2015 Elections: INEC releases time table by Vanguard Media Limited

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2 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2014

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Budget/Confirmation of Service Chiefs:

PDP Govs condemn APC BY HENRY UMORU, Abuja

•Pregnant women waiting for medical attention at Igando General Hospital

OVERNORS elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday lampooned the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC for instructing its members in the National Assembly to stall the passage of the 2014 budget, and screening of the newly

nominated ministerial candidates, describing the action as unfortunate, unpatriotic and unwarranted. A d d r e s s i n g Journalists yesterday night at the end of the meeting which took place at the Katsina Government House. Chairman of PDP governors Forum and Akwa Ibom State gover nor, Godswill Akpabio who noted that

2015 Elections:

INEC releases time table •Feb 14, 2015: Presidential, N/Assembly elections •Feb 28, 2015: Guber, State Assembly elections •June 21, 2014: Ekiti Guber •Aug 9, 2014: Osun Guber BY CHIOMA GABRIEL, OKEY NDIRIBE, ISHOLA BALOGUN & LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

HE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed February 14, 2015 for next year ’s Presidential and National Assembly elections. This was contained in a statement issued last night in Abuja by the Secretary to the Commission Mrs Augusta Ogakwu. The statement further indicates that the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections would take place on 28, February, 2015. The Commission’s Scribe also released the detailed time table for the Ekiti State governorship elections scheduled to take place in June this year. The statement shows that June 21, 2014 has been set aside for the conduct of the Ekiti State Governorship election, while the Osun State gubernatorial polls has been scheduled for August 9, 2014. For the Ekiti Governorship polls the detailed electoral time table indicates that the commission shall issue notice for the election on March 3, 2014. The time table further

indicates that commencement of campaigns for the polls begins on March 23, 2014 while collection of forms for candidates by their political parties begins on April 1. The time table also shows that the last day for the conduct of party primaries is April 14, 2 0 1 4 . The table further shows that the last day for submission of forms CF001 and CF002 at the INEC headquarters is April 21, 2014. Publication of personal particulars of the candidates shall take place on April 26, 2014. The last day set aside for withdrawal by candidates and their replacement by political parties has been fixed for 7th May, 2014 while the last day for submission of nomination forms is fixed for May 20, 2014. Publication of the official list of voters is also scheduled for May, 20. The Commission has set aside publication of notice of poll for June 4, 2014. The table also shows that Submission of names of party agents for the polls to the Electoral Officer of the Local Government or Area Council has been fixed for June 5, 2014. The last day for campaigns would

be June 19, 2014. “The tenure of office of the Governor of Ekiti State will expire on the 15th day of October 2014. By virtue of the provision of Section

178(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as a m e n d e d ) , Governorship election in the State shall hold not

earlier than one hundred and fifty (150) days and not later than thirty (30) days before the exiration of the term of office of the Governor. The commissionmis by virtue of Section 30 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) expected to issue notice for the election not later than ninety (90) days before the date of the election. The implications of the above provisions are stated below

it was the opinion of PDP governors that all the names sent to the Senate by President Goodluck Jonathan be screened and cleared, warned that the National Assembly must be allowed to carry out it’s constitutional role without any undue interference from any individual or group of individuals. It will be recalled thatAPC leaders had on Thursday directed its members in the National Assembly to stall the passage of the 2014 budget and the confirmation of service chiefs. According to him, what was required of the APC was to support the President in his attempt to address the challenges of the country especially that of insecurity which the appointment of service chiefs would help to solve and not a call that members of APC at the National Assembly should ensure that the names were not cleared or the 2014 budget approved. Akpabio who noted that the governors hail the appointment of Adamu Muazu as National Chairman of PDP and efforts by President Jonathan to ensure peace, however stressed that the new Chairman has the capacity to ensure total unity in the party by bringing everyone together, adding that he will lead the party to victory in the 2015 Presidential election, He disclosed that as part of moves to nip in the bud the lingering political crisis in PDP, the PDP governors have set up a reconciliation committee that will work with the National leadership of the party especially Adamu Muazu to help reconcile all including governors Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers; Ahmed Abdulfatih of Kwara; Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano; Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto and Murtala Nyako of Adamawa as well as lawmakers, stakeholders who dumped the PDP for APC. Present were Governors of Delta, Abia, Niger, Kogi, Kaduna, Cross River, the host gover nor, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, among others.

4 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2014

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I am still in PDP — Tambuwal •Says Oshiomhole is a defender of democracy BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, B/City

PEAKER of the Federal House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal,yesterday debunked speculations that he is planning a defection to the All Peoples Congress.. He said he still remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite widespread insinuations that he was dumping the party for the All Progressive Congress (APC). Meanwhile, the Speaker has described Governor Adams Oshiomhole as a defender of democracy, and achiever. Tambuwal spoke in Benin City shortly after paying a condolence visit to the Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa on the death of his eldest wife, Queen Esther Erediauwa. He also paid a courtesy visit to Governor Oshiomhole at Government House. Asked if he is still a member of the PDP,, Tambuwal asserted that “I I am still a member of the PDP”. Also, reacting to the directive of the APC leadership that the National Assembly should not pass the Budget, the Speaker said that the directive is meant for APC lawmakers and not for PDP. He said, the House of Representatives has been calling on the Federal Government and security agencies to do everything possible to restore peace in Rivers State. Speaking at Government House Benin City,, Tambuwal said, “We commend you for your efforts in not only promoting and sustaining very key and important developments in Edo State but also,, promoting democracy and democratic ethics. You are one leader that we appreciate and pray that God will continue to sustain you in good health and may He continue to guide your state and by the grace of God, He will reward you abundantly even after leaving the office that you currently occupy. “ We are happy with you and I’m sure the people of Edo State are very happy to have a true and committed nationalist, a pan -Nigerian as their governor. We are in Edo State to condole the Royal Majesty and through

the Comrade Governor to the people of Edo State on the transition unto glory of our dear mother, Queen Esther Erediauwa. “From what I was told, she was the head of the harem of His Royal Majesty. That therefore underscores how important she has been in the palace and in the Kingdom of Benin. She has been a very good supporter and comforter of the Royal Majesty. That is why I felt I should come and condole him and the people of Edo State over this loss”. Responding, Governor Adams Oshiomhole described the Speaker as a role model worthy of emulation by all Nigerians. According to the governor, “You have been guided by the overall objective of a parliament that legislates and carries out its oversight function for the purpose of ensuring there is good governance for the common man. You speak in

unison on issues that affect national interest. It is a fact looking at national institutions that you are a presiding officer who has been

able to make a statement not by mouth but by action that the National Assembly is truly one regardless of the political party. “Let me

say that in Edo State, our people admire you a lot for the very effective leadership that you have provided to the House that has a history of instability even when it was dominated by one political party. I am sure most Nigerians admire your leadership style in which you have carried everybody along in the

Gunmen kill Chinese, wound two others •As bandits kill a retiree in Sanga

ECURITY operatives yesterday in Abuja invaded the home of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Deputy National Secretary of the nation’s leading opposition party, the All Peoples Congress, APC. It was learnt that the security operatives arrived first at the House located at 12 Mambilla Street ,off the highbrow Aso Drive at about 7 am when El-Rufai had driven his children to school. They repeated their visit at about 2 pm. When contacted by phone, El-Rufai , a one time Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo confirmed the incident. It was gathered that during the morning visit by the security operatives, they attempted forcing themselves into the house but later changed their minds. Gregory Bassa, a security guard at El-Rufai’s House narrated the incident when he spoke to news men who visited the House yesterday.

BY LUKA BINIYAT Kaduna Chinese worker engaged in the rehabilitation of the JosKafanchan Rail line was yesterday shot dead by unknown gunmen in Kirim, village, Kaura Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, a border community with Plateau State. Two of the Chinese workers who also sustained grave injuries were rushed to the Kafanchan General Hospital, and later taken to Abuja. Also, alleged bandits killed a villager, Musa Adamu in Anzare village in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Saturday Vanguard also learnt that two of the suspected bandits who were later identified in Gwantu town, exchanged gunfire with policemen, in which one was killed and the other captured. It was not clear why the two Chinese were shot, but information at the disposal of Saturday Vangaurd said that unknown men came from the bush, ambushed the Chinese who were in a trolly car supervising labourers and open fire on them, instantly killing one. Two were left with serious injuries as they were later rushed to the Kafanchan General Hospital before being transfeed to Abuja for further medical attention. It was also said that the bandits who were holed up in a bush in Anzare village, turned around to pursue the villagers who had planned to attack them. “They opened fire from afar, and were advancing towards us. Since non of us was armed with a gun, we started running for our dear lives.”

From left: The Commander Guard Brigade, Maj Gen Emmanuel Atewe; Ambassador Samuel Hart; Inspector General of Police, Alh, Mohammad Abubakar; Minister of of Police Affairs, Mr Caleb Olubolade; FCT Minister of State Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, and the Chief of Staff to the President Asiwaju Mike Oghiadomeh welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan on his arrival back to Abuja after attending the 2014 World Economic Foru m in Davos yesterday

Security operatives besiege El- Rufai’s Abuja home BY OKEY NDIRIBE Abuja

House of Representatives. You are a role model with rare leadership qualities needed by every nation”, he said. The Speaker was joined on the visit by five members of the House of Representatives from Edo State, including Samson Osagie, Rasaq Bello Osagie among others.

Said he: “The security operatives were armed and they came in three vehicles. One of the vehicles was farther away along the road, while two of them were parked in front of this house. I even challenged them and told them not to park in front of the house before they identified themselves as security operatives.” He continued: “When they said they wanted to see Mallam El Rufai, I told them that he wasn’t at home. But they insisted that they wanted to see either his wife, child or any of his relatives. I insisted that nobody was at home”. He continued: “They asked me how he could be reached in case there is an emergency in the house. I replied that I didn’t know how to contact him because I am a security guard working with a company. I was only posted here for duty by my company. I told them it was only my company that gave me instructions.” He continued: “ One of them asked me whether I had El Rufai’s phone number and I replied that I didn’t. Another one asked me whether I owned a mobile phone, I replied yes and he asked for the

phone. I gave it to him”. Bassa said that his phone was later returned to him by the security operatives. Meanwhile, a statment by El-Rufai’s image maker, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, stated that the former FCT Minister will continue to do his patriotic duty of challenging INEC and the security agencies to guarantee the climate for free and fair elections in Nigeria by desisting from partisanship and the embrace of impunity. However, the All Progressive Congress, APC, has strongly condemned the harassment of its Deputy National Secretary, describing “as a shameful overkill” the stoming of his residence by armed DSS operatives yesterday without any arrest warrant.’ There were indications that security operatives were still monitoring the house as at yesterday afternoon, as some strange men were noticed observing the activities of journalists who had trooped to the house to confirm the veracity of the information concerning invasion of the El-Rufai’s residence. It would be recalled that the Department of State

Security Service, DSS, had reportedly invited El-Rufai for a chat last Thursday. Although the reason for the invitation was not known, it was learnt it was in connection with a statement attributed to him that there might be violence if the 2015 general elections were not free and fair. While speaking at the Transformed to Transform, T2T Nigeria, Conference and Career Fair, a leadership and empowerment initiative for the National Youth Service Corps members in Abuja last Wednesday, the APC Deputy Secretary said, the elections could be marred by riots and other forms of violence that might lead to loss of lives and properties unless the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the security agencies ensured they were free and fair. It was, however. gathered that El-Rufai, declined the invitation because of a pending suit he filed against the DSS over his detention at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, during last November’s governorship election in the state.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014

Court summons Lagos Commissioner for criminal allegations BY INNOCENT ANABA

Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo (r) in a hand shake with the Vice President, Islamic Development Bank, Mr. Birama Boubacar Sidibe; aduring a courtesy visit to Presidential Villa yesterday.

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, directed the prosecution to produce at the next adjourned date, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel to court to answer to criminal charges leveled against him by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF. Trial Judge, Justice Okon Abang, while ruling on an application by the prosecution for a bench warrant to be issued against the Insur-

Bauchi Chief Judge discharges 44 inmates to decongest prisons BY SUSAN EDEH

S part of efforts to decongest prisons, the Bauchi state Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Mohammed Zango has reviewed cases of 44 prison inmates and discharged them from Bauchi Central Prison.

This was contained in press release signed by the Public Relation Officer of the Nigeria Prison Service Command Bauchi, ASP Abubakar Adam and made available to newsmen yesterday in Bauchi. According to the release, cases of 44 inmates awaiting trial was

reviewed by the Chief Judge and were subsequently discharged. Justice Ibrahim said prisons congestion can lead to security breach in the state, hence the exercise should be a continuous process. The statement read in part:“It is necessary to call on the stakeholders

Gulak condemns APC threat to block Budget, Ministerial nominees BY HUGO ODIOGOR

HE Special Adviser to the President of Political Matters, Alhaji Ali Gulak has condemned the threat by the All Progressive Congress, (APC) to order its members to abstain from acting on any executive bill until the Presidency restrains its agents from interfering in the crisis in Rivers State. Specifically, the opposition party, which has gained membership strength from the series of defections from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), said it would order its members not to participate in the debate for the 2014 Budget, the choice of Service Chiefs and Ministerial nominees sent to the National Assembly by Pres-

ident Goodluck Jonathan But the Special Adviser to the President of Political Matters,Alhaji Gulak said the role of the opposition party in a democratic governance is to provide credible and constructive opposition to the ruling party by offering constructive criticism and alternative solutions rather than plot to derail the democratic rule with threats to abandon it constitutional obligations. In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, Alhaji Gulak said the threat by APC to order its members in the National Assembly to stop debate on the 2014 Budget and the list of persons sent to it for confirmation as Ministers exposes the plot by the opposition to derail the nation’s democratic rule as such action is meant to jeop-

ardise social and economic activities in the country. According to Gulak, “this is tantamount to declaration of war on the people of Nigeria by the opposition party and no responsible government would fold its arms and watch this happen, the opposition is taking the limits of its functions too far”. He said the opposition party is hiding behind the political crisis in Rivers State to expose its hidden agenda to make the country ungovernable. We have contended with the violent arm of this agenda in Northern states in the past three years and it appears that those behind the violent opposition to the Goodluck Jonathan administration want to expand the theater of its operation.

in the state to look into the issue of administering justice to our inmates,particularly those whose cases have overstayed.It is in this ligth that the decongestion of prisons in the state will not only help to beef up security in the state but will assist the affected inmates to find hope and an opportunity to have a change of lifestyle”. While responding to the release ,the Controller of Prisons, Mallam Ado Ahmed commended the Chief Judge for impacting the lives of the inmates in a positive way, stressing that the gesture will give them the opportunity to have a fresh start in life.

T least 1,000 pupils from different schools have been listed to contest in the 2014 Lagos Power Kids, LAPK, programme, an energy initiative of the state government through Lagos State Electricity Board, LSEB, in collaboration with the EKO Project and Society of Petroleum Engineers. The initiative, which is

slated for Wednesday 29th January 2014, forms part of the state government’s energy development plan to help improve energy efficiency and conservation practice amongst its citizenry. According to a statement from the office of the General Manager, LSEB, Mrs Damilola Ogunbiyi, the objectives of the annual power kids program is to improve the knowledge of the stu-

dents about energy sources, the power sector and inculcate a habit of energy conservation from an early age. Ogunbiyi, who explained that the initiative started in 2011 with 30 schools participating added that Governor Babatunde Fashola at the 2013 Governors Education Awards further extended the number of participating schools from 30 to 50 schools for the 2014 edition of the

by the office of the AGF. Though Ndubuisi later got the AGF to take over the prosecution, Osipitan said it can’t happen because the charge did not comply with the rules of the Federal High Court due to the manner it was filed. However, Enembo maintained that the office of the AGF has power to take over any prosecution initiated by a private prosecutor by virtue of section 174 (1)(b) of the Constitution. But in his ruling, Justice Buba agreed with Osipitan and struck out the suit on the ground that it was defective. As a result, the office of the AGF initiated this fresh charge which is now before Abang. A private prosecutor, Ndubuisi, had filed the motion together with a six-count charge against Daniel at the court and subsequently wrote for a fiat of the AGF. The AGF declined the fiat but instead elected to do the prosecution. In the said charge accompanying Ndubuisi’s motion, it was alleged that Daniel deliberately made a number of misleading and malicious misrepresentations against an insurance company, Alliance and General Insurance Limited to a number of public officers and agencies with the intention of damaging the reputation of the said insurance company.

Obi tasks councilors to be team players in local administration *Says Anambrarians would blame Obiano

OVERNOR Peter Obi of Anambra state yesterday tasked Councilors- elect in the 21 local government areas of the state to be team players with their Chairmen rather than scheming for their impeachment. Obi was speaking at in-

1,000 pupils to compete for Lagos Power Kids 2014 Medals BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

ance Chief, held that it would be improper to do so hastily, particularly, for an accused that has not been formally arraigned before him. Having refused to grant the bench warrant, the trial judge ordered the prosecution to ensure that it produced the accused to court at the next adjourned date and subsequently adjourned till February 6, 2014 for the arraignment of the accused. While the AGF is represented by Mrs C Enembo, the accused was not represented even though the prosecution insisted that he had been properly put on notice. Daniel is facing a six count charge bordering on criminal misrepresentation of facts and deliberate falsehood. Justice Okon is the second judge to sit over the matter. The first judge was Justice Ibrahim Buba, who struck out the suit on the ground that it was not properly filed late last year. At that time, the accused was represented by Professor Taiwo Osipitan, SAN. All through the pendency of the suit, the accused never appeared in court. His counsel, Osipitan had argued that because a private prosecutor, Mr Chijioke Ndubuisi initiated the charge without first obtaining the fiat of the AGF, there was no charge to be taken over

program. “20 students have been selected from each of the 50 schools on merit, taking the number of participating students to 1,000.” She disclosed that in the 2014 LAPK program, the students would be taught about energy and electricity, energy conservation and efficiency, dangers of electricity and simple circuit experiment, sources of energy, solar energy and oil and gas.

augural retreat, of the Anambra state local government on ‘Values and Leadership’ organized for the newly elected chairmen, their deputies and councilors at the Women Development Center Awka. Obi said he was pitying his successor, Chief Willie Obiano who would on March 17 assume office as Anambra governor because Anambra people would blame him for everything that went wrong in the state whether he was responsible or not. He noted that for him, he will take time to rest from the busy schedule of tending the state for eight long years after he hands over to Obiano, adding that Obiano will however be lucky that he (Obi) has done some job in the state and would have to start from somewhere. He called on the elected councillors, vice chair-

men and chairmen to ensure that they provide dividends of democracy to the people of their localities. Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Justice GU Ononiba congratulated Governor Obi on his resolve to conduct the election despite opposition, saying that that the seminar was designed to give the newly elected politicians focus on right values and service delivery. He expressed satisfaction at the array of resource persons assembled by the governor to impact leadership acumen on the grass root politicians. Delivering a paper titled; Local Government Chairman as a Gardener, Dr Okey Ikechukwu a motivational speaker, urged the newly elected politicians to see their election as call to service and not one to lord themselves over the people.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014 — 7

PDP loses bid to sack Gov Okorocha at S-Court •••as Apex Court panel PDP of exhibiting do-or die attitude in Imo BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

HE Supreme Court, yesterday, dashed hopes of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to reclaim the governorship seat of Imo State through the instrumentality of the judiciary. A seven-man panel of Justices of the Apex Court in their consensus judgment yesterday, held that the Owerri Division of the Court of Appeal, grossly erred in law when it gave PDP and its candidate in the April 26, 2011, governorship election in Imo state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, the leave to challenge the outcome of a suit that was filed and lost at the Federal High Court by the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and its flag bearer, Mr Ifeanyi Ararume. In the lead judgment which was prepared and read yesterday by Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, the Apex Court, further accused the PDP of attempting to perpetuate a “do-or-die attitude” in Imo state, capable of “making nonsense of our entire judiciary and legal system.” Consequently, the Apex Court panel, yesterday, ordered the PDP, Ararume and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to pay a fine of N100, 000 each to Governor Okorocha for attempting to subject the judiciary to ridicule. Other members of the panel who concurred with the lead judgment yesterday were Justices John Afolabi Fabiyi, Sulieman Galadima, Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta, Olukayode Ariwoola, Musa Dattijo Muhammad and Kudirat M. Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun. Specifically, Okorocha had through his lawyer, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Owerri which had on October 19, 2012, granted the PDP leave to appeal against the Federal High Court judgment that upheld his election. The High Court in Owerri had in a verdict it delivered on February 3, 2012, dismissed the suit filed against Okorocha by the ACN and Ararume, on the premise that the subject matter of the suit was a post election matter. Dissatisfied with the High

Student delegates with Mrs. W. Ayuli-Jemide at the Women in Government and Politics conference organised by the Winihin Jemide series. Court judgment, both ACN and Ararume lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal Owerri on March 30, 2012. While the appeal was pending, PDP and its own candidate, Ohakim, on May 18, 2012, filed an application where they sought for leave to be allowed to appeal against the High Court judgment as interested parties. Though Okorocha vehemently opposed the application, however, the appellate court, on October 19, 2012, granted PDP’s request and gave it the nod to go ahead and challenge the high court decision that dismissed Ararume’s appeal. Irked by the decision, Okorocha, took the case before the Supreme Court where he insisted that the appellate court Justices erred in law when they joined PDP as an appellant in a pre-election suit, when

the reliefs being sought by ACN and Ararume, related to a post-election issues, the subject matter of which was ab-initio heard and determined by the Apex Court. Basically, it will be recalled that prior to the 2011 general elections, INEC, had fixed April 26, 2011, to conduct governorship election in Imo state in compliance with the provision of section 178(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. On that date, election successfully held in 23 Local Government Areas of Imo state, while violence marred the conduct of election in four LGA’s comprising Ohaji/Egbema, Mbaitoli, Oguta, NgorOkpala as well as Orji ward in Owerri North LGA. Sequel to the provisions of section 26(1), (2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, INEC, postponed election in the

affected areas of the state and declared the governorship election in Imo state inconclusive. It subsequently slated May 6, 2011, to hold supplementary election in the areas. Meantime, on May 3, 2011, ACN and Ararume filed an action challenging the constitutionality of the decision of INEC to conduct the supplementary election. However, the court process could not be issued on INEC until May 10, after the election had held and Okorocha declared and returned as duly elected governor of Imo state. The Election Petition Tribunal in Imo state had earlier dismissed a petition by PDP which challenged the constitutionality of the supplementary election. Bid by PDP to upturn the decision of the Tribunal failed both at the Appeal and Supreme courts.

In its judgment yesterday, the apex court, stressed that PDP ought not to have been allowed by the appellate court to join in an appeal it was not even a party to at the High Court. According to Justice Ogunbiyi, “The effect of the ruling by the court below to re-litigate an existing judgment in rem, is tantamount to a breach of the principle of res-judicata which should operate as an estoppel. Such gross abuse of court process will certainly subject our judicial system to ridicule. “The quest for power and governance should not be without end. The courts, in particular the apex court, which has the duty to give example to all subordinate courts, should be wary against accommodating situations where litigations subsist without end under the guise of do or die attitude which effect would only make nonsense of our entire judiciary and legal system which had specifically put in place measures to check on the unending lethargy of our political ambition. ”The slogan, there must be an end to litigation, should persistently sound loud and clear in our polity. This is a matter of public policy which should not create a societal gangrene. ”The purpose and effect of the law will be lost if it acts only as a toothless bulldog. It should not be seen as a white elephant, but should be a fearful wolf in a sheep’s skin. Its effect should be so pronounced and felt especially at times like this where the abuse of the court process is so imminent. ”In the result, the two issues are both resolved in favour of the appellant

Unknown gunmen kill businessman in Ebonyi BY PETER OKUTU

HE people of Amike community in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi state were yesterday thrown into mourning as unknown gunmen shot and killed one Mr Chukwudi Uto, at 135 Ezzamgbo, opposite the council headquarters. The victim, Chukwudi, is a cement dealer to Chief Michael Nwankwo who is the Principal Secretary to Governor Martin Elechi. Eyewitness stated that the incident happened

around 9:30pm, when the victim and his two other friends were rejoicing at a joint for journey mercies from Lagos state, where he (the victim) went to buy Datsun truck for his cement business, when the killers shot him in the midst of other two. The source said that the two gunmen invaded the drinking bar and demanded for the key of the truck so that no person would use the vehicle to pursue them. They later shot him three times on the chest before they veered off through

Abakaliki route. According to the eye witness, “they were three persons drinking wine at a joint at 135 Ezzamgbo, where they were celebrating their successful journey to and fro Lagos on the purchase of Datsun truck for his cement business. “As they were still drinking, around 9:30pm on Thursday, when two gunmen invaded the area with ash bus and demanded for the key of the vehicle. They collected it and later shot him three timeson the chest”.

He said that the corpse has been deposited at undisclosed mortuary. Meanwhile, when contacted, the chairman of Ohaukwu local government, Mrs Chinyere Elom confirmed the incident. She said efforts were on top gear to track down the perpetrators of the dastardly act, adding that she was going to the police headquarters in Abakaliki to brief the Commissioner of Police, Mr Maigari Dikko over the incident.

while the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Owerri judicial Division delivered on October 19, 2012, is hereby set aside as an abuse of court process. The appeal in the circumstance is allowed and I make an order of N100, 000.00k in favour of the appellant against each of the 1st, 3rd and 4th respondents”, the apex court held. The apex court had on October 31, 2013, struck out the name of the 2 nd respondent (ACN) from the matter on the ground that it had ceased to exist as a political party in Nigeria. Likewise, following the defection of Okorocha to the All Progressives Congress, APC, his former party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, hitherto before the apex court as the 5th respondent in the appeal, withdrew its brief and was accordingly struck out from the matter. Ohakim had through his counsel Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, begged the apex court to dismiss Okorocha’s suit as grossly incompetent and lacking in merit, maintaining that the substantive matter was still pending at the appellate court. Olanipekun, maintained that contrary to Okorocha’s contention, the appellate court, merely assumed jurisdiction on the matter with a view to determining whether or not it has the powers to hear and determine issues surrounding the outcome of the Imo supplementary governorship election. Likewise, counsel to PDP, Chief Awa Kalu, SAN, sought the dismissal of the appeal, prayers that were yesterday refused by the apex court. Meanwhile, Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has warned his political opponents to “go home and rest, especially now that justice has finally prevailed”. Reacting to the Supreme Court judgment, Okorocha said: “Honestly, the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. With this judgment, the Supreme Court, Abuja, has rested all litigations against my election victory in 2011.” The governor expressed hope that the judgment has brought an end to the long overstretched court cases that are diversionary to his government, adding that this is a signal for the opposition to stay clear of the Rescue Mission government.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014

Gov Sule Lamido’s bombshell to PDP: Repent or pay for your arrogance BY SONI DANIEL, Regional Editor, North

OVERNOR Sule Lamido of Jigawa State has issued a timely warning to his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to make urgent amends to calm frayed nerves within its fold or be ready to face more depletion of its rank. Lamido, who has already visited the new National chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu, and ruled out the idea of dumping the PDP for the APC, warned however that the PDP was not in the best of shape ahead of the 2015 and should therefore take necessary steps to put its house in order so as to win the support and goodwill of its members nationwide. According to the governor, last week’s resignation of Bamanga Tukur as the National Chairman of the party will not do much to assuage the feelings of aggrieved members, as the action was belated. Describing the exit of five governors from the party as unfortunate and painful as a result of the refusal of Tukur to carry them along, Lamido blamed the former chairman for creating unnecessary divisions within the party and causing image problems for it and Nigeria in the process. The governor said that the party should not assume that all was well with the removal of Tukur but should make genuine move to reconcile aggrieved governors, members and other stakeholders so as to stabilise the party and make it to win in future polls. The governor said, “Unfortunately, Tukur embarked on destroying the various organs of the party. For instance, for a whole year, he never held a NEC meeting. People are aware of this and the fact that he took several profound decisions all by himself. “So the party was being run as Tukur ’s personal estate, as he systematically estranged other stakeholders. So there was impunity on the part of Tukur. He was creating divisions and a serious sense of disuni-

ty among the party members. “And we began to wonder if the ruling party in Nigeria becomes reckless and irresponsible by way of doing things then Nigeria is in trouble. So the damage has been done already and easing Tukur out under pressure is a little bit late. “Just look at the consequences of the action: how can the party lose five of its own governors to the opposition in one swoop? “The consequences and the collateral damage arising from the action of the former chairman have negatively affected our party and country’s image largely because the issue goes beyond PDP. “What has happened is an embarrassment to the entire country because our democracy is being destroyed. People stood under very difficult conditions to vote for the president and his party and at the end of the day you are destroying the party and the hope of the electorate by despotic actions. “How can the Nigerian people trust you again?” the governor asked, adding the danger is that if we don’t do things right in PDP, we will never be respected within and outside the shores of Nigeria.” But in order to put things right and restore the confidence of es-

tranged members, Lamido suggested the empanelling of what he called Truth and Reconciliation Committee to bring back such members and enhance the fortunes of the party in the election. The governor also said that PDP must admit that it was wrong and apologies to those it offended in order to move forward, assuring that he had no presidential ambition as being rumoured in certain quarters. According to him, those who flew his presidential ambition kite were simply doing so to blackmail him and score cheap political points.

