GOVERNORSHIP POLLS: Will Buhari's victory throw up bandwagon effect

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2—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

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SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015 —3

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4—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

ELECTION BLUES

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DADA ADEKOLA

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SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 10, 2015 — 5

Exper ts fault NER C’s ne w directiv e on electricity tarif Experts NERC’s new directive tarifff S

OME experts in the power sector recently faulted the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) directive that Distribution Companies (DISCOs) would now fix their tariffs.

They told the newsmen in separate interviews in Lagos that the directive could cause chaos because the DISCOs would over bill consumers who had no choice.

We gathered that Dr Sam Amadi, Chairman of NERC, on April 8 said that DISCOs could now fix their tariffs in consultation with consumers, which would be subjected to approval by the commission.

Amadi said this in Abuja at the end of the monthly meeting with the power generation firms and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

He said the new directive was due to the different operating cost of the DISCOs. Mr Adekunle Makinde, immediate past President, Nigerian Institution of Electrical Electronics Engineers (NIEEE), said that NERC was deviating from its duty as a regulator.

“NERC is not doing its work of regulating the electricity tariff; instead, it is giving investors free hands to exploit Nigerians and this can lead to disorder in the sector.

“Presently, consumers are complaining that the present tariff structure is unacceptable. It will be wrong if NERC gives one of its functions to the DISCOs. “These are investors who will not stop at making profit.

“The directive will definitely result to anarchy because the DISCOs will want something that will be favourable to them while consumers will not want to be cheated,” he said.

Mr Yomi kolawole, Chairman, Topean Energy Solution, Ikeja, Lagos, said that it was not possible for DISCOs to consult consumers before fixing tariffs because it would not work.

“I don’t know how they will achieve this because it is not possible to gather all consumers together and fix the price of tariffs with them.

“I think NERC is not being sincere with its new directives.

“In March, the chairman came out to tell consumers that they have slashed the tariff by 50 per cent and now it is the DISCOs that will fix a new tariff.

“This has indicated that NERC has lost focus,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Pekun Adeyanju, the Assistant General Manager of Ikeja Electric told NAN that DISCOs had not received a directive from NERC on that effect.

“We only heard it on television and read it on newspapers; we are still awaiting the directive.

“We are not part of the meeting; it was only for power generation and TCN,” he said.

Mr Godwin Idemudia, Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs Division of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), also said that the company had not received any directive from NERC.

From left: Laura Oloyede, MD/CEO, Communications Hub Africa Ltd; Israel Bolaji, Manager, Public Relations and Communications, Startimes; Somoye Habeeb, Marketing Manager and Ayokunle Idowu, Content Manager during the Startimes Media briefing to unveil new channels on Startimes platform held in Lagos recently. Photo Lamidi Bmidele

Reposition Nigeria’s maritime sect or sector or,, Council urges Buhari T

HE Chairman of Nigerian Port Consultative Council (PCC), Chief Kunle Folarin, recently urged the incoming government to reposition the maritime sector to make it more competitive.

Folarin, who gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in

Lagos, said that the advice became necessary because a competitive maritime sector could grow the economy.

“To grow the economy from the maritime contribution; to re-engineer the whole maritime sector to be competitive in the region.

“To make sure that all the potentials and the reforms that

Half of Ebola cases located on Sierra Leone-Guinea border — WHO

T

HE World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that almost half of all Ebola infections in West Africa have been recorded in two districts located in the border region between Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Winnie Romeril, WHO Sierra

Leone Spokeswoman, said in Freetown efforts were being made to contain the disease in the two worst affected areas of Kambia , western Sierra Leone and Forecariah, eastern Guinea.

“Almost 50 per cent of all Ebola cases in West Africa are

Fayose’s wif e condemns dumping wife of babies on refuse heaps

T

HE wife of Ekiti governor, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose, on Thursday condemned the act of dumping babies on refuse heaps.

She spoke during a visit to the Erelu Angela Adebayo Children Home at Iyin-Ekiti in Irepodun/ Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state. “ Those mothers in the habit of abandoning their responsibilities to their children or babies are incurring the wrath of God. “ Mothers who are unable to take care of their babies should C M Y K

drop them at the motherless babies home through due process instead of dumping them on refuse heaps,” she said. She lamented the rampant cases of abandonment of babies and urged stakeholders to assist in taking care of abandoned children as government could not do this alone.

Fayose also expressed satisfaction with the condition of the babies at the home and thanked the matrons for taking good care of them.

currently coming from the region between Kambia and Forecariah,” she said.

Romeril said the two districts were “the most active areas, adding that investigation was on going in the areas.

She said the exercise became necessary because people were still dying at home, adding that there was very high likelihood of infections.

The official said the shift in focus came after Sierra Leone gave the all-clear for the eastern district of Kailahun, where the health department last weekend ‘mistakenly ’ reported a new Ebola case.

“Kailahun district, a former epicentre of the epidemic, has been Ebola-free for 112 days,” she said.

She said a nine month-old boy was said to have died from the virus, but it was later found that there was a mix in the result of his test.

The spokeswoman said WHO was train and retraining health workers with a view to addressing the gap in the response system.

With no fewer than 11,800 reported infections and over 3,700 deaths Sierra Leone is one of the countries hardest hit by the Ebola epidemic.

The worst Ebola outbreak so far has killed nearly 10,500 people, mainly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

have been carried out over the years within the maritime sector, in particular the port industry, are optimised.

“A point in case of the concessioning regime, customs reform and so many other reforms that are taking place in the maritime sector to position the country to be the leader in the region.

“The maritime sector wants to be the apex contributor to the economy; the core of the potential is there.

“The programmes and the projects that will deliver on this particular expectation are there.

“So we will write the government to give priority attention has been given to the oil and gas sector to the maritime sector.

He added that a competitive maritime sector would offer job opportunities and create wealth for Nigerians.

Folarin said that the new government could achieve so much if it focused more on the sector.

6—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

BY CHIOMA GABRIEL

S

Who is more powerful?

till basking in the euphoria of the last presidential election successfully held without violence across the 36 states of the federation, Nigerians are once again on the march to elect thirty two out of the thirty-six state governors. Four governors of Edo, Anambra, Osun and Ekiti are yet to complete their tenure.

From what transpired during the elections of the penultimate weekend, it was clear that despite the tense campaign between the incumbent Goodluck Jonathan and his main rival, former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria was able to hold a violence-free presidential election. In the past, nearly every time the results were announced , deadly violence followed.

But the March 28 presidential and national assembly elections were different. Never in the history of this country was a sitting President badly cornered, drilled and grilled by the opposition political party, like the incumbent President Jonathan was grilled. General Buhari broke political records, re-wrote history across, within and every where in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as a result of the presidential election.

Also, President Goodluck Jonathan, a Niger Deltan ,from Otuoke, Bayelsa state of Nigeria, who recorded stunning records as the first man ever from the creeks to become President and Commanderin-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, also dramatically became the first incumbent President to be knocked out of power via a credible, C M Y K

When the history of this election is written, it would most likely acknowledge the concession of President Jonathan to his challenger.

But even before this time, at the end of the Ekiti election, the then Governor of the State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi gave a concession, which was celebrated as unprecedented.

Nigeria has made history.

Nigerians on 28 spoke in no uncertain terms that sovereignty belongs to the people and that they are capable and willing to facilitate a peaceful transition from one political party – Peoples Democratic Party, which has ruled since the end of military rule in 1999 – to another – the All Progressives Congress, a coalition of opposition parties and like minded politicians determined to checkmate the PDP dominance of politics in democratic Nigeria.

Besides, it was the first time Nigeria was using a biometric system to identify voters and as expected, there were some technical glitches and elections had to be extended to Sunday in 300 out of 150,000 polling stations. Generally speaking, the biometric system was a success and other African nations that genuinely want to organise a free and fair election would be wise to follow suit. Also, what has definitely become obvious is that with the Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) and the Smart Card Readers (SCR) which were used during the last elections, cerebral, people oriented and God fearing people will be enthusiastic to throw their hats into the political arena as Nigerian voters are the ultimate beneficiaries of the last Presidential election.

Despite some failings, the march 28 election was adjudged to be transparent and international observers attested to that. The rigging efforts were not only largely ineffective, but the design of newer ones was too slow to overwhelm the emergent process. There were inroads to rigging only in places where the

Party or people? Lessons from March 28 presidential elections free, fair and transparent election.

General Muhammadu Buhari has been applauded riotously for his uncommon resilience and legendary passion to change the status-quo in Nigeria since he was booted out of power in a palace coup led by General Ibrahim Babangida in August 1985.

As historic as that feat may be, if past elections were anything to go by, the fact that the opposition candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, won the polls, defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, is itself a watershed in the tumultuous political history of Nigeria.

But more remarkable is the show of grace and statesman’s posture by the outgoing president, who conceded defeat and congratulated his political rival, within a record time! By this act, President Jonathan has exercised leadership, delivered a legacy and built the foundation for the future almost in spite of himself.

This was different from what happened in 2011 when Goodluck Jonathan defeated Muhammadu Buhari. It was recorded that nearly 1,000 people died, 80% of them in Kaduna, Buhari’s stronghold.

As historic as that feat may be, if past elections were anything to go by, the fact that the opposition candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, won the polls, defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, is itself a watershed in the tumultuous political history of Nigeria

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SATURDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—7

PDP fights back against one party rule •Banks on Lagos, Rivers as springboard for rediscovery •Expects to win in 20 states

By EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is today fighting to stop a possible slide of the country into a one-party rule under the suzerainty of the recently emerged All Progressives Congress, APC. It is an ironical change of fortunes for the party whose officials once boasted of running the affairs of the country uninterrupted till 2059.

Following its loss of the presidency and control of the two chambers of the National Assembly two weeks ago, the PDP is now on the verge of losing control of a number of states it had won in 2011 and some states that had continuously been under the control of the party since the return of democratic rule in 1999.

The PDP’s fight for relevance was as at press time also being compounded by apathy on the part of party activists demoralised by the spate of defections by party grandees in several states following the loss of the presidency. A number of party officials who have not defected have recoiled from the political space and others in a practical abandonment of the embattled party have left the country on holidays. The party is now especially prone in Kaduna, Benue, Adamawa, Niger and lately, Plateau, states that the PDP had controlled almost unchallenged since 1999.

However, Lagos, Imo and Rivers States at present under the control of

the APC, were becoming staging posts for PDP chieftains to reinvent its winning formula.

Indeed, for the first time since 1999, the PDP is this weekend making its boldest attempt to win Lagos State and is being helped by the controversy that followed the assertions of the Lagos monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.

PDP’s national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh told Saturday Vanguard that the party would take at least two of the Southwest states, including Lagos besides all the SouthSouth and Southeast states in contention this weekend. On the most optimistic note, Metuh declared that the party would win 20 governorships on the premise that this weekend’s elections are essentially local given that religion and ethnicity that supposedly played against the party in the presidential contest have been discounted.

“We believe that there is no way we can win and maintain the number of states that we had, but we believe that we can get up to 20 states because the politics is local, and we believe that there is enough.

“Last two weekends, things were done on the basis of religion, ethnicity in the north.

Now the candidates are Muslims, and the candidates are northerners; there is no way that

they will not look at the credentials. If you look at the credentials of what the governor of Gombe has done, governor of Jigawa, governor of Katsina. We believe if you look at what they have done, we believe that we will win the north. Of course, South-South and Southeast is a no go area for them,” Metuh said as he declared that the party was not afraid of the country turning into a one-party state.

He, nevertheless, expressed concern on what he claimed as intimidation of party members to abandon the party.

His assertions nonetheless, the PDP’s chances of retaining control of Kaduna were, however, brought into question two weeks ago when the party was almost totally overwhelmed by the APC in the home state of the sitting vicepresident, Arc. Namadi Sambo. The party polled 27.7% of the total votes cast compared to the 64.5% of the votes polled by the APC. The result of the election Saturday Vanguard learnt had so demoralised the party activists who were before now depended on votes from Southern Kaduna region of the state.

However, recent alliances forged by the APC and its gubernatorial candidate, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai with some Southern Kaduna political chieftains were said to have put the party in near equal footing with the PDP in its traditional foothold, a development that has sunk morale among PDP activists in the state.

Benue State, which had continuously been governed by the PDP, is also being

threatened with a takeover by the APC, which swept two of the three Senate seats and the majority of the federal constituencies. The threats against the PDP are compounded by the fact that the two of the Senate seats won by the APC are from the Tiv senatorial districts that traditionally determine through their population, the governorship of the state. The fate of the party in Benue is being blamed on irregular payment of salaries to government employees in the state.

The chances of the PDP in Lagos State have, however, been especially brightened by the recent royal controversy purportedly directing Ibos in Lagos to vote for the APC governorship candidate Akinwunmi Ambode. Before the Oba’s assertion, APC officials were reportedly working to win over the Ibo community in Lagos following the near-total support for the PDP during the presidential and National Assembly polls.

“The Oba has completely scattered our plans,” a prominent official of the party based in Lagos told Saturday Vanguard.

The APC as a counter to the threat in the last days of the campaign projected what it claimed as the appointment of an Ibo into the state executive and the selection of an Ibo as a one day governor of the state among other acts of integration of all ethnic groups.

8—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

GUBER POLLS:

Will Buhari’s Victory throw up bandwagon effect?

•APC likely to win Kano, Sokoto, Jigawa, Niger, Borno, Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Kwara,

•

Gombe, Bauchi, Benue, Yobe, Adamawa, Kebbi, Ogun •PDP may retain Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Abia

•Lagos, Imo, Taraba, Rivers, Nassarawa, Akwa Ibom, Plateau States; Battlegrounds for both parties •No Guber polls in Anambra, Osun, Kogi, Edo, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Ondo

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

A

s Nigerians head back to the polls today to elect fresh governors and state legislators, there is no doubt that it would also be another titanic battle between

two major political parties.

Though there are over 10 political parties participating in the exercise, electoral dynamics have obviously narrowed down the contest between All Progressives Congress, APC and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Like in the March 28

Presidential elections, both parties displayed strength but at the end of the day, PDP’s candidate and incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan fell to APC’s General Mohammadu Buhari who is now the President-Elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The development has in no small degree thrown up tension in the

polity even as today’s exercise comes underway.

Saturday Vanguard can authoritatively report that bandwagon effects are mounting in high places, giving APC an edge over PDP in some states with sitting PDP governors.

This however stems from the

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SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—9

Will Buhari’s Victory throw up bandwagon effect?

Continues from page 8 voting pattern that gave APC victory over PDP in the presidential election.

Candidate of APC, Buhari made an impressive inroad in the States controlled by the PDP and beat Jonathan.

For instance, Jigawa, Niger, Kaduna, Katsina, Gombe, Bauchi, Benue, Kebbi and Adamawa are all northern states where Buhari trounced Jonathan.

Details of the results showed that in Gombe, APC polled 361, 246 against PDP’s paltry 96, 873 votes. Bauchi APC polled 931,598 votes as against PDP’s slim 86,085 votes.

Kaduna the home state of the incumbent Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo, APC beat PDP with whooping 1,127,760 to 484,085 votes. In Niger state, it was 657,678 to 149,222 even with the loquacious Governor Babangida Aliyu.

Katsina showed 100 percent solidarity to APC presidential candidate who won PDP with 1,345,441 to 98,937 votes.

Adamawa blessed Buhari with 374,701 as against PDP’s 251,664 votes.

The presence of the senate president, David Mark and that of Governor Gabriel Suswan in Benue couldn’t fly the PDP as it was trounced 373,961 to 303,737 votes.

Kebbi State also honored Buhari with 567,883 to 100,972 votes of the PDP. President Jonathan was also beaten squarely in Governor Sule Lamido’s Jigawa State with 885,988 to 142,904 votes.

Many people had thought that with the presence of PDP Governors who mouthed massive supports for the president, the ruling party would win in those states. But they did.

APC did not only win the presidency, it also won majority seats in the Senate

and the House of Representatives. In other words, the table has completely turned placing the party in the lead.

Obviously, APC’s victory has buoyed it up for more and more electoral successes. And going by the voting pattern in the last presidential, most analysts are of the opinion that Buhari’s victory would have bandwagon effects on the governorship and house of assembly elections today in some states under PDP governors now.

Feelers from Gombe State indicated that it would be an easy ride for APC as most members of PDP have even defected to APC. For instance, the incumbent member of House of Representatives representing Yelmatu Deba federal constituency who lost reelection has immediately after the National Assembly election defected to APC. In the three senatorial districts of the state, APC won

Candidate of APC, Buhari made an impressive inroad in the States controlled by the PDP and beat Jonathan

two leaving one for PDP. Most people believe that this is not enough to garner support for PDP to win the gubernatorial election.

Many believe that the last voting pattern if repeated would win more states for the APC from PDP strong holds.

It may be taken for granted that APC would retain Kano, Sokoto, Borno, Kwara, Yobe, Adamawa, Ogun and Zamfara already in its kitty.

However, PDP also has some states especially in the south east and south where they are likely to record a landslide in today elections to retain the states.

Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Abia States are the states But there are states expected to be battlegrounds for both parties. They include Lagos, Imo, Taraba, Rivers, Nassarawa, Akwa Ibom and Plateau States.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

MARITAL INFIDELITY

Why women have joined the men N

igerian women are the most unfaithful in the world! This is the conclusion arrived at by Durex in a survey it conducted on women across the world. The survey had interviewed 29,000 women across 36 countries of the world, including Nigerians to arrive at this. According to the report, Nigerian women scored a total of 62% to beat 35 other countries to the first position.

The survey listed Thailand women as second most unfaithful in the world after scoring 59%.

Malaysian women came third with 39%. Russian women scored 33% for the fourth position while Singaporeans came fifth with 19%. Ironically, Nigerian men who are usually the butt of jokes and criticisms related to C M Y K

By Yetunde Arebi

infidelity seem to have come up clean and sweet smelling like roses without any listing, according to this survey. Durex listed Thailand men as the most unfaithful in the world with 54% of them admitting cheating on their spouses. South Korea came second with 34% and Malaysian men clinched the third position with 33%. It is not surprising that this report has become very controversial since it was released. Not a few who have heard have expressed shock and doubt about its veracity and have kicked against the authenticity of the results announced by the condom manufacturing giant.

While I have not been able to lay my hands on the actual report as released by the company, I have read several reports written on the said

survey and non have answered the questions on my mind concerning this results. For instance, what category of women constituted these figures? Married women only or both married and single women? What age bracket were they? What class of women; working class, business class, housewives or unemployed?

What income group? Did religion and ethnicity have any role to play in their decisions to cheat on their partners? Were they urban or rural dwellers?

All these and more would have made interesting reading and thrown more authenticity into the works. As things are, we might just have to contend ourselves with this ratings for now while those belly aching about it must also manage and keep their hair on.

Durex listed Thailand men as the most unfaithful in the world with 54% of them admitting cheating on their spouses

For those crying wolf about the results of the survey, one of the factors that make this report look dubious is our religious tendencies.

Nigerians are renowned for their doggedness when it comes to religion. Our love for religion and religious practices oftentimes tends to fanaticism and we are famous worldwide for this.

We take our religions even more seriously than those who originally owned them and initiated us into them.

In fact, in the last two decades plus, the religious explosion that has taken place, especially in Christianity and now gradually being matched by Islam is remarkable. It is

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SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—11

‘Marriage is a very serious institution in Africa’ Continues from page 10 almost difficult to find a street without at least a mosque and a church. We are so entrapped by religion and its practices that it has become a bane in our society and a tool for power hungry leaders to tear us apart.

With the number of crusades, night vigils, home fellowships, Qur ’an and bible study classes going on daily, including during office hours, one would think that Nigerians are indeed one step behind the angels. And for such a holy people and nation, infidelity, especially on the part of married women, ought not to be found in our vocab. Marriage is considered a very important and holy institution, attached with religious rites which prescribe chastity, submission and faithfulness for women. At places of worship women often constitute a larger percentage of the congregation and the success of their marriages and children often top their list of prayer points, so, one may rightly conclude that infidelity ought to be a foreign lingo in C M Y K

the Nigerian society. This is perhaps, why some people find it difficult to accept this rating.

CULTURE AND TRADITION Some Nigerians have also opined that culture and tradition play a huge role in shaping the character and life of the African woman, and indeed, the Nigerian woman.

Young unmarried girls are expected to remain virgins, untasted, untested, until the wedding night. And though this is now more or less an illusion than reality, many young brides still love to give this impression to their parents, in-laws and the general public, with the exception of the conspicuously pregnant ones anyway. Once married also, a woman is forbidden by tradition and culture to stray outside her marital bed for sex. She must remain faithful to her marital vows. In fact, many cultures have, as part of the wedding rites, oath taking rituals performed on the woman, forcing her to remain sexually

faithful to her husband.

Depending on the culture of a particular society, it is believed that there are grave consequences and even death, for either of the partners, once the woman violates these oaths.

Female circumcision otherwise known as Female Genital Mutilation is another method of ensuring that female sexual urges and desires are curbed, therefore preserving women only for their husbands.

Marriage is a very serious institution in Africa. For the woman, it is expected to be a lifelong venture at all cost, even when the men have run off to chase other women, oftentimes, younger and more beautiful. Extra marital affairs on the part of women are taboo and under no circumstance are there justifications for them.

Once caught, a woman often loses all respect and privileges offered by the marriage, and risks bringing shame upon her children and family. Infidelity often means the end of the union. It is therefore believed

Female circumcision otherwise known as Female Genital Mutilation is another method of ensuring that female sexual urges and desires are curbed, therefore preserving women only for their husbands

that an African woman, would think twice before pulling up her skirt for a man other than her husband. And so, the doubting Thomases, are convinced that the Durex survey report is therefore not very accurate about Nigerian women.

Unfortunately, there are many who also consider the above as merely facts and not necessarily the truth about the Nigerian society.

They say these are just window dressing in a bid to cover up the canker worms that have eaten deep into our flesh as a people. Just as there are those calling the Durex survey a hoax, there are others who believe that it is highly probable, going by the reality of events happening in our society. If the survey is not accurate, it may also not be far from the truth. And many factors may be responsible for this position also. Beginning from the failure of government to provide adequate and functional social infrastructure for the people, to the tumbling of moral and social values among the people, high rate of unemployment and poverty level of the people, education, exposure and male-female equality and the explosion of information and communication technology courtesy of the internet, may have all added up to quietly providing a new orientation and persona for the Nigerian woman.

There is no doubt that Nigerians are religious. In fact, it might not be out of place to say that we live, sleep, wake, speak, eat and drink religion. Hardly would you find a Nigerian who does not belong to a particular religion and makes no bones trying to hide whatever we profess to have. In Nigeria, our religion is hardly a personal conviction and fear of God. It is a weapon, a tool and bargaining chip for both the religious leaders and their followers. Nigerians they say, wear their religion on their faces, like identity cards, they tell the world of our membership and dedication with perceived hope of benefiting something from it.

Unfortunately, our acclaimed religious practices have little or no positive reflection on

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12—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

‘The more money an individual brings, the more respect and recognition he is accorded’

Continues from page 11 our society. If anything, it has only helped to polarise and divide us further, promoting distrust and disaffection in our society, while a few feed fat on the gains. Nigeria’s high rate of corruption at all levels of government and private sector and continued dwindling religious, societal and moral values, have caused critics to ask questions on the true state of religious practices in Nigeria.

They insist that if we are as religious as we profess and uphold the tenets and teachings of our religions, in truth and in the fear of God, should this not reflect positively on our society?

Given the situation therefore, it is either the teachings are faulty or the practitioners are unfaithful, paying only eye service to society and lip service to religious teachings. The evidence of these abound everywhere one turns.

Judgment according to God, will begin in His house!

It is an open secret that money is the wheel for the propagation of salvation. Money is required to C M Y K

propagate the spread of religious teachings. So, the religious groups solicit members for donations, tithes and offerings. The more money an individual brings, the more respect and recognition he is accorded. No one questions the source of the money as long as it has been given to God. Many highly placed officials in both government and private sector embezzle and misappropriate funds in their trust, giving percentages of it to religious organisations and the leaders accept without batting an eyelid. The classic case of late Pastor Timothy Olusegun Akanni, a former Director, Special Projects with the Independent National Electoral Commission, Abuja, and a Pastor of the Redeemed Church of God, Abuja, who died in the Bellview plane crash in September, 2006, will forever remain fresh in the minds of many Nigerians. He was subsequently known as the man who was richer than his employers, when a staggering N7billion was

traced to his name. He had earlier been described as an upright, honest, dedicated man of high integrity by his employers and colleagues until the lid was blown off his facade by his warring wives.

Are you surprised at the word wives? Until his untimely demise, little did anyone, including his legally married wife and mother of an only child, know of the existence of a second wife tucked away in another State who also bore him children. Pastor Akanni who took to the pulpit every Sunday to preach the word of God, admonishing and condemning sin and sinners had not only taken another woman to be by his left side (strange woman)but also married her legally at the Registry, thereby committing Bigamy, punishable by law with a maximum of seven years jail term.

The inability of the two women to reconcile their differences and agree on a sharing formula for their husband’s acquired wealth,

A Prophet with a white garment church in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos was caught pants down in bed with a married member of the congregation, right on the woman’s matrimonial bed

caused an investigation into his assets by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). He was accused of various weighty offences touching on conspiracy, abuse of public office, diversion of public funds as well as money laundering. The federal government eventually confiscated everything traced to Pastor Akanni name, including cash in local and foreign currencies, landed properties in choice areas in Lagos and Abuja, shares in Bluechip companies, registered schools, bakeries and expensive luxury cars among other items. His “religious” women as well as Akanni’s family members who had hitherto, been divided by the stupendous wealth of their kinsmen and had pitched tents behind each of the women, lost everything to the federal government. These were religious men and women by all Nigerian standards.

The story of Pastor Chukwuemeka Ezeugo (aka Reverend King), the former General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly is another high profile case on the nefarious, anti social behaviours of some men of God in the Nigeria society. Rev. King was also in September 2006 arraigned on six counts of attempted murder and murder, having been accused of allegedly pouring petrol on six members of his congregation whom he’d accused of committing fornication with other female members, then set them ablaze. The General Overseer who was also alleged to have regular sexual relationships with both married and single women in the church has since been sentenced to death by Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Lagos High court with subsequent appeal also upheld.

Sometime last year, a Prophet with a white garment church in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos was caught pants down in bed with a married member of the congregation, right on the woman’s matrimonial bed. The suspicious husband, assisted by their neighbours had laid a trap for the cheating lovers which they walked into. The duo were thoroughly disgraced and paraded naked in the neighbourhood and on social media.

Mrs. Lateefat Oyeniyi, hair stylist and mother of two, recounting her experience in an interview with Saturday Vanguard revealed why she stopped going to offer prayers at a neighbourhood Mosque.

According to her, prior to her encounter with the Alfa, she had always thought of him as a very honourable servant of God, who

Continues on page 13

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—13

‘Pastor sleeping with members’ Continues from page 12 gave spiritual consultations to many. So she’d thought nothing was amiss when he’d requested for her telephone number after she’d enrolled her child at his Qur ’anic school. She was surprised a few days later when she got a text message containing a recharge card from the Alfa on her phone. He called a few seconds after to confirm if she had received his message and kind gesture. When she asked what the gift was for, he told her it was to mark the beginning of their new relationship and she should expect more of such from him if things went well between them.

An avalanche of N1000 recharge cards came her way for several weeks until one day, he called and asked her to come and see him at his consulting room in the Mosque compound.

At the meeting, Alfa poured his heart out to this wife and mother, insisting he was prepared to take her as wife number two as he was acting on a directive from God. She should go and think about it and he would keep in touch. Confused, she confided in another female member all that had transpired between herself and Alfa. What the woman told her convinced her that the Alfa’s case was beyond redemption and she ought to take steps to stop him C M Y K

to avoid trouble. Alfa was not new to the game and had a track record with women who approached him for spiritual consultation. The lady promptly told her husband and together with another married man and a Police Officer met with Alfa. The family stopped worshiping at the mosque and removed their daughter from his lesson. If this family was lucky, not so for some other families of Vineyard Ministry of the Holy Trinity, Enugu State. The pastor, 53 year old Timothy Ngwu claimed he receives regular directives from God to sleep with members of his congregation, regardless of their married status. In fact, before having sex with the married women, he would sometimes seek the approval of their husbands who in turn hand them over to him. By the time Veronica, his legal wife, ratted him out to the Police, he’d impregnated a total of 20 women, including a mother and her daughter which caused the ire of his wife. If the Pastor was mad, what of the men who gave him their wives on a platter of gold? Religion, therefore has very little or no positive impact on many Nigerians and could therefore not be cited as reason to discredit the Durex survey.

Just as religion did not prevent all the above mentioned people from engaging in ungodly activities, the same

goes for culture and tradition.

According to a source who hails from South-South Nigeria, “the efficacy of these marriage rites and rituals are now very doubtful.

Hardly do you find people going to the shrines and subjecting themselves to such things in the name of traditional marriage any more. Even back in the olden days, it was just a myth to maintain law and order in the society. Though there might have been a few cases of people getting caught and punished, they were usually performed on specific targets. Even then, the woman would have been warned and notified that such a thing was going to be applied on her.” This same logic applies to the lacing of “magun”, a potent Yoruba traditional medicine designed for curbing infidelity among married women. There are several types of magun but they all have the same mission, to expose or kill the trespassing male lover. Once laid on the path of a woman suspected of cheating and she crosses over it, she becomes laced and the first male that mates with her falls victim. The catch here is that a waiting period of a specific number of days is given for the husband to abstain from sex with his laced wife, so that she would go to the targeted lover. If the husband is no longer interested in the marriage and wishes to expose his wife as an adulterer, he laces her with an instant

The pastor, 53 year old Timothy Ngwu claimed he receives regular directives from God to sleep with members of his congregation, regardless of their married status

magun, otherwise, the reaction is delayed for a few hours to allow the woman leave the scene. However, there have been several cases of magun gone wrong, where the legal husbands end up being victims.

Back in the mid ’80s in Ijanikin, in rural Ojo Local government of Lagos State, a local man who suspected his friend was having an affair with his wife, laced her with magun. On her return back home on the day he’d suspected the lovers would have had their rendezvous, he’d slept with his wife, believing she’d been freed of the potency, only to fall victim of his evil plan. His wife insisted there was no sexual relationship between herself and her husband’s friend. The evil deed had however been done.

In this same vain, innocent women have also been known to have died after being laced with magun by their extremely jealous husbands. Today, the efficacy of magun in dealing with suspected rivals has been greatly undermined. Many philandering men versed in the knowledge of local charms and amulets now possess the antidotes and do apply when required. This breakthrough has no doubt increased the confidence of many women in the game of adultery. Besides, it is a fact that such practices are now regarded as archaic, heathen and against modern religious practices and Nigerians no longer wish to openly associate with such. We must also not forget the fact that female genital circumcision is no longer widely accepted or practiced in our society and is even now considered a crime in many States of the federation.

So, of how much impact is culture and tradition on the sexuality of the average Nigerian woman?

The socio-economic problems of the nation has affected many individuals and homes irreparably. The high rate of unemployment and lack of basic amenities and social infrastructures have caused much damage to the psyche of the average Nigerian. A situation where citizens have to provide almost everything for themselves which ought to be provided by government, results in too much pressure on the people. Many would therefore do anything to make ends meet or cut corners for the sake of survival. Our dwindling moral and social values, as well as our great love for material wealth has helped to create a society wherein almost anything is acceptable for survival reasons.

Continues on page 14

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

‘Not all marriages are happy’

Continues from page 13 Hunger has no gender and many upright people have been known to crumble or lower their standards in the face of economic challenges.

In fact, the World Health Organisation and United Nations Economic and Social... have at various times in their numerous submissions, cited economic hardship as a factor for high rate of promiscuity, especially in Africa and Sub-Saharan societies. More than ever before, more women have joined the work force and are not limited to the stereotyping of old where they are either teachers, Nurses or Secretaries. Women can now be found in any field or profession, many standing tall to the men while some others adopt “below the belt” methods to get their way. Allegations of “sex for job, sex for promotion” etc are common in the work place, including cat fights among the women. It is therefore not a secret that many men prefer that their wives either own their businesses or stay at home to tend to the children. Around mid 2012, nude pictures of a young married woman were leaked unto the internet by an angry lover seeking his pound of flesh. According to the accompanied story on the blog which was brought down shortly after the release, he’d recently discovered that he was not the only guy eating out of the forbidden vineyard. A senior colleague was also partaking of the illegal meals. To assuage his anger and bruised ego, he decided to open his lover ’s can of worms in C M Y K

the public domain. The pictures showed the mother of one in various stages and poses of nudity taken at both the office and what seemed like a private room.

Rumour has it that the lady had since absconded to reside in Ghana. Before this incident, another young lady had been caught in the web of extra marital scandal when pictures of a hot romantic weekend with a senior male colleague at her office was loaded on the internet. This time around, it was a case of a misplaced memory card from the love birds’ camera that let the cat out of the bag. The couple had told their respective partners and those who may care to ask that they were going for a seminar.

Indeed, the internet is agog with leaked stories of sexual escapades by married women in extra marital relationships, many busted by their legal partners or people close to them. Closely related to this is preference for the female sex for certain jobs, especially Banking, Public Relations and Marketing where women have been known to do things other than the official to get the job done. In fact, Mr. Raji Fashola, Governor of Lagos State in an address delivered at the Bankers’ Institute sometime ago, advised against setting unrealistic targets for female bankers.

Though hard to believe, some husbands are sometimes forced to look the other while their wives carry on discreetly or tardily with other men. This is often associated with economic survival and/or quest for power, including

political power. Many women who have had to make exceptional sacrifices and contributions, sometimes even spiritually towards the success of their partner’s careers are sometimes guilty. Late one night, about 11 plus years ago in Iju area of Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, a man while beating his wife for returning home late from work, accused her of infidelity. He called her a prostitute and insisted that she had broken her marital vows with several men and he was tired of the marriage. The wife in turn called him a cheap liar who was not worthy to be called a man.

She told the crowd that had gathered she had done nothing without his consent while he was out of job. He was only crying wolf now because he had found a job after many years of sitting at home while she took care of him and their three children.

Contrary to general belief, not all marriages are happy. Not all couples are in love with each other or love each other. These could be catalysts for infidelity.

Other reasons for infidelity by married women may also include abuse, emotional disconnect, neglect, lack of sexual satisfaction and general incompatibility. However, critics opine that the most contemporary of the factors may be linked to the present state of communication and information technology. Prior to the turn of the millennium and most probably the advent of GSM which brought mobile telephony

Many women who have had to make exceptional sacrifices and contributions, sometimes even spiritually towards the success of their partner’s careers are sometimes guilty

and a whole world of communication possibilities to the hands of the ordinary man, infidelity was considered more of a male lingo and perhaps society’s wayward single women stock in trade. Today, sex and sexuality is now on display almost everywhere you turn. The media is agog with sexually tainted messages, just as pornography and all shades of sexual contents are being passed among individuals with relish, regardless of marital status. All these are perceived to stimulate illicit sexual desires or even influence individuals negatively. If all these facts provide reasons for possible infidelity among married women, then are they not being caught in their hundreds? Or is it possible that they have perfected their acts and know how to hide their secrets from the condemning eyes? After all the consequences of getting caught are grave. Though considered the weaker sex, women are known for their strength of character, wit and canny nature. Perhaps, a story purportedly from the Hadith, about the conducts of an adulterous woman captures all there is to know about how crafty women can be in protecting themselves and their secrets. A husband got wind about his wife’s adulterous activities with a certain man whenever he was out. As expected, she denied and a date for her trial was fixed. She would be swearing in the presence of all that no other man besides her husband had ever seen her nakedness.

However on the way to the venue of the sentencing, the woman had arranged with her lover to wait for her on top of a particular tree en-route their destination. On arriving the planned spot, this woman sought permission from her husband to ease herself and swiftly went on to remove her clothes. As soon as she was done, the man in the tree jumped down to behold her nakedness, technically making him the second man, to her see naked body and in the presence of her husband too. Her accusers were happy when they saw all three of them together, they could use one stone to kill two birds, they thought. But the crafty woman played her joker just then. As she swore her defence, she claimed that only her husband and the man who came down from the tree had seen her nakedness. The husband confirmed that she spoke the truth. She was acquitted.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—15

Lessons from March 28 presidential elections Continues from page 6 card readers were jettisoned for manual verification. In the past, the observer and agent accreditation would have been battlefields but for the biometric shift that moved the focus to the effectiveness of technology, and not the person of key stakeholders.

Nigerians are beginning to vote based on their perceptions. Many Muslims who voted for Jonathan in 2011, impressed by his rags to riches tale, had been disappointed by his performance and on March 28, had chosen Buhari instead. Also, many Christians opted for Buhari because they felt Jonathan’s performance was below expectation.

One of the big lessons of the March 28 presidential election is that in a highly monetised society where politicians are known to throw money around, money has proven not to be an answer to all things.

This time around, integrity won.

Election results were accepted and hopefully, the gubernatorial candidates in today’s election would be wise to concede defeat for peace to reign like president Jonathan did to the opposition candidate.

The acceptance of defeat at the polls by President Goodluck Jonathan demonstrates he has a large heart and that he did not just talk about conceding if defeated , but actually did so. By this singular act, he will forever be remembered for diffusing tension as Nigeria edged slowly and precariously on the precipice of a violent backlash from the election. That singular act was brave and classy, and may have prevented hundreds of deaths.

Secondly, from this rare Nigeria’s success story, it has become obvious that sovereignty belongs to the people, as it is only through them that any government can obtain legitimacy. General Muhammadu Buhari, is a former junta leader and self-professed ‘democracy convert’.

After three previous failed bids, he no doubt epitomises a true convert and believer of democracy. He was able to convince the electorate that democracy was the sole legitimate path to gaining power.

Moreover, another issue has also become very obvious. The electorate should not be taken for granted. The chieftains of the ruling party had vowed they would rule for 60 years but power belongs to the people and they demonstrated same by showing the PDP the red card. Although the party made some remarkable progress during six weeks of postponement of the election, that proved too late to sway support and momentum for the ruling party.

Another area of attention is elections management in Africa, where the winner-takes-all principal holds sway. Elections are a matter of life and death especially in Nigeria, which has huge oil and gas reserves. But the Independent C M Y K

A cross section of voters ready to cast their votes after accreditation at Unit 039, Oriade Nursery and Primary School, Satellite Town, Lagos National Election Commission (INEC) of Nigeria may have charted a way out of the challenges of managing complex elections on the continent. Professor Attahiru Jega’s led INEC surpassed the expectation of millions of Nigerians and observers around the world.

The university don brought in a new technology into electioneering and in the heat of uncertainties, had appeared very relaxed despite intense pressure and scrutiny, verbal attack and intense provocation from the likes of PDP former minister, Godsday Orubebe.

Jega remained calm and unperturbed, his respect for due process standing out.

The failure of the electorate to be brainwashed despite campaigns of calumny and intense hate messages by the PDP against General Muhammadu Buhari, with strong suggestions that he should take a medical examination, an allusion to his perceived poor health and thought of imminent death is a great milestone. His education credentials were questioned and his human rights record as a former junta leader were lampooned.

Although such scrutiny is needed in a vibrant democracy, some of the allegations against him went overboard.

Yet, the electorate stood their ground.

In all these, the masses were interested in issues that affect their daily lives: bread and butter, unemployment, corruption, insecurity, energy, and health.

This proves to a large extent that the well being of the citizenry matters most. A government which fails to provide basic necessities like water, electricity, security, and end endemic corruption is just as bad as that which falters in building infrastructure.

Another lesson is for the media in Nigeria. The Nigerian media should be careful with certain reports during elections.

At elections period, the stakes are very high and some sections of the media take sides,

The acceptance of defeat at the polls by President Goodluck Jonathan demonstrates he has a large heart and that he did not just talk about conceding if defeated , but actually did so.

By this singular act, he will forever be remembered for diffusing tension as Nigeria edged slowly and precariously on the precipice of a violent backlash from the election

for pecuniary reasons or personal interest. This should be avoided. For instance, the hate broadcasts aired by some segments of the media against General Muhammadu Buhari should have been avoided. Obviously, the stations never thought the voting pattern would change. The National Broadcasting Commission and the Human Rights Commission of Nigeria condemned some private and public media outlets after they were deemed to have violated the Media Code on Elections Coverage by spreading hate message and giving the incumbent undue coverage.

Candidates in today’s gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections should learn from the past. After the elections today, many incumbents would be disappointed. Many political parties would lose where they hope to win. And hopefully too, they should read the hand-writing on the wall and concede defeat like President Jonathan did.

Violence has never solved any problem and post-gubernatorial election violence would not solve any problems either. A gentleman goes to court and so should those who may not like how things work out for them after this election.

One can say for sure that the presidential and national assembly elections have been truly successful even though not perfect.

Today’s elections could be better.

And thankfully, President Jonathan has created a legacy that Nigerians will not only remember but also use as they seek to define excellence.

Hopefully too, when the results of today’s elections will be announced, it is expected that losers go the way of President Jonathan and not seek to ignite the polity.

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

AISHA BUHARI: The beauty moving to Aso Villa

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

H

is eyes did not only stick on the targets or his hands only on the trigger as a combatant soldier.

He also had them searching for a beauty. And truly, he eventually got one. That makes him a complete marksman and generalissimo.

Anyone who has seen the C M Y K

would-be First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hajiya Aisha Buhari would not bother to know why her hubby and president-elect, General Mohammadu Buhari,retired, has shown so much resilience in his political expeditions since 2003 he debuted onto the thresholds of partisan politics.

Like politics, Buhari must have displayed unusual patience to marry such a paragon of beauty in 1989, four years after he exited office as

the Nigeria’s military Head of State.

Though she may have put up some appearances in the previous presidential campaigns of her husband in 2003, 2007 and 2011, Aisha Buhari still largely remained an unknown name to many people until the 2015 presidential election campaigns that eventually crowned the efforts of her husband.

Her beauty may have also accounted for why many heads

turned at the inaugural meeting of All Progressives Congress, APC women presidential campaign initiative in Abuja on January 24, 2015 when she emerged in the auditorium.

Delectable, enchanting, so fascinating unassuming and then soft spoken, she must have won admiration and sympathy for her husband as many were quick to compare her with the outgoing First

Continues on page 17

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—17

Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

Factually speaking, one thing most people had waited to see at the meeting was whether Mrs. Buhari was power hungry like the other First Ladies, but that was far from being a reality.

Instead, she said she would only occupy the office of the First Lady if first her husband wins the election and if it is constitutionally recognized.

Hear her: “When my husband is elected as the president of this country, he will govern the country within the rule of law based on the constitution of the country. If the office of the first lady is constitutionally recognized, my husband will not tamper with it but if it is not that’s okay. For me, I will perform my duties and role as the wife of the President of Nigeria traditionally. ” “The wife of the president has some traditional roles, like receiving guests, visiting orphanages, helping the less privileged people. Also, leading the fight for the right of women and and malnourished children, infant mortality rate, kidnapping and girl child trafficking.”

It would be safe to say that the meeting marked the commencement of Mrs. Buhari public appearances for 2015 campaigns. And as

Aisha Buhari:

The beauty moving to Aso Villa

the campaign lasted, she made sure that decorum was her watchword as she only dealt with the issues and never threw up tantrums and invectives on anyone.

For instance, she would be remembered for the reassurance she gave to Mrs. Jonathan when the latter took the message of imprisonment to the streets, telling Nigerians not to cast their votes for General Buhari as he would “jail” them if elected president.

Insisted of playing politics with the statements, Aisha in Benin during Edo State APC mega rally told Nigerians that her husband would not send anyone innocent Nigerians to prisons and crime against the state would be handled by law.

She equally took the welfare of Nigerian women especially the widows to heart, assuring them that under her husband, policies that would guarantee their improved living standard would be initiated.

She said: “Each zone of the country has its peculiar problems. For me, in this zone, girl-child trafficking should be considered one of our problems, though I

know there is unemployment.

“Unemployment is the major factor that contributes to brain drain and also the girl-child trafficking. General Muhammadu Buhari is a leader who led Nigeria some decades ago and he is coming back now to sanitise the system.

“For those that are campaigning, saying that he is coming to jail Nigerians, I don’t know what their fear is. But they shouldn’t be afraid, because we are all yearning for change.

The insecurity in the country, the very poor healthcare system, lack of education and other basic necessities that people are lacking, I believe that Nigerians need somebody like General Muhammadu Buhari now.

“Already, they have painted him black, using religion. I’m happy today that Nigerians realize that they use religion as a cover to loot Nigeria.

“Any politician who talks to you about religion is a liar, he only wants to loot the treasury and the little resources you ought to enjoy.

So say no to merging politics with religion; that’s to deceive the people.

“I’m here today to let Edo women know that when my husband is elected into office as President, all these will be history.

The insecurity, the girl-child trafficking, the plight of the

widows in the South East will be looked into.

“There must be a cultural design that can accommodate the widow.

A design that would make the girl-child comfortable wherever she is in this country.

,

Continues from page 16

If the office of the first lady is constitutionally recognized, my husband will not tamper with it but if it is not that’s okay. For me, I will perform my duties and role as the wife of the President of Nigeria traditionally

,

“The portion of the girl-child is to have a highl standard and moral society for her to live in, get married, have children, train them and also mold them to become the future leaders.”

For a woman who speaks so passionately about the development of women, many believe that under Buhari, the women and the youth would be given utmost priority.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Buhari who would be occupying the women wing of Aso Presidential Villa from May 29 was born into the family of Nigeria’s first minister of defence, Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu in Adamawa State.

She clocked 44 years at the peak of political campaigns in February, having been born on 17th February 1971.

She got married to General Buhari on 2nd December 1989.

A graduate of Public Administration from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Mrs. Buhari subsequently trained in beauty therapy and is an alumnus of the Carlton Institute of London and the Academy Esthetique Beauty, Institute of France, Dubai. Mrs Buhari is currently a graduate student of International Affairs and strategic planning.

A devout Moslem, she and her husband are blessed with five children.

18—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

•Agbaje

•Ambode

•Oba Akiolu

OBA AKIOLU’S THREAT:

Will APC’s apology save Ambode?

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

I

C M Y K

n order to calm frayed nerves, shortly after Oba Rilwan Akiolu’s alleged threat to the Igbo in Lagos, the All Progressives Congress, APC in the State apologised to Igbo in the state over the statement credited to the traditional ruler last Sunday. It is yet to be seen whether the Igbo will bury the hatchet and cast their votes according to their conscience before the alleged Oba’s threat or cast a protest vote against the ruling party in today’s election.

Akiolu allegedly threatened that Igbo would drown in Lagos Lagoon within seven days if they failed to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode in today’s election. Since then, outrage, anger and wide condemnation have been trailing the Oba’s statement. The Oba, hitherto, had been visibly partisan in the run-off to the election.

In spite of the palace clarification in a statement signed

by Opeluwa of Lagos, Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, saying that the Lagos monarch was misquoted and had no grouse with nonindigenes in the state and that he remained father of all Lagos residents, the party observed that the development may have a catastrophic impact on the chances of the ruling party. The Oba’s remarks when some Igbo residing in Lagos paid him a courtesy call has gone viral in the social media. A few days ago, the party had to tender apology to the teeming Igbo residents in the state, pleading for forgiveness.

In a statement issued recently by the Lagos State Publicity

Secretary of the APC, Joe Igbokwe, the party pleaded with the Igbo in the state to discountenance the statement by Akiolu. The statement reads in part: “The party apologise most sincerely to Ndigbo to bury the hatchet in the interest of peace and harmony, considering the long standing relationship that has existed between Igbo and Yoruba since the inception of Nigeria.

“No human being is above mistakes.

People can make mistakes and correct them thereafter. The Oba of Lagos can make a mistake and we believe that the statement credited to him was a mistake. If to err is human, we plead with Ndigbo to let the sleeping dog lie.

“After the March 28, 2015 presidential elections, Ndigbo in Lagos have been trooping into the Lagos APC fold in droves. They have pledged to throw their full weight behind the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

The support was total and unprecedented. You can, therefore, imagine how we feel as a party when this incident came just few days to the governorship elections. “Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos is not a card-carrying member of APC. He is not a leader in APC. He does not speak for APC. He did not speak for governor Fashola of Lagos State. He did not speak for our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He did not speak for the incoming governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode. His Royal Highness is at liberty to speak for himself and he spoke for himself only.”

However, the APC National leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also stated that the Oba was not a card carrying member of the party and therefore, he could not speak for the party. The Chairman of the party in the state, Otunba Henry Ajomale also said that the traditional ruler, though was misconstrued, whatever he said was absolutely a personal opinion.

“That was the Oba’s opinion and that does not necessarily represent my own opinion or that of my party. Don’t forget that he has the constitutional right as a Nigerian. But I think he is being misquoted and misconstrued. I am surprised the PDP is using it as a tool when the Oba is not a member of the APC.” “The Ndigbo should be calm as they have nothing to fear in Lagos. They should disregard the statement and go about their normal duties without fear as far as we are concerned. We have millions of Igbo who are APC members. They are our members and they have stake in the party. So, the opinion of Oba which I believe was misconstrued does not represent that of the party.”

Ajomale maintained that no party or state has set the stage for democracy to thrive by giving non-Yoruba residents and the Igbo the free-hand to participate in the electoral process than the state and APC. “So, the Igbo should have nothing to fear. This government will continue to accommodate all tribes.”

The youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has also threatened to hold the monarch responsible if anything happens to any Igbo or his or business in the event of an emergence of a governor against the choice of the monarch because according to the group, the threat constitutes a violation of their fundamental right to life. Also, the human-rights community frowns at discriminatory policies and ensures that victims of human rights abuse are defended and protected regardless of their ethnic identity.

It is feared that with the pent-up feelings of the Ndigbo, the permutations and calculation might change in favour of the People’s Democratic Party’ Candidate, PDP which has also seized the opportunity not only to condemn the Oba but has

It should also be noted that the residency right of every citizen is constitutionally guaranteed and so, the threat constitutes a violation of the fundamental right of thousands of citizens to life

also called for his suspension.

However, it is a fact that the Igbo, who constitute higher percentage of nonindigene in the state, have become the bride.

Undoubtedly, the Igbo who could be found anywhere in the state are about the most populated non-Yoruba group domiciled in the state. In areas like Amuwo Odofin, Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Ojo, Satellite, Oshodi, FESTAC-Towns, Aguda, Alaba, Kirikiri, Ajegunle to mention a few, have come to form a sizeable population resident in Lagos. In the last Presidential and National Assembly elections, two Igbos and one Uhrobo candidates won elections into the House of Representatives.

It should also be noted that the residency right of every citizen is constitutionally guaranteed and so, the threat constitutes a violation of the fundamental right of thousands of citizens to life.

In the case of Director-General of State Security Service v Olisa Agbakoba (1999) 3 N.W.L.R (PT 595) 314 it was held by the Supreme Court that “it is not in dispute that the Constitution gives every Nigerian citizen the right to move throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof. It also guarantees to the citizen the right not to be expelled from Nigeria nor be refused entry or exit therefrom.”

The APC can authoritatively claim to accommodate the Igbo in Lagos.

It is on record that an Igbo man is serving in Fashola’s cabinet as commissioner of finance. And Igbo is also the spokesman of APC in Lagos.

Although many still believe that the Oba’s vituperation is just a mere statement as he lacks the power to cause anyone to “die in the Lagoon within seven days”, the peace and stability that permeated the last election should not taken for granted. The mantra of change that the people envisage should be that of unity and continued support to one another.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—19

Fear rules

Rivers

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HARCOURT: Residents of Rivers state will today decide who becomes governor of the state for another four years.

Fear has gripped the electorate following killings and many cases of political violence.

It is so bad that many may not come out today to vote.

The All Progressive Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have traded blames over these killings. Rivers State, arguably, remains the most volatile in these elections. No state has been this notorious.

Governorship candidate of the APC, Dr Dakuku Peterside has alleged that over fifty members of the party were murdered in politically related circumstances.

It would be recalled that on Good Friday this year, barely ten days ago, a chieftain of the

APC, Chief Christopher Adube, his two children and three others were shot dead at his house in Obrikom community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government area. His son Henry Adube told news men that his father was murdered by unknown political assailants because he was a member of the APC. There have also been related cult killings in the state. No fewer than fifty persons have been shot dead in different parts of state within the last two months in the cult war which some residents believed was triggered by the political class in the state.

According to Fred Aham, a resident, politicians recruited cult groups to

harass and assassinate their political opponents.

Campaigns by the two major political parties witnessed ugly incidents. In Okrika, a rally of the APC was disrupted with heavy gunfire and explosives. A Policeman lost his life while four others sustained bullet injuries.

Governorship candidate of the APC, Dr Dakuku Peterside told the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, led

by Prof Chidi Odinakalu when he visited the state recently on a fact finding mission that over fifty members of his party had been killed under political related violence.

PDP has also been accusing the APC

Jonathan has paved the way for true democracy in Nigeria

BY ONOJA INNOCENT

M

r. Kingsley Muturu is the Delta State chairman, phase 2 of the Amnesty programme. . In this interview with Saturday Vanguard, he commends President Goodluck Jonathan’s display of statesmanship at the Presidential election. He also speaks on Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s emergence at the polls, ex militants’ position in the coming political dispensation and other issues.

Excerpts: What is your group’s take on the outcome of the presidential election conducted penultimate week?

Well, I commend President Goodluck Jonathan for keeping to his promise to ensure free, fair and credible elections in the country. He displayed statesmanship at the end of the election where he lost to his opponent. He has shown a good example for Nigerians to follow when he conceded victory and I believe Nigerians must have seen the great qualities embedded in a man like Jonathan. If Nigerians really want to practice true democracy, then we should imbibe President Jonathan’s example.

I want to use this medium to call on all phase 2 ex-militants to continue to maintain the prevailing peace in the Niger

•Peterside

•Wike

of allegedly killing its members and sponsoring acts of violence.

According to the party, the APC allegedly sponsored thugs to shoot at its governorship campaign rally in Degema local government area , killing a member of the party on the spot with several others sustaining injuries.

Governorship candidate of the PDP, Barr Wike also told the Human rights body that over fourty members of the party had been murdered for being members of the PDP. There is tension in the air as voters come out to exercise their franchise today. There is fear that there have been proliferation of illegal fire arms all over the state largely for this election.

The Rivers state government , security agencies and various party leaders have tried to douse this tension by urging voters to come out to vote.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Hosea Karma said adequate security arrangement had been put in place to guarantee security of lives and properties of all voters and residents of the state today and after the exercise.

He also got the two governorship candidates, Wike and.Dakuku to sign a fresh peace accord on Wednesday, promising to ensure their supporters were law abiding during and after the elections.

Vigilance is the word as Rivers people turn out for the guber and House of Assembly elections today.

...Niger Delta -ex-militant Leader

Muturu Exmilitant leader

Delta region. Nobody should break any pipeline because we only fight for a just course. We are peace-loving people and I advise all Niger Deltans to put the past behind them and forge ahead to bring the much needed development to the region. We should not deceive one another.

On the President-elect and his government, what do you have to say?

Gen. Buhari is the in-coming President being the winner at the poll. As I said earlier, we Niger Delta ex-agitators will continue to

maintain the peace as we agreed with the federal government for economic prosperity of the country. He should carry everybody along; he should not segregate any part of the country as Jonathan did in order to achieve his set agenda for the nation. If he really wants to achieve great feat, then he should be able to carry along even his opponents in governance to win the heart of the masses.

Again, Gen. Buhari should be able to execute the amnesty programme granted Niger Delta ex-agitators by the federal government to a successful conclusion. We congratulate him for his victory at the poll as President Jonathan did and we urge him not to segregate.

What is the present state of the amnesty programme?

The amnesty programme is in stages. I can tell you that we are progressing and I will like to use this medium to thank Kingsley Kuku for his efforts as chairman of the amnesty programme. He has been able

to handle the programme well, he is worthy of a good leader and we thank him very much. There is much peace in the Niger Delta as a result of the amnesty programme and we hope the in-coming government will implement the programme to a successful end.

Nobody should break any pipeline because we only fight for a just course

How would you describe the conduct of the Presidential/ National Assembly elections which was described as free and fair by observers?

As I said before, President Jonathan has prepared the ground for peaceful, free and fair elections to be held in future in this country.

There are reports of malpractices and anomalies but the ultimate aim of Jonathan was to ensure that the votes of the electorate counted at the poll. He has set the pace for the nation and we should emulate him.

We also commend his team for their unflinching support given him, and most especially the SouthEasterners for their unequalled support.

They have shown that they are trustworthy. We urge all parties to put the interest of nation first in all political activities and work to take the country to the next level.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

Those who failed us will be asked to step aside •Ahmed Gulak talks of a new PDP for 2019 elections •Hopes that President Jonathan will rebuild PDP •Alhaji Ahmed Gulak

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

I

mmediate past Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, is upset that his name was recently mentioned as one of those who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, APC, when in fact, he has never contemplated any such thing. In his interview, the Adamawa-born lawyer, insists that he remains an unrepentant PDP loyalist, willing to swim or sink with Goodluck Jonathan despite being unable to actualise his governorship ambition in his state.

Excerpts: There was news that you had defected to the APC last Wednesday following the defeat of President Jonathan at the polls. Why did you do that?

I have not defected to the APC and I will never defect to the party. PDP is my party, not only will I continue to remain in PDP but I will also serve PDP with all amount of commitment and loyalty.

In other words you don’t have any misgiving against the party despite your failed attempts to get the party’s governorship ticket to rule the state?

Well, I have no reason to do so because what happened can be considered as the challenges that a man must face in life. I tried in vain to get the ticket of my party to become the governor of Adamawa State. My party has now seen the reason why we have been telling them not to bring in strangers who do not know how the party was formed and sustained. Now they have seen the opportunists among us, now they have seen the saboteurs and destroyers among

us, who are already moving away from the party even before the dust is settled.

But why didn’t you point out these elements to the president when you were his political adviser?

I can say that I did my best to enlighten Mr. President diplomatically, politically that the people holding out as our friends are not really our friends but most of them have merely come to execute an evil agenda which was different from his agenda.

But if you look at the larger picture, you will see that the president is a human being too.

To me today, those of us who believed and trusted in his leadership see him as the hero of Nigeria’s democracy, not minding that he lost the election to Buhari.

Why? I am saying so because he gladly conceded defeat even in the face of glaring irregularity during the election. I want to say that Mr. President is a victim of the failure of the card reader machines deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission. It was really a shame and national embarrassment.

The election became anything but credible once INEC decided that card readers should be used along with manual accreditation.

You can see that under age voters were allowed to vote and massive thump printing and ballot stuffing became the order of the day in many places thereby leaving some questions marks on the integrity of the polls.

But in spite of these irregularities, the president accepted defeat and that is why he has emerged as the hero of democracy in Nigeria and Africa.

That is why I call on African leaders to emulate him.

These allegations you have made run contrary to international and local election observers who declared that the election was free and credible.

You see, what the observers said was that the outcome was not substantially affected by manipulations. But how many polling units did the observer see on the day of the election? Apart from the fact that they did not monitor elections in the North East, how many of the 150,000 polling units did they visit to see things for themselves? I am telling you that there were irregularities but all that is gone and the president has already conceded defeat. We have crossed that bridge and we wish the president-elect, Gen. Buhari success and good luck because we are sure that he will not be able to do more than a single term. The PDP will bounce back and take over power from him after four years. We are sure to rebuild the party and win back our position in 2019.

Why don’t you show your party for once that you are angry with all they have been doing to you over the years?

You see if you are angry while standing, you have to sit down and have a second thought, if you are angry while sitting, you have to lie down because any decision taken while you are angry may not give you the best. So, those who have hurriedly left the PDP, which they helped to build, because of anger must have taken a very bad decision.

For me, there have been challenges on my way but having sat down to think, I will sit down in the party with like minds and rebuild the party under the leadership of Goodluck Jonathan, our leader, and give the APC government a run for their money as an alternative and credible opposition.

Why do you think the PDP lost the election apart from a few things that happened on the Election Day? In the first place, the PDP did not

see the crisis they created in all the states of the federation. The party did not go into that election as a united entity as expected. In more than two thirds of the states of the country crisis arising from nominations could not be resolved before the main election. The party was therefore fragmented.

Across the country the nomination process was contrary to the party constitution. You could see that in some states, the candidates were imposed on the party and that alienated party faithful from the party and caused more division for the system.

As human beings, not many will take time to think. But we have now seen where the party went wrong and we will return to the drawing board with a view to winning in 2019. We are going to see who played what role in the current crisis and if need be we may ask those culpable to step aside and new hands will take over to rebuild confidence and enhance its winning power in the next election.

What is going to happen in the governorship election in Adamawa since you are not contesting?

Well, I think there would have been genuine reconciliation in the state for the candidate to win. But the candidate has not told me what he is doing and all I have to do is to call my supporters to go out and vote for the PDP even though I am not contesting.

Do you have any advice for President Jonathan?

The advice is to pray for him to do his best and hand over to the new government and come back and help revive the PDP so as to deepen Nigeria’s democracy. That is my only prayer for Mr. President.

What happens to your political future?

We are going back to the drawing board and we are sure to win the next election. We will not be sleeping but will work harder to take over power from the APC in the next election. That is our plan and it will certainly work.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, APRIL11, 2015—21

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Lest we forget when he made that famous phone call before the hawks in his government got to him. The result, to our relief, was that we were expecting a Laurent Gbagbo, we got an Al Gore. We were expecting war, we got peace. He had always said that his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian but very few of us believed him largely because of those he surrounded himself with.

Last week Tuesday, he proved it with just one phone call.

The following Wednesday, I was at squash with some of my friends and we got talking about the events of the previous day. The cynics believed Dr Jonathan had no choice;

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minent personalities from within and without have been effusive in their praise of President Jonathan since the remarkable concession that gave the electoral victory to General Buhari.

And so it should be. Very few men in history and fewer still from Africa, have conceded defeat even before the final count was announced. What makes it even more remarkable is that very few people saw it coming. If anything, what we expected was entirely different.

After all, you would not make a Fani Kayode your official spokesperson in an electoral contest if you were not spoiling for a fight, a dirty one. You would not encourage, or at best acquiesce to the belligerent campaigns and hate speeches that went out in your name if it didn’t suit your game plan. You would not militarise the elections in Ekiti and Osun States just to make Fayose and Omisore look good. Or turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the violence in Rivers State if the means were not to justify the end.

Everything about this election —from the six week extension, to the amount of settlement money poured into the system during the period— pointed to a man who was prepared to sit tight with the aid, where necessary, of the enormous powers at his disposal. After all, his lieutenants had prepared the ground and people’s minds by discrediting the system that was to usher in a new President while beating the drums of war and division.

And so it was that the whole world was expecting what it thought was the inevitable. Those who could, left the country. Those who could not afford the ticket stayed holed in their homes.

And yet two actions in four days changed everything and turned Dr Jonathan not only into a sportsman who accepts when the game is over even before the final whistle, but also a Statesman who puts his country before personal considerations. The first was on Saturday when he appealed for calm and patience when the card reader refused him. An angry word or an un-Presidential statement could have played into the hands of those who wanted to render the whole election inconclusive. The second was

grounds. And in any case, how many I asked, would make that call considering that General Buhari did not concede in 2011 when it was similarly obvious that large sections of the country did not want him. We should give credit when due and the credit for peace and the possibility of National healing belongs to President Jonathan at the moment.

It is easy however, to get caught up in the euphoria of it all and forget why that one phone call saved us from the brink of an implosion. This is the time to examine what led us to where we found ourselves before that phone call and resolve to make amends where possible. We must for starters, tighten

The result, to our relief, was that we were expecting a Laurent Gbagbo, we got an Al Gore

all he had to do was look at the map to see that he had lost the support of large chunks of the country. My response was that we always have choices but that our choices have consequences. He could have fought on to the bitter end using the courts and some corrupt judges to prove his case and he would have been within his rights. He could have declared the election inconclusive using underage voters, violence in some parts of the country and other malpractices as issues to buttress his decision and he probably would get away with it given his powers as the incumbent. Meanwhile, violence could have broken in parts of the country on ethnic, if not religious

For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed (Mal. 3:6). The only thing that is constant is God. This therefore means that all other things are subject to change. Thus, our condition is subject to change. Yes, that seemeth challenge is subject to change by the unchangeable changer. The bible says that we are not consumed or destroyed because God changeth not. If ever there is a being that you can trust to see you through any situation, it is God Himself. He cannot fail.

He is too faithful to fail. He is ever dependable, Reliable and cannot fail. The scriptures say He is not a man that can lie, neither is He the son of man that He should repent; has He said and shall He not make it good. You can count on Him more than In the midst of all these constant changes anything else. there is a God that cannot change but Money, friends, jobs, families, position and changes all situations. I believe that by this every other thing else shall fail you but He message your change is coming. Hebrews will never fail. So many that trusted in other 13:8, says “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, things to change them or their lives have and today, and forever”. The truth that Jesus suffered shipwreck. Some have gone from does not change provides a sure anchor for worse to worst. Someone may ask but why our faith. Therefore what He has done for is it so? The truth of it all is that none of one He can do for you. Whatever someone those things are unchangeable. Look all may have experienced in Christ can also be around you, things are constantly changing your portion. He is not a respecter of by the moment. Government is changing, persons. I pray that you encounter His policies are changing, naira exchange rate unchanging nature that will change all that is changing, fashion is changing, meals that concerns you. we eat are changing, medical equipments What is it that needs to be changed in your are changing, buildings, airplanes, you life? Is it medical, financial, spiritual or name it are all changing. Have you ever what? I announce to you that there is a God noticed that the seconds of the clock is ever that can change it. In Mark 5:25-34, there changing? It has never remained in the same is a case of a woman who has being suffering place longer than it is meant to be.

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. E-mail: 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.

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the electoral laws that will make it impossible to have the kind of hate and ethno-religious campaigns that dominated the campaign space. We must censor the Broadcasting stations that threw professional ethics into the winds and ignored the laws of libel and defamation by airing some adverts. We must acknowledge that the election was not free and fair in many parts of the country and make genuine plans to correct this. In fact, voting did not take place in some parts of the country.

And where it did, it was obvious from the votes declared, that the votes were grossly manipulated. Not putting an end to this is a recipe for violence in future. People must vote and their votes must count; and those who lose must see the contest as being free and

God will change it

C M Y K

from the issue of blood for twelve (12) years.

She had being to many doctors and many other places for solution but instead of getting any better she grew worse. All of her resources were wasted. But when she heard of Jesus, she said to herself, i f only I can but touch His clothes, I shall be whole. She went ahead and touched His clothes and she was made whole. The bible says “And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague”. Hear me, are you sick and the sickness is ravaging your whole life? Jesus is alive because of you and would heal you like He healed that woman of her plague”. He was the one that changed that woman’s condition and He can and will do the same for you if you ask Him. He cares for you and He is touched by the feelings of your infirmity.

He wants you totally whole.

Believe and trust Him and you would be amazed as to how He can change your life. Multitudes are testifying of how God has changed their lives. You too can join them in experiencing the Unchanging nature of God that changes all things.

fair. The situation that led to an Orubebe walking into the public space to disgrace himself and his party must be nipped in the bud. There is however not denying that he had a case which he handled most inappropriately. While we praise Prof Jega for his maturity and for staying calm under fire, we must acknowledge that he ran a flawed election due largely to administrative and cultural causes.

Finally, how did Dr Goodluck Jonathan who won a pan Nigerian mandate just four years ago end up sequestered in his regional enclave? I was one of those who despite being tired of PDP, voted for him. Those who, to quote my senior Dr Sobowale’s often derisive comment, ‘voted Jonathan and not PDP’. I wanted him to succeed; I willed him to succeed because I felt he had what Nigeria needed. He was young; he was educated; he was fresh and untainted; he was a Christian minority. Everything was there but the will and the strength of character. If he felt betrayed by the people, he must realise that he first betrayed them. He betrayed them when he forgot the circumstances of his ascension and pandered to the interests of a particular region. He betrayed them when he became elitist and increased the gap between the rich and the poor while poverty and unemployment raged. He betrayed them when he encouraged corruption and impunity at the expense of good governance. The ultimate betrayal was when he reneged on his promise to hand over in 2015.

This is a lesson for General Buhari on how a pan Nigerian goodwill can be squandered in a couple of years. In fairness the General has made the right noises in pledging to run an inclusive government. He will however have himself to blame if he allows himself to be captured by the Katsina mafia, the Kaduna mafia or indeed any mafia but the Nigerian mafia. The expectations are high. Nigerians expect him to be a benevolent version of the late Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore who was ruthless against corruption while promoting meritocracy and inclusiveness.

Let’s talk about the woman that was bowed with the spirit of infirmity for eighteen (18) years. She had gotten used to the condition that the devil placed her. When Jesus saw her, He said Satan has no right to keep her bound and commanded her loosed from the infirmity (Luke 13:10-13). Jesus changed her condition from bad to good. Again Jesus can set you free from every kind of bondage that the devil may have placed you. Turn your heart to God right now for He wants to give you a new glorious beginning by wiping away everything called sorrow in your life.

He is set to change you now.

Your change starts with you accepting Jesus as your Lord and savior.

Pray this simple prayer. Father, you said that whosoever shall call on the name of Jesus, shall be saved. I call on the name Jesus. Thank you for saving me and giving me the gift of eternal life. I praise you and give you all the glory.

For your praise report, prayer requests, testimonies and financial support, you can contact us through our contact details below.

God shall surely change your situation and make you to experience His realities.

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

“Omo Ibo go….go home. Omo…. Ibo go home. If you go home garri go cheap for lagos”.

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he pogrom was on in the north and Igbos were being hounded and slaughtered indiscriminately . Many of the Yoruba elite read opportunity into the disturbances.. And Lagos, home to many Igbos, convulsed with hatred for the Igbo. Prominent Lagos Igbos went into hiding and pondered their fate. Hunted like rabbits by death squads , they soon relinquished the idea of waiting out the storm in their holes and had to sneak out of Lagos in darkness. Ordinary Igbos , free to flee, had thronged the motor parks and taken the boos and jeers in their hurried steps.

Those who booed and jeered included not only excited and ignorant motor park touts but also shrewd covetous and perhaps envious civil servants and lecturers who had eyes on positions occupied by fleeing Igbos . A cocktail of sadism, opportunism and delirium.

The Igbos in Lagos and Yourba land were perhaps fortunate . The north , seized by their own sense of vengeance, was a literal killing field. Let’s leave the details to belong to our history.

Igbos may have fled Lagos in 1966-67 but their participation in Lagos politics had effectively ended in 1951. Nnamdi Azikiwe, otherwise a Lagosian, prevented by corrupted ethnic passions from becoming premier of the west , left for the east . And the implications and ramifications of that dislocation have impaired socio political cohesion in Nigeria till today.

So when Igbos fled home in 1966 any doubts about an ordinary law abiding Igbo Lagos resident having same political rights and status as the ‘indigene’ were settled. For Igbos then , Lagos was not , after all, home. You can live in Lagos but do not forget that you belong somewhere else and it wouldn’t matter if you have lived in Lagos or port Harcourt all your life. Once law and order break down, ‘settlers’ fret.

The civil war ended , Igbos with their 20 pounds, poured out of the villages and many returned to Lagos. And Lagos welcomed them. And before long , Igbos , by sheer industry, came to dominate street commerce in ‘Lagos and as their businesses flourished, their numbers grew. The Igbos’ preferred trade apprenticeship system meant that as Igbo entrepreneurs grew they brought in family and friends from the east as apprentices. And apprentices imbued with the “young shall grow” mentality soon became business owners and brought in more apprentices. So unsurprisingly Igbos would dominate whole trade lines likes the motor spare parts and electronics business and all dealings in imported goods. Naturally , they would dominate market complexes like ‘Alaba’, and ‘Aspamda’ and ‘Trade fair’ and ‘Balogun’. And that meant that they would dominate areas like Ajeromi Ifelodun, and Amuwo odofin and Oshodi isolo and Ojo , residential areas around major markets.

Preoccupied with commerce, wary of politics, mindful of the war and their residency status, Igbos helped build and develop Lagos but played only at the fringes politically. The ambitious trader aspired to be the president of the market union or the Eze ndi Igbo Lagos for vain glory but could not wrap his mind around being a member of the house of assembly and didn’t want to take political risks.

Igbo professionals didn’t get involved either And despite the pervasive high level of political consciousness of Lagos and despite the intensity of media coverage of Lagos and despite the claim to progressivism by the dominant party of Lagos , Igbos who constitute a significant ethnic minority were kept out of elective positions.

There is something glaringly anomalous about a system in which citizens can live all their lives in a city , raise children , pay taxes , have constitutionally protected rights to vote and be voted for but are somehow not expected to occupy elective positions.

For indigenes, politically ambitious “settlers” are ungrateful usurpers . And this is a national malaise .

Prevalent high degree of urban migration means that many have no other home towns besides where they reside. And how are they supposed to lead fulfilling lives if they can’t seek C M Y K

Ugoegbujo@gmail.com

Lagos politics : The return of the Igbo

elective offices?

Some are residents/ settlers and some are indigenes. Yet all are citizens.

And minorities everywhere have been similarly afflicted whether it be Muslims in Birmingham or Latinos in Florida or Igbos in Sabon Gari kano or the Arewa in Hausa quarters in Aba. Lagos has remained the most cosmopolitan city in Nigeria and the Yorubas have remained one of the most sophisticated and accommodating groups in Nigeria.

And nothing in this article discredits the Yorubas particularly. The culture of exclusivity in Lagos politics existed in spite of the fact that Lagos is the most accommodating of all cites in Nigeria to non indigenes. But since Lagos is the leading light in commerce , politics and tolerance, any attempt to cure this national affliction must start from Lagos. Besides morality, the stake of non indigenes in the state is proportionately too high to countenance their exclusion from effective representation in the governance of the state.

The AC/APC in a rather tokenistic appreciation of the electoral weight of the Igbos appointed an Igbo technocrat , to the Lagos cabinet . And such tokens must be appreciated.

However any thoughts that that gesture by Tinubu 10 years ago would lead to greater inclusiveness of the minorities in Lagos affairs has been conclusively disconfirmed by the failure of Lagos APC to allow Igbos represent communities where Igbos predominate. It’s even more absurd because we know that the APC has a way of drawing up lists of candidates.

The APC was rejected by Igbos in the last polls for less than objective reasons. That reflexive rejection borne of bigotry may have, however , yielded unintended positive collateral effects in Lagos.

The electoral prowess of the Igbos in Lagos has been confirmed beyond refutation. The APC lost comprehensively in Igbo dominated areas . Hitherto , many treated claims of Igbos’ electoral importance in Lagos as exaggerated . It is otherwise perhaps inexplicable that the politically astute Lagos AC/ APC, that has a reputation for foresightedness and inclusiveness, perennially failed to attach adequate importance to the touted numerical strength and wealth of the Igbos and allocated no tickets to Igbos in Lagos. How did they cede this glory to the PDP? While Azikiwe’s ambition to lead the Western region may be seen as grotesque in today’s Nigeria because he , an Igbo, sought to lead

the Yoruba nation. Any ambition by a qualified Igbo woman to pick up APC ticket and represent Amuwo Odofin cannot be an outsized ambition because she seeks to represent a political space in which she is by no means an interloping minority. The idea that those who are in majority in the state or who are indigenes must decide for inhabitants who would rule over every street and ward is not only undemocratic but immoral. Let’s face it , you can’t sell Amuwo Odofin to Igbos, collect billions for those rural lands, have marsh lands transformed to magnificent estates and yet seek to preclude them from representing Amuwo Odofin in the local and federal assemblies.

The sentiment that settlers should not dominate indigenes may not be totally irrational. From Florida to Birmingham , from Paris to Jos north, settlers /indigenes dichotomy has led to social unrest. It is however more plausible to countenance the partial cultural exclusion of minority populations than to condone an attempt to preclude a population from freely choosing their representatives especially if that means settlers taking up elective positions in small localities where they constitute a relative majority. It should be a democratic given.

There is therefore no feasible democratic argument to explain a Lagos house of assembly without Igbos or minorities. While one may sympathize with the Yorubas when , with perhaps innocently felt moral indignation , they ask , rhetorically , if a Yoruba can be a member of Abia house of assembly? Abia state has not even cared to have an Imo commissioner.

The present governor , T . A Orji sacked civil servants of Imo state origin when he assumed office.

Internecine squabbles in the east have meant that Igbos cannot have successful government careers in states other than their home states.

Let’s not even discuss Rivers state.

Lagos has an Igbo commissioner but Rivers cannot even contemplate that despite the population of Igbos in Port Harcourt. The civil war left many ugly legacies. But since Gov Amaechi has publicly , during the campaigns, claimed he is Igbo, we hope that some pre civil war brotherliness would one day return. South East Igbos are by no means any less guilty.

It is sad that Igbos fighting for political Justice in Lagos haven’t established such standards of justice in the east amongst themselves. The general political environment in the east and everywhere else in Nigeria is hostile to political representation by non indigenes. And I must concede that

Igbos may have fled Lagos in 1966-67 but their participation in Lagos politics had effectively ended in 1951.

Nnamdi Azikiwe, otherwise a Lagosian, prevented by corrupted ethnic passions from becoming premier of the west , left for the east

Lagos and the political tendency that constitutes the south west APC is being held to higher moral standards. Lagos sets the pace, if Lagos initiates the practice it would have a great national normative force. The reality many argue is that Nigeria isn’t sufficiently politically mature and sophisticated to tolerate such representation by non indigenes as the polity is rife with inter ethnic and regional rivalry .

And that our sense of nationhood is subservient to ethnic allegiance and other parochial identities. Others condemn emphasis on ethnic politics. When freedom and sufficient cohesion are achieved ethnic cleavages will disappear.

Ohaneze and Arewa forum and Afenifere if conscientiously run will benefit the nation building.

An inescapable reality is that when a minority group legally settles in a locality and achieves significant numbers they cannot be ignored and must be allowed full political participation in the overall interest of the society. This is the right moral and democratic position. Whether it is in Jos north or Sabon Gari Kano, every human being must be treated with equal moral concern and should be accorded human dignity. The irreducible minimum is to allow full active political participation.

It’s all the more imperative now , in this age, when many no longer have “ancestral homes” and belong wherever they legally reside.

This piece had been written before the sickening pronouncements made by the Oba of Lagos went public. He exuded scorn, contempt and hate. Igbos should forgive the Oba or ignore him. But he should not be spared collective opprobrium and sanctions so that others similarly afflicted are deterred. Igbos do not owe their continued stay in Lagos to anyone’s magnanimity.

Igbos like other groups, must with clear headed , reflective sobriety, pragmatically organize themselves politically to make their numbers and wealth and versatility count, protect their interests, promote local and national unity , and help enthrone good governance and excellence in Lagos. And every where else. All who are possessed by bigotry and conceit will in time come to reason. Igbos have been back to Lagos politics but they announced their return on March 28. For many Igbos now, Lagos must be home.

Eko o ni baje o!

SA TURD AY Vanguard , APRIL11, 2015—23 SATURD TURDA

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he wild joy over the double triumph of General Muhammadu’s election victory and President Goodluck Jonathan’s superlative gesture of statesmanship portends violent-free polls across the board. However, there appears to be a hiccup that may not be entirely ignored. It had been feared that Lagos, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom States were among the areas where violence could flare up during these elections, and the general calm that saw the end of the presidential election had not entirely dismissed those fears.

Ibo man had won a They have now been seat in either the stoked afresh in Lagos House of by the inflammatory Representative from statements of His the State, which has Highness Oba Akiolu, now been done in the traditional ruler of the recent elections, the city of Lagos. Of or in the State House course, the State has of Assembly, which other natural rulers, may now be done. It each with his own was in evidence of domain. However, the the time-honoured Lagos Oba has always association of the enjoyed the eminence of Easterners with “the first among the Lagos State. Most of equals” in the hierarchy them at the earliest of the State’s traditional stages, at about the rulers. And rightly so, end of the Second being historically World War, took on recognized as the menial jobs and oldest. were viewed with a All the same, the distinctive lack of pedestal on which he respect, but they stood to make the most clawed their way out embarrassing statement of the mire of ever made by a Lagos disregard to be Oba had been removed accepted on equal and has no longer been terms by dint of in existence for more purposeful effort in than one-and-halflearning and centuries. The business. statement, which has So many of them, if gone viral and so not all of them have developed other aspects become almost to it, was an seamlessly imprecation on Ibo integrated within the residents in Lagos who Yoruba community of would not vote for the Lagos by their governorship candidate lifestyles which of the All Progressives’ epitomize openness Congress, Akinwunmi and genuine

*F or m ther *For myy Ibo bro brother therss

It was so uncalled-for in this day and age and, definitely, not from a well-educated man brought up in evidently the most sophisticated environment in the country

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Anbode, in today’s elections. Oba Akiolu put a curse on them of a disastrous end in a matter of seven days.

Pure primitive stuff, but as infuriating as somewhat frightening a way; after all, these traditional rulers are accounted not to be without some numinous powers acquired from ancient times.

But, more seriously, the deluge of angst arose from the sheer preposterousness of the curse. It was so uncalled-for in this day and age and, definitely, not from a welleducated man brought up in evidently the most sophisticated environment in the country. Lagos State has an Ibo man in its cabinet, even when no C M Y K

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friendliness. Their spirit of enterprise has created a niche for them in the world of vibrant entrepreneurship, and recorded an enduring sterling contribution to the improvement of their environment establishment in Lagos.

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hese were some of the considerations of Nnamdi Azikiwe, then of the West African Pilot newspaper, when he attempted to cure his people of some of their complexes in an address to the Ibo State Union which he titled, “Self-determination for the Ibo Nation” in the early 40s. Zik saw a feeling of inferiority in those days and was determined to jar up the true spirit that seemed to be cowed by

clear when the President visited him in his IjebuOde Palace. He welcomed his august visitor but would not allow himself to be beguiled into forgetting his position as the father of all, and that was all the President got from him.

But we were referring to the stirring events of a century and a half ago, affecting the Lagos throne. Prince Kosoko, who was deprived of his rightful accession to the throne in favour of Akintoye, had attacked the Lagos community with his slave-trading hordes and driven the usurper away from the throne. He then took over Lagos — and turned it into a centre of high slave-trade emporium. But Akitoye received support from the British government which, on the pretext of its hatred for the slave trade, attacked Lagos, defeated Kosoko and restored Akitoye to the throne.

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•Oba Akiolu a dazzling and unusual surrounding, yet full of opportunities from which they could benefit. History has justified his position though he totally identified with the surrounding himself, to the extent that he gave some of his children Yoruba names. Now some of the streets in Lagos, a Yoruba city, are bearing Ibo names. And very well so. The first Deputy Mayor of Lagos was an Ibo man, the late Mbonu Ojike of the Week-end Catechism fame. That was the column he wrote on Saturdays for the Pilot. He was so much loved that he was given a Yoruba nickname, “Duduyemi”. Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, the wealthy transporter of his day, raised his children, notably the Ikemba one of whose childhood friends was Bolaji Fashola (uncle of the Governor), in an absolutely Yoruba environment. This is not

an isolated case. The intermingling has been going on for decades, especially in the Lagos metropolis. When Akinwunmi Ambode` was elected the governorship candidate, Oba Akiolu surprised many people when he came out in open support of the former Lagos State AccountantGeneral. Although some natural rulers in Yorubaland had been known to associate with political parties in the past, this really came into vogue when the House of Chiefs was an arm of government in the era of regional administrations. But the Obas had since then resumed their proper role as fathers of the people, all the people, in their domains.

The Awujale of Ijebuland, His Royal Highness Adetona, respectfully made this

rince Docemo who succeeded Akitoye his father, however felt uncomfortable with Kosoko breathing down his neck from Lekki Island to which he had been banished. He therefore subsequently signed a treaty by which he ceded Lagos to the British crown. The immediate effect was that the Oba of Lagos ceased to be the “owner ” of Lagos in the traditional manner in which all Yoruba obas are the lords and masters of their lands. We should not go too far. Suffice it to say that Oba Akiolu went overboard in his political identification with a governorship candidate that he even stated that he is the owner of Lagos.

His unguarded statement has probably more than slightly dented the fortunes of the APC governorship candidate for Lagos State who has had to recalibrate some areas of his campaign text. It has freed the cowed brassy voice of people like Fani-Kayode who have piped softly since March 28. It had given a lift to the low situation of Onoh (Junior) who now sees this as an opportunity to make a point in national discuss.

Time out.

24—SATURDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

My ideal man is somewhere looking for me —Stevelucy •Says, “I am waiting patiently for him” hinwendu Onwuka, aka C Stevelucy, may not yet be the household name in the

music industry, but she is definitely working herself to the top as a gospel singer. With the release of her first album, “It’s up to you” which will hit the market soon, the beautiful songstress may have an ace up her sleeve. In this interview, she talks about her journey into the music industry and other things that define her style.

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ell us about yourself My name is Chinwendu Onwuka. My stage name is Stevelucy. I’m fromAnambra State and I’m the second child in a family of eight. I’m an upcoming artist and script writer. I have an OND. Due to some health challenges, I couldn’t go further to the university. But I am grateful to God for keeping me alive and I’m much better now. I plan to go back to school later on.

How did you get into the Nigerian music industry?

I have always been a music lover.

During my adolescence, there were certain people who made me develop the passion for music. The likes of Beyonce, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion fired my passion. Listening to them express their emotions through music keeps me alive. You may not have met an artiste but there is this feeling of knowing them merely because you relate so well with what they say in their songs. To me, music is one of the most amazing and exciting things that has ever happened to me. I enjoy music a lot and I’m a gospel artiste.

Do you have any album yet?

Yes. I have an album titled “It’s

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up to you.” I recorded it in 2012.

It has eight tracks and the one that appeals to me most is “My number one”. This is because God has been so good to me. I have passed through a lot since my birth, but thanks to him, I’m still standing on my feet today.

How was your growing up like?

I was brought up in a fairly strict environment where there were rules, respect and work. I grew up with my siblings. We had fun and we understood ourselves. We were pushed to understand the value of family and hard work.

Has your family been supportive of your music career?

Yes, they’ve been so supportive of my career. Their moral support keeps me going.

They are excited and proud of me.

What have been your challenges so far?

For me, challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. The truth is that there will definitely be obstacles when you are about starting any business. That is exactly what being a musician is, it wasn’t an easy road. To get a sponsor and a good promoter was a very big challenge for me. But I spend more time looking at my goals than looking at the obstacles and that is what has kept me going.

What makes you different from every other gospel artiste?

My good music and my uniqueness as an individual.

Everyone is unique, but we often believe that the only way we can be successful is to be like someone else. Although it’s useful to see what other people

•Stevelucy do and look at things that work for them but at the end of the day, you have to be yourself. For me, my uniqueness is also my voice and my kind of music. As long as it has good lyrics and nice beat, that is enough to make me stand out.

What is your fashion philosophy like?

Knowing how to dress is the key to looking great notwithstanding your body structure. I don’t wear anything I see. Because of my physique, I choose carefully what I wear. If it is not comfortable, then there is no way I will ever wear it. I prefer simple classic dresses that make me sexy and beautiful.

Are you in any relationship?

No, I’m single but I’m not searching. Whoever will be the love of my life will be the one to search for me and I’m waiting

patiently for him.

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By ANOZIE EGOLE

Knowing how to dress is the key to looking great notwithstanding your body structure.

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What type of man suits your personality?

My ideal man is one who is honest in his relationship with a woman, intelligent, caring, fashionable, humorous and God fearing.

Who is your role model?

A lot of them, but Beyonce and P’square fascinate me a lot. Their dance steps and their music move me. I admire their consistency.

Your advice to youths?

To acquire skills and create their own businesses. As it is now, waiting for the government to provide jobs for the youth is a waste of time. If you have a good talent, spend more time looking at your goals than looking at your obstacles. Focus on what is possible and make it your reality.

11 2015 — 25 SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11,

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HICH heavy metal band was accused of inducing a number of suicides by inserting subliminal messages into their music?

On December 23, 1985, in Sparks, Nevada, Raymond Belknap, 18, and James Vance, 20, ended a night of drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana by driving to a playground next to a church and shooting themselves with a double-barrelled shotgun.

Belknap died at the scene, Vance maimed himself but survived for another three years before dying.

Five years later, their families filed a lawsuit alleging they were driven to their desperate act by subliminal messages – alleged to include the phrases ‘let’s be dead’ and ‘do it’ – hidden in the song Better

By You, Better Than Me, from the album Stained Glass by Birmingham heavy metal band Judas Priest. (In America, the album was retitled Hell Bent For Leather).

Two teenagers decide to die after listening to rock music

*Judge dismisses case against musicians

The legal protection of lyrics as free speech had already been tested in court (in a case about the Ozzy Osbourne song Suicide Solution), but the Judas Priest case proceeded because of a legal twist: that socalled ‘subliminals’ do not constitute

actual speech and are therefore not protected by the First Amendment.

Some of the band were summoned to court – singer Rob Halford was asked to perform the song to the court a capella in public. After a month-long trial, the judge determined that there were

Wiz Khalifa will always be the love of my life, cries Amber Rose A

merican hip hop model Amber Rose, still has love for Wiz Khalifa as the screen diva recently took to Instagram to pen a heartfelt letter to her ex-husband, who she named her “Man Crush Every day.”

According to her, she hopes that they get back together as she says Wiz remains the love of her life despite their separation.

“We went wrong somewhere and even if we never ever get back together , even though I pray, dream and hope we do he will forever be the love of my life,” reveals Amber.

She admits that she is unhappy without him and that he will always have her heart. “I’m sick of putting on a front like I’m happy without him. I’m not.

He makes me happy. He’s the only one who can.”

Recall that the couple, who has a two-year-old son named Sebastian together, wedded in July 2013. Amber filed for divorce from the rapper in September amidst rumors of infidelity.

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subliminals on the album, but they were discernible only after their location had been identified and only after the sounds were isolated and amplified. They could not be discerned by the ordinary listener.

What mattered most in the judge’s view, however, was the question of

whether subliminal messages could be used to make someone kill themselves. Judge Whitehead said: ‘The scientific research does not establish that subliminal stimuli, even if perceived, may precipitate conduct of this magnitude.’ The case was dismissed.

Artists who have also been accused of putting subliminals in their songs include The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Electric Light Orchestra, Queen, The Eagles, Rolling Stones AC/ DC, Jefferson Starship, Eminem and even Britney Spears.

A section of Led Zeppelin’s Stairway To Heaven played backwards purportedly results in words beginning: ‘Here’ to my sweet Satan.’ Led Zeppelin issued a

statement to the contrary: ‘Our turntables only play in one direction – forwards.’

Another alleged message – ‘It’s fun to smoke marijuana’ – from Queen’s song Another One Bites The Dust, is similarly disclaimed by the band.

Culled from Daily Mail

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Amy Winehouse remembered

early four years since her tragic death, the legacy of Amy Winehouse lives on in a new documentary entitled “Amy”.

The film, directed by Senna filmmaker Asif Kapadia and produced by Exit Through the Gift Shop‘s James Gay-Rees, is set to premiere in the U.K. on July 3.

Amy incorporates previously unheard recordings, archival footage, and personal home movies of the British singer, who •Amber Rose died of accidental and Wiz kalifa alcohol poisoning at the age of 27.

The first trailer, which premiered via Rolling Stone, shows Winehouse’s rise from a budding star to a global sensation.

Amy Winehouse

26 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

With FLORENCE AMAGIYA 08061644307 email: daise4000@yahoo.com

Sir Kensington Adebutu:

The brain behind “Baba Ijebu” was also a benefactor. Sir Kensington, still a young man at heart in 2013, celebrated the birth of his twin children by his fifth wife in London. In this edition, I present to you, the owner of Baba Ijebu, a father, a husband, a philanthropist.

Read on...

Sir Kessington Adebutu was born October 24th 1935.

He attended Wesley Methodist Primary School, Epe Royal in 1948. Chief Kessington was in standard 4 when his family moved to Lagos.

In Lagos he completed his Primary education at Ijero Baptist School, Apapa.

He proceeded to the famous Baptist Academy in 1951, but completed it at Remo Secondary School, Sagamu in 1955.

Sir Kensington Adebutu started his career with NITEL, formerly known as ‘’Cable and Wireless.” While working there, he was privileged to met a lot of wealthy people because in those days, one could not receive an international call in the comfort of his home except when one comes over to NITEL and of course, an average man has no business making international calls. Only the very rich could afford it. So

Sir Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu

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he chairman of Premier Lotto Limited, Chief K e n s i n g t o n Adebukonla Adebutu, may not be popular in person, but his product popularly known as “Baba Ijebu” has elevated and rescued a lot of poor Nigerians. Baba Ijebu wasn’t born with a silver spoon but by the grace of God, continuous persistence and hard work, he has made a lot of difference both in his life C M Y K

and lives of many Nigerians.

Premier Lotto Limited, also known as “Baba Ijebu,” is a gaming Company which was incorporated in 2001. It was established to carry out the Lotto business in Nigeria. Sir Kensington, the owner, has arguably helped a lot of young men and women, even the very old from penury. Last year, in his 79th birthday celebration, his foundation provided lots of gifts items for the less privileged in the society. Lagos State University

Sir Kensington and his wife

that single fact exposed him to people of timber and calibre including expatriates.

It was at this juncture that he found an opening and decided to go into salesmanship with the team that introduced ‘’Caffeinol” to the Nigerian market. Caffenol, a painkilling drug surprisingly and with aggressive marketing became a strong brand and was also bought over by many Nigerians. Not too long after that, sir Kensington became the sales manager of the compnay for Lagos state and all western states in Nigeria.

He trained many expatriates who later joined their Lagos office, but most of them became his superior because of qualification and skin colour.

It got to a point where he got tired of training people and watching those same people being promoted while he stagnated. He left the job without looking back after reading it in a book that "no matter what job you do, there would surely come an expiring date for it.” So he walked away without a dime to his name or capital to start another business. He decided to be a pool agent and all he needed was a pen, paper and a desk for customers to fill the coupon.

CHALLENGES

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he Lotto business has a lot of risks and

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015 — 27

Sir Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu receiving a special 79th birthday card from members of the Nigerian Labour Congress HRH Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos; Gov. Raji Fashola and Sir Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu

LASU RADIO: Department of Mass Communication, Lagos State University HRH Oba Babatunde Ogunkoya Aladeshonyin, installing Sir Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu as Baba Oba of Odod Noforija, Epe, Lagos State.

his foundation would be here even when he is no more.

ADVISE TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION

Sir Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu Civic Centre challenges because at that time it was dominated by foreigners, especially the Lebanese. Although it was a very popular game mostly played by illiterates at that time, today, even graduates are in the game to win bigger and better. One thing stood young Kensington Adebutu out: the manner he conducted himself when it comes to honesty unlike some other agents who were dishonest and unfriendly with their clients. Sir Kensington earned respect amongst his colleagues and clients because he would keep records and all other stuff. At this time, he was doing the business with his late friend Solomon Adebayo Ayokun. But at one point, the pooling Agency became a problem. It got rampant and everybody wanted to jump into it.

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INSPIRATION

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he push he got came naturally as he was making money and putting a lot of smiles on people’s faces.

To him, giving up is not an option. With the leverage and empowerment, he was able to diversify into other avenues.

FOUNDATIONS

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e has a foundation that specialize in helping the needy. Through the foundation he has affected so many lives. He has erected apartment structures and properties for some universities and for those who are in need. He believes that

His main advice to the younger generations is that they should ‘’learn to crawl before they walk.” He believes that nothing good comes easy without hard work. These days, the youths are over ambitious, they just want to become rich without having to lift a finger, but the law of nature would never permit that. Work hard, work smart, be humble and leave the rest to God Almighty.

HOBBIES

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ir Kensington made his money from pools. So he loves football. In fact, he generally enjoys gaming which gave birth to the lotto game.

One of his fleet of cars

28 — SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

G

ood girls gone bad is the third studio album of Rihanna and it aptly captures the focus of this piece. Once upon a time, the Nigerian entertainment scene had an array of good girls who wouldn’t hurt a fly, divas who tread on the path of caution and do whatever it takes to be in the good books of the media.

Today, the story has changed. In no particular order, we bring to you daring divas in Nigerian entertainment who typifies the phrase ‘Good girls gone bad.’

Kehinde Ajose

Maheeda: From born again christian to sex freak

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ven though she seems to operate on a low key these days, Caroline Sam in 2013 told anyone who cared to listen that she had given her life to Christ. She even released a gospel theme song titled Superman. Fast forward to 2015, Maheeda has become more popular for her nude pictures and videos than for her music.

When asked the longest period she has had sex, she said:” The longest time I have had sex should be when I did it all through the night, from evening to the next morning”. The Holland based singer doesn’t see anything wrong about sex in whatever form. These days, it is harder to find her pictures on the Internet with her clothes on than otherwise.

Tiwa Savage

Tiwa Savage: Super talented girl turned super sensual per perfformer

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hen she stepped into the Nigerian music scene with Kelekele love, it was just an ordinary entrance until the song recorded massive hits. Since then, sexy Tiwa has continued to redefine what it means to be a female artiste. She clinched countless awards even before releasing an album. It initially looked like Tiwa was out to maintain her good girl outlook. But suddenly,the beat changed and she became daring in her performances and video shoots. Her much talked about video Wanted got a lot of jabs and backlash for the sexual content and she was called Nigeria’s Lady Gaga. Another unforgettable performance was the one she had with Patoranking at the 2014 edition of The Headies. Tiwa gave Patoranking a sensual dance that caused a lot of stirs.

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Maheeda

Dencia: Gives bleaching a new name

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escribed as a blend of Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga, Dencia is a Cameroonian-Nigerian and entrepreneur popular for her controversial skin lightening product Whitenicious. Initially, her goal was on making a name for herself in the music scene, but that was before she created Whitencious. Controversy brewed when Mexican –Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o referred to it in her speech at Essence Annual Black Women in Hollywood Awards. Lupita told the story of a young girl who was about to

buy Dencia’s Whitenicious but changed her mind when she appeared on the world map. Dencia defended her brand saying her product was misrepresented, and that Whitenicious’ purpose is for dark spot removal. She also threw a jab at Lupita when the actress signed a deal with Lancome. She said Lupita’s actions were hypocritical ,that Lancome sells bleaching cream.

Dencia is also known for showing off her raunchy pictures on her social media platforms.

Dencia

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015 —29

Waje: From a c girl to woman onhurch fire aje is definit W songstress; sheleyalnsoot hjuasst a talented co m p

s e e WAJE

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li m en t curves groomed her h er m el o d io u s vo ca ls . that Archbishop singing talent at the S h e G o d m is si o nBenson Idahosa’s ChurcLate platform she In t’ l. T h e ch u rc h w a s h of for music. Fasrode on to hone her pas th e only living h t forward to 2015, Waje ission er dreams, bu n us how hot an t also showinot d g d ar in g she is. She p half nude in and it immed the video of her song I osed a n in te rv ie wiately generated criticismwish behind her ac sh e ex p la in ed th e re s. In is a la n g u a tion. “It’s a form of art. Ma so n expression ang e w h ic h in v o lv e s a lousic properly, you d to be able to express you t o f viewers to unhave to paint a picture for rself o f a vu ln e ra derstand. I Wish is the your picture I wan b le w o m a n w h ic h w a sstory broken, help ted to paint; a woman h th e eartto d ra w a ttless and vulnerable. I wan e n ti o n to heartbroken th e p li g h ted as I could to nwomen. I wanted to be as t o f close nude scenes.”ature for that video hence the O n ly re c e n tl y, sh e magazine shoo h t which got eva d a ra u n ch y The magazin eryone talkin e’ g.

Woman on Fir s cover story is tagged A the reason fo e. When asked by our rep “I don’t wishr the magazine shoot, she orter out. “ I did a to comment on that” she said: near being nmagazine cover, it was no spat ude. It was ju w st gym shoots ay ”.

irl g m o r F : y a h S i Sey ess r t c u d e s o t r o o d next into the i Shay broke g Irawo. ey S at th s ew n on s so ILittintlisdeundstidrywwe itkhnowherthTmathelethNoderigioe’erusialontbomrnorearfrtiomste

senal. c genre her musical ar nform to a particular musibut can r co ’t oo who doesn looks like a girl next d tra mile is a diva who en it comes to going the ex where zy h ra w video, C be daring ene has er fans. In her to entertain h ed with Wizkid, a brief sche scene at T . or ’s crotch she collab bbing Wizkid eo. Also Seyi Shay gra the 2:15 mark of the vid ere Seyi h in w took place video, there is a scene e st a r in that same e se e n g ri n d in g o n thiticized b cr n ly as heavi S h a y ca e Meet ecently,she w boy,Wizkid. R of the outfit she wore to thmonth. st ce la oi ing held for the ch I am a youth gather the Presidentto the backlash, she said:” not in as g w I in dy and Respond t with ble young la very respectang to seduce the Presiden event, e yi th r tr outfits fo any way o tw ad h was I er e. h the outfit I wory performance and the otpictured m r as w fo dress I one was during erformed. The worn after I p resident was what I woregreeted P d e an stage in with th d I did ce. I came on my performan rding to their culture anpressed co im ac e as t. He w everyon how to Mr. Presiden the same for where and how I knewlearnt it. ed I k id as and I sa and he sident, ative dialect greet in his n trying to seduce the preawards? ’t O n el as Chann If she w ca u g h t er dress to the what about h ll o w en te rt a in er s w er e through fe ese er eyi’s E ve n h derment at S gaping in won lacy outfit.

Seyi Shay

Chidinma Ekile: From Mummy’s girl to bedroom poster girl lot of people will be surprised that Chidinma made A this list. It’s due to her new daring outlook. After her Jankolikoko video, she experienced a metamorphosis which

Cynthia Morgan

Cynthia Morgan: Making controversies her second nature

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ndoubtedly, Cynthia Ikponmwewosa Morgan has become one of the most talked about divas in the Nigerian music industry. Even though she has a Christian background, Miss Morgan’s rise hasn’t been devoid of controversies. First off, she released a number of pictures at the prime of her career and was said to be making use of Whitenicious,which she denied vehemently. In her words: “I grew up and I am lighter. People don’t look the way they looked five-six years ago. If you still look like that, then you have a problem and that could mean you are not growing. It’s either you are fatter, slimmer, lighter or darker or have a pot belly. People grow”.In addition, a picture of her and Dammy Krane went viral which generated another controversy. In the picture, Dammy can be seen resting on her ample bust. She denied dating him, saying they are just good friends. Also worthy of note is the Twitter brawl she had with Queen Ure over the ownership of the song Popori C M Y K

improved her visual appeal but affected her public image.

She dyed her hair red and got a Mohawk, making people perceive her as a good girl gone bad. In 2013, a sex tape of her look-alike went viral like wildfire,many thought she was the one in the video, considering the striking resemblance. In her words: “I woke up one morning and I was greeted on the internet with ‘Chidinma and sex tape’.I was worried primarily Chidinma because of my mother. I didn’t let her see the video but I had to show her the photos.

I didn’t want to go out that day. I couldn’t go out. But my mum felt otherwise. She told me to ignore the mischief makers. I almost took some actions but I thought against it. I met Sound Sultan on a set. He told me, ‘Babe, you are now a star. I welcome you officially into the industry.’ It trended for three days. Even people who didn’t know me got to know me. My fan base grew. And then, I was happy because more than 90 per cent of the public didn’t believe I was the one in that video”.She was described by her manager as “a balloon on top of lots of needles” as a result of the scandals she has been involved in. Flavour’s latest video Ololufe dropped recently and there was a lot of reaction to the fact that he shared a kiss with her in the video. A lot of people concluded that the two are in a romantic relationship. She also denied that claim.

In her words,: “Flavour is just a friend and colleague, no strings attached. The kissing thing was just acting.

I am an actress and I can do anything to make my music more colourful. However, that was my first time doing that, but it really means nothing to me because we don’t have strong feelings for each other be-yond music. What you guys saw was just acting.”

30—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

Muma Gee’s love story:

‘I went through purification before marrying my husband’

•Says she’s not a tr oublesome ent er troublesome enter erttainer

•Muma Gee, Prince Eke and children

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inger cum actress, Gift Uwame, a.k.a Muma Gee, who got married to star-actor, Prince Oluebube Eke, shortly after participating in that groundbreaking Celebrity edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search won by Emeka Ike in 2011, has taken a swipe at her love story, revealing that she went through a purification stage before she finally married her husband.

In a recent chat with HVP on her marriage life, the Rivers State-born singer confessed that there was no man in her life at the time she met her husband, even though she had friends then. "I stopped keeping friends the moment I got born again. I went through a purification stage at a time and that was months after he came into my life,”she reminisced.

Asked if she was surprised getting married to a Nollywood actor, Muma Gee replied: “ I was not surprised because I prayed over it and God opened my eyes to see things myself. I asked God to show me signs and those signs came to pass.”

Speaking further, Muma Gee, whose marriage was blessed with twins, Caesar and Cleopatra few years ago, also revealed that she did observe courtship with her husband, because “I don’t believe that what will be will linger for too long before coming into fruition.”

How did she meet her husband, you may want to ask?

“After the Celebrity edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search, Emeka Ike, who was my best friend during the reality show, was doing a child dedication. I did not know that my husband was one of his best friends that attended the dedication. We met inside the church. Emeka introduced us to each other, and that was how our love story started.

Thereafter, my husband

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first place. The love that existed between me and my husband has been that kind of love that grew with time. For me, it was a divine calling to be with him as a wife.

Describing marriage as a wonderful experience, Muma Gee said she’s still learning the ropes.“ I hear everyday that marriage is an institution that one never ever graduate. So, I am still learning, It has not been easy, yet it has always been easy and enjoyable too. There are moments when you want to do certain things but you can’t because you are a married woman.”

According to the singer•Muma Gee turned-politician, she was attracted to her Prince Eke because of his intellect. “When he opens his mouth to speak, you have no choice but to listen proposed to me the same day I to him. He sounds like a wise met him. He knelt down to man, and his native intelligence propose to me. Though the ring came much later. But since then, I attracted me to him. I inquired have remained his faithful wife. I about his educational background and he told me that wouldn’t say it was love at first sight because there no love in the he had a masters in psychology.”

Talking about her controversial nature, Muma Gee thundered, “I have always been like that, in the sense that people hardly know the homely part of me. Until I participated in that Celebrity edition of the Gulder Ultimate Search, people never knew that I am domestically good. I allowed people to continue to hold different opinions about me. You can’t go about knocking on people’s doors just because you want to correct an impression people have about you. They are seeing another side of me.

But you see, I can’t learn a new trick now. I am matured enough and I have never been a troublesome entertainer.”

On divorce, Muma Gee said

I don’t believe that what will be will linger for too long before coming into fruition

she doesn’t believe in it, adding, “ This is because my mother never divorced my father even though he left us too soon. But there are cases that can lead to divorce.”

I wouldn’t say he’s lucky, rather he’s a man that came to fulfill God’s plan in my life.

On how her family reacted to her marriage, she said they

were indifferent at first. This is because “They wanted us to go into courtship, but I insisted that I am a born again Christian; that I didn’t want to go into courtship. I wasn’t in a hurry, but I didn’t want to commit any sin at stage of my life. This is because I have cleansed myself.

Dabb ights drug Dabbyy Chimere ffights abuse thr ough ffilm ilm through

A

imed at sensitizing the people, especially mothers, on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse in the society, aspiring Nollywood film producer, Dabby Chimere has set the ball rolling through her yetto-be released movie, The Sassy One. Produced under the stables of Dabz Movie Production, the film features list of professional actors and actresses like: Yvonne Jegede, Shirley Igwe, Kenneth Okolie, Gift Okeke alongside other acts.

According to the producer, Dabby Chimere, the movie is an emotional, but socially relevant one that would expose the scourge of drug and alcohol abuse in the society.

“It’s about a mother who loves her drugs more than her only girl child because she is far too addicted. Due

to the fact that drug addiction has taken over her entire life, her child went on to suffer neglect and abuse in her hands. It became an appalling situation that one could not manage seeing, but to pity the child,” she said.

Promising to be different,

•Dabby

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015 — 31

Controversy over Kunle Afolayan's tweets

Gabosky f ires bac k back at his att ac k er s •Says he has lost N450m to pirates

M •Kunle Afolayan

•Zik Zulu Okafor

•Gabosky

Don't politicize Nollywood —Zik Zulu A

lthough, Kunle Afolayan has since apologized for accusing Igbos of being behind piracy in Nollywood, notable film maker and President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP) Zik Zulu Okafor, has taken a swipe at the statement, warning that nobody should import what is happening in the nation’s political terrain into the movie industry.

Zik Zulu’s outburst came just as popular director, Ifeanyi Ikpoenyi, a.k.a Mr Hollywood,

took to his Facebook page to blast Kunle over his tweets. As far as Ifeanyi is concerned, Kunle is an overrated film maker.

The award-winning film maker during the week took to his twitter account to accuse Igbos of being behind piracy in Nollywood. He said, most of the people he has met selling pirated CDs are Igbos.

Fans blasted him for his tribalistic tweets, after which he apologized, blaming his outburst on frustration.

But reacting to the tweets, Zik Zulu cautioned Kunle to watch his utterances, worried that a notable

film maker should import what’s happening in the political circle into the industry.

In his words, “ Kunle Afolayan has become a very strong professional as a film maker. So, when he makes such a strong statement, it reduces his personality. Nollywood is a bunch of professionals devoid of ethnic sentiments. We enjoy what we are doing and the relative peace in the industry. We don’t want anybody to import what is happening in the Nigerian political terrain into Nollywood.

Stakeholders task Buhari on sustaining govt. romance with Nollywood

A

s the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari(retd) and his vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo are getting ready to take over the reins of power on May 29, a cross-section of Nollywood practitioners under the aegis of the Nollywood Stakeholders Forum,NSF, have urged the new president to use his good office to instill discipline and restore sanity in the nation’s creative industry.

The group also, urged the incoming president to endeavour to sustain the precedent established by the outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan whose romance with the entertainment industry will continue to resonate.

The group made this call, at a press parley which held on Monday, in Lagos.

Speaking through its coordinator, Harris Chuma, the group C M Y K

declared its support for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode.

It described the victory of the APC at the presidential polls as a welcome development, saying it will positively bring the muchdesired change in the nation’s creative industry.

Nollywood, he said, cannot be said to occupy a strategic position in the Nigerian economic sphere without the continued presence of the government.

“We therefore call on the incoming administration to address the myriad of issues militating against our practice, guarantee the protection of Intellectual Property, support and empower Nollywood practitioners to enable them compete favourably in the comity of international movie practitioners,” he said.

According to him, “We at

Nollywood Stakeholders Forum will continue to work with everything at our disposal to ensure the victory of APC governorship candidate in Lagos State and other states. We therefore use this medium to re-emphasize our support for the election of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as the next governor of Lagos State, the entertainment capital of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he stated.

According to Alex Eyengho, Director of Campaign (NTB) the industry also wants the new president to empower and strengthen institutions, and

individuals. We want a president that will empower the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and help it exercise its mandate to fight piracy.

•Buhari

EANWHILE,Gabriel Okoye, popularly known as Gabosky, has fired back at those who are condemning Kunle Afolayan, insisting that about 99 percent of pirates in Nigeria are from the Igbos extraction.

Addressing the press on Thursday, Gabosky who is the President of GMedia Limited, a distribution outlet, said he has lost over N450 million to pirates in recent times.

According to him, both Kunle Afolayan and himself are frustrated by pirates. However, insisting that Igbo traders in Alaba International Market are the major pirates in the country, Gabosky warned that nobody should blame Kunle Afolayan following his comments on the internet because he’s being frustrated by the pirates who are just interested in reaping where they did not sow.

Speaking further, Gabosky alleged that piracy has been incorporated in the country. He accused former movie marketers as those who are behind the menace of piracy.

Gabosky’s G- Media is the sole distributor of Kunle Afolayan’s films including “Fugurine”, “Irapada”, “Phone Swap” and “October 1”.

Narrating his frustration in the hands of the pirates, Gabosky said, “Kunle Afolayan is not branding Igbos as pirates, neither is he. Rather we are defending source of our livelihood. Those who are attacking Kunle are pirates. There is no sensible film maker who knows there’s no guarantee that you will get your return on investment after completing the production of your film will attack Kunle because he condemned the activities of pirates.

Igbos are pirating my films, and they are frustrating me. It’s not about Kunle Afolayan, rather it is about the job he has given me and the people that are pirating it. I know the pirates. I told Kunle Afolayan that the Igbo boys in Alaba International Market are frustrating me and that 99 per cent of them are Igbos.

Recounting what he has lost to pirates, Gabosky puts the figure at N450 million. He disclosed that the pirates are currently threatening to release Kunle Afolayan’s October 1.” “I was planning to release “Half of a Yellow Sun”, when I discovered that the pirated copies of the movie have flooded the market. The same Bank of Industry that gave me loan to set the distribution outlet across the country, sponsored the Yewande’s “Half of a Yellow Sun.” She spent close to N2 billion to produce the film, yet she did not make any money in return.

32— SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

I sm not opp

—M

BYADERONKEADEYERI

M

osun Filani belongs to the league of second generation of glamour girls in the Yoruba sector of Nollywood. She stands shoulder high with the very best in the trade, with more than five scores of movies to her credit. She is a seasoned actress and a producer.

However, since her marriage to politician and businessman, Kayode Oduoye, the actress went off the radar and many attributed it to the controversies that came with her marriage.

Here, Mosun is back and ready to take her place among the best again. In this exclusive chat, she talks about her marriage, her hubby, acting and other things:

D

•Mosun Filani

o you think your beauty has a part to play in your success in the film industry?

My beauty has nothing to do with the fame God and hard work has bestowed on me. If an actress is beautiful and lacks the ability to deliver, she won't be recognized in the industry. That is one of the reasons many actresses have spent donkey years in the industry without being noticed. Beauty should only complement one's acting skill.

You have an inviting and tempting smile that can sweep a man off his feet. How do you manage male fans?

It is just a natural thing to smile always when there is a reason to do so. There is a thick line between smiling in appreciation of a gesture ( such as comments, compliments etc) and smiling to entice the opposite sex.

Unfortunately, I don't smile to entice but rather

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015 — 33

mile a lot but t to entice the posite sex

Mosun Filani I put up smiles to compliment my looks.

How do you see the injection of sex scenes into our films?

They are immoral, against our culture and it does not preach the good virtues of our society.

How has marriage affected your profession?

Marriage has a positive impact on my profession. The essence of marriage is to bring out a better person in you and that is what I am enjoying. The best way to achieve this is to separate one's home from the profession.

How and when did you begin acting?

I started acting when I was at the Abeokuta College of Education 15years back. Though, it was on stage but that was where I understood the rudiment of acting.

The news went viral at a time that you were dating Odunlade Odukola.

It was just a gist. Purely baseless and untrue.

How did you meet your husband, Mr Kayode Oduoye?

We met during one of his visits to Abeokuta, Ogun state and the rest is history.

Many people believe you influenced the divorce between your husband and his first wife.

With all sincerity, my husband had divorced his first wife before we met. I have no part in any of the proceedings. I only got to know about his previous marriage after we met.

Apart from acting, do you engage in other things?

Yes, I have a private business that I am developing. I buy and sell things.

At this age, and as a married woman, do you still get advances from men?

I can't say I still get advances from men. It is not because I am no longer attractive but because I don't move about unnecessarily. And even when I am out alone, I don't encourage men to come close let alone approach me.

How would your husband feel if you do sexual roles?

What was your first acting experience like?

Well my first acting experience was very interesting because it was a comedy drama and also on stage.

,

Is it true that you are a pompous person as some of your colleagues have claimed?

That is a misconception of my person. I am a down-to-earth person. I relate and accommodate people of different strata in the society. Some people may decide to tag me “Pompous” when I turn down some of their offers. For instance, when a friend or colleague invites me to a night club and I say no to such invitation, does that mean I am being pompous?

I don't do sexual roles. Over the years, It has been part of the standard I have raised for myself even when I was still single. I do not take sexual or romantic roles. I don't kiss, hug or take bedroom roles and I do not intend to start now as a married woman.

If an actress is beautiful and lacks the ability to deliver, she won't be recognized in the industry

,

Briefly, who is Mosun Filani ?

I hail from Ikole Ekiti in Ekiti state but was born in Ibadan into a family of six. I had my primary and secondary education in Ibadan before proceeding to Abeokuta College of Education. I had my first degree in Business Education from Tai Solarin University of Education TASUED. I am married and blessed with two kids.

A lot of things have been written about you, somegood, some bad.

How do you react to all those things?

People are bound to express themselves according to their opinion or views about people. Sometimes such views could be subjective and influenced by many factors.

I can only plead with our journalists to

verify their stories appropriately before publication. I look at stories that are negative as those coming from people with biased minds and therefore attach less importance to them. For the positive ones, I see them as encouraging and complimentary to my career and life in general.

What is the nicest thing acting has brought you?

Fame Your husband is running to represent the Boripe/Odo Otin Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives; do you think he has what it takes to win that seat?

Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo Otin Federal Constituency in Osun State needs a better and functional representation at the federal level and that is what my husband stands for. He will make sure the presence of the federal government is better felt and appreciated by the people of his constituency. The people of Boripe/Odo Otin need to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Many celebrities’ marriages hardly stand the test of time; what do you think is responsible?

There are different factors peculiar to these marriages and as such it will be quite difficult to enumerate the factors responsible for break ups in all.

How do you intend to keep yours?

However, having a successful marriage requires God being the centre of the home.

Others include true love, patience, tolerance, perseverance, wisdom and mutual understanding that earns the couple mutual respect in the relationship.

Our marriage is a gift from God; my hubby and I are committed to making it as blissful as possible. We will achieve the purpose why God brought us together.

What are you working on?

I am presently working on a project with a corporate entity. It will hit the airwaves very soon, just be on the lookout.

34—SATURDAY

S

Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

HE is 34 and breastfeeding an 8month-old infant. It is her first baby and she is quite happy carrying out her motherly duties. The problem is that she has no sex drive to write home about.

Before the birth of the baby, she and her spouse couldn’t have enough of each other.

In the first few months after their wedding, they were at it practically every day. Even when she became pregnant, they still managed to have a roll in the hay at least once every other day.

But all that has changed. The baby came and then, nothing. The fire has gone out and there is no spark again. Now she has no urge whatsoever and barely manages one sexual •Breastfreeding encounter in a week “just to please him” as she puts it.

What could be the problem? Could breastfeeding be the cause of her low libido? From several perspectives, this appears most probable. She is not alone in this quandary. It is not uncommon for a breastfeeding woman to experience a waning of desire, even months after delivery.

Medical experts say this is likely due to the effect breastfeeding has on the hormones.

One of the most affected hormones is Oestrogen to suppress sexual considered to be the desire. A breastfeeding “female” hormone woman also produces although it is lower levels of present in both testosterone – the male sexes. sex hormone that plays a Among other major role in a woman’s things, oestrogen is overall libido. responsible for So in several ways, the maintaining the issue of breastfeeding moistness and and libido is mixed flexibility of the blessings for women. No vaginal lining. The doubt, breastfeeding is hormonal levels are significantly lower while a woman is beneficial to babies and breastfeeding, and if mothers. While more the levels drop women are getting better beyond a threshold, at breastfeeding, fewer the vaginal lining women are effectively becomes dry and combining the role of stiff, such that mother and lover. intercourse may be As more women uncomfortable. breastfeed, more babies Another caveat for are receiving breast milk a woman that is exclusively. For a mother, breastfeeding, is regular breastfeeding can that her body reduce the risk of breast produces higher and ovarian cancer and levels of another possibly reduce risk of hormone – Prolactin, hip fractures and which has tendency osteoporosis after

C M Y K

Mother and lover, are you woman enough?

menopause.

Sexuality researchers say breastfeeding meets a woman’s needs for “intimate touching,” so they are less interested in being touched by their partners.

Some women note that their bodies seem to respond in a sexual way to breastfeeding and they feel somewhat aroused. It is important to understand that this may be due to hormones released as a result of nipple stimulation and that the response is completely within the realm of normal.

A recent study published in Springer’s journal Human Nature shows that new mothers in the Philippines spend more time in the bedroom with their partners in the first few weeks after giving birth than they did before they became pregnant.

This development is seen as a type of survival strategy by the women to keep the relationships with fathers of their new babies

alive and well, and also, probably, to ensure continued support for their offspring.

It is not surprising that divorce rates in the Philippines are amongst the lowest in the world.

The trick is simple - learn to adapt to being both mothers and lovers.

On the average, during the first six weeks after giving birth, most women tend to devote more time to their new babies than to their partner. This could explain lower relationship satisfaction and less intercourse between such partners and a clear shift occurs from the so-called mating efforts to parenting efforts.

The study involved mostly married women, aged 18-35, welleducated, with on average, two or three children some of who still breastfed. They spoke

about their sexual functioning and menstrual cycles, as well as about how satisfied and committed they were in their current relationships.

From the findings, it was obvious that the breastfeeding women who had already resumed having their periods were more sexually active and committed than the others.

This result suggests that Philippine women experience an increase in sexual activity after the birth of their children that may even be higher than prepregnancy levels. A plausible explanation presented by the researchers is that the postpartum sexual increase may be a means of continuing investment in a satisfactory, successful relationship in which future children can be successfully reared.

But for a mother in a stressful relationship, this relationship maintenance strategy may not work, principally because resuming a sexual relationship may not be a priority as much as focusing on her baby. However, the argument is that even though a breastfeeding woman may not be sexually proactive, she may respond favourably when her partner initiates sexual activity.

Most new mothers admit that caring for an infant can be quite fatiguing, particularly if they are also working, taking care of the house and still not getting a full night’s sleep.

Breastfeeding a baby is a wonderful and worthwhile part of a woman’s life and the associated lack of sexual desire is most likely shortlived and resumption of a more active sexual pattern is likely to resume as the baby grows.

A woman who wants to continue breastfeeding should, by all means, continue! But her partner needs to be in the picture.

There should be time just for the two of them to reconnect as a couple — without the baby.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—35

Ovarian cancer: 12 facts about a silent killer IT’S been called a silent killer but it often has symptoms. Current research suggests ovarian cancer begins in the fallopian tubes and moves to the ovaries, the twin organs that produce a woman’s eggs and the main source of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Treatments for ovarian cancer have become more effective in recent years, with the best results seen when the disease is found early.

Symptoms •A young Bloating or pressure in the belly, pain in the abdomen woman or pelvis, feeling full too quickly during meals, and urinating more frequently are all common symptoms having an that give cause for suspicion.

Ovarian issue?

Family history A woman’s odds of developing ovarian cancer are higher if a close relative has had cancer of the ovaries, breast, or colon.

Inherited genetic changes account for 10 percent of ovarian cancers. This includes the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, which are linked to breast cancer. Women with a strong family history should do follow up investigation.

Age The strongest risk factor for ovarian cancer is age. It’s most likely to develop after a woman goes through menopause. Using post-menopausal hormone therapy may increase the risk. The link seems strongest in women who take oestrogen without progesterone for at least five to 10 years.

Obesity Obese women have a higher risk of getting •Ovarian ovarian cancer and the death rates for cancer! ovarian cancer are higher for obese women too, compared with non-obese ovarian cancer if a woman has no symptoms. women.

During a routine gynaecological exam, a blood test for elevated levels of a protein called Screening tests CA-125 is done. The other is an ultrasound There is no easy or reliable way to test for of the ovaries. Unfortunately, neither

technique has been shown to save lives when used in women of average risk.

Diagnosis Imaging tests, such as ultrasound or CT scans, can help reveal an ovarian mass.

But these scans can’t determine whether the abnormality is cancer. If cancer is suspected, the next step is usually surgery to remove suspicious tissues. A sample is then sent to the lab for further examination (biopsy).

Surgery Surgery is used to diagnose ovarian cancer and determine its stage, but it is also the first phase of treatment. The goal is to remove as much of the cancer as possible. This may include a single ovary and nearby tissue in stage I. In

SEXUAL ISSUES & SOLUTIONS SEXUAL ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS AMAZING FACTS ABOUT PENIS SIZE (IV)

T

HE human penis is not under conscious control. It’s under the control of a ,man’s autonomic nervous system – and that means that sometimes however much he wants an erection to go away, it won’t. Or, of course, however much he wants an erection to happen, it might not happen.

The penis is the most sensitive part of the human body, and the most sensitive part of the penis is the frenulum, that little ridge of skin that joins the foreskin to the glans. She can try stroking it – use firm little circles with one finger – or flicking across it with her tongue.

I’m a 50-year old man with diabetes and very weak erection. The erection is so weak that I can hardly penetrate with the erection.A friend of mine recommended X-again to me. How effective is Xagain and hope it has no side effect and very safe for my age? I’m also suffering from obesity with serious pot-belly, how can I shed the fat? Thomas X-again is a very safe herbal supplement that gives strong erection on demand and takes effect within 30 minutes of usage. X-again can be used with the Noto tea which helps reduce your diabetes, thereby allowing X-again to take effects as soon as possible. To reduce the fat level in your body, get Cleanshield drink with Spiral slimming belt. The Cleanshield helps churn out the fat and the spiral slimming belt accelerates the fat-breaking process.

I ejaculate within 5 minutes of penetration and when I ejaculate, the sperm quantity is so small and very watery. My sperm count is also very low; I heard Volume pills can help increase my sperm quantity and count and also delay ejaculation, how true is this fact? Greg Volumepills is know toincrease the quantity of sperm, the motility and the count of the sperm cells are also increased with Volume pills. The secondary function of Volume pills is that it delays ejaculation.

C M Y K

Some months ago, I got Plant vigra and Rhino 5 from your store, though at different times and I discover that these two supplements work well in my ssystem for strong erection and make me last long during sex. Are they still available? Alh Shaba Yes plant vigra and Rhino 5 are still available and since they work well for you in giving very srong erection oin dmeand, I’ll advise you stick with them.

Plant Vigra and Rhino 5 are very safe as they are herbal; so you are welcome anytime to place your order.

Im a 40 year old woman who doesn’t feel any urge for sex; what can you recommend I take cos this is causing friction between I and my husband. Shola I’m sure you’ve had kids and if you have, naturally your libido and urge for sex will drastically drop. I’ll advise you take the Libigirl pills with either the Germany sex drops or the arousal gels like Spot on g-spot, Mood arousal gel etc to mention but a few.

This combination will help put you in the mood for sex in 30 mins of usage.

I’m very hypertensive and I have Taken several product all to no avail. Do you have any product that can reduce my hypertension level and I also need help for my weak erection? Peter I would like to recommend you go for Cleanshield drink and Noto tea to help reduce your hypertension and while you are at that, I’ll say you go for Libigrow or Plant –vigra for strong erection. Either Libigrow or Plant Vigra is recommended because they are very mild and don’t give side effects like headaches, or nausea like some other erection aids do and they stil work perfectly well.

These are all we can take for this week. Adults who needs any of these aphrodisiacs can cal 08034666358, 07059294782 or place your order at www.viewden.com.

For further enquiries,send an email to us at: vieweden@yahoo.com, viewden@ymail.com.

Kemi Fawole (MD )

more advanced stages, it may be necessary to remove both ovaries, along with the uterus and surrounding tissues.

Early menopause When women have both ovaries removed, they can no longer produce their own estrogen. This triggers menopause, no matter how young the patient. The drop in hormone levels can also raise the risk for certain medical conditions, including osteoporosis. It’s vital that women have regular follow-up care after being treated for ovarian cancer.

Pregnancy Women who have biological children are less likely to get ovarian cancer than women who have never given birth. The risk appears to decrease pregnancy, and with every breastfeeding may offer added protection.

Contraception Ovarian cancer is also less common in women who have taken birth control pills. Like pregnancy, birth control pills prevent ovulation. Women who have used the pill for at least five years have about half the risk of women who never took the pill.

Survival rates Ovarian cancer can be a frightening diagnosis, with five-year relative survival rates that range from 89 – 18 percent for epithelial ovarian cancer, depending on the stage when the cancer was found. For LMP tumours, the five-year relative survival rates range from 99 – 77 percent.

Prevention Getting your tubes tied (tubal ligation), removing the ovaries and a low-fat diet may offer some protection against ovarian cancer.

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

C M Y K

SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 11, 2015—37

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

F

,

ormer Super Eagles captain, Austin Okocha has said that he was deeply worried with the performance of the national team, which he noted has been very worrisome and disappointing in recent times.

For a player who used to run the rules in the midfield during his active days for nation, this damming verdict comes at a time that Nigerians are increasingly losing faith in the Eagles. Recent 1-0 defeat by Uganda in Uyo and a 1-1 draw with South Africa in Nelspruit had seen many stakeholders calling for an emergency to be declared on Nigerian football.

And speaking in an interview with Saturday Vanguard Sports, the former Bolton Wanderers talisman said the NFF must start the rebuilding process for the Eagles quickly by appointing a coach for the Super Eagles.

Okocha, while responding to what he made of the players, who were invited for the two past friendly matches and what he made of the rebuilding process, said “I think we have to start from somewhere because we have been so disappointed with our team’s performance lately. People might differ with the way things are being done but it is important that the football federation speeds up the process because we are deeply worried and do not deserve these performances”.

Reacting to the issue of coach for the team, Okocha, while refusing to comment on speculations that Keshi will be given a short-term contract by the NFF, said that whoever becomes the next coach of the team must get cracking ahead

I think we have to start from somewhere because we have been so disappointed with our team’s performance lately

,

of the 2017 African Cup of Nations in Gabon.

Nigeria are in Group G alongside Egypt, Tanzania and Chad, with the first placed side qualifying automatically for the tournament while the two best second placed teams from the 13 groups will join the rest and the hosts in the biennial competition.

“I think that the incoming coaches have to start working as soon as they are employed because they are getting paid

to handle the team and win matches. Besides, the challenges on the ground are such that any coach appointed must get cracking from the very first day”.

Speaking further on the rebuilding process, Okocha said “we all have our perceptions on the rebuilding process but if they think the way forward is to keep inviting new players for matches, so be it.

But the bottomline is that the coaches must get the best out of these players because none of us is happy with our performance”.

Okocha, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard Sports, on the sidelines of the MTN Best 11, where he reunited with his former teammates like Nwankwo Kanu, Taribo West, Mutiu Adepoju, Ifeanyi Udeze, Celestine Babayaro, Garba lawal, Daniel Amokachi, Peter Rufai, Ike Shorunmu, Waidi Akanni and Etim Esin said that he was delighted to bond again with people he now feels are his brothers.

“We are like a family now,.We are no longer friends because we have known each other for so many years and it is always good to meet with these great players and talk about the issues that we have gone through in our football career”, said Okocha.

OK OCHA: Eagles have disappointed us a lot

C M Y K

38—SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 11 , 2015

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

C

•Super Eagles

KESHI H

•Stephen Keshi apologise to all Nigerians and most especially the fans for the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2015 edition of the Nations Cup.” Keshi also promised to work hand in hand with the NFF technical committee chairman, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, and the NFF president for the good of the game. “I want to assure Nigerians that Mr. Felix Anyansi-Agwu and I will continue to work together to ensure that we put all the issues that have threatened their relationship behind and to ensure that any crisis is resolved.”

And a source told Saturday Vanguard Sports that the NFF has accepted his apology and would offer him a short contract that could be renewed based on good performance. Keshi's second coming may also likely see some changes in the technical crew.

It is recalled that the fall of the former Anderlecht captain actually started immediately after the 2013 Nations Cup, that he won and thereafter, started looking down of the then Aminu Maigari-led NFF board. Keshi pitched war against the board after immediately after the cup and buoyed by his meeting President Goodluck Jonathan, during a reception for the team, where the outgoing President told him he had his support. This bloated his ego and Maigari and

,

oach Stephen Keshi will get his Eagles job back after begging almost on his knees.

Here was once the big boss of Nigerian football, the one who seemed untouchable, who could get away with anything and not get reprimanded. But not anymore as Keshi has reportedly begged enough to be given the opportunity to coach the Super Eagles again. And we gathered that his passionate appeal has been accepted by the power brokers at the Nigeria Football Federation, who ensured that he accepted the terms in the contract.

And Keshi has also accepted to report to the technical director of the NFF, Shuaibu Amodu, after earlier saying that he wanted to report directly to the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, who he has apologised to, as well as to other top ranking officials of the footballgoverning body.

Speaking through his agent recently, Emmanuel Ado, Keshi said he was sorry that the Super Eagles could not defend their title in the last AFCON but was looking forward to getting the team back to winning ways in the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifiers “There were problems that contributed to the failure of the team to qualify for Equatorial Guinea which, by the grace of God, have been largely resolved.

We ask for forgiveness and support for the team to ensure that they get back to their winning ways.”

One of Keshi's many sins was when, in the heat of the contract storm, he called Pinnick, a liar on radio, a statement which he profusely apologised for. In a rather patronising tone, the former Super Eagles captain said “I think it is my fault for not being able to manage some information very well. I will never use such word for the president of the federation. I am too cultured to use such word, those who profit from sensationalism as a way of life, create chaos by twisting facts out of context only to suit their own purpose.

“I have always related well with the NFF president as a brother and as chairman of the Delta state sports commission before now. The chairman’s passion and achievements over the years bear eloquent testimony to what he is capable of replicating in his new job at the NFF. After the 2013 Nations Cup, Amaju was instrumental to Delta state government hosting the team and the renaming of the Asaba Township Stadium after my name.

“I want to say here that contrary to people’s insinuations that I cannot work with Amaju I want to state here we can work together for the good of the game. I sincerely

Keshi also kicked himself on the foot when his Nations Cup squad appeared better than his World Cup squad. His selection for the World Cup was suspect and the players who did not merit World Cup place proved critics right on the field

,

• Begs and gets Ea • Accepts blame f • How his problem

members of his board meant nothing to him, not minding that they employed him.

His spat with the NFF board of Maigari fueled tension between both parties, with the latter not willing to renew his contract, which elapsed at the end of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

But Keshi got the support of a top special security officer who made it difficult for Maigari to return to the board.

Keshi also kicked himself on the foot when his Nations Cup squad appeared better than his World Cup squad. His selection for the World Cup was suspect

and the players who did not merit World Cup place proved critics right on the field. Nigeria simply had no bench and when the likes of Uchegbu came in as substitutes people wondered where they came from. The result at the World Cup, where the Eagles crashed in the second round to France, who appeared beatable further compounded his already worsening situation.

Amongst Keshi's gaffes was his suspected role in the global disgrace that the team put Nigerians when the players protested over bonus after their 2014 World Cup qualifier in

SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 11, 2015—39

money, even when FIFA was yet to pay any team their share of the proceeds. The largesse from the President, rather than boost the team to victory, actually contributed to their fall as instead of resting, the players were busy sharing the cash until 3 am on a day they had an afternoon tie against France. The effect of this extreme rascality and indiscipline showed in the match as they tired out in the second half, conceding two late goals.

It was on the basis of these that the Maigari's board was not going to renew Keshi's contract and that somehow led to Maigari's withdrawal from the race after sustained pressure from the top security official, who has been a fan of Keshi, when he was playing for country and clubs.

When Pinnick was elected NFF President in September in Warri and Eagles were beaten in Sudan, his board said they would not renew Keshi's contract after the players told the sports minister that the technical crew was their problem, Pinnick faced the harassment that Maigari was facing when his international passport was seized at the airport on his way to the final of African women football event in Namibia.

Few days later, President Jonathan, while receiving the Nations Cup-winning Super Falcons in Abuja, pleaded with Cup, when the team canceled a Pinnick, based on the advice of scheduled training session the SSS man, to recall Keshi, after a meeting where the who was eventually recalled to players demanded the finish the 2015 AFCON immediate payment of their qualifying race. And the result appearance fee before their for that recall was shameful as second round match with the defending African France. They took this action champions failed to qualify for even before FIFA paid the the tournament. money to Nigeria.

That was how Keshi lost face Unfortunately Abdullahi who in the eyes of many, including had vowed to implement a former ex-internationals and code of conduct many stakeholders, who called recommended by the for his head.

Adeniyi panel had And only a fortnight ago, ceased to be sports President Jonathan lost his minister. reelection bid, leaving Keshi It took the without a strong supporter, who prompt could swing things in his way intervention of at any time. Jonathan's defeat the President has humbled Keshi, who Jonathan, who alongside his agent have sent Sports turned into a pitiful sight before Minister, the NFF board, who will likely Tammuno give him a short-term contract.

Danagogo to And he will now have to heed go and give the directives of the federation the players and not “orders from above.” their share His selection will also be of the subject to screening although his dues and freehand on technical matters as coach will be respected.

Another thing that worked for Keshi was that the qualifying matches for the Nations Cup are already here and there will be no time to start looking for a new coach. And here comes the second coming of Keshi whose sobriquet as the Big Boss had diminished and lost meaning before Nigerians. Only good performance can redeem him.

•Pinnick Time will tell.

,

Jonathan's defeat has humbled Keshi, who alongside his agent have turned into a pitiful sight before the NFF board, who will likely give him a short-term contract

,

HUMBLED!

agles job back or Eagles woes m started Namibia.

The NFF offered each player $5,000 for a win and $2,500 for a draw. But the players demanded twice as much: $10,000 for a win and $5,000 for a draw as they were earning from the 2010 World Cup when a presidential committee increased their bonus to that level. The players went on strike in Namibia, refusing to fly to Brazil for the Confederations Cup, a development that attracted global attention. It was international disgrace when the players refused to fly the plane sent by FIFA to fly them to C M Y K

Brazil. President Jonathan had to step in and got then Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi The Segun Adeniyi-led probe committee set up by the federal government to investigate the first protest in Namibia indicted Keshi. Goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide and John Mikel Obi were fingered as the ring leaders of the revolt and were also indicted. The probe offered solutions on how to tackle such insurrections in the future.

But rather than stem the tide, the same thing was later to resurface again at the World

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

t’s a sight that draws I giggles and curious stares from tourists and

other first-timers – an unusual festival where revellers carry gigantic phalluses through the streets of a Japanese city.

But for the residents of Kawasaki, who lug erotic shapes of all different sizes, this odd tradition is not a joke.

Shinto Kanamara Matsuri started as a small tradition but has grown into a popular a tourist attraction, with participants praying to a god of fertility, child birth and protection from sexually transmitted infections.

Known as the Festival of the Steel Phallus, it is held every spring at the phallus-shaped Kanayama Shrine.

Festivalgoers parade through the streets with three giant phalluses, while spectators lick lollies or snack on sausages or vegetables shaped as male and female genitalia.

Rainy weather didn’t ruin the mood at this year’s festival, which had a massive collection of foreigners, according to Japanese website RocketNews24.

They watched as groups of locals carried three heavy phalluses modelled after a mikoshi portable shrine, which is commonly used in Shinto festivals.

The three mikoshi carried through the streets

08 116759 759 081 6759759

Size matters for hours are the Kanamara Boat Mikoshi (tall and black), the Elizabeth Mikoshi (big and pink) and the Kanamara Big Mikoshi (squat and wooden), RocketNews24 reported.

In addition to the parade there are performances and music, and the festival itself raises money and awareness for HIV

research. The festival started nearly 40 years ago, and the Kanayama Shrine was once a popular place for prostitutes to pray for protection from sexually transmitted infections.

Today, people visit the shrine to pray for everything from fertility and business prosperity to wedded bliss and good health.

Hong Kong pianist who chopped up his mum and dad, cooked them in a microwave and then put Hong Kong pianist them in a lunchbox is jailed for life murdered his Awho

parents before chopping up their bodies and cooking them in a microwave has been jailed for life. Henry Chau Hoi-Iueng, 31, was found guilty of killing his devoted mother Siu Yuet-yee, 63, and father Chau Wing-ki, 65, before salting, cooking and packing their body parts into lunchboxes ‘like barbecued pork.’ It is thought that he wanted them dead after they became reluctant to fund his lavish lifestyle. At Hong Kong’s High Court, Chau, who wore a loose-fitting grey suit while sitting in the defendant’s dock, looked impassive as the life sentence was passed down.

Judge Michael Stuart Moore also handed down an additional nine years and four months in jail for two separate charges of preventing the lawful burials of his parents, which he admitted earlier.

He described Chau as

including mixing the remains with cement and throwing them away as bricks. Other plans included cooking the remains and throwing them into the sea. Tse said the only reason he helped Chau is because he was afraid that his

‘narcissistic’ and ‘preoccupied with fantasies for success’ before branding him a ‘dangerous individual. The judge added: ‘People may wonder why you did his. The fact is there is no obvious answer is what makes you so dangerous. ‘You always blame your faults on others not yourself. Your parents became the victims of your blame.’

The court had previously heard how Chau’s parents went with him on the

morning of their murder to his friend Tse Chun Kei’s home in Tai Kok Tsui in the west of Hong Kong. Several days after they disappeared, their eldest son Chau Hoi-ying, wanted to raise the alarm but Chau said the pair were visiting mainland China. However, he then sent a WhatsApp message to friends admitting that he had killed his parents.

They reported this to police and when officers arrived at a flat belonging to his friend Tse,

they found his Chau’s parents’ heads stored in two large refrigerators. Several plastic lunch boxes containing chopped flesh and organs were also found, along with a further three boxes containing salted body parts. The missing body parts are believed to have been cooked and eaten.

Prosecutors claimed that Chau and Tse discussed a range of methods of disposing of the bodies -

A

woman has been left red faced after an April Fools’ prank she made on her boyfriend backfired.

Hayleigh Mcbay, who lives near Elgin in Scotland, pretended to dump her boyfriend David via Whats App earlier today for a joke.

But she was given a taste of her own medicine when he pretended that also wanted to break up.

Hayleigh texted her partner on the social media app with the C M Y K

words: ‘I don’t want to be with you anymore. I am not happy.’ David replied: ‘Thank God you said it first so I didn’t have to.’

Shocked, Hayleigh shot back: ‘What? What do you mean?

‘So you don’t want to be with me?’ Soon afterwards her boyfriend revealed that he had also been playing an April Fools’ Day prank.

Seeing the funny side of it, Hayleigh then uploaded a screenshot

of the conversation to Twitter with the caption: ‘Well my April Fools backfired :s.’

The tweet has seen been retweeted more than nine thousand times. While many have seen the funny side of the message, others have taken to trolling Hayleigh with hateful comments. One Twitter user wrote: ‘Biggest f****** staged load of s*** I’ve ever seen. DIE.’ Hayleigh felt forced to reply to many of the comments

Deaf man is moved to tears after discovering his entire neighbourhood has learned sign language so they can talk to him deaf man was moved to tears after learning that A his neighbourhood had learned

The April Fools’ prank that backfired:

with a tweet that read: ‘Just to clarify me and David did not plan that but he guessed it was April fools so jokingly replied. ‘Sad that I have to specify that lmao.’

friend would kill his mother.

Chau first claimed that he did not kill his parents but only helped his friend dismember the remains. He later tried to plead guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.

sign language just for him to promote the heartwarming message: ‘A world without barriers is our dream’.

Muharrem was unwittingly placed at the centre of an elaborate stunt in which he was secretly filmed encountering a host of strangers in a series of staged meetings through Istanbul.

The footage begins with him setting out for the day with his sister Ozlem, who is in on the set-up. Before long, Muharrem is taken aback when he encounters a stranger who signs ‘good morning’ to him.

His surprise only intensifies when, on a visit to his local food store, the shopkeeper offers him ‘hot bagels’ through hand signals. Another encounter involves a stranger dropping a bag of fruit. When Muharrem helps pick them up, the man

uses sign language to offer him an apple as a thank you. He barely has time to take it in when a woman bumps into him accidentally on purpose before signing: ‘Sorry, my mistake.’

Later, the shock is clear on Muharrem’s face when a taxi driver welcomes him into the car with sign language. In a final flourish, an electronic advertising board is set up to communicate with him, offering him heartwarming message: ‘Because a world without barriers is our dream as well.’ A friend finally points out one of the dozens of cameras set up around the area to reveal the stunt, moving Muharrem to tears. The stunt, which took a month to prepare, was organised by mobile phone company Samsung to promote its call centre for the hearing impaired. The video has been viewed more than three million times over just the last few days since being posted on YouTube.

SA TURD AY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—41 SATURD TURDA

Double celebrations ffor or Elder A Ayyorinde IT was indeed a moment worthy of celebration as Elder (Dr) Taye Ayorinde, former assistant information officer and advisor to the British government at the central office of information celebrated hisst 80 th birthday and 21 anniversary as the

3rd from right; the celebrant Elder (Dr.) Taye Ayorinde, joined by other personalties to present his autobiography titled: Unveilling the Enigma.

Baale of Ekotedo in Ibadan, Oyo State last Saturday.The high point of the celebration was presentation of the c e l e b r a n t ’ s autobiography titled “Unveiling the Enigma”.

Photos by Dare Fasube

Popular ho hottelier elier,, John On es 50 Onyyeme celebrat celebrates

D

elta State popular hotelier and the Odoziani of Ibabu in Ndokwa-West local government area of Delta State, Sir Monday John Onyeme rolled into the golden age of 50 in style as he threw a deluxe party to mark the landmark.

The party which held at Swiss Spirit Hotel had many prominent Deltans in attendance, including the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. Photos by Nath Onojake

Sir Monday John Onyeme with wife and children.

L-R: Author, Prof. Dapo Alao, Mr Tunde Thompson and Prof. Muyiwa Sanda.

L-R: Aaro of Iperu; Chief Olujimi Odukoya, Mrs Funmi Ayetan and Chief (Mrs) Taye Shoyegbe.

L-R: Oloye Lekan Alabi, High Chief Femoi Olaifa, representing the Olubadan of Ibadan, Chief Adebutu Kessington, chief launcher, celebrant, Elder (Dr.) Taye Ayorinde and Ambassador Olu Saanu, chairman of occasion.

L-R:Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP governorship candidate, Delta State, Sir Monday John Onyeme and Mrs Catherine Onyeme.

L-R:Ahaji Gboyega Kunle Iyanda.

Arulogun

and

Prof

TREM rewards woman who found N12M and returned it

D

r. Mike Okonkwo, The Presiding Bishop of TREM at the Easter Sunday resurrection service honoured Ugwu Josephine, the lady who found a huge sum of money, over N12m, at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport where she works as a cleaner; she reported and returned the money to the Airport Authorities. She was honoured with a plaque, a certificate and an undisclosed amount of money.

L-R Bishop Peace OKonkwo, Ugwu Josephine and Bishop Mike Okonkwo in a photograph after the presentation of gift to Ugwu Josephine C M Y K

Sir Monday John Onyeme (left), receiving award from Hon. Orji Ossai.

Bishop Mike huging Ugwu Josephine after honouring her for her honesty at TREM Headquarters Obanikoro Lagos

Sir Monday Onyeme (celebrant), and wife, Catherine Onyeme

42—SATURDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

ometimes issues you have dealt with come up again, prompting a revisit. On February 8, 2014, on this column, I wrote about a mother who stopped her son from getting married to his fiancée because both of them carry the AS genotype which can lead to giving birth to children with sickle cell anaemia. You would think that with the wide-spread awareness and knowledge about this condition, young people preparing for marriage will take all the necessary precautions, but no, love is a cloudy weather, so they do not see clearly; they want to plunge into matrimony anyhow and worry about the consequences later. That is my experience in the past couple of weeks.

You hear arguments like: “We are worshipping a living God; he will not allow us give birth to sicklers.” I admire this mountain-moving faith. But my genre of faith is: if you are in a house that is collapsing, you thank God for giving you the eyes to see and legs to run and run for your dear life. You do not sit tight and challenge God, reminding Him about how he divided the Red Sea into two; therefore, he should stop the building from collapse.

For me that is foolhardiness.

S

done. Adoption, in this part of the world, is not widespread and the last option for many childless couples. If couples know they have the capacity to have biological children, the temptation will always be there to try.

I feel young people should face the harsh reality. I have told my children who have the AS genotype, young as they are, that when they are old enough to date and get married, they must know the genotype of their

,

Another common argument is that modern medicine will enable them to know if the fetus carries the defective gene during pregnancy and if so terminate the pregnancy. Just like that; terminate the life of your unborn child. How many are you going to terminate? And if your parents had terminated your pregnancy, will you be here planning to terminate that of your unborn children. You are pampering a problem that should not arise in the first place.

The last argument I hear is that they will not give birth to children, rather they will adopt. This is easier said than

The deadly AS/AS combination resulting from SCD. It is senseless going ahead to get married when both parties know they are carriers (AS).

Youths need to be properly tutored at home, in schools, churches and mosques about the challenges associated with the AS/AS combination. We can excuse the ignorance of our forebears, but that is no longer tenable.

Theoretically, the chances of AS/AS parents giving birth to a child with

If you are in a house that is collapsing, you thank God for giving you the eyes to see and legs to run

partners before the relationship gets serious. I do not want to hear excuses that “dad, we are too deep in love to part ways now.” They might have the final say on who they get married to, but they will not get my parental nod/ blessing, neither will I take part in their wedding if the would-be spouse, like them, carries the AS genotype. It is immoral to deliberately bring a fellow human being into this world to go through the pains I see SCD patients experience. It is excruciating even for you just watching them agonise in pains. And when a loved one is involved, the helplessness you feel worsens your agony. I have lost in laws and relatives to complications

,

SCD is one in four children ( AA, AS, AS and SS), but the reality is different.

I have seen a family of five with no SCD sufferer, a family of three with two and a family of four with two sufferers. My point is that there is no need to gamble; yes, that is what it is, because it is not within your control. Here, the cliché that “prevention is better than cure” is golden. Ultimately, I feel we should work towards a sickle cell anaemia-free society. It is possible.

For the benefit of those who might not be aware, “Sickle-cell disease (SCD), also known as sickle-cell anaemia (SCA) and drepanocytosis, is a hereditary blood disorder, characterized by an abnormality in the

oxygen-carrying haemoglobin molecule in red blood cells” (Wikipedia). It is a condition where there is shortage of healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen throughout the body. Usually, red blood cells are flexible and round, moving easily through the blood vessels. But in sickle cell anaemia sufferers, the red blood cells are shaped like sickles or crescent moons and become rigid and sticky. These irregularly shaped cells can get stuck in small blood vessels, which can slow or block blood flow and oxygen to parts of the body, causing enormous pains to the sufferer. It can also harm organs, muscles, and bones.

Sickle cell anaemia is common among people of African descent.

Three quarters of sickle cell anaemia cases in the world occur in Africa. The World Health Organisation estimates that two per cent of these cases are in Nigeria. There’s no cure for most people with sickle cell anaemia.

However, treatments can relieve pain and help prevent further problems associated with SCA. Governorship Elections Today, every eligible voter has a date with history. Today is the governorship and house of assembly elections. The officials to be elected are going to run the affairs of your state for the next four years, counting from May 29, 2015.

Their policies can have fundamental impact on your health, finances and other areas of your life and your families.’ Perform your civic duty for your sake and the sake of the future generation. Think right and vote right.

Even in the midst of imperfections, Nigeria is on the path to greatness.

Like the customer, the kingship of the Nigerian voter is being gradually restored. Claim it.

(Text Only)

Buck up with exercise The Locust Technique

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ie flat on the floor with face downwards and keep the hands by the side of the body with the fingers clenched into fists. Rest the chin on the ground by raising the head. Inhale and stiffen the body by pressing the fists against the floor. Slowly raise the legs as high as possible. Keep the legs in a

straight line, while the two thighs, knees and ankles touch each other. The weight of the legs must fall on the body and hands.

Contract the muscles of the buttocks, stretch the muscles of the thighs and further extend the position of the legs.

Retain the posture for a few seconds in the beginning and gradually increase the duration. Concentrate on the upper portion of the body, i.e. above the waist. Slowly low-

er the legs to the floor and simultaneously exhale.Relax with normal breathing. Repeat the posture two or three times. Relax in Makarasana.

The Camel Tehnique:

S

it on your heels and ar range hands next to the feet with fingers pointing

backwards.

Now lift yourself up and

hump the chest and let the head drop.

Stay in the posture for some 15 counts.

Lower the body, rest a while and repeat as much as you can.

•The Locust C M Y K

Benefits: The Camel, Ustrasara in Sanskrit, endows the practitioner with elasticity.

The chest expansion that conies with this exercise coupled with gentle but deep breathing are most

•The Camel rejuvenating.

People with chest and respiratory disorders will gain help from the practice of the Camel.

Yoga Classes STARTED Physical Therapy Centre @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—43

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church preacher is being held on suspicion of murdering his pregnant British wife in a hotel room in Ghana.

The body of Charmain Adusah, 41, was discovered by hotel staff face down in a bath where it is believed she had been lying for four days.

Her husband, Eric Isaiah Adusah, a selfproclaimed prophet and evangelical preacher, was alleged to have left the hotel hurriedly on the day she is believed to have died.

He told hotel managers at the time that his three-month pregnant wife was ill and did not want to be disturbed.

A close family friend claimed last night that Mr Adusah, 28, flew back to London but later returned to Ghana after his wife’s body was found by concerned hotel staff who used a spare key to check on her after she failed to answer the door.

Mr Adusah, originally from Ghana, is being held in police custody in the African country on suspicion of murdering the former NHS radiography assistant, whom he married suddenly last September – following a whirlwind romance – in a wedding which shocked her family and friends.

His wife, whose maiden name was Speirs, already had an eightyear-old son from a previous relationship in Wales.

But the boy has not yet been told the awful news and was staying with his father, a British man, last night.

Mr Adusah is the leader of Global Light Revival Ministries church based in Tottenham, north London and has been active as a preacher in Britain since 2010.

He has led sermons he describes as ‘divine visitation’ events across the UK and Ireland, receiving £1million in charitable donations in five years and giving sermons on religious satellite television channels.

A close family friend last night accused Mr Adusah of being a ‘ wolf in sheep’s clothing’, telling The Mail on Sunday: ‘We think he brainwashed her.’

Mrs Adusah – who was considered the ‘First Lady’ of her husband’s ministry – grew up in Arbroath in Scotland, and studied a degree in photojournalism at Swansea University. She worked as a radiography assistant in the Welsh NHS and later separated from the father of her son.

She was described as a ‘free spirit’ who started following Mr

•Prophet and Mrs Eric Isaiah

Pastor accused of murder after his pregnant British wife is found dead in hotel bath in Ghana Mr Adusah is said to have left the hotel at dawn the next day and warned reception that his wife did not want to be disturbed.

But hotel managers became concerned when she still had not left the room and would not respond to knocks on the door. On March 20 hotel porters used a spare key to gain access to the room.

A spokesman for Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the police headquarters in Koforidua said Mrs Adusah was ‘found dead in the bath lying prostrate with a white towel wrapped around her, almost in a decomposed state’.

Her close friend Christine Stephen, 42, of Camberley, Surrey, who has known Mrs Adusah since childhood, told The Mail on Sunday that the family did not hear about her death until March 21. She said: ‘I spoke to Charmain’s family and they said Eric had been in touch on that Saturday to say she had died. He said he was flying back to Ghana to identify her body on Sunday.

He also told them he had returned to England because

,

C M Y K

Adusah’s church around two years ago. They started a relationship early last year and married in September in London.

The couple had travelled to Ghana early this month so Mr Adusah could preach at a three-day religious conference hosted by controversial evangelist ‘Bishop’ John Yaw Adu, who has been exposed for chaining up mentally ill patients at ‘prayer camps’ for days on end so he could ‘heal’ them through prayer.

Local reports claim Mr Adusah and his wife had argued at the start of the trip and he had booked himself into a budget motel alone, leaving her to stay with Bishop Yaw Adu After the conference ended, the couple apparently reconciled and checked into the Mac-Dic Royal Plaza Hotel in Koforidua, where they booked in for five days on March 16. The upmarket hotel has security gates and tropical gardens.

The couple were said to have argued over the length of their stay, according to the reports, with Mrs Adusah apparently wanting to stay in Ghana for a month but her husband saying it was far too long.

Her husband, Eric Isaiah Adusah, a selfproclaimed prophet and evangelical preacher, was alleged to have left the hotel hurriedly on the day she is believed to have died

,

he had a three-day church event he had to attend here.

But he was vague about the details of what happened, saying she had wanted to remain out there to help underprivileged children.

‘Charmain’s family couldn’t get hold of him after that Saturday, presumably because he had been arrested back in Ghana.’

Mrs Stephen said none of her friends took to him. ‘We thought he tried to cut her off from us, that he had brainwashed her. What person declares himself a prophet?

Charmain was religious but she wasn’t a pastor.’

Mrs Stephen said the family wants to go to Ghana and repatriate their daughter’s body but they cannot afford it.

Charmain’s mother Linda Speirs, 61, last night said she had been given legal advice not to comment.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘We confirm the death of a British national in Ghana.

Mr Adusah has not requested consular assistance.’

A representative of Mr Adusah’s church said: ‘There is no story. She died of natural causes.’

Culled from DailyMail

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

IVF DISASTER:

Man with deadly disease fathers 99 babies A

British mother is among nearly 100 women who have had babies by a Danish sperm donor who has triggered an international scare over the spread of an incurable genetic disease.

The man, known only as Donor 7042, carries a defective gene known as neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) that can pass on a severe, life-limiting condition to his offspring.

With demand for Danish sperm soaring, the donor is understood to have fathered 99 ‘Viking babies’ – as they are widely dubbed – across the world through the clinic Nordic Cryobank.

Ten of his offspring have already been diagnosed with NF1 – a condition which can increase the risk of cancer, cause learning difficulties and reduce a sufferer’s lifespan by up to 15 years. A child born from a parent with the defective gene has up to a 50 per cent chance of developing the disease.

Now four families are suing the sperm bank and the case has raised questions among fertility experts about Denmark’s booming, and unregulated, sperm export trade.

Laura Witjens, from the National Gamete Donation Trust (NGDT), said: ‘The distribution and use of Danish and American sperm donors is not regulated or monitored, but patients are not told this.

‘NF1 is a rare disease, but the terrible spread of the gene via this prolific Danish donor highlights the C M Y K

worrying dangers of the widespread use of a single donor.’

The British mother was one of 20 women treated at an IVF clinic in Belgium who conceived using the rogue sperm, the Belgian federal health authority revealed.

But reports from a variety of countries show the donor has fathered many more children – 99 in total, including the ones on Belgium, along with 44 across Scandinavia, 34 in America and one in Iceland.

Danish mother Lone SogaardKristensen, whose daughter inherited Donor 7042’s illness, claims she was contacted by as many as 17 women with his children who had the condition.

Ms Witjens said last night that it was possible more British women could have bought his donations with the defective gene online.

Donor 7042’s sperm was also exported to a closely associated centre in America – the California Cryobank. But in 2009 it was discovered he carried the NF1 gene – despite undergoing tests and stating in a questionnaire for Nordic Cryobank that there were no genetic disorders in his family.

The shock discovery was made when a baby conceived with his sperm in Belgium was diagnosed with the condition.

Ms Sogaard-Kristensen was ‘stunned’ to be informed of his medical status by the Danish health authorities. And when her

daughter Andrea subsequently developed the illness, she became one of the families – three from Denmark and one from the US – who are taking legal action against Nordic Cryobank.

A class action lawsuit claims it failed to properly screen for the disorder before using his specimens.

‘The case is not about money or revenge, it is about the fact we have not been able to get any information and the only way we can do this is through a court,’ Ms Sogaard-Kristensen said. ‘There are no rules that say you must be told how many children these donors make and the sperm banks will not tell you.’

The case comes as leading fertility scientists from Birmingham University and the Netherlands are calling for new international rules limiting the number of children one donor can produce to 100. They say if a donor exceeds this there is a risk of siblings inter-breeding and suffering psychological damage on finding out they are related to hundreds of other children.

Dr Jackson Kirkman-Brown, the fertility expert who led the research at Birmingham University, said: ‘What is clear when buying sperm from abroad is that although the number of families a donor is allowed to father in the UK is capped, it could

be hundreds elsewhere.

‘If you can imagine finding out that you have 500 siblings across the globe — that could have a real risk to the mental health of a child.’

It is understood that The Nordic Cryobank will claim that the legal claims against them are unfounded.

Managing director Peter Bower has previously stated that Donor 7042 could not be ‘clinically classified as having NF1, as it only occurs in some of his cells’. The company’s website states that it carries out genetic testing for a range of diseases including cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anaemia.

But it adds the disclaimer: ‘It is impossible to rule out genetic disease with 100 per cent certainty since it is not possible to test for all inheritable diseases.’

THE INCEST TIMEBOMB A limit should be set on the number of children who can be fathered by sperm donors, to combat fears that siblings or cousins could unwittingly meet and start families, experts say.

Clinics are currently allowed to sell sperm from a donor to thousands of women around the world, raising fears of an ‘incest timebomb’.

One man could theoretically ‘sire’ an ‘unlimited number’ of children, say the researchers, writing in the journal Reproductive BioMedicine.

The panel suggests no donor should sire more than 100 offspring.

Culled from DailyMail

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—45

BY LAJU IREN 07017860213 ELLEJAYMEDIA@YAHOO.CO.UK

SCHOOL CRACKS School Cracks America Teacher: “ what’s the further away, America or the Moon?”

Student: “America!” Teacher: “America? Whatever gave you that idea?” Student: “Simple, We can always see the moon from the Nigeria, but not America!”

Teacher Teacher : “What do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?”

Pupil : “A teacher” Report card Small boy: “Dad , can you write in the dark?” Father: “I think so.

What is it you want me to write?”

Small Boy: “Your name on the report card.” http:// Culled from www.careerindia.com/jokes

Why gubernatorial elections could make or mar education system

BY LAJU IREN 2015 is a sensitive year for Nigeria and for education on a global scale. On one hand are the nation’s 2015 elections and on the other, is the Education For All, EFA, goal set by the United Nations. Elections are underway today to select new governors for most of the states in the Federation. Many Nigerians hope this will be a successful venture, but as far as the EFA 2015 goal is concerned, all hope seems lost for Nigeria.

The nation has the highest number of Out of School Children in the world—10.5 million. So even before 2015, many had doubted that the country would be able to meet the deadline. In fact a 2014 report by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, said it would take more than 70 years before all children will have access to primary education. The report indicated that the greatest problems are in sub-Sahara Africa, with particular weaknesses in parts of West Africa.

Former Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai had also during her tenure confirmed that the nation would not meet the mark. Basic education, C M Y K

which is on the concurrent list of the budget, is the primary responsibility of the state and local governments. It is no wonder then that stakeholders in the sector are calling on the upcoming governors in the different states to make education a priority.

National Coordinator of the Education Rights Campaign, ERC, Hassan Soweto told Saturday School Life, SSL, that being Chief Executive Officers of the States and custodians of budgets, and for having direct responsibility for a considerable portion of the public education sector, State governors are a big determinant of the fortunes of education. He said: “Whatever is the policy directive of the Federal Government, if the States are not supportive, it would fail.

An example is the Universal Basic Education scheme which is presently floundering as a result of corruption but also inability of some States to access the funds. The twin cases of Benue and Kogi States where the respective governors are owing teachers months of salary arrears are further examples of how anti-worker and anti-education State governors can contribute to the failure of education sector.”

Prof. Mohammed Ibrahim, President of the Mathematics Association of Nigeria, MAN also spoke to SSL. His words: “If you look at the role of the state

government in teaching and learning, most states have not been performing as expected.

The first nine years of basic education are to be handled by the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB. In the past, the Ministry of Education was responsible for education at all levels, but it is not so anymore. Many state governors have not been giving SUBEB their full support. But Governors must understand that there is no meaningful development without education.

And the state is responsible for education at the foundational level. It’s just like if you’re constructing a building, if the foundation is not sound then there is no way the building will be strong. Education should be a priority for State Governors and any aspirant that will not encourage it is not worth a vote.”

Speaking further, Ibrahim said: “In 1962, anyone who went to primary school could do anything with his life. In those days, everyone went to public.

In fact today, nearly everyone in our generation who is someone in society attended public schools.

As it is, there are some teachers in state schools that have not been paid for months.

Governors need to encourage

teachers. Also, they should make it a point of duty to make the first nine years of schooling free as this is necessary to eradicate illiteracy.”

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr. .Michael Alogba also said that the Governor of a state could be instrumental in making or marring education in his state.

His words: “Without mincing words, I must say that the Governor is the Chief Executive Officer of his state. It is his job to allocate resources which will in turn impact on free education, educational activities and a better outing for students in the qualifying examinations. The cost of education is capital intensive; it will therefore take a determined governor to see the realization of this gigantic objective in his state. Any governor stepping in must prioritize his electoral objectives with education at the forefront because it is the key to development. He must allocate better resources, ensure that teachers do not have any reason to strike and expose children to Information and Communication Technologies, ICT. It takes a lot of commitment to this in the face of other pressing issues. But education is on the concurrent list and within the purview of the state governors.”

46—SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 11, 2015 happen. I’s not really a big deal but I’m actually dying inside over the guilt I have now. I haven’t seen the guy again but I am struggling because on one hand, I want to tell my partner but on the other, I feel like it will hurt him so much. I don’t know if it’s the right thing to do. At the same time, I also wonder to myself why this happened and if I’m happy in my relationship, what made this so available and easy? Is there something more, is there a reason this happened?

Laila, Kogi

juliecoker100@yahoo.com

I feel guilty about cheating on him Aunty Julie, My guy and I have been together for the past 10 years. We have been living together but we are not married and my family is kicking. I have always felt like we had a pretty good relationship

and although I am away for work quite often, I have never felt tempted to stray.But last year, I met another guy at a conference and we clicked well and ended up talking for hours. However, one thing led to another and things happened that I never intended to

Dear Laila, You are feeling guilty and confused. You seem to care but wonder how you could do this at the same time. The truth is, when our feelings, thoughts and behaviours don’t match, we enter the state of cognitive dissonance, which is usually difficult until we get aligned by either reassessing our values or changing our

behaviours, so that things line up again. You are struggling because you are evolving and growing from the situation inside you.

But I’m curious if you are more troubled by telling your partner the truth or feeling the judgments. The biggest judge is the person in the mirror. Just like you can love someone but not everything they do, you can love yourself but not everything you’ve done. That might be a starting point.

We often judge others for actions that don’t align with their personal value system or the value systems of communities, families and so on. Everyone has their own value system and maybe it’s a good time to evaluate your own. Behaviours are deeper rooted and until you examine what that is for you, it may be unclear as to not only why this happened but what you want to do next.

He wanted me and his ex wife Dear Julie, I just ended my relationship with a man who is 15 years my senior. I have struggled for over a year with his inability to commit to me and his still-going relationship with his ex-wife. Due to his having an affair throughout their 14 year marriage, he has developed a relationship with her that is based on dependence, guilt and obligation. He spends holidays, many family occasions, and some vacations with her and their college age children. It’s almost as if they are still married, yet he had this intimate relationship with me which the children and ex-wife were aware of.

Was it unrealistic for me to expect that I was to be an important relationship in his life and to expect that he would respect my needs to be a priority? I was respectful of his relationship with his children, but the way it was set up was his ex-wife orchestrated the children’s lives and he just joined in as if they were still an intact family. I had many a sleepless night over this situation, until I could not stand to be the “other woman” any longer.

Do you have any thoughts or experience with this type of relationship?

Ebube, Warri Dear Ebube, Some people are simply unavailable. It almost doesn’t matter what makes them

unavailable, it could be their ex, from a marriage or a long-term relationship, it could be drugs or alcohol, it could be TV, it could be work, it could be food, it could be sports. I could go on and on.

The bottom line is that people who are unavailable are that way because they don’t want to be fully present in a relationship.

Usually this is from a deep fear of closeness and being hurt deeply early in their lives. This can not be fixed except by them and more closeness certainly can be

demanded or mandated by their partner.

When you are with someone who is unavailable, unless they know and see that they are unavailable and want more closeness with you for themselves, there will be no change. An unavailable person can only become available through deep personal work, to uncover what keeps him or her unavailable. And then there’s the learning new relationship behaviour. All of this takes a lot

of work and time.

I am glad you saw the light about your relationship – that you were with a man who was uncomfortable with intimacy and for that reason, maintaining two relationships. You intuitively understood that he could not be fully with either you or his ex-wife.

So what to do in these situations? If the person you are with does not see that he or she is unavailable after repeated attempts by you to show him or her what’s really going on, there is only one thing to do – leave. A relationship with an unavailable person is painful, and you don’t need that kind of pain.

Did I cause him to break up with me?

Dear Julie, I recently went through a painful breakup with a man I had been involved with for eight months. I thought we were doing fine until towards the end when he started to distance himself from me and finally told me after my questioning his behaviour that he did not love me but did not want to break up. He thought we might continue and see if his feelings changed. I didn’t think that would work for me, and I told him I thought he wanted me to initiate the break up. The next day, he told me it was over. Did I jump too soon? Should I have asked him some more questions?

Dudu, Abuja Dear Dudu,

Who wears the pants A young couple, just married, were in their honeymoon suite on their wedding night. As they undressed for bed, the husband, who was a big burly man, tossed his pants to his bride and said, “here put these on.” She said “I can’t wear your pants.” “That’s right!!” said the husband, “and don’t you forget it. I’m the man who wears the pants in this family!” With that she flipped him her panties and said, “Try these on.” He tried them on and found he could only get them on as far as his kneecaps. He said,

It sounds like the man you were dating could have been thinking about breaking up with you, or could have been wondering why he didn’t feel more connected to you. Either way, though, you have to know that one conversation with you would not have pushed him over the edge into wanting to break up. You did not cause the breakup by talking to him!

Asking more questions is always a good idea in a relationship, especially in situations where there is conflict. Questions such as why he feels this way, and if there is anything you have done or not done to cause his feelings, are great for getting information.

Next time you are dating someone and he starts to pull

C O C K - T A L E S “Hell, I can’t get into your panties!” She said, “That’s right, and that’s the way it’s going to be until you change your attitude.”

I can’t eat, drink, or sleep Ricky was telling his father about his new girlfriend.

He said, “Since I met her I can’t eat, drink, or sleep.”

“Why’s that?” asked his father.

“Because,” he said, “I’m broke.”

The wife is not speaking to me

away, you will want to get to the bottom of why the distancing is happening. Usually there is either a failure to connect or an accumulation of baggage in the relationship that is the problem. A relationship can often be saved if the two people can successfully find a way to connect and deal with the baggage between them.

The trick to a successful, life long relationship is to work on it, actively, before there is any sign of trouble. “Doing fine” when it comes to a relationship is a sure road to a breakup. Your relationship must be better than fine and if it’s not, you and your partner need to take the time to find out why and make it the relationship you both always enjoy.

One night, this guy come into a bar and asks the bartender for a drink. Then he asks for another. After a couple more drinks, the bartender gets worried.

“What’s the matter?” the bartender asks.

“My wife and I got into a fight,” explained the guy “and now she isn’t talking to me for a whole 31 days.”

The bartender thought about this for a while.

“But, isn’t it a good thing that she isn’t talking to you?” asked the bartender.

“Yeah, except today is the last night.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—47

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Women who treat intimacy like ready meals!

O

N the surface, it is completely realistic. You want sex.

You want it now. A willing partner has the hots for you and, if you had any sense, you would go for it. Who knows when the next opportunity would rear its head. Right?

Well, wrong! Not if you have a steady relationship with someone else.

When Yanju met Mercy at a stag night for a colleague, he believed she was the type he could fall for. “I was in between girlfriends and there she was, bossomy with a British accent. She had a well-paid job too, and when I offered her a lift in my car, I expected her to turn it down because she came in hers. But, she said she hated driving at night and had caged a lift from a friend to the party. My luck was in! I felt even luckier when she agreed to come up to my flat for the proverbial ‘night cap’!

When we got home, we taking you to bed— only hardly touched our drinks to tell you afterwards not before I was all over her! In to bring your hope up as minutes, we were in the they’ve got a boy-friend! bedroom—me naked, she “We’ve been together for naked! And, we made close to two years now,’ passionate love. She was she explained. ‘I don’t insatiable, I was excited. want to break his heart by This was it, I whooped being unfaithful.’ inside. She certainly passed Another shocker! So, the test of my dream girl. what has she just done?

What happened next landed ‘Shall we analyse what

My friends were right after all.

There are girls who like to have their cake, eat it, then take another slice behind their partner’s back

,

my jaw on the floor. Mercy picked up her mobile, punched in some numbers and told the party at the other end she was on her way! It could be a girlfriend she shared a flat with, I thought. “You don’t need to go home tonight.

It’s late. Why don’t I take you back home early in the morning —it’s Saturday afterall, no need to rush to work”. ‘That was my boyfriend,’ she said matter-offactly.’ We live together and he would soon leave the party. He’s one of the organisers.’ Was I hearing right? My friends had often bragged about having mind-blowing no-strings attached sex and I thought they were having me on.

“Obviously, I’d just been ‘sampled’ by the evergrowing brigade of girls who flirt with you, kissing you passionately before C M Y K

When she didn’t see his car in the drive, she was overjoyed. She stepped out of my car with a cherry wave. And, that was it. No ‘when do I see you again?’ I didn’t even have her number. I felt really used as I drove back home.

“My friends were right after all. There are girls who like to have their cake, eat it, then take another slice behind their partner’s back. Do they consider this fun?

Cheating isn’t about having sex, it’s about abusing trust; and cheats in denial, like Mercy, are even worse.”

W

bit of fun, it’s just sex!’ ‘I had the mind of pushing her into the cold night but it was too late to get a cab. If anything happened to her, it would be her fault. All the steamy romance we experienced before I took her to my bed had vanished. Instead, she was so anxious her guy would get home before she did, she virtually dashed out of my flat.

hen Amaka met Pat at a workshop, the two girls hit things off together, exchanged phone numbers before going their separate ways. “I was flattered when she called the next day inviting me for lunch at a social club she belonged to,” Amaka recounted. “From then on, we started some sort of friendship, she was

fun and always interested in what was going on in my life that we bonded instantly. It’s sort of flattering when someone asks all about you and doesn’t talk about themselves most of the time.

“Whenever we went shopping, she would buy the same thing I did, which didn’t strike me as creepy, until later she had her hair braided just like mine. When my boyfriend joked she looked like my clone, I took it as a compliment. Then I got the shock of my life they say I came back home early because a meeting was postponed and walked into the flat to find Pat on the couch having sex with my boyfriend! I didn’t ask any questions but yelled they should both leave my flat at once.

I cried for months after and whenever I see her, which isn’t often, thank goodness, I feel like throwing up! It’s a sad fact but there are some nymphomaniacs out there ready to sacrifice a good friendship for torrid sex!”

Why older men tend to be more sexually active than women

,

you’ve just said?’ I shouted at her completely frustrated. ‘Would you consider it cheating if your boyfriend took a random girl back to your flat, had wild sex with her and sent her packing?’

She confessed she would.

That she’d do something rather unpleasant to him involving a sharp kick to his tackle. After all, if her man had ended up in their bed without clothes and with another woman, he would have strayed. I remained gobsmacked!

She would castrate a philandering boyfriend but excused her own behavior? l asked her to take a good look at her jaundiced view and ask herself; “why is it different when I do it?

‘Oh, come on,’ she told me impatiently, hurriedly getting dress. ‘It’s just a

A

ge is no barrier to an active love life, research shows. For among the 70s, more than half of men and almost a third of women say they are still sexually active. Of these, one in three say they have sex at least twice a month. The University of Manchester study was the first of its kind to include men and women aged 80-plus.

It also found that love and affection stand the test of time, with many in their 70s and 80s saying they still indulge in frequent kissing.

Researchers did not examine why older men tend to be more sexually active than women, but it may be that they are more likely to have a younger partner. A woman’s longer lifespan is also thought to be relevant, with older women more likely to be widowed and thus living alone for longer. But as women get older, they believe that quality is more important than quantity where their sex lives are concerned, for the study revealed that while some have fewer nights of passion as they get older, they enjoy them more.

Researchers said this is probably because older women accept that their sex lives are not going to improve.

The study of more than 6,000 English men and women aged 50-plus found that poor health and the loss of a partner are bigger obstacles to having

sex than lack of desire. Researcher David Lee said: ‘We hope our findings improve public health by countering stereotypes and misconceptions about late-life sexuality, and offer older people a reference against which they may relate their own experiences and expectations.

The study, published in the Germanbased journal, Archives of Sexual Behaviour, showed older Britons to be far from prudish about discussing their most intimate moments. Less than 3 per cent of those who took part refused to answer direct questions about their sex lives.

D

r. Lee said doctors should not be shy about broaching the subject. ‘A minority of older people remain sexual ly active but that minority is still quite a number of people who could arguably benefit from more open and equitable healthcare,’ he said. ‘Sexual health shouldn’t just be swept under the carpet.’

Caroline Abrahams, of the charity Age UK, said: ‘The fact this is the first time that people over 80 years old have been included in this kind of research highlights how often the public health needs of older people, including sexual health, are ignored or overlooked. With an ageing population it is important that providers of sexual health services understand the needs of older people in both clinical settings and when developing information and advice.’

48—SATURDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

YETUNDE AREBI

Perception: Sometimes far from the truth (2) Hi! Remember mummy and daddy Samson?

Yes, the young, beautiful couple with four lovely kids whom I’d always thought were the perfect couple. Or so it was until the great revelation one fateful night. The story concludes below.

From what I gathered that night, their fights had become a regular occurrence in the compound. The more I processed all that I was hearing, the more the respect and admiration I had built in six months for daddy Samson slipped away. What kind of monster is this tall, dark, handsome, soft spoken gentleman, I began thinking. Surely, it is true that you cannot judge people by mere appearance or position. You may be shocked at what lay underneath the cool mien if you dig deep enough. This I was determined to do.

Mummy Samson went on ranting, madam; you cannot understand what I am going through living with this man. He does not take care of me and the children at all. For someone working in the bank, all he says is that he has no money.

But he has enough to carry women and enjoy himself. If my husband was half as caring as your husband, I will have no reason to complain at all. We see you all the time. You drive any car you want, you go out and come home anytime you like. You are enjoying yourself, so you cannot understand what I am going through. Following these strange outburst, everyone fell into silence. I was shocked but quickly gathered myself together. ‘Mummy Sammy, how can you say such a thing? Every married woman has a story to tell and you can only know it when she opens up to you. You don’t know what I am going through in my marriage. All that glitters is not gold. I have my own problems too’, I told her. But she retorted back, ‘If I C M Y K

have what you have, I won’t have any problems’. The eldest of the men gave a loud hiss, turned and walked away while the other woman took over from me on the need for mummy Sammy to stop comparing herself with other people as every relationship has its own flaws. At the end, we were all forced to retire to our flats when it became obvious that the duo were not going to end their dispute on a positive note.

Truly, they continued all through the night.

I felt deeply sorry for mummy Samson as I saw her as a confused woman who had been forced for several years to endure her husband’s abuses and maltreatment. For me, the height of it was bringing home his mistresses. None the less, for the sake of their four children, surely, the marriage was still worth saving. So, once again, I made my way down the stairs but this time, to the old man’s flat. After reviewing the events of the previous night, I went straight to business. I asked why he displayed so much disaffection towards mummy Samson even when it was obvious that her husband had done a very terrible thing. What the old man told me turned my bones into jelly.

According to him, daddy Samson might have erred but it is nothing compared to what his wife had been doing over the years. He said since I was new in the compound, it was my first time of witnessing their fight. They are all so used to it that he had resolved to ignore them anytime they have a dispute. He said the woman is a very wayward woman and that together, she and her younger sister caused the separation of the couple who previously lived in the flat I now occupy. The younger sister, with her knowledge had dated another woman’ husband and that both of them had done it to exhort money from the man. To show how callous she was, they became very disrespectful to the man’s wife and openly made fun of her until someone in the neighbourhood decided to

let the secret out to her. He said though the woman looks as beautiful and gentle as a dove, she is indeed a wayward and adulterous. He said it is actually the man that has been managing the relationship contrary to what most people must be thinking.

That it is not the first time that the woman has been caught entangled in adultery related issues. That a few years back, she was in a relationship with one of her son’s teachers. My jaw dropped! Beautiful, shy, innocent- looking mummy Samson? A woman married to a banker dating a teacher? Her son’s teacher? Yes, he said, her secret affair was let out when her husband intercepted a letter between the lovers from the son. Their son? Yes, he was aware and acted as the intermediary. It should not surprise you ma, he said, the boy is only showing the true signs of a bastard.

The man is not the father, they only call him by Samson’s name because they arrived into the compound together. He is actually some other man’s and was brought into the marriage. The mother had dropped out of school in JSS 1 when she got pregnant with him and the story is that she does not know the father. Daddy Samson must be commended for accepting the boy along with the mother. (Really? Now I think it makes sense that the boy would actually assist his mum to kill the husband.

What a shame)! The elderly man continued, “please madam, don’t bother yourself with this woman. She knows what she is doing and will never listen to anyone. If what we know is correct, she is only plotting how to walk out of her marriage. The gist is that she is having an affair with a man in the neighbourhood and is planning to leave her husband for him.

She has been telling her close friends that she has met the man of her dream who she is sure will take care of her to her satisfaction and that she is ready to share him with his wife. If mummy Samson is bent on leaving, no amount of pleading with her would make her stay.

I thanked him but insisted I will still talk to mummy Samson even if it would yield nothing. She was not in her flat but at her friend’s, upstairs. So, why didn’t they bother to show up all through the fight?

They insisted they did not hear all the noise. My intervention achieved nothing, not even for the sake of her children whom she had decided to leave behind. I asked her if she was not going to remarry after leaving her husband. The devil you know is better than the saint you don’t, I reminded her.

Besides, at her age, it will definitely not be easy to find a young single guy. So, why leave number one position to go and live as number two or three? She stayed with her friends upstairs for another two days before finally leaving the compound. Shortly after, news reached us that mummy Samson had indeed left because of another man and was now living in one of the man’s houses.

She left her children behind. All these happened almost eight years ago. Last we heard was that the relationship had ended on a sour note and mummy Samson was now back on the prowl, looking for another prey. I never would have guessed all these, but for that one fateful night. Indeed, perception might be wrong, you cannot stay afar and claim to know anyone. I’ve learnt a good lesson about life, love and relationship. Never again will I jump the gun again! Do have a wonderful weekend!

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—49

For me, dancing is serious business — Ukalina Opuwari

BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE

Y

OUNG and ambitious Ukalina Opuwari was winner of the Maltina Dance Hall Competition in 2008.

The Mass Communication graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is currently Director at the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria, SPAN, where she co-ordinates dance activities.

In this interview, Ukalina talks about the highpoints in her career, challenges and prospects.

Why did you chose this line of career?

Since I realized I had the gift naturally and it made me happy, I pushed to become a performer extraordinaire and to also pass the knowledge to the young ones! I never saw myself doing a white collar job but in the performing arts. So it chose me. I have passion for presenting as well.

Let us talk about some of the memorable moments in your life...

The first memorable moment for me was when I won the Maltina Dance All Season 2 with

my family. The second experience for me was when I got certified as the first lady teacher in Nigeria in Latin and Ballroom and being part of SPAN. Finally my proposal in Las Vegas which is still ongoing.

So, who or what do you consider the greatest influence in your life?

My greatest influence will be my background, my family, Ice Nweke, Sarah Boulos, Diane Jarmolow, all the staff and students in SPAN. Most especially kids; I love kids and they sure influence the way I do things.

Let us talk about your job at SPAN; what are some of the achievements recorded?

Apart from the successes recorded by the society, other aspects of achievement are personal! I have evolved from just being a performer to an educator and much more. I have been opportune to travel to many places and have met international stars in the dance industry especially in Latin and Ballroom.

What are some of the projects you have

*Ukalina

participated in after Maltina Dance Hall?

There are many but I will name a few. I was an instructor for about 3 seasons of the Maltina Dance Hall and in the past two seasons, I was the Regional Judge. I was the Choreographer for Miss Queen Nigeria 2014, I played a major character in Love is the Musical Season 1-4. I have played a major character in Amstel Malta Showtime "The Rush" and also in "Realvolution" during the re-launch of the Legend drink.

I was also the Regional Judge for Hip Hop World International and also a Judge in International Dance Organization competition. I performed alongside Osas Ighodaro during the opening of the AMVCA 2015 and currently the presenter for Dance and Learn, a dance show showing on Cool TV. Challenges encountered...?

In the dance industry, the major challenge is financial support and acceptance!

Right now, we are accepted as part of the entertainment industry but not totally as we are not appreciated as we should be. Also, the educative part is still suffering as we are yet to attain that excellence needed in the business.

*Ukalina with Ice

How do you cope with some of these challenges?

Honestly, I’m determined, like some others, not to be put down by these challenges. Our passion is our strength and daily I work harder so that the next generation can achieve much

more and be better. They can have more access and be able to understand that dancing is serious business.

So, what changes would you like to see in the next five years?

I would like to see Dance institutions in every state and performing art centers. I want dance to be a profession on its own and to see more trained dancers, teachers and choreographers. I want people who are gifted to be able to channel it in the right direction and for Nigerian Dance styles to be exported and known worldwide. I want to see people appreciated for their contribution and hard work, for the kids to take dance as part of their subjects.

I love kids and they sure influence the way I do things.

How would you compare what you are doing with colleagues in the other parts of the world?

I would say we are exceptionally powerful and gifted! We are so passionate yet indisciplined ! They work harder at what they can do and perfect it daily, we get distracted with many things and at the end we don’t even get to our maximum! We are creative but lack the support to bring that to pass.

Who are those you admire greatly?

My mum, sisters, Pastor Nonso Ubajekwe, Sarah Boulos, Ice Nweke, Olufunmi Olajoyegbe, Bright Gain, Buddy Agedah, Lovette Otegbola, Lilian Yeri, Penny Mohammed, Diane Jarmolow, Bunmi Olunloyo, Joanna Leunis, Isabella Lewandowski and Catherina Galas.

50—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

O

peratives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos state police command are currently investigating three security guards suspected to have attacked, robbed and murdered their boss right inside his office at Eleko area of Lagos state.

The suspects identified as Usman Mohamed, 27; Umaru Adamu, 35; and Mohamed (currently at large) worked as security guards in Trans Africa Farms and Food Company; owned by an Indian national.

THE ATTACK ON THEIR BOSS It was learnt that at about 3:30am, Usman Mohamed and Mohamed broke into the office of the Operational Manager while he was asleep. They allegedly attacked him, slit his throat, stabbed him in his abdomen, stole a brief case and absconded. Luckily, the victim was able to call the Director of the company to alert him of the attack before he collapsed. It was gathered that the Director called the Supervisor to check on the victim after the call. Reports said when the Supervisor got there few minutes after 4am, he found him in the pool of his own blood. Immediately, he arranged for the victim to be taken to the General hospital, Apodo and the next morning, he was rushed to St. Nicholas hospital on the island where he, unfortunately, died three days later on February 14, 2015.

ARREST OF GUARANTORS Meanwhile, when the Supervisor noticed that the suspected perpetrators of the act had disappeared, he arrested their guarantors. Initially, they denied been their guarantors but admitted that they know only one of the suspects, Usman.

One of the guarantors identified simply as Ali said that he was from the same village in Kebbi State with Usman. So, he was told to alert his family members and relatives that he has been arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-robbery Squad for a crime committed by Usman.

He pleaded with them to arrest Usman if he comes to their

C M Y K

•Suspects

How we slit our manager’s throat with knife •Shocking revelations of guards that murdered their Indian boss in Lagos

village. Luckily , Usman was apprehended in Kebbi state by SARS operatives and bundled back to Lagos. During preliminary investigation, he confessed that it was Adamu that advised them to carry out the onslaught on the Operation Manager after they complained to him that they have not been paid.

SUSPECTS’S ACCOUNT Confessing to the crime, Usman Mohamed, 27, said; “I am from Kebbi state. Before I came to Lagos last year, I was a farmer. I decided to come to Lagos because each time people from Lagos returned home, they looked good. It was Adamu that took me to the company where I was employed as a security guard. I was placed on N17,000 monthly salary. Sometime ago, Mohamed and I went to Umaru to complain that we had not been paid. He advised us to meet the Operations Manager and demand for our salary. He also said that if we get there and he refused to pay us, we should take any action we deemed fit.

HOW HE WAS KILLED “When we got there, Mohamed ordered me to stay at the door while he went inside, locked the door and attacked the victim. I didn’t know he

,

HOW THEY WERE EMPLOYED According to reports, Usman Mohamed, Umaru Adamu, Mohamed (surname unknown) and one other person called Umoru, were employed by the company as security contract staff on January 25, 2015. Crime Guard gathered that on February 11, 2015, Usman Mohamed and Mohamed complained to Adamu Umaru who introduced them to the company, that the company had not paid their salary.

Adamu reportedly advised the duo to take their complaint to the Operational Manager, Mr Srivastava Shailesh Kumar.

They allegedly attacked him, slit his throat, stabbed him in his abdomen, stole a brief case and absconded

,

had a knife with him. I was stationed at the door when I heard the victim screaming, calling for help. Later, Mohamed opened the door, came out with a brief case he took from the victim’s apartment and gave me N10, 000. He told me he was going to settle Oga Adamu. Sincerely, I don’t know the content of the brief case but I wasn’t happy with the N10, 000 he gave to me.

WASHING OFF BLOODSTAINS “That night I saw Mohamed washing himself with water from a well within the compound. When I pointed torch at him, I saw fresh blood stains all over his clothe and body. That was when I asked him why he killed the victim, he then advised me to escape. Before we went to attack the victim, Umaru gave Mohamed some charms to enable him carry out the operation successfully. That is why he is currently at large.”

SECOND SUSPECT SPEAKS In his defence, Adamu Umaru, 35, from Bornu state told Crime Guard; “There was no time I advised Usman Mohamed and Mohamed to attack and kill the victim. I wasn’t aware that they attacked him. I didn’t prepare charms for Mohamed who is currently at large. I knew nothing about the attack till I received a call from the

Chief Security Officer that one of the Managers hasd been attacked by robbers.

HOW IT ALL STARTED Recounting how it all started Adamu continued; “The Chief Security Officer of the company, early this year asked me to assist him get four security guards for employment. So, I got three persons including myself. I brought Umoru, Mohamed and Usman. I knew three of them here in Lagos but I didn’t know their home towns.

Sometime ago, Usman Mohamed and Mohamed complained to me that they were yet to receive their salary. Immediately, I called the CSO who is in-charge of paying our salary. After the call, I pleaded with them to exercise patience; that the CSO would bring their money. But that same night, they attacked the Operations Manager. I do two security jobs. I work as a night security at Best time hotel owned by one Alhaji while I work as a day security in Trans Africa farms and Food Company.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—51

•Suspects

We rob people who patronise prostitutes in brothels — suspects

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

R

ecently, four daring bandits carried their luck too far when they struck at the everbusy Federal Highway Barracks in Ikeja, Lagos. Interestingly, they carried out the operation in an area where both policemen and other security agents throng heavily.

The popular but dreaded Area F, police command is also located close to the barracks. This did not however, deter the daredevils from waylaying their victim and robbing him of his precious valuables which included; Laptop, I-phone 4, two blackberries, PSP game, two wristwatches and N12, 000 at gun point.

The suspects identified as; Ismalia Oladusu, 29, Shonde Azeez, 28, Salami Ahmed, 27, Sunday Samuel, 27, Monday Audu,37 and Gbenga Odunuga, 49,were arrested after one of the phones they stole was tracked to an innocent buyer who eventually led detectives to the leader of the gang called Ismaila.

During preliminary interrogation, the suspects who specialised in terrorising residents in Agege, Oshodi, Oko-Oba and C M Y K

Berger confessed to have participated in the operation and revealed that they carried out several robbery operations within Lagos and its environs.

SUSPECTS ACCOUNT Confessing to the crime, Ismalia Oladusu, from Ikirun Town in Osun state, said “Before I was arrested, I worked at Ikeja local government as one of the revenue collectors. Daily, I made between N700 to N950 from the sale of tickets to commercial motorcyclists. I went into robbery after government placed a ban on the movement of commercial motorcycles in some areas in Lagos. I switched to robbery. I am married and I have a daughter. I went into robbery in 2013. The gun I use for robbery operations was given to me by one Orji who is late now. Any time he gave me the gun for any operation, I gave him returns of N10, 000 after the operation. I returned the gun to him before he died. I reside at no 20, Idowu street, Okoba area in Agege.

“I regret participating in the robbery operation that actually led to my arrest. One of the barrack boys called Zamandi, invited me to rob the victim. At

about 6am while the victim was about to leave for work, we ambushed him in front of his house and stole all his valuables. I sold one of the phones to Sherrif for N22,000. I was arrested around Oko-Oba area after Sherrif was tracked with the stolen phone. We have participated in several robbery operations. The highest money I made from robbery was N230, 000 after the sale of a stolen vehicle. After I sold the stolen vehicle, I gave each member who participated in the operation N70, 000.

“We stole a vehicle in Ikeja, a Toyota Camry which we sold for N230, 000. We also stole a Mercedes Benz along Berger Express way which we sold to one Mr Monday. He promised to pay but he is yet to pay. Shonde Azeez, Salami Ahmed, Sunday Samuel and Monday Audu are members of our gang. They also have their own gangs.”

In his defence, Shonde Azeez, from Ogun State, said “I am not a member of his robbery gang. I knew Ismalia through street fighting. We had a misunderstanding. I knew him as an armed robber. After I dropped out from school, I worked as a bar attendant in a hotel. I participated in a robbery

I went into robbery after government placed a ban on the movement of commercial motorcycles in some areas in Lagos

operation with one of my friends called Ola and Sunday Samuel.

All we do is steal phones. I have never snatched vehicles. I dropped out of Olabisi Olabanjo University consult in 2008, where I was studying mass communication.”

Another suspect, Sunday Samuel (aka DJ simple), from Ekiti state said; “I am a Disk Jockey and I am also an electrician. I was arrested because I am homeless and was squatting with Shonde Azeez.

We specialised in stealing phones from people who come to patronise prostitutes in the brothel located in Okoba area.”

His colleague, Salami Ahmed also stated; “I am from Oyo state.

I was born in Lagos state. I reside at no 1, Musuliu street in Agege. When Ismalia was arrested, he said I was part of his gang, which is not true.

Members of my gang have been killed. They were killed during a robbery operation in August 2013, in Ayobo. They were all lynched to death. Micheal, the armourer of our gang is currently at large.”

A member of the gang, Monday Paul from Kogi also said; “I am a car dealer. I sell both fairly used and stolen cars.

I also help people sell cars and make commissions. I was arrested because some time ago, Ismalia brought a used car to me to help him sell. it was a Toyota Camry. He told me that his friend wanted to sell a car. So, I called Mr Gbenga who eventually bought the vehicle, he paid N250, 000 and I was given N15, 000 as commission.

Initially, I didn’t know the vehicle was stolen. After I sold it to Mr Gbenga, I realised that it was a stolen vehicle. Later, he brought a Mercedes Benz SUV which I sold for N650, 000 to another buyer called Mustapha, but I have not given Ismaila the proceeds from the sale of the vehicle. I knew Ismaila at the Fela Shrine. I also sold a Toyota Camry to one Jerome for N720, 000. Jerome sold the car to a church (names withheld).”

Gbenga Odunuga, another member of the gang stated also; “I am a panel-beater with workshop around first-gate in Agidingbi, Ikeja. I was celebrating the naming ceremony of my child when I received a call from Monday that someone wanted to sell a vehicle. I told him that I didn’t go to shop because I was celebrating my child’s naming ceremony. After much persuasion, I told him to meet me at a UBA branch with the vehicle so that I could inspect it and determine it’s state.

They drove the vehicle to the location. After thoroughly inspecting the vehicle, we settled for N250, 000 after bargaining. I withdrew N200, 000 which I paid them that same day. The next day, I paid them the balance. After fixing the vehicle, I sold it to a customer for N400, 000. This was about four years ago. I was surprised when I saw police officers in my workshop with Ismaila to arrest me.”

52—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

B

rigadier-General Johnson Bamidele Olawumi is the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). He has just clocked one year in office and recently shared his experience about the scheme.

You have been the Director-General of NYSC for a year now. What will you consider the major achievements of the Scheme under your watch?

When I came on board, and after a careful study of the NYSC, I came up with my vision for the Scheme and with that vision came a four-point agenda. For me, everything centres on the welfare of corps members and staff.

What I consider my biggest achievement is the increased focus that the welfare of corps members now enjoys from the Scheme. I will break this into three categories: Before the corps members come in, during their service year, and after they leave us.

We started the online mobilisation last year because we found out that in the past we had lost some prospective corps members to accidents on their way to collect their call-up letters.

That was one of the main reasons why we started emobilisation and online processing and printing of callup letters. For me, this is looking out for them even before they become corps members. During the service year, the most critical thing in terms of welfare of corps members is their safety and security, and this starts from when they are in camp. We now have enhanced safety and security of our corps members through increased collaboration with all security agencies. And I will tell you that in spite of the numerous security challenges that we have had in the country, our and reassure them that they are orientation camps have been not forgotten. We have also not well protected and free of any forgotten about the welfare of ugly incident. Outside of NYSC staff. camps, we are focused on using technology to quickly What are the major reach and assist corps members challenges that you have who might be in danger. Apart encountered in the last one from the physical year and what are your inspectorate mechanism, which plans to surmount them? we have at the local NYSC is an agency that government level, we have the depends almost solely on NYSC mobile apps and social government subvention. That is media platforms to monitor and a major challenge. We all know address, in real time, that because of competing challenges faced by corps needs, government cannot do members. For instance, I use everything, even if it loves to Twitter to maintain daily do so. One has to commend the interaction with corps members government for sustaining the all over the country. They can scheme because a lot of reach me and that enables me money goes into it. The fact to quickly respond to their remains that a lot of things problems. This is aside the fact need to be done but that I made it mandatory that budgetary allocation to the whenever a corps member is scheme might not allow us to sick or is involved in an do them. So that’s one major accident during the service challenge for the Scheme. We year, we strictly follow the are however looking at ways provision of the NYSC Act by to mitigate the shortcomings. ensuring that all their medical One thing we are considering expenses are paid. For those is the need to get the private unfortunate to sustain one form of sector to be more involved in disability or the other during their funding the Scheme. service year, we have also

Brigadier-General Johnson Bamidele Olawumi ,DG National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)

We 're repositioning NYSC —DG, NYSC

inaugurated a programme to ensure that they are not abandoned or forgotten but are assisted to be productively engaged. Before now, all they were entitled to was an insurance payment. But we have introduced the NYSC Hope Alive Programme, graciously launched recently by President Goodluck Jonathan, to give them additional succour and support,

C M Y K

You mentioned your vision and your 4-point Agenda which you have unveiled.

Why did you think the Scheme needed a new vision and agenda?

You will recall that there was a time when there was a lot of discussions about the relevance of NYSC. Those questioning the Scheme wanted to be sure that NYSC

was still useful, that there was value for the scarce resources spent on it by government, and that the corps members served in safety. I did some research and discussed with a lot of people within and outside NYSC after my appointment to see how to address these concerns. So I came up with my vision, which is: ‘to increase the impact of the Scheme and expand its value to critical stakeholders.’ The vision was designed to address the observed gaps and challenges.

I believe that no one will be talking about the relevance of NYSC or not if they can feel its impact and if the various stakeholders get more value from the Scheme. I further broke down the vision into a four-point agenda, which is: to improve the service content of the Scheme; to enhance the welfare and safety of corps members and staff; to expand partnership for greater impact, funding and support; and to increase the visibility and relevance of the Scheme.

So, how far have you gone in the implementation of the four-point agenda?

The four-point agenda has been our road map. And it has helped in keeping us on track, especially in terms of increasing the service content of the Scheme and improving the welfare of corps members. I will give you a few examples. Now, corps members participate in

For those unfortunate to sustain one form of disability or the other during their service year, we have also inaugurated a programme to ensure that they are not abandoned or forgotten but are assisted to be productively engaged

monthly sanitation exercises across the country, not only for cleaning but more importantly by sensitizing the people on the need for them to come out and clean their surroundings.

Then we came up with another programme tagged Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers. We realised that there are some communities across the country that do not have health facilities. These are remote communities. We have launched that programme in Kwara State and as we speak, there are five other states in the waiting. We launched the pilot scheme in a place called Igbo Owu in Kwara State. What we did was that we partnered with the state government and an NGO, Royal Health Foundation. The state government gave us the location and some drugs, the NGO provided ambulance and drugs too and mobilized the community, while NYSC mobilized the manpower such as corps doctors, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and others.

The launching was very successful.

You talked about NYSC Hope Alive Programme. Why was it established and what purpose does it serve?

The motivating factor in our establishing the NYSC Hope Alive Programme stems from the fact that when I came into the Scheme most times I read in the media about the plight of corps members who in the course of service yet get permanently disabled. And I felt that there should be a way we can address this. Yes, government has made provision for an insurance cover for anybody who dies or who incurs permanent disability during the course of the service year. The insurance cover is now N1,000,000. But we have also recognised that this money is not sufficient. We realised that we must give these young men and women something that will give them hope about our country. And one way we could start is to make sure no one who suffers disability in the course of service is abandoned.

That was what led to the establishment of the NYSC Hope Alive Programme. It is a public-private sector driven empowerment programme designed to provide succour to corps members who become disabled during the course of the service year. It has been flagged off. Heritage Bank gave the first beneficiaries N1.5 million each. The governor of Akwa Ibom and Ibeto Group also chipped in. Mr President specifically said the NYSC Hope Alive Progamme is very dear to his heart.

Will the post-service medical treatment include things like prosthetics, wheelchairs and some other things that will make people whole or aid them to function better?

Hopefully it should because we want to make that person to get integrated into the society and we want such a person to see that there is ability even in their disability.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—53

THE GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATES

Jimi Agbaje, Lagos (PDP)

Rasheed Ladoja (Oyo Accord)

Bello Masari (Katsina APC)

Jibrillah Bindow (Adamawa APC)

Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara APC)

Alex Otti (Abia, APGA)

Umar Nasko (Niger PDP) C M Y K

Akinwumi Ambode, Lagos (APC)

Akin Odunsi (Ogun SDP)

Ibikunle Amosu (Ogun APC)

Alao Akala (Oyo LP)

Teslim Folarin (Oyo PDP)

Nyesom Wike (River PDP)

Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna APC)

Gor Yero (Kaduna PDP)

Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto APC)

Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia PDP)

Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom PDP)

Rochas Okorocha Imo APC

Tanko Al-Makura (Nassarawa (APC)

Emeka Ihedioha (Imo PDP)

Abdullah Wali (Sokoto PDP)

Terhemen Tarzor (Benue PDP)

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu PDP)

Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo APC)

Henry Dickson (Bayelsa PDP)

Dakuku Peterside (Rivers APC)

Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta PDP)

Pwajok (Plateau PDP)

Awwal Jatau (Bauchi PDP)

Gboyega Isiaka (PDP Ogun)

Kashim Shettima (Borno APC)

Umana Umana (Akwa Ibom APC)

Great Ogboru (Delta LP)

Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe APC)

Mamuda Shinkafi (Zamfara PDP)

Nuhu Ribadu (Adamawa PDP)

Ben Ayade (C/River PDP)

Otega Emerhor (Delta APC)

Dave Umahi (Ebonyi PDP)

Aminu Ringim (PDP Jigawa)

54—SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 11, 2015

W

hile congratulating will continue to work hard to remain the Nigeria and preferred, most credible and popular private Nigerians for the sector platform for the strengthening of monumental success of the bilateral relations between Nigeria and the nation’s presidential United Kingdom; we will ensure that election that took place on Nigerian leaders are given the opportunity March 28, 2015, the on the floor of business and investment antecedent of the Presidentconferences of the forum one of which will be Elect, General holding on July 29 in London with a view to Muhammadu Buhari as a informing British investors and business tough minded leader may leaders about opportunities for investing in be a good thing capable of different parts of Nigeria. All these are in line shaping a better future for with our objective of promoting and attracting Nigeria after-all. trade and investments, support or oppose Both within and outside legislation or other policies and measures Nigeria, it is generally held capable of affecting trade, investment, and that “the fear of Buhari is the business between Nigeria and UK. beginning of wisdom”. This However, British investors and business saying essentially points at leaders, and the entire international those who in one way or the community are watching and waiting with other may have something keen interest to see how General to hide or protect either in Muhammadu Buhari constitutes his public or private sector government team; the personalities that make activity. the list, what their pedigrees are, and to see if Already in certain vital they are recyclers. The Nigerian London ministries, departments and Business Forum strongly believe that the agencies of govern-ment confidence international community will have where unethical practices in the All Progressive Congress led federal ran rampage, panic waves government will be closely linked to the have begun to trickle down credibility profile of the members of his team. from top public office A new government should beget a new team holders to low ranking with a blend of a few old hands that served in L-R: Senior Pastor, RCCG, The New House, Pastor Gbenga Tapere; his wife, Wuruola; Award personnel. the immediate past government with With this “fear wave” in recipient, Master Anthony Idowu; his mother, Mrs. Mercy Idowu; and Head, Retail Sales, excellent reputation.

Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Ltd, Obinna Lewis-Asonye at a children’s Easter retreat motion, and fuelled by the As President Goodluck Jonathan has General’s unrepentant organized by Redeemed Christian Church of God, The New House, Victoria Island, Lagos and assured that the handing over date of distaste for the corruption sponsored by Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Ltd. … recently government to the President-Elect which is menace, one can dare say May 29 is sacrosanct, the Nigerian London that Nigeria is again on the verge of experiencing a total Business Forum is appealing to all attitude adjustment and a Nigerians to firmly co-operate with the “positive new order ”, President. Nigeria is bigger than any capable of setting the desired one person or group of persons and as pace for economic such should be respected, regarded and development especially the revered just as other nationals in inflow of foreign investforeign lands do to their own countries. ments.

We congratulate Nigerians for their It is worthy to mention commitment to entrench true that Nigeria, over the years, democracy in Nigeria. We also salute has suffered a decreasing presence of President Goodluck Jonathan for his enforcement of laws by the incoming investment relations. foreign investment due to enormous government of General Muhammadu Buhari The Nigerian London Business Forum have unparallel courage in accepting defeat corrupt activities and has earned for herself can bring about attitudinal change in over the years organized series of trade, business in the March 28 presidential election. a reputation as one of the most corrupt Nigeria. Nigeria can be like any other and investment networking conferences in which We consider him the most generous countries. “decent country” if courage, fairness and British and Nigerian business leaders were democratic man of the year 2015.

As a non-profit business chamber, trade firmness are exercised in the enforcement of brought together in London. The Forum is Nigerian London Business and investment promotion British laws on the part of the government. All over willing to continue to work with Nigerian Forum association working assidu-ously in the the world, it is the enforcement of laws in an government under the leadership of General past 3 years, we have significantly pushed objective and impartial sense that results to Mohammadu Buhari. We will support his 38, Mount Pleasant, WC1X OAN, up trade and investment into Nigeria and the virtues of orderliness, respect for one government, we will attract, encourage British London, United Kingdom. the United Kingdom; Nigerian London another, trust and confidence all of which investors and business leaders to connect Business Forum believes that only strict are essential for a robust trade and business and investment pipes to Nigeria; we

‘How Buhari can develop economy, inflow of foreign investment’

Nigerians urge Buhari to revive the economy efore the Presidential election, B Presidential candidate of APC, Muhammandu Buhari had been

clamouring for change. Luckily he became the winner of the Nigerian Presidential election. Now Nigerians believe him to bring about the change long waited for, most especially reviving the economy and solving the issue of unemployment rocking the country down.

Nigerians are praying and will be happy to see his campaign slogan ‘CHANGE’ begin to reflect on our national development. Even though he needs some time to design his economic blue print.

However, among concerned and meaningful Nigerians that have congratulated Buhari for winning the presidential election is the youngest artwork collector, culture and traditional activist, Chief Solomon Ogbonna. He congratulated him for withstanding all odds and perseverance and emerged a winner.

According to him, leadership in most cases is God’s appointment to lead the citizens of that country to the promised land which Nigerians believe Buhari will do. Even as he encourages him to take time to understand ethnic groups in Nigeria as that will help his government to succeed, saying it’s obvious that no government rules well without understanding the culture and tradition of the people.

In addition, Ogbonna said, for Buhari to revive the economy of Nigeria, he must be careful in selecting people that would support his vision on development otherwise he will face a lot of challenges developing the country.

C M Y K

Prolific Artwork collector, Chief Solomon Ogbonna, (right) exchanging pleasantries with Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar (CEF Etsu Nupe) and Eze Ndigbo, Mushin, John Nwosu in Niger State.

The traditional activist also advised him to rule Nigerians with the fear of God and as well imbibe the spirit of oneness.

Ogbonna wished other leaders could learn a lessen from Nigeria’s case that sometimes it’s not all about your contact, wealth, riches as those things can fail you.

It’s all about planning well and your achievement on ground that may convince people.

Speaking against contrary views in some quarters, Ogbonna stated strongly that the fact that some Igbos voted for Jonathan does not mean they hate Buhari.

In a political environment anywhere in the world people make a choice to belong

to one party or the other and that is why it is politics and after elections, political parties meet together to congratulate one another for success. That should not breed hatred of any kind. Buhari should carry everybody along to move the country forward.

The prolific artwork collector advised Buhari to invest in art, culture and tradition of Nigeria in order to promote tourism and foreign investment in the country. Ï’m an advocate for the customs and traditions of Africans, and I am convinced that nothing will strengthen a people as much as a proper appreciation and under-standing of their own history as recorded by their own people in their own language.”

Ogbonna said, if he had his way, one of the

biggest and best museums in the world would be in Nigeria and this will be another way of creating employment for the growing population of Nigerian youths. He believes strongly that the country is so blessed with rich arts and cultural heritage that are not being given due attention.

According to him, ït is a shame that most of the states in Nigeria, despite the rich cultural heritage and artifacts in them, yet the country cannot boast of any standard museum that can showcase their ancient or modern arts or compete favourably with museums in other parts of the world. Rather, our sons and daughters travel to the western countries and are proud to flaunt it that they saw one, two or more art works of their tribes on display in various museums abroad, that are raking in money for these western countries. It is a known fact that Nigerian art works do not serve decorative purposes alone, apart from being priceless, they also convey important messages to the people, especially bronze, copper and wood works, which have been rated in the world as the best and most valuable African art. Ï have over 6700 artworks including modern and ancient arts, bronze, bead works, wood carvings, paintings, batiks, ceramics, fibre glss works, some of them dates to 200 years ago. I have some terracotta (Nok Culture) works that are about 2000 years old.”

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, APRIL 11, 2015—55

R

ecently I have become literally obsessed with the term capacity. I have also tried to look at the term from some perspectives, but as I discuss it now, my intention is not to commercialize it, rather I will domesticate (privatize) it. By domesticating it, I shall be treating it in my “capacity” as a Nigerian, who lives and works in Lagos. I wish I could say, with deep and sincere conviction that I am a Nigerian and a Lagosian. Capacity has to do with size or bulk. It is more or less, some form of space (for the purpose of holding or containing). From this approach, I am comfortable with thoughts on Nigerian space or for the purpose of clarity, “spaces.” Right now, Nigeria should be of Nigeria was not negotiated by the battling with creating or founding fathers of the country, but building capacity, as they adopted by them. This is not unusual would say. A rational being, given that many countries of the world though, quite ignorant, passed through a similar experience. like many of us, will Since this is the case, it is thus, not very wonder how a country, important to continue to dwell on the which has a definite unnatural space called Nigeria. Rather, dimension, will still be the concern now, should, I suppose, be thinking of building spaces. how to positively domesticate the Take for instance, there is the existing situation through a careful geographical space. So, reassessment of it merits and demerits.

The first step may be a careful what possibly can be created again? The answer is not in identification of the possible capacities creating per se, as we of the country. Let me suggest that this understand it, but in building be done through the geographical (little on inherited phenomena efforts will be required here), then demographic, p olitical, economic (natural structures).

Building is essential in (including commercial and industrial human existence. The concerns), cultural and aesthetic humans build personalities, capacities. Like I earlier iterated, there characters, homes, is little problem in the geographical relationships, and virtually consideration, but one major point will everything. God created the be perhaps a proper definition of the universe and gave an geographical units. Right now, there are injunction to human beings three approaches. The first is the to dominate, in other words, regional approach, where we operate through their “will,” build in terms of the geographical cardinals up to their satisfaction. of the East, West, and North. Then, there Nature thus, provides is the identification through states kind of geo-political humanity with raw (some materials necessary for expressions). Nigeria has 36 states and building the world. It is these are standard units. Then the third through building or is the now, much orchestrated zones; construction that capacity is the 6 geo-political zones of Northeast, established. Having said Northwest, Northcentral, Southeast, this, I can now domesticate Southwest, and Southsouth. This is the term. Nigeria is a relatively clear and each of them can geographical expression; no form the basis for capacity building for doubt, it is also a political the country. Like I said, the territory. The territorization geographical clarity is still at the level

Nigerian Capacity: The Process of Construction of preparations: the raw material zone. There is now the need to advance and get to the level of proper application of this important raw material for capacity building.

Let me advance to the demographic level. I believe, unequivocally, that one of the greatest problems of the capacity of Nigeria is her population and who lives where in the country.

For many years, in fact since her independence, there has never been an acceptable population figure, not even a proper projection. As a demographer of repute once said, the country has always depended on “guestimates.” In other words, figures are guessed at. Let me take the example of voter registration and voter accreditation. One case that is unbelievable and somehow unforgivable is that a state like Abia, had less than 500,000 accredited voters, while her counterparts like Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa grossed millions.

An argument may arise as to who live where? Who are those in Jigawa or Kano and who are those in Abia or Ogun?

The implication of this, when it comes to the capacity of Nigeria, is that one would also wait to see the contribution of these states to the Gross Domestic Products of the country. It is not enough to assert a civic right as to the choice of the leaders of the country; there is a need to use the same criteria for choice of leadership to improve on productivity in the country. If there are almost 2 million voters from a state, which swings the result of an election in a Federal system, there should also be a

commensurate contribution from that state on other aspects of the country.

I have literally taken up both the political and demographic aspects of the country ’s capacity. The country should look forward to the contribution of the jumbo states to the gross domestic product of the nation. In other words, how do we use the demographic advantage for capacity building? Let me ask, what will over one million voters contribute as against the less than 500,000 voters? It may not necessarily mean that the state with over a million must contribute twice the capacity of the one with less than 500,000, but there has to be a sign that it is bigger. We are watching!

Then from the economic perspective, there has always been the notion of “national cake.” National cake relates to revenue sharing. The country allocates revenue to different parts from a demographic consideration.

The more, the merrier! But now we are looking at capacity, and how does this come to play in revenue generation as against revenue sharing? Please Nigerians should note that it is time to start considering that.

Revenue generation, in

relation to capacity building, could be complicated. Take for instance; will the natural resources of a given geopolitical area be more important, in terms of ranking, than other factors like human resources and capital input?

This question may draw its answers from other economic activities like industrialization and commercialization.

Nigerians must be alert to such issues now!

Finally, to the cultural and aesthetic dimensions… the nation has experienced or is still in the middle of President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda, where a lot of emphases are laid on generative construction and reconstruction. It is expected that elements of this experience will permeate all aspects of the culture of the people. For instance, if the farmer is given inputs like fertilizers, and other simple farming implements and more importantly, direct access to authorities, in case there are matters arising to be discussed; if herdsmen are encouraged to acquire formal education and indeed provided facilities for such; if transporters are provided with facilities with which to expand on existing efforts to help commuters across the country; if small and medium scale commercia l enterprises are enhanced by a systematic soft loans scheme; if large scale, or bigger organization are given some “bail-out” offers etc. … then there is an indication that the Nigerian capacity can be constructed. Now this is my idea of the future. My prayer is that we do not arrest our future.

I will weep if we deliberately plunge into a state of stunted development. Let no one arrest our growth. Long live Federal republic of Nigeria.

Election: Police warn against wild celebration in Kano T

HE Police Com mand in Kano state, has warned the public, particularly youths, against wild celebration of victory during the forthcoming gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr

Ibrahim Idris, gave the warning while briefing newsmen after his meeting with stakeholders in Kano on Thursday. He said that any person who failed to abide by the order would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. ‘’Such behaviours con-

Experts fault NERC’s new directive on electricity tariff

S

OME experts in the power sector on Thursday faulted the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) directive that Distribution Companies (DISCOs) would now fix their tariffs.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos that the directive could cause chaos because the DISCOs would over bill consumers who had no choice.

NAN reports that Dr C M Y K

Sam Amadi, Chairman of NERC, on April 8 said that DISCOs could now fix their tariffs in consultation with consumers, which would be subjected to approval by the commission.

Amadi said this in Abuja at the end of the monthly meeting with the power generation firms and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

He said the new directive was due to the different operating cost of the DISCOs.

travene the traffic laws, therefore, people should be conversant with traffic rules and regulations,” Idris said.

He disclosed that seven persons died and 50 persons were injured while celebrating after the announcement of results of presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

He called for caution during such celebration, saying ‘’people should celebrate such victory in a civilised manner to avoid a repeat of what happened after presidential election in the state”.

*IG: Sulaiman Abba.

UN: Nigeria raises concern over continued existence of nuclear weapons

U

NITED Nations, The Representative of Nigeria at the UN Disarmament Commission Annual Debate, Mr Abiodun Adejola said on Thursday that the continued existence of nuclear weapons remained an

‘existential threat to all mankind’.

Adejola said this in New York as the Commission concluded the general debate of its annual substantive session.

Adejola said that a successful 2015 session of

the Commission should provide modest but clear recommendations on the way forward in addressing nuclear weapons.

He said the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) had been largely suc-

cessful in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

He urging nuclearweapon states to consider the catastrophic consequences of a nuclear explosion.

56—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

Hurray!

Old women may begin to bear children •Scientific breakthrough

Scientist who pioneered ‘three-parent’ IVF embryo technique now wants to offer it to older women trying for a baby

T

he doctor who pioneered the technique is pushing for it to be used for infertility in older women, raising hopes for millions. But its use beyond those suffering from mitochondrial diseases will provoke an ethical storm Older women trying for a baby could soon be offered the IVF technique of so-called “three-parent” embryos that would help families with serious mitochondrial diseases to have healthy children.

This has already won the C M Y K

backing of MPs in the United Kingdom.

The US scientist who pioneered the technique of mitochondrial transfer has applied for permission to use it as a fertility treatment for women who, because of their age, have difficulty becoming pregnant naturally or by conventional IVF. Dr Shoukhrat Mitalipov, a world authority on embryo manipulation, said he had requested permission from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct trials of mitochondrial transfer as a treatment for age-related infertility. He said the

parliamentary vote last Tuesday, when MPs overwhelmingly approved the “three-parent” baby technique for creating IVF babies free of mitochondrial disease, has bolstered his case with the US regulator.

“We hope it will help in the US, and hopefully the FDA will move faster. The families have heard about the UK outcome and they welcome it. We’re very excited by it,” said Dr Mitalipov, senior scientist at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.

“Compared to a rare condition like mitochondrial disease, infertility is a big, big problem for modern society because of women delaying their first baby.

When they finally decide, the delay has already affected their egg quality,” he said.

Mitochondrial Donation - how it works

The development will be controversial, and there may be considerable demand for the treatment because, unlike conventional egg donation, it enables a woman to have her own genetically related child.

Before the lawmakers’ vote there were impassioned arguments against the procedure on the grounds that allowing it to be used in the case of a serious genetic

disease was the start of a slippery slope that could lead to genetically modified “designer babies”.

Although the proposed British legislation only applies to women carrying serious mitochondrial disease, the possibility of the technique being used in the US as an infertility treatment could prompt calls for it to be used here to help women aged over 35 become pregnant.

Medical world falls out over eggs, cells and terminology The procedure is identical to mitochondrial disease treatment,” Dr Mitalipov said.

“It has to be shown we can improve the pregnancy outcomes for these patients, and we are looking forward to doing the clinical studies with older women.

“We consider infertility a disease, and you treat the patients as you do for mitochondrial disease. I wouldn’t say one disease is more severe than another.

Infertility is a very serious problem and these women deserve treatment as for any other disease. If the procedure is effective and safe, why would you hold it for one group of patients, but not for another?”

John Harris, professor of bioethics at Manchester University, said that if mitochondrial donation were shown to be safe for women Continues on page 57

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—57

Continues from page 56 who want IVF babies free of mitochondrial diseases, then it would be hard to argue against its application to infertility in older women.

“If the technique is safe enough for it to be used for the one purpose, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be safe enough to use for the other,” he said.

“A lot of the objections to the use of mitochondrial transfer are to do with the slippery-slope arguments.

Objectors say once you start making alterations, even a very tiny part of the mitochondria, then this will open the door to more radical genetic engineering and designer babies.

C M Y K

“But that objection would not apply to this case. It could not be argued this is further down a slippery slope for the simple reason the slippery slope applies to the extension of the technique, not to the use of the same technique for another therapeutic purpose – and treating infertility is recognised as a therapeutic purpose,” he explained.

“It’s not about extending the technique to make more radical changes to the DNA. It would be the same change to the DNA of the individual but for a different purpose, and it’s a therapeutic purpose. It would be like saying you can use antibiotics to treat one kind of infection, but not other kinds of infection.”

But the Labour MP Frank Dobson, a former health

secretary who spoke passionately in favour of legalising mitochondrial donation in the Commons, said he would find it hard to support its wider use as a general fertility treatment. “Mitochondrial donation is about children who are going to die. It’s a much more sympathetic case than using it for older women who want to have children,” he said.

Professor Mitalipov, who has a distinguished record in reproductive science, said there is strong evidence that women become less fertile after 35, because of the ageing of the egg cytoplasm, the non-nuclear part of the egg that is replaced during mitochondrial transfer.

“We’ve always wondered why women of this age have eggs that are not capable of developing into viable pregnancies. It all points to the egg quality,” Professor Mitalipov said.

“Some say it’s a nucleus problem. Others say it is mainly a cytoplasm problem, due to the maturation of the egg. If that is true, then replacing the cytoplasm with the egg cytoplasm of a younger woman should

resolve this issue of egg quality.

“We’ve been pursuing basic studies and everything points to that, and we know this can be circumvented by the replacement of the cytoplasm.”

Professor Mitalipov, who has advised Britain’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) on mitochondrial transfer, confirmed he has applied to the FDA for two clinical trials licences, one for treating mitochondrial disease, the other for treating age-related infertility.

“It’s all one package,” he said.

“We use the same treatment for mitochondrial disease patients, and, separately, another trial will be for women of advanced age.

“They may approve one procedure first and then a second. That’s my expectation,” he said. “So far we haven’t heard

Continues on page 58

58—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

THREE-PARENT EMBRYOS:

Medical world falls out over eggs, cells and terminology

I

t may seem strange that an expert in cloning – the man who produced the first clones of an adult monkey – is now dabbling in a technique that has become widely known as “mitochondrial donation”, a term with the more vulgar moniker of “three-parent” embryos.

Shoukhrat Mitalipov has earned a global reputation as a superb experimentalist able to perform procedures on eggs and embryos that have defied many of his peers. Born in the Soviet Union, in what is now Kazakhstan, and trained in Moscow, Dr Mitalipov, 53, emigrated to the United States in the mid-1990s.

Since then he has created shock-waves around the world with his prowess in the manipulation of eggs and embryos.

He now intends to use mitochondrial donation as a treatment for age-related infertility, providing he receives approval for clinical trials.

For many this is confusing, and the reason has much to do with how the scientific terminology surrounding this

Continues from page 57 anything from the FDA on the specifics of how they want us to run this clinical trial. My sense is that they want to take the route that the HFEA did. “They want to maybe look first into ethics,” he added. “I think we’re talking of another year of delay.” In the UK, if the Lords approve the amendment to the 2008 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, the HFEA will be allowed to issue a licence after October, when C M Y K

technique has been subtly manipulated over recent years to make it more publicly acceptable.

Mitochondrial donation is also known as mitochondrial transfer, and at its simplest description it involves the merging of three people’s DNA into a single embryo.

However, the technique is actually more subtle than suggested by the terms “mitochondrial transfer” and “mitochondrial donation”.

Stuart Newman, professor of cell biology at New York Medical College, said these terms are misnomers designed to make it easier for the public to accept the process.

“No transfer of mitochondria (the organelles that extract energy from fuel molecules and make it available for the cell’s function) is involved in these ‘three-parent’ procedures,” Professor Newman said.

He points out that the two techniques for producing “three-parent” embryos do not involve the transfer of mitochondria but result in the transfer of a cell nucleus from one woman’s egg (the “patient”) to the egg of another woman (confusingly

•Dr Shoukhrat Mitalipov is a cloning expert called the “donor”), which has had its own nucleus removed.

When Britain’s Department of Health first talked about the possibility of using mitochondrial transfer in this way, in a report in 2000, it called the technique “oocyte [egg] nucleus transfer”, because of its similarity to “cell nucleus transfer”, the cloning technique used to create Dolly, the first sheep to be cloned from an adult cell.

Egg nucleus transfer is not cloning, because it involves

the fertilisation of egg by sperm, but it is broadly the same process. This is why Dr Mitalipov – a cloning expert – is now involved in mitochondrial donation, a term now widely used by the Department of Health and the Wellcome Trust, the multibillion-pound research charity that funds the Newcastle team. This change in terminology may sound more benign than “egg nucleus transfer” and is closer to organ donation, with which

it is wrongly compared.

Professor Newman is not impressed: “A kind of omertà among scientists and bioethicists has prevented a significant number of them from representing to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the [US] Food and Drug Administration, and the press, the gravity of these alterations. But the health implications and the eugenic outcomes these procedures would enable are too great to ignore,” he said.

the law takes effect. The first mitochondrialdisease licence is likely to be awarded to Newcastle University where scientists are hoping to create the first “threeparent” embryo later this year, with the first birth in 2016.

Culled from The Independent •Mitochondrial donation involves the merging of three people’s DNA into a single embryo (Rex)

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—59

US Secretary of State warns Iran over Houthi rebels ...seeks to restore Abdrabbuh

T

•John Kerry

he US Secretary of State, John Kerry, has warned Iran over its alleged support for Houthi rebels in Yemen, saying the US would support any state in the Middle East that felt threatened by Iran, and would not stand by watching Iran destabilise the region.

According to reports, US is backing a Saudi-led coalition seeking to drive back the rebels and restore President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, who fled the county.

Although, Iran denied accusations that it is providing military aid to the Houthis, reports disclosed it dispatched two navy vessels to the Gulf of Aden, off the southern coast of Yemen, as Navy commander Rear Adm Habibollah Sayyari

Factions in CAR agree to ceasefire

C

entral African Republic (CAR) rebel factions sign ceasefire agreement in Kenya, as effort to providing the country with a political solution.

According to a statement by Kenya’s State House where the agreement was signed, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, who hosted the signing of the accord between Anti-Balaka leader Joachim Kokate and former president and ex-Seleka leader Michel Djotodia, called for a deal to stop hostilities and another to open a new chapter of political stability in the country.

Observatories on ground said that the talks held in Kenya since last November have been considered very controversial, saying that CAR’s President is claiming he is not aware of talks, while CAR remains in a series of grievances from two armed

A

ccording to Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, Iran will only sign a final nuclear accord with the six world powers if sanctions imposed over its disputed atomic work are lifted.

Recently, Iran and the powers reached a tentative agreement in the Swiss city of Lausanne which is aimed at restricting Tehran’s nuclear program in return for removing the economic penalties.

Although, all sides are working toward a June 30, 2015 deadline for a final deal on the nuclear work, which Western powers fear is aimed at developing an atomic bomb, Tehran says is purely peaceful. A recent statement C M Y K

groups which are holding the country hostage.

Those familiar with the situation disclosed that intending agreements aim to ending years of fighting involving mostly Muslim Seleka and Christian AntiBalaka coalition groups, as well as government forces.

They noted that Seleka forces captured much of the country as then President Francois Bozize fled the country in early 2013 amid allegations of crimes against humanity.

Djotodia, then-Seleka leader, declared himself president and was recognised as the head of the transitional government, only to step down in January 2014 as fighting between Seleka and Anti-Balaka forces intensified.

Both sides have been accused of mass atrocities

against civilians, as UN and international aid groups documented the use of child soldiers and ethnic cleansing in certain areas.

Observations It is still unclear what the effects of the proposed agreement will have in CAR, as both group leaders have said before that rebel fighters on the ground cannot be controlled.

According to agency report, “The fact that the government in CAR is not involved jeopardises the supposed agreement.

It is worthy of note that previous agreements signed between other rebel leaders, such as in Brazzaville, Congo, have also been rejected by those on the ground due to the impression that it was not fully inclusive nor representative of the groups fighting in CAR.

reportedly said the move was made with the aim of safeguarding the country’s naval routes for vessels in the region.

Meanwhile, aid supplies have begun reaching Yemen after a series of delays, as the humanitarian situation deteriorates amid continued fighting.

Secretary Kerry said it was obvious Iran was aiding the Houthis, stressing that, “There are obviously supplies that have been coming from Iran. There are a number of flights every single week that have been flying in.”

He further pointed out that Iran needs to recognise that the US is not going to stand by while the region is destabilised or while people engage in overt warfare across lines, international boundaries and other countries.

Meanwhile, warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition have continued to bomb rebel targets across the country, as Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, urged a halt to the air campaign, saying that countries in the region should work together to resolve the crisis.

He was quoted to have said that, “A great nation like Yemen will not submit to bombing. Come, let us all think about ending war. Let us think about a ceasefire, and prepare to bring Yemenis to the negotiating table to make decisions about their future.”

He reportedly warned Saudi Arabia and its allies that their intervention was a mistake, asking, “Why have you started killing people?

“You do not know how this will end. This path is wrong.”

OBSERVATION

I

nvestigation revealed that militiamen loyal to the President have been unable to halt the rebel advance on Aden.

The coalition has so far failed to stop an assault on the southern port city of Aden by the Houthis and allied military units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The president took refuge there in February after fleeing the capital, Sanaa, where he had been held under house arrest by the rebels.

Vanguard also gathered that over 22 people were killed as the rebels fought Mr Hadi’s forces for control of Aden’s central Crater district and coalition warplanes targeted rebel positions in its northern suburbs.

There are fuel shortages in the Yemeni capital Sanaa The Saudi-led coalition has been targeting Houthi positions since the end of March Also, 2 ships said to be carrying humanitarian aid were able to reach Aden for the first time since the coalition air campaign began on 25 March.

Report disclosed that a vessel brought about 1.7 tonnes of medical aid for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), and the other medical supplies and a surgical team from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), adding that, the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that at least 643 people have been killed and 2,226 wounded in Yemen since 19 March. Another 10,000 people have been driven from their homes.

Iran refuses to sign nuclear deal disclosed that President Rouhani will not sign any deal unless all sanctions on his country are lifted same day, adding that, “We want a win-win deal for all parties involved in the nuclear talks.”

I is worthy of note that since the preliminary agreement was reached, Iran and the United States seem to have different interpretations over some issues, including the pace and extent of sanctions removal.

OBSERVATION The situation at the moment appears uncertain following Iranian government insistence that all sanctions

on them must be lifted, before agreement can be signed.

It is important to note also that they seem not to be comfortable with the promise that all nuclear-related United Nations resolutions, as well as US and EU nuclear-related economic sanctions, will be lifted immediately once a final accord is signed.

However, the US has declared that sanctions would have to be phased out gradually under the comprehensive nuclear pact.

It is worthy of note also that the US and EU sanctions have choked off nearly 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of

Iranian exports since early 2012, reducing its oil exports by 60 per cent to around 1 million barrels a day.

Observatories on ground reported Rouhani said that the main gain in the talks was the fact that US President Barack Obama, acknowledged that Iranians will not surrender to bullying, sanctions and threats. “It is a triumph for Iran that the first military power in the world has admitted Iranians will not bow to pressure,” he added.

Interestingly, negotiators from Iran, the United States, Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China will resume

•President, Hassan Rouhani negotiations in the coming days to pave the way for the final deal

60—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

Thugs invade Surulere community, render residents homeless

dint of luck that the big stone did not hit the occupant. It would have been a different story”.

Mr. Nurudeen Adewale who is in charge of the estate told Saturday Vanguard that a petition had been sent to the Federal Housing Authority, adding that the miscreants might be using the FHA to wreck havoc.

He added that the masterminds of this unholy act had already taken a dismissed judgment to the Appellate Court without listing the parties involved in the matter so that they can appropriately defend themselves, adding it was an act of illegality and judicial abnormality. He however stressed that all legal means will be exploited to seek justice.

Beyond that, he cried to the police authority to provide adequate security to the place. “The police authority

...as residents make distress call to police, govt

BY EBUN SESSOU NO fewer than 15,000 residents living in Surulere village, Suberu-Oje in Alagbado, Lagos state now live in fear as some unknown miscreants regularly invade their community, making life uncomfortable for them.

One of the residents who spoke to Saturday Vanguard lamented that more than 200 thugs in 15 vanagon buses recently invaded the community, armed with dangerous weapons, damaging property and rendering thousands of families homeless.

According to the resident who preferred anonymity for fear of being victimized by the hoodlums, said the miscreants most times come in the mornings pull down gates to different apartments, break window glasses and cause resident to vacate the estate lest they C M Y K

would be killed. Most families have abandoned their homes while others who have no other place to go, sneak out during the wee hours and return at nights for fear of being attacked.

A visit to the area revealed a near deserted and desolated estate with some iron gates pulled down and windows shattered. Another resident told Saturday Vanguard that the hoodlums threatened that they should vacate the estate, saying that they had secured a court judgment to take over the place.

“We are on the verge of losing our homes to some unknown persons who have been unleashing terror on us.

“It is a daily occurrence; they attacked one Iya Ade a few days ago, injuring the family. So far, properties

worth several millions of naira have been destroyed.

“These people call themselves ‘masses’ and say they act on behalf of the Federal Housing Authority.

We know the FHA did not acquire the place.

“The landlords there have been victims of attack. My children and I have been sleeping at different places outside our home.

“There was a time we called in the police, but surprisingly, they came again the following Monday in droves. They came in about twenty loaded buses, harassed us, and damaged some property. In one of the apartments, they would have killed somebody as they dropped a big rock on the roof of the building, but it went right into the toilet of the building where a resident was. It was by a

•IGP Sulaiman Abba

We are on the verge of losing our homes to some unknown persons who have been unleashing terror on us

should come into the matter; these people are desperate and since they continue to harass and damage people’s property, they might kill somebody and we don’t want the issue to degenerate to that level before the police do what is right. One of them has even threatened to kill me and that is why I am crying out” he said.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015—61

Deltans commend Uduaghan on new Asaba flyover bridge

From right; Chairman, Oshimili South LGA, Barr. Chucks Obusom, Commissioner for Works, Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, Governor Emmanuel Eduaghan of Delta State, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Peter Onwusanya, Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof. Amos Utuama, Delta State PDP Guber candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo

From right; Secretary to Delta State Government, Comrade Ovuozuorie Macaulay Commissioner for Works, Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Peter Onwusanya and the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof. Amos Utuama

The 120m Six-Span Flyover bridge

The Flyover bridge

A

sagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien including other prominent Deltans have praised Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State for the commissioning of a N3.5billion 120 metre-long six span flyover bridge in Asaba, the State Capital.

Obi Edozien who represented at the event by Chief John Edozien, thanked Governor Uduaghan for his efforts towards transforming Asaba.

According to the Asagba, “the Governor has done very well. It is right that he makes people know some of the things he has done in C M Y K

Asaba. So, this commissioning exercise is important.”

Speaking at the colourful ceremony in Asaba recently,Governor Uduaghan stated that the project was part of his administration’s urban renewal programme meant to improve the social economic and political lives of the people and to give Asaba, the status of a befitting state capital.

“A lot of things have happened in the state capital and it is assuming the status of a befitting state capital, at the beginning we started with the airport, the new government house then

we did the schools and the health sectors, very soon an ultra modern hospital will be completed. “ “ We have done a lot in Asaba to make it a befitting state capital. This project started two years ago, not eight years ago and today, we are commissioning it.”

“The flyover is very strategic, it is on the road that leads to Abuja, with the completion of the Utor bridge at Ebu, which constitute an arterial road from the South-South and South –East States through Edo state to Abuja and other parts of Northern Nigeria, this flyover bridge is very timely”, Dr Uduaghan added.

Dr Uduaghan who thanked those who contributed to making the project a success, including Deltans for their patience, added, “we envisioned that there will be a time there will be heavy gridlock in this area, that is why we constructed the flyover.” He assured Deltans that his administration would continue to execute projects and called on the people to vote for the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and the House of Assembly candidates of the party during the elections.

The commissioner for Works in the state, Hon. Funkekeme

Solomon in an address, said the flyover bridge located at the intersection of Nnebisi, Okpanam, Anwai roads was awarded to “Messrs CCC Construction Company Nigeria Limited by the state government in 2013 at a contract sum of N3, 528, 939, 077.63.” “The scope of the works included a 120 metrelong six-span bridge, two ramps of about 140 meters each on either approach bringing it to a total of 400 metres long,” he said, noting, “the entire bridge/ramps structure is a four-lane dual carriage way, comprising of two in each travel direction demarcated with a New Jersey Barrier.”

62—SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

Carry out a comprehensive reform of the political structure ...MDCAN Tells Buhari

•Steven Oluwole

BY VICTORIA OJEME

P

resident of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association (MDCAN), Steven Oluwole has advised president Elect to undertake a comprehensive reform of the political structure of the country from the Presidency down to all tiers of government. Oluwole, gave the advice while speaking on the just concluded presidential/Senate election.

MDCAN also urged the President-elect to bring his tested integrity to bear by sticking to, and implementing his campaign promises on corruption, security and revamping the economy. He said, “The phenomenon of the campaign, which centered on

the tested integrity of the President-Elect, should not be political device to win election, but the very instrument to govern, and truly reform the culture of ‘government money in government house’, graft, reckless spending, and impunity of public office holders.

“The political capital gained by the APC-led government should transform the landscape and curb the rot only known in Nigeria, where senators’ annual take-home pay exceed that of the President of the USA. Governors’ security votes, which make mockery of sanity, should be streamlined to reality.

“There must be complete reform from the Presidency to all tiers of government. A fleet of 11 Aircrafts for Nigerian President, if indeed

true, is inexplicable and outrageous when the President of the USA officially has one, and the Prime Minister of UK has none.

The outragous allocations for meals, diesel and sundries should be scrapped, when the President of the USA pays for his meals.”Oluwole also advised the incoming Buhari led- government not to change in totality all the policies put in place by outgoing government . According to him: “Change must not be wholesale rejection of the past and present. “ There must be systematic appraisal of the entire system, which should lead to retention of the good, upgrade of the deficient, and replacement of the repugnant.” He, however cautioned the Buhari government to resist the idea of privatizing tertiary health care in the country, as this according to him, will deprive the poor from assessing, affordable, qualitative and sophisticated health care services. “The questionable, and possibly ill-motivated, drive to privatise tertiary health care should be resisted. Teaching hospitals should not be converted to forprofit Institutions . “Such conversion will limit the number and category of patients that can

There must be complete reform from the Presidency to all tiers of government.

receive teaching hospital services to those who have resources to pay.

“They will be robbed of their traditional values, and hindered from effective teaching, research, and development of medical services,” the MDCAN president reiterated.

While commenting on the recently concluded presidential elections, Oluwole said that the elections produced a seismic shift of the political structure and alignments. He, however, warned that the energy must be harnessed to drive development and progress rather than to drive extinction or annihilation of non-participating or dissenting tribes, ethnic groups, and members of discordant schools of thought.”The outcome of the election says a lot about the vision and expectation of Nigerians for their country.

“The voting, which was for an ideal, was not a gift to a party to proceed on triumphal procession, but to get to work and fix a crumbling nation. The territorial integrity of the country, which did not disintegrate as predicted, must be preserved,” he noted.

Beware of those defecting to APC now, Justice Abdullahi warns Buhari

BY ISIAKA OYIBO,

F

ORMER President of the Court of Apeal. Justice Umar Abdullahi has advised the president-elect, retired General mohammadu Buhari, to be magnanimous in victory and govern Nigeria equitably irrespective of party differences.

Justice Abdullahi who said he knew Buhari when they were growing up said the presidentelect needs patience, support and prayers from all and sundry to enable him live above board.

The retired Court of Appeal justice insisted that the first thing he must do is to develop the template to tackle the issues of insecurity, development of the health sector, agriculture and education which was the only way he can win the hearts of Nigerians. He spoke in an interview with Saturday Vanguard Excerpts What Can you tell us about C M Y K

Muhammadu Buhari’s childhood days as you were friends?

He is known to be a forthright person. very calm, calculative and a highly disciplined individual who will not compromise his integrity for anything. He is also very loving and a careering person and I think Nigeria has got it right this time around. All I can say is that we should rally round him and give him all the support he needs to enable him succeed in office. I can tell you that with Buhari in the saddle and with the support of all Nigeria will surely reach her destination.

With the victory of the President Elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, it can no longer be business as usual because Buhari that I know is one that will not condone corruption and nepotism.

insecurity, power and agricultural sector of the Economy he will, in no small measure, win the hearts of Nigerians because these are some of the major areas that need drastic actions.

What specific area of the sector of the Economy do you think needs urgent attention?

Honestly speaking, if Buhari can adequately give priority to the development of health,

What do you think the victory of Gen. Muhammodu Buhari portends for Nigeria?

The victory to me was an indication that Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. This is

Your comment on the place of sycophants in this admiration?

Let me state here frankly that the president elect must be very careful of the caliber of people he chooses to work with him. He must watch out and be wary of sycophants who are already lurking around him.

He should be careful also of those politicians who are also defecting from their various political parties to his All progressives Congress Party APC as some of them may not mean well by their actions. If not for personal interest will they be moving from party to party?

I must commend Professor Attahiru Jega for being courageous enough to conduct an election adjudged to be one of the most peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in the country

the first time in the history of Nigeria that a President will be changed from office through the Ballot Box and through a peaceful process. I commend President Goodluck Jonathan for being statemanly enough to concede defeat even hours before the official declaration of the results. By this singular act he has not only just won the admiration of the world but has saved Nigeria the trouble of having another civil war.

What’s your take on INEC performance in the just concluded presidential elections?

I must commend Professor Attahiru Jega for being courageous enough to conduct an election adjudged to be one of the most peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in the country. Although there were little hitches here and there I think the electoral umpire should really be commended.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 11, 2014

Qatar plans big for 2022 World Cup goals – one achievement building on the next, culminating in an extraordinary tournament that will deliver the ultimate football experience. We will set new benchmarks. And we will create a legacy that exceeds all expectations, contributing to Qatar’s development and sharing the generosity innate to Qatari culture with the whole world”, the Supreme Committee said.

On how they intend to deliver on their promise, the SC said ‘we have three goals, first to bring out the players’ best on the pitch. We want to provide the most hospitable experience for fans in the stands. And we want the fans watching at home to feel like they are there.

“Until 2014, much of that work was taking place behind the scenes, on the screens. That’s normal. These aren’t your average stadiums. The designs reflect our culture. The innovations reflect our ambitions.

The experience will demonstrate our hospitality.

“The stadiums will be delivered using green materials.

The finished stadiums will use less water and less electricity.

,

O

rganisers of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar have restated their belief that the first World Cup in the Middle-East region will build an enduring legacy for people in the region and beyond.

Writing in the maiden edition of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy newsletter, the organisers said they were leading Qatar’s preparations to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and creating a legacy for Qatar, for the Middle East and for the world.

“Ours is an ambitious project. It entails celebrating our past, assessing our present and thinking hard about the future we want for our children. It is mentally and physically demanding.

“We are building stadiums, and we are building a new narrative. About the ability of small countries to deliver major global sporting events. About innovation and sustainability.

About the power of football to transform individual lives, and to transform entire nations.

“Guided by our overarching commitment to openness, step by step we will achieve our

The legacy we are building can be focused, like using football to develop leadership skills in 22 Generation Amazing ambassadors each year

Solar power will be generated on site. This will be verified by certification from Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED), the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) or both.

“The upper seating tiers of most of our stadiums will be modular. After the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, this seating will be distributed to developing countries around the world. It will be used to build ministadiums, creating a legacy of football development”, added the Supreme Committee.

The newsletter added “player and fan comfort were taken into account from the start. Each of the stadiums will be cooled, so they can be used year-round, no matter what the weather.

Every fan in the stadium will have unobstructed views of the pitch. Fans watching on TV will be equally well served. We are humble, and not afraid to say that we don’t know what innovations are coming to television in the next seven years. So we are building to accommodate all possibilities”.

The statement added that “all of our planning is paying off.

We have decisively entered the delivery phase. We have announced four stadiums so far.

Work has started on all of them.

You will find updates about the stadiums and their construction below.”.

The committee noted that “there is much more to come.

We will announce more stadium designs and more construction

— 63

and contracts this year. The next few years will be very busy ones for the SC and our stakeholders. We’re sure that our grit and determination now will pay off. In 2022 and for decades after, for the millions of people whose lives will be transformed.”.

On plans to bequeath an enduring legacy after the World Cup, the Supreme Committee said “we know we will be judged by the legacy we leave behind. We are up to the challenge. Our every activity is planned and executed with legacy in mind. We do not believe in waiting until after the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar to capture the benefits of hosting.

“The legacy we are building can be focused, like using football to develop leadership skills in 22 Generation Amazing ambassadors each year. It can be broad, like improving the lives of thousands and, potentially, millions of workers.

It can be revolutionary, like the cooling technologies we are developing.

“It can be all three, in providing creative thinkers in the Middle East with the tools to bring their visions to life, nurturing a culture of innovation in the region and contributing to a more sustainable future for major events globally.

“The common thread that runs through all of our actions is that they are meaningful, and they improve the lives of people and communities”.

, •Oparanozie

•Qatar Foundation Stadium

•Khalifa International Stadium

Oparanozie: Falcons

will surpass their World Cup per formance

uper Falcons striker Desire Oparanozie has S vowed that the team were capable of breaking their existing record at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, holding this

•Al Wakrah Stadium

•Al Bayt Stadium – Al Khor City C M Y K

summer in Canada.

The 21-year-old amazon said she was looking at a situation where the current squad will break their current best feat at the World Cup and set a new one.

“Looking at the World Cup in Canada, I want to be a part of the team, the team that will break the previous records set by our veterans. So if we can exceed that and get beyond what they’ve done I will be fulfilled and happy,“ she said. The best Falcons reached at the World Cup was a second round.

She added that she was nobody without the assistance of her fellow players, who she credits for her scoring success.

“Without the assistance of my other teammates there is barely nothing I could do exactly. So me as an individual, I believe in the team and they also believe in me, we will work together as a team and achieve whatsoever we have set out to achieve,” she explained.

Oparanozie, who is also playing in France with Guingamp, praised her performance at the club level.

“So far it has been so good for me at the club side, so very commendable. I really have been doing well at the club level so it’s been really good for me, I am happy,” she said.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, APRIL 11, 2015

Qatar plans big for 2022 World Cup goals – one achievement building on the next, culminating in an extraordinary tournament that will deliver the ultimate football experience. We will set new benchmarks. And we will create a legacy that exceeds all expectations, contributing to Qatar’s development and sharing the generosity innate to Qatari culture with the whole world”, the Supreme Committee said.

On how they intend to deliver on their promise, the SC said ‘we have three goals, first to bring out the players’ best on the pitch. We want to provide the most hospitable experience for fans in the stands. And we want the fans watching at home to feel like they are there.

“Until 2014, much of that work was taking place behind the scenes, on the screens. That’s normal. These aren’t your average stadiums. The designs reflect our culture. The innovations reflect our ambitions.

The experience will demonstrate our hospitality.

“The stadiums will be delivered using green materials.

The finished stadiums will use less water and less electricity.

,

O

rganisers of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar have restated their belief that the first World Cup in the Middle-East region will build an enduring legacy for people in the region and beyond.

Writing in the maiden edition of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy newsletter, the organisers said they were leading Qatar’s preparations to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and creating a legacy for Qatar, for the Middle East and for the world.

“Ours is an ambitious project. It entails celebrating our past, assessing our present and thinking hard about the future we want for our children. It is mentally and physically demanding.

“We are building stadiums, and we are building a new narrative. About the ability of small countries to deliver major global sporting events. About innovation and sustainability.

About the power of football to transform individual lives, and to transform entire nations.

“Guided by our overarching commitment to openness, step by step we will achieve our

The legacy we are building can be focused, like using football to develop leadership skills in 22 Generation Amazing ambassadors each year

Solar power will be generated on site. This will be verified by certification from Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED), the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) or both.

“The upper seating tiers of most of our stadiums will be modular. After the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, this seating will be distributed to developing countries around the world. It will be used to build ministadiums, creating a legacy of football development”, added the Supreme Committee.

The newsletter added “player and fan comfort were taken into account from the start. Each of the stadiums will be cooled, so they can be used year-round, no matter what the weather.

Every fan in the stadium will have unobstructed views of the pitch. Fans watching on TV will be equally well served. We are humble, and not afraid to say that we don’t know what innovations are coming to television in the next seven years. So we are building to accommodate all possibilities”.

The statement added that “all of our planning is paying off.

We have decisively entered the delivery phase. We have announced four stadiums so far.

Work has started on all of them.

You will find updates about the stadiums and their construction below.”.

The committee noted that “there is much more to come.

We will announce more stadium designs and more construction

— 63

and contracts this year. The next few years will be very busy ones for the SC and our stakeholders. We’re sure that our grit and determination now will pay off. In 2022 and for decades after, for the millions of people whose lives will be transformed.”.

On plans to bequeath an enduring legacy after the World Cup, the Supreme Committee said “we know we will be judged by the legacy we leave behind. We are up to the challenge. Our every activity is planned and executed with legacy in mind. We do not believe in waiting until after the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar to capture the benefits of hosting.

“The legacy we are building can be focused, like using football to develop leadership skills in 22 Generation Amazing ambassadors each year. It can be broad, like improving the lives of thousands and, potentially, millions of workers.

It can be revolutionary, like the cooling technologies we are developing.

“It can be all three, in providing creative thinkers in the Middle East with the tools to bring their visions to life, nurturing a culture of innovation in the region and contributing to a more sustainable future for major events globally.

“The common thread that runs through all of our actions is that they are meaningful, and they improve the lives of people and communities”.

, •Oparanozie

•Qatar Foundation Stadium

•Khalifa International Stadium

Oparanozie: Falcons

will surpass their World Cup per formance

uper Falcons striker Desire Oparanozie has S vowed that the team were capable of breaking their existing record at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, holding this

•Al Wakrah Stadium

•Al Bayt Stadium – Al Khor City C M Y K

summer in Canada.

The 21-year-old amazon said she was looking at a situation where the current squad will break their current best feat at the World Cup and set a new one.

“Looking at the World Cup in Canada, I want to be a part of the team, the team that will break the previous records set by our veterans. So if we can exceed that and get beyond what they’ve done I will be fulfilled and happy,“ she said. The best Falcons reached at the World Cup was a second round.

She added that she was nobody without the assistance of her fellow players, who she credits for her scoring success.

“Without the assistance of my other teammates there is barely nothing I could do exactly. So me as an individual, I believe in the team and they also believe in me, we will work together as a team and achieve whatsoever we have set out to achieve,” she explained.

Oparanozie, who is also playing in France with Guingamp, praised her performance at the club level.

“So far it has been so good for me at the club side, so very commendable. I really have been doing well at the club level so it’s been really good for me, I am happy,” she said.

SATURDAY Vanguard, APRIL 11, 2015

Q at a r pl a n s b i g f o r 2022 World Cup >>63

KESHI HUMBLED! • Begs and gets Eagles job back 38&39 • Accepts blame for Eagles woes •How his problem started

•Oparanozie

•Stephen Keshi

OKOCHA: Eagles have

•Pinnick

Today’s Matches EPL Swansea v Everton 1:45pm Southampton v Hull 4pm Sunderland v Crystal Palace 4pm Tottenham v Aston Villa 4pm West Brom v Leicester 4pm West Ham v Stoke 4pm Burnley v Arsenal 6:30pm LA LIGA Real Madrid v Eibar 4pm Malaga v Atletico Madrid 6pm Sevilla v Barcelona 8pm Almeria v Granada 10pm Celta Vigo v Rayo Vallecano 10pm SERIE A Genoa v Cagliari 6pm Parma v Juventus 6pm Verona v Inter Milan 8:45pm BUNDESLIGA Bayern Munich v Frankfurt 3:30pm M’gladbach v Dortmund 3:30pm Mainz v Leverkusen 3:30pm SC Paderborn v Augsburg 3:30pm Schalke v SC Freiburg 3:30pm Hamburg v Wolfsburg 6:30pm

disappointed us a lot >>37

Oparanozie: Falcon

ons will surpass their World Cup per formance >>63

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1)Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru_(8) 5)Ethnic Group in Kenya(4) 7)South African President, Mr. Jacob_(4) 8)Former CBN Governor, Paul_(6) 11)Flamingoes (U-17) Striker, Uchenna_(4) 14)Saudi Arabian Currency(5) 16)State in Nigeria known as ‘’Sunshine State’’?(4) 17)Former Tanzanian President, Mr. Benjamin_(5) 19)Country in Africa(7) 21)Ireland National(5) 23)L.G.A in Sokoto State(4) 25)Moroccan Capital City(5) 27)Traditional Ruler of Nupe(4) 29)Vietnames Currency(3) 31)National Chairman, Action Peoples Congress (APC), Chief Bisi_(6) 33)Cereal(4) 34)Musical Instrument(4) 35)Former United States President, Mr. Benjamin_(8)

DOWN 1)President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria(CIBN), Mr. Segun_(4) 2)Belgium Winger & Chelsea Forward, Eden_(6) 3)Legendary King of the Zulus(5) 4)Midday(4) 5)Germany National Coach, Joachim_(3) 6)L.G.A in Abia State(8) 9)L.G.A in Zamfara State(5) 10)Bone of the Forearm(4) 13)Algerian Capital City(7) 15)Particles(4) 16)South African Labour Minister, Mr. Mildred_(8) 18)L.G.A in Borno State(4) 20)Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Wale_(5) 22)Notion(4) 24)Greece Capital City (6) 26)Iceland Currency(5) 28)Hebrew Alphabet(4) 30)State in Nigeria known as ‘’Pacesetter State’’?(4) 32)Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission(ICPC), Mr. Ekpo_(3)

Solution on page 21

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C M Y K