50 feared dead in Ogun pipeline explosion by Vanguard Media Limited

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50 feared dead in Ogun pipeline explosion Continued from page 1 officials murder. He was arrested by the police alongside a doctor who, according to reports, was taking him to hospital for treatment. The doctor claimed he had only responded to distress calls. There were fears, last night, that damage to the pipeline could worsen petrol

scarcity as it supplies the product from Atlas Cove Jetty in Lagos to other South-West states. An eyewitness account stated that the explosion came after an argument erupted between two of the vandals who were struggling to siphon fuel from the pipeline and it resulted into a brawl that made one of them who was armed with a rifle to shoot indiscriminately into the air. Sunday Vanguard learnt that bullets from the rifle hit the ruptured pipeline and led to an explosion. Meanwhile, operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Task Force on AntiPipeline Vandalism Unit, who have been on patrol of the area, responded to the explosion. It was in the course of the response that they made the arrests. Those arrested included the

survivor identified as Sunday Reuben and the doctor. The source alleged that the doctor was trying to smuggle the survivor to his private clinic for treatment. The survivor, with severe burns, told Sunday Vanguard that there were more than 50 of them stealing petrol from the ruptured pipeline when the explosion took place, pleading for the rescue of his colleagues “blown away by the force of the blast and dying in the creeks.” His claim could not be confirmed as the fire was still burning at press time thus hindering access to the place. My story-surviving vandal e narrated the story of how he came to be involved in yesterday ’s incident: “I was in my house when Suleiman my friend

called me that there was a job at Arepo creeks. He asked me to look for a canoe and come with as many gallons as I could carry. Shortly after I arrived, I saw people fighting before I heard a gunshot. The next thing was an explosion, I was lucky that I wasn’t close to the pipeline. It was the heat of the fire that affected me. I managed to run to my boat where my mother was waiting. There were so many of us both men and women. We were more than 50 over there and most of us are still inside that fire. Most of them are still in the creeks dying, please help them. Iya Olabode called a doctor who was about taking me to hospital when we were arrested by the police.”

awaited the arrival of fire fighters to quench the fire. It

was in the process that they stumbled into a vehicle carrying one of the survivors and a medical doctor who was on his way to hospital. In the course of interrogation, we discovered that the survivor was one of those who participated in the killing of some NNPC officials last year. ”The taskforce arrested six suspected vandals who were alleged to have participated in the incident that led to the killing of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) staff at Arepo Village, Owode in Ogun State”.

Looming petrol scarcity

eanwhile, a source close to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ogun State, which deployed its men to the scene of pipeline explosion, hinted that the NNPC had been asked to stop further supply of petrol to the pipeline to reduce the inferno. Experts said the interruption of supply was bound to worsen fuel scarcity of petrol in the south west states. The Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC in the state, Olanrewaju Kareem,who con-

firmed the incident in a press statement, in Abeokuta, said there was an explosion at “the NNPC pipeline on waterways at journalists Estate, Arepo in the state”.

e said, “the fire was noted yesterday by our surveillance team posted to monitor the situation around the place. “The fire might have been caused by vandals activities as we received an earlier call by the same surveillance team of suspicious movement around the waterways. “Our combat team were on

he doctor said he acted on his oath to protect life. He explained that Iya Olabode, his customer, called him to attend to a patient in her house at Abule Oba, Ikorodu area of Lagos. “I am a family doctor to Iya Olabode for the past three years. So when she called me that there was an emergency, I rushed

to her house where I saw Reuben badly burnt. I advised that we should take the man to my clinic for better treatment. We were on our way when the police accosted us.” He further claimed that he never remembered to ask the patient how he sustained the burns. “I forgot to ask him because I was in a hurry to save his life. I never knew that he could be a vandal because Iya Olabode is a good and respectable business woman. I am terribly sorry; I was only trying to save a life.” Confirming the arrests, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Friday Ibadin, who is in charge of the Task Force, said that the explosion started at about 2am yesterday. ”Shortly after the explosion, policemen led by Sector Commander, Lagos, DSP Onaghise Osayande, cordoned off the area to reduce casualties while they

SOLUTION

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi (left), explaining his ordeal to Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right). With them are two of his Oloris whose properties were affected by the fire that gutted the Alaafin’s palace on Tuesday: Olori Folashade (left); Olori Abiodun; and Senator (Prof) Sola Adeyeye, representing Osun Central (2nd right), among others, during the condolence visit of the governor to the Alaafin, yesterday.

their way at about 8:15 am when the out-break occurred, the team was instructed to move in by commandant Aboluwoye Akinwande for possible arrests. “However, no arrest was made as the vandals made their escape through Majidun side of the water ways. The Corps Commandant, A b o l u w o y e Akinwande, was there early this morning to have on the spot assessment of the situation. “He immediately called on NNPC to stop supply through the route. In due course, NNPC has made us to know that the fire will come down gradually ”.

Boko Haram leader caught in former Rep’s house BY OUR REPORTER

N O T H E R breakthrough came the way of security agents in their confrontation with members of the dreaded Jamaatu Ahlil Sunna Lidawati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram, with the arrest of one of the sect’s suspected leaders, Hassan Pagi BUKAR, in the residence of a 20032007 member of the House of Representatives (names withheld). The Boko Haram alleged leader was, according to sources, arrested along with the security guard of the erstwhile lawmaker. Although the one-time member of the House of Reps was said to have been briefly arrested and interrogated, he has since been a daily guest of the security agency that effected the arrest. The arrest was reportedly made in the Gwarimpa area of the Federal Capital territory, FCT, Abuja. Sunday Vanguard learnt, last night, that the arrest and interrogation of Bukar had started yielding results. For instance, the suspect

reportedly disclosed, upon interrogation, that his brief as a sect member was to “carry out robbery activities by dispossessing members of the public of their cars”. The security guard in the former House of the Reps member ’s residence (who was described as a mere gateman) was said to have been “employed from Sokoto”. During further interrogation

of Bukar, Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that the suspect disclosed that the cars used for suicide bombings by the sect were stolen vehicles. One of the very indicting statements of Bukar, the source said, “ was that he implicated the former Rep by saying that he also buys some of the cars from him (Bukar) when they are stolen”

Ohaneze poll: Dep presidential candidate shot

•Enwo-Igariwey from Ebonyi is new leader

BY TONY EDIKE

contestant for the position of Deputy President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo from Enugu State, Chief Emma Nwankpa, was on the eve of the national election shot by unknown persons. Nwankpa was accosted by the assailants at the entrance of his house. He was said to have offered them his wallet for them to spare him but they shot him on his two legs after collecting the wallet and sped off in a car.

Nwankpa, who is now receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital, did not participate in yesterday ’s election which he lost to his only opponent, Chief OAU Onyema. Police spokesman, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident, said the police were already investigating the attack. Meanwhile, a new leadership for the body emerged yesterday with the election of Chief Gary Nnachi Enwo-Igariwey from Ebonyi

Continues on page 6

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PDP crisis: Jonathan on top of the situation —Presidency BY

SONI

DANIEL,

REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

ESPITE the growing crisis that is threatening to tear his party apart and hurt his 2015 presidential ambition, President Goodluck Jonathan remained unruffled, insisting he was on top of the crisis. A cocktail of crisis has been boiling in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, snowballing into the reinstatement of the Adamawa State executives of the party, which had been sacked by the National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Alh. Bamanga Tukur, who is seen as Jonathan’s point man. But just as the party tried to grapple with the ripples thrown up by the sudden change of mind over Adamawa, Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, sacked the National Secretary of the PDP, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who was allegedly foisted on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP to protect former President Obasanjo’s interest in the NWC. Kafarati ruled that Oyinlola was not fit to remain in office as the national scribe of the party since his election had been voided by two courts. The National Secretary ’s sack is said to have been hailed as a positive development by Jonathan’s

loyalists, who see him as an Obasanjo’s mole in the NWC. In the aftermath of the crisis thrown up by the revolt by the NWC members against Tukur and the sack of Oyinlola, many party faithful are said to have expressed worry that the crisis could rob Jonathan of his re-election bid in 2015. Seeing the hand writing on the wall, Jonathan quickly summoned governors elected on the PDP platform on Wednesday and pleaded with them to allow peace to reign in the party. Sources told Sunday Vanguard that the President was deeply concerned about the worsening party discipline and was determined to checkmate the slip by wielding the big stick. “I can tell you that it was in a bid by Mr. President, who is the leader of the party in Nigeria, to halt the slide in the party that he summoned an emergency of the stakeholders of the party last Wednesday during which he called for restraint by all the factions,” a competent presidential aide said. The Obasanjo camp is said to be poised to take a pound of flesh from Jonathan camp for allegedly trying to rubbish the former President, after he single-handedly foisted him on Nigerians in 2007 with a view to remotely ruling Nigeria from his Ota farm. The current intra-party crisis is said to have jostled Jonathan’s minders, who fear

that PDP governors who are ending their second term in office were bent on stopping the President’s re-election bid. However, the Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, told Sunday Vanguard in an exclusive interview that the President was not ruffled by the crisis in the PDP. Gulak said, “Yes, there are challenges in the party but Mr. President is trying his best to resolve them in the interest of the party and the nation. “I can assure you that Mr. President will not allow the crisis in his party to affect national interest and wellbeing of Nigerians. “The President is on top of the situation and he is already achieving results. I want to tell you that soon this party problem will be a thing of the past.”

Our plan to return Oyinlola – PDP •Stay of execution application to be filed tomorrow

•Says judgment shocking BY HENRY UMORU

HE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, disclosed, yesterday, that it has concluded arrangements to appeal the sack of the party’s National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, from his Wadata Plaza office. The PDP, however, described the Friday ruling of an Abuja Federal High Court which ousted Oyinlola as shocking. While delivering judgment in

Ohaneze poll: Dep presidential candidate shot

Continued from page 5

State as the PresidentGeneral. Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, from Imo State, was elected SecretaryGeneral while Onyema, from Enugu State, emerged as Deputy President-General. Nwaorgu, who was Deputy Secretary General, defeated Chief Peter Orji, his closest rival by 211 to 43 votes. Two contestants for the presidential seat from Ebonyi State where the position was zoned to, Chiefs Emeka Nkama and Ndubuisi Isu, stepped down before the election, paving the way for Igariwey to emerge unopposed. Mrs Celina Adibua, from

Enugu State, was also elected National Financial Secretary unopposed. The election held at Ohanaeze national secretariat in Enugu amidst tight security despite opposition by some leaders of the organisation who accused the ougoing executive of Ambassador Ralph Uwechue of some wrong-doing. Secretary of the electoral committee, Chief Richard Ozobu, who accused the committee Chairman, Chief Chris Asoluka, of starving the committee of funds, on Thursday, was removed less than 24 hours to the election and replaced with Dr (Mrs) Grace Eneh by the Ralph Uwechue-led Executive which two-year tenure of four years ended yesterday.

a suit by the Ogun State Executive Committee, SEC, of the PDP, Justice Abdul Kafarati, had, on Friday, voided the nomination of Oyinlola, a former governor of Osun State, as the candidate of the South West Zonal Chapter of the PDP and his consequent election to the office of National Secretary at the March 24, 2012 national convention. The PDP National Legal Adviser, Mr Victor Kwon, who described Kafarati’s judgment as a surprise to the party, said, yesterday, that the party will appeal tomorrow as well as file a stay of execution. Kwon told Sunday Vanguard, “Today (yesterday) is Saturday and so the appeal will be filed on Monday. We will also file an application for stay of execution same day. ”We are surprised at the decision in the light of the evidence presented to the court that the National Secretary position was zoned to members of the party from the South West geopolitical zone of the country and NOT to the South West Zonal chapter/congress and that the 21st March 2012 South West Zonal congress did not nominate Oyinlola for the position,and also that he stood the election at the National Convention alongside other members of the party from the zone without any mention of the South West Zonal congress in issue.”

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Mbaise Catholic priests reject new bishop BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, Owerri

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (left) presenting documents of the new Technical University of Oyo State to the Executive Secretary of the National University Council, Professor Julius Okojie, in Abuja at the weekend.

RIESTS and lay faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara, Mbaise, yesterday, staged a peaceful demonstration against the appointment of Monsignor Ebere Peter Okpalaeke as the bishopelect of the diocese. Apart from the peaceful demonstration staged at Mbaise, the priests and lay faithful handed out a six-page press statement

Oshiomhole’s Supreme Court victory: PDP under pressure to sanction Airhiviare BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

S celebration over the Supreme Court victory of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State continued in Benin City yesterday, some stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) want the leadership of the party in the state to sanction the governorship candidate of the party, Gen.Charles Airhiavbere, for alleged disobedience to the PDP decision not to contest the result of last year’s election in Edo State. The PDP in the state had withdrawn its

petition against Oshiomhole but Airhiavbere refused to heed to the directive of party and decided to contest the result of the election alone before the election petition tribunal. But his seeming doggedness was

punctured on Friday after the Supreme Court declared that the issue of O s h i o m h o l e ’ s educational qualification was a pre-election matter, and therefore upturned the ruling of the Appeal Court in Benin, which directed the lower tribunal to hear the matter. Following what the PDP stakeholders described as the embarrassment caused to the party by Airiavbere, they called for his immediate expulsion from the party. A statement by their spokesman, Chief Aisulimhen Ighodaro, stressed the need to commence total overhaul of the party in Edo “by starting from disciplining Airhiavbere who disobeyed the position of our great party”. According to the statement, “the illadvised decision of our candidate in the July 14 election, Maj-Gen Charles Airhiavbere, to go to court against the party advice has done untold damage to our reputation as a party. “His unilateral decision, which was at variance with that of the party at the national and the state levels, is not only curious, but also shows that Airhiavbere is not a party man, he holds the PDP in contempt and is on a personal voyage to fulfill his inordinate ambition. “The decision by his running mate, Hon Johnson Abolagba, is not only commendable, it also shows that he is a proper, well-tutored and real politician who regards the party as supreme. We call for a committee to be set up so as to begin the process of expelling him from the party so that we can move on as a party”.

signed by eight persons, including the President and Secretary, Ahiara Diocesan Priests Association, Rev. Fr. Austin B. Ekechukwu and Rev. Fr. Dominic N. Ekweariri respectively. “We, the priests and Lay faithful of Ahiara Diocese state quite clearly that we have nothing whatsoever against the person of Monsignor Ebere Peter Okpalaeke and do not per se oppose his choice as a bishop of the Catholic Church, but we strongly contest his suitability for Ahiara Diocese, given its uniqueness and pastoral realities”, they stated. While denying that it was alleged disunity amongst the priests of Ahiara Diocese that led to the appointment of a priest from Awka Diocese as bishop-elect, the priests also challenged anybody to provide any evidence to the contrary.

“The appointment of Monsignor Okalaeke contradicts natural justice. It sends a very reprehensible signal about the status and reputation of the 500 Catholic priests that trace their origin to the soils of Mbaise, a diocese that has been acclaimed the Ireland of Nigeria. “In unequivocal terms, we restate our resolve to resist any attempt to forcefully impose him on us as the bishop of our beloved diocese”. Meanwhile, some critics have not only slammed the protesting priests but also accused them of being myopic about the universality of the Catholic Church. An Mbaise man, who simply identified himself as Ambrose, reminded the priests that “they are carefully trying to set a very bad precedent in the Church”.

Awka people protest alleged land deals BY VINCENT UJUMADU, Awka

UNDREDS of youths from villages that make up Ezinano community in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, yesterday, took to the streets to protest alleged illegal acquisition of their land by a group in the area. Waving placards as they moved from one part of Awka to the other, the protesters gave the state government a twoweek ultimatum to stop those they tagged a cabal from their shady deals. Their chairman, Comrade Obi Ochije, who addressed a large crowd of people at the popular Aroma junction in the heart of the state capital, alleged that some individuals sold a large expanse of land belonging to Ezinano community to some unnamed persons without recourse to the original owners. According to him, over 70 hectares of land was sold with each plot sold N6.1 million by the group which pocketed the money. Ochije said: “The youths have been restive over this matter and that is why we have decided to embark on this peaceful protest. We do not want to cause any violence, but if nothing is done on this issue

within the two weeks, the youths will react appropriately. “Ezinano community comprising 20 villages is the original owner of the land. Our agreement with the state government is that if it acquires the land, it should be used for projects that will be beneficial to the people, but what is happening is different from the agreement reached with the community”.

IGP’s aide loses dad

HE death has occurred of Pa Animu Inwanfero of Afifah Quarter, Ihievbe, Owan East of Edo State. He was aged 72, and has since been buried according to Islamic rites. Pa Inwanfero is survived by a wife, six children and eight grand children among whom is Inspector Abu Inwanfero, a security operative in the IGP’s office. The 40th day prayers will take place on the 1st of February, 2013.

•Pa Animu Inwanfero

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Umanah’s assault on reconciliation process – 2

The case of mobile phones “Most leaders spend time trying to get others to think highly of them, when instead they should try to get their people to think more highly of themselves. It’s wonderful when the people believe in their leader. It’s more wonderful when the leader believes in their people! You can’t hold a man down without staying down with him. — Booker T. Washington”

ONDER never ceases! I un derstand the Federal Government will be distributing 10 million mobile phones to farmers. While reading this, I had my usual wry smile across my face. Ok, to what do farmers deserve

such magnanimity? So farmers are been bought for the cost of a mobile? I then read on that the mobile phones was to enable the farmers to link up with the rest of the country,and that it will enhance access to improved seeds and fertilization, and this will go to the 10 million farmers directly. The minister dubbed this innovative approach- an agricultural transformation,it remains to been seen if this will be the case. Furthermore, I do not know where they get these statistics from; apparently some 70% of the population are employed in the agriculture industry and yet there is only 10 million mobile phones up for grabs. The bone of contention seems to be the costs of these mobile

financial implications for the states of the Niger Delta if dichotomy is re-introduced. Obong Attah and I discussed the matter, and, I was the one who persuaded the former governor to intervene and help set the record straight before irreparable harm is done to the interests of oil producing states as well as mineral producing states in the future.

To me oil and mineral producing states deserve 50% derivation revenue; not I3%, and without the nonsense of dichotomy. That is a view persistently championed by Attah and it was in a bid to recall how we got where we are that he published that piece

For the avoidance of any doubt, Victor Attah was the father of that section of the I999 constitution dealing with revenue allocation. As a member of Abacha’s Constitutional Conference, CONFAB as the media called it, in I995, Attah had placed the issue of derivation on the national agenda and had laid the foundation for what later became his singular campaign for RESOURCE CONTROL. Though I had dismissed the CONFAB as a SHIP OF FOOLS in a

have got it or there would have been no Nigeria. I still hold to that view. To me oil and mineral producing states deserve 50% derivation revenue; not I3%, and without the nonsense of dichotomy. That is a view persistently championed by Attah and it was in a bid to recall how we got where we are that he published that piece. Permit me now to address, very briefly, the point Umanah labored so hard to make—in the, ill-disguised,

phones but whatever the total costs of the mobile phones, that should be the least of the publics’ concerns, it should be about the viability of the programme and transparency of the key indicators, is it value for money? Is it sustainable? Replicable and most of all how accessible is it? Would it adequately equip the small and big end fam-

wumi Adeshina said “In today’s world, the most powerful tool is a mobile phone. As the Minister of Agriculture, I want the entire rural space of Nigeria and farmers to be included, not excluded, from advantages of the mobile phone revolution.” And why mobile phones? He said, “First, the mobile phones will be used to scale up the access of farmers to im-

The only individuals mentioned were Awolowo, Gowon, Obasanjo, Shagari, Buhari, Babangida and Abacha – all former Heads of State for their roles in tinkering with the derivation principle at various times in our history. To be candid, governors have no place in this discussion except as beneficiaries or victims of what we eventually had done on this issue. “Only God knows why Umanah would reduce a fundamental issue involving all Nigerians to the mundane level of who cleared ground and roofed which building” – as one person who read his six page piece had reportedly remarked. As everybody would recollect, the National Assembly, NASS, suddenly took the matter of constitutional review seriously in the third quarter of last year. Among the most controversial topics were the interrelated issues of revenue allocation, derivation and onshore-offshore dichotomy – the last in connection with oil production. Northern leaders, represented by the governors of the nineteen states, embarked on a campaign to revisit the revenue allocation formula and to re-introduce the onshore-offshore dichotomy. One does not have to have been the Commissioner or the Secretary to the Government of any oil producing state to understand the

OTE: The Com missioner of In formation was sending his assault, written on behalf of the Government of Akwa Ibom, while Attah and Akpabio were in church on Christmas Day. The seven patriotic leaders, who started the peace process, as well as other Nigerians, must ask themselves: “what is the purpose of going to church if fighting continues during the service”? “It ain’t the things you don’t know that cause the problem; it’s the things you think you know that ain’t so”. Ralph Waldo Emerson, I803-I882. (VANGUARD BOOK OF UOTATIONS p II7). I started this series by giving the benefit of doubt to Governor Akpabio and Aniekan Umanah who lashed out at former Govrnor Attah in advertorials carried in all the leading newspapers; just two days after Attah and Akpabio attended service together to advance the reconciliation process. I had explained my involvement in the peace process; now there is need to explain my involvement in the publication of “INSIGHTS INTO ONSHORE-OFFSHORE DICHOTOMY by H.E Attah - which was the reason Umanah surprisingly addressed his former boss and elder in language that is best left in the gutter. Anyone reading that article, by Attah, will not find any reference to Akpabio.

column published when the CONFAB was inaugurated by Abacha, I nevertheless followed its proceedings. Right now, in my possession is the complete HANZARD of the proceedings which contains Attah’s landmark submissions. In the end the CONFAB recommended derivation WITHOUT REFERENCE TO DICHOTOMY. Dichotomy, later introduced, was a sort of “gang-rape” of the minorities in oil producing states by the major tribes. It is also on record that Attah, almost single-handedly, fought for RESOURCE CONTROL and published a book to canvass for support for the position. I wrote the Foreword to the book, in which I asserted that if the oil had been in the Southwest, my people would have demanded for 50% derivation and would

Our goal is to empower every farmer. No farmer will be left behind. We will reach them in their local languages and use mobile phones to trigger an information revolution which will drive an agricultural revolution

ing? Do we know what is expected from the farmers and what are the real incentives for them to grow and feed the nation? The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,Dr. Akin-

proved seeds and fertilizers to millions of farmers, directly. The Federal Government succeeded in 2012 in getting seeds and fertilizers to farmers, via the Growth Enhancement Support (GES), which uses mo-

attempt to polish the apple more than any other potential successor to Akpabio. I will even grant him the exaggerations about what Attah failed to accomplish in eight years in office while Umanah was a part of the government. First, Attah’s government, in eight years, had a little bit over N450 billion to spend. Akpabio’s government in four years had over NI trillion i.e about two and half times. So where is the comparison? Furthermore, the over NI trillion was made possible by the singular effort of Attah to get the I3% derivation for oil producing states and the rising price of crude oil; for which no governor can claim credit, did the rest. If derivation had remained I% as Obasanjo would want it, little would have been achieved by any governor of Akwa Ibom. Second, Umanah has probably never heard that, “Ideas are capital; the rest is money”. Both at home and abroad, the credit for a programme, or project, has always gone to the initiator not to those who financed or completed it. Two examples will illustrate the point. Chief Obafemi Awolowo had become deified among Yoruba people for the Free Primary Education policy. Yet, the idea was not even his own. But, he accepted it and made it government policy in the old Western Region where he was Premier until I959. Till today countless leaders have mounted the saddle in the Southwest and have spent enormous amounts of funds to sustain it. In fact, Oyo State, alone, now spends more money per annum than Awolowo spent in his years as Premier. But, the credit still, indisputably, goes to Awo. Abroad, the American

Moon Landing offers another example. When the Russians sent Yuri Gagarin, I934-I968, into space in I96I, John Kennedy, I9I7I963, the 35th President of the US, announced, within hours, that “America will send a man to the moon and bring him back before the end of the decade [I970]”. Kennedy was assassinated in I963, President Johnson provided the bulk of the funds for the moon project; the landing occurred in I969 when Nixon was President. Till today, and forever, the Moon Project will be credited to Kennedy. So, even if all Attah did was to clear grass at the Uyo Airport, the Power Plant, the Le Meridien etc; they remain his ideas [read capital]. Everything else is money; and not personal money at that. It is the people’s money. Let me end by making two statements. First, I find it hard to believe Governor Akpabio was aware that the piece was going to be published; it was most probably the brain child of Umanah. Second, even if His Excellency was aware of it, he can rest assured that there will never be any angry rejoinder from Attah and me. We are committed to the reconciliation process and it would amount to a betrayal of a pledge to the departed First lady to turn back now. We are also aware that “Forgiveness to the injured does belong; for they ne’er pardon who have done the wrong”, John Dryden, I633-I700. (VANGUARD BOOK OF UOTATIONS p 63). Perhaps, it is not too late to wish Governor Akpabio and his family a prosperous 20I3 and many more years of useful service to Nigeria. My appeal to him is, despite this error, to allow the reconciliation process to continue. That will be the best New Year gift to the people of Akwa Ibom.

bile phones to reach farmers with subsidized inputs”. Surely, ordinary Nigerians will be the judge of that when we have more affordable food on our plates and more money in our pockets. No, I still do not get it. It seems to me this is one of these lofty gimmicks that do not add up. Will the access to the agricultural programme translate to better yield, and affordable produce? I am not sure how we can revolutionise agriculture and entice farmers back to farming, w h e n m o s t people have left the rural areas and trooped into the city to find work. The argument about communication is not enough to encourage famers to adopt new technologies and techniques unless there are existing infrastructures such as irrigation, loans for large equipment, arable land and storage facilities and educational support for farmers. Distribution of phones to farmers is said to be in line with the ministry’s agricultural moderniza-

tion drive aimed at connecting farmers to information, loans, market and make them adapt to climate change. ”Our goal is to empower every farmer. No farmer will be left behind. We will reach them in their local languages and use mobile phones to trigger an information revolution which will drive an agricultural revolution.” Only when we make farming worthwhile so that people know that there is respect and privilege for those who till the land, plant our foods, and sell us good and affordable products. So the minister says that Nigeria is the first country in Africa to develop such a system.No one is impressed until we see the results. How are we going to measure its efficacy? Mediocrity can no longer be the yardstick or substitute for excellence. There is much expected from these farmers and they are given so little. So N60bn or not, about time the talk shop and grandstanding stops...

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 11

Will posterity ever understand General Azazi’s Nigeria? Andrew Owoye Azazi? Born on February 01, 1952, Azazi had perhaps the fastest growing record as a military officer. He served as Director of Military Intelligence, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Staff. After retirement he was recalled to serve as

Thus, a man who was sacked from office by Jonathan in June was in December of the same year- a space of 6 months, publicly declared as a good man who served selflessly

the National Security Adviser. In June 2012, he was sacked without reasons. General Azazi had a Masters degree in Strategic Studies and was also a graduate of the Command and Staff College and the National War College where he won the Commander-inChief's merit award for best all round performance. He was a recipient of Commander of the

EFCC: Expensive, fickle, corrupt and corpulent

IMIPRE Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa state has denied ever owning fortyeight houses; property which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has linked to him, and for which he faces criminal prosecution. In a statement issued at the behest of the former Bayelsa state governor by his lawyer Mr. Benson Ibezim, Sylva claims that the entire charge against him by the EFCC was no more than hocuspocus – a great sham aimed at witch-hunt. In their statement of defense in anticipation of arraignment, Timipre Sylva insists that the houses listed as belonging to him by the Crime Commission did not in fact belong to him. According to his lawyers, Mr. Sylva does not own forty-eight houses anywhere in the world. The former governor accounts for only three houses which he claims to have duly declared prior to his assumption of office. In other words, Mr. Sylva is accusing the federal government agency

Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) and was married with five children. His hobbies included reading biographies, listening to Nigerian music and playing squash. He died in a plane crash on December 15, 2012. Whereas this profile is easy to follow, future Nigerians may never get to know why

of manufacturing evidence against him to satisfy those hell-bent at dismantling him, in this case, the president of Nigeria with whom he is in a long term feud. This is serious allegation by Timipre Sylva against the EFCC, and if it is to be true, undermines the validity and further erodes the credibility of EFCC as a serious institution for fighting particularly while collar crimes in Nigeria. I am of course very leery about Mr. Timipre Sylva’s claim of a witch-hunt. But it is equally important to adduce on his behalf the very clear rules of equity. In this particular instance, I think it obligatory to refer to two critical maxims of equity: “Equity delights to do justice and not by halves” and of course, “Equity will not allow statute to be used as a cloak for fraud.” There is a simple solution in my view to Mr. Sylva’s disavowal of ownership of the property in Abuja. I assume of course that there is a registrar of property in Abuja, even if

someone like Azazi was at a point in our history removed from office without reasons. All that they may find is that everyone testified at his burial that Azazi was a good man. Second poser, was Azazi really a good man or were people being kind to the dead at his burial? Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the Christian Association of Niger-

for tax purposes. If that were so, there must have been annual property tax paid for the forty-eight houses which Timipre Sylva denies. We must follow the money. Its trail leads ultimately to the truth. This is a simple way of saying, whoever pays or fails to pay taxes on those property owns them. Whoever collects rent on those proper-

ANY years to come, Nigeri ans would come across many things in honour of one of their predecessors -Andrew Owoye Azazi- a citizen who served in the Nigerian Army and like some others rose to the pinnacle of his career. If Nkpogu Road in Port Harcourt ends up a dualized road and not like some of our other roads where construction works go on without end, future Nigerians would wonder how it became Azazi Road. Some research would reveal that it was done by Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State at the time. Along Sani Abacha Expressway in Yenogoa, they are also likely to see evidence that “Azazi the Great” was buried at the National Heroes Park near the Ijaw House. They would also find a documentation of the life and times of Owoye Azazi by the Ijaw History Project as directed by Governor Seriaki Dickson of Bayelsa State in 2012. This would no doubt provoke some posers. First, who was

Nigerians have frequently noted that the EFCC has not nailed any major fish or reptile since it was established to fight and prosecute corruption

ty owns them. If the EFCC has done these rudimentary tests and come up with the clear evidence that all these can be linked back to Timipre Sylva or his agents, then they’d have established enough grounds to nail him as a liar and a

ia (CAN) said Azazi was a man of integrity. The Bishop of Bomadi Catholic Diocese, Vicarage Hyacinth Egbebor, also a member of the Post-Flood Committee in Bayelsa State revealed that Azazi who was chairman of the committee “cherished honesty, justice, transparency, accountability. He said Azazi worked to ensure that all the funds at the Committee’s disposal were judiciously expended to those who were really affected by the flood”. From the laity, came the voice of one Ifeoma Ifejika a citizen who met the General some years back in a flight. She pleaded for a chance to say that Azazi was a General, an acclaimed Catholic and Evangelist. The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison Madueke , herself a fellow Bayelsan saw Azazi as a most intelligent analyst with a sense of humility and strength of character which tallied with the testimony of General Alexander Ogomudia a former Chief of Defence Staff who said he appointed the man the Director of Military Intelligence. The Army Chief of Staff, Lt General Azubuike Ihejirika said the late Azazi whom he always saw as a role model spearheaded the transformation of the Nigerian Army. This confirmed the argument of President Jonathan himself that Nigeria would have been a changed place if 50% of its citizens were like Azazi. The

President then sealed it all up by saying that Azazi served the nation selflessly. Yet, his burial was undertaken by the Bayelsa State government and not the federal government that he served. Indeed, no honours for Azazi were announced by the federal authorities at his burial. Poser three- what are the criteria for holding a post in Nigeria or for keeping it or for securing the renewal of an appointment? The only factor that appears clear is ethnicity. Although the politics of ‘son of the soil’ or ‘put our man there’ philosophy forever steers the nation in the face, our top political leaders pretend by the day that ethnicity is a non-issue. As this column opined two years back, our successive Presidents and state governors often abandon the state house to go to their ‘places’ to register and to vote during elections. While in office they site state universities in their villages and divert all ‘goodies’ homewards. It was for the same over-all importance of ethnicity that Abia state had to disengage from its public service more than 1,800 fellow Ibo workers of Anambra State origin. It also explains why the indigene-settler imbroglio in Plateau state degenerated to the monster it became. Oh yes, Nigeria’s political culture has continued to be premised on competitive ethnicity - a subject that the nation’s

ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worked around with a new name known as zoning. Painfully, the party could not prevent its side effects of bad blood or the setting of one group against the other hence mutual distrust and deep seated animosity subsist in our polity. Azazi as National Security Adviser ran into trouble for saying so. Those who imagined that the problem was because he said it publicly were wrong. That was not the issue. The real issue was that he spoke the truth which our political class loath irrespective of where, when and how it is said. Therefore, in order not to incur anyone’s wrath, many Nigerians speak from both sides of the mouth. Thus, a man who was sacked from office in June was in December of the same year- a space of 6 months, publicly declared as a good man who served selflessly. Indeed, he was a patriot till death working for the nation out of office. According to one of his friends, Governor Uduaghan of Delta State, Azazi was visibly concerned about the kidnap of Ngozi Iweala’s mother and called for prompt action to ensure the release because it could have international dimension. So, future Nigerians would have to strive hard to comprehend Azazi’s Nigeria because a nation can best understand today for constructing tomorrow after knowing yesterday.

fraud. Otherwise, Mr. Sylva’s claim of a witch-hunt and a frame-up might stand. Betterstill, if Timipre Sylva continues to deny ownership of the fortyeight buildings, and nothing in the deeds indicate that either he or anyone connected to him owns the property, the EFCC has an obligation to find their rightful owners who must step up with proof of ownership. Where none steps forward, the property might be considered to rightfully thereafter belong to a ghost; and therefore to the City of Abuja, who may dispose of them as they see fit by public auction, since no owner claims it. It might well be that the EFCC may have excavated property by absent landlords or such as may have died interstate. Whatever may be the case, Timipre Sylva must be given fair hearing. Fair hearing compels the courts established to try him to bring all clearly untainted evidence to bear to prove his corruption in Bayelsa state. There was corruption in Bayelsa state, and misuse of public fund. What is necessary is to prove it with clear evidence. It seems to me that the EFCC has always failed in this regard, and has in many instances, either out of incompetence or disregard been unable to put a case conclusively about official corruption in Nigeria to close. A week ago, the EFCC arrested the Accountant-General of Imo state,

Mr. George Eche Ezenna and the Commissioner for Finance Mr. John Chike Okafor over what it claims to be a N47 billion transaction with Zenith bank. The details of these arrests are still hazy, but here, for me is the catcher: white collar crime in Nigeria will continue for as long as we have complicity within the Civil service. No political officer can embezzle government funds without the complicity of the top civil servants in the system. It is true therefore that Nigerians are looking in possibly the wrong directions. Until Nigeria rebuilds its Civil service and restores its internal regulatory systems through the Civil Service Commission, politicians will continue to assert extraordinary threat and power, and manipulate officers of the service to divert public resources. An example is the recent news that Governor Adam Oshiomole “sacked” a Permanent Secretary in the Edo Civil Service. I do not know if governors, as political officers, have that kind of power to sack tenured career of the rank of Permanent secretaries. In the past all disciplinary actions against such officers are taken by the Civil service Commission which has never been under the political direction of the political head of the state. It is always independent. But strange things happen these days in Nigeria where strange powers have been

established to undermine the strategic control that checks and balances institutions of power. This, in sum, is the basis of corruption in Nigeria. As for the EFCC, it must strengthen its research and investigation arm, as well as its legal team. They often are blindsided by intricacies that suggest either incompetence, lack of technical ability, or in fact a lack of direction. Nigerians have frequently noted that the EFCC has not nailed any major fish or reptile since it was established to fight and prosecute corruption. It was given extraordinary powers and made independent of the police to shield it presumably from the institutional decay and corruption within the national Police system itself. Yet, it also is a remarkably weak institution because it is tied almost inexorably to the strings of the executive office – notably the office of the president. The law establishing this agency must in fact be reviewed. The EFCC must be placed under the independent office of the Solicitor-General in the ministry of Justice to start with, with six zonal offices under six Zonal Deputy Solicitors-General who will investigate, prosecute, and publicly account for their work through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, an office that must also be fully and clearly strengthened for the course of fair and credible justice in Nigeria.

