AGAGU: Plane vrash due to engine failure, human error- AIPB

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2 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013 — 3

4 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Anambra 2013: Ukachukwu remains PDP candidate as Appeal Court stays proceedings

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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FEDERAL Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt has suspended hearing two related matters by the Peoples Democratic Party and Tony Nwoye seeking to upturn the candidacy of Nicholas Ukachukwu under the PDP for next month’s Anambra State Governorship election.

The court took the decision to allow the Supreme Court to hear an appeal by the respondent (Ukachukwu) demanding the Appeal Court panel to disqualify itself from hearing the case on ground that it had received bribe from a party in the case.

Prince Nwafor Orizu, Counsel to Ukachukwu had asked the court to grant a Stay of Proceedings to enable the Supreme Court hear his appeal against the Appeal Court’s dismissal of his motion for the Appeal Court’s panel disqualifica-

tion of itself from hearing the substantive appeals.

He argued that Order 8 Rule 10 of the Supreme Court forbids the Appeal Court from further hearing on any aspect of the matter until determination of the Supreme Court’s appeal.

Prof. A.I. Chukwuemerie and other appellants counsels had countered that the application was misplaced and aimed to stop delivery of a set judgement by the Appeal Court which has concluded address on the matter, adding that the respondents were working on delaying the case to their favour in view of the coming elections.

The Appeal Court presided over by Justice Ejimbi Eko consequently ruled to wait till determination of the Supreme Court’s appeal before considering the set judgement on the matter before it.

Justice Eko said, “We cannot close our eyes to the appeal filed at the Supreme Court”, adding that they will have to wait till its determination before deciding on progress at the Appeal Court.

The court however dismissed a related application for stay of execution by one Chief Obuigbo whose earlier application to be joined in the matter had been refused by the court.

Governor Peter Obi (3rd left) handing over a cheque of N50m for ongoing MDG projects at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala to Bishop Hilary Okeke(2nd right), shortly after the Assistant to the President, Dr. Precious Gbeneol( 3rd right), flagged off many projects completed under MDG Office/State Government at the Hospital.

Boko Haram: Widows intercede for Nigerian security

BY SUCCESS UZOKWE, widows from different parts of the country as they came Abuja together to pray for NigeriT a time when the ac an security to mark the Intivities of the Boko ternational World Widow’s Haram sect is causing ill Day. feelings amongst the citiThe event tagged ‘Widzenry particularly women, ows pray for Nigeria’, was

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organised by Rock of Ages Empowerment Foundation, RAEF, a non- governmental organisation, NGO, catering for the need of widows.

The widows, numbering over 1500, told newsmen through their representative, the Chief Executive Officer, RAEF, Mr. Newman Ezeigbo that anytime widows pray and cry out heaven opens, so God will definitely interfere in the affairs

of Nigeria for peace.

Ezeigbo said: “We are praying that one day Nigeria will get better and those who think Nigeria will disintegrate will be disappointed. We also pray that this country will give women chance, for instance, Liberian president today is a widow we hope that one day a woman will emerge as Nigerian president.

“My message to other widows that are not here

today is that they should not lose hope, God is there for them, it may not be rosy now but I believe one thing, God who made their husbands to go knows they can take care of the family.

“A widow can carry on the vision of the family, because one of the richest women today in the world is a widow and if she could get to the level she is today, others can as well do.”

Intel, UN partner KIND for ‘She Will Connect Campaign’ on The Girl Child

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AGOS – Intel Corpora tion today unveiled the ‘She Will Connect Campaign,’ a new program designed to expand digital literacy skills among young women in developing countries. The novel campaign was flagged off with an exclusive screening of the Intel ‘Girl Rising’ movie at the Silverbird Galleria Cinema. The initiative seeks to reach 5 million women and reduce the gender gap by 50 percent.

The event, hosted by The United Nations and the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) brought together young girls from schools all over Lagos State in celebration of the International Day of The Girl Child.

The event enjoyed the support of several NGO’s and other organizations namely: Zonta International Clubs in Nigeria, Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, Nigerians Report Online and the United Nations Information Centre, among others.

Speaking at the event, the

Country Manager, Intel rich their lives as well as all West Africa, Mr. Olubunmi the lives they touch,” he Ekundare restated Intel’s added. commitment to bring about positive change for the Af- Peter Obe’s rican Girl Child, and funeral stressed the importance of educating the girl child.

“Here at Intel, we believe, and I’m sure we all agree, that smart girls are the equivalent of a smart world.

What we seek to do, more than encouraging you all to do your best in school and seize the opportunity, is to build a world where youth are inspired to be advocates lLate Peter Obe Activities marking the for change,” he said. funeral of the ace photogEkundare further stated rapher Peter Oyeyemi Obe that technology plays an who died recently in Lagos important role in empow- has been planned. Accordering the girl child through ing to the release by the education. “The Internet family, the funeral starts has transformed the lives of from on Monday, October billions of people. It func- 21 with service of songs at tions as a gateway to ideas, Calabar Hall, Ajao Road, resources and opportunities Surulere, Lagos and conthat never could have been tinues on Thursday, Octorealized before. But our re- ber 24, with a Christian search shows that girls and Wake-keeping at Obe’s women are being left be- Compound, Igbara Oke, hind. We believe that clos- Ondo State. The funeral ing the Internet gender gap service will hold at St. Paul has tremendous potential to Anglican Church, Igbara empower women and en- Oke.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013 — 5

INEC Verdict: Tukur holds out olive branch to G7 Govs, Baraje

elected at the election duly monitored by the commission.

“Please be guided, INEC said in the letter addressed to Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Oyi River Crescent , Off IBB Boulevard, Maitama Abuja.”

•Begs that they put all issues behind them

BY HENRY UMORU, Abuja

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ATIONAL Chair man of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has held out an olive branch to the seven aggrieved governors and members of the Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje led new PDP, just as he pleaded that they put all burning issues behind them.

In a statement signed yesterday by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP urged all aggrieved members who broke away to form a new PDP during the last Special Convention to as matter of urgency drop personal interest and join Tukur to achieve the set goals of having a virile and strong PDP. Metuh said, “Following the upholding of the leadership of the PDP under the National Chairmanship of Alhaji (Dr.) Bamanga Tukur by INEC, the party has extended an olive branch to the Abubakar Baraje-led breakaway group urging them to return to the fold.”

The PDP spokesperson who noted the position of INEC has laid to rest all contentions regarding the leadership of the party, said, “The position of INEC in affirming the leadership of the PDP under the National Chairmanship of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and rejecting the demand for recognition by our aggrieved brothers has indeed laid to rest all contentions regarding the authentic leadership of our great party.

“However, we wish to state categorically that this is not a time for us to gloat or preen ourselves over victory. We must use this window of opportunity to engender true reconciliations, put all the issues behind us and move ahead as one big united family that we are.

“In this light, we call on all our aggrieved brothers to relegate all personal interests and return to the fold so that we can ward off all external aggressions and forge a common formidable political front. We wish to assure that the

PDP as the only true national party is large enough to accommodate all interests and persons as we remain loyal to the provisions of our constitution as a party.

“We must at this time close ranks and rally around President Goodluck Jonathan and our leaders at all levels so that collectively, we will ensure that our great party delivered on its mandate and promises as enshrined in the PDP manifesto, the ideals of our founding fathers and the Transformation Agenda of the PDPled government for the overall good of our people.

“The challenges of the last few months, rather than detract, have proven that the PDP remains the pre-eminent party that will continue to win elections at all levels in the country.”

The statement urged all party leaders, elders and indeed all members of the PDP across the board to continue to support President Goodluck Jonathan and his Transformation Agenda.

It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission,

•No cause for alarm over Lagos court ruling — new PDP

Launch of U-Mall 1 : R-L: Managing Director, Net Plus Advisory, Wole Faroun; Visa Representative in Nigeria, Holly Jones; Project Manager, U-Mall, UBA Plc, Jolade Adeoye, and Divisional Head, eBanking, UBA Plc, during the formal launch of U-Mall, a new e-commerce platform to support SMEs, in Lagos on Thursday .

INEC through its Acting Secretary, U.F Usman in a letter to the Baraje led PDP rejected the group, insisting that Bamanga Tukur’s National Working Committee, NWC was the authentic one.

Also in the Baraje group are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, aggrieved Governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara, Aliyu Babangida of Niger, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto state, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers; Musa Rabiu

Kwankwaso of Kano; and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa The INEC’s letter to Baraje’s faction with the title “ Notification of Change in the change of leadership of PDP and request for formal recognition”, read , “The Commission acknowledges the receipt of your letter dated September 1 and 23 2013 respectively wherein you requested the commission’s recognition of the Abubakar Baraje faction of the newly elected National Working Committee.

“You will recall the commission monitored the national convention and the special national convention of the PDP held on March 12, 2012 and August 31, 2013 respectively which took place at the Eagle Square Abuja, after notices to the commission.

A National Working Committee was elected at the two conventions wherein Alhaji Bamanga Tukur emerged as the national chairman.

“The commission will not withdraw recognition from the leadership of the PDP

Meantime, the Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Barajeled faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has noted the ruling by a Lagos High Court, presided over by Justice Oludotun AdefopeOkojie, who on October 10, 2013, threw out the suit instituted against what it describes as “the illegal party regime of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and his National Working Committee (NWC)”.

The faction in a statement by its factional Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze assured their teeming members and Nigerians in general that “there is no cause to worry”.

The faction noted that the ruling has nothing to do with the merit of the case but the place of filing, adding that it shall hasten to re-file the suit, in Abuja, given what it describes as “the merit of our case”.

Court slates Monday for hearing on suit seeking to void PDP PDP, others listed as Chairman, PDP Special lating to the said products combined construction convention asAside and interpretation reliefs respondents in the suit

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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HE Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, fixed Monday to commence hearing on a suit seeking to nullify the special convention that was held by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja on August 31.

In a hearing notice he issued yesterday, Justice Adamu Bello, ordered all the respondents to appear in court on that date to enter their defence to the suit which was filed by a company, Bedding Holdings Limited, BHL. The company is accusing the party of making illegal use of its patented ballot boxes for the election that brought the Alhaji Bamangar Tukur led national executives of the PDP into office.

include President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David Mark, House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal and Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Anthony Anenih.

Others are the National Chairman of the party, Tukur, Professor Jerry Gana (who acted as the Chairman, PDP special convention committee), and Senator Ken Nnamani (who was the Chairman, PDP’s electoral committee).

Equally named as respondents in the suit were Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (who acted as Chairman, PDP Essential Electoral Materials Committee), Chairman Police Service Commission, Mr Mike Okiro (who served

National Convention SubCommittee on Security), the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and its Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega.

It is the contention of the company that by virtue of a subsisting judgment of the court which had declared it as the sole patentee of transparent and collapsible ballot boxes in Nigeria, the use of such boxes by the party without its consent, rendered the purpose for which the boxes were used null and void.

The high court had in the said judgement which was delivered on June 5, 2012, in a suit marked: FHC/ ABJ/CS/82/2011 between BHL, Registrar of Patents, Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry and six others, ordered that, “Any action or actions whatsoever and howsoever taken or purported to have been taken by the defendants re-

without the prior and express license, consent, authority and/or approval of the plaintiff is unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful and is therefore null and void.”

The court had equally restrained the Registrar of Patents and its agents from registering or issuing the plaintiff ’s valid and subsisting patent over the ballot boxes to any person or organistion, except with the consent of BHL. Consequently, the plaintiff, in the instant suit, told the court that INEC which it said was a party in the suit that culminated to the judgment, despite being aware of the court’s orders, deployed the same ballot boxes for use at the PDP convention without its consent, thus acting in defiance to a valid court order.

The plaintiff is therefore urging the court to determine whether, “by the

six and seven of the valid and subsisting judgment of June 5, 2012”, the respondents could use its patented ballot boxes or its imitation for the PDP special congress without its consent as well as to determine whether, if it answers the above question in the negative, the elections conducted in the congress are unconstitutional, unlawful and stand null and void, in view of the fact that the

respondents allegedly used its patented ballot boxes fraudulently without first seeking and obtaining its consent as required by the judgment?

Besides, the plaintiff, wants the court to declare that the respondents ought not to have used its ballot boxes for the PDP congress without its consent.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Uduaghan to DSS: Identify Kelvin’s gang members

BY EMMA AMAIZE, Warri

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ELTA State Gover nor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, told state Directors of Department of State Service, DSS, in the SouthSouth region, yesterday, that the remnants of the criminal gang of arrested Delta kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Oniarah, still need to be identified and uprooted from their strongholds.

The governor stated this at Government House Annex, Warri, when he played host to the DSS directors, who were in the state for a zonal conference on “Kidnapping and Violent Crimes-Socio-Economic Implications and Control Measures.”

The South-South DSS were led to the meeting by their chairman, Mrs. Florence Ikanome, who is the Director in Delta State.

His words: “I com-

mend the DSS for the eventual arrest of Kelvin, we know the efforts that were put in place, we also know it is doing something to get the remnants of Kelvin gang- that is the challenge.”

The governor, who is Ch a i r m a n o f the P r e s i d e n t i a l Committee on Crude Oil Theft also said government requires intelligence information from DSS on the identities of the barons behind oil theft, saying that most of those arrested so far were their errand boys.

He was happy with the theme of the conference and urged the South-South DSS directors to synergize with their counterparts in the South-East and South West on how to tackle kidnapping and other crimes since they have all become borderless.

According to him,

“there may be kidnapping in Delta state, the victim will be taken to Edo state and the negotiation for the release will be done in Rivers state. There is really no boundary in their operation, except there is information and synergy; it will be difficult to handle them.”

Earlier on, while receiving the Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sidi Usman, the governor said that kidnapping, oil theft and piracy have reduced in the state and commended the Navy for its role in the reduction.

Gridlock: WEMPCO Road expansion project ready in 18 months He said: “LAMATA and — LAMATA entire Wempco among whom were, the

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AGOS State Gov ernment has unveiled plans to upgrade the

Ifeanyi Ubah Foundation concludes free treatment exercise

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HOUSANDS of people benefitted from the Anambra free treatment exercise which ended last weekend. The event, which held for two days in the three senatorial zones of the state, was a collaborative effort of four organisations led by the Ifeanyi Ubah Foundation.

According to a release, “the focus of the programme was education and health screening; geared towards curing common chronic and communicable

diseases. Areas of health challenges tackled are epilepsy and physical therapy. Other cases included diabetes, hypertension and eye problems”.

Saturday Vanguard which monitored the programme said that patients were first examined on their areas of complaints after which they were counseled on how to primarily take care of themselves and engage in daily exercises.

Educating the patients at the physical therapy sec-

Igwe Eze Obosi to declare open Ofala celebration

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HE traditional ruler of Obosi Community Kingdom in Idemmili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe AC Iweka III, Eze Obosi, will, on 19 October, declare open this year’s Ofala celebration at the Afo Adike Stadium, Obosi.

According to the Igwein-Council, many activities have been lined up to make the celebration a success.

Meanwhile, the Obosi United Friends Clubs of Nigeria has declared to make the Ofala celebration a unique one. According to the President General of the

Club, Prince Obums Anene (Nwalie-Oku), the club rejoices with the traditional ruler of Obosi Kingdom, and the entire Obosi people on the Ofala celebration.

“Nigeria is the rallying point of Obosi people, both urban and inland, home and abroad, and as such is prepared to support any good that will take Obosi Kingdom to the next level of development be it cultural, social and political activities that will unite Obosi people together for peace and co-existence”, Anene said.

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (right); Ogun State Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, and Chief of Staff to Ondo State Governor, Dr Kola Ademujimi, during the Deputy Governor’s condolence visit to the Governor, in Akure, on Wednesday.

tion at the DCC Anglican Church ground in Nnewi, Dr. Larry Ozo said that ignorance has much to do with the rampant ailments of persons, especially the elderly ones. According to him, what later in life becomes waist pain starts gradually and steadily builds up until it becomes a full blown health challenge.

He demonstrated how both older and young people should pick anything from the ground or lift even heavy objects. “If you want to pick an item on the ground, for instance, you have to squat and then pick such item. The general way of bending to pick something from the ground, which affects the spine and the nerves, gradually leads to waist pain”, Dr. Ozo advised.

Speaking with Saturday Vanguard, the coordinator of the programme, John Obegolu, said the free treatment exercise, was sponsored by Ifeanyi Ubah Foundation, Rise Global Health Initiative, Rise Clinic Nigeria and Godwin and Patricia Okeke Foundation.

Obegolu lauded the Ifeanyi Ubah Foundation and the collaborators for funding the programme.

Road, off Lateef Jakande Road in Agidingbi axis into a dual carriage way to address traffic gridlock along the route. The road is expected to be ready in 18 months.

LAMATA’s Director of Roads, Mr. Funso Elulade, while addressing a stakeholders’ forum on the road at Ashton Gardens, yesterday, Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, said that when completed, the 1.8 km long road would take pressure off Agidingbi Road and reduce stress and travel time along that axis.Elulade, an engineer added that the road is being executed under the World Bank assisted prog r a m m e .

Leading other management staff of the agency

Technical Adviser Communications, Mrs Angela Olanrewaju, the Deputy Director Social Safeguards Prof. Olukayode Taiwo and Project Manager Engr.

Tajudeen Olanipekun, Elulade assured residents which include schools, hospitals, steel companies and companies along the route that there would be strict adherence to the time frame of 18 months.

Elulade said the road would be one of its kind not only in Lagos but in Nigeria when completed, as it would have a bicycle lane on both sides of the carriage way.

Other highlights of the road feature would include a pedestrian walkway, traffic signs and road markings, street lights and bus s t o p s .

indeed the Lagos State Government is adopting world best practices in the design and construction of this road one of which is to provide an access for cyclists to have a dedicated lane on both sides as well as a pedestrian walk way.

This is in a way promoting healthy living and I want to assure Lagosians that we would use the road to understudy the desirability of bicycle lanes as important feature of our future road upgrading and developments.”

He said the multi billion naira project would permanently resolve the issue of perennial flooding in the area, as surface drainages as well as underground drainage channel, road dualisation, road markings and street lights among others would be provided.

C’River Deputy Gov’s father kidnapped

BY EMMA UNA, Calabar

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TUBOM E k p o Cobham, the father of Mr Efiok Cobham, the Cross River State Deputy Governor was yesterday night snatched away by unknown gunmen from his home in Creek Town, Odukapani Local Government Area of Cross River State. Etubom Cobham who is 87 years old was taken by gunmen who invaded his Creek Town home at about 8 pm and took him away through a waiting boat to an unknown destination. When Saturday Vanguard visited the community which adjoins the Cross River

yesterday afternoon, the people were in a state of mourning as everyone was fearing for the man’s life.

“We are highly upset with what has happened, tell me what these people want with an 87-year old man who is quietly living his life”, Elder Bassey Etim, a member of the community told Saturday Vanguard Sources at the community said the gunmen who came in through the Cross River left their speed boat in the water and came ashore and ferreted the man into their waiting boat and sped away. “Nobody was killed but they attempted to kidnap another person in the

other house near Etuboms place but they were not successful as we all escaped into the forest when we saw what was happening in Etubom’s house”.

The kidnappers are yet to make any demands, perhaps waiting for the impact of their action to spread around Calabar which is already preparing for the 2013 Obudu International Mountain Race.

At the time of going to press, the Cross River State government was yet to make any pronouncement as Effiong Okon, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor feigned ignorance of the kidnap.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013 — 7

Solomon Lar lived in a rented house — Aide • As Tukur, NWC members visit his Abuja home, PDP Governors Forum mourn • Tukur, Mantu, Ahmadu Ali, Balat, others sign condolence register • Lar’s Abuja residence under renovation as Arthur Eze agrees to pay for the house • The peace and unity of Nigeria was my father’s concern – Daughter

BY HENRY UMORU, Abuja

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ATIONAL Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and other members of the National Working Committee, NWC were yesterday told that the Bobo Street, off Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja was a rented apartment where the late pioneer Chairman of PDP, Chief Solomon Lar lived until his death.

Receiving Tukur yesterday at the Number 13 Bobo Street, off Gana street, Abuja during a condolence visit to the family house of the late politician, his Special Assistant, Ambassador Danladi Wuyep who disclosed that Lar was a detribalised personality and politician who always preached peace, unity and Godliness, said that he shared whatever he had to people around and was not into accumulating property which explained why he lived in a rented house as National Chairman of PDP and even after such a position, adding that he used his Certificate of Occupancies as collateral to collect money from banks, solve peoples problems and then pay later.

“This house is a rented

house because his money was for everybody. Sometimes he will use his land papers as collateral to collect money from the banks and share to the downtrodden; we will come to him as our father,” Wuyep told Tukur.

With Tukur were the PDP Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus ; National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha; National Auditor, Adewale Adeyanju; National Legal Adviser, Victor Kwon; Political Adviser to Tukur, Senator Abubakar Gada.

According to Wuyep, the late Lar even on his sick bed, was worried about the current crisis rocking the PDP and had always prayed that enduring peace and unity be enthroned in the party and a that if he were around, the crisis in the PDP which he termed nonsense would not have happened. He prayed that his death would bring lasting peace to the PDP and Nigeria in general, even as he urged the PDP leadership to embrace peace as a mark of honour for the late Elder statesman.

Meanwhile, a PDP stalwart, Chief Arthur Eze who was touched by the revelation of Chief Lar’s family,

immediately accepted to pay for the house, just as he said that Chief Lar made him what he is today, changed him from a poor man to his present status, adding that it was bad that the politician lived in a rented house in Abuja.

Also speaking after Wuyep had earlier received Tukur and other members of NWC, daughter of late Chief Solomon Lar and member, federal House of Representatives, Beni Lar who disclosed that the peace and unity of Nigeria was of great concern to her father until his death, maintained that her father was a great father and a politician with great repute who had great ideology, adding, “Daddy’s concern is that Nigerians live in unity and peace. Though we all grief today, we pray God to raise many more leaders that will have the kind of philosophy he had for Nigeria.”

Earlier, the PDP National Chairman in a letter to Professor Mary Lar, wife of the late politician and titled, “PASSAGE OF SOLOMON D. LAR. The End of An Era “, read : “It is with shock that I received the shattering news of the passage of one of Nigeria’s greatest nationalists Chief

The Plateau State Government opened a condolence register at the Government Lodge , Jitse, Jos in honour of the First Civilian Governor of the State ,Chief Solomon Lar who died on Wednesday. Governor Jonah Jang here signs the register.

Dr Solomon Lar. Chief Solomon Lar has been a close friend and an associate, to me politically for a long time . He was open minded, fearless, dogged and a resolute fighter for the right of the oppressed and the less privileged.

“A great family man and disciplinarian. Lar was a dependable husband to his spouse and a loving father who cherished his children.He did not spare anything in giving his children the best training and education.

“It is worthy to note also that Chief Lar was one of those who challenged certain policies of the military regime at that time despite the dangers to their lives and property which such divergent views posed.

“Chief Lar stood to be counted among other nationalists and brave statesmen who refused to keep quiet while the nation was getting close to the preci-

EFCC arrests fake Police Commissioner

BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

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BUJA: Attempt by a middle-aged man to present himself as a senior police commissioner and curry favour from unsuspecting government agencies in the Federal Capital Territory, has backfired, exposing him as fake Assistant Police Commissioner.

Convinced that Kunle Adeshola, who also goes by the names of Dr. Kunle Shoal, Dr K. Adeshola and Sunday Mealayeshe Adekunle was not sincere in his exploits, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, im-

mediately arrested and detained him in their custody.

A statement from the commission made available to Vanguard yesterday, described the suspect as a serial impostor and self-acclaimed Assistant Commissioner of Police who has been parading himself as an operative of the EFCC and defrauding officials of government agencies under the guise of conducting phantom investigations.

The statement, which was signed by EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said Adeshola was nabbed on Thursday October 10,

2013 while trying to hoodwink the head of an unnamed federal government agency to write a letter supposedly to the Inspector General of Police to transfer him to the EFCC. According to the agency, the unsuspecting CEO wrote the pleading with the IG to second the fraudster to his agency with a view to sanitising the place.

It was however leant that the suspects pocketed the letter and made the CEO to believe that the IG had sanctioned his deployment to the agency and was about to resume work there.

However, EFCC agents arrested the suspect before

he could “resume duties” at the agency.

At the time of his arrest two fake identity cards were found on him, one of the cards bearing the name Dr. K Adeshola (ACP) identifies him as a staff of a nonexistent EFCC Monitoring Unit while the other is a police ID card with number: APF NO. 02576 with the name, Dr. Kunle Adeshola Search in his apartment in Lugbe, a suburb of Abuja yielded a number of documents suspected to be fake. They included copies of NYSC Exemption Certificates and blank copies of University of Jos certificate.

pice. It was his group which midwifed the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Lar was one of the founding fathers of PDP and our pioneer Chairman.

“He also led the PDP to electoral victories in 1999.

In a sense, Chief Lar laid the foundation for the strong resilient and vibrant political party which the PDP is today.

“The nation is indeed bereaved by the sad loss of Chief Lar at this point in our political and democratic development.

“On behalf of my family and the Peoples Democratic Party, I send you my heartfelt condolence on this national loss.May God give you, his immediate family the fortitude to bear this loss.”

Also signing the condolence register at his Bobo Street residence, Tukur said, “`the nation has lost a great leader and an emancipator of the trodden masses.

He was an icon in political firmament. May his good soul rest in peace.”

Also mourning Chief Lar, governors elected on the platform of PDP under the aegis, PDP governors’ Forum described him as a true patriot.

A statement by the forum’s Chairman and governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio who sent his condolences to the people of Plateau state on the passing of Chief Solomon Lar, said “the late Solomon Lar was a true patriot who fought for the enshrinement of a democratic culture in Nigeria.”

He noted that Chief Lar’s work as the first national Chairman of the Peoples

Democratic Party PDP was instrumental to the success of the party, just as he also sympathized with the family of the late statesman and prayed that God will comfort them as they mourn.

Also in his words on the register, former Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, said, “death has snatched the political class of the greatest leader of our time. Chief Solomon was a committed democrat; a politicians’ politician, an exemplary leader and above all, a practising Christian. He lived for the people and died for the people.’’

Also mourning Lar, former PDP National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali described the late politician as a quintessential statesman, a politician and bridge builder who gave more than half of his life time to the service of his country and the people which spanned across all the Republics, adding, “I must confess that I feel a sense of personal loss on the death of this political strategist and mass mobilizer in whose depth of experience I tapped from in running our dear party, PDP for three years.”

Also a Presidential adviser, Chief Isaiah Balat in the condolence register wrote that, “ our leader is gone, this is an end of an era. Baba Lar did well for Nigeria, he showed leadership when the country needed him. He is the architect of the democracy we are enjoying today. He accomplished dreams of J.S. Tarka in the Middle Belt, his umbrella was large to cover all of us in the country.”

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Associated plane crash was due to human error — AIPB

BY OKEY NDIRIBE

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PRELIMINARY re port released yesterday by the Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB) has revealed that penultimate Thursday’s plane crash in Lagos was caused by engine failure and human error.

This was disclosed yesterday in Abuja by the AIPB Commissioner Capt.

Mukthar Usman while presenting the report to newsmen.

The report indicated that the voice recorder which captured the conversation among crew members at the onset of the flight revealed that they were worried about the condition of the plane.

The report also stated that during the short period the flight lasted, the right engine of the aircraft produced less thrust than the left engine.

According to the four paged report: “ The crew expressed some concerns about the aircraft prior to departure but at this time we are not prepared to elaborate on those concerns as there remains a lot of work to complete on cockpit voice recorder analysis in order to determine the specific nature of the crew’s concerns”.

The report further revealed that approximately four seconds after engine

power was raised for take off roll, “ the crew received an automated warning from the on-board computer voice which consisted of three chimes followed by announcement of “ take off flaps, take off flaps”.

Captain Usman disclosed that the crew ignored this first warning.

The document further showed that a short while later, the co-pilot (First officer) in the aircraft complained that the plane was moving slowly and suggested that the flight should be aborted.

According to the report: “Approximately seven seconds after the ‘set power’ call was made by the captain and confirmed by the co-pilot, the internal aircraft voice warning system could be heard stating “take off flaps, take off flaps, auto feather ”.

Captain Usman explained that this meant that the propellers of the aircraft were not producing enough thrust required for the takeoff of the aircraft.”

According to Captain Usman: “In response to the First Officer’s question on whether the flight should be aborted, the Captain decided that the take-off roll should continue and they continued”.

The report further revealed that the First Officer complained once again that since the aircraft was not climbing, the Captain should not stall the aircraft

in order to avoid danger.

The AIPB Commissioner explained that “if the aircraft was not producing enough overall thrust, it is difficult for the aircraft to climb without the risk of an ‘aerodynamic stall’.”

Said he: “Immediately after lift-off, the aircraft slowly veered off the runway heading to the right and was not properly climbing. This aircraft behaviour appeared to have resulted in the air traffic controller asking the crew whether the plane’s operation was normal but they never responded” According to Capt. Usman: “ The physical examination of the wreckage revealed that the right engine propeller was in the feather position and the engine fire system was activated.”

He continued: “ Less than 10 seconds after rotation of the aircraft to climb away from the runway, the stall warning sounded in the cockpit and continued to the end of the recording.

The flight data showed characteristics consistent with an aerodynamic stall.

31 seconds after the stall warning was heard, the aircraft crashed onto the ground with its nose almost at an angle of 90 degrees”.

The AIPB Commissioner further stated that : “ The investigation was focusing on the following:Mechanical and electronic engine control issues related to the right

Eid El Kabir: Shettima distributes 540 bulls to Maiduguri residents

BY NDAHI MARAMA, Maiduguri

I

N the spirit of the Eid El Kabir celebrations, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state has approved the distribution of 540 bulls to cater for the less privileged, especially those who cannot afford the ‘Eid Addah Sacrifice’ in Maiduguri and Jere metropolis.

At least, an average bull in Maiduguri open market cost about N100,000, and that could cost the state government N54 million.

This is apart from the rams and other gestures being distributed by the state government in the last one week in preparation for the festivity.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Mr. Inuwa

Bwala and made available to newsmen in Maiduguri yesterday.

Bwala said, in Shettima’s usual magnanimity, a committee has been set up comprising of religious leaders, traditional rulers and officials of the affected Local Government Areas, as well as representatives of the

state government, in which, they have been mandated to work out modalities for the effective and efficient distribution of the bulls.

The committee according to the Commissioner, has since commenced work and will announce the venues for the collection of the bulls before the Sallah.

L-R: Executive Director, Corporate Bank, Fidelity Bank Plc, John Obi; and Managing Director/Chief Executive, Total E&P and Total Upstream, Guy Maurice at the signing of the Total Contractors’ Development Initiative in Port Harcourt at the week end. engine and right engine propeller systems; warnings related to the autofeather and the flap settings required for take-off; take off configuration issues with respect to flap settings; crew decision making and training with respect to proceeding with the flight despite the concerns regarding the aircraft’s suitability for the flight; when and how the second engine’s fire system was activated; standard operating procedures with respect to continuing the take-off roll despite continuous automated voice warnings of both ‘take-off flaps’ and ‘auto feather’ when there was ample time to abort the flight take off and the safety culture prevailing among the staff of the airline”.

