ELECTION SAGA: PDP mounts pressure on Jega to drop card-reader machines by Vanguard Media Limited

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ELECTION SAGA: PDP mounts pressure on Jega to drop Card Reader Machines •It’s a plot to force him out and rig election -—APC •CLO asks Commission to accept blame for failure By Emeka Mamah & Henry Umoru

ORE controversies have followed last Saturday’s rescheduling of the general elections that were originally billed to start today with the Presidential elections. And there are also emerging factors that may play out before the new date of March 28, for the Presidential election. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, rejected the use of computerised Card Reader Machines by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for accreditation and tracking of information on the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs. According to INEC, the machine could help in checking rigging as it would display information on any person who has voted. But the PDP now fears that the machine may not make for credible elections as it is said to easily malfunction especially when the battery is weak. The party also accused INEC of engaging in a lot of manipulations that could favour the opposition, saying that as a ruling party, the PDP was only being diplomatic so as not to be seen as being opposed to the polls. National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu made these observations in Abuja, when a delegation of African Union election observers led by AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi visited the national secretariat of the PDP. The Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, also yesterday asked INEC to accept blame for not being ready to conduct a free and fair elections in the country, saying ‘’that the evidences are on the ground to show that the commission was not ready to go ahead with the polls as it claimed.’’ EACH CARD READER WORKS FOR ONLY FIVE HOURS This was even as sources told the Saturday Vanguard that for each card reader to be effective, it has to be charged for about 24 hours prior to the election even as it may not last for long hours before the battery would go down. However, Muazu noted that although the use of card reading machine which forms part of INEC’s Electronic Management Tool, EMT was a welcome development in the

nation’s political history, the failure of INEC to meet up with the role expected of it as it had not test-run the machines for Nigerians to see whether the process would be successful or not was a big failure by INEC. According to him, Nigerians cannot be used as guinea pigs over the matter, hence INEC management must get their acts right before introducing the device. REPORT INEC MANIPULATIONS TO THE WORLD The PDP National Chairman urged the delegation to ensure that as observers, they report the manipulations of the distribution of the PVCs by INEC to the whole world. “What is happening today in INEC has been highlighted to them via letters from our party to Jega’s office on so many issues including the fraud of PVC that we anticipated. ‘’We all said this in writing to INEC. It is because we are the ruling party, we don’t want to be unruly. If we were the opposition, we would make a lot of noise and say a lot of things. “In their own sense of judgment, how does Professor Attahiru Jega who is the leader of INEC exonerate himself from disenfranchising 23 million Nigerians and telling the world that he was ready for elections? We are saying that he was not ready. 23 out of the 68 million registered voters by his personal submission in the Council of State’s meeting that was held last week to review the preparedness or otherwise of INEC to conduct the election had not been distributed; 23 million PVCs were either produced and not distributed or not produced at all. “This must be highlighted and made known to the world. Your report must be very explicit on what has happened. He is economical with the truth. We must not have 100 as the basis for distribution and collection; But 23 million out of 68 million eligible voters or 34% as the INEC Chairman himself confirmed (are not going to vote) is unacceptable by any standard,” he said. Earlier, the leader of the delegation of observers Dr. Abdullahi had noted that they were impressed not seeing street fighting or protest trailing the postponement of the elections, adding that the

development showed the level of maturity of Nigerians and the depth of democratic practice in the country. Abdullahi, a former commissioner in Mu’azu’s cabinet when he was governor of Bauchi State between 1999 to 2007, was accompanied on the visit by five other members of the AU observer mission on the March 28 elections. Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the CLO, Mr Ibuchukwu Ezike who spoke on the INEC’s level of preparedness for the elections yesterday blamed the commission over its alleged preparations for polls. CLO POOH-POOHS INEC FOR ALLEGED POOR PREPARATIONS Ezike, the CLO executive secretary said, ‘’the following lend support to my argument. Printing of PVCs is still in progress. Over 20 million Nigerians are yet to collect their PVCs. None display of voters registers as required by law. ‘’About 700,000 ad-hoc staff still in the process of being recruited and trained. Card readers being used for the first time in the country yet to be test-run or tested. Lopsided distribution of PVCs as well as lack of full complement of ballot boxes for elections among others. ‘’Why is the INEC misleading Nigerians on these issues and people are singing praises for it?’’ APC kicks Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO), has frowned at the Presidency’s and PDP’s strident and scurrilous castigation of the use of Card Readers for ensuring the integrity of the forthcoming general elections, as being proposed by INEC, as the PDP’s agenda for the manipulation of the electoral process. The APCPCO in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu described the action by the ruling PDP and the Presidency as a precursor to the move to stampede the resignation of Professor Attahiru Jega before the appointment of a pliable lackey, who according to him, would do the hatchet job of stopping the use of the Card Readers. Shehu noted that the INEC’s decision to use the Card Readers was borne

L-R Price Julius Adelusi-Adeliyu, Director, Ms Nonny Ugboma, Executive Secretary, Mr. Dennis Okoro, Director, all with the MTN Foundation, Mrs. Frances Emmanuel, Patron MUSON and Chief Femi Adeniji Willams, Former Chairman, MUSON Board of Trustee, at the MTNF/MUSON Alumni valentine concert in Onikan, yesterday. out of the need to ensure electoral transparency and integrity. “Aside the huge financial investment involved in the procurement of the Card Readers, the PDP’s desire to hoodwink the Nigerian people on this anti-rigging device, is not just subterranean but an affront on the independence of the electoral body. “We are equally aware that this is the latest gambit of the ruling Party in its desire to thwart the electoral wishes of majority of Nigerian electorate. We are aware also of the use of its tested and well-oiled

rigging machine of unregistered voters and accentuation of same by the use of soldiers that had been specially trained and reserved for that nefarious purpose. “We have said it that, based on the ruling of the Federal High Court, Sokoto against the use of Soldiers for Election duties, our Party is opposed to the use of soldiers for the Election Days on 28th March and 11th April, 2015. “We insist that the use of Card Readers for authenticating the propriety of the Permanent

Voters’ Cards presented and ultimately, accreditation of Voters, as envisioned by INEC. These, in our estimation as a credible Party, remain the irreducible minimum that must form the basis for the conduct of free, fair, and credible elections on 28th March and 11th April, 2015. “We call on all Nigerians to remain vigilant and we, on our part, shall remain alive to our responsibility in galvanizing the citizenry for assuring on the virility of the Nigerian nation. Indeed, eternal vigilance is the price of our liberty.”

Presidency in dilemma over four Govs’s secret alliance with APC By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

ITH the storm over the shift of polls yet to settle, the Presidency has run into a fix over what to do with four of its governors said to be secretly working for the success of the opposition in the rescheduled elections. Saturday Vanguard learnt yesterday that the Presidency became convinced that the four governors were not sincerely working for the success of the ruling party after reviewing their activities in relations to the presidential campaigns in their respective states. It was gathered that an appraisal carried out by security agents and placed at the disposal of the ruling party clearly indicated that PDP would lose election in the affected states because of the activities of the governors. A competent source told Saturday Vanguard in Abuja that both Jonathan and his party were upset that the governors were

hiding under the party to work for the APC, thereby making it difficult for them to be promptly dealt with in line with the constitution of the party. The source said that although the action of the four governors drawn from the North West and North East of the country had been discussed extensively by the Presidency and the PDP, the party and the president were in a fix on what to do with ‘traitors’ because of the impending elections. The President is said to be particularly irked by the action of one of the PDP governors from the North East, who did not only give the sum of N25 million in support of the opposition candidate campaign but also directed his officials to give maximum logistics support to the Buhari Campaign team during their campaign in the state on February 3 this year. The same governor, it was learnt, however showed what a presidency source described as a ‘lukewarm disposition’ to the Jonathan’s Campaign

team by not mobilising enough support for the presidential rally in his state and arriving late to the venue of the campaign. The governor is said to have unwittingly exposed disloyalty and disdain to the President and his party by coming to the venue of the rally six minutes before the arrival of the presidential team, thereby leaving several things undone and ending up embarrassing the first family and his party when they went to campaign in the state on January 31. The governor is reported to have delayed the inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Team in the state until the eve of the presidential visit thereby making the team headed by a former Senator from the state, to hit the rocks in his effort to ensure a successful rally in the agricultural state. As a result of the sympathy of a North East governor for the APC, he is said to have displayed a lackadaisical attitude towards the visit of

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Elections: We need to get logistics right, Adefuye tells Americans

URTHER clarifications on the shift of the general elections were provided yesterday, by the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye. The clarification became necessary against the

backdrop of inundated telephone calls and mails from individual and organisations across United States seeking information on the postponement. In a press statement released to the American media in Washington, DC,

Prof. Adefuye explained that the postponement was necessitated by the ‘need to get the logistics right’, the ‘desire to get all qualified Nigerians to exercise their franchise’, and the ‘need to ensure adequate security during the conduct of the elections’. He explained that

Oodua Movement warns against war threat war. They need to be the election processes, the voting and character of BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

Yoruba pressure group, Oodua Liberation Movement (OLM), has warned the ex-militant leaders of South South geopolitical zone in the country to stop their threats of war or make true those threats and face their waterloo. It also took a swipe on the Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose’s politics of hate, saying that there was no Yoruba leader who talked like the governor had been doing. They said Fayose’s matter will be addressed on a later date. Addressing a press conference in Lagos, on Friday, national coordinator of the movement, Comrade Olugbenga Awosode, condemned divisive statements credited to Ijaw leaders lately. “We condemn unequivocally the threat in some quarters that if their candidates are not declared the winner, they will cause

warned that there is a clear difference between genuine demand and agitation for self determination which is recognised by article 1 of the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights and article 1 of international covenant on civil and political rights and the act of anarchism. “We therefore demand for immediate restructuring of Nigeria soon after the new government is inaugurated. Let there be no illusion that meaningful development and peace can be achieved in Nigeria by any political party or any person without first restructuring Nigeria,” he said asking whether any change had taken place since the election of 2011 that brought Jonathan into office as president. Calling on Yoruba people to resist attempt to use them for violence, Awosode said, “We have raised 5000 unofficial monitors across the South West state with sole purpose of preventing violence and to document

March to April elections. The monitors are community leaders who are designated to monitor and report to OLM secretariat activities on the election days including possible human rights violation. “We call on our people to prepare for a long struggle for survival as all evidence point to the fact that there could be crises no matter who wins the election. Yorubaland must never be converted to battlefield by any of the gladiators. We are people with common history, shared dreams and one culture. We must never allow religion or politics to divide us,” he said, adding that the fear and anxiety gripping our people on coming election are anchored on the previous experiences more so when characters who dominated the scene and worked towards the annulment of June 12, 1993 election have started playing their destructive roles again.

the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) is the body which decides election dates, ‘based on its belief that the logistics and security necessary to ensure the conduct of a credible elections are in place’. He stated that INEC had been facing some challenges, as the electoral body itself had admitted, adding that with a week to the elections, only about 60% of the total number of registered voters had received their Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs. He added that it was difficulty getting over 600,000 ad hoc polling staff ready for the elections. “The decision by INEC to move the election forward will therefore allow it to perfect its systems, including the distribution of over 26 million PVCs to voters.” On security, the Ambassador noted: “Nigeria is now leading a multinational task force that is waging a serious war against insurgency in the NorthEastern part of the country. Because of this, the Defence Forces will find it difficult to provide security necessary for a peaceful conduct of the election in the affected states in the North-Eastern part of the country. The full attention of the Armed Forces is currently directed towards ending the insurgency. It is the combination of the security concerns which are serious and genuine as well as the need to perfect the election arrangements that compelled INEC to postpone the election.“

I’ll not increase tax, school fees if...— Ambode BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

OVERNORSHIP candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has assured Lagosians that he will not increase tax and school fees if voted into power in the forthcoming April 11 polls. Ambode who made the pledge during an interactive session organised by Nigeria Labour Congress and Civil Societies in the state held Thursday at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, said: “No cause for alarm. I will not increase tax and school fees. I was once involved in tax refund for people in the state, it will be unfair to increase tax after voting for me. I will also not increase school fees.” Akinwunmi stated that he was very much interested in the progress of workers in the state and would create the enabling environment to make workers and pensioners more comfortable. Reacting to the several text messages and rumors making the rounds on the medical fitness of the APC governorship candidate, Ambode said his party would not be detered in offering good leadership to Lagosians. “We have been receiving text messages and rumors are making the rounds that the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressive People’s Congress, APC, is a psychiatric patient and that he is not fit to govern Lagos. It has also gone virile in the social media. That is what they (PDP) know how to do best, they did the same with our Presidential candidate. No matter the mudsligging, we will not be detered as a party and we are not going to vilify anybody. We are interested in issues that affect our people. I want to assure all Lagosians that I am able, capable to take Lagos to the next level,” he said.

Segun Adewale, PDP Senatorial candidate executes 33 projects

HE PDP Senatorial candidate for Lagos West District, Segun Adewale has promised that more people-oriented projects would be provided to meet the needs of the residents if elected in March polls. Adewale made the pledge in Lagos yesterday while addressing thousands of supporters in Alimosho, Lagos. According to Adewale, his organization had completed over 33 projects which were already in use by the people in the senatorial district. He stated that the projects include provision of portable Water(Bore-hole Sys) for Alagutan Primary School/ Alagutan Comm, Gowon Estate, Egbeda Amikanle Town, Ayobo Town, Mosan town, Abeokuta Street, Okunola.Aboru town, Bale‘s Palace, Oki Ajasa Community, Command Oko-Oba, Agege, Iyana Ipaja among others.

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Jonathan must clarify his position as C-in-C under the constitution — APC T

HE All Progressives Congress Campaign Organisation (APCPCO), has said that President Goodluck Jonathan, by his own admission, has ceased to play his role as the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian armed forces, on account of which he needs to urgently clarify his position under the constitution. In a statement signed by the campaign’s director for media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the APCCO said that Jonathan’s loss of control was quite evident in the media chat which the president hosted on Wednesday, February 11. “President Jonathan claims that he had no idea about the plans to postpone the elections,” Malam Shehu said. “Who then gave the command to the service chiefs to write the letter to Jega considering that the NSA’s line of reporting is directly and exclusively to the President? Did they write it without clearance from the commander in chief?” The statement further noted that the service chiefs, at the prompting of the National Security Adviser, made presentations to the Council of State. “Who authorised them to make that presentation since the President claimed that he was not informed about the shift in the polls date, nay by extension the security issue that was raised by the security chiefs for the postponement of the polls?” Malam Shehu asked.

HE Lagos State chap ter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has berated former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his constant attacks on the Goodluck administration. The party, however commended the President Jonathan administration over his performance in every sector of the country saying that Nigeria has not had it so good in a short time. While it counselled the former president to be wary of his newly found friends in the APC saying they are only hobnobbing with him to use and dump in “their over ambitious quest to take power at the centre.” In a statement by the state publicity secretary, Mr Taofik Gani, the party said, “as much as we can apply the constitutional interpretation to the wish to mean

Lagos threaten to sue FG over SURE-P Taskforce

L-R: Benson Evbuomwan, Executive Director, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc; Ayona Trimnell, Corporate Communications, Diamond Bank Plc; Hon Disun Holloway, Commissioner for Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations, Lagos State; Prof Wole Soyinka, Festival Consultant; Mrs Funmilayo Balogun, Permanent Secretary, Min of Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations; Mr Victor Ezenwoko, Executive Director, Diamond Bank Plc and Olayinka Oni, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Nigeria during a press conference to announce finalists for the 2015 Vision of the Child competition sponsored by Diamond Bank PLC, at Freedom Park, Lagos recently.

“Is the President telling the nation that the top brass of the military can act without his consent? If that is the case, what then is his

constitutional responsibility as commander in chief?” The APCCO noted that the situation is troubling for Nigeria and for our coun-

try’s democracy, where service chiefs could supposedly act independently of their commander-inchief.

Sambisa Forest Mission: Military destroys 6 buffur camps of Boko Haram terrorists By Kingsley OmonobiAbuja.

FTERMATH of the di rective that the military embark on the final onslaught to flush out Boko Haram terrorists from the North East and try to rescue the over 200 Chibok Girls, Special Forces of the Nigerian military backed by attack aircraft of the Nigerian Air force, Thursday night com-

menced their movement into the Sambisa Forests. As a result of the military’s movement into the terrorists laden forest, Vanguard gathered that recently acquired latest T 55 armoured personnel carriers, with capability for mine and explosives sweeping devices and heavy artillery Howitzer guns, led the way from the ground while the air force carried out air bombard-

ments from the air. Consequently, military sources in the epicentre of the operation told Vanguard that six buffer camps of the terrorists manned by heavily armed terrorists, which were positioned to stop the Nigerian military for gaining entrance into the forest were taken out and scores of Boko Haram fighters killed.

possible mischief in the wish that the present president should not continue in May”.

of President Jonathan by Chief Obasanjo is, “unfair, destructive and unbecoming of a supposed elder

“this is more so as president Jonathan has remained calm, unprovoked and focused.”

Ogun Students threaten to vote out Amosun over non-payment of bursary By Daud Olatunji

UNDREDS of stu dents under the aegis of National Association of Ogun State Students have threatened to vote against the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun if he fails to pay their 2014 burssary. The students who are indigenes of Ogun State lamented that, the governor has failed to pay their bursary despite his promise, threatening that, hey would pay him in his coins at the election. Addressing a press con-

ference in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital,yesterday, the national President of the association, Opaogun Ajibola claimed that, the association which has over 70,000 membership strength might be tempted to work against the second term bid of the governor. The students said if the governor failed to pay their bursary before the governorship election which has been postponed to April 11,2015, they would ensure they work against his second term ambition. Opalogun who was represented by the vice.

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

AGOS State Government may institute legal action against the Federal Government over the credibility and deployment of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment programme, SURE-P taskforce to manage traffic on Lagos road. Saturday Vanguard learned that the government action came after President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly refused to comment on the legality of the SURE-P taskforce. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye in a joint ministerial press briefing with his counterparts in the ministry of Transportation and Information and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Opeifa and Lateef Ibirogba respectively, held in Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, lamented that the President has kept mum over the issue. Ipaye said : We don’ believe in battle. That’s why men of LASTMA voluntarily withdraw that’s why we have not amassed a counter-force because there is also the possibility that confronted with such, another government could just go and amass it’s own force and get them ready and instigate clashes.

APC wishes Nigerians happy Valentine’s Day, urges them to prepare for freedom

HE All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes all Nigerians a happy Valentine’s Day, as they join the rest of the world to mark the Day. The party urged Nigerians to prepare to celebrate their imminent liberation from the PDP-imposed yoke under which they have laboured for many years. In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said but for the insistence of the PDP and the Jonathan Administration that the suffering of Nigerians must be prolonged for another six weeks, the Valentine’s Day, which is a global celebration of love and affection, would have also marked the celebration of freedom from the PDP servitude by all Nigerians. It said, however, that those who orchestrated a needless postponement of the elections have only won a Pyrrhic victory as the delay will only further sweeten the joys of victory over the oppressors of the Nigerian people, over those who have looted the country’s treasury dry and left broken bones and gnashing of teeth in their wake.

LBS grooms young talents

Lagos PDP tackles Obasanjo over attacks on every four years is new According to the party, statesman.” Jonathan that mandate/Administration, The party stated that, we will not overlook the the persistent antagonism By Dapo Akinrefon

BRIEFS

Idowu Taiwo spoke, “on behalf of over one million Ogun state students in Nigeria and over 70,000 registered members in Ogun state.

N keeping with the career objectives of its Young Talent Programme (YTP), Lagos Business School has engaged seven individuals drawn from the maiden edition of the programme as participants in its faculty training initiative for young scholars. Flagged off in 2014, the YTP aims to build a relationship with budding talents in or out of the university, hone their research skills and groom them for future LBS careers. Forty-five candidates participated in the programme last year, six of whom have already been selected for faculty training at the School’s Management Scholarship Academy (MSA) and one as a doctoral candidate. “Since the last YTP, efforts have been made to engage participants and mentor them towards making the right career choices,” disclosed Dr Uchenna Uzo, lead faculty on the YTP. “We’re hoping that as more participants graduate from the University, we’ll find new ones who can take up management roles not only in LBS but also in institutions that partner with us.”

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BRIEFS

Uduaghan woos Deltans for PDP with harvest of projects G

OVERNOR Em manuel Uduaghan of Delta State Thursday commenced the showcase of a harvest of projects across the state as a way of drawing support for candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming polls. Speaking as he commissioned the projects, Governor Uduaghan said it was necessary for the people to vote PDP in the coming elections so that they will continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy as they have been enjoying since 1999. Specifically, Governor Uduaghan while commissioning Ashaka/Aboh road observed that the PDP-led government in the state has made it possible for vehicles to drive to Aboh, in Ndokwa East local government area of the state without making use of a pontoon which was the norm before the party came into power in 1999. “One can drive to Aboh now, before 1999, when you mention Aboh, what comes to mind is pontoon and bad road,” he said, adding, “Aboh is a historic town, you have requested for more projects, the only way you can get these projects is by voting for PDP, a party which has brought a lot of develoment to this ancient kingdom.” He added, “get your PVCs (Permanent Voters Cards) to enable you vote for President Goodluck Jonathan, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as our Governor, Chief Peter Nwoboshi as our Senator, Hon. Ossai Ossai for House of Representatives and Mr Empower-

ARADHE-UCHE-ASHAKA ROAD: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (middle), Hon. Friday Osanebi, Member, DTHA (right), Mr. Patrick Ferife, Commissioner for Special Infrastructure (left), Mr. Emmanuel Egbabo, Chairman, Isoko North Local government (second left) and Chief Godswill Obielum during the commissioning of the 13km Aradhe-Uche-Ashaka road. Photo: Bripin Enarusai

ment, Hon.Friday Osanebi for House of Assembly.” The Governor who had earlier paid a courtesy call on the Obi of Aboh, HRM Obi Imegwu II commended the royal

father for been a blessing to the people of Aboh. According to him, “ when a blessed royal father is on the throne, good things come to his Kingdom, our royal fa-

ther is blessed. In his reign, Aboh has opened up, it is now accessible, there is a General Hospital, a Polytechnic is under construction, among others, Aboh is developing fast.”

Oshiomhole employs Immigration year after FG’s unfulfilled tragedy victims •One promises By Simon Ebegbulem

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has given automatic employment to 20 victims of the last Immigration recruitment tragedy of March 15, 2014 and also gave the sum of N2 million to the widower and children of the late Mrs. Sandra Amu who died in the commotion. This is coming almost a year after the Federal Government promised automatic employment to those injured in the exer-

cise and three employment slots to families of those who lost their loved ones in the recruitment fiasco. Disclosing the employment offer during a meeting with the family of the woman who lost her life and eleven of the twenty persons who sustained injuries during the ill-fated recruitment exercise held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Saturday, March 15, 2014, Oshiomhole said “it is unlawful for people seeking employ-

ment to pay money. It is the employer who pays the consultant and not the applicant. That transaction was mainly illegal collection and it is extortion. “I think it is important that people don’t exploit office power to compound the problem of those who are already down. What we can, without prejudice to whatever plans the Immigration Services or the Ministry of Internal Affairs is making, see how we can assist in terms of employment.”

Guber: Urhobo clears air on Ogboru’s endorsement By Godwin Oghre

S a way to douse the controversy trailing the endorsement by the apex governing body of Urhobo people, the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, of Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru of the Labour Party as their consensus candidate for the March 28th, 2015 governorship election in the Delta State, UPU has finally cleared the air, giving reasons for the endorsement, saying it was done in good faith and for the overall interest and benefit of the Urhobo people. President General of UPU, Chief Joseph Omene, who addressed news men yesterday, in his Mosogar country home, Ethiope West Local Government of the state, on behalf of Urhobo said, “After the C M Y K

Uvwiamuge Declaration in the middle of 2014, aside a good number of Urhobo sons who first declared their interest to contest the governorship election under the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, the Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Chief Great Ogboru was

the next to declare his governorship ambition to the Urhobo nation through UPU.” He added that, “Chief Ogboru came and said he needed our blessing, and we gave it to him, just as we did for every aspirant that came to us from PDP. By this time

we had not seen the All Progressives Congress, APC, or its governorship candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor. We even had doubts if he would ever show up. It was much later after Ogboru had come to us before O’tega came on board.”

Ijaw groups condemn attack on factional APC campaign team By Emma Amaize

HE Ijaw People De velopment Initiative, IPDI, and Ogbe - Ijoh Transformation and Development Ambassadors, OTDA, in Delta State, have criticized the attack on the factional senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Temisan Omatseye, by ex-militants.

Leaders of the two groups, Messrs Austin Ozobo and Godwin Aken, in a statement, however, said the onslaught carried out on Burutu River in the state, had no political undertone, adding that the ex-militants were only looking for personal benefits from politicians in the state. They warned them not to ridicule the Ijaw ethnic

nationality and the ruling party, PDP in the area. The groups said, “Ijaw should be counted out of the personal position of some ex-militants, because the country belongs to every citizen, and citizens, irrespective of their political party and religions affiliation, should be at liberty to go to hold campaign at anywhere and anytime.”

Jonathan remains the best option for Nigeria, says Olejeme By Gab Ejuwa

EPUTY Chairman, Finance Committee of the Presidential Campaign Organization, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme on Wednesday urged Nigerians to judge President Goodluck Jonathan by his record of performance. Olejeme who met with prominent Igbo leaders in Abuja praised President Jonathan for injecting honesty, efficiency and competence into the art of governing. ‘A vote for President Goodluck Jonathan is a vote for transparency, accountability, due process, prudent management of scarce resources and development” she said “ Excited about the performance of President Jonathan and his programme of action on housing, security, health, education, foreign policy, women, youth, environment and sports, Olejeme who is also the chairman of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) said the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate empowered a lot of Nigerians.

Okowa/Otuaro ticket ‘ll stabilise Delta — Okonta By Emmanuel Ujah

ORMER Chairman, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Abuja District, Chief Fred Okonta, has assured that the Okowa/ Otuaro ticket will stabilise Delta State through the promotion of equity, justice and harmony among the three Senatorial Districts in the State. He spoke at a seminar on “Evolving True Democratic Values and Norms”,in Abuja, yesterday. Chief Okonta noted that Delta North Senatorial District from where the PDP Gubernatorial candidate hails is the only Senatorial District that has not produced a Governor since the creation of Delta State. He enjoined all Deltans to deliberate on issues that will enhance the stability of the State but not those that will encourage disunity.

Rivers Assembly staff embark on indefinite strike By Jimitota Onoyume

ARLIAMENTARY staff of the Rivers State House of Assembly have proceeded on an indefinite strike action over non payment of legislative and outfit allowance. State Secretary of Rivers state chapter of Parliamentary Staff Association , Comrade Frederick Birah who made the announcement in a release, said management of the state House of Assembly had failed to meet up its own end of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU entered into with the workers. According to him, they had to suspend their earlier seven days warning strike with the hope that the management would implement its own side of the bargain with the workers. He said the failure informed the call on the workers to proceed on an indefinite strike action. “You will recall that the union suspended the 7 days warning strike action following a memorandum of understanding between management of Rivers state House of Assembly and the union. Unfortunately management has reneged on the MoU,” the release stated.

Bozimo loses father in-law

ORMER Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo has lost his father in-law, Late Chief Ezekiel Ukodie, a retired Accountant and native of Anibeze in Sagbama Council Area of Bayelsa State. This was disclosed by his wife, Barr. (Mrs.) Joyce Bozimo, deceased daughter in Warri yesterday. According to her, “My father died on 6th February after a brief illness at the hospital in Warri aged 86.” “He was a retired Accountant at the Delta Boat yard in Warri, he was survived by wife and children.” Reacting to his death, Bozimo enthused, “my late father in-law was a father to the core, we will surely missed him. It is painful that he has left us.” Chief Ukodie died 6th February this year after a brief illness at an undislosed hospital in Warri. He was aged 86. Until his death, he was a retired Accountant in the Delta Boat Yard in Warri and survived by a wife, children and grand children.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015 — 9

Day Ugwuanyi prayed till dawn BY FRANCIS IGATA, Enugu

EOPLE from all walks of Life thronged the Michael Okpara Square venue of an all night prayers organized by Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association in conjunctionwiththeChristian Association of Nigeria,CAN, on February 8. Apparentlytogivecredence totheaphorism,whichsays,”It ends well,for those who start with prayers”, the organisers soughtferventsupplicationsfor God’sinterventioninthevolatile build-up to the general elections. Chairman,LocalOrganising Committee,LOC,All Night Prayers for Nigeria,Mr. Beloved-Dan Anike revealed that Nigeria being a great nation,hasdecidedtocallupon the Almighty God to hear the prayers of his wards especially now the general elections are around the corner. However,the crowd at the event was electrified when the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP,governorship candidate,Mr.Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his running mate,Mrs. Cecilia Ezeillo alighted on the stage. The momentum of the prayers gathered steam following the presence of Ugwuanyi as the people collectively and individually prayed for their different

intentions. From the conspicuous mien on faces of worshippers at the event, they

arehopingthatthepronounced presence of political actors in EnuguStateattheprayerevent

will translate to Godly governance during the next administration.

Oil price rises above $60 per barrel

RUDE oil rose above 60 dollars a barrel on Friday for the first time this year, bringing gains this week to four per cent. The price rose by mounting signs of lower industry spending which helped prices rally by more than 30 per cent. Also supporting oil, Euro zone economic growth accelerated unexpectedly in the final quarter of 2014 as the bloc’s largest member, Germany, expanded at

more than twice the expected rate. Analysts say a weaker U.S. dollar, which makes dollar-denominated commodities cheaper for holders of other currencies, had also supported oil this week. Brent for April delivery LCOc1 was up 1.12 dollars at 60.40 dollars, after trading at a high of 60.54 dollars earlier in the session. “During last weeks, crude oil rebounded, driven

by improved market sentiment and by expectations that low prices will lead to lower supply growth in 2015,” said Daniela Corsini, an analyst at Intesa Sanpaolo, in a report. “Seeing today’s prices, supply will probably not keep pace with this growth. “It may even decline, as prices are close to cash costs,” said Shell Chief Executive Ben van Beurden.

BRIEFS Enugu: 38 pupils bag varsity scholarship as PDP ends rally

OVERNOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, during the weekend announced scholarship for 38 pupils of Inland Primary School, Imilike in Udenu Local Government Area of the State. The scholarship which will see the pupils through university education was in recognition of their wonderful performance at the grand finale of the Peoples Democratic Party campaign rally held at Obollo Afor, the headquarters of Udenu, the home Local Government Area of the gubernatorial candidate of the Party, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The pupils thrilled the mammoth crowd for more than 10 minutes on issues of our democracy, voters’ mobilization and enlightenment, prompting the highly elated Governor Chime to announce the university scholarship for them on behalf of the State Government. He said, “I will like to specially thank the pupils of Inland Primary School, Udenu for this great feat. The government of Enugu State has decided to give scholarship to these school children that put up a wonderful performance here today. “ Even as adults, most people can’t memorize the way they did; there are 38 of them and we have decided to give them scholarship. Already, we have free primary education in Enugu State; so, in addition to that, they shall enjoy scholarship up to first degree level”.

Non-passage of PFM bill worry Imo people BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, Owerri

NGRY reactions have started trailing the non-passage of the Public Finance Management Bill, PFMB, by members of Imo State House of Assembly. Some citizens who spoke to SaturdayVanguardyesterday on the issue, were of the view thatiftheBillhadbeenpassed into law, the level of transparency and accountability in the

management of goods and services in the state would have been enhanced. “We all desire a peoplecentered government. This could have been further enhanced if the PFMB had been passed into law”, Dr. Don Ekechukwu reasoned. It was his considered opinion that the quest for transparency and accountability in governance begins with putting the right legislations in place.

