Drop Tukur Now - NWC tells Jonathan by Vanguard Media Limited

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PDP crisis deepens: We have lost total confidence on Bamanga Tukur-- NWC tells Jonathan •Says, PDP can’t win 2015 election with Tukur BY HENRY UMORU Abuja

HE National Working Committee, NWC of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has passed a vote of no confidence on the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. Members of the NWC in their report to President Goodluck Jonathan, lampooned Tukur, saying that the PDP would not win the 2015 elections with Tukur on the saddle. However, Tukur has also, alleged that one of the members of the PDP Stakeholders Forum, asked him to pay N20 million to enable him mobilise support for him as national chairman following the defection of some party members to All Progressives Congress, APC. At a meeting with Jonathan yesterday night at the Presidential Villa, the NWC members told him that Tukur was running the PDP like a one man business as they were not carried along in most of his decisions. They further accused him of turning his Wuse private residence to Wadata Plaza National Secretariat of the party. They particularly mentioned the disbandment of the Sokoto and Kwara States executive councils without consultations as some of the unilateral decisions taken by Tukur. A source told Saturday Vanguard that the Chairman who was also at the meeting was asked by other members of NWC to point at any major achievement recorded by the present NWC since it came on board in March 2012. One of the members who spoke on condition of anonymity after the meeting told Saturday Vanguard that Tukur was the major problem of the party against the backdrop that never in the history of the party, had PDP witnessed the kind of problems that culminated in the defection of five serving governors and several lawmakers. In stating his own side, Tukur was quoted as claiming that there was no division as all the members were together, and promised to improve on the existing relationship. He further remarked that the members were simply fighting him because of 2015 and President Jonathan’s ambition. It was at this point that members of NWC were said to have reacted sharply warning the National Chairman against the use of blackmail to attract sympathy. According to the sources,

after hearing from Tukur, a bewildered Jonathan was said to have told the NWC members that he never knew that the problems were of serious magnitude. Jonathan was however said to have pleaded with NWC members to be calm as the issues would be looked into next week at the Board of Trustees, BoT, and National Caucus meetings which would dovetail into the National Executive Committee, NEC meeting on January 16. ”Yes we met with President Jonathan where we reported the National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur that he was the problem of the party; that PDP cannot win 2015 election with him as chairman and that he must go for peace to return to the party. ’’We also told the President that Tukur was operating from his Wuse residence thereby running the party like a one man business. He should stop blackmailing people, he blackmailed the governors, members of the National Assembly and now NWC members.” Among those who attended the meeting according to the sources included the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo; Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; National Auditor, Adewole Adeyanju; National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh; National Organising Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha; National Treasurer; National Financial Secretary, Elder Bolaji Anani; National Woman Leader, Mrs Kema Chikwe; National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwom and National Youth Leader, Abdullahi MaiBasira. Only the Deputy National Secretary, Onwe Solomon Onwe was said to be absent because he was still in the East. Meanwhile, a statement signed by the Special Assistant to Tukur on Media, Prince Oliver Okpala, stated that one of the PDP chieftains had promised to help the national chairman mobilise support if the national chairman gives him N20m; adding that following Tukur’s refusal to give him the money, the chieftain started his media war against the PDP National Chairman. ”The brain behind the SMS and blackmail is a selfish political opportunist who recently approached the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Tukur and demanded N20 million to enable him mobilise support for the National Chairman following the defection of PDP Governors to the APC, an amount he claimed would

also be utilized for massive propaganda and blackmail against the defected governors. ”Given that Alhaji Tukur is a statesman with a strong strength of character and probity, he refused to dance

to the wishes and demands of the chieftain who got annoyed and promised that he was going to engage in serious blackmail against Dr. Tukur which certainly has led to his present crusade of blackmail against the National Chairman. Nigerians, mostly media

houses in the country are therefore advised to be wary of this said (person), his utterances and scandalous documents in other to avoid undeserved libel and litigations. “For the avoidance of doubt, there is no iota of truth in the malicious propaganda against the PDP and Dr. Tukur. The alleged issue of $20,000 dollars bribe to NEC

L-R: Son of deceased, Mr. Sesan Ogunro (JR); widow, Mrs. Dupe Ogunro; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), during the Funeral Service of late Sesan Ogunro at Hillview Estate, Ogudu, Lagos yesterday.

members only exist in the imagination of this person and his anti-democratic elements.” But in a swift reaction, Imo Ugochinyere who Okpala referred to in his statement described the allegations as baseless, nonsensical, childish and an attempt by a sinking old man to hold on to power said. ”My attention has been drawn to the emergency press briefing by the Bamanga Tukur’s dying PDP over the issue of the ongoing bribing of some PDP NEC members following next week’s NEC meeting with $20, 000 to help get a vote of confidence endorsement for his rotten regime and his weak paymaster which I exposed to the public some days ago. ”After being hit by the shock of the exposure of the dirty bribe and the backing out of the deal by some NEC members, the party and Bamanga instead of looking for credible defence, descended to a low level this evening to discredit my personality. Tukur is a sinking man who thinks that his attempt to smear me with a baseless non existent N20million scandal will stop my strong resolve and commitment to help bury his regime.”

Slashed Budget: Senior Judges report Okonjo-Iweala to NASS BY SONI DANIEL, done,” the officer said. Regional Editor, North

N D I C AT I O N S emerged yesterday that the Judiciary was upset with the paltry vote of N67 billion earmarked in this year ’s budget for the operation of the third arm of government. The anger of the judiciary, it was learnt, stemmed from the failure of the Finance Minister to fulfill earlier promise by the government to increase the budget of the judiciary to about N100 billion. Saturday Vanguard learnt that senior judges, who reviewed the N67 billion allocation to the judiciary, described it as a mockery by the executive arm and a setback to the fight against corruption and inefficiency. A senior official told Saturday Vanguard that the judiciary was disappointed to find that allocations to the arm of government was steadily being reduced by the executive while paying lip service to the fight against the decay in the judicial system. Documents made available to our correspondent indicated that the

allocation to the judiciary was substantially and inexplicably slashed from N95 billion in 2010 to N85 billion in 2011. The hope of the judiciary workers for a better budgetary provision was further dashed in 2012 when their vote was slashed to N75 billion and it came to the lowest in 2013 with a paltry allocation of N27 billion. “We strongly suspect that the tactic is to further emasculate the judiciary and make the judges to be subservient to the executive and ulti-

mately do their bidding,” a senior judicial officer told Saturday Vanguard. “Our expectation was that based on earlier complaints to the government through the Finance Minister, the administration was going to jerk up allocation this year but that did not happen. Instead of increasing our allocation, they went ahead to add a paltry sum of N1 billion to last year ’s allocation of N67 billion just to give the impression that something had been

But it emerged yesterday that senior judges had made up their minds to take their complaint over the poor vote to the National Assembly for possible redress. The judges, who are said to have met in Abuja, have already complained to the Senate President and the NASS committees on Finance and Appropriation and Judiciary and pleaded with them to take urgent steps to augment the judiciary allocation so as to enable them to discharge their duties to the nation effectively.

MYSTERIOUS: Face of dead cleric appears on Mosque wall He said: “I went to the IlBY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

VER 1,000 Muslims yesterday gathered to see the mysterious face of a Moslem cleric, Alfa Sheikh Ibrahim Niass, who died 39 years ago, but was seen on the wall of Ilogbo Central Mosque, Lagos. According to an eye witness who simply gave his name as Mustapha, the mysterious appearing of Niass was a blessing to Muslims and Nigeria.

ogbo Central Mosque and saw a huge crowd, both Muslims and Christians. I saw people using “Pure Water” to wash some parts of the Mosque, and allowing the water to fall into their containers. Those without containers used handkerchief in cleaning the wall before using it on their body, saying it will heal their sickness. “The face of late Alfa Niass was just appearing on different parts of the wall at Ilogbo Central Mosque, and

shortly it will disappear. As at 1pm (yesterday) that I got here, the crowd was too much. Even when the police saw the crowd that came, they had to go back. Some of us who had wanted to pray in the mosque could no longer pray because of the crowd.Saturday Vanguard correspondent who went to the scene saw the face of cleric on the wall of the said Mosque yesterday afternoon, but was informed that the face started appearing since Thursday night.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

How we spent $10.8bn oil revenue — NNPC •Says, “we have legal backing to incur expenses” BY CHRIS OCHAYI, Abuja

HE management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, gave a clearer account of how it spent the $10.8 billion, the remaining part of the controversial unremitted $48.9 billion oil revenue. The Corporation which said it spent the sum on subsidy on PMS, known as petrol, repairs of vandalised pipeline and products/crude oil losses as well as maintenance of national strategic reserves, said it enjoys legal backing to incur such expenditure on behalf of the government. The Group Executive Director, Finance and Accounts Directorate of the Corporation, Mr. Bernard Otti, while making the clarification at an interactive session with Energy Correspondents in Abuja, said that as a law-abiding corporate entity, NNPC’s processes and procedures are guided by the provisions of the law. He said, “ whatever expenditure we have incurred in the discharge of the above national responsibilities are backed by the law setting up the Corporation”. He said the Corporation was backed by Section 7, Sub section A and B of the NNPC Act. Mr. Otti insisted that the $10.8 billion currently the subject of ongoing interagency reconciliation exercise was not missing, noting that, “the sum in question has been expenditures incurred as part of statutory responsibilities which the NNPC as a National Oil Company executes on behalf of the Federal Government and by extension the entire people of Nigeria.” He said the $10.5 billion reflects expenditure incurred by the NNPC in the period under review and are rarely made up of the following, subsidy claims, $8.49 billion, pipeline Management and Repair cost, $1.22 billion, products/crude oil losses, $0.72 billion, and cost of holding Strategic Reserves, $0.37 billion. He said these are being subject to the normal continuing inter-agency reconciliation exercise. He added, “there is a process by which revenue accrue into government account, there is also government policy stating that subsidy is still in place. NNPC does not create policies but it execute s policies, the subsidy claim has simply arisen because after

2011period.We saw there was no import of petroleum products when prices had gone up, NNPC was the sole importer and subsidy claims for this particular period had gone up. The subsidy claims normally is known to all relevant agencies.” Mr. Otti who is also a member, Board of Directors of the Corporation added that, “It is also on record that for many years now, NNPC has been the main supplier of products to the nation. Most of these products are imported at international prices but sold at regulated prices. At some point, NNPC was the sole importer of products into the country. The Corporation has successfully kept the nation wet with products, especially PMS, for the past three years as can be verified from the absence of queues at pet-

rol stations during normal and festive seasons. “It is significant to note that the government has not made any payments to the Corporation in the name of subsidy during the period under review. “I should like to use this opportunity to restate our position on subsidy. The subsidy is a policy of the Federal Government. We only implement what we are directed to,” he said. Otti stressed further that “another area of huge expenditure on behalf of the Federal Government is the maintenance of national strategic reserves for petroleum products. At every point in time round the year, NNPC maintains huge petroleum products reserves on land and in the national territorial waters”

From left: Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun; wife of Commissioner for Local Government, Ogun State, Mrs. Funke Oladipo; wife of Special Adviser to Governor on Special Duties, Mrs. Funmi Adeyemi and Governor of Rivers State, Governor Rotimi Amaechi at the Funeral Service for Soyinka's daughter, Late Ms. Iyetade Olayide Soyinka, held at Chapel of Resurrection University of Ibadan . Pix by Dare Fasube

Jonathan orders release of 165 terror suspects •Improve on nation building-- Prelate tells President •As Sultan preaches peace BY EMEKA MAMAH AND KINGSLEY OMONOBI

S Nigerians marked the centenary and the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, throughout the country, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111 yesterday asked Muslims to preach peace and unity in the country just as the Prelate of Methodist Church, Dr Samuel Uche, asked President Goodluck Jonathan ‘’to strive towards improving the nation rather than reacting to undue criticisms and sycophancy among aides.’’ Uche spoke as President Goodluck Jonathan also directed the immediate release of a fresh batch of over 165 suspected Boko Haram members arrested by security agencies in connection with terrorism activities in the North East states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States. A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said, “Over 165 persons apprehended in the course of military operations on terror in three states in the North-East are to be released from custody in compliance with Presidential directive. Out of the figure, 157 are from facilities in Borno, nine from Yobe and one suspect from Adamawa. “The suspects are those

earlier recommended for release by the Joint Investigation Team, JIT, set up by the Defence Headquarters last year. The suspects will be released to their respective state governments,” he added. Olukolade explained that other detainees, particularly women and children had benefited from similar gestures which started in May last year, adding that ‘’more suspects in this category are also to benefit in the present exercise.’’ However, Uche said Jonathan should be wary of sycophancy of his aides and appointees as he steered the affairs of the country. He spoke while reacting to the existing security and other challenges facing the country even as the National Deputy Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Amb. Ladan Shuni called for unity among Nigerians. Shuni blamed the myriad of problems facing the country on corruption. Also, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Adebayo Olaniyi called on Nigerians to cooperate with security agencies to stamp out crime in country. ``My prayer for the nation is that Nigerians should not lose hope; I foresee a very great country; I foresee a bright future. Let him steer the ship of the nation without minding criticisms.”

``He shouldn’t see those who criticise him as enemies, probably they want him to

do more and he should do more. I wouldn’t even want him to defend himself, rather, he should concentrate in

doing the good things that will make Nigerians want to have him back if God permits.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014 — 7

Ojukwu’s family crisis: Court strikes out suit by Debe to enforce right as first son L

AGOS — Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday, struck out a suit filed by Chief Debe Ojukwu over alleged breach of his fundamental human rights by his siblings. The applicant, who averred that he is the eldest son of the late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu, had filed the suit on Oct. 5, 2012 to enforce his rights. He sought an order to restrain them from threatening his life and asked for N100 million as exemplary damages. Joined in the suit as respondents are Prof. Joseph Ojukwu, Emmanuel Ojukwu, Lotanna Ojukwu, Bianca Ojukwu, wife of the deceased; Patrick Ojukwu, Patricia Ojukwu and Margaret Ojukwu. Others are the Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Muktar and Deputy Commissioner of Police in Anambra, Mr Mike Okoli. Delivering his judgement yesterday, Justice Okon Abang struck out the suit

on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it. The judge held that the suit was liable to be struck out as it did not follow the procedure. “The applicant should not have brought this suit under the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules, but as a proper action. “In the circumstance, this court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit. The case is accordingly struck out for want of jurisdiction with no order as to cost, I so hold,” Abang said. The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that Ojukwu had in an affidavit averred that since his birth as the first son of the late Ojukwu, he had been unfairly treated by his family. According to him, the respondents had invited him to come and oversee Ojukwu Transport Company owned by their late father. He said he managed the company effectively until the death of his father when things began to fall apart

for him. The applicant said he was suddenly informed by the respondents to hands off the company. Ojukwu said he refused to step down as manager of the company, but filed an action in court to challenge his siblings. He claimed that since he instituted the suit, the respondents had been using the police to threaten his life and persuading him to withdraw the suit. Ojukwu added that as a result of the suit, he was also denied the right as the eldest son to perform the traditional dust-to-dust rite for his father. Counsel to the respondents, Mr George Uwechue, SAN, in his

counter-affidavit, had urged the court to dismiss the applicant’s suit, describing it as an abuse of

court process. Uwechue argued that the applicant was merely “making a mountain out of

a mole hill”and urged the court to strike out the suit for lack of merit.

LG: Anambra voters go to polls today BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka

HE over 1.7 million voters in Anambra State will today line up to elect local government officials, the first since the

APC crisis: Chieftain calls for intervention of National Secretariat BY DAYO JOHNSON, Ilori and Chief Sola Iji expressed grievances on Akure the inauguration of the S the crisis in the All committee, saying the P r o g r e s s i v e s executives were not duly Congress in Ondo State appointed. over the inauguration of Other aggrieved the harmonisation members are mainly committee rages, a members of the defunct chieftain of the party Hon CPC and ANPP in the Olufemi Adekanmbi state who alleged they yesterday called for the were sidelined in the intervention of the National Secretariat of the party. Adekanmbi equally advised the leadership of the party in the state not BY SAM EYOBOKA, to allow their personal Warri interest to frustrate the efforts of the party ’s ELTA State Governor, National Executives to Dr. Emmanuel form the ruling party in Uduaghan has justified 2015. the continued stay of His call is coming on the military personnel in heels of the crisis that Kokori, the homestead of trailed the inauguration alleged kidnap kingpin, of a 31-member interim Kelvin, arguing that they Executive Committee in would remain there until Ondo State in which 19 of all the boys are smoked the members alleged out of their hiding for imposition of unknown prosecution. party members into the Responding to appeals committee. by Kokori indigenes in Aggrieved members diaspora who had led by a Special Adviser pleaded with the to the state governor on governor to lift the siege Environment, Mr. Bola

Gov. Peter Obi (right), with Bishop Henry Okeke (left) of the Anglican Diocese of Mbamili, in Anambra West, when the Gov. visited farmers in the area recently

committee However, Adekanmbi while speaking with newsmen in Akure appealed to members of the party to work together as a team ahead of the 2015 general elections in the state. He said the party cannot afford to be relegated in the state politics again.

expiration of the elected council officials in the state in 2002. Altogether, 21 chairmen and 326 councillors are to be elected today in the over 4000 polling centers in the state. The election has, however, not been without hiccups as several court cases trailed its preparations by the Anambra State Independent National Electoral Commission, ANSIEC. As at 4pm yesterday, Justice Isah Bature Gafai of the Federal High Court, Awka was yet to deliver a judgment on the suit filed by the All Progressives Congress, APC, against ANSIEC and the Independent National Electoral Commission,

INEC, praying for an interlocutory injunction for the stoppage of the election over alleged non display of the voters’ register to be used for the election. However, despite the pending suits, candidates for the election from all the political parties were enthusiastic about the exercise, with most of them sounding very optimistic of winning. Even candidates of APC whose party is in court, campaigned vigorously and have been mobilizing the electorate for the election, especially in areas they consider as APC stronghold. The headquarters of ANSIEC was a beehive of activities yesterday as electoral officials were seen

loading the election materials into buses that lined up to deliver the materials to the local government headquarters. Security was also beefed up and those who had no genuine business in the secretariat were turned back by the security operatives. In some of the local governments, some councillorship and chairmanship candidates complained that the list containing their names was missing. For instance, the PDP list for Ihiala local government was removed by unknown persons from the council notice board and the affected candidates were making spirited efforts to know their fate about today’s election.

Kevin: Uduaghan says military won’t leave Kokori until...

on Kokori to allow their kiths and kin go about their daily activities without fear of molestation by the military, the governor said there is no siege in Kokori, stressing that the military will not be stampeded to leave the place until they complete their mission. Asked about the security situation in Delta State during an inspection tour of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, shortly after this year’s poverty alleviation programme of the church where six brand new cars, 12

tricycles and 100 grinding machines were given out to indigent persons, the

governor commended the Church and Eagle Flight Micro Finance Bank for

assisting government to alleviate poverty in the

Lassa fever breaks out in Nasarawa BY ABEL DANIE, Lafial

CIVIL servant working at the Office of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Dameshi Lukas has been reported dead as a result of Lassa fever infection in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital. Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, the Commissioner of Health who confirmed the outbreak to journalists

recently in Lafia, said the patient died on Tuesday at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital. He said the patient was admitted into the hospital last week with symptoms of severe fever with bleeding, which compelled the medical personnel to send his blood specimen to the Lassa fever diagnostic Centre atIrua in Edo state where he was confirmed

positive to Lassa infection. The Commissioner explained that the hospital did its best by secluding and treating him and he was fairly stable until Tuesday when he died. He added that a blood specimen was also taken from the wife of the deceased and others who had close contact with him for examination and all came out negative.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

Police arrest 65,318 suspects in Lagos, Ogun states BY EVELYN USMAN

SSISTANT Inspec tor General of Police, AIG, in-charge of Zone 2, Onikan, comprising Lagos and Ogun states Police Commands, Mr Mamman Tsafe yesterday, disclosed that a total of 65, 318 suspects were arrested for various offences by the commands in year 2013. Briefing newsmen on the zone’s achievement in 2013, Tsafe also disclosed that 76 kidnappers including 280 suspected cult members were arrested in various locations within both states. A breakdown of the arrests showed that out of 65,318 suspects, 790 were arrested for alleged armed robbery. Speaking through the zonal Public Relations Officer, Lewi Suleima, a Superintendent of Police, he said 568 different cache of arms and 5399 live ammunitions were also recovered during raids of hoodlums hideouts during the period under review. He said 503 vehicles were snatched in different areas within both states last year, out of which over a hundred were recovered from

hoodlums and handed over to their owners. Also, a s total of 158 rape cases according to him, were recorded and at the completion of in-

GUN State State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday apologised to newsmen in the state over the attack by some hoodlums on their colleagues. Amosun while speaking with newsmen at his Office in Oke-Mosan, ABEOKUTA, described the brutality on the three newsmwn who were covering the harmonisation committee meeting at the state party Secretariat on Thursday as unnecessary. It was free-for-all on Thursday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital when some thugs believed to be members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the state invaded the state Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, pounced on four journalists and residents of Leme, Abeokuta . The rampaging thugs

He was quick to add that the success did not come easy , as the commands recorded casualties during encounters with men of the under world but assured that it

would not deter his men from carrying out their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property of the citizens. Attributing the success

Defection: Senate disowns Enang •Only court can declare seat vacant—Lar •We can’t succumb to blackmail—APC BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE, Abuja

HE Senate yesterday dis tanced itself from comments by the Chairman Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang that the leadership of the upper legislative chamber would declare vacant the seat of any Senator that defects from the party that he was elected to another party. Senator Enang had while briefing Senate press corps on Thursday stated that any senator that defects to another party would automatically lose his seat. Enang had stated that it was the party that was voted for and not individuals and that while defecting to another party, the persons must vacate the seats. Enang also said that the position was his personal

Attack on Journalists: Amosun apologises BY DAUD OLATUNJI Abeokuta

vestigation, 101 suspects were charged to court while 57 persons were still awaiting the Directorate of Public Prosecution’s, advice.

who stormed the APC Secretariat to stop a meeting of the members of the Harmonisation Committee scheduled to hold at the party secretariat, snatched cameras belonging to the correspondents of the Galaxy Television and MITV, Kunle Ojo and Taofeek Lawal, respectively as well as Dupe Sobukola of Paramount FM. According to Amosun, the violence that broke out at the party Secretariat on Thursday following the attempt by a faction of the party to inaugurate harmonisation committee was as a result of communication gap. He said that “what happened yesterday is something that is avoidable really. I believe there was truly what I called communication gap. Majority of the people that were there yesterday were not at the meeting where the decision was taken.

view and in no way reflected the view or position of the Senate but there was the feeling that he was indirectly representing the view of the senate leadership as a principal officer of the Senate. About 22 aggrieved senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had recently threatened to dump the party to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, and are allegedly going to make their defection formal as the Senate resumes on Tuesday after the Christmas break. But reacting to the comment by Senator Enang, Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Public Affairs, Enyinnaya Abaribe distanced the Senate from Enang’s comment saying it was purely his (Enang) position and not that of the Senate as there was no plan by the Red Chamber to declare seats of PDP Senators that defect to APC vacant. The Senate spokesman in a statement also absolved the Senate President, David Mark of any link to Enang’s statement. Abaribe said the report credited to Senator Enang was wholly his personal opinion to which he was entitled to and has nothing to do with the Senate as a chamber of the National Assembly. He further stated that the position of Enang had nothing to do with Mark who he claimed had in a statement assured that the leadership of the PDP would work to keep the party intact and prevent further crisis in the party. Abaribe said: “In the first place, there is no acrimony in the Senate irrespective of political party affiliation. The senate is still on vacation and will resume on the 14th of January and only after its deliberations would any statement on urgent matters of state be issued. Abaribe noted that the Senate was at peace and that there was no sign that the senators are working at cross purposes with one another, adding that the upper legislative chamber was one

to what he described as trust built over the years between the Police and members of the public, Tsafe therefore, called for more supports, expressing optimism that the zone would not only sustain the tempo in 2014 but would improve its crime prevention strategies with a view to delivering better service to members of the public.

Vice President Namadi Sambo flanked by the Finance Minister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and the Chairman Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Ehigie Uzanere (4r); while the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Niyi Otunla (2l); D.G. Debt Management Office, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo (2r); Chairman House Committee on Aids, Loans & Debt Management, Hon. Adeyinka Ajayi (3l); British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb. Andrew Pocock (3r); Deputy Governor Corporate Services CBN, Alhaji Suleiman Barau (l); Consultatnt to DFID, Dr. Menachem Katz (r) and others watched after a meeting to present a report on the Fourteeen Years of Stategic Partnership Betwen The DFID, UK & Debt Management Office at the Vice President’s Office, State House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida

whole family of patriotic Nigerians who first and foremost defer to issues that were of national interest.

No senator has right to declare another senate seat vacant— Lar Also reacting to Senator Enang’s position, Senator Victor Lar, PDP, Plateau South Senatorial district said that no individual senator has the constitutional powers to usurp the functions of the court, saying that it was the court that has the right to declare seats of senators vacant. Senator Lar said: “I want to state categorically that the issue of declaring any senator’s seat vacant should be left to the court and not a matter that should be at the discretion of any Senator. ”This is a time when caution and healing of those aggrieved within the PDP is required.”

Politics of blackmail will backfire — APC But the APC Senators have risen to the defence of any of the PDP senators that intend to defect to APC saying that it is their constitu-

tional right of freedom of association and that nobody should use that to cow others. Speaking on behalf of the APC senators, Senator Olusola Adeyeye said:” We have watched and read with keen interest, some pronouncements on the proposed defection of some members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) emanating from the Chairman of the

Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang. ”Senator Ita Enang would do well not to arrogate powers which he does not have to himself. ”On this matter, Senator Ita Enang is speaking for himself. He does not even have the mandate to speak for the entire Senate on this matter. We want to make it clear that Senators would make their opinions known when they resume from the Yuletide break next week”.

