert. The truth is if you miss a call or a text or even a message surely life still goes on, it is simply not a do or die affair if you do not or cannot respond immediately. When you decide to engage in healthy exercise for the day consider this what I call me time.

Entertain no interruptions until you are completely done, trust me others will eventually know when the best time to call you would be.

The other day I was in the gym, a young lady on the next cross trainer received a loud phone call, she allowed her phone to ring for longer than necessary considering where she was, this in itself was a huge disturbance. Before we knew it her hello was so loud we all automatically turned in her direction. Not minding any of us or the privacy of her conversation she maintained her loud tone of voice throughout till she completed the call.

Now that was quite unruly with so much disregard for fellow gym users.

To avoid damaging your

image I suggest that for security purposes keep your phone intact and out of sight, it is not unusual for phones to go missing in gyms.

6. Dress to impress Some people find the gym an excuse to go bare, but how bare should you go?

Because it is a gym you really do not want to be wearing clothes that are too thick or baggy. In choosing gym wear look out for the right fit. Some people wear gym wear a size too small and end up revealing way too much.

Your gym wear should be stylish, try to colour coordinate from top to bottom to portray a good image. It should be comfortable and clean.

Don’t wear gym clothes more than once, especially

if you have previously sweated in it, this is not hygienic and is a clear image killer. Somehow I still see women wearing blouses, casual trousers and flats to the gym, some wear bedroom scarves or nets, some even come braless. It shows they have just jumped out of bed without a second thought,

worn the nearest thing and headed straight out for the gym. Some women even after taking a shower spend more time and detail wearing makeup and lots of perfume to the gym.

What is your mission for going to the gym?

Follow the gym dress etiquette guidelines below when going to the gym:

1.

Wear mainly lycra wear to the gym (elasticated easyfit) 2.

Trainers are best footwear for comfort 3.

Wear a sports bra for better support during exercising 4.

Medium to long gym trousers are better when using equipment that involve sitting.

5.

Beware of wearing shorts in the gym or hot pants 6.

Avoid wearing your glasses to the gym you don’t need them.

7.

Socks is a must inside your trainers for better grip and to avoid the aftermath of too much feet sweating.

8.

If you are having a bad hair day wear a sports cap.

9.

M i n i m a l jewellery is expected at the gym.

10.

Always tie your hair back from your face to maintain concentration.

11.

Carry a sports bag and not a designer bag to the gym. Leave all valuables behind.

12.

Invest in different gym wear of various colours

Watch out for the final part of this series.

ONDO 2016: We need administrator, not politician to succeed Mimiko — Group

BY DAYO JOHNSON, AKURE

A

HEAD of the 2016 governorship election in Ondo State, a non-governmental organisation has called on the people of the state to vote for an administrator and not a politician to succeed Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

The group, under the auspices of Ondo Technical Working Group, in Akure, urged the people to present credible candidates in the poll.

The Head of Research

Department of the group, Mr. Kolawole Johnson, said Ondo needed an administrator to be the next governor, irrespective of his political party.

The group reasoned that such a person will not spend all the resources of the state on politics at the expense of good governance Johnson said, “Politicians of today have not been able to practice the politics that gives credence to good governance, instead, they go after their immediate interests and those of their groups . “ This has made the

masses to be at the receiving end of their selfaggrandizing politics thereby denying the governed dividend of democracy and good governance”.

Describing politicians as those who could sacrifice good governance on the altar of political interest, Johnson said there was need for the people of Ondo to learn from past events and shun politicians who offer them money to buy their votes during the election.

Onuesoke pledges total support for PDP

D

C M Y K

elta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has pledged total support for PDP in Delta State.

He made the declaration during the burial ceremony of the mother of a member of the House of Representatives, Chief Solomon Ahwinahwi in Olomu, Delta State. He affirmed that come rain come shine, he was willing to stick to the party in the state for the next eight years.

“I cannot decamp to any other party even if all PDP members in Delta State decamp to other parties. I, Onuesoke, will remain the last man standing for the next eight years because of the ideology and leadership quality of the party. I cannot shelve my membership of the party in the next eight years because of the five-point agenda of the party,” he said.

He said the PDP in the state had done enough to deserve his loyalty noting that in terms of road construction and infrastructural development, Delta State was among the fastest in the SouthSouth region.

10 — SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016

VANGUARD PERSONALITY AWARDS

•From left: Chief (Mrs) Oprah Benson and Dr (Mrs) Iyabo Foresythe •A cross section of Eze Ndigbo of Lagos.

•A cross section of Obieziokwu Ndi Igbo Na Mushin Cultural group, Lagos.

• Mr Tunji Olugbodi, MD, Verdant Zeal (left) and Mr Emeka Nkwocha, Vanguard Advert Manager

•Mrs Titi Jolaoso, Financial Controller, Vanguard Media Limited (left), and Mrs Omasan AmukaDudu, AGM Admin / Legal.

•From left: Mr. Louis Odion, a former Commissioner for Information, Edo State; Mr. Emeka Ogwu-Oju, of the South East, South South Professionals of Nigeria, and Victor Ifijeh, MD, The Nation Newspapers

From left: Mr. Eniola Bello, Managing Director, This Day Newspapers, Mr. Kayode Komolafe, Deputy Managing Director, Thisday Newspapers, Mr. Feyi Smith, Executive Secretary, NPAN, and Mr. Eric Osagie, MD, The Sun Newspapers.

•From left: Barr. Bisi Idaomu, Zemaye Okediji and Grace Egbagbe

•From left: Erelu Dosumu-Abiola; Aremo Olusegun Osoba, a former Governor of Ogun State; Mr Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman, Thisday Newspapers; and Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016 — 11

VANGUARD PERSONALITY AWARDS

Faces at the 2015 Vanguard Personality Awards ceremony held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, on Friday.

Photos by Joe Akintola (Photo Editor), Kehinde Gbadamosi, Lamidi Bamidele, Bunmi Azeez

•From left: Dr Oba Otudeko,Chairman of the Occassion;Prince Dayo Adeyeye, a former Minister of State for Works, receiving the Vanguard Personality of the Year Award on behalf of Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan,and Mr Sam Amuka,Chairman of Vanguard Newspapers.

•Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State (left) with Aremo Olusegun Osoba, a former governor.

•From left: Prof. Chris Nwaokobia Jnr, DG, Change Ambassadors of Nigeria [CAN]; Sir Kenny Okolugbo, a former DESOPADEC Commissioner and Lady Amaka.

•From left; Mr Jide Ajani,Sunday Vanguard Editor; Mr Peter Okhiria, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Edo State; and Rev Udo Ubot, Vanguard Chief Sub Editor.

•From right: Mr. Ladi Balogun, Group Managing Director/CEO, FCMB; Chief (Mrs) Onikepo Akande, OON, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and her husband, Chief Adebayo Akande.

•An Igbo masquerade performing

•From left: Jenny Oloye; Mr Sunny Ikhioya; his wife, Ibukun; Mr Tony Edo; his wife, Moji; Mrs Harriet Ogbodine and her husband

•A cross section of Yoruba cultural troupe.

•From left: Mr Arinze Anapugars of Globacom and Mr Onuoha Ukeh, Editor, Daily Sun Newspaper.

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR JULIANAH OSIBERU The funeral service for Chief (Mrs) Julianah Mogbonju Osiberu took place at St John's Anglican Church, Ijoku, Sagamu, yesterday. Photos by: Biodun Ogunleye & Wunmi Akinola.

•From left: Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Chief Donald Duke, a former Governor of Cross Rivers State; and Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi.

•From left: Chief Ajibola Ogunsola, Mr Bola Adewale and Mr Nari Gwalami.

•Mr Gbenga Adefaye, GM, Editor-in-Chief,Vanguard (left) and Mr Joseph Makoju, a former MD, NEPA.

•Aremo Olusegun Osoba (left) and Otunba Niyi Adebayo.

•From left: Bishop Emmanuel Adekunle, Aremo Osoba and Otunba Adebayo.

•Chief Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, Deputy Governor of Ogun State (left) and Chief Duke.

•Dr and Chief (Mrs) Yemi Ogunbiyi with Engr Oluremi Osiberu.

•From left: Oba Adeniyi Sonariwo, Akarigbo of Remoland; Oba Adewake Osiberu, Elepe of Epe Sagamu; and Olori Olubukola Osiberu

From left: Seyi Abegunde, Mrs Yinka Ayanlaja and Dr Lai Ogunbiyi.

C M Y K

•From right: Pastor Isola Sillo, Mrs Toun Sillo and Alhaji Salihu A.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 13

Boulos discontinues Piaggio 3-wheeler production

B

T

HE Nissan X-Trail has undergone a fundamental makeover, departing from the utilitarian vertical styling and off-road bias of old to Nissan’s contemporary DNA codeveloped with Renault to give the more than a decade old SUV a car-like structure with curvy body and accurate cross-over styling.

Redesigned from ground up to accommodate seven seats, the new model crossover X-Trail replaces not only its predecessor but also the Qashqai+2, which somewhat describes how important Nissan feels about its new offering.

The new X-Trail now looks more sophisticated with exceptional high tech-savvy and quality cabin with a large body that delivers decent space too.

While the radical departure from conservative body SUV shape and utilitarian feel may spark contention among a few previous generation fans, this new package would no doubt appeal to a broader spectrum of buyers.

Nissan says the arrival of this new X-Trail variant which

Makeover that turned X-Trail into class benchmark shares common basic architecture with the Qashqai is intended to fill out Nissan’s crossover range and sit triumphantly at the summit of the Crossover – SUV segment where the Qashqai had until lately stand out.

Compared to the old X-Trail, the new model is much more focused on road performance than off-road prowess and it shares platform (RenaultNissan common module) with the Qashqai though has extra ground clearance to glide over bumps effortlessly.

Also added is the new XTrail’s all wheel drive set-up which is an adaptive 4X4 system that can switch between fuel-saving front wheel drive, automatic mode, and send drive to the rear wheels under hard acceleration or in slippery road conditions, or in 4X4 lock mode which is ideal for the worst weather and off-road situations.

•Mr. Ahmed Abdu, Acting Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (left) and Mr Sandeep Malhotra, CCO, Kia Motors during a courtesy visit to the DG in his office.

C M Y K

And unlike the Qashqai which comes with a simple torsion beam rear axle in two wheel drive guise and a multilink set up on the 4X4, the al new X-Trail modes gets a sophisticated multi-link rear suspension.

The steering similarly feels fairly light with excellent oncentre feel and responds predictably when turning into corners, implying you don’t have to constantly correct the angle when going straight thus making highway journeys an

easy task.

The new X-Trail is 100mm longer than its predecessor; wider and taller and of course one of the biggest cars in the medium-sized SUV class. Its 4,640mm length compares to the 4,524mm of Ford Escape and 4,690mm of the Hyundai Santa Fe and of course tallest in the group at 1.710mm.

Its 4,640mm length compares to the 4,524mm of Escape and 4,690 of the Hyundai Santa Fe and of course, the tallest at 1.710mm.

OULOS Enterprises Limited, BEL, has announced that during the coming weeks it would wind down and finally cease its representation of Piaggio India in Nigeria, supplementing instead the production and introduction of a move into 4 wheeler vehicles designed specifically for the emerging corporate passenger and commercial Nigerian vehicle market. Boulos Enterprises Ltd., who have been responsible for successfully establishing Piaggio in Nigeria over the past six years, has chosen to move away from tricycle passenger carrying vehicles, as it does not see a long term future in this mode of transport within Nigeria. Further BEL, who has been the only tricycle importer to assemble from full CKD, will commence assembly of a soon-to-be announced 4-wheeler from SKD form in support of the Nigerian Automotive Policy.

BEL is also the only importer who fabricates a range of cargo bodies, custom built for individual corporate customer requirements, thereby adding local content in support of the new Government’s policies.

BEL will continue to support their corporate customers with tailor made transport solutions. Additionally as long as there is a requirement, BEL will continue to stock, distribute and sell genuine Piaggio spare parts.

It should be recalled that while representingPiaggio in Nigeria BEL have trained over 800 mechanics throughout the country.

BPP thumbs up Kia assembly plant in Nigeria

U

NITED Vehicles As sembly Limited, UVAL, local assemblers of Kia and Renault brands in Nigeria, recently played host to officials of the Nigerian Customs and the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP at its plant along Oshodi Apapa expressway on the same day but different schedules.

The duo were on fact finding mission to the plant to ascertain their claim of being local assemblers of Kia and Renault brands in Nigeria. While the Nigerian Customs was accompanies by the Director, Policy and Planning, National Automotive Design and Development Council, Mr. Mamudu Luqman to the UVAL plant, the Bureau of PublicProcurementcameasatwo-man delegation.

Speaking during the visit of the Nigerian Customs officials, Mr. Mamudu Luqman of National Automotive Design and Development Council said, “There were insinuations that this facility doesn’t exist and this is why we brought the Ni-

gerian Customs to see what you are doing.

Mr. Sandeep Malhotra Kia Motors Chief Commercial Officer gave the visitors a low down of what the company has been doing at the plant before conducting the visitors round the plant.

Said he: “We have embraced the Federal Government's auto policy because we believe it is a very good programme that will create jobs for Nigerians, and enable the company to assemble cars locally in the plant.”

According to him, over 4,500 Kia cars have been assembled in the plant so far, which is capable of churning out 27,000 vehicles annually.

The plant, he said, employed 300 young Nigerian university graduates and since its commencement of production the company has stopped the importation of fullybuilt Kia vehicles.

"Presently, we don’t import Kia vehicles into Nigeria as a fully-built

unit ,but rather as kits which we assemble here with young Nigeria university graduates, who have shown competence in car assembling", he said. Though, he noted that the present inactivities at the plant was as a result of their inability to source foreign exchange since December last year and low sales, he disclosed that the company spent huge fund in setting up the plant which he said could attain a 90 percent local content mark with time.

He, however, regretted the influx of used cars into the country, saying that it would not allow the locally-auto assemblies cars to develop. The delegation from Bureau of Public Procurement, commended the company for the huge investment and state of the art facilities at the plant. Led by Eze Obasi, Director in charge of Special Research, the delegation was impressed with the aspect of job creation, which it said has been one of the set goals of the Buhari administration.

PAGE 14 SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016

Night of glamour and glitz as Nollywood …dazzle on the red car pe carpe pett

I

t was indeed a night of glamour, glitz and high fashion as Nollywood stars and other entertainers stormed the prestigious Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards, which held yesterday at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The celebrities took turns to display their fashion and style on the red carpet. But the night belonged to the politicians and distinguished Nigerians who were celebrated for their selfless service to humanity. Leading the pack of celebrities on the night was actress Rita Dominic, who was dressed on light-green gown. Accompanied by her manager, Kelechi, Rita had a nice time out. Other celebrities in attendance were Cossy Orjiakor, Helen Paul, Mary Lazarus, Annette Cookey, Doris Simeon, Bukky Fagbuyi, Jude Orhorha, Imelda J, Princess Chineke, among others.

We present to you some of the dazzling highlights on the red carpet.

•Rita Dominic

•Efosa EfexIyamu

•Ejiro Okurame

•Princess Chineke

•Doris Simeon

•Deji and Yemi Adenuga

•Maleke

•Chizzy Alaichi

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP! C M Y K

•Sally Mbanefo

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 15 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

stars storm Vanguard Awards

•Cossy Orjiakor

•Koffi Ajololo

•Mary Lazarus

•Ndidi Obioha

•Mercy Mackjoe

•Oyomi Sabrin Furchner

•Tamara Eteimo

•Lilian Afegbai

•Franca Ogoke C M Y K

PAGE 16 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016

Some laws still allow men to beat their wives– Mrs. Duke, ex-Cross River

women do not have access or the resources to achieve.

First Lady

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

Mrs Owanari Bobmanuel Duke is a former First Lady of Cross River State. She is a legal practitioner, an entrepreneur, a certified mediation/dispute resolution consultant and a philanthropist. She is the Managing Partner of the Law Firm of Duke & Bobmanuel and Country Director of EMPRETEC Nigeria Foundation, a United Nations Centre for Trade & Development (UNCTAD) private sector support initiative to help Nigerians achieve higher levels of productivity and competitiveness among small and medium-scale enterprises, SMEs. In this interview, she speaks on the need to review customary laws, why federal and customary laws must address the rights of citizens equally and other related matters.

Excerpts: The exposure of several cases of child-abduction, forced conversion and coerced marriage has revealed the fault lines of religion and ethnicity that continue to bedevil Nigeria. In view of this, what would you say about the imbalance or gender disparity in Nigeria’s laws?

Nigeria as a country is relatively young. Our laws are work in progress. Some of these laws were enacted or promulgated under different norms, societal and religious sensitivities. As such, these challenges are tests that determine their adequacy and help in making a case for an update or outright repeal. There is a strong imbalance or gender disparity in certain pivotal laws.

The society and accepted norms at the time some of these laws were enacted are not what they are today. For instance, Section 353 of the Penal Code, which applies to the northern states, provides that an indecent assault against a man is a felony, punishable by three years in prison but Section 360 holds the same offence against female as a misdemeanor punishable with two years of imprisonment.

This sort of glaring imbalance tends to send the impression that women are inferior to men and questions the parameters the legislators who made the Penal Code used to reach such conclusions. Given the high rate of indecent assaults against women, which is definitely more than that of men, this distinction shouldn’t exist.

Don’t you think that with family formation in Nigeria, the issue of gender parity should be settled at home and not in the letters of the law?

I maintain that the first place to C M Y K

start the discussion on gender parity is in the letters of the law because if the law presents women as worthy of lesser vindication, it would naturally follow that the law enforcement efforts for these assaults, when reported, are likely to be less vigorous than if they were on behalf of a man.

Nigeria has also ratified a number of international conventions and regulations on gender equality and prevention of discrimination against women, both directly and indirectly. Article 2 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which Nigeria ratified, requires all signatories to condemn discrimination against women in all its forms, agree to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women, including to repeal all national penal provisions which constitute discrimination against women.

With this Convention, one would expect that we would review our local legislations with a view to addressing these gender gaps and discriminatory practices which create room that inhibits women.

Following this, we need to take a closer look at our customary laws, traditions and beliefs with a view to evaluating them carefully to ensure that, in all respects, women are treated with the same degree of respect as men, particularly with regard to female physical and mental safety because it is established

Irrespective of equality enshrined in the Constitution, you still have a Section in Section 55 (1d) of the Penal Code that allows the beating of a wife by her spouse for the purpose of correction

•Mrs Onari Bobmanuel Duke

that customary law is a mirror of accepted usages.

It (customary law) has flexibility and adaptability to changing circumstances, as one of its foremost features adapting it in line with best practices on gender parity, should not be a Herculean task.

The bill, titled, “Gender Parity and Prohibition of Violence against Women”, which was presented by Abiodun Olujimi, representing Ekiti South, has been thrown away by the Senate.

What is your view on this development?

We need to look at why the Senate threw out the bill and possibly go back to the drawing board to ensure that those issues raised are addressed.

In many instances, traditions and customs have been blamed as major stumbling blocks to the bill, which shouldn’t be. As I said earlier, culture is not stagnant.

This can be observed in different civilisations. What was the norm in my mother ’s and grandmother’s time is no longer the accepted norm today.

In my view, if there are cultures today that aid gender discrimination, I will join Justice Niki Tobi in referring to them as repugnant to natural justice, equity and fairness (as determined objectively) and these cultures and the parameters used to reach such conclusions should be re-evaluated.

I will like to reiterate that the conversation should continue. If the tempo is maintained, eventually the gender parity bill will be passed. I will like to believe that the legislature is open to further dialogue and consultations.

Nigerians should continue to debate gender parity and violence against women. With this ongoing conversation, with time, people’s minds, attitudes and beliefs, no matter how strong, will begin to change and what was accepted before will no longer be

the norm- the one culture adapts.

By the grace of God, at such a time, the bill will be looked at from a different perspective when it goes back for vote on the floor of the Senate.

Beyond the bill, what other gender-based issues do you think need to be addressed?

While the Constitution provides for equality and freedom for discrimination, there is the pivotal need to look at other laws directly or indirectly dealing with women.

For instance, irrespective of equality enshrined in the Constitution, you still have a Section in Section 55 (1d) of the Penal Code that allows the beating of a wife by her spouse for the purpose of correction.

Something like this is bound to continue because presently there are no laws that criminalise gender-based violence, while some federal laws condone such violence. Until 1999, a woman could not secure an international passport without the consent of her husband, regardless of her age or stature.

Under the Police Act, a serving female police officer may only marry with the consent of the Commissioner of Police if she has served for at least three years and her intended husband is of good character. No similar provision exists for male officers.

Under the Penal Code, a man may beat his wife so long as he does not cause grievous harm.

The grievous harm is defined as loss of sight, hearing, speech, facial disfigurement or life threatening injuries. However, outside of these injuries, there is a lot of room for a man to do grave damage to his wife particularly emotional and psychological damage.

These discriminatory rules need to be addressed by laws which can be enforced by the law enforcement agencies. They will provide quicker and more lasting solutions than recourse to the courts, which a vast majority of

If the aforementioned bill is passed, a widow in Nigeria would automatically become the custodian of her children in the event of the death of her husband, and would also inherit his property. What do you say about this?

Widowhood and inheritance are integral parts of our culture across the nation. However, the rules have changed in some quarters; thanks to judicial pronouncements and decisions.

There is a landmark case of Mojekwu and Mojekwu where the court clearly stated that women are not chattels to be inherited and they are entitled to inheritance.

The judgement did not stop there but went ahead to say that any culture that says otherwise is repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience and as such should be shoved aside.

From this background, the bill will be concretizing and ensuring a holistic acceptance of the above decision. I personally will not consider any contrary view as fair, just or equitable.

Given the way in which the potent mix of religion and ethnicity intersects with the Constitution, what is your advice to lawmakers in ensuring that abduction of teenagers for marriage is brought to an end?

The first thing is that we need to review our laws and assess what they address. There is also the need for our legislators to look at the spaces and loopholes that today need to be filled in our laws. We have a dual legal system in Nigeria- the federal law and customary law. We need to carefully ensure that there is a balance between the two recognized laws and address the rights of all citizens equally.

There is no definition of a child in the Constitution. What guides my definition is what paediatricians have defined it – age 18. Coincidentally, that is also the age of suffrage in Nigeria.

Clearly, the government and society must agree that persons under the age of 18 are children and cannot make important decisions. So the definition I draw from this inference is that any person under the age of 18 is a child and requires the consent of both parents to be married bearing in mind her best interest, growth and development.

With gender equality, we need to have more people join the conversation. Cultures adapt according to what society deems acceptable. The more people begin to believe that it is unfair for a girl to be abducted and married without her parent’s consent and the more people talk about it, the more the wheels will spin in the minds of many. This will cause people to re-evaluate their thinking on whether it is truly fair. That is how change happens. It is not by force, but by logic and conversation.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 17

Can a husband RAPE his wife?

R

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

D

espite her

extraordinary accomplishments, the founder of King's Daughters Agape Fellowship International, Bishop Alice Bonet, has remained humble, unassuming and remarkably approachable by women from all spheres of life.

She devotes more than 60 percent of her time and earnings to charity as she worries about the economic, spiritual and emotional well being of the downtrodden in the society.

Bishop Alice cannot imagine how a woman who is often known for strength, identity and bestowed with the magic wand of

Women are not subset but co-regent with men — Bishop Alice Bonet

womanhood will be deemed a burden when she is the one that does the cooking, cleaning and caring for family.

Knowledge on financial empowerment The mere thought of it ignites her to empower women through ministration and financial empowerment while she constantly refrains from believing that their existence is a burden.

The knowledge she shares may be basic by many women’s standards but she is making significant impact in the lives of the women especially the downtrodden.

The downtrodden, the Bishop refers to sections of the population who are subjected to deprivation relative or absolute in such matters as livelihood, employment, earnings, property, housing, minimum consumption and education.

The women thus become able to make informed decisions about their lives, their health and their relationship with God, she says.

Supportive husband She credits a supportive husband of 23 years, Bishop Zakka Bonet, president of Solid Rock Fellowship International, Abuja with whom she has five children for allowing her passion to empower women physically and spiritually under her ministry, King's Daughters Agape Fellowship International to flourish.

C M Y K

*Bishop Alice Bonet

Continuity Now 53 years, born in a village called Binichi in

Everything a woman does, she does with the best of their ability That is why l strongly believe that if you train or empower a woman, you are doing so for an entire family

Kara local government, Kaduna State, the woman of God vows to continue to help women with financial dilemas and all other domestic problems without the support or know-how to deal with these situations.

"I have discovered destiny and truly when one settles down to work in ministry, have the right perspective of the ministry and above all, not in a hurry to get rich, ministry is sweet. It is a school, it gives you the grace to teach people and learn from others in return."

God and women "I picked on women because I

believe God can do great things with women. Women are very delicate personalities that if you know how to handle them by God’s grace, they are the best instrument God use most of the time."

"Everything a woman does, she does with the best of their ability. That is why l strongly believe that if you train or empower a woman, you are doing so for an entire family. If a member of a family for instance wants favour from a brother, he goes through the wife or the mother that shows you the magic of womanhood anywhere in the world."

Going the extramiles Bishop Alice says she goes as far as gathering beggars on the street to counsel and empower them financially. "The spirit of God just led us expressly, go to the roadside and l did obeyed. I gathered them to my ministration and God did wonders. Some of them still come back every now and then for advice and solutions to needs."

Women and the ministry Bishop Alice also takes the women folk up by encouraging attending the theology school and being pastors if they have the calling to be.

“Many women are hesitant to step into a significant role of ministry because they honestly believe it is not their place to do so. They have previously understood that the Bible places great restrictions on their ministry in the church, and they sincerely desire to be obedient to God’s plan. They need the strong confidence of scriptural clarity to step out.

“God also assigned them joint responsibility and personal accountability. They were both given dominion; the woman was co-regent with her husband."

ape is defined as sexual intercourse without consent. Consent must be freely and willingly given and the woman must be in a position to give her consent. Does it apply in a marital relationship? Can a husband rape his wife?

In many African cultures, the bride price and dowry are vital aspects of the rites of marriage without which the marriage is not approved or is said to be incomplete.

Brides' families look forward to sending the "list" to the family of the prospective groom.

On the fixed date, the groom's family hands over the items on the list including the bride price and the girl is handed over to the groom's family. She now "belongs" to the groom and becomes his wife. Some would interpret this to mean that she becomes his "property", that he can have sex with when he desires. After all he has paid for her. In this context, a husband is said to have paid for his wife and she does not have an opinion when it comes to sexual relations. In other words, she cannot deny her husband sex. She cannot say No even if she is not in the mood. If he wants it and she is not in the mood, he has the right to take it forcefully. After all she is his property and by virtue of the bride price and dowry, he can have his way anytime, whether she consents or not. Is this rape? Can a husband rape his wife?

Unwanted sex in marriage Rape or sexual assault within marriage is not uncommon. Many women are survivors of sexual assault or some sort of sexual coercion by husbands or intimate partners. In private discussions, many wives have revealed that they had unwanted sex with their husbands because they believe it is their "duty" or because their husbands begged them or even bullied them. Some wives are even physically abused if they say No.. This is a form of domestic violence and women are afraid to speak out or are too embarrassed to speak out. The consequences are the same as rape between people who are not married. These wives suffer from depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), loss of trust, shock, anxiety and intense fear.

In a country without data and statistics, it is difficult to state the number of women who have faced this type of assault Marital rape can happen in any relationship. It can happen once or many times. It does not have to be violent or even physical. It can happen in a non violent relationship that is very loving. However it is more common in violent or abusive relationships. Where there is domestic violence, there is always the possibility of marital rape. If you are in a relationship, is your husband or your partner raping you?

Can a husband rape his wife? What do you think? Send your comments to lipstickmc@yahoo.com.

PAGE 18—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 08056180152, SMS only

How safe are your wife’s ‘platonic’ friends?

I

t is amazing the ease with which a lot of husbands condone their wives platonic relationship with virile male colleagues, friends and classmates.

What conceit makes the average husband think his wife doesn’t fancy having sex with other men especially men they already have platonic relationships with?

“Indecent Proposal” was a classic film that came out over 20 years ago. The film is supposed to make everybody ponder the question of whether a happy marriage could survive if a wife slept with another man just once and with her husband’s permission. for a million dollars!

In the film, a young middle-class couple, hit by the frustrations of recession in the States, went to Las Vegas to try to win the money to pay their debts. They lost, met a rich tycoon, accepted his offer of one million dollars in exchange for sex with the wife, believing it wouldn’t affect their marriage. The husband then decided he couldn’t live with his wife’s supposed infidelity even when it was with his consent. It almost destroyed their marriage.

The irony is that not many women these days need the bait of a million dollars to hop into bed with a desirable and ‘safe’ man. And who is safer than a platonic friend, trusted and approved by your husband, probably just as his wife trusts you?

