Ife stands still as Ooni goes home

2 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

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Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015 — 3

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4 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

AN INTER-RELIGIOUS FAREWELL SERVICE IN HONOUR OF HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY ALAYELUWA, OBA OKUNADE SIJUADE, OLUBUSE II, OONI OF IFE YESTERDAY — (PICTURES By Dare FASUBE)

From left Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state, Professor Yemi Osinbajo Vice-President, Senator Omoworare,Prince Tokunboh Sijuade and Prince Kunle Sijuade.

From left Prof Muiz Opeloye President Ife Development Board, Mr Kola Adetunji and Mr Gbenga Adefaye GM/Editor-in-Chief Vanguard Newspapers.

Picture shows cross section of Christian clergy men that presided at the service.

From left Senator Baju Bamigbetan, Rear Admiral Akin Aduwo and Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Picture shows cross section of people at the entrance of the Palace.

From left Prince Adedamola Aderemi, Rev. Mrs Omotola Oyeniran and Ambassador Tokunboh Awolowo Dosumu

Traditional worsshipers in a processsion during the Inter religious farewell service for Oba Okunade Sijuade.

Picture shows cross section of Muslim Clergy men that presided over the service.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015 — 5

Ife stands still as Ooni goes home

•Children, wives must not see corpse – High priests •Osinbajo, Aregbesola’s aides fight over sitting arrangement •Journalists ordered to leave before 4pm

By Ola Ajayi & Gbenga Olarinoye THE ancient town of Ile-Ife, Osun State stood still, yesterday, as dignitaries across the world came in droves for the burial of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who joined his ancestors July 28 but who was officially pronounced dead only on Wednesday.

For the second day, commercial activities were grounded to a halt as all shops, stalls, banks and markets were closed down in honour of the highly revered monarch.

At the venue of the inter religious service organised for the monarch, notable people started trooping in as early as 8am.

Aides of Osinbajo, Aregbesola fight over sitting arrangements

Before the commencement of the programme, there was a little misunderstanding between aides of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, over sitting arrangement.

Though, all the seats had been labelled according to those invited, there was a heated argument between supporters of the two political leaders.

The organisers of the programme said the front row in the middle had been reserved for Governor Aregbesola and that any other person who comes should take the back seat.

These comments did not go down well with the VP’s aides who said the sitting arrangements were not in order and insisted that the VP, because of his position, would not sit at the back of the governor.

This exchange of words continued and was about boiling over when some elders from Ife moved in and settled the matter.

But eventually, Aregbesola did not attend. He sent his Secretary to State Government.

Wives, children must not see corpse

This came as some Ifa priests in the ancient city revealed that wives and children of the monarch must not set their eyes on his corpse before interment.

If this is not adhered to, they said such children and wives could die prematurely.

“As the corpse will be brought, it must be brought straight to us.

Not all people can see it. As we are, we are not the ones to bury the remains , but they must bring the corpse to us so that all necessary rites would be done.

Even, no child or wife of the monarch must see the corpse.

Any child that sets his eyes on the remains could die suddenly.

Only Lokore can see the corpse.

It is not their property, it is the property of Ife people. If they do not bring the corpse to us, the corpse will not be buried.”

These were the comments of the leader of the priests, Chief Apena Ogboni, Iledi Ooni, at the palace of the monarch immediately after an inter

An inter-Religious farewel service in honour of Hi Imperial Majesty Alayeluwa, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse 11, Ooni of Ife yesterday. Pic : shows cross section of people at the entrance of the Ife Palace. PHOTOS by Dare Fasube religious service was held in honour of the monarch.

The priests add ed that as part of the burial rites, all children and queens of the monarch had left the palace.

The sermons

The inter religious service started a little behind schedule.

Leaders of the three religions, Christianity, Islam and traditionalists were in attendance.

Both Christians and Muslim clerics offered special prayers for the families of the departed monarch, Ile Ife town, Osun State and Nigeria. Each of them was given 30 minutes.

Christianity was the first. In his sermon entitled, “How are the mighty fallen,” the cleric, Right Revd. Oluranti Odubogun took the Bible reading from II Sam. 1:19 and said the late Ooni brought fame and popularity during his days.

His words: “The message is not for this monarch who has gone to have a peaceful sleep. It is for us who are still living. The monarch brought fame and popularity to Ile-Ife and made the town the centre of attraction to the outside world. But see how the mighty fell. We, as mortals, should know that the body would decay someday.

“Whatever has a beginning must have an end. Our lives had a beginning and must also have an end. Our father, in spite of his wealth and fame, still died. We are not God. Only God is immortal. In Ephesians 2:20, he said mankind is a tool in the hands of God.’’ Odubogun hinged his sermon on six major points that are inevitable in the life of a man, namely: whatever has a beginning has an end; there is time for everything, time to be born and a time to die; we are not God, only God is omnipotent; there is judgement at end of man’s journey on this planet earth; there is a better place after this world; and after this world, we shall reign with Christ.’’

The cleric said to show the level of vanity in the world, some people are already jostling to become the next king even before

the late monarch is buried and mourned.

In his exaltation, Alhaji Mufutau Yussuf, Mufashir of Ibadanland, highlighted the immeasurable contributions of the monarch to Islam and Ife land.

He said: “Our father dominated and acted like a great giant . Our father was not vindictive. Some people would come to this world without leaving any traces of their existence. Our father excelled”.

“Just like Christianity, it was during the reign of his father, the first Olubuse that Islam was brought to Ife land. When we were reconstructing the central mosque in Ife, Oba Sijuwade donated handsomely to ensure speedy completion of the project.”

Before, Ifaloba, the representative of traditionalists mounted the podium, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who came with a retinue of his aides at exactly 11:12am, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, all Christian and Islamic clerics left the venue in large number leaving families and friends behind.

Before he left the hall, Prof. Osinbajo said, “Ooni as a title does not die. We are celebrating a happy end. Our Papa lived a wealthy life. If our father could steer the ship of Yoruba race successfully, he did well.

Governor Aregbesola was represent by the Secretary to the state Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti.

Adeoti read the contents of a letter to the families of late Ooni and later delivered it to the first son , Prince Adetokunbo Sijuwade.

Aregbesola described the monarch as a man that distinguished himself in all walks of life, saying, “he excelled in social life, commerce, royalty and industry. He was a successful businessman. His life is worthy of celebration for the service to his community, the state and the nation at large in the last three decades”.

Drama

Meanwhile, there was a mild drama shortly before the com-

mencement of the prayers.

An elegantly dressed woman who identified herself as Olori Adedolapo Sijuwade was asked to leave the seat where she was sitting among other queens (Olori).

When asked to stand up, she introduced herself as one of the Olori. She was forced to leave the seat by one of the Olori and she later sat among members of the Ife Dev elopment Board.

Attendance

Those who attended the ceremony included Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; former Military Governor of the defunct Western Region, General Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd); former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Alani Akinrinade (ertd); Rear Admiral Akin Aduwo (rtd); former Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Bashir Awotorebo; President, IDB, Prof. Muheeb Opeloye; Senator Baju Bamgbetan; Prince Rasaki Adele Adewole; Prince Adegoke Sijuwade; Prince Adebayo Sijuwade; Prince Adedamola Aderemi; Revd. Mrs Omotola Oyediran; Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu; former Deputy Governor of the state Senator Iyiola Omisore: Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi; Chief Dele Momodu; Mr. Yemi Omisore; Mr. Akintunde Adegboye; Mr. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye; General Manager (Publications)/Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye ; and Prof. Tale Omole.

The traditional chiefs at the ceremony were Lowa of Ife, Chief Joseph Ijaodola; Adagba of Iyanfowo rogi, Oba Adegbola Fatunluse; Oluwaro of Iwaro, Oba Daniel Akindele; Eyenla of Amula Ife and Oba Adesiyan Mayowa, Elemure of Emure Ekiti and Oba Emmanuel Adebayo.

Wives of the late monarch at the event were Olori Mori Sijuwade, Olori Ladun Sijuwade, Olori Linda Sijuwade, Olori

Odun Sijuwade, Olori Nike Sijuwade, and Yeye Oba, Mrs. Ladun Lawal.

High priests annoyed over sermons

Meanwhile, Ife high priests were displeased with the sermons, which they said were against the tradition. Speaking with Saturday Vanguard in the premises of the palace, the priests who said they were 30 complained seriously about the inter religious service saying it ran foul of the tradition.

To them, the way the ceremony was held in the open was not in tandem with the norm.

Asked what impact modernity made on tradition, he said: “Part of what modernity has done to tradition is what they did outside there. It was not like that in the past. Nothing must be done until the remains were interred. No ceremony under whatever guise must be held.

After the whole thing, ‘if Eru Ife’ is not received from them, their lineage will not be entitled to the kingship title again.

“Look at the way the news of the whole Ooni was broken.

It must not be heard that the monarch is dead just like that.

So, when they broke it, it was not for us. To us, our monarch was not yet dead. Only those abroad heard it. The news was not for us,” he said.

He added that the role they play in the town was basically on reformation.

Lineage to produce next king

Speaking earlier with Saturday Vanguard, the Secretary to the next lineage to produce the king, Soko Adebisi Adedigba said since the kingship is rotational, it is the turn of Agiesi to produce the next monarch.

But, this will not be done until the Ifa Oracle is consulted.

He described the late monarch as a very great king.

“Ife has lost a very great king. We pray that we will get somebody of his personality to succeed him. Oba Sijuwade was born to reign.

He was a very great custodian of Yoruba culture and he was recognised worldwide,” Adedigba said.

The priests on new king

Speaking on how the next king will emerge, the priests said, ‘’we are not the ones to select the next king. It is the Ifa Oracle that selects whoever is fit. We are the ones who lead a new king to ‘Ilofi’ (house where the king stays till all rites are performed).

As at the time of filing this report, the remains, according to the priests, had not been brought into the palace.

Warning to journalists

While newsmen were filing their reports, Ifa priests had started another series of rites and indigenes of the town told them to leave before 4pm. All residents of the area were seen packing their wares hurriedly.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

Court stops coronation of new Ayangburen of Ikorodu

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe

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USTICE Olabisi Ogungbesan of an Ikeja High Court yesterday put on hold the ongoing coronation ceremony of the Ayangburen of Ikorodu Kingdom, Oba Kabiru Shotebi in Lagos State.

The Ayangburen stool became vacant on August 1, 2014 after the demise of Oba S.A.A. Oyefusi, following which the former Governor of Lagos StateM Raji Fashola, SAN, announced Shotebi as the new Ayangburen.

Already, the ceremony to crown the new Ayangburen, had been slated for today. however Justice Ogungbesan held that the programme should be suspended “in the interest of justice.”

According to the Judge, she was satisfied from the evidence placed before the court that unquantifiable damages would be done if the coronation ceremony was allowed to go on as scheduled.

To this end, the court restrained the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, or “anyone acting under his authority, from going ahead on Saturday to crown the current Odofin of Ikorodu, Chief Kabiru Shotebi, as the new Ayangburen of Ikorodu Kingdom.”

The judge also stopped Shotebi from either “presenting himself for coronation” or “parading himself as the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, or actualising

any recognition thereon as such, or exercising any of the Ayangburen royal functions”, pending the determination of a suit filed by one Odupitan Eniola, from the Lambo branch of the Lasunwon chieftaincy family of Ikorodu Kingdom.

Joined as respondents in the suit are: Shotebi; the Olisa/Regent of Ikorodu, Chief Zacheus Odusoga; and other kingnakers of Ikorodu Kingdom - Chief Afolabi Adekanyaoja, Chief Karimu Ore and Chief Jacob Adaraloye.

Others were the Ikorodu Local Government, the Ikorodu Division of Council of Obas/Chiefs, the Secretary, Ikorodu Chieftaincy Committee, the Lagos State Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, the Attorney General of Lagos and Lagos State Governor.

Shotebi in the suit, through his lawyer, Mr. Joseph Okobiemen, had approached the court with an ex parte application praying the court to halt the scheduled coronation of Shotebi, who hailed from the Adegorushe branch of the Lasunwon chieftaincy family, as the new Ayangburen of Ikorodu Kingdom.

The applicant claimed that it was the turn of the Lambo branch of the Lasunwon chieftaincy family, from which he came from, to present the next Ayangburen, adding that he had been nominated by the family to be crowned as the new Ayangburen at meetings held on September 7 and 21, 2014.

He claimed that the

Adegorushe family had already benefited after Shotebi became the Odofin of Ikorodu kindgom, following a court judgment delivered on April 1, 2009 in a suit marked IKD/57/ 2007.

Besides, Eniola he averred that there was a case pending in court bordering on a dispute over the vacant stool, saying that if the coronation ceremony was allowed to go on, it will foist “a fait accompli on the honourable court.”

“The 1st respondent is making plans, during the pendency of this suit and in concert with other respondents, to organise a coronation ceremony, which is now in the advanced stage, to crown the first respondent as the Ayangburen of Ikorodu Kingdom, in a ceremony which has been scheduled to hold between 2nd and 15th August, 2015. This is in spite of this suit pending before this honourable court.

“The claimant wants the honourable court to exercise its discretion in favour of the

claimant by granting this application, so as to preserve the order and judgment of this honourable court made in suit number IKD/57/2007.

“The balance of convenience is on the claimant’s side and the claimant will suffer more if the respondents are allowed to continue their acts of flagrant disregard for the orders, judgment and suits pending before the honourable court.

“I undertake to pay damages to the respondents if this application is wrongly granted,” one Prince Shakiru Shodipo, a principal member of the Lambo branch, averred in an affidavit of urgency.”

Justice Ogungbesan, in her ruling held she found merit in Eniola’s application and therefore stopped Shotebi’s coronation as prayed.

The judge directed that the order should be served on the respondents within five days, while adjourned the motion on notice till August 26, 2014 for mention.

Gowon urges Nigerians to pray for Buhari, Ambode, others

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

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ORMER military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, retd yesterday asked Nigerians to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the National Assembly and State governors for direction on how best to pilot the affairs of the

nation. Gowon who led members of Nigeria Praise to pay a courtesy visit to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State at the State House, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, said that the country especially the leaders needs prayer to deliver the dividend of democracy which they promised during the last election.

We’re ready to partner with you, Buratai tells DSS

By Kingsley Omonobi

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HIEF of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai has reaffirmed the Nigerian Army ’s commitment and determination to carry out its constitutional roles of protecting the territorial integrity of the nation even as he solicited the cooperation and support from the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

Making the disclosure when he paid a courtesy call on the DG DSS, Alhaji Lawal Daura in his office at Asokoro, Abuja, Buratai congratulated the DG on his appointment and highlighted the strategic importance of the DSS and its special role, particularly in the area of intelligence gathering while

enjoining the Department to synergize with the Army.

He called for joint operations between the two institutions, assuring that Nigerian Army is ready to collaborate with the DSS at all times.

The Army Chief also solicited for joint training among the personnel of both institutions to enable them collaborate, and share ideas for successful joint operations.

A statement signed by Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu from Army headquarters said; General Buratai pointed out that coordination in specific areas was critical and promised that the Nigerian Army will provide the requisite expertise in such areas of collaboration when called upon.

Aisha Buhari wants women to key into wind of change

By Chidi Nkwopara, OWERRI

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IGERIAN women have been charged to support the on-going wind of change that is currently sweeping across the nation.

The President’s wife, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, gave the charge yesterday in a message delivered on her behalf in Owerri, by the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Osinbajo, during the grand finale of the 2015 Women’s August

Meeting.

“When Nigerian women arise in love and unity, this country will never be the same again.

I also plead with Nigerian women to bring up their children in love”, Mrs. Buhari pleaded.

While saying that there was nothing wrong for Nigerian women to dream big dreams, the President’s wife also urged women to think and act for the unity of the country.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015 — 7

B-R-I-E-F-S

Clergy in prison over Chinese visa scandal

Crashed Bristow Helicopter black box, A CVR recovered

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

N Isolo Magistrate court in Lagos has remanded n prison custody, a clergy, Mrs Joy Tongo, for alleged involvement in a Chinese visa scandal.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Joy Ugbomoiko, granted Tongo bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum and ordered that she should be remanded in prison custody pending when she will perfect her bail conditions. According to the charge, Tongo, who claimed to be a pastor of the Mountain of Fire Ministry- Yaba headquarters, allegedely defrauded one Stanley Dim under a false pretence of procuring him a Chinese visa for missionary journey.

The accused was charged with obtaining under false pretence and stealing, under the Criminal Code.

However, when the charge was read to her, she pleaded not guilty. It was gathered that the victim met Tongo at the church headquarters in Yaba and she promised to link him with her partner in China for missionary journey. She also told Dim that he could stay back there and earn a living. Tongo allegedly told him that he will pay N300,000 for the procurement of visa and other necessary documents for the trip.

Dim, who did not suspect any foul play, gave her the money and she promised to get back to him with the visa, a day before the journey.

Tongo allegedly failed to deliver the visa on the day she promised Dim. The travel period also elapsed and there was no alternative arrangement for the trip to China. i

BY LAWANI MIKAIRU & DANIEL ETEGHE

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HE Flight Data Re corder and Corkpit Voice Recorder, CVR, were yesterday recovered by the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, after two days of frantic search for the two items that will aid and quicken investigation of the crashed helicopter.

Making this revelation yesterday, Head ,Public Affairs , AIB, Mr Tunji Oketunbi said “the Accident Investigation Bureau announced today(Friday) that the flight recorders, popularly known as black boxes, to the Sikosky 76 helicopter that crashed into the lagoon in Oworonshoki area of Lagos on Wednesday 12 August, 2015 have been recovered.”

Oketunbi added that “The Sikosky 76 helicopter marked 5N-BGD and operated by Bristow Helicop-

From left: Director, Amn. Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Mr. Ogbue Nnamdi Anthony, Commissioner /Chief Executive Officer, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB),Dr. Felix Ambali and Investigator In-Charge Engr. Clement Onyeyiri at a press briefing on the crash of Bristol helicopter Airline held at AIB office, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

ters was believed to have departed SEDCO oil platform offshore and crashed shortly before landing at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.”

“The search party led by Julius Berger with the assistance of a hired diver lo-

cated the recorders, which are expected to assist the investigators in unraveling the cause of the accident in which four passengers and two crew members were fatally injured. Six other passengers are receiving treatment at a private hospital.”

“The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) contains data generated from different parts of the aircraft including the engines and the avionics while the Cockpit Voice Recorder will unveil conversations within the cockpit and between the pilots and the Control Tower.”

Our refineries will now make profits — NNPC

BY MICHAEL EBOH

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HE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, stated that its ongoing restructuring was designed to reposition its operations and refineries to profit-making ventures.

This was even as the NNPC denied claims that it was pursuing an ethnic agenda in the ongoing restructuring of the corporation.

The NNPC, in a statement issued after an interactive session with the top management of the Corporation in Abuja, disclosed that it is poised to ensure that all its refineries are run efficiently and profitably to meet the energy needs of the country.

Speaking at the forum, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Emmanuel Kachikwu, stated that

the days when the Corporation was perceived as a civil service organization instead of a Corporation were over.

According to him, the Corporate Service Unit and all the Strategic Business Units of the NNPC would henceforth be run as profit centers.

To this end, Kachikwu solicited the support of the management of the NNPC and its subsidiaries in clos-

ing the skills gap and in turning the fortunes of the Corporation around.

He stated that efforts are in top gear to create a conducive working environment for members of staff, adding that for the NNPC to transform into a profit center like its peers in other climes, the morale of the work force must be high.

He urged the management to provide leadership by example to the workforce

while adding that sectionalism, tribalism and any form of non-transparent transactions must be completely stamped out of the NNPC. He also appealed to members of staff to act as change agents, assuring them that in the next 60 days some of the strategic targets would be translated into concrete milestones to the appreciation of all Nigerians.

Jumbo pay: Dogara raises committee

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE and JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU FOLLOWING the outcry over the alleged jumbo salaries of members of the National Assembly and the needtoreducethecostofgovernance,SpeakeroftheHouse of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara,yesterday,inaugurateda20-mancommitteetocarry out an assessment on what is required to run the National Assembly.

Inaugurating the committee,Dogarachargedthemembers made up of international developmentpartnerslikethe Department for International Development (DFID) and UnitedNationsDevelopment Programme (UNDP), professional bodies like the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Budget Office, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and former National Assembly members to take a holistic view on what is needed to run the National Assembly.

He said that the effective running of the legislature would be based on actual needs of the institution as an arm of government, pointing out that there is no study or assessment of what the legislature needs to perform optimally in Nigeria.

His words: “We have all

been making, at best, educated guesswork on whether the legislature is adequately funded or not. An appropriate needs assessment may well find out that the legislature in Nigeria is over-funded or that it is underfunded.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 has vested the law making powers of the Federation intheNationalAssembly,consisting of the Senate and the HouseofRepresentatives.The Constitution further empowers the National Assembly to conduct investigations into the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, ministry or government department charged or intended to be charged with the duty and responsibility for executing or administeringlawsenactedby the National Assembly; disbursing or administering money’sappropriatedortobe appropriated by the National Assembly.

Anambra attracts $2.4bn investments in two years — Obiano

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

T

HE governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obin o , yesterday said that his administration has attracted investments worth over $2.4billion into the state in less than two years he assumed position as the governor of the state.

Obiano, who made the disclosure when he visited the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, to sound the trade closing gong, said his administration has simplified investment with the creation of a one-stop-shop investment outfit, called Anambra State Investment Promotion and Importation Agency (ASIPA) that handles all investment concern in the state within a period of one week.

He said that the economy of the state is being built on four pillars, which are agriculture, trade, commerce and oil and gas. a

LCCI to hold seminar on Lagos power industry

BY NAOMI UZOR

T

HE Power Sector Group of the Lagos Chamber of Com merce and Industry (LCCI), said all is set to hold a seminar and exhibition on Lagos power industry. With the theme: ‘’Embedded Power and the Economy’ the event, which will be held at the LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre, has the objective of accelerating the benefits of an improved electricity generation and distribution to the end-users, according to the Chairman, Power Sector Group of the LCCI, Engr.

Edet Effiom.

The seminar, which will hold on Tuesday, 18th of August, 2015, will feature keynote presentation by the General Manager (Engr. Peter Okonji) of Lagos State Electricity Board on ‘Captive Power Generation (The Lagos Experience) and that the speakers are exceptional personalities in the sector and will discuss policy changes, constrained financing markets, on-going sector reform and the emergence of embedded power. Another feature of the one day seminar event is the exhibition of unique products and services for the electricity industry,’’ he added.

St Enda’s College old students meet today

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LD students of St. Enda’s College, Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, one time known as Agbarho Grammar School, Agbarho will hold their monthly meeting today at 12B, Abuja Close, Agbara Estate, Agbara, Ogun State at 3.00 p.m.

The secretary, Mr. Sunday Orode urged members to be punctual as issues relating to elections into the National Executive Council scheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2015, will be discussed.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

Single Acct: Buhari’s policy will cause liquidity problems – Bank chief

BY BEN AGANDE, Abuja

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ORMER Managing Director of Transnational Corporation, Mr Manz Denga, has warned that the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to open Single Treasury Account (STA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is capable of shooting up inter-bank rates and causing ‘systemic backlash or collapse.”

In an interview with Saturday Vanguard in Abuja, Mr Denga, who served variously as the regional managing director UBA, East Africa, managing director, UBA Uganda, Cameroun and Kenya as well as chief executive officer, Heirs Holdings Capital, noted that the policy, if not well implemented may push some banks to a precarious situation.

Consequently, he urged the CBN to “put aside bailout plans for the vulnerable banks, including direct market intervention.”

According to Denga, who is now chairman, AfriBusiness ExpertEase (AfBEE), Johannesburg, the new policy means that “over 1000 bank accounts of MDAs presently with the

various banks” would be closed.

He acknowledged that the new policy was necessitated by the need to check “the total abuse of the funds for personal gain by banks and government officials” but warned that the immediate consequence of the policy would be “illiquidity in the system that would increase the cost of funds and lending rate.

Inter-bank rates that have been up to 50 percent in the last few days may hit the roof, as borrowing rates would also triple.’’

He continued: “Traditionally, pooling is used to get higher returns on interest rates, reduce borrowing costs, and build confidence to lenders.

Pooling also gives a total position picture on the funds owned line of the balance

sheet.

“However, pooling or STA wouldthrowupreconciliation issues, if not handled well. It is also short in terms of letting the stars take care of the dogs, in other words, great performance being masked by poor performance in the consolidation process. Other challenges include giving an opaque view and queuing issues in orderly disbursement.

P

L-R Corps Commander Bizi Kazeem, Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Federal Road Safety Corps, Comrade Afolabi Olawale, Senior Assistant General Secretary/Head of training, Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers NUPENG, Deputy Corps Marshal Ademola Lawal, Head, Training Standards and Certification Federal Road Safety Corps/Representative of Corps Marshal/Chief Executive of FRSC and Corps Commander Imoh Etuk Corps Public Education Officer at the 2015 Petroleum Tanker Drivers training and Certification Programme in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Photo

by Nwankpa Chijioke

and maximum of N25,000 even with the processing and delivery period of the certificates pegged at 8 weeks.

Giving details of the new deal at a Stakeholders meeting in his office on Friday, the state

Petition against Aregbesola: SJSC’s query subjudice – Oloyede

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

J

USTICE Folahanmi Oloyede, who petitioned the Osun State House of Assembly to investigate Governor Rauf Aregbesola for alleged mismanagement of the state resources, has submitted her reply to the query issued her by State Judicial Service Commission, SJSC. The state house of assembly, after dismissing Oloyede’s petition, also wrote to the Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo, asking her, as chairman of the SJSC to query Oloyede over her conduct.

Saturday Vanguard

BY NAOMI UZOR

Z

AMBIAN President, Edgar Lungu has lauded the business ingenuity of the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote saying his business expansion across Africa is worthy of emulation by African businessmen in the task of continental development.

He said he was particularly delighted for Dangote’s choice of Zambia for his new $400 million cement plant investment saying it was in tandem with his administration’s economic plan for the country.

Lungu speaking at the commissioning of Dangote Cement Plant, Zambia said that the new cement plant will create more than 7,000 employment opportunities for Zambians.

He said, “This investment is expected to create at least 1,000 direct and 6,000 indirect jobs for Zambians when fully operational. Besides employment creation, the project is already greatly benefiting the local people of Masaiti and the surrounding districts through the transfer of skills, technology and business linkages.”

“I am very confident that Dangote Cement Plant management will flow with the intention of my Government to ensure our people feel part and parcel of this momentous development on the Copperbelt. As government, we are aware that for years now our people have been subjected to high monopolistic pricing structure for cement. Today, I am the happiest person to note that ever since Dangote Cement Plant came into the Zambian market, the price of cement has been gravitating towards normal,” he added.

The Nigerian Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo speaking at the commissioning lauded Aliko Dangote on his investment in in several African countries saying the Federal Government is proud of Dangote.

Osinbajo said, “The spotlight today falls very deservedly on an exceptional African entrepreneur, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger.’’

Ortom laments 65-months BSUSTC salary backlog

C-of-O now available for N15,000 in Ondo, ready in eight weeks Governor, Dr Olusegun ROPERTY owners in Ondo state can now obtain titles for them for a minimum fee of N15,000

B-R-I-E-F-S Zambian President, Osinbajo, laud Dangote on African expansion

gathered that Justice Oloyede’s response to her query was dropped by Mr. Lukman Ogunsetan, her counsel on Thursday, when he appeared in court in respect of an application for an order of Certiorari to quash the recommendations of the Assembly ’s Ad-hoc committee that dismissed her petition.

Mr Ogunsetan added that the embattled judge was expected to respond within seven days to the query, ending next tomorrow.

However, the application filed by Justice Oloyede that was supposed to be heard by the vacation judge, did

not get a mention, as Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe after the day’s proceedings, announced that his next sitting would be next Thursday.

The judge, it was however learned, in her reply, reminded the SJSC that the matter she was asked to respond to was already in court, adding that whether heard or not, the matter was already before court.

When contacted, counsel to Oloyede, Mr. Lanre Ogunlesi, confirmed receipt of the query, saying her client did not react to any of the issues raised because doing so will be sub judicial.

Mimiko said issuance of Certificate of Occupancy in the state will be done within eight weeks for N25,000 in urban areas, maximum of N20,000 in semi-urban areas and maximum of N15,000 in the rural areas of the state.

He said the package is as a result of government’s digitalised Certificate of Occupancy scheme which he flagged off on Thursday with some beneficiaries presented with their certificates . He enjoined stakeholders to take advantage of the scheme because according to the Governor, a house is useless to the owner without the title.

The Governor who assured the people that authentic Certificate of Occupancy is power to its owner that can be used as collateral added that the digitalised Certificate of Occupancy is the best in Nigeria and that Land is a very important resource.

BY PETER DURU, Makurdi

G

OVERNOR Samuel Ortom of Benue State has ordered the state Finance Commissioner to immediately pay three months, out of the backlog of 65 months salary arrears owed staff of the Benue State University Science and Technical College, BSUSTC, Makurdi.

The Governor gave the directive yesterday, when the staff of the institution, led by the principal, Athanasius Awangeh, paid him a courtesy call in Makurdi, the state capital.

He ordered that the May, June, and July 2015, salaries of the affected staff be paid without further delay.

Ortom who was reacting to complaints by the staff of the institution that they had not been earning their wages since July, 2010, said, “it’s not fair that you have not been paid for all these years because a worker deserves his wages.’’

Extra-judicial killing: NGO petitions Amnesty Int’l, others

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, Lokoja

A

Human Rights Group in Kogi State, Human Rights Defence Network, HRDN, has petitioned the Amnesty International and the National Human Rights Commission, HRC, over the spate of intimidation, unlawful arrest and police extra-judicial killing in the State.

The petition which was made available to Saturday Vanguard in Lokoja yesterday said aside the indiscriminate arrest of innocent people without proper investigation, the police in the last two months has killed more than four innocent persons in the Central Senatorial axis of the state.

The petition which was signed by the Secretary of the group, Comrade Sunday Jatto stated that Itopa Lawal, Siyaka Rufai Adavize, and Matthew Paul a taxi driver among others have become victims of police extra-judicial killing in the State.