“If we get it right in Public Finance Management, functions towards achieving value for money and accountability in public expenditure would naturally queue in”, Ekechukwu stated. He insisted that if the Public

Finance Management Bill is passedbythestatelegislature and singed into law by the Governor, it would invariably promote transparency and accountability in the state. While saying that a forum had earlier been organized to sensitize all agencies of

government to lead in the advocacy for transparent public finance management system, Ekechukwu also reasoned that when fully armed, stakeholderswouldmonitor public Finance management processes at the Ministries, Department and other government agencies.

We’re now in a position to tackle Boko Haram once and for all—Jonathan By Ben Agande

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has again reassured the international community and Nigerians that the Boko Haram insurgency would be sufficiently contained within the period of the extension of the elections in order to guarantee that all eligible Nigerians are able to vote in the forthcoming elections. Addressing members of the Diplomatic Corp who he organised a gala Nite for in Abuja friday evening, President Jonathan said with the commitment of his

administration and the African union, Boko Haram insurgency would be routed and all territories recovered from them. According to the president, the May 29th hand over date remain sacrosanct and his government was committed to respecting the date. He urged members of the diplomatic corp at the meeting to convey same message to their home country noting that Nigerian remains committed to its international obligations. “As an administration we

are strenuously laying the foundation and structure of a stronger and more develop Nigeria. “This is an interesting moment in our country. There two two things that makes it interesting, first is the issue of terror. Nigeria is facing challenges like other nations, the current boko haram is one of the serious challenges. “We recognize the real threats terrorism poses to our nation’s development and national security. The boko haram insurgency has today become the biggest manifestation of terrorism not only in our country nigeria.

Presidency in dilemma over four Govs’s secret alliance with APC continued from page 5 Jonathan to his state last month. During the visit, the president was said to have been miffed by the near empty stadium that he noticed upon his arrival for the campaign in the state that is close to a desert. The Presidency, Saturday Vanguard also learnt, was also hurt that none of the governors had shown remorse over their ‘betrayal’ by not speaking out against some of the wrongs openly committed by their agents against the presidential campaign teams in their respective states. It was gathered that the Presidency was seriously C M Y K

disappointed that none of the affected governors had openly condemned the stoning of its presidential campaign train in their states while some of them turned round to blame some senior officers of the Presidency for the attacks. The APC, which is fully aware of the tacit support of the four governors, almost went to make a formal announcement that they were set to defect but they were said to have persuaded the party not to do so, promising instead to quietly work and deliver their states to the opposition because of Buhari’s factor. Asked what the Presidency would be doing to sanction the four

governors, the source hinted that the Presidency was confused on what to do to them given the need to put its house in order and pursue the elections as a united party. The source said that it would be counterproductive for the Presidency and the PDP to take any disciplinary action against the governors at this stage since the elections were already around the corner. The development came as it emerged last night that the move to ‘discipline’ Prof Jega for alleged sympathy for the APC would be dropped if he jettisons the use of the card readers and permanent voter cards, PVCs for the elections.

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

Valentine Day Special :

What’s love got to do with it! By CHIOMA GABRIEL “ Love is patient, love is kind; it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud; It does not dishonour others, it is not selfseeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always persevere Love never fails. God is love. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

oday is another Valentine’s Day. It’s lovers’ day and love, they say makes the world go round. It’s February 14. Love is hanging in the air. You can smell it; you can even touch it. It’s a global love day and the C M Y K

story dates back to history. Already, people are exchanging cards, candy, gifts or flowers with their special “valentine.” The twitter, Instagram and Facebook are going viral with messages of undying love for each other by lovers. Nigeria earlier fixed Presidential election today but it rescheduled for March 28 just last Saturday. The earlier election date compelled Nigerians not to make elaborate plans for today. But in any way many will savour it. But the true story of Valentine’s Day is not comprised of roses, chocolates and pretty cards. Instead, crime, imprisonment and execution are at the genesis of our modern day love fest, dating back to the man whose martyrdom may have inspired the holiday.

In the beginning...

Already, people are exchanging cards, candy, gifts or flowers with their special “valentine

The Roman Empire was experiencing massive turmoil at the time. Dubbed the ‘Crisis of the Third Century’ by scholars, this period saw the empire divided into three competing states, with the threat of invasion all around. At that time, Rome was ruled by an emperor named Claudius. Claudius dreamt to have a big army. He expected men to volunteer to join. Many men just did not want to fight in wars. They did not want to leave their wives and families. And so, not many men signed up. This made Claudius furious. So he came up with a crazy idea. He thought that if men were not married, they would not mind joining the army. So

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Valentine Day Special:

What’s love got to do with it! Continues from page 10 Claudius decided not to allow any more marriages. Young people thought his new law was cruel. Valentine, thought it was preposterous! He certainly wasn’t going to support that law! Valentine was a priest? One of his favorite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law banning marriage, Valentine kept on performing marriage ceremonies — secretly. It was really quite exciting conducting marriage in a small candlelit room with only the bride and groom and the priest. They would whisper the words of the ceremony, listening all the while for the steps of soldiers. One night, Valentine did hear footsteps. It was scary but the couple he was marrying escaped in time. Valentine was caught. He was thrown in jail and told C M Y K

that his punishment was death. But he stayed cheerful. And wonderful things happened. Cladius took a liking to his prisoner. Many young people came to the jail to visit him. They threw flowers and notes up to his window. They wanted him to know that they, too, believed in love. One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit Valentine in the cell. Sometimes she would sit with Valentine and talk for hours. She helped to keep his spirits up. She agreed that Valentine did the right thing by ignoring the Emperor and going ahead with the secret marriages. On the day he was to die, he left his friend a little note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. He signed it, “Love from your Valentine.” That note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine’s Day. It was written on the day he died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember. But most importantly, they think

about love and friendship. And when they think of Emperor Claudius, they remember how he tried to stand in the way of love, and they laugh because they know that love can’t be beaten! Another but similar version of the story said Claudius had ordered all Romans to worship twelve gods, and had made it a crime punishable by death to associate with Christians. But Valentine was dedicated to the ideals of Christ; not even the threat of death could keep him from practicing his beliefs. He was arrested and imprisoned. Valentine made a strategic error: he tried to convert the Emperor whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn’t do it, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate. During the last weeks of Valentine’s life, a remarkable thing happened. Seeing that he was a man of learning, the jailer asked whether his daughter, Julia, might be

Valentine was a priest? One of his favorite activities was to marry couples. Even after Emperor Claudius passed his law banning marriage, Valentine kept on performing marriage ceremonies — secretly

brought to Valentine for lessons. She had been blind since birth. Julia was a pretty young girl with a quick mind. Valentine read stories of Rome’s history to her. He described the world of nature to her. He taught her arithmetic and told her about God. She saw the world through his eyes, trusted his wisdom, and found comfort in his quiet strength. Through Valentine, Julie converted to Christianity and also got a miracle of sight for she desired to see. On the eve of his death, Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia, urging her to stay close to God. He signed it, “From your Valentine.” His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A.D., near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory. He was buried at what is now the Church of Praxedes in Rome. It is said that Julia planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship. On each February 14, Saint

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Valentine Day Special: What’s love got to do with it!

Continued from page

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Continues from page 11 Valentine’s Day, messages of affection, love, and devotion are exchanged around the world. In the Catholic history, saints are not supposed to rest in peace; they’re expected to keep busy: to perform miracles, to intercede. Being in jail or dead is no excuse for nonperformance of the supernatural. And so, Valentine lives on. St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travellers and young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses. But it is not known whether this legend is factually true. However, it is a good story anyway. It is nice to think of someone who believed in marriage and was willing to risk death to do what he believed was right. There were many versions of how the martyr’s name became connected with romance.

The date of his death may have become mingled with the Feast of Lupercalia, a pagan festival of love. On these occasions, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius decided to put an end to the Feast of Lupercalia, and he declared that February 14 be celebrated as St Valentine Day.

Celebrating Valentine the Nigerian way

Nigerians love to have fun despite any situation they find themselves. They love to party, block streets, besiege beaches and entertainment centres. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s Presidential election was initially fixed for today and only rescheduled Saturday night. Whatever Nigerians are doing today in celebration of Valentine may have been planned within the last few days. It might lack the colours and planning they would have loved if they did not consider the now rescheduled election. Ordinarily, Valentine’s Day is a crazy day in Nigeria, Lagos in particular. Streets, hotels, stores, restaurants are covered in red, pink and white streamers, with big heart shaped signs wishing

passers- by a ‘Happy Valentines Day’. Fancy and fast food restaurants are filled with couples eating out for the lovers’ day. It may still happen but it will certainly be low-keyed. Many couples spend their night out their homes. Some stay in the beach and some in hotels . Boys even walk around in traffic selling heart-shaped Valentine’s Day cakes wrapped in red cellophane for those who are so unlucky. Of course, mothers need to educate their growing children about Valentine’s day or they would get it all wrong. Many young ladies get impregnated on Valentine’s day because they misconstrue it is the day for sex. Love is not sex. Sex is not love. Gifts of flowers, perfumes, latest cellphones and others go viral on Valentine’s Day and any woman would be satisfied and happy to receive those items from her man. In Nigeria, women are not crazy about bouquets of flowers or boxes of chocolates for Valentine. Those are for ajebo children and teenagers. Many don’t value such gifts as anything special and the man who makes the mistake will surely suffer the wrath of an angry girlfriend on Valentine’s Day. A car as a Valentine gift could

It is on a day like today that you know how serious a boo takes your relationship. How Nigerians who believe in this lovers’ day celebrate varies from couple to couple

go a long way! There are other gifts too. Typical of Nigerians, many lovers disappear on Valentine Days especially the Nigerian man who keeps a retinue of girlfriends and women. The singles should know their lot in a relationship through the attitude of their beau on a day like this. Some men disappear on Valentine’s Day! They would reappear after the day and would explain being too bush as cause of their disappearance. Some would claim they don’t understand Valentines love or dismiss the idea as a foreign culture. It is on a day like today that you know how serious a boo takes your relationship. How Nigerians who believe in this lovers’ day celebrate varies from couple to couple. “We will make it today, we must catch some fun,”says Rosemary. “ We will make the best of it. My husband and I just got married and this is our first Valentine as a couple. We have an outdoor place in the house where we entertain guests and we will maximize it. I think we might have to invite our friends over and have a classy weekend with some old folks.” “I don’t understand Valentine,” says Peter.” My parents didn’t

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Valentine Day Special: What’s love got to do with it!

Continues from page 12 says Peter.” My parents didn’t teach me about valentine love. I just started hearing about it. I show love

to my family and friends on daily basis and that is key.” “It’s a day to remember loved ones, not just your wife or husband but the world in general. To me, it is a day to show love to the motherless, the orphans,

Today’s Nigeria has some similarities with that period but the country has evolved a great deal. The economic space is much bigger –

prisoners,those in hospitals and those who have nobody by their side to keep them company especially the aged. Valentine’s day is also a day to reconcile with those we have fallen out with in our relationships and encourage couples who are finding it difficult in love issues, “ says Temi, a marketer. “ Valentine, is it a name of a person, place or thing?” Asked Chinonye, “Well, anybody who has money to throw around should come. I’m game.” “ I will go out later in the evening and have a

Amazing love stories

ove stories have been told around the world in more ways than one. Many have experienced amazing love stories and marriage proposals in ways that blow the mind. The love stories and experiences differ from person to person Last year, a blogger posted stories of different love experiences of young couples. A United States-based Nigerian Bukky and Samuel capped their relationship with Samuel proposing on the Atlanta Skyview. The lovebirds started dating in highC M Y K

school but passed through some troubles. Love however always brought them back together, stronger and closer than before until he proposed. Also last year, a guy used a police stop to propose to his girlfriend in Port Harcourt. The man had earlier arranged for a stop-and-search on the road as he and his girlfriend were going to a restaurant. While the police were harassing the man, his girl was very upset. But he suddenly asked her to look up to a billboard positioned before them and she saw her photos on display. Family and friends of the couple from Lagos emerged from nowhere and a table was set-up outside the restaurant. The man

went down on one knee, a 5man orchestra played and he proposed undying love and marriage to her. For Richards Ugochukwu who met his beau through the twitter, it takes a twitter proposal to seal their love. His other half, Oma Ezeagwu got a marriage proposal in a strange way. The couple met on Twitter in October 2012. The man chose to pop the question in a unique way and he got a reply “ yes” from the beautiful lady. A crowded Ikeja shopping mall turned out a veritable venue for another couple. They went shopping when

Chinedu Ikedieze, a Nollywood star few years ago shocked his fans when he tied a knot with a tall beautiful belle. Only true love could have joined them together

quiet time somewhere with my wife. Hopefully, terrorists shouldn’t spoil this day for us. They should show love too,’’says Daniel Usman. Mrs Joanna Odili, 75 said her Church always marks Valentine ‘s day. “I cannot remember when I became aware of the day but I had my first son on February 14 and we named him Valentine. I have always known about St Valentine because I am a Catholic and the Church always honour him on that day. But I think because of civilization, the celebration has become very huge and many people don’t even understand it but I do. I send text messages to all my children and grand children wishing them Happy Valentine and I will do same again. My husband is late but when he was alive, I used to prepare his favourite meal on Valentine’s Day”.

suddenly, the guy went on his knee in a crowded mall and made a proposal to his girlfriend. They were surrounded by dozens of shoppers and the girl said “ yes”. Chinedu Ikedieze, a Nollywood star few years ago shocked his fans when he tied a knot with a tall beautiful belle. Only true love could have joined them together. Talking about his love life, Chinedu says “God will not forgive you if you know you love a girl and she loves you and you know you can make a family. So, what stops you from telling her you love her? What stops you from telling her ‘common baby, let’s do this.’ I just told my wife, “baby, lets do this and the rest is history”. More on page 14

14— SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

and worked with some confidence that was very unusual for a person with such a challenge. “ Then, one day, he told me that there was somebody looking for a wife and asked if I was ready for marriage. He didn’t tell me he was the person and I never thought I was going to marry him. So, I told him if I saw the person and liked him I could say yes. He now said he was the person. I didn’t say no to him but I didn’t say yes either because I was caught between two dilemmas. I couldn’t say no to him and at the same time, I didn’t want to disappoint my family by saying yes to a blind person. They expected more from me. So, I told him to let me think about it. Actually, I didn’t know how I was going to tell my family about it. You know, they might not be impressed with the idea. “ When I got home, I went to one of my aunties who floated the idea first. My aunty had asked what I would do if this man should ask for my hand in marriage knowing about his visual challenges. When I now told her about it, she encouraged me to go ahead and said that he has a bright future and helped to convince the family. The rest is history. If you ask me, I will tell you that love conquered all because he had so many female friends but I was the one he proposed to. Before he proposed, he used to introduce me to his friends as a school mate and never as a girlfriend and I never perceived him as a blind person because he moving around like a normal person and didn’t use a walking stick.” Francis concurred.

Valentine Special

Our love conquered our challenges — Francis and Clementina Aifuwa TRUE STORY OF A WOMAN MARRIED TO A BLIND MAN BY CHIOMA GABRIEL

hey say love is blind and for Barrister Francis Kiafuwa Aifuwa, a broadcaster at Radio Nigeria and Clementina his wife, their love is indeed blind and could not decipher any faults. The couple met at the Edo state University Ekpoma as students and became friends. It was not something serious initially as Clementina had a female friend then who was closer to Francis. “ We didn’t know he was blind. He was walking as a

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normal person and when his friends jumped the gutter, he too jumped. But in the process, he pushed my friend and her books scattered all over. He helped her up and apologised. Nothing showed he was visually impaired. He asked for our telephone numbers and we gave him. He typed them into his phone himself and kept moving. He was closer to my friend and we often saw each other on campus and greeted. It was later that I learnt he is blind. He wasn’t carrying himself as a blind person. It is easy to know a blind man from the way he walks but it wasn’t the same here. He wasn’t using any stick and he walked normal. It was when you

got close to him that you would know or except he told you. In my case, my friend and I didn’t find out until we were told. His phonetics sounded foreign any time he spoke and I used to think he just returned from abroad. He had no complex about his disability and practically carried on like a normal person. “ After we left school, I got a call one day and it turned out to be him. He said he was in Lagos and was staying with a friend. I think they had an NGO or something and so, I visited them. And as usual, he carried on his business as a normal person, not showing any sign of disability

It was friendship first and then love crept in. I was being visited by many ladies but she was different from the rest

“ It was friendship first and then love crept in. I was being visited by many ladies but she was different from the rest. I was even closer to her friend when we were in school but she was always the one trying to help out all the time. And like she said, I used to move together with my friends on campus and there was this day that we had to jump over a gutter but in the process, I brushed her friend and her books scattered. From there, we got acquainted and when I came to Lagos, I called her. We started visiting each other but then just as friends. My friends and I had this NGO and we were having a programme and she came. She helped us to do a lot of things during the programme, type-setting our letters and posting our bills and helping us to cook. She wasn’t the only one. There were other ladies coming around but she was the one my heart caught. Well, the rest is history and we are happily married and blessed with a child so far.” Francis skipped a bit to talk about his blindness. “ I was not born blind. I was about nine to ten years when I noticed in school that I wasn’t seeing the writings on the board clearly except I moved closer. And because I was a bright pupil, the teachers suggested that I be taken for a test and my family complied. “ The test revealed a glassy growth which the doctors called cataract and I was pulled out of the normal school to the Pacelli school for the blind and partially sighted. I learnt to read and write through the braille. What my wife and I have is strong and in our case, our love has conquered my visual challenges” Francis presents Bedtime Belt and Family Belt and produces a retinue of programmes on Metro 97.7, one of the stations of Radio Nigeria. He is currently working on a new programme targetted at the physically challenged.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

How Nigerians intend celebrating Valentine’s Day

By Juliet Ebirim & Aderonke Adeyeri Dinner and some cuddling afterward Larry Kyaan, Banker Valentine’s day can sometimes feel a bit of a drag. My bank account has just recovered from Christmas and inspiration is often hard to find. So, I’m keeping it simple – dinner and some Xrated cuddling afterward. I’ll celebrate in a special way - Emeka Ezea, Music Producer Usually, I hang out with my male friends. We’ve been friends since childhood, so we celebrate the bond we share on that day. We go out with our girlfriends the next day or much later in the day. Now, owing to the fact that we reside in different cities, we won’t be able to hang out like we used to. I actually didn’t prepare for Val’s day before now, but I just met someone special and I intend to have a special time with her. I don’t want to disclose my plans, I’m keeping them under wraps. I’ll take my wife to the place I proposed to her Nduka David , a businessman C M Y K

•Benedicta

•Aina

Valentine used to be like a normal day for me but my priest said it is a time to shower our wives with gifts and if possible, take them to fun places. I intend taking my wife to the restaurant I proposed love to her.

Valentine Student

I’ll pay a visit to the orphanage Emeka Awudiegwu, Artiste I intend going to the motherless babies home. I love giving to the needy and that’s my own way of showing love. I do that every year. I’ll also spend that day with my mother and siblings. I’ll be with my girlfriend – Destiny Ugochukwu, Marketing Executive Since this year’s Valentine fell on a weekend, I’ll go for shows. I’m happy that the election was postponed, because my girlfriend would now have no excuse not to be with me. I’ll celebrate it with her because she’s a woman I cherish so much. I’ve

never

celebrated

Frank

Sunday,

Valentine is just an ordinary day, it means nothing to me. I’ve never celebrated valentine, most times I don’t remember the date. So, I’ll probably just be at home watching television and funny enough, my girlfriend thinks the same way too.

I’ll have fun with friends Victoria Enioye, student My friends and I are having a gettogether on that day. We will laugh, tell stories and listen to music. I usually enjoy our time together. We just feel more alive when we’re all together. It’s invigorating and encouraging — just what we need on Valentine’s day.

•Funmi

•Tobechukwu

•Destiny

•Victoria

•Larry

Vanguard , FEBRU ARY 14 FEBRUARY 14, 2015—15

A day is not enough to show love to people we love. If we inculcate the habit of showing love to people, valentine will be like a normal day.

I’ll celebrate with my mum Tobechukwu Ukatta, Student Even though I have a girlfriend, I’ll celebrate the day with my mother, take her to some fun places. Later, I’ll exchange gifts with my girlfriend. Celebrating love should reflect in our daily livingObimodede Jesutofunmi, Student. I celebrate valentine in an unusual way, even the election couldn’t have hindered that. Valentine is meant to be celebrated by everyone and not to be restricted to lovers only. Celebrating and showing love should reflect in our day to day activities. This is paramount in this multilingual, multiracial world where all our desires are as different as our faces. The only thing that binds us together is love. I will visit the cinemas with my family - Kayode Emmanuel, Marketer Valentine is a time I travel to a remote area with my family. I escape the busy and noisy environment peculiar to urban areas. But my plan this year will be different as I could not risk leaving my house with the

scheduled election. However, I will go to the cinemas with my family since the election has been postponed. We will celebrate Valentine in a low key manner. Valentine should be like a normal day - Aina Oluwatoyin, Student A day is not enough to show love to people we love. If we inculcate the habit of showing love to people, valentine will be like a normal day. I’ll be going on a picnic with friends - Benedicta Nwaokolo, Entrepreneur This year’s Valentine which falls on a weekend is a blessing for me. I will be going on a picnic with my friends. Many Nigerians are workaholic, so Valentine is a good excuse to have fun. I do not believe in Valentine Obiaku Benjamin, Store Keeper I hate when people talk of Valentine’s day with much enthusiasm. Valentine in Nigeria is a day many ladies get pregnant out of wedlock. It is a day known for easy spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). A day many will live to regret. I do not believe in the celebration of Valentine.

16— SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

Sule Lamido The last founding father standing BY ADAMU MUHD USMAN “Leadership is not an occupation, leadership is not an art of fraud and pride. Leadership is not yours or mine, leadership is an attribute of God, leadership is the will of God, leadership is the choice of God, and leadership is a trust. Leadership is a burden. So, am fulfilled, contented and very grateful to God for giving the opportunity to serve the people of Jigawa diligently, honestly and heatedly. ” ——Sule Lamido Many of the men who qualify to be called C M Y K

Founding Fathers of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] have left the scene for newer entrants. Many of them are now deceased while most of the remaining ones have quietly moved to the sidelines. Jigawa State Governor Alhaji Sule Lamido is the lone founding father still on the landscape and his four decades of experience in the rough terrain of Nigerian politics is being brought to bear in this election circle. He is so often in the news for a combination of reasons including his imposing physical presence, his simple style of doing things, his solid record of achievement especially since 2007 when he became the

helmsman of Jigawa State and his fearless stance on all controversial national issues. Sule Lamido always says his mind, which in all cases aligns with the interests of the common man. He never succumbs to sentiments. He is not the fair-weather type as so many politicians are; rather he stands rooted in principle and to progressive politics. In all of this, he brings rich personal experience to bear in all he does. Lamido loves elections and where many other governors try to avoid conducting local government elections by perpetuating caretaker committees in place, he organizes regular local government elections in Jigawa

Jigawa State Governor Alhaji Sule Lamido is the lone founding father still on the landscape and his four decades of experience in the rough terrain of Nigerian politics is being brought to bear in this election circle

State every two years according to the state’s Local Government Law. Now that another general election circle is at hand, his sagacity is in full display. He has deployed his unmatched energy and political skills in campaigning for PDP candidates from the top to the bottom. He organized an impressive state-wide flag off of campaigns during which all the candidates received their PDP flags. The campaign organisation then dissolved into local governments, wards, and polling units. At every level key party stakeholders met and mapped out strategies on how to market the PDP’s candidate and how to deliver the area to the party. In this election circle, Jigawa State PDP draws enormous strength from Sule Lamido’s tremendous record of achievements in office since 2007. All its candidates are hoping to ride to power on the strength of this record and the popularity of the party’s state leader. There is so much to point at that campaigning in Jigawa State has been free of insults and abuses. In every community and at every level PDP candidates can point to the projects and policies that have uplifted the state and the community in terms of education, transportation, health, economy and infrastructure. This record of achievement is a tonic to aspirants. It is a source of inspiration. The state-wide PDP campaign tour to the 27 local government areas led by Sule Lamido has been a model in peaceful and issue-based campaign. No mudslinging, foul language, intimidation and violence. Why mudslinging when you have an enviable record of achievement to showcase? No wonder that the PDP campaign train was welcomed to every part of the state by huge and enthusiastic crowd of supporters and wellwishers. Huge crowds of people arrived at the rallies not only in cars, buses and trucks but many also came on motor cycles, bicycles, camels, horses and on foot. It was against this background that President Goodluck Jonathan and his large presidential campaign entourage chose to spend the night in Dutse after a rally. It was the first and only time during this arduous campaign that the President was passing the night outside Abuja. He decided to spend the night in Dutse in appreciation of the organisation of the state’s party chapter. Finally, he decided to spend a night in Dutse in order to honour a man who is a repository of political tact and wisdom. In short, the president recognised that Sule Lamido, as the last of the party’s Founding Father, is still standing.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015—17

families. I don’t think it is right, people must be called to order. The politicians are too rascal in their approaches. To me, both the ex-militants and TY Danjuma are wrong. The call for war is wrong and also depriving somebody of his freedom of speech is also wrong. If Jonathan loses through normal process, they have no reason to raise any eyebrow; again, there are other channels without war. You can go to court and challenge the verdict. Nigeria must be seen to be bigger than any individual. Again, the call by Danjuma that they should be arrested is uncalled for because similar statements have been made by other people in the past. What happened? Was there any arrest? No. So, anybody talking now is enjoying his liberty under a democratic government. But from the discussion I had with so many of them, nobody wants war.

•Shettima Yerima...need for

violence-free elections before and after election in all parts of the country.

What efforts are the Northern leaders putting in place to ensure that there is no repeat of 2011 post election violence? You can see that I spend most of the time, in the north. I move from one state to another trying to consult with various youth organisations. We are trying to educate them on the consequences of violence. It usually starts when somebody initiates a bad idea and put it on people. These people believe whatever they are told and they start killing people. We try as much as we can to diffuse that mindset, sensitize them and make them realise the effect of their action. Be that as it may, I don’t think that is enough, government must also rise to the challenge that adequate security is provided during and after the elections.

Only justice, fairness can bring peace — Shettima Yerima

•Calls for sack of Defence Minister, NSA, IGP BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

lhaji Shettima Yerima, an activist and president of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, in this interview says that peace may continue to be elusive if some ethnic groups are treated as second class citizens in the Nigeria project, adding that justice and fairness can only ensure the much desired peace in the country. Excerpts. The inflammatory statements here and there especially coming from politicians and ex-militants on the general elections are source of worry. You agree? I am worried because this is not what we expected from this country at this time. I am very worried also because we don’t need these inflammatory statements coming here and there at this particular time. It baffles me when I see our democracy turning into something else. People don’t talk as patriotic Nigerians. Politicians don’t talk about what will benefit the people any more and those who are beneffiting from the government shy away from the truth. Most of them believe that they can do anything and go away with it.

Many Politicians seem to have forgotten that election will come and go but the country will remain. We have done it in the past and we are going to do it again. Those who are making inflamatory statements are those who have not contributed any thing to the growth of the country, they were not on the trenches when there were problems but they have the opportunity to be there not because they are better than us. Let all politicians be mindful of what they say because if anything goes wrong, they will all be affected. If they think they will run away, they may not be able to escape and if they do, their families will be affected. With some of these war threat, people are apprehensive of possible post election violence, what are you doing to stop it? The post election violence in 2011 is still fresh in my memory. So many people were killed and many families were wiped out in Kano. I saw how people were lynched. It was good that it didn’t escalate to the south. We liaised with various ethnic nationalities and it was controlled. We have worked alongside some international organisations and built a good relationship. But we have been able to manage the situation and

those leaders from various organisations that are based in the South have actually seen our efforts and have trusted us. As one of the Northern leaders, I give updates to people and educate them on what to do. Where danger looms, I call the attention of the government and security agencies to avert it and to protect people. Right now, are you doing the same inorder to forestall a repeat of the post-election violence in 2011? We are doing it. As I speak with you, we are in touch with various ethnic national leaders. I have spoken, with Fredrick Fasheun, Gani Adams, Asari Dokubo and the rest of them. We are discussing extensively and we might hold a press briefing very soon on the need for violence-free elections before and after election in all parts of the country. These people are of the view that they are being treated as second class citizens. Yes! I agree with some of their views because we are all the same in this project Nigeria. There is hope if we have equity and fairness. The politicians have to watch their utterances. These days, the campaigns are not based on issues but attack on personalities. It has even extended to generations of a

Politicians don’t talk about what will benefit the people any more and those who are beneffiting from the government shy away from the truth

The Boko Haram insurgents seem to have defied all government’s strategy to wipe them out, what do you think government should have done? In fairness, I don’t expect President Jonathan to go to Maiduguri and fight. There are people saddled with that responsibility. It shows these people have demonstrated total incompetence. The government then must rise to the occasion to saction them, sack them and bring fresh people who will deal very well with the situation. So, when people tell me Jonathan is behind Boko Haram, I get confused the more. Most of the people involved in security of the country are from the Northern area, so, are they in any way sabotaging the efforts of the government or serving the interest of a particular people? We should ask Minister for Defence, the National Security Adviser, NSA, the Inspector General of Police, AttorneyGeneral of the federation, all of them are from the north. Instead of pointing accusing fingers, these people should tell us about it and we will know where the problem is coming from rather than blaming Jonathan alone. But these people get order and directives from the President... Yes! I am sure there is an order and if there is none, I challenge them to come forward and say it. So, if there is an order and they refuse to carry out the order, or they don’t carry it out well he should sack them. Fire all of them and bring in fresh blood that will tackle this problem and save our nation. What is affecting Maiduguri and other places, is indirectly affecting other parts of the country.