The poser in “Indecent proposal” is the demonstration of the huge difference between men and women in their attitude to sex. Women

have long taken the view that sex is not the be-all and end-all in marriage, and that the occasional philanderer is by no means the worst thing a husband can do. We get worked up about the deceit involved in any extra-marital affair - what we feel we really want to know is how serious it is emotionally. In a sliding scale of marital sins, a one-night stand might rate far lower than an ongoing passion, for instance. And a deep platonic attachment, though never consummated, might easily be more threatening to marriage than a sexual fling; much more of betrayal.

Plenty of women have had to overcome the knowledge that their husbands have played around.

We are indoctrinated with the idea that the male biological imperative makes the poor things want to jump on top, of everything in sight, that we laugh rather than

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"

TRUE LOVE CRITERIA

True love passes all understanding.

condemn when husbands stray. But can a husband exhibit the same bravado when his wife samples the forbidden fruit? The cynical view would be that men are changing their tune on sex because more women have the freedom to play the same game and the men don’t find it funny.

For years, Hope a 35year- old mother, regarded Donatus a big slob. They are both married and live on the same street. Donatus was a classmate of Hope’s husband and the two families sort of hit it off when Hope moved into the street with her family.

“Donatus’s chambers is situated within his house,” Hope said, “so he was often around. I run a thriving supermarket from our house.

The whole of the groundfloor is used for that and some gift items. Dona.as he’s fondly called.and I see each other from time to tome and help with

taking the kids to school.

“It all happened when Dona wanted a few items of goods that were out of stock. So when new stocks were delivered, I took them round to him. His wife works for a big firm and was away at work on the fateful day. He wanted to heat his lunch when I came in and I helped him make something more exciting than the eba he wanted to make.

“As he ate, he told me how fed up he was with having to warm up his lunch most afternoons: we were sharing a bottle of wine and that must have loosened his tongue more than usual as he went on about how tired his wife always was after work and how their sex life was suffering. I tried to console him and he kept showering praises on me, what smashing meals I cooked, how concerned I always was about the kids’ welfare and how he wished he had a wife like me.

“The praises and wine

True love expresses loyalty.

True love hurts but can learn how to mend.

True love dreams the highest dreams.

True love waits until the stars visit the day.

True love seeks good for the other.

True love lends forgiveness.

True love cries but washes away the pains.

True love makes an ignorant boy a mature man.

True love softens the heart of a girl to a nurtured woman.

True love never lies.

True love loves a person until forever.

True love sees love even though the hair is grey And most of all...TRUE LOVE never

must have gone into my head as I thought I was sympathising with him when he hugged me and I didn’t move away.

I was surprised there was a spark between us.

He is a bit on the fat side with a beer-belly and pudgy checks, yet there I was aroused by h im.

Before I knew it, we were on the living room couch making love. And that was the ultimate surprise - he was a stud! Talk about a rough diamond!

“We have sex from time to time now and it’s actually very good. My husband ejaculates prematurely so Dona is filling a gap. But I’m not in love with him and we are still good family friends. I’ve always toyed with the idea of having a fling, but I’d thought if I did, it would be the average Mr. Charming with pots of money. How wrong can you get?

“Did I feel I’d betrayed my husband? Not in the least. As I said, the sex isn’t very hot with us and he now seems a bit relieved that I’m no longer nagging him on how long it was since we’d made love ... “ “There is no such thing as a platonic relationship between man and woman”, continues the critic. “A woman who says that she has this great friend who just happen to be of the opposite sex is kidding herself. If she doesn’t fancy him, he wants to get her knickers off. It may be platonic on one side but the other half is always angling.

“Every wife having affairs should be extremely careful about the repercussion of being caught. One basic reason why men will never be able to treat a

wife’s extramarital excursions with the same tolerance that so many women regard their husband’s philanderings is their damned ego. When a man has sex, he has the virtual certainty of orgasmic enjoyment, even if he doesn’t like the woman.

When a woman has sex, it might be wonderful or it could be awful - the range of possibilities is much wider.

“Men are obsessed with performance - their own and anybody else’s. The husband in “Indecent Proposal” was concerned not just with the act itself but whether, and how much, his wife had enjoyed it, that’s what he couldn’t stand. And he could never really know, could he?

Payback Time?!

(Humour) A woman discovered her husband had been cheating on her, so the next time he was off to the oil rig, she plotted her revenge. One mornmg, a parcel arrived for her husband containing a batch of home made cookies and video of his favourite TV programmes. “Oh great!” he said and invited his friends to come round and watch it with him that night after their shift had finished.

They settled down, watched the video and munched away at the cookies. However, an hour and.a half into the recording, it suddenly went blank and then a picture of his wife appeared giving his nextdoor neighbour a blow job. As he watched in horror, she spat the contents of her mouth into the cookies mixture, turned to the cameeria and hissed, “I want a divorce!”.

breaks promises, until the vow has been done in the Altar of Love,"Yes I DO!

CHRIS ONUNAKU 0 8 0 3 2 9 8 8 8 2 6 , 0 8 1 8 4 8 4 4 0 1 5 . dekris4real@gmail.com #KriSpiration2016.

I'm going to laugh

I am going to smile and make you think I am happy.

I am going to laugh,so you don't see me cry. I am going to let you go in style,and even if it kills me- I am going to smile.

Nosa Ogbomo despisco_4sky01@yahoo.com 07035148931

SUND AY Vanguard , APRIL 10 , 2016, P AGE 19 SUNDA

How to make a main meal of hors-d’oeuvre!

H

AVE you realized it’s when you are a bit low with a ‘there must be more to life than this’ feeling that fate deals you a really good hand? We recently got some training gadgets and I eyed the contraption suspiciously when the suppliers called. The gadgets were a bit hi-tech and Mike, one of the technicians had promised to be around to put me through. Oh! Heck! Did I have the time for some boring lessons I could do without? OK so the gadgets would facilitate training, but as I was thinking of passing the training over to one of the assistants when I saw the trainer! I’d pictured a balding, middle-aged man with a beer belly. But boy, was I wrong! The guy who was shown into my office was tall, slim with well-groomed hair. I was smitten! He looked a bit younger too, but since when had age been an issue?

In a few minutes, the gadgets were opened and the first lesson began. Soon the cocky bugger was leaning close over my shoulder, pointing out the necessary buttons and their applications. I tried all I could to concentrate and once in a while, he boomed encouragement at me. “You’re a natural... We should get over these in a week if you make such good progress .... “ During the lesson, he reached for the lever on one of the gadgets and his hand actually brushed my boobs! “Oooh, I’m so sorry!”, he apologized, not quite looking

crest-fallen. After an hour, the lesson was over. “See you next week”, he said with a wink. The lech! He didn’t leave any doubt that more interesting ‘lessons’ could follow.

The following week, Mike called that there would be a small workshop in his office for users and it would be to my advantage if I attended the next day as various other business matters would be discussed. I was free so I agreed to attend.

The workshop was a sort of discussion group of some few participants. Many of them couldn’t stop for refreshments and at one point, I was left alone with Mike who wanted me to hang around for more discussions. He sent for lunch

at a near-by restaurant. And what with the wine and the heavy chemistry between us, it wasn’t long before we were snogging on the settee in his office.

After that, one thing definitely led to the other and, skirt hitched. Mike virtually rocked my world! The spontaneity made it really exhilarating.

There was pure lust in Mike’s eyes and I left his office floating on air!

“Glad to see you’re getting the knack of this contraption”, my younger colleagues teased as I bashed away at the machines in the days that followed. I had to get the hang of things to justify the amount of hours spent on my ‘training’. Because,

for the next few weeks, Mike and I were making love virtually every week in his offlce, in my flat or his. His wife was away to spend a few months with the children abroad, and although I told him about my current partner, neither of us really cared. Sex with Mike felt so good to worry about a silly thing like a conscience. Afterall, this partner is player of sorts in the lust mine-field! Mike bombarded me with meals out and presents. Anytime things needed fixing at my flat, he was round like a flash. Lovemaking was there just for the asking! Heady stuff if you ask me!

Unfortunately, my partner met him at the flat twice and it was

now too close for comfort. Expert lover or not, it was time to say good-bye to Mike. “I cannot bear to see my man so suspicious”, I told Mike at the end of another mind-blowing ‘lesson’. I wanted him to beg me to stay. To say, he’d never had such great sex, and that he needn’t use my flat. Instead, he shrugged. “In two weeks”, he drawled. “My flat wouldn’t be free either. My wife is coming back”. It was then it dawned on me I was just one of many willing ‘learners’ eager to have fun with him on his stupid office settee. I was glad to have put a stop to the lessons and he must have been relieved too because when next the machines his company supplied needed servicing, Mike actually sent over a balding middle-aged man with a beer belly!

Did I regret letting Mike into my life? Not in the least! I can’t remember the last time I had such passion. It was too intense for it to morph into anything enduring. It’s like you’ve been sober for a while then get roaring drunk just to remember the sort of kick binge drinking could give. Would I do it again?

You bet! Life is too short, and once in a while when a horsd’oeuvre shows up, you gobble it up then go back to your regular, boring meals! It’s often been said that spontaneous sex could do you a world of good.

It’s certainly more rewarding than several sessions at the beauty parlour and gym - and it costs absolutely nothing!

08052201867(Text Only)

The Twist and Triangle Postures The Twist Technique itting down on your practice mat or rug with legs stretched out in front of you, bend the right knee and cross the right leg over the left thigh with the foot firmly planted down.

Now, bring the left hand to clutch the outside of the right thigh with the pit of the elbow against the right knee. Place the right hand at the lower back with the palm on lap.

Look over the right shoulder holding high the head and turn the trunk rightwards. Breathe deeply. Hold the pose for a slow count to 10 and repeat on the other side with similar arrangements of the hands.

Benefits: This posture helps with the lateral flexibility of the spine. It gives an effective massage to the abdominal, organs, that way improving digestion and elimination.

It also positively affects the kidneys.

The Triangle pose Technique: Stand with feets apart. Bend the right knee to waist level with toes pointing forward. Keep the left leg slanted with the knee locked. Keep the hands at shoulder level. Hold-up straight the trunk. Count to 10 and repeat on the other side.

S

Benefits: The triangle posture helps to keep the front thigh muscles in great tone. It can also check a stoopy trunk.

* The Twist

Yoga Classes STARTED Physical Therapy Centre

* The Triangle Pose

@ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

10.00am — 11.00am on Saturdays

PAGE 20 — SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016

How Obasanjo’s Govt Looted Abacha Loot (2) “EFCC now a toothless bulldog”, says Obasanjo.The NATION, March 6, p 1.

A

fter running down the EFCC on that day, Obasanjo heaped praises on the EFCC under his own administration and its Chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu. It is quite understandable that Obasanjo should be happy with Ribadu who, unknown to most people who still heap praises on him was mostly incompetent and might have committed treason. He was also Obasanjo’s protector; he averted his gaze from obvious misdeeds of Obasanjo, supported the third term agenda and hoped to be rewarded with his own second term in office. Before presenting the charges against Ribadu, there is need to continue the list of Abacha family loot forfeited under Decree No 53 of May 1999 and which were handed over to Obasanjo’s government by General Abubakar.

From Abacha’s National Security Adviser, Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo, the following assets were taken:

Plots 3 and 4, Queen Ida Street, Asokoro (two completed 6 bedroom duplex with a tennis court and swimming pool) and a 6-bedroom duplex in plo4; Plot No 1252, off Yakubu Gowon roundabout, Asokoro 6 No 5 bedroom duplex with boys quarters each; Plot 191, 199, and 208 along Shehu Shagari Way, Asokoro, No 4 6 bedroom duplexes, a completed storey building rented by the Syrian Embassy; A storey building under construction with 8 No 2 bedroom flats; Plot 444, Kontagora Close, Area 3, Garki, 3-storey house; Plot 488, Yabo Close, Garki II, complete duplex; Plot 273. Port Said St, Zone 4, Wuse, 2-storey house; Plots 577 and 578, Blantyre St, Wuse II, No. 4 storey houses of six flats each; large expanse of land in Wuse II, along Ahmadu Bello Way; Plot 2432, Ganges St, off Alvan Ikoku, Maitama, completed duplex; Plot No 9D, Civic Centre Road, Kano, glass front 4 storey building for commercial use; No 4, Dangaladima Road, Zaria and 10 per cent shares valued at $140,000 in West African Refinery, Sierra Leone.

Of Power,Oil and Dollars “Most leaders spend time trying to get others to think highly of them, when instead they should try to get their people to think more highly of themselves.It’s wonderful when the people believe in their leader. It’s more wonderful when the leader believes in their people. You can’t hold a man down without staying down with him. — Booker T. Washington Power,what power! nytime and I mean,any time of the day or night that I call my parents,they are usually in the middle of a power cut, or that the power has just been restored. My father then will scurry around to switch the generator off or on as the case may be.

So our conversation now revolves round power cuts and the effects of the power cuts have on other aspects of their lives and living. For instance,if it is too hot;and there is no power,the food in fridge is rendered inedible,the ironing, the cooking just forget about watching television and if you are lucky, it's better to buy a battery operated radio. At least, you can listen to what is

A

going on in the country .

If you are unwell and in hospital and there is a power cut,then you are on a wing and prayer. You can pray that there is a standby generator and hope that it would kick in once there is a power cut. Not sure there is a guaranteed as they have to queue for fuel like everyone else so you can only wonder how many lives have been lost as a result of the constant power cut. In fact,I would go as far as to ask,that before admission to hospital, ask if there is a standby generator and if it would kick in once there is a power cut.

There is no harm in asking?

This sustained power cut is reminiscent of the 2012 power cuts and now, this very moment,the people thought things would change with a new captain at the helm. The change that people prayed for, is not exactly what is happening. Yes, people have had enough or is it wrong to have certain expectations or should people not expect essential services to run as they should? Should people continue to pay for services that they do not receive regularly or it is too much to ask for?

From last week, readers would remember that Abacha held 30 per cent of the shares in the same refinery. So, 40 per cent of the shares of that refinery were forfeited to Nigeria in 1999 and handed over to Obasanjo. In addition to properties, Ismaila Gwarzo was also caught with tons of Nigeria’s money which were again handed to Obasanjo’s government. These include the following sums: N2,000,000, N139,051,033, authorization to collect $2,000,000 from Mr Gilbert Chagoury, N8,363,164,000 [that is N8.3bn+] and N247,903,491.

Altogether, even before Obasanjo got into Aso Rock, at least N30-50bn Abacha loot was waiting for him and till today he has not accounted for them.

Unfortunately for Nigerians, those were not the only Abacha loot for which Obasanjo had not accounted. There are many more than can be listed here. Let us now list some of the Abacha loot collected when Malam Nuhu Ribadu was Chairman. Please bear in mind when reading that the amounts to be quoted represent Abacha loot collected between 2004 and 2007 ONLY. Then, you would understand why Obasanjo loves Nuhu Ribadu who was a compromised bulldog. He never investigated what happened to those funds.

Permit me at this point to acknowledge the contribution of Sonala Olumhense, in providing some of these figures. The entire list of Abacha loot recoveries will appear in volume two of PDP: C O R R U P T I O N INCORPORATED. However, it will be necessary to bring in three other highly placed, formerly well-respected The black market is having a field day and are charging over the odds for those who are desperate to get their hands on the black gold.

Fights have broken and lives lost as a result of frazzled tempers queuing for petrol and shockingly,it seems that people take it in their stride as if it is the norm. This is not normal and it should not be the new normal.

Everyone is on the make and it has a knock on effect on everyone, including those who seize the opportunity to fleece their fellow Nigerians.

This is the land of the hustle and the joke's on us all.

We do not know how many lives have been lost as a result of the persistent power cut and there is no way of knowing because there is no constant power cut or process to collate the information. And at least the police can hide behind power cut and blame it on power cut.

The local traders are charging extra for their goods and of course, everything has become out of reach and beyond the means of the common man. Yes, and some blame it on the costs of the dollar! The market traders seem to know more about the economy than a lot of economists!

Then there is the fuel scarcity;the rampant and constant fuel scarcity means that people are queuing for many hours on end. Looking for fuel now is everyone's waking moments. One can only imagine how many man hours is lost in terms of the impact on the economy. The lives lost as people started to hoard petrol or fight to death

officials of that administration whose roles might not have been patriotic – Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Mrs Nenadi Usman and Professor Charles Soludo – Ministers of Finance and Governor of Central Bank respectively. Those three will need to tell us what happened to the loot recovered. For Okonjo-Iweala and Usman, their involvement in Jonathan’s mess represents the second time they would serve Nigeria badly by collaborating with presidents.

In August 2004 the Swiss government decided to return

Even before Obasanjo got into Aso Rock, at least N30-50bn Abacha loot was waiting for him and till today he has not accounted for them.

Unfortunately for Nigerians, those were not the only Abacha loot for which Obasanjo had not accounted. There are many more than can be listed here $500million [N65bn] of Abacha loot to Nigeria. A little over a year after OkonjoIweala announces that Nigeria has recovered $458million [N59.54bn] and about $2bn [N260bn] total assets.

In March 2007 Finance Minister said $2.5 billion recorvered funds were given to five Ministries – without the approval of the National Assembly and without being paid into the Federation Account to be shared by all three tiers of government. The Federal government was deliberately robbing the states for petrol and it is the poor that suffer the most.

It has caused a knock on effect on all walks of life,no one has been spared in the constant struggle to get fuel. Up and down the country,the generators are silenced(that's is partly a relief) as there are no petrol to feed the guzzlers. No electricity, this means no business for many small scale businesses and no business means no food and no disposable income. Nigeria is heavily dependant on fuel and

This sustained power cut is reminiscent of the 2012 power cuts and now, this very moment,the people thought things would change with a new captain at the helm.

The change that people prayed for, is not exactly what is happening it is seriously damaging the economy and the quality of lives of Nigerians; from health, work, cars, to transport for goods and to services to powering the generators that support households and businesses and right now, many are lucky if they get a few hours of electricity a day.

So here we are. Nigeria is the

and local governments under Obasanjo. Yet Nuhu Ribadu, Obasanjo’s favourite bulldog, saw nothing. In the June of 2007 Okonjo-Iweala disclosed at a lecture that between $3 and 5 billion was looted by Abacha in truckloads, with Chief Anthony Ani as CBN Governor.

To confirm what OkonjoIweala said, Obasanjo himself, during the campaigns for Presidential elections in 2007 had declared that the EFCC under Ribadu had recovered $5bn [N650bn then]. That prompted me to ask in an article published in NATIONAL LIFE, “Where is the loot?”

It is noteworthy that until they left office, neither Obasanjo nor Ribadu accounted for the $5 billion recovered.

Incidentally, the looting of the Petroleum Development Trust Fund, PDTF, by Obasanjo’s government, which was roundly condemned by a Senate Committee established to probe that account, was also glossed over by Ribadu. [See PDP: C O R R U P T I O N I N C O R P O R AT E D , Chapter 6 for a fuller account of how PDTF was raided]. The book had been in circulation for close to eight years and Obasanjo had not dared to challenge the accusations. He knows the truth; even if he pretends. And Ribadu as EFCC Chairman was a disgrace on these matters.

Show me your admirers and I will tell you who you are. Obasanjo called Justice Idris “stupid” for asking for the account knowing the man cannot reply. I will do it for Justice Idris. Obasanjo, for failing to disclose how he spent

over N650 billion Abacha loot, is dishonest.

Africa's largest oil producer and the fuel shortages has severely paralysed Nigeria, the giant of Africa and the largest economy in Africa.

The problem is, Nigeria does not have the capacity to refine enough of its own oil into fuel and definitely fails to meet the needs of its population of over 177 million people. Now we know that the companies that import fuel claimed,they have not been paid by the Nigerian government and they have simply done what they feel is their only choice; to cut supply and hold the whole of Nigeria to ransom. If this is the case,it is about time the Nigerian government pay the fuel importers and also reconsider the subsidisation of oil prices and should really start to consider the use of solar power and other alternative power source.

We need a long time plan as it is obvious that the bottom has fallen on the price of oil and the many of other oil producing countries are diversifying rather than rely solely on their oil or oil reserve.

Nigeria relies heavily on imported fuel for around 80 percent of its energy needs, and its refineries struggle to reach full capacity due to kickbacks, illegal bunkering,sabotage and poor maintenance.

Just like the other oil producing countries, Nigeria’s economy has been hit by a global slump in oil prices and the importers can not generate the dollars that is required to buy petrol and

the state oil companies are not able to exchange crude oil for gasoline. See, I told you that the market traders are attune to the price of the dollars .

The petroleum minister,Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, who also serves as head of the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is due to appear before senators to explain how his ministry intends to solve the problem of fuel scarcity. Kachikwu said he was not “a magician” and he has warned that the shortages could persist for the foreseeable future. He is rubbing salt into the wounds of ordinary Nigerians and he seems to be clueless as to what he should do to remedy this situation. The truth be told,Nigerians have always looked for a quick returns and this time, Nigerians have got to change their mindset. What Nigeria needs is long term investment and planning of the future.

This is too little, too late. The minister may be brutally honest but he has not said anything to say how his ministry plans to sort out the problem. What is needed now is more action and less pontification.The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) have blamed the leadership crisis on the present dilemma . So since PMB, was the the Federal Commissioner of Petroleum and Natural Resources, from 1976 to 1978, it would be prudent to sort out this mess out and end fuel scarcity and corruption.

BUDGET 2016: IS THIS ANYWAY TO RUN A COUNTRY?

“I have to look at the bill Ministry by Ministry to be sure that what has been brought back for me to sign is in line with our original submission”. President Buhari, Friday, April 1, 2016.

The President’s main objection was the absence of details by the National Assembly, NASS. Meanwhile other members are pointing accusing fingers at Senator Goje, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Appropriations for the omission. Goje and his committee members, in selfdefence claim, and quite rightly, that the budget sent to them was in a mess. A lot of figures don’t add up; they had to invite Ministers privately to amend the submission made by the Presidency.

More to the point, President Buhari seems to have so quickly forgotten that the budget he presented to the NASS last year excluded the details at the time. If the NASS had also taken the same position as he did, it is quite possible the budget would not have been passed until June. Buhari needs to be informed that the world is not waiting for him and Nigeria. He can take for ever if he likes; the world moves on all the same. Economic realities don’t respect presidents.

Finally, the APC controls the Executive and legislative branches; yet its leaders cannot work together on something as simple as a budget. Is this the change promised? Or, look we for another?

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016 PAGE 21

•Umar •Saraki

CCB/CCT/EFCC Vs SARAKI

A case of many parties •And why Buhari may hand PDP Senate presidency

By Jide Ajani

I

gnore the sentiments.

Relate with the facts. In what is turning out to be spectacular trial of Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the case of alleged false declaration of assets has become a case of Saraki’s alleged illegal acquisition of wealth, with many actors, from a section of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, and its Chairman, Danladi Umar, laying out different scripts. Yet, Buhari’s facade of not being involved or interested in the case - with its obvious incongruities and lapses - may end up handing the Senate presidency to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. With its less than pretty majority in the Senate, the permutation now is that some Senators in APC, who are themselves expressing discomfort at what is going on, may switch votes. This report examines the role of each party

(read actor) in this drama.

Saraki

Abubakar Bukola Saraki is the protagonist, the man in the eye of the storm. Since 1999, never has a Senate President come under this type of gloom.

And, in what had been a game of revolving chairs, a notorious tradition where previous Senate Presidents collapsed over mere allegations of whatever shade, Saraki is weathering the storm.

That his support in the Senate remains very strong shows that he must be loved by majority of his colleagues across party lines.

However, that he is standing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, creates a political discount and one which appears really daunting.

For a man who eyeballed the establishment in his party to win the Senate presidency, Saraki can be said to have inadvertently brought upon himself this crisis, knowing that he was going to be dealing with politicians with a large appetite for buccaneering.

However, at a time when the convention in saner climes suggests that a public office holder embroiled

in this type of controversy better serves society by resigning, the obvious political nature what is going on cushions and moderates the angst that Saraki should have naturally suffered.

EFCC (Lamorde)

This case seems to be a purely Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, case. The star witness is an EFCC official who repeatedly mentioned the former EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, while giving his evidence. It would have been expected that this should be an EFCC case before the law court - at least based on the drama playing out with the nature of evidence being given. So far, based on evidence adduced before the CCT, there is yet any matter concerning the violation of asset declaration directly; it is still all about wealth acquisition.

Interestingly, the current CCT Chairman was being investigated by the EFCC under Lamorde but is known to have been placed on administrative bail - since the story of his administrative bail came into public space, the CCT Chairman has not been known to deny it.

Lamorde, himself, has a damning

petition filed against him before the Senate by one George Uboh, accusing him of not accounting for about N2.5 trillion recovered from looters of the Nigerian treasury.

Curiously, in Saraki, both the CCT Chairman and the EFCC may have found an alliance of some sort.

FGN (SGF, VP)

The Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, is supervised by the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal and some senators have alleged that the SGF, based on political affinity and the interests involved, may not be unconnected with some activities to achieve the objective of punishing the man who embarrassed his political party.

As an avowed Christian leader, it is interesting that the VP is in a leadership position in an administration where travesty appears to be the order of the day regarding the goings-on at the CCB and the CCT. Were it to be VP Yemi Osinbajo’s days as Lagos Attorney

Continues on page 22

PAGE 22—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016

•Osibanjo

•Lamorde

•Lawal

A case of many parties Continued from page 21 General, a situation where a judge who is yet to vacate allegations hanging over his head and, who, interestingly, is still alleged to be on administrative bail from the anti-graft agency, is the one sitting in a matter involving the same anti-graft agency, Osinbajo would have made a profound statement with a view to bringing sanity on board.

Worse still, for the issue of not standing to be counted for equity in this matter, the ridiculous spectacle of a judge admitting that an earlier judgment he granted was done in error, makes it all the more curious that a respected SAN is the VP of Nigeria, where his administration has not seen any diabolical incongruity in what the judge admitted, and he is still allowed to carry on, speaks to the grand design at play.

Kwara State

Saraki was governor of Kwara State for eight years and, in the testimonies brought before the CCT, last Wednesday, the state and its government have been brought into the matter. Saraki’s alleged offences cover the period of his eight-year tenure as governor.

One way or the other, Kwara remains a party in the matter.

something a bit unthinkable and probably against convention. In the intervening period while Saraki went on the rigmarole before the Appeal Court and then the Supreme Court to challenge his trial before the CCT, Umar, as a judge, granted media interview putting up some defense for himself regarding the allegations hanging over his head.

Curiouser was Umar’s unashamed admission as a judge that a judgment he gave in 2011 was a wrong judgment. The question on the lips of the discerning is that were that judgment to have involved life, is that how he would have whimsically admitted that he gave a judgment in error?

Stemming from that, a more honorable action to have been taken, like Judge John Sirica, whose insistence on going beyond the surface, ended up opening up the Watergate Scandal, would have divorced himself from handling the matter because, in his own words, he “gave a judgment in error”.

That is not all. The drama at the CCT, since the case was brought before it, plays into the allegation that an agenda is meant to be actualised.

CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar

Danladi Umar is an interesting, very interesting personality, and he is the judge who himself is on trial. He is on administrative bail from the EFCC on charges of corruption.

Incidentally, the EFCC, which is investigating a case against the tribunal Chairman, is the one providing the star witness in Saraki’s CCT case.

Rotimi Jacobs, an EFCC prosecutor, is the one handling the Saraki case. Danladi Umar has several petitions filed against him at the House of Representatives and the Senate.

It will be interesting to see how his case turns out in the days ahead when he appears before the National Assembly where Saraki is Chairman. What that means is that Umar would likely, therefore, be standing to answer questions regarding the petition against him before the National Assembly.

But beyond that, Umar did

Danladi Umar is an interesting, very interesting personality, and he is the judge who himself is on trial. He is on administrative bail from the EFCC on charges of corruption

APC

Recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is the party in control of both Presidency and the National Assembly. It is a party whose principal member is being tried by other principal members standing as presecutors. It is a house divided against itself. This presents a clear case of how divided the party has become.

In the APC today, dogs are eating dogs. Some say it is because of 2019. Others say it is a case of sheer rivalry.

Some say it is a matter of clash of egos. Whatever it is, the Saraki case has serious implications for the future of APC and the Buhari Presidency.

Specifically, the admission

by Umar, that he gave a judgment in favour of Ashiwaju Tinubu in error, has opened a new front of conjectures. One is that because the North needed the support of Tinubu to build a coalition against the floundering Goodluck Jonathan, Umar let him go.

Umar, now admitting error, and in the face of the raw deal the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, wing of the ruling APC is being handed by the latter, may be signaling another way of attempting to go back and have something on the indefatigable APC leader.

Code of Conduct Bureau

The history of the CCB in the hands of Sam Saba, its Chairman, has been one that has not inspired too much confidence. Saba, himself, had been petitioned before by some staff of the CCB. After a series of horse-trading, involving a law firm hired by the group of staff who petitioned Saba, the petition was let go. In an interview with the principal partner of the Kano-based law firm, the particulars of the case were laid bare before Sunday Vanguard and it bordered on alleged impropriety.

The implication of this case, which is now being led by the EFCC, is that the Bureau has become a subsidiary of the anti-graft agency. It has an

investigative team that has not been allowed to carry out its duties. It is the EFCC that investigated the Saraki case, took it to the tribunal and provided the star witness.

