25112017 - APC quakes as Atiku quits

2 —SATURDAY Vanguard,

NOVEMBER 25, 2017

SATURDAY

Vanguard,NOVEMBER 25, 2017—3

4 —SATURDAY Vanguard,

NOVEMBER 25, 2017

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 — 5

OBA OF BENIN, OBA EWUARE II VISITS BUHARI

•President Muhammadu Buhari (r) welcoming the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, during the audience he had at the head of a delegation of the Oba of Benin in Council with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

•The Omo N'Oba N'Edo, Ukwu Akpolopolo, Oba Ewuare II departing with members of the Benin Kingdom Traditional Council after a courtesy visit to the President at the State House, Abuja.

Murder of ex-PDP Chairman’s son: Court sends alleged killer wife, Maryam to prison

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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N Abuja High Court sitting at Jabi, on Friday, ordered the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, to transfer Maryam Sanda, wife of murdered son of erstwhile Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bilyamin Bello, to Suleja Prison.

Trial Justice Yusuf Halilu gave the remand order after Maryam was arraigned on a two-count charge of culpable homicide punishable by death under section 221 of the Penal Code Law. In the charge marked CR/15/ 17 and dated November 20, and filed pursuant to section 109(d) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, Maryam was accused of stabbing her husband to death with a broken bottle on November 19 at their Abuja residence.

According to Police which filed the charge, Bilyamin died as a result of several stabs on his chest and neck.

Police told the court that the defendant attacked her husband with the knowledge that her act was likely to cause his death.

She was equally charged with the offence of “causing grievious hurt”, contrary to section 247 of

the Penal Code Law. The late Bilyaminu who is a real estate developer, was the son of ex-PDP Chairman, Mr. Mohammed Bello Haliru.

Meanwhile, Maryam who is a nursing mother, pleaded not giulty to the charge, even as she begged the court to release her on bail pending the trial.

The defendant, through her lawyer Mr. Useni Musa, prayed the court to consider her sixmonth old baby and grant her bail pending determination of the charge against her.

However, trial Justice Yusuf declined her plea which he said was improper in the eyes of the law.

The trial Judge said he could not release the defendant on bail on the strength of an oral application. He ordered the defence lawyer to approach the court with a formal bail request.

The court ordered that the defendant should be kept at Suleja Prison till December 7 when her full-blown trial will commence.

Meanwhile, Maryam who was brought to court alongside her six-month old baby girl wept uncontrollably immediately the court ordered her remand in prison custody.

The defendant who wore a red gown and covered her head

with a green veil, tightly clutched her baby to her bossom as her stream of tears flowed.

She was subsequently moved out of the court by a team of armed police men and prison officials.

The defendant was previously in police detention.

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command had earlier obtained two weeks remand order against the defendant to enable it to conclude investigations on circumstances that led to Bilyaminu’s death.

The Command said it decided to retain Maryam in its custody instead of remanding her in prison considering the fact that she is nursing a baby.

Spririted effort by the defence lawyer to persuade the court to allow Maryam to remain with the police pending ruling on her bail application, failed on Friday.

Justice Yusuf insisted that once an accused was arraigned, he said the proper place of custody was the prison and not the custody of the investigating agency.

Meantime, the prosecutor, Mr. James Idachaba, told the court that the two-count charge was a product of a preliminary investigation.

Idachaba said the charge

Over 20 feared at Njaba bridge auto crash

By Chidi Nkwopara

O

VER 20 people were feared dead yesterday in an automobile crash, at Njaba bridge, along the ever busy Owerri-Umuaka-Okwudor-Orlu federal highway.

The automobile crash involved a tanker loaded with about 33,000 litres of premium motor spirit, PMS, and a fully loaded 18-seater commercial bus.

It was not very clear at press time what caused the crash or which vehicle crashed into the other, but an eyewitness that spoke to Saturday Vanguard at the scene of the crash, said that the two vehicles were traveling in opposite direction.

“The tanker burst into huge flames as soon as the crash occurred. Only a female passenger was said to have managed to come out of the crash alive but sustained extensive burns. All the other passengers were burnt •Accident scene at Njaba bridge that claimed beyond recognition”, the man recounted with grief. about 20 lives yesterday.

•Killer Wife: Sanda, wife of Biliaminu Aliru who killed her husband docked and remanded in Suleja Prison after she pleaded not guilty at FCT High Court.

Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. could still be amended owing to new facts he said emerged after further investigation was conducted on the matter.

The two-count charge against the defendant read: “That you, Maryam Sanda, female, adult of No.4 Pakali Close, Wuse 2 Abuja, on 19/11/2017 at about 0350hours at No.4 Pakali Close, Wuse 2 Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division, did commit the offence of culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of one Bilyaminu Bello Haliru, male adult of No. 40 Pakali Close, Wuse 2 Abuja by stabbing him on the chest with a broken bottle which eventually led to his death and you did so with the knowledge that your act is likely

to cause his death.

“You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Penal Code Law. “That you, Maryam Sanda, female, adult of No.4 Pakali Close, Wuse 2 Abuja, on 19/11/ 2017 at about 0350hours at No.4 Pakali Close, Wuse 2 Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division, did commit the offence of causing grievous hurt in that you stabbed one Bilyaminu Bello Haliru, male adult of No. 40 Pakali Close, Wuse 2 Abuja with a broken bottle on the neck thereby endangering his life. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 240 (g) and punishable under Section 247 of the Penal Code Law.”

Dr Raymond Obieri shocked on Alex Ekwueme’death “We all prayed for his recov-

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ORMER President of Ni gerian Stock Exchange, Dr. Raymond Obieri, has expressed shock over the death of ex-Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.

Obieri, in a statement, entitled ‘’I am still in shock on Alex Ekwueme’s death,’’ said that he visited the Ekwueme home four days before he was flown to London for further treatment.

ery. It was, therefore, shocking when I was informed early on Monday morning that he had passed on. ‘’Ide is like a father to me and I will miss him greatly. His death has robbed Nigeria of a principled politician.

Ide’s life trajectory is that of a worthy prophet who has honour in his community and beyond. May his soul rest in peace.’’

6 — VANGUARD, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 , 2017

30-yr-old undergraduate commits suicide in Bauchi

I managed diabetes for over 30 years —Obasanjo •Says diabetes kills only careless people

By Daud Olatunji

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ORMER President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday narrated how he had been managing diabetes for the past 30 years, saying diabetes killed only those he described as “careless” people.

Obasanjo stated this shortly after leading hundreds of people on road walk for diabetes awareness to commemorate the 2017 World Diabetic celebration, organized by the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation and the Diabetic Association of Nigeria (DAN), Southwest zone, in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.