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

Repercussions of governmenton-holiday (1) may call them collectivists) submit that the claims of individuals must be subordinated to those of the community “as a whole.” Prominent collectivist philosophers include Plato, G.W.F. Hegel and ultra-orthodox Marxists. But a sizeable number of political thinkers (individualists) posit that social groupings exist for the benefit of its individual members. J.S. Mill, Bertrand Russell and

HE New Year, 2013, has finally arrived with the usual challenges, hopes and expectations that characterise such occasions. Those of us that traveled to our different villages saw firsthand clear evidence that government is on holidays, so to speak. In other words there was negligible improvement in most rural communities in Nigeria throughout 2012, despite the cumulative budgets of the three tiers of government for that year. Before we discuss particular examples of arrested development in our localities, it is important to say one or two things about the raison d’étre of civil society. Ever since human beings began reflecting on the nature of political power and its relation to members of the society, there have been interminable disagreements among philosophers and political theorists with respect to the question: what is the ultimate justification for the formation of civil society and the state? The answers given to that question can be grouped into two broad categories. On one side, some philosophers (we

state of nature.” Now, in a democratic society, representatives of the people, usually selected through elections, exercise executive and legislative powers on behalf of the general public. Thus, democracy presupposes a social contract between leaders and the led, because the former exercise power on behalf of the latter. In this connection, in a mature democratic set up, political office holders mobilise both

For politicians from my constituency democracy dividends are solely for themselves; they are not interested in working for the people that elected them

Karl Popper, for example, insist that the degree to which the fundamental human rights of each person are actualised is decisive in evaluating human societies. Of course, human beings need well organised society in order to create institutions that will ameliorate serious defects of living in what the British philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, called “the

human and material resources for the wellbeing of the electorate, due to the fundamental utilitarian character of genuine democratic society. Specifically, in policy formulation and implementation, political office holders are expected to give priority to the welfare of members of the society, particularly the less privileged ones. Unfortunately, in Nigeria the

There is nothing fetish in Benin tradition— Odubu BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

EPUTY Gover nor of Edo State, Dr Pius Odubu, yesterday, urged Nigerians to appreciate their cultures and traditions just as he declared that there is nothing fetish about the annual Igue festival in Benin Kingdom. Odubu, who stated this during the celebration of the Ikaba (New Year) festival at his village in Urhomehe in Urhonigbe, Orhiomnwon Local Government Council, said that contrary to the insinuation that the Benin tradition was fetish, it is similar to the traditions in the Holy Bible. According to him, “It is a bit misconstrued notion, there is nothing fetish about the Igue festival. The Igue festival is

to thank God for surviving another year while the Ikaba festival is thanking God for the beginning of another year. So there is nothing fetish about it, nothing like idol worshipping. “ It is also about age grade, like my age grade

is responsible for the Ikaba festival. We select about four of them from each quarter to do a procession through the town visiting the chiefs, the Okakhuos and indeed the heads. I want to urge our people to begin to respect our tradition. We

Christmas which lasted about nine days, cumulatively we did not enjoy power up to ten hours for the entire period. And most times the voltage supplied could not even power a refrigerator efficiently. I must say without mincing words that the quality of representation of my local government at both the state and federal levels is mediocre. Since May 29, 1999, the legislators that have represented (and those still representing) my area in Imo State House of Assembly and Federal House of Representatives merely used the golden opportunity to take care of themselves, their families and cronies. For example Jones Onyerere (I am not quite sure about his surname), member representing Nkwerre federal constituency in the House of Representatives has his priorities as a legislator upside down. At the moment an allegation exists that he is building for himself a cluster of mansions in his village. Yet the road that leads from Ukwu Egbu to Umudi road through which he would drive his exotic cars to his mansions has been in a deplorable condition for more than a decade. He is now a nouveau riche with enough money to buy expensive generating sets to power his expansive country home, while most of his neighbours will be in darkness. From a wider perspective, after about two years in office, the senator representing Orlu senatorial zone in the Senate, Hope Uzodin-

are already part and parcel of the Benin tradition before the white man brought the Bible. “I am very proud of doing what I am doing. I am one of those in the vanguard of re-inventing our culture and tradition. We are celebrating Ikaba festival today, it is called the New Year festivities in English. This is a festival that has been on since the beginning of time”.

Civil war veterans plead with Jonathan

Ekiti elders to speak with one voice *Awolowo’s associate emerges leader

KITI elders want the people of the state to speak with one voice. The decision was taken at the end of the year get-together of the Ekiti Council of Elders where Chief J.E. Babatola, an associate of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, emerged as “the leader of Ekiti people”. A statement by Chief Adebamigbe Akilaya, on behalf of the Council, said the leadership of Babatola, the Olora of

Ado-Ekiti, is for life. ‘Chief J. E. Babatola, the Olora of Ado- Ekiti, who is almost a centurion, was a teacher to many prominent citizens of the old Western Region. He was a foundation member of Action Group (AG). He was one of the first Republic Ministers in the then Western Region and a loyal friend of Chief Obafemi Awolowo”, the statement said. “The Council after a review of the travails of

ma, has not attracted a single project to my local government, Nkwerre. Therefore for politicians from my constituency democracy dividends are solely for themselves; they are not interested in working for the people that elected them. It must be remarked that Nigerian politics at all levels is overwhelmingly dominated by greedy, myopic, selfish and morally bankrupt individuals totally lacking in noble thoughts and deeds, people without a social conscience and compassion for the suffering masses. Concerning Rochas Okorocha’s performance since he was elected Governor of Imo State, I should say that his record is ambivalent. There are several road construction and expansion projects in different parts of Imo State. But the problem is the quality of the jobs done by contractors handling the projects. For instance the road expansion programme in Orlu town is laudable. However the quality of the work done thus far is unsatisfactory. The free education policy in Imo State, at first sight, appears populist and well intentioned. Still the dismal condition of teaching and learning infrastructure in public schools in the state, such as classrooms, libraries and laboratories is a matter for serious concern. Many secondary schools, I am told, do not have up to ten teachers, not to talk of having well-equipped laboratories and libraries. To be concluded.

utilitarian principle in democratic governance is completely ignored by the ruling cabals, while gross indiscipline, corruption and philistine disregard for the welfare of the poor and the downtrodden have become rampant among political office holders. A recent trip to my village, Ishi Owerre in Nkwerre local government area of Imo State, has opened my eyes once more to the near complete absence of good governance in rural areas throughout the country, as if some evil genius had pressed the stop button on development in the countryside. One of the purported reasons for devolution of government down to local councils is to bring development to the grassroots. However, after about fourteen years of democracy there is little on ground to justify the huge expenditure of running our distorted presidential system. In my hometown, government at the federal, state and local government levels is almost nonexistent. Aside from poverty and rural-urban migration by the youth, there is chronic lack of basic infrastructure in our local communities. Because pipe borne water is unavailable, villagers still get water for domestic use from streams and water vendors. Electricity supply is very epileptic. To give you a sense of the terrible state of electricity in a typical rural area, consider the fact that throughout my stay in the village for the last

Ekiti declared that all leaders shall, from now, speak with one voice. This is regardless of partisan political differences. The struggle for a new Ekiti must be embraced by all patriots. “The elders promised to critically support the government of Ekiti State. They however sought for an audience with Governor Kayode Fayemi on the challenges facing Ekiti and the way forward" .

BY TOMMY ANADUAKA

S the nation marks the anni versary of the

Armed Forces Remem-

brance Day in honour of the fallen heroes of the World Wars as well as those of the Nigerian civil war, veterans of the wars have made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to look into the plight of those among them yet to be demobilised and reintegrated. A statement on behalf of the civil war veterans by its national president, Col. Ubi (rtd), and the national secretary, Col. Chima (rtd), said that at the end of the war in 1970, a nominal roll of 81 personnel was submitted to the Defence Headquarters, while, as a result of the Federal Government presidential pardon for all ex-Biafran soldiers (veterans), 61 of them, who were originally of the Nigerian Army, including Chief Emeka Ojukwu, were demobi-

lized and reintegrated, and their emoluments paid. In the same vein, the chairman of the Delta State Command of the Nigerian Civil War Veterans, Major John Mozea (rtd), in a statement with his secretary, Major Charles Okechukwu (rtd), revealed that, in line with the directive of the presidential pardon, a “nominal” roll of 13,028 personnel have been submitted to the veterans department of the Defence Headquarters but regretted that, forty-three years since the war ended, their members were yet to be demobilised and reintegrated into the legionaries. The veterans, who commended the state governors, appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to give directive for the commencement of payment to mem-

bers of Nigerian Civil War Veterans in line with the “No Victor, No Vanquish!” declaration.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 13

PREFACE

Pawns Behaving Like God *The folly of man’s sense of infinity BY JIDE AJANI

here in the world would people congregate to say morning prayers and the next act immediately after is a conspiracy; an ungodly act? Well, on the morning of December 16, 2006, it happened in Olusegun Obasanjo’s Aso Rock Presidential Villa. That was the day then Governor Peter Otunuya Odili was forced to abandon his presidential ambition that had received national acclaim; with a promise, mind you, to be chosen as the running mate to Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua, the man who would become the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate and later president. But Nigerians should not be too bothered that the country’s seat of power is the venue for such a vile act. Ask Audu Ogbeh, former chairman of PDP, from whom a resignation letter was extracted – he was reportedly locked up in a vast living room to allow him time to draft the letter and append his signature. Obasanjo wrote the script for that drama, a drama that saw him send his deputy, Atiku Abubakar, on an official assignment in an Eastern African country. Here was the same Obasanjo who had had pounded yam for lunch with Ogbeh in the residence of the latter just a few days earlier. For those who conspire, they forget one simple fact of human existence, which is that every mortal is a mere pawn and, therefore, can not play God – even Obasanjo, who was the all-inall while he was in power, is only trying to seek relevance today by constantly haranguing President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan with contradictory suggestions on how best to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency. Men (as in human beings generally) easily forget or choose not to believe that they are pawns and, so, conduct their affairs in a manner suggestive of their being in possession of some powers to make or mar. Merriam Webster Dictionary describes a pawn as “one that can be used to further the purposes of another” – one that can be used indeed. If the reason why James Ibori, Nuhu Ribadu and Nasir El-Rufai, who were being used as pawns by Obasanjo to scuttle Odili’s ambition, was altruistic in nature and for the general good of Nigeria, it would have been better. But their biggest consideration was C M Y K

just to help Obasanjo accomplish his plan (which he consistently denies) of foisting a weakling on Nigeria. Even after succeeding with the first plot to force Odili out of the race, they went a maliciously devious step further to deny him the vice presidential ticket. That was why Ibori, Ribadu and ElRufai chose that night of December 16 through the early hours of December 17, 2006, to terminate whatever was left of Odili’s ambition. They succeeded. But because they were mere pawns, what has become of all three men? Ibori is cooling his feet in a London jail; El-Rufai continues his visceral outburst against the Jonathan presidency in a manner that is at once laughable, when his criticisms are

placed side-by-side his role during the Obasanjo years; and of course, Ribadu, who already saw himself as prospective president because he was handpicked to fly the banner of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, his adopted political party, but whose members voted overwhelmingly for PDP’s Jonathan – even the tokenistic handout of chairing a committee whose report was never intended for implementation – has not been able to burnish his relevance in national affairs. Men who play God do not know God. Pure and simple. We proceed to help them. According to the catholic encyclopedia, God can variously be defined as “the one Supreme and Infinite Person-

al Being, the Creator and Ruler of the universe, to whom man owes obedience and worship…. When we say that God is infinite, we mean that He is unlimited in every kind of perfection or that every conceivable perfection belongs to Him in the highest conceivable way”. From Obasanjo to all his boys (some of the upstarts actually hustled to succeed Obasanjo as President and Commander-in-Chief) they assumed a false sense of infinity, thereby doing and undoing and believing they could play God. Unfortunately, because men who are pawns are not infinite, as they play God, they toy with the destiny of a nation and the people therein. One way or another, their actions and inactions go a long way to determine the development or underdevelopment of a nation. Though Nigeria does not possess the sole franchise for conspiracies in high places, the melancholy which attends the outcome of every conspiratorial endeavour of Nigeria’s leadership class, makes all the difference for all the wrong reasons. So, when you wonder why Nigeria continues to grope in the dark, with leaders who are very clueless, remember the mode of their emergence – we can go as far back as independence. But from Obasanjo in 1999, to Yar ’Adua in 2007 and the emergence of President Jonathan, there has almost always been an intricate web of deceit in the way each had emerged. For Obasanjo, the military foisted him on Nigerians; for Yar’Adua, Obasanjo imposed him on the nation; and in Jonathan’s case, he side-stepped his party’s rule on zoning which he had voted for on December 22, 2002, and sought solace in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In Odili’s autobiography, CONSCIENCE AND HISTORY – My Story, is a compendium of the series of wickedness in high places which occurred just three days before the PDP national convention of 2006, the way and manner some leaders of the party, led by Obasanjo, imposed one Celestine Omehia as the candidate for the governorship election in Rivers State (against the ordinarily legal candidacy of Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi); as well as his legal battles to free himself from the planned and intimidating vice-grip hold of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as well as his achievements as the governor of Rivers State. The book also radiates goodness from the man, his family and upbringing. In the next two pages, you will read excerpts from the book, excerpts which represent less than one percent of the revelations by Odili. And he waxes confident by challenging any individual who has anything contrary to the truth he has written by his own hands to come out. The soon-to-be-launched book would send tongues waging. And there would be heated responses. Just wait.

PAGE 14—SUNDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013

INSIDE OBASANJO’S ASO ROCK

‘After morning prayers, let us plot evil’ T

he high treachery entered over-drive mode after morning prayers inside Aso Rock presidential Villa, to which Dr. Peter Otunuya Odili, then governor of Rivers State and front runner for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential ticket, was invited by President Olusegun Obasanjo on the day of the party’s contest) THE PLOT - THE GREAT GANG UP This (PLOT) became lucidly clear with the instant release of my staff who were being detained in Lagos by the EFCC as soon as I voluntarily and wisely withdrew from the (presidential) contest. There was jubilation at the EFCC office immediately the news of my withdrawal broke and all my staff were asked by EFCC to go home immediately. This was on the 15th of December. Then came the D-Day, 16th December, 2006 - the date of the convention. I was invited for morning prayers with the President at the Presidential Villa and after the prayers I had a brief chat with the then President in his private study at the residence. He acknowledged my letter of withdrawal from the race and informed me of his intention to get Umaru Yar’Adua - the now expected winner of the upcoming primaries at the Convention, to make me his running mate. I thanked him for his kind thoughts and assured him that I bore no grudge or ill-will for the turn of events and that all through my campaigns I had ended my speeches on the note let God’s will be done’. I left him on that note at about 7.308.00arn. The convention was to start at 10am. As at 12.30pm the venue was literally empty. I was informed that most of the delegates who were in support of my candidature were upset and unwilling to go to the venue. It took the extra-effort and persuasion of my campaign organisation leader, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, and some key Directors of my campaign to get most of the delegates out to the Eagle Square. By 3pm the venue became fairly full. I was persuaded to go and accompany Umaru to the venue. I had been informed earlier in the day that the news C M Y K

This plot became lucidly clear with the instant release of my staff who were being detained in Lagos by the EFCC as soon as I voluntarily and wisely withdrew from the PDP presidential contest CLOCKWISE: Odili, Obasanjo and Ibori:

of my pairing with Umaru was in the air and that ‘some people’ were already ganging up to oppose the proposed pairing. It was however noteworthy that when I got to the Katsina State Lodge to join Umaru to proceed to the Eagle Square I met him downstairs in the company of some party leaders - Chief James Ibori, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mallam Nuhu RIbadu and Nassir ElRufai. (What did Ibori, Igbinedion, Saraki, Dangote, Ribadu and El-Rufai do once they saw Odili) HOW IT ALL STARTED

I, Dr Peter Otunuya Odili, became the e l e c t e d Governor of the new thRivers on the 29 day of May, 1999, after a well contested and won election against a strong opponent Chief Ebenezer Isokariari who was the then immediate past Secretary to the State Military Government under Gen. Sani Abacha regime. With my team of appointees, we set out on a “Restoration” agenda in fulfilment of my campaign promises “Letter to Rivers people.” We made a success of the programme and the details of our performance are set out elsewhere in this ‘book’. The highpoints were that in 2002 a team of over 500 journalists in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information under Prof. Jerry Gana, after inspection tours of executed projects by State

Governments across the country declared Rivers State the best performing State Government and Dr Peter Odili was presented with the Gold Trophy as the best performing-Governor in Nigeria. The trophy was presented by the then Vice President Atiku Abubakar on behalf of President Obasanjo. No other credible contest has taken place since then. We built 1200 low cost houses across the State in our 1st 100 days in office in 1999. We introduced ‘Free School Bussing Scheme’, free education at primary and secondary levels, and free medical treatment for under 6 years and over 60 years. But it is significant to note that at no point in the period 1999-2006 was the

executive branch under my leadership investigated by the State Assembly whose constitutional responsibility it was so to do, or by any other body or organ of Government legally charged to do so. ‘THE PLOT’- With the failure of the constitutional amendments which included tenure elongation, campaigns for the presidency in 2007 took off about the 3rd quarter of 2006, across the country. By October/November my campaign, led by Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, had penetrated every state in the federation and it became obvious that the Odili candidacy had attained national acceptance and had become a movement. Odili was seen as the front runner, the candidate to beat. Traditional Rulers, Emirs, Tribal leaders. Labour unions, Stakeholders, etc had embraced and were favourably disposed to Odili. For some inexplicable reason, the plot to stop him, by some people, became pathologically ‘urgent’. The PDP convention for nomination of the Presidential Candidate was slated for 16th December, 2006. (Now, on December 5, 2006, some 11 days before the PDP National Convention, Obasanjo visited Rivers State and became proud of Odili. What made the president proud is contained in the book) Exactly one week later, 12th December, a spurious and anonymous petition was posted in the internet from a questionable ‘source’ alleging CORRUPT practices against the Rivers State Government under me. These allegations were converted into a petition by the EFCC under Nuhu Ribadu’s hand, to the President same day. On the 13th of December, 2006 Mr. President directed EFCC to investigate. On the 14th day of December, 2006, EFCC submitted a so-called “interim” report to the then President who promptly minuted for rny response on the same 14th December, 2006, but forwarded to me on 15/12/06, a day to convention vide ref. PRES/44. I assembled what was left of my cabinet team, a few having been arrested and kept at the EFCC office in Lagos within these few days of urgent dramatic action. We submitted our response on the 15th day of December, 2006 by which time it had become clear what the whole exercise was about - “Get Odili out of the race for the Presidency, at all cost.” For maximum mischievous damage this contrived so-called ‘interim report’ was hurriedly uploaded into the Continues on page 15

SUNDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 15

‘After morning prayers, let us plot evil’ Continued from page 14

internet, but when our response to the spurious allegations was submitted on the 15th of December 2006, it was not accorded the same treatment. Why, you may ask? Some sense of fair hearing isn’t it? Till date the innocent uninformed still make reference to that judicially nullified and voided report.

BETWEEN YAR’ADUA AND I

Umaru quickly took me upstairs and thanked me for coming and assured me of his happiness at the prospect of our working together. He called his wife Turai into the room and introduced us. We later proceeded to the Eagle Square together and were joined by other colleagues in walking round the square. Convention started after the arrival of all dignitaries and convention events proceeded peacefully. In the course of the night I was invited to the VIP Guest Room at Eagle Square and was privileged to sight the typed copy of Urnaru’s prepared acceptance speech. It was clearly stated that he had nominated Dr. Peter Odili as his runningmate for the Presidential race. This was at about midnight or so. In the course of the next few hours information started reaching me that there was strong pressure to drop me from the ticket. Since 1 did not lobby for it, I wasn’t bothered - I remained with my State delegates.

THE MIDNIGHT PLOT

At about 3.30 am or so, I was again invited to the VIP Guest room at the Eagle Square and informed that there was a strong challenge to my being the running-mate based on ‘some fresh information’ just received, from Nuhu Ribadu, that would need to be sorted out later in the day. I took the information in my stride and went back to my Rivers Delegate stand and didn’t say a word about it to anyone. By the close of convention at dawn only 2 State delegates’ stands were still full - Katsina and Rivers; all others were either empty or had one or two people left. The result was announced Umaru was the winner and he promptly read a handwritten acceptance speech that excluded my name. He announced that further consultations were being made on the matter of his running mate. End of Story! The plot had worked. This confirms what Russel Wayne Baker, an American Columnist said in 1925 in “the sayings of Par Russel”; “The dirty work of Political Conventions is almost always done in the grim hours between midnight and dawn. Hangmen and politicians work best when the human spirit is at ifs lowest ebb. * By 4pm Sunday 17th December, 2006, Dr Jonathan was announced as the running mate to Umaru C M Y K

Yar’Adua, By Monday 18th December I congratulated Umaru and Jonathan and urged all my supporters nationwide and Rivers people to support the ticket. Odili was out of the race and the ticket. At the general election in April, 2007, Rivers State under my Leadership returned the highest votes in the country for Yar ’Adua.

J O N AT H A N TICKET FOR PRESIDENCY But ‘how did water enter mellon? Let’s try to find out. So many conspiracy theories emerged in the days and months that followed. Since nothing is hidden under the sun someday God will reveal the truth. What was the genesis of the fight against the possibility of an Odili Presidency? Who was threatened by that possibility and why? Whose decision and when was it made to stop Odili by all means possible? Who was the fulcrum of the execution of that decision? How come that for seven and a half years nothing was raised by EFCC or any relevant agency against Odili’s Government

Yar’Adua (above), Ribadu (below)...

Propelled by a sense of rejection of what is wrong and in full appreciation of the fact that ‘God guides the feet of the righteous in defence of justice’, we set out to challenge the evil plot against Odili

in Rivers State and suddenly on the ‘eve’ of the PDP Presidential Primaries all conceivable vile allegations were unleashed? When did we Nigerians acquire such meteoric and forensic expertise and competence to produce a report within 36 hours of instruction to investigate? Just in time for the date line - December 16 th 2006. These are Questions yawning for answers. God’s time will tell.

THE EFCC ROLE

On Sunday the 17th day of December, 2006 at about 3pm I was invited to the Villa to see the President. When I got there I met him sitting in his private study at the Residence with Chief Tony Anenih then Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Dr. Ahmadu All then Chairman of the party, the Late Yar ’ Adua

then flag-bearer of the party and Chief Bode George then Deputy National Chairman of the party. It was there and then I was informed that Nuhu Ribadu had informed the President that some ‘Foreign Missions’ in Abuja will not be happy to see me on the PDP ticket on the basis of the so -called “EFCC interim Report” which had been circulated to them. I was now formally told that I have been taken off the ticket. I thanked them, congratulated Yar ’Adua, wished him well, assured him of my support and then said to President Obasanjo to please now close the EFCC chapter since it was clear the aim had been achieved. He in no uncertain terms assured me that he would ensure that was done. On that note I left the Villa. As I was driving out of the Villa gate ‘then Governor ’ G o o d l u cr k Jonathan w as driving in at about 3.40pm December 17 th 2006. A few moments later the announcement of G o o d l u c k Jonathan as the running mate to Yar ’Adua hit the air-waves. Mission accomplished. I got

back to Port Harcourt at about mid day Monday the 18th December, 2006 and addressed the press urging and declaring support for the Yar ’Adua/Jonathan ticket. At the new year 1st January, 2007 banquet at the new Government House Port Harcourt, I assured the public that the (false) and contrived allegations maliciously made against me and my administration were untrue and that ‘we shall be vindicated in due course’. This statement appeared not to have been kindly received in some quarters because a few days into the new year, January, 2007,1 was informed that EFCC operatives had invited some of my officials to Lagos for interrogation. I allowed them to go, to show that we had nothing to hide. I promptly informed the Presidency of the development

and was assured that the unnecessary harassment would be stopped. The EFCC menace, rather than cease, increased with the seizure of documents from some ministries by EFCC carting them away to their offices. I again lifted no finger to stop them, just to show that we were not afraid of anything. I however decided to go and speak to the President in Abuja. In my presence Nuhu Ribadu was supposedly called on the phone and instructed to stop the contrived operation in Rivers State. The President again reassured me and I left back to Port Harcourt. I decided it was time to take care of the developing situation. I got my legal team together and we looked at the whole picture. It became clear that having concocted and contrived a spurious petition, produced a predetermined and malicious report, achieved the goal it was meant for and now, afraid of the possible repercussions of an evil agenda, it was now imperative for the plotters to find a way to justify their action by finding ‘something’ against Odili. Logical! The only thing to do was to work backwards from the already predetermined and executed end to find ‘something’. Within a few days our papers were ready for various judicial battles. Out of a sense of patriotic commitment to a Government I was considered a friend of, in the public eye, I told my legal team to stay action. It was after a very astonishing meeting at the Presidency over the matter of my successor as Governor of Rivers State that I instructed my legal team led by the Attorney General Odein Ajumogobia SAN, to commence legal action first at the State High Court and then at the Federal High Court , Port Harcourt, against EFCC. The first case went through full trial at the High Court of Rivers State, with all parties fully and properly represented. Trial lasted several weeks and judgment was delivered on the 16th day of February, 2007. (What did that judgment say? It would interest you) Clearly I have been unfairly judged by columnists and commentators who out of intellectual laziness and based on baseless comments by EFCC (under Farida Waziri) without facts, evidence and in abject contravention of court orders had made statements that were clearly libellous.

THE REVEALING VINDICATIONS

“Evil thrives when good people look away or keep quiet.” Propelled by a sense of rejection of what is wrong and in full appreciation of the fact that ‘God guides the feet of the righteous in defence of justice’, we set out to challenge the evil plot against Odili. We were vindicated in the end”

PAGE 16—SUNDAY

Vanguard , JANUARY 13, 2013

BoT CHAIRMANSHIP

Obasanjo confronts President Jonathan The iontended election of a chairman for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, BoT, turned out to be a confrontation between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his estranged protégé, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. The election could not hold because of intrigues. BY UMORU HENRY

The 18 elected members, i.e. three(3) members from each of the six(6) geo-political zones are Senator Walid Jibrin, Engr. Abdulkadir Kure and Senator Ibrahim Mantu for North- Central; Alhaji Kaulaha Aliyu; Alhaji Umaru Baba and Ibrahim Imam Kashim for North-East; Alhaji Bello Dange; Senator Mohammed Magoro and Governor Sule Lamido for North West; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Chief Tony Ukasanya and Hon. Patience Ogodo for South East; Chief Bozimo Godwin; AVM Larry Koinyan, Rtd and Chief E.B. Edem representing South South, while Chief Olabode George; Chief Kolapo Ishola and Chief Ebenezer Babatope represent the South West zone.

as it that President Good luck Jonathan could not muster enough courage to do what the PDP normally does? Or was it that he opted to allow the stream of democracy carry through the wishes of members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, BoT, freely in the election of a chairman? Whichever one was the case, last Tuesday’s expected election almost caused Mr. President a great deal of embarrassment (in any case this has already been followed by a bigger embarrassment with a court judgment .which sacked the party’s national secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola last Friday). It was to be made worse by the fact that the election would have taken place right in the domain of the president. It was obvious that camps had emerged and President Jonathan may have tried, but in vain, not to be seen as dictatorial and, therefore, did not play the game the way the PDP does its thing – or better still, he may not have had the lever! That may explain why former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his men almost had their way until the last minute political decision of fine-tuning the membership of the BoT. But when the situation was becoming tense, Sunday Vanguard gathered that President Jonathan had to hurriedly hold a meeting before the main meeting with some members where the plan to make Walid Jibrin, BoT Secretary, serve for another five years was hatched. When Jibrin was told later of the plans, it was also gathered that he became very happy. Though it was a good decision, but the members would still have been able to vote because their tenure expires March this year. Before Tuesday’s aborted election, over twenty aspirants signified intention to contest, but as gathered, the number was then trimmed down to eleven. They were former Vice President Alex Ekwueme; the re-appointed Chairman, board of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA and former Chairman of BoT, Chief Tony Anenih; former National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Amadu Ali; ex- Senate President Ken Nnamani; former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Shauibu Oyedokun; Publisher of Champion Newspapers, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Senator Onyeabo Obi; Chief Don Etiebet; Chief Richard Akinjide; and Yekini Adeojo. Bringing out their ages, Ekwueme who hails from Anambra State is 80; Chief Tony Anenih, Edo State is 79; Amadu Ali, Kogi state is 76; Ken Nnamani from Enugu State is 64; Chief C M Y K

CLOCKWISE: Obasanjo (Always insisting on having his way); President Jonathan (Subtly staved off what would have caused embarrassment);Ali (His camp hastily sent out SMS proclaiming victory): Anenih (Calm and cool throughout the night) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu from Imo State is 70; Don Etiebet from Akwa Ibom State is 78; Chief Shuiabu Oyedokun from Osun State is above 70 years. It was gathered that when it became clear that there was the need to reduce the overwhelming influence of Ali and Nnamani who were pulling strings and capable of surprising everyone as members were already rallying round them following the roles played by Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar though they were absent, the Jerry Gana led Committee became the way forward, at least to cool the nerves of all. The committee was set-up to streamline and restructure the membership of the BoT, apart from the statutory

members of the Board and was given three weeks to submit its report. Other members of the committee are Senator Stella Omu from Southsouth; Governor Ibrahim Shema from northwest; Shettima Mustapha from northeast; Chief Bode George to represent southwest and Senator Hope Uzodinma for southeast. One major task of Gana’s Committee is to first look at the 18 elected members, i.e. three members from each of the six zones of the country, just as the category of two female members from each of the six geo-political zones will be affected. All together, Gana will determine the fate of thirty-six members that will be brought into the BoT in the next three weeks.

nother category of BoT membership Gana’s Com mittee will look into is that which has to do with two female members from each of the six geopolitical zones and they are Mrs Pauline Tallen and Mrs Nimota Ibraheem for North Central; Hajia Hauwa Kida Musa and Hajia Rabi Mukhtar Muhammed for North West; Mrs Christy Silas and Mrs Zainab Maina for North East; Dr. Stella Effa-Attoe and Senator Stella Omu representing South South; Mrs Titi Oluyede and Mrs Aduke Maina for South West; Dr. Kema Chikwe and Sally Egbogu for South East. In this list, Maina is now Minister of Women Affairs, Paullen Tallen has dumped the party and Kema Chikwe is now the National Woman leader of PDP. The Committee will also touch category(vi) that has to do with foundation members and any member of the Party that the Board of Trustees deemed fit to appoint as members of the Board, subject to ratification by the Party’s National Convention. This has become imperative because some members are dead like Francis Ellah and Admiral Augustus Aikhomu. A source told Sunday Vanguard that Gana’s Committee will not replace foundation members that are dead, but it will replace those whose tenure have expired, just as the Committee is also saddled with the responsibility of reducing the number of aspirants for the Chairmanship position from the present eleven to a manageable size of three before the election day. The Secretary of the board, Senator Walid Jibrin who hails from Nasarawa State, North Central and

Continues on page 17

SUNDAY

Vanguard ,

JANUARY 13, 2013,

PAGE 17

Obasanjo confronts President Jonathan Continued from page 16

The battle for who becomes the next Chairman of BoT is not unconnected with the 2015 Presidential election against the backdrop that whoever chairs the BoT will play a major role

, Nnamani, a keen contestant letter of resignation to the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the former President had said, “I have formally sent in my letter of resignation as the Chairman of BoT of PDP to the National Chairman of the party as prescribed in the party’s constitution. ‘’I have formally requested the President to allow my bowing out and to issue a short statement to that effect.

former President Obasanjo pitched his tent with Amadu Ali to clinch the position while President Jonathan wants Anenih to bounce back to the position he was removed from in 2007. It will be recalled that Obasanjo replaced Chief Anenih June, 2007 at the Kano Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, in a motor-park-like approach. Though all is now history, it was gathered that prior

first on the list of this category of whose tenure is also expected to expire in March, had his tenure for another five year term reaffirmed as part of the political game to stop Amadu Ali who is also from the zone from becoming the Chairman of the board. Part of the political intrigues was the motion to make Walid Jibrin’s matter become carried and Senate President David Mark, Benue, North Central was said to have re-affirmed Jibrin for another five year term through a motion and it was supported by former Acting National Chairman and immediate past Minister of Defence, Dr. Haliru Bello Mohammed with overwhelming support from other members of the Board and the action became the last straw which nailed the aspiration of Amadu Ali. Before the meeting started at about 8.25pm at the Banquet hall of the presidential villa, Ali’s camp as gathered did not also help matters because the social media was on with news that Amadu Ali has been elected unopposed as the chairman of the PDP BoT and this did not go well with some of the board members. Also to add flavour to reports from the social media, supporters of Ali also sent Short message Services (SMS) to all members soliciting for their support. One of the messages read, ‘’Good morning. As Africa’s largest political party, BoT chairman should be a man with known passion for total nationalism, a strategist whose legacies transcend mere politics, a craftsman, a committed Nigerian whose services for a long time have been genuinely consistent in line with the desires of our national aspiration. Amadu Ali is tested through the crucibles of our nation - Goddy Emeka Ejiofor. The meeting emerged as a confrontation between Obasanjo and the taciturn Jonathan. The day witnessed a very strong power play between both men. The 98-member board constitutionally is the conscience of the party having being saddled with among others, the responsibility of ensuring highest standards of morality in all the activities of the party and with power to call to order any officer of the party whose conduct falls below the norms. The BoT, according to the party’s constitution comprises, expectedly, men and women of integrity that have contributed critically to the conception and nurturing of the party, and who have sacrificed much for it, as contained in Section 12.76 of the party’s constitution. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo stepped aside as Chairman of the Board on April 3 last year. In his

Or better still, Jonathan may not have had the lever! That may explain why former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his men almost had their way until the last minute political decision of finetuning the membership of the BoT

“By relieving myself of the responsibility for chairmanship of BoT of PDP, I will have a bit more time to devote to the international demand on me.” Against the backdrop of this, the position became vacant to be occupied from among the members and interestingly, even non members of the Board, including the former Chairman, Board of Trustees of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Chief Harry Akande, signified their interests for the chairmanship position of. In the contest, aside Nnamani who is below 70 years, others are above 70 years. In the heat of the contest,

to the meeting, Anenih had fixed the meeting for 8pm, but the time changed without his consent. According to the source, Anenih had kicked against the choice of the time and venue of the meeting for morning at 10.am in Hilton Hotel. This explains why Obasanjo will never want Anenih to come back hence even though he was absent at the Tuesday meeting, he planted his men to ensure that his candidate, Ali, emerges. But the election was cancelled. The battle for who becomes the next Chairman of BoT is not unconnected with the 2015 Presidential election against the backdrop that whoever

chairs the BoT will play a major role when the time comes for the emergence of a presidential candidate for the PDP.

ne interesting aspect of the expected emergence of Obasanjo’s possible replacement is the fact that for the first since the inception of PDP in 1998, a BoT chairman would emerge through election as against the hitherto Consensus method by the party. It is on record that Dr. Alex Ekwueme who emerged as the first BoT Chairman, did so through consensus in 1998. After him was former governor of old Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar who was National Chairman of PDP in 1999 and became BoT chairman in 2003 also through consensus when Ekwueme went to contest for the Presidential election. Chief Lar was replaced through consensus when Chief Tony Anenih from Edo State emerged. Still through a consensus arrangement and to pave way for his emergence as Chairman of BoT, former President Olusegun Obasanjo amended the party’s constitution. Section 12.77(b) of the 2006 constitution read, ‘’without prejudice to the provision of this constitution, ensure that an elected Chairman is either a former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria produced by the party or in the absence of such a former National Chairman of the party who has distinguished himself in the service of the party.” The constitution was signed by the then National Chair-

man and Secretary, Dr. Amadu Ali and Chief Ojo Maduekwe respectively. That made Obasanjo the only person qualified to be BoT chairman – until another amendment was done later. Those who attended the meeting were President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo; Senate President, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. Others were Governor Ibrahim Shema, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State; Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Senator Danjuma Goje, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure; Senator Muhammadu Magoro (rtd); Professor Jerry Gana; Senator Ahmed Makarfi; Senator Francis Arthur Nzeribe; Hajiya Inna Ciroma; Senator Adolphus Wabara; Senator Joy Emodi; Chief Chris Uba and Chief Ojo Maduekwe. Also at the meeting were Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Senator Barnabas Gemade; Chief Alex Ekwueme, Senator Ken Nnamani, Senator Amadu Ali, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, Chief Tony Anenih, Mrs. Patricia Etteh; Chief Josephine Anenih; and Ambassador Hassan Adamu (Wakili Adamawa). Others were Chief Jim Nwobodo; Obong Victor Attah; Chief Richard Akinjide, Chief Olabode George, Chief Emmanuel Iwunyanwu, Senator Walid Jibrin; Dr. Musa Babayo, Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, Mrs Kema Chikwe, Senator Bode Olajumoke; General David Jemibewon (rtd); Chief Don Etiebet and Chief Ebenezer Babatope. A source at the meeting however disclosed that Senator Mark’s decision was borne out of the quest to retain the position of the North central leader against the backdrop that if Ali emerges, his influence in the zone will wither and also as a former military man, he will be bound to respect Ali and be loyal to him as his (Mark’s) senior in the military. In politics, it is not over until it is over, now that the election has been postponed, all the gladiators and their wards will now withdraw to their camps for re-engagement. As Obasanjo’s camp members regroup for fresh battle with President Jonathan and his men, so will the President and his political aides get set for the next war of outsmarting the other.