Lagos Assembly approves N489.6b Budget for 2014 BY EBUN SESSOU

AGOS State House of Assembly has approved a total sum of N489. 690 billion to be spent by the state government during the 2014 fiscal year. The amount is 3.43 per cent lower than last year’s budget. Out of the total sum, N234.665billion is for recurrent while N255.025 billion is for capital expenditure. The Assembly, presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, passed the Budget, hav-

ing considered the outcome of its Appropriation Committee headed by Hon. Obasa. The committee had read a breakdown of the budget on sectoral basis, even as the committee has reduced allocations to some ministries, agencies and departments (MDAs) and added to others, based on their needs. The breakdown of the budget shows that Education gulps a sum of N51.378 billion, Health, N22.07billion, Works and Infrastructure, N100.12billion and Environment, N25.67 billillion.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014 — 9

Expatriate Manager resigns over dela delayy in salaries of Nigerian wor workker erss BY DANIEL ETEGHE

Base Maintenance Manager at Caverton Helicopters, Mr. Surendra Bhagwandass yesterday resigned over non-payment of salaries and unfair treatment of Nigerian workers in the company. The company, which has contracts with companies like SHELL, TOTAL among others was accused of not paying the salaries of its Nigerian workers last month (December 2013). Bhagwandass who tendered his resignation letter through an email to the management of Caverton said that he became frustrated knowing that the expatriate workers were being taken care of while their Nigerian counterparts were not only poorly paid but that their salaries were sometimes delayed. He described the development as maltreatment of the workers. “Shame on you guys. I heard from the people I work with that they were not paid for the festive season. This is a security breach as I now feel uncomfortable to travel and work, while you guys have a merry time. “Please have heart as these people have families, while you all enjoy the best; being with your families. You all (set) break the record as the only company in the world who

US revises travel alert on Nigeria

BUJA —THE U.S. has revised its travel alert on Nigeria, warning its citizens against travelling to 16 states in the country, including Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. The three north eastern states have been under emergency rule after a presidential declaration on May 14, 2013, aimed at restoring safety and security due to insurgent activities in the area. The revised alert released by the State Department and dated Jan. 8, advised U.S citizens to avoid all but essential travels to Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Gombe and Jigawa states. The other states on the list, which the U.S. said are prone to kidnappings, robberies and other armed attacks are Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara. Abia, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Imo and Rivers states, which were in an earlier list issued in June 2013 are not on the latest travel alert list.

do not pay your workers. Shame on you guys,” the expatriate stated in the email distributed to the workers. Some of the Nigerain workers at Caverton Helicopters said that it was painful to know that expatriate staff were paid in dollars but the Nigerian workers who put in more effort on the job were paid less and even get their salaries after some months of delay. According to one of the staff who spoke on the condition of anonymity, while local workers are not given accommodation or security escorts,

expatriates enjoyed such benefits but come to work late and leave before time. “They are paid in dollars, we in Naira but we work more than them. Several staff have been attacked because they leave their houses around 4 am. There is no security for us. But they enjoy everything in our country,” the staff said. He further accused Caverton Helicopters of failing to take good care of its staff even after promising oil companies that it would do so before signing contracts with them.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole right, having a hand shake with Mr. Jerry Obazele, the new Head of Service in Edo.

140 suspected cult members arrested in Delta •22-yr-old bricklayer shot dead BY FESTUS AHON, Ughelli

T least 140 youths, including 40 young women have been arrested by the Police in the Ughelli ‘A’ Division, Delta State for their alleged involvement in

cult activities. It was learnt that the cultists, suspected to be members of a popular cult group (name withheld) were arrested during an End of Year / Initiation Party at a popular hotel in the Ughelli metropolis.

Sources said, the Police, acting on a tip-off by an undercover, stormed the hotel and effected the arrest, while several others fled the area on sighting the armed police officers. A source who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on

condition of anonymity, disclosed that the members of the cult group went for the initiation party in company of their girlfriends many of whom were alleged to belong to a female cult group called “Black Bra”. Confirming the arrest, the Area Commander in

Delta Central Senatorial bye-election: Tribunal strikes out Emerhor’s petition against Aguariavwodo BY AUSTIN OGWUDA, Asaba

HE National As sembly Election Tribunal sitting in Asaba, yesterday struck out the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate during the October 12, 2013 Delta Central Senatorial district election, Olorogun O’Tega Emerhor challenging the election of Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo as the duly elected candidate. Emerhor, had earlier sought for “a declaration that the election of 12 th October, 2013 upon which 1st respondent (Aguariavwodo) was declared elected as Senator representing the Delta Central Senatorial district was invalid by reason of corrupt practices or non-compliance with Electoral Law”. But it took another twist as the petitioner brought a Motion on Notice, seeking the leave of the Tribunal to withdraw the petition.

Moving the application at yesterday ’s sitting, Emerhor ’s couns e l , M r. A h w e y e v u Mukoro told the Tribunal that “the petitioner/ applicants (Olorogun O’Tega Emerho and APC) have filed a suit at the Federal High court Abuja, suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/873/2013 challenging the candidature of the 1 st respondent at the byeelection of 12th October 2013 upon which 1 st respondent purportedly became a Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial district. “And that retaining this petition after filing suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/ 873/2013 may raise the issue of abuse of the judicial process”. After moving the application, all the different defence counsel representing, Eguariav w o d o , P D P, I N E C , Delta CP and Chief of Army Staff concurred and did not object to the application but asked the tribunal to award cost.

Ruling on the motion, the three-man panel headed by Justice M.I. Sirajo struck the petition accordingly and awarded N100,000 as cost against the petitioner to be paid to each respondent.

•••I’ll still pursue my N1bn libel suit against him — Utuama In the meantime, the State Deputy Governor, Professor, Amos Utuama, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said, the N1 billion libel suit he insti-

tuted against the candidate for the All Progressive Party (APC), Olorogun O’tega Emerhor for allegedly claiming in the petition filed before the tribunal that thumb printing of ballot papers was done in his (Utuama) residence during the October 12, 2013 Delta Central senatorial bye-election would still go on irrespective of the striking out of the petition. His lead counsel on the matter, Mr. Ekemejero Ohwovoriole told Saturday Vanguard at the tribunal premises yesterday that “Yes, we are still going on with the suit.”

charge of the Ughelli Area Command, ACP Aworisola Awotunde said, he ordered officers of the Command to invade the venue of the gathering, following a tip off. On the allegation that some members of a security outfit (name withheld) were among the 140 arrested persons who were later released on self-recognition, Awotunde said, he was not aware of such allegation. Meanwhile, a young man in his early twenties, was Wednesday night allegedly shot dead by men of Ighovoja street vigilance team in the Ughelli metropolis. The deceased who was identified as Akpos Atile, a native of IhwremaroUghelli community, was reportedly lured out of his house at about 9 pm with a telephone call. The deceased, a bricklayer, according to a dependable source, was dragged to a nearby street, where his corpse was found the following morning.

Gunmen kill policeman in Bauchi BY SUZAN EDEH, Bauchi

UNMEN yester day attacked the Gumau Divisional Police Station in Toro local government of Bauchi State and killed a Sergeant and took away his riffle. The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed who confirmed the incident said, there was exchange

of fire between the Police and the hoodlums but did not give a full account of the incident. DSP Haruna assured that he will brief newsmen on the incident as soon as the police is through with its investigations . “We do not have a full account of the incident for now, nevertheless, the Police is still conducting its investigation into the incident and once we are done, we will brief the journalists,” he said.

Also,confirming the incident, a security source said, there was an exchange of fire between the sergeant who was on duty and the gunmen. According to him,“in the process of exchange of fire, the sergeant was killed and his riffle was taken away. We suspect that the hoodlums were armed robbers looking for arms.After the attack, the gunmen fled and escaped to an unknown destination”.

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Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

Urban slums in Lagos Mega City O

ver the years, the population boom in Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of the country has put undue pressure on government and individuals as the demand for housing continued to rise far and above what the urbanised areas can offer. This could be one of the reasons for the high number of slums within the precincts of the city of Lagos. A few years back, it was rumoured that the state advised many residents who were finding it difficult to live in the state to go back to their home states and was even ready to assist them with a paltry sum to aid their return to their home states. As more and more peo-

ple find their ways into the state; the urban slums become settlements for those who are determined to remain in the state and eke out a living. In the remote areas of Ikotun, Ejigbo, Majidun-Ikorodu, Ogba, Kio-Kio village, Pako and the popular Ajegunle, there are residential areas where dwellings are unfit for human habitaion. A visit to the hinterlands in many of the above areas would reveal the inhabitable, cramped, poorly ventilated and unclean environment where many live, where families bear and raise children and socialise. Saturday Vanguard visited these areas and files in these reports.

Majidun, Ikorodu

Majidun, Ikorodu area of Lagos area is populated mostly by the Ilajes who

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN, SAM ANOKAM, FLORENCE AMAGIYA AND IYABO AINA

Oke Afa

A visit to the hinterlands in many of the areas would reveal the inhabitable, cramped, poorly ventilated and unclean environment where many live, where families bear and raise children and socialise

dwell in houses that were not only poorly built but over-crowded. Some of the residents who spoke to Saturday Vanguard maintained that the seemly crowd at the time of the visit was as a result of the demolition along the Ikorodu road to pave the way for on-going road construction in the area. “People lately found accomodation here because of the demolition that affected them as a result of the on-going construction of roads.” That reason may

not also be tenable for the poor housing structure in most parts of the area. Houses were carelessly built with light woods and and zincs, yet they are homes for many families. Potable water was another luxury in the area. Because they are surrounded by a river, residents depend mainly on it as their major source of water which are used for their culinary chores, washing and bathing. Ajuwon Raphael who

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Urban Slums in Lagos Mega City Continues from page 10

Oke Afa, Isolo

espite the development in Lagos metropolitan by the Babatunde Fashola led administration, some areas are still begging for development. One of such areas is the slum at Oke Afa, Isolo. Whether one is coming from the Iyana Isolo axis or Cele side going towards or coming from Ejigbo or Ikotun, what confronts one at the Pako bus stop intersection is the huge refuse dump where all sorts of makeshift shanty houses are erected on the heap of the refuse. Close to the cemetery of thousands who lost their lives at the Ikeja cantonment bomb blast some years ago and divided by a stinking carnal, the fenced refuse dump site boasts of various activities like petty trading which include sale of cows, foodstuffs, soft drinks, sachet water, local gin known to consumers as paraga, among others. A whole lot of cart pushers were busy coming in and going out with various items. Close to the entrance is an old man who directs where they push their carts

spoke with us disclosed that “we pay heavily for ‘ water-tankers’ weekly to deliver water which we drink.” Since they resort to the river for their water need, they may be exposed to risk of waterborne diseases, especially the children. Since it is regarded as a community on its own, no health unit is close to the environment. In fact, many of them resort to herbal homes for their health and maternity challenges. Poor housing units such as these, inaccessibility to one or more of better living conditions result in a ‘slum lifestyle’ and these make the inhabitants vulnerable to disaster and destruction because the poor building materials cannot withstand stormy winds or heavy rainfall. These people as a result become nothing but endangered species with greater risk of disaster as a result of their vulnerability to the environment in which they live. The idea of slums can only become history not only when we attain the tall dream of the ‘Mega city’ but when the government particularly pay attention to the living conditions of its people, providing the necessary amenities and of course when the rich who have to segregate themselves behind small gated enclaves dump the class system.

There were some men at different parts of the site having their baths in the open as there were no public or private bathrooms and toilets including drainage system of any sort

to. Those with refuse are not allowed in or other stuffs that are not required inside the huge refuse dump site. They go and off load their wares and probably get paid and move on to scout for more materials. When asked why the cart pushers who are supposed to dump their refuse at the expansive site are not allowed to do so, the visibly angry old man who was provoked by her teenage daughter who left her wares to buy rice answered: “They no longer use this place for that again. Anyone who is caught will be dragged to the palace of the Oba and will be heavily fined.” Sensing that he was being sized up, the reporter stylishly paid for a bottle of drink he bought from the old man’s daughter and sauntered into the site for more investigation. All around the premises are filth of varying magnitude littered ev-

Ejigbo erywhere with accompanying offensive odour emanating from in and around the big compound. There are kiosks almost at every corner. There is hardly any usable item that cannot be found there. From disused children’s swing, large plastic water containers, rags, irons, refrigerators, TV sets, mattresses, rags, furniture, bottles, cans, planks, car steering, among others. There were some men at different parts of the site having their baths in the open as there were no public or private bathrooms and toilets including drainage system of any sort. One iron bender was busy bending, cutting and straightening iron rods while his client sat on an old refrigerator. Few people were also waiting for their wares like disused and old roofing zincs to be scaled and get paid peanut like N30, per dozen. Some others were seen half naked sleeping, lazying about and smoking weeds, cigarettes as well as drinking local gin. Upon investigation, it was gathered that the shanties are actually residents for the cart pushers as well as dealers in all kinds of other related businesses. Most of them are Hausas and ac-

cording to one of them (name withheld) the cost of rent is N1,000 per month payable to the Oba. He says: “ As you can see all around here, people are living here. That is my apartment there. We are not staying here for free. We pay N1,000 to the Oba every month. The Oba owns this land. We don’t have light, no water, nothing. We stay here and do our business.” They also have a kind of segregation at the slum. While few people close to the entrance are enjoying electric power supply, those inside have no form of electricity but they look satisfied in their small makeshift rooms.

Unity, in Ogba

gba which is about five kilometres West of Ikeja, is a densely populated area with a mix of both high and low-income earners. Despite its assuming popularity of the area, it habours what could pass as a slum. A visit to Unity Street in Ifako Ijaye axis, the area that

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Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

Ajegunle

Ikotun

Urban Slums in Lagos Mega City Continued from page 11 shares proximity with Aguda bus stop would reveal people living within Lagos city but are cut off from the wind of development in the major parts of the state. Saturday Vanguard gathered from one of the Community Development Association leaders in the area who does not want his name in print that the people provide virtually everything for themselves including roads that are not motorable. “We had constructed some roads on our own which link various streets together after several complaints to the government which did not yield any result”. Another resident, Evang. Timothy Odedeji, Chairman CDA in the area, said: “The government has not been fair to us, we are always endangered anytime there is rainfall. We have cried to the government to at least help us to dig a canal but to no avail. There was a time they started around Abiola side to Modupe but they stopped eventually and nothing has happened since then.” He lamented incessant building collapse with attendant loss of lives and properties in the area.

Residents speak

.O Lambe, a resident said: “When people from other places ask us where we stay, we tell them that we live in Lagos. Me and my family have been living in this zinc house for the past 15 years now. It’s not that we wish to live in this kind of house but because of the situation we find ourselves. I used

to live in a very good and comfortable house but it collapsed. I have no choice than to move in here and my rent here is 1000 naira per month . So my own comment is that the government should come to our rescue.” Ireoluwa Komolafe said: “Residents are not safe here at all. Our major problem here is digging of canal because the one they did here is very small and it makes everywhere to be flooded during rainy season and it makes the buildings to be weak.” Tolani Ajisegiri, a landlord said: “The truth is that we are within Lagos but we are not really living in Lagos. This is because our own Lagos is different from their Lagos. Because living in this kind of environment is like living 30 years behind modernisation. Government should help us.”

Kio-Kio Villiage

he Izons from the Niger-delta area of the country have been known for their cultural preference in living in riverine areas largely because of their main occupation of fishing. Civilisation notwithstanding, the Izons have continued to live this way from time immemorial and nothing suggests that in the near future, the situation would completely change. Hence, they are most friendly with water. But many have wondered how they have been able to survive in their environment which reeks of filth, pollution and general abandonment by the government. Without mincing words, they hibernate in slums. And they are scattered in the South south and southwest. In Lagos, be it in Oko-oba or wherever else they choose to stay, the deplorable situation of their environment calls for concern. Taking a look at Kiokio village along

Kio-Kio Villiage

Ikorodu road, the Izon community from every indication is far behind in the development by the Lagos state government. Whether you are coming from Ikorodu- Agric area or Owode- Ajegunle axis; the entrance of this village wouldn’t tell you much of the state, but entering the village, one would think he or she is back to the Stone Age. The shanty houses without provisions for toilet systems or bathing system would greet your arrival; the river on the end of the village serves that purpose. Known for their expertise in midwifery and treatment of bones, most of these shanty houses boast of such activities aside manufacturing of local gin and pure water. When asked why the river is used for this purpose instead of building a toilet system in their various homes, we learnt it was cheaper to build one makeshift latrine and bathroom for the entire village than to build individual

ones in individual homes. A middle aged man who pleaded anonymity told us that it is very expensive to build a toilet system with pipes leading to the river. He also revealed that the ground is water -logged and digging it for the purpose of a toilet system has never been thought about. He also hinted that it was not cultural for them to have individual toilet system. It was also discovered that the river surge has repeatedly displaced them and putting all their eggs in one basket in Kiokio village is futile. The river surge has cost the indigenes of Kiokio village fortunes in the past; no wonder, they are not in a hurry to build modern buildings. Since, these people live in Lagos and pay their taxes, one would think it is incumbent on the state government to extend dividends of democracy to their region as well as prevent outbreak of diseases especially the recent outbreak of cholera which has to do with water. Continues on page 13

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Urban renewal is the only way out of the predicament — Comrade Adeniran BY OLAYINKA AJAYI

so, that Lagos will be occupied mostly by the rich. That is unfortunate because it is against the principles of social economic right of the people. If you look at the management of the mega city,you will observe that the health institutions are suffering. For the whole of Lagos state, they have only one scanning machine, they have only two dialysis

What is your take on Lagos as an emerging mega city? Lagos can be considered as the largest mega slum when compared to mega cities around the world. Most parts of Lagos are actually slums, apart from the case of Makoko and Ijora Badia. Ajegunle, Oshodi, Ajangbadi, Ikotun Egbe are all glorified slums. Oshodi is not developed, only the motor parks in Oshodi are developed. It is just an intentional act to cover the rotten state of the interior. However Lagos is being governed under false pretences . The State government intentionally decorated only areas that can be seen by visitors to make it look as if the whole state is neat, prosperous and well planned. But in reality, most neighborhoods in Lagos state do not have the facilities to be considered as a mega city apart from the population. Ordinarily, the concept of a mega city is not about how beautiful a state is, it is about the ability of a government to manage a mega population that inhabit a city comfortably. Any city that harbours more than 10million people is considered a mega city. A responsible government is not supposed to de-populate a city but are supposed to develop plans and projects that will accommodate the mega population. It is because of the mega city that Lagos state government collected mega grant from

Adeniran...The people would have to rise up to the occasion and demand for good governance the international Organisations like world banks to control floods because it has to be controlled. The challenge we have in Lagos is that the drainages are too shallow for the amount of flood they are supposed to contain due to lack of planning on the part of the State government. Instead, they tend to de-populate by destroying poor people’s homes; like it happened in Makoko and Badia which is an admission that they lack the technical ability of managing the mega city. What about the resettlement area built for the displaced people ? It was when we made mega noise about the wickedness of the government, that they started making efforts to do something about it . One thing you should know is that the government causes more calamity for the poor in Lagos State so that they would be able to take up their lands and build it to suit the rich . It was what they did in Maroko, Tejuosho and Oyingbo markets. They painted a picture of

modern markets; they took charge of the place, built it and leased it at exorbitant prices that the real owners cannot afford . The government taking over Makoko was because it was on the waterside and the rich had their eyes on it . There is a likelyhood of them allocating it to the rich. If the government would do anything for the poor, it will be contrary area of interest. When they relocated those that originally owned the Tejuosho market, they moved them to Badagry and that is like saying those who have known Tejuosho as the trading point to start afresh in Badagry . Also there were some shop owners who owned 10 shops in Tejuosho before it was destroyed; they were given only one shop in Badagry. How would they cope with such challenges? So the same thing they do with their land grabbing tendencies . They are not actually relocating those in these slums , they want to frustrate them out of Lagos

omrade Debo Adeniran, a re nowned human rights activist and the convener of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) bares his mind on the need for urban renewal in the state. Excerpts:

If the people living in these slums should decide that they are no longer satisfied with their condition; they should demand that the government should engage in urban renewal centres and they have less than 1,800 doctors to cater for mega population that is over 17million people. Meanwhile, LUTH alone has 800 doctors and the whole Lagos has 1,000 doctors with fewer consultants. Doctors are not well paid , there are no improvement and motivation to work. A doctor attends to about 800 patients per day. Meanwhile they are not supposed to attend to up to 50 per day. Look at the educational system, it was reported recently that most public schools do not have chairs

and students sit on the bare floor in classrooms which are mostly attended by indigent children. The government is not interested in the children of the poor but are out there to encourage private institutions that are owned by their close associates which is the reason you see many of these public schools with dilapidated structures. How best can this predicament be curtailed? The people would have to rise up to the occasion and demand for good governance. They should insist on schools that are well furnished and roads that are well tarred. Most of the roads are either bumpy or riddled with potholes and the few ones they do are done at inflated costs. Let the people demand for transparency, accountability and probity . People should start asking questions to ensure that public funds are not mismanaged. What Lagos ought to do is to replace the plank bridge that was done in Ikotun – Igando axis with concrete which in return would make transportation easier. Ayobo road has been on perpetual construction, the same thing with Meran road. Ajangbadi road deserves urgent attention. Urban renewal is the only way out of the predicament . If the people living in these slums should decide that they are no longer satisfied with their condition; they should demand that the government should engage in urban renewal. The slums should be redesigned and reallocated to the original owners. Also, provision of pipe borne water and electricity by the government to the dwellers is important. If Lagos state government can generate water and electricity for flowers in the state for the sake of keeping Lagos green, they should be able to make electricity available in the neighborhood for potable water. They should provide good education and the roads should be passable. If the dwellers demand accountability from the government things will begin to change for the better.

House is cheap at the dump site— Residents By ANOZIE EGOLE

ccording to a residents at Igando road dumpsite, “life in that area is not only shameful, but very dangerous to health as the odour which oozes out of the refuse dump at Igando road is very bad. We suffer so much here. For instance, most times in the evening, you cannot stand the odour that comes out

C M Y K

from the dustbin. Sometimes, I feel like running away from here. In the evenings, the odour is usually so much that, sometimes it is very embarrassing to ask your friends especially colleagues to visit you. “All I am doing now is to know if there is a way I can pack out of this place and look for somewhere that is better,” he said.

“I see no reason why house rents in this area should be high. We live almost at the dustbin and we pay close to nothing. “When it rains, you will not want to come miles close to this place because of the stench oozing out of the refuse dump. We have no choice than to live and ask God for a positive change in future. I have stayed in this place for over

two years. I intend to move out of this environment this year for the sake of my kids,” he stated. While his colleagues are complaining about the challenges of living in a slum, another resident, Suleman Yusuf, said living in the area is a saving grace as he spends nothing on house rent. As far as he is concerned, he cannot remember the last time he

paid for rent as he lives in a house close to the dust bin where he pays no rent. “ I have no regrets living here, I do not pay any house rent here. The only complaint I have about this place is that the odour which is much during the rainy season and at nights. I intend to pack out of this place when I want to get married,” Yusuf said.

14—SATURDAY Vanguard , JANUARY 11, 2014

*enough is the word *metuh’s mee-up *aka-alao remembered

Empire everything in it was, supposedly, subservient to its fate. The admirable gesture was extended to Nigeria by tradition, and it is heartwarming that it has been expanded to the festival periods of other faith. The Christian version remains still the most pronounced, anyway, especially in the areas where the administration is under a

he word that has followed me into the year 2014, is that the publicised allegation that President Goodluck Jonathan has a secret squad of snipers in training, is now under thorough scrutiny. The word also states that so also is the claim that the putative victims would be in a list of 1000 names already compiled and, furthermore, those who already know themselves and the identities of others listed, would be kindly requested to reveal the nature of that knowledge. It is enough. It is a good word, a word that one can run with at the beginning of the year, with the hope that it would be the precursor of a new world removed far from investigations of the past that somehow fade into silence in the light of day, right before our eyes. We simply cannot continue to live in a world of doubts that are not resolved, and deeds that are performed but seldom revealed, and crimes that are committed but remain unsolved, as if we up. Enough of the sudden do not care. And yet we care, or silence. Enough of the should care, or at least, we anxiety it all brings. declare we care. Then we Enough of the should be concerned to clear the insufficiencies they make air of the putrid stench of dark us suffer. The word is deeds and the doubts they enough! engender, along with the possibility they enliven for impunity. Christmas offers the t has almost become a opportunity for important debilitating counterculture people all ever the world in its entirety, manifesting itself to make important as a way of life, as a modus operandi in several aspects. We seldom know what to believe any more. Almost anything becomes possible, or is made to seem to possible, when it is not disproved or proved to be true. We have to shift that cover of uncertainty and emerge into the light of the definite awareness of our veritable circumstances.

These are horrible events that are daily filling our lives with insecurity, and they all stem from the same source of the people not caring enough to say enough!

But even beyond that, Their Excellencies were even permitted to address the congregation on such occasions. The President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, was even

hen only a whole lot of noise is all that could made about vicious crimes, colossal thefts of public funds, and attacks on the Sanctuaries of the House of God’s worship, then bombings of the “temples of justice” should hardly lift an eyebrow. But since it would appear that it has, will we still be treated to the normal round of “ongoing investigations”? *These are horrible events that are daily filling our lives with insecurity, and they all stem from the same source of the people not caring enough to say enough! And this is what we have to put our foot down to say with the year in all its newness. Enough of the sweeping under the carpet. Enough of the cover-

t is totally at variance with the mood of the moment which is christianly rampant and does not correlate with the political inclination of any party in Nigeria. It recalls Metuh’s rancid antecedents as a disciple of Obasanjo’s Third Term misadventure, and demeans his present status as the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, the party in power.

•Governor Fashola statements for and about the welfare of their people. It is a usual practice that we have borrowed from our colonial days when the British Monarch would have an official, Christmas Message broadcast to the Commonwealth. It must have been intended principally for the Church of England of which the British King or, as it is now the case, Queen, is the head. But since it was the British

Christians. The fervour of evangelism is implanted in the tenets of their (our) faith. It is then not only absurd, but absolutely reckless, for anyone like Chief Olisa Metuh to declare that the All Progressives Congress, the APC, was planning to impose Islam on the country.

*Let us start with who killed Bola Ige. And stop there. After all, we have gone no further all these days. And we seem in no mind or mood to take another step. But we ought to have taken a responsible stride, a caring step, forward. The killer who cut down the Attorney-General of the Federation right may have been trained in a corps of snipers, the like that is being alleged now exists somewhere beyond our ken. If there is no basis for this unsettling allegation, coming especially as high as it does, now is the time to destroy it and give it the lie permanently. That is the assurance that has been given from official sources. It is no less than the pledge that was also declared in the case of Chief Bola Ige. A start needs to be made somewhere.