Captain Usman ex-

U

The group in a statement signed by Mr. Friday Udumebraye Togbe, National President, Comrade Ejoroghene Ibukavwe, National Secretary and Comrade Kenneth Ichide, Chief Organizer stated that Nigeria doesn’t need a soothsayer to tell her if she needs a national conference.

laboratory assisted the investigation team with the read out and analysis process along with representatives from the aircraft manufacturer and aircraft operator.”

According to him, the investigation was conducted in accordance with Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) rules.

Said he: “ The cockpit voice recorder contained 32 and half minutes of audio which included the internal conversation of the two pilots, radio calls and the overall environment in the cockpit.”

He also said the flight data recorder (FDR) contained 47 hours of data which captured all that happened to the aircraft’s operations throughout the short period of the flight.

Mother, 28, strangles two-day old boy to death ly killing and dumping her a carton and dumped it at

BY PETER DURU, Makurdi BENUE State Police Command has apprehended a 23- year old mother, Joy Iember Iorzua for alleged-

National Dialogue: Urhobo youths commend Jonathan country.

The statement reads, RHOBO youths, un der the aegis of Urhobo Youth Forum, UYF has commended President Goodluck Jonathan over the proposed National Dialogue/Conference, saying it would help members of the country to critically examine various problems threatening the collective oneness and unity of the

plained that the AIPB was in the process of developing a comprehensive computer reconstruction of the flight “which would help our team understand the sequence of events and will ultimately help us communicate our findings to the aviation community and the general public.”

He further stated that AIPB had no fresh safety recommendations to make for now but reassured the public that it would do so if the need arises in the course of its investigation of the accident.

Throwing more light on the authenticity of the report which emanated from the newly completed laboratory of the aviation parastatal, Captain Usman stated that “International flight recorder experts from Canada who designed the

“it is obvious that we don’t need a soothsayer to tell us the truth that the nation is not at peace with herself and each ethnic group or nationality feels unsatisfied or rather marginalized in the present political equation of the Nigeria state, thus the need for a national dialogue.“

two- day old baby boy, at the River Ujiiragbo, in Gwer local government area of the state.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the suspect was arrested at Mbasa-Mbakine Gee council ward by members of the vigilante group operating in the community who handed her over to the Police in Aliade, the local government headquaters. According to our source, the suspect who lived along Ayua-Num street, in Aliade town, was delivered of the baby a week ago and two days later, she allegedly strangled the innocent baby to death. ”After killing the baby, she wrapped his remains in a polythene bag, put him in

the popular Ujiiragbo River. ”The dastardly killing was however exposed when members of the vigilante group on patrol in the area, got wind of her action and her intention to escape from the community for fear of being apprehended. ”They trailed and arrested her after which angry members of her community descended heavily on her before handing her over to the Police at Aliade. ”The truth is that this is not the first time this type of allegation is being leveled against her, and that was what prompted the angry reaction of the people who were outraged by her action”.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013 — 9

FG begins full payment to 38,000 PHCN workers …V erifying cases of 6,700 o ther staf …Verifying other stafff

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

A

BUJA: The full payment of entitlements to 38,000 workers of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, has commenced.

Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprise, BPE, Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki disclosed this during the visit of House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation to the agency.

Mr. Dikki explained that 6,700 staff that had issues during verification were being sorted out, while 2,500 casual staff were

expected to be regularised by the PHCN management before payment of their entitlements.

On the power transaction, the BPE boss informed the lawmakers that the Bureau had received full payment for 14 power generation and distribution companies from the core investors.

Mr. Dikki further informed the lawmakers that the Bureau was in the process of constituting a Privatisation Tribunal to handle privatisation cases expeditiously.

He said the Tribunal will also assist the Bureau in enforcing privatisation contracts.

In her remarks, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, Hon. Khadijat Bukar Abba-Ibrahim commended the giant strides made by the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, in the power sector reform and privatisation which has seen the successful handover of 14 generation and distribution companies to core investors.

Hon. Abba-Ibrahim who led members of the committee on an oversight visit to the Bureau appealed to the Bureau and the National Council on

Prison Warder bags 10 yrs for selling Cannabis to inmates

J

USTICE Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court Lagos, yesterday, sentenced a 31-year- old warder, Frank Obi, to 10 years imprisonment, for drug trafficking.

The judge sentenced the convict, based on his guilty plea to a onecount charge of supplying restricted narcotics to inmates at the Kirikiri maximum prisons, Lagos.

Justice Buba in his judgment, reprimanded the convict for being a shame to lawful authorities, and accordingly, sentenced him. ”Following the guilty plea entered by the accused, he is hereby convicted as charged, and accordingly, sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, without option of fine” he said.

The judge said that it was indeed very shameful, that a prison official who knows the values of the prison system, and ought to be a custodian of the law, is now the perpetuator of crime.

He added that the sentence shall take effect from May 6, when the convict was arrested, while the convict is to be jailed at the Ikoyi Prisons.

Cook arraigned for alleged N5.7m milk theft

BY BATHOLOMEW MADUKWE

A

50-year old cook, Jeremiah Gou, has been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate Court in Lagos over alleged stealing of cartons of milk and jewellery valued at N50.71 million, belonging to one Mrs Taibat Olarenwaju.

The accused, who was arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and theft by Lagos police, resides at 5A-26 Jeremiah Ugwu St,. Road 47, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, Sgt. Emby Ingobu, the accused committed the offences on September 25 at the above mentioned residence, saying “the accused stole gold Jewellery alongside 350 cartons of Jago peak milk all valued at N50.71 million, property of one

Mrs Taibat Olarenwaju.”

Ingobu told the court that the accused was arrested when he was suspected to have stolen the cartons of milk and jewellery, adding that the offence contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

However, when the

plea of the accused was taken, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate I.O. Omotosho granted him bail in the sum of N300, 000 for each charge, with two sureties each in like sum.

She adjourned the case to November 6 for trial.

Privatisation, NCP, to at all times “operate in strict compliance with the

Public Enterprises Privatisation and Commercialisation Act” of 1999.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Alvaro Castillo Aguilar at a dinner in commemoration of the Spanish National Day in Abuja on Wednesday.

T

HE Senior Special ssistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals, Dr. Precious Gbeneol has expressed satisfaction with effective implementation of MDG projects in Anambra State. She said that MDG was working in Anambra in view of impressive projects executed through it and expressed the wish that other Governors should work like Gov. Obi. Dr. Gbenol was speaking

I wish o ther go vs w ere lik e other govs were like Obi – MDG boss while commissioning some completed building projects at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Ihiala, Holy Rosary Hospital, Onitsha, Iyienu Hospital Ogidi and the commissioning of small town Water Scheme Project at Ozobulu. She was accompanied by Governor Peter Obi and some top government

A

FRICAN Kitchen, a trade mark of Godzone Entertainment has called for strict adherence to the consumption of African originated foods rather than the western and confectionery foods.

They also are wondering why majority of Africans should be in the habit of promoting and enjoying other peoples’ dishes and delicacies while playing

down on their own.

Most Africans, according to the G o d z o n e Entertainment, feel shy of ordering their own type of dishes.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director/ Chief Executive officer (CEO) of Godzone Entertainment, Dr. Ogechi Jeremiah who spoke at the media parley organized by his organization in Lagos recently.

When asked whether

officials.

Among the projects commissioned are: School of Nursing student’s hostel; School of Midwifery Students Hostel and the multi-purpose Hospital building at Ihiala while the School of Laboratory Students hostel under construction was inspected by the Senior Special Assistant.

Anambra 20 13: Ukachukwu remains PDP 201 candidate as Appeal Court stays proceedings

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

P

ORT HARCOURT: A Federal Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt has suspended hearing of two related matters by the Peoples Democratic Party and Tony Nwoye seeking to upturn the candidacy of Nicholas Ukachukwu under the PDP for next month’s Anambra State governor-

ship election.

The court took the decision to allow the Supreme Court to hear an appeal by the respondent (Ukachukwu) demanding the Appeal Court panel to disqualify itself from hearing the case on ground that it had received bribe from a party in the case.

Prince Nwafor Orizu, Counsel to Ukachukwu had asked the court to grant a Stay of

African kitchen can or consum ption of African ffoods oods canvvasses ffor consumption

BY IFEYINWA OBI

She also urged the Bureau to strictly follow the laid down guidelines as approved by the NCP in all its transactions for transparency and credibility.

The Chairman said deliberations with the BPE management during the visit were exciting and had helped bridged the communication gap between the Bureau and the Committee, stressing that the committee members were now better informed on the activities of BPE. Abba-Ibrahim called for regular interactions between the Bureau and the Committees “as communication gap often breeds mistrust and misunderstanding”.

the company has intention of running a restaurant as one of its chains of business as a way of sustaining the vision of ‘African kitchen’, the MD said that his company is thinking along that line, “according to what our Legal Adviser said in Class 43 of our trade mark which is for restaurant and fast foods. We have it as one of our visions as time goes.”

But Prince Chidie-

bere Uleh, one of the presenters of African kitchen noted that the vision of the initiators of the vision of African kitchen was to promote African dishes and delicacies even beyond African shores. “So in our vision, we proudly appreciate and promote African dishes to rank high among other intercontinental dishes thereby making Africans and non Africans enthusiastic about having them on their menu list.”

Proceedings to enable the Supreme Court hear his appeal against the Appeal Court’s dismissal of his motion for the Appeal Court’s panel disqualification of itself from hearing the substantive appeals.

He argued that Order 8 Rule 10 of the Supreme Court forbids the Appeal Court from further hearing on any aspect of the matter until determination of the Supreme Court’s appeal.

Professfor A.I. Chukwuemerie and other appellants counsels had countered that the application was misplaced and aimed to stop delivery of a set judgement by the Appeal Court which has concluded address on the matter, adding that the respondents were working on delaying the case to their favour in view of the coming elections.

The Appeal Court presided over by Justice Ejimbi Eko consequently ruled to wait till determination of the Supreme Court’s appeal before considering the set judgement on the matter before it.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

NATIONAL DIALOGUE:

Prelude to nationhood or disintegration?

Cross-section of members,

Presidential Advisory Committee on the National Conference

BY LEVINUS NWABUIGHIOGU “Today, we are taking historic and concrete steps that will further strengthen our understanding, expand the frontiers of our inclusiveness and deepen our bond as one people under God.” With these excerpts from the speech of President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday, October 7, 2013, the Advisory Committee for National Dialogue was inaugurated. The Committee has one central task of fashioning out the process of organizing a national conversation where all the ethnic nationalities that make up the polity of Nigeria will gather at a table and discuss their future in the marriage that was initiated some 99 years ago. Former colonial chief, Lord Frederick Lugard had in 1914 amalgamated the northern and southern protectorates to form the political entity called Nigeria.

But make no mistakes about it.

That speech has many connotations.

For the first time in the recent past, a Nigerian President has taken a detour from the usual “Nigeria-isone” mantra and acknowledged the presence of harsh realities that threaten the corporate existence of the country. For the first time also, a President who ab initio saw no need for the conference made a u-turn.

Believe it, that is a rarity from

presidents. But yet, very unpresidential. Leaders usually think hard and long before taking their decisions. And when they do, they stand by them and give cogent reasons for it. But thank goodness that there is a President who swallows his pride and then listens to the yearning of the people in this part of the world. He has his reasons for doing so.

Hear him: “Permit me to very quickly review the foundational principles that drive our action, and also address a few matters arising.

Firstly, let me emphasize that this is a national project, a sincere and fundamental undertaking, aimed at realistically examining and genuinely resolving, longstanding impediments to our cohesion and harmonious development as a truly united Nation.

“There is a view by some of our people that we do not need to sit together to dialogue over the sociopolitical challenges facing our country. Some believe that because we have held several Conferences in the past, we do not need to hold another one. I was one of those who exhibited scepticism on the need for another Conference or Dialogue. My scepticism was borne out of the nomenclature of such a Conference, taking into cognizance existing democratic structures that were products of the will of the people.”

In many fora, President Jonathan has repeatedly said that Nigeria can

never collapse under his watch. But the latest decision, many say tends to contradict that posture fearing that the call for the Conference is ominous. For instance, they ask what if the nationalities gather and eventually agree to separate. Will their choice be respected or will the President say it wasn’t the original idea? Again, what if the issues defy compromises?

Meanwhile, the development on the other hand has also thrown up some leadership questions. Analysts argue that national conferences are almost always a product of leadership failures in any society.

Infrastructural decay, insecurity, extreme poverty, massive public corruption and social disorder herald the need for conferences. To them, it is the manifestation of gross incompetence of the leaders. Is that the case in Nigeria? Do we really need a national dialogue or a competent leader who will think Nigeria and not his tribe and religion?

Saturday Vanguard during the week sought the views of some Nigerians on the issue. Below are their submissions.

We must talk—-Ankio Briggs, Niger-Delta Activist I am one of the people who have called for a sit down to discuss.

Whether it is called Sovereign National Conference or Dialogue,

whatever they wanna call it, my point is that Nigeria is made up of Sovereign Nations. These nations existed before the British created Nigeria and these sovereign nations are the people that make up Nigeria. So, what for whatever political reasons they are changing, whatever they wanna call it, it doesn’t make any difference to me.

What is important and very critical is that these sovereign nations that make up Nigeria must sit down and discuss. We are a hundred years old in 2014. That is all what we are celebrating. It is a figure. For hundred years, we have not achieved anything to be celebrated.

Therefore, my opinion is that all the nationalities that make up Nigeria, whether they are three hundred or five hundred, one million or hundred million ethnic groups, we must sit down and discuss and nobody should represent the other person.

Ijaw person cannot represent Itsekiri person, Ogoni person cannot represent Tiv man. I am a Nigerian but I am an Ijaw Nigerian. In America, you hear people saying they are Irish American, etc. I am an Ijaw Nigerian therefore I will discuss Ijaw matters. And in discussing Ijaw matters, the first thing I will discuss is the resource ownership. The second thing is federalism. The next thing is self determination. Self determination is not a break up of Nigeria. It is you recogContinues on page 11

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013—11

Continued from page 10 nizing who I am and I recognizing who you are. Then the Ibra man will bring his own. The Tiv man his own.

The Igbo will bring his own. The Yoruba his own. The Hausa-Fulani his own. The middle Belt people that have so many other different nationalities will bring their own.

So, those are the issues.

It is deceptive —Rotimi Fashekin, Former National Publicity Secretary of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) This talk about national conference by this regime is all deceptive. It is colossal deception. It is not meant to achieve anything cogent because in the real, we don’t need national conference to answer to the problems affecting this nation currently. What this regime is trying to use this national conference to achieve is a kind of escape; the desire to extricate himself from the issues confronting this nation the President has been elected to solve.

It is not Sovereign National Conference that will help us to solve ASUU strike; to resolve the issue of planes that are dropping from the sky; that will resolve the ballooning cost of governance that has been disturbing the progress of the economy. It is not sovereign conference that will resolve these myriads of problems.

But because there are people who want to feed fat on some of these things, you now want us to believe that Sovereign National Conference is one-size-fits-all, a solution to our nation’s predicament.

Conference will serve no purpose—Dr. Junaid Mohammed—Second Repblic Lawmaker and National Coordinator of the Coalition of Nor thern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen If my memory serves me right, the agitations for so much Sovereign National Conference started somewhere around 1991 after the mess created by Babangida. First, he tried to conduct an election and then we moved on to 1992, when he himself refused to accept the result of the elections he conducted through the Electoral Commission which he appointed 100%. Now that was the beginning of the agitation for the National Sovereign Conference.

From then and now, the agitators were mostly confined to a certain ethnic group, mostly the so-called South-South, in Delta and some people in the South East. Now, there have been so many of such conferences. Some were called constitutional conferences in 1992 to date. Some were called something else but on the whole, I understand there are some misguided understanding by the government of the day and individuals who are running the government, that perhaps; a Sovereign National Conference will solve problems of governance because every one of those who summons such conference has been a failure in Government. It has been used to justify their

Ankio Briggs

Dr. Junaid Mohammed

National Dialogue:

Prelude to nationhood or disintegration? failure. It has been used as a diversionary tactic. Secondly, this is surprising. All of those failed Governments, failed Governors and Heads of Governments have also been desperate to prolong their tenure in government which means that they were not performing and they were not prepared to let go.

And that’s why we are saddled with those conferences. Under Babangida, we had some. Under Abacha, Abudulsalmi Abubakar, in his own, he didn’t bother to call anybody. He simply sat down in one of the Conference rooms in the Presidency and amended the Revenue Allocation Formula, then Obasanjo and now, this more unserious and most irresponsible Presidency, we are been asked to go through the same undertaking. Now, I normally ask people who are supportive of the conference. What does the conference stand to achieve? And do we actually know our problems? And if we do, how will the conference do to address those problems? Anytime I ask what will be the end game of the conference, I have not had a single coherent answer either from the President, Government, the ruling party or any of the agitators who are living in Lagos. Two: when I drew the attention of the people on the down size of the conference of the impunity and break-up of the conference, none of them have given me an answer. They have not on their own determined the national problems that we have. What I imagine as the problem of Nigeria: under development which is as a result of corruption. Two; there are others which we called contextual problems. They include ethnic divisions, sectarian division, lack of sense of tolerance among our

leaders, bankruptcy and lack of ideas amongst our leaders; suddenly compromising institutions like the Judiciary, the national Assembly, INEC, the Police and so on. Tell me, what will the conference do to

Dr. Usman Bugaje arguments. People are not happy because there is no justice. People are not happy because they are unable to hold the political leaders accountable under the system we have. What is the use of the National Assembly? Is it not supposed to be a Sovereign National Assembly? Let’s assume we have a conference, where will the laws be made? How would the constitution be amended to accommodate everybody’s view if indeed, the conference holds and recommendations are accepted? What happened to the President himself? When the sovereign national conference begins, is he going to continue to exercise Presidential powers? These questions must be answered.

Conference is to divert attention —-Dr. Usman If you believe that power Bugaje, Former can be reduced among National Secretar y, contending corrupt forces Action Congress of who want to come to power the way Nigeria

PDP is doing, the way the irresponsible President, called Goodluck is doing, irresponsible advisers of him like, Edwin Clark, then there will be no solution to the problem even if you are to have one hundred million sovereign national conferences address these problems? They couldn’t tell me anything.

There is no substitute for justice. You must be fair to people irrespective of numbers, identities, their sectarian and confessional status. You have to be fair to them. If you believe that power can be reduced among contending corrupt forces who want to come power the way PDP is doing, the way the irresponsible President, called Goodluck is doing, irresponsible advisers of him like, Edwin Clark, then there will be no solution to the problem even if you are to have one hundred million sovereign national conferences.

Instead of holding the leaders accountable for failing to do what they have supposed to have done, you are going on a diversionary tactics to bring in unnecessary

If you want to be fair to Jonathan, you will say that he has done these things to divert attention from his gross incompetence.

He is totally incompetent. He has failed to achieve a single thing. And he wants

to take peoples attention away to get them to start talking about these issues of who gets what, what ethnic group do you belong to? No. These issues are always accentuated by bad governance. Go back and check starting from Babangida through Abacha, Obasanjo now Jonathan.

Consistently, any time this issue comes up, the President is in trouble. Check your human indices, you find they are the worst.

Leaders take away attention. These inequalities they are creating accentuate these feelings of equality.

But the ordinary Nigerian is not asking Jonathan to correct it. Give people good education. You can’t settle the issue of ASUU, now, the doctors are on strike.

12—SA TURD AY 12—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

leadership of my party is aware that I am doing the right thing by way of making sure that we make laws for the good governance of our country and for the betterment of environment and community, I am coming back and I believe that God will create that enabling environment and my coming back will not create any controversy.

Domingo Obende is a Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District in Edo State. As a first timer in the Senate, Obende has sponsored and co-sponsored at least 14 bills in the last two years including the controversial same sex marriage prohibition bill and has attracted at least 54 projects across the six local government councils that make up Edo North.

In this interview with Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu in Benin City, Obende spoke on the proposed national dialogue, centenary celebration and other issues.

Domingo Obende

W

N/Conference is diversionary — Senator Obende

•Says: Nigerians have not been fair to N/Assembly amalgamation of Nigeria 99 years ago. We came into the African continent with strength and today, we can say Nigeria is the most populous African nation. We are able to get this strength because of the amalgamation but I must tell you that the colonial masters were the ones that created these problems by initially giving strength to specific units and giving weaknesses to other units. It has been an

,,

HAT will you say on the proposed nation al conference by President Goodluck Jonathan?

Sometimes, a lot of things that happen come with agenda. I have always said that the people that will sit down to draft the agenda of a meeting know exactly why the meeting is being held. As far as I am concerned, I don’t see anything visible that is going to come out of it. If we want to have a sovereign national conference, let us have it; if it is a National Conference that we are going to nominate people or allow government to select people to go debate the situation of Nigeria, obviously, my belief is that it is not going to be people-friendly.

This is because they have hidden agenda and it is that agenda that will be driven into the minds of the committee members. It is like writing a report before the sitting of a committee. It as also diversionary in the sense that they will set up committees.Right now you will see people struggling to be members of these committees and that alone will destabilise a couple of things and the real issue of governance will be avoided. They will now come and draft a list of many people and they will now say this committee commences in January or February and before the committee submits its report, we are done with election. I don’t think Nigerians should be treated in this manner. Let Nigerians sit down and discuss the future. We have always believed that Nigeria cannot break, yes, if there are skirmishes here and there, I don’t think a National Conference is what we need to negotiate that. If it is a Sovereign National Conference for instance, you can find people who could not even speak English but know what they want for their people, they will come there. So, to me it is like a hidden agenda that is clearly known to those that are setting up the committee.

Do you subscribe to the notion that the amalgamation of 1914 was a mistake?

There is a lot of wisdom in the

I did say that to whom much is given, much is also expected. My people gave me votes and I have not disappointed them. I can point out projects that I have done and still doing that for the past twelve years have never been done

impression that a northerner must always be in power because the British gave them the powers. It is also clear that when you are talking about the economy, you are talking of the Yoruba nation and of Igbo nation but to me, our amalgamation was a blessing. We must sit down under a Sovereign National Conference to discuss the future of Nigeria because when a marriage is hitting the rock, the only wise thing the couple can do is for them to sit down and discuss; where have we gone wrong, why is this marriage going this way, can we bring ourselves back to our first love when we first met?

I think that is what we should be discussing now.

Are you going to seek reelection in 2015?

I did say that to whom much is given, much is also expected. My people gave me votes and I have not disappointed them. I can point out projects that I have done and still doing. We have realised that the people voted for us and we must do exactly what the people want us to do. And as much as I am still in the good books of my people and for as much as the

Why do you think you merit a return?

This question is coming at a time the electorate are asking those they have sent to represent them at any level of government to give account. Primarily, the business of a legislator is to make laws and as we speak, I have in my credit about 14 bills and of-course the major one which is globally either acclaimed or condemned is the prohibition of same sex marriage which I believe by now, the president ought to have signed it into law.

What is your position on the alleged jumbo pay for lawmakers, they get so much and give so little?

The Senate as a body has dealt with this over and over again.

When you use the word jumbo pay, I don’t know in which context, but I know what my salary is.

I don’t earn up to N1million a month. It is glaring, the banks are there, and these monies are paid directly to the banks. Like the Senate spokesman said recently, let this debate be for the three arms of government, let us organise a debate, we want to know how much they are spending in the Villa. Even CBN that is just an organisation, it’s budget is more than N350 billion in a year. How many people do they have as employees and you come to the National Assembly, where we have well over 5,000 management staff coupled with our salaries and over-head and we are using less than 3 per cent of the annual budget while a Ministries use well over 8 per cent of the country’s annual budget and what are many of these ministries doing? For how many years now have you seen roads being constructed? So, we are saying that the money going to the federal government is too much, this has to be decentralised.

Let’s send these monies to the states and local governments, so that there will be nothing that will be attractive at the centre.

All these crises you find within political parties are because of the centre. They believe that there is money there and everybody wants to come and steal and this money belong to the people.

The pay in the National Assembly is not the issue. It is clear propaganda to bring the legislators down and it is because for a long time, Nigerians were used to military regime; they are used to the judiciary, they are used to parliamentarians. So, we are ready for a public debate with these other arms of government.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013—13

Dialogue will restore freedom, orderliness —Oyegun Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the first civilian governor of Edo State, in this interview sums up his feelings about Nigeria at 53, berating government and successive government for not providing focused and purposeful leadership to ever patient Nigerians since independence. He opines that the process of peaceful revolution via the amalgamation of progressives will restore hope to the people. Excerpts:

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

H

ow would you sum up your feelings about Nigeria at 53?

I am glad we are still a nation even though it is not clear whether we live together as a nation. It has been a problem so far and if you want to sum it up, it is 53 years of deteriorating fortunes. I think we have come to a crisis point. I have said it before that Nigeria has come to the brink several times and she looks over the brink and pull back, but unfortunately not sufficiently back and here again, she comes to the brink.

And this time, a lot of strange things are happening that make one fearful about the future. I am an unapologetic believer of Nigeria as one nation. It is a nation put together by God through man’s instrumentality for a purpose.

Over 150million people coming together is not by historic accident. It is moreso that the black race world over will have a voice of respect.

Unfortunately, we have not risen up to that challenge. Things have deteriorated to a point where nationhood is doubt, as to whether it is sustainable giving the current realities in the country and the inexorable pursuit of power at all cost by certain people; not even the destruction of the country will stop them.

To them, the stability of the nation and the happiness of the people do not matter to them, nothing matters except the retention and acquisition of power.

In the last few days, a spanner was thrown into the works. I am one of those who canvass for the convocation of a Sovereign National Conference because it is something I believe in passionately. But when this kind of things are going on, it is wise for the discrete people to ask what is going on? Is there a deeper purpose to this? Does it have any relationship with the crisis that is currently occurring within the ranks of the PDP or does it have anything to do with the perceived antagonism of the north to the second term ambition of the President? Is it just a warning to certain groups in the nation that a few people don’t de-escalate the opposition? And if it is any of these, what are the implications for the nation? That is what we

need to look at.

But, where do you think we got it wrong as a nation?

We’ve been getting it wrong all the time. It was not yesterday, neither was it the creation of the present President.

The problems have been part of the nation waiting to be addressed but they have never been addressed because we’ve never had leadership at the centre that is focused, committed and prepared for power; a leadership that will ask himself ‘what do I want to be remembered for?’

All we have had are either accidental or those who shot themselves into office. Abiola would have been the very first because he struggled for power because he had a sense of nationhood and he had a good personal record as a philanthropist and successful enterprenuer. That would have been the first opportunity to find out what it would have been like to have somebody who really prepared for power and knew what he wanted to do. It does not matter whether it is right or wrong, what is important is that he has a target, an idea to which he is committed. In the process of implementing his idea, you may disagree with him but you cannot disagree with his aim of leaving the nation much better than he met it. So, if you ask where did we get it wrong, I’ll say this nation

Things have deteriorated to a point where nationhood is in doubt, as to whether it is sustainable giving the current realities in the country and the inexorable pursuit of power at all cost by certain people; not even the destruction of the country will stop them

Oyegun...We’ve been getting it wrong all the time. has been crying for its basic problems to be addressed.

Things appeared to be much better when we were in the regional system, do you think this federal system is paying off?

That is a very critical part of the problem but we have to be realistic, we cannot go back to the regional system of government simply because the state structure already has a vested interest in the project Nigeria that will not allow us to roll back. But what distinguished it at that time was that it was a balance system. It was clear and everybody knew that regions were governing themselves and so, they were able to compete in a very health way. Even the parliamentary system were more flexible than the presidential system that we foisted on ourselves.

So, with the military intervention, the balance of the federation was destroyed and the independent of the component parts were destroyed. We have not recovered from that because of lack of committed and visionary leadership at the centre and until we sit down and addressed these problems, we will go on and on in this way.

That is why I say we must manage the situation should the government decides to go ahead with dialogue so that it is not used to destroy the nation, because that is not our purpose when we say we want a Sovereign National conference.

We want to return to the kind of freedom that the regions had a few years after independence.

In a few months to come, we will celebrate the centenary of the amalgamation, yet we are still grappling with how to resolve myriads of problems bedeviling this nation. Some believe that it requires a revolution to get out of the woods, do you you think all present scenarios are a build up to a revolution?

It depends on what your definition of revolution is. I may not define revolu-

tion the same way you are defining it. I believe we need dramatic and fundamental change in the way the nation is governed. So, I will say we are in the process of a peaceful revolution already giving the present conflict in the PDP and the surprise and historic amalgamation and fusion of three major parties and spinsters of others to form the APC. I think those are the bedrock of the kind of revolution that is coming. In the APC, we have the critical mass of those who wish this country well, people who have clear ideas of the destiny of the Nigeria nation; people with clear idea of the road to take to that promise land. That is already underway, it is not a revolution of blood and if the process is not impeded through massive rigging because that is what they know how to do to change the will of the masses, then we will have the peaceful revolution which will bring about a government that truly reflects the wishes of the people. And once the people believe in that government and their hope restored to them, the issue of insecurity, unemployment will become manageable.

Of course the know you cannot wave a magic wand and solve all their problems at once, but they want to see you are on the right track to bring the solution to them and they will be patient with you. But if that hope is frustrated, then we are in for serious trouble.

Why is it so difficult to diversify on oil as our source of revenue since the last five decades?

It is simply, lack of visionary leadership, no commitment. What has consumed this nation in the last 14 years have been indecent personal greed and aggrandisement and it has changed the focus of government from what we can do for this nation to what you can only do for ourselves. Otherwise, this is one of the elementary issues if we are really serious. I wonder why we are still importing petroleum products.

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Sovereign national conference will solve our problems —Fasanu Babatunde Moshood Fasanu is a senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN and a renown Public affairs analyst. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard, bears his mind on Nigeria’s 53yrs of independence. He is however of the opinion that the Sovereign national conference is the major solution to Nigeria’s challenges. Excerpts;

Nigerians assess Nigeria

By Aderonke Adeyeri Nigerians expressed their opinion about the country living up to the dreams of our founding fathers at the dawn of independence in 1960 and if there is need for celebration.

Nigeria has little or nothing to celebrate — Abigael Morakinyo

Babat u n d e Moshood Fasanu

By OLAYINKA AJAYI What is your view about the celebration of Nigeria’s 53rd independent anniversary in respect of insecurity couple with ethnicity?

On the positive side, I think we have gone far despite going through doom and gloom we still call ourselves Nigerians but unfortunately there are a lot of things that should not be, that are in the negative especially the issue of terrorism, corruption and other related issues . As a young man after the independence, I know that there were lots of hope, because when I finished my school certificate and was to gain admission into the University, I could remember vividly that it was people that did not perform well in their secondary school final exams that traveled abroad, some of them maybe got scholarship but most of them were basically people that did not perform well in their school certificate. But people that passed very well your aspiration is to get admission into one of the basic Universities then which are in Lagos, Ife, Zaria, and later Benin. So if you are not fortunate to get into these institutions then you are no where. years later our University system crashed. This is just one of the challenge facing the system, those hope that we had then on our great country has been dashed and I as a person that has went through the good times in this country, I am not happy at all.