PAGE 18—SUNDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013

.... CRIME AND NATIONAL SECURITY

Representative of the President and Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, rtd, (3rdl)flanked by the Chairman of the event, Alhaji Gambo Jimeta (2ndl) and the Inspector Genral of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, while the Interior Minister, Comrade Abba Moro (2ndr); Publisher Vanguard, Mr. Sam Amuka (l) and other dignitaries watch in a group photograph after the official opening of the National Summit on Security Challenges in Nigeria . Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

INEC CP, Mohammed , DIG Leha and AIG Muhammed at the summit . Photos by Gbemiga Olamikan

From right: Mr Frank Mba, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Mr Evans Uchendu

From left: General BVZ Kwaji and Mr Fola Arthur-Worrey

VANGUARD/POLICE NATIONAL SUMMIT ON SECURITY

A quest for peace through security BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

r Sam Amuka, the Chairman of Van guard, one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria, is not a happy man for many reasons. Although he is a contented man by all standards, his vision for Nigeria when he was a young man is not what obtains today. And what bothers him the more is that, on daily basis, the hope for a better Nigeria is meteorically plunging down the cliff, diminishing the potentials for a great country. The indices for fear and hopelessness are boldly written on the face of the average Nigerian. The melancholy, thrown up by the system that has consistently failed to inspire hope, coupled with the frustration that daily pricks the citizenry that they are far from their cher-

All efforts are geared towards ensuring the security of lives and property of citizens, which is very paramount to us. We now have a very serious management team in the police. We are committed to doing our duty as stipulated by the constitution ished destination, has left many with jeremiads and crippled their altruistic instincts. Left with nothing but frustration, in the midst of opulence routinely exhibited by the mandarins covetously manning the levers of power and business, many have taken to malevolent activities as trades, not minding the consequences of their actions. A few years ago, it was kidnapping in the Niger Delta by young, pernicious but ambitious elements who set out to

sabotage the oil industry for their pecuniary interest and they got it on a platter, as they virtually overpowered the system that was meant to checkmate their valiance. It was the late President Umaru Yar ’Adua, who halted their advance by instituting an amnesty package that is now both a source of anger and hope to the nation: there are some who loath the programme for giving so much money to a section of the country and others who believe it is working for

the nation. And while the nation is yet to recover fully from the madness of kidnapping and destruction prevalent in the Niger Delta and some parts of the South, a more frightening atrocity has enveloped many parts of the North, threatening to dismember the region and the nation. The marks of Boko Haram insurgency, which reared its ugly head from Borno State in early 2009, have given Nigeria a bad name while the sect inflicts maximum damage on the country that Lord Lugard joined in an unholy marriage in 1914. This has in return created a bad business environment for the nation. The sect, according to the Chief of the Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejerika, has, so far, killed over 3,000 persons. Foreign Direct Investment, FDI, has also nosedived as a

result of the reluctance of investors to pump more funds into the country with the hydra-headed monster of insurgency. The National Economic Summit Group (NESG), at its 18th summit, last month, lamented that Nigeria’s FDI dropped by 19.14 per cent to $10.4 billion, from $12.8 billion a year ago. This shows that Nigeria’s FDI shrank to 43 per cent from 62 per cent recorded in the preceding year. NESG believes the resurgence of violence, particularly the activities of the Boko Haram, is responsible for the economic decline. It says, “These results collectively echo investor perception about the extremist insurgence in the northern part of the country and gradually renewing militancy in the Niger

Continues on page 19

SUNDAY

Continued from page 18 Delta and the resultant negative impact on investments into the country.” Nations that are gripped by fear and frustrations rarely achieve their set targets while the citizens may never hit their personal goals. Nigeria, a global giant that is being looked upon by other countries for help and leadership, has been adversely affected by growing insurgency and corruption - two monsters that have refused to abate despite a shouting march from the rooftop. Amuka and other wellmeaning Nigerians have not been able to sleep as the turbulence in the land continues to reverberate. In fact, when Amuka founded his newspaper, VANGUARD, in 1984 under the military junta, with notoriety for hounding the media and journalists, Nigeria was a better place to live and do business than what obtains today.

ealising the power f the media “as a polit i cal and economic instrument and an educational resource”, as espoused by McBride, Amuka and his management team relocated from Lagos and assembled at the International Conference Centre, Abuja and, for two days, between Tuesday and Wednesday, created a public/private initiative, they brainstormed on how to solve the rising insecurity in the country as a means of creating a conducive atmosphere for sustainable peace and development. The summit, with the theme, “Addressing Nigeria’s Security Challenges for Sustainable Peace and Development”, was organised by the newspaper in conjunction with the Nigeria Police, whose officers and men have been at the receiving end of most of the Boko Haram attacks. By the time the conference opened on Tuesday morning, it was as if the whole of Nigeria had assembled in one place to find an answer to a nagging crisis. The setting was just right with the appropriate stakeholders in attendance. The Africa Hall of the International Conference Centre, Abuja was not only filled to capacity by Nigerians from all walks of life but the calibre of speakers and discuso

Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 19

A quest for peace through security

ment Agencies for Effective National Security, Constitutional Framework for National Integration, Reviewing Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System for Effective Internal Security and Inter Agency Cooperation in Defending the Nation against Security Challenges. Others are Religious and Ethnic Discord as a Major Threat to National Security, Militancy, Ter rorism and Arms Proliferation as a Threat to National Security, The Role of the Judiciary in Ensuring National Security and Intelligence Gathering and Sharing as an Effective Tool for National Security.

A cross section of AIGs

The President was however full of praises for Vanguard Newspapers for being at the forefront of the move to find answers to the security challenges facing the nation sants was also noteworthy. None of those invited as speakers or discussants, who were drawn from the security agencies, the academia, civil society, the Bench, the Bar and the business community, disappointed the audience. The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar, set the ball rolling, by declaring that the police would not shy away from their constitutional duty of protecting lives and property despite the challenges inherent in the system. Abubakar gave a message of hope to the hordes of senior police officers and men and other Nigerians who had assembled at the venue, vowing to defeat the enemies of peace and security in Nigeria. He said: “All efforts are geared towards ensuring the security of lives and property of citizens, which is very paramount to us. We now have a very serious management team in the police. We are committed to doing our duty as stipulated by the constitution.” Former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Gam-

bo Jimeta, who chaired the ceremony, is unhappy that successive governments have allowed the security system to deteriorate to a point where criminals now have a field day terrorizing innocent Nigerians without appropriate response from law enforcement agencies. According to Jimeta, the present security challenges in the country were self-inflicted, as government has abandoned the provision of basic facilities for the detection of crimes for other pursuits. “Let us, for God’s sake, put our priorities right by building a robust security and defence system. Poverty and deprivation are all over the nation. The basic facilities that can sustain lives are not there and people are suffocated and frustrated,”the former IGP said. “The only person who is in jeopardy is the common man who is left at the mercy of God, as the rich and powerful have been provided with security just as the criminal is fully armed. “There is need for caution and demonstration of sympathy for the ordinary citizen.

The strangulation of the Nigerian citizen is such that if nothing is done immediately about it, it would lead to an implosion that would be difficult to manage.” President Goodluck Jonathan, who has promised action against the insurgents, said the security situation in the country would be tackled headlong by his administration to pave the way for the realization of the transformation agenda. “Time has come for all Nigerians to stand up and fight the security challenges in the land,” Jonathan said in address delivered on his behalf by the Police Affairs Minister, Navy Capt Caleb Olubolade. Jonathan said Nigeria would remain secure under his administration and asked Nigerians to support his drive to make Nigeria a better nation. “The political will by this administration to change the security situation in the country is there and there is hope Nigeria will remain fully secured under Presid e n t Goodluck Jonathan,” the minister stated. The President was however full of praises for Vanguard Newspapers for being at the forefront of the move to find answers to the security challenges facing the nation. Eight were presented by eminent Nigerians with a view to highlighting the problems that have made it difficult for Nigeria to tackle the security challenges facing the country. The papers include, Building Sustainable Trust between the Public and Law Enforce-

he beauty of the papers lies in the fact that each attracted as much attention as the other and, at the end of each presentation, enthusiastic questions and reactions from the audience followed in torrents. Va n g u a rd ’ s E d i t o r- i n Chief, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, explained that the company was deeply concerned about the worsening security situation in the country and decided to cohost the summit with the NPF, as part of its corporate social responsibility. Adefaye, who is the President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, pointed out that Vanguard would continue to support efforts to improve the development of Nigeria and the well-being of the citizenry. He said, “The security challenge is not beyond the ordinary and we believe that, working together with an action agency like the police, we can make the required difference.” Although a communique is expected to be issued, it is clear that using a common approach by stakeholders can solve the nagging security challenges and they can be overcome. It is only when the ghost of the nation’s common enemy called insecurity is exorcised and peace and security attained, that sustainable development can be achieved in a country whose natives have never had it so bad in its 53 years of nationhood. And, it is only when that Eldorado dawns that Amuka and his officials would be able to smile once again. For now, the newspaper ’s search for answers to the nation’s troubling security challenges continues.

PAGE 20—SUNDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013

SHOCKER

If an ex-convict is President Jonathan’s benefactor, we are not safe —Bola Ajibola zSays Nigeria is an unfortunate country zWe freely signed Bakassi to Cameroun, he discloses z’Adhere to Obasanjo’s counsel on Boko Haram’ Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN), a former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, says President Jonathan has more challenges to contend with than having a face-off with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on his comment on the state of the nation. As a member of the panel of judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which decided the issue of Bakassi between Nigeria and Cameroun, the former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, in this interview with Sunday Vanguard at his Hilltop GRA home in Abeokuta, gives some insight into how the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroun actually occurred. Excerpts:

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently said he would not stop criticizing President Goodluck Jonathan’s government. What is your understanding of the disagreement between the two leaders especially now that we are into a new year? In a matter of time, Obasanjo and Jonathan will resolve the issue between the two of them. To me, it is not an issue that should generate the noise that has attended it because it was a sincere comment by a concerned Nigerian leader about the state of the nation. And so the controversy that followed that sincere comment and observation is unnecessary. What Obasanjo said, say anything you like, may be bitter but that is the truth about the situation in the coun-

try and what Jonathan should do is to sit down with that reality, ponder over it again and again and do what is needed to be done, and properly too. We have got a lot of problems to deal with in the country and all still boils down to leadership and we are running a very weak economy. Jonathan, instead of misunderstanding a good and sincere advice by a statesman of the stature of Obasanjo, should work hard to prove himself by strengthening the economy. We have also got a lot of

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

Jonathan should speak regarding his statement that Alamieyeseigha is his political benefactor. I think he should say it again because it is not safe for us as a nation and as a people that an exconvict is the benefactor of our President.

*It is sad Nigerians die on daily basis

security challenges to deal with: the Boko Haram is there, there is the Niger Delta kidnapping issue still there and people are dying on daily basis. It’s sad. There is even one thing that still bothers me so much, which President Jonathan said and I think he was misquoted. And what is that? He was reported to have described Alamieyeseigha as his political benefactor. I think he was misquoted because for our

•Ajibola... Nigeria is a victim on the Bakassi issue

president to describe an ex-convict as a benefactor, I think he should say it again! Jonathan should speak on this statement because it is not safe for us as a nation and as a people that an ex-convict is the benefactor of our President. He should speak up now because any further delay may be dangerous for our national image. You were not only a serving judge at The Hague when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) gave its verdict ceding Bakassi to Cameroun, but also you were the Chairman, Joint Commission on Boundaries between Nigeria and Cameroun. What really happened? To start with, when the controversy started over whether to appeal or not to appeal, what I said was that there is nothing like appeal in the International Court of Justice, ICJ. There is nothing like that. You see what I mean? An application can be made to review certain aspects of the judgment but not, strictly speaking, an appeal. So, an appeal does not lie in the court there. It is not as if one is in support of the alleged maltreatment the people are subjected to in the place, but I must say that all they were doing at that point calling for appeal was belated and overtaken by events. What they ought to have done was to have put their house in order before even independence and immediately after independence.

To be frank, when the situation became virtually what it is today, the Ministry of Justice, in those years in early 60s, sought legal opinion on this matter and, going by what happened in 1913 in the Anglo-German Agreement, we have this uphill task because it was Britain that ceded the whole of the Bakassi area, well described in Article 21 and 22 of that agreement, specifically to Germany. Germany, when it suffered defeat during the Second World War, was deprived of that area and Bakassi went to France and it was France that gave independence to Cameroun and that was how Cameroun got into it. A lot of people have been saying a lot of things that are not really correct. How do you mean sir? In most cases, we ourselves as Nigerians bastardized our position because, as far back as 1961, we had written a note to Cameroun telling Cameroun that we Nigerians are aware of the fact that they own Bakassi! Throughout 1960s and 1970s, our map of Nigeria was always indicating the excise of Bakassi out of our own land in Nigeria as part of what belongs to Cameroun. In fact, it has further been stamped by the fact that we agreed that our boundary is in Akwa Yafe as opposed to Rio del Rey. If we own Bakassi, the boundary would have been in Rio del Rey and not Akwa Yafe. Continues on page 21

SUNDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 21

'We freely signed Bakassi to Cameroun' Continued from page 20

•Ajibola... Many powerful countries behind Cameroun

We agreed to that! We, even at a time, asked Professor Valad, in Britain, to advise us on the matter and that professor told us clearly that we had an uphill task, that what we thought we owned had already been transferred to Cameroun through Germany. That is the situation. But there are still questions to be answered, which had already been ignored or decided against by the ICJ and you can read a lot of that in my ‘dissenting opinion’. You see, the situation is far more than what a lot of people have been talking about. It is what has happened beyond our time, before our time. We are now raking the misfortune of yesteryears and we are now the victims of the problems that arose before now. That was at the time of our independence. From what you have said, where and how did General Gowon, General Obasanjo and you come into this controversy because it has been said that Gowon started it, Obasanjo gave it out and you sat on the panel that decided the case against Nigeria? No. It is wrong. They are not mentioning the names that they ought to mention, which really prejudiced our case before the ICJ. They ought to mention the name of our Minister of Foreign Affairs just immediately after our independence in 1961 that really in his note gave Bakassi to Cameroun. That should be mentioned. We are just victims of what had happened before our time in Nigeria. And a lot of things happened advertently and inadvertently through our regular mistakes or misfortunes. Then, how in the first instance, did the matter get to the ICJ? Cameroun took us to ICJ. And let me say this, in fact it was during the time of this litigation at the ICJ on the application by Cameroun that we started changing our map to include Bakassi (laughs). That was obvious and the judges are human beings. They were there equipped with evidence put in by Cameroun. It’s a case of an admission that we had taken on ourselves to cede all this area to Cameroun based even upon the 1913 Anglo-German Treaty and based on what we lawyers call pacta sunt savanda. It is very, very unfortunate that a kettle is now calling a pot black. It ought not to be at all because the mistake or the problem started right from the beginning of our independence. Those who are now shouting ought to have started shouting at that time if they could get hold of all that we did. But why do you think the Nigerian side appeared to be complacent over the judgment that they didn’t talk about it until now? Let me say something here. Bakassi is not the beginning and the end of the whole issue. What Cameroun took us to ICJ for was not only Bakassi. It had to do with the land in Lake Chad; the

What Obasanjo said, say anything you like, may be bitter but that is the truth about the situation in the country and what Jonathan should do is to sit down with that reality, ponder over it again and again and do what is needed to be done, and properly too

land boundary between the two of us, the land boundary between Nigeria and Cameroun from Lake Chad to the sea as well as Bakassi and the maritime boundary; the maritime limit that they asked for and that is asking for virtually all the sea boundary of our present Nigeria. Let me say that if they had succeeded in that, we would have been in the misfortune of having no more oil, at least the foreshore oil. We would not be so privileged any longer. But that is not the most heinous part of

the action that was taken by Cameroun. Cameroun took Nigeria to court on what we call ‘state responsibility’. It’s like a criminal charge against Nigeria. If they had succeeded in that one alone, we would have been thrown into endless debt that must be payable to Cameroun. We never allowed that to happen because we counterclaimed against them on it, which saved us the internal slavery to Cameroun and being in perpetual penury in which we would have been till today and henceforth. We did not allow that to happen to us. But that wasn’t all. are criticizing should T hosegowho and look into the judgment again and they will find out that virtually we gained generally rather than losing. Because the entire land that Cameroun had occupied in Nigeria, and we were able to ascertain that belongs to Nigeria on the land boundary, far exceeded that which is now claimed in Bakassi. And we were able to claim it back from them. Can you give a bit of the details of what we gained and what do you advise the agitators for return of Bakassi to Nigeria to do? In Chad area, we knew that it was the ceding of the water that forced our people out of that place and, since the water kept drying up, we got into that situation. We moved out of that, but they also moved out of the southern part of that Chad which they occupied and which belonged to Nigeria. But I think before they start doing any-

thing, I mean those who are now talking, they should not look into Bakassi alone because Bakassi is not a be-all-andearn-all of the whole things involved in this dispute. How do you mean? It is the land and maritime boundary. We gained extensively considering the claim of Cameroun against us on the maritime boundary. We gained extensively in that. They must not be myopic, they must be objective and they must look into the whole judgment before passing any judgment further on what they may likely go back to the court for. Again, the whole dispute had three phases, I have to say. It started with the preliminary objection on admissibility and jurisdiction. We first of all told the court that, that action was misconceived and should not be entertained. We gave eight reasons for this, but the whole thing was turned down by the court and the court rejected those reasons all. Then the case on merit. Also, before that, there was also an application on …..on certain aspects of the case. These people should go into our archives and be well informed and be well educated on this thing and, in fact, the antecedents before litigations. And they should look again into the history of what is Southern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria and all that moved. Because Northern Nigeria moved into Nigeria while part of Southern Nigeria went to Cameroun. So, we need to look into all that. We need to check our facts before we start talking. Why is it that our Constitution still reflects Bakassi as one of the 774 local governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as public commentators claim, yet it is glaring that Bakassi has been ceded? Whatever may be the problem with implementing a decision of the court is the internal problem of Nigeria and that, in itself, is strictly domestic. All we need to do is to check Section 12 of our Constitution and put our house in order. The international community is not concerned about that. International judgment has been given against us with regard to Bakassi and that, they are aware of. As a matter of fact there are so many things that one needs not come out with in this matter that could have happened disastrously to what is called Nigeria. And as a matter of fact, if we had done something else, there would be no Nigeria by now and arms conflicts would have taken over and there are so many countries in this world that are so friendly with the position of Cameroun because they are of the view that Cameroun has Bakassi. Meaning that even if the verdict hadn’t favoured Cameroun, it could have declared war against Nigeria believing there are so many world powers that would come to its aid? They could because so many powerful countries in the world are behind Cameroun on this matter. We have seen that and we have been told about that. We are aware of that and actions are already going on, on that. So, we must be very careful. And I repeat that we must be very careful. We must think again and we must look into history. Those who are talking now must first of all go into history and look at all that happened before independence and immediately after independence. And they should look into all the powers exercised by the colonial masters and all the international agreements and treaties. It is worth looking at and, perhaps, they should read my dissenting opinion.

PAGE 22—SUNDAY VANGUARD , JANUARY 13, 2013

I’ve decided to stop having sex! Dear Rebecca

a m a young guy of 19. I started having sex when I was 18. and from that time on I have had sex many times. I have suddenly decided to stop having sex. Don’t you think this decision will affect me in future? Seun, Ado-Ekiti. REPL Y REPLY

ongratulations on your deci sion, whatever the underlying reason may be. Sex is the God-approved way of making babies and keeping the human race going . But too many people place so much emphasis on it. I think this is why God in his wisdom, has allowed many dreadful diseases to be attached to it . Just so that we can be disciplined on sex matters. Men worry so much

about their organ and sex performance, and how many women they can have, so they can ‘enjoy’ life and be a man. Some many women use their bodies to make money, so that life would be comfortable. Sometimes this is due to poverty and desperation. However, sex is a high risk area, with all types of venereal diseases which can render both men and women infertile. AIDS KILLS. Sensible people, both married and unmarried now keep to one sex partner. Having sex anyhow is dangerous. There are groups of young Americans these days who vow not to have pre-marital sex. Now, that’s something people should consider here. No one falls sick or becomes infertile from not having sex. You can live a very happy and fulfilled life without sex. It all depends on what you consider happiness.

Dear Rebecca

AM a guy of 23 years, dating a girl of 21 in same department, level, and school. The problem is that she is a christian while I’m a Muslim. I love her so much to the extent that most people around us are aware of this. After a year of relationship, she said she can’t marry a Muslim. Initially, she thought I would change. It’s unlikely that I’ll change. I tried to make her realize that love has no religion, tribal or cultural background yet she stood her ground. Please aunty, should I quit now so that I don’t waste my time, money and energy on a

She wants me to change my religion! fruitless effort? Biodun, Muslim , Lagos REPL Y REPLY

SUGGEST you re main ordinary friends with this girl and leave out further talk of marriage . Where there is true love and a couple really believe that they are suited as husband and wife in many respects, being of different religions should not matter. You would respect each other’s religion and not be a hindrance in any way. You

both decide in what religion to bring the children up in. In many cases , it is the wife’s because woman have more time for taking children to the church or mosque. Difference in religion can be tolerated if the union is loving. In fact, the commonest factors that break up marriages are money matters, sexual infidelity , interference from inlaws and violence (which is usually an offshoot of the other three). Only a handful are due to difference in religion. Personally, I believe the man is the senior partner in the home and he

should not for any reason change to the woman’s religion, unless he is very convinced in his heart that he would find spiritual fulfillment in her religion, and would relate to God better in it . Religion is a very private and personal thing between us and our Maker, and it should have a great influence on our character and the way we relate to people. As you are not ready for marriage right now , I suggest you date girls generally as you study them aand know which you can hit it off well with in marriage.

Menstrual cycle is now irregular! Dear Rebecca I am a girl of 23 having problem with menstrual cycle . Though I had irregular menstrual flow for the past few years but for two years now, it has been most regular; to the point that I have been having my period twice in a month. Why is this so? Please , explain to me . And again, is it possible for a girl to get pregnant and still be having her period? Hilda, Auchi REPL Y REPLY

n expert says at 22 you should have regular pattern for your menstrual cycle, but however, some women could have irregular pattern until they begin to have children, then it would stabilize, although there could be the occasional

slant, one way or the other(i.e a day or two early or later). He suggests that you should consult a specialist in a general hospital. If you are able to go a teaching hospital, that is even better. Sometimes the volume and frequency of blood flow during menstruation could be as a result of the medicine you take on a regular basis eg, blood tonic or iron tablets. These have been known to increase the flow particularly if taken close to when you expect your period. Lots of sugar, etc. and other foods that generate heat in the body can have this effect too . It is not common for a woman to be pregnant and still be having her periods but , yes it does happen. To find out if you are pregnant, do a pregnancy test. There are special kits for this available for sale at good Pharmacies.

I want a lucrative career Dear Rebecca

’M a 19 year old secondary school leaver, seeking admission into a university. I’m a bit uncertain about choosing a career. I wish to take up a course in Accounting or Banking/ Finance. I want one out of these two courses but the one with higher prestige and very good salary. I’m committed to studying to be the best. Please, I’m in desperate need of your advise. Kate, Delta State. REPL Y REPLY

IRST of all, con sider the O’ level or

SSCE papers that you have passed, as these would determine the degree courses that you can apply for. The Jamb brochure contains what papers you need for what courses. Now, it is important that you get your priority right about how life should be lived. Good educational qualifications are desirable because, with them you stand a chance of getting good jobs where you are well-paid. However, success depends on your own attitude to work. Some people with high educational qualifications cannot keep a job because of laziness and irresponsible attitude about their work . They

go late to work , are hardly at their desks, and they do their work carelessly. On the other hand there are people with low educational qualifications who rise to the top of their profession through hard work, and a responsible attitude to their duties. This applies too to the self-employed and those in business. Most professions are prestigious and lucrative if you bring dignity and efficiency into how you work. Accounting and banking and finance are

courses which require a lot of hard work and can guarantee worthy jobs in future, if you are good to them . They can enable you to set up a consultancy on your own when you’ve had the relevant experience , and you want to be on your own. Actually , no job or profession is useless to the world , and you can make a success of any, if you are dedicated and God is on your side. I advise you pray, ask God to put in your mind the course you should study. Goodluck .

•All letters for publication on this page should be sent to: Dear Rebecca, Vanguard Media Ltd, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria. E-mail: dearrebecca2@yahoo.com

SUNDAY Vanguard , JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 23

Better than infidelity and legitimate! A

S encouraging as texts from you readers are about my helping towards your losing your sexual inhibitions, a recent letter from a reader who simply called herself Monique left a dirty smile on my face! She wrote: “I married young, in my early 20s and it was no surprise that it hit the rocks a few years after. Even though my husband was much older, he expected some standards that my young life hadn’t prepared me for. After we split, I had some one night stands and wasn’t in a hurry to get hitched again. As luck would have it, 1 ran into Tunde at a party, had what 1 thought would be a fling with him but which later turned into mutual admiration. “ I knew he was the one for me, the man 1 could happily have children with, so we got married. Married life was amazing - I’d never felt so much passion. We went on to have three lovely children then life settles into a rut. With both of us working, looking after the children and the home, all the fun and spontaneity went out of sex. “By now we’d been married for close to ten years, so we didn’t really mind. We both agreed that having kids was the best

thing that’d ever happened to us. And our marriage was strong and stable though a far cry from the passionate early years. “I thought 1 would resent my dwindling sex life, especially judging by the fun I’d find in the past, but because 1 loved my husband so much it didn’t bother me”. Early last year, however, a friend invited me to her birthday party. She always insisted on a ‘ wives only ’ party. The husband only dropped their wives, have a quick drink, then beat a hasty retreat until the wives phoned to be picked up much later. We usually discuss naughty topics, and dance to our heart’s content. 1 almost didn’t make this particular one as I was recovering from a bought of malaria fever, but my husband urged me to go so I could cheer myself up. I was glad 1 did! “Chioma, a ‘happy golucky ’ beautician just came back from one of her trips. She zipped opened her pandorax box and different shapes and sizes of vibrators spilled out-all in different colours too! We all shrieked with excitement as we checked the prices and their functions. Our hostess knew about my

sexual frustrations and talked me into buying one. It seemed a fun idea at the time but when 1 got home with my ‘loot’, I felt furtive. It didn’t seem quite right brandishing a dildo when I had the live variety at home! “Tunde wanted to know all about the evening and I told him the bits 1 could - keeping my prized possession a secret. A few days later, it was his turn to have a night out with the ‘boys’ and once the kids were in bed, curiosity got the better of me. I took out the vibrator. I’d never used a sex toy before and realized I needed four of these pencil thin batteries. I re-

membered there were some in the small torch we kept by the bedside in case of a power cut and took its batteries out. Back in the bedroom I switched it on. Then I lay on the bed, heart pounding with excitement, and began to use it. “I was afraid that the kids would wake up or Tunde would come home unexpectedly early, but the vibrator began to excite me and I simply let myself go. As it turned out, it was the most powerful orgasm I’d ever experienced. Afterwards I sprawled on the bed, dazed and deeply satisfied. By the time Tunde returned, my new ‘companion’ was tucked in

the secret place I kept it. I was in my nightie reading a magazine. When Tunde asked if I was okay, I nodded in reply, afraid he could see the lust in my face! Since then, I’ve used the vibrator as often as I can. I have climaxed to the sound of the bath running whenever I don’t want anyone to hear the hum of the vibrator. Whenever I indulge myself, I always drop off to sleep quickly as it always leaves me relaxed. “I’ve toyed with the idea of using my new friend as part of our lovemaking, but I don’t think I’ll be able to relax enough. Even if I do try, will my husband be able

to perform better! It seems much easier and more fim to keep my secret source of happiness to myself. I’ve had the vibrator close to seven months now, and the more I use it, the less I want to have sex with my husband. Lovemaking takes energy, time and with children in the house, a lot of planning. Using my new found friend is quick, furtive, intense and completely satisfying though selfish! I don’t have to worry about anyone else. These days,1Unde doesn’t seem worried that we rarely have sex. I shamelessly admit to looking forward to my private time wmy trusted friend. I’m so hooked I don’t want to give up its amazing buzz ... “I’ve sounded a few friends opinion on sex toys and was mildly surprised at how widely used it is. Quite a number agreed they were the sanest alternative - to unprotected sex that might lead to STDs or even AIDS! What’s more, you don’t have to cook fancy dinners or wear provocative negligence to tempt your partner. All you need do is take matters into your own hands – literacy.”

08052201867(Text Only)

The Locust for backpain Technique IE flat on the floor with face down wards and keep the hands by the side of the body with the fingers clenched into fists. Rest the chin on the ground by raising the head. Inhale and stiffen the body by pressing the fists against the floor. Slowly raise the legs as high as possible. Keep the legs in a straight line, while the two thighs, knees and ankles touch each other. The weight of the legs must fall on the body and hands. Contract the muscles of the buttocks, stretch the muscles of the thighs and further extend the position of the legs. Retain the posture for a few seconds in the beginning and gradually increase the duration. Concentrate on the upper portion of the body, i.e.

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

will improve rapidly with practice and time. Lower back is strengthened. Flexibility of the upper back is improved The Half Locust Both legs are straight Tune the raising and lowering of the leg to the breath. Chin is stretched forwards.