Christian government. Here, the message is no longer merely published as in· former days but, especially during the recent celebration, it is delivered in some cases straight from the lectern.

ut, apart from that, it was not unusual (and as a Christian I would add) but quite inspiring to witness the “Chief Executive” sometimes dancing with happy steps to the altar or in front of his seat.

able to throw off some remarks about “letters that are not supposed to be written”, during such an event — to the applause of the congregation. Well, you can’t stop being a politician because you are a Christian, I suppose, and it is quite sometimes natural to mistake a lectern for a rostrum. The Muslims normally separate one from the other. On the face of it, therefore, the tendency to convert anyone from his faith through political influence would tilt towards the

The magical transformation of the Oshodi Bus Stop in Lagos seemed to be: in imminent danger but Thank goodness, Governor Babatunde Fashola has stepped in once: again in the nick of time. The Governor’s timely intervention, even at a personal level, has reinstated sanity in many situations in the city more than on a few occasions, especially in the crucial area of smooth municipal movement. But perhaps even more gratifying had been the fulfillment of the promise that he would rehabilitate the parks and gardens all over the State. The latest is the Gbagada Recreation Park which is named for the late Chief Alao Aka-Bashorun, a renowned lawyer who passed on some eight years ago. It was an emotional event for me, since he was my boyhood friend of whom I was very proud as a great footballer, brilliant barrister and civil rights activist. His bust now fittingly adorns the park, marking another bright spot in the Lagos metropolis. Eko 0 ni baje 0! Time out

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President Jonathan’s eleventh plane Lean not on yyour our own under undersstanding the more difficult it gets, for by strength he Nation newspaper published time ago; but that is another story for oday, we begin a new series of shall no man prevail. some pretty frightening stuff on another time.)So how did the old Tteaching from the word of God, on Has God instructed you to do somethe state of the nation last week. politicians manage in their time without the above subject. private jets? It will cost about 25000 dollars which is about four million Naira at today’s rate to fuel an average luxury jet for a mere six hour flight. Calculate that for a month and your head begins to reel with figures. Yet the plane still has to be serviced and run by experienced pilots and crew. Now imagine what the cost of maintaining a luxury jet for a year will do to the livelihood of peasants in the villages, and you realize how insensitive our political class has become. A private jet is a toy that is as expensive in the air as it is on the ground.

hat is why I cannot understand how the shoe-less one who spent half his life in a rural setting can seek to indulge himself in such a mean and uncaring way. The amount budgeted for food alone in Aso Rock will feed a town for a year. We copied our constitution from the US; yet the US President feeds himself and his family from his salary. State funds only come in when there are State functions. So where did we get ours from? Now in a country where the unemployment rate is rising and revenue is dwindling, where the exchange rate is rising and foreign reserve is depleting, where prices for essential goods are going up while purchasing power is dipping, where taxation is biting, the presidency wants to buy its eleventh plane.

We copied our constitution from the US; yet the US President feeds himself and his family from his salary

So why have we refused to look back now that we have escaped the grueling poverty of our youth?

hy do we have the predisposition to consume everything in the city and forget the land and the people that nurtured us? Why do we condemn our kith and kin to a permanent life of deprivation while we gorge ourselves silly on the national cake? If there is any class that is most guilty of this, it is the political class; the same class of people that has travelled the length and breadth of this country during electioneering campaigns and has thus seen the deprivations— and the potentials— in the land. Yet, there is so much disconnect between the political class and the rest of us. The political class in Nigeria simply has no respect for money or the welfare of its people. A prominent politician I ran into on January 2, told me that no politician at his level can work effectively without a convenient means of transportation which translates to a private jet in his reckoning.( I also remember hearing that from a prominent man of God some C M Y K

e note that at the last count, the presidency according to press reports, had 2 falcon7x, 2 falcon 900, gulfstream 550, boeing 737, air force 001, gulfstream V, Cessna citation 2, hawker siddley 125-800. So what does the presidency need the eleventh plane for— even if it was free and not the whopping 1.5 billon dollars that is being touted? How many countries have up to five jets in their presidential fleet for goodness sake? Again in the US whose constitution we have copied, the US President cannot fly any member of his family in Air Force One without paying the cost of a Ist class ticket for them. In 2010, Prime Minister Cameron of UK once travelled business class on a commercial plane whilst on an official trip to Washington just to prove a point and lead by example. Here, all manner of people use our presidential jets for all manner of errands at costs we can ill afford. I believe a leader is asking for trouble when he is asking the rest of the country to tighten its belt while he indulges himself in a grandiose lifestyle that is out of tune with reality and the demands of modern governance. That eleventh plane is unnecessary. It must not be bought.

We believe that God wants to move your life to a new realm that you have never experienced. As you read this series of messages, please try not to reason it out or rationalize it. Just accept it and you will see God’s manifestation in your life as you begin to apply it. Our main text for the next weeks will be taken from Prov. 3:5. “trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding”. The text started by saying that we should trust in the Lord. To trust means, to believe, to depend on, and to have absolute confidence in someone. This means that the one you trust must be the one that cannot fail. The word Lord implies Master, meaning the one that is in absolute control of circumstances. From this little definition, we can see that, when the bible says that we should trust in the Lord, we are been told that God is trustworthy and that you can depend on Him. He always does what He promises (see 1kings 8:56). The text also says we should trust God with all of our heart because, the heart of man is the spirit of man, and the spirit of man is the life of man. Therefore, it is expected of man to trust God with his whole heart and not part of his heart. God demands a 100% trust. The God, who said you should trust Him, knows you better than you know yourself. He knows all that concerns you and knows your end. Remember that he created you and has a plan for your life. He said His plan for you is of peace and not of evil and to get you to an expected end (Jer. 29:11). God has the solution for your every need and knows exactly what to do in every situation. Ps. 34:19, says “many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord, delivereth him out of them all”. Who is it then that gives deliverance? The bible says it is the Lord. Unless the Lord builds the city, they that build, builds in vain. No matter how much you try to get delivered from those afflictions on your own, you will find out that the more you try on your own P

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stances are temporary and subject to change while God’s word that is eternal is not subject to change for it is already settled in heaven. In 2 kings 5, the bible talks about a man by name Namaan, the Captain of the host of the king of Syria, who the Lord used to give deliverance unto Syria. He was also a mighty man of valour, but he was a leper. His maid recommended that he meets with God’s Prophet Elisha, who will be able to help him. When he got to the place of God’s prophet, the prophet of God sent a messenger unto him, saying, go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee. But Namaan was wroth and went away and said behold I thought he will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place and recover the leper. You can see from Namaan’s reaction that God’s instruction usually do not L

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Therefore, it is expected of man to trust God with his whole heart and not part of his heart. God demands a 100% trust.

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thing and it seems to make no sense? Listen, 1Cor. 1:27, says, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty”. Know for a surety that God is the Alpha and Omega. He is the beginning and the end. Whether God’s word makes sense or not, it is only in your doing it that God’s word can become real. Stop depending on what you think or what your circumstances might be saying or suggesting. Your circum-

Quoting BGL, a Lagos based firm of consultants, the paper stated that only about 5% of the country’s population consumes over 40% of the country’s resources while the rest of us – a whopping 95%- contend with merely 60% of the resources. And this is on salaries and emoluments alone. When you factor thefts, misappropriation, and leakages into this dismal scenario, you can then understand why the Federal Government budgets contain about 80% recurrent expenditure annually. Simply put, the bulk of our resources are expended on a tiny minority. Or put in another way, a few of us are over fed while the rest of us wake up hungry and go to bed hungry. The states also showed that as bad as the unemployment situation is in the city, it is even worse in the villages where a vast majority contend with subsistence farming. Those who go home often know how bad it is in the rural villages and towns, and how far one thousand naira can go. And when you see the brown roofs, the caked walls, the dusty streets, the faded clothes they wear, and witness the slow, languid pace of the people in the day time and the simple meals at night time, you wonder if our people in the villages— any Nigerian village— have been arrested in time. It is like we in the city live in a different world with our chrome and glass houses and flashy cars. Yet, almost all of us have walked the village streets bare footed and fed on simple, basic meals while growing up.

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make sense. He wanted things done in a particular way. However, he was persuaded to obey God’s prophet and when he did he got the desired result. What would have happened if he had walked away leaning on his own understanding? He would have remained a leper. Are you leaning on your own understanding right now? No matter what the challenge is, please surrender it to the will of God. God’s victory will manifest as you follow and obey His word. God bless you and bless our great nation Nigeria.

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

1011711622.

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

16 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

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SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11 11, 2014—17

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18 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

Sexual harassment in Nollywood is a thing of choice — Lydia Owan BY ANOZIE EGOLE

season.

ith over twenty films to her credit, actress Lydia Owan has proved to her fans that she has come to stay in the industry. In this interview, she talks about her career and what her fans should expect from her in this new

y name is Lydia Owan, I was born in Ogoja, Cross River State. Growing up was fun because I pratically moved from state to state due to the nature of my father’s job. It started from Anambra State where I attended my Secondary School, before we later moved to Calabar. I attended the University of Calabar where I bagged a degree in Linguistics. After my graduation, my family moved to Abuja. While in Abuja, I delved into business. I would say that I started acting professionally in 2010. I joined the industry through a friend who encouraged me. It all started when I accompanied my friend to Enugu where some production crew members saw me and advised me into acting. They said, I w o u l d make a good ac-

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tress because, I am beautiful and that I have all it takes to go far in the industry. I saw the great possibilities in acting. So, I gave it a thought and decided to take acting as a career. In 2010, I did my fiirst movie. Between 2010 and 2014, I have done done well over twenty movies. Some of the roles could be very challenging. Funny enough, the movie I will say that was very challenging to me is yet to hit the market. In the movie titled, “Mary the Hunter, I starred alongside other top actors/actresses including Mercy Johnson, Chiwentalu Agwu, Chiwen Owoh among others. I would say the role I played in the movie was very challenging because some of the scripts were so difficult that they had to source for some strong characters to interpret some of the roles. We also spent longer time on location than we expected. Aside acting, I had always wanted to be a big business woman. I believe that what must be must be. Though acting was something I admired as a child, I never thought I would take it up as a number one. Talking about my ability to interpret a role, you can’t really say because, sometimes you would think this is a character you can potray very well but the producers would see beyond your imagina-

tion. Challenges will always come and you know how it is when you are new in something. I won’t say it was difficult because as an up and coming actress, I k n o w what I wanted for myself as an actress. I h a d mentors and people I look up to . It was not easy but we thank God. Frankly speaking, I would say that the industry has a lot of beautiful and talented ladies. So, the only thing I think that can stand me out in the industry is my hard work and commitments. Like I said before, I had my design already in mind, I had pictured what and what I would do and achieve. It is not a question of harassment or what you have, one can only get harassed if she chooses to be. I always let my vision and dream drive me to wherever destination I want to be in life. I always do my best and leave the rest to God. My hard work in the industry fetches me roles. Talking about having regrets, I have none for now. I would

Sta ying In taying

eing stuck at home is no reason to be bored. Rather than sit around won dering why there’s nothing to do, get busy and use this time to do one of those things you’ve always wanted to do. Try Forex trading Many do not know that a lot of people are getting richer on a daily basis through Forex Treading. As a worker who barely have time for this adventure during the week because of tight work schedule, this weekend is a very nice opportunity for you to explore and experience this. By trying this, you can even find an alternative to your source of finance. Read Novels No knowledge they say is a waste, the week ends can as well be an opportunity for you to create time for yourself and read the book you have been longing to read. If it is going to be a long stay at home, pick a lengthy book to read. The classic long reads are War and Peace or Gone With the Wind, but choose whatever you like. Re-read all of Harry Potter, if that’s what you prefer.

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Lydia Owan say that, acting is beautiful and the exposure I get from it is amazing. My career does not deprive me from having time for my private life. In terms of my relationship, I wouldn't want to talk about it. All I can say is that, love is a beautiful thing and we should also not forget that God is love. For me, my ideal man must be a God fearing and hard working young man. These two things come first before I can start talking about the six packs or what have you. The price I

have paid in the industry is, leaving my family and loved ones to be where I am today. I really want to work so hard to make year 2014 better than last year for me. Well, the world should know that I am a beautiful and talented young woman who has come to stay in Nollywood. I have the skin that can ignite any place at any time. The skin I mean is not polished by any chemical whatsoever. It is my God’s gifted skin.

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eekends should be a boring time if you have little or nothing to do at home there are things you can do to spice up your weekend if you feel bored. Take a walk For some workers, they spend years living in a particular area without knowing the name of the street closer to them just because there is little or no time to do so. They use the little time they are able to squeezed out in visiting recreational centers. Choose this weekend to take a walk around your vicinity at least to know the name of your neighboring streets. Visit a friend In the mood of festivity, you can take this weekend out to visit your friends whom you have not seen for some time because of work. You can as well, use that opportunity to wish them happy new year.

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He proposed love to me and I blocked him

Dear Julie, I met a guy at a party and fell in love with him. But all these while, it’s like the love is one-sided and I seem to be the one showing all the love. He’s so dormant about everything and it’s frustrating. I like the guy but I want to get him to like me. How can I do that? Annabel, Lagos Dear Annabel, As a young lady, it’s normal to start having feelings for other people. It might be a friend you’ve had for a long time, someone in your trade or someone you know through activities or hobbies outside of school or work. Unfortunately, we can’t make someone like us. But if we start to talk with them and get to know them, they can learn more about us and they might start to like us or look at us in a different way, as more than just a friend and

How do I get him to like me? possibly a girlfriend. It helps if you have something in common with them, like a favourite issue or football team—anything where you share a common interest. This will give you something to talk and have a connection about. Once you start talking to them and feel more comfortable, you may get a sense of if they like you or not. If you’re feeling brave, you could ask them how

they feel about you or let them know that you like them, and see what their response is. A lot of people get embarrassed about telling someone they like them. Instead of saying it directly, you could show him in other ways, such as mucking around and trying to have fun with him, teasing him in a playful way, or by flirting with him.

Sometimes it helps if you know one of their friends and can find out that way if they like you, if they already have a girlfriend/boyfriend, or if they have someone else. The best thing to do is be yourself when you’re around him. This way, he will get to know you for who you are. If he likes you, that’s great. If not, there are plenty of guys out there who will. Good luck!

I really want to ask her out but I get so nervous Dear Aunty Julie, I really like this course mate of mine. She is so nice and caring and kind and generous, and also really pretty. I’ve tried flirting with her but it doesn’t work. Also, I always try to say hi to her seductively so it sounds sexy, but her voice is so cute and it makes me feel dreamy. I’ve caught her gaze in class a few times and her big brown eyes are so beautiful. I have also hugged her once and I think I was so caught up day dreaming that I didn’t hear her saying to let go. I also play dumb so she can help me with my projects. I really want to ask her out but I get so nervous trying to ask. How do I do it? Fabian, Lokoja Hello Fabian The quickest way is to just ask her on a date, straight up. Something like during the weekend . But if you feel like it’s too direct for you, maybe there are some other ways you can spend more time to-

gether, like hanging out in a group, or helping with homework, or even doing something together where you share the same interest. Basically, it boils down to a bit of creativity, patience and courage. You choose your own adventure. Honesty helps. If you’re happy to hang out as friends, then get to know her that way. Friendship can be the best start to some fantas-

tic relationships. But if you’re frustrated because really you want a more romantic relationship, the only way to fix that is to ask her out straight up. You’ll risk rejection, but you won’t waste time agonizing about whether she likes you or not. Just remember that everyone has personal preference about their own taste, and it’s human nature that sometimes someone will be

attracted to you but you might not like them. It’s just preference. I hope this lady shares your feelings and you have a great time together. You certainly deserve to have a fun, romantic relationship. Everyone does. Enjoy yourself. Whatever happens in your own adventure, feel free to write back!

Should I continue trying for her ? Hello Aunty Julie, I’m a 28 year old man. I’ve loved this lady for two years but sometimes when I talk to her, it feels like she’s just talking to me so as not to offend me. I also feel like she’s never noticing me but everyone does. I have recently been asked out by some ladies in the past two months and I rejected all of them because there was the one lady who I truly care about. I need help on whether I should continue trying for her or to give up and walk away.

*A minister was called to a local nursing home to perform a wedding. An anxious old man met him at the door. The pastor sat down to counsel the old man and asked several questions. ”Do you love her?” The old man replied, “I guess.” ”Is she a good Christian woman?” ”I don’t know for sure,” the old man answered. ”Does she have lots of money?” asked the pastor. ”I doubt it.” ”Then why are you marrying her?” the preacher asked. ”She can drive at night,” the old man said. *My husband-to-be and I were at the county clerk’s office for our marriage license. After recording the vital information—names, dates of birth, the clerk handed me our license and deadpanned, “No refunds, no exchanges, no warranties.”

Yinka, Abeokuta Hello Yinka , I really admire you for that. Sounds like you’re reaching the end of your patience though. Should you give it one last try, or is it time to let go and move on? How much do you like her? Is there anyone else who you find attractive? If there is, what would you lose by starting something with them? Let’s argue it out... There are so many ladies you could choose from. Ladies came

up to you, and you weren’t even trying. There’s a massive chance that there’s another one who is just as good as this one you’re after. Good chance that you will find another who’s even better—there’s always that possibility. You can always be surprised by something turning out even better than you had imagined. So, stop wasting time and waiting for this lady. She clearly is not interested in you, she’s just being polite. I mean, she doesn’t even notice you, but everyone else does.

C O C K - T A L E S ”A nun?” his father exclaimed. ”That’s right. None in the morning, none at night and none unless I beg.” The father nodded knowingly, and patted his son on the back. “Why don’t we all get together for a nice talk tonight?” Toms face brightened. “Say Dad, that’s a great idea.” ”Fine. I’ll call and tell Mother Superior to set two extra plates.” *A woman told a marriage counselor that her husband’s complaint that he leads a dog’s life is probably well founded. “He comes in the house with muddy feet,” she said, “tracks across my clean floors, barks at nothing, growls at his food and makes himself comfortable on my best furniture.”

Not long after the marriage, Tom and his fa*The elderly pastor was searching his closet for his ther met for lunch. “Well son,” asked the dad, collar before church one Sunday morning. In the back “how is married life treating you?” ”Not very of the closet, he found a small box containing 3 eggs well, I’m afraid. It seems that I married a nun.” C M Y K

Aunty Julie, Several months ago, I met a guy online through Facebook. He was nice, and as we started talking over the next month or two, he expressed his affection towards me. He was 36. He told me I was perfect, beautiful, that he loved me. I got nervous because a total stranger was telling me these things, so I blocked him. Now I feel guilty, because he wasn’t really doing anything wrong. What should I do? Josephine Dear Josephine, His comments were nice but a bit over the top and it sounds like they made you feel uncomfortable. When something makes us uncomfortable, it’s okay to protect ourselves. Sometimes, guys or ladies can say things that are over the top and it’s too much too soon because we feel like they don’t even know us. Are you worried about him? Is there anyone else on Facebook who knows him too and can let you know he’s okay? On the internet sometimes, people pretend to be someone young to contact ladies for creepy reasons. If you ever feel uncomfortable, you have a right to stop it or leave. Look after yourself .

But if she’s the one you truly care about, make sure you do everything you can to build a relationship with her . You should either wait patiently for her, or you should do as much as you can to get her attention and ask her out until she says yes or no for good. So, what do you think? Which one wins: option A or option B? If you’re having trouble, go with how your gut feels, or your heart. Then, if there’s anything that stops you from choosing A or B 100%, ask yourself, what do I need to feel more happy with this decision?

and 100 $1 bills. He called his wife into the closet to ask her about the box and its contents. Embarrassed, she admitted having hidden the box for their entire 25 years of marriage. Disappointed and hurt, the pastor asked her, “WHY?”The wife replied that she hadn’t wanted to hurt his feelings. He asked her how the box could have hurt his feelings. She said that every time during their marriage that he delivered a poor sermon, she had placed an egg in the box. The pastor felt that 3 poor sermons in 25 years was certainly nothing to feel bad about, so he asked her what the $100 was for.She replied, “Each time I got a dozen eggs, I sold them to the neighbours for $1. * A husband visited a marriage counselor and said, “When we were first married, I would come home from the office, my wife would bring my slippers and our cute little dog would run around barking. Now after ten years it’s all-different. I come home, the dog brings the slippers and my wife runs around barking.” ”Why complain?” said the counselor, “You’re still getting the same service.”

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2013 08052201257 anyagafu@yahoo.com

Are you in abusive relationship ?

both the partners in relationships. However, there are certain visible signs of abusive relationships. Over-possessiveness is the most obvious sign of an abusive partner. While possessiveness is part of every relationship, in certain cases, a partner may become excessively possessive, even to the extent of obstructing the freedom and forgetting

re you in an abusive relationship which restricts your freedom and independence? Are you well equipped with information on how to recognise when your partner becomes abusive? The truth is, many people go ahead with such partners whose abusive behaviour they misconstrue as possessiveness, extra care or over affection. But it is, in fact, an abnormality in relationships and if not realized in time and resolved, abusive behaviour can spoil the relationship and affect the entire peaceful atmosphere of life itself. Certain people misconceive abusiveness as physical attack or dominance. But in fact, abuse can be emotional, psychological, financial sexual or physical. Many a time, abusive

behaviour is a result of the imbalanced or unstable mentalities of the partner. When he/ she takes control over the partner or tries to express affection excessively, it may become abusive. Abusive relationships are unhealthy and destructive for

the dignity of his/her counterpart. An over-possessive partner may keep track of your time and demand information regarding every movement you make. In the modern world,

every person, male or female, may need to interact with many people and move around many places. So if the partner insists that you inform or get permission from him/her to do everything in life, then it’s a kind of abuse. They may try to cut off all your social contacts and restrict you from even meeting your friends and relatives. If your partner blames you for every misfortune in life, then he/ she is exhibiting the classic sign of an abusive relationship. They

may always look at you

If the partner insists that you inform or get permission from him/her to do everything in life, then it’s a kind of abuse through the glasses of suspicion and may not let you take your own decisions. Many times, the accusation may occur because of abnormal levels of affection and the partner is afraid or doubtful of your ability to perform certain actions. Whenever something goes wrong, he/she may assume that it is because of your inability the mistake occurred. Having multiple affairs and being unfaithful to you in life is abusive, of course. Relationships mean mutual respect, understanding and faithfulness. In a true relationship, the partner should

be considered the one and only person in life, not just one among many. Having multiple affairs may make someone less committed/

affectionate. In the same vein, it has been observed that abusive persons may criticise improperly with the intention of destroying the confidence of their partners. When somebody criticises or teases the partner for no reason before friends or strangers, then he/she is trying to implement his/her authority over the person in the most undesirable way. This is an obvious sign of an abusive relationship. Physical abuses like slapping, hitting, threatening are the most visible signs of an abusive relationship. People get into relationships not to be controlled or dominated. If, rather than show love and care any partner resorts to physical threats, then the relationship should be ended. Another kind of abuse common in relationships is sexual abuse. That should however not be the case because intercourse is not the aim of relationships, but only a means to attain happiness in them. The advised mode of sex is that which gives happiness and satisfaction mutually. But

many people feel any sexual activity is accepted in relationships. It is even worse for women who, many a time, fall prey to the weird fantasies of male partners. The reality is, any sexual activity that is not enjoyed/accepted by both partners is abuse and should be resisted.

My periods only come once or twice a year

’m 22 and my periods only come sometimes. I’m not having sex, so I can’t be pregnant. I started menstruating around the age of 12. But even before then, I was having discharges such that if I didn’t wear a tampon, I would be completely soaked by the end of the day. I also had a bunch of pubic hair. Like more than usual. I would wear tampons all the time because I didn’t know anything about the diseases one could get. I started to get worried after I was told about them. When my periods started, I would wait every month for the period to come but it never came again. Now, it only comes once or twice a year. It stays for a week and stops. I try asking people about it but I’m scared to go to the doctor. Is this normal? Abigail, Port-Harcourt Ans: It doesn’t sound really normal to only have two periods a year. Obviously, you

already know that they are expected every month. At 22 and without regular periods, you might have reproductive problems in future. In a normal cycle, estrogen is produced every month. Estrogen is responsible for building up the lining of your uterus so you have something to shed each month. In a normal cycle, progesterone production increases following ovulation. Progesterone “stabilizes” the uterine lining in preparation for a possible implantation of a new pregnancy. If you are not pregnant that month, the levels of estrogen and progesterone fall, triggering the release of the uterine lining which is your period. So, if you do not ovulate, the estrogen build up of the lining continues, but without the usual ovulation-associated progesterone. Thus, the hormone levels don’t decline, and the lining stays up inside the uterus, that is your missed period. If you have been several months without a period, a gynecologist may give you some progesterone in a pill form. Within 48-72 hours after stopping the progest-

erone your “progesterone blood level” will fall, triggering the release of the lining that has been building up. Alternatively, the built-up lining may begin to shed under its own weight. Either way, women report that these periods are very heavy as though several months of lining are shed. Such flows can also be prolonged or have a stop-and-start pattern. The reason for this erratic or prolonged bleeding is this: without the progesterone, the lining does not have a clean shed-down to the base layer. Causes for not ovulating are multifold: thyroid problems, pituitary problems, ovarian cysts, physical stressors (eg sudden increases in exercise, crash dieting), emotional stressors (problems with parents or boyfriends/girlfriends, exams), increased body weight, anorexia, rotating shifts at work, and so on. You might be scared of seeing a doctor, but it’s probably worth going to one to find out if your hormones

would lead to marriage on 08177258979 •Andy, 34, based in Benin, needs a working class lady of 24 -30 for marriage on 08185958415 •Evans, 31, from Anambra State,post-graduate student, wants a pretty lady aged 25-35years for marDo you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want riage on 07088819585 •Jibola, 30, based in Lagos, wants a to share with our readers? Please e-mail,anyagafu2@gmail.com girl of 23-29 for a serious relationship on 08162957677 Do you want to be linked? •A kool guy in Lagosneeds a workNeither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting ing class or a graduate lady, pretty, to be linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal informa- fair, sexy and young lady within Lation of people who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for gos only for a reasoble relationship disappointments or embarrassments some people may encounter in the process. on 08022503211, 08185635197 • Omotola, female, 29, humble and decent, is seeking a Godfearing , humble, responsible man aged 30-45 for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage on 08037435805 •Chimaobi, 38, from Lagos, needs a business lady or working class lady who is born-again, and Igbo for a relationship that

C M Y K

are out of balance in some way. It’s unlikely to be anything serious, but it could help to have some tests. The doctor doesn’t have to examine you if you don’t want. Or you could go to see a female doctor, which may be easier for you. You can have someone you trust with you if you do need an examination. There shouldn’t be any need for them to look inside your vagina by the way. But they may want to see what you mean by lots of pubic hair, as this could also be a sign of hormone imbalance. About your vaginal discharge, some girls do have a lot of discharge and it’s pretty inconvenient. So, it’s probably nothing abnormal. I recommend seeing a doctor. It will help you find out if anything is wrong and if there’s anything that can be done about it, which will give you peace of mind. This is a whole lot better than worrying all the time! All the best.

