Tribunal sacks Wike

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10TH MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THE LATE STELLA OBASANJO

L-R: Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Oluwamuyiwa Obasanjo (Stella’s son).

From left: Mr John Momoh, Chairman ,Channels Television; and wife, Sola; Mrs Yemisi Abebe ; and Mr John Abebe, head of Stella Obasanjo’s family.

Photos by Wunmi Akinola

10 years after, Stella’s memory remains fresh in my mind — OBJ DAUD OLATUNJI, ABEOKUTA

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Senator Ben Bruce Murray, Chairman, Silverbird Television, with Mrs Toyin Saraki, wife of Senate President

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that 10 years after his wife, Stella, died, her memory remained fresh in his mind. Obasanjo said his family and that of his late wife, Abebe, missed Stella. The former First

Lady died on October 23, 2005 after a failed surgery in a Spanish hospital. The 10th memorial service took place at the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta.

In his remarks, the former President, while acknowledging that much had been said of Stella in

his book, “My Watch”, disclosed that he missed her late wife dearly. He said: “I wrote a little bit about her, there would be an occasion where I will talk about her.

“I think it suffices to say that we missed her dearly on both divides: the Obasanjo family and Adebe family. Her memory will remain fresh in my heart “. Speaking on behalf

of the Abebe family, Mr. John Abebe relived fond memories of Mrs Obasanjo, corroborating Obasanjo that the late First Lady would be missed. In his tribute, Senator Ben Bruce said Stella was an unusual and woman who contributed her quota to humanity. The preacher at the occasion, Pastor Yussuf Obaje, in his sermon, titled, “Keep her memory alive”, described Stella as an epitome of womanhood, urging the family to continue to keep her legacy alive. Oni who spoke with newsmen at the reception said his close relationship with the Abebe family gave him the opportunity to understand late Mrs Obasanjo whose pedigree could not be overemphasized. Notable among the personalities present were Senate President Bukola Saraki, who was represented by his wife, Toyin; former governors of Osun and Cross Rivers States, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Donald Duke; Ogun state governor, Sen. Ibikunke Amosun; Senator Daisy Danjuma; Mr Funso Kupolokun; and Ms Evelyn Oputu.

Tribunal sacks Wike, orders fresh election in Rivers

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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ivers State Elections Pe tition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, yesterday, nullified the April 11 election that brought Governor Nyesom Wike to power.

The three-man tribunal, headed by Justice Suleiman Ambrosa, upheld the petition filed against the election by

the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate in the state, Hon. Dakuku Peterside.

Peterside hailed the verdict as a victory for democracy in Nigeria while Wike and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vowed to appeal.

On its part, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will decide what to do after receiving

THOUGHT FOR TODAY YOU ARE A KING

By Richard Eromonsele

The lion is reputed to be the king of the jungle.Yet, in terms of sheer size, it is not the biggest in the jungle.In the jungle, you have the mighty elephant and other bigger animals.The point being made here, is that success has nothing to do with physical size.If size is the requirement for success, the elephant would have been the king of the jungle.All achievements depends largely on the nature and nuture of our thought.Whether you are physically big or small,it's immaterial.Basically, you are what you think.In spite of it's little size,the lion is the king of the jungle.Conversely,regardless of your size,you are a king.Go out and express yourself.

a copy of the judgment.

The tribunal maintained that the petitioners successfully proved that the governorship poll was characterised by violence and corrupt practices.

“We are satisfied with evidence of the petitioners to the effect that substantial number of the electorate in Rivers State were disenfranchised as a result of massive and widespread irregularities,”it said.

“We are further convinced that the election was characterised by corrupt practices.

Consequently, we hold that the second respondent (Wike) was not validly elected. We hereby order the first respondent (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in Rivers State”.

The tribunal contended that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, did not conduct the election in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act and its guidelines for the poll.

It noted that whereas the electoral body had, in a statement, prior to the election, stressed that Card Reader Machines must be used to accredit voters, evidence adduced before it showed that INEC officials resorted to manual accreditation.

The tribunal observed that INEC’s directive, that election should be postponed in any polling unit where the Card Reader Machine malfunctioned, was not adhered to.

“Guidelines that were issued by INEC for the conduct of the election were clear and unambiguous to the effect that where Card Reader fails, poll should be postponed rather than resort to manual accreditation. It was not for anybody to go outside the guidelines,”it stated.

“We have also considered the potency of the evidence tendered by petitioners’ witnesses and we are satisfied that the petitioners succeeded in proving that the election was characterised by wide spread

irregularities, violence and ballot snatching.

“We are satisfied that the petitioners were able to discharge the burden of proof placed upon them by the law.

The petitioners were able to prove that electorates were disenfranchised”.

The tribunal held that witnesses brought by both INEC and Wike “were full of inconsistencies”.

It observed that most of th e witnesses called by the electoral body, during cross-examination, admitted that where the Card Reader Machines failed, they resorted to manual accreditation.

The tribunal said that it found out that in some polling units, number of voters exceeded the number of those accredited with the Card Reader.

Similarly, the tribunal noted that witnesses called by Wike, despite their evidence that the election was peaceful, when they were shown INEC document containing the guideline that election should be postponed wherever the Card Reader failed, declined to read it.

“While some claimed that they could not see, others insisted that they would not read documents that were presented to them because they were not the author”, it said.

“We were not impressed by the conduct of the respondents’ witnesses upon cross examination by the petitioners’ counsel.

“We are in agreement with counsel to the petitioners that the evidence of respondents’ witnesses were unreliable and untenable.

“In view of this, the respondents have failed to convince this court on the credibility of their claim that election substantially took place in Rivers State on April 11, 2015”.

Peterside, yesterday, hailed the judgment, describing as a victory for the democracy in Nigeria, governor Wike and

the PDP, have vowed to appeal against it.

The first petitioner in the case and APC candidate in the election said: “The tribunal has put a nail in the coffin of impunity and executive rascality in Rivers State. The judiciary has restored confidence of Rivers people as they will now have the opportunity to cast their votes to determine who will rule them.

“We cannot be more happier than today. We believe that this is a victory for the entire country. The APC is confident and ready for the battle ahead.

As we speak today, Wike is not the governor of Rivers State.

If he chooses to go to Supreme Court we will definitely meet him there. However, I don’t see any court reversing the judgment of this tribunal”.

Meanwhile, counsel to the PDP in the petition, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, maintained that Wike would remain in office until the appeal processes are exhausted.

He said that the tribunal’s reliance on card reader accreditation to nullify the governorship election when evidence was led by both the respondents and the petitioners, that both Card Reader and manual accreditation were used for the election, needed to be tested at the Court of Appeal.

Uche said it was shocking that less than 24 hours after lawyers on all sides submitted nine written addresses and documents, the tribunal sent notice that judgment would be delivered yesterday morning.

According to him, the tribunal was aware that the Supreme Court judgment on the jurisdiction of the tribunal outside of Rivers State would be delivered on Tuesday.

He said despite that fact that the tribunal had 7 days to deliver its judgment, it

chose to do so in less than two days.

Death of impunity – APC

Also yesterday, APC described the verdict as a deadly body blow to impunity and hooliganism.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the judgement has shown clearly that the era of impunity and hooliganism is over, and that the only way for elections to have legitimacy is for them to be free, fair and credible. ‘’What has come across from this judgement is that there is no shortcut to free, fair and credible elections. This is part of the wind of change that is blowing across the land and touching all arms of government under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari”, the statement said. ‘’Elections are about the expression of the will of the people, and they must always be free to express themselves, irrespective of what some desperate politicians may feel’’.

Judgment cannot stand — PDP But the national leadership of the PDP viewed the judgment from the standpoint of bias against Wike, saying the verdict and that of Akwa Ibom State will not stand.

It said the verdicts of the Rivers and Akwa Ibom tribunals were designed to manipulate the wishes of the people, adding that it would resist “criminal acts to steal the states originally won by it”, using the tribunals.

In a statement, yesterday, by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party noted that it had before Continues on page

PAGE 6 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015

Jonathan launches foundation Buhari, IBB, Abdulsalami, next year •Writes African leaders, others

BY JIDE AJANI

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ORMER President Goodluck Jonathan is to unveil the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation next year.

As part of preparations for this, the former Nigerian leader has already sent out scores of letters to world leaders informing them of his determination to be part of the process for the attainment of global development, security, peace, as well as make the world a better place.

It is expected that the Foundation will take off in the third quarter of next year.

Contrary to the impression created last week that President Jonathan sought the exclusive help of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Sunday Vanguard learnt that the letter written to the latter was the same written to Nigeria’s serving and former heads of state.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, along with former heads of State - General Abdulsalami Abubakar, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Ernest Shonekan - all got copies of the same letter written to Obasanjo.

Part of the letter reads:

“Now well-rested, I am back to work to continue to serve and dedicate my life to promoting peace and prosperity for all…

“Furthermore, I will be devoting the rest of my life and energy to making the world a better place. I am currently finalizing efforts to set up The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation. More details on the work of the Foundation will be available at the launch, which I believe should take place by the 3rd quarter of 2016.”

The same letter was sent to the following: -All serving African President’s and heads of Government and key global world leaders -All Nigerian former Heads of State and vice President’s -Diplomatic missions in Nigeria addressed to their ambassadors -Many international agencies including World Bank, EU UNDP -Key multinationals and some prominent CSO and prominent politicians Sunday Vanguard learnt that whereas some letters are still being dispatched, acknowledgements are being received from those who have already received copies of theirs.

A sample of the letter Dear ........

On Friday, 29th May, 2015; I completed my term of office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and successfully handed over government to President Muhammadu Buhari. I immediately proceeded on a long deserved break; I have enjoyed a delightful time with my family and close friends.

Now, well rested, I am back to work; to continue to serve and dedicate my life to promoting peace and prosperity for all. I have set up an office where I can be reached and members of my staff are poised to serve you and respond to your enquiries at all times.

Furthermore, I will be devoting the rest of my life and energy to making the world a better place. I am currently finalising efforts to set up The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.

More details on the work of the foundation will be available at the launch, which I believe should take place by the 3rd quarter of 2016.

As I start this new phase of my life of renewed service to humanity, I look forward to your continuous support, counsel and cooperation.

Please do accept the assurance of my esteemed regards.

•Former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; former governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and Professor Wole Soyinka at the inauguration of Wole Soyinka Foundation held at June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, yesterday. Photo By: Wunmi Akinola

Cultural, religious tourism best alternative bring more financial gain to to oil — Gani Adams communities and the country

By Kelechukwu Iruoma

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H E National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC and the Chief Promoter, Olokun Festival, Otunba Gani Adams, says cultural and religious tourism is a better alternative to oil for revenue generation.

Otunba Adams spoke at the grand finale of Olokun Fesrival held at Suntan Beach, Badagry, Lagos.

He said, “cultural and reli-

gious tourism can augment and provide alternative revenue source for our ailing economy. As you all know, our country, Nigeria is blessed with abundant resources. Parts of these resources are our religious and cultural festivals.

They are capable of drawing tourists which in turn would translate to attracting the foreign exchange required for economic development and growth.

“Organization of religious and cultural activities will

Tribunal sacks Wike, orders fresh election in Rivers Continued from page 5 now raised the alarm of plots by the APC-led government to use the judiciary and security agencies to reverse the victory of the PDP in Rivers, Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Taraba and Abia states.

Metuh’s statement read: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declares the verdict of the River State governorship election tribunal, sitting in Abuja, which showed clear bias against Governor Nyesom Wike and the PDP, as completely bizarre, unacceptable and part of the script by the APC to manipulate the will of the people.

“Indications to this spurious judgment had months ago been hinted to the PDP, which, in turn, alerted the nation and the international community of the heinous plot by the APC government, to use the judiciary and various security agencies to reverse the victory of the PDP in Rivers, Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Taraba and Abia states.

“We invite Nigerians and the international community to recall various reprehensible steps taken by the APC government that culminated in this ruling as well as the ridiculous Wednesday’s verdict of the Akwa-Ibom state governorship election tribunal, also sitting in Abuja: The curious and controversial relocation of the elections tribunals from their states to Abuja without any justification; the constant juggling of judicial officers and members of governorship elections tribunal in PDP states, especially, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom

states. Constant harassment of judicial and electoral officers involved in the governorship election cases in these state, using agencies of government, particularly, the Directorate of State Services (DSS); Constant threats, intimidation and coercing of witnesses against the PDP in the tribunals; and the recent mass transfer of security operatives, especially the DSS and police personnel that actually participated in the conduct of the elections in Rivers and AkwaIbom, ostensibly to frustrate the course of genuine evidences in the process.”

We are waiting for verdict copy – INEC

In its reaction, INEC’s Deputy Director in charge of Publicity, Nick Dazang, told Sunday Vanguard on telephone, yesterday, the electoral body will decide on what to do after receiving a copy of the judgment.

He said that as a law abiding organization, the electoral body will comply with the verdict unless the respondent do challenged it at a higher court.

“We just heard of the tribunal judgment and, since today is Saturday, I know that in the coming week, we will get a copy of the judgment and it is only after that that we can decide on what to do after studying it. But one thing is that as a law abiding organization, INEC will ad-

here to the ruling unless the respondents appeal to a higher court.”

Lower court will not overrule a superior court — Wike

Wike, himself, speaking on the verdict, last night, said he had never seen where a lower court will overrule a superior .

The Rivers governor, who spoke in Port Harcourt, said, as a lawyer, he was not trained to berate court judgements. He, however, recalled that Card Reader was one of the issues that came up in court in a case between two parties in Lagos sometime ago.

He assured Rivers people that justice will prevail at the end of the day, stressing that the man-

date willingly given to him will never be stolen.

While urging the people to remain calm, Wike said the gang-up against the state in Abuja will not upturn his mandate.

His words: “All the gang-up in Abuja is against Rivers State, but we must protect the interest of this state. If they like, let them use all the power they have, but their power cannot be superior than God’s power..

“So, I want to urge you to be calm and be peaceful; I am still the governor of Rivers State.

Our lawyers are going on appeal. There is also the Supreme Court. We believe that we have a good case. I have never seen where a lower court will overrule a superior court like the Court of Appeal. “

Côte d’Ivoire becomes 11th member of AFC

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ôte d’Ivoire has become the newest member of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the leading international finance institution for financing infrastructure projects in Africa.

This announcement comes at a time of stability and strong economic progress for Côte d’Ivoire, whose $1bn Eurobond was well received by investors earlier this year. The Ivorian government has expressed its determination to continue improving the country’s infrastructure in order to support its successful economic development. AFC is committed to proactively financing and managing the development of key infrastructure projects which will have a positive impact on the lives of Africans all over the continent. To date the Corporation has invested over

US$2.5 billion in projects across 24 African countries and in a wide range of sectors including power, telecommunications, transport and logistics, natural resources and heavy industries. The

construction of the Henri Konan Bedie Bridge, a landmark $365 million public private partnership, was one of the first large-scale infrastructure development projects to be undertaken by President

Ouattara’s government following the cessation of civil war in 2011.

AFC was the mandated lead arranger for the mezzanine tranche of the financing and provided loan facilities and equity investments amounting to $55 million.

FG petitioned over Oba-Nnewi-Okigwe road project

BY LEKAN BILESANMI

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ommunities living along the reconstruction of Oba-Nnewi-Okigwe federal highway, now abandoned, have petitioned the Federal Government on the state of the highway, urging it to be declared a disaster zone. ccording to one of the community leaders and President General of Amichi Development Union, Sir

Bernard Aforka, the road was graded in April, 2015, shortly after the last general elections in an attempt to have the reconstruction re-awarded, the first major work to be carried out there since after the Nigerian civil war. But it was abandoned by the contractor shortly after.

He noted that the contractor has evacuated his equipment from site. Aforka described the road as a very important and strategic link to Anambra, Imo,

Abia, Enugu and all the states of the North, South-South and South-West. He lamented that the road has never been given any form of attention since after the civil war pointing out that it was reason his newly inaugurated executive ranked it along with provision of scholarships to indigent students, strengthening of the community vigilante and reconciliation of all aggrieved citizens as top priority.

at large. Our cultural festivals can also be used as tools of cultural diplomacy. Our religious festivals given their wide acceptance and practice in American are capable of improving Nigeria’s respect and influence in the world.”

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director General, Nigerian Tourism Development Council, NTDC, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, stated that if Nigeria must meet the demands of investors, she must focus more on tourism, describing it as the greatest employer of labour.

She said, “Nigeria has advantage over so many other countries to benefit from tourism. We have the advantage of population. Tourism contributes 10 per cent to the global GDP but as at now, Nigeria is not fully benefiting from tourism like other countries. ‘’For instance, 4,333,000 tourists visited Nigeria in 2013, which contributed about four per cent to our GDP, while tourism contributes 17.7 per cent to the GDP of Gambia; 13 per cent to Egypt; 12 per cent to Kenya; 11.9 per cent to Mexico; 9 per cent to South Africa, and six per cent to Cuba.

“I need to emphasise that Nigeria has the best of ingredients of tourism. We have fascinating tourist sites, enviable cultural festivals, good weather and hospitable people,” she said.

Annual Harvest

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HE annual har vest thanksgiving service of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Orile Iganmu Coker holds today October 25, 2015 with masses by 6am, 8am and 10am respectively.

The climax of the ceremony will be immediately after the 10am mass with bazaar sales. The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Joel Okojie will be the host while Catholic Charismatic Renewal are the Chief hose of this year ’s harvest.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 7

News Extra

Undergraduate hacked to death two months to wedding •Alleged debtor, four other suspects arrested

By Lucky Nwanekwu & Jennifer Fregene

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RAGEDY struck at Olorunfunmi Street in Oworo area of Lagos, on Thursday, following the murder of a 32- yearold man, Lawal Afolabi Kunbi, allegedly by a debtor, in a bid to evade repayment.

Kunbi, a business administration student of Lagos State Polytechnic, Isolo, reportedly received a telephone call from a private security guard, identified simply as Aliu, who lives on same street with him, to come and collect N32,000 owed him.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the deceased, who owned a provision store, sold his motorcycle to Aliu, in order to raise money to pay his school fees, about a month ago.

However , after receiving the call, Kunbi dashed out of his shop to Aliu’s apartment, adjacent to his shop, obviously optimistic he would pay his school fees after all.

The unexpected But, unknown to Kunbi, who was said to be preparing for his wedding in December, Aliu allegedly had a sinister motive up their sleeves.

The bridegroom to be simply disappeared, forcing members of his family to conduct a search for him through out Thursday night.

The search party found the lifeless body of Kunbi around 9am on Friday behind Aliu’s compound, throwing the entire community into mourning. A source said the victim’s five fingers had been chopped off, while marks of violence were apparent all over his body. There also a rope tied round his neck, suggesting that he could have been strangled.

The question on everyone’s lip was, who could have killed Kumbi?

Suspects arrested Meanwhile, five suspects have been arrested by the police in connection with the incident. One of the suspects is Aliu.

Early that Friday, Aliu was allegedly seen fetching water from Kunbi’s compound. The number of times he went to fetch water reportedly arouse the curiosity of residents, necessitating the brave ones to ask what he was doing with the unusual volume of water he was fetching. Not satisfied with his explanation, some of the residents, it was learnt, forced their way into his apartment,where they allegedly discovered, to their shock, blood stains all over the place. The suspect was said to have been using the water to clean up the blood stains in his apartment, apparently to cover up his track. Also, shattered louvres were reportedly

seen all over the apartment. Consequently, the residents descended on Aliu.

An eye witness told Sunday Vanguard: “When we searched through Kunbi’s telephone, which he left while he rushed to answer the call of death last night (Thursday), we discovered that the last caller was Aliu. When confronted at first, Aliu denied seeing him, insisting rather that a search team be raised to look for him.

What gave him away was the blood stain that was trailed, right from where Kunbi’s body was dumped, to Aliu’s apartment. We also saw a white cloth stained with blood, on the floor and the key of Kunbi’s shop in Aliu’s apartment.

When he discovered that the game was up, he pleaded that we should not kill him and disclosed that the plan to kill Kunbi was hatched by his friends”.

We searched for victim – Landlady Owner of the building, where Kunbi resided, who also spoke to Sunday Vanguard anonymously, said ‘’I leased out one of my shops to Kunbi two years ago. He was a jolly good fellow and full of wisdom. That was why I always made out time to advise him about life.

However, one thing about him was that he kept secrets. Perhaps if he had told one about this, we would have mediated on the payment.

“That fateful night, I sent my daughter to go and lock the gate, only for her to come back to say Kunbi’s shop was still opened at that odd hour. I decided to come down myself to lock the gate and still met the shop opened. I was surprised because it was very much unlike him .

He never kept late nights nor lived a frivolous life.

I decided to go downstairs to lock the gate myself , with the intention that he would call when he returned. A boy told me he left the shop at about 8pm and, when I asked where he went to, he could not provide answer. I decided to call him on the phone, only to discover it was ringing right in his shop.

Two hours later, I called the boy who said he saw Kunbi going out, to find out if he was back but he said no. At that moment, I knew something was wrong and informed my husband.

To my shock, after my morning devotion, I went out only to see a

•Late Lawal Afolabi Kunbi crowd watching a lifeless body that was covered with nylon. On further enquiry, it was the body of Kunbi!”.

Mob At about 1pm, that Friday, some policemen, from Alonge Oworo Division, arrived the scene with the suspects, who

•Deceased mother were taken to the apartment where the heinous crime was allegedly committed. All of a sudden, a crowd that had gathered descended on the suspects, to the amazement of the policemen, attempting to carry out a jungle justice. But the move was stopped by the

firing of tear gas by the policemen.

Spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation was still ongoing.

PAGE 8—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015 boutiques selling designer under wear. Even if those imprisoned must wear prison-designed uppers, they can at least have Pierre Cardin under short! And eat steak and mushroom gravy.

Today, what interests me is the myth of “Party

The myth of party supremacy in Nigerian politics(1) “Party is the madness of many for the gain of a few.”

Jonathan Swift, 1667-1745.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p 181). his Sunday, October 18, 2015, of one national newspaper had as it’s lead story: “Jonathan’s minister tried to return N50bn through me – elRufai”.

A sub-lead story said “Exminister turns against associates, petitions EFCC.” On the same page we were told that “EFCC invites Akpabio again, grills him for nine hours.”

There are enough materials in those two stories alone on which at least six to ten weekly columns can be written. The most obvious story concerns the changing fortunes of people who were once regarded as untouchables.

They were the closest to the seat of power. History is replete with evidence that

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the closer you are to the seat of power the more vulnerable you are when power changes hands. But, Nigerians never learn from history. That accounts for the catastrophe that awaits many people close to Aso Rock until May 29, 2015.

Some, undoubtedly, are already wishing they were not so close. Their “Baba” had started distancing himself by condemning his “son” for being too weak to fight corruption. Clever chap!

Permit me another diversion and we will go into today’s sermon from UniJankara.

Those protesting against the citing of a prison in the South East should contact me for advice. They should not reject it. Instead they should only ask Buhari to make it a V.I.P prison – a billionaire’s jail house. With that, all sorts of vendors can establish everything from top class restaurants to

Sufferhead must go, Jeffahead must come"— Fela!

"I just want to do my part and leave...Not for what they're going to remember you for, but for what you believe in as a man."-Fela ove him or loathe him, you simply cannot ignore Fela. He was a tour de force, a verbal tornado.

He spoke to millions and so eloquently through his music about the daily struggles of the ordinary man and that is why 20 years after his death, his music remains relevant as it was, when he first performed them. Everyone had their favourite. My son’s favourite is Zombie and mine is Yellow fever.

Well, to be honest with you, teacher don’t teach me nonsense, comes very close.

He was born in 1938 in Abeokuta to a very wellknown socially and politically active Christian family. A son of a clergyman and an educationalist, though not a church going man but he was spiritual in his own way, he said;"To be spiritual is not by praying and going to church. Spiritualism is the understanding of the universe so that it can be a better place to live in."

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His Mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (FRK) was a political activist,the lioness of Lisabi, she was a commanding voice to speak out for women's rights, earning women the right to vote and earning herself the Lenin Peace prize in the early sixties. On April 30, 1974, Fela’s compound was raided by scores of military men,they raided the property,threw his mother from the first floor and she broke her leg and sustained other injuries and Fela was arrested for possession of marijuana.

Released on bail, he returned to his compound and re-named it "Kalakuta Republic. As to how he came by Kalakuta republic:"...when I was first put in jail,the name of my prison cell was 'Kalakuta' meaning rascality, and Republic? I wanted to identify myself with someone who didn't agree with the Federal Republic of Nigeria...I was in nonagreement." That is, Fela always dances to his own drum and plot his own path, never one to follow like a lemming, he will stick his head out while others cower

Supremacy” as it applies to Nigeria. As usual, our politicians have colluded, and most of us, for reasons best known to us, have allowed ourselves to be bamboozled into believing that there is something called “Party Supremacy” in the country.

Unfortunately, none of the political parties we had established since 1999 can be said to have practiced it.

Instead, they have all proved Swift right by quickly turning the “lunacy” of millions to the benefit of a few – especially the party leaders.

Just as the vendor delivered the papers , one former organizer for the PDP in the area was passing by. He was the “bagman” who brought the money to be shared (on two occasions in dollars) with the rest of the party faithful.

Like others, he now has very little cash in any currency. He read the lead in fright, no, not Fela. Fela was known and loved the world over for his brand of music, Afro beat and he was given the key to the freedom of cities in Europe.

He was irreverent and unapologetic and this often gets him into trouble with the military government and he paid dearly for it. In February of 1977, about 1,000 members of the military went to Kalakuta Republic, blazed through the electric fence, set fire, brutally beat everyone in sight, raped any number of the many women who lived there, and threw Fela's 77 year old mother out of a window (which eventually resulted in her death). The whole of Kalakuta Republic was burned to the ground.

He wailed in his tribute to his mother in his song :“they kill my mama”, and pointed the finger of blame at the army. It was apparent how much he loved his mother and how pained he was at his loss of a woman, who had done so much for Nigeria and Nigerians, especially women’s rights to vote. His father penned the best National anthem that Nigeria will ever have; “Nigeria we hail thee” well, to me it is. If you were looking for patriotic Nigerian embodiment, this family was it. Fela definitely was very patriotic and he believed that Africans should be proud of who they are. When asked about why he came up with Afro-beat. Fela said: “With my music, I create change...I am using my music as a weapon." His music was a weapon for

story and held his head. “God punish these people, so they were stealing so much money while we get killed for peanuts”, he exclaimed. It was my turn to remind him that he had been warned that most of them were being used by selfish individuals.

What is true of the PDP is also true of all the political parties in Nigeria. When the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, announced at the Nigerian Economic Summit meeting on October 13, 2015, that “You find out that the elite,

state (land, “privatization” of public enterprises, concessions granted to a favoured few, huge tax exemptions, appointments to lucrative positions, land acquisition for “public purposes which are later sold to private individuals after being developed with public funds etc) are presented as part of the political party ’s CHANGE AGENDA as determined by the party leadership. Nobody knows this better than

As usual, our politicians have colluded, and most of us, for reasons best known to us, have allowed ourselves to be bamboozled into believing that there is something called “Party Supremacy” in the country

whether from the SouthWest, North-West or wherever, are willing to collaborate in stealing the resources of the state”, he revealed more than he intended. And some of it might be self-indicting. In Nigeria and in most states, the major elite group had been the political elite.

Osinbajo gained prominence by serving in the Lagos State elite group since 1999. Is he telling us something we don’t know? For me, definitely not.

Invariably, the collusion to steal the resources of the

Osinbajo because he was close to the decisionmaking process of the party which was a glorified one-man show.

No decision could be made by all the other “leaders” present if one particular person was absent. Even the presence of the “Chairman” and other executives of the party counted for nothing. The quorum was not formed until their “Lord and master ” is around.

Conversely, a quorum is

change and a consciousness of the struggles of many Nigerians but it is also resonant with other people who struggle all over the world. He was determined to use his music to prick the oppressors’ consciousness and to bring about change.

He said:"A lutta continua...a lutta continua, no! It must not continue. The struggle must STOP!” . He was proud of who he was and in Yellow fever , he went to town on those who bleached their black skin and he did not spare them as he described

harsh but all said in truth, yet so sublime. No one was spared from Fela’s brand of tongue-lashing, if he feels you deserve it ,he will dish it hot,like in 1979 hit, International Thief Thief. Wherever, he goes and so does controversy, it follows hand in hand with Fela not one without the other so much so, when he married 27 wives in one day and years later he divorced all of them in April 1986, after his release from Maiduguri prison.

The reasons why Fela crosses all the borders of tribes, religion and age is his use of a lingua franca that unites us: the Pidgin English. He said of pidgin English; “Broken English has been completely broken into the African way of talking, our rhythm, our intonation.” That is Fela’s appeal the way he appeals to everyone who knows and is in the struggle,whatever the struggle was , he always strikes the right key and reaches out to the ordinary person who, on listening to his music is drawn to the message.

Here was a rebel with a cause and he knew it;” "A radical is he who has no sense...fights without reason...I have a reason. I am authentic. Yes, that's what I am." And that is the appeal of Fela. He tells it as it is and he damns the consequence.

Of the looters of the public purse, he describes them so well .like only

Everything I did wrongly is an experience...to be honest and truthful in all endeavours is an experience, not a regret

the process and the aftermath side effects of skin bleaching. He said:” "Bleaching of the body to look lighter is immoral." And the humour and the derision he felt for black people who bleached their skin and how it looks,he shames them and called them as yeye thing and ugly thing,he left you with no doubt that he called out those with dark skin who resort in making their skin lighter, it is both funny and

formed if only “OGA” is present – all decisions he makes are binding on others. So much for “Party Supremacy” in AD/AC/ ACN/ APC in Lagos State since 1999.

I worked closely with the Buhari campaign in 2011; and Prince Tony Momoh, who was Chariman of CPC is my witness. There too, “Party Supremacy” amounted to what three or four people decide. The biggest voice was, of course, that of Buhari. Let me finish where I started – with the PDP. When the PDP, prodded by Obasanjo, in 2003, made State Governors the party leaders in their states, they made states’ party executives redundant. All the other parties followed that example. Thus, in every state “Governors Supremacy” reigned – it is civilian autocracy masquerading as democratic politics…

DON’T GO TO LONDON: WARNING TO EX-JONATHAN PEOPLE. “If you are looking for trouble; you have come to the right place.”

That was the sign in front of a rough and tumble bar in Kansas City in the days of America’s Wild Wild West – where a guy could receive a bullet in the gut before his drink is served.

Jonathan’s people should avoid Britain like the plague – according to a reliable source in Britain.

The list is looooooong!!

Fela can:"The government dey steal o!...when you call dem thief now, e be like title, e go say 'so what, I'm a thief'. E go dey chop dey go; him belle dey swell, him neck dey double like Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji ( na him 'hole our money ). The new way dem dey steal for Nigeria now...na story, no be title...we call am 'C.A.C.M.L.S.N.H.N.N.N.F.S'.

Na him be; Chop And Clean Mouth Like Say Nothin' Happen Na New Name For Stealing!"

Fela was straight and frank and in this days of political correctness, he won’t win prizes but Fela would not have cared, his message was not for those whose ears and eyes were closed;"I don't tell lies against anybody. That's why I always win all my wars." Twenty years after his death,many of what he sang about still rings true today as the day he first performed his messages, his was not merely songs, his was a political statement,a social message and often a war cry, they shot the messenger so many times but they could not kill his message.

He was always looking ahead and into the future ;"I want peace. Happiness.

Not only for myself, for everybody." that was Fela,always inclusive whether you liked it or not.

He was very generous.

Asked what he would like his legacy to be;"Everything I did wrongly is an experience...to be honest and truthful in all endeavours is an experience, not a regret."

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 9

EFCC and the Army begin heart-warming probes

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xactly one week ago when I was leaving Nigeria for Switzerland to attend an international conference on “news media development and sustainability in Africa”, I had imagined that my absence from the country for this period might hinder my search for a good article of public interest for this column. I was proved wrong because through the help of the internet, I was able to find today ’s topic with some ease; special thanks to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Army which I hear have instituted 2 probes that are no doubt worth welcoming.

While the EFFC has reportedly begun a probe into the 2014 Immigration recruitment scam which took the lives of some citizens, the Army was said to have reopened the case of their officials alleged to have been involved in election malpractices

during the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections of 2014. Both probes are significant as they are likely to unravel serious issues that the last government swept under the carpet-a habit which made many citizens buy into the change agenda of the then opposition party.

Thus it was heartwarming to learn from the media that the hitherto untouchable ex-Minister of Interior, Abba Moro was summoned and has been grilled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, over the 2014 ill-fated recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service which claimed many lives across several recruitment centres in the country.

Moro was reportedly taken into EFCC custody last Monday in the Abuja office of the anti-graft agency to discuss how he managed the recruitment exercise in which over 700,000 applicants paid N1000 each to write a test for an employment slot of PhD,Depar tment of Philosophy, University of Lagos 08116759758 opuruiche2000@yahoo.com

The University of Lagos...in deed and in truth!

A

bout three years ago, if I am not mistaken, former President Goodluck Jonathan announced the intention of his government to change the name of the great University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University as a mark of honour for late Chief M.K.O. Abiola. Although some diehard supporters of the late politician welcomed Jonathan's announcement as a posthumous official recognition well deserved

by Abiola, most staff, students and alumni of the university condemned the decision. I was one of those who protested against the proposed name change for several reasons. My fundamental argument was that the University of Lagos (or Unilag) is an established brand both in Nigeria and beyond.

Therefore, the change of name proposed by the former President would be detrimental to the brand value of the institution that has been built over the decades, which makes it the primus inter pares among Nigerian universities. Consistent brand loyalty matters a lot: it encapsulates the uniqueness and best selling points of that which an established brand like Unilag represents. The negative response of stakeholders to the proposed change was so overwhelming that the federal government had to

drop the idea - and all the controversy it generated eventually dissipated.

Since then, despite some occasional hiccups due largely to the inclement environment in which the university operates, the institution's management team, led by the urbane hard working ViceChancellor, Professor Rahamon A. Bello, has been unrelenting in its efforts to improve teaching, learning, and facilities throughout the campus.

The welfare of staff and students, in addition to the maintenance of peace and security within the university community, is also receiving attention from the university authorities.

The relative calm and tranquillity of the university was recently disrupted by certain events which have been deliberately exaggerated and distorted by a section of the media, especially the ubiquitous and often irritating social media. The incidents include protests by disgruntled parents and candidates seeking admission into u n d e r g r a d u a t e programmes of the university triggered by rumours about high cut-off marks, disruptions by nonacademic unions over Earned Allowances that the university management had purportedly refused to pay to their members, alleged rape of an eighteen year old female admission seeker by a certain Mr.

just 4,000. He was reportedly quizzed again last Thursday. The first sign that the EFCC recognizes as a disservice the cover-up of the scandal by government which should not be allowed to last long was observed in September when David Parradang, who was in office as Comptroller-General of Immigration, during the botched recruitment exercise was interrogated by the Agency. Parradang had earlier been removed from office by President

If the probe is well handled and those found culpable are sanctioned, it would discourage abuse of office in that service Muhammadu Buhari in August The second cheering news has to do with a report that the Nigerian Army has set up a high-powered board of inquiry to probe alleged malpractices by its personnel in the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states in 2014. The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Afeez Akinfolarin Baruwa, the accidental electrocution of an A c c o u n t i n g undergraduate, Miss Oluchi Anekwe, and protests by students living in the hostels because of bedbugs in their mattresses.

We can conveniently ignore the protests concerning cut-off marks and Earned Allowances because they were based on misinformation and desperation. The others raise serious issues that must be examined critically by all stakeholders in the university, especially students, lecturers, the management, parents, guardians and the federal government.

The first incident we shall discuss is the reported rape of a female admission seeker by Mr. Baruwa on July 23, 2015 in Faculty of Business Administration (Annex) Room 8. Unfortunately, the matter was blown out of proportion by the media because oftentimes journalists sensationalise events to boost patronage of the media outfits they are working for. Indeed, the wild hyperbolic stories in the social media could have done serious damage to the reputation of my great alma mater were it not for the fact that that reputation was built on solid foundation. For example, it was alleged that Mr. Baruwa is a lecturer in the Department of Accounting and that sexual harassment of female students is rampant in the university. Of course, for those who derive neurotic satisfaction in sensationalism, it is unnecessary to wait for the outcome of thorough investigation that would separate facts from fiction before reaching negative

Sani Usman, was quoted to have said that the panel was also mandated to extend the probe to cover allegations of misconduct against Army personnel in all the formations and units of the Army in the last general elections and other operations in the country.

This is a step in the right direction as the allegations were weighty and generally believed to be true by many Nigerians. It was alleged that an audio recording provided by a Captain in the 32nd Artillery Brigade stationed in Ekiti State, revealed that some top officials of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) planned and successfully rigged the gubernatorial elections in Ekiti State, and plotted a similar scenario in Osun in 2014. The said Captain who the media say has since fled the country recorded the conversation on 20th June 2014 when he accompanied his Commanding Officer, a Brigadier to the meeting held at Spotless Hotel in Ado-Ekiti. Thus, the probe is overdue considering that the audio recording disclosed the names of the Captain, his Commanding Officer and all the PDP top officials allegedly involved in the plot.

It is commendable that both the Army and the EFCC probes have at last seen the light of the day. It is hoped that now that both bodies have taken the right

step to do the needful, they would not allow interested forces to derail the probes.

Being a civil matter, the immigration exercise, would probably interest more people. Although the senate of the 7th Assembly waded into the matter its report was never released making it appear that those who swindled the young Nigerians to death were exceedingly powerful.

In fact, even the presidential directive that the blood money of N1000 collected from the young job seekers should be returned was ignored.

Rather, a Presidential Committee to Assist in Immigration Recruitment was constituted on 26th March, 2014 as if the Service had suddenly become incapable of recruiting its own staff? Well, the EFCC can now investigate what happened to the over N700million naira realized as only N45million was rumoured to have been declared. Again if the probe is well handled and those found culpable are sanctioned, it would discourage abuse of office in that service. For example, it would probably bring to an end the practice whereby the supervising Minister of Interior and his boards often impose on the service, spurious promotion of officers over and above by their superiors without proven evidence of competence or any justifiable reasons. No one

needed to be told that as a regimented environment, that would produce indiscipline and disaffection.

On its part, the Army probe would assist the service to restrict itself to purely military functions instead of usurping police routine duties. Even if our military got involved in the last general election because as experts in security matters, its officers saw the urgent need to so act, the illegality of the action is quite clear now bearing in mind that a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, had before the election, restrained the Federal Government from deploying soldiers for the general elections. It is also instructive that the Court of Appeal in Abuja made a similar pronouncement that based on the provisions of the law; the military had no role to play in the electoral process, adding that whoever deployed the military during the election in Ekiti State had breached the law. It is against this background that we commend the Army for seeking, in its own words “to prevent future unprofessional conduct by officers and men in the performance of their constitutional roles while strengthening Nigerian Army ’s support to democratic values and structures in Nigeria.”

Bravo to EFCC and the Army.

conclusions.

But instead of making hasty statements on the Baruwa case that might eventually prove to be inaccurate, as some impatient journalists would have wanted, the university, as an institution that values its reputation and the need for justice to all, instituted

hurt a fly, not to talk of raping someone - if, indeed, he actually committed the crime. Of course, appearance can be deceptive; a wolf sometimes camouflages its true colour with sheep's clothing. Interestingly, Baruwa is not a stranger to the family of the girl he allegedly raped: in fact, there is information that he brought her to campus that day from Iyana Ipaja.

I know the university does not tolerate sexual harassment in any form at all. That is why the management has put measures in place to curb the menace. These include educative and informative programmes to sensitise students on issues relating to sexual harassment, love, life and sex; a proactive Counselling Unit which relates with students on issues of serious concern to them; widespread opportunities and avenues for students to drop their complaints without necessarily revealing their identities; and stiff penalties for anyone found guilty of sexual misconduct. Because of the university's zero-tolerance for sexual harassment or sexual violence in whatever form, some members of staff found guilty of these offences have been dismissed from the university. On the specific case of Mr. Baruwa, the university's legal team is following up on the case to ensure that justice is meted out appropriately, while management will commence disciplinary action against Dr. Oluwatunji Dakare, the lecturer in whose office the alleged rape took place.

The Vice-Chancellor and his team must be commended for their proactive unrelenting efforts to rid the university of sexual predators and

monsters. From what I know, University of Lagos has one of the lowest rates of sexual misconduct among universities in Nigeria, despite its sizeable demography and cosmopolitan location that makes it the cynosure of all eyes, including the good, the bad, and the downright despicable.

Rape and other forms of sexual misbehaviour and violence are global phenomena that must be confronted head-on by civilised human beings everywhere. Unfortunately, in religion-intoxicated societies like Nigeria, the problem is usually looked at principally from an unscientific religious point of view.

To really understand and effectively tackle sexual aberration of any kind, it is futile to consult The Bible, The Koran or any other religious text because the scriptures contain superstitious unscientific worldviews and prescriptions of ancient peoples that engender pseudo or phantom solutions to human existential problems.

Moreover, the psychological taproot of rape and other warped expressions of human sexuality are largely traceable to the antiquated, unhealthy, silly, love-destroying ideas about, and attitudes towards human sexuality fostered by religion.

Mystification and sacramentalisation of sex, together with taboo morality and artificial ignorance regarding sexuality in its various manifestations encouraged by parents and self-styled "guardians of morals," tend to produce in children grotesque and indecent attitude towards sex.