Mr Kayode Akinmade (left) speaking with Natural Resources Commissioner, Tunde Atere while their Counterpart in the Ministry of Vocation and Adult Education, Barrister Remi Olatubora watches.

APC crisis may escalate •Shekarau, Marwa, may be expelled BY OKEY NDIRIBE, Abuja

HERE are indica tions that the crisis brewing within the All Progressives Congress Congress may lead to the suspension or expulsion of several prominent members of the party who are currently perceived as working against its interest. It was learnt that some of the prominent members including former governors may be shown the way out of the party if they continue to resist the take-over of the opposition party’s structures by the G-5 governors who recently defected from the

People’s Democratic Party. A reliable source within the National Secretariat of the party who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on condition of anonymity said the thinking within the leadership of the party is that the G-5 governors must be allowed to take over structures of the party in the affected states to enable them provide the funds to strengthen the APC for the 2015 elections. The G-5 governors who defected from the PDP were Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers; Murtala Nyako of Adamawa; Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano; Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara and Aliyu Wamma-

ko of Sokoto.. The source asked: “ Do you think former Governors Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano, Bafarawa of Sokoto or rtd. Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa of Adamawa have the capacity to win elections in those states now? “ He continued: “We know that some of these people are PDP agents who want to sabotage APC from inside by causing all types of crisis”. When reminded that most of the defected governors would complete their second tenure by 2015 and may therefore not have much at stake during the forth-coming polls, he said : “ If APC

Royal families in court over Ishagatedo to be sympathetic to the cisely died sometime in traditional title cause of the Abionas’, 1895 after about 51 years BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

HE Abiona family, one of the three ruling houses in Ishagatedo had recently dragged one Rasaki Ishola Owodeyi, the present “Baale” (traditional ruler) of Ishagatedo, in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area, to court over what they alleged as “illegal occupation of the title seat by Awodeyi and for parading himself as Baale.” This had led to fear among the residents in the area following worsening disagreement that ensued between the two parties over who is the

rightful candidate to the throne after several years of vacancy in Ishagatedo kingdom. In a hearing notice filed at the High Court of Lagos, Ikeja, with suit no: ID/62/2013 by Abiona Ruling Family, through Chief Fasesan Ayanbi and others as claimants; had Owodeyi, Oshodi/Isolo Local Government, state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Attorney General of the state as defendants. However, supporters of both parties had vowed to engage one another in a physical challenge at any slightest provocation. Though, many were said

who they see as being cheated through conspiracy. It was learnt that the Police and other security personnel have been alerted and placed on red alert to avert any ugly incident in the area. According to the schedule 7 of the Lagos State of Nigeria Official Gazette, of 1995, the number and identity of the ruling houses are: 1; Kuponiyi Family. 2: Abiona Family and 3: Owodeyi Family. The three registered ruling houses were created after the death of Chief Akanbi, who founded Ishagatedo in the early 18th century. Akanbi, pre-

on the throne as the Baale of Ishagatedo. Since then, the throne has been ascended to in successive rotation. Trouble however, started when the incumbent Baale, Owodeyi allegedly refused to allow the perceived authenticc Baale to ascend the throne after several years he had held sway as administrator pending the determination of a real Baale. The refusal of Awodeyi not to leave the throne was allegedly sequel to announcement by government on its plan to upgrade the Baaleship (chief grade status) of the throne to Obaship (full paramount ruler status).

doesn’t win the states where the G-5 governors are currently in power, it means they would be politically finished. So they would surely throw in their resources to ensure that APC wins in their states to enable them be in a vantage position to pursue their future political career”. ”Who told you that some of them don’t have presidential ambition?” he asked. The source however expressed confidence that the crisis would be resolved just like the various opposition parties were able to overcome all their differences and merge. Said he: “ When political battles are fought, it is either you win, lose and leave or reconcile”. It would be recalled that the G-5 governors defected after reportedly reaching an agreement with the leadership of APC that the party’s structures in the five states would be handed over to them. However, since they defected they have faced stiff resistance from prominent members of the party especially former governors in their attempt to take over APC structures in the affected states. When contacted by phone yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party Alhaji Lai Mohammed dismissed certain media reports about the crisis as the handiwork of the P D P . He admitted that the party was aware of the disagreement within some state chapters of the party but said a National Reconciliation Committee had been set up to handle the situation.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014 — 9

LASU crisis: Hoodlums hijacked our protest — SUG President BY EBUN SESSOU & MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

OLLOWING the violence that erupted in the Lagos State University, LASU, Lagos State House of Assembly, has directed the school management to re-open the registration portal for the over 1,292 students, to complete their registration exercise. Meanwhile, the acting president of the Lagos State University (LASU) Student Union Government (SUG), Miss Mojirade Hassan said that the protest embarked upon by the students to register their displeasure over the closure of the registration portal, was hijacked by unknown hoodlums. This came barely 24 hours after the students went on rampage, destroying the school’s property, burning tyres on the expressway and disrupting the second semester examinations of the 2012/2013 academic session. The House gave the directive after a six-hour plenary session in which each of the parties-the school management and the students- addressed the law makers. Speaker of the House, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, who presided over the plenary session, said “The house also demanded that the school management reopen the portal for two days while carrying out the necessary repairs to allow the affected students register for the second semester of 2012/2013.” He also asked the school management to take stock of the damages done at the university during the crisis and carry out the necessary repairs. According to him, “The students union executive

must write a letter of apology to the school, and all the students of the school must sign an undertaken to be of good behaviour.” Ikuforiji added that the House would raise a committee to look into the causes of the crisis and fish out the perpetrators for necessary actions.

SUG AND VC Hassan who disclosed this while addressing the lawmakers on the floor of the House, explained that the issue got out of hand after the affected students staged a peaceful protest to the school Senate building to appeal to the management to re-open the school portal for them to register. The acting SUG added that despite all the pleas by the affected students for the portal to be re-opened, the Vice Chancellor, John Obafunwa and other management staff of the school turned deaf ears to the pleas of the students, ignoring some of the students who were kneeling down to plead. According to her, “several meetings were held with the Vice Chancellor to ensure that the registration portal was re-opened to students who were ready to pay their

tuition fee. Rather than yield to their plea, the school management closed the portal but students were still allowed to pay but couldn’t complete their registration exercise. Hassan explained: “When some of the students approached the Chairman, Governing Council, Mr. Bode Augusto, he was telling them of the financial problems being encountered by the school. I told the VC that we want to meet with

him and he told me that if it is about the re-opening of the portal I intend to discuss, he will disappoint me. “I begged the VC to reopen the portal for at just two hours and I informed him that the affected students had threatened to protest if the portal is not re-opened but he said ‘they should go ahead, they will meet there’. The protest in front of the Senate was peaceful because the students were only carrying placards and they did not even sing.

EOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill has expressed his confidence in the just released ministerial nominees list. In a press statement released by his Personal Assistant- Media and Publicity, Wabiye Idoniboye-obu, Prince Tonye encouraged the National assembly to

and Minister of Youth Development, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi and former Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Iyiola Omisore. Speaking exclusively with Saturday Vanguard, the former Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Oke stated that he was sure to pick the party ’s ticket if the primary is free and fair. He warned that any attempt to favour a

Delta 2015: Prest to tackle insecurity

From left: Wife of the Rotary International District 9110 Governor Nominee, Lady Serah Onabadejo, with the newly installed Bishop, Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Methodist Church Nigeria, Rt. Revd Isaac Ayo Olawuyi; his wife, Funmi and the District 9110 Governor nominee, Sir Bola Onabadejo at Bishop Olawuyi’s installation at the Hoares Memorial Church, Yaba, Lagos.

Ministerial nominees: Princewill urges NASS to approve well-deserved candidates

the issue wouldn’t have degenerated to violent. “The protest was hijacked by hoodlums because we saw some yellow buses coming into the school and in the process of the protest, some people were snatching phones and a phone belonging to one of my members was also stolen.

BY ANOZIE EGOLE

screen and approve the well deserved candidates. He also congratulated President Jonathan for, what he called, “a move in the right direction”. “In one strike, the president has proved he can balance governance and politics,” Princewill said. The Prince of the Kalabari kingdom encouraged the nominees to put in their best, and

push for excellence. “I am really impressed with the quality of the list and I am confident that they will perform” . The list has the likes of General Aliyu Gusau Mohamed (rtd) from Zamfara State, who retired as a Lieutenant General. As an intelligence expert, Gen Gusau held all the

Osun Guber: I’m the right man for the job — Wole Oke particular aspirant pressed optimism of his party to prepare a level NE of the three governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State for the next election, Hon. Wole Oke has declared that he is the right man for the job. He also said that of all the three aspirants of PDP, he remains the man to beat for the sole ticket of his party for the race. Other PDP governorship aspirants from the state include a former federal lawmaker

Some of them even knelt down to plead, but when the VC and other management staff came, they didn’t address them but drove away from the scene. “The students seeing this took to the streets and I still called the VC to let him know that the issue had gone out of hand but he told me to pacify the students. I told him it has gone beyond what I can handle. It was then he told me that he has involved the State Security Service (SSS). If the VC had addressed the students,

against the people’s choice would lead to the defeat of the party at the poll. Hon. Oke however ex-

playing ground for the three aspirants for the best candidate to emerge.

exalted security positions in the land, from Chief of Army Staff to National Security Adviser. This has stamped his legacy in the defense unit of our country. Also on the list is Senator Musiliu Obanikoro from Lagos State, who as senator proposed motions that affected the lives of many Nigerians. From bills that checkmated the overflow of the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos and the condition of the Abuja Stadium, to resolving the clash between men of the Nigerian Police Force and Nigerian Army in the west; Obanikoro has made his mark.

GUBERNATORIAL aspirant in Delta State, Mr. Tony Prest has said that he would fight insecurity in the state with community policing if elected governor, saying that Delta had the human and financial muscle needed to curb insecurity. Briefing newsmen yesterday in Lagos, Prest pledged to retrain and equip policemen deployed to the state, so as to provide an atmosphere where people would actualise their dreams economically,politically,educationally and socially. His words; ‘’We will partner with Government Security Agencies (GSA) on better modern communication and surveillance equipment, improved logistics and community policing will be a key priority. “We are determined to put an end to these and other types of criminal activities. To this end, my administration shall enhance consultations and collaboration with registered trained local vigilantes, neighbourhood watch and communitybased security groups. ‘’We shall implement a state-wide CCTV monitoring of hotspots, use of solar powered street and community lighting including full implementation of a Rogues Gallery Project whereby a database of all crimes and criminal activities will be captured and digitised. We are determined to put an end to these and other types of criminal activities.’’

Ondo kicks off third leg of community devpt projects

HE third leg of the

Ondo state community development initiative, 3i’s aimed at eradicating poverty among the locals has kicked off with the slogan, “kajose Kajola” . The state’s Commissioner for Community Development, Mr Clement Faboyede said in Akure

yesterday that: “the third leg of the initiative, which is industry, would be the agenda for now with the new slogan Kajose Kajola” He said industry, being the third tripod of the initiative, will enable government look at the raw materials available in the state, with a view to pull-

ing them together and establishing industries that would help banish poverty among the people.

Meantime, Ondo Commissioner for Information,

Kayode Akinmade, his Natural Resources counterpart Tunde Atere and Chief Protocol Officer to Gov Mimiko,

Fasonranti Ifeoluwa were last

weekend honoured by the old Students Association of the former school, The Federa School of Arts and Science, Ondo. Their old principal, Dr Samuel Atolagbe was also present amongst Gov Mimiko, Dr Kola Ademujimi, Barr Remi Olatubora amongst other dignitaries.

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Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014

National Conference committee members

Confab, 2015:Nigeria on cliff-hanger

UNDRED years into the amalgamation of Southern and Northern protector ates to create Nigeria by Lord Frederick Lugard and 54 years after independence, the polity is awash with apprehension that the country may disintegrate before 2015 as predicted by the United States of America Intelligence Agency, in 2006. The palpable fear is exacerbated by discordant tunes trailing the proposed national conference as well as threats of violence and the do-or-die attitude of some politicians towards the 2015 general elections. The main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) is stridently opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposed national conference. APC’s leaders alleged a hidden agenda and accused President Jonathan, who is of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of plotting to use the conference as a diversionary tactic to actualise his 2015 re-election ambition. Some ethnic nationalities and pressure groups are insisting that the conference must hold, the bulk of delegates must come from the ethnic nationalities, the outcome of the conference should become law through a referendum of the people and it must not be tinkered with by the National Assembly. Insisting that such a conference will help address the multifarious socioeconomic and political problems plaguing the nation, some of the ethnic nationalities said they would opt out of the country if the exercise failed. Another source of concern is the posturing and hard line stance of some politicians ahead the 2015 election. A section of the North has threatened bloodshed and war if President Jonathan seeks re-election and wins a second term. Some southern politicians countered that Nigeria would

break up if Jonathan was prevented from re-contesting or hounded out of office. The December 2, 2013 open letter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Jonathan, mixed reactions that trailed the letter, defection of five PDP governors, 37 members of the House of Representatives and other aggrieved leaders to the APC and the APC call on the National Assembly to impeach the President among others have pushed the nation to the brink. Matters are not helped by recurring mayhem in some northern parts of the country unleashed by Boko Haram insurgency. Faced with these challenges and threats, the questions on the lips of many analysts are will Nigeria disintegrate? How can we keep the country united in a peaceful and sustainable manner? In an answer to these questions, some eminent Nigerians say the country will not implode if the needful is done. Rather than dwelling on our differences, they contend that Nigerians can harness their reach human and material resources and diversities to become a super power instead of wallowing in the doldrums. Some of them also proffered suggestions on how to make the proposed national confab effective and efficient

which forced the military to overthrow the Second Republic now appears misplaced in the context of what is presently going on in the country. Most of our leaders today are not helping Nigeria, but I pray God will make Nigeria better. They should save the country from collapsing. They should put the interest of the Nigerian people at heart. They should go into politics with the determination to serve because there are so many things to be done and this country is greatly in need of them and I hope that they clear up the mess in order to get back to the right course of serving our people. Nigeria is growing and we have a great future. I am totally convinced that we shall get there because this is a

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, Deputy Political Editor

irst civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, said if our leaders check graft, provide amenities and protect the interest of Nigerians, the country would remain a strong and united country. His words: “The level of corruption in this country is a national tragedy and we have never had it so bad. In retrospect, the allegation of corruption

There’ll be bloodshed, if Jonathan runs in 2015 – Junaid Mohammed

Second Republic member of the House of Representatives and Russian trained Medical Doctor, Junaid Mohammed, anchored the bulk of the country’s current challenges and instability on President Jonathan’s 2015 re-election ambition. He said there would be war if Jonathan insisted on running amid growing opposition. He said: “The closest President Goodluck Jonathan has come to saying whether or not he would run in 2015 was to say recently that he was under pressure to run. Should he run? First and foremost, I do not believe he should run. He should not run, whether he is under pressure or not. He is his own man, therefore, he should be responsible enough to take that deci-

The mention of 2015 in Nigeria’s political discourse instantly evokes two ominous conjectures. One is the haunt of the US intelligence prediction that Nigeria will disintegrate before 2015 country created by God and we will not go back. God has given us all the resources we need to be a great country, why should we fail?”

Nigeria‘ll become history without genuine confab We can save Nigeria —Ethnic nationalities from collapsing

—Jakande

December 30, MNN leaders such as Elder Fred Agbeyegbe, Co-coordinator; Tony Nnadi, Secretary-General; Mrs. Hilda Dokubo, Timi Kaiser Ogoriba, Chief Dan Ekpebide, Abuka Onalo, Ambah Binaebi, Shade Olukoya and Leye Akinmodiro, urged President Jonathan to speed up the national dialogue, warning that it would be disastrous to hold the 2015 elections without a new constitution emerging from a national conference. They said: “The mention of 2015 in Nigeria’s political discourse instantly evokes two ominous conjectures. One is the haunt of the US intelligence prediction that Nigeria will disintegrate before 2015. The other very bloody prospect swirl around the 2015 electoral round in which Muhammadu Buhari assumes that blood will flow should power elude him while known armed agitators from Jonathan’s home region also assured the country of calamity should their son be hounded out of the 2015 election. On both counts, 2015 seems to be receding from Nigeria. “MNN looks back in history to situate Nigeria’s present pass within the praxis of events of 1962, 1964/65, 1966, 1967-70 in which elections were loaded on an unresolved constitutional crisis, resulting in a political explosion that consumed the country, leaving in its trail more than three million dead bodies in the battlefields of Biafra, and permanently denting the ‘brotherhood’ upon which the Union of Nigeria could stand.”

ooking at the burning issues in the polity, some ethnic nation alities on the banner of the Movement for New Nigeria (MNN), which included Federation of Oodua People, Middle Belt Congress, Lower Niger Congress and Oporoza House, said the country would expire Nigerians embrace the national conference and agree on fresh terms of co-existing. At a press conference in Lagos on

sion, and not to bore us with the irresponsible statement of saying he is under pressure. He should stop playing with the destiny of this country. He is humble enough to know the consequences of his action, should he insist on running. But let me warn that he should not do anything that would plunge the country into avoidable anarchy. If Jonathan insists on running, there will be bloodshed and those who feel short-changed may take the warpath and the country may not be the same again. His running will amount to taking about 85 million northerners for a ride and that is half of the country’s total population. So, there will be bloodshed.”

Continues on page 11

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Nigeria on clif f-hanger o 15 polls cliff-hanger ovver confab, 20 2015 Continues from page 10 Hounding Jonathan out of power will hurt Nigeria —Ezeife esponding to Junaid Moham med’s comment, former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, warned politicians against mishandling the 2015 elections by preventing President Jonathan from seeking reelection. Reason: “At this juncture in Nigeria’s history, President Jonathan’s interest in a second term and Nigerians’ interest in the continued existence of the country have become coterminous.” He averred that the country may break up if Jonathan was disallowed from running for a second term in office and also insisted that those opposed to the proposed national conference were also opposed to Nigeria’s continued existence as a united country. According to Ezeife: “If you say because you oppose President Jonathan’s bid for a second term in office you are also opposed to a National Dialogue, you are saying no to one Nigeria. The truth of the matter is that opposing President Jonathan’s second term is like opposing the continued existence of Nigeria as one united country.” Ezeife contended that if Jonathan was unlawfully stopped from re-contesting or rigged out of power “the Niger Delta boys would blow up all the oil pipelines and then a part of the country could say they are no longer interested in Nigeria; they could say Nigeria legally expired when the nation marked its centenary and that they are now on their own. “This is not what I want, but I am afraid it could happen if we foolishly think of only our short term interest, instead of thinking of long term implications. However, if Jonathan contests and loses in a free and fair election where Nigerians truly vote against him, it would be less bloody than if he is not allowed to contest at all.”

2015: SESSP insists on new constitution, begins nationwide mobilization iqued by the do-or-die attitude of politicians towards to the 2015 general elections and stunted socio-economic and political development, which they attributed to the 1999, Constitution, South-East and South-South Professionals (SESSP) have called for a new peoples’ grundnorm before the next general polls.

Alhaji Lateef Jakande

Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife Arguing that the country will continue to witness little or no development with the current constitution and warning that the situation will worsen without urgent action, they said they would embark on intense mobilization across the country to get all Nigerians to support moves for a people’s constitution. Speaking at a briefing in Lagos, the SESSP leaders including Emeka UgwuOju (president), Nuhu Yakubu (vice president), Dagogo Karibi-Whyte (secretary general), Hannibal Uwaifo (legal adviser), Andy Wabali (financial secretary and Gloria Maduka said in a statement: “We truly believe that at the root of Nigeria’s problems is its faulty political structure, as enshrined in the current 1999 constitution, which inadvertently reward rent seeking and mediocrity, and has therefore led to us to become lazy, corrupt, unpatriotic, under-developed, poor, insecure, etc. We believe the right constitution will breed the right socio-political economy.” Their words: A Federation is a union of constitutions and since Nigeria got into unitary system upon the collapse of its defining constitutions in 1966, the conference should be at the least two stages in which the federating constitutions are distilled in the first instance and then federated in the second stage. “On proposed 2015 elections, the National conference is to decide an acceptable constitutional arrangement under the current but disputed 1999 Constitution and so elec-

Junaid Mohammed tions previously advertised under that constitution may need to be deferred such that the next election will be premised upon the outcome of the National Conference (i.e. the constitutional arrangements emanating from the conference).” Ugwu-Oju said the matter was now a bit urgent because of the 2015 election. We are seeing a situation where knowingly or unknowingly, wittingly and unwittingly, many politicians have decided that the 2015 election is what we call Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). We have the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), which have declared themselves winners of the election before it is held. We are already mobilizing other professionals across the country to save the situation. We have the SouthWest Professionals and North-Central Professionals saying that shortly we will be meeting in Ibadan and Jos. Thereafter, we will reach out to North-West and North-East professionals. They continued: “Nigeria is again at cross roads with respect to addressing key and critical success factors required for the socio-political and economic emancipation of its people. Today we are faced with challenges of: good governance, endemic poverty, insecurity of lives and property, infrastructure development, infrastructure decay, huge unemployment, over-staffed public sector, high re-current expenditure of government and wasteful government spending, youth restiveness, criminal and terrorism insurgence, resource mal-administration and mismanagement, food insecurity, environmental degradation, etc. “The SESSP places the toot causes of Nigeria’s problems, fundamentally on its faulty governance structure. Up until 1966, post colonial independent Nigeria was governed by the national constitution, which was negotiated and agreed upon among its founding fathers. It was a Nigeria governed along the principles of fiscal federalism, comprising strong regional governments of the North, West and Eastern Nigeria, forming the national parliamentary government. Suffice it to repeat that Nigeria experienced its best during this brief period, with the growth performance of especially the south eastern region, placing Nigeria among the fastest growing nations in the world.” They warned that without addressing faulty governance, the Nigerian situation will get worse and consequently, supported the ongoing national dialogue “to the extent that its outcome is subjected to a national referendum, for ratification by the people of Nigeria, and not the National Assembly.”

“The wish of the peoples of Nigeria to have the governance structure returned to that which was negotiated and agreed to by its founding fathers has been very resounding. From the south eastern Ndi-Igbo tribes, to the south southern tribes of Efik, Ijaw, Binis, Urhobos, Itsekiris, Ibibios; to the south western Afenifere tribes of Yorubas and Egbas; and now more recently to the mid-northern tribes of Tivs, Junkuns, Igbiras and the northern progressives, who have equally lent their support to the clamour for the political restructure of Nigeria, away from it s current unsustainable 36 states, to fewer but more efficient federating regions/states, and reversal to the parliamentary system of government, with part time or full time legislators, who are remunerated according to their degree of participation in legislative duties. “It is not surprising therefore that the various regional town hall meetings of the national conference committee, which was constituted to fashion out modalities for the national dialogue has revealed overwhelming support throughout the six geo-political zones, to the clamour for a new constitution before the 2015 general elections.” Resolutions must not go to NASS – PRONACO ommenting on the issues, Project Nigeria (National Consensus Group) and Pro-National Conference Organization, PRONACO, two platforms, which have been committed to a people-driven and all inclusive National Conference, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to jettison the plan of sending the resolutions of the National Conference to the National Assembly for consideration. Spokesman of the groups, Mr. Wale Okunniyi said Decree 24 of 1999 that was christened 1999 constitution was the root of the current political strife and tension in the country, arguing that no amount of amendments can transform it to a constitution legitimately owned by the Nigerian people. Okunniyi averred that the universal convention for constitution making is that it is not a government or any of its organs that give the people of a country a constitution rather it is the people who give their government a constitution. Okunniyi said PRONACO’s nationwide consultations revealed that Nigerians want a National Conference that can help them facilitate a new people’s constitution that can be directly owned by them and not by government organs He also urged President Jonathan to make the ethnic nationalities produce the bulk of delegates at the conference because “they are the original indigenous component units of Nigeria.” Okunniyi continued: “We are also disturbed by emerging contentions on the mode of representation at the National Conference. Therefore, we plan to constitute high powered technical committee on representation at the National Conference. This committee will be one of the high points of the forth coming Nigeria’s centenary peoples’ National Summit coming up in February 2014 preparatory to the National Conference.” He said the summit is to guide government on how to generate all inclusive representation and participation of the real building blocs of Nigeria at the National Conference, while averting a situation where the proposed conference will loose its essence of serving as a credible conflict management mechanism for the country.