18 — SATURDAY

C M Y K

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

SATURDAY

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015—19

Borrowing the meaning of ‘unknown’ from Fela , lets just assume some ‘con artistes’ played the characters - Obanikoro, Fayose, Brigadier Momoh, Chris Uba, Olubolade, Omisore , Abdulkareem etc

Ekiti Gate: A diabolical ‘radio drama’ from Ekiti? BY DR UGOJI EGBUJO

eavens Gate is a drama series on national TV produced by my church ( The City of David) to espouse Christian values and edify the society. We can call this other clandestine production- Hell’s gate , radio drama! You listen to that 37 minute audio clip and you shake your head in sheer disbelief. Ekiti once had an enviable reputation. The famed home of professors and petition writers has acquired other reputations lately. It is running head to head with Rivers State in political violence and mutilation of state legislature and judiciary. Politicians routinely rig elections in Nigeria and only an exceptional few don’t. Government officials wield stolen money and arbitrary powers. They determine electoral contests in their conclaves. But this Ekiti drama crossed a line. When Fayose, against odds and to the surprise of many, won the election in Ekiti , his victory became a case study for even experienced politicians. A riddle that had to be understood. Many are still puzzled. .Even if his victory could be understood , the margin of his victory was in a sense comparatively grotesque. A petrified Fayemi and his confused party could only mutter incoherent words of submission. Many conveniently attributed his victory to ‘stomach infrastructure’ . A brand of exploitative politics that has acquired a legendary status . You can bleed the treasury if you like and buy and distribute gifts to the electorate from time to time or on the eve of an election. Others argue that Fayose is popular amongst the local poor. Stomach infrastructure is unfortunately designed for such popularity. You can embezzle billions meant for a state project and spend a few thousands distributing bags of rice and chicken to market women the day before Christmas . And be popular. A man of the people! The virus of stomach infrastructure has afflicted many. Governor Aregbesola actually sat on a moving truck while flinging cards and cash at the poor soliciting their votes in Osun some weeks ago . An Omoluabi can do no wrong, perhaps. And men of the federal road safety corps watched. Perhaps the Sarakis patented stomach infrastructure. Tinubu had thousands queue for food rations last Christmas. Hell’s gate is revelatory only because it is dramatically graphic. The opposition had cried out when their members were arbitrarily arrested all over Ekiti on the eve of the elections. They had cried when APC governors were refused entry into Ekiti just before the election while PDP men had free access. The Fed Govt sent in the military ostensibly to curb violence. Now we know about “Passover” stickers! An audio recording of what should be discussions between some PDP stalwarts and some government security officials have left many mouths agape. Security officials have always been known to be available for hire for election ‘jobs’, some low level thuggery . Tafa Balogun and the billions of money found in his account may suggest top echelons of the police C M Y K

•Ekiti Election have always been part of electoral frauds but the army had never been involved on any high scale. Any where else, that audio recording will be a phenomenal scandal . The president, the Chief of Army Staff and Secretary to federal government were all mentioned. And so implicated. Those implicated should be rushing to seek exoneration through an impartial thoroughgoing public inquiry. But since we understand the limits of our expectations, we can just make comedy out of it. What else can we do? Perhaps since we cling on to comic details longer than our collective amnesia allows for atrocities, an interrogation of the scandal may come in the future . Perhaps. No one really wants to over heat the polity now. Only Fani Kayode and Okupe have the license to do that now . Perhaps Lai Mohammed’s turn will come. Strangely the presidency has been mute. Since the real dramatis personae will deny their participation, let us assume other unknown actors played those roles. Borrowing the meaning of ‘unknown’ from Fela , lets just assume some ‘con artistes’ played the characters - Obanikoro, Fayose, Brigadier Momoh, Chris Uba, Olubolade, Omisore , Abdulkareem etc in a room that has a door that creaks when it opens and that can be locked to prevent intruders when exchanges get hot or really sleazy. Let’s review the performances of the main characters beginning with the man who may have ‘impersonated’ Obanikoro. We can name him “Showboy”. Without doubt “show boy” must be a citizen of Koro nation! He was in charge , soft when he should

be , cajoling when necessary, issuing subtle threats and dangling carrots. Even the ebullient character “Poultryman” playing Fayose deferred to him many times. He was perhaps the one sent by the presidency. Listen to showboy talk at the Brigade commander, or shall we refer to him as “Samanja”: …”You cannot get your promotion without me sitting on the military council…” “….if I am happy tomorrow night , the sky is your limit… and if I am unhappy.. hmmm.” “…I am not here for tea party, I am on a special assignment given me by the president…..” “…….you must arrest Daramola by tomorrow morning!” But others objected: "…tonite!... arrest him tonite!..” Daramola, Fayemi’s campaign manager, was arrested that night. Poor Samanja! Boxed in by desperate Hyenas. Musiliu Obanikoro has denied any involvement . The denial was lacking in specifics. He talked about natural voices being manipulated. There are reports he has gone to seek redress in court. Femi Falana laughed at the suggestion that Obanikoro was heading to court. He is innocent until proven guilty just like all the others. He has my sympathy. He has so much more to do to refute the authenticity of that recording. In the court of public opinion , unlike the court of law, the dynamics are different. Something tells me Bode George whom he referred to as a fraudster despite judicial acquittal won’t buy his story. He is not helped by the fact that discussions revealed in that tape manifested hours after on the field as the soldiers rounded up APC stalwarts in many locations , beat them up and detained them. We may never know where the “materials INEC gave” and the “ cloned ballot papers” ended up. The most theatrical character must be poultryman. He deserves an Oscar for a brilliant

individual performance. I have watched him closely . He has no regards for bounds of propriety. He is self indulgently impulsive. On the PDP presidential campaign rally in Ado Ekiti he threatend to match APC with violence, talked about how someone used Justice Salami. He promised to fight with his last breath for Jonathan. Perhaps we understand the magnitude of the debt he owes the president better now . On the podium that day, when reminded his time was up , he yelled “ ..don’t talk to me like that, I am a governor, I am not just anybody, I must say all I want to say, you have to be careful….” . Quintessential Fayose. The official retreated, thoroughly embarrassed and Jonathan smiled . Perhaps he smiled the smile that comes with a shake of the head elders sometimes reserve for delinquent youths. Now compare that with Poultryman’s : “.Can’t you let me talk, cant you let me talk, am not a small boy…” as he resisted Showboy to whom he had otherwise deferred . Poultryman must be exceptionally gifted . He matched Fayose’s inflections , tones, sighs, yells both in English and in Yoruba and he matched even his puffs and episodes hyperventilation. Check these excerpts: “…Look Brigadier, when I was a governor 12 years ago you were an ordinary captain, so who do you think you are….? “…the chief of army staff called me and reassured me that this man will deliver “ “…he is disarming police working for us … this is unbecoming…” That was poultryman skewering Samaja. Fayose has denied any involvement. And he has to. Otherwise the chief of army staff and the president will become criminal conspirators in subverting the people of Ekiti. Otherwise INEC would have to explain the “soft copy” we heard was given to poultryman. And Samanja , beleaguered and suppliant, struggled to mollify the “bloody civilian”, mere governorship aspirant, with many doses of …your excellency sir, your excellency sir. You can’t but believe he forgot he was supposed to be a General. Shouldn’t we rather name him ‘Mutuwadole’ What will reduce a Brigadier General to a nitwitted truant student receiving barrages from an impatient principal in presence many junior students? Even for a drama it would have been an unlikely script. Pure comedy. At some point some one asked him: “ are you taking notes?” Brigadier Momoh is yet to speak of his involvement. You would expect that with such a scandalous clip in public domain the army should have given an official reaction. Brigadier Momoh was moved to the brigade in Ondo that oversees Ekiti shortly before the Ekiti elections. The Army will call it routine affairs. But lets assume they will deny any involvement. They have to explain Captain Sagir Koli to us. He is not fictional. What is the Army waiting for? When I heard Samanja say “…..if I start crying now...” I remembered Abacha and a crying General . Samanja imagined that crying will prove his innocence. When poultryman issued his decisive threat meant for Samanja saying “…If he wants to spoil it let him go and tie his head because we will wage war against him …” I shivered. Poultryman is not a meek man. The rating now has to be 16, for strong language. Samanja said Chris Uba commanded a strike force. Strike force? Why remind us of Sgt Rogers and kudirat. If this drama was staged to ridicule the government , let the govt investigate and bring the perpetrators to book. I like govt language. Let’s continue to remember till we know what happened in Ekiti. Je suis Ekiti.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

Let’s give a damn…for once came inadvertently. I had called the Chief Executive of a major newspaper in the morning of the Council of State meeting for something personal. When he told me he was in Abuja, I teased him that he had now become a member of the Council of State. He laughed and told me matter of fact that they were wasting their time; that the election would be postponed. By Friday, in spite of the Council of State’s decision not to postpone, the social media was full of the postponement rumour. It turned out that the social media was right to the

oday would have been the Dday. The day Nigerians would have gone to the polls to choose a new leader or endorse the old one. The conduct of the elections would have been as important as the outcome. It was another opportunity to show the world that we are serious about governance and due process. But it was not to be because the date was shifted seemingly out of the blues by the umpire. The reasons given are the security lapses which have been with us for at least six years. The new date to solve the security problems and have a credible election is six weeks away, on March 28. The announcement by the INEC Chairman, Professor Jega was an anticlimax for me. It was, in fact, a waste of my time in many ways. I virtually spent the whole day waiting for the announcement while hoping that INEC would assert itself. My hope rose by the minutes and the hours. It meant, I reasoned, that somebody was holding out at least. And when an Aunt called me in the afternoon to complain about the six week extension, I urged her to be patient and wait for Jega’s announcement. I hope she didn’t wait because when it finally came close to midnight, it changed nothing; instead it confirmed many things. The rumour that the PDP government was planning to scuttle the election had been in the air for quite a while. It was to start with an extension and end with an interim National Government to be headed by a military personnel. I have seen enough in my time not to believe every rumour but I have also been around enough to realise that many profound changes in our body politic had started with some rising smoke. And there is hardly any smoke without fire. So when the Military and the PDP denied the latter but kept mute on the former, I was worried. As an information manager with a good knowledge of how propaganda works, I know what selective denial could mean. My first real confirmation

I have an aburo who was born on February 14, and who always uses the opportunity of the Valentine public holiday to have an open house. He turned 60 this year, but INEC decided to deny him this year of all years, his annual ritual. I called him after the postponement to ask if he would now hold his traditional open house and he told me it was too late. And so it is for many people who had had to work around the date—weddings, funerals and birthdays cannot easily be rescheduled. The businesses around valentine are

For now, let us briefly examine the social and other costs of the postponement

minutest detail.What it means is that a script had been written all along and every major actor including our ’independent’ INEC Chairman, was obliged to act their part. It also means that the script writers are ruthless players who do not give a damn about the implications on the national psyche. How ruthless they are, how determined they are to follow the script to its conclusion irrespective of the consequences, will be determined by time. For now, let us briefly examine the social and other costs of the postponement which some people, not without justification, have described as an annulment or a coup.

almost as big as the ones around Easter. Many people rely on these seasons to make sales and shore up their finances. Have you noticed that the valentine noises were particularly low this year? Now that the date has been changed, it is already too late for many to start making up for lost ground. The result is that many small businesses will be affected by this political season that has refused to go away. But then do we really give a damn about how the average Nigerian makes his living?I know people who made plans to be out of Nigeria during this period for reasons best known to them.

od said in Gen 2:18, “it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him”. Everything that is missing in your life, God will help to put in place for you. Because God knows all things, He knows what is best for you. Whatever is lacking that is relevant to your destiny fulfillment; He will help you with it. Adam was not the one that identified the need; God identified it and did something about it. Before this year will be over God will help you out of the place of hopelessness. Don’t quit or surrender, help is on its way. There are more glorious paths ahead of you. Your best days are still ahead. Despite all that David passed through in life, he never gave up. He had multiple reasons to quit but instead he pressed on knowing full well that God will fulfill His plan for his life. He did not trust in his own ability nor in men because he knew that the arm of flesh will fail him, for by strength shall no man prevail. He always trusted God to help him out in every situation. Read what he said in Ps. 121:1-3. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber”. When he confronted goliath, he trusted in God’s help for victory and God helped him to defeat goliath. He was constantly looking up to God for help. No matter the goliath confronting you right now in the form of huge debts, marital challenges, children hooked in drugs, joblessness etc, know that the goliath is and or are surmountable. It is time to look up to God who created the heavens and the earth to help you. Abraham and Sarah his wife were old and the womb of Sarah was dead. There was no hope of the promised child coming forth. Their situation was

C M Y K

The help of God very hard. It appears as if there was no way out. But then God said in Gen. 18:14, “Is there anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son”. God was saying then and He is saying to you now that nothing is impossible with Him. He helped Sarah to conceive and gave her strength to deliver at old age. Know that what God did for Sarah, He can and will do for you. He is not a respecter of persons. He will help you to conceive and deliver the long awaited promise and blessing. Believe me, God will help you. Heb 13:6 says, “so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me”. Remember what goliath was doing to the children of Isreal? He was putting

fear into them to demoralize them and make them defenseless so that he can defeat them. But then the devil is a liar. God has not given to you the spirit of fear, but the Spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind. The threat of goliath appeared real only to those that believe in it. You can be like David and declare against every challenge confronting you that the Lord is your helper. Do you feel lonely, afraid, burned out, cheated, confused, depressed, hateful, overwhelmed, purposeless, tired, weak and tormented? Well know that there is the God that created the heavens and the earth. He wants to help you overcome all of these and more. He has made you an overcomer and more than conqueror. He causes you to triumph always through His son

For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 08023062635 08168955932; 08033378769. E-mail: Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org. Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407; Christ Reality Ministries, Zenith Bank A/C 1011711622.

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I know people who are due back but have decided to stay put until after the elections for reasons best known to them. I also know people who have made plans to be back home especially for the elections, again for reasons best known to them. These people, including their families and associates are going to be completely disoriented by this sleight of hand decision. The cost to them in terms of money, time and lost opportunities cannot be easily quantified. Many people put major activities and decisions on hold until after the elections—like a person going to see the dentist—because of uncertainties. Did our government think of the collateral damages to these people or they simply don’t give a damn? And are Nigerians wrong to believe that a date freely given for something as important as a National election would not be changed on the flimsiest of excuses? Whatever reputation or prestige that Nigeria has in the international community would have received a serious dent by this seemingly sudden postponement. Nigeria is a big country; it is also a very strategic country in black Africa. We should stop treating it like a banana republic. There are many things to say about the postponement, but this is not the time because, unlike some people, I give a damn about the unity of Nigeria. For now, I will just say that I am embarrassed by the activities of the military on the battle ground and off it. I am embarrassed by the actions of those pushing them into the political arena without thinking of the consequences. I am embarrassed by the ineptitude in and around government. I am embarrassed by an incumbent that is playing the religious card so blatantly given the tension in the country. Let us for a change, give a damn about Nigeria. Let us avert tension and bloodshed. Let the institutions including INEC and the military do their jobs without fear or favour. We owe it to the young, innocent souls in the country. Jesus Christ and by the power of His Holy Spirit. Of a truth, He will help you in every area of your life. Remember, He said, He will never leave you nor forsake you till the end of the age. God cannot be with you and not help you. Turn to Him that can help you. Stop trusting in chariots and horses like pharaoh did and ended up drowning in the red sea and start trusting in the name of the Lord, God Almighty that can never fail, and see Him help you to divide every red sea in your life so that you can have access to the better side of life. Trust Him, God can never disappoint you. God bless and help you and our great nation Nigeria. Do you want to experience fulfillment of promises of God in your life? The starting point is you receiving Jesus Christ in your life as Lord and Saviour, if you have not already done so.. Pray this simple prayer. Father, you said that whosoever shall call on the name of Jesus, shall be saved. I call on the name Jesus. Thank you for saving me and giving me the gift of eternal life. I praise you and give you all the glory.

SA TURD AY Vanguard, FEBRU ARY 14, 2015—21 SATURD TURDA FEBRUARY

has

nd so, we are now at cross purposes; it took us a while to arrive where we now find ourselves. It

been a journey of discontent, aided by promises broken, directed by false faith, driven by the zeal of obsession. All the events swirled around us embodying power outage, poor health delivery, bad roads, dysfunctional socalled amenities, brutal insecurity, stifling corruption and ineffective leadership must strike us as a reflection of our society. They express a sad comment about what we are, and who we are. Even if you are not a participant in any of the events, you still feel ashamed because you cannot totally separate high professional practice, yourself from what those who have returned Nigerians are, since you home somehow inspire no are a Nigerian. confidence in the populace Though you may not be who continue to send their directly involved in the sick kinsfolk abroad. events, you still cannot A friend was recently avoid being part of what is fairly elated as he going on. Electricity is the narrated how highly blood stream of life in a respected his surgeon son modern society. So are we was in the United States. not a modern society? We With such professional do claim, at the least, a skills, I suggested, he modicum of civilised should have tried to come existence. The whole back home where he country yearns today for would be needed more electricity supply to grant than in the US. “Well, he us a satisfactory life. We did”, replied my friend, need it for the kitchen, for not too happily. “He did the bathroom, for ironing for about two years, but our clothes, and also other then he knew he simply household chores—to say had to go back. But that is little of our industrial life, another story.” Yes, and in about which we should some ways, a typical sway much really. Though, Nigerian story. in fact, we have probably We do so well elsewhere. said everything. We are a loud noise in But we have done so countries where we have little. Our individual lives established oil refineries, are sustained largely by having somehow turned courtesy of generating our back on our own plants of all dimensions native turf in which the and capacity, imported “black gold” flows more from all over the world. We abundantly than in most appreciate the fact that parts of the world. |The Ghana, our fellow West refineries in our country African State and former are mostly owned by the British colonial territory government—and like has put this problem most government behind her, that the controlled ventures, they problem has badly affected do not work. So we mine our industries —several of our oil and export it in the which have even been raw to other countries, relocated to Ghana, though where it is refined and Nigeria had been the first sent back to us at a price choice of “investment we can hardly afford, so destination” for many that the government says foreign economies. it has to help out by

*Happ alentine! *Happyy V Valentine!

The whole country yearns today for electricity supply to grant us a satisfactory life

We are losing out, going and coming, to nations that can only be described as puny beside us, not only in size but in current wealth and patent potentials, but we seem incapable of doing something tangible about it. |We wail about it; we make promises about it; then we throw money, good money at it—down the drain. Is it not enough to make one feel really ashamed? Does it not make you want to ask what kind of people we are? We cannot even look after our own health. We cannot heal ailments in which we have specialists, people who have qualified as experts in treating the diseases and proved their worth overseas. They return home, as they properly should, whilst many of their contemporaries who are also from Nigeria willfully remain abroad. But while those in the Diaspora continue to maintain their

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offsetting part of the cost. Yes, ad that gave rise to the “subsidy” issue that has been tearing us apart. Did you ever hear such a roundelay even from children’s moonlight tales? But it is happening here, and from this weird scenario has developed ramifications of such a bizarre hue that people are asking, “What next, for goodness’ sake?” The truth is that in such a stifling atmosphere of corruption, anything can happen. Perhaps that is why the President of the nation openly declared that he did not “give a damn” about the issue of the declaration of the personal assets of a high government official, like himself, upon entering office. We thought that had been settled for all time by the late President Umar Yar ’Adua, when he publicly declared both is own and those of his wife.

•St.Valentine As the Vice President at that time, the procedure was followed by Goodluck Jonathan. His volte-face, and the language of its expression—that language in particular — when it was time to follow suit, fairly threw sand in our face. He went on to dare the nation in a language that showed nothing other than contempt for those whose votes put him where he was. He would have been well advised to re-classify what he meant by that statement. Politicians all over the world do so when it is found necessary. And we are saying that it is still here and now necessary. Anyway, a sober appraisal of what is now mockingly referred to as Faroukgate” reveals that this type of prank must have been going on for quite a while. In addition to the fiasco at the Stock Exchange hearings, one could sense the emergence of a sordid pattern that may begin to explain some particular events in our legislative procedures—like the

proliferation of enquiries initiated by National Assembly committees, for instance. Does it not occur to you that they were simply too many? It is a wonder the honourable members had any space to accommodate the real reason for their existence which is, simply put, to make laws. Of course, they have sweeping laws to effect their authority, especially when it concerns the summoning of citizens to help with investigations, but it is not likely that they can effectively demand that a witness must speak in camera. It would have been more of our expectations that the insistence should be on a public hearing, rather than the other way around. All in all, “Faroukgate” has dented the shining armour of our knight of the “transformation order”, and it would appear that we can now see more than we were meant to. We may here touch on the consideration of when to end a “sting” operation. I believe that it is when the arrest is made. A “sting”, of course, takes place only with the knowledge and participation of the police. But a crime has

to be committed first before an arrest is made. In the case of a bribe episode, it is now always enough to establish that the gratification has been fulfilled; the favour for which it is paid may also have to have been unaccomplished. So while the question has been asked about why an arrest was not immediately executed at the point of the alleged payment of those mouthwatering sums of dollars in the “Faroukgate” saga, one cannot speak for the police but it seems they knew what they were doing. But do we, as a nation, know where we are heading? In just over 40 days from now, maybe we would have found out. We would probably discover that we have merely been spinning our wheels without covering much ground. The postponement of the national elections by six weeks may have come in just in time to make us pause and re-calibrate our precipitate rush into a momentous decision. There is so much to lose, or gain, individually and as a nation. Caught in the spiral of the headlong approach to what may indeed be a change, we have neglected to take stock of the outcome of the changer we would effect. And our preparations must affect the result of our effort. But then, what do we really wish to change? Electricity power supply, for one thing. It is not likely to change within the capacity, or capability, of the current dispensation. It is doubtful that the roads will be vastly improved either. The oil distilleries can hardly be quickened or increased and the humongous thefts of petroleum revenues will not stop with the prevailing system in place. Our health delivery facilities will undergo very little improvement, with workers in the health sector stumbling from one industrial action to another. The six-week pause may indeed achieve a calmer environment for us to take the allimportant decisions we have before us, though that may not be precisely why it has been so decreed. The real reason may become more evident in another week. Oh, I almost forget— Happy Valentine! Time out.

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

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SATURDAY

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015—23

BY IYABO AINA

Weird and best dressed celebrities at 2015 Grammys

t was a star-studded evening, as LL Cool J led the night activities of the Grammy Award which held at the Staples centre, Los Angeles. The evening was set ablaze with countless performances from Beyoncé to Madonna, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Paul McCartney amongst other array of stars And as always, there were definitely some side attractions. Below are pictures of best and weird dressed celebrities that attended the 2015 Grammys.

Rihanna Madonna

Joy Villa

Ciara Miley Cyrus

Kim and Kanye

Beyonce

Neyo

Nicki Minaj’s ex discloses reason behind their break-up BY IYABO AINA

fter months of dealing with a public breakup with the female rapper Nicki Minaj, Safaree Samuels has decided to open up about everything that went down between him and the music diva. “I walked away. I’m not going to say I broke up, but I’m the one who walked away. I packed up my stuff and I left,” he said. “I just got to the point where the respect wasn’t there,” he continued. “Everyone around her works for her, you know? So it got to the point where it was like, I’m your man. I’m who you go to sleep with every night. I’m who you wake up with every morning. And it got to the point where I was being treated like an employee, instead of like her man.” And going back to the Twitter fiasco, Samuels said, “I would never do anything publicly to try to pull her down. Whatever happens between me and her is personal. I would never put it in public”. Recall that there were once dating rumors after Nicki and Samuels split as she was spotted out and about on numerous occasions with Meek Mill, but the sexy diva still denies that there’s nothing going on.

Nicki Minaj Taylor Swift

24 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

With FLORENCE AMAGIYA 08061644307 email: daise4000@yahoo.com

D’banj:

Strides of an energetic Entertainer

OPULAR Afro pop star, Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo, who goes by the stage name D’banj, may not have been so prepared when he parted ways with his bosom friend and partner, Don Jazzy, few years back. Today, he is back on his feet, big and strong. The travails D'banj went through after he fell apart with Don Jazzy climaxed with his record label DB. Also, he signed into Kanye West Record label known as GOOD Music and did more stuff with international stars. After the break away experience, D’banj has remained constant in his musical career. Last year in 2014, he celebrated his 34th birthday amidst '"who is who'' in the society. The Koko Master used the occasion to unveil yet another significant aspect of his career, a strong entrepreneurial initiative focusing on Agriculture. The new business venture named Koko Agropreneu which began with an initial capital of N50 million was raised to empower the Nigerian youths. Again in 2015, he started the year with yet another bang as he celebrated 10 years on the stage on February 4. The Afro-pop star’s event was well attended with a special appearance by American celebrity and Model, Amber Rose. The show was held at Oceanview, Victoria Island, Lagos. In this edition, I present to you, a young man who had the chance to invest in so many businesses in his youthful life, but he opted to invest in Agriculture because of the future of this country and the youths of Africa. Read on…

APO Daniel Oyebanjo was born 34 years ago, precisely on the 9th of June, 1980 to a strict Military Officer father who commanded an artillery and a church dignitary mother in Kaduna state. Young D’banj got admission into the Nigerian Military School at age eleven to follow in the footsteps of his father, but he resisted after three years of his stay in the school. While in the school, his love for music was noticed when he joined the elite drum corp of the Nigerian Army. He left Army School and joined the Nigerian Navy Secondary School in Abeokuta where he completed his Secondary education. D’banj, while in school, was taught to play the musical instrument called the harmonica by his late older brother, but later found out in the university that he got better in playing it as he practiced regularly. But he didn’t get into music with a free ride by his parents who thought music was for unserious people. Today, however, the case is different as everyone in his family is proud of his achievements. For the Koko master’s success story

I’m not only giving back to the society, but I’m also empowering the youths for the future

•D'banj and Amber Rose

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015 — 25

•D'Banj and firends

•D'banj with Snoop Dogg

•D'banj and Genny

cannot be quantified in naira only, but in dollars and pounds. He is one of the few acts who have taken music to international quarters. D’banj has done lots of international collaborations to say the least. This started when he was still in partnership with his friend and producer, Don Jazzy, roughly ten years ago. D’banj’s music has been soaring higher in his career, dishing out hits after hits. Few years back when he went solo, he revealed how he and Jazzy made over N3b in one hit.

Give- back to the society

Investments

D’banj is not only an artiste who makes money from the sale of his CDs and endorsements, he is also a shrewd businessman who has invested heavily in other concerns of life. He was paid $1m by a cable television for a show called, Koko Mansion. The Ogun State born lanky musician owns a range of investments which includes ‘Koko water production, Koko Garri exportation business, Koko Mobile, and Koko Bar. He has a foundation known as Koko Foundation working currently on charitable activities for the less privileged. Apart from his music interests, D’banj has moved into other sectors. His interests include Koko Mansion, a TV reality show, Koko Lounge, an upscale hangout in Lagos and the UK, Koko Foundation, a charity, and Koko Mobile. There are also rumours that he is set to launch Koko Records. The bulk of his money comes from endorsements – his endorsement deal with Globacom telecommunications cost 70 million naira ($442,000). He has a multi-million naira endorsement deal with energy drink Power Fist, a deal with the makers of the Virgin Colour soft drink and another huge deal with a popular Jeweler. Another endorsement which runs into millions is with Chris Aire,

Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music. He pockets between N5m and N7m as performance fee for local gigs; $80,000 to $150,000 for his gift back to the society African shows; £40,000 to £60,000 for UK shows; and $50,000 to $60,000 for American shows.

•One of his cars with D’banj acting as the face of his watches. He collects between 5 million naira ($31,500) and 7 million naira ($44,200) as performance fee for local gigs, and even bigger fees across the rest of Africa and in the US and the UK. Like his old boss, Don Jazzy, D’banj also bagged a recording deal with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music. D’banj once said, “I work hard so that money, awards, endorsements, bookings and kokolets chase me.”

The Koko master is indeed grateful for all he has been given in so short a time and he has embarked on giving- back to the society as a sign of his gratitude. He is currently on a long term project called the Agropreneur initiative. Dbanj has invested tons of millions to partner with a South African company working on eradication of poverty from Africa using agriculture as a tool of the change. He believes the project is workable, but it would take time like other genres of trades. According to the star, before this era the youths were not making so much money in the entertainment industry, but we are there now. And if the likes of one of the richest men in Africa, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, can invest in agriculture so should every youth who wants to go somewhere tomorrow. To him, this project isn’t all about giving back to the society alone, but he wants the youths to see a future in Agriculture. He wants to empower the youths by this project of his and if you have empowered the youths then you have empowered the world.

Life style

D’banj is known to cruise on exotic cars and he is also a power dresser who has headlined many national and international events with his style of appearance. His mansion in the US is worth over N300m as well as his other landed properties scattered across the nation. He has a multimillion naira endorsement deals with Globacom, an energy drink company, Chris Aire, UAC, among others. He currently has a recording deal with

•Pusha-T Big Sean, DBanj and Mike Dean

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SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015 —27

By AYO ONIKOYI, 08052201215

Ciroc gives reasons on making D’Banj, Banky W brand ambassadors

e may not have given Ms Jaie enough attention when she released Kilon poppin. The R&B diva who has got a voice that can calm troubled souls has revealed that she is responsible for what her fans hear. In her words: “Sometimes you get into compromising positions when someone wants you to wear something or say something that doesn’t correlate with who you are. I just don’t do anything I don’t want to do. I don’t see the point. I am not going to wear what I don’t want to wear or sing about what I don’t want to sing about. At the end of the day, I am accountable for what my fans hear so I try to make sure that everything that I do, I can put my hands up and say I am proud of it.Young girls are watching. If it’s not something I want my future children to see, then I won’t do it.” Speaking on her plans for 2015, the singer cum entrepreneur says she is ready to give her fans quality music. “My plan is just to put out good music this year. Its just all about the music. I just want to give my fans quality music that can stand up against international competitors.”

IGERIA’s leading pop stars, Banky W n d D’banj, were unveiled as the brand ambassadors for ultra-premium vodka, Ciroc, at an event held February 6, 2015, at Intercontinental Hotels in Victoria Island, Lagos. The duo were unveiled amidst pomp and pageantry to the media. Similar to its international alignment, where Ciroc partners with influential and successful talents around the world, the brand will be supporting Banky W and D’banj in their career efforts. “ We are proud to be partnering with Banky W and D’banj, because together, these personalities embody the Ciroc experience and lifestyle. These two artistes are a force to reckon with on the international scene, and we are excited for them to join the Ciroc family,” says Joe Nazzal, Head of Reserve, Ciroc. Commenting on what it feels like to be endorsed by Ciroc, D’banj says: “It’s a great feeling. I started off the celebration of my tenth year anniversary and now I have been announced a Ciroc ambassador. Someone asked me outside, “How do you feel receiving this award ?” I think that guy said it the right way because it feels like a reward and also feels like an award. I am honoured because Ciroc is a premium brand and getting this during my tenth year anniversary celebration is like a certification saying “You are on the right track.” In the same vein, king of R&B, Banky W, also a

I am accountable f or what m myy fans hear — Ms Jaie W

expressed his joy being a Ciroc brand ambassador: “I identify with the brands that identify with the things I Identify with. Ciroc is about celebration, its about those that have worked hard and played hard. I work hard and play hard and identify with brands that do the same. Its not just about the followers or the social media, its about the lifestyle. It’s all about all of these wrapped into one. I started last year, I was feeling a little lonely and they brought in D’banj.”

Emeka Smith, Monica Ogah and others Storm Mayfair Garden Club Opening

HE Ajah axis of Lagos state came alive last weekend 24th of January 2015, when premium hospitality brand, Mayfair Garden Club, was officially unveiled to the public. It was filled with a great ambiance, décor, beautiful lighting, ushers and guests that added glamour to the event. Lasting for about 5 hours, the event witnessed a

great turnout comprising of fab residents of Ajah who have been yearning for such an outlet to relax and have fun. Ace comedian, Emeka Smith added spice to the event with different doses of humour and also ‘emceed’ the event. Monica Ogah, winner MTN Project Fame season 4 was also available to thrill the audience with her exciting hit

songs. Mr. Sam Yonne Atsepoyi, CEO Mayfair Garden club, outlines the reasons for establishing this recreational outfit. “We feel our vicinity is isolated because of the traffic in Ajah.