The psychological taproot of rape and other warped expressions of human sexuality are largely traceable to the antiquated, unhealthy, silly, lovedestroying ideas about, and attitudes towards human sexuality fostered by religion a three-member panel comprising the Dean of Student Affairs and two Associate Professors (a female and male) to look into the matter. The panel established that Mr. Baruwa never lectured in the Accounting department or in any other department in the Faculty of Business Administration. Rather, he was a student of the Distance Learning Institute (DLI), Unilag, where he got his first degree; he later earned an M.Sc in Marketing. Subsequently, he was engaged by the DLI as a project supervisor and invigilator for its residential programme in the 2012/2013 and 2013/ 2014 academic sessions.

Mr. Baruwa, according to those who have met him personally, looks cool and calm, someone who cannot

To be continued

PAGE 10— SUNDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015

...All about the North

Snakes

everwhere on the Plateau!

•Traumatising deaths of 20 bitten by mambas, cobras, vipers •How flood washed reptiles into homes — Residents •Survivors relieve deadly encounter

S

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG, JOS

nakes bites, especially in the central and southern zones of Plateau State, are not new, though while some residents rever some species of snakes, others actually hunt them for meat.

The snakes, often seen on rocky areas and grasses, bite; mostly farmers have had reason to visit the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, Comprehensive Health Centre, Zamko in Langtang North local government area or traditional homes where snake bites can be treated.

These cases had not really been a cause of concern as people bitten have always accessed treatment, but the recent case where some communities in Kanke, Kanam and Langtang North local government areas have been invaded by snakes have left residents worried.

About 20 people have reportedly lost their lives as a result of snake bites while many others are currently receiving treatment in Zamko as well as traditional homes in the area.

For instance, Lur community, in Kanke Local government area, has been invaded by snakes, mostly black mambas and carpet vipers, as a result of flooding that affected the area.

The snakes were believed to have been washed out into farmlands and residential areas and, in the last three weeks, the

centre has been receiving new cases of snake bites on daily basis.

The victims include children as little as three years old, teenagers and adults who received the venom of the deadly reptiles and mostly bitten on the legs.

Survivors told Sunday Vanguard their stories with a call on government to come to their aid by fumigating the areas and providing drugs for treatment.

Village Head of Lur, Baba Ritda James, said, “It is alarming the manner the snakes invade the community.

Snakes like vipers are discovered right in houses. We think they were washed out of their holes”.

Victor Ojia, the father of a three-year-old boy, bitten by a cobra in the village, said, “My son came back to the house from where he went to play and complained that something was wrong with his right leg. We did not take it serious until the next day when he woke up and the leg was swollen and we knew a snake bit him. We rushed him to hospital. He was bitten by a black cobra; thank God the situation is getting better.”

However, some medical personnel in the Zamko Health Centre, Sarah Joel and Peter Nanlong, lamented the situation, saying there was need for urgent action to be taken to curb the situation.

Joel noted, “This issue of snake bite is actually a very serious one. We are creating awareness so that people will know and we need all the necessary help and urgently too because the people at the grassroots are actually suffering because of this situation.”

Nanlong, a pharmacist, added, “On a bad day, we see about 20 patients; some days, 10. Only God knows where the snakes are being washed out from to wreak havoc in the communities.

We are appealing to government to come to our aid and do whatever it takes to rid the communities of these reptiles.”

Meanwhile, the member representing Pankshin/ Kanke/Kanam in the House of Representatives, Timothy Golu, whose constituents are affected and the Management Committee Chairman of Langtang North local government, Dan Dul, appealed to the Federal Government to come to the aid of the locals.

Golu, who confirmed the situation, said, out of the over 50 persons affected, some had died while others, in critical conditions, are on admission in hospitals and traditional snake treating homes in the state.

He added that 13 of the victims were at JUTH Comprehensive Centre,

It is alarming the manner the snakes invade the community.

Snakes like vipers are discovered right in houses. We think they were washed out of their holes

Zamko while 20 others were in traditional healers’ treatment homes, and seven in herbalists’ centres.

He said, “Some have even been treated and discharged, but a woman at my place, who has been treated and discharged, still has pus gushing from the bitten spot and we have advised her to return to hospital for fresh checks and we have the fear that something worse may result from the wound if not properly treated.”

Golu stressed that the situation was “very scary and pathetic”, adding that the snakes were washed into the communities by flood.

“As the flood pushed them from the overflown tributaries of River Benue, some snakes climbed trees, others entered holes while some just held unto any available straw and some later entered residences and farms where they have been wreaking havoc”, the lawmaker said.

“The commonest species were the black mamba, carpet viper and cobra, and most victims usually depend on luck to survive.”

He urged the Federal and Plateau State Governments to treat the snake invasion as a national concern and give it immediate response while urging residents to be vigilant and protect themselves from the reptiles.

SUNDAY

The thriving hard drug trade in Abuja

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

T

he Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) may need to intensify its effort at ridding Abuja of hard drugs that is now being sold in every nook and cranny of the city.

There has been an increase in drugs and substance abuse nationwide especially amongst teenagers and young adults aged with no exception.

World Health Organization (WHO) describes drugs and substance abuse as “the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs”.

It also refers to a condition in which a person consumes the substance in quantities or with procedures which are not approved or monitored medically.

Substance and drugs abuse encompasses the use of “moodaltering or psycho-active drugs; illicit drugs - narcotics; stimulants; depressants (sedatives); hallucinogens; cannabis; glues and paints, substance abuse often includes problems with impulse control and impulsive behaviour”.

They either stimulate or depress the central nervous system and produce sedative, stimulants, hallucinogenic, exhilarative, brain dysfunctional physical and psychological disorders on an individual The twist to the sale of hard drugs in Abuja is that it has gone beyond the era when peddlers carried out their trade with fear.

Small shop owners have been introduced into the business.

Customers openly visit the shops, Sunday Vanguard investigation revealed One wrap of marijuana, it was found, is sold between N20 and N50, depending on the area of the nation’s capital city.

Codeine syrup, which ordinarily should be sold to patients based on doctors’ prescription is now sold by owners of small shops, popularly referred to as kiosks. It was unclear how the shop owners get their supply, but they readily have the products available for any customer who discreetly walks into their shops to buy. Just recently, a 34-year-old man was arrested by the police in Kubwa for allegedly selling Codeine and other hard drugs to residents of the satellite town.

The suspect, identified as Kelechi, posed as a patent medicine dealer.

He was apprehended with two of his customers while dispensing the

Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 11

drugs to the customers, mostly teenagers, in his shop located at Kukwaba area.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that nemesis caught up with him when one of his customers, a teenager who succumbed to pressure from his father, revealed the identity of the (suspected) drug dealer.

The source added that after showing the father the shop, the father alerted the police who immediately visited the shop and arrested the suspect.

“Two of the police officers in mufti entered the shop, pretending they were there to buy drugs and, as soon as he brought out the drugs, they got him arrested together with two of his customers.”

A carved out red light zone in the heart of Kubwa district, popularly referred to as Woman Boku, could compete with the Soho London red light district, an area inhabited by commercial sex workers, pimps, drug dealers, bars, and distinct night crawlers, in the drug game.

Woman Boku won its popularity owing to the criminal activities carried out there.

A report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on drug activities in the FCT over a fiveyear period, 2010. - 2014, revealed seized 31,614.58kg of narcotic

drugs and 475 suspects prosecuted.

The NBS report indicated that 2013 recorded the highest number of drugs seized.

In that year, NDLEA confiscated 13,622kg of narcotic drugs, which was higher than 3,807.71kg seized in 2011.

The report further showed that in 2012 and 2014, 5,094.30kg and 6,440.20kg of illegal drugs were seized, respectively.

There is cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, Indian hemp and a few others which bear criminal tags and as such banned from open sale and consumption. But no one will ever consider an ordinary cough syrup like Benylin or lizard faeces, inhaling the sting from sock away as among substances categorized as ‘hard drug’.

Those lizards, captured alive, are kept in cages, just like poultry farms and cattle ranches.

They’re fed daily and their dung collected, dried and kept.

The users then blend the dung and rap it in small papers for use. While some users inhale the blended dung, others smoke it like marijuana. The intoxicating effect of the dung is believed to be 50 percent higher

Two of the police officers in mufti entered the shop, pretending they were there to buy drugs and, as soon as he brought out the drugs, they got him arrested together with two of his customers

Killing of Taraba monarch in Mecca stampede sparks trouble

BY JOHN MKOM, JALINGO.

Z

ing local government area was the most peaceful among the 16 local government areas of Taraba State until the news of the death of the Kpanti Zing, the paramount ruler of the chiefdom, Abbas Ibrahim, who died in Mecca, was announced.

The Kpanti Zing is one of the first class chiefs in Taraba. He is also the head of third class chiefs and other local chiefs in Zing local government area of the state.

Ibrahim was the 6th Kpati Zing and spent 19 years on the throne before his demise in Mecca. The monarch had led Taraba pilgrims as the Amiru Hajj of Taraba. Ibrahim was among those who lost their lives in the stampede that occurred during the Hajj in Mecca. When the news of the death filtered into the palace, Zing was thrown into

mourning. As tradition demands, the processes of picking the successor commenced as soon as the news of the death broke. A tussle ensued between Christians and Muslims in the Ibrahim family on who should occupy the throne.

There were three contenders: Alhaji Tumba Ibrahim, Bala Ibrahim and Imam Ibrahim.

Earlier when the governor of Taraba, Darius Ishaku, visited the palace of Kpanti Zing to condole with the family over the death of the ruler, he cautioned the kingmakers against compromising the processes that would elect the new Kpanti Zing.

Subsequently, the governor, through his Permanent Secretary Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, employed all means to ensure a hitchfree emergence of a new Kpanti Zing.

But when it became glaring that the king makers were unable to present the three

contenders to the Taraba government which would, in turn, choose one to occupy the throne as provided for by the law, the governor directed the Permanent Secretary to announce acting Kpanti Zing.

Yero, in a three-paragraph press release, announced: “His Excellency, the governor of Taraba State, Arch. Darius Ishaku, has directed that the Waziri Sir Linus D. Ibrahim should act in the office of Kpanti Zing in line with the traditions guiding the traditional stool of Kpanti Zing”. He stated that the state government was putting the machinery in place on the election of a new Kpanti Zing. The state government also Imposed 12 hours (6 pm to 6 pa) curfew on the town, the headquarters of Zing local government area to ensure law and order.

than marijuana and cocaine.

Although, lizard dung has not officially been banned by relevant agencies of government, there are strong indications that it could turn into a multi-million Naira industry with the potential of selling the ‘finished products’ at robust prices. The demand for tit on the streets of Nigeria’s major cities, particularly Abuja, has beaten the standard set by cocaine addicts. The abuse of the substances got so alarming that the Federal Government banned the sale of Benylin with Codeine off the counter except with a medical doctor’s prescription.

Codeine is primarily used to treat mild to moderate pain and to relieve cough. It is also used to treat diarrhoea and diarrhoea predominant irritable bowel syndrome. The reality however is that the criminalization and high cost of the usual hard drugs listed above have in combination with other factors led to the discovery of other potent substances with similar stimulant and/or suppressant effects on the central nervous system by consumers of hard drugs especially teenagers.

Effort have been made through the Nigerian Customs Services, Immigration and the police to checkmate the activities of drugpushers/users. This onerous task, however, proved a Herculean task.

The Commander of the FCT Command of NDLEA, Chinyere Obijuru has, in the meantime, called on Abuja residents to be alert to any possible existence of methamphetamine laboratories which, she disclosed, does not only pose risks to users but also to residents.

Obijuru stated that the command plans to build a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts while soliciting the support for a land from Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) to actualise its plan.

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Obinna Chukwu, confirmed the seizure.

The Permanent Secretary revealed that the Task Team discovered the hard drugs in a depot during its covert operation at Tura-Bura, behind Apo Roundabout.

PAGE 12, SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015

LUCY BISI - ONABANJO AT 90

‘I voted for Buhari despite jailing my husband’

BY DAUD OLATUNJI

M

rs. Lucy Onabanjo, widow of Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, Second Republic governor of Ogun State, will be 90 years old tomorrow. Even at old age, her skin still shines and eyes see clearly, though with glasses. Her voice remains strong. She is smart and alert to the environment.

The nonagerian shared with Sunday Vanguard the story of her life before and after she met her husband, a prolific writer who wrote a popular column under the sobriquet, Aiyekooto.

She explained why she cast her vote for President Muhammadu Buhari during the last elections despite his headship of the military regime that jailed her husband after soldiers sacked the Second Republic civilian administration in 1983.

Mrs. Onabanjo, who fielded questions at her Fidipote Street, Ijebyu-Ode residence, also spoke on preparations for her 90th birthday.

On October 26, you are going to be 90. How do you feel?

At 90, I feel healthy and beautiful and cute, no problem. I am well. I enjoy everything, my food, children, not much different from when I was 70, 80 I am still alert.

How was childhood, growing up like?

Not too tough. I grew up in a family of about 25 sisters and brothers. I am about the last child of my father. My father was a rich man, he married about 15 wives. At the time I was born, my father was a bit old. So I went to Lagos with one of my sisters. That time my father couldn’t afford to send about five of us to school because he was old and there wasn’t much money. All our elder sisters and brothers were married and had left the family house. So the five of us had to depend on our mother. The first child of my mother took me to Lagos, and sent me to St Mary’s (Catholic) Convent School. I attended the school up to Standard Six. Standard Six of those days was like the university of today. After studying there, I applied to be a nurse at Lantoro in Abeokuta.

And they said I couldn’t be a nurse but a good teacher. So, I went to St. Agnes Teacher Training College in Broad Street to train as a teacher.

How old were you when you met your late husband?

You have to do the subtraction, because I don’t put any thing in mind. But, he died 25 years ago, you can subtract that from my age.

How did you meet him?

I taught in Lagos, about three schools, all Catholic. I taught in Zaria. After that, I came back to C M Y K

Lagos where I went to St. Agnes Teacher College. After that, I got married. I was still living with my sister whose husband also had a nephew staying with us. At that time, my late husband was at Baptist Academy in Lagos, and this nephew of my sister’s husband also went to the school; so, that was how we met through the nephew. It was not only him then, I had many other suitors, educated ones. Through the intervention of the nephew, many things happened and we got married.

•Mrs. Lucy Onabanjo

Being trained by nuns, did you ever consider not getting married?

They were there to educate us in the way of the Lord. I never thought of not getting married.

What attracted you to your husband?

He was very brilliant; he spoke queen’s English. That attracted me to him . And that time I wasn’t a baby, I too had ego. At that time, you couldn’t be in school and say you are walking around with boys.

How was life as the wife of a journalist?

The Lord has made me a contented person; I didn’t have friends even among the teachers in the schools where I taught. All I was concerned with was ‘Good Morning ma’, and ‘good morning sir’, and everybody would go his way.

Because I was a contented person, being married to a journalist was nothing to me. He was a good husband, but I hardly enjoyed his company.

When we were in Lagos, he was in the North writing about corruption in the government of the day. If he leaves Zaria today, he will go to Sokoto or somewhere else tomorrow. He knew everywhere in Nigeria at the tip of his fingers. He was hardly at home, but the Lord gave me good children; so they were always with me. I never felt it, if he was around or not. But any time he was around once in a while, we would go on holidays in Cotonou, Accra; that was what I enjoyed about him.

What was it like being the wife of a governor?

Being a governor under Baba Awolowo at that time meant hardwork. I did not enjoy anything as the wife of a governor. When my husband won the election and Papa Awolowo was denied the presidency, I went to Mama Awolowo at Park Lane, Lagos to ask her to pray for us because things would have been easier if Papa Awolowo had been president and my husband as governor – my husband was not prayerful but had a good heart and loved his people.

I voted for Buhari because I knew he will bring change to this county, he will fight corruption. That era, which saw him jailing

my husband, has passed; it was left to him and Idiagbon to ponder in their minds and decide whether what they did was right

Did you regret marrying a journalist?

I never complained about him. He had so many trials as governor, because the powers-that-be never liked him. He was Awolowo’s favourite, going from place to place so that Baba could win the 1979 and 1983 presidential election. So, I stood by him. I prepared his food myself. I never allowed any house keeper to cook for him because I knew he was not a healthy man and he was always thinking about Nigeria.

Life without Baba, how has it been?

I am a Christian. I have Christ.

Life without him is not very difficult because, when he was alive, as I told you, he was always very

busy. One day, I did not know the military will strike to truncate the Second Republic, I asked him, ‘when we finish this assignment in Ogun Govt House, where will we go next? Lagos or Ijebu?’He said Ijebu where we were born and grew up. I agreed. At that time, I wanted a small bungalow with plenty of flowers and grass at the back.

I am satisfied with what God has done for me. Most of the time now, I go to church; once in a while, I go to Lagos for medical check up.

I was not seeing my husband regularly when he was alive. So what is the difference? Since he passed on, I put my trust in my God and He is always with me.

How do you feel seeing the leader of the military regime that jailed your husband as President now?

During the last elections, I voted for Buhari because I knew he will bring change to this county, he will fight corruption. That era, which saw him jailing my husband, has passed; it was left to him and Idiagbon to ponder in their minds and to decide whether what they did was right. After the jail issue, Idiagbon died. I wish Buhari well.

How do you want to be remembered?

That a little child was born in Ijebu-Ode, that her name was Mrs. Lucy Adebowale Onabanjo, that the married a journalist and had four children; one died, and, after that, she spent the remaining part of her life in happiness because she had trust in the Lord while believing in good health and neighbourliness. People should remember that my reward was on earth. I never waited for the reward in heaven. I am going straight to heaven and not looking for any

reward in heaven,I have already got one.

Do you encourage your children to venture into politics?

None of them is interested in politics . I have two girls and two boys. I told you the fourth girl died; she did a little bit of politics because she loved talking.

What is your message for widows?

I won’t compare Nigeria with other countries. People always talk about America. That country (America) is well established and provides for her people. The situation is different in Nigeria. Our widows should try to lay their hands on something, petty trading if they don’t want to re-marry; they shouldn’t be begging but if government is willing to give them succour, that will be nice. But, in Nigeria, government is not doing anything for any widow.

How are you preparing for your birthday?

I will go to church and thank God for being merciful to me. I will dance. I am a good dancer, but as I grow old, I no longer dance well. I have told my daughter to get somebody to come and massage myth legs so that I can dance on my 90 birthday. Ask my priest on the best dancer and he will tell you her name is Mrs. Onabanjo. There is a small event centre near the church, that’s where we will go for reception. We will eat and talk. If I show you the program pamphlet for the church service, you will be surprised. I don’t leave room for tributes. I don’t want anybody to write any tribute for me anybody who knows me well that I love most are rhymes, simple Halleluya hymns.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015

— Page 13

GAMALIEL ONOSODE LAID TO REST AT UGHELLI

Prof. Rahaman Bello, Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos,UNILAG (second from left), Prof. Duro Oni, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, and Prof.(Mrs.)Folasade Ogunsola, Provost College of Medicine, UNILAG.

From right: Prof. Ayo Ogunkunle, Bowen University Council Member, Dr. John Dara, Prof.M.A.Ojo, Vice Chancellor of Bowen University, Iwo; wife; and Rev.(Dr.)Moses.B. Adebayo.

From left: Dr.(Mrs.) Cecilia Ibru, Deacon(Dr.) Daniel D.Iwhawo and Prof. Uvie.A.Igun, Vice Chancellor of Michael and Cecilia University,Ughelli, Delta State.

Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher of ThisDay Newspaper(left), chatting with Sen. Ighoyota Amori.

The Onosode we knew – Christopher Kolade, Omolayole, Ajekigbe, Ijaw

By Peter Egwuatu, Tony Nwankwo & Godwin Oritse

N

IGERIAN Institute of Management, NIM, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, CIS, and eminent personalities, yesterday, continued to pour encomium on the late Deacon (Dr) Gamaliel Onosode, whom they described as a mentor and having am impeccable character worthy to emulate.

Speaking at a commemoration service organized by NIM, Dr. Christopher Kolade said that the late board room guru commanded universal respect Kolade explained that as a standard bearer, Onosode left the world better than he met it, calling on members of the institute to emulate the late clergy to make the society better than they met it.

Kolade, a former Cadbury Nigeria Plc Chairman and Ambassador to United Kingdom, also noted that, as a man of integrity, Onosode avoided any act that could bring his integrity to question.

The President of NIM, Dr. U.N.O Uwaga, in his own tribute, said: “Onosode was the 5th President of the institute and very active member who contribution would for ever be remembered.

He is an accomplished author and publisher of many books. He lived a better life having lifted others”.

Acting President, CIS, Mr. Oluwaseyi Abe, said

C M Y K

the deceased was best known for his u p r i g h t n e s s , steadfastness, dedication to service and integrity.

Abe’s words: “Deacon (Dr) Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode was an embodiment of positive virtues and values which endeared many of us to him.

Pa Onosode was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, and indeed was the number one member of the institute with membership number FCS001. He was the inaugural President & Chairman of Council of the Institute from 1995 to 2001, and was elected a life member of the Governing Council of the Institute. He was a major driver of the Governing Council until he voluntarily retired in 2013 upon attaining the ripeage of 80 years”.

Chief Michael Omolayole, a former NIM President and a captain of industry like Onosode, described the deceased as a man who hated giving bribe and always stood against corruption and lower standard. “I have never seen anyone like him or even bear his name, Gamaliel, but I have read his name in the Bible. We thank God for his life . He was such a simple, hospitable , sincere and easy going human being”, Omolayole said.

“He was also an impeccable character, the institute will miss him”.

Chairman of Keystone Bank, Mr Jacob Ajekigbe, said Onosode meant many things to many people but was a

balanced person. “He was a mentor to many and a friend.

He never discriminated in anything he does. He understood how importance education is in transforming the lives of people as he was concern about the decay in the education sector. He did not like how the standard of teaching was falling and also the learning standard. So, he decided to set up an Education Foundation called , Gabriel and Susan Fundation, GAMSU. The vision of the Foundation is that it is committed to

contributing consistently to the promotion of quality education in the country. We will miss him”, Ajekigbe said.

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, representative, Mr. Isaac Agoye, said Onosode made an impression on everybody that came across him.

“He was a man of uncommon sense of morality, his death is an irredeemable loss to the manufacturing sector,”Agoye said.

Ijaw Monitoring Group described the late boardroom guru as a

global icon by all standards. In a tribute by Comrade Joseph Evah, on behalf of the Ijaw, the group stated that Onosode’s death was painful because he was one of the stars that gave hope to the Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria at large. “We are proud that Urhobos gave us a son that no president or head of state in Africa ever ignored in his lifetime. The history of Africa industrial growth is not complete without mentioning the name of Deacon Gamaliel Onosode,”it said.

“Despite the harsh

environment, Deacon Onosode, born in the Niger Delta, did not allow the environment to slow down his fertile mind, becoming a world-class citizen to further prove to the world that Niger Delta is blessed with both oil and human resources”.

The Niger Delta activist added, “We urge the Delta State government to name the Industrial Park, Warri as `Gamaliel Onosode Industrial Park’, while we also demand that the Federal Government name Abuja Stock Exchange building after the Urhobo born Mr. Integrity in Business” for his selfless service to the nation.

‘We are preparing Ijaw for Niger Delta beyond oil’

I

n this interview, the President of Ijaw Boyz Vision, Badoukumor Prince Johnny, disclosed how Ijaw youths are being prepared for Niger Delta beyond oil. He spoke in Bomadi, Delta State.

What are the aims and objectives of your organization?

The Ijaw Boyz Vision aims at engaging Niger Delta youths, particularly of Ijaw origin, for a purposeful future through seminars and workshops, where professionals from various endeavours are the engaged to lecture on the necessity of formal education, vocational training and craft works in order for youths to contribute meaningfully to the society.

Can you tell us some of the achievements of this vision?

The vision was actually born to give succor to Ijaw sons and daughters

because there are no higher against engaging in institutions in the riverine violence and hooliganism. area, and we conceived the Meanwhile, since the vision to help youths who granting of amnesty to are not opportune to go to Niger Delta militants by school, sensitizing them on the Federal Government, the need to go to school, as youth awareness has well as the essence of increased because a good equipping them with number of them were vocational training for a opportune to go out of the purposeful future. We have, region for training however, recorded some programmes. Our target is achievements as many to ensure that those who youths have benefited from had gone through such our seminars and education and training workshops. For example, should serve as veritable six students from various tools to reach to all nooks schools, who excelled and crannies of the Ijaw during the quiz nation to actualize the competition session of the Ijaw Boyz Vision. last programme, held in October, were How do you a w a r d e d think you can scholarship by sustain this an ex-militant vision? leader, Mr. The vision has Preye Ekpebide. come to stay. I Again, many urge leaders of youths have new Ijaw to support it orientation morally and through this financially so vision and are that we can focused on the sensitize, •Johnny future as educate and

engage the Ijaw child for a brighter future.

How have you been able to carry out this vision considering its financial involvement?

I would like to use this opportunity to express gratitude to patrons of this vision for their goodwill and efforts. I want to specifically thank the Delta State Chairman, Phase 2 Ex-militants, Mr. Kingsley Muturu, for his relentless financial and moral support. I want to say that his good works for the Ijaw nation has gone down the history of the Niger Delta struggle for a better future for youths.

Muturu has committed himself to sponsoring this vision by all means, as he strains himself to finance our programmes even if things are rough. I also thank High Chief Mike Loyibo, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, Mr. Preye Ekpebide and others for their support so far.

PAGE 14—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015

The rationale behind that nomination, in the estimation of some, remains curious.

More curious, one of the governors at the meeting said, was the insistence of “Mr. President to still appoint Amina Zakari, inspite of the overwhelming familial connection” which has diminished the real essence of the woman.

Another individual, among the nominees, was alleged to have collected money from two contending parties during a gubernatorial election some years ago. This actually led to an open confrontation between the nominee and one of the parties in the open – it had to do with a governorship election in Abia State, to be specific.

Yet, the nominee from Edo State, who hails from Auchi, the same area one of the national leaders of the APC comes from, is another addition in the list.

•President Muhammadu Buhari

INEC’S IMPARTIALITY

Going, going, going….

•Buhari bows to legality on quorum but...

•Why Senate screening of commissioners must be thorough •Some nominees have baggage — Investigation

BY JIDE AJANI Whereas President Muhammadu Buhari has done the right and proper thing regarding last week’s appointment of National Commissioners and National Chairmandesignate for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, with a view to constituting a proper Commission, there are still many rivers to cross. Indeed, Sunday Vanguard had consistently harped on the need to appoint commissioners to the Commission so that its required quorum would be met, culminating in penultimate Sunday’s publication of a subsisting Federal High Court judgment which declared that not less than five commissioners can form the quorum for INEC, as against Madam Amina Zakari andAmbassador Lawrence Nwuruku (even with a sword of doubt hanging over the head of the former), which Buhari heeded, is worth commending. However, the nature of the nominations, as well as the caliber of the nominees, remains curious.

This report will show why President Buhari needs to do more to ensure that the goodness he benefited from an impartial electoral management body, is not denied other Nigerians whose elections INEC would superintend, by nominating men and women of impeccable and sound character to the Commission.

A SHOCKER FOR NATIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari did it again last week. You could call it a matter of style.

The no-nonsense fifth executive President and Commander-in-Chief avoided all the niceties of packaging, to present his nominees for the offices of national commissioners and office of national chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to members of the National Council of States, NCoS. He read out the names: Professor Mahmood Yakubu, as Chairman; Mrs. Amina

P

Bala Zakari, the immediate past acting INEC Chairman, representing the NorthWest; Dr. Antonia Taiye Okoosi-Simbile, commissioner representing North-Central; and Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo from Borno as commissioner representing the NorthEast. Others are Dr. Mohammed Mustapha Lecky from Edo as commissioner representing the South-South and Prince Soyebi Adedeji Solomon from Ogun State representing the South-west.

A source at the meeting told Sunday Vanguard that some jaws dropped as Mr. President made his presentation.

In fact, pieces of information made available to Sunday Vanguard, about what transpired at this first meeting of the NCoS since Buhari’s inauguration, suggest that some of the governors were shocked. Inter-

Observers are compelled to ask what happened to all those INEC commissioners that Nigerians know very well, who served creditably during Jega’s time and whose integrity and publicly acknowledged commitment helped to build the reputation that INEC enjoyed up until June 2015

estingly, most of those who were shocked were governors of the All Progressive Congress, APC. The reason for this, Sunday Vanguard was made to understand, stemmed from the fact that they were not consulted before the nominees were brought to the NCoS. That was the first shocker.

A few of the governors, upon hearing the names, wondered what manner of INEC President Buhari was attempting to establish – these ones were predominantly of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. DECONSTRUCTING BUHARI’S INEC But the PDP governors did not wonder afar.

It soon became a joke, that one of the commissioners Buhari had just nominated was part of the self-same Commission that oversaw the defeat of Buhari as presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. And the same President Buhari had complained openly about seeming partisanship of INEC during the 2007 presidential election, especially as his appeal was being tossed from court to court before it was finally dismissed in what he described as controversial circumstance.

It was during that period of open lamentation that saw Buhari come in the open to lament the future of Nigeria in view of what some described as the grand electoral robbery of 2007, an election in which the winner, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, acknowledged the flaws.

Specifically, the nominee for the South West zone was also a national commissioner during the 2007 presidential election.

So, the joke is: What new appurtenances of credible election are being expected with the appointment.

Since it has been generally acknowledged that the Professor Attahiru Jega-led INEC brought Nigeria closer to electoral sanity, it is indecipherable at this point why President Buhari has appointed a national commissioner who served in what some say was a discredited INEC.

ATTAHIRU JEGA, 1,957 DAYS AGO One thousand, nine hundred and fifty seven days ago, specifically on Tuesday, June 8, 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan settled for Professor Jega as national chairman of INEC and presented his name, along with some others, to the NCoS..

Appointing Jega did not come easy.

However, the overwhelming desire of Nigerians to have an election management body that would conduct elections that would be acceptable, free and fair, appeared to have guided and guarded Jonathan’s choice of Jega.

Indeed, before that day’s meeting of the NCoS, the government had flown a kite, throwing into the public domain the names of Olisa Agbakoba, Barrister Buari and Jega.

Because of Jega’s antecedents, Nigerians pointed in his direction.

Jonathan had no option than to appoint the Professor from Kebbi State.

Against all odds, Jega did well – in his own way.

QUESTIONS Given these speculations of possible partisanship, observers are compelled to ask what happened to all those INEC commissioners that Nigerians know very well, who served creditably during Jega’s time and whose integrity and publicly acknowledged commitment helped to build the reputation that INEC enjoyed up until June 2015?

How can this administration expect to earn public trust by appointing only Madam Zakari, not even known as the face of INEC, until her controversial appointment as acting national chairman, an appointment which was in itself treacherous in the face of the law?

Where are those commissioners who served as the face of INEC at critical moments when members of the public needed to clear the fog?

How does President Buhari hope to instill institutional memory in the Commission?

Like Jonathan after barely a year in office, why is President Buhari attempting to decimate his own goodwill?

It was Olusegun Obasanjo who described the 2007 presidential election as a do-ordie affair and, therefore, went ahead to intimidate those at INEC. Now, Buhari is President and his nominees, for now, do not inspire the type of confidence that Nigerians are looking for.

Does this signal the conclusion which Nigerians must now come to accept, that all former military heads of government consider elections as a do-or-die affair and therefore have no concern whatsoever for credible election managers? Where are all the credible election managers whose credible conducts led to the emergence of the transition that the current government is enjoying? Will the current government deny Nigerian the freewill to choose in elections which helped to usher them in as a source of hope and accountability? The remaining nominations which the government will make to lead INEC at national and state levels will serve to reassure Nigerians that all hope is not lost, or confirm that indeed enduring Democracy as we hoped for, will not come to Nigeria in the near future.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 15

Excitement in Enugu over award of road contracts

By Francis Igata

D

URING his inaugural speech at the Micheal Okpara Square, May 29, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State4 unfolded the direction of his administration. Road development was top on the agenda.

He set out to achieve this when, in his first week in office, during an assessment of government facilities, he declared that Abakpa Nike and Nike Lake Roads, Opi-Nsukka Dual Carriage Way, Amankwo-AmekeAmah Brewing Junction, 9th-Mile Bypass, Ohom Oba junction-Imilike AniEzimo Agu- Imilike- Ogbodu AbaObollo Etiti- Amalla-Obollo–AforUdenu Ring Roads will be reconstructed in recognition of their socio-economic importance.

Others, including Enugu road in Nsukka,Nsukka Junction- Umuezebi Post Office Roundabout-Odenigbo Roundabout-Ogurugu Road–Ikenga Hotels Junction and Obechara Road Junction-Umuakashi-Mechanic Village-Ikenga Hotels Junction, were listed for priority attention.

True to his words,Ugwuanyi, on Monday, when the State Executive Council met, approved the award of contracts for the construction of the roads.

During a press briefing at the end of the meeting, presided over by the governor at the Government House, Enugu, the state Commissioner for Information, Dr. Godwin Udehele, disclosed that funds had also been approved for aggressive maintenance of roads in Enugu metropolis, in order to tackle the difficulties experienced by road users occasioned by potholes which create chaotic traffic hold ups and increase accidents.

MAINTENANCE WORK In the meantime, Ogui-New Haven,Achara Layout, to Garki,Abakiliki Road, Abakpa Junction are all receiving rehabilitation attention which have improved movement of vehicles on the roads.

EXCITEMENT Elated residents of Enugu, who had waited with bated breath for the announcement of award of the road contracts, could not hide their joy after the Monday announcement. Their position stemmed stem from Ugwuanyi’s initiative and firm commitment to the well-being of the people through his programmes and policies.

Some of the residents, who spoke on the development, expressed delight over the manner the governor had been piloting the affairs of the state,describing him as a visionary.

They commended Ugwuanyi for his quick response to the maintenance of the major roads in Enugu metropolis, adding that it was an indication that he is sensitive to the plight of the people.

The residents said that the governor’s vision to repair the roads, constructed during the immediate past administration, also showed that he was committed to the principle of seamless continuity and consolidation which he had promised the people of the state.

Dr. Chukwujama Ejifor,a senior medical officer at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital,UNTH,Ituku-Ozalla,who

•Road maintenance work in progress at Abakpa junction. was visibly elated on hearing the announcement of the award of road contracts, eulogized the governor for his timely intervention in suspending the throat cutting penalty imposed on motorists by traffic/revenue officials even as he noted that the governor’s action has further endeared him to the people.

He said: “The governor’s move is laudable because the roads touches on the hearts of our day-to-day life.

Look at the Abakpa junction traffic gridlock when you are coming into town from Abakpa,TransEkulu,Onitsha axis. Although the road is a Federal Government road, it is only a people’s governor like Ugwuanyi that will quickly rescue people from the time and economic sapping gridlock dotting that axis of the metropolis.

“This development serves as a pointer on his innate ability to adopt a maintenance culture for public facilities and utilities. The roads in the metropolis were a serious sore point following the substandard materials used for the construction by the immediate past administration. We have not seen the type of gridlocks

building up in the metropolis as a result.

“No doubt,this administration is responsive to the peoples’ plight. It is the small things that makes a big difference in governance qualities and style. The confidence reposed on the governor has not been misdirected because we voted him overwhelmingly knowing his pedigree of performance. We expected nothing less.”

Another respondent,Mr. Okey Agbo, revealed that the governor’s compassionate approach towards addressing the issue has carved a cherished recess in the people’s hearts.

Agbo added: “The roads when reconstructed and rehabilitated, will pave way for an enhanced investment and business growth in the state. It will not only add to the aesthetic value of the road network in the state,it will place the state on a world map of tourism. This administration has proved to be result driven and living to its words. We cannot wait to see the actualization of these lofty projects that will definitely add value to our lives”.

ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS

•Governor Ugwuanyi (arrowed) flanked on his left by member representing Udi North constituency, at the state House of Assembly, Hon. Johnbull Nwagu; Vice Chairman of Udi L.G.A., Mrs. Uche Eze; Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Works & Infrastructure, Mrs. Sylvia Onwubuemeli; Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, Engr. Patrick Ikpenwa; and member representing Udi South constituency, at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Chuka Eneh, right, during inspection an erosion site at Abor along old Enugu-Nsukka expressway.

The roads, when constructed, will serve as a launching pad towards boosting socio-economic activities along the corridors where it will traverse.

Farmers will heave a huge sigh of relief once constructed because it will drastically reduce man hours spent to evacuate farm produce,preserve farm produce and reduce cost of food items coming from the rural communities

The roads, when constructed, will serve as a launching pad towards boosting socio-economic activities along the corridors where it will traverse. Farmers will heave a huge sigh of relief once constructed because it will drastically reduce man hours spent to evacuate farm produce,preserve farm produce and reduce cost of food items coming from the rural communities.

It will also restore the confidence on agriculture which is the mainstay of the people. Failed portions of the road which served as a hibernating ground for miscreants will whittle the insecurity challenge arising from such situation.

Ugwuanyi’s resolve to reconstruct these roads plagued by erosion was demonstrated during an inspection visit to a site at Abor town, Udi L.G.A, along old Enugu-Nsukka expressway last Tuesday.

The menace,which drew tears, must have reinforced the plight of motorists in the state even as the people feel the copious connect between the government and the governed.

PAGE 16 — SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015

C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 17

Only reason I will go nude – Annette Cookey

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n a time when sex sells so hot, many artistes are going over the edge to push their fame, career and fortune with any means necessary in this regard.

But not Annette Cookey, a Rivers State-born singer who stole a slice of fame as the third runner-up at the debut edition of MTN’s Project Fame West Africa.

She said she can never go nude in a film or music video just for the fun of it.

Maybe a flash of bra and panties here and there, claims the sexy singer.

She however revealed that she could give it a shot on only one condition.

“Why will I go nude in a music video? Except it’s for charity or to save lives. I don’t think I can go nude.

It’s a ‘No’! for me. I can show a little flesh here and there but to go nude, it has

to be for a just cause, maybe saving lives” she declares boldly in a chat with Potpourri.

For guys looking to go beyond the ground floor with the drop dead gorgeous songstress who has taken a break from music to rediscover herself, here are her conditions “I don’t really have a specifics for men really.

Some will say they prefer white men, some will say they prefer dark-skinned men, the list goes on. A man who will love the totality of who I am, who is God-fearing, he should have good looks, and should be able to sing at least a little. I think I should add tall,he should be romantic, make me laugh regardless of his colour or his race”

Annette Cookey

I’m aware the effect my beauty has on men – Bayray Mcnwisu T

hey say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Right? This may not ring true for blossoming Nollywood actress, Bayray Mcnwisu who believes every beholder would think she’s beautiful.

“I am a confident woman and I do believe I am beautiful. I am blessed and I do not shy away from that. I am aware of my beauty and the effect it has on men. I try not to make it a defining thing in my life though. I love my body. Some people know they are beautiful and they use it as a tool to get what they want. When a woman is not confident of herself , whether she is fleshy or skinny, it will come off in her actions. I am just comfortable in my skin” he says.

As a beautiful actress, one should expect that some of the randy directors and producers would have thrown their poaching nets at her.

“It’s called Casting couch. Of course I have been approached; I have been asked this question and I have said ‘no’ because I never engaged in it.

But the offers have come up” she quips

Bayray Mcnwisu

Cynthia Morgan reveals her celebrity crush

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verybody has somebody they fantasized about in their secret world of dreams. Sometimes, it may be so embarrassing one may not even want to come to terms with the yearnings.

Even celebrities are not off the hook in this regard. As Cynthia Morgan people wish these celebrities live in their secret worlds, these celebrities also have people they play fantasy with in their own secret world too.

So, with many like her, our dancehall queen of reggae, Cynthia Morgan also has her crush and it’s another celebrity that sings like her.

In a recent chat with Potpourri she revealed the person. “My celebrity crush? That will be Davido, because for me he is hardworking. Over the years he has been able to prove himself that he is talented and not all about being a rich kid and I think he is cute too” she declares. But would she go out with him if and when Davido asks her out “Cool, but because I am crushing on him doesn’t mean I want to have a relationship with him. But if he says: ’Oh my God! I love you.’ We can work something out” she says. Recall that the dancehall star has a thing in her crying out to Burna Boy as well.

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

PAGE 18—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015

Alex Ekubo reveals work ethics

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lex Ekubo’s film debut was a minor role in Lancelot Imasuen’s Sinners in the House in 2005. His first major role was in Ladies Man, a couple of years later.

In 2010 he emerged first runner up at the Mr. Nigeria contest. Since then he has won several awards and recognitions. His roll-call of films include In the Cupboard, True Citizens, Dream Walker, Weekend Getaway, Gold Digging, Keeping My Man, Lagos Cougars, All That Glitters, Single, Married and Complicated, Champaign among others. Most of his films are for the big screen, Chatting with Potpourri recently, the handsome actor told us what drives him as an actor. “What drives me as an actor is my desire to succeed in my chosen career and the desire to make my family proud. I wouldn’t want to let those who believe in me down and ultimately to be a good ambassador of my country and continent”.

Stating his dos and don’ts, he said, “I don’t compromise my standard; I don’t do African time; I don’t take more than I can handle at a time, so I give my 100% to any project at hand”.

His list of dos includes being open to correction; reading his script over and over again; keeping a positive attitude and committing every project in God’s hands and praying very hard.

Top artistes storm DJ Max — Kendy Old Skool fiesta

Alex Ekubo

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NEGA AWARDS: Nollywood changes entertainment landscape of Germany

L-R: Actress Cynthia Agholor, Isaac Izoya, Cossy Orjiakor and others

L-R: Isaac Izoya, Ime Bishop, Queen Blessing O. Itua and others

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istory was recently made in Frankfurt, Germany at the just-concluded third edition of Nollywood Europe Golden Awards, NEGA, which is a platform designed to honour Nollywood stakeholders, stars, comedians, musicians (both in Africa and in the Diaspora) which had

C M Y K

also been expanded to recognize the artistic bias of outstanding politicians and business men, whose actions have directly or indirectly impacted upon Nigerians worldwide and the industry in particular, thereby shaping what it has grown to become today.