Unfortunate I had to send my Children abroad just because I can afford it but if the system is in a better condition I could have used the money to do some other remarkable projects like funding the education of indigent students here more but I had to take my children abroad because I know we don’t have good tertiary education any more which is contrary to the way I was brought up. It was post graduate that my father considered me trav-

If we are celebrating 53rd Anniversary we have to put it in perspective but I believe it is the People that will make the change we envisage not our rulers, because with what we are seeing as far as I am concerned we don’t have leaders eling abroad for , I could not even wait to finish before I came back because he later wanted me to enroll for my PHD but I insisted on coming back because of the hopes I have in this country. By the grace of Allah I am not regretting it, but it is not everybody. Not because they are not gifted or they are not working hard enough but the state of the country is not too encouraging. Un- like in the western world, where people that put minimum efforts get encouraging result. For instance practicing lawyers in the United Stated US, cannot put half of the effort we are putting but they get better result than us here and they fly in private Jets. But if I want to attempt that I have to join the Politicians in corrupt practices. In other words is almost impossible for me to get it as a Lawyer no matter how much I work hard , so that is the tragedy we are faced with in Nigeria now.

If we are celebrating 53rd Anniversary we have to put it in perspective but I believe it is the People that will make the change we envisage not our rulers, because with what we are seeing as far as I am concerned we don’t have leaders. The people have to find a way to make them do what they ought to do.

The state of insecurity in Nigeria?

Their is a place in the holy Qur’an that stated that if anybody does not believe in your religion leave them to their fate, so how can anyone in the name of Islam justify that killing people is Godliness. I think the government has to take a wholesome view and take a drastic step to cubing the malady than what they are doing because what they are doing is just mere cosmetic approach ignoring the major problem.

What is your advice on curbing insecurity in Nigerians?

I heard recently that the Inspector General Police admonished Nigerians to avoid public places like shopping malls, that is sorrowful we have to be aware of the problem I think one of the major thing we can do is Political. which I believe is the sovereign national conference, because if we have sovereign national conference we can then have something like no go area for some issues if we have that conference we will be able to sort out issues like religion, if in your own state you want to make it a religious state so be it.

If in my state it is secularism so be it. I strongly believe it will solve many issue that is besieging our unity as a nation. But many people are of the opinion that nothing will divide us as a nation which I strongly object.

Morakinyo is a chatered accountant with one of the leading private firms in Nigeria and has this to say: I see little room for optimism regarding the state of the economy as the country hits 53. It is more worrisome that the official percentage of Nigerian youths out of job is 42.2. Recently, the House of Representatives Committee on Youths and Social Development came up with an intimidating statistics that 23million of over 40million unemployed youths are unemployable.

The national unemployment for university graduates is pegged at 23.9%, the unemployed youth population at a conservative 20.3million and the poverty rate stands at 71.5%. Meanwhile, the oil sector which the economy solely depends account for less than 10% of national employment. This and other issues ranging from health to insecurity and what have you needs to be worked upon before we can think of celebrating. As it is, the country has little or nothing to celebrate. We need to wake up from our slumber and get things right.

What we need is reflection not celebration—Rubben Dare an undergraduate This country is suffering because of poor governance and leadership.

What we need in Nigeria is reflection and not celebration . Why is it that we have a habitual law of diminishing return with respect to leadership such that any new government tends to be worse than the previous one? Why have all the promises of Independence failed to materialize in Nigeria? I think we need a national dialogue or conference to figure out where our national development trajectory went wrong and what needs to be done to put it back on track.

We should not reduce our problems to Boko Haram only— Pastor Samson Akinola

All glory be to God for bringing Nigeria thus far. Nigeria is a country flowing with milk and honey and Nigerians have to appreciate that.

The genesis of our problem in Nigeria is that we lack the fear of God which is the beginning of knowledge. Most of our leaders are self centered and selfish. The government should be more concerned in

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, OCTOBER 12, 2013—15

‘I have been to morgues. There is no siren there. There is no posing in the morgue. There are no celebrities there.

You put people under six feet and you realise that cars and houses do not fit in. I have come to understand that when people die, nobody has jumped into the vault to say bury me along.

So it makes me see things differently.

At the end of the day ,when they say everything is vanity and I am in a better position to talk about it because I have seen it all’

T

hese were the profound words of Olatunji Okusanya jnr. in his last interview to the Punch Newspapers. Olatunji Okusanya passed on last Thursday in a fatal plane crash. He would at best be in his thirties. But this statement credited to him could easily be the words of a man in his nineties who has seen the world.

Vanity upon vanity says the preacher.

All is vanity (Holy Bible).

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The air crash last week Thursday shook the nation. Again. The peculiar nature of it should also cause many of us to reflect. The plane was carrying the remains of a former Minister for Aviation to his final resting place.

Without prejudice to the investigations as to the cause of the crash, one is wont to ask if there was something,

...no grave is

big enough to accommodate a car let alone a house

anything, that Dr Agagu could have done as Aviation Minister, to make air travel safer for the nation that he did not do because of political expediency; or because there was no personal gain.

And this brings me to the fact that all of us, not just our political and economic leaders, have a role in making the society safer. Each time we compromise, each time we look the other way and refrain from doing what is right, we endanger the society and endanger ourselves. And those decisions can come back to haunt not only us, but our children.

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all still keep a scheduled appointment barely two hours after the crash, says a lot about life and living. We were still comparing notes when a friend called to ask about someone who was Agagu’s political associate. I told him I had just spoken to this person and he was fine.

Besides, I explained that information coming in showed the plane did not ferry his political associates. I seized the opportunity to wish him a safe journey as he was due to leave for Saudi Arabia the following day.

For some inexplicable reason, he sent me a text the following day, stating that they had boarded. I again wished him journey mercies only to learn on Saturday that a Saudi bound plane had two burst tyres! You can imagine what went through my mind.

The lesson here again, is that the line between life and death can be very thin.

One minute, you are bubbling with life; the next minute, you are dead. Yet most of us behave as if we are in full control of life. We treat life more as a right than as a gift. For if life is indeed a gift, then everything else including birth, position, attainment and wealth are gifts. Why do we act as if we are God? Why do we hustle and kill for what we might not even live to enjoy? Why can’t we imbibe humility as a way of life?

The lesson of Abiola and Abacha is there for all to learn from. These were two people who badly wanted the same seat and neither lived to see the next occupant of the famous seat.

e worry about the insecurity in the land for example. Yet, how many of us, by our acts of omission or commission, have not contributed to this insecurity. How many of us in our little corners, have exhibited religious maturity? How many of us have given the other guy a fair chance in the work place irrespective of tribe and religion? How many have taught the poor how to fish and put smiles on poverty-stricken faces? How many have given a thought to the yawning gap between the rich and the poor? We forget that hunger and intolerance are two potent sources of insecurity. Like Isaac Hayes said in that beautiful song; ‘if you were hungry, what would you do?’ The lesson here is that many of our actions contribute to the state of the nation today.

I was with some veteran journalists, assessing entries for a media award on that fateful Thursday. That we could

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bdulsalam who was waiting patiently for retirement was instead given the exalted position.

Awolowo was eminently qualified to be Nigeria’s Head of State, yet he never got there. While a poor man without shoes, without political antecedent, became President. Isn’t there a lesson there?

And when you use your position as an opportunity for corrupt enrichment whether as a Vice Chancellor, Perm Sec or CEO, remember those you have deprived might still come back later in life to haunt you. More importantly, remember young Olatunji Okusanya’s immortal words that death is the only certainty and no grave is big enough to accommodate a car let alone a house.

Also remember that although Awolowo never became President, his adroit use of the resources at his disposal for the greater good has out lived him far more than riches can ever be and his name, 25 years after, is still opening doors.

Let us always remember that those who touch the lives of strangers will always have strangers touching their lives and the lives of their dependants.

The final message here is that our little actions in our little corners, to people we come across, may yet save lives. We do not have to be a Governor or a President to serve mankind. Think and learn. Now!

A lif e of thanksgiving life ne of the keys that will propel your O rising is the key of persistent thanksgiving. Thank God that the devil

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Lessons abound …. for those willing to learn

could not stop you despite all he threw at you. For some it was hardship, sickness, loss of job, loss of fortune, death of member of the family, discouragement. For others, it was pain, sorrow, barrenness, unprogressiveness, miscarriages, etc. In the midst of it all, God is still God. There can be no other God like Jehovah that reigneth from eternity to eternity. The truth of the matter is that no matter what you may have lost, God’s intervention is the reason why you did not lose everything.

Remember that satan’s ministry is to steal, kill and destroy while Jesus came to give you life and life more abundantly (John 10:10).

I beseech you to join the league of those that constantly thank God in everything (1 Thess. 5:18). That you have life is by grace. You did not make or created yourself. God is your maker. He made you for a glorious purpose. Remember what He told Jeremiah, “before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jer. 1:5). No matter the present state of your life, it is not the end.

You are on your way to greatness. Thank God that you are alive. Thank Him for your present status. Know that you are not the worst. You are better than someone else. When you thank Him, He will lift you higher than your present level. You are just one step away from your desired goal.

There are three days in a man’s life.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow. You can do nothing about yesterday because it is gone but you can do something today and look forward to a brighter tomorrow.

Refuse to be tied to your negative past. It will rob you of your now and future. It is a killer of joy. When there is no joy there can be no fruitfulness. Thus, you cannot see any reason to be thankful.

Your attitude is what determines your altitude in life. If you are not grateful to God, you will be grounded. When gratitude becomes your lifestyle, you will continue to gain altitude in life.

Thanksgiving will take you to a higher realm in life. Hear me, as you commit to thanking God always, your status will change this year.

Learn to recount God’s benefit in your P

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I beseech you to join the league of those that constantly thank God in everything

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life and give Him thanks. The Psalmist said in Ps. 103:2, “… and forget not all His benefits”. Never take the happenings in your life for granted. Nothing is too small to give God thanks for. When you appreciate Him for that little, much will be added. Don’t let the devil stop you and make you to focus on what you have not received. Stay focused on your future but be totally grateful for your present.

Your future is too great compared to where you are now. Thank Him in advance for where He is taking you.

Beloved, see God as the reason behind every good thing in your life. Know that, no man can prevail by strength (1 Sam 2:9). Every good gift comes from God (James 1:17). “For who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? (1 Cor. 4:7).

Know that God is the doer of everything good in your life. It is not by your act of hard work, “for without God ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Lift your voice and thank Him for every good thing that has happened to you.

Know that God expects you to thank Him. In Lk 17, He asked the leper who returned to thank Him about the other nine that were cleansed of leprosy. This means that God keeps record of what He has done and He is waiting for you to return the glory to Him. The leper that returned to give Him glory was made whole while those who did not return to give Him glory were not made whole.

As you thank Him, He will make available what is missing by making your life whole. It is time to make thanksgiving your lifestyle daily and constantly.

To manifest testimonies like never before, you must constantly give Him thanks because it is His will.

P A In doing His will, you will be pleasing Him and in return there L shall be restoration in every area L of your life because He reigns forever. Keep thanking Him and R I testimonies shall not cease in your H mouth every day, week and month.

God bless you and bless our great O R nation Nigeria.

Have you given your life to H Jesus? If not, please pray this U O prayer. Father, I come to you as I am. I invite Jesus into my life to be D my personal Lord and Saviour.

E Wash me cleanse with the blood of Jesus and empower me with the E S power of your Holy Spirit. Thank I you Father for saving my soul and making me your child.

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For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 08023062635 08168955932; 08033378769. Email: Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org.

Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407; Christ Reality Ministries, Zenith Bank A/C 1011711622.

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

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013 Traditional institutions are supposed to play a neutral role in politics but one cannot say same of Nigerian traditional institutions. Now it appears they are trying to rope in the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe into the politics of the up-coming Anambra guber election.

Since Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola ‘deported’ some south-easterners living in Lagos whom he branded as destitutes and dumped at the Bridge Head, Onitsha; neither Fashola nor anybody who had anything to do with the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the SouthEast has had peace.

Basically, Ngige committed both ‘sin’ of omission and commission during his flag-off campaign for the November 16 gubernatorial election in Anambra and that landed him in trouble! He flagged off his campaign in Onitsha on the day the Obi was celebrating his Ofala and worsestill, he didn’t pay him homage!

The incumbent Gov. Peter Obi was also allegedly playing into the sentiments of Ndigbo by making a mountain out of a perceived molehill; putting Ngige on his toes, making him spend time defending himself and the APC instead of campaigning.

Ngige visited Lagos recently and spent most of the time trying to convince journalists from the South-East that most of the rumours being peddled about him were false. He even went as far as printing a booklet on the achievements he has made so far in the Senate to counter the notion being created that all he does was sleep during plenary and topping the list of non-performers in the senate.

Ngige blamed his opponents for doing their worst, accusing Gov. Obi of master-minding all manner of lies in a bid to project his candidate, Willy Obiano in the coming election. And I wonder if Gov. Obi is as guilty as charged. Was he master-minding these allegations against

Anambra guber:Do they want to rope in Igwe Achebe?

Chris Ngige Ngige for no just cause?

And less I forget, Ngige also tried to convince journalists that contrary to the campaign going on that Fashola just dumped these Igbo indigenes at the Bridge Head, Onitsha, some kind of communication transpired between Lagos and the Anambra governments. But rumours apart, half of those dumped were not Igbos! Ngige confirmed that from the books!

And so, Fashola had to apologise for the over-zealousness of his henchmen who did the deed!

But what is the business of Obi

Obi of Onitsha Igwe Alfred Achebe of Onitsha in Ngige’s matter? As a traditional ruler, is he taking sides politically as being alleged? Has he expanded his job responsibilities and reign over traditions and customs to dabble into state partisan politics as being alleged in some quarters?

Mischief makers alleged Igwe Achebe placed a curse on the APC candidate which Ngige has personally debunked. So, what’s up?

Annual Ofala festivals of traditional rulers in Igbo land are highly respected and tradition-

Gov Peter Obi al institutions are reverred as signified in the red caps worn by titled chiefs.

Ngige played the ‘good boy’ by dismissing allegations of any curse being placed on him, believing instead that the message of the respected royalty was lost in translation from Igbo to English as the Ofala prayers were not offered in any other language, but Igbo.

Hmmm!

What however, I am not sure of is whether it is a taboo in Onitsha for a marriage ceremony or funeral ceremony to take

...Of bathroom vocalists and bedroom heroes When you listen to the words of some Igbo leaders, you will understand why it will be difficult for the Igbo to rule Nigeria. The other day, a frontline politician from the South-East geo-political zone and publisher of a dying national newspaper urged Nigerians to give President Goodluck Jonathan a second term. But that is not the issue.

The issue is that this politician told the Hausa community in the South-East zone that President Jonathan is an Easterner and therefore should be allowed to complete eight years since he is the first Easterner to become President! I never knew it but now I do, Jonathan is an Easterner! So, this top politician from the South-East said ‘This is the first time someone from Eastern Nigeria is President, let him complete eight years and after that, power can shift to wherever and if 2015 is not properly handled, it will be tragic for the country’.

By saying so, he has sold the chance of Ndigbo because if South-East leaders of his calibre toe similar line, the SouthEast will never have a chance to produce Nigeria’s president!

Goodluck Jonathan became President of Nigeria today not just because people sat down and said it is an entitlement but because, others bought into that vision and mission. So if the SouthEast has to produce Nigeria’s president, others have to be made to buy into that mission, and that is a lot of work! We should not be ignorant of the fact that Nigeria is a nation of great diversity, different tribes with different orientation, different beliefs, different religions, and so, Ndigbo must have a cross section of Nigerians buying into that mission and

that is possible. One of the problems though is that the people don’t seem to believe in themselves and so, they begin to claim that Jonathan is one of them simply because he adopted the name Azikiwe and bears the name Ebele which is not even Igbo. The Ebele that President Jonathan bears is an Ijaw name that has an entirely different meaning. So, what are they telling us? Agreed, he is the Igbo brother, but not in the context it is being taken!

Audu Ogbe once described Nigerians as bathroom vocalists and bedroom heroes because they complain inside their bedrooms but keep silent outside. This has been the lot of the Igbo.

The true test of a hero is one who stands up to be counted when it matters most.

Nigerians from the South East have been treated as defeated people since the civil war and the body language of the people portrays them as having resigned themselves to that fact. They have given up on the Nigerian nation as stakeholders and have progressively degenerated from playing second, third and fourth fiddle to no fiddle at all! And now, they are consoling themselves by claiming that Jonathan is their brother from the East! Optimism that the support the South-East has given to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) since 1999 should attract favourable consideration in the sharing of top political offices is still hanging in the balance. The people lack the willpower to fight for what should be their rightful place in the Nigerian nation. It is time for Ndigbo to work on their neighbours so as to get what should be their right in a country where might is right.

Ahead of the 2015 presidential elections, two camps have emerged among the Igbo regarding Jonathan’s quest to get another term in office. This same Jonathan promised a crop of Igbo leaders to hand over to them in 2015 during his campaign in 2011! It is pertinent

to note that all four previously elected presidents hailed from either western or northern Nigeria. As the Igbo vote could be crucial in the presidential elections of 2015, the political dichotomy in Igboland warrants an examination of the issues surrounding its emergence, and their implications for an Igbo Presidency.

All things are possible if the right things are done at the right time. Are the right things being done at the right time? Power is not given.

It is taken. It is not given at concession and so they have to prepare themselves and say the right things. They have to meet, discuss and form coalitions.They have to love one other, they have to get others to buy into their ideas.

Others have to buy into their mission.

The amalgam of tribes which make up Nigeria are locked in a fierce contest when it comes to grabbing juicy political offices. These ethnic rivalries are more focused on the offices occupied by the members of these ethnic groups than what the occupants actually do in these offices to better the life of the ordinary Nigerian. The Nigerian President wields enormous influence and his office is the most powerful democratic office in Africa. As a result, the tribes that make up Nigeria are engaged in bickering, struggles and fights to ensure that they produce the President. The tribes also view the office, rightly or wrongly, as capable of having far-reaching and positive impact on the economic and infrastructural advancement of the tribe fortunate to produce the President.

A good number of Igbo people have been led to believe by their political class that a true integration of the Igbo people in the polity of Nigeria will occur when an Igbo citizen assumes the office of the President. But the truth is, the Igbo elite and political class have to entwine the political, social, educational, infrastructural and economic development of the Igbo tribe if they want to occupy this office.

place or for a political party to hold a campaign rally at the same time the Ofala is going on!

And Igwe Achebe allegedly said, ‘if anybody defiles the land, the land shall defile the person.’

Well, every Igbo man knows that Igwe Achebe is well educated and also versed in the tradition of Ndigbo and also highly esteemed. I don’t see any wisdom but foolishness in anybody attempting to disrespect him. Anybody that harbours it in his thought or imagines to do that is obviously acting in ignorance or missing his way completely.

Ngige is not a push-over either in matters of tradition and so knows the truth of the situation.

Courtesy demands that he should have paid a visit to the Obi on arrival at Onitsha!

Those who are not in the know about the traditional implication of Onitsha in Igboland need to be refreshed historically. The Onitsha traditional dynasty is one of the oldest in Igboland.

The people are drawn from the settler tribes of Edo (Benin), Igala and Igbo extractions. It has villages, comprising Edo (Benin) immigrants with four villages in number; two Igala villages of Ogbodu and Obigboru and the four Edo-influenced villages are the ruling families. The present Igwe Alfred Achebe, is the 21st leader of the Dynasty founded over 600 years ago or in the 16th century.

The Onitsha dynasty is the fourth in rank in the Igbo traditional dynasties. The first and oldest dynasty being the “Nri’ in Anambra which is over 1,000 years; followed by the Aro Chukwu dynasty in Abia State, which is also over 1000 years.

The Agbor dynasty in Delta State, representing “pastoral Igbo people”, is up to 900 years.

While the Nri and the Aro Chukwu dynasties represent “sedentary Igbo people”, the other represents “returnee Igbo people”.

The Obi of Onitsha is traditionally and nationally rated in the same category with the Emir of Kano in Northwest Nigeria; the Gwong Gwom Jos in North-Cental Nigeria; the Emir of Gwandu; the Shehu of Borno; the Alafin of Oyo; the Atta of Igala and the Oba of Benin. The sacredness of these traditional institutions have existed for centuries.

All is fair in war and love and if the allegations that Gov Obi is tackling opposition in the state by propagating fallacies and hoodwinking the people of Anambra to vote for Obiano are true, he alone knows. Peter Obi plays politics but I don’t know about fallacies. But did he need to do that? Politicians should not play politics with sacred traditional institutions or use such as a means to an end. Any traditional institution that is joining partisan politics or taking sides in a gubernatorial election is opening up itself to the abuse that accompanies partisan politics. But as an indigene of a state, a politician should not flag-off his campaign in a town on the day the town celebrates its traditional glory, otherwise it becomes a spite!

Igwe Achebe is known to have played safe politically and has never associated himself openly with any candidate in Anambra elections. That indeed is honourable! He is known also to have distanced himself from the zoning in Anambra State governorship elections and so, should be accorded the respect he deserves!

Vanguard, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013 — 17

C M Y K

18—SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2013 Dear Aunty Julie, I am a very outgoing person and a very self-confident person. But I am very shy when it comes to initiating a relationship. I know that I simply am afraid of rejection. I know this is normal but I feel that my fear is possibly causing me to miss out on a chance of having a good relationship.

I have been asked out a few times this year, but the guys did not interest me at all .One was divorced with two kids, the others I found nice but dull.

All my friends are male and I talk to them about my problems, but it hasn’t helped at all.

How can I gain self-confidence in the area of romance.

I don’t have a problem once I am in a relationship and why is it that all my friends are males? Am I seen always as

I fear being rejected the sister or mother type? I am not interested romantically in any of my friends.

Agnes, Aba Dear Agnes, Dating can be a nerve-wracking process. There’s always the possibility you’ll fall for someone and risk being rejected, or that others will fall

for you and you’ll be the rejecter. What probably motivates you to understand your dating-related insecurities, though, is that there’s a chance you’ll land yourself a wonderful, mutually satisfying relationship.

The first step toward understanding is awareness and you seem to be well on your way.

Many people find that being single and/or dating provides opportunities to learn about themselves, other people, and their preferences. In your case, you notice that your generally positive view of yourself turns negative when faced with dating and the possibility of rejection; you’re most comfortable in a stable relationship; and you prefer to hang out with people you already know pretty well.

It’s worth pointing out that you feel self-assured and outgoing when you’re hanging out with your friends.

You could be looking to your guy friends to provide comfort during your singleness. Maybe they see you in a similar way, maybe not. Maybe they see you as a sister or mother figure, but it’s really hard to say. Maybe they just

like you for who you are! In any case, it’s good to have supportive friendships. Since you have a great social support network, it could be easier for you to find some dateable dudes through those connections.

You can start by making a list of your strengths and positive qualities. Is it possible that you tend to focus more on your shortcomings and reasons why desirable partners might decide to reject you when faced with the initiation of a date? If so, how do you think you’ve come to these ways of thinking? Since you feel confident and outgoing when the pressure’s not on for dating, what’s different about dating situations that zaps these strengths? Answers to this question will help you a lot.

How do I cope with low self-esteem?

Aunty Julie, My name is Kafilat and a student of Lagos State Polytechnic. I fear I have low self-esteem. I always compare myself to others. What is lacking in me that makes others better? Is it lack of faith in my abilities or am I being so hard on myself? I’m always saying yes to people or feeling like I’ve said the wrong thing. I’ve been feeling pretty unmotivated lately too, and I think this just adds to the problem. What do I do?

Kafilat, Lagos Dear Kafilat,

It seems that you have been pondering your low selfesteem for some time now, since you are familiar with many of its symptoms. You also appear to be experiencing some downtime at the moment which can contribute to and create a cycle of feelings of low self-esteem, low self-confidence, and low self-worth. You are not alone in feeling the way you do. Many people have felt similarly. Self-esteem is simply how good we feel about who we are. However, the impact of self-esteem or the lack of it is quite complicated and far-reaching.

Self esteem affects how we see the world and our place in it. It affects how others in the world see and treat

us. It affects the choices we make , choices about what we will do with our lives and with whom we will be involved. It affects our ability to both give and receive love. And, it affects our ability to take action to change things that need to be changed. As you can see, self-acceptance contributes to the development of a healthy self-esteem and can

significantly affect how we live our lives. When we have healthy self-esteem, we are aware of our potential, know the many facets that make us unique and we value and respect ourselves.

More importantly, however, we know that our imperfections and/or inadequacies are not inherently bad; they do not define our value and self-worth. With a healthy

self-esteem, we are aware that it’s human to have limitations and make mistakes.

Regardless of the level of self-esteem that we may have, it’s fairly common to doubt our self-worth at one time or another during our lives. It can become all too easy to compare ourselves to others.

When this self-comparison is occasional, it may be ben-

eficial. It can help us achieve goals and ideals that we admire and respect in other people. However, when selfcomparison becomes more frequent, all-consuming, and makes us feel that we do not and cannot measure up to our perception of others, it can become self-destructive and affect the quality of our lives. Although it may be challenging, it’s not impossible to start feeling better about yourself.

I was adopted and it’s affecting me Dear Julie, I am 22 years old and doing my NYSC. I was adopted when I was two and a half years old, and I’m having a lot of issues from it. I don’t really like myself and at times, I feel like I don’t know who I am. I let myself become close to my adoptive family, and still feel uncomfortable and out of place around them. I don’t have many friends. I isolate a lot and don’t really trust people. I am always scared to make friends for fear that I won’t be accepted or liked. Growing up, I often turned to alcohol to escape these feelings and to feel comfortable with myself. The problem now is that I am 22 and I have a two year old daughter.

I feel like I need to get over this so I can be a good mother

to her, and raise her to know and love herself. I feel lost, what can I do?

Aisha, Auchi Dear Aisha, Some believe that you must love yourself before you can love others, which may be partially true. You say you feel the need to “get over it,” but please keep in mind that the feelings you express are very common among adoptees. You may work through your issues and still be able to provide love to others. Be gentle with yourself.

While many people experience feelings of isolation and fears of rejection at various times in their lives, these feelings may be pronounced in people who have been adopt-

ed in a more nuanced way.

Why might this be?

Many adoptees may be very curious about their unclear origin. They may wonder why they were adopted, and often times, this wondering is accompanied by feelings of worry, sadness, and self-doubt.

Even people who feel very positively about their adoptive families may have issues that stem from being adopted. In particular, feelings of sadness may come up during major life milestones like getting married, during life achievements like getting a promotion, birthdays, or other significant events. Feelings of loss are common, even for those who were adopted as babies.

People who differ in physi-

cal appearance from their adoptive families sometimes feel like outsiders. Even when families who adopt embrace their child whole-heartedly, others may still inadvertently treat the adopted individual as an outsider.

Some people may feel that most of their struggles are related to having been adopted while others feel being adopted has not presented any life challenges for them. No matter where you may be on that spectrum, know that those feelings of mistrust and isolation are understandable and may be common among adoptees.

There are many things you may do to work through such feelings, not only for your children or other people close to you, but for your own comfort, as well.

C O C K - T A L E S Call the nurse: I have a question

A man is in a hospital bed wearing an oxygen mask over his mouth. ”Nurse”, he mumbles. “Are my testicles black?” The nurse raises his gown, holds his manhood in one hand and his testicles in the other, takes a close look and says, “There’s nothing wrong with them, s i r . ” The man pulls off the oxygen mask, smiles at her and says very slowly, “Thanks for that, it

was lovely, but listen very, very carefully.

Are-my-test-results-black?”

A successful marriage

Friend: “It is amazing, how are you able to maintain a successful marriage all these years?”

Wife: “We go out once a week to dinner and a movie. Then, we prefer a quiet walk back home.”

Husband: “That is right. She goes out every Saturday, I go out TUESDAYS.”

Marriage and love

Why are married women heavier than single women? Single women come home, see what’s in the fridge and go to bed. Married women come home, see what’s in bed and go to the fridge. * A man tells his doctor that he’s incapable of doing all the things around the house that he used to do.

When the examination is over, he says, “Okay, Doctor. In plain English what’s wrong with me?”

“Well, in plain English,” says the doctor, “you’re just lazy.” The man nods. “Now give me the medical term so I can tell my wife.”

SATURDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 12 12,, 2013—19

Why do abused women continue to fall for violent men?

I

relief. “Our regular spats were an open-book in the neighbourhood”, she recalls, “He was a control freak, always nagging me for making mama’s boys of our two sons and criticising everything I did, in spite of the fact that he wasn’t that much of a husband and provider he was also a womanizer. When my business started thriving, I was giving him a great thought when he had his heart attack and died. He’d com-

,

HAVE been with my new man for almost two years now”, stated a reader, after divorcing a bullying and violent husband some five years ago.

“This new man is a complete opposite of my ex; considerate, kind and patient. He tells me I am the best thing that has happened to him — except that he is a heavy drinker and I supposed he must be on drugs. Lately, he wants me to go out with him only and not with my friends whom, he said were unmarried and irresponsible. We don’t live together as I’m not ready for a repeat of the last experience I had with my ex. Most of the members in my family think I’m on a death wish going out with a low-life like him. But he seems to have a hold on me.

I’ve threatened to leave him because of his drinking, but he scares me when he always threatens: “If I can’t have you— no one will...’

The problem with this poor troubled reader is that after leaving a bad relationship, she jumped right into the fire of another turbulent relationship without touching the proverbial frying pan.

And that about describes the life of the average victim of domestic violence — they are constantly escaping from it. When Betty ’s husband died suddenly after almost 15 years of marriage, she said she heaved a sigh of “

plained of severe headache in the morning and when he didn’t feel better, I took him to our regular clinic where he was treated. The doctor said I should leave him to have enough rest and for him to be effectively monitored. I was to’ come back for him in the evening but when I got there, I met his corpse — he’d suffered a massive heart attack. It was all so weird and unnatural that I didn’t know how to take it. He might be a lousy husband but I certainly didn’t wish him dead!

The problem with this poor troubled reader is that after leaving a bad relationship, she jumped right into the fire of another turbulent relationship

,

“I continued with my business which started thriving beyond my wildest dreams. I met Ebby at a friend’s. Like me, his wife died some few years ago and we struck a relationship. He told me I was the most amazing woman he’d ever met. In a short while, he confessed he was falling in love with me.

Within six months, we were married. Here was a nice, decent and fun man who was crazy about me and my teenage boys, and ready to take us on. The friend I knew him through was very skeptical when I agreed to marry him, but didn’t discourage me.

Things were rosy for a while until he started discouraging me from going to my friends’ parties and homes. “You’re a responsibly married woman now”, he said. “Most of your friends are single and nothing short of trollops!”

I was amazed, filled with a sense of dejavu! Have I married another monster?

How could a fifty-something-year-old man behave like a jealous teenager?

Where was the generous charmer who said he worshipped the ground I walked on? What have I done to myself by agreeing to marry this stranger?

“He was always quick to apologize whenever we had any disagreement and would shower me with

Exper ts advise HR icial ttoo menopausal women!

Experts HRTT is benef beneficial ing it without discussing potential risks. Uptake of HRT halved after two studies linked it to an increased risk of heart disease and breast cancer. An estimated one million women in the UK stopped having the treatment.