Obasanjo who was joined on the road walk by the Oluwo of Iwoland, Osun State, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, Commissioner for Health in Ogun State, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, Chief Executive Of-

ficer of Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation (OOF), Dr..

Olalekan Makinde and top members of the diabetic body from Lagos and Osun states, boasted that diabetes was not a killer disease.

The former President who noted that he was above 80 years and could walk with agility despite being diabetic (covering a distance of 1km uphill of the distance on foot during the walk), lamented that many of the nation’s youths rarely engaged in exercise.

His words: “Diabetes is not a disease that should kill. I was diagnosed to be diabetic more than 30 years ago but I am growing strong. If you don’t believe I am growing strong and you didn’t witness this walk, come and see me at night, you will know I am growing strong, come and see me in the morning, you will know I am growing, even in the afternoon, you will know I am growing strong.

“What is necessary is man-

agement of diabetes. Some people said some diseases are incurable, but diabetes is manageable.

“My headmaster in primary school was diagnosed at the age of 50 and died at age 85, you will agree with me that he tried. What you can do is that if you’re diabetic, don’t be nonchalant about it and don’t eat carelessly. Three things are important: The food you eat, regular exercise and prescribed medication, those are the three most important things. You can be diabetic and still live till 100 years. I don’t know when I will die but I am above 80 and many of the youths could not catch up with my pace during the exercise this morning, many of them were running after me.

“This is my message.

Whether you’re diabetic or you have a family or a friend who is diabetic, you should know that diabetes is not a killer disease or it should not be a killer dis-

65,000 prison inmates face starvation over N6bn debt

By Omeiza Ajayi

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IGERIA’S Prison population of 65,000 inmates are currently under the threat of starvation following the non-payment of ration and gas suppliers since 2015. Saturday Vanguard gathered that the Federal Government had since 2015 failed to remit payment of over N6 billion to the contractors.

Reacting to the development, one of the suppliers, Hajia Maimunat Usman urged President Muhammadu Buhari to cause the

Ministry of Finance to release the money to the appropriate bodies for disbursement to the suppliers. “The prisons service is plagued with inadequate infrastructures, degrading facilities and most especially failure and negligence of the appropriate authority to pay the contractors who are given the mandate to provide food to prisoners.

“The contractors are still being owed 2015 and 2016 outstanding payments for the supply of food to the prisons. Several efforts to

get the Ministry of Finance to remit the outstanding payments have been futile,” she said.

ease unless you are careless,” Obasanjo said.

The Monarch in his brief remark said he was in Abeokuta to support Obasanjo in the awareness walk, urging people to always take their health seriously.

Also, the Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Makinde said it was in pursuit of one of the objectives of the Foundation in the area of Health (Non Communicable Disease, NCD) that prompted the walk awareness programme.

According to him, “the focus this year, is on women, because of the high level of morbidity and mortality that have been associated with them. I want to enjoin Nigerians to join hands with the Foundation to further create a better life for all Nigerians and Africans.

In a lecture, with the theme: “Women and Diabetic: Our Right to Healthy Living,” former chairman of DAN, Prof. Sunny Chinenye called for concerted efforts by all to check the menace of diabetes. He declared that the greatest point of the spread of the disease was at the primary stage.

By Suzan Edeh

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300 Level student of the Department of Technology and Education, Wood Work Section of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, in the early hours of yesterday, committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the incident occurred at the Gubi campus of the institution along Kano Road.

The deceased whose identity was given as Dahiru Adamu, 30, left his shoes and notebooks on the ground before taking his life by hanging himself on the tree.

An eye witness and a student of the institution who pleaded anonymity said students of the institution in the wee hours of the morning discovered the lifeless body of the deceased hanging on a tree. He said that the student was hung on the tree for over two hours.

“I got to school this morning only to discover a student hanging on one of the trees in the school. As I speak with you now, his body is still hanging on the tree, and I also saw the Vice Chancellor and some management staff at the scene with an ambulance parked by the side.

I believe they were waiting for the police to come.”

“The deceased left his shoes and books under the tree and then hung himself. I could see them (books and his shoes) as I speak with you now. I don’t know the full identity of the deceased but I learnt his name is Dahiru, a 300-Level student of Wood Work Section in the Department of Technology Education. He was supposed to have been on IT (Industrial Training), but he missed going.” The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, DSP Kamal Datti, confirmed the incidence to Saturday Vanguard, saying that the Chief Security Officer of the university informed the police of the incident. “Our men immediately swung into action and removed the body and deposited it at the mortuary of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi.”

He said that the actual cause of the death had not yet been ascertained but pointed out that full investigations were ongoing.

Foundation to disburse N148m Zakat

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FAITH-based charity organisation, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) will tomorrow disburse over N148 million to 494 beneficiaries.

The 8th Zakat Distribution according to ZSF's Operations Manager, Alhaji Ahmed Ma’aruf, will hold at Alausa Secretariat Mosque Hall, Ikeja, adding that the event will be chaired by Chairman, University of Lagos Muslim Community, Prof.

Lai Olurode, while Sheikh Ishaq Tejidini will deliver lecture. Other guests include Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer Saywite Limited, Mr. Bashir Bello, Chairman, Easy and Quiet, Alhaji Mutiu Anthony, Chief Executive Officer Baytuzzeenah Hajia Saidat Otiti, among others.

According to him, "Empowerment will take 42 per cent of the disbursement; Education, 10 per cent; Medical, 29 per cent; Welfare, 10 per cent and nine per cent for others.

VANGUARD, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 — 7

APC quakes as Atiku quits

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Henry Umoru, Emman Ovuakporie, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Omeiza Ajayi and Dirisu Yakubu THE All Progressives Congress, APC was yesterday moving to fortify unity in its ranks after one of its leading members and Nigeria’s former vicepresident, Atiku Abubakar left the party in response to what he described as the clampdown of democracy in the party.

Hours after Atiku issued his exit statement, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha, himself at one time a very close confidant of Atiku, made a high profile visit to the APC national secretariat where the issue of unity was stressed. Also following the Atiku move, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State who Atiku cited in his resignation statement as having previously outlined the fault lines in the APC, made a conspicuous visit to the Presidential Villa. His visit was interpreted in some quarters as a form of solidarity to the party leader, President Muhammadu Buhari who was perceived as the object of Atiku’s rebellion.

The moves for cohesion Saturday Vanguard learnt yesterday were in response to mutterings about significant departures from the party by already vexed senior chieftains of the party.

Sources have noted that as many as 20 APC senators were bidding to depart the party. One of those repeatedly mentioned yesterday was Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. Saturday Vanguard could not reach him as at press time yesterday.

The national leadership of the party, however, said yesterday that it would not be bothered by Atiku’s exit unless a significant number of party members went with him.