Nollywood Europe Golden Awards Gala Night, was the climax, heralding the closing ceremony of Nollywood Film Festival Germany – NFFG, a viable platform designed for Nollywood film makers to showcase their movies to Europeans and Nollywood fans in the Diaspora which held at the prestigious Filmforum Höchst VHS Cinema, Emmerich-Joselstr, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Among those honoured was a Senator of the United States of America, Senator Donzella James, Democratic Senator representing Metropolitan Atlanta’s 35th District of Georgia, who received a double honour including the FESTAC head artifact that symbolizes Black freedom as Ehizoya’s first Highest Recognition Awards designed for very select personalities with extraordinary trackrecord.

Edo State born USA-based Hollywood artiste, who is also an author, motivational speaker and the host of the gala-night, Queen Blessing O. Itua was also awarded NEGA 2015 “Reputable Cross Cultural Actress”.

Other big winners of the prestigious NEGA 2015 Awards are: Ime Bishop Umoh - “Best Comic Actor ”, showstopper, Cossy Orjiakor “Distinctive Daring Actress” She had shattered records with her daring role in Nollywood’s blockbuster, Shattered Homes, Grand master comedian, Ereku Mofe aka Gandoki,

enultimate Sunday was another remarkable day in the music industry and for old skool music lovers, as DJ Max-Kendy took his usual annual show to the highest frenzy. DJ Max-Kendy who is widely known for his expertise on the digital turntable, is Nigeria’s top act that commands recognition in the Nigeria music industry.

Indeed it was a total groove for all music lovers at the Eko Club complex venue of the Old Skool Fiesta as DJ MaxKendy, unleashed music. It was expected that the crowd would be mainly the senior boys and gals, but this was not so, as the youngsters also rocked the dance floor along with the oldies and DJ Max-Kenny slammed the series 5 of his yearly event.

There were also plenty of attractions with other professional DJs and big names in the music scene. Sunny Nneji, Daddy Fresh, Baba Frayo were all there with Great D Don who turned the fans around with his comedy skills.

DJ Max-Kendy and friends awarded NEGA 2015 “Nigeria’s Most Creative Comedian”, Mr. Steve Olu, a trained Surveillance and Intelligence officer in Germany, manufacturer of sensitive camera that can film almost every impossible angles even under water by minimizing the rigorous filming risk in film making. – NEGA 2015 “NEGA Grand Innovation”, Mrs. Rosalyn Dressman, the President of African Union Tide e.V, also awarded NEGA 2015 “Grand Supporter of Nollywood in

Germany”, Benjamin James, former Stationary Store and Super Eagles player but now Bundesliga Junior Hoffenheim team coach – NEGA 2015 “Outstanding Diaspora Soccer Coach”, Victor Olusegun Akande, currently the Entertainment Editor at The Nation newspaper – NEGA 2015 “Distinguished Nollywood Critic” and the Art Editor of National Mirror newspaper, Mr. Emedolibe Ngozi Erasmus was also awarded “Outstanding Film art Critic of Nollywood”.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 19 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Olamide, Phyno, round off Made of Black campaign in Benin, Port Harcourt

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ast weekend, the Guinness made of black train berthed in Benin-City, after delivering amazing experiences to consumers in Enugu, Lagos and Port Harcourt. In its continuous bid to discover and celebrate some of Nigeria’s unsung heroes, the Guinness team has travelled across different cities in Nigeria for an exceptional celebration of outstanding Made of Black Heroes.

The Port Harcourt party which held at Cubana lounge hosted the heroes to a special evening which saw a large turnout of fans and Guinness lovers who trooped out en masse to celebrate their city winners following several weeks of nomination.

It was a unique style of celebration in Port Harcourt as the made of black Ambassadors; Olamide and Phyno took to the streets to pay surprise visits to the Made of Black Heroes in their neighbourhoods. After the visit, the heroes joined Olamide and Phyno in a live radio interview on popular Wazobia FM to share their inspiring stories.

The Port Harcourt heroes are Goodluck Uchendu,a philanthropist, who has given a lot to the society, Kenny Oziri aka Mr. Wet paint, Imotar, ID Robert, Kingsley Nnah, Ufuoma Egbamuno, DJ Deeflex, Eng Billy Eugene, Adekunle Tijani

Olamide, Liz Ashdown and Phyno and Stanley Sylvester. Their unique stories are a clear demonstration of the black attitude.

In Benin, the Made of Black party gathered massive crowd as fun-seeking residents of the ancient city came out in their large numbers to party with Guinness. The crowd thronged Naomi Garden Benin City, to identify with their heroes, together with the made of black ambassadors to enjoy the full swing of the party.

The Benin heroes nominated were: Osagie Irhue, Rosemary Kahain, Phynix Lee Banks, Sandra Onwualu, Bonaventure Anyanwu, Mrs. Tonia Babaobi, Steven Odih, Jedeye, Amakhian Best, Philtown. Theirs were tales of remarkable contributions and whole-hearted sacrifice from selfless people who have contributed to improving and impacting the lives of other people in their communities, an attribute for only the people who are truly Made of Black.

Evicted Contestants from Dance with Peter: (l-r): Fearless (Jonathan Nartey) Richy (Godric Olokor) Captain Z (Samson Atuonwu) and Manassah (Manassah Tetteh).

Fearless, 3 others evicted from Dance with Peter after failing to recreate Psquare classic moves

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fter the initial low spirits following the eviction of Manasseh, Ricky, Fearless and Captain Z from the Globacomsponsored Dance with Peter show last night, the remaining 26 contestants shook off the shock and settled to the business of the day.

The contestants were divided into six groups and their task was to replicate the iconic moves in PSquare’s videos over the years. Each group was to pick a ballot to determine which song it would perform.

The first group (Nekky, Miracle, Bobby Blankson and Kelvin) performed one of PSquare’s earliest hits, “Senorita”, and they had the audience and the judges applauding their boundless energy. Even the

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legendary Peter was in awe. “Don’t take my job from me because you guys did so well,” Peter said in a joking manner with smile on his face. His brother Paul, who was the Guest Judge, wiped off tears of joy. “I saw the energy you guys displayed and it was great,” he enthused.

Kaffy added, “Awesome performance. Special kudos to the lady among you because she’s the only one and she carried the guys well.”

Next up was Team “Get Squared” which comprised MX, Tom Tom, Neon, Amazing Amy and Prince and they danced to the song, ‘Get Squared.’

But the judges were not blown away by their performance, with Peter summarizing: “The energy was missing for me. It was

a fair performance though; nice try.”

After that, Team “Roll It”, made up of Tjark, Yemi, L’Dee, and G-Xtreme, performed the hit-song, Roll It. After their performance, Paul said, “I noticed that at the beginning, you were showing energy, but later, you lost the energy and you were losing concentration.” Kaffy said, “I’ll give it up to you for creativity. But Paul is right; you need to keep your energy from the beginning to the end. And that’s one thing P-Square is known for: precision and energy.”

Flexx did not mince words in letting them know he was not impressed. “I’m sorry but you didn’t really bring it on for me; the energy was missing. You have to bring your A-game

because we’ll judge you with P-Square’s standards.”

Team “Alingo” (T-rubber, C-fly, MOD, Teejay) was next and theirs was such a lovely performance that all the judges gave them a standing ovation by the time they finished; Peter praised the team saying, “Everything you did was so on point. C-Fly, you’re a revelation on Dance With Peter. In fact, I regret not shooting this video in the way you guys just performed it.”

Then came Team “Personally” to perform the song that remains the most viewed music video by an African artiste. The team made up of Mannaseh, Smiley, Paulette and Weezy thrilled the audience and the judges. “Are you sure you’re a lady?” Paul asked the only girl in the team, Paulette. “You guys had the same energy from the beginning to the end.”

Lastly, it was time for Team “Ejeajo” made up of Socrazycool, Da Octapus, Mali hot boy and Snipes, and it was a great way to end the evening’s performances.

Paul who admitted that the song had never been one of his favourites confessed that he was blown away by their performance.

After the judges compiled their scores, host of the show Ehis came on stage to announce the three teams up for eviction, Get Squared, Roll It and Personally. MX, Tom Tom, Neon, Amazing Amy, Prince, T-jark, Yemi, L’dee, G-Xtreme, Messiah, Paulette, Weezy and Ernest Smiley will now look to the voting public to keep them in the show.

The Lagos Cocktail Week (LCW) returns in new form L

agos Cocktail Weeek (LCW) introduced and created by cocktail enthusiasts and Lara Rawa, CEO of Eventi Cocktails is back with a bang! The weeklong event aims at providing individuals, businesses, corporations and global brands a platform to interact, connect and share brand values.

The maiden edition last year tagged, “Eventi Cocktail Weekend” was held in April 2014 at the Soul Bar, Intercontinental Hotel Lagos.

The event saw more than 100 guests in attendance, with a ‘taste-off ’ competition between the spirits brands represented.

Speaking about this year’s festival, Lara Rawa, the CEO of Eventi Cocktail and creator of the festival said “This year, the event has been renamed ‘Lagos Cocktail Week’ and will be different in various ways; for one, we are switching up some of the competitions and encouraging more of our guests to try their hands at making cocktails at some of the different hubs”.

Anyone interested in taking advantage of the promotions and offers happening during the week will need to purchase wristbands from the official hub, The Milano Bar at the Intercontinental Hotel.

The event will run for 2 days (9th & 13th of November 2015) at the official hub, with the closing ceremony scheduled to hold on the evening of the 14th of November 2015 at the Intercontinental Hotel Terrace.

The event is proudly supported

by The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations, Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos, Patron Tequila, Luxeria Spirits, Cool FM and Bella Naija.

Lara Rawa

PAGE 20, SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

SOLOMON AKIYESI

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igerians will not easily forget the real life drama enacted by Nollywood actor, Solomon Akiyesi in 2013, when he attempted to get married to a new bride, Uloma Agwu, after leaving his eight months pregnant wife, Lilian, behind in PortHarcourt under the pretext that he was coming to Lagos for a movie shoot.

All hell was let loose when an angry Lilian stormed the church and disrupted the proceedings.

Shortly after the scandal, it was revealed that that wasn’t the first time Solomon would attempt to get married. He was initially married to one Ezinne before he dumped her over her inability to bear him a child.

He later got married to Lilian without properly divorcing Ezinne.

OLISA ADIBUA

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any have described him as the most controversial personality on radio, and they might not be wrong.

The renowned bachelor is reported to have a fiery temper and he exhibited this sometime ago when he beat up his subordinate at Naija FM, Dewumi because he was sleeping on duty.

It was also reported that Olisa fellout with his former business partner at Storm Records, Obi Asika, when their business relationship went awry.

They allegedly resorted to involving law enforcement officers in the issue, and those in the know say it was quite messy.

Many fans have also complained about Olisa’s perceived arrogance and snobbish attitude when spotted at events.

FREEZE

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fedayo Olarinde aka Freeze, is another On Air Personality (OAP) that is doing everything within his power to be termed controversial. At times when many of his colleagues are posting about topical issues on their social media pages, Freeze prefers to share pictures of his watches which he claims are very expensive. Expectedly, he has caught a lot of flak from his fans and followers who criticise him for his actions, but the radio personality says

•FREEZE OLISA ADIBUA

`Most controversial’ Nigerian entertainers (2) Continuing from penultimate week, we take a look at more of Nigeria’s most controversial entertainers. Many of the people on this list are incredibly talented, but they are more on the radar for their naughty acts. Little wonder then that brash, confrontational, daring are some of the words that have often been used to describe these showbiz personalities who are also media darlings as journalists enjoy reporting their troubles. We hereby present to you more Nigeria’s most troublesome entertainers. Enjoy ... it’s his page and he has the prerogative to post whatever he likes.

However, this pales in comparison to the recent drama he acted on Instagram. He uploaded pictures of himself bleeding from wounds which he alleged were inflicted on him by his estranged wife. Many of his fans called him out for his ‘childish’ behaviour, especially because his wife kept silent through it all and refused to wash the couple’s dirty linen in public.

KELLY HANSOME

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ormer Kennis Music signee, Kelly Hansome, shot into limelight with his ‘Maga Don Pay’ hit many years ago. He became the toast

Magazine rewards Ndigbos, strengthens regional unity

BY RICHARD UDOFIA

T

he Eastern Eye Magazine has complete plans to reward outstanding Igbo sons and daughters, as part of efforts to foster unity among easterners, who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour.

Publisher of the magazine, Dr Solomon Okorie, who stated this in Lagos, noted that the event slated for November 7, 2015 with the theme “The Eastern Man of the Year,” will hold at Dover Hotel Lekki, Lagos State.

Chairman, organizing committee of the event, Mrs. Nwaada Ngozika, added that the event was designed to bring together

•SOLOMON AKIYESI

Igbo people across the country, recognize and appreciate those who have distinguished themselves in their respective Profession, while uniting the people of the region.

She said that the criteria for selection would cut across six categories, which include leadership, sports, transportation, commerce, industry and the youths.

“We want to bring together all Igbos and recognize them and appreciate their success in their different Professions.

Because the magazine is a medium that projects the cause of an Igbo man and the region in general, we want to showcase what our sons and daughters have done that has brought pride to the region and appreciate them.” she added.

of club DJs and show promoters as his music was constantly on demand.

However, the singer also seems to have an affinity for courting trouble.

He fell-out with his former label, Kennis Music over contractual issues, and he told anyone who cared to listen that the former topmost label had wronged him badly. He even once stated that he would never forgive the label’s proprietors. He wrote on his social media page, ‘I and my generations unborn will never forgive @kennismusic and @kennyogungbe. God will judge them forever because He alone knows the truth.’

Kelly was also in an epic fight with ‘Bad Belle’ rapper, MI. And what was MI’s offence? Kelly took offence

•KELLY HANSOME because MI had the guts to mention his name in a song. Years after several industry heavyweights tried to make peace between the duo, Kelly still granted an interview where he claimed that MI wouldn’t have been so popular if he hadn’t ‘beefed’ him.

Of course, MI also responded with a track in which he took Kelly to the cleaners.

Kelly has also had confrontations with Don Jazzy, and thenet.ng who he accused of quoting him out of context. He thereafter labeled their platform as irrelevant.

Emetitiri launches album, urges support for Buhari

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chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Chief Isaac Emetitiri has launched his single-track musical album, titled ‘Develop Nigeria’.

He urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s drive to improve the life of the average Nigerian, advising politicians and government officials to stop looting the nation’s treasury.

The former governorship aspirant in his song on the multi-faceted problems facing the country, advised against looting and stashing of our money to foreign countries.

The Buhari-advocate who had been at the fore-front in projecting Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, APC, governorship candidate in Delta also doubled as a member of the APC campaign council and director of groups

management of Delta State chapter, urged ‘’Nigerians irrespective of political party affiliations to see President Buhari as a God sent leader with the mandate to rescue Nigeria from the despair of the past.

He pleaded with Nigerians to be patient on the present economic situation facing the country as it is difficult fix rot of the past sixteen years, saying that it will to take some time to bring the country back on track.

According to him, for the country to achieve its goals, it is not going to be the singular effort of the President but by the collective efforts of all Nigerians.

He also advised the president not to forget Nigerian youths, appealing for the appointment of a youth from the Niger Delta region as a minster.

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

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 21

If you don’t know what your man is thinking

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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ere’s how to find out exactly what’s going on in his head so you can re-ignite his love and create an intimate connection that lasts a lifetime, even if he’s already thinking of l e a v i n g .

Ask any woman what makes a relationship successful, and almost all of them will mention

Networking/ Sponsorship • Tony, 17, humble and

intelligent, needs someone to sponsor his education.

08067442313 • Monday, from Edo state, needs someone to sponsor him financially to set up a business account name Asiko Monday, account number. 0035899452, 08106894130 •Gloria, 19, 6ft tall, slim, light in complexion, pretty, a student, a model in Benin City and also a poet, needs support in her poems and sponsorship in her modelling career.

08175189185,08167262455 •Godswill, 24, from Edo state, needs kind hearted Nigerians to help sponsor his university education. 08130691025 •Ify, 25, from Anambra state, needs a kind Nigerian who will sponsor her education.

07067393175,08168669092 Links •Justice wants to link up with his friend, Chisom, whom they were class mates, at Gwagwalada, in Abuja.

08148286091 •Eloka Opene, wants to link up with Sabina Okekei.

08105303259,07034645904 •Emmanuel, resides in Abuja wants to link up with anyone that can help him get the book Ovonramwen Nogbaisi by Prof Ola Rotimi either new or used 08069003118 Friends Searching Female •Lilian, 22, needs ambitious and motivational male friends.

09052158804 •Oyen, 24, from Enugu state but resides in Warri, needs friends.08107628144 •Promise, needs decent and responsible female friends, aged18-27.08033877617 •Eunice, 23, from Delta state, needs nice, male and female friends.08131588839 Searching Male • Victor, chocolate in complexion, tall and handsome and resides in Enugu, needs a female friend. 08032740878

one common thing, c o m m u n i c a t i o n .

That’s because when you and your man are able to share open, honest communication with each other you create a rock solid foundation that is nearly impossible to break.

Rough spots aren’t the cause of distance in a relationship.

It’s how you handle them

that matters. In fact, with good communication, a “rough spot” can actually bring you closer together, further building trust and connection.

Unfortunately, creating open, honest communication isn’t easy. In fact, the man is often unhelpful and seemingly unable to create that kind of

•John, 21, from Delta state, needs male and female friends.08189621779

employed, needs a lady, aged 45, who is God fearing, for a relationship that will lead to marriage, in 6months time.

08060410686 •Amby, 34, needs a lady, aged 18 and above, for a relationship.09031364313, 08053104430 •Lucky, needs a God fearing and good looking lady, aged 16-20, who resides in Edo or Delta state, for a serious relationship.09033997161 •A guy, 27, resides in Delta state, needs a God fearing lady, for a serious relationship, aged 20-25.

08075975933 • Chineme, 37, a businessman, resides in Anambra state, needs a lady for a serious relationship that can lead to marriage.

07030206005 •Henry, needs an employed lady, aged 30-45, for a relationship.08050465140 •Femi, 37, employed, from Oyo state, but resides in Lagos, needs a lady, aged 2840, for a serious relationship.08035370295, bb566AB493, 08066690807 •Osas, 56, from, Benin, needs a lady, aged 30-50, for a relationship.08120911958 •Bode, 50, resides in Benin city, needs a lady, aged 4050, for a serious relationship.08107266377 • George, 26, gentle and romantic, from Delta state, needs a very beautiful, humble and influential lady, for a serious relationship.

07038678547,08055711243 • Akiz, average height, muscular and cute, needs an Edo lady, for a relationship.08056035885 •Remi, 39, employed and resides in Abeokuta, needs an educated, employed or in business, caring lady, for a relationship, aged 28-40.

08059560523 •Emmanuel, 28, resides in Onitsha, needs a business lady, for marriage.

08063719995 •Ifeanyi, 40 and resides in Onitsha, needs a short lady, aged 30-50, for a serious relationship.08166397888, 08056745449 •Jefferson needs a lady, who is caring, loving and

Lovers Searching Female • Vivian, 5ft tall, fair in complexion, sexy and ready to settle down, needs a healthy, Christian man, for a relationship, that can lead to marriage.07038431638 •Helen, 21, a single mother, employed and resides in Delta state, needs a God fearing, decent and employed man, aged 30-40, for marriage.

09031570047 • Susy, 27, dark, sexy, naturally endowed with a flawless skin and alluring backside need a mature man aged 40 and above for serious relationship. 09039547641 •Jully, 25, chocolate in colour, slim, with all the natural feminine features and a curvy and protudin behind needs a man aged 50 and above for lasting union. 07081409657.

•Joy, 30, fair, tall, elegant, eloquent and classy with a good feminine feature and exciting personality needs a mature, caring man aged 50 and above for a romantic union. 08181073394 •Vicki, 45, a single mum, needs a financially stable man to help her start up a business, for relationship, aged 53-75. 08082729235, 09032246991 •Maxella, 31, a single mother of two kids, chocolate in complexion, sexy, good looking, from Delta state, needs a widower or divorcee, that is God fearing and ready, for a relationship.

08097150887,08037859135 Searching Male

•Wealth, from Delta state,

needs an understanding lady, for a relationship.

08142177665 • Adenugba, 32, dark in complexion, slim, a graduate and employed in Ibadan, needs a responsible lady, aged 20-30, who is Yoruba, by tribe any religion and who is ready for a serious relationship, that can lead to marriage.09033071243 •Jeremaih, 61, 6ft tall and

DISCLAIMER! Dear readers, please note that we neither operate, nor are we an affiliate of any match–making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with any one claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk. Our mission is only to provide a platform for social networking.

Also note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests which may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public. We therefore request that text must be sent through at least one of the numbers for contact. This notice is necessary to enable us serve you better in our refreshingly different style. You can send your requests to 33055. For enquiries, text or call 08026651636

dynamic.

Most women run into one of the following two challenges when trying to communicate with their man, he doesn’t listen and he doesn’t talk.

Have you ever known your man was upset about something and asked him what was wrong and he simply replied with, “Nothing” and walked away?

You knew something was going on but instead of wanting to talk about it and share his feelings he simply

shut down and left you to try and “guess” what was bothering him and how to fix it. It’s hard enough to fix the actual problem but now you’ve also got a passive aggressive problem to deal with on top of the actual problem!

Unfortunately, the things most women do to try to “fix” these frustrating situations gets them nowhere. They may try to share less of their feelings because they don’t see the point in trying.

understanding, for a serious relationship.07062275822 •Best, from Delta state but resides in Lagos, needs an employed or self employed lady, for a serious relationship, that can lead to marriage. 08090554161, 08090554162 •Mayor, resides in Lagos, needs a matured lady, aged 22-30, for a seriousrelationship. 08099526776 •Godwin, 35, a graduate, from Delta state, needs a matured lady, for a relationship that will lead to marriage, aged 18-30, for affair.08038572770, 08053076457 •John, from Benin, needs a pretty and fat lady, of any aged, for a relationship. 08067112670 •Adewale, 51, employed and resides in Lagos, needs a lady, aged 28-50, for serious relationship.07063407104 •Sunday, 26, handsome, gentle and romantic, from Delta state, needs a very beautiful, caring and humble lady, for a serious relationship.

07038678547,08055711243 •Efe, 48, a single father, needs a God fearing lady, for marriage, aged 35-40, from Delta state.

08032780288 •Anthony, needs a lady, who is slim, tall, fair in complexion, industrious and a graduate, for a relationship that will lead to marriage.08056438554, 08067731277 •Mike, 56, a businessman from Delta but employed and resides in Lagos, needs a lady, aged 2332, to have fun with.

09092323453 • Chinedu, 34, 6ft tall, handsome, loving and caring, needs a loving lady, a for relationship, aged 28-34.

08104477720 •Christian, resides in Benin, needs a romantic lady, for a relationship.07038885895, 07018756477 •Nduka, from Delta state, needs an employed, God fearing lady, who is tall and fair in complexion, aged 25-32, for marriage.

08115460276 •Chukwuemeka, 28, dark in complexion and resides in Delta state, needs a caring lady, aged 18-27, for a serious relationship.

07059417438,07063219061 •Mark, 35, a graduate, self employed, from Delta state but resides in Warri, needs a lady, aged 18-35, for a serious relationship.08038918265 •Ifeanyi, a businessman, resides in Lagos, needs a lady, who is God fearing, humble, employed and homely, aged 30-35, for a serious relationship, that will lead to marriage. 08169069949, 08100802179 •Godfrey, light complexioned, a single father, who just lost his job and resides in Yenagoa, needs a tall and slim single mother, for marriage, aged 30-

45. 08142756753 •Elab 56, a graduate and a businessman from Edo State, but resides in Lagos, needs a respectful, God fearing and educated lady, who is employed or in business, aged 28-52, for a relationship that will lead to marriage.

08070683744,07063948924 •Morgan, 34, 6ft tall, dark in complexion, a Christian and hardworking, needs a wife.

08064379060 •Adewale, 51 and resides in Lagos, needs a God fearing lady, for marriage, aged 28-50.

07063407104 Sugar Cares Searching Female •Chantel 21, tall, chocolate in complexion and a student, needs a rich and neat sugar daddy, aged 50-70, to sponsor her education and also take care of her financially.

07082355877 Searching Male •Tobi, 22 and resides in Benin Edo state, needs a sugar mummy, around Edo and Lagos state. 08067284894 •Ben, 30, tall, slim, handsome, dark in complexion and resides in Agbor, Delta state, needs a lonely and sexy sugar mummy in Agbor, Benin-city and Warri, aged 35 and above.

07050481507 •Justine, 27, tall, handsome, light in complexion, good looking and resides in Lagos, needs a good looking and rich sugar mummy, that can take good care of his needs for a serious relationship in Lagos.

08082904343, 08037892359 •Marcus, 27, resides in Abuja, needs a sugar mummy, aged 4050 within Abuja.

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PAGE 22, SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015

By EMEKA AGINAM

E

ricsson's President for sub-Saharan Africa, Fredrik Jejdling has reassured that the Swedish multinational provider of communication technology and services will continue to use its Information Communication Technology solutions and services across a variety of industries to enable and drive Africa’s digital transformation agenda.

Before now, Ericsson has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, (MUo ) with Government of Republic of Rwanda on smart Rwanda project.

Noting that ICT is creating a vast amount of new opportunities for people, business and society, he told Vanguard in a telephone interview recently ahead of the just concluded Transform Africa conference holding in Kigali, Rwanda that Ericsson was committed in driving smart Africa through innovative solutions.

Given that more than half of the world’s population already lives in cities, and nearly 70 percent of people will be urbanized by 2050 , Ericsson is particularly focused on contributing to smart and sustainable cities.

At the just concluded Transform Africa conference, held in Kigali, Rwanda, Ericsson demonstrated the transformation that ICT and a

How Ericsson is driving Africa’s digital transformation agenda truly Networked Society can deliver in building smart cities and a cashless society in Rwanda, particularly in the financial and transport sectors.

Meanwhile, Africa’s top political and business leaders gathered in Kigali, Rwanda at the just concluded Transform Africa conference to discuss the critical ICT requirements needed to drive the continent’s digital transformation agenda.

Ericsson President for subSaharan Africa while speaking at the event said that, “ At Ericsson we use our ICT expertise to provide innovative solutions and services across a variety of industries that play a key role in enabling digital transformation in Africa.

“We are especially excited about the impending industry

transformation in Rwanda.

Seeing first hand that it can

We use our ICT expertise to provide innovative solutions and services in enabling digital transformation in Africa

be done here in our region is a powerful message for the rest of Africa and we are proud to be at this conference to bring this message forward.”

The conference, hosted by Rwandan President, His Excellency Paul Kagame, brought the continent’s top political and business leaders together to shape Africa’s digital transformation agenda.

At the capacity building event, Ericsson demonstrated the company’s M-Commerce Interconnect and its solutions for intelligent transport,

amongst others.

These solutions leverage on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Government of Rwanda announced at Mobile World Congress 2015 to demonstrate Ericsson’s technology leadership and experience in delivering meaningful and tailored solutions to reach set objectives.

The Ericsson M-Commerce Interconnect provides the total interconnection solution required to bring together all the players in the financial services area, and allow money to flow between them seamlessly, taking cash out of the system.

This system has the capacity to connect the formal financial sector with the semi-formal and informal.

Particularly, the inclusion of Savings Co-operatives and Micro-finance players in the eco-system will allow more people to participate in main stream financial services, thus increasing financial inclusion.

Ericsson also showcase the M-Commerce Interconnect Switch, in partnership with MNOs, service providers and banks.

Ericsson also demonstrated the efficiency of its solutions for intelligent transport. The system will help governments to better manage revenue collection in the public transportation system and create efficiency in the utilization of the existing public transport capacity.

Samsung N ot ts mar ention with big screen adv ant age Not otee 5 ge gets markket att attention advant antage B

y turning big phones into a fad, there are exciting features, especially big screen advantage running on Samsung’s latest smartphones, the Note5 series.

Seen as the best Android phones in the smart phone ecosystem despite pricing, the device has lived up to all the hypes and more Available in single and dual SIM versions, the product comes in Sapphire Black, White Pearl, Titanium Silver and Gold Platinum in 32GB or 64GB. Crafted with metal and glass, amped up specifications and a completely reworked design, the Galaxy Note 5 is arguably one of Samsung’s most successful innovations to date.

Design Adopting the innovative design of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge, the Galaxy Note 5 has taken another step forward in offering users an ever better design.

In many ways, Samsung slimmed down the Galaxy Note 5 such that even smaller hands can have an easier time grasping it.

The Note5 makes for a better appreciation of the Gorilla Glass 4 incorporated into the design of the phone. The sides

however are lined in metal with matt finish and only 7.6mm in width and thickness.

With the curve around the edges of the phone and its 3D glass back, it fits comfortably into the palms of your hands without slipping.

Screen Already, the big screen of the device is thrilling end users.The beautifully designed Note 5 flaunts a 5.7-inch screen with QHD super amoled display, allowing for clearer videos and images. The Note 5’s Quad HD super amoled display is just as vibrant as its other siblings, and even brighter.

The larger screen size is also great for productivity. Emails can now be penned quickly and if you are a social media fan, editing and cropping photos and videos just got a lot easier with its Video Collage feature. The interesting thing is that one can generally browse through your phone without having to bump up the font size due to the large screen.

User experience Samsung has enhanced the S-Pen, which continues to be one of the integral features of the Note series. The stylus has

been upgraded with a clicky top and a nib that looks more like a ballpoint pen. The little wave of shortcut buttons, which appear on the screen when the stylus is popped out, can easily be customized and the device will send an alert whenever the stylus is not in its holster.

Another delightful feature of the S-Pen is the ability to write on the screen without unlocking the device. If the screen is off and the Instant Memo feature is enabled, users can whip out the pen and just start writing.

Whatever is jotted down automatically gets sucked into the S Note when done, making it so much faster to start writing.

With the Instant Memo feature, users do not need to unlock the device, launch a memo app and create a new memo before jotting down; simply pop out the pen and start writing.

Another exciting feature of the device includes the Scroll Capture Feature, which allows users to capture multiple scrolls of a webpage.

Multimedia Creating a device that will adequately cater to the needs of the social media savvy

consumer is key in today’s Internet of Everything (IoE) world. To achieve this, Samsung has included a thrilling feature in the device called the Live Broadcast. This allows users to share or broadcast a video in real time over YouTube in full HD quality. With this feature, users can easily share special occasions as they happen with as many as 20 family and friends in real time.

An additional exciting feature is the Video Collage. Here, Samsung took the photo collage a step further into videos. Users can combine multiple short videos and make them into one single video, giving each video a different look and feel. Possessing a 16MP rear-facing camera with OIS, 5MP front-facing camera, videos and pictures production are extremely sharp.

The Processor With an octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM, and a nonremovable 3,000mAh battery pack, this is definitely one of

the most powerful large screen devices available in the market.

Verdict: Although the device has a non removable battery and no external storage option, striping away some of last year ’s features, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5 is excellent overall. It is a device anybody who wants to write by hand should buy because of the retooled stylus.

For one thing, the Note 5 has an eye-catching design, high-end hardware and takes great outdoor photos.

With killer battery life, the device is well crafted with slim, shiny, large-screened luster, a strong camera.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 23

He sneaked in his mistress with his children in the house!

M

ANY crimes of passion have been committed for less - a woman who has a strong feeling her marriage is unshakable suddenly gets a call out of the blues from her husband’s mistress wanting to know when she (the wife) would have the decency to set her husband free! That was the dilemma that faced Franca the day her nightmare started. “We’d been married for 12 years but our marriage was getting a bit stale,” Franca told me sadly during her lunch break. “Eugene, my husband, had always been a ladies’ man and after forgiving a couple of affairs, I got to the point where I knew I couldn’t take anymore ... “ Franca has a good job and had sponsored herself on one of the top management courses run by my office.

We’d talked a few times on her husband’s philandering and I’d consoled her that affairs weren’t such a big deal these days - as long as the husband chip in his bit financially. “Well, that’s the problem,” Franca had flared during one of our chats. “He gives me anything he fancies and spends the rest of his money on good clothes and women!” A few months later, Eugene’s sister was

having a house-warming party in their home town. She’d already made arrangements for the couple to stay in one of the guest rooms.

“Eugene cancelled at the last minute”, Franca said, “and I wouldn’t have dreamt of going alone if my sister-in-law hadn’t been such a supportive friend. We were in-between house-helps but Eugene said looking after our three boys wouldn’t be a problem.

The weekend away really gave me time to think about my marriage. I didn’t want us to split up. Despite Eugene’s recklessness, I still loved him and I loved being married. He loved me in his own way - understanding what had gone wrong was the difficult bit.

As lavishly as I was entertained by his sister, it was a relief to get back home that Monday morning. Eugene was already at his office and as I hurriedly got dressed to go to work, I noticed my husband had kept everywhere tidy - the whole flat was tidy - even my things had been neatly packed away and the floor spotless. I was impressed.

He’s tried really hard to impress me, I thought. He must still care.

I began to feel hopeful.

“Then my mobile rang. It was a number I was unfamiliar with but I picked it up all the same - it could be a new client. ‘Is that Franca?’ a woman’s voice asked.

‘Yes, who is this?’ I replied. ‘My name’s Nita,’ she told me. ‘I got your number from Eugene’s

phone when I was at your house over the weekend.’

My stomach lurched. Was this a sick joke? Nita explained she met my husband through a girlfriend and they’d started a relationship.

She just spent the weekend in the flat.

She sounded so casual, as if she was discussing a party we’d both attended. ‘You’ve been at our flat? With my husband?’ I asked her. ‘You can hardly call him your husband can you?’ she said. ‘You’ve been separated for months ow.’

“I

Solution to excess body fat

F

AT is a neces rate, and the heart itself is denied of enough oxygenated sary compo INBOX nent of the human blood for its own upkeep.

organism. It serves as a source of energy; you need it to maintain proper body heat when the surrounding atmosphere takes a dip in temperature; it serves as a carrier of Vitamin A, D, E and K and it is also a source of energy.

It is the excess of fat that is dangerous. With too much of fat there obtains the situation where there is not enough skin area for the body to regain its optimum temperature when there has been some vigorous activity.

The fatter the person the quicker it takes for the body’s temperature to rise and the longer it takes it to cool off.

While the lean individual can race up a flight of stairs with very little effort, the same activity at the same pace will almost kill a fat person.

A fat person pants too quickly in the body’s attempt to maintain the correct body heat.

The action of the lungs is tied to that of the heart.

When you have to breathe faster, the heart naturally beats faster. Too fast a heart C M Y K

The picture is clearer now as to why the fatter the person, the worse a state his heart will be in.

Now, you think you need to cut down on the amount of fat

This posture tones up the muscle of the legs. It firms the buttocks by reducing excess fat

The sensible thing to do is to modify the diet and introduce the kind of regimen that the body can take and not leave you feeling totally wiped out, as it were.

As far as diet goes, I favour a breakfast of fruit and a lunch and dinner that has a lot of vegetables.

Fruit being predigested, leaves very little residue in the system. When you eat

couldn’t believe what I was hearing. ‘Separated?’ I said.

‘We’re still very much married. What gave you that idea?’ she paused a while then said: ‘I thought it was strange that there were wedding photographs everywhere - and personal photographs of yours as well. But Eugene told me you were obsessed with him and found it difficult to accept the break-up - that was why you refused to take down the photographs: This must be a nightmare. ‘If you were in the flat, where were the children?’ The children didn’t see me though,’ she said. ‘Eugene made me hide in the bedroom till they’d all gone to bed:

fruit, you save enough energy, that way your body has enough power of its own to start dealing with all the toxins that have come about on account of an improper eating pattern.

The practice of deep breathing will enable you cut down on a runaway appetite.

When the appetite is unbridled, you can almost eat or feast to death. Come to think of it the human being is about the only animal on earth that does not wait to be hungry before eating. Little wonder, we seem to be the only creatures with a weight prob-

“It was then that the new look in the flat made sense.

I thought the house was tidy because Eugene was making an effort to save our marriage not knowing he’d been trying to cover his tracks. He didn’t want me to see how busy he’d been, getting up to no good with his mistress. In my bed! I simply hung up and seethed through the rest of the day, waiting for when Eugene came home to really tell me why he did what he did. He gave a hoop of joy as he made to give me a welcome back hug but I remained frigid.

“Nita just called my mobile”, I told him. He looked so incredulous I was filled with anger. ‘How could you when the children were at home?’ He looked a bit shocked, then defiant.

He admitted taking care not to expose the kids to his indiscretion. But he’d really done it this time. I told him that as far as I knew, I no longer had a marriage. He was on his own. He tried to bluff his way through another of his shameless escapades but I knew there wouldn’t be an end to his philandering as long as I continued to take it on the chin. My only consolation was that he’d hidden his mistress away so

well the children never suspected a thing. The children are growing fast and needed to be protected from their dad’s irresponsibility .

“I would have loved to see his face the day he came home and found all of us gone. But weeks later, he moved Nita in. I was so upset I felt like going to the flat and thrashing the place. But I’d taken all the valuables that were mine and it was time I moved on.

It was poetic justice when I learnt months later that Nita had left him. I had taken the cars which I’d paid for; the plasma TV all those items that gave the flat the sophisticated touch Nita had wanted for herself. I bet she didn’t get as much money off him as she thought she would and she wasn’t ready to spend her money on a man who could show her the same consideration he showed his wife and the mother of his children ...

I assured Franca she wasn’t alone. Her saving grace was she could afford to leave because she was financially independent.

What about tons of women out there who’d gone through worse treatment and didn’t leave because they couldn’t afford to?

lem. Animals fare much better as regards food. They only seem to have problems when we domesticate them, turn them into pets. That way we spoil them and soon they become affected with all kinds of conditions.

We should heed Hippocrates advice that our food should be our medicine.

So, you have resolved to deal with your excess fat. In that case, here are some exercises that will really help you achieve your goals of a sleek and efficient machinery of a body.

The Triangle: Technique: Standing with feet about 3 feet apart, bend

the left knee to the same level with your hip. Keep the right leg straight with the foot placed horizontally to the left foot which is facing leftward. Leave the left hand open and placed next to the left foot.

Straighten the right hand and bring it down so that your bicep touches lightly your right ear.

Stay in the posture for some 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.

Benefits: The triangle posture firms the thighs. It reduces fat on the sides and upper arms The Single Leg Raise: Technique: Lying flat on your belly, place the hands by your side. With your chin on the floor, raise up the left leg to an angle of about 90 degrees from the floor. Hold the posture for about 10 - 15 seconds.

Change legs and repeat.

Benefits: This posture tones up the muscle of the legs. It firms the buttocks by reducing excess fat.

Yoga Classes you’re carrying around. Good.

But the problem must be approached with caution. You must have a weight loss programme that your body can tolerate. Too great a pace and the attendant exhaustion might discourage you from trying The triangle posture anymore.

STARTED Physical Therapy Centre @ 32 Ademola,

Adetokumbo

Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

P AGE 24 — SUND AY Vanguard , OCTOBER 25 , 2015 SUNDA

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 08056180152, SMS only

Mum, dad, can I move back home with the kids? had not realised just “Ihow valuable my own

parents’ presence in my children’s lives would be until I moved back to the family home with them and brought my three children with me”, said 41-year-old Ijeoma, a pharmacist with a pharmaceutical company.

“I now appreciate the wonder of grandparents - they know how to quell a toddler’s tantrum, how to cajole a reluctant baby into eating. This is because they have experience and wisdom.

After all, they ’ve practised with their own children ... “ Ijeoma had gotten married to Sheriff, 12 years ago - she was a chemistry teacher in a private secondary school and her husband an accountant. “Within five years, we’d had all the three children we agreed we wanted. Life was good but we scarcely had any money saved towards the purchase of our dream home. Then Sheriff had a call from a very close friend who lived in Ibadan, his native town, to form a partnership with him.

Sheriff had grown up in Ibadan, when his dad, an indigene, was a top civil servant and he still had friends there. It was agreed he should come down so the details of the partnership could be ironed out.

“Shortly after, Sheriff and I moved to his home town where property was a third of the price it was in Lagos. So for the cost of a two-bed flat in a dreary Lagos suburb, we could live in a spacious house with a garden. I was lucky to land a job

their selflessness. But Papa is 71 and my mother 66 - they have a right to a quiet retirement. Of course I get depressed from time to time about how my marriage had turned out. But with my parents help, the future is hopeful. For that I am boundlessly grateful.”

as a pharmacist and our careers flourished. Our third child was about two years old when things changed. Suddenly, Sheriff started going out more, leaving me to cope with the kids. Then stories of his infidelity started trickling back to me. It was a bit humiliating when he got one of the junior accountants in the firm pregnant and told me to my face he was in love with her.

“It was at this stage I realised I wanted the comfort I had with my parents - the pull of my family in Lagos had become wrenching.

Sheriff ’s parents were divorced and lived far away from us and it was no use looking for any sympathy from them. The attraction of a life in Lagos, close to my parents was stronger than this lonely life I had

with a husband who didn’t care. So I moved back in three years ago with the children.

“I guess it was a relief for my husband whose protest was not convincing to say the least. The move was the best thing I’d done in years. Without my parents help, I would be paying for a full-time house-help making any savings impossible. But more than that, my parents’ constant presence in their lives has enriched them immeasurably. Dad helped the children with their home-work and mum found the patience to play with the kids and feed my last child who could be really picky with his food.

1\ “Yet there are times when I feel that we must have tried their patience though my parents make

no compliant. They should be enjoying the fact -: that all their four children are grown and on their own - except me, the prodigal daughter who’d scurried back home to lick my wounds from a broken marriage.

My children and I had taken the two rooms I shared with my siblings when we were growing up. Rooms that should be converted into guestrooms for their other grandchildren when they feel like staying over.

And caring for three young children is a young person’s job, so I know mum and dad must get tired, especially as the energy of my last two is inexhaustible.

“Some few months back, dad called me into his study and presented me with papers to a plot of land he’d bought years back. It was mine if

that is how I can’t do without your love. As your name goes, you are a GIFT sent to me from God. I Love you babe to infinito.

Ovie Ukochovwera, Ovis1302@gmail.com

Y

OUR column to express your loving thoughts in words to your sweetheart. Don’t be shy. Let it flow and let him or her know how dearly you feel.

Write now in not more than 75 words to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E.mail: sunlovenotes@yahoo.com Please mark your envelope: “LOVE NOTES"

My Sunshine

Can a flapping bird do without the blue sky or a happy-jumping fish play without the river/sea? So

RELATIONSHIP BOUNDS

A relationship is like a computer;gabbage in and gabbage out. People who are in successful relationships work on it regularly.

A relationship is like a building,not only the bricklayer works on it,the carpenter must do her job too. A relationship is just like a pool,when there's no trust,there's a possibility of you getting hurt.

A relationship is a journey,you must be ready and willing to take one step at a time with determination. A relationship is like a baby,it

I could raise enough cash to build on it. I almost burst into tears.

I’d had a bit of money put by since I wasn’t paying any rents and embarked on starting with a two-bedroom bungalow I could move in with the kids. While I am moved beyond words by the bond between my children and parents, I’d desperately wished we were making memories in our own home too dad had now made that dream into a reality.

“One day soon, my children and I will have our own place. But from shared living, I’ve learned that having the people you love around you when you are bringing up children is immeasurably wonderful. My parents’ magnanimity and generosity is humbling and I’m constantly amazed by the depth of

Super Stud? What Super Stud? (Humour) A woman and her husband file for divorce.

While the husband is moving out his belongings, he notices a mysterious box under the bed. Opening it, he finds three eggs and hundreds of Naira in cash. “What are the eggs for?” he asks his soon-to-be ex wife.

“Well,” she explains, “every time we had rubbish sex, I would put an egg in the box.”

“That’s not bad,” the husband replies proudly.

“Three eggs in 35 years of marriage is nothing to be ashamed of. But what about the cash?” “Ah,” the wife grins, “every time I gathered a dozen, I sold them.”

You’ve Got To Be Joking! (Humour) A young woman is feeling frustrated at her husband’s lack of interest in sex, so she looks online for ways to add some pizzazz. Finding a website selling crotchless panties, she decides to order them. While her husband is watching telly one evening, she puts on the crotchless knickers, strolls between her fella and the TV and naughtily tosses one leg up his chair arm.

“Want some of this, big boy?” she purrs. “Are you kidding?” he cries.

“Look what it did to your panties!”

needs food, honesty,love and thoughtfulness to grow.

Chris Onunaku 08032988826/08184844015

Lovely existence

If I have to choose another life,another story and another existence,it will be one in which I will be who I am today-wife and bestfriend to my man, Adeolu Temitope Vincent. Am glad the Heavens created you,and am happier that I met you. You are a representative of God's love. And till death do us part,I'll love you!

Vincent Adenike, adenike_lawal01@yahoo.com 09034656197

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 25 08116759757

CONTROVERSY

Did LUTH female consultant commit suicide or killed in domestic violence?

•She had his amily histtor oryy of depression – FFamily •Aut opsy repor ampered with – Rights gr oups •Autopsy reportt mus mustt not be ttampered groups •Cor oner’s inques way – Hospit al •Coroner’s inquestt under underw Hospital

BY CHIOMA OBINNA ow did Dr. Hestia IdiodiThomas die?

This is the million-dollar question the police, Lagos State government, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where she was a consultant, and the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, are battling to answer.

While there are speculations that her death was a case of domestic

H

violence, there is a school that believes it was suicide.

Meanwhile, sources at LUTH alleged that the mother of two had a history of depression. In the midst of these conflicting views, it is difficult to really draw up a conclusion. This is even as the Lagos State branch of the NMA set up a committee to investigate the circumstance surrounding the death. For its path, Lagos State government has vowed to see the case to its logical conclusion. The young consultant paediatric surgeon was said to have been brought to the LUTH Accident and Emergency Department, on Tuesday, October 14, following injuries she allegedly sustained in curious circumstances at home.

According to a statement by the management of LUTH, all efforts at resuscitating her failed; she was pronounced dead.

In the meantime, there is the allegation that Idiodi-Thomas could have been a victim of domestic violence, going by her state after she was rushed to hospital that day.

A source at her department at LUTH claimed that the victim

came in a pool of blood with a nylon bag covering her head, face

smashed while her chest and arms were fractured.

“The husband told us she had a history of depression and suicidal attempts. I heard that she jumped off the second floor. I spoke with some of her colleagues, it seems it’s a case of suicide. The family of the deceased has maintained that their in-law, who was like a son to them, was not responsible for their daughter’s death. The mother of the deceased was said to have pleaded with some of the members of NMA , who visited her home, not to

abandon her son in-law, ”the source told Sunday Vanguard.

The mother of the deceased was said to have wondered why someone will be as insensitive and wicked as to conclude that her son-in-law killed her daughter.

“She cursed those who started the killing rumour because it only added to her pain which was already unbearable. The mother, who claimed to be a principal officer in a university and has some background in psychology, claimed she knows

•Dr Idiodi-Thomas the tell tale signs of domestic violence.

According to her, she visited the couple often and would not have hesitated to forcefully drag her daughter out of the marriage had that been the case”, the source added. The source said the old woman broke down when she saw the newspaper that carried the story. Further investigations by Sunday Vanguard revealed the family had since directed the police to stay further investigations into the case. Sources close to the police at the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, SCIID, Yaba, said the family demanded that the late consultant’s husband, Dr. Femi Thomas, be released unconditionally and further investigations into the death

halted. According to the sources, the family believes the husband of the deceased had no had in the death of their daughter. It was

The young consultant paediatric surgeon was said to have been brought to the LUTH Accident and Emergency Department, on Tuesday, October 14, following injuries she allegedly sustained in curious circumstances at home.

also gathered that the family may have collected a coroner inquest permission to enable them bury the deceased. When approached by Sunday Vanguard, the husband declined to speak on the issue as, according to him, it was a coroner case. Thomas believed that once the coroner inquest report is out, the controversy will be rested.

NMA to unravel mystery Shocked by media reports, Lagos State branch of NMA condemned the linkage of the death of the deceased to the husband. The NMA, through its Public Relations Officer, Dr Ibrahim Ogunbi, wondered why some journalists

should carry stories of such

sensitive matter without proper investigations. . “We in the NMA are not happy with what is reported in the social media and the national dailies”, Ogunbi said. Dr. Tope Ojo, Lagos NMA Chairman, also described the case as a sensitive issue that should be treated with caution.

Reacting to alleged withdrawal of the case from the police by the family of the deceased, Ojo, who said the NMA was not aware of the development, said that will be strange. To him, the case is beyond the family because it is now a coroner case. “Whether they want it or not, it does not matter. Their view does not count at this level. It is now a coroner inquest. For now, there is no litigation”, the NMA boss said.

While calling for speedy completion of the coroner inquest, he said part of the things delaying the report is that there may be need for forensic expert who will link the autopsy to the environment where the incident

took place. He, however, called those in charge of the procedure to hasten the process. The climax of the controversy trailing the death was the condemnation of domestic violence and abuse of women. The death sparked off condemnation from some human rights bodies which called for sanctions against domestic violence. One of such groups is the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, DSVRT. The group, through its Coordinator, Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, demanded speedy release of the autopsy report and submission to the Directorate, Public Prosecution, DPP, Lagos State Ministry of Justice. It threatened that if the report indicated that Idiodi-Thomas was a victim of domestic violence, the state government will not hesitate to act.

Another group, Project Alert on Violence Against Women, demanded fresh autopsy on the deceased’s body.

According to the group, an independent team of medical experts should perform a fresh and unbiased forensic autopsy on the

late doctor. The Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Chris Bode, had, in a statement, appealed to the public to respect the memory of the dead and leave the family to mourn, confirming that the police were promptly informed and a coroner’s inquest into the case was almost completed.

Ibadan’s latest ‘tourist attraction’ P

ARTY organizers and event planners in Ibadan are in for good times as a new event centre in the Oyo State capital, Bashmol, has put in place state-of-the-art facilities, expansive car parks and mouthwatering incentives, making the organization, management and attendance of parties easy.

The ultra modern centre, located opposite Holy Trinity Grammar School, off Old Ife Road, has two halls with capacity for over 2,000 guests, executive lounges, special kitchens, managed by well trained and experienced personnel.

Unveiling the centre during a facility tour, the Business Development Manager of Bashmol Event Centre, Mr. Daniels Olayiwola Suara,

disclosed that the facility was built to set a new pace in party and event management in Ibadan in particular and the South West in general.

According to him, the event centre took notice of the laxities in similar facilities across the state to come up with a centre geared towards giving party organizers and planners the best in terms of quality and returns. He maintained that security arrangement in around the centre “ is perfect” and boasted further that “ you can never experience three seconds of power failure in Bashmol”.

He disclosed that the centre is guided by five core values: Integrity, customer’s satisfaction, cleanliness, innovation and security.

The Business Development Manager told the stakeholders, made up of event managers and planners, tourism, entertainment writers and other social promoters, that the centre

would ensure that the interests of customers were adequately taken care of .

Suara, taking the special guest of honour, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan (third from right) , Mrs Olamide Philips Ojo and Mr Sola Obashola round the centre .

PAGE 26— SUNDAY

Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015 08116759757

LAGOS MANUFACTURER’S ABDUCTION SAGA

‘Kidnappers kept me for 42 days after collecting huge ransom’

•Says wife negotiated his release from Canada

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA & EBERE AHAM THE home of Chief James Uduji, Chairman of Cometstar Manufacturing Ltd, who was abducted on September 7, has become a Mecca of sort as friends and relatives have been trooping in to felicitate with him after his release. Uduji, who narrated his ordeal to Sunday Vanguard when we visited, gave a vivid account of how he was kidnapped on his way back from office by four heavily armed men, six weeks ago.

He claimed that while in captivity, his family was divided into three. “I had just returned from Canada where I visited my wife who gave birth a month ago. One week after , I was kidnapped. My other children were in boarding school. My wife and I were communicating through my abductors. They allowed me to communicate with her,”the victim narrated.

“On the day I was kidnapped, I was returning home from my office. That was around 4:30 pm, in broad daylight. The abductors took me to an unknown place. I could not see anything or guess where I was

because I was blindfolded throughout. I was kidnapped by the four men close to my house.One of my drivers was driving the car while another sat with him in the front passenger seat. I sat at the rear.

One of the drivers was shot, while the windscreen injured me at the back. But, thank God, the shot driver survived. I was sleeping. It was the sound of gunshots that woke me up and, immediately, the four armed men dragged me out of the vehicle into their own vehicle

One of the drivers was shot, while the windscreen injured me at the back.

But, thank God, the shot driver survived

and zoomed off.

“I really thank God that I survived the ordeal because being in captivity for six weeks is no joke. Not everyone can survive what I went through. I also thank God for the lion heart he gave me to be able to go through the trial.

The gunshots I heard helped me to stay strong for myself and my family.

“The six weeks were terrible.

I do not wish my enemy that kind of experience. They actually gave me VIP treatment.

I wasn’t beaten. I was given whatever I wanted to eat. I was allowed to shower once a day and that was only when I was not blindfolded. I savoured a little bit of freedom. The abductors kept monitoring news both in the print and broadcast media, they read news papers frequently, and they knew what

•Chief James Uduji was going on in the outside world. I was the only victim in my room, so I don’t know if there were other prisoners. I know it wasn’t done in their right minds and I pray that God forgives them.

“The police did not do anything. I was kidnapped 4:30pm, in broad daylight. The abductors shot into the air and took me away and no policeman came.

“For security reasons, I don’t

want to say the amount that was paid (as ransom) but my family met their demands before I was released. Although the experience was terrible, I am not scared, neither do I have plans to relocate from the country. The police didn’t play any role in my release. Our security system is very poor. My wife came back from Canada with our baby on Monday, the same day my abductors released me”.

You don’t need to run from new generation cars — Olayisade, Nationwide Motorwerks boss

BY WALE AKINOLA rince Kehinde Olayisade is the P CEO and Managing Director of Nationwide Motorwerks, based in Lagos.The United States (US) trained health management administrator also trained as an auto specialist out of his sheer passion for cars. In this interview, Olayisade says new generation cars are not difficult to maintain, contrary to the thinking in many quarters.

The cars of today are so fundamentally different from those of the past. Many people even believe today’s cars are over engineered that they are not fit for our clime. What are the differences really between the old and the new?

I will not say today’s cars are over engineered. The issue is that, everyday, our technology is improving. The cars of today are powered by sensors and computers. That is why you need specialized equipment and technicians to keep them on the road.

Innovations and technological advancement

makes them efficient, both in performance and energy efficiency. At Nationwide Motorwerks, we are positioned to tackle the new generation cars’ challenges.

The cars of today, many people think they are difficult to

maintain. How true is that notion?

Today’s cars are very complex.

There is no doubt about that. That is why, like I said,you need specialized equipment, from diagnostics to mechanical and technical perspectives. You need the right diagnostic equipment.

You need different scanners and Engine Analyzers to properly diagnose. But, you need more than scanning. For the diagnosis to be thorough, you need the engine analyzer. The analyzer analyses the engine, checks the performance parameters,all the components and can pinpoint where there is a deficiency. An engine analyzer is a complex, multi-function instrument, sometimes called a scope, that can help diagnose engine and engine-related problems or assist in tuning following an overhaul.

An engine analyzer can be used with gasoline and diesel powered vehicles.

What are the common problems that come with the new generation cars that sort of make people want to avoid them?

Like I said, the cars are powered by sensors and computers. Once the sensors and computers start malfunctioning because they have lifespan, you have to replace them. It is like the crankshaft sensor, if the sensor goes bad, the engine will not work well. But the moment the sensor is replaced, you get the best of the car.

How do you describe the sensor to a layman?

Today’s vehicles are obviously

I will not say today’s cars are over engineered. The issue is that, everyday, our technology is improving.

The cars of today are powered by sensors and computers

more complicated. Some of this complication is the result of legislated exhaust emissions and safety regulations. Some of it is due to the vast array of power accessories and luxury conveniences on all but the most basic cars. Digital computers now control engines. Luxury cars have “body computers” to control luxury features. And all of these computers rely on fast-acting, reliable car engine sensors.

On the plus side, these digital electronic systems make it easy to constantly monitor vital engine parameters like oil pressure, coolant temperature and exhaust emissions and report back to the driver when something is amiss.

Car engine sensors continually monitor major systems, sending real-time signals to on board computers. And these computers keep track of everything, alerting the driver only when something is wrong or when the vehicle is due for service.

Injector, fuel system and alignment Continues on page 27

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 27 08116759757

BY DAYO JOHNSON, Akure

W

ORRIED by the inhuman treatment meted to psychiatric patients by their handlers across the country, the practice of flogging and chaining them have been outlawed in the Ondo State psychiatrist hospitals. Also, forcing the patients to undergo fasting by religious leaders under the guise of casting demons out of them has been criticized. A psychiatrist consultant at the Neuropsychiatric Specialists Hospital, Akure, Dr Akinnuoye Akinwunmi, told Sunday Vanguard that the dignity of mentally deficient patients should henceforth be respected.

Akinwunmi, who spoke during this year ’s mental day celebration, held under the theme, “Dignity in mental health”, lamented that people with mental health problems are among the most socially excluded and abused group in

‘No more flogging, chaining of mental patients in Ondo’

•Dr Sajo

the society. “Respecting an individual’s identity and protecting this dignity will help to promote recovery. The act that violates dignity and fails to respect individuals can lead to further damage. You feel good or better in yourself when people treat you with kindness and compassion”, he stated. On the roles and services of medical social workers in promoting dignity in mental health, he said mentally challenged clients should be treated with respect while disrespecting should be avoided during consultation.

The Consultant Psychiatrist and Chief Medical Director of Neuropsychiatric Specialist Hospital, Dr Sajo Sunday, identified stigma, shame,

discrimination and lack of access to care as factors militating against successful treatment of patients with mental disorder.

Sunday said these factors prevent individuals in all countries from seeking treatment on timely basis.

Decrying the negative effects of stigma and discrimination on psychiatric patients, he stressed the need for dignity in mental health services and change in public perception.

The Chairman of Association of Psychiatric Nurses of Nigeria (APNON), Ondo State Chapter, Mr Gbiri Adeola, urged health workers to respect the individual identity of patients and maintain good interpersonal relationship

with them. Adeola also called for public awareness to enlighten the community, government and nongovernmental organisations on the best way to relate with, and support people with mental health problems. The APNON Chairman condemned the practice of flogging, chaining and forcing psychiatric patients to undergo fasting of any kind by religious leaders under the guise of casting demons out of them. “Religious leaders should note that psychiatric patients are not animals and they should be respected by stopping all inhuman treatments being meted out to them.

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Battle ffor or the Odemo of Isara st ool rages stool

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

T

HE battle for the stool of the Odemo of Isara, Remo in Ogun State has shifted to the court.

However, two years after a case was filed by a party to the stool, a High Court, sitting in Sagamu, has fixed November 10 date to hear the suit filed

by Prince Adetayo Odunsi challenging the nomination of Albert Mayungbe as the Odemo.

Justice A.A. Babawale fixed the date after he took over the case from the former judge handling it.

Although parties in the matter and their counsel were present in court at the last hearing, Babawale said she would need to acquaint herself with what happened in the pre-hearing stages.

The defendants in the suit, filed in 2013, are the head of the ruling house, Prince Obafemi Awoyade; Secretary, Remo North Local Government; Oliwo of Isara, Chief Ajibowu Ogunfowodu; Apena of Isara, Chief Jimoh Soyombo; Chief Ladipo Ogunyemi; Ogbeni Odi of Isara, Chief Olajubu Osibote; Ekeji Asipa Odi, Chief Tunde Kalejaiye; and Asipa Odi of Isara, Chief Owuye Logba.

Others are Ekeji Asipa Odi of Isara, Chief Efuwape Sotikare; Olori Emo of Isara, Chief Bashiru Awoniyi; Ekeji Olori Emo of Isara Chief Korede Ogunwole; Asipa Emo of Isara, Chief Nosiru Sodipe; Ekeji Asipa Emo, Chief Adewole Sopitan; Governor of Ogun State; Executive Council of Ogun State; the State Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Local Government and the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice as second to 18th defendants respectively.

In his 32 point statement of claim, Odunsi, who is a direct descendant of the late Oba

Oyemade Mayungbe and progenitor of ErinsibaAyoledoye Ruling House, averred that he is the one lawfully entitled to the stool of Odemo.

He averred further that when Mayungbe ascended the throne, and “in order to differentiate Ogunsakin, his stepson and an outsider, from other children in the palace, he made Ogunsakin an “Odi” meaning a servant to the king.

The plaintiff stated that

under Yoruba tradition applicable in Isara-Remo, an “Odi” is not a member of a ruling house and can never qualify for nomination into the stool of Odemo and that Ogunsakin also served as “Odi” to Oba Poke, the successor to Oba Mayungbe.

House but a lineage of past Odis in Isara-Remo and thus not qualified for nomination as a candidate for the Odemo of Isara chieftaincy.

In their statement of defence and counter claim, the defendants admitted some of the averments of the claimant and deny others.

Odunsi stated that the selection of the first defendant as Odemoelect “ is wrongful and should be declared null and void on the grounds that he is not a member of Erinsiba-Adyoledoye Ruling

The first defendant, Albert Mayungbe, insisted on being a “bonafide member and descendant of the Erinsiba/ Ayoledoye Ruling House and that the late Oba Mayungbe, aside

from being a trader, met and married Arobo in Akure where Ogunsakin, his grandfather, was born. He further claimed that “Odis” in Isara are not servants to the Obas but appointed from among the royal houses and trusted relations and that his grandfather, Ogunsakin, rendered assistance to Oba Samuel Akinsanya and that in appreciation, he appointed his son, Oyekunle Mayungbe as his “Odi” contrary to the claims of the claimant.

You don’t need to run from new generation cars Continues from page 26 Let me also say that the cars of the past run on carburetor. Today,

they run on injectors which many people think is problematic and will rather have the car with the carburetor. At Nationwide Motorwerks, we have specialized equipment to service, test and clean the injectors. A local mechanic, what he does is to take out the injector from the car, put petrol in a bowl and then use brush dipped into the petrol to clean the injector. That process puts the car at the risk of catching fire and the job is not rightly done. We have an equipment that tests the injector – and can process eight injectors at a time – cleans and takes it back to the factory setting. The machine also cleans the fuel system.

When that is done, you immediately experience more miles per gallon, it boosts your high speed performance, and it responds better when you press on the accelerator. No hard starting, hesitating, good performance, fuel efficient. Our operation is precision and technology-based. We pride on fixing right the first time, no guess work. On alignment, we have about 32,000 cars loaded in our system that is up-gradable every six months.

The system has four sensors that go on the four wheels. This is done by precision, no guess work .And we save the history of your car that you can retrieve when you need it. We have all it takes to work on any new generation car.

Our local mechanics, how

equipped are they to handle the complex problems of the new generation cars?

Unless the mechanic has undergone the specialized training that the handling of these cars requires, he may not be able to handle them. Unless the mechanic goes to school to learn the complexity of the new dispensation, all he can resort to is trial and error.

Technology evolves everyday. Unless the mechanic is an innovator, I don’t see how he can fix the new generation car. The car of five years ago is even going obsolete. Today, car makers are talking about the Google car – driverless car. When such a car has a problem, how do you fix it. We are talking about the hybrids – fuel efficient, energy efficient, not powered by petrol – how do you fix them when they have faults?

A local mechanic that has not gone to school or has not updated his knowledge won’t be able to operate in the next era because the new generation cars are technology based unlike the cars of the days of old.

So, how do you build bridges between the old generation cars and the new? In essence, what does your expertise has to offer in terms of fixing the deficiency?

We are Nationwide Motorwerks use technology in resolving automobile challenges. We diagnose right the first time. If you don’t have the right diagnosis, there is no way you can get to the root of the problem and fix it.

Right from diagnosis to detecting the technical issues, we do it right. We have

the new era equipment and personnel to resolve the new generation cars’faults.

Many people believe that cars don’t last in Nigeria. Would you ascribe this to our poor maintenance culture or some other factors?

Lack of maintenance can kill the best engineered car. You need to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedules to get the best from your car.

Let me use as example what we call car servicing in Nigeria but they refer to as Lube or oil change in the United States.

The oil in your engine makes the car run well. If you don’t change it over time, it can kill the engine. So, regular maintenance goes a long way to keeping the car in good shape. Not changing your oil would cause all the particles in the oil (generally metal shavings) to scar your pistons and cylinders and you will lose compression eventually. Also, if oil burns off, the rods will start tapping generally from bearing failure, and unless you like working on engines, you don’t want that to happen.

How often must the engine oil be changed?

That question,based on today’s technology, is relative. Sometimes, if you use the regular oil, the change could be done at every 3,000 miles or 5,000 kilometers; if you use synthetic oil, depending on the mileage of your car, it is at every 5,000 miles or 8,000 kilometers. However, I have an oil variant Imported from USA that if you use it, you don’t need to do engine

servicing until after every 12,000 miles or once a year – even up to 15,000 miles.

And the benefit is that upfront you are saving yourself the stress of going every now and then to the car garage to do servicing as well as saving money.

Meanwhile, your engine will run better.

How affordable is it for the common man to maintain the new generation car?

The impression out there is that maintaining it is at a huge cost; in other words, it is very expensive.Our maintenance service is for everybody.

When you go to the dealer, a regular oil change for a four-cylinder car will cost you up to N27,000. But here it is only N14,000. And we use the same oil, better equipmentandpersonnelandtechnology.

With us, when you come for servicing or any issue, or program includes complimentary service: car wash, which many dealers don’t give. Here, we add valuetofixingyourcarproblems.Ourtotal qualityprogramentailsthatyourcarleaves our yard a lot better than it came.

So,whoisPrinceKehindeOlayisade?

Itisalwaysgoodtofollowyourpassion.I have been dealing with cars for over 25 years.Ijustlovecars.Itrainedasahealthcare manager. I am a State of Florida licensed Nursing-home Administrator with a master’s degree in healthcare management.However,Iwasnotsatisfied.

Nothing gives me joy than working on cars. I am a car freak, and I am at the point of relocating to Nigeria, maybe in retirementalthough I am still young,I decided to follow my passionautomobile – and make money as well.

PAGE 28 - SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015

AYO ONIKOYI 08052201215

San Sanyya Ona Onayyoade in blaze of glor gloryy @ 50

I

f being 50 is truly golden, Mr Sanya Onayoade, a director of ISO-Black Concept Limited, who turned 50 recently savoured the moment in exhilarating show of joy that will leave memories to cherish for years to come. The birthday party held at the Lagos Country Club, last weekend, and his family and friends spared no efforts in giving him a truly golden moment.

Photos by JOE AKINTOLA, Photo Editor.

.

A cross section of the Kabbals Club at the 50th Birthday ceremony of Mr Sanya Onayoade.

Agbiriogus @ daught er’s daughter’s wedding in Abuja

T

he Agbiriogus spared no expense and made a great impact when their daughter married Aboyowa Omasan Etchie, son of Peter Etchie in Abuja recently. Photos by Gbemiga Olamikan.

L-R: Bride's mum, Mrs Florence Agbiriogu, the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Aboyowa Omasan Etchie and bride’s dad, Mr Agbiriogu.

L-R: Agbiriogu family, the couple , Mr. and Mrs. Aboyowa Omasan Etchie and sibling.

L-R: Hon S.O.J Adeyemi, Prince Eddy Ademola, Chief Bimbo Olaniyi,Otunba Gbenga Ekundayo and Deacon Tunde Thani.

Mr Sanya Onayoade, (the celebrant) (r) with his wife.

Mr Gbenga Adefaye, GM/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard (r) with Mr Albert Aderemi.

L-R: Mrs Augusta Kadiri; Mrs. Nike Oladejo and Mrs. Yemi Oyewo.

The couple , Mr. and Mrs. Aboyowa Omasan Etchie.

Festac R otar ocational month and a wards Ro taryy Club Central vvocational aw ROTARY Club of Festac Central held its vocational month penultimate Saturday at the Golden Tulip Hotel with presentation of awards to some deserving individuals who had distinguished themelves in service to the Festac community. Photos by Akeem Salau.

L-R; Rotn Lara Adeyemi, Asst. Governor, Rotary Club of Festac Central;presenting award of honour to Mrs Sherifat Qudri;Chief Imam Muhammedu Musa in white;Rotn Victor Achuonu, past President and Mrs Monsurat Ibrahim.

L-R:Rotn Folasade Adara, Rotn.Mackings Rotn Casandra Bob-Manuel Udokwu, PRO Rotary Neizianya,World Class President;Rotn Club of Festac Central (l) and Rotn Sawyerr Tonia Agugoesi and Rotn Chuks Ozigbo.

Benjamin.

SUNDAY, Vanguard, OCTOBER 25 , 2015, PAGE 29

I

Tonnie Iredia’s son w eds in Benin weds

t was merriment in the home of former Director General of Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Dr Tonnie Iredia recently when his son, Uyiosa,took his beau, Esohe to the altar. The wedding which held in Benin City attracted high-profile individuals from diverse walks of life.

The new couple, Esohe and Uyiosa.

Dr Tonnie Iredia and wife (groom's parents).

L-R: Mrs Adesuwa Iredia, Dr Tonnie Iredia; Irene Iredia and Betty Igbeyi

Mr. and Mrs. Ayanro (bride's parents).

Prof. Emmanuel Emovon and wife.

Senator Matthew Irhoghide (r) and Dan Orbih, Edo State PDP Chairman

Ogundes, Akinnolas in traditional splendour

I

t was almost like a motion picture, scripted in style, cast in panache, produced in splendour and delivered in pomp when Afolakemi Ololade Ogunde, daughter of the late Chief Hubert Ogunde and M r s Oluwayemisi Ogunde and Akinkunmi Akinroyeje Akinnola, son of the late High Chief Ilemobayo Oreoluwa Akinnola were united as wife and husband traditionally. The occasion held at Harbour Point, Victoria Island reeked of power and pageantry. Photos by Sola Oyelese

The couple, Mr and Mrs Akinroyeje Akinnola

Akinkunmi

L-R: Princess Olufunke Adedoyin, Hon. Mrs Omolola Abiola Edewor and Mrs Elsie Tayne Hamman.

L-R: Chief (Mrs) Bose Akinnola, (groom’smum), Mr. Akinyinka Akinnola, Mrs Mojisola Ladipo and Prof. Kayode Odusote

L-R: Hon Justice Olusola Oguntade (retd) Chief Sammuel Adedoyin, Chief Chief Rasaq Okoya and Alhaji Olalekan Saliu.

L-R: Princess Hon Funke Adedoyin, Chief Oluwemmo Ogunde, Mrs Oluyemisi Ogunde, (bride’s mum) and Mrs. Yinka Oluwemmo

L-R: Chief Ajibola Ogunsola, Chief B Adetunji, Justice Oguntade (retd), Chief Ope Bademosi and Chief Lai Mohammed .

PAGE 30 — SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015

C M Y K

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 31

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

F

OR 29 years after the 30-month NigeriaBiafra war that ended in January 1970, after claiming about three million lives, nobody pushed for or agitated for the resurrection of the defunct Biafran Republic.

The best Igbo leaders could do was to complain about the marginalisation of the ethnic group inhabited areas of the country in terms of projects, state and local council creations, appointments, federal allocation, recruitments and promotions in the civil service and armed forces, among others.

However, the tide changed on September 13, 1999, less than four months of the country’s return to democratic rule.

Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, an Indiantrained lawyer, appeared on the political horizon with the formation of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), a secessionist movement with the aim of securing the resurgence of the defunct state of Biafra from Nigeria.

MASSOB’s headquarters is in Okwe, Okigwe, Imo State.

To actualise Republic of Biafra, Uwazuruike and his lieutenants unveiled a 25stage non-violent plan, they have been pursuing the agenda since then. The group’s philosophy is hinged on the principle of nonviolence as propagated by Mahatma Gandhi, the reverred Indian founding father.

The plan includes peaceful protests and rallies, operating two governments -Biafran government in the Diaspora and a shadow government in Nigeria, hoisting of Biafran flags, release of Biafran currency and international passport, among others.

However, the Nigerian governments at the federal level and in the South-East geopolitical zone, which is the defunct Biafran heartland, accused MASSOB of violence and have embarked on massive crackdown on the group and its activities leading to the loss of many lives, especially on the part of the separatist group.

Crackdown Since its inception, MASSOB has continually alleged mass arrests and killing of its members by government forces. Its Sanitation Grassroots Information Spokesperson, Kelechi A Chukwu, alleged recently that government forces carry out secret executions of MASSOB members in detention centres and prisons nationwide.

In May 2008, the group released a list of 2,020 members alleged to have been killed by security agents since 1999.

Uwazuruike, on his part, was arrested on several occasions and charged with treason. In 2011, Uwazuruike and 280 MASSOB members were arrested in Enugu while attending a function in honour of the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and released a few days later.

In June 2012, the Human Rights Writers’ Association of C M Y K

’ a r f a i B w e ‘n e h T struggle!

•Injustice fuels self-determination movement – Ikokwu, Ezeife •Count us out – Igbo leaders •Activists and the burden of separatism •DSS refuses to produce Nnamdi Kanu — Lawyer Nigeria condemned the alleged killing of 16 members of MASSOB by security agencies in Anambra.

In February 2013, MASSOB claimed that several corpses found floating in the Ezu River on the boundary of Enugu and Anambra States were those of its members previously arrested by the police.

The group claimed that the police routinely executed MASSOB members without trial. On September 13, 2015, the police in Anambra State arrested about 25 MASSOB members who were marking their 16th anniversary; one member was shot.

From MASSOB to BZM, IPOB Following the crackdown on the group, claims and counter claims of sabotage and allegations that the group was imposing and collecting levies from ordinary people, especially in the South-East, it was not long before MASSOB became factionalised.

Today, there are at least three groups fighting for the actualisation of Biafra. They are MASSOB; Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM), led by Barr Benjamin Onwuka, and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by Nnamdi Kanu.

In spite of the factionalisation, the

The group’s philosophy is hinged on the principle of nonviolence as propagated by Mahatma Gandhi, the reverred Indian founding father

promoters continued their Biafran crusade, insisting that they have the right to self-determination.

A protagonist of the crusade said: ‘’The UN, on September 12/ 13 2007, passed a General Assembly Resolution (A/61/295) with overwhelming majority recognizing and supporting the rights of all ethnic nations to selfdetermination. ‘self-determination is the principle and practice whereby a nation, for example, an ethnic nation is in control of its own people, its own land, its own resources, and its own governance, independent of any other subtending political structure. The power of this resolution is evident from the fact that if it means that such an ethnic nation has to establish its own different and independent government from the government under which it currently finds itself, the right of the ethnic nation to do so is recognized and supported by UN. This means that we, the people of Biafra, have an internationally recognized right to establish Biafra Republic, independent and different from Nigeria. All other nations currently cobbled together into what is now called Nigeria each, as matter of fact,

also have the right. For that matter, all over the world, such nations abound, and they have this same right to selfdetermination.’’

Radio Biafra Riding on this crest, the promoters took the agitations to another level recently with the launch of Radio Biafra and aired anti-President Muhammadu Buhari’s programmes, which gave the Federal Government serious concerns with the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) jamming the station.

However, after being temporarily jammed by the NBC, Radio Biafra, promoted

by Nnamdi Kanu, has returned to the airwaves in the South East and some parts of the South-South. Speaking on the progress of the station, late August, Kanu boasted of its followership and promised that Biafra TV would be on air soon.

It was, therefore, not surprising that the IPOB leader was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) penultimate Monday on his arrival in Nigeria from London.

He was arraigned secretly at the Magistrate Court,Wuse 11, sitting in Abuja and granted bail on conditions he was yet to meet at press time.

Kanu’s arrest and detention sparked off protests in Port Harcourt, Asaba by thousands of pro-Biafran people who did not only demand the immediate release of Kanu but also Biafra freedom from Nigeria.

Only justice, equity will end agitation – Ikokwu Speaking on the issue, yesterday, Second Republic politician, Chief Guy Ikokwu, who is also a lawyer, said arresting Kanu and other proBiafran crusaders would not end the agitation by the separatist groups.

Continues on page 35

PAGE 32—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015

ANAMBRA:

The road to Radio Biafra •Agitators are propagandists – Police

BY VINCENT UJUMADU THE struggle for the actualization of Biafra Republic by proponents took a new twist last week with the arrest of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, by men of the Department of State Services, DSS. Expectedly, members of Kanu’s group in the fight for the actualization of Biafra, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, took to the streets in some major cities in the South East and South-South to protest the arrest.

Radio Biafra had been on air for some years and there were many people who listened to it religiously from where they were fed with propaganda that gives them the impression that most countries of the world, except Nigeria, were in support of the actualization of the Republic of Biafra. It was Radio Biafra that popularized the story that the United Nations would soon make a positive pronouncement concerning Biafra.

With such impression, the various Biafra groups, despite their internal wrangling, believe that something could come out of the agitation. Initially, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, was the body spearheading the struggle, but due to disagreements, mistrust among the leaders set in with the result that, apart from MASSOB, there also exist the Biafra Zionist Movement, BZM, headed by Benjamin Onwuka and IPOB, which has Kanu as the leader. MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, disowned the other two groups, just as the leadership of the two groups insist that Uwazurike has since compromised the struggle going by being uncomfortably close to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

To the ardent listeners of Radio Biafra, everything said in that station was true. It is, therefore, common to see people mounting powerful antenna on top of their houses to be able to be receive clear signals of the radio in many parts of Igbo land. Often times, after listening to Radio Biafra, the people would assemble in public places to discuss the latest news about efforts being made by leaders of Biafra and the international organizations to realize their dream republic and anybody who held a contrary opinion was usually dubbed a saboteur.

The station became more popular since its Director, Kanu, formed IPOB. As usual with the operations of the group, which is similar to that of MASSOB, the protests denouncing Kanu’s arrest were planned in remote areas of the states by the coordinators who only mobilized the women and C M Y K

others early enough in the major cities to be at the point of takeoff before security operatives realized what was happening.

One of the protesters, who gave her name simply as Grace, said those who brought the buses that conveyed them to Awka told them that Anambra State governor was going to address them as part of the recommendations by the United Nations for the final recognition of Biafra and that the journey to Awka was really an invitation by government. She said it was only when they assembled at Amawbia roundabout in the Anambra capital that the leaders started handing them placards to start marching to the nearby Governor’s Lodge.

She said: “My husband believes so much in Biafra and he has permanently stationed our radio dial on Radio Biafra and what we hear from the radio gives hope that the Republic of Biafra will soon be a reality. It was my husband that told me that all governors in the area known as Biafra were directed by the United Nations to address the people of Biafra that morning. I was therefore surprised when they started handing placards to us to carry to the Governor’s Lodge.”

In Awka, the leaders split the group, apparently to create more work for security operatives.

While one group moved towards the popular Aroma junction and displaying placards along the Enugu –Onitsha expressway, the other group converged at Amawbia junction and was heading to the Governor’s Lodge when they came face-to-face with security operatives.

The protesters demanded that Kanu be left alone because, according to them, he has not committed any offence.

However, as they approached the Governor’s Lodge, the police fired sporadically into the air and threw teargas canisters to

*Protesters ... allegedly deceived

It was Radio Biafra that popularized the story that the United Nations would soon make a positive pronouncement concerning Biafra disperse them. It was only then that most of the protesters knew that they had been deceived.

Elsewhere, another group protesting at the popular Aroma junction had encounter with the police and, eventually, many of them were arrested by the police.

Anambra State coordinator of IPOB, Mr. Ikechukwu Okoye, said their protest was not meant

to cause any trouble, adding that they were only on the streets to prevail on security operatives to release their leader. According to him, the protesters were going to plead with Governor Willie Obiano to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to release Kanu unconditionally.

He said: “We are only agitators who obey the laws of the land.

This is democracy and there is freedom of speech and freedom of movement. Why would anybody detain our leader and in the process be demanding bail fee of N2 million? We have not come to fight anybody because we are peace makers.”

Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hosea Karma, while reacting on the protest, said the demonstrators had to be picked by the police because they were parading along the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, thereby causing breach of peace.

The good thing, however, was that most of the people arrested during the protest, especially women, were later released because, according to a police source, ‘’most of those people on the streets were deceived by people who organized the protests without them (the organizers) joining the protest and wondered how long the propagandists would continue to feed the people with falsehood.

But while there were reports that MASSOB leader, Uwazurike, disowned Kanu and allegedly supported his arrest and detention by the federal

government, another faction of MASSOB came out strong to support him. National director of information of the breakaway MASSOB, Mr Uchenna Madu said it was identifying with Kanu in the spirit of brotherhood pursuing one objective for self determination.

Madu said: “If Nigeria is shivering and catching cold when international sympathizers/supporters of Biafra are openly and diplomatically expressing positive concerns on Biafra and Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest which subsequently pressurized the DSS to quickly but secretly arraign him before a court which also granted him bail, it shows that the end of Nigeria domination of Biafra has come.

“Our faction of MASSOB also condemns the opposition of Ralph Uwazuruike- led faction of MASSOB on Nnamdi Kanu.

How can Ralph Uwazuruike who claimed to be fighting for Biafra actualization openly support Nigeria government on this arrest of Nnamdi Kanu?

“Nnamdi Kanu was not suspended by Ralph Uwazuruike or MASSOB as claimed. Rather, he left MASSOB in 2009 when Biafra groups in Diaspora who jointly assisted and supported Ralph Uwazuruike in the quest for actualization of Biafra, found out that all the monetary commitment to the struggle from abroad and at home for execution of Biafra project were not judiciously used.”

EBONYI:

We are non-violent — Activists

BY PETER OKUTU

E

BONYI North R e g i o n a l C o o r d i n a t o r, MASSOB faction, Chief Anthony Nwokporo condemned the detention of the Biafra Radio Director, Nnamdi Kanu, by the DSS, describing Kanu as a Biafran genius who assisted in

lightening up the separatist struggle. “Nnamdi Kanu is a Biafran genius and reviver who assisted much in reestablishing the trust, motivation, reassurance of the Biafran struggle which Ralph Uwazuruike sabotaged romance with Nigeria government. We hail Nnamdi Kanu and demand for his release.” Also reacting,

Comrade Paul Agu of Ebonyi Central Zone restated his zone’s support for Kanu in the Biafran struggle and asked for his immediate release.“Even though we’re MASSOB, we support Nnamdi Kanu’s Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and Radio Biafra. Every genuine step actions or program for any pro-Biafran groups must

be supported. Also, Pastor Chidi Egwu of Ebonyi south zone stressed that no amount of arrest, detention and intimidation would deter them from the agitation. “For the sake of Biafra and Dim Chukwuemeka O. Ojukwu, our MASSOB shall support every non-violent but selfdetermination approach toward Biafra actualization”.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 33

ENUGU:

DSS refuses to produce Nnamdi Kanu

Count us out of self-determination move —Igbo leaders

•Remanded in custody against court order

BY FRANCIS IGATA

T

*Protesters ... disowned by Igbo leaders

BY FRANCIS IGATA

I

gbo leaders appear divided over the government move against Radio Biafra Director,Nnamdi Kanu Nnamdi’s lawyer,Mr. Egechukwu Obetta, told Sunday Vanguard on the phone, last Wednesday, that the DSS has not granted him access to his client who is also the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra,IPOD, despite a court order allowing him access to his lawyer and physician.

The magistrate court before which he was arraigned had granted Kanu bail last Monday in the sum of N2 million with a surety (civil servant) of grade level 16 in like sum.

President General, apex Igbo socio-cultural group,Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary EnwoIgariwey, when contacted on the phone,declined comments on the self-determination movement, saying, “I am at the airport on my way to South-Africa. The issue is a very sensitive one. I do not want to make casual statements on it. I will be back next week”.

A former Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,Chief Nduka Eya, echoed the same sentiment to Sunday Vanguard.

Eya said: “The young people who were born after and during

the civil war do not know the history of Nigeria. The civil war between Nigeria and Biafra ended in 1970. We are now a sovereign state of Nigeria.

“But there is nothing wrong if a group agitates for a state but you cannot do so by confrontation in a sovereign state of Nigeria. It is treason. Biafra ended with the civil war in 1970. The Federal Government should detain and charge him(Nnamdi) for treason.

I am an Igbo man and a Nigerian.

You cannot be agitating for a state within Nigeria adopting confrontation.

“When the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra,MASSOB,Chief Ralph Uwazuruike’s mother died,I was then the Secretary General of Onahaeze and pleaded for his release from detention to enable him bury his mother.

“I was among a private delegation, led by the late Senator Uche Chukwumerije, to Uwazuruike. We told Uwazuruike that `you cannot be talking of a sovereign Biafra inside a sovereign Nigeria’. Nnamdi should be charged for treason but his undue detention without charge cannot be supported.”

Another pan-Igbo group,Enugu Unity Forum,EUF,frowned at any

move to secede without employing constitutional means, adding that such confrontation will amount to treason.

President,EUF,Chief Tahil Ochil, said, “The law should take its course. It is not a criminal case and as such is bailable. He should not be detained more than the law prescribes. The Biafra struggle should not be confrontational. They should follow the dictates of the law. They should look at how Sudan broke up. As an Igbo man,I will be part of struggle if it is done constitutionally. But if it is done by force,I cannot be part of it.

“The Nigerian government should look at why agitations are rife from the North to South-west and South-south/South-east. They should go back to the National Conference report which addressed these issues that trigger ethnic unrest. Apart from Biafra,the Yoruba, through Odua people, are calling for their our state. The Boko-Haram issue in the North is a call by the northerners for secession. The Federal Government should implement the Confab report which addressed the injustices plaguing the nation.”

he Department of State Security Service,DSS,Friday,refusedtoproduceRadioBiafra Director,Nnamdi Kanu who was arrested last MondayonhisreturnfromUnitedkingdom,arraignedsecretly atMagistrateCourt,Wuse11,andgrantedbailunderstringent bailconditions. Nnamdi’sLawyer,Mr.EgechukwuObetta,who spoke to Sunday Vanguard in his Enugu office yesterday,said,”wehavefulfilledhisbailconditions.Although thebailconditionswerestringentwhichrequiredtheCertificate ofOccupancyofalandedpropertywithinAbujamunicipality,a level16officerintheMinistry,whichweeventuallymetinfull.

“The documents of the landed property was transmitted to theDSSprosecutingcounselbythecourtclerk. OnFriday,we expectedthattheDSSwouldhaveverifiedtheauthenticityof the landed property documents. As a matter of practice,the verification does not last beyond 24 hours. As at Friday, DSS did not transmit the verification to the court.

“On that same Friday,we brought the situation to the court’s attention upon which the court issued Form 36(FCT) ordering the DSS to produce the prisoner(Nnamdi). The Form36wasissuedbyJusticeAhmedUsmanShuaibudated October 23 ordering DSS to produce the prisoner.

“UpontheissuanceofthisForm36,thecourtordealwentto executetheorderbutcamebackunsuccessful.Hewasunable to produce the prisoner. The DSS latter granted me access to my client who is hale and hearty. He is in good spirit. His conditionisverygoodandhasalsobeengrantedaccesstohis medicaldoctor.

“He(Nnamdi) has instructed me to enjoin his followers to remaincalmandbelawabidingcitizens.TheDSSinsteadof obeying court order to remand my client in prison custody,choosetoremandhimintheirdetentionfacilityinorder to stall Form 36 ordering them to produce my client”.

ABIA:

Ikpeazu govt distances self from protest

BY ANAYO OKOLI.

I

n Abia State, when the news of the arrest of the man behind Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, broke, members of MASSOB and

their supporters spontaneously trooped to the streets in protests prompting security operatives chasing them up and down.

In Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, a group of women protesters were instantly dispersed by the police with teargas.

The ‘Port-Harcourt 20’treasonable felony trial •How the police managed peaceful protest

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

I

n Port-Harcourt, Rivers State capital, the crowd of protesters emptied into the streets that Tuesday morning demanding unconditional release of the Director, Radio Biafra, Mr Nnamdi Kanu, arrested by men of Department of State Service (DSS) in Lagos.

The protesters, who marched under the aegis of Indigenous People of Biafra, waved the flag of Biafra and chanted solidarity songs.

Many people kept wondering how the large crowd of protesters could be mobilized. “Honestly the number I saw convinces me that there is grievance in the heart of some section of the country”, a lady who did not want her name in print told Sunday Vanguard.

The protesters broke into about eight groups, marching through major roads in Port Harcourt and border local government areas. It was gathered that it was a strategy to ensure the action was felt in all parts of the state capital and environs.

Police patrol vehicles drove behind some of the groups. Some residents said it was the right thing the police did because if they had tried to stop the march, it could have made the

protesters turn violent. Some of the pro testers, who spoke said their demands include the state of Biafra, stressing that Biafra will not continue to remain in the realms of ideas. They also alleged unequal treatment, maginalization in the Nigerian federation.

The protest shut Port Harcourt down for several hours as it caused traffic gridlock.

Treasonable felony In the meantime, the police, on Wednesday, charged 20 of the protesters to a magistrate court in Port Harcourt for treasonable offence and related issues.

The accused, who were represented by counsel, were not allowed to take their plea, Chief Magistrate Andrew Jaja, after listening to arguments for bail and counter argument from the prosecuting counsel, Mr Ayo Ajaghe, adjourned the matter to October 27, ordering that the suspects be remanded in prison custody Those arraigned are Benson Sunday(21), Emmanuel Ali(25), Ukeme Monday(32), Chibuzo Ezechina (33), Charles Eze(29), Egbo Okechukwu(24), Chibona Ifion(47), John Douglas(20), Ezenwa Alphonus(51), Wori

•Some of the protesters on Ikwerre Road

Endurance(30), Chinomere Nwolu(25), Henry Eze(36), Friday Uzunwa(22), Igodo Abio(34), Akaniyene Uwem (22), Eni Iboro (27), Obinna Stephen(26), Monday Ocha (37), Obinna Ibekwe(27), and Kingsley Ezengorie (24).

They were, among other things, accused of damaging the national flag, an act the police interpreted as a move to tear the country apart, Rivers government dissociate state from protest, trade words with APC Media aides to Governor Nyesom Wike, Mr Opunabo Nko-Tariah and Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, in separate speeches, dissociated the state government from the protest. They also warned against such actions, stressing that government will not tolerate any act of lawlessness in Rivers.

But the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Chris Finebone, accused the state government of sponsoring the protest.

The statement tried to show a link between Radio Biafra and the state government, saying that the station had expressed support for the government.

But government officials in the state refused to be drawn into the matter. An aide of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who pleaded anonymity, said government was not aware of any protest and pleaded that it be left out of the controversy to face governance which he said Ikpeazu was settling down to do.

But Comrade Uchenna Madu, the spokesman for a faction of MASSOB, condemned what he called “the cowardly arrest and detention of Nnamdi Kanu.”: In a statement, the MASSOB factional spokesman said “We see the arrest as part of the price to pay for our non-violence struggle. No agitation is complete without arrest, detention and prosecution. It shapes the minds of activists, drawing sympathy from internal and external observers; it also shows that Nnamdi Kanu and Radio Biafra have become a factor of reckoning in Nigeria.

“The arrest and detention of Nnamdi Kanu by DSS will assist immensely in reviving the consciousness and sympathy for Biafra actualization in higher dimension which was temporarily halted by Ralph Uwazuruike’s deviation. This singular arrest will cause more diplomatic harm for Nigeria’s image than good,” the statement said.

“Before Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest, he has succeeded in establishing support for Biafra in about 78 countries through Radio Biafra, international tour and secret diplomatic build up. MASSOB warns Nigeria Government to quickly release Nnamdi Kanu.”

Another group, Igbo Information Network, challenged the Federal Government to make effort to arrest Abubakar Shekau and rescue the Chibok girls instead of always dissipating energy trailing the promoter of Radio Biafra and pursuing a non-violent group.

PAGE 34—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015

Ezeife:

Why some Igbo buy into ‘new Biafra’agenda

BY YINKA AJAYI

C

hief Chuckwuemeka Ezeife, a former governor of the old Anambra State, blames the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for the huge support pro-Biafra activists are getting in the South-East.

The agitation for Biafra lingers 45 years after civil war. What is the problem?

You and I are aware that MASSOB is a movement for the actualization of Biafran state. But most of our people see them as a pressure group.

It is in recent time that the group started gaining acceptability among serious politicians from the SouthEast. Otherwise the agitators

BY YINKA AJAYI

C

hief Checkwas Okorie, founder of embattled All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in this interview, calls on President Buhari administration to be creative in addressing Biafra agitation issue.

The agitation for Biafra has continued several decades after civil war. What is the problem?

The issue for the agitation for Biafra has to do with agitation for self-determination by people wish to be treated with fairness, equity and justice.

Most of the young men on the street agitating for Biafra were born after the war and so looks like they do not know what led to the war. They cannot understand why their own people since they were born are invariably different from their peers in other parts of the country.

The South-east has suffered the most neglect from the Federal Government of Nigeria in terms of road construction. Even under former President Jonathan’s administration, it was not any better.

The Buhari’s administration has just begun, so we cannot blame him that much. The matter was not picked up because Buhari became President; the Biafran agitation had been there practically since early 90s. But if Buhari manages to address the agitation, the issue will die down. After all the NigerDelta militancy preceeded the late President Yar’Adua. But his political moves doused the tension in that region with the initiative of amnesty.

It was the mismanagement of the Boko-Haram issue by the extra judicial killings of their leader that generated trouble in that region andt has turned to C M Y K

are merely perceived as a pressure group. There is also the major problem of politicians from the SouthEast that aspire to become the President of Nigeria one day.

That is why they have not identified with MASSOB. But what is happening presently is because of the way the country is going, especially the way the South-East is treated like unwanted part of the country. This triggers more recruits for MASSOB. From this stand, the fire of Biafra is stoked by the President Buhari-led administration. It is not a matter of autonomous growth or development. All his actions in the South-East in appointments and denial caused the increase in people

appointments except the South-East.

All his (Buhari) actions in the SouthEast in appointments and denial caused the increase in people buying into the MASSOB agenda justified for you.

You are aware of the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, the Director of Radio Biafra by the DSS, which has triggered protests in major parts of South-East?

Like I said earlier, President Buhari is fuelling the fire of Biafra with his actions.

Because everything done against the South-East is taken advantage of by MASSOB. buying into the MASSOB agenda. Because our people say: “ a person rejected, does not reject himself.”

So, what is the way out?

Sincerely, it is through prayers.

Should that prompt some groups to the extent of floating a pirate radio to achieve their cause?

If you feel persecuted, of course you fight with whatever means you know is

But does it not show that the grievances of the Igbo have not been adequately addressed?

It is clear that out of the six geo-political zones, all other parts have gotten

How to address the

Biafran activists issue,

by Chekwas Okorie

war in Nigeria.

Arresting of agitators of the emancipation of Biafran state in my view, we have not learning from the Boko-Haram experience.

The promoter of Biafra Radio, Nnamdi Kanu, has been arrested by the DSS sparking protests in some major Igbo towns. What is the way out?

The government should release him unconditionally. If government feels her right has been infringed upon,she can go to court to press charges against him.

You are aware that he has good lawyers to defend him. If care is not taken, it will become a celebrated case that would be tried under Nigeria laws. Because we have heard about radio Kudirat, it was not a properly registered radio. One of the ministerial nominees, Kayode Fayemi, said he had headed an illegal radio station before. Even the pro-APC radio that operated during the campaign period was not properly registered. I have not listened to Radio Biafra to know its position but I was informed that it is aggressive. It is people’s choice to decide to tune to it or not to.

I understand there have been attempts to use technology to jam the frequency of

the radio but the attempts appear to have failed. The arrest of BokoHaram leader Muhammed Yusuf was given as reason for the violence and spread of Bokoharam that has developed into a full-blown war in the North-east.

The fact that so many people came out to protest the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu shows he has a very large followership! And the followership may result into violent force, if mismanaged and I don’t think Nigeria can afford

another violent crisis at this point in time we are battling BokoHaram. We were able to manage Niger-Delta militancy very well, we should device a creative way to address the issue of agitation.

But does these not show that the Igbo question has not been addressed adequately?

Precisely, that is what I imply.

The Igbo expectation have not been met and government policies are not adequately implemented.

The entire South-east area is ravaged by erosion, unusable roads, the Second Niger-Brigde has become what politicians use as campaign. We are not even talking about representation at the centre. I believe strongly that government is yet to perform up to expectations.

But don’t you think some set of Igbo are over reacting on the issue?

The Igbo are very constrained, there are so many things that happened to Igbo leaders that will never happen to northern leaders and Nigeria will remain the same. There are so many intolerable utterances Igbo are swallowing.

•Okorie

Was that what led to your agitating in the last National Conference for peaceful means of b r e a k - u p

Don’t you think some Igbo are over reacting on this issue?

We have not seen any positive move towards the South-East. In the sense that we are denied one of the six major appointments in the country among the six geopolitical zones.

Could that be what prompted your view recently, when you said there is need for the North to win back Igbo confidence?

I hope you listened to Lai Muhammed, APC spokesperson and ministerial nominee,when he said that the South-East can secede if they like, that they have done it before. Either you like it or not, there is need for the North to improve their attitude towards the South-East. Because if you hear statements like Nigeria is better off without Igbo, you will never be happy.

I urge President Buhari to turn a new leaf andbe guided by the Constitution of Nigeria and live by the oath he swore to. I have always praised the President anti-corruption policy.

ingrained in our Constitution?

I saw it as a lasting solution to the whole problem. Don’t forget that every region including South, East and West has always agitated for true federalism. This true federalism has been frustrated by those benefiting at the structure Nigeria is presently running.

The exit clause that I advocated for was nothing out of proportion. There is an exit clause in ethopian constitution.

We also have an exit clause in the constitution of Canada; that is why every 10years, there is always a referendum to review their being together.

The one that took place in scotland sometime ago is an example of where there was a referendum to opt-out of United Kingdom! How did Britain handle it, they made more concession to the Scottish people and most Scottish felt with the concession there was no need opting out of a bigger union and they voted in favour of the union.

How do you think President Buhari should address the Ndigbo question?

President Buhari just assumed office. He is taking his time to organise his cabinet. Although few changes are there that benefit everybody because is not only Igbo people that are enjoying electricity or benefit from his anti-corruption efforts, but the specific need of the South-East people is citizenship right because they are the ones who are more dispersed and more settled in other parts of Nigeria than any other ethnic group. So the citizens right is very crucial to the igbo interest.

We expect that he addresses issues as they are brought to him. And if he is unable to address them, its will become subject of the next election in constitutional change of power.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 35

Nnamdi Kanu and The Cry For Biafra

BY FEMI FANI KAYODE

I

am not a Biafran and neither am I Igbo. I do however believe that it is the inalienable right of any human being or ethnic nationality to aspire to be free and to be able to determine its own destiny. The right to selfdetermination is enshrined in international law and it is guaranteed by every moral stricture known to man.

It is a right that has been exercised successfully over and over again in world history and it has led to the creation of new nations which were carved out of older ones. The denial of that right and the suppression and persecution of those who attempt to exercise it leads to nothing but defiance, dissent and resistance and, if not properly managed, it eventually spills over into war and carnage.

This has been the primary cause of most of history’s most brutal civil wars, including the American, Russian, French, English, Indian, Sri Lankan, Sudanese, Nigerian, Angolan, Congolese, Zimbabwean, Yugoslavian, Ukrainian, Nicaraguan, Cuban, Irish, Syrian, Libyan, Indonesian, Korean, Vietnamese, Spanish, Iraqi, Italian, Lebanese ones and countless others. I do not believe in violent change and neither do I believe in war, revolution, terror or the use of arms in the pursuance of even the most noble causes.

I do however believe in the power of ideas and the right of any man, woman or people to yearn to be free from bondage and to peacefully and freely express that yearning. It is in this context that I situate my belief in and support for those that view the Nigerian federation as an oppressive entity which has effectively enslaved its people in an attempt to create what is essentially an artificial and unworkable state.

Those that believe in Nigeria have every right to continue to do so and to voice their resolve to keep Nigeria one. What they do not have the right to do is to refuse to offer the same degree of freedom of expression to those that do not believe in a united Nigeria and who instead believe in the peaceful dissolution of our nation to speak their minds and voice their views. What is good for the goose is surely good for the gander. You cannot grant one side of the divide freedom of expression whilst you deny it to the other.

This is all the more so because freedom of expression is the lifeblood of any democracy. It must be accorded in equal measure to those that believe in Nigeria and to those that do not.

It is in this light that we must consider the plight of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, the Director of Radio Biafra and the man that has been described by the Igbo World Assembly as ‘’Buhari’s first political prisoner ’’.

We may not like his style, we may not like his radio station, we may not share his views or approve of his methods but one thing that we cannot take from

•Nnamdi Kanu

As far as I am aware Mr. Kanu has not used or advocated the use of violence whilst expressing himself and neither have his supporters Mr. Kanu is his right to hold such views and to express them in a peaceful and lawful manner no matter how distasteful those views may be to some. To deny him this most basic human right is not only an act of intellectual terrorism but it is also the most grave and barbaric manifestation of what is essentially an evolving police state where different or contrary views cannot be accommodated by those in power.

When Mr. Alex Salmon and his Scottish Nationalist Party began the agitation for the dissolution of the United Kingdom and for the establishment of Scottish independence many years ago, they were not charged to court, locked up indefinitely or murdered by the British authorities but instead they were eventually given the opportunity to participate in a referendum and test their ideas. The same thing happened in the Catalan region of Spain where the agitation for the establishment of a new nation is compelling and very popular.

The same thing happened a number of years ago in the Quebec region of Canada. It also happened in a region called East Timor which opted to leave Indonesia and in Singapore which opted to leave Malaysia.

The same process was adopted when Georgia, the Ukraine and all the other former Soviet states opted to leave Russia and when the Czech Republic opted to break off from Slovakia. The utility and importance of conducting a referendum on such matters in order to determine the true will of the people and to honor the findings of that referendum cannot be

underestimated and it remains the only path for peace.

Sadly, President Buhari who, like most in his generation, are still stuck in the mindset of a civil war general, has refused to learn from this. It is rather absurd to lock up Mr. Kanu indefinitely and to effectively throw the key away simply because he dared to call for the establishment of Biafra.

As far as I am aware Mr. Kanu has not used or advocated the use of violence whilst expressing himself and neither have any his supporters. One therefore wonders what has panicked the Federal Government to such a point that they not only have to lock him up but that they also have to violate the law of the land by not allowing him to see his lawyer and by not presenting him before a court of law and charging him within the constitutionally-prescribed three days.

State-sponsored violence and intimidation, the violation of human rights, illegal incarceration, the murder of innocents and the vicious suppression of legitimate ideas leads to nothing but hardened hearts, greater defiance and the spread of anger and dissent. The principle is simple and clear: the more you fan the flame of tyranny and repression the more the

passion and fire of liberty spreads.

It follows that the biggest favor that President Buhari’s security agencies could have done for the Biafran cause was to lock up Mr. Kanu and thereby transform him from being a little-known secessionist into the living symbol of the Biafran struggle, a respected freedom fighter, a champion of the Igbo people and an internationally-acclaimed political prisoner.

It is no wonder that leading politicians from all over the world, including the former Home Secretary and former Leader of the Labor Party in the United Kingdom, Mrs. Harriet Harman QC, have called for his release. The Russian and Israeli governments have also expressed concern and done the same.

Their call was the right and proper thing to do and I add my voice to that call. I have never met or spoken to Mr. Kanu but I am moved by his passion and courage. I am also persuaded by the logic and force of his public assertions.

It is left for those that do not agree with him to make a better case and to stem the Biafran tide.

That is the monumental challenge that those that do not agree with Mr. Kanu’s views or his methods have. I have not always been on the same page with our Igbo brothers, yet one thing is clear: only the callous would deny the fact that they have suffered immeasurably in the Nigerian federation over the last 50 years.

Only the uninformed would deny the fact that they have been butchered, murdered, persecuted, broken, humiliated, insulted, cheated and treated with contempt and disdain more than any other ethnic group in the country since July 1966.

What the Nigerian state is confronted with in the new generation of Igbo who refuse to be cowed is a time-bomb. Unlike their fathers they cannot be appeased or intimidated. They are not prepared to settle for crumbs and neither do they fear death, conflict, defeat, incarceration, butchery or

persecution.

They are imbued with a spirit that cannot be suppressed and the more they cry ‘’Biafra’’, the more the spirits of the millions that were slaughtered on the Biafran side during the civil war are invoked. The more they cry ‘’Biafra’’, the more the souls of the hundreds of thousands of their people that were butchered during the pogroms in the North in the mid-60s and thereafter are remembered. The more they cry ‘’Biafra’’, the more they remember how their fathers were stripped of everything after the civil war and how they have been denied the opportunity to rise to the highest office in the land. The more they cry ‘’Biafra’’, the more they acknowledge and recognise the bitter fact that the Buhari administration regard their kith and kin as nothing more than third class citizens and pitiable prisoners of war. The worst thing that the Nigerian authorities can do is to treat them with levity or contempt.

They are angry, they are fed up, they refuse to be enslaved, they want a brighter future and they have come to realise that they have nothing to lose. The most inappropriate thing that President Buhari can do is to continue to underestimate the power of their resolve or the clarity of their intent. The worst thing that they can do is to begin to jail them, to shed their blood and to take their lives.

The more you lock up the Biafrans, the more they will rise up. The more you mock them, the more they will shout. The more you treat them like slaves, the more they will aspire to break off and take their destiny into their own hands.

This is a fact that we must all accept and it is with this in mind that I urge President Buhari and the Federal Government to not only release Mr. Nnamdi Kanu but also to tread with the utmost restraint and caution when dealing with those that are agitating for Biafra.

•Fani-Kayode was Minister of Aviation in the Obasanjo administration

The ‘new Biafra’ struggle!

Continued from page 31 According to him, the surest way out of the series of separatist agitations in the country is to ensure justice and equitable distribution of the resources of the country.

He disagreed with the treasonable charges slammed on Kanu and wondered what government would do to social media tigers, who he said have done worse things. His words: ‘’I don’t think Kanu should go in for treason. Technology has advanced so much that most people get their news from the social media. The issue at stake is that of civic rights. It is within the Constitution to say what you want to say without causing violence. I don’t see what is wrong in that. To go about arresting people and putting them in cells with hardened criminals is on the high side. ‘’If you talk about Radio Biafra, what about the social media, which is worse? What is government going to do? Will they arrest

the social media owners and bloggers? They should release Kanu immediately. What they are doing is making people, who had no interest, to start looking for and listening to Radio Biafra.’’

Making a case for a just polity, he said: ‘’In the North-East, the Boko Haram insurgency has made government and a lot of people to bring $3billion for the rescue, restoration and repair of properties destroyed by Boko Haram. ‘’In the South-East and part of South-South, after the civil war, which claimed about three million lives, there has been no reparation and rebuilding.

Today, the South-South and South-East people are still trying on their own, 45 years after the war without support from government in terms of reparation and amenities. The Federal Government and other governments should look at this and ensure justice and equity to all parts of the country whether in terms of projects, education, employments, etc”.

PAGE 36 — SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015

When Theresa talks on UK Immigration, we believe some

T

heresa May is a very popular figure in the United Kingdom as Home Secretary in the Conservative Party-led government - an equivalent of Nigeria's Minister of Internal Affairs. May is reputed to be one of the most powerful female politicians in the country and is touted as the "leader in waiting" for the Tories. Well, she knows she still has to clear the Boris Johnson and George Osborne challenges.

May is a woman with an impressive and interesting political career that can easily earn her the post of the Leader of the Conservative Party as a trophy. She has been around on the UK political scene for a long time since elected as Member of Parliament in 1997, appointed as shadow minister to two-term secretary in the David Cameron-led government.

She has written herself into history as the longest serving Home Secretary in UK in the past fifty years.

She has done remarkably well to hold on to this post. I remember in past governments, home secretaries were falling like

pack of cards or forced to step down for one scandal or the other.

May comes across to many people as a nononsense woman who can be mistaken for a reincarnated Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher.

Although, soft spoken, her words are delivered in measured emphasis so as to have maximum impact on her audience. She is a woman who knows her onions when it comes to politics, governance and policy and not a woman who hides behind sentiments to waive her opinions.

May is the face of UK immigration policies as the supervising secretary of the Home Office that is responsible for the formation and implementation of immigration laws. This is definitely not an enviable job in this era of mass migration and refugee crisis. However, May seems not daunted by the responsibility. She talks tough on immigration and 'sometimes' on terrorism but most times on immigration.

She works more on immigration than other responsibilities in her

Do you trust God?

F

irst, we want thank the Almighty God for keeping us alive. That you are alive is an indication that your long awaited miracle will reach you in Jesus name.

It’s also important that we thank God for the salvation of souls, miracles in several ministries that are happening.

Now, to the issue of the day.

Let’s begin with the Bible’s definition of faith .

Hebrew 11 vs 1 states: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for , the evidence of things not seen”.

It states further in verse 3, “ Through faith , we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear ”.

If we reflect deeply on these “ the evidence of things not seen “, and the latter part of verse 3, which states, “ so that things which are not seen were not made of things which do appear ”, it becomes clear that the spiritual has great influence on the physical.

So, it could also mean that our hope is based on the spiritual.

Therefore, for our hopes to become a reality, we need to have total confidence in God who can do all things.

Hebrew 11 v 6 lends credence to this.

It states: “ But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is , and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”.

Are you still doubtful that the spiritual controls the physical?

Let me share with you the experience of one or two women.

This lady was waiting on the Lord for a little over a decade.

While praying ceaselessly, she had a dream in which she saw herself with a set of twins.

Then a huge human being appeared and snatched one of the babies.

Eventually, this woman had a son. The boy was barely 14 months when she conceived and had another son. Now, she says, the two boys

portfolio.

By her position, May is not particularly a heroine to many immigrants, particularly those from outside the European Union corridor.

Since the Conservative Party came into power in 2010, the biggest headache has been how to reduce the number of non-EU immigrants on the streets of UK. It will be recalled that the Tories frowned at the "free for all" immigration policies of the Labour Party that they believed had left the UK borders open for all comers.

While the Tories might be struggling with bringing down the net migration figure, it has done wonderfully well in keeping many non-EU migrants outside the borders of the UK. To these set of immigrants, particularly foreign students who were caught in the middle of the policy changes, May is not a "mother Theresa figure".

The Home Office has written many new immigration rules for nonEU students and made the UK a less attractive destination for many of them as the student visa route

insist on dressing like twins and whenever she reminds them they are no twins, the boys always insist they are twins.

It was not until then that she remembered her dream.

This story is not only for people who want to get married but also for singles.

There is the case of another lady and a young man who had been dating and were looking forward to getting married.

One night, the lady had a dream that a wedding dress was snatched from her.

She didn’t think much of the dream but, barely two months after, the young man informed her that he was getting married to someone else.

What she lost in the spiritual, she also lost in the physical.

Let’s reflect on Matthew 18 verse 18: “Verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”.

How much trust do you have in the Lord?

Pastor Gbenga Oso in sermon to demonstrate our trust in God, said we must believe that “ whatever He says He will do, He will do it”.

Oso told the congregation: “Whatever the challenge, once you continue to serve God, that challenge will expire”.

So what are the benefits of trusting God? The

became a "dead end route".

To many "irregular" immigrants, the mention of her name is enough to send their blood pressure on an abnormal flight. They see her indirectly as the stumbling block to the future of their dreams. They may be right to think of her as such, as May had on numerous occasions stated she is no friend to these "irregular" immigrants too.

Whatever the intent of May, it is clear she is not enjoying the job like she did some years ago. As a result, she is ready to blame every immigrant for everything that is not working May is a straight talker who sometimes come across as a woman without the milk of compassion in her. Her rejection of the European Union proposal of settling some of the rescued “Mediterranean sea immigrants” to UK will rank high among the most inconsiderate speeches made by any government official in the wake of the refugee crisis.

I have been asked a couple of times by people why May seem to be angry with immigrants. I cannot offer any explanation for what these people regard as "anger" of the Home Secretary. I always "stall" commenting on May. As a result I have found ways

General Overseer of Laughter Fouondation Ministry, said: “A person who has total trust in God will not be sad, he will not be depressed because you know that you are trusting God who can bring you out of the challenge”.

He cited the case of a woman who had been waiting on the Lord for years. She had gone to several hospitals and, at some point, a doctor told him: “Madam, only a miracle can make you have a baby”.

Remember, those who cry unto God will never cry unto man. Take a decision to reject any satanic offer, no matter how desperate your situation seems

At that point, this woman knew she had to seek God. She went to seek God with her faith at the highest point.

According to Pastor Oso, the woman watched a programme of Laughter Foundation on television and she decided to go

to wiggle out of the queries of controversial statements credited to the Home Secretary. I always educate my audience that since I am not Theresa May, I can not in any way know why, if she truly is, angry with immigrants.

Secondly, I let them know that as an individual with g o v e r n m e n t a l responsibilities on her shoulders, May must have thought seriously about her actions and inactions before making her pronouncements.

Most times my reasons have been thrown back in my face as irrelevant and evasive for what May is doing or saying about immigrants. She has not helped anybody in her defence in one bit too with her pronouncements.

On October 6, 2015 at the 2015 Conservative Party conference, May went fishing in troubled waters again, when she delivered her most brutal, immigrant-bashing speech to date. She took no prisoners when she came on the podium to deliver a speech that seemed written for her by members of the notorious English Defence League (EDL). She was on the “altar” in her nicely cut dress firing from all cylinders and preaching ways immigration has caused so much woes to the great British people.

As usual of her, the topic for "discussion" is immigration. However, this time around she (or the writer of the speech) did a good job of pointing accusing fingers at immigrants for everything

wrong with the British citizens. Her anger was palpable, as the audience sat in silence listening to her give reasons why immigration has to be confronted headlong. By the reaction of measured claps, it was obvious not many in the audience seem to agree totally with her. She told the audience that immigration has brought more woes to the country than gains, as she revealed that immigrants are forcing many hard working citizens out of work.

While many people have condemned May for this hate filled speech, I see it as a cry for help from the "Iron Lady" that she has lost her will power to police the borders. She seized the opportunity to place the immigration debate in the public domain again. She knows what the British public wants to hear about, and she knows if seen as portraying their minds, she stands a better chance at the leadership stake and more popularity for her party.

Observers believe May was clever by half by her speech. They reckoned that what she did at the conference was a presentation of her first term as Home Secretary and her smart way of covering up for the failure of her department to fulfil one cardinal promise of the Tories to the people - to bring down net migration.

Whatever the intent of May, it is clear she is not enjoying the job like she did some years ago. As a result, she is ready to blame every immigrant for everything that is not working.

and worship there.

On getting to the church premises, she held on to the doorpost and said: “O God, the doctor has said only a miracle can make me a mother. I am here. O Lord God, intervene in my situation and make me a mother ”.

To shorten this story, the woman continued to demonstrated her total faith and trust in God and, finally, the miracle came.

The good news is that she became a mother of twins; a boy and a girl.

that God has the capacity to reposition you from shame to fame.

When a woman who has been barren for 15 years gives birth to set of twins, she has moved from shame to fame.

Bear in mind that those who surrender all into God’s hands will always see God’s hand in everything.

Demonstrate your trust It is important to demonstrate our trust in God. Do you believe He can do all things?

If you do, then you need to demonstrate it.

How? There are several ways a believer can demonstrate trust in God. This is done by praying and fasting, among other things.

However, we must understand that prayer is no magic. Most times , you need to ask repeatedly in prayer before the answer manifests.

Remember, those who cry unto God will never cry unto man.

Take a decision to reject any satanic offer, no matter how desperate your situation seems.

Have confidence in God. Remember

Your story must change Be determined that your story must change and work towards it. Pastor J.T. Kalejaiye, in a sermon, titled, “Your story must change”, spoke on the story of the man who was lame for 38 years .

The man encountered Jesus and his story changed.

Pastor Kalejaiye said our assurance is in Isaiah 43 verses 18 and 19: “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold , I will do a new thing ; now shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?

I will even make a way in the wilderness , and rivers in the desert”.

When God changes one’s story, Pastor Kalejaiye said “ a bitter story is changed for the better ”.

Not only that, he told the congregation, “ God will give you a result that will cancel the insult in your life”.

Sister and brother, hold on, God will surely visit you.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 37

PROLOGUE

MINISTERIAL NOMINATION IMPASSE

My story, by Amaechi All eyes were on the Senate as the upper chambre screened 37 ministerial nominees sent to it for confirmation

by President Muhammadu Buhari over the last two weeks. But none of the nominees proved as controversial as Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, whose screening had to be deferred at least once owing to the deluge of petitions against his nomination, and for which he had to face the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee.

Finally, Amaechi was screened in plenary by the Senate on Thursday. The former governor tells his story in the course of the exercise. Excerpts:

BY HENRY UMORU & JOSEPH ERUNKE

WHO IS CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI?

I happen to be one of the best Nigerians to have served as Speaker for eight years. In the period I served, Speakers were impeached almost on regular basis. I have also served as a governor of Rivers State under the PDP, but during my second term, I was governor of Rivers State under APC. Distinguished senators, it is a rare privilege to stand here today to address you. I believe that this is my first time of addressing the Senate and I thank you. I thank the President for this privilege. Whether I become a minister or I not, this will go in the history book of mine that I once

addressed the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but truly at the mercy of the Senate.

And as you know, this is a hallowed chamber, so I am deeply humbled and honoured that I have been nominated by the President and to have been give the chance to address you on what I thought would be the little contributions I have made to the development of Nigeria. I told you earlier that my name is Chibuike Amaechi, I am truly a Nigerian.

As I said to you earlier, I am the immediate past governor of Rivers State and I was the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly for eight year years, just like I was governor for eight years. I was Chairman of Conference of Speakers for two tenures and I had also the privilege of serving as Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum for two tenures too. Take it together, whether as governor or as Speaker, these two cases can tell the story of public service.

TENURE AS SPEAKER

During my tenure as Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, we achieved a lot. Some key bills like the Anti Kidnapping Law and the Rivers State School Rights were passed. I drafted these bills myself. I was just pained that there were some of our children who couldn’t go to school and I had to ensure that the bills became laws so that our children, parents and teachers will have their rights and privileges and that government has the obligation to fulfill them.

However, my most fulfilling moment as Speaker was the passing of the Rivers State School Rights Bill. This bill clearly defines the responsibility of parents, teachers and parents to guarantee our children’s access to qualitative education. Education should not only qualitative, it must also be accessible.

WHAT I DID AS GOVERNOR

As governor, we inherited a state that was

comatose and with the problem of insecurity. Our immediate task was, therefore, to restore security and improve the social and economic well-being of our people. These were the two pronged approach: physical and fiscal security.

By fiscal, I mean putting money in the hands of Rivers people. While we confronted criminality with aggressive enforcement measures, we embarked on what we called massive social and infrastructural development. They are there for record purposes; we declared emergency in education and guaranteed free and compulsory education up to secondary school level.

During my tenure as governor, we awarded contracts for the construction of over 500 primary schools and completed and furnished 3014 of these to 100 percent completion, while others were virtually completed by the time we left office in May 2015. We undertook the training and recertification of teachers already on the payroll of the state and employed over 13,200 teachers.

Our efforts and investment in the education sector did not go unnoticed, as Port Harcourt won the UNESCO world competition in 2014. We competed against cities like Moscow and Oxford. In the area of healthcare, it is on record that our government built 140 health centres and we employed a total of 400 medical doctors. When we came in, there were only 200 doctors in the employ of the government and we employed a total of 400 medical doctors. Anybody who visited Rivers State when we served would testify that we worked to bring back the old glory of Port Harcourt as the Garden City and as a third leg in the economic tripod of Nigeria.

AS CHAIRMAN, NIGERIA GOVERNORS’ FORUM

I don’t know what I would say because whatever I I say Continues on page 38

PAGE 38 —SUND AY —SUNDA

Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015

My story, by Amaechi Continued from page 37

I say may annoy my political brothers from the PDP. This morning, I woke up on the bad side of the bed and, as a Christian, I prayed and I opted to wear the dress I have never worn before; so I wore this, believing that in the spirit of peace, I would be asked questions that would be very peaceful.

The Governors Forum started as a check to executive recklessness. The Senate President( Saraki ) was the Chairman and headed it with other governors who are here today as senators, including Senator Goje. To make me the Chairman of the forum for the first time, it happened in Kwara State and we checked the excesses, including the expenditure of the oil subsidy. There is a case in court up till now stopping the Federal Government from drawing money from the account to fund oil subsidy because we believe that if we stop the Federal Government from drawing state and local governments money, the Federal Government will not be able to bear the cost and will, therefore, remove oil subsidy which would reduce the level of corruption. Unfortunately, the case is yet to be heard.

On the resource control question, I think the radical posture of the Governors Forum led to the former President asking me that I had turned the body into a union, so it’s no longer a Governors ‘ Forum, it was now a trade union and what we all were doing was to defend the lives of Nigeria and ensured that the money accruable to the country was judiciously utilized.

I think the former president didn’t like it and, when my tenure expired as Chairman, I was requested not to run for second term and I thought that, as a Nigerian, I had the responsibility to exercise my right as a governor. So, I put forward for the election and, if you saw the forces against me, you would think that I would lose. Let me quote my brother and friend, Senator Jang, who was the opposition candidate. He said, ‘But North East zone supported me, North West zone supported me, North Central zone supported me and South South supported me, how did you win? You did not win, you did not win’.

And I said I won, I had 19 votes and the rest are there for history to judge.

MY POSITION ON CORRUPTION AND PANEL OF INQUIRY THAT ALLEGEDLY INDICTED HIM

Corruption is very difficult to define.

If you are a public officer and you don’t take bribe, I’ve never taken bribe in my life, but if they send a girl to you and you sleep with the girl and do her favour, you are corrupt.

Corruption is a very wide concept. If people are contesting for a position and you offer your son, brother or sister an opportunity to hold that position, probably the person is not qualified, you are corrupt. So, it is difficult for me to define corruption.

The reason it was difficult in my political carreer is that I was trying to test my right and fight for my right. I was once a students union leader and, believe me, if there is one man who

doesn’t like corruption, I don’t like corruption.

I have come here with a copy of the so-called panel report and there is no where the panel indicted me. I am here to tender the report before the Senate; no where, I repeat, there is nowhere the report indicted me.

However, because there are challenges, people in Nigerian politics believe that there is the need for a compromise. I would do that, but where it clashes with my principle, I find it a bit difficult to do what people may want me to do. If you ask me to advise politicians, I find it very difficult because most politicians will want to survive and so, because I don’t do that, I face challenges.

In October 25, the Supreme Court declared me as governor; don’t forget that I was facing similar challenge I am facing now. I was chased out of the country to Ghana; my family was chased out of the country, we were living in one room with my children just because I stood for my right, but God and the Supreme Court found me worthy and declared me as governor of Rivers State.

HOW WE SOLD THE BUHARI BRAND

We sold to the public the fact that there was massive corruption in the system. And there was the need to fight that corruption. And the only way to fight that corruption was to put a new government in place. And we had to get a signpost candidate. The signpost candidate is a man who the Nigerian public has seen as an incorruptible President. And that was why the party had to put President Buhari forward. And we thought that there was a need to do things differently. I thought that as good as the former President may have been, I don’t think he was suitable enough for the growth and development of Nigeria. So, we needed to offer opportunity to somebody we believed was better than the former President.

BLUEPRINT FOR NIGERIA

When you deal with the issue of massive unemployment, you deal with the change in the economic mantra.

The mono-economic situation that we have cannot survive. Nigeria cannot continue to be what we are if we continue to rely on oil. I agree with the President that there is the need to invest in agriculture.

When we went to Germany, there were no natural resources that we met.

If we invest in agriculture and technology, you will hire as many workers as possible. In the course of the campaign, in Borno, we saw water melon that grew naturally. If you plant just 100,000 hectares of water melon in Borno, you can be sure to engage more than 30,000 workers. You can do a similar thing around Kano and other parts of Nigeria. Look at what crops can be instituted in which area and you encourage the farmers with funding because the problem is fund from the banks and the interest rate.

So, government must invest in that regard.

We must diversify the economy.

Mining is another area that God has blessed us with. And we also need to invest in education because some of

our people are unemployable. We need to invest hugely in education. We did that in Rivers State. For four, five, six years, our budget was highest in education in Rivers State. So, if this happens, we will employ quite a number of workers.

Secondly, we must improve on the social rights of the people. If you improve on the social rights of the people, there will be peace. If you have peace, there will be investors. You must have power. If you don’t have power, there will be no industrialisation. We don’t need rocket science in solving power supply. We should just look at what the problems are, remove corruption and invest in power. The reason most people don’t invest in Nigeria is that the cost of production by far outweighs the benefits you will make from your business.

So, I usually say that a Nigerian is a government of his own. He hires his own security, digs his own borehole, hires his own generator, so what is government providing?

ON ATTACHING PORTFOLIOS TO NOMINEES

Portfolio issue is a constitutional matter. Mr President has the power to do whatever he wants to do. The Attorney General in my predecessor’s government, Dr Peter Odili said that one may be a man, but if they say you are a woman, then you are a woman.

If the legislature wants ministers to be appointed with portfolios, then they must make that amendment in

On the resource control question, I think the radical posture of the Governors Forum led to the former President asking me that I had turned the body into a union, so it’s no longer a Governors’ Forum

the Constitution. If it is not there in the Constitution, then the President can only apply his powers as allowed by the Constitution.

I will be glad if I see a list with portfolios; that way, everybody knows where he is going, but now you don’t know where you are going and you don’t know if to ask me about my expertise in education or health or Niger Delta.

I remember when my friend and former colleague, Danjuma Goje asked me if I had been a senator or a minister before; now I want to be a minister; after that, I will be a senator.

ON NIGER DELTA RESOURCES

In my former view, I believe that the resources are in the Niger Delta and their fair share is necessary; that is why there was militancy. I believe that if you don’t address social justice, the country will not be the same. When we went to Germany and we saw how they raised their fund, I felt therefore that our dependence on this natural resource is unnecessary.I believe that we should draw a poverty line that no state should collect anything less than five billion naira from the national revenue. If any state goes below five billion, then all of us should contribute to ensure that the state gets up to five billion. That is my real position on that.

On the East-West Road, it is not just for the Niger Delta; it is an economic rule that will lead to economic prosperity for Nigeria. If I become the minister of Niger Delta, that will be first road that I will address.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 39

MINISTERIAL NOMINEES

Our tensed moments screening Amaechi, Lai Mohammed, others,

by Ndume, Senate Leader •’How we stopped ‘take a bow’ from being abused’

By OLALEKAN BILESANMI

S

enator Muhammed Ali Ndume is Senate Leader. Ndume, in this interview, speaks against the backdrop of the perception that there is a lingering conflict in the Senate that splits the upper chambre into factions, the assets declaration case against Senate President Bukola Saraki and the screening of ministerial nominees.

The All Progressives Congress members in the Senate appear still divided. The Lawan group continues to show it is bitter that the Saraki group, in defiance to the party directive, denied it the Senate presidency. What is the situation as an insider?

Let me be honest with you. The so-called factions you talked about is more of an outside talk than inside. In the Senate, we only have one faction and that is the APC and the second one is the PDP. Whatever comes to the floor of the Senate, all the APC senators are ever united. There was no time in the running of the Senate that we exhibited factionalization.

Faction is based on interest which is normal in politics. People will try their hands on what they want, but if they don’t get it, we put it behind us and move forward. So, in the Senate so far, none of the members has allowed his or her interest to infringe on the overall interest of the Senate. We can give the Senate that credit that we are ever united in terms of addressing issues that affect the nation. So, the attack from the media on the Senate beats me. For example, is there any issue of national importance the Senate has not touched ? We have had several confirmations, we have screened the ministerial nominees. We have had several bills read and there are some even going through second reading. Anytime issues come up in the Senate, we treat them.

Senator Lawan is my friend. If God had destined that he became Senate President, I would have embraced his leadership

You were reported to be shuttling between the National Leader of your party, Ashiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the Presidency with a view to resolving the problems the Senate President has over his emergence and even some of your colleagues still acknowledge that there is a faction within the APC in the Senate. Do you still stand by your claim that there is no faction within the APC in the Senate?

Yes, the emergence of the leadership created disaffection between us in terms of the two groups that were interested in the positions, but, generally, when you

C M Y K

have groups contesting for positions, it is usually the lucky one that gets it; besides, leadership comes from God. When the Senate President emerged, I wanted to run as Deputy Senate President, but God didn’t make it my way. Along the line, I ended up being the Senate Leader, the other group missed out. Truly, the party was not happy initially about how the whole process that produced the presiding officers, especially the DSP (Deputy Senate President), went, but the same party put all that behind it and said it was ready to move on. So the party wanted to nominate Senators Akume and Lawan for other leadership positions. That too didn’t work. But after sometime, I that emerged as Senate Leader, don’t think I have issues with anybody. My colleagues in the North-East, by God’s grace and by their wish, eight out of about 10 or 11 of us, endorsed me, and that was how I came in. Again, I don’t think we have anything personal against any of our colleagues outside politics.

Senator Lawan is my friend. If God had destined that he became Senate President, I would have embraced his leadership. God destined that I be the Leader of the Senate, and here I am now. I have never seen or heard Senator Lawan coming out to say he was against my emergence as Leader of the Senate. And I would not have had anything against his emergence as Senate President. All of us, as

senators, are qualified to be Senate President, it is just that it is only one person that must be there.

The Senate President is presently before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Are you, like some other people, of the opinion that he should resign from office?

I don’t think so.

The Constitution of this country, which guides all of us, is very clear.

Everybody is presumed innocent until proved guilty by a competent court of law. As of now, the Senate President is before the court of law; and until he is convicted, I don’t think it will be fair for him to be presumed guilty. It is not a fair comment. What the law says is that until you are proved guilty, you are innocent in the eyes of the law.

Please, don’t run more than your shadow.. I think Nigerians should be patient and await the outcome of the verdict of the court. Until that is done, I don’t think it will be fair to ask him to resign. Again, if he felt that he wanted to step aside until he is cleared, that would have been totally different, but to compel him to resign amid the trial is an aberration.

The clearing of the ministerial nominees, especially the controversial ones like former Governor Amaechi of River State, some say, was an anti - climax, making people to conclude that it may have been done in order to

give a soft landing to the Senate President, in case he is convicted by the CCT? I don’t get the logic behind that.

Some Nigerians are hailing our actions, because this is, in a long while, the most transparent, thorough screening I have seen. We had instances where this ‘bow and go’ exercise was abused. But what we did now was that even if you were a member of the National Assembly, and you are nominated and because of the respect we have for our colleagues, you can bow and go, we felt you need to interact with us and that was exactly what we did on the floor.

You guys (media), no matter what we do, you criticise. If we go right, you criticise, if we go left, it is the same criticism; so, either way, you will never escape criticisms.

However, let me say this clearly, the confirmation hearing is a product of our Constitution. And the constitutional requirements for every nominee are very clear. The Senate responsibility is to make sure that every nominee meets those requirements. So far, I don’t think there is any nominee cleared against the constitutional provisions. The constitutional provision is very simple. It states that every nominee must meet the same requirements for those who want to contest for the House of Representatives. And these are basically three. The first is the

Continues on page 40

PAGE 40 — SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015

Ndume: How we stopped ‘take a bow’ from being abused Continued from page 39

to see the schedule for the day same day; we send it to their email boxes. Also our library, we want to make it e-library so that you don’t need to be physically present in the National Assembly before you get your work done. A lot of things are being put in place and will only be visible when they are completed. So, this Senate is totally different from the previous.

person must be 30 years old or above. Two: The person must be educated to the secondary school level or its equivalent. Three: The person must be sponsored or must be a member of a political party.

Then there are other requirements that the person must be of sound mind, must not be an ex - convict, tax paying, and most of these people meet the requirements. So, senators constitutionally qualify to be ministers. And section five of the Nigerian Constitution makes it clear. The Constitution did not require us to put them through aptitude test. The Senate has the privilege such that when somebody comes, you can say ‘bow and go’. In the case of Alhaji Lai Muhammed, I moved the motion that being the spokesman for our party, a qualified lawyer, a person of credible character, he should be given that respect to take a bow and go. The Minority Leader seconded it, although there were some dissenting voices, which is normal, the minority will have their say and the majority have their way.

The prevailing situation gives the impression that the Senate may be on collision course with the executive, given that some members of the Senate are presently under going either interrogation or trial before the court for one case or the other.

Two clear examples are Senate President Saraki and the Minority Leader?

What collision course? For what?

The law is there and nobody is supposed to be above the law.

Anybody that has question to answer before the law should be free to do so like the Senate President and the Minority Leader. That is normal. Any accused is innocent until proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt, because that is what the law says. Otherwise, if it is just accusation, you can accuse anybody. Even the President at one time was accused of several things before the election, he was cleared eventually. So many people have gone through the process and they are out there today without problems. Some of us went through such situation and we are today in positions of leadership. I was accused of sponsoring Boko Haram and I am in court even though there isn’t evidence before the court to prove the allegation.

I cannot run away from it. It is normal. But for anybody to be presumed guilty before conviction is not fair.

The PDP spokesperson, in a release, said the Federal Government is arresting political opponents, citing the case of a former governor of Akwa Ibom, Senator Godswill Akpabio of the PDP, because of the fear that the ruling might lose power to the PDP in 2019. What do you think?

I seriously do not see how the arrest of anybody weakens any party. However, Senator Akpabio said he was not arrested but invited by the EFCC and the PDP is saying he was arrested. So, what do we believe? As Akpabio rightly said, if you serve, especially as the governor of a state, a rich state like Akwa-Ibom for eight years, there is bound to be grumbling on issues as expressed in the petition against him. The EFCC has the

•Ndume...We had most transparent screening in history responsibility to look into the petition and then invite him. And after interrogation, he was allowed to go. I guess that is what. Happened. I have not heard of any arrest. Even the person(Akpabio) involved said he was not arrested, rather, he was invited. So, when PDP is talking about arresting somebody and the person the party is talking about is saying he was not arrested, then you begin to wonder, what really is happening?

Why is the Senate yet to inaugurate standing committees.

Does it have anything to do with the instability in the chambre?

Absolutely not. What is the instability in the Senate you are talking about? If there is one, please tell me. Having said that, there are some committees already in place. There is the public accounts, media, and ad hoc committees to take care of certain things.

What is then delaying the inauguration of the standing committees?

We are taking our time, and, more importantly, we don’t have ministers in place at the moment; if we inaugurate the committees now, what are they going to be doing ? We want the ministers to be in place before we inaugurate the committees. And as you know, government is yet to put in place the cabinet owing to the cleaning exercise the President is under taking. Government took office with almost an empty treasury, a battered system and economy. The President is trying to streamline the ministries in tandem with the realities on ground. That has not been done yet. So, we want to see how many of the ministries we will have on ground so that that would allow you to carve out appropriate committees to oversight the ministries. This is a new government, unlike the previous

government when PDP was in charge, and things were already on ground, so it was easier to inaugurate the committees almost immediately. But now we have a new government,with a new way of doing things. So, I don’t see the need for the hurry. There is no vacuum so far. Work that needs to be done is being done. I don’t know why you people are worried about committees. There are and will still be a lot of things to be done differently in this Senate. This Senate is more transparent, interactive. You confirmed that you read tweets of the Senate President regularly. That kind of avenue was not there before. This Senate wants to interact more with the people. Before now, the schedule for the day is given the same day, but now senators don’t need to wait

The Constitution did not require us to put them through aptitude test. The Senate has the privilege such that when somebody comes, you can say ‘bow and go’

Would you say the onslaught of the military against the Boko Haram will meet the December date given by the President to take the insurgents out of the country?

We are hoping that they will meet the deadline. We have recorded successes against the insurgents and; most importantly, this government, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, is serious about addressing the security challenges. Apart from that of Boko Haram, there are other things affecting us economically, especially oil theft, which is presently being addressed.

Kidnapping and armed robbery that are rampant are being addressed too. The President has been criss - crossing the world in order to get support from the international community. And the International community, because of the integrity of this government, has shown serious commitment by reaching out.

Now the army command has shifted to Maiduguri, and the chief of the army staff is regularly seen at the war front. This is the proactive nature of our military formations.We have seen how many Boko Haram commanders surrendering. Honestly, there is light at the end of the tunnel for us as a nation regarding the Boko Haram insurgency. Unlike before when Nigerians were hopeless, we are very hopeful now that the activities of these insurgents, in a matter of time, will come to an end. Again, insurgency is not a normal war you just use the fire brigade approach to quench. A lot of things had degenerated before this government came in; so a lot of things are to be put in place before one can comfortably say the war would be won, and now things are being put in place and that is why one can say, based on what the military is doing, in terms of taking the fight or battle to the insurgents, that they will get rid of the insurgents. The bombs

explosions here and there are a manifestation of the desperation of the dying insurgents. I just returned from Maiduguri; people there are now more confident and calm; they feel more secure than before. And, by December, I believe the target set by the President is achievable.

You were almost killed by insurgents bombs targetting you in your senatorial district early this year, and the intensity was such that residents of the district had to be evacuated. What is the difference between then and now?

There is a tremendous difference. Most of our people in the Internally Displaced Camps, IDP, in Maiduguri,

about 1,000 of them, have been moved back to Gwoza.

Presently, virtually all the places occupied by the insurgents have been retaken by our military. The military is in charge of these places. Most of the IDPs are returning home.

Only recently,I was with the (Borno) governor and we are in the course of moving the IDPs back to the local government headquarters such that there will be transit camps.

The challenge we are presently facing arises from the fact that about 18 of the local government areas were destroyed by Boko Haram, so asking people to go back to their houses without rebuilding them will be difficult and that is why government is trying to rebuild some of these houses before residents of those localities can say they are going back.

The Obasanjo administration, at the inception, was very active with the war on corruption, but the momentum went down. What is the guarantee that history will not repeat itself with this administration?

The good thing about this war against corruption is that a corrupt person will not be able to fight corruption. But every Nigerian knows the credibility, integrity and seriousness of President Buhari. So, it is the advantage he is using to fight corruption head long. Yes, you are right, corruption is not something you can fight and win easily, it is a not a visible war, you have to do thorough investigation, because you are trying to get at corrupt individuals who are trying to frustrate every effort that would lead to their arrest; that is one of the challenges. Meanwhile, the biggest challenge in all of this is that a lot of this corruption is offshore. That means people steal the money and take it out. Unlike here where you could go to a suspect’s ‘ house, search, get evidence and conviction, when it is offshore, a lot of due delligence would have to be followed. With Buhari in power, I think every Nigerian is confident that we are on the winning side, because he is a transparent person. And that is why the international community and indeed most non-governmental organisations, NGOs, have rallied round him that this is a man who truly and honestly wants to make the desired change in the country. We can see that having him as President and his determination to fight corruption, a lot of things are beginning to change in the country.

C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 41

rexmarinus@hotmail.com

Biafra is always an alternative

L

ast week, the Department of State Security arrested the Director of the pirate Radio called, “Radio Biafra,” Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, and sparked off a wave of street protests in the cities of the Niger, from Calabar to Port-Harcourt, to Asaba by pro-Biafran protesters and women who rallied in support of Mr. Kanu, calling for his release.

The DSS quickly released a message claiming that Mr. Kanu, who is also the leader of the Independent Peoples of Biafra, one of the factional separatist organizations calling for the secession of Biafra, had been released on bail, and is up and about, on a bail of N2 million, to be posted to the courts only by a civil servant on the grade level 16.

There have been skepticism in many quarters about the release of Mr. Kanu, especially as no one has since seen him publicly. Statements by his group, the IPOB and his lawyer, claim that Kanu is still in the custody of the Federal government. Police also reportedly arrested many proBiafra activists, twenty-two of them at least, we are told, in Port-Harcourt, following the street protests that erupted with Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest.

Three things are quite clear

in the light of these developments: the federal government has, in arresting Nnamdi Kanu given martyr status, and validated and widened his claims to the leadership of the new Biafra movement. Kanu’s Radio Biafra is a blustery affront to professional broadcasting, or even professional propaganda, because it often mouths misinformation, and broadcasts serious libel against those perceived to be against the Biafra movement.

He broadcasts troubling hate speech in the effort to spread the idea of the kind of difference between Nigerians that makes Biafra ideal. His politics is bad and unrefined.

But the Federal government cannot hold him, or prosecute him on those grounds, since there is no law yet on hate speech, otherwise, many prominent Nigerians should have been jailed. At best these individuals operate at the lunatic fringe, and need psychiatric counselling. But to arrest Kanu on account of his anti-Nigerian broadcasts, and pro-Biafran advocacy is a bad call. It has given validity to his claim, widened his appeal in certain circles, and elevated him to the status of “Freedom Fighter.” It is the official equivalent of giving

Eagle plumes to madness, by a bumbling government which seems destined to see the Biafra movement grow, both in proportion and in effect. And that is the second point of this development; that a fierce movement is growing right before our various eyes, and there are factors, both historical and immediate that are driving and widening this movement.

The first, more immediate stimulus for the current proBiafra sentiment is the perceived alienation of the East, particularly the Igbo from Buhari’s government. It has seemed to be the final culmination of what the Igbo especially have been complaining about since the end of the Nigerian civil war in 1970. The Igbo, a rather vital population of the current nation feel themselves as living under a glass ceiling called Nigeria. It is a strange position to be given that between 1934 and 1960, the Igbo led the anti-colonial Nationalist movement that led to the decolonization of Nigeria. The arrival of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe on the scene in 1935/37 ignited the phase of militant anti-colonial nationalism that finally, at the end of World War II, led to a re-interpretation of the Atlantic charter at the formation of the United Nations in 1945, and to decolonization, a fact to which the historian, Marika Sherwood in her important 1996 essay, “There is no New Deal for the Black Man in San Francisco” has given particular coverage. While the likes of Sarduana of Sokoto, Tafawa Balewa, and even Obafemi Awolowo who later emerged with the dubious titles of “Nationalist leaders” and “founding fathers” of

Nigeria, were known collaborators with the British colonialists in various degrees against the goals of the nationalist movement, Zik and his associates mounted a fierce campaign for Nigerian freedom which everybody now enjoys, and paid heavily for it from the subversions they suffered in the hands of the colonialists.

Azikiwe’s nationalist work was made possible by a wide network

The new Biafra movement has so far been limited because it had in the past not attracted seriousminded Igbo and their minority associates, particularly professionally trained ones, but that trend is shifting rapidly especially of a new generation of the Igbo, who spreading out of Igbo land in good number from the late 1890s, to work as artisans, traders, technicians and clerks in the new colonial economy, formed a new, vibrant metropolitan network of new Nigerians at the formation of the new nation by1914.

These urban Igbo, believing in a Nigerian imperative, in collaboration with some other Nigerians with whom they made contact in the new townships, created the vast nationalist network that fought colonialism. Many were jailed for it.

Some were killed for their defiance. Because the archives do not lie, however we

manipulate them for a particular time, it will be clear to a future generation, the dimensions of the work of these men; as well as the origins of the profound skepticism about Nigeria that have led today to Igbo alienation from Nigeria.

In any case, by 1966, just six years into political independence, the Igbo, following the organized pogrom against them nation-wide, returned to the East and declared secession, and opted out of Nigeria.

The civil war that followed was bitter. But the Biafrans lost, and returned to the fold of Nigeria in 1970.

Today, a lot of the Igbo, especially those who do not understand the context, despise the work of Azikiwe as a Nigerian nationalist.

Why, they ask did he fight for “one Nigeria” instead of fighting, like his peers, for specific ethnic interest? It is a startling change in consciousness for a group that had always embodied the pan-Nigerian spirit. But increasingly, among a new generation, Biafra is looking like the struggle of their generation.

With the highest unemployment in Nigeria, and with the most skilled or trained unemployed of young Nigerians, the Igbo, do not feel particularly patriotic these days, especially since it feels like the official policy of the “patria” todiscriminate against them. They Igbo feel hounded in Nigeria, from Lagos t Kano, and now Akure, where the Deji of Akure has ordered their shops closed because an Igbo man chose an empty title called “Ezeigbo Akure.”

They are the targets of all

kinds of hate groups in Nigeria, and now, they see President Buhari embodying their historical grief and fears.

The president has not done much to dissuade this thinking either, and a key Northern intellectual, Dr. Junaid Muhammed has challenged the Igbo to secede if they can, with an undercurrent of threat. The pro-Biafra movement seems to be heeding his challenge, slowly building and organizing at the grassroots, recruiting from a young, highly educated and articulate reserve of young men and women – kids with specialized skills in physics, Chemistry, Engineering, and who are unemployed. Match them with their peers with training in the Social sciences and the Humanities, with strategic organizational training, and you have a dangerous, and potent force, far different from any other time, who think of the possibility of Biafra as primarily a necessity of history, and a movement for freedom. Biafran Zionism is a dangerous political philosophy; crude and fascist.

But that is bound to change as a more educated, and articulate people join this movement. The new Biafra movement has so far been limited because it had in the past not attracted seriousminded Igbo and their minority associates, particularly professionally trained ones, but that trend is shifting rapidly. However, it is still possible for the Federal government to re-examine its methods. The arrest and seclusion of the likes of Nnamdi Kanu, or the use of armed agents of the state against protesters will only embolden this movement.

PAGE 42 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015

BY SAMUEL EGUAIKHIDE

C

hess is a game that tasks the intellect. Only very deep thinkers and the highly focused excel at it and a typical chess game is divided into three parts, the opening, the middle and the endgame.

Like chess, the life of a government is also divided into three: the opening, middle and endgame. While the beginning of the life of an administration is very important, the end of it is even more so. This is why in Edo State, the governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, himself a master of the game, who knows the importance of an endgame, has taken the bold move to ensure that his administration finishes well.

To achieve this, key officers of his government, the Secretary to State Government, the Head of Service, the Chief of Staff, the Commissioners, PermanentSecretaries, Accountant-General of the state, top Directors, members of the State Economic Team, key officers of the Information and Communication Technology Agency, the Bishops, Rooks and Knights of the Oshiomhole government, swooped on Abuja for a three-day tactical-thinking retreat to cover all areas and ensure a successful end for the Oshiomhole administration.

Aptly tagged “Finishing Well”, the retreat was designed to raise the bar on governance in Edo; to ensure that an administration, which had a great beginning also has a great end.

The governor himself set the tone for the retreat when he stirred the minds of the participants by challenging them to look beyond the unstable price of crude oil and fashion out good strategies to rise above the level of the mediocre.

He said: “Whatever we have done in the past on the assumption that oil money will be available, it is clear that we are no longer going to have that level of cheap oil money. We will have to look inward and this is where the role of everybody present here comes in.

“Around this time next month, we will be marking the seventh year in

•Gov Oshiomhole

Issues as Oshiomhole plots to “Finish well” office which effectively means that I have about 13 months to go and we felt it would be useful to assemble both political leadership and the leadership of the bureaucracy in the Civil Service to take a hard look at the past seven years.

“We have to revisit the agenda we have set for ourselves, what has been accomplished, what we have not fully accomplished, what the challenges are and going forward over the next one year what do we need to do differently to ensure that we accomplished all that we have set out to accomplish.

“We also believed that in the face of the present dwindling revenue, if we are going to remain viable and I define viability in terms of first, capacity to continue to deliver to the people and secondly, to be able to meet your contractual obligations to those who work for government; Civil Servants and other Public Servants.

“It is also an opportunity to look at the plan we set out between 2009 and 2020. Now the time to begin to address the issue of the challenges that the next Governor will confront is now, it is not something you want to do after the elections.

“We need to begin to try to anticipate what the challenges will be and address all of those critical issues such that we have a seamless transition and the next government is able to build on the foundation that is solid enough to sustain his own vision so that there is continuity and project and programs that have been put in place such that the next person can build on it.

“Look at the v a r i o u s institutions, reforms

Whatever we have done in the past on the assumption that oil money will be available, it is clear that we are no longer going to have that level of cheap oil money

programmes we have put in place, how to deepen those reforms, institutionalise them and encourage our people to imbibe the essence of those reforms such that the task of taking Edo to the next level can be sustained and guaranteed.”

Oshiomhole’s position was corroborated by top economist, Prof Doyin Salami, who was Vice Chairman of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Transition Committee. He agreed that the state must look beyond the oil sector in generating revenue to enable the government deliver even more and consolidate on its developmental obligations to the people even in the face of dwindling resources from the federation account.

Salami postulated that crude oil price will continue to dwindle or remain within the same bracket of its current price and urged the state government to make a realistic budget plan for 2016 within the current price as this price would likely remain the new ‘normal’ price for the next few months.

He advised the state government to harness her agricultural potentials, create and encourage small and medium scale businesses as well as address the issue of social development as these, he said, will in turn not only improve the well-being of the people but also increase the internal revenue base of the state.

The task-Fashola After the professor, the ante was upped as Mr. Babatunde Fashola, a former governor of Lagos State, made a grand entry.

He said he had a simple task, just to advice the governor to complete ongoing projects and shun new ones, unless they are key.

According to the ministerdesignate, “It is easy to say you haven’t finished the job. So in that sense, there is work to do, you must accept that and you must also be honest with yourself that you can’t finish the work. The reason is that, it is a work of people, a work of human beings and as long as the human civilization remains, work will never finish because it is a continuous undertaking.

“If the work could be finished, Ogbemudia would have finished it,

he had more time than you and if it couldn’t be finished at that time, Ambrose Alli would have finished it and probably John Odigie-Oyegun, so in that sense, it won’t finish.

“In the last few days, there would be a lot of talk about what you did not do, and there will be people asking you, before you go, come and do this, but you must be honest with yourself and be honest with them, having regards to the realities of your resources.

“The pressure can be enormous, but don’t see that it as a negative, it is not.

See it as a positive because they are asking you to do it only because they trust in your ability to do it, that is why they are asking you.

I would advice, you should resist the temptation of starting new projects unless, and unless only, they become defining in terms of timing, and in terms of so many other considerations and all of these must agree that this one or two projects are so defining, we can start them.

“Your political opponents and adversaries will likely highlight those things that are yet undone so you must expect it but really, that is all they would be able to say, what you did not do but I would strongly recommend, that you do not fall into the error of succumbing to the temptation in trying to do more than your resources can allow. You may end up doing little or nothing.

“The more of what they say you haven’t done, the more of what you have done that is what your discussions and commentaries should be about. Emphasise those things you have done well as proof that you can always do more, if time is afforded.

“So, all of what we are doing now is to make the process of getting out easier and I must tell you that getting on to the seat of government is simpler than getting off. Closing down is harder. So it seems to me you are doing the right thing by seeking to take control of the exit rather than allowing your exit to take control of you.

“I am very proud to be associated with your team, not only because of our political party affiliation, but more importantly you have demonstrated the capacity to change things in Edo for the better and I think you must all be proud of yourselves and I say so, not only because I was in Edo during your election petition so I saw things first hand and I have been in Edo subsequently and I saw change being wrought slowly but purposefully.”

More was to come from the World Bank, which gave thumbs-up to the governor for his reforms programmes in the state.

Result of reforms – World Bank Represented by two top executives, Mrs Gloria Joseph Raji, Senior Economist, Macro-Economic and Fiscal Management and Dr Khwima Nthara, Programme Leader, Equitable Growth, Finance and Institution, the Bank said “each time we came to Edo, we were quite impressed that we were taken around to see the results of these reforms and that is why it was easy for us at the world Bank to sell the reforms programmes in Edo to our Board in Washington.”

Raji stated: “Through programmes for result financing, the World Bank provides finance for governments

with a focus on result and capacity building. So disbursement of funds is based on specific program results that have been pre-agreed on between the bank and respective governments.

“When we disbursed $75 million under the First Developmental Policy Operation to Edo State, we did not say to Edo State, you must use it to build this hospital, or this school or all of that, it was on the basis of your completion of critical policies and institutional actions which we call ‘prior actions’.

“So, the focus of Developmental Policy Financing is policy and institutional reforms. We work with you to implement certain policies and institutional reforms and on the basics of implementation of certain critical reforms and actions that we agreed on, we will disburse the entire trunk of the funds.

“Institutional reforms are very important because they outlived government regimes so, it is important for governments to undertake reforms of their systems and processes, institutionalized them and that is what the focus of DPO are, to support policies and institutional reform efforts and the bank is usually on hand to provide Policy and strategic advice, so we work with the governments in designing, in thinking through your policy and institutional reforms actions and then we provide advice as necessary.

“The Bank provides significant funding to only governments it trusts will use the funds properly to achieve its development results because if we do not trust that you will use this fund judiciously, it would be a risk of the fund. So DPO’s are provided basically to those governments that the Bank trusts to use the funds for development results”.

Nthara added: “Reforms have to be institutionalized. Edo is very lucky today to have a very reform minded Governor, next year, he leaves office.

We pray that a like-minded Governor takes over from him but circumstances change, you don’t know who else is going to come with the Governor and that is why it is important to institutionalize reforms so that they should transcend individual personality.

“Even when Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is not here, his legacy should remain, not just what he has achieved, but the building blocks of the reform programs must remain so that even when the regime changes, the reforms might stay. That is why institutionalizing those reforms are important.

The World Bank team noted that of the 36 states of the federation, only Lagos and Edo State Government have been able to access its developmental funds and therefore called on other state governments to embark on critical, efficient and Developmental reforms project to enable them quality for the World Bank Developmental funds.

Indeed, top members of the government learnt a lot at the retreat and must have keyed into the vision of Oshiomhole, who, having mastered the endgame like other grandmasters, is on the right track to finishing well.

* Eguaikhide lives in Benin-City, Edo State.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 43

• Nigerians paying more for darkness? Inset:

Mr. Billy Harry

Consumers reject 40 percent electricity tariff hike

BY UDEME CLEMENT

T

he move by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commissio n (NERC) to increase electricity tariff in November 2015, by over 40 percent is unsettling for consumers in the country. While many people said such increase is a way of making Nigerians pay more for what they are not consuming with estimated bills, others expressed displeasure about the plan by NERC to increase tariff without meeting with relevant stakeholders and consumers to discuss the modalities.

The proposed increase according to NERC would be between 21 per cent and 49.4 per cent.

For commercial consumers, the tariff hike is by 21 percent, while residential consumers will pay 49.9 per cent more. The new tariff according to electricity distribution companies would cover increase in the price of gas supply and the cost of power distribution to customers in different areas.

Also, the power companies are seeking increase in tariff across different parts of the country, in order to improve their margin.

For instance, the statistics released by the companies’ shows that the rate of increase needed to improve their margin should be 21 percent for commercial consumers, which covers those doing businesses, 49.4 percent for residential consumers, depending on the location. Other places include Abuja, Benin, Enugu, Jos and Ibadan, where the distribution companies proposed increase of 48 per cent, 61 per cent, 60 per C M Y K

There are various platforms through which NERC could meet with stakeholders, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and consumers to discuss on what should be an appropriate increase in electricity tariff

cent, 63 per cent and 56 per cent.

For Ikeja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Yola, the companies proposed 32 per cent, 40 per cent, 46 per cent and 83 per cent increase in tariff. Also, the commercial consumers, in Enugu are to pay 56.53 per cent increase in the commercial tariff category, Jos, 30.01 per cent, Ibadan, 18.64 per cent, Ikeja, 25.02 per cent, Kano 46.93 per cent, Port Harcourt, 10.99 per cent, Yola, 43.16 per cent and five percent increase for consumers under Eko Disco distribution area.

When Sunday Vanguard visited the secretariat of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) at Ikeja, Lagos, to get reactions on

the proposed increase in power tariff, many manufacturers said it was not right for NERC to propose another increase in electricity tariff without giving consumers prepaid meters for them to know the exact amount of electricity they consume every month.

In a chat with Sunday Vanguard, the President, South/South Chamber of Commerce, Mr, Billy Harry, said that NERC ought to have a meeting with relevant stakeholders and consumers of electricity in the country before proposing increase in tariff.

He stressed, “How much is the cost of electricity per Mega Watt (MW)? What is the degree of efficiency in power supply? What ratio of increase is appropriate?

It is true that power generation, transmission and distribution companies need certain level of profits to stay afloat in the business, but NERC waking up to increasing electricity tariff without meeting with stakeholders in the country to discuss the modalities is not the best thing to do. They should do wide consultation with stakeholders before any increase.”

He added, “There are various platforms through which NERC could meet with stakeholders, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and consumers to discuss on what should be an appropriate increase in electricity tariff. For example, we have electricity consumers forum, MAN, Chambers of Commerce and other stakeholders that NERC should meet with, to analyse on acceptable and agreeable level of increase in tariff.”

He went on, “The areas that should be considered include,

what are the basis for increase in electricity tariff? Is it only money that should be taken on assumption? Is it that power supply is stable now than before?

So, it is imperative for the distribution companies to meet with stakeholders in the sector, to discuss on these areas before embarking on any increase in tariff. A situation where NERC proposes increase in electricity tariff without meeting with the stakeholders is not acceptable”.

However, despite privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and injection of billions of Naira by the Federal Government into the sector, power crisis continues to linger. At the twilight of the last administration, government approved N18.26billion loans for five power companies to boost electricity supply, after approval of huge sums like N5.2billion for power infrastructure, N213 billion as intervention fund for power, N3.9billion for power transmission infrastructure and N1.3 billion for manpower development and training of 3,700 trainees under the National Power Sector Apprenticeship Scheme (NAPSAS), all without commensurate output in electricity supply to the people.

The current electricity generation capacity in Nigeria with a population of over 160million stands between 4,000 and 5,000mw. Epileptic power supply is said to be one of major factors militating against industrial development in Nigeria. In 2013, government promised to hit a target of 10,000mw generation capacity in December 2013, but it was not realisable. Government also said that N347 billion was needed for

transmission to meet domestic and industrial consumption, yet the sector is still facing a lot of challenges. It could be recalled that government made similar promise in 2009 to hit 6,000mw of electricity generation in the last quarter of that year, but it was not realisable, even as gas shortage was said to be one of the major factors impeding the process.

Accordingly, distribution of prepaid meters to consumers in order to jettison the estimated billing system has not been done for years now. The previous government also introduced a scheme for Nigerians to pay between N50,000 and N25,000 for pre-paid meters under the new Credited Advance Pay for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) scheme, but the outcome was not published at the end of the exercise. That time, the Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, explained that the single phase pre-paid metres would be sold for N25,000 and three phase metres for N50,000. He listed Ibadan, Eko, Benin, Abuja and Kano as the companies to be used for the pilot scheme of CAPMI, yet nothing tangle has been heard about that scheme anymore.

Electricity generation capacity in Nigeria: The statistical overview of electricity generation capacity in the last few years shows that the sector has not recorded any remarkable improvement as shown below: 2011 – 4,321mw 2012- 4,517mw 2013- 3,563 2014- From 3,513 to 2,513 in the last quarter 2015- last quarter 4,000- 5,000.

PAGE 44 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015

‘How Kano, P-Harcourt became world’s worst airports’

BY UDEME CLEMENT

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former Assistant Secretary General, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Alhaji Mohammed Tukur, has supported the ranking of two Nigerian airports namely, Port Harcourt and Kano among the 10 worst airports in Africa.

Tukur made this known in a chat with Sunday Vanguard in Lagos, stressing that the decay in the affected airports had been identified many years back by stakeholders and airline operators, but those in authority refused to listen and take appropriate action to restructure the airports.

According to him, “The situation has a telling effect on local airline operators, but now it has become a national issue because of the ranking by the international body. We started complaining seriously about the situation of these airports from the time of the former aviation minister, Mrs, Stella Oduah, but government did not take practical steps to put them in order. We travel out of this country every time and we see what airports in other countries look like. So, this is the time for government to do the needful in order to put them in proper shape.”

He went on, “Another issue now is about safety of Nigerian airspace. I am appealing to the aviation authority to transfer control of the runway landing light to air traffic controller on duty. Not that they should remove everything about supply of light and give to NAMA, no. Let the Federal Airport Authority provide the light, but the control switch must be with the air traffic controller on duty, so that if an aircraft is landing at night and the light is not bright, the controller on duty can increase the light, and if the pilot says that the light is too bright on his eyes, the controller can equally adjust it for him to see well, in order to ensure safety. Not a situation where the pilot is about to land, the aircraft is speeding very fast and the air traffic controller would take his phone and call someone in another office who has the control switch, when the pilot is about to land and light is not normal. Let us make these changes to work in line with the global trend.”

About privatisation of specific airports, he said, “It is done in advanced countries and that is how it ought to be, to enhance efficiency in the system. Those opposing privatisation do not mean well for this sector. We are not saying government should sell the entire airports, but facilities like the run-ways,

terminal buildings and other maintenance services can be managed by private investors.

For example, we have BiCourtney aviation services in place and those facilities can go to the Bi-Courtney. In fact, we need more Bi-Courtney aviation services for local, international and other places. “ Take London airport for

instance, private investors are those running some of the facilities there. Government provide those facilities for private investors to manage them prudently, and that is exactly what we need in this country. It is a way of curtailing corruption to fast track development in the industry.

The duty of government is to supervise and provide security

and not getting involved in the day-to-day management of the airports. Government should only retain a percentage of the business. Private investors should run the facilities in order to rake in more revenue, rather than leaving everything to collapse in the hands of government officials, to the detriment of the entire economy.”

Free foreign exchange market: In whose interest?

BY GABRIEL ADESEUN

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have followed keenly arguments for and against the current control of naira exchange rate by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The common conclusion I have read is that the current CBN stands can only give a temporary and even false sense of security, and hence, not sustainable over a reasonable period of time. I have also been amused by critical oppositions of the some private sector operators to the 41 items of imports exempted from foreign exchange eligibility by the CBN, without them actually pin-pointing the specific items of interest to them. For instance, I just wonder what any manufacturer would produce with imported rice or cement or Indian incense. So that makes me to ask the question: in whose interests are these oppositions to the foreign exchange policy?

Just out of curiosity, I tried to check if there were occasions when the naira exchange rate was revalued during the time of high prices of crude oil with high accumulation of foreign exchange reserves in excess of $50 billion; I found none.

No foreign investor then raised the issue of the need to revalue the naira to reflect the new comfortable reserve level and high oil revenue accruing C M Y K

to the country. The naira had been on a consistent decline in search of its realistic value and more understandably so because our economy has been import dependent.

We import virtually everything and anything including foods, books, biros, furniture, clothes and clothing materials, raw materials and finished manufactured goods.

A perpetual devaluation of the naira without focus on real economic diversification will only impoverish our people the more, and our economy.

The usual economic argument that devaluation will promote and increase a country ’s export can only be realized where the country has a good manufacturing base from which to export. This is not the case in Nigeria. We are a country largely dependent on export of commodities such as crude oil, crude and unprocessed minerals and agricultural products whose prices are not determined by their domestic cost of production but by global pricing mechanisms that has little or no bearing on how much they cost to produce them. How then can the economy benefit from continuous devaluation? The gains are at best at the level of theory.

But devaluation will benefit foreign investors more as a unit of foreign exchange will buy far more real value of domestic Nigerian assets.

When this happens, real value

is transferred to foreign investors on their principal investment and a consequently far higher claim on future earnings of the country that can be taken out at maturity or at will to the detriment of the stability of the economy.

We should all seek ways to make our currency stronger.

It is our pride. Let all private

sector operators and investors take ownership of the CBN initiative and develop instinctive adjustments that the policy demands. The world economy is in turmoil with wars, disasters and economic dislocations causing major economic shocks of varying impacts. We cannot hope to rely only on the free market forces to achieve

economic stability under the circumstances. Even in the advanced economies, we have seen and read how their governments have intervened andare still intervening to move their economies in a desired direction. *Adeseun, an economist, is resident in Lagos.

At MSME Academy, Sterling Bank unveils business strategies

BY OLALEKAN BILESANMI

Sterling Bank, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative brought together entrepreneurs in Lagos for a month, to train them on the rudiments of business plan, marketing and financing.

The program, called ‘Sterling MSME Academy’, according to the Executive Director of Finance, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, was a good strategy. Suleiman spoke while declaring the academy open.

“Sterling Bank can be a catalyst to development of the engine room of the economy.

The Lagos academy is the first in the series that will hold in six other parts of the country.

The sector is the future of Nigerian economy. We also know that there are challenges in the sector. Apart from finance, there are environmental and infrastructure problems,”he stated. “The only way we thought we could be useful, apart from giving them unrestricted access to our loan, was to bring people who are knowledgeable in what it takes to grow business to lecture them, on how they can make their businesses successful. It was something we took upon ourselves, even though it was with a huge cost, our joy was that, we provided a platform for the sector to thrive. We wanted to contribute to the growth of this sector. So, it was basically a CSR initiative for us and over

N15m was spent on the 4 week academy.”

Also, a top management consultant, Olugbolahan Mark George, took the participants on the need to have a business plan and factors that determine success. Olufunke FowlerAmba, another consultant, took the participants through the impact of effective customer service on a business and why customer service skill is important. Basic accounting skills involving balance sheet and cash flow statements was another topic handled by Mrs. Abimbola Osuchukwu, a chartered accountant and lecturer from Pan African University. She revealed ways Business owners source fund outside their original seed money.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015 PAGE — 45

Ambode commissions 37 for the ‘Lagos Dream’

By Wale Akinola

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ILL Lagos State continue on the path of progress charted by Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he assumed office as governor at the inception of democratic rule in 1999 and the development sustained by his successor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola?

This was the pertinent question after Mr Akinwunmi Ambode emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress late last year and ultimately coasted to victory in the April 11 polls.