The petition also stated that on July 27, one Siyaki Salami, a mechanic, who was on his way to his workshop was shot at his two leg by police over flimsy excuse, “Even though the police have admitted their faults and later took the mechanic boy to a private hospital in Lokoja and begin paying for the cost of treatments, meanwhile, such has caused the mechanic boy lots of damages including deformation of the two legs”.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015 — 9

B-R-I-E-F-S

2015 Polls: Drama as ‘Dead man’ gives evidence at Delta tribunal •Oboro urges tribunal to dismiss suit

BY FESTUS AHON

N

AT I O N A L Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, was taken aback when a middle aged man identified as Christopher Anirah, who was presumed dead, made a surprise appearance to testify before it.

Anirah, was subpoenaed by the tribunal to give evidence in the on-going trial in an election petition matter between Hon. Gibson Ighofose Akporehe of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Hon. Evelyn Omavowan Oboro, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, told the tribunal that his death certificate was allegedly forged by the APC House of Representatives candidate.

Meanwhile, Hon Evelyn Oboro, in her preliminary objection, asked the tribunal to dismiss Akporehe’s petition for lack of merit, saying it is an abuse of court process.

Akporehe who is the candidate of APC in Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie

T

HE Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, yesterday, slated Mondaytodecidewhetheror nottodismiss thepetitionthat was filed against Governor Nyesom Wike by the All

M

ISS Esther Wuraola Akinrefon, a 200-level student of the Osun State College of Education, never suspected kidney failure when she took ill in school in November last year and was rushed to a hospital until it was later diagnosed that her kidney was down. Since then, she has been bedridden, requiring three sessions of dialysis weekly, and each costing N30,000.

Narrating her plight to Saturday Vanguard, Miss C M Y K

T

O discourage corrupt enrichment by both public and private sector individuals, the elders of Ugbodede, an Itsekiri community in Warri South Local Council of Delta State, have declared that the community’s land is not for sale to persons with dubious backgrounds and intentions.

In a press statement jointly signed by the community’s Head, Olara-Oja Pa Overside Okotie and spokesman, Pa Omagba Dudun, the community elders said: ‘’We have observed with disdain the tendency for corrupt enrichment by persons, both in the public and private sectors of the Nigerian society and have, therefore, resolved in our own small way, to discourage such act by refusing to sell any piece of our valuable land to them.

“We align with the vision of a progressive Nigeria, currently canvassed by President Muhammadu Buhari as well as our own Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.’’

BY OMAFUAIRE AKPOKONA & OCHUKO AKUOPHA

President Muhammadu Buhari flanked by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Interior, Alhaji Mohammed Magaji (r) while from the left, Comptroller-General of Prisons, Dr. Peter Ezenwa Ekpendu; Comptroller General Federal Fire Service, Mr. Joseph Garuba; Commandant General Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammadu and the Comptroller General of Immigrations, Mr. David Parradang joined in a group photograph during the presidential briefing by the Ministry of Interior at the State House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida

federal constituency in the 2015 election, through his counsel, Mr Charles Umweni, had told the tribunal that the witness he intends to call (Anirah) cannot come to the tribunal to testify, claiming that he died after suffering a cardiac attack.

But, at the resumed hearing of the matter, yesterday, in Asaba, somebody who claimed to be Anirah stormed the tribunal and stepped into the witness box to give

evidence when the chairman of the three-man tribunal panel, Justice Adebukole Banjoko, called out the name.

The sudden appearance of the said Anirah created commotion in the tribunal as the bewildered audience started shuffling and murmuring in low tones over the appearance of a ‘dead man’ in court, prompting Justice Banjoko to call for calm.

Anirah, during

Progressives Congress, APC. The Justice Muazu Pindiga-led tribunal adjourned for ruling on a day APC and its governorship candidate in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, accused Governor Wike and the PeoplesDemocraticParty,PDP, of plotting to hijack the proceeding of the tribunal.

The petitioners made the

allegation following two separate applications challenging the continued hearingofthepetitionseeking to annul the April 11 governorship election in Rivers State.

The applications were filed by the Independent National ElectoralCommission,INEC, and Governor Wike.

Thetwodefendants,through

200-level student needs N10m to live

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

BY GAB AJUWA

PDP faithful urges Delta Assembly to revert suspension of council chairman

examination by respondents’ counsel, Mr. Onome Egbon, told the tribunal that he was the rightful candidate of the APC for the Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie Federal Constituency in the 2015 National Assembly election until his name was ‘fraudulently substituted” with that of Akporehe on account that he (Anirah) was dead.

Rivers gov poll: Tribunal determines Peterside’s proceedings fate Monday ..... as APC alleges plot by Wike, PDP to high-jacktheirtribunal variouslawyers,yesterday,

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

Corruption: No more land for indicted persons – Itsekiri community

Akinrefon said, “the sickness started November last year while I was in school. I was rushed from school to the hospital. At the hospital, I was told I had kidney problem.”

In a voice laden with anguish and despair, the 22-year-old, who said her father has been the one shouldering the responsibility since November, continued: “We were asked to go for dialysis three times a week but we could only afford twice weekly. I have been on this now since then. I am currently being managed at

the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The doctor that will do the transplant in Lagos told my parents we would need a total of N10 million. This covers the transplant, drugs and regular check-up until I am stable. Now I need a total of N10 million for transplant. My parents can’t afford it. Please help me. I beg you in the name of God. I need help. Don’t let me die. Good Nigerians should, please come to my aid. God almighty will reward you and your household.”

challenged the proceeding of the tribunal, insisting that prehearingsession onthepetition by the APC was not properly convoked.

INEC through its lawyer Mr. K.O.C. Njemanze, SAN, applied for an order dismissing the petition as being abandoned in consequence of non compliancewiththeprovision of paragraph 18(1) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act. INEC’s motion dated July 27, was filed pursuant to section 6(6) (a) of the 1999 constitution,asamended,and paragraphs 18(1) (3) and (47) of the First Schedule to the ElectoralAct. The electoral body maintainedthatthepetitioners failedtopaythenecessaryfees before they applied to the Secretary of the tribunal to issuethemFormTF007,which will okay pre-hearing on the petition.

“It is our submission that payment of filing fee for such application is statutory and constitutes a condition precedentfortheinvocationof thejurisdictionofthistribunal.’’

U

VWIE PDP Faithful Forum has urged the Delta State House of Assembly to revert the suspension of theChairmanofUvwieLocalGovernmentCouncil,Mr.Henry Baro.

The forum, in a statement by Comrade Glory Oyeginiye and Mr. Power Ebrekeme, described Baro’s suspension as oppressive.

The forum held that the suspension was masterminded by Baro’s political enemies, saying the assembly lacked sufficient grounds to suspend the council chairman. The statement argued that the House neither invited the council chairman for pre hearing nor carried out proper investigation into the contentious issues before going ahead with the suspension.

Edo political leaders urged to engage youths during planning

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

P

OLITICAL leaders in Edo state have been urged to engage the youths of the state before making decisions that affect the lives of the youths.

ThischargewasgivenbyComradeAustinOsakwe,anactivist in Edo state, during the celebration of the International Youth Day, organized by Edo Youth for Good Governance, (EY FGG), in Benin City.

Osakwe, who was a guest speaker said the theme of this year’s event “ Youth Civic Engagement”, regretted that youths are often forgotten during the planning of government policies, adding that suich attitude had hampered the growth of the youths both in the state and the nation as a whole.

He however challenged the youths to involve in the governance process of the nation by demanding for accountability from the three arms of government asserting that it is only by doing that, “that youths can check the excesses of political leaders who are in the habit of abandoning the youths after every election”.

Okowa gets commendation over Onuesoke’s appointment

G

OVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has been commended for appointing Chief Sunny Onuesoke as Special Project Director, Ughelli-Asaba Realization Project.

The commendation was made yesterday at Ofuoma town, by Chris Eriyamremu, a youth leader in Ughelli North Local Government Area.

Eriyamremu, who is a media practitioner and peace negotiator, said the people of Ughelli North are grateful to Okowa for Onuesoke’s appointment and several indigenes of the area appointed to serve in the present government.

He expressed confidence that Onuesoke will deliver and make Okowa proud, adding that Onuesoke has been given another opportunity to serve and contribute to the development of the state.

10 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015—11

Today, we begin a special report on Nigeria’s national carrier and why all the attempts to sustain it failed. Written by Chris Aligbe, the man who should know better, the report could make you weep for Nigeria but could also inspire the Buhari administration to make another attempt at reviving a national carrier for any serious and professional approach devoid of politics and corruption could make the Buhari dream realisable. Read on.

NATIONAL CARRIER:

Our ten failed attempts (1960-2014) •What FG must know as Buhari plans another attempt

BY CHRIS ALIGBE

F

rom Independence in 1960 to date, Nigeria has made ten attempts to float and run a virile national airline but virtually all failed. The most successful of them was the erstwhile national carrier, Nigeria Airways that survived from 1971 to 2003, though the airline had existed as West African Airways Corporation for close to twelve years before it was renamed Nigeria Airways.

These attempts include: “Nigeria Airways” 1971 – 2003, Capt Joji’s “Air Nigeria” 1992/ 1993, IFC “New Co” 1999/2001, Kema Chikwe’s “Air Nigeria” 2001/2002, Kema Chikwe’s “Nigerian Global” 2002/2003, Yuguda’s “Nigerian Eagle” 2003/ 2004, Obasanjo/Branson’s “Virgin Nigeria” 2005/2009, UBA’s “Air Nigeria” 2009/2010, Jimoh Ibrahim’s “Nigerian Eagle” 2011/2012 and Odua’s C M Y K

“Nigeria One” 2012/2013.

Over the years, the desire for a world-class National Carrier has become endemic. Today, the clamour persists and reverberates with intensity any time a new Minister is appointed. While the clamour is understandably unabating, the need for a highly effective functional national airline cannot be overstated.

Unfortunately, many a stakeholder in the aviation industry, as well as Ministers do not have a clear record of our many failed attempts, let alone why the attempts failed and what should be avoided in planning new floatation. Many do not know that, of the ten attempts, only four – Nigeria Airways, Virgin Nigeria, Nigerian Eagle and Air Nigeria were physically in existence at one time or the other. The remaining six remained, as it were, at the realm of ideas but suffered one form of affliction or

the other. For instance, Joji’s “Air Nigeria”, in spite of visible strides towards its emergence, suffered a violent political abortion; the IFC “New Co” was a victim of political intrigues and deliberate abortion. Kema’s “Air Nigeria” was a victim of the usual Nigerian political hobby-horse, ending in legislative abortion, while her contraption, called “Nigerian Global” was shot down at the Federal Executive Council as an illegitimate conception.

Yuguda’s “Nigerian Eagle” was carefully and predeterminedly killed by a Presidential fiat; while Odua’s “Nigeria One” suffered gestational impediment, foetal suffocation, atrophy and death.

In all ten, there are common indices revealable in their demise, most prominent of which are; ulterior and nonaltruistic motives, lack of transparency, lack of

While the clamour is understandably unabating, the need for a highly effective functional national airline cannot be overstated

understanding of the dynamics of airline floatation, deceptive roadmap and insincerity as well as refusal or failure to use the right professionals and adhere to professional advice. There are also issues of greed and desire for personal gains as may be found in some, but not in all the attempts.

Since again we have a new President who having openly expressed displeasure over the demise of the erstwhile national carrier, Nigeria Airways and has directed the Ministry of Aviation to work on a new National Carrier, the issue of a new National Carrier is again resurging. It has now become necessary to contribute to the impending discourse by x-raying all our

Continues on page 12

12— SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

Our tten en ffailed ailed att empts (1 960-20 14) attempts (1960-20 960-201 Continues from page 11 failed attempts, how and why.

1.

Nigeria Airways: (1960) – Our Failed Attempts: 2.

Nigeria Airways came into existence as a symbol of a new nation in 1971, a decade after the accession to sovereignty in 1960 following our buy-out of the equities of Elder-Dempster and British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) in the then West African Airways Corporation (WAAC).

The Nigerian newly acquired airline, though continued operations without break, was under the same name of West African Airways Corporation. On January 22nd, 1971, it was renamed Nigeria Airways.

For over 40 years, the airline served to link various destinations within Nigeria, West and Central Africa. It also operated intercontinental flights to Europe, USA, Middle East and Asia, hoisting the flag of a new sovereign nation as well as fulfilling the social responsibility objective of its acquisition. Its outstanding performance reached the crescendo during the years of struggle to liberate Southern African States of Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia then still under colonial rule and apartheid South Africa. The period of the Murtala/Obasanjo military administration was so impactful in the Southern Africa struggle and Nigeria Airways was one of the instruments used as it flew sorties delivering men and materials to aid the struggle. So much was the impact that Nigeria was referred to by OAU as a ‘Frontline State’ and occupied the Assistant Executive Secretary position in the OAU Liberation Committee that spearheaded the planning for the liberation struggle. Fully owned by the government, the airline ran as a first-class parastatal under the control of relevant Ministries. The government hired and fired top Management and Board, paid the airline’s major debts, subvented it and determined some of its routes, viable or not.

Civil Servants and the Military used its services at will and engaged the airline in rescue operations, pilgrimages and missions without payment.

There are records of the airline’s “call sign” being given to private airlines as favours by government officials on directives, usually unwritten, for Hajj Operations and the huge over-flight, landing and parking charges were left for Nigeria Airways to settle. For despicable motives, ministers acted on the airline to its detriment. In 1991, a supervising minister fired the C M Y K

•Yakubu Gowon entire Board and Management for increasing fares without his permission. In the same year, same minister unilaterally cancelled a Commercial Agency contract that caused the airline severe financial injury amounting to millions of pounds sterling in restitution.

In 2002, another Supervising Minister scuttled Nigeria Airways contract for Hajj Operations resulting in a revenue loss of over four million dollars, all in the bid to cripple it as part of the alibi for its liquidation.

Once, a matriarch of the Presidential family admonished and stopped a CEO of the airline from recalling a level 10 officer from a foreign station. Virtually, all the F27 and F28 work horses of the airline were either sold or given away to some African States by the Federal Government in a show of big brotherhood. These were part of the singsong of Obasanjo about the 32 aircraft he left as Military Head of State.

All these were not helped by the internal factors of very low managerial competence, receding knowledge of staff, retrogressive and injurious union activism, fraudulent activities and staff resistance to change exemplified in 1991. In 1991, the Presidential Task Force which managed the airline had introduced computerized check-in system for two prime international routes; London and New York.

This system not only improved passenger handling, it also exterminated “boarding pass”

malpractices. This incensed those staff that engaged in selling boarding passes. The system was used on Friday night, usually the busiest. By Sunday morning, this group of boarding pass profiteers lit the computer wires with fire which eventually blew up the entire system. Thus, ended the highly forward-looking development and the airline returned to its old ways of manual check-in of passengers and with it came the return of boarding pass malpractices till its demise in 2003.

But the most devastating impact was the IBB SAP policy of the 80’s. The Structural Adjustment Programme came with huge devaluation of the Naira and the stoppage of annual subvention to Nigeria Airways. This twin policy action quadrupled Nigeria Airways problems as it multiplied the airline’s debt in terms of the quantum of naira it now required to meet its foreign debts obligations which at the IATA Clearing House stood at US$42m, besides others. This led to the expulsion of the airline from the IATA Clearing House in 1987 which made it impossible for the airline to fly passengers beyond one point as it could no longer interline with other airlines. This factor immediately shrank the market share of the airline as it became a point-to-point operator. The consequent huge loss of revenue sent it into a vicious cycle of ever dwindling revenue. By 1988, IBB slated the airline for commercialization and

This factor immediately shrank the market share of the airline as it became a point-topoint operator.

The consequent huge loss of revenue sent it into a vicious cycle of ever dwindling revenue

privatization under the then precursor of the BPE, the Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization – TCPC. To drive this, IBB appointed a Presidential Task Force – PTF, led by AVM Abdullahi Dominic Bello. The Committee which included Pascal Dozie, Otumba Adesoye, Ishiaku Umar, Captain Mohammed Joji, Stella Ugboma and late Bassey Itam will remain, probably, the soundest team ever put together to manage the airline. The PTF painstakingly injected life into the airline but the management style was based on close supervision and enforcement which left nothing but compliance for the staff to imbibe. And so when the PTF left in 1990, after its two-year tenure, the airline returned to its old ways: poor management culture, manual passenger handling and decadent work culture. In spite of Capt Joji’s novel privatization strategy adjudged to be most innovative by AFRAA, put in the works to revamp the airline in 1992/3 and the Jani Ibrahim’s turnaround magic of 1997/1999 which saw the airline resurging fast to financial health, a concatenation of new ignoble circumstances unfortunately brought the chequered history of Nigeria Airways to an end. Some of these untoward circumstances include: the shocking cancellation of the Nigeria Airways/British Airways JV that was a cashcow, yielding Nigeria Airways N100million net monthly and the shutting of all other revenue sources of the airline by the then Minister whose objective was to collapse the airline so as to create a new national carrier of her purpose. This was in 2003 when at the valedictory Executive Council meeting of OBJ’s first tenure in May, the then Minister of Aviation, Kema Chikwe, in a shockingly mute Executive meeting, secured the Council’s approval of her Memo, by 100 percent unfortunate consensus silence, to liquidate the airline.

2.

Joji’s Air Nigeria/ Nigeria Airways: (1992) – Our Failed Attempts: 3.

The next attempt was Capt Mohammed Joji’s “Air Nigeria/Nigeria Airways”.

Joji was appointed Managing Director/CEO of Nigeria Airways in January 1992, a year after the exit of the AVM A. D. Bello-led Presidential Task Force on Nigeria Airways in which Continues on page 13

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015—13

vigour.

Continues from page 12 served between 1989 and 1990.

With a clear understanding of the challenges of the airline and a conviction that only privatization would redeem the beleaguered national carrier, Joji cooperated extensively with the Hamza Zayyad-led Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization – TCPC, the precursor of BPE, which was then working on the privatization of Nigeria Airways. Joji created an ingenious concept of “Nigeria Airways/Air Nigeria” as the model for the twin objective of: resuscitating the ailing Nigeria Airways and creating out of it a brand new privatized airline – “Air Nigeria.” Nigeria Airways was to remain fully-owned by government and operating domestic and regional routes, while “Air Nigeria” would be a privatized airline, operating Nigeria’s international routes with the government holding 40% equity, technical partners – Swiss Air and Sabena 40% and remaining 20% would be sold to the public and staff. Air Nigeria was to use Nigeria Airways DC10s and A310s on lease and pay Nigeria Airways US$1million monthly. It would absorb relevant technical and professional staff of Nigeria Airways needed for its operation as well as engage close to 300 new staff required for the start-up.

Pension and Gratuity liabilities worth, as at 1993, N489,526,000 would be paid off. Envisaged in the concept was also the privatization of Nigeria Airways Skypower Catering Services and the Skypower Ground Handling Company. It also incorporated the establishment of a Property Company to manage vast landed assets of the airline scattered over Nigeria, Africa and Europe. The process of realizing this concept had advanced to almost the last but one stage before the throttle lost power and the train came to a painful final stop.

As at that time, only British Airways had successfully privatized under the resolute political will and financial commitment of the then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, which Lord King and Collin Marshal made no mistakes with. The novel “Nigeria Airways/ Air Nigeria” was to be the second lesson in global studies of privatization models in the airline sector. This however, unfortunately, was not to be. The Project faced intense stakeholderantagonism and rejection. From the Aviation Minister, late Chief Wole Adeosun to the airline’s inhouse Unions – NAAPE, ATSSAN, NUATE and Pensioners, for various reasons, mostly personal and group interest, ego and ignorance, rejected privatization.

Even the efforts of the Dubem Onyia’s – led House Committee on Aviation to save the project C M Y K

•Olusegun Obasanjo

Our ten failed attempts (1 960-20 14) (1960-20 960-201 failed as it came too late. The killer-nail was however hammered by the then Military Head of State, when, in his bid to remain in power, he traded Nigeria Airways CEO position for political favour to the then Senate President , whose role was critical to his bid. Thus, the replacement of Joji with Engineer Agom, the Senate President’s childhood friend, and a sworn opponent of Joji, led to the abortion of Joji’s “Air Nigeria”.

Apart from the above political factor, there are other lessons from the failure of Joji’s novel project. Joji and TCPC completely forgot that, as Professor Ragner Nurkse stated in his classic Treatise on – “The Idea of Change as an Obstacle to Change”, man naturally resists change. As at the time when the entire aviation world, with the exception of the US and then UK which had just privatized its national carrier, was still buried in the prevailing regime of State-owned national airlines, both Joji and TCPC were perceived to be foisting new fangled concept of privatization on the country.

The entire staff and other stakeholders rose up stoutly

against what they considered “insanity” of a sort. Sadly, neither TCPC nor Joji saw the need to invest enough time and funds for staff education, enlightenment and re-orientation. Only feeble attempts were made. Little did they realize that only about 1% of the staff understood the novel change. This near total ignorance engendered fear and this misplaced fear of loss of jobs, status and privileges, galvanized the struggle and antagonism against “Air Nigeria”.

Secondly, the late Hamza Zayyad-led TCPC underrated the power of the Unions. In a reaction to a position paper on the need to get the in-house Unions and internal public to buy into the project, the then TCPC Secretary, Dr. Bernard Very said, “Thank you for your presentation. We are only concerned about the President and we have briefed him. Once he understands us, we don’t care about any union or person”.

Joji’s novel project and the country paid dearly for these two mistakes.

But sadly, it was not Joji but the airline staff, our nation and its citizens that lost. And the devastating impact of this loss is still surging through the aviation industry with undiminished

Thus, the replacement of Joji with Engineer Agom, the Senate President’s childhood friend, and a sworn opponent of Joji, led to the abortion of Joji’s “Air Nigeria”

3.

The IFC “New Co”: (2000) – Our Failed Attempts 4.

The “New Co” was the tag for the airline that would emerge from the privatization of Nigeria Airways under a new company. It was a concept created by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, engaged by President Obasanjo on assumption of office in May 29, 1999 to privatize the then national carrier, Nigeria Airways. The Agreement with IFC was signed on October 7th, 1999 by the then Vice President and Chairman, National Council on Privatization (NCP) – Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on behalf of Nigeria and James D. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank on behalf of the Bank. The Bank appointed its investment arm – International Finance Corporation – IFC to execute the Agreement whose three-phase-mandate were: Phase i - Strategic Review and Due Diligence Phase ii - Sale Preparation involving Action Plan Presentation & Approval Phase iii - Sale Implementation With a Team of six Consultants – (Three Technical, two legal and one Accounting), IFC hit the ground running in November 1999, working with the Atikuchaired National Council on Privatization – NCP, its implementing agency, Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), where El-Rufai held sway and Aviation Steering Committee – ASTRIC headed by the then Aviation Minister, late Dr. Olusegun Agagu and his successor, Dr. Kema Chikwe.

At the Steering Committee meeting of April 18, 2000, the joint groups came out with the final clarification of key government objectives, which included: i.

Establishment of MMIA as a pre-eminent hub for Nigeria and West Africa. ii.

Re-establish Nigeria Airways as a strong national flag carrier. iii. Transfer capital responsibility for the national carrier to the private sector. iv.

After about 12 months of extensive study, analysis and due diligence of the nation’s aviation industry in the airline sub-sector and related issues never carried out before and since after, the IFC came out with three strategic options: i.“New Co” – This would involve the emergence of an airline out of a New Company through Joint Venture between the Government and strategic investor/partner. ii.Liquidation of Nigeria Airways: Government to liquidate Nigeria Airways through a court-

Continues on page 14

14—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

•Kema Chikwe

•Jimoh Ibrahim

•Richard Branson

Our ten failed attempts (1960-2014) Continues from page 13 appointed process or consider a Management Buy-Out – MBO. iii. Long-Term Turnaround of Nigeria Airways and subsequent Privatization. This would involve a Management Contract of a 3-5year duration while the Government retains the capital responsibility. iv.

Of the three options, IFC rejected Liquidation on the grounds that it would not meet the Government’s objectives as well as the fact that it would stunt aviation development in the country and lead to monumental losses to the economy in all ramifications.

IFC also strongly advised against Long-Term Turnaround as it would require continuous injection of funds that would be better utilized in other social sectors of the economy.

IFC therefore strongly recommended the “New Co” option after exhaustively analyzing the extensive benefits to the country.

To ensure the success of “New Co”, it further recommended the following: That 5 key routes – US, UK, Netherlands, France and Saudi Arabia be reserved exclusively for the “New Co” for 5 years.

That from the close of transaction, a three-year transition period would be allowed during which “all C M Y K

intercontinental routes remain single designation irrespective”.

All key routes operationally utilized by Nigeria Airways are grandfathered to the “New Co”.

That, until after privatization, not more than US$2m facility should be sought by Nigeria Airways in order not to further worsen the already strangulating liabilities of the airline and make it more and more unattractive and investor-repellant.

That no staff retrenchment exercise should be undertaken in order not to further enlarge the pension liability which at the time stood at US$43m and more importantly, to avoid inadvertent removal of vital technical staff that will be needed by the “New Co” which, if effected, will impair smooth take-off of the “New Co”.

There were, in addition, over fourteen other prerequisites the IFC required compliance with for successful privatization. Up to this time, the IFC was working with the institutions involved in the privatization of Nigeria Airways, including particularly the Ministry of Aviation that chaired the Aviation Steering Review Committee (ASTRIC).

In July 2000, IFC submitted its Report and recommendations to the Federal Government through the National Council on Privatization (NCP). In August, 2000 the NCP wrote to inform the IFC of Government’s

acceptance of the “New Co” and the concomitant recommendations.

This concluded Phase 1. IFC was set to move to Phase 2: Sale Preparation.

It was at this stage that rumours and gossips reached OBJ that his Vice-President and the Chairman of NCP, Abubakar Atiku, was planning to buy the “New CO” through IFC. It was like a lie from the pit of hell. But the President who was still hurting from the AP saga was so incensed that he resolved to scuttle the entire wellintended privatization project.

Obasanjo’s field commander was the then Minister of Aviation, Dr. Kema Chikwe. OBJ was clear in his directive to the Minister and with a Principal Officer in the Presidency then, who is now a federal legislator, whose role was to programme movement of Memos from NCP to the President and back to NCP in a predetermined manner to stall their implementation, the Minister implemented the President’s directive with sterling performance and clinical finish.

At the end, all recommendations of the IFC approved by the President-in-Council were undermined by President’s personal approvals, the result of which included the list below: The Ministry dualized the London route and signed Open Skies Agreement with the US. It also got President’s approval for a US$30m facility from AFREXIM to revamp Nigeria

Thus, “New Co” suffered still-birth midway, killed, like Joji’s Air Nigeria, by the same person who fathered the great idea, President Obasanjo himself

Airways.

Lastly, it set up the Aboki Zawa Committee on Nigeria Airways, which sacked over 1000 staff, including top Pilots and Engineers that the “New Co” would have needed.

El-Rufais’s last minute battle from BPE against OBJ’s volt face met with resistance from both the Minister and the President, the Nigeria Airways MD, Yomi Jones, who preferred Turnaround to “New Co”, and Nigeria Airways in-house unions, where ATSSAN, whose membership and leadership comprised the 100 graduates employed by Joji as part of the start-up for Air Nigeria, was the most vociferous.

It was sad and ironic.

NCP’s 13-page complaint memo to the President on October 28, 2000 received no attention. Frustrated by the sordid twist, on March 15th, 2001, IFC formally withdrew in a two-page letter to the Minister, signed by its Manager, M.D. Leonard.

Thus, “New Co” suffered stillbirth midway, killed, like Joji’s Air Nigeria, by the same person who fathered the great idea, President Obasanjo himself.

BY CHRIS ALIGBE, former Corporate Affairs Manager, Nigeria Airways and Aviation Consultant kandimuwa@yahoo.com

To continue next week

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015—15

•HRM Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi during Ipebi recently

•HRM Oba Fatai Aremu Aromire, Ojora of Ijora

Ipebi, the Yoruba tradition shrouded in secrecy •It is spiritual cleansing, their Majesties speak

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN & EBUN SESSOU

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ulture has a way of identifying a people, race or clan. From the North down to the East and South, cultural differences confer a form of identity not in terms of social status but most importantly in terms of origin and ethnicity.

Even among the progressive elements, they pride themselves with different beliefs just as they do everything possible to preserve their culture. Its dynamism however offers a sense of pride not only as a distinct tribe on the one side but also as Africans on the other.

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Traditional rulers are the custodians of African culture and tradition and if you are to be enthroned as an Oba in Yoruba land, you will have to undergo a three-month seclusion in the native shrine.

In Yoruba kingship, the royal seclusion otherwise know as Ipebi in Yoruba parlance is the focus in this edition. Right from the day a man is selected as a King, either by the oracle or by the unanimous decision of the Council of chiefs and kingmakers, he assumes total dignity befitting royal office. He is always imbued with the ritual powers. No doubt the traditional paraphernalia of royal office make him thick beyond ordinary

Right from the day a man is selected as a King, either by the oracle or by the unanimous decision of the Council of chiefs and kingmakers, he assumes total dignity befitting royal office. He is always imbued with the ritual powers

person and thus he is addressed as the Kabieyi, meaning ‘your authority or action cannot be questioned. He becomes the Oba, alase, ekeji Orisa (King, the ruler and the gods’ lieutenant) According to HRM, Oba Aremu Aromire, Ojora of Ijora, ‘’an Oba is not an ordinary person, that is why they don’t have to talk anyhow.”

However, the royal prerogatives of wearing the crown do not come so cheap. There are processes- restrictions, seclusions, and transformation between the period of selection and coronation.

Ipebi, which is common with virtually all the Yoruba kingship processes, is

Continues on page 16

16— SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

•Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, Anyangburen of Ikorodu flanked by priests during Ipebi

•Young Osugbo and gbedu drummers urshering Oba Shotobi into Ipebi recently

Ipebi, the Yoruba tradition shrouded in secrecy Continues from page 15 usually a three-month seclusion in a native shrine where the Oba would undergo training in custom and tradition of the land.

He is not allowed to see any member of his family within the period.

Speaking with Saturday Vanguard in his palace, the Ojora of Ojora said: “Before, he will not be allowed to see anybody, not even his wife. I did not see my wife during my time in Ipebi but only my male child.

You will not sleep on the bed but on a bare floor. Then you undergo training on customs and traditions. That is all I can C M Y K

tell you”.

When asked about the kind of food an Oba eats in Ipebi, he said: “You eat all kinds of food prepared by traditionalists. The food must not be prepared by a woman. This is the period you will be praying to your ancestors for your reign to be peaceful. You must have quality time with the ancestors because after leaving the Ipebi, you are going to meet different people. I will not say more than that.”

Ojora stated further that the Oba in council and a group of traditionalists are those who are saddled with the responsibility of grooming the new Oba on the customs and

traditions as well as other things he said he would not mention.

He noted that some Obas have been carried away with politics and do not observe the Ipebi, describing the trend as ‘very dangerous’.

In the same vein, HRH, The Ranodu of Imota, Oba Ajibade Agoro in his own submission said: “During the Ipebi three lunar months period, the historical antecedent of the town; of various families and what they stand for will be shown to you.

Commenting further on culture, Oba Ajibade said “in those days. We were very familiar with the traditions of

You must have quality time with the ancestors because after leaving the Ipebi, you are going to meet different people

the village as handed over to us by our fore fathers.

Before the practice of Christianity or Islamic religions, we were all idol worshipers who migrated to different places to create towns and villages and we were ruling and governing our people without the use of the force or written laws during this time but with our culture. All these were in place when there were no laws, when there were no police, or judiciary and parliament. These cultures guided people on how to live their lives without rancour.”

It is not out of place to say what goes on in Ipebi during a Kingship process is shrouded in secrecy. Other traditional rulers we spoke with either responded with clear reservation or outrightly declined comment on it. The newly installed Oba of Ikorodu, HRM Oba (Engr) Kabir Adewale Shotobi who returned from the Ipebi recently described the Ipebi as “our traditional house for spiritual cleansing and prayers.” When prompted further on his experiences during his spiritual cleansing, he stated: “I went through a school and I was given a certificate.”

Oba Shotobi’s journey to the traditional royalty seclusion (Ipebi) began in June 2, 2015. According to a source in Ikorodu, “the new Oba arrived ‘Agbo Ile’, (Royal Compound) around 3am and after performing necessary rites left at 4am for ‘Awofin’ (old palace at Ajina, Ikorodu) where another rounds of activities and rites were also performed till 6am when the Oba and his entourage left for ‘Osugbo’, the Chamber of highest traditional authority in Ikorodu, which combined both executive and judiciary powers.”

He came out of ‘Osugbo’ shrine with some high priests to the sound of ‘Gbedu’ (traditional) drum at 10.26am and left back for ‘Awofin’, the ancient palace.

After necessary rites, Oba Shotobi embarked on the final journey to ‘Ipebi’. He arrived old ‘Ipebi’ at 11.59am and at 12.05pm, entered the modern ‘Ipebi’.

We also gathered the first port of call for an Oba coming out of his spiritual cleansing would be to visit all the shrines in the community. The source added that he would thereafter dance to the palace where the process of the coronation will climax.

However, Oba Shotobi returned from the Ipebi on August 1, 2015 marking the end of the 60-day period of his spiritual cleansing leading to his final coronation ceremony today.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015—17

Rare Gems; Between Ooni Aderemi and Sijuwade The greatest lessons of their lives were that success, without a worthy successor is unsuccessful

By Hon (Barr) Femi Kehinde

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t is a settled historical fact that Ile-Ife is the cradle of the Yorubas.We may not believe the myth of Ile Ife as the origin of human race, but we cannot deny the historical roots of Yoruba people as a whole in Ile-Ife. In the life of the ancient city of Ile-Ife, two eminent and distinguished personalities dominated the landscape of the Yoruba nation for an uninterrupted period of eighty-five (85) years.

Titus Martins Adesoji Tadenianwo Aderemi (15th November 1889-7th July 1980) was a quintessential Yoruba monarch. He was the Ooni of Ife in 1930 and was on the throne for an uninterrupted period of fifty(50) years until his death in July 1980. He was a member of the Oshinkola ruling house of Ife. He succeeded Ooni Ademiluyi Ajagun who died on the 24th of June 1930. He was the first literate Ooni.

Ooni Okunade Sijuwade, born on the 1st January 1930 to the great Royal family of the Ogbooru ruling house, ascended the throne of the Ooni of Ile-Ife on the 6th of December 1980 and was on the throne of this great Royal institution for an uninterrupted period of thirty-five (35)years until his demise on the 28th July 2015.

It is an interesting historical coincidence that these two great monarchs were destined for the Royal Stool of Ile Ife right from birth.

Oba Titus Martins Adesoji Tadenianwo Aderemi was born on the 15th November 1889, every inch a king, to C M Y K

the family of Osundeyi Gbadebo and Adekunbi Itiola, his 19th and last wife and a native of Ipetumodu.

On the day of Adesoji’s birth, his father, Prince Gbadebo Osundeyi had just arrived from a war expedition and as a gifted seer, Prince Osundeyi carried the baby into his laps, gazed intently into his face and was happy at what he saw. He instructed Adekunbi, to search for red beads,which they presented this special baby, pronouncing him an Ooni, a future Ooni, who is however an ancestor Ooni, who had come back through their family. Prince Osundeyi named this unusual baby Tadeniawo Ayinla Aderemi, who took his first footsteps at seven months (7) and started walking.

As a restless spirit, everything about Aderemi was quick and fast. He started schooling in January 1900 at the St. Phillips School, Iyekere, Ile-Ife. He left school in 1906, became a pupil teacher in 1907 and immediately registered with an overseas correspondent school, for private tuition, backed up with private lessons from the late Bishop A.B Akinyele, to whom he paid visits at Ibadan.

He joined the Nigerian Railway Corporation in 1909 in the construction section and worked in various other departments as Station Manager at Port-Harcourt, Iwo, Ile-Ogbo, Offa, Ibadan and several other places in the Western Region from 1919-1921, when he resigned from the Railway Corporation, after he had saved up some money, to set up his own business.

Adesoji Aderemi came into

And when he finally gave his verdict, presumably through an interpreter, he had his back to the colonial governor since no mortal, not even the representative of the English monarch, could behold his face

instant success when he started a Motor Transport business as well as a trade in produce-buying and general merchandise. After a brief tutelage with John Holt of Nigeria, he became an agent for UAC and later a Factor for John Holt Ventures, Mc lever and OLGeyser. He traded in three cash crops– cocoa, cotton and palm kernel which he bought from Iwo, Ede, Ipetumodu, Ile-Ife, Gbongan, Ile-Ogbo and Ibadan. He hoarded these produce while speculating an upturn in prices. He was reported to have made so much money as a result of the upturn in prices that he threw a party for the people of Ile-Ogbo where he was living at the time to show his joy.

He started his transport business with a fleet of Lorries and buses ferrying people and goods to and from many places around the country including Onitsha and Kafanchan. He became so financially successful that, he was nicknamed “Atobatele” (already famed as King) by his contemporaries and the people of Ile-Ife and also “Ooni Ola” (Tomorrow’s king). Adesoji bought his first car in 1920 and by 1930; he had used three cars which included an open roof car.

His fame and popularity was a pain in the neck of the then reigning Monarch, Ooni Ademiluyi Ajagun, that he was charged with impersonation and large flamboyant display of wealth at the Upper Palace Court of the Ooni. He was fined twenty- five (25) pounds. It is a funny coincidence and instructive that this sum of

twenty-five(25) pounds which he paid as fine was returned to him by the Ife local council on his ascension to the throne in 1930.

As an interesting corollary, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade II, was born on the 1st of January, 1930 to Prince Adereti Olubuse and grandson of Oba Adelekan Sijuwade Olubuse I, who was the first Ooni ever, to travel out of his domain. At the invitation of the Colonial Governor, Ooni Adelekan OlubuseI, visited Lagos in 1903 to give his ruling whether the Oba Elepe of Epe was entitled to wear a beaded crown.

That unprecedented journey to Lagos according to the government gazette, caused a stir in Yoruba land, because as a mark of respect to the Ooni, all Obas and princes momentarily vacated their thrones throughout the period of the Ooni’s sojourn in Lagos. When the Ooni finally arrived in Lagos, transported in his hammock, under a flutter of colorful, giant, royal umbrella, with his retinue of courtiers in toe, he was a sight to behold.

And when he finally gave his verdict, presumably through an interpreter, he had his back to the colonial governor since no mortal, not even the representative of the English monarch, could behold his face.

There is certainly no doubt that Okunade inherited a flamboyant lifestyle from his grandfather, Adelekan Olubuse I. Okunade’s mother was the late Yeye Olori Ifaseesin Sijuwade.

Okunade, from birth, like Adesoji, was also spotted for royalty.

From his early days, his name was not complete without the addition of a Prince. He had regal look that conjured the image of “Ooni lola” (future king).

Prince Okunade Sijuwade (as he was then called) started his Elementary education at IgbehinSchool; Abeokuta, owned by the C.M.S Mission and later proceeded to Abeokuta Grammar School under the tutelage of the famous Reverend Ransome Kuti between 1944 and 1947.

Whilst in Abeokuta Grammar School, his Principal, the Reverend Ransome Kuti wanted to flog the young Sijuwade for some misdemeanor. As the Principal raised his whip, the young Prince, dared the famous disciplinarian not to hit a “king”. Anyway, this rebuff did not stop the famous disciplinarian from hitting the “King”. However, the young Prince had made his point.

Sijuwade’s father, Prince Adereti Sijuwade was a

Continues on page 42

18—SATURDAY

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Vanguard , AUGUST 15, 2015

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, AUGUST 15, 2015—19

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With our ttoda oda e dist or odayy...w ...we distor ortted their ttomorr omorr ow omorro tallest (it was the tallest when it was built) building in the world? Or have an expensive drink at the only seven star hotel in the world? Does the 365 day ice skiing facility tickle your imagination? Especially since the temperature outside is an almost unbearably hot, 40 degree Celsius? I could go on but I have said enough.

Now come back home…home sweet home. What do you see as you enter our Murtala Mohammed Airport after a trip abroad? What do you see in the still, humid air you are

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o you know about the third eye? It is a simple trick of looking at a picture or slide and seeing another hidden picture or configuration different from the obvious one. At a time, a lot of management or training courses featured it. You would be given a set of pictures and drawings and told to use your third eye to find configurations different from the ones that stared at you. The feeling you got if you were successful, was that of elation at your perceptiveness. It was to teach you that things were not always what they seemed and that you could see beyond the obvious if you were creative and perceptive enough. And patient, in some cases, enough. I want us, as we go through this article, to use our third eye.

To the many Nigerians who have been to any of the Emirate countries, especially Abu Dhabi and Dubai, I ask this set of questions. What do you see as you step out of the plane, through the hot blast of air that greets you into the cool arrival halls of their International Airports? Do you see beyond the well maintained, highly automated halls and the civil but efficient officials? Do you take the low incidence of crime for granted as you and your luggage step into the car of a total stranger confident of your safety? Do you just take in the 12 lanes that ferry goods and passengers from Abu Dhabi to Dubai? Do you notice that not a single pot hole greeted you all through the 150 miles of the trip?

And if you do, what do you see in it?

Do you see in the construction works going on far beyond the two sides of the road as the car speeds past at 130 miles per hour, a sign of a throbbing economy?

Now to Dubai, the City of many firsts.

Do you put on your thinking cap or just wander like a happy puppy, through the wide, smooth roads at the tall, architectural master pieces?

What goes through your mind as you sail on what is supposed to be the largest man-made lake in the middle of the desert? Or go up the second

are you still questioning it?

I don’t know what you see or what your third eye sees. My third eye sees leadership; or the failure of it. It sees a set of leaders with a clear vision and a determination to transform its country. It sees another set that mouthed slogans but did nothing besides enriching itself and its cronies.

It sees leaders concerned with legacies vs leaders concerned with wealth. It sees national pride vs national indifference. It sees

They indulged our today and in the process, distorted the tomorrow of our children

greeted with because the air conditioners don’t work or the unnecessarily long walk you have to roll your hand luggage through because the travelators don’t work?

Or the absence of a lounge or a decent reception area for those who might want to meet you? What do you make of the filth that greets you and the perennially bad road on the way to the Oshodi Bridge? This in spite of the fact that it is the first road that introduces Nigeria or Lagos, its commercial capital to a foreigner? As the car speeds to its destination, are you finally resigned to that stale air of poverty that swirls around you or

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accountability vs corruption. It sees competence vs incompetence.

On the face of it, it is easy to say there is no basis for comparison between the two countries. But there are really many similarities if we care to find out. Both were British colonies.

Both discovered oil within a couple of years of each other. Both are, if you like, desert countries. Both, believe it or not, are third world countries.

And to those who felt religion was our bane, both have been led by conservative Muslim leaders. The stark difference lay in the leadership of the two countries. One set recognised oil for what it is—a wasting

f it is true that God’s promises cannot be broken and He has made beautiful promises to me, why am I still suffering? Why am I unable to access them? Why has God not made good what He promised? The question can go on and on. So many people, who have put their hope on something, trusting God, are giving up. Worst still, they are not willing to believe God or His word any longer.

Some are comparing themselves with others, wondering why they are not blessed, but others are blessed. The bible said it is not wise for us to must fulfill before that blessing will God’s word for me is settled. No devil compare ourselves with other people. come and once you fulfill that and no demon can change or alter it.

Wait on the Lord for his promises condition, the blessings will come God’s word or promise to you has the never fails. Beloved, God’s word can automatically. In Psalm 133, the bible ability and capacity to dominate your never die. Whatever God has says that God has commanded, not will circumstances. promised, He will fulfill. But every command blessing and everlasting life With God’s word, beauty will come promise that God made is a covenant. where brethren dwell in unity. The out of ashes, joy from mourning, This means that there are conditions blessings are already there, when they rejoicing from the spirit of heaviness. for receiving them; there are conditions come together in unity, they will come Whenever you begin to doubt the that God will fulfill and there are down automatically. God can never reality of God’s word, you are making conditions you will fulfill. It is like: this and will never lie. Heaven and earth satan glad. Therefore, no matter how is the condition I will fulfill (I will bless may pass away, but one jot of God’s bad the circumstances are, believe that you) but you have to fulfill this word will not pass away. God’s word God can and will do it for you. Let God condition,(It may be tithe, it may be is alive and true forever. The word has living in holiness, it may be prayers, been tested over and over and yet it be true and let the devil it may be having faith.) Ever before remains sure. It is failure proof. and every man be liars. you were born, God has fulfilled His If you believe the Psalm 119:89 notes that the word of own side of the covenant. promises of God, they will God is forever settled in heaven.

“God is not a man, that he should Do not be moved about issues and manifest in your life. lie: neither the son of man, that He cases around you because God’s word There will be should repent: hath He said, and shall concerning you has settled it. What you performance of His word He not do it? Or hath He spoken and will do is simple obedience to His to everyone that believes. shall He not make it good?”(Numbers word. Say this out loud and clear: Beloved, you don’t have 23:19).

Whatever God says For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard comes to pass. Whatever Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town God says becomes. If God or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 08023062635 08168955932; 08033378769. E-mail: says you are blessed, He Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org.

Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust has already gone ahead and blessed you. No devil Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407; Christ Reality Ministries, Zenith Bank A/C or power in the entire 1011711622. universe can stop it. The Worship with us on Sundays, 1st Service: 745am-9:15am; 2nd Service 9:15Wednesdays Word Revelation 6pm. Counseling days Tuesdays, rest lies on you. You must 11:30am.

Thursdays and Fridays. 11am-5pm daily or by appointment. Showers of blessing find out the condition you every 2nd - 4th Sat. of each month, 6 a.m - 7.15 am.

It came to pass

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asset and proceeded to use it to transform a hot, largely uninhabitable country that even the British were willing to give up, into a desirable haven. The other indulged and even boasted that money was not its problem and handed the baton of indulgence and sloth to other sets of leadership. One set invested in its country while the other invested in self and abroad. The result is that one country progressed while the other stagnated. One made the Arab world proud while the other made the African world an object of pity.

Today, Dubai has taken over as the face of the liberal Middle-East from Lebanon. Today, Dubai has almost taken over retail tourism from Britain.

It has also become the hub of commerce in the Middle-east. It is the veritable meeting and melting point between the east and west.

Recognising the power of youths, it has now gone further to invest heavily in sports and has joined the circuit of all the world’s leading sports from tennis to car racing. It is today, making more money from these far sighted investments than it is making from oil.

Despite opening its doors to the world, it has tried to protect the future of its people. There are parts of Dubai that are still very traditional. And there are parts where only indigenes can buy property. There are also huge incentives when indigenes inter marry and huge disincentives when they marry foreigners. Barring a tsunami, it can be said that these leaders have invested in the tomorrow of their young. And us? It is safe to say that we have frittered it all away in foreign banks, and on foreign houses and foreign women.

Just look around you. The ‘achievements’ of our past and present rulers are staring you in the face—in education, energy, infrastructure and youth employment. Our leaders say ‘for their tomorrow, we sacrificed our today’. But we know the truth. They indulged our today and in the process, distorted the tomorrow of our children. Yet some of these leaders are still strutting about— unrepentant. Some country. Some leaders.

to remain bound anymore. Jesus has set you free from the bondage of sin.

He has set you free from the clutches of death. He has set you free from lack.

He has set you free from sickness and diseases. He had set you free from every attack of Satan.

Do you want to experience fulfillment of promises of God in your life? The starting point is to receive Jesus Christ in your life as Lord and Saviour.

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 also ask that you empower me with the power of the Holy Spirit to enable me be an effective witness of Jesus Christ. I praise you and give you all the glory.

For your praise report, prayer requests, testimonies and financial support, you can contact us through our contact details below. God shall surely change your situation and make you to experience His realities.

20—SATURDAY

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Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

bnoxious evil can pass by you unrecognized. A loved relation was brutally dispossessed by death, not once, twice. He lost his sons in succession and mysteriously. A good natured and cultured man was crushed by fate. Igbo custom and cold hands of death left him supposedly ‘heirless’ even though I have wonderful female cousins , his daughters. An ageless, discriminatory and oppressive tradition pushed my aged uncle in search of a heir, so late in his day.

For him and many others , to die without a son not only leaves one to be inherited by ‘not his own’ but ensures the ‘obliteration of a lineage.’

Fortunately Igbo culture , so conscious of blood, has room for adoption. But adoption in Nigeria is such a tedious and messy business. Rickety bureaucracy invites a black market. The ignorant poor is consequently made vulnerable prey of the soulless.

When he opted for adoption , relief spread around because his predicament and his perception of its consequences had kept many hearts heavy. But twice he has been duped . Twice, hundreds of thousands of naira have been flushed down the filthy gullets of charity workers who on a closer inspection are members of baby trafficking syndicates. After a prior deposit , he was told his adoption papers will be processed once the baby was born. Baby was born, he completed the fee . Baby died a few days later of neonatal jaundice, so he was told. On a second attempt at what he believed to be a genuine adoption process , he lost the money he had paid because the police raided the ‘maternity’ and arrested everyone. Local government officials and a lawyer had introduced him to the orphanage whose proprietor ran the maternity. They convinced of the genuineness of the process and boasted of having helped many others.

But, look at it!

Another relation who lives abroad was luckier, ‘adopted’ and took away a 4 day old boy. The adoption was regularized, he got genuine papers . But the fact of success doesn’t make it a materially different moral engagement.

It only shows that that the line between adoption and baby trafficking has become dangerously blurred. And is perhaps made more fuzzy by desperation and poor regulation. He has his house full of daughters , yet he remained desperate for a son.

The enterprise continues to flourish and the government continues playing to the gallery with their bulldozers. There is a social problem begging to be solved. The government must firstly address the underlying issues that generate the appetite so that the demand pressure is reduced. Outdated cultural practices that further gender discrimination and handicap the “sonless” must be pruned. Adoption processes and procedures can be smoothened.

Then secondly, the government must provide the needed legal infrastructure to regulate and supervise surrogacy .

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Factories, factories, baby factories everywhere! (2)

The supreme court has ruled that any practice that forbids women from inheriting is discriminatory and illegal. But some cultures will not let women inherit ancestral lands. And patriarchy will keep demand for sons very high. But since Igbos have town unions that can effect significant cultural changes, you have to wonder why such a debilitating and retrogressive inheritance custom has not been modified in the southeast. State governments must seek to influence such cultures.

And for those who must have a son or no life, there is hope. In some jurisdictions, sex selection through the in -vitro fertilization (IVF) technique is permitted to meet the need of sex balancing.

So after one or two daughters you can use IVF and get a son while your wife is still young and before your house becomes too full.

We have adoption laws. The public doesn’t know much about them. Couples seeking to adopt are left in the hands of profiteers in government officials who have made adoption unnecessarily cumbersome and prohibitive.

The relevant government officials see adoption, even formal adoption, as lucrative business.

If we free our adoption processes of tardiness and corruption, we will contain , to some extent , the sprouting of baby factories.

The practice of surrogacy is not as morally messy as the sordid stories of baby factories tend to paint it . But surrogacy will always be fraught with moral complications. To avoid moral entanglements many countries prohibit surrogacy altogether and in many others altruistic surrogacy

only is permitted. Commercial surrogacy, where a surrogacy contract allows the surrogate to earn a fee, is permitted in some states in the USA, and in India, Russia, Ukraine amongst others. India has become the surrogacy capital of the world and their medical tourism industry has been boosted by foreign couples pouring in to rent wombs. Cost disparity and ready availability of surrogates in many indian fertility clinics and hostels have ensured that couples opt for India where surrogacy costs are less than half of the cost in the US .

Despite the booming surrogacy business in India , the laws are still weak and ethical and legal issues of citizenship, parentage and contractual obligations continue to dog the transactions. Many have suggested that only an international convention on surrogacy can alleviate the myriad of ethical and legal issues by universalizing rights and obligations in what has become an international business. In some disputed cases babies have been left stateless.

Surrogacy laws don’t exist in Nigeria and no one cares to enact them and regulate the practice. So illegal surrogacy black markets continue to thrive remorselessly. While it may be difficult to label these factories as surrogacy enterprises, it’s not difficult to see that some of their clients would have opted for proper surrogacy if any was legitimized and clarified. And many of the exploited poor women would benefit immensely form some sanitization of the morality of the endeavour.

When an activity is driven underground it is handed over to the underworld.

With clear guidelines and close supervision, and with help of artificial insemination and in vitro fertili-

All we really need in Nigeria is proper regulation so that most of the morally repugnant aspects are curtailed and criminals and profiteers are not left to exploit people

zation, the childless and the ‘heirless’ can get fairly clean help. We can start with altruistic surrogacy if our religiousity will prove an impediment to a foray into the indian example. Surrogate mothers can get compensation for pain and discomfort of pregnancy and loss of earning as it obtains in the UK where commercial surrogacy is prohibited. We can insist that only women who have had children and have completed their own families can take part so that teenage pregnancies are not encouraged. Surrogacy centers will be licensed and only married childless couples can qualify as intended parents. So the participation of ritualists can be controlled.

Commercial surrogacy proponents however argue that poor women can help other childless women by renting their wombs. And that remuneration may help poor women to feed and send their children to school. If whole persons can be hired to work in factories then why can’t poor women earn through gestational surrogacy? The world will be a happier place, the society benefits all round.

All we really need in Nigeria is proper regulation so that most of the morally repugnant aspects are curtailed and criminals and profiteers are not left to exploit people.

We can definitely do more than bulldozing and lynching.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015—21

Buhari must must ensure ensure Buhari Niger-Delta Niger-Delta does does not not boil again again – Orubebe boil

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

L

eader of the Niger Delta groups and the President/Founder of Concerned Niger-Delta Youths Initiative (CNDYI), Ebis Orubebe, in this interview spoke on why the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost the 2015 presidential polls and how to maintain peace in the Niger-Delta.

On why the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP lost the 2015 presidential polls There was serious internal crisis within the PDP, which led to the defection of some important members including governors, legislators and other leaders. Secondly, this insecurity challenge, especially Boko Haram, was a key factor the opposition took advantage of. Thirdly, you know Nigeria politics; politics of North and South. Some northern leaders accused Dr Goodluck Jonathan of refusing to honour the zoning agreement. I do not know when that agreement was reached, where it was discussed. That was a key factor, the entire North felt power should return to the region. Also, some persons within the party did not do well. We see it as a betrayal, the way they lost scandalously in their areas.

After the election the problem of insecurity appears to have increased, what do you think is responsible?

When the Boko Haram insurgency started many Nigerians felt it was just Jonathan’s problem. So people rather than joining him to fight they were busy blaming him. Even the people from places where this crisis is going on were seeing it as just Jonathan’s problem. So that is how it basically got to this point.

As we can see, this problem has gone beyond just Nigeria.

These people have connections with ISIS, AlC M Y K

Qaeda and other international terrorist organizations. I will call on all Nigerians to support the current President and the government, to see how we would put hands together and fight it.

On whether the crisis in the Niger-Delta region will re-surface under President Buhari Even before the election there were some set of youths, let me call them ex-agitators who threatened that if Jonathan was not reelected they were going to take up arms again. We reached out to these agitators and some youth leaders to take the result of the elections.

I still see some forms

of threat, especially on the part of the ex-agitators; arising from what is going on in the current government, which I may call witch-hunt. As of last count, we have three aides to the former president from the Niger Delta, who are being detained and no one has come up to tell us the reasons for their detention. I have my fears, because I know the role we played to make sure that there is peace in the region; and if this witch-hunt is not halted with immediate effect, I doubt that we will continue to enjoy peace in the Niger-Delta.

How do you think this looming crisis can be prevented?

As a group, we are still planning some programmes to bring the youths together. First and foremost, looking at the crisis in the North-Eastern

part of the country, we want to work with the youths over there because they are our brothers, and anything happening there affects every one of us. We are also planning programmes and activities that will continue to foster peaceful coexistence among NigerDelta youths. We have been trying to bring various warring factions and youth groups in the region together to maintain peace.

We are planning a meeting with the newly elected leaders in the region, especially the governors and legislators, to see how we can pursue a common goal, which is the development of the NigerDelta, peacefully.

What is your advice to Mr. President on the potential crisis in the region?

In President Muhammadu Bahari’s inaugural speech, he promised to improve on programmes that were already in place and that

I have my fears, because I know the role we played to make sure that there is peace in the region; and if this witchhunt is not halted with immediate effect, I doubt that we will continue to enjoy peace in the NigerDelta

Niger-Delta in particular will have a special place in his government. So, we are hoping that he will keep to his promise.

You are the President/ Founder of Concerned Niger-Delta Youths Initiative (CNDYI), what is the group about?

The aim of this group is to promote peace and unity among Niger-Delta youths in particular and Nigerian youths in general.

It was formed as a result of the polarization of youths’ groups over the years which has become a tool in the hands of selfish politicians with their divisive tendencies and other Niger-Delta forces.

We set up this group to bring these youths together in order to foster unity among them as leaders of tomorrow.

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

‘I lost my first child, left her body in the room and still went to preach’ degenerated. And it is unfortunate calling Buhari Mr. Go-slow. How do you want him to come and clear the mess of 16 years in two days? I don’t know why we are never truthful with ourselves. If the only thing Buhari can achieve is just to instil fear of corruption, and all the machinery of government and agencies are working to dissuade corruption, then we would have achieved a lot. Have you noticed that suddenly, electricity is working? EFCC has come alive? Where have they been all these years? The reason they were not working before was that no one would indict or punish them. I admire ex-President Jonathan so much, but he didn’t have the gut to fight corruption.

I will also blame the men of God. I will say the men of God, failed Jonathan.

Because Jonathan was operating like somebody under some spell and we (the men of God) had the responsibility of taken him out of the spell, pray with him even for three days and whatever was holding him would have been removed. But we did not do that.

Probably, he had the intention of doing the right thing but forces were against him and don’t forget he was not a matured christian. We would have taken him out and probably we would not be in this mess today.

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN AND SAM-LOCO SMITH

Last week, we published the interview of Dr Mike Okonkwo, the presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM. Today, we conclude the interview.

His challenges and how he was saved in the army He (the bank manager) organised that the military should come to the office and pick whoever they wanted, perhaps with an instruction that they should pick me. We were busy at the counter that day and suddenly the manager called me and two others. We went to his office and we met a military captain and his assistant. The manager said, ‘gentlemen, the headquarters said we should hand you over to the Captain.’ I wanted to run, and the Captain said he would shoot me if dared. Then I said okay, they should at least allow us to hand over our official duties. They agreed, and as soon as we stepped out of the manager’s office, we ran away.

I ran for miles and again, I found myself in a military camp where one of my class mates was in charge. I told him what happened. That was how I stopped working in ACB. From there I went to look for my parents where they were being held as refugees. By then, Dr Iloh was in charge of the Red Cross. I stayed with him for a few months. The war intensified and I was afraid they were going to catch me on the streets to join the army because that was the norm. So, when I found out that I could not escape it, I told my parents that my brother and I have to willingly go and register in the military. So, we did, and the training went for three months and throughout the period, we never fired one shot. After the third month, we got a pass to see our parents and that same day, we were told they were moving us to the force headquarters and to Gabon for further training since Gabon had recognised Biafra. They distributed riffles and bullets to us, but I told my brother, he should not take the arms and ammunition. He asked why, but I said he should follow me. We went back through the gate we came in and the Sentry was there who sensed we wanted to run but we told him that one of the officers left his cloths half way and he sent us to get the cloths. Surprisingly, he agreed, and as soon as we got out of the gate, we

•Bishop Mike Okonkwo disappeared into the bush.

The next day, the war ended while every person, sent to war the day we escaped from the headquarters were all killed. Those who were alive did whatever they wanted like smoking, womanising and all kinds of things. That was the turning point in my life. And since then, every step I took has been a miracle.

Challenges Here were several challenges, and even now there is no end to challenges.

The first one as a Minister was when I lost my first child. I got married to my wife in 1980 and we had our first daughter in 1982. We went to a crusade in Abeokuta in December 1984, we came back before the Christmas and on the Christmas eve, She developed high fever and early morning of 26th she died. It was a day I was going to preach. After praying and she did not come to life again, I left her in the room and still went to preach.

I did not mention what happened to anyone. As a minister, that is one of the challenges you face. Another experience was that my immediate younger brother who was the only support I had when I went into a ministry. We were six boys and four girls our parents had. He had passed the high level exams and was to go for Medicine. But my parents did not want him to go

as a way of punishing him for supporting my cause as a minister. They wanted to know if that could make me change my mind. But as God would have it, he still went to the University, passed as a medical doctor, joined the Navy and still joined me in the ministry.

He was one of our praise and worship leaders.

So, in the late 80s, I was traveling out and I asked him to conduct an interview on my behalf. It was when armed robbery began as an issue then. Some robbers followed him to his car, closed-in on him inside the church compound and asked him to bring the key of the 504 car. I think the military instinct in him made him to resist and started fighting them and he was shot. They took him to one hospital in Akoka, that could not manage the situation, yet did not refer him. I was abroad, I got wind of the situation and I asked that they moved him to better hospital, but unfortunately, it was late, he died. It was very devastating to me.

But I made up my mind, challenges should not make me reject the call of God. I told myself that the best I could do is to be the best in my calling. There are also challenges of not having enough funds to do the calling of God. For me, if everything you need is already there, then you don’t need God. So, if it is God that provides everything you need, you must depend on God for your needs.

About Nigeria I have always said it that God’s hand is upon Nigeria. If not it would have been Nunc dimittis long ago. But God has a prophetic hand upon Nigeria. It is not an accident, irrespective of our different challenges, and contradictions. So, whether the devil likes it or not Nigeria is going to be very great.

On Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade Everybody knows that corruption has killed us. It is not only endemic, in fact, the level is that if you are not corrupt, you will not be a good Nigerian. That is the level we have

Everybody knows that corruption has killed us.

It is not only endemic, in fact, the level is that if you are not corrupt, you will not be a good Nigerian

On same sex marriage The church should not be shocked about this because they are the part of the end time event. Don’t also be surprised if other strange things follow.

I wont be surprised if bestiality is introduced. I will only be shocked if the church gets involved in it. If nations endorse it, nations don’t go by the Bible.

They play politics. Parents must talk to their children and let them know that that is not the right thing.

On his wife I don’t think I would have been able to achieve what I have achieved if not for the wonderful wife God has given to me. One of the things that is common to those who are called is that they are not only husbands to their wives, they are husbands and fathers to a lot of people. So, if you have a wife that does not understand this fact or that is possessive, she could destroy your work.

If everyday we are always fighting at home, with the huge responsibility I have in the church, I don’t know how I would have survived. I thank God for having an understanding wife, as people often come to thank her for something I had done. Again, she has covered a lot of my weaknesses, reaching out to people and places that I was not able to reach out to. She is certainly a huge contributor to the work God has called me.

Physical exercise and food I do a little exercise, I don’t do exercise for Olympics. I eat red meat and little carbohydrate. I also swim even though I don’t have a swimming pool in my house. I do that occasionally when I travel. So, it is not about what I eat or how I exercise but the grace of God. And if there is anything I should ask from God more, it is His Grace.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015—23

BY KEHINDE AJOSE nitan Odugbemi may be a fresh face in the movie E industry, but the talented actress

believes her passion will take her to the peak of her career. The curvy Mass Communications graduate of Tai Solarin University speaks on her journey as an actress,and shares her thoughts on marriage, sex and relationship.

How did you finally take the step to becoming an actress?

I joined the industry through Mr Soji Eweade in Lagos. After some years, I came to Abeokuta to join late Hammed Alasari’s group.

What was your growing up like?

Growing up was a mixture of luxury and squalour. My parents made sure we didn’t lack basic amenities and we were brought up with the fear of God. My Islamic upbringing always sets the tone for everything I do. My growing up was fun and eventful.

Who are the individuals who inspire you in the movie industry?

The likes of Foluke Daramola, Ayo Adesanya, Toyin Adewale inspire me. I love the way they deliver their lines and I always pray to God to be able to interpret my roles the way they do.

I love my boobs — Enitan Odugbemi •Says “Acting doesn’t pay my bills”

•Enitan Odugbemi

How do you respond to your male fans advances?

I try as much as possible not to be rude to them in order not to create a bad impression about myself .

What is your opinion about bleaching?

I don’t see anything wrong in skin bleaching as long as it fits you and its not excessive. We all know that too much of everything is bad.

What do you do to maintain your beauty?

Nothing so special, just that I take a lot of water and fruits .I make sure I take my bath at night before I go to bed no matter how tired I am. I can’t do without cleaning my face at night Do you think your beauty or talent has taken you this far?

I don’t know, but I think it should be my talent. I know am not the only beautiful lady we have in the industry. There are ladies that are even more beautiful than I am. I don’t know if it’s beauty or talent. It just might be a blend of both.

Would you say being curvy has been a blessing to your career?

Yes, being curvy has been a blessing to my career. As a matter of fact,people recognise me easily because of my stature. I thank God

that I am big,bold and beautiful Can you quit acting for a relationship?

I can never quit acting for a relationship. I am passionate about acting. I don’t see myself doing that for a relationship. Nothing in the world can make me quit acting. Any man I get married to must love what I do. I can never marry a man that doesn’t like my job,so no man can tell me to stop acting for marriage. If I marry such a person and he tells me to quit, I might be forced to quit the marriage .I don’t pray for such anyway.

Can you marry a poor man?

No, I cannot. I can only marriage a man who is averagely okay and can take care of my needs,someone who can at least meet fifty percent or hundred percent of my needs.

He must be good looking, romantic, fun to be with and God-fearing.

What is your most challenging movie role?

I don’t really have a challenging movie role, but I can remember a role I played in a movie titled Owu funfun where I had to speak my local dialect all through. I can also recall I had the challenge of playing the role of a criminal in my forthcoming movie. I thank God I was able to deliver in spite of the initial challenge.

Was there a time you wanted to quit acting?

,

Have you ever had any embarrassing moment with a fan?

Yes, that was at Oxford Street in London. I was at Oxford Street to do some shopping when this young man walked up to me and said my face looked familiar. Later, he said he could recall that I was an actress. I smiled and he requested to take a picture with me .I agreed. The next moment, I realized he was trying to touch my boobs. I slapped him immediately.

I later realized slapping him wasn’t a good thing .I apologized and kissed him. He smiled and now we are good friends.

My Islamic upbringing always sets the tone for everything I do. My growing up was fun and eventful

,

I almost quit acting when my mentor and boss Ahmed Alasari passed away. I thought that was the end. My mentor was a motivator,always encouraging me.

It’s a pity he was unable to fulfill his promise to me.

What promise?

He promised to feature me in a movie and said I was going to play the lead role. He didn’t live to fulfill it.

Are you comfortable with exposing your body in movies?

I don’t expose my body in movies,it’s just because I am busty.

I love my boobs so much and I thank God because he gave them to me. I don’t deliberately expose my body.

What is your general opinion about sex?

Sex is a normal thing that should be happening between two lovers,so to me sex is sweet when you are with someone you love.

How about sex before marriage?

There’s nothing bad in having sex before marriage,because you have to know if your so called guy is romantic and if he will be able to satisfy you in bed Does acting pay your bills?

Acting doesn’t pay my bills. I run a beauty business in Abeokuta that pays my bills. God has been helping us so far.

What makes you cry?

I cry whenever I remember my late mum.I didn’t get to meet her. I was raised by my dad, my grandma and Mrs Kukoyi (My small mummy) .

Who is that one actor you will love to work with?

I will love to work with Kunle Afolayan. He is good at what he does and will push you to give your best. He is also a thorough director.

What new project are you working on?

My fans need to watch out for my next movie Rado Lomo. It’s a brilliant movie.

24 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

By KEHINDE AJOSE 08054680266

T

he bustling city of

Sapele recorded a record breaking attendance for a Star Music Trek concert at last weekend’s #SapeleRocks!

2015 Trek concert. The Sapele stadium recorded a capacity crowd of more than 11,000 eager fans.

The evening kicked off in earnest when Black Magic hit the stage with his characteristic energetic style, performing hits like Rainbow, Repete and Pass You By. Up next was Runtown fresh from his barechested antics in Makurdi.

The crowd came to life as he performed Gallardo, Successful, The Latest, Bend Down Pause, and the crowd favourite, The Banger.

Then came Mr. Raw who quickened the pace of the evening, delighting the crowd with his onstage antic, performing Obodo, I’m In Love With An Angel, Spiritual Konji and his latest track, Blow my trumpet, with Fanzy Papaya.

The night’s big surprise was an appearance by Sound Sultan, who came out of the crowd and took the stage with his throwback song, Jagbanjantis.

Mercies of the Lord came through the speakers as he interacted with the crowd, signaling the turn of Oritsefemi to make his appearance. The crowd pleaser soon ramped up the tempo with Redi, Sexy Lady, and Double Wahala’.

Dancehall star, Patoranking, was the next to hit the stage and the noise level went up a few notches as the hit songs came out: Daniella Whine, My Woman, My Everything, Alubarika, Murder, Girlie O, Emergency. He then invited Young Grey C on Stage and together they performed Chukwuma Remix.

Action moments of Star Music Trek in Sapele

with renditions of her hit songs like Lead Me On, I’m Taken, Popori and the everpopular German Juice which was the audience favourite.

One of her dancers in particular captured the imagination of the 11,000 fans packed into the Sapele Township Stadium.

Annie Idibia in shock as lady strips for 2Face

Cynthia Morgan Shares German Juice with 11,000 fans Nigeria’s undisputed queen of Ragga/Dancehall,

Cynthia Morgan delivered a masterful performance at the Sapele Township Stadium last weekend.

The red-haired singer did not disappoint her fans as she drove the audience wild

One of the major highlights of the concert was when a lady fan beat the venue security and ran onstage while 2face was strutting his stuff.

The unidentified lady grabbed the pop icon from behind, pulled him close, stripped off her top and attempted to take 2face’s clothes off.

Annie Idibia who was present to cheer her husband’s performance looked dazed at the scene unfolding before her eyes.

Everyone including the security had thought it was one of creative director Efe Omorogbe’s skits but apparently it wasn’t. It took a while before the security could pull her away from the

by Unlimited L.A

1. Young Grey C featuring Patoranking – Chukwuma (Remix) Naija Ninja’s Young Grey C finally unveils the video for the dancehall song, Chukwuma remix featuring Patoranking. The video was shot in Festac town Lagos, and has colorful images. It is directed

C M Y K

Star Music Trek stage.

2Face did songs like Rainbow, Implication, One love, African Queen, I Hate What You Did To Me and several others. The crying fan’s night was made when he was granted a chance to take photos with 2Face onstage. Finally he ended his performance with hit song ‘Ihe Neme’.

Burna Boy, MI, Jesse Jagz, Wande Coal, Seyi Shay storm Benin today

Fresh from delighting Sapele, a town in Delta State last weekend, the 2015 Star Music Trek is bringing the country’s largest and most popular annual music festival to the city of Benin. The concert, which is sponsored

by Nigeria’s favorite beer, STAR will feature blockbuster performances by some of the biggest names in Nigerian music such as Burna Boy, MI, Jesse Jagz, Wande Coal, Seyi Shay, Cynthia Morgan, DJ Neptune, DJ Switch & Host Dotun of Cool FM. #BeninRocks will take place at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City on Saturday August 15, 2015

to complement the song. It’s a song for lovers who stay true to each other through thick and thin. The video is directed by Mex

2. El Phlex featuring Oritsefemi – Aiye mi The duo of El Phlex has released the music video of their song Aiye mi. The song features Oritsefemi. The Double wahala crooner shows off his vocal power in the song. The video is directed by Moe Musa and shot in different parts of Lagos.

5. Lil Kesh featuring Viktoh – Efejoku The Shoki sensation, Lil Kesh who knows how to appeal to his fans, has released the video for his new song Efejoku. The video is directed by Unlimited L.A

3. Skuki – Forever The Skuki brothers display their romantic side in the video of this song. The video tells the tale of a struggling couple from the beginning to the end. The video is directed by the talented Adasa Cookey.

6. Phyno featuring Stormrex – Nnunu Phyno has been one of the most consistent rappers in Nigeria. He has released the video of his song Nnunu featuring Stormrex.The video is directed by Clarence Peters

4 Adekunle Gold –Orente YBNL’s Adekunle Gold who released his latest love tune Orente weeks back, has unveiled a music video

7. Sojay – Baby Rising artiste, Sojay signed to Reminisce record label has unveiled the video of his song, Baby. The video is

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015 — 25

By AYO ONIKOYI

Easystar rocks airwaves with “Your Love” song

BY IYABO AINA

F

aith Amos, aka Easystar, is the newest kid on the block in the Nigerian entertainment industry as his latest single, Your Love, has started rocking the airwaves.

The Akwa Ibom State-born, fast-rising artiste who started his music career professionally in 2008 before he got signed on to Fabulous music record, doesn’t seem like he’s slowing down anytime soon with the rate at which his song is dominating the airwaves.

Your Love, which is basically a love song for a typical African lady has hit the number one spot on several top radio stations and big clubs in Nigeria and the best is yet to come.

Easystar has worked with several producers and artistes like Presh and still working, as he aspires to break new grounds in the music industry by introducing his own genre of music called Hybrid Music, an infusion of Afro in every other genre. He is set to release a mid-tempo pop jam featuring Flavor.

I didn’t lobby to be signed by Olamide — Adekunle Gold R ISING artiste and YBNL signee, Adekunle Gold whose love themed song, Orente is fast becoming a favourite among music lovers has revealed that he didn’t lobby to be signed by Olamide. He declares this in a recent interview.

“When I dropped Sade, Olamide apparently liked it and the whole of YBNL crew. So, he called me and said he really likes my sound and he doesn’t want me to change my style. He later said he will like to work with me. I didn’t see it coming, I didn’t lobby for it or do anything whatsoever about it .I have always wanted someone to believe in me, I have been looking forward to that since .I just took it that way and the story changed” The singer who also doubles as a graphics designer also explains the reason he was signed “I guessed it just worked because my music is indigenous too and then my sound identifies with the streets.

I have been working with Olamide, I designed the YBNL logo and I have done a couple of deigns for the label before I got signed last year.

•Adekunle Gold

directed by Frizzle and Bizzle films.

8. Mike Aremu-Vow Gifted saxophonist and renowned jazz artiste Mike Aremu is back with a new video. The Oluwa ku ise star has released a crispy video for his new song Vow. The video was shot in England and is directed by Uvi Orogun 9 Jenny O featuring Oritsefemi- Shomara Afro- pop singer and media personality, Jennifer Fab Obi, has released the video of her dance track Shomara.

She collaborates with Oritsefemi to deliver a good tune.

The video was shot in Lagos and directed by Frizzle and Bizzle films.

10. Terry G featuring Wizkid, Phyno and Runtown Knack am

set for September album release

N

•Easystar

IGERIA’s award winning pop stars, Wizkid and Davido, will be releasing their albums in September.

It’s clearly one of the most anticipated albums of 2015, partly because a perceived rivalry has been said to exist between the Ojuelegba crooner, Wizkid and the Aye sensation, Davido.

These young superstars will be releasing their respective albums next year. While Davido’s album will be called Baddest, Wizkid is yet to let the cat out of the bag, by unveiling the name of his anticipated album.

Recall that these duo in recent times have collaborated with international artistes in order to further strengthen their star power. Davido featured Meek Mill in the controversial Fans mi,while Wizkid featured Drake and Skepta in the remix of his Afrobeat tune Ojuelegba.

One of the reasons why the duo’s album release timing is generating a lot of attention is because both of them have huge following, and are said to be rivals and appeal to the same audience. The question on the lips of music pundits is this: Whose album will rake in a lot of sales more?

I do music tto o mak e make people happ happyy — Ketchup F

ast rising singer, Ketchup, has revealed that he does music to make people happy. The Roozay crooner recently released a groovy tune titled Pam Pam sampling Shaggy and Chakademus.

With an upbeat tempo that you cannot help but dance to, Pam Pam is gradually becoming fan’s favourite.

The dancehall artiste who is ready to take his blossoming career to the next level has signed with 606 Music.

According to him: “I do music to make people happy

and I am always excited to work with talented and creative people, so when 606 came on board, I was very excited to sign the deal.” Speaking on the song, the artiste says “I hooked up with Orbeat who has been churning out monster beats recently, we made magic. As we speak now, I am presently compiling songs for my first studio album.”

After the release of Totori, restless Gingah master serves his fans a new tune titled Knack am. In Knack am, he collaborates with Wizkid, Phyno and Runtown.

11. Aramide - I don’t care Nigerian Entertainment Awards nominee, Aramide has released a new single titled I don’t care produced

by Sizzle Pro.The song is a Jazz fusion ballad with good piano arrangements and melodious lyrics.

According to her: “I don’t care is about being passionate about something or someone so much, that you lose yourself in it.”

12 Sean Tizzle – Abiamo Sean Tizzle steps away from his predictable style to dedicate a song to mothers and beautiful women all over the world. The song is a rich highlife tune called Abiamo, produced by D’tunes.

13. Saheed Osupa featuring Seriki- Womi Nigerian Fuji sensation, Saheed Osupa recently dropped a new song on his birthday, titled Womi.

He collaborates with indigenous rapper, Seriki in this entertaining tune. The song is produced by K solo 14. Immaculate – Osanle Vivace records songstress, Immaculate drops a new song titled Osanle. Immaculate once again shows her exciting fun side in this track.Osanle is a melodious Afro pop tune, produced by the revered Tee-Y-Mix 15. Dr Sid- Kabiyesi Mavin artiste, Dr Sid is out with a new song titled Kabiyesi. He samples Wasiu Ayinde Marshall’s Show your colour in this highlife tune. The song is produced by Don jazzy.

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

O

rganisers of the continental African Movie Academy Awards(AMAA) last Saturday, hosted Corporate Nigeria and other business leaders to seek support for the award organisation that has promoted the film industry in Africa in the last 11 years.

The event which took place at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos had in attendance, business leaders and professionals in the entertainment industry covering the Nollywood, Music, Comedy and fashion.

The Founder of AMAA, Ms Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, who is now the President of Africa Film Academy, took the guests on an excursion into the history of panAfrican award body and how it has served as a platform to showcase the best in the industry to the rest of the world.

“We have invited you here to tell you about our plans for the future and seek your support to help us in our determination to make the creative industry a major contributor to African economy. We need the private sector and government to continue to support and invest for content owners. The in the creative industry and we Facebook partnership with are here this evening to let you AMAA will drive digital impact know the way you can support in film and entertainment with us as the government of South over 1.4billion users, 120million Africa hosts this year’s AMAA of who are in Africa.

“Facebook partnership with us in Port Elizabeth, the home of is a commercial and cultural one the legends.” leveraging our platform which She used the evening to announce the partnership deal covers film and the whole between Facebook and AMAA entertainment sector and the and how the working Facebook global platform. This relationship with the social will give an unprecedented media business will boost opportunity for brands to creative enterprise, brand engage with millions of African visibility for sponsors and increase revenue

*Okey Bakasi and Zack Orji at the event.

When AMAA feted sponsors, launched AfricaOne Initiative movie fans as well as Africa’s film making community leveraging the digital reach of the world’s most pervasive social network,” said the AMAA founder.

In the same vein, the organisation at the dinner unveiled the AfricaOne initiative targeted at bringing together all contributors to the African Creative industry, on the same platform.

Fundamentally, the idea of AfricaOne is to create an

avenue for the realisation of the Pan-African dream using Africa’s creative industry according to Anyiam-Osigwe.

“AfricaOne seeks to rewrite the African narrative. As Africans, now more than ever, we must have our own voice in our story: our story, by us and for us. For this to come into fruition, it is crucial for Africans to come together; thus, the structural establishment of AfricaOne. “The AfricaOne road show will include music concerts, film

Why I’m spending so much on shooting videos — Solagbade Sola

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•Solagbade

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igeria’s foremost online content production company, NdaniTV recently unveiled a new travel series, "The New Africa" bouquet made up of 5 contemporary African shows to up the ante.

The well-attended event took place last Friday, at Four Points hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

During the Cointreau sponsored event, guests enjoyed a selection of Cointreau-frizz cocktails, clips of yet-to-be seen episodes of all five shows titled: African Dream, Skinny Girl In Transit, One Chance, Officer Titus and Real Talk were premiered to C M Y K

NE of Nigeria’s fast-rising gospel music sensations, Solagbade Sola Olaonipekun, has released two new videos: "Anu Oluwa", a track from her third album and "My year of Harvest", a track from her new album. This is coming shortly after the release of her fourth album.

Both videos were released on August 1. By dropping both videos, the songstress intends to take Lagos State and its environs by storm while fulfilling God’s prophesy.

“The new videos would take my career to the next level and give me the much needed recognition I deserve,” she says.

The videos, according to sources, were shot by South Africa-trained music video director, Oluyinka Davids, founder and CEO of iFocus Pictures.

*Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, AMAA founder screenings and the film-in-abox initiative. In its strive to showcase all of Africa’s creative innovators, the AfricaOne show will also showcase all other aspects of Africa’s creative sphere including visual arts…”

Speaking on why she shot two videos at a time, she said; “I have been led by the Holy Spirit to go all out and spread the goodness of Christ through this medium. Though, it was capital intensive, but I am sure that God who started his work will finish it.

“The decision is also part of my plans to give my career a facelift. It is necessary to approach my career with all the seriousness it deserves. So, shooting new videos and working with David of iFocus is the height of it all. The Holy Spirit has given us the direction to follow and we remain committed to the calling,I can’t begin to analyse how much I have spent on the two videos, but I am sure that God will make it worth the while in the long run,” she said.

NdaniTV ups the ante the public, while the orangecoloured red carpet, hosted by Cool FM OAP, Mercy Ajisafe and Timini Egbuson, saw a host of young celebrities in attendance, with performances

by Dammy Krane and Victoria imani. View the cut at #NdaniSeriesBouquet.

NdaniTv has carved a niche for itself over the last 3 years as one of the most innovative producers of contemporary

African content in Nigeria, with numerous successful shows such as The Juice, Ndani Sessions and Gidi Up amongst others showcasing the best of Africa to the world.

NdaniTV is proudly powered

by Guaranty Trust Bank plc.

Speaking at the event, Head of Production, Ndani TV, Agnes Marquis said, “At Ndani TV, we don’t just want to tell these stories, we share them

with the rest of the world in ways we know best.”

“The new series, she said, is ”an entertaining and informative travel series that follows the adventures of a young African traveller, Folu, as she discovers the sights and sounds, food, culture, holiday destinations and unique African lifestyles of various cities on the African continent."

*NdaniTV boss, Agnes Marquis

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015—27

Emem Isong makes case for rape victims in ‘Code of Silence’

Lancelot threatens to place curse on pirates

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...as he plans to release ‘Invasion 1897’on DVD

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he big-budget epic film, Invasion 1897 which has successfully premiered across the world in the past one-year is due to be released on DVD soon,the producer, Lancelot Imasuen has revealed.

Lancelot, who is currently in the United States, where the film is on the last leg of its world tour, made the revelation while in a chat with HVP. He said, the film which will be distributed by G-Media Limited, owned by filmmaker, and businessman, Igwe Gabosky is billed to hit the DVD market in the third week of next month.

But while that is yet-to-happen, the popular producer cum director has warned pirates to steer clear of the film, threatening, however, to place a curse on anybody that attempts to pirate the film when it is finally released into the market.

“After successfully running in the cinemas across the world, the big thing is that Invasion 1897 will be officially released into the DVD market in the third week of September. Thank God, this evil men have not been able to see the film and we are still praying to God that they shouldn’t. I am going to place a curse on anyone that wants to do something contrarily, other than procuring the film legally.

"Invasion 1897" which premiered in the country last December, has become one of the widely travelled Nigerian films in recent times. Since opening the Toronto International Black Film Festival in 2014, , the film has not stopped breaking new

•Lancelot Imasuen

By Juliet Ebirim

he premiere of another Nollywood blockbuster, Code of Silence, took place on Friday, August 8, at Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos amidst much fanfare. The movie which focuses on the subject of rape was well- attended by stars from the showbiz industry. The movie is Emem Isong’s second directorial effort and it features a newcomer, Makida Moka who played the lead character Adanma, Patience Ozokwor, Ini Edo, Omoni Oboli, Amechi Muonagor, Kofi Adjorlolo, Desmond Elliot and Shawn Faqua.

An anti-rape advocacy tool, "Code of Silence" written by Bola Aduwo tells the story of Adanma, a young and promising medical student who is raped by a local politician with near devastating consequences for all concerned. Makida Moka gives a good account of herself as the young girl whose world

of them and I felt they would interprete the roles properly.”

The star studded event was graced by Omoni Oboli, Keppy Ekpeyong, Amanda Ebiye, Rukky Sanda, I.K Ogbonna, Linda Ejiofor, Shawn Faqua, Makida Moka, Bola Aduwo, Bolanle Ninalowo and many others. Code of Silence is showing in cinemas nationwide.

grounds at the international scene. It has shown in different cinemas across the world, including Toronto where it showed twice, and Canada. It has also shown three times in London, Washington DC, Scotland, Houston, Dallas, California and Rowanda.

Currently, it's showing in Dublin and Republic of Island, after it finished showing in Chicago last week.

On Sunday, the film will be showing in Boston,before moving to Atlanta, and rounding off its tour on the 23rd, in New York, where it will be showing in New Jersey.

Segun Arinze becomes BON artistic director I

conic actor, Segun Arinze, has been appointed artistic director of the Best of Nollywood Awards 2015, holding in Akure, the Ondo State capital later in the year.

The executive producer, BON Awards, Seun Oloketuyi, made this disclosure during the week in Lagos.

According to him, “The Best of Nollywood Awards is happy to announce that consummate actor, Segun Arinze, is coming on board as the artistic director of this year ’s awards. The choice of Segun Arinze is predicated on the fact that we have promised that BON Awards 2015 will surpass the previous years in every ramification and based on that, we have decided to bring on board more people with the skill and savvy to help us achieve this.”

Oloketuyi said further, “We are counting on his experience as an actor and events organizer, and his network and

respectability in the industry to help us ensure that we have a BON Awards to remember. We look forward to having a good time working with him.”

Responding, Badagry, Lagos born-Arinze appreciated the organizers of BON for deeming it fit to appoint him artistic director ahead of a constellation of other equally qualified actors available to the organizers. He promised to bring his expertise and experience to bear to further improve the artistic and technical standards in the organizing of the awards.

“With a profound sense of duty, I accept the gesture of the organizers of BON awards in appointing me as

the artistic director for the 2015 edition of the event. The BON awards is dear to me because it is a homegrown reward platform for Nigerian actors and that was one of the reasons I accepted to join the train that was in Akure, Ondo State recently for the unveiling of the host state,” Arinze said.

•Segun Arinze

fell apart as a result of psychological and emotional trauma.

Code of Silence was produced

by Royal Arts Academy in collaboration with Nollywood Workshop. Speaking about the movie, talented film-maker, Emem Isong, said the movie is a good advocacy vehicle and a timely one too for calling attention to the growing cases of sexual violence as well as the stigmà and silence that attends it. “Sometimes, I do advocacy movies and code of silence is one of such movies. I decided to do a movie on rape to urge people to come out and say 'NO' to rape. Let’s break the code of silence. We want to break the assumption that the victim is at fault. The story actually found me because my friend brought the story to me and when I read it, I realised that I had a good one. It’s a 20 million budget movie. I decided to work with these cast because I’ve worked with most

•Emem Isong

M-Net Movies, MultiChoice launch Star Wars Pop-Up Channel are making African -Net Movies and MultiChoice -up channel featuring television history with a new pop a.

Sag rs all six epic films from the Star Wa tember, DStv Premium

M

of Sep From August 31 through 13th a special channel on M-Net with ned stun be will ers tom cus g two week- long addition to Movies 109. This groundbreakin vies cha nne ls on DS tv is the the exis ting nin e M-N et Mo nnel built around international cha nts eve Star continent’s very first channel dedicated to all things movies, as well as Africa’s first Wars. t of August, the M-Net Movies Each day of the week, starting 31s blockbusters that dominated the of one en scre Star Wars channel will ase in 1977 "From the cult rele epic its global popular culture since George Lucas introduced ch whi classic Star Wars: A New Hope with 5’s Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith us to Star Wars mythology to 200 owing digital effects. The movies d-bl min its Mwhich was praised for l order of release, according to which will play in chronologica rsed with animated features and Net management, will be interspe and other delights from the Star series, features, documentaries y Wars universe. channel fans will be able to enjo With this M-Net Movies Pop-Up the ore bef ters rac cha plots and all their favorite Star Wars battles, later this

new Star Wars film cinematic release of the brandyear.

STOP PIRACY NOW! STOP BUYING PIRATED MOVIE AND MUSIC CDs, DVDs. IT IS KILLING THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. STOP! C M Y K

28 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

By ANOZIE EGOLE

F

rom the time he delved into the Nigerian music industry with his much talked about hit track, African rapper number 1, till when he released his recent album tagged, Chairman, Jude Abaga, aka MI, has never failed to prove to his numerous fans that he is well grounded when it comes to making good music. In this interview, the new CEO of one of the biggest record labels in the country, Chocolate City, with over 13 artistes signed to the label, talks about his music career and his plans for brand extension: As the new CEO of Chocolate City, where do you think the record label will be in the next five to six years years and your opinion on rap music?

First of all, as the new CEO, we want to be number one every year. You should not compete unless you want to be the number one. Talking about rap music in Nigeria, I think I became a little bit relaxed at a point as a rapper because the competition was not like that when I was coming in. When I came in, we had the likes of Mode 9, Ruggedman, Source-kid, Ikechukwu among others. There was no way to pass but at certain point I dropped African rapper number 1, it became a little bit very competitive because I was like the only person running the show. But now I am grateful to go to shows. We see the likes of Ice-Prince, Vector, Ilbliss, Olamide, and Reminisce as rappers. We have rappers everywhere and that competition is there. So competition is not only in record labels, it is also in music.

Aside doing music, what other plans do you have for your brand extension?

There is a plan for that and that will come out very soon. I also want to go into clothing and stuffs like that. I am willing to go into fashion but you know, you need to be very careful because fashion has its own attitude. In fashion you have to be very careful but there is a serious plan for that. We will get there.

Don’t you think that if you want to go into brand extension you have to do something that is in line with what you are known for? Take for instance D’banj going into garri production; what do you have to say about that?

The on Ameri better •MI C M Y K

– MI

•Sa loo he

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015 — 29

him, I just see a success story and a business man who is not afraid to try. I think his effort should be applauded.

What do you have to say about the recent song by one of your artistes, Cooker which he did in pidgin?

When I talk to rappers about the language, they always tell me that I have to sell out and it always offends me. Because, pidgin, is a beautiful language and any time I am hanging out with somebody from Warri and those areas, I always enjoy myself. There are things you cannot say without speaking that language so why are we trying to create division between the language and English. Our culture is very beautiful. We just need to do it well. You can do American music poorly jut as you can African music as well.

One of my artistes signed to our record label that goes by the name, Cooker who recently released a song with a mixture of that. I think Cooker’s music is great and I hope it would be properly promoted. Because that song is a throwback to sound of old and for a young guy at that age to do that kind of song is quite good. The guy is also very respectful.

,

Dbanj before now, had worked with a lot of agriculture- related NGOs. They have been tackling the problems of agriculture. So the day he launched the koko garri whether he sells or not, he is very successful. It is not about the product itself or symbol but the target audience that he is trying to get has already been communicated. So you can see it is already a huge success. We are the people that will write the story. And the message is telling the youth that agriculture is the way to go. He has been successful in creating that product.

Secondly, you are not being fair to him if you say that Koko garri is the only brand extension that he is doing now.

Remember that from Koko mansion, we went to koko mobile and all of them have been very successful. He has over time, shown the power of his brand. I think the Koko garri is another thing that he is doing and you must go deeper to understand the concept of the Koko garri.

I think right now as a young person, if you talk about agriculture, the country should sponsor whatever that you are doing. I come from Taraba state and I know there is a huge farmland there. I would like to have a farm, I might not call it MI farm but agriculture is certainly the way to go forward. Hopefully, we are going to get to a point where everyone will accept Koko garri and probably see it as a rival to Ijebu garri. Take for an example, when you think about Kellogg cornflakes, you don’t see it the same way you see Koko garri, you see it as a nice brand. If Kellogg will endorse Dbanj as their ambassador you will all like the brand. There are so many different markets and the people will soon buy into the Koko garri, just as they have accepted Dbanj. So, for me, the Koko garri story is a huge success. Lets us not forget that Dbanj is the only African act to have Drebeat, he is also the only ambassador of Drebeat that has a colour made especially for him. Every other person is endorsing the brand for themselves, but he has a special gold colour made for him which is coming soon. So for everything you say about

Yes, if I have a proof that we have been together and done it because I believe that the best way for a child to be raised is for the both parents to be around

,

What determines your beats?

I listen to people’s opinions so much and I also understand that their opinions might not always be right. People would like to talk about you without really knowing what you are doing. I could remember then, we had the likes of Mode 9, Source-kid and others but there was never a rap album. There was no album that you could play for anybody and they would say ‘yes’, this is a good album. When MI too came out with African rapper number 1 people accepted it with pinch of salt but when I was recording the song my CEO then, Audu Maikori was so sure it was a hit. But at the time, I was not comfortable with the beat. When you are writing a song you have to start somewhere and end somewhere. It is like you are having a conversation with someone. You find out that in the process of rapping, we say things that don’t make any sense at all.

Sometimes, you can have good lyrics in rap music that does not mean anything. When you are writing a song, your communication must change. Until you

nly thing icans do r than us

ays he’ll take a second ok at a fair girl before can marry her

communicate with that person you are having a conversation with you have not made a good beat or good lyrics.

What should we expect from you in the next one year or two in terms of music?

This is probably my most productive period. I am shooting a lot of videos. I am also making a lot of music. I have seventy songs left over from the Mr Chairman album. I recorded them as an EP but I don’t want to put them out now. I have an album that is waiting, but again, as a big artiste, I have been talking with Tyga to feature in my album. So it is not what you will rush into, it is going to take time to put all those things together. The bigger we get here in Nigeria the more we are noticed internationally even in America. The only thing Americans do that is different from what we do is that, they sell their identity so well but the reality now is that we are not so far behind them. We had Jay Z’s cousin here in this our office recently and he was talking to us. He said that because Nigerians do not know that their music is good enough, they don’t sell it like the best music in the world. He said that is the only thing that is missing in our packaging and advised we should sell our music like the best in the whole world.

There is no magic in what they do in America. I am excited about my works that will soon be out and I was also excited to sign a Globacom deal last year for ring tones. We have the potential to be the largest market in the world.

Aside doing music, what else do you think you can do well?

I would probably be playing for Nigerian Super Eagle as a defensive midfielder and Arsenal FC as well. I would also have something to do with music or advertising.

When is MI getting married?

You see, what I am promising you is, when I know you will be informed, but for now, I do not know yet.

Is there any person in the picture?

They are many, one of them is married, Larry Hood, another one passed away recently.

Who is your ideal woman?

You know that picture of a real African woman? I think we have not really done much to appreciate African mothers. Do you know what they do? They take care of the kids and shop and take the kids to school and do many other things. Talking about the physical side of what I want in a woman, I want my children to be tall, so, she must be tall because I am not tall. Then I don’t care about complexion. If she is fair, that would be a problem because I would have to see her childhood picture to confirm if that colour is natural or artificial. Most ladies that claim to be fair or appear to be fair these days use unnatural means to achieve it.

So, getting her childhood picture would tell me all I need to know concerning her true complexion.

•MI

If someone should walk up to you now and say that she is pregnant for you, will you accept that?

Yes, if I have a proof that we have been together and done it because I believe that the best way for a child to be raised is for the both parents to be around. Look at somebody like 2Face he has shown love to all his kids and they are very close. Not only that, he has also maintained a good relationship with the mothers. When such situations arise, the best you can do is to make the most of them by staying true to yourself and be fair to all concerned Does any woman have a baby for you?

There is none that I know of.

Talking about your education, do you have plans of going back to school?

I wanted to but as soon as I came out, I have been working since so there is no chance of going back any more. I am looking for a time that I would be able to finish my education and get my degree and we will take it from there.

C M Y K

30—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

C M Y K

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015—31

By BENJAMIN NJOKU njokujamin@yahoo.com

Onyeka Onwenu sings for terror victims BY

TONY

AMADI

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igeria’s top musical brand Onyeka Onwenu, is always in search of innovation far ahead of her closest rivals, but when you come to think of it, who are her rivals? They probably don’t exist, because she is the lone ranger who is always important in the entertainment mix of the country and always ahead of the competition.

Right now, Ms Onwenu is concerned about the welfare of refugees in the various IDP camps in the terror infested areas of the country. She wants to do something in their lives, raising funds for their welfare through what she knows best, composing moving songs and delivering them in concert circuits in Nigeria and elsewhere.

Ever since she returned to Nigeria in the 1980s to do her National Youth Service at the Nigeria Television Authority, she has progressed to carve a niche for herself and in the process has become the best female singer, songwriter who even moved into the crowded Nollywood web and became a shining star in that firmament.

Now the Director General of the National Center for Women Development, NCWD, she still creates time for her music, her brand and her place in the society to the admiration of millions of fans who adore her music and style. Her latest works is an astonishing piece of sound engineering that will sooth the jaded nerves of the people she is singing about, the Internally Displaced Persons that litter across the nation from the seemingly unending state of insurgency the country has witnessed in recent times.

Onyeka is always thinking ahead, usually ahead of the competition and consumed by creative pursuits. She was involved in the Centenary celebrations and virtually all major national events either

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with appropriate song to celebrate it via special concerts, television or fund raising for social or other good causes. This time around, Onyeka Onwenu has a new recording for an

important cause.

Not Alone is a moving piece of artwork which will reassure the suffering hordes of North-Eastern Nigeria refugees that they are not alone. They have the rest of the country with them in their plight just as the Buhari administration has mounted a huge support for them and every Nigerian is ready to help in ameliorating their present hardship. The intensity of her voice and the usually sensational rhythm

that bubble under her touching lyrics are all certain to guarantee a million sales as soon as the CD is released worldwide.

Onyeka sings for the Refugees is an appropriate title, and she will take it on the road across several state capitals to drum up support for the victims of terrorism.

This means that the General Theo Danjuma-led committee on Rehabilitation of Refugees will want to be behind the actualisation of this Onyeka Onwenu-inspired fund raising package.

The video will be as important as her massive work on Squandering of

Riches, the BBC documentary she masterminded in the 1980s on Nigeria’s unending expose on endemic corruption in the oil sector and across the nation which continues till today.

Ms. Onwenu’s commitment to the success of the Nigerian project has always been phenomenal and her latest fund raising project will raise the spirit of the refugees scattered in camps in three states of the country, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

Nigerians should be prepared for the great musical onslaught on the way and also show support for the the

: e m a F t c e j Pro , Deborah,

er f i n n on Je s r e h 3 ot n o i t a prob

I

t was time for the top 14 contestants at the MTN Project Fame music contest to showcase the result of the week-long Academy tutelage last Saturday, and they did impress the judges with their performances.

The Wild Card finalists were also on standby to battle for a spot in the Academy.

Ruby Awa-Agwu (Pearl’s twin sister), Oluchi Odii, and Nkechi Ilo were the three Wild Card finalists, having impressed a select panel of Judges after thorough scrutiny of the various entries. The evening kicked off with their individual performances.

At the end of the day, Nkechi’s performance could not earn her a stay

*Some of the contestants in the Academy, but Ruby and Oluchi wowed the judges that both were given a chance to compete with others in the Academy.

The judges as well as audience enjoyed the evening with less criticisms concerning the contestants’ performances. It was their first performances and no one would be placed on probation.

Meanwhile, this Sunday, the contestants have spent only a week in the Academy. But with the hard work put into them by the Faculty, coupled with the Judges’ undeterred expectations of fascinating performances; it was time to find out those who have been paying attention in class.

Although they all gave beautiful performances the previous night , it was also time to see if they will again impress the Judges, Faculty as well as the audience with the evening’s performances. Failure to impress the Judges will, however, land some of them on the much dreaded probation list.

Taking it a notch higher, they all mounted the stage one after another with the determination to give it their all and shine through. While this worked out well for some, others unfortunately didn’t have it so, as they later found that the inevitable was their lot. *Contestants At the end of the night, Jennifer, Tejiri, Deborah, Kunmi and Richie from Ghana were put on probation by the Judges.

32—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

08 1 1 6759 759 081 6759759

‘My buttons always break!’ ombshell Charlotte McKinney may be best known for her curvaceous figure, but the Carl’s Jr. model B has admitted that having large breasts can be a daily

struggle - especially when it comes to people asking inappropriate questions about her chest.

The 21-year-old star reveals her top gripes about having big boobs in a funny new video created by Cosmopolitan.com - and Charlotte doesn’t shy away from listing the irritating things that come along with having an ample chest. ‘It is bulls*** to ask about my bra size,’ she says of one of her major complaints. ‘Why do you want to know? What’s it to you? I mean are you going to buy me a bra or…? I don’t get it.’

However, the never-ending fascination about her breasts is just one of the things she complains about in the clip. One may assume that a famous model like Charlotte never has issues trying on clothes, but the

former Dancing With the Stars contestant says the opposite is true when it comes to bra shopping.

She notes that bras are often the wrong fit because different brands tend to vary in size. And if a bra is too tight, there are other embarrassing factors she has to worry about.

‘Underboob, overboob, it’s just never ending,’ she says.

Charlotte says she has similar issues with strapless bras, which she can never keep in place.

‘All day it’s like,’ Charlotte says as she models how she continuously has to pull up a strapless bra.

‘It just keeps falling down,’ she notes.

The model, who has been dubbed ‘the next Kate Upton’, goes on to mock people who feign worry over the future of her breasts.

‘Your concerns about my boobs sagging in the future is absolute bulls***,’ she explains. ‘It’s called a breast

lift.’ Charlotte adds: ‘My mom’s got great boobs and she is in her 60s, so you can fix it or you can just let them sag.’ Another equally irritating questions is when people ask her why she doesn’t get a breast reduction. ‘Um because I don’t want one?’ she says. ‘I am pretty happy.’

And many women can related to Charlotte’s final complaint about button down shirts.

The blond beauty notes that ‘buttons keep breaking’ and gaps in ill-fitting shirts reveal your bra.

‘It is a never ending battle,’ she notes. The Floridaborn model rose to fame on social media, with her Instagram photo earning her profile in Esquire in 2014.

A year later she landed her first Carl’s Jr. ad before going on to appear in a sophisticated shoot for Vanity Fair. She went on to appear in the most recent season of Dancing with the Stars where she and partner Keo Motsepe finished in 11th place.

I know I said ‘til death do us part but this is ridiculous!

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any couples think of their wedding day as the start of a new life together but these Thai newlyweds seem to have taken the idea more seriously than most - lying in a coffin as they said their vows The wedding ritual, conducted by monks, allows couples to rid themselves of bad luck by being ‘brought back to life’ and is believed to bring true love, prosperity, and protection from harm.

Ten couples took part in the unusual mass ceremony at a temple on the outskirts of Bangkok recently. Participants made offerings to the monks before taking their places side-by-side in the large pink coffin - floral bouquets held to their chests.

The monks then draped a large white sheet across them - representing their death - and performed chants usually reserved for funerals. The prayers ended with blessings for a new life.

When the sheet is removed from the coffin, it signals the start of a life free from bad luck, abbot Phra Kru Samu Sa-ngob Kittkayo, told the Bangkok Post. It also could serve as a reminder

for couples to live with the reality that nothing lasts forever - a key component of the Buddhist philosophy.

The temple held the event for the first time last year when Valentine’s Day fell on Makha Bucha Day - a Buddhist holiday - giving couples the

‘Now I’ve earned enough to buy you a ring’ A 30-year-old man has proved true love stands the test of time after he spent two decades saving up to buy a diamond proposal ring for his childhood sweetheart.

Twenty years ago, a 10-year-old

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Liang Liang promised his girlfriend he would save enough money to marry her one day.

Last Saturday, Liang showed up at a jewellery store in Fuyang city, northwestern Anhui province, with 150 kg worth of coins amounting to 12,000 yuan (AUD$2624).

He purchased a diamond ring and fulfilled his childhood pledge, reports Sina News. The romanticist had been turned down by several other jewellery stores when he attempted to pay with the coins, but the manager of the store which sold him the ring was touched by his plight.

Four employees in the store spent over 10

hours calculating the coins, which were presented in neatly wrapped newspaper: the coin with the largest value used in China is worth just one yuan (AUD 0.22). The manager of the store has since vowed the coins will be put on display in a bid to honour the ‘best evidence of true love’.

‘Do you remember 20 years ago, I said I would earn money and marry you?’ Liang reportedly told the woman when he proposed.

‘Now I’ve earned enough to buy you a ring, please marry me!’

The man’s fiance reportedly burst into tears as she accepted the proposal. After recovering the ring on Tuesday, Liang is now preparing a proposal ceremony for his fiance.

chance to marry as part of a religious ceremony.

The abbot said he originally had no plan to repeat the event, but that a number of brides and grooms had contacted the temple asking for their marriages to be blessed.

Among the couples at the temple Photos of a Florida police officer and a homeless man sitting outside a gas station and eating together have proved popular online.

TiAnna Greene shared the images of the duo on Facebook July 16.

Greene wrote in an accompanying post: ‘I don’t know this officer, but, I admire her today and everyday. ‘It appeared that she purchased this gentleman’s breakfast and decided to sit down and have breakfast with him.

‘Absolutely wonderful act of kindness that seemed to come naturally for her. ‘Although I was only blessed to witness less than 2 minutes of her kindness that definitely came from the heart, it truly made my morning!!’ On Facebook, Greene’s post has been shared over 1,300 times already. The Ocala Police Department shared a

were two women, Pichaya Thaenphim and Pattaranaya Kamploy, who have been together for more than three years.

They said the temple had agreed to include them in the ceremony even though homosexual marriage remains illegal in Thailand, local newspapers reported.

was just there by himself alone, so I just grabbed food and went back to eat with him.’

The sergeant told T O D A Y : ‘Isolation is the worst part about being someone who is homeless.

‘They ’re Florida police of offf icer who bought isolated from everyone, and I a homeless man breakfast... think any type of interaction is a screenshot of Greene’s post on positive thing. ‘He was great.

Instagram last week, WSOCHe was nice to talk to. ‘He’s TV noted. Police wrote: ‘Sgt. got a story, just like everyone Erica Hay caught in an act of else. ‘It just happens to be a sad kindness by a citizen. story.’ TODAY reported Green ‘She bought & shared a meal was with her daughter when with a homeless citizen she took the photographs Serving citizens with a heart!!’ waiting for a traffic light to Hay told TODAY she didn’t change. She told the website: know the man she was ‘I told my daughter, “See. That photographed eating with. is truly a sign of compassion.”

She told the news outlet: ‘He

34 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 15, 2015

Y

ou have been vacating in Nigeria for a while now.

How has it been?

It has been a pleasurable vacation in Nigeria. I have been having a wonderful time with members of my family and friends. Home is home, so it is always sweet to be at home and relieve good memories with those who we love. Owerri is my home and I enjoy being in the serene and peaceful city to share wonderful times with my people.

,

Nigeria’s Nwakali ready to face Ronaldo

I don't know what to expect from Ronaldo until I face him but I guess it would be interesting and exciting. But I can't say much until I battle him

,

•Speaks on Nigeria’s failure in New Zealand

F

IFA U-17 World Cup champion, Chidiebere Nwakali has said that Coach Manu Garba cannot justify his relegation of the foreign-based professionals to the bench at the last FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, reports JOHN EGBOKHAN

C M Y K

•Nwakali

How was growing up like for you?

Growing up was fun. I grew up partly in Owerri and partly in Lagos. The journey started from Owerri before going to Lagos. I Played for most of the academies in Owerri. I started from Jaru to Taye, to Amuneke academy in Lagos and fro there I joined the Golden Eaglets. I was in the team when they played the qualifiers for the U17 Nations Cup. I did not miss one match.

In essence, you are using this vacation to forget about the painful experience at the last FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, where the Flying Eagles, which you were part of failed to fly beyond the second half, after losing 1-0 to Germany?

(Laughs) Well, what can I say? We all went to that

Nigeria’s Nwakali ready to face Ronaldo What happened to you guys in New Zealand still remains a mystery because going into the World Cup, people expected an improved performance from you guys, given that most of the players were amongst the Golden Eaglets squad that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup less than two years back in the United Arab Emirates? It is like the World Cup didn’t even start for you guys?

No, no, no, it started for me. I don’t even know what to say on this but I think the coaches, led

by Manu Garba and the management can provide a better answer to why we failed.

They made the decisions that led to what happened in New Zealand. We, the players wanted to do our best to defend the pride of the country. But we had our limits.

So being benched contributed to our ouster?

Of course. That was why I said “put us and we will do our work”. Being on the bench cannot make me to do my work.

I can only watch and do nothing from the bench.

And for the other World Cup champions, their condition was similar to yours?

Yes, most of us comprising Kelechi Iheanacho, Success Isaac, Solomon Badure, Chidera Ezeh. All the professional players sat on the bench. It was a very unfortunate World Cup. It left me speechless Did you guys have issues with Coach Garba?

Not al all. That was why I said they will be in a better position to answer the question.

But we heard from sources that the professionals in the teams acted too big for Garba and showed up when it pleased them?

No, no, no. If he says that, then it is unfortunate and untrue because as for me, I came to camp earlier than every other person. I was in the camp right from Nigeria to Germany and New Zealand and I do not know what other sacrifice I could have given the coaches besides that. I was committed to the Nigerian cause but was shocked with the way I was treated.

We heard that you guys were benched because the new players were better than you during the camping and that they were not swollen-headed like you and the other professionals?

I have no response to that question but I know that anybody that is better than somebody and is on the pitch should be able to do the work better than those on the bench.

Those who played should have done better for the country but that was not the case. The result could not justify the action.

What lessons can we learn from the misfortune that befell the Flying Eagles in New Zealand 2015?

The only lesson that I think we as players and coaches can learn from the World Cup is to do the right thing that will help the cause of the country. That is the only thing I can say.

Turning to the current Golden Eaglets squad who would be in action later this year at the FIFA U-17 World in Chile, your younger brother is the captain and it is natural that you would be praying for his success so that your clan can have two U-17 World Cup champions in a row?

I am praying for them to be champions in Chile 2015 because I was a champion in 2013 and I knew the type of royal treatment I got after that feat. I wanted to be a champion in New Zealand 2015 but that was taken away.

•Ronaldo

You came through the U-17 rank and now your younger brother walking the same pathway, which makes it look like your family is a football home?

Yes, you are right on that. We are a football family. My father was a footballer during his time. He played to a certain appreciable level and did well even though, football was not as lucrative in their time as it is now. We are products of his seeds and it is only just natural that we are playing football.

My elder brother also plays the game but my younger brother and I seem to be the shinning lights in terms of football. I believe it is gift my father transferred to his sons.

So he freely allows you guys to play football, without the usual don’t play football attitude of fathers to their children?

He does. He encourages us and that is why three of us are

•Garba

playing football, with no problems.

What is your next ambition as far as national team football is concerned? Are you thinking of playing for the Dream Team at Rio Olympics in 2016 if they qualify?

As I am about to return to Europe to make a debut for my new team Malaga and from there, I am hoping to get a callup to play for the Super Eagles. If I am called by Coach Samson Siasia to come play for the Dream Team, I would honour the invitation.

Eagles next match in the race to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon is against Tanzania, who seem like minnows but can’t be underrated just like that because of the tricky nature of football. How should the Eagles approach the match?

It is going to be a game to

,

tournament hoping to win the trophy. We wanted to do our best to make Nigerians proud but unfortunately, we found ourselves in a bad ending. It was beyond us and we have accepted our fate and moved on.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 15, 2015 — 35

I Played for most of the academies in Owerri. I started from Jaru to Taye, to Amuneke academy in Lagos and fro there I joined the Golden Eaglets

,

watch because it will be Coach Oliseh’s first game as Eagles coach. Younger players will be watching that game because it will serve as an inspiration to them and that is why Eagles must win so that that positive feeling can flow into the other national teams.

With your new status as a Malaga player, Nigerians would soon start seeing you square up against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi of Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. How are you warming up for this classic encounter with these world stars?

It will be a very great experience to play against Ronaldo because I have played against Messi, who is so fast and a kind of player who every player dreams to play against. I don’t know what to expect from Ronaldo until I face him but I guess it would be interesting and exciting. But I can’t say much until I battle him.

Nothing is impossible and I might end up on the winning side.

And what do you make of the improvements in the Nigerian league and do you feel it is a good motivation for players to think of playing their professional game in the country, rather than going abroad to play for some obscure teams in some unknown countries?

I am very impressed with the standard of the league. If it is so good, there would not be any reason for most of us going abroad to play. We want our league to be in a very good shape so that when we retire from abroad, we would return to Nigeria to play in the league for few seasons before finally bowing out.

C M Y K

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

Pomp as Bishop Babalola’s daughter marries

B

ishop Bayo Babalola and wife, Pastor Yemisi Babalola brought a whole new meaning to panache and class when their daughter, Feyisayo, married her heart-throb, Unyime Jackson last Saturday in Lagos.

From the Flaming Sword Ministries on Lewis Street in Lagos where the couple was pronounced man and wife, to the reception at the Lekki Coliseum, it was love signed in glamour, sealed in splendour and delivered in an atmosphere of camaraderie accentuated with intense merry-making.

La wals, A de e Law Ade deyyeyes unit unite in love ON August 9, 2015, the families of Mr. & Mrs. Olatunde Lawal of Iperu-Remo and Pa. & Mrs. Adeyeye of Ondo kingdom joined their children Taiyelolu Oladoyin and Olugbenga Adeyemi in holy matrimony at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel.

The couple; Oluwagbenga Adeyemi and Taiyelolu Oladoyin The couple, Fisayo Babalola and hubby, Unyime Jackson with the bridal train.

Parents of the bride: Bishop Adebayo and wife, Pastor Yemisi Babalola

Chief Michael and Taiwo Ade-Ojo.

L-R: Prince Gbenga Lufadeju, Pastor Kole Oluwajana and Prof. Taiwo Ajayi C M Y K

Parents of the groom: Rev. and Dr. Felix Jackson

The couple, Gbenga & Doyin Adeyeye with bride’s parents, Mr. & Mrs. Olatunde Lawal

The couple; Gbenga & Taiyelolu Adeyeye with groom’s parents, Mr & Mrs Adeyeye.

L-R: Erelu Obada and Ngozi Are.

L-R: Mr. Kenny Martins and Mr. Macaulay Iyayi

The couple; Gbenga & Taiyelolu Adeyeye with groom’s family, Pastor & Mrs. Oshingbade

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015 — 37

B-R-I-E-F-S

UI student slumps, dies during examination

Chief of Naval Staff says Navy to acquire facilities for enhanced operations

..as UI suspends exams indefinitely

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

T

HE Nigerian Navy is to acquire more facilities to enhance its operations in the country.

Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok -Ette Ekwe Ibas disclosed this yesterday during the passing out parade of the 2015 special duty commission cadets at the Nigerian Naval College Onne.

Continuing, he said the Navy will now encourage more training in sailing with its recent acquisition of NNS Prosperity, adding that the newly commissioned cadets should continue to conduct themselves in decent manners at all times.

He charged them to bring their training experience to bear in all naval operations. “ You have imbibed all aspects of the training and having come this far, I hereby declare that you have met the Nigerian Navy requirements to be transformed from the ratings cadre to that of officers. You are now trained and ready to be commissioned as Special duty officers in your respective specialization”, he said.

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

A

N unidentified male student of University of Ibadan, Distance Learning Programme, UI DLC yesterday slumped and died while writing his first semester examination in Lagos.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the incident caused pandemonium in the Adebayo Akande Hall, Ikeja venue of the examination, after information flittered in that the student had died.

One of the students, who identified himself as Oluwatoyin, said that the yetto-be identified student, a 100 Level student in Political Science Department slumped at about 2pm after complaining of headache while writing his POS 111 (The Study of Politics).

Oluwatoyin lamented that after he slumped, none of the officials of the university attended to him for minutes, saying “rather, they were busy calling oth-

L-R:Programme Manager, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), Oluwatosin Abolaji; Head, Marketing Communications, Etisalat Nigeria, Gerald Osugo and Programme Assistant, (PIN), Gabriel Odunsi during Etisalat’s visit to Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) Lagos to commemoration 2015 International Youth Day in Lagos Wednesd a y.

er students to come in for their exams.”We gathered that over 500 students converged at the venue of the examination. But there was no provision for ambulance or any medical official to provide first aid.

According to him, “Maybe the student would have

survived if he had received quick medical attention.

But, it was one of the students who ran to the taxi garage to hire a taxi used to convey him to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH for treatment. When they arrived at the hospital, he was

pronounced dead.”

He added that the news of his death angered the students who vowed that they will burn the examination venue, noting “we paid for medicals but we have never received any from the school management.”

Enugu Psychiatric Hospital workers send S.O.S to Buhari over alleged N254m fraud

BY OUR REPORTER

T

HE Joint Health Sec tor Unions (JOHESU), Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu has sent a strongly worded petition to President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly rescue the workers from the grip of corruption, embezzlement, misappropriation and abuse of office.

Besides, they accused the administration of diverting over N254,138,616 million released by the Federal Government for the completion of ongoing projects in the hospital.

Addressing a press conference entitled “Rescue From Corruption/Embezzlement/Misappropriation and Abuse of Office in Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu” in Enugu, the officials of the JOHESU which comprises Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Senior Staff Association (SSA) and National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNUM), threatened that except the federal government investigated alleged fraud, they would close down the hospital without further delay.

Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives C M Y K

(NANNUM), Comrade Ejimadu Alozie who, alongside his colleagues in the union, addressed journalists, alleged that the N64,000,000 meant for payment of arrears of staff conversion, N110,138,616.00 meant for completion and

equipping of the multi-purpose Clinical Services complex had been embezzled while drug suppliers under the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) are being owed more than N10 million.

Also, the JOHESU ac-

cused management of embezzling N60,000,000 from the staff cooperative welfare, claiming that management has withheld the union’s check-off dues deduction since January 2015, among others.

Don’t demonize past administration, House of Rep member tells Buhari that when you’re leaving

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU

A

MEMBER of the Federal House of Representatives and PDP stalwart, Hon. Sergius O. Ogun has criticized the way and manner the Buhari-led administration is going about its anti-corruption crusade, cautioning that nobody should try to demonise the immediate past administration in the country for any reason.

Hon Ogun spoke against the backdrop of the President Buhari-led administration’s insistence on probing the immediate past administration.

According to him, rather than demonizing the past government, President Buhari should concentrate his energies on working with what is on ground to move the nation forward.

His words, “We are all

Nigerians and we remember some of these things.

My take is that if you want to probe, by all means, go ahead and do so. Don’t over-sensationalize anything you’re not doing. I don’t see anything new that the new administration has done that hasn’t been done in this country before. He wanted to travel to America and so much noise was made about it. Now, he has gone to America and returned. The President should be apolitical. Forget about APC and PDP. Do the needful, so that when you leave office, history will remember you. If the President is not considering a second term, when he governs well and is about to vacate office, he will anoint a young man from his as a successor.”

“Rather than demonising the past president, work with what’s on ground, so

after the expiration of your tenure, you will be able to anoint a success who will continue from where you stopped. But if you’re here playing politics because of the promises you’ve made, and you think the proper thing to do is to demonize the past government in order to reduce people’s expectations, it won’t work.

My advice is, if you want to probe people, quietly go ahead and do so.”

“The Federal Government said it would probe past administrations, and suddenly, it says, it’s limiting it to the immediate past administration. Today, they are hailing the Buhari-led administration over the zeal to fight corruption. But it has always happened.

When Jonathan was in government, Oyo and Ogun State governors were detained by the EFCC. So nothing has changed,” he said.

Why we are developing infrastructure — Wike

T

HE current development of infrastructure in Riv ers State is geared towards enhancing international and local investments in the state, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared.

Speaking when he granted audience to the Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Ambassador Sean Hou on Friday, Governor Wike said that the critical road projects being executed are targeted at creating access to business locations.

He noted that the international and local investments will create employment opportunities for the people and also develop the state.

The governor added that his administration has also deliberately worked on the improvement of security, with a view to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Jewish, Christian, Muslim youths promote dialogue for peace

BY SAM EYOBOKA with Agency reports

T

HERE are encouraging signs for religious harmo ny as young participants in a World Council of Churches (WCC) interfaith summer course representing Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions hope to make a strong contribution towards dialogue in their home countries. According to a Muslim participant, 25 years old activist and journalist, the key to dialogue is knowledge: “As religious people, we need to delve deeper into our own identities. We must seek knowledge about religions different from ours and find common ground to build communities that may remain diverse but peaceful.”

The WCC summer course which began on July 27 ended yesterday at the WCC’s Ecumenical Institute in Bossey, Switzerland. “The differences we have amongst religious traditions are fundamental. There are limits to our mutual understanding. But through love and friendship I hope we can melt away our religious prejudices,” said Yonina Cohen, a 23-year-old representative of Jewish tradition.

Cohen, who comes from Jerusalem and is a student of Islamic and Jewish thought and philosophy, shares her opinion that dialogue is in its “infancy” in Israel. “Despite that some organizations are working, we still do not have a strong tradition of dialogue with Muslims, or people of other religions.”

Adamawa not using N200m for prayers against Boko Haram- Gov SONI DANIEL, Northern Region Editor

A

DAMAWA State Governor, has said that he was o t using N200 million to mobilise prayer warriors against Boko Haram insurgents. Rather, the government says it is using the amount to strengthen existing community surveillance and intelligence gathering to check mate the operations of the insurgents.

This position was made known in a statement released in Abuja by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mathias Yohanna. n

38— SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

AN INTER-RELIGIOUS FAREWELL SERVICE IN HONOUR OF HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY ALAYELUWA, OBA OKUNADE SIJUADE, OLUBUSE II, OONI OF IFE YESTERDAY — (PICTURES By Dare FASUBE)

From left Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state, Professor Yemi Osinbajo Vice-President, Senator Omoworare,Prince Tokunboh Sijuade and Prince Kunle Sijuade.

From left Prof Muiz Opeloye President Ife Development Board, Mr Kola Adetunji and Mr Gbenga Adefaye GM/Editor-in-Chief Vanguard Newspapers.

Picture shows cross section of Christian clergy men that presided at the service.

From left Senator Baju Bamigbetan, Rear Admiral Akin Aduwo and Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Picture shows cross section of people at the entrance of the Palace.

From left Prince Adedamola Aderemi, Rev. Mrs Omotola Oyeniran and Ambassador Tokunboh Awolowo Dosumu

Traditional worsshipers in a processsion during the Inter religious farewell service for Oba Okunade Sijuade.

Picture shows cross section of Muslim Clergy men that presided over the service.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015 — 39

AN INTER-RELIGIOUS FAREWELL SERVICE IN HONOUR OF HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY ALAYELUWA, OBA OKUNADE SIJUADE, OLUBUSE 11, OONI OF IFE WAS HELD YESTERDAY — (PICTURES BY DARE FASUBE)

Picture shows Royal fathers from left Oba Danniel Ayankunle; Oluwaro of Iwaro, Oba Adesiyan Mayowa;Eyenla of Amula-Ife, Elemure of Emure Ekiti; Oba Emmanuel Adebayo and his Olori.

From left Alhaji Bashir Awotorebo, former Misister of Special Duties and Gen Alani Akinrinade (rtd).

Ooni Sijuade, an epitome of humility, honesty — VP Osinbajo T

HE Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has described the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, as an epitome of humility and honesty.

Osinbajo made this statement at the Interreligious farewell service in honour of Ooni at his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun, on Friday.

The vice-president also described Sijuade as an exemplary ruler, who did so much to uphold the high traditions and culture of Yoruba people.

Osinbajo said, “all over the world, places where the Yor uba culture is celebrated, the Ooni was very well recognised.”

He said that the achievements of Sijuwade were worth celebrating and that the monarch would live on with his legacy enshrined in Yoruba history.

Similarly, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola lauded the late Ooni for a life well lived and for being a good role model to other Obas (traditional rulers).

The governor, who was represented by Mr Moshood Adeoti, the Secretary to the State Government, said in a speech that he received

news of the death of Sijuwade with shock.

He said the Ooni was a pacesetter who led the Osun Council of Obas with sincerity and honesty and that he would always be celebrated.

He said the Ooni was the chief custodian of Yoruba culture who

would be greatly missed.

Aregbesola prayed for the repose of the soul of the Ooni and that God grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

T h e Interdenominational service was earlier heralded by sermons and prayers from Rev.

Olusola Akanbi ( C h r i s t i a n ) , Mufutaudeen Yusuf (Muslim) and Ifaloba Ifagbenro (traditional priest).

Mr Adetokunbo Sijuwade, son of the late Ooni, thanked the state government and the people of Ife for their support on behalf of the family.

Ooni, worthy Ambassador of Oduduwa — Mimiko

O

NDO state Gover nor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has described the departed Ooni Of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade as an exemplary traditional ruler who carried himself in a manner expected of an ambassador of the Oduduwa deity.

In his condolence message issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade in Akure on Thursday, Mimiko condole with the entire Yoruba nation on the

demise of the revered king, declaring that the late monarch successfully protected and brought more dignity and colour to the throne of his fore fathers.

He said the lives touched by the late Oba, glamour and panache

the departed first class traditional ruler brought to the Obaship institution made it more attractive and a veritable avenue to work for the people and affect the society positively.

Submitting that the

Ooni would be missed by the entire nation, Mimiko prayed that the spirit of the departed will bring glory, peace and advancement to Ife Kingdom, Yoruba nation and Nigeria in general.

Ooni was a national icon — Oshiomhole

By Simon Ebegbulem

G

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has commiserated with the government and people of Osun State, and indeed the entire Yoruba race on the transition of the Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, the Governor said “the transition of the Ooni, the custodian of the rich history and tradition of the Yoruba people, is a colossal loss not only to the people of Ile Ife, but also the people of the State of Osun,

the Yoruba race and the entire nation.

“The Ooni was indeed one of Nigeria’s most cerebral royal fathers who carved a niche for himself as an enterprising young Prince before ascending to the exalted throne of his forbears, and his reign was remarkable as it brought unprecedented development to the State of Osun, which was carved out of the old Oyo State under his reign.

According to the Governor, the Ooni was not only a national icon who used his wisdom to shape public welfare and national development, he was also deeply committed to the pur-

suit of a better Nigeria.

He was a kind and humane royal father blessed with an uncommon simplicity, humility and decency worthy of emulation. He was a deity indeed.

“On behalf of the government and people of Edo State, I commiserate with the government and people of the State of Osun on this irreparable loss.

“We beseech our Heavenly Father to grant the soul of His Royal Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II, Ooni of Ife peaceful repose.

We also pray for God’s consoling grace on the family and the entire people of the State of Osun.

Nation has lost a rare Gem — Ambode

L

AGOS State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday commiserated with the family, friends, associates, subjects and the government and people of Osun over the transition of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Olubuse Sijuade II, saying the nation and most especially the Yoruba race has lost a rare gem.

Oba Sijuade who became the fiftieth Ooni of Ife on December 6, 1980, passed on Tuesday, July 28 in a London hospital at the age of 85 after a brief illness, but his departure was officially announced on Wednesday, August 12, by the Ife Royal Traditional Council in accordance with tradition.

In a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, the Governor said the late first class monarch will be sorely missed for his fatherly role and advice, describing his demise as a great loss to the nation.

Extolling the virtues of the late Ooni, Governor Ambode recalled that the late monarch used his wealth of experience in tradition and commerce to better the lot of the Yoruba race.

“Without any iota of doubt, Oba Sijuade was a forthright traditional ruler, and astute business man who for decades helped to pursue and unite the common interests of the Yoruba race."

40—SATURDAY

C M Y K

Vanguard , AUGUST 15, 2015

SATURDAY

C M Y K

Vanguard , AUGUST 15, 2015 —41 2015—41

42—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

Continues from page 17 wealthy Cocoa Merchant,who had a thriving business in Iju, Alagbado and Abeokuta axis of the present day Ogun State. He relocated his business back to Ile-Ife in 1947 where Okunade completed his secondary education, at the famous Oduduwa College. For a short while in Oduduwa College, he was always mistaken for a school teacher, but deliberately, he did not correct the impression, because he was always impeccably dressed.

Okunade Sijuwade will be remembered by many of his classmates as a particularly diligent student and quite mature for his age and also as someone who had unlike many of his colleagues at school, been familiar with the cosmopolitan life in Lagos at that time-the then center of good life in Nigeria.

After learning at Oduduwa College, he joined his father’s business for about three years and thereafter had a two year stint at the Tribune Newspapers in Ibadan, in order to be close to the Awolowo family and learn from the life of the great sage. He thereafter proceeded to the Northampton Polytechnic, United Kingdom, from where he joined the Leventis Group in Manchester in 1957. He also had advanced business management programs in the companies in Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Scotland, West Germany and Israel and armed with these immense experiences, he returned back to Nigeria to launch a career in business.

His business endeavor in Nigeria was marked by outstanding success and average fortune. Shortly after Prince Sijuwade returned to Nigeria, he was appointed Sales Manager of Leventis Motors with Headquarters in Ibadan and by 1960 he had become an Adviser with the Leventis Group. In 1963, the Western Region Government approached the Leventis Group to release the Prince for five years to help the organization of some of their companies. His first assignment with the Western Region Government was as Sales Director of National Motors in Lagos and subsequently headed the management of the company.

In 1964, he undertook an extensive tour of the Soviet Union for possibility of acquiring better products for National Motors. The Soviet cars were seen by the Prince as being relatively cheap and durable. As a smart businessman, he saw this as a business opportunity and seized it. He thereafter formed a company along with his three friends- the C M Y K

Rare Gems; Between Ooni Aderemi and Sijuwade company- WAATECO, was to later become the sole distributor of Soviet made vehicles, tractors and engineering equipment in Nigeria with at least fifty Russians and numerous Nigerians on its payroll. This business effort later gave birth to a business empire that was to include at least fifty companies. He thereafter left National Motors to avoid clash of interest, when his bosom friend, Retired General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo (Colonel) assumed office as the Governor of the Western Region.

Within ten years of extensive business activities locally and internationally, he relocated the Headquarters of his business operations to the United Kingdom in 1973. He had become a business octopus.

He embarked on two major projects in Ile-Ife that were to showcase him as Atobatele or Ooni Lola. He built a modern Housing Estate that was to provide housing for Senior Staff of the University of Ife. This was his contribution to the growth and development of the University of Ife and also his home town Ile-Ife. He also within this period, built a first class hotel,-The Motel Royal, for VIP visitors to IleIfe. This hotel provided accommodation for important dignitaries that came for his

Adesoji bought his first car in 1920 and by 1930; he had used three cars which included an open roof car

coronation a few years later.

Oba Adesoji Aderemi upon ascension to the throne in 1930, began immediately his modernist policies for the growth and development of Ife Land and the Yoruba Nation. He founded Oduduwa College in 1933 and in 1935, aided the installation of the Ife Water Works. He brought telephone services to Ile-Ife in 1938 and built a new official residence for the Ooni and in 1944 opened the Seventh Day Adventist Mission Hospital. In 1948 he inaugurated the Egbe-Omo Oduduwa and the same year he visited England and served as a delegate at the African Conference in London. In 1953, he was appointed Minister without Portfolio in the Nigerian House of Representatives and in 1954 was appointed the President of the Western Region House of Chiefs. He climaxed this, by becoming the first African Governor of the Western Region in July 1960, succeeding the former British Colonial Governor, Olola Sir John Rankine. He was the first to hold such a post in the entire British Colonial Africa. He functioned effectively in the office as Ooni and Governor, with vigour, grace, panache, dexterity and humaneness, as a true symbol of the royal stool of Oduduwa. He was in office till December 1962.

Oba Adesoji Aderemi used his position of influence to advocate that the proposed University of Western Region be sited at Ile-Ife in 1962, in recognition of the ancestral status of Ile-Ife as the religious and cultural matrix of the Yorubas. The University started from the current Ibadan North Campus of the present Ibadan Polytechnic and finally moved to Ile-Ife in 1967, which was, to Aderemi, the fulfillment of a long cherished dream.

He built a magnificent mansion; The Atobatele Lodge before he ascended the throne of Ooni in 1930.

This lodge was later occupied by Barclays Bank.

Adesoji being a man of deep foresight,built the popular Glass House at Iremo Road Ile-Ife, as his own family compound, which his family of several wives and over sixty children relocated to, upon his passage from the royal stool of the Ooni of Ife in July 1980. Oba Adesoji Aderemi as a progressive and radical traditionalist was described by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo as “the very embodiment of royalty and devotion.”

In his funeral speech, titled; “A Rare Breed of Monarch” delivered on the 11th July 1980, at an open prayer service for Adesoji Aderemi, Chief Obafemi Awolowo said this of him -‘As an Oba, he was the epitome of a humane and liberal ruler. Wherever he was, he diffused geniality and peace. I never knew him, in our forty years together to be angry, even once or to speak harsh offensive words to any man”.

The lives of Adesoji and Okunade were destined and glued together for the advancement of the course of the Yorubas for an uninterrupted period of 85 years. The greatest lessons of their lives were that success, without a worthy successor is unsuccessful.

Adesoji and Okunade were proselytizers of the Yoruba tradition, history, cultures, mores and norms. A worthy successor would only enrich the stool of Oduduwa and ensure further perpetuation of its entrenched values. It is a clearer call to the Ife King Makers to allow a process, that would bring a worthy successor to the throne of Oduduwa.

Hon (Barr) Femi Kehinde Former Member, House of Representatives National Assembly Abuja, 1999-2003 Representing Ayedire/Iwo/ Ola-Oluwa Federal Constituency of Osun State. & Principal Partner Femi Kehinde & Co. (Solicitors) 84, Iwo Road, Ibadan.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 15 15,, 2015—43

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

How to outsmart your cunning mother-in-law!

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VERY time Ireti visited her motherin-law, her teeth were always on edge. Ruth, her mother-in-law is now in her mid 70s, frail and ailing, but as full of spite as when Ireti married her precious son 15 years ago.

“Ruth and I had always been at war,” confessed Ireti, “but Gboye, my husband was unaware of this. He’d been the result of an affair his mum had with a wealthy industrialist who bought mother and son a house, but kept the ‘embarrassment’ of a lovechild away from his family.

In spite of this shabby treatment from Gboye’s father, Ruth was always throwing his name around and telling people how much money he lavished on her.

Ireti said, “After the man died, when Gboye was in his teens, his mum had poured all her love onto her only child. No wonder he worshiped her. Her frailness never concealed her razorsharp tongue, especially when we’re alone together.

“Gboye and I had gotten married when, we met abroad, so I was already a mother of two when we came back home. The first time I met her, she became hostile as soon as her son left the room, and instead of being intimidated by her hostility, my back was up!

Who did she think she was? I was in the kitchen when she’d whispered to Gboye that he should have married a more suitable wife—only she was loud enough for me to hear. On our way home, I’d warned that if she would continue to be unfriendly, I wouldn’t visit any more. But Gboye pleaded I should be patient with her that she was just over-protective of him.

That was hog-wash as far as I was concerned, and by the time I’d known her a couple of years, I’d realized how devious she was. To everyone else, she was a sweet old thing who doted on her son. To me she was vicious! My pounded yam was always lumpy. The house not clean enough and the children (now four) rowdy. I hated her as much as she hated me. Only, there

was this silent agreement to pretend to get along for Gboye’s sake. That was why I swallowed my rage at her catty digs, plastered on a fake smile when she visited. ‘It’s a relief to see both of you get on so well,’ Gboye had observed with pride on our way from one of our visits to her. I bit my tongue hard to stop me from disagreeing with

him.

“Shortly after this, Gboye dropped his bombshell— Ruth couldn’t be trusted to live on her own. Her health was failing and he would love for her to live with us.

What? On a permanent basis? All I know was that we’d be at each other’s throats all the time if we lived under the same roof— that calculating dragon was bound to drive me round

the bend? The news so caught me unawares that I burst into tears. Gboye was alarmed. Didn’t I want his mum living with us? he asked, confused.

“Of course I do,” I lied.

“The thing is, I’ve been having my own health problems lately and what with work and the children, I sometimes feel everything’s just getting on top of me.”

Gboye was now really concerned. He wanted to know what was wrong and I’d had to invent a disease, symptoms of which a friend recently discussed with me. He consoled me and seemed to have forgotten about wanting his mum to live with us. But I knew it would be a matter of weeks before that witch would bring up the topic again. Discreetly I visited Gboye’s uncle who had always been nice to me and who was aware of the hostility between Ruth and I, and cried my heart out to him. He told me to dry my tears. His house was virtually free now the children were grown, and Ruth would be more than welcome to live

with him and his wife. They had a couple of servants and I promised to chip in at the expense of Ruth’s upkeep but he waved off the offer. He then suggested I shouldn’t say anything to Gboye, he would make it look as if it was his idea.

“It was a relieved Gboye who came home a couple of days later to tell me what a wonderful option his uncle just suggested to him. Relief surged through me but I quickly hid it as we got ready to give Ruth the good news. ‘I’m glad she would be looked after by her younger brother’, Gboye enthused. ‘She’ll be fine, and knowing her, she would adjust in no time’.

I’d won this battle! As we discussed the option of her moving in with her brother, she glared with pure hatred at me—but I looked through her. I wished I could stick out my tongue at her in triumph. Fancy living with that kind of a woman and for God knows how many years! People like her seldom die easily!”

Why men tolerate pain better

I

I swallowed my rage at her catty digs, plastered on a fake smile when she visited

T is a debate that can prove rather agonising for everyone involved. Men have long claimed that their pain threshold is higher than women’s, while women cite child birth as a proof the opposite is true. Now, scientists have claimed to have found the answer once and for all. It seems men can tolerate more pain than women and are less likely to let on that they are suffering because they want to appear macho.

According to researchers from Leeds Metropolitan University, gender stereotypes mean men tend to act stoically when they are hurt, whereas women show more sensitivity. Pain scientist, Dr. Osama Tashani, who recruited 200 British and Libyan volunteers for the study said: “Traditionally, high levels of stoicism are associated with men and

high levels of sensitivity are associated with women. Some ethnic groups are described as more stoic, while others are viewed as more free in expressing their pain behaviour. We did not detect differences in pain unpleasantness.”

Dr. Tashani monitored sensitivity, endurance and willingness to report pain, and found that men had higher pain thresholds and reported less pain intensity than women, irrespective of their nationality. The British volunteers could not endure as much pain as Libyan participants but were more willing to report it. However, reactions based on gender stereotypes were more pronounced in Libya than the UK, suggesting gender and culture both play a part in how we cope with discomforts. Those who took part in the two-year

study were put through two pain-inducing procedures. In one, they were jabbed in the hand with a V cm-wide blunt tip, while in the other, they had to hold their hand above their head while a cuff was applied to restrict blood flow.

However, according to another study, making them sit a maths test could have been just as effective.

Researchers at the University of Chicago have found that ‘maths anxiety’—where someone is scared of maths regardless of their ability can cause physical pain.

The study discovered that those who experience the highest levels of anxiety at the mere anticipation of maths test also show increased activity in regions of the brain linked with pain sensation. And the higher the anxiety, the higher the neutral activity detected.

44—SATURDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

YETUNDE AREBI

yetty5050@yahoo.co.uk twitter @yetundearebi

The sex of a woman

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he sex of the woman, remains one of the most complex aspects of her sexuality and life as a human. Perhaps, the particular location of her sexual organ may have contributed largely to this. Located in the crevice, embedded within her body and protected by her thighs from general view, the vagina is already en shrouded in secrecy by biological and physiological composition. Unlike its male partner, located outside the body, the vagina is more private compared with the man’s. This may have added to the special status and respect, responsibility bestowed on the vagina while also making it the most sought after part of her anatomy. Naturally, anything hidden becomes an enigma, it becomes a treasure to be unravelled, discovered, investigated, experimented with, and most likely acquired. The delicate, yet multifunction of the vagina adds to its beauty and honour, thus, its special place in societies. It is a channel of physical relief of sexual desires just as it is also a channel of life, procreation and assurance of the continuity of mankind. A woman’s vagina can make or mar her depending on how she puts it to use within the society. Used ‘wisely’ and she is accorded a respectable position, otherwise, she may become stigmatised. Yet, not all that happens to the vagina is the responsibility of the woman and within her control.

As an endangered specie right from conception, she is discriminated against simply for the reason that she is what she is, a being with a vagina. The joy that greets her birth, determines how much she is desired by her family. This was aptly captured in a popular advertisement “mama, na boy oh!” which depicted the great joy and excitement of a mother on the announcement that her child had delivered a male child in the city. Wide spread criticism that it was discriminatory against the girl child contributed to its scrapping by the advertisers. And so, those who simply have no use for her, abort her at pregnancy, terminating her life even before she gets a chance to take her first breath in the world.

India and China are high on the list of countries where female foetuses are C M Y K

aborted. Most of those who take her home because she is human and deserves to live, already have stereo-typed ideas and plans on how she should and must live her life. So, she is allowed to flourish only as much as the men she would come in contact with in the course of her life are willing to allow her, depending on who these men are. Providence, luck, hard work, focus, dedication, wit and determination are some of the things that will also take her a long way, where necessary.

Yet, the vagina has been a necessary companion to achieving her divine and earthly roles, rather than a best friend, as men generally view their manhood. Ask the young woman plagued with PreMenstrual Syndrome (PMS) or Dysmennorhea and you will know that menstruation is not something she looks forward to every month. It’s same for a woman who fervently desires conception, even though the disappearance of a menstruation without conception is bad news. A male friend once shared an experience with me of how his friend was forced to slap his wife while they were making love one night. According to the gist, the couple had been married for a considerable number of years without conception. One night as they were making love and she was in the thralls of passion, he got angry and dealt her a severe blow. His reason was that she was busy enjoying herself instead of concentrating on praying that God should answer their prayers that night!

A woman falls victim of rape, sexual abuse and domestic violence simply because of her precious vagina. Thus, her father, grand father, uncle, cousin, brother, friend, boss, neighbour, coworker, husband and son who ought to love and protect her and her interest turn out to be her tormentors, sometimes taking advantage of her and her situation. Falling prey to a total stranger is easier to forgive than when the perpetrators are people you once held in high esteem and would probably have to see after the evil act has been accomplished. That is double jeopardy by all means.

If a man fails to hook her down, she is too ambitious, too wayward, too choosy. And if she fails to keep a man down, she is not submissive, she is not wise and virtuous or persevering enough. If another woman wrecks her home and takes her man, she is naive, a witch, not a good wife or mother, while the other woman is smart, intelligent beautiful and cosmopolitan. To make matters worse, rather than team up against their common enemy, the man, they each devise their plans to

win him to themselves, declaring war on each other. The man is never blamed for compromising the trust and responsibilities bestowed on him by God and the relationship, simply because he is the man, the one who screws women up!

When the children turn out successful, it is because the man supported her or they are truly his biological children, the other way around and it becomes her fault for not paying enough attention or bringing bastards into the family. It is only the mother who knows where bad, unsuccessful children come from!

Whether the sex is good or bad, pleasurable or painful, she must lie down and ‘enjoy’ it. She is the one that gets criticised if she is not a virgin, no one queries the man, he is simply sowing his wild oats. She is ruined; a disgrace to womanhood, yet, someone must marry these women that the man is permitted by society to bed at will. When he strays out of his matrimonial bed, it’s because he needs the variety to maintain his manliness. It is natural for the men, they are programmed to be polygamous. A woman caught cheating is a disgrace and must be stripped of her wifely and motherly roles as punishment for her sin against nature and society. After all, how dare she desire another man when one is already doing her a favour by providing food, shelter and welfare for her and her bunch?

A man is perfectly built, no matter the shape, size or length of his staff of office, it is the woman that has to adjust her port to accommodate him. After all, it is what a man has that he will use to sleep with his wife, it is impossible for him to borrow another man’s.

So, it becomes her business to find a way to reduce or elongate and tighten or relax herself, depending on her circumstance. As the number of children increases, his size does not need to increase, yet, he expects the woman’s own to fit perfectly, wear and tear of child birthing and motherhood makes no sense to him. So, the poor woman has to go through all sorts of inconveniences, including insertions of dangerous objects, ridiculous exercises and even surgery to make her acceptable, a constant offering for the gods, the side effects of these objects and procedures notwithstanding.

A man is permitted to drop his seeds till he drops dead as long as he has what it takes to win the attention of the opposite sex. A man of 90 years can bed a young maiden in her teens, it is his right as a man. After child bearing, menopause or a certain age, a woman is no longer expected to have or exhibit sexual desires. Menopause is a disease that can harm, injure or kill her and her husband should they continue to have sex. So, she is expected to close shop, which ever condition comes first.

So, she turns a blind eye as her still very active husband plays the exotic sugar daddy to all the young girls that catch his fancy. The woman becomes a “mama ke!” A ferocious man eater!

However, many women have become wiser and better managers of their God- given gifts, turning them into successful havens and business enterprises. Many have had to make untold sacrifices, fought silent battles with indefinable weapons, and engaged in activities suitable only under the covers of darkness to acquire societal respect and dignity for their asserts, just as there are a few lucky ones, who have not had to lift a finger to protect theirs simply because they have been blessed with grace by the Almighty. And for them, it’s been stories of benevolence, love and support all of their lives. It is to these men that I doff my hat in salute. Men who recognise and acknowledge the significant differences between a man and a woman and are willing and never tired of bridging these differences. The story of the woman and her vagina is not likely to change for the better anytime soon, because it is the story of the world and what makes it turn around. (Please laugh, I’m just kidding!) Do have a wonderful weekend!

SATURDAY

A

friend just came back from the burial of a 60-year-old man, but that is no news, sadly: Many people are dying these days without getting to a ripe old age. The gist is that the man was never married in his lifetime. Even though it is not a crime, many Nigerians view it as an aberration for a 60-year-old man to be single. It is very difficult to explain or justify.

(This, of course, excludes priests and some religious personalities who have taken vows of celibacy).

As an undergraduate of the University of Nigeria in the 80s, I was traveling to Nsukka via Onitsha with some Warri market women who were going to Onitsha. From one story to another, a story came up about the son of a prominent politician who, in his 50s, was still single (He actually died much later in his 70s without ever being married). “You sure say e well so?” (Are you sure he is potent?), one of the women asked. She could not just make sense of it. And probably, even more painful to her was the fact that this ultra eligible bachelor, who could have depleted the spinsters’ population by marrying at least one, had simply refused to be hooked.

B

ut beyond impotency one other reason why some men refuse to get married is sexual preference. Some gay men do marry women to get either family or society of their backs or to live a lie. But, as we have found out, it does not last. The truth will always come out at a certain point. Some, however, simply refuse to live a lie and stay single, but their lifestyle and the people they associate with often give them out, even if in the realm of rumours and gossips.

Some guys are single because they are fundamentally insecure around women; some have morbid hatred for women, while some have psychological misalignment among other mental and psychological problems. Unfortunately,

Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015—45

Old bac helor bachelor helorss

in this part of the world, we only consider people sick when it is physical. Apart from insanity, we gloss over other mental and psychological ailments. So we may never know the real reasons why some Nigerian men turn their backs on marriage all through their lives.

But there are a few guys who are not cut out for marriage. They are perfectly normal, but probably do not want the hassles and additional responsibilities that come with marriage and family. Such people are not the subject of our discussion today. Those who delay getting married until they are as old as Methuselah are.

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any men blame their late marriage on finance. I have often asked what aspect of matrimony money is holding up. Is it the marriage ceremony or marriage itself? Money need not hold up your marriage ceremony, as we have proven in this column (http:// www.vanguardngr.com/2014/02/ budget-wedding-1). But you need a financial plan for your married life.

The question is if at 50 years, for instance, you are not ready, when are you going to be ready? When are you

going to have your children? Where do you get money to take care of them? Officially, retirement age is between 55 and 60 years. Okay, may be since the strength of youth “failed” you, you are relying on the wisdom of old age to earn enough to care for the children.

Some men seem to be reading the book of Genesis too much. Yea, Abraham had Isaac when he was 100 years, so they are waiting. I do not know, but may be the food Abraham ate was more natural and the environment was unpolluted.

Things have changed. These days, many men get to their sexual peak in their 30s. Thereafter, they head down the hill. My belief is that your wife should enjoy the wood when it is green and live with it when it starts getting brown. But to start on a brown note…hmmm, e get as e be.

Beyond that scientists say the quantity of semen and the quality of sperm diminish as men grow older.

In fact, both quantity and quality are at their best when men are in their 20s. Also, older men are not only at risk of infertility, they are also more likely to pass on genetic defects to their children. Am I trying to scare anybody? No, I just want you to

know what you are up against in the choices you make.

Without digressing from the main issue, it is worthy of note that even in visa application processing, marital status is taken into consideration. A 40-year-old married man has an increased chance of getting a visa (US, UK, France, etc.) than his unmarried counterpart, all other things being equal. Why? The embassy official believes that family ties will make the married man come back, while the bachelor can bolt away.

Not always so though because we have many grass widows whose husbands travelled and stayed back.

I

n African societies, even the Western societies too, marriage earns men additional respect. The western societies are not as debased as we see them from here. How many American presidents got the position as bachelors? You prove your leadership potentials from the home front. He who claims he will be faithful on the big stage must have shown some fidelity in small matters. Certain responsibilities are simply reserved for only married men, albeit unofficially.

What is worth doing is worth doing well. Why start married life in old age when, unlike women, it is within your control? The scriptures say there is a time for everything. While there is no universal age for getting married, marrying in your 50s and 60s for the first time is not it; a man should marry before he is 40 years (Personally, I prefer marriage before 30 years).

Marriage is not rocket science, why should it take you so long to figure it out. Go to the Creator of marriage, bro. He will help you figure things out.

do not know where this belief germinated from, that the Presidency is playing into my proposals.

I“Grandiose Delusion!” I am not the only deluded

person in my generation but ‘am certainly in the centre of it all because my edition of the general delusion belongs to the highest of all: grandiose … it is elegant, sublime and with a generous splash of gusto. In fact, it easily tunes me and in response, I oscillate like a pendulum from one spot to another, like the Biblical “double-minded man, captured as “unstable in all his ways” (Book of James). The generation I intended to talk about is actually the generation of “the doubleminded, my generation.” I proudly am of the “babyboomers” if we have to approach it all from a broader perspective. We always will remain grateful to the builders and the bridgers, our progenitors just as much as we sympathize with the busters who come after us. Actually, we incidentally form the legendary “much-soughtafter” group of children, at birth.

We are told, judging from the Western tradition that soon after the world wars, humanity longed for replenishment of the depleted population of the world and this continued until the mid 1960s and early 1970s. There was an unprecedented encouragement to people to procreate. We are the products of this. Like anything else, this, I suppose, hit its elastic limit (I still remember Hook’s Law of Elasticity) before anyone could notice. It metamorphosed from “bubble” to “burst.”

Thereafter, measures were and are still being introduced to control the

The m yth of gener ational myth generational conf igur ations and all of us configur igurations burst. It is now, all about dealing with the burst.

Being very much aware of this western classification of generations and generational differences, I am now struggling to domesticate this or create another system suitable for our own zone of the world. The English Romantic writer/mystic, William Blake, once said that it is either “create your own system or be enslaved by another’s.” I have remained enslaved by the system I just recounted (above) for long and it is time for me to create my own system in response to Blake.

This will form part of the proposal I am preparing for Mr. President. I would rather you ask, what is the use of what you are doing? How will it contribute to the progress of the country (which I assume people refer to as change)? The two questions appear the same, they are flaming; and thus will be doused with one answer or the same answers.

Let me submit two answers that relate to each other. First, there is a need to know who we are and second, to know if there have been changes … and if so, we also ought to know the dimension and direction of the changes. I am an ardent believer in the Human Condition as a complicated web, in

which there are really no changes; however, events turn round the web and while some get stuck somewhere, some fall off somewhere and some keep rolling along the web. Don’t bother to comprehend, if you have not, because that is how complicated humanity could be, and what actually attracts Humanists like us is an urge to identify the mysteries of humanity, by constructing myths, while those who parade as scientists try to interrogate these mysteries, with a view to proffering answers to questions and solutions to problems.

My duty right now is no longer to talk about my “double-minded” generation, but to construct a generational mythograph. Reader, I beseech you to know that the graph I construct is deliberate but plausible. I will focus on post-independence era.

By the way, a country like America, there I go again, never makes reference to colonial America when serious issues of national interest are theorized in modern times. Sometimes I ask why America isn’t a member of the Commonwealth. After all, she was under the imperial system until the American war of independence. One day, perhaps, Nigeria will finally tear herself off the imperial hegemony.

Nigeria came into being, for me, the day it became a Federal Republic. That, I suppose, is 1963. I thus recognize the generation that midwifed the new nation, the builders. While it would have been difficult to christen this generation of proud and great Nigerians, an event, a historical landmark made itself available to define and give focus to generations. This was the civil war. For this reason, I recognize the first generation, the Pre-war generation or in our daily common expression: “before-the-war generation.” After them will naturally be the War generation, which in our daily common language will be: “win-the-war generation.” Then those who came after the war, naturally the post-war generation still will remain post-war Nigerians.

However, they are equally captured through another historical landmark of the 1970s, which is the unprecedented wealth the country was literally thrown into as a result of the high yield of crude oil.

This is why that generation should also be known as the “oil-boom generation.”

As nature takes its course, it is clear that after the rumbling of the thunder then comes the rain, or we can say soon after the bubble is the burst. Thus, next to the oil-boom generation is the austerity generation. This is as a result of the glut in the international oil arena which drastically reduced the worth of crude oil. The same generation becomes commonly known as the “oil-doom generation.”

Finally, at the turn of the democratic dispensation in 1999, a brand new generation emerged and as Obasanjo tried to capture it, it becomes, in my opinion, the Hope-Generation.

As the president of the country, Obasanjo cried “…I SEE HOPE…” with a loud voice.

I am almost done with my graph, but why am I doing this … you may ask. My answer is simple. I am constructing a socio-anthropological graph. It is a myth, and it is capable of performing the canon functions of myths. Amongst several orthodox functions of myths, this particular myth will explain, because myths explain …why we are the way we are; why we do the things we do.

Myths embody our belief systems. This therefore will present to us what we should believe. Myths are literally believed by the people to whom they belong because there are no reasons to disbelieve them; and myths are disbelieved by all other people to whom they do not belong because there are no reasons to believe them. I will not be held responsible for any major flaws in my mythograph, again, because there are no reasons to do so, after all, there are no elements of history.

46—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

BY SANNI ONOGU Notwithstanding the predictions of catastrophe that followed the emergence of the leadership of the 8th Senate, the upper chamber has continued to prove critics wrong as it has since settled down to work.

The goings-on inside the Senate since its inception on June 9, 2015 do not show that the new leaders on the saddle are rookies. The lawmakers have also left no one in doubt that they mean business, which is simply to champion the change agenda of the present administration.

It will be recalled that the change agenda include but not limited to war against corruption, insecurity, unemployment and economic downturn. It is worthy of note that the Senate taking a cue from the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s vision of a new Senate that would be responsive to the day to day needs of the average Nigerian, has continued to organise its activities in such a way that it would be maximally beneficial to the poor masses rather than serving the interest of a select few in the society. A good example is the quality of motions and resolutions that have emanated from the Senate since it was inaugurated.

Saraki had set the tone of the change and level of work to be expected in the Senate in his inaugural address when he said that “we are entering the saddle at a time when a lot is being expected of us.

Nigerians expect the barest minimum out of our agenda; that the new Senate and National Assembly must make laws that will enable us renew our infrastructure, reform the oil sector, reform our security systems, boost agriculture, create jobs and make doing business in Nigeria much more competitive.”

As a follow up on this all encompassing roadmap, the Senate had constituted adhoc Committees on Finance and Legislative Agenda to recommend to it the way forward.

The two committees are to make for a more transparent and open Senate apart from having a guiding beacon in the form of a self generated legislative agenda.

It is worth noting that some of the motions so far moved on the floor of the Senate find their locus in making life more meaningful for Nigerians as they touch on issues the people need daily to live a good and abundant life. These issues are so important that if adequate and quality provisions are not for them, the dream of a developed country will be derailed. They include roads, economy, anti-corruption and insecurity in the land, etc.

One of the motions, although not strictly in the order of presentation, was the one moved by Senator Adebayo Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South) entitled: “Indiscriminate Use and Abuse of Waivers for Rice Importation.” The import of the motion was in line with the pledge of the Senate President that the 8th Senate would work hand in hand with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to block all financial leakages in the system especially with the drastic fall in the prices of the nation’s mainstay oil - at the international market.

For instance, Senator Ibrahim in his motion highlighted how the nation’s economy had been hemorrhaging as a result of illegal practices of granting waivers to agricultural product importers.

According to him, the

Motions of change by 8th Senate unwholesome practice had rendered impotent the Federal Government’s ability to encourage local production which could in turn lead to lower and cheap prices of food and other essential items.

He noted that though the Federal Government has a policy to encourage agriculture and agriculture business as a deliberate policy to diversify the economy, the grant of waiver policy especially as it relates to agricultural products had become counterproductive. The gains from the agricultural policy had been made less viable due to indiscriminate abusive grant of waivers, concession and grants especially on rice importation. In 2011 alone, according to him, the last administration granted import duty waivers to 10 rice and palm oil importing companies to the tune of N150billion. He stated that records made available by the Central Bank of Nigeria to the Senate reveal that some of the importers had overshot their quota and now owe the Federal Government duties running into billions of Naira. The Kwara South lawmaker further expressed dismay that some of the defaulting companies had notwithstanding their default been awarded fresh waivers to import more within the last few days of the previous administration, while urging his colleagues to note that the Federal Government loses N71billion annually on duty waivers especially to importers of rice, palm oil, energy equipment, steel and vegetable oil.

Following its resolution on the motion, the Senate constituted an Adhoc Committee chaired by a former Governor of Kebbi State and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on import

One of the motions, although not strictly in the order of presentation, was the one moved by Senator Adebayo Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South) entitled: “Indiscriminate Use and Abuse of Waivers for Rice Importation duty waivers to determine the extent of the practice and also to suggest ways through which the Federal Government can recoup the humongous amount lost to the unwholesome and illegal practice and also advance strategies to prevent future occurrence.

Remember that Aliero retired as a director of customs. Talking of a round peg in a round hole.

Another landmark motion of the 8th Senate was the menace of environmental degradation as a result of both man action and natural disasters. Senator Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central) in her lead debate on the motion,

entitled: “Flood and Erosion Disaster in Awka, Isuanaocha, Obosi and other communities of Anambra Central”, explained that rain had Tuesday, 28th July 2015 devastated over 30 residential buildings, brought down many school buildings, wash away farmlands and major roads cut off thereby making it impossible for commuters to gain access to their homes. She added that market stalls containing valuable goods and property worth millions of naira were destroyed.

She further lamented that about 10 communities in Anambra Central which include Ogidi, Abatete, Alor, Ideani, Enekwasumpu, Awada, Odume, Awka, Amawbi, Isuanaocha, Okpuno and others have been ravaged by erosion, landslide and flood within the last three weeks.

Following the motion, the Senate resolved that the ad-hoc Committee on Works chaired by Senator Barnabas should visit the affected communities for on-thespot assessment of the extent of damage even as it mandated the Ecological Fund Office to immediately visit the affected communities, raise Bill of Quantities and put up measures to remedy the most critical cases. The Senate had also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials in support of the victims. The Senate President having chaired the Environment and Ecology Committee in the 7th Senate will no doubt ensure that all the resolutions are promptly executed in the interest of all such victims across the country.

Added to this is the concern the Senate has expressed about the “Collapse of Road Infrastructure in Nigeria.” Senator Dino Melaye

while introducing the debate lamented that several trillions of Naira had been spent on road construction and rehabilitation since democracy returned to the country in 1999 with minimal or no impact on the nation’s roads.

The Kogi West lawmaker further observed that the collapse of the road infrastructure had virtually cut off many parts of Nigeria, with its attendant negative impact on trade and commerce. He argued that the collapse had led to a decline in agricultural activities, thus adversely affecting the movement of agricultural produce from rural areas to urban centres across the country. He said the situation had resulted in a slide in the country’s agricultural output and economy especially now that the country needs to diversify its economy. He said it was saddening that loss of lives continue to occur as a result of the bad state of the roads, as evidenced by the chilling statistics reeled out by the Federal Road Safety Commission which he said represented a price too high and too prohibitive to pay for the obvious failure of governance.

The Senate acted on the motion by calling on the Federal Government to reorganize the Federal Ministry of Works and its Agencies, especially the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), with a view to repositioning them for the onerous task of rebuilding of the roads and also to undertake the immediate rehabilitation and the dualization of major highways and interstate roads across the country. The Red Chamber directed its Committee on Works, when constituted, to embark on audit of all road projects across the country with a view to producing raw data for further necessary legislative action.

The Committee on Works was also directed to liaise with the appropriate government agencies to ensure the rehabilitation or completion of all abandoned and on-going road projects across the country.

Moreover, one of the motions on which the Senate led by Saraki has commenced immediate execution of its resolution was the one moved

by Senator George Thompson Sekibo (Rivers East), entitled: “Establishment of Presidential Intervention Committee on the Rehabilitation of North East Zone.” The Senate, apart from condemning in no unmistakable terms the continual assault on the people of the North East Zones and other parts of the country by Boko Haram elements, urged the President to do everything within his powers as provided by the Constitution to eradicate insurgency in the country. It also called on the President to establish a “Presidential Intervention Committee on the Rehabilitation of the North East Zone”, especially the three most affected States of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. Besides. Also, the visit to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by a Senate delegation led by Saraki was a direct fallout of the motion. The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu had also led another delegation of the upper chamber to visit IDPs camps in Adamawa state.

•Onogu is the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015—47

•Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (centre) cuddles an internally displaced baby, while Senator Binta Garba interpreted his address to IDPs during a visit by the Senate delegation

The Senate’s noble quest for succour for North-East

BY UCHE ANICHUKWU

A

nguish, pity, and helplessness gnawed at my heart as I waded through the multitudes of man-made human suffering at the various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) centres in Adamawa with the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and other members of the Senate delegation on August 5, 2015.

This is just as Kofi Awoonor’s “Songs of Sorrow” also kept reverberating in my ears as we drove back to town.

Incidentally, the late Ghanaian poet whose lines best capture the state of ruins and human misery in the North-East died in the 2013 attack by the AlShabaab on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya.

Few days after the Adamawa trip, images of men, women, children, and infants in state of hopelessness still drift past my mind’s eye. I see forlorn figures wondering how on earth they got to this sorry state, wondering if their sufferings would ever end, and if they would ever be able to return to their homes again.

Yes, even with all the efforts by government and international agencies to quarter them, the truth is that there is no place like home, especially for Africans known to be so attached to their homes and the graves of their ancestors.

Although these ones are counted lucky to have escaped from the furnace of insurgency alive, yet there is no doubt that some of them would sometimes wonder if life is indeed worth living after all. For instance, imagine a man or a woman that lost his or her whole family members or the 54 unaccompanied children at the IDPs centre at the National Youth Service Corps Orientation centre in Damare, Jimeta Yola. Bereft of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunties, only God knows

the raging turmoil in their young minds.

Ironically, while the military forces have recovered most of the hitherto occupied towns, returning home is even more challenging than staying in the IDPs camps as fallen fences, razed homes, destroyed bridges, desolate farmlands, await them. The North East Coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sa’ad Bello, actually told the delegation that 87 percent of the IDPs in Damare were willingly go home. But, which home do they return to? They are like Kofi Awoonor standing in the middle of nowhere. If they turn here, the rain beats them; if they turn there, the sun burns them.

Something has happened to them- things so great they can no longer weep. The elders have no sons to fire the gun or daughters to wail when they die. They have practically wandered on the wilderness of anguish and calamities where the sharp stumps cut as keen as knives. Death and misery have made war upon their housesonly broken fences stand as the trees in the fence have been eaten by termites. The crows and vultures hover always above their desolate habitats, while strangers walk over their portions.

Barely clothed and hoarded in overcrowded classrooms and tents that hardly protect them from the vagaries of nature, it could be imagined the platitude and gloom life doles out to them daily.

Conversely, it could be imagined against this backdrop the magnitude of hope that the visit by the Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led seven-man Senate delegation made up of the Senate Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Ibn Na’Alla; Senator George Sekibo, Senator Binta Garba, Senator Bashir Marafa, Senator Ahmed Abubakar, and Senator Sani Abubakar Danladi restored to

The Senate’s visits are also boosting the hopes of the people of the North-East that there will be light at the end of the tunnel and that it is near

them. By the way, Senator Binta is a man-woman. I leave it at that.

Senator Ekweremadu’s words were like drops of water on a thirsty, scorched piece of earth. He said: “We have come to bring you a message of hopehope that insurgency will end in our country soon, hope that this is not your portion in life, and hope that you will soon return to your homes to live your normal lives again.

“We had highly useful and incisive discussions with the Service Chiefs on Tuesday. I can assure you that the Senate and indeed the Federal Government are determined to restore lasting peace and security to every part of the North- East. Once we return to Abuja, we will mobilise resources as a body and send support to you. We will also ensure that adequate budgetary provisions and funds are made available to government to fix your schools, to fix your bridges, to fix your hospitals, and rehabilitate your homes so that

you can live your normal lives.

We must do these because these are your entitlements as citizens”.

He exhorted the young not to lose hope as they could still rise above their present challenges to achieve their dreams.

“Insurgency is a temporal setback as these camps cannot be the burial ground of your dreams”, he added Meanwhile, it would also be recalled that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki had earlier visited IDPs camps in Borno State on Monday, August 3, 2015. These recent visits demonstrate why the legislature is often referred to as the people’s arm of government.

While it is good to lament the plights of Nigerians in the NorthEast in the comfort of the legislative Chambers, visiting the war zones to see things for themselves was no doubt a demonstration of true representation and more purposeful and empathetic leadership. Although the media have done well in relaying the ugly events in the North-East, nothing gives a fuller picture of the magnitude of disaster and human suffering in that region like seeing for yourself or hearing from the horse’s mouth.

If your heart does not bleed, then you must have eaten a tortoise’s head.

Thus, these visits will not only help the Senate to better appreciate the dire needs and misery pervading the North-East, but will also move members to more forcefully push for a reversal of the horrific fortunes.

The Senate’s visits are also boosting the hopes of the people of the North-East that there will be light at the end of the tunnel and that it is near.

More important, as rightly pointed out by Senator Ekweremadu, the Senate’s visits also underscore the fact that the North-East disaster remains a collective national challenge.

To think otherwise is to fool ourselves. One, there is no

single Nigerian who has not lost a loved one since the beginning of the insurgency.

Two, even the South -East and South-South that are far-flung from the theatres of insurgency have also borne the brunt of insurgency in one way or the other. Many businessmen and public servants lost all they laboured for all their lives.

Many more who abandoned the North East region as they scampered for safety homewards are already rendered IDPs. So, as often chanted by Ekweremadu, the insecurity of a part is the insecurity of the whole.

I must therefore express my personal shock at the attempt by certain persons and a section of the media to politicize these noble moves by the Senate. One columnist in particular (someone I respect) interpreted the Senate President, Senator Saraki’s visit to Borno IDPs centres as testing the waters and trying to outshine the President ahead of 2019. Haba!

In the same manner, a recent innocuous concern expressed by Senator Ekweremadu on the resurgence of terrorist attacks and need for concerted, bipartisan, and international efforts to end the bloodletting and suffering was turned upside-down and politicised by a particular media house. Let us not forget, many have opined that we were overwhelmed by insurgency because we poiticised it in the first place.

The same tree stump should not trip a wise man twice.

Certain things are beyond politics and insurgency is one of them. Let our politicians play politics all they like. But, on this insurgency matter, NO politics. It is ungodly and despicable to play politics with human lives. Truth is, the North East in particular has been set tens of years behind, just to put it mildly. Those who can see afar should know that it holds dire future socio-economic implications for the entire Nigeria. Imagine the consequences in the next 20 years or less of not helping the thousands of these unaccompanied child-IDPs to live a normal and productive life.

Even hitherto divided families and countries are bonded by adversities. Ours cannot be different. It is instructive, for instance, that a Peoples Democratic Party Senator from the creeks of the Niger Delta, Senator George Sekibo, spearheaded the Motion that triggered these fact-finding and hope-raising visits and proposed special interventions by the Senate.

Nigerians must rise above the frays of political, religious, and ethnic bigotry to unite around the noble cause of restoring lasting peace, security, and rehabilitation in the North East as is being resolutely championed President Mohammadu Buhari Government and supported by the National Assembly. With elections over, what our politicians owe us is good governance, not 2019.

•Anichukwu is Special Adviser on Media to Deputy President of the Senate

48—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

BY LOUIS AMOKE

I

t is gladdening to note that Enugu state under the leadership of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has witnessed a remarkable level of financial discipline, probity, transparency and accountability borne out of his burning desire to keep the state on the right track of steady progress for socio-economic and political advancement.

Barely three months into his administration, it is worthy of note that the governor through his vision, steadfastness and innovations has made steady progress and engineered far reaching reforms geared towards the restructuring, re-engineering and re-invigoration of the state’s economy. This is in keeping faith with his campaign promise to pilot the affairs of the state to the satisfaction of the masses who voted him into office.

Today, the consequential effect of the downturn in the oil sector has made it imperative for government at all levels to review several issues hindering development and proffer solutions on how best to service the people.

In this regard, it is pertinent to note that this new thinking has taken the centre stage in Enugu State in line with the governor’s desire to give the state quality leadership and render selfless service in an atmosphere of peace, accountability and fiscal discipline.

Many believe that Gov. Ugwuanyi has started well through his visionary leadership and spontaneous innovative actions that have started yielding positive results.

Even though the menace of corruption in the country remains a source of worry to many, the truth is that no responsible government would sit down and watch, while its resources are being abused to the detriment of the people.

This unfortunate nightmare, no doubt, informed the reason Gov. Ugwuanyi did not hesitate shortly after he took over the mantle of leadership of the state to launch an administrative review into the affairs of major government agencies and local government administration with a view to plugging all leakages that have hitherto threatened the economic fortunes of the state, mostly at the grassroots.

As a visionary leader, one is impressed to note that within few weeks into his administration, he constituted series of sensitive and fact finding committees to review some of the endemic lapses in governance both at the state and local government levels.

Consequently, there is no doubt that the news of the inauguration of the 11-man Committee on Local Government Staff Audit and Biometrics Data Capturing Exercise, to address the irregularities undermining the progress of the Local Government system in the state, has strengthened the confidence of the people in the ability of the governor to institute fiscal discipline and accountability.

In his strive to achieve the aim of constituting the committee, the governor mandated the committee which is headed by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi, to among other terms of reference, “identify and flush out ghost workers and plug all avenues of leakages and wastes that have hitherto weighed down the finances of Local Government Councils”.

It is worthy of note that the governor in his firm commitment to transparency and progress of the local government administration

•Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

In Enugu, accountability and fiscal discipline take the lead also noted that “the committee’s report will be central to the successful execution of government’s plans to institute far reaching reforms and take requisite measures to standardize and restore sanity to the manner with which staff matters and related issues are handled in our Local Governments”.

In further expressing his deep commitment to the Local Government reform, the governor went further to stress that the exercise was “a task that must be tackled promptly, zealously and dispassionately in order to save the system of the Local Government Staff administration in Enugu State from imminent collapse”.

From all indications, it is obvious that the essence of the whole exercise is to enforce fiscal discipline, probity and accountability in the state to be able to save cost and deliver on its promises to the people.

As a man of integrity, the governor did not only stop at this, he equally, inaugurated an 8-man Administrative Committee on the Completion of Enugu State Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB) projects in the primary schools of Enugu State, with a stiff vow to take disciplinary action against any contractor or official of the government that will be found wanting to have contributed to the poor conditions of primary schools in the state which have undermined the conducive learning of the children.

While disclosing that the constitution of the committee was in line with his campaign promise to improve the standard of education and educational facilities, he added

that it was also a fallout of his unscheduled visits to the primary schools in different locations of the state, which he revealed were in “shockingly, deplorable and unfitting state”.

There is no doubt, therefore, that this singular act was a swift response to his administration’s commitment to restore fiscal discipline and accountability to the state and ensure that the ugly conditions of the schools are investigated and dealt with appropriately.

As a spirited leader who believes in the progress and welfare of the children, he disclosed that “no responsible government would allow such conditions to continue to exist in its schools” adding that “we considered it urgent and imperative; to constitute a committee to investigate this ugly situation and recommend the most appropriate measures to ensure that it is promptly and completely reversed”.

According to him: “I hasten to add that at the end of this undertaking, any person, more especially contractors and officials, found to have, either by deliberate omission, commission or negligence, contributed to this unpleasant state of affairs in our schools, will certainly be called upon to answer”.

Furthermore, it was his strong belief that the exercise will not only help guarantee the safety of the schools but also ensure that the children are offered the chance to study in conditions and environment that favour proper

There is no doubt, therefore, that this singular act was a swift response to his administration’s commitment to restore fiscal discipline and accountability to the state and ensure that the ugly conditions of the schools are investigated and dealt with appropriately

intellectual and social development.

While x-raying the seriousness and importance of the exercise to his administration’s vision for development, the governor, charged the committee to discharge “this very crucial assignment with unreserved diligence, firmness and detachment” bearing in mind that “the security, welfare and proper education of the children remain the cardinal and inescapable responsibility of his administration”.

It is also notable that the Chairman of the investigative committee and Deputy Governor of the State, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, has assured the governor of the willingness of her committee’s members to discharge their duties diligently without fear or favour, in order to ensure that the premium the governor places on education is sustained.

The above notwithstanding, it is also apt to state that apart from the governor’s thrive to institutionalize fiscal discipline in the state, he has also embarked on innovations and remarkable projects geared towards development and alleviation of the sufferings of the people.

Notable among them include: the commissioning of a Civic Centre at Ezi-Nze, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State and the 15km Inter-Town-Connection (ITC) 2.5MVA Injection Sub-Station that will provide electricity to communities across Udi, Uzo-Uwani and Igbo-Etiti Local Government Areas of the state; the completion of the hitherto intractable Ogbete Main Market entrance road project; commencement of rehabilitation work at Airport Roundabout/ Orie Emene/ St. Patrick’s College/EkeObinagu Road project; provision of fund as 30% Equity Contribution for Enugu State Civil Servants, between grade levels 01-10, for the purchase of 100 units of one bedroom flats at Elim Estate, Ibagwa Nike, Enugu; constitution of a 4-man committee to review the status of the Enugu State School of Basic Midwifery, Awgu, in order to facilitate its re-accreditation and recommissioning for the training of midwives to enhance pre-maternal and child healthcare delivery in the state.

Others include: constitution of an Economic Advisory Committee to advice government on best economic policies that will engender sustainable growth and development for the state to navigate through the adverse effects of the negative development in the nation’s economy; setting-up of a committee on Nsukka Urban Renewal as part of his vision for the development of new cities in the state, advertisement for the expression of interest for the bidding of the construction of eight major roads across the state; approval of fund for the provision of electricity, water and other ancillary works at the new State Secretariat complex; near completion of the new Government House lion building, quick resolution of the six-month judiciary workers’ strike impasse in the state, and numerous humanitarian gestures/social responsibility engagements in schools, hospitals, churches, markets; among others.

In all, the point remains that Enugu State has taken the lead towards the advancement of good governance and socio-economic and political stability through its commitment to restore the widely cherished norms and values that guarantee effective administration.

Amoke is the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015—49

Buhari’s search for saints as ministers will fail – Senator Urhoghide

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE,

T

he jury is still out on whether Pharm. Matthew Urhoghide has finished paying for his sins of radicalism.

After years of unionist struggle that climaxed with his election as president of the Students Union in the University of Benin, his bid to enter mainstream politics in his native Edo State in 1999 was for 15 years laced with several disappointments. In every election cycle he made all the waves, galvanised the electorate but when it mattered most, he was always left in the cold!

Urhoghide’s fate until his recent election to the Senate was essentially because of his own inclination to walk in the public arena. Many of his associates from his school days like the former journalist, Segun Babatope preferred to work behind the scenes. But not Urhoghide, a man who fought the system from outside as a student’s activist and decided to reform it from inside!

In his first outing in 1999 when he sought the governorship ticket of Edo State on the platform of the defunct All Peoples Party, APP, he was roundly routed despite a popular campaign that galvanised many youths.

He suffered the same stamp of defeat in 2003 in the hands of Senator Roland Owie, who had just left the former Peoples Democratic

Party, PDP. He did not give up and in 2007 instead of seeking state wide office, he now sought the Edo South senatorial ticket of the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP. For the first time he was on ticket for a general election but was overwhelmed by the PDP’s nationwide blitz that year.

Despite his own loss, his formidable political machine was helpful in gathering the election data with which Comrade Adams Oshiomhole used in prosecuting his election petition at the tribunal.

With the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in power in Edo State it was believed that Urhoghide’s time had finally come in 2011 when he again sought the Senate ticket of the ACN. He was surprisingly disappointed by the last minute intrigues that shadowed the emergence of the ACN senatorial candidate in 2011.

Urhoghide’s unhidden bid was derailed after Comrade Oshiomhole joined forces with Senator Ehighie Uzamere as a quid pro quo for the latter ’s own help. Uzamere had helped Oshiomhole to defeat the PDP’s forces as led by Chief Tony Anenih during the Senate confirmation hearings of the Edo State nominees for the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. Some would have also suggested that Oshiomhole or the Benin electorate was also paying Uzamere a hand of gratitude for his own role in seeing to the first ever appointment of a Bini man as both

vice-chancellor of the University of Benin and the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, NIFOR. Willy-nilly, Uzamere”s reward became Urhoghide’s loss.

It was, however, a stinging loss for Urhoghide and forced him to leave the ACN. He was immediately welcomed into the PDP which waived away all rules to immediately give him a leading role in the party which was in opposition in Edo State.

It was a sort of irony. Urhoghide was now fighting his former comrades and allies and doing so from the camp of the former enemies.

Urhoghide’s appointment as the Publicity Secretary of the PDP immediately gave verve and vibe to the PDP which had virtually been discredited on account of the stewardship of the state between 1999 and 2007.

It was thus remarkable that in the period leading to the last National Assembly elections that the senatorial ticket of the PDP became his for the taking especially after Senator Uzamere declined a third successive stint.

Confronted with the Oshiomhole machine in the main elections, Urhoghide overcame and eventually banished the stigma.

Having overcome the demons with his Senate victory it is not surprising that those hoping to return the PDP to the Edo Government House would beckon on him. Is he falling for it, he was asked in an interview.

“I am not aware of that. I must say that everything is not about contest.” He, however, confesses the desperation of the PDP to win back the office, desperation that it is claimed has made the party to zone the office to his Edo South Senatorial Constituency.

“We are desperate in the sense that we are going to do everything legitimate and within the rules of the game to win the election.”

It would, however, seem that neither his stint in the Senate nor his membership of the PDP has lessened his inclination for political fights. A case in point is his stern posture on the campaign against Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s election as Deputy Senate President.

“It is very derogatory to accuse senators of forging the standing rules. It also calls into question the integrity of the Senate,” Senator Uroghidie said as he warns of dire actions against the senators that externalised the issue.

“The business and procedures of doing things are clearly stated. By the constitution, the Senate has the power to decide what it wants to do.

There is no other body that can interfere in the affairs of the Senate.

So, if you are going to the police or

You can see a betrayal of officialdom and bureaucracy in that.

Our own Secretary of State should have met with the American Secretary of State, not the president jumping into a meeting with him

the SSS to look at what we are doing, it then means you have not properly looked at the necessary laws and statutes. I believe ethics and privileges committee will look at it.”

Even more pointedly, the senator blasts the APC federal administration over its dithering procrastination in forming a government.

“What is more annoying is that they are trying to rationalize this ineptitude rather than apologizing to Nigerians that they have not been able to do certain things because they didn’t have a proper grasp of the workings of government. It is better to say we are understudying government in order to take off.

“By March 29, 2015, Mr. President knew he had won the election. He also knew that there was not going to be any legal tussle as the erstwhile president had capitulated to him completely. So, if after more than four months and he is still telling us that he will submit the list of ministers and make other appointments by September, I’m afraid a lot is wrong. That is six months, 180 days.”

Flaying the seeming stance of the president to run a government of saints as an impossibility, the senator said the administration’s dilly-dallying is hurting the government locally and internationally.

“They keep saying that they are taking their time when the president knew that he would take oath of allegiance two months before he was sworn-in.

What are you planning? Are you waiting for agents to descend from heaven before you can draw a list of ministers? Are you going to solve the problems of Nigeria in one day? Are you looking for people you think are too saintly that you want to appoint as secretary to the government or as chief of staff or ministers?”

Pointing at a major flaw in the president’s failure to constitute his cabinet he noted the recent state visit to America where the Nigerian team did not have a ministerial delegation to match that presented by President Barack Obama.

“You can see a betrayal of officialdom and bureaucracy in that. Our own Secretary of State should have met with the American Secretary of State, not the president jumping into a meeting with him. It is an embarrassment to the country.

50 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015—51

ps Esprit de Corrp Once Upon a Recent Time

This week, we begin the serialisation of “Esprit de Corps,” the second story from Ogaga Ifowodo’s work-in-progress entitled The Hostage. We began the series with “The Treasonable Parrot,” his fiction debut featured in the AGNI Portfolio of African Fiction, edited by E. C. Osondu and William Pierce, published in volume 72 of the magazine in 2010. Ifowodo, a lawyer, is an award-winning poet, columnist and activist.

At the heart of the work-in-progress is the title story, a novella. The stories are set in Nigeria’s recent history of dictatorship as experienced by characters privately and in unsavoury social encounters caused by the relentless logic of the radical curtailment of freedom. Keep a date with Saturday Vanguard!

A

s the familiar sounds of ambulance wails and woebegone cries came from the car radio, Corpo Giwa returned his full attention to the street and recalled with surprising unease his days in the police. He had been scanning the curbside for passengers with just the corner of his left eye, something he had very quickly learned to do instinctively whenever his cab was empty. The transition from police officer to taxi driver had been smooth. It was one reason why he often thought fondly of his time in the police despite the many disappointments, narrow escapes from death and the physical memory of a gun injury that led to his untimely retirement. Yet even he had to admit that the public had good reason to see the police as “a force for lawlessness and disorder,” the way a populist politician with an acid tongue had put it. And then there was the matter of checkpoints, called roadblocks by all but the police, which littered every street and highway. The Inspector-General had defied every call to scrap them by issuing an ultimatum. Affronted citizens, he said, could either accept the inconvenience of stopping at checkpoints or the happier prospect of surrendering to armed robbers. But the plain truth, which shamed Corpo Giwa even in retirement, was that they had become no more than extortion points and, too often, scenes of cold-blooded murder of uncooperative commuters.

Corpo Giwa realised he had stopped watching out for passengers altogether as the car radio induced him into deeper reminiscences of his days in the police. He had always been able to dismiss the more dismal recollections by summoning the heroism that ended his career. But now, for the first

time, he was unable, even unwilling, to do so. The wails and cries that came from the radio were the soundtrack, so to speak, of the half decade before his untimely retirement. Under pressure to do something about the alarming turn in armed robberies across the country, mostly in Lagos, the police had launched a massive awareness campaign that relied almost entirely on saturating the airwaves with a jingle. Now it seemed all the radio stations had been ordered to play it every quarter of an hour. And although he knew every word of the jingle, had heard it so many times already today that it was no longer distinguishable from the noise of his car engine, still he listened to it with renewed interest, as if hearing it for the first time.

Armed robber not be spirit o! the radio shrieked. Na human being like you and me! He fit be your neighbour sef! Make you report any suspicious activity near you to the police. Otherwise, you, your family or friend fit be his next victim ooo!

And now Corpo Giwa thought he had found the reason for his suddenly troubling turn of mind—

The wails and cries that came from the radio were the soundtrack, so to speak, of the half decade before his untimely retirement

quite a rogue happening, given his generally buoyant temperament that eighteen years in the police, the last five in SARS, the special anti-robber squad, had not managed to dampen. The jingle had not led to the decline of armed robbery. Not when he was in the force nor now. On the contrary, Lagos seemed to be under siege.

Robbers were still as hell-bent on money, jewellery, prize electronics, cars, and on raping, killing and maiming

as they had ever been. And so despite the best efforts of the police, the public had begun to think that armed robbers were spirits after all.

The belief persisted no matter how many “notorious” robbers were reported killed, or arrested and paraded in front of cameras together with the arms and charms “recovered” from them. Now he thought he could detect in the jingle an underlying tone of desperation in the way the voice-over urged vigilance.

And maybe the police was aware of it, hence, the need for calm reassurance at the end: This is a message from the Nigeria Police. Never forget the police is your friend.

Corpo Giwa saw two raised hands and swerved to a stop.

A man and a woman standing at the right elbow of the roundabout that marks the end of Allen Avenue and the beginning of Opebi Road had hailed his cab. They were going to Gateway Hotel in Ota, just outside greater Lagos. A fair distance but also good fare to end the day. It was ten past seven now and he knew that there would be checkpoints literally a pole apart on every busy street, the officers manning them ever more merciless in their

extortion at night. Now that he was a cab driver, he could see them as roadblocks. Oh, he got a free pass all right whenever he uttered the words that identified him as one of them, but he resented the indignity of having to plead special status in order to be spared each time. Since he hadn’t registered his car as a taxi, it fell into the category of private city transports known as kabukabu and was an automatic stop-and-search target. He knew well enough what grief the police gave their owners, cashing in on the lack of proper registration.

As he had expected, there was a checkpoint at the junction of Aromire Street and Adeniyi-Jones Avenue.

Approaching it, Corpo Giwa slowed down, shot his left hand out of the window, gave a clenched fist salute and said heartily, Esprit de corps!

All the men at the checkpoint knew him, even though it was now three years since he was discharged from the force. His face had been on the cover of all the national dailies, with some of them publishing a full size picture of him leaning on crutches.

He had also been celebrated on the Nigeria Television Authority prime time show, Newsline. The officers hailed him back.

“Aah, Corpo, na you? How de go dey go?”

“My people, I dey patch am o! We thank God.” They let him pass without demanding the obligatory levy extorted from other transporters, driver’s licence and vehicle particulars in order or not. His popularity and the magic words esprit de corps had come to symbolise his passport to the free pursuit of a living.

Sometimes, as he passed while fellow citizens fruitlessly sought to negotiate their way through police barricades, he would feel remorse for the devilish time he and his colleagues gave commercial drivers while he was still in the force. They would never let anyone go without parting with the twenty naira levy. In the last two years before his deployment to SARS, the minimum levy had become a wazobia or fifty naira, and not a kobo less. He could not now imagine himself by the side of the road pleading with an officer who held his particulars and would not release them until he had paid up. He thanked God that he could just say three funny words and keep his dignity. Still he wondered if he might not one day be faced with a crew that did not know him or that resented his celebrity cop status and easy retired life.

To be continued

52—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

Jealousy made me attack my

ex-lover with hot water—suspect

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

for two years before the relationship hit the rocks, after he completed his NYSC service.

When he came back, he said he was no more interested in the relationship. I was surprised when he ended the relationship because we didn’t have any misunderstanding. His attitude towards me just changed. But, I noticed that while we were still courting, he met Ogechi, and they started dating before he ended the relationship.”

Expressing regrets over her action, Miss Oriwoh who eagerly narrated her own side of the story recoiled into her shell immediately her father told her that speaking to the press would further expose her and jeopardise her future.

A

24-year-old graduate of mathematics of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State, who allegedly poured a jar of hot water on her exboyfriend, Mr. Charles Ajayi last Saturday, has opened up on why she committed the offence. The fair-complexioned lady, Miss Josephine Oriwoh, who showed visible signs of regret confessed that she attacked her ex-lover out of jealousy.

This is in spite of the fact that the estranged lovebirds had not seen each other after a long break-up. However, Miss Oriwoh was said to have continually threatened her exlover over the phone before she eventually took her bitterness and fury a step further on Saturday morning, when she decided to avenge her disappointment by pouring a jar of hot water on him.

How plan was hatched Her evil plan reportedly matured after she was invited by Mr. Ajayi’s elder sister to their house at 21, Owoseni Street, Agbade, Owutu, Ikorodu on Saturday, August 8, 2015 for a wedding. While everyone in the house woke up preparing for the day’s event, the suspect plugged water in a jug and allowed it to boil very well. She came out from inside the house, went to the balcony only to find her ex-lover with his new girlfriend, Miss Ogechi Nkemjeme. Miss Oriwoh got infuriated and rushed inside the house, took the jar of hot water and emptied the content on the duo. The effect of the hot water was much on Mr. Ajayi, while his new lover sustained minor injuries on her back.

According to Miss Oriwoh who spoke exclusively to Crime Guard, “It was jealousy that actually led me into attacking him. I don’t know what came over me that morning when I came out from the house to the balcony and saw Charles and his new girlfriend. His elder sister invited me to her wedding. That was why I came to their house. Charles didn’t offend me. I was just bitter over how he ended the relationship of more than two years for no reason.”

Explaining further, Miss Oriwoh told Crime Guard, “We started dating when I was in 200 level at Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma in Edo State. We dated

Arrest of suspect Crime Guard gathered that after the victim’s family reported the case at the Owutu Divisional Police Station, Ikorodu, Miss Oriwoh was arrested. However, both families later opted to settle out of police station but considering the nature of the incident, the Division Police Officer, Owutu, transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos for further investigations after news of the incident went viral.

It was learned that the victim who is among graduates scheduled to go for the NYSC Batch B in October, is currently being detained at SCIID, Panti, where she is undergoing interrogation.

She came out from inside the house, went to the balcony only to find her ex-lover with his new girlfriend, Miss Ogechi Nkemjeme.

Miss Oriwoh got infuriated and rushed inside the house, took the jar of hot water and emptied the content on the duo

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015—53

I went into oil bunkering because of unemployment —suspect

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

T

he Rapid Response Squad (RSS) under the auspices of Lagos state police command have arrested one Olalowo Agboola for converting a one-room apartment into a mini depot where he illegally sold petroleum products within the metropolis.

Crime Guard gathered that operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RSS) arrested the suspect on August 12, at 24 Awoseyin street, Somolu after receiving a tip off from goodspirited member of public on the nefarious activities of the suspect.

According to reports, the RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji Disu, gave an immediate order to his men to burst the house which led to the arrest of suspected oil pipeline vandal with jerry cans filled with

petroleum products.

In other to ascertain the information received, Crime guard learned that in a sting operation, a D-coy team led by Superintendent of Police, SP Olabode Aroge, disguised as a prospective buyers of fuel, and the arrested suspect was about to sell the fuel for them inside the drum stationed along passage of the house, when other detectives in uniform stormed the spot.

The police said that suspect was in the habit of selling petroleum product to members of public inside’” face-me and face you” building located in a bustling residential area in Lagos.

The suspect who was paraded by the police confessed to the heinous crime, saying that he was just been recruited to the job one month ago “ I was a commercial bus

driver before I was initiated into this bunkering occupation.

I only collect commission of 200 on each keg I was able to sell in a day. I know I was doing an illegal job but because there is no employment in the country and I have no choice than to join them for my livelihood sustenance”, the suspect revealed.

When asked about his accomplice in the job, he said “I know him as Mr. Adex. He is the one who employed me to be his assistant. While he goes out to bring petroleum products, I will stay home to sell for any interested member of public. I know for now he will be on the run because someone might have hinted him that I have been arrested”.

In his reaction, the commander of RRS, ACP, Olatunji Disu, who confirmed the arrest of suspect, noted that Lagos will not tolerate any act of criminality and illegal occupations The commander said that this if the policemen have not acted swiftly to the distress

call, when the house got inflamed, the fire could consume the whole community following the number of fully loaded petrol and diesel inside 50 and 25 litres jerrycans found in the residential house.

He further urged members of public to endeavour to report to the police any form of illegal engagements in their neighbourhoods. “This will enhance the efficiency of the police when adequate information is passed to us. We implore public to always give us useful and timely information”, the commander

noted.

In addition, when search was conducted within the vicinity, nine hundred (900) jerry cans of fifty (50) litres which amounted to 45,000 LITRES found inside one vehicle and another ninety (90) jerry cans of (50) litres discovered in the suspect room filled with petrol and diesel suspected to have been vandalised were recovered and impounded to RRS parade ground.

Effort is still in progress with a view to arresting the owner of the products, Mr. Adeola aka Adex, who is currently on the run.

How m amily sur vived kidnap att empt in Delt or W asky myy ffamily survived attempt Deltaa – Act Actor Wasky

BY ABDULATEEF LIGALI

P

opular Nollywood actor, Nobert Wasky Oguegbu, and members of his family will live to remember the mercy showered on them by God Almighty, last week in Asaba, Delta state, after they narrowly escaped being abducted by unknown gun men. The traumatized actor said he was still in shock , almost a week after the incident as he could not explain how they were able to escape from the scene. To him, it still remains a miracle how he managed to escape from the scene while the operation was in progress. The 50-year-old actor who has featured prominently in celebrated films like; “Amuche; The business tycoon”, “Asili Beer Parlour”, “2 hearts”, “Troubled Hearts” and many others, narrated his ugly experience to Crime Guard.

How it happened

“Around 8pm on Saturday 8th, August 2915, on my way back from Aguleri in Anambra State where I had gone to join thousands of well wishers of Governor Willie Obiano in a thanksgiving mass to celebrate his birthday, my wife and children joined me at Coker area of Asaba, Delta State, and we proceeded to a popular super market along summit road to pick few items on our way home.

At some point in front of Insomnia lounge, opposite Jesus saves road, we noticed a vehicle slowing down. We became cautious thinking it maybe armed robbery operation going on few meters away. Immediately the vehicle, a highlander SUV double crossed us and a young man wielding a short gun came down towards me threatening that if I made any movement, he would shoot us. He demanded the car key, an

•Nobert Wasky Oguegbu SUV Honda CRV brand belonging to my wife. He ordered me to come down from the steering which I obeyed but he reversed the order, demanding that I should enter the same vehicle to sit at the passenger front seat, where my wife and one of my sons were seating.

Escape from Golgotha “As I was about to carry out his orders, my instinct told

me to bolt out, in other to seek help, which I did without minding the attendant consequences.

Thereafter, my wife told me that, as I was running away, the young man fired at me but somehow his gun malfunctioned. He also attempted to start the car to drive out with my entire family but, by God’s special grace, the car refused to start as well. He became enraged, threatening to kill my entire family but my wife continued to beg, pleading and shouting “Blood of Jesus” The young man held my eldest son to drag him away but my wife held him firmly and insisted that, he should kill them there.

Mobilizing for counterattack “At this point, his colleague on the wheel of their vehicle packed beside mine was ordering him to do something fast because they noticed that, I was already mobilizing for counter -

attack from my vantage position. He forcefully took my wife’s hand bag containing her personal valuables and the Honda CRV key and they sped off.

At this point, a police patrol team from A Division of Nigerian Police Force, Asaba, Delta State, who were earlier alerted, arrived on two Toyota Hilux SUV, but the hoodlums had already gone.”

The actor stated that he later made statement at the ‘A’division of the Nigeria Police Force in Asaba, Delta State, before going home with members of his family.

Asked if he suspected any person or group, he quickly retorted, “I don’t think we were the target of the kidnappers. We could have been just innocent victims.

We just ran into them while they were waiting for their target. The police assured us that they were carrying out thorough investigation into the incident.”

C M Y K

54—SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, AUGUST 15, 2015

S

enior editors of the Daily Times in 1991 interviewed the then military President General Ibrahim Babangida, who in his characteristic humour in fielding questions, said that the Nigerian economy defied all logic.

All manner of interpretations were given in newspaper editorials at the time; many alluded to executive carelessness in reflection.

Rationalising the Babangida’s response, he genuinely expressed his thought on an economy which had experienced excessive hemorrhage and in coma. For divine reasons Nigeria remained afloat under life support. Political and economic theorems have indeed been fathomed in Nigeria’s problems, yet economy defied logic.

Since the first oil shock in 1973 which we called oil boom in Nigeria we have depended on oil and gas which contributed about 95 percent of export revenue and 75 percent of fiscal revenue. Oil had become the milk cow with tubes to siphon funds from the Nigerian commonwealth to other countries of the world.

In this treatise we go philosophical, sociological, and psychological in thoughts to conjecture what went wrong that those placed in charge of public resource behave the way they do.

One tries to ask why there is thievery from the privileged class in Nigeria. Is it for social security, maintaining false social status, or accumulation for the unborn child?

We mismanage and embezzle funds and make the illegal acts of converting public funds into private use appear legal. This attitude of inheriting public trust as one's lost property to repossess, to own and to dispense to whoever it pleases one is termed prebendalism. Prebendalism connotes the pattern of corruption in Nigeria as developed by Joseph A. Richard of the Program of African Studies, Northwestern University, and the United States.

Richard is credited with the first usage of the term to describe patron-clientelism in Nigeria. The system describes how public officials and government workers feel they have a right to a share of government revenues and use them to benefit their supporters, co-religionists and members of their ethnic group.

We run our institutions, projects and agencies down just for primordial selfish interests. We milk them till death. Can we really develop? President Muhammadu Buhari has a lot of work to do at his old age. Examine a few of the following listed and you will discover that they all have a common denominator.

Sugar Companies, Paper Mills, Farm Settlements, Palm Oil Companies, Rubber Plantations, Commodity Boards, River Basin Authorities, Dams, Water Boards, Iron & Steel: Ajaokuta, Aladja, Jos, Oshogbo, Katsina, Itakpe, DICON; Petroleum refineries and petrochemicals; Automobile assembly plants in Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Enugu; NEPA or PHCN, Nigeria Airways, Nigerian Railway, Shipping Line, Textiles in Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Aba, Asaba; P&T, NITEL/MTEL; Conglomerates except Nigerian Breweries, Guinness, Coca Cola, 7 UP, Nestle, Cadbury, Unilever still

C M Y K

Nigerians father prebendalism, murder utilitarianism

We mismanage and embezzle funds and make the illegal acts of converting public funds into private use appear legal surviving; Hospitality and Tourism facilities; Banks, Insurance companies, Finance Houses, Community Banks, Peoples Bank; Media houses; National Stadium Lagos; Schools from primary to university. The list is endless.

They were all established for the welfare and well-being of the people.

But now they have been either killed or have gone comatose in operation.

With oil these institutions and agencies were well funded but had become gory tales of woes for the rural and urban poor. Perpetrators of the heinous crime of theft, stealing, robbery or corruption believe is the way to authentic happiness but are they really happy? Will a man that steals large sums of money and stashes away overseas really happy in his mental state? I believe we do not show love to ourselves; it is a matter of selfishness.

Aristotle in his principal work on ethics, the Nicormachen Ethics

defined happiness as activity that accords with the specific nature of humanity. Happiness results from the unique human attribute of reasoning, functioning harmoniously with human faculties. Moral virtues are the habits of action that conform to the golden mean, the principle of moderation and they must be flexible because of differences among people and conditioning factors. For Aristotle, the intellectual and the moral virtues are merely means towards the attainment of happiness, which results from the full realization of human potential.

Jeremy Bentham, 18th century British philosopher, explained this principle of human behaviour in his ethical and political doctrine known as utilitarianism. He explained the principle of utility as a means of augmenting the happiness of the community. He believed that all human actions are motivated by a desire to obtain pleasures and avoid pain. Utilitarianism is universal and not egoistic and its highest good is the greatest happiness of the greatest number.

The typical manager of our resources cares for his pocket and pain for his neighbour. When you do not feel and show kindness and charity to the other person, you are a nefarious being. We are deceived by thoughts that primitive accumulation of wealth for generations unborn would give happiness. Wealth accumulators do not know what happens to their genuine or illegal funds when they are no more; most times offspring do not have the capacity to manage inherited stupendous wealth.

The Chatham House of United Kingdom Think Tank report on

Nigeria’s criminal crude in September 2013, said that Nigeria’s oil was being stolen on an industrial scale with ready buyers in West Africa, the United States, Europe and several Asian countries. It reported that Nigeria loses about $8billion a year to oil theft.

That President Muhammadu Buhari’s shuttles to the G7 summit in Germany in June and the United States in July, to plead for the recovery of $150billion Nigeria’s stolen oil revenue. We kill government agencies like NNPC and refineries and so on, advocate for their rummage sales and then come back with stolen funds for their purchase. We preach private ownership in the guise that it is only the private sector that can manage business concerns.

One marvels at such arguments for wanting government strategic infrastructure like refineries sold.

Main point for such advocates is that governments are not good business managers. Many private businesses including banks, airlines, conglomerates and many more have gone under due to mismanagement.

We privatised telecommunications and power with foreigners controlling such critical infrastructure. Sad enough the upstream of the petroleum sector have been in the hands of foreigners who own the equipment, storage, terminal and export facilities. And now we want to sell our refineries. We have no peer review mechanisms with OPEC members. In 1980 Saudi Aramco, our own equivalent of NNPC took full control (100 percent stake) of oil and gas resources in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Aramco posted revenue of $378 billion in 2014 operations.

Telecommunications, power and petroleum facilities are of strategic and economic significance that should not be in the hands of foreigners.

Foreigners now invest in agriculture to feed our people. We have about 18 agricultural research institutes, tested researchers, and vibrant young men and women that can be enlisted into agriculture. A nation that cannot feed her people is a disaster in waiting. It is gratifying that the youth forum convened by President Muhammadu Buhari last Wednesday discussed agriculture for the youth. It is a step in the right direction for reorientation of our youth on the need to embrace the utilitarian principle of caring for neighbour.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 15, 2015—55

•Sanchez

A

lexis Sánchez will be available for tomorrow’s trip to Crystal Palace, according to Arsenal m a n a g e r, Arsène Wenger.

Sánchez was not expected to be match fit so soon after helping Chile win their maiden Copa América title last month but Wenger has confirmed the forward, who came off the bench in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by West Ham, is ready to play from the off at Selhurst Park. “Alexis Sánchez is fit,” he said. “He has been working hard and is ready for the weekend.”

Ighalo dares Ideye, Anichebe

S

uper Eagles toast of the moment, Odion Ighalo will hope to be in the thick of the action today when his Watford side host West Brom parading Eagles duo of Brown Ideye and Victor Anichebe at Vicarage Road.

Coming from morale-lifting 2-2 draw with Everton at Goodison Park, where he scored the second goal, Ighalo will be keen to increase his goals tally when he confronts his Nigerian compatriots in front of Watford’s fans.

Although he came in as a second half substitute, the fact that he had a telling contribution should boost his chances of starting against a West Bro side, whose two Nigerians, Ideye and Anichebe would be praying to be picked for the match, after being left out of the 3-0 defeat against Manchester City on Monday night.

Today’s game is Watford’s first Premier League match in eight years and Coach Quique Sanchez Flores is unlikely to make wholesale changes to his side but is fully aware the defensively stubborn Baggies pose a different challenge to the free-flowing football of Everton.

“We respect West Brom,” Flores said. “But we don’t need to change the mentality of our team. It’s the opposite. We have to enforce the good things we did against Everton.

“But the match will be completely different. Firstly we are playing at home. And West Brom will maybe not be interested in keeping the ball. They will look for the long pass.

“Our aim is to control the ball and defend high.

Sometimes it was impossible to do against Everton because Everton are a good team with a lot of experience. Against West Brom I think it will be a little bit different.”

World Championships:

Gatlin: I want to cross the line before Bolt

J

•Ighalo

City gear up for Chelsea showdown M

anchester City geared up for tomorrow’s crunch clash with Chelsea, both on and off the pitch, with a successful test event at the Etihad.

Thousands of Blues fans got to see the players being put through their paces ahead of the crucial showdown with the champions.

And they also became the

•Toure

first of the club’s supporters to see the newly-expanded stadium up close and personal.

The Blues’ home has undergone a huge redevelopment over the past year with a new tier being added to the South stand.

And in order that it can be opened to its new capacity of 55,000, the Etihad had to hold a test event to obtain safety

•Hazard

Wenger unleashes Sanchez on Palace

certificate.

An estimated 5,000 fans turned out for an open training session featuring both the men’s and women’s teams.

The club announced hat the event was a success and they have been granted a safety certificate meaning they have now released tickets to supporters that were on the waiting list for the Chelsea game.

Tomorrow will now see them break their attendance record at the ground with the Etihad becoming the third biggest club ground in the country.

And there was a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation amongst the fans, after Monday’s comprehensive 3-0 win over West Brom.

Stars such as Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Yaya Toure and new signing Raheem Sterling got a rapturous reception as they were introduced and put through a range of drills.

Many of those likely to be involved in Sunday’s game left the session earlywith the rest taking part in a seven-aside game.

ustin Gatlin will run for the United States in Beijing but to much of the athletics world he might as well appear in a vest bearing a giant syringe such is his position as the tangible manifestation of the sport’s wretched doping past. His dream in Beijing is to cross the finish line ahead of Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest runner.

“At the end of the day I have to get on the line, I have to get out there and cross the finish line first and that’s my job. What the critics say about me doesn’t really bother me.”, said Gatlin.

There will be dozens of convicted former dopers in the world championships — with the top end of the 100 metres riddled with them — but Gatlin has a special place in the Hall of Shame by dint of being the man who has been banned twice.

•Gatlin He has run the four fastest times of the year for the 100m, with a best of 9.74, and the two fastest 200s, peaking with 19.57 — both personal bests and his 100m time the best in the world for nearly three years.

That all means he has a real chance of beating defending champion Bolt, who is racing against time to regain his best form after a hip injury.

Their meetings will be the most anticipated races of the championships and Gatlin, who has won only one of their seven 100m head-to-heads, is as excited about them as the fans. “Hopefully the Beijing 100m or 200m finals will be the right time for us to be able to put on a spectacular show,” he said recently. “It’s a great lead up to a really good story.”

Woods struggles at Championship R

elative to what we’ve seen this summer, Tiger Woods’ ball-striking was solid through his first nine holes of the PGA Championship. But he could get almost nothing going with his putter.

The 14-time major champion, who has struggled mightily with his driver, didn’t hit them all well with the big stick off the tee, missing a couple of fairways to the right. But he was able to minimize the damage by finding his first seven greens — which is where it all went awry.

What befell Tiger on the par-4 14th was a microcosm of his early struggles with the flat stick. A fairway metal left his golf ball sitting down in the first cut left of the fairway and just 110 yards from the cup. A wedge from 110 yards gave him a 56footer that traversed hills and valleys on the severely undulating green. But it was a four-footer that went low and •Tiger barely glanced at the cup that could have been a morale killer.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 15, 2015

City gear up for Chelsea showdown >>55 Tomorrow 4pm

Nigeria’s Nwakali ready to face Ronaldo >>34/35

Speaks on Nigeria’s failure in New Zealand

Ighalo dares Ideye, Anichebe

Shooting Stars take war to Pillars >>33

>>55 TODAY’S FIXTURES Bayelsa Utd v Abia Warriors v

NPL Enyimba El Kanemi

CROSS WORD PUZZLE 4pm 4pm

EPL Everton 12:45pm Norwich 3pm Newcastle United 3pm Stoke 3pm West Brom 3pm Leicester 3pm BUNDESLIGA Leverkusen v Hoffenheim 2:30pm FC Augsburg v Hertha Berlin 2:30pm Mainz v FC Ingolstadt 2:30pm SV Darmstadt v Hannover 2:30pm Werder Bremen v Schalke 2:30pm Dortmund v M’gladbach 5:30pm FRENCH LIGUE 1 St Etienne v Bordeaux 7pm Angers v Nantes 7pm Caen v Toulouse 7pm Southampton Sunderland Swansea City Tottenham Watford West Ham

v v v v v v

Across 1 Nigeria’s President, Mr. Muhammadu – (6) 4 Kano Pillars Coach, Okey – (6) 7 African Waterbuck – (3) 8 Director, Pepsi Football Academy, Dr. Kashimawo – (6) 9 State in Nigeria known as “The Food Basket of the Nation”? – (6) 11 United States Vice President, Mr. Joe – (5) 13 Ondo State Capital – (5) 15 Former Niger State Governor, Mr. Gado – (5) 17 Zambian Currency Unit – (5) 18 Ebonyi State Governor, Dave – (5) 20 L.G.A in Sokoto State – (5) 23 Former Minister of Power, Prof.

Bartholomew – (5) 26 L.G.A in Delta State – (6) 27 Former Atletico Madrid Coach, Abel – (6) 28 Hebrew Alphabet – (3) 29 Former France “Les Bieus” Striker, Nicolas – (6) 30 Super Eagles Media Officer, Ben – (6)

Down 1 Flying Eagles (U-20) Midfielder, Bernard – (6) 2 Slovakian Currency Unit – (6) 3 L.G.A in Lagos State – (5) 4 Super Falcons Defender, Ngozi – (5) 5 France “Ligue 1” Club-Side – (6) 6 Ethnic Group in Nigeria – (6) 10 Edo State Capital – (5) 11 Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Joseph – (5) 12 L.G.A in Anambra State – (5) 14 President, World Bank Group, Mr. Jim Yong – (3) 16 Relation – (3) 18 Country in Africa – (6) 19 Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi – (6)) 21 Tunisia “Carthage Eagles” Striker, Eden – (6) 22 Former Ethiopia “Wayla Antelopes” Coach, Ifeanyi – (6) 24 Former Minister of State for Health, Mr. Yerima – (5) 25 L.G.A in Borno State – (5)

Solutionon on page Solution page2119

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