•Ms Jaie

Nigeria needs a change, not stories – Disciple Kputu

•Disciple Kputu

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ERNGU Joshua Kputu is a fast rising gospel artiste who is passionate about creating a positive change through his music.He is known as Disciple Kputu in the music industry and recently released a new single titled Change kia kia. Commenting on what inspired the song, the revolutionary artiste who hails from Benue said the song is inspired by the fact that Nigerians are suffering and the country needs an instant change. “ A lot of things are happening In Nigeria today that needs change.I represent the masses, my people are suffering.I composed Change Kia kia because Nigerians needs that change instantly.I am not affiliated to any political party.I sing for change.That is the reason why we are giving out the song for free. When asked the kind of gospel music he does, he said: “I do gospel music,but my gospel music isn’t restricted to the church”

28 — SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

Nollywood stars storm Vanguard Awards

By Juliet Ebirim

t was indeed a night of glamour, glitz and fun as top entertainment stars joined eminent dignitaries at the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites last Saturday for the 2014 Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards. The event which was anchored by popular comedian Bovi Ugboma and beautiful Osas Ighodalo had the likes of Patoranking, Shuga band and a host of others treating guests to scintillating songs and dance performances. Top Nollywood stars who were present include Amanda Ebeye, Iyabo Ojo, Biodun Okeowo,Cossy Orjiakor, Biola Ige, Ijeoma Imoh, Oma Nnadi, Ruth Eze, Nazareth Bako, Chika Oguine, Chinneylove Eze, Biola Ige, Chita Agwu amongst others. Popular comedian

Biodun Okeowo

Ruth Eze C M Y K

Chika Oguine

Chita Agwu

Patoranking

Ijeoma Imoh

Akpororo was also present at the event. Nollywood actress, Cossy Orjiakor as usual stepped out in a dress that left her breasts the centre of attention at the event as she drew guests, especially the menfolk to where she was seated and they took turns taking pictures with her, while they ogled her voluptuous rack. The movie stars all looked stunning in their gorgeous outfits. Delectable actress Amanda Ebeye looked charming in a blue gown, while actress cum producer, Iyabo Ojo also rocked in a flowing yellow dress. Biodun Okeowo looked elegant as always in a lovely black gown which perfectly accentuatedher curves. Others too ‘wowed’ guests with their alluring beauty.

Amanda Ebeye

Iyabo Ojo

Bose Oladimeji

Cossy Orjiakor

Biola Ige

Nazareth Bako

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015—29

Stars on parade at Vanguard Awards

•Finnest dishing out his highlife

•Shuga Band

•Ayo Onikoyi, entertainment editor with Biodun Okeowo

•Getting ready for National Anthem

•Oma Nadi

•Sylvia Ukaatu

•A guest having a feel of Cossy's bounties •Belly Dancers led by Korra Anita Obidi

•Bovi Ugboma and Osas Ighodalo

•Beejay Sax welcoming guests C M Y K

•Kiss Daniels digging it out

•Cossy

•Akpororo

30—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

Celebrities on Valentine's Day By BENJAMIN NJOKU & ANOZIE EGOLE

Daddy Shockey

Nazareth Jesse ‘No Mr. Right to hang out with’

‘It falls on my wedding anniver sar y’ anniversar sary’

really don’t have a plan on how my Val will be celebrated because I don’t have a boy friend to hang out with. So, it might just be an indoor thing unless that Mr. Right decide to show up today which I am eagerly waiting for, and very expecting. I wish to celebrate this Val with my Mr. Right, and not just to hang out with anybody. I don’t intend to mess around though. Just hoping for a memorable day.

am going to celebrate with my family today.Fortunately, it falls on my wedding anniversary and my son’s birthday. So, it will be a double celebration for me. Definitely, I am going to stay with my family. And I believe that it is all about sharing love with your loved ones.

Oma Nnadi

Charles Inojie, Asiegbu, others for O’jez Val party F

ollowing the postponement of Nigeria’s presidential election scheduled for February 14, the annual O’jez Valentine Party earlier scheduled for Sunday, February 15 , will be holding this evening.

*Charles Inojie C M Y K

“Our yearly O’jez Valentine Party will hold today, its traditional date at our National Stadium, Surulere-Lagos outlet,” celebrity restaurant’s C.E.O Chief Joseph Odobeatu said. With a lot of crazy and entertaining acts on the bill this year, Odobeatu is optimistic that this year’s O’jez Valentine Party will turn out to be “an unforgettable Valentine for fun seekers and lovers. We are glad that our funny in-house comedian, Elder O is back, he is teaming up with one of the craziest

‘I hate tto o think abou al Da y’ aboutt V Val Day’

onestly and sincerely, I do not observe the day known as St Valentine Day. I hate to think about it: it irritates me because I don’t like how it’s been seen! Maybe, how it is being abused because people cheat on daily basis. So, why will someone say ah my hubby didn’t spend that day with me therefore he doesn’t love me or my boyfriend is not with me and so, he’s with another person: it’s one day I look forward to let it come and pass : I already have plans of visiting my two close friends who just had bouncing babies : then later today, I am going to hang out with a friend...

young comedians in Nigeria that stood in for him during his two months absence, MC Prymzo, to push audience members to the limits. Crazy Legs, David Crusaders, O’jez Band among many others are on the bill this year.” Also, celebrities who have confirmed attendance with their families are Nollywood actors Leo Mezie, Ejike Asiegbu, Bimbo Manuel, Zach Orji and Charles Inojie and singers ArtQuake among others. O’jez Valentine Party will begin at 7pm and end at midnight at O’jez restaurant, National Stadium premises, Surulere-Lagos.

Moet Abebe

‘No valentine for me’ There will be no Valentine for me this year because, I will be on a movie location.I will be shooting film, so, I am really going to be very busy.

SA TURD AY Vanguard , FEBRU ARY 14, 2015 — 31 SATURD TURDA FEBRUARY

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32— SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

I am not trying to be like

Tiwa Savage — Lola Savage

American-born Nigerian singer, Lola Savage, is not related to Tiwa Savage. Though they bear same surname, Lola says she’s not trying to be like Tiwa Savage who is a big name in the Nigerian music industry. Instead, she expresses her desire to do a collabo with the songstress to prove to the world that she’s not back in Nigeria to compete with the Mavin records queen of songs. She shares her story with Showtime Celebrity. By Kehinde Ajose

How do you intend to break into the Nigerian music scene? I am just a singer and I love to do it to the best of my ability. I am going to be myself even though there are many female artistes at the moment. I am going to work very hard in ensuring that I share my own craft with the world. What is your selling point as an entertainer? It’s my looks and my voice.I don’t have the Beyonce kind of voice or that of Tiwa, Waje or Omawunmi. My voice isn’t as strong as theirs, but I do know that I have a beautiful voice. I can sing most current songs very well. My interest lies in old school music because I grew up listening to the likes of Ebenezer Obey and Afrobeat legend, Fela. I am going to stand out with my own voice and my looks. Talking about your looks, are you referring to your sex appeal? Yes, sex appeal and my style.Fashion is one thing, but style is carrying yourself in what you wear and being confident with it.That speaks a lot. How did your journey into music begin? I was a member of an RnB C M Y K

group back in Chicago. I actually played RnB with the group for about three years.We lost out on a deal and years later, everybody kept telling me that the Nigerian music industry is growing. That was between 2006 and 2007 .Though I was skeptical at that time, I still put out some singles and gave them to some Nigerian DJs that I came in contact with. I met the likes of Eldee and Banky W who kept telling me to relocate to Nigeria. But because of the things that were going on in my life at that time, I couldn’t take a bold step to return home. Fortunately, my mum gave me the push late 2013 and am here to see how far the push will take me. Do people compare you with Tiwa Savage? There really is no comparison except for the last name.She is one of the artistes in Nigeria that have actually paved the way for most of the female singers that are trying to do their own things.I respect her craft, I respect what she is doing. I am Lola Savage .I am just trying to do what I know how to do best since I was a child. I am here to show Nigerians that I can do it too.I am not trying to be like anyone else.I am not trying to be like Tiwa.I can sing too and I can perform.I am just here to show Nigerians that I can build my own brand and reach the level that some female acts have attained today. I am confident enough to know that I can get there.

The t Nigeri we d thing dif perspe I think do is Nige I’ comp her b song w Sa

VOL. 1: NO. 10

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 , 2015

2015: Jonathan’s endorsement tears Yoruba elders apart T By Ola Ajayi & Anozie Egole

HE recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by the pan-Yoruba socio-political association, Afenifere, is still raising dust in the South-West geo-political zone. Now, it is generating another round of controversy among Yoruba elders and groups. Two weeks ago, the Chief Reuben Fasoranti-led Afenifere endorsed President Jonathan for second term because they want the country restructured. “On the 2015 general election, as far as Afenifere is concerned, the presidential election is to decide between two options, freedom or slavery. We have elected to choose freedom, freedom from bondage, internal enslavement and internal colonialism that holds most Nigerians down under the bastion of domination and we are convinced that the 2014 national conference report has laid the basis for the proper restructuring of the country. “The most important change that Nigeria desire this time is restructural change. The change that ignores the restructuring of Nigeria is not a change. Most of the issues that are confronting us, the issue of insecurity, corruption have their link with the faulty constitution that we have and to change the constitution is the most important change that we need. Also, we want to warn in Yoruba land that we should be careful of those who promise change and do not believe in the restructuring of Nigeria and those who boycotted National Conference and described it as diversion,’’ Afenifere said, adding that it does not want Nigerians to be returned to Egypt.

ARG, YCE, Ekiti Afenifere kick

In quick succession, the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and Ekiti Afenifere dissociated themselves from the comments saying it did not represent Yoruba interest in the forthcoming election. The YCE popularly called Igbimo Agba Yoruba and led by Major General Adeyinka C M Y K

Adebayo (retd) after a meeting urged Yoruba not to be in a hurry to endorse any candidate. In its communiqué read by Prof. Bayo Olateju, the elders called ‘’on all Yoruba to think seriously, Ki Yoruba Ronu, and weigh the candidates on the basis of what Yoruba and the nation stands to gain in the next four years, as presented by each political party’s manifesto and its track record in governance, and then decide who to vote for. “YCE is not a party to any purported endorsement given by any group or groups to a presidential candidate and so dissociates itself from such action as YCE did not at any time sit with any group of people to consider and come to such decision.”

Let the best candidate win

It continued: “Nigerian presidency should go to the best candidate who has the vision and mission of taking Nigeria and Nigerians from poverty to wealth; from insecurity of lives and property to living secured, prosperous and in abundance; regardless of party affiliation, religious, or

tribe. “YCE hereby categorically, once again, states that any form of threat against this nation, Nigeria, is not politics but an act of treason, hence YCE vehemently condemns in strong terms and in its entirety, this unpatriotic stand of some people threatening war if they lose the election. We reiterate, once again that no nation

progresses in an atmosphere of strife or war and Nigeria does not need another war in any form after this general election”. It called on all political parties to caution and control their supporters from making provocative and inflammatory public statements which could set the nation ablaze or rail-road the nation into another civil war. Continues on Page 2

IN THIS EDITION

Ondo bullion van robbery attack: Police dismiss inspector, three others for illegal duty •Page 2

Ekiti Central: Rasaki, Ajijola trade tackles over PDP senatorial ticket •Page 3

In politics women are better managers than men — Salis-

Fakos

•Page 7

2 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

ONDO STATE

Ondo bullion van robbery attack:

Police dismiss Inspector, three others for illegal duty By Dayo Johnson

T did not come as a surprise. But it will definitely serve as deterrent to other law enforcement agents who want to eat their cake and at the same time have it. Four policemen led by an inspector were arrested for embarking on an illegal operation by escorting a bullion van from the area office of one of the commercial banks to the state capital office of the same bank. They are to be charged to Court any moment from now for conspiracy and robbery. The four policemen embarked on the illegal duty without official approval from the operation unit of the command. Instead of following due process by officially booking for police personnel to escort the money, the bank area office resorted to “cutting corners” by side-tracking the laid down procedure. A top Police source told Southwest Voice that “on a good day whenever banks want to convey money from one town to the other they usually write to the operation unit of the state police command and eight policemen would be approved for them. However, in this situation only four policemen escorted the bullion van which fuelled suspicion of conspiracy.’’ Police detectives said the dismissed officers may have been embarking on such illegal duties before now to make brisk business until nemesis caught up with them. The detectives disclosed that the suspects faced orderly room trial and were found culpable. They were said to have confessed that they actually embarked on the illegal operation thinking it would be a “smooth ride that would earn them quick money”. They reportedly told their “prosecutors” that they never envisaged that the bullion van would be attacked by robbers. The suspects were said to have requested that the police detectives should beam their searchlight on the bank workers who they alleged may have tipped off the robbers of the movement of the cash from Ondo town to Akure, the state capital. South-west Voice gathered that the suspects during their interrogation said that the precision with which they were ambushed and attacked C M Y K

•Isaac Eke, Ondo Police Commissioner showed that it had the collaboration of “an insider” who might have briefed the hoodlums of their movement and the right place to ambush them. Three others persons including the two drivers of the bullion van marked Lagos FST 945 AL and the escort vehicle with registration number PF 344 SPY and the cash Officer of the bank were detained after the attack. Suspects were on illegal duty –Commissioner of Police The Ondo State Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke, said that the command smelled conspiracy as the policemen who escorted the van were on illegal duty. Eke said that the suspects failed to follow laid down procedure on the escort of bank bullion van from one bank to the other. The suspects were said to have confessed that they could not fire

“ even a single shot” because they will have to account for expended bullets as they were on illegal mission. Consequently, the suspect told the panel that they had to take the “safest” means which is to flee the scene when it dawned on them that they were face-to-face with death and were handicapped to exchange gun shot with the robbers. Their intention according to a Police source was to abandon the driver and cash officer to their fate after the attack. “They had no intention to return to the scene of the attack but were hiding in the bush for the night to come after which they will disappear since their true identities were not properly documented before they embarked on the illegal duty. “But for the timely intervention of the Police Commissioner who deployed mobile policemen to comb the bush, the four suspects would not have been arrested. They were planning to hide in the bush until night fall after which they would just disappear into thin air.

Bank officials indicted

The suspects were said to have requested that the police detectives should beam their searchlight on the bank workers

However, a banker in the affected bank told South-West Voice that an investigation conducted by the bank has indicted some officials of the bank. He said that the report had been forwarded to the headquarters of the bank. According to him, it has been alleged that those who engaged the services of the four policemen may have collaborated with the robbers to attack the bullion van. This position was equally corroborated by a top police detective who alleged that the attack was premeditated by a syndicate working in the bank which has a link with the robbers.

Continues on Page 6

2015: Jonathan’s endorsement tears Yoruba elders apart Continues from Page 1 Still preaching peace as the nation moves closer to general elections, YCE expressed concern and condemned the spate of violence on some political party candidates and party offices across the country and urged all parties to remind their members of the recently signed Abuja peace accord. Instead of attacking personalities during campaigns, the elders urged the parties to concentrate their campaigns on issues such as economy, security, stable electric power, industrialization, employment, education for all, sustenance of our democracy, good health, care for the aged and other salient issues. In the 11-paragraph communiqué, the elders advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure election the election is free and fair,particularly by ensuring that no one is unwittingly disenfranchised through inability to obtain the PVC; by logistic problems of failure of election materials, such as voters register for the polling booths, ballot boxes, form EC 8 to arrive at the polling stations on time; faulty or broken down PVC card readers, computers, and card reader batteries. The whole world is watching the conduct of this election, with keen interest. They advised all Yoruba regardless of which part of this country they live, to spare no effort in ensuring they collect their permanent voters cards (PVCs) and that they turnout en masse to vote for the candidates of their choice during the polls. The elders reaffirmed their resolve and belief in the corporate existence of the country as a single and united entity for the progress and prosperity of all who dwell within its borders. The elections should go on as planned and urged contestants to accept the results as an expression of the voice of the people and of God. Apart from YCE and ARG, some Yoruba sons and daughters have expressed displeasure with Afenifere leaders for protecting their selfish interest and pretending to be fighting for the Yoruba. To them, the Afenifere endorsement is capable of pitching the zone against other presidential candidates in the election. ODC backs Jonathan However, Afenifere has a soul mate in the Oodua Democratic Coalition (ODC), which after an interethnic nationalities consultative conference in Lagos, endorsed Jonathan for re-election. Endorsing Jonathan, the ODC in a communique signed by Morgan Omodu, said: ‘’Following the unprecedented achievements of Mr. President and the laid out agenda and plans for national development, we hereby as a coalition endorse the president and continuity of Mr. President in office till 2019.” Leaders of the ODC further anchored their decision on the ‘’need to ensure that the transformation agenda which is visible across all sectors is sustained and further encouraged to be consolidated by preventing awon akotileta (quislings) in our midst from truncating it all because of selfish and personal reasons and further reiterate our position as Yoruba people on where we stand.’’ The group also called for total participation of all and sundry in the forthcoming elections and peace among all ethnic nationalities and particularly those within the South-west because it is only in an atmosphere of peace that development is possible. They condemned the unguided and unwarranted assault on President Jonathan in some parts of the country, saying ‘’the office and the personality of the president should be respected. With the endorsements and counterendorsements, it is to be seen who the South-West electorate will vote for in the March 28 presidential polls.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 3

EKITI STATE

Ekiti Central: Rasaki, Ajijola trade tackles over PDP senatorial ticket By Gbenga Ariyibi

HERE is sense in the popular saying that in politics there is no permanent friend or enemy but permanent interest. This aptly captures the deep rift between Hon Fatimat Raji -Rasaki, a former member of the House of Representatives and the wife of former Military Governor of both Ogun and Lagos states, Brig-General Raji Rasaki and Mr Lateef Ajijola, an oil magnate cum politician. The duo are interested in representing their senatorial district in the Senate. Both are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State and hail from Ado Ekiti in the Central Senatorial District of the state. They both contested for the PDP primaries conducted about two months ago but now they are at each other’s jugular claiming to be the party’s authentic candidate for the March 28, 2015 National Assembly election. After the PDP’s keenly contested primaries, Raji Rasaki was declared the winner, a decision Ajijola has opposed. Now, each of them is claiming to be the candidate of the party with Ajijola taking the matter to a Federal High Court, Abuja and urging the court to declare him winner of the primaries conducted.

•Fatimat Raji Rasaki: Declared winner at the primaries Things were said to have fallen apart between the politicians shortly after the primaries when some of the votes regarded as void were said to have been counted in favour of Ajijola A protest from Raji -Rasaki on the seeming anomaly was said to have changed the trend, as the two Returning Officers that conducted the primaries, Barr Owoseni Ajayi and Segun Akinwumi subsequently announced Raji-Rasaki as the duly elected winner of the primaries. Efforts made by the leaders of the party, including the state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose to

reconcile the two politicians met with stone wall. A similar move by the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe and his chiefs did not yied dividends as Ajijola insisted that he was cheated and sought redress in court. Shortly after the congress, Ajijola told newsmen that he would write to the appeal panel raised by the party and channel his grievances to all the relevant authorities within the party and ensure that the party reversed itself. Not satisfied with the position of the party, he approached the court for adjudication. Reacting to the development,

Raji-Rasaki berated Ajijola for taking her and the party to court The former lawmaker described members of the PDP who have refused to be pacified and had resorted to taking the party to court over the conduct of the primaries as being allegedly used by opposition to destabilize the party. Raji-Rasaki, said PDP has preference for women in occupying elective positions, saying her candidacy was a great testimony to her claim. Speaking on the litigation surrounding her emergence as senatorial candidate in Ekiti Central Senatorial district in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, Raji-Rasaki clarified that she was never defeated by Mr Lateef Ajijola. She advised Ajijola to have a rethink and stop being desperate for the ticket. “Our party has not hidden the fact that it has preference for women. There is a provision in our party’s constitution that winning the primaries is not enough for you to fly the flag. The party has control over the ticket and they can give it to whoever it likes based on your experience and integrity. “What happened at the primaries was votes that were supposed to be voided were

Ado Poly workers dare governing council By Gbenga Ariyibi

N the past two years or there about, the atmosphere at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti has been tensed following one crisis or the other between the trade unions and Rector. The frosty relations between the trade unions and the Rector, Dr Taiwo Akande, has led the government to take a drastic measure against the unions with the Governing Council of the institution suspending trade and students union activities in the school. It also ordered workers to shun their strike action and resume at their duty posts. The directive was ignored by majority of the staff as a visit to the institution showed that most of the staff refused to resume at their duty posts. The Polytechnic was like a ghost yard as most of the offices were locked. Stern-looking policemen were also stationed at the main gate, probably to ward off any incursion into the Polytechnic by union leaders that could C M Y K

lead to harassment of the few workers that reported to duty. It will be recalled that organized labour in the polytechnic, comprising Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics and Non-

Academic Staff Union had engaged the Rector, Dr Theresa Akande in a battle, leading to litany of protests and declaration of indefinite strike by the unions. In a phone conversation with newsmen in Ado Ekiti, the NASU Chairman in the

Polytechnic, Prince Adekunle Adeniyi, described as empty threat, plans to sack any erring staff and urged his members not to bow to such antics. The unions accused Akande of allegedly deducting a sum of N350 million from staff ’s cooperatives among other allegations.

•Fed Poly Ado-Ekiti with the Rector, Dr Akande (inset)

counted in Ajijola’s favour. And when I called the attention of the Electoral Officers to it they agreed and the deduction of such votes counted in my favour and I was declared the winner”, she said. She advised Ajijola to withdraw the case to prove that he is a loyal party man and stop portraying himself as being used to scuttle her chances at the polls. Though,the party has made its stand known and has presented a certificate of return to Raji -Rasaki, the verdict of the court is being awaited.

Police rearrest prison escapees for fresh offence in Ekiti By Gbenga Ariyibi

O fewer than two of the inmates of the Federal Prisons,Ado Ekiti who had along with their other colleagues escaped, last year, have been re arrested by the police for fresh cases of robbery. Some of the inmates at the prisons had on November 30 last year escaped while few of them reported themselves to the police Briefing newsmen in Ado Ekiti, the state police commissioner, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, said one of the prison escapees, Adegboye Sunday, attempted to rob one Akingbinsola Feyi, a resident of Ori Apata area of Ado-Ekiti on December 5 last year at about 10.25 pm. Adegboye was said to have led three other robbery suspects who were armed with cutlasses to the scene of the incident where they attacked people who were cooking in preparation for a wedding ceremony. According to the police boss, another prison escapee, Ajimoko Kayode, was arrested after leading a gang of four on a robbery operation at Olokemeji area of Ado-Ekiti on January 20. He further explained that almost 40 robbery suspects who were recently apprehended are now in the in Police custody. “Close to 40 armed robbery suspects are with us but they have not been charged to court because of the ongoing judiciary workers’ strike. Our cells are congested and you know those arrested for capital offences cannot be released. Some of those arrested are among those who escaped from prisons so we urge the general public to volunteer information to assist us to nip crime in the bud,” Lakanu said.

4 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

THE SOCIAL LIFE OF YORUBA

Oluwabunmi and Kehinde cutting their wedding cake

Kehinde and his friends postrating before his in laws

Yemisi and Taiwo with her friends

Temilade and her friends

Feyi and Niyi

Couple on the dance floor C M Y K

Oluwabunmi and her friends in a group photograph

Temilade and Olujimi

Temilade with some kids in a group photograph

Feyi and her friends dancing during their wedding

Guests at Evelyn and Kola

Feyi and her friends in a group photograph

Evelyn and Kola on the dance floor

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 5

OGUN STATE

Ogun: Drama as LP accuses ex-commissioner of impersonation at CAN debate By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA- There was a mild drama at debate/ interactive forum organized by Ogun state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria for the governorship candidates of political parties in the state as a former Commissioner for Information, Mr. Sina Kawonise was accused of impersonation. Kawonise, who was ushered into the front seat which was reserved for governorship candidates of the political parties, dramatically disappeared when the Chairman and the DirectorGeneral of the Labour Party, Olabod Simeon and Arabambi Abayomi respectively arrived the venue and accused him of impersonation. The public debate which was held at the African Church Solution Camp Ground, Sam Ewang Estate, Abeokuta was attended by governorship candidates of the political parties, including Senator Akin Odunsi (Social Democratic Party ), Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (Peoples Democratic Party), Pastor Benjamin Onafadeji (National Conscience Party), Prof. Femi Bamgbose (All Progressives Grand Alliance) and Reverend Olufolabi Adebayo (KOWA Party). However, the state governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun who is seeking re-election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress was however, absent. A disruption of the debate was also narrowly averted when the Labour Party Chairman and his team stormed the church to protest the invitation of Kawonise as the governorship candidate of the party in the state.

It took the organizers of the debate, who initially declined the request by the LP state chairman and chieftains to ease out Kawonise who was already seated and engrossed in the debate with the standard bearers of the other political parties. The CAN leaders held series of closed door meetings with the Labour Party leaders which ended in a deadlock. While the meeting between the organisers and the LP chieftains was on, an emissary was sent to the hall and Kawonise immediately left the venue of the debate. The visibly angry LP chieftains later returned to the auditorium through a side door and took their seats still fuming. Meanwhile, there was a consensus of opinion among

the six governorship candidates who unveiled their various programmes and agenda during the public debate on the return of missionary schools in the state to religious organizations which founded them. The SDP governorship standard bearer, Odunsi who said he was a product of the CMS Grammar School, Lagos noted that the mission schools played important role in the moulding of the characters of the young ones in the past. He stressed that the state erred when it took over the running of the mission schools from the religious organizations. The SDP standard bearer assured that if elected, his administration would return the schools to the missionaries.

HE allegation by the All Progressive Congress (APC) that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State has been purchasing Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) from unsuspecting electorate has been described as “untrue” and a grand design to prepare the minds of APC dwindling supporters of imminent defeat. The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Lai Mohammed had at a press C M Y K

bodies within the policy that would be fashioned out. Isiaka added that within the first hundred days of his government, an education summit would be organized to address the various problems confronting the education sector in the state. The candidates also agreed on the need to create employment for the people of the state with the PDP candidate promising 500,000 jobs.

Count Yoruba nation out if democracy fails in Nigeria, ARG warns By Olasunkanmi Akoni

HE Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, has said Yoruba nation would opt out of Nigeria, if the current democratic dispensation fails, by whatever reason. The group made the position known in a communiqué released on Wednesday, at the end of a social discourse organised by the group to “sensitise and mobilise Yoruba voters” for the forthcoming general elections. The communiqué, signed by the group’s National Chairman, Hon. Olawale Oshun, said: “Yoruba people would wish, as we are now, to be part of a democratic, well-governed and truly federal Nigeria, in all intents and purposes. “However, we warn that if for any reason, Nigeria is schemed to become a banana and undemocratic republic, with the muzzling of its democratic institutions as demonstrated by this Poll Shift, and/or if Nigeria were to be divided in any manner, we would as a people opt out to become a democratic nation as would be acceptable by our people.” According to the communiqué, “the recent election shift is certainly not just about elections. We suspect that the postponement is about something more sinister, the first being that it might be grounds to prepare a soft surface for a sympathetic group within the Armed Forces to take over the reins of power, since in character and content there is little to distinguish the present rudderless government from the one that ruled in the Second Republic between 1979 and 1983.”

2015: YMD drums support for Jonathan, others By Mariam Eko Mr. Sina Kawonise

Ogun PDP guber candidate berates APC over allegation of buying PVC T

The APGA candidate on his part argued that the government should not only return the schools but also subsidize their running. Similarly, the PDP standard bearer who said he was part of the immediate past administration which returned the schools to the missionaries before the current government reversed the process, stated that if elected, his administration would hand them back to the religious

statement widely published in the media on Wednesday alleged that his party had proof that some people at Kobape Orile Imo along Shagamu, Ogun State had been offered cash in exchange for their PVCs. Reacting to the allegation, Ogun State PDP governorship aspirant, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, on Wednesday said the allegation was not only “laughable but also shows that the national secretariat of the APC is aware of the new song

in Ogun State that ‘Amosun Must Go’ (AMG) and the party is jittery about it. He told the APC that no amount of blackmail will save Amosun from the total rejection that awaits him on April 11, this year. Isiaka who spoke through the Director General of his campaign organisation Mr Ifekayode Akinbode, however urged the security agencies to investigate the allegation and make public their findings.

Non-Governmental organisation, Youth Movement For Democracy, YMD, has called on Nigerians to give massive support to President Goodluck Jonathan during the forth-coming general elections stating that he meant well for the generality of Nigerians. The leader of the group and a Human Rights practitioner, Barrister Ikechukwu Chiaha, stated in a release that Nigeria as a nation deserves good leadership that will once again, bring about the much desired harmony and progress. ‘’In the past four years, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Administration has worked and fought so hard towards achieving the Nigeria of our dreams. We should vote for a leader like him who has a total humane heart for an adorable Nation like ours, and whose administration has upheld and maintained the real practice of democracy in Nigeria.‘’ The group also called on Nigerians to vote for other credible aspirants whom they said had worked hard for the success of the transformation agenda of the regime. They include; Chief Chikwe Udensi (PPA) for Governor Abia State, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanayi (PDP) for Governor Enugu State, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (PDP) for Senate, Enugu State, Chime Obieze PDP for House of Assembly Ezeagu in Enugu State and Chima Orji PDP for House of Representative (Enugu).

6 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015

OSUN STATE

Aregbesola, Omisore redeem pledges to Oke-Maria pilgrimage centre By Gbenga Olarinoye

SUN State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola has fulfilled his pledge to construct a multi-million naira clinic at Oke-Maria in Otan-Aiyegbaju in Bolorunduro Local Government Area of the state where Catholic faithful converge yearly for holy pilgrimage. Similarly, Senator Iyiola Omisore, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the August 9, election also

redeemed his pledge of N5 million naira donation to the centre. Both Aregbesola and Omisore attended the one day vigil during the run off to the 2014 governorship election where they made separate pledges to the spiritual centre. Osun State Deputy Governor, Otunba Titi Laoye-Tomori, who represented Aregbesola at the commissioning of the clinic at the Marian shrine, commended the Christian faithful for maintaining peace in the state. She also expressed gratitude for the support the government

has enjoined from the Christian community since the inception of the Aregbesola administration. The Catholic Archbishop of Ibadan and Apostolic Administrator of Osogbo, Most Rev. Dr. Leke Abegunrin, who congratulated the Governor Aregbesola on his victory at the Election Tribunal disclosed that Omisore also donated a sum of five million Naira for the fencing of the prayer centre. Speaking on the postponement of the general elections, Laoye-Tomori said the development, Osun would not be a threat to the victory of his party, APC whenever the elections are held. “The postponement is going to be to my party’s advantage. No cause for alarm, let them shift it to any date of their choice, that is not a threat,’ she said.”

Police dismiss Inspector, three others for illegal duty Continues from Page 2 He confirmed that the four policemen after their dismissal are to be docked for conspiracy and robbery. It will be recalled that apart from the driver of the bullion van who was seen by the side of the van, others including the four policemen on illegal duties were smoked out from the tick forest near the scene of the attack by detectives deployed to the scene by the police authorities in the state. The Police Chief said that the inaction of the said policemen by not firing a single bullet when the robbers waylaid them smacked of conspiracy on their part. The policemen reportedly fled the scene of the robbery immediately the robbers double crossed them and fired volleys of gunshots. The bullion van and the escort vehicles were riddled with bullets. Some villagers said the robbers were trailing the bullion van from Ondo town until it got to the village where there are speed breakers on the road. The robbers who were driving a red car pretended to overtake the bullion van while it slowed down because of the speed breaker only to double cross it and fired volleys of gun shot into the air and the two vehicles.

Rauf Aregbesola: Built a clinic

Iyiola Omisore: Donated N5m cash

OSUN GOV POLLS: Corps member demands N5m damages from Police By Gbenga Olarinoye

serving National Youth Service Corps NYSC member, employed for the conduct of the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State, Yahaya Musibau, is demanding N5 million damages from the police authority for alleged harassment and assault on him while performing his duty as an ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the state . He told Justice Moshood Adeigbe-led Commission of Inquiry On Disturbance of Public Peace set up by the state C M Y K

government in Osogbo, on Wednesday that he was molested by six policemen on the day of the election at Oyere Ward I and II, in Ife North Local Government Area of the state. Represented by his lawyer Mrs Akintajuwa Yemisi, the corps member also asked the police to apologise for the assault on him in two national newspapers. He told the panel that his NYSC uniform was torn and his Samsung Galaxy Tab was damaged. Chairman of the panel, Justice Adeigbe, admitted the torn NYSC uniform, damaged Galaxy Tab, and N10,000

allegedly given to him by Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Ejigbo, Mr Biodun Alabi, as exhibits. Meanwhile, the panel has explained that its duty is to investigate and make recommendation to the state government rather than adjudicating on the matter. A member of the commission, DCP Bose Dawodu (retd), said this while reacting to allegation by a lawyer that the chairman of the commission is a family member of a party in the chieftaincy matter before it, hence, there may not be fair hearing. Mrs Dawodu said the commission had sworn to the oath of allegiance and promised to be fair to all parties in their recommendation.

t was after all the occupants of the van and the escort vehicle had fled into different directions that the robbers broke the bullion van by firing gunshots at the main door which eventually gave way. Contacted, the Police Image Maker, Wole Ogodo Ogodo said: “ the four of our men that escorted the bullion, the cash officer and the two drivers that drove the bullion van are already with us to help us in the investigation that is already ongoing. “ We will do everything possible to get to the root of the matter and as I am talking to you right now, the Officer in charge of the State Anti Robbery Squad has gone to Bolorunduro where the incident happened as part of the ongoing investigation.” On the alleged dismissal of the officers, Ogodo said “they were found culpable for embarking on an illegal duty and have been punished departmentally” and declined to give further details about the punishment meted out to the erring policemen. According to him, the Policemen have no business following the bullion van on the ill fated day because they did not book formally and were not authorised by their superior to escort the bullion van which was later robbed. According to him eight policemen are usually approved by the operation unit of the command to escort bullion van. Ogodo noted that the banks involve are expected to write the operation unit of the command for officers for such journey and not just to hand-pick some policemen. He opined that if eight policemen had escorted the bullion van, they would have been able to confront the robbers “but the four policemen could not stand the fire power of the robbers.’’ Ogodo said the robbers after carting the large sum of money into their car escaped through a village to Ile-Oluji.

Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015 — 7

LAGOS STATE

In politics women are better managers than men — Salis-Fakos Mrs. Olabisi Salis-Fakos wants to represent the people of Lagos East Senatorial District comprising Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Ikorodu, Somolu and Kosefe constituencies on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is in the race for the forthcoming general elections. Her political journey started in 2007, when her husband, Chief Owolabi Salis contested for the governorship seat of Lagos State but lost. In this interview, Salis calls urges support for Nigerian women to play active roles in the decision making process of the country.

BY EBUN SESSOU

What ares the chances of the PDP in the presidential election? I think the election is a walk over for President Goodluck Jonathan because he has done so many things for the country and he promised us that Boko Haram would be faced out of Nigeria in his campaign programme. Some of our leaders are behind Boko Haram, they don’t want sanity in the country. If we give President Jonathan a chance for a second term in office, I believe that Boko Haram would be eradicated. When you look at what President Jonathan has done in the country, you would know that he is a performer. Benin-Ore Road was completed during his tenure; the moribund nation’s railway system has been revived, the agricultural sector is performing optimally, there is improvement in electricity generation, Almajiri education is receiving attention and so many life changing infrastructure have been put in place. You know that you don’t transform in a day. He has just been there for five years out of the 15 years of our democracy, so he should be given a second chance.

ou are vying for the senatorial position, why and what is your objective? I want to go to the Senate to eradicate poverty in my senatorial district and make life better for our people through people-oriented programmes. Before now, I have been involved in empowerment programmes several times because I am passionate about helping the poor. Actually, I started my ambition in 2006, when my husband, Chief Owolabi Salis contested for the governorship seat of Lagos State. I had to resign my appointment with the Central Bank of Nigeria, and since then, I have been in politics in Lagos and I have helped so many people in the state. I have empowered so many men and women, and I will continue to help the poor regularly. I believe that the voice of the people must be heard. Our people are not adequately represented in the Senate. We need to eradicate poverty, empower the women and ensure that their voice is heard in the society. I want to initiate and sponsor bills that would enhance the improvement of the people in my district and Nigeria as a whole. One would think that you should rather have come out under a ruling party in the state. What are your chances of winning the polls? My chances of winning are very bright looking at it from the feminine perspective. I know the incumbent senator from Lagos East Senatorial District has deep pocket and he has been there for four years but that doesn’t stop my chances of winning. It would be like the story of David and Goliath in the Bible. I stand a better chance of winning. The voice of the people must be heard, the people are not happy with the way the incumbent senator is treating them, most of their lands are being taken over. I am ready to go there to fight for the people, especially the poor, if you don’t take care of the poor, the masses, your chances of winning any election is eroded. He was given four years to C M Y K

•Salis-Fakos: I will not promise and fail perform, yet nothing to record as success story. I want to go there, let them give me four years to perform and see what I can do, women are better managers, I believe I have a better chance. How would you address politicians making empty promises especially during campaign? We are individuals; people of integrity would not fail campaign promises. In my journey in life, I have promised people and fulfilled them. I believe it has to do with individuals. I don’t think such will happen in my own case, I have been promising people and I have not failed them. If you don’t try me, how would you know if I would perform or not? From my own side, I have never promised and failed. People have tested me and I have never failed them. If I am given a chance at the senate, I would do all that I am promising them. Your senatorial district, Lagos East consists of rural areas; Epe, IbejuLekki, Shomolu, Kosofe, and Ikorodu. What are some of their problems that you have identified that you want to work on, if elected? We have five local governments in my constituency as you have said; Ibeju-Lekki, Epe, Shomolu, Kosofe, and Ikorodu. In some areas, they have peculiar problems like in IbejuLekki and Epe, they have not had electricity for the past five years. In Ikorodu, Shomolu and Kosofe, their

pipe borne water has been faulty, and they have common problem, which is poverty, I need to look into these as a woman. If you emancipate women from poverty, definitely it would affect the home, so we have some programmes that would eradicate poverty being one of the Millennium Developmental Goals (MDG). So we need to look into how we are going to increase youth empowerment, train women, men and youths and with this, poverty would be reduced.

My advice to INEC is to release PVCs, we have been talking to our people to go and collect their PVCs.

You talked about market women and okada (motorcycle) riders. Does it mean the PDP would ask okada riders to go back to the roads in Lagos if it wins the governorship election since people believe the restriction of okada operations has reduced accidents and armed robberies in the state? No, I am not saying that. I believe the incumbent Governor should have had a meeting with these people to tell them what is expected of them. It doesn’t mean they should be harassing and killing okada riders. There was a day at Ikorodu Road, when the army pursued a young man such that his limb got broken. Are we saying that because we don’t want these people, they should be killed? Most of these people are graduates. Unemployment is affecting them and they de-

cided to look for a way of getting livelihood, I am not saying we would return them; we would meet with them, tell them what is expected of them and restrict them to some locations. We should not just harass them as if we want them to go into robbery and be carrying weapons. These are young people who want to work; we should encourage them by restricting them to certain areas and use better methods to talk to them. Sometime last year, the President of Liberia was in Nigeria and said that sometimes, women are their own problems. Do you think the women would give you their support during the election? I think we are ready now, women are ready to support fellow women. We are not our own problems, we are ready, we were marginalized, we were relegated to the background, but now we are ready because we believe that a woman would understand a woman better. In most cases, when I go out to campaign, women troop out en-mass, they even support me more than men. Women need to be represented in all the leadership positions in this country, so I believe we are not our problems anymore. Women usually support women more than men. We are ready to ensure that the country is taken to a greater height, we have talked to ourselves, we are battle ready now. A lot of people want to vote, but the issue of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) seems to be a problem now, what is your advice to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on this? My advice to INEC is to release PVCs, we have been talking to our people to go and collect their PVCs. The officials should encourage our people to collect their PVCs because they are there in thousands for them. Without the PVCs, they cannot vote, so they should encourage them by giving it to them. Some people are afraid that this election would be violent. In your opinion, what can be done? The issue of violence is very germane and we need to look into it. I believe the Federal Government is looking into it to combat violence during the election. I would not say I have not experienced such; we were attacked by a cult group in Epe, last week, when we went there to campaign. It is an issue, and I believe the government should look into it so that we can have a free and fair election as we had in Ekiti State and in some other states.

8 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Day professionals rose for Ambode in Lagos By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

C M Y K

Senator empowers 500 constituents in Ondo BY DAYO JOHNSON

KURE—FOR the second time within two months, a senator representing Ondo South Senatorial district in Ondo State, Boluwaji Kunlere, has put smiles on the faces of 500 less privileged people in his constituency. Last month, he donated 13 Police Patrol vehicles to the state Police authorities to combat crime before, during and after the 2015 general elections in the state. The Police support project courtesy of the Senator gulped about N109million. “As part of our contributions towards reducing the crime rate and ensuring secured environment for the peoples we have chosen to empower all the 13 Police Divisions in the Ondo South Senatorial,”he said. Not done, the Senator, who is seeking to return to the Red chamber, last week, donated 80 wheelchairs, 300 motorcyles and 200 electric generating sets. The empowerment exercise took place at his home town in Igbotako, Okitipupa local council of the State. Speaking at the ceremony, Senator Kunlere said that within his three and half years as senator, he had been able to provide block of classrooms, potable water, computer centres for schools and solar street light among others. He said the empowerment programme is to give hope to those who seemed to have been forgotten.

MONG them were men and women from the different professions but joined by one ambition: that is, to ensure the sustenance of what they claim as the reign of excellence in the governance of Lagos State. The partisans who cut across civil society advocacy groups, artisans and market men and women at the end of a meeting on January, 31, 2015 resolved to mediate between the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Akinwunmi Ambode and undecided voters in conveying his message to the electorate. Jide Ayobolu, Chairman, Editorial Board, Enterprise Africa Magazine, who spoke on behalf of the group, We Stand for Lagos, disclosed that they decided to take it upon themselves to speak for Ambode in order to put the issues of the election at focus. As Ayobolu said, voters must not be confused on the issues. Such fear is understandable given the avalanche of negative campaign adverts on the print and electronic media which could make gullible voters to be taken in with simplistic policies proffered by some candidates. “People might be swayed to vote for the wrong reasons”, Ayobolu said, adding, “hence, We Stand for Lagos has decided to assist many other Lagosians in making evidence based choice, and realizing that our commonwealth is best protected and collective welfare best guaranteed by a tradition of truly tested and trusted leadership. As such, our decision is to speak up and defend what we are convinced is in the best interest of most stakeholders in Lagos State.” Continuing, Ayobolu said: “good governance is not about having a wish-list or making hollow promises of what to expect when in office, which is just about sound bites that might not be feasible, but it is about understanding the system, and extending on it by executing plans that are well thought out within the ambit of available resources.” Articulating the requirements needed for a leader of Lagos, Ayobolu said: “Lagos needs a leader who knows his onion and will hit the ground running, not a person who will first waste time in understanding what the system truly entails before struggling to match his plans with the reality on the ground.” Another active member We Stand for Lagos, Nerus Ekezie

BITS Briefs

•Akinwunmi Ambode in his own view said Lagosians must shrewdly use their votes as what they do with it would go a long way in determining how they live in the coming dispensation. “We stand for a Lagos that has been growing steadily and progressively since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999; a Lagos in which a succession of good administrations and leadership has tipped the human development index upwards, promoted an increase in jobs and livelihoods, offered opportunities and rewards for the keen and steadfast; and a Lagos that continues to guarantee the security, peace and well-being of its people, while advancing on their qualities-of-life and safeguarding their continuous prosperity.” Continuing, he said that the

Lagos needs a leader who knows his onions and will hit the ground running, not a person who will first waste time in understanding what the system truly entails before struggling to match his plans with the reality on the ground

group’s “vision is to see the deepening of a Lagos that truly works as a Centre of Excellence in all respects, and which keeps supporting the legitimate aspirations of people and businesses to the fullness of their potentials. And we are prepared to achieve this through partnership with all relevant stakeholders and institutions, for the continuous attainment of a Lagos hinged on good governance, accountability, effective leadership, service delivery, and equal opportunities for all.” Underlining the qualities that made the group to throw support for Ambode, Shina Loremikan, another member of the group said “by their fruits are they known. He is part of those who enabled the progressive template of government that has taken Lagos this far, as a seasoned and entrusted erstwhile Accountant General of the State.” Underpinning the group’s conviction to sustain support for the continuity of governance by the APC in Lagos, the group said: “If 16 years of governance have taken Lagos out of the rot and woods of three decades to become one of the six largest and steadily growing economies on the African continent, with a huge educated and skilled citizenry, one of the highest school completion rates in Nigeria, an expanding mean household income, as well as an enlarging middle class, in addition to many other positives, then we are convinced that the consolidation of this over another progressive governance cycle can only deepen the success story in a fundamental way.”

Osun LG creation to accelerate Devt — Oyintiloye

OVERNOR of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s commitment to creating more local councils has been described as a giant step towards grassroots development. The All progressive Congress (APC) House of Assembly Candidate for Obokun constituency of the state, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, made this known on Monday after participating in the referendum conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) for the creation of new councils at his Isale-Alfa Unit 9, Ward 1, Obokun Local Government. Oyintiloye who commended the initiative of the governor as well as the exercise noted that the Local Government creation initiative would deepen good governance. The governor had presented a bill to the state House of Assembly for the creation of additional 27 local government areas. He also lauded the state legislature for supporting the governor to achieve his course by directing the commission to conduct the referendum in compliance with the constitution. According to him, the referendum conducted by OSSIEC has shown that the government is actually serious about the creation of new councils, and committed to meeting all legal, technical and constitutional procedure for the exercise. •Rauf Aregbesola

THE TEAM Editor: Adeleke Adeseri Correspondents: Ola Ajayi Gbenga Olarinoye Dayo Johnson Gbenga Ariyibi Dapo Akinrefon Daud Olatunji Olasunkanmi Akoni Monsuru Olowoepejo

Ibadan Osogbo Akure Ado Ekiti Abeokuta Lagos

thing with ians is that don’t see gs from a fferent ctive. What k I need to s to show rians that m not eting with by doing a with Tiwa avage.

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015 — 33

I definitely can’t quit music for my relationship. Whoever I’m dating should know and understand who I am and what I believe in. Relationship is about respecting each other and I will not quit music for a relationship.

I pray it never happens.I have not experienced a wardrobe malfunction, but I have experienced microphone malfunction.When the microphone starts giving you that feedback sound, it hurts.You want to leave the stage crying.When I was in the female group, we did not use microphones because we did a lot of hip-hop dancing. We used more of headsets.It just makes things much more easier.

Are you looking forward to working with a Nigerian female artiste? Yes! And that will be Tiwa Savage

What is your relationship with her? We are not actually related, it’s more of an extended family affair. Savage is just one family here in Lagos. Do you consider her as a threat to your career or as a mentor? It’s not about competition, its about the fact that I see what she is doing and I respect it. If not for for her , I don’t think I will have that zeal to come here and do something of my own. Is any of your songs inspired by a personal experience? Yes, Dem Say, one of my songs basically talks about not allowing what people say bother us.A lot of people allow what people say get to them.I was having those issues at a time.I spoke with my producer and we decided to create a song around it. Can you quit music for your relationship?

If you were to make a comparison between the music industry in America and that of Nigeria, what will it be? The contract here is completely different from the contract in the U.S.A.Secondly, the way the audience interacts with a performer is so much different.They are not supportive that much.I have only come to understand the saying that bad publicity is also good. So, that keeps me going.

Why Tiwa Savage? I just feel that we need to show the world that we are not competing. Jo-el and Tuface are a good example. The thing with Nigerians is that we don’t see things from a different perspective. What I think I need to do is to show Nigerians that I’m not competing with her by doing a song with Tiwa Savage. That doesn’t mean I am trying to hide behind her shadows to launch myself into the mainstream music world; that’s not my intention at all.It just shows that one is looking up to the other What are the challenges you are facing as an emerging act? So far, I have had challenges with productions, people who pretend to be what they are not.Everything here is just about money. What are you implying? What I mean is that everything in life is a hustle. It’s not only a Nigerian thing.It’s either about spending money or trying to get money.Since I have been here ,everything I have done has brought money out of my pocket.I have lost so much without getting the service that I was supposed to get.It’s sad and that’s my biggest challenge at the moment. Have you experienced any wardrobe malfunction?

How do you handle criticism on the social media? I don’t really care about what they say. If I have to give a response I will just say go check my background.People just like to talk.They don’t really do their homework and investigations.They don’t know me like they think they do.These are the ones that are called haters, they just hate you for no reason.

That doesn’t mean I am trying to hide behind her shadows to launch myself into the mainstream music world; that’s not my intention at all.It just shows that one is looking up to the other

Do you play any instrument? I play the piano. I also play the clarinet and the flute.A lot of people play by ear and not by musical notes.I studied musical notes, but growing up I forgot everything. I just play by ear Whose advice has been useful to your career? That will be that of Eldee.He was the first person to tell me that being in Nigeria was the best thing to have happened to me. That was in 2008, when he relocated to Nigeria. How do you handle the attention from your male fans? I entertain their friendship, but I do not encourage anything that goes beyond the friendship. C M Y K

34—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

By BENJAMIN NJOKU njokujamin@yahoo.com

Bob Marley Tribute

Reggae music after the legend’s exit?

Bob Marley on stage

T was yet another year of feeling the Bob Marley fever as the world last week rose in honour of the reggae legend whose 70th birthday was marked in grand style. Bob Marley died in May, 1981, at age of 36. He was loved and respected across the globe for both his music and the message behind it. While he lived, Bob Marley’s lyrics was not only replete with tireless attempts to get to the confused, despairing and slumbering people with his message of hope and action, but also, he used his music to preach peace love, equal right and justice to human race. No wonder the world gather every year to pay tribute to the man that symbolizes the soul of reggae music. The celebration which started last Friday amidst pomp saw former ‘The Voice’ contestant, Kingston-born Anita Antoinette, daughter of reggae singer, Clinton Fearon, performed at the Bob Marley birthday bash, which held at the Infinity Music Hall in Hartford, Connecticut last Sunday. Clinton Fearon was co-founder, bass player and singer in the roots-reggae band, “The Gladiators.” Also, in honour of Marley’s post-70th birthday, Reggaeville is said to have shared an acapella version of “Could You Be Loved” done by Israeli artists. Renowned percussionist Bongo Herman, who was a C M Y K

personal friend of Bob Marley, also played an important role during the 70th birthday anniversary of the reggae legend. Herman was responsible for the Nyabinghi segment of the celebration. But as the celebration lasts, the question in the lips of many reggae fans across the world today is, what has become of this music form after Bob Marley’s exit? However, while many will argue that reggae has continued after Bob Marley, none of its artistes would claim to be as successful and courageous in empowering their songs as the legend did. Today, reggae as composed,sung and performed by Marley is steadily on the wane, particularly in Nigeria and Africa at large. For instance, in the past one decade, reggae artistes in Nigeria have suddenly switched over to either hip-hop, highlife or Afro hip-hop as many would call it following the high demand for these genres of music by the populace. And where they exist,

their impacts are no longer felt on the society. The advent of hip-hop music in Nigeria has quickened the extinction of reggae. Nigerians can only remember in passing, the short-lived impact made by notable reggae artistes such as Raskimono, Majek Fashek, The Mandators, Oritz Willik, Alex Zitto and a few others who are supposed to have taken over from them. Apart from Rymzo de Gusto, Wadada, and other emerging reggae stars, who are struggling to save the soul of this universal music, reggae is steadily going into oblivion. Precisely, what we have today, if there is any, is adulterated reggae sound that is devoid of any meaningful message or appeal to the audience. Unarguably, since the death of South Africa’s iconic reggae star, Lucky Dube, who was murdered in Johannesburg, on October 18, 2007, reggae, known for its prominence in the 80s and early 90s, in Africa, seems to have died with him thereby creating a big vacuum in the reggae world. Till date, no reggae artiste either from the shores of Nigeria or South Africa has been able to match Dube’s creativity or replace him. Commenting on the state of reggae music in Nigeria, Raskimono was once quoted as saying that, “We don’t have enough reggae artistes in Nigeria.” Reggae, according to him, has lost its grip and “I have been

Marley demonstrated his capacity for singing equally passionately and beautifully about man, and that was not merely to profit from the misfortune of the people.

trying my best to promote reggae. But I don’t totally agree with you that reggae is dead in this country. However, since I came back, I have featured in almost all the concerts that took place here.” For Raskimono, emerging reggae stars are to blame for the low reception that is accorded to reggae music in the country. Hear him, “I think one of the problems is laziness on the part of these musicians. There is no more money in reggae music since we deal with truth and peoples’ right and because youths of nowadays are greedy; they just want to praise the politicians; they are afraid to carry on with the truth. Everybody wants to hail the politicians, churches and the pastors; and the Rastamen are the ones that have the courage to talk because most of these pastors and politicians are the people running this country down. Meanwhile, a song writer once noted that a popular artiste should warm to the people, not only in songs but in all aspects of his life. Also, Jamaican broadcaster, Neville Willouby, once asked Marley why he’s so sensitive and forever crying out against poverty when obviously, as a millionaire, he can’t reasonably call himself a sufferer. Marley replied that poverty always do more than material damage because it is more than a material condition.”It’s a mind thing,” he said. Apart from this, Marley demonstrated his capacity for singing equally passionately and beautifully about man, and that was not merely to profit from the misfortune of the people. Today’s reggae artistes who are supposed to strive for peace, justice and equality, allowing themselves to be counted among the healers as their champions could be counted, regrettably have compromised the standard. The love of money over their artistic callings have beclouded their social conscience. Needless to say that money is still the object of worship of some artistes, especially in Nigeria, and the lose co-ordination completely where money is involved. As noted by Marley, “Money doesn’t matter. Only music matter. When people think first about money and then about the music, the music won’t be worth the money they were thinking about.” However, for an artiste who wants to live in the hearts of the people, Marley’s attitude to stardom is instructive. A photojournalist, who opened a photo exhibition of unseen images of the reggae legend to celebrate his 70th birthday on Wednesday in Jamaica has this to say of the legend; “Marley came to symbolize so much for so many people, around the world… His appeal is trans-generational, and reaches far across nation-state borders."

Vanguard, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2015—35

C M Y K

36—SATURDAY

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

To make a baby, all sperms are not equal

linical records show that in Nigeria, 25 percent of couples are infertile, with half of the causes due to male factor issues. Increasingly, fertility experts are reporting incidences of men with genetically fragile sperms. Such sperm have fragmented DNA chains, which make them to be of low quality and less capable of fertilisation. More and more reports of declining sperm quality and increasing male infertility attributable to low sperm count and poor sperm motility and morphology are making the rounds. A man’s sperms carry half the genetic material necessary to make a complete human being. A woman’s egg holds the other half. Male infertility can be caused by various factors such as hormone disorders, illness, injury to reproductive anatomy, obstruction or sexual dysfunction. These factors can temporarily or permanently affect sperm and prevent conception. For several decades physicians have tried to help men with male factor infertility, and several years ago treatment for male factor infertility was revolutionised with the introduction of a procedure known as Intracytoplasmic Selected Sperm Injection, ICSI —actually a specialised form of IVF. Often described as an answer for almost every male factor problem, strangely, to use ICSI, a couple must undergo IVF. Just over a year ago, Ade, an acquaintance, received the diagnosis of male factor infertility. At that time, Ade, 39, and his wife Bose, 38, had been trying for a baby without success for about two and a half years. While no man wants to find out that he has male factor infertility, the good news is that there are so many effective ways to treat the problem. The duo had been to a couple of hospitals and consulted several specialists from who they routinely learned their best option was IVF with ICSI. This is a process during which spermatozoa are selected for injection on the basis of their shape (morphology) and motility. But as luck would have it, the procedure didn’t help resolve the couple’s problem. It is a visual approach that does not necessarily reflect the functionality of the sperm and its ability to fertilise an egg. C M Y K

•The joy of expecting a baby

Selection is carried out randomly and selection of the morphologically best sperms is more or less by trial and error for manipulative fertilisation. Bose explains further: “We started our first IVF with ICSI cycle when I was three weeks past my 37th birthday. I was convinced it would work. Over the next six months, we did two fresh IVF cycles and had two early miscarriages, one chemical and one negative beta. Although I responded well to the drugs and always had at least one top grade blast, we were not successful and given my age —now late into my 38th year — my doctor even suggested donor eggs. But no.” On recommendation of friends and through other available information, Ade and Bose visited another fertility clinic where, this time, the doctor recommended another procedure — Physiological Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, PICSI – IVF, which is a more advanced scientific technique used

in ICSI to assist the embryologist in the selection of sperm. For Ade and Bose, the process worked at the first attempt like a charm. They are expecting their first baby in July. Fertility experts are seeing more men who are having bad sperms, weak sperms and abnormal sperms, and there is a real need to explore a suitable intervention to meet the growing proportion of men that need help in this direction,” noted Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, a fertility treatment specialist, and Medical Director, Nordica, Fertiliy Clinic, Lagos, Asaba and Abuja. Explaining the PICSI procedure, Dr. Ajayi notes that during ICSI, sperms are selected for injection on the basis of their shape (morphology) and motility. However, this visual approach does not necessarily reflect the functionality of the sperm and its ability to fertilise an egg. “PICSI is an advanced form of artificial insemination. In natural insemination, a successful egg fertilisation can only be achieved by a sperm capable of binding to a chemical

Lifeline

substance called hyaluronan that is present on the egg’s surface. Such an interaction can only be achieved by a mature sperm that has the biochemical capacity to bind to hyaluronan. PICSI is a technique that simulates the natural selection of mature sperm. The principle of this method is the cultivation of mature sperm in a specially treated dish, to which a gel containing hyaluronan is applied. The sperm selected are then used for micro-manipulative fertilisation.” What happens is that the PICSI dish provides a functional test for sperm to aid the embryologist’s selection for ICSI. The test is based on the ability of sperm to bind to hyaluronan hydrogel mimicking the natural binding of mature sperm to eggs in the female. The PICSI dish is a polystyrene culture dish with three microdots of hyaluronan attached to the bottom of its interior. The dish is sterile and non-toxic to embryos and is used as an additional step in the selection of sperm for ICSI. Experts say PICSI may be particularly useful for men with a previous history of poor fertilisation in their assisted reproduction technique attempts, a previous history of poor embryo development, or reduced sperm morphology. It is also useful for men with reduced sperm motility, sperm that has been collected by PESA or MESA and low ‘quality’ sperm previously cryopreserved (frozen). Patients using testicular sperm— where sperm are immotile—cannot use this test unless motility develops during tissue preparation. More indications for PICSI sperm selection device include patients with high sperm DNA fragmentation, previous history of poor embryo development day- 3 to day-5, previous history of low or poor fertilisation and repeated implantation failure. Other indications are high miscarriage rate, reduced sperm morphology and sperm motility, low fertilisation with ICSI and cases in which the woman is over 38 years old. Advantages here are significant. Fertility experts have found that the hyaluronan-bound PICSI-selected sperms are, in the vast majority of cases, more mature, exhibit less DNA damages, and have fewer chromosomal abnormalities. As a bonus, the technique improves pregnancy rates and reduces the number of IVF miscarriages. “In terms of success, PICSI increases the success rate by approximately 20 percent because it enables us to select and introduce a sperm to the egg based on its functional quality. This method works on the same principle by which sperms are selected in a woman’s body within the natural fertilisation process.” The first step of any successful treatment is the proper diagnosis of any male factor infertility and prescription of the right treatment. Some disorders tend to become more difficult to treat the longer they persist without treatment. But there is always hope.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015—37

Eat right for your kidney health W

hat you eat and drink can help slow down chronic kidney disease. Some foods are better for the kidneys than others. Cooking and preparing food from scratch can help you eat healthier. The first steps of eating right are vital. First drink plenty of water throughout the day to help flush out the toxins. Water is key to good kidney health. Then choose and prepare foods with less salt and sodium. The reason is to help control your blood pressure. Your diet should contain less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium each day. Buy fresh food more often. Sodium (a part of salt) is added to many packaged foods. Use spices, herbs, and sodium-free seasonings in place of salt. Check the Nutrition Facts label on food packages for sodium. A Daily Value of 20 percent

or more means the food is high in sodium. Try lower-sodium versions of frozen dinners and other convenience foods. Rinse canned vegetables, beans, meats, and fish with water before eating. Look for food labels that say sodium free, salt free, very low sodium, low sodium, reduced or less sodium, no salt added or unsalted and lightly salted Eat the right amount and the right types of protein to help protect your kidneys. Eat only small portions of protein foods. Protein is found in foods from plants and animals. Talk to a dietitian about how to choose the right combination for you. Animal-protein foods like chicken, fish, meat, eggs, milk are less

are lower in phosphorus and potassium. Choose foods with less phosphorus to help protect your bones and blood vessels. Many packaged foods have added phosphorus. Look for phosphorus— or for words preferred to plant-protein foods such as beans, nuts or grains. It is important to choose foods that are healthy for your heart. This is to help keep fat from building up in your blood vessels, heart, and kidneys. Grill, broil, bake, roast, or stir-fry foods, instead of deep frying. Cook with non-stick cooking spray or a small amount of olive oil instead of butter. Trim fat from meat and remove skin from poultry before eating. Heart-healthy foods include lean cuts of meat, poultry without the skin, fish, beans, vegetables, fruits, low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, etc. As your kidneys slow down, you may need to eat foods that

Sexual Issues & Solutions EXPERIMENTING WITH NEW FORMS OF SEXUAL PLAY (I) ETTING to do the same thing over and over again can be very boring. This also applies to our sexual routine. Are you ready to start experimenting with something a little different? Good for you! Variety really is the spice of life, especially when it comes to sexual relationships. Documented evidence exists supporting the theory that humans don’t find familiarity and repetition erotic. In order to maintain a healthy monogamous relationship, you need to mix things up, keep things changing and introduce a little experimental activity like ; oral sex, anal play, fantasy and role play, shaving, bondage & domination. These categories would be thoroughly dealt with over the coming weeks. Hello Viewden, thank you so very much for your help to people like me who is diabetic and use to have very weak erection; but thanks to Vimax that I got from you two weeks back, my erection is stronger and better even at 65 years of age. Thank you so veryy much. My wife’s Vagina is always dry and she complains of pains during sex, what can she use? Biyi Vimax is an amazing product when it comes to correcting weak erection and giving instant strong erection especially for the diabetics. Vimax is a herbal supplement and as such very safe for every man to use including men with any health issue. To prevent dryness of vagina and pain during sex, your wife can take lubricants like Mood, Liquid sex, Moist, System Jo to lubricate the vagina and once this is done, the pains shouldn’t be witnessed unless there is an infection. She can also get Germany sex drops with any arousal gels like Mood, Crazygirl, Horny-honey gel, 69 lick me etc to arouse her. If shes properly aroused, her vagina will be naturally wet. I ordered Rhino 7 from you, but I discovered that it didn’t really give me that VERY strong erection that I want, cos I wanted it really hard. A friend gave me just 2 pills of Prosolution and I had my erection very hard. Can I get it from you? Bonniface Hello Bonniface, Rhino 7 is very effective for a lot of things, just that it is body-type sensitive i.e it chooses the

C M Y K

body to work in, so don’t be discouraged as there are numerous people who have gotten used to Rhino 7 because of its efficiency, not to worry; Prosolution gives very hard erection also and corrects premature ejaculation in men, may be that’s why most men prefer it.Yes, you can take Prosolution because it is very safe. Im a 45 year old man with NO-erection for the past 6 months, though I’m a type 2 diabetic man and have tried different enhancers, but a doctor friend of mine referred you to me, what treatment can I start on to correct this dysfunction , cos I’m ashamed of myselfOlu Mr Olu, I understand that feeling of not been able to satisfy your woman, but not to worry I’ll advise you start taking either Vimax or Prosolution daily for the next two to three months. You can also be using your diabetic drugs cos it doesn’t affect it; just that you should leave four hours interval when using either supplement. Half Page Ad You should start to notice arousal and a little erection in the first three days of using, and as you progress to the2nd week hard erection should be noticed. I am presently using Vigrx plus with penis pump and I have started noticing that my penis is getting fat, but I need more of length. Do I continue using them and for how long do I need to use to get about 2 inches added to the length? Okoro Vigrx plus and penis pump are very effective in increasing both the length and the thickness of the penis. Like I use to say, enlargement starts from the width of the penis before it progresses to the length. If you do want to add about 2 inches or thereabout, you need to use Vigrx plus for at least 2 months alongside with the pump and when you have gotten the size you want, you can stop taking the Vigrx plus cos it permanently opens up the penile tissues for the enlargement. These are all we can take for this week. Adults who needs any of these aphrodisiacs can cal 08034666358, 07059294782 or place your order at www.viewden.com. For further enquiries, send an email to us at: vieweden@yahoo.com, viewden@ymail.com. Kemi Fawole (MD )

with “PHOS”—on ingredient labels. Go for fresh fruits and vegetables, corn and rice. Avoid meat, poultry, fish, bran cereals and oatmeal, cols, etc. Also choose foods that have the right amount of potassium to help your nerves and muscles work the right way. Salt substitutes can be very high in potassium. Read the ingredient label. Drain canned fruits and vegetables before eating. Go for apples, peaches, carrots, green beans and white rice. Reduce oranges, bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, brown and wild rice, dairy foods and whole wheat bread and pasta.