Whereas many Lagosians were cautiously optimistic that the pace of development in Lagos would continue under the Ambode regime as we had it under the two previous administrations, two schools of thought left no one in doubt that Lagos growth in the new dispensation could surpass the pace of the Tinubu and Fashola administrations. The first school pointed to the governor’s track record in public service which saw him rising to the peak of his career and the passion for the state which he demonstrated at various times, as evidence that Lagos was in for a good time under the new government.

The second school said Tinubu and Oba Rilwanu Akiolu of Lagos who backed the election of the governor against all odds could not have been mistaken in their decision that Ambode has all it takes to take the state to greater heights. Meanwhile, everybody agreed that the governor’s predecessors – Tinubu and Fashola – had set a benchmark that succeeding chief helmsmen in the state cannot afford to go below if they are unable to surpass it.

Five months after assuming office, the preponderance of opinions across Lagos suggests that the governor has not disappointed. Even the most critical observers are moderating their views to align with the claim that the Lagos Dream, as fashioned out by progressive politicians, is on course in virtually all facets of life.

“The slogan by the Ambode administration that it is for the progress of Lagos (Ilosiwaju Eko) is afterall no fluke, going by the giant strides that we have seen in five months,” Clifford Amata, a resident of Ijegun-Ikotun, impressed by the continuation of the road projects left behind by the Fashola administration, said. The roads include the multibillion Naira Ijegun-Jakande Estate, Isolo Road and IpajaAyobo Road, both in Alimosho LGA. The continuation of the road projects and the fast pace to ensure completion in record time has given rise to excitement in the two areas of

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the state after the noncompletion by the immediate past administration constituted bottlenecks that impeded free flow of traffic. The two projects are in addition to the Okota-Ikotun Road being fixed to ease traffic congestion in the Cele-Express-Iyana Ejigbo-Egbe-Ikotun axis.

Meanwhile, the governor’s spokesman, Mr Habib Haruna, has quoted his principal as promising to commence the reconstruction of two roads in the 20 LGAs and 37 local Council Development Area (LCDAs) in the state at a cost of N19 billion. The 114 road projects will be done in collaboration with the LGAs and LCDAs. “We expect you to create jobs in your communities and get our people employed on these projects”, Ambode told Executive Secretaries of the 57 councils during a meeting.

At the parley, he expressed his commitment to the people of Lagos this way: “This is a government of continuity with improvement. As such, our people must feel that improvement. They must experience that improvement.

They can only feel it if you are dedicated to serve them. As we work on the ways to improve the lives of our people, I charge you all to get involved in your communities.

You must live within your community and accessible to the people.” It is not only in the road sector that Ambode in five months has impacted on the lives of the people. A story is told of how the governor outlawed arrest of motorists by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) after the seizure of a truck bearing food produce for days and the content went

Mr Habib Haruna, has quoted his principal as promising to commence the reconstruction of two roads in the 20 LGAs and 37 local Council Development Area (LCDAs) in the state at a cost of N19 billion

•Governor Ambode

rotten. An angry Ambode flew from Abuja and went directly to the LASTMA yard after being informed of the issue among other excesses exhibited by the traffic control agency against motorists in Lagos. Now the pace of the ‘Lagos Dream’, as envisaged by the governor, promises to accelerate following the inauguration of the Lagos 37member cabinet made up of 23 Commissioners and 14 Special Advisers. “The cabinet is solid.

It is made up tested hands.

The Ambode men have all it takes to move Lagos to the next level,”Aruna, the governor’s spokesman, boasted immediately after the State Executive Council was swornin on Monday. May analysts agree with the position of the Chief Press Secretary to the Lagos governor.

“The inclusion of six of those who served under the two previous administrations will means the men will bring their experience to bear on positive governance in Lagos and complemented by the new men appointed on merit and professionalism. This has the potential of ultimately moving the state beyond the pace we saw under the former administrations,”Dele Ogunruku, a policy affairs analyst, said.

Another Lagos resident, Frank Nosa, echoed similar sentiment. He said: “Looking at the cabinet, Ambode has made good his promise to inject new blood into governance based on merit and professionalism. The cabinet is composed of technocrats, strategists and politicians”.

At the swearing-in, the governor acknowledged that Lagos is on the brink of greatness, saying the cabinet members have “all been given this platform to write your names in gold.”Ambode further told them: “You must work to leave a legacy that will be spoken of in glowing

terms in years to come.”

The six returning members of the Lagos cabinet are as follows: Gbolahan Lawal, who held the Agriculture portfolio, as Commissioner; Jide Idris (Health); Folarin Coker, Special Adviser, Central Business District; Seye Oladejo, Special Adviser, Commerce and Industry; Ganiyu Johnson, Special Adviser, Works and Infrastructure; and Babatunde Hunpe, Special Adviser, Rural Development. In the new dispensation, Lawal takes charge as Housing Commissioner; Idris, Health Commissioner; Coker, Tourism, Arts and Culture Commissioner; Oladejo, Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations Commissioner; and Johnson, Works and Infrastructure Commissioner. The new faces in the cabinet include Oluwatoyin Suarau, Agriculture Commissioner; Rotimi Ogunleye, Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives Commissioner; Akinyemi Asade, Economic Planning and Budget Commissioner; Babatunde Adejare, Environment Commissioner; Olawale Oluwo, Energy and Mineral Resources Commissioner; Benson Akintola, Establishment, Training and Pensions Commissioner; Mustapha Akinkumi, Finance Commissioner. Other commissioners are Abdul-Hakeem AbdulLateef (Home Affairs), Steve Ayorinde (Information and Strategy), Adeniji Kazeem (Justice), Musiliu Folami (Local Government and Community Affairs, Wasiu Anifowoshe (Physical Planning and Urban Development), Olufemi Odubiyi (Science and Technology), Ekundayo Mobereola (Transportation), Adebowale Akinsanya (Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, Wealth Creation and Employment, Lola Akande (Woman

Affairs and Poverty Alleviation), and Uzamat AkinbileYusuf (Youth and Social Development). The Deputy Governor Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule takes charge at the Education Ministry.

The cabinet members are stars in their respective fields.

But the credentials of some of them, already in the public domain, are too important to ignore. The returnee – cabinet members are bound to add value to governance with their wealth of experience secured under former administrations.

For instance, Lagosians expect a pace in road rehabilitation and reconstruction that goes beyond the milestones recorded by the Fashola administration. Ganiyu Johnson comes handy in this direction. Being a renown engineer who has seen it all as SA, Works and Infrastructure in the immediate past administration, Johnson is not new to his portfolio.

As Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, he will only be building on the giant strides recorded by the administration under which he worked. And the dream of Lagosians for good roads and only be better for it. Expectations are equally high that the Ambode targets in the health sector will be met with Jide Idris being at the helm of affairs. Idris, having served in the past administration as Health Commissioner, brought innovation into the health sector. It was during his time that LASAMBUS, a novel initiative that responds to emergencies, in record time, came into being.

He is an old hand and asset capable of driving the health sector into greater heights.

Although a new comer in the cabinet, Mobereola, as Transportation Commissioner, has seen it all in the transport sector. As the man at the driving seat at the Lagos Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LAMATA), he was involved in the many landmark transport projects going on across the state. LAMATA, under him, spearheaded the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project that moves thousands of commuters across Lagos communities daily, among others. Mobereola will definitely do more to carve his name in gold in the transport sector. There is obviously a funding challenge for governments across the nation owing to the parlous state of the economy arising from the drop in oil revenue, and Lagos is no exception. The governor is not new to paucity of funds.

As Accountant General, Ambode was said to have been at the forefront of the efforts that saw Lagos surviving when the Obasanjo administration withheld funds due to the state from the Federation Account at the time of the impasse over LCDAs creation. He is sure to use that experience to innovate funding sources for his programmes. The situation gives assurance that the ‘Lagos Dream’, with Ambode as chief driver, is on course.

PAGE 46—SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015

Akure stands still for Lord’s Chosen crusade

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KURE, the capital of Ondo State weekend witnessed a unique soul reawakening inspired by the revival train of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries in a crusade entitled; “There Cometh One Mightier Than All” held at the proposed Araromi Stadium in the state capital.The crusade saw an unprecedented crowd that filled the entire space and beyond.

Just as biblical Apostle Paul desired the salvation of Israel, General Overseer, The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Renewal Ministries, Pastor Lazarus Muoka, in his pre-crusade media chat, noted that his desire is to make the Yoruba nation, particularly the Sunshine state of Ondo, to partake in God’s blessing to mankind through his ministry.

According to him, as unbreakable yokes were broken during crusades in other parts of the country, so shall it be in Ondo State, stressing that the ministry’s vision of grassroots revival which is meant to bring the dividends of the gospel to all creatures cannot be accomplished if the Sunshine state is not included.

Preaching at the crusade, Pastor Muoka assured the mammoth crowd that God brought the crusade to give answers to their myriad of problems most of which have defied all known solutions. He added that the programme would mark the end of unanswered prayers which have caused many to subscribe to the deceit of the devil and his human agents such as sorcerers and occult men, who knowing that the End Time has come, take advantage of their ignorance to captivate as many as they could and afflict them with different kinds of diseases.

The cleric maintained that the Lord’s Chosen’s revival train was in Akure to draw the attention of the people to the spiritual truth of the hour and revive the heaven consciousness of the people.

According to him, the time of ignorance of not knowing that God is the One Mightier than all has come to a stop by this crusade, stressing that with such knowledge no human or Satan can stand against His wishes.

He posited that if anyone is ignorantcod the ability of God to answer prayers and had gone to consult sorcerers, native doctors or diviners, but have managed to come to the crusade out of curiosity, such a one will not go empty handed, because all the prayers and desires of every participant shall be granted as God shall prove that He is mightier than all their enemies.

“God has seen your affliction and has come to deliver you from the hand of your enemies. If the doctors have failed you, in this programme God will deliver you. If you are confused in life and have lost hope of getting God’s blessing, in this program, He will give you hope. If your case is that you don’t have favour from man, in this programme God shall grant you favour, and the people of Ondo will never be the same again as God will start a new thing in their lives,” he said.

As always the case in his crusades, there were testimonies of the miracles which were wrought, and the remarkable conversion of multitude of sinners to God. Those that were afflicted by various diseases ranging from physical disabilities to mental illness were healed. Many who came with diverse ailments received instant healings.

One Brother Seun, a 21-year old

‘We want freedom of worship’

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A cross section of worshippers at Akure crusade young man who was brought deaf and dumb by his auntI was healed.

According to the aunty, he had speech and hearing impairment since 21 years ago and the family had tried all it could to find a solution to the problem to no avail.

But during the deliverance ministration, Bro. Seun’s tongue got loosed and he started speaking and hearing at same time.

Also Sister Bumi, (35 years) who was healed of deaf and dumb, Bro. Ahmed who before now was an acclaimed occult grandmaster gave his life to Christ, Sis Patricia Adeyemi had her yoke of deaf and dumb broken instantly during the ministration. Many other deaf and dumb spoke. The mother of a 12-year boy openly testified that her third son who had been deaf and dumb since five years after a chloroquine injection was administered into him by a nurse was healed.

The physically challenged were not left out, as those that suffered

broken bones in accidents; to spinal cord injuries, stroke, paralyses, even those that were wheeled into the arena, lifted up their clutches and wheel chairs to celebrate and glorify God for making them walk again.

There was a case of instant healing of Sis. Abiola who was brought into the crusade in chains as a result of madness.

There was indeed a mighty display of the power of God. Of course, there is no other way to prove the manifestation of the presence of God than in the demonstration of His power in a revival where the sick were healed and the immoral were converted unto God. Pastor Muoka charged participants to be steadfast in righteousness and holiness for in so doing, they will retain the blessing of God from the two-day crusade. “You should not fear what man can do to you. Let that man do his worst; let him, plot, persecute and blackmail, what you are sure is that the One

mightier than all is on your side, and nobody can harm you,” he said.

Briefing newsmen after the crusade, on behalf of the General Overseer, the church’s spokesman, Pastor Louis Chidi (JP), asserted that Ondo State can never be the same again as there will be from henceforth a positive change in all strata of the government and the citizen will attest to it.

According to him, the crusade is part of the ministr y ’s continuous evangelical campaign to meet the 10 billion souls mandate before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is also in pursuance of his threefold vision of grassroots revival all over the world, revival of the Apostolic Christian experiences among the body of Christ and revival of heavenly consciousness among believers.

Thus it is targeted at winning great souls for Christ and preparing the saints for rapture.

articants at the Initiative for Inter-religious Peace and Harmony AbujaNigeria in collaboration with Nigeria Faith-Based Community Organisation, New Jersey USA, in Abuja concert included Christians, Muslims, Eckankar, Traditional religion, Jewish, Unificationism, Confucianism among others.

Speaking at the occasion, the Secretary General of the Initiative for Inter-religious Peace and Harmony Abuja-Nigeria, Amb. Simon Dolly urged Nigerians including those at the helm of affairs to take freedom of religion as enshrined in the constitution beyond rhetoric.

“We are all worshiping one God; the only challenge we have is that we have different methods of worship. What we project here is freedom of religion, freedom of worship. This is what we want in this country. We want every religion to cooperate and work towards peace building. What this country needs most is peace. And I am calling on Nigerian youth to give peace a chance. No government will succeed without peace,” he said.

Dolly explained that the concept was designed to primarily “create harmonious co-existence among people in the country, and we really want celebrate our diversity.”

Chairman of the occasion and former Director General, Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja-Nigeria, Prof. Joseph Golwa said “inter-religious harmony is what all of us must be committed to”, urging Nigerians to be their brother’s keeper.

War agains oss boar d againstt corruption mus mustt be acr across board —Apostle Anayo

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he senior pastor of Faith Revival Ministries World Outreach a.k.a Victory Christian Church, Apostle Nkechi Anayo has reiterated that the war against corruption

by President Muhammadu Buhari must cut across all political parties and politicians in Nigeria.

Addressing newsmen ahead of the 30th anniversary of the church, Anayo said Mr. Buhari should block all the channels through which the nation’s commonwealth was being siphoned so that the country could witness a new dawn.

She maintained that the destiny of Nigeria is not in the hand of any politician but that of God, urging Christians not to relent in praying for the country for God to take the centre stage of our country.

In her words: “Since Mr. President has decided to face the issue of corruption which is the major problem in Nigeria, it must be done properly so it doesn’t run into murky water. I mean if he wants to face corruption, it should be across board. He should tackle it head on no matter who is involved.

Since corruption has become a

big issue which ought to have been dealt with before now, Mr. President should look over his shoulder because there are some corrupt people around him. He should also look into the public service. There are lots of corrupt practices going on there, so he should rise to the challenge.

“People steal money meant to repair our roads, equip our institutions, hospitals, and nobody is challenging them. We are trusting God that the Church of God will be more vocal and speak against such corrupt

practices”.

Enumerating some of the challenges she encountered after the demise of her husband, Anayo said: “The worst experience I had was the death of my husband because I had the kind of marriage that I never thought would come to an end abruptly.

The mere fact of losing my husband, the trauma, how to handle the church, it was not easy but by the strength of Holy Spirit and leaders around me, we were able to get the church to

where it is today, God has helped us to increase.

“Every of the struggles and challenges that I have passed through were from women who pitched their husbands against me. I did not have any problem with the men,” she narrated.

The pre-anniversary celebration: Saturday, 21st November 2015 for Men’s day, Saturday 28th for Women’s day, Saturday, 5th December 2015 for Eagle’s day and Founder ’s day scheduled for Saturday 12th December 2015.

Okotie hails Nigeria @ 55

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hairman of Fresh Democratic Party and founder of Household of God Church, Rev. Chris Okotie, in his message, has urged Nigerians to redouble their efforts to develop the country, lamenting that most of our peer nations have left us behind because of their collective will to develop their nations. ‘’Every nation faces some daunting odds at some point;

the important thing is for them to overcome such hurdles and move on. In Nigeria’s case, we have not been able to do that because of the perennial plague of bad leadership!” He stated, pointing out that having voted for change, the onus is now on the APC federal government to shift the governance paradigm and move the nation forward, in order to close the gap with other progressive nations. ‘’Nothing short of effective,

quality service delivery and fast pace of governance would make the needed difference”, he said, adding that once the federal government settles down fully, Nigerians would not accept excuses for poor performance by our elected officials. Rev Okotie praised Nigerians for their resilience in the face of persistent crisis of leadership, which appears to continue even after the conclusion of the 2015 general elections.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, OCTOBER 25, 2015, PAGE 47

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ESUS met a man who had been sick for 38 years and asked him a strange question: “Do you want to be healed?” (John 5:6).

“What kind of question is that?” I asked the Lord.

“How can you ask a man who has been sick for that long if he would like to be healed?”

The Lord replied: “Femi, I asked him that because sickness was his life.” I was a bit slow on the uptake.

“What does that mean?”

The Lord said emphatically: “I said sickness was his life. He had known nothing but sickness. To save him, I had to deliver him from the only life he knew, which was a life of sickness. He did not know what it means to be well.”

“But how can you save a man from life? I thought men were saved from death.” “No Femi, the Lord replied again. “I save from life. That is why I kill before I make alive. I kill the lives of men in order to give them the life of God.” Dying to live This makes true Christianity a death sentence. The psalmist laments to God: “We face death all day for you. We are like sheep on their way to be slaughtered.” (Psalm 44:22). A believer dies in order to live. Paul says: “We had the sentence of death in ourselves, so that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that he will still deliver us.” (II

has been one big waste of time.

Spiritual life

JESUS KILLS BEFORE HE MAKES ALIVE Corinthians 1:9-10).

The “great death” we are delivered from is this life.

We are delivered from a life of death to eternal life.

We are delivered from counterfeit life into original life. We are delivered from the life of the body to the life of the Spirit. We are delivered from the life of men to the life of God. Therein lies our dilemma.

Jesus’ prescription of death is unpalatable. We do not want to give up the vainglories of this life. We try, pretend but finally give up. We fail to realise that the devil is the author of the life we want to continue living in this world. In effect, Jesus our Saviour becomes Jesus our adversary.

We are determined to save our life from Jesus, who is equally determined that we must relinquish it.

Salvation from life Therefore, Jesus warns: “Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in

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lso speaking on the 55th anniversary, Secretary of Nigeria Christian Elders Forum, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel said Nigeria is fast becoming a failed state bbute ould rather blame the British government who, he said, deliberately and intentionally laid the foundation for the crisis that has been rocking the nation since 1960.

According to him, the clarion call within the Colonial Office before indepedence was, “we must not let the North down”. In 1958, the Colonial Office said, “Nevertheless,

Jesus is in the business of saving a man from his own life exchange for his soul?”

(Matthew 16:25-26).

Jesus is in the business of saving men from themselves. He is in the business of saving a man from his own life. The reason is simple: we are our own worst enemies. My enemy is in me. Therefore, many sick people desire sickness. The alcoholic desires alcohol. The drug addict desires cocaine. The lung cancer patient desires cigarettes.

When a man has to be saved from his own life there is inevitably a problem. He is confronted with death. Salvation from life requires death.

Therefore, the Lord kills before he makes alive. But are we prepared to face death? Is self-preservation not a basic human instinct?

It might be human but it is not divine. Jesus laid down his life, leaving us an example to follow.

Ministry of death Death is a minister of the

Emmanuel blames British for Nigeria’s woes so far as the United Kingdom is concerned, it would appear that in the last resort, we must make sure that the Government of Nigeria is strong even if, possibly, undemocratic or unjust”. On this tripod of injustice, inequality, and unfairness, Britain placed Nigeria, Pastor Emmanuel argued, noting that as if the bias of the British in favor of the Islamists was not enough, the beneficiaries of the tripod of injustice, inequality, and unfairness, the islamists, believe, 55

Women should not depend exclusively on their spouses for survival — Rev Pastor Adejumo

G

em Woman Magazine recently hosted women from all walks of life in this year’s Body, Soul & Spirit 2015, with the theme “Season Of a new Song”.

In their unique way of celebrating and impacting women, Dr. Reuben Odu, a renowned security expert delved on security tips tagged “Watch Your Back”.

Odu, listed three major points as reasons why certain crimes occur mostly to women, which includes the presence of a motivated offender, suitable target, time and opportunity.

He advised that women should be mindful of their surrounding environment at all times and report any kind of suspected movements, activities and immoral dressing.

“Women should be mindful of the information they put on their social media because people can easily access and use the information

gospel. The gospel was preached in the Old Testament, but the people did not understand it because they had a veil over their hearts. The ministration of death was written and engraved in stones at the hand of Moses. But nothing can give a man a whole new perspective on life than to come face to face with death.

Armed robbers attacked me on Airport Road in Lagos. A man pointed a gun at me and my whole life flashed before my eyes.

It never occurred to me that my life was supposed to end like that. What about all my plans? What about all my hopes?

Solomon warns: “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”

(Proverbs 19:21).

Then Jesus appeared to me, right there and then in the middle of the attack.

“Trust me,” he said to me.

“Believe in me,” he cajoled. Just then, I looked

up to see an armed robber approach. He pointed a gun at me and he fired.

The bullet hit me and I fell down and “died.” It ripped into my flesh and I “died”.

It is necessary to put it in graphic terms. I “bled to death” right there on that dreadful road.

There is nothing like death to make a man realise his need of a saviour. What does a dead man need? He needs a redeemer. What does a dead man need? He desperately needs a resurrection. A dead man needs Jesus. Accordingly, Paul cried out: “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:24-25).

Jesus came to save me from death. But this death was the very life of me.

Therefore, Jesus “took my life.” He made me work for him in his fishing industry.

But I am not a fisherman and I am not interested in fishing. As a matter of fact, I am contemptuous of fishermen. They are poorly paid and are of low social status. I did not go to university in order to become a fisherman. By ending up as a mere fisherman it meant my life

against them. Problems women have today is the underutilization or wrong use of mobile phones, twitter, technologies and other social media network”, he added.

Women were advised to separate their private lives from their career and social life.

Speaking at Body, Soul & Spirit 2015, Co Senior Pastor of Agape Christian Ministries, Rev. (Mrs.) Funke Felix-Adejumo, said that women should spend more time to intensify on God to give them a new song daily.

Adejumo admonished women to be proactive, submissive but not gullible and not depend exclusively on their spouses for survival, as they can only sustain their value and reputation when they are productive themselves.

The ambience is clouded with angelic praise and worship songs given by Big B and Ibironke.

years after independence, that the status quo of the imbalance must remain in perpetuity.

“Today, the Islamists have legalized murder in Nigeria as they kill and maim without pity, without compassion, without facing arrest, without prosecution. Since independence, they have adopted the attitude of the new colonial masters while seeking to relegate the remaining ethnic groups to subcitizens or dhimmi (second class citizens) status,” he maintained.

According to him, “Nigerians need to understand that the real issue

confronting the nation is not corruption but Sharia; an ideology being promoted by radical Islamists, especially the Izalas, the sect President Muhammadu Buhari belongs to.

There are two main categories in the Islamic fundamentalists in Nigeria.

There are the Salafists who believe that agitation for Sharia should commence at whatever level the Salafists are present. And, there are the Izalas, who believe that attempts should be made to acquire political power before launching the agitation for Sharia. Shekau belongs to the Salafists while Buhari is of the Izala.

Job lamented that man born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

(Job 14:1). What was Job’s problem? He was born of a woman but not born again. He was born of a woman but not of the Spirit. He was born of a woman but not of God. Therefore, his life was full of insoluble trouble. Job had great possessions.

However, he did not have the peace that passes all understanding.

It is incredible how many things can kill a man who is born of a woman.

Ordinary mosquitoes can kill him. Armed robbers can kill him. He can be killed in car accidents and in plane crashes. He can fall sick and die. The spirit of fear forever torments him day and night. He is anxious about practically everything.

But what about those who are born of the Spirit?

They are impregnable.

Since they have died only to be born again, they can no longer be killed.

Armed robbers cannot kill them. They are immune to sicknesses and diseases. Though they walk through the valley of the shadow of death, they fear no evil.

Jesus says: “I am the resurrection and the life.

He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

“Within his 100 days in office, President Buhari has been emitting disturbing signals that portray him as regional Islamic leader rather than a national president. Out of the 32 critical appointments that he has made in the first 100 days, 27 are from the northern states while five are from the southern states; not a single appointee is from the South East zone.

On his trip to the U.S., President Buhari left Nigeria with a delegation of 29 northerners and four southerners.

“To make matters worse, the president confirmed his Islamist nature by publicly disowning the lofty promises he made during his electioneering campaign, proving that he used “Taqiyya” on the nation to obtain the presidency.

Ministers of God have roles to play— LIFE Provost

M

inisters of the gospel have been advised to use the pulpit to bring into reality the desired change in the country instead of dining and wining with politicians and those in authority.

The provost of LIFE Theological Seminary, Ikorodu, Rev. Cletus Orgu gave the advice while addressing journalists on the achievements of LIFE as the institution marks its 60th anniversary.

Orgu said biblical prophets discharged their pastoral duties without fear or favour, stressing that they played a significant role in building their nations despite threats to their lives by kings and rulers of their time. According to him, those prophets told leaders in authority the truth whenever such kings were not governing accordingly.

According to him, the duty and obligation of any Christian preacher is to call the attention of governments to the suffering of the people, “we should be bold enough to tell any government in power when they are not doing the right thing. We should not be prophets who run after those in power because you cannot eat with the king and still tell him that what is doing is not right.

“Prophets cautioned and confronted kings and told them when they were not going the Lord’s way,” the cleric said, calling on Nigerians to join hands in building a united nation to attract more development to the country, adding that leaders and the masses must make necessary sacrifice in ensuring that the country experiences a positive turnaround.

He urged Nigerians to ignore their ethnic and political differences and focus on building a nation which they can call their own, noting that both leaders and the led should desist from selfishness; “stop looking for immediate self gratification.

Developing the country is in the hands of both leaders and the masses; we should all contribute our quota in ensuring that we achieve the change we are clamoring for”.

On what the seminary stands for in the past 60 years, the provost said it develops and equips men and women for Christian leadership irrespective of denominations, pointing out that the school can now boast of modern student hostels, modern classrooms and an ultra modern clinic which will serve the whole community.

PAGE 48—SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015

By PRISCA SAM-DURU LITERATURE

S

OMETIMES one cannot help wondering what truly makes an individual unique.

Could it be a person’s mien, eloquence, success, benevolence etc?

In the case of Nigeria’s foremost writer and poet, Odia Ofeimun, he isn’t just unique because of his writing prowess. Perhaps, his being used to doing things differently, ability to hang on to his opinion in spite of that of the general public or entire world, power to brew controversy to any extent and non stop argument on mind boggling topical issues as well as constant engagement in intellectual/literary combat and many more, stand him out from his contemporaries.

The uniqueness of this great writer has earned him the title of a trouble maker of the first order by another iconic author who happens to be his closest friend, Professor Kole Omotosho.

The literary industry no doubt, needs a boost. So, whatever contribution aimed at furthering the quest for a vibrant literary community, is most welcome. But then, in this clime, people are used to solo exhibition of visual art works and book fairs or book festivals which normally afford publishers the opportunity to exhibit books from their stables, but not book exhibition by a single author.

Odia as he is best known, took a unique leap in this regard penultimate week, when he exhibited over 40 of his books written in a period of over 3 decades.

The exhibition of books tagged, “Special 40-Plus Book Exhibition held at the Agip Recital Hall of Muson Centre, Lagos attracted friends of the author, some members of the literati and few government officials.

The Poet Lied, When Does A Civil War Come to an End?, A Handle for the Flautist, Nigeria the Beautiful: Poems for Dance Drama, Itoya: A Dance Drama, Because of 1914: A Centenary Dance Drama, Impossible Death of African Author, A House of Many Mansion, Nigeria Women Poets, Messianism as a Political Platform and many more are the titles of books exhibited.

Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba described the exhibitor as a prolific writer “Who has shown tenacity and ability to hang on to what he believes in.

In spite of the fact that he is not making money, he has not given up. I recommend that the likes of Odia Ofeimun should not give up.”

Chairman of the occasion, Professor Kole Omotosho said it was an “Unusual occasion to celebrate Odia and his over 40 works. It’s always difficult to speak about Odia, a trouble maker of the first order. He argues most of the times and most his books come out of continuous argument. Here is a talent that has taken on any issue relating to Nigeria” In his detailed review of the books, Dr Ogbare Gimbar who explained the language, importance and style in some of his favourite works, said The Poet Lied, is one book that generated

I write books that fight the battles I like —Odia Ofeimun a lot of controversies due to its linguistic felicity. “Its a miracle Odia is still around”, he said, noting that “His contributions in Tempo when election was annulled in 1993 were enough to kill him." According to Gimbar, "Poems on the North Eastern part of the country are most troubling poems. Odia has been able to represent the most challenging issues of Boko Haram in these poems. Odia is a man who never shy away from intellectual combat.”

Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Communication

Odia is a rebellious nationalist who comes to the national struggle for the soul of Nigeria from a unique perspectivepoetry

By JAPHET ALAKAM VISUAL

T

he Maryland, Lagos office of Gaurapad Charity was turned into a mecca of sort as people from all walks of life converged at the place to celebrate loyal participants in the Gaurapad empowerment scheme. Tagged “Loyalty Mega Promo Award”, the event was to reward longstanding marketers of Gaurapad health products.

It is a yearly event, but this year ’s edition was unique judging from the magnitude of the awards and the number of people from the entertainment industry that came to give a helping hand to their own, Bolaji Rosiji,(Guarapad Director) who was a former chairman of PMAN. In attendance were, Oritiz Wiliki, Ras Kimono, Mama G, Daddy Fresh, Stella Monye, Lara George, Patience Ozorkwor and a host of others. And as it turned out to be,it was entertainment galore as the people were entertained all round, spiritually, financially and physically and they went home filled.

As the awards were on, sensational gospel musician, Lara George mounted the stage and gave the audience the spiritual angle of entertainment with praises and worship songs. The tempo was high and people danced and danced, but when she came up with the song, I’m acknowledging you for whom you are...., the people could not hold it as it forced almost all, including Bolaji Rosiji to

That is why the kind of books I write are the kinds that fight the battles I like. They may not be right now for instance, Taking Nigeria Seriously, was published a few years back but it doesn’t matter when you want to read that book, in my view, the arguments won’t change, it doesn’t matter who becomes the head of state of Nigeria, if they are • From Left;Dr Tunji Olaopa; Prof Kole Omotoso,Chairman of the occasion and genuinely interOdia Ofeimun; Author at the event ested in what Technology, Dr Tunji Olaopa de- on issues he raises about Nigeria, Nigerians think about the way we scribed Odia as a writer who has but added that those who are should move, they should read “Carried Nigeria in the unfold- ready to challenge him must books that try to describe the way ing bowel of poetry for long. ensure they are more knowledge- the future should be.

We must describe our future His muse must surely be a mili- able than he is. tant when confronted with the “I am genuinely interested in before we move into them. That gross dysfunction that the Ni- the way my country is run, I like doesn’t mean you should neglect geria predicament presents. He the fervour with which Nigerians the past, we have so over conis a rebellious nationalist who want to do things and I always centrated on the past that we are comes to the nationalist struggle want to contribute to it but I’m unable to dream about the for the soul of Nigeria from a calling my country men and future.We give children the imunique perspective – poetry.” women to lets open our eyes and pression that burying their heads Responding, Odia encouraged fight the battle, don’t wait for your in the sand is a better deal, no it isn’t…”He said. young people to challenge him leader to fight it for you.

Lara George steals show at Guarapad Charity award stand up and dance. It was great and a very fine way of acknowledging God for what he has done , both to the customers and the management of Guarapad for the success story.

The occasion which was in keeping up with its promise to provide holistic well-being to society through unique and highly effective health care products, Gaurapad Charities awarded royal marketers of its L-R: Stella Monye, Ejiro Okurame, Patience Ozokwor, Bolaji health products series of gift Rosiji(Guarapad founder) Lara George and Mrs Nike Denis items and millions of Naira to many who distinguished category got generators, disclosed that the challenge of themselves in the business. fridges, tablets and TVs. Those the company now is to raise the These were marketers who in the ambassador’s category life expectancy of Nigeria from have stood the taste of time received the same gifts and an 52 to 80 in the next ten years. ensuring that Gaurapad health option of a trip to countries of Adding that they will actualise products get to every nook and choice. The third was the that through taking the clinic cranny of the nation, helping president’s category, where, to the people, to the shopping people heal from all forms of one Rosemary Iroezi went malls, rural areas, villages and ailments while also touching home with a Ford Edge SUV actually installing it with the lives of the needy from the and N10m cash . highly qualified doctors with proceeds of their sales.

Founder, Gaurapad expert coach.

In all over 120 people were Charities, Mr. Bolaji Rosiji, Speaking about rewarded with different who confessed that he was still entertainment, Rosiji who categories of awards. Those basking on the glory of the stated that entertainment runs rewarded in the director ’s praise of God, explained that in their family, disclosed that he was extremely shocked at he will not be releasing his This year’s edition the large turnout of second album as promised, but participants at the event, that what he will do is to was unique judging which is a testimony of the support the art as a means of from the magnitude impact Gaurapad health entertainment, to support through products has made across the education of the awards and entertainment. nation. the number of Some of the artiste who spoke Rosiji who described at the event commended Rosiji Guarapad as a global people from the conglomerate that started in for what he is doing, to inspire entertainment Nigeria, stated that the mission and encourage people, which of the company is to improve is something all of them will industry in the lives of millions of people encourage. attendance all over the world. He

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015 PAGE — 49

BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE

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or Mrs Olayinka Ayanwale, life without compassion is meaningless. This virtue has remained the force behind her tenacity towards the mandate of Inner Wheel International, a worldwide social service organisation comprising women, since 1986 when she joined the organisation.

That mandate is improving lives all-over the world.

A respected and successful entrepreneur, Olayinka's steadfastness eventually landed her the organisation's most coveted position at her district level, District 911 Nigeria, and she was in July sworn in as its chairman at a colourful ceremony in Lagos.

Alongside improving lives in Lagos and Ogun states whose Inner Wheel clubs she oversees, she is also rising up to the challenge of dwindling membership in Nigeria, a trend she blames on Rotary International for amending its policy on women inclusion.

Feminista had a chat with her.

Rotary's policy on women is taking a toll on our membership —Olayinka Ayanwale, D911 Inner Wheel boss required for presiding over Inner Wheel worldwide.

We’ve at least got to be up to 1,000 in Nigeria but as we speak, we are not up to.

In India for example, Inner Wheel has about two million members. Same with Britain and many countries around the globe.

Isn’t that quite poor for a country as populous as Nigeria?

Yes, it is. If any country has to suffer low membership strength in a charity organisation, it should not be Nigeria because we are, like you said, Africa’s most populous nation. We need strength to be able to impact more lives.

Now what we are doing is creating awareness and letting people know Inner Wheel is now an organization of its own; not a body for only wives and relatives of Rotarians.

About ten years ago when I first encountered Inner Wheel, it had plenty of successful, and

How do you intend growing membership since most women now prefer to join Rotary?

Since Rotary now admits women, we too have begun admitting non-relatives of Rotarians.

Formerly, our membership strictly comprised wives and relatives of Rotarians until a few years ago when Rotary started admitting women instead of being a men-only organization. This really affected Inner Wheel because in the past, every Rotarian brought his wife to Inner Wheel. Now, we have modified our membership qualification to accommodate any lady of integrity who is, above all, ready to serve.

Growing our membership is essentially a big challenge for us this 2015/2016 Inner Wheel year because of our chance of presiding over Inner Wheel internationally for the first time in history Otherwise, we will be a f f e c t e d internationally because for the first time, Africa has produced an International Vice President in person of Mrs Oluyemisi Alatise, a Nigerian.

To keep this tempo and ensure she subsequently •Olayinka Ayanwale emerges President, we have to meet the membership level C M Y K

permit me to say, prominent women. But that isn’t exactly the case anymore…

That was why I said any female being admitted now must have to be a woman of integrity. Not just anybody. As a matter of fact, whoever we have to admit now must scale through our laid down screening procedure.

In fact, I’m glad to announce that our old members are now returning to the organization because they now hear of all that we are doing in Nigeria despite our low membership strength.

In what ways will your oneyear tenure be impacting lives?

My star project is vocational

training and empowerment, which we’ve started already, and recently, we graduated 44 youths from our vocational training centre based in Festac, Lagos. They were trained in six different skills namely: catering/events management, decoration/ events management, computer web designing, bead-making, Ankara craft and makeup/makeovers. We graduated them with start-up materials like gas cookers, laptops, professional makeup kits, etc.

That brings me to the state of that your training centre.

How come such a multimillion naira edifice originally designed to curb unemployment was abandoned for three years until July this year?

The problem was the traffic gridlock around Mile2/ Amuwo Odofin axis. Even when we tried having meetings at the centre, members hardly showed up because of difficulty in accessing the place. The traffic situation really put us off. Hence, the place could not serve its purpose for over three years. Instead of locking it up though, we decided to let it out. Now, the traffic situation is better and we are back to the centre.

Members can now access the place easily.

Before, we could spend five to six hours in traffic on that axis.

The district has however agreed to make the training a continuous project. I’m also planning to support businesses with fund.

How are the demands of this office affecting your personal life?

Thank God I have an understanding husband, Alhaji Kola Ayanwale. Like he would tell everybody, he has prepared for this in the last one year. As for my children, they know this is one full year of sacrifice. Anyway, I do not have any toddler among them; they are all grown up.

So, my family life isn't really affected. …and your Mr Biggs outlet?

I still make sure I get to the restaurant each morning before visiting our vocational centre in Festac. I also stop by when going home in the evening. Fortunately for me, the vocational centre is somewhat on the same route with my business.

What’s your message to Inner Wheel members across the country at this time?

We should all work hard to move the club higher like the theme for this year ‘Unique & United’ says. We should make our unity translate into better life and equality for people. I expect all Inner Wheel members in Nigeria to make this a priority. ...and how do you hope to enhance dignity and pride for your organisation in Nigeria?

We are greatly respected internationally. We only have to be more committed over here so as to be able to support the work of government.

Now, we have modified our membership qualification to accommodate any lady of integrity who is, above all, ready to serve.

Lastly, at what point in life did you decide to join this selfless organisation?

I joined Inner Wheel in 1986 when my husband joined Rotary. But what made it take so long for me to emerge District Chairman was because the Isolo Club, which I belong to, went into comatose for many years.

Some of our members relocated, some where aged, and some probably lost steadfastness.

I was practically the only member running and sustaining the club at the district level before Mrs Ronke Solomon, wife of Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, joined me in reviving the club.

Page 50 — SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015

VIEWPOINT

By Soyombo Opeyemi

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Matters arising from the Ogun Election Petitions Tribunal verdict

I

T is not in any way surprising that the Election Petitions Tribunal upheld the victory of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress and Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, in the April 11, 2015 governorship poll.

Those who are familiar with the politics of Ogun knew there was no way the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, could have defeated Amosun on the electoral field. And if you did not win on the electoral pitch, how then could you have won in the court of law?

I recall the boxing analogy I gave in my publication in the papers in January titled, ‘Ogun 2015: PDP Arrived Too Late’. Isiaka had by then served Amosun a quit notice on the pages of newspapers, which provoked a roaring laughter from the camp of APC! I had said in that publication: “In

VIEWPOINT

By Gboyega Amoboye

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Yoruba nation after the death of Awolowo’s widow

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AMA HID Awolowo’s death has been described as an end of an era. This obviously is a trying period for the Yoruba race. As good as it may be to celebrate mama’s life of grace and immortal memory’ just like that of her husband Papa Obafemi Awolowo, Mama left without a political will .Her exit has created two vacuum in Yorubaland as Yeye Odua stool is vacant as well. Such a situation is always followed by instability. May mama’s motherly soul guide us.

The battle for the soul of the prosperous Yoruba land by the rest of the country since the 40s has always been between the europhilosophical groups of politicians: the capitalist and the socialist.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo adopted what he called democratic socialism by which he focused on people as the centre of good

VIEWPOINT

By Best Isioma

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

An irresistible telecoms offer

A

game changer, Globacom recently raised the bar in the telecom sector when it launched a promo, christened, “Free Tomorrow”, touted as the next big thing after per second billing. This promo challenges our imagination and it is one of the numerous ways Globacom communicates its unlimited nature to the public by achieving the seemingly impossible tasks. Imagine going to a shopping mall to buy an item and receiving full value and quantity of the purchases free of charge the next day!

This is what Globacom offers its subscribers as they will, upon registering for the offer, enjoy unprecedented 15days’ of free calls, SMS and internet browsing every month. The product was recently launched in Lagos.

In line with the stature of the event, the launch was attended by Glo

Amosun v. Isiaka: There are no grey areas the boxing era of Muhammed Ali and Mike Tyson, the challenger needs to fight twice as much as the champion in order to take away the belt... Here in Ogun, rather than the challenger doing twice as much as the champion to win, it is Amosun (the champion and incumbent governor) that is going across the state from village to village, hamlet to hamlet, town to town to canvass for votes while Isiaka is busy making grandiloquent statements...

“While Gboyega Isiaka is still in

And when Isiaka decided to approach the Election Tribunal despite the fact that he knew he lost that poll fair and square, I immediately saw politics at play

bed, Amosun has already set forth, enjoying the marvels of the holy hours and savouring the fellowfeeling endorsement of the market women, farmers, youths, artisans, workers, etc.

“Just how many days does the PDP with its coalition have left to campaign – amidst the current infighting within its fold on who should or should not be the governorship candidate and who should or should not be this or that? Sorry PDP and your coalition, you arrived too late; the train to Oke-Mosan 2015 has already left the station. Please come back in 2019.”