Yet, some time ago, there were also a number of high profile politicians whom the CCB invited, following due process, and ended up resolving their issues. So, the question is, why didn’t Saba’s CCB invite Saraki as demanded by the law?

Senate

The defendant in this case is the presiding officer of the Senate. It is believed that the case came up at all solely because the defendant emerged as presiding officer of that arm of the legislature, instead of a preferred candidates. It is also believed that those who are at the fore-front of the institution of the case are also the ones fanning its embers.

But, incidentally, an overwhelming majority of the senators have continued in their resolute support of the Senate President, following him in their numbers every time he appears at the tribunal for trial.

Judiciary

Since the case began, it has gone through the whole gamut of the judicial process. It has gone to the Federal High Court where a judge withdrew out of curious allegation from some online media. Another Federal High Court judge also suspended judgment on the day he was to read his verdict, stating that he could not continue. Up till today, the judgment remains suspended.

At the Court of Appeal, a judgment was once arrested few minutes before its delivery.

Eventually when it was delivered, several weeks later, it was a split decision. The Supreme Court also gave a judgment that some criticized.

Many believe that the judgment of the Supreme Court has created a lot of precedents that will have serious implications for the nation’s legal processes in the future.

That the Supreme Court endorsed the short-circuiting of a process is in itself a grave danger to jurisprudence and democracy.

Media

A section of the media is now dictating to judges how to dispense justice. In a most interesting case, a prominent online newspaper reportedly intimidated a judge into withdrawing from a case brought before it by the Senate President on the day he was scheduled to deliver judgment.

On the eve of the resumption of Saraki’s cases after every adjournment, a particularly notorious medium comes up with stories targeted at truncating the judicial process or manipulating it towards the desired outcome of its alleged paymasters. How political some sections of the media have become has become more apparent in the course of this trial. The media sensationalism that has accompanied the trial has also thrown up a situation where even the prosecutor speaks in the tribunal room with an eye for what will be an headline catcher. That is to be expected because of the huge free exposure it provides. And it also does so much good to keep the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari on the front burner.

Public

The public is now so divided with diverse shades of opinions and commentaries on the Saraki trial. They are being treated as if they are gullible indeed, some members of the public are. Some of the titillating stories they are being fed with by prosecutors and the defense as well as a section of the media seems to suggest that there may be deliberate attempts to reach a determined end.

Rotimi Jacobs

Rotimi Jacobs plays the role of the antagonist as prosecutor in the Saraki case. The fate of Saraki at the CCT will rest on what facts he is able to present and what case he is able to prove. Interestingly, it is believed that he has done more as a willing performer before an audience of media spectators than dealing with the crux of his case at the CCT. Every time he speaks in court, he appears to speak with the media in mind leaving many to wonder if this is one trial anchored on real judicial substance or another overcelebrated media trial.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016 PAGE 23

BY SAM KARGBO

S

ome ten years ago, in January 2006, I wrote, in one of my newspaper columns,‘A Season’s Toast to ‘that average-sized man with the heart of a lion and the deeds of Samson called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who (was) playing the yeoman’s job of selling modernity to good old Lagos and setting it firmly on the path of global glory and esteem.

Up to 1999, Lagos was considered an ‘undevelopable’ city, its chaotic population and obscure growth pattern scaring even addicted optimists. The world’s record books depicted Lagos as a dirty, unplanned and bizarre city progressing into being one of the most populated cities of the 21st century. However, by the middle of Bola Tinubu’s second term as Governor of the state, Lagos was wearing a distinctive modern look and bringing home ‘the edifying fact that someone somewhere is working earnestly to make Lagos have a feel of modernity. It became unmistakable that someone is almost defying the laws of nature by bringing sanity and decorum to good old Lagos.’

That toast was concluded thus: From what Tinubu is doing with Lagos, it is certain that he is a good manager, user, protector and projector of power. He exemplifies the generation of politicians that realizes that Nigeria has a lot of catching up to do. He is himself a political dividend impacting the polity with a dynamic and revolutionary vision. Tinubu (I am told) believes in and works with experts who are themselves anxious to secure a space in tomorrow’s politics. I am also told that he empowers these young women and men adequately and that it is the combined output of his team that is making the wonders in Lagos. If the Tinubu metaphor survives 2007 and stays around with us for a handful of years, Lagos and indeed hardworking Lagosians would board the global train of sustained development and growth. It is because of this that I wish Tinubu and his team of technocrats a prosperous and revitalized 2006.

Publishing that eulogy at that time took more than courage and bravery. The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which had overrun the other states in the Southwest and diminished the hope of ascendancy of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the region, was breathing over Lagos. To many, it was only a matter of time for Lagos to fall and surrender to the federal might. To worsen matters for Tinubu, he was executing policies that jolted the elite and the middle class in the state. He was embarking on an aggressive internal revenue generation drive involving multiple forms of taxation.

Many of my friends believed that that article was too brazen and against the grain and groundswell of emotions and opinions at the time and would hurt me one way or the other.

However, I foresaw in Tinubu a functional hero with a better tomorrow. To me, anybody that lived or had visited Lagos before Tinubu’s tenure would realize that the progressive modernization of Lagos was‘a result of hard and well-reasoned work. It (was) an indication that all is not lost and that very soon the privileged young men adorning the political cloaks of the nation would realize that the destiny of the most populous black nation in the world is in their hands and, therefore, must brace up to face history with pride and dignity.’

You cannot, therefore, imagine how proud and gratified I am today. Ten years after that toast, Tinubu stands out as one of the greatest politicians and leaders of his generation. Many have gone to the extent of declaring him the greatest living politician in Nigeria. I am tempted to agree with them. Tinubu is phenomenal.

Through deliberate and well thought out policies and sustained hard work, he was able to put Lagos State on the path of sustainable development and growth. His choice of lieutenants and aides defines him as developmental-minded and meritdriven. He works with men and women of quality capable of adding value to his political profile. Unlike his contemporaries who worked with servants and surrounded themselves with praise singers, Tinubu has always been a leader of winning C M Y K

TINUBU AT 64 –Another Toast

teams. Because of his ability to turn around the lives of young men and women, he can be likened to a lion who leads 1000 sheep to defeat 1000 lions led by a sheep.

For emphasis, the direct beneficiaries of Tinubu’s benevolence include the following men and women (on the list of politicians and technocrats published by Jumi Rhodes in ¦ airaland Forum of 24th November, 2015): Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (Nigeria’s Vice-President, was Tinubu’s Commissioner for Justice); Mr. Babatunde Fashola,SAN (Minister of Power, Works & Housing, was Tinubu’s Chief of Staff); Dr. Babatunde Fowler (Former Lagos Tax Chief now Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS);Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos State Governor); Engr.Rauf Aregbesola (Osun State Governor; Ex-Lagos Commissioner for Works); Alhaji Lai Muhammed (Minister of Information, was Chief of Staff – Governor’s Office – during Tinubu’s 1st term); Mr. Dele Alake (One-time Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, for Tinubu); Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN (Ex-Lagos Commissioner, Special Duties); Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Minister of Solid Minerals; Former Ekiti State Governor); Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun State Governor); Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora; Senator Ganiu Solomon; Senator Solomon Adeola(former House of Representatives member now Senator);Senator Gbenga Ashafa; Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (House of Representatives member); Mrs. Kemi Nelson; Senator Babajide Omoworare; Mr. Ade Ipaye and Mr. Wale Edun.

The galaxy of stars who got their groove from Tinubu is unending, including people like Hon. Bamidele Opeyemi, through whom Fayemi got into the Tinubu kingdom; Mr. Ben Akabueze; Joe Igbokwe; Mr. Sasore; Femi Pedro and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

You may recall that at the time Tinubu was sworn in as Governor of Lagos State in 1999 the following were also sworn in as Governors of their respective states: Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State; Boni Haruna of Adamawa State; Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State; Chinwoke Mbadinuju of Anambra State; Adamu Mu’azu of Bauchi State; Diepreye Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa State; George Akume of Benue State; Mala Kachalla of Borno State; Donald Duke of Cross River State; James Ibori of Delta State; Sam Egwu of Ebonyi State; Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State; Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti State; Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State; Abubakar Habu Hashidu of Gombe State; Achike Udenwa of Imo State; Ibrahim Saminu Turaki of Jigawa State;

Ahmed Makarfi of Kaduna State; Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State; Umaru Musa Yar ’ Adua of Katsina State; Muhammad Adamu Aliero of Kebbi State; Abubakar Audu of Kogi State; Mohammed Lawal of Kwara State; Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa; Abdul Kadir Kure of Niger State; Olusegun Osoba of Ogun State; Adebayo Adefarati of Ondo State; Adebisi Akande of Osun State; Lam Adesina of Oyo State; Joshua Dariye of Plateau State; Peter Odili of Rivers State; Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State; Jolly Nyame of Taraba State; Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe State; and Ahmad Sani Yerima of Zamfara State. t is true that the Late Umaru Musa I Yar’Adua became President of Nigeria between 29th May 2007 and 5th May

2010, when he died in office. It is also true that the late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha’s then Deputy Governor, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan succeeded Yar’Adua and was president for six years.

But have those singular cases diminished who Tinubu is among his contemporaries and Nigerians as a whole? Who among his contemporaries and living politicians has empowered as many Nigerians as he has done?

Not wishing to talk about the dead, I pray that Jonathan will soon publish the list of Nigerians that he made and how he has made them. For Tinubu, his list of beneficiaries is verifiable. From entertainment to the media, from the hospitality business to real estate, from retail business to oil and gas, from socialites to professionals, from the streets to the entire corporate Nigeria, from culture to politics, from Nigeria to the larger world, the name Tinubu looms large. There is hardly any president or head of state in Africa who is not happy having Tinubu’s direct contact. Diplomats boast of having Tinubu’s telephone numbers or being one-on-one with him.

If Tinubu is involved in any case today, the best of lawyers in the country will fight over themselves to represent him, even for free. The reason is not that he is the richest man out there, but because he is proactive and strategic. He invests in institutions as much as he invests in humans. He builds goodwill by the hour and waits for tomorrow to call on it.

What also stands him out, and for which I admire him the more, is the fact that his catalogue of beneficiaries does not only include all classes of people but also cuts across all tribes and regions of Nigeria.

When the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, attributed his emergence as Secretary of

the Government of the Federation to Tinubu, many skeptics believe he was merely playing politics. For those who know Tinubu, there is no reason to doubt a thankful Lawal.

Tinubu is deliberate and painstaking in the aggregation of his political clout. He understands the ability of business to cement relationships. He does not restrict his business ventures to his relations and cronies. He transacts his business along strict business and corporate lines.

Because of his ability to spot and hone talents, he benefits from the aggregate of outstanding talents around him. He is a professional’s delight. With his pool of extraordinary talents and professionals, Tinubu is easily able to transverse the corporate and political climes with equal zest and dexterity. If Tinubu were to be an institution, he would have been an investment and development bank. He buys and invests in ideas. Most of his contemporaries have frittered their wealth and opportunities because of lack of inventiveness and unwillingness to invest in people outside their thin and unprofessional families. To my mind, any person who has held such a high office as that of Governor and still needs money to make money is a failure. Tinubu is making money by the day not so much with money as it is with his image and extensive influence.

Tinubu is feared by irredentists who consider his image to be too large for their comfort. They are fearful that if not pushed back he is capable of vanquishing their influence over the All Progressives Congress (APC) government. Others, however, are cashing in on the belief that Tinubu has invested too much in APC to be tempted to work against it. In the wake of the rift within the ranks of the party concerning the coup staged last year (2015) against the party by some National Assembly members, I interrogated a Senator – a former Governor – whom I know to be close to Tinubu and should be on the side of the party. He immediately confessed to me that Tinubu is justifiably angry with him but that the collateral damage of disappointing Tinubu was less than allowing the younger and inexperienced senators to take over the entire leadership of the Senate. Besides being modifiers, he and his friends must be in a position to mediate and reunite the two factions in the Senate. Senate President Bukola Saraki is a friend of his who knows him to his bedroom and village, and the relationship between Kwara and his state is one that foists on him a duty to act even in spite of himself. Besides, Saraki may not be exposed to the intricacies of politics enough to forgive him if he fails to identify with him at times like this. On the other hand, Tinubu is equipped enough to transcend temporary setbacks.

The Tinubu he knows will conduct his private investigation and discover that he and his friends, who may now look like traitors, are indeed sacrificing their personalities for the sake of the party. With such a narrow majority in the Senate, the chances of losing the leadership of the Senate to the People’s Democratic Party are real. They who are on the ground and are interacting with both sides can see the fine lines. While promising to meet Tinubu at the right time, when his anger would have subsided and when he would be in a position to listen to him, he concluded with a confident smile that Tinubu has worked and invested in APC to a point of no return. As godfather, Tinubu has no choice but to accept all and sundry at the crunch time.

I have accompanied him to Tinubu several times and have an idea of how much he respects Tinubu, who calls him a brother from another mother. Many may be bragging out there about the ability of APC to come back to power in 2019, but not many are confident that APC can do so without Tinubu, which is why I feel happy for the party when I saw everybody congregating including Mr. President around him to cheer him on his 64th birthday. On my part, I am proud to declare that before Tinubu became the Lion – Emperor or Jagaban – of Bourdillon, the Svengali of Nigeria, I had seen the lion in him, and I was the very first to identify him as a lion. That was one decade ago.

PAGE 24, SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016

FUEL SCARCITY

We are close to the solution – Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum

T

he Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, describes the challenges in the downstream sector of the oil sector as enormous but says “we are getting to the solution”. Kachikwu spoke to the NNPC staff in Abuja. Excerpts: “This week, we address the fuel subsidy. It’s not by happenstance that you see me with my sleeves all rolled up. And I hope you’re visiting filling stations and helping us work this difficulty.

“This is probably the most challenging issue since I took over as GMD and Minister of Petroleum, and the reality is that a lot of us, even within the company (NNPC), do not know why this is so, and so for those who don’t know, I’ll first go through why you have this situation.

“First, on resumption in August, we had a major problem on our hands, because subsidies of close to N600 billion, had not been paid over a one year period, and so the majors, those who were importing, had began to quietly reduce the levels of importation allotted to them and, though I got the approval of the National Assembly and the President to eventually pay a good portion of that subsidy, sometime in November, by then it was too late.

“Too late because although they got the money, they didn’t have access to foreign exchange, so the main reason we have this supply gap now is that, although NNPC has its own 445,000 barrels allocation of crude and is meeting its own 50% of delivery, the individuals, who should provide the balance of the 40% component, are not bringing in any product.

“So, we’ve had to be very creative over the last 4 to 5 months, until we basically ran out of options and the sort of creativity that we put in place was forward buying, forward purchase, forward crude allocations, and also, just to bring in more product, because we saw NNPC transit from a 45% provider to suddenly 80%, and about this month really to 100% provider of petroleum products in Nigeria.

“That was not sustainable, we didn’t have the capacity, we didn’t have the funding, we didn’t have access to the products, we didn’t have the foreign exchange. So in very many ways, it’s surprising that we’ve even been able to survive this long.

“However, the key element has been, how to find foreign exchange for those who want to participate in the stream, who have been doing this traditionally, to get into the space, buy their products, come in, distribute. That’s something we’ve had to work on.

“Of course, the second problem was incessant pipeline disruptions.

Literally, if you look at the statistics of this year, as against last year, we’ve had almost two times the number of pipeline disruptions than we’ve had over the last two, three years, in this

C M Y K

•Dr Ibe Kachikwu year and that for us is very disturbing.

“We have now thrown a couple of ideas on this. The first thing that I have tried to do is, for the first time in this country, is to be able to convince the upstream companies to provide some FX buffer over the next one year for those who are bringing in products.

“So, I’ve tied Total Upstream to Total Downstream, Mobil Upstream to Mobil Downstream, Agip ENI to Oando, Shell to Conoil and things like that. It’s been very innovative, putting 200 million dollars of FX availability out into the space. It’s taken a lot of goodwill, it’s taken a lot of work from me.

“The second thing we’ve done is to box our way through the CBN to get a

So, it’s been a very difficult work, very challenging.

We’re getting to the solution, the first few cargoes are beginning to come in and I think, by the second week of April, we should be hopefully out of this queue situation. But that is not a long-term solution

little allocation; because we provide the bulk of this foreign exchange, we should have a bit of it to help stabilise the situation, because fuel queues, make no mistake about it, it doesn’t matter what we achieve in our transformation agenda, is the single most difficult item, which if not solved can bring down the polity and can create mayhem here. So it is something that we have focused on. So I have been able to get some co-operation from CBN on that.

“Now, I’ve also been able to convince Mr. President to give us access to some, outside the 445,000 barrels from national production. The difficulty with that, of course, is that it goes into the FAC entity, so once you touch any barrel there, you’re going to have governors’, understandably, quarrel with you on this. But these are some of the innovative solutions we’ve done.

“We’ve thrown our creative options on the pipelines, by pointing a set of trial, by contracting contractors to get into the pipelines, and show us that they can deliver if we give them the contract.

“What that has done is that, for the first time in eight years, we’ve been able to capture back system 2B all the way to Ilorin. For the first time in over six years, we were able to pump crude from Escravos into Warri and we were able to pump oil from Brass into Port Harcourt. And we were able to pump from Warri right into Kaduna, with a few skirmishes here and there. This is the first time in over 10 years that we’ve been able to accomplish this. We accomplished this by not spending money, but owing obligations.

“Now, we are moving to the stage of contracting, where we are going to advertise this and see how we can put this as permanent features into the system. So a huge amount of work has been going on in this stream.

“Our depots are at the stage right now of looking at policies geared towards advertising and our pipelines

for purposes of contracting joint ventures that will put in money, refurbish depots that had been abandoned for upwards of a decade, so that we can have the distributional network that we need to be able to solve this.

“It’s not enough to bring in the cargoes which we are beginning to do, but if you bring the cargoes and they arrive in Lagos, if you have to send 3,000 trucks round the whole country, it will take an average of four to seven days to do that, and the very next day, you’re back to the same place, so the s h e e r logistical nightmare is not what NNPC was set up to do, so we need to be able to get t h o s e pipelines back, get the d e p o t s functioning, push a lot of t h e responsibility to the major oil companies who are basically leaving us to do all the work and picking up the profit at the end of the day.

“So, it’s been a very difficult work, very challenging. We’re getting to the solution, the first few cargoes are beginning to come in and I think, by the second week of April, we should be hopefully out of this queue situation. But that is not a long-term solution.

“The long term solution is that we have to throw private initiatives to the downstream. We’ve got to have a situation where we create enough policy direction, such that people can get in there and do the business. We can take care of our own filling stations, NNPC stations and perhaps some of the affiliates that are going to be with us, but that is a job we’ve done and done well but we can do it better.

We can go into growing the affiliate stations even more so that we have a lot more affiliate stations that we use as response to security situations.

“But ultimately, the business must go back to where it belongs, the private sector, not the public sector and until we do that, deal with the issue of pricing, which our price modulation has helped us manage, but not quite completely, we’re not going to solve the problem.

“Now, how do you come in? Get out into the filling stations, BYbe a proud NNPC official, HELP regulate traffic, HELP push product, HELP report scams that are going on in depots, even by our own officials and HELP talk about the change, HELP talk about the problems and BE the spokespeople for your own company, HELP create ideas. HELP suggest ways in which we can find lasting solutions to this. And if we do that, collectively, every one of us a piece, at the end of the process, people will remember the difficulties, but will also remember an NNPC that was united in the solution to this problem.

“At the end of the day, it’s not all about ME, it’s actually about YOU.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 25

which I spoke is, ‘Oh, God thank you, I am 60, some people say 40 or 45 is life expectancy, so, if somebody is 60, he should be happy. I said that it is like 15 years extra. I said if God can give me 30 years more, I will also be grateful. I didn’t say if God gives me 40 years, I will not accept. So I think your headline should be ‘OGD thanks God for His grace’ and prays for long life.

GBENGA DANIEL AT 60

No regrets trusting people who later became traitors!

BY DAPO AKINREFON tunba Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State, turned 60 on April 6, Daniel, also the Chairman of Krestal Laurel, in this interview, says he has no regrets trusting people as he clocked that milestone. He speaks of his dream for a better Nigeria.

Excerpts:

O 6

0 years of your life, you have experienced a lot in social, corporate and political spheres. Are there regrets if you look back and, if there are, what do you think you would have done differently.

Secondly, at 60, I believe there are so many efforts that you have put into youth empowerment and youth development. What plans do you have as you go into the elder stage?

Thirdly, God has been so kind to you that, before the age of 50, you became a global figure.

At 60, if you have a direct encounter with God and He asked what you want from him, what would you ask from God? I am happy on the question about the youths because, without any doubt, there is no future without the youths. And what people who have become elders must be concerned about are the people you can describe as the successor-generation. What do they want to do with legacies and things like that? I think that, in the course of the opportunity that we had to serve Ogun State, youth empowerment was key in everything. And in everything that we also did, we were looking for ways to give the younger ones some kind of advantage . The reason is not far-fetched . Many many years ago , let say before independence , the few people who got educated, who became lawyers , I don’t know anyone of them that is poor.

And in those days, it is rarely difficult not to find in any village a person that is a lawyer and you know that at least there is one person that is educated. But with the advent of education which, of course, Chief Obafemi Awolowo opened up, everybody became educated in relative terms in the South West. So you now have lawyers that are poor, engineers that have no jobs and so on and so forth . So, there has been some kind of explosion . So, 15 years ago, when we started this process, we were sure that we needed to worry more about the youths than the older people and that is really if you have a recall of the activities, the kind of government we ran and all of that , it was providing opportunity for the youths to develop themselves in all ramifications. In education, sports development, employment creation , education, anything you touch in Ogun

C M Y K

State during our tenure, you would see that there was a conscious effort to put the youths at the forefront. And I think, to some extent , we had largely become successful.

But the latter day challenge that I saw was the fact that it is not too easy for our people to be shocked into misinformation and this is a situation in which people take position not based on empirical evidence but largely because I heard or somebody has told lies or posted some stuff .

And we have ran a culture of believing anything and everything before we think. And, regrettably, the youths who are supposed to be highly educated are also victims if not worst victims. Most times when we hear things , we don’t sit back to say ‘does this makes any sense?

The first thing is that we believe and we condemned, we take position and later on when facts begin to emerge, then you start wondering what has happened.

But rather than having a sense of remorse, we feel justified with what we have done . I then

If I trust you and you betray that trust by misbehaving as it has happened on a good number of occasions, then good luck to you. I am at peace, I have done what God had asked me to do

•Gbenga Daniel

thought that the next thing I could do is to set up a kind of academy to enlighten and reenlighten the youths. That is the reason we have a political academy . Because you find out that a lot of our younger people requires knowledge, information and education aside what we were taught in the university. In the university, I studied engineering.

Why do I understand Nigeria to some extent was because, during our time, it was usually Almighty June, June was when you had the end of the year examination.

So, between June and September when the school will résumé, you had long vacation. So if you had an opportunity, you can work.

And if you didn’t work, what some of us did was to go to the library.

At the University of Lagos, there are several level, for different faculties. Engineering is a high level but social sciences, philosophy, sociology are at another level . So having cram the formulas of engineering from September to June, during the holiday, I would read about things that are not related to engineering. So, I met all the great Nigerians, great world leaders in the library, reading several biographies. Who is Awo? Who is Balewa? Who is ZIK? I therefore developed this knowledge. That was a major background for me when I got to public office and I found out that a number of young people don’t have that opportunity and they don’t have anybody to tell them anything. I grew up in Ibadan, and along the road where I lived was where Chief Bola Ige was living, down the road was where Chief Onabanjo was living, on the other side in Oke- Bola was where Chief Awolowo was living.

Opposite Awo’s house was the Western House of Assembly. So, Operation Wetie, I saw it . As a seven, eight years old, I saw Nigeria from different perspectives. We heard stories, we saw people, we saw poverty , we saw wealth, we saw everything. So we had a round view of what this country is which I am afraid a number of you people don’t know.

If there is anything that I should have done that I didn’t do when I was in government, it is to pay more attention to the youths. We did education under our tenure.

We established tertiary institutions. We laid the foundation, it is just left for other people to develop it. But beyond formal education which is like meal ticket, there is something that is missing, the people who say they want to play politics, where are they coming from? Is it because they have become jobless or there is no other thing they can do with their lives , they are now in politics . They found their ways into the House of Assembly and you want them to make any laws that can be useful to you, it is a joke. If we can’t stop that, the only thing we can do is to say they are there now but why don’t they go and spend a month in that academy.

What we are having today is that people are just going into government and they say having got in there what can they do to help themselves and that is why we are not getting it right.

At 60, what would I ask God ? I would just ask God to open our people’s eyes to wisdom because you are the bridge between the government and the people and when you are not bridging well, that is too bad . But you have also become victims and you must live your life so because of that you have not been able to say what you should say when you should say it . And as long as you are like this, I am afraid we wouldn’t get anything right . So God help us .

At 60, you said if you can get 30 years more , you would thank God . In a tabloid form, if a newspaper writes: OGD: I want to die at the age of 90 , would you like it.

No, because that is not what I said. You wouldn’t have said anything wrong but that is just part of the problem because for anything that somebody has said, what you are just looking for is your headline. And most of the time in the course of looking for headline, the import of what you said is lost. The context within

I asked people what is that thing that is bad about OGD and they said it is that you trust people too much . Do you agree and, if that is true, why you do trust people so much?

Well, I agree that I trust people too much, but I have no regret trusting people. It has to do with my upbringing. And not necessarily that I am correct but it is difficult now to change. The reason I can trust people is that if my intention is noble and I go out of my way to support and to help and to assist and I cannot trust, then there is a problem. If I trust you and you betray that trust by misbehaving as it has happened on a good number of occasions, then good luck to you.

I am at peace, I have done what God had asked me to do. I think if you do not give people certain level of trust, you wouldn’t be able to get the best out of them.

You have been silent for quite some time now, particularly since the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration took over at the national level. What will you say inspired this gathering?

I did not call you here because I want to declare for another political party and I’ve not called you here because I want to join another party or I want to declare for any presidential election. I just decided to invite you journalists and interact with you as I would be marking my 60th birthday. Now, we are here, no election in view, no political ambition in the office. We are just here to interact freely. I really won’t like to start taking about people in government. At 60 years, I don’t want to disparage anyone.

At 60, many Nigerians will like to know how healthy you are, whether you are into full-time politics or not?

I think I’m healthy. I have no ailment whatsoever. I’m quite sound and strong and I have a lot of stamina. I have played table tennis this morning. We actually had a tournament of table-tennis and I played with my driver and other people around. Health issue is just a question of God’s grace. That’s the only way I would put it. But if we should talk about warning being given by health experts about our health, I can tell you that I do not smoke and I do not drink alcohol.

I have tried to adhere strictly to professional doctors’ advice. But that is not to say that one shouldn’t smoke or drink. I have seen people who smoke and drink who lived up to 100 years.

In my case, however, I can say this is just the grace of God and I can also say that good health is hereditary in our family and just have to thank God. I try my best to look after myself. I don’t get into trouble as much as I can. But even at that, if God says you would not be healthy, something would still come. But I just thank

PAGE 26—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State believes Nigerian leaders must take tough decisions to grow the economy. Ambode spoke at the maiden edition of the National Forum on the Economy, held under the theme, National Economy: The Way Forward, held in Lagos, last week. The governor’s speech: espite boasting the biggest economy in Africa, Nigeria’s economy remains largely diversified with crude oil sales accounting for over 90% of total revenue. As a result, our economy is always vulnerable to volatilities in the international oil market coupled with the impact of many years of corruption and wastages. This is the reason for our present economic nightmare.

It is very unfortunate that we wasted the golden opportunity to deploy the trillions of dollars earned from our oil exports to develop the critical sectors of the economy including power, agriculture, industries, solid minerals, transportation infrastructure among others. No doubt, if we had done the right thing as some other oil producing countries did, keeping in mind that crude oil is a finite resource, we would not be experiencing the devastating effect of oil price crash on the scale we are experiencing it now.

We are now being forced to do, with pains, what we should have done with ease years ago. The task of charting a new direction for the economy is not going to be a tea party.

Various policy options must be identified and assessed on the basis of our current situation and needs. Moving our economy forward requires thinking outside the box and doing things differently. We need creativity, innovation and the courage to take difficult and tough decisions.

Courage The leadership of the country at national and state levels must have the courage to take tough decisions and make sacrifices in the near term which will, in the long run, make our economy stronger and sustainable and, consequently result in prosperity across all regions of Nigeria.

One way to revive our economy will be to explore and expand inter-State relations, strengthen regional competitiveness by maximising economies of scale, regional optimisation of assets and endowments and mitigation of afflictions and natural disasters.

Other potential areas for inter-State collaboration include transport infrastructure to facilitate market linkages, education, market development, human capacity building, security and intelligence sharing, among others.