38 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 14, 2015 BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

he looming frame of Godwin Kienka, who runs the International Tennis Academy, one of the foremost Junior academies in the country, caught his attention from afar. Shaking his head in no particular direction, he spluttered the words “Tamuno o., Tamuno e”, to which Kienka, almost bending to salute, responded :'the great tennis professor, our tennis encyclopedia” As he moved closer to formally greet him, Kienka, pointing at his traditional walking stick, joked that, “you have not washed(celebrated) this one sir”, to which the man who was still hailing Kienka, said that “we cannot wash anything now that we are mourning the death of our one of our tennis promoters”. Continuing, he told Kienka, that “you have given a lot to tennis but you need to go back to Bayelsa(it should be Rivers) and fight for power but it is not easy there because those guys have a way of frustrating well-meaning people out of the state” This was the scene that played out on Thursday, when Chief Ben Ezeibe visited the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, the home of tennis in Nigeria, which has been in a state of mourning, since a former patron of the Nigeria Tennis Federation and President of the LLTC, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas died on February 2. His death has brought to the fore, once again, how much the game of tennis in Nigeria has changed in the last three decades. The late Okoya-Thomas, a committed tennis enthusiast and promoter, was a year short of joining the Octogenarian club, leaving behind a lot of fond and sad memories to be shared by those who came across him during the great days of yore, when Nigeria was the indisputable tennis hub in Africa. Memories are evergreen amongst the pioneers of tennis administration in Nigeria but they are still recovering from the shock of losing one of their own, OkoyaThomas to the cold hands of death. To all of them, the deceased, who was distinguished gentleman and developer of talents, gave his life and time to the development of the professional game in the country. Friends of tennis have been trooping to the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club (LLTC) to pay their tributes to the departed Lagos socialite, who a condolence register has been opened by the management of the club. Chief Ben Ezeibe, a respected former official of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour, on Thursday visited the LLTC to pay his respects to the late OkoyaThomas, who he described as one of the foundation builders of Nigerian tennis.. Speaking to Saturday Vanguard Sports, on his way to the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Ezeibe said that Okoya-Thomas did a lot for tennis but regretted how the meteoric progress of the '70s and '80s was frittered away in the last two decades by the players and administrators. “The late Okoya-Thomas, was a good friend of mine, who contributed to the growth of tennis in the country. He was the President of the Lagos Lawn Tennis |Club in the '80s and I recall that

•Odizor

‘

Lagos Lawn Tennis Club was the mecca of tennis in Africa because of the high quality of tournaments being played there

‘

at that time, our players were doing very well on the ATP Tour. “Lagos Lawn Tennis Club was the mecca of tennis in Africa because of the high quality of tournaments being played there. The biggest was the Lord Rumens Lagos Classics, which drew the best in the world to Nigeria”, Chief Ezeibe added, to drive home the point of how big tennis was in the country. Once inside the club, fond memories began flooding in back for Ezeibe, who was still in shock that tennis has lost one of it's great administrators, under whose belt, Nigerian players dwarfed their football peers in terms of income earned from sports. As he made his way into the club, greeting his friends and admirers in turns, Chief Ezeibe, a former member of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, said that the boom

witnessed in the days of yore was down to the ingenuity of about five persons. “Alhaji Raheem Adejumo, the Nigeria Lawn Tennis Association Chairman, Okoya-Thomas, myself, Chief Alabi Lord Rumens, Aliaji Otiti of the Central Bank of Nigeria in the '80s, were the ones who mapped out the road map to success that our tennis witnessed in those days. “I can recall that we used to sit down together in those days to take decisions on how the game would grow and our plans worked wonders because the players keyed into them and the made a great living out of the game. “ Tennis was a big professional sport in those days and our players were living well on earnings from tournaments, winning thousand of dollars every time. These were times tennis players earned more than many of their soccer counterparts in Nigeria”, Chief Ezeibe recalled with nostalgia. Returning to how big the game was in his days, Chief Ezeibe said that Nigeria was the hub of tennis in Africa, as leading Europeans came to play ATP tournaments in the country, with some begging organisers to give them wild cards to play in the main draw in exchange for money. Aside the Lord Rumens Classics, there were the Kaduna Clay Courts, The Ogun Green Courts, The Ogbe Hard Court, The Nuel Ojei event, the Premier Hard Court in Enugu which Ezeibe himself facilitated and other ATP ratified events. There were also many local champiosnhips that had reasonable prize monies such

•

Nigerian te earned mo in '70s, 80

•Recounts how milit mili Arthur Ashe in Lag

that Nigerian players were busy playing tournaments and earning money. “Nigerian tennis had everything going on well for it in our days. Everything was working well. Our

players earned big money, lived well and were famous at home and abroad. They were not even going overseas because we had tournaments all year round to sustain themselves,” Ezeibe added.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 14, 2015—39

‘

And like a true professional, with an answer for every problem, Ezeibe heaped the blame for the slump of tennis in Nigeria on many factors notably the management of the game, the lack of hunger in the players

‘

•Ashe

ennis players ore than Eagles 0s ---Ezeibe

tary coup stopped gos “Lord Rumens was the sponsor of the Lagos Classics, an ATP tournament and the biggest in the continent although South Africa was under apartheid ban and was not in the picture.

“I recall that in the 1976 edition of the Lord Rumens Classics, military personnel invaded everywhere. It was a 75,000 dollar tournament and that was huge money at the time and you

remember that Thomas Musther who once became world number one played at Lord Rumens in Lagos. There was a military coup and the Lord Rumens Classics were affected. Initially, we didn't know what the commotion was all about. We were all surprised and shocked but later found out that they just executed a coup and since the State House then was close to the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, they quickly took over the place, oblivious of the calibre of players on court then.

“We also had the Ogbe Hard Court, which was a $50, 000 tournament and the most consistent of all. Then we had the Kaduna Clay, a $25, 000 event with hospitality, which made it a $50, 000. “We also had the Ogun Green Courts $25, 000 event, the Premier Hard Court $25, 000 tournament and the John Players Classics at the Lagos Country Club, which was another $25, 000 tournament. The list of tournaments in the country was not limited to the ones I have mentioned but the point I am making is that in those days, our players were the stars of Nigerian sports”, added Ezeibe, who runs a thriving business empire in the country. His business acumen has been his greatest asset, managing some of the best tennis players that this country has ever produced. Tony Mmoh, second only to the 'great' Nduka Odizor, was his product. He personally planned his tennis programme, unlike now where players are left to their fate. He recalled how Mmoh, Odizor battled the best players in the world, with the latter reaching the fourth round of the Wimbledon Open in the '80s, a feat, no other Nigerian has been able to reach till date. “No sports was bigger than tennis in those days. The records are there. Football has always been popular but

•Chief Ezeibe

in terms of prizes our tennis players earned more. Our players were earning big money weekly. Even footballers like Segun Odegbami, Emmanuel Okala, Christian Chukwu were nowhere near our tennis players in terms on money earned in those days,” Chief Ezeibe said with glee, adding “tennis was great and also it commanded great media attention. Chris Okojie, Chris Ogwu, Ikeddy Isiguzo, Ayo Ositelu wrote tennis beautifully and were later joined by your current boss, Onochie Anibeze whose passion for tennis knew no bounds. And there were the likes of Banji Ola and Ahmed Shuibu. Tennis competed for media attention with football. It was that good.” But his countenance soon turned sour as he regretted how the game has gone downhill. And like a true professional, with an answer for every problem, Ezeibe heaped the blame for the slump of tennis in Nigeria on many factors notably the management of the game, the lack of hunger in the players, who he claimed have shown no burning desire to take their destiny in their hands and systemic failure in the polity. “Like I said earlier, some players from Europe would do everything to be given a wild card for they knew the importance of ATP ranking points. But our players did not know and and they took things for granted. Even when things were rosy and they were making money, they lost sight of the future. “I sent about 15 players to USA to play tennis and school but none of them is today playing tennis. They have all turned to other means to make a living, while their peers developed to earn big money from the sport. Now you have the likes of Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic making millions of dollars every week. In those days, we had some Nigerians in the top 150 of the world. Now, none is in the top 1000. “Apart from golf, tennis is the only sport that the players control their destiny. That is why being a tennis player is a very profitable venture but our players are yet to realise this”, added Chief Ezeibe.

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

Good sleep vs good sex he younger the couple, the tighter they squeeze is the submission of legendary reggae innovator Bob Marley in his chart breaking song Summer Holiday. This is probably because newlyweds have the tendency to want to do everything together including sharing the same bed. If fact if it’s a single bed, all the better. As time goes on however, there’s a tendency for couples to ‘grow apart’, with each half of the couple being more territorial of their space and property, while having stronger desire to have their own privacy. For many years, sleeping apart was seen to be so passé and something only our grandfathers and grandmothers did. Now, this old fashioned trend appears to be returning, with some couples going as far as saying it saved their marriages. Many marriage counsellors have been known to advice against splitting and using separate rooms, but is it always a bad thing?

Pro: Bad habits sleep hard aybe one person snores, for instance, which keeps the other person awake, or maybe one has restless leg syndrome, where they kick in the middle of the night. It could even be a seemingly small thing, like one person prefers to sleep with the hallway light on, whereas the other requires total darkness. The bigger issue is that sleep disturbances due to differences like this can create big relationship problems. The danger with not sleeping well is that couples often start to resent each other. What’s more, duos often become more irritable and fight over silly things. When people are well rested they’re better able to solve problems and approach life with an even temper. And both of these qualities can help improve your relationship.

Con: Separation anxiety. ll of the good stuff that you associate with sharing a bed—the cuddling, the pillow talk- might be affected if it’s not all well thought out.

Pro: Your place or mine? leeping in separate rooms would hardly be an insurmountable obstacle to regular lovemaking. Instead it would have the opposite effect and spice things up, creating a more date-like atmosphere of assignations. Your place or mine?

I love my hubby, but I want my own room!

separate rooms helps them reclaim some of the spark and excitement of dating.

Con: People will whisper hen you find out that a couple sleeps in separate bedrooms, it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that their relationship is in hot water. When people begin to whisper, it might have a negative effect on your relationship, or how people look at it.

Pro: More out of bed time f you are spending less time in bed in an organized manner, it might put more pressure on you to make time for other activities together. You can even take turns to sleep in each other ’s rooms.

Con: Cold shoulder f a couple is fighting, then obviously sleeping in separate rooms would increase chances of the fight going on forever. For a couple that is not talking to each other, running into each other only in the hallway will not help a kiss and make up situation.

Many couples who are sleeping in separate beds report that their relationships have not suffered; in fact, their

renewed energy allows them to devote more of their waking hours to go on dates and spend time together. The

constant exhaustion and tension that used to plague their relationships has disappeared, and that

Big, bold, beautiful

ver since Beyonce, Iggy Azalea and Jennifer Lopez got voted as sexiest women alive, the African woman got a break in the worlds of fashion and entertainment and has learnt to embrace her curves. Yet the recently concluded reality show on Nigerian television that put young women in a simulated fattening room where they were expected to grow round, plum and sexy in preparation for marriage, failed to bear much fruit. Though the ladies did not weigh in at the end of the exercise, they all looked more or less the same at the end of the show. The world of fashion the world over has played to the gallery for many years, of consciously including women bigger than size 2 on runways, and though ‘bigger’ models such as Tyra Banks have thrived, the fashion world continues to embrace thin women over fat. It’s time to pay tribute to those women who have brought diversity and flavour into the Nigerian entertainment scene- wearing their curves with confidence and proving to us each and every time that beauty and style does not come in only one dress size.

Toolz

Eniola Badmus

bogbo bigz girlz, as she is fondly known to her fans is no doubt a black beauty, but her size has always been a cause for concern, particularly recently, when she attended a beach party hosted by Obafemi Martins. Yet the talented actress who has always carried herself with grace is not cowed, and remains sexy most of the time.

ultiple award winning on air personality Tolulope Oniru aka Toolz has had various men drooling publicly over her, including the enigmatic music magnate Don Jazzy, despite being a chunky size 18 (in some parts, at least). The magnificent host of own radio show ‘The Midday Show with Toolz’ on one of Nigeria’s top urban radio stations – The Beat 99.9FM- owns a figure that has become legendary- and quite unapologetically large. Toolz, who also hosts ‘The Juice’ by NdaniTV, has gained a reputation of not only carrying herself regally, but also knowing what to wear when. Truth is, Toolz has curves to die for and she knows exactly how to dress them to distraction.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015—41

*One of the funny photos trending online...

Emergency Valentine: INEC vs Nigerian men

declaring Valentines Day. BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE

IGERIAN men are concerned about the postponement of the much anticipated February 14 election, and that’s for a different set of reasons altogether. The economics of postponement really seems to be causing a headache as they are now hard-pressed to perform today, Valentine’s Day. How will they cope? The women are laughing but will they have the last laugh?

“Why didn’t INEC decide long ago? Why did they have to wait until last Saturday before postponing the election? I had boycotted a lot of things and made no concrete plans for Valentine because I felt I’d have a reason to stay indoor today. ” That was Ade. One of those Nigerian men whose wrath the Independent National Electoral Commission- INEC may incur if their Valentine’s Day celebration turns messy due to last minute preparation.

Hopes of spending less

Mandy

ever mind that she can get Buhari to roll on the floor. N Foremost female comedienne/

sitcom actress is not only one of the finest in the business; she’s also one that has no apologies about her size. A healthy size 20, Mandy moves around the stage with the agility of a woman half her size, and makes jokes about it to boot!

Hopes of spending less over Valentine’s Day Celebrations had been raised and suddenly dashed by INEC for most men who had resolved to be a bit thriftier this year. “Outdoor celebrations won’t be safe due to imminent election violence,” therefore became their slogan. As such, do-it-yourself tips such as: cook your Val a special delicacy, call or text her(if not close by), give her a message, spend uninterrupted time in bed, make a home-made card and more gained popularity and

were in fact already in top gear for ‘indoor’ Valentine celebrations which of course would have cost far less.

‘My plan is to fall sick’

“The plan now is to fall sick today because with the expected elections, I made no special plan for Valentine. In fact, my plan was to fill my power generating set with fuel and stay indoor because I also wasn’t going to vote since I am no longer residing around the polling unit where I registered years back,” Eshe, a young man who says INEC indecisiveness has dealt miserably with him, said. Shola, an Oyo-based businessman, has a slightly different view and plan. “How much will it cost me to give my woman a treat? As soon as INEC rescheduled the election, I went shopping for a few clothes because I hadn’t planned going out. Already, I had taken care of my woman’s Valentine’s Day wear even though indoor was the plan. Now, I will simply take her out to a fast food restaurant and we will return home to catch some fun indoor. I also got her a beautiful bracelet because she means a lot to me,” Shola said.

‘I’m very broke’

OR Fashanu Bashir, however, one week was too short to prepare for Valentine. “My employer has not paid salaries in two months so there was no way I could plan in one week. I’m extremely broke. “If Jonathan can move Valentine celebration to March 28 as well, he will have my vote. Valentine cannot be resurrected just like that at the last minute. No warning, no hint, nothing at all. That’s terrible. Unless they want the day to go unnoticed for some of us,” Fashanu cried out, leaving Woman to Woman wondering when Nigerian government became responsible for

‘Val must be shifted to March 28 too’

LSO humorously campaigning for the postponement of Valentine’s Day to March 28 is an amazing body which identifies itself as Association of Loving Nigerian Men, ALNM. Obviously, the February 14 poll was really going to be a cover up. “It has become glaring that some unknown persons in high places want to put us to shame at all costs. They want our wives, spouses, girlfriends, love interests and/or side chicks to say we are incompetent men. Whoever these faceless people are, you will not give our women mouth to talk. “We were in high spirits when INEC chose February 14, 2015, for the Presidential election because Valentines Day in Nigeria was beginning to milk us dry. But INEC suddenly messed things up. The truth is, we are sad and totally anguished in our hearts. “Anyway, we have met and concluded that our own Val Day will hold March 28 and on that day, we will stay at home and be with our women because of the election. We won’t be going out to any dinner or spending money. For our single men, they will stay away from their lovers’ houses as the election day requires little movement around town,” a statement presently going viral and signed by Osagie Alonge, General Secretary of the association, read in parts.

42—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

08 116759 759 081 6759759 Glamorous former Romanian tourism minister and presidential candidate detained for money laundering

he former Romanian tourism minister and presidential candidate, Elena Udrea, is being held on charges of money laundering and influence peddling. The glamorous MP, who finished fourth in

November’s presidential election, was detained for 24 hours late on Tuesday after she entered the anticorruption prosecutor’s office to answer charges. A court will now decide whether to arrest her for 30 days.

rosecutors said she is charged with influence peddling in the illegal licensing of software in schools and money laundering. She is also accused of asking for a £370,000 bribe to give preferential contracts while organizing the ‘Gala Bute’ event as a minister of tourism, an event to promote the Romanian boxing champion Lucian Bute. Lawmakers voted to approve her arrest Monday on three charges. Udrea, who founded the Popular Movement Party last year, denies wrongdoing. The 41-year-old gained notoriety due to her close relationship with Traian Basescu, Romania’s president from 2004 to 2014. She participated in several controversial pictorials and is known for wearing expensive

clothes and buying international designer purses. The investigation is part of a case involving nine ex-ministers and several businessmen accused of facilitating contracts for preferred companies that sold Microsoft software licenses to the state. The total value of the contract was £35.5 million, out of which the defendants allegedly claimed £13.1 million as a bribe.

Udrea’s ex-husband, businessman Dorin Cocos, has also been arrested. The minister has vowed to fight the charges, accusing officials of orchestrating her arrest. She said: ‘They can handcuff Elena Udrea, but they cannot handcuff the truth.’ A parliamentary commission organised a hearing for General Coldea but found no proof that her claims are true.Udrea was the

minister of tourism between 2008 and 2009 and also the minister of regional development and tourism between 2009 and 2012. In her last position, she administered a yearly budget of £2.37 billion.

Did yyou ou enjo our trip? W enjoyy yyour Wee cer certtainly did! he picture of Zimbabwean dictator T Robert Mugabe falling

down a set of steps after holding a speech has been turned into an internet meme. Using the hashtag ‘Mugabe Falls’, images showing the 90-year-old president in a series of funny situations began spreading online. The memes features a cut-out image of Mugabe in various imagined circumstances, such as part

of Beyonce’s Single Ladies choreography, surfing or running from security forces. Others show the ageing leader as an Olympic runner and with his hand on the infamous bottom of Kim Kardashian. Today, Zimbabwe’s government tried to deny that the President had tripped at all, saying said Mugabe, 90, did not fall down the steps, but ‘managed to break the fall.’

Saudi Historian says U.S. women drive because they don’t care if they’re raped Saudi Arabian historian trying to justify the nation’s ban on female drivers says women who A drive in other countries such as the United States don’t care if they’re raped and that sexual violence “is no big deal” to them.” Saleh Al-Saadoon claimed in a recent TV interview that women can be raped when a car breaks down, but unlike other countries, Saudi Arabia protects its women from that risk by not allowing them to drive in the first place, according to a translation posted online by the Middle East Media Research Institute. “They don’t care if they are raped on the roadside, but we do,” Al-Saadoon said on Saudi Rotana Khalijiyya TV. “Hold on. Who told you they don’t care about getting raped on the roadside?” asked the host, a woman who is not named in the transcript. “It’s no big deal for them beyond the damage to their morale,” Al-Saadoon replied. “In our case, however, the problem is of a social and religious nature.” Two other guests on the show — a man and a woman — appeared to be in shock over his comments. AlSaadoon said they were out of touch. “They should listen to me and get used to what society thinks,” Al-Saadoon said. Since the rape argument didn’t seem to be convincing anyone, Al-Saadoon tried another approach, claiming that women are treated “like queens” in Saudi Arabia because they are driven around by the men of the family and male chauffeurs. That led the host to ask if he wasn’t afraid that women might be raped by their chauffeurs. Al-Saadoon agreed. “There is a solution, but the government officials and the clerics refuse to hear of it,” he said. “The solution is to bring in female foreign chauffeurs to drive our wives.” That caused the female host to laugh and cover her

Grandfather who bought lottery ticket to get change for a $100 bill for lunch wins $10 million prize

Massachusetts man who bought a pair of A lottery tickets at a grocery

face with her palm. “Female foreign chauffeurs?” she said. “Seriously?” Saudi women face serious penalties if they are caught driving, including lashing. Two women who defied the ban on driving last year, Loujain al-Hathloul and Maysa al-Amoudi, are being tried in a court that handles terror cases.

shop to break a $100 bill for lunch has ended up winning $10 million. Lottery officials announced Thursday that Richard Noll and his wife Lisa claimed the prize at lottery headquarters in Braintree this week. He chose a one-time payment of $6.5 million before taxes. The Revere man says he needed to break a $100 bill to get

lunch at a sandwich shop, so he bought two $20 ‘Platinum Millions’ instant tickets at Lanzilli Groceria in East Boston. The shop gets a $50,0 00 bonus for selling the winning ticket. Lottery communications director Christian Teja told Itemlive.com that Noll’s post-taxes prize money will come to $4.5 million. Noll says he wants to buy a house, make investments and take his granddaughter to Walt Disney World. Lottery officials said in a

release ‘Noll is the third $10 million “Platinum Millions” prize winner since this instant game was launched in 2013. There are two additional $10 million prizes and sixteen $1 million prizes remaining in the game.’ The Blaze pointed out that there is a one in 5,040,000 chance of winning $10 million by playing ‘Platinum Millions 2013.’

SA TURD AY Vanguard, FEBRU ARY 14, 2015—43 SATURD TURDA FEBRUARY

won yi ge ts P aul Ogiemw onyi gets Paul Valerie Azinge, o ther orat ea ward Ogiem other therss bag UNN Doct Doctorat orate aw Harris award

L-R: Pro Chancellor, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Minister of Education, Dr. Valerie Azinge, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), Vice Chancellor Prof. Benjamin Ozumba of UNN and members of Governing Council of the University.

r (Mrs) Valerie Azinge, a prominent Abuja lawyer and wife of Prof Epiphany Azinge, former Director General, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, alongside some other eminent Nigerians were conferred with Honourary Doctorate Award, LLD, (Honoris Causa) by University Of Nigeria Nsukka. Many dignitaries from different walks of life graced the occasion. Photos by Nath Onojake

FORMER Minister of State for Works, Engr.Chris Ogiemwonyi last Tuesday at his GRA residence in Benin City, was bestowed with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award by the Rotary International District 9140.

Members of Rotary International in a group picture with Engr.Chris Ogiemwonyi.

L-R: Mr.Uche Oduah,Chief Victor Ijeh,Chief Victor Nwosa, Prof.Azinge, Mr.Peter Ejiofor, Mr,Richie Omo and Sir Okey Ofili.

L-R: Ms Lillian Nwokobia, Dr. (Mrs) Valerie Azinge and Dr. Nick Azinge.

Dr (Mrs) Valerie Azinge being decorated by the Vice Chancellor, UNN, Prof. Benjamin Chukuma Ozumba while Prof. Epiphany Azinge watches

L-R: Chief Ejiofor Onyia, Engr. Kenene Azinge, Mrs Uju Okojuba and Mrs Alice Amuka-Pemu

L-R: Dr Efi Usen, Dep. Gov Rotary Int’l, Ovie of Oghara Kingdom, in Delta State, HRM Nobel Oyibo Eshemitan & DG of Rotary Int”l , District 9140 Nigeria and Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi.

HRM Nobel Oyibo Engr.Ogiemwonyi.

Eshemitan

and

Igbobi College Old Bo ys hold 83rd FFounder ounder er sar Boys ounderss Da Dayy Anniv Anniver ersar saryy

rd embers of the Igbobi College Old Boys Association, ICOBA, rolled out drums to celebrate the 83 Founders Day of the school. The luncheon party which held last Sunday had as part of the activities a merit award ceremony which saw some members of the association being recognised and rewarded for their outstanding profiles. One of the awardees is Muyiwa Adetiba, former editor of Vanguard.

L-R;Olubunmi Adetiba, Mr Muyiwa Adetiba ;Mrs Iguehi Adetiba with Mr Dele Adetiba and Bola Sanni.

L-R; Chief Folarin Williams;Mr Tom Ipaye,President, Igbobi College Old Boys Association and Mr Lanre Keleko,Past President;ICOBA

L-R;Engr Adelana O. Odutola, awardee; Mr Tom Ipaye President Igbobi College Old Boys Association;Mr Muyiwa Adetiba, awardee and Mr Tunde Dabiri, Past President.

44 — SATURDAY

C M Y K

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 14, 2015—45

know how to have an orgasm; I do but nothing works during intercourse. Can you help me? Joan, Lagos

juliecoker100@yahoo.com

I don’t have orgasm during intercourse Aunty Julie, My boyfriend and I have been sexually active for about three months. I enjoy making love to him very much, but intercourse doesn’t give me any pleasure. He can easily bring me to orgasm

through oral sex, but I don’t feel any pleasure from regular sex. Sometimes, I can’t even tell if he’s inside of me or not. I feel so bad about it, and we’ve been trying to find some information that might help us, but there isn’t any. Why is this happening? It isn’t like I don’t

Dear Joan, Your ability to have an orgasm through oral sex may be able to teach you a big lesson. Perhaps your partner could incorporate oral sex into your intercourse routine. A woman’s sexual pleasure mostly comes from stimulation to the clitoris which is highly sensitive and full of nerve endings. In fact, there are as many nerve endings in the tip of the clitoris as there are in a male organ! So, ask your partner to touch, rub, caress, and/or press your clitoris with his fingers, whether before, during, or after sex. You can guide him by placing your fingers over his fingers or hand, and pressing the spots you like in the motion and frequency . You can try using your own fingers during sex, too. Also, try a variety of sex positions where

She’s afraid of lovemaking Hello Aunty Julie, I have been dating my babe for more than two years now. We’re both in our twenties and haven’t had sex yet, but during the last year and a half, we tried pretty much everything there is besides it. I really feel this is the right time, but when I try to talk to her about it, all she says is that she is afraid. She says it is not that she does not believe in losing virginity before marriage but she is just afraid. I don’t want to pressurise her, but I just feel that maybe I am not the right person for her or something. What should I do? Thanks. Yinka Bob-Manuel Dear Yinka, ‘Losing’ one’s virginity or choosing to have sexual intercourse for the first time can be a major decision. Addressing your partner’s concerns is especially important, both in terms of respecting your partner’s feelings and for strengthening your relationship. Should you two ultimately decide to have sex, it is important that both you and your partner feel 100% comfortable with your decision. You mentioned that your partner is afraid, do you know exactly what she is afraid of? Discussing the issues with your partner may give you a better sense of what she is afraid of when it comes to sex, and help you build your communication, trust, and respect for each other. Does she worry about unwanted pregnancy? Above the pleasure, exploration, and fun, lovemaking comes with a whole lot of

responsibility. It is important that you and your partner have a strategy for birth control, and have spoken about what you would do if she becomes pregnant. Fortunately, there are a multitude of methods to protect you and your partner from unplanned pregnancy. Or, is she concerned about sexually transmitted infections,STIs? Even if you and your partner are each other’s firsts, it can be reassuring to talk about STIs, including HIV. Having this conversation can be tricky, but it is a crucial

component of being comfortable when having sex. Does she fear physical pain? It is important to speak with your partner about how you imagine your first time to be. For women who have never had vaginal intercourse, the first few times experiencing penetration can be uncomfortable or painful. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to minimize pain and maximize pleasure. Are you the right one for her, is she the right one for you? While this may be a difficult question to ask, it is extremely important

your clitoris might be further stimulated. For example, the woman-on-top position has more potential for clitoral stimulation than the missionary position. On top, you can have more control over the amount of stimulation, rhythm, and pacing. Get creative! Certain positions may feel more exciting to you than others, and this may differ each time you make love. Remember, if you love making love with your partner, there is no need to be dismayed by your lack of vaginal sensation or pleasure during intercourse. Instead, if you wish, you can use sex play as an opportunity for you and your partner to experiment with and learn from your bodies. Either way, it is important to let your partner know, either verbally or by demonstrating, what turns you on the most. Take the time to learn exactly what that is.

to be honest with each other. Are you having fun in your relationship? Are you able to communicate well with each other? Are you caring towards one another both emotionally and physically? These characteristics of a relationship signify compatibility and maturity, both important for a satisfying and healthy sexual relationship. After you bring up these questions to your partner, the two of you may need some time to think to yourselves. If something stands out or keeps coming up in the list, it might be an important topic of conversation to bring to the table. Don’t forget to continue to enjoy spending quality time with your partner. Regardless of your sexual activity, being in a relationship is a unique journey filled with companionship, love, and just enjoying the little things together. Take the time to enjoy being with your partner, and continue to learn more about each other.