The presidency which was partly the butt of Atiku’s reason for leaving was not in

a position to respond to the development yesterday.

Mallam Garba Shehu a long time associate of the former vice-president who was donated to help the Muhammadu Buhari campaign and subsequently became the president’s spokesman was not available for comments on the development.

Governor El-Rufai was nevertheless dismissive of the move by Atiku who he described as a serial presidential contestant affirming that the former vicepresident would return to the APC after the 2019 presidential election after failing to get the presidential ticket of his new party.

Meanwhile, Atiku was yesterday pondering his next move. Aides were dismissive of claims that Atiku may contemplate the nuclear option of exiting politics as some were speculating yesterday. Atiku who arrived Yola, Adamawa State yesterday, it was learned, could register for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in his Kojoli Ward in Jada Local Government Area this weekend.

Announcing his decision to leave the APC which he helped to build and win the 2015 presidential election, Atiku in a statement issued by his media office yesterday morning said the party had derailed from its objectives.

While alleging a draconian clampdown of democracy in the APC, a derailment of its set objectives in governance and the abandonment of the Nigerian youth, the former vice-president in the early morning statement said he was as such resigning his membership of the party forthwith, saying that joining APC was a mistake.

He referred to the leaked memo from Governor ElRufai in September 2016 in which the governor alleged that the principal founders of

*Says joining APC was a mistake *Party rallies for unity *APC Senators to join him soon in PDP *He is a serial contestant, will return to APC after 2019 – El-Rufai *We will not miss him – APC

From left: Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Chairman, Southern Senators' Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinnma, Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and the Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badru, during the opening session of a retreat organized by the Southern Senators' Forum in Calabar, yesterday.

the party like Atiku, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso had been marginalized in the running of the party and government.

Atiku further noted that more than a year after the memo no action was taken to repair the breach, and that the breach had been worsened, and left him with no option than to leave the party.

He said: “On the 19th of December, 2013, I received members of the All Progressives Congress at my house in Abuja. They had come to appeal to me to join their party after my party, the Peoples Democratic Party, had become factionalized as a result of the special convention of August 31,

2013.

“The fractionalization of the Peoples Democratic Party on August 31, 2013, had left me in a situation where I was, with several other loyal party members, in limbo, not knowing which of the parallel executives of the party was the legitimate leadership. “It was under this cloud that members of the APC made the appeal to me to join their party, with the promise that the injustices and failure to abide by its own constitution which had dogged the then PDP, would not be replicated in the APC and with the assurance that the vision other founding fathers and I had for the PDP could be actualized through the All Progressives

Congress.

It was on the basis of this invitation and the assurances made to me that I, being party-less at that time, due to the fractionalization of my party, accepted on February 2, 2014, the hand of fellowship given to me by the All Progressives Congress.

On that day, I said “it is the struggle for democracy and constitutionalism and service to my country and my people that are driving my choice and my decision” to accept the invitation to join the All Progressives Congress. Like you, I said that because I believed that we had finally seen the beginnings of the rebirth of the new Nigeria of our dreams which would

work for all of us, old and young. However, events of the intervening years have shown that like any other human and like many other Nigerians, I was fallible.

“While other parties have purged themselves of the arbitrariness and unconstitutionality that led to fractionalization, the All Progressives Congress has adopted those same practices and even gone beyond them to institute a regime of a draconian clampdown on all forms of democracy within the party and the government it produced.

Only last year, a governor produced by the party wrote a secret memorandum to the

Continues on page 50

FG targets $1bn from tax amnesty scheme

By Adaeze Okechukwu

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HE Federal Government of Nigeria has said that it targets to receive $1 billion from the on-going Voluntary Income and Asset Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) before the March 31st, 2018 deadline.

The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, stated this during a training workshop on Voluntary Income and Asset Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) held in Lagos, yesterday.

She said the ministry has received $110 million already from just 2 companies; $55million and $45 million, and expects to receive a total of $1 billion from the amnesty scheme.

“We have set $1 billion as the success target. However, it’s not really about how much money that comes in.

•Promises to name evaders in April •Targets $150bn from VAT monthly For me, it’s about getting people into the tax net, going forward. Once people start declaring the appropriate income, that revenue for the government will be continuous.

Hence, regardless of the oil price, the government will have a steady source of revenue.

The problems we faced in the last two years would not have occurred if we had a better tax collection system.

Developed countries, today, have a very high tax to GDP ratio, some as high as 90 percent. The days of heavy dependence on oil ought to be over.”

Adeosun further disclosed that Nigeria was already a part of the Automatic Exchange of Information

(AEOI) that plans to supply the government with information concerning various categories of income and financial transactions of Nigerians in other countries. She said that from January 1st, 2018, the ministry will have full access to this information.

She also promised that the ministry would name and shame individuals and entities that fail to avail themselves of the amnesty programme after the deadline.

“It would be premature to call persons who will receive letters, ‘Tax Evaders’. We will only label people as real tax evaders when the VAIDS deadline expires and they failed to regularize. We will then

proceed to apply the full weight of the law.”

Adeosun added that the ministry is working relentlessly with agencies such as Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigeria Customs Administration, among others, on the data required to detect tax defaulters.

“We have compiled a list of about 500 Nigerians who own property and trusts abroad and are believed to have under-declared these assets. We will be writing to them to take advantage of our Tax Amnesty (VAIDS), opened until March 2018,” she asserted.

8—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

Leverage culture, tourism for economic growth, minister charges states, LGs T

HE Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has charged states and local governments to leverage their unique culture and tourism products to generate income and create jobs.

In his keynote address at the opening of the 9th National Council on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation in Dutse, Jigawa State, on Friday, the Minister said the Federal Government has recognized the Creative Industry, of which culture and tourism are integral parts, as a key sector to create jobs and wealth and to earn foreign exchange, as reflected in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017 to 2020. ‘’It is common knowledge that all the States and Local Governments have unique products, festivals and outstanding tourism sites. I, therefore, wish to also encourage all the Managers of Culture and Tourism at the State and Local Gov-

ernment levels to make the necessary efforts to develop these products and tourism sites in partnership with the private sector, in order to attract both domestic and international investors and tourists,’’ he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said countries like China, Brazil, India, United Kingdom, United States of America, France and Egypt, to mention a few, have mainstreamed culture and tourism as vital parts of their economic agenda to generate income and sustainable employment for their citizens, and redirect the energies of their youths for productive ventures.