Benefits The practice of this Asana renders the spine supple and elastic. It relieves backache or strain on the spine caused by the hard work, etc. It also tones up the muscles at the back and the intestinal organs in the abdominal region and relieves pain in the lumbar and sacral regions. Above all, it aids digestion and relieves gastric troubles. Main Benefits: The Locust brings elasticity to the cervical (up-

per back) region, and strength to the lower back, but it is important to stretch the chin as far forwards as possible if

these benefits are to be gained. When you first attempt the Locust, you may be dismayed to find that your feet rise only

slightly from the floor. Do not be discouraged. This

The Full Locust Legs are kept straight and lifted as high as possible. Hands are together Elbows are straight, and as close together as possible. Chin is stretched forwards on the ground

Yoga classes at 32 Adetokunbo Ademola, Victoria Island, Lagos, 9.10am on Saturdays

PAGE 24 —SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

Making do with someone else’s husband!

HE belief that a mistress is a pam pered plaything with all perks of a lover, is very far from the truth. Even though she is not supposed to have all the so-called problems of the wife at home, she gets her own share of the pain and loneliness if she chooses to share only a part of the man in her life. More than often, she receives little or no financial help from the man. So in reality the lot of the other women is not necessarily a happy one. But then why do a lot of women fall into this sort of existence? In our society the reasons, not excuses are so glaring for everyone to see. Bukunola, fondly called Bukky, has been the mistress of a well-to-do llesha business man for the past 16 years. In her reflective moments she always says: “If you love a man, you love him, married or not. But I wish 1 had never met him, I would have given anything for a normal life”. Bukky fell head over heels willi this big spender, as soon they were introduced his looks and prospects in life were added bonus. Of course, she knew he was married with six growing children. Her lover told her how unhappy he was with his wife and everything he did was a pointer to that fact. After the first flush of ecstatic love, Bukky was sensible enough to take stock of the relationship. She tried to end the affair, but somehow, she always found herself back to him because he

made her believe that she was his lifeline; his reason to keep living. Soon enough, she found out she was pregnant. Her lover terrified that his wife and children would find out, begged her to have an abortion. She refused. At the age of 35, she thought time was against her and indeed it was. Besides she wanted a permanent image of her lover in her own life. The man only saw Bukky three times during her pregnancy and when she had her baby girl just before Easter, he did not go to the hospital, he did not even ring. Bukky became very bitter. However on getting a bit stronger, she wrapped up her baby and took her to his family home. His relations accepted the baby girl on his behalf but then what a dicey beginning for an innocent baby. Since then, Bukky has been living in limbo as she is not sure whether her lover wants her and the baby or not. After a while, the man resumed seeing Bukky and the love affair continues but sadly, she is now hanging on a string. Why does he do it? With no guarantee her situation will get better? Unfortunately, now in her 40s, a new beginning is almost impossible.

duke has no regrets about her 10-year relationship with a married man which ended with his death from cancer “I thought my self as his wife”, says 47 years old Aduke. To her, his wife was the person who worked with him in the family business, Aduke

Short men Syndrome: It’s official: short men have less luck with the ladies. The discovery, set to shock vertically challenged men everywhere, comes from Southampton Hospital. They have evidence that birth size influences emotional development. After studying 3,500 medical records and comparing them to marital status, social class and income, the team claims small babies are programmed to be shy in the womb and small boys, who grow to be short adults, are less likely to marry early.

was never hidden away. They always went on trips together both inside and outside the country. He even presented himself as her husband when functions occurred in her company where she worked as an accounts executive. He supported her financially and paid for a nice flat for her where he sometimes stayed weekends and even weekday evenings. So far so good “Sometimes I get thoroughly fed up, and try to pressurise him to leave his errand wife. But when you love someone, it is unbearable to see him being tom this way and that”, she said in his defence. “The ironic thing is that if I had not been there, he would have walked out on his marriage years ago he told me that. Many a Friday night he arrived at my flat in a murderous rage and I have had to calm him down”. He is gone now - dead, but Aduke still lives in the flat

he rented for her. Even after three years of his demise she says she still hears his footsteps crunching the pebbles outside her flat. Because of her lover’s sudden death, Aduke was left wi1h nothing but his do1hes, his photographs and treasured memories. His wife and children automatically received everything. Without a will, she could not lay claim to his property. She is quite bitter about it but there is nothing she can do. This situation probably affects other women in similar positions as Aduke. Even so, Aduke has no regrets about the relationship and she holds a burning touch for her dead lover. Are Men Really Getting Smaller?!

hese are certainly not the best of

heartedly,then life would be much simpler, but then less magical we think......! Chris Onunaku, dekris4real@gmail.com 08032988826/08184844015.

OUR column to express your loving thoughts in words to your sweetheart. Don’t be shy. Let it flow and let him or her know how dearly you feel. Write now in not more than 75 words to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E.mail: sunlovenotes@yahoo.com Please mark your envelope: “LOVE NOTES"

LOVE,

Love is not a decision,it's a feeling deep from the heart, only if we could decide whom to love whole-

My Lady

I never knew I will find another me on earth. You are my perfect match. You talk like me, you smile like me, you laugh like me, you think like me, you dream like me, you even eat like me, surprise! You are beautiful than the brightest piece of refined gold, your smile are more attractive than glittering silver, and your lips are for ever sweeter than honey. I will lie in your arms, I

times for today’s men. Findings show they’re short, smelling and liars! The case of the shrinking penis! Let’s hope it really is what they do with it and not the size that matters because a recent study shows men’s penises are getting smaller! This shocking discovery by the Lifestyle Condom Company (with a bit of help from latex-gloved nurses) is bound not to thrill either sexes. Previously, the Kinsey Sex Report put the average penis size as between 6.2 and 6.4 inches, but the condom poll claims it’s now 5.877 inches - with two thirds of the 1,000 men studied measuring between 5.1 and 6.2 inches. This discovery could answer two of our times moist perlexing questions: Why vibrator sales are at a record high and, why ex-girl-friends keep going back to their well endowed lovers.

love you, but ... so there’s a scientific excuse after all! The reason men have an urge for one-night stands is testosterone. Even though they may believe they have a huge attraction to a woman one night, when reality and/or sobriety hits, the feelings disappear as quickly as they arrived. Men are different because the centres for emotion and reason are better connected in a woman’s brain. And, because women aren’t out of control on testosterone, they find it easier to evaluate whether a man is potentially the right partner. Dirty, dirty boys! Despite years of cajoling from the girls and all the cosmetics firms spending hundreds of thousands of Naira to persuade them to use their grooming products, men still spend less than 15 minutes in the bathroom each morning. But, don’t despair! This trend is set to change - a recent Mintel survey found that the under - 24 age group are now more likely to spend up to an hour making the effort to look and smell good.

have found my perfect resting place in your arms, I will forever love you. Kiss!!... Omorville Umoru omorville@gmail.com 08062486549.

No definition

Love, a fruit without a definite taste: sometimes so bitter to taste at times sweeter than honey most times taste sour often times, a mixture of sweet and bitter all the times, new experiences to taste

VENIX: 08032275666

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 25

*The palace after the inferno BY OLA AJAYI, Ibadan

UST a visit to the pal ace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, is enough to convince even the blind that the foremost Yoruba monarch is a real custodian of culture. Right at the entrance of the ancient palace, drawings, paintings, sculptures of gods, deities and birds remind one of the ancient days. But, unfortunately, some of these artifacts were destroyed not by the gods but by a strange fire outbreak last Wednesday. When one considers the extent of damage that the fire caused, it would not be an overstatement to say the gods are angry. How else can one explain the situation where about 21 rooms belonging to the three of the wives of the monarch were razed before any help could come. The fire, according to the Media Assistant to the monarch, Alhaji Azeez Fehintola, started around 6a.m. on the fateful day and raged for four hours before it was finally put out by fire fighters. He said, “Immediately, I got here and saw the extent of the damage done to the palace by this early morning fire, I could not but break down in tears. The fire, triggered by electrical surge, started around 6 a.m and was contained after about three hours. ”The fire-fighters came at some minutes past seven and battled it till it was finally put out. The affected apartments were razed. It was a really sad day for the ayabas(wives of the kings) because many of their property were destroyed”. He explained that the queens keep their money in the palace. Apart from artiC M Y K

FIRE IN ALAAFIN’S PALACE

How Iku Baba Yeye has been three times unlucky facts, many other valuables were consumed by the fire. The valuables include Plasma television, jewellery, clothe, and bags. The flats of Princess Folasade (Iyaa Meta), Princess Rukayat, and Princess Abibat were reduced to ashes. Besides, some rooms known as Ile Ori, Ile Ifa where artifacts are stored were destroyed by the inferno. Though sympathizers have been trooping in droves to sympathise with the monarch over the incident, the effects will linger. Fehintola, the Alaafin media aide said President Goodluck Jonathan has sent his message sympathising with him. Governor Abiola Ajimobi was the first to visit the monarch. He said, “It is in our own definition a disaster, moreso, having gone round the whole palace on inspection of the damage. The fire touched virtually everywhere and it was very devastating. It consumed virtually everything, including traditional attires, ornaments.” According to him, the effect could have been minimized if urgent attention had been given. “The lesson here is that, one,

our fire support services should be more efficient. Second, the reactions of the Kabiyesi and the entire family were very commendable and immediate. That they were able to put out the fire is commendable,” the governor said. He noted that from the assessment he had carried out on the burnt palace, the damage was irreparable and colossal. Ajimobi however promised to assist the monarch in the recon-

struction of the palace, stating that, as a foremost traditional ruler and a great friend of the administration, government could not but support the Kabiyesi because, in doing so, government was supporting Yorubaland. “As a government, we are going to support the Kabiyesi and the Kabiyesi, as you know, has been at the forefront of support for the present administration,” the governor said. Others who have visit-

ed the ruler are members of the House of Representatives, traditional rulers from Osun, Oyo and Ekiti States. Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, a former governor of Oyo State; Mr. Kamil Akinlabi, a member of the House of Representatives; and the Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company, Mr. Sarafadeen Alli have also visited. According to Fehintola, this would be the third time the palace would be gutted by fire. The first fire incident, he noted, he could not remember. He said there was a similar fire between 2004 and 2005, adding that 14 rooms were affected then and many archival materials also got burnt. When asked if there could have been a foul play on the fire incidents, he said they were caused by electric surge. To him, fire outbreak is a natural disaster and it could happen to anybody irrespective of influence and status in society. The damage caused by the latest fire, he said could not be quantified.

‘Guests’ kill host during party BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

any called it bizarre and un christian. Others said it was brutal, damnable blue murder of a promising young man. Whichever way it is looked at, the truth is that Kevin Ezekwem has become history. Life was snuffed out of him by armed hoodlums. He was assassinated right in front of his kith and kin. The Ezekwen family of Umuocha, Awa, Oguta local government area of Imo State, does not ring a bell but it is relatively comfortable by any standard. This honest achievement was however not without hard work. An account has it that

Kevin was brought up under very strict parental care. Information has it that his now ageing father put in everything in him in bringing up his son, including sending him abroad to acquire sound education. On attaining adulthood, Kevin, Sunday Vanguard was told, did not understand why people from his community should not get the best of life like those residing in the cities. He therefore decided to build a hotel in his Awa country home. When construction was completed and the facility was ready for comContinues on page 27

PAGE 26—SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013

Highwire tension in UNIBEN over HIV/AIDS cure BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City

will like to take credit for a breakthrough, but the school cannot align with the breakthrough, because the university college was not consulted; the university was not consulted. He (Ibeh) didn’t carry anybody along. There are protocols and procedures, stage by stage procedures. We are going to take it to the clinical lab, we are going to take it the Federal Ministry of Health, because they have a procedure there, we’ll probably take it to NAFDAC, because it is a unit or department of the Min-

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S expected, it was a joyous news on Tues day when the Dean, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Isaiah Ibeh, announced the development of a new drug that can possibly cure HIV and AIDS. However, the joy was short-lived after the claim became controversial. Ibeh disclosed that the herbal drug had undergone “series of successful tests” and had been positive. According to him, “We are at the threshold of making history, in the sense that we seem to have with us something that will permanently take care of what, over time, seemed to have defied all solutions. “We are talking about the latest discovery of an oral drug made from plants extraction in Nigeria for the possible cure of the pandemic HIV and AIDS virus”. He disclosed that research on the project started in 2010 and culminated in the development of “Deconcotion X (DX)– Liquid or Bioclean 11 for the cure of HIV and AIDS”. “The existing retroviral drugs are intervention drugs for the management of AIDS but our new discovery is a possible cure. We have tried to look at the product first; its toxicological analysis and discovered that it has a large safety margin. This means that if animals or human beings are exposed to it, they will not suffer any serious harm at all from the exposure. It also helped us to know the quantity we can conveniently give to animals and will feel secure that nothing untoward will happen. We have also done the bacteriological analysis on it, after which we looked at its effect on the virus and the result was quite revealing and refreshing.” Ibeh said that the drug had been exposed to series of medical examination both in Nigeria and in the USA, adding that the drug had performed well on patients with the HIV virus and had shown evidence of total restoration of damaged tissues. The Dean’s words: “The result showed an increase in the body weight of the individual administered with DX. The body weight was statistically significant when compared with the control group”. He pointed out that

For the avoidance of doubt, the said claim by Professor Ibeh is a research exercise which is still in its infancy and therefore ongoing

Prof Ibeh

Prof Iyawe further tests were being conducted to determine at what point will a patient become negative after being administered the drug, saying: “This verification is necessary because it is what is used to measure whether infection is still there or not. So we need to know the siro-convention time. But preliminary results showed that of the five latest patients orally administered with the drugs, our findings is that up to seven months , three of them were siro negative while two were sill faintly positive.” He therefore solicited the support of the Federal Government with a view to sustaining the research which he described as very successful. However, controversy started 24 hours later, when the Provost, College of Medical

Sciences, Prof. Vincent Iyawe, distanced the authorities of UNIBEN from the alleged breakthrough announced by Ibeh, saying it had not been verified.

he disagreement be tween the duo on the issue is a throw-back to the days of Dr Agbalaka of an Abuja hospital who claimed he had found cure for the HIV/ AIDS; that was in 2008. Iyawe, who spoke to journalists on the issue, said UNIBEN was unaware of the breakthrough, and would therefore not substantiate it until procedures for verifying it was concluded. The provost pointed out that there are procedures to be observed in such a situation before the school will allow its name to be associated with it. According to him, “The school

istry, we’ll take it for clinical trial, and many things we’ll have to do before we can announce that we discovered something; in fact, we actually have to take it to the World Health Organization; so these are the things we are discussing”. Asked whether Ibeh was unaware of such procedure before going public with the news of his breakthrough, Iyawe said, “I don’t know, he can answer that question, but we are not granting a press interview. I said that after we have finished we can still call in (press) you people. All we are doing is to protect him.” The provost, however, expressed uncertainty over time duration it could take the UNIBEN authorities to ascertain the veracity of Ibeh’s claim, saying, “It depends on what we are dealing with; it depends on the virus or bacteria you are dealing with; it can be years, it’s not something you expect an answer in two weeks or one month’s time. Don’t drag me into this”. Ibeh later came up with a state-

ment saying he was misrepresented on his HIV/AIDS cure claim. UNIBEN, also through a statement by its spokesman, Harrison Oransanye, maintained that the institution was unaware of the Dean’s claim and said the authorities will look at the matter very critically. Ibeh’s release stated, “My attention has been drawn to publications in our national dailies of January 9, with reference to our HIV/AIDS research findings. I wish to state clearly that the said publications were a misrepresentation of what actually transpired. The true position is that some observations of our research are preliminary and the research is still on-going. I am sorry for the embarrassment this has caused the University of Benin and professional colleagues, realizing that there are procedures of reporting such scientific results.” The university, in its statement, expressed embarrassment over the development. It read, “Authorities of the University of Benin wish to dissociate itself from the claim of the development of a drug that could cure HIV and AIDS by the Dean, School of Basic Medical Sciences of the University, Professor Isaiah Ibeh, as reported in the Internet and some national dailies of 9th January, 2013. As a reputable institution, well rooted in the promotion of research and development, the university considers the publicized claim an embarrassment, bearing in mind that there are laid down procedures for disseminating academic breakthroughs. Sadly, the procedure did not follow the laid down protocol in this circumstance. For the avoidance of doubt, the said claim by Professor Ibeh is a research exercise which is still in its infancy stage and therefore ongoing.” Sunday Vanguard learn that the UNIBEN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin, was not happy with the development because of the seeming negative image it created for the university which has enjoyed tremendous development and peaceful learning environment since he resumed office three years ago. It was learnt that Oshodin called for probe into the matter and warned against any action capable of tarnishing the image of the university.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 27

Footballer in trouble: ‘My wife wants to dump me after finishing my money’

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

rofessor Aigbogun Paul Erie is an Associate Professor, Dept of Agricul ture Economics and Extension Service, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma and also the National President, National Associat ion of Feder al Unity Secon dary Schools (NAPAFUSS). In this interview, he condemns the call for the scrapping of Unity Schools.. He also speaks on other challenges in the education sector. How has it been as President of NAPAFUSS NAPAFUSS is an acronym for National Parent Association of Federal Unity Secondary Schools. It is the parent body of all the PTAs in Unity Schools across the countr y. You know too that the PTA is an integral part of the school system . We have them in our secondary schools. We have 104 Unity Schools. When I came on board as the National President, there were some challenge s I met on groun d. The first was that, though the body already had a consti tution that had taken effect since April 12, 2012, the other challenge I met was the fate of the PTA- paid teachers. I discovered that PTA across the country was paying more than 2,000 teachers, and almost equal number of non-academic staff across these colleges. I didn’t find that as a good picture. So I said we were going to draw the attention of the Federal Government to it. At least, to reduce the burden of the wage bill on the PTA across the country. The mandate of PTAs is very simple. It is to complement efforts of government in the provision of physical infrastructure in the schools. So having to carry the burden of paying teachers was distracting them from that. And some now felt govern-

BY ADEOLA ADENUGA

Pr of es so r Aigbogun Paul Erie

‘We can’t do without Unity Schools’

ment should come in and pay its staff, while we concentrate on other things. That was the second challenge we had. There was a third one, which was the issue of interference in PTA affairs by principals and ministry officials, so I felt there was the need for the ministry and parents to find a common ground because no meaningful devel opmen t takes place without cordial and co-operative environment. I must tell you with all humility that we have gone far on all these three. There is a suggestion that Unity Schools be sold or transferred to state governments. Your body is not comfortable with this. Why? Yes! I will say that it is very disappointing and indeed strange that people in high places could suddenly forget the idea behind the establishment of Unity Schools. After the National Assembly, and perhaps the NYSC, the Unity Schools come in as a structure for socio-economic and political integration of the

is love has faded in me, I can’t live with a monster anymore, my body has scars all over as a result of his beatings”. With these emotional words, Mrs. Modupe Olubayo urged an Orile -Agege Grade ‘B’ Customary Court, Lagos, to dissolve her four -year-old marriage to Dehinde Olubayo, a professional footballer, on the grounds of threat to life and frequent beating. Olubayo denied the allegations. According to him, the wife wants to leave him after finishing his money. The 28-year-old woman, who lives at 33, Omidokun Street, Agbado, Lagos, told the court that her marriage to her husband was not peaceful. ”My husband doesn’t care for me and the children. He doesn’t give us money. Rather, he steals from the little I have”, she said. ”He is lazy and not ready to work. All he knows how to do is sleep, eat and derives pleasure in beating me. Olubayo talks anyhow to my mother and once fought her. Any time I ask for feeding allowance, he responds with slaps, and then beats me so hard.” The applicant told the court that she had made up her mind to dissolve the marriage. The mother of three asked the court for the custody of the children. The 39-year-old man, of 17, Kelani Street, OrileAgege, denied the allegations. “I am a professional footballer. I was in training for four months in Ghana when my wife threatened to kill herself if I did not come home”, Olubayo said. ”Because I love my wife, I terminated the contact I had with my club and came to Nigeria. She told me that she didn’t want me to leave her for a night, so I looked for another job but couldn’t find. I spent all the money I had on her and when the money finished, she refused to assist me in providing for the family. She nags a lot, talks too much and she is materialistic. If she wants to leave me, no problem, life goes on”. Court President, Mr Joseph Adewusi, adjourned the case for further hearing.

Continues on page 37

‘Guests’ kill host during party Continued from page 25 missioning, Kevin did not waste time in inviting everybody to “come, eat and drink whatever they wished”. The celebration turned sour when a group of young boys stormed the place at about 9pm and asked for a particular brand of beer. “As Kevin made to serve his supposed guests, the boys drew out their guns and started firing into the air and people ran for safety. The confusion created the right atmosphere for the hoodlums to act out their script”, a female villager said. According to the villager, who spoke on the grounds of C M Y K

anonymity, the hoodlums shot their victim in the legs before taking him away in their waiting Toyota Camry car. Nobody could confront the gangsters because the whole episode looked strange. “The entire village was shocked beyond description when they discovered the same night that the hoodlums further shot their victim in different parts of his body before dumping him in the premises of nearby Community Primary School, Akabor”, the woman recounted. Another villager told Sunday Vanguard that the community’s vigilant group mobilized and pursued the suspected assassins but only met the lifeless

body of Kevin in the primary school. “From the way the gory event played out, it is clear they were not kidnappers but assassins, who were possibly hired to execute the damnable act. The police was quickly alerted and they moved the corpse to a morgue”, the man said

here was another dis turbing angle to this tragedy, which the male villager narrated with grief. He alleged that Kevin had a heated disagreement with his wife, which culminated to sending the woman out of the family home, stressing that three days

after this incident, the assassins struck. Sunday Vanguard was equally told that after the misunderstanding between husband and wife, the latter allegedly secretly moved her things away from the house and was on the verge of evacuating all the equipment in her well furnished hair salon when people alerted her husband. This vital information, according to the villagers, stopped the woman from removing the properties. Nobody saw her again in the area, even after the assassins struck. Sunday Vanguard gathered that after the incident occurred, she was phoned and briefed on the

tragic event but she allegedly said she was in Lagos. Our correspondent heard as the villagers poured encomiums on the late Kevin. From the look on their faces, it was very clear that the villagers loved the deceased so much. “He was very friendly and favourably disposed to exercising the virtue of philanthropy. He is one human being that was mindful of his business, made friends and tried to maintain the relationship even in the face of odds”, a young lady said about the late Kevin. The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in Imo State Mr. Vitalis Onugu, confirmed the incident.

28—SUNDAY, Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013

Pomp as V anguard columnist’s daught er w eds Vanguard daughter weds

ear 2012 rounded off on a high and celebratory note for Vanguard’s woman columnist, Mrs Debbie Ogunjobi-Ojo when her daughter, Olayide Ibidapo, signed the dotted lines with her heart-throb, Oladeji Tolulope Adewunmi, son of Elder and Deaconess A.B.C. Adewunmi on December 29, 2012. The matrimonial vows were taken before Pastor Ben Akabueze at Redeemed Christian Church of God, The King’s Court, Victoria Island. It was a beautiful and emotional moment when father of the bride, Pastor Jide Ojo handed the hand of the bride to the officiating Pastor for the marriage rites to commence. Guests later had a sumptuous and refreshing timeout at the Manor, Lekki Phase 1, to toast off the gleeful couple into matrimony on a blissful note. Photos by Kehinde Gbadamosi

The groom,Mr Oladeji Adewunmi walking his bride, former Miss Olayide Ojo to the reception

Pastor and Mrs Jide Ojo, bride’s parents with the couple, Mr and Mrs Oladeji Adewunmi.

From Right; Mrs Jimoh Ayodele, Mr A.O. Ayoola, Prof John Ojo, and Mrs O..A Ojo

From Left; Dr Bolaji Famakinwa, Mrs Lara Famakinwa, Dr D.O LambertAikhionbare, and Mrs Jumoke LambertAikhionbare

Tosin and Da vid David

he Igbogbo area of Ikorodu was agog when the family of Ogunlewe gave out their daughter, Fehintola Oluwatosin to Olaoye David Akintunde in a Holy matrimony. The church wedding which took place at United African Methodist Church, UAMC, Eleja Igbogbo branch, attracted various sons of the land including Lagos State Head of Service Segun Ogunlewe and former Minister for works Seye Ogunlewe.

Elder and Deaconess Amos Baajide Adewunmi, groom’s parents, with the couple, Mr and Mrs Oladeji Adewunmi

Christening

HE christening ceremony of baby Odunayo Akorede Emmanuel Ajibulu, son of Mr and Mrs Emmanuel Ajibulu on December 29, 2012 at Anthony, Lagos.Ajibulu is legislative aide to Hon. Joseph Akinlaja.

Pastor Wole Oshinupebi, Area Pastor, Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Morning Star Parish, Anthony, Lagos (3rd from right) with his officiating team and Mr & Mrs Emmanuel Ajibulu (middle) carrying their son, Odunayo Akorede during the naming ceremony. C M Y

From Left; the couple; Mr and Mrs Oladeji Adewunmi with Pastor Ben Akabueze

Dedication

he naming and dedication of Master Phillip Ebruba Morrison Umukokoro, son of Captain Ochuko Morrison Umukoro took place in Lagos.

Ven. John Agboro (left) and Mrs Helen Umukoro

The couple, Mr and Mrs David Akintunde signing the dotted lines

L-R; Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Ogunnowo, Prince Folagbadebo Ogunlewe (bride's parents) and Pastor and Mrs Olaoye Adewole (groom's parents

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013 —29

When Mama Harold-Sodipe celebrated 90

Chief (Mrs) Olamide Harold Shodipo, celebrant, cutting her birthday cake, flanked by HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos (left) and Children and grandchildren

L-R: Olori Ladun Sijuade, daughter of the celebrant, Chief (Mrs) Olamide Harold Shodipo, celebrant and HRM Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse ll, Ooni of Ife

hief (Mrs) Olamide Harold-Sodipe, mother of Olori Ladun Sijuawade, wife of the Imperial ruler of the Source, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse ll, Ooni of Ife celebrated her 90th birthday in December of last year. As expected, the event was a splendid occasion of royal splendour, panache and class of the highest order. The galaxy of stars on display includes royal fathers, politicians, captains of industry, government functionaries and of course, First Ladies of various States who came to felicitate with Mama and the Olori of the Source.

L-R:Chief (Mrs) Kuforiji-Olubi, Chief (Mrs) Olamide Harold Shodipo, celebrant, HRM Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse ll, Ooni of Ife and others

Lewu Day celebration

ons and daughters of Odolewu, Ogun State came together from their various destinations to congregate at the town’s centre in December of last year for the annual Lewu Day celebration. Many dignitaries graced the festival-like event.

R-L: Chief (Mrs) Kuforiji-Olubi, Dame Abimbola Fashola of Lagos State; Olori Ladun Sijuwade, daughter of the celebrant; Mrs Funke Amosun of Ogun State and others guests

Grand burial of Oviri in Ughelli

hen late Chief A.M. Oviri was laid to rest last weekend at Okwagbe, Ughelli South LGA., Delta state, the occasion turned out to be a convention of sort for the State’s movers and shakers, who put activities heralding the New Year on hold just to pay their last respect. Photos by Akpokona Omaifure

L-R: the Aladeken of Oke-Ako, Ijebu, HRM Oba Adenola Osunsami, addressing guests while Senator Anthony Adefuye and LtGen. Oladipo Diya (Rtd). look on.

L-R: Senator and Mrs Femi Okurounmu with Mr Aramide Tola Noibi

L-R:Chief Okiemute Oviri and Hon. & Mrs. Anthony Amritaye

L-R:Hon. Edoja Akpodiete, Chief Patrick Okitiakpe and Senator Pius Ewherido

L-R:Chief Dr. A. Ideh, (Left) Chief Thompson Ovie Apah, (Middle) and Chief Bernard Jamaho

L-R:Mr. Festus Utuama, (Left), Chief Andrew Orugbo, (middle) Chief Godspower Muemuifo

L-R: the former and present Lewu Day Queens

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SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013,PAGE 31

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PAGE 32—SUNDAY VANGUARD,JANUARY 13, 2013

Email: woman.vista@yahoo.co.uk

Re: Dating? Show some class View-Point O UR readers didn’t disappoint. We expected an influx of reac tions on the piece with the above title, and this was what happened. And why not? Going on dates with members of the opposite sex is very important, because it’s an avenue to study and understand your love interest at close range. You meet, or get introduced to, this fantastic-looking human being, who’s also a high-flier in achievements and position, who talks posh and seems the ideal person to be seen with. You’re awed and smitten as you run the person’s image through your fevered ‘love-struck’ mind. You think you’ve struck gold. You can’t wait for that first date. You get ready with care and hope you’re looking your best. At the back of your mind, there’s an invisible score-card. First of all is punctuality. Did the person keep to time? Next comes appearance. Has the person turned out clean and tidily-dressed to your taste? Next is demeanour. Polite and polished in the way he/she addresses you and those around, or portrays a loud-mouthed attention-seeking person? As the afternoon or evening wears on, you’re silently scoring other things too; what he/she orders; the way he/she sits, eats or drinks, etc. Of course we all strive to be on our best behaviour while out on a date, but it’s impossible not to slip at a point, and reveal our true nature. After several dates, you should have a fairly good idea of who you’re dealing with, if you’re heading in the same direction, and if the relationship will lead to a union. Well, this all depends on what you want to get from the relationship. If you’re out for a good time only, and not a union, you may not bother yourself with a score-card of any sort, because you know you’re going to jump ship at a point and go for someone who meets your expectations on most fronts. Still, it’s important for you to show some class yourself, because, male or female, one day you’ll be a parent and have the huge task of raising responsible human beings with integrity, selfrespect and good character. So, the earlier we imbibe these ourselves, and look out for them while dating, the better. Thus you would avoid those ‘nasty surprises’ which rear their heads after you’ve tied the knot, which inwardly make you go, ‘Oh! I didn’t know he/ she is like this! Oh my God! What have I have got myself into? Help me somebody!’ You may then have to calm down, and accept and adjust to your ‘discovery’, if it’s bearable. Ideally, it’s best to find out what you could be in for, by ‘shining your eyes’ while dating. Many of our readers who sent in mail on my write-up, condemned the man for saying he wouldn’t pay for the meal his date ordered when he had taken her out for drinks only. A few condemned the lady for doing so, but said her reaction to what her boyfriend told her was too drastic for a loving relationship. “Ma, if that man knew that he didn’t have enough money on him to cover drinks and meals, he shouldn’t have taken his girlfriend out to celebrate her birthday. He should have sent her a lovely present with a nice card instead. Telling her outright that he wouldn’t pay for the meal she had ordered in his absence didn’t show he had any respect

Helen Ovbiagele Woman Editor

It’s important for you to show some class yourself, because, male or female, one day you’ll be a parent and have the huge task of raising responsible human beings with integrity, self-respect and good character for her. How much would the fried rice she ordered have cost that he reacted like that? What a shame on his part! Thanks Prudence, Lagos. ” “If I were that girl, madam, I wouldn’t end the relationship there and then, especially if I love him. I would tell him to pipe down, and that I would pay for the meal I ordered while he was away from the table. I would ask him if he would like me to buy him some fried rice too. My offer would make him ashamed, and could lead to an apology, and perhaps an explanation about his offensive reaction. Maybe he didn’t have enough money on him that day. I would continue to study him quietly. If stinginess is very much a part of his nature, and not a lack of money, I would ditch him later. Two wrongs don’t make a right, as the girl herself was wrong to have ordered the plate of food without asking politely first if she could, but the issue of food shouldn’t have ended the relationship. That seems a bit crude. Ayomide, Ibadan.” “A girl has no future with a man who could behave in such a mean way while out in public. That angry reaction when he was the one who invited his girlfriend out for drinks to celebrate her birthday, was rude and totally unacceptable. He should have shown more maturity and finesse. The girlfriend was right to end the relationship right there. - Pam, Lekki, Lagos.”

“Ma, I know some of your readers out there would condemn me for this my view, but that lady acted disgracefully, I must say. Even if she were really starving, she would comport herself like a lady and not order for food, especially while her host was away from the table. A well-mannered lady wouldn’t behave like that, whether she thinks the boyfriend can afford that meal or not. She should have allowed him to return to the table, and then she would ask if she could order a meal, since she hadn’t eaten all day. It would be left to him to say ‘ yes’ or ‘no’. Personally, if I were a lady, I wouldn’t tell my boyfriend that I’m hungry, unless he asks me. Our girls have to learn good etiquette, if they want respect from the men. - Thanks, Richard, Port Harcourt.” “Auntie, don’t you think it’s important to include etiquette on the curriculum at all levels of educational institutions in Nigeria? I’m married and only in my late thirties, but the way my parents raised me and our siblings, if I were still single, I wouldn’t dare tell a boyfriend I’m hungry for any reason, unless he asks me while we’re on a date. And if he does, I’m most likely to decline his offer to buy me a meal, even though I may be very hungry. Reason? Mum said we (both sons and daughters) shouldn’t behave like a glutton and accept food outside the home. It was when my husband and I had

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become officially engaged that we began to dine out together. He told me jokingly then that I was old-fashioned that way, but that he respected me for that discipline, and that we must raise our children that way. A lady out on a date shouldn’t order food anyhow when she isn’t paying. Her date may not have enough money on him to pay. Not all men carry wads of naira around with them. - Elfreda, Lagos. ” “Both man and lady were at fault, ma. The lady shouldn’t have ordered food just like that, in the first place, when the man had specifically told her that he was taking her out for drinks. Maybe she wasn’t exposed enough to know the difference. All the same, she should have asked first, if she felt comfortable with the guy enough to do that. The guy, on his part, should have hidden his ‘shock’ well, when he found that his date had included fried rice in his absence. I’m sure he didn’t have enough money on him to cover that. If that was the case, he certainly found himself in a tight corner. I accept your suggestion that he could have politely asked her to lend him some money until the next day, to pay for the food, as he didn’t have enough on him on the spot. To tell her angrily that he wasn’t paying for that, was disrespectful, even though the lady was the one who brought on the unpleasant situation. Thanks, ma. J.O., Agege, Lagos.” We thank all those who sent in their views.

INDIAN-FASHION-SAREE-TRENDS tattoodonkey.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 33

Email: woman.vista@yahoo.co.uk

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My album ‘Reborn’ is designed to point people to God!—Affiong Odebode ing people towards heaven. Singing was something that came naturally. It was not hard work. I love hymns and one of my favourite hymns is derived from Psalms 24. I also got inspiration from dreams and that was happening over a period of time. Once I got an inspiration from a dream, I would quickly write down the song and rehearse it over and over again and that was how it continued. My mother used to be a singer too and so it was a natural gift. Is any of your children committed to singing? My son plays the piano and drums with his band whenever he is less busy. My two daughters are part of my back-up vocals. I take my children along with me because they are part of the ministry. And whenever their education permits them, they help me. One of my daughters plays the trumpet while the other plays the piano and both of them sing beautifully.