Here in Nigeria, a lot of menopausal women have resorted to herbal remedies with little or no relief. Consultant Endocrinologist, Dr. Helen Buckler, from the University of Manchester, said the emerging consensus was

,

T

aking medication to reduce the symptoms of the menopause is safe according to medical experts.

They say hundreds of thousands of women have suffered unnecessarily as a result of the decade-long controversy over the effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy. Fresh guidance from the British Menopause Society is seeking to reassure patients, saying the benefits of HRT outweigh any potential risk for women in their 50s.

They say doctors should prescribe the treatment to any woman who has unpleasant menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes and mood changes. HRT is also known to provide bone protection in later life. However, the debate is likely to rage on as The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists continues to advise HRT only for women with serious menopausal symptoms for the shortest time possible. After five years doctors are not expected to continue prescrib-

ies linking HRT to breast cancer and heart disease were scientifically unreliable.

She said: ‘the new advice is HRT should be used for a slightly wider age, if need be. If a woman has symptoms affecting the quality of her personal or professional life, then the benefits outweigh the risk.’ The scare began in 2002, when the US Women’s Health study was halted three years early because researchers claimed women using HRT were at higher risk of breast cancer, heart disease and strokes.

This contradicted previous— and later — research which suggested it guarded

Researchers claimed women using HRT were at higher risk of breast cancer, heart disease and strokes

that the benefits of HRT outweighed the risks for most women, and that doctors should consider the updated BMS advice when treating the condition. According to her, the two stud-

against heart problems. HRT is normally prescribed to menopausal women in their 50s, but in the WID study, it was also given to women in their 60s and 70s who had gone through the menopause more than a decade earlier. Shortly afterwards the UK Million Women Study, part funded by Cancer Research, said HRT doubled breast cancer risk, but a review last year said it was ‘unreliable and defective’ .

,

cash gifts. We were in my office one day when one of my workers needed my attention in the factory. When came back, Ebby handed me the day’s mail that was brought in for me. All the envelopes of the letters had their tops ripped office Who opened my letters? I yelled, ready to challenge the messenger who brought them in, “I did”, said Ebby brazenly.

‘We’re married now. We shouldn’t have secrets between us.’ I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! I yelled at him that this had nothing to do with secrets, the letters were mine and he had no right opening them.

He apologized as he was always ready to do and peace was temporarily restored. Only, most of the phone-calls in the house seemed to come through when he was with me in the house. Instinctively, I checked the telephone plug one day and realized it’s been pulled out. I did it again, hoping the first time was a mistake, only to discover that the phone was plugged back as soon as he came in. When I confronted him, he said he didn’t want me getting any funny calls that would upset me!

“That did it! Frustration of the past months took over and I raved and ranted at him. He yelled back that he wouldn’t stand for me receiving any calls from my lovers. My two sons came out from their rooms on the defensive. They ’d witnessed a bit of violence between us and they ’d warned him against hitting me. Then slap! His open palm cracked across my check. Before I knew it, I’d returned the slap, encouraged by my sons’ presence.

All hell broke loose as my boys joined in and shouts and accusations filled the air. There were pushes and shoves. In no time, my boys had decked Ebby and things became wild with arms flailing, punches and wild sobs as all four of us got caught up in the brawl.

“By now, all our neighbours had come out to watch. Shame. faced, Ebby walked off in a huff, threatening to kill the three us if we weren’t gone by the time he came back. I took my kids with a few valuables and fled to my office where we slept for the night.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Will money destroy your marriage?

S

ecret bank accounts, hidden documents, fore-closure notices ; women are uncovering shocking signs of financial infidelity.

Mary Jones, a writer, had two kids, a spacious Lagos apartment at GRA Ikeja, and a successful production company built around her creative collaboration with her husband.

Their glamorous, fast-paced life was the envy of her friends until the night Mary Jones saw a friend off and grabbed her husband’s jacket instead of her own.

The coat felt strangely heavy and stiff, and when Mary looked inside, she discovered the lining had been cut open and stuffed with a mail. “Out of this jacket comes somebody else’s financial nightmare, except that my name was all over it: years of tax notices, eviction notices, repossession notices, tuition overdue notices, we hadn’t had health insurance in eight months, and we were about to be evicted from our apartment,” she says. “We

were three weeks away from living out in the apartment. It was horrifying.”

When she confronted her husband, he offered no explanation. “He shut down completely,” she says.

Throughout their 13-year relationship, Mary had managed their corporate business while her husband handled their personal finances. But while she signed their tax returns every year, he apparently never filed

them. “I had no idea I wasn’t paying taxes,” she says.

Mary eventually learned that their debts exceeded N5m. She wondered what was wrong but a few months later, her husband abruptly left her, and she found he had been having an affair. Mary is now getting a divorce and struggling to make sense of what happened.

“My life as I perceived it wasn’t my life,” she says. “All I thought we had and were

wasn’t true at all.”

Mary still couldn’t get over the fact that her husband never shared their financial troubles or let her help deal with them, a choice that left her feeling deeply betrayed.

That reaction is a telling sign of the times. In previous eras, wives often had very different expectations. Back when everyone assumed that men made the money and the decisions, women didn’t necessarily believe they were entitled to share information, let alone power. But today, marriage is typically viewed as a partnership based on mutual trust, and when one partner violates that trust by keeping financial secrets, lying, or making unilateral decisions that threaten a family ’s welfare, the other partner can feel profoundly betrayed by a transgression that may be even more destabilizing than an affair.

Women are victimized more often than men. According to a study, 80 percent of women said their partners had lied to them about finances or debt.

Among those who were deceived, more than 40 percent said it damaged the trust in their relationship, and for others it resulted in divorce.

Money is this massive pink elephant in bedrooms all across Nigeria, and the problem has been heightened in the economic downturn, which is a painful backdrop for dealing with an issue that nobody wants to talk about.

The reasons for financial infidelity can vary. Some men conceal financial assets because they ’re secretly preparing to leave their wives, while others lie to their partners even as they remain committed to the

relationship and expect it to survive.

Abigail, a nurse stopped working after she had her third baby. Her husband had suggested that she stopped her work rather than bringing in a maid to take care of the kids.

Then one day, her husband, a successful corporate executive, came home and delivered some unbelievable news. “I thought we had a few millions but he said, ‘We have nothing left,’” Abigail said.

Her husband had gambled away everything they owned on bad investments and unsuccessful day-trading. “Not only had he lost everything, but we were N2.8m in debt, including loans I didn’t know he had taken .I went to see a lawyer, and she said, ‘face it , you are a destitute.’”

They separated, although they did not divorce. Today, Abigail lives alone in a room she rented from a friend, and she works for an eventplanning company. “I have nothing , no pension, no equity, no nothing . I don’t even have a place I can call my own. We have learned to be poor, but there isn’t a day that I wake up and I'm not afraid. I lost my whole life.”

But she wassn’t the only one.

Her friend was home one day when she heard a rattling at the front door and found that someone was putting a notice on her house. " Her husband lost even more than my husband did. It’s ego and arrogance. These men think, I can make this money back. I’ll fix it, and she’ll never know.

There’s huge denial. My husband still thinks we’ll get back together. But I trust virtually no one now. You can’t trust anybody."

How do I get him to take me seriously?

There’s this coursemate of mine in the

University. He’s always flirting with

me, but when his friends are around, he acts differently, treating me like I’m easy. But when we’re alone, he treats me so nice and gentle. He’s really good looking, a smooth talker, a flirt and he’s not shy at all. But I found out that he gave me his number the day after he broke up with his girlfriend. So does that make me the rebound?

How do I get him to take me seriously? I really want a relationship with him, since his true personality is really sweet, but how do I get that “player” type to fall for me? I’m sort of a “good girl” when it comes to school but he smokes weed

and flaunts it in front of his friends like he’s trying to impress me.

Please help, I’m so confused!

Lola, Port-Harcourt Ans: It sounds like he is behaving as if he likes you and also not at all. If you are bold enough, you could try asking him in private why he is doing what he is doing. The best person to give you the answers you want is the person himself. Anyone else will simply be guessing, because we don’t understand his individual mind. I want you to understand also that there are some guys who like nothing more than to play “cat and mouse”. These guys often get a kick out of reeling you in, wining, dining, and maybe even making love with you, only to then stop calling, be obnoxious, or

ignore you. He may just be testing you. You might represent a challenge to him because you are a “good girl”, the type of girl he probably wouldn’t usually associate with. He might find the thrill of chasing you enjoyable. Or he could simply not be ready for another relationship. This might be especially true if he just broke up which if this is the case, may make you the rebound girl .

Whatever the reason, such inconsistent behaviour is rarely a good sign. It suggests that as long as you are involved with him, you would likely be thrown into an erratic cycle of having to deal with his dramas, highs, lows, and the overall uncertainty of being with someone who could be basically emotionally unavailable.

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SATURDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013—21

counterproductive.

We cannot outdo those ironpumping, tattooed Americans at what they invented; they will simply take it to a different level and leave us floundering. So it is no surprise that the few crumbs thrown out to acknowledge Afro Pop at their glitzy award ceremonies are presented offair to empty halls and to the indignation of several viewers back in Africa who denounce the implied disrespect.

And make no mistake about it: It is a lack of respect. And rightly so. Despite our African flavour, to a large extent, we are simply doing what they are already doing — only, not quite as good. To bulldoze our way into the primetime segment of the ceremony, we need to bring something new to the table; something fresh, original; something actually superior that they can learn from.

Something they can’t ignore.

Not a rehash of their own vices which they themselves, deep down inside, do not respect.

So the lesson for Nollywood as it stands poised at the edge of the Promised Land is this: By all means imitate the best.

But let’s exercise restraint.

Let’s use our discretion. Let’s adopt their best practices, particularly the technical and professional excellence.

Take what is positive; adapt it to our way of life, be uncompromising on quality, and achieve something original. Let’s drain out the negative stuff —the dregs, the chaff, the things that corrupt and pollute and have nothing worthwhile to contribute to efforts at shaping the productive and exemplary society we all want to live in.

The horizon is indeed bright. In other news (aside from the recent plaudits for Half of a Yellow Sun), Focus Features, Universal Studio’s arthouse film division with several Oscar-winning productions under its belt, has just appointed a Nigerian filmmaker to direct the longawaited ‘Fela Kuti’ feature film, with another Nigerian attached in the lead role. A leading Nigerian actress is cited in Time Magazine’s coveted 100 Most Influential People in the World list.

Another prominent film personality is invited all the way to Japan to showcase his latest works.

All this in the last 6 months.

So it is not entirely unreasonable for us to look forward to that day (possibly in the not-too-distantfuture) when a story conceived, developed and produced by Nigerians in Nigeria, about Nigeria, makes it to the list of nominees for a major Academy Award. Maybe then, we can finally boast that Nollywood has truly arrived.

Or for diehard Man U fans, maybe just the day that Rio Ferdinand admits to owning one on his I-pad.

Concluded

ago when two petty thieves were caught and handed over (no good deed goes unpunished) the owner of the house (said to highly connected; aren’t they always?

And who may or may not have known of their existence prior to the incident) was informed, after which, he was said to have given the squatters a week to vacate the premises – the security man who mostly likely wanted to collect his daily 200 naira multiplied by the 200 people said to be squatting there for as long as he could —failed to communicate this to the squatters but was said to have quietly packed his things and sneaked out leaving the squatters to their fate. The security operatives were said to have arrived in five truck loads at 2.30am

shooting sporadically in the air till the occupants ran out of the building in fear at which point they were they were picked off like sitting ducks in an arcade.

Another eyewitness said to live on the street said he knew some of the people squatting in the building, that they menial jobbers, some of the actually married with kids and further expressed surprise that they were being labelled members of Boko Haram.

So….What’s the story? Were any of the dead found with arms on or around them? And why would ‘armed’ men trained to fight to death, flee at the first sound of gun fire?

Now that the dust is settled did they find the cache of weapons said to be buried on the premises?

We ourselves wantonly shed our own blood by our own hands… why wouldn’t anyone else? The way you treat your dog, your spouse or even your rag for that matter is how other people will treat it to. No one will place any value on something you haven’t declared to be valuable in the first place. Selah.

Continued from last week

I

N

Nollywood goes to school (3)

Let’s drain out the negative stuff... phrase ‘go down low’, as if it were the requisite admission pass into the heavily guarded hall of fame and fortune. The beats are beginning to sound monotonously similar, the video storylines remain intellectually and spiritually unchallenging, and what remains to be seen is the exact extent of the public’s appetite for this particular diet of music, before its stomach revolts and it seeks more balanced nutrition elsewhere.

,

t is amazing how many Nollywood productions disappear into the annals of oblivion simply because (aside from quality issues) their owners fail to invest the same financial and creative commitment in marketing as they did in production (unlike Hollywood where marketing budgets frequently outstrip the cost of producing the movies themselves). The choice of a cinema (as opposed to DVD) release strategy at the outset automatically transfers the burden of promotion from the traditional marketers to the content originators themselves who are frequently unprepared for the hard graft involved in bringing their products to the awareness of the public and successfully persuading them that they constitute a worthwhile investment of their time and money.

But despite the confident strides the Nigerian music industry has taken over the last few years, there are also a few professional missteps noticeable in its march toward global recognition that its film counterparts will do well to avoid. The most prominent of these include: The Copycat Syndrome: It is human nature to jump on the bandwagon of a successful formula and replicate it without variation. Our artistes are no different; every song these days seems to include the ubiquitous

dimensions when it ventures into the terrain of cultural values and morality. Because in their quest to replicate the same sort of success and notoriety as their peers overseas and hopefully gain acceptance into their community, several of our artistes have plunged heedlessly into the same fervid swamp of gratuitous booty-shaking and crass spectacles of ostentatious living that characterizes

No doubt it takes considerably greater time and effort to achieve a work of originality

In similar vein, a frequent complaint from consumers of contemporary local films is their lack of originality; copious —in some cases, wholesale— adaptations of story plots from popular Hollywood fare has engendered a lack of respect amongst the target audience for ‘Made in Nigeria’. No doubt it takes considerably greater time and effort to achieve a work of originality, but its reward more than compensates for the sacrifices made, and no other foundation can support sustainable success in the industry.

But this undesirable tendency assumes far more serious

a wa o ! As a Nigerian I’m beginning to feel like the Israel with all this persecution. So if any thing bad happens anywhere, what, just check around for the next Nigerian and that’s your culprit? And please, (with my hand all up in your face!) don’t give me that story about Nigerians being the worst criminals on the face of the earth. What we don’t realize is that every time we say or agree with that we reinforce and energise an image concocted in the pit of hell designed to render us as dung before the nations.

Like seriously, Nigeria was invaded by Guinea Bissau?

That is the implication once an embassy is breached.

And Nigeria’s response reads like a classic civil killings, that go unsolved; service textbook case. We unpunished…unaccounted for. protest, they apologise and If it’s not a trigger happy lawa committee is looking into enforcement agent, it’s a poor the matter; chikena! Inter- excuse for a ‘social crusader’ national diplomacy my who goes slaughtering sleeping foot; sometimes you just children in the night or somehave to kick ass – period. I one just trying to flex. know… I’m a mother… you Take for instance of this stoDO NOT mess with any of ry of mayhem in Abuja. It is my children. I’ve been reported that operatives of the known to get that message SSS raided a building in Apo across to many simply by quarters. By the time the dust setting an example of one. settled, there were eight peoBut hey, what the heck! ple dead and several injured.

Why won’t Nigerians be Why? It is alleged that the oceasy prey? It’s not like the cupants of the building were government particularly members of Boko Haram. Accares. And what are we pro- cording to the SSS spokespertesting? People die here son the operatives came under like flies every day, many attack when they went to a of them victims of senseless building to exhume weapons

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modern hip hop today. Values alien to our cultural and spiritual sensibilities are adopted without discrimination, all in a bid to tap into that proven formula of success (no matter how morally questionable) and milk it for all it is worth.

Truly, you cannot serve God and money. You will indeed follow one and despise the other.

The free (or discounted) gig performed now and then for the local church is no compensation.

And interestingly, this strategy of imitation may already be proving

Whereof our refuge?

C M Y K

buried therein by people suspected to be members of the sect. According to her, the attack was sequel to ‘information obtained from two Boko Haram elements who had earlier on been arrested’….I know these are very precarious times, and so much as a hint of any affiliation to the sect is a sure fire way to die, however, there are survivors and eye witnesses who say otherwise.

According to one of the survivors they were merely menial jobbers who had been squatting in that uncompleted building for the last four years who actually pay ‘rent’ of two hundred naira a week to the security guard. Trouble started for them about a week

22 — SATURDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

(Text Only)

Diet, exercise and rest The Twist

Technique: Sit with the legs outstretched in front of you. Bend the right knee and place the leg flat down with the heel close to the outside of the left buttock. Bend the left knee and place the foot down over the right knee. Hold the right knee with the right hand passing on the outside of left knee. Turn the head and trunk leftward and raise up, and stretch out the left hand.

Hold the position for 15 to 20

seconds breathing slowly, but deeply. Repeat with legs and hands changed and turn the trunk rightward.

Benefit: The twist massages the

digestive organs and helps to burn fat in the abdominal region. The shoulders are strengthened and the joints of the lower limbs are lubricated.

The Chair Technique: Standing with the feet about a foot and halt a part raise the hands to shoulder level and then begin bending the knees and lowering the body till you come to sit on both heels. You start off flatfooted and as you get lower and can’t maintain the flat footededness any longer then get on to the balls of your feet with the heels off the ground.

Keep the hands at shoulder level all the time.

After a count of 10 or 15 begin to slowly raise the body till the whole body is upright and then drop unto your heels. Resi a bit and repeat once more.

Benefits: The chair strengthens the muscles of the legs which improves the backflow of blood to the heart.

The chair posture also promotes good posture.

•The Twist

Legs Raise

Technique: Lie on your right side and support the side of the head with the right hand. Place the left hand on the left hip (or down on the floor if you have problem keeping steady), and raise both legs up with the knees

•Legs Raise

Yoga Classes @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

locked.

Breathe normally and retain the posture for 10 or 15 seconds, and repeat on the other side.

Benefits: The legs raise strengthens the muscles of the legs and the lower stomach. It burns fat about the hips decreasing the waistline.

•The Chair

E

very couple, when entering into an in timate, committed relationship and hopefully before marriage, should have the infidelity conversation. The understanding of infidelity is quite blurred as some may not consider “emotional infidelity” as a breach of trust but it actually is. Both physical and emotional intimacy with somebody other than your partner is infidelity.

Physical intimacy or sexual relations outside an intimate relationship is distrust and betrayal, while emotional intimacy can be emotional dependence where quality time, attention and romantic love is spent with a person with whom you are not in a relationship with. In both the cases, the other partner in the relationship is cheated and betrayed accounting to infidelity.

Most people in relationships would agree that commitment means never going astray on sex, and at times even being emotionally intimate to someone else. In a recent survey , it was found that many people admit to being unfaithful at some point of time in their life.

It is bemusing that the married lot cheated more than the single.

The reasons for this vary from person to person, but the single factor that is relevant to both the genders is the aversion to commitment.

With the romance coming to an end after marriage, many people cannot reconcile themselves to the mundane life.

They want the same attraction back which is not possible in the partner with whom they have spent their last year together.

A nagging wife or over passionate husband can make the spouses look for another person to get sanity back into life.

That is one of the prime reasons why men and women fall into the arms of a person other than their partner.

In case of some persons, it is peer group tendency that drives them to commit adultery. In case a buddy does it and shows it off as something fun, there are many men who cannot resist it. The same goes for women as some friends make their mates cheat just for kicks.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013—23 cheating on your partner, just give a thought to its dire consequences. Think how it will hurt your partner and everybody else around you. If children are involved, think how it is going to influence their life and their mental development. Infidelity does not in-

Infidelity:

Why people cheat on their par tners

volve you and your partner, it impinges on your family’s mentality and tears them apart. The best solution is to locate the problems in your relationship that brought you to think of cheating with your partner. Such thoughts can be forced by innumerable reasons such as staying away from your partner for too long or giving a lot of importance to the person you are attracted to. *Spend sometime for selfanalysis and ask yourself if cheating is worth the risk of hurting everyone you hold dear. Question yourself as to what is important for you: being intimate with another man or woman or your marital life and family. Be honest to yourself and give a thought to what you are putting at stake by being disloyal to your partner.

In case of men, it is the starvation of sex that leads them to have it outside of wedlock.

If the woman is not willing to have sex as much as the man wants or needs it, he is going to look for it elsewhere. In the same way, an unsatisfied woman would look for someone who can satisfy her.

The craving for new thrill is one of the most important reasons behind cheating. A man has gratified himself with you, and is not likely to feel the same again. That brings out the urge to experiment, in other words, flirting with other women. If a person is in a state of despair and under great stress, having an affair can fix

PERT X E S E H T ASK I am 23 and my husband is 27. He is never interested in foreplay or sex. He gets conscious during intercourse and I always have to take the initiative. He complains of weakness and stress in office. We end up having sex just once in three weeks. What could be the reason? What should I do?

You must persuade him to get a detailed health checkup. He should learn or take help from a friend to lessen his stress which is a known cause of erectile dysfunc-

many problems. It can not only give release from the tension but also work to boost the ego of a person as he or she now feels more desirable. This is usually due to lack of spark or mutual appreciation in a relationship.

How to deal with thoughts of infidelity Before you decide to cheat on your partner, learn to deal with the thoughts of infidelity by figuring out what is lacking in your relationship and bringing thoughts that could cost you love of your current partner and family.

*The foremost step to deal with thoughts of infidelity is to figure out the incidences of such thoughts. Daydreaming about your favourite movie star/s or getting attracted to someone on the street is perfectly normal, but getting intimate with another person is an indication that your current relationship is lacking something essential.

Instead of focusing your attention on the one whom you admire, revaluate your relationship with your partner to know the differences.

*While having thoughts of

tions.

I am 47 years old and I have two daughters.

My husband is amazing but the problem is that he wants to have sex twice or thrice a week. I don’t like having it as often. Also, I have noticed that my private part has grown wider due to many years of sex. Is that the reason why I don’t enjoy sex ? What can I do to tighten it to make sex pleasurable?

Visit a gynaecologist to confirm your doubts. You may be consider a vagina-tightening operation.

Meanwhile, learn kegel exercises by looking them

*To deal with the ideas of infidelity, the best option is to communicate your feelings to your partner. Do not state to him or her that you are having thoughts of infidelity, but explain that you are finding some difficulties in your relationship. Tell him or her what is missing in the relationship and try to voice your present feelings. Do it in a way that it does not hurt your partner’s emotions and try to clear your doubts as much as possible so that the two of you

can decide an appropriate future action i.e. whether to make things work or take individual ways. Putting an end to a relationship is always better than being unfaithful and disloyal. *Instead of feeling guilty for being unfaithful later, confide in a close friend about your thoughts of indulging in infidelity. Perhaps, your friend can give some fresh ideas to steer your current relationship to a positive direction.

up on the internet, as they will exercise the muscles around your vagina.

I am a 25-year-old single man. My manhood is seven to eight centimetres. With such a size, can I satisfy women? Also, the foreskin doesn’t slip back. Do I require a circumcision?

It is best to consult a surgeon who will tell you whether you need a circumcision or not.

A size of more than six to seven centimetres can satisfy a woman, provided the act is preceded by good foreplay.

24—SA TURD AY 24—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Joseph left me in the hands of my course mates who were serious Casanovas but I scaled through the hurdles still intact because I believed I needed to remain faithful to him

BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

I

met Joseph in 1991, during my one year industrial attachment and I thought I would never ever love another man because I actually believed that what we shared was love.

I gave him everything and I mean everything. It just occurred to me that we never said a simple I love you to each other but I thought we were head over heels in love.

Joseph soon became the enemy of all my male admirers because he never gave me a breathing space. I enjoyed every bit of the short drama that ensued each time a guy ‘toasted’ me and Joseph surfaced, cutting short the drama so we could go for lunch. He had it tough with the pot belly, huge but very handsome MD of the Media house I was attached to. It baffled me however, that Sir Ford as he was fondly called, left his status and came after me of all the pretty ladies in the company. Joseph told me much horrifying stories about Sir Ford which I took with just a pinch of salt, because I thought he did that out of jealousy.

However, the stories especially the ones that had to do with Ford being the company’s he goat, was true because I soon discovered that Sir Ford had broken more hearts than any one could ever mend in this life.

“Sir, you sent for me”, I asked him.

“Yes please have a seat” Sir Ford replied, as he showed me a long sofa in his office. It was the same sofa Joseph told me the womanizer bedded girls as often as they were caught in his trap. I was young and naive so I thought I was done for that day. Sir Ford brought a bottle of soft drink and joined me on the sofa. My trepidations were confirmed when minutes later, I sprang to my feet the moment his right hand travelled from my arm to my chest region, I ran to the door but alas, it was locked. He swiftly covered up the space like a hungry vampire after its prey, and locked me against the wall with his massive self.

“Please let me go” I begged. “Relax, why are you pretending as if you’ve not done it before”, he replied with such romantic voice that was rather repugnant to me at the moment. “Sir please I have not”, I said shivering from his touch. “So you want to tell me that Joseph only enjoys looking at this pretty face of yours, okay relax let me show you how it feels like”, he said, and continued with trying to make a deadly incursion into no go areas.

I was almost a victim of rape that day, had the Editor-in-Chief and some other top editorial staff not come to his office for an emergency meeting. Until I completed my IT, I refused to answer any of Sir Ford’s calls, irrespective of whom he sent to me.

Joseph on his part refused to believe that the MD did not have his way and in the process, I was deflowered just to prove my innocence, not knowing it was his strategy to get me on his bed.

He introduced me to his family and every member of the Royal family fell in love with me. We got engaged and sadly, Joseph took advantage of my naivety and there was no holds bared

Tales from Kimberly’s diary

as he had me whenever he wished.

In the process, I got a bitter gift each Christmas that I had to discard each time, please don’t ask me what the gift was.

Joseph left me in the hands of my course mates who were serious Casanovas but I scaled through the hurdles still intact because I believed I needed to remain faithful to him. My parents at some point, advised me to put an end to my relationship with Joseph because according to them, it would lead me no where, besides, the courtship they said, had dragged for too long. They maintained that “ what the elder sees while seated, the child cannot see even if he climbed the iroko tree.” I however, refused to heed their advise because I thought they disapproved Joseph because he hadn’t made money. A year later, I graduated and was posted to Adamawa State for my Youth Service. It was another round of temptations to have another relationship but because I saw myself as already, someone’s wife I refused to mess around with any other guy.

All this while, I heard from or saw Joseph only when I visited home. It happened that each time I travelled, I went straight to his place and spent some days before I proceeded to my parents’ house. Few weeks before I rapped up the Youth Service, I was delighted when Joseph’s family sent a message to my parents about their intention to ask my hand in marriage and a day was fixed. My parents were relieved big time!

It was hard to believe that neither Joseph nor any member of his family showed up on the 29th of December, 1998. I was heart broken knowing I had lost my first ‘love’. Matters were made worse when I did not receive any explanation for the disappointment.

After the Youth service, I travelled to Port-Harcourt were I stayed with one

of my aunties and surprisingly, I came home from a job hunting exercise one day and was told that a guy named Joseph had asked after me. It was a bad news because it only hurt me the more. Eventually, we met and I inquired what I did to deserve such disappointment and unbelievably, Joseph blabbed all through. “You mean you cannot explain why your people failed to honour a date they themselves set?”, I asked with great disappointment. And for the first time in my life, I wished I had a gun and that would have meant Joseph being deleted from this world because rather than defend himself and of course his people, he expressed a stupid desire to sleep with me that minute. Matters were made even worse when he said nothing about a fresh date for the traditional wedding. When I got home that afternoon, I grieved for the loss of the man who promised never to leave me for any other or break my heart but at the end, I thanked God I was brave enough to pull my already stuck head before it was severed from my neck.

O

nce again, I relocated to La gos where I embarked on another job hunting spree. “ What has this world turned into for goodness sake…What has come over men that they have become so shameless” I soliloquized after Chief almost raped me in his exquisite office but succeeded in stealing kisses which where highly repulsive to me. “Why wouldn’t these old men respect themselves” I cried. Regrettably, Chief was not alone in the business of desiring to sleep with me before offering me employment. In fact, all the chief executives I encountered, including a Director of Programmes in a notable electronic media, who were involved in the unholy act, all behaved as if they acted from the same script. It became clear that I was far from getting a job

at that media house when the DP requested I went on a holiday trip with him to Ibadan just for fun. I gave excuses and that ended my hopes of getting employed there.

Barely a year later, Dave came my way when I was almost hopeless. I regarded him as a shoulder to lean on especially after the ugly ordeal in the hands of Joseph, the moment he began proving that he was sent to wipe off my tears. I had settled for a job far below my qualification all for to keep myself busy and that didn’t go down well with Dave when we met. He enrolled me into the University of Lagos for my Master ’s Degree in International Relations and my joy knew no bounds. “Yes! I said to myself, Dave is really God sent.”

As I commenced the programme, I moved into Dave’s apartment at his request but my parents heard about it and concluded that I had gone berserk. I stupidly ignored there threats to disown me if I continued as Dave’s live-in-lover. On his part, Dave defended my stance with the promise to wed me as soon as I was through with the programme.

Sadly, three years went by and I was still stuck with Dave without any kind of wedding, not even a simple introduction.. His mother who was the supposed obstacle swore not to have me as a member of her family. The battled raged and I saw myself, drifting into the world of depression. At long last, I went back to my parents’ place after succumbing to pressures from my elder brother but one thing baffled me at that point and that was the eagerness with which Dave assisted me with by belongings while I moved out of his house. Well, I understood with him when he explained that he needed for the first time, to respect my people if he was to become their son-inlaw. “My dear sister, I have suffered with those I saw suffer.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013 — 25

08116759764 anozieegole@yahoo.com

Chidinma dying for Dammy Krane!

Julius Agwu becomes latest dad in town KEHINDE AJOSE Multi-talented comedian and showbiz entrepreneur, Julius Agwu and his wife, Ibiere welcomed their second child , a boy on Sunday, 6th October 2013.The baby was named Zadok Chibuike Julius Agwu. Julius’s 4-year old daughter, Zahra will be excited as she has a younger brother to play with now.

However it is worth noting that the Agwu’s kids having their names beginning witn letter ‘Z’

S

he is beautiful and one of the most talented female artistes in town now.

Though musically, her Kedike album, is what is working for her as her latest album, Omo Bale, did not make much wave.

Speaking in a recent interview session on TV, the petite but beautiful singer confessed how much she admires Dammy Kranne and wished he will some day be there for her.

The talented singer looks to prefer Dammy Krane to Iyanya, Davido and Wizkid. “Iyanya has the body, Davido has the money, Wizkid is the starboy but Dammy Krane is a sweet cute guy. I’ll probably go for Dammy Krane,” she said

*Julius Agwu

Glamour, as Juliet Geoffrey holds Model Look Africa M

Fans blast Muna Abii O

ne-time winner of the prestigious, Silverbird organized Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Muna Abii is not finding things very funny this time around as music pundits have descended on her, advising her to look for another profession other than music because it is not her calling.