He said against the backdrop of the fall in oil prices, the Federal Government was clear - right from the onset - in its determination to enhance the economic fortunes of Nigeria through the diversification of the country’s economy, with a view to reducing poverty, creating jobs, stimulating revenue generation, ensuring effective utilization of

local resources and providing sustainable peace and security. ‘’This is why we have consistently been evolving policies and programmes to explore the tourism and culture sector, in collaboration with our partners and stakeholders, to reposition Nigeria’s economy. Against this backdrop, the theme of this year’s meeting is apt and in tandem with our Administration’s avowed commitment to boosting the economy through the non-oil sector,’’ the Minister said.

He disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, in its bid to reposition the sector, has established 14 Cultural Industry Centres with necessary facilities across the six geo-political zones of the federation to serve as skills acquisition and capacity building centres for the country’s teeming youth and women, with the aim of creating wealth, generating jobs and boosting national GDP. Alhaji Mohammed listed some of the major challenges facing the culture and tourism sector as

the need to package the festivals and other tourist attractions into products that can be marketed and sold, as well as evolving a strategy to increase domestic and international tourism. ‘’Concerning international tourism, we have realized that our clear competitive advantage is our Film and Music in-

dustries. Whether it is Nollywood, Kannywood, or Afrobeat. Consequently, we will be harnessing them to promote our country as a tourism destination. ‘’Seeing our sites, people, culture and cities through films and music video should spur many to want to explore the country. That’s why we

have reached an agreement with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the global news channel CNN to showcase Nigeria globally, from the perspective of our film and entertainment industry. Indeed, packaging, marketing and thinking outside the box is the future of tourism,’’ he said.

Durbar in honour of Lai Mohammed

From left: Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Muhammadu Sanusi; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Secretary to the Jigawa State Government, Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadri Fanini... when the Minister visited the Emir’s Palace on Thursday.

From right: Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Muhammadu Sanusi; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Secretary to the Jigawa State Government, Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadri Fanini... at a Mini-Durbar in honour of the Minister at the Emir’s Palace on Thursday.

Procession of horses at a Mini-Durbar organised by the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Muhammadu Sanusi, in honour of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed...in Dutse on Thursday

VANGUARD, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 — 9

Dogara, Ambode, Amosun, Ooni, Alake, others for Ogun monarch’s coronation anniversary

EFCC is Compelling Anyim, under duress to sign self-incriminating document — Ozekhome *Says Anyim kept under inhuman conditions

By Kingsley Omonobi, Abuja

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ONSTITUTIONAL Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, has raised the alarm that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim was still being detained in EFCC Gulag, days after planted reports in the media by the commission claimed that he has been allowed to go home on administrative bail.

Declaring that the former SGF who has fulfilled all administrative conditions including tendering of his international passport, was being kept under inhuman and degrading conditions by the EFCC, Ozekhome alerted that Anyim was being

compelled under duress and undue influence to sign all manner of selfincriminating and property stripping documents against his will.

He described repeated reports in the media that Chief Anyim has been granted administrative bail, as a lie and called on the Attorney General of the Federation, Malami to prevail on the EFCC to respect the rule of law and Administration of Justice act and release the former SFG forthwith to enable him receive medical treatment A statement signed by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria said, “We are solicitors to Chief Anyim Pius, former SGF who was detained by EFCC and has since been kept in its Gulag for about 9 days.

“Our attention has been

drawn to carefully planted false and misleading reports published in various online and newsprint publications to the effect that Anyim has since Wednesday 22nd November, been released by the EFCC on administrative bail.

“This is a lie from the pit of hell. Those false reports that credit their source to unnamed sources within the EFCC have continued to circulate throughout Thursday and Friday with intent to deceive the world and divert its attention from the gross abuse of the fundamental rights of Anyim who has been kept under inhuman and degrading conditions for this unconstitutionally lengthy period.

“The truth is that Anyim is still held in EFCC custody up till this

minute in spite of fulfilling all administrative bail conditions including deposit of his international passport, and being compelled under duress and undue influence to sign all manner of self-incriminating and property stripping documents against his will.

“In spite of these and the clear position of sections 35 and 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the EFCC has bluntly refused to release Anyim to go attend to his very poor health which he was receiving treatment before he was forcibly taken away from his home.

“This is calling on the Attorney General of the Federation and minister of Justice to prevail on the EFCC (Law and Enforcement Agencies) to respect the rule of law and the constitution they have sworn to respect and protect, by promptly ordering Anyim’s release forthwith, since no charges have been preferred against him and since he has fulfilled all administrative bail conditions.”

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HE Speaker of the Federal House of Repre sentatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and his Osun and Ogun State counterparts, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Ibikunle Amosun; Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Alake of Egba, Oba Aremu Gbadebo are among the dignitaries expected at the 12th coronation anniversary of Eselu of Eselu in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi.

The event will be held on Sunday December 3 at the Eselu palace in Oja Odan.

Others expected at the event are the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye, Oba Rasak Adenugba, Abepe of Joga, Oba Adeyemi Adekeye, Oloja of Epe, Oba Kamordeen Animashaun, among others.

Oba Akinyemi said the event was planned to appreciate his people, friends and associates for standing by him in the last 12 years of his ascension to the throne.

He said his kingdom had witnessed fairly impressive development since he became the monarch, adding that there was prospect for mineral exploration in the community. ‘’There has been increase in infrastructural development such as rural electrification. The community is blessed with mineral resources like limestone and gypsium."

Binatone dazzles customers with affordable Yuletide products

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EADING Electronic Manufacturer, Binatone Industries has introduced a wide range of affordable and value for money quality products into the Nigerian electronics market to cater for the various needs of its many customers at Home and in the Kitchen during the festive season.

Unveiling the company’s products line-up for its teeming customers, Mr Banerjee said these would include the first of its kind, innovative, new Binatone tower music fan with Bluetooth pairing, Designer ITAL 1660 Stand Fan , New 18" stand fan ES1850, TS 2020 – unique high power 20" stand fan, Blender model BLG 595 with unbreakable jug and ice crushing facility, JE 580 fresh juice extractor, a range of three litre and four litre jug Kettles and the energy efficient Ceramic Cooking Plate for quick heating and cooking.

He stated that customers will also have the unique opportunity of buying Binatone’s new pressure pot with free transparent lid, new economy model table top gas cookers, heavy weight and high power1200w dry irons, economy value for money steam irons, and premium Garment Steamer for ironing “babaringa” and “boubou” clothes.

To take care of destructive voltage fluctuation, he pointed out that the company have a large stock of quality and durable voltage stabilizers on table top as well as wall mount insertions and a range of Uninterrupted Power Supply solutions.

PDP uncovers moves to hold parallel (NCC) has convention Committee been working very hard to ty.

By Dirisu Yakubu

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HE leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said it has discovered plans by some ‘elements’ within the party to hold a parallel convention in December.