Affiong Odebode....God is a good provider.He provided all that we needed for our education but we didn’t have a life of luxury.

Your childhood? We lost our parents at an early age. But what saw us through were the values and morals that were instilled in us. We were able to stick to those values. What also helped us was the fact that the older ones set a good example. We worked hard and got good jobs and stayed on that straight way. We didn’t have our parents with us for long, but we were guided through life by what we had imbibed from them while they were alive. How old were you when you lost your parents? I was eight years old when I lost my father and 12 years old when I lost my mother. What challenges did you often face in your upbringing? The number one challenge was money.

BY EBUN SESSOU Affiong Odebode is a seasoned banker who worked for 14 years at the International Merchant Bank, IMB. She was born into the family of Mfon, in Cross River State. Her father, late Asuquo Ima Mfon was an engineer with the Nigerian Ports Authority while her mother, late Amah Evelyn Mfon, nee Dadzie, was a Ghanaian and Cameroonian. She was a nurse at Lagos State General Hospital. Mrs. Odebode, the last child in a family of five, grew up in the Surulere area of Lagos State. She lost her parents at a tender age but she didn’t give up in life. She pursued her dreams with determination. She had a good education and later got a job in the bank where she also met the love of her life. She runs a hospitality firm, Soteria Parkview Hotel, in Lagos. Today, she shares her experience and how she came up with her first album, “Reborn” a gospel song which she said was fashioned out to direct people to God. Enjoy! What informed your passion for music? USIC has always been part of my life. I was in the choir as a student in Queen’s College, and during my Univer-

Once I got an inspiration from a dream, I would quickly write down the song and rehearse it over and over again and that was how it continued sity days, my sisters and I were part of late Steve Rhodes’ Voices. We joined the band and we traveled around the world with it. I’ve been singing at various functions and over the years, friends and families advised me to produce an album and by the grace of God, I was able to come up with my first album, “Reborn”. For me, it was not about popularity or fame. A lot of people do not know the reason why they do some things. Our motive should be promoting the gospel, talking about Christ and direct-

But God is a good provider. He provided all that we needed for our education but we didn’t have a life of luxury.We had all we needed. There was no space for wants, but our needs were taken care of. We could not satisfy our wants because there was no time for it but we certainly had everything we needed. Public schools were still the best in those days and so, we all had good education and did not allow that opportunity to pass us by. We realised that there was nobody to turn to and the fact that we needed to

sort our lives out became necessary for us to provide for the future. Being the youngest, I was able to emulate the older ones who also set a good example and none of them derailed. And that example gave me a lead. The first time you got your job, how did you feel? It was a very good experience. The work ethics was inculcated in us unlike what obtains today. People want to earn fat salaries without actually earning them. And that is what has changed in the system. In my time, it was hard-work with less money. People were interested in learning the rudiments of the work and to deliver high standard. Earning my first salary was a step to my independent life. I could afford things for myself and help anyone around me who needed help. It was a good feeling. I didn’t experience any problem in the bank where I worked. We were all raised with the right values and those values were important to us. I am the last born in the family of five. Three of my siblings have passed on but I have a brother. Can you share the experience? The loss of my three siblings was painful to the point that it almost destabilised me. But I am happy that they were born again Christians before they died. And I believe that we shall meet again. How did you meet your husband? I met him in the same bank where I worked, though we were not in the same department. IMB had a very good working environment and people genuinely cared about other people. Although we worked very hard, yet people were able to blend that with their leisures. For me, meeting people in different social gatherings including office, church and family members, friends, clubbing environment was key to a balanced life. No one could tell who was going to be very important in life. The first time he proposed to you? We started as friends and somewhere along the line, it was obvious that he wanted to cement the relationship. And so, we progressed gradually and became one. How did you feel marrying a Yoruba man? The Nigeria that I grew up in didn’t discriminate then, and so, it was easy for me to choose my husband. We were not bothered about ethnicity and therefore, marrying from other parts of Nigeria was not difficult. Nevertheless, I grew up in Lagos and I am used to the Yoruba culture. Life as a full-time housewife? I became a full-time housewife when I left the bank. At that time, I had to adjust to a new type of life. It was difficult because I was used to the rising early to go to work. But I adjusted and I thank God that I was able to use the opportunity to care for my children. Being a parent and moulding another person’s life and making sure that they fulfill their purpose in life were my major concern. Your regrets I would have been on top of my career if I had not left the banking industry. But I am happy that I was able to impact the lives of my children. There are times and seasons in one’s life. But the only season that never changed in my life was singing. I started singing as a child and I am still singing.

PAGE 34—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013

The new ATM regime bank customers are unaware of BY

STORIES CLEMENT

UDEME

PPARENTLY, the banking public in the country is not benefiting fully from the initiative by the Bankers Committee in the last quarter of 2012 fiscal year on the abolition of N100 charge per Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transaction. Sunday Vanguard learnt that while the deposit banks are now fully complying with the new directive restricting them from inter-bank ATM charge, customers are yet to key into the new dispensation. For instance, when Sunday Vanguard visited some commercial banks in Lagos, customers were seen in long queues waiting to use ATMs in the more popular banks, while other banks had no customers. It was also observed that most depositors found on queues at the more popular banks were not willing to visit other banks for fear of paying the N100 charge, notwithstanding the fact that the ATM charge had been abolished since last year. At First Bank branches located in Ojodu Berger, Acme Road Ogba, Olowo Street Ikeja, Egbeda and University of Lagos , Akoka, customers were seen in long queues waiting to use the ATMs. The same thing applied at Zenith Bank branches, Guaranty Trust Bank, Skye Bank, Access Bank, Eco Bank, Fidelity Bank Nigeria, Diamond Bank and United Bank for Africa at various locations in Lagos. Citibank, Enterprise Bank Limited (formerly Spring Bank), First City Monument Bank, Keystone Bank Limited (formerly Bank PHB), Mainstreet Bank Limited (formerly Afribank), Stanbic IBTC and Union Bank of Nigeria (now owned by African Capital Alliance Consortium) had just few ATM using customers. Some experts, who spoke with our correspondent, explained that about 70 per cent of depositors in the country are not using the services of inter-bank ATM despite the fact banks are no longer charging N100 for transactions. Others attributed the attitude of customers to lack of adequate enlightenment, calling on the CBN and the Bankers Committee to create awareness and encourage depositors on inter-bank ATM services, in order to strike a balance in the system to ease pressure on the more popular

Currently, when you use the ATM for a bank other than your bank, there is a charge of N100, which is borne by the account holder. We will work out the modalities to ensure that with immediate effect, we will pass on these costs to the respective banks

ATM in one of the banks banks. Mrs. Arit Umoh Ibok, a lawyer with one of the law firms in Lagos, who spoke with Sunday Vanguard at Keystone Bank branch at Adeola Odeku, said, “The major problem now is lack of awareness because the people are not well informed about this development. The reason is that when the new policy on

the removal of N100 ATM charge was introduced, banks did not implement it immediately. For instance, the same week the announcement was made, I did a transaction at the Zenith Bank ATM located at Murtala Mohammed Airport , Terminal 2 (MMA2), and N100 was removed from my account. So, now that banks are beginning to comply with

this directive, there is the need for the appropriate authorities to enlighten the masses”. Some financial analysts stressed the need for the apex bank to ensure a balance in the financial system, saying that, before the reforms, over 60 per cent deposits were concentrated in few banks, while most banks had nothing doing.

The CBN and Bankers Committee had, in November 2012, agreed to abolish all charges associated with the use of ATMs in the country. The initiative was to increase patronage of ATMs, thus deepening the financial inclusion strategy of the apex bank. The policy was introduced after a meeting between the Committee, made up of chief executive officers of commercial banks, directors and top officials of the CBN. At the end of the meeting, the Director, Banking Supervision Department, CBN, Mrs. Agnes Martins, in company of the Group Managing Director, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Emeka Emuwa, Group Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya and Managing Director, Keystone Bank Limited, Dr. Shehu Muhammed, explained that the decision came in the nick of time for banks to give something back to their customers. Onasanya said, “We have decided to stop charges for usage of ATMs. Currently, when you use the ATM for a bank other than your bank, there is a charge of N100, which is borne by the account holder. We will work out the modalities to ensure that with immediate effect, we will pass on these costs to the respective banks. We will bear the cost of providing these services, so that no matter where you are withdrawing your money from, you will not be subjected to any charge for using the ATMs.”

2012: How customs command generated N77bn

HE Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Area 11 Command, Onne, Port Harcourt recorded revenue generation of over N77.5billion in 2012. The Command generated N44.4billion for the Federation Account while N33.1 billion went into nonFederation Account. The Command made an impressive record in June with revenue generation of N7.3billion. Also, in December alone, the Command raked in over N11.8bilion, being the highest revenue generation in the history of the Onne Customs Command. In a telephone chat with Sunday Vanguard, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Comptroller Mohammed Magaji, explained, “We recorded 17 seizures, which include eight 40footer containers and nine 20footer containers. The total value is over N147.2million, total duty is N29.7million and the total duty paid value is N176.9million. The seizures include mutilated rags, garments, second hand

clothes, soy bean oil, two stroke engine generating sets, men under-wears, motor spare parts, furniture, boxes, cases for conveyance of musical instruments and pirated books.” He went on, “We are making a continuous effort to ensure realisation of revenue target and enforcement of the Federal Government fiscal policies, facilitation of trades through single window scheme and achieving 48 hours clearance of cargo in the ports, in line with Customs management drive for best practice in all sphere of our operations. The Command has attained an enviable height in the area of revenue generation. “For instance, our Command operates within Onne Oil and Gas free Zone, which has assumed the status of the largest growing dedicated oil and gas free zone in the world. The zone can also be described as the largest oil and gas free zone transit and supply base in the world and also the largest oil and gas free zone service centre in the world. The

zone is designed to act as a distribution hub for the West African sub-region for general and container shipping services. Onne was established as a tax-free centre for processing, manufacturing and assemblage of goods to encourage acquisition of skills, transfer of technology, local content participation,

enhanced foreign exchange earnings and backward integration to the host economy. The zone has attracted major oil field operators who recognised the advantages and the tax benefits associated with this unique facility. At present, over 150 companies operate within the zone.”

From left: Chief (Mrs) Olutoyin Olakunri,out-going chairman, Mr Kayode Sunmola of Rosewater Partners,Company’s secretary, Mrs Susan Aronke Omame, director, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, new chairman and a representative of First Registrars Limited at the Annual General Meeting of FAMAD held at the Eko Tourist Beach Resort, Akodo, Lagos.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 35

.15,000bpd Is Collateral .Subsidy not working,Tam David West insists STORIES KALEJAYE

KUNLE

ORMER Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David West, seems to have given up on the country ’s subsidy palaver. The removal of the subsidy of petrol by President Goodluck Jonathan on January 1, 2012 led to nation-wide protests that lasted several days with support from labour unions and civil society organisations. To cushion the pains of the removal of subsidy, the Federal Government initiated a palliative, Subsidy Reinvestment Program (SURE-P).

When contacted by Sunday Vanguard to comment on the $1.5 billion borrowed by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to finance fuel importation, the former minister ’s response was negative. “I’m tired of talking about subsidy. Have I not talked enough about subsidy? Petrol still sells for N110 and the government has done nothing about it. I think I have talked enough about subsidy,”David West said. The NNPC was said to have obtained a $1.5 billion syndicated loan to pay debts to international fuel traders last week. According to a senior banking official with knowledge of the transaction, the deal was struck at the end of last year and is seen as crucial to easing the burden on big commodity traders facing the prospect of painful multimillion dollar write-offs. The loan, provided by several Nigerian and international banks and brokered by Standard Chartered, will be paid back over five and a half years. The NNPC has put up 15,000 barrels per day of its oil production as collateral, the banking source said. Standard Chartered and the NNPC declined requests for official comment. NNPC, Africa’s top oil producer, is said to owe major commodity trading houses, including Glencore and Mercuria, around $3.5 billion in unpaid fuel supply bills, according to a report last year commissioned by the Nigerian oil ministry. Nigeria,an OPEC member, is among the world’s top 10 crude oil exporters, but has insufficient refining capacity to meet its domestic fuel needs and is heavily reliant on imports, on which it pays costly subsidies to keep a lid on retail petrol prices.

Deziani Alison-Madueke President Goodluck Jonathan attempted to end fuel subsidies in Nigeria a year ago but backed down after it sparked wide-spread protests against higher fuel costs. Decades of mismanagement and corruption have left NNPC heavily indebted, several audits have shown. A list of creditors published

Okonjo-Iweala in an oil report earlier this year showed there were 35 firms still being owed. Trading companies have been battling for months to recoup the money and some have since stopped supplying Nigeria with fuels. But they have mostly remained in the west African country partly because of huge opportunities

How Nigeria raised $1.5b to finance fuel subsidy

partner firms. For example, Bermuda corporate registration documents showed that Calson, owed $115.11 million by NNPC, was using Vitol’s

I’m tired of talking about subsidy. Have I not talked enough about subsidy? Petrol still sells for N110 and the government has done nothing about it. I think I have talked enough about subsidy

Prof. Tam David West in the upstream sector. The list showed that Glencore was owed $138 million, Vitol was owed $198 million and Trafigura was owed $53 million.In reality, debts for some individual trading companies are widely thought to be much higher due to exposure via subsidiaries and

Geneva address. Similarly, Napoil, owed $75.6 million, is a partner of Trafigura, its website showed. No matter. Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke has been able to streamline operations of importers while also instituting a fresh and prudent regime of subsidy funds management.

2013:Power firm targets completion of 4,264MW gas turbine projects

IGER Delta Power Holding Company Limited (HDPHC), handler of National Integrated Power Projects(NIPP), has indicated strong commitment to complete all gas turbine projects that will add 4,264megawatts to the national grid this year. The 4,264MW is expected to boost power supply in the country in line with President Goodluck Jonathan reform agenda in the power sector. NDPHC also plans to follow the outstanding combined cycle for Alaoji power plant which is expected to add 510MW. Other projects lined up for follow up and completion by the company include transmission projects 2,194Km 330KV lines & 5,640MVA 330/132KV SS and 809Km 132KV lines and 3.433MVA 132/33KV SS. Speaking in Lagos to stake holders in the power sector, Managing Director of the company, Mr. James Olotu, said the company also plans to follow up the completion of distribution projects – 3,540MVA plus 2,600Km and 1,700Km at 11KV and 33KV lines respectively. The NDPHC boss expressed confidence that the company would complete gas projects and conclude all Gas Sales Aggregator Agreements (GSAA) and Gas Transmission Agreements (GTA).

Meanwhile, NDPHC hopes to receive and commence the implementation of the Transaction Adviser ’s recommendation when approved by the Board. The objective of the Transaction Adviser ’s is to design a robust framework that will tally with NDPHC board

approval and Nigeria Electricity Commission’s (NEC) decision to involve the private sector in the operation and eventual ownership of the power stations in order to ensure that they are managed in accordance with best international business practices and transfer of

transmission and distribution assets, upon completion to TCN and the host Discos respectively. The Transaction Adviser’s is also meant to transfer gas infrastructure built by NDPHC as applicable and to determine equitable transfer cost for each of the projects.

...As Lagos plan to boost power supply BY EBUN SESSOU

EMBER of the Lagos State of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture Cooperatives and Rural Development, Hon. Ibrahim Layode,says the state government will provide 140 transformers to boost power supply in the state. Layode disclosed this during his visit with the Ministry of Rural Development to the “Elsewedy Electric Company”, Ibereko, Badagry. According to him, the distribution of the transformers would commence this month, adding that all the communities in the state would benefit from the gesture. He added that the state government was committed to improving power supply to the people. Explaining how the

transformers will be distributed, he said, each member of the State Assembly would be given three for onward delivery to their

constituencies. He however appealed to residents of the state to ensure adequate protection of the transformers from vandals.

Oil slips, Brent’s premium to U.S narrowest since Sept

RENT crude oil prices slipped toward $111 a barrel on Monday while the U.S. futures contract held firm, narrowing the spread between the two benchmarks to the lowest level since September as traders eyed the anticipated start-up of a Midwest pipeline. The Seaway Pipeline expansion project, which will increase the amount of crude oil flowing from the bottlenecked midcontinent market around Cushing, Oklahoma, to premium-priced refiners on the Gulf Coast, was due to be completed by Friday,

the companies involved said. The pipeline’s expansion to 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) from 150,000 bpd should help reduce the crude oil glut around Cushing - delivery point of the U.S. benchmark futures contract - created by rapid increases in U.S. and Canadian production over the past three years. In London, the Brent crude oil contract slipped 33 cents to $110.98 a barrel by 12:10 p.m. EST (1710 GMT), and traded between a high of $111.54 a barrel and a low of $110.54 a barrel on the day.

PAGE 36—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013 BY DANIEL ALABRAH

‘Amnesty is improving Nigeria’s business climate’ *The imperative for a broader view

President Goodluck Jonathan stabilization programme and, so far, the Hon. Kingsley Kuku-led PAP has achieved this objective and consolidating on it daily. But not done yet, its columnist, Sabella Abidde, accentuated the contradictions a few days later in a piece under the headline: “Has the amnesty programme gone awry?”, which was published on the back page on Wednesday, January 9, 2013. Abidde’s postulations were even more curious and they tended to conflict with the newspaper ’s position. In one breath, he admits that the programme has been good for the region. By his own admission, he says one of the reasons the region is calm is that many of the men and women, who otherwise would have been engaged in the conflict, signed off on the amnesty programme. “In this and other regards, therefore, the programme has been good for the region.” But in another quick breath, he says nothing has changed in the region and calls for the abrogation of the programme. Rather than keep track with his argument, he makes an unusual somersault and requests the paper’s editorial board to lay the blame for the decadeslong problems of the region on President Jonathan. What an overgeneralisation! Abidde’s ‘doomsday predictions’ even raised more questions and one begins to wonder what interest it would serve if the Niger Delta regresses again into conflict and armed struggle. He wrote: “Now, because the Niger Delta has been calm for 40 months, a majority of

WICE in seven days during the past week, the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) was the ‘talking point’ on the editorial commentary of a national newspaper in Nigeria. The newspaper ’s editorial of Wednesday, January 2, 2013, under the headline: “The never-ending amnesty programme” noted the positive impact of the PAP on the Niger Delta, the spiral in crude oil production and, by extension, its multiplier effect on the oil-reliant Nigerian economy. “The amnesty programme, since its introduction (in 2009), has proved to be the panacea for peace in the hitherto restive oil-rich Niger Delta region of the country. This has paved the way for oil companies to resume normal business activities and provided the necessary boost to the oil-reliant Nigerian economy. Now, oil output has increased from slightly less than one million barrels per day in 2008 to between 2.4 and 2.6m bpd. To that extent, it will be safe to term the programme a success,” it noted. The newspaper ’s grouse, however, was the perceived absence of a timeline on when the programme will wind down just as it expressed concern that funds appropriated for the programme could be abused. To be sure, the editorial comment was not an indictment of the programme. As it is, the newspaper was just maintaining a tradition of the media being the watchdog of society and holding the government and its agencies accountable. But it appears to miss the point in jumping to the hasty conclusion of trying to hurry the government to wind up a programme that it (the newspaper) admitted is a success. Assuming the programme is to last for five years (as it claimed), has it exceeded this timeline? The amnesty programme is barely three years and the implementation of its real mandate of training and re-integrating the former Niger Delta combatants commenced only two years ago. So, why the haste? Besides, the federal government has not said the amnesty programme is interminable regardless of the recent approval by President Goodluck Jonathan of the inclusion of an additional 3,642 former agitators in the programme. Neither has it said it is the solution to the numerous challenges the Niger Delta is facing. The government made it clear from the onset that it is a security

Kingsley Kuku

Investors are being drawn back to the region while crude output has more than tripled to pre-amnesty levels

Nigerians seem to think that all is well with the region. It is not! There are those who think of the conflict as something that belongs in the past and as something that will never happen again. They are mistaken! In essence, nothing has changed: nothing has changed in any meaningful and long-lasting ways since the amnesty programme came into effect in 2009. What we have – what we now have in the Niger Delta – is false peace, false hope and a deceitful calm. This is a region waiting to explode. Again.” Perhaps, Abidde is not happy that the Niger Delta has been calm for 40 months. So, he would prefer to remain in his cozy home in the United States of America while his own brothers, sisters and family members are killed daily in the region. What is clear is that a few editorial writers and columnists have yet to come to terms with the broad scope of the amnesty deal in the Niger Delta. Stuck with the mindset of the past that limited the challenges of the region and the attendant militancy of its youths to a one-off strategy, they failed to link the solution to dynamic and long-haul interventions stretching far beyond our immediate age and deep into the future.

The point to note is that addressing the Niger Delta issue requires far more than a concern with today ’s headache and the grandstanding by some. The Niger Delta challenge is a nasty thrust from the past that has lived with us for several decades, multiplying its venomous fangs and acquiring a dynamism that nobody could tame until the Amnesty Proclamation came along. But, is it possible to rein-in this in two, three or four years? In a word, is it possible to squelch the

monster overnight, even if, as we have had it, amnesty has proved it is the right antidote to it with its roaring success so far? The programme has overcome the initial formidable stages of disarming and demobilizing the restive youths, earning Nigeria a mention in the history books as one of the few countries in the world that achieved a successful closure to those phases after experiencing the trauma of conflict. The narrative does not end there, because the crisis comes with its own in-rolling dynamism that must be addressed stage by stage. The crucial phase is to reintegrate those you have convinced to abandon the lifestyle of violence in the society. So far, the Amnesty Office has succeeded in weaving this into the Transformation Agenda of Mr President, by kitting the ex-agitators with skills and education to make them useful to society. About 13,000 of these hitherto anti-social elements have already been trained and are being absorbed into society for useful service to their country. Consensus about the unparalleled success and peace in the Niger Delta is both local and global. Investors are being drawn back to the region while crude output has more than tri-

pled to pre-amnesty levels. Recently, the United States dispatched a ranking official, Cynthia Akuetteh, to Nigeria to acknowledge “the momentum of the 2009 amnesty programme in order to secure lasting peace in the Delta.” She spoke of the U.S. government’s desire to “help the region fulfil its potential” now that the area is stable and peaceful. But isn’t it disturbing how some critics have wearied themselves over what they consider to be the financial cost of earning and sustaining the peace in the region? Aren’t they more worried that we were losing far more than what we are spending in keeping the peace? Aren’t they pondering the tragic consequences of hastily winding down the programme and in effect give way to a return to the past? In 2009, the federal government budgeted N400 billion for security because of the situation in the Niger Delta. There was a general outcry, particularly in the region, as the impression it created was that the government was going to acquire more sophisticated weaponry to quell the ‘uprising’ at the time and there could be collateral damage to the region. The fact is that the amnesty programme, which has engendered the peace the region now enjoys, has not gulped even half of that amount since inception. For those who do not know, amnesty is beyond today. It is about retrieving lost citizens, putting them back into profitable use and monitoring their development and growth. Like education, it exacts investment and patience, and anyone who scorns it does so at his own peril! · Alabrah is Head of Media and Communications, Presidential Amnesty Office, Abuja.

Terminal operators to face under-utilisation challenge in 2013 BY UDEME CLEMENT

IGERIA is a big economy and there is great potential for growth but the low volume experienced since the second half of 2012 fiscal year may continue into the first quarter of the year. Apart from low volume of container import, container terminal operators may also face challenges of over-capacity and underutilisation.” The Managing Director, APM Terminals Apapa, Mr. Dallas Hampton, said this, stressing that the

container volumes in recorded a Lagos marginal increase of about three percent in 2012 as against an increase of 25 percent recorded in 2011. “We projected 700,000 TEUs in 2012 but we handled only 650,000 TEUs only a slight increase above the 2011 figure of 628,000 TEUs. The terminal now runs more efficiently than ever before with no significant waiting time for vessels to berth. We have not had any significant waiting time for vessels for the last 9 months and vessels are able to berth at the terminal shortly after

arrival at the port. We are also seeing a reduction in imported container dwell time due to a number of reasons, not least of which are the company’s improved systems for positioning of containers for scanning although the sheer quantity of containers requested by Nigerian Customs for physical inspection remains a challenge,” Hampton added. “APM Terminals recently introduced a new enhancement for customers who are able to accurately nominate their containers for x-ray scanning prior to Customs confirmation.

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 37

BY ABEL DANIEL, Lafia

asarawa State, the home of solid min erals, used to be one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria where people from various tribes have lived together, inter-married, and shared beliefs and customs. However, recent events have proved that the state has sadly joined the league of states with records of communal violence. Apart from the persistent clashes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in the Southern Senatorial District resulting to wanton destruction of lives and properties worth billions of naira, the state recorded deadly ethnic clashes in Assakio in Lafia local government area and Agyaragu in Jenkwe development area of Obi local government. The incidents occurred in June and November,

Communal clashes tear Nasarawa apart

*No peace inspite of soldiers deployment

2012 respectively. The Assakio violence came when the Eggon ethnic group and their Alago counterparts who had lived together for years launched attacks on each other leading to destruction of property including the palace of the paramount ruler of Assakio. The incident was not unconnected with the alleged marginalization of the Eggons by their Alago counterparts who are said to be the original owners of the land, an allegation the Alago Cultural and Development Association described as unfounded. Investigations revealed that before the mayhem, the Eggon Cultural and Development Association, through its legal representative, Barr. S.A Ayiwulu, petitioned the paramount ruler of Assakio, Osula Inarigu, alleging

illegal and unlawful seizure of farm lands as well as appropriation of food crops belonging to his clients (Eggons). In the petition, copied to the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Governor Tanko Al-Makura, the Director of the State Security Services SSS, the Emir of Lafia and other security agencies in the state, the legal practitioner urged the authorities concerned to rise up to the occasion to avoid possible break down of law and order that could result to bloody clashes between the two ethnic nationalities. Critics alleged that the governor’s failure to respond to the “notice of attack” was a clear indication of his incompetence in handling security matters and the general administration of the state which led to the state

House of Assembly serving him a notice of impeachment. But Al-Makura attributed the security woes of the state to attempts by the opposition to disrupt the peace in the state. The Assakio mayhem prompted the constitution of a commission of enquiry to ascertain the immediate and remote causes and to identify persons or group of persons involved. The commission has submitted its report to the government. What however remained a matter of concern to the people is the non-implementation of the report which allegedly indicted some prominent personalities in the state. Sources claimed attempts were being made to sweep the report under the carpet. It was alleged that those indicted include politicians and past governors. A similar crisis erupted between the Migili ethnic group in Jenkwe development area and the Eggon ethnic nationality over a stolen motorcycle. The crisis, like that of Assakio, led to the destruction of houses as well as loss of lives. A district head, Zhe Meri, who was taking refuge in the community after being displaced in his Gidan Rail home town by Fulani/Farmers crisis, was also said to be a victim. The incident led to the criticism of the governor by those who felt the non-implementation of the report of the commission that probed the Assakio crisis emboldened the perpetrators of the Agyaragu incident. The state legislators also blamed the Agyaragu crisis on Al-Makura’s refusal to assent to an anti-thuggery bill passed by the state House of Assembly and other resolutions that have to do with security matters which they noted would have gone a long way in addressing security challenges in the state. Also speaking on the crisis, the Migili Cultural and Development Association (MCDA), through its National President, Mr. David Musha, observed that though the state government made efforts to maintain law and order through soldiers and policemen, it did not translate to protection of lives and property just as the administrator of Jenkwe development area, Hon. Wuduyamba Sam Agidi, decried that “with the heavy presence of the military and police, my people could not be secured”.

‘We can’t do without Unity Schools’ country. We are talking about youths who must at the age imbibe the concept of national unity, oneness, teachers come from across the country; the students come from across the country, so if you now sell these schools or transfer them to local and state government, then their influence and the philosophy behind their establishment would have been lost completely. We don’t want that to happen. In any case, the state government themselves are already burdened enough with the cost of running their own schools. The local government is certainly out of the question in this matter. So in the interest of peace and unity of this country, Unity Secondary Schools should remain. If anything, I’m one of those agitating for more. Because, of the peculiarity of their curricula. There are several categories. We have Federal Government Colleges for girls. We have Federal Government College for boys and girls. We C M Y K

Continued from page 27

After the National Assembly, and perhaps the NYSC, the Unity Schools come in as a structure for socio economic and p o l i t i c a l integration of the country

have Federal Science and Technical College too. So, it is strange that any person would at this point in time when we are so much in need of our unity, to be removing one of the pillars that have guaranteed social and political integration in this country. There is no doubt that Unity Schools, just like the NYSC, is one of those mechanism that have been carefully thought out to promote national unity. But what about this philosophy of catchment.

Don’t you think this is affecting the actualization of some of these objectives? Because if you go to some of these schools, you discover that up to 40 to 50 percent of students are from the home state? Well, I may not buy your statistics completely. Let’s go back to the philosophy behind it. They didn’t just establish this to serve sectional interest. No! every state in this country has at least three of such schools. Also, in the admission policy, there is a quota for federal; a quota for the zone; and quota for the state. So it must reflect federal character. It is built into the policy of the college. Yes! You might observe that more of the students may come from the environment where the institution is located. This is normal. It is natural, and has not created any crisis. But if you look beyond the students, and you look at the staffing, federal character policy is maintained. That is why the school in Benin might not have an Edo State indigene as principal. The principal at

Uromi here is from Abia State. So that is the integration we are talking about. How has it been managing the affairs of Unity Schools? In all humility I will tell you that my administration has beaten its own record. Like you rightly said, one year is a very short period in the life of an exco that has three years to do. But if one may count in all humility. I ‘ll tell you that we have given the association a constitution within this period. We have secured employed for 1:305 PTA paid teachers within the period. We have harmonized our practice across the country. There were areas where you had serious conflicts. I came in and set up Conflict Resolution Committee. That committee has gone to work. As I speak with you, I can tell you that there is no PTA branch where you have anything that threatens peace. We have successfully popularized Unity Schools. Advise to government. What we have resolved to do is to help them and comple-

ment government efforts. The Federal Government should now create the enabling environment that will enable us continue our work. We are prepared to partner with them. We are major stakeholders in the education sector. So the first thing is to allow us do it the way we can. The other is that government should be wary of people who want to use their position to threaten the existence of these colleges. It will be inimical to the peaceful co-existence of this country, if this unity schools are tempered with. Finally, we have this problem of funding. Government is in a position to fund these schools, but what is lacking is the political will. The United Nations prescribed 26 percent or budget for education in developing countries. I don’t think we have gotten up to 10 percent yet and that is sad. Our educational sector is in serious crisis. I personally call for a declaration of state of emergency in the educational sector because that is what we need.

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Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013

Freedom marred my ambition to become a doctor—Bunmi Lawson, Accion MD BY FEYI BANKOLE She’s the Managing Director/CEO of ACCION Microfinance Bank Limited, a bank that has evolved from a one-room office space to a leading microfinance firm with over 17 branches and 300 staff spread across major cities in Africa. All these actually happened in 5 years and in a society where microfinance banks hit the rock no sooner than they are established. For two years running, the bank has won the Lagos State Microfinance Bank of the Year. At the international level also, it got the Africa Bankers Award nomination for Best Microfinance Bank in Africa. Mrs.Olubunmi Lawson tells of how she’s living-up her dream of practicing medicine even in the world of finance. Enjoy!

Mrs.Olubunmi Lawson....I was lucky to have learnt work ethics from my parents.

won’t say I made Accion what it is because no one can single-handedly achieve such. The secret has been making sure we have the best people on board, with everybody running with same vision. When you look at our board, you’ll find Citi Bank, Ecobank, International Finance Corporation-IFC, Accion Investment, and others. We just make sure we have professionals around us”, she swiftly said as I took my seat on the armchair across her table, with my eyes piercing inquisitively. Parental influence Despite the denial, a brief journey through her background reflected the possible magnitude of her efforts. “I was lucky to have learnt work ethics from my parents, anyway ”, Mrs.Olubunmi Lawson, a mother of two achieving young girls, finally admitted. Her father was an Accountant with Shell and her mum, a nurse who trained abroad, worked with National Oil, now Conoil. “They were both career people and they taught me there were no limitations to what one could do or become so long as one was ready to work hard. That has contributed to how I work and encourage others to also work. Also, as the first born in a family of six, I always have to show example. Dad was strict and he had several rules which we adhered to. But mum was a bit more liberal. Anyway, dad’s strictness was to make sure we succeeded”, she expounded.

Poverty is a disease(an ailment) that only finance could cure to help people live better lives. I think God led me to this line to fulfill that original dream. Poverty is a bad disease because people lack the basic things to live a standard life when in poverty

Freedom mars ambition Her father ’s decisiveness surprisingly robbed-off on her choice of career. Being a science major, her ambition was to become a medical doctor and cure people of their ailments so they could afford to live better lives, but her father wanted accounting. Fate played out, and Bunmi was admitted to the University of Ife to study Zoology, with the promise that she would be transferred to the Department of Medicine the following session. Unfortunately, it was her first experience of freedom from parents, so, she overplayed and didn’t do too well that session. Accountant at last! “My GPA ended up too poor for medicine, and I could not be transferred. I didn’t want

I went abroad where I worked as a finance officer in a firm. When I came back, I worked in an insurance company. From that company, I went into marketing and from marking, I went into Fate Foundation where I was the Executive Director, and from Fate, ACCION came on board. I knew that to succeed, it would be advantageous to have a helicopter view of different industries and different aspects of finance. That also contributed to my success at ACCION”, she said. Curing poverty Bunmi Lawson seemed satisfied with the turn of things and I wondered where that dream of curing ailments and helping people live better lives had varnished to. “I am fulfilling that dream!”, she exclaimed happily. “Poverty is a disease(an ailment) that only finance could cure to help people live better lives. I think God led me to this line to fulfill that original dream. Poverty is a bad disease because people lack the basic things to live a standard life when in poverty. It’s as bad as not having a house to sleep in or getting three square meals a day. Personally, I haven’t really lived in poverty at that

extreme level, but I have of course faced some financial difficulties at some point in time, and I know what it means to live in lack. Unfortunately, some people are born into poverty and see no end to it because they do not have capital to take advantage of opportunities that abound. So, hardwork alone is not what takes people out of poverty- otherwise, load-carriers in the market would have been stinking rich because of their hardwork. Medicine for poverty “That’s why Accion exists- to provide them with loans so they can take advantage of opportunities. More importantly, we teach people to save because I truly believe that saving is what takes people out of poverty. This is because if you get a loan and repay it without having savings, you’re back to square one. But if you are saving those extra incomes and building up capital, then you’re able to do something bigger like buying a land, a car, sending your children to school, etc. That’s really what takes people out of poverty because that way, they can gradually walk their way out of poverty”, she enthused.