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Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014

reflect the reality on the floor of the Senate. Until we receive any document indicating the intention of a member to defect, we cannot determine whether there would be any change in the composition of the various parties within the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly. There is the impression in some quarters that the people of Ukwa/Ngwa in Abia State have allowed themselves to be manipulated politically in the past. What do you think would happen in 2015? First of all, I don’t agree that the people of Ukwa/ Ngwa have allowed themselves to be manipulated. I believe that in politics, you could go all out for a position and get it but sometimes you might not. That is exactly what has happened. I would like you to note that on the question of 2015, the Governor of the State Chief Theodore Orji has unequivocally said

CONFAB:

NASS ready to give Nigeria new constitution — Abaribe

•PDP would emerge stronger from crisis and win 2015 polls

Senator Enyinna Abaribe, Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs recently spoke to Saturday Vanguard in Abuja. In this interview with Okey Ndiribe, he bares his mind and gives deeper insights into various national issues. need for any extra legal backing for the c o n f e r e n c e . Even the President made it very clear that it is only by subjecting the outcome of the conference to the National Assembly that it could get a legal backing. Anything different from this approach, could end up reducing the planned confab to another talk shop where all the efforts put into holding it would end up in vain. The National Assembly doesn’t want this to happen. We support everything that would promote the basis for the unity of this country. Don’t forget that the impetus for the conference was first proposed by the Senate President, Senator David Mark. What can you say about the widelyspread rumour that that some members of your party in the Senate are set to defect to the All Progressives Congress APC ? Prior to our adjournment for the Christmas holidays, there had not been any information concerning any Senator who wanted to defect from PDP to APC. Before a Senator writes to the Senate President stating that he wants to defect from one party to another, we would assume that he would have gone through the Constitution to educate himself about the implications of his action and the basis upon which such a move could be made. We don’t want to engage in speculations because we know that some Senators whose state governors have already defected had told us they would remain with the party. So, speculations about the number of Senators planning to defect as currently circulated in the media, may not

hat do you think would be the reaction of the National As sembly if President Goodluck Jonathan should approach the legislature for funding and pre-conference legal backing for the proposed National Dialogue? I am sure that if the President presents a proposal for the confab in 2014 Budget estimates, it would surely sail through. Secondly, Nigerians need to be reminded that we swore to an oath to abide by the provisions of the constitution. However, due to the agitations of Nigerians for a National Conference, we have agreed that we would be ready to incorporate the resolutions of the conference as part of the contributions to the on-going Constitution amendment exercise. In addition to this, we have included a new provision to section nine, in the proposed amendment which empowers the National Assembly to draft an entirely new constitution for the country. It is only if what the agitators for a pre-conference legal backing want is incorporated into the constitution that the National Assembly could act on such a demand. That was the reason why we said that whatever resolutions that may be reached at the conference, it would be incorporated into the constitution amendment process. We cannot bring something that is alien to this constitution and try to operate it. That would be illegal because it would be outside the purview of the constitution. Since section four of the Constitution grants all Nigerians the freedom to associate and take decisions, there is no

We have agreed that we would be ready to incorporate the resolutions of the conference as part of the contributions to the on-going Constitution amendment exercise

that the governorship position should go to the people of Ukwa/Ngwa on the basis of equity. He has said it several times and he has also demonstrated it. So, I do not entertain any fear at all that there would be any manipulation of the Ukwa/Ngwa people come 2015. One thing we know about Governot Orji is that he has been a man of his words. Ever since we got together in 2010 and formed the big united People’s Democratic Party PDP family in Abia, he has kept all his promises and I have no reason to doubt his direction concerning in 2015. It is widely believed that all eyes are on you to vie for office of Governor of Abia State in 2015. Are you going to run for that exalted office or not? I think that there are two things that determine all political positions that people get; first is the will of God and secondly,

the will of the people. So, if like you have said people from all walks of life in Abia and all areas of the state are looking up to me to occupy that exalted position, then at the appropriate time I would listen to their call. As the spokesman of the Senate, what do you have to say about the alleged shooting of Senator Magnus Abe by men of the Rivers State Police Command? The Senate has already issued a statement deploring the violence. We are strongly concerned over the involvement of a serving Senator in that incident. We have been trying to contact Senator Abe. We tried yesterday but it was not possible but we spoke to people around him. I was with the Senate President David Mark when he spoke to various people in Rivers State including the Governor Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and the Police Commissioner Joseph Mbu. We have been collating information on the incident. We would of course, discuss the development on the floor of the Senate when we resume. Meanwhile, our position as at today is that hostilities should be de-escalated in the state and other parts of Nigeria where there is violence. We think that violence does not solve any problem and that there should be calm at this period. We are particularly enthused by the position of President Goodluck Jonathan. If you remember, at about the same time the Rivers violence took place, there was a church service which was held to mark the Armed Forces Remembrance Day and President Jonathan pointedly said no Nigerian blood was worth being shed in the name of politics and called on Nigerians to respect each other’s views and go about their normal businesses. So, we have strongly condemned the violence and called on the Inspector-General of Police to institute an enquiry into what happened. This is necessary because the information we are getting now is conflicting. While those on the side of the Save Rivers Movement claim there was shooting by the Police and that rubber bullets were used, the Police on their own part have denied that no such thing happened. So, it is important that the IG should first of all step in find out what happened. We have already seen video clips of what happened; we have observed that the Police used tear gas. We are also aware that a section of the Constitution guarantees Nigerians the right to peaceful assembly. We urge the Police at all times to ensure that minimal force is used in the attempt to control unwanted tendencies within such an assembly. The right of Nigerians to peaceful assembly must be protected at all times. But the Rivers State Government has repeatedly pointed accusing fingers at the Presidency over the lingering crisis in the state. So, how do you place this situation side by side with President Jonathan’s recent comments condemning violence in any part of the country? It is not the tradition of the Senate to take sides. What the Senate does is to act based on full information available to it. A resolution could then be reached on what to do. This is because the Senate is peopled by patriots who have served the country in various ways. So, the opinion from only one side cannot be the basis for the Senate to take a decision. Recently, another colleague of yours Senator Ali Ndume also claimed that his convoy was bombed by fighter jets when he travelled to his constituency on a condolence visit, even though he had obtained security clearance. What do you have to say about this development? I have spoken to Senator Ali Ndume and his version of what happened was a bit different from what was in the papers. He acknowledged that perhaps there had been some kind of mistake in the security cover that was given to him by the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Police. Once in a while things like this could happen.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2014 — 13

14—SATURDAY Vanguard , JANUARY 25, 2014

ince President Goodluck Jonathan publicly indicated his preference for 19 as a figure inferior to 16 in numerical strength, his credit as a democrat has dipped considerably in the estimate of many reasonable people. When political considerations are allowed to overwhelm sheer mathematical equation, sincerity is dismissed to a corner and credibility takes a bow. This stance has provided a basis of alignment, of course, to the entire attitude of the presidency on the odious situation in the Rivers State, from the commotion in the State House of Assembly to the spate of unrest that has bedevilled the people of that State till now. What is happening now looks like a series of sporadic riots by a group against another, with the attackers seeming to gain the upper hand at every turn, thanks The legislature, in these circumstances, to the apparent complacency of would naturally be the arbiter for normalising the security officials, who are peaceful co-existence among the people. indeed accused by the other side But, with regard to what is happening in as collaborators of the hooligans. the Rivers State right now, our legislature is In plain words, it has become pre-occupied with the issue of dominance very clear that the supporters of of one component over another. The drift, or the State Governor have their surge, of members of the Peoples Democratic rallies disrupted at will by the Party, PDP, into the embrace of the All supporters of his opponents who Progressives Congress, APC, seems to have are identifiable with the filled the horizon of the political expectations presidency. They commit acts of mayhem boldly to the knowledge — or under the “protection” — of the police, as it were. That is what is happening as of date, but who knows where it will end?

*riots in rivers, unrest in the assembly was too late. But then, in what one felt was a moment of uncontrolled passion; the Leader of the Opposition described the Majority Leader of the House as the Minority Leader. The stench immediately hit the fan. The readiness with which the PDP members reacted was untrammelled. They left their seats but were met on the way by members of the APC, each shouting and waving their hands as

t all presents a situation that supersedes the edge of mere comment, and calls for some action from an institution of some form of authority. Our tripartite format of government is left with only two others when the presidency is not disposed to listen to the people — that is the judiciary and the legislative. In the case of the judiciary, it can only function effectively when its decisions and intents are enabled by a co-operative and co-ordinated presidency, which is the executive arm of government. But when it finds itself in a position where its authority can be flouted by even the agency that should buttress it, it may succumb to pressures that tend to shrink any decision it should take without question. For instance, a decision curtailing the powers of the legislative in the management of its own internal order would seem to shake the foundations of the “separate and equal” maxim upon which the threearm structure of government was laid. C M Y K

Aminu Tambuwal ,Speaker of the House of Reps. of some legislators, particularly the APC members of the House of Representatives, with irredeemable hubris. That continuing phenomenon appears capable of weakening their focus on any objective, and that has been to the loss of the Rivers State situation. That was the subject on the floor of the house to the delight of many Nigerians who were hoping for some form of positive action at last. It was not very clear what it might

distinguished senator is now lying in poor health in London, wounded by rubber bullets fired by those who are custodians of that special item of weaponry. Even a rubber— bullet can be lethal depending on what part of the anatomy it hits. Who knows where the next rubber-bullet might hit anyone? And though it is windows and windscreen that are being smashed now, who knows what will be smashed next? Maybe heads and limbs? And who knows what that will then lead to, and where it will end? Many Nigerians have, typically, expressed shock, and others dismay, but have done nothing more. Dear, kindhearted people they are, but weak as a kitten, they simply don’t have anything more they can do. They can speak and have spoken but, as usual, who gives a damn?

in due course. He has a record, a name, to maintain. The record of disorder in the National Assembly, however, is one that must be abandoned. It is not reasonable to encounter any dissension with a resort to violence in a forum dedicated to debate. Granted that the remark which disparaged the position of the Majority Leader in the House was in poor taste — and indeed it was—a sense of propriety should have ruled out an unbridled show of resentment. The sting of it might even have been dissipated by some sharp wit and humour. That is not uncommon in other climes. It was not even entirely unknown in the history of our First Republic, in the days when S.L.Akintola, as Leader of the Opposition, enjoyed giving members of the Tafawa Balewa’s government constant palaver.

•Senate President David Mark usual — but no punch was thrown, this time. And that was that. It was left to the Senate, the Upper House, who also subscribed to a similar indecent exposure of their own, to make some effort at taking a proactive action the next day. They resolved to have an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with the Inspector-General of Police, whose laidback stance on the issues of security, or

The legislature, in these circumstances, would naturally be the arbiter for normalising peaceful co-existence among the people. But, with regard to what is happening in the Rivers State right now, our legislature is preoccupied with the issue of dominance of one component over another

have been, but it could have been a resolution that would bring a measure of relief to unsafe developments that emerged from the confrontation or, rather, the serial aggression against the supporters of the governor. For if they should embark on reprisal action on their own part, where will it end? The House, one expected, might come up with plans of a rigorous campaign to force the hand of the presidency, or a pronouncement that would check the strides of the rioters before the hope of reconciliation

rather insecurity in Rivers State has, to say the least, been embarrassing. It has, to a considerable extent, whittled the confidence we held at his appointment in his sense of professionalism and attendant effectiveness. He has not given the impression that his discretion has not been tainted by influences that are extraneous to his office. He is, and has always been a fine officer, a fine officer indeed, with a high reputation that the Rivers situation may challenge to the hilt

ut all that seems to have disappeared now. Our present-day law-makers have changed our legislative houses into venues of interminable rancour unrelieved by even brief moments of humour or forbearance. They have turned the hallowed floor of lawmaking into a battleground for petty squabbles. Such actions disgrace the participants and demean the honour of the institution. They comment sadly on the calibre of the people we elected, and say little for the regard that the legislators too have for the people whose votes put them there.

ome steps should be taken to put an end to this type of a “show of shame”, albeit among people who no longer seem to know what shame is, though we call them “honourable”, and they call themselves “distinguished”. We would have said, “A Law Should be Made” — yes, but by whom? All the same, it must be recorded that both the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, on their own, have consistently stood tall above the attempted reckless dissipation by their peers, of the respect that we hold for their august positions, which they have maintained with uncommon dignity and distinction. Time out.

SATURDAY Vanguard ,JANUARY 25, 2014—15 Vanguard,JANUARY

Much ado about the Gay-marriage bill Lean not on yyour our under undersstanding (3) confess to looking away in people be forced to conform to our

embarrassment and disgust the first time I saw adult men kiss and fondle on TV. It was in a UK based soap opera. Today, years after my first encounter, I still feel uncomfortable— squeamish even— when I see two grown men tongue kiss. I suppose these things need getting used to because I don’t feel that squeamish about lesbians kissing and fondling on TV since I had seen the female version of same sex relationship at least a decade before the male version. The western world had seen the open display of affection between people of the same gender decades before Africa started witnessing it and has therefore had a longer time to come to terms with the fact that a man can love another man and might indeed want to happily spend the rest of his life with him. For example, I once went to a Playboy club in New York with a friend I had not seen for a while. Excited, we decided to take some photographs together, so we asked another clubber to snap us. We adopted different positions; we held hands, we held each other by the waist and by the shoulder. At the end, the clubber, a white guy, pointed at the two of us and asked if we were an item. I didn’t know what he meant until my friend who was residing in the US, e x p l a i n e d .

t can thus be argued that many of these people lack personal discipline in seeking sexual release and can be described as being sexually promiscuous. This however presupposes that they can be ‘normal’ if they exercise a bit of self control. But it will be a faulty argument because we must admit that there are also people whose physiological make-up and hormonal imbalance make them to be naturally inclined to same sex relationships in the same way as a physiological make-up makes some people to be left handed or to have an above normal libido. Should these C M Y K

o how can a senate that looks away at child marriage, and dines with well known pedophiles, be passing a same sex bill involving consenting a d u l t s ? I am not saying the bill is not popular because it is. I am saying the bill betrays the hypocrisy in all of us. I believe there are far too many important issues in Nigeria than people’s sexual p r e f e r e n c e s . The late Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti once said that more people died from malaria in Nigeria than from AIDS and if he had any money, he would pour it on the former. I feel much the same way about our need to prioritise issues of concern to us in Nigeria. That said, I also feel very strongly about some foreign countries dictating our priorities to us. If we chose to be ‘old fashioned’ about our sexuality, then it should be our problem. And why should the West be the only custodians of values and human rights? I for one don’t see the moral values in the open display of sexuality on their streets, on their bill boards and in their commercials. And if they want to wax lyrical about sexual openness and sexual rights, why do they frown at polygamy? especially as it is between consenting adults. And how does forcing Catholic adoption homes and other such institutions to give their children up to gay couples amount to respecting the rights of everybody? And what does a country that cannot summon the courage to pass a bill on gun control have to teach us about v a l u e s ? I think there is too much ado about this bill. Like Gamaliel, the wise man in the Bible said :‘if it is not of God it will not stand. And if it is of God, there is nothing we can do about it.’ I wonder if it will be appropriate to end with the words of David Henry Thoreau. ‘Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life so’.

So the western world has had a head time in coming to terms with a form of relationship the rest of us see as an aberration

e dismissed our inquisitor by saying ‘don’t mind them. They think men who hold hands or show any affection in public have to be gay.’ This was in the 70s. So the western world has had a head time in coming to terms with a form of relationship the rest of us see as an aberration. This, if we must be honest, is not to say that same sex relationships are alien to us here. Most people who went to all boys’ secondary schools or all girls’ secondary schools would have witnessed same sex relationships at one time or another. Many of these people had gone on to have normal heterosexual relationships which makes one to think that the confinement of the boarding schools led many into experimenting with same sex the same way that the prison environments encourage same sex relationships.

definition of the norm? Or should we because they are in the minority pretend they don’t exist? I think not. But should we go as far as to legislate for or against what can best be described as an errant development in some people’s physiological configuration? I also think not. I think tolerance and understanding should rule our actions on this. In other words, would I be happy to have a child who is engaged in a same sex relationship? The answer is a no. But would I disown them? The answer is a no as well. And if I was to encourage the passage of any bill on the issue of sexual proclivities, it would not be on gay marriage. It would instead be on child marriage. Not only because of the medical and sociological implications to the poor children, but mainly due to the fact that the underaged girls’ consent is neither sought nor obtained.

e continue our teaching from the word of God that builds up our faith and makes us overcomers in every area of our lives. With God’s word you can stand while the devil will be on the run. I said you can stand because God’s word is already settled. It cannot be broken. It is as powerful as ever. This is why anyone that applies God’s word in his or her life will see the result the word is meant to accomplish. Our main text in Prov 3:5 says “ trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding”. God already knows there are grave dangers for anyone who chooses to lean on his or her own understanding hence he counseled that we should trust in Him, who is the Alpha and the Omega. He is not only the beginning and the end, but He also knows everything, and has solution to every situation. I have come to understand that it is the devil’s strategy to pressurerize you into his plans. Whenever you find yourself leaning to your own understanding, I would want

anger and bitterness. Leaning on your understanding and shutting God out of your life will only make you end up in the pit. God is not through with blessing you just yet. Don’t be deceived. He is still faithful. He has a timing and program for your life. I prophesy that you will make it in Jesus name Amen. Don’t listen to what man is telling you if it is not of God. The bible says the arm of flesh will fail you. So many are regretting today and still do not know how to get out of it. But I have good news for you. God is still God of a second chance. You can stop to lean on your understanding and start to trust in God and you will experience supernatural changes. Apostle Paul used to lean a lot on his own understanding before he met the Lord. He trusted so much in the area of flesh that he didn’t want to hear anything about God ( Acts 8), but when he came in contact with God, he said in Gal 1:1516, “ but when it pleased

He is not only the beginning and the end, but He also knows everything, and has solution to every situation

you to check, for the devil may just be around the corner. Do you know that I was talking to a sister recently and she said to me, pastor, what is wrong if I sleep with the man that wants to marry me after all we will surely get married. Another came and said the man that wants to marry her, said she should become pregnant for him first before they can be married. Now in each of this scenario, you will find out that they are all outside the will of God. This means that they are leaning on their own understanding that may eventually lead to death. God said to flee fornication, and that your body is the temple of God’s Holy Spirit. Why then should you do that which is contrary to God’s wisdom. So many sisters have fallen victim to this plan of the devil in the past but still many are still consenting to it and loosing out at the end of the day. Today, we have so many single parents whose children are growing up with so much

God, who separated me from my mothers womb and called me by His grace , to reveal His son in me, that I might preach Him among the hearthen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood”. He soon realized that the only one that man can trust is not himself but God. For a man like Apostle Paul to put his trust and confidence in God Almighty, means/ shows the uniqueness / greatness of God. He never knew the purpose of God until he stopped to lean on his own understanding. And unless you stop to lean on your own understanding, you can not find divine purpose and you will be tossed to and fro like a wind. Let’s take a study of a man who claimed to be self-made. He opted to lean on his own understanding instead of trusting in the lord. In Luke. 12:16-21, the Bible says, “and he spake a parable unto them, saying, the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully; and he thought within himself saying, what shall I do, because, I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my bans, and build greater, and there will I bestow all the fruits of my goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink and be merry. But God said unto him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.

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

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

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014

thought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth is murdering sleep.” Innocent sleep. Sleep that soothes away all our worries. Sleep that puts each day to rest. Sleep that relieves the weary labourer and heals hurt minds. Sleep, the main course in life’s feast, and the most nourishing—William Shakespeare

ince President Jonathan signed the anti-gay bill into law, neither Jonathan, the international community nor the Nigerian homosexuals have known sleep. The same- sex law has been stirring up a lot of controversies on the international scene which is probably not going to end soon. Not long ago, Nigerian gay

rights activist, Bisi Alimi, who made his status public in 2004 was invited by CNN‘s news correspondent, Christiane Amanpour to speak on the issue. Bisi claimed he couldn’t get a job in Nigeria, that his life was threatened and he had to move to the UK for safety.

Ever since the anti-gay law was signed into law, some Nigerians and Western communities have continued to condemn the move. They argue that the law is infringing on the fundamental rights of homosexuals because under the law, gays and lesbians in the country will be jailed for 14 years for being who they are. As some of them have gone into hiding and some are leaving the country in droves, there are others who have the effrontery to stay back and fight the President on the issue and they plan to stage a protest in Abuja to press home their demands. The gay people under the aegis of ‘The Right Defense’ allegedly said they would hold a demonstration in Abuja to protest against the anti-gay law which took effect on 7 January, 2014, describing it as “undemocratic and unlawful discrimination” against gays, lesbians and trans-genders in Nigeria. My first encounter with a gay person was during my NYSC duty at Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State,BCOS, Ibadan. I was living inside the premises of BCOS at Orita Bashorun but was producing my programmes in the studio at Mapo Hall. I used to invite a lot of young people during my recordings to air their views on issues of the day. It was then I noticed this young handsome man who had the mannerisms of a woman. His name was Kunle but some people called him Dan. My flatmate saw him and loved him but was too shy to approach him. So, I decided to ‘toast’ him on her behalf and that was where we got it wrong. Kunle told us he would not have anything to do with my friend because the love of his life was a fellow guy. Well, we recovered from the shock and subsequently, Kunle began to visit us with his gay lovers. We became friends but lost contact after our NYSC. My second encounter was with a young lawyer who was just called to the bar at the time. His name was Valentine and he used to visit my brother at our Olodi Apapa residence, in Lagos then. He was looking for employment and had attended a seminar where he met a Senior Advocate who offered to help him secure employment. According to the young man , the SAN gave him an address where he went to meet him . He was made to wait till the last person left the office. The ‘oga’ now asked him to join him in his private office . In what seemed to him like a Nollywood movie, the ‘oga’ pulled down his pants and ordered the young lawyer to suck him!!! The young Valentine never remained the same after that experience and was traumatised for years . He was unable to forgive the SAN even unto his (SAN’s) death. Valentine eventually relocated to UK and never practised his law profession.

City of gays But he didn’t become gay.

Cult of the rich and the powerful ame-sex relationships are not just practised among the poor or the lowly. The practice is allegedly the cult of the rich and the powerful across the political class, the business class and other professionals in high places. If one were to conduct a check among the political and the business class in Nigeria today, one would be shocked at the number of men who could be wearing pampers because their behinds have been battered through same-sex practice, especially the ‘closet queens’ among them. With the law against the practice in place today in Nigeria, will the real powerful culprits ever get sanctioned? Will the big men in high places, even in the corridors of power who live the lifestyle of sodomy ever face the consequences? Homosexuality is not the lifestyle of the poor or the lowly. It is the cult of the rich and the powerful and many a poor man believes that the easiest way to make it big in life is to become sodomised! And not just being sodomised but by the rich and the powerful. A ‘miracle’ could happen in the life of such a young man who could become a member of the House of Reps, a Senator, a Special Adviser or even a governor. Such a person could appear from an obscure background and suddenly begin to call the shots in high places. It is sometimes difficult to point them out because most of these guys are married and have children and therefore are better known as bi-sexuals. Will this law affect them in any way? Perhaps, parents inadvertently expose their children to same -sex practice when they send their kids to all-girls or all-boys schools. It’s at these formatory schools that the children learn the practice of ‘bone-to-bone’ in the absence of the opposite sex. Seminaries and Convents are also fertile grounds for such practice for which many Catholic priests across the world have been found culpable.

The Vatican’s expose

Just in two years, Pope Benedict XVI removed nearly 400 priests

for molesting children, both male and female. The shocking statistics for 2011-12 represent the first time the Vatican has revealed how many priests have been defrocked. Prior to that, the Catholic Church only revealed the number of alleged sexual abuse cases it had received. The revelations came after centuries of tradition which saw the Vatican dealing with cases internally, without the involvement of the police. The document was prepared from data the Vatican had been collecting to help the Holy See defend itself before a UN committee in Geneva, Switzerland, recently. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican’s UN ambassador in Geneva, referred to just one of the damning statistics during eight

and was quoted in the annual report as telling reporters en route that he was ‘mortified’ by the scale of abuse and simply couldn’t comprehend ‘how priests could fail in such a way’. It is not only overseas that it happens. I attended a pentecostal service where I met this guy by name James and we got talking about my Catholic background when he narrated how he was raised by a priest who he claimed sexually abused him. The priest in his parish somewhere in Kogi State visited his parents and asked them to allow him to live with him (priest). The priest was highly respected and James was just 13 when he moved into the church parish house to live with the Catholic Priest. According to him, the priest had false teeth which he removed every night before sleeping and most times before going to bed, the priest would walk into his room and wake him up to give him a very deep kiss on the mouth.

If one were to conduct a check among the political class in elective and appointee positions in Nigeria today, one would be shocked at the number of men who could be wearing pampers because their behinds have been battered through same-sex practice, especially the ‘closet queens’ among them

hours of criticism and questioning from the UN human rights committee. The rise in the number of defrocking is in stark contrast to 2009, when only 171 priests were removed following allegations. Changes were brought in by Pope Benedict, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, after suggesting bishops around the world were not following church law, while officials used ways to keep the accusations from surfacing. Prior to that, Bishops routinely moved problem priests to other parishes rather than subject them to trials or turn them to the police. There has since been a remarkable evolution in the Holy See’s in-house procedures to discipline pedophiles since 2001. The maximum penalty for a priest convicted by a church tribunal is essentially losing his job: being defrocked, or removed from the clerical state. There are no jail terms and nothing to prevent an offender from raping again. In 2008, Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI Emeritus, travelled to the scandal-hit United States

James said, the priest always looked like a Dracula without his false teeth which always scared him and he was alway s too afraid to discuss his ordeal with anybody because, this priest was highly respected and he didn’t think anybody would believe his story. So, he suffered this serial abuse under the priest until the priest was eventually transferred out of Kogi State. James is now in his 40s and is married with three kids and has found another life with his wife and children at Sunderland, the United Kingdom. He is now a pentecostal pastor, no more a Catholic.

Knocks across the world

t the world would not let Nigeria be since the antigay bill was signed into law. The United States, Britain and Canada condemned the new law, with United States Secretary of State John Kerry saying that it “dangerously restricts freedom” of expression and association of all Nigerians. Nigeria has been widely criticized by human and civil rights organizations as well as

the United Nations, for failing to uphold, and even violating, the rights of gay people. Sexual acts between men are illegal under the Criminal Code that applies to southern Nigeria and carry a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment. Sexual acts between women are not mentioned specifically in the code, although it is arguable that the gender-neutral term “person” in Section 214 of the code includes women. However, Nigeria’s law is not as draconian as a bill passed last month by legislators in Uganda that is awaiting President Yoweri Museveni’s signature which provides penalties including life imprisonment for “aggravated” homosexual sex. Initially, their legislators had been demanding death sentence for gays. The Nigerian law provides penalties of up to 14 years in jail for a gay marriage and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for membership or encouragement of gay clubs, societies and organizations. That could include even groups formed to combat AIDS among gays. Across the world, many have expressed deep concern that access to HIV services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people will be severely affected by a new law in Nigeria which further criminalizes LGBT people, organizations and activities, as well as people who support them. It was reported that Nigeria has the second-largest HIV epidemic globally with an estimated 3.4 million people living with the virus. The disease affects more gay men per capita than heterosexuals. What is basic though is that the anti-gay law is in line with the people’s cultural and religious inclination. So , it is a law that is a reflection of the beliefs and orientation of Nigerian people many of whom are pleased with it.

The rush to Europe

ay people in Nigeria and G even the non gays are now seeking asylum in Europe under

the guise that Nigeria has become too hot for them to practice their sex life. In Nigeria, House of Rainbow Fellowship has been grounded and its founder, Rev Jide Macaulay was forced to leave Nigeria for the United Kingdom following alleged threats to his life. Rev Macaulay was Nigeria’s first gay preacher and the founder of House of Rainbow Fellowship, a Christian community for sexual minorities and marginalised people but has been reportedly ordained a Deacon of the Anglican Church in Chelmsford, United Kingdom. The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Reverend Stephen Cotterel, held the ordination service at the Chelmsford Cathedral. Reverend Macaulay reportedly said his ordination is a source of hope for sexual minorities. According to him, “My ordination into the Anglican Communion is an important continuation of my call to parish ministry, to reach out to all people regardless of who they are. I believe whilst my ordination is not anything new to the church, it is both relevant on the state of persecution and righteous living for sexual minorities. My message to all people especially Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender people of faith is to hold on to their dreams and hopes in the face of hardship. God is a good God and loves all people.” But how far will the new law go in addressing the issues of samesex relationships in Nigeria? Will those super rich, super politicians and super professionals who are engaged in the practice get punished if caught in the act? Or will the law further serve to diminish the poor, the lowly and the beggarly? Only time will tell.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25 25, 2014 — 17

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18 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014

My passion for acting killed my dream of becoming a pilot — Oses Otoide

ses Otoide is a Nollywood actress who has made her mark since she delved into the industry about a year ago. In this interview, she talks about the challenges of surviving in the industry as well as her vision for year 2014.

Y name is Oses Otoide. I hail from Ishian in Edo State. I was born and brought up in Benin city. I am the fourth child in a family of five. Well, talking about my upbringing, I was brought up by parents who were so protective of their wards in a way that we never had the chance to play or mingle with other kids in the n e i g h b o u r h o o d . Consequently, I grew up as a shy and reserved person. I have a B.Sc in Accounting from Igbinedion University, Okada. I would say that I had fun as an undergraduate. During my final year, the whole story took a new twist when my family relocated to the United States in 2008. Having been close to my family, it was really not easy to live without them around me. After my university education, I came to Lagos in November 2009, where I got a job with one of the leading telecommunications companies, Globacom. But I resigned my appointment in June 2012, because of lack of job satisfaction. Talking about my journey into Nollywood, I must be very frank with you. As a little child,

I have never dreamt of becoming an actress.It happened by chance and I found myself doing what I am doing today. I started acting professionally, in March 2013. That was a year after I resigned from Glo. I had always dreamt of becoming a pilot but, because of my passion for acting, I couldn't actualise the dream. I was motivated to go into acting when I realised people would marvel or sometimes become emotional after reading what I have written. I saw

motion picture industry, I have featured in a couple of movies which I cannot really remember all now. Though every role I played in a movie has been

By ANOZIE EGOLE

Seriously, I must tell you the truth, I have not witnessed and sexual harassment in the industry before

myself constantly interpreting these stories when I'm alone. I thought learning to deliver my lines wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Later, I delved into acting. I thought perhaps I had finally found something I could do effortlessly. But my dream of flying an aircraft is still alive. I am still very hopeful that some day, I would have the skill and privilege to fly a plane as has been my biggest dream. Since my venture into the Nigerian

very challenging. Some are more challenging than the other. The moment you try to be what you are not just to ensure that you interpret a role well, you find out that it's very challenging. So, every role comes with its challenges. I put in so much effort to interpret a role. I would say that, my most challenging moment on set sometimes, could be working with established actors and

Sta ying In taying On weekends when you do not feel like going anywhere, it is no time for you to bore yourself at home. Though festive season where we have things to keep us busy at home is gradually coming to an end, but there are several other things you can engage yourself doing at home that will not only keep you busy but are also very educative. Try Cooking:Some men tend to see cooking as something that is strictly meant for women but, most good chefs are usually men. You can take out one week end to do that. Cook what you have never cooked before. As a man, you can use that as a way of showing your wife how much you care by doing the cooking for that week end and serving them. For Oses Otoide, an actress with Nollywood, who has a very big flare for writing, she spends most of her weekends writing when she feels like going no where. In this case, you find out that she is educating herself more while writing. C M Y K

actresses. It can be such a huge challenge working with people

with many years of experience. I must tell you the truth, I have not been sexually harassed in the industry. Many people have been talking about it but I believe that if you do not give room for it, you would never be sexually harassed. Though, with several challenges in the industry, I have no regrets being an integral part of the industry. I have passion for acting,and I love doing it. For me, I will find it a bit difficult to tell you the part of my body that is sexually appealing. I think the opposite sex are in a better position to say that. People are basically attracted to me because of my personality. I am single now, and in my opinion, love is an intense

emotional attachment or an expression of affection. If I am asked to say, I will simply define sex as a hot and passionate rendezvous.This year, I have promised myself that I would work hard and stay focused. I have no regrets in the past year. But this year, I hope to do bigger projects and to take on more challenging roles just like every other person that is very optimistic. I enjoy chocolates. I have a strong obsession for kitkat.I have at least twenty bars weekly. I despise drinking water, I could go an entire month without having a drop.I would rather prefer to have a malt drink. I’m not proud of my habit and I hope someday I will be able to develop a healthier life style and over come my addiction for anything sweet.