The party said the plan was the creation of some elements within the party who have allowed themselves to be used by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to cause divisions in the PDP. Reading from a party statement yesterday while addressing journalists on the development, National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye described the move as an act of sabotage, which should not have been contemplated by any genuine member of the party, in the first place.

“This is totally uncalled for and a complete act of sabotage. Those making such plans cannot be said to be honest members of our party, the PDP. They are not patriotic but just out to destroy our party.

“The National Caretaker

carry all party members and supporters of the party along in all the preparations for the forthcoming National Convention holding in December 9 – 10, 2017.

“We are also putting our resources in place to address all the fears earlier reported by some national chairmanship aspirants.

One of the steps taken by the leadership is to make available and in good time, the comprehensive names of all the delegates for the national convention to all the aspirants before the convention. We therefore see no reason for any honest member of this great party to want to disrupt our programmes, except they are of course working for the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC),” the statement read in part.

Adeyeye also noted that the ruling party’s decision to postpone its convention earlier slated for November was to enable it monitor the conduct of the PDP elective convention, saying the parallel convention was one of the schemes aimed at birthing fresh crisis for the par-

“We are not completely oblivious of the plans by the APC to sabotage our convention. Apart from the internal fighting within the APC, one of the reasons why (sic) the party postponed its national convention to next year was to enable it to monitor closely our convention with a view to destabilizing our party ahead of the 2019 general elections.

“The planned parallel convention is one of those ideas of the APC to create divisions amongst members of our party. It will be most unfortunate for members of our party to allow themselves to be used against the party especially in the light of our recent painful experience.

“The National Caretaker Committee is willing and ready to address all the concerns of our party members regarding the forthcoming national convention,” he said, urging “Members to take advantage of our open door policy to ventilate their opinions, concerns and grievances.”

10—SATURDAY

Vanguard , NOVEMBER 25, 2017

ANAMBRA:

Real reasons Obiano floored opponents

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

C

HIEF Willie Obiano has become the second person to be reelected governor of Anambra State and he achieved this in a grand style. The first person to achieve it was his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi who governed the state from 2006 -2014.

Incidentally, both were elected on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, a political party that had the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as its leader. Obiano’s reelection was unique because for the first time in the state, a candidate defeated all his opponents, including stakeholders of other political parties in their local government areas.

Following this spectacular electoral feat in the 21 local government areas of the state, Obiano has been nicknamed 21/21. The number of votes he scored was also more than the combined votes of his two closest rivals.

Despite the domineering influence of Ojukwu in the politics of Anambra State since he became the national leader of APGA, the party always faced tough challenges during elections, but the last governorship election was different. Since the emergence of the present political dispensation in 1999, most of the influential people in the state belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which also produced the first governor of the state in the person of Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju. Like other South East states then, Anambra was totally a PDP state as it won every electoral contest from the House of Assembly to the President. It was perhaps Mbadinuju’s alleged non performance after four years, which led to his being denied second term ticket by the PDP in 2003 and the personality of Ojukwu that threw APGA up in the state.

Though PDP fielded Dr. Chris Ngige in place of Mbadinuju in 2003, voters in Anambra State shifted their allegiance from PDP to APGA and voted massively for its candidate, Mr. Peter Obi who, at that time, was not a known political figure in the state. Because election rigging was the other of the day then, Obi’s victory was upturned with the assistance of the then federal government and the national electoral body and Ngige was declared winner. It took Obi of APGA three years to regain his mandate and on March 14, 2006, he was inaugurated as the governor after the Supreme Court removed Ngige.

After Obi’s tenure that ended in March, 2014, another APGA candidate, Obiano, mounted the saddle. No sooner did he settle down in office than a quarrel erupted between him and his predecessor, Obi over issues that had continued to hang and the thinking in many circles was that he would not be reelected due to the influence of Obi in the state, especially as Obi himself left APGA and joined the PDP before the 2015 general elections. Not even the intervention of religious leaders could resolve the misunderstanding between Obi and Obiano and the feud dragged till the election.

Realizing that he had to perform to win the confidence of the people, Obiano engaged core professionals in specific areas of governance

Gov. Willie Obiano supported by wife, Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano recieving his certificate of return from INEC National Commissioner, Mrs May Agbamuche at INEC head

and within a short time, there were positive results in many sectors, especially in the areas of security, agriculture, upgrading of the state capital, Awka and regularly paying workers and pensioners at a time most states were unable to do so due to recession in the country.

Anambra people also easily point out the fact that unlike in the past, especially during the tenure of Mbadinuju when protests were the order of the day, the Obiano administration has neither witnessed any strike by the state workforce, nor protests by aggrieved groups over government policies, apart from few communities that complained about the manner their traditional rulers were selected.

What appeared to have endeared his administration to the people was the select – your-project initiative in which all the 181 communities were given N20 million to execcute any project of their choice. With this policy, all communities in the state have government presence to show in their areas and those who had completed their first projects had been given another N20 million.

The governor also promised to continue with the policy if reelected and that excited many communities. So, when workers are paid, people no longer fear about kidnapping, farmers, especially rice farmers, get government support and influential Anambra people coming home to invest due to the prevailing enabling environment created in the state, it became obvious that he would easily get the second mandate.

It was also not surprising when various organizations showered him with awards, including those given to him by Vanguard Newspapers, Sun Newspapers, Silverbird Television, etc, which ordinarily would not have come if he was not performing.

One other issue before the electorate last Saturday was the zoning arrangement, which was made famous by former Governor Obi. Obi ensured that power shifted to Anambra North senatorial zone after his zone, Anambra

Central, had had unbroken two terms and to ensure equity among the three zones in the state, it was agreed that governorship seat should be rotating among the zones. Though it was an arrangement initiated by APGA, the fact that two other major political parties, the PDP and APC chose their candidates from the same area as Obiano, was an indication that they too had adopted it.

So, one of the main issues for consideration during the last governorship election was who among the candidates would fast track the power shift and in the understanding of the stakeholders in the state, it was Obiano who, constitutionally, has only four years to complete the turn of Anambra North. Though the candidate of the PDP, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, also from Anambra North consistently told Anambra people that he would do only one term in line with the rotation arrangement, many stakeholders were of the view that his party and close allies might come up with arguments after four years that he would need another four years to complete his programmes, a situation that could lead to another political crisis in the state.

When it looked as if Obiano might lose the election based on the opposition that came from the man who handed over power to him, major stakeholders in the state had to openly declare their support for him. For instance, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Professor Charles Soludo was emphatic that Obiano had done Anambra people proud and therefore deserved a second tenure.

His maxim, “ If it is not broken, why mend it”, indeed became a

campaign slogan in the state.