I must stress, however, that this idea is not an entirely uncharted territory for Nigeria. Prior to the oil boom era, Agriculture was the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy and contributed about 65% to the country’s GDP and represented close to 70% of total exports. Through farming, Nigeria was able to feed its pop-

D

•Governor Ambode

There is need to strengthen inter-state competitiveness, by Gov Ambode States and regions must once again begin to leverage on their respective areas of comparative advantage by establishing partnerships towards establishing inter-State or interregional commodity value chain

ulation while major cash crops were exported to earn foreign exchange. From the cocoa and rubber plantations in the West, the groundnut pyramids and cotton in the north, to palm oil in the east; each region was identified by its economic areas of comparative advantage which were collectively harnessed towards ensuring food security and inclusive growth across the country.

Game Plan Given our current economic challenge, I believe it is time we take a cue from our old ‘playbook’ for a viable ‘game plan’ to revive our national economy. States and regions must once again begin to leverage on their respective areas of comparative advantage by establishing partnerships towards establishing interState or inter-regional commodity value chain. We must re-start inter-state/regional cooperation.

It was in realization of this that Lagos and Kebbi States signed a Memorandum of Understanding a few weeks ago. Kebbi State is the largest producer of rice in Nigeria while Lagos state, the most populous state in Africa, consumes rice, mostly imported rice, worth N135b annually.

With this partnership, which covers food production, processing and distribution, Lagos State and Kebbi State have taken steps to explore our areas of comparative advantages to achieve food security for Nigeria and save our foreign exchange. In specific terms, this collaboration will produce 70% of Nigeria’s rice demand.

The multiplier effect of this collaboration will be felt in the areas of job creation, the development of ancillary industries, the strengthening of our local currency against the Dollar and other major international currencies.

I believe more of this interstate collaboration should be encouraged as a major driving force for the diversification of the economy. There are many more areas of collaboration to be explored in the nation. The political leadership must develop the will to make this initiative work, to achieve food security and promote backward integration for industrial growth.

Agreement I wish to state at this point that Lagos State has always embraced inter-state cooperation as a strategy to fast-track economic growth and development. Prior to the agree-

ment with Kebbi State in the North western Nigeria, Lagos State has collaborated with States from within the western region in the areas of comparative advantage for the partner States.

Lagos State currently has 84 hectares of land in Osogbo, Osun State, out of which 20 hectares is used for palm produce, while others are used for rice farming, cassava and maize. Lagos State also acquired additional 1,000 hectares of land in Osun, 500 hectares in Ogun and Oyo each and 50 hectares in Abuja to support farming. In addition, all granite used in construction in Lagos State are being sourced from quarries located in Ogun State. These relationships have proved especially beneficial for Lagos State given its low land mass and the rapid urbanisation and industrialisation in the State.

It must however be noted that for regional or inter-state cooperation to yield the desired result in terms of enhanced inclusive growth, we must put in place a functional modern rail and water transportation system. The movement of goods, materials and people by road is not only inefficient but fraught with risks, safety hazards and detrimental to our roads.

The Lagos/Kebbi initiative for example will involve movement of thousands of tons of paddy rice to Lagos for processing in the mills. This can only be achieved more efficiently through a modern rail system which at present remains largely undeveloped.

Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we must brace ourselves, take the tough but right decisions, individually and collectively, so that we can have a better tomorrow.

Together, we can make Nigeria greater.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 27

C M Y K

PAGE 28—SUNDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016 With Ebun Sessou and Dolapo Majekodunmi

I was a regular crooner in Alaba Market searching for customers, investors — Onafowokan, MD/CEO, Coleman Wires and Cables

•Says firm has biggest range cable in W/Africa •George Onafowokan

G

eorge Onafowokan, MD/CEO, Coleman Wires and Cables, West Africa’s largest cables producer, in this interview, speaks on his life, aspirations, and business empire:

How did your company come about?

Coleman was registered in 1975 as a business entity.

Production of cables started in 1998 through the ideas of our Chairman who was into trading of wires and cables in the 80s and 90s. He decided to go into production of cables. After we started in 1998, the set up team was changed due to some setback in 2001/2002. The Executive Director and I came on board. We started restructuring the business from the small scale business it used to be, to what we are today.

What informed the name?

The name was conceived in 1975 by the Chairman who wanted to go into Coleman Colas. But his partners did not want the business to be brought to Nigeria, so he decided to take the name to the next level.

He set up Coleman Technical Industries Limited. Coleman was a brand name. People thought it was a foreign name but it is a name that revives our ideology.

Could you tell us how much your start-up was worth?

I learnt it was very small amount. I wouldn’t know but I learnt it started as a small scale with a management team at that time. But the start up wasn’t a good experience. The management team that the Chairman put up did not see the vision he had. And they could not work the business.

Between less than 18 months, C M Y K

they had pulled the business down. But, my father kept it alive until we came in. The team left a lot of negative situations behind, which caused a setback. It was difficult starting with such a negative position. But we were optimistic it was possible to resuscitate the business. I became a regular crooner in Alaba Market searching for customers and investors among others, just to strengthen the business.

And so, it became a business from hands to month. And as God would have it, we were able to push our creditability with those suppliers overtime, and they supplied credit and more credit which made it possible for us to keep producing. It was a very tough

And so, it became a business from hands to month.

And as God would have it, we were able to push our creditability with those suppliers overtime, and they supplied credit and more credit which made it possible for us to keep producing

spot. Looking back, I can say it was a toughest period of my life. But it was also a good turn. I think it was better to see difficulties in a business start-up so as to be more conscious to avoid ever being in that situation.

I think it was a positive thing that I met a difficult problem and in two years, we were able to resolve it and gain substantial market share and were able to grow the business.

So our dynamic thoughts enabled such a start to give us the best foundation to build the business the right way. If we had met a very successful business, maybe we would not have pushed ourselves the way we did.

Such start-up always come as a blessing in disguise, but people might not see it. To me, I thought it was a punishment that we inherited a difficult business, but in reality, it wasn’t a punishment. I also thought dad gave us an impossible task to make us fail but it was an impossible task only in the eyes of many but as we made a success of it, it also built a lot of creditability for us. The start, as difficult as it was at Coleman, gave us a lot of advantage.

Did you study production of wires and cables in the university?

No. I learnt on the job. I spent about nine years in the UK studying and moved back to Nigeria in 2002. But I have always believed in innovations, and I believed, and still believe, that Nigeria is a place to be.

When I told my friends that I was leaving the UK, they thought I was not in my right senses. They wanted me to obtain my British passport and become a citizen and I told them that the Queen would look for me and that every time I go to the UK, they would appreciate me. Right now, my friends who were advising me

wrongly then are now looking up to me. This really tells you that there are lots of opportunities in this country if we believe.

Some people would say you are talking like this because you had connection?

I agree and disagree. We come from a family where the father was a disciplinarian. My father would tell you that he does not owe you anything in life aside the best education.

So, that was what he sold us as children. My father was always giving me part-time work in his office during the holidays. He wouldn’t tell his driver to take you to his office. He would rather tell you to take a public transport. So, he did not make luxury part of our life. He would tell you he wasn’t born into riches. He moved from one bedroom apartment in Apapa road, Oyingbo, to where he is now. So, there is no free money. You have to work for it because his own father was not rich. But hard work got him to where he is now. We should therefore work hard and make money. I think, for me, I had started my own business and started saving money.

Growing up, my father ’s home was a home of tutelage.

My father believed in taking care of his family members. So, we lived with aunties and uncles tutored by this same man. We all had tutelage from these uncles and aunties who were even more strict than my dad. I would attribute my own success to one of my aunties who tutored me from age 12.

There was a day I was complaining that my parents were not doing enough and she frankly told me they ( my parents) owed me nothing except my education. I took the advise like a Bible verse to guide me. I stopped expecting anything from any of them. I started taking care of my needs. I engaged in some petty businesses. I was into shoe making and at the same time selling them in schools. I was also selling wines. And I made some money. I just wanted to experience life, not thinking

that life is going to be easy. I learned how to survive on my own and that helped in the businesses I came to manage later.

My father ’s perspective towards me changed after I helped him with his business when I finished secondary school. And he made a promise that I would be the MD of his company. He observed I like business.

Working with my dad, I discovered it was wrong to have title on the door because people tend to be carried away by the title on their doors and not reinvent themselves. I studied everybody and their attitude to work. In business, I grew faster than my age.

Did you ever think your dad wasn’t on the right track when he started his wire and cable business?

Initially, I was not in tune with the business. For the first three months, I was working like a consultant. I was the only child who had to negotiate my involvement in his company.

But on the long run, I realised how important my roles were in the business and so decided to give myself totally to it. We picked up the business and it grew. One of the things I learnt was the importance of involving one’s children in the business one is doing and ensuring they learn the rudiments of that business.

To me, leadership in a business must be seen and not just be heard. And if you are not the one making the biggest sacrifice, you should not be the one “eating the biggest food”.

My belief is that your team should understand your vision so that the long term is sustainable. When I joined my father’s business, I realised that the bank managers were in contact with my father who was the chairman of the company and not those who were the managers of the company. I felt it was very wrong. I took care of that and since, the bankers have stopped calling him because I took responsibility of

Continues on page 29

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 29

‘Coleman has the biggest range cable in W/Africa’ Continued from page 28 the company.

Nigerians tend to have no regard for local products. Was that a challenge for Coleman in growing this business?

At the beginning, there were challenges, but now, Nigerians have been able to attest to the fact that Nigerian cables and wires are the best.

Today, the business is more capital incentive. I can’t see anything less than one billion naira as good start-up capital for cables and wires business in Nigeria.

We were able to see the future of the business and stood for the best. We are proud that we are rated as one of the best in Africa.

Now, we are seen as the elephant of the industry.

We must believe in ourselves as Nigerians.

How do you rate Coleman Cables and Wires in the world?

Today, Coleman pioneers few products in the industry. It is the first and only producer of high voltage production of 11 and 33 KVA cable which we commissioned in 2014. It is the only producer of a network cable, CAT 5 and 6 in West Africa which we started last year.

Coleman has the biggest range cable in West Africa.

What do you do outside the office environment?

Left to my wife, I am a workaholic. For me, family time is very important. I try to keep some time with my family. Although my wife is doing quite enough on that. Aside that, I spend three hours sleeping. I also go out with friends. I like quiet environment. I like to go to cinemas. I watch two films at a stretch. My best film place is Genesis at Lekki. I love football too. I also like table tennis and do some swimming. Golf is another sport I admire.

What are your best foods?

I like rice and beans.

And I think, it comes from that tutelage where C M Y K

we were thought of not thinking luxury. I love the way rice and beans are cooked. I just enjoy rice and beans with plantain. I also like pounded yam and vegetables. My wife loves cooking and I thank God for giving me a good wife.

Can you speak more on your marriage?

I grew up too quickly and I had planned my marriage earlier. I needed certain things from a woman and until I got those things, I did not jump into marriage.

I had nine years of relationship with the woman before we got married. To me, your family should be the embodiment of what marriage should be about. I believe in my wife’s prayer.

Unfortunately, most husbands do not regard the prayers of their wives seriously.

Because, they are the tools to our success.

The right image sells you. Human beings have perception and what they see is the perception of what they believe about the person.

Dressing is important

What do you do on your birthday?

My birthday is in July.

I go to work. I think, I took that from my father who really does not celebrate birthdays. He does not mark any milestone because he believes everyday is important. My wife feels buying a card is like wasting money. But I know I get a cake. My children and wife make cake and I try to go for a dinner that day. And I give thanks to God. I celebrate my wife and children’s birthdays. I

don’t object to them.

What are your regrets in life?

It is difficult to say, I have no regret, because every setback is like a positive challenge. I never get disappointed because I never expected anything from anyone.

Every disappointment has become a blessing.

What about your fashion?

The first time I came back to Nigeria, I was wore traditional attires which affected my workers negatively. So, I changed my perception about dressing.

Are you of the opinion that dressing has something to do with business?

Certainly. The right image sells you. Human beings have perception and what they see is the perception of what they believe about the person. Dressing is important.

If you could turn back the hand of time, what would you do differently?

Maybe I would have considered putting more planning in the Arepo project than what I did.

I would have put planning over passion.

What lessons did you learn from polygamy?

My father is one of the few people who had managed polygamy very well. None of the children go out of his household and no child was born out of his household. Every child grew up in the same compound and had the same opportunities. We had the best of education. He runs his house like a business and he runs it very well.

He separated his wives from his children. I don’t know how he managed to do that. Every mother was our mother.

What advice would you give to youths?

My advice to people is to believe in themselves.

We must try to overpower our situation.

There must be selfconfidence. People should also be conscious of what they say and honour their words.

PAGE 30—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016

By PRISCA SAM-DURU INTERVIEW

Why I focussed on the importance of girl child empowerment---Chinze

God is number one. Then the things I see around me or happenings around my environment. you know as humans we have photographic mind. When you see something, later it starts playing back in your mind and when you want to work, they all come back to you alive.

How affordable are your works?

Very affordable, anybody can buy them. Its not for just companies or rich individuals but anybody at all. Also, its not about the money. If you appreciate the works you will buy them.

Do you have a place you train

The name Ojobo Chinze as an artist may sound a little unfamiliar in Nigeria but is a star across the globe. The alumnus of University of Nsukka who studied Fine and Applied Arts has traveled around the world absorbing arts and culture of its diverse components. With another degree in Interior Designing in the US and two post graduate Diplomas in PR & Advertising and Business Administration, there’s no need telling any one what this multi-talented woman is capable of doing. Little wonder, she built and furnished Nigeria’s first Telecommunications Museum and designed and built two cinema halls and lounge. Her works have been well received globally at over 40 arts exhibitions .

Chinze’s Unfinished Business, an exhibition that displayed over 20 works which ended recently in Lagos, went a long way to proffering solutions to the myriad of problems bedeviling the country. She tells us more.

T

ell us about your recent outing in Lagos?

The title of the exhibition is Unfinished Business. It is so titled because there are so many things that are unfinished in this country.

For instance, the Girl Child issue, its like everyday there’s always a report on that. Even in my church where I counsel children, its the same thing. There’s always a case of abuse every time. The exhibition seeks to reposition the place of the girl-child vis-à-vis her inalienable rights as a humanbeing and an indispensable ally and co-traveller in Nigeria’s strive towards the actualisation and the attainment of our development agenda. The girlchild is being violated by the society that should protect her.

The girl-child needs the right to quality education, legal rights, nutrition, medical care, equity and protection from discrimination.

She has been hounded like a rat – abused, trafficked, raped, rejected when pregnant or has VVF that’s why I decided to do something on that. I am dealing with two issues here the youth and the girl child but I couldn’t handle the two together so, I’m still going to have Unfinished Business 2.

Is this your first exhibition in Nigeria?

No, I have had several but this is a major exhibition in recent time. It ran for 12 days.

Professionally when did you begin as an artist and how has the journey been so far?

It was in 1995 and step by step, God has been helping me. For the woman, its not always very easy because sometimes you stop half way into a major project because you need to have children, you know, getting married and taking care of children are usually source of delay.

How rewarding has art been for you in Nigeria?

Initially, there were less understanding of how important art is to the society but things are beginning to change. I’m very impressed with Lagosians, they are really art people. Everyday since the exhibition opened, I’ve witnessed massive turn out of people and even school children coming to appreciate my art. Just this morning alone three schools have been here. I feel that in future it will be a bigger thing but now it is appreciated. If people are buying art works and storing them to sell later it means that they understand the need for art.

Why are you into art?

Of course it is because of the passion. I’ve done other things, business, just so many things. As a mother I make furniture, cloths, jewelry, in short, I’m generally a creative person.

Your works appear feminine, are you a feminist?

No! I’m otherwise. I think I’m

The exhibition seeks to reposition the place of the girl-child vis-a-vis her inalienable rights as a humanbeing and an indispensable ally and co-traveller in Nigeria’s strive towards actualisation of development agenda

By BENJAMIN NJOKU REVIEW

U

S-based Nigerian educationist, coach, strategist and advocate, Dr. Amam Onyerinma has seen it all. Her latest accomplishment, “ Success Don’t Fail” which she launched in the country about two months ago, remains a testament to her strong belief that living authentically, mindfully and compassionately is the only pathway to achieve a happier and successful life devoid of rancour and despair.

As a life coach of many years, Amam believes in giving hope to the hopeless, inspiring others to rediscover the essence of their lives. Armed with a doctorate degree in Education, the brilliant matriarch about two decades ago began her search to enhance the quality of her life through life coaching, and as such, shifted her career focus to becoming a writer, advocate, strategist and visionary. “Success Don’t Fail” is a culmination of her personal experiences, selfrediscovery and overcoming the challenges of life.

According to Amam, everyone has a purpose in life and the quest to identify and pursue this purpose whilst living fully is paramount to our existence. She believes that “life’s lessons which are critical to our self-development, shall

• Chinze Ojobo simply trying to represent the women. Many of the works are revolving around the theme. You know I told you am working on girl child issues so the works are portraying the theme.

Where else have you exhibited?

I’ve done Bulgaria, China, France, London, California by the way I lived in California. Ive exhibited in New York Expo,

Washington DC, So many countries actually.

You’ve gone this far but we’ve not heard anything about you before this exhibition, Why? Its just that I do international and usually I’m supposed to do a press conference before the exhibition but I did that in Abuja because I live in Abuja, may be that’s why.

What inspires you as an artist?

young artists?

Yes. In fact that’s the next thing we are doing. A lot of parents are disturbing me about helping to train their children. We already have some schools ready to be trained in Abuja so, when I go back, we begin work on them immediately but at the moment, I work alone.

A lot of your works are more of Jute bags is that deliberate?

That’s my base actually. You know that’s what I’ve been working with but my professor/ Lecturer El Antsui said I should stretch the jute backs, I should work on that theme, that’s the material. He said that there is so much I could do with it. So, that’s why I started experimenting with it. And if you look around you see a lot of it and there is also another material, I introduced which is the flex glass. In my next exhibition I’m going to show a lot of it.

Pathway to achieving success in life continue to manifest in other aspects of our lives until we take charge and understand why they appear and learn the valuable lessons inherent within.”

Indeed, more of the author’s memoir than a personal development manual, the book highlights the essence of “Being” and the pursuit of a personal mission as an integral part of living an exuberant and fulfilling lifestyle. It emphasizes making mindful choices and accepting the reality of unexpected life forces which cause shifts in our lives.

The reader is confronted with the true meaning of a life filled with purpose, abundance, peace, happiness and success. Amam from the outset admitted that she faced a lot of challenges, which compelled her to re- evaluate her life, take stock of her strengths,

Amam’s Success Don’t Fail is a manual on how to confront one’s fears, disappointments and fading dreams, it provides a fascinating insight into the remarkable life of the author

Success Don’t Fai: Amam Onyerinma; Reading Is Permitted Publishing; PP: 214 ; abilities and accomplishments while embarking on a journey to better align herself with her aspirations. Painting a gloomy picture of her beginning in the book, the author lifts the reader’s spirit.

She posits that “ Life itself is not stagnant even though there may be periods of tranquillity and occasionally challenges which force us to asses our chosen paths and make changes for better alignment with our goals.”

Amam takes the reader through series of life challenging problems that would readily define who you are. Loaded with real-life stories drawn from the personal experiences of the

author, and snippets of dialogue from conversation with her former clients, the book invites one to celebrate happiness and success on a daily basis.

Beginning with “Discovering the Gem” to “The Alliance”, “Aspects of Self ”, “Peeling the Onion”, “I Need...I want”, “Investing in Self ”, “Smelling the Rose”, “Falling Petals” and “A New Branch”, the reader is accompanied through the self exploration process to reveal the channel to abundance. It transport one to the state of yearning to one of manifestation.

Even though this 214- page book inspires the reader to rediscover his or her real ‘Self ’, Amam writes with great compassion and humour. She affects the reader with her humour and tears, her highs and lows as well as her determination to rewrite the story of her life.

Apart from being an inspiring, refreshing, and hopeful book recommendable for anyone who is looking for a story of success to read, Amam’s “Success Don’t Fail” is a manual on how to confront one’s fears, disappointments and fading dreams. It provides a fascinating insight into the remarkable life of the author. But as the author remarks, “ It is a book that will help the reader to celebrate his life, and all it encompasses with the understanding that “our work is to live with passion, authenticity and truth.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 31

Change slogan is losing melody The change mantra and Sai Buhari that ushered in the new administration are losing their allure in the federal capital. Why?

By Favour Nnabugwu, Vivian Yiye & Samuel Chia

A

good campaign slogan is like a good fortune: concise, clever and crisp. The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, found one in the slogan Change, which was to drive home the party’s campaign for the change of what was considered as the difficult situations Nigerians believed they were living under in the years before the historic May 29, 2015, handover from the former ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the APC. That campaign slogan was also buttressed by the slogan adopted by enthusiasts of the party’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, which was Sai Buhari! Sai Baba!

Ten months into the life of the new administration, the slogans that heralded the new administration to power are being turned into a mockery by the vicissitudes of the political environment.

Besides the rot that was inherited, the new administration has been challenged by depressing revenue stoked by the collapse of the price of crude oil which is the country’s main revenue source.

Sai Baba, Sai Buhari was adopted as a way of greeting, popular among Okada riders, market men and women and even in corporate offices before the March 28 presidential polls.

It is not surprising that some who just a year ago were chanting Sai Buhari!

Sai Baba! are today muttering Sai Yunwa (hunger).

Indeed, the majority of Nigerians knew that the year 2016 would be a tough year. Perhaps, they only underestimated the toughness that the year would bring.

The last five months have been particularly hectic. Almost everything has been ‘dollarised’. From sachet water to staple foods, groundnut oil, palm oil, beef, fish and all consumables are beyond the reach of the ordinary man.

Dispirited and weary, the majority of them expressed disappointment that they now buy sachet water for N10 and a bag of rice, which they bought N10,000 last Christmas is now N15,000.

And beyond the harsh economic situation, the weather condition is also harsh. The intense heat in the day and night is killing and electricity that would have provided soothing relief is now a scarce commodity. Even worse, in some states like Lagos, residents who do with generators are forbidden to buy fuel when available using their kegs. What a C M Y K

At every opportunity, those who clamoured for change a year ago are today being harassed for the change that they said would come with Buhari life!

Mr Sunday Oyemade, who runs a business centre in the Area 10 commercial section of Abuja, said that though, the country’s economy was already in bad shape before President Buhari took over but that he expected that things would have improved a little, ten months into the life of the present administration.

“When this government took over, the economy was already in a bad shape; many states were owing debts and the government had to use bailout funds to help them pay salaries.”

He, however, believes that the state of insecurity is the major cause of the poor growth of the economy as he told Sunday Vanguard that foreign investors were still scared of venturing into Nigeria.

Mr Chidi Okereke, a welder who

operates from Area 1, affirmed that ordinary Nigerians have been worst hit by the change that has come saying the fight against corruption is a distraction.

“We hear the government is doing something about this bad economy but the masses are suffering, there is no light in my workshop and no jobs since the year began, I have not eaten since morning because there is no money, the government should forget about fighting corruption and do something about the economy.”

Mallam Dansali Mohammed, a local tea vendor popularly known as Mai shai without holding back said the suffering in the land has become too much for him and his family to bear.

“People are saying things would get better but for how long do we have to endure the suffering? I voted for President Buhari but with the way things are going, Sai Buhari Sai Baba is not a slogan l want to be part of again until there is visible improvement in the economy that would by extension reflect on me.”

But not all are totally despondent. Mr Akiola Alamurin, a businessman, based in Area 10 said that things are not as bad as they seem to be.

“I have not seen anything bad so far with the government. I think the President is fighting corruption for justice, but people have been complaining about money and that is true because even myself I have not been making money the way l used to.” “But all l have to say is that Nigerians should be patient, give him a chance and support the government.”

A taxi driver who simply gave his name as Ugochukwu vented out like wild fire when asked about his assessment of the situation in the land.

“We raised our hope that it was a better government not knowing it’s worse. What is going on in the country is called political telecombo it means the government is confused, the government only talks about corruption and as time is going people are suffering ‘people are in poverty.

“And the president claims to be the minister for petroleum but he can’t come face to face with Nigerians to tell us the situation on ground. ‘’This Government is afraid of criticism it means that they don’t want to take correction.”

Mallam Muhammad Ohiani, a civil servant on his part, said, ‘’We wanted change and so we voted for change but we have not seen the change. The only thing we see is the hardship. Even at my place of work, they owe us a month salary and l have children in higher institution and l cannot afford their school fees.

“The government always talks about probe but yet there is no change in what we have seen so far, even all the construction companies have either been shut down or laid off their workers, so where is the change we are talking about?” Not surprisingly, the distressing slogan of change is now song to partisans of the opposition PDP. At every opportunity, those who clamoured for change a year ago are today being harassed for the change that they said would come with Buhari.

PAGE 32—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016

BY JOHN MKOM, JALINGO

A

bout 10:45 am on March 12, farmers and hunters in Tse-Agena area of Mbatyula in Takum local government area of Taraba State heard a loud sound from the sky and then an object, suspected to be meteorite stone, landed.

The landing of the white object created panic.

Women and children were asked to vacate the farms immediately while men went to pick the object.

Mr. Shausu Agena, a farmer and an eye witness, said the object landed on a big tree in an empty farm land.

Agena, while speaking to Sunday Vanguard inside his hut in the village, said heavy sound accompanied the falling of the object from the sky.

The clan head of Mbatyula, Zaki Bem Tom, also disclosed that the object landed with a sound that was heard in several communities.

“It was in the morning. People were in their various farms when the object landed within our community. It was very shocking because some of us that witnessed it descending from the sky thought it was the end of the world,” Ben Tom said.

“It took our brave men to go closer to the object so that we will know what it was. Initially when the object landed, it was pure white in

SUSPECTED METEOR Unease as 'mystery stone'falls from the sky in Taraba

color. Human faces were reflecting on the object like mirror. Then it turned pure black.

“We have been living in fear because we don’t know what will follow”.

The village head said the community reported the incident to the state government immediately and the Director of Minerals Resources was sent to Mbatyla.

“Before the official came, we had already removed the stone for safekeeping and the person who kept the stone was not around when the Director visited.

Therefore, the Director could not see the stone.

“We are calling on government to commission a study of our area following the incident because we may be affected one day by nature”.

When contacted, Taraba State Commissioner for the Environment, Mrs. Rebecca Manasseh, pleaded with the community to release the stone to the state government so that it could study it.

Rebecca, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard on phone, confirmed that the state sent its Director of Mineral Resources to the area after the incident was report to ascertain the nature of the ‘mystery stone’.

She promised that her ministry was ready to investigate the issue as soon as the stone was released to the state government.

Contrary to critics’ claims, Preaching Law will promote peace in Kaduna — Sani, El-Rufai’s aide Uba Sani, Special Adviser to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Political Affairs, says the Preaching Bill, proposed by the state government is not new.

Successive administrations in Kaduna State who had contended with bloody and destructive religious riots had at one point or the other resorted to legislation to rein in religious extremism in the state. So far, the most far reaching of the legislation remains the Regulation of Religious Preaching Edict No. 7 of 1984, which has been amended twice - in 1987 and 1996 For the avoidance of doubt, the Religious Preaching Regulation Bill, currently before the Kaduna State House of Assembly, is a slightly amended version of the same law that has been in existence since 1984. So, why are certain persons going about creating the wrong impression that Governor Nasir el Rufai is introducing a new Religious Preaching Regulation Law in Kaduna State? Like has been clearly outlined, this Religious Preaching Regulation law is an old law that previous administrations in Kaduna State have either enacted or retained in response to outbreaks of religious violence in the state over time. Contrary to the impression some political jobbers and enemies of the state are currently creating, in revisiting this law, the Government of Kaduna State is not only responding to current realities in most states in northern Nigeria but also proactively nipping in the bud the possibility of Kaduna State returning to its destructive ugly past. The truth is that in spite of the dogged efforts by critics and mischievous politicians to tar El Rufai with the wicked brush of religious extremism, this lie is just refusing to stick especially given that Islamic clerics have opposed the bill much more than Christian leaders. It is indeed an open

C M Y K

secret that religious zealotry is not one of weaknesses of El Rufai. I can wholeheartedly attest to the fact that in seeking to discourage the use of religion for violence and division, the governor is merely advancing the administration’s agenda of making Kaduna a model state in northern Nigeria to showcase peaceful and gainful-coexistence of persons of diverse cultural, religious, social and economic backgrounds and persuasions. I have extensively studied the bill and have consulted with lawyers, my clear take on the amended Kaduna State Religious Preaching Regulation Bill is that it does not in any way abridge, threaten to abridge or violate the freedom of worship as enshrined in the Constitution. On the contrary, the bill, if passed into law will establish Kaduna State as a bastion of peace and tranquility in northern Nigeria.

The initial apprehension about the law by clerics was informed by the fact that enough information was not made available to them. However after due explanations and with several of our religious leaders now availed of copies of the bill, they now have a better understanding. They are now aware that it is not a new law; that the bill does not in any way seek to negate or infringe on

the freedom of worship; they are now aware that this law is basically aimed at deepening safety and security in Kaduna State and they are well aware that a peaceful Kaduna State would unleash the huge and enviable economic and other potentials of our great state.