The beautiful model who was also a one time brand ambassador of a toilet soap has failed to impress her fans in the mainstream music world which has generated negative reactions from her fans. They advised her to go for another profession and not music.

*Muna

*Chidimma

odels are getting set to strut the runway for the second season of the glamorous modeling, beauty and fashion competition, tagged “2Side Model Look Africa 2013” Organizers say, the show aims to redefine the modeling industry by adding professionalism and creating career paths for young aspiring models; to project talent as well as promoting art, culture and tourism.

According to Project Director Juliet Geoffrey, welcome party took place yesterday at Capital City Hotel and Suites, Ikeja, Lagos.

While the grand finale blazes on October 12th, 2013 at the Mozida Lounge, Opebi, Ikeja. Special guests of honor/Speakers at the event are Omawumi, 2Face Idibia, Efe Omoreghe, Buchi, Mike Okri, Warebi Martha, Queen Nwakoye, Slim Joe(Yan Yan master),Dayo Ephraim Hip pop TV/award, Deji Bakare (Mr. Nigeria 2012) Chibuzor Partrick (Voice of the Youth), Artquak, Mc Ice water, Gee the Preacher and many more.

Coca-Cola premieres music show

I

n line with redefining African music industry and bringing African artistes together, one of the biggest brands in the world, Coca- Cola, has recently premiered the first episode of their music show tagged, Coke Studio Africa. The exciting music fusion project intends to bring live musical collaborations of more than 24 artistes from sub- Saharan Africa. The season one will feature top African artistes like, KSA, MI, Waje, Jimmy Jatt, Bez from Nigeria, Salif Keita among others from other African countries. The one of a kind music show will bring together African artistes from different genres, eras and regions to promote a modern and authentic African sound through musical fusion. According to MI, Coke

Studio is nothing short of an exciting musical adventure. “It is an opportunity to delve into evergreen music like highlife, Apala, Sakara, Kalangu amongst among others. I commend Coca-Cola for this unique concept,” the rapper said. Speaking on the rationale behind the show, Olufemi Ashipa, Brand Manger, Colas at Coca-Cola Nigeria said that the show, intends to take Nigeria music to an entirely different level and aims to satisfy the desire for something new and different. “The music industry in Nigeria has witnessed a surge of talent shows, however, Coke Studio is not just a platform, but a journey in discovery, bringing African together through music,”Olufemi said.

MI

26 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

I can’t understand why my father married 27 wives — Femi Kuti

..says he doesn’t believe in marriage Fela was in pain before he died

T

he 2013

edition of F e l a b r a t i o n , a week-long concert which celebrates the life and times of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti commences from Monday, October 14 through 20 at the Afrikan Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos. In this interview, Femi Kuti, the eldest son of Fela went down memory lane, recounting the story of his late father, his music and ideologies.

He also talks about what the fans of Afrobeat music will expect at this year’s Felabration among other issues.

BENJAMIN NJOKU

Felabration

W

e learnt that Rita Marley will be headlining this year ’s Felabration. Why is she not here today?

She sent a message few days ago that she was not feeling fine, and might not make it to the event. However, she will be represented at the festival by the head C M Y K

of her foundation, Rita Marley Foundation.

What’s the financial implication of organising this festival?

We have no major sponsors at the moment.

Fortunately, most of the artistes are performing for free. We have been very lucky that the likes of King Sunny Ade, D’banj, Wizkid, Pasuma, and many others, have been performing for free. This year, they will grace the stage again. But we usually pay a token to the up and coming artistes as a way of supporting them. However, Nigerian Breweries Plc has promised to come on board next year as a major sponsor of the event. We are hoping that as from next year, Felabration will not be talking about financial difficulties.

What’s new in this year’s Felabration?

I think what will always be new is the enthusiasm of the crowd. The festival runs from Monday through Sunday. It kicked off last Monday with school debate. Wuri Modern College won the competition last year. The Felabration usually kicks off with school debate because we are trying to introduce new things other than music. There will be symposium where the likes of Femi Falana, SAN, will be in attendance. The festival will kick off properly next week Tuesday. It will run till Saturday and closes on Sunday.

Is Bob Marley’s son still going to make it to the festival?

I think he’s having problem with obtaining visa. He has agreed to come and the contract

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013 — 27

Fela’s biopic

A

side Felabration, what is the family’s stand on Fela’s biopic being produced by an American company recently?

I don’t know about it. There are many things I don’t know about. I know that they have been working on the biopic for the past five years.

Andrew Dosumu, a British Nigerian director was chosen to direct the biopic and Nigerian international actor, Chiwenta Ejiofor is being touted to act Fela in the biopic?

It is the same biopic that we are talking about.

This is a biopic that has been in the making for about five years now. I’m sure you know it is not the kind of film that you can produce overnight.

They have to capture the burning of the house, the soldiers...If they are going to do a movie of that magnitude, it’s going to be a great movie. It is going to take time. They have been talking about this movie for ages now.

Does the family have any plan to do that?

No. We are only going to give them the license to do it. We have a legal team that deals with all of these things. My own duty as a member of the estate is to give the approval. I have signed the contract several years ago and I know, it will take another two to three years before this dream will materialize. I know that the first contract we signed for five years ought to be renewed if they have not completed the production of the film within the time frame. They started talking about the film when my father died but eventually the contract expired. So, they had to renew a new contract. This is because there is no money in the music business. That’s why the family has been very lenient when discussing with all these people because we all know about piracy. Everybody is downloading Fela’s music, so you have to be very understandable. We have

The people will always honour my father and he will always be celebrated world wide. Even Lagos state has honoured him. Even if the family doesn’t celebrate him, Fela has gone beyond the shores of Nigeria

,

has been finalized. We are waiting for him to obtain his visa. If he succeeds, fine. We are expecting a lot of Afrobeat bands from America, Ghana and other African countries. Our local artistes such as Tuface, Kwam 1, Davido, Whizkid, Eedris and other superstars including myself will be on duty.

Apart from finance, what other challenges are you encountering?

I think the major challenges are finance and security. We would love a situation where we would pay the artistes handsomely and dictate the pace for them. But now, they dictate the pace for us. The artistes decide when and when not to perform on stage. Felabration bends to everybody’s rules. The next thing is to get the museum working. Apparently, Lagos State government has purchased the piece of land beside the museum which we use as car park.

But we are still looking for major sponsors that will drive the museum. We have big dreams that we want to put in place.

With this year’s Felabration coming up, would you say you have achieved the dream of setting up the festival?

Definitely. We are all Nigerians and we know what it means to run a festival at that level for 13 years. I think we have to be applauded. It’s a feat that hasn’t been achieved in Nigeria. All the great festivals we know in Nigeria are no longer functioning. We have never heard any security challenges in the past 13 years. With the crowd of over 10,000 people attending the festival, I think we have to be commended. Now, Felabration is observed across the world, especially in major cities of the world. The event my sister, Yeni started has grown big and stronger.

One would have thought that the Fela broadway show would have boosted the festival?

I’m sure you know what it cost them to be in Nigeria then. They are a cast of about 50 people.

By the time you talk about their flight tickets, accommodation, and so on, you would know what I mean. I think it was the Lagos State government that sponsored their trip to the country. Eventually, what we are going to be focusing on is discovering new talents and more bands. I will like a situation where we do not have only hip-hop artistes on stage.

,

a good legal team that handles all these stuffs for the family. Of course, we have to protect the integrity of the family

Fela and his music

he knew what corruption was going to do to the country; those involved in corruption wanted to get away with dictatorship and corruption which was what he was against. And because he used his own unconventional way of protesting, it didn’t go down well with the authorities.

Then the authorities controlled the media up to a point until *Fela Kuti after Daily Times, when other media houses started springing up because we have to remember that it was only government newspapers and TVs that we had then. Nigerians not hear what Fela So, the story was told from the talked about? Are they not feeling the government’s perspective until The same pain that Fela felt when he was Punch, Vanguard and other magazines alive? Nigerians are still voting for the were established. Fela’s story could be same corrupt politicians.

Are you worried that government seen from another point of view. We have to understand where Fela was has not been able to honour your coming from in the 60s. Where did the father after his death?

Not at all. The people will always problem start? What was the cause of his problem? And maybe, because he honour my father and he will always was already a stubborn character, he be celebrated worldwide. Even Lagos was going to make matters worse and state has honoured him. Even if the that was his character and that is the family doesn’t celebrate him, Fela has character that people now love. What gone beyond the shores of Nigeria. As kind of man was he, that many people we speak, New York, Paris, England, Japan, Australia, New Zealanmd,

L

ooking at it holistically, do you feel comfortable that a Nigerian who has practically lived abroad all his life is playing the role of Fela?

I’m sure if they do a movie, it will be great. Now, let us look at the broadway show. Critics say that it was too Americanised. They did not want to show Fela’s story from the Nigerian perspective. They wanted the American and the international market to understand the Fela story. See how Fela was misunderstood even when he went to the United States. It was after his death that people started evaluating his music. What he was doing? He married 27 wives in his lifetime, how dare he? This man was against feminism.? They gave him different kind of names. He was completely misunderstood because he wore pants, he smoked marijuana. He had issues.

He had serious issues whether we liked it or not. At his death, people were celebrating him but in his lifetime, he was broke before he died.

What they did was to tell the Fela story for the average international market to watch and understand it. If you did watch them, you would notice that the dancers could not dance the Afrobeat music. For you, the man was speaking American English. But you would have every reason to believe that the Fela you know was not being acted but if you look at it from the neutral perspective like you didn’t know Fela, you would understand the story and even weep for him. The day I watched it, I cried. I cried because I knew where they were coming from and I saw the audience. Probably, they have not heard about Fela, the Americans were saying, it made them want to listen to his music to know more about Africa. It opened their minds to so many issues.

Now, they are studying Afrobeat in many of the schools and universities in America, Germany, France, Sweden, Australia, everywhere. There are over 20 American bands playing Afrobeat at the moment.

Over the years and given what is happening in the country today, will you say your father has been vindicated or misunderstood while he lived?

I will answer in the affirmative. He was grossly misunderstood for a purpose because he saw corruption and

*Femi Kuti ran away from him, or even compromised him. But he didn’t have to go through all those beatings? So, I think, he was purposely misunderstood but yes, he has been vindicated.

But you are a different specie?

I would say, I am probably more diplomatic because I have learnt from what I saw of him. First, you have to understand the political climate which we live in. Let us remember who voted for Obasanjo? Except if we want to be dishonest with ourselves, Obasanjo won the first election, clean and clear.

What would Fela have done if he was alive and this same Nigerians still went to vote for this same Obasanjo? Didn’t they hear Fela sing about this man?

Then, it is still these same Nigerians that were criticising this man and they know it. Let us look at our incumbent President. He was declared wanted by the EFCC when he was governor of Bayelsa State and you voted for him.

That case was pending in court when Yar ’ Adua made him his Vice.

Opposition parties should have objected to his selection. But they didn’t. Again, his former boss late Yar ‘ Adua whom he served under had a seven point agenda. Where is it today?

Jonathan promised that if anything happened to him that he would follow his footsteps. Has him followed his footsteps today?

There are many things you have to understand as Fela’s son. Did

China, Malaysia, among others still celebrate him.

At over 50, some people say it seems you have become more sexually active?

That is not true, I am no more sexually active. When you see a beautiful woman, when you reach my age and you have responsibility like myself, you will know what I am talking about. Before now, as a young man, you would want to go after her.

There are many nights I go and sleep alone not because I don’t have girlfriends or want a girlfriend, when I think of the responsibility I have in my life, I will immediately have a rethink.

The women in my life also have responsibilities.Icantellyouthatthemothers of my children, we stay together, we are very serious. You could say we are husband and wife but I don’t believe in marriage. I just don’t understand why one man will say I pronounce you man and wife, in that case. I pronounce myself man and wife. I am very different from my father but in a lot of ways like him.

LikeIcouldn’tunderstandwhyhemarried 27wives.Whenhemarriedthem,hedivorced them.Ididn’thaveaproblemwithmyfather’s wives butmymotherdid. Whentheproblem started in Kalakuta, for us it was fun. Many things have changed. Of course I am very muchsexuallyactivebutwhenIconsiderthe problems my shoki has given me, it dies quickly.

28 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013—29

30— SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji

08023542350

Most wanted J *Casillas

Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

A

W

lthough a few years ago it would have been impossible to imagine Iker Casillas leaving Real Madrid, it remains a serious possibility this January after manager Carlo Ancelotti has continued in the manner of his predecessor, Jose Mourinho by leaving the Spanish shotstopper on the bench. In a World Cup year, Casillas will be desperate to play regularly.

Juan Mata (Chelsea)

ith Real Madrid plotting further big moves in the transfer market this January, Karim Benzema could be set to make way at the Bernabeu after a slight dip in form over the last year or so. On his day, the French striker is certainly one of the best in the world, and that is why there will be a long queue of clubs looking to snap him up in the transfer window if he is made available. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United will likely lead the chase for the 25year-old, who could be available for a knock-down £17m, according to sources.

Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United)

T

he Japanese play-maker continues to be frustrated by a lack of firstteam opportunities under David Moyes this season and may return to the club where he first made a name for himself in European football.

Dortmund would dearly love to have him back, and his days at United certainly seem numbered.

A

lthough Juan Mata seems to be edging his way back into Jose Mourinho’s plans after a difficult start to the season, the Spanish play-maker may still be tempted to leave Chelsea after his treatment at the club by the new manager. Undoubtedly, one of the best players in the world in his position, Mata could fit into almost any side in the world, and there will be a huge number of top teams chasing him this January if his situation remains uncertain.

*Benzema

L

Christian Benteke (Aston Villa)

A

fter a fantastic first season in the Premier League last year, Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke attracted plenty of interest over the summer before eventually signing a new contract at Villa Park. Still, the powerful and prolific Belgian hit-man is likely to be on the agenda of many top clubs again this January, with Manchester United said to be keeping him in mind if Wayne Rooney does end up leaving the club.

Luis Suarez (Liverpool)

*Kagawa

uis Suarez did everything he could to force a move away from Anfield this summer as the likes of Arsenal and Real Madrid chased him. Although the Reds won’t want to sell to a rival, the two clubs are set to revive their interest in the talented Uruguayan again this January, making a move to Spain look increasingly likely, as they could be willing to pay as much as £45m to land the exciting forward, who could be a direct replacement for Karim Benzema.

Mario Balotelli (AC Milan)

A

fter this controversial character left Manchester City last January, Mario Balotelli could be on his way back to the Premier League this January, with speculation mounting that AC Milan would be willing to sell the Arsenal and Liverpool target for as little as £12m.

*Benteke

*Balotelli

*Suarez

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013 —31

Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji

08023542350

January transfer targets Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao)

M

anchester United supposedly came close to signing Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao on transfer deadline day, though much confusion still surrounds why that transfer fell through. Still, t h e Spaniard is undoubtedly a fine midfield playmaker, and United look set to continue their pursuit of the 24-yearold in the January transfer window. Athletic Bilbao insist Herrera is not for sale, but rumour has it he has a minimum release clause of just over £30m, which United may be tempted to activate if they fail to land their other targets.

Burak Yilmaz (Galatasaray)

H

ighly prolific Turkish international striker Burak Yilmaz really caught the eye last season for Galatasaray, scoring an impressive 32 goals in 39 games in all competitions, showing particularly fine form at the top level of the Champions League as well. Several Premier League sides had looked into signing him over the summer, including Arsenal, L i v e r p o o l , Manchester United and Chelsea, though in the end it seemed likely that he would join Serie A giants Lazio, only for a move to fall through late on.

Julian Draxler (Schalke)

A

nother top young talent coming out of Germany that has found his way onto Arsenal’s radar is Schalke’s Julian Draxler. The supremely gifted 19-year-old is certainly one of the best young players in world football at the moment, and could be one of the most big-name and big-money signings to happen this January. Arsenal are joined by Manchester United and Chelsea in chasing this superb attacking midfielder, and there’s no doubt Draxler will be making a big move at some point in the near future, even if it doesn’t quite happen this season.

*Burak Yilmaz *Herrera

*Julian Draxler.

ETO’O’S AUTO OBSESSION:

Chelsea striker’s £4m fleet of cars roll into Cobham S

amuel Eto’o has made good use of his bumper salary by amassing a fleet of cars worth £4million.

The pick of the Chelsea striker ’s fleet is the £1.55m Bugatti Veyron which was specially delivered along with three other vehicles to the London club’s training ground after his move from Anzhi this summer.

As well as the Veyron, Eto’o has spent big on a £1.25m Aston Martin One-77, according to The Sun. The Cameroon forward, 31, also snapped up a luxury Maybach Xenatec for a whopping £750,000 and an Aston Martin V12 Zagato for £450,000.

Eto’o has always been a fan of cars and even reportedly offered former Cameroon striker Roger Milla a porsche as a Christmas present in 2010.

Eto’o owns a Bugatti Veyron like the one pictured above

The Cameroonian also owns a £1.25m Aston Martin One-77

He has said: ‘I like to have a few cars because it gives me choice and it doesn’t hurt anybody.

‘To give happiness, the first thing is to be happy oneself, and I am.’

Eto’o also owns a Maybach Xenatec Coupe worth around £750,000

Eto’o’s £4m fleet consists of a Aston Martin V12 Zagato, priced at £450k

32—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

BY IYABO AINA

LL Cool J to host Grammy nominations concert D

rake, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Robin Thicke, and Keith Urban have been booked to perform at the Grammy Nominations Concert in Los Angeles, organizers said.

LL Cool J is to serve as host of the hour-long December 6 event at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live.

To be broadcast live on CBS, the show will feature the announcement of nominations in several Grammys categories, as well as performances by past Grammy winners and/or nominees.

The Recording Academy said Wednesday additional performers and presenters will be announced shortly.

s k a e r b e l s s u H Nipsey up with Jay-Z

J

ay Z has been screaming “Can’t Knock the Hustle” since he dropped his now-classic Mary J. Bligeassisted single way back in 1996. So why wouldn’t he support Nipsey Hussle and his $100 Crenshaw CD? Last Tuesday, the same day Nip released Crenshaw, attached $100 price tag to the physical copies and sold them at a pop-up shop in Los Angeles, the “Hussle in the House” MC posted a screen

shot of wire transaction between him and Jay on Instagram. Jay had bought 100 copies of the disc.

“I got a DM on Twitter from a respected hip-hop journalist and he was just like, ‘Hov respects the move, salute,’ “ Nipsey told MTV News on Wednesday (October 9). “A little while later, I got an email that came through my team that was like, ‘Roc Nation, on behalf of Jay Z wants to buy 100 units. Who do we pay?

Rihanna: I hate to leave NZ R ihanna has bid farewell to New Zealand after performing three concerts in Auckland this week.

The pop superstar tweeted: “Bye Bye New Zealand!! I love you!!!

Hate to leave....soon.”

The tweet came after the singer sparked controversy by comparing paparazzi in Auckland to nazis.

Rihanna posted a picture of herself through a hotel window on social media site Instagram with the caption: “I hate these n***** more than the Nazi.”

The line is from rapper Kanye West’s song Flashing Lights.

Fans lashed out at the singer for the comments, with one saying: “So depriving people of privacy is the same as mass genocide?”

Another said: “If she didn’t want anyone to see her standing in a towel, why’d she go to the wide open window in only a towel?”

Rihanna was originally only due to play just one gig in New Zealand as part of her tour Down Under, but added two extra dates due to high demand.

When can we get the shipment out?’ “ Just like that, Nipsey moved 100 of the 1,000 physical CDs he pressed up in one shot.

“They sent us $10,000, we sent them 100 CDs,” Nip confirmed. “I didn’t get a chance to holla at Jay, but through his people he made it clear that he respects the movement and everything. I was humbled by it. I felt like it was a good risk, and it ended up working out.”

Hussle, who has released a number of free critically acclaimed mixtapes like 2008’s Bullets Ain’t Got No Name Vol. 1 and 2010’s The Marathon, is also offering the tape online for free, but ultimately looked to mobilize his fanbase to support in a way that bucks the major-label system.

Destiny child gospel music talent hunt winds up in Lagos

T

he auditions train for Destiny Child Gospel Music Talent Hunt season II which began some weeks ago in Abuja rounded-off recently in Lagos. Lagos was the climax of the last leg of the auditions which had been at Benin and Ekiti State An excited and animated crowd of youths turned up at the venue at Water Parks, Toyin Street, Ikeja. And for two days, the hopeful contestants displayed their music talents to win the hearts of the judges but at the end of the day, there was a quota of only two finalists from each zone who were expected to make it into DC City.

From the cheerful

…18 finalists set for season II

atmosphere of camaraderie, the mood at audition ground soon move to that of competition. Interestingly, the never-say-die spirit of one of the contestants who had auditioned in Benin paid-off

at the end as he got the nod of the judges. To complete the quota was another testimony of resilience and perseverance for another contestant who was part auditions for season I.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013—33

Women should be allowed to realise their potentials — Prof Urua

BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

P

rof. Eno-Abasi Urua is a Professor of Linguistics and Director, International Programmes at the University of Uyo. The widely travelled author was among the three academia who were recently inducted into the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL). In this interview, she shares her views on the standard of education as well as other sundry issues. Excerpt.

Congratulations on your investiture as a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, how do you feel about this honour?

I feel very humbled and happy because my investiture means that all my years of toiling and hard work have paid off. Being a Fellow of the Academy is not something you can buy from the market. Investiture of an individual is an honour given for the recognition of the work such a person has done in terms of research, publications and papers and every other work the individual has done in his/her area. In other words, you are honoured because of the impact you have made to humanity. I will also add here that it is strictly on merit and it is just three of us this year. I really thank God that the body counted

me worthy of becoming a fellow.

What exactly is expected from you now that you are a Fellow of NAL? I will continue to do my research and mentor people especially young scholars so that they can also get to the point where I have gotten. I mentor them academically.

For instance, if I know about

I will continue to do my research and mentor people especially young scholars so that they can also get to the point where I have gotten a conference, workshop, seminar, scholarship or fellowship that will be useful to them, I direct them. I make sure that those involved enjoy the privilege of being part of any academic exercise that would be beneficial to them. Also if the programme relates to some skills that I can impact on them, I tutor them or direct them on how to acquire such skills.

Prof Eno-Abasi Urua with others

For these young scholars, my usual message to them is work hard, be descent and trust in God so that God would order your step so as to be able to do what you couldn’t do ordinarily.

Any platform?

Yes! The major platform here is the Federation of Akwa Ibom Women Association. Through this organisation, women are lent a voice, and are availed the opportunity of acquiring skills as well as given a sense of belonging.

Your training as a linguist?

My training as a linguist began at Nigeria’s premier university, the University of Ibadan. I eventually graduated with a PhD in Linguistics (with concentration in Phonology) from the University of Ibadan. I have learned the business of linguistics from wonderful mentors like Professor Munzali Jibril, Professor Ben Elugbe, Professor Dr. Dafydd Gibbon, Professor Akin Akinlabi, Professor Bruce Connell, Dr. Geoff Lindsay, Professor Bob Ladd, Professor John Harris, and Professor Kay Williamson of blessed memory.

What’s the relevance?

Being a linguist has provided me with innumerable opportunities to travel extensively to various parts of the world and places I never imagined I’d ever get to. These opportunities have

Prof Urua ...academic institution could be better been even more rewarding when I get to meet with famous linguists I previously had met on the pages of their books and articles – linguists like Larry Hyman, Helen Aristar–Dry, Anthony Aristar, Fiona McLaughlin, James Essegbey, Felix Ameka, Firmin Ahoua, Bob Ladd, Steven Bird, Mark Liebermann, and many others. More importantly, the researches I have conducted have helped students and also, impacted the society positively Your view on standard of education in Nigeria Well, academic institution

could be better. In our own time, it was much better because there was discipline and focus on the need for individuals to do their very best but now as you heard from the various speeches made earlier concerning the decay in public moral, decayed system etc, a lot of things have changed and sadly, not for the better. We are hopeful that the academia as regulator of standard will rise up and help salvage the institution. Do not forget that we are in the Nigeria system where a lot of things have gone wrong but we look forward to a change for the better

34— SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013 — 35

yemisisuleiman670@yahoo.com

A •The jumpsuit look •Toyin Lawani

little black dress offers easy style, but a red dress instead offers boldness. Every woman deserves to be noticed. A red dress makes that a simple task Steal every glance with this bold look that demands attention. And remember to make the perfect statement with looks that are playfully sophisticated, with matching accessories to compliment your look.

MyAshomarket.com re-launch in grand style S •Red clutch bag

•Sexy Red High Heels With Black And White Patterned Bow

*Label owners Dolapo Shobanjo and Chairman Troyka Holdings Mr Biodun Shobanjo

tyle enthusiast now have less to worry about keeping their wardrobe stocked with unique pieces of wares and accessories that make them stand out at different occasion with the launch of MyAsho.com and •Long swirl MyAshomarket.com, gemini earrings a twin online fashion store. The relaunch which held September 23, 2013: at 56 Wells Street, London W1, saw the emergence of two sites. Created by Dolapo Shobanjo and designed to offer unique pieces that cannot be found on high streets, the event showcased unique and beautiful pieces available on the two websites, offering stylish shoppers clothing designs from gifted, contemporary, up and coming designers from around the world.

According to Shobanjo, the two sites offer one-off designs because MyAsho.com and MyAshomarket.com encourage individuality. She disclosed that the clothes will be ethically hand-crafted and of limited supply adding that their exclusivity and innovation will reflect a new world of beautifully distinctive product.

“MyAshomarket.com is aimed at providing fast fashion items for women who crave individuality at great and affordable prices.

The products offered on MyAshomarket.com allow the fashion savvy shopper to keep up to date with the latest trends, whilst retaining a sense of

individuality with unique pieces” She stated.

Speaking further at the very colourful launch Shobanjo added that “The clothes and accessories available on MyAshomarket.com boast of an array of different cuts and styles, with spectacular detail and bold patterns that are guaranteed to make the individual stand out for all the right reasons.”

Some of the designs showcased combined a minimalist’s appreciation for exquisite tailoring and cuts, whilst harnessing the maximalist’s understanding of bold, creative prints. From casual wear to cocktail dresses, including pieces that transform flawlessly from day to evening wears.

It will be recalled that MyAsho.com was first launched in 2009 by Dolapo Shobanjo and ran more as part- time. Some 5 months ago, she quit her job in the Oil and Gas sector to run the business full time, given its potentials.

It is like starting from the scratch, with a lot of new things, including a new web site, new designers, markets etc. It has been enjoying endorsements from top celebrities. The site’s pop up store was launched in 2011 and lit up London’s trendy Notting Hill carnival.

36—VANGUARD, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 2013

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

L

ooking at the man he had become, not many would believe that Adebola Williams, currently surrounded with so much paparazzi, has had his own fair share of sufferings, rough times and challenges. But like gold, he refined himself into a fine gentleman filled with uncommon potentials. He is one of the founders of the Future Awards, a platform that celebrates young entrepreneurs, innovative skills and uncommon talent. He is currently the Operation Director of Easily, the voice of RedSTRAT. He has continually set new standards with the rave TV show, Nigeria International, which shows on the NTA Network, AIT International, STV, MBI, and Ben TV. He left the employ of the show mid-2007 to concentrate full time on RedSTRAT, retaining a position as Consultant Producer. He also proved his mettle this year as Consultant Producer with the Canadian Broadcasting Commission, and Consultant Producer with Lifestyles in Africa with Mnet. Adebola was a Human Resource Consultant with the Close-Up Salsa Challenge, as well as Consultant Partner with testify Music, being one of the key organizers of the Naija Facebook Carnival, as well as working briefly with The Apprentice Africa in Publicity. He is presently a Producer with the Amstel Malta Box Office reality TV show. In this interview, he takes us into his world, from the very beginning and the transformation so far.

I know you were born into a wealthy home but how were you able to become what you are today?

I was born into wealth but before I was nine, everything was lost, and that is the most difficult situation to be. If you were born in a particular state, you would be used to it, but if you were born in a particular state and it reversed to the worst, it will be difficult to adjust. If I was born in a one bedroom apartment, I already know the drill, but being born into wealth, adjusting wasn’t easy.

So at that point what did you do to survive?

At that point,I knew I had to survive, because at an early age, I realized that my life is my life and that if it got messed up, it was my life. So I made a conscious effort to make it better.

When I was 14 years old, I moved from one set to the other like: Sony Macdon set in Oduduwa seeking for roles because I had always wanted to be an actor. I got two roles in two soaps that never came out.

It was at that point I decid-

ed to quit. I have been into stage acting too. I was paid N100. All my life, I have always wanted to be an actor.

So at the age of fifteen, I started working with a counselor and psychologist as his assistant without any qualification and pay. I learnt to channel my interpersonal skills at a young age towards relating with people to my advantage.

Before then, I worked with NTA for three years. It was after a year that they started paying. But I had gained so much experience and all that experience finally paid off at the right time.

So when did you have your breakthrough?

My CV before that time was filled with work experience on volunteering. From there, the jobs started coming. I got a job with Economic Watch, as a producer and

I was born into wealth but before I was nine, everything was lost, and that is the most difficult situation to be I was reporting a business show, doing things people my age were not doing and earning far beyond what obtained in the industry at that time. From there, I got another job. The economy talk show afforded me the opportunity to travel outside telling Nigerian stories to

I started working at age 15 the world: I was also traveling within Nigeria telling people of the development in different parts of the country. I went out of my way to places that I knew would impact my life, and the four years I spent working with the counselor and NTA, were my formative years that enabled me build a solid foundation of good will.

Do successful people don’t share their stories?

Do young people have the right lessons they need to succeed?

I believe that because most successful people in Nigeria don’t tell their story, young people don’t know how they became successful. So young people cannot pick the right lessons. How inspiring can that be for youths to realize that if you stay in one place, work hard, be committed and consistent, you would get to the top someday and there is a future for you. A lot of Nigerian youths wish to be something, but they don’t have hope, they have false hope.

How many people know the story of Aliko Dangote? Because young people don’t know that story, they don’t know anything about what most successful people did that made them successful.

As far as they are concerned, the end for them justifies the means. So for us , the award is about the success stories. How you started, how you pulled through. We want to tell the

story of Africa so that people can understand where they are coming from.

What is the Future Awards project and how has it been able to help project Nigeria positively?

It is amazing that the Future Award has been a rallying point and a platform that binds us together as young people. When we started the project in 2005, all we wanted to do was to give hope to young people, bring them together as the power of many from different works of life in different parts of the country, from Zamfara, Benue, Abuja, Enugu to Abia to Edo to Lagos and different parts of Nigeria on a single platform to celebrate outstanding performance and innovation irrespective of who you are, where you are from, as far as you have talent, and you have put in hard work.

For a project that is doing so much in rebranding Nigeria, do you have support from government?

Amazingly, we have had support at different levels.

We have had people in government who believe in the project. People like Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Kayode Fayemi and a lot people.

Anyone who is concerned

about the country; passionate

and focused in adding value and doing it diligently will no doubt attract government attention and they will call you to come and deliver and add value because they can see

what you have done. The project is about the Nigeria people, it is not about political office holders. It is about a message of hope that needs to be spread across all parts in country.