Also, the first civilian governor of the state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife at several fora argued that Obiano deserved second tenure because he performed. Ezeife also said one sure way to have peace and stability in any polity was power rotation among the component units and since the incumbent governor is from Anambra North and had served first term, he should be allowed to complete the turn of the zone for power to shift to Anambra South, as Anambra Central had done a total of 11 years. The Old Aguata Union, which is the zone of the late former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, said the surest way power can shift to the zone was Governor Willie Obiano’s re-election.

Expectedly, the message stuck.

Apart from Ezeife and Soludo, several stakeholders from across the state, including Chief Ifeanyi Uba, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Dr. Ernest Obiejesi, Prince Kenneth Emeakayi, serving and former members of the national and state assemblies elected on the platform of other political parties, as well as many traditional rulers and Presidents General of the 181 communities, also supported Obiano’s reelection. Obiano also embarked on a vigorous campaign in all parts of the state and was unarguably the most visible candidate during the campaign.

With vehicles he gave to all the APGA chairmen in the 326 wards, the 21 local government chairmen of the party, state executive members of APGA and other stakeholders, with a promise that they stood the chance of retaining the cars if they delivered their wards, all of them worked hard to ensure his victory even in the strong holds of his opponents.

With such massive support, and with the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security operatives to be free and fair during the election, it was not surprising that Obiano won in all the 21 local government areas of the state. The next question is, will all those who supported the governor to emerge victorious constitute a problem by making demands to justify their support?

Only time will tell.

SATURDAY

Vanguard , NOVEMBER 25, 2017—11

How Ekwueme, Bisi Onabanajo plotted Six Geopolitical Zones from prison

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

D

r. Alex Ekwueme who died last Sunday was a democracy activist who laid his all for patriotic political causes when it mattered. It is as such not surprising that some have claimed that the humiliating loss of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in last Saturday’s Anambra governorship election was the final stroke that took his life.

Ekwueme had more than a personal interest in that contest. His first daughter, Lady Alexandra Onyemelukwe, named after him was the running mate for the PDP in the contest.

Ekwueme died at about 10.00 p.m. on Sunday as the results of the governorship election crystallised. Whether he was taken aback by the loss or the commercialisation of the process is a mystery those who knew him may not know on this side of eternity.

He was, however, a man who made sacrifices for his political causes.

At the beginning of the Second Republic when he was about to take up the office of vice-president of the country, he took the significant sacrifice of closing down his architectural practice, Ekwueme Associates, Architects, and Town Planners. It was the first Nigerian owned architectural practice in the country which at its peak in the seventies had offices in 16 cities across the country.

The sacrifice of setting aside progress in his lifelong profession was one sacrifice.

After the collapse of the Second Republic, Dr. Ekwueme who had added a law degree to his degrees in architecture was to combine the rudiments of the two professions into postulating a new constitutional architecture for the country.

At the 2005 Constitutional Conference, he was the leading campaigner for the restructuring of the country into six geopolitical zones.

Before then, political transactions in the country had been conducted on the basis of North, South, East, and West in which the North prevailed over the polity on account of its numerical supremacy.

Ekwueme’s move for restructuring led to the adoption of the six geopolitical zones, a development that for the first time divided the One North philosophy that had been espoused by feudal Northern champions to hold sway over the polity.

With the creation of the six geopolitical zones came the Middle Belt which dominated by Northern minorities and the Northeast, a development that inevitably broke the structure upon which the HausaFulani had ridden on to hold sway.

Ekwueme’s reconstruction of Nigeria’s political architecture has till date not received the approval of

law, but there is no doubt that Nigeria’s political transactions have been framed upon the six geopolitical zones he espoused.

It is alleged in some quarters that the HausaFulani never forgave him for his action and hence the vociferous opposition they gave to his political aspirations during the Fourth Republic.

Dr. Ekwueme in what could be one of the last major interviews he granted to Saturday Vanguard crew of Onochie Anibeze, Emmanuel Aziken and Emeka Mamah in 2016 on the occasion of Nigeria’s Independence anniversay just before his 84th birthday gave an insight into the processes that led to his clamour for restructuring and how it came about.

He said: The idea of the six •Late Alex Ekwuem geopolitical zones looks brilliant. Was it your idea alone?

The only other person who contributed to it was my friend, Bisi Onabanjo. so he wasn’t pursuing it anymore.

Two of us discussed this in prison.

It was from there you now took it to the Constitutional Conference where it was adopted?

Well, it wasn’t. But Abacha adopted it. The conference itself didn’t adopt it; they wanted the status quo to remain because it was in the interest of some people to maintain the status quo.

Some have suggested the abolition of the states and for the six geopolitical zones to become the federating bodies. Do you concur?

The states don’t have to be abolished. It is a matter of nomenclature. When we had Eastern Region, we had 12 provinces which Michael Okpara created. Ogoja province, Calabar Province, Uyo Province, Annang Province, Enugu Province, Onitsha Province, Owerri Province, Umuahia Province and Port-Harcourt Province, Degema Province. There were six provinces in the minority areas and six in the Igbo areas, and all these provinces had their provincial commissioners, had their assemblies and had their provincial scholarship boards.

So, it is a matter of nomenclature.

The states should be provinces of the regions. I am putting together a book called Nigeria: Thoughts on the provision of a stable polity, and in that book, there is an article by Shehu Shagari that states should become provinces of the regions.

Eventually, when I met with him when I was putting together these ideas, he said that he found that his suggestion was not very well accepted,

What kind of political structure do you think will make Nigeria politically and economically viable?

Going back to history we negotiated over a decade starting from Ibadan Conference in 1951 up to the conferences in Nigeria in London and so on until independence in 1960 - a ten year period of negotiation and in the end what Nigerians agreed with the colonial masters on what would be the form of government on the basis of which they would be given independence was a federal form of government made up of three regions – North, East and West. That was the form of

Before then, political transactions in the country had been conducted on the basis of North, South, East, and West in which the North prevailed over the polity on account of its numerical supremacy

government agreed with each region autonomous in many respects and with each region having its own Constitution and the Constitutions of the three regions annexed to the Federal Constitution in one document and with each region being able to develop at its own pace. You will see for instance, Eastern Region that started as the poorest region, by 1966 the leadership had established agricultural plantations, rubber, cocoa plantations in Cross River State, palm in Anambra, Imo, Rivers and so on and they had industries, like Trans Amadi Industrial Estate in Port Harcourt, they were able to negotiate with foreign countries and were able to build the brewery in Umuahia, ceramic factory in Umuahia, the Calabar Cement Factory and there was development. They were able to build the University of Nigeria before the Federal Government took it over ten years after. So, each region was given the freedom to exercise its initiative. It was Eastern Region that first started the Pay As You Earn tax in Nigeria. That was the creation of -21- Bon Ejike— the first minister of finance of Eastern Region in 1952 - Pay As You Earn, automatic deduction from salary. It was first started in Eastern Nigeria because when the region was founded they had to find means of raising money. It was in the East that they first started Entertainment Tax, if you went to cinema if it was One and Six, you paid three pence tax to the government.