And when Isiaka decided to approach the Election Tribunal despite the fact that he knew he lost that poll fair and square, I immediately saw politics at play. In the interview I granted in May to some newspapers, I submitted as follows: “But our courts are not unaware of the antics of some political litigants in Nigeria. Rather than bring concrete evidence to the

courts, they recourse to duplicitous stories on the pages of newspapers in the hope that the courts will rule in their favour based on such avalanche of lies in the media. It doesn’t happen that way. If you describe as fraudulent an election that has been hailed all over the country as free and fair and in line with pre-election surveys, opinion polls and prognoses by credible individuals, bodies and institutions, then it is a pity because you now face the self-inflicted burden of having to manufacture evidence to prove that.

Judges give verdicts based on facts, not sentiments; they deal with facts, not fantasies. Isiaka himself knows that he lost the election and knows the reasons why he lost. He knows about the performance of the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, which endeared him to voters. He is very much aware of how Amosun, despite being the incumbent, never took our people for granted but went from village to village, hamlet to hamlet. He also canvassed for votes in towns and

HID's Exit: This house must not fall governance. As premier, Awolowo developed Western Region to the envy of other regions and indeed the federal government that jointly plotted his incarceration hoping that by so doing the progress of the South-West could be halted.

The travails of Papa Awolowo neither” wasted mama’s heart nor bowed her limbs” but brought the best out of her. She promptly assumed leadership of the Action Group.

In the “roaring 60s”, mama led the Action Group into an alliance with the NCNC to become UPGA, a coalition that lasted the First Republic. At the end, mama and her husband survived persecution- the truth had vindicated the just and papa matched out gloriously from incarceration.

Having sacrificed so much in defence of the democratic socialism, Mama’s ardent followers were therefore at a loss when in the politics of the Fourth Republic, it was feared that she had shifted “a little to the right’ and even became passive in Afenifere which

she and her husband had gloriously led, but active in the break away Yoruba Council of Elders.

The YCE was lead ironically by a leading Awoist, the late Chief Bola Ige, in trust for the then President Olusegun Obasanjo who, in a bid to drag the Yoruba to his political party, the PDP, destroyed the Alliance for Democracy that Bola Ige had personally registered through his foot soldiers that included Dr Chris Ngige. That mama could align with Obasanjo

Dr Tokunbo, the most politically visible in the family may have to relocate to Ikenne while Awoism be taken to the classrooms in the South-West where all the governors and leaders must accept Awolowo’s birthday as a public holiday

regarded as an enemy of Awolowo’s progressive camp was too much for her followers to comprehend.

While the “committed Awoist” were dazed by mama’s dinner with the political ‘Pharisees’, political star gazers however noted that what mama did was not out of place as what should be expected of her at the twilight of her life was to unite all her children who were already split into both the PDP and the AD, more so, that Obasanjo, a Yoruba, was the President.

Nevertheless, there are the “young Turks”, led by Bola Tinubu, who might have disagreed with any comprise with the political ‘Pharisees’, apparently contending that the great Awo never “mixed the sheep with the goat” in the name of Yoruba unity.

The question one may ask is what becomes of Yoruba politics after mama? The doyen of the family and grandson, Segun Awolowo, has long been in a”splendid political isolation” while Dr Tokunbo Awolowo –Dosumu never returned to politics after she lost the

Globacom’s FREE TOMORROW brand ambassadors, including Peter and Paul Okoye (P Square);Chinedu Okolie (Flavour); Korede Bello of God win fame; Ghollywood star, Van Vicker; Hadiza Blell (Di Ja); and Nollywood star, OC Ukeje who added colour, panache and glamour to the birth of “Free Tomorrow”.

Welcoming guests to the event, Globacom’s Retail and Consumer Sales Chief, Mr. David Maji, affirmed his company’s willingness to always give back to its subscribers and pledged that the company would not rest on its oars by constantly churning out quality and affordable products for its teeming customers across the country. He alluded to the on-going twin block buster shows, Slide and Bounce musical concert and the Laffta Fest capsule of comedy, music and drama spreading joy and reducing stress amongst Glo subscribers in the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. Mr. Maji concluded by stressing that the best was yet to come from the Next Generation Network.

Providing details of the offer,

Globacom’s Head, Devices and Partnerships, Mr. Odafe Akerejola, said Free Tomorrow measures exactly the value of how much data and airtime a subscriber uses in a day for calls, SMS and internet browsing, upload and download, and then credits the subscriber the next day with the same value of the previous day’s usage for free. “What’s more, the subscriber enjoys the privilege of using the credit on and off network as well as making international calls and using data on network” he enthused.

“For instance, if a Globacom subscriber uses N500 credit in a day on calls, SMS and data, Globacom will give him back N500 credit the very next day. This means that the subscriber gets back for free the next day all the data and airtime he or she used the previous day and the free credit can be used to browse the internet, make calls or to send texts to any network. It is like going to a first class restaurant to have a sumptuous meal and being served

the full value and quantity of food the next day, free of charge” Akerejola explained.

According to him, all prepaid subscribers on the Globacom network, whether young or old, rich or striving, can enjoy the benefit. “By extension, the subscriber enjoys at least 15 days of free credit in a month on the Globacom network. With the 15 days recharge respite, the Glo subscriber is not only empowered to enjoy our services the more, but is also enabled to make substantial financial savings,” he said.

“The uniqueness of Free Tomorrow is that the free credit can be used anyhow the subscriber wishes for calls to any network or for data.

The subscriber can also use the bonus credit to call friends, family and business associates in Nigeria and any five of the most frequently called countries by Nigerians including Unites States of America, China, India, Canada and land lines in the United Kingdom.” Mr Akerejola added.

cities; toured the entire 236 Wards in the state; went on an extensive local council tour and devoted hundreds of hours to meeting all shades, groups and socio-cultural associations across the state before the election.

“Please, ask Mr Gboyega Isiaka how many Wards he visited during his campaign? He knows that his own electioneering never attained any steam until few days to the election, when it was already too late. And for his godfathers to resolve their tug of war over who should control the PDP candidate and party machinery only three days to the election did enormous damage to Isiaka’s campaign.

Mr Isiaka has only taken the tribunal option to score a cheap political point ahead of 2019 election. He wants to court public sympathy; he wants to be seen as the champion of the masses in order to get a soft-landing come 2019. There’s also the paranoia of having to lose election thrice in a row to the same candidate. So when some politicians go to tribunal, they have other reasons. Unfortunately they waste the time of people who have high regard for their time.” gubernatorial ticket of the Social Democratic Party for Lagos State in 1991, It may be expected therefore that in the absence of mama at Ikenne, next generation politicians may see Ikenne the way old footballers would see Pele and the Ikoyi residence of Tinubu, the way young footballers would see Maradona.

Nevertheless,” this house must not fall”. Dr Tokunbo, the most politically visible in the family may have to relocate to Ikenne while Awoism be taken to the classrooms in the South-West where all the governors and leaders must accept Awolowo’s birthday as a public holiday and be so declared with effect from the next March 6 with the State of Osun leading the way.

Simplified editions of his books should be translated to Yoruba language and be distributed to pupils. It is unreasonable of a Yoruba child to know everything about Martins Luther King of the United States and Nelson Mandella of the South Africa but ignorant of his own past and heroes.

Farewell mama, may your kind pass through our land again. * Amoboye, a veteran journalist, is based in Lagos.

“Globacom is a world-class brand dedicated to providing worldclass voice and data services. We are more committed to providing best value-for-money and making our products and services accessible to our current and prospective subscribers”, he opined while promising that Globacom would continue to upgrade its infrastructure, people and technology towards developing and maintaining a communications technology that is second to none in Africa.

He further disclosed that the quality and capacity of the network had been enhanced to accommodate the anticipated traffic that the new exciting promos would add to the network and advised subscribers interested in Free Tomorrow to dial *300# to enjoy the offer.

My initial reaction to this was that of incredulity but that feeling had been blown away by the daily offers I have been receiving since signing on to Free Tomorrow a couple of weeks back. Why don’t you sign on today to enjoy the greener pasture experience being offered by Globacom?

•Isioma is resident in Lagos.

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015, Page

VIEWPOINT

By Daniel Okeme

TRIBUTE IN BRIEF

Celebrating a peace maker and an accomplished oil tycoon at 55

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N life, there are people who make things happen while others either watch things happen or merely ask what happened?

David Ejiro Oguma belonged to the former. Born on October 1, 1960 to the family of Chief & Mrs. Thomas Oguma of Agbarho in Delta State, he had his primary education at Demonstration School, Warri; and proceeded to Urhobo College, Effurun where he had his secondary education. He then continued his education at St. Patrick’s College, Asaba, for the Higher School Certificate (HSC).

In his quest for education, Dave attended the University of Ife, now

Amb Oguma: A leader of men Obafemi Awolowo University, lIelfe where he obtained B.Sc. Hons in psychology. He did his National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) at the Nigerian Police Academy, Chalawa, Kano where he taught psychology and police duties to police officers. I first met David Oguma in the early 1980’s at the University of Ife. Together,we confronted the challenges of our Ife days with a very strong determination to make a success of the privilege of attending “Great Ife”. During our years in Ife, David was never heard to utter a foul, unkind or derisive word. He was principled, unwavering, intensely patriotic, compassionate and diligent. It was his romance with the police that inspired him to the pursuit of peace and conflict

•David Ejiro Oguma resolutions. His personal response to the quest for peace in the Niger Delta prompted him to establish a Foundation through his innovative approach to peace initiative(using character education) as a strong tool to peace building. David

Saraki’s counsel refutes media report

By Charles Kumolu

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OUNSEL to the Senate President, Prince Ajibola Oluyede, has described as falsehood a report by an online portal that a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, nearly granted an injunction to stop the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, without notice to defendants in the suit.

Oluyede said the action was meant to preserve Saraki’s fundamental rights to a fair hearing.

According to Oluyede, his decision to file the application was to seek remedies connected with the arraignment of Senator Saraki before the CCT and expose further plans to utilise the respondents in the suit to draw up charges against Saraki.

Oluyede said, “Contrary to the falsehood in that report, the action was filed on the 30th of September 2015 with Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1507/2015 and was not assigned until the 19th of October 2015 to Justice Buba.

“At no point did the judge indicate any interest in granting/inclination to grant an order to “stop Saraki’s trial before the CCT” as alleged by the false story in Sahara Reporters online portal.”

“I was personally in court to move the application on Thursday 22nd October and whilst I was responding to the judge’s question, a junior EFCC Lawyer, one Rotimi Oyedepo who was in court for a different case attempted to stand up to make some remarks to the judge, which I disallowed.

“However, when the matter was called,again in open court, on Friday 23rd of October, this same lawyer announced his appearance for the EFCC and having been granted audience by the Judge made some

remarks. The judge had already listened to submissions from Applicant’s counsel about whether he had jurisdiction to hear the matter but had not ruled.

“Therefore, when Mr Oyedepo again intervened, the court only proceeded to grant the prayer of the Applicant for leave to serve the Originating Processes on the Respondents (including EFCC) so that they might be put on notice and heard on the question of the court’s jurisdiction to hear the action, before the court would deliver a ruling on that issue.”

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) has condoled with the government and people of Borno and Adamawa States over the deadly attacks that left many dead and injured in the two states this weekend.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said while even the

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X-MILITANT generals in the Niger-Delta region have vowed to fight piracy and other related crimes in the coast region of the Ijaw nation.

The ex-militants made this vow while speaking of their commitment to work with Commander Bibi Oduku as it relates to the security network of the riverine area of the NigerDelta.

Speaking to newsmen at Egbema, Burutu local government area of Delta State, General Polo Kanfa expressed dismay that those who had stood and fought for the liberation of the Niger-Delta people have been ignored to suffer since the inception of

Deji of Akure pardons Eze Ndigbo

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

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HE Deji of Akureland, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, yesterday pardoned the Eze Ndigbo Gregory Iloehike over alleged uncomplimentary statements which denigrated the Akure traditional stool.

The crisis between the traditional ruler and the leader of the Igbo had lingered for two weeks during which the Oba ordered that all their shops in Akure be closed.

The intervention of the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko,

doused the tension in the state capital.

Leadership of the Igbos in the state visited the Oba to appeal to him over the “unruly” attitude of the Eze Ndigbo.

Some government officials led by the Chief of staff to the governor, Dr Kola Ademujimi, accompanied the igbo leaders to publicly apologize to the Oba in his palace.

Responding to the plea by the Igbo leaders, Oba Aladetoyinbo maintained that the Eze Ndigbo, Iloehike remained deposed until the Ondo state council of Obas take a final decision

APC condoles with Borno, Adawama states over deadly attacks, says cowardly Boko Haram is doomed

By Olalekan Bilesanmi

outrightly condemned the use of arms, while advocating dialogue as a weapon to conflict resolution.

He was a clear leader in the oil and gas industry and the telecommunication sector as he expressed himself in Alpha David Investment Limited, Shore Atlantic Marine Oil & Gas, Alpha David Investment Corporation, USA and Telecoms Affairs Limited. A successful businessman and a national security consultant, David maintained an enviable fast track in philanthropy. He championed numerous community electrification projects, scholarship scheme and primary health care for the needy. He is stickler for excellence and a modest, humble and contented

loss of one life is too much to bear, the government and people of the states should take solace in the fact that the attacks will not endure, because of the stepped up campaign by the nation’s gallant soldiers. ‘’The spike in the attacks in recent times is a direct reflection of the huge successes by the military in flushing the Boko Haram terrorists out of their strongholds and putting them on the run. With no fortress

to call their own any more, having being smoked out of Sambisa Forest and removed from their ‘caliphates’, they have resorted to these cowardly attacks aimed at soft targets. ‘’But grim as the situation may seem at the moment, these cowardly attacks will taper off sooner than later, because suicide bombings are not sustainable, and because of the unrelenting campaign by our military,’’ it said.

nextweek on the chieftancy title of the Igbo in the state.

The monarch also ordered the re-opening of shops at Mojere market at Ilesa garage but warned the traders against causing any crisis over the leadership of the market until the Akure traditional chiefs resolve the matter.

He assured the Igbo indigenes that their interest will be taken care of in the market.

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man. He is a strong advocate of sound ethics in private and public life. A detribalized Nigerian, cherishes human capital development and wealth creation.

On this occasion of the 55th birthday of a renowned businessman, a quiet philanthropist, a leader of men and resources and a complete gentleman, here are 55 hearty cheers for a healthy, loving and productive life, more outstanding achievements and enduring legacies. Amb. David is happily married to Deaconess Mrs. Grace Oguma and their union is blessed with five children amongst whom are Ufuoma, Ruke, Karo, Fejiro and Akpos Indeed,Amb. David Oguma is an accomplished family man and a peace maker.

•Okeme is the Editor-In-Chief of The Freelance Eleven.

Ex-militants vow to fight piracy, crime in Niger-Delta Yar ’Adua and that of Jonathan’s administration.

General Polo Kanfa who said he was the first freedom fighter in the Niger-Delta to open a camp at Egbema kingdom but did not benefit in the amnesty programme, expressed disappointment that the purpose for which they fought for the liberation of the NigerDelta people was not achieved.

He said, “We know those who fought for the liberation and who died in the process. Their spirits are crying day and night because this was not the reason they sacrificed their lives for the struggle.

“I and other faithful freedom fighters had decided to embrace change slogan of General Muhammadu Buhari by throwing our weight behind Commander Bibi Oduku to ensure that the riverine area is free of piracy, robbery and other related crime.

Christian fire works set to begin in Benin City

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seven-day spiritual fireworks will commence tomorrow in Benin City, Edo State Capital as thousands of Christians from within and outside Nigeria gather for the annual convention of the New Covenant Gospel Church.

The religious programme Christened: Bible Alive Believers’ International Convention (BABIC), will feature the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and the National President of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Rev. Dr. Felix Omobude who is the Chief Host of the spiritual event.

Dr. Omobude who is the

President/General Superintendent of Gospel Light International Ministries New Covenant Gospel Church, in a statement in Benin City, disclosed that several Christian Clerics and leaders were being expected from across the globe for the convention.

He named former PFN President, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Bishop Simeon Okah, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, Apostle Lawrence Achudume, Dr. Reggies Wenyika, Pastor Uche Agu, as some of the Christian leaders billed to officiate during the seven days church event with theme: “A Morning Without Clouds” .

PAGE 52 — SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015

Amuneke slams poor Eaglets display against Croatia C

OACH Emmanuel Amuneke Friday night gave his wards the hairdryer treatment following their shoddy 2-1 loss to Croatia in their last group phase match at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 at Estadio Francisco Sanchez Rumoroso in Coquimbo.

The Golden Eaglets lost the initiative despite racing to a first half lead courtesy Victor Osimhen’s goal in the 20th minute goal only for Croatia to score twice in the second half through Josip Brekalo and Karlo Majic in the 50th and 54th minutes respectively.

Moments after the match, Amuneke told the Eaglets inside the locker room matter-of-factly that their poor performance against the Europeans was totally unacceptable, even as he challenged them to an improved performance in subsequent matches.

“This is the World Cup and we can’t play as bunch of friends and expect to win,” rapped the former Barcelona winger.”We

refused to play today and our body language was so disappointing and unprofessional.

“We thank God we are already through to the next round and that means we have to redouble our efforts and prepare well for our next game on Wednesday,” he noted.

Speaking further at the post-match conference, Amuneke said the Croats deserved their victory,

explaining the Golden Eaglets were a shadow of the team that earlier beat USA 2-0 and Chile 5-1.

He said “Both teams came with the objective of winning but unfortunately, our boys did not raise their game even right from the first half.

“Though we missed two key players due to two yellow cards and a red card, Croatia played well and deserved to win.”

Oliseh charges Eagles to beat B/Faso

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•Oliseh

UPER Eagles head coach, Sunday Oliseh has charged the homebased national team to go ahead and beat Burkina Faso to seal their ticket to the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda next January.

The coach was flown to Belgium last Thursday for immediate medical attention, which leaves his assistants, Salisu and Loscuito to prosecute the

•Golden Eaglets player (17) makes a futile attempt at Croatia goal area. match in Ouagadougou on Sunday.

Nigeria head into the second leg with a 2-0 advantage over the Etalons in the first leg of the tie played in Port Harcourt last Saturday.

“I have absolute confidence in the team even in my absence they will get the job done for Nigeria on Sunday.” “ I’m with the team in spirit so keep me updated.”

The Eagles gaffer arrived in Belgium safely, and has commenced treatment while urging home stars to win the 2016 CHAN qualifier in B/Faso today.

continued from B/P League’s top three ahead of the match. Both home teams claimed the bragging rights in last season’s meetings, with United ending a run of four consecutive derby defeats thanks to a 4-2 win in April.

United are searching for a fifth straight home win in all competitions and can go above current leaders City with three points on Sunday. After easing past Everton last weekend, the Reds

continued from B/P back in April 1997, that the Super Eagles greatly enhanced their chances of qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, when defeating the Etalons 2-1 in a dramatic encounter.

Efforts by the host federation (FBF) to move Sunday’s match to 3.30pm, as against the 4pm communicated to the NFF, was opposed by NFF officials led by deputy director (competitions) Bola

Odegbami continued from B/P decision, given the visionary qualities of its board members.

“To us as players, the NFF has again scored a major feat in its untiring quest to reposition Nigerian football by affirming the position of the players’ union.

“Now is the time for Nigerians to rally round our nominee, Segun Odegbami, and mobilise support for the big stage.

God can do anything for anything to happen.

“Nobody gave David any

chance against Goliath.

Once again, congratulations to Big Segun, APFON, NFF and Nigeria,” the statement said.

An extraordinary elective FIFA congress would hold on Feb.26, 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland, to elect a new president after Sepp Blatter, its president, would have stepped down.

Blatter, currently serving a 90-day suspension, had been under a series of allegations bordering on corruption leveled against him by FIFA.

Manchester needed a second-half header from Anthony Martial to rescue a draw in Moscow on Wednesday night in the Champions League, while City came from behind to beat Sevilla at the Etihad Stadium to clinch a fourth successive victory since losing 4-1 at Tottenham Hotspur.

United are likely to be without the injured James Wilson, Ashley Young and Paddy McNair, alongside longterm absentee Luke Shaw. Michael Carrick,

Juan Mata, Matteo Darmian and Memphis Depay could earn recalls after sitting on the bench in midweek. City are without top scorer Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri with hamstring injuries, while Gael Clichy and Fabian Delph are also expected to be ruled out again. Captain Vincent Kompany is still a fitness doubt despite returning from a calf injury against Sevilla as a late substitute but David Silva may return after a two-game absence with ankle and foot problems.

Eagles Oyeyode at the match coordination meeting.

Oyeyode, himself a CAF General Coordinator, produced the letter sent to the NFF by the FBF, to the effect that the match would start 4pm (5pm Nigeria time) and showed same to the Match Commissioner, Mr. Idrissa Sarr from Mauritania. Sarr ruled in favour of Nigeria.

The Super Eagles will be adorned in green, while the Etalons will wear white.

Libyan referee Mohamed Ragab Omara will be at the centre, assisted by compatriots Foaad Mohamed El Maghrabi, Baesus Safe- El Naser and Abdallah Baesus Ashraf as assistant 1, assistant 2 and reserve referee respectively.

The winner on aggregate will enter the pot for next month’s Draw for the 4th African Nations Championship, taking place in Rwanda next year.

S UNDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, OCTOBER 25 , 2015, PAGE 53

Gotv Boxing Night: Ekpo, Kabore light up Lagos B

EYOND the N1million at stake for the best boxer on the night, the 4th edition of the Gotv Boxing Night holding tonight at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium Lagos hold a lot of promise for Lagos boxing fans as one of Nigeria’s best pugilists, Isaac Ekpo will be on stage.

The Nigerian boxer has promised to knock out his Burkinabe opponent, Jules Kabore in the 4th of their ten-round international Super Middleweight challenge contest. But the Burkinabe opponent has dismissed the threat of Nigeria’s Isaac “Grenade” Ekpo as empty.

Kabore, who has an impressive knockout record, said he is coming to Nigeria to defeat Ekpo. The Nigerian’s claim that he cannot be defeated in his country, Kabore said is one that he will rubbish.

“I won four of my seven fights via TKO. I am

undefeated since turning pro. I am taller and better than Ekpo. Tell him that. He will fall.

That is not a subject for debate,” he boasted ahead of their headline duel at the event.

The event will also feature five other bouts.

In the featherweight category, Waidi “Skoro” Usman will slug it out with Taofik “Taozon” Bisuga. Skoro, the West African featherweight champion, claims to have the best trainer in the country, said he will ensure that Taozon retires from boxing.

Also on the card are six-round duels which involving Jamiu “Naval Man” Olabode and Pelumi “Haggler ” Sodubi in a Welterweight challenge, while Stanley “Edo Boy ” Eribo will duel with Isiaka “Easy Lion” Yusuf.

In the Lightweight category, Prince Nurudeen Fatai, national champion, will fight Otto “Joe Boy” Joseph.

Bring back Enyeama, Emenike – Ladipo

By Jacob Ajom

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L Ain forward, Em manuel Emenike shocked the Nigerian football fraternity and indeed, the football world Tuesday when he announced on Instagram that he had quit international football and as a result was no longer available for the Nigerian national team.

Reason. “To avoid insults.”

He wrote on Istagram: “No more Eagles career!

After five great years, I am happy to announce that I have put full-stop to my national team career for the sake of national peace.”

This was coming on the heels of the supposed retirement of former first choice goal keeper and captain of the team, Vincent Enyeama who announced his retirement after a fracas with the national team coach, Sunday Oliseh in Belgium, a few weeks earlier.

One man who is uncomfortable with this development is President General of the Nigerian Football and Other Sports Supporters Club, Dr Rafiu Ladipo. He expressed dismay over what he termed as “the pre-mature” retirement of national team players.

•Isaac Ekpo (r) punishes WBO Super Middleweight Champion, Robert Stieglitz in a recent bout.

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TUDENTS of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) have hailed the return of the popular Sprite Triple Slam, a unique and an exciting platform that combines the three fun elements of Basketball, Music and Dance.

Speaking on behalf of the undergraduates, President of the Students Union Government, ESUT, ChinonsoAmanoh expressed their delight at having Sprite Triple Slam visit the university again.

According to Amanoh, Sprite Triple Slam is one event that the students expect every year because of its originality.

“The initiative is a laudable one and we look forward to it every year. As you can see, the students

L-R: Amina Maufta Member Lagos Yacht Club, David Kruyt, Commodore Lagos Yacht Club and Ubong Nseobot Sales and PR Manager Southern Sun Ikoyi at the 5th Annual Southern Sun Ikoyi Offshore Challenge 2015, held at the Lagos Yacht Club Victoria Island this weekend.

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ESUT hails return of Sprite Triple Slam are having fun expressing themselves in Basketball, Music and Dance. We have missed this and we are super excited that Sprite has brought back the platform to spark up our creativity.”

Reaffirming Sprite’s commitment to creatively engage its target audience consistently, the Senior Brand Manager, Flavours, Coca-Cola Nigeria, ToyinNnodi stated

that the Sprite Triple Slam activation was designed to bring out fresh and out-of-the-box thinking, as well as empower Nigerian youths especially the teens to express themselves, while exploring the high level of ingenuity embedded in them.

Nnodi expressed satisfaction at the huge success recorded so far with the activation, stating that, “We are happy that

through the Sprite Triple Slam, a lot of talents have been discovered.

One of such talents is Otse John, who now plays professionally for Dodan Warriors Basketball. We will continue to do more in the areas of talent discovery.”

The ESUT activation saw a large number of the students participate in all the different activities involving Basketball, Music and Dance.

Ogun FA partners Adebutu for football devt

By Daud Olatunji, Abeokuta N its determination to take football to the grassroots, the Ogun State Football Association has partnered a business mogul, Sir Kessington Adebutu, sponsor of an annual U-18 football competition under the auspices of the Kessington Adebukonla Adebutu Foundation. The competition has been on for the past three years.

According to the state FA, the competition has produced stars like Funsho Bamgboye, Akin Ayinde and Goalkeeper Akpan Udoh who are currently playing for the Nigerian U-17 national team at the World Cup in Chile.

Hundreds of youths from the twenty local

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governments in the state participated in this year’s edition.

Yewa South Local Government team emerged winners after defeating Ikenne Local Government team 4-3 on penalty shoot-out. Both teams had played a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

Sagamu Local Government team emerged second runner-up after beating Imeko Afon Local government team 1-0 in the third place match courtesy of Adeniyi Ojo’s goal in the second half.

Speaking to journalist at the Gateway International Stadium, Sagamu, venue of the final, Adebutu congratulated the young footballers who have participated in the tournament.

Adebutu who is the founder Premier Lotto

Kessington Adebutu said, “I am happy to observe the steady growth in the standard and quality of participation over the years.

“My greatest joy is that three players that took part in the last edition are currently participating in the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile,” Adebutu said.

PAGE 54 — S UNDAY Vanguard SUNDAY Vanguard,, OCTOBER 25 , 2015

Croatia hit Eaglets to progress C

•Coach Dario Basic (r) of Croatia congragulates his boys after beating Nigeria.

Amuneke admits Croatia’re better H

EAD coach of the Golden Eaglets, Emmanuel Amuneke, has admitted that he lost to a better Croatian side on Saturday morning.

Croatia handed the defending champions the first defeat in the ongoing FIFA U-

17 World Cup in Chile after winning their games against USA and host country, Chile.

Nigeria, despite losing 2-1 to Croatia, who have beaten the Emmanuel Amuneke boys twice this year finished top of Group A with six points from three matches with Croatia

runners-up on five points for both teams to automatically progress to the next stage.

Amunekesaidhisteamhave to play more as a team going forward.

“My players wanted to win, butwewerenotthebesttonight.

The Croats gave us many

problems. They prevented us from playing our game and deserved to win,” he said.

“Myplayersareverytalented, but still have room for improvement collectively.”

Nigeria will now face the third best losers in Groups C, D or E in the Round of 16.

Croatia coach full of pride after beating Nigeria

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•Amuneke

Falconets win 2-1 over Basetsana

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HE South African U20 Women’s National Team suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Nigeria in the first leg of their U20 Women’s World Cup qualifier.

The home side had the first opening of the tie after 11 minutes as Ihezuo headed over from close range.

The Nigerians went close once again in the 23rd minute when Uchendu picked out Ihezuo in the box, however she headed over the crossbar once again.

The hosts eventually broke the deadlock after the 30-minute mark thanks to a strike from the everthreatening Ihezuo.

Basetsana were dealt a blow a few moments later, as Amanda Mthandi C M Y K

picked up an injury and was replaced by Noma Sierra.

Nigeria nearly doubled their advantage in the 36th minute, when Uchenna Kanu rattled the woodwork with a low effort.

It got worse for the South Africans on the stroke of halftime, as when Uchenna Kanu slotted home to double the home side’s lead.

Basetsana were under pressure for most of the game and nearly conceded a third in the 65th minute but they managed to clear an effort off the line.

However, the South Africans did manage to grab away goal in stoppage time, thanks to penalty from Gabriela Salgado.

ROATIA coach Dario Basic was full of national pride after his team upset one of the pre tournament favourites, Nigeria, at the Fifa Under 17 World Cup and stressed that he told his boys to approach the game as a final before they stepped out onto the turf. Just as Emmanuel Amuneke had admitted in his post match comments, the Europeans were the better side in all the parameters, with more shots on goal and better ball possession.

•Boutobba

“I am very proud of my players who played a great match, “ Basic told fifa.com.

“We approached this game as a final, telling us it was absolutely necessary to win or go home. I believed in my team.

“It has shown that it can compete with the best teams in the world. “ Croatia have a meeting with the second - placed team in Group D comprising Germany, Mexico, Australia and Argentina in the next round on Thursday.

ROATIA came from behind to defeat Group A winners Nigeria 2-1 and advance to the knockout stages of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015.

Croatia, knowing a win would be enough for them to advance to the knockout stages, started the match in Coquimbo with great determination and created a number of chances early in the match. Croatia captain Nikola Moro had a shot from around the penalty area deflect strongly off Nigeria’s brave defenders.

Four minutes later, Nigeria had their first significant chance of the match when Victor Osimhen, after an impressive counter attack, slotted a shot past Croatia goalkeeper Adrian Semper only for it to hit the base of the goal post.

Osimhen would not have to wait long to see his fortunes change when, after another swift counter attack, he calmly danced around Semper to score and become the tournament’s outright top scorer, tallying

his fourth goal at Chile 2015 so far. Croatia continued to have the majority of possession for the remainder of the half. In the 39th minute Moro had a strong free-kick saved superbly by Nigeria keeper Akpan Udoh. Croatia would have one more significant chance before the interval but Borna Sosa’s shot was deflected for a corner after Ejike Ikwu’s intervention. When the referee blew the whistle for half-time, Croatia had 18 attempts to Nigeria’s three, but it was the Africans who held the important advantage.

Croatia returned from the break anxious to finally convert a chance and they did so just five minutes into the second half. Josip Brekalo scored the equaliser after Moro wriggled his way along the Nigerian defense’s goalline and found his teammate on the back post.

Dario Basic’s Croatia then used their momentum to take the lead four minutes later when they capitalised on an error from Nigeria’s backline.

France playing without pressure

“W

E’ve reached our first objective today,” France wide-man Bilal Boutobba told FIFA.com after Les Bleuets had sealed their place in the last 16 of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 with their second win in as many games. In racking up ten goals in seeing off New Zealand and now Paraguay, the French have announced themselves as one of the favourites to take the trophy.

It was Boutobba who got the French juggernaut rolling in their opening game against the Young All Whites, sending in a cross that forced a Kiwi defender to put through his own goal and then becoming the first Bleuets player to get his name on the scoresheet at Chile 2015. The winger was at it again in the seven-goal thriller against the

Paraguayans in Puerto Montt on Friday, opening the scoring in France’s 43 win.Yet despite his contribution to France’s perfect start, Boutobba is refusing to get carried away: “We came here to go as far as we possibly can in the competition.

We’re taking each match as it comes and trying to string the wins together.”

The 17-year-old exudes an air of confidence and calm at what is his first major global tournament, and rejected the idea that the reigning European U17 champions are under pressure to perform.

“There’s no pressure on us at all. It’s very important for us to be European champions, but that’s the past and this is the present.

We’re just trying to play good football and enjoy ourselves.”

The French have certainly been doing that, racking up six goals in their comprehensivedefeatofNew Zealand and then seeing off a determined Paraguay side inapulsatingencounter.“We play a very attacking game,” explainedBoutobba.

S UNDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, OCTOBER 25 , 2015, PAGE 55

Andre steals show from brother Jordan S

WANSEA’s Andre Ayew hammered what could be the final nail into the coffin of Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood in a tale of two brothers at Villa Park.

Ayew struck an 87th minute winner to complete the visitor ’s comeback after his younger brother Jordan had opened the scoring for Villa.

Boos rang out at the stadium after Villa trooped off to their eighth defeat in 10 matches and the future of Sherwood after eight months in charge is certain to come under huge scrutiny.

The club could be bottom of the table by the end of the weekend should Sunderland get a result against Newcastle on Sunday.

The torrential rain sweeping across Villa Park symbolised the gloomy mood enveloping both clubs.

Visitors Swansea hadn’t won in six and have had to fend off speculation surrounding the future of their manager Garry Monk.

But Villa were in an even worse state and winless since the open-

*Andre Ayew

J

OSE Mourinho and Nemanja Matic were sent-off as Chelsea’s miserable Premier League campaign continued with a 2-1 defeat at West Ham on Saturday.

Mourinho was sent to the stands after an incident with the match officials in the tunnel at half-time, shortly after Matic had been shown a second yellow card.

At that point Chelsea were behind due to Mauro Zarate’s 17th-minute opener, while Kurt Zouma had seen his header cleared off the line by Manuel Lanzini.

Despite playing with 10 men and Mourinho in the stand, Chelsea equalised though Gary Cahill but they could not hold on and Andy Carroll nodded home a 79thminute winner for Slaven

Mourinho sees red as 10-man Chelsea lose Bilic’s high-flying side.

Dimitri Payet and Diego Costa fired early chances over the top but the Frenchman fared better with a 30-yard freekick in the 17th minute that required Asmir Begovic to leap to his right and claw the ball behind for a corner.

Payet’s delivery from the resultant set-piece was not cleared effectively by Costa and Zarate took full advantage, drilling a first-time shot into the back of the net from the edge of the area.

Real win controversial thriller R

EAL Madrid moved three points clear at the top of La Liga by winning an entertaining and controversial clash 3-1 at 10-man Celta Vigo yesterday.

Cristiano Ronaldo gave the visitors an early lead with an accurate

finish, before Danilo made it two midway through the first half, scoring his first goal for the club.

Keylor Navas made a string of stunning saves throughout the opening period to preserve his side’s advantage, but

the game looked to be over as a contest after the break when Gustavo Cabral received a controversial second yellow card for dissent.

Celta were not giving up though and former Barcelona man Nolito gave them hope by scoring with an excellent strike in the final minutes, but Rafael Benitez’s men wrapped up the victory when Marcelo slotted home in stop-

*Fabregas

Returning Robben on target A

*Vardy clipped the ball over Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey before smashing the ball into the back of the net

Vardy continues goalscoring hot streak HE composure with the ball deftly over on- games made him just the T which Jamie Vardy rushing goalkeeper eighth player in Premier scored it was most strik- Wayne Hennessey then League history to go on ing. The weight of expectation to keep that run going is growing on his shoulders; from the Leicester City supporters, from his team-mates, from football fans across the nation. But when Riyad Mahrez sent him through on goal in the second half of their win against Crystal Palace, Vardy casually clipped C M Y K

made sure by belting it into the open net.

He barely broke from his stride to sprint into corner of the King Power Stadium and flashed his hands — eight fingers and two thumbs spread — indicating that was his 10th Premier League strike of the season.

That nine of those have come in his last seven consecutive league

such a run. Move aside Ruud van Nistelrooy, Daniel Sturridge, Mark Stein, Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry and Emmanuel Adebayor, another has joined your ranks. Only Sturridge and Van Nistelrooy have managed to do it in eight, with the former Manchester United striker setting the record at 10.

RJEN Robben opened the scoring and played a starring role on his return from injury as Bayern Munich eased to a 4-0 Bundesliga win over Cologne.

The Dutch winger was a surprise inclusion in Pep Guardiola’s starting XI for a first appearance since suffering a thigh injury while playing for his country last month.

Having earlier tested Cologne goalkeeper Timo Horn, Robben put the defending champions in front in the 35th minute and Arturo Vidal made it 2-0 at half-time - setting Bayern comfortably on the way to a 1000th Bundesliga victory in their rich history.

Robert Lewandowski continued his rich vein of goalscoring form by heading a third just after the hour, and a Thomas Muller penalty ensured Guardiola’s team bounced back from the midweek Champions League defeat to Arsenal by resoundingly keeping their 100 per cent league record intact.

Cologne crafted an early chance on the

counter-attack, Simon Zoller drilling his shot too close to Manuel Neuer, before Robben almost crowned his return in the seventh minute.

Kingsley Coman - back in action himself following a thigh strain picked out the Netherlands star at the near post, where he pivoted to send a left-footed volley towards the far corner.

Horn displayed fine reactions to save and the Cologne goalkeeper was also called upon to deny Muller in a one-on-one

after Lewandowski unlocked the visiting defence.

Bayern had established a firm grip on the game by the time Douglas Costa’s 16th-minute strike was deflected wide but had to wait until 10 minutes before half-time to break the deadlock.

Robben started and finished the move - cutting in from the right in trademark fashion before feeding Muller and picking up the scraps when Lewandowski was unable to flick the resulting cross goalwards.

*Arjen Robben

SUNDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 25, 2015

FIFA election: APFON hails NFF for endorsing Odegbami T

HE Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria (APFON) has applauded the Nigeria

CHAN: All set for Eagles, Etalons clash F

OLLOWING the match coordination meeting at the Splendid Hotel, Ouagadougou on Saturday, all is now set for Sunday’s 2016 African Nations Championship final round, second leg qualifier between Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

The Eagles take a 2-0 lead into the final leg, with goals from Yaro Bature and Gbolahan Salami in Port Harcourt ensuring the 2014 bronze medallists start on a good footing at the Stade August 4.

It was at the same venue, Continues on page 52

Football Federation (NFF) for endorsing Segun Odegbami as a candidate from Nigeria for the post of FIFA president.

This is contained in a statement signed by APFON Secretary, Austin Popo, on Saturday, where he was quoted as saying that the body was delighted with the development.

The statement said APFON was expecting the NFF leadership to take this right

•Chief Odegbami

Continues on page 52

Who owns Manchester?

Amuneke slams Eaglets p.52 •Van Gaal

•As United host City

M

ANCHESTER United face Manchester City in the derby at Old Trafford on Sunday, with local pride and a place at the top of the Premier League at stake.

United are back at Old

•Pellegrini

Trafford after three successive away games for the 170th derby clash with neighbours Manchester City, with t h e sides separated by two points in the Barclays Premier Continues on page 52

Mourinho sees red as Chelsea lose again p.55 Results EPL

Aston Villa Leicester City Norwich City Stoke City West Ham

1 1 0 0 2

Swansea City Crystal Palace West Brom Watford Chelsea

2 0 1 2

Celta Vigo

1

Real Madrid

3

Arsenal La Liga

Bundesliga •DOWN BUT NOT OUT: Watford’s leading scorer Odion Ighalo (right) is taken down by Stoke’s Charlie Adam at the Britannia Stadium. Watford ran away with a 2-0 victory over Stoke.

Falconets beat Basetsana 2-1 CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Nobel-winning Archbishop (7-4) 5.Sailor (3) 7.Consumed (5) 8.Domesticates (5) 9.Ovum (3) 10.Electricity counting gadgets (6) 13.Highlander (4) 15.Poem (3) 17.One that contests (9) 20.Nigerian tribe (5) 22.Cereal (5) 24.Demoted (9) 27.Pig’s pen (3) 29.No one (4) 30.Sulks (6) 33.Away (3) 35.Presses (5) 36.Till (5) 37. Swine (3) 38. “The Man Who Saw Tomorrow” (11)

DOWN 1.Sleeping vision (5) 2.Possessor (5) 3.Tax (4) 4.Depressing (9) 5.Argentinian dance (5) 6.Wash lightly (5) 11.Greek letter (3) 12.Distress call (1-1-1) 14.English boy’s name (5) 16.Obstacle (3) 17.Bovine animal (3) 18.Mindfulness (9) 19.Alarm (5) 21.Help (3) 23.Village house (3) 25.Gnome (3) 26.Vast age (3) 27.Condescend (5) 28.Youthful (5) 31.Circular (5) 32.Trades (5) 34.Old Russian King (4)

p.53

Leverkusen Bayern Munich Darmstadt Hannover Mainz 05

4 4 0 1 1

Everton

VfB Stuttgart FC Cologne Wolfsburg Eintracht Frankfurt Werder Bremen

1 1

3 0 1 2 3

Fixtures CHAN

Central Africa Lesotho Angola Burkina Faso Gabon Senegal Sudan Ethiopia

EPL

Sunderland Man United

Glo League

See solution on page 5

2

Lobi Stars Enyimba Akwa United Dolphin Bayelsa United Taraba Sharks Ifeanyi Ubah Giwa Kano Pillars

v v v v v v v v

Congo DR Zimbabwe South Africa Nigeria Chad Guinea Uganda Burundi

v v

Newcastle Man City

1 pm 3.05 pm

v v v v v v v v v v

Warri Wolves Kwara United Sunshine Stars El-Kanemi Warriors Abia Warriors Nasarawa United Shooting Stars Heartland Wikki Tourists Enugu Rangers

4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm

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