•Ade, 40, Lagosian, single, needs a reliable lady as wife on 08163815251 •Chilaka, 36, based in Owerri, wants to meet a good-to-go lady for marriage on 08139629537 •Aderonke, 28, slim, busty, is searching for a romantic man within the ages of 36-50 for a serious relationship on 07067165468 •Emmanuel, 30 years, wants a lady of 28-35 on 0802126103 •Kayode, 49, widower, businessman, based in Lagos, needs a widow or divorcee for a serious-mindd relationship on 08109655702

SATURDAY

Vanguard,JANUARY 11 11,, 2014 — 21

Money can’t buy you the finesse!

hen she landed another big fish in an engineer who’s worked with various governments for years and is very rich. It was a hot affair*. So hot that Rex the poor besotted fool, didn’t know what to do to show his appreciation for all the ‘love’ Cynthia gave him. The woman was happily settled in her lovely Ikoyi house. You don’t tempt that kind of tigress with a pocky flat in a run-down neighbourhood. In the end, he started dolling out contracts. But she was gunning for the big league— something to do with oil. That was how she came to

be having this party for her lover and friends who had been nice to him over the years. She made sure her own would-be contacts were on the list. She also chose a neutral ground. Some places where the catering could be easily handled and any man who got drunk could throw up or retire into one of the rooms with a comforter! Rex was in his element. He wore a casually expensive silk shirt on an equally expensive denim, wafting one of these exotic colognes men drown in these days. He

came with a few friends and two of his female cousins that knew about Cynthia. But as the night wore on, he became apprehensive of the guests Cynthia invited. They were roughnecks. There was no nicer way to put it. More like the spare-parts dealer types than the business associates Cynthia said they were. Their expensive garbs made them look ever more down market and sinister.

out and he was taking Cynthia to her house to get more. After 30 minutes and they hadn’t returned, Rex sent for suya. Two hours later, most of the guests had gone away in anger and relief.

hen Cynthia staggered in. All her charm and sweetness seemed to have deserted her. She looked like someone who had just spared with Tyson for a few seconds. A few of the guests gasped. But quite a number smirked. When this type of men invade decent parties, things like this incident were bound to happen. “What happened?” Rex rushed forward, alarmed. “She didn’t want to tell me what was going on so I beat it out of her ”, croaked the gizmo who took her to fetch the drinks. “I mean, when I came in, she didn’t tell you people that 1 was her husband and she just said you were a business partner who was only helping her with her business.” Rex’s jaw wanted to drop in amazement but years of experience came to the fore. “Of course, I am only a

NY festive period is ideal for coming up with a party you hope will serve as a snare for trapping money bags. Having a party to get a sizeable contract or two from friends of your lover seems a bit calculating, but tell them cheerily that you are having a Christmas or New Year party and guests turn up like bees to a honey-pot. Cynthia’s been widowed for almost ten years now. Not that it bothered her, she had gained tremendously by her husband’s death. He was a foreigner whose contract on these shores was for an initial ten years.Cynthia met him before his ten-year contract ran-out, married him and bore him three lovely half-castes. The man was a bit geriatric and had plans to leave at the end of his term. But Cynthia persuaded him to renew it just for one more term “because of the children.” Using her senses and her natural assets, she pressurized her husband into not buying houses when his company was selling them off, she also bought a little flat in England and another house in one of the West African countries. The poor husband didn’t last the distance of the second term and was taken to his country for burial. Cynthia in the mean time became a rich widow. Footloose and fancyfree, she set about enjoying the rest of her life. She was not 40 yet, and attractive with it. She also managed to acquire a cool sophistication that belies her hustling days.

There was no nicer way to put it. More like the spare-parts dealer types than the business associates Cynthia said they were

“Drugs pushers!” hissed a female guest and curled up her nostrils in distaste. Rex’s friends didn’t show that much enthusiasm about the party as they earlier did. Everyone was on his guard. Then one of the rough-necks, who was the most shifty of the lot, announced that some brands of drinks had run

business partner. You should have asked me yourself instead of roughening her up like this”, he said. “Sorry ”, he said shifting uncomfortably, “ you people still want me to go and bring the drinks?” “No, no, no,” Rex said quickly, “ we were just

leaving when you came in. My friends and I have another party to go to. You and your wife can stay on to entertain your remaining friends.” Somehow, before Rex left, his rival had managed to tell him he was the one who just bought Cynthia her new fancy car and he planned to do a lot more things for her financially — just as he had been doing over the years, “She doesn’t have to do all this , business she is doing”, he croaked, “I have money but she said she’s bored just sitting down at home.” Rex needed no further persuasion to get out of the scene of the party before it became the scene of a crime! He felt a bit humiliated as he filed out with his friends most of whom he had taken Cynthia to visit, bragging at how clever he was to have landed such a catch. “Some women could be quite a nightmare,” said a much subdued Rex a few weeks later. “Cynthia was very loving and seemingly decent when I had the affair with her, I had known her over two years and had slept in her house on occasions. Shows you how lucky I was. What if an irate lover, parading as a husband, had come in on those nights I was sleeping over and pumped bullets into me! Naturally, that was the last time 1 had anything to do with Cynthia. When she called, and I heard her voice, 1 simply put the phone down. Girls like that would lead you to the slaughter without any qualms.”

Make a resolution to resist temptation!

e’ve all done it before—eaten two bars of chocolate or demolish an appetizing bowl of pounded yam and egusi soup while supposedly on a diet; bought something we can’t afford or spent an entire evening watching TV instead of doing the housework. Here’s an expert’s view on how to resist temptation. Don’t rely on willpower: It’s much easier to stick to your resolve, if your willpower isn’t tested. This means no chocolate in the house, taking just enough money to cover your shopping list and, knowing you won’t be able to just watch for half an hour’, leaving the TV off until you’ve done what has to be done,

Understanding your triggers: Look for the feelings behind your actions. Do you eat or drink too much because you’re bored or lonely, or buy things to distract you from dealing with an unhappy relationship? Address what’s really going on and say goodbye to negative habits. Have a treat: It’s bad to deny yourself something you enjoy, so allow yourself an occasional treat— setting a specific day and amount to keep you on track. And remember you’re human. Ok, you’ve relapsed, but don’t beat yourself up about it, start again, knowing that you can easily resist temptation — if you really want to! How to live a happy life: You can be

carefree and live a happier life if you don’t take yourself too seriously, says top psychiatrist, Dr. Daniel Casriel. “Many people feel guilty about being carefree. They’ve been conditioned that this is wrong. From early childhood they were made to feel irresponsible if they were having a good time. But a person can be perfectly responsible, law-abiding and moral, and still be carefree and enjoy life” Dr. Casriel said. He offered these tips to readers who want to develop a more happy-go-lucky attitude: Don’t worry about things you can’t

do anything about: “Instead, spend your time trying to improve the things you can do something about,” Dr. Casriel advised. ‘Take care of the things that have to be taken care of, whether it’s your car, refrigeration or whatever. *There’s nothing like having nice surroundings, with everything running well, to give you the background for being care free”. Take up a hobby: “If you have a creative eye, for example, try painting. If you have talented hands, building things. This will give you a feeling or well-being.

Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

he current happenstances in our polity are so bizarre, how does one begin to even contemplate them… we’re blowing up court houses now…? In “anticipation” of a verdict or judgement that “we”, may not like?Ol’ boy that’s taking ‘na we get dis land’ to an all new different level, jokes apart. We’re back to the days of ‘the wild wild west’ (or is the sizzling south –south?) and wetie, abi wetinuna say make I talk? I beg dis one pass me, let me focus my attention this week on a different story that captures no less the human tragedy. The story was reported in one of our dailies of a man who was riding his motor bike on New Year’s Eve when he came across an elderly man who appeared to have been knocked down.

ot only did the Good Samaritan help the man up, he drove him to the local clinic and took it a step further by paying the equivalent of five hundred and eighty dollars in medical fees for him. I’m sure he thought to himself “let me get a good deed done early in

The real tragedy ... the New Year!” little did he know. No good deed they say; goes unpunished. For his trouble, the family of the injured man turn around and accuse the Good Samaritan

22—SATURDAY

What has happened to our compassion, our sense of community?

of knocking the old man down and demanded that he pay hundreds of thousands in damages. After two days of sustained “hounding”, the Samaritan summons his family, articulates his vexation and frustration at being hounded for damages by someone he was only trying to help and that in the

Continued from last week riendship:The place of sex in the success of a marriage is in controvertible, but I am one of those who feel it is exaggerated because sex is momentary. There are 168 hours in a week, the most sexually active young couple will probably be sexually active for about 28 hours a week. So what happens to the remaining 140 hours? Sex is very important in marriage both for procreation, pleasure and bonding, but when you look at marriage as a marathon (long-lasting relationship), I will rate friendship above sex. Friendship might be longlasting than sex. When you get close and personal with couples, you will find out that traditional sex has left the menu of some marriages— where the husbands are in their 60s, 70s and surprisingly 50s with some in their 40s endangered due to health challenges and that familiarity that breeds contempt, no, inertia and monotony. Some resort to artificial or supplementary means to fill the gap. Basically it is the friendship more than sex that is keeping such marriages going.

face of such a diabolical lie he thought it would be better to die than too prove his innocence and in the process drag his family down. He then gave his daughter instructions for his funeral,

and a few hours later, his body was found floating face down in a pond. The tragedy is not only the sad fact that someone somewhere, put so small a value on themselves as to take their own life for such a reason. That’s putting a pretty bent spin on the word “honour ”. Then, wasn’t there anyone; not one single person

that could speak up for the old man, no witness? The real tragedy is encapsulated in the statement credited to the supposed victim’s daughter after they were informed that the Samaritan had committed suicide as a result of their extortion … “if he hadn’t hit my father with the motorbike, why would he be so kind as to bring my dad to the hospital and pay for his medical expenses…?” therein, in those few words lies the real human tragedy, we are so calloused and so unfeeling that even the smallest act of human kindness is viewed, received or extended with deep suspicion and or self -seeking motives. What has happened to our compassion, our sense of community? Did she and

ex during courtship: Fifty years ago, this would have been a no brainier, because a lot of girls, especially, went into marriage as virgins, but times have changed. A lot of young people argue that they must have sex before marriage to gain experience and find out if they are sexually compatible with their partners. I have been there before, and we need to call a spade a spade. Sexual compatibility and experience are smokescreens, premarital sex is meant to satisfy the cravings of the flesh and ego-trip. Sex is something you can grow into in marriage, notwithstanding your naivety at the beginning. Young people miss the C M Y K

point when they see sex only as a physical activity. Candid communication is just as important and once couples are open and talk to themselves, they can take their sex life to their desired level or even levels they did not know existed. It is up to the courting parties how they conduct their courtship, but here is some food for thought while they

Dating and cour tship (2) courtship If courtship is a tripartite arrangement, will God still be part of the tripod if sex comes into the mix? If the relationship breaks up, the woman tends to feel less hurt if there has been no sex;the guy too feels less guilt. Sex during courtship also comes with possibility of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases which can derail your plans or alter your lives.

Man and woman are like iron and magnet; bring them close and they cling to each other. Like Joseph knew that it is easier to flee from temptation than to overcome it

make their choices. As the late Pastor Bimbo Odukoya put it, “The reason for courtship is to get to know the person, not the body. The courting period is the time to talk to each other about your beliefs, thoughts, feelings, needs and expectations”. Once you put sex at the top of your agenda, you stop talking and focus on temporary pleasures. Mindblowing premarital sex can easily lead to mind-blowing marital problems later because your senses got clouded and you glossed over issues when you should have been alert and diligent.

And to young ladies, you are more at risk because you are receptors. Young ladies should know that the more a bachelor’s sexual urge is satisfied outside marriage, the less the urgency to get married. That is partly why a lot of guys are marrying late. Moreover, yielding to pressure for sex is no guarantee that your partner will marry you. Courting parties must also realize that even in marriage, you need selfcontrol. Marriage is no ticket to unbridled sex due to various reasons

her family really believe what they were saying or were they just being sly, seizing the opportunity that had suddenly presented itself to fleece and extort an innocent man? It doesn’t matter that this particular story took place in some distant province in China, swap the names with Chinedu or Jimoh and it could be right here at home. You hear stories of accident victims being robbed or good Samaritans being harassed or worse for their trouble.

t is this same selfishness and self-centredness and the quest for selfpreservation and selfperpetuation that will cause a man or a group of men (and women) to view a nation of hundreds of millions only as an extension of them…. Come, true, true, true, demdey bomb court house I know? Bombings are now common place, yeah (that statement in itself is wrong!) it’s the reason behind these bombings that I find mind boggling… That’s the new thing now? We don’t like something or someone we simply destroy it or them? In this instance you don’t even wait to see if you like it, just the mere possibility that you might not guarantee destruction… and these are supposed to be signposts flagging the journey to 2015….? Okay o! (difficult pregnancies, immediately after child birth especially cesarean births, temporary absence of one spouse, menstrual period, unsafe periods, illness, etc.). So, those who want to stay faithful to their spouses after marriage must begin to practice self-control during courtship. It is a lonely, very difficult, and slippery road, but a few tips here might help. The first step is commitment and setting the standard on how you want to go about your courtship; then you set up your boundaries.

ou can go to movies together, eat out, do some of the normal stuff dating couples do, but be wary of privacy and intimate moments( like sleeping over in his/her place or being home alone) that is when emotions boil over. Do not put unnecessary, avoidable and unbearable pressure on yourself. *Man and woman are like iron and magnet; bring them close and they cling to each other. Like Joseph knew that it is easier to flee from temptation than to overcome it (Genesis 39:12). And guys, as one famous writer said, when a man gets an erection, his brain goes on recess. All of us can also benefit from the admonition of Mrs. Bridget Itsueli of the Lagos Resource Centre to a group of youths we were mentoring some time ago. She challenged them to go through newspapers and check if in any of the obituaries the cause of death is an unsatisfied sexual urge. Unsatisfied sexual urge does not kill; if it did mankind would have been extinct long before we were born. Whatever happens, friends, stay close to God; you need His grace and strength.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014 — 23

ith divorce rates being what they are , tying the knot might seem more intimidating than ever. However, by understanding what marriage entails and clarifying your expectations, you can overcome your nuptial-phobia and make an informed decision on whether or not to get married. Determine what exactly you are scared of: Most people don’t fear marriage itself but rather, its implications and potential failure. What do you think will change? What’s the worst possible scenario that’s paralyzing your views on marriage? Address your fears: If your parents had a bad marriage, understand that every marriage is different, and just because theirs wasn’t healthy doesn’t mean yours can’t be. If you’re worried about the marriage falling apart, make a list in your mind of what you can and will do to make the marriage work. Imagine all the scenarios that make you scared and then, imagine what you will do in that specific situation to make it better. It can also help to re-evaluate your failed relationships. How or where did they go wrong? Talk with your significant other about their past relationships and try to determine why those did not work out. Understanding what went wrong in the past can help you avoid the same issues this time around. Talk it over: Ask anybody you know of in a successful marriage to tell you their secrets. Usually, it’s something like, “we overlook each other’s minor bad habits.” But

How to overcome fear of marriage most of all, express your concerns to your partner. This is the perfect opportunity to exercise the communication skills that are essential for any healthy relationship to last, and your partner should be understanding and helpful.

Ask the Sexpert I recently hooked up with a guy. We have known each other for about 6/7 weeks and there has been major flirting and sexual chemistry. Anyway, we finally hooked up. However, when he would go to penetrate, he would lose some firmness of his erection. Why would this be? Is it because he isn’t actually attracted to me ?

I don’t think it is right to assume that his lack of firmness is an indication of his lack of attraction to you. However, there could be a number of reasons why he loses his erection. It may be that he drank too much; he could be tired or stressed out (most likely reason); or he is used to masturbating often or already went past his masturbating quota for the day. You get the drift.

What I want to highlight is that most people, especially women, will go to ‘taking it personal’ first and foremost. However, that is the last place you should go when it comes to dynamics in the bedroom. So, my first question to you is, have you talked to

Decide whether you have chosen the person you want to spend the rest of your life with: Or, have they chosen you and you’re now being pressured into marriage? It might not be marriage itself that you fear, but marriage to this person.

A good nugget of wisdom to remember is that you shouldn’t marry the person you know you can live with for the rest of your life; marry the one whom you can’t imagine yourself living without. Realize that you are not going to live in harmony

him about what happened? Obviously the way you approach this will be key. Because it sounds like he really likes you and I have a sneaking suspicion that he may be feeling somewhat bad too. He probably assumes you will interpret it as lack of attraction or even that you see him as less of a man (guys have insecurities too). Again, not taking it personally is key! When you broach the subject with him, make sure to express your feelings for him and that you would love to give it another go. Ask him what turns him on, how he has the most pleasure sexually, what is his preferred style or position in love-making? Obviously, you get to share as well. These kinds of questions not only give you more information about how you can please him and how he can please you, but they almost always lead to conversations around what works and does not work for each person sexually. Maybe ,even ask things like ‘what turns you off’, ‘how do you handle stress in the bedroom’, ‘what are some things that have not worked for you in the past?’

After all the fighting and breaking up and making up and both of us having other lovers

every second of every day you are married: You are not perfect, and neither is your partner - married or not. If you’re waiting to be with someone with whom every day is rainbows and sunshine, you’ll never settle down or get married because no one will ever be able to live up to that illusion. Marriage is hard work and it takes your whole life to complete it. Too many people get married with the expectation that if things start to get tough, they’ll just file for divorce and start all over again. Be prepared for the bumps in the road, and don’t be surprised when you come across them. Plan your life:Sit down and iron things out before you get married. Will you have children? How many? Who will manage the money? Will both spouses work? How much will you save for retirement? Where will you live? Who gets which responsibility? If the husband can still go out to bars with his buddies, can the wife still do the same? These are the difficult, yet practical questions to ask before you commit yourself to somebody for the rest of your life. Don’t discover the answers the hard way when there’s already a ring on your finger. It’s better to foresee conflict and prevent it. If you have a healthy relationship, the questioning process will bring you closer. Common issues that drive married couples apart are money, religion and children, in that order. Do your best ahead of time to make sure you’re on the same page on these issues, and you’ll go a long way to even the longterm odds. Do some introspection about sexual exclusivity: Many people have healthy and committed relationships which include clear agreements on sexual primacy without sexual exclusivity. Don’t let societal standards dictate what makes you and your mate happy. Many people are afraid of the prospect of lifelong sexual exclusivity.

the last three years, it has taken a toll on my sex drive. I think it has died and I don’t know how to rekindle that. It’s so heartbreaking to have this beautiful passion gone. It’s caused a lot of conflict between us because he feels unwanted and I feel guilty and the spiral continues… Please help!!! Sounds like you two have had quite the journey over the course of your relationship. I want to acknowledge that it is a lot to hold as you try and move forward together. The first thought is to get clear on what exactly died. Is it your sex drive? Is it the passion you felt in the beginning? Is it the passion you both experienced together? Or is it something deeper like trust, connection, honesty? Whatever it is, if it has died, then it is time to literally bury it and give it the actual attention it deserves. A lot of times, we are in such a hurry to get to what’s next that we do not honour what happened or what is present. No need to analyze or rehash everything that happened over the last three years. What is done is done. That was in the past. Those experiences have been important in the building of your self and the kind of relationship you will have while moving forward. Acknowledging will also bring it to the present as opposed to allowing it to continue lingering or haunting the relationship in various ways.

24—SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

(Text Only)

Toughen the thighs, improve the heart Man or Woman

The Deep Knee Bend

Technique: Get on your knees with the feet quite wide behind you. Firstly, lower your body down till your buttocks rest on the floor. Then bending slightly to the left, place down your left elbow then right elbow and gently ease your back flat down on the floor. Spread out your hands by your sides. Breathe deeply and slowly as you retain the posture for 5 to 15 seconds. Benefits: The Deep Knee Bend tones the quadriceps (the front thigh muscles) and burns fat in the thighs. It lubricates the ankle and knee joints.

The Deep Knee Bend (1)

Yoga Classes STARTED

The Deep Knee Bend (2)

@ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos. 9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

seconds. Repeat this Asana twice with normal breathing.

The Bow

Technique: ie flat face down L wards on the floor. Keep the hands at your side. Breathe out and bend the legs at the knees,

drawing the feet above the thighs. Stretch the arms back and catch hold of the right ankle with the right hand and the left ankle with the left hand. Make secure the position of the hands,

The Bow (1)

with normal breathing. Rising the head, body and knees by tugging the hands and legs, so that the whole weight of the body rests on the abdomen. Retain the posture for a few seconds. Gradually increase the duration. While remaining in the posture, concentrate on the abdomen, thighs and back muscles. Release the ankles, stretch out the legs and bring the legs, chest and head to rest in a straight line on the floor. Relax with the head on folded arms for a few

The Bow (2)

Benefits: he bow expands T the thoraxic region. Of great benefit to those with respiratory problems, it renders the spine elastic and the muscles of the back get a good massage and there’s a general strenghtening of the entire musculature.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2014 — 25

exy Ghanian actress, Yvonne Nelson and pop ular Nigerian celebrity blogger, Linda Ikeji are currently not the best of friends. The duo are at each other’s throats over a story posted on Linda’s blog. In a story posted on her blog, the latter alleged that the former would be starring in a new movie titled, “The Ransom” with her Kukere crooner ex-lover, Iyanya. But dissatisfied with the report, the leggy actress quickly snapped at Linda on twitter. “Please be accurate with stories involving my name. Thank you,” she tweeted. “I haven’t approached Iyanya or his team for any of my projects and don’t intend to do so. Thanks again.” Linda swiftly responded; “You

08116759764

Yvonne Nelson, Linda Ikeji at war! and Iyanya are set to star in a movie called The Ransom. What’s inaccurate about the report? It’s not your movie I hear.” The prevailing tweets, however, deepened the argument as the two went harder at each other, with Ikeji accusing Yvonne Nelson of wanting to trend while the actress insisted that the blogger’s report was un-

Yvonne

founded and that she should quit playing mind games on her readers in a new year. Iyanya and Nelson’s relationship ended in 2013, with Yvonne claiming that the singer broke her heart. Iyanya was also rumoured to have dated Tonto Dikeh after he ended his romance with Yvonne Nelson.

s e i r r a m e r Soul E

l -born sou bia State manuel m singer, E o p u la r ly p e s o Ok s finalSoul E ha known as ied years after ly re-marr union with his ending hisueen Ure. ex-wife, Q ttled down with Soul E se ased banker -b his Abujaany years, Petum f o r e tate on lov in Delta S la Delinda January 2. , Thursday at when the stoRecall th ret love affair sec wn the ry of his to walk do broke s n la p r and e k n the ba aisle with ack, Soul E deb few years knowing who r e v e d . Few nie linda was Petula De he is now marr, years afte same lady. Cone th to d e uple. ri n to the co gratulatio

Julius Agwu’s wife returns with new baby T

hree months after she de livered their first son and second child in far away Houston, Texas, Julius Agwu’s wife, Ibiere is back in the country. She returned to the country during the week to her comedian husband who reportedly expressed gratitude to God that mother and child are hale and

hearty. “They are back #family #my love #my Prince # my Baby”, Julius Agwu wrote as he Instagrammed a photo of his wife and son, arriving the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, during the week. The couple also have a four year old daughter, Zahra Agwu

Okunoren twins flagship store unveiled! BY IYABO AINA

t was a gathering of celebri ties penultimate Friday as the Okunoren twins unveiled their new clothing line at Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos . The duo who have made a

The Okunoren twins C M Y

name for themselves in the world of fashion,are now dreaming of spreading their tentacles in the area of building an ultra premium flagship stores across the country. According to them, they are keen to showcase as many of

their new designs as possible by the end of 2015. They also hope to open another five stores across the country . “The opening of this flagship store is a milestone in the expansion plan of the Okunoren brand and it would herald the arrival of fashion retail in Nigeria”, they said, stressing “Within the first three weeks of opening the store, every customer will enjoy a free gift from the Okunoren twins.” Notable personalities that graced the event include, TeeY Mix, Banke Meshida- Lawal, Toke Makinwa, Bridget Awosika, Gbenga Ashiru, Ituah Ighodalo, Kiki Omeili, D’banj, Korede Roberts among others. With good music and rich canapés, the event paraded beautiful people with impeccable sense of style and love for fashion.

Julius Agwu’s wife with the baby

26â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Saturday Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

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Saturday Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014â&#x20AC;&#x201D;27

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28 — SARTURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

SARTURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014—29

It has been a steady rise to fame for me —Sean Tizzle S

o many people hardly known him as Seun Morihanfen. But lovers of his music call him Sean Tizzle. Ever since the release of his hit song ‘Sho le’ ,the stylish entertainer has been winning laurels, playing major gigs, and proving his mettle in the Nigerian showbiz terrain .The graduate of theatre Arts ,University of Ibadan reveals in this interview how he got his big break and why he thinks he deserved winning the highly rated awards at ‘The Headies’ which held last year.

•Sean Tizzle

There was an allegation of a breach of contract when you were signed on to Sound Sultan’s label? Sound sultan is like an uncle, brother and friend to me. I was hustling those days being carried by the winds of life. I was affiliated to the group.

What are your plans for 2014?

I have plans to drop more videos and my album will also be dropping this year. The album will be titled’ The Journey’ dropping in April. It’s going to be a great album , you don’t want to skip any track. My fans should look out for hits that I have cooked for ages.

BY KEHINDE AJOSE

hat ignited your passion for music?

I just found myself doing music .I have this uncle who is a gospel rapper .I was inspired by him. I approached him for counsel and he thought me the basics of doing music.

Did you expect to win the next rated award at ‘The Headies’?

I have worked and my team has worked as well .I was actually looking forward to winning, but I wasn’t sure .Seyi Shay, Dammy Krane, and Burnaboy were part of the artistes nominated, these are great artistes .It was a tight category. Since the winner was chosen by voting , I canvassed for votes via social media, and I want to use this medium to thank my fans for voting for me .I was happy when I was declared as the winner, I couldn’t control it.

How has your theatre Arts background empowered your music?

It has really helped me to be able to showcase my artistic side. There was this course I did back in the university that focused on drama and music. It was one of my favourite courses. Now, when I am shooting a music video the theatre and dance part of what I learnt in school comes to play .I learnt how to make acting reality , and reality become acting. It has really empowered me in every aspect of showbiz.

What was it like breaking into the music industry?

It’s been wonderful, dropping my first official single February 22, 2013, and the response it got has been amazing. My first single has been a blessing. Months after dropping the album, it has opened countless doors of opportunities. Putting the single out wasn’t really a challenge. The challenge I had was getting to publicize the song and knowing the right people one can leverage on in order to generate publicity for the song, and seeking the advice of people who have achieved the kind of success we desired. Before the big break, I was just an upcoming artiste trying to get my big break. I have always been doing music since my secondary school days in Ibadan .I was part of a group called ‘The 2B1’

What was your parents’ reaction when you ventured into music?

Amazingly, my parents supported me from day one. They are so proud of me and what I do. Their support has been encouraging .I actually went home sometime last year and everyone came out to welcome me. It’s a C M Y K

What does winning an award do to an artiste’s career?

For me, it’s a way of appreciating your work and your intellectual property. On the other hand, it also encourages you to work hard and not to rest on your laurels.

Do you consider yourself as an A-list artiste? It’s not for me to decide .I am about making good music and promoting my music. Let my fans be the judge .I am just committed to making good music, am not really bothered about where I am placed.

great feeling.

What is that one thing people hardly know about you?

What inspired your hit song ‘Sholee’?

For me, every inspiration comes from God. That song was inspired by God. Not forgetting the beat made by my boss Dee-tunes. It wasn’t as if it was pre-mediated that the story line should go in that direction. It just came and that I am grateful to God.

Did you ever expect to go this far?

Should I be cursing myself ? For me, everything I have recorded is a hit . With God and hard work, everything I do should be a hit. I don’t expect to hit it big suddenly. For me, it has been a steady rise to fame.

What label are you signed on to?

I am signed on to Difference Entertainment .I am the only artiste signed on to the label for now and Deetunes happens to be the CEO. We have been together since 2008 .He produces virtually all my songs and the chemistry I have with him has been great. He is a friend not just a boss. We know how to draw the line when it comes to doing business and maintaining our friendship. When it comes to business we do business

People hardly know that I am playful .I love playing video games and watching movies. My favorite game is play station.

I am about making good music and promoting my musicLet my fans be the judge .I am just committed to making good music, am not really bothered about where I am placed , and when it comes to having fun, we don’t hesitate to do that too. We meet two to three times in a week to think of ways to push the brand.

How do you handle social media criticism?

The truth is that they love you enough to criticize you. If I am criticized for doing something wrong, I just try and look into it to see how I can improve on my craft. If they don’t love me, they won’t be bothered about saying something about me. I read comments on blogs and even laugh at some of the comments ,but I get angry at times.

What is your definition of a sexy woman?

Everybody is beautiful ,the sexiness should come from within. You have to be homegrown, God fearing and possess a good attitude.

30— SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji

07032769933

English players dominate top Premier League earners in 2014 1. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) £45m

£250k wage packet and big money sponsorship deals with the likes of Nike and HarperCollins have helped take the 28 year old Old Trafford star to the top of the pile, will he be set for a another payday with a possible summer move in the offing?

2. Samuel Eto’o (Chelsea) £39m

Well traveled Cameroon international earned an astonishing £16.5m at Anzhi Makhachkala and clearly made a fair bit of money during spells at European giants Barcelona and Inter Milan. His Chelsea goal bonus hasn’t perhaps been generating as much as he would have hoped though.

3. Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) £37m

Years at the top of his game have clearly generated big funds but these have been nicely accompanied by earnings generated from his ‘#5’ brand.

4. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) £31m

ohn Terry has sold his dream home making him a staggering £10mil lion profit. The Chelsea defender, 33, had planned to settle down with wife Toni and their twins in his “dream home” once they sold the pad next door last year. A second sale will now only increase speculation around the future of Chelsea legend Terry, linked to a move abroad. John Terry has been linked with a move to Galatasaray over the past few weeks, however there are huge doubts about whether JT will finish his football career in Turkey. America, and the MLS, could be anotehr alternative. For the record, Terry’s contract at Chelsea expires in the summer.

Madrid to loan Morata to Arsenal for £1.7m

eal Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted few days back that the Spaniard is not going anywhere in the winter transfer window. Reports have it that Madrid have taken a u-turn and are prepared to loan him out – for a £1.7m fee to Arsenal.The Gunners are short of attacking options at the moment, after injuries to Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner, and Arsenal have placed the 21-year-old at the top of their list for January transfers to solve their forward problems.Initially Madrid were refusing to sell him but reports that after talks between the player ’s representative and the club, Madrid have altered their stance and should a loan deal be agreed, the highly-rated youngster could join the Emirates at the end of the month.

Spur irm Def oe Spurss conf confirm Defoe mo ve ttoo TTor or ont move oront ontoo FC

Nigeria Chelseainternational wants to sign Mba joins Bastia

ottenham striker Jermain Defoe will join Major League Soccer side Toronto FC at the end of February, Spurs have announced.The north Londoners confirmed the news on their official Twitter feed in a message.

helsea plans to sign Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema during the January transfer window. The club is ready to pay •25 million for 26-year-old player. Jose Mourinho is showing interest in signing Benzema whom he coached during his time in Spain.

Karim Benzema

Wow, £31m, that can buy a lot of pies.

5. John Terry (Chelsea) £29m

Terry’s earnings are greatly complemented by a growing housing portfolio, you probably think this statement is a nice intro to some sort of joke relating to the Chelsea man’s extra-marital behaviour, you’d be wrong..unfortunat

6. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) £29m

The one club man’s bank balance is perhaps all the more impressive given the lack of transfer fee percentages he would have earned from leaving Anfield. Gerrard has a big deal in place with Lucozade as well as a book deal (insert joke here).

7. Ryan Giggs (Manchester United) £27m

Those gagging orders don’t come cheap but clearly the veteran Welshman has accrued some serious amount of cash over the twenty years plus he has spent in the Old Trafford first team. The 40 year old enjoys a big sponsorship deal with Reebok and remains on a £75k a week deal with Man United despite being something of a bitpart player.

8. Yaya Toure (Manchester City) £25m

Ivorian has been on a hefty £250k a week deal with Man City for the past four seasons but rumours that he earned another million for every successful pass completed against West Ham during the club’s 6-0 thrashing of the Hammers are thankfully for the Etihad Stadium side, baseless. Toure also enjoys a big money brand deal with Puma.

10. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) £24m

Argentine cost Man City £38m back in July 2011 and the former Atletico Madrid man will have been banking a massive salary ever since and no doubt supplementing those earnings with a hugely profitable goal-scoring bonus. 26 year old has a lucrative long running deal with sports brand Puma which will be drawing a healthy sum.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014—31

Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji

07032769933

Newcastle sweat over loan bid for De Jong

ewcastle United’s move for Luuk De Jong is riding on whether the Magpies and Borussia Monchengladbach can agree on a loan fee. Sources in Germany have suggested the 23year-old striker favours reer back on track after the move to Tyneside as 18 months of struggle in he looks to get his ca- the Bundesliga.

Arsenal eye Giovinco as cover for Walcott

rsenal have turned to Juventus attacker Sebastian Giovinco as they look to fill the gap left by Theo Walcott’s long-term

injury. Arsene Wenger confirmed this week he intends to raid the transfer market after the news that Walcott will not play for the next six months. And it appears that the Gunners have already settled on an early target, with Juventus’ out-of-favour forward Giovinco being linked.

Poyet to sign 3 Argentine players underland manager S Gus Poyet wants to sign three Argentine players. Estudiantes defender Santiago Vergini, 25, is close to joining the Black Cats, and he could be followed by Catania goalkeeper Mariano Andujar, 30, and Internacional midfielder Ignacio Scocco, 28

Newcastle may lose Cabaye for £6m

ewcastle are concerned they could lose Yohan Cabaye, 27 for less than £6m if the midfielder tries to exploit a clause which enables him to buy himself out of the final two years of his contract

Man Utd face fresh Rooney battle

nder-fire Manchester United boss David Moyes is reported to be chasing several targets. But his biggest challenge could be keeping one of the stars already at his disposal. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is confident he can sign Manchester United Wayne Rooney, 28, in the summer. Rooney’s current contract expires at the end of next season

Chelsea could make transfer move if they sell wantaway duo C

helsea could still make a move in the January transfer window if they sell their wantaway stars. Juan Mata and Kevin De Bruyne have both been linked with a move away from the Stamford Bridge outfit and, despite Jose Mourinho being keen for the pair to fight for their places, the duo could now depart the

Blues in this window. And if the pair do depart

the club, then Chelsea will boss Jose Mourinho could make a move in this window despite having previously stated that he won't be doing any business. Chelsea are in need of a new striker with trio Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto'o and Demba Ba struggling for consistency this season, but

Suarez and Pellegrini scoop player and manager of the month awards for December

uis Suarez has been awarded the Barclays player of the month award for December after scoring 10 goals and temporarily hauling Liverpool to the summit of the Premier League table. Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini meanwhile, collected the Barclays manager of the month gong for the first time since his arrival in the Premier League. City were in scintillating form during the festive period, notching up five wins – including a 6-3 demolition of title rivals Arsenal.

AC Milan keen on signing Essien

C Milan are keen on signing Chelsea's Michael Essien Essien has not been a regular for the Blues this season, and spent the previous campaign on loan with Real Madrid after an injury-hit few years. Once considered one of the finest defensive midfield players in Europe, the Ghana international could

Liver pool ey 0m Januar Liverpool eyee £1 £10m Januaryy swoop ffor or VVrr saljk saljkoo

still prove a useful signing for West Ham as they look to fight relegation.

Mourinho doesn't believe a top class striker will available in January. Jose Mourinho's immediate attention will be on his side's trip to Hull City tomorrow lunch time. The Blues will be hoping to secure three points at the KC Stadium which will temporarily see them go top of the Premier League.

iverpool are considering making a move for Genoa defender Sime Vrsaljko. The Merseysiders are known to currently be keen to add more strength in depth to their ailing back line, especially in light of a number of untimely injuries

Nigeria international £12m Dede on Moyes wish-list Mbaanjoins Bastia United are reportedly keen

on bringing in Brazilian Dede to replace veteran Nemanja Vidic The 25 year old Cruzeiro defender has been in marvelous form of late, helping his side to a title last season and retaining his spot in Felipe Scolari’s national team squad and ready to make the jump to Europe.

32 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

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SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014—33

08056180112 Steak For years, health experts have been admonishing us to eat less red meat. But steak is not always bad for the waistline. In fact, a lean cut of beef has barely more saturated fat than a similarsized skinless chicken breast. Like eggs, steak is loaded with protein and can keep you feeling full longer. To get plenty of protein with less fat, choose tenderloin, sirloin, or other extra-lean cuts — and limit portions to the size of your palm. Pork Now, talk about a bad reputation! ‘Pork’ is used to describe all kinds of excess, so it’s no wonder dieters often steer clear. If you can cope with it, pork in reality, is ‘white meat’ that is a lean source of protein with benefits similar to those of lean beef.

•Coffee only falls in the “bad” category...

everal times in the New Year, I have been asked what the best secret of good health is. On each occasion, I didn’t have to ponder for long. One of the best kept health secrets I know is trust. Another well kept secret is disobedience. If you want to be healthy and remain in good health, you must trust your instincts to disobey your desires to indulge in too much of everything, especially food. Everyone knows there are good foods, and there are bad foods. Good foods are the foods you must eat enough quantities of as regularly as you can. They include vegetables, fibre, fruits and berries. Bad foods are the foods you should eat as little as possible or not at all, such as eggs, beef, pork, hamburgers, fries, etc. Moderation is key. Give bad foods ‘good’ portions It is so unfair! Don’t I know it? Seductive foods seem to lurk at every turn, especially when you’re trying to lose weight. Chocolate fudge, vanilla ice cream, buttered popcorn, potato chips, peppered chicken, fish and chips, donuts or croissants with strawberry jam, Shepherd’s pie, the list is endless. Even if you are not on a weight loss (I call it a good health) plan, just about any “bad” food can be part of your plan if you stick to small enough portions. Don’t die in denial But you don’t need to die in denial, after all many foods that have gotten a bad reputation aren’t so terrible after all. You

Why ‘bad’ foods are good for you

Pasta Rather than avoiding pasta altogether, make the switch to whole grain and keep your portions small. People who eat several servings of wholegrain foods per day are more likely to slim down and maintain healthy weights. Studies show that eating whole grains rather than refined grains can also help burn belly fat.

uts Nuts may be high in fat, but it’s the good kind. And they are also rich in nutrients, protein, and fibre, which can help stabilize blood sugar. Sure, you’ll get a few extra grams of fat from munching on a handful of nuts, but it’s worth it if it helps you avoid reaching for cookies or other sweets. Even peanut butter can be a dieter’s friend. Small amounts of this favorite food can control hunger without causing weight gain. Cheese Dieters often try to cut calories by nixing calcium-rich dairy foods, but some studies suggest this is a mistake. One theory is that the body burns more fat when it gets enough calcium, so eating low-fat cheese, yogurt, and milk may actually contribute to weight loss.

•Research says an egg a day is safe just need to learn which tempting treats can actually help you lose weight and keep it off. Dietitians advise against banning your favourite treats. Depriving yourself of the foods you crave could set you up for failure. A better strategy is to set limits on and stick to it. Eggs When it comes to healthy eating, few foods have sparked as much debate as

eggs. Research says an egg a day is safe and nutritious for most adults — and that if you eat one egg for breakfast (best boiled), you’ll boost your odds of losing weight. This is true. Eggs are packed with protein, which takes time to digest. Eating protein in the morning keeps your stomach full, so you eat less during the rest of the day.

Coffee Coffee only falls in the “bad” category when you drink too much of it or mix in milk (cream), sugar, or flavoured syrups. If you drink it black, you get a metabolism boost without added fat and calories. Drink it skinny, stir in skimmed milk for added calcium and vitamin D, and artificial sweetener or one teaspoon of sugar. It’s great!

34— SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

Psquare

planning joint wedding in Dubai?

here are strong indications that Paul and Peter Okoye of Psquare fame are planning the first ever Nigerian celebrity double wedding to rock year 2014. According to reports, the august wedding will hold during the first quarter of this year, in Dubai, U.A.E. But reacting to the rumour, in a telephone conversation with Showtime, Psquare’s publicist, Bayo Adetu said, although the singing twins are planning to get married this year, the date and venue of the double wedding has not yet been confirmed. “Yes, they will be getting married soon but the date and venue of the

wedding has not been confirmed yet. Peter and Paul are aware of the story going viral online,”Adetu reacted. Though the twin brothers are yet to pick a particular date in the month of April, they are quietly working on the wedding. Confirming the development, the duo said, “ Yes, we’ve been thinking what you’re thinking.” In November, last year, one half of the pop duo, Peter Okoye and his baby mama, Lola Omotayo held their traditional wedding in Lagos. Paul Okoye is yet to tie the knot with his fiancé, Anita Isama.

KEHINDE AJOSE

here has been a lot of controversy about Ayo Balogun a.k.a Wizkid not clinching any award at The Headies which held late last year. Some of Wizkid’s die hard fans are dissatisfied as they took their grievances to the social media platform. Despite having an eventful 2013 with several hit songs, endorsement deal and high paying gigs, the ‘Jaiye Jaiye’ sensation was only nominated in two categories and he didn’t clinch any award. He lost to the equally very talented singer, Iyanya (Headies artiste of the year) and the duo of Olamide and Phyno(Headies Best Collabo). Wizkid who is known to express himself over issues he is not comfortable with took to Twitter weeks after the awards night and wrote:‘My fans see and appreciate all the work..that’s enough awards to last me a life time!‘, obviously throwing a jab at the organizers and the judges of ‘The Headies’

•Wizkid

Wizkid

throws jab at The Headies organizers

DJ Cupp epping up Cuppyy st stepping ...launches new web series!

Chocolat e City Chocolate City,,

Brymo re turn tto o cour return courtt

he lingering legal battle between Chocolate City Entertainment and artiste, Ashimi Olawale Ibrahim popularly known as Brymo comes up on the 14 th of January, Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos. The case was adjourned to 14th of January, after the presiding judge was unavoidable absent at the last court hearing leading to the suspension of the case. The case reportedly has been adjourned twice following the November 11 adjournment before this latest one. However, the presiding judge wasn’t the only one missing as neither Brymo nor his counsel were available for the hearing leaving only Choc City’s counsel, C.O. Madubuko from L and A Legal Consultants the only party present.The legal battle between the two is as a result of Brymo’s unceremonious exit from the record label.

•Brymo

•DJ Cuppy

014 promises to be a stellar year for DJ Cuppy as she continues to make waves both in Europe and in West Africa. Upon turning 21 at the end of 2013, DJ Cuppy has enjoyed transition from an aspiring DJ with over five years’ experience, to headlining at some of the premier clubs in London and Lagos. The student-by-day whom brought us a revival of Tunji Oyelana’s “I Love My Country” and her electrifying “Forever Summer ” Mixtape, seems to be irresistible behind turntables. One of many memorable nights last year, DJ Cuppy, headlined at the exclusive Jalouse Club in London where she debuted her ‘Night Out With Cuppy’ series. Her growing reputation resulted in her being asked to be the main DJ for Mary J Blige’s recent tour of West Africa, which included dates in Nigeria and Ghana. She has also enjoyed playing at renowned venues in Dubai, New York, Cape Town, but to name a few cites. This growing exposure culminated in her being featured in the December ’s edition of Tatler Magazine where she was listed as one of Nigeria’s youngest entrepreneurs in

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014 — 35

Ruggedman, Gbenga Adeyinka set for celebrity football showdown! BY SAM ANOKAM

opular sports TV presenter, Kibati Bankole, who last year launched her highly entertaining TV game show – Superfan Challenge is set to take the world of football entertainment to a new level, as she seeks to further bridge the gap between football and show biz. Her show has seen the likes of celebrities like 9ice, Ruggedman, Gbenga Adeyinka, Tee A among others etc go at each other in the name of football rivalry. For instance, Ruggedman, a fan of Manchester United called Arsenal fans area-boys on the show, which prompted comedian Gbenga Adeyinka- an Arsenal fan to hit back at Ruggedman the following

week- challenging him to a one million Naira bet on Manchester United’s chances of winning the English Premier league this season. 9ice, a fan of Chelsea FC, also hit at Arsenal fans on the show, claiming that anyone over 18 years of age that supports Arsenal has no priorities. He also hit at Manchester United, calling the club racist. Kiibati has come up with a clever concept that will enable these celebrities go up against each other, face-to-face in defense of their favorite clubs. It is called Celebrity Superfan Challenge and will hold monthly. The first version of this showdown comes up next week Saturdayat DeVogue, Opebi road, Ikeja

Darey Art Alade

re turns with Lo returns Lovve Lik e A Mo vie Like Movie R

nB singer cum entrepreneur, Darey ArtAlade has announced the return of his concert series “Love Like A Movie.’The Valentine event, which debuted in 2013, to local and international acclaim, was adjudged by pundits as the greatest concert ever to be hosted in Nigeria. Love Like A Movie now enters year two, with a spectacular Saturday show holding at the Eko Hotel Oceanview Grounds on February 15, 2014. To be produced by Livespot Productions, the event, Darey says, will be one night of world-class performances that LLAM is known for, plus boundary pushing lights, lasers and pyrotechnic displays. A new venue, Oceanview open air space will present more head room for performances and breathtaking stunts and slams. ‘It’s an unbelievable show we’re putting together this year. Unbelievable’, Darey s a y s . Last year saw appearances by Kim Kardashian, 2face Idibia, and many other great entertainers. Love Like A Movie 2014 is expected to follow a similar style - featuring dozens of performers from Nigeria and abroad – including yet to be disclosed two platinum superstars.

How Lagosians crossed over to 2014 in grand style By ANOZIE EGOLE

Darey and Kim Kardashian at last year’s edition

t was fanfare and festivity as millions of Lagosians gathered last week at the popular Eko Atlantic, venue of the Lagos Countdown 2013 to experience what was described as the biggest New Year Crossover Festival in Africa. After a very successful 2012 edition, Nigerian Breweries, makers of Star beer in collaboration with Lagos state government, held an award winning 2013 edition of the crossover concert tagged, “Lagos Countdown” which featured over fifty Nigerian artistes all struggling to show his/her fans what they have in stock for the coming year. Among the top artistes who greased the event were, Tuface Idibia, D’banj, Iyanya, Sean Tizzle, Omawumi, Olamide, Banky W, Eldee, Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, Waje among others. The Africa’s biggest crossover concert, Lagos Countdown, which drew attendance people from all walks of life had the likes of Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akinolu, the First Lady of Lagos Sate, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, Former Governor of Ogun State Chief Olusegun Osoba, members of the Lagos State cabinet and other important personalities in attendance. The event climaxed at 11.59pm when a magnificent fireworks display which lightened the sky and also, an electrifying stage performance by our own Hip hop star 2Face Idibia who is also, the latest dad in town now. Most observers at the concert, described the fireworks display which lasted for over thirty minutes as the best ever witnessed here in Nigeria. Mr. Oluwadare, an expert in the hospitality industry said “this is a welcomed development from the Lagos State government, people travel across the world to experience the cross over tradition in major cities of the world, it is not a bad idea if Lagos State also becomes a place where people would want to visit just to experience our crossover festival.

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

Lancelot Imasuen to mark Ovanrawmen’s centenary

rld ..as wo Invasion re of premie97” beckons 18

head of world premiere of his much talked about historical film, “Invasion 1897”, popular film producer and director, Lancelot Imasuen has revealed plans to mark the centenary of the demise of the great King of Benin, Omo n’ Oba Ovanrawmen Nogbaisi. Ovanrawmen died in exile in Calabar on the 14th of January.1914. And to mark his centenary, the respected film director will be hosting special guests from corporate world and leading journalists at his newly established studio located in Surulere area of Lagos,on Tuesday, January 14. According to him, “There is a whole lot of similarities between the Nigeria state and the Oba Ovonramwen phenomenon. We will be holding a world press conference to mark 100 years of the death of Oba Ovonramwen on the 14th of January, 2014. I visited the place where Oba Ovonramwen lived, died and was buried in Calabar during my recent visit to the place. To others, it’s just a film. But to me, it’s a movement. On 14th of January, we are going to mark the centenary of Oba Ovonramwen demise, in Calabar.” Imasuen, who returned to the country during the week from the UK, where they went to shoot the London scenes of “Invasion 1897”, said, the historical film which is due for world premiere soon,is bound to raise a lot of dust regarding the global injustice meted to the people of Benin after the United Kingdom force of 1,200 under Admiral Sir Harry Rawson in 1897, captured, burned, and looted ancient artifacts belonging to the Benin Kingdom. Describing the film as “the next big thing that matters to him”, the Guvernor as he is fondly called by his fans hinted that they have completed production of the film since May, last year. Proudly supported by South Atlantic Petroleum, Imasuen said, when the film is finally released, the world would know the true story surrounding the invasion of the Benin Empire by the British force in 1897. Top Nigerian actors playing lead roles in the epic movie include, Charles Inojie, Paul

Lancelot on location in London Obazele, Segun Arinze, Mac Omoregbee as Oba Ovonrawmen and the late Justus Esiri in a cameo role.

Also, starring in the film is famous Caribbean born British Actor, Rudolph Walker, Obe who replaced St. Lucian-

born English actor Joseph Marcell.

Ex-staff drags Monalisa Chinda to court T

he last is yet to be heard in respect of the lingering feud between actress Monalisa Chinda and a former Editor of her newly launched magazine, ‘Monalisa’, Kelvin Keshi as the latter has reportedly dragged the former to court over a recent interview she granted to a soft-sell magazine. In a suit tendered by his lawyers, Megafield Solicitors, Keshi said, he found Monalisa’s recent interview with a soft-sell magazine distasteful and defaming, as she referred to him as ‘half-baked journalist’, while also declaring not to owe Keshi a dime. Chinda and Keshi had fallen-out a few months ago owing to problems of creative differences among other things. The actress recently launch her magazine in Nigeria and in Ghana.

Rit Ritaa Dominic’s The Meeting breaks recor d record N early two weeks after it was released on DVD, the multiple awards winning romantic comedy, The Meeting, produced by Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic and Mildred Okwo has recorded a big break in the market. The movie which was released on January 1, 2014, reportedly has sold over 50,000 copies within two weeks of its release. Making the actress’ company, The Audrey Silva order for fresh copies. While in the cinema, the film grossed over N25 million to beat the record set by Stephanie Okereke’s Through The Glass film’ when it grossed N10 million during its first three weeks in the box office five years ago. The romantic comedy features a combination of emerging stars and industry superstars including Rita Dominic herself, Tinsel star, Linda Ejiofor, Femi Jacobs and experienced thespian, Jide Kosoko. The movie also has special appearances by Kate Henshaw, Nse Ikpe Etim, Basorge Tariah Jnr and Chinedu Ikediezie. Only last year, the film got six nominations in different categories at the Africa Movies Academy Awards (AMAA).

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014—37

Ameze Imarhiagbe returns!

ntil the advent of the home video culture in the early 1990s, the likes of Liz Benson, Ego Boyo, Barbara Soky, Regina Asika and Ameze Imarhiagbe were already ruling the silver screen in the country. Unfortunately, these thorough-bred actresses disappeared from the screen when the ovation was very laud. But several years after, one of them, Ameze Imarhiagbe has resurfaced to set a new record for herself. Imarhiagbe was one of the stunning beauties in the industry in the early 1990s. She relocated to the United States several years ago to cool off

after she suffered a terrible setback, and since then, little or nothing has been heard of her until recently when she released some charming photos of herself online to announce her comeback to her first love-acting. The actress was popular in TV series like “Ripples’, “Checkmate”, “Mirror In The Sun”, and scores of Nollywood movies like “Glamour Girls”, “Suicide Mission” and “Flesh and Blood.” Ameze stages her comeback with a new movie titled ‘I’ve Got Your Back’ which she premiered in America, and featuring Ramsey Nouah among other actors.

Jibola Dabo set for politics

$1 0,000 up ffor or gr abs $10,000 grabs ...as AMAA rewards journalists

s part of its 10th anniversary reward system for African journalists who have covered its activities in the past nine years, organsiers of the prestigious African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA, has instituted media recognition awards with $10,000 as prize money. The award, according to a statement by the award body, is open to print, broadcast and online journalists from Africa and in the Diaspora. While the star winner will smile home with the sum of $5000, the second and third prize winners will take away $3000 and $2000 respectively. To be nominated for the award, prospective contestants are expected to submit two original feature stories on the activities of AMAA within the past 9 years, and which must be submitted on or before March 31, 2014. Also, journalists who do not have published work or who want to submit two fresh stories are advised, however, to submit such stories written between December 1, 2013

and March 31st, 2014 to media@ama-awards.com. A five member panel of media professionals from the print and broadcast media have been deployed to assess, as well as evaluate all entries to determine the winners. Winners will be announced and rewarded during this year ’s edition of AMAA, holding in April, 2014.

By BOSE ADELAJA

ollywood cum bi-lingual actor Jibola Dabo has indicated his interest in going into politic come next year. Although he is yet to disclose his party, the award-winning actor told HVP that the passion he has for Nigerian youths

inspired his decision to delve into politics. He’s planning to vie for a seat in the Federal House of Representatives. The Owo-born actor who has organised series of empowerment programmes for the youths said, his dream is to improve the lifestyle of his people. He has also given scholarships to many youths especially in his home town, Owo-Ose in Ondo State. ‘’You don’t need to acquire all the wealth in this world before you decide to assist the lessprivileged. I was just empowering the youths on my own, unknown to me that the youths are taking records of events and during my recent visit to my home town, many of them confronted me with a request to represent the town at the federal level,’’ he said. Jibola who lamented that his political ambition has hindered him from hitting movie locations said, he was still consulting with his people, adding ‘’My acting career has taken me to places but I want to do more things to better the lives of my people.’’ He was the recipient of 2010 Zuma Best Actor award.

STARSPOT

Chris Attoh, Damilola Adegbite in London

ith their recent trip to London under the aegis of attending refresher courses at British film studio and television studio-Pinewood, star of “Flower Girl”, Damilola Adegbite and Ghanaian hunk, Chris Attoh cannot be seen as playing hide and seek game any more. Those in the know said they dated briefly while they were both on the set of M-net produced Tinsel but later broke up. Having rekindled their romance, Dami and Chris are currently like an item. Announcing their London trip, Chris wrote on his Instagram “On

the way to pinewood studio’s refresher courses… Let’s go! You guys ready?’ He posted a photo of the lovebirds looking quite excited about their trip. Those in the know said the former Tinsel stars are practically inseparable. Adegbite is said to have been spending a lot of quality time in Ghana with Chris. Last November, the pair were spotted together at Yvonne Nelson‘s 28th birthday beach party in Accra.

38— SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

Stories by IYABO AINA

20 14 201 People’s Choice Awards red carpet

•Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence sparkled in a Valentino Couture dress at the 2013 People’s Choice Awards.

t’s a new year and Hollywood is once again about to embark on a major awards shows starting with the just concluded People’s Choice Awards . Glamour was at its peak at the 2013 People’s Choice Awards. The PCA categories range from music to television to movies, and celebs who were superbly dressed with funky colors . The PC A red carpet was loaded with fashionable and trendy stars. All fashionistas would agree that the best part of any awards ceremony is the red carpet arrivals. Some of the celebrities actually bedazzled the spectators with their good looks and style. Also numerous classy stars stepped out on the red carpet but the big question is who really wowed us on the award night.

•Morena Baccarin

Morena Baccarin

“Homeland” star Morena Baccarin was definitely among the most gracefully dressed at the PCA. She looked stunning in with slick hair and minimal accessories.

•Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

Singer Taylor Swift looked ravishing in her Ralph Lauren white gown at the 2013 People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles, January 9, 2013.

Naomi Watts

Actress Naomi Watts was a magnificent blend of sexiness and grace in her Alexander McQueen ensemble which featured a backless gold top with gem encrusted collar and her floor-length trailing black skirt.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston outshined in her black leather Dior dress that she paired it with Tom Ford sandals and Fred Leighton jewelry.

•Jennifer Aniston

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SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11 11, 2014 — 39

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

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I eat lightly from childhood — Adetoun By Aderonke Adeyeri

detoun,the second runner up at MTN project fame season five is our guest in this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk. The versatile performer and a graduate of Mass Communication from Olabisi Onabanjo University advises Nigerians to eat lightly to keep fit. Enjoy . What is your favorite

food? My favorite food is fried plantain and egg. I love to eat light food right from my tender age and that is the reason for this choice of food. Then, do you cook for others who eat large around you? Yes, I cook. Cooking in my family is a norm irrespective of our food preference. My mother taught us to tolerate and appreciate each other's differences and I ‘m grateful to her. When did you start cooking? I started cooking at ten.

This is because I am the second child of the family. Did you play any prank to get any food at your tender age? None I can remember. Your best fruit? My best fruit is pineapple. I take pineapple almost everyday. How often do you exercise? I engage in skipping and I do that regularly. What is your advice to Nigerians? I will advice every Nigerian to eat lightly especially ladies who want to maintain a good shape and keep fit.

HEALTH TIPS

Get skinny no more t is amazing that many Iwithpeople are obsessed losing weight, but

what happens to those who are willing to gain weight? Also, convalescents may also be interested in learning how to gain weight in a healthy way. We have a list of healthy foods to help you gain weight.

WEEKEND TREAT Fried plantain with eggs is an easy meal you will love when you are short of time and want a palatable meal in less than 15 minutes. It’s so easy to make that you will want to have it each day of the weekend. Enjoy Recipe Ripe plantain Eggs Fresh tomatoes Pepper to taste A small onion bulb Seasoning Salt to taste Vegetable oil Preparation Rinse your pepper,onions and tomatoes with a clean water. Chop the onions, pepper and tomatoes. Cut off the top and bottom of the plantains, make a shallow cut on the side and peel off the skin from that point. Cut the plantains to any shape of your choice. You can sprinkle some salt on the plantain if you like salted plantains. Rinse your pepper,onions and tomatoes and slice all. Heat up the oil and fry the plantains until brown and remove from fire. Now add your chopped onions, C M Y K

tomatoes and pepper. Break the eggs,add salt and stir. Fry until the egg doubles in size, then turn it over so that the other side will fry as well. Now the eggs are ready to be served with the fried plantains. Enjoy.

Tropical Fruit An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but tropical fruits can help you gain weight. Fruits like mango, papaya, bananas, and pineapple are amazing choices. They are full of natural sugars and can give you great energy. Adding servings of fruits into your diet is a great

Dining out with wall nut

alnut does not only have a good taste but provides you w i t h tremendous amount of energy and other health benefits. However, all dry fruits are good for health but walnuts contain twice the amount of antioxidants compared to other nuts. People who cannot get good sleep should avoid

Peanut Butter Peanut butter is packed with protein and fats making it a great choice for people trying to gain weight the healthy way. Enjoy peanut butter mixed into oatmeal, slices of whole grain bread, or as a dip for apples but ensure to pick a brand that is natural and not filled with a ton of sugar. Red Meat Red meat can help you in

adding weight. It contains protein and iron. Take the fatty cuts where the meat is marbled. This will contain more calories, but will also be more delicious. But ensure you eat red meat with a healthy diet. Whole Fat Milk One simple substitution you can make when trying to gain weight is swapping your skimmed milk for whole milk. Add whole milk to your oatmeal, cereal, sauces, or just as a glass of milk. If you enjoy milk in your coffee, you can also use cream here.

Tummy zone4kids&teens

The best of breakfast

taking sleeping pills as most of them have side effects. Take five walnuts after dinner as it can give you peaceful sleep.

step to g a i n i n g weight. If you find it difficult to eat enough fruits and vegetables in a day, try blending them to make a delicious smoothie.

tarting your child’s day with a healthy breakfast is a good way to help him perform well in school. Growing kids need the right type of food for their bodies and as your child prepares for a another academic session, it is

important to ensure a h e a l t h y breakfast . This will help improve your c h i l d ’ s performance at school, increase m e m o r y and help him focus. Breakfast is important for school-age children.

Over the years, many researches have shown that children who take breakfast do better academically and have fewer academic problems than breakfast skippers.

Ideal breakfast should offer protein and complex carbohydrate, which are digested more slowly. But high-sugar foods will make the kid crash from mid morning when they are likely to be in the middle of demanding subjects like mathematics or reading. Again,a healthy breakfast will not only keep your kids’ energy level stable all morning, but also improve his motor coordination.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 11, 2014—41

Jonathan should suspend Sanusi immediately —Ezeife

By OKEY NDIRIBE

ormer Governor of Anambra state Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to immediately suspend the Governor of Central Bank of Nigerian CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi over the false alarm he raised concerning the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC’s alleged non-remittance of $49.8 billion into the federation acc o u n t Ezeife made the call yesterday while speaking to Saturday Vanguard in A b u j a .

Said he: “ I am surprised. I didn’t know that the report of the CBN indicating that a whopping sum of $49.8 billion was missing from the federation account was false. That gives the impression that the CBN Governor is working against the government he is serving. He tried to make President Jonathan look bad in the eye of the public. The money involved was so huge that to lie about it is a serious affair.“ He continued: “ Irrespective of who is involved or my personal relationship with them, given the present situation, the President should act pres-

identially. There is no way the Governor of CBN could be trading words with the President. He should be suspended immediately from office. If this had happened under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the CBN Governor wouldn’t have been allowed to enter his office again after making a bold statement that the President could not remove him from office.” ”I read the second statement made by the CBN about the alleged missing billions of dollars but there was no mention of the fact that the Governor’s earlier claim was a mistake. The statement simply

mentioned the role of the CBN. That kind of mistake is impossible. It was a deliberate action to impugn the President and his government. This is not a matter of being a Christian, humble or simple; there are presidential powers that must be respected” he said. He further stated that the media reports in circulation give the impression that the President can never bite even though he has teeth. Said he: “Sometimes the President needs to exercise his powers. This time around, even though the President won’t bite any-

body, he needs to show his teeth and perhaps bite. “ ”Falsehood is not acceptable. The present case won’t affect the economy. Even though Sanusi insisted that $10 billion of the sum NNPC ought to have paid into the federation account is still missing, the difference between approximately

$50 billion and $10 billion is like the difference between night and day. My position is that his later admission that it was a mistake and now said it was only $10 billion is like the action of a sinking man who is ready to hold on to any straw to prevent him from going under” he said.

Glo/CNN African Vaoices features Nigeria’s Omotola

his week’s edition of Globacom-sponsored “African Voices” on CNN International will feature another Nigerian Nollywood stars, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde. The multiple award-winning actress is the special guest on the 30-minute magazine programme airing on Saturday at 3.30 p.m. and on Sunday at 5.30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 8.30 p.m. There will be further repeats at 4.30 a.m., 12.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. on Monday and at 7.30 a.m. on Tuesday. Omotola is one of Nigeria’s most recognisable names in the movie industry. Since she made her debut in Nollywood in 1995, she has appeared in an astonishing 300 films and sold millions of video copies. After receiving numerous high-profile awards, launching a music career, and amassing an enviable fan base, Omotola also made a record as the first African celebrity to receive over 1 million likes on her Facebook page. She has been recognized as an icon in the Nigerian film industry and she uses her platform to speak out about social issues affecting Africa. She is not only noted for her accomplishments in show business, but is also applauded for her remarkable humanitarian efforts. In early 2013, Omotola made her U.S. television debut in VH1’s scripted series, Hit the Floor . On November 2, 2013, she spoke at the 2013 edition of the WISE Summit, held in Doha , Qatar . Omotola became a United Nations WFP (World Food Programme ) Ambassador in 2005 going to missions in Sierra- Leone and Liberia . She has been active in the Walk the World project and participated in the Walk the World campaign in Liberia with President Ellen Sir LeafJohnson . This weekend on African Voices, Omotola speaks to CNN’s Vladimir Duthiers about her prolific career and her passion for activism. Other Nollywood heavy weights that have featured in African Voices are veteran producer Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, popular film director Jeta Amata screen star Genevieve Nnaji.

42 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

C M Y K

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014—43

Kalaegenbite ‘s celebration of womanhood KALAEGENBITE traditional ceremony of Alabota Abiealedoghu Bob-Abbey Hart took place recently at Chief Reginald F.P Hart’s residence in Bonny Local Governement, Bonny Island, Rivers State. Photos by Nwankpa Chijioke

L-R: Mrs Florence Ibiama; Mrs Edith Ada-Hart Haliday and Mrs Clotida Hart.

Bez weds Ladoja’s daughter, Bolatito

lternative Soul star Bez Idakula on saturday January 4 married his sweetheart Bolatito Ladoja at the Guiding Light Assembly Church in, Ikoyi Lagos. His traditional wedding and reception also took place at the Landmark Village Oniru on the same day. His bride Bolatito Ladoja is the daughter of Former Oyo state governor Rasheed Ladoja.Guests at the wedding included Governor Ajimobi of Oyo state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Chief Alao Akala, Victor and Funmi Okigbo , Olisa Adibuah, Richard Mofe Damijo, Ikhane Akhigbe, Tosyn Bucknor, Mai Atafo, Adebayo OkeLawal, Tunde Kelani, Tolu Toolz Oniru and others.

L-R: Amaopusenibo Patrick Jumbo, Mrs Olga Egbunike and Chief Bob-Abbey Hart.

L-R: Mrs Mercy Apara Blue-Jack; Mrs Rita Sonny Jumbo and Engr. Justina Banigo.

The Celebrant Alabota Abiealedoghu Bob-Abbey Hart

Francis Igben ordained Catholic priest

From Right: Rev. Father Francis Igben with other ordained priests with the Bishop of Warri Diocese Rev. Dr. John Afareha holding his Staff of office.

Father Francis Iroro Igben with his uncle, Prof, Andrew Igho Joe, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) Uniport and his wife Barrister (Mrs.) Esther Omotekoro Joe

IT was a great day of joy and celebrations for the families of Mr. John Dieseruvwe Joe - Igben and his wife Mrs Theresa Ifeanyi Joe - Igben of Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, when family members, well wishers, friends, within Delta State and across the country gathered together recently to share in the joy of the ordination of their son Rev: Father Francis Iroroyakpo Igben into the Catholic priesthood in the Warri Diocese by the Bishop of warri Diocese, Rev: Dr.John Afareha.

Rev. Father Francis Iroro Igben flanked by his parents, Mr. John Dieseruvwe Joe - Igben and Mrs. Theresa Ifeanyi Joe - Igben

Bez and wife, Bolatito

Chief Rasheed Ladoja, bride's father

Couple with Mr Richard Mofe-Damijo and wife

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

08 116759 759 081 6759759

Bootylicious…

eet the 420lb mother of four with the widest hips in the world who measures a staggering 8ft in circumference. One lady most certainly of the opinion that men prefer curves is Mikel Ruffinelli. At just five-foot-four, 39-year-old Mikel, who lives in Los Angeles, is substantially wider than she is tall, but says she wouldn’t want it any other way. ‘I love my shape and I see no reason to diet because I don’t have health problems,’ explains Mikel, has a proportionally small 40-inch waist. ‘Men don’t fancy skinny girls, they like an hourglass figure.’ While the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and Beyonce will probably all agree, they don’t have to face the kind of challenges that Mikel does on a daily basis. As well as having to walk through most doors sideways, Mikel drives a truck because she can’t fit into a car. At home, the woman with the widest hips in the world has to sit in steel-supported chairs and sleeps on a 7ft-wide bed. Mikel’s biggest fan is her husband, Reggie Brooks, a 40-year-old computer technician. They’ve been married 10 years, and Mikel says that he finds her unusual shape sexy and tells her every day just how beautiful she is.

Woman rushed ttoo hospit al af hospital aftter painful three-hour orgasm

or one Seattle woman, a mindblowing orgasm sent her to heaven — and then to the emergency room. Liz had just had sex with her partner Eric, but well after he climbed out of bed, Liz was hitting new peaks of pleasure. About an hour into her epic climax, Liz started to panic. By the second hour, the panting woman was rushed to hospital where medical staff thought she was in labour. Liz’s orgasm lasted for over three hours before she finally found relief. The young couple shared their bizarre story during last night’s TLC show ‘Sex Sent Me to the ER’.Liz, who didn’t give her last name, recounted how she tried everything from jumping to drinking to shake the ache. ‘I started hopping up and down to see if that would do anything,’ Liz said about her first frenzied hour.‘I started trying to drink wine to see if that would calm down my system. I tried just about every possible thing I could do to stop having an orgasm.’ Eric drove his partner to the ER, where, he recalled, some people stared and shared their insights.‘As much of a relief as it was to have her in the hospital, now there were eyes on me and I was still feeling very tense and uptight and uncertain about what was going on and what was going to happen,’ Eric said. Liz’s orgasm continued for another hour in the hospital before it finally waned.

Indian street children set up their own bank

ndian street children set up their own BANK (and it’s a lot more ethical than many of ours!) A group of street children in India have opened their own bank. The bank, known as the Children’s Development Khazana (CDK), was set up and is now run by children in the Fatehpuri neighbourhood of Old Delhi, India. The bank was established on the principle the children would make all the rules and decisions. NGO volunteers from child rights organisation Butterflies, however, assist the day-to-day running of the bank and sort out any logistical issues. Children aged nine to 18 can deposit anything from a couple of pence to one pound and get 3.5 percent on their deposits. They can then withdraw up to five pounds at a time. It is open seven days a week and is run by perhaps the youngest manger in the world — 13-year-old Sonu. He said: ‘I ran away from home and started working at a tea stall. It was bad. Then I met some volunteers who told me about the bank. I came here. Now I go to school and I am the bank manager also.

Vast wealth of Mugabe's inner circle revealed V

ast wealth of Mugabe’s inner circle revealed in divorce case: Dictator ’s cousin worth £180m, reveals wife who speaks of life of ‘unreserved flamboyance’. The ludicrous wealth of Robert Mugabe’s inner circle has come to light in a divorce case. The assets of Phillip Chiyangwa, a cousin of the ruthless Zimbabwean dictator, are worth £180million, according to his wife, Elizabeth, who’s seeking 85 per cent of them. She said in a statement made to the Harare High Court that she lived a life of ‘unreserved flamboyance’ and shared a house with Mr Chiyangwa that contained 43 rooms. The court hearing also revealed that he has over 50 houses, several being large, luxuriously appointed properties in upmarket areas – and over a dozen industrial buildings. In all, he has 109 properties, which also include hotels and shopping centres. She said in a statement: ‘I was accustomed to a life of unreserved flamboyance and can state without hesitation that I have, for the past 25 years, enjoyed a very high standard of living, way beyond that of most, if not indeed the rest of Zimbabwean society, if not the entire African society.’

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014 — 45

TEARS OF A WIDO W: WIDOW

Onokpite’s wife still cries for justice two years after husband’s murder BY GAB EJUWA

elen Onokpite,wife of the murdered Citizens Peoples Party (CPP) gubernatorial candidate in Delta State in 2011 election will not forget Saturday 26th November, 2011 easily. It was the day Chief Ogbe Onokpite was brutally murdered at Beeland International Hotel, along Orhuwhorun Road in Udu Local Government Area of Delta state by police men over unproven allegations of gun running, kidnapping and armed robbery. He was buried on Saturday 28th December, 2013 at his home town, Ugolo-Okpe community in Okpe Local Government Area of the state after two years of legal tussle between the family and the Nigerian Police which resulted in several rounds of autopsy on the c o r p s e . When the corpse of the late politician and activist ar-

Late Chief Onokpite rived Ugolo-Okpe at about 1:25pm in an Ebony casket and ambulance from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital UBTH, Benin City, Edo state, tears started flowing from sympathiz-

ed. They were not intended to be used as assassins. This is one of the reasons why state police cannot stand in Nigeria.We will all be at the mercy of the government authority and police brutality. I wish to use this medium to appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan, Her E x c e l l e n c y, Dame Patience Jonathan, the Senate President, Chairman, Human Rights Commission; the Helen Onokpite and daughter National Assemand wife book of 1Corinthians 15:12- bly, the Inspector General of Police and all human ers who rained curses on 26 advised sympathizers to rights groups to help bring always speak the truth, as those that killed him. He my husband’s killers to juswas finally laid to rest at it is the only thing that tice. I have been turned to would save them on the last about 3:05pm. a widow at an early age; left The officiating Minister, day. According to him, “it to look after a baby of three was the truth and outright Apostle Love Ededuwa in years on my hands but God his message taken from the refusal of oppression that has been good to us. God led to the death of Chief Ogbe Onokpite. It is better will bless everyone inin the to die a hero of truth than volved to die a deceiver and cor- struggle to get justice for the rupt person. Many gath- murder of my loving and ered here because Chief caring husband. “The quest for justice conOgbe helped them in one tinues. The Lord is our way or the other”. Late Onokpite’s wife, strength and I want to use Mrs. Helen Alawuru-On- this opportunity to comokpite, in her tribute said, mend the media especial“the man I got married to, ly Vanguard for their supo r t ” . Chief Ogbe Onokpite is a p man of peace, an activist In his brief statement, one and a God-fearing person. the solicitors in the legal He was a loving and car- battle, Odiana Eriata Esq ing husband and a father of Eriata and Partners, to our daughter, Giggo based in Lagos, said that who the enemies of good “there is a strong conviction governance in Delta State that late Chief Ogbe Ondid not allow to play a fa- okpite had no primary isther role in her life, as he sues with any law enforcedid in the lives of many ment agent because before down-trodden people of he contested the governorship election on the platDelta State.” Asked how she intends to form of Citizens Peoples fill the yawning gap he left Party CPP, requirements of behind, she replied, “ I’m the law as to his eligibility determined to continue were determined by the apwhere he stopped. I’ll do propriate authorities sadeverything and anything to dled with the obligation of project those values he screening, as to whether or stood and died for. I’m not, he was an eligible asready to tune in with ev- pirant, qualified to contest erything he believed in. an election as CPP goverThis was a man who cham- norship candidate. “Late pioned the cause of his peo- Chief Ogbe Onokpite was ple and put smiles on the killed, Saturday, the 26th faces of the poor. This was day of November, 2011. He somebody who used his was besieged, captured NGO, the Ogbe Onokpite and shot in both legs at Foundation to give schol- Beeland Hotel, Orhuwhoarships and empower the run road, Udu Local Govyouths so that they might ernment Area of Delta shun criminal tendencies state, and taken to Warri Poand actualize themselves lice Area Command, where legitimately. But thank God he was humiliated and for the gift of life which no summarily executed unlawman has the right to take, I fully, between 2:00pm and seek justice for my hus- 3:00pm under the superviband’s death. He was bru- sion of Assistant Commistalized and killed by po- sioner of police, Mr. Abutu a r o . lice men. This was not the Y dream of our fathers when “On Sunday 27th Novemthe Police Force was creat- ber, 2011, at about 7:30am,

Mr. Mammer Tsafe, former Commissioner of Police, Delta state (now promoted AIG in charge of Zone 2, Onikan-Lagos) came to Warri and addressed a press conference and alleged that a petty criminal, a gun runner and an armed robber was killed by policemen in a gun battle with the police. To give effect to his assertions, he paraded one Mr. Maliki Okporokoro with two AK47 assault riffles and with 60 rounds of live ammunition. The police story was that Mr. Maliki was accosted at a police check-point in a Honda car with registration number AM 528 JRT belonging to Chief Ogbe Onokpite, transporting two AK47 assault riffles and 60 rounds of live ammunition. The police further stated that Mr. Okporokoro confessed to the alleged crime that he was sent by Chief Onokpite to deliver the arms and ammunition to one Mr. Collins Agbara, who resides at Agaga community in Uvwie LGA. The police further stated that Mr. Okporokoro was asked by the police team led by ASP Umara T. Ibrahim to direct the police to where Chief Ogbe Onokpite was staying (Beeland Hotels)”. According to him, “the police alleged that on their arrival at the Beeland Hotels, Mr. Malik Okporokoro pointed at Chief Ogbe Onokpite and that in the attempt by the police to arrest Chief Ogbe Onokpite, he fired at the police with a cut to size locally made gun. The police said that in fear of imminent danger and in self defence, the police fired at Chief Ogbe Onokpite to disarm him and the police were taking him to Warri General Hospital when he died on the way. Other suspects arrested along with Chief Ogbe Onokpite on that fateful day were Mr. Gbenga Onasuji, a Warri based Magistrate driver and Mr. Malik Okporokoro. The lawyer said their independent investigation with facts deposed to by two witnesses (Gbenga Onasuji and Prince Godwin Dumuje) raised reasonable suspicion that some politicians procured some men of the Delta state police command to commit the dastardly act. He noted that the police made serious attempt to frustrate every investigative effort into the killing of Chief Ogbe Onokpite by setting up a charade investigative team made up of the killers Chief Ogbe Onokpite. It was IGP Abubakar Mohammed who authorized a genuine investigation and a serious follow up by Eriata and Partners later yielded a good result”, he said.

46 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2014

Widow of slain human rights activist alleges plan to release husband’s killers By CHINENYEH OZOR

sukka:- Barely one year after the gruesome killing of a human rights activist and social crusader Late Chief Christopher Ejike Onah at the University town of Nsukka, the alleged killers were yet to be arraigned in court. Speaking to Crime Guard the widow of the human rights activist, Mrs. Angela Uche Onah expressed surprise that barely one year of hacking her husband to death in front of his compound at Agbani Nsukka, Enugu State, the alleged killers were yet to be tried. Mrs. Onah explained that six suspects were arrested and questioned by the police in connection with the killing of her husband and the matter was later transferred toDirectorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), but up till now nothing has been heard from the DPP about the matter. The widow expressed satisfaction with the police investigation which led to the arrest of the six suspects now awaiting trial,noting

that some other alleged killers of her husband are still at large, and appealed to Nigeria police to put more efforts to track the fleeing killers of her husband to face the wrath of law. In her words: “life has been so difficult for me and the children since the head of the family was killed on February 4,2013.Payment of the children’s school fees and other domestic necessities pose a big challenge, but our major worry is the non trial of the six suspects in prison custody in the law court. I cannot be at rest till the six suspects were tried in connection with the killing of my husband that rendered me a widow. History would never forgive those who conspired and killed my beloved husband Ejike,” she lamented. The widow cried that there were allegedly an underground plan to release the six suspects from prison custody without trial, and she challenged Enugu DPP to arraign the six suspects in court as soon as possible. Crime Guard gathered

that the six suspects may be granted bail this month without due process of law in a murder case of that magnitude. The names of the six suspects include Anthony Agu, Uche Onyishi, Onyebuchi Agu and Sabastine Ugwuroko. Others are Chikodili Onah and Okwuchukwu Agu. Mrs. Onah while crying for total

•Angela Onah

dispensation of justice in the gruesome killing of her husband called on the federal and state governments together with civil liberty organizations and other human rights crusaders to come to the aid of the bereaved family to ensure that justice would be obtained in court in connection with the killing of her husband. ”I am appealing that the six suspects should not as a matter of necessity be granted bail without fair trial ”, she cried.

By CHUKS EHIRIM

IGP, MD Abubakar

he Divisional Police Officer[DPO],Asokoro Police Station, Mr Nnanna Amah, is in the news again. This time, he is being alleged to be involved in the harassment of the leader of the Nigerian Merchant Navy, Comrade Allen B. Edema, who has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, alleging attempts on his life, by the DPO. In the petition dated December 9, 2013, a copy of which was sent to this reporter, Edema also accused a Deputy Director in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,[Lagos Laison

•CP Enugu State, Adamu

•Late activist, Papa-Nsukka

POLICE HARASSMENT:

Merchant Navy boss —Fingers Asokoro DPO Office], Mrs Yemisi Kefas,of working in league with Mr. Amah against him. Edema raised the issue of abuse of power by both persons, in his petition. ”I am compelled to write this petition to respectfully bring to your attention the repeated abuse of police powers by the DPO Asokoro Police Station, CSP Nnanna Amah, and other officers

acting at the instigation of Mrs Yemisi Kefas, a Deputy Director in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Lagos Liaison Office”, he said. He added that, “In the last one month , members of my family, my officers and I have been subjected to repeated harassment by the DPO and some officers under him. Twice in one month, the DPO has

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2014 –

Pandemonium as hoodlums kill four in Mushin — Residents lament police cover up By IFEANYI OKOLIE

ESIDENTS of Ilupeju, Oloshan and Idi-Oro, Mushin, Lagos State are currently living in fear following the recent systematic killings of four residents of the area, while one other was left with severe injuries,between December 27, 2013 to January 2, 2014. The killings as gathered, were targeted at perceived enemies of hoodlums from the notorious criminal den of Akala and Tollgate areas, who have been terrorizing residents of Mushin and its environs for a long time. What made it more spectacular, was the fact that these victims were formerly members of these hoodlums, and they fought alongside with them during the bloody factional war that followed the wrongful removal of a National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Unit Chairman, from his post, in 2010. Crime Guard gathered that some of these victims were arrested by the police and sent to prison, while the war raged. But they defected to the opposite faction upon their release. Residents who gave the identities of the victims as: Mufutau Bakare, Nuhu Alowonle, Lekan and Segun Oladunjoye, said their sudden defection didn’t go down well with leaders of their faction, who saw it as a betrayal. Several measures were employed to eliminate them.

to court but were granted bail. “ Their subsequent release from prison was viewed as an afront, so they decided to eliminate them. Oyibo Tollgate, Latee, Ika, Wasiu Oloriesho, Lukmon Oko, Agba and Ay, on December 27, 2013, stormed Mofutau’s house and abducted him in the presence of his mother and younger brother, at Oloshan area of Mushin, he was then taken to an isolated location and stabbed to death. The next day, they attacked,Nuhu Alowonle and one Tunde Shobodina, at Oloshan area and opened fire on them. Alowonle was killed on the spot but Shobodina managed to escape with serious injuries. “They did not go after any of these boys who carried out these killings, they left them roaming the streets as freemen. On December 31, 2013,

Jimoh Agunbiade, a resident, told Crime Guard, that several petitions were sent to the police against them and some were arrested, charged

in attempts on his life heads. “May I quickly inform you sir, that the activities of the DPO Asokoro Police Division, Mr. Nnanna Amah (CSP) are motivated, instigated and sponsored by Mrs. Yemisi Kefas. “These renewed and unrelenting acts of instigated abuse of police powers, harassment, arrests and detention are in continuation

curing my bail and when I was released, he gave me a job and said he did not want me to go back to violence. After working for him for some few months I raised some money and decided to travel abroad, but my former colleagues would not let it happen. They wrote a frivolous petition against me to the police alleging all manner of offences I committed while I was working with them. “Some policemen accosted me at the embassy while trying to secure my visa and they took me to State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti and the complainants in the case, were my former friends and I was accused of crimes I knew nothing about. I was charged to court, remanded in prison. I later got bail and they came after me again. My only offence was that I left their camp and joined their opponents.”

•Mufutau

•Late Segun

petitions IG used officers in and outside his Division to invade my residence, brutally assaulted me and members of my family, and in one occasion inflicted grievous bodily harm and injuries on two of my sons and officers whom they came across in the cause of invading my residence”. He alleged that the grouse of the duo against him, is in their attempts to subdue him and criminalize the organization he

they launched a new attack at Ilupeju and killed one Lekan who is popularly known as Stubborn, while on January 2, 2014, they struck again at Ilupeju and killed Segun Oladunjoye. Oladunjoye was attacked along Tollgate at about 11 am on that day. His assailants shot him on his chest and one other stabbed him with a military bayonet and he died on the spot. His death put us in fear in this area and nobody knows who the next victim will be. “The most troubling aspect of these killings is that the police is familiar with these hoodlums and none of them has been arrested rather they are busy chasing innocent people who are also targets of these hoodlums,” he stated. Meanwhile, Muda Adigun, another resident, who was once a member of the hood-

lums told Crime Guard in a telephone chat that he had fled the area over fear of being arrested by the police or hacked to death by the hoodlums. Adigun who refused to disclose his location said the hoodlums were after his life because he defected and joined their opponents. According to him; “While we fought with them when they were trying to remove the NURTW, Chairman from his office, they promised to give us key posts in the unit but after they succeeded and got themselves into office they dumped us. And not long after then I was arrested and sent to prison and while in prison none of them asked about my well-being. “They even didn’t bother to assist me secure my bail. I sent a member of my family to plead with the former NURTW chairman to forgive me and he heeded. He assisted me in se-

of a longstanding plot by Mrs Kefas in her sworn determination to, by all means, frustrate and subdue me, criminalize the Nigerian Merchant Navy and undermine its establishment as a maritime safety and security organization”, Edema posited. He alleged further, that: “I have, in my personal capacity and in my official capacity as the Commandant of the Nigerian Merchant Navy, gone to court several times against Mrs. Kefas and she has continued to disobey court orders declaring as illegal and unconstitutional, and ordering her to stop her malicious and vindictive

actions against me and the Nigerian Merchant Navy. ”She has also refused to obey court orders to release my personal property and the property of the Nigerian Merchant Navy which she used some police officers and officers of the Nigerian Navy to illegally confiscate during her previous sponsored invasions of my residence and the offices of the Nigerian Merchant Navy since 2008. ”She has made several kidnap and murder attempts on my life. I have lost count of how many times I and other officers of the Nigerian Merchant Navy have been arrested, detained, brutalised and charged to court

over frivolous allegations framed by police officers at the instigation of Mrs. Kefas. ”I will itemize and describe just a few of these acts of intimidation and other lawless activities of Mrs Kefas and some police officers who have decided to allow themselves to be used to target innocent and law abiding people pursuing the legitimate objective of seeing through the ongoing Senate consideration of the official establishment of the Nigerian Merchant Navy to contribute to combating crime on our water ways and guaranteeing maritime safety and security in Nigeria”.

48—SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 11, 2014

By SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

with the ANC leadership after him? How many times have we heard Mandela criticising them publicly? The unity of this country is something that the elders must bear in mind each time they talk in the papers. The letter from Obasanjo was uncalled for. It did not achieve any purpose. Rather, it made Nigerians to see Jonathan in a better light because the President’s response helped him to disclose many things Nigerians were not aware of. I think this government is taking Nigeria to the next level and I urge Nigerians to support him. I think Nigeria has passed that stage of clamouring that one ethnic group must produce the President at any point in time in this country.

But the people of the Niger Delta are disappointed that the NDDC is poorly funded under President Jonathan, even the East West road is still not completed? I don’t agree that a lot of Nigerians are disenchanted with his administration. First and foremost, Jonathan is a Niger Deltan but he is not the President of the Niger Delta but President of Nigeria as a country. I told you earlier that the East West road is better now than before. The road is also good from Port Harcourt to Uyo. That belief that NDDC is poorly funded is also wrong. I think the NDDC is better fund-

Matthew Iduoriyekemwen

Defection of PDP govs’ ll guarantee success for Jonathan in 2015 This idea of people that it is the —Iduoriyekemwen thinking turn of a particular Matthew Iduoriyekemwen is the former Edo state representative in the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Iduoriyekemwen who also is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state spoke to Saturday Vanguard last Monday, regretting that the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan in moving the nation forward is not being recognised. The Benin- born politician who was one of the governorship aspirants of the PDP in Edo state in 2012, described the seeming opposition against the 2015 presidential ambition of Jonathan as unfair and declared that the President’s achievements will guarantee him second term in office. Excerpts: in the heart of Nigerians no matter the turbulence in the PDP, to guarantee him a place for the 2015 election. The people that have greater stake in this country are Nigerians and they are the most important people. Recently, we all read the letter from former President Obasanjo and the reply from President Jonathan. Obasanjo is a respected elder statesman in this country and I don’t expect him to go on the pages of newspapers to try to rubbish the President. Even in the developed democracies that we have seen, I have not seen a former President of America and former British Prime Minister openly criticising a sitting President. They may have differences but they treat them discreetly because of national security. Why will President Obasanjo write a letter based on the letter from the Governor of Central bank who within two weeks withdrew the letter. You see, we are the younger generation of Nigerians. These men have all played

their part in this country. What I feel they need to do now is to encourage the incumbent President. A lot of Nigerians believe that Mr President has done well that he deserves the support of these former leaders so that at the end, Nigeria will come out stronger. Most of the problems that Jonathan is tackling today started over twenty years ago. People like Ango Abdulahi have been in government one time or the other. Why did they not fix these problems then? Since they had the opportunity to fix these problems then, what now makes them think that they can now become advisers to Jonathan. My advise to Mr President is for him to remain focused and deafen his ears to destructive criticisms. He owes Nigerians a duty to perform and he is already doing that. So, I urge all those elder statesmen to learn from other statesmen outside Nigeria. Recently Mandela died and the entire world celebrated his life. Do you think that Mandela does not have his personal problems

ou are one of the leaders of the PDP in Edo state, how would you see the defection of some PDP governors to the APC? I look at it from two perspectives. In as much as I wish that they had remained in the party that made them what they are today, that they explored every possible means to resolve their grievances and stay in the party because I know that there is no problem beyond resolution through constructive dialogue. But when they decided they had to go and they feel that the party must bend and accept their position, I also see their defection to be in the best interest of the party because I believe that now that they have defected, it gives the party the room to re-strategize and assign responsibilities to others so that the party does not have a vacuum anywhere. As a matter of fact, I feel it is more dangerous for a party to habour people who will work against their party in a general election due to their anger. So in that light, I think their defection is good for the party. Again you will also ask, that these governors that left, how many of them had the control of the PDP in their various states? Recently, the Deputy Governor of Sokoto state and some PDP leaders expressed their support for Jonathan. If the governor leaves and the deputy is still in the party, that means the governor does not have absolute control of the PDP structure in that state. In Kwara state not too long ago, there was fight at the PDP secretariat which shows that many of those governors left due to their personal reasons and not that of their people. I visit Rivers State quite often and I have seen that the strength of PDP in Rivers State is even stronger now than before. I think it is to the advantage of the party that these persons left and I don’t see it having a negative impact on the PDP.The truth is that the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan are evident for all Nigerians to see. I think that Jonathan has done better than any of the Presidents that I have grown up to know. Put his achievements side by side with that of any President before him, I don’t think there is any basis for comparison. Now Jonathan is building Federal universities in the entire state while during the tenure of President Obasanjo and others, they built private universities with our funds. I drove to Lagos about four days ago, I knew the time it took me to get to Lagos from Benin because the road was better now. I have not driven on that road for about four years now but today the road is better. If you are driving from Benin to Port Harcourt through Ughelli, it is like your driving on grade A road in any part of the world and I just think that any right thinking Nigerian knows that the process of building takes time and that as Mr President is building, we must put hands on deck to ensure that he succeeds. This idea of people thinking that it is the turn of a particular region to produce the next President of this country is the biggest threat to our national unity. We must not begin to run Nigeria like a progressive union where your tribe or ethnic background takes precedence before merit. I think if we must build a country that we all will be proud of, we must stop this issue of ethnicity. We must know that anybody can lead this country as far as the person is qualified irrespective of his tribe. I am even trying to look at all the people clamouring to be President and I still have not seen any one that can do better than the incumbent President. I am one man that if your government is doing well whether you are in the PDP or APC, I will acknowledge that because first of all, I am a Nigerian and will speak the truth. As it is today, I think Jonathan has earned a place

region to produce the next President of this country is the biggest threat to our national unity

ed under Jonathan than before and I think that is because being somebody from the region, he also feels the pains of our people. But it is another thing for government to award contracts and another thing for the contractors to work. I agree that there are agencies to monitor these people and if everybody does what they are supposed to do, results will come. Again, I think that the President has done well by having the political will to privatize PHCN. Recently, the power sector was handed over to the private sector and we believe that it is just a matter of time for it to get better. We have also observed that power generation has improved drastically unlike previous governments that will promise us heaven on earth, yet nothing will come out of it. What about the efforts he has made to revamp the fortunes of our Airports, making them look like Airports in other parts of the world? These are commendable efforts. How about the dualization going on Continues on page 49

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 11, 2014—49

ContinueS from page 48 between Benin-Okenne road? What we all should know is that a lot of things were bad before the man came in and it will take him some time to fix them. You and I know that the only schools the children of the poor can access are public schools, and Jonathan is building twelve federal universities at the same time in these few years. If you visit our universities and other federal institutions, you will observe improvements in infrastructures. I recall that ASUU went on strike for about six months but the question is, was Jonathan the cause of those problems that made ASUU go on strike? The answer is no. These were problems that have been there and were inherited by Jonathan. But this is the first time the government is listening to these unions so as to tackle the matter. The list of what he has done is endless. I was impressed when I was reading about Kingsley Kuku the other day when he mentioned the number of youths from the Niger Delta that have been trained in different fields. Some are pilots, some are marine engineers and these are people that when they come back to Nigeria they will be able to train others. These are all the achievements of this administration. But he has failed to fight corruption? The people that were said to be fighting corruption before now were said to be using EFCC to witch hunt political enemies. Is that fighting corruption? Have you forgotten so soon how Obasanjo used EFCC to fight people like Dariye, Ayo Fayose, Alamieyeseigha and others because they have divergent political views? But under Jonathan, these bodies that were saddled

BY CALEB EBIMOMI uring his inaugura D tion for a second term of office on February

24, 2013, the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, promised to take governance closer to the people by posting greater achievements on all fronts. in his inaugural speech titled: ‘The Work Continues’, delivered extempore, Mimiko said: “Our major focus shall be on an aggressive drive at job creation for our teeming youths through innovative and durable programmes that will engender sustainable livelihood. To this end, government is undertaking a 30MW Independent Power Project in Ore to provide independent power that will attract several industries to Ondo State.As noted by observers, one unique feature of governance in Nigeria’s model state, Ondo, is the constant rolling out of benchmarks and landmarks, fashioned on the social democratic mantra. A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former Aviation Minister, in a December 2, 2013 piece he titled “The miracle in Ondo,” captured his bewilderment in sighting Ondo’s landmark projects for the first time thus: “The truth is that I was ashamed of the fact that so much is going on in Ondo State in

Defection of PDP governors’ ll guarantee success for Jonathan in 2015 —Iduoriyekemwen

Matthew Iduoriyekemwen with the responsibility of fighting corruption have been given the assistance they needed to carry out their jobs without being tele-guided. I think that when people say that Jonathan is not fighting corruption, I laugh because they just want to use that to destroy his name. Jonathan is fighting corruption truthfully and legally but not the type that witch hunts people and send them to jail because he wants a third term. Recently we saw how the Supreme Court acquitted Bode George and it was clear that he was set up in the first place.

How optimistic are you that President Jonathan will survive the APC onslaught in 2015? We are giving him our support for the 2015 presidency and he will win no matter the gang up against him. Your people in Edo South have lamented marginalization in the hands of the President Jonathan’s administration, what is your view on that? I agree completely with my people that the Edo South Senatorial district has nobody in the Federal government since Gen Abbe left office. We have nobody in any Federal Government institution and it is sad because the Edo South Senatorial district whether people like it or not is the father of Edo State. Whether by land mass or population, a senatorial district that is almost 60 per cent of the state deserves a place in government and Edo South has not been patronized by way of appointment. It does not matter who gets it but if we are given an appointment, it will make our people feel the impact of this administration. It will give them that sense of belonging. There is this rumour that you will run again for the 2016 Governorship race in Edo state. How true is that? I am not talking personal politics. I am a practicing politician and I believe that when the time comes and I have the support of my people to run for any particular office, even if it is councillor, I will run. But for now, I am more focused on my business. But the PDP in Edo state has suffered defeats in the hands of Oshiomhole ‘s APC. What is the party doing to change the situation? It is true that we have suffered several defeats in the hands of Oshiomhole but I want to believe that we have learnt our lessons and we are repositioning now to ensure that we take our rightful place in the politics of Edo state. I am quite optimistic and positive.

For Mimiko, there is still much more to come...

Gov Olusegun Mimiko amenities, including terms of development and schools, hospitals, housing, services to the ordinary peo- transport systems and virple and yet we as Nigeri- tually everything else for ans, and particularly as them either free of charge Yoruba people, have re- or at minimal cost.”The fused to acknowledge or Mother and Child Hospiadmit it either for self-serv- tal offers integrated servicing political motives or for es with in-built laboratory other reasons which are best services and pharmacy in known to ourselves. As I same building. A 100-bed told him, knowingly or un- facility, it has four wings: knowingly, he is clearly bas- in patient , out patient, criting his system of gover- ical and administrative nance on the Danish mod- wings, with state of the art el, which basically espous- equipment. The building is es the view that the state a cross-shaped structure must be compassionate to comprising four functionalthe poorest and weakest in ly semi-autonomous rectsociety and must provide angular wings (administrathe highest quality of tive, out-patient, in-patient

and theatre) projecting from a central spacious lobby capable of accommodating 500 people, and there is a fifth wing connecting the in-patient and theatre wings. Indeed, immediately after his inauguration for a second term, Dr Mimiko rolled out the Kaadi Igbe Ayo (KIA), a multi-purpose smart card deployed to facilitate strategic planning and development, efficient record keeping, human resource monitoring in the public sector, anti-corruption drive and solutions, while enabling a higher level of qualitative/quantitative service delivery in the health, education, transport and agro-allied sectors. Currently, the Lagos State government, among others, is planning to introduce its brand of KIA, which it calls Residency Card. Noted for creating ultramodern neighbourhood markets out of slums, the Ondo State government also has the distinction of being the only government in the world with a zerocost philosophy. The neighbourhood markets which the state government has vowed that it would not stop building to elevate the downtrodden, boasts crèches, fire stations, police stations, modern restroom

facilities, and a fully ly empowering the popuequipped office for the man- lace. Akure is clean partly ager. Of course, it is no because of its Mechanic longer news that Ondo’s Village, solar-powered, and Abiye (safe motherhood) built to accommodate auto programme is acclaimed as workers of different speciala template for Africa by the isations, instead of allowing World Health Organisa- road side mechanics to littions (WHO) and the World ter and pollute the environBank. In the words of Gov- ment. ernor Mimiko himself: The Director – General “The beauty of Mother and Nigeria Tourism DevelopChild facility is that per- ment Corporation (NTDC) haps it is the only facility of the NTDC, Mrs Sally where you offer complete Mbanefo, speaking in tertiary care to pregnant Idanre during the celebrawomen, world class stan- tion of Mare Mountain dard, totally free of charge. Climbing Festival held in You find the wife of a mil- honour of the late Deji lionaire sitting side by side Falae, the erstwhile Ondo with the wife of a messen- State Commissioner for ger, one because she can- Culture and Tourism, denot find better facilities else- scribed the projects in the where, the other because it state as world class, while is free. But now, even the also throwing the Corporababy of a lunatic is there.” tion’s weight behind Mare Again, that the world festival henceforth. Authenstood still when the United ticating tourism sites, Mrs Nations decorated Gover- Mbanefo visited the Mednor Mimiko as the winner ical Tourism Village estabof its 2012 Habitat Scroll of lished by the Ondo State Honour award during the government in Laje, Ondo, 6th edition of the World Ur- where she toured the Trauban Forum, in recognition ma Centre, Gani Fawehinof his contributions to sus- mi Diagnostic Centre and tainable human settlement Mother and Child Hospidevelopment in Ondo tal which she described as State, is no longer news. A “an excellent concept by a visit to the state capital, visionary leader who cares Akure, the cleanest in the more about the lives and country, would easily dem- well-being of his people.” onstrate Mimiko’s policy of Caleb Ebimomi is of Ondo beautifying the environment while simultaneous- State Ministry of Information

50 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 11, 2014—51

GZ Industries grows mega plant across Africa

he CEO, GZ Indus tries, Motti Goldmintz, the pan African packaging group, has recently announced that the group is set to building its plant at Aba, in eastern Nigeria which would commence full processing this year with a new plant near Nairobi, which will be supplying customers in Q1 2015. The plant in Aba which commences processing this year is being built by the same team as the successful GZI plant in Agbara, which has world benchmark standards and is licensed to operate in the country. The plant in Aba which will be the third line

in Nigeria is planned to serve customers in the eastern part of the country, with its rather difficult supply chain, where our major customers are all expanding or building new capacity. The additional line will give GZI the opportunity to supply locally and increase its capability to produce a range of specialty cans. “After a period of growth and replacements of imports in 2013, the 1.4 billion unit Nigerian market for beverage cans will decline as consumer expenditure has been restricted, but we see that from our perspective with a geographic presence across Nigeria, a range of cans to

meet the market needs and a strong contractual position with our customers. According to our research, we are in a good position to develop the packaging market of Africa”. “GZI view the Nigerian market forecast will grow to 1.6 billion units in 2016 with plenty of capacity to meet this need”. “With every necessary resources ready in East Africa, Nairobi GZ would commence supply to the local market early in 2015. The land, buildings and equipment have been purchased. It will follow GZI’s successful model with support from our shareholders, who are active widely across this region”.

The Executive Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Mr Tunde Fowler (middle) with some of the students at the 6th Lagos State Internal Revenue Service Secondary School Essay Competition Defense, held recently at the Good Shepherd Building, Alausa, Lagos.

L-R: Mr. Mani Siddhartha, Group Brand Manager, The La Casera Company Plc; Dagu Shangevlumun Michael, ‘Apple Story’ winner and Mr. Bayo Obarotimi, Marketing Manager, The La Casera Company Plc, during the unveiling of the La Casera ‘Share Your Apple Story, Be A Star’ winner in Lagos recently.

Elders of Asanting Nkwongo during the community day celebration, also receiving a paper from one of the planning committees charged to plan the community development.

52—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

ATTACK ON JERE CHIEF:

Gbagyi, palace give contradictory accounts . . . arrested persons to remain in detention indefinitely—Police BY LUKA BINNIYAT

here are very conflicting accounts over the land-related incident in Jere, Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA), of Kaduna, last Friday, which left the Emir of Jere, Dr. Sa’ad Usman with grievous injuries while one Mr. Ayuba Barde was also critically wounded and in hospital. While Gbagyi youths said that it was Barde alone that reacted in self defence and injured the Emir after he survived gunshots from the Emir’s bodyguard, officials of Jere chiefdom said the the man was attacked by a mob of Gbagyi youths for no reason. Usman, 72, a retired Secretary to the Government of Kaduna state, is a Fulani whose parents came from Katsina State and settled in Jere but he became the Emir of Jere in 1992. He is also the husband of Senator Nenadi Usman representing Southern Kaduna Senatorial Zone. At a press conference organised by the Gbagyi of Issah, Jere, the owners of the contentious piece of land said that one Ayuba Barde was in his farm, by the newly opened Jere-BwariAbuja road, when Dr Usman saw him, came down from his Jeep with three aides and confronted Barde. The community, which spoke through one Ayuba Daro Kakarka, said the Emir first slapped Barde, who did know who he was, and that Barde responded in selfdefence, which led to the intervention by Usman’s Police Orderly who shot Barde. The community which accused Usman of insatiable greed for land also accused the Chairman of Kagarko LGA, Mr. Danjuma Akuso of playing out the script of the Emir. Meanwhile, Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Mr Olufemi Adenaike, has said that the 14 persons arrested over the incident would be detained until Usman and Barde are well enough to appear in court. At a modestly organised press conference, Kakarkar said “the continuous and unlawful confiscation of

Olufemi Adenaike, Kaduna State Police Commissioner Gbagyi native land by the Emir of Jere, Dr Sa’ad Usman, which culminated into the attempted murder of Mr. Ayuba Barde in his farm on the 3rd of January 2014 by a group led by Dr. Sa’ad Usman has attracted all kinds of comments. Insatiable greed for land “It is a well known fact that the Emir of Jere had for long formed the habit of confiscating lands from Gbagyi natives in Jere chiefdom with impunity. This insatiable greed has brought about many complaints at the Jere Police Station, the Police Headquarters in Kaduna and in many different law courts. “The most recent complaint at the Jere Police Station is the destruction of the food crops of Ayuba Barde by the agents of the Emir of Jere because the Emir and his agents are ‘law’ in Jere. “Again, despite the fact that Mr Ayuba Barde and others had sued the Emir of Jere in the High Court, Kafanchan in case No. KDH/KAF/135/ 215, the Emir in clear disregard and disrespect to law and order continued to invade the land and dispose of same by selling. This attitude is a clear invitation to crisis which he ignited last Friday. How the incident took place “Barde was in his farm around 3:30pm that day,

when Dr. Sa’ad Usman who was on his way to Jere from Abuja saw Barde clearing his farm. The Emir stopped his Jeep and beckoned on Barde to come over. Barde, who did not know who was in the jeep, refused to obey. The Emir in anger came out of his jeep with his three aides. When they reached Barde, the he said, ‘you are soon going to prison’ and slapped Barde on his face and Barde slapped back in self-defence and began to move away. The Police Orderly of the Emir opened fire on Barde. He shot him on his arm, one bullet pierced the upper side of his shoulder, and another passed the side of his stomach. Barde fell down and got up. At that point, the policeman fled and the other two hit the Emir with whatever they had on them. He was later discovered in the pool of his own blood. The truth is that had the Emir not gone to Mr Ayuba Barde’s farm, no such thing would have happened” Kagargo Chairman against Gbagyis “The Chairman of Kagargo LGA, Hon. Danjuma Akuso has always created crisis in the area by taking sides with the Emir of Jere in victimising, threatening and harassing the Gbagyi people of the LGA. “We have come to the understanding that there is a technical annihilation agenda of the Gbagyi race by

Jere Traditional Council with direct collaboration of Akuso.” He also said that 15 people were arrested over the incident and have not been charged to court. He was actually attacked by a Gbagyi mob – Jere Chiefdom On the part of the Jere Chiefdom, its Secretary, Alh. Aliyu Zubairu told Journalists that: “On the 3rd of January, 2014 after the Juma’at prayer, the Chief went straight to his house where we all offered prayers as usual for peace in the chiefdom and later, he left for Abuja because he usually moves between Abuja and Jere since his family is based there and his business interests are also there. “It was on the new Jere/ Bwari- Abuja Road where he saw a gathering of Gbagyi youths stopping him and he ordered his driver to stop and addressed them. In disrespect to His Royal Highness, one Ayuba Daro Kakaraka shouted at him which attracted his driver and police orderly. The Gbagyi youths descended on them. That was when the Police Orderly fired shot on the air to disperse them, but the Gbagyis mobilized and brought out weapons, injured the driver and Police Orderly wounding them on their heads and forcefully collecting the orderly’s gun. “I want to debunk the allegation that the Chief was not attacked with dangerous weapons as being speculated in some quarters. He actually was violently attacked and sustained deep cuts on his head, in his neck and on his back. “In fact, he lost so much blood and became unconscious at the scene of the attack where he was abandoned by his attackers. It was only a good Samaritan that rushed him to Sabon Wuse General Hospital, Niger State and later after he was identified as the Chief of Jere, the chiefdom was informed and arrangement was made for his transfer to the National Hospital, Abuja. “His Royal Highness, Sarkin Jere has never tampered with the family land let alone property of his subjects.He however, has landed property he purchased which were certificated by various land authorities. We want to also let you know that Ayuba Kakaraka was among others declared wanted by the police since Friday, 3rd January, 2014 when the attack was master minded”. However, the Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Mr Olufemi Adenaike, who confirmed the arrest, said the suspects would be kept in detention until all the principal characters are well

to appear in Court. Arrested suspects to remain in detention Said the Police Commissioner: “All I can say is that 14 people were arrested, and I don’t know their names.They cannot be charged to court now, because the Emir, who is the principal character cannot speak. He is still in hospital. And as long as he cannot speak, we will not want to charge these people to court so as not to fail. When I go to court, I go to win, not to lose. “This is a case of attempted murder between some people and an old man. One of my officers was beaten to a pulp and his gun snatched. The other principal character, who was in the farm is also in hospital. So how can we go to court without them? “About 14 people were arrested, and you don’t investigate 14 people under two days, unless you are planning to fail. Do you believe that it was scuffle between one young man and the old man in which they merely exchanged slaps? How come that there was use of machetes and axes and a policeman with a gun was so beaten?”, he charged “So after our investigations, we will know who slapped who, who was where and when and after that, it would be decided who will go or stay. It is the court that will decide but we will not go to court without being prepared”, he said. It’s travesty of justice – Southern Kaduna lawyers The President of Southern Kaduna Lawyers Forum, Barrister Rueben at a press conference said: “Of particular concern in this incident is the indiscriminate arrest from the community and continued detention of persons from the area where the incident occurred. “The Police authorities have admitted arresting about 14 suspects who they have kept in detention in the name of investigation and have refused to grant bail or charge to court. “This travesty of justice

and a ploy to continually keep unlawfully in detention persons who ought to be either released conditionally,unconditionally or on bail or charged to court within 24 hours of

their arrest, or at worse within 48 hours where there is no court close by, according to the Constitution of Nigeria”. There was also an unofficial report that the Emir has been flown abroad for further treatment.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014 — 53

Resumption: Suntai in Abuja to confer with Jonathan BY SONI DANIEL Regional Editor, North

ARABA State Gover nor, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, yesterday flew into Abuja, the nation’s capital with a view to meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan and former Defence Minister, Theophilus Danjuma, to pave the way for him to return to his office. The recuperating governor, was flown to Abuja in a private jet said to belong to the former minister, who is also believed to be in support of his return to office after recovering from the air crash that kept him out of circulation for over a year. A source close to the governor, told Saturday Vanguard that he would first be received by Danjuma, who would later take him to have a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan so as to smoothen his resumption of work that has been enmeshed in

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endless controversy. But the governor will have to wait in Abuja until Jonathan returns from an overseas trip at the weekend. It was not clear as at press time when the President would actually receive Suntai. Incidentally, the Acting Governor of the State, Alhaji Garba Umar, was also

said to be in Abuja alongside the Speaker of the House of Assembly, apparently to also meet with senior political strategists of the President with a view to stalling Suntai’s move to resume work. Majority of the members of the Taraba House of Assembly are of the view that Suntai is not strong

enough to resume work and that Umar should continue to hold the fort until further notice. But Suntai’s loyalists are not interested in seeing Umar performing the functions, which the governor should be discharging on a daily basis and have therefore asked their principal to return to his post

without further delay. Apparently buoyed by his supporters, Suntai braved the odds and inspected his office in Jalingo on Thursday, sending the message to Umar that his days as the Acting Governor of the state are numbered. There are indications that Umar may be im-

peached by Suntai’s loyalists as soon as the governor resumes work. But Suntai may also face some tough times in getting the required number of the state lawmakers to edge out Umar, given the fact that the majority of them are in support of the acting governor.

13-yr old boy commits suicide in Ondo BY DAYO JOHNSON Akure

13 year old primary five pupil, Awal Osisi has committed suicide in Akure, the Ondo state capital. But the police in the state is working at some puzzles surrounding the alleged death of the boy just as his step mother is being detained. Saturday Vanguard gathered that the boy committed suicide in his

parents’ house located at High School area of Akure. Awal was allegedly found in his parents’ room hanging by the door on Wednesday by using a belt to hang himself. His step mother Mrs Rukayat Osisi reportedly raised alarm at about 10.00am when she discovered the dangling body of the boy in the room. Rukayat a petty trader. claimed that she found the body of Awal in the room having committed

suicide. However, the police in the state is suspecting foul play, wondering why the step mother brought down the alleged dangling body of the boy before informing the police. The woman was said to have gone to the ‘A’ Division at about 1.35 pm to report that her step-son was found dead in the room after killing himself. Rukayat said she discovered the body of the boy in the room after he hanged himself with a belt

tied to the handle of the door. She said she had to remove the corpse of the deceased and take it to the State specialist hospital in Akure before reporting the incident at the police station. However, reports gathered from the community showed that Awal has always been a victim of victimisation, oppression and child abuse by his father and the stepmother since his mother divorced the father some years ago.

Saturday Vanguard learnt that the step-mother together with the father has always been maltreating the boy and sending him on difficult errands. It was learnt that the father works outside Akure and comes to Akure every weekend. The father, it was gathered seized the boy ’s school uniform and books following a report from the wife that the deceased misbehaved while the father was away in his station.

54 —SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 11, 2014

NASCOM, YSFON plan football tourney for schools

N continuation of its efforts to encourage age grade tournament in schools, National Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM) and Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) are planning to stage a national football tournament in schools. According to NASCOM Chairman, Yemi Idowu, the idea of the competition is in line with the ideals of the committee, which is collaborating with component bodies in executing their programmes. YSFON is a component body of NASCOM. “We just finished the 2013 National School Sports Festival and it will be ideal for us to keep up the momentum by also supporting YSFON in its programmes and that is

why we want to partner them to organize this tournament for school age children. You will recall that we had always been emphasising that NASCOM is not going to organize competitions but that we will support component bodies by creating conducive environment for them to carry out their programmes,” Idowu said. The NASCOM boss however, said that the modalities for the competition would be decided by YSFON while children across the country have equal opportunity to be part of the competition because not all of them are in schools in certain parts of the country. Already, Idowu said under the present dispensation of the

National Sports Commission (NSC), an enabling environment has been created for school age sports to thrive in the country. “Our target based on the mandate given to the committee by the NSC is to focus on schools and organization of competitions for school children in order to enhance talent identification. For us at NASCOM, we believe that regular competitions for students will help the country to quickly identify talented children, who will in near future become world-beaters. So we are going to work closely with YSFON to ensure that the arrangement for the tournament begins so that it will not affect the academics calendar in schools,” he added.

Nesiama fit for AFN technical job, says Rosa Collins

ORMER national women triple jumper champion, Rosa Collins-Okah has urged those questioning the suitability of Omatseye Nesiama as technical director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to reverse their thinking, as the Nigerian Navy Commodore has proved that he is competent and capable managing the technicalities of Nigerian athletics. Recently former 400m runner and Olympic 4x400m gold medalist, Enefiok UdoObong in an ‘Obasanjo styled’ letter to the AFN, made snide remarks about the position of the technical director. Before now some athletics enthusiasts have grumbled about Nesiama’s position. While some of his knockers, based their argument on the fact that he is from Delta State just like the president of the AFN Solomon Ogba, others doubted his qualification and have taken to social media to

vent their spleen. But Collins-Okah who was speaking during a phone chat from her base in the USA, argued that Commodore Nesiama is best for the job, because he has not been found wanting since he took over after the demise of Sunday Bada who was technical director. “Commodore Nesiama may not have had any athletics medal to his credit. He is an intelligent man who has learned so fast on the job and has proved that he is not a bad choice. “So far, there hasn’t been any cause for concern. Athletes who qualify to represent the country are those who are on the list. We have not had any sort of scandal and everything seems to be working for him. So what else do those complaining want? For the fact that they wanted the job and didn’t get it, that does not mean that they should put down the man in

charge,” said Collins-Okah a gold medalist at the 1995 All Africa Games in Harare Zimbabwe. Nesiama has somewhat given a balance to the often troublesome AFN technical department. But most of his critics have often overlooked his quiet revolution, which include organizing a technical workshop for Nigeria coaches, ensuring that the federation’s events complies with the rule book and also establishing a solid rapport with the athletes and coaches. Apart from this he packed a solid credential having passed with distinction, the IAAF technical officials basic officiating course, he also passed the IAAF level one 1 technical officials education and certificate course and was recommended for instructors course. He also excelled in the IAAF examination for athlete’s representative, he is the first Nigerian to have achieved this feat.

King of golf, Eddie Petters passes on T

HE King of golf in Nigeria, Prince Eddie Petters, has passed on. He gave up the ghost at the Luton and Duystable Hospital in London after a brief illness. He was 67 years old. Eddie Petters was a pioneer golfer in Nigeria from the moment late sage, Chief Tony Enahoro, wrestled the game from the grips of the domineering Europeans who kept the game away from Nigerians for several years. Thereafter, Petters helped form the Nigeria Golf Association, a body that was immediately endorsed by the Royal and Ancient, St. Andrews, Scotland, the world body ruling golf. Eddie Petters, a big player in the

Bulkcem Cement, was so passionate about the game of golf to that point he slammed openly those who would not play by the rules of the game. He played his golf politics simple and short, just like an old woman’s dance. He preached the rules of the game at all times and endeared several Nigerians to play golf. Some say the game takes a lot from your wallet. It could be true. But those who could not afford the game, and yet wanted to play, Eddie was there for them. He paid membership fees of several golfers across the nation and he was all smiles while doing it. Like he was always saying: “I want more people on the golf

Eddie Petters (m) at a golf function.

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course”. This could be reason Eddie Petters soon found his name on the registers of the prestigious registers of the prestigious United States Golf Association. This alone allowed him quality time to watch, live, yearly the World Cup of golf, the Masters usually on stage in Georgia. In his time, Petters was on same page with golf greats like Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Nick Faldo. He played a single Handicap through his entire golf world. Prince Eddie Petters will be laid to rest at his Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt home on Saturday. He is survived by his wife Stella-Ada and children.

Dashing (from right) Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare, Sherone Simpson of Jamaica and Kelly Ann Baptiste of Bahamas during a race... but Simpson has doping questions to answer.

Doping: Jamaican athletes, trainer trade blame

AMAICAN sprinter, Sherone Simpson insisted at a dope hearing in Kingston, Jamaica that she was not a drug cheat adding that her testing to ban substances was from food supplement supplied by her trainer Christopher Xuereb. She was one of five Jamaicans to test positive at the national championships in Kingston last June. Simpson and her training partner, former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell, tested positive for the stimulant oxilofrine. Simpson claimed that one of six supplements provided by Xuereb was responsible for her “devastating’’ positive test and said she had researched the “Epiphany D1'’ supplement for up to 14 hours online

before starting to take it. “I trusted Chris,’’ she told the panel. “I invited Chris into my very small circle.’’ She acknowledged that she did not disclose the new supplement on doping control forms. Xuereb has said he did not give Simpson and Powell any performance-enhancing drugs and only purchased major brand vitamins. He claimed in July that “both athletes are clearly looking for a scapegoat”. Lester Robinson, a lawyer who cross-examined Simpson for Jamaica’s antidoping agency, argued that she was “significantly negligent” in taking a new supplement without first consulting a doctor or antidoping and athletics

officials. Robinson noted that Simpson testified she was on seven supplements prior to meeting Xuereb in May, adding “there is not sufficient evidence to support the respondent’s assertion regarding the source of the prohibited substance”. Simpson testified she heard about her positive test in July while at a Jamaican training camp in Italy and phoned her agent Paul Doyle, who also represents Powell. She claimed Doyle said they needed to contact the World Anti-Doping Agency and a raid of the hotel was quickly organised. Supplements were seized and the two sprint stars and Xuereb were formally placed under criminal investigation in Italy following the raid.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 11, 2014 — 55

IGERIA’s football or ganizational skills received another feather to its cap on Thursday evening when the Confederation of African Football (CAF), said it was thrilled at the way the team was organized for inspec-

World Cup 2014: Amokachi tips Eagles to go far in Brazil F

ORMER Super Eagles striker and presently assistant coach, Daniel Amokachi believes the team to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will surpass previous Nigerian performances at the World Cup. Amokachi who scored a famous goal against Greece at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, stated that there was more unity in the team now than ever and this is a factor that will spur the Eagles to success in the World Cup. “That ego that has always been in the team has been eradicated,” Amokachi told the BBC World Service. “Everybody has love for one another and that’s showing on the pitch. The unity in the team

has been the key to our success in the last year. We’re going to the World Cup to get something out of it.” Amokachi is confident the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations champions, who will face Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran and in Group F, can go further than any Super Eagles squad has been before in the tournament. Nigeria have made it out of the group stage only twice in their four appearances at the finals - losing in the next round on both occasions - and Amokachi has urged the team to be more ambitious. “As far as you are a coach or a team you go to a tournament to win it,” added the former

striker, who won 44 caps for Nigeria and spent two years at English club Everton. “Nigeria are one of the underdogs but probably we’ll be one of the dark horses along with the likes of Colombia and Belgium. “Coach Stephen Keshi has the same ambition as myself and we think alike - you don’t set a target saying I want to get to the second round or the quarter-final or the semi-final, we go there to work hard and in football anything can happen. “We could meet a team like Brazil and they have a bad day and you end up beating them. “We’re going to take it a game at a time but we’ll look forward to spending the whole month in Brazil.”

GETTING READY.... Super Eagles trio from let, Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike and Mikel Obi warming up before a match. Amokachi has tipped the Eagles to go far at the World Cup in Brazil.

CAF hails Eagles superb organisation tion by CAF ahead of the start of the tourney on Saturday.CAF’s General Coordinator for the Cape Town zone and former Ghanaian international, Anthony Baffoe who was in the company of famed retired Mauritius referee, Lee Kim Chong, Lesotho’s Baba Malephane, Cameroon’s Abel Mbengue, who is in charge of security and other CAF top notch gave the commendation when he inspected the team at its Garden Court De Waal abode in

Eagles salute Maigari over Awards sweep •Tip Mikel for future

ESPITE Super Eagles and Chelsea midfield maestro, John Mikel Obi not being named the African Footballer of the Year at Thursday’s awards ceremony in Lagos, it was plaudits galore for the NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maiagari, his executive committee and all Nigerians over the near clean sweep of awards at the Eagles camp in Cape Town on Thursday night. From Assistant Coach, Dan ‘the bull’ Amokachi, Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor to other officials and indeed the players it was clapping and praises galore as award after award was named after Nigeria. Even the Protocol Official attached to the team, Lawrence Kentu and other security personnel in the team were not left out of the praise for the NFF and its leadership.“It’s simply the best era in Nigerian football and we pray and hope that it will be sustained in the coming years”, declared an obviously elated Emmanuel Attah, who is the team’s Coordina-

CHAN: Kwambe, Uzoenyi hopeful on title By EDDIE AKALONU

UPER Eagles were very hopeful of making the African Nations Championship another victory outing for Nigeria as the squad left the country on Tuesday for South Africa. Sunshine Stars’ Solomon Kwambe and Enugu Rangers’ Uzochukwu Uzoenyi spoke very positively of their chances shortly before the team’s departure, stressing that they would participate to win and nothing short of that. “We are going to South Africa to win and not to make up the numbers. The talking will be done on the field of play. We have trained very hard for this championship and by God’s grace, we will come out victorious,” said the defender. He added that, “we have quality players that can play the com-

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petition and I’m confident we will conquer our opponents there.” Uzoenyi too expressed similar optimism that the Eagles are battle ready. “First we have our eyes to make it to the last four.

Although I cannot say firmly we will win the cup but once in the last four, the sky is the limit. We will endeavour to win because that is the reason for going to South Africa,” he added. Nigeria is in Group A with

Mali, Mozambique and will kick start the championship against Mali today in Cape Town. The African Nations Championship is for players in the various domestic leagues of Africa.

Tennis: Nigerian players set for Africa qualifiers, says Ubale By EDDIE AKALONU

ATIONAL Junior Tennis coach Moham med Ubale has said that the recently held Maryam Babangida Memorial Championship in Minna, Niger State was a perfect ground that set the tone for the country’s preparations for Confederation of African Tennis African Junior Championship Zonal qualifier scheduled to take place in Abuja January 13 to 18. The Minna event not only helped players tune up but also produced new set of players,

Cape Town.“We hardly see teams from Africa and for African tournaments very organised with everything in place as we have seen of Nigeria, we must commend you and especially the Nigeria Football Federation for this wonderful attitude and we urge other countries to borrow a leaf from the way Nigeria do their things”, he said. The hall consisting of players and officials of the Super Eagles responded with a thunderous applause, with Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, promising to relate the news to the NFF and assuring that it will be sustained.

as Ubale stated. The held Maryam Babangida Memorial Championship was constituted largely by U-12 and U-14 boys and girls. With mostly winners of the championships constituting Nigeria’s team for Africa, Ubale was hopeful of the country making a good outing, believing that the players would maintain their form. “We are set to go and all the players are in top shape. The tournament in Minna has proved to be timely because it served as part of the preparation for the African qualifiers we are going into and I’m convinced we will have a very good outing next week when the show begins,” he said.

tor. Gangling defence ace, Azubuike Egwuekwe, said he was not too disappointed at Mikel’s loss because head or tail, Nigeria was the champion of the night. “We are sure that Mikel or a Nigerian will win the next award”, he said excitedly. Team Psychologist, Dr Robinson Okosun spoke in a similar vein, declaring that with the clean sweep of awards, the year 2014 will be a better one for Nigeria. “Yes we may be a little disappointed that Mikel did not win but are assured that we will do better in the New Year, starting with the CHAN tournament and we will return again next year to take what rightly belongs to us”.

Katsina set for President Jonathan tourney

rrangement has been con cluded for the kick off of the maiden edition of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan U-18 boy’s YSFON National Peace Cup expected to kick off today at the Katsina Township Stadium. According to the Secretary General of Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, Patrick Okpavuerhe the week-long championship which is being sponsored by the Katsina State Government will attract 20 teams from different states of the Federation just a he announced that the Deputy Governor of the State, Barrister Abdullahi Garba Faskari will be the special guest of honour at the kick off ceremony while the State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim Safana will be the Chief host. He noted that the championship which will be rounded off on January 18 is part of the Federation’s efforts at developing football at the grassroots even as he appealed to other states to emulate Katsina state and sponsor more YSFON tournaments.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 11, 2014

Eagles made me win Coach of the Year Award — Keshi •hails Toure, consoles Mikel •says Mali will fall again in CHAN

013 Glo-CAF African Coach of the Year winner, Stephen Keshi has attributed his victory at the award ceremony held Thursday

STORIES BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

LO-CAF African Player of the Year winner, Yaya Toure has said that he won the coveted award largely because of his commanding and excellent performance for his English Premier League outfit Manchester City and his telling contributions for the Elephants of Ivory Coast. Toure, winner of the 2011 and 2012 editions on Thursday night at the Eko Hotel, made it a hattrick of victories when he defeated Eagles midfielder John Mikel Obi to second place in the 2013 award ceremony. His victory surprised not a few Nigerian fans, who had thought that Eagles AFCON success in South Africa and Chelsea’s Europa Cup triumph were going to be enough to steer Mikel’s to the highest pedestal of individual award on the continent. But like he did in the last two editions, Toure once again was voted the best player on the continent for 2013 by national team coaches, who gave him their overwhelming votes and speaking to reporters afterwards, the 26 year-old towering Ivorian midfielder said it was a rare honour to be deemed the best player once again. “This is a rare honour to me because it came I was thinking that maybe I will lose the poll but I think I was lucky today. To be honest with you, when you see the best footballers in the world, it is quite tight and difficult to achieve something with the clubs.

KING TOURE/MASTER KESHI ... African Footballer of the Year winner, Yaya Toure (top) delivering his ‘Thank you’ speech after he was declared winner Thursday. Right, Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, receiving his award of Coach of the Year.

GLO-CAF AWARD:

Why I was voted best player — Toure

The case of Messi who has won the award four times in a row comes to mind because he has not done anything for his country but his performance at his club has been the reason why he won the awards. “I think the best player in Africa has to be someone who is doing something great for his club in Europe and Africa and I am very proud and honoured to win it”, added Toure.

Today’s matches Hull Cardiff Everton Fulham S’hampton Tottenham Man Utd

v v v v v v v

night in Lagos to his Super Eagles players and assistant coaches. Speaking after being voted ahead of Eagles coach, Manu Garba and Burkina Faso gaffer Paul Put, Keshi said he would not have won had the Eagles not won the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa and qualified for this year ’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil. “This award is special to me because it was achieved by the players of the Nigerian national team, who were the best on the continent last year and made this award possible. Also, my assistant coaches also contributed a lot to my victory and I thank them all for their support. Without their good work, I would not be here talking as the winner ”, said Keshi, who hailed Ivorian star, Yaya Toure for winning the African player of the award, ahead of Eagles midfielder John Mikel Obi, who Keshi had tipped to win the award. “Yaya is a great player. Mikel and Yaya are brothers and for me the award stays in the family. These players are great but there can be only one winner but this is a family and the important thing is that it stays in the family”, Keshi said diplomatically. On today ’s African Nations Championship match against Mali in South Africa, Keshi said “we hope that we will get the three points, which will take us closer to getting out of the group stage”.

Chelsea West Ham Norwich Sunderland West Brom Crystal Swansea

1.45pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 4pm 6.30pm

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Director-General, Nigeria Immigrations Service, Mr. David Shikyu (9) 6.Zodiac Sign (3) 8.Ethnic Group in Sierra Leone (5) 9.L.G.A in Nassarawa State (5) 10.Kenyan Interior Minister, Joseph Ole (5) 11.Super Eagles Coach, Stephen (5) 13.Minister of State for Finance Dr. Yerima Lawal (5) 15.Apprehend (3) 17.Eighth Month of The Year (6) 18.L.G.A in Ogun State (4) 19.Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo (3) 21.Muslim Holy Book (5) 24.L.G.A in Lagos State (5) 26.President, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najim (5) 27.Greek Alphabet (5) 28.Bangladesh Capital City (5) 30.Number (3) 31.3SC Shooting Stars Goalkeeper, Segun (9)

DOWN 1.Burkina Faso “Stallions’” Coach, Paul (3) 2.Spain Full-back and Real Madrid Defender, Serglo (5) 3.Bayelsa United Media Officer, George (5) 4.Minister of Trade & Investment, Mr. Olusegun (6) 5.Former Nigerian President, Yakubu (5) 6.Greek Alphabet (5) 7.L.G.A in Kogi State (9) 11.Kano State Governor, Rabiu (9) 12.Major Ethnic Group in Nigeria (5) 14.Arsenal Left-back, Kierian (5) 15.ICPC Chairman, Mr. Ekpo (3) 16.Insect (3) 20.Guinea-Bissau Capital City (6) 22.Indian Currency (5) 23.Adamawa State Governor, Murtala (5) 24.Country in Asia (5) 25.Super Eagles’ Midfielder, Ogenyi (5) 29.Worlds Greatest Boxer, Muhammad (3)

SOLUTION on page 15

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