People used their initiative. If you went to the North you would find groundnut pyramids in Kano everywhere. In the West, cocoa was booming and they used it to invest property in Lagos, Western House, WEMABOD, Cocoa House in Ibadan all that was based on the initiative. Even free education in the West and so on.

I did my analysis while I was in Kirikiri

Continues on pg 12

12—SATURDAY

Vanguard , NOVEMBER 25, 2017

Ekwueme in the eyes of Jimi Disu I

feel sad that Ekwueme is gone. He was a fine gentleman that was not put to good use by this country. You hardly find among the political class today the pedigree of Alex Ekwueme. He had a degree in P h i l o s o p h y, H i s t o r y, Sociology, Law, Architecture and City Planing. He had a thriving Architectural Practice before he decided to go into politics.

When the coup took place, something very significant happened that I will never forget.

Ekwueme and Shagari were captured by the Army. Shagari was put in one nice and comfortable guest house and Alex Ekwueme was put in prison and no charge was brought against him. In spite of that, he still carried on with dignity, he did not show any undue bitterness. That incidence alone was significant. Ironically, it was the same Buhari that carried out the coup that is now the President. Something tells me if Ekwemen had been the President in 1983, we wouldn’t have been in this mess.

•Late Alex Ekwuem Ekwueme had always carried himself with the dignity expected of a well educated somebody. He was highly instrumental to the formation of the PDP. He did not jump boat, he never contemplated of going to APGA or any other party. He stuck on to PDP even during the crisis. He kept his nose clean, he had his faults though but he represented something I can identify with.

“The legacies of the likes of him are not what are being exhibited by the younger folks. It appeared the younger politicians have learnt absolutely no lesson from the dignity the likes of Alex Ekwueme applied to politics. For example, when I remember his own generation and those slightly before him, the contributions they made to the political landscape, in terms of men, money and material; now instead of •Jimi Disu putting men of caliber in positions, this generation of politicians will only put their cousins and in-laws there. Alex put down his own money and time for politics, I have not seen anywhere his hands were found in the cookie jar. Even though the NPN at that time was accused of serious corruption, I don’t remember if Alex Ekwueme was ever indicted of anything.

“But what do we have with this current generation? Rather than put themselves forward for

sacrifice, they go clear everything in sight and impoverish the whole nation. Before Ekwueme, the like of the late Mrs Von who knew the value of land she had on Awolowo road, she donated it willingly so that we could have School of Nursing there. What has this generation of politicians done? If we had not made noise on the property, probably, what you will find there now is a 5-star hotel. We thank God, it is lying desolate there overgrown by weeds. Instead, the current politicians are acquiring government property in sight and when things go awry, they use the book against you. The sad part of it is that majority of us continue to follow this people into our own oblivion. I wonder when Alex Ekwueme was crossing the bridge between life and death, looking back, what his inner feelings were about what he was living behind. I would have loved if Ekwueme had taken a trip to Okorocha’s Imo and asked him, ‘what are you doing with these statues?.

I will like that whatever is left of Alex Ekwueme’s generation, rather than sit at the metropolitan club, the Yoruba Tennis Club or Island Club and complain about the country. Rather than complaining, I think it is time that this generation got up with the values that they have learned from the likes of Ekwueme and salvage this nation. In Lagos, I love to see the likes of Mobolaji Johnson, H.B Fasinro.

Ekwueme’s unheralded role in Nigeria’s reconfiguration So instead of three regions, you now have six regions; three majority, three minority; three in the North, three in the South – parity between North and South, parity between majority and minority and the apportionment of representation would be as we negotiated with our colonial masters on the basis of which we got our independence.

Continues from pg 11 Prison, the only problem with the form of government that we had with that structure was that it was lopsided. The structure of the regions at independence was such that one region, the North was said to have been bigger than the two other regions, East and West and when even Mid-West was created the North was still bigger than East, West and Midwest and in a parliamentary system based on population, the membership of the parliament allocated more seats to Northern Region than to all other regions put together. If as they did in the North, they all decided to go into one party, a Northern party, and they elected all their legislators on that party, then they would continue to have the leadership of the country for ever which would not be palatable to the rest of the country. That was one fault in the disparity in the size of the regions. The second problem I discovered was that within each region, you had majority group and a group of minorities. In the West, the Yoruba were the majority group, and the minority group was what grouped together in what became the Midwest. In the East, the Igbo were the majority and the minority group called themselves the COR State – Calabar, Ogoja, Rivers. In the North, Hausa Fulani were the majority group and the minority were mostly the Middle Belt and to some extent, the Kanuri.

So, you had a struggle within each region between the majority and the minority. So, I decided to cure these two problems that we must have parity of regions between the Old North and the Old South and that was why I decided to have parity of geopolitical zones between the North and the South.

The North was divided into Northwest, Northeast and North-Central and the South was divided into Southeast, Southwest, and South-South.

And it also helped to have parity between the majority regions and the minority regions;

The structure of the regions at independence was such that one region, the North was said to have been bigger than the two other regions, East and West and when even Mid-West was created the North was still bigger than East, West and Midwest and in a parliamentary system based on population, the membership of the parliament allocated more seats to Northern Region than to all other regions put together the majority regions being in the Northwest, mostly Hausa-Fulani, Southwest, mostly Yoruba and the Southeast , mostly Igbo; and the minority regions being Northeast where you have the Kanuri with a number of ethnic groups in Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba; and in the North Central you have Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kwara, Niger; and in the South you have the minorities in the former Midwestern Region and the minority of the Southeast region who together formed the South-South.

What of representation at the National Assembly?

That will have to recognise the type of assembly we should have. Before we had a House of Representatives which was a House of the people based on population and we had a Senate which was based on equality of the regions.

So, in a real federation, the lower House represents the equality of all human beings within the country. Like in America, a state like Rhode Island will have two senators, New York will have two senators, California will have two senators, all the states will have two senators showing equality of the states in the upper chamber and equality of human beings means that New York may have 50 men in the House of Representatives whereas Nevada or North Dakota may have just two or three.

So would you go along with those who say that we should adopt a unicameral legislature to reduce cost?

In a federation, it won’t be wise to have one legislative body as you will have nothing to show that all the federating units are equal. It is the upper chamber that signifies the equality of the federating units. The only problem is that we copied and abused it whereby we have full-time lawmakers. In the First Republic they had only one Long Session which lasted about six weeks for the consideration of the Appropriation

Act and then another one for the Supplementary Appropriation Act, so they had two major sessions, and any other session was an emergency session lasting a few days, and they were all part-time members. When they came, they were quartered in flats LEGCO Flats and they got sitting allowances on top of their salaries and salary wasn’t very much.