Have corporate institutions been supportive?

We are knocking on corporate doors. They are shutting the doors because they refused to catch the vision. Corporate organizations hardly sponsor awards in this country.

Most awards are trailed with controversies.

What have the organizers of the Future Awards done differently?

We have made the screening process as transparent as possible. I doubt, except in my sleep, that there is one man who can beat his chest and say that he has paid money to the organizers of the awards to receive the award. We have judges from media houses, individuals with unquestionable integrity. We have disqualified nominees over the years for false claims but we don’t go public with such informat i o n .

SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2013 —37

Happ heer or P a. Sunda Happyy ccheer heerss ffor Pa. Sundayy Aziken @ 80

Papa Sunday Aziken, cutting his birthday cake, assisted by his family members.

I

t has been said that there is always an air of exhilarating fulfilment when one clocks 80, same feeling must descended on Papa Sunday Aziken, father of Vanguard’s political editor, when his children came together last Sunday, September 29th to give him an unforgettable, thrilling birthday celebration.

The celebration started with thanksgiving at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Agbor, Delta State followed by a sumptuous reception at the celebrant’s residence. Photos by Nath Onojake

Ngige gets campaign team amid fanfare

I

nauguration of governorship campaign team for Senator Chris Ngige, All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Anambra State held at Emmaus House, Awka, Anambra State.

Reception later held at APC Campaign Office, Awka.

The occasion was attended by the party supporters .Photos by Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

Dr Chris Ngige, Anambra State governorship candidiate for APC and behind him is Alhaji Lai Mohammed,APC Interim National Publicity.

Papa Sunday Aziken, cutting his birthday cake with wives; Helen and Patricia.

From left: Papa Sunday Aziken, Rev. Sunday Ossai and Mr. Emmanuel Aziken, during presentation of birthday car gift to Papa by his children.

L-R:Senator Osita Izanazo, committe member,Owelle Rochas Okorocha,Imo State Governor and Chairman, campaign committe for Dr Chris Ngige, APC gubernatorial candidate for Anambra State

From right: Mr Ojji, son-in-law, Mrs Grace Ojji, daughter and Mr and Mrs Emmanuel Aziken.

From left: Mr Emmanuel Aziken and Mr.Paulinus Agbegbule Regional Manager, Visaphone

Eniola Badmus dazzles @ 50

At the PRCAN Annual Public Relation Gold Medal Lecture

IT was a glorious day of merriment and exhilarating entertainment when Mrs Eniola Badmus celebrated her 50th birthday.

Mrs Eniola Amidu with her childre cutting her 50th birthday cake

Cross section of members of the campaign committe

From Left; Mr Lolu Akinwunmi, Mr Yomi BadejoOkusanya, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State,Mr Chido Nwakanma, President, Public Relation Consultants Assocation of Nigeria, [PRCAN], / Chief Executive Officer of BlueFlowers Limited, Mrs Bunmi Oke, President Assocation of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Prof Emevwo Biakolo, Chairman of occassion/ Dean, SMS PanAtlantic University

L-R: Hon. Sharon Ikeazo,Nat. woman leader, APC and Dr Anyim Nyerere, Nat. Vice Chairman, APC, South-East.

38 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Yvonne Okoro

lands first major deal A

fter starring in several Nollywood cum Ghollywood movies, one of the seven biggest actresses in Ghollywood, Yvonne Okoro has landed her first major deal. She was recently unveiled by one of the leading healthcare products and consumer goods, PZ Cussons Ghana Limited, as the company’s new face.

Yvonne was on set last weekend to shoot series of commercials as part of her first duties as PZ brand

ambassador. Excited about her new role as ambassador, Yvonne tweeted and posted photos from the shoot.

The actress seems to be very excited about her new role as ambassador. She tweeted and posted photos from the shoot. ‘Excited much’. No word yet if the deal will extend to PZ Cussons Nigeria.”

Yvonne who is one of the seven biggest actresses in Ghana, is born to a Nigerian dad and Ghanaian mother.

Halima Abubakar

joins the big league

By AYO ONIKOYI

H

•Halima Abubakar

alima Abubakar has never been a pushover, not by a long shot, the Kogi State-born star has proven her mettle as one of the names the movie industry would see for a long time to come.

Recently, she asserted her superstar status as she took delivery of a posh 2011 Chrysler convertible Dodge full option with mini fridge and auto convert roof top.

Halima has never been too far away from controversies in her career and she has a reputation for not being a pretender. In a recent interview with Vanguard, the sexy, curvacious actress concurred that she is not a child and that she has had affairs with her male colleagues in the industry and wondered why anyone should think why she would not have been sexually harassed before. But big up to Halinma for joining the big league.

Yvonne Okoro

UNIPORT pioneers movie productions

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

U

niversity of Port Harcourt has gone into partnership with Nollywood for the production of a movie, “Who is Afraid of Job interviews”.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Joseph Ajienka who spoke before the premiere of the film said, it was produced by the Institute of Arts and Culture of the University in collaboration with a veteran Nollywood Director, Mr Lancelot Imasuen.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof Ajienka said, the University had to partner

Mo’ Abudu makes ‘Most P ower ful W omen Po erful Women on Global TTV’ V’ list N

igerian talk-show host and media entrepreneur, Mo’ Abudu has been listed among the ‘25 Most Powerful Women on Global TV’.

The rating which was carried out by US media, The Hollywood Reporter (THR) paired the CEO of the newly launched EbonyLife TV with other women around the globe that are deciders shaping an increasingly global industry.

THR describes Abudu as ‘Africa’s answer to Oprah‘.

Abudu, 49, is the only African named in the list.

Some other women named in the list include Charlotte Moore – Controller, BBC One, U.K., Elisabeth Murdoch – Chairman, Shine Group, Australia, Martha Brass – COO, Endemol, The Netherlands, Cecile Frot-Coutaz – CEO, FremantleMedia, U.K. Since launching out with her talk show ‘Moments with Mo’, Mo’ has become a media giant in Africa culminating in the establishment of her television channel, EBonyLife TV.

C M Y K

Mo’ Abudu

with Nollywood because of the technical expertise the industry currently boast of, adding that the move by the University was part of effort towards evolving a more professional theartre Continuing, Prof Ajienka said, with the production of the movie the University was developing its theartre, stressing that the newly established Institute of Arts and Culture in the university would train students in the professional aspect of theatre. He said the university was the first in the country to go into movie production.

He further expressed the hope that students trained by the Institute of Arts and Culture of the school would turn out to be self reliant.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013 — 39

Mikel Obi, Rita Dominic becoming an item?

By AYO ONIKOYI

W

hat could twenty-something Chelsea ace, Mikel Obi and thirty-something Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic have in common?

At least, this is question running riot in the minds of people who saw the suggestive picture the duo took while Rita was holidaying in London.

Though the story said Rita ran into

Mikel but then tongues have been wagging how these two stars with so many hangers-on and itinerary crazy chaperons could accidentally bumped into each. Besides, the arguments hold that several Nollywood stars have been in London without running into anybody, let alone Mikel who has a tight schedule with his ever-stern Chelsea coach, Joe Mourinho breathing down his neck to get in shape to meet his future plans for Chelsea. But then, one should not forget Rita’s latest outcry that the media have been making a mess of her relationships. So if she doesn’t want to come out to blow the whistle on herself and Mikel, should anyone blame her? Unlike Jim Iyke, at least there is no claim that there are unseen forces keeping her from getting the man of her choice, or is there? If so, they are nothing close to ‘demonic spirits’ or are they?

Funke Akindele •Mikel Obi and Rita Dominic

set to launch perfume line ‘Jenifa’

N

AMVCA ready to commence voting

ollywood actress, Funke Akindele is poised to stay on top of her game. Like most of her colleagues who have ventured into fashion business, Akindele is putting plans to launch a line of fragrances for women any moment from now.

The actress has confirmed rumours that has been making the rounds about the launch. Her publicist disclosed that there are samples of the perfume which bears ‘Jenifa’, a movie that got so much fame and fortune for her currently in circulation.

She joins other actress who have ventured into the fashion business, including Ini Edo who launched a shoe line last year, Monalis Chinda, Ebube Nwogbo and many other.

•Funke Akindele

Chico Ejiro returns with When Dreams Fall Apart

By ANOZIE EGOLE

A

fter the success recorded at the maiden edition of the AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), organisers said, they may soon commence the voting process ahead of the second edition billed for 2014.

This was disclosed during the week by the Regional Manager, AfricaMagic, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu while announcing the extension of the closing date for the submission of entries into all the categories as outlined this year from 18th of October to 1st of November.

Mba-Uzoukwu said, nominees will be announced on the 6th of December, while voting commences immediately.

Mba-Uzoukwu said, “Following the overwhelming and positive feedback C M Y K

from our stakeholders, we are pleased to announce that the closing date for the submission of entries into all outlined categories has been extended from October 18th to 1st November 2013 and the Nominee announcement will now take place on the 6th of December 2013. Voting will commence immediately.

According to him, the organisers have selected English, Hausa, Swahili and Yoruba as the only accepted language on the stage for next year’s AMVCA, Also, in line with giving viewers value for their money, and to ensure that mobile and app platform users are represented in the show, they have unveiled, a new category called, Best Online Video, which is open for short format original content created specifically for use on websites.

A

fter years of producing his last flick, top film maker, Chico Ejiro has bounced back with an award winning movie entitled, When Dreams Fall Apart. The movie which

won an award as ‘Best Movie in Nigeria’ at the just concluded Abuja International Film Festival centers on child labour, abuse and molestation.

The movie reveals what happens when parents lead their children into child labour commonly known as ‘house maid’.

Produced by Ejiro’s wife, Joy, the movie has as its lead characters, Uche Jumbo, Ghanaian actor-Emmanuel Mensaas, among others, while Chico directed the movie alongside an assistant, Damiduro Young.

Sources say the movie will hit the cinema soon.

40 — SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

E

By AYO ONIKOYI

verybody knows Big Brother Africa star, Beverly Osu isn’t a virgin or a girl who would pretend guys are never on her diary but then she doesn’t also come across as a girl with a serial dates history, that is, If you are going to accept 2shot and Angelo being too familiar to count.

But recently, another name was thrown into the mix to make the nudity-happy Beverly a suspect as one of those ‘ willing damsels’ when she was caught in a compromised position with none other than Ruggedman, at the

rapper’s birthday held at Lounge 68 in Surulere, a couple of nights ago.

Though there were many stars on show at the exclusive bash but Beverly and Ruggedman were running the show and rubbing it on people’s faces like they were a song together.

Though Ruggedman denied anything going on between him and Beverly, saying he only got to know her when she was running along with 2shot. When quizzed if he was aware of any abuse on the BBA star by 2shot, the rapper said he would not have any knowledge of such development.

•Ruggedman, Beverly Osu

On a On wenu’s ffir ir st Onyyek eka Onw irst assignment as NCWD boss N

igeria’s pop music icon, Onyeka Onwenu has called on the staff and management of National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) to show commitment towards the growth of the Centre.

Onwenu who was recently appointed the Director-General of the NCWD made this call when she met with the members of staff of the Centre shortly after she assumed office.

Soliciting their support, she stressed that the success of the Centre purely rests on each and every member of the staff. She enjoined them to ensure that the Centre achieved the goals for which it was established.

While stating that the Centre was primarily set up to promote the total development of the Nigerian woman through training, research, documentation, advocacy and counselling, the songstress reiterated the fact that the NCWD is strategically positioned in the unique task of transforming the nation through the total development of the Nigerian woman, adding “everything concerning the woman is on our table”.

Expressing confidence in the team she is to work with, the DG stated “this is a new beginning, a new time to showcase the potentials of the Centre.”

Jill Scott, M.I, Seun Kuti, o ther or other therss ffor Lagos Jazz Series

I

t is another festival of jazz music as this year’s edition of the annual Lagos Jazz Series holds on November 27, at Muri Okunola Park, Lagos.

This year ’s edition is expected to put the city of Lagos on the map as a destination city for jazz music and entertainment.

Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Jill Scott will lead many other international acts to the festival which will run for five days. Others are Grammy-winning musician Marcus Miller and jazz guitarist, Pat Metheny, saxophonist, composer and bandleader Branford Marsalis and jazz pianist Robert Glasper. Also, two of Nigeria’s finest contemporary acts, hip hop artistes M.I and Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti are expected to perform alongside their American counterparts.

•Onyeka Onwenu

Kate Henshaw, Dan Foster, Yibo Kiko return as judges ...as Nigeria’s Got Talent berths in Abuja right here in Abuja, at NGT 1, so

S

eason Two of world acclaimed talent fiesta, Nigeria’s Got Talent is set for another exciting outing in Abuja as thousands of Nigerian youths prepare for a once in a lifetime opportunity to emerge on the talent platform.

The first audition, which held last Wednesday, at Bolton White Hotel, Garki, Abuja kicked off a nationwide tour spanning eight cities.

“We saw some of the most talented contestants C M Y K

you can see why I’m really excited to be back here again,” says Adaora Mbelu, Project Manager for Nigeria’s Got Talent.

“I have no doubt that the auditions will spring up some really big surprises from some of the best dancers, singers, contortionists, magicians etc in the country. The response we’ve received so far has been truly heart warming. Nigerians are about the most inspired and talented people around; and Nigeria’s Got Talent is totally focused on discovering and nurturing this talent,” she assures.

•Jill Scott

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013 — 41

Peter Ok oye, Lola Omo ta k Oko Omota tayyo pic pick wedding dat e date

B

arely few months after he proposed to his baby mama,Lola Omotayo, Peter Okoye, one of the singing sensational duo, Psquare has taken a step further by picking a date for their traditional marriage.

A source close to the couple disclosed that their traditional marriage is billed to hold on Sunday, November 17, at Arc Events Center on the Lagos island. The date for the white wedding is yet to be fixed.

Confirming the development, Psquare publicist, Bayo Adetu said, “It’s true, Peter Okoye and Lola Omotayo will be having their traditional marriage ceremony on the 17 th of November, 2013.”

However, with this development, Peter has joined the long list of celebrities who wedded this year. Meanwhile, arrangements are on top gear as Peter is leaving no stone unturned to make the day a memorable one.

It would be recalled that Peter Okye proposed to his girlfriend, Lola in a grand style, presenting her with a brand new Range Rover Evoque, bouquet of flowers, a hand writtensign and a stunning diamond ring. He later got a deserving ‘Yes’ from Lola who already had two children for him, Cameron and Aliona.

*Lola Omotayo, Peter Okoye

Humour uncensored as Basketmouth thrills audience in the air Kehinde Ajose

B

RIGHT Okpocha a.k.a Basketmouth is no stranger to the business of humour.

He has enjoyed inspiring milestones that have seen him become of the leading lights of his craft. He recently took his “gospel” of comedy to the skies.

How gospel star Aity Dennis rocked NY U

nstoppable gospel singer, Aity Dennis, lighted up New York City with her performance last weekend as her third US tour which kicked off in Portland, Oregon, hit New York.

Aity, who is on tour with her baby, Kasemfon performed at New Covenant Dominion Cathedral, Bronx, New York, last Saturday.

Excited Aity said, “The response has been overwhelming. I never knew I had so many fans out here. I am billed to play in a couple of other cities including Washington DC in the coming weeks.”

Meanwhile, she joined family members to celebrate the 70th birthday of her father in-law in the US last week. She said, she’s passionate about using her music as a tool for spiritual and national rebirth.

Till date, Aity has released 10 albums and won several awards. She has performed alongside stars like Ron Kenoly among others both within and outside the country.

The stylish comedian thrilled passengers flying Virgin Atlantic from Lagos to London .The special show was part of Virgin Atlantic’s celebration to commemorate Nigeria’s independence day celebration.

* basketmout

Iy an Iyan anyya, manager’s social media accounts hacked!

By Charles Mgbolu

P

op sensation Iyanya and his manager, Ubi Franklin were dumbfounded during the week when Social media hackers took complete control of their Facebook and Twitter pages.

In a statement released by the singer’s label, Made Men Music label on behalf of Iyanya and his manager, the hackers took control of the pages in the early hours of last Monday.

“In the past few hours, Nigerian entertainer, Iyanya Mbuk alongside his manager Ubi Franklin have lost total control of their facebook and Twitter pages to hackers. Regrettably, the individual(s) involved have posted false

endorsements on Iyanya’s Facebook page and Twitter handle with the aim of deceiving fans and followers for personal gain, and have maliciously changed Ubi Franklin’s Twitter handle.

We are currently working with Twitter and Facebook administrators to regain access to the accounts and in the meantime, fans can continue to interact with Iyanya via his official Instagram account (@Iyanya),” reads the statement.

Iyanya, however, has since apologised to his fans, urging them to ignore any requests that the hackers might be making on his behalf. Superstars like D’banj, Flavour, Wizkid and Don Jazzy have also been victims of social media hackers.

*Aity Dennis

42—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Bisi Olatilo holds deluxe wedding for daughter

The couple, Mr and Mrs Ayotunde Samuel flanked by both parents; Mr and Mrs Bisi Olatilo and Mr and Mrs Samuel.

CHAIRMAN of Biscon Communications, BOS and veteran broadcaster, Prince Bisi Olatilo, gave out his second daughter, Adewunmi Eunice Olatilo to her hearththrob, Ayotunde Samuel, last Saturday to the admiration of top notch dignitaries that include the richest man and woman in Africa, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Mrs Folorunsho Alakija and a host of others. The couple exchanged their vows at Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministery, Omole, Ikeja, Lagos while their grand reception held at 10 Degrees Event Centre, Ikeja. Photos by Sola Oyelese

Erelu Abiola Dosunmu with Chief (Mrs) Joko Oni

L-R:Barr . N. Igbinedion, Dr Fred Igbinedion and Alhaji Aliko Dangote

L-R: Aremo Olusegun Osoba,Alhaji Musiliu Smith, Chief Razak Okoya and wife Mrs Folashade Okoya

Senator and Mrs Olorunnimbe Mamora

Dr and Dr (Mrs) Tunji Braithwaite .

U

Gov’nor and Mrs Ken Caleb Olumese

Pastor Steve Nwangbara issues certificates to new Pastors, Evangelists, Deacons and Deaconesses

Cadbur ety A war d Cadburyy Nigeria bags Saf Safe Aw ard IN recognition of its safety workplace practices Cadbury Nigeria Plc (CNP) just received an award from the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and Nigeria Employer’s Consultative Association (NECA).

The presentation ceremony took place on Monday, September 9, 2013 in Lagos, Nigeria.CNP and 24 other companies were appraised on various safety and prevention of occupational diseases. Present at the awards ceremony were representatives from Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, International Labour Organization (ILO) and other industry stakeholders

L-R: Ignatius Nmakwe, Facilities/Admin Mgr, Dr. Segun Dosunmu, Coy Medical Advisor, Bala Yesufu, Head, Corporate and Govt. Affairs (West Africa), Bolaji Oyewo, Safety Mgr, Food Drinks, Alhaji Umar Munir Abubakar, MD, NSITF, Segun Oshinowo, D.G, NECA

Ordination

L-R: Akomen Omijeh, Corporate Communications Manager, Ignatius Nmakwe, Folaranmi Olatoye, Emil Moskofian, MD, Bolaji Oyewo, Robert Ogirri, Manufacturing Manager, during the presentation of the bus ambulance to the MD.

niversity Evangelical Tabernacle of Praise ordinates new Pastors, Evangelists, Deacons and Deaconesses recently.

Harr otser ow eds Harryy Amat Amato tsero weds HARRY Amatotsero and bride were joined as man and wife on August 24, 2013 at New Life Baptist Church, Oke Afa, Lagos. Family and friends graced the occasion.

The couple: Mr and Mrs Harry Amatotsero

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013—43

08 116759 759 081 6759759

Inside the hospital-themed restaurant I

nside the hospitalthemed restaurant where ‘patients’ pay to wear straitjackets while waitresses dressed as nurses spoonfeed them body parts.

Those with a penchant

for doctors and nurses and without a fear of hospitals are flocking to a unique concept diner in Latvia.

The trendy hospitalthemed restaurant, named Hospitalis, sees

chefs dressed as doctors and waitresses in nurse uniforms.

Meals are eaten in a stylish operating theatre, on a dentist’s chair or even in a gynaecologist’s exam

Bus ty model goes fr om LLL ttoo Q cup af Busty from aftter raising $23,000 in donations B

usty glamour mod el Lacey Wildd has raised $23,000 in donations from fans to take her size triple-L breasts up to Q cup.

The 45-year-old, mother-of-six, from Miami, Florida, told the Sun Sentinel that the operation, her 13th in total, is set for early 2014. Plastic surgeons will insert implants weighing a total of 42pounds into her chest, seeing her claim title to the largest augmented breasts in the world. Currently the top spot is held by Maxi Mounds, who wears a U.S. size 42M bra. Ms Wildd said that she is ‘nervous’ about her surgery, paid for by internet donations, as medical experts have repeatedly warned her it’s not safe.

Her chest is already so heavy at 21pounds, that she had to have an internal bra made of

pigskin and her own muscle implanted into her torso.

But the bubbly blonde insists that her ambition to increase the size of her breasts is actually

for her children’s welfare. ‘I want to leave a legacy to my children,’ says Ms Wildd, who has six children ranging in age from six to 29, plus a

Waiter, waiter, there’s gloop in my soup!

C

hinese chef makes use of an abundance of algae by serving it up

to his customers. It’s believed to be packed with nutrients and vitamins, im-

prove the skin and lower blood pressure. It sounds like the perfect health food, it’s free, and there is literally thousands of tonnes of it. But would you tuck into a sloppy bowel of fluorescent green algae soup, verdant algae pancakes, or a bar snack of fried algae and nuts? It might not be our cup of tea, but in Qingdao, in China’s eastern Shandong province, where the beach has been swamped with one of the largest recorded annual blooms of the stuff, it simply makes sense to eat it.

room, served on stainless steel dishes and eaten with surgical utensils. Seasonings are added with a syringe.

Customers (or ‘patients’) also have the option to be tied up in a straitjacket and have their meal spoonfed to them by a nurse.

The medical restaurant in Riga, Latvia serves up peculiar macabre dishes such as cake topped with realisticlooking body parts such as fingers, noses and tongues.

All medical-related accessories have reportedly been

A

Chinese woman has been arrested after forcing her boyfriend to kneel in the street and repeatedly slapping him around the face. The man was accused of cheating on the woman after bringing another girl back to his flat in Hong Kong. After his girlfriend took him out to the street and began berating him, a crowd of onlookers gathered and started filming the scene, which has since been posted on YouTube.

supplied by real hospitals and Latvia’s Museum of the history of medicine.

The atmosphere could be described as ‘sterile’ but that is all part of the plan, says restaurant director Marita Bundule.

She says: ‘Hospitalis breaks all generally accepted presumptions about hospitals as a place where various painful manipulations are performed’ ‘This is a place of surprise, where you can experience things you are usually afraid of with smile on your lips, and enjoy a tasty meal,’ reported the Telegraph.

A cheater's punishment, Chinese style She made him kneel on the pavement in full view of passers-by, and accused him of going behind her back by inviting in the other girl—who was standing next to the couple throughout the fight. However, he insisted he had not asked the girl to come to his flat, saying: ‘Listen to me first before beating me.’

The 20-year-old woman, named Cheng, was later arrested on suspicion of common assault, while the victim, 23-year-old Chui, was taken to hospital.

The alleged assault happened last Friday in the Kowloon city of Hong Kong, after Chui took a girl to his flat despite the fact he was going out with Cheng.

25-year-old stepson.

‘My goal was never to be famous. My goal was to be able to take care of them, to be able to support them.’

Chinese farmers capture metrelong 5kg rat terrorising villagers farmers capture metre-long 5kg rat Chinese that had been terrorising villagers and

break two knives trying to cut it up to eat.

The monstrous rodent, weighing ten times that of the average rat, had been terrorising villagers in Shaoyang, China. It was first spotted devouring 3kg fish whole from a local pond.

Farmers broke two knives trying to cut the rat up to eat.

44—SATURDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

08056180112

Don’t get infected with Typhoid T

oria is not one to complain about her health, by the time she does, one can be certain it’s serious. So it was quite an issue on Sunday this week, when she kept on about a nagging pain. “I’m not feeling too well. There is this pain in my lower abdomen. It’s making me really uncomfortable.” Initially, no one gave her moaning much attention, but when she kept it up all day, some helpful suggestions began to materialize. ”It’s probably constipation or an ulcer,” a friend suggested. “Perhaps it’s that time of the month,” another pointed out. But none of these suggestions did much to assuage Toria’s discomfort or help identify the true cause of her pain. It was not until the very next day when she broke out into a very high fever and red skin rash that she was taken to the local clinic that a diagnosis of typhoid fever was confirmed. But Toria was dumbstruck.

Typhoid? How on earth did I contract typhoid, she asked no one in particular.

How people get infected Ouite easily of course, explained the healthcare professionals. Typhoid is an acute illness associated with fever caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria. They told Toria, the disease can also be caused

by Salmonella paratyphi, a related bacterium that usually causes a less severe illness. Salmonella bacteria spread through contaminated food, drink, or water. Typhoid fever is contracted by drinking or eating the bacteria in contaminated food or water. People with acute illness can contaminate the surrounding water supply through stool. Contamination of the water supply can, in turn, taint the food supply. The bacteria can survive for weeks in water or dried

•Drink safe clean water always

,

There are increasing rates of antibiotic resistance throughout the world, so your health care provider will check current recommendations before choosing an antibiotic

,

sewage. About 3-5 percent of people become carriers of the bacteria after the acute illness.

Others suffer a very mild illness that goes unrecognized.

These people may become long-term carriers of the bacteria — even though they have no symptoms — and be the source of new outbreaks of typhoid fever for many years.Typhoid fever is common in Nigeria, but not all cases are reported.

Diagnosis After the ingestion of contaminated food or water,

the Salmonella bacteria invade the small intestine and enter the bloodstream temporarily. The bacteria are carried by white blood cells in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, where they multiply and reenter the bloodstream.

People develop symptoms, including fever, at this point.

Bacteria invade the gallbladder, biliary system, and the lymphatic tissue of the bowel. Here, they multiply in high numbers.

The bacteria pass into the intestinal tract and can be identified in stool samples. If

•Avoid contamination of water a test result isn’t clear, blood samples will be taken to make a diagnosis.

Symptoms Although people with typhoid fever sometimes become sick suddenly, signs and symptoms are more likely to develop gradually after exposure to the disease.

In the first week, of illness you’re likely to experience fever, that starts low and increases daily, followed by headache, weakness and fatigue. A dry cough, loss of appetite and abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation and a skin

rash usually follow.

Some people with typhoid fever develop a rash called “rose spots,” which are small red spots on the abdomen and chest. If there is no adequate treatment, you may enter a second stage during which you become very ill and experience continuing high fever, diarrhea or severe constipation, considerable weight loss and extremely distended abdomen. By the third week, you may become delirious or get into what’s known as the typhoid state.

Improvement may come slowly during the fourth week.

Treatment Fluids and electrolytes may be given through a vein (intravenously), or you may be asked to drink uncontaminated water with electrolyte packets. Appropriate antibiotics are given to kill the bacteria. There are increasing rates of antibiotic resistance throughout the world, so your health care provider will check c u r r e n t recommendations before choosing an antibiotic. Symptoms usually improve in 2 to 4 weeks with treatment.

The outcome is likely to be good with early treatment, but becomes poor if complications develop.

Complications These range from intestinal hemorrhage and intestinal perforation to kidney failure and peritonitis.

Prevention Water treatment, waste disposal, and protecting the food supply from contamination are important public health measures. Carriers of typhoid must not be allowed to work as food handlers. Proper hand washing at all times is crucial

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013 — 45

46— SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Police offensive in Benue records success ..arrest 5 notorious robbery kinpins, 3 rapists, gun down 3

By PETER DURU, Makurdi

I

T seems there is no hiding place for perpetrators of crime and criminality in any part of Benue State anymore, not with the renewed vigour the state police command had in the last six months, declared a total onslaught on all forms of crime in the state.

The offensive which had recorded huge successes in recent time, also accounted for the recent arrest of two suspected armed men with a large cache of arms.

The armed men who were alleged to have in recent time been terrorizing Kwande, Vandeikya and Ushongo local government areas of the state were nabbed following a tip off. Parading the suspects at the Command headquarters in Makurdi,the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adams Audu said the gang was arrested at their operational base and hideout at Tsemke village, Vandeikya while preparing for an operation.

He disclosed that the gang

had been responsible for grave robbery and killings in that area of the state, adding that three members of the gang however, escaped during an exchange of gunfire with his men. Audu said, “today (last Wednesday) at about 11:30 hours, a team of Police Patrol Officers while on duty at Vandeikya received a distress call that a gang of armed robbers was in their hide out at Tsemke village preparing to strike their victims.

“The patrol officers stormed the area, and on arriving at the scene, they were greeted with a heavy gunfire by the suspected armed men, and during the exchange of gunfire, Messrs Terkimbi Msuega and Aondohemba Tyo were arrested while three others escaped . My men also recovered from the gang, one AK-47 rifle with 30 rounds of live ammunition; one FMC rifle with 18 rounds of live ammunition.

“Also recovered were one pump action rifle with seven rounds of live cartridges; 12 empty shells of expended ammunition, five extra magazines with 150 rounds of

•The suspects with their arms live ammunition and one blue Volkswagen Sharon bus with registration number Benue, WNN 59 XA.” The Commissioner of Police also sued for the co-operation of members of the public to enable his command achieve its set targets. While hinting that his men were on the trail of the other three fleeing suspects, Mr. Audu called for vigilance and urged the people of the state to avail the police of information that would lead to their arrest.

According to the Commissioner, a three-man gang that allegedly kidnapped and repeatedly raped a 15-year-old girl in Makurdi and a two -man

PHOTO SPEAK

Commissioner of Police, EOD Command (Anti-Bomb), Abdulmajid Ali(5th right); ACP EOD, Anti-Bomb Command, Bola Alonge(4th left); Amosun Sokunbi of Nigerian Nuclear Regional Agency(3rd left) and others at the graduation ceremony of Basic EOD Training Course 16 B,2013 Bomb Technicians and Investigations recently in Lagos.

robbery gang that allegedly specialises in dispossessing their victims of their Ipads and

computers were also arrested.

“The Police was alerted by an informant who disclosed that

How we were illegally Housewife ..they packed in

By UJU

MBANUSI

A

34-year-old woman has cried out for justice sequel to her forceful eviction from an apartment she was occupying with her husband at Festac town, Lagos.

According to the Imo Stateborn woman identified as Rachael Nwosu, the incident happened between 7 to 7:30am on Friday, September 4, 2013, when three men reportedly knocked on her door at No 311, B close, Festac town; not suspecting any thing, she opened the door only to be confronted by some men who told her they had a court order to eject her from the premises.