Going Out After a hectic week days maybe in the office or in work place, you can take your time out to catch fun by visiting some exciting places. You can do so alone or with friends and well wishers. Take a walk:Though some people might see that as stress or something not worth doing, it could be very exciting and healthy when you take a walk around your neighbourhood. You are not only going to use the opportunity to see things that your work tight schedule has not given you chance to see but, it is also a very wonderful exercise. At least you use that opportunity to know your neighbours. For Oses, she enjoys going to beach with loved ones over the weekends when she do not feel like going anywhere.

20 — SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JANUARY 25, 2014

Detained Nollywood actor threatens to drag SARS, partner to court F

ast rising Nollywood actor cum producer, Lawrence Onuzulike who allegedly was assaulted last Friday by men from Special AntiRobbery Squad,SARS while on the set of his new movie entitled, Bloomsberry Hotel, has threatened to institute a legal action against the team. He also plans to include in the suit his business partner, Mr. Eugene Nta who he suspected was the brain behind his ordeal. In a telephone conversation with HVP, Onuzulike confirmed that he was assaulted and whisked away by men from SARS without any cause while on movie location in Ajah area of Lagos. He disclosed that he has briefed his lawyers about the incident and he hopes to go to court to seek redress. Narrating his ordeal to HVP, the actor said, “I was shooting my new

Lawrence

movie in Ajah area of Lagos when suddenly a mini-bus drove into the hotel. I went out to find out who they people were. Immediately, one of them alighted from the bus and asked if I were Lawrence. I answered in the affirmative. He asked me to enter the bus, insisting he had something to discuss with me. I refused to enter the bus, and it was there and then, he revealed his identity to me. I requested to inform my artistes before hand. It was at this point that the leader of the team got angry with me, warning that he would not hesitate to handcuff me if I insist on informing my artistes. Later, he ordered his men to handcuff me . After which I was beaten mercilessly and whisked away by the team.” Eye witnesses said, the actor was thoroughly beaten before he was whisked away by the team. ’’It was really embarrassing because they humiliated him in public, as people watching lost count of the number of slaps he received from the SARS team.’ Lawrence, however, traced his ordeal to his business partner,Mr. Nta who he said invited men from SARS, following his business dealings with him.

Chita Agwu steps up! BY FLORENCE AMAGIYA

hings are really looking up for Nollywood actress cum On-Air-Personality, Chita Agwu. The fair complexioned actress is currently holding sway as a presenter on an Igbo channel on DSTV 153, known as ‘Akanchawa’. Chita who anchors the programme, entertains her Igbo audience with a pot pourri of activities in Igbo language inspired interviews, events and places. The pretty role interpreter is daily wooing her audience with her mastery of the Igbo language embellished in jokes, proverbs and innuendoes. It would be recalled that the beautiful actress who lost her mum to the cold hands of death two years ago also had an accident which completely wrecked her car on her way from a movie location. Despite these ugly incidents, Chita Agwu who does more movies in the Eastern part of the country has moved to a more befitting place and bought a car that adequately befits her current status.

Nick Mutuma joins Mashariki mix T

hings are undoubtedly looking great for Nick Mutuma this year as he lands yet another job as a host for Mashariki Mix, a popular lifestyle show that airs on DStv’s Africa Magic. Nick is no stranger to the camera and to the industry. He has featured in the popular series Shuga, Tabasamu a local Kenyan drama series, Changes an M-Net series, and is also a radio presenter. “I am grateful to M-Net for giving me this opportunity to speak to a Pan African audience. I have always looked up to M-Net and I am very excited to be a part of the family,” he said. Mashariki Mix is a 30-minute weekly lifestyle series that will take you on a spectacular journey. Holiday destinations, exciting places to shop, access to VIP parties, updates on the leading fashion brands, state-of-the-art tech gadgetry to trendy hotspots and dynamic lifestyles. The contemporary magazine show also profiles of personalities in the East African region and beyond with a wide range of activities from musicians and models to television divas and business icons.

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Nick

Chita Agwu

Tok ollywood okee Makinw Makinwaa ready ttoo debut in N Nollywood

Toke

ewly married On-AirPersonality and TV presenter, Toke Makinwa has nothing else bothering her than her desire to go into acting. The video blogger said, she’s waiting patiently to get the script that will give her first break in Nollywood. “Funny enough, I have been getting offers recently. But I am looking for the right story,

the right script and I will do it,” Toke said. She’s said to have ruled out the idea of delving into music, saying “Too many people are already doing that now.”To this end, it’s uncertain whether she has already set the ball rolling as she wrote on her facebook page, “ Thank you lord for today. I just finished filming episodes of trending.”

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JANUARY 25, 2014 — 19

What Yvonne Okoro inherited from mum! KEHINDE AJOSE

he is not only endowed as an actress, but also, she’s endowed in the up per region of her body. Nigerian born Ghanaian actress Yvonne Okoro known for her excellent role interpretation and exceptional performance in movie.The Contract recently posted a picture of herself and her mother with the funny caption: ‘Now you know where all those boobs come from. Luvumummy’. She also joked about getting a bra for her

yet to be born daughter. She said:‘Bought my daughter a DD bra though she’s not born yet’.Yvonne’s fans can rest be assured their idol inherited her big boobs from her mother. The actress clinched Ghana Movie Award’s Best Actress award in 2010, and was nominated for African Movie Academy Awards Best Actress twice in 2011 and 2012 for her role in the movies, ‘Pool Party and Single Six.’

Genevieve lands Etisalat endorsement deal S

Genevieve Nnaji

tar Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji during the week signed a multi-million Naira deal with telecoms giant, Etisalat. She is now the brand ambassador for Etisalat Easyflex, a product from the telecoms company. The deal was made official last Thursday by the telecoms company, which lost a popular actor, Hafiz Oyetoro, otherwise known as Saka, to its rival, MTN recently. The event was witnessed by fellow actor, Hakeem Kae-Kazim who is also a brand ambassador for Etisalat.

Saka is bereaved!

BY IYABO AINA

omic actor and MTN brand ambassador, Hafiz Oyetoro, popularly known as Saka is currently in a deep sorrow. He lost his father Pa Dauda Oyetoro to the cold of hands of death last Saturday. The 98-year-old Pa Dauda reportedly died at about 11am. Commenting on his father demise, Saka said he was happy that his father witnessed the great transformation in his life, adding it pained him that he couldn’t do much for him due to old age. “I wish my dad was a little younger to enjoy his fruit of labour. I am happy that he witnessed the transformation in my life, and I tried to make him share in the good life but he was just too old to do anything,” Hafiz Oyetoro Saka lamented. His father’s remains have since been laid He was in Abuja for a movie production when he received a call that to rest according to Islamic rites at his country home in Koso, Iseyin, Oyo State. his father had passed on.

Yvonne Okoro

Kate Henshaw finds love again?

t’s no longer a hot news that Kate Henshaw remains one of the most desirable single ladies in town with a glittering body and charm that definitely betrays her age. But nothing has been heard about the love life of the Nigeria’s Got Talent judge for some time now. Surprisingly, the last three months have been revealing with intimate and cuddly pictures of the actress and her

Nigeria’s Got Talent colleague, Yibo Koko staring us in the face. There is no doubt that the love and affection that exists between these two is deep and can’t be hidden. Has Kate Henshaw found love again, or is it just plain work chemistry? Kate and Yibo are judges on the on-going second season of Nigeria’s Got Talent, alongside On-Air-Personality, Dan Foster.

Kate Henshaw

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SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 25, 2014—21 Aunty Julie, We spend every possible moment basking in each others’ company. Our love knows no bounds and both our families are aware we are together. In my house, my parents and siblings treat him as one of us and I’m equally close to his brothers and parents. But recently, I began to think about us and I have come to the knowledge that as close as we are and as loving as he is, he has never said ‘I love you’. I am the one always saying that and even at the opportunity for him to say ‘I love you too’ , he never said so. I don’t know what to do. Why is it difficult for him to say I love you, at least for once? Sharon, Edo Dear Sharon, The feeling of being in love is like nothing else. Exciting, intoxicating, uplifting and heartwarming; the next best thing to experiencing love is declaring your love to the man you love right? If you share that sentiment sooner than he’s willing to say it, his silence can feel insufferable. In a flash, the ease of your relationship runs out the door while vulnerability, discomfort and anxiety come rush-

My mom wants me to be like her

Why won’t he say I love you ing in. Even worse, his lack of verbal reciprocation can cause you to reconsider the value of your relationship altogether. In truth, your man is clearly showing commitment when he dates you exclusively, shares himself intimately and even consults you while planning his schedule. Yet, there’s a tendency to judge the validity of a relationship, as well as a man’s intention by his willingness to say those three words. The problem is that doing so can unnecessarily sabotage a promising romance, which is why it’s valuable to understand some of

the reasons why he might refrain from saying I love you. Moreover, “I love you” can be very hard to say, because for some people it seems to “change things”. Your partner might feel that once you say those words, you both will now only see each other, and be on the road to engagement and marriage. Even though he might FEEL the words, he may therefore be really afraid of SAYING those words, because of the permanent commitment they imply. Some people feel, once the words are spoken, that the relationship is different,

and that you both might start acting much differently. Look at your own feelings first - do *you* think things should be different if you admit your love to each other? Does this mean you should start thinking about moving in, or getting married? If you do feel that way, your partner probably senses it. Figure out first how you honestly feel about the relationship. Then find a time to sit down quietly with your partner, and talk about the words, and what they mean. You’ll find things are much smoother once you both realize what is going on.

tages. First, if the new person is just out for casual sex, he or she may fade away rather than wait for you. Disappointing though this may be, it’s easier to bid farewell to a casual date than someone with whom you’ve experienced deep pleasure and connection. Another advantage is more time to build an emotional connection. By all means appreciate your date’s positive qualities, but also be alert for small signs that could mean this isn’t the

right person for you. Talk about what you want before you have sex. If you’re interested in a lasting relationship, don’t give signals that say you’re only looking for a physical arrangement. No matter when you decide to have sex, keep yourselves safe. If you’re not mature enough to take precautions against disease and unwanted pregnancy, you’re not mature enough to be having sex. One of the best ways to ensure a passionate and lasting sex life

is to establish a habit of giving and accepting verbal feedback. Sexual technique is a sensitive subject for a lot of people. So it’s very important to ask for what you want in a way that doesn’t convey that the other person is doing it wrong. You are the greatest expert in the world on the subject of what will please you in bed. A good partner will not take it personally, but will take your teachings to heart.

She wants us to wait before having sex

Aunty Julie, I met this girl late last year and I started dating her. We have dated for over three months and we started having sex about a month and a half into the relationship and it was great but we ended up breaking up and about a month ago, we started talking again and we’ve been hanging out almost everyday. We kiss and call each other ‘baby’ but she says that she doesn’t want a boyfriend right now because she wants to wait until marriage to have sex and she feels that it would be messed up for me if she goes out with me since we wouldn’t be able to have sex. I’m confused . I’ve missed her but she insists on not having sex. Nickolas, Lagos Dear Nickolas, A lot of relationship advice recommends waiting to have sex with someone new, particularly if you’re interested in a long-term relationship. This can be tough when you’re in the throes of a new attraction, or if the other person is eager to get you between the sheets. Waiting has a couple of advan-

I can’t stand being abused anymore

Aunty Julie, After four years of romance, I am leaving my fiancee. I’m scared but I know I am doing the right thing for myself and for my son. I’m finally listening to and seeing what everyone close to me has been saying about him. These signs are true. He succeeded in isolating me from my friends, male and female. They were all “no good” in his eyes. I moved out of my state of location to be with him. It was fun initially but things changed. I don’t have to feel like I’m walking on eggshells. I don’t have to hurry and pick up the phone when he calls me five-eight times a day. Then explain myself or get in an ar-

* A man was strolling along a beach in California. On giving the sand a kick, he struck a corked bottle. He bent down, picked it up and removed the cork. Immediately, a genie came out of the bottle and said to him, “Master, I have been a prisoner in this bottle for a thousand years and now you have set me free. For that, I will grant you one wish.” The man thought for a moment then said, “I always wanted to go to Hawaii but I am afraid to fly and I get sick on a ship. Could you build a highway from California to Hawaii?” “Master, that is a difficult wish to fulfill. Can you think of something that is more practical?” The man thought for a moment and said, “Could you tell me why women are the way they are?” The genie thought for a moment before replying, “Would that be two lanes or four?” *Jake was watching vigilantly at his dying wife’s side. “Sleep now, it’s all right,” he told her. But she kept trying to sit up and said, “Honey, I really need to tell you something.” Finally Jake let her get it off her chest. “Jake, honey, I need to tell you something before I die. During the last two months, I slept with your

gument of why I missed his phone call half an hour ago. I can wear my hair the way I want, makeup the way I want. I can get in a car and travel to other places or get on a plane if I want. He would not let me do these things and so much more. He has no ties to my five year old son because he’s not the biological father. I am free and my son is free. I’ll leave him forever without a word, no forwarding address at the end of this month. Ladies, we can do this. We don’t want our life to pass us by with the wrong person. We don’t get a do over. Let’s do it right. The saying is true, I can do bad all by myself. Labake, Abuja

Hello Labake, Dating should be a fun experience. To make sure you’re enjoying yourself, while staying safe, be aware of common signs in people with abusive personalities. They possess traces like: extreme jealousy or possessiveness ; pushes for quick and intense involvement; seems too good to be true; needs to be in control; unrealistic expectations of the relationship; easily upset or angered. Once you are in an abusive relationship, it is difficult to get out. Therefore, recognizing the number one early warning sign of an abusive personality gives you the key to avoiding the whole prob-

C O C K - T A L E S brother, your best friend and your father.” “Don’t worry about it,” Jake said, “I already know. Why do you think I poisoned you?” • A child asked his father, “How were people born?” So his father said, “Adam and Eve made babies, then

their babies became adults and made babies, and so on.” The child then went to his mother, asked her the same question and she told him, “We were monkeys. Then, we evolved to become like we are now.” The child ran back to his father and said, “You lied to me!” His father replied, “No, your mom was talking about her side of the family.” • A young couple were married, and celebrated their first night together, doing what newlyweds do, time and time again, all night long. Morning comes and the groom goes into the bathroom but finds no towel when he emerges from the shower. He asks the bride to please bring one from the bedroom. When she gets to the bath-

Dear Julie, My mom is trying to mold me into herself minus the mistakes. I want to be me and learn from my own mistakes without having to go through her mistakes. I still learned not to make the ones that she made. I am myself and I refuse to be another her! She is currently living with her third husband and wants me to be like her in everything but that. Please advise me. Bibi, Warri Dear Bibi, One of the key underlying problems in many motherdaughter relationships is that the mother sees the daughter as a “little her” - as someone who she can help avoid certain mistakes, and who can do what she never was able to do. Try to separate your own feelings from that of your child. Your child is an individual, and may not want to do the things you wanted to do at her age. Sure, she may make the same mistakes, but just as you learned from them, so shall she. You need to let your daughter grow and live and learn at her own pace, in her own style. Appreciate her for what she is, and don’t try to make her into what you could have been.

lem. Someone with an abusive personality always displays an unusual amount of jealousy. Although this may at first seem flattering, the level of possessiveness will accelerate as the relationship progresses. The process of leaving an abusive relationship is difficult and dangerous. Safety is the primary concern. Even if you do not think your partner poses a risk, leaving often triggers an increase in violence. It is best to prepare as much as you can ahead of time. Ask a friend or family member to keep items you gather to take with you. Make sure the person you choose will not tell your abuser about your plans to leave. Do not take anything that will be noticed as missing. And if he possess a threat after you have left, don’t forget to involve the police.

room door, he opened the door, exposing his body for the first time to his bride where she sees all of him well. Her eyes went up and down and at about midway, they stopped and stared, and she asked

shyly, “What’s that?”, pointing to a small part of his anatomy. He, also being shy, thought for a minute and then said, “Well, that’s what we had so much fun with last night.” She, in amazement, asked, “Is that all we have left?” * Ralph is driving home one evening, when he suddenly realizes that it’s his daughter’s birthday and he hasn’t bought her a present. He drives to the mall, runs to the toy store, and says to the shop assistant, “How much is that Barbie in the window?” In a condescending manner, she says, “Which Barbie?” She continues, “We have Barbie Goes to the Gym for $19.95, Barbie Goes to the Ball for $19.95, Barbie Goes Shopping for $19.95, Barbie Goes to the Beach for $19.95, Barbie Goes Nightclubbing for $19.95, and Divorced Barbie for $265.00.” Ralph asks, “Why is the Divorced Barbie $265.00 when all the others are only $19.95?” “That’s obvious,” the saleslady says. “Divorced Barbie comes with Ken’s house, Ken’s car, Ken’s boat, Ken’s furniture...”

22—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014 08052201257 anyagafu@yahoo.com

Do you love him more than he loves you? I

f you are anything like a large number of women, your guy is the center of your universe. Your thoughts revolve around him, your day is punctuated by his smiles and your worth determined by how satisfied he is with all that you do to make him happy. You pour love into the relationship hoping that every ounce you give will come back to you as appreciation. And because your love fuels him, he shines like the sun. Even when his plans supersede yours, his work is deemed more important, and his words hold more weight, at the end of the day you don’t mind because after all – you love him. Is it possible to love someone too much? Many women equate loving a man with perpetual giving, submitting and acquiescing. A woman seems to have an endless supply of love to give to others, but little to give to herself. She tends to submit thinking her role is to support

rather than to direct and will acquiesce her power in the relationship to help her man feel more powerful and remain dominant. A woman’s identity is dependent on proving her love, while a man’s identity is more defined by how well he provides. A woman feels

fulfilled when she is doing everything she can to make her man happy. She seldom realizes how little she gets in return. If your man is grumbling, seems distant, and uncommunicative, it’s not necessarily your cue to jump up and start catering to his needs. Fluffing his pillow or spending hours in the kitchen fixing his favorite meal won’t cure his woes. It will only exhaust you. Yes, he’s everything to

you. But doing “everything” for him assumes he is a cripple and is demeaning. If you continue on this vein, your man will likely see you as a dotting mother type rather than the “goddess of love” you wish

to be. Many women put men on a pedestal because of a collective legacy of feminine degradation. If you are the type to put your guy on a high mountain, thinking he is more intelligent, capable and ultimately more important, all that admiration will make you look pathetic. The worst thing a woman can do is to deny herself time with her friends, thinking her partner will miss her, can’t fend for himself, or that she will meet with disapproval if she spends too much time away

But thinking a man has love on his mind when he pushing or coercing her to have sex when she isn’t the least bit in the mood is not “lovemaking from him. If you are the type to only contact friends when your mate isn’t home or hang up the phone abruptly when he comes through the door, your friends are probably annoyed by your rude behaviour. A woman’s friendships outside of her relationship feed and reward her. And in times when things aren’t running smoothly in her relationship, good friends offer support and advice. Abandoning your goals whether a career choice, an educational opportunity because you believe your partner’s goals will serve you more in the end, will derail your hopes for personal fulfillment. Maybe the reason why you sacrifice your goals to encourage his is because you believe he deserves success more than you or because deep inside, you don’t believe in yourself. If you

He wants us to live together

y significant other wants me to move in with him. I work in a big oil firm and earn a huge monthly salary. He works in a bank and also earns big. I cannot say which of us earns more but I have this feeling that I earn more than him. I’m a bit conservative about spending money but he is a car freak and can spend his last kobo to buy a car of his dreams. He is a party freak who likes to be the soul of every party. He is also a spendthrift and has spent stupendous amount in the past buying presents for me and members of my family. I don’t know the implications of moving in with him and I fear he would push responsibilities to me which I’m trying to avoid. We love each other but our lifestyles are not exactly the same. I believe there are certain things we need to discuss before moving in together. What do you suggest? Linda, Abuja Ans: Make sure you’re both on the same page financially before moving in with him. That is if you have to. Whether you’re making the move to cut down on high living costs or

to take the next step down the path of a long-term commitment, you should have a serious discussion about your finances before sharing a residence with your significant other. A frank conversation about both of your financial situations and how you will divvy up monthly expenses and share major purchases can help alleviate hesitation a couple may have about merging their lives physically and financially or bring to light some red flags, such as bad credit. Moving in together is a huge step and a sign of a committed partnership between two people. Relationships break up quickly over problems and misunderstandings about money. So, have a serious discussion before any time is spent looking for the accomodation. Decide if the communal bills are going to be paid by one person or both. In other words, which checkbook will the monthly expenses come out of? Who is designated to physically pay the bill? Even if expenses are shared evenly, nothing starts an argument faster than having the electricity shut off when someone didn’t know they were supposed to pay the bill. Decide how the monthly expenses such as rent, food and utilities are going to be

divided each month. Having equality in these areas is the best way to start out. This way, each party is responsible for his or

her own money. Keep separate accounts. One of the worst mistakes two people make when living together is to combine accounts. Combined accounts are a topic for after the wedding, not at this stage of the relationship. Decide in the beginning if asking to borrow money is “okay” or not. Every person runs out of money at the end of the month from time to time, so discuss if asking for a loan is going to work for each of you. Many people aren’t comfortable giving money to their partner and loans feel impersonal. Discuss your feelings about this before the situation comes up. Talk about your philosophy regarding money before you move in together. Are you a saver or a spender? Does shopping and spending money make you ‘feel’ better? Are you living together to ‘save money’ on expenses? Does one person earn a lot more money than the other person and how does that feel? Know yourself and your own personal beliefs about money and then discuss that with your partner. Get every detail regarding finances out on the table

and this goes a long way to stopping arguments

• Omotola, female, 29, humble and decent, is seeking a Godfearing , humble, responsible man aged 30-45 for a serious relationship that will lead to marriage on 08037435805 •Chimaobi, 38, from Lagos, needs a business lady or working class lady who is born-again,

Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want to share with our readers? Please e-mail,anyagafu2@gmail.com

about

money

the

and Igbo for a relationship that would lead to marriage on 08177258979 •Andy, 34, based in Benin, needs a working class lady of 24 -30 for marriage on 08185958415 •Evans, 31, from Anambra State,post-graduate student, wants a pretty lady aged 25-35years for marriage on 07088819585 •Jibola, 30, based in Lagos, wants a girl of 23-29 for a serious relationship on 08162957677

Do you want to be linked? Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting to be linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal informa•Ade, 40, Lagosian, single, needs tion of people who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for a reliable lady as wife on 08163815251 disappointments or embarrassments some people may encounter in the process.

C M Y K

put your personal goals on the back burner too long, your dreams will simmer away. Contrary to your belief, kissing up to your man won’t tame the beast in him. He will only lose respect for you and complain even more. It is not uncommon for a woman to side with her mate even if she knows he’s wrong, support poor decisions or refrain from giving advice thinking she is proving her love and faith in him by keeping silent. If you find yourself the one to always say you are sorry first, taking the brunt of the blame for all arguments, you will lose selfrespect. Sure, you may believe it is easier just to let him think he’s won, but he has lost something valuable too – his respect for you. Love and sex are simpatico in a woman’s mind. But thinking a man has love on his mind when he's pushing or coercing her to have sex when she isn’t the least bit in the mood is not “lovemaking”. Letting a man have his way with you doesn’t honour the sacredness of true intimacy. You will likely feel used and even abused if after countless times of saying “no” you ultimately submit. Sex is an expression of love, not a duty.

Some women let their mates push them into agreeing to do things they know will prove disastrous. Loving someone means you respect him enough to set boundaries, expect that he treats you with respect and gives to you in as many meaningful ways as you give to him. A woman may have to fight her own tendencies to submit and sacrifice in the name of love. If it’s love that she is after, then she will have to love herself enough to ask for what she needs and stop giving endlessly thinking it wins her a place in his heart.

future. Moving in together and commingling funds is a serious decision that can have potentially damaging effects on your credit should a breakup occur. For example, if your ex stops paying his half of a bill that your name is attached to, it could affect you because you will be the one in debt. That’s why it’s important to be aware of your partner’s spending and saving habits before moving in together. If your mate has some money habits you can’t accept, it’s better to find out about them sooner rather than later. Cohabitation may not be a smart choice if one person is really financially irresponsible and shows no signs of improving. You might also consider drafting a cohabitation agreement to clearly state on paper what they’ve agreed to. Such agreements should include anything that’s financially relevant to a couple’s everyday lives such as how much each person pays for rent and utilities, whether one person is supporting the other financially, and whether there’s a joint bank account and how much each perso n contributes to it. If the relationship abruptly ends, having a cohabitation agreement takes the emotion out of a situation that should really just be about money.

•Chilaka, 36, based in Owerri, wants to meet a good-to-go lady for marriage on 08139629537 •Aderonke, 28, slim, busty, is searching for a romantic man within the ages of 36-50 for a serious relationship on 07067165468 •Emmanuel, 30 years, wants a lady of 28-35 on 0802126103 •Kayode, 49, widower, businessman, based in Lagos, needs a widow or divorcee for a serious-mindd relationship on 08109655702

SATURDAY

Vanguard,JANUARY 25 25,, 2014—23

Are you taking more supplements than you should?

e all believe that health is wealth, and we should spare no expense in making sure we glow with health most of the time. One of the fast fix ways for most of us to

supplement of other forms of chromium (for example chromium polynicotinate) are unlikely to do any harm but advices not taking more than 1 l0mg a day. Though supplement producers have maintained supplements are safe long term, if they contained no more than the BDA of each nutrient, the FSA says it plans to ask supplement producers to reduce the dose (and/or provide label warnings for some high-dose nutrients.

stay healthy is popping all manner of vitamin pills. Only recently, it’s been alleged that many people who take high doses of certain vitamins and minerals could be damaging their health. According to recent advice from Britain’s Food Standard Agency (FSA), most of us don’t need supplements as we get enough nourishments from our food.

Are we then wasting our money and endangering our health on supplements or is it a storm in a tea-cup? According to the FSA, high doses of supplements on top of a balanced diet could take our intake several times over the daily allowances of certain nutrients. It calls for the ban on the mineral, chromium picolinate and says that long term high doses of betacarotene, Vitamin B6, nicotinic acid, manganese, phosphorus and zinc could do irreversible damage; high doses of Vitamin C, calcium and iron may have harmful though reversible effects; and high doses of biotin, niacin, thiamin and Vitamin B12 have unknown effects. SA reports that its advice is based on a thorough, independent and expert review of available scientific evidence, though it alleges that ongoing research into the effects of some of the Vitamins and minerals may mean the advice will have to be modified at some future date. According to the FSA, supplements more than l.00mg of Vitamin C, 1,500mg of calcium or 17mg of iron a day can cause abdominal pain, wind and diarrhoea, and more than 200mg a day of Vitamin B6 can make arms and legs numb. It advises that supplements of more than 7mg a day of beta-carotene

o are extra nutrients really helpful? Yes, says the RDA, though it’s nearly always better to get them from a healthy diet, partly because food provides a complex mixture of nutrients that encourage each other to be absorbed and used well. The argument that many people need a daily supplement to make up for having a poor diet doesn’t wash, since it is wiser may encourage lung cancer in smokers, and large amount might increase the risk of cancer in other people. It also recommends avoiding supplements of two minerals - these are chromium picolinate (which some people take to increase their levels of blood sugar), as there is an unproven suggestion that it may cause certain cancers, and germanium (which some people take to increase the energy they get from food), as its effects aren’t clear. These minerals occur at very low - and safe - levels in many

Supplement producers have maintained supplements are safe long term, if they contained no more than the BDA of each nutrient

foods (chromium in meat, while grains, lentils and spices, for example; and germanium in beans; tuna and garlic). It advises, however, that if you are taking high doses of Vitamin B6 or iron because your doctor advises it, you should continue. It also says that

to buy good food than supplements. However, it is true that intensive fanning and certain modern food technologies have reduced that amount of certain nutrients in food, so our diet may not always supply enough.

ost children aged six months or two years (or five, if they don’t at a wide range of foods) should take vitamin A, C and D drops. Some researchers would like everyone to take a multimineral and vitamin supplements (“multi”), others, say that this is money down the drain. Some nutritionists are more specific, saying, for example, that a multi is wise for elderly people (since they no longer absorb nutrients as well) and those who are stressed or unwell (since they need more of certain nutrients - for example, Vitamin Band C). Taking a multi and eating a healthy diet means that you may get a surplus of some nutrients. That might not really matter since even if the multi contains 100 per cent of the RDA of certain nutrients, your total intake of anyone nutrient still won’t be very high. However, it’s very wise to avoid high-dose supplements, unless recommended by a doctor, dietician or well qualified nutritionist.

Fat mothers ‘Put Babies’ hearts at risk’

ABIES whose mothers are overweight or obese show early signs of heart disease at birth, warn researchers. Scans of newborn infants with fat mothers found they have thicker artery walls— a sign of heart disease —than those born to women of ‘normal’ weight. The arterial thickening occurred irrespectively of the child’s weight at birth, and is a known risk factor for heart disease or stroke in later life. Experts from Nottingham University say the findings could explain why a mother’s weight during pregnancy is so influential to their child’s subsequent risk of cardiovascular problems. About 20 per cent of all women of childbearing age are obese with a further third being overweight. The study at Sydney University in Australia looked at 23 women with an average age of 35, who ranged from being underweight to C M Y K

Who needs extra nutrients? Women with heavy periods may need extra iron (discuss with your doctor). Women of child-bearing age, or pregnant, should take a daily 0.4mg of folic acid. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should take a daily 10 cg Vitamin D while some older people may need Vitamin D (discuss with your doctor).

seriously obese at 16 weeks of pregnancy. Researchers scanned the abdominal aorta —the section of the artery extending down to the belly — in each newborn to find out the thickness of the two inner-most walls, the intima and media. It ranged from 0.65mm to 0.97mm, and the greater the mother’s weight, the greater

the baby’s intima-media thickness, irrespective of how much the baby weighed. The difference between babies of overweight and normal weight mothers was 0.06mm, the results, published in the Fetal and Neonatal Edition of Archives of Disease of Childhood, said.

Amy Thompson of the British Heart Foundation said: ‘These results could suggest a direct link between a mother’s weight and her child’s risk of cardiovascular disease. However, we would need to see research on a much larger scale to make any firm conclusions.’

the body. When resting, raise your legs higher than your head. Even doing this for as little as ten minutes a day helps. Water Treatment: For circulation problems, naturopaths recommend cold water treatments. For heavy legs, some suggest dousing them in cool water once a day, rubbing from the ankles upwards. Support Tights: Wearing support

tights can help promote good blood flow around the body. Food Supplement: Dr. Ossie Morton, a consultant pharmaceutical physician, says: “Many people don’t realise that food supplements can help them to have healthy leg vein and capillary circulation”. He suggests trying a new food supplement made from red vine leaf called Antistax.

When your leg weighs you down

f you stand or sit for long periods, you’re likely to be among the throngs of women who suffer from tired, heavy and aching legs. It’s hard work for the circulatory system to pump blood up from the feet — that’s why legs can feel heavy. But there are ways to ease them... Light the load: The first way to help legs lighter is exercise. Moving around—especially walking — helps pump blood around

24—SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014

omorrow, January 26, is Spouse day. Spouse day is a day set aside to celebrate and hon our our spouses. It is a day we should not only tell our spouses we appreciate them, but show them we do. If there is one major complaint married people have against their spouses, it is being taken for granted and unappreciated by spouses. Spouse day offers us the opportunity to prove to our spouses that we treasure them. What about Valentine’s day? Well Spouse day might not be as popular as Valentine’s day, but it is in good company as a forerunner (to Valentine’s day in this case). John the Baptist is nowhere near as famous branded card or gift to as his illustrious relative, give to your spouse, you Jesus and Jesus’ divinity will not find any for two increases the gulf reasons: first, Spouse between them; day relative obscurity nevertheless, John means that commercial played some role in the considerations have not its salvation of mankind just overtaken as Spouse day can importance. Second, spouse day is not really strengthen marriages. about giving physical pouse day differs gifts, although it is not from Valentine’s allergic to it. Spouse day day in some ways. One, is about giving your it is unique and spouse one of the specifically for spouses greatest gifts of all: only. It emphasises the yourself. So what are you giving uniqueness of the your spouse tomorrow? If marriage institution you are an absentee unlike St. Valentine’s day that everybody can spouse, make the sacrifice of turning that be part of. Spouse day is also free side of your bed that has from the always been cold warm commercialisation and tomorrow. Not only that, pollution to which St. give her/him some Valentine’s day has been spousal intimacy that subjected. If you go out your long and constant there today or tomorrow absence have denied. to look for a Spouse day For husbands who are good cooks this is the

Happy spouse day

or gunners, red devils, blues, saints and the rest of football fans, leave the sports channels alone tomorrow. Join your spouse to watch that sitcom, movie, reality television and the likes that she has always watched alone. You might just find them interesting and entertaining. But even if you do not,what is a good marriage without sacrifice, without dying a

little to self? And madam, what about sitting with your spouse to watch those 22 boys running after that round leather object and an umpire keeping an eye on them to ensure they play by the rules and also step in when things boil over? I

time to take over your wives’ kitchen and do their favourite dishes. But if your meals taste like paper, please do not go there and ruin the day; look for other activities. For senior babes who have cooks, please let your cook take tomorrow off; go into the kitchen and give your spouse a treat.

him/ her by the hand, no, waist and walk around during the day, not at night, for mankind to see. You can also give your spouse the gift of peace of mind by promising to kick out that terrible habit that has been causing a nervous breakdown. Oh!

What is a good marriage without sacrifice, without dying a little to self?

am sure doing that tomorrow only will not kill you. Yes, your spouse complained that the last time you publicly professed your love was when you took your marital vows during your wedding. How about making your neighbourhood your love lane tomorrow? Take

she is sad because you do not participate in family prayers. Surprise her tomorrow by joining her and your children in family prayers. Your spouse is happy that you pay the children’s school fees promptly but sad that you have never taken time to look at their

school work or monitor their progress. Do the unthinkable tomorrow; for the first time; go through children’s school work and help them with their assignment and prepare them for school on Monday. So what happens after tomorrow? Just continue your makeover until it becomes a habit. That is one of the ingredients for turning a bad marriage into a good one and a good one into a great one. Change for the better.

nd what happens in less than three weeks from now when it will be Valentine Day? It is another wonderful time to shower love (and gifts) on your spouse. If you have the resources, spoil your spouse with gifts, if you do not with love.... You know, sometimes the best things in life, as Janet Jackson sang, are free: air, rain water and spousal intimacy. The origin of Spouse day or who started it is not really clear, but that does not diminish its essence.It offers us an opportunity to appreciate our spouses. Have a wonderful Spouse day.

(Text Only) hamstrings, back and shoulder muscles.

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Leg and Trunk Raise

1. Leg and Trunk Raise Technique: Lying on your back, interlace the fingers of both hands and place them behind the back. Breathing in, lift both legs and trunk off the floor. Now breathe normal-

Flatten the Tummy ly. Stay in the position for 5 seconds or more. Benefits: This posture firms up the muscles of the abdomen and upper back.

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2. The Back Stretch Technique: Standing with the feet quite wide apart, lower the upper body till the hands are on the floor. Now, with the body in an inverted V, push back the trunk

without bending the knees or hands. Maintain the pose for about 10 seconds and returning to the upright position, rest a bit and repeat. Benefits: The Back Stretch eases the stifness in the spinal column. It stretches the

3. The Rocking Technique: Sit with the knees drawn and place the hands at the back of knees. Now thrust the feet forth and back in rhythmic succession like a rocking chair. Don’t hesitate while dojng the Rocking or you’ll get ‘Stuck’. Once you’ve got the hang of it you may do two sets of 10, resting briefly inbetween. Benefits: The Rocking firm the muscles of the abdomen and upper thigh and the back. It’s reputed to lead to sounder sleep.

4 The Bow Technique: Lie face down. Bend the knees and hold the ankles with corresponding hands. Now breathing in deeply, lift the highs and chest off the floor. Benefits: The bow stretches the back and shoulder muscles easing the tension in those areas. The effect of this exercise on the spine releases energy. A good posture to be practiced at lunch break to get rid of afternoon sluggishness.

Yoga Classes STARTED

Th e

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

B ac k St re tc h

}The Rocking

}

The Bow

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014 —25

BY IYABO AINA

I’ve always prayed for big boobs —Katy Perry

Joan Rivers mocks North West

ATHERYN Eliz ab Hudson, better eth “Katy” known by her stage nam American reco e Katy Perry, is an rdin woman, philant g artist, businesshropist, and ac tress. Recently the sc she’s never ha reen diva, reveals d but she did turn cosmetic surgery, to came to her clea religion when it vage. The pop star in at age 11 she ha an interview said d prayed for a m voluptuous fig ure. “I lay on m ore y back one night and looked down at my feet, and I pr ayed to God. I said, ‘God, will you pl boobs so big th ease let me have at I can’t see m y fe when I’m lying down?’” Perr y, et age 29, admit s “God answer now ed prayers. I had no clue they w my fall into my arm ould pi adds, “I’ve ne ts eventually.” She ve surgery. Not a r had any plastic nose, not a chin a cheek, not a , not te sages of self-em eth . So my mespowerment are ly co m in g fr tr om an a n at uproduct.” Perr u ra l y’s tion didn’t stop candid conversathere , as the singer also reve ro als that she “los ar virginity at 16 t her in Volvo sedan w the front seat of a hile listening to B u ck le y ’s al b u m G ra ce .” Jeff recalls, “Love She that As for her curren record so much.” John Mayer, an t relationship with d rumours, she re the engagement acts, “I think th needed to grow at I up , I’m just ha a wonderful tim ving e.

OAN Alexandra Molinsky, known by her stage name Joan Rivers, is an American television personality, comedian, writer, film director, and actress. Recently , the ever controversial 80-year-old comedian took aim at Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s infant daughter North West, calling her “ugly,” during a stand-up show on Jan. 17 at the Saban Theater in Los Angeles . The “Fashion Police” co-host, whose show shares the E! Network with the Kardashians, explained to the audience that the Kardashian family, including Kim and her baby, had recently visited the network’s offices.

“That baby is ugly ,I’ve never seen a 6-month-old so desperately in need of a waxing,” Rivers jest to the audience about North. It’s a cruel remark for Rivers to make about a baby. When Kim released a photo of her only daughter on Instagram in December, she had to defend herself against accusations that she had groomed North’s eyebrows at such a young age. At the time, the 33-year-old new mom fought back, tweeting: “Do people really think I would wax my daughters eyebrows so young? Come on, I’d wait until she’s at least 2 1/2!”

Meet celebrity look alike !

hey say everyone has a doppelganger but it’s always awkward when you’re told that you look like someone famous because your doppelganger is either super smokin’, which is totally flattering , or you’re compared to someone who you think is unattractive. Saturday vanguard recently gathered some celebrities who actually resembles each other. Check out these famous faces and see if they don’t look alike. Enjoy

• Jessica & Christy

• Miley & Clarkson

• Johnny Depp & Skeet Ulrich

• Kim & Nicole

• Jarvier Bardem & Robert Downey

Sat showtime Extra 22/01/2014

• Emma & Melinda

What defines your sense of style? I like to be sexy and classy. I work really hard on my body and anytime, I am doing anything fashionable I like to reveal a little bit of my skin. I worked hard for it and its my selling point. I am not afraid to show

What part of your body do you consider sexually appealing? My legs. Most times, while I’m on stage my fans usually compliment my legs. They say, ’Oh we like your legs’

A lot of people think you are dating Iyanya. Is it true? Iyanya is not a bad looking guy, but I am not dating him. We are signed to the same label .I have known him before he released his Kukere song, so if it was a fling or something of dating, I don’t think I will be where I am today. I am not with Iyanya to date him. Iyanya has helped me while in the studio, he is an Rn B singer as well as I am. He taught me how I could change my style of music in order to penetrate the Nigerian market. In fact, he taught me a lot of things. Frankly speaking, we are not dating. People can be friends without dating.

But are you in a relationship? No, I am not in a relationship. Music is everything to me. It’s not that I am not interested, but right now, I am not dating any one.

How do you handle stardom? One that comes with stardom and which is seriously is affecting me is the issue of dating. Dating is very difficult .Everything else I like it. A lot of young ones need mentorship and one can be a mentor to these young ones. Sometimes, guys can walk up to you,and say ‘hi Emma Nyra’ and that’s how it starts .It is not as genuine as it used to be. Since I am a woman, it affects me in a way. Sometimes, you see people coming to you, not because of who you are. It puts me off sometimes if you come to me because you’ve seen me on a blog. I look forward to a day when a guy will walk up to you to tell me ‘Emma, I love the way you carry yourself, not necessarily because of a particular image they see on the internet.

What was the best part of 2013 for you? The best part of 2013 was when I won Nigeria Entertainment Award (NEA) as The Most Promising Female Act to Watch in 2013.I have worked with the organisers twice .I hosted the redcarpet the previous year . It has always been my dream to win an award and also, to have my colleagues recognise my craft. When I won the award, I felt like I was doing what I am meant to do in life.

Do you sing for passion or to make money? For me, it’s more of a passion, but passion without money is dead. You need money to fund your projects .I don’t know if its 50-50 but the passion keeps you in the business. You need money so that you can shoot more videos, do some stuffs for the poor and needy. You need money to promote your music and fund your other projects such as opening a Daycare or any business. Music is definitely a business, but it’s the passion that keeps you going. Top act like Tuface has been in the business for over ten years now. It’s his passion for music that keeps him going. Though he has made lots of money . the fact remains that his passion for music keeps him going. You cannot make good music if you are not passionate about it.

Was it difficult breaking into the Nigerian music industry? My experience has been memorable. I noticed that when I was in America struggling to hone my talent in music, it was a bit difficult to find my footing back home. My most difficult moment was when I now realized I had to relocate to Nigeria in order to get my music on the right track. In America, Afrobeat is hardly in high demand. Even if people are familiar with your music, it’s only those who can connect to Afrobeat genre in America that would know that you exist. Today, I am relevant in the industry simply because upon my return to country, I featured in Iyanya’s “Your Waist” video. After that outing, people started picking interest in me. I relocated to Nigeria in March, 2012 . When you want to penetrate the market, it’s important that you return to your roots to understand what is in vogue.

mma Chukwugoziam Obi a.k.aEmma Nyra is one of the sexiest damsels in Nigeria’s entertainment industry. Armed with an unquenchable passion for her craft, and a soulful voice, the awardwinning singer opens up on her contract with Tripple MG, her relationship with the sensational singer, Iyanya, what she considers as the sexiest part of her body and her celebrity crush.

BY KEHINDE AJOSE

There has been speculation about your contract with Triple MG. Are you still signed onto the label? The true story is that I am still with Triple MG. There was a time when I was not with them. That was the time my contract with the label was expiring. So,in one of my interviews, I was asked if I was still with the label? Replying, I said, “I was waiting for my contract to lapse, but what my interviewer did was to edit out somethings which made it look like I said those things she reported on the blog when I didn’t. I am still withTripple MG.

Who is your celebrity crush in the Nigerian music industry? I always say Terry G.I like people who are original in anything they are doing. He does his own thing in his own way.

What is the one thing people hardly know about you? I was into athletics. I played athletics while I was in the college. I also played volleyball and I was on scholarship. I represented America in the junior Olympics and that was what paid my school fees.

You said before now that you want to venture into female empowerment? Yes, I have a desire to empower the women in our society. But It’s still in the pipeline.

I like to be sexy and classy. I work really hard on my body and anytime, I am doing anything fashionable I like to show a little bit of my skin .I worked hard for it and its my selling point.

As a celebrity, what is the craziest thing a fan has ever done to you? Everyday, I receive facebook messages that are unimaginable. If I decide to let out the messages, people would describe me as a wicked person. In fact, some of the messages are inappropriate. Even this morning, I got another inappropriate message on instragram . I can’t even tell you what the person wrote. I don’t mind reading negative messages but what hurts most is when you are reading a story on a blog and somebody who doesn’t respect your music or has negative opinion about you which is normal is attacking you unnecessarily. You take the good with the bad, everybody is entitled to his/her own opinion.

my body. You know you do it in a classy way. There’s a classy way to be sexy

...Says Terry G is her celebrity crush

—Emma Nyra

I am not afraid to show my body

26 — SARTURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014 SARTURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014—31

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014—27

Wake up, water down! O

ne of the best New Year resolutions any one could make is to make water a top priority each morning. One thing many people do not know is that having the first glass of water as soon as they wake up also comes with its therapeutic benefits. While its importance is no secret, drinking water first thing in the morning can significantly alter your day for the better. It does not matter whether you’re aiming to lose weight or simply stay healthy. For several reasons, water is crucial to everyone’s morning routine. Drinking about six glasses of water daily is important for health. Make it a habit to drink water in the morning for best results. Why drink water in the morning? After a long night’s rest, it is common to wake up dehydrated. Hydration first thing in the morning is important, because it increases the rate at which new muscle and blood cells are produced. A hydrated body allows for a healthy flow of oxygen, allowing you to stay alert and energized. Up to 70 percent of the human body content is water. The human brain cells contain about 85 percent of water, 75 percent of muscles is water, bones also contain about 25 percent water and 82 percent of blood consists of water. So water plays an important role in the proper functioning of the body. It is also helpful to consume foods that contain lots of water; for example soups (broth-based), vegetables and fruits.

•Make it a habit to drink water in the morning...

Benefits of drinking water Skin purification Drinking water the first thing in the morning makes the skin glow. Water is known to purge toxins from blood, and as a result you get glowing skin. Water increases the rate at which new muscle and blood cells are produced. When you drink water first thing in the morning on a daily basis, you help balance your body’s lymph system to fight infections and balance the fluids in your body. Colon cleansing It is a long known secret that drinking water first thing in the morning, before eating anything, is a good way to purify the internal system. Drinking about one to three litres of chilled water daily will boost your body’s metabolism and helps purify the colon. When you drink water after you have woken up before eating anything, you are purifying your colon thereby making nutrients absorption easy. Fighting ailments Water first thing in the morning has been proven to cure illnesses such as vomiting, throat disease, menstrual and cancer disorders, eye diseases, diarrhoea, urine disease, kidney disease, meningitis, TB, Arthritis, headaches among others. Detoxification Water, especially lemon water is a natural detox. Drinking water flushes out toxins and impurities. Not only does this keep you healthy, but it also leads to clear skin. Water

A hydrated body allows for a healthy flow of oxygen, allowing you to stay alert and energized. Up to 70 percent of the human body content is water purifies the colon too, allowing for the proper absorption of nutrients. While a plain glass of water is great, adding lemon increases the rate of urination in the body, maximizing enzyme function and stimulating

the liver for detoxification. Weight loss Consider water a wake-up call for your digestive system! Drinking water on an empty stomach in the morning boosts your metabolism heading into the day. In fact, research shows that an increase in water consumption leads to an increase in burning calories. Water is filling, curbing your appetite. Prevents sickness If you’re getting sick often, it could be that you’re not drinking enough water. Water plays a crucial part in maintaining a healthy a lymphatic system. When this system is balanced, your body can properly fight off infection. Studies have also shown that dehydration leads to higher cortisol levels, and, in turn, stress and sickness. How to drink water for best results At first, it may not be easy drinking six or more glasses of water at a go. However, it becomes easier as the body gradually becomes accustomed to the routine. Start by modifying the routine. Do not drink beverages that contain alcohol the previous night. The moment you wake up,

•Drinking water flushes out toxins and impurities even before you brush your teeth take four glasses of water, pause for about two minutes, and then drink the remaining two glasses of water. Ensure that the water you consume is clean. Alternatively, you may take the water in small amounts until it adds up to four glasses. Then clean/ brush your teeth soon after and don’t eat or drink anything till after 45 minutes to one hour. Dangers of not drinking enough water There are some biological signs of thirst that your

body displays which can be mistaken for being symptoms and signs of other conditions. If the root cause of these signs and symptoms is dehydration, you can avoid unnecessary and costly medical interventions by rehydrating your body. Conditions such as angina, breast and uterine cancer, leukemia , irregular menstruation, diabetes and kidney stones are indicated. Others include asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, sinusitis, obesity, anaemia, constipation and hypertension.

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014 “ addy, is it possible to predict how big my breasts will be?” My ever-curious daughter confronted me with this very sensible question one evening as I sat glued to the TV screen, lost in the captivating world of the jungle on the Nat-Geo Wild channel. I stared at the overexcited 14-year-old briefly in puzzlement before glancing at her mother in anticipation of a bail-out response. No dice. Mother’s gesture made it absolutely clear she had no intention of getting involved in our fatherdaughter chit-chat. And daughter wasn’t going to let me off easily either. She sat close to me patiently waiting for an answer. Breast How does a grown man awareness begin to talk about breasts to his teenage daughter? I gathered my thoughts, took a deep breath and prepared to deliver a lecture. Sweetheart, that’s a good question but it doesn’t have a direct Yes or No answer. A woman’s breast size is essentially determined by her genes, her hormones and her body weight. For instance, if a girl’s mother has small breasts and the girl doesn’t have too much body fat, she is likely to have small breasts. If the girl’s mother has big breasts and the girl has enough body fat, then she is likely to •Bra size have big or even bigger breasts than her mother. don’t be concerned if your Really, is that so? Daughter breasts aren’t growing as pondered in wonderment, fast as you expect. As you her eyes big and round. I grow older, they continue to continued. grow up till your late teens No sweetheart, every girl or even early 20s. develops differently, so

Celebrity

Kim Kardashian You ‘Kim’ feel good and look good K

im Kardashian, one of the most beautiful womanly figures in Hollywood, is as famous and fabulous as she’s gorgeous and glamorous. With over six million Twitter followers and more than four million Facebook fans, she is currently one of the most Googled personalities on earth. The worlds’ obsession and fascination for the voluptuous 33-year-old is unending. Standing just 5ft 2in tall but with an intimidating 34-26-39 measurement, Kim is bestowed with a body good enough to die (or live) for. A sex symbol, Kim’s long flowing, raven black hair; shiny bright eyes; full breasts; clear, satin-smooth skin and beautiful sexy legs, are considerably overshadowed by her sensationally curvaceous and eye-catching derriere, which she carries off wonderfully despite her diminutive stature. Although there was a time she was battling with cellulite on her thighs, not even the demands of pregnancy and motherhood have dimmed the curvy

•Breast cup size

Human Nature

Be man enough, be breast aware Daughter probed further. My friend has small breasts, but she likes wearing a big bra. She says I should wear a big bra too because it will make my breasts grow bigger. Is that true? No it isn’t true. Only your genes

bombshell’s sex appeal. Many of her fans may not know it, but Kim is a diehard health buff. Her celebrated and perfectly proportioned body comes at a price. Kim puts herself through a disciplined and meticulous healthy lifestyle bandwagon. She hits the gym daily for a hard workout, •Kim lifting weights and really sweating it out. She loves to eat, often indulging in the odd sweet or chocolate, but generally, Kim is a healthy eater. That’s why she’s so confident, feels so good and looks so good. Kim Kardashian’s diet plan Kim’s diet plan is simple enough to be followed by anyone. It works as long as you sat away from fast food and junk food and limit yourself to just 1,500 calories a day. Breakfast: Scrambled eggs whites with low fat cheese, spinach plus two bananas or any fruit. Lunch: Bananas with peanut butter, protein shake Snacks: Cookies, peanut butter and carrots Dinner: Brocolli, brown rice and green tea at bed time

and hormones control the rate of growth of your breasts. The type or size of bra you wear has no effect at all, although you should wear a bra that is comfortable and provides enough support.

Daughter wasn’t done. How can I know the right bra size for me? I have several that do not fit well. Sweetheart, the best way you can determine your bra size is to run a tape measure just under your breasts, around your ribcage and back. The tape measure should lie flat and not be too tight or too loose. Add five inches to the measurement of your chest size. If you get an odd number, round it off down to the next number, not up, because bras tend to stretch. A sports bra is a good first bra for girls like you. Finally, you need to get into the habit of checking your breasts regularly by doing what is called breast self-examination. It is a method of examining your breasts for development and changes to help you understand how they normally look and feel so it will be easier to notice anything unusual later on. Your mother can show you how to do it. Daughter was genuinely impressed. Wow! Thanks daddy. You certainly know about breasts. Wait till I tell everyone how breast aware my daddy is and what he taught me. I heard Mother applauding. As I looked in her direction, she gave me double thumbs up.

Fact or Fiction? Women reach their sexual peak at 28. For guy s, it’s 118. 8. guys, Fact! The ages can change slightly depending on the person, but women’s estrogen levels surge in their mid to late 20s, while guys get a big dose of hormones in their teen years. The average guy can last for about 10 minutes before having an orgasm. Fiction! According to The Journal of Sexual Medicine, the median time it takes men to get off is 5.4 minutes. Sunshine can actually increase a man’s sex drive. Fact! A new study by researchers in Austria found that an hour of sunshine can amp up men’s testosterone levels by almost 70 percent. It’s not a get-out-ofsunblock-free card though — don’t forget: Too much sun exposure can put you at risk for skin cancer. Scheduled sex is never as hot as spontaneous sex. Fiction! Marking sex dates on your calendars can actually increase anticipation, making you lust after your spouse even more. Men think about sex every seven seconds. Fiction! This is the same number you’ve been hearing since high school, but The American Sex Survey found that most men think about sex a few times a day — not a few times a minute. Sex gets lamer once you’re married. Fiction! Married couples are more satisfied with their sex lives than singles. Married couples are not only more satisfied with the quality of their sex lives — they’re also having sex more often. Women achieve orgasm more easily during intercourse Fiction! Sorry, guys: One study found that women always or nearly reached orgasm while flying solo. But don’t worry, most women in relationships also reported being satisfied with the frequency of their orgasms.

SATURDAY

hen she clocked 60 recently, Mrs. Idowu Ashiru, Managing Director, MARTLife Detox Clinic, Lagos, a practitioner of the Mayr diet protocol, looked lithe and trim as ever. At her modern Mayr medicine detox clinic, the golden rule is “watch what you eat, how you eat it and when you eat it.” Mayr diet protocol What we are eating is determining how long and how well we live. The Mayr diet was devised in the early 20th century by Dr. Franz Mayr, who was passionate about the link between digestion and health. Mayr was an Austrian doctor living in Austria. He was treating so many cases of High Blood Pressure and diabetes but was not getting good results from his patients. So he tried an experiment. He removed food from the tables of his patients and put them all on fasting. To his amazement, each one of them got better. So Mayr realised the problem was with the food. The type of food, the way the food was being cooked and eaten was the genesis of their ill health. Mayr began doing different experiments with different foods to cure his patients. That was how the Mayr protocol in medicine developed. Optimal health As we age in these days of so much cancer and diabetes, high blood pressure, all these are due to toxins. Gone are the days of high incidences of infectious diseases like cholera and tuberculosis. The ailments in vogue now are lifestyle-based. The secret to optimal health is detoxification. When you detox, you remove all the toxins from your body, and then all of your face and your body become fresh. This should be done regularly. Technically you should fast and detox once a week, say every Monday after you must have indulged in excesses over the weekend. If you do that, that will a total of 52 days or equivalent of seven weeks in a year. Imagine that the body accumulates toxins very fast. Fruits At MART-Life, we do not do too much fruits. Yes, fruits are healthy and have plenty of vitamins, but the same fruits we were eating before are not the same thing now. Take pineapples for

Broth You can also try broth, which the water from lots and lots of boiled vegetables. Just prepare your vegetables, put a lot of water in it, boil, remove the water and drink it. All the vitamins and minerals from the vegetables you can now get from the water. You do not eat the vegetables. It is just the water you drink. Boil for about an hour and you can

Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014—29

Lifeline

Food is life, food is death

•Idowu Ashiru •Mayr diet instance. The ones we get now are so sweet one might as well be eating sugar, so you can imagine that the health benefits are nullified by the amount of sugar. There is now so much genetic engineering of fruits and they are so sweet. Of course people do not want to eat sour fruits, I mean, how healthy is that? If you fast once a week, you can go on herbal tea with a little honey.

drink the broth. You can do that all day. Drink plenty of water. Exercise It is important to exercise, but not too much because too much exercise can make your muscles sore and you develop lactic acid which is toxic, so moderate exercise is best. Everyday, I like to walk for about four minutes around my area, which is very hilly. That is it.