For the record, salient features of the proposed law include the establishment of an inter-faith ministerial committee to regulate the practice of the two main religions in the state, Christianity and Islam. The law provides for the establishment of a committee of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) with equal representation of the Izala and Darika religious groups, for Muslims and another committee by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The inter-faith ministerial committee is expected to exercise supervisory control over JNI and CAN with a view to stemming provocative or public hate preaching hence the restriction on the playing or blaring of religious recordings outside churches and mosques.

Indeed under the law, a preacher may be jailed for a period not exceeding two years if he preaches without a valid license or engages in inciting religious teachings and uses derogatory terms in describing any religion.

The law also stipulates that a preacher visiting Kaduna from outside the state is expected to obtain a permit to cover the period of his stay. For preachers who are resident in Kaduna State, the license to preach has a life span of one year which may be renewed.

If the truth must be told, incessant hate and inciting preaching have for years been the main cause of religious upheaval

in Kaduna State. Equally damaging has been the inciting statements credited to some overzealous or extremist preachers.

Indeed the matter of hateful or provocative preaching was robustly addressed during the JNI’s 2015 annual pre-Ramadan conference in June 2015 in Kaduna when it noted that in spite of repeated calls by the Muslim leadership, some scholars still employed divisive comments during their Tafsir preaching in the month of Ramadan. The JNI leadership was also of the view that several of the media houses that air Tafsir during Ramadan do not care to censor statements capable of destabilizing the Ummah. It was also the view of the JNI at this very important conference that negative conducts contrary to the established creed of the Islamic faith were being exhibited by some scholars in their Tafsir sessions. The JNI’s solution to such infringements clearly tallies with the provisions of sections of the new Religious Preaching Regulation Bill that El-Rufai is proposing. Indeed the JNI insists that “the (Muslim) leadership should regulate the conduct of Tafsir, to control erring commentators and make it mandatory for any Mufassir to be screened and be given permission by the JNI or any authorized body before he can be allowed to venture into Tafsir.”

The position of the JNI tallies with the resolve of El Rufai that Kaduna should not and will no longer be the hotbed of needless religious acrimony or riots. The state seeks to harness the beauty in its diversity to strengthen social ties and bolster its economy and eventually restore the glory of the State is a bastion of peace and a pacesetter in northern Nigeria.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 33

08116759757

ABAM W AR D ANCE WAR DANCE

A single strike and the head is off

BY TONY NWANKWO

•Mr Lawal

I

T resonates in folklores across the land. Generation after generation witnessed this epic in the celebration of the ancient warrior people of Abam. The culture has survived for thousands of years. This year’s attendance included state radio and television stations across the East, and other social media who came to record the moment of the beheading.

Members of the warrior kingdom are traditionally head hunters. In the past, associations existed which qualification for membership was the ability of the individual to chop off a man’s head with one strike of a machete. So, there existed mercenaries who were invited to far away lands to make war. The Abam War Dance, for instance, reflects the fight to avenge the killing of a palm wine tapper, Ojingwa of Ndi Ukaforegbe Compound in Idima Abam.

However, the icing of the cake of the Igboto Nma celebrations of Ugbogu and Biakpan Age Grade was the sacred one machete strike to severe the head of a live goat as the Amogudu Biakpan rounded off two years of celebrations of mandatory retirement from communal task.

Kalu Uduma, 49, performed the traditional feat on January 7, this year. It was he that Biakpan chose to sink or swim in their celebrations.

Uduma carried out this strike in the full view of hundreds of thousands of on-lookers from far and wide, and till date, he is being celebrated and presented with gifts in appreciation.

He explained to Sunday Vanguard what it takes to replicate the century old tradition. “In Idima, I know the culture. I was born into it, so everything I do I try to do it well. I would have done this first in 2005, when the Ajuruemea Age Grade performed their Igboto Nma. But they brought propaganda into it and denied me. But this time, the Biakpan people were initially nervous, aware of the consequences if I failed to perform as tradition demands, because a second strike is prohibited. In 1995, I desired to wear the Ekpe masquerade under which cloak you do the job”.

But how do you take an aim at a moving object and cut off a particular part in powerful one strike?, he was asked. Uduma was forthcoming: “By right, the neck should be the target, but with the tension and anxiety that surrounds the exercise, some may target the middle to fulfil the desired result of cutting the animal into two. As the date draws near, there will be many advisers, particularly those who had performed the feat before or had attempted to do so. The animal is fettered to a stake, just like of old, so you take the aim”.

According to Uduma, the sacredness and security of the machete is paramount. The machete is not to be exposed to every Dick and Tom as evil people could intervene to void and shame you historically. And even the cutting has its principles. “In the process of the cutting, you are not to bend over backwards, you only raise your hand skywards and come down with the machete and with sufficient strength in the strike, the deed is done”.

The other half of the Age Grade, the Anang Ugbogu, a more progressive group will have their ceremonies continuing from

C M Y K

Lagos suburb nearly beg Ambode, cut of offf •Residents Ikotun-Igando LCDA for repair

BY OLUBUNMI OWOEYE esidents of Dare Street, R Ikotun, in Ikotun-Igando LCDA, Lagos State are begging

September 2016 and rounding off in January 2017. At the end of the ceremonies, the Age Grade becomes part of the official cabinet of the Chiefs and Elders in Council. The noble among them become part of the king’s cabinet.

The Ugbogu and Biakpan Age Grade are a significant group. They represent the heart and soul of the kingdom. They are the age grade that witnessed as young men and women the devastating effects of Nigeria – Biafra war, so they represent the closing generation of modern war effort and the beginning of structured ambition of the Igbo people in Abam. The age grade had provided fearless leadership, creating institutions that has brought prosperity and modernity in the kingdom.

The celebration includes a public parade of participating individuals (male and female) all dressed in regal robes, depicting the dress code of the Abam people. The parade is led by the War Dance troupe. As they marched forward, the male folk respond to the Ikoro Drums, the highest public announcement instrument of ancient Abam. If the Ugbogu outing of January 21 is a yardstick, Idima Abam must be the most grandeur tourist community later this year. Meanwhile, traditionalists are scouting for another Kalu Uduma, who will, with a single strike of a machete sever the head of another unlucky sacrificial goat in commemoration of an age-long tradition of a warrior people.

the state government to repair the road, saying their cries, through former Chairmen and the Landlord Association Committees, have proved abortive. Investigation, however, showed that several letters had been written to the LCDA without positive response.

Speaking on the issue, the last Chairman of the Landlords Association, Alhaji Rasak Sowemimo, said: “I have been living in Dare Street since 1990.

Initially, the street was neat and people were not many. But as we had more residents with more vehicles, Dare Street started getting worse. And since we noticed the dilapidation of the road, we started appealing to government to help repair it. With the help of former local government councillors, promises were made, we even heard that money for the repair had been approved, yet nothing happened. However, there has been cooperation between the landlords and tenants on the project”.

Sowemimo said the road is very bad especially, during rainy season. School children find it difficult to walk on the road due to its bad condition. During the time of Mrs. Williams, another former councillor, we were informed that a former Personal

Secretary to the Governor was coming and then, they went and brought trucks to sand-fill the road. We want to appeal to the government of Akinwumi Ambode, to please come to our aid, and help us with the repairs.

Speaking on the issue, the Secretary, Landlords Association Committee, Mr Lawal stated: “During Jimoh Ajao’s tenure, letters were written to the local government Chairman, who was said to be the government responsible for the repair of the road. Mrs. Williams came in and carried out some drainage project, digging holes here and there to redirect the floods. So, that is why people have been waiting for government to do it.

Yet government collect revenues from shops here. The local government, for instance, gives permit in the range of N4,700 a year on every shop in the area”.

Speaking also, the Chairman, Feyintola Landlords Association, Chief Oladipupo, a retired Customs Officer, said residents usually tax themselves monthly to generate money for the drainage of the street, though he lamented that many also refuse to pay. Many landlords, according to him, collect money from their tenants, yet refuse to bring it to the common purse.

“Even if the government cannot do Feyintola, they can at least do Isijola Road to ease the hardship that motorists in the area experience daily,” Oladipupo stated.

NNPC/Chevron JV spends N17bn on 600 projects in N-Delta

BY DAYO JOHNSON AKURE

T

HE NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture has spent about N17 billion on over 600 development projects in the last ten years in five Niger- Delta states.

The states are Ondo, Imo, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta. General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), Chevron Nigeria Limited, Deji Haastrup, disclosed this at the signing of the renegotiated GMoU among the NNPC/ Chevron Joint Venture.

The signing of the GMoU was between the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, the Delta and Ondo State Governments and Egbema-Gbaramatu and Ilaje communities.

Haastrup said the programmes are in the health and education sectors, economic development and local capacity building. He added that it include, scholarships (over 40,000 beneficiaries), agriculture, medical centers and supplies, school buildings, water projects, bridges, town halls, housing units, jetties, drains, and roads.

The Minister of State for Niger Delta

Affairs, Professor Claudius Daramola, applauded the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture for collaborating with government to bring sustainable development to the people of the Niger Delta.

Daramola urged the people to continue to uphold fairness and transparency in the projects and programmes implementation. He pledged the commitment of the Niger Delta Ministry to advancing the development efforts of the Regional Development Committees. The Secretary to Ondo State Government, SSG, Dr Rotimi Adelola, and

Delta State Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Peter Mrakpor, praised the NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture for providing funds for community development through the GMoU. Also, the Chairmen of Ilaje Regional Development Committee and Egbema-Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, Henry Ehinmola and Micheal Johnny respectively, implored all stakeholders to adopt the GMoU as a vehicle for socio-economic development of Niger Delta communities.

Chris tians ttold old ttoo shun tr aditional cchief hief Christians traditional hieftt aincy titles

BY FESTUS AHON rch-Minister of God’s Kingdom Mission, Mr A Roland Ogene, has told Christians to desist from taking traditional chieftaincy titles, which,

he said, are linked to Africa traditional religion, institutions and deities.

Ogene held that such titles do not reflect the will of God and biblical teachings, enjoining those who already had chieftaincy titles to disown them before death so as to make their paths right with God. The cleric, who gave the charge during a two-

day annual Conference of Laity of the church, warned that traditional chieftaincy regalia must not be worn to church for any reason.

He admonished participants to be good citizens of the Kingdom by keeping the Commandments of God and be exemplary in every thing capable of moving the church forward. He commended the Council of Laity under the chairmanship of Mr. Mike Orugbo for its steadfastness and active role in church growth, Orugbo, earlier in his address, decried that Nigeria was passing through difficult times which required the prayer of Christians.

PAGE

34—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016 08116759757

‘I stole grandma’s N2.7m to process S/African travelling documents’

By Esther Onyegbula

A

34-year-old suspect, Ayo Kunle Ibikunle, who allegedly swindled an octogenarian of N2.7 million, says he used the money to process his travelling documents.

Ayo, who studied animal health and reproduction at Federal College of Animal Health, Ibadan, Oyo State, said: “I used N750, 000 from the money to process my travelling documents. I wanted to travel to South Africa. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. After it failed, I gave N400, 000 cash to Kasali to supply me cattle to enable me begin a little ranch, while I used the remaining money miscellaneous things like travelling to Abuja, Lagos and staying in hotels.”

Sunday Vanguard learned that the 80-year-old victim, Mrs Felicia Oketokun, popularly called Mama in Ibadan, is a poultry farm produce dealer. She buys poultry birds and eggs from farms and re-sells.

How it all started It was gathered that on November 13, 2015, Mama received a call from one Ayo, who said he had 3,000 poultry birds for sale at Seion Farms in Olorunda, Ibadan. After negotiations, the octogenarian sent one of her workers to Seion’s Farms where he met with Ayo and inspected the birds.After inspecting the birds and certifying them okay for purchase, Oketokun’s staffer was said to have requested for Seion Farms account details to enable his boss make payment for the

—Ex-militant

this interview, raises issues over the running of the programme, calling attention to the amount approved for the programme as contained in this year ’s budget.

Excerpts:

appropriated for running the amnesty programme. Are you satisfied with what has been done so far?

Well, I will first of all, thank Mr. President for listening to the various calls to extend the

leader, Muturu Amnesty Programme to allow for the successful conclusion. But, I want to say that there is now a sharp contradiction in the President’s gesture and the amount approved for the running of the programme in the budget.

Nigerians can attest to the fact that the programme is gradually coming to a successful end with evidence of successfully trained Niger Delta youths in various endeavours, as well as those still in higher institutions abroad and also those yet to go for training.

It is clear that the N20 billion approved as opposed to the usual N40 billion in previous budgets is a deliberate attempt by government to stifle smooth running of the programme. This is because we, the beneficiaries, in the programme, upon hearing the amount during preparation of the nation’s budget, made several calls and appeals to government through the media on the need

to do the needful to ensure smooth running of the programme by revisiting the proposal for the programme.

You mean the Federal Government is trying to frustrate what it started with good intention for Niger Delta exmilitants?

How can government approve such an amount for the running of the Amnesty Programme, knowing fully well that it cannot cater for the running of the programme? As I am talking to you, the issue caused apprehension, in the Niger Delta, that training of ex-agitators and that their stipends may be stalled due to the amount approved. We see this action as deliberate; it is designed systematically to frustrate the running of the programme. We also reason that this is the will of some people who never wanted the programme to be successful in the first place.

Govt, Tinapa, firm set for ‘world largest Trade Fair’ in Calabar

By CALEB AYANSINA o boost the economy of the Cross River T State, the Management of Tinapa Business Resort and the Cliqit, an e-commerce

business management and development platform, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to organize the ‘world largest Trade Fair’ in Calabar, the state capital.

The Trade Fair, where not less than 10,000 vendors of goods and service are expected to participate, is to be introduced into the annual Calabar Carnival Festival in December, through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV): the Calabar International Trade Fair (CITF).

The Fair is expected to increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state up to N5bn on the long run with about 15, 000 jobs created through small and

C M Y K

Suspect weeps “Although I have not seen her before now, this is not the first time I am doing transaction with Mama. Usually, we do transactions and negotiations on phone. When I saw Mama yesterday for the first time, I started weeping because I didn’t know she was very old. I know what I did is wrong. I feel very bad now that I have been arrested. Contrary to the allegation that I defrauded my fiancé’s father, I did not. We only had some business transaction that went sour.”

They are systematically frustrating Amnesty Programme

ingsley Muturu, exK militant under the Phase 2 of the Amnesty Programme, in

You raised some issues in your last interview over the amount

Suspect’s account The suspect narrated his story to Sunday Vanguard: “I am from

Ekiti State but I am based in Ibadan. I was arrested because I took N2.7M from a client. I knew her through an agent. I used to buy and sell old layers, boilers, point of lay and other kinds of poultry bird. I help farm owners to treat their sick birds. I have been in this business for over eight years. I studied animal health and reproduction at Federal College of Animal Health, Ibadan.

N20b Budget

By Innocent ONOJA

The National Assembly has finally passed the 2 0 1 6 Appropriation Bill into law, what is your comment on the exercise?

I commend them for their efforts to ensure that the rule of law prevails in a democratic setting like ours. We saw the intrigues in the debate before the passage of the document. Let us continue to encourage democracy to thrive in the country.

poultry birds. But the suspect allegedly convinced him to pay the money into the bank account of his friend, Saeed.

It was gathered that immediately after Mama Oketokun paid N2.7M in the said account for the birds, Ayo went with Saeed and withdrew the entire money without giving the money to Seion Farms or supplying the products to the victim.

Thereafter, he went underground, living largely in hotels in Ibadan, Abuja and Lagos till he was arrested on March 29, 2016 at Ibadan after operatives of X-Squad tracked him down.

Processing documents “I didn’t take her money intentionally. I paid Saeed N500, 000 to allow me use his bank account for the transaction as I didn’t want to use my personal account. He withdrew N2m for me and later gave me N200,000.

He knew the money was from the proceeds of fraudulent transaction. I used N750,000 from the money to process my travelling documents as I wanted to travel to South Africa.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work out; so I gave N400,000 cash to an acquaintance, Kasali, to supply me cattle to begin my cattle farm, while I spent the balance on miscellaneous things like travelling and staying in hotels.

medium scale enterprises (SMEs), while empowering people with skill acquisition.

The Cross-River State Commissioner for Finance and Managing Director (MD) of Tinapa, Asuquo Ekpenyong, at the signing ceremony in Calabar, acknowledged that Tinapa was not doing well and there was need to bring back its economic values.

Ekpenyong, who has only been on the Management of Tinapa for about a month, said his team had identified the challenges that inhibited Tinapa and was ready to tackle them, adding that the MoU would ultimately contribute to the development of the state when executed.

The Commissioner asserted his faith in the success of the project, saying there was no infrastructural platform such as the Tinapa

Business Resort in the whole of West Africa.

In his remarks, the founder/CEO of Cliqit, Gerald Konwea,the brain behind the project, described the project as a history making venture which is why the Guinness World Records is involved.

“This is going to be arguably the biggest Trade Fair in the world. There are though big Trade Fairs in Germany with up to 7,000 vendors and there are even bigger Trade Fairs in China, except the numbers are on Chinese websites, there are no numbers on Google or websites that reflect on Google to suggest otherwise,” he said.

Gerald disclosed that the project is expected to increase the IGR of the state significantly from N12.7 billion to N14.9 billion yearly by 2016 – 2019, and an additional N2 – 5 billion from 2020 onwards.

But, don’t you believe the President meams well for the programme by extending it, after he discovered the wuccess the proramme has achieved?

Well, going by his inaugural speech and subsequent actions on the programme, I can agree with you. But the question oner may ask, is how can the same government decide to appropriate such a far less budget for the running of the programme? Has politics or illwill crept in? We expected that judging by the President’s disposition and the inaugural speech, where he promised to implement the programme to a successful concluion, as well as his other speeches on the programme,that he would be giving attention than the previous government which did its best. It is not in the best interest of government to frustrate the programme which has reached an advanced stage with appreciable results for the nation.

So, what are you suggesting that government should do ?

Government knows best on what to do. It is the shipmaster steering the ship and it should know where to steer it to. To us who are the beneficiaries, we have good intentions for the nation as we have been given better orientation in the polity through the Amnesty Programme. We now know how to approach issues better than when we were in the creeks. We want President Muhammadu Buhari to know that what is in the budget for the Amnesty Programme will stifle the programme. The programme should be given its deserved attention by government for its successful conclusion.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 35

Growth of smart phones in Nigeria is driven by availability of broadband — Revmatas, Director, Information

and Mobility, Samsung W/Africa Mr Emmanouil Revmatas is the Director of Information and Mobility, Samsung Electronics West Africa. In this interview with Emeka Aginam during the launch of Galaxy S7 edge and S7 series recently in Lagos, he spoke on a number of what Samsung Is doing to improve the lives of Nigerias. Noting that competition in the high end segment of the market for smartphones is very stiff, he said that huge growth of of smart phones in Nigeria is driven by availability of broadband.

Excerpt

I

ntroduction of new devices in the smart phone market Samsung as a brand has become synonymous with innovation. Our Galaxy S range is also regarded as the premium smartphone. Introducing the new Samsung Galaxy S7 edge and S7 is our commitment to our customers to meet their everevolving technology needs in the fast-paced world we live in.

Samsung did not just redefine these devices, but also reimagined what they could do based on the feedback from the people who use them, and what they need most from the devices. Our customers are the inspiration for any innovation.

The Galaxy S7 series have been adjudged as stunning in both visual appeal and handling. Are the devices really as fine inside as they are on the outside? What are the major features that stand out?

The key differentiators for the S7 edge and S7 range from IP68 water and dust resistance feature, which allows for submersion in up to 1.5meters of water for 30 minutes at a time.

The S7 comes with 3,000mAh battery, while the S7 edge has 3,600mAh batteries which are great improvements from the S6.

They also come with 4GB of RAM for improved multitasking and 30 percent more powerful processors with “thermal spreader ” water-cooling technology to avoid the phones overheating.

Both devices have support for microSD cards augmenting their 32GB of internal storage.

The microSD card space can also be used as a second SIM slot for those who want to use two SIM cards on their device.

Gear virtual reality headset The Gear VR is a virtual reality headset that allows you to clip in your Samsung device and transport yourself to another galaxy by either playing a virtual reality game or watching a fully immersive and C M Y K

interactive movie, or your own video that you have captured on your Gear 360 camera.

Competition in the high end segment of the market for smartphones is very stiff. The phones are mainly running on the Android operating system except of course Apple’s iOS. Since all Android-based phones are basically running on the same platform, why should one be preferred to the other?

Rather than answer this, I would prefer to say, let the consumer decide based on their own needs and wants.

Huge growth of smart phones in Nigeria In fact, approximately 70 percent of the market is still feature phone based even though there is a significant growth year-on-year of smartphones.

The huge growth is being driven by availability of broadband. Nigeria often leapfrogs technologies

evidenced by the fact that most people will never have a landline. Another factor driving adoption is investment in 3G, and more recently LTE, coverage and capacity. A third factor is that smartphones are becoming more affordable and in addition, the need for people to be connected is also driving growth. Nigeria ranks extremely

Competition in the high end segment of the market for smartphones is very stiff

high in terms of social media trends and activity. Without full broadband network in addition to the not-so-pleasant internet connectivity in Nigeria, do you think Nigerians are really optimising the benefits of smartphones like the Galaxy series?

I think the experience of smartphone users in Nigeria is improving every day.

Furthermore, many of the great features on the Galaxy do not always require i n t e r n e t connectivity.

With the world gradually moving into the era of Internet of Things, with virtually everything having connectivity to the internet, which role do you see the smartphone playing in this milieu?

A device that allows seamless integration of various tools, apps, wearable devices as well as household products.

Smartphones are loaded with all kinds of features, with some, like the S7 requiring biometric data to enhance the security of the device and the information stored therein. How safe are users’ data since the storage of such data are most likely cloudbased and outside the shores of this country?

All our premium devices come pre-loaded with Knox – a new Android-based solution specifically designed to enhance security of the current open source Android platform.

Knox has received superb reviews.

Future of smartphones five years down the line Our personalised device that can manage and connect to what, when and where we want.

This could range from our TV

or fridge to smart watches as such as the Gear S2 or virtual reality like the Gear VR, to gaming and now recording experiences using the brand new Samsung Gear 360 camera.

Android based phones and data consumption Perception is not always reality. Perhaps, as research has shown, the ease of using Android-based phones means that consumers access the internet and do a lot more with their devices and therefore consume more data because of higher usage.

International Electrotechnical Commission assessment of S7 series An IP, which is “Ingress Protection” rating, can only be achieved after a rigorous assessment has been confirmed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The code is defined by the IEC who state that IP68, which the S7 is, can be immersed up to 1.5m for 30 minutes.

Protecting devices from accidental damage As many know we were the initiators of this concept several years back, but now many retailers are offering this service in one form or another.

After sales support Depending on the nature of the problem, when a customer has an issue and takes their device to our service centres, which are located across Nigeria, the Service Consultant will advise whether the glitch is in or out of warranty. As you also know, we continue to be the only brand that offers a 24month warranty.

What is next for Samsung Galaxy series You will have to wait and see, but you can be guaranteed that we will continue to innovate and shape the future!

CYBERCRIME: VoguePay seeks cooperation among payment firms, security agencies

T

O address the growing activities of cybercriminals in Nigeria, experts have expressed concern saying that lack of cohesive coordination between the payment industry and security agencies to a larger extent has influenced the menace.

Speaking on this development, promoters of VoguePay, a leading Nigeria payment platform that serves tens of thousands of small businesses in four continents said that was need for collaboration among players in the payment industry to reduce the ugly trend.

VoguePay gives a unique insight into the security challenges faced by international businesses, both large and small, stressing that currently there seems to be a reluctance to tackle the problem at its roots, with some security agencies having the attitude that businesses can mitigate this via

insurance pay-outs.

In their review of fraudulent transactions, VoguePay revealed that the pattern detected by its security parameters points to an increase in deliberate collaboration between crime syndicates, using geo-location to avoid detection. It stressed that even when caught, the cyber criminals use geolocation patterns to avoid prosecution.

Citing examples of breaches, the Chief Executive Officer of VoguePay, Michael Simeon, said a criminal could be using a card issued in the USA to perform transactions in the UK, via a merchant in China. This way the criminals are taking full advantage of the lack of crosscountry coordination when it comes to fighting cyber-crime. Mr. Simeon, who has a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Newcastle, believes that cyber criminals are well aware of the constraints affecting

cyber-security authorities, which include coordination, cooperation, culture and budget.

“Another pattern we have noticed is criminals bypassing the card issuer’s authentication system by spending multiple small value transactions across different geographical locations. These go without investigation by the cybersecurity authorities due to the small values involved. However, collectively this represents high value cyber-fraud, especially for small businesses who are majorly the victims of such vices and do not have the resources or capabilities of larger companies to absorb such losses.”, he said.

According to him, , VoguePay plays a crucial role to protect its users; helping both merchants and customers to prevent and deter transactions that could prove to be fraudulent or result to potential charge-back transactions.

PAGE 36—SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016

Inset: Dr. Nike Akande and Mr. Ikpong Umoh

PETROL SCARCITY, POWER OUTAGES

Manufacturers close shop, others retrench, MAN, LCCI cry out

BY UDEME CLEMENT

M

anufacturers doing business in the country are counting the losses they incurred following the lingering scarcity of petrol as well as shortage of power supply.

When Sunday Vanguard visited the secretariat of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) at Ikeja area of Lagos, many manufacturers, who spoke to us, expressed displeasure about the recurring petrol scarcity and epileptic power supply in the country, lamenting that the industrial sector is rapidly collapsing because of these problems.

The Chairman, Toiletries and Cosmetics (T&C) Group of MAN, Mr. Ikpong Umoh, disclosed that while many manufacturing companies have retrenched over 50 percent of their workforce, others have closed shop due to their inability to meet up with buying fuel at exorbitant rates in the black market.

He said, “Now about 80 percent of our total cost of production goes into power generation, due to shortage of electricity supply and buying petrol daily at a very high price in black market to run our business. When you combine the shortage of power supply and scarcity of fuel to the forex crisis in the country, you would realise that manufacturers are going through the worst time in the country.”

C M Y K

He added, “Erratic power supply disrupts not only the entire production process, but the delivery chain and other economic activities involved in manufacturing. The industry is driven by power supply and when this is lacking, it means there is a serious problem. At present, manufacturers generate electricity by themselves using power generating sets and spending huge amount to buy fuel on daily basis. Before the persistent petrol scarcity, over 40 percent of our total production cost went into power generation, but, now, it has increased to 80 percent”.

Also speaking, the President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Nike Akande, stressed that the prolonged scarcity of petrol has taken a toll on businesses, saying that aside from the loss of manhours, as a result of long fuel queues and associated traffic issues on the highways, fuel scarcity challenge also promotes proliferation of black market.

“Therefore, there is the urgent need for government to liberalise the downstream petroleum sector for unfettered private sector participation and investment.

This would improve efficiency, attract more investment, generate more jobs to reduce the pressure on the country’s foreign reserves”, she said.

Akande went on, “We are also

There is the urgent need for government to liberalise the downstream petroleum sector for unfettered private sector participation and investment. This would improve efficiency, attract more investment, generate more jobs to reduce the pressure on the country’s foreign reserves

drawing the attention of government to the worsening power supply across the country in the last couple of months. This situation continues to pose challenges to business operators, despite tariff increase. There are complaints across all sectors about high energy costs, especially high expenditure on diesel and petrol for large/ Small

and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Many businesses spend as much as 15 to25 percent of their total operating cost on alternative power sources. This calls for the urgent need to review the current framework and the model, with a view to finding sustainable solution to the current challenges in the sector.

There is also an urgent need to explore alternative models of power provision, which focuses on diversification of energy sources and de-centralisation of power supply channels. The high dependence on gas pipelines from the Niger delta is characterised by high vulnerability risks, which the economy and the citizens can no longer bear.”

“There is a need to improve the budgetary process to ensure timely presentation and expeditious consideration by the National Assembly.

We need statutory timelines to guide each stage of the budget process.

There are currently too much of discretion on the part of both the Executive and Legislature on timing.

There is need for framework that would be time bound as it is the practice in advanced countries.

There should be statutory timeline for budget presentation; consideration by the Senate and assent by the President. Such a structure would be beneficial to the economy in the following ways: It makes planning better for public and private sectors of

the economy. It enhances faster delivery of infrastructure, which is critical for productivity in the economy. It reduces uncertainty about the budgetary process. It enhances cash flow in the economy and trickle down effects of government spending.

“Capital inflow is also another issue in the economy. In the past three years, investments inflow into Nigeria has been declining.

The data from National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), shows that in the last three years, Nigeria has recorded a total decline of N2.3trillion in investments inflow with total investment inflow of N10.18trillion. The report shows that all the three major components of investment such as Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), portfolio investment and other investments all recorded declines within the three-year period. This decline especially in 2015 is not unconnected with the tough economic environment, resulting from the lower global oil price and prevailing foreign exchange policies. To reverse this trend and increase capital inflows into Nigeria, the government must step up efforts to enhance capital flows into the economy by relaxing existing foreign exchange policies to facilitate inflows from export proceeds, diaspora remittances, and foreign investments.”

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 37 would not ordinarily do”.

He told the story of a female medical doctor who wanted to have children and you must know that, as a doctor, she is knowledgeable enough to know what to do.

This lady was taken to a church where she was given some rainbow colours concoction to drink. He said her intestines were almost cut into pieces . Of course it produced no result.

Did I hear you say, as a medical doctor, she should know better?

You are right, but that is what happens where one is frustrated.

Finally, she found her way to a good church that was able to tackle the spiritual challenge.

We must never be tired of taking the following steps to resolve spiritual challenges. The first is prayer, the second is praise worship and the third is fasting. Of course steps to be taken are not limited to these but they are crucial.

Testimony As usual, let’s lift up our faith with one or two testimonies, bearing in mind the word of the Lord according to the Gospel St. Luke 1 verse 37: “ With God, nothing shall be impossible”.

I refer to the sermon of Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, at the April Holy Ghost Night, titled “ Little lights”.

Making reference to Genesis 1 (13), Adeboye stated: “In the beginning, God created the heaven and earth and the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, `Let there be light: and there was light’”.

He explained that the world is ruled by two forces; darkness and light.

Since we know that our physical life is influenced by our spiritual life, as believers, we must stick to light, which is the Lord Jesus.

In subsequent column, we shall discuss this issue in details.

‘Importers are ripping-off FG of billions of Naira through underpayment of duties’ God is about to lift that embargo

BY OLUSUNKANMI AKONI

Chief Tunde Adesoye is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Techlum Nigeria Limited, manufacturers of building materials.

In this interview, Adesoye speaks on the need for Federal Government to block the loopholes in the importation and start looking inward by encouraging manufacturers of locally made goods. Excerpts:

E

xperience in aluminium business/how aluminium business is faring in Nigeria I have been in this business for over three decades and I’ve not done any other thing in my life except aluminium business. All I know how to do or have interest in doing is aluminium business. I learnt the trade at Alumaco, the popular aluminium company of that time. Actually, I started my own company in 1983. If one looked back at those days, then one will see that the difference is too glaring. There are so many flourishing manufacturers around, manufacturing companies abound in the textile sector, metal sector under which we have aluminium, rubber sector and so many others that employed thousands of Nigerians. That was during the first coming of Muhammadu Buhari as a Military Head of State. But, most of those companies of that period are no more today. Those that are still around are struggling to survive and producing too low against their installed capacity.

A good example is our company here, we are producing four aluminium products - the roofing sheets, household utensils, PVC ceiling and coil coating; but we’re producing at 20 percent installed capacity whereas there are over 100 workers that look forward to collecting salary at the end of each month.

Underpayment of import duties It’s so sad that Federal Government is losing too much of revenue from malpractices going with the collection of import duties on imported goods, importers, through the manipulation and connivance of government officials do not pay the actual duties on imported goods,. In most cases they don’t pay the right duties.

There was a time we approached FG to increase the import duties which they heeded. The Federal Government increased the duty from 20 percent to 30 percent, still there has been no positive effect on the pricing of imported goods. This tells you that there are of malpractices going on somewhere Therefore, government should make sure that importers comply with the right thing or else government will continued to be short changed.

It is instructive to know that textile industry is on the path of extinction in Nigeria. The number of companies that were operating in the last 30 years are not up to half in existence, What has been the response from MAN to ensure correct excise duties is paid We reached out to the Federal Ministry of Finance, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to lodge necessary complaint because, with those importers’ sharp practices on duties payment, they are indirectly ‘killing’ local manufacturers. EFCC swung into

doing this, government will ensure the Forex gets to the right companies.

•Chief Tunde Adesoye

It’s so sad that Federal Government is losing too much of revenue from malpractices going with the collection of import duties on imported goods, importers, through the manipulation and connivance of government officials do not pay the actual duties on imported goods action, in the book of one of the companies that was investigated, it was discovered that the company engaged in under-invoicing of goods brought into the country. In one of the company’s invoice, it paid N3.8 million excise duty where it ought to pay N26 million. That is one among those importers, there are hundreds of such importers who are into shortchanging the country. Majority of them pay as low as 10% duties on what they imported. We, the local manufacturers are at the receiving end of their shady deals.

FG plans on industrial revolution, what advice for local manufacturers President Muhammadu Buhari has done the right thing for saying No! to devaluation of the Naira.

To me, I’m convinced that this present government have a focus on economic issue. For the industrial Revolution Plan of the federal government, I want to suggest that government should reintroduce this regime of Import Licence to manufacturers, according to capacity of each company. However, the Foreign Exchange, Forex should be sourced not on individual basis but through notable associatios like MAN, NACCIMA and others because all these associations know their members.

If this is done, local manufacturers will have something to fall on to keep them going. The issue of Import Licence and Forex Allocation is very important if the country must avoid total collapse of the remaining manufacturing companies.

Stopping import licence over abuse That is why I said it should be granted through notable associations like MAN, NACCIMA and others. After compilation of companies that seek Import Licence, government should publish names of the companies under their associations. For example, publish names of companies that requested for Import Licence under MAN and classified them into groups under the associations to know if an unknown name have been smuggle into the list or not.

There are different groups under MAN and other similar bodies. By

People have been saying that most of the locally made products are sub-standard, including aluminium products, how true.

I don’t agree to that. In our own company, all our products are made to international standard.

Let me add this, if you see a contractor building a house, ask him which cable are they using in wiring the building, he would tell you it’s Nigerian wire. This applies to all other local products. Locally made goods are not inferior to imported ones. Don’t forget some local manufacturers too imports semi-finished products and complete the production here. In addition to this, most of the raw materials for some products are sourced overseas, the machines that are used in production here are also brought from overseas.

So, there is nothing special about imported finished products. In fact, quality of some of them is questionable. If you’ve following SON activities, you would have seen the number of sub-standard goods shipped into this country from Asia, Middle East and others.

Nigerians should be proud of made in Nigeria goods and patronise them to keep local manufacturers going and keep people’s job.

Manufacturers are facing series of challenges to keep their production line busy. If the government can block all the loopholes being taken as advantage by importers of finished products, I can assure you, the Nigerian Customs can make triple revenue for the country on yearly basis and locally made goods will not look too expensive compared to imported ones.

Challenge confronting local manufacturers The challenges are many and it varies from one company to another. The major ones that affect us all together are the issue of irregular power. We have been talking about this for long, we are yet to see a change. Lots of companies are running their production machines with diesel.

Bank loan is another great challenge. Every time, a local manufacturer continue to request for loan rescheduling, tax issue is there. These and more are the reason why the government should support and encourage local manufacturers. Our products can be cheaper if the government can control who gets Forex to do what?

Tackling under-payment of duties, under-declaring quantities of imported goods by importers First, let the government investigate the allegation against importers of finished products who deliberately under-pay duties and often declared less number of goods brought into the country.

EFCC has the record to show in this regard. Let the EFCC work closely with men of the Nigerian Customs to bring those that shortchanged the country to book, including their helpers in the Customs.

At MAN level, we have informed the new Customs boss about this on-going shady deals; it is left for the government to take the bull by the horn. Our efforts to ensure that manufacturing companies did not close shops should be supported by the government. If that is done, the nation’s economy will not only get boosted, more revenue will be realised by the government through the Customs Service.

“Oh! that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and wonderful works to the children of men !

KJV Psalm 107 verse 31 “

W

ith this Bible quotation, I begin this edition of Joyful Homes.

Why? The answer is simple. In spite of whatever we might be going through, as believers, we must praise the Lord. That we are alive is the first reason we must give thanks to God. Do have a moment of reflection and you will realize that several people, with whom we started this year, are no more. Our reflection is not to rejoice over the death of anyone including our perceived enemies but to thank God for keeping us alive.

This gives us assurance that our miracle is on the way.

In this edition of Joyful Homes, I share with a programme, entitled Harken Unto Me O Lord ( HUMOL), held at Victory Chapel , Province 21 of RCCG, Magodo Phase 2, Lagos First, let’s relate it to our subject: Joyful Homes. In this society, when a couple have been married for up to five years and they have no children , people, especially relations, will begin to put them under all forms of pressure. Several suggestions, including those that could break their homes, would be given to them. Whereas, in many cases, the challenge comes from either a medical or spiritual imposed mainly by people who are close to them.

Whereas, medical challenges are easier to address, though a lot of money may be required, spiritual challenges are never resolved with the knowledge of medical science.

I give an example. A young welleducated lady dear to her father in a polygamous home got married and the father had a lavish wedding for her.

All the other wives were in attendance but, unknown to her mother, father and the bride, one of the wives was completely pissed off that such an elaborate wedding ceremony was organized for this lady.

She then decided to do something.

She took steps that ensured that this lady never had a child in her marriage. The secret was let out of the bag when the lady began to go from one church to another. As of the time of writing this column, I do not know if she has had her breakthrough.

Now, that is an example of an embargo placed on someone’s life.

In the case of other people, the enemy could place an anti marriage embargo which would ensure that the victim never gets married. For others, it is an embargo placed on their finances. Such a people would be working like elephants and eating like ants. They could just find out, that for no reason, colleagues at work are being promoted and they are eft out. One could go on and on but the essence of this column is to assure us that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

How to lift an embargoThe first step to be taken to get an embargo lifted is to fully give your life to Christ. Stop living an ungodly life. Refuse to succumb to invitation to visit any herbalist or any church whose teachings are not in line with the word of God for solutions to any challenge.

In his sermon on “ No more embargo”, Evangelist Banji Adesanmi explained, “The effects of embargoes are seen even when the embargo is invisible. An embargo puts one to shame, ridicule and even makes one to do what one

Baby after 25 years of waiting?

Mrs. Comfort A., who had been married for 25 years, said she was diagnosed with fibroid and blocked fallopian tubes. She had surgery but she did not conceive. She decided to seek the intervention of God and wrote a letter to Daddy G.O., Pastor Adeboye. She was invited to attend Shiloh Hour, held every first Monday of the month. She went and today she is a mother.

Another couple, Laide and Dapo, got married in 2005 and had been trusting God for the fruit of the womb. The couple participated in the 100 days fasting and believed the word of the man of God that the reward of the fasting would manifest. To the glory of God, after 10 years of waiting, they were blessed with twin girls.

God gives a Samuel A lady testified also at the Holy Ghost night that she had been waiting on the Lord for a baby boy.

Doctors had told her that she was no more fertile but she held on to God believing that with God all things are possible.

She said her husband attended a programme at RCCG and had the opportunity of touching the chair that the G.O. sat on. That month, she conceived.

The good news is that she now has a baby boy.

Let me end this column with a message of congratulations to all those who have had their breakthroughs including a friend, Barrister Yemi, who gave birth to a set of twin boys recently.

She had two girls before and really wanted to have a son. Now , God has surprised her .

Glory be to God.

Editor’s Note- Joyful Homes was not published for two weeks due to production issues.

PAGE 38—SUNDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016

Some INEC officials have turned themselves into demi-gods — Eze Nwaugwu *’How to get 2019 polls right’

BY BEN AGANDE In this interview, Mr Eze Nwaugwu, the Chairman, Partners For Electoral Reforms, speaks on the 2015 elections and what needs to be done to ensure that there is improvement in the 2019 elections.

Excerpts: ou were fully involved in the run up to the 2015 elections. The elections have come and gone. What would you say are things that made the difference?

Every process and institution needs improvement. What went right with the 2015 elections was the introduction of technology and the removal of manual process in the handling of elections especially in the area of verification.

That has its own challenge. The big challenge is that we live in a country that criminalizes technology. People fight technology here because it takes away discretion and anywhere you have discretion, corruption is rife. When you have a society that is prone to corruption as much as ours is, the electoral process is not immune from corruption.

What we didn’t do well was to put the necessary safeguard for the technology that we introduced. Talk about the smart card readers, talk about the Permanent Voter Card. What those were meant to do was to verify the voters and authenticate the cards themselves. If you do that, you will realize that some of those funny figures that are posted during elections that have no bearing to the elections would be eliminated. Most of our voters registers are padded, just like they are padding budget now. Our voters registers have always been padded. If you have been a keen follower of elections, you will discover that during voters registration politically exposed persons in communities and INEC officials collude to inflate the voters register. Sometimes the lie is that it has something to do with the amenities that come to your area. So it is that padding that is the challenge. So the smart card reader was introduced to see how we can beat that down a bit.

If you ask me, those who fought the smart card reader did so from the point of ignorance because they didn’t actually understand what it was meant for. Now the challenge we are having is that of adoption to the issue of capturing of finger prints and the fight is still on.

We must get an authentic voters register.

That was what we didn’t do right. We did what INEC called cleaning of the voters register but it didn’t amount to anything in the local communities because you still have very few people coming out to vote.

The thing we didn’t also do well was that we didn’t do enough outreach. If you follow some of the rulings of the Supreme Court, you will find out that the justices are not supreme beings, and they don’t know everything. The training in the electoral process, the training in the technology that was introduced was not made available to them. Most of them don’t even understand what we are talking about.

We need to do more outreaches, we need to strengthen voter education which should target every section of the society and not just the ordinary people, the elite themselves are the ones who need voter education. The understanding most of the time is that everybody understands election but that is not true. Even very educated sections like the media that you would expect to understand these issues still find it difficult using the correct terms that have to do with elections; that means that we need to intensify training. That was what we didn’t do, our outreaches were not strong enough, our voter education was not very strong enough; we didn’t target the different sectors that are working to undermine the process.

How do you think this can be resolved before the 2019 elections?

The window for constitutional amendment is there. We can get the National Assembly to put it in black and white because that is what people are looking for, this new technology that we are talking about. But beyond all of these, we must get into electronic voting. If

Y

• Mr Eze Nwaugwu

If you follow some of the rulings of the Supreme Court, you will find out that the justices are not supreme beings, and they don’t know everything. The training in the electoral process, the training in the technology that was introduced was not made available to them

we continue to criminalized technology and we are not following what people in other climes are doing, we can never get it right .

Nigerians voted sometime ago and they didn’t have to travel back to their country to vote.

They voted in Sokoto and Kano. Ghanaians who live in Nigeria don’t travel back to vote, they vote from Nigeria. So we are not even talking about the US and Canada and the rest of them.

As a country, we must remove that impediment to electronic voting. Once you are able to get into electronic voting, we must remove that legislation that says you cannot use electronic voting. That is part of what we will do to remedy the situation. Once we take that off, then elections would become a common thing, we are using ATM everywhere, we are using e-passport, so why we cannot do electronic voting?

Bearing in mind the kind of process that brought about members of our legislature, do you see the possibility of them decriminalizing technology?

Well I think they supported the introduction of the smart card reader. There was initial opposition and that was why I talked about outreach, more extensive outreach. The members of the National Assembly were first opposed to the whole idea of the smart card reader. But the leadership of the INEC took the pains to take them through that process. So, you may not completely give up on them in terms of their ability to embrace this because there are also very progressive elements among them. An outreach that is targeted at policy makers to bring about these reforms is very important.

But the tragedy is that a greater percentage of our politicians are opposed to reforms.

But public education is important in bringing about reforms.

What is your reaction to the pronouncement of the Supreme Court on the card reader? Do you think that is an additional setback?

I don’t think so. In fairness to the Supreme Court, though I have my issues with them, I don’t think they came out against the smart card reader. They said it is supplementary and I think Femi Falana made that point not long ago that the Supreme Court did not actually nullify the use of the card reader.

But you know, when you give a weapon to those who ordinarily have wanted to kill technology, like I said, in the electoral process, the vagueness of the Supreme Court rulings helps to strengthen them.

What we need to do now is to make sure that, in the electoral reform and constitutional reform window that is opening in the National Assembly, we insist, as conscious citizens, that we needed that mainstream into our electoral process clearly so that there is no ambiguity as to where that is coming from.

Even the smart card reader was appropriated for by the National Assembly which makes the introduction of that machine legal; because it is not electronic, it is a machine.

The tenure of some of the Commissioners in INEC has expired, yet government seems to be foot-dragging in appointing new ones.

What does this portend?

I think the tragedy of our situation is that a government that benefitted essentially from reforms, the minimal reforms that has taken place, is foot-dragging in driving electoral reforms. Why do I say so? 20 states, as we speak today, do not have Resident Electoral Commissioners, the INEC Commissioners at the head quarters are expected to be 13, you have seven of them, six have not been appointed.

So, in reality, INEC as an institution is not running full steam. And it is difficult to understand why the President is foot-dragging but I think we will use the advocacy to get them to appoint the INEC Commissioners. They think they have fulfilled the constitutional provision that says seven commissioners would form a quorum but the Constitution says one third, not of seven but one third of 13. So you are still in breach of that constitutional provision because if you have seven people, they are not the full complement of that Board. Why the President is reluctant to appoint the full complement of Commissioners is what we can’t understand but we will continue the advocacy to ensure that what is right is done.

Are you saying that the President is in breach of the Constitution by not appointing a full complement of the members of the INEC Board?

No, I think there is a smartness they have, that says if you have appointed seven, you have not breached the Constitution; one third of seven is five. It may not be a breach in that sense but it is clear that you need to energize the institution to run full steam.

This foot-dragging, what does it portend for the next elections?

We have argued that the strategic plan for 2019 elections should have ordinarily been in the public domain by 2014 but, we are a country that likes to run things on a fire brigade approach. I don’t expect them to be excited so much about reforms, I am not expecting that excitement about electoral reforms from a government that benefited from reforms.

But my sense is that we must, as citizens, groups and organisations, continue to pressure that the right things be done in our electoral process.

Despite some little obstacles in the conduct of elections, people generally have the impressions that they are doing very well;

do you see this momentum being sustained?

A: No, I think that in terms of process, INEC has had a graph that goes up and summersaults. 2015 was good only to the extent that technology was introduced and it helped the electoral process considerably. But the internal reforms, the internal governance issues within the institution itself are still there. The electoral officers are gods in their own areas and they seem untouchable. As we speak now, no INEC staff, in spite of glaring breaches and malfeasance from them, is being tried by any court.

The focus of the reforms must also address internal governance issues within INEC itself.

In fact what has happened is that many people just leave the organisation the way it is.

Prof Jega actually side stepped internal issues by out-sourcing elections to university vice chancellors and ad hoc staff but without also ensuring that that linkage between the institution itself and the out-sourced places were cemented correctly. You bring a vice chancellor who absolutely is alien to election issues so he still depends on the INEC staff. Going forward, we must address the glaring compromises, the glaring issues that are clear that came out from the institution itself.

Do you see an outsider such as the INEC Chairman having the will power to carry out the reforms that you are talking about?

I see a lot of scare; talking with them, they tell you civil servants are terrible and that if you go there, you might not have the time to do your work but somebody is going to do that work, somebody must address the issue of civil servants and the role that they play.

As we speak now, the implications of not appointing the RECs is that you have allowed civil servants to run those states where you are supposed to have the RECs. So right now it is the most senior INEC official that is running those states. The danger is what you saw in the budget issue. The President was praising civil servants; if you remember that they are the ones who run, after all what do ministers do. I am sure it is clear to him now that civil servants are not what he thought they are. So we must put political leadership that can govern with the mindset of the leader, the mindset of the government and somebody who can we held accountable. I think seriously that if we have to get elections right, we must sanitize INEC. What do you think would be different from 2015 in the 2019 elections?

A: Increased citizen interest would be the difference. The things you got away with in 2015, you cannot get away with them in 2019.

What that means is that what you are seeing in the budget now, citizen attention is very high.

In 2019, citizens would be interested in what you do with the voters register; they would be interested in what you do with training, they would be interested in what you do with voter education, they would be interested in what you do with voting day activities. So that citizen interest, managing it would be the difference between 2015 and 2019.

But this would not happen except we go the way of electronic voting, in the way of independent candidacy, in the way of setting up electoral offences commissions, in the way of making sure that the constituencies are delineated clearly.

People would say, are you going to set up another institution? You know when you set up a commission, people get scared. But the tragedy of our situation is that if nobody is sanctioned, if nobody is punished for electoral offences, if murder, assault and battering on election day are taken as election day incidents, then we are not going to get anywhere.

So, we must pay a special attention to the issue of electoral offences, ensuring that people are punished and sanctioned for electoral offences.

We need to reinvigorate the INEC legal department; the whole idea of out-sourcing prosecution and trial of election issues to lawyers who you don’t understand their background and what they are thinking; the huge amount of money that is paid to those lawyers, you can use it to reinvigorate your legal department. But, finally, in my view, we need to have a stakeholders summit on electoral issues.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 39

EDO 2016: No problem with Oshiomhole backing an aspirant – Prof. Amadasun *Says moneybags will crash at the polls

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM Prof. Frederick Ebegue Amadasun is one of the governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State and a grassroots politician. In this interview, the professor of anaesthesiology, consultant anaesthesiologist at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and Chairman of the Edo State Hospitals Management Board, declares that, despite the money bags in the governorship contest, he has all it takes to defeat them at the APC primary election. He also reacts to the allegation by some aspirants of plans to manipulate the delegates list of the party, just as he says Governor Adams Oshiomhole has the right to back any candidate of his choice.

Excerpts: How has the race been? he race has been okay. On daily basis, we are winning more followers and more people now believe in our dream and we give thanks to God for it.

Are you not scared that some aspirants in your party who are seen to have deep pockets may kick you out of the race?

On a serious note, there are many money-bags in that race but that is one of the motivating factors for me because if I allow the money bags to frighten me off the race, it means I am doing a disservice to the people of my generation and the people in my own class of the society. So we can’t just leave the field for them, that will be sentencing oneself to perpetual servitude in his own land.

And we must also let it be known that money is important in this game but money is not all there is to it.

And President Buhari proved it, Prof.

Ambrose Alli proved it in the past

T

•Prof. Amadasun and some other people around the country have proved it too. This game is very expensive, it gulps resources but money is not all there is to it. In fact, so many other things go into it that can actually reduce money to a secondary level. And that is a point that we are out to prove.

What is actually motivating you in this race?

I want to prove that if you are not a billionaire, you can still aspire to any position in this country. Besides the fact that one feels eminently qualified, the ability to win the race and go ahead to do a good job is a motivating factor.

You are one of admirers of the Oshiomhole legacy in Edo. What are those things you want to do that you feel have not been achieved by the Comrade?

I am one of the apostles of Oshiomhole; so if people say Oshiomhole has done well, I am one of the chorus singers that he has done well.

You are meeting me in my office as the Chairman of the Edo State Hospitals Management Board. He put me here. I see it as a position of trust and respect from him. And it is part of the reasons I put my all into this job. But the second part of your

If PDP was a performing party, I would not have left the party. PDP has become moribund at least in Edo. Since the arrival of Oshiomhole, they have never won any state wide election question, what he has not done what one wants to do. I have always put it the other way round that he has done immensely well, I want to continue from where he has stopped. I want to sustain the legacy of the Oshiomhole administration and build on it.

You are from the same Orhiomwon Local Government with the Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Odubu, and Dr Chris Ogienmwonyi who are both strong contenders in this race. How do you intend to outsmart them?

We are from the same local government; so we will just take our own share of the votes of the delegates from the local government. I can assure you I am not an underdog there. I have made my mark there and I will keep that which is mine. But Orhionmwon is just one out of 18 local governments, winning Orhiomnwon is not all that will be in getting the ticket, you still have seven local governments to go and fight and get majority votes to claim the nomination and that is what I am setting out to do.

We have four governorship aspirants from Orhiomnwon where you

hail from, including one PDP aspirant. Why do we have four from that same LGA? It is a cry of the heart, we are appalled by the relative under -development of the place. A vast land mass under-developed and yet having sons and daughters eminently qualified in all spheres of life both within and outside this country and yet the place remains in perpetual under-development until the coming of Oshiomhole. It will be a question mark on those of us from the area who are in a position to go for leadership and refuse to.

Allegation of plans to substitute delegates list It remains an allegation. But those who are concerned enough to want to take it off have brought the information to the attention of the national body of the party, and the National Vice Chairman in the South-South, has assured all aspirants who were there at a meeting in Abuja, that there will be no tampering with the delegates list. They even went as far as saying that it is the delegates list that was approved by a former National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, that will be used and there will be no tampering with the list. I think that is assuring enough. The primary will be supervised by the National Secretariat of the party; so if they give such assurance, I believe we must give them the benefit of the doubt.

But we hear of an anointed candidate in APC. Does that not bother you?

In the first place, the phrase ‘anointed candidate’ is a misnomer.

What I mean by a misnomer is that it is a spiritual responsibility by a spiritual authority to so do. In our party, nobody is given any authority, spiritual or temporal, to do anointing. So the question of anointing does not come in at all. But if you are talking of individuals, leaders, officers in the party expressing interest in one aspirant or the other, I believe that is a legitimate thing.

There is no blank mind in this game, even when it comes to the governor.

The governor is the leader of the

party, and, as a leader of the party in the state, he cannot be said to have a blank mind on the matter. In actual fact, having done so well, he should be interested in who comes after him. But the point is that if he prefers Mr A to Mr B, does that trample on the aspiration of Mr B? No. Mr B still retains his inalienable right to aspire. And since the field is open, the delegates are all available for both Mr A and Mr B to lobby, nobody knows how the result will go until the final counting. So, talking about anointing or blessing, I reduce all to lobbying.

The delegates are there for all of us to go and lobby by the high and the mighty and the not so mighty and the lowly placed. Go and lobby the delegates rather than dissipate energy accusing the governor or anyone else.

The state PDP has boasted that they will take over the state. As a former member of that party, do you think they have the capacity to do that?

If PDP was a performing party, I would not have left the party. PDP has become moribund at least in Edo. Since the arrival of Oshiomhole, they have never won any state wide election. This forthcoming governorship election does not promise to be an exception because they have lost their spin, they have lost their message, lost their population and everything.

One of the PDP aspirants, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, used to be a member of the APC. Do you see his entrance in the race as a problem, for the APC? It can never be a problem because whoever they field, APC will defeat him. It is not a question of individuals. Pastor Ize-Iyamu is a nice man on his own, but we are talking about party versus party. I think the Supreme Court once gave a judgment that when people vote they actually vote for their parties. We are going to compare APC with PDP. PDP is a spineless party, PDP is a vision less party, PDP is a party that even desecrates promising candidates and individuals.

Opposition has nothing against Delta govt— Comrade Abeh

BY LUCKY OJI COMRADE Moses Abeh is the Special Assistant to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Inter Party Relations.

Until his appointment, he was the Chairman of Association of Registered Political Parties in Delta State.

He was also the State Chairman of African People’s Alliance and has been in politics for over two decades.

In this interview, he spoke on variety of issues of interest.

Excerpts: ou were the Chairman of Association of Registered Political Parties in Delta State; what is opposition like in the State today?

Currently, after the Supreme Court judgement which reaffirmed the election of the His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Executive Governor of Delta State, the opposition parties are now coming together. Although there are some defections from one party to the other due to personal reasons of the politicians involved. As for the other politicians of other political parties, I will say they remain focus in trying to see how they will support the administration of His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to succeed, because we know if he succeeds, we all have succeeded irrespective of our political parties and kudos will go to every Deltan who have supported this administration to succeed. Presently the political parties are united, working together for the administration to succeed.

We seem not to have a stiff opposition in the State anymore; why?

Opposition is not about fighting; is not about running down some-

Y

C M Y K

one simply because you are not in government. Every political party cannot be in government at the same time. So talking about stiff opposition, I don’t see what the people will oppose. The government is just about eleven months old and the Governor is trying to make sure that most of the roads that were not passable are passable. He is trying to get prosperity to all Deltans.

So talking about stiff opposition, the people that are supposed to call themselves opposition have nothing to oppose because they are seeing what the man is doing and they know he is on the right track. We don’t have anything to oppose. All we need to do is to join hands with him to move the State forward.

Today, you are Senior Special Assistant on Inter-party Relations to the Governor; how are you using this position to strengthen political parties in the State?

As the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Inter-Party relations, my position is like a go-between the political parties and the government. I meet the political party, liaise with them, know what their problems are and report same to the Governor. I have been meeting with them; I have met with them over twice. So that these political parties will have a meeting with the governor, discuss with him to chart away forward.

You no longer talk like someone who is in opposition; are you still in opposition?

I am not a PDP member; I am from the African People’s Alliance. I have never been a PDP member and my appointment was not based on opposition. The office of Inter-party relations can be handled by anybody,

Even with the dwindling receipt from the federation account, you see that Delta State remains the only state that is consistent with payment of salaries of workers •Comrade

Abeh

be he a politician or not, it is at the discretion of His Excellency the Governor and by the Grace of God, he thought it wise to appoint me. And by the Grace of God, I have been a State party Chairman for over eight years. When I was Chairman, most of them that are chairmen now were maybe secretaries or youth leaders.

So I am still a member of the African People’s Alliance. I have not crossed to PDP. Let me make it clear, I am not talking like a PDP man, what I am saying is the truth which cannot be hidden; the truth is always open. We made series of publications even before my appointment to praise the government.

About 11 months down the line; how will you assess the present administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa?

I will say the train is moving fast.

Soon after his inauguration, he commenced a programme for the youths and took hundreds of youths to Sapele where they were trained in

different fields of their choice. Then after that we heard of the flood that destroy some fish farms at camp 5 and we knew how the state government intervened to reduce the pain of these young graduates that are into fish farming.

As we speak, he is taking another set of youths for same programme, which means he is creating jobs. By the time these young men and women will finish their trainings, they will be productive and also create employment for some persons. That is by the way, some people are criticizing the Governor that the appointments are too many while others are saying that he should employ people. What is appointment and what is employment? They are all for the sake of empowerment.

Like myself today, I have people that are working with me, I have people that I am taking care of from my own salary. Which means that I am reaching out to people and those people will be useful to themselves and the society. The young graduates that are trained in various skills, they themselves will be useful to

themselves and the society. Before you know it, crime will reduce to the barest minimum.

Even with the dwindling receipt from the federation account, you see that Delta State remains the only state that is consistent with payment of salaries of workers. In some states of the federation, you see that they owe workers up to three, four, six months but this government does not owe any single worker salary. So 10 months down the line, I believe he has done well and we pray that he will do more.

You are talking as if there is an alliance between your party and the PDP, we want to know if there is an alliance; and if there is, are you supporting an instance of one party state?

There is no way I will support a one party state and there is no alliance between my party and the PDP. How will there be an alliance without the knowing, it is something we will do in the open.

Some persons see you as the spokesman of the PDP even though you are in the opposition.

What is your take on it?

Well everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. What I am saying is, we should stop this ‘pull him down syndrome; it will lead us nowhere.

If you have a programme, come up with your agenda and with your manifesto we will know whether we will support you or not; you have not come up with something like that yet you want to be Governor and you keep dragging those in power from one court to another, distracting them. For Christ sake, where do you want them to fund their cases from?

PAGE 40—SUNDAY

Vanguard, APRIL10, 2016

W

hat is wrong with Nigerian parents?

Last week’s experience of some families was not palatable as two cases of road accidents involving school children were recorded. The first one was where children were thrown out of the school bus even with four teachers in the bus.

Thank God the children have been discharged from hospital though they sustained injuries. The second accident was not widely reported but it did happen at around Maryland at Idiroko Bus stop where school children normally cluster to board Bus Response Transit (BRT buses). A red bus, with the inscription, ‘LAG bus’, ran into the children and wounded about four of them who we learned are in JSS 1 from schools inside Maryland compound. Two of them were in coma because of the impact of the accident. The driver, we learned, beaten to pulp.

Though, we don’t pray for incidents like this, what are parents doing to protect children from road accidents? Yes, parents cannot be with children 24hrs, but why do parents prefer to take their wards to attend long distance schools? There are many schools, both private and public, around us, but many children can be seen trekking long distances or boarding public buses for kilometres before getting to school.

This is injurious to children. What type of result do parents expect from these children who have expended their energy before getting to school? What training have they given to these children on road safety? How many parents themselves can boast of walking safely on Nigerian roads full of reckless drivers?The truth is that anyone familiar with the poor condition of the roads know the way school children struggle to board the BRT buses and many of them enter with bruises.

There are schools in every street and community and these are located at no more than one kilometre of one another, which was one major reason schools were opened in almost every hamlet in the country. But today, it does appear that many children still travel long distances to and fro school because parents prefer to take children to walk long distances in the search for ‘standard school’ at the expense of their children’s lives.

Unfortunately, many parents are missing it by measuring standard with gigantic building. If that is what parents want, let them keep

Children going to schools far away from home these children in boarding schools which is safer for them not minding the recent kidnappings that happened.

The second incident still boils down to the same issue- careless protection of school children by parents who just leave their children 100% in the care of schools. What excursion are 45 children going for in a 18-seater bus? Of course, collecting fees from parents means schools must look for somewhere to take them to.

Which excursion are primary school pupils going for? I have seen many of these schools bring primary school children on excursion to my media house but I make it a point of duty to always tell people bringing them that they are just suffering the children because they don’t know the essence of the excursion because many of them just yawn throughout their stay.

Parents reserve the right to refuse the school from taking their children on excursion. Tell the school that your own children are not ready until they get to secondary school. If they insist, pay them the money which many of the schools want but leave a standing order that they not take your children.

PARENTING The issue is the standard of running of public and private schools throughout the country which has created a culture of impunity. People do what they like knowing fully well that nothing will happen. There are no lay down standards for conveying or transporting students from one

As we can see, children below the age of 20 are the most affected by road traffic related accidents

place to another and, if there are, since Nigeria knows how to create laws without implementation, why are children transported in horrible buses to and fro school and for excursions?

Is field excursion part of school curriculum? Why are the schools not required to provide a standard transport system before the Ministry of Education gives approval? Why should the Ministry overlook something as important that endangers the lives of innocent pupils who get excited any time their schools organize excursion?

Does that mean anything goes for the schools. This state of affairs affects both public and private schools. I have seen public schools in programmes collecting transportation fares and their teachers will just take them across to board public buses. Hardly will one see a public school with a school bus and yet they go on excursions and programmes.

Government should treat this as a matter of urgency to make it mandatory for schools to have standard school buses for school runs and excursions and should also see this as important as the school building. If a community could afford to build classroom

F

OUNDER of Aret Private School, Lagos, Princess Titi Oyebowale, has urged the Federal Government to allocate more funds to the education sector.

Insufficient funding, according to her, is a major factor retarding the development of the sector, which she described as the most important of all sectors.

Speaking at the maiden interhouse sports of the school, Oyebowale, regretted that hitherto, the government had not made education a priority,

Indomie to Reward Consumers with New Promo

D

•Teachers and pupils of Dominican Group of Schools, Mafoluku, Lagos during the donation of items to the Lagos State Rehabilitation Centre, Majidun Ikorodu.

Educationist seeks improved funding for education

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

blocks, they should be able to buy a standard school bus and private schools who could afford to build a school should have a budget for same According to a World Health Organisation report, 1.25 million people worldwide lose their lives in road crashes, most of which are preventable and, out of these, more than 20 percent are children aged 18 and below, earning road traffic fatalities a place at the top three with HIV/AIDS and tropical diseases as one of the deadliest culprits behind untimely deaths.

As we can see, children below the age of 20 are the most affected by road traffic related accidents. The world is thus losing a significant proportion of a future adult generation and it is believed that if something could be done to reduce the number of lives of children on the threshold of adulthood that the world loses every day, attainment of Sustainable Development Goals and their targets would become more realistic as Nigerian children eagerly wait for implementation of SDGs.

adding that unless the issue was addressed, the sector would continue to remain comatose.

She said, “The allocation given to education in Nigeria is still very minimal.

Educationists need more funds to be able to equip our children with requisite skills needed in this 21st century. If we want to get it right in education, the government must fund the sector adequately to meet up with international standard.

“We do not have to deceive ourselves. Education, be it public or private is very expensive. “If schools do not have adequate learning facilities there is nothing anybody can do to improve the

system. So government should place emphasis on funding because at the moment the percentage they are allotting to education is low. The government should emulate other developed countries that have gotten it right in that sector.”

She regretted that government did not consider the idea of giving incentives to private schools despite the fact that most private schools were doing their very best to improve the lot of Nigerian children. “We do not receive any support from government; rather they take bills from us for running private schools”.

Highlighting the importance

of sports in the development of young children, the Chairman, Sports Committee for the event, Mr. Aneru Jaheez noted that there was no time too early to introduce kids to sports and develop their sportsmanship and improve their psycho-motor skills.

The inter-house sports which kicked off with the lighting of the unity torch had several sports activities like march past, picking the balls, slippers race, bursting the balloons, filling the baskets, sack race, filling the bottles, egg and spoon race, dressing to Aso Rock to meet the President, 50-meter race, tugof-war and relay race for both pupils, parents and teachers.

ufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie noodles brand in Nigeria, is set to reward consumers with the chance to win a trip to Dubai with the kick-off of its latest promo tagged, “Wrapper Redemption Promo”. The promo, which began on Monday, March 14, 2016 to end on April 2016, across four key cities -Lagos, Ibadan, Kano and Kaduna, is designed to reward its loyal consumers for their unfailing patronage of the brand.

Indomie Wrapper Redemption Promo avails consumers and retailers to be winners of several mouthwatering prizes where the ultimate prize is an all-expense paid trip to Dubai to ten lucky consumers.

Speaking on the launch of the promo, the Group Public Relations and Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, said Indomie, as a brand, is always delighted to engage and reward consumers through various means in order to put smiles on their faces, saying that indomie brand would always engage in promos and other activities this year in a bid to bring joy to the hearts of our consumers who are the company biggest stakeholders To qualify for the promo, Asiwaju said a consumer is required to present twenty (20) Indomie wrappers of any SKUs. These SKUs are in 70g, 100g, 120g, or 200g of any of the Indomie variants with manufacturing date not later than 1st of December, 2015.

The wrappers can be presented at any of the redemption centres to receive an instant gift of an Indomie packet, and a raffle ticket which qualify the consumer for the raffle draw, Asiwaju said each raffle ticket received avails the consumer a chance to win exciting prizes which include; television set, refrigerator, brand products, and a trip to Dubai.

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016,

VIEWPOINT

By Fola Aiyedun VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF VIEWPOINT Media trial as against court prosecution

T

HE sitting of the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja last week was not short of drama.

The trial of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who was before the tribunal to answer a 13-count charge bordering on irregularities in asset declaration had commenced properly with the prosecution calling its first witness.

It was a certain Micheal Wetkas of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a man who seemed given to drama and theatrics.

Giving his testimony, Wetkas alleged that the Senate President was involved in several fraudulent transactions through his GT Bank accounts running into millions of naira. In one instance, he claimed associates of the Senate President made 87 lodgments into his GTB account without providing forwarding address therefore, making it difficult to trace.

“On February 27, 2007 there was a cash deposit of N3 million by one Josiah Samuel,” he said.

“On April 3, 2007 there was a telegraphic transfer of N180,675,000:00 as part payment to the Presidential Implementation Committee on Landed Properties. Also on Sept. 7, 2007 there were some cash lodgments by one Ubi who made cash lodgement in five tranches on the

VIEWPOINT

By Balarabe Oshiafi

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Why the people want a governorship aspirant

R

ECENTLY at a kindred meet ing in Afagbedo, Olele, Iyuku-Uzairue, Edo State, the aspiration of one of the governorship contenders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Godwin Obaseki, crept into the conversation. The conversation, which was made more serious by questions by members of the kindred residing outside Edo as to the experience of Obaseki as a politician motivated this writer to the point of doing this piece. The professional politician belongs to the school of thought which holds the view that

VIEWPOINT

By Kelechi Ikeagwu

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The way forward for the real estate sector RESIDENT Muhammadu P Buhari’s public lamentation of the problems that beset the coun-

try’s housing sector should pass for official admission of the failure of the government to meet its basic obligations to the people.

At a two-day retreat held by the National Economic Council in Abuja recently, the president listed three factors namely, severe shortage of housing, high rents and unaffordable prices of houses for potential buyers as impediments to the successful delivery of housing infrastructure to the country’s growing population. He also frowned at the role of relevant government agencies and departments in creating the bottlenecks in the sector and identified official

Page 41

SARAKI’S TRIAL: The Farce and the Facts same day in the sum of N11million, N20 million, N20 million, N20 million, N6 million; the total was N77 million. The position of the account was in a debit balance of N81,960,289.”

To add spice to the tale, Wetkas further claimed that the Senate President continued to draw his salary even after he left office as Governor of Kwara. His words: “In exhibit 15, the defendant was still collecting salaries as Governor till August31, 2015 after he had ceased to be one since May 29, 2011 when his second tenure ended. As at July 2007, the account statement of the defendant was N254,412,125. In June 2011, it was put at N291,124 with the narration KWSGMAY2011 salary. On July 4, 2011, there was another payment with narration KWSG May 2011 salary.”

The gist of the evidence by Wetkas appears to be very weighty; especially as it is of criminal nature. But a close review suggests that there is no connection between the evidence and the charges against Saraki. Let’s not forget,Saraki is before the Code of Conduct Tribunal because of alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct Act, for failure to declare certain property he acquired when he was governor between 2003 and 2011. For matters bordering on crime and stealing of government’s funds, Nigeria is not short of courts which are statutorily empowered to

try suspects for such infractions.

It therefore appears to me that the tribunal has overstepped its boundary by delving into matters which it is not empowered to deal with.

If indeed the man was guilty of stealing Kwara State funds as the evidence implied, then he should have been charged to a regular court to face trial for corruption. That should be the right thing to do. The Code of Conduct Tribunal is not the right place to try such weighty allegations of corruption, since it is only quasi-criminal in nature and without the power to jail anyone. And the fact that Saraki was brought before it somewhat validates his claim that he was

The gist of the evidence by Wetkas appears to be very weighty; especially as it is of criminal nature.

But a close review suggests that there is no connection between the evidence and the charges against Saraki

being politically persecuted, and not because of any infraction he committed.

Therefore, even though the testimony of Wetkas enjoyed wide reportage in the media and the witness has been celebrated like a super star, the defense counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, must be inwardly happy with the way the matter has progressed.

One, the prosecution has failed to prove that any of the lodgments in the GT Bank account of the Senate President is as a result of corrupt enrichment or stealing of government funds. Just because someone lodged money into an account 50 times in one day is not enough to conclude that corruption has taken place.

Two, they have also failed to show the connection between lodgmentsin GT Bank and the property that were allegedly acquired by Saraki. If anything else, what the testimony of Wetkas has proved was that Saraki bought a lot of the properties from loans obtained from banks, particularly, GT Bank.

Nothing that has been said so far has proven that Kwara State Government money has been diverted into buying those properties.

A tough task, no doubt, for the prosecution. Probably, that is why it seems to rely more on drama and sensationalism rather than on concrete proof to convict Saraki. If not, of what material value to the case is the

The Obaseki endorsement politics is a dirty game. He does not necessarily need formal training in any field to achieve this status. He relies on his recognition within the party hierarchy, and flows therefrom for survival. His instrument of trade include but not limited to gossips, propaganda, thuggery, election rigging and inordinate scramble for patronage.

To this professional politician, welfare of the citizenry’ infrastructural development, human capacity building and empowerment; service delivery to the people, general good governance are at the bottom of his agenda.

Must the status quo remain? Lord Denning, a world renown legal luminary of blessed memory, said,”If

we fail to do what has not been done before, we won’t get anywhere” Let it be said towards the end of the first tenure of Obaseki as governor, that the people of Edo blazed the trail by electing this expert in financial matters and were able to steer the change mantra towards productivity, accountability and development. Beyond political marketing which involves selling the aspirant and his manifesto to party leaders and various interest groups before the primary and shoring up support towards winning the opponent at the polls thereafter, the job of a governor is not politics in the practical sense of the word. This task of governance is essentially the efficient

and effective utilisation of scarce resources. It is the minimisation of losses and the maximisation of profits which is the overriding goal of an organisation. The job of a governor is the job of someone of the pedigree of Obaseki who has brought a verifiable proofs of steering several corporate organisations towards profitability and industrial harmony. (Please visit www.godwinobaseki.org). Flowing from this premise, it is tenable to come away with the conclusion that this technocrat will help Edo manage her lean resources judiciously and optimally as governor.

Commenting on the suitability of the aspirant during an interaction with this writer, Alhaji Abu-

allegation that he continued to draw his salary after he ceased being the governor of Kwara State? This allegation no doubt must have caused a lot of gasps in the tribunal and made good newspaper headlines the next day. But, in practical terms, what has this got to do with the case other than to play with the emotion of the public thereby prejudicing their minds against the defendant, a good job the tales of multiple deposits and illegal salaries have done. Some people have started calling on Saraki to resign. He is presumed guilty even before he has the opportunity to present his side of the story.

What manner of justice.

I believe the prosecution appears to be doing a good job of convicting Saraki in the media.

But the real trial should be taking place in the tribunal where what really matters is the law and not the drama and the farce being reported. The truth is that the case appears very weak. The foregoing gives cause to worry about the efficiency of our judicial system and its persistent inability to secure criminal convictions. What we have witnessed largely, over the last few years in Nigeria, is a situation where our legal system has recorded more convictions on the pages of newspapers than in the court of law.

Will the Saraki trial be different?

Time will tell.

•Aiyedun lives in Abuja. bakar Mohammed, an Etsako leader said, “Godwin Obaseki is a perfect man for the job and we should call on all well meaning leaders, women, youths to support him to be our next governor. We should consider ourselves lucky and be grateful to Governor Adams Oshiomhole for creating an enabling environment that is not heated up by the those who sharing the money always, I mean an environment that encouraged Obaseki to want to serve and continue from where Oshiomhole will stop”.

So as Edo decides this 2016, we should eschew thuggery, violence and support Obaseki as our next governor.

•Oshiafi is resident in IyukuUzairue, Edo State.

Achieving housing delivery with indigenous players red tapism, corruption and inefficiency in the public service as contributory factors to what has become an intractable problem.

The president’s public concern about the country’s estimated housing deficit, which he put at 15 million, has come at the right time.

It has come at a time when the private sector, having realized government’s inability to single handedly meet the challenge of providing decent shelter for the country’s teeming population, has stepped in to take a substantial part of the burden off the shoulders of government. This, they have been doing, through building and delivery of modern and affordable houses to Nigerians in all cadres, thereby raising the standard of living of many.

The president was reported as having expressed concern that his party, All Progressive Congress (APC), might not be able to fulfill

its promise of building one million housing units every year. He reportedly said as a first step, the Federal Government would build 250,000 housing units, while governments in the 22 states controlled by APC would build 250,000.

The ambiguity in this statement lies in the fact that the president wasn’t clear on whether or not the 22 APC state governments would collectively deliver 250,000 units or the figure is what each would be expected to build.

Buhari gave assurance that foreign investors and major construction companies operating in the country would be encouraged to go into commercial housing projects, with the objective of providing the shortfall in the target of eliminating the housing deficit..

Without doubt, major players in the real estate sector have redefined the concept of housing delivery, bringing within the reach of

Nigerians opportunities to own houses in decent environments.

They have, through their combined efforts, contributed in no small measure to the effort to reduce the housing deficit in the country.

For instance, Lekki Worldwide Estates Limited, a foremost housing provider, is said to have delivered, through the popular Lekki Gardens brand, about seven thousand housing units to more than four thousand people in the four years it has been in existence. The company is said to have built 57 estates in three states, namely, Lagos, Ogun and Rivers, as well as the federal capital territory. Its strategy of delivering affordable houses complete with the most modern facilities to all classes of Nigerians, ranging from low income earners to those at the top of the socio-economic ladder, endeared it to both occupants of its properties and prospective house

owners.

It is a welcome idea to invite foreign investors and major construction companies in the country to participate in the real estate sector that is largely unexplored. It is equally important to create the enabling environment that would allow the small and mostly privately owned housing entities to thrive, as a way of encouraging greater local participation in the sector. One way to do this, as the president rightly identified, is a review of relevant laws to make the process of acquiring land less cumbersome and less expensive.

Also, competent people with proven integrity should be appointed to head the relevant agencies that are charged with the responsibility to ensure standards on every component of the housing delivery chain.

• Ikeagwu is based in Lagos.

PAGE 42—SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016

How Oritsejafor's successor will emerge

By Sam Eyoboka

A

S nominations for the election of the next National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, closed Friday, the General Secretary, Rev. Musa Asake and the legal adviser of the august body, Barrister Albert Uko have debunked rumours making the rounds that the outgoing president has an anointed candidate.

Rev. Asake and Mr. Uko also confirmed that a new national president of CAN to succeed Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor will emerge on May 17 and the following day would be used by the National Executive Council, NEC, for the ratification of the association's new constitution which has been in the works for the last two years.

Speaking in an interview, Rev. Asake contended that mischievous persons are just introducing politics into an ordinary spiritual exercise to elect a leadership for the Association, stressing "they are introducing politics that we are practicing in Nigeria where when somebody is leaving office, he has to install some other person who will do his bidding.

"That is not the case in the Church.

What will the CAN president stand to gain by doing that? Nobody is going to come from his bloc to contest. People don't know CAN, that is why they are just clamouring and some mischievous persons are just manufacturing lies for their selfish reasons. They should realize that this is God's work," he added.

Continuing, the CAN Scribe said: "The outgoing president has run CAN from his personal resources.

My brother, if you know the man...this is a man who has gained nothing here but abuses and every negative thing because of his standing for the right he believes in.

This is the man that has spent his resources to keep us going in CAN... why will he want to anoint somebody? To cover what for him? Or to do what for him?

"It simply does not make sense at all, but this is Nigeria. We always believe the lie and ignore the truth," Asake emphasized.

Speaking in the same vein, the legal adviser argued that whoever is making that allegation must be making very malicious and unfounded statement "because the current CAN president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is a straightforward person who would not meddle in such matters. The best I know about him is that everybody is qualified to run.

"He wouldn't do a thing like that.

Anybody that says that is just mischief. He has repeated it several times that whoever would emerge as the next election would be as a result of a very fair election. In fact, he doesn't even have a hand as to who the blocs would vote for and you know that his bloc is disqualified from contesting the election. So, if you ask me I would say it is absolute falsehood because he cannot go and influence the candidate of any of the other four blocs that make up CAN," Uko explained.

Why nomination was extended Asked why the nomination

process was extended by one week, the General Secretary said it was as a result of the kidnap that happened in one of the five blocs of CAN. Asked how the kidnap of the TEKAN/ECWA leaders will affect the electoral process, Asake explained that he was in no position to determine that, saying: "I don't know.

It's their bloc and now that their leader is out, they have to decide on what to do. We have given them one week grace and on Wednesday we received their nominations for the electoral college.

"If they have a candidate to present for the presidency, fine. We have given them time frame to do that," he stated, explaining that the CAN constitution does not stipulate that the leader of any bloc must necessarily represent the bloc.

"When election is coming, once you are a Christian and you are a member of a particular bloc, you are expected to be endorsed by that bloc to contest the election. Any person coming from any bloc must be dully endorsed by the bloc," Rev. Asake explained.

On the number of nominees so far received, he could not volunteer information because "we are just waiting for the closure and I will hand over to the 15-man electoral committee (3 per bloc) that has already been constituted.

"I will be submitting the list of nominees to the electoral committee on Monday (tomorrow) and they have till the end of this month to complete their work and recommend two candidates to the National Executive Council of the Association," he explained.

According to him, May 17 and 18

have already been set aside for NEC meeting were a new CAN president will emerge out of the two high flyers recommended by the Electoral College while the runner-up will automatically become the Vice President of the Association.

How a new CAN president will emerge The process leading to the election of a new CAN president begins with a call for nominations from four out of the five blocs that make up the body. The bloc that produced the outgoing president is precluded from the race and each nomination must be endorsed by the head of the bloc, meaning that there can be only four contestants for the post of National President of CAN. Then the outgoing president is expected to constitute an 15member electoral college made up of three members drawn from each of the five blocs. The duty of the electoral college, according to the legal adviser, is to interview the candidates and screen them to make sure they have the requisite qualification and experience.

"At the end of the screening the electoral college is expected to pick the best two candidates which it would present to the National Executive Council of the body for proper voting. That is election will now be conducted at the NEC meeting. Of the two candidates, anyone that has a simple majority vote of council members automatically becomes CAN president and the runner-up the vice.

Nigeria's economy'll bounce back if... --- Prophet Anekwe THE name Prophet Charles Anekwe may not ring a bell but the General Overseer of Jesus Christ the Healer Church of all Nations, Lekki, Lagos, has been able to find his niche in life through his spiritual pursuit. The businessman turned servant of God aptly describes one who obeyed Christ injunction to forsake all and follow him, owing to his being brought to level zero, in his quest to obey the call.

Looking back as the church clocks 10, the clergyman has no regret , as he reveals in this interview with our EVELYN USMAN, of how God has used him to impact tremendously on both the low, high and mighty within and outside the country, a mission he says he ordinarily would not have accomplished had he acted otherwise to the call. Excerpts...

Congratulations on the 10th anniversary of the church. Looking back, do you have any regret yielding to the call?

Oh not at all. I was a businessman but left everything I was doing when I got the call to go into ministry. I never worked for anybody in ministry. But I must confess that it has not been easy. A millionaire who was reduced to wearing just a shirt and trouser. First thing God does when He calls you is to humble you.

When they saw me at Berger, along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, where I was selling cars, people ran away from me, finding it difficult to fathom how a millionaire could be reduced to a beggar? But to the glory of God today, He has used me to touch so many lives, through healing, deliverance and restoration...

Talking about restoration, could you give an example?

God has done so many miracles in this place. But one of the outstanding ones was the victory of a state governor, at the just concluded election petition tribunals at the Supreme Court. God gave me the prophecy of his victory weeks before the separate judgments at the appeal and Supreme courts were delivered. Immediately, I received the message I recorded the prophesy in a CD and gave it to the governor through his permanent secretary.

I was invited for an open crusade in his state. The governor was engrossed with the impending court case. I cried to God and in a trance God showed me the victory. I held a private prayer session away from the

crusade ground where the governor's sister and his permanent secretary were invited and I announced the vision to the hearing of all present that the governor would come out victorious.

When I returned to my church in Lagos, I informed the congregation of his victory again. But some of my members were double minded and expressed fear over the prophesy, saying people would make mockery of us if it did not come to pass.

To prove that God's hand was involved, a day before the judgment at the Supreme Court, I called and told one of the governor's aides to inform his boss that there would be rejoicing in his camp the next day. To the glory of God, the aide called me next day and exclaimed, 'Prophet you are a true man of God, the Supreme Court has sealed the governor's victory'.

What impact has the church created in the environment?

Well, it is not right for one to start blowing his trumpet. The environment is feeling our impact.

When we came here, this place was water logged but it was through us that God brought develop-

was baptised.

Prophet Charles Anekwe ment here. Our records are there to show for it.

What is the way forward for the church?

The way forward is that God has decided to announce us. There has been lots of remarkable miracles here but God said unto me that it was not yet time for you to be announced and that was why people have not been hearing my voice. But recently, he said some-thing was still lacking in my life and when I asked what it was, He said there was need for me to be baptized by immersion. He specifically told me to go to River Jordan, the same river Jesus Christ

What is your quota on security and economic stability of the nation?

The solution lies with Nigerians.

It is just for Nigerians to repent. The thing that is hindering the country is sin. If only we will return to God, He will prosper us. The nation's economy will bounce back if we all give our lives to God by doing away with sin. Nigeria is blessed with good weather, rich mineral and human resources to harness the God given wealth. But the question is why are we facing hard times now? It is simply because of sin. Sin is a reproach to a nation. People may call it corruption, but the question is; is corruption not stealing and is stealing not sin? Sin is our problem!

Once we all drop sin and turn to God, things will begin to work for our country. We should also pray for God to direct our leaders rather than blame them.

I will also advise that we should not condemn any prophecy because a prophet can give a prophesy, while God can change it. Based on this fact, a prophet of God has to be very careful before giving out prophesies. During former President Goodluck Jonathan's first presidential election, God asked me to speak and I announced that he would win with great margins. In his next election, men of God were giving prophesies but God did not ask me to speak even though He has shown me what would happen.

God only told me to tell the people to pray that God should give the loser the courage to accept defeat and that was what happened.

REGISTRATION OF PREACHERS:

Niger Delta Bishops call for el-Rufai's resignation

T

HE Niger Delta Bishops Association, NDBA, has faulted a statement made by the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai during a TV interview on Wednesday where he said his administration has nipped in the bud killings by gunmen in Southern Kaduna.

The bishops who threatened to institute a court action against the governor if he doesn't listen to voice of reason, also faulted his submission that "repeated cycles of ethnic and religious violence are part of what contributed to what is destroying Kaduna”.

Addressing newsmen after a meeting of the body, NDBA chairman, Archbishop God-Dowell Avwomakpa noted that the governor was not well briefed when he said; “there has been no killing in the last six months in Kaduna State."

According to him, the bishops also found the reaction of el-Rufai on the controversial bill aimed at checking activities of preachers in the state, which has generated controversy among Muslims, Christians and legal practitioners as very unwise.

The bishops averred that past governors of Kadunna knew that the law would create further religious crises in the state hence they decided to abandon what was introduced in the state's statutes since 1984.

Avwomakpa therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the Kaduna State governor before he plunges the nation into further crisis, stressing that "if the state governor does not know the enormous nature of his office, and wants to reduce it to religion, we would advise him to resign and become a cleric so that the ministry can move forward."

Besides, the Niger Delta Bishops condemned in totality the proposal to censor the preaching of religious leaders and licensing of preachers by the Kaduna State government.

According to Avwomakpa, the Federal Government through the Corporate Affairs Commission issues certificates to churches, therefore it is unconstitutional for a state under the same federal system to issue another license or a second certificate to churches if indeed Nigeria is one united country.

He therefore called on Gov. elRufai, a former federal minister and now governor to know that a religion bill is not the solution to the nation's problems, stressing that the solution lies in making Nigeria forge ahead as a nation through quality leadership, setting achievable goals, building an indivisible nation, confronting the nation's security challenges, fight corruption that has eaten so deep into the fabrics of the Nigerian society as well as creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

"Anything short of these is adding to Nigeria's woes," Avwomakpa said, adding that the problem in the Northern Nigeria goes beyond the licensing of Mosques/Churches, by the Christian Association of Nigeria and Jama’atu Nasir Islam.

He noted that Kaduna State government alone has several challenges to contend with than to be going after licencing of churches and mosques.

At the meeting were the Secretary of the Niger Delta Bishops Association, Bishop Mfong Edet, Bishop Isaac Etidia, Bishop M. O. Kattey among others.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 43

P

AUL marveled at the Corinthian church: “You have such admirable tolerance for impostors who rob your freedom, rip you off, steal you blind, put you down—even slap your face.” (II Corinthians 11:19-20).

So tell me, why are you a member of your church? You have been there for 38 years and have still not been healed of your infirmities; yet you remain. You know your pastor is sleeping with a chorister; yet you remain. Every Sunday you are harassed into giving more offering than you would like or can afford; yet you remain.

Hoodwinked You remain, not for the sake of Christ, but for the sake of men. You remain because of social and soul ties. You remain because your pastor has style. You remain because that was the church your parents went to. You remain because your friends are in the church.

You remain because your business associates are in the church. You remain because you have been hoodwinked by another gospel.

Why do we receive in our churches the traditions of men? Where does it say in the scriptures that it is a sin to leave your church for another one? Where does it say your tithes cannot be paid to the Motherless Babies Home?

Where does it say if a woman wears trousers or earrings she would be disqualified from heaven? Where does it say you have to go to Bible College before you can be baptised?

Answer such questions not by reference to your pastor’s

BEW ARE OF PPAS AS TIANS BEWARE ASTTORS AND CHRIS CHRISTIANS dictates, or by reference to the conventions of your church, but by the word of God.

Some of the worst people we are ever going to meet are Christians

Christian Judases However, the danger is not only from pastors, bishops and televangelists. The danger is also from fellow Christians. David was distressed because his betrayer was a member of his church. In all probability, they were prayer partners, or they might have been members of the same church choir. He said: “We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. (Psalm 55:14).

Some of the worst people we are ever going to meet are Christians. They will be the ones who will steal from us and from the church. They will stab us in the back and betray us. Judas was not an unbeliever but a “Christian.”

He was one of the 12 disciples. He preached the gospel. He performed miracles in the name of Jesus. Nevertheless, he was a son of perdition who ended up by betraying the Lord.

They are not all Christians who are Christians. There can be unequal yoking even among Christians. Don’t get married to that brother sim-

ply because he is a Christian.

Don’t enter into a business partnership with someone simply because he is a “prayer warrior” in the church. If Jesus can be betrayed so can we.

Jesus says: “A man’s enemies are men of his own household.” (Matthew 10:36). This is not just talking about our homes; it is also talking about the church: the “household of God.” It is not just talking about the church; it is also talking about us. We should beware of ourselves. We should not trust ourselves: we should not trust our hearts because the heart is deceitful.(Jeremiah 17:9).

The traitor in man’s life can turn out to be his eyes which insist on beholding evil. Pluck it out, says Jesus. It might turn out to be his hands which are employed in doing mischief.

Cut it off, says Jesus. It might turn out to be his feet which seem determined to carry him to hell. Amputate them. It might turn out to be his tongue which he uses to curse and

abuse. Cut it off. Or it might turn out to be his mind which is lustful. Fill it with the word of God. Christian 419 Beware of Christians who are regular church-goers. It does not mean we are people of integrity. Beware of Christians always quoting scriptures authoritatively. We may not even understand them or believe in what they say. Beware of Christians always asking you for money. We are probably trying to use the gospel to empty your pocket.

Beware of Christians who are contemptuous of non-Christians. We are ignorant that Jesus was only critical of Judaism; his own faith. Beware of self-opinionated Christians. We want you to go to hell when you don’t share our views.

Beware of Christians who insist you must not use your brains in order to walk by faith. We are just trying to put one over on you. Beware of Christians preoccupied with how women should dress. We are controlling and are suf-

FULANI ATTACKS:

Christian Elders, Okonkwo carpet FG over inaction

By Sam Eyoboka, Caleb Ayansina & Funmi Olasupo

A

BUJA – THE National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) has expressed displeasure over Federal Government’s inability to stem the ongoing carnage and destruction being perpetrated against local communities across the country by Fulani herdsmen.

The forum, which cited recent killings in Agatu area of Benue State where over 300 people were allegedly massacred by the herdsmen, lamented that the res-ponse of government to the mena-ce had been tepid and indifferent.

They also faulted attempts to fund deficit in the 2016 Budget through Sukkuk loan which is a “Sharia compliant loan" and the consideration of establishing “free visa” arrangement with Islamic D8 nations: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey, and of course, Nigeria.

Addressing newsmen on the state of the nation, in Abuja, the chairman of the forum, Mr. Solomon Asemota (SAN), said “it is shocking that till today, there had been no prosecution of any of these marauders. For years the

Fulani herdsmen have been murdering innocent Nigerians with impunity.

“It is sad to note that ‘Boko Haram’ which is presently regarded as the world number one most dangerous terror organization and the Fulani herdsmen, considered the fourth are both operating in Nigeria. Meanwhile, the response of government to the menace of these individuals has to date, been tepid and indifferent. The most recent case occurred in Agatu area of Benue State. According to media reports, over 300 Nigerians were allegedly massacred by the herdsmen and many communities were devastated in the attacks.”

On abduction and forceful marriage of under-aged girls, the forum bemoaned the forceful conversion of Christian girls to Islam, insisting that the National Assembly had failed Nigerian Children by refusing to immune them from predators.

“We are saddened by recent exposures in the country, of serial cases of forceful abduction of underaged, forceful marriage, marriage without parental consent of Christian girls and their forceful conversion to Islam. We condemn in totality this act

of violation of the human rights of these girls and the

degradation of our national values.

“We are also amazed that the Senate failed to pass the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill into law. We strongly recommend that this Bill

Bishop Odeleke floats online radio station

T

HE first female bishop in Africa, Bishop Bolanle Odeleke of Power Pent-ecostal Church, (KIIBATI) has joined the league of online gospel radio station owners in the country, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. Christian ‘KIIBATI Online Radio’, the gospel radio station, according to Bishop Odeleke, was established to propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ and it will be transmitting to nine countries in the world.

Speaking during its official commissioning, the woman of God said she is optimistic that souls would be won to Christ through programmes that would be aired on the station.

In her words:“It has been in my mind for over 40 years to establish radio and television stations because I want to win souls for Christ throughout the world with everything within my capacity. The radio station is not for show but in fulfillment of the commandment of Jesus Christ that we should go and preach the gospel.

“Presently, we have series of contents that will deal with women issues, men, youths, children, empowerment teachings for the women, early morning dew and other life-changing programmes. We will broadcast in English, Yoruba and Igbo languages. We have transmitted in Yoruba and the response was awesome," she said.

The Senior Superintendent of the church, Rev. Neye Enemigin said the station will promote peace, bring knowledge and under-standing to the listener.

“We understand the power of communication and a lot of things we hear out there are things that are not edifying---like crisis, corruption---but we believe this radio will make a change because it will propagate things of God and guide our leaders and the masses and empower positively not only Nigerians but the world at large” he said.

fering from lust. Beware of Christians who swear in God’s name. It should tell you immediately we are telling lies. Beware of Christians who say: “The devil made me do it.” The devil might make us do something to hurt you. Beware of Christians who say after an argument: “I’ll be praying for you.” It means we hate your guts.

negatives, and always pouncing on negativities. If you lose weight they will tell you that you are too thin. If you put on weight they will tell you that you are too fat. “Mary, I would not wear big flowing dresses if I were you; you know you are a bit short.” “Peter, don’t you think you should be married by now?” “Praise the Lord!”

Religious know-it-alls always know the reason for everything. When they occupy exalted church positions, it makes them very deadly indeed. They reduce the believer’s relationship with God to formulas. They imply that God can be programmed like a computer.

The modern church is full of witches and wizards, all operating as busybodies.

They are always looking for

The moment we are sick, or bereaved or jilted, or dismissed from a job, there is a coterie of religious experts who know exactly what is responsible for our adversity and precisely what we must do to get out of it. More often than not, they make copious references to the word of God. But somehow this always makes us feel worse. The scriptures warn that the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.

A Christian brother committed adultery. After the act, he became very remorseful.

In despair, he went to his pastor and confessed the sin to him. The pastor was outraged. “How could you do such a thing? Don’t you know those who commit adultery cannot inherit the kingdom of God?” The poor man became even more guilt-ridden. In confusion, he reached the wrong conclusion. He left the pastor, went home and committed suicide.

should be re-introduced and passed into law urgently,” he said.

Asemota also called on the governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to retrace his step over the decision to legislate on how individuals worship. “We wish to express tremendous shock at the proposed Kaduna State Religious Bill. The proposed Bill contravenes Section 38 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

We should remind the Government of Kaduna State that religion is personal and no one has the right to legislate on how individuals worship.

We call on the Kaduna State governor to retrace his steps from this ill-advised venture,” he added.

The forum faulted what it described as the unilateral decision of President Buhari to include Nigeria in the membership of the Saudi Arabia Military Coalition of “Muslim/Arab” nations, warning that he should pull out before it would be too late, explaining that such misleading action would send a wrong signal before the global community that the foreign policy thrust of the present administration is to make Nigeria a satellite state of Saudi Arabia.

Former vice president of CAN and presiding bishop of TREM, Dr. Mike Okonkwo also urged the Federal Government to wake up to its responsibilities to deal decisively with the Fulani herdsmen issue.

Answering questions from our reporter in Lagos, the bishop argued: "The Fulani herdsmen cannot be carrying

sophisticated weapons about and you expect the villagers to fold their arms. As long as these are not the usual Fulanis we used to know, it will always create problem anywhere they find them and people are now becoming weary of them. So, government should be decisive and appreciate that these people portend a terror and see them as enemies of the unity and progress of the nation.

In an Easter message to the nation, Okonkwo called for national reconciliation, adding "its normal as human beings to disagree at times, but we can disagree to agree for the sake of the unity of development of the nation," stressing the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for mankind, adding "we should not just preach Christ by words of mouth, we should exemplify it by forgiving one another."

On disunity in Christendom, the former CAN vice president assured that there is a lot of reconciliation currently going on, fences are being mended and very soon Nigerians will begin to see the evidence of efforts to reconciliation because "we cannot afford to remain disunited."

He also called on the Federal Government and all security apparatus in the country to deploy every machinery to secure the release of the leaders of TEKAN/ECWA that were adopted by certain unknown elements in the country, arguing that no one in his right senses takes delight in kidnapping clergymen and demand some ridiculous ransom.

Beware of Christians passionate about a “man-ofGod.” We are not disciples of Christ. Beware of Christians always with a testimony of yet another “blessing.” We are only trying to make you insecure. Beware of Christians who call others “brother this” and “sister that.” We may be using the brotherhood to pull wool over your eyes. Beware of Christians who always have a word from God for you. We want to be the god of your life. Beware of Christians who often show up when you are having your meal. It means we see you, and not Jesus, as our “bread of life.”

Witches and wizards

44 — S UNDAY Vanguard SUNDAY Vanguard,, APRIL 10, 2016

NFF crisis: Orumen dismisses Jos court judgement

RUMS were rolled out and the who is who in the Nigerian Cricket confraternity gathered at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval Saturday, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of one of the most influential cricket clubs of modern Nigerian cricket, the Foundation Cricket Club of Lagos. Founded in 1985 by Olayinka Fisher, Ako Amadi, Moye Adenuga and Kwesi Sagoe, the club has grown to become a catalyst of modern cricket in Lagos nay Nigeria.

Speaking at a briefing just before the commencement of the international friendly between FCC and Greater Accra Cricket Club from Ghana, Fisher, who

S

Pinnick Continued from B/P shall be writing to all authorities concerned to arrest and prosecute him if he dares to take the laws into his hands. The Minister of Sports must not also aid this sheer madness. Whoever wants to remove Amaju Pinnick and members of the NFF board from office must approach the court to join them as parties and must seek clear and positive Orders against each and everyone of them. The public and all football lovers must ignore this storm in a tea cup. There is simply NO COURT ORDER removing anybody from office”.

By Jacob Ajom

D

By Jacob Ajom TAKEHOLDERS have continued to react to the ruling by a Jos High Court which granted Chris Giwa leave to take over the rein in the Nigeria Football Federation, “having been duly elected as NFF president.”

Speaking on the ruling, sports critic, Dudu Orumen said, “I am sure a superior court will upturn that ruling because it holds no water.”

But Orumen would not explain any further as he said what people should be talking about in Nigerian football is to call for electoral reforms.

“Let us begin to see a louder call for electoral reforms that will ensure more stake holders are brought into the scheme of things,”he said, recalling that the problem with Nigerian football began with “the overthrow ” of a legally constituted board of the NFA led by Ibrahim Galadima.

“It was a conspiracy, supervised by the then secretary General of FIFA, Urs Linsi who practically transferred his office to Makurdi where the Lulu coup was hatched and he gave official stamp to the illegality.”

Orumen said the NFF, as it is, was not known by law. “The so-called NFF is hiding under the NFA Act 2006 as amended.

NFF is unknown to our law.

Lulu who designed the NFF Statute went to FIFA without telling them the truth.”

Orumen is not happy with the Amaju Pinnick-led board either over what he termed as their “unforgivable mistakes.”

The first error, he said, “ was their decision to give the Super Eagles job to an untested Sunday Oliseh, who neither had direction nor the wherewithal to take the team to any height and secondly,

The making of Foundation Cricket Club of Lagos is chairman of the club’s Board of Trustees said, “before FCC was founded, cricket in Lagos was virtually non-existent and our original intention was to revive the sport not just in Lagos but to spread the gospel across the country.”

And to a large extent, the mission has been achieved, no matter how modest. Said Fisher, “The birth of FCC has brought about the existence of many other clubs, as there are no fewer than 14 cricket clubs in Lagos alone. The club also pioneered the founding of the Lagos Cricket Club Committee and contributed immensely – in man and material – to the administration of the game in Lagos and Nigeria generally.”

•Pinnick

•Giwa

which was a direct consequence of the first, NFF’s inability to qualify the country for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.”

He asked, “do they realise the amount of stress they caused to millions of businesses across the country each time they fail to qualify for AFCON?” adding, “how can they invest the interests of millions of Nigerians in the hands of a novice like Oliseh?”

Guinness promises football fans more benefits

A

S a way of keeping its promise to reward Guinness lovers and football fans throughout the Barclays Premier League season, Guinness recently introduced the Mega Airtime Offer into the on-going Every Minute Made of Black football promo.

The Mega Airtime Promo avails consumers the

Eyimba Continued from B/P boys, give the place some energy. Some fans showed up in our last game and we would love to see more of that, but whatever happens, I’m sure we would have a good game.”

Aigbogun is relishing the challenge Etoile du Sahel poses as he attempts to guide Enyimba to the group stage of the CAF Champions League for the first time since 2011.

The 2003 and 2004 champions have to navigate their way past the Diables Rouges (Red Devils) if they are to stake a claim for a third title.

Etoile du Sahel may be former CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup winners but Paul Aigbogun believes it is what happens on match day that matters, not the pedigree of the Tunisians.

Continued from B/P major role while a bonus is given to those nations who finished their qualifying competition as continental champions.

Nigeria defeated Algeria in the final of the U-23 AFCON in Senegal and recently defeated Brazil U-23 1-0 in a friendly game.

The 16 sides will be drawn

“Of course we can’t be bothered by what Etoile have won, we know they are a good team and we respect them, just as we respect the other teams we have played so far and eliminated from the competition,” he told EnyimbaFC.net after the club’s Friday workout session.

“It is what happens on the day that is most important.

They may be former African champions but so too is Enyimba, so we are not concentrating on that. Our focus is on us, to deliver on Sunday. I believe if the boys come out and play as we have planned, we will get victory.

“The quality of our opponents will make it a tough game, but tough games are good for the team and we are all prepared for it, psychologically and physically.”

Nigeria into four groups of four (named Groups A-D) and the pot allocation for the Games is as follows: Pot 1: Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Japan Pot 2: Nigeria, Korea Republic, Honduras, Iraq Pot 3: Sweden, Fiji, Portugal, South Africa Pot 4: Algeria, Colombia, Denmark, Germany.

opportunity to win instant airtime for every bottle of Guinness consumed. The promo is the first if its kind in Nigeria. It is a unique promo that is tied to the Barclays Premier League, where football lovers have the rare opportunity to get rewarded for every goal scored within every match.

Commenting on this Mega Airtime Offer, Portfolio Marketing Manager, Guinness, Ms. Liz Ashdown said Guinness is passionate

about its consumers and the brand will continue to explore new ways to connect with the passion points of Nigerians, one of which is football. She added that the brand is committed to bringing first hand football excitement to its loyal consumers all over the country.

“We want to thank all our teeming consumers and we enjoin you all to explore this opportunity and keep drinking, keep watching the games and keep winning.”

•L –R: Sports Caster, Nigeria Info FM, Mr. Bolarinwa Olajide; N100,000 Winner, Sandja Tandoloum; Senior Brand Manager, Guinness, Emmanuel Etim of Nigeria Info during the cheque presentation in the ongoing Guinness “Every Minute Made of Black” Football Promo in Lagos.

Egypt Continued from B/P stake in the team events of the competition.

From the cadet boys and girls, to the junior boys and girls as well as the U-21 women and men, it was Egypt that carted home the gold medals in the events with host – Algeria and Nigeria settling for two silver and two bronze medals to become joint second in the team events.

Tunisia can also boast of one silver and three bronze medals while Angola, Congo Brazzaville and Mauritius took one bronze medal each.

But the happiest Egyptian of

the day was Amira Yousry, who was still been hunted by the memory of losing the junior girls title to Algeria n Mauritius 2015.

Amira Yousry would not forget in a hurry the heartache that Algeria’s Sannah Lagsir caused the Egyptian team in the final of the junior girls’ team event at the 2015 edition of the ITTF African Junior & Cadet Championship.

But in Algiers, this year being the only surviving member of the Egyptian team that faced Algeria in the final, Amira Yousry was indeed relieved that the wound of 2015 has been healed.

S UNDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, APRIL 10, 2016 — 45

AFCON women: Super Falcons set to dump Senegal A

FTER surviving a bruising battle in the first leg of the Women African Cup of Nations, Nigeria’s Super Falcons players are hopeful of beating their Senegalese counterparts to make good their qualification for the tournament billed for Cameroon in November.

The Senegalese who flew in with the Super Falcons yesterday were very physical in the first leg that ended in a draw.

Striker Desire Oparanozie was a casualty, and she is a doubt for the game that will be decided Tuesday in Abuja. She suffered lacerations on her forehead, when she caught a high boot and was stitched up.

Her replacement Chioma Wogu scored just before the half time break. But the Super Falcons came under intense pressure in the second half from Senegalese who got their

goal midway through the half.

However, the Super Falcons created several scoring chances, which they failed to convert.

“We are ready for the Senegalese. They were very physical in Dakar, we were the better side. But on Tuesday we will do our best to win the game hands down,” said one of the team officials yesterday.

Rio 2016: Okoro confronts AFN standards

By Ben Efe

D

ESPITE breaking the na tional discus throw record with 61.58m last week, Chinwe Okoro may not be competing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, unless she makes the 66.00m standard set by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.

Okoro improved on her 59.79m personal best she did in 2014 at the Africa Championships in Marakesh, Morocco, where she set a championships’ record and won the gold. But the athlete said her main aim is to make the Olympic Games having failed to make the London 2012 event.

She is currently the leader in the African continent in the discus throw, and that is a gold medal assured at the African championships later in the year in Durban South Africa.

“It is every athlete’s wish to be at the Olympics. I am doing my best to be there in Rio 2016, between now and then I can make improvements that will put me in the final,” said the athlete. Her best throw in

Okoro the shot put is 17.39m.

Okoro is Nigeria’s best prospect in the throws at the moment. In 2012 she did not make the cut on the account of Vivian Chukwuemeka who was later dropped for testing positive to drugs.

“Okoro has potentials and how best can she achieve her

potentials? By competing with the best at the Olympics of course. She already met the Olympics Standard of 60.00m.

“But how do we come to terms with the fact that AFN’s standards is higher that that of the Olympics? Quarried an athletics coach yesterday.

Chief of Naval Staff tourney gets April 16 date A

LL is now set for the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria organized 15th edition of the an-

nual Chief of Naval Staff U-14 boys and the 7th edition of the Naval Officers Wives Association U-17 girls’ football tournament between April 16 and 23, 2016.

A statement issued by YSFON’s

From left: Dinnatu Yohanna, Schneider Electric sponsored Nigerian female athlete; Olivier Collignon, Schneider Electric Paris Marathon Global Sponsorship Manager; Philibus Sharubutu, Schneider Electric sponsored Nigerian male athlete; and Anne Ezeh, Field Marketing & Access to Energy Director, Schneider Electric Nigeria, at the just concluded Schneider Electric Paris Marathon 2016.

C M Y K

National General Secretary, Patrick Okpavuerhe hinted that the championship which will be held in Abuja is strictly for players under the ages of 14 years for boys and 17 years for girls as at April 30, 2016 with body weight of 51kg and maximum height of 1.58m for boys, 60kg and 1.78m for girls.

He advised interested teams to adhere to the standard of the Federation by coming to the championship with 20 players, three officials, one of which must be a YSFON official just as it reminded teams that arrival date is Saturday, 16th April, 2016.

“As a member of the National Organizing Committee and F.C.T., YSFON officials shall be on hand to receive them at Old Parade Ground Area 10 football field”.

According to the statement, accommodation shall be provided for all participating teams while all players shall present three passport photographs for license while screening of players will take place on Sunday, April 17.

Olympics: Mr Sports Minister, you must do something now F we check the Omega Time on the official website Iof keeper the 2016 Rio Olympic Games

holding in Brazil in August, you will find out that today makes it exactly 117 days to the beginning of the most glamorous sporting event on earth.

Our dear country, Nigeria is among the over 200 countries expected to send their athletes to jostle for medals there but pitiably, while other countries have prepared their athletes very well and know the strength of their teams and which area they are likely to rake in medals, we are still not sure of where the money meant for preparation for the Games is.

Addressing journalists in Abuja last week, Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung said the former Director General of the now rested National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Alhassan Yakmut did not brief him about the fund President Muhammadu Buhari approved for Team Nigeria’s preparation for the Olympic Games.

Hear Dalung: “Since the former DG told you that they gave him the money, I am asking the same question which you asked, because I have seen the memo. Since he never briefed me on the issue of the N2.9 billion and today he is not here, he has left, I demanded for the memo of approval from Mr. President and I have seen it.

“The memo is very clear. Mr. President wrote on that memo that; ‘this money I am giving to you must be accounted for’ Now as far as I am concerned, it is one of the challenges the new leadership is facing. Those funds are supposed to address issues but those issues are yet to be addressed up till now. I had to go out of my way to source funds to go and pay for the balance of our accommodation in Rio and the N2.9 billion is supposed to be part of that money meant for the accommodation.”

The sports minister was speaking as if Mallam Yakmut has disappeared from this earth. The former DG was only redeployed to another ministry and can still be summoned to say how much of the N2.9 billion was left and where it is.

Even if Yakmut didn’t leave any handover note to explain his activities at the NSC, were there no directors he worked with who should know how the fund was expended for the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo? They are still there at the Sports Ministry and should have be invited to brief both the minister and the permanent secretary, Mr Christian Ohaa, himself a new man in the sports ministry.

I am surprised the sports minister who is a key member of the Buhari administration does not know what the sports ministry as well as the sports federations under its purview are passing through with the introduction of the Treasury Single Account,

TSA. The TSA has more or less crippled the federations and hampered their activities, especially the ones supposed to prepare their athletes for, not only the Olympics proper but their participation in qualifiers that will ensure they are part of the Olympic Games.

The minister cannot say he is not aware that the defunct National Sports Commission had all its fund,including about N700m left from the N2.9 billion approved by the president, swept into the TSA with the Central Bank. Even sports federation ‘lost’ their funds to the TSA. The problem the NFF faced with delay in payment of players bonuses and allowances in the various competitions they participated in as well as payment of their coaches, was as a result of the TSA and the difficulty in getting money out of their accounts with the CBN. Since the minister is aware the funds are “supposed to address issues” and according to him, “those issues are yet to be addressed up till now” why did he wait till last week to tell Nigerians that he doesn’t know how the money approved by the president was spent and that in fact, the erstwhile DG didn’t brief him about it.

If the minister had to go out of his way “to source funds to go and pay for the balance of our accommodation in Rio (because) the N2.9 billion is supposed to be part of that money meant for the accommodation”, as he claimed in the chat with journalists, why has he not called a meeting of the directors who worked with Yakmut to tell him what they know about it or go a step further by inviting Yakmut who is still a government worker, though in another ministry now, to brief him properly.

Now that he has sourced funds to pay for Team Nigeria’s accommodation in Rio during the Olympics, he should quickly source more funds to prepare the athletes as well as make provision for their medicals, allowances and insurance, because without these things, the accommodation he paid for may count for nothing as their performance may be worse than what it was four years ago in London.

As at today, our athletes don’t know when they will resume camping for the Games because no money has been released for that purpose. Situations like this was why Team Nigeria returned from the London Olympics without any medal, a situation that embarrassed the government which had to organise a retreat on sports to proffer the way forward.

Four years after, we are almost repeating the same mistakes. We should take our Olympic preparations seriously and motivate our athletes to put up podium performances that will make Nigerians beat their chest and say, “yes, we are proud to be Nigerians”.

PAGE 46 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 10, 2016, PAGE 47

C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2016

Rio Olympics draw: Nigeria seeded top in pot 2

T

HE national U-23 team has been seeded top in Pot 2 for the Rio Olympic Games men’s football event with the draw scheduled for

Keyamo fires back:

Pinnick is still NFF President

April 14 in Rio. According to FIFA, hosts Brazil will take the lead spot in Group A, with the teams allocated into four pots based on a ranking built according to performances at the past five Olympic Football Tournaments.

The ranking is judged basically with recent performance playing a

Continues on page 46

•Siasia

Table tennis: Egypt dump Nigeria in team event

E

GYPT dumped Nigeria and Algeria to joint second as she

By Tony Ubani

R

ENOWNED Lagos lawyer and solicitors to the Nigeria Football Federation, Festus Keyamo has poured cold water to reports that the Federal High Court sitting in Jos sacked the Board of the NFF led by President Amaju Pinnick and installed Chris Giwa, describing it as total and complete falsehood.

The human rights lawyer said yesterday in a statement he personally signed that “What the so-called Chris Giwa is attempting to do is nothing but sheer brigandage and we

Continues on page 44

Continues on page 44

Ronaldo sets La liga record

C

•ARCHITECT: Alex Iwobi (r) loses his marker in an English Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham yesterday. Iwobi’s two assists gave Arsenal a 2 goal lead in the first half. The match ended 3-3.

Enyimba vs Etoile: NYIMBA face Etoile du Sahel today in the first leg of their Champions League second round qualifier and head

coach, Paul Aigbogun wants the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium filled to the rafters with chanting fans for the Aba Elephants.

RISTIANO Ronaldo made history on Saturday. He scored for Real Madrid in the match against Eibar to become the first player ever to score 30 goals in six straight La Liga campaigns.

Up 2-0, Ronaldo did it on 19 minutes with an easy finish into the far post.

For those wondering, Lionel Messi’s best is four seasons of 30.

That’s 255 La Liga goals for Ronaldo, with his best campaign coming in the previous season, in which he scored a stunning 48 times.

RESULTS EPL

Aigbogun woos PH fans E

placed top at the ongoing ITTF African Junior & Cadet Championship after the North African clinched the six gold medals at

“My appeal is for our fans to show up, including Port Harcourt residents and cheer the

Continues on page 44

West Ham Aston Villa Crystal Palace Southampton Swansea City Watford Man City

3 1 1 3 1 1 2

Rangers

1

Arsenal Bournemouth Norwich City Newcastle Chelsea Everton West Brom

NPFL

Ifeanyi Ubah

3 2 0 1 0 1 1 0

TODAY'S MATCHES

See solution on page 5

•Aigbogun

Akwa El Kanemi Heartland Ikorodu Utd Pillaers Plateau Utd Warri

v v v v v v v

Sunderland Tottenham

v v

Sporting Valencia Villarreal Ath. Bilbao

v v v v

NPFL

Tornadoes Shooting Rivers Utd Sunshine Nasarawa Giwa MFM FC

EPL

Leicester City Man United

LA LIGA

Celta Vigo Sevilla Getafe CF Rayo

4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 1:30pm 4 pm 11am 3 pm 5:15pm 7:30pm

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Advert Dept: :01- 7924470; Hotline: 01-4544821; Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024.

E-mail website: sundayvanguard@yahoo.com, editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com. Advert:advert@vanguardngr.com.

Internet: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: JIDE AJANI. 08111813023 All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.