The housewife who bluntly objected to her photograph being used because of perceived threats to her life stated; “It happened that on Friday, 4th of September, when there was heavy rain, I was inside with my husband Francis Nwosu, when three men knocked on our door in the morning between 7 to 7:30 am , I opened the door and saw about 10 men who said they were from the court to eject us.I asked them why didn’t the court give us a notice which suppose to be the procedure to enable us

•Thrown out porperty move out? They said they had come to take over the house, that our landlord Emmanuel Ekanem was not the owner of the house. I told them I was not interested in the case of house ownership, but they should have allowed us to move out, instead of disgracefully throwing us out under the rain. ”They threw out everything under that rain, there was a lot of damages to my property.

As I am talking to you, I don’t have anywhere to lay my head. I can’t even give account of where my belongings are, because it is only when you’ve saved your

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013 — 47

• Recovered vehicle his 15-year-old cousin was last Friday repeatedly raped by a four-man gang who had kidnapped her at about

7:30pm.

“Then few days ago, the gang abducted their victim into a red Toyota Camry and drove her to Apir, in the outskirts of Makurdi town, where they took turns to have sexual intercourse with the teenage girl against her consent.Acting on the information, our men swung into action and three of the suspects were apprehended while the Police is still on the trail of the fourth suspect.”

The Police boss further disclosed that officers of the command who were on a stopand- search duty, arrested two robbery suspects, consequent upon a robbery alarm that was raised by one Philip Abdul who was robbed and pushed out of a moving Toyota Camry car with registration number: AV 566 MKD. Consequently, Emmanuel Omale and Ahmed Deedat were arrested near the Police Secondary School in Demekpe area of Makurdi town in possession of one

,

huge

He disclosed that the gang had been responsible for high profile robbery and killings in that area of the state, adding that three members of the gang however, escaped during an exchange of gunfire with his men

,

locally made pistols.”

T

he Benue State Police boss also disclosed that at the early hours of Sunday, his men gunned down three robbery suspects who reportedly robbed and raped their victims at Mbakihir village in Buruku Local Government area of the state.

According to him, “at about 1am, the Police was alerted that robbers numbering about five had invaded the home of their victim (names

withheld) at Mbakihir village in Buruku Local Government a r e a . ”The robbers who were said to be robbing the occupants of the said house; also went as far as raping the helpless female children of their victims.

Acting to the information, our men on patrol within the area immediately got to the scene and were greeted by gunfire from the armed suspects.

The ensuing exchange of gunfire led to three of the

suspects sustaining bullet wounds and were subsequently arrested but while being conveyed to a nearby hospital, they died before they could be given medical attention. ”However, two members of the gang escaped arrest with bullet wounds, but we are on their trail, and I believe strongly that they would soon be arrested.

Some of the items that were recovered from the gang include: three assorted locally-made guns and four live ammunition, two axes, three live cartridges and one expended cartridge. I’m by this information, soliciting the co-operation of members of the public in giving us information that would lead to the arrest of the fleeing suspected armed robbers and other criminal elements in Benue State.”

The Police Commissioner stated that all the suspects would be prosecuted by the police upon completion of investigations into their respective cases.

ejected out of our apartment by military officerwith fake documents-Counsel to officer were stolen, the only money we had at home then was also stolen. I am just recovering from the shock. Immediately, we were ejected from the house, they put in another occupant, some new occupants are there now,” she said.

A

head that you worry where your about your property are.

The men said it was a Lieutenant Colonel that sent them to throw us out. We don’t know him as our landlord, so I don’t know the offense we committed that would make him send people to eject us without notice.

“Our landlord that we know is Emmanuel Ekanem. My concern is that there was no notice. If the court had given an order, there ought to be a notice so that we know where to put our head, then if he has anything to settle, he should go ahead and settle it. That day, some of our properties

man who claimed to be the genuine landlord of the house Emmanuel Ekanem, told Crime Guard that he owned the property located at number 311, B close, Festac town- Lagos. He narrated how he purchased the said property in 2008. “I bought that property from the lieutenant Colonel, he gave me a ‘Deed of Assignment, Power of Attorney and an affidavit, telling me the documents to the property were lost. I paid the agreed sum which was N6.5m. I have the receipts, I have my documents also. ”In 2009, I noticed some foul play in that the main document he ought to give me was missing out. He had instructed the Implementation Committee to send the original document to ‘Savings and Loans’. In order words, he used these documents to mortgage. When I discovered this abnormality, I called him, he refused to respond, I then told my lawyer to do a letter to him and he started

•Emmanuel Ekanem ..claims to be the authentic landlord threatening me. I went to his military division office then at Yaba to report him. I did a letter to SID. After investigation, they told him that ‘the property in question was mine, that he should prepare a document to me, and that the issue of threat to my life should cease. I have a letter to prove the threats to my life. ”We went to ‘Multi-Dor court but they could not settle us, they asked us to go to a higher court. Until when my tenant called me that they threw their belongings out. Also I wasn’t served the said letter from the Customary court,

which they used to throw out my tenant, so it was just a charade. They threw out my tenants and immediately they moved one of their agents in the person of Ben Ekpo into my premises. He was among the agents who received the N6.5 million I paid to purchase the house on behalf of the lieutenant colonel. ”I want to let Nigerians know what I am passing through. Is it because I am a civilian that a military man of his caliber would do such a thing? I paid for that house in 2008. I was his tenant, and I paid for the property. When I moved into that house, they gave me an offer letter, that he wanted to sell. I have all the documents in respect to this,” he lamented.

When contacted on phone, the Lieutenant Colonel told Crime Guard that there was a court injunction which backed his actions.“Don’t let him take you into what you don’t know, there was a court injunction to that; the matter is in court. You will have to speak to my lawyer,” he said.

Later on, a man who identified himself as Victor Chinedu, counsel to the Colonel called and told Crime Guard that he would call back concerning the case. About three hours, another caller who identified

himself simply as Ekanem, another counsel to the Colonel called to say that “Emmanuel Ekanem was just parading himself as owner of the property,adding that the Police is investigating the matter. My client borrowed money from him to return later.

The Police will investigate the matter. We have sent the documents for forensic investigations. The man was the Colonel’s tenant and friend for years,” Ekanem explained.

Incidentally, the agrieved woman rushed to Vanguard Headquarters to complain the next day that after she narrated her plight, some people threatened to make life difficult for her if the story was published. According to the visibly frightened woman, “On Tuesday, September 8h, 2013, at 23 road, Festac town, around 5pm, three men on suit stopped and told me that they heard we had taken the case to the press, that they would make life difficult for us, that they would make Nigeria hot for us and that they would hunt us to the grave.

I am therefore, appealing to the relevant security agencies to intervain on our behalf. I don’t know the crime we committed in this matter, I know that God will fight for us.”

48—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

AUDU OGBEH

I can’t stay in the party where death is only way to resolve disputes He is an encyclopedia of some sort. The history of Nigeria revolves around his finger tips as he bats no eyelid in telling it. He is a politician of note and to most people, a revered one with some modicumof integrity. In 1979, he ran for legislative seat in the Benue State House of Assembly on the Platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), and was consequently, elected the Deputy Speaker of the House. In 1982 he was appointed Federal Minister of Communications, and later became Minister of Steel Development. His tenure ended in December 1983 when a military coup brought Major-General Muhammadu Buhari to power. In 2001, he became the National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but left the scene under a controversial circumstance.

Today, he is one of the founders of the newly registered All Progressive Congress (APC). Looking

back through the years, Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh in this no-holds-barred and time-consuming exclusive interview in his Abuja residence tells Saturday Vanguard that the PDP he once chaired is a party of Killers amongst other turbulent national issues. The following are the excepts of the interview

By LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

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igeria will be 100 years by January 2014 having been amalgamated in 1914. And it’s been 53 years of the country’s post-independence existence. How has the country fared?

We started off well. It was a land of hope, a land of opportunity, a land of sunlight and faith, land of very proud people. Nigerians are hardworking and very committed. And it went on. It had its own challenges until the unfortunate tragedy of 1966.

And then all that hope; true federalism which we had then, all that regional competition for excellence simply came to a halt under the unitary system of government which the military brought along. And then the culture of violence came into this country. Gun was a solution to political problems and we are here now. We haven’t recovered yet because the hands of the military have not left the scene yet. A British Journalist told me this once: He said you Nigerians made a mistake.

You allowed the Army to hang around too long. He reminded me that in 1945, Winston Churchill, the hero of the Second World War contested election with his own deputy, Clement Atley. They refused to vote for Winston Churchill and voted for Clement Atley. Then I asked him why. Were you not being ungrateful? He said no, they did want any professional soldier hanging around too long in government. And he said but you are paying for it in your country.

OGBEH...A strong and violent culture does not dissipate very quickly.

Are you saying that 15 years down the line, democracy hasn’t set the pace to correct the anomalies apparently perpetrated by the military?

A strong and violent culture does not dissipate

very quickly. It gets engrained in the blood system of people. The choice of candidatures by the opposition is always predetermined by strong men and individuals who believe that they own the estate. If you argue with them, you pay very severely. And the most difficult person to set free is a happy slave. So, most Nigerians would rather not risk challenging arrogant authority. They will just blend.

And Nigerians have the courage to say, sorry, this is wrong. And a few who have tried have paid dearly, some with their lives. And we haven’t had time to mourn them even. So, people have learnt the lesson of acquiscence, grumbling in their bathrooms. I call Nigerians bathroom vocalists and bedroom heroes who would rather complain to their wives and children but outside there, they are busy flattering, cringing and crawling before arrogant authority. That’s what we are.

But talking about the military, many Nigerians will be quick to point out the legacies of the military than the civilian rule, why is it so?

In terms of infrastructure, roads and bridges, yes, they built a lot; I mean Gowon did a whole lot. Obasanjo, Murtala did quite a bit but you realized that the destruction of Civil Service, unfortunately happened under the Murtala regime; those arbitrary retirements. They were permanent Secretaries in Lagos who went to their early graves. I know one of them before he died.

He couldn’t afford a gateman in his house in Lagos. If a visitor came, he had to come out of his house to open the gate.

He had no money. But he was presumed corrupt. Those retirements with immediate effect changed the Civil Service into the near monster it is now. Politicians are called corrupt. Check the Civil Service. Only God knows what goes on there. So, in terms of physical achievements, yes.

Continues on page 49

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013—49

Democracies are not particularly famous for physical infrastructures. In fact, when people call something the dividends of democracy, it is a funny misnomer. Roads and bridges and water systems are no dividends of democracy. Real dividends o f democracy are the intangibles: Freedom, the rule of Law, equality before the law, a fair and just police force that doesn’t protect the rich against the poor, the freedom and hope of the youth, the participation of all in the democratic process and the accountability of the rulers. You can’t say that under military rule. Even under civilian rule now, it is difficult to hold civilians accountable because we have all learnt to cringe and crawl before powerful men who have money, and the monetization of politics which has come about because it became quite obvious. If you were a strong contractor, favoured contractor under those regimes, you were likely to succeed them when they were going away. So, physical achievements, yes, they did their bit but what has happened to the norms? What has happened to this evil called materialism? Ambivalent morality! Nothing is wrong or right. It depends on what the ruler wants.

If you reason this way, one gets the impression that when Olusegun Obasanjo, a full blooded soldier came as civilian president, you would have rejected being the National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) In 1999, I was a campaign Director for Dr. Alex Ekwueme. I fell victim to an assassination attempt in Benue, December 7, 1998 when a former military man sent a gang of nine to have me murdered in my house. There was no investigation till tomorrow. It was not an issue. So, today, later then, of course, I became Chairman, and I said, fine, this is the choice that Nigeria had made, then let’s make it work. But the hood does not make the monk. The fact that a man is in agbada (flowing gown) doesn’t make him a changed soldier. He has gone through 30 years of training in a certain line of thinking. You can’t change him overnight. He sees the place as a garrison and he is the commander in the garrison, the terminology he has used before and so he is familiar with it. And if you disobey, you are going to the guardroom.

But somehow, both of you fell apart in the course of your regime?

Yes, we did.

Why? Because, there were certain things I thought were wrong.

What were these things? mean, like allowing bullying as an instrument of governance. Allowing arbitrariness and extra-constitutional methods of solving problems. At one point, things were going on as if Nigeria was Chicago of 1950 under AlCarpol. If you disagree, a large quantity of police men are sent to take a governor, lock him up and you want to swear in his deputy. Where on God’s green earth can a democracy function this way?

Democracy is not anarchy. It allows freedom but insists on lawfulness. I said, hey, we can’t run this country this way.

Imagine all the assassinations that took place. The deaths, the mysterious deaths: The Attorney-General of the Federation; Harry Marshall; Dikibo; and Funsho Willaims in Lagos. There was a party chairman in Kwara, Hamman Patigi who was murdered on the road and shot to pieces. Till today, not one of these incidences has ever had anybody brought to trial. And I said, this can’t be. We can’t go on this way. In the end, you know, we are accountable to God. With all that this earth has to offer, one day you will die. If you are lucky, they

I

‘Death is only way they resolve disputes in PDP’ dreaming about creating jobs, about industrialization? I pay that interest rate then I buy diesel to run my factory and I want to compare with the man in Japan and China? I have never seen such suicidal lunacy in a country in the name of economic policy. And I challenge any of them to a debate on this matter. When will this economy really begin to grow?

When will the real sector begin to grow?

Why should the banks be licensed institutions of extortions? And they are declaring 104 Billion Naira profit? Sure, I expect 200billion as profit by the end of this financial year from some banks.

Meanwhile, there are a thousand defences of why the interest rates can’t go down. And we on top connive with this evil, torturing our people? I feel deeply pained that this racket goes on and nobody talks about it. It is not a subject for debate among politicians or anyone.

,,

Continued from page 48

I call Nigerians bathroom vocalists and bedroom heroes who would rather complain to their wives and children but outside there, they are busy flattering, cringing and crawling before arrogant authority

find a coffin for you. Some people die in an air crash, you can’t find their bodies.

We have to give account to God someday.

Let me take you back to emerging time of democracy. Fifteen years down the line, have we made any progress? ell, we have tried. We are trying to battle with the rule of law; it is W not working too well. There are jokes

now that you shouldn’t pay a lawyer. It is better to pay a Judge which the current Chief Justice is fighting because the Judiciary got destroyed by politicians. I have been warning that if we carry on like this, the politicians will destroy the Judiciary irreparably. The bribes are just too large and in foreign exchange. Too attractive. People pack huge volumes of cash and go around at night, corrupting Judges and making it impossible for them to give justice. Well, there is an effort to repair the place. I hope she will go far enough. In terms of understanding democracy, the dignity and the meaning of democracy, and the principles of accountability, we haven’t done that well. In terms of the sensitivity to the needs of the people, most of the political classes are too comfortable to recognize that the widow who voted for them in election, the unemployed

graduate, the retired civil servant, that policeman on the street are grossly under nourished economically. And the worst part is that we sit here and allow our economy to die; allow the Naira to sink. We import all manners of junks and when you talk, you are told we are part of a global world. What nonsense is that?

Global indeed? You can’t even make toothpicks. Nobody makes pencils for our children to write. Of the 18 million children in Primary Schools, we don’t make pencils here. We don’t make erasers; we don’t make rubber bands for tying Naira notes.

Everything is shipped in. You transfer your own currency to sustain the economies of other countries and by so doing transferring jobs, then, you bring unemployment along with the goods.

Your children in search of jobs pursue those jobs in the economy which you funded, and when they go there, the best they can get is prison? For crying out, do we need a professor from Harvard or a soothsayer to tell you that you are being deliberately foolish? Yes, import what you desperately need, what you don’t need, cut down. Of course you have an interest rate regime at 27/30 percent. Since 1986, the so called Structural Adjustment Programme. Where on God’s green earth, do you have such interest rates now? And yet this country is

Not a few persons still express surprise that a politician who grew to become the national Chairman of the ruling party would ditch the party for another… (cuts in) Yes, I was the National Chairman. Why did I go? We were among the founders of this party. I remember the old parade ground, September 30, 1998 when we all gathered there and Professor ABC Nwosu and one Mr. Charles Ego, Chief Press Secretary to Shagari in those days pulled away from the crowd and looking at the crowd, ABC said, Audu, I hope we can build a party that will really lead Nigeria forward. That was our dream from all over the country. That was our dream. I don’t know I would be the Chairman. But then I was attacked, so on and so forth. When I came into the party and became chairman, I had my own dreams. I often called myself a foolish idealist. In a very pragmatic, realistic society here, I am a bit of a foolish idealist. I found out that those ideals don’t work here especially when I escaped three assassination attempts. From this house where you are, I was nearly kidnapped on August 11, 2005 by five men, three in police uniform, two in plain clothes in two unmarked cars. They claimed to have been sent by the Police Headquarters. They came at 5 pm and again at midnight.

Then my son called me, and said the police have been looking for you and I said “for what?” and they were from the Police headquarters? I was away in Benue at the burial of Senator Adagba. So, I called the IG, I couldn’t get him. I called Atiku, former Vice President Atiku Abubarkar and he called the IG and the IG said he sent nobody to my house. I said, okay; let’s call theCommissioner of Police.

He said we have noth ing against you to arrest you, for what?

I later found they were sent by a certain leader of the party. I was to be picked, shot and dumped in the bush because some of the policemen confirmed it to a friend of mine. Would you remain in the party like that? Earlier, armed men had pursued me to my house in Markudi, February 2005; I had just left the party.

You know, people ask me this question.

So, why do I have to stay in the party where death is the only instrument of resolution of disputes or disagreement?

I don’t have to be in politics. I got in earlier. I played my part, apologized to those who are not happy with me; thanked those who are happy. But I don’t have to be in it. I have a few things I do to feed myself. If this is the place, then I quit.

50—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

BY EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, South-South & FESTUS AHON

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T is tricky, quite complicated to foretell which candidate or political party will win today’s bye-election in Delta Central senatorial district (predominantly Urhobo ) of Delta State to fill the vacancy created in the Senate, occasioned by the regrettable demise, June 30, of the former Senator, late Pius Ewherido, because of shifting political variables.

It is straightforward to say that the senatorial flag bearer of Democratic People Party, DPP, Chief Ede Dafione, the party on which platform the late Ewherido contested and won in April, 2011, will win the election because of the party’s Urhobo appeal, but that will be failing to take into reckoning the crisis the party is grappling with.

To also say that the All Progressives Congress, APC, fielding Olorogun O’tega Emerhor is likely to win because he inherited the political structure of the late Ewherido, as Emerhor wants people to believe and that it is an amalgamation of three legacy parties, ACN, ANPP and CPC, is to turn politics to mathematics.

In like manner, concluding that the senatorial candidate of PDP, Olorogun Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, will triumph because of his party’s following is like deciding the end of a race when the referee had not blown the final whistle.

From obtainable reality, political pundits are most likely to find the October 12 bye-Delta Central bye elections difficult to conjecture because the parameters are different from the previous ones.

However, it is palpable that out of the nine candidates in the race, six of them: Mrs. Atatagolly Hannah Oritsegbubemi Odibe -Advanced Congress of Democrats; Chief (Mrs.) Mercy Imonisa - Kowa Party, KP and Mr. Alfred J.J. Joseph - Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, Omoru-Akposheri Edafe-David of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA; Lucky Ighomuaro Ambrose - Mega Progressive Peoples Party, MPPP; and Chief (Barr.) Andi Kayoma Osawota, Labour Party, LP, can be described as mere contenders.

The real battle for who becomes late Ewherido’s successor is among the PDP, APC and DPP candidates, Aguariavwodo, Emerhor and Dafinone respectively. Dafinone rates highly because his party, DPP, led by three-time governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru, often called “People’s General” is regarded by the people of Delta Central as “our party”.

Its inroad was because of the disunity that rocked the PDP before now in the senatorial district. Indeed, it was the disagreement and no love lost relationship that made the late Ewherido to dump PDP for DPP. Even Dafinone was once a member of PDP. However, PDP seems to have resolved its differences and the power brokers have joined forces to retrieve their pride in today’s bye-election.

Today, PDP will be fighting to take back the senatorial seat, which DPP took from it for the first time in 2011.

The parties have deployed a lot of resources and men for the election, taking place in eight local government areas; Sapele, Uvwie, Okpe, Ethiope East, Ethiope West, Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu, which make up the district.

Sapele: DPP candidate, Chief Ede Dafinone comes from Sapele local government

Emerhor

Dafinone

Aguariavwodo

Delta by-election: How the candidates, parties stand and combining his prowess with that of his father, his followers believe the people will give him their votes.

But PDP tactician and Commissioner for Housing, Chief Paulinus Akpeki, told Saturday Vanguard that Sapele is PDP candidate, Chief Aguariavwodo. Akpeki said he had never lost election to the Dafinones in the timber town.

Chief Akpeki, who was in his elements told Vanguard pointedly, yesterday, “The truth is that the Dafinones are going to lose in Sapele, I have defeated them in the past, whether in the defunct SDP/NRC days or the other times the elder Dafinone sponsored a House of Representative candidate against my candidate. “ He said, “Ede Dafinone, who is contesting the senatorial election is a white man, he is an alien in Sapele, find out, he cannot speak in our native dialect, so with which language is he campaigning to our people, I tell you, he is a non-starter.”

“PDP has always defeated Dafinone in Sapele and we will do it again,” Akpeki said, as if sure of the swing of pendulum.

It is obvious, however, that DPP and PDP are going to share Sapele votes.

The impact of the APC candidate, Olorogun Emerhor will be known after the election.

Ethiope –East This is homestead of DPP leader, Chief Great Ogboru, which many believe will be delivered by him to his party’s candidate, Dafinone. It will be a surprise if Ogboru loses Ethiope East to any party.

But his elder brother, Chief Julius Ogboru, one-time pillar of the party and former Field Marshal of the Ogboru Campaign Organization, who had decamped to the PDP, boasted that he was going to prove analysts wrong.

The APC candidate is not expected to have a good showing in Ethiope – East, where the two Ogboru’s and their supporters will fight to finish. But the younger Ogboru, Great Ovedje, is supposed to have an upper hand.

Therefore, Ethiope-East will go the way of DPP.

Ethiope-West None of the three major candidates are from Ethiope-West, which has been traditionally a PDP area. Urhobo political leader, Chief Ighoghota Amori, who lost the senatorial seat to Ewherido is from Mosogar and threetime member of House of Representatives, Hon. John Agoda is also from the same local government. Both are working for the PDP candidate, but Emerhor and Dafinone have made some inroad too.

Ughelli South PDP candidate, Aguariavwodo is from Okpare-Olomu Ughelli South and is most likely to clear the votes no matter the fight by other parties.

The Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama and former Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi are from this local government and their mandate is to deliver the area to Aguariavwodo.

Ughelli North: This is the local government of the APC candidate, Olorogun Emerhor, who is from Evwreni community. He is going to share the votes with Aguariavwodo because of the influence of former ACN governorship candidate, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege, who had returned to the PDP and working round the clock to deliver the area to PDP. Emerhor’s followers, nevertheless, think that with the late Ewherido’s structure at the disposal of their principal, he is as good as having won Ughelli North.

The LP candidate, Barrister Osawota is from Ughelli North, but his party has no footing in the area. Emerhor ’s participation has automatically knocked off whatever support the DPP would have got in Ughelli North, as the battle is likely to be between APC and PDP. Okpe: Many think that Okpe will be won by either DPP or APC, but the member, representing Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie Federal Constituency, Mrs. Evelyn Ojakavo and other PDP leaders were working to deliver it to PDP. However, DPP and PDP will divide Okpe votes.

Udu Udu had for some time now been voting against PDP candidates, but one of the political heavyweights and member of the House of Representatives, Hon Austin Ogbaburon, decamped from DPP, Thursday, and declared with his teeming supporters for the PDP. The wind of change is actually blowing in Udu, but can it brush off DPP? Uvwie Lagos lawyer, Barrister Festus Keyamo, who lost the APC primary to Emerhor and former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Veronica Ogbuagu, are doing everything to secure victory for APC in Uwvie, but the DPP has tremendous support in the local government. The battle here can be said to be an APC/DPP affair, but the PDP is planning a come-back.

Between Uduaghan and Ogboru However, the final verdict on who wins today’s election lies with the voters, who will make the decision with the voter’s cards. The governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has shown much interest in the bye-election to ensure that Aguariavwodo wins.

In fact, Uduaghan, who has increased his development tempo, certainly, wants to make a point with the bye-election and had relocated from Asaba to Warri to monitor proceedings and handle challenges as they come.

He directed political appointees and elected office holders from the district to deliver their wards to the party’s candidate.

Winning the bye-election means a lot to the PDP, which wants to say that it is the party to beat in the state, while for Chief Ogboru, a loss for Dafinone, the party’s candidate in today’s election, may mark a political eclipse for him.

He will be a much-sought force for further political negotiations in the State if Dafione wins, but if the DPP fails; the gravitation will be to PDP and could even mark the death of DPP in the state. The result will be determined in less than 24 hours. 10-10

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013—51

Why workers are now happy with President Jonathan

thing we do. But because of the secularity of Nigeria and democracy you cant stop anybody from...My own take is that sensitive unions, and in fact some unions that are intellectually inclined like ASUU should be insulated from politics. Their members should insulate themselves from politics because when we had a bipolar arrangement in the world when you were either a Marxist or a capitalist, most of them tended to be Marxists, but we have gone beyond that and I think the best thing is for ASUU members to insulate their members from politics.

— Wogu

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

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wadila Chukwuemeka Wogu, the Minister of Labour and Productivity has had a challenging but made phenomenal strides in his beat since his appointment in April 2010. In this interview, he articulates the challenges he has faced, how President Goodluck Jonathan has quietly motivated the Nigerian working class and how the counsels from his elders at home led

by Governor Theodore Orji have kept him on course.

Excerpts:

But why has the ASUU strike lingered on?

ASUU is one of the unions in the education sector. Apart from ASUU, you have the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, you have the National Association of Staff Unions, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, among others. ASUU prior to the inception of this administration has had strikes that in some cases lasted six months and it has been an intractable problem in the education sector. But when Mr. President came in, he came in with the purpose of revamping the education sector and putting an end to the incessant strikes in that sector and it is on record that what led to the present strike was an agreement entered into in 2009 and the current position now is that government has been discussing with ASUU and has commenced the implementation of that agreement after a committee was put in place for implementation. Again to show good faith, a committee of the Federal Government headed by the governor of

Chukwuemeka Wogu, Minister of Labour and Productivity

,,

What is the relationship between the working class and the leadership of the country?

Cordial. Despite what has happened in the education sector with respect to ASUU where discussions are ongoing, but because of the labour friendly president we have and what we have been able to do with the support of the president in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, we have been able to achieve cordiality between the tripartite partners, which include labour, employers and government.

So, the relationship between these three partners in the tripartite arrangement is cordial and effective. A lot of changes which we have brought into the ministry, moving the paradigm shift from adversarial approach in labour administration to a more developmental approach is yielding results.

That is why you have less strikes, less of shut outs and all that and we have been very proactive in matters concerning labour unions and employers and government.

Despite the divergent opinion about the level of implementation of the agreement, there is convergence of opinion among everybody involved in the signing of the agreement and even those outside on the need to call off the strike

Benue State was put in place to implement the needs assessment report of the earlier committee set up by the minister of education. Then, there was the government side led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, I am a member of that committee including the Suswam Committee. These committees were all put in place with the sole purpose of implementing that 2009 agreement despite some noticeable difficulties with the agreement. So, first of all, government agreed to implement it and to invoke a particular paragraph of that agreement that has given powers to both parties to sit down and renegotiate.

So, if ASUU calls off the strike based on the level of implementation...implementation is not foreclosed, it is a continuous thing and it is the same Federal Government that set up the Needs Assessment Committee that went round the universities in the country and found out that there is a big rot. And part of cleaning up the

Augean Stable was to set up an implementation committee and the initial N100 billion has been pumped in and distributed among the universities according to their needs.

So, need is one important fact in this whole issue. Then another one that has become contentious is Earned Allowances. By the nomenclature, the allowances must be earned. So, it is the function of the university councils to determine who has earned what and for what period. So, government has made an initial disbursement of N30 billion according to universities and what we were expecting to get is a feedback. Assuming University XYZ got so, so amount of money, the issue is was it enough to offset what had been earned by the university teachers in that university? If it is yes, then are there outstandings? If the answer is no, then you know that they have fully discharged. If there are balances coming out as a result of payment then you know that what was disbursed to them was actually more than what they need. So, I think that is the next thing we should be talking about in addition to getting lecturers to go back to school. However, one thing is that the striking university lecturers, students, the Nigerian public and government, everybody is agreed on the fact that there is need for this strike to stop.

So, despite the divergent opinion about the level of implementation of the agreement, there is convergence of opinion among everybody involved in the signing of the agreement and even those outside on the need to call off the strike.

Some have insinuated a political colouration to the strike. What is your perspective on this?

In all aspects of life, whether it is domestic, whether it is in the church or community or union administration, there are bound to be politics in every-

Given the situation in the country, do you think workers would want a continuation of the administration?

Let me begin by saying that all our policies are pro-workers, pro Nigeria.

What people don’t understand is that the majority of patriotic Nigerians are found among the working class. What you see is that people who have access to media and the people you call the elites are the people who are in the struggle for power. But the common man on the street, the commuter who commutes by train from Kano to Lagos is so happy with this administration and they are rooting and yearning for Mr. President to continue beyond 2015 as their president.

The people who ply the roads are so happy with Mr. President. The man who had not received fertiliser for a long time is so happy with Mr. President’s transformation agenda with respect to agriculture. Ditto power. When you go to areas that were well known for Okada business you will find out that they have all abandoned it and gone back to lucrative businesses because they now have energy. Go from Aba through Uyo, Onitsha, Asaba you will find out that people have gone back to what they used to do. Since you came in here, the light has not blinked and if you go to places like Umuahia, Aba, there is an improvement in energy supply and there is a push to get it even better.And when these things are happening and as Minister of Labour and Productivity, the impact on the Nigerian economy is that more jobs are being created. So, Nigerians are happy and even the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme which has about eight components are all labour intensive. They have created jobs.

The Community Service and Women and Youth Empowerment which is domiciled in my ministry has created 3,000 jobs in each of the 36 states and the FCT. We are at the verge of recruiting an additional 2,000 each when we sort out the budgetary difficulties we are currently facing. The maternal component of SURE-P is another one that is creating jobs. So, because government has put in the best policies that have stimulated growth in the private sector, a lot of jobs are being created. It is because of the policies that have been put in place that you have the private sector players like the Dangotes setting up industries that will employ thousands of jobs, you also have Inoson Motors in Nnewi and also, you see the textile companies are returning because of the current injection of funds by Mr. President. You also have this ongoing campaign buy Nigeria, create jobs. So, for me, all the furniture in my house were all made in Lagos by a Nigerian company and so, I am proud I am patronising Nigerian made goods.

52—SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2013

By Ifeanyi Okolie

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S the ’ember’ months progress steadily signalling the close of the year, people are getting ready to travel to their respective home towns for the much awaited Christmas celebration. Most of them, especially from the eastern part of the country, are expecting a hitch-free journey back home to celebrate with their loved ones. However, the problems usually encountered by the travellers yearly on their journey home are better imagined than experienced. However, a major player in the transport industry in the country and Chief Executive Officer of Ifesinachi Motors, Prince Emeka Mamah has promised to effect the desired change disclosing that his transport compnay is putting measures in place to ensure safe and comfortable trips travellers desire.

Prince Mamah said: “as a leading road transport compoany in Nigeria, we expect the goodwill we have built over the years to continue. First and foremost, we have vowed to give our numerous customers the best of services as never witnessed anywhere in the country. We have planned and strategically positioned to embark on journeys at appropriate time leaving at various locations of Ifesinachi bus terminals. We ’re trying to make movements easy for our customers with our online bookings instead of having to queue up before proceeding to their destinations. It’s also

We’re se o of sett tto offfer passenger vice passengerss best ser service ----Ifesinachi boss

The new land flight important for our travellers to know that we’ve purchased state-of-the-art passenger jeeps which no transport company can boast of. It’s convenience and more comfortable.

Finally, we are expecting a hitch-free movement where all the travellers will get to their destinations safely.

“Our customers will have to stay in the comfort of their homes, using their mobile internet devices to buy their tickets. The new jeeps we’ve included in the fleet is also to add value to our operations. In fact, it’s a delight that is worth the experience. The condition of roads have improved tremendously compared to how they were in the

BUSINESS GUIDE

recent past. Before now, for instance, Lagos to Enugu or to any part of the East will take you a whole day, instead of six to seven hours. I really commend our government for responding to our plights by fixing the bad spots on our roads. I seize this medium to further plead with our government to do more in improving on the states of our our roads. This will no doubt reduce the rate of accidents and even robbery attacks on the highway.

“The question here is who’s safe, the world has become a one stop shop and so sophisticated that what happens anywhere in the world within a minute, spreads like wildfire.

Kidnapping and terrorism is a global challenge. So,

it’s not only related to Nigeria and it did not even originate here. I have ex-

perienced that and so many families have also witnessed that, some had lost their lives and lives of loved ones. It’s not something one can handle alone, no government has been able to nip that in the bud but I am expecting that by now, the authorities, with state-of- the-art weapons would have risen to challenge or to curtail some of these happenings. At this stage of our national life, it’s high time our roads and other important places be installed with CCTV cameras with all its control units stationed at various divisional police stations for monitoring..

“Today, I am happy to announce that the world acclaimed NV 3500 first hit the Nigerian roads early this year through Ifesinachi. It’s been wonders on wheels, very comfortable, roomy, the convenience unequalled and fully air conditioned having seat belts per sit. It

takes maximum of 11 passengers. We did this for our passengers who are on the move having in mind the importance of time. It’s been a wonderful experience for our travellers. Right now, those buses are always fully booked in advance.

To this effect, we have embarked on measures aimed at making sure that our drivers are well prepared for the challenges ahead. It has been a regular training, frequent eye checkups, sound remunerations and a very good working relationship with the management team.

Over the years, this has been our guiding principles for our drivers. Our advise to passengers ranges from reporting through our Customer Service Centers, the Executive director, making use of office suggestion boxes and also first class assistance of the Managing Director,” he stated.

L-R: Executive Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB),Mrs. Khadijat Dawodu; Executive Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Tunde Fowler, and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Folunshade Omolara Erogbogbo, at a Press briefing of the 6th Lagos State Internal Revenue Service Secondary School Essay Competition held at the Good Shepherd House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

In ood Invvestment in agriculture will boost ffood security—Onebunne

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HE Managing Di rector/CEO Jova na Farms, Prince Arinze Onebunne, has advised the federal government to invest in agriculture in order to boost food security. Onebunne who is also a consultant and expert in animal farming stated that with great passion to reduce unemployment in the country through animal farming, Nigerians will be able to feed her growing population.

He said: “food security is all about making safe, affordable with abundant food a reality. “We need to achieve this because in 2050, the world population will be about 9.3 billion and this, no doubt, will increase demand for agricultural products all over the world. Currently, the world is growing by 6.3 million people every month, and 70 per cent of production must come from efficiency improving technologies. In the next few years, about 3 billion people will have attained middle class status. We all know there is a historical relation between social status and the intake of meat, fish, milk, mushroom and eggs will definitely increase. This is the time to do business with agriculture, so that in 2050, Nigeria will be among comity of nations that would boost food security globally.

Onebunne further stated that because of food shortage, there is a prevailing hunger and malnutrition around the world today. “As we know,

food scarcity kills people more than war, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria etc. Every day, about 25,000 people die of hunger, he said. “It is time to eliminate hunger and food scarcity through adequate investment in agriculture.”

According to him, the solutions to food security lies in innovation, farming, consumer choice and globalization, adding that countries that have not embraced this innovation, technologies, agriculture otherwise we will be guilty of committing a crime against humanity.

“I am convinced that if Nigeria can invest on the above mentioned, the country will not find it difficult to feed its growing population”.

“Again, livestock farming is another avenue to create sustainable jobs and ensure food security in the country. The new Federal Government policies on agricultural which provide credit facility make it easy for those interested in this sector to venture into

farming and agro-products exporting for food production. “Nigerians, especially the teeming youths, retirees, job seekers, etc can make a lot of money and produce the needed nutrients from snail, quail, geese, ostrich, mushroom, pig, fish, antelope, grassscutter and crops farming”.

Investors should not shun agriculture for quick returns, we all should encourage agriculture and produce surplus food in Nigeria; so as to bring about the diversification of the Nigerian economy rather than expending billions of dollars annually in importation of food.

Jovana Farms recently conducted a nationwide sensitization programme on agro-business; seminars/training designed to equip interested persons with all the necessary requisite knowledge for a successful animal production career and opportunities in animal farming. Choose the nearest venue from the advert box on this page. Visit www.jovanafarms.com.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013—53

Edo PDP battles Oshiomhole over plans to sell Edo House zWe will use proceed of the property abandoned by PDP to build a five star hotel— Oshiomhole

By SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

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n the past one month in Edo State, the political atmosphere has been calm. There seems to be temporary cessation of criticisms of the Governor Adams Oshiomhole led administration by the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP). But that calm was punctured once again, last weekend, when the party led by its Chairman in the state, Chief Dan Orbih, accused the state government of planning to sell the Edo House in Lagos to its cronies in government. Saturday Vanguard recalled that there were similar attempts to sell the House during the administration of Governor Lucky Igbinedion but that move met a brick wall, at the state House of Assembly, when the then Majority Leader of the House, Mr Patrick Obahiagbon (Igodomigodo) who today is Chief of Staff to the Edo State Government, moved a motion stopping the government from going on with the sale of the property. As at that time, there was already crisis within the PDP in the state between loyalists of the current Chairman Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih and that of the then Governor Igbinedion. The Speaker of the House then was Mr Friday Itulah, who is known to be an unrepentant loyalist of the PDP leader. Obahiagbon’s motion was unanimously endorsed by the lawmakers then and consequently halted Igbinedion’s move to sell the building. The bickering in the party over shadowed the reasons adduced by the Igbinedion administration to sell the building.

However, due to the dilapidated nature of the property, it was not surprising to many that the Oshiomhole’s administration came up with an advertisement penultimate week announcing plans to sell the Edo House.

But that attracted the angst of the PDP which vowed to stop the governor.

Addressing newsmen, Chief Orbih claimed that the property which according to him is valued at over N3.5billion is one of the most priced assets owned by the state government and therefore it would be illegal to sell the property. Orbih alleged that the state government hired one Segun Asaju and Company as the estate agency to supervise the sales of the property, saying that it was a fraudulent attempt by the state government to sell the property to its cronies and vowed that the party will stop it. He said: “ How was Segun Asaju and Company selected by the Edo state Government to supervise the sale of the state most priced property?”

In Edo state, we have qualified Property Estate valuers who are paying exorbitant taxes in the state .Did Oshiomhole advertise the sale of Edo C M Y K

•Governor Adams Oshiomhole House? We have known from the onset that this process has been designed by the state government to meet the interest of a top government official who is interested in acquiring Edo House at all cost even through fraudulent means”. But Oshiomhole who described the criticism as mischievous and petty, said he intends to sell the Edo House with a view to use the proceeds to build a five star hotel and a business district in Benin City. Oshiomhole who accused the PDP administration then in Edo of destroying the property, said he owes no apologies to the PDP as his major interest is to ensure development of Benin City before his exit from office.

His words: “ Edo House was built at the time when Lagos was still the capital of Nigeria and I believe every state government has a liaison office in Lagos. Some use the houses as guest houses for officials.

“Edo House happened to be in a very prime area in Lagos but once the capital was relocated to Abuja, the status of Lagos changed. Lagos is still a very important city but it is now the commercial and the industrial heart beat of Nigeria. It is no longer the political headquarters. But if you own a property in Lagos, like every responsible government, Lagos state government will expect you to pay rate on the property or land use as we are trying to do in Edo State. Now, since my assumption of office here, I have gone to Lagos and some of my commissioners have also gone there to assess the state of affairs in our Lagos office, and we were shocked to find a state of disrepair. The building has been abandoned for long, it has been on lease to private individuals who use part of it as an hotel. They do not remit money to government. When we tried to get them to release the money, they went to court. We are moving from one court room to the

other spending money on lawyers while the property is wasting away. I asked myself whether it is in the interest of the good people of Edo state to continue to maintain that property and take Edo tax payers money to pay taxes on the property. Recently, we had a bill of about N60million from Lagos state government on the property. Since being a governor, I have never stayed in Edo State Laison office, my predecessors never stayed there. Perhaps the last time anybody stayed there may be during the military regime. When I go to Lagos, I stay in a

everything advertised. The fact is that we want to sell the house rather than do selective bidding so that whoever has money to buy can buy. Our intension is that when we sell the building, we can use the money to build a property in Benin. We have two projects which God willing and the funds are available, I intend to accomplish before the end of my tenure.

“The most central one in my heart, is building a five star hotel with a conference center and banquet facilities and seminar rooms in a strategic place in Benin City because given our location, the gate way to the East, to the North and to the West and the South South, Benin City is simply the center of Nigeria. So, I am convinced that we need a five-star hotel so that we can take advantage of our location”. Oshiomhole stated further that “for me, it is about thinking for the future, now if we sell Edo House, whatever money we realize from it, I think it will make more sense for Edo people to divert from Lagos and bring investment down to Edo state. So, I will use the money to build a five-star hotel.If the money is not enough, we will use it to start the construction and find other resources to complete it. Incidentally, during my last visit to Washington about ten days ago, if everything worked fine, I had a deal with the American overseas Nexin Bank to fund the construction of a hotel. If that comes to pass, we expect to raise about N250million Dollars. If we get that, we can have a fivestar Marriot Hotel that will forever change the face of Benin City and make a bold statement about our tourist potential as a state. So, since we cannot physically relocate the house in Lagos to Benin, we had put it in the market and we will use the proceed to develop Benin City. My mandate is not to develop Lagos, my mandate is to develop Edo state and therefore I have no apologies for those who think that purely for political reasons, we should keep our largest asset in Lagos to be wasting away. The respon-

Edo House happened to be in a very prime area in Lagos but once the capital was relocated to Abuja, the status of Lagos changed.

Lagos is still a very important city but it is now the commercial and the industrial heart beat of Nigeria, it is no longer the political headquarters hotel and Edo State government pays for that hotel. So, what now is the value of maintaining that property. It is not yielding any income for Edo state and it is attracting charges. So, we deliberated on it at the state executive council and we felt that the primary reason for acquiring that property is no longer valid since the capital has relocated to Abuja. And subsequently, we have Edo House in Abuja which serves as our liaison office where we have staff and officials. So, the building in Lagos is therefore no longer relevant, so we decided to put it on sale”.

Oshiomhole asserted further that “ unlike what PDP government did before, we decided that the process has to be transparent and there is only one way to make a process transparent. Get

sibility of a governor is to think not just about today but about the future.

“Secondly” he said, “ we have a design that has been completed to build Benin City business district where we had the Agidingbi house. It will have a very beautiful edifice around that King Square and it will complete the statement we want to make around the King Square because it will be recalled at the beginning they said we were just planting flowers but now they know we are not just planting flowers, we are constructing and we are building. Our vision is clear that by the time we are done with our urban renewal programme in Benin City, when you stand at the King Square, at night it will be a beauty to behold. That is my challenge and if selling Lagos House will give us the resource to transform Benin City, I will do so without apologies to PDP”.

54 —SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Perec trains for New York marathon

Curtain draws on Lagos Street Soccer T HERE is excitement in the air and high expectation from players who will showcase their talent in a fierce competition among the contending teams as the curtain draws on this year’s edition of the MTN Lagos Street Soccer tournament with the final taking place at the Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island, tomorrow.

Most of the teams are of the opinion that it is a great privilege to be among the finalists, as the tournament offers an enviable platform to display their skills. More so, the cash prizes attached to the tournament has not only been a source of

encou-ragement, but also, the international expo-sure that the tournament offers the eventual finalists.

Ishola Sikiritu, the team coordinator of the 2011 champion, Akapo Lawal Street, Apapa, said his team have positioned themselves again to emerge winner tomorrow.

“We have trained a lot, this has made us both physically and psychological fit to play a good match on Sunday’ he declared.

Other teams like ABS Street, Mosan Okunola, Agege Street, Ikoyi Obalende and Pike Street, Lagos Island which are getting to the final stage

for the first time as well as the defending Champion, Koilo Street 2 and Lagos Island West have all declared that they will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that they give out their best on the field of play.

The tournament, an initiative of the Lagos State Government and sponsored by MTN Nigeria, will see the winning team in the male category, smile home with N5 million, the winner of the female category gets a prize money of N1 million while the winner of the U-15 category gets N1 million.

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RANCE’S most decorated athlete MarieJose Perec has confirmed that she has started training for the first time in a decade to compete in next month’s New York marathon.

The 45-year-old, who won gold in the 400m at the 1992 Barcelona Games and both the 200m and 400m titles four years later in Atlanta, will run the event for charity.

The triple Olympic and two-time world champion admitted that she had “done absolutely nothing” since retiring and it had been hard to get back training for the race on November 3.

“I’ve never missed sport,” she admitted. “I know that there are people who do it to feel good. In my life I’ve moved on to other things,

I’ve a lovely family, other things in my head.”

“When you’ve stopped for 2 or 3 years you become just like everyone else. So it’s very hard to take up sport again like that. I’d have never thought of it.

There are a lot of former sports stars who run the marathon: I saw (Amelie) Mauresmo, Stephane (Diagana)... I chatted with them, but I still don’t understand why they have a second passion in the marathon. I don’t have that.”

Perec said she had only agreed to participate to help the people of Haiti, which suffered a devastating earthquake in 2010, as part of the Peace and Sport movement.

“I wanted to help Haitians. I grew up in Guadeloupe with a lot of Haitian neighbours,” she

explained, adding that her only ambition, apart from raising 50 000 dollars, would be to finish the race.

Nicknamed “The Gazelle” for her grace and speed, Perec pulled out of the 2000 Sydney Olympics at the last minute after she became embroiled in a scuffle with Australian cameramen trying to get film of her ahead of her highly anticipated showdown with Australian star Cathy Freeman.

She then endured a succession of injuries before finally retiring in 2004 at the age of 36.

“The body has a memory and sometimes I have the urge, suddenly to run fast,” she said.

“Then I have to tell myself ‘hang on, it’s not a sprint!’.”

National Youth Sports Festival: Gbayi makes case for Judo LAYERS’ represen- the future of Nigerian has appealed to both the P tative on the Judo”. “First of all, the sports minister and board of the Nigeria Judo entire board of the Director-General of the Federation (NJF), Segun Gbayi has appealed to sports minister, Bolaji Abdulahi and DirectorGeneral Gbenga Elegbeleye not to let the sport of Judo die a premature death through its exclusion in the forthcoming National Youth Sports Festival.

A visibly angry Gbayi expressed disappointment over the replacement of Judo with Rugby in the youth sports festival, tagging the decision “a big blow to

Nigeria Judo Federation is sad and pained by the decision to dump Judo at a time our youth development programme is climaxing.

“Our Judokas have been training ahead of the youth games in December and they have been shattered by this sad development. Judo is a developmental sport and the board’s target of producing tomorrow’s stars today has been dislocated by this sad decision,”said Gbayi who

NSC to reverse the decision..

“We are pleading on behalf of the Judokas. that the NSC allows Judo youths to feature in the December Youth Games.

The present board was the first to organize a tournament immediately after the inauguration in Abuja. The youth judokas have been training in the last seven months and the NSC should lift their spirits through the readmission of Judo in the youth sports festival,” he stressed.

Kwankwasiya cycling tourney holds December

BY OSARETIN EMUZE

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HE Governor of Kano state, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has approved the hosting of the maiden edition of the Kwankwasiya National Cycling Championship in

•Gov. Kwankwasiya

Kano coming up in the second week of December, 2013. The Technical Director of the Cycling Federatiion of Nigeria (CFN), Mohammed Bashiru said the sports loving Governor gave his approval last month during

the reception for the Kano Pillars Football Club and the State’s athletes who won medals during the last National Sports Festival held in Lagos last year.

Mohammed who said that the competition will last for five days and held along the major streets of the Kano metropolis disclosed that “over 200 cyclists from across the country are expected to take part in the cycling extravaganza.

Winners of the different events will represent the country next year in an international competition in Europe.”

Bashiru said that cyclists will take part in road race, time trials and team pursuits as he poured encomiums on the governor for agreeing to sponsor cycling despite the hard economic condition in the country

Glory Days... Marie-Jose Perec (left) Cathy Freeman and Falilat Ogunkoya at the final of the women 400m at Atlanta 1996 Olympics. Perec took the gold, Freeman silver and Ogunkoya bronze

C/Wealth Games: NSC ready to support AFN’s early preparations

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THLETICS Federation of Nigeria has received a boost from the National Sports Commission, NSC in its bid to start an early programme for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Buoyed by the audacious performances of its athletes in continental and world championships events, the AFN is aiming to rake in more of such successes to use as a measuring rod for preparations for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil. An early camping of athletes was proposed to take off in November, but fears were rife if the programme will hit the ground running as the federation lacked the financial muscle to put its camping activities in proper perspective. A case in point was the last World Championships in Moscow, Russia.

Nigerian athletes were obviously not prepared for the event and it was

seen in the outcome of the events, most especially the relays, where Nigeria had hopes to rescue medals. Fortune however, smiled on Blessing Okagbare who won a bronze in the women 200m and silver in the long jump. The AFN had

blamed its inability to camp the athletes on its failure to get funding for the training programme.

However, a member of the AFN said that the proposed conditioning camp for the athletes will likely see the light of the day.

WADA proposes ‘steroids passport’ for athletes

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HANGES are coming, and they won’t be good for athletes fixed on cheating their way to the top of the medal podium.

At its November congress in Johannesburg, South Africa, the World AntiDoping Agency will update its call for athletes to carry steroid passports, similar to the biological passports already used in sports such as cycling, athletics and cross-country skiing.

The bio passports record blood readings that can be used to determine if an

athlete is doping; the steroid passport would record an athlete’s testosterone levels.

WADA wants steroid passports implemented in as many sports as possible by the end of December.

On top of that, WADA is set to introduce harsher penalties for first-time cheats effective January of 2015. In Canada, for example, an athlete caught using an illegal substance for the first time could receive a two-year ban.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 12, 2013 — 55

Adeyemi-Beri assures support for Tennis talents

BY EDDIE AKALONU

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PONSORS of the Chief J. O. Adeyemi-Beri Memorial Tennis Championship have pledged to provide needed

financial assistance to the budding talents from the competition to take part in any of the global circuits identified for them by the state and national associations in order to

Eagles not better than us, says Ethiopian coach E

THIOPIAN coach Sewnet Bishaw said that the Super Eagles will meet a different team from the one they pipped 2-0 at the 2013 Nations Cup, when they clash in Sunday’s World Cup qualifier.

At the Nations Cup in South Africa the Ethiopians impressed with their good ball possession and sleek passing game, but a string poor results made them finish at the bottom of group C. They lost 4-0 to Burkina Faso and 2-0 to the Super Eagles.

However, coach Bishaw said they have learnt from their mistakes at the Nations Cup. “If you look seriously at that match at the Nations Cup, Nigeria were not a better team than us. Up to the (end) we were performing good. But in the last 10 minutes they used their experience, so they got two penalties,” he said.

“I think we will have a better game in the coming match against Nigeria,” Sewnet said.

Also midfielder Menyahil Teshome who is ready to battle John Obi Mikel for the control of the game stated that they wont make mistakes this time around. “We are ready for this match, we are very ready. We learned a lesson from the mistakes we made last time,” said midfielder Menyahil Teshome.

Teshome, Ethiopia’s captain optimistic

Play match of your lives, commissioner urges Eagles

BY OJIEVA EHIOSUN

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S the Super Eagles tackle Ethiopia in the first leg of the 2014 World Cup play –off in Addis Ababa tomorrow, Anambra state commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr. Edozie Aroh, has charged the Stephen Keshi-tutored squad to beat the

Walya Antelopes at home not minding their home fans. The commissioner disclosed this during the final of Governor Peter Obi Unity Cup at the Rojenny Stadium, Oba in Anambra state. “I do not think we have any cause to be scared of the Ethiopians, we have beaten them several times before.

Golf: Balogun wins Heineken Nigeria Cup

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HIS year’s edition of the famed Heineken Nigeria Cup Golf came to a thrilling end at the golf section of the Ikoyi 1938 on Sunday with Mufutau Balogun emerging as the tournament’s new champion.

Balogun carded a net score of 72, to win the tournament by two-shots, beating over 180others including last year ’s winner, Joachim Schotyssek.

The week-long event also had Ajay K in the second position.

Ajay netted a score of 74 while Afe I, who played off handicap

10,came in the third position after signing for 75net.Olumide Ojutalayo and Obiora. Okonkwo completed the top five categories for men.

While Ojutalayo netted a score 75 to lose on count back to Afe, Okonkwo shot an 18-hole round of 76-net also winning on count back.

Tim Ayomike, former Nigeria Cup winner topped in the gross category for men while Peter Eben-Spiff, also a former champion, ducked in the second position. Chris Obije also proved that he is still a force to be reckoned with grossing an 80-gross score to beat another

former champion, Remi Olukoya. Olukoya carded 83gross score. Pat Bassey, signed for 85-gross score to complete the top five in the gross categories for men.

Being a premium international sport; Heineken, an international premium brand present in over 170 countries around the world has been partnering with the golf section of the prestigious Ikoyi Club 1938. To underscore this partnership, all the winners in various category of play were rewarded with Heineken Magnum in addition to other prizes.

This is a high profile game that needs to be taken seriously by the players. I want to urge the entire squad to see this game as the game of their lives.

They know the importance of this match and can not afford to gamble with it. We need to win this game and win convincingly so that by the time we play the return leg in Calabar, it will just be a formality. World Cup is so important that Nigeria can not afford to be absent from it.

As reigning African kings, they need to show that they are real

Continued from B/P

C M Y K

investigating the matter. And he will come out with his findings and appropriate response. The stadium manager was summoned to Abuja on Thursday to state why he couldn’t stop Oreweme since maintenance of the Stadium is under his jurisdiction,” said Julius Ogunro special assistant to the sports minister.

Without the trees the stadium presently could be likened to a

beautiful woman who had her hair shaved . The affected areas look plain while the savaged trees with the stems measuring about 3ft in diameter lie wasted with branches piled up high when Saturday Vanguard Sports visited the stadium Thursday.

A study of the positioning of the trees and the camera revealed that Mrs. Oreweme was clearly off the mark with her claims that the plants were obstructing the moribund CCTVs. The trees were behind

champions in the continent, what we need now is the World cup ticket. With the presidential supports these boys are getting now, I have no doubt in my mind that they would do us proud in Addis Ababa, “ he said.

The commissioner said that he will be leading a team of supporters from Anambra State to Addis Ababa to cheers the Eagles to victory, adding, “Nigeria will definitely qualify for the World Cup in Brazil come 2014.

Eagles will drink good wine after their victory on Sunday.”

Eagles’ll cope with weather, despite late arrival — Onigbinde

By ADEGBOYEGA BENEDICTA

E

X-SUPER Eagles coach Chief Adegboyega Onigbinde expects victory for the Nigerian side from the World Cup qualifier between the team and the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia tomorrow in Addis Ababa.

Onigbinde said he expects nothing than the victory from the

NSC disowns liaison officer, summons Stadium mgr

•Senator Mark, teeing off

carry further their ambitions.

Adewunmi Adeyemi –Beri, made the pledge on behalf of family in Lagos during the final of the second edition of the championships in Lagos.

They have also pledged to include wheelchair tennis in subsequent editions, “We are not sponsoring the competition just for players to compete. We are ready to go a step further by providing assistance to any player who has that ability and ambition to go out there. We are going to liaise with the tennis association to identify circuits that players can enter. Once they give notice saying this is what it would take, we are going to give it serious attention,” he said.

As a beginning, Adewunmi said the family would make the dream of players with such aspiration come true as soon as the tennis association brings a proposal on this issue to them. ”We were informed that both finalists in the girls category are still under ten years. I have a passion for tennis and if the association can come up with a working paper on this, we will be ready to give it attention because that tender age is ideal to back players into the circuits to play and grow while still in school,” he added.

Quadri Barakat won the girls event in two sets of 6-3,6-0 over Mary-love Edward.

the cameras that are facing the ramps leading to the Stadium stands.

Sources at the stadium manager’s office stated that Mrs. Oreweme had often gone out of her area of responsibility and tried to run the stadium as if it was her primary area of assignment.

“She has been usurping the duties of the stadium manager.

And being a superior officer there was nothing the manager could do to halt her activities,” said the source.

Super Eagles, the high altitude of Addis Adaba notwithstanding.

He said “The altitude is very important but the weather should not be a problem for the boys. It is too late to talk about the weather, but I believe that the management must have carried out all the necessary things for the boys to be able to cope with the weather.”

Nigeria has lost only once to Ethiopia in seven matches over the years. That was in a 1994 Nations Cup qualifier in Addis Ababa in 1993. Nigeria beat them five times and drew once, a 2-2 in a 2012 Nations Cup qualifier in Addis Ababa. Some of the encounters in the past were cantankerous and fears have been expressed as to the reception awaiting the Super Eagles in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

The players sweated it out in their camp in Abuja before they flew out to Addis Ababa early this morning, a game plan designed

by Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to beat the acclimatization problem in Ethiopia.

SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Bumpy Ethiopian pitch can’t stop us – Mikel, Nsofor S

UPER Eagles mid fielder, John Obi Mikel said he and his teammates will not let the

bumpy pitch in Addis Ababa, where tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia will be played bother

Battle of Addis Ababa:

We don’t need extra bonus to beat Ethiopia, declares Ameobi

THANK GOD..... Super Eagles players from left, Elderson Echiejile, Emmanuel Emenike and Ogenyi Onazi thanking God after wiining a match. They expect to do same in Addis Ababa tomorrow.

S

UPER Eagles and Newcastle United striker, Shola Ameobi said that he and his colleagues are battle ready to rescue a heart warming result from the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia in Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Addis Ababa.

Ameobi, who is looking forward to playing his first competitive game for Nigeria, stated that the feeling of being at the 2014 World Cup was already acting as a great motivation for the players majority of whom will be playing in their first World Cup if they qualify.

Out of the bunch, only Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Elderson Echejile and Brown Ideye have graced the World Cup. “We don’t need any extra motivation whatsoever to beat Ethiopia. The squad knows the importance of being at the World Cup, that is the only motivation we need to do our country proud,” Ameobi said.

The player said he had to struggle hard to make himself fit for the encounter having picked up an injury during a premier league game for Newcastle. “I want to go to the World Cup

with Nigeria, so I must make the sacrifice,” he said.

Meanwhile media committee chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation, Emeka Inyama said

v v v v

makes us happy; it brings us together; it binds Nigerians. We know that a victory in Addis Ababa will put us one leg into the World Cup in 2014. So, the players

have responded to it; they reported to camp like at no other time in full force, dedicated and geared. So far, everything is okay,” he stressed.

National Stadium deflowering:

NSC disowns liaison officer, summons Stadium mgr zAs staff accuse Oreweme of usurping Manager’s duties

BY BEN EFE

N

ATIONAL Sports Commission liaison officer, Tayo Oreweme and the stadium manager, Abolore Alanamu at National Stadium Surulere, Lagos are in hot waters following the mowing down of the trees at the abandoned sports complex.

Contrary to claims by Mrs. Oreweme that she had authority to cut down the almond trees at the west end of the stadium, it emerged that there were no directives from the National Sports Commission for the Stadium to be deflowered.

OTHER FIXTURES Cote d’Ivoire Tunisia Ghana Burkina Faso

Nigerians should pray for the team to come out unscathed in Ethiopia.

“We ask Nigerians to continue to pray for the Super Eagles. Football

them at all.

He argued that virtually all the Nigerian players have one time or the other played on worst pitches and thus their focus will be on how to get a good result and not the pitch.

“We have heard about the poor pitch, but that should not stop us from qualifying for the World Cup because most of us started on such pitches,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com “Personally, I started my football on the streets of Jos, playing with stones and rocks, and I know the various injuries and problems we suffered doing that.

“I don’t have a problem with such a pitch as long as it is not an artificial pitch. Our focus is qualification for the World Cup and so we hope to win on Sunday,” he said.

Also Victor Obinna Nsofor added that they have prepared their minds for the bumpy ride in Addis Ababa.

“We are not taking the Ethiopians for granted, we are aware of what we are going there to face on Sunday. I played there in 2011 and I know how bad the pitch was, we expect same on Sunday,” Nsofor said.

“The weather too wasn’t friendly and the fans will be there to support their team. But we know all these and they won’t affect us because they are not strange to us. ”

Senegal Cameroon Egypt Algeria

Mrs. Oreweme had claimed that she put down the trees, because they obstructed the view

of the CCTV cameras installed at the complex even as they seem not to be in working order.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.France Capital City (5) 5.Former Tanzania National President, Mr. Benjamin(5) 8.LG.A in Delta State (5) 9.Fruit (5) 10.Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Saidu (9) 12. Greek Goddess (6) 15. Nigeria football League (NFL) Management Committee Chairman, Mr. Nduka (6) 18. African Waterbuck (3) 19.Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Olugbenga (6) 22. Super Eagles’ Fullback, Kenneth (6) 26. Former Oyo State Governor, David (9) 28. Zodiac Sign (5) 29. Fabric (5) 30. Zamfara State Capital (5) 31.Legendary Queen of Zaria (5) DOWN 1.Flying Eagles (U-20) Striker, Christian (8)

2.Indonesian Currency (6) 3.Country in Europe (6) 4. African Deciduous Tree (5) 5. England and Aston Vila Midfielder, James (6) 6. State in Nigeria Known as “God’s Own State”?

7. Former Plateau State Governor, Chris (4) 11. Greek Alphabet (3) 13. Super Falcons Right-back, Onome (3) 15. Major Ethnic Group in Nigeria (3) 16. Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo (3) 17. Former Name of Zimbabwe (8) 20. Prosecute (3) 21. Former EFCC Chairman, Nuhu, (6) 23. Bahrain Capital City (6) 24. Former PMAN President, Bolaji (6) 26. Plateau State Governor, Mr. Jonah (4) 27. Solar Planet (4) 25. Former Rivers State Governor, Samuel (5)

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