Medicinal

Menstrual pain reliever Some research shows that ginger can reduce symptoms of menstrual pain in some women when taken during menstruation. One study shows that taking a specific ginger extract (Zintoma, Goldaru) 250 mg four times daily for 3 days at the beginning of the menstrual period reduces pain symptoms in as many as 62 percent of people. It seems to work about as well as the medications ibuprofen or mefenamic acid.

*Do not take ginger if you are allergic to it or suffer from a bleeding disorder or take bloodthinning medication such as aspirin.

•Chili pepper

Spicy How HOT is your pepper? If you’re not a fan of spicy food, CHILI peppers may not be regular on your plate but keep an eye out for them at your local hospital. Chili peppers are a great source of vitamin C. A recent study discovered that capsaicin attacked cancer cells without harming healthy cells nearby. This discovery may be helpful for future cancer research and the development of cancer treatments. So where does such a little pepper like chili get its big heat? The answer is capsaicin, a chemical in the pepper. When you eat a pepper, capsaicin comes in contact with pain receptors in your mouth. These pain receptors sense heat. When capsaicin activates the receptors, they send a message to the brain telling it you have eaten something hot. Your brain responds to the message by raising your heart rate, increasing perspiration and releasing endorphins, which are special body chemicals that help relieve pain. The highest concentration of capsaicin is present in the white flesh on the inside of a pepper and the coating on the seeds. Capsaicin is water insoluble, which means a glass of water won’t cool your mouth once you bite into a pepper. If you’re looking for relief, try a glass of cold milk instead.

30â&#x20AC;&#x201D;SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014

Health-Tech

For gender balancing, get a PGD! D

r. Abayomi Ajayi, Medical Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Asaba and Abuja, gives insight into the intricately sensitive procedure of PGD which he describes as the genetic profiling of embryos. Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, PGD, is a procedure used prior to implantation to help identify genetic defects within embryos created through in vitro fertilization, IVF to prevent certain diseases or disorders from being passed on to the child. In most cases, the female, male, or both partners have been genetically screened and identified to be carriers of potential problems. Knowing the genetic make- up of embryos mainly enables us to prevent the transmission of diseases that can be transmitted from parents to offspring. This ranges from sickle cell to cancers anything that can be transmitted genetically. If it is a cancer that the gene sequence has been identified, then it can be prevented. Any disease whatsoever that the gene sequence has been identified can be prevented.

How it is performed

Begins with the normal process of in vitro fertilization that includes: ovary stimulation through medication, egg retrieval, and fertilization in a laboratory. Over the next three days the embryo will divide into eight cells. The preimplantation genetic diagnosis involves a one or two cells are removed from the embryo. Next, DNA is retrieved from the cell and copied through a process known as polymerase chain reaction, PCR. Finally, by molecular analysis, the DNA sequence code is evaluated to determine if the inheritance of a problematic gene is present. Once the PGD procedure has been performed and embryos free of genetic problems have been identified, implantation will be attempted through embryo transfer, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, ICSI, or zygote intra-fallopian transfer, ZIFT.

Who can benefit

Any couple at risk for passing on a genetic disease

Dr Abayomi Ajayi

PGD

or condition. Possible candidates include women aged 35 and over; carriers of sex-linked genetic disorders; carriers of single gene defects; those with chromosomal disorders and women experiencing recurring pregnancy loss associated with chromosomal concerns. In this environment, the two common uses are for sickle cell prevention and genetic intervention of sex selection. PGD is beneficial to people with strong history of certain cancers such as breast cancer, and also Down Syndrome.

What PGD looks for

Genetic and chromosomal problems that increase risk for birth defects or spontaneous miscarriage are indicated. It identifies the presence of a large number of about 300 disorders. Also looks for recessive sexlinked disorders such as haemophilia; dominant sexlinked disorders such as Rett syndrome, and vitamin D-resistant rickets; single gene disorders such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia.

Disease prevention

PGD can be used to prevent diseases that come through genes or chromosomes and the mitochondria. Some disorders are recessive others are dominant. We can look at all of them and look at the diseases that have been mapped out and exclude them from diseases not to be transmitted. For

If health is a state of physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing, the man who says he wants to have a boy at all cost, should he not be enabled to do so recessive diseases, two abnormal copies are required to become manifest, e.g., sickle cell disease. One abnormal gene from one parent combines with another abnormal gene from the other parent to produce one SS child. In cancers that are dominant, only one abnormal copy is required for the baby to develop the cancer. Fortunately there are other diseases such as cystic fibrosis that are not as common, diseases linked to the X chromosome. Selection is not only for gender balancing but to determine defective embryos. Babies are born free from diseases that can be transmitted from their parents.

In Nigeria and countries where there is preference for a specific gender. For instance, someone has many girls and wants a boy. Why not? If health is a state of physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing, the man who says he wants to have a boy at all cost, should he not be enabled to do so? If the technique of PGD is the way to give him the desired boy, rather than marrying more wives and possibly

having more girls, why not. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m am not saying there are no ethical issues involved, but right now, the stage at which we are, we do not have problems of nations such as China or India. The issues on ground now are that we do not misuse PGD. There should be responsibility using the technique.

No dilemma, no risk

The beauty of PGD is that it prevents selective termination of pregnancy. In the effort of preventing transmission of genetic diseases to babies, the first major milestone was prenatal diagnosis where we can take a sample from the baby either through colonic biopsy or aminocentesis. The problem with this is that there is already a pregnancy. So you need to make a decision based on the result, whether to terminate or to allow the pregnancy to continue despite the fact that you know the baby is affected. But with PGD, that dilemma does not come in at all. You can pick out the affected embryos and implant only the good ones.

Sex selection

Because the 23rd pair of chromosomes is the sex chromosomes, PGD can also determine the sex of the embryo and has been used for the purpose of gender selection

Concerns

PGD

32— SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014

BY JULIET EBIRIM AND ANOZIE EGOLE

Same-sex marriage Law:

Homosexuality is a bad tradition

Nigerian entertainers speak!

— Mariam Elisha, Model

The anti-gay marriage bill was recently passed into law by the Nigerian government has been generating mixed-reactions both from members of the public and the international community. Entertainers Talkback brings to you the reactions of some entertainers on the issue.

It’s a welcome development

We ‘ve pressing issues to address

— Sandra Bassey, Model

or me, it’s a welcome development because encouraging same-sex marriage is tantamount to welcoming evil into the country. Gay relationships have so many side effects, not to talk of condoning the union.

— Ego,Singer

Anti-Gay law is harsh

think we have more important issues to address at the moment than the controversial gay law. Really, I don’t think it should be the focus for now. Morally, everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion and lifestyle. So, that should be respected. I just feel it’s something that shouldn’t be our priority right now. There are other issues affecting everybody that are begging for attention.

It’s a laudable development

— Ali Baba, Comedian

t’s a laudable development. Anyone who supports gay practice is mocking God’s existence.

don’t really have much to say on the issue. But I know that as a Christian, homosexuality is against my doctrine and I know it is a bad tradition.

— Harris Chuma, film maker

t’s absolutely wrong. I think the law is

rather too harsh. If your religion

agrees with the act carry on, if not refrain. Morally, it’s wrong to engage in the act but it’s infringement of fundamental human right of an individual to live the lifestyle that will make him happy without hurting others.

Govt. should tackle important issues — Ruggedman, Musician

don’t care. I am not a gay. I just think there are important things the government should eradicate first, and foremost. Sexual matters is not top on my priority. Let the government fix the infrastructure and empower the youths.

The west has a homosexual agenda

— Lydia Owan, Actress

think it’s the proper decision to take by any government. There seems to be a homosexual agenda being propagated by the western world. Banning gay marriage and trying to shield the minors from the ever evolving theories on homosexuality is the proper thing to do.

The law raises m myy hope — J’odie, singer T

he law raises my hope that Nigeria is on the right path to develpment. We are not lost, we have our roots intact. We stand for sexuality of purpose and not abnormality and perversion. The world is moving very fast, but sometimes, advancement could be in the direction of destruction. We may not have gotten many other things right, especially in issues such as infrastructure, education, politics. But we have gotten this one right. There is hope for this country!

33 SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014 —33

How N1000 I borrowed made me a millionaire

He told the bulldozer driver that the owner electrified the kiosk and it was capable of electrocuting anybody that goes close to it. The badly terrified officials opted to play safe and left it untouched. When they left, the security personnel carefully packed all my wares to a corner in the bank premises.

Was this not another business opportunity lost?

efinitely, it was. There was a government official,

—Chukwudi Ofoha of Ibari Ogwa Village By CHIDI NKWOPARA

I borrowed from my mother, who has today joined our ancestors. I lost her December 8, 2013. The N1,000 I borrowed from my mother has made me a millionaire today!

f you have been to Owerri, and you have not visited Ibari Ogwa Village, then, you are like the Biblical Moses that was shown the promise land but never entered it. The brain behind the popular hangout that is today described as the entertainment headquarters East of the Niger is Chukwudi Ofoha. He had a very humble beginning but without the N1,000 he borrowed from his mother, Ibari Ogwa Village would probably have remained a mirage. Ofoha narrates the story himself. How begin?

did

women wears. I also sold apple, frozen foods like chicken and turkey, just to make ends meet. I stoutly resisted attempts by some crazy human beings to lure me into crime, especially as I knew that it would not only pitch the security agencies against me and ruin my future but will also tarnish the image of my family if and when arrested.

you

o tell you the truth, I was initially nobody but thank God that I am somebody today. I started life with practically nothing. All the people my father trained virtually abandoned us and those that tried to do anything for us, sadly turned us to slaves! I started life with N1,000 I borrowed from my mother, who has today joined our ancestors. I lost her December 8, 2013. The N1,000 I borrowed from my mother has made me a millionaire today! To survive life’s hardship, I sold all manner of petite things, including pigeons, kerosine, chickens, guinea fowls and it’s eggs. I bought some of these perishable goods from Katsina and sold them at Owerri and parts of Mbaitoli markets. With my mother ’s N1,000, I started with kerosine. From kerosine, I jumped into palm oil. From palm oil, I went into guinea fowl trade. I will buy them from the North and move them to the East for sale. I did a lot of things to help myself. In an attempt to expand my horizon, I started traveling to Cotonou to buy men and

You do not do any of these things now?

Chukwudi Ofoha

es, I agree with you that the Ibari Ogwa Village is a different concept entirely. It was born when General Sani Abacha seized power and closed the borders. By the time the borders were reopened, we had badly eaten into my capital and what remained was my car and about N100,000. I stocked a kiosk close to Mr. Biggs along Okigwe Road, Owerri, where I sold can drinks. My price was cheap and people preferred buying from me after buying their food from Mr. Biggs. Not long after and based on a barrage of petitions from people, a plan was hatched to sack all kiosk owners from the vicinity. Notices were issued to us and they day government came to demolish the kiosks, I was away on a business trip. It was a security man in a nearby commercial bank that played a fast one on the team.

Goddy Dike, whom I met to discuss my plight. After our discussion, he promised to assist in securing a place for me. Not long after, I was taken to the landlord of a four-room store. Somebody had taken two and I was to take the remaining two but I honestly had no money to pay the bill. My elder brother returned from Singapore when I was at the point of selling my car. He quickly gave me his return ticket, which was worth $2,000. I gainfully employed this money and today, I thank God that I have paid all my debts and left the poverty zone.

It appears that you had so many challenges in life?

es! Honestly, I faced so many life challenges. I was the one taking care of everybody in the family because my mother and all, had to return to Owerri because of the crisis in Kano. I rented two rooms for them along Royce Road, Owerri. A windstorm that swept through Owerri at the time, yanked off the roof of the house. I moved them to the single room where I was staying. I abandoned the room for them and continued sleeping around with friends.

Let us go back to how you kick started this business?

started this business

in a small scale, indeed in a one room apartment along Tetlow Road, Owerri. To make the difference, I engaged a small band that plays the popular Owerri bongo music in a raw way. In the beginning, I had no money to employ a chef. I was the chef. I killed the chickens and prepared them for my customers. I later engaged three or four young boys from Akwa Ibom State. The helped in serving my customers.

How did you get the name Ibari Ogwa Village?

t was truly a problem. Using my first name, Chukwudi, did not click. All the nicknames my friends called me did not equally do the magic. I was drinking with some of my friends one early morning, talks about what to call my place came up. It was at this point that the name Ibari Ogwa Village came up! I am also indebted to Chief Emma Ugorji for his benevolence. The same is also true of Chief Willie Amadi. He was very understanding. When it was difficult to get a suitable alternative to my Tetlow Road spot, Chief Ugorji willingly gave me his plot in World Bank Housing Estate. There was an understanding that I will willingly vacate the plot anytime he wants to make use of it.

What do you regard as your g r e a t e s t achievement?

y greatest achievement is that I make people happy. I have not only created an entertainment empire where people reduce or simply cure their hypertension, but have equally given a number of people a source of livelihood. What else do you think I want in life?

Any advice to youths?

od has a place for everybody. All efforts I made to travel outside Nigeria failed. I believe that whatever God has destined for you will ultimately be realized. I thank God that I started my own early and thank God that discovered my own talent early. I appreciate my God for His guidance and protection. Nigerian youths must learn to work very hard. Nothing comes easy at all.

34â&#x20AC;&#x201D; SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014

08111813025

I cannot do without apples â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Benita BY ADERONKE ADEYERI

ollywood actress,Ben ita Nzeribe is our guest in this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk. The Anambra State-born actress reviews the secret behind her good looks and what keeps her going. Enjoy What is your favorite food? My best food is wheat and white soup which is popularly known as ofe -nsala. Ofe-nsa-

la is a special delicacy that can be taken with different delicacies and very palatable. Did you play any prank to get ofe-nsala ? Well, I did not have to because I lived in a family where we have food in abundance. What is your favorite fruit? I love apples and I eat apples on a daily basis to stay healthy. What is the secret behind your look? I thank God for my looks and

Health Tips

my little secret is to ensure I smile even under pressure. How do you unwind? I love to watch movies and do some sit-ups to maintain my shape. How would you advice others to eat? Africa is blessed with a lot of good foods. I employ Nigerians to eat a lot of vegetables and insist on fresh fruits always.

Benita Nzeribe

What locust beans can do for you

Locust bean

Weekend Treat Ofe nsala is a soup of the Igbo of South-East Nigeria and riverine areas of the Niger Delta. It is also known as white soup and is very delicious and nutritious. Ofe nsala is not only juicy, nutritious and delicious but also mouth watering .

Locust beans, also known as carob, Iru by the Yorubas and ogiri, dawa dawa by Igbos, is one of the common cooking condiments that is gradually disappearing from the dinning table of many families. The smell is un-

pleasant but locust beans is the single, most significant ingredient guaranteed to make your soups, stews or mixed vegetables superb. Locust beans also have medicinal values you should not miss. Many local researches have shown that locust bean helps

to promote good sight and reduce the tendency of high blood pressure complications like stroke and diabetes. It also contains tannins, astringent substances found in many plants. Foods rich in tannins are often recommended for the treatment of diarrhea.

Delicious white soup(ofe-nsala) and wheat Wheat

White soup

Recipe

Uziza leaf (a bunch) Utazi leaf (a handful) Beef Crayfish Fresh pepper Dried fish Head of stock fish (medium size Pounded yam (thickener) Seasoning Salt Snails (optional) Bush meat Palm oil Wheat C M Y K

Preparation Parboil the meat with onions, salt and other seasonings, cook for about ten minutes. Blend the cray fish, then cook and pound yam. Wash the dried fish/stock

fish with hot water. Add more water to the meat on fire depending on the quantity of thickener and the available ingredients. Add the washed dried fish, crayfish, stock fish cook for

about ten minutes before adding the pounded yam and few drops of palm oil and fresh pepper. Allow the balls of pounded yam to dissolve for about 10 to 15 minutes before adding the snail, bush meat,

uziza leaves, and utazi leaves. Allow to boil for another five minutes and you just made a delicious ofe -nsala soup. Pour your wheat into a pot of boiling water and allow to cook till it thickens to your taste.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 25, 2014 — 35

36—SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014 realistic? Is it healthy and free flowing? Will the relationship grow naturally or will it become forced? You may not be clairvoyant, but your instinct is a powerful and pure tool. Always be aware that life is a river. Change is the only constant, the only thing that you can ever count on. You and your partner will change over time. We cannot predict the future. But how does the future, on a hunch, look to be with your mate? What if, in the first month, he likes to have a beer with dinner? Then by the fourth month, he prefers a twelve pack. The warning light blinks. Suddenly, your most

our warning light, always on, flickering occasionally, sud denly flares to a fiery hot red. This internal alarm is about to put a cold damper on your relationship. As your love progresses and you learn more and more about your mate, there will come the moment when a question must be answered. At some point, every relationship comes to this fork in the road. Do I want this? Is this the guy for me? You love everything about him, but you have some doubts. Do you decide to invest more into the relationship or is it time to walk? Doubt and disagreement are a natural part of partnership. This is the texture we need to keep things interesting; to learn and grow. It is rare that two lovers are completely compatible. There is always something that will disturb or irritate, whether it is a habit, interest, trait or all three. There are probably many things you would like to change about your mate. Maybe he works too hard or loudly smacks his lips when he eats. His mother is a terror. The list might be endless. Rest assured, he has a few issues about you that he does not love. A relationship is a beautiful dance of being in sync at times and at others, it’s we must twirl delicately around our imperfections, incompatibilities and inhumanities. Sometimes, you dance a steady waltz. Other times you may explode into a fiery tango. There is a great beauty in the efforts we make to tolerate each other. This dance is the way we negotiate our love. So what do you dislike about him? Is he a sports nut? No style? Big nose? Can’t swim? Poor taste in cinema? Can’t cook? These are the behaviours that you dislike. But are they deal breakers? Look closely at your resistance to accept your partner. Do these irritations trigger something in you and your acceptance of yourself? Ask these ques-

Dating is like shopping for your final pair of jeans, the pair that looks so good on you, you’ll treasure them forever

I love ever ything about you, except... tions as you examine your ability to tolerate others and negotiate compromises. If you are allowed to caterwaul in the shower, then he can leave the cap off the toothpaste. If he is obsessed with D’banj, just sing along. If he wants to restore a car, you might want to hand him a wrench. These are the things we negotiate. Hopefully, together as a couple, you will

Ask the Sexpert I am 74 years old. Two years ago, I underwent a prostrate operation. In the mornings when I feel the urge to urinate, I get a good erection. But while having sex, I’m unable to sustain it. Practise Kegel exercise . Since you get erections in the mornings, you can conclude you are normal. Perhaps more stimulation by the partner may help. Try a course of viagra for a month. One capsule after breakfast daily.

find several interests that you can share. But perhaps there are important issues that you simply cannot tolerate. Is he using drugs? Does he always borrow money from you? Is he still sleeping with his ex? If you have healthy self-esteem, you will likely kick him to the curb for these habits. The first six months are critical in making clear, clean rational

decisions. What can you live with? What should you run from? Dating is like shopping for your final pair of jeans, the pair that looks so good on you, you’ll treasure them forever. Will the style hold that long? What about the cut? You must make some tough decisions in search of your emotions. Look inside. What do you really want? Is it

I wanted to know if there are any sideeffects of having sex six to seven times a day. I recently did this while on vacation with my boyfriend. Usually, I have sex once in two weeks. If you are a marathon runner, it will not affect you. But do ask yourself if it is for pleasure for both, or is it to prove your sex prowess. I have a query. How does the Kegel exercise benefit men. Does it increase his stamina in bed or does it increase the growth of penis?

Kegel exercises strengthen the muscle sur-

honest and true instincts will suggest your guy is a liability, not an asset. Asking people to change rarely works well in the end. Why deprive someone of their natural rhythms? If you make your fella toss his model railroad set, he may begin to quietly resent you. We must always try to approach romance with acceptance and unconditional love. When a warning light flares, you know to take a step back and ask the hard questions. What does your heart tell you? Are your intentions honest and pure? Are you staying in

this relationship because you are too afraid to move on? Everyone grows cautious for a reason. You have a warning system. Sometimes it emits quiet little blips. Other times it rages like an air raid siren. You will never be able to say that you love absolutely every little thing about someone. With time and growth, we learn to explore and accept each other. To say that you love almost everything about someone is a very lucky thing.

rounding the penis, vagina and rectum. It helps to increase libido, improves premature ejaculation and improves orgasm. I am a 29-year-old married man. Before marriage, I had a good libido and I would masturbate regularly. But after marriage I am not getting proper erection even after plenty of foreplay. But I don’t want to be dependent on any drug. Please suggest. Ask yourself why. Obviously it is something that is affecting your thinking since you are getting erections at other times. Is the pleasure less than masturbation? I suggest you see a sexpert.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2014 — 37

anozieegole@yahoo.com 08116759761

Nadia Buhari dumps Jim Iyke for Wizkid?

HANAIAN sexy and talented actress, Nadia Buhari is in the news again. This time, it is no longer between herself and the Nollywood bad boy, Jim Iyke but now, she’s playing hide and seek game with Wizkid. Barely one week when a picture of the actress pecking the Pakurumo crooner was posted on the internet, reactions have been coming

from all quarters pointing to the picture. Already, tongues have started wagging seriously as to the reason for the posture. Questions that fans have been asking is whether Nadia has dumped Jim Iyke for Star boy? or better still, whether Jim has seen this picture? Matinee gathered that, the picture serves as a dream come true for Wizkid.

Mercy Johnson, hubby plan big for daughter A

WARD winning Nollywood screen goddess, Mercy Johnson and her hubby, Odianosen Okoji have put plans in motion to throw a big birthday bash for their daughter, Purity. She clocked one year last month. The sultry actress and her hubby threw a ‘small party’ to mark the little Purity’s birthday on 30th of December. However , teh parents are planning a bigger party this month which will have in attendance who is who in the celebrity circle. Meanwhile, the date for the party is yet to be fixed.

Doris Simeon shows love to the blind as well as donated food stuffs

ultry actress, Doris Simeeon during the week showed love to the students of Pacelli School for the blind, Surulere, Lagos, where she interacted with them

for their upkeep. This is indeed the best way to start a new season. Though most of the students could not see clearly, but they gladly talked about what they would want to become in future.

Pokello debuts in Nollywood

EMEMBER the Harare-born exBBA-The Chase housemate, Pokello Nare? She’s expected to storm Nigeria next month where she will be part of a cast of a yet to be titled Nollywood movie. The beautiful mother of one took to her facebook page to express her joy over landing a role in a Nigerian movie. “Reading this script I got for my first movie in Nigeria. Lol I’m laughing off. I’m trying to picture myself in this role!,” she wrote on her facebook page. Also, confirming the development, in a television interview, Queen of Swag as she is fondly called by her fans said, “I am to star in a Nigerian movie. I have just received the script and started rehearsing. I will be leaving for Nigeria in February.” One fan immediately responded to Pokello’s message on facebook, saying she would be Africa’s Angelina Jolie.”The girl has got style. She is the next big thing to happen to Africa and move over, Angelina Jolie as Poky takes center stage. I guess she is such a lucky girl. What one likes about Pokello is that she is real and let’s put our fingers cross as she makes her debut in Nollywood.”

•Pokello

Jim Iyke accepts AY apology

ollywood actor, Jim Iyke has accepted wholeheartedly AY’s apology just as he has also apologised to the ace-comedian for calling him ‘classless.” AY recently released a comedy skit entitled, “Helen Paul Gets Her Deliverance” After Jim Iyke. The actor was disappointed, as he felt that AY’s joke was coming from his SCOAN’s deliverance. He was so angry that he called AY ‘classless’. However, AY did not hesitate to apologise to Jim Iyke, explaining that it was meant to be a joke and not something that will mock his personality. Interestingly, the goodnews now is that Jim Iyke reportedly has accepted AY’s apology and even tendered his own too.

38—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014

Top ‘returnee’ musicians ruling Nigerian airwaves F Kehinde Ajose

TIWA SAVAGE S

he is undoubtedly one of the most sought after amazons in the music scene today. When she released her debut hit single:’Kelekele Love’ many music pundits felt she was just another flash in the pan till she proved them wrongly. Fast forward to 2014, Tiwa Savage has a bestselling album: ’Once Upon a Time”, an amazing fan base, juicy endorsement deals, lucrative performance fees, and also belonging to the class of the most talked about showbiz personalities. Her return to Nigeria has been worthwhile. Today, she’s a brand ambassador to some many blue-chip companies.

M.I H

e is the rapper every rapper wants to be like. Jude Abaga began his music career when he returned to Nigeria in 2003. Desirous to make his mark on the industry, M.I released his critically acclaimed single, ‘Safe’, a song that infused popular Nigerian songs into its lyrics. M.I rolled his sleeves and got to work. Presently he has an endorsement deal with Globacom and the Lagos State Ambassador for Energy, floats his own music outfit called,”Loopy music’ and a judge on the critically acclaimed ‘X factor’. Mister Incredible has built a strong brand beyond the returnee who was hungry for stardom. C M Y K

ew years ago, the Nigerian music industry was solely dominated by homegrown talents who ruled the industry, and made names for themselves until recently when some of the gifted artistes in the diaspora saw the goldmine of opportunities inherent in contemporary Nigerian entertainment industry and decided to return home. Today , they are amongst the top players in Nigeria’s showbiz. In no particular order here are the returnee musicians making waves in the Nigerian music scene.

SEYI SHAY The delectable songstress Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua better known by her stage name ‘Seyi Shay was born and raised in London, to a Nigerian parents. Prompted by the growth of the Nigerian Music and also yielding to the advice of Sound Sultan, Seyi returned home to make a name for herself.Like a gazelle running towards its destination, she is gradually becoming her own woman, breaking away from her ‘Beyonce’ like stereotype to creating her own unique signature, Afro pop style, which is a blend of RnB, Soul, and Jazz. Just last year, she clinched an Etisalat endorsement deal and was also nominated in the ‘Next Rated Category of The Headies.

BANKY W A

rmed with a silky smooth voice that can calm frayed nerves, Banky W born in the United States of America returned to Nigeria in 2008, after the completion of his album, Mr Capable. From showbiz to advocacy, and brand endorsement, Mr. Wellington sure has the Midas touch and has become one of the formidable forces in the music industry creating platforms for the likes of Wizkid, Skales and also sustaining a music brand that has been seductive to marketing communication experts ,becoming a toast of brands who need a known face to endorse their products.

Nigerian Idol begins with auditions in 5 cities ll is set for the nationwide search for the brightest A music talents to grace the stage of one of the biggest reality music competitions, the Nigerian Idol. The fourth season of the Etisalat sponsored Nigerian Idol show will hold auditions in the cities of Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Benin, Calabar and for the first time, Makurdi from 25th of January through 23rd of February, 2014. The audition train will move from Benin at the Excalibur Hotel on January 25th to Port-Harcourt at the Presidential Hotel on February 1st. Monty Suites will be the location in Calabar on February 8, while Makurdi will play host on February 15 at Smileview Hotel Extension. The final stage of the auditions will hold in Lagos at Dream Studios, Omole on the 22nd and 23rd of February. Speaking about the auditions, Etisalat’s Director of Brands and Communications, Enitan Denloye said the company was excited to be a part of the show for the fourth time running. According to him, Etisalat has identified the competition as a platform that recognizes and celebrates music talent among the youth.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014 —39

Jay Z, Beyoncé to rock Grammy’s stage P OWER couple Jay Z and Beyoncé are bringing the royal family to the 2014 Grammy Awards holding tomorrow. CBS has already confirmed the high-profile performance. The couple are indeed performing together at Sunday’s ceremony after it was rumoured earlier in the week. No performance track list has been revealed, but it has been gathered that the couple have more than enough songs to thrill the crowd, be it their hit

collabos in 2002—‘Crazy in love’ and ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ or in 2006 ‘Déja Vu’ and ‘Upgrade U’ or most recently ‘Drunk in love’ off Bey’s surprise eponymous album. The awards will be hosted by veteran rapper LL Cool J. Other performers include Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, Sara Bareilles and Carole King, John Legend, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.