Many of them were teachers, some local government officials and so on. But now, everybody who goes to the House of Representatives is a full-time person; he needs a fully furnished house, he needs legislative aides, he needs a constituency office. Yes, all these are supposed to enhance the legislative process, but they cost a lot of money and how far this competence is enhanced is a matter of concern to some well-meaning people, because you find that some of these constituency offices, and there are some around here, you go there, and you just find a table and a chair, and you ask whether this is where a member of the House of Representatives is going to sit down and draft laws to be presented to the National Assembly? So, it is not a matter of having a single chamber just to save cost. It is a matter of not adopting the American system hook, line, and sinker. But even in America, the congressmen have just modest accommodation in Washington; they take every opportunity to go back to their constituencies to stay with the people who elected them and to brief them on what is happening.

Will you then suggest that we go back to the parliamentary system with part-time legislators?

I am not advocating for a parliamentary system. I am ok with the presidential system, but it doesn’t have to have two chambers with fulltime legislators assigned with a lot of staff, having staff at home and staff in Abuja.

SATURDAY

Vanguard,NOVEMBER 25, 2017—13

14 —SATURDAY Vanguard,

NOVEMBER 25, 2017

SATURDAY Vanguard,

Why Okowa launched development agency, DIDA

BY MONDAY UWAGWU

N

igeria’s crude oilbased mono-economy, bashed at the global scene by r e c e d i n g patronage and sliding prices, has, since the middle of 2016, walked into a valley such that, •Gov Okowa in the light of ebbing receipts from the hydrocarbon source, the individual and corporate constituents of the Nigerian nation have been hard put meeting their otherwise routine obligations.

Evidently, there arose the vital need for prompt remediation action.

In Delta State, this vital need was in the areas of enhancing the tempo of transparency in the system by curbing waste and creating and implementing new modules for official-and perhaps, individual-engagements.

The dream inherent in this desire finds expression in terms of two broad range of actions and policies-economic diversification and wealth and job creation, as espoused in the SMART Agenda.

For the Okowa administration, economic diversification takes the shape of venture into non-oil sources of personal and official income both for the government and the other diverse interests in the state’s economy. The government, on its own, has taken the path of effective foray into agriculture via not only encouraging the private sector farm holders with cash, technical support and inputs, but has, quite wisely, created a potent new generation of young commercial farmers to, among other things, succeed the ageing generation of largely subsistence farm holders that dot the landscape of the state. This new class of farmers, better known by their local acronym of YAGEPreneurs, constitute a vital investment for the state in lieu of the huge material and other gains of their creation, establishment and flourish. They represent a significant segment of the wealth and job creation arm of the SMART Agenda of the

state administration.

As in the wealth and job creation spheres of the government’s policy thrust, the administration has also made significant investments in other sectors-education, health, power and energy, etc.

However, in deep appreciation of the overriding necessity to simultaneously attain two lofty goals of expanding the scope of investments and formalising its precedent processes and procedures, the government has created a specific agency charged with responsibility in this regard , This agency, called the Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA), has a humongous mandate that is sure to redefine the investment portfolio in the state by deepening the concept and practice of practical investments via effective liaison with the different stakeholders, especially the organised private sector (OPS). The law establishing the DIDA was signed into being on July 25, 2017.

By its nature, DIDA is expected to market the huge potentials of the state in terms of agriculture, solid minerals, oil and gas, housing development, human capital development via technical and vocational skills enhancement, power and energy, culture and tourism and sundry others. In this sense, DIDA largely holds the ace for the overall economic growth and development of the state over the short, medium and long hauls.

THE LAW, FUNCTIONS AND POWERS Without an iota of doubt, the Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA), was, in a sense, a child of absolute necessity; it was, in far more senses than one, created in response to the huge development challenge in the state, and the necessity to deploy the investment strategy to resolve it.

Of course, the resort by the Okowa administration, considered wise and timely, is in response to the stoic fact that, some 26 years after it was created, Delta State

remained without an appropriate agency-by name and by responsibility-to be charged with the mandate of ensuring that investments flow into the state, on a sufficient and consistent basis, for the benefit of the state and its citizenry. This resort is in obvious realisation of the fact that, even in the best of economic climes, the public sector (better tagged the government)was never in the best position to respond to all of the huge investment needs of the people because of limited resources.

Evidently, the recession in the economy of the state (a fallout of the same fate of the national economy, which, like the state’s, is crude oil-fed) the evident manifestation of limitation or inadequacy of the resources of the government to meet the needs has, in effect, become exacerbated, with the result that, in the face of dwindling returns from the crude oil-led Federation Account(FA), most governments in the country, including Delta State’s under the watch of Senator Okowa, has had to reach out to certain interests, especially in the private sector, to come fill in the gap left in the wake of its inability to meet all of the development needs of the society over which they govern.

It is on this account that the administration of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa had to take active steps to create the Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA). The law establishing the DIDA was signed into law on July 25, 2017, and the agency has a reservoir of experts on its board; Chief Afam Obiago, Chairman; Olorogun Lucky OgheneOmoru, Director-General and Mr.Godwin Okey Ibe, Dr. Godwin Adolor and Hon (Engr)Anthony Akpomiemie, as members.

The law has several main objectives, including promoting and coordinating increased private sector participation in the economic development of the state; creating an enabling environment for the effective collaboration between the state government and the private sector in the full exploitation of investment opportunities in the state; identifying projects and inviting people to support investors interested in investing in the state; developing and establishing mechanisms for the protection of public/private investments in the state and combining public assets with private sector resources from local and offshore markets to foster investments in public infrastructure in the state.

The DIDA Law 2017, clearly marks out a broad spectrum mandate for the agency, the net goal of which is to make the state a prime choice for investors, be they from the local or offshore portfolio markets. In net, the mandate is espoused in the specific functions and powers as itemised below: FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF DIDA

NOVEMBER 25, 2017—15

Under the Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA)Law of 2017, the agency has legion functions and powers as outlined. They include: (a)Coordinating all state government’s investments with the private sector for the economic advancement of the state; (b)Initiating, developing and sustaining measures to enhance the investment process in the state; (c)Promoting foreign and local investments through effective promotional strategies; (d)Collating, coordinating and evaluating investment information in the state; (e)Liaising between private investors, ministries, government development agencies, industrial lenders and other authorities involved in the investment process; (f)Advising the government on fiscal and other policy measures aimed at enhancing and promoting economic development in the state; (g)Negotiating, verifying and monