Nasarawa/Bama killings: Jonathan meets with security chiefs by Vanguard Media Limited

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Nasarawa Killings: Jonathan meets with Security Chiefs •No repraisal attack on the community— Olubolade BY BEN AGANDE, LAIDE AKINBOADE and ABEL DANIEL, LAFIA, Abuja

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday met with heads of all the security agencies in the country to review the murder of over 80 policemen in Nasarawa and Bama in Borno states between last Monday and Tuesday. About 23 policemen were massacred in Bama, Borno State while over 60 others suffered same fate in Nasarawa, with the additional 20 bodies recovered yesterday as 40 others were earlier recovered Wednesday. The meeting which lasted for about two and half hours had in attendance, the Chief of Defence staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim; National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki; the Chief of Naval Staff, Dele Ezeoba; the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar and the the Director General of the Department of State Security, DSS, Ita Ekpenyong. The Chief of Army Staff was represented by Maj. General Emmanuel Bassey, Chief of Policy and Plans in the Army Headquarters. The meeting took place at State House, Abuja even as the Nasarawa State police command yesterday arrested two policemen who allegedly gave information that led to the killing of no fewer than 60 of their colleagues who were on a mission to arrest the chief priest of Omatse cult at Alakio, about 10 kilometres from Lafia, Nasarawa State, Tuesday. Widows of the over 60 policemen who were brutally murdered in an ambush by the Omatse cult members also yesterday barricaded the Lafia-Akwanga highway to protest the massacre of their husbands, wailing and chanting songs. The widows and hundreds of sympathizers created a chaotic traffic situation at Squadron 38 Mobile Base, Ubbe Junction as they blamed the state governor, Alhaji Tankuo Al-Makura for exposing their husbands

and breadwinners to undue risks by sending them on fatal assignment, without the requisite intelligence backup. However, the security chiefs who met with Jonathan declined to speak with the press, although, the IGP Abubakar, who wore a black arm band to the meeting, described the murder of the police officers as a sad development for the country before he was shielded into his waiting car by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba and the Director General of DSS, Ita Ekpenyong. The Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade who attended the meeting briefly before he was excused to allow the president meet with the service chiefs and the IGP separately told newsmen that though the killing of security personnel who are paid to protect Nigerians was a sad development, the police would not carry out any reprisal attack on the community because it would not solve the problem. Olubolade said, “it is sad that those who are protecting lives and property are becoming the targets of various insurgents and criminals, be it political or otherwise. ”The security agencies particularly the police will not want to go and revenge, it is not going to help us because they are supposed to protect lives and property; going to revenge will not douse tension and will bring about lack of confidence in the system. So, we will strictly discourage that.” The Minister further said that President Jonathan “is looking at how we can put an end to all these troubles we are having and I think at the end of that deliberation, you will get to know the outcome”. He said though the President has increased government’s support to the police in recent times more than ever before, the challenges confronting the force have also increased. What is important now is to re-strategise and empower the police the more so that they can carry out their responsibilities.”

•Participants at Vanguard Conference on Boko Haram Amnesty in Lagos. He defended the police decision to effect the arrest of the alleged leader of the cult group, noting that “the police will not just wake up and pick their leader if nothing had gone wrong. ”The populace must know that anybody can be brought in by the police for interrogation depending on the intelligence the police have and that is what happened.” Reacting to the call in some quarters for the declaration of a state of emergency in the troubled states, Captain Olubolade said it is a decision that only the president can take and urged the populace “to look inward as Nigerians, work together, give information to the security agencies who in turn will protect them.” However, earlier yesterday morning, the widows of the slain officers, most of them young women who protested along the Akwanga- Lafia highway, wailed uncontrollably just

as they accused AlMakura of insensibility to their plight. According to them, Al-Makura had not visited them or said anything reasonable since their bread winners were massacred. The highway was blocked with stones, logs of wood and tree branches, just as Okuchku bush path, which should have been an alternative route, was equally blocked, thereby forcing commuters to spend several hours in the scorching sun as the protest lasted. One of the widows who spoke with Saturday Vanguard on condition of anonymity lamented that her children had consistently asked for the whereabouts of their father in the last four days without her being able to provide any response, a situation she said had become a burden to her. “I haven’t slept neither have I eaten since they killed my husband. The governor of Nasarawa

State, has not addressed us. They have refused to release the body of my husband. And nobody is telling us what is going on,” another mourner said. Perplexed travellers who were trapped by the protests were still in their endless wait, as the time of filing this report at about 4 pm. The delegation from the widows of the slain officers later visited Governor Al-Makura at Government House, Lafia to express their pain and grievances over the cruel murder of their spouses who they said had served the country faithfully. Al-Makura sympathized with the widows and assured them that the perpetrators ‘’shall surely be brought to book,’’ just as he also promised that government would compensate them. Meanwhile, confirming the arrest in Lafia, of two police corporals who reportedly gave out infor-

mation that led to the Nassarawa massacre, the Police Commissioner, Mr. Abayomi Akeremale said the two suspects were arrested following a tip off. The two suspects who were part of the 117 security personnel detailed to arrest the Omatse chief priest were said to be natives of the area but they allegedly alerted the cult members who moblised and laid ambush for the unsuspecting members of the team. Sources told Saturday Vanguard that the policemen whose names were given as Corporals Enugu and Haruna Joseph, led the way, described the type of vehicle they would be inside and reportedly told them that they should start firing as soon as their van had passed. But Akeremale said, “When we went to search his house, we recovered a lot of arms and charms and as insiders, both took part in the operation. This goes with the saying that the insect that eats cola lives inside the cola. They were the insiders that were giving information about the movement of our policemen. There are also some accomplices they were working with but we will start with them so that we can get the others. There was a confirmation that the cache of arms that we were looking for (that led to the massacre) are somewhere and is a threat to the society, not only to the police officers that are trying to maintain law and order but other innocent members of the society and that is how we stake our lives so that other will live.”

Killings: Don’t drag Nigeria into a state of anarchy — Atiku begs able, then, the entire coun-

ORMER Vice Presi dent Atiku Abubakar and other Nigerians yesterday reacted to massacre of no fewer than 60 police officers by some cultists in Nasarawa State Tuesday. Atiku asked trouble makers who were bent on dragging Nigeria into a state of anarchy to have a rethink, just as he said that if the Police had now become vulnerable, then, the entire country was at grave risk. He condemned what he

described as the deliberate targeting of security men by criminal groups and gangs who had continually engaged in massive killing and wanton destruction of property. In a statement by his media office in Abuja yesterday, Atiku said he was deeply devastated at the incident in Eggon, Nasarawa State, where scores of policemen and officers and DSS operatives were killed in cold blood by the Ombatse cultists.

He described the incident as the worst single attack on policemen and DSS officials in recent times, adding that the savage attack also posed one of the greatest dangers to innocent citizens who were supposed to be protected by the police. According to Atiku, “ Citizens participation is essential to effective crime prevention. At this period of widening dimension of criminality and lawlessness, if the force is vulner-

try is at grave risk.”As trained security agents to stem or eliminate criminality in the society, any threats to the lives of the police inevitably pose grave dangers to the lives of fellow Nigerians.” He further lamented the uncontrolled emergence of criminal gangs that now threaten law and order, saying the threat must be collectively confronted by Nigerians rather than abdicating the responsibility to the security agents alone.

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Teenage mother, two nurses arrested over missing baby • She drugged me and took my baby away — mother BY EMMA UNA, Calabar

TWELVE year old girl, Mary Nmakamba Eyo and two nurses Amaladi Isaac and Lillian Aloysius are being detained by the police in Akpabuyo, in the outskirts of Calabar, the Cross River State capital for allegedly stealing a baby delivered by the girl without the consent of her parents. Mrs Justina Eyo, elder sister to Nmakamba who reported the matter to the police which led to the arrest and detention of the three, said the girl who got pregnant sometime in 2012 went missing two

months ago and resurfaced last week without the pregnancy or the baby. According to Justina, the family searched every where for the girl but could not locate her whereabouts until last week when she came back. “She was impregnated by a married man in our village who for obvious reasons could not take her into his home but was taking care of her in the little way that he could but suddenly last March, the girl disappeared and we have searched everywhere without locating her”. She said last Friday, the girl came back without the pregnancy or the baby. She was asked where the

baby was and she said the woman who took her away to Umuahia in Abia State collected the baby and gave her 2,000 naira to return to Calabar. “She said the woman met her here in Akpabuyo and took her to a Maternity home Abia and when she gave birth, the woman gave her some drugs and she slept off. When she woke up, she did not see the baby and the woman gave her money to return to Caalabar”. Justina who is a teacher said she was disturbed by her younger sister’s tale adding that her look suggested something was wrong. She immediately reported the matter

Court orders lawyer to pay N2.3m to couple

BUJA: An Abuja High Court on yesterday ordered a lawyer, Akhigbemen Ehimen, to pay N2.35 million to Mr Cornelius Agbor and his wife, Ebi, being money he swindled them. Delivering judgment in the case, Justice Angela Otaluka held that the evidence before the court proved that the defendant did not deny the plaintiffs’ claims against him. “The plaintiff’s claims against the defendant were not contested in court and this matter was brought under the undefended list which entitles the plaintiffs to summary judgment,” she said. Otaluka said there was overwhelming documentary evidence of agreements reached between the parties on the nature of their business transaction, including the transfer of money to the defendants’ bank account. “The crux of the matter is that the defendant and the plaintiffs agreed to enter into a loan investment, and evidence of cash transfer to the defendant’s bank account are before the court,” she said. Otaluka said the case was brought under the undefended list which meant that the defendant did not enter defence in the matter and so the plaintiffs were entitled to

judgment. “Judgment is, hereby, given in favour of the plaintiffs jointly and the court, therefore, ordered that the sum of N2.35 million be paid by the defendant to the plaintiffs immediately,” she said. The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the couple had, through their counsel, Mr Tony Ojong, filed a suit against the defendant for allegedly swindling them. Ojong told the court that the defendant claimed to be a money facility agent and deceitfully collected money from the couple on many occasions under false pretence. He said that the defendant promised the couple a 15 per cent interest on their money but neither paid back the capital nor the interest, even after the

defendants made several demands for payment.

to the police. Nmakamba was detained and the next day they took her to Abia to locate the Maternity and the woman who took the baby from her. According to her,

the Akpabuyo Divisional Police Station at Ikot Nakanda, the two ladies, Lillian and Amaladi aged about 25 and 28 were seen sitting on the floor of the cell of the station looking unkempt .

From left: Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya; First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun; Chairman, Ijebu North Local Government area, Otunba Olaide Osifeso and Sopen Lukele, Oke-Sopen, Oba M. A Yusuf during the commissioning of Airtel’s adopted School, St. John’s Primary School, yesterday, in Oke-Agbo, IjebuIgbo, Ogun State.

Police moved into Obio Akpor to save property — Rivers Police boss more sources than my- place and that’s all” BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME, Port Harcourt

IVERS State Police Commissioner, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu has said the police would only vacate Obio Akpor local government secretariat when it was sure that there would be no threat to the council properties. The Commissioner who spoke yesterday at the Police headquarters said the Police had to seal off the secretariat when it got wind of plan by some hoodlums to

bomb the place. “We are a law enforcement agency, the key law enforcement agency. Sometimes I get information and my DPO may not get the information, my Area Commander may not get it. I have more sources, the IG has

sures prudent management of the state’s funds. According to Nta, Imoke has shown that a governor does not need to have all the resources in the world to perform. He said Cross River under Imoke is noted for fiscal discipline. While commending the state for not joining the bandwagon of states declaring free education, he said the Commission is impressed with the quality of education in the state.

self, the AIG in the zone has more sources and if there’s a plan to bomb Obio/Akpor local government headquarters and we are informed, are we to sit down tight and watch it happen? No, we will move down there just to make sure that we take custody of the

The Police boss said it was not true that he withdrew the Police orderly attached to Okrika local government Chairman and those at the local government secretariat, adding that the Police was not an interested party in the political crisis rocking the state.

Irate youths invade police post in Niger State, kill two suspects BY WOLE MOSADOMI, Minna

HERE was pande monium at Bangi

ICPC commends Imoke on fiscal discipline HE Independent Cor rupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has commended Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State for enthroning fiscal discipline in the management of the state’s resources. The Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta, who made the commendation while on a courtesy call on Imoke on Thursday in Calabar, said Cross River has put in place a system that en-

when they got there, the woman on sighting the girl escaped but two nurses in the maternity were arrested and brought down to Calabar on Tuesday evening. When Saturday Vanguard visited

He presented a banner captioned “Corruption Denied His Education, Act Now Against Corruption” to Governor Imoke. Nta remarked that it was high time governments across the country understood the importance of education as a way of fighting corruption. He recommended that Cross River shares her education blueprint with other states of the federation.

village in Mariga local government area of Niger state when some irate youths numbering about ten invaded the Butchi police station in the area, killing two suspects while some other suspected armed robbers escaped from the police cell. There mission to the police post it was gathered, was to carry out jungle justice on some suspected robbers who have engaged in the constant theft of motorcycles from their owners in the past few weeks in the area thereby denying them of their livelihood. However, they met a stone wall on getting to the police post as the men and officers on duty

restricted their movement towards getting close to the station to carry out their task. The angry youths who were said to have reinforced later, overpowered the police on duty, damaged the doors and windows and forced their way into the cell where some of the suspects escaped. Two of the suspected “motorcycle thieves” were however unlucky as the irate youths descended on them and killed them instantly in their cells. The third suspect it was gathered, was however rescued by the Divisional Police officer who quickly ferried him out of the station to Kontagora Area Commanders office for protection.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013 — 7

Catholic Church Bombing: I know the perpetrators — Kabiru Sokoto •Denies involvement, as court admits statement into evidence BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI Abuja

HE Nigerian Police Force, yesterday, told the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court that the apprehended kingpin of the Boko Haram Sect, Kabiru Umar, a.k.a Kabiru Sokoto, had volunteered names of the sect members that bombed St. Theresa’s Catholic Church at Madalla, Niger State, in 2011. The attack had resulted to the death of 44 persons and wounded 75 others while Christmas day church service was in progress. However, a lead Police investigator who gave his name as “Mr. ABC”, in his testimony before the court yesterday, stressed that Sokoto, who is facing a 2-count terrorism charge, confessed that though he got prior information that the attack would take place, he was not part of the terror squad that eventually struck the church. Neverthless, the witness declined to mention the names of the said culprits in the open court. Meantime, trial Justice Ademola Adeniyi, yesterday, admitted into evidence, a 3-paged statement where the accused person revealed the modus-operandi of the Boko Haram sect and their major source of funding. According to the masked witness who told the court that he personally took the statement of the accused person shortly after he was caught at the Borno State Government Lodge in Abuja on January 14, 2012, “Sokoto confessed that the sect believes that it is lawful to rob Christians and disposess them of their belongings.” The witness stressed that the accused person, who he said in the hierarchy of the sect, was the “Governor of Sokoto State”, made his confession in front of a former Commissioner of Police for the FCT, Mr Zakari Biu, who was dismissed from the police for allegedly assisting the accused to

escape from custody. Sokoto had on January 16, 2012, vanished from Police custody on a day a team of investigators went to search his residence at Abaji, a suburb in Abuja, but subsequently rearrested on February 10 by underground operatives of the

State Security Service at Taraba State. His mysterious escape also culminated to the sack of the erstwhile Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim. The witness further told the court that after some members of the sect loyal to Kabiru Sokoto,

HE Rivers Youth o v e m e n t (RYM) worldwide, has pledged support and loyalty to the Rivers State Governor, and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. The RYM, an association of Rivers youths numbering over two million, also passed a vote of confidence on the Rivers State Governor for his landmark achievements in the state. President-General of the Rivers Youth Movement, Engr. Richard Alete at a press conference in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the RYM would continue to support good leadership as demonstrated by Governor Amaechi. “The Rivers Youth Movement with its membership strength of over two million Rivers youths including those in Nigeria and those in diaspora wish to state that our unalloyed support to the dynamic, focused and award-winning Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (CON), the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), cannot be undermined despite the current political impasse in the state. The Movement wants to use this opportunity and privilege to salute the governor for his developmental strides in this state, that we are inspired by the people-oriented projects and programmes of the present political dispensation in the state led by Governor Amaechi and therefore express our unflinching support, loyalty and commitment to this administration with benevolent ideologies. “We also want to use this opportunity to pass a vote of confidence on the Governor of Rivers State, because he has tried; he has done so much for Rivers people.” M

ICPC boss, Mr. Ekpo Nta presenting a gift to Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke(L) when he led a delegation of his management team on a courtesy call on the governor in Calabar, Cross River.

Over 100 women, children and farmers killed in renewed Tiv/Fulani bloodbath BY PETER DURU MAKURDI

O fewer than 100 women, children and Tiv farmers have reportedly been slaughtered in the last two weeks by invading Fulani herdsmen, following the renewed bloodbath and invasion of Tiv communities in Guma Local Government area of Benue State by Fulani herdsmen. Immediate past Speaker of the

Benue State House of Assembly, and member representing Guma State Constituency, David Iorhemba made this known yesterday in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi. Iorhemba lamented that despite efforts to stem the crisis in the hinterland of the state, cases of silent killings and destruction of property were still being reported by the natives adding that in his village at Yogbo, no fewer than 26 persons were allegedly murdered by the

Delta leaders canvass support for Uduaghan

ELTA leaders on Sunday described as irresponsible the campaign of calumny by the Mega People’s Progressive Party, MPPP, governorship candidate in the 2011 election, Chief Afro Biukeme and his associates, insisting that the Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan- led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government is the most reasonable in the history of the state. The top leaders of the state in a statement issued by the Director of Communications of the People’s Movement, Mrs. Ibifuro

Rivers Youth Movement (RYM) pledges support to Amaechi

•passes vote of confidence

BRIEFS

attacked and killed three police men in Kano, “We were able to arrest some of them including one M. Aliyu, the owner of the house they camped in and recovered eight AK-47 Riffles and IEDs. “Subsequently, we got information that some of the sect members that attacked us had

escaped to Sokoto State in three Golf cars, immediately, we left Kano for Sokoto on December 19, 2012. On getting there, we identified the house they hid in at Mambilla Housing estate in Sokoto State. The team went in and attempted to arrest the occupants of that house, a move that resulted in a one-hour gun battle that led to death of one of their members.

Tatua advised Governor Uduaghan to look away from them and get on with important matters

of State, since they are arrogant and reckless politicians pursuing their selfish agenda.

Okaba back as IYC Chair BY SIMON ADEWALE

OMRADE Preye Okaba has been reinstated chairman, western zone of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), following the alleged intervention of Hon. Kingsley Kuku, Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta and

chairman of amnesty programme. The intervention of Kuku, a former 7-man-collegiate national president of the IYC was seen as a confidence vote on the team which backed down on the earlier 6-month suspension resolution slammed on Okaba.

Fulani marauders in the last few days. He lamented that the crisis was taking its toll on farmers in the affected communities as farm land and crops had been destroyed, making it difficult to get seedlings for planting this farming season. He said, ‘’the invasion of my constituency in Guma Local Government area by Fulani herdsmen is alarming. It is like a deliberate move to wipe out the Tiv race; it is unfortunate that our people will become refugees in their fatherland as a result of incessant Fulani invasion. ”As I am talking to you now, the areas have been deserted. You know that we are farmers in this part of the country; on a weekly basis, the herdsmen invade our lands, rape our women found in the farms, slaughter our men and deprive us of our ancestral home. ”Our people cannot farm this season because apart from destroying there farm lands and crops, many of our people have now become refugees in Makurdi because of the fear of the Fulani.”

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11 , 2013

o ssttop trial $3m bribery scam: Farouk arouk,, Emenalo lose bid tto …Court declines to quash charge ...says they’ve a case to answer BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

RSTWHILE Chair man and Secretary of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on fuel subsidy probe, Farouk Lawan and Mr Boniface Emenalo, yesterday, failed in their bid to quash the 7-count criminal charge that was preferred against them by the IndependentCorrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC. Dismissing an application the embattled lawmakers filed before an Abuja High Court at Maitama, seeking to be discharged and acquitted of the allegation that they demanded and collected bribe from the Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Femi Otedola, as an inducement to remove the name of his company from the report of the House of Reps Ad-hoc committee on Monitoring of fuel subsidy regime, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, yesterday, maintained that they have a criminal case to answer. Justice Oniyangi said he was convinced that the ICPC has placed sufficient materials before the court to warrant the prosecution of the embattled lawmakers, noting that the court has the requisite jurisdiction to entertain and decide the matter. Besides, the court held that the proof of evidence before the court established a prima-facie case that would warrant explanations from the accused persons. “It is the conclusion of this court that the charge as constituted is competent and the court has the jurisdiction to entertain the suit. The application is hereby dismissed as the accused persons have a case to answer,” the judge added. Consequently, the court fixed June 19 to commence hearing on the substantive case against the lawmakers. Meantime, Farouk and Emenalo had in their dismissed application, begged the court to terminate their trial on the premise that the ICPC failed to adduce any credible evidence to warrant

their prosecution. They had through their lawyer, Mr Ricky Tarfa, SAN, insisted that the ICPC was unable to establish a prima-facie case against them, contending that going by the totality of the proof of evidence before the trial court, visà-vis the allegation, the court ought not to have granted the anti-graft agency the leave to prefer the charge against them, “since the prosecution failed to provide adequate material necessary for the judge to exercise discretion in favour of the application for leave.” Arguing that the foundation of the case against them was not legally laid, Farouk and Emenalo, told the court that the prosecutor failed to comply with the provisions of section 185 (1)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code, CPC, which they said required that statements of witnesses be attached to the application to prefer charge. Likewise, they queried why the prosecuting agency refused to tender the written statement of Otedola who it listed as one of the star witnesses that will testify in the matter. They pleaded with the court to suspend hearing on the substantive case pending the determination of their preliminary objection, just as they challenged the jurisdic-

tion of the court to try them over a charge they said was legally incompetent and baseless. Specifically, ICPC alleged that the accused persons collected an aggregate sum of $3million, with a view to ensuring that Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd escaped prosecution even though the probe Committee had ab-initio found it culpable in fuel subsidy fraud. The anti-graft agency maintained that the offence they committed was contrary to section 17 (1) (a), section 8(1) (a) (b) (ii), and section 23 (i) of the Corrupt practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under section 8 (1) 17 (1) and 23(3) of the same Act. More so, the prosecuting commission alleged that Emenalo, while being a public officer, an Assistant Director and Clerk of

AGOS State Commis sioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris has lamented the increase in asthma disease around the world, especially as communities adopt western lifestyles and become urbanized. The Commissioner who made the observation weekend in a speech delivered on his behalf by Dr. Longe Jemilade, Director, Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health in a workshop organised by the Elias Nelson Oyedokun Foundation( ENOF) at Illupeju, Lagos to mark World Asthma Day and also in memory of late Nelson Oye-

the Committee on Education of the House of Reps, sometime in April 2012, while acting as the Secretary of the Ad-Hoc Committee, was offered gratification by Otedola but failed to report the offer to any officer of the ICPC or any police officer. The accused persons had on February 1, plead-

ed not guilty to the charge and subsequently spent seven days at Kuje Prison where the court remanded them till their bail application was granted. Justice Oniyangi on February 8 released them on bail after they deposited N10million each, as well as, produced two

persons that stood surety for them in like sum. Besides, the judge ordered them to surrender their international passports and other travelling documents to the court registrar, warning that they should not travel outside the shores of the country without the consent of the court.

Presidency probes allegation of graft against AGF BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU, Abuja

HE Inspector Gener al of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar yesterday invited the former member of House of Representatives, Hon. Dino Melaye for questioning over allegations of corruption and abuse of office against the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice,

Lagos Commissioner laments increase of Asthma prevalence BY EPHRAIM OSEJI

President-General of Rivers Youth Movement (RYM), Engr. Alete Richard (centre) and other exco members of the group during a Press Conference in Port Harcourt.

dokun, a 13-year-year-old boy who died from asthma, disclosed that an estimated 300 million people worldwide are suffering from asthma with children constituting a reasonable percentage of those afflicted. Consequently, experts who delivered papers in the workshop tagged, “You Can Control Your Asthma,” have called on both the public and private sectors to create a conducive work environment devoid of sensitizers that could trigger occupational asthma, as well as contribute to already high incidence of asthma in Nigeria.

Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, indicating that the presidency may have ordered investigations into the allegations of corruption against Adoke by Melaye, the executive director, AntiCorruption Network. Although details of the invitation were sketchy as at press time, but it was gathered that Melaye had

petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan on April 11, 2013, accusing Adoke of graft and “outrageous use of powers against public interest.” However, clues that investigation into the matter had started emerged from a letter signed on behalf of the IGP by the Commissiner of Police in charge of X-

Squad, Ali Amodu to the petitioner, Mr Melaye. The letter read in part, “This office is investigating a case of alleged corruption, abuse of office and incompetence levelled against the current Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (Mohammed Bello Adoke) by your organization.”

Jonathan not investigating me — Adoke

OWEVER, The Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, Mr Mohammed Adoke, SAN, yesterday, refuted reports that he was under investigations on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan over allegations of corruption

and abuse of office leveled against him by anti-corruption crusader, Hon. Dino Melaye. Hon. Melaye had petitioned the InspectorGeneral of Police, IG, urging that Mr. Adoke be investigated for corruptly enriching himself. The social media was

by, yesterday afternoon, awash with reports that the IG had began the investigation of Mr. Adoke, as demanded by Hon. Melaye. But Adoke’s lawyers, Ahmed Raji, SAN, quickly issued a statement to counter the reports.

13 cult members remanded in prison, 2 charged to court in Delta BY FESTUS AHON, Ughelli

T least 13 persons have been remanded in prison custody over their alleged involvement in secret cult violent clash that resulted in the death of two persons in Okwagbe, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State.

The Area Commander, Delta Central Police Command, Mr Awosola Awotinde, who disclosed this to newsmen in a chat, said two others were also arrested and charged to court at Usiefurun in the same local government area for cult activities. Awotunde said the police in the area was out to fight cultism and other forms of crime to a

standstill. H e said; “they were fighting in a secondary school which resulted in the death of two. Cult members are armed robbers and kidnappers. “This morning (yesterday) two persons in Usiefurun were also taken to court for cult activities. You can see that we are not relenting in the fight against cultism.”

SATURDAY

Vanguard, MAY11, 2013 — 9

N894m Contract Scam: Court adjourns Bankole’s trial to May 28 BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

L-R Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Chairman BoT American University of Nigeria (AUN) Yola, Alh Ahmed Joda, at the 2013 AUN graduation dinner in honour of the 2013 graduating students in Yola, Adamawa State on Thursday

HE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, fixed May 28 to resume trial of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole. The ex-Speaker is answering to a 16-count criminal charge that was entered against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes

Oritsejafor returns as CAN president BY SAM EYOBOKA, Abuja

HE first Pentecostal cleric to be elected National President of the Christian Association, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor was Thursday night re-elected to pilot the affairs of the umbrella body of Christians in the country for a second term. Declaring results of the CAN presidential elections at National Christian Centre, Abuja, the returning officer of a 5-member electoral committee, the executive Secretary of Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mr. Kennedy Opara said incumbent president, Pastor Oritsejafor scored 80 votes while his only opponent, Rev. Oyekunle polled four ballots. The 82 accredited delegates, aside from the two contestants, drawn from blocks out of the five that make up CAN had overwhelmingly opted for the Open Ballot system as they freely raised their hands in the full view of everybody to show the openness of the exercise. This electoral victory marking the second of a 3-pronged exercise which was preceded by an award of “A True Servant of God” by Christian Elders Forum of

Northern States, NOSCEF will however, be subject to ratification of the General Assembly of CAN scheduled for July 9, this year. At the first election through an electoral college, the CAN helmsman despite recent spate of criticisms by even Christian leaders who are uncomfortable with his audacity and courage, polled 11 votes to his opponent’s one to pave the way for Thursday’s election at NEC meeting of CAN. In what appeared to be an acceptance speech, the fearless and charismatic president thanked members of NEC who have given him another mandate to pilot the affairs of CAN for another term, promising that with their continued support, “together we will build a Church that will transform the n a t i o n . ” He again expressed concern about the menace of Fulani headsmen who he said are a part of an agenda to Islamise the nation, noting that essentially, cattle rearers are illiterates who have been schooled in the art of using sophisticated weapons including AK 47 and others. He blamed greedy traditional rulers in parts of the South who collect cattle gifts and huge sums of money in ex-

change for farmlands in their domains which the Fulani use as bases for their nefarious activities including raping women, killing innocent indigenes while the traditional rulers look the other way. Urging Christians to be extra vigilant about the activities of Fulani herdsmen, Oritsejafor said Christians are not against cattle rearing but Nigerians can no longer continue to accept crude methods of grazing cattle. According to him, European and American citizens eat beef just as

other nations of the world do, “but where in those nations do you find cattle on the highway? He maintained that their respective state governments should provide modern grazing grounds for their cattle rearers where they would stay and give their children proper education. ”They should take the cows back to where they came from while grazing their cattle in modern grazing grounds in their homesteads. If they want to be carrying assault weapons, they are at liberty to use same on themselves.”

Commission, EFCC. The anti-graft agency had in its charge, alleged that Bankole rigged bid for the purchase of 3 units of Mercedes Benz S-600 cars, 2 units of Range Rover vehicles (without bullet proofs) and 400 units of DSTV systems, by refusing to follow all the procedures prescribed for public procurements in Sections 17 to 56 of the Public Procurement Act No.14 of 2007, leading to a loss of value to the national treasury and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58(4)(e) of the Public Procurement Act, No.14 of 2007 and punishable under Section 58(5) of the same Act. The commission told the court that the illicit deals that formed conduit pipes through which monies were pilfered by the accused person dur-

Four members of same family die in auto crash BY DAYO JOHNSON, Akure

T least four members of the same family reportedly lost their lives in an auto crash in Akure, the Ondo State capital yesterday when officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC allegedly stopped a vehicle in the middle of the

2015: South South PDP Senators meet in Asaba over Jonathan BY JOSEPH ERUNKE, Abuja

ORRIED over t h r e a t s confronting President Jonathan’s perceived reelection bid in the 2015 presidential election and the seeming sharp division among senators on the development, senators of the South South geo-political zone under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will meet in Asaba, Delta State, tomorrow, to discuss on how to handle the situation. The meeting, according to Saturday Vanguard source, would be

held at the instance of the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South South zone in collaboration with the national headquarters of the party. The party is said to be concerned about political developments in the House of Representatives where members of the party from the region had openly demonstrated their resolve to support the House Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, to contest against Jonathan in the forth coming presidential election in 2015. The leadership of the South South PDP Senators

ing his headship of the 6th Session of the House of Reps, included the purchase of 400 units of 40-inch Samsung (LNS. 341) television sets, 800 units of Desktop Computers (HP Compaq dc 5700), 100 units of Sharp Digital Copier 5316, 400 units of HP LaserJet 2600N, among others. Though the anti-graft agency had almost closed its case after calling about four witnesses that testified against the ex-Speaker, however, owing to the transfer of the former trial Judge, Justice Donatus Okorowo, out of the Abuja Division, the case commenced de-nono (afresh) At the resumed hearing on the case yesterday, a star witness of the EFCC, Mr Adeboye Adeniyi, narrated before the court how an investigative team of the commission found the exSpeaker culpable.

Caucus, was said to have been approached by both the leadership of the party in the zone and the national headquarters to arrange a forum where they can all meet to chart a common course, a development that gave rise to the scheduled meeting. It is being expected that the senators, at the meeting, will discuss the need for continuous unity of lawmakers of the upper legislative chamber from the geo-political zone and the desirability or otherwise of featuring President Goodluck Jonathan, who is from the region, to seek a renewed term of four years in office.

road abruptly. The action of the FRSC officials according to eyewitness account resulted in three vehicles ramming into one another along the ever busy IlesaOwo expressway in Akure metropolis. Some irate youths were mobilized to the FRSC office along the road and vandalized it. Timely intervention of policemen from Ijapo Police Station prevented the youths from razing down the office. Other officials of the Corps who were on patrol reportedly took to their heels when they saw the mob approaching them. The officials of the corps were said to be on patrol along the express road when the incident occurred. The eye witness who is a motor dealer at the Akure Auto mart adjacent to the scene of the crash said that the FRSC officials stopped the driver of the vehicle abruptly in the middle of the road to check his particulars.An oncoming trailer reportedly lost control and rammed into the vehicle and compressed it.

10 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

ike a gadfly, he provokes some thoughts each time he grants interviews to Journalists or speaks in any public gathering. His previous statements lend credence to that. Just last week, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, former President of Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) and leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF) in a Press Conference yet again stirred up another round of controversy by declaring that peace will elude Nigeria if President Goodluck Jonathan is not returned in 2105.

There will be no peace

I called this briefing because of events that are unfolding in the polity. Recently, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr. Kingsely Kuku, made a statement in the United States of America, that the peace being enjoyed in the Niger Delta will

not be guaranteed if President Goodluck Jonathan is not returned as President of Nigeria in 2015. This statement has been supported by several groups from the region. Also, the statement has been attracting reactions from several quarters, expectedly from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and others. I want to go on to say that, there will be no peace, not only in the Niger Delta, but everywhere if Goodluck Jonathan is not President by 2015, except God takes his life, which we don’t pray for. Jonathan has uninterrupted eight years of two terms to be president, according to the Nigeria constitution. He must have our uninterrupted eight years of two tenure. I am not in support of any amendment of the constitution that will reduce the eight years of two tenure that Goodluck Jonathan is expected to be president of Nigeria. For a very long time, our resources from the Niger Delta has been used to feed and fund Nigeria, and some people are still feeling that Nigeria is their personal property, and they can manage it the way they like. But those days are gone forever; it can never come back again. The days when we will elect a president and some

I want to go on to say that, there will be no peace, not only in the Niger Delta, but everywhere if Goodluck Jonathan is not President by 2015, except God takes his life, which we don’t pray for. Jonathan has uninterrupted eight years of two terms to be president, according to the Nigeria constitution people will annul our mandate, and place the winner of that mandate in their dungeon and murder him, such days are over and they will never come again. They threat-

Continues on page 11

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013 — 11

Continued from page 10 ened to make the polity ungovernable, but we thank Almighty Allah, that he who rides on the back of the tiger, might end up in the belly of the tiger. And what is happening in the north is a clear testimony that you cannot turn the hands of the clock. When change comes, nobody can stop it, it is like a moving train. Comparing present regime under President Jonathan to the previous ones A lot of people will say has Goodluck performed as President? We, from the Niger Delta have been fair.We criticize our own, but that does not change what I have always said that monkey no fine, but him mama like am. We will continue to support and stand by Goodluck. Our colonial operators left functional railways system and roads that were motorable, education and energy sector that worked. But from Yakubu Gowon, to Murtala Mohammed, to Olusegun Obasanjo, to Shehu Shagari, to Muhammadu Buhari, to Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, to Sani Abacha, to Abdulsalami Abubakar, to Olusegun Obasanjo again, these infrastructures built by the colonial operators were totally destroyed. We are all aware of it and nobody can deceive us. But today, the story has changed. I made five hours from Benin to Lagos by road. Electricity supply is relatively constant now than what it was before Jonathan came in as president. The AbujaLokoja road that was neglected is almost completed and several other roads across the country. People have started using the rail system again.This shows that Jonathan is silently moving the country at the direction to satisfy this insatiable people, while we from the Niger Delta are not being satisfied. Before now, we have had university lecturers striking for over six months, people go to universities to study courses of four or five years, but the end up staying five and six years because the lecturers were always going in strike, but that is not the case as at today because the government is handling the issue. Even at that, this is the most maligned government because some people think, and they have been made to believe that they are born to rule, and so many people who are very timid to challenge them have accepted it. His views on General Mohammed Buhari They talk about Buhari and I ask them what does Buhari have to show in all the years he has been in government? He was a governor in the north; later he became Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources; he was Head of State and he also headed the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and in all of these positions he held, what were his achievements? When we go to Dubai and other former third-world countries, we see the achievements of their leaders. If Buhari is so good,

Asari Dokubo.. They talk about Buhari and I asked them what does Buhari have to show in all the years he has been in government?

‘We will continue to support and stand by Goodluck’ let him show us one thing that he achieved when he was in the positions he held before. Let him show us one monument in the former North East that can be attributed to him when he was governor there.

But you don’t dare a leader who tries to be civil and humane. They want him to become “ my father used to flog you with cane, I’m going to chastise you with cutlass”. When it gets to that state, a lot of

When Odi and Odioma in Bayelsa State were destroyed by soldiers, where was the Nasir el-Rufai that is now running his mouth? Jobless people like el-Rufai contribute nothing to keep Nigeria, he can only survive with government He has nothing to show. They’re saying he is not corrupt, and we were told how $2.8b got missing. Group Captain Usman Jubril, a Muslim and former governor in the north, accused Buhari of corruption, that his cronies were given contracts in the Afri Project, Buhari’s cronies controlled PTF and we all saw it. But because some people love slavery, and they will say the master is coming with koboko, he will flog me if I don’t fall in line. President Jonathan is not using the hammer that IBB and Buhari used when they were in power. Jonathan is not using the retroactive laws that Buhari used and that is why they see him as clueless. They want him to start behaving like IBB, Buhari and Obasanjo and then he becomes a president that is strong.

them will not be able to cry.

Attack on Baga

A lot of Nigerians don’t know, I once lived in Borno State, and I studied Arabic and Islamic Studies among several leading Islamic scholars in Borno. Because I’ve lived in Borno, I wonder at the claim that over 2000 houses were burnt down. Houses in Baga community in Borno are mud and thatch houses. In the same community, they killed soldiers and the people waited for the soldiers to come for retaliation. Now, let us ask the question ; are soldiers fighting combatants who want to establish their hegemony on others?

On el-Rufai

When Odi and Odioma in Bayelsa

State were destroyed by soldiers, where was the Nasir el-Rufai that is now running his mouth? Jobless people like el-Rufai contribute nothing to keep Nigeria. They can only survive with government. ElRufai ran away from Nigeria under his brother Yar’Adua. When his brother died, he came back. He wanted appointment in Goodluck’s government and when Goodluck didn’t give him appointment, he suddenly turned a northern crusader. The same el-Rufai said that Buhari is perpetually un-electable because of his record as military head of state. The same el-Rufai said that Buhari’s insensitivity to Nigeria’s diversity and his parochial focus are already well-known.The same el-Rufai repeated a known fact that in 1984, Buhari allowed 53 suitcases belonging to his ADC’s father to enter Nigeria unchecked at a time the country was exchanging old currency for new. The same elRufai told us that against all canons of legal decency, Buhari used retroactive laws to execute three young men for drug-peddling after they were convicted by a military tribunal and not regular courts of law. The same el-Rufai said that Buhari was so high-handed that he gave himself and his officials immunity even from truthful reporting, when Buhari used the obnoxious Decree 4, against which truth was no defence, to jail journalists and attempt to cow the media as a whole. This same el-Rufai, a habitual betrayal, who is now running his mouth, said all these about Buhari when he was FCT Minister under Obasanjo. Why would anybody take him serious?

Continues on page 18

12 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013

’Why Nyako is fighting Tukur’ men sat at the Supreme Court and imposed Amaechi on the people of Rivers State. It was the

Continued from page 11 The Ijaw in me I am an Ijaw man, call me an ethnic bigot, I don’t care, I have no apology to give to anybody. I am an Ijaw man, if you touch an Ijaw man, you touch me. So there is nothing about it that I am going to be ashamed of. On Governor Amaechi saga/ Nigeria’s population There is this war that is going on, instigated by Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi. Nigerian Governors Forum as an association is not known to the Nigerian Constitution, and as a body that is unknown to the law, there is no legal power where governors forum wants to usurp the constitutional powers of the president elected by the people. This is something that will not be acceptable to anybody. They didn’t do it under Babangida, they also didn’t do it under Obasanjo, they didn’t do it under Yar’Adua and for Chibuike to arrogate this power to himself, he has been looking for trouble, now he is saying that failure to provide security is an impeachable offence. That is what Chibuike is telling a President. Chibuike has been making statements, disparaging the person of President Goodluck Jonathan. He went to Kano state and declared there that he will contest 2015 presidential election as a running mate to a northern aspirant. He is free to do so but the South-South region will not allow traitors among us. And if Rotimi Amaechi has singled himself out as a traitor, he will be treated as a traitor. There is

nothing anybody can do about it. Now that we have come out of slavery, nobody can take us back into slavery, it is not possible. Rotimi Amaechi with his background enjoys slavery. He knows his background and everybody knows him. If God has given him a lease of life to be with people who has freedom, he should appreciate what God has given him, but to think he will take us back to slavery, we will not let him do so. Is there anywhere in the world that there are more people in a desert

part of the country than in a fertile part of the country? In the whole world, it is only in Nigeria that we are told that there more people living in the desert than in the fertile and mangrove land. I’ve travelled around the world and I know that the said population of Nigeria and the population of northern Nigeria is 419. I have wondered why Niger Republic and Chad which are in the same desert like the north are not as populated as northern Nigeria. What is there in Kano State to sustain two million population? Can someone tell me? Is it the industry or what? There is nothing in Kano that can sustain two million population. So all these manipulations have been going on and people have been accept-

same process. Amaechi never won House of Assembly election in 1999. Uche Okwukwu defeated him, and the same court process was used to give him another man’s mandate. Uche Okwukwu after wining him at the election, won him at the tribunal, and they went to INEC list to expunge Uche Okwukwu’s name

Asari Dokubo.. There is this war that is going on, instigated by Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi

‘I am an Ijaw man, if you touch an Ijaw man, you touch me’ ing it, and now after we have seen the light at the end of the tunnel and that freedom is in site,

then an Amaechi comes and wants to take us back into slavery. It’s not going to be possible. If they like, let them settle whatever problem between him and Goodluck, but we the people of the Niger Delta will not settle that or allow a traitor in our midst. We will never allow a traitor to be in our midst because if God brings you out from poverty, you should be grateful to God, and not to drag yourself back to poverty. That is what Amaechi wants to do. We will not go back to slavery

people that this is happening. It is no longer Riverine fight the upland, but it is now a collective fight of the people against one traitor called Amaechi. This is not an Ijaw matter. It is fight for the people of Rivers State and the South-South people because we know that it’s the rat in the house that goes to tell the rat in the bush that there is fish in the kitchen. We cannot allow Amaechi to bring back the enemy to come and destroy our land. It is not possible. So for us, whether Goodluck settles with Amaechi or not,

As far as I am concerned, the first amnesty was a mistake and a bribe. So since you have given amnesty to one group of people, you must continue to give amnesty to others and poverty, and will never allow him to drag us along. Enough of the handshake across the Niger. Is it

only we that will always stretch out hands for a handshake across the Niger? Let the man on the bank of the Niger stretch his own hand to us. Don’t they shake hands? Why must it be us that will be doing handshake every time? We have fought, we have seen the light, total freedom is coming and we will never allow any traitor among us, and that is why the people of Rivers State are happy that finally, Amaechi has exposed himself. That is the reality before us. There is so much joy among Rivers State

whatever they are doing, we have solved that. Amaechi will not be allowed to have his way. In the first place, Amaechi

never won election to become governor. His being a governor in Rivers State today is the manipulation of the oligarchs. Seven sat down at the Supreme Court and declared a man who never contested election governor of a state. If Omehia was not legally qualified to contest the 2007 election, the honorable path open to the Supreme Court was to annul the election and order a fresh election, but that didn’t happen because it is the programme of the Caliphate to impose a candidate and seven

from the election list. Meanwhile, he has a voters’ card and up till today, INEC refused to tell us how the name of a man who was duly registered as a voter, who passed through all the process of election and became a candidate in an election, suddenly disappeared from its register, and they declared Amaechi the winner. Amaechi has been wining through the court. Now, the court is declaring other people winners against his interest, why is he protesting? He was elected by the court, from House of Assembly to governor.

Amnesty to Boko Haram As far as I am concerned, the first amnesty was a mistake and a bribe. So, since you have given amnesty to one group of people, you must continue to give amnesty to others. Very soon, kidnappers will come asking for amnesty, you will give them because you gave others. Very soon pipeline vandals will also come, you will give them amnesty. Very soon, looters of treasuries, like the man who stole the pension fund, will come, you will give them. You give amnesty because you want to buy peace. You can’t buy peace because the peace you bought will never last. If there are signs that Niger Delta will boil again, it is because you bought the peace there. Since you failed to do the right thing and decided to buy peace, you will continue to buy peace. In the Niger Delta, it is not because of amnesty that there is peace; it is because Goodluck is President. That is why there is peace. Immediately Goodluck ceases to be president, all of us who are on sabbatical will come back. People like us never took amnesty, and we will never take it, because we committed no crime. Nobody will come to my land and take what belongs to me. Look at the way

they awarded the oil wells to themselves. These people are very wicked, they allocated the oil fields

to themselves. This is the worst type of apartheid, Zionism, disregard and discrimination of the highest order. The same people are still saying that the people who own the land will not be entitled to it. This is the kind of thing they want to bring back, and we are saying it will not be possible. If they like, let them campaign. If they like, let them

form merger and association, but all we know is that by 2015, Goodluck will be president whether they like it or not. If they say it’s empty threat, let them wait and see.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013—13

puzzle to security agents, had, of course escaped. Before the demolition, police had whisked no fewer than 63 of his associates to Asaba for questioning. Those found not culpable regained freedom while others were arraigned. Aduba told Saturday Vanguard that most of the suspects refused to give useful information on the whereabouts of Kelvin, but on the Kokori monarch, summoned by the police, he declined to offer comments for security reasons. A source, however, stated: “The monarch, himself has been a victim of the kidnap gang, he was practically held hostage in his domain by the gang, so what do you want him to do.”

Kidnappers beat a retreat in Delta *As police demolish dens in Kokori, Warri, Ozoro,Orogun * Gov Uduaghan gives marching orders

Emma Amaize,

Regional Editor, South-South

INCE Delta State Gover nor, Dr. Emmanuel Udu aghan, gave Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, official imprimatur, a month or so ago, to pull down dens of acknowledged kidnappers and cells they used to hold victims, while demanding for ransom, the practitioners of the evil business seem to have simmered down on their hair-raising escapades. Converse to the first quarter of the year (January – March) when there was hardly no day that passed without news of kidnappers striking in Warri, Ughelli, Asaba, Sapele and other parts of the state, the spate has reduced in the current second quarter. Initially, some officials of the state government did not quite hook up with the police because of covert information that some bad police officers were aiding and abetting kidnappers. The alignment was more with the army and Directorate of State Service, DSS, but once the Commissioner of Police understood the reason for the coldness and dealt with it by exposing and getting rid of bad eggs, things returned to normal. With its constitutional position as the principal law enforcement agency in the country, the governor needed its full cooperation to execute his plans as the Chief Security officer of the state. As soon as he saw a new dawn with Aduba’s modification, he went full swing. For those who mischievously alluded he was shielding kidnappers, particularly with his refusal to sign the Anti-Kidnapping Bill, which the House of Assembly vetoed last month, events of the past few weeks in the state point to the contrary. In fact, the reason for his banning commercial motorcycle (Okada) transportation in Warri, Effurun,

C M Y K

Asaba, last year, and two months ago in Kokori, Abraka in EthiopeEast Local Government Area, is beginning to crystallize. It has also become evident that he was not merely grandstanding when he boasted in January that he would fight kidnappers to a standstill in 2013. He bought more vehicles and provided logistics for the police and other security agencies for tour of duty, re-fortified the waterways by re-inaugurating the Delta Waterways Security Committee, DWSC, and adopted other undeclared protection measures. Commissioner Aduba, who, in the beginning, thought some officials of the state government and members of the public were unnecessarily antagonistic to the police, is almost hysterical, as he speaks of the

The arrest of supposed Kelvin’s associates is not what had excited the police, it is the destruction of the family house of Kelvin in Kokori, which the police described as a den and training ground of would be kidnappers newfound synergy. Two months earlier, he told Saturday Vanguard in an interview in Asaba, “I can tell you that in the next three months, let me say as from May or June, this year, kidnapping is going to reduce drastically in the state.” His words, “I do not want to boast about it, but I know that with the measures we are putting in place,

kidnappers would have no option than to run from the state, they have to go into hiding because we will no longer allow them to operate.” It is perceptible today that Aduba had an ace up his sleeve when he spoke to Saturday Vanguard. End of the road! What looks like the end for kidnappers in the state actually started with a quick move by Governor Uduaghan to sever the underbelly of the kidnap loop in the state by dismantling the recognized leadership. Armed with intelligence information on the kidnap industry, which he kept to himself, he summoned leaders of Kokori, in Ethiope East Local Government Area, the “off the record” kidnap headquarters in the state, to “surrender” their son, Kelvin, alleged to be the kingpin of kidnappers in the state. The leaders told him they heard no evil and saw no evil. A source said the governor let them leave, having given them opportunity to assist government with information, but without useful response. A source said, “The governor did not want a situation where some people will come to him and say that he did not give them opportunity to give him information on Kelvin and his gang before security agents descended on the town. That is why he invited them.” After reviewing the state of affairs, the State Security Council, in a meeting, April, in Warri, gave police the go-ahead to destroy the homes of suspected kidnappers, buildings where kidnappers use as dens and hideouts to keep their victims. These were part of the radical measures, which the police hierarchy in the state had suggested in the past. With the governor’s endorsement, the police descended, last month, on the kidnap headquarters. The “commander-in-chief ”, Kelvin, whose mod-us-operation remains a

Mass destruction of kidnap dens Last week, it was with gusto in his voice that Aduba spoke to Saturday Vanguard, “We have commenced destruction of buildings used by kidnappers as operational bases and cells, where victims are kept in unlawful custody, while demanding for ransom. So far, five of such buildings had been demolished in the state.” He said 139-suspected robbers/ kidnappers were arrested and 29 suspects were killed during gun battles, while 331 ammunition were recovered between January and April this year. Kokori kidnap headquarters crushed The arrest of supposed Kelvin’s associates is not what had excited the police, it is the destruction of the family house of Kelvin in Kokori, which the police described as a den and training ground of would be kidnappers. For more than 10 years, security agents talked about Kelvin’s house in Kokori, but the place continued to exist until April 19 when it was pulled down, and since then, what is regarded as the most flourishing crime empire in the state is no more. The linchpin and his boys have also fled into exile – to where nobody can straightforwardly tell. Orogun encampment demolished Before Kelvin’s den was shattered, Aduba told Saturday Vanguard of how a bungalow, used as detention camp by suspected kidnappers in Eboh-Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state was demolished months earlier. The Orogun hidey-hole was where hoodlums before his eventual rescue unlawfully imprisoned an accountant with the Delta State University, Abraka. Warri dens knocked down The police demolished penultimate Tuesday, in Warri, two buildings on Odibo Street, in which kidnappers held a victim, Mrs. Joy Elumah, unlawfully. Mrs. Elumah was rescued unhurt by the police while a 21-year-old Edighe Oberri, believed to be watching over her in the den was arrested. He shot dead as he tried to Continues on page 14

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013

Continued from page 13 escape from police custody. The Area Commander, Warri, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, Hussein Rabiu, said the woman was hidden in the building inherited by a notorious kidnapper, Lucky, who turned out to be the leader of the gang of kidnappers terrorizing the area. He spoke glowingly of the governor and his approval of demolition of any house found to be a hideout for kidnappers in Delta State. Base camp destroyed in Ozoro Another kidnap base demolished by the police before was the house in Ozoro where a four-man kidnap gang that abducted a 67-year-old retired military officer, Major General Peter Unode, in Ekiugbo, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, blindfolded and chained him for two days in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area. The rescue of the retired general was a commando operation by the police. In fact, the kidnappers, who initially asked for N50 million ransom were waiting for the payment of the ransom negotiated with the family when the police, stormed their den in an armada operation at about 8.00 am and liberated the victim. Narrating his ordeal to reporters, Unuode , who was chained on his knees with ankle, hands and mouth tied, said, “All of a sudden, this morning (Saturday) I heard a volley of gun shots; doors were being knocked off, until the door to where I was was knocked with a heavy shout - where is the General? “I said who are you and somebody answered, we are from the Ozoro DPO, which was how I was rescued by the police officers, who came in a commando style, shooting sporadically. I must commend the police for the rescue mission. The police displayed gallantry, bravery and they were very tactical,” he added. On how “bloody civilians” were able to snatch a soldier, he said, “I was blindfolded and whisked away with impunity. As we were going, they said I should give them N50 million, otherwise they would waste me. And I told them I do not have that kind of money and that I am a retired Army General. “They took me to their hideout; a living environment. People in the area were speaking Isoko; the boys guiding me were also conversing in Isoko. I was hearing the sound of vehicles and motorcycles; the place was close to a busy road. And from that Wednesday that they took me until I was rescued by the police, I refused food. I lived on water all through. “Later they reduced the ransom fee to N20 million, then came down to N15, N10 and N5 million and the boys felt insulted when my son they were negotiating with mentioned N450,000. They seriously tortured

Kidnappers beat a retreat in Delta basis in this country. “As at today, there are more armed robbery cases pending compared to kidnapping cases in the various judicial divisions of high court. The second reason why I withhold my assent to the bill is that there is currently worldwide campaign calling for the abolition of death sentence from the law books. “This campaign has been taken up by the Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Studies among several agencies.” In reaction, the lawmakers overruled the governor’s position and went through the legislative process to bring the bill into law with effect from April 17, 2013. The Speaker, Rt. Hon Victor Ochei, said that section 100 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulated that a two-third of the House was required to veto the governor on any bill. According to Ochei, out of the 29 members of the house, 26 signed the passage of the bill into law on Wednesday. The speaker directed the Clerk of the Assembly, Lyna Ocholor, to enroll the law in the High Court of Delta.

The refusal of the governor to assent to the Anti-Kidnapping Bill, 2013, which the lawmakers overrode his veto by passing same into law, has not deterred his fight against kidnappers me coupled with mosquito bites. The mosquitoes took advantage of me because I was properly chained to a chair and helpless. How Uduaghan, lawmakers finally settled scores From our findings, the refusal of the governor to assent to the AntiKidnapping Bill, 2013, which the lawmakers overrode his veto by passing same into law, has not deterred his fight against kidnappers. If anything, he is more determined to rout kidnappers from the state.

The new law as passed has become a multipurpose instrument for the police in their renewed battle against kidnappers, as it stipulates wide-ranging punishments for not only kidnappers, but also their associates, family members and traditional rulers in whose domains such crimes thrive. The law is categorical on death penalty for kidnappers and that is governor ’s cause of disagreement with the lawmakers. The governor recommended life sentence, instead of death penalty for kidnappers. In his letter to the House of Assembly, he said, “After full consideration to the Bill as passed by the House and presented to me for assent, no doubt, there are fundamental and compelling issues, some of which are constitutional. This has made it necessary for me to withhold my assent on the bill. “It is my view that death sentence punishment is not likely to serve as a deterrent or antidote for crime of kidnapping. It is suggested that the sentence should be imprisonment for a longer term, which is life imprisonment. “My reasons for suggesting long term of imprisonment are, it is a well known fact that death sentence is the penalty for the offences of armed robbery and murder. Notwithstanding death sentence imposed for those offences, they are still being committed on a daily

We’ll implement the law – Attorney -General In the meantime, AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Charles Ajuyah (SAN), assured Deltans, last week, that there was no going back in implementation of the AntiKidnapping law recently passed by the State House of Assembly. According to the Attorney-General, “The penalty for murder is death, but I can tell you that every other day, you find this offence being committed. “So it is an argument now whether it will serve as a deterrent or not, but as far as we are concerned, we have laws and we will apply them. “We will see what comes out of it. As Ministry of Justice and the executive, we will certainly go ahead to implement the laws as it is. The extant laws, of course, we have a duty to do that. “We cannot go to court and say we don’t like that law. It is the law that is in force. We will certainly press that the maximum punishment is given because that is the law. ” No more hiding place for kidnappers – Aduba Aduba strongly believes that with the power given the police to demolish homes and dens of known kidnappers, the police have added advantage, as it was possible to get back at kidnappers, who when they abduct their victims, believe they were untouchable, because their investments, houses and families are out of harm’s way. “The table has turned against them, there is no place to hide, we will not give them rest,” he added.

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Dear Aunty Julie, I was once married to a guy who messed up my entire life and then dumped me for another woman. It was not really the dumping that irked me but the lies he circulated about me, making me appear bad in the eyes of people. I cannot get over it no matter how I try. I got married again recently and I love my new husband and we are expecting our first baby. The other day, my husband and I went shopping and we ran into my ex who tried to talk down on me in the presence of my new husband but my new husband showed so much love by asking my ex to back out and telling him he doesn’t know what he has missed since he left me. Since then, my ex has been sending dirty texts to my phone and although I have ignored him, I feel irritated by his actions which make me to hate him the more. I am a pregnant woman and I don’t need to feel sad or unhappy. What do I do ? Adora, Delta State

Dear Adora, Decide to forgive your ex and never bring up his issue again, not to your new husband and not to yourself. Let

I hate him so much the past be the past. Give yourself a break. You are remarried now and so you deserve peace and peace is only found in forgiveness. Don’t bother to tell him you’ve forgiven him because this is for you, not him. Once you truly forgive him, you will find that the resentment will lift away from your soul. Also, for future encounters as you did recently, don’t take things so personal. If he has purposely inflicted pain on you, then you should avoid him.

Since you are married again and expecting a baby, I think it is important that both of you within the marriage say and do the things that will make the marriage stronger and, therefore, long lasting. There is no use in putting yourself through pain and anger. In order to feel good about your life, you have to first feel at peace with yourself and with the people you surround yourself with. You should surround yourself with love and with those that you love.

He’s an escapist Dear Aunty Julie, My guy tries to run away from problems, leaving me to solve them. I suspect he had a traumatised childhood and it is affecting our relationship. His parents got separated when he was very young and he didn’t have a happy childhood and he blames his parents for everything. He has this feeling at the back of his mind that what happened to his parents could happen to us but that is not true. Unlike him, I come from a stable home and my parents are the best of friends. I relate well with both his parents even though they are not together. He doesn’t seem to want me close to his parents or paint them as decent people. It really baffles me that my boyfriend has a lot of anger towards me and his family for the pain that he suffered. It has been six years since we met. We parted ways along the line and later got back together. It is now one full year since we have gotten back together but things are not yet perfect between us. When we have problems small or big, he runs from talking about them and says it’s not working for him and tries to leave me again. Then as we talk , I hear about the old problems and he blames that on why we have more problems, which have nothing to do with the subject we are arguing about. Will this relationship last? Anonymous, Lagos Dear Anonymous I have a feeling that I have answered this question before but all the same, I will give a similar advice to a similar question. It can be confusing that the past will come up and create problems in the present. Problems that are not even actually that big in the present can be made huge or intensified only because they somehow remind us of our past. This is how the past can literally take over our present relationship and we will say or do things that completely seem to go against supporting our happiness and sometimes, leading our partner to threaten to leave. Your boyfriend running from problems is a part of the ‘flight’ reaction that is coming up subconsciously. It reflects some way in which he was traumatized in his past, and because the trauma has not yet healed, it comes up again now and it takes over the emotionality of the present moment. And he is trying to flee. To solve the problem, you have to

understand the issues at hand. It is obvious by your description of what happens that your boyfriend is getting overwhelmed by a trauma that is still stored and active within his nervous system. He deserves to be relieved of this so that he can better stay in real time in the relationship and not get sucked back into his wounded past. Secondly, both of you can join equally in the intention of healing old wounds. We all have them. Maybe his came up first, and because of that, it is more obvious. But that does not mean he is the only one in a relationship who has internal traumas that affect the quality of relationship. Relationship is a two-way street.

Usually, both partners have past wounds. Societally, we all have some amount of woundedness from our pasts that limit our present capacities in our adult relationships.About 30% divorce rate we have in the society today are direct evidence of this. If you are committed to having a great relationship, it is only wise to put aside a period of time to get whatever help is available today toward the healing of old patterns or wounds that emotionally draw you back. So, I recommend that you both look into healing modalities and tools that can heal old wounds and keep you more alive, and your relationship more alive and in the spirit of happiness.

Once you decide how you feel on the inside, you will feel better and you will be able to decide what steps you want to take to avoid future encounters with your ex That is the core suggestion I can give you so that you can start thinking about what will make you happy and at peace with yourself on the inside. You must first change on the inside before you can begin to change how you feel on the outside. Once you decide how you feel on the inside, you will feel better and you will be able to decide what steps you want to take to avoid future encounters with your ex. I hope this helps you. So be at peace with yourself and once you are , then you will be able to see things much clearer and you will be able to decide on issues that would improve your current marriage. Stop thinking about the past. You have a future. Everyday is a new day to start fresh and new. You need to start thinking about the positive versus the negative. It is so easy to hate and dwell in the negative .You have to make the best of what you have. Change can start with you, and you just have to work at it. Start loving you and then loving your new partner so that the past doesn’t affect the new. Everybody goes through certain things in life which may be good and bad and it up to us to make life wonderful. Even people we love dearly hurt us sometime, but we have to forgive and move on. Try it, and you will see. Hate is such a strong word. Resentment can build up, causing feelings of anger and dislike. But hate is something altogether different. Stop looking at the wrong. Instead, look at what went right and what went right for you at the moment is your new marriage. Sometimes, it takes going to the bottom to see what we missed the first time. Forgive your ex.

CO C K - T A L E S Deathbed confession There was this husband and he was about to die. His wife was trying to comfort him and she was crying . Then he says, “before I leave, there is something that I have to tell you” and she says “ no honey don’t talk, don’t stress yourself out”, and he says “ I have to confess to you that I slept with your best friend, your sister, and your mother” then she says “I know honey, that’s why I poisoned you”. Low IQ John was in his usual place, sitting at the table, reading the paper during breakfast. He came across an article about a beautiful actress who was about to marry a football player who was known primarily for his lack of IQ. He turned to his wife with a look of bewilderment on his face. “I’ll never understand why the biggest jerks get the most attractive wives.” His wife replies, “Why, thank you, dear!” Great Doctor’s Visit A forty-ish woman was at home happily jumping on her bed and squealing with delight. Her husband watches her for a while and asks, “Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look? What’s the matter with you?” The woman continues to bounce on the bed and says “I don’t care. I just

came from the doctor and he says I have the breasts of an 18-year-old.” The husband said, “What did he say about your 41-year-old ass?” “Your name never came up,” she replied. Mother In Law A man returned home from the night shift and went straight up to the bedroom and found his wife with the sheet pulled over her head, fast asleep. Not to be denied, the horny husband crawled under the sheet and proceeded to make love to her. Afterward, as he came downstairs for something to eat, he was startled to find breakfast on the table and his wife pouring coffee. “How’d you get down here so fast?” he asked.”We were just making love!” “Oh my God,” his wife gasped, “That’s my mother up there! She came over early and had complained of having a headache. I told her to lie down for awhile.” Rushing upstairs, the wife ran to the bedroom. “Mother, I can’t believe this happened. Why didn’t you say something?” The mother-in-law huffed, “I haven’t spoken to that jerk for fifteen years and I wasn’t about to start now!” Marriage scarier than hell? A few minutes before the church ser-

vices started, the town’s people were sitting in their pews and talking. Suddenly, satan appeared at the front of the church. Everyone started screaming and running for the front entrance, trampling each other in a frantic effort to get away from evil incarnate. Soon everyone had exited the church except for one elderly gentleman who sat calmly in his pew without moving, seeming oblivious to the fact that God’s ultimate enemy was in his presence. So satan walked up to the old man and said, “Don’t you know who I am?” The old man replied, “Sure, I do.” Aren’t you afraid of me? satan asked. “Nope, sure ain’t,” said the man. “Don’t you realize I can kill you with one word?” asked satan. “ I don’t doubt it for a minute,” returned the old man, in an even tone. “Did you know that I could cause you profound, horrifying, physical agony for all eternity?” persisted satan. “Yes,” was the calm reply. “And you’re still not afraid?” asked satan. “Nope.” More than a little perturbed, satan asked, “Well, why aren’t you afraid of me?” The man calmly replied, “ I have been married to your sister for over 48 years.”

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Vanguard MAY 11, 2013—19

’VE known Ado for decades and his insatiable appetite for sex never fails to amaze me. He’s been married and has managed to stay married for close to 20 years. A few years into his marriage, he rushed into my office, bursting with excitement. “‘I had the most amazing sex of my life yesterday,” he told me as soon as we were alone. His wife was pregnant with their second child and I wondered how the poor woman could have performed the fete for which he was now proud. “Not with my wife of course,” he said, looking at me as if I were some sort of a clod,”with a woman I ran into at a party. You should see her; gorgeous and eager to make friends, she’d come to the party with two of her friends but seemed to be really interested in what I had to say. I told her I was married and she said she was too— and a mother of three. So where was her husband? I didn’t come with my wife either and I wasn’t really interested in what her husband looked like —all I wanted was her. “When I told her I would love us to meet up sometime, she said she was an events planner, she was planning a wedding reception that weekend on the grounds of a posh hotel and was staying in one of the rooms to make sure things went according to plan. I could look in if I felt like it. We exchanged phone numbers and I couldn’t sleep for the anxiety. Come the Friday she said she would check into the hotel, I told my wife I was off to a stag night party; it was the safest excuse I could give her. If I didn’t strike gold, I could come home early. If I did I would have this ready story that I was too drunk to drive. My wife’s pregnancy was advanced and she couldn’t be bothered what I did as long as 1 left her to rest. This lady’s hotel room reeked of seduction.

Women can ‘chop and wipe mouth’ too!

pleasured each other until I felt ready again. It was better than winning the jackpot as we did it in positions I didn’t even know existed. I never knew sex could be so intoxicating. She never took her hands off me throughout the night and when I finally got home in the early hours, I was so nackered that I didn’t wake up until midday. My poor wife thought I was nursing a hangover. I relieved the sex I just had

She made our being alone in a room for the first time feel like the most natural thing in the world

cientist believe they might have discovered why women go through the menopause much earlier in life than most other members of the animal kingdom.

They think the menopause is nature’s way of easing the tension between a bride and her mother-in-law.

over and over again and became so randy that I pounced on my wife. Poor thing! She must have missed sex too as she fell gratefully into my arms. But it was this new woman I thought off while it lasted. I longed to see her body under mine once again. “When I called her later in the day, her phone was switched off. She was probably at the wedding and 1 waited till the next day to call her. No reply. As Ispeak now, I haven’t a clue where she lives and where to get hold of her. Obviously, all she wanted was a no-strings attached sex and a married man like me filled the bill. I’m sure she has a lot of sim cards she inserts into her phone when she’s on the prowl and

simply tosses them away when she’s through with her catch ...” I told him he should count himself lucky for having the privilege of being used by a woman who wanted nothing else from him but his prowess! Since this incident, he’s so regaled me with tales of his sexual exploits that Iwonder what his wife thinks of her randy husband. We were having a chat at an out-door party not long after when he pointed to a waitress and said she looked like the new maid the wife just got. I looked at the waitress and I sort of sensed what would happen next—pretty and light complexioned; she was f1irty too and got tips from flattered men. Months later, Ade was back in my office. “I have a poser for you,” he told me. I was all ears, “You know that new maid we

he wasn’t a virgin of course, but there is nothing to beat having sex with a young, taut body. I’ve wriggled around a bit to let her know what was going on — still nothing. My question is, do you think she’s pretending? I mean, how could I be bonking her without her acknowledging my presence? I would love to show her appreciation by doing things for her. I give her money from time to time when she does chores for me, but I would love to do more”. Like what, I wanted to know? Did it ever occur to him the girl could get pregnant? What happened if his wife cottoned on to his escapade and caught him red-handed? “My wife sleeps like a log once she hits the bed,” he told me, ‘and as for unwanted pregnancy, I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it!” The housemaid lasted a couple of years and was replaced by an ugly one who had a terrible body odour. I heaved a sigh of relief. Ade’s poor wife, now, a mother of three, didn’t deserve the humiliation of discovering her husband was having it off with the maid. Unfortunately, Ade is one randy leopard who’s not ready to change its spots.

The menopause m yster y crac ked? my tery crack If both generations of women have children, there will be competition for food, money and love. But if the mother-in-law bows out, the younger women will have free rein to spoil her children, says researchers

knew I’d really got lucky. She was so relaxed about the whole thing, she made our being alone in a room for the first time feel like the most natural thing in the world. We had a few drinks and some snacks she’d brought from home. Then spent the next few hours having the most fantastic sex, I hadn’t had sex with my pregnant wife for a long time that I lasted no time at all, but she was really matured about it as we both

just took in? A few nights ago, as I tip-toed into our bedroom, I saw her fast asleep on the mat she usually sleeps on in the parlour which is slightly lit by the front door lights. Her wrapper was off her as she must have thrashed about so much in the night. But you should see her breasts, her skin and her young healthy body! As I slept near my wife, I couldn’t get the image of the maid off my head. So I sneaked back into where she was still sleeping and gently prodded her, she was out like a light.I swiftly had sex with her and rushed back to my wife, she didn’t even move a muscle! I’ve repeated the act a few more times and the same thing happened.

If both generations of women have children, there will be competition for food, money and love

from Exeter and Cambridge Universities in a recent edition of New

Scientist. The more children the daughter-in-law has, and the healthier they are, the

more likely it is that her genes will live on. The older woman, however, will not lose out entirely, as by helping bring up her grandchildren, she will help safeguard the future of her own genes.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013 SMS (ONLY)

So what, if you've just been dumped

ale battled with the thoughts in his mind over and over again. How was he going to break the news to Ibukun that his relationship with her was over, that a little adventure with another girl in the neighbourhood had resulted into pregnancy and the parents of the girl were calling for his head if he did not marry their daughter? Wale had dated Ibukun for over three years and had been waiting for her to complete her NYSC but now, his future with the girl of his dreams was going to crash. He was going to dump her ! It happens. More to some than to others, but chances are that at some stage of your illustrious dating career, you've been dumped, left behind, discarded like an old blouse, found to be no longer suitable. It hurts, I know, and I am sure many of you know as well. So what now? People do the strangest things. Some are known to have gone wacko! Some even considered suicide! Many would inflict all kinds of physical discomfort to go with the mental anguish and suffering to worsen their misery and pain. But as relationship experts would say, its all in your attitude. You know you need to move

on sooner or later, why not make it sooner and short circuit some of that pain. Readjust your attitude from ‘ woe is me' to ‘thank goodness they are gone, to make space in my life for the person that is right for me' Get that shift of thinking going and get out there to find them. Really, it can be a mine field out there, if you don't understand the rules. It's been said many times, it's a jungle out there. Are you going to be the prey or the predator? Everyone seems to have been through a broken heart or two. With all the practice, you'd

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chest. Don't show any weakness to your ex. If they can't appreciate what a wonderful human being you are, then all your crying and begging will most likely fall on deaf ears. If you want to rant and rave, then do so, in the privacy of your own home. If you are completely livid, then write out all your emotions in a letter to your ex, only refrain from actually sending it to them. Re- reading your letter every time you need to work through your frustrations gradually helps to ease the pain. Be sure to spend time with friends and family, even if it's the last thing you feel like doing. Embrace your inner strength and independence and reconnect with yourself. The best way to cut those heart strings is by ridding your ex's shadow from your daily life. Go ahead and pack all mementos like pictures, gifts and notes into a shoe box to be stored in a discarded bag. Throwing them out may not be the best idea as some relationships are rekindled or

Should we live together first? My guy suggested I move in with him but my parents are kicking against it. My friends think it's okay but I feel worried about my parents' position especially my mother. I am 25 and a graduate while my guy is 32. My mother thinks we are old enough to be discussing marriage as we are both employed and in as much as I agree with her, I cannot force my guy to get into what he is not yet ready for. My mum says the guy will use me and dump me if I move in with him. She also says it will be interpreted to mean desperation on my part and also that she is a leader in the church; hence my living with a man out marriage will bring shame to her. I've been pleading with her to understand but she wouldn't give her blessing. My man is insisting , saying that if I don't move in, it means I don't love him and he would go for another woman. I'm confused. Should we live together first? Serena, Port-Harcourt Ans: Woah. You're really in for it. Your mother has a point about her fears but your guy might also have his reasons. The aspect I don't understand is threatening to get someone else if you don't comply. Why don't you guys go

fondly remembered at a later stage. Sever all links between you and your ex. Refrain from taking their calls and restrict e-mail access from them. Don't visit places where you may be inundated with a flood of emotional memories but you may also end up running into your ex , most likely with a new mate in tow. If you and your ex share common friends, then keep in touch by e-mail. Apply the golden rule of not inquiring into your ex' s new life without you. Friends are in a tough spot, so don't put them in a position to choose between the two of you.

Give yourself at least a few months before entering into another serious relationship. There's no sense in rushing headfirst into anything. Life may be short but almost all of us are eventually lucky in love. When all is said and done and your last tear has fallen , then muster up some hope, for cupids arrow may be headed your way.

into marriage straight-away? Having said that, I want to also say that many people see cohabitation as a necessary stepping-stone to a successful commitment. This is not the case. There is a world of difference in the mind-set between a committed relationship and what we call a pre-committed relationship. When you are committed, there are no back doors, no exits, you are in this for the long haul. In a precommitted relationship, you are trying to decide if this is the right relationship for you. Living together does not help a precommitted relationship become a successful committed one. You can get all the information you need by scouting, sorting, screening, and testing prospective partners. There is no need to live together to test it out. There is a higher risk of entering a mini-marriage when you believe you need to try on a relationship to see if it fits you. If it's possible, avoid co-habitation. You are a mature lady and should be going for the real thing and not trial marriage. So, tell your guy the truth and let him realise it is not convenient for you to move in with him. I want you to also realise that he shouldn't be acting as if he's doing you a favour by having a relationship with you. If he loves you, he should respect you and your family.

Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want to share with our readers? Please e-mail,anyagafu2@gmail.com Do you want to be linked? Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting to be linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal information of people who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for disappointments or embarrassments some people may encounter in the process.

SATURDAY

hat was the reason for this battery and need to kill the woman in question? She found out that her husband was carrying on with different women and decided to confront him. She suggested they take a break for him to make up his mind about what he really wanted in their marriage. This was just after a year of marital ‘bliss’. She was not also employed as he had told her not to work and they had a son together. “For this reason shall a man

female. Monologues on early child-girl marriage, wife battery, rape, violation of a young girl by a close male relative, female circumcision, widowhood and women who denigrated other women were acted out.

info@katehenshaw.com

A cause w or th ffight ight ffor or (2) wor orth leave his father and mother and cling unto his wife and the two shall become one flesh”. For this reason shall a man love his wife like Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her. For this reason, shall a woman submit to her husband and obey him, but I quickly added not to the point of taking her life! You do not beat someone you are stronger than. Some men would argue that the woman does not know her place; that her tongue is sharp and she deserves to be put down.

mine, a male actor (name withheld), who decided to pitch his tent with another woman in another country. He abandoned his home and did not see the need to inform his wife in Nigeria that he was no longer interested in their union. After many months he came home and the best he could do was to grab her by the ankles, while his brother

was getting ready for an event when I received a call from a friend one evening. She sounded desperate. Her first line to me was: “Kate, sorry to disturb you but I know you are involved with a charity that handles this sort of thing”. I asked what the matter was, and she replied, “It’s a friend of mine o, her husband wanted to kill her. He beat her up around 2am, stripped her naked and dragged her towards a canal to drown her. She held on to a NEPA pole, naked and started to scream for neighbours in the estate where they lived to come to her rescue. That was how she was saved from sudden death”. I thought I had heard it all. I gave her the number for Project Alert on Violence against Women and Children, and asked her to give them a call.

Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013—21

ray tell, where is the woman’s place? In the kitchen, in the hospital or on the bed where she is just there to fulfil carnal desires? Definitely not in this day and age where many have broken the glass ceiling, are world leaders and heads of institutions doing great work and at the same time supporting their men. A similar case occurred just a few years ago, which involved a colleague of

has this warped sense of reasoning come from that it is ok to ‘chastise’ a woman? I am sure that if these women in question were as equally well built as the men, the need to ‘chastise’ would not arise so quickly. I went to watch the VMonologues at the Muson

You do not beat someone you are stronger than

grabbed the wife’s hands and they proceeded to attempt to do away with her by trying to drown her. Her only offence was that she questioned his neglect of her and the children. What then was the reason for the vows they took when they got married? If he was no more desirous of being with her, he was free to leave instead of keeping her as a spare. Where

Centre last weekend. A stage play put up to bring to the fore the many atrocities committed against women folk especially in Nigeria. I had been a part of the cast for a few years now but could not make it this year. The two shows were filled to capacity, filled with both male and

t elicited varying emotions from the audience and I dare say that not a few women present had gone through one situation or the other. It struck a chord in me and a particular monologue resonated. It went like this: THE WOMAN DIES IN ALL WHO KEEP SILENT IN THE FACE OF TYRANNY, THE WOMAN DIES IN SHE WHOSE LEGS ARE FORCED OPEN, WHO IS FORCIBILY TAKEN AT GUN POINT, BY BRUTE STRENGTH, THROUGH FORCE OF BLOWS BY ONE MAN, OR TWO, OR THREE, OR FOUR. THE WOMAN DIES NOT BECAUSE OF THE TEARS BUT BECAUSE OF THE SILENCE; THE REFUSAL TO STAND UP AND SHOUT AND SAY “NO MORE”! THE WOMAN DIES IN ALL WHO HAVE NO CHOICES AND SEEK NONE, IN SHE WHO CANNOT CHOOSEHEROWNHUSBAND, WHO IS FORCIBILY CIRCUMCISED, TIED DOWN AND CUT UP, PUT DOWN AND SHUT UP, WHO CANNOT TAKE A STANCE AND SAY “NO MORE”. Let all women arise and scream, NO MORE!

he MTN Foundation was incorporated in July 2004 to offer a sustainable and focused channel through which MTN Nigeria would drive its corporate social responsibility initiatives in all 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory. Its mission is to improve the quality of life in the areas of economic empowerment, education and health on a sustainable basis to alleviate the health challenges currently facing the country and to facilitate the economic empowerment of Nigerian citizens. Among the many projects undertaken by the foundation is the disability support project, which is in partnership with two outstanding Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), namely the Mobility Aid and Appliances Research and Development Center (MAARDEC) and Independent Living Project (ILP). While MAARDEC supplies and distributes the mobility aids and appliances to all the distribution centres across the country, ILP is

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Pacesetting corporate social responsibility

phase covered: Anambra, Ebonyi, Lagos, Oyo, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Delta, Cross River states and the FCT, while the 2nd phase covered: Abia, Bauchi, Borno, Edo, Enugu, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Kwara, Ogun, Ondo and Rivers States. The 3rd phase covered: Niger, Kaduna, Plateau, Sokoto, Gombe, Yobe, Ekiti, Osun, AkwaIbom, Bayelsa, Imo and Nasarawa states. By the conclusion of the 3 rd phase, over 15,000 mobility aids and appliances had been distributed across the federation, to indigent persons with disabilities who could not afford these items and yet desperately needed them. June 2013 will mark the commencement of another

MTNF DSP cycle of 3 phases, and this time, the target is to ensure the distribution of over 15,000 mobility aids and appliances across the federation. Ultimately, the MTNF Disability Support Project aims to ensure that persons living with

tasked with the responsibility of selecting the beneficiaries, organizing the distribution of the mobility aids and appliances to the beneficiaries and proper documentation of the beneficiaries for follow up purposes to ensure maximum impact on the lives of the beneficiaries. The project tagged MTN Foundation Disability Support Project (MTNF DSP), is designed to improve the quality of life of people living with disabilities through appropriate provision of mobility aids and appliances such as wheel chairs, crutches, guide canes, hearing aids, Braille machines, Tricycles etc, free of charge. The first cycle of the project was divided into 3 phases to cover the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, with each phase covering about 12 states and was implemented between 2009 and 2011. The 1 ST

the beneficiaries, the involvement of two notable Non-profit organizations as consultants to the project has another huge impact in the lives of persons with disability in Nigeria. First and foremost, these NGOs namely: Independent

Over 15,000 mobility aids and appliances had been distributed across the federation

disability are more independent, economically productive, socially viable, have improved self-esteem and are free to move around and go about their daily activities. Beyond the direct impact of MTN Foundation Disability Support Project on the lives of

Living Project (ILP) and Mobility Aid and Appliances Research and Development Centre (MAARDEC) were founded and run by persons with disability whose mission is to

empower their fellow Nigerians who also are disabled. By engaging these organizations as consultants, MTN is helping to build their capacity, while assisting them to achieve their missions. Their involvement also ensured that MTN’s intervention is meticulously executed with maximum impact. MTN Nigeria corporate social responsibility is outstanding and has no rival. It is corporate social responsibility at its best and the company deserves special recognition and commendation. Nigerians with disability and indeed millions of other Nigerians who have benefited and continue to benefit from MTN’s corporate social responsibility projects are eternally grateful to MTN and wish that other corporate organizations doing good business in Nigeria will emulate MTN.

22 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013

frequency that works

Secrets of great intimacy after 40 W

ith a few minor adjustments, lovemaking after 40 can be the best of your life. Intimacy after 40 doesn’t get the attention it deserves. The bad news is that the second half of life brings sexual changes, and changes are never easy. But here’s the good news: with simple adjustments, physical intimacy after 40, 50, 60 and beyond can feel as satisfying as ever or even better and deepen the love you share. Age-related sexual changes begin between 40 and 50. These are women’s “peri-menopausal” years, when estrogen starts falling and periods become less regular. Many women also start to experience vaginal dryness, which can make intercourse uncomfortable. Fortunately, a personal lubricant is usually a quick, effective fix. Meanwhile, between 40 and 50, most men start to experience erection changes. Erotic daydreams are no longer enough to raise one. Men need direct genital fondling ,with vigorousness increasing with age. When erections appear, they’re not as firm as they were back in men’s twenties, and minor distractions may wilt them. This is not erectile dysfunction (ED). It’s middle-age erection dissatisfaction. Erection dysfunction means an inability to raise erections. Still, to older men with erection dissatisfaction, those balky erections can be unnerving. Upsetting as sexual changes after 40 may be, they make evolutionary sense. The biological purpose of life is to reproduce life. As women leave their reproductive years, there’s no longer an evolutionary imperative to continue reproductive intercourse, so there’s no biological reason to make it comfortable through continued production of natural vaginal lubrication. Meanwhile, men can father children into old age, but until fairly recently in our species’ evolution, few men lived beyond 40 and even fewer fathered children late in life. As a result, there was no evolutionary

reason to preserve reproductive function past that age. Biologically, older men who no longer father children, don’t need intercourse or the firm erections that make it possible. But these days, as age-related sexual changes occur, most older couples keep trying to have intercourse. Lubricants and erection drugs usually help for a while. After 50, sexual changes continue. Intercourse may become increasingly uncomfortable for women, even with lubricants, and even with drugs, many men suffer increasingly balky erections, and some develop erectile dysfunction. These changes make intercourse more problematic and for many older couples, impossible. Unfortunately, many people believe that sex and intercourse are synonymous, that if they can’t enjoy the old in-out, sex must be over for them. That’s a shame. Retiring from being lovers makes relationships less intimate and ignores the deep human need to experience gentle, sensual touch. Other couples decide to adjust their lovemaking to accommodate agerelated changes. Doing so means

evolving lovemaking away from intercourse and substituting with more kissing, cuddling, whole-body massage and oral love-making. Recent studies show that older couples who remain happy sexually evolve their lovemaking away from intercourse. Studies of men over 50 show that, despite extensive advertising and media hype, only about 10 percent have even tried erection drugs, let alone become regular users. Many older men figure: If I’m not having intercourse, I don’t need erections, so why take the drugs? Besides, men don’t need erections to have orgasms. That’s right. Even with an older, balky, or even flaccid penis, a comfortable setting, vivid erotic fantasies, and a woman’s loving and vigorous caresses are enough to trigger climaxes that feel as enjoyable as ever. Change is challenging, especially sexual changes. But when older couples help each other through the transition away from intercourse, they often discover a deeper, richer eroticism and love each other even more.

How to find a sexual

XPERT E S E H T K AS: I am 30 years old and I’m getting

Ques h. M y rig ht te sti cle ma rr ie d ne xt mo nt ig ica me do ub le its or ha s sw ol len an d be rie nc e pa in ar ou nd na l siz e. I al so ex pe w, I wa s av oi di ng th at re gi on . Un til no it wi ll he al au to ng th is pr ob le m, th in ki ’t. I am wo rri ed . sn ha ma tic al ly bu t it tomatic healing if you Ans: Don’t expect au to solve the problem. have not done anything w before your bride r no Please visit your docto . led gets puzz

is s old and my penis Ques: I am 19 year s ha er ec t. M y fri en d th re e in ch es wh en rd sta ag e it wi th mu ad vi se d me to ma ss g. ke it str on g an d bi oi l ev er y da y, to ma

“You’re insatiable!” “You never want to!” If this sounds familiar, there’s hope. New lovers can’t keep their hands off each other. But the “hot and heavy” period ends after a year or so, and almost inevitably, sexual frequency declines. If both partners’ libidos subside identically, there’s no problem. But typically, one partner wants lovemaking more than the other, and in long-term relationships, desire differences often become festering sores: “You never want to!” “You’re insatiable!” Who wants intercourse more? If you’re thinking that men want sex more often, you’re almost right. According to therapists, the man has more libido in two-thirds of cases, but surprisingly, in one-third, it’s the woman. When the man has more desire, it causes stress, but “everyone knows” that men are horny, so people expect this, it’s culturally normal. However, when the woman wants sex more, it’s culturally unexpected, more stressful for the couple and may lead to name-calling. “Nymphomaniac!” One largely overlooked aspect of desire differences is that they eliminate nonsexual affection. Those with greater desire eagerly initiate hugging, cuddling, and kissing in part because it’s emotionally nourishing, but also in hopes of getting lucky. Meanwhile, those with less interest withdraw from kissing and hugging for fear that it might be misinterpreted as a green light for sex. Today, desire differences are a leading reason why couples consult therapists. Therapists typically ask, “In your relationship, who controls the sex?” Each person points to the other and both are astonished that their partner thinks they are in control when each of them feels powerless. The one with more libido feels eviscerated by every cruel “no.” And the one with less feels emotionally battered from constantly fending off advances. Fortunately, desire differences can be resolved. Here are the steps therapists recommend: • What do you really want? Is it sex? Or other needs: more fun together, nonsexual affection, or proof of your partner ’s love? Despite desire differences, couples usually feel closer when they cuddle more, make social plans, and treat each other compassionately. • Negotiate a compromise frequency. If one wants sex twice a week while the other prefers once a month, their average is four or five times a month. But averages don’t matter.

co rr ec t? Is th is in fo rm at io n

e with bility of growth, so liv Ans: There is no possi u that yo use of it. I can assure it and make the best it. you can do a lot with with ago, I had oral sex ’t Ques: Seven months dn di I d an e, first tim I a woman. It was my , er lat ys da few wever, a I know her well. Ho s. on ar ou nd my pe ni s ili de ve lo pe d an in fe cti ph sy et th at it co ul d be lp re ad on th e in te rn he se ea Pl out and cried. or HSV2. I freaked me. e a dering to help. Please se Ans: Tears are not go an STD to go es STD cases, or matologist who also se . ed os gn spital and get it dia clinic at a general ho

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Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013—23

years ago, millions of viewers were glued to their television sets to view the inaugural Big Brother Nigeria Reality TV show for 91 days, wherein 12 contestants competed for One hundred thousand dollars. Katung emerged as winner of this collaboration between the Nigerian and South African Production teams, aired by DSTV. After 7 years, Katung has had the privilege to work with several organizations, and is currently pursuing his passion for film making. Katung in his early 30s is still consistent with making a difference in the society. In this chat with Vanguard Youthful Vibes, he discloses what he has off his sleeves. Excerpt:

Please tell us about your background. I was born in Kaduna, and raised in Lagos. I went to school in Jos; I was exposed to a lot of art, music, television, film, the whole works. I loved to draw and paint too. These interests would later inspired almost every decision I made

I know specifically how my person and work have influenced other people, but I would hope that the teaming youth that have my attention are aware of the need for independent and creative thought and reasoning

thereafter. I was involved in music and art of all sorts but wasn’t sure which one I was most passionate about. I didn’t ignore any of the gifts I had,but explored them all; and I encourage young people to do the same. Discover who you are by opening yourself to as many abilities as you can possibly contain because you will not always have those years of youth to experiment. Film is what has brought all of my gifts together, as my love for writing has been directed at script writing, my love for drawing and paintings has

•Katung aduwak

been channelled into story boarding and composition, and my love for performances, acting and singing has evolved into wanting to create the best of talent delivery, hence my choice to be a director . I struggled most with finding myself and once I did, I moved on. Would you say your w o r k s inspire o t h e r y o u n g Nigerians? I can’t say I k n o w specifically how my person and w o r k have influenced other people, but I would hope that the teaming youth that have my attention are aware of the need f o r independent a n d creative thought a n d reasoning. I would also hope that they leave everywhere a n d everyone in a better state than they met them (or at least try to). I hope they strive for excellence and I hope they laugh, rest and thank God in every situation.

There was no stopping me the moment I struggled to find myself —Katung aduwak

What are you currently working on and what social impact is it going

to make? I am currently working on a feature film titled HEAVEN’S HELL written by

YOUNG NIGERIANS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

Adenike Amaka Akintola Lagos A

denike Amaka Akintola is a passionate patriot, born in 1994. She is an undergraduate of English and Literary Studies at the Ekiti State University. Adenike is the co-host of Youths Passion Initiative fora in Ajegunle and the Brand specialist for “Nyke-Diva Entreprise” whose products are mainly used with ANKARA fabrics. Some of them are used to produce note pad / books, bags, shoes, accessories and so on. She says: “I started Nyke-Diva Enterprise

because of my love for Nigeria, our culture and fashion. which has been promoting Nigeria’s culture since inception. I work on inspiring, informing and entertain people through my works displayed in my blog. I believe in a better world and desirous of a better government because nobody deserves to take your place except you.” She also writes articles on several issues. Her creativity and versatility fuels her passion for working towards becoming one of Nigeria’s best on-air personality creating impact in the fashion industry. She believes that her contribution to humanity will change the world. She is also a staunch lover of music which made her the 2nd runner up at “Surulere Swag”(Seriously Worshiping an Awesome God) talent hunt.

YOUNG NIGERIANS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

Tenyin Ikpe Etim, Uyai Ikpe Etim and I . It s e e k s to curb the excesses of v i o l e n c e and abuse especially towards women and children in our society. My team and I hope it will awaken the consciousness of as many in our society and help in fuelling the awareness against violence and abuse. Do you have any last words for other young people who would like to follow your path? I won’t call them last words, but here goes: “try your hands inasmuch as you can, it helps if you are on a quest to find your true self and when you find yourself and passion, commit to it, because that which y o u commit to, will in turn commit to you.” W h a t d o e s success mean to you? Success means the will to do more because you have tasted the rewards of hard work and commitment.

24—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY11, 2013

here are so many misconceptions when it comes to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, HIV. Just like many sexually transmitted infections, STIs, HIV can be both frightening and confusing, and as a result, many people are left in the dark when it comes to the real facts about such a diagnosis. An HIV diagnosis can turn life upside down; yet, a positive attitude is important whether or not a person is HIV positive or negative. Just as a person becomes alert to HIV symptoms and is faced with a new routine of doctor’s visits and medications, there may also be need to make some healthy lifestyle changes that can improve health and quality of life. With correct knowledge of the signs and symptoms of HIV, as well as how to be protected are quite essential towards living with HIV. Common symptoms of HIV The most common symptoms of HIV include flu-like symptoms, such as fever and swollen lymph nodes. People with HIV often experience fatigue, weight loss, and hot flashes with fevers and sweating. There might be fogginess or generally out-ofsorts, just as if it was the flu or a bad cold. HIV can also cause other symptoms, such as rashes and dry, flaky skin; in addition, it can lead to seemingly unrelated conditions such as recurring yeast infections. This is because HIV inhibits the body’s ability to fight off infection, infection from opportunistic infections much more likely. Such infections include yeast infections. How common is HIV? There are more than four million people living with HIV in Nigeria which occupies 30 percent of the HIV/AIDS burden in the world. Between 50,000 and 100,000 babies are born HIV infected annually. What does HIV do to the body? HIV occurs when the body begins to attack its own blood cells, specifically the T cells called CD4, which are needed to stave off infections. When these cells are compromised, the body is unprotected against potential infections. Is HIV the same as AIDS? No. Essentially, if left untreated, HIV is likely to develop into AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) within 10 years of infection. A person moves from HIV into AIDS status when his or her T cells drop below 200 per cubic millimetre, and symptoms appear such as severe infection, weight loss, fatigue, rashes/

•Living with HIV/AIDS signs and symptoms

What you need to know about HIV/AIDS will help keep it strong and allow HIV medications to work effectively. Getting enough protein and calories may help the immune system fight the HIV infection and improve overall health. Nutritional counseling has been shown to improve your health while living with HIV. Is there a cure? Currently, there is no cure for HIV or AIDS, but

as mentioned above, with medication, HIV diagnosis can be prevented from developing into AIDS. Prevention Safer-sex practices such as using condoms can help prevent HIV/AIDS. Regular testing for sexually transmitted infections/ diseases helps. Be aware that HIV can spread through oral and anal sex as well as intercourse.

This information could save your life!

Living positively with HIV H

lesions, tuberculosis, Kaposi’s sarcoma, pneumonia, lymphoma, and cervical cancer. Not everyone with HIV has AIDS. With treatment and medical care, HIV does not always develop into AIDS. Many people with HIV never contract AIDS, but they must take medication and monitor their health to achieve this. Is HIV fatal? Yes, it can be. However, the prognosis for HIV patients has improved vastly in recent years. In fact, recent research shows us that people with HIV might live only seven fewer years than those who do not have it (if they are not smokers and do not have a subsequent diagnosis like hepatitis C or hepatitis B).

How to know your HIV status Get tested. Don’t wait — the sooner you know your status, the sooner you can take back control of your health and peace of mind. Go to www.hivabout.com/2012/ 01/01/hiv-test-centers-innigeria/ or http:// nigeria.thebeehive.org/ content/178/2878 to find a testing location near you. Treatment Eating a nutritious, balanced diet is an important part of treating HIV. Good nutrition can help the immune system stay strong, which in turn may help the body fight HIV. Knowing the best way to nourish the body

ealthy lifestyle steps remove significant risks to other infections. It begins with eating a more nutritious diet to help remain healthier overall despite the HIV infection, slow down the progression of HIV to AIDS, help prevent health problems related to malnutrition, and avoid the excess weight loss that can occur in HIV-infected individuals. A healthy diet for someone living with HIV is one that is rich in whole grains, low fat dairy products, protein, and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Include multivitamins, especially B12 and zinc, wherever possible.

Quitting smoking, stopping illicit drug use , getting moderate exercise and being physically active can help improve overall quality of life. Having HIV does not mean the end of sex life, but emphasis is still on practicing safer sex. Taking medications on schedule or adherence, is important because it will reduce the risk that HIV will become drug resistant and it will also give the body the best chance at keeping the virus under control. Steps to reduce common causes of infection, such as washing the hands well and often, practicing good food safety to avoid food borne illness, and staying current on recommended medications.

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anozieegole@yahoo.com

07088551416

Is Adokiye planning collabo with Rihanna? BY IYABO AINA

he Afro-pop princess, Adokiye is certainly planning to hit the global stage. Recently, the Diva tweeted “Adokiye ft Rihanna and the tweet seemed to have caused some thrills everywhere. Locally, she has been on track with Olamide, Addiction and a few other good

acts but could this mean she is planning to hit international stage? The Afro-pop princess is just few months old in the music business, yet she has become a force to reckon with, in the industry. The buzz is that the controversial singer is planning an international collaboration with an American pop star,Rihanna. With her hit singles, uptight videos and many more, her fans can’t but expect the best from her.

Desmond Elliot plans to have 7 kids

ollywood actor, Desmond Elliot who claims he is very much in love with children plans to raise a family of 7 kids. The actor said he plans to add three more kids when he has money. In his words, “I want to have a big family like seven. But not now,

Adokiye

Bukky Wright’s new dress N

when my wife is more rested and the kids are grown more and also when I have more money, so I can give them all the best. I love kids. Definitely, we’ll have more.” Desmond Elliot and his wife, Victoria got married few years back. The marriage is already blessed with four wonderful kids.

ollywood actress n d mother of three, Bukky Wright shocked fans as she stepped out in this fancy dress, but all eyes were on her very obvious nipple area. a

Gbenga Animashaun & Wife

Gbenga Animashaun ‘Why I married from Igboland’ P

Desmong and family C M Y K

opular Yoruba-born Nollywood actor, Gbenga Animashaun has given reasons why he decided to marry from Igbo land instead of his Yoruba tribe. Speaking shortly after tying the knot with his heartthrob, Chinelo Aningwu at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja, Lagos, last Saturday, Gbenga disclosed that his decision to marry an Igbo woman was borne out of true love.

“My decision to tie the nuptial knots with an Igbo woman is a true definition of what love is all about. Once you are in love, you become blind to where he or she comes from.” Gbenga Animashaun debuted in the TV drama series, Tinsel, in 2009 and his career has soared ever since. He was nominated as Most Promising act in the 2010 edition of Best of Nollywood Awards.

Bukky Wright

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I don’t regret splitting with Presh — Kcee ..Says what happened between him and Ebube Nwagbo was ‘Limpopo’

By IYABO AINA

ho inspired you into music ? Basically, I will say music is something I have passion for. I started singing from the church choir until I won the talent hunt show. Since then, I have been doing my thing and making my own impact on the nation’s music scene. Music is my life , it’s my profession and that’s what I do for a living. What brought about the split between you and Presh? I don’t know what people really want to know about my break up with Presh. But what I know is that we are no more doing business together and we collectively decided to pursue solo careers after 12 years of performing as a group. That’s what we are doing now. We didn’t quarrel or beef each other. It was a joint agreement that we should pursue solo careers. It wasn’t because of money or anything. I think it just happened that way, we never saw the break-up coming. We just had an idea to do separate albums and that’s what is happening right now. So how did you meet Presh ? I met him in a church choir and we were running the choir together after which we entered for the Star Quest TV reality show together and won the show. Now that you are no longer together , is there anything you did then that you find difficult to do now ? Of course yes , because formally I used to record together with my partner and then, it’s either am doing the verse or he’s doing the chorus. But right now, I’m doing everything alone which is a plus and more so, I have a kind of music that

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people can identify with my voice as K-Cee. So, when they hear my music, they will know its me . I think its an achievement for me to let people know my real person. Are you trying to say that you’ve not been faced with challenges after the split ? The truth is that there has been one or two challenges but by the grace of God, they are not too difficult to overcome because breaking up with your partner was not easy thing. I am trying to make people to believe in me and in my talent. Two years down the drain, I already have a couple of songs which my fans have come to love so much. I don’t know if I should say am missing something. But all the same, am fine. How many songs have you done after the split ? Generally, I have done eight songs after the split. I have ‘such songs as ’Now I Know’ ,Okpekete ,Okpekete remix,Tor tori. Are missing Presh ? I think I’m getting more attention now than before. The attention I’m getting now is bigger than what I was getting when we were together. ...Meaning that you did not regret splitting with Presh ? For me,I have no regret because it was a mutual decision taken by the group to show their fans their individual genre of music. I have been working to stay on top of my game. I’m not sleeping, This is a time for salvation because I have been working towards this achievement. So, no regret at all . So, how did you start working together ? I started it. I met him at the church and I approached him. We used to be four in the group then;myself, Presh , Domino and Emmy .Later, the other two left to pursue their dreams. At a point, Presh was no longer interested but later he came back to join forces with me. How was life like before you got to this level ? Of course, it has not been easy trying to do good music, and making people happy each time they hear your muisc. You have to work and work until you get the right sound, and also, you need the energy to push and promote your song. It is

really not easy. It could be stressful and fun sometimes. But the thing is that you don’t need to give up, you need to keep pushing it that’s why we are alive. For me, things have not been rosy

states of the federation with so many brands, including Nestle, and we made so much money and the women were coming. But we made sure we invested. Though they love me so much and I love them too. I handle them the way they want me to handle them . That’s why I said, in my song that I want to be your maga so they should use me as they want .

What really happened between you and Ebube Nwagbo ? What happened between us was nothing more than having fun. That’s what my new song titled ‘’Limpopo ‘ is all about. It mean let’s have fun. Any memorable experience so far ? I always remember the day I won Star Quest TV reality show competition. It was memorable for me because it actually gave me the opportunity to express myself. Anytime, I remember that day, I always feel happy. I never believed KC Presh could win Star Quest. When we entered for the competition in 2002, after Eedris Abdul Kareem advised us to do so. That day, I cried and people did not know why I was crying. I reminisced, recounting the experience that transformed my life forever. The reason was that God had broken the chains of poverty in my life and taken me to a greater height. I knew I was going to make use of that opportunity because of the hunger I had exhibited while winning the competition. I couldn’t help but to shed tears of joy. After we got their first N1million c h e q u e , c o u r t e s y of Star Quest reality TV s h o w, I b o u g h t a M e r c e dez Benz 190. And I was cruising around town t h e n w i t h t h e n e w c a r.

Are you still single because we heard you were once married ? I have never married before, the person that got married was my brother but people thought I was the one. There was nothing like me having extramarital affair or a love kid. They are all lies.

ip hop star,Kingsley Okonkwo popularly known as K-Cee keeps pulling strong, ever since the split of KC Presh; he has surpassed every expectation and risen into such a huge star on his own, hit after hit after hit. In this interview, Kcee talks about his new album, his split with Presh and what transpired between himself and actress Ebube Nwagbo. Excerpt

I have never married before, the person that got married was my brother but people thought I was the one.

How do you treat your female fans ? Some of my colleagues get carried away when it comes to women. But i n t e r e s t i n g l y, w o m e n a r e p a r t o f t h e e n t e r t a i n m e n t b u s i n e s s . N o w, what matters is your ability to control them. It’s very important to you as an entertainer if you want to succeed. When you pay s o m e a r t i s t e s f o r a s h o w, t h e y move into a hotel for the next o n e m o n t h b l o w i n g t h e m o n e y,

hanging out with girls and just having fun without remembering to invest. Like I said, my father was a DJ, so, I heard the story of other musicians first hand who made it b i g a n d t h e n c r a s h e d l a t e r. When we started making m o n e y, w e r e m e m b e r e d t o i n v e s t . We t o u r e d a l l t h e 3 6

Te l l u s m o re about your Limpopo song? Limpopo is my latest song which I did with Harry song and I did it the way I’ve been doing other songs. It is like a month o l d n o w. T h e song is already everywhere so I think its God that made it to be so and am

happy about it. Also the song means lets have fun its just about me and a lady that’s all What is the secret of your success? C o n s i s t e n c y i s t h e ke y. Yo u have to be consistent, know the business and follow it up.

I know people love good music all I need to do is to give them good music. Aside this, you have to always keep renewing your face in the business and be trendy and avoid scandals that can des t r o y y o u r c a r e e r. We h e a r d y o u h a v e a r e c o r d label , can you tell us about it ? R i g h t n o w, a m u n d e r Fi v e Star music and its owned by E - m o n e y who is the president while I am the vice-president . What made you and Presh thought of doing collaboration with 50 Cent? Yea , that was before I and Presh split but we didn’t do it again because the plan was between the two of us. So, when we broke up the project could not be executed. Tell us about your childhood ? My growing up was not too rough. I grew up in Lagos where I had my early education. I ahil from an average family. Did your parents disagree with you over your choice of career? Yea , my mum then supported me while my dad was indifference. But along the line, he started supporting me when I proved to him that music is what I want to do for a living. He had no choice than to support me. What do you have for your fans out there ? Nothing less than good music. Because for me, and my record label, we are trying to ensure that we do good music. I am sure that the industry will experience good music. We have a couple of artistes that will be coming out soon under our label with lots of good music. So, that’s what we are working on at teh moment. They should expect good music . Where should we expect Kcee in the next five years ? I think from now till the end of this year, I will be more busy than ever. As far as I am concerned, I have a lot in stock. I just don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, my fans should just keep their fingers crossed . I am just starting and I have not gotten to anywhere yet .

28 — Vanguard, SARTURDAY, MAY 11, 2013

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, MAY 11, 2013 — 29

I don’t regret splitting with Presh — Kcee ..Says what happened between him and Ebube Nwagbo was ‘Limpopo’

By IYABO AINA

C M Y K

really not easy. It could be stressful and fun sometimes. But the thing is that you don’t need to give up, you need to keep pushing it that’s why we are alive. For me, things have not been rosy

I have never married before, the person that got married was my brother but people thought I was the one.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013 —31

30 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013

Oseji Ephraim oseji15@gmail.com

Old

Alex Ferguson The decision to retire was made in Februar y

Sir Alex Ferguson factfile Following his decision to retire at the end of the season, Sports Extravaganza takes a look at the hugely successful career of Sir Alex Ferguson 1941: Born December 31 in Govan, Glasgow. 1957: Joins Queen’s Park as amateur while apprentice toolmaker in Glasgow factory. 1960: Joins St Johnstone as part-timer. 1964: Quits toolmaking to join Dunfermline. 1967: Moves to Rangers for £65,000. 1969: Another move, this time to Falkirk, for £20,000. 1973: Joins Ayr, returning to part-time ranks while running his Glasgow pub. 1974: Appointed manager of East Stirling in September, but moves to St Mirren three months later. 1978: Sacked by St Mirren and appointed at Aberdeen as successor to Billy McNeill. 1980: First managerial honour as Aberdeen win Scottish championship. 1982: Aberdeen win the Scottish Cup, beating Rangers 4-1. 1983: Aberdeen retain Scottish Cup, this time beating Rangers 1-0, and defeat Real Madrid 2-1 in Gothenburg to lift European Cup Winners’ Cup. 1984: Aberdeen win League and Cup double, beating Celtic 2-1 in the Cup final. Ferguson awarded OBE.

1985: Appointed caretaker manager of Scotland following death of Jock Stein during Wales v Scotland World Cup qualifier. 1986: Scotland bow out of Mexico World Cup after first round. Ferguson leaves Aberdeen to take over at Manchester United after sacking of Ron Atkinson. 1989: Breaks British transfer record to sign Gary Pallister for £2.3million from Middlesbrough. 1990: First trophy at Old Trafford as United beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in an FA Cup final replay after a 3-3 draw. 1991: United beat Barcelona 2-1 in Rotterdam to win Cup Winners’ Cup. 1992: European Super Cup arrives at Old Trafford as United beat Red Star Belgrade, while first League Cup triumph booked with 1-0 defeat of Nottingham Forest. Championship dream dies as Leeds overhaul United in final weeks of the season. 1993: Old Trafford’s 26-year wait for title is ended as United finish 10 points clear of Aston Villa to win inaugural Premier League title; Signs Roy Keane from Nottingham Forest for British transfer record £3.75million. 1994: United become only sixth team to complete championship and FA Cup double.

here was once a debate over whether Sir Alex Ferguson merited a place alongside Bill Shankly, Sir Matt Busby, Jock Stein, Brian Clough, Sir Alf Ramsey and Bob Paisley in the pantheon of great British football managers. That debate was emphatically ended by about the mid1990s. The next debate was whether Ferguson could be regarded as the finest of those illustrious British managers. Again, that particular debate was surely settled some years ago. Arguably that was the case when Manchester United won the treble in 1999 but most definitely once he lifted a second European Cup in 2008.

Having relayed his decision to retire to chief executive David Gill at the end of February, had agreed with the club’s owners, the Glazer family, to issue a formal statement on Wednesday, May 8,by 10am in order to comply with rules set by the New York Stock Exchange and it is understood that his

Oseji Ephraim oseji15@gmail.com

New 1995: Breaks British transfer record again to sign Andy Cole from Newcastle for £7million; United finish runners-up to Blackburn in the league and Everton in the FA Cup. 1996: United become the first club ever to complete the championship and FA Cup double twice, overcoming one-time runaway leaders Newcastle in the Premier League and then beating Liverpool 1-0 at Wembley. 1997: Claims fourth championship title in five seasons. 1998: Finishes season trophyless as Arsenal win double. 1999: Leads United to the treble of European Cup, Premier League and FA Cup; Knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. 2000: Guides United to a sixth Premier League title, finishing the campaign 18 points clear of Arsenal. 2001: Wins seventh title in nine years. 2002: Changes plans to retire to sign a new three-year deal as United manager; United finish outside top two in Premier League for first time. 2003: Involved in dressing room bust-up with star player David Beckham 2004: United win FA Cup with victory over Millwall in final; Signs Everton star Wayne Rooney for £27million. 2005: United lose FA Cup final to Arsenal on penalties. 2006: Wins the League Cup for only the second time thanks to a 4-0 thrashing of Wigan. 2007: Wins first Premier League title for four years but United are denied the double after FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea. 2008: Beats Chelsea to the Premier League title again before defeating the Blues on penalties in the Champions League final in Moscow. United subsequently add the Club World Cup before the end of the year. 2009: Retains Premier League title having already won the League Cup against Tottenham. United reach Champions League final in Rome but lose to Barcelona 2-0. 2010: Forced to settle for just the League Cup, against Aston Villa 2011: Given a five-match touchline ban and a £30,000 fine for his verbal attack on referee Martin Atkinson at Chelsea in February. “You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway - and we didn’t get that,” said Ferguson in the aftermath of the 2-1 defeat. “I must say, when I saw who the referee was I feared it. I feared the worst.” 2012: May - United are pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester City. September - Ferguson manages his 1000th league game with United against Southampton. Two weeks later, he wins his 100th game in the Champions League be beating Galatasaray at Old Trafford. 2013: April 22 - United land a record 20th league title with a 3-0 win over Aston Villa. May 8 - United announce he will retire at the end of the season

Fotball Gossips

Sevilla close in on Morata

is to undergo a hip operation in May.

With Ferguson taking the momentous decision to retire, the more interesting question now is just where he rates alongside the best managers in the history of world football. From Rinus Michels to Jose Mourinho and Ernst Happel to Miguel Munoz, this brings an entirely different list of candidates and achievements. Yet, once again, the evidence for Ferguson is favourable.

Broadly speaking, there have been three types of great managerial achievers. Firstly, there are those who have worked under big pressure at big clubs with big players and still consistently delivered trophy after trophy. The second group of managerial greats are those who have achieved their success against the odds in unfavourable conditions or at unfashionable clubs. Finally, there are the managers who have particularly distinguished themselves by implementing a certain style C M Y K

for their teams that has altered the way the rest of the world thinks about football. Ferguson is unique in that he has ticked each of those boxes at different stages of a truly extraordinary 39-year career. As well as Paisley, there are those who have a superior trophy-winning strike-rate. Fabio Capello, for example, won nine Italian or Spanish league titles at four different

clubs over a period of just 15 years. Similarly, Mourinho won seven league titles, as well as two European Cups, in nine completed seasons at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. Then there is Munoz, the Real Madrid manager during much of the 1960s, who won nine La Liga titles in 12 years, as well as two European Cups. Others who have created great dynasties of success include Jock Stein at Celtic and Giovanni Trapattoni at Juventus.

Sevilla are on the verge of signing Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata. Morata, 20, is hoping to leave Santiago Bernabeu in search of first team football, having started just four La Liga fixtures this season.

Petrov announces retirement

Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov has announced his retirement from the game following his battle with leukaemia.The 33-year-old was diagnosed with acute leukaemia last year and has undergone extensive chemotherapy ever since. However, news broke earlier this year that the Bulgarian had entered remission and he has been moving from strength to strength ever since.

Moyes A fine motivator and miracle worker

avid William Moyes (born 25 April 1963) is a Scottish former footballer and the outgoing manager of English Premier League club Everton. He was the 2003, 2005 and 2009 League Managers Association Manager of the Year. He is also on the Committee for the League Managers Association in an executive capacity. In May 2013, Moyes was appointed to succeed Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager starting July 2013.Moyes made over 540 league appearances as a centre half in a playing career that began with Celtic, where he won a championship medal. He then played for Dunfermline Athletic and ended his playing career with Preston North End. He became a coach at Preston, working his way up to assistant manager before eventually taking over as manager in 1998, his first managerial position. Moyes became manager of

Swansea plot raid for Vict or Moses Victor

Swansea City will make a move to sign out-of-favour Chelsea winger Victor Moses this summer, as the former Wigan man could be available in a summer clear-out. The 22-yearold moved to Stamford Bridge last summer after an impressive campaign with Wigan, but has failed to establish himself among the star names in the Chelsea staring lineup.

Juventus make cash-plusplayers offer for Cavani Juventus have made a stunning offer to Napoli for striker Edinson Cavani. Juve coach Antonio Conte has made it clear he wants another striker signing made this summer, despite the arrival of Bosman prospect Fernando Llorente from Athletic Bilbao.

Everton in March 2002 and under him the club qualified for the Champions League in 2005 and reached the FA Cup final in 2009. Upon reaching his tenth anniversary at the club Moyes received praise from many fellow managers including Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger and Kenny Dalglish for his achievements at Everton, despite operating with a limited budget. His service to Everton was also raised in Parliament by Steve Rotheram MP. Moyes is the third-longest serving manager in the Premier League and the English football league system as a whole, behind Ferguson and Wenger. Moyes enjoyed a career that encompassed playing at a number of different clubs, usually as a centre half, beginning at Celtic, where he won a championship medal and made 24 league appearances, and ending with Preston North End. Moyes made over 550 league appearances in his career before becoming a

Schmeichel to replace V orm Vorm

Swansea City have targeted Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel as the ideal replacement for Michel Vorm should the Dutch international move on this summer. Vorm is wanted by a number of big clubs including Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona.

Benitez may axe Terry, Lampard for Euro final

Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez refuses to guarantee a Europa League final start for John Terry and Frank Lampard. Midfielder Lampard will start today's Premier League game at Aston Villa. But Benitez made no promises for the final, saying: “I will do what I have to do to win it and if I can help Frank at the same time, I will do it.

coach at Preston, working his way up to assistant manager before eventually taking over as manager in 1998. Management career Preston North End Moyes took over as Preston manager in January 1998. Everton 2002–2004 Moyes joined Everton on 14 March 2002 at his unveiling press conference, declared that Everton were ‘The People’s Club’ on Merseyside. He said: His first game in charge was against Fulham at Goodison Park. Everton won the game 2–1, with David Unsworth scoring after just thirty seconds. Moyes prepared for his first full season in charge at Everton by signing Chinese international Li Tie, Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo and Goalkeeper Richard Wright and axed older players such as Jesper Blomqvist and David Ginola.

Neymar rejects •100m Madrid offer Santos star Neymar has rejected a stunning offer from Real Madrid to remain committed to Barcelona. Real president Florentino Perez was willing to invest €100 million in bringing Neymar to Madrid .

...Jay-Z to sign him

Jay-Z is expanding a sports branch of his Roc Nation entertainment company. Reports say Neymar has been selected as one of the latest sports stars to join the Jigga Man’s team. “Roc Nation” is creating a segment focused on sports and the idea of its creators is to transform players into real stars with global impact and visibility.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013 —31

30 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013

Oseji Ephraim oseji15@gmail.com

Old

Alex Ferguson The decision to retire was made in Februar y

Oseji Ephraim oseji15@gmail.com

Fotball Gossips

Sevilla close in on Morata

is to undergo a hip operation in May.

Petrov announces retirement

Moyes A fine motivator and miracle worker

Swansea plot raid for Vict or Moses Victor

Schmeichel to replace V orm Vorm

Benitez may axe Terry, Lampard for Euro final

...Jay-Z to sign him

32— SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013

Power Pasta Spaghetti with Eggplant Parmigianna

It’s paradise when I eat fufu— Muma Gee

Gift Uwame a.k.a. Muma Gee is our guest in this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk. She expresses her love for fufu and how best it should be prepared. Enjoy it: What’s your feeding habit like? The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is to take a glass of water. Then, I take some fruits. Your choice of fruits? I eat all fruits except Mango. I try to eat a lot of vegetables too. How is your daily eating habit? I eat according to my desire every day. So what’s your favourite food? Fufu which we call Ogbolo in my native language. I like to take it with

Tummy Palava

a special soup from Rivers State with lots of ngoro, periwinkle and fresh fish. Did you play pranks to get your favourite food as a child? I’m emotionally attached to fufu and so I grew up with it. At times, my mum packaged some of it for me. I might keep fufu in the fridge for a month, since I may not have the chance to eat it all the time. It’s one special meal that makes me feel like I’m in paradise when I eat it.

Fruits of the day Cucumber Juice

Why your children have bad eating habit

ou wonder why your children prefer unhealthy food to highly nutritious ones? Well, the fault might be from you. This is because children tend to be influenced by the choice of food their parents eat. Your child might likely adopt your eating habits and those she sees practiced by the rest of the family whether they are good or bad. If it is normal in your household to guzzle soda and fill up on potato chips for a snack, then your child is not likely to do otherwise. One of the most important ways your child learns is by watching you. If your child sees you eating unhealthy foods, he is more likely to believe these eating habits are normal and acceptable. So, think about this

Chef Corner

Ofe Owerri

Ofe Owerri or white soup is a traditional Nigerian recipe for a classic stew of catfish (or any other fish) and smoked fish in a spiced stock with Ashanti pepper and Senegal pepper that is typically served with pounded yam. Recipes One fresh catfish One smoked fish One tablespoon of uziza seed (Ashanti pepper) Senegal pepper (smoked black ones) Seasoning Salt

Recipes 1 medium (sweet) cucumber Apple Lemon Ginger Lettuce or fresh parsley About Cucumber juice Serve with ice (as usual). This is almost lemonade in flavour. The ginger is highly anti-inflammatory, and helps add a kick of f lavour. The cucumber and apple provide a lot of juice, as well as sweeten the juice nicely. The ginger has a very mild, smooth flavour and adds a lot of nutrients. Parsley is a bit more flavourful, which may not be appealing for new juicers, but adds even more nutrition to the juice. You can add this recipe to your list of healthy juicing lifestyle

Facts about cucumber

t is one of the very low calo rie vegetables and contains no saturated fat or cholesterol. Cucumber peel is a good source of dietary fiber that helps reduce constipation, and offer some protection against colon cancers by eliminating toxic compounds from the gut. It helps bring a reduction in total blood pressure and heart rates by countering effects of sodium. Cucumber contains unique anti-oxidants in moderate which helps act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species that play a role in aging and various disease processes. Cucumber helps in checking weight gain and high blood pressure. It also has established role in the treatment of Alzheimer ’s disease patients by limiting neuronal damage in their brain.

Preparation Split the udah pepper or Senegal pepper and remove the seeds (these will make the soup bitter). Combine the Ashanti pepper and emptied udah pods in a spice (or coffee) Grind and render to a fine powder. Boil water and add the spices. Wash the smoked fish thoroughly, break into pieces and remove as many bones as you can. Add to the pot, return to a boil and cook for about 20 minutes, or until softened. Now cut the catfish into steaks, clean and add to the pot along with the Maggi or stock cube. Cover the pot and cook for about 25 minutes, or until the fish is tender. Serve hot, turn into a large bowl and accompanywith pounded yam.

his famous pasta dish comes from Parma in Italy. Spaghetti tossed in a chilli cream sauce topped with cheese filled eggplants and the famous Italian tomato sauce. It makes a harmonious blend of flavours. When selecting eggplants, look for those that are heavy for their size, and have a smooth, shiny and deep purple skin. Toss the spaghetti in the chilli cream sauce just before serving, as it doesn’t taste as good when it is reheated. Warm the dish in an oven if the eggplant slices have turned cold. Enjoy it hot and, of course, freshly prepared. Ingredients For the chilli cream spaghetti 3 cups cooked spaghetti 2 cloves garlics, sliced 1 tbsp dry red chilli flakes (paprika) 1/2 cup milk 2 tbsp fresh cream 1 tomato, deseeded and chopped 1 tsp butter 1 tsp olive oil or oil salt to taste For the eggplant parmagiana 250 gms eggplant 4 cheese slices 1 cup bread crumbs 1/2 tsp dried mixed herbs 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 cup plain flour oil for deep-frying Other ingredients 1/2 recipe Tomato Cream Sauce Method For the eggplant parmagiana Slice the eggplant into 16 slices of 4 mm. thickness. Keep aside. *Combine the breadcrumbs, mixed herbs and salt in a dry plate and mix well. *Mix the flour with enough water in a bowl to make a paste of coating consistency. *Cut each slice of cheese to fit into the eggplant slice. *Place each portion of the cheese slice and 1 teaspoon of tomato cream sauce in between two eggplant slices. *Dip each eggplant cheese sandwich into the flour paste and then coat with the bread crumb mixture. *Press the bread crumbs firmly onto the eggplant slices. *Deep fry in hot oil till golden brown. Drain on absorbent paper and keep aside. For the chilli cream spaghetti *Heat the butter and olive oil in a pan and sauté the garlic and chilli flakes in it for a few seconds. *Add the milk and cream and bring to a boil. *Add the spaghetti and salt and toss lightly. *Add the tomato and mix well. Keep aside.

VANGUARD, SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013—33

From prison, I became a human rights activist

—-Victor Fakunle

By ANOZIE EGOLE

is story can be said to be one of the rare stories ever heard. He rose from the walls of prison to become the executive director of Human Right Foundation, an organization that ensures legal attention are given to inmates without violating their rights as inmates. The Ekiti State born graduate of Psychology, with a minor in International Relations, a Certificate in International Human Rights and an MBA from Webster University St Louis, Missouri, USA, Victor Adeolu Fakunle, in this interview with SATURDAY VANGUARD , shares his personal life experiences, journey to fame and his NGO concept. Excerpts. My upbringing My state of origin is Ekiti State but I grew up in Lagos and the United States. I was raised within the boroughs of Victoria Island. My father is a retired military officer while my mother is a retired civil servant.

Challenges I faced while growing up Growing up as child was tough. I was the first son and the expectation to be something in the line of a doctor or an engineer was high. However, I loved doing business and striking deals. Nevertheless, I followed the path my parents desired for me. I became very rebellious and was drawn to the street life. These got me into trouble and eventually got me into prison

during my early adoles-

cence. Along the line, I gave my life to Christ. And as the Bible teaches me, all things work together for good to them that love God. Hence, after a long time of being a dropout, I went back to school.

My philosophy about life Personally, I don’t like people complaining about something when they can do something about it, even the mundane things like asking a lady for a date. My life philosophy is basically to always go for it. The worse anyone can say to you is NO and that is not the end of the world. The Bible also teaches me

not to be afraid of men because the worse they can can ever do is to kill the flesh, but nobody can destroy my soul except

Fakunle...I love people who speak straight and dislike hypocrisy.

vantaged people affected by the criminal justice system regardless of class, religion or societal status. HRF has been providing legal representation and

I don’t like people complaining about something when they can do something about it; even the mundane things like asking a lady for a date the Creator himself. Hence, who cares what

people think? All I can do is to love others and enjoy

life.

My Human Rights Foundation Human Rights Foundation, Nigeria (HRF) is a registered charity organisation that advocates for the rights of prisoners, exoffenders and other disad-

training inmates since its inception in 2002. We strive to make a difference within a system devoid of the “Rule of Law”and a lack of value on human life.

My educational backexperience I have a B.A in Psychology, a minor in International Relations, Certification in International Human Rights and an

MBA from Webster University St Louis, Missouri, USA. My likes and dislikes I love people who speak straight and dislike hypocrisy. I love to eat pounded yam with vegetable soup. I also love staying around happy people. Pranks I played as a boy A lot. Let’s just say my parents had a hard time keeping the car keys from me as a kid. I did a lot of pranks with those cars but would not want to give any young buck funny ideas. I don’t want to get my parents angry or to start calling me. How I met my wife I met my wife in Maryland, USA. Her sister and I were colleagues. One day, she came to see her sister but she was busy. Well, I decided to make myself available, and the story continues till date. I was

21years old when I met her. What I love about her She loves getting dolledup. You don’t mess with her nails! My style of dressing I’m not the kind of guy who cares so much about fashion. Personally, I don’t like putting on anything that everyone has. I love wearing suits without a tie. And I like to enjoy my freedom with large shirts and jean pants to go with a nice Timberland boots at weekends. My advice for the youths We can only move forward from here. The power to deliver that justice is in the hands of the youths. Generations fought before us and the battle wages on. Nobody will hand you your freedom unless you fight for it. The decision is theirs!

34—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013

Ibinabo Fiberesima gets bus gift for AGN ...launches film initiative

Ebube Nwagbo, Angela Okorie and Chita Agwu

When 3 Nollywood damsels went bald BY AYO ONIKOYI

he trio of Ebube Nwagbo, Angela Okorie and Chita Agwu has a lot in common and the first of those qualities must be beauty, brawn and plenty of brain. But what on earth would make the three women go bald, looking like Hindus having a sort of religious reverie? The answer isn’t to be a needle-in-a-haystack kind of thing as one of the damsels, Chita Agwu has revealed they are shooting a film in Owerri about widows who kill their husbands for money. The movie which is titled “Widows Cot” has 14 Nollywood beauties who shaved their hair to meet the requirements of the movie script. The movie is still being shot and already the talking point has been about Ebube, Angela and Chita shaving their hair for money as Chika Ike was recently taunted for shaving her hair for cheap money even when some reports had it that she was paid N5 million for the effort. But Chita on her part has said that shaving hair for movie roles is not a new thing in the movie industry, it is

part of the trade that actors must go through image transformation just to fit in for a particular role. When asked how much they were paid, she simply said “They tried”. Ebube, Chita, and Angela aren’t the only ones to shave

their hair for movie roles there has been many others in the past. Mercy Johnson, Halima Abubakar, Nuella Njubigbo, Oge Okoye, Uche Jombo, Adaora Ukoh and a host of others have done so in the past.

ess than a year after she assumed office as the first female president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria,AGN, Ibinabo Fiberesima has proved that she is a woman with a mission to rewrite the story of the guild. During the week, the mixed-race actress shocked members of the guild when she presented the key to an 18-setter brand new Toyota Hi-ace bus with registration number, LSD-227 BH to the chairman of the guild's Board of Trustee,Mr Ifeanyi Dike, at its Secretariat at Ajao road, Surulere. The bus was said to have been donated to the guild by a top government official and a lover of the industry. While receiving the key to the white-coloured bus, BoT chairman commended Ibinabo’s administration for its vision, adding that the bus remains a sign of good things to come the way of the guild in no distant time. However, speaking at the informal gathering, Ibinabo used the opportunity to give account of her stewardship. In spite of the challenges, Ibinabo said, “We have been able to measure up with some achievements since we assumed office in November last year.” According to her, her administration has commenced Health Management Scheme as well as Insurance screening for actors and actress which she promised them upon her assumption of office last year. “After exhaustive research, Health International Limited,HMO, providers met with our desired requirements in providing qualitative healthcare services for our members. We are proud to announce to you that AGN has commenced Health Management Scheme as well as Insurance Pe n s i o n Schemes,” she disclosed. She also launched the AGN film initiative, calling on the six geopolitical zones to submit scripts that would be funded by the National executive of the guild. The fi l m , she explained will feature members from the s t a t e chapters within the •Ibinabo respective zone.

Cheers as Ngozi Nwosu returns BY FLORENCE AMAGIYA

Ngozi Nwosu

opular Nollywood actress and Fuji House of Commotion actress, Ngozi Nwosu is back in the country. The actress returned home last Tuesday night from the United Kingdom where she underwent a surgical operation for kidney and heart transplant. HVP gathered that Ngozi left the UK hospital after her doctor confirmed that she is fully okay to return home. Ngozi landed into the waiting arms of her family, friends and colleagues. She said on her arrival, “I’m back and better.” It would be recalled that the veteran

actress developed kidney related illness and left the shores of the for an operation on 26 th of February, 2013. It is also worthy of note that Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator, Pius Anyim stood by her all the way. The actress in a statement appreciated the Governor of Lagos State and the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for their support and care when she needed it. She also had this to say to her fans “I am back and better ”. Her publicist disclosed that she will return to the UK in a few months time for medical checkup.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013—35

Chioma Okoye comes

calling with “Aso-Ebi Girls”

BY AYO ONIKOYI

or some time now, actress Chioma Okoye has been missing in action and her fans are wondering what has become of her acting career in recent times. HVP can report however that the plump actress has bounced back in a new movie,"Aso Ebi Girls" which is billed to premiere tomorrow in Lagos. According to Chioma, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Purple Ribbon Entertainment, “Aso Ebi Girls” is not her first movie but the second even though the first film she produced has not been released into the market. Her new movie was directed by Mac Collins Chidebe popularly known as Mr China. Speaking on the movie, Chioma said, it tells the story of three kinsmen who are at loggerheads over supremacy and status in their community in respect of their daughters, and hustling for the best husbands for them. In the end, they reached a compromise with a help of an elderly kinsman. “Aso-Ebi Girls is not my first movie. My first movie is not yet out . It is going to be released immediately after Aso Ebi Girls. I have produced three movies. Others are Bride Price and World’s Richest Family. And I'm releasing all of them this year," Chioma stated. The actress said, she's inspired by things that happen in the lives of single girls. Chioma Okoye who came into the industry after starring in the movie titled “War in the Church” some years back. She has since starred in other movies alongside others acts like Anita Joseph, Cynthia Okereke, Nkem Ike, Camila Mgberekpe, Ebele Okaro, Stephanie Chijioke among many others. Chioma is one of Nollywood’s big actresses, whose little effort has given the industry a credible boost.

Obu and family

Obu's family set to shoot movie on human trafficking

e is a lawyer who did not hang his wig and gown, rather, he chooses to combine his profession with social activism like most renowned lawyers all over the world do. Alongside his family, wife; Mary and two kids, Diamond and Soncharles, Ndukwe Sam Obu has taken up the fight against human trafficking, using Nollywood as one of the tools to achieving this aim. His wife and two kids are in with him in his fight against Human Right Abuse and Human Trafficking being championed by his outfit, Next 2 None NGO. “We are jointly fighting these causes from our Abuja base. Diamond at 6 years and my dear wife are models, presently modeling for Human Right Commission, our

•Chioma Okoye

partners in this cause, while Soncharles is an artiste at 8, he would feature in the upcoming Movie by Next 2 None in collaboration with Nollywood, Human Right Commission and Ministry of Information,” he narrated in a chat with HVP. The production of the movie which stars Zack Orji, Keppy Ekpeyong, Paul Obazele, Emeka Enyiocha, Charles Inojie among others, has reached advanced stage and would be shot in locations across Nigeria and America, Italy and North Africa. The script was written by Amaechi Osai. Obu is a legal practitioner, founder and chairman, Board of Trustees of Next 2 None. He is also a social activist affiliated to many international organizations that dwell on the betterment of human society.

Obi Emelonye’s Last Flight to Abuja excites fans with flight tickets A

s Obi Emelonye’s Last Flight to Abuja is due to be released into the market on Monday, May 20, plans have been hatched to reward fans of the action thriller with flight tickets to be handed out by two stars of the film, Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde and Jim Iyke. This is part of the activities scheduled by The Nollywood Factory, the producers of the movie which recently won the Best Film by an African in diaspora in honour of victims of last year’s plane crash at Iju outskirts of Lagos, one year after the tragic incident. According to a statement by the production house, everyone who has a copy of the DVD is qualified to take part in the campaign and only

needs to fill a coupon inside the movie jacket, which would be mailed back to the

specified address. “The movie has garnered a lot of fans in the past twelve

Last flight to Abuja cast and crew

months, going from one country to another, and from one film festival to another, but now the opportunity has come to let these fans own what they have always desired. Interestingly, some lucky fans would also smile as the Nollywood Factory and her associates would be giving out flight tickets to some of our lucky fans at an event that would have the fans also meeting the cast and crew members so of the film”, the statement said. In all about five tickets would be handed out to winners at an event which would be attended by the members of cast and crew of the movie reputed to have broken box office records in West Africa, following its

successful outing at the cinemas last year. The film written and directed by Obi Emelonye grossed N8.5m in seven days, according to Nigerian cinema ratings beating major Hollywood blockbusters such as ‘Spiderman’ ‘Think like a Man’, ‘Avengers’ and ‘Madagascar’ and was second only to the highly-rated blockbuster, ‘Dark Knight Rises’ during the cinema screenings last year. The movie is set in Nigeria and captured a group of everyday Nigerian travelers who boarded the last Flamingo Airways flight scheduled to fly from Lagos, the commercial city to Abuja, the capital, on a fateful Friday night in 2006.

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Vanguard MAY 11, 2013—37

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Kelvin Lucciano emerges PMAN president Q uestionmark boss, Kevin Lucciano Gabriel is now PMAN Interim President. And he would be in office for 18 months. Lucciano was elected PMAN Interim President after his opponent, gospel artiste and showbiz promoter,Skid Ikemefuna stepped down for him prior to the election. To run the union with Kevin Lucciano are famous musician and “Time Na Money ” creator,Mike Okri who was elected Vice-President and Maureen Ejezie a.k.a Mama Entertainment (2nd Vice President). Popular singer and Queen of Love,Azeezat Allen also emerged PMAN Treasurer. In a statement after his election as PMAN Interim President,Kevin Lucciano Gabriel thanked the union, the Caretaker Committee and stakeholders who midwifed the PMAN peace effort for the confidence they reposed in him. He pledged to restore the dignity,glory and credibility of the union and to

take it to greater heights. Kevin also assured Nigerian musicians that time has come for them to benefit from the union that has not lived up to its expectations for ages. Attended by artistes, music stakeholders, and independent observers, Popular flutist and one- time PMAN President, Teemac was there with his predecessor,Bolaji Rosiji. Veteran singer,Chris Mba,Oritz Wiliki O c h o n m a , B r o w n Bread,Queen of Samba,Stella Monye who recently marked 30 years on stage, pop artiste, Harrysong and many other acts also witnessed the historic event. Leadership crisis had been the bane of PMAN before Kevin Lucciano stepped in to salvage the factionalized music house. His emergence as new PMAN leader has been hailed by stakeholders as a positive development.

•Kevin

Abiodun Koya set for the big stage

•Abiodun BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI igerian-born US based Classical singer cum songwriter, Abiodun Koya is ready to hit the big stage with her new music video singles titled Kabiyesi O and The Lord’s prayer, which were both shot in the United States. The Ogun-State born singer who has been in the country to promote her genre of music and to work with a notable

C M Y K

My award was not an ‘arrangee’, says Jabulani producer/presenter A of Bond FM’s highly acclaimed news

a r t i s t e management company has set her mind on the big stage. With a music career that has spanned over a decade, Abiodun who spent most of her formative year abroad said, she is ready to make her mark, hence her resolve to come home and promote her songs to prove to people that she has got what it takes to be on top of her game. Biodun who has warmed herself into the minds of her US and Asia based fans with her Opera/classical style of music has promised to give her Nigerian fans a feel of her talent which has won her

many awards and afforded her the opportunity to perform at some big events across the globe. Speaking on her visit to Nigeria which she said,

was part of her plans to build a stronger base with her home fans and to discuss with some management companies which have shown interest in working with her and the promotion of some of the songs she had recorded while in the States,she said her plan is to use her style of music and her experience on some of the big stages to signal her emergence on the

programme in Yoruba language, ‘’Koko inu iwe iroyin’’ (today in the papers), Jolaoluwa Afolabi popularlly called J.J. Jabulani has said his recent award as the ‘’Radio presenter of the year’’ was as a result of hard work and not arranged by anybody. He was recently honoured in Lagos during the Elitist professional awards 2013 which held at Capital City Hotel, Ikeja amidst pomp and pageantry. The elated Jolaoluwa told Showtime that the award came at the right time as he had already put in ten years in the broadcast industry, ‘’I did not arrange for the award; rather, it was a big surprise to me, although I have received series of awards but this is the first major one and I am happy that my effort in the industry is being recognised,’’ he said. The ace broadcaster who also presents a Yoruba sports analysis programme, ‘’L’ori Papa’’ on Bond FM also said plans are in top gear to début a Yoruba city programme tagged ‘’Ni’gboro Eko’’ on Mondays also on Bond FM.

Eldee, others excited as Meet Orbit.com debuts today

eetOrbit.com, a new global social networking platform has signed up top Nollywood acts and musicians as it debuts in Nigeria today, at The Four Points Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. According to Adekunle Ayodele, US based founder and CEO of DataBox Technologies, the platform behind the social networking site, MeetOrbit.com is a dream come true for him and would revolutionalise the global concept of social networking. “MeetOrbit.com is gathering momentum following its launch in the USA. This is a dream come true for me. The response has been overwhelming. As I speak to you,

Nigerian acts are excited and have signed up with the platform. They include Trybe Records boss, eLDee, Sound Sultan, Koffi Owen Gee, Abdulala, African China and Baba Dee. “Others are DJ •Ayodele Vinnie, GT D Guitarman, Jgansta, Laide Bakare, Lepacious Bose, Lova Bernard, Marcakay and Moyinoluwa Olutayo among others. MeetOrbit.com has advanced forward thinking features which focuses on connecting people both locally and globally through video chat technology.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013

PEFTI announces music video training with Patrick Elis

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU

he Nigerian e g g a e scene which has o v e r the years witnessed dull moments is bound to reverberate this evening, as an avalanche of musical artistes and fans come together in celebration of the nation’s most respected reggae artistes of all times. The event billed to hold this evening at Mozida A lounge, along Toyin Street, Opebi, Ikeja is being put together by Dance hall train TV. Tagged “Lively Up Yourself ”, the event will be dedicated to the memory of legendary reggae king, Bob Marley who left an imprint that survived his death on May 11, 1981. According to the organisers, “Lively Up Yourself ” will be an annual event that honours Nigerian reggae artistes. The message of peace and unity will be spread throughout the event, mixed with memorable performances. Among reggae artistes to be honoured are , Majek Fashek, Ras Kimono, Orits Williki, Blaccky, Mallam Spicy, Daddy Showkey, Candy Sea and Marvelous r

By IYABO AINA

Bob Marley resurrects Dance hall tr ain TTVV celebr at es train celebrat ates Majek FFashek ashek ashek,, Ras Kimono, other otherss Benji. Others are Rocksteady, Daniel Wilson, Shotgun, Shank, Rymzo, General Pype, Blackstage, Baba Fryo, Danfoe Drivers, African China, Righteous Man, Felix Duke, Buchi, Ruffman and a host of others. The night will witness a

command performance by notable comedians and musicians, a short documentar y preview, autograph and photograph sessions. “It is a night all the reggae stars that have added their quota to our booming industry will be honoured in

recognition of the fact that their efforts and contributions were not in vain. We have communicated with all the major stars and they have applauded the concept and acknowledged our letters. We would have a great show no doubt”, says the host, Smooth prynz.

‘Destructive Instinct’ movie:

Afro-Candy under fire as Baby Mama sends porn partner packing BENJAMIN NJOKU

merican based Nollywood actress, Judith Okpara Mazagwu popularly known as Afro-Candy is at the moment under fire to do the obvious. Few days after releasing the trailer of her upcoming eyesore movie, “Destructive Instinct”, one of the major actors in the movie is threatening fire and brimstone, as he has asked her to remove the trailer from the internet or have his scenes deleted. According to Afro-Candy herself, the actor claimed he had been chased out of his home by his baby mama, and is threatening her to take

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them all down. The movie featured the 41year old mother of 2 completely nude in sexually explicit positions as she tries to make a daring impact on the industry. Narrating her frustration in her facebook page, Afro-Candy writes, “My people judge this case for me. This shit is just about to blow up and I think I need more than an Entertainment Lawyer right now. I cast this guy in my movie, he came on set, I explained everything to him and asked him if he would have any problems with playing the role the way I wanted it. He said, he was okay with it

Afro-Candy

and I quote him, “ I am an adult, I can do whatever I want and nobody pays my bills”....Then Camera was rolling, action, he jumps into bed with me, squeezes my boob and my butt enjoying himself. Now, the trailer came out with an explosion, and he is threatening me to ‘Remove the Video from the Internet,

and remove him from the movie cos’ his ‘Baby Mama has thrown him out. Also, his family and everyone that knows him is crying......Please tell me, what am I supposed to do now? Shut down the production cos of him? It’s too late to re-shoot the movie now. My premiere is almost here God punish enemies of progress”

he internationally renowned PEFTI Film Institute is partnering with multi award-winning music video director, Patrick Elis to present a one week practical training session in Music Video Directing. Patrick Elis is well known in the Nigerian music industry as a creative genius who has brought several c o s t - s a v i n g innovations into the industry and he has lent his talents to directing outstanding music videos for several top stars including Wiz Kid, Rugged Man, Olamide, Samklef, 2Shotz and Brymo. According to Biola Adenuga, Managing Director of PEFTI Film Institute, “The ‘PEFTI Music Video Training with Patrick Elis’ takes place from June 10 to June 15, 2013 at the PEFTI Campus in Ajao Estate and it is a great opportunity to get practical training from one of the most talented Music Video Directors in Africa, for a nominal fee of N50,000 only.” Since its inception in 2004, PEFTI Film Institute has produced many well-known performers including Victor Oyebode (Alinco), Deji Bakare (Mr. Nigeria), Bhaira McWizu, Kalu Ezeawa (wapTV’s Omo Nla), Kelechi Udegbe, Mercy Effiong, Paul Udoka (wapTV’s Mazi Ukpaka); as well as several award-winning Directors, Editors, Cinematographers, Make-up Artistes and many more. C M Y K

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was chilled to the bone as I read last Saturday Vanguard’s account of how a few young men kidnapped the aged mother of our Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala and how a septuagenarian was killed because the ransom money was not enough. I really do not know which I found more disturbing; the ease with which young men are lured into a world of crime or the cold hearted ruthlessness of these young men who think nothing of torture and murder. Also distressing is the fact that over 90 percent of these young men will never lead normal lives again. They are lost forever to the world of crime because no legitimate business will bring a few millions to the purse of young, unskilled men for a couple of week’s work. And for them, make no mistake, it is work, an occupation, not just a one-off. I am still trying to figure out why the Police decided to give the story out to the press. Is it to show that crime does not pay? Or to show that crime has become a way out for our unskilled, unemployed and misguided youths? It is not cynicism that makes me to choose the latter because every where you look shows that crime does pay in Nigeria; and the chances of being apprehended for your crime are low enough to make the venture into criminality worth the while given the returns. Crime pays because the system is unwilling and ill prepared to tackle it. Crime pays because the proceeds of crime are warmly embraced by the society, including the church.

it as a fact of life; when independence of the judiciary is threatened by unscrupulous men in public and private life as in the case of the pension thief who left court in a chauffer driven Mercedes benz. Crime pays when the church, our moral sanctuary is being used to launder ill gotten money; when men of god readily accept houses abroad from corrupt public and bank officials. Crime pays when politicians loot their ways to higher offices and nothing happens; when security and other votes are used to feather private nests. Crime pays when militants and those on the fringes of law and order are rewarded with multi-billion naira contracts to secure pipelines that they have, and are wilfully vandalising. Crime pays when Boko Haram terrorists are now the new bride in town and their sponsors are waiting to collect a hefty bride price. How did we get to this sorry pass? We have to look at the structures of the society; at our apathy towards stolen and misappropriated funds; at our calm acceptance of crime and criminals. We have to look at the mother who asks no questions as her teenage son suddenly becomes financially independent because it means one less mouth to feed. At a mother who looks away when a child brings a ruler or an exercise book home from school. At a parent who buys JAMB results because they believe that is ‘the only way’ their ward can enter into a university. At a student who uses bottom power to get grades and a university system that looks away. At a family which sends a young, unskilled girl to the city with no questions asked as long as money is sent home to feed her siblings. Ultimately, we have to look at our attitude towards money as it has become a god that we all – from peasant to president – worship.

Crime pays because the system is unwilling and ill prepared to tackle it

retired senior police officer once told me of his involvement in a kidnap case where the police acted as ‘brokers’. After a sum had been agreed upon, the family handed the money to the police. Unknown to either party, the police took its ‘commission’ or ‘broker’s fee’ and handed the balance to the kidnappers. The kidnappers felt the family had reneged and killed the victim in a fit of anger. Thereafter, the case went cold— to use the language of the police. No arrest was made and nobody was apprehended. A clear example of how crime pays. Are we surprised therefore that kidnappers have become emboldened? Are we surprised that more people are being recruited into this new Ministry of Labour and Employment? And still on the police, why are we not surprised that the largest pension fraud in the country took place in the police force? In the home of those who are paid to detect crimes? It’s hard to believe that there was no connivance, that some of those millions did not disappear into the accounts of some ‘oga at the top’ Crime pays when the judiciary is compromised and the rest of us accept

he following day after the Vanguard story, I was driving along Awolowo Road in Ikoyi, grateful for the Sunday evening free flow of traffic on that normally mad road. I stopped for the traffic light and a car, driven by an expatriate, stopped by my side, effectively blocking the two lanes towards Falomo. Suddenly, a vehicle hooted impatiently behind us. My rear mirror confirmed it was a commercial bus. I told myself he would have to fly this time. And that was almost what he did. He actually reversed, veered left, and sped past the traffic light. The expatriate and I exchanged glances and shook our heads. Guess what? The ‘smart alec’ got away with it. And you still wonder why crime pays in Nigeria? First, it gives you an unfair advantage. Second, you get away with it.

God has a plan for you

e bring to you today the heart of God for now; so that you can know that all is well with you, for God can never make a mistake in your life. To know that God has a plan for my life gives me so much joy because; God is the greatest planner in the entire world. When He plans, it is always beautiful. Remember how God brought creation into existence. He

In Nigeria, crime pa ys pays

carefully planned it and executed it and said it was good and then He planned man when He said, “Let us make man in our image and likeness” (Gen 1:36). There is nothing that God does without Him first planning it. God said in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts and plans I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome”. (Amp) From our text, God is saying to you that He has thoughts and plans for your life. Often in life, because of the pains, sufferings, shame, etc, which we go through in life, we wonder what kind of person God is. We say things like how can He allow these things to happen to me, forgetting that God knows the end from the beginning. There is nothing that will ever happen in your life that will take God by surprise. Because of our ability, we are not able to know why all that happens happened. But remember that God said in Isaiah 55:9, “For as the heaven are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”. You see God’s ways are higher than

ours, and if it be so, then we must connect to His ways. No man wants to stay down. So to get higher, get into the ways of God. Now God says that His thoughts are higher than our thought. know that the wisdom of God is greater than the wisdom of man. This therefore means that the thoughts of God must be greater, perfect and more excellent than our own thoughts. Hear me, your thoughts for your life can never be greater than God’s thought for your life. Thus what is happening around you may not make sense now, it would shortly because all things works together for the good of the believer. God says He has a plan for your life. He has a plan for your welfare and peace, and to give you an expected glorious end. The fact that God has a plan for your life does not mean that evil will not come, or that afflictions will not come. What this means is that even though these things happen, they are not from Him. God planned that Joseph will become a prime minister in a foreign land, which came to pass. But if you notice, in the history of Joseph, he was afflicted so many times but that did not stop the plan. David also was ordained king at seventeen but did not enter the throne until he was thirty. The enemy did all it could to stop the plan of God but failed. So also shall all of your enemies fail in Jesus name. Please, know that none of God’s thoughts and plans contains evil. There is no evil in God and so He cannot plan evil. Evil comes from the devil (Satan). God has already planned for your welfare. You may not know it or have recognized it, but most of the things you have enjoyed in life in terms of welfare were planned by God. Remember Prophet Elijah, when there was famine in the land, God made a raven to bring food to him. And when the brook had dried up, God sent him to a widow in Zarephath to feed him. Beloved, don’t be troubled, trust in God. He has a plan for your life. He has a welfare plan for you. You shall not be homeless in Jesus name. That case that looks so hopeless has solution in God’s plan. God has a plan for your husband, wife, children, ministry, finances and all that concerns you.

The enemy did all it could to stop the plan of God but failed. So also shall all of your enemies fail in Jesus name

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. 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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A real-life Atlantis

Claire Smedley claims her 40MMM chest is the biggest in Britain Her ex-boyfriend nearly died when he suffocated during sex. Today, she revealed that she was a cripplingly shy teen. Advice from her church group was to cover up or have a breast reduction. By the time she was 18 her breasts were a J cup, while she was a size 6. Now enjoys her body and is making money as a part-time model. Has considered a reduction, but is scared she won't 'be the same person'

A real-life Atlantis which sunk off the coast of Egypt nearly 1,200 years ago has now been brought back to the surface with the help of 3D. The city of Heracleion, home of the temple where Cleopatra was inaugurated, was one of the most important trade centres in the Mediterranean area before it disappeared into what is now the Bay of Aboukir. Heracleion was discovered in 2001, and after more than a decade of excavation, researchers have now been able to create a map depicting life in the ancient trade hub.

A muddy miracle:

Chinese farmer rescued from 30ft deep sludge pit Chan Lai, 62, had fallen into the pit on his way back home from the fields. He sank up to his mouth during harrowing, four-hour long ordeal. Firefighters dug a hole alongside and drained the mud from the pit into it

Why did the drunk and naked Australian cross the croc infested river? For a couple of crates of Jack Daniels of course The man stripped off to paddle across the Northern Territory's Daly River. The unnamed tiler from Darwin spent three minutes on a log to win bet. His antics, with only a sun hat for protection, won two cases of bourbon

Three rhinos block the road for an hour in South Africa The rhinos—one adult male and two young females— casually strolled into the road, halting traffic at 8.30am on March 25. The two youngsters then proceeded to lie down and take a nap — much to the amusement of motorists.

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Your career and family background, how did you handle the two? Talking about my background is a lengthy one, but I want to make it short. First of all, I was not born with a silver spoon but rotten stick in my mouth. My parents were very poor and that made me struggle harder when I was in primary school. That time, I used to go to bushes to cut and gather woods and when I brought them home I would sell them so that I could use the money to pay my school fees. So it wasn’t with any golden pen. But with strong determination and focus targetting a career for a better future, definitely you hief Hon. S. Nwobu Alor, Special Adviser, Parks and Markets, Anambra would achieve bright future. state. He was first chairman, APGA who remains active in Anambra However, despite the politics. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard Business, he reveals struggling and suffering, I the importance of building a successful career mostly youths despite poor family went to school and became educated. Thereafter, I got a backgrounds. “I advise youths to pick meaningful careers that could help shape job with NAS Pharmaceutical their future”. Excerpts: where I worked for two years successful in business and life? in Lagos before I went to do my degree at What is your philosophy of life? For our youths or anybody to make it in advanced age, my first degree. My philosophy of life is helping people life, you must be honest. You must have Challenges of building a career... sincerity of purpose. Whatever thing you and I believe that God created all of us First and foremost, it was the issue of want to do in life make sure that sincerely for that. And I believe that I was created funding my education that posed a big speaking, it is in order. Always respect to help and since I know this and I work challenge. I fought tooth and nail to make elders because they would be the ones that to achieve it that makes me happy. That sure I paid my school fees. After that I would give advice with which you can is my philosophy of life. looked for a job but didn’t get any. And advance. You must develop sense of Can you tell us the success story so because I couldn’t get any job, I started commitment. Make sure whatever you are far? doing a lot of minor jobs and retail trading doing is clean, decent, free and fair in your I’m likely to say that my success is not and all that, to make sure I survive before dealing with people. Whatever you are do- measured by wealth but it’s measured I later got an appointment with NAS ing believe in the laws of nature with regards by human achievement, and I think I Pharmaceutical in Lagos. While I was to justice, equity and good conscience. If have achieved quite a lot in terms of working there, I made some savings that you can do all these things, surely, you must human development. I also achieved a enabled me open my own pharmaceuti- make it. lot in my own mind that the way I live, I cal company. In 1979, I went to the House feel comfortable, happy and nothing Your definition of success of Assembly, Anambra state. At the end of Once you know your mind and you have disturbs me. that I went back in 1983 but we were a decent free and clear picture of what you Can family background affect one’s thrown out by the military and we went want and you work to achieve that which success in life? away. But I continued in politics when you want, that is a success, not the issue of Partly yes. Because there is one thing Anambra was created. As a matter of fact, making money. There is this question of I have noticed, most families don’t take we voted for the creation of Anambra state “what do you want?” I want people to be care of their children. As long as they and we succeeded. Then I became the happy or I want people to be free, I want have enough money to send him to first chairman of APGA in Anambra state. people to be recognised and I want people school, they send the child to school, Immediately after that, I elected the to live well. And I work towards these areas hoping that the teacher will perform a governor that was there Okwadike and I and when I see people living a good life it miracle, that is not true. You must train was appointed a special adviser on gives me happiness. When I make people your child. It is just like a growing tree, community development in that era. And achieve that it gives me more happiness and if you want a tree to grow perpendicuagain we were thrown out by the Army. I that is success by my interpretation. lar, you have to bend it when it’s still went away and stayed for sometime and we came back to politics. And right there we got into the campaign for Peter Obi and I became the chairman of Peter Obi campaign organisation and I tried my best aximum co-operation between Home Affairs Minister, Naledi Panand put him in place but somebody stole Nigeria and South Africa is dor and Nigerian Foreign Minister, the mandate, then I fought and recovered necessary for Africa to move forward, Olugbenga Ashiru also signed a waiver the mandate and we are here today. But Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan for visas for those holding diplomatic not long after that he was thrown out said, following a meeting with South passports. illegally by the House of Assembly, I African President, Jacob Zuma in Cape Jonathan pointed out that in all its fought again and got his mandate back. Town. visits to South Africa, Nigeria had never That is why we are here. Jonathan and Zuma were addressing a signed as many agreements with the Your motivation and passion for politics media briefing that was preceded by the country. On his two-day state visit to What motivated me actually into politics signing of a draft of cooperation South Africa - his first official visit to is my desire to help people. It was so much agreements between Africa’s two the country - after which he will be that during the war, I joined the economic powerhouses. attending the World Economic Forum international committee of the Red Cross. These included agreements to cooperate on Africa meeting starting in Cape We were taking people away from the war in the fields of defence, oil and gas, Town. front when they sustain wounds and take mining, electricity, information Zuma in turn said that Jonathan’s visit them to hospitals for treatment and at the technology, justice, woman and child had generated a lot of optimism and end of it, Red Cross organisation development, and the environment. excitement, given the historical relations employed me because of my commitment to service. And I worked for about twelve months or thereabout before I left for NAS Pharmaceutical. Because of my passion work has been completed on the document to help humanity, at end of the civil war I ederal Government is set to change for the change in policy so as to help inhad a drug establishment, I was giving its trade policy from the present Free drugs to people free of charge because on Board (FOB) to Cost, Insurance and digenous operators. Oyewole explained that a document to they were very poor and nobody had any Freight (CIF) which most countries across money and even if you have it, it was the world use because of its economic ben- that effect has been completed and inputs from the Ministries of Finance, Trade regarded as Biafran money and not efits, before the end of the year. and Investment, Petroleum and so othNigerian money.It should be recalled that The FOB makes it mandatory for the buyBiafrans were told to pay in all their money er to determine who ships and who insures ers has been made after it has first gone to designated places and obtain receipts the goods to his port destination while the to the President. According to him, all that is left now is for them. They were later paid Twenty CIF ensures that the seller determines who Pounds for whatever amount of money ships and who insures the goods brought for the Economic Management Team (EMT) to take a final look at it before it they deposited. So I opened a place and from him. returns to the President for it to be signed was giving people medical treatment free. Presently, goods bought from Nigeria are That is how I started. With that when I on FOB basis while Nigerian trade with into law. “The EMT always has a long list of isdeclared interest again to go and serve in other nations is on CIF basis. sue to attend to, they were to have that the House of Reps, I was returned unopDisclosing the position of the federal govposed. I went twice, the second time, the ernment to Vanguard in Houston, Texas at meeting last month but it was not possisame thing unopposed, but the military the ongoing Offshore Technology Confer- ble because of reasons but I can tell you didn’t allow us to stay, they kicked all of ence (OTC), Special Adviser to President that within this month, most likely it will be discussed and when it is discussed us out of office. Goodluck Jonathan, Leke Oyewole, said and it is agreed at that levels, then it will How can youths or anybody become

Building a successful career helps you secure the future — Nwobu Alor

Nwobu Alor: Youths need to secure their future by engaging in a successful career young, if you allow it to grow like an iroko tree and you want to bend it, you know it’s impossible. You can only cut it down. Children are like that. Children can be shaped to behave when they are very young, when they grow up it will no longer be easy. So I’m sending it back to parents, they should try their best to shape their children when they are young.

Nigeria, South Africa par tner ship will benef it Africa partner tnership benefit

between the two countries. He said Nigeria and South Africa had already fostered strong relations since the launch of a bi-national commission in 1999. Zuma said the South Africa-Nigeria Business Forum taking place later on Tuesday would further boost economic relations between the two countries, pointing out that over 100 South African companies were already doing business in Nigeria. He said South Africa had hosted over 73 000 Nigerian tourists in 2012, an increase of nearly 14% over 2011. South African Tourism was in the process of opening an office in Lagos, the President added, urging South Africans to visit Nigeria.

Foreign trade: FG tto o change fr om FFOB OB tto o CIF from

be left to the President to just sign. Once he signs, it becomes an order.” Asked whether the policy would be reversed before the end of the year, the Special Adviser said, “I’m hopeful, am very very hopeful but you also know that if today the President signs that the policy should been reversed, Nigerians would not begin to carry tomorrow. We need to give time sufficient enough for Nigerians to acquire vessels to begin to carry.” He noted that country presently “operate on FOB, in which case, soon as we put cargo onboard the ship, the fund, the money is released to Nigeria. When we go on CIF, it will mean that until the cargo is delivered before the money will come to Nigeria, there will be a gap, that gap most not be too wide otherwise it will hamper the national funding because we get most of our revenue from these products (petroleum products).

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013 — 47

46 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013

Puzzle over disappearance of boy, 20, at Festac Link bridge

who was giving instructions on top of the bridge run away when he discovered that the young man has drowned. Going by their looks, and the car they came with, both men appeared well-to-do. I believe there must be some sinister motives to their action. And recalling how everything happened, Who knows, it could be for rituals. When he was stripped off his shirt, the bearded man even has beads that looked like charms round his waist”, he stated.

..bearded suspect arrested By UJU MBANUSI

RAGEDY struck on Wednesday,May 8, between 12 and 1pm at the Festac link bridge canal in Lagos, when a yet- to- be identified young man got drowned while trying to retrieve a bag allegedly containing N150,000 for a stranger who had begged him to do so for a fee of N5,000. When Crime Guard visited the scene of the incident, an eye witness who pleaded anonymity said awhitebeared elderly man was seen at the early hours of Wednesday around the Festac link bridge, but no body took any special interest in him, as his presence there did not arouse any suspicion. “The man had approached one of the sand dredgers under the bridge to ask if he could help him retrieve a nylon bag containing his money from the canal, but the dredger told him he could not, and advised him to engage the service of a canoe peddler for the task. The bearded man left and returned between 12-1pm, this time in the company of another man that looked like they were friends, and a younger man who appeared to be in his 20s. The bearded man came down from the bridge with the young man who had pulled off his clothes and was wearing only a black striped boxer shorts. Both men went very close to the water and the young man dived in from that edge ( pointing towards a direction). “The other man remained at the top of the bridge giving instructions to the young man in the water. What we were hearing from the man on the bridge was ‘no go to that side, yes, come back to this side’ while the unidentified young man was busy swimming to the directions of the man on the bridge.

ll this while, the bearded man stood near the water watching. At a point, we noticed that the young man in the water was drowning and the men that brought him seemed unconcerned. He was seen trying to scream, calling for help while the water was pushing him further away. At that point, the attention of people around were aroused; one of the boat men here

•See arrow -where the bearded suspect stood while his colleague stood on top of the bridge (right) quickly got into his boat and paddled towards his direction, but before he got to him, he was already dead and was floating further away. The man on top of the bridge earlier giving instructions took to his heels when the young man started drowning. The bearded man who stood near the water watching tried to run away but was apprehended by people around. What baffled every one was his nonchalant attitude towards a young man he brought here to help him retrieve his money from the canal. The body of the young man is still in the water and is expected to float out by tomorrow May 10. The bearded suspect was about being lynched but for the timely arrival of the police,” he said... . “When asked where he brought the young man from, and how the money got into the canal in the first place, the eye witness continued “after he was caught, the bearded man told us that he bought corn at Mile-2 from a road side seller, after he finished eating, he mistakenly wrapped the N150,000 he had on him in the nylon bag, along side the corn, and threw it into the canal, that when he realized what he had done, effort to retrieve it proved abortive as the parcel was washed off, towards Festac Link road. He was then advised to come to Festac link

bridge to search for it, which was why he went and got a young man from Mile-2 whom he had promised N5,000 to do the job.” Another eye witness to the

incident added, “If his story is true, why then did he feel unconcerned when the young man was getting drowned? Why was he not the first to raise alarm, knowing that

people around will rally round to save the young man? He was also making calls in a very low tune after he was apprehended, who was he calling? also why did his friend

Abia community

fforts to get the identity of the drowned man proved abortive. The only clue was that he was brought from Mile 2 by the bearded man. When Crime Guard visited Festac Police Station where the suspect was taken to, he was seen inside the office of the Divisional Crime Officer undergoing interrogation. Police sources disclosed that while the interrogation was going on, frantic calls kept on coming to the suspect. It got to a stage that the officer had to seize the handsets while interrogation continued. As at yesterday, it was not possible to ascertain whether he was still in police custody or not,but a police source said they were seriously suspecting fowl play and no pressure from any quarter will make police not to conclude their investigation.

HO killed our brother, Mr. Anthony Onwuebuibo Ukatta? This is the question on the lips of the entire Amizi people of Awomnuzie Autonomous community in Ikwuano Local Government area of Abia State. Andrew Ukatta,58,was killed on January 10,in his farm by unknown persons. His death, being the first of its kind...threw the whole community into mourning because they said that he was as a very good man. He was killed in his farm and his battered body was found the following day by a search team raised by the community on account of alarm raised by the family after he did not return from his day’s farm work. The nature of his death was seen

by the community as an abomination as it has never happened before. His brutal murder has therefore thrown the entire community into great fear. The people no longer go to farm unless in groups for fear of being attacked. But the people believe that Ukatta’s killers could be the handiwork of some unscrupulous members of the community. Though they have not accused any person,but the entire community believes that no proper investigation was yet carried out by the relevant security agencies to unravel the killing. In anger and perhaps, to allow the police in Abia Command where Ukatta’s murder was reported, do its work, the community delayed his burial. But five months after his murder, Abia police were yet to do anything

banker cries out

..I will defend my husband’s status even in death—widow By EVELYN USMAN

AMILY of late Adindu Ohamara, the 34-year-old banker who was murdered in his Akoka abode in Lagos, three weeks ago, has described as untrue report that their late brother was a gay, calling on the police to unravel the circumstance that led to his death and bring his killers to book. The late Adindu, an Assistant Manager with the United Bank for Africa , UBA, was reportedly discovered in the pool of his blood penultimate Saturday, by his flat mate, one Collins. He was reportedly rushed to three different hospitals where, unfortunately, he was confirmed dead. However, news making the round alleged that the deceased was a gay. He was said to have been murdered by his apparently jealous gay mate, following his decision to get married. The late Adindu, a graduate of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, reportedly did his traditional marriage last December, and the church wedding had been slated for June 22, 2013 only for him

•Late Adindu to die before time. His alleged killer, as gathered, visited him that fateful night and after committing the heinous crime, left with his tradition marriage photograph with his wife, his personal picture, laptop and phone. Although the Lagos State Police command has arrested the deceased alleged gay visitor, a student of the Redeemer University but he(suspect) denied having anything to do with Adindu’s murder, nor admitted being his gay mate. But members of the Ohamara family who are visibly angry with the gay story associated

•Mrs Igbeka with their deceased brother ’s death , stated that it was just a mere ploy to distract operatives from the true picture of his death. They are also of the view that Adindu’s murder could have been perpetrated by those who later roped him with the gay story.

pokes person for the family, Mrs Immaculate Igbeka who did not hide the family ’s anger said, “ Our brother was never a gay. Adindu, my brother, was very hard working and trust worthy. He was supposed to wed next month . The stories in the papers should be from

whoever initiated his murder and must have brought up the story to divert attention and deceive the police from doing their work. From our back ground, we have said that he was not gay. We are from a Catholic background. The deceased used to be a man servant . He served from when he was a youth to when he was in the university. Initially, he wanted to be a reverend father, but our father kicked against the idea because he had already given out our eldest sister as a reverend sister, and she is currently the Mother-General in the catholic community. Our father objected to his joining the priesthood because he wanted him to represent his legacy because he is our last son. And every member of the family including our father loved him. That was why he could not go to the seminary. So, for all we know, the gay story is not only a rumour but also diversionary. Probably, the people who gave the news want to deceive those who want to fight the cause of Adindu’s death, by giving him a name he never was.

sends S.O.S. To IGP

Arrest killer (s) of our son By ANAYO OKOLI

Our son was never gay—family of slain

•Where the body was dumped meaningful in the area of investigation,and the community decided to bury their brother. But they have handed over the matter to the Inspector General of Police to detail a crack team of investigators to unravel who killed Andrew Ukatta.

ndrew

Ukatta

was

•Late Ukatta buried last Saturday with calls by the leadership of the community, comprising the leaders of the town union both at home and in diaspora, the youths and the church for proper investigation into his death as well as to prevent such occurrence in future. The youths in their own effort had in a February 25, 2013,

petitioned the Director of Department of State Security, Abia State Command, notified the command of what they termed “insecurity of lives and property in Amizi”. Amizi Youth Movement [AYM] in the petition signed by Roland Uzoanya said, “we are no longer safe in our home town, which has led to the murder of one Mr. Andrew Ukatta on the 10 th of January, 2013 and we are crying out to law enforcement agencies to, as a matter of urgency, come to the rescue of our community.” The petition also frowned at the manner the traditional ruler had handled the matter, alleging that he has not shown serious interest to ensure proper investigation into the killing, even when every taxable adult in the community was levied N300 to ensure proper investigation. On the burial day, the youths demonstrated their anger over the death of their

brother. From the morgue they carried the remains of Ukatta in protest and went round the entire community, praying that God and their forefathers should ensure that killers of Andrew were found. The most pathetic scene was when an elderly man about 80 years(fromthe Ukatta maternal father), knelt beside the casket and almost in tears called on God and his ancestors to bring to book those who killed Ukatta.

lad in all black attire, the youths recounted the good services late Ukatta rendered to the community as well as his uprightness,and prayed for proper investigation by the police to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime. The community’s major market was closed to enable all Amizi people pay the last respect to late Ukatta. The whole Amizi indigenes that were around for the burial were also all in

black outfit with the inscription “he was murdered” to show their anger over his death. According to Mr. Sam Ekpo, the President General of Amizi Development Union [ADU], the murder of late Ukatta was a tragedy to the community hence the anger of the youths and every other Amizi person. He regretted that despite the fact that the murder was properly reported to the police in the Abia State Command, proper investigation was not carried out on the death of this man. “The issue is that at least I am 64 years old and since I was born, I have never heard of a situation whereby an Amizi indigene was murdered. This is the first time this happened. So, it was very strange in our community and that is why the youths are really bitter. Secondly, it appeared that there wasn’t any proper follow-up, proper investigation on what happened. They have waited for long and nothing seems to

be coming out. Basically,that is why they are protesting.” On whether the matter was properly reported to the police, Ekpo said, “I think it was because the police followed them in picking up the corpse from the bush where he was murdered. So, it was properly reported to the police. Today has been declared as a fasting and mourning day in our community. That shows you how bad we feel about his death. Markets were closed from 11am to enable the people attend the church service for him,” the ADU president said. The Lagos State branch leader of the town union, Chief Patrick Ndimele, in his comment said the way the issue was handled is very painful. “The community is calling on the Inspector General of Police to conduct proper investigation into how this man was killed. People can’t go to the farm alone. We want this murder to be unraveled,” Ndimele said. The leader of the youth, Com-

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013 — 47

46 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013

Puzzle over disappearance of boy, 20, at Festac Link bridge

..bearded suspect arrested By UJU MBANUSI

bridge to search for it, which was why he went and got a young man from Mile-2 whom he had promised N5,000 to do the job.” Another eye witness to the

incident added, “If his story is true, why then did he feel unconcerned when the young man was getting drowned? Why was he not the first to raise alarm, knowing that

people around will rally round to save the young man? He was also making calls in a very low tune after he was apprehended, who was he calling? also why did his friend

Abia community

banker cries out

..I will defend my husband’s status even in death—widow By EVELYN USMAN

sends S.O.S. To IGP

Arrest killer (s) of our son By ANAYO OKOLI

Our son was never gay—family of slain

ndrew

Ukatta

was

48—SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013

BY EMMANUEL EDUKUGHO

s Nigeria is slipping deeper into the valley of insecurity, much of the momentum for economic breakthrough has been lost, in large part because of the increasing rate of oil theft, illegal bunkering and reckless vandalisation of pipelines across the country. The consequences of NNPC pipeline vandalism are horrible, which in most cases caused explosions and fires, eventually leading to loss of lives and properties massively. Given such grim news of pipeline explosions due to activities of vandals, miscreants and hoodlums over the years, it is all too easy to consider that government initiatives to protect pipelines with deployment of security agencies, at best had been ineffectual, and at worst, had actually exacerbated the woes that the intervention was meant to address. Between $6 billion and $12 billion are estimated to have been lost annually to oil theft, while over 20,000 persons were killed, many burnt beyond recognition and properties worth billions of naira destroyed in the last 30 years as a result of pipeline explosions. Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association, PENGASSAN President, Mr. Babatunde Ogun had decried the situation of alarming rate of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism saying these were, “becoming scandalous and a national embarrassment that needed drastic solution.” He lamented that, despite the presence of the JTF, to combat illegal bunkering, granting the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, power to bear arms to combat product pipeline vandalisation, the practice has continued not only unabated but brazenly. “Our security forces have been unable to arrest this unwholesome practice as attested to by the running battle they keep having in Arepo, Ogun State for example over product pipeline vandalism.” According to the PENGASSAN President, Nigeria loses $6 billion annually to crude oil theft, and also

lost N105 billion to theft of refined products. “This is a threat to our national security and our democracy. If this kind of huge amount gets into the wrong hands, it can destabilise our democracy and national security.” Apart from the Joint Task Force comprised mainly of the military previously combating the Niger Delta militants in the creeks disrupting NNPC pipelines which hitherto adversely affected Nigeria’s crude oil production, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, having the

Between $6 billion and $12 billion are estimated to have been lost annually to oil theft while over 20,000 persons were killed, many burnt beyond recognition and properties worth billions of naira destroyed statutory responsibility to watch pipelines and arrest vandals, the Inspector-General of Police Special task force on Anti-Pipeline Vandalism also charged with protection of oil pipelines, there are also surveillance outfits with multi-billion naira contracts awarded by Federal government to selected former Niger Delta militant leaders for the protection of pipelines and check destruction of oil facilities. Both the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar and the Commandant General, NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolurin, have expressed strong determination to stop oil pipeline vandalism. However, the recent confrontation between operatives of NSCDC and Police at an area in Ikorodu over arrest of

suspected pipeline vandals, pointed to lack of synergy and co-ordinated approach in the fight against these vandals and oil thieves. Two of the NSCDC men were said to have lost their lives in the confrontation between these two security agencies supposed to watch over the pipelines. Investigation showed the operational sophistication of the vandals not unmindful of the danger of fire outbreak imminent during pipeline vandalisation. Activities of vandals and oil thieves led to shut down by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nembe Creek Trunk Line where an estimated 60,000 barrels per day of crude oil were stolen. An oil spill recently occurred at Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production company (SNEPCO) Bonga field off the Coast of Delta and Bayelsa states precisely on December 20, 2011. This was caused by a rapture of an export hose which poured an estimated 40,000 barrels of crude oil across 950 square kilometres of water, thereby affecting the environment and the livelihood of the communities in the area. The MD of SNEPCO, Mr. Chike Onyekekwe was reported saying that the company has always adhered to the regulations in the sector and that the cause of the accident was still being investigated. But both the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Management Agency (NIMASA) have asked SNEPCO to pay a total of $11.5 billion as administrative charges for the spill. Agip has suspended oil production in Bayelsa State where 60 per cent of its production of about 90,000 barrels per day were stolen. Furthermore, Italian firm, ENI shut down its activities in the swampy oil fields in Bayelsa. In a statement, ENI attributed the frequent spills to oil theft by vandals and so decided to shut down operations to prevent further damage to the environment. Operating in Nigeria as Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), it authorised suspension of operations on March 22, 2013 and declared Force Majeure on its oil output.

Force Majeure is a legal notice that absolves an oil company of liabilities for failure to meet supply obligations to crude buyers because of circumstances beyond its control. Between march 21 and 22, 2013, ENI declared force majeure and ordered closure of its on-shore activities in Bayelsa State. According to Saturday Vanguard investigation, the most serious oil pipeline explosion occurred in Jesse community of Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State on October 18, 1998. The Federal Government blamed vandals/ scavengers who intentionally ruptured the pipeline with their tools and ignited the fire. Others attributed the explosion to poorly maintained pipelines. A pipe burst and the local people rushed to collect spilled petrol as fuel flowed freely to the farms and into the Ethiope River. Due to the massive rush to siphon petrol, fire was ignited and about 2,000 lives were lost in what was described as the “ worst pipeline explosion in Nigeria.” It took about five days to put off the fire with foreign assistance. The pipeline is owned by NNPC taking crude oil to Warri and Kaduna refineries. Many persons were burnt beyond recognition while most of the dead were given mass burial. Thereafter, other NNPC pipeline explosions occurred in subsequent years at Ovwore-Amukpe Okpe community; Ijegun pipeline fire in Lagos, the Ilado village NNPC pipeline fire, caused by vandalisation, the Abule Egba pipeline explosion in a Lagos suburb which killed over 2000 people. In that case, vandals had been siphoning petrol from punctured pipelines for three days before the explosion occurred on December 26, 2006. The pipeline runs through the village via Ipaja to Ejigbo. Before the tragedy, NNPC had received reports of vandalism and instructed police to patrol the area. The rest is now history. There had been pipeline explosions in Warri, Ebute, Umuahia and other places including the most recent in Arepo in which put together, unestimated number of persons lost their lives.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013 — 49

BY OLAYINKA AJAYI

ollowing reports of incessant vandalisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC Pipelines which cost the country huge loss of lives and properties, Saturday Vanguard took a journey to a creek in 7thAvenue, FESTAC Town, Lagos where five of the culprits were apprehended by security agents. A chat with some of the farmers that were affected by the oil spillage in FESTAC Town who preferred being anonymous, revealed that the oil spillage had destroyed virtually all their farm produce and killed all the fishes in the river. “We have been farming here since 1980s and 90s and it did not occur to us that there were NNPC pipelines beneath the ground. Our farm produce during the 2004 and 2005 seasons were fantastic,” she disclosed. “But things started taking another turn in December 2, 2006 when we noticed oil spillage on the water and in our farmland that caught fire, killed one of us on a canoe who was conveying her farm produce, burning her beyond recognition with the man paddling the canoe,” she recalled. Saturday Vanguard however went round the creek to get an aerial view of the location. Investigation revealed the area got burnt beyond imagination and it seriously affected the plants and fishes. Also a church building close to the creek was affected.

peaking also with this reporter; a fisherman at the location however commented on the shortage caused by the oil spillage on his business as a fisherman. “I bought an instrument for fishing amounting to N50, 000 but ever since 2006 inferno, I have not made a profit of N20, 00. I used to earn N20,000 daily but now, I hardly make N500 daily. Even when I am privileged to catch small fishes, after cooking, these will have the taste of fuel in them.” He further stated that those involved in the act are not lowly placed Nigerians who are looking for a daily bread. “Hungry people like you and I can never know where these pipelines are buried not to talk of vandalising them. It is those that have worked with NNPC that know where pipelines are,” he affirmed. It was however observed that the management of the NNPC has mobilized the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Civil Defence Corp to the NNPC pipeline areas as anti-vandal squad to watch over these sensitive spots in case of unscrupulous acts by these foes. All efforts to speak with the anti-vandalism operatives to share their knowledge on how these vandals operate in the creek proved abortive as they claim they were not competent to talk with the press. However Saturday Vanguard saw two canoe boats that were impounded by the NNPC anti-vandalism squad and about four 50 litres gallons. According to oil company report,

Typical creek area

After-effects of vandalising NNPC pipelines zReactions of farmers affected by spillage In about six years, the Gombe area, which covers central and North-eastern Nigeria account for 16 percent of all recorded acts of pipeline vandalisation from 2002-2011

Victim of spillage now run close to those of Warri in the Niger-Delta, surpassing Warri in 2007, 2009 and 2010.For every week when a major pipeline artery that serves Mosimi area is broken into, the country loses $3.7m, and so the NNPC has decided to invest resources and bury the pipelines deeper. In about six years, the Gombe area, which covers central and Northeastern Nigeria account for 16 percent of all recorded acts of pipeline vandalisation from 20022011.

over 5,000 kilometres network of pipelines are continually vandalised and about 250,000 barrels of crude stolen daily for sale on local and international black markets, reportedly costing the country over $6bn to $12bn annually. From 2002 to 2011, records showed 18,667 incidents of vandalisation occurred. From 40 recorded cases of vandalisation in 2002, Mosimi’s figures

rom 20 cases in 2005, Gombe’s pipeline vandals put in enough effort to best figures from the notorious Port Harcourt region by 2011. A look at current development showed this disturbing trend is continuing. Because the host communities are already awash with ethno-religious crisis, Gombe and Kaduna need to make a stronger impact on Nigeria’s agenda before they tow the self-destructive line of the Niger-Delta. The consequences of an environmental degra-

Another victim lamenting dation that are hallmarks of pipeline vandalism to the North are unimaginable. So going back to the original question is whether the Niger-Delta region taking a backseat in pipeline vandalisation? Not as far as we know, because the NNPC has not released any such detailed figures since 2011.

50 — SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013

Moving stolen oil across the creek

By Emmanuel Edukugho

he most inconvenient truth about oil theft is that we cannot stop it. But this is not to say the nation is being skeptical. Our people are finding some measure of solace and hope for effective stoppage of this mindless plunder of our common wealth, with the ongoing efforts by military forces to stem the ominous tide. Nigeria is about the sixth world’s largest oil producer while its crude is one of the finest – the light, sweet variety of crude oil favoured by the United States and European refiners for the high quality of gasoline it produces. According to dependable industry source, Nigeria lost N191 billion in just the first quarter of 2013 to crude oil theft, vandalism along major pipelines within the oil-producing Niger Delta region. Again it was estimated that in months of May and June, this country may lose N83 billion as NNPC and the AngloDutch oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) declared force majeure on its 150,000 barrels per day Bonny Light export with the shut down of its N174.9 billion Nembe Creek Trunkline. Saturday Vanguard reliably gathered that there are 53 break points along the 97km Nembe Creek Trunkline and if this situation is not adequately tackled, Nigeria won’t be able to meet its target of 2.48 million barrels per day crude production, revealed Deputy General Manager, Public Affairs, NNPC, Tumini Green in a statement issued recently. Investigation showed that oil theft has variants like illegal bunkering, organised, syndicated pipeline vandalism, illegal exportation and illicit refinery of petroleum products. Most if not, all of these activities are carried out in isolated creeks,

Oil theft:

Getting to stop it

Nigeria lost N191 billion in just the first quarter of 2013 to crude oil theft, vandalism along major pipelines within the oilproducing Niger Delta region waterways and rural communities of the Niger Delta. The introduction of military joint task forces had helped to combat oil theft and associated criminal activities that tend to undermine our national economy whose lifeline is income from crude oil that accounted for over 90 per cent of the national revenue. Different military task forces are operating in the region. That of Bayelsa State is codenamed Operation Pulo Shield, the force combating oil thieves in Edo, Delta and Ondo states is known as JTF, Joint Task Force. Several enclaves in the creeks and

riverine areas have become havens for illegal bunkering as many sea going vessels are using these areas for trans-shipment of stolen crude oil to overseas where there are ready markets in which foreign refineries turn the crude oil to finished petroleum products which are later imported into Nigeria and the fuel prices subsidised by government. There are also local illegal refineries which litter the creeks fed by stolen crude. So many camps built along the creeks where these illegal refinery operators do their business while massive, huge, locally built canoes are used in transporting petroleum products to the high sea, ongoing to other countries along the West Coast of Africa. NNPC lamented that there was a drop in crude oil production from January to March, 2013, caused by incessant theft of crude oil. The corporation said that on a daily basis, crude oil production during the period fluctuated between 2.1 and 2.3 million barrels per day compared with the projected 2.48 mbpd. Although repair work is expected to be completed after six weeks at the 53 break points discovered along the 97km Nembe Creek Trunkline, Tumini Green explained thus: "This will further reduce our April and May monthly average to about 2.2m bpd and further decrease crude oil revenue by about $54 million (N83 billion) that should have accrued to the federation account.”

The NNPC, however, assured that, “ we shall continue to work with relevant government agencies both at the federal and state levels to end this incessant crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.” The corporation decried the menace of crude theft and its negative effect on the environment, operational costs and image of the country and economy of the country. No doubt that the deployment of military forces and decision to establish permanent military presence in the Niger Delta creeks to check activities of oil thieves were well taken and justified, considering the huge financial losses being suffered. Heavily armed troops with gunboats and using smaller watercrafts to reach tiny inlets have been dislodging these oil thieves and raiding illegal refinery operators across the region. Saturday Vanguard gathered that during raids by JTF between April 1 and 10, 2013, about 35 illegal refineries were discovered in Rivers and Bayelsa coastal communities which have now been destroyed. Also about 22 illegal refineries were set ablaze by JTF in Edo and Delta states, used by vandals who engaged in oil theft on right of way of NNPC. Oil spills often reported by oil companies are believed caused by thieves and vandals, with serious environmental damages and contaminated coastlines. Pollution of drinking water and rivers for fishing are some of the adverse effects of these illegal activities as over 70 per cent of the waste from illicit refineries are discarded into the environment. There can also be fire on these trunklines when they are tampered with by thieves as they carry crude to loading terminals in Bonny, Escravos and others, ranging between 150,000 – 250,000 barrels per day. Any illegal tinkering with the pipelines could cause fire outbreaks.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013 — 51

MASSOB suspends chieftains BY OKONKWO EZW, Onitsha

•Rivers State Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his wife Judith inspecting a new road project in the old GRA area of Port Harcourt being constructed by his administration recently.

HE leader of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, yesterday reaffirmed the suspension of Anambra State Coordinator of the movement, Chief Vernatius Muoneke and 13 other MASSOB chieftains. which took place since August 21, 2006. Uwazuruike who spoke through his Personal Assistant and MASSOB’s Deputy National Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, at Umunnachi in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, after their meeting, recalled that

FG faults US claim on insecurity BY BEN AGANDE, Abuja

HE United States of America has expressed concern over alleged ongoing reports of excessive use of force by Nigerian security operatives in the name of combating Boko Haram, including extrajudicial killings, prolonged detention, and disappearances, series of attacks going on in some parts of Nigeria, saying however it values the strong partnership it has with Nigeria and respects the role Nigeria plays on the world stage. According to a statement issued yesterday by the Consulate in Abuja, “We remain deeply concerned about increasing insecurity in Northern Nigeria and the potential threat it poses to stability in both Nigeria and the region. The rising cycle of violence is affecting Nigerian citizens the most, with the number of civilian casualties increasing. However, the Federal Government in a swift reaction faulted the US demand saying it had already ordered a thorough investigation into the matter. In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati the government said that the assertion that government was using a force based approach to counterterrorism was false because a much-dimensional approach was being employed including dialogue. “The April attacks in Baga, with reports indicating civilians indiscriminately killed and homes and businesses wantonly burned, demonstrate the

extent to which the Nigerian people continue to suffer from this violence. Counter terrorism and counterinsurgency campaigns are complex and difficult. As a partner, we seek to find ways to help Nigeria build its capacity to address multiple threats to its security. “As they did this week in Bama, Boko Haram has terrorized the people of Northern Nigeria, killing thousands over the past three years with bombings, shootings, kidnappings, and coordinated attacks on security forces and facilities. The United States condemns Boko Haram’s campaign of terror in the strongest terms and has worked to help Nigeria address the threat of terrorism. Those members of Boko Haram responsible for the violence must be held accountable in accordance with the rule of law.” The US government went further to state that “We are concerned that such an indiscriminate, force-based approach to counter-terrorism is increasing extremism and decreasing confidence in the federal government. These tactics tarnish Nigeria’s reputation as an emerging leader and a stable democratic government. “The tragedy at Baga underscores the need for the government of Nigeria to put civilian protection at the forefront of its counterinsurgency campaign. The government now has the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to the rule of law and the well being of all Nigerians by, first, adopting tactics in the North that are effective and protect civilians, and, sec-

ond, ensuring that the National Human Rights Commission carries out an independent and transparent investigation. Reports from that investigation must be made public and those who committed or ordered these crimes, regardless of position, must be held accountable”. Meanwhile, the statement by Dr Abati read, “President Jonathan is on record as having ordered very thorough probes. He has also encouraged independent investigations by the National Human Rights Commission. In addition, he has had to cut short his trip to South Africa and cancel his planned state visit to Namibia. He is back in the country to personally oversee the situation. ”Today,(yesterday) President Jonathan hosted an emergency meeting of the National Security Council where he received further briefings from security chiefs. ”Secondly, President Jonathan has made it very clear that apart from the investigations, where there has been any case of misconduct, the per-

sons involved will be brought to justice. There is no issue therefore as to the fact that the government will ensure accountability and the protection of the civilian population from terrorist attacks. ”Three, it is also not true that the administration is adopting a force-based approach. The approach to the insurgency by the government is not a unifocal approach. There are many dimensions to it. One of those dimensions is the consideration of the option of dialogue and what has become known as amnesty. ”Beyond that also, the government is working with state governments in the affected areas to ensure the security of lives and property, protection of the civilian population, human capital development and stability. ”What has been made very clear is the fact that the terrorists that we are dealing with are not just local insurgents, they also have international connections as revealed yesterday in court that they receive funding from certain elements in Algeria.”

Muoneke’s suspension was based on the 2006 crisis which he was reportedly the mastermind. The said crises resulted in the loss of lives and property of the residents of Onitsha and its environs. On the frosty relationship between Uwazuruike and Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, he said: “Rommy fell out with MASSOB on October

15, 2011 because as Chairman of preparatory Committee for the burial of Biafran soldiers who died during the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War, Uwazuruike did not allow Ezeonwuka to reach out to about 50 prominent Igbo leaders and ask them to donate money to enable him give the wandering spirits of the dead heroes a resting place.

Traffic law: Lagos bans Tri-cycle operators from major roads BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

AGOS State government yesterday banned the activities of Tricycle popularly called Keke Napep from the major roads in the state, saying, “it is meant to protect the lives and property of the residents of the state.” The state government however vowed to impound any disused and abandoned vehicles across the state, explaining “4,632 vehicles were currently abandoned on over 9,100 roads in theState. Commissioner for transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa disclosed this at the 2013 Ministerial Press Briefing held in Alausa to mark the sixth anniversary of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration. Opeifa said that the state

government had held several meetings with the unions on the development, adding “they have agreed to stay away from these roads.” Some of the roads tricycles operation was outlawed were: the entire Victoria Island, Government Residential Area, GRA Ikeja and Ikoyi. Also on Awolowo road and Awolowo way, Alausa and entire major roads in Surulere Local Government. Opeifa warned that tricycling isn’t a replacement for motorcycle popularly called Okada in the state, adding “it isn’t a sustainable means of transport for the state especially Lagos that is a megacity.” According to him, “I learnt that some Okada riders have began to sell their motorcycle to by tricycle but they can no longer operate on these major roads again.”

NMMA 2013: Submission of entries closes May 15

HE final date for submission of entries for Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) 2013 has been extended to Wednesday 15th of May, 2013. The extension is to avail journalists and media organizations across Nigeria to participate in this year’s award scheme. The NMMA currently has 52 categories of awards open for journalists to participate. There are 40

categories of awards for the print media, 12 for the electronic media, including the recently endowed category of Etisalat Prize for Most Innovative Reporter of the year. The entries received from journalists would be painstakingly screened by reputable media veterans and practitioners, who constitute the NMMA, Panel of Assessors (POA) under the Chairmanship of Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye.

Why Boko Haram rejected amnesty offer — NSCIA BY DAUD OLATUNJI Abeokuta

HE Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) yesterday said that the rationale behind the rejection of amnesty offered by the Federal Government to the dreaded Boko Haram sect was to increase their bargaining power with the government. The NSCIA however,

•Wants Islamic Clerics to interact with sect members warned the Federal Government against abdicating its responsibility of protecting the citizens, saying , security of lives and property was the primary responsibility of the government. Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta after observing J u m at service at Kobiti Central Mosque, the newly

appointed SecretaryGeneral of NSCIA, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, said, “no amnesty has been offered to these people. When it is offered, it’s normal that when you have people in conflict, when you start to settle the matter, you will not expect everybody to say yes. You have two parties and one says look let us solve it, definitely the other will say

no, at least to increase their bargaining power. “ I think that is normal. The right thing to do is for us to continue working towards a goal of peaceful dialogue. I’m happy to note yesterday that the minister for special duties, acting as the chairman of the new committee, has started interacting. Because we have been saying it; these people exist.”

52—SATURDAY

Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013

BY BIODUN EYIOLA

fter being in limbo for nearly two years, Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore was recently resurrected. In an interview he granted, the politician mounted his serial denial that he knew nothing about the assassination of Uncle Bola Ige. Chief Bola Ige a Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice under President Olusegun Obasanjo was gruesomely murdered at his Ibadan residence on December 23, 2001. We shall come back to that later. In the interview, Iyiola Omisore denigrated Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration and leveled baseless and unfounded charges against the performing icon of the State of Osun. The impeached Deputy Governor revealed what has been rumored in many quarters that he is nurturing a gubernatorial ambition to unseat the Action Congress of Nigeria governor. As a free citizen, Iyiola Omisore is at liberty to pursue political office, even to the highest level - since the courts have said so - not minding the perception of the general public about his person. After all, that is the beauty of deliberative democracy. It is about equity and the cleanness of one’s Gov Aregbesola hands! Iyiola Omisore said he hopes to have a manifesto for his governorship ambition next year. “My manifesto will be peopleoriented”, he said. “It will enhance the status of our people and create wealth. There will be free education for the people and we shall pay attention to the health sector. It’s not about empty sloganeering.” The content of Omisore’s would-be manifesto is not fundamentally different from the hollow one the PDP access to the most basic education offered in its eight years rule in the irrespective of accident or circumState of Osun. Omisore was also a stances of birth with conducive Senator under the government for learning environment and food rich in eight years. high protein which guarantee rapid Osun citizens have come off the physical and mental development of predatory rule of the PDP. They know every child without which learning in the difference between day and night, the formative years of the child will be the difference between light and impaired. This ideal is borne out of darkness, the difference between dark the fact that without solid basic tunnel and the one with blossoming education Nigeria cannot make up for light, the difference between performthe deficit leadership crisis plaguing ing governance and a perverse one, it by the day. It is only with this type the difference between creative of planned and patriotic educational governance and a comatose governsystem that we can bring the mind ment. The comments of Dr. Segun Ojo into form, entrench intellectual who resides in Osogbo further culture, awake our value system, buttress the inanities of the PDP reason well in all matters and reach administration. Ojo stated that, “if out towards truth without manipulathere is any past Osun people did not tion and corruption. want to remember in the 22 years of On the bases of creative thinking and her existence or since the days of understanding of the uniqueness of Western Region, it is the perilous an underdeveloped economy, the seven and a half wasted years the Ogbeni Aregbesola’s administration PDP saddled the state with profanity has rightly embraced agriculture. This and unquantifiable ruination”. right step taken by the administration Anyone who follows the six points has helped to soak up the large army integral action plan of the state of unemployed. It has not only laid government under Ogbeni Rauf the bases for a resolution of the food Aregbesola, including education, crisis but has raised the people’s agriculture, infrastructural revamp consciousness on the place to the and others would know that Iyiola survival of the people. Unfortunately Omisore is merely crying wolf where the PDP is not thinking in this direcnone exists. Apart from the free tion. Rather, petro-dollars have made education policy of Rauf Aregbesola the PDP at all levels of government to administration from primary to neglect agriculture. The consequencsecondary education as well as es are that we are not only importing bursary paid to students in higher food to feed ourselves, but are importinstitutions who are indigenes of the ing fertilizers that have impoverished State of Osun across the federation, the land that is naturally fertile. This his government spends a whopping import syndrome sustains sharp sum of N3 billion annually on O’meal practices and corruption upon which feeding programme for pupils in the PDP leadership feed fat on. elementary schools. Through O-YES, O-REAP, O-CLEAR The O’meal programme is a demonand others, the ACN-led government stration of Aregbesola’s resolve in the State of Osun has employed towards ensuring that every child has

Omisore

Osun, Aregbesola, and Omisore’s wolf cry over 30,000 youths for fish farming, cattle rearing, bird farming and the like. These are enough evidence that the State of Osun can work and it is working. But all Iyiola Omisore can hear in the state is “plans, plans, plans and proposals, proposals, proposals”, even though he later contradicted himself in the same interview by saying that construction works are going on in the state at a slow pace! He questioned the rationale behind the building of mega schools in Osun, saying “Osun is not Victoria Island or Ikoyi.” This shows the type of minds that drive the PDP if characters like Iyiola Omisore who enjoy seeing the children of the poor seating with stones in buildings whose roof is ridden with gaping holes in supposed classrooms. To understand Omisore’s thinking, we can recall the ease with which he was drafted from prison custody to the exalted Senate seat by former president Olusegun Obasanjo and the PDP while he was being prosecuted over the cruel murder of Uncle Bola Ige. That is the point I was making earlier, which Professor Wole Soyinka titled “Dancing on Bola Ige’s grave”. Omisore’s primitive notion of contestation for power, which led to the molestation and removal of the cap of the late Bola Ige in the palace of the Ooni of Ife, is truly implicating. That act of desperation was a nefarious one contrary to the tenets of democracy and civilized conduct. A man who is historically disposed to violence cannot validly lay claim to power. This is why the group called “De Rauf” is insistent that, with the people of Osun, the likes of Omisore and the PDP would

find no place in future elections. Director - General of the group, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, in an address made available to newsmen in Osogbo reiterated what all other political groups have said: “The sociopolitical and economic transformation going on in the state must not be disrupted” regretting that “the immediate past government in the state was a calamity”, just as he was of the conviction that “the State of Osun is too socially, culturally and politically significant to fall again into the hands of political failures”. The groups’ stance will certainly burnish the electoral victory of the ACN in the coming election. Luckily enough the ACN won all the National and State Assembly elections held in the state, including the presidential in 2011 in which Omisore was a PDP candidate. The questions we must ask are as follows: Shall we continue to oil the wheels of our political tormentors in the hope that they might turn a new leaf someday? Shall we continue to entrust the collective patrimony of the people in the hands of miscreants and thugs? Shall we allow them to renew themselves in the abundance of our previous grief? Shall we allow them to extinguish the vitality of our stoic resolve for purposeful and positive change? These and many more questions are begging for answer. I have difficulties contemplating it or wrapping my mind around the possibility of someone like Christopher Iyiola Omisore becoming the governor of the “Land of Virtue”. * Eyiola is a social crusader based in Osogbo

SATURDAY

Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013—53

TRIBUTE

Celebrating Adetokunbo Sofoluwe (1950-2012) M y first encounter with Adetokunbo was in the 1960s through my elder brother when they both attended CMS Grammar School. The two friends later attended an interview at Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti when my late father drove them to the Bus station. In Ado they experienced traditional Ekiti hospitality from my parents’ close friends, the Osekitas. Tokunbo, however, stayed on at CMS before proceeding to Old Swinford Hospital School, Stourbridge in Worcestershire, England where he completed his Higher School Certificate course in June 1968. We met again in the University of Lagos,where we graduated at different times,and again at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. As we later discovered to our surprise our two fathers had coincidentally chosen the same friend, the dashing Chief Orija, to serve as our godfather at our christening. We did not become an item until the 1980s when we sealed our relationship with a marriage under the Act. The combination of a Dada and an Aina notwithstanding, we lived happily together until his exit on May 11, 2012. He loved Mathematics first and Arts too;so fond of William Shakespeare plays. Consequently, he made a very good grades in Literature and other subjects in his School Certificate examination. He encouraged many young artists at his own expense.He was also a sportsman:football,tennis,cricket,golf,etc. right from his student days. Adetokunbo loved good music. Many knew that he loved high-life,juju music, jazz, gospel music etc. As his flat mate in Edinburgh would confirm he drew inspiration from the works of great composers like Bach, Strauss, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven etc. Another interesting aspect of Tokunbo’s life was his fascination with great historical figures. As one of his brothers will testify, he read all the time about their contributions to science, nation building, their struggles and the sacrifices they made. They served as role models for him. The two brothers were always exchanging books and Tokunbo was forever expressing amazement at the enduring manner in which their governments and associates had immortalized these men such that they are still celebrated even after decades. Adetokunbo was a gentleman and an intellectual to the core. He would always wonder aloud when Nigerians would stop their futile attempts to measure greatness by material wealth, earthly titles, number of parties attended and mere indiscretions that do not bring any glory to one’s nation. As regards the keeping of records Adetokunbo kept good records of notes, letters, documents etc. One of the last photocopies he showed me was for the April 19,2012,N600,000 life membership cheque for an

•Adetokunbo Sofoluwe

He would always wonder aloud when Nigerians would stop their futile attempts to measure greatness by material wealth, earthly titles, number of parties attended and mere indiscretions that do not bring any glory to one’s nation Academic association. (He breathed his last only three weeks after this payment which is a clear indication that he was not expecting his death soon). He probably wanted in some cases to preempt potential denials on the part of the unscrupulous or to assist those who might want to pretend to suffer from the onset of early dementia but the habit had assumed a neurotic proportion. He always encouraged me to follow his style, which I did, but I was forever teasing him that he was fast becoming too eccentric for his young age and we were going to be buried under numerous useless papers in our own home. Adetokunbo was a kind and generous giver,but he did not like publicity. There were so many people

on his list that he gave money monthly. Throughout his adult life he chose to be responsible either in part or in full for the school fees, pocket money and house rent of many. I must confess that as a typical wife I worried about our future finances and I sometimes voiced my concerns. To provoke him I called him names the kindest of which were ‘Father Christmas’, ‘Public Property’ ‘A bu je bu danu’ and ‘Mallam Toks’ (we Yorubas rightly or wrongly believe that our Hausa brothers do not get unduly anxious about tomorrow, especially where personal needs are concerned). He would always assure me that I worried unnecessarily about the future when God was so merciful and would never allow either of us to suffer in our old age. In this regard Tokunbos’ trust in God was genuinely a hundred percent and I greatly admired him for it. He frequently gave out loads of his nice outfits and shoes. Some outfits were given out only after just one wear. I sometimes would even threaten to stop buying him things. But I knew that he wasn’t one to hold on to material things. In a further demonstration of his unusual attitude to material things Adetokunbo would often change into whatever he bought in a shop. The goodwill that he demonstrated towards others was legendary and uncommon. He always argued that no one should try to be a lone star. He would always want to know, for example, if each employee or friend already had a plot of land. If they did not, he had to find out why and would not let them rest until something positive was done. For those already with plots he would want to know how far they had gone with developing the plots. As some will testify, he will

arrange to visit the sites and provide encouragement with cash and prayers. And I have accompanied him on some of such visits. He was always concerned whenever he learned that people were sick, even those he did not have any relationship with. He would always ask that we contribute something to their medical care. He was also interested in the care of the elderly and always sought assurance from friends and colleagues that they did not neglect their aged parents. He often sent cash and other gifts to parents he had never met. And he did not forget the Old People’s Home either. Unknown to most people my husband also gave a lot to further the work of the Church. Many misunderstood his relationship with his God and felt he was not a serious being. Unlike many of us who paid our tithe in just one place, Tokunbo paid in four different places. I was personally responsible for delivering to three of them and he would also always want to confirm from me each month that he had already given me the money. He did not rob God but rather gave more than the mandatory ten percent. And he was ever so willing to assist with church projects, be they physical or evangelical. These things Adetokunbo never considered as issues for discussion with any socalled friends or for broadcast. On his relationship with God, we held weekly prayers with our Pastor friends. Once when all of them had traveled I thought we would not have the usual session. But my husband surprised even me by insisting that we carry on as usual and he personally took charge. May God forgive me for not at first taking him seriously on that day early last year. One of the great lessons that I have learnt from my journey with him is that it is only a fool or mischief maker that will claim to know the desires of another individual’s heart, especially where you do not share a home. For a true believer that is a prerogative of God and we have no business attempting to highjack abilities that rightfully belong to our heavenly father alone. Adetokunbo was incredibly tolerant, bore no malice and was extremely down to earth. These were some of his strengths but some mistook them for weaknesses. Whenever, I asked why he was allowing himself to be used by seasoned con artists, he would simply reply that if it made these people happy to believe that they were smarter than him or if their deceit helped them to maintain their sanity or reap mere financial rewards why rock their boats and have a greater problem on our hands? He was a great advocate of PEACE. He already wanted to know where in Lagos I wanted us to settle at the end of his tenure and we had already reached a decision. Very often he expressed the wish that we grow old together like many of the elderly couples that we saw around us. He loved the way they assisted each other and the obvious understanding between them. Each night he lovingly checked that I was properly tucked in and not exposed to the cold in our room.

May my beautiful one’s beautiful soul find repose with his maker. —Olufunmilayo

54 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, MAY 11, 2013

World University Games: NUGA AFN, athletes settle Golden League rift groans over lack of funds BY EDDIE AKALONU

OP officials of the Nigeria University Games Association, NUGA, are having sleepless nights over their inability to meet the budgeted funds for the country’s participation in the 27th World University Games scheduled to take place in the Russian city of Kazan, July 6 to 17. A top official of NUGA who pleaded anonymity, told Saturday Vanguard sports that lack of funds was the reason the body was yet to make public it’s intentions on sports and their events for participation . “We are still scouting for funds,” said the official in Lagos shortly after the South West zonal qualifiers held at the University of Lagos re-

cently. Sports competed for were in judo, athletics, swimming, chess basketball, badminton, taekwondo, and tennis . It was also revealed that both cricket and hockey will be played out directly in the games proper. NUGA may also have been holding back a decision hoping to use the Games proper which holds at the University of Ibadan in June as official platform to decide the sports that would be entered for the Kazan Games, the official hinted to Vanguard. “When qualifiers have been concluded in the zones, we will look forward to the Games proper coming up in June and then we shall be in a position to decide on the sports to enter for the

Games. Our position again would depend on funds. This is where we are calling on Nigerians for help so we would be able to participate in the Games,” he added. The Summer Universiade, organised by the World University Games, FISU consists of 10 compulsory sports with 13 compulsory disciplines and up to three optional sports chosen by the host country. “We decided to hold the qualifiers in order to be ready because the association feels our sweat and those of the athletes who have been training within campuses should not be wasted in the event that some assistance comes from philanthropists, corporate bodies and government before Games time in July,” he said.

CFN boss wants Abuja Velodrome concessioned

RESIDENT of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, CFN, Alhaji Mohhamed Nur Sheriff has urged the National Sports Commission, NSC to concession the Cycling Velodrome at the Abuja National Stadium so that it could be properly utilised. The CFN president also frowned at the non release of the Velodrome at the Abuja National Stadium for use by the federation for competitions, stressing that the velodrome which was built in 2003 for the All Africa Games has not been put to use for competitions since it was built by the sports ministry as he frowned at its use for non sports events. “It is very sad that we cannot use the Velodrome for our competitions but instead it is being rented out for other activities without my knowledge,” he said. He stressed that the 3,600 seat capacity Velodrome if properly utilised could generate revenue as well as employ a number of Nigerians. Meanwhile, Alhaji Sheriff disclosed that the third edition of the ECOWAS Cycling tour is scheduled to hold in November this year, adding that it will commence in Lagos, Nigeria and terminate in Senegal. He said that they are already talking to some corporate organisations like the Dangote Group,

•Akaegbu, one of the top female cyclists in Nigeria who is going to benefit from the use of the Velodrome. Cowbell and Globacom for sponsorship. The com-

petition has been held twice in 2009 and 2011.

…. As Cycling Federation nominates Delta for national championship BY OSARETIN EMUZE

ELTA State has been nominated by the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, CFN, to host the first National cycling Championship billed to hold in Delta state in September this year. The Technical Director of CFN, Mohammed Bashiru told Saturday Vanguard sports that the board of the federation has picked Delta state to host the six-day male and female tournament billed for September. “After long deliberation by the federation, we came to the conclusion that Del-

ta State should be given the hosting right for the very first edition. Delta, as you know, has been one of the best in terms of performance in the country. The championship will follow the UCI Pattern as all the events approved by the UCI will be competed for in the tourney that will span over six days,” he said. Bashiru stressed that the cyclists will compete in road race, individual time trial, team time trial and the team pursuit, adding, “We have sent letters to the chairman of the Delta state sports council intimating him about the tournament.”

ARRING unfore seen circumstances, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN Golden League will resume today in Ilorin, Kwara State. The second leg of the Golden League sponsored by Solid Works Limited was truncated in Benin City on April 27 by athletes who protested the ‘high’ standards set for them to achieve before they could be entitled to financial rewards. “We have received apologies from the athletes. And they have re-applied

through their clubs as was directed by the AFN. So hopefully we should have the Golden League resuming in Ilorin on Saturday (today),” said AFN technical director, Navy Commodore Omatsheye Nesiama. He added that the athletes have pledged to be of good conduct adding that: “There is no way we are reducing the standards. Those who cannot measure up would have to dropout. People have come to realise that the standards are even too low.”

Commenting on the issue, coordinator of the Cross River grassroots athletics development programme, Dr. Bruce Ijirigho stated that it was very important that the AFN resumes the Golden League as it was crucial to development of athletics in the country. “It was a pity what happened in Benin. We sent a full team and spent a lot of money to get them there only for them not to compete. I hope that they will sort things out for the good of the sport.”

Cross River ‘ll produce more young athletes, says coach

ROSS River grass roots athletics development coach, Earnest Tshe lamented that the Athletics Federation of Nigeria denied products of the the programme the opportunity to test their prowess at the African Youth Athletics Championships in Warri, Delta. Only five athletes from Cross Rivers made the Nigerian team to AYAC. Two of those athletes, Offonime Odiong Edidiong and Fabian ImeEdoki won gold for Nigeria, in the girls 400m and boys triple jump respectively. But coach Tshe argued that there were some others that were left behind and most importantly, they

•Sadjo were under the age category.

“We weren’t happy that only a few of our athletes made the team to the AYAC. It was surprinsing that after they were selected at the schools sports festival in port harcourt. We were informed that there would be another trial. “We have athletes who could have won the Championships all the same. But we are not deterred, we will continue to work and produce more junior athletes,” said Tshe. These athletes were discovered at the Cross River athletics school championships. The 2013 edition has already commenced with meets at the local level.

Bolt struggles as Gay rises

SAIN Bolt began his season in sluggish form, failing to break the 10-second barrier as he won the 100 metres at the Cayman Invitational after a photo finish. The Olympic 100m and 200m champion pulled out of last week’s Jamaican International Invitational meeting after suffering a Grade One tear in his left hamstring and ran just 10.09secs on Wednesday night to edge ahead of Jamaican 4 x 100-metre relay teammate Kemar Bailey-Cole, 21. Bolt, 26, had targeted matching American Tyson Gay’s 9.86-second run in Kingston last Saturday but started slowly and had

to rely on an injection of speed in the last 40 metres to pip Bailey-Cole to the line. It is the first time Bolt has failed to break 10 seconds in his season-opening race since 2007, when he ran 10.03secs at the Vardinoyiannia meeting in Rethymno, Crete, in his first serious outing over the shorter sprint distance. The Jamaican said: ‘It wasn’t the best start for the season. I didn’t feel as great as I felt in training. It was just a bad race. Got to go back to the drawing board and work on a few things and just get it right the next time.’ Gay started slowly but raced past Jamaican Nes-

ta Carter, who finished second in a time just over 10 seconds. “I’m getting back to full fitness, but I am being very patient with it,” said Gay, who has struggled to keep pace with Jamaica’s Usain Bolt in recent years having suffered from injuries. “I am feeling good, the best I have been in a long while, and I am looking forward to Moscow and will give it all I’ve got.” The World Championships are held in Moscow in August. Gay, 30, won the 100 and 200 at the 2007 Worlds in Osaka and ran the second-fastest 100 of all time - just 9.69s behind world record holder Bolt.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, MAY 11, 2013 — 55

Mark, Abdullahi mourn Jossy Lad BY HENRY UMORU

Amodu’ll enhance Keshi’s job — Ukeachu BY EDDIE AKALONU

OACH Tony Ukeachu has welcomed the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF in naming Shaibu Amodu as it’s national Technical Director. Speaking to our correspondent on telephone, Ukeachu said, “Amodu’s appointment is a welcome development. To me he meets all the credentials to handle the job as an experienced coach. His record at club and national team duty puts him far above others seen to have shown interest for the office ,” he said. “I am highly delighted at the news of Amodu’s appointment because he is one well known in the country. He is vast in the art and act of football coaching and

•Amodu knowledgeable in aspects of management which the new office demands. I believe he will endear cooperation towards development of

the game in concert with his fellow coaches,” Ukeachu said. The former Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Enyimba and Udoji United handler said “this is about the most heart-thumping decision ever to be be taken by NFF in recent time,” adding, “I see Amodu as one that would be there to enhance the jobs of Stephen Keshi and other national team handlers, but also one that would engineer change. I know he and Keshi previously worked together in the past, handling the national team and produced adorable results. I have no doubt in my mind that both men would work getting the job done and I think they can forge a wonderful partnership in the NFF.”

ENATE President, David Mark has said that the late former Falcons’ coach, Joseph Ladipo otherwise called ‘Jossy Lad’ left behind a positive legacy and a footprint in the sands of time. In a condolence message to the government and people of Oyo state over his death, Senator Mark described late Ladipo as a patriotic Nigerian who brought the country to the limelight through the exploits of the Falcons. In a message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, Senate President Mark said, “ Jossy Lad exhibited high sense of discipline and upheld high moral standard both as a player and a coach,” attributes he added made him excel in his various assignments. ”Jossy Lad’s death has created a vacuum especially in soccer administration in Nigeria. We have lost a patriot and a forthright administrator. We cannot forget in a hurry his successes as the Falcons’ handler”, Senator Mark lamented. Also yesterday, Sports Minister and Chairman of

the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bolaji Abdullahi described as ‘shocking’ the news of the death of Jossy Lad. The Minister lamented that the death of the late coach coming at a time such as this in sporting development of Nigeria was indeed “a big loss” not only to his immediate family or Oyo State, but the whole country at large, especially the football family. It will be recalled that during a visit to the coach Jossy Lad at the University College Hospital in Ibadan recently, Abdulla-

hi presented him with the sum of Five Hundred Thousand naira (N500,000.00) only to assist in offsetting his bills and directed the zonal coordinator of the NSC in Ibadan to update him on his progress. “The Minister extends the condolences of the NSC to the government and people of Oyo State and also prays that the Almighty will give the family of late Coach Jossy Lad the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and grant his soul eternal repose,” a statement from the NSC said.

NYSA congratulates Flying Eagles/Golden Eaglets

HE management of the Nigeria Youth Soccer Academy (NYSA) has congratulated the Flying Eagles and the Golden Eaglets for their qualification for the FIFA Under-20 and Under-17 World Cups respectively. Speaking on behalf of the management in Calabar, the Director of the Academy, Navy Captain E.O. Nmoyem particularly commended Abduljalil Ajagun of the Flying Eagles and Akinjide Idowu Elijah of the Golden Ea-

glets, both products of the Academy for their immense contributions towards the qualifications of both teams for the FIFA Championships. Navy Captain Nmoyem further praised the vision and initiative of the Cross River State Government, the Nigerian Navy and the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) for their partnership in establishing the Nigeria Youth Soccer Academy in Calabar.

SATURDAY Vanguard, MAY 11, 2013

Okagbare threatens Ajunwa’s African long jump record BY BEN EFE

IGERIA’S sprint sen sation, Blessing Okagbare yesterday at the first in the series of the

IAAF Diamond League meet in Doha, Qatar jumped a wind assisted 7.14m to threaten Chioma Ajunwa’s 7.12m that was achieved at the Atlanta

League: Nigeria’s football structure terrible — Onigbinde

•Wants truce between club owners and LMC W

ITH chairmen of football clubs having a running battle with the League Management Company, LMC, former Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Adegboye Onigbinde, has said that the only way football could thrive unhindered in the country was through a viable administrative structure. Onigbinde told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos during the week that the ongoing rancour between the League Management Company (LMC) and club owners was needless. The veteran coach urged the contending parties to sheathe their swords and close ranks for the long overdue improvement of the country’s domestic football league. Onigbinde, who is also a CAF and FIFA instructor, attributed the early exit of the country’s clubs from CAF competitions as a symptom of the problems afflicting domestic football. It could be recalled that Heartland FC of Owerri, Lobi FC of Makurdi and Kano Pillars FC of Kano, were all sent packing from the preliminary round of the competition. The only club left in any CAF competition is Rangers International FC that dropped to the CAF Confederation Cup from the

SQUEEZE... Super Eagles attacker Victor Moses avoiding a Kenyan tackle in the first leg match in Calabar. CAF Champions League. Rangers International got trounced 3-1 by CRD Libolo FC of Angola in Luanda, after battling to a goal less draw in the first leg in Enugu. The defeat effectively consigned the 1977 winners of the then African Cup Winners Cup competition to the lower rungs of continental competitions. “Everybody will now heap the blame on the

Today’s matches Premiership Aston Villa v Chelsea

12.45 pm

Spain Athletic Bilbao v Mallorca 3.00pm Real Valladolid v Deportivo 5.00pm Espanyol v Real Madrid 9.00pm Germany Bayern v FC Augsburg 2.30pm Fortuna v Nurnberg 2.30pm Mainz v Monchengladbach 2.30pm Schalke 04 v VfB Stuttgart 2.30pm Hoffenheim v Hamburg SV 2.30pm VfL Wolfsburg v Dortmund 2.30pm Werder Bremen v Frankfurt 2.30pm FA Cup final Man City v Wigan

5.15 pm

club, but it goes beyond the players and it is not just about kicking the ball on the field. We keep saying the same thing over and over, but nothing is being done. I am beginning to sound like a broken record,” he said. Onigbinde urged the authorities to be steadfast in its bid to repackage the NPFL for a better and

more conducive atmosphere for players and the clubs. “There shouldn’t be any rancour between the LMC and the club owners, they need to comport themselves in a manner in which more sponsors will be willing to do business with them. We do our things upside down . There is no cause for the

rancour, the administrative set up is terrible. A house divided against itself is not a marketable brand. If we get our administrative structure right, there will be development at all levels, including our clubs. It is bad that clubs now fight for players and these are shameful developments,” the former Eagles Coach added.

1996 Olympics Games. Doha, where former Olusoji Fasuba set the African 100m record a 9.95 seconds in 2006, proved to be a rediscovery ground for Okagbare after the disappointment of the London 2012 Olympics. She made the mark at the second attempt and followed up with another 7.03m to confirm that she now belongs to the club of 7.00m women jumpers. This is the first time she is breaking the 7.00m barrier, even as she was aided by the wind. The wind measured +2.2 when Okagbare took her jump and that made it illegal. Her best jump had been 6.88m that won her the bronze at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. However, at Doha Okagbare, who is the world leader in the 200m with 22.31 seconds, placed second behind London 2012 gold medalist, Brittney Resse of the USA who made 7.25m after two attempts. Janay Eloach also of the USA was third with 7.08m. “It is really brilliant... it is good to see Okgbare back to top form again. This is a sign that she can win a medal at the world championships. This is a challenge to all the male jumpers,” said Yusuf Alli, former Africa long jump champion and long standing national record holder a 8.27m since 1987.

•Okagbare

CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1 Former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga – (7) 5 Italian Capital City – (4) 7 National President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter – (5) 8 Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor, Tunde – (4) 10 Super Falcons Goalkeeper, Precious – (4) 12 L.G.A in Osun State – (3) 14 Plateau State Capital – (3) 16 State in Nigeria Known as the “Sunshine State”? – (4) 17 Golf Peg – (3) 18 Seventh Month of the Year – (4) 19 L.G.A in Rivers State – (3) 21 Minister of Water Resources, Sarah – (7) 24 Feline Mammal – (3) 26 Period of Seven Days – (4) 27 Common Name for Garri”? – (3) 28 Greek Goddess – (4) 30 Large Vehicle – (3) 32 Number – (3) 34 L.G.A in Edo State – (4) 35 Minister of Labour &

Productivity, Mr. Chukwuemeka – (4) Down 1 Minister of Culture & Tourism, Chief Edem – (4) 2 Africa’s Longest River – (4) 3 Zodiac Sign – (3) 4 L.G.A in Ogun State – (4) 5 Colour – (3) 6 Ebonyi State Governor, Martin – (6) 9 Telecommunications Outfit in Nigeria – (3) 11 L.G.A in Akwa-Ibom State – (4) 13 L.G.A in Katsina State – (5) 15 Cease – (4) 16 State in Nigeria – (3) 20 Tantalizers Plc Boss, Folu – (5) 22 Crustacean – (4) 24 Russian Currency Unit – (7) 25 Hebrew Alphabet – (4) 31 N.F.F Vice President, Chief Mike – (4) 32 Japanese Wrestler – (4) 33 Barcelona Midfielder, Hernandez – (4) 35 CBN Director of Currency Operations, Muhammad – (3)

SOLUTION on page 42

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