Zoology, so, I withdrew from the University of Ife and was taken to the Ogun State Polytechnic by my father where I did finally Accounting and graduated at the Yaba College of Technology. My father was however encouraging throughout the period because he had wanted Accounting for me. Amazingly, I graduated with a first class! I’ve since then studied at the Lagos Business School, Harvard and some others. Really, I’ve come to realize that God has a way of redesigning destinies. I wanted to lay a strong foundation for my career, so, I worked with KPMG in Jos. By the time I left KPMG, I had passed my ICAN. Thereafter,

Mrs. Lawson.....Hardwork alone is not what takes people out of poverty

There is no greatness without a passion to be great…- Anthony Robbins

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 39

All letters bearing writers' names and full addresses should be typed and forwarded to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, Kirikiri Canal, P. M. B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E-mail: sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com

2015 Delta guber: Why zoning should be jettisoned Dear Sir,

S the hand of the clock ticks gradually towards 2015 general elections there are already ongoing discreet political meetings and horse trading among the political class. However, one factor that has remained a resonating subject in the polity is the issue of zoning. While zoning remains predominantly the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, cliché, it is almost becoming an accepted lexicon in today’s Nigeria’s political equation. It is amusing how other political parties in the country have bought into it with reckless abandon. Proponents of zoning have often hinged their assertion on the presumption that zoning brings about stability, equality, sense of belonging in the polity. In actual sense this would have been case, but our nation’s political history however suggests otherwise. Zoning as far as Nigeria’s politics is concerned, has failed to achieve these envisaged and anticipated postulations; rather it has engendered the pursuit of sectional, ethnic and group aggrandizement and interests. If we could well discern what the proponents of zoning means by their turn to produce the next president, or governor as the case may be, it literally means their turn to corner, plunder and make most of our commonwealth and resources. Zoning is no doubt alien to the Nigerian Constitution, and by all measure undemocratic and retrogressive. We could well say that zoning is not consistent with national growth and development, particularly as it gives impetus for mediocrity to thrive over meritocracy and

C M Y K

competence. However in Delta State, the issue of zoning is reverberating strongly especially as some section of people from Delta North senatorial district are routing that it is their turn to produce the next governor, drawing their strength from the PDP zoning arrangement. With all due respect to the people of Delta North, I think it will serve the overall good and interest of the state, if Deltans are allowed to determine who should govern them in 2015, rather drawing inspiration from a PDP agreement which is not in

tandem with the electorate in the state. Every Deltan; every ethnic nationality should have the right to aspire to the number one position in the state, as this is the only way Deltans can truly choose a leader of their choice and put the state on the path of prosperity and greatness. As a people, we must change our political attitude, and most importantly our voting culture. Our voting culture should be determined by person’s history of service. Ohwevwo Ufuoma Eugene ohwevwoufuoma@ymail.com,

Nigerians need to seek God’s face Dear Sir,

UE to the socio-political and economic crises Nigeria is witnessing, I have a prophetic message in this 2013 that the Federal Government needs to declare a national day of prayers and fasting in order to seek God’s face for favour and mercy. The prayer and fasting would connect Nigeria and her people to the power of God. The prayers would influence God to look down on Nigerians and heal the nation. Prophetically, the prayers of the saints had been holding this country together, as, things would have fallen apart. Also, collective prayers would aid Nigeria to overcome her problems and rise again, as God would deal with the Pharaohs and Egyptians of the country. For God’s intervention, redemption and deliverance to manifest in Nigeria, Nigerians must humble themselves, pray and seek God's face and turn from their wicked

ways so that God can forgive Nigerians of their sins and heal the country (2 Chronicles 7 : 14) Our leaders should be warned that unfaithfulness and corruption will continue to make people to be frustrated and the more frustrated the people are, the more problems should be expected in this nation. Our leaders should read the handwriting on the wall and repent or they should be expecting more problems for the nation, because Proverbs 15 : 27 says “He who is greedy for gain, troubles his own house, but, he who hates bribe will live”. Therefore, let our leaders repent from their wickedness, selfish ways, so that, God can hear our prayers. When a country is well governed, there will be peace, prosperity and progress throughout the nation. Prophet Oladipupo Funmilade-Joel General Overseer, The Way of Reconciliation Evangelistic Ministries babasekunderin@yahoo.com.

Kudos to Anambra State Governor Dear Sir,

OUR Excellency sir, I wish to express my gratitude to you for your visible efforts in the development of Anambra State through your prudence management. Sir,it is indisputable that all sectors and facets of life in Anambra State are experiencing simultaneous development since the inception of your Government. Recently,your government made monetary grant to Health institutions in Anambra State from which Iyi-enu Hospital, a health institution in my town benefited. I was the Chairman of the planning committee of a youth seminar organized under the umbrella of All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP)held at Liberty Centre, Awka on Friday,August 16,2002 during which you were invited as one of the speakers.The photocopy of the invitation card is still with me till now.I remember what you told us in that seminar ten years ago how you were going to build Anambra State and that is what you are doing today, which showed that your word is your bond. Never in the history of this state has any leader shown so much commitment and concern about the welfare, prosperity and lives of his people.Your leadership by example has become a testimony to transparency, hard work and selfless service. I want to reaffirm my support to you in development of Anambra State. In fact, we are very proud of you.May the Almighty God grant you more wisdom with which to pilot the affairs of Anambra State. Amobi Chuks chubbyamobi@yahoo.com, 08033004529

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MultiChoice centres for Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ondo, Benue

ULTICHOICE Nigeria, the n a t i o n ’ s leading pay television destination, has announced plans to roll out more MultiChoice Resource Centers (MRC) in public schools across the country. The centers provide audiovisual teaching and learning aids for teachers and students in secondary schools. The programme is a corporate social initiative (CSI) of MultiChoice Nigeria in partnership with MultiChoice Africa aimed at empowering teachers and students with skills in information

and communication technologies (ICTs). The MRC project is designed for beneficiary schools to have access to MultiChoice Education Bouquet with a view to integrating the programmes into their curriculum in order to enhance the teaching and learning processes in their schools. With over seven channels on the bouquet, teachers and students have attested that the facility has made learning and teaching easy. This year, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ondo and Benue States are among the states that will benefit

from the resource centers. The centers have been implemented in 201 schools in 21 states. Since the commencement of the MRC in 2004, MultiChoice, according to a statement, has trained over five thousand teachers on the use of the learning aid and, in an effort to reward outstanding teachers who have showed excellence and excelled in the use of the facility, MultiChoice, in 2005, instituted MultiChoice Creative Teachers Awards. MultiChoice Nigeria

has spent over N150 million on the training of teachers alone. Speaking on the MultiChoice Resource Center project, Mr. John Ugbe, Managing Director MultiChoice Nigeria, said beneficiary schools of the resource center project have access to the special MultiChoice Education Bouquet. “We have instructional channels such as Discover y, National Geographic, BBC Knowledge, BBC World, History Channel, Animal Planet and Mindset Learn at no cost to the schools,” he stated. Ugbe said that MultiChoice, in addition to its decoders, provides each school with a DVD recorder, a TV set, a power generating set,

tables and chairs and other instructional m a t e r i a l s . “The Resource Center project is part of a broad based community development strategy designed to raise the standard of education in public schools on the African continent by leveraging on the assets and expertise of our digital satellite

television for development and growth of African c o m m u n i t i e s . ” MultiChoice helmsman stated that besides rolling out more Resource Centers this year, MultiChoice will also embark on an intensive unannounced on-the-spot assessment of the centers in the six geo-political zones.

Akpoveta lauded over project completion

LOROGUN I s a a c Akpoveta, chairman/ CEO, Veta Group, handling the construction of the Ofuoma Primary Healthcare Centre, has been commended for timely and quality

completion of the project. Mr. Chris Eriyamremu, a youth leader in Ofuoma, gave the kudos and revealed that the project was completed in less than 90days. According to him: “This is a record hardly achieved in government projects. Dr. Akpoveta is from Ofuoma as well, but I think he has made the Delta State government led by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and indeed the people of Ofuoma proud by completing the project even before the stipulated time”. ”This shows that he means well for the state and the community, indicating that the era of abandoned projects in Ofuoma was over ”.

N-Delta plans thanksgiving service for Dame Jonathan BY FESTUS AHON

IGER Delta youths, under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Movement, NDYM, has slated January 27, 2013, for a thanksgiving service for the recovery of the First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, from illness. The group, in a statement yesterday, stated that the thanksgiving would be held in the Abundant Life Evangelical Ministr y, Rumuigbo, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. It added: “When the president’s wife was flown abroad for treatment last year, the entire members of the NDYM declared a 7-day fasting and praying programme fervently asking God Almighty to grant this kind-hearted mother of Nigeria divine healing so that she could come back home to continue the good works of peace she was doing before she took ill.” The statement signed by the group’s National President, Comrade Godspower Odenema; National Secretar y, Comrade Moses OmoIlirodah, and National Women Leader, Princess Mariam Tolofari, said; “God miraculously answered our prayers, healed Dr. Patience Jonathan and together we all crossed over to 2013.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013 — PAGE 43 sameyoboka@yahoo.com

08023145567 (sms only)

YULETIDE SEASON:

Challenges before orphanages (2) BY SAM EYOBOKA & OLAYINKA LATONA Continued from January 2 T the Holy Family Home for the Elderly, Mushin in Lagos owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Sisterin-charge of the home for the past five years, Rev. Mother Antonia Adebowale said a Pentecostal church, House on the Rock Church, came to the home to celebrate with the inmates and “it was a beautiful gathering because the elders were treated to the fullness. They took them out and they had a good time.” For next year, “we will have a get together here to thank the Lord for His mercy and goodness over the house. Most importantly, I would have loved to take the elders out that day but we don’t have a bus that can convey them.” The reverend mother stated that doctors and physiotherapists come in regularly to check and treat our elderly ones from time to time; that is why you can see them looking healthy and fine, adding “our major concern and challenge is

that we are not mobile and this pose a great challenge for us when we are to go out either for sight seeing or when invited for an occasion. “During the Christmas period,” she continued, “I had the intention of taking them out to see the beauty of Lagos in the night, especially those wonderful decorations at night but I could not because I don’t want to charter a Danfo or Molue to convey them. You can imagine the

manner of driving of most of these commercial drivers because these are people who are really old. “We have Sienna bus but it is not enough, because we have other elderly ones outside these hostels who are staying with their families. What we need is a 14-16 seater bus,” she stated.

Giving should not be limited to Christ-

mas season only —Mrs. Felicia Martins; CEO of So Said Charity Home

he last Yuletide season was a unique one at So Said Charity Home in Okota, Lagos and this was made possible with the help of huge turnout of Nigerians who found time to visit the home with various gift items. Besides, the children were invited for parties,

*General Secretary/CEO of Bible Society of Nigeria, BSN, Rev. (Dr.) Fred B. Odutola goes through a "Family Bible" he presented to Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan.

Community Children's Bible Club marks Christmas "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it" --(Proverbs 22:6)

HE quality of any leader starts from the person/ character of the leader before the input of his associates. This is why it’s the responsibility of parents to train up their kids in the way of the Lord as the Bible says. Parents ought to have a vision for their children, especially while they’re still young. Don’t wait till they ’re grown up before you begin to teach them what to do and how to live. Train them to do what’s right from their formative years, and when they grow up they’ll continue on that path. The absence of Godly training contributes to the social problems in our

*Members of the Children's Bible Club society today. Today, parents tend to be too busy to have time for their children and hence we came up with the idea of Childrens’ Bible Club where children of all ages in our neigh-bourhood are brought to-gether and taught Godly characters, Bible stories as well as

how to read and write and learn voca-bularies. The fear of God moulds children's character which will see them through life. Members of the club know it’s bad to steal, lie, cheat, fight etc. If they grow with these Godly principles, they will kick against corrup-

tion, and as memb-ers of future Parliaments they will not throw chairs at each other in the hallowed chambers. The children are learning how to share with friends. Parents daily give us feedbacks that there has been tremendous transformation in their children. One member, who is a house-help was timid initially and could not read, now she reads well and came first in her exams in her school. Indeed God has been good and gracious to us. With this good report, we celebrated the Christ-mas by organising a party for the children and their friends where we fed people in the neighbourhood. Indeed Christmas is a time to share with people and show love to the needy.

--- Ijeoma Iheme

anniversaries amongst others by various organizations including the Lions Club in Ikeja and Mountain of Fire And Miracle Ministries.

Caregivers show sympathy

e s p i t e unpleasant economic conditions in the country, lots of Nigerian caregivers still showed lots of sympathy for the needy in the society. “We had special prayer sessions for the home because it was the grace of God that has sustained us for the past 13 years,” said the CEO of the Home, Mrs. Felicia Martins, adding “our teams are particu-larly happy that despite all these challenges in the country, people still find time to visit and bless us. “I am appealing to all Nigerians to make caring and giving a lifestyle instead of limiting such gesture to Christmas periods. For example the home had difficulty in having balanced diets months before Christmas period, but during the celebration we had a lot of foods in our stock all because of the Christmas celebration,” she stated. According to her, the number of children in the home is above 50, out of which 12 are special children. So Said Charity Home also engaged in reachout to the mentally handicapped and destitutes; “we care and show them love that those who are mentally challenged or vulnerable should not be seen as people having the worse problems God cannot solve.” She therefore appealed to Nigerians not to stop in giving and caring for orphans and vulnerable children in the society. “We hope to expand the scope of our work in 2013. It is our desire that most of our challenges will be meet this year so that we can spread to different parts of the country with our various programmes,” she stated, adding that the home still has the challenge of paying school fees for the children. She maintained that

the Lagos State Government donated 15 plots of land to the home at Ganyingbo Village, Badagry Lagos which needs to be built in addition to paying workers’ salary, medical care and others.

We secure our future by helping the needy ---Pastor Helen Oritsejafor

t the Eagle Hand Orphanage, Warri, Delta State, the programme manager of the Eagle Hand International Foundation, owners of the orphanage, Mrs. Okeoghene Sylvia Okugbe said the 17 children had a great time during the Christmas as the parent church; Word of Life Bible Church treated them to a Christmas party where they ate and drank to their fill. Asked the greatest challenges facing the home, the care taker of the children aged between two months and 13 years said nearly all the children are in school and re-echoed Mama Helen Oritsejafor ’s charge during the Christmas party that Nigerians should learn to incorporate motherless children into the bigger society by educating them. Mama Oritsejafor had enjoined Nigerians to reach out to under-privileged children across the length and breadth of the country because by so doing “ we are securing our own future and the future of the nation as a whole.” Mrs. Okugbe, however, appealed to the public to rally round the children by donating food items, beddings, books and such other items that will make life worthwhile for the children, adding “ we are committed to taking very good care of them and the church and other public spirited individuals are contributing immensely for the upkeep.” She urged people to always show compassion to the less privileged in the society.

PAGE 44 --- SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

Pastor Adeboye and the miraculous petrol

RIDAY, December 13 saw traffic around parts of Ikoyi, the race course and all the main bridges linking Lagos Island and the mainland completely closed for about two hours, because our President Jonathan was on his way to attend the Holy Ghost Congress organized by the Redeemed Christian Church of God headed by Pastor Enoch Adeboye at the Redemption Camp. This type of disruption of traffic is reminiscent of the period when Lagos was still the federal capital and residence of Presidents and Head of states, before the movement to Abuja, during civilian regimes. Notorious traffic at the LagosIbadan Expressway, when the Redeemed Christian Church of God is holding their camp meeting is well known and deserves no comments. The Redeemed Christian Church of God is one of the biggest Pentecostal Churches in the country with membership running into thousands, if not millions. It is therefore expedient for the president to fall into the temptation of choosing the venue both to worship and doing political business, by killing two birds with one stone. After all, this is not new. Pastor Adeboye welcomed President Obasanjo with the same funfare and prayer sessions. Both Pastor Adeboye and President Jonathan have a lot to gain. While Pastor Adeboye may be guaranteed adequate funds through offerings for the church, the president on the other hand will have political membership support especially as it is rumored that the pres-

ident is in the running come 2015. This political manoeuvering does not deserve a comment. People witnessed on television the president kneeling and Pastor Adeboye praying for his success in the business of governances after which the President delivered his prepared political speech, promising to solve the nation’s problems. Pastor Adeboye in his usual style gave a motivational sermon bordering on a miraculous story about a journey he was involved in. The story I am told had been narrated a number of times previously. Pastor Adeboye was coming from Onitsha during the petrol crises when he realized he needed to buy petrol, but there was no petrol in Onitsha. He decided he would try Asaba, but found out also, there was no petrol in Asaba. Continuing his journey, he hoped to buy petrol on reaching Benin, but to his amazement also found out there was no petrol station open for business in Benin, Pastor Adeboye undaunted finally thought he would find petrol to buy at Ore. By the time he reached Ore, the next stop, his petrol warning light came on, indicating that he was then on reserve supply. At this point Pastor Adeboye said God told him not to look at the petrol gauge, but to continue his journey. Following God’s instruction, Pastor Adeboye continued his journey from Ore, without looking at the fuel gauge, until he got to his residence in Surulere in Lagos. This is a very moving account of the supernatural, and the very intervention of God him-

self in making what seems impossible, possible. In other words, this is a miracle, a wonderful and an amazing thing, an event in the natural world but out of its established order, possible only by the intervention of divine power. Pastor Adeboye’s narrative of his ability to drive a car with only reserve petrol left from Ore to his residence in Surulere – falls very neatly under this miraculous experience. In other words, God supplied him miraculous quantity of petrol to achieve this. However let us subject this claim to analysis and scrutiny. God created a horse or camel for motion and God can make a horse or camel run independently for 1,000 miles without stopping, or tiring just by His word, as all things are possible with God. One could say same for a car as well. But there is a difference. A car is de-

It was amazing to me that a few people I would consider knowledgeable and enlightened could not see the flaws in the miraculous content of Pastor Adeboye’s story

signed by man and designed for propulsion to run on an energy source such as petrol or gas by a system of carburetors or fuel injection. It is designed by man, after taking into consideration all external God or Natural Laws governing the earth gravity, velocity or motion, etc. Pastor Adeboye said God told him not to look at the petrol gauge when the gauge warning light came on, before leaving Ore, driving to Surulere in Lagos. He decided not to tell us the full story: he should disclose the following facts that will convince everyone there was a miracle. ·What was the make and model of the car he was driving? ·What distance did he cover between Ore and his residence in Surulere, Lagos? ·What is the capacity of his car’s reserve tank by the time the warning light comes on – how many liters are in the tank? ·How many kilometers per liter does Pastor Adeboye car do? Apart from the distance covered, all these questions or information could be supplied by the car manufacturers if the type of car is known. It is well known also that there are cars that have two reserve tanks and these tanks have varying capacities. There are other factors that occur in the running of a car that could alter its function. The fuel gauge warning indicator may be faulty or can come on prematurely giving the impression that a driver is on reserve petrol. Pastor Adeboye is alleged to own a private jet designed by man as described previously to

operate a system of propulsion and flight by the use of aviation fuel. It could be assumed or inferred that while flying the private jet, there was insufficient aviation fuel, and the guage ignored, because with God all things are possible; Pastor Adeboye could not avoid a crash. Unlike a car, the measuring instruments of an aircraft are better calibrated and more precise. From the above information to determine whether a miracle occurred between Ore and Pastor Adeboye’s house in Surulere, a decerning mind will conclude. There was no miracle, as the car in question must, have just conformed with the specification, it was designed to do. I understand Pastor Adeboye was a mathematics professor before he was called to do God’s work. He must have had some knowledge in scientific data, and this could have influenced his narrative of miraculous petrol, a story he had repeated a few times. But our society is backward and most Pentecostal Church preachers take advantage of this ignorance. It was amazing to me that a few people I would consider knowledgeable and enlightened could not see the flaws in the miraculous content of Pastor Adeboye’s story. This exposes our knowledge of what a miracle really is. This writer is a very strong believer in miracles, and miracles happen all the time but Pastor Adeboye’s claim could not stand the scrutiny of believers in the Western World. It would be classified as a spurious claim.

-----Mike DIAGBARE

Re: To hell with Hell

HE thing with you Femi Aribisala is that you sound learned, but it's sad such academic status has not been used to people’s spiritual benefit, rather it’s used to lead men astray through his outrageous presentation of biblical issues. I’m not surprised, because he didn’t even believe in the Bible as the Word of God. You even sound like a Christian Minister, but I wonder the kind of people that sit under him to hear these strange spiritual concoctions. I agree with you perfectly that God is too loving to cast anybody into a burning hell. But this perception is an incomplete presentation of who God is. The complete picture of God is that He is righteous, holy and just, and therefore punishes rebellion against His authority. It was the same loving God who cleared the world of Noah with flood (Gen. 6). It was the same loving God who rained hail and brimstone on Egypt when King Pharoah resisted His entreaties to allow His people Israel to go. (Exodus 19:22). The Bible is replete with stories of God meeting man’s stubbornness with righteous judgment. But let’s contrast all those with the case of a wicked city of Nineveh who heard God’s warning of an impending judgment on their sins and repented. God changed His mind and turned away His wrath. (Jonah 1:2, 3: 1-10).

He is a God that gives us a lot of room to repent and take advantage of His overflowing love in Christ Jesus who was crucified for us. God gave His Son as a sacri-fice for the sins of men. The terrible agony and public shame Jesus suffered on Calvary is a proof that God can go any length to reconcile the sinful man to Himself. But the sad reality is that man in his rebellion keeps shunning God’s offer of peace and eternal life available in Jesus Christ. Man will prefer the devil’s offer of temporary sinful wealth, pleasure, and lust to God’s offer of redemption through His Son. It is therefore via this stubbornness and his choice to romance with the devil that man incurs the wrath of God. And the Bible says it’s a fearful thing to fall into the hand of God when He’s angry (Heb. 10:31). "...for God is a consuming fire." (Heb. 12:29). It’s interesting to note that hell was never made for man originally, rather for the devil and his angels after they rebelled against God in heaven and were chased down. God will judge wickedness and He will take vengeance against it. "In a flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished..." (II Thessalonians 1:8-9). "The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God." (Psalm 9:17 ). "...and He shall say to the people on His left, depart from me

ye cursed, into EVERLASTING FIRE prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25: 41). The same loving God has set His standard, and given us a very critical item with which we either save or destroy ourselves, and that item is the FREEWILL: with it, you decide the life you want to live here on earth and then pay the price of that choice hereafter. There is heaven and there is hell when this earthly life is all over. We can’t wish hell away just because it scares us, rather we should seek to avoid it by receiving Jesus and being born again (John 3:3). If we believe in an everlasting heaven as the reward for righteous people, how come we want to deny the existence of hell, as the reward for the wicked? Those who want to deceive themselves with the idea that heaven and hell are in this life should read II Peter 3:7-13. From here we learn that the earth as it is presently constituted is reserved for fire against the day of the Lord, that is the judgment day when God will reconstitute this material world to usher in a new heaven and earth where sin and wickedness do not exist. Femi, you provide a psychological pacifier for those who do not want to submit to God’s authority, and are afraid to pay the price of their disobedience; you provide a false relief for those who want to be their own gods, live the way they please in violation of

God’s righteousness, but are not ready to face the eternal consequences waiting at the end of this life. Sinners who turn down God’s offer of salvation through His Son should not expect God to clap for them on the judgment day. The story Jesus told in Luke 16:1931 to illustrate the torment that awaits all who die without Jesus is clear enough for anybody to fear. The story featured two people, an ungodly richman and a godly poorman, Lazarus. Both died and crossed to the great beyond. They parted ways and each was located according to his earthly life. The sinful rich man lifted up his eyes and saw Lazarus in Abraham’s bossom or paradise, and cried to Abraham to ‘’...please send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented IN THIS FLAME...’’ This story from the Master Himself reveals (1) that there is real fire (2) the fire will burn people’s bodies (3) the torment will be so much that people will cry for a drop of water. The fact is that after this life, our present human body will be transformed into a new immortal stuff suitable for eternity (II Corinthians 15:5254). It is therefore endless years either in heaven, or in hell where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12, Revelation 20:11-15, 21:8) So, I say to you and your likes, it’s Continues on Page 45

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013 --- PAGE 45

Stop criticising pastors with private jets, says Wale Oke

THE KILL-JOY

LOVE the house I live in. I call it “the secret place of the Most High.” When I go home, I go to a haven of peace. I pray by walking around the house. I must have thanked God over 1,000 times for that house. But some time ago, I discovered that the Lord, my shield and protector, was prepared to allow the devil to burn the entire house down. How could this be when I sought the counsel of the Lord before renting the house?

Jealous God As a believer, I have tried to prepare my mind for all kinds of palaver. The psalmist warns: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” (Psalm 34:19). But the one about my house burning down came from left flank and took me by surprise. By the fifth fire incident, I got the message and went to the Lord. I repented and pleaded with him. I told him I would no longer rejoice in the house I rented. I would only rejoice in him: “Father, the issue is certainly not the counterfeit but the true gift. Moreover, you are not only the giver but also the only true gift. My joy must remain in you.” From that time, the nearmisses with fire outbreaks ceased, and I have stopped dwelling on the beauty of my rented house. I did not meet Jesus in the pages of a bible. I met him in person. So I can only tell you about the Jesus I know. I can only tell you about the Jesus who called me, saved me from armedrobbers and healed me miraculously of bulletwounds. I can only tell you about Jesus of Nazareth. I want you to know that Jesus is a killjoy. The Lord is determined to kill everything that gives us joy until we have no joy left outside of him.

Killing

The Lord is determined to kill everything that gives us joy until we have no joy left outside of him me softly

used to own the largest video-rent al chain in Nigeria. The video-club business was my pride and joy. It grew by leaps and bounds from Lagos to Ibadan, to Port Harcourt. When I met the Lord in very dramatic circumstances, my big fear was that he would ask me to close down the business. However, he soon reassured me he would never ask me to do that. I was very relieved by this. It took me nearly 10 years to realise exactly what he meant. Since I knew he wanted me to close down the business, the Lord wanted me to do so down without his having to tell me. While I continued to struggle against this, let me tell you what the Lord did so dramatically that, in just one day in 2005, I closed down all the branches of VideoNet myself. The first thing he did was to kill my interest in films. The more my relationship with him developed, the less Hollywood films agreed with me. Many of them celebrate violence and illicit sex. Most of them preach the morals of the world. The horror films began to seem demonic. I could no longer consider a film designed to inspire anxiety as a “thriller” when God has given me peace of mind. I could no longer sit and watch a group of men robbing a bank and consider it entertainment. And yet, how can the owner of a chain of video-shops become disenchanted with video films?

ne day, the Lord asked me to fellowship with him, but I pleaded that I would like to watch a film. I had over 3,500 original videotapes and DVDs in my house alone, with thousands more stored in my

office; but I could not find one single film I liked. I would put a tape in the video -player, watch it for a few minutes, and quickly condemn and remove it. After three days, I concluded the Lord was the architect of my frustration. So I went to him in fellowship. I spent hours and hours in his presence. After a while, he said to me: “Femi, let us watch a film.” I told him: “There is no film in this house that I like. You have made sure of that.” The Lord said to me: “What makes you think that? Go to the study and I will choose a film for us.”

he Lord chose a film I had not seen before and did not even know I had. It is entitled “Boycott,” starring Jeffrey Wright. It is a film about the American Civil Rights movement and the African-American boycott of the public bus system in Montgomery Alabama in the 1950’s. I could not believe how interesting I found the film. Everything about it agreed with me. But the object lesson was infinitely more important than the film itself. Jesus is “the thief in the night.” (Revelation 16:15). He steals away our negatives and develops them into his positives. The costs of following him include our loves, interests and values. Jesus says: “Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33).

Joy of the Lord The psalmist says: “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and he shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4). But God did the seeming opposite when he took away Ezekiel’s wife prematurely. He said: “Son of man, behold, I

take away from you the desire of your eyes with one stroke.” (Ezekiel 24:16). It took me ages to understand this tendency does not contradict the peculiar wisdom of the psalmist. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, he takes away our desires and gives us new ones. He ensures that his desires become the desires of our heart.

ccordingly, Je sus kills our joy with his word and replaces it with the joy of the Lord. This joy of the Lord is our newfound strength. ( N e h e m i a h 8:10). However, it is also likely initially to be our pain. The will of the Lord is often entirely unpleasant; nevertheless we must delight in it for the simple reason that it is God’s will: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.” (Hebrews 12:2). Thus, it was the good pleasure of God for Hosea to marry a prostitute (Hosea 1:2); and for Isaiah to go around for three years with his buttocks uncovered. (Isaiah 20:2-4). Inevitably, our atonement with God redefines our pleasures from what we like to what God likes. In this way, our new life is shaped by God and not by our feelings. Thereby, we too can declare like the psalmist: “In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God.” (Psalm 40:7-8).

ur new joy is the joy of Christ fulfilled in us. (John 17: 13). This joy is immune to situations and circumstances. Its one mainspring is our intimate personal relationship with God. Within that context, we count it all joy when we fall into various trials. (James 1:2). J e s u s says: “Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” (John 16:22).

HE president/founder of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Francis Wale Oke has urged Christians to stop criticising pastors who own private jets, describing jets as tools needed in evangelism, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. The cleric who was ministering at an Advanced Ministers’ Seminar at the National Stadium, Lagos with a theme; “Anointing for Destiny”, said: “It is only in this part of the world that people make case out of pastors having jets. In other places it is not so, because it is used for evangelism. "Don’t join others in bringing other ministers of God down but rather go ahead and impart people’s lives because your own day is coming,” he said, saying that ignorance is the major problem that makes Christians poor. According to him, all good things belong to the child of God and Christians are entitled to such benefits. Bishop Oke, who is also the National vice president of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, in charge of South West, told the ministers of God that it is not a sin for one to get wealth as a Christian but it becomes sin when such a minister starts worshipping material things more than God who is the author of such blessing. Quoting several Bible passages to buttress his point, the man of God said poor living does not glorify the name of God, noting; “there is glorious destiny, glorious inheritance and glorious eternity in Christ Jesus. "As a child of God you are not supposed to be poor, the only thing that makes a child of God poor is ignorance, money is not evil it is the love of money that is a sin,” he stated. Bishop Oke intimated the ministers of God on the secrets of how to tap their inheritance from God, urging them to be heaven-conscious, adding that it is only a waste of destiny if one acquired all the good things of this world and lose his soul. The Mission Director, Ikorodu Region of Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Pastor Paul Odejayi revealed that the ministerial seminar was launched over three years ago as a non-denominational programme with the vision of impacting ministers of God.

*Bishop Francis Wale Oke (r) and other ministers of the gospel during the seminar at the National Stadium, Lagos.

Re: To hell with Hell Continued from Page 44 not God that casts anybody in hell, rather each of us uses his freewill to decide to either follow Jesus here on earth and to heaven, or fraternise with the devil here and end up with him in his place of everlasting punishment, the burning hell; and there’s no way hell will not burn if, instead us to humble ourselves, repent, and seek God’s forgiveness and restoration, we rather dare Him with ‘’ To Hell with Hell’’. So, I say to you and your likes, it’s not God that casts anybody into hell, rather each of us uses his/ her freewill to decide to either follow Jesus here on earth and to heaven, or fraternise with the devil here and end up with him in his place of everlasting punishment, the burning hell. ---Nathaniel Ngerem (ngeremnath@yahoo.com)

PAGE 46—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013

Between T.A. Orji and Abia people BY IKENNA CHIEDU VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF Questions over a governor’s performance

T was in good faith that Dr. Orji Kalu, the former governor, and the people of Abia State, threw their weight behind Governor T.A. Orji in 2007 on the platform of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPA), having gained experience as a seasoned civil servant and Chief of Staff under the Orji Kalu administration. No one could have believed that a bureaucrat of that caliber could betray his people by failing to meet their yearnings and aspirations. Five years into the Orji -led

administration, it is no longer news that Abia is one of the worst states in Nigeria in terms of sustainable development. The governor’s inability to keep to his campaign promises is a crime against humanity; he has robbed Abians of their rights and privileges. At any forum, his statement is, LIBERATION OF ABIANS and LEGACY PROJECTS. Does Orji know the meaning of liberation? Or is he contradicting himself? His actions are inconsistent with liberation, rather he promotes oppression. He also claims his projects are legacy projects, perhaps he is talking of leaving a negative legacy by the expiration of his tenure of office. T.A Orji claims he has liberated Abians. How come he cannot take any bold and meaningful decision without recourse to his godfathers to

the detriment of poor Abians. He should please note that his administration has inflicted more pains on Abians, there is a wide incomprehensible

VIEWPOINT

non-payment and delay in payment of salaries, abuse of office, political intimidation, poor drainage system, insecurity, dirty environment and

The government has continued to build hope without anything to show for it since it came in the saddle. The government continues to use tactics of miscarriage of good governance as a legacy it will leave for the Abia people

gap between the state resources and the level of development in the state. The woes of the Orji- led administration include but not limited to bad roads , sack of non- Abians from the state civil service,

high crime rates. Little wonder the governor is unable to move freely in the state he governs without military personnel. In any organized environment, it behoves the govern-

ment to be concerned with the good affairs of its citizens, but the Orji-led government sees this as the last principle of a sustainable development. The government has continued to build hope without anything to show for it since it came in the saddle. The government continues to use tactics of miscarriage of good governance as a legacy it will leave for the Abia people. This strategy defines the government’s ineptitude in serving the people.“Abians are not particularly comfortable with the new taxation system whereby proceeds of collection cannot be seen to have been put to use for collective state benefits. It is therefore not out of place to say that the government is only interested in the taxes of the citizens and not in the citizens welfare. *Ikenna Z. Chiedu writes from Umuahia.