I get erection during massage Dear Julie, This has become an embarrassment to me. I am a young man who lives a happy but often stressful life. I visit a massage parlour during weekends to ease off but I’m worried about what happens when I’m virtually naked and being rubbed all over by another person especially female massage therapists. I get full erection during massage and there seems to be no way to hide it. How do I deal with this? I don’t know how the people feel but am I perverted? I feel strange when I’m lying on the table and standing at attention. Desmond, Abuja Dear Desmond, It’s understandable that you’re worried about having erection during a massage. Erections, no matter how common, can be unpredictable, and hence, a cause

Hearing Vs. Listening What a woman says: Cmon…This place is a mess! You and I need to clean. Your pants are on the floor and you’ll have no clothes if we don’t do laundry now! What a man hears: C’MON….blah, blah, blah YOU AND I blah, blah, blah, blah, blah ON THE FLOOR blah, blah, blah, NO CLOTHES blah, blah, blah, blah, NOW! Refrigerator A woman went to her psychiatrist and said,

of worry. But rest assured, this topic is discussed by massage therapists in training because it is a normal aspect of anatomy and physiology. During a massage, as the body relaxes, some people may fall asleep, drool, or pass gas, all of which are completely normal physical responses to tension relief. But, like erections, these normal occurrences are stigmatized socially as embarrassing. The irony is somewhat amusing when you think about it — the goal of massage is to relax, but as your body shows signs of relaxation, you become preoccupied with how those responses may be perceived. Many massage therapists and health care professionals try to normalize these bodily functions and responses to decrease clients’ feelings of anxiety or insecurity.

C O C K - T A L E S “Doctor, I want to talk to you about my husband. He thinks he’s a refrigerator.” “That’s not so bad,” said the doctor. “It’s a rather harmless complex.” “Well, maybe,” replied the lady. “But he sleeps with his mouth open and the light keeps me awake along with the chillness.” Ferrari A man got a new Ferrari for his birthday and went to test drive it on the highway. As he was driving he wondered how fast it could go, but before he

Many people have learned to associate erections with purely sexual arousal but, in fact, erections occur for a variety of reasons. They can occur during sleep, when someone is angry or scared, or when someone is deeply relaxed, like during a massage. Reflexive erections, a normal physiological response to touch, relaxation can go away within minutes. Massage therapists know this and will often simply ignore an erection during a session, as long as the client is behaving appropriately. Some masseuses and/or clients may choose to address the potential issue in advance. As the client, you can discuss the topic with the massage therapist before a session, if it helps soothe your concerns. You are certainly not alone in your worry. Erections are a normal part of your body’s response to relaxation and a professional massage therapist will likely be understanding.

could get very far he heard sirens. He sped up thinking he could outrun the cop, but then he came to his senses and pulled over. The cop walked over and asked for the man’s license and registration. Then the cop said, “Listen, Mac, it’s Friday, I’m tired, and I just want to go home, so if you can give me an excuse I haven’t heard before, I’ll let you go.” The man thought for a minute, then replied, “My wife ran off with a cop the other day, and I thought you were trying to give her back to me.” The cop nodded and said, “Have a nice day.”

46—SA TURD AY 46—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, FEBRU ARY 14 FEBRUARY 14,, 2015

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

St. Valentine’s Day Special

Since you’re not voting,why not write a loveletter to your partner

ike it or not, thanks to INEC, you would have been sitting at home praying the presidential election to be concluded early enough for you to make the most of St. Valentine’s Day. However, the shift in the date is pleasant to lovers. To help you plan what would be left of the day, I thought I would share this love-letter with you, to encourage you to perhaps write one! Married for over 20 years, Bob confessed he’d never written a love letter to his wife because he thought mushy stuffs like that was a bit unNigerian, and unbefitting to a couple in their early 50s, with three children two of who are at the university. But put pen to paper he did and once he got started, he was chuffed at what he came up with: “My darling Eva, my very own wife,” he wrote: “The great essayist Anais Nin once wrote that age does not protect you from love, but that ‘love, to some extent, protects you from age.’ That is what I feel, with all my heart. At 51, I suppose I am in the earlyish autumn of my years. At any rate, if I were a tree, I’d be shedding a few rustcoloured leaves. But I don’t mind. It will be fun to shed them together, and regain the independence we have before the children were born. Weekends away at the drop of a hat. Do you remember all those hats we used to drop? I wondered, when contemplating this letter, whether to quote Shakespeare, who was so good at expressions of love. But using other people’s lines, even Anais Nin’s, is a cop-out. Besides, everybody’s version of love is different. Who honestly believes, as the actress Ali McGraw once put it, that love means never having to say you’re sorry? I’ve said a million sorries to you—and you, getting on for, what, 11 or 12 to me? Did that make you laugh? I hope so because for you and me, love and laughter are indivisible. Ten years ago, when I wrote a book about our move from the city to the country, I dedicated it “To Jane, the wind beneath my wings, the compost beneath my beans’.

In some ways, that said it all. I wanted you to know what you meant to me, and what you have done for me, but I banged in a gag to preempt any accusations of soppiness. In a way, I do wish I could reach for one of

Shakespeare’s sonnets to tell you how much I love you. And if I were to compare thee to a summer’s day, it would be that early-evening but when I pour two glasses of chilled rose and we sit at

the garden table, watching the dogs chasing each other round the lawn. One of those moments of such profound happiness that they elicit not a smile, but a sigh. I know that writing a public love letter to me will make you wince, since you don’t even believe in going out on Valentine’s Day. I can’t claim to be Prince Charming, either. But I fancy you just as much as I did when I first sat at your desk in the newspaper office where you were Deputy News Editor and I was a novice senior reporter. Who’d have thought then that we’d end up making three children together? More than two decades on, I’m still as beguiled by those amazing eyes as much as I ever was. More than anything else, though, I respect and admire you, for your interest in the world, for your wit, for your intelligence, for your incredible culinary skills, for your kindness to your friends, and above all, for your endless commitment, patience and resourcefulness as a mother. I have to admit that when you were pregnant with our

first born, I was worried. Part of what had so attracted me to you was your no-nonsense professionalism in the work place, and I didn’t know what would replace that, when if only temporarily, you gave up work. It was hopelessly naïve to me not to realise that, overnight, your skills as a mother would seem more important to both of us than your skills in your job. But then, it is hopelessly naïve of any couple to embark on a life together expecting it to be sun-kissed most of the way through. Yet, even in this peculiar age escalating divorces we all do it. Well, I think our 20 years of marriage have, indeed, been more sunkissed than not. That particular naive expectation came true. And even in times of drizzle, I have never wanted to share the umbrella with anyone but you. I love you. And thank you, for everything. Your husband, Bob.

Are onions, another beauty product you can’t do without?

he house-hold wonder-veg., the onion is supposed to have a lot more to offer than flavouring your stew and it is coming into its own as a beauty product. At least that’s what a beautician Alice Robinson concluded after various tests on the bulb. Does it grow your hair faster? The Theory: Onions and honey have been used in recipes to counteract thinning hair for centuries. ‘In the middle ages, onions were prized and prescribed for the relief of headaches, coughs, snakebites and hair loss’, says Lain Sallis. ‘There is no scientific evidence of this being effective at all. However, an article published in the Journal of Dermatology a decade ago showed promising results. The Test: Make an onion hair masque for thinning

hair—mix the juice of one onion with 2tsp of honey and leave overnight. Use two or three times a week. Alice’s Verdict: ‘My hair is thinning a little but I’m not sure I’d opt for this as a solution. I don’t even need to spell out how anti-social wearing eau d’onion juice is. Add in sticky honey and it’s completely offputting. I dutifully apply the foul mixture, wrap my head in a towel and try to go to sleep as best I can. In the morning, I gratefully wash my hair which is, of course, after one night is not thicker. But even if it made my hair look fuller, I wouldn’t do it again. Hold your nose for great skin The Theory: Onions have been the subject of dermatological interest for many years, as it has

been suggested they have both anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. A recent survey showed that onion juice had some effect on reducing the skin scarring following caesareans and further studies have suggested it may help with scar healing in both adults and children, so could onions help with skincare? Possibly. But Alice warns: “When unrefined onion juice comes into contact with the skin, there’s a risk of it becoming irritated. The test: Make a mask with 2tbsp of fresh onion juice, a pinch of nutmeg and ½ tsp of milk. Mix together to make a thick paste and apply to the face for up to 20 minutes. Remove by dabbing on some milk and massaging it away. Alice’s Verdict: It’s all very well mentioning onion juice, but extracting the

stuff is harder than it sounds, especially if you don’t have a juicer. Standing with tears pouring down my cheeks, I grated two onions and press the resulting mush through a sieve and into a bowl. It reeks and takes a good ten minutes. The resulting paste looks like bread dough and stinks to high heaven. I tentatively dab it all over my face, trying to breathe as little as possible. I avoided putting it anywhere near my eyes. But on my skin, thankfully, it doesn’t sting at all. It feels cool and soothing, but I’ve never been so pleased to remove a face mask, which comes off in great gooey chunks. Once I scrape off the last bits, my skin is left feeling lovely and smooth—and not smelling of onions.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015â&#x20AC;&#x201D;47

YETUNDE AREBI

Marriage: a do-or-die affair? A fter a certain age, there is a concerted and deliberate pressure by society, especially in our part of the world, that an individual must get married. To be properly accepted or integrated in the society after a certain age, regardless of the mental, physical or psychological preparedness or condition, one must be coupled as a man or woman. For the woman especially, the biological clock is an important factor which must not be ignored as procreation is considered sacred. There is a backlash on failing to achieve this status within the acceptable stipulated period. You are stereotyped; one hooked on casual sex and therefore irresponsible, one who cannot manage a home is unfit to even hold public office. A woman who fails to settle down in a marriage is often labelled a prostitute, the sheboss who cannot submit herself to the authority of a man or one who has dated her husband as a boyfriend and therefore lost her chances to get a good man. Thus once a man or woman reaches the critical age when suspicion that you might miss the marriage train for your age group begins to set in, the pressure becomes intensified. You no longer have the privilege to view potential partners and the marriage institution through rose coloured glasses of love and happily ever after, any man or woman is as good as the other and therefore suitable. All you need to do is condition your mind and body to your partner. "Love does not grow in a day, it is gradual and happens over time. I never knew your father till my wedding day", a mother once told her daughter in a bid to convince her that love is not a prerequisite for a successful marriage. If money is the excuse, you'll surely find relatives who will try to convince you that money is not a necessity for marriage. "It is better when both of you have nothing but your names, so you can build your future together. Besides, it is when you are poor that you will find true love". Unfortunately, the pressure does not end once you commit yourself to this bond. In fact, for a lot of couples, the problems really kicks off from this point. Once married, the pressure to remain so, no matter the odds becomes a bigger challenge, once again, especially for the woman. Right from the wedding ceremony, she is made to understand that returning home is not an option for consideration. Marriage is about endurance, the window to return to single status is closed. You either make a success of it, or die trying to. And indeed, this has sent a lot of women to their untimely graves, even when not physically, but mentally and psychologically. Derin, a very close friend who had a successful career as a partner in a high profile law firm was forced to quit her job and lay low for almost five years in her bid

to avoid a scandal when she eventually summoned up the courage to end her 12 years marriage to an abusive and jealous husband. "By the time I realised that I needed to get out or I would not be useful even to my children, I had become an emotional wreck, unable to even perform my duties at my office or church. I was always afraid I would do something that would set off his tongue against me. I finally figured that he hated the fact that I was successful at my work and had men like him working for me in the office. His, was not physical abuse, but he had a poisonous, double edged tongue that I was no match for. When he would start, I would cry because I could not find the strength to stop him. He would make fun of me, asking if that was how I dealt with the guys in my office. He would express the desire to invite them to the house to see me cry like a baby. I am also a woman leader of my group in church, he would make fun of me endlessly, taunting me that he would go and tell them that I am a weakling and know nothing about marriage, so they should relieve me of the post and not allow me to counsel anyone. My decision to remain in the marriage was not because I lacked the financial capability to take care of myself and my two children, but I felt trapped by moral and societal standards. I was afraid to be tagged a divorcee and a woman who could not persevere". Like Derin, a lot of women are trapped by moral and societal values in marriages they are not happy in and cannot do anything to remedy. Those who try often have to face the hostility, insincerity and lack of support of family and friends, who ought to rally round them with love. Domestic violence has become an increasing menace and challenge in many marriages across the country, even though the Nigerian situation is not an isolation. Before now, many women endure systemic physical and psychological abuse in silence and are blamed for lacking the will to speak out. Speaking out, will help create awareness as well as assist them seek help to stop the abuse. The truth is that, many who manage to summon up the courage to speak up, often lack the support they need to get out of their abusive situation. Sometimes, help also comes too late. Fresh on my mind is the Kolade Arowolo murder saga in the city of Lagos, a classic case of persistent domestic abuse and crime of passion. The couple's whirlwind troubled marriage was not unknown to their parents and friends. The fight that led to the death of Titilayo, the young

banker wife and mother of one was indeed, not their first. They had fought several times and had settled. Titilayo had even allegedly told her parents and friends that she was tired of the relationship and wanted out, but she lacked the support from the right people who ought to offer or provide a safe haven for her. On that fateful night, something snapped inside Kolade that resulted in him stabbing his young wife 76 times according to pathological reports, thus resulting in her untimely death. A waste of life, a needless death which could have been avoided if marriage was not a "do or die" affair, as we often have it. Way back in the late 70s, (I'm no longer very sure of this date) my late dear friend, Honourable Bola James of the famous James family of Badagry, lost his sweet sister, Sena, to the murderous rage of an ex lover in London. According to Bola, his sister had finally summoned up the courage to call off their volatile and abusive relationship after many years of fighting and making up, and to prove to him that it was over, began dating another guy. Angry and unable to accept the development, he'd allegedly killed her and hacked her body to pieces in her London flat before calling the Police to report himself. Their long-term relationship which dated back to their high school days in Nigeria had been a tempestuous one, known to their family and friends, but to which they had no idea could result in death. Even if death seems a bit remote and far between, several stories abound of love-hate relationships that have ended on very sour notes. In March 2011, Chika Egbo was doused with acid by her boyfriend, David Sulaiman for undisclosed reasons. On May 5, 2011, another undergraduate student of Federal University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, Franca Ogbu, was given the acid bath and permanently disfigured by yet to be identified persons. One report claimed an embittered wife of a lecturer Franca was allegedly dating was responsible while another report said it was a guy she rebuffed his love advances. Still the deed has been done. Deanne Igbo from Rivers State had her eye plucked out for ritual purposes by her husband/boyfriend, Sylvester Emezi. Another woman was doused in Kerosine and set ablaze by her husband who suspected her of infidelity, and many more. Strangely too, the women are also taking arms against their husbands, some in self defence, others in moments of rage like their male counterparts. Once again, should marriage end in "till death do us part" by our own hands, at all cost? It took a well orchestrated campaign and counselling for the parents of a young lady to accept her back home after just a year of marriage recently. In what still remains shrouded in mystery, the lady and her husband began fighting seriously after just a few weeks into their marriage. On the last count, the husband beat her up so severely he left several bruises on her body and announced to the whole neighbourhood his intention to kill her if she refused to leave their matrimonial home. Afraid for her safety and her little child's, she returned home and informed her parents of her decision to quit the marriage. Naturally, they called a meeting with the guy and his family and he told them to their face that he was no longer interested in the marriage. But to everyone's shock, this young lady's parents still refused to see the danger ahead, insisting that their Christian religious beliefs forbids divorce and they would not allow their daughter put them to shame. (Is their daughter's life not worth more than religious beliefs?) I may not understand because I am not very religious. This brings me to the story of Yejide Badmus which broke on the social media mid last week. Until her exit from her marriage, Ms. Badmus was the wife of Alhaji Kayode Fashola, said to be an uncle of the Lagos State governor, Mr. Raji Fashola. This courageous woman buried her pride and shame to throw the gates open on a marriage that had become a death trap and shared her horrific experience with the world and ultimately to help other women who might be walking similar dangerous paths. She rendered an account supported with dates and photographs of the fate she suffered in the hands of a man who claimed to loved her and promised to protect her. Whatever his reasons might have been, they became insignificant when compared with the brutality unleashed on this poor lady. My sister, I urge you to forget the haters and backbitters you mentioned in your account and move on as you have said. Where there is a will, there is a way. I am all for the marriage institution. It is ordained by the Almighty.

48—SA TURD AY 48—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, FEBRU ARY 14, 2015 FEBRUARY

hree weeks ago, I jokingly wrote: “Talking about Valentine’s Day, the person(s) who fixed the presidential elections for February 14, must be very unromantic. Dem no see any other day?” The election has now been postponed to March 28, 2015, although the shift has nothing to do with the Valentine’s Day’s celebrations; INEC gave other reasons. I guess lovers of Valentine’s Day are among the winners of the postponement. The other winners are hotels, restaurants, fast food outlets, gift items wholesalers and retailers and women among many others. I am not a fan of Valentine’s Day, but I did not particularly like being away from my wife today, as the skeptical world wrong for once? Sad, election would have necessitated. Not very sad. I am also sad to continue that I would make the cut if I were to reading and listening to all the ethnoenter for a Mr. Romantic contest, but religious diatribes and hate sermons at least let us be together. One of the we call campaigns in the various mass valuable lessons I have learnt in and social media for another six weeks. marriage is that you should “know I thought we’ll be done with that by those things that are important to your today. Anyway, we are waiting, six spouse and learn to take them as weeks is not eternity. I feel strongly important… It can be very painful and about these elections, from the annoying when your spouse trivializes presidential to the state house of what you consider fundamental or assembly elections. desecrates that which you consider So much for politics, this is a sacred.” Valentine’s Day is important marriage and family turf and love is to my wife, so it has become important to me. So what God has joined, the presidential election will no longer put asunder, albeit temporarily. But permit me to digress a little to politics. The postponement of the elections, just like the presence of in the air. Today is Valentine’s Day, a foreign soldiers on our soil to help day set aside to celebrate love and defeat Boko Haram, diminishes my romance. Like beauty, what love and pride as a Nigerian, its propriety or romance are, are in the eyes of the otherwise notwithstanding. Since beholder and there partly lie the 1999, when democratic institutions reasons for the abuse of Valentine’s were restored, we knew there will be Day that has made it susceptible to elections in 2015. Since after the 2011 criticism and condemnation. But for elections, INEC knew and has been married couples whatever we do today reassuring us that the 2015 elections is just part of our normal everyday will be better organized. Why is 2015, entitlements. all of a sudden, taking the colouration Valentine’s Day celebration in of the self-induced chaos of 1993? Why Nigeria does not have a specific can’t we make national pride supreme, national pattern like in China, India do things right ab initio and prove a and Korea that have modified versions

Abor alentine coup Abortted vvalentine of Valentine’s Day celebration. Ours is more of follow-follow of the western world and do am as you see am. The celebration is suppressed in some Muslim countries because they believe it is a Christian feast and that it also promotes immorality. This perception of promoting immorality is not restricted to Muslims. Many Christians feel the same, but this is my take. Mr. A uses his television set to watch only pornography. He later sells the set to Mr. B who is tuned to mainly news and religious broadcast channels.

Valentine’s Day is important to my wife, so it has become important to me

So is the problem the television set or the user? Just because some people are abusing a feast does not make the feast wrong. Young adults, males and females, should go out there and have fun. Difficult as it is, they should put God in the equation and they will just be fine. For couples, Valentine’s Day is a special day to renew, refresh and profess their love for each other. Spouses should go out there and enjoy themselves. Younger couples should leave the children behind. Children should wait for their time. Once in a while couples need to be by

themselves, today is one of such days. But if a pregnancy results from your Valentine’s Day activities—now I am talking to both couples and the unmarried who overstep their bounds—keep it; there are no unwanted pregnancies, only unplanned pregnancies. Even when pregnancies are said to be unplanned, we must realize that every child is a gift of and from God, the master planner. On a lighter note, children are like goals in a soccer match. At the end of the day, they all count —whether it a Lionel Messi’s spectacular or a defender’s manual labour goal or one of those crappy goals. Many of these unplanned children do turn out to be spectacular goals. That is why I never stop wondering what could have been for those that were robbed the opportunity to live and attain their full potentials. Unless you refrain, you might just be aborting a future president, governor, senator, doctor, professor, first modern day Catholic Pope of African descent, Soyinka, Einstein, Michael Jackson, Ronaldo, Dangote and many other potential greats and geniuses. There are many versions of the origin of St Valentine’s Day, including its association with the ancient pagan Roman festival of Lupercalia, partly in honour of Lupa, the she-wolf, which was celebrated on Feb. 15. The association of its origin with a pagan feast has put off some Christians. Some critics complain about the commercialization and secularization of the day. The spiritual essence and some thoughts for St. Valentine after whom the day is named have diminished over time and the erosion does not look like abating any time soon. However, I still feel obliged to wish all couples and men and women of goodwill with heart-filled love a happy Valentine’s Day.

(Text Only) The Plough

Ex ercise ffor or sstress-relief tress-relief Exercise

Technique: Lie on your back with the legs stretched out and hands placed along the sides. Take in a deep breath and drawing up the knees swing back the legs while breathing out and let the toes come to rest on the floor behind your head. Keep the knees straight and stiffen up the muscles of legs. Keep the breathing normal as you retain the posture for about 10 seconds. To come out of the posture simply bend the knees and just roll down the back and straight out the legs flat on the floor again. You may rest a little and repeat. Benefits:The plough improves the elasticity of the spine. It tones the leg muscles and helps to rid constipation.

•Fingers to Toes

Fingers to Toes Technique: Sit down flat on the ground; stretched your hands gently to touch the toes. Remain still for a period of 15 to 20 second and repeat thereafter for two or three times.

Yoga Classes STARTED

•The Plough

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

Benefits: This exercise stretches your back muscles and enable you move freely at all times.

Triangle Pose

Technique: Standing with the feet rather wide apart, turn the trunk to the left and lowering it, place the palm of the left hand flat down on the outside of the left leg while raising up the right hand and straightening it at the elbow. Breathe normally and retain the position for about 10 10 or I5 seconds.

•Triangle Pose

Benefits: The triangle stretches the leg, spine, and trunk muscles. It promotes flexibility of the hip spine and legs. It tones the nerves of the spine and the abdominal organs. It reduces pain in the lower back and invigorates the circulation.

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Why we withdrew eligibility suit against Jonathan — Junaid Mohammed •Case moved to FCT High Court By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

NE of the individuals and groups that had filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, withdrew the case, saying that it had another option to deal with the matter. The plaintiffs-Prof. Tunde

Samuel, Dr. Junaidu Mohammed, Mr. Rasak Adeogun and Yahaya Ezeemoo Ndu-had filed the suit praying with the court to declare that Jonathan was not qualified to stand election as president in 2015 having taken oath of office as president of Nigeria twice. But on Wednesday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed struck out the suit following an application by the

plaintiffs to discontinue the matter. The court also ordered the plaintiffs to pay

N50,000 to Jonathan whose lawyers had been made to file responses before the decision to withdraw the suit. Responding to enquiry by our correspondent, one of the plaintiffs in the case, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said that the case was

withdrawn to enable them to sue President Jonathan in his personal capacity. Mohammed said that although the case had been withdrawn from the Federal High Court Abuja, the plaintiffs were heading to another court to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion in the

interest of justice. Mohammed said: “We are heading for another court so that we can sue Jonathan in his personal capacity and stop him from breaching the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with impunity.

NLC presidential candidate blames Feggae-led Credentials Committee for election violence By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

NE of the Presiden tial Candidates of the botched Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, election,

Dr. Ayuba Wabba, has blamed the disruption and violence that marred the election on the Credentials Committee chaired by the President of Academic Staff Union

of Universities, ASUU, Issa Feggae. Addressing journalists on Friday at the national secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Abuja,

Dr. Wabba who is also the President of Medical and Health Workers Union, accused two members of the Credentials Committee from Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG and National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, of being behind the fraud that characterized some of the ballot papers. Although, he said that Chairman of the Committee, Feggae, was a credible person that he respects, some members of the committee he claimed tried to disrupt the process of the election by manipulating the process. Wabba who denied that he was sponsored by government and powerful members of a particular political party that came with the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Gen. Muhhamadu Bahari at the opening session of the conference, also alleged that one of the candidates was sharing money to the delegates at the venue of the conference.

I’m not under EFCC watch —Lagos Biz man By Esther Onyegbula

Lagos-based busi nessman, David Ikegwuonu, has debunked stories that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was investigating him and his company, Havittol Resources Limited. A petition from his solicitor, Austin Nwabufo of the Citizens Rights Angle to EFCC lamented that the name of the business man and that of his company were being circulated in a blog in the last two months as being investigated by the highly respected crime busting outfit. The petitioner further advised EFCC to take steps to hunt the Director-General of the blogger whom he alleged hides like a criminal on wanted list. C M Y K

54—SATURDAY Vanguard,

FEBRUARY 14, 2015

CAMPUS VALENTINE:

When love meets learning… BY LAJU IREN, MAXMILLIAN ANOSIKE AND SARAH OFONEDU

he beauty of young love is something that cannot be easily descried with mere words. With less experience in the heartbreak department, young people are unafraid to open up their hearts to ‘love at first sight.’ Although many are disillusioned by their new relationships because of the naivety that sometimes comes with age, many go on to spend their lifetimes with their school mates. In fact, a Facebook Data Sciences study released in 2013 revealed that about 28% of married graduates attended the same higher institution as their spouse. About 15% of individuals on Facebook attended the same high school

as their spouse. In celebration of Valentine season Saturday School Life, SSL, tries to find out what love looks like on campuses around the country. Wilson Nelson (not real name), who studies in the Eastern part of the country has more than one girlfriend, but says that he wishes to spend Valentine ’s Day with one of them that is very special to him. He said: “We will spend time in my house and at the love garden on campus. She is going to boil indomie (noddles) for me so that we can enjoy our self, after that we can then go to the love garden inside the school, I will buy her some gifts and we will drink together. I think valentine is a time we lovers express the love we have for each other in different ways.” Not surprisingly, Nelson says he is not interested in a relationship

that leads to marriage at this stage of his life. Another undergraduate, Hilda Eke says that she is in a relationship heading for marriage. She said: “I am in a relationship where we are sure of getting married, but my boyfriend and I have no plans for valentine. Although the school is organizing some valentine parties, I plan to be home through out today. ” However, not everyone is engaged in campus relationships. Iroanusi Favour, a student at the Lagos State University, LASU, is single and content. “I am going to be at home because I’m not expecting anyone to take me out. Valentine is not just about showing love to your boyfriend, it is also about visiting orphanage homes and prisons to show concern for the less privileged in our society.” Also speaking to SSL is a husband who did not want his

Valentine is not just about showing love to your boyfriend, it is also about visiting orphanage homes and prisons to show concern for the less privileged in our society

name in print. He said: “I married someone who I had been friends with from the university. Love is not just about Valentine ’s Day. You must make a decision to love that person every day, and if you’re dating in school, let it not just be for status sake. Seek to know that person for who he or she is, beyond emotions or sex.” Despite the amazing results from the Facebook study, there are very many campus relationships that do not eventually end up in marriage. In fact many graduates can testify that the popular couple in school many times end up splitting and marrying totally different people. It is a two way street; some school relationships work, and some don’t. But it’s more than a matter of chance. The true lesson? Maturity, love and commitment are indispensable ideals whether love is on or off campus.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 14, 2015—55

Firm se o tac kle yyouth outh sett tto tackle unemplo yment in Nigeria unemployment A

s the number of unemployed graduates continues to swell every passing day, an indigeneous human resources solutions firm, OYE DYNAMIX and its sister company, Oye Centre for learning and development have designed a workshop that would help to equip them with modern skills in order to compete favourably in the global market. The company’s Director for special projects, Ajo Afolabi-Balogun, an alumni of Durham University Business School who made this disclosure to Saturday Business Vanguard, assured that the programmes would help to cushion the debilitating effects of youth unemployment in Nigeria as well as position the youths on global pedestal. Afolabi Balogun whose cumulative years of work experience on similar projects with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ford Foundation said the programme which is specifically targeted at unemployed youths will expound the economic frontiers of Nigeria. Besides the half-baked professionals churned out every year by the nation’s institutions, said the programmes would centre on human capacity development with particular emphasis on soft skills development for young adults. “For those who return from study abroad, we provide them with a critical understanding of the Nigerian labour market and that is what JobRed is about. This is so because naturally, as a country our developmental needs are huge and I believe that we all owe it to society to do what we can to help others as best as we can, doing as much as we can. Speaking on the achievements so far, Ajo

Afolabi-Balogun said, “we have developed a coaching programme for young women and recently launched the JobRed workshops. We had a successful workshop in December where we coached more than 75 young graduates on job ready skills, free, and we have gone ahead to introduce them to SME’s who are our primary market and continue to build our database so blue chip companies can pull on this pool. We have a lot to achieve that would be to take the JobRed template to other states of our the country so that graduates anywhere can benefit from it”, she said. On the challenges of this programme, she revealed that Nigeria is not much different from other countries. It is really about providing solutions in a given industry or sector. It’s about understanding processes, problems and having a deep knowledge of interventions that can positively change the situation. In my case, I have decided to focus on youth unemployment in Nigeria. We have 1.5m graduates a year and according to a World Bank survey, only 1 in 10 graduates actually get a job after graduation, with reports from major employers of labour stating that the main contributing factor to the unemployment of Nigerian graduates is ‘the absence of employability skills’ and them ‘not being ready for the workplace’. We have identified the problem and this is how JobRed was moulded. So indeed my challenge is huge, my learning curve is a long winding maze with thorn-bushes but my goal is simple; we know what challenges our graduates have, and we have set up learning plans that will help overcome them •Ugwu and match these to what employers want”.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Con-Edge Enterprises Solutions Ltd, Joel Osebor; Marketing Manager, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Bennett Frimpong; Chief Executive Officer, West Atlantic Resource & Equity House Ltd, Adegboyega Adebajo and Chief Executive Officer, Bernard Adenuga Nigeria Ltd, Soji Adenuga; at a Small and Medium Enterprises training programme organized by Stanbic IBTC Bank in Lagos.

L - R: Programme Manager, Dawn In The Creeks, Adewale Ajadi; Board member, Andre Blaze Henshaw and US Consul General in Nigeria, Ambassador Jeff Hawkins at the formal launch of Season 2 of the Dawn In The Creeks TV series in Lagos.

Tax A dministration: FFashola ashola sues Administration: for continual process

ollowing dividends of the new tax administration introduced in the Lagos state few years ago, The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola had called for continual process of tax administration in the State, adding that is the only way states can provide infrastructure needed to develop states in Nigeria. According to him, only federal allocation to states can’t bring about social amenities and development citizens are clamouring for. He made this call at the 8th Annual Lagos State Taxation Stakeholders Conference organised by Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) in Lagos. He seized the opportunity to advise citizens of the state to endeavour to cast their votes for the party in power at the state level so as for tax administration to continue, even as he acknowledges challenges facing tax administration is not new to the state but the challenges are global. “This is the time tax administration

in all civilised democracies are at its busiest but it ought not to be so”. “He enthused that Lagos has chosen a good thing. We have built something that works, a model of tax finance that has stood the test of time and it is getting better, “he said. He also pointed that all prophecies and foresights at the beginning have been fulfilled. According to him, “I promised you all in the beginning that it will be a journey that will end well and clearly the result is self evident and it has brought to this glorious day”. Fashola, however, urged the citizenry to shun politicians advising them not to pay because tax payment is legal. Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer, LIRS, Mr. Tunde Fowler said that Lagos is working today because of the people who are tax compliant since inception. “Lagos is working because of you people. It is what it is today because all of you obliged to pay tax and also accepted our staff, “he said.