How stars rocked Ogu festival

SAM ANOKAM

t was pomp and pageantry last December when the people of Ogu-Bolo, the largest community in Rivers State, marked the 5th anniversary of Ogu festival. The festival witnessed a peace concert held at Ogu to toast to half a decade of harmonious co-existence in the communities since 2009. AY, I Go Dye, Seyilaw, Prince Hezekiah, Pencil and Whale Mouth were among the comedians who hit their comic bests and split-sides on the night ensuring that hitherto contending brothers laugh over Champagnes and more

hysterically, and over one another’s shoulders. After the Comedy Stretch, Headie’s Revelation of the Year, Sean Tizzle, lighted-up the stage with show-stopping songs in the tunes of Sho Le, and Mama E. Then, Burna Boy took the floor reeling out a crowd-thrilling enactment. And just before the

end-of-the-yearpartying community dispersed, AY presented on stage, the Limpopo King and undisputed Pull-Over Champion— Kcee for an eclectic and roofraising performance to wrap up another electrifying night peaceful-fun. Speaking after the concert, Dick Willy, the President of Ogu Focus Group, organizers of the concert said: “For 5 years, we have mastered the act of warranting sustainable Peace in Ogu-Bolo.

KTQC sho w re turns on TTV V show returns screens ANOZIE EGOLE

IGERIA’s TV cooking competition, Knorr Taste Quest is back with a scintillating second season tagged: “Hot just got Hotter”!! The show was officially launched last Friday at the Eko Hotel, with an exclusive screening party. The party started with a networking/ cocktail session, after which guests were ushered in to the hall where they were treated to entertaining games, musical performances and the unveiling of the contestants in

Youngest Old Man becomes aide to Edo State Govt.

C M Y K

he Edo State government has appointed acecomedian and entertainer, Roland Igbadumhe a.k.a ‘Youngest Old Man’ as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on entertainment to the Governor, Adams Oshiomhole. Prior to his appointment the renowned comedian has been actively involved in corporate event management, branding and official host to highly placed individuals and corporate bodies.

The Edo State born comedian rose to stardom at the Auchi Polytechnic before he went to Abuja where he established his brand, performed and organized series of events including the popular Comedy overdose, beef with youngest oldman which was held across Nigeria. Among other things the ace comedian also coordinated the entertainment campaign team of former military head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babaginda along side

Edo born producer, Don Pedro Obaseki and incumbent SSA to the comrade governor, Kassim Afegbua. He has also featured in Rhythm 94.7, Abuja on its pidgin English programme, titled ‘Na So E Be” Rhythm on plug, Julius Agu’s crack your rib, night of a thousand laughs, AY live in London, Edo festival in London, the Calabar carnival and many other events spread across Nigeria and Europe.

•Roland Igbadumhe

grand style. According to the organizers, over 10,000 entries were received from all parts of the country before they were finally pruned down to 40 at a rigorous screening exercise that held in Abuja, Calabar and Lagos. 14 finalists comprising seven males and seven females eventually got on to the show. On the judging panel this season is, Head Judge, Dr Roberts, Gbubemi Fregene also known as Chef Fregz, and Chef Renee Chuks, the only female on the panel. The host of the show remains popular OAP, Manny of Cool Fm. At the screening launch, the Brand Building Director, Unilever Nig. Plc, Mr. David Okeme revealed what audiences should expect from the show this season. Prizes up for grabs this season are: N2 million cash prize, a Ford Eco Sport SUV, and tons of Kenwood kitchen equipment for the first prize, N1 million cash prize and tons of Kenwood kitchen equipment for the second place and N500,000 cash prize and tons of Kenwood kitchen equipment for the third place winner.

40 — SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

C M Y K

Vanguard, JANU ARY 25, 2014 JANUARY

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014 — 41

Adeyemi carpets APC over resolution to block PDP bills BY DAPO AKINREFON

ORMER President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Senator Smart Adeyemi, has faulted yesterday ’s resolution by All Progressives Congress, APC directing its members in the National Assembly to block all legislative proposals, including the 2014 Appropriation Bill. The APC had also directed its members, among others, to stand against the confirmation of the appointment of the

service chiefs and ministerial nominees. Smart described the party’s position as antipeople. Smart, who is also chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory said the move by the APC allegedly directing its lawmakers to antagonise the PIB; “if it is true, that is most unfortunate for the party that claims to be a progressive; to come out to say that. It is undemocratic, it is unconstitutional, unbiblical and unislamic position by a political

party in the history of modern politics.” The lawmaker added that “For a party to come with anti-people politics and claiming to be progressive; for some of us, in the PDP, we look forward to an opposition that will help in galvanising and accelerating economic activities.” He, however, noted that Nigerians do not want a party that will add to their burdens, saying that his party, the PDP is making frantic effort to salvage the situation.

Crises looms in Okerenkoko over alleged hijack of NIMAS A contr acts bbyy TTompolo ompolo NIMASA contracts BY GAB EJUWA

HE PEOPLE of Oker enkoko Federated Communities under the aegis of Okerenkoko National Development Forum has disowned and barred Chief Government Ekpemukpolo from interfering with matters relating the community over his alleged greediness and neglect of those who fought with him during the struggle for the emancipation of the Okerenkoko communities. A letter signed by Chief Michael Johnny, Chairman; Hon. Bullet Otuaro, Vice Chairman,

Mr. Ikpesan Anthony, Secretary and 12 others and addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan stated that they have reviewed the antics of Mr. Government E k p e m u p o l o , aka Tompolo over the years, and concluded that he is indeed a very greedy man, with parochial interest to enrich himself and his immediate family to the detriment of the people of Okerenkoko and entire Gbaramatu kingdom. The letter read, “such a man is not worthy to be associated with. Tompolo, would no longer be allowed to continue enslaving our

people, and because of that, the entire leaders and youths of Okerenkoko, have unanimously disowned and barred Tompolo from representing or discussing any issue concerning Okerenkoko Federated Communities on our behalf . “From this day, 21st January, 2014, let it be known to the federal government, Delta State government, security and other government agencies such as NIMASA, including oil companies and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company or any company coming to Okerenkoko to henceforth be dealing directly with the leadership of Okerenko community and its various communities.”

You ‘ve no right to hold Nigeria to ransom, Princewill tells APC BY HENRY UMORU, Abuja

stalwart of the Peo ples Democratic Party, PDP in Rivers State, Prince Tonye Princewill yesterday took on the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC for instructing its members in the National Assembly to stall the passage of the 2014 Budget, and screening of the newly nominated ministerial candidates, saying the party has no right to hold the nation to ransom. Condemning what he described as an unpatriotic act and an attempt by the APC to “Shut down the Country ”, Princewill said, “No man, woman or group of people has the right to threaten the stability of Nigeria. This is what this is.”, Princewill insisted. He highlighted the activities of last year, when the Republicans in the US tried to use their strength to hold the country to ransom. “The repercussions of that move were obviously not in their favour, as the public came out in mass to reject the move. Citizens openly vowed never to vote for the party again, because of how immature their plans were. He predicted that the same will happen here. “Why is the APC crying more than the bereaved?”, Princewill asked. He pointed to the past when the Rivers State Police Force was used to witch hunt, oppress and unlawfully harass the opposition. C M Y K

42 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2014

SATURDAY, Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2013—43

Eyit emi Sule and Ew oritsemogha Omatse Eyitemi Eworitsemogha Omatseyye The Chobas’ wedding

yitemi Sule, daughter of Mr Blessing Uwejamomere and Eworitsemogha Omatseye, son of Mr Sunday Omatseye have taken the first giant step towards Holy matrimony when the couple were united at a customary wedding in Lagos on Friday, January 17, 2014. The two families came resplendent in different traditional attires and saw to it that the traditional rites were fulfilled with the usual pomp and pageantry. Photos by Shola Oyelese

abriel Choba took a wife recently and the ceremony took place at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Ekete-Inland, Udu, Delta State. His Excellency Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof. Amos Utuama was the sponsor.

R-L: Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), Dep. Gov of Delta State and wife, Dr. (Mrs) Nelly Tuwere Utuama, Sponsors of the wedding, with couple, Mr and Mrs Gabriel Choba

The couple, Mr and Mrs Eworitsemogha Omatseye with groom’s parents, Mr and Mrs Sunday Omatseye.

The couple, Mr and Mrs Eworitsemogha Omatseye with the Bride parent Mr and Mrs Blessing Uwejamomere.

L-R: Mr Adolo Okotie-Eboh , Mr Aboyowa Etete and Prince Paul Dundu.

L-R: Mr Shirley Omatseye, Mrs Claire Omatseye , Mrs Tuoyo Omatseye and Mr Ete Omatseye.

L-R: Rev. Fr. Jeremiah Owhe, Parish Priest of St. Peter's Catholic Church, Ekete-Inland presenting the Certificate of Holy Matrimony to the newly wedded couple, Mr and Mrs Gabriel Choba while the sponsors look on.

L-R:Pa S . D . O Arubi, Prince Sir K . B . Omatseye and Alex Doli.

L-R:Mr Sonny Okpuhe with Mr Peter Arigbe

The couple’s parents, with the sponsors and other family members

Frankling A dejuw on celebrat es 70 in Las V egas Adejuw dejuwon celebrates Vegas

r. Franklin Adejuwon, one time commissioner for Home Affairs in Lagos State and a former Minister of State for Agriculture , clocked 70years recently and in celebration of the landmark age his children threw a party in faraway Las Vegas, United States of America to celebrate their father. At the birthday party held at the 104th floor of the famous Stratosphere tower Hotel, Viva Las Vegas were family and friends of the Adejuwons.

The Country Manager for British Airways in Nigeria, Kola Olayinka and his wife with Dr. and Dr (Mrs) Franklin Adejuwon

Dr. and Dr (Mrs.) Adejuwon flanked by Foluso Junaidu, ASP Ayo (rtd) and Alhaji Busari Muri Gbadeyonka and Chief Bisi Familugba.

Retired ASP Ayo, Michelle Adejuwon and Marea Adejuwon

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014

Loving son takes his paralysed dad to Chinese university

Next stop...

t PANT-cras: Commuters ditch their trousers to celebrate the ‘No Pants Subway Ride’ on tubes and trains around the world. A brief encounter with a fellow commuter is always possible when you are using public transport. But when travelling on the tube or train, it is not every day that you have an encounter with hundreds of briefs. This was the case today as thousands of bare-legged people around the world took part in the international ‘No Pants Subway Ride’. Scantily-clad riders in 60 sixties around the globe braved the weather and some stares from fellow commuters for the annual celebration. It started off as a prank by comedy group Improv

Everywhere in 2002, bemusing a few embarrassed commuters, but has since grown into a global phenomenon. Trains and trams in major cities from Brussels to Beijing and Sofia to Sydney were awash with bare legs and briefs on Sunday as pranksters travelled trouserless. The event began in Australia, where commuters got to cool off during the warm summer conditions by stripping down to their under garments. Commuters in London, Berlin and Hong Kong then braved public transport without trousers in the stunt, which has worldwide since its first staging in New York 12 years ago.

ing plans to kick her out of the Elysée Palace for good. According to sources close to the president, who spoke to news magazine L’Express, he has been advised to usher in ‘a bachelor presidency ’, which would be ‘an element of modernisation for the role of president’.

To the single life

achelor president’ Hollande raises a toast with Nether lands’ king as he says ‘no more first ladies in the future’. Francois Hollande today spoke for the first time about the health of his grief-stricken ex-partner, after confirming that he ‘doesn’t want’ another first lady in the Elysée palace. The French president has also been encouraged by his advisers

to begin a ‘bachelor presidency’ as Valerie Trierweiler, 48, ends her eight-day stay in hospital prompted by claims of an affair between Mr Hollande and film actress Julie Gayet, 41. His new commitment to the single life, reported in the French press, came as he made a solo official visit to the Dutch royal family. Mr Hollande said Ms Trierweiler was having a rest but otherwise ‘doing better, while mak-

Naked man holds his girlfriend hostage on top of a roof

from the roof of the quiet residential block. The man’s relatives were brought to the scene on Monday to try and talk him down but had little luck. As police and soldiers surrounded the rooftop, the half-naked kidnapper demanded a getaway car for himself and his girlfriend. Eventually police provided one and, still holding his terrified partner, the man put his jeans back on and climbed down from the roof into a city square. But as he made his way towards the car officers gave chase, managing to pull him away from his girlfriend and threw him to the ground. Still topless, he was handcuffed in front of hundreds of aked man holds his girlfriend hostage stunned onlookers on top of a roof with a meat cleaver for and led away. five hours ‘because his in-laws refused to The man now faces let them get married. Construction worker a lengthy jail term — surrounded by police and army in city of Sanya, and according to China. He took off all his clothes and forced his reports, not even his girlfriend to strip to her underwear. At one point own parents had the man, identified as a 32-year-old named Lin, approved the stripped completely naked. He held his girlfriend marriage in the first by the throat and waved the meat cleaver in the place. air as trained negotiators tried to talk him down

oving son takes his paralysed dad to Chinese university and rigs up special bed so he can stay the full term. Most people could forgive Guo Shijun if he gave up on his dream of a university education: because of his full time commitments to caring for his paralysed father and sick mother, he is spread incredibly thin. Most people would forgive him, but it is possible Shijun wouldn’t forgive himself, as instead of giving up his studies, he persuaded university officials to let his father to stay in his dorm for the full term, after he was paralysed in a building accident. Shijun still managed to get a place at a top university, and, impressed with his dedication in the face of insurmountable odds, they let him bring his father to university with him to lighten his load. To keep up his studies he paid for university by borrowing money from friends and relatives until he finished. These costs, amount to £2000 a year for tuition alone, not accounting for food, bills and the cost of care for his parents. However, despite the huge handicap to his studies, he managed to earn a scholarship to help him on his way. Talking about his experiences, Shijun said: ‘I can’t say life is easy but the only way out of the problem is through hard work so I’m not complaining. ‘I think once I graduate things will get much better.’

08 116759 759 081 6759759

The world’s most ineligible bachelor

ranian hasn’t had a wash for 60 years and smokes animal faeces (but he can whip up a mean decomposed porcupine!) Amou Haji, 80, chose this way of life after some ‘emotional setbacks’. The 80-year-old now lives in a hole near a village in southern Iran. He doesn’t wash, because he believes being clean will make him sick. As well as cleanliness, Mr Haji also has an aversion to clean food and drink. He much prefers the rotten meat of dead animals and five litres of water a day from a rusty oil can. But don’t think Mr Haji doesn’t look after himself— when he wants to look his best he uses car mirrors for grooming, The Tehran Times reported. And, when he needs a haircut, he simply burns his locks in a fire. As for clothing, he wears rags and, in the winter, a war helmet to ward off the cold . The last record of longest time going without showers belonged to a 66-year-old Indian man, Kailash Singh, who had not taken a bath over 38 years. Mr Haji claims to have beaten that.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Gusau

Haruna

Obanikoro

Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014 — 45

Wali

Akon

201 5: Jonathan’s twelve apostles President Goodluck Jonathan’s 12 ministerial nominees presented to the Senate for confirmation last Tuesday are of different sorts. Even where the nominations were inspired with 2015 in mind, the ability of the 12 men and women to deliver varies. BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, Political Editor

he 12 ministerial nominees presented to the Senate by President Goodluck Jonathan could join those remaining to form the kernel of the president’s team going into next year’s presidential election campaign. With the notable exceptions of some ministers that are already warming up for gubernatorial elections here and there, the team remaining is expected to form the campaign cabinet of the president. In choosing the twelve, the president has shown considerable political tact in drawing some very valued persons into his team. He has, nevertheless, also been flayed for sustaining his practice of drawing to the administration personalities with questions to answer on matters concerning corruption. In one or two cases, he has also shown in the opinion of many, political naivety in drawing one or two nominees that are of insignificant political strength.

The nominations are expected to fill vacancies in the cabinet that arose from the dismissal of some ministers last September following what many stakeholders perceived as the president’s anger at governors and stakeholders who nominated them into his cabinet. With the exception of the minister of sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, all the ministers nominated by seven governors that walked away from the president during the August 31, 2013 special convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP were dropped. Abdullahi was spared because about the day the announcement was made, he was shepherding Nigeria’s successful athletics queen, Blessing Okagbare who was scheduled for an appointment with the president in the second week of last September. Abdullahi, a scion of the Bukola Saraki political establishment in Kwara, was thus spared despite the loud presence of his political godfather in the anti-Jonathan campaign. Since then Mr. Abdullahi has walked a difficult rope which is about to be-

come more difficult by the determination of the Kwara PDP to expose him to fire. Addressing stakeholders of the party from the state in Abuja last Wednesday, the chairman of the caretaker committee of the party in the state, Hon. Solomon Edojah lamented what he described as the apolitical attitude of the minister. “I met with the minister, who is supposed to be doing the work I am doing now, but he told me that he is not a politician and he does not want to get himself involved in what we are doing,” Edojah said. Abdullahi’s hesitance nonetheless, many of the remaining ministers and those now nominated are expected to sharpen the political armour of the president. Gen. Mohammed Gusau, Zamfara State Undoubtedly, the biggest catch in the opinion of many is Gen. Mohammed Gusau, many times National Security Adviser to the present and past admin-

istrations. He was also briefly, a Chief of Army Staff in 1993 before the Sani Abacha intervention. Gusau is expected to take charge of the ministry of defence. However, beyond that, his presence is expected to give political capital to the deficiencies of the administration in the critical Northwest. The decision of Gusau to serve in the Jonathan cabinet would add much needed political capital to an administration that has received the flaks from several quarters and especially in the prosecution of the anti-insurgency campaign in the north. Gusau, it was, however, learnt had for some time parried entreaties from the administration to serve, but the administration’s agents were unrelenting and resorted to several channels to get to the retired spook such as traditional rulers, retired generals and foreign dignitaries. Gen. Gusau’s positives to the administration would be in the form of much needed intelligence and tactical support for the war against the insurgency in the Northeast. He would also be of help in reining in critical elements in the military who could have been tempted into instigating trouble for the political authorities. But beyond that, Gusau may be of little help in helping Jonathan on the political field, even if he desires to. Senator Musiliu Obanikoro Lagos The 2007 gubernatorial candidate of the PDP would be bringing political savvy to the administration’s efforts in capturing the Southwest. Given his capacity for grassroots mobilization, Koro as he is popularly known, would be expected to coordinate with other Southwest leaders in the difficult task of confronting the APC hold in the region. However, the appointment is coming at a very testy time for Obanikoro, given assumptions that he has aspirations to again run for the office of Lagos State governor in 2015. Asked at a press conference recently if he was aspiring, Obanikoro was ambivalent. His words and opinion of the administration were, however, largely suggestive of a candidate in the making. Should Koro rest his ambition, he would be a positive addition to Jonathan’s election war cabinet.

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201 5: Jonathan’s twelve apostles

Danagogo

to be a mobiliser, but projecting her in a state where the PDP is bleeding from all sides, and in a state where the PDP is repeatedly embarrassed in elections, is a matter of worry to some. Suggestions that Senator Isaiah Balat, a more poignant fighter would be nominated were dashed as some said that the vice-president preferred to have the former senator within his office as Special Adviser.

Continues from page 45 Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, Osun Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, the former Commissioner for Education in the Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration is a key ally of Senator Iyiola Omisore’s camp of the PDP in Osun State. That he was nominated is indicative of the influence Omisore has in the federal cabinet and it is no surprise that his associates were excited by the appointment. Adesiyan would add the advantages of his office to also help Omisore and the PDP ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Osun State. However, they would meet a match in Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Dr Tammy Danagogo, Rivers Dr Tammy Danagogo a two time Commissioner in Rivers State left the Chibuke Amaechi cabinet last year at the inception of the political crisis in Rivers State. The decision of the president not to move the ministerial slot for the SouthSouth from Rivers State to another state would count for him in two respects. It would counter suggestions by the Amaechi camp that the Jonathan administration hates Rivers State, a suggestion that has been fanned by the relocation of some oil wells from Rivers State to Bayelsa State. The appointment would also give

further visibility to agents of the president in Rivers State. The president’s concentration on Rivers is strategic, given the flow of votes to the PDP from Rivers State in the past. The PDP has almost continuously harvested 2 million votes from the state. With Amaechi now in the opposition and given the bad blood that has flowed, Dr. Danagogo, is expected to add muscle to the fearsome threats from Nyesom Wike. However, it would be over ambitious of the president’s team to believe that they would harvest the traditional two million votes given the vibrant opposition in the state now. Mrs. Lawrencia Labaran, Kaduna The nominee from Kaduna State is in the view of some, another effort by Vice-President Namadi Sambo to foster his hold over the PDP in his native Kaduna State. But how far that strategy would help the president and his team ahead of 2015 is doubtable to many critics. Though Mrs. Labran, a former national president of the influential Catholic Women Organisation, CWO is known

The decision of Gusau to serve in the Jonathan cabinet would add much needed political capital to an administration that has received the flaks from several quarters and especially in the prosecution of the anti-insurgency campaign in the north

Mr. Boni Haruna, Adamawa The former journalist cut his political teeth as a disciple of former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar. Few years after he stepped down from office in 2007, Haruna who had followed Atiku everywhere till then, decided to make an independent political identity for himself. However, few expect Haruna to cause much trouble for the APC in Adamawa State, given his lack of political organization at home. Haruna would also be dogged in the fight by his own relatively modest record of achievement in office.

Alhaji Aminu Wali, Kano Alhaji Aminu Wali, the outgoing ambassador of Nigeria to China and one of the leading figures of the PDP in the country was one of the founders of the PDP in Kano. His hold and in-

fluence in Kano PDP were over a period of time scratched away by the likes of Ghali Naaba, Dr. Rabiu Kwakwanso and Musa Gwadabe. Wali remains an important voice in Kano who many elders would listen to, and also, a man many would defer to on the simple matters of life and religion. However, his capacity to mobilize politically is really doubted in Kano where the Muhammadu Buhari phenomenon remains as feverish as ever. Wali is not expected to impact much in boosting help for the president in 2015. Hajia Jamilla Salik, Kano Hajia Salik’s capacity for organiza-

tion or mobilizing women may have endeared her to the Jonathan camp. But given the patriarchal nature of the society in Kano, Salik would be expected to do little in mobilizing valuable votes for Jonathan in 2015. Salik, a one time associate of Governor Kwankwanso during the Ibrahim Shekarau era, her bite would do little to tear away at the opposition to the PDP that is now being reinforced by the Kwankwansiya Movement. Asabe Asmau Ahmed, Niger The nomination of Hajia Ahmed reportedly at the instance of Governor Babangida Aliyu is no doubt a reflection of a renewed relationship between the governor and the presidential villa. But given the prominence of Governor Aliyu in projecting the alleged one term deal between northern governors and President Jonathan ahead of 2011, eyes would be watching to see how the Niger governor navigates his way ahead of the 2015 election. Jonathan did not win Niger in 2011, Hajia Ahmed, would impact little in turning the fortunes of the president there in 2015. Hon. Mohammed Wakil, Borno Hon. Mohammed Wakil, a lawyer and the first majority leader of the House of Representatives at the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999 has seen his influence fade over the last ten years in his native Borno State as the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP and particularly, Senator Ali Sheriff strengthened his hold on the politics of Borno. Wakil may be able to pull it for Jonathan in his ward, but his ability to turn around the fortune in the state for the president is doubtable. Dr. Khaliru Alhassan (Sokoto) It was initially assumed that Dr. Alhassan, a staff of the Sokoto State Ministry of Health was nominated by Governor Aliyu Wamakko, a development that would have shown the determination of the president to win back Wamakko from the APC. It has, however, been claimed that Alhassan may have been nominated by Sultan Sa‘ad Abubakar probably with the knowledge of Governor Wamakko. Wamakko had earlier nominated his Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Arzikia Tureta before his defection to the APC. The decision to take a nomination from the Sultan may indicate the determination of the president to develop better relations with the northern oligarchy, even if it would not turn into votes, but at least provide an open corridor for dialogue. Akon Ekanyenyi, Akwa Ibom Mrs. Ekanyenyi a seasoned teacher and one time Commissioner for Culture and Tourism during the Victor Attah regime in Akwa Ibom would do little to impact the chances of the president in Akwa Ibom where the PDP is the dominant party. She is a nominee of Governor Godswill Akpabio a fact that is reassuring given recent allegations of a chill in the relations between the governor and the first family.

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Tribute to the country man @ 48 BY FRANCIS AGBO

Governor Seriake Dickson 350 kilometres of roads have been completed across the state, 15 bridges were constructed and over 50 public buildings/ schools completed, the secretariat of the Traditional Rulers Council in Yenagoa, a modern Police Officers’ Mess, School of Tourism and

hen the literary giant, William Shakespeare opined that some people are born great, others achieve greatness, while others have greatness thrust upon them, he had the likes of the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson at heart. The governor’s odyssey in life since his birth shows that he is a naturally born great man. This is not to say there were no vicissitudes at the period of his birth and boyhood which worked to no avail to deny humanity this rare gift. On Tuesday, January 28, the Valentine Governor whom we fondly call the Country-man will clock 48 years. Having survived a lot of battles especially in the political space, one would have expected the governor to roll out the drums to celebrate with pomp but he has refused to mark the day. To the consternation of many of his aides and government officials, the governor banned congratulatory messages on his birthday and advised those who wish to do so to channel their resources to charity organizations and orphanage homes. But Governor Dickson’s pronouncement didn’t come as a surprise to me because he was simply living up to his conviction as a Countryman! Typical of the Restoration Governor, he will be on ground on Tuesday to attend to files, hold meetings and intensify his inspection of projects to ensure that they are executed in line with specifications and global standards. Governor Dickson’s 48th birthday comes up 17 days before his government’s two year anniversary which is precisely on February 14, Valentine day. In less than two years on the saddle, Governor Dickson has changed the governance culture in Bayelsa State, making fear of God, service delivery, uncommon courage, transparency and accountability the cornerstone of his administration. The multiplier effect of this philosophy is the ongoing massive transformation in all sectors. While the church in Nigeria celebrates Dickson as the only governor that promulgated Thanksgiving Law by setting aside November 2 of every year as Thanksgiving Day in Bayelsa State, not many Nigerians know that the Countryman remains the only governor in Nigeria that renders account of stewardship to the people on a monthly basis in a town hall meeting where the accruals to the state, IGR and expenditure are laid bare for public scrutiny. In the last 22 months, over

Others are the Ogbia-Nembe road, dualization of 18 roads and two outer ring roads, three new secretariat annexes, state archives, Museum, Language Centre, Governor and Deputy Governors’ office complexes. Indeed Dickson seems to be in a hurry to turn the oil

In less than two years on the saddle, Governor Dickson has changed the governance culture in Bayelsa State, making fear of God, service delivery, uncommon courage, transparency and accountability the cornerstone of his administration

Catering Management have been completed. Rehabilitation of the Glory Land Cultural Centre and the Government House Clinic among others are now completed and are being put to use. Road linking the old and new campuses of the state owned Niger Delta University at Amassoma has also been completed. Top among the ongoing projects are the airport project in Yenagoa, Commercial Cassava/ Starch Processing Factory at Ebidebri and two strategic flyovers on Isaac Boro Expressway, Yenagoa. When completed, they will be the first flyovers ever built in Bayelsa State while the Drug Mart/ Pharmaceutical Store undergoing construction is the first of its kind in Nigeria. Work on the 27km road from Igbogene to Bayelsa Palm and the expanded Elebele – Opolo and Opolo-Imiringi roads have reached advance stage.

rich Bayelsa to Dubai. This may have prompted many international figures like Reverend Jesse Jackson to now visit Yenagoa while investors throng Bayelsa State to explore the investment opportunities. Interestingly, Yenagoa, the state capital has played host to so many national and international events more than ever before. Top among them were the Jazz International Festival and most beautiful girl in Nigeria award. But as far as am concerned, the most laudable achievement of the restoration government is not the ongoing infrastructural revolution but the prevalence of social justice in Bayelsa. This was made possible because of the person of Dickson and the autonomy the judiciary enjoys in the last 20 months, as the judiciary gets its funding through first line

charge, eliminating the scenario where many Chief Judges go cap-in- hand to governors begging for funding! Born on the 28th January, 1966 in the riverine ToruOrua in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Nanaye Dickson of Orua, a descendant of the famous King Kpadia Royal House of Tarakiri Kingdom, Dickson is also a descendant of the renowned Obu warrior family of Orua whose trademark is valour, bravery and honour. Dickson attended Kolobiriowei Primary School, Toru-Orua from 1972 to 1978 where he got his First School Leaving Certificate and proceeded to Government Secondary School, ToruEbeni between 1978 and 1983 and obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC/GCE). Dickson joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1986 to raise money to further his education, because his parents could no longer cater for his schooling. He gained admission in 1988 to the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt to study Law from where he graduated with LL.B (HONS.) in 1992. He then proceeded in 1993, to earn his Bachelors of Law (B.L.HONS) from the Nigeria Law School, Lagos and was called to the Nigeria Bar the same year. He was Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1994 but withdrew his service to start legal practice in Port Harcourt where he worked with SERENA DAVID DOKUBO & CO. He was an associate solicitor from 1994 to 1995 and moved to ALUKO & OYEBODE, a prominent Law firm in Lagos, in a similar position. In 1996, he founded SERIAKE DICKSON & CO, a law firm in Port Harcourt and later Yenagoa. He was elected Pioneer Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Bayelsa State Chapter, a position he held from 1996 to 1998. In 1998 when all the bigwigs in Bayelsa were either in PDP or APP (now ANPP), Dickson chose to pitch tent with the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and was elected its chairman between 1998 and 2000 and led the party to winning all the elections in Bayelsa West Senatorial District. Indeed, Bayelsa State was the only state the party recorded such victory outside the core Yoruba speaking states. The party apparatchik rewarded him by elevating him to the post of National Legal Adviser between 2000 and 2002. He was equally elected National Legal Adviser of the

foremost Pan-Ijaw SocioCultural and Political group, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) from 2001 to 2003. He became a Member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), Nigeria Bar Association between 2004 and 2006. The crisis in the defunct AD coupled with his desire to help President Goodluck Jonathan who was deputy governor at the time to succeed the incumbent governor, Chief DSP Alamiesiegha forced Dickson to join PDP in 2005 and became the founding Secretary of Jonathan’s political group, Green Movement in 2006. Dickson was appointed the AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner for Justice of Bayelsa State in 2006 by then governor, Dr. Jonathan, following the exit of Alamiesiegha. Since the golden fish has no hiding place, Dickson was elected member, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. Dickson served as the Chairman, House Committee on Justice. He was re-elected in 2011 but resigned after he was elected governor. In appreciation of his service to his community, Dickson was conferred with the prestigious title: Olokodau of Orua Kingdom. The Tarakiri High Chief is also the Edi 1(pillar) of Ogbia Kingdom. As a lawmaker, he sponsored so many critical bills which have been passed into law and played a key role in the successes recorded by the sixth National Assembly. But what is not often remembered about Dickson and for which he has not received sufficient encomium was his role in the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill at the National Assembly where he served as Vice Chairman of the FOIB harmonization committee and his delivery of an entire senatorial district to AD in 1998 as well as his amendment of the evidence Act, the first ever since 1954.The lesson from Dickson’s story is if this man who did not see a vehicle until he was 18 years could work so hard to be governor, then there are limitless opportunities for all Bayelsans to achieve their dreams if they take advantage of the enabling environment created by the restoration government. If Dickson keeps sycophants at bay and sustains his service delivery, Bayelsa will continue to be a cynosure in Nigeria! Happy birthday my friend and boss! Agbo is Public Affairs Analyst and Media Strategist to Governor Dickson and sent in from Yenagoa via francisagbo38@gmail.com

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Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014

“The IGP wishes to assure all Nigerians, especially the family of the victims and other relevant stakeholders’ that the Police will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is done in the Ejigbo case.” The IGP, therefore, called on all Nigerians to continually partner with the Nigeria Police, particularly in the area of providing relevant information, with a promise to protect the confidentiality of all informants and whistleblowers at all times.

Gov Babatunde Fashola

Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan

IGP Mohammed Abubakar

EJIGBO WOMEN ASSAULT:

Lagos, Police tread the rough path to justice E

jigbo, one of the Local Council Development Areas, LCDA, created during the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been a haven of peace until December, last year when Women Arise for Change Initiative, a human rights group, led by its President, Dr. Joel Odumakin decided to take the bull by the horn, demanding for justice against an inhuman treatment meted to two women residing in the area. The human rights group had gone to the Lagos State House of Assembly to protest as well as submit a petition on the alleged ‘inhuman assault’ on the two women which otherwise would have been swept under the carpet. Interestingly though, after the awareness protest, public anger and condemnation heightened following the act. With nearly a year after the crime was committed, the incident has remained fresh in the people’s memory. It would be recalled that some wicked men who masqueraded as members of the vigilante group engaged to secure the Ejigbo market allegedly tortured and sodomized three women for stealing pepper last February. For the insistence of the human rights group, who brought the crime to the public domain, the culprits would have gone unpunished, and the crime swept under the carpet. When the Lagos State lawmakers watched a video clip of the incident played on a mobile phone which ran for about eight minutes, showing how the women were being tortured and pepper applied into their genitals over alleged stealing of pepper, the reaction was unimaginable. A woman, her daughter and her step-daughter were alleged to

C M Y K

have gone to a pepper shop at Central Market, Iyana Ejigbo in the night and stole some quantity of pepper before they were caught by a group of vigilante people who descended on them. It was later gathered that one of the women died from injuries sustained from the torture. The human rights group based its claim on the 1999 Constitution as amended; in Chapter 4, section 34, which states clearly that "every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person and accordingly, no person should be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment”. Consequently, the House led by the Speaker, Rt Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji, promptly, set up an Adhoc Committee, headed by Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Dr. Ajibayo Adeyeye, to investigate the matter and report back to the House with the view of resolving it and bringing perpetrators to book. The committee, later convened a stakeholders’ meeting, that comprised of representatives of Women Arise for Change Initiative, led by Odumakin herself; civil society groups; the Police; Community Development Committee, CDC, Ejigbo branch; representatives of Ejigbo LCDA; market leaders in Ejigbo, amongst others. Also present at the meeting was Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh and Hon. Segun Olulade. Adeyeye, during the stakeholders meeting, described the incident as “unacceptable and barbaric” At the end of the meeting, the State House of Assembly, announced a million naira cash reward for the committee and N250, 000 to anyone who could give a lead and vital information to the committee on the two women who were assaulted in Ejigbo area of Lagos.

“Nobody is here to witch-hunt or castigate anyone but how to unravel the mystery. Anybody that gives information that leads to the arrest of the perpetrators of the heinous act shall be given N1million and personally I will give the sum of N250,000 from my own pocket.” Adeyeye promised. After weeks of painstaking investigation in collaboration with Ejigbo council, led by Chairman Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan,, Oba Moruf Ojoola, Ojon of Ejigbo, (traditional ruler), chairmen of Community Development Areas, CDAs, market leaders, youth groups, the suspects were last weekend, apprehended and later handed over to the police for further prosecution. Before, the arrest, it was learnt that the state police command in order to show seriousness on the issue, redeployed the Divisional Police Office, DPO, in the area

OLASUNKANMI AKONI & BENJAMIN NJOKU

suspects were caught and later turned in to the police. After initial interrogation by the police, the innocents were let go while the police zeroed down on the prime suspects. They are currently in the custody of the Federal police for thorough investigations before prosecution proper. The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, had also stepped into the issue when he ordered force headquarters to take over investigations into the assault. Consequently, crack detectives from the Force Criminal Investigations Department have been deployed from Force Annex to commence fresh investigation into the ugly incident. Confirming the IG’s directive in a statement, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba said: “In a decisive resolve geared towards ensuring the speedy

A woman, her daughter and her step daughter were alleged to have gone to a pepper shop at Central Market, Iyana Ejigbo in the black night and stole certain amount of pepper before they were caught by a group of young vigilante who descended on them

and posted a new officer with the mandate to produce the culprits for prosecution. The issue also generated a lot of heat in the community as tension grew over the whereabout of the suspects. Nobody seemed to be coming up with useful information. As part of measures to quicken the arrest of the suspects, IyanaEjigbo Central Market, the market where the crime was committed, was subsequently, shut down indefinitely. With the effort of the traditional ruler and leadership of CDAs, a number of

delivery of justice, promoting the rule of law, discouraging impunity and defending the fundamental human rights of Nigerians, particularly the alleged victims of the Ejigbo pepper torture, the IGP, MD Abubakar, has ordered an immediate takeover of the case. “Also, all suspect(s) and all exhibits related to the matter are to be taken over from the Lagos State Police Command by a crack team of detectives from the Federal SARS, (Lagos Annex), Force Criminal Investigation Department.

The IGP also commended the media, members of the human rights community, and all members of the public whose patriotism, advocacy and concern led to the exposure of the atrocious crime. “Their constructive partnership with the Police has had a salutary effect on the ongoing investigation so far.” the IGP stated. Similarly, worried by the ugly incident and with determination to get justice, National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, also, said it would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all persons involved in the alleged torture of the two woman were made to account for their actions. The Executive Secretary of NHRC, Professor Ben Angwe, through the Chief Press Officer, Mrs. Fatimah Muhammad, confirmed that the commission had also stepped into the matter, hence, was expecting a report on the investigations going on in order to ensure the enforcement of the rights of the victims. According to Angwe, the commission will “invoke its full powers in ensuring that those who perpetrated the dastardly act are brought to justice,” adding that the commission under its mandate “will not only bark, but bite at those who take interest in violating the rights of others.” He said that the Lagos State office of the commission, had been directed to work with the police and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the matter was properly and promptly investigated and alleged culprits prosecuted. Also, the Lagos State House of Assembly had directed the state Ministry of Justice, Office of the Public Defender, OPD, to take over the case. This came even as the House fulfilled its promise of a N1.25million reward to individuals, who provide information that would lead to apprehension of culprits involved in the assault. The Speaker of Lagos Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji at the presentation of the N1.25million reward money to the deserving informants, directed that the case be immediately handed over to OPD, specifically, to be handled by the Director, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi. He condemned the assault, saying, “it is ungodly and dehumanising. In fact, I could not believe that such dastardly act happened in our own Lagos, especially in the 21st century. “The Lagos State House of Assembly will do everything within its power to defend the human rights of citizens as stipulated in 1999 Constitution as amended. “No Nigerian, no matter his offence deserves to be treated in this manner. This is Lagos, the centre of Excellence, we will not condone any act of man in-humanity to man,” he

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Land gift: YSFON commends Katsina state Governor Y OUTH Sports Federation of Nigeria, YSFON has commended Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema for pledging a plot of land each to the players of the state’s team that won the just concluded YSFON organized national U-18 President Goodluck Jonathan Peace Cup. Team Katsina last Saturday at the Katsina Township Stadium defeated their Kaduna state counterparts 1-0 to lift the trophy which prompted the Governor to announce a plot of land to each of the 20-man team and five officials

including sponsoring the team to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as Peace ambassadors. According to a statement from the organization signed by its national President, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the Federation noted that the Governor by his magnanimity has shown that he is an apostle of grassroots football development even as it appealed to the Governors of Kaduna and Abia States whose teams came second and third respectively in the competition to emulate him and reward their players. Meanwhile, Gawuna

has also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for deeming it fit to appoint Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin as the new Chief of Naval Staff describing him as a perfect gentle man who has what it takes to reposition the Navy. While congratulating the new Naval Chief on his appointment, he stated that YSFON is looking forward to a cordial relationship with the Navy with an appeal that he should not relent in sponsoring this year’s edition of the annual YSFON organized Chief of Naval Staff competition.

AFN dangles cash at athletes to break national records I

T is taking Nigerian athletes home and abroad a great effort it seems, to shatter some of the national records that have been in existence for a decade and beyond. And in 2014 the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN officials are eager to see these records, particularly in the men’s events, erased. To this end, technical director of the AFN, Navy Commodore Omatsheye Nesiama disclosed that more financial incentives have been introduced into this year’s AFN Golden League to spur the athletes into a high gear of performances. For instance, in the Golden League the top six finishers will earn an enhanced prize starting from N40,000 down to N5,000 for both male and female. This is aside the N2m jackpot money, which is on the table. There is also a N50,000 bonus for any athlete that breaks a national record in the course of the Golden League. “We expect the athletes to produce high performances this year. The Golden League is focused on good performances and the athletes will score points to be eligible for the rewards at stake. Those who meet the Commonwealth Games

standard that we have set will get bonus 10 points,” said Commodore Nesiama. He added that this year’s Golden League will witness an improvement in terms of organization. This unlike in the previous years when events where at the whim of the AFN president. “The details of each Golden League event will be made public, 10 days before any leg of the league is held. This is to enable clubs/ states familiarize themselves with these details to enable them plan their attendance accordingly.” “Payments of prize monies will be made to coaches/managers of the athletes that are communicated to the AFN. The events for this years include 100/200m, 400m, 1500m, 3000m/ Steeplechase, 400m hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put, 4x100m and 4x400m for the women, while the men will compete in 100/200m, 400m, 5,000m, 110m hurdles, triple jump, high jump, javelin, shot put, 4x100m and 4x100m. Some of the national records that will be gaping at the athletes this season include Chioma Ajunwa’s 7.12m women long jump set since 1996. Ajayi Agbebaku’s 17.26m in the men’s triple jump set in

1983, Williams Erese’s 13.42 seconds set in the 110 hurdles since 2003. Others are Olusoji Fasuba’s 9.85 seconds men 100m, Francis Obikwelu’s 200m mark 19.84 seconds. The men’s 400m record of 44.17 held by Innocent Egbunike since 1987, there is also Henry Amike’s 48.10 second in the 400m hurdles. Chima Ugwu’s 20.26m shot put established in the year 2000, Pius Bazighe’s 1999 javelin record of 81.08m and indeed others waiting for the athletes to crack and whether they can take a shot at these marks and surpass will be an interesting development. Commodore Nesiama stated that while the Golden League is on, priority will be given to athletes who have potential to medals at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. “We are going to focus on medal potential athletes in our process of team selection,” he said. The standards set are for athletes to qualify for inclusion into the last phase of selection for the Commonwealth Games team. Some of the medal potential athletes are currently in camp in Abuja in preparation for the Games scheduled to hold from July 23 to Aug. 3 in Scotland

ELECTION.... The Crescent Sports Club recently elected officers to run its affairs. Elected are from left Felix Aghalu (Welfare), Virgil Ogwa (PRO), Sam Ohio, (Vice President), Barrister Percy Okojie (President), Andrew Ehighalua (Secretary), Barrister Idemudia Osifo (Fin. Sec.) and Osazuwa Ehiorobo (Soc. Sec.).

Indian Language School wins swimming competition

NDIAN Language School in Ilupeju, Lagos State has emerged the winner of a Blue Sea Sports Company sponsored swimming championship recently concluded at the University of Lagos Sports Centre. For its effort, the school, which is winning the championship for the third time have qualified to participate in the Manchester/Stockpint Sports Fiesta holding in Manchester, United Kingdom from April 12 to 20, 2014. According to

Henry Nwakunor, Managing Director of Infinity Sports International whose company partners with Blue Sea Sports as organisers of the swimming championship, “based on their outstanding performance, the Indian Language School’s basketball and football teams have extended an invitation to also participate in the Manchester/Stockpint Sports Fiesta.” He disclosed that apart from the champions as

well as Brlliant Child College and Country Club Swimming team which placed second and third respectively, other participants included International School, University of Lagos, Woman Society of Lagos, Auicena School Ikeja and Little Saints School, Ilupeju. A representative of Armani Auto Works Limited, Mr Seyi Abiodun presented the overall winners’ trophy to the Indian Language School, Mr. Nwakunor said.

Dashing Development... Nigerian male athletes struggling to make international standards. AFN officials want them to click in 2014

Kenya elite athletes plan Olympic boycott

OME of Kenya’s top athletes have threatened to stop representing their nation at international competitions like the Olympics over new tax laws. Wesley Korir, an MP and former Boston marathon winner, said athletes would end up paying tax twice as they already pay tax on their winnings abroad. Addressing a forum of athletes in Eldoret, he said athletes only pocket about 15% of their earnings. The move could also see many athletes changing nationality, he said. Kenya is home to some of the world’s best middle and long distance runners.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) wants prize-winning athletes to pay the top rate of tax - 30% - on their earnings from this month. But addressing the meeting at the University of Eldoret grounds in Kenya’s Rift Valley, Mr Korir said the authorities should see the athletes as an asset. “The breakdown for taxation and deductions is as follows: 30 to 35% for the country of origin, 15% for the agent, 10% for the manager, and now the KRA wants to add salt to injury by slapping a 30% tax of that amount,” the Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. “On behalf of

the athletes, I say no - we say no taxation,” he said to applause, a Kenyan TV report shows. “When these athletes will stop going to the track to run, in the Olympics or the World Championships, that’s when the importance of an athlete will be felt.” Other countries tended to reward their athletes - and these punitive measures could have long-reaching consequences, the MP said. “Qatar pays Olympic medal in dollars… we are sounding the alarm that KRA may trigger a massive athletes’ exodus,” Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper quoted him as saying.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014 —53

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54 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2014

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BY JACOB AJOM, Cape Town

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 25, 2014 — 55

CAF moves to save CHAN

throughout the duration of the ITH effect from the 2014 tournament. edition of the African NaThe Confederation of African tions Championship, CHAN, Football introduced the rule in league competitions in the host a bid to ensure the local footcountries will be suspended

Commonwealth Games Trials: Local athletes eager to demystify foreign pros S

OME home-based athletes preparing for the 2014 Commonwealth Games during the week expressed their determination to surpass the foreign-based during the trials for the Games. The Commonwealth Games will hold from July 23 to Aug. 2 in Glasgow, Scotland. The athletes and coach told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from their Abuja Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Academy camp that they were ready to demystify the foreign-based. NAN quotes the athletes and coach as saying in separate interviews that “the foreignbased athletes are accorded undue ratings.” Folake Odu, a 200m national sprinter, said that individual and group commitment of the athletes in camp would make the national trials very competitive. “We can’t be playing the second fiddle at every event while the U.S. and Europe-based athletes continue to lord it over us. It is an agreed convention and not a conspiracy for all hands be on deck and erase the erroneous belief that they are better than us,” Odu said. According to Odu, who won silver at the Eko 2012 National Sports Festival in Lagos, the home-based athletes were upbeat for a change. Another sprinter, Adetola Aliyu, who is also hopeful of qualifying for Commonwealth Games, said the local athletes were ready for an unprecedented outing at the trials. “With the new skills we are acquiring now, it will be an uphill task for the foreign-based athletes to supplant us at the All Nigeria/ Cross River Open Athletics Championships,” Aliyu said.

African Champion, Ajoke Odumosu (m) taking the lead during a championship in Calabar. She and other foreign-based athletes have been told by their home-based colleagues to expect upsets from them during the Commonwealth Games trials later in the year

Falconets set to add to South Africa’s misery Continued from back page incidentally hosts of the 2014 edition later in the year. With the huge deficit, Basetsana as the South Africans are nicknamed have a tall mountain to climb as far as realizing their dream of an appearance at the global women’s youth football tourney is concerned. Nigeria also boasts the continent’s best performance in the history of the competition, second-place at the 2010 edition in Germany, but South African goalie Kaylin Swart has refused to give-up on their chances when

Go for victory, Mark tells Super Eagles stamp our authority and a Continued from back page Senator Mark in a goodwill message to the Super Eagles commended them for their feat so far in the tournament and urged them to step up their game and not to allow their north African opponents penetrate their vital area. The Senate President in his words of encouragement to the players and officials of Super Eagles said, ‘’So far, you have done well. But in the remaining matches, you should step up the game and ensure that your opponents have no room into your vital areas. Your victory is important to the nation to firmly

ball federations and indeed, soccer fans in such countries concentrate on the CHAN tournament which is CAF’s second most important fiesta, second only to the African Nations Cup. CAF Secretary General, Hicham El Aurouni told the media that while the continental football ruling body cannot stop all national leagues in the continent for the tournament, the league in the host country would have to be stopped until after the three-week fiesta. Perhaps, the more fundamental innovation by CAF, as they make effort to improve the standard of the tournament is the directive to all football federations to suspend any club that refuses to release players for their national team going for the tournament. Recalling the case of the South African Football Association which was refused players by Super Sport United and Orlando Pirates, El Aurouni said, ‘’henceforth, clubs will be forced to release players or risk suspension.’’ The CAF Executive also informed that having received FIFA’s endorsement, the tournament will now be used to rank national teams standing in the monthly Coca Cola FIFA ranking.

clear leader in soccer in Africa”. He enjoined the players to win the trophy not just for “our national pride” but as a vital birthday gift to Coach Stephen Keshi who turned 52 on Thursday. According to him, “The nation is eagerly waiting and we are in prayers for your success in South Africa. The Federal government will do its part of the bargain in terms of your adequate welfare.” Mark also specifically commended the Super Eagles coach and his crew for transforming the national team to be a pride for the country, wishing Keshi a happy and a memorable birthday just as he reminded him of the need to keep the flag flying.

the two sides face-off today at the Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg. “We are looking to come back in the match on Saturday. We have to look past the experience we had in Nigeria and come back in

the second leg. We really want to go out there and do the nation and ourselves proud,” Swart told the South African Football Association website. However, Nigeria coach, Peter

Dedevbo is looking to add to the misery of South Africans after the Super Eagles sent hosts Bafana Bafana crushing out of the ongoing Orange African Nations Championships (CHAN).

Kienka dreams big for Nigerian tennis players

HE Director, International Tennis Academy (ITA), Godwin Kienka, has said that he was confident the massive investment in junior tennis would soon produce world-class tennis players. Kienka told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the structured development programme for junior championships in the country, would begin to yield positive results over the next five years. He noted that the country’s success at the recently held African Junior Tennis Championships in Abuja was an indication that great players could be discovered from within. “If we must get it right, we must work toward a firm foundation, which is what we are trying to achieve in the country. We have discovered exceptional talents at the junior championships that have the capacity to be the best they can be anywhere in the world. By the next five years, these players will be doing well because the pedestal we’ve taken is developmental,” he said. The ITA director said that the projection for the development of

tennis in the country was a longterm approach that would lead to the discovery of outstanding players.

“I believe that we are getting a lot of things right at the junior level, so that we won’t live in regrets in the long run at the highest level”.

Nadal zooms into final, dismisses Federer •As Li Na battles Cibulkova for women’s final

AFAEL Nadal powered past Roger Federer to reach the Australian Open final and maintain his dominance over the 17time Grand Slam champion. The world number one came through 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 6-3 and goes on to face Federer’s compatriot, Stanislas Wawrinka, for the title tomorrow. And the Spaniard, 27, will be a strong favourite to claim his 14th Slam, and become only the third man to win all four majors at least twice. “I played well,” he said. “I played probably my best match of the tournament, so I’m very, very, very happy that I played my best match in the semi-final against Roger.” Nadal was in brilliant form in his 33rd meeting with Federer, overcoming a blister on his racquet hand and, if anything, growing stronger as the match progressed. Meanwhile,

China’s Li Na is ready to handle the pressure of being the favourite when she takes on Dominika Cibulkova in the Australian Open final today. Twice a runner-up in Melbourne, and a major winner at the 2011 French Open, Li faces a Grand Slam final debutante in Slovakia’s Cibulkova. “I think I’m ready,” said the 31year-old. “It’s the same for her. I think we both should be ready. After six matches, everyone has more confidence to prepare for the final,” she said.

SUPER 4 RESULTS Enyimba Bayelsa Utd

3 0

Kano Pillars Warri Wolves

0 2

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 25, 2014

U-20 football: Falconets set to add to South Africa’s misery

IGERIA U-20 women’s team, Falco nets, appear on course to make an unprecedented seventh appearance at the global championships, FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

CHAN Q-Final: Eagles ready to fly over Morocco

Continues on page 55

HE Super Eagles will today face, perhaps, their stiffest test since they began campaigning in the 3rd African Nations Championship, CHAN going on in South Africa. The Eagles will take on the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the quarter final of the tournament. Coach Stephen Keshi has told his boys to go out there and enjoy their game, and not to allow any pressure bear on them. He knows the psychology of his boys and believes the best way to charge them and at the same time bring out the best in them is to avoid undue tension. ’’I tell them to express themselves in match situations the same way they play for me in training,’’ Keshi told Saturday Vanguard sports in Cape Town, while previewing the match. He said he sees the tie like any other match and insisted that his wards are ready, physically and mentally. ’’We are ready for the Moroccans and I bet they too will be ready for us. We know they are a good team if not they won’t get to this stage,’’ he said. Goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim is bound to maintain his shirt, Francis Benjamin who has been sidelined since the tie against Mali is likely to stage a return to the defence line which will miss the services of experienced Solomon Kwambe who is under suspension. Azubuike Egwuekwe and Kunle Odunlami will complete the defensive fortress of the Eagles. In the central midfield, Keshi would bank on his high-rising Kano Pillars Rabiu Ali, Bright

CELEBRATION... Super Eagles players celebrate with diminutive Ejike Uzoenyi (No. 7) after scoring a goal against South Africa. Will they have a repeat of this in today’s quarter final match against Morocco? Eseme and Abdullahi Shehu. Petite striker Ejike Uzoenyi will lead the attack. He will combine well with Ifeanyi Ede and Gbolahan Salami. Recuperating Ikenna Paul admitted, ‘’the match will be tough but with the pep talk from the big boss and the efforts we have put into training so far, we are bound to carry the day.’’

FA Cup matches Bournemouth Birmingham Bolton Man City S’hampton Southend Sunderland

v v v v v v v

Liverpool Swansea Cardiff Wartford Yeovil Hull Kidderminster

CHAN fixtures Morocco Mali

v v

They have a 6-0 advantage ahead of today’s clash with their South African counterparts, in the second leg clash of the final round of the continental qualifiers. The Falconets remain the only African side to have participated at every edition of the biennial championship since its inception in 2002 (in Canada), and appear poised to stage a return to Canada,

Nigeria Zimbabwe

4 pm 7.30 pm

1.45 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm

Go for victory, Mark tells Super Eagles A S the Super Eagles con front the Atlas Lions of Morocco today in the quarter finals of the ongoing Cup of ACROSS 1.Ghanaian Capital City (5) 4.Flying Eagles (U-20) Striker, Olarewaju (6) 7.L.G.A in Kaduna State (4) 8.Minister of State for Niger Delta Affair, Hajiya Zaindo (6) 9.L.G.A. In Imo State (8) 10.Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Alh. Aminu Bello (6) 12.ElKanemi Warriors’ Coach, Ifeanyi (8) 16.National Co-ordinator, Joint Administration and Matriculations Board (JAMB), Prof. Dibu (8) 20.Former Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Idongesi (6) 21.3SC Shooting Stars Manager, Ajibade (8) 22.Burkina Faso “ S t a l l i o n s ” S t r i k e r, Moumouni (6) 23.L.G.A in Abia State (4) 24.Zambian Capital City (6) 25.Nigerian Currency (6) DOWN 1.Lagos State Commissioner

Nations, CHAN, taking place in South Africa, the Senate President, David Mark has urged the Nigerian team to put

in their best in the encounter, reports Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke

Continues on page 55

for Planning & Urban Development, Mr. Toyin (6) 2.France & Newcastle United Midfielder, Yohann (6) 3.Brazilian Premiership Club Side (6) 4.Former Secretary to the Government of Ondo State, Mr. Isaacs (8) 5.L.G.A in Yobe State (8) 6.State in Nigeria Known as “The Fountain of Knowledge”? (5) 16.South African Currency (4) 13.Senate President, Mr. David (4) 14.L.G.A in Kano State (8) 15.Super Eagles left fullback, Godfrey (8) 17.Former US’ President, Mr. Ronald (6) 18.L.G.A in Kebbi State (6) 19.Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Joseph (6) 20.World Tennis Number One Seed, Rafael (5)

SOLUTION on page 15

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