Aginighan, a peace broker, at 54

TRIBUTE BY FELIX ODILI TRIBUTE IN BRIEF A veteran bureacrat and bridge builder on his birthday

HE name Pastor Power Ziakede Aginighan oc cupies a visible and positive place in the struggle of the Niger Delta. He has been an advocate of development and peace in the region. Some call him Odudu a nickname derived from his zeal and passion to transform his own corner of humanity. He is a peace broker, a bridge builder. He was the moderator of the celebrated ceasefire outing by the Warri Itsekiri Ijaw Grassroots Peace Front in June 2004 which marked the formal end of the seven years of hostilities between the Itsekiri and the Ijaw of Warri. Aginighan initiated the peace process that ended the bloody conflict between Ogodobri in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State and Ekeremor in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in 2003. His passion for service to humanity knows no bound. He holds an MBA degree from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology and a B.Sc in accounting from the same university. He is an Associate Member, Nigeria Institute of Management; Fellow, Institute of Chartered Econo-

Aginighan initiated the peace process that ended the bloody conflict between Ogodobri in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State and Ekeremor in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in 2003

Pastor Power Aginighan mists of Nigeria; Fellow, Institute of Public Management of Nigeria; and Fellow, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.He was born on 9 January, 1959 at Ezebri in the then Western Ijaw Division of the former Western Region of Nigeria ,joined the College of Education Warri on 9 August, 1982 after completing the National Youth Service Corps with the Society for Aid to the Disabled, Enugu. Aginighan was a frontline student union activist during his days at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. He was returned unopposed as General Secretary of the Students Union of the College (later University) of Science and Technology, PH (1979/80). He was a founding member of

National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS. In recognition of his role in the growth of students’ unionism in Nigeria, the RSUST Students Union parliament made him a life member of the University Students Union in 1984. At the College of Education, Warri where Aginighan worked, through an election in which ethnicity was set aside, he emerged President of the Senior Staff Association of the institution. Again when provision was made for the Congregation to be represented in the Governing Council, he was elected the 1st Representative of the Congregation. From 1984 to 1991, Aginighan served as Secretary of the Izon Community, Warri. He also served as Secretary of the Del-

ta State Izon Consultative Committee. In the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) where he served as a pioneer Assistant Director, Aginighan had an impactful service. From November 1996 to March 1999, he represented the Commission in the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meetings during which period, he twice challenged the allocation to OMPADEC and had a ruling from the then Minister of State for Finance in his favour. This provided more funds for OMPADEC. When NDDC commenced operations in PH in January 2001, Aginighan was absorbed from OMPADEC as an Assistant Director, Finance and Supply.

He was a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State in 2007 election. President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Aginighan Ag Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the NDDC on 28 May 2007 and handed over power to President Umar Yar’Adua on 29 May 2007. He was appointed Ag Managing Director/CEO of the NDDC by Yar ’Adua on 17 April 2009. He inherited N45billion from the inherited 2nd Board and handed over N66billion to the 3rd Board. His 111 days as the NDDC chief helmsman was characterised by transparent and efficient administration that endeared the commission to a large spectrum of its stakeholders. Again, Yar ’Adua did not have difficulty appointing him as substantive Executive Director, Finance and Administration in the 3rd Board of the NDDC that was inaugurated on 6 August, 2009. Aginighan, an ordained pastor of the Apostolic Church, Nigeria, is happily married to Deaconess Amerikaere Aginighan and blessed with children.He is currently a member of the Governing Council of the Apostolic Church owned Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa, Edo State.This accomplished pastor turned 54 on Wednesday, 9 January, 2013. *Odili, a public affairs analyst, is resident in Port-Harcourt.

Contribution of not more than 800 words should be sent to sundayvanguard@yahoo.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 47

VIEWPOINT BY BEN NANAGHAN VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

OVERNOR Babatunde Fas hola’s thanksgiving service, held on Sunday 6 January 2013, was a directory of ‘ who is who’ in Lagos State. The governor used the occasion as a fulfillment of traditional formalities rather than an opportunity to regale on the successes of 2012 with a view to placing government on a better pedestal to meet the challenges of 2013 and making Lagos State a better place for all categories of Lagosians. Was it a deliberate act of omission on the part of the governor to skip his achievements for 2012? Or was the schedule so tight that he could not add that item on the programme? Fashola’s usually touted achievements are good roads, good roundabouts, flowered gardening, beautification of Lagos, refuse disposal, and the metroline project. What about water, electricity, education, youth unemployment, rural electrification, rural development, millennium development projects, investments in agriculture and industry, skills development programme for both youth and adults, sanitation, housing for the poor, communication, transportation, etc? It is a pity and a matter of great regret that the governor is building Lagos State on a sandy and ephemeral structure and, of course, such a structure will wither away because it has no solid foundation. For instance, the state government has a parastatal for the maintenance of gardens and the beautification of Lagos metropolis alone. The governor should do better than that. What is the percentage of Lagos State residents who drink from pipe borne water supplied by government? Fashola has traveled all over the world at government expense but what has

Governor Fashola’s legacy Lagosians gained from these tours? Take India for example. States and local governments in India provide rural electricity from solar energy panels for its rural citizenry. Even though about 25% of India’s 1.1billion population remains within the poverty bracket, its adventures in medicine,

Questions over what the current Lagos administration will leave behind

The Fashola regime has done nothing to assist the poor homeless Lagos resident to own a house of his own. In the days of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the first civilian governor of Lagos State, massesfriendly housing estates were built in all zones of Lagos State

technology and nuclear science are almost comparable to the best in the world. Lagos State government can not provide common potable water for its residents to drink yet its party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (can), is the most vociferous critic of the Federal Government in Abuja. Lagos State government can seize the gauntlet and turn the state into an Eldorado if its internally generated revenue (IGR) and federal allocations are judiciously managed for the benefit of the people.

In 2011, some financial experts estimated Lagos State government’s IGR to be about N60billion monthly. To say that Lagos is the wealthiest state in Nigeria is just a tip of the ice berg. Apart from its heavy concentration of industries, the state government taxes every house as tenement about 10 times more than the normal local government tenement rates. Why will the state government not rake in billions of naira monthly? But most of Lagos State government funds are used to pursue political agenda to spread the dragnet of its party, the can, throughout the federation. Most of these funds are used to battle controversial gubernatorial election cases as evidenced in Anambra, Edo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States. Lagos State government has the greatest financial leverage to invest adequately in agriculture by encouraging and funding co-operative societies. The state government, which touts excellence as its motto, can also assist small businesses by encouraging small scale entrepreneurs with co-operative loans which will in turn have a ripple effect on the state economy and residents. The Fashola regime has done nothing to assist the poor homeless Lagos resident to own a house of his own. In the days of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the first civilian governor of Lagos State, masses-friendly housing estates were built in all zones of Lagos State. I do not know what exactly the governor was celebrating during the thanksgiving service. Was it the “beautiful” Lagos roads or the beautification projects which display well flowered gardens and roundabouts paved with

interlocking bricks? Since after Jakande, free education has taken a downward plunge, arriving at its nadir with Fashola’s war against education which increased university education fees from N25,000 to N300,000. And since this increase in fees, about 30% of students have dropped out of the state owned university. If Fashola truly loves Lagos State, let him leave a self-generating legacy. A legacy that will build the infrastructures of an enduring and stable state. A legacy that will regenerate itself, that legacy is not beautiful boulevards, not beautiful rose flowers or paved and golden roundabouts but EDUCATION. This is because even the Federal Government has tagged Lagos State an educationally disadvantaged state. The governor’s inaction to ameliorate youth unemployment also took a serious bashing with his ban on Okada. The Okada controversy could have been resolved to boost small businesses as the state economy will be energized with money in the pockets of Lagosians. Lagos State is a peculiar state. It is a very weak logic on the governor’s part to argue that Okada has been banned in some other states and so Lagos too will ban it. In his first term, Fashola did not only encourage Okada riders but also equipped them with protective helmets. A total ban on Okada without alternative jobs is unwise and an unfair policy which can destroy the livehood of almost a million Okada riders and their three million dependants.

*NANAGHAN lives in Lagos Email:bennanaghan@yahoo.com

What can you do without Supersport? BY JEREMIAH KOLAWOLE VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF A broadcaster gives Nigerian sports a new life.

OR football fans on the conti nent, Christmas does not come once in a year. It comes almost every Saturday–and sometimes Sunday and week days–of the European

football season, which serves a spectacularly rich menu of football. Most football fans, I believe, studiously take their football menu a la carte, choosing the items that best appeals to them and discarding the rest. But others, including me, are gluttonous when they approach the table. The item on which most salivate is the Barclays Premier League. Next to this is the Spanish La Liga, especially games involving its emblematic clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona, which seem to have more stars than the Galaxy. The soccer menu is also generously sprinkled with tasty games from the Italian, German and French leagues; the glamorous UEFA Champions League, Europa League as well as domestic cup competitions in England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France. The FIFA World Cup, Euro-

pean Championship, African Cup of Nations, Copa America as well as international friendlies are also brought to our screens. On the streets, it is impossible not to feel the hold sports, especially football, have on the continent. It has always been there, but certainly not on this scale, which has seen the game rise to the status of an addiction. This, however, is an addiction for which nobody needs seek a cure certainly. The source of this is SuperSport, the Multichoice-owned group of television channels, which is carried on its DStv satellite platform. Since it commenced operation, it has replaced our war-time rations of live telecast of sporting events, particularly global ones, with an astonishingly rich buffet. SuperSport has, by far, the most munificent variety of sports on a single sports broadcaster. Apart from football, it includes most of the major sporting events and leagues of rugby, cricket, golf, tennis, motorsport, cycling, boxing, wrestling, athletics and the Olympic Games. It is the world’s biggest broadcaster of live rugby and cricket and also the world’s top English Premier League broadcaster, showing every match live and, where possible, in high definition. I sometimes wonder what life would be without the generous sports offering by SuperSport, just as I wonder what life would be without my smartphone. My conclusion: unbearable! I believe most people, especially sports lovers, would arrive at the same con-

clusion. Apart from the entertainment it brings, it has provided a huge amount of education in a wide variety of sporting activities. Young children speak with familiarity about their sporting heroes and with profundity about their various sporting fields. It is not uncommon to find a Nigerian or Kenyan youngster give up-to-theminute information about sports stars or teams around the world. This was not the case before SuperSport. Across the continent, SuperSport, un-

VIEWPOINT

Most football fans, I believe, studiously take their football menu a la carte, choosing the items that best appeals to them and discarding the rest. But others, including me, are gluttonous when they approach the table

intentionally, has created numerous employment opportunities. These have come via the establishment of viewing centers established by enterprising young people, where non-

DSTv subscribers can have their sporting fix. Football crazy Nigerians have become spoilt with football action. The story is told of a Nigerian football fan, a supporter of Arsenal Football Club who was in London for his annual vacation and couldn’t believe it when, on a Saturday afternoon, a match involving his beloved Arsenal was not on any television channel. It was later he learnt that English Premier League 3pm matches are not available for broadcast in the United Kingdom. Through its investment, SuperSport is giving Nigerian sports a new life. For instance, the 2011 edition of Secondary School Open Championship was broadcast live by SuperSport–at no cost to the organizers. SuperSport, over time, has broadcast live major sporting events of national interest like National Sport Festivals of 2011 and 2012, National Athletics Championships. This is in addition to the regular telecast of the Nigeria Premier League and the DStv Premier Basketball League. The aggregate of SuperSport’s investment in training, content production and coverage is in excess of billions of Naira. In any language, not having the educational, informative, entertainment and economic benefits SuperSport offers will spell just one word: unbearable! Or synonyms of it.

Kolawole, a public commentator, lives in Lagos.

PAGE 48—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013 chimeena@yahoo.com 08026350360

Garden City Literary Festival 2012 Rapporteur’s Report on the Symposium

Panel of discussants during the festival. At the 2012 Garden City Literary Festival, Veronique Tadjo presented a keynote paper on the theme, African Women and Literature. The event, which held at the Cinema Hall, Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt was robustly discussed by a panel of discussant that comprised; Prof. Onyemachi Udumukwu, Ms Doren Baingana and Miss Chibundu Onuzo and was moderated by Chioma Opara. Today, Vanguard’s arts presents a rapporteur’s report on the Symposium as recorded by Dr. Obari Gomba and Mr. Ene Igbifa. Continuation of the report they do it? I think – I might be mistaken – they had a sense of commitment. Sure, the times were different, but they created literature. And it’s from that literature that we have grown to be what we are today. So, the simple question [is] how did they do it? And that’s what I’m looking at,

HIOMA OPARA: We have heard His Excel lency and there is something else we want to add to that. We want to find out, when you are writing, you know, he said many things are still the same. When you are writing and your objective is to have this change. Change, that’s what commitment is all about and you want a new society. But there are restrictions. What are those things that restrict you when you are writing? Yeah, you talked about it a little bit. Can you, please, our keynote speaker [Dr] Veronique [Tadjo], can you please tell us, what are those things – those restrictions – you have as a writer, especially as a female writer? VERONIQUE TADJO: Okay, thanks, I just want to go back a little on the issue of committed literature – litterateur engagee. It’s just that when you look at African literature – the whole, from the first generation to the ( I don’t even know if there is a first generation) – to the fourth generation, you can see that we have a legacy. And I’m just asking a question. If you take the Negritude writers, Leopold Sedar Senghor, Aime Cesaire, Frantz Fanon, et cetera, how did they do it? If you take Elechi Amadi, if you take Gabriel Okara, how did

to be aware that we will never become [own] countries. Okay, for me, these are the limitations. And the biggest limitation, I would say, as a woman is self-censorship. Of course, the obvious censorship is the political censorship of, you know, being imprisoned for your writing or be-

The way Nigerians speak English, we don’t speak English like they speak English in London anymore

because I want to write literature, and I know that our men were answerable to writing good literature. But I also know that we need something more when we live in the type of societies we live in. When we are on this continent, unfortunately, we can’t just write about… I mean we can write about all sorts of things, but there’s that little more that we need to have at the back of our mind. If not, for example, on the issue of readership no one wants to have that on their shoulder…I mean, why can’t we just write. But unfortunately we have been put in this position that we also have

ing in trouble. But, we tend to naturally self-censor ourselves, especially if we write from [within] the continent, because we are very very aware of the society we live in and the way women should be behaving and how they should look, and all that. For me, that’s the biggest thing – how do you find the space to write without self-censorship? Then the other one, of course – it’s even bigger – you have the freedom to write where you are, but for me at the moment, as a woman, it will be self-censorship. CHIOMA OPARA: Yes. Thank you. I know that is the prob-

lem of many women. In fact, when you read [Charles] Nnolim’s “A House Divided” [you find that] it’s all about… he thinks women are not together when it comes to writing. Some are, you know… the same patriarchy they are trying to condemn eventually gets the better hold of them. And I think it’s all about this ambivalence occasioned by culture – cultural ambivalence. It even happens with men. They have a problem: alienation. I’m sure our male writers here will agree with us that they have that alienation when they are writing, because you are writing as an African and you already have imbibed the Western culture. So, there is a problem when you are writing and when you are a woman the problem is even weightier – you don’t even know what to do with it. I wish I had the time, I would have loved to hear from the male writers themselves on this matter. But before we get to that, I will like to talk about something which His Excellency mentioned. Today, a lot of people – in fact, it started with Obi Wali who talked about writing in English. He [His Excellency] said something about… he asked you, what if you had to write in Ikwerre? How would you handle your style? So, I now want to ask you that question. How would

you handle that style? CHIBUNDU ONUZO: Well, in certain senses, I think that question is a little bit outdated, because the way Nigerians speak English, we don’t speak English like they speak English in London anymore. We created our own patois. We created our own lingo. And so, for me to write in English, I don’t feel the pressure of Ngugi wa Thiong’o to go back to my native language. I feel the way we speak English has our own stamp, has our own culture. When I speak Pidgin in England, nobody understands me, so I do feel I’m speaking my own language. And so, yes I don’t have any problem creating a style that is Nigerian but is also Western, I suppose. CHIOMA OPARA: I will like to get back to you because when I was reading your biography – that is Veronique – I understand your book was one of the hundred, yes listed… was it the one that happened in Zimbabwe in 2002?... Good, yes, in Zimbabwe in 2002. That was an uplift. African women felt quite uplifted that eleven of their books in Zimbabwe were rated as [being among] the hundred best books in African literature. So, I will like to ask you this question… ah maybe I should ask her [Baingana]. How are canons of excellence established [in literature]?

To be continued

Fresh generation of African leaders features on Al Jazeera’s Tutu’s Children

HE four special docu mentaries will follow the exploits of participants in the leadership programme Desmond Tutu leads, which attempts to build a new network of African leaders who are together committed to tackling their countries’ most stubborn problems. Viewers will witness the legendary archbishop pass the baton of moral leadership to these emerging leaders who are drawn from across Africa. Once they pledge themselves to Tutu’s mission, the participants are put through group tasks designed to bring out their true colours - from conducting a choir to cooking under pressure. They are provoked to re-examine their opinions in debates on the most controversial ‘African’ issues - racial hierarchy, corruption, privilege, and Western democracy. This experiment also pushes them out of their comfort zones emotionally, culturally and intellectually. With exclusive access, the

series follows Tutu’s class of 2012, focusing in particular detail on the lives of five very different participants, as together they are coached to become a ‘moral task force’ for Africa. The young leaders are followed in their home cities as well as during the coaching, with filming in Tunis, Cape Town, Kigali, Johannesburg, Oxford and London over a period of seven months. Tutu’s fellowship is run in conjunction with Oxford University. Al Jazeera director of programmes Paul Eedle said, “Tutu’s Children offers a rare chance to witness a turning point in the lives of those who may one day change the course of Africa’s history. The travails of our fantastic onscreen characters will entertain and will also give our viewers a strong glimpse into the big issues affecting Africa.” This series will begin on January 10th 2013, and transmit for four weeks.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 49

My dear teacher, Remy Oriaku @ 60 BY SUNNY AWHEFEADA TRIBUTE

Dr. Remigius Onyejekwe Oriaku strength of character and meticulousness. He praised Oriaku’s handwriting to the

first met Dr. Remigius Onyejekwe Oriaku in the last days of December 1991. I met him at the famous Faculty of Arts quadrangle of the University of Ibadan (UI). That day, the usual hustle and bustle of Yuletide was palpable. The haze which came with the dust of December hung over the entire University landscape that was screened off by the imposing faculty building. The setting sun was gentle, so was the mild almost unfelt chill. This left a soothing and pleasant feeling on all. There was in the air a lot of optimism. Some were looking forward to Christmas and New Year celebrations. Others, especially my small group of friends and acquaintances were optimistic about gaining admission into the University that was billed to reopen in early 1992. It was the anticipation of our becoming undergraduates at UI that led us there. That was twenty-one years ago! I ended up not attending UI. Providence led my questing feet to the University of Benin, (UNIBEN) Benin-City, which turned out to be Oriaku’s alma mater. Some of the eggheads who taught Oriaku in UNIBEN’s Department of English and Literature in the late 1970s were also my teachers in the 1990s. It was through them that I got my first concrete impression of Remy Oriaku as my UNIBEN mentors call him. Professor Romanu Egudu in particular was untiring in his praise of Oriaku’s intellectual ability,

my UNIBEN teachers whom I told talked about Remy Oriaku. He easily became a

Dr. Oriaku’s contributions to literary scholarship at Ibadan and beyond cannot be quantified

extent that I saw in my mind’s eye how immaculate it must have been. He described him as one of the best essayists to have passed through his tutelage! When I started thinking of pursuing postgraduate studies I thought of going to UI and

beacon for me. It was therefore not fortuitous that when I visited UI to attend the ceremonies marking Professor Niyi Osundare’s 50th birthday in March 1997, Professor Austin Ofuani who was then the Head of English in UNIBEN, and who was also

attending the event literally handed me over to Dr. Oriaku. When I resumed for postgraduate studies at UI in May 1998, the phenomenon of brain drain had taken a severe toll on the university. The marauding dictatorial regime of Sani Abacha had subjugated the once idyllic ivory tower. The entire nation had been ravaged. Gloom enveloped Nigeria and tension was in the air. It was in that aura of dread and despair that I began postgraduate studies at UI. It was in the foregoing ambience that we began postgraduate studies at UI. Dr. Lekan Oyeleye (now professor) was the Head of Department, but Dr. Oriaku directed matters that pertained to literature. In spite of the paucity of academic staff Dr. Oriaku and his other colleagues threw themselves into the task of teaching us with a missionary zeal. They did their best to ensure that we had the best of postgraduate scholarship available in that circumstance. There were times we had lectures till dusk, because they had to also teach the undergraduate students in addition to my class as well as doctoral students to attend to. Our first lecture was with Dr. Oriaku and it turned out to be a timely agenda setting encounter. In the course of that lecture he assumed the role of the concerned teacher, an earnest counselor, an elder brother all put together. He told us what to do and what to avoid if we were to have a successful outing at the end of the session. As the semester and session progressed he

gave us books to read and allowed us unfettered access to his house. His wife, Chika, who now holds a doctorate, was always untiring in playing the genial host. The number of plates of rice, eba plus egusi soup with stock-fish many of us ate in their then Amina Way residence is unquantifiable! Dr. Oriaku’s contributions to literary scholarship at Ibadan and beyond cannot be quantified. He has since 1983 when he joined the English department remained a most committed teacher of teachers. He has mentored many generations of students across the three degrees, BA, MA and PhD, awarded by the department where he is now the longest serving academic staff. Many of his students are now well established scholars in numerous tertiary institutions across the world teaching others what he taught them. Apart from being a dedicated teacher, Oriaku is also forthright and highly disciplined. I am convinced that he left something life changing with every student that read English at Ibadan. He has also intervened to rescue many students whose academic careers would have been amputated, especially at the doctoral level. Together with another committed teacher and indefatigable encourager, Prof. Ademola Omobewaji Dasylva, Dr. Oriaku revived my doctoral research when my supervisor, Professor Sam Asein passed on in 2002. Many other instances of Oriaku’s redemptive gesture abound.

Dr. Awhefeada teaches literature at the Delta State University, Abraka.

Chris Brown ends Nigeria 2012 Music Scene with his superlative performance in Lagos

HE Nigeria music scene of 2012 ended on a high note as the city of Lagos witnessed what could be described as the concert of the year as American pop recording artiste, Chris Brown held the audience spell bound with his scintillating vocal and dance performances on-stage at the Expo Centre of Eko Hotel during his Lagos concert on Saturday, December 22nd, 2012, as part of the artiste’s African continent tour which started in South Africa. The concert aptly dubbed ‘Lagos on My Mind’, had leading telecommunications company in Nigeria, Etisalat, throwing its weight behind it as the prime sponsor. The 23-year multiple Grammy award nominee, who announced his arrival into the city with pictures and tweets via his Instagram and

A scene at the concert. Twitter web pages respectively was a bundle of talent as he performed his popular hit tracks to the excitement of the crowd. The

most memorable moment of the night being his surprise performance with Wizkid as they both danced to Wizkid’s ‘Azonto Freestyle’ that made

the crowd let out a resounding cheer. Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Wael Ammar speaking on the spon-

sorship said Etisalat was happy to be associated with a concert of such caliber and magnitude. “The Etisalat brand represents a company that is youthful, dynamic and innovative. What we do is to identify and support activities that resonate with the passions of our customers and Nigerians in general. We are excited to be part of the growing music and entertainment industry in Nigeria as it is fast taking its place on the world stage”, he said. The show also featured performances by top Nigerian artistes including rapper Naeto C, Tiwa Savage, Sasha P, LOS, Burna Boy, as well as the winner of season two of the Etisalat sponsored Nigerian Idol competition, Mercy Chinwo, who put up an impressive performance to the admiration of the crowd.

Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

N the face of the calls for the independence of local governments in Nigeria’s federal arrangement, the opposition by the governors, who made their position known through the Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF, and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, appears to have darkened the prospects of the matter being resolved through the on-going amendment of the 1999 Constitution. Aside making a similar call last year, Amaechi, at a session with journalists, about a fortnight ago, restated that the governors will continue to push against granting autonomy for the 774 local governments in the country. ‘’There is no country in the world that there are three federating units; there are only two all over the world. Why should you say that there must be a third federating unit in Nigeria?”, Amaechi stated. He explained that autonomy for local governments should not be a constitutional issue. Season of muscle-flexing This development has, in many ways, heralded another season of intrigues and muscle-flexing between the proponents of local government autonomy and those opposed to it. And for a nation in a hurry to see the matter of dependence of the local governments on the federal and state governments resolved, SundayVanguard findings revealed that the NGF’s position could mean that an end to the debate might not be in sight. Hence, there are growing concerns across the country, particularly on the part of those who argue that an autonomous local government system (LGS) will address fundamental issues like diversion of funds, hijacking of statutory functions, imposition of undemocratic structures (caretaker committee), abuse and noncompliance with relevance constitutional provisions that guide the operation of the Joint Local Government Account (JAAC), as well as illegal and sundry deductions from local government funds through the same account that have characterised grassroots administration in the country. The law and LG autonomy Instructively, the 1999 Constitution, as amended, in Sections 7 and 8, states thus: “The system of local government by democratically elected councils is by this Constitution guaranteed, and accordingly, the government of every state shall, subject to section 8 of this constitution, ensure their existence under a law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.” While this, to some extent, guarantees limited autonomy for the LGS, the contrary has been the case in Nigeria, where local government administration has witnessed the abuse of democratic process by state governors. It is on the strength of this that those championing the cause for LGs autonomy strongly agitate for the amendment of Sections 7 and 162 of the Constitution to provide for the autonomy. Also the LGS autonomy proponents stressed the need for a provision in the constitution that would make the tenure of elected chairmen and councillors uniform across the country. This is in addition to the expectation that state electoral bodies should be

CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT

N/Assembly moves to restructure Nigeria

President Goodluck Jonathan abolished, to allow the Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria,INEC, conduct elections into local governments.

PAGE 50—SUNDAY

The calls for restructuring, are believed to be hinged on the need for devolution of powers, fiscal federalism, residency and indigeneship, state police, among others

Even though these represent the yearnings of many, the actualisation remain gloomy following the position of the NGF. And observers, especially those who fault the NGF argument that there is no place in the world where local government is an autonomous tier of government as incorrect, have continued to question what the state governors stand to achieve with the retention of the status quo. Senate yet to take a stand Though the Senate is yet to take a stand on the issue and others identified for amendment, the Senate President, Sen. David Mark, at an event, last year, regretted that local governments were not functioning because no fund goes to them. Hence, he stated that for LGS to perform effectively, Section 7 of the

Ike Ekweremadu... .We must learn to uphold our

Constitution

Constitution must be amended. Strengthening Mark’s argument, Deputy Senate President, Mr. Ike Ekweremadu, at a retreat on constitution review, last year, lamented that the fiscal woes of the LGS could be attributed to the loophole created by Section 162 (6) of the Constitution. To this end, he said, “We must learn to uphold our Constitution. If we choose which court rulings to obey or not to obey, that is not the fault of the Constitution,’’ adding, ‘’ If local governments are run by brazenly undemocratic caretaker committees, that is not the fault of Section 7 of the Constitution.’’ Ekweremadu, who spoke at a presidential retreat for civil society organisations and professional associations, observed that, ‘’while the fiscal woes of most of the LGAs across the country could be attributed to the loophole created by Section 162 (6) of the Constitution, it cannot rightly be inferred that it is the spirit or intendment of the Constitution to incapacitate the local councils in the discharge of the responsibilities which the same Constitution has prescribed for them.” Backing the rationale for a people’s constitution with contemporary example, Ekweremadu said the Constitution of the United States of America, written by a few statesmen, remained the shortest in the world, noting that it has survived trials and triumphs, to steer the USA to number one global force ‘’American Constitution was written by just a few of their leaders at the time. And it was adopted on 17 th September, 1787. Yet it has only been amended 27 times in its almost 225year history. The United States Constitution Centre describes it as the shortest and oldest written constitution of any major sovereign state. The original handwritten

document is just four pages,’’ he stated. The deputy Senate President added: “The US Constitution has survived all the trials and triumphs of that nation’s history, including civil war to steer the USA to number one global force, and a politically, economically, socially virile and viable nation and, above all a reference point in democratic governance.’’ Issues around restructuring Besides the question of LGS, another aspect of constitution amendment that has so captured the attention of the people is the issue of restructuring. Primarily, the calls for restructuring, are believed to be hinged on the need for devolution of powers, fiscal federalism, residency and indigeneship, state police, among others. However, the proper handling of the restructuring question, checks revealed, would make or mar the constitution review exercise. This is why Ekweremadu warned against any attempt to reduce any matter proposed for amendment to regional or ethnic rhetoric. Apparently, expressing his disappointment over the insinuation in some quarters that fiscal federalism, as proposed, was to further impoverish some parts of the country, Ekweremadu noted that such claim was not only false but wrong. Consequently, he argued that every state in the country had no reason to be poor, adding that solid minerals deposits across the country are waiting to be harnessed. Ekweremadu, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, further noted that while lawmakers would do everything within their powers to ensure that the on-going efforts produced a Constitution that would

Conitnues on page 51

SUNDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 51

N/Assembly moves to restructure Nigeria Conitnued from page 50

between governments. By 1960, 44 items were on the exclusive list, while 28 were on the concurrent list. In the Republican constitution, 45 items were on the exclusive list, while 29 were on the concurrent list. In the 1979 constitution, 67 items were on the exclusive list, while 12 were on the concurrent list. In the 1999 constitution, 68 items were on the exclusive list, while 12 items were on the concurrent legislative list. Since 1979, the powers of the central government have increased to the detriment of the states.’’ Gidado said, ‘’The Federal Government has no business building schools and hospitals. All it needs to do is to set minimum standards and allow the states to build them. State police can be set up, to take adequate care of our internal security challenge. We could also consider setting up a regional court appeal, to allow quick dispensation of justice. A situation where a matter takes 15 years to go through appeal and sometimes five years or more to go through the supreme court is not healthy four our system. We have enough states, no need to create additional ones. If states are allowed to develop on their own, people will not clamour for more states. Decentralization or devolution

those coming behind, and it may be you. Ameachi will leave by 2015. The palm oil in the South East has disappeared, same with the groundnut pyramid in the north. Let us live like a nation, not as individuals. If there is justice, nobody will ask for more states. I used Rivers resources to train 300 policemen; these policemen were trained by the Israelis.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi powers will not lead to disintegration; rather it will lead to development.’’ Amaechi said: ‘’You have resources somewhere, you kept it, but you say you want to legislate on oil, it will not happen. How can I employ workers, yet it is the FG that will fix salaries for the workers. I have never seen a federal system where this is obtainable, except here. All matters relating to states should be left for states. These suggestions are not for me, but for

The Federal Government has no business building schools and hospitals. All it needs to do is to set minimum standards and allow the states to build them

We had an understanding with the police authorities in Abuja that they will remain in Rivers for sometime after their training. But the moment a certain IGP came, just because he did not like a certain Ameachi, he posted the policemen out. But if we have state

police, such a thing will never happen.’’ Still making a case for restructuring, Oyetibo observed thus: “A principle that should guide us, that is, FG and federating units should be common interest. But most of the matters reserved for the National Assembly to legislate upon are not of national interest. For instance, evidence act, labour and registration of common business name among other matters. What we have is not in tandem with federalism. It is not right to create more states. States matters should end at state level. States should have appeal court and Supreme Court. “Devolution and application of powers as we have today tend more to Unitarianism than federalism, even though the 1999 constitution links it to federalism.’’ Differing from others, Essien kicked against state police, using the 2012 gubernatorial election in Edo State as a case study. “On state creation-there will be no end to it. As we create states, we create more problems. What we need to do is to separate control of the means of revenue and revenue itself by the federating units. It calls for courage. But we should be bold enough to allow states producing the sources of revenue to control them. The FG can tax them heavily.”

Family alleges cover-up in Delta politician’s murder

ESPITE the evidence allegedly presented by the family of slain politician in Delta State, Chief Ogbe Onokpite, to the Nigeria Police ostensibly to expedite investigation into the murder of their bread winner, the police are yet to conclude the inquiry.

The family lawyer, Mr Odiana Eriata, and the younger brother of the deceased, Diemo, at a press conference held in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, disclosed that a police officer who allegedly led the operation that killed Onokpite, was confronted with the evidence from their personal investigation. Diemo, who insisted that investigation by the Nigeria Armoury Lagos showed that AK 47 rifles were issued by the police (31 MPF), Asaba, stated that one of the rifles was issued to the police officer while the other was planted in Onokpite’s hotel by another police officer. Eriata declared that police investigation established the fact that

the killer of Onokpite still walks the streets of Delta free. The lawyer alleged that there had been attempts by the police to sweep the murder under the carpet. Eriata also alleged that two witnesses to the politician’s killing were murdered in Bayelsa when facts began to emerge on the issue, saying eight of the 11 policemen allegedly fingered in the dastardly incident in Abuja were identified. The family and their counsel made a appeal to the

Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, to look into their case.

Joint Task Force in N-Delta gets new Commander BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

HE baton of leadership of the Joint Task Force in the Niger

Delta codenamed Operation

Jagboro tasks Deltans on security

N aspirant of the Democratic People’s Party, DPP, Okpe Local Government Area, Comrade Bernard Jagboro, has called on Delta State government and the people of the state to collectively ensure adequate security of lives and property Jagboro, who made the call in Warri while commenting on his nomination for an award “Delta State Security Man of the Year 2012” by the LifeWatch Gold Merit Award, LIGMA, Abuja, noted that peace and security is the collective responsibility of both the state government and the people.

L-R: The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Princess Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire; the Spiritual Head, Cherubim and Seraphim, Ayo ni o Movement, Senior Apostle Gabriel Fakeye; and General Overseer, Divine Ewulomi Evangelical Church of Christ (C & S) Arowojobe Estate, Prophet Oluwademilade Omololu Akpata (1st right); at the 2012 Harvest Thanksgiving Service of the church at Arowojobe, Lagos.

The pioneer President, Oil and Gas Producing Communities HOSTCOM, Delta Central, noted that he was nominated for the award for his unrelenting efforts and contribution to pe The letter read: “the LifeWatch Gold Merit Award in collaboration with Sylne Africa Centre, wish to inform you that you have been nominated “Delta State Security Man of the Year 2012” . Your boldness, patriotism and courage for justice and equity has endeared you to all Nigerians within and beyond”.

Pulo Shield changed hands at the weekend as a new Commander assumed command of the special security outfit combating crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and sea piracy in the region. In a brief ceremony held in Yenagoa, Major General Bata Debiro was ushered in as the second Commander of Task Force since its transformation in February 2011. Until his recent appointment, Debiro was the Director of the Armed Forces Transformation at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja. He takes over from Major General Johnson Ochoga who has proceeded on retirement after thirty years of active service. The new JTF Commander

commended his predecessor for the dogged fight put up against crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals in the region. Gen Debiro, who represented the Nigerian Army under the auspices of the African Union during military reconnaisance in Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, declared his readiness to take the battle to the door steps of crude oil thieves and sea pirates in the region in line with the Operation Pulo Shield operational mandate. In his remarks, the former JTF Commander, Ochoga, said his two years in the saddle brought about great reduction in crude oil theft in the region.