‘W e cr ossbreed grasscutt er or higher yield’ ‘We crossbreed grasscutter erss ffor t’s nice to be here again. How is life and I business? Fine, I guess you’d say. Do you remember the Ebola and certain bush meat

story? It’s now clear to everybody that

grasscutter has no connection with Ebola after all the gossip! This rumour is circulated by the ignorant and lazy people! If you are a regular reader of this column you will agree that I have done a lot of explanation on this Ebola issue. According to Animal Farm Consultant/ Managing Director, Jovana Farms, Prince Arinze Onebunne, grasscutter meat once called the “the king of bush meat” and still treated as a delicacy; can be taken regularly as part of the healthy human diet. It is a high-priced tasty meat, that the health-conscious and

BUSINESS GUIDE

Onebunne: grasscutter

Lifting

affluent find interesting. Again! It’s not among the bush meats that carries Ebola. The W.H.O had said ‘’the virus is transmitted to people from wild fruit bats, gorillas, monkeys and chimpanzee.” Moreover, it’s a human being that brought Ebola into Nigeria from Liberia and not grasscutter. We thank God that the Ebola outbreak has been curtailed and contained in the country. Onebunne said, the fast population growth and the associated increase in demand for animal products present many development opportunities. Grasscutter farming will become the biggest contributor to agriculture in coming decades, with consumption of animal-based foods the fastest growing sub-food category in Africa.” In addition, he said that in order to effectively and successfully raise grasscutter, it is crucial to explore and understand the characteristic nature of the animal. Although many varieties have been described, they belong to two different species: smaller grasscutter (Thryonomys Gregorianus), and larger grasscutter (Thryonomys Swinderianus) which is of greater size and can weigh up to 10kg

Crossbreeding grasscutters

or more at adulthood and it has a headand-body length of up to 60cm. Grasscutters can be subdivided into two categories, the docile and indocile grasscutters. The docile grasscutter adapts well to life in confinement and becomes accustomed to man quickly, whereas the indocile grasscutter are difficult to tame. “At JOVANA FARMS, we’re crossbreeding grasscutters with many speckled-brown Swinderianus from Gabon and Central African Republic; the fur is extremely coarse, firm, and brisklyreflecting the animal’s kingship to the porcupine. We crossbreed them with our local breeds with short stocky legs, a short rat-like tail clothed with spiny hairs, which look like short soft quills. The cross breeding is in two aspects, we allow the pure breed to breed among themselves to have more pure lines and then mix them up with the locals for the cross breeds. Cross breeding is the mating of animals with unrelated genes, which belongs to the same species. It is used to inject new genes into the flock, the advantages may include fast growth rate, heavier breeds, resistance to diseases, fertility rate, high meat yield, etc. You can get started, without the costly items the so-called experts say you should have. With N45,000, N50,000 to N60,000 one can kick-off with one-male and fourfemales depending on the age, weight and specie. They can be reared in wooden cage which costs N10, 000. Attend Jovana Farms seminars nearest to you and discover the essential steps on how to breed grasscutters easily and avoid costly mistakes that grasscutter owners are prone to. Visit us at www.jovanafarms.com, Email:jovanafarms@gmail.com. Choose also the nearest venue from our website.

56—SATURDAY

ARY 14, 2015 Vanguard, FEBRU FEBRUARY

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (3rd left), Hon. Funkekeme Solomon Commissioner for works (left), HRM. Dr. IfeanyiChukwu Alekwe II, the Obi of Mbiri (4th left), HRM. Dr. Ezeagwu Eze, Nwali of Umunede (middle) during the Commissioning of Umunede-Mbiri Road

“FINISHING STRONG”: Uduaghan's project-commissioning spree in Delta BY EMMA AMAIZE, Regional Editor, SouthSouth

ELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, stunned those who do not believe in his ‘finishing strong’ catchphrase when he embarked on a three-day commissioning spree of completed projects across the three senatorial districts of state on Thursday. There was excitement among the people from Mbiri kingdom, in Ika North East Local Government Area, where he kicked off with the inauguration of the 7.8 km Umunede-Mbiri road. Mbiri is one of the food baskets of the state and for many years, there was no passable road to the community. For the monarch, HRM Ifeanyichukwu Alekwe, who announced Uduaghan as a grand patriot of Mbiri kingdom in recognition of the “landmark projects” in the C M Y K

area, Thursday ’s commissioning was a dream fulfilled for the people. The community raised the issue of the road to the Mbiri Farm Settlement, which had not been executed since Uduaghan awarded the contract. The governor said it was a design problem, as what was designed earlier was an earth road. He explained that when he found out on inquiry three days before the visit, he directed the appropriate government officials to come up with a fresh design, as he wants the road tarred before he leaves office. He also assured that the bumpy road to the palace would be tackled. At Umunede end of the road where the commissioning was done, he took time off to campaign for President Goodluck Jonathan, the party ’s governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, senatorial candidate, Chief Peter Nwaboshi, House of Representatives’ candidate, Hon. Victor Nwaokolo and others. His next port of call was Aradhe community in Isoko North Local Government Area, where he commissioned the Aradhe-Ushie Road. The community said he brought development to the town with the construction of the road, the

300-kilometre access road at OgbeIke Street and other projects. The people, however, expressed dismay that the contractor for the Aradhe Grammar School, one of the model schools in the state, had not mobilized to site. The governor gave the contractor up till next week to mobilize to site or government would re-award the contract to a more competent contractor, saying, “I have just asked the commissioner, who is one of your sons and the excuse I got about the contractor is not acceptable.” At Aboh kingdom, the traditional ruler, HRH, “Obuonwe”, Obi Imegwu II and his people were filled with joy over the completion and commissioning of the 13 km Aboh-Ashaka road. The Aboh Traditional Council and chairman of Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Mrs. Nkechi Chukwurah, who listed her achievements in the last three months, poured encomiums on the governor for his lofty development strides in the area. But like Oliver Twist, Aboh leaders urged the governor to extend the Aboh-Ashaka road into Obi Oputa road end and link Umuti, Azuaboh, Obodougboma and cause Setraco to

Uduaghan explained that because the PDP government understood the yearnings of Aboh people, he embarked on the construction of Aboh – Ashaka road and was happy that Aboh, which was like a nogo-area before now, is now accessible within minutes from Kwale

maintain the three dilapidated portions of the road before Igbukwu Junction. They also complained that no stipend was paid to victims of the 2012 flood disaster from the area and pleaded with the governor to fast track work on the newly approved Delta State Polytechnic, Aboh. The commissioning was a carnival of sort as sons and daughters of Aboh kingdom came home for the event. Governor Uduaghan told the story of how he came to the community with the former governor, Chief James Ibori, in 1998 and discovered to his chagrin that there was no road to Aboh. He said they crossed to Aboh from Kwale end through pontoon and undertook the remaining journey on a rickety road. He said Ibori started the first phase of linking Aboh to the rest of the state with the gigantic Igbukwu Bridge, which was commissioned by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Uduaghan explained that because the PDP government understood the yearnings of Aboh people, he embarked on the construction of Aboh –Ashaka road and was happy that Aboh, which was like a no-go-area Continues on page 57

SATURDAY

Tension mounts in Delt a CommuniDelta ties o .-old man ovver murder of a 22-yr 22-yr.-old By Akpokona Omafuaire

ENSION is mounting in Ezebiri community of Bomadi Council Area and Ofurukama community of UghelliSouth Council Area of Delta State over the Sunday murder of 22year-old Egolukumor Ayetoro of Ezebiri community over land dispute. The incident left three others with serious matchete injuries by suspected youths of Ofurukama led by the youth chairman, who is under police custody. Vanguard gathered that the Wednesday discovery of the decomposing corpse of Ayetoro led to serious tension with some residents fleeing Ofurukama to neighbouring villages over fear of reprisal attack. Our investigation reveals that the incident left one dead, two severely injured, one missing,and two who narrowly escaped death. The incident, our source said, has led to the arrest of one Mr. Arhavwarien, Youth Chairman of Ofrukama community. Their quarrel is said to be over fishing in the disputed

area. According to Chief David Adun, Chairman Council of Chiefs in Ezebiri, his community was taken aback by the killing of their son over the disputed land which has been in Bomadi High Court for four years. He narrated:“On Sunday evening, two of our youths who had gone to bail pond came to inform us that the youths of Ofrukama, led by the chairman, have unleashed mayhem on our youths, and that they suspected that people were killed. “Some of our youths

ran to Ofrukama to verify, and confirmed that the story was true. Next day, we were invited by security agents to Okwagbe, where we were told that two of our youths were arrested by Ofrukama youths. The matter was then transferred to OtuJeremi. Investigations were on till this morning (Wednesday), when people from Ogbeingbene told us that they saw a floating corpse in the river. It turned out to be that of a 22-year-old Ayetoro. He was shot on the neck, matcheted

severally and strapped with many blocks before being thrown into the river.” Corroborating the story, a police source who displayed the deceased photographs said, “This killing is the height of wickedness. Our men went and recovered the body. He was said to be killed by the Ofrukama youths.” As at the time of the report, a family source said that the young parents of the decesaed has remained uncontrollable as he is the eldest child. When contacted, DSP Celestina Kalu, Delta State Police Command spokesperson, confirmed it and said a suspect had been apprehended.

ARY 14, 2015—57 FEBRUARY Vanguard, FEBRU

‘Polls shift, deliberate plot to suffocate Nigerians’

member of the All Progressives Congress,APC in Delta State, Chief Isaac Emetitiri, has said the needless postponement of the presidential and governorship elections was a deliberate plot by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to suffocate innocent Nigerians. Emetitiri, at a briefing yesterday in Warri, Delta State, also appealed to APC members and Nigerians not to compromise their desire for change and patiently wait to vote PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan out of office on March 28.

He also insisted that by the Uvwiamughe declaration made by the entire Urhobo nation, the one million votes of Urhobo will go to General Muhammadu Buhari, APC presidential candidate and Chief Otega Emerhor, APC governorship candidate in Delta State, as sole candidates of Urhobo nation. Emetitiri said, the PDP, has no good intention for Urhobo, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan never supported the Urhobo to produce the PDP governorship candidate in Delta State.

Vigilance groups nab 2 sea pirates in Delta By Emma Amaize

WO suspected sea pirates allegedly terrorizing the waterways in Delta State have been nabbed by Yayorogbene and Nigeria Port Authority, NPA, vigilance groups. Four of the suspects, however, escaped. The pirates were said to have killed two soldiers, one mobile police officer and a driver, last month. Before the clash, the pirates on February 3, robbed and attacked

travelers, including T o r o f a g b e n e Gbegbelere, Borogbene and Vickgbene on Burutu River, which actually made the vigilance groups to mount surveillance for them. A victim, John Goodluck, lost N1.2 million while Mr Boro Lokiri was dispossessed of N500,000 and other valuables. A member of the Yayorogbene vigilance group, Orubomene Kemeke, said the suspects were handed over to the military.

•The Umunede-Mbiri Road ( Governor Uduaghan,left, during the commissioning of the road

Uduaghan's project-commissioning spree in Delta Continues from page 56

before now, is now accessible within minutes from Kwale. The governor also said that as Commissioner for Health under the Ibori government, he made sure Aboh got its first government hospital. On the polytechnic site, he laughed as he said the community gave government what he would term an “evil forest” to develop. He said the structure of the land is very difficult and government was finding it tough because of the enormous resources required to prepare the site for construction of structures. He, however, said that work was going on the project. Commenting on the flood victims, he said besides the direct intervention by government in providing reliefs and accommodation for the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, a committee headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court with members drawn from the private sector, including an Aboh son, was constituted to manage the N500 million given to flood victims in the state by the Federal Government.

He said the committee informed him that the money had been disbursed and since an Aboh son was a member of the committee, the people could find out more from him. Governor Uduaghan was, however, disturbed by the obvious abandonment of Mary Magdalene Secondary School, Ashaka, which is one of the schools handed over to the Catholic Church by the state government. He said it was one of the model schools of the government and he was taken aback when he saw that the school was overgrown by weeds. He said government would take back the school if the church was not prepared to run the school and asked the Commissioner for Education to liaise with the church and brief him appropriately in the next few days. The governor did not fail to solicit votes for all PDP candidates at Aboh and Aradhe. He also asked those who had not collected their permanent voters’ card to return to the INEC office to ask for it, saying, “Without it, you will not be able to thumbprint umbrella for

more development in your areas.” It was an all-day affair as Uduaghan, who took off from Asaba ended up in Warri around 6.20 pm. And by 9.00 pm, he was at the Refinery Road, Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, to commission the road with its beautiful street lights. He said Uvwie was very strategic in the development of the state and urged the people to maintain the government projects in their domain. Yesterday, he continued with the commissioning of Ovwor township roads and 10 MVA step down transformer in Ughelli South local government area, dualization of Ughelli township road in Delta Central senatorial district. Today (Saturday), he continues with the commissioning of Umeh road in Isoko South local government area, which he is emotionally attached to. Umeh is an agricultural community, which did not have road for evacuation of farm products. A prominent son of the town launched a campaign, “Umeh needs road” on the Facebook, which attracted Governor Uduaghan’s attention.

58—SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

•Cross Section of Igbobi College Old Boys Association 1977,79 set in group photograph at the Igbobi College Old Boys Association 83rd Founders Day Anniversary/Annual Launcheon and Merit Award ceremony in Lagos last Sunday. More photos on Social Diary. PHOTO: AKEEM SALAU

Old memories come alive at Igbobi College Founders’ Day ceremony T BY CHARLES ADINGUPU

he Igbobi College, Yaba in Lagos was a beehive of activities last weekend. At noon, many distinguished men in long flown agbada from virtually all works of life besieged the school premises. The conviviality of old schoolmates who were only torn apart by the vicissitude of life thrilled. The banters were exciting. You did not need anyone to capture the atmosphere. It was that of old friends who had lost touch with one another for a long time. In their usual camaraderie as in the days of yore, they cheered and threw jives at one another, recalling old memories of yester years with nostalgia. But beyond this prism, tucked the Spartan discipline they all imbibed from Igbobi College as students. This, they demonstrated by their punctuality. For them, it was not just a social gathering but a special event for the Igbobi College Old Boys’ Association tagged the 83rd Founders’ Day Anniversary, Annual Luncheon and Merit Award. Amid the prolonged exchange of pleasantries, the ICOBA’s President, Engr. T.O.M. Ipaye tried to calm the old boys who were carried away by the reunion of old folks who had lost contact for quite some time now. In his speech, the President enjoined his fellow colleagues to endeavour to contribute meaningfully to the development of Igbobi College. Part of his speech was from the extract of the school’s recessional hymn which states that “life is great, so sing about it”. The President who led all old and present students in the affirmation of loyalty to the

school implored them to always remember that they are representatives of Igbobi College and as such, should strive at all times to restrain from any word or deed that would bring discredit upon it. Against this backdrop, he urged the old boys to be worthy ambassador of the school by playing their parts in the transmission of its laudable virtues to others not less but greater and better than it was transmitted to them. However, the event peaked with the conferment of merit awards to old students of the institution who had distinguished themselves in their various professional callings as well as nation building. Among those so honoured were Engr. Adelana Odutola, of 68/70 set who bagged professional excellence award, Ambassador Ademola Ogunnaike of 68/70 set who was recognized for his immense service to the nation, Engr. Akin Sobande, 71/73 set got professional excellence award. Others in the same category were Prof. Adetola Badejo of 71/ 73 set, Mr. Adetokunbo Aromokaran 71/73 set, Mr. Owen Omorodion 75/77 set and Dr. Ebun Bamgboye of 77/79 set. Mr. Muyiwa Adetiba of the 70/72 set who was recognised for his professional excellence in journalism gained admission into the college at the age of twelve. In his early days in school, he was reputed to be a voracious reader. This studious disposition of young Muyiwa, saw him consuming two books in a week inclusive of novels by Edgar Wallac, Peter Cheney and James Hadley Chase. However, by the end of his school certificate year in form five, and the early weeks of A

levels, Muyiwa wrote a play titled ‘When Love Dies’ which was later adopted into a school play and retitled “A Crime of Passion.” During this period, Muyiwa was involved with the production of the school magazine, “The Eye Opener” and in 1973, he won second prize of a BBC short story competition. He also teamed up with other old Igbobians in the production of another elite magazine for secondary schools in Lagos known as “Teen and Twenty.” Muyiwa, however, slashed his first tooth in journalism by the end of 1973 as features writer for The Punch magazine and steadily grew to become a columnist for one of the group’s magazines, “The Happy Home magazine”. Consequent upon the technical training acquired, Muyiwa rose to become an Assistant Editor and Star Writer for one of the largest newspaper groups in Nigeria. This vintage position exposed him to the vagaries of the journalism profession the world over. By the age of 28, Muyi had reached the Zenith of his profession having been appointed Editor of Sunday Punch, and two years later, he became the pioneer Editor of Vanguard newspapers. He had the unique opportunity of being one of the few Editors who have edited Sunday/Saturday and Daily papers at the same time. As an entrepreneur, Muyi set up his own publication, Prime People in 1986, which by 1989 became the largest selling weekday magazine in Nigeria. Ovation followed his recitation. Also, the recitation of Adewunmi Ogunsanya of 79/81 set elicited a thunderous applause. Ogunsanya who invited his contemporaries to join him at the podium is a reputed lawyer and astute businessman. He played a big role in the coming of Multichoice, the South African

In their usual camaraderie as in the days of yore, they cheered and threw jives at one another, recalling old memories of yester years with nostalgia

company that pioneered real cable television in Nigeria. He is the current chairman. As at the last count, Adewunmi is the current chairman of over ten companies in commercial real estate development, agro and agro allied and broadcasting. But most importantly is Adewunmi’s active involvement in the rehabilitation of his Alma Mater, Igbobi College. As the Chairman of ICOBA 78/71 set, from 2012-2014, he led his classmates to mobilize resources for the execution of various projects in the school. These include complete roofing of the Science Complex, provision of furniture and consumables for its operation, the continuous donation of books to the school library from 1989-2012, the renovation of ICT block, the provision of a borehole and improved water supply, the renovation of the school kitchen, supply and fitting of modern kitchen equipment and provision of a modern and befitting sports complex. The highpoint of the ceremony was a post-humous award conferred on late Mr. Olufemi Segun of 74/76 set. He got a standing ovation. The late Igbobian whose award was received by his wife, Mrs. Bisi Segun and daughter was a first class graduate in Languages from the University of Ife. He was a polyglot and fluent in French, Portuguese, German with a working knowledge of Spanish, Italian, Ibo and Hausa. With his background, he got employment in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was seconded to the State House during the presidency of Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Femi served three heads of State. Femi who also bagged a Masters degree was a renowned diplomat, an ace compere and an accomplished linguist got a merit award in the category of Service to Igbobi College. Responding on behalf of the other awardees, Senior Muyiwa Adetiba said the ICOBA award and that he received from the Guild of Editors remain the most two outstanding awards in his life. He said that this gathering has brought back memories of years back as though it was only yesterday they left the school as each one of them recalled with effortless ease pranks played while in school. The veteran journalist who hailed the school management for inculcating impeccable moral virtues on them, said these vices have helped in making them a better persons in the society. Adetiba, however, recalled that though, many things have changed even with the sweet memories of years back, assured that things can still be better.

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Postponed Elections: •Dele

•Olusanya

BY JULIET EBIRIM & ADERONKE ADEYERI It’s just a plot - Chukwudi Ezeji, Businessman It’s just a plot by PDP to oil the machinery for the election. I believe that the president knew he is about to lose, that’s why he had to postpone it to get back on track. Within these six weeks, the PDP will throw a lot of dirt at the opposition. It is very sad to see the desperation on both sides. Politicians are the same in their campaign rallies. They are yet to prove to us how they will improve the nation. The independence of INEC has been eroded Comrade Dele Shodeke, Trade Unionist It is a coup against the average person in the country. The service chiefs wrote the letter to INEC and not the President who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I call that blackmail. The Federal government is not creating an atmosphere of peace. Also, the independence of INEC has just been eroded. The government can’t overcome insurgency in six weeks. And even if that is achievable, the lives of the displaced people can’t return to normal under six weeks. Elections can not hold in the captured places because these villages remain a war zone with corpses littering the streets. . They should have organized special

•Amos

•Ben

•Olaniyan

designated centers for the displaced people to cast their votes. Boko Haram cannot be subdued in six weeks. It’s for the benefit of the incumbent government Ben-Edo Osazuwa The postponed election is of benefit to the incumbent government. All these years, they couldn’t prepare for the elections and they think it’s only weeks before the elections that they can prepare. It means something is wrong. The PDP has an ulterior motive - Amos Abiodun Justice The PDP government is responsible for the crisis we are facing in this country. I’m sure they have a hidden agenda for postponing the elections. That is their best shot at winning. I really wish the masses can elect a vibrant youth to rule the country. It’s good that the elections were postponed - Miebaka Ilombo I totally support the fact that the elections were postponed. This is not about APC and PDP, it’s a desperate quest for power by the north. The INEC chairman had no choice but to postpone it, else it will be glaring to everyone what he’s doing the bidding of the opposition. More than 20 million people are yet to get

•Olamide

Nigerians react

•Williams

their PVCs, yet he wanted to go ahead with the elections.

was a bad move - Olamide Akingbade, Artisan

There was no sensible need for the postponement Oluwaseye, Engineer

Postponing the elections draws the country backward. Many Nigerians are scared about the aftermath of the elections. So postponing them is like increasing our days of pain and fear of what the future holds. Most of our leaders do not have the interest of the masses at heart.

The elections shouldn’t be shifted further again because the postponement has disrupted a lot of economic and educational activities. There was no sensible need for this postponement except for selfish and crafty reasons and INEC had no choice because they were dealing with insecurity. If the elections were to hold on February 14 and a major catastrophe occurred resulting to loss of lives, INEC would have been held responsible. The tactics I see here are to postpone the election to a time when Jega will be out of the way, rather than for credibility and security. Insecurity cannot be dealt with in six weeks - Faith Eboh, Banker I support shifting the election dates if it has to do with the credibility of the elections because we want the best. But INEC was made to shift the elections not because of PVC distribution, but due to insecurity that has long been in existence. This insecurity has been treated with kids gloves all these while for no good reason, only for the government to say they will conquer the insurgents in the next six weeks. Postponing the elections

An opportunity to get our PVCs - Olaniyan Adeola, Businessman The Federal government has done the right thing. The election was postponed due to the insecurity in the country. I believe we wouldn’t have had a free and fair election if the election hadn’t been postponed. Many Nigerians would have been robbed of their civic right. A larger percentage of the populace are yet to get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). The postponement will create the opportunity for eligible voters to get theirs. Wrong timing on the part of INEC - Otunba Solomon Williams, Public Servant Postponing the elections is a set back to democracy. Though our constitution demands that an individual wins two third of the total 774 local council areas of the nation and two third of the 36states of the country to emerge President. Yobe, Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna,

Kano have many displaced citizens who will be disenfranchised if certain measures are not taken. I agree with INEC that insecurity is at its peak in the country, but the postponement should have been announced before now. This is a last minute approach though I hope it brings the desired result. The Federal Government has other plans - Johnson Abiodun, Medical Practitioner Postponing the elections at the last hour isn’t an appropriate move by the Federal government. The government in the last six years have been fighting Boko Haram with little or no success. So I don’t see the possibility of achieving this in six weeks. The government has other plans. Countries like Irak, Iran Afghanistan etc. had their elections during a war. The security situation in the country shouldn’t prevent the election from holding. A danger signal to democracy - Olusanya Kajero, Graduate It is a sad development and a danger signal to the growth of democracy in Nigeria. The timetable was released more than a year ago, so I see no reason for the postponement. Six weeks period is not too long a time to reshape our destiny. Nigerians yearn for a new direction and a new lease of life.

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SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015, PAGE 63

olden Eaglets coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has said that he is unperturbed about how they travelled to Niger, but is only concerned about how his team fares. The Nigerian U17’s arrived Niamey, the capital city of Niger for the CAF U17 Championship on Thursday by road from Sokoto State,

Costa: I am a target for defenders D

iego Costa has defended his combative approach as the Chelsea striker prepares to return from a disputed three-match suspension. “I’ve been a target for defenders for a long time, and I am used to getting kicked by them, to get knocked by them,” Costa told the Guardian. “I also fight and tackle, even if some defenders complain at the slightest contact. “To me, you draw a line under all that as soon as the game is over. We shake hands and it is all [left] on the field. “I think the referees should think about how many times I am hit or kicked before I get angry about it. “But referees here in

England are good enough and professional, and they also understand well and realise what happens out on the pitch.

They take that into account.” Costa has scored 17 times in 19 Premier League appearances for a

•Costa

ead Coach of the Super Falcons, Edwin Okon, has called to camp a total of 36 players in preparation for the 11th All-Africa Games qualifiers, 2016 Olympic Games qualifiers and the 7th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals. The players, made up of 10 foreignbased and 26 home girls, are to report at the Serob Legacy Hotel, Abuja on Sunday, 22nd February with their training kits, international passports and birth cerificates. Among those listed are goalkeepers

Ibubeleye Whyte and Precious Dede, defenders Onome Ebi, Faith Ikidi and Ngozi Ebere, midfielders Halimat Ayinde, Cecilia Nku and Osarenoma Igbinovia and strikers Asisat Oshoala, Uchechi Sunday and Desire Oparanozie. The Falcons have an All-Africa Games qualifier away to Mali on 22nd March, with the return leg in Nigeria three weeks later, before they clash with the same Malian side in May in a 2016 Olympic Games qualifying fixture. The 7th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals take place in Canada 6th June – 5th July, 2015

Enyimba eye Champions League glory

he African Champions League kicks off this weekend with former title holders Enyimba facing a tricky tie. The Nigerian side take on relatively weak and inexperienced opponents, Buffles Borgou of Benin. Enyimba, continental champions in 2003 and 2004, were expected to go far in the competition last year. But they lost at home to Real Bamako of Mali and a second leg recovery could not prevent an early exit. Coach Kadiri Ikhana, who also coached the 2003 Champions Leaguewinning team, believes that disastrous campaign is now behind them. He said: “I am confident that we will do better than last year and progress very far in the Champions League this time. “However, we must be careful not to underrate Buffles. The key is to prepare adequately so C M Y K

a development which drew the ire of so many Nigerians, especially the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), given the security challenges and the volatile nature of that region. But Amuneke says he isn’t concentrating too much on their mode of travel, but is paying more attention to the performance of his team. “I really am not thinking too much about how we got to Niger, my concern is about my team and how we fare in this tournament. “I know some people

were not happy with the way we travelled but I have always said the most important thing is for us to do well in Niger. “I have already told my players they must forget every other thing and concentrate solely on having a good show because they will receive the rewards if we win the tournament,” Amuneke said. The Nigerians are in group A of the competition, and will play hosts Niger, Guinea and Zambia for a place in the semifinal and the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile.

Garba tips F/ Eagles to fly over Ghana

Okon invites 36 Falcons to camp

Chelsea team moulded around the striker. “Up to now, things have gone phenomenally well for me at Chelsea,” Costa added. “Jose Mourinho has been really clear about what he expects from me, saying he wants me working hard rather than just scoring. Hard work is what he values.”

AMUNEKE: No big deal going to Niger by road

that we are not taken by surprise. “There are no small teams in the Caf club competitions and we must treat our opponents seriously in order to achieve a good result. “It is a good tie for us because of the limited

travel involved,” said Ikhana, referring to Benin and Nigeria being west African neighbours. Enyimba prepared for the Champions League by playing in a six-team domestic tournament as the national league has not kicked off.

Super Eagles to battle Bolivia on March 26 Continues from back page Amaju Pinnick said yesterday. The game at the Akwa Ibom Stadium, rated as one of the most magnificent sporting infrastructure on the African continent, will be the first for the Super Eagles A this year as they countenance the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers later in the year. “The NFF is committed to ensuring that the Super Eagles are occupied on every FIFA window, with quality games,” Amaju added. The NFF is working assiduously to get the Eagles to play a top –ranked African team away on 29th March, as a result of the Presidential elections taking place on 28th March.

lying Eagles coach, Manu Garba is excited about the two friendlies they will play against the Black Satellites of Ghana in preparation for the 2015 Africa Youth Championship. The Nigerian U20’s tackle their Ghanaian counterparts first on Saturday, before engaging the Ghanaians in the second of the games next Wednesday. And Manu, whose team has been in imperious form, says it is a good test for his lads as the Africa Youth Championship approaches. “It is a very good test for us really and I am excited about it. It follows the Super 6 tournament which we won, which I think is good for us. “We are preparing for a very important competition and these

games will help give us the competitive edge that we want. “The Ghanaians are also preparing for the Africa Youth Championship and it is also a good test for them,” he told sl10.ng. The Flying Eagles are in group A of the competition, with hosts Senegal, Congo and Ivory Coast, while the Black Satellites are in group B, with South Africa, Mali and Zambia. Manu also feels playing Ghana might help them understand what to expect from their group opponents. “Ghana are close to Ivory Coast and they share a border, so their style may not be too different. Senegal and Congo are also there and hopefully we will understand their styles with these games against Ghana.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 14, 2015

AMUNEKE: No big deal going to Niger by road >>63

•EZEIBE

Super Eagles to battle Bolivia on March 26 T

he Nigeria Football Federation and its FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon have confirmed that the Senior National Team, Super Eagles, will tackle the Senior National Team of Bolivia in a grade A international friendly in Uyo on Thursday, 26th March. “We have had to work at a pace to seal

agreement for this match, after the Brazilian Football Federation opted out at the last hour. “However, we believe that the Bolivia team will give the Super Eagles a good match, as we continue to work on a second match for the Eagles for either 29th March,” NFF President CONTINUES ON PAGE 63

Costa: I am a target for defenders TODAY’S FIXTURES FA CUP FIFTH ROUND West Brom v West Ham Blackburn v Stoke Derby County v Reading Palace v Liverpool

1:45pm 4pm 4pm 6:30pm

LA LIGA Sevilla Real Madrid Granada Malaga

v v v v

Cordoba 4pm Deportivo 6pm Athletic Bilbao 8pm Espanyol 10pm

SERIE A Sassuolo Palermo

v v

Fiorentina Napoli

6pm 8:45pm

Wolfsburg Hamburg Cologne Stuttgart FC Augsburg Schalke

3:30pm 3:30pm 3:30pm 3:3opm 3:30pm 6:30pm

BUNDESLIGA Leverkusen Bayern Munich M’gladbach Hoffenheim Werder Bremen Frankfurt

v v v v v v

>>63 •ENYEAMA OF NIGERIA

•RALDES OF BOLIVIA

CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1 Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Mrs. Christine – (7) 5 Denmark Premiership Club – (4) 7 Yoruba Name – (4) 8 L.G.A in Abia State – (4) 9 Bayelsa United Striker, Peter – (10) 13 Turkish Currency Unit – (4) 16 Country in Africa – (4) 17 Adamawa State Capital – (4) 19 Bird – (5) 20 Switzerland Capital City – (4) 21 Argentina “La Albirrojas” Defensive Midfielder, Martin – (10) 26 L.G.A in Gomba State – (4) 27 Latvian Capital City – (4) 28 Gallery – (4) 29 L.G.A in Kogi State – (7) Down 1 Togolese Capital City – (4) 2 Hausa Word for “Village”? – (4)

3 L.G.A in Kano State – (4) 4 Commissioner, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Mr. Eyo – (4) 5 Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi – (4,6) 6 South African Minister of Sports, Mr. Fikile – (7) 10 Chairman, International Olympics Organisation (100), Mr. Thomas – (4) 11 Bloemfontein Celtic coach, Ernst – (10) 12 Former British President, Mr. tony – (5) 15 Cellar – (5) 16 Cross River State Deputy Governor, Essien – (7) 18 Nigerian Premiership Club – (4) 22 Muslim Cleric – (4) 23 L.G.A in Adamawa State – (4) 24 France “Ligue 1” Club-side – (4) 25 Japanese Wrestler – (4)

Solution on page 20

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