PAGE 52—SUNDAY

VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013

Have a victorious 2013

i, happy New Year to you all, who made 2012, so much beaut6iful, and hope you had a wonderful celebration of Christmas and New year? I pray that you will be blessed with fruitful years ahead.I wish you a fantastic January, love able February, marvelous March, foolless April, enjoyable May, successful June, wonderful July independent August, romantic September, tastiest October, beautiful November and happiest December Cheers! Networking/ Sponsorship

•Charity, needs a lady God fearing that can sponsor my academy, and i will make her an happiest woman on the planet. 08121502988 •Anthony, a student, needs a God fearing Christian or somebody that is touched by God for sponsorship. 08037859150, 08139720194 •Patrick, 20, cute, from Enugu state, needs a nice woman, who can assist him in his education. 07063893373. •Silva, 19, tall, slim and fair in complexion, needs a responsible female model that will serve as his mentor. 07068568603 •Rose, needs a man or a woman, who can treat me like their own and give me parental care.07068364639 •Blessing, 22, needs a man, aged 35-45, to sponsor her education.07065193083 •A guy, 17, a good footballer, needs a sponsor, for his career. 08100786223

Links

•Lawrence wants to link up with Itoro, who was his class mate in the early 90s, in Holy Child secondary school Calabar.08022873095 •Perpetual Ogonna Okpodu Mbanefo, wants to link with his old school mates from DDL Abakpa Nike in Enugu, Florida Nnenna Uzor, from Ugwu Aaron, in Enugu, Benedita Onovo and Obiageli Okoro.08038172716

Friends Searching Female

•Jane, beautiful and intelligent, needs friends, all over .07060595718 •Nadine, 22, pretty, tall and a medical student, needs employed male friends, aged 24-32, within Abuja, Benin, Lagos and War ri. 08164670573

Searching Male

•Godstime, 50, from Warri Delta state, needs a matured lady, who is either from Urhobo or Ijaw, aged 40 and above, for serious friendship. 08032925305 •Danjuma, resides in Lagos, needs mature male friends,

aged 30 and above. 08183337037 •Fred, needs a nice and caring male friend.08035110723 •Stephen, 18, kind, cute, handsome and hot, needs a rich and buoyant male friend to cater for him 08068851210

Lovers

Searching Female

•Tracy, 25, tall, a nurse, beautiful and fair in complexion, from Delta state, needs a responsible, employed and God fearing guy, aged 30 and above, for a serious relationship.07035042745 •Portia, 33, plumpy, busty and employed, from Delta state, needs a matured minded man, who is single, honest, educated, comfortable and Godfearing, for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage.08122505116, 08156249900 •Trichia, 30, fair with surplus breast and protruding buttocks dat can satisfy a man needs a caring, mature and responsible man age 35 and above to call her own. 08181073394 •Victoria, 33, bursty, outgoing with a lovely shape needs a man aged 40 and above for a serious relationship.07056652433 •Steph 29, tall, sexy and fun loving needs a mature, caring man aged 35 and above for romance and sex. 08030969381 •Joy, 28, fair in complexion, sexy and resides in Lagos, needs a romantic and rich guy, for a relationship. 08038157109 •Omo, a student, needs a

man, who is lovely, caring and generous to take care of her financially, aged 40-60. 08182019760 •A guy, 28, an orphan, student and Igbo, by tribe, needs an Igbo widower, who is a Christian, with little kids, age 28-35, who is caring, honest and responsible, for marriage.08066651155 •A lady, 6ft tall, chocolate in complexion, beautiful, endowed and from a decent background, needs a guy, aged 27-32, who is 6.2ft tall, light or chocolate in complexion, God fearing and handsome, for a relationship. 07067594396 •Fatima, 35, a single mother in Kwara state, needs a Muslim man, for a relationship that can lead to marriage. 08030420394 •Melody, 20, a nurse, from

Edo state, needs an employed or self employed handsome, caring and responsible guy, aged 22-28, for a relationship.08075970599 •Ola, 25, attractive, needs a caring man, for a relationship. 07053785757 •Pat, 25, busty and sexy, needs a romantic man, for a relationship.08068684663

Searching Male

•Mike, a driver, needs a lady, that is sexy and romantic, aged 25-50, for a relationship. 08068661500 •An elderly Yoruba widower, self employed, needs a slim, busty and God fearing Christian woman, aged 32-50, who is employed for a honest relationship. 08093179887 •Emeka, 40, a graduate, employed, HIV positive and resides in Delta state, needs a lady, who is HIV positive, graduate and employed, for marriage, aged 25-30. 08186608315, 07058131050 •John, 42, 5.8fts, fair in complexion, single, Christian, employed and from Edo state, but resides in Lagos, needs a fat lady, aged 39-40, who is employed. 08122243943, 08032694909 •Pascal, from Delta state, needs a girl, from Delta state, for a relationship.

DISCLAIMER! Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking. Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests which may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore request that text must be sent through at least one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For enquiries, text or call 08026651636

08163599195 •Mark, 27, needs a girl, he can really love and adore. 07082688328 •Clem, 35, average height, a graduate but resides in Warri Delta state, needs a God fearing, fair in complexion and beautiful lady, with a good height, a graduate and employed, for marriage, aged 2428.07035191799 or BB 227FD717 •Chris, tall, handsome, from Asaba Delta state, needs a busty and employed lady, aged 26-30, for a relationship.08062710056 •Ignatius, 40, tall, fair in complexion and from Imo state, needs an educated, healthy and employed either widow, divorcee or a single mother, aged 30 and above for a serious relationship.08122287300 •Emmanuel, 33, Yoruba by tribe, needs an employed lady, for a relationship. 08032460553 •Olu, 44, dark in complexion, a public health practitioner, in Lagos needs a God fearing lady as a wife.07058587071, 08100195760 •Datony 22, needs a caring, matured, wealthy lady for a discreetrel a t i o n s h i p . 08101508920 •Simon, 24, good looking and a student, needs a serious girl, for a romantic relationship. 07038205529, 08186903419 •James, 22, dark in complexion and resides in Delta state, needs an honest girl for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage.08168830298 •Prince, 25, a student, needs a pretty lady, in Sagamu, for serious relationship. 08164627192 •Godwin, 21, an upcoming gospel artiste, needs a girl that is God fearing, humble and caring, for a reloationship. 08060202605 •Collins, from Imo state, but resides in Lagos, needs a lady, aged 18-25, for a serious relationship.07037842149 •Olu, 30, employed and resides in Warri, needs a sexy and caring lady, aged 25-40, within Delta state, for a relationship.08081785173, 081316374881, 08078918241 •Osas, 25, needs a girl, aged 19-20, for a serious relationship, in Benin. 07069751006, 08179142525 •Emily, 29, 5.6ft, fair in complexion and resides in Asaba Delta state, needs a nice, caring, loving and rich lady, aged 35-50, for a relationship. 08167640735 •Nna, 38, from Ibo speaking area of Delta state, needs an employed or business lady, for a relationship, that will lead to marriage.08035157209 •Ben, 28, tall, handsome and fun to be with, needs a busty and pretty girl, for a relationship.08038777110

Sugar Cares Searching Female

•Ela, 23, beautiful, with a nice shape, needs a rich sugar daddy, to take proper care of her, for either a date or marriage.08177258866 •Sandra, 27, brown skin, average, smooth skin, beautiful big boobs, well endowed, enchanting and a fresh graduate needs a sugar daddy who will love and care for her for a good loving sexual relationship. 08136441298 •Jennifer, 22, resides in Delta state, needs a rich sugar daddy to take care of her education. 07065011453

•Amenlia, 27, pretty and obedient, needs a romantic and rich sugar daddy, to take care of her.08177258866

Searching Male,

•Godwin, 25, resides in Port Harcourt, .good looking dark in complexion and tall, needs a decent comfortable, loving, caring and good looking sugar mummy.08064341521 •Vicker, needs a sugar mummy. 08063271928 •Godstime, 27, resides in Delta state, needs a sugar mummy, aged 40-60, for a serious relationship.08055142462, 08065255334 •Chibueze, 26, sexy and needs a sugar mummy, who can take care of him. 07035646117 •Anthony, 35, resides in Delta state, needs a caring and a sincere, sugar mummy, aged 40-50, who can take care of him, for a serious relationship.08035475200 •Henry, from Ph, needs a sugar mummy that is caring, sexy, romantic and wealthy, for a relationship.08175732513, 08067643459 •Walter, 26, a graduate, needs a sugar mummy.08055154902, 08060849514 •Prince, 27, needs a beautiful sugar mummy, for a relationship, either in Delta, Edo Ph, Lagos or Anambra. 08058771882 •Benjamin, 27, resides in Lagos, needs a sexy sugar mummy, who can take care of him, for a serous relationship. 08135363836 •A man, 35, handsome and needs a sugar mummy, aged 45-55, who is sexy and good on bed. 08076648782, 08131884461 •Kelvin, 28, 5.8ft tall, handsome and resides in Warri Delta state, needs a sugar mummy. 08130281946 •Charles, 22, needs a sugar mummy that is rich and will provide for his needs. 07066455697 •Dav, 22, fair in complexion, handsome, from Delta state, needs a caring and loving beautiful sugar mummy, for a relationship. 08133403322 •Nelly, 23, handsome and strong, average height and needs a sugar mummy to take care of him financially and for a discreet relationship. 08069633105 •Emmanuel, 23, from Delta state, needs a sugar mummy, aged 28-50, that is kind hearted and loving, for discreet relationship.08162657763 •Temidayo, 23, dark in complexion and resides in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy, aged 35-40. 07034600002 •A guy, handsome, romantic, sexy and resides in Abuja, needs a caring, sexy, sugar mummy, for a romantic affair .07063859981 •Louis, 25, handsome, Igbo, an undergraduate and resides in Enugu state, needs a caring and loving sugar mummy, who will help him financially.08104412466 •Victor, 31, a graduate and employed, in Benin, needs a rich and sexy sugar mummy, aged 24-45, for a romantic and lovely relationship. 07034484160 •T, 33, Lagos, cool and easy going, needs a sugar mummy, age is not a barrier. 08061130906 •Tomiwa, 38, handsome, active and romantic, needs a rich and caring sugar mummy, aged 30. 07086782681, 08186510839

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013, PAGE 53

•Maxi, 25, a student, resides in Port-Harcourt, needs a pretty sugar mummy that resides in Rivers state, who can take care of him.07089874742 •Akinladejo, 40, needs a sexy sugar mummy, who is okay. 08038057501, 08189509096 •Silver, 29, resides in Delta state, needs a sexy and loving sugar mummy, for a relationship.08122875539, 07036737165, 08182579742 •Kingsley, 20, average height and chocolate in complexion, needs a sugar mummy, for a relationship. 08132252254 •Femi, 34, resides in Lagos, needs a good and caring sugar mummy.08088054769 •A guy, 27, handsome, dark in complexion, average height, needs a caring sugar mummy in Abuja, aged 45. 07039587559 •Collins, resides in Lagos, needs a sexy and active sugar mummy, aged 40-50. 08033347242 •Maxwell, 22, from Delta state, needs a sugar mummy, aged 40-65.08068343551 •Wisdom, 18, 6.3ft tall, needs a sugar mummy, for a relationship.08067116511 •John, 25, a student, resides in Port-Harcourt, needs a pretty sugar mummy, in Rivers state. 08098304558, 08035603399 •Fred, 19, needs a loving and caring sugar mummy, from Benin, aged 30-40. 08068534068 •Chris, needs a God fearing, caring, loving and encouraging sugar mummy, for a good relationship.08030954995 •Aycey, 26, resides in Benin, needs a caring sugar mummy, who will take care of him. 07034758025 •Laken, 40, needs a good looking sugar mummy, aged 45-50, for friendship. 08181014917 •Mark, 22, needs a caring and wealthy sugar mummy in Port Harcourt, aged 3040. 08109862128, 08183734409 •London, 28, handsome, fair in complexion, from Delta state, fair in complexion and needs a cute sugar mummy, for an affair. 08054023170, 08123462499 •Johnson, 27, resides in Edo state, needs a sugar mummy for a serious relationship, 08125634898 •Ola, 27, needs a sugar mummy that is sexy and rich, for a relationship. 08159900792 •A guy, needs a beautiful and romantic sugar mummy, aged 35-45, within Abia and Imo state, if possible, from Umuahia.08108628132 •Seth, 27, handsome and a graduate, needs a nice caring sugar mummy, in Lagos. 07059544436, 08067302323 •Buchi, 30, single, a business man, needs a rich and caring sugar mummy, aged 45-65, for a serious affair. 0708457406 •Paul, 29, tall, mature and resides in Lagos, needs an active sugar mummy, aged 35-50. 08183440043

•Samson, resides in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy, that will take care of him. 08169646924 •Jackson, 30, good looking and resides in Lagos, needs a loving and caring sugar mummy, for a romantic, relationship.08051823278 •Jayjay, 30, handsome and very romantic, needs a caring sugar mummy. 07038578603 •Justin, reisdes in Port Harcourt, needs a sexy and wealthy sugar mummy.

needs a sugar mummy, who will take care of him. 08157943332 •Sunday, 28, needs a sugar mummy, aged 45-50, for a long lasting relationship. 08055210010, 08072743019 •Harrison, 29, tall, dark in complexion, resides in Dutse- jigawa state, needs a beautiful sugar mummy, aged 35 and above.08064958119 •Femi, 5.7ft, slim, chocolate in complexion and resides in

From leftL Chief Executive Official Jobberman, Mr. Deji Adewunmi, Senior Vice President (Sales), Mr. Lekan Olude,Brand Ambassador Jobberman, Funke Akindele and Senior Vice-President (Product), Mr. Opeyemi Awoyemi at the unveiling of Jobberman Brand Ambassador held at Jobberman head office, Lekki, Lagos.

FG warned against scrapping water resources ministry CALEB AYANSINA

08030647000 •Bastinbob, tall, dark in complexion, good looking and resides in Lagos, needs a rich sugar mummy. 08139430532 •Alex, 32, needs a sugar mummy that will satisfy his emotional and financial needs. 08092551964 •Charles, a student from Abia state, needs a fat, sexy, active, healthy and financially ok sugar mummy, aged 35- 45, who can spend for on him. 08108628132 •A guy, 25, needs a sugar mummy, in Delta state. 08188253249 •John, from Warri, needs a loving and caring sugar mummy, for a relationship. 08157345672 •Kamdi, 30, from Warri, needs a sugar mummy that will assist him financially, aged 3045.08062133187 •Odinaka, a student, needs a sugar mummy in Delta state, for a relationship.08066393258 •Daniel- i am nice guy, 22years and i am looking for a sugar mummy who will take good care of me. 08027545728 •Mercy, 35, handsome nice humble needs sugar mummy my line is 08185259149 •Kizito, 27, tall, slim, employed and resides in Owerri, needs a sugar mummy. 08021115428, 08067233877 •A guy, 25, needs a sugar mummy, aged 30-40, who can take care of him.07054477007 •Uc, 24, tall, chocolate, needs a clean, sweet and busty sugar mummy.07038502465 •Treasure, 29, handsome and needs a bold, sexy and romantic sugar mummy. 08102768626, 07043475368 •Desmond, from Ph, needs a sugar mummy, that is caring and romantic.08073220658 •Dave, 28, needs a sugar mummy who is sexy and caring.08160254605 •Austin, 28, and resides in Delta state, needs a sugar mummy, aged 38 and above. 08027492392, 08064758889 •Damian, 26, handsome, sexy and athletic, from Delta state, needs a sugar mummy. 08106629537 •Chris, 24, dark in complexion, needs a romantic and rich sugar mummy, aged 30-50. 07054079912, 08182307694 •Ken, 28, from Delta state,

Lagos, needs a sugar mummy, aged 45-50, who is caring.08077345809,08029489451 •Olamilekan, 30, a graduate, needs a sugar mummy who can take good care of his financial needs.08076519682 •A guy, 28, from lmo state, needs a sugar mummy, aged 30-60, for a relationship. 07038734164, 07067100841 •Harry, 29, a graduate from Delta state, needs a sugar mummy that can take care of his financial needs. 07069673899 •Jimmy, 30, .tall and presentable, needs a romantic, sexy and wealthy sugar mummy that can take good care of him, either in Lagos or Benin. 07052235031,08066776757 •Johnero, tall, needs a wealthy, sexy and caring sugar mummy, from Delta, Bayelsa, Lagos or Port Harcourt. 08101638450 •Clinton, from Anambra state, but resides in Lagos, needs a sugar mummy. 08168144268 •Francis, 27, resides in Onisha Anambra state, needs a wealthy sugar mummy, aged 30- 50, who can help him start a busness. 08069514616 •Marcus, 37, an entertainer and resides in Lagos, needs a lovely sugar mummy, from any state but resides in Lagos.08106381228 •Prince,20, handsome, dark in complexion and from Abia state, needs a sugar mummy, that is caring, sexy and financially ok, aged 3050,who resides in Abia state or any other state. 08161398403 •Daniel, a student, needs a nice sugar mummy. 08058187203, 08068534659 •A guy, 33, needs a sugar mummy, who is sexy, aged 29-58.08124728964, 08132449825 •Smith, 26, 5ft tall, slim and from Delta state, needs a sugar mummy.07067992230 Yoma, 28, needs an intelligent and rich sugar mummy, who will help him to achieve his goals. 08154480295, 08134814853 •Frank, tall, dark in complexion and needs a nice and caring sugar mummy,

civil society organiza tion (CSO), Society for Water and Sanitation, insists that the call for the scrapping of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources will spell doom for the country, just as it canvassed for increase in the budgetary provision for water, sanitation and hygiene this year. The National Coordinator of the group, Leo Atakpu, while presenting a communiqué issued at the end of one-day stakeholders’ policy dialogue on Budget Analysis, Result and Commitments organized in partnership with Africa Network on Water in Abuja, said whoever championed such call did not mean well for the country.

He explained that such a decision had been taken in the past, when the ministry was merged with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Nigerians paid dearly for it, adding that what should be done by government at all levels is to strengthen the Ministry of Water Resources, while civil society organizations give close monitoring to ensure clean water supply to the populace. Atakpu disclosed that, presently, the total coverage of water in Nigeria is 58%, while total coverage for sanitation stands at 33%, with the hope of increasing water coverage to 75% and that of sanitation to 65% by the year 2015, making it clear that with 2013 budget, there would be no progress.

Labour union tasks FG on insecurity, corruption

HE National President of Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education, Nigeria, SSUCOEN, Comrade Muhammed Sani Uwaisu, has called on the Federal Government to attend to the seven points raised in the communique at the end of the union’s 14th National Delegates’ Conference held in Warri, Delta State. According to Uwaisu, the

union called on President Goodluck Jonathan to address the security challenges bedevilling the nation. ”We observed with great dismay the rising level of corruption in Ministries, Department and Agencies and therefore called on the Federal Government and the anti corruption agencies to sit up with a view to improving the country’s rating by the international community,” he added.

Group set to score legislators on performance BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

RESIDENT, Group All of Us, Mr Jackson Lekan Ojo said his body had come up with a yardstick to measure performance of members of the National Assembly to enhance their productivity. Speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt, Mr Ojo said the move by his group would encourage members of the National Assembly to be committed to the service of oversight functions, law making and other duties expected of them. He further explained that the result of the assessment of members of the House of Representatives in the North West zone singled out three legislators for commendation. They are Hon Shuaibu Gwandu Bobir representing Isa/Sabon Birni federal constituency of

Sokoto State, Hon Ibrahim Mohammed Garba of Tankarkar/Gangarawa federal constituency of Jigawa State and Hon Sheu Nicholas Garba of Jema’a/ Sanga federal constituency of Kaduna State “We started this project by calling our men from the North-West to start the review of project to mark out the outstanding representatives we have in the House of Representatives so that others will see this and also improve on whatever they are doing as representatives of the people. “We will move from NorthWest to North-East, to NorthCentral and come down South until we have covered the whole federation, picking out the best elements from across the regions. We should be able to finish before the end of the first quarter of this year.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013 --PAGE 54

Dull atmosphere greets 2013 Nations Cup, fans affirm

T is the largest sporting event on the continent, but the build-up started late and

UNTERS wanting to place a safe bet on the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations should strongly consider putting their money on Nigeria achieving a top-three finish. The Super Eagles have competed at 16 tournaments spanning 50 years and won two, finished runners-up four times and third seven times an incredible record of consistency. Only in 1963 and 1982 (first round) and 2008 (quarterfinals) have the Eagles failed to collect medals and they look good for at least a last-eight place in South Africa after drawing Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Zambia in Group C. Countries finishing first and second in each of four minileagues advance to the quarterfinals and Nigeria and defending champions Zambia are considered the likely survivors. The Super Eagles surprisingly failed to qualify for the 2012 Cup of Nations in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea and coach Samon Siasia paid the price when his contract was not renewed.Enter Stephen 'Big Boss' Keshi, a no-nonsense coach who skippered Nigeria the last time they conquered Africa with a comeback 2-1 triumph over Zambia in Tunis 19 years ago.He was a physically formidable centreback who led by example and has spent the last few weeks at a training camp in Portugal trying to instill the same passion for the green and white colours that he possesses. "I want footballers who are hungry, committed and proud to play for Nigeria," stressed the

there is a lack of atmosphere just over a week before the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations

Nations Cup: Eagles' incredible record of consistency •Bet on 'em for top 3 finnish •Keshi wants hungry, committed players AGGRESSIVE... Ikechukwu Uche, pushing for a goal. He’s Keshi’s kind of player, desperate and committed.

Nations Cup coach who handled Togo and Mali without getting beyond the first round at previous Cup of Nations tournaments."It is

good to see players working so hard to win places in my starting line-up. Such competition gives me a nice

kind of headache. No one has a permanent shirt in the team - they must fight to get it and fight to keep it."

Asamoah Gyan: We’ll die for Ghana N

ATIONAL team captain, Asamoah Gyan has assured President John Mahama and Ghanaians that all his Black Stars teammates are prepared to put down their lives for the country, all in the bid to win that elusive 5th Cup of Africa Nations title, according to agency r e p o r t s . Gyan leads Ghana into a major tournament for the first time at the 29th continental showpiece which begins next weekend in South Africa with the Black Stars play in Group B alongside DR Congo, Mali and Niger. Ghanaian expectations are very high as the quest to end the now 31 year wait for silverware reaches a crescendo and every of 25 million Ghanaians are looking forward to nothing than to see the national team lift the Africa Cup on February 10 in Johannesburg. It is a wish for which Gyan insists they will fight with all their might.

South African fans at a 2010 World Cup football match in Johannesburg. They say the electric atmosphere before the 2010 event is lacking this around for the 2013 Nations Cup in the same country.

According to him, “The President has done a lot to inspire us in the past and we never got the chance so I will use this opportunity to thank you for all the good work

you’ve been doing for the Black Stars,” Gyan said during the the Black Stars visit to President Mahama in Accra before their departure for the cmpetition. The Ghana captain

added: “We thank you very much and promise to work hard to win CAN 2013 for you and Ghanaians. Hopefully at the end of the tournament, we’ll come back with smiles on our f a c e s . ” “The coach has selected his best team for the tournament and all the players are prepared to die for the country. We’ll go to South Africa and make every Ghanaian very proud. It’s been a long while since Ghana won the cup and this time we promise to bring the cup home to make everybody proud and happy.”

kicks off in South Africa. The sizzle of colourful public enthusiasm ahead of the 2010 World Cup is conspicuously absent, drawing criticism from foreign football supporters living in the country. “If you look at 2010 there were flags on the roads. This time — nothing,” said Christopher Kalibwe, 28, sporting his native Zambia’s green, red, black and orange at a warm-up match in Johannesburg. “You just read of it in the newspapers,” he told AFP. “I don’t think there is any vibe,” said Moroccan Rachid Souilek, who also watched a goalless warm-up draw between his country and defending African champions Zambia. “It’s not like the World Cup. The fever was there months before the tournament. There are no TV shows, no buildup.” South Africa host the Africa Cup from January 19 to February 10, having stepped in when turmoil in Libya forced the tournament to be moved from the North African country. Comparisons to the extremely successful World Cup are inevitable as foreign media pick up on the lacklustre run-up. “In contrast to the 2010 World Cup, when advertisements were put up well ahead of time in places like shopping centres, streets, airports, stadiums and cars, for this continental tournament the country has done little to show visitors what it has achieved in terms of organisation,” reported Angolan news agency ANGOP. But the organisers hit back at the criticism. “I think it’s unfair,” Cup of Nations local organising committee (LOC) spokesman Sipho Sithole told AFP. “You are expecting South Africa to have done the same that it did for 2010. If this was the 2017 (Cup of Nations) — the tournament we were supposed to host — and we had four years, it would have been fair.” Committee chief executive Mvuzo Mbebe blamed sponsors for the lack of hype, saying the LOC did not drive marketing during the World Cup. “It was driven by sponsors,” he said. “Have you seen any other ads except for the adverts of the LOC? With our limited resources, we can only do a certain amount.” Newspapers have been counting down the days to the January 19 tournament opener between South Africa and debutants Cape Verde Islands, but radio advertisements started only this week.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 13, 2013 -- PAGE 55

….. As their inclusion excites Sunshine’s Itodo

FLIGHT … Rangers of Enugu forward, Ejike Uzoenyi is one of the six home-based players who made it to the Nations Cup. Former Nigeria Premier League player, Victor Ezeji is counting on them to shine in the competition

Sunshine Stars’ defensive midfielder, Cletus Itodo is excited six Nigeria Premier League (NPL) players made Super Eagles 23-man Afcon squad. Super Eagles’ manager, Stephen Keshi on Wednesday named Rangers’ trio, Chigozie Agbim, Sunday Mba and Ejike Uzoenyi as well as Sunshine Stars’ Godfrey Oboabona, Warri Wolves’ Azubuike Egwuekwe and Kano Pillars’ Reuben Gabriel in his 23-man Afcon final list. Itodo said the development is a testimony that the domestic players have come of age and can be trusted for higher responsibilities. “We’re happy that our captain, Godfrey Oboabona made the final cut, it’s a thing of joy for us and equally a wonderful credit to the local lads that six of theirs are included in the 23-man Afcon list. “This development has enhanced our profiles as well as market value. “It’s left to them to prove themselves on the field of play as good performance will open more doors for other of their likes,” said the Nigerian midfielder to supersport.com.

•Ejike Uzoenyi

Togo camp in disarray

awks of Togo camp is in a mess after the Togolese Football Federation submitted a list different from the one selected by coach Didier Six to the Confederation of Africa Football. Some of the players selected by Six have been forced out of camp, while members of his technical crew have threatened to quit. Also it was reported that star striker Emmanuel Adebayor who was persuaded to play for the Hawks by Togo President, Faure Gnassingbe was irked by the new development and has threatened to stay back in London. “Six gave a list which wasn’t the one sent by the federation to the CAF. So certain players have to leave [the pretournament training camp]. Adebayor doesn’t want to continue like this. We don’t yet know what the other players are going to do. It’s a right mess.

Ezeji banks on NPL six to shine at SA 2013 N

igeria Premier League veteran Victor Ezeji has urged the six local league players selected by coach Stephen Keshi to put up their best at the 2013 Nations Cup and demonstrate that something good can come out of the moribund Nigerian league. Ezeji who scored five goals last season for Sharks of Port Harcourt noted that the League in Nigeria may never have the chance to correct the mistakes of the past if they fail to take advantage of what is happening with the boys in the Super Eagles camp. “Six boys from local league shows there is something the technical crew has seen in the home based players. This is where the people currently in charge of the Premier League should sit down to utilise the opportunity by doing their best to correct the mistakes of the past. “This is the best time

for the authorities in charge to come together and do something before the Nigeria Premier league goes into extinction. “So much is happening and if all concerned don’t do something fast, there will be real problem. What other opportunity do we need

to make sure that things are done right with six of our ambassadors in the Super Eagles squad. “Players must be respected. They must be paid as and when due. I believe in the League transforming to be one of the best in the world. “Imagine the six players coming back to

join their teams and they still go through hell because they want to get their money. “The last time we witnessed home based doing well with the national team was when Clemens Westerhoff was in charge of the Super Eagles.

Ejide’s ijury scares Keshi, puts Akpeyi on stand-by Ejide is said to be nursing an tear

cared of the injury that hit goalkeeper Austin Ejide in the Cape Verde friendly, coach Stephen Keshi has opted to continue to retain dropped goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi in their pre-Afcon camp. Akpeyi, who plays for Nigeria Premier League (NPL) club, Heartland, has been put on standby following doubts over goalkeeper Austin Ejide’s health. Portland Timbers’ forward, Bright Dike, has also been told by the Nigerian selectors to remain in camp after missing out on the 23-man squad to the Africa Cup of Nations announced this week.

to his tendon which he pulled during the pre-Afcon friendly against Cape Verde Islands on Wednesday. Supersport.com has been informed that Nigeria team doctor, Ibrahim Gyaran, has told head coach, Stephen Keshi that Ejide’s injury would be scrutinised once again on Friday before a decision is made. “No decision has been reached yet on Ejide or players put on stand-by. The team doctor has not given any details yet on Ejide’s health but as precaution Daniel Akpeyi and Bright Dike are still in camp,” spokesman of the Nigerian squad, Ben Alaiya disclosed to supersport.com on Friday morning.

Injury KO’s Rooney from Liverpool cracker

anchester United striker Wayne Rooney will miss today’s Premier League clash against north-west rivals Liverpool after failing to recover from a knee injury, manager Alex Ferguson said at the weekend. Rooney injured a knee ligament in training and missed United’s holiday fixtures against Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion and Wigan Athletic as well as their FA Cup draw at West Ham United. “Wayne Rooney is still out,” Ferguson told reporters. “I am hoping he will start training today actually, in which case he won’t be far away. I don’t think it is

an issue, but we need to guide him along. “In terms of the injury he had, it’s quite straightforward so if he starts today, I assume he will be available for Wednesday ’s replay (against West Ham).” United winger Nani and midfielder Anderson will both return to the squad for Liverpool’s visit to Old Trafford. “Nani is back in training and will be included in the squad for Sunday. “Anderson has been back training for 10 days now so he will be in the squad for Sunday. All in all it is quite a positive situation. It’s good to have them back.”

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 13, 2013

Nations Cup: Fly like real Eagles, Nwosu tells team BY EDDIE AKALONU FORMER Golden Eaglets coach, Henry Nwosu has charged the Super Eagles

NATIONS CUP:

players to tickle Nigerians and Africans with a good performance in the Africa Nations Cup in South Africa,

MASTERFUL.... Super Eagles' midfielder John Mikel Obi masterfully controls the ball during the International friendly football match Nigeria vs Cape Verde in Faro last Wednesday. That's the kind of performance Henry Nwosu wants the team to put up in South Africa. Photo: AFP

saying that it would serve as proof that they are the best 23 the country has at the moment. Reacting to the Afcon 2013 list released by coach Stephen Keshi, Nwosu, a veteran of a couple editions of the competition, said “the list is okay to me. It is now left for the players to prove themselves individually and collectively in each passing game in South Africa as the best we have and my message goes particularly to the local players who made the list,” he told our correspondent in Lagos. He admonished the team to work hard for success because the country earnestly yearns for a trophy after a long spell of disappointments, saying “ it is an opportunity for the players to wipe our tears away. The players have to bear in mind that result is paramount and it is defined by good performance, meaning they must constantly show the best skill, fair-play and best attitude but not forgetting to play as a team. These are elements that draw success to a team and I have no doubt in my mind that they would give a good account of themselves . I would like them to enter the competition with calm but confident attitude and with a determination that will take us far beyond the the semi final target set for this competition,” he added

Yobo catches cold over Group C opponents the group matches. “ Let us not get beyond ourselves, though. The focus for now is one getting past the group stage and only then should we think about the quarter-finals and, hopefully, the semi-finals and final. “Winning the trophy is not going to be easy, but I promise we will give it our best shot. I

BY BEN EFE

UPER Eagles captain Joseph Yobo has refused to commit himself to predicting Nigeria’s final destination at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations starting on Saturday in South Africa. Yobo stated that the team’s focus will be to get out of a seemingly tough group where all the teams pack a credential and each is capable of causing upset. Nigeria will play against Burkina Faso on January 21 while Ethiopia and Zambia will square up in the other group game. Though Yobo argued that Nigeria can reach the final of the tournament, he added that it will

•Yobo depend on how they perform in

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TODAY’S FIXTURES Man Utd Arsenal

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urge Nigerians to keep praying for us and to believe in this team,” Yobo said on cafonline.com. Ethiopia’s Wadi Degla confirms Yobo’s apprehension of the group pairings as he said the Walya Anthelops are just as good as any of the teams in the group. “Our group is very difficult.

Nigeria is a big team, and so is Zambia, who won the Nations Cup the last time. However, our team is also strong. We have lost only one game in the last year, so I believe we can have a good tournament, God willing. We will play with the aim of reaching the next round,” said the striker who has scored nine goals from 12 international matches.

ACROSS 1. Nigerian state (5) 3. Snarled (7) 7. Of the dark race (5) 8. Respond (5) 9. Consumed (5) 10. Wit (3) 11. Church part (5) 13. Entrance (4) 15. Stitch (3) 17. Deed (4) 19. Hope (6) 21. However (3) 23. Thanks (2) 25. Curve (3) 26. Class (5) 29. Important (5) 30. Before (3) 31. Revise (4) 34. Mate (4) 36. Italian City (4) 39. Push back (5) 40. Heed (4) 42. End of day (5) 43. Exposed (8) 44. Halt (5)

DOWN 1. Rubbish (7) 2. Go in (5) 3. Proceeding (5) 4. Eye-socket (5) 5. Fortune (4) 6. Faculty head (4) 14. Newt (3) 15. Heavenly body (4) 16. Damp (3) 18. Keen (4) 20. Treaty (4) 22. Goad (4) 24. Always (4) 25. Beer (3) 27. Grow old (3) 28. Stray (3) 32. Lucifer (5) 33. Fashion (5) 34. Schemes (5) 37. Leer (4) 38. Otherwise (4) 41. Pup’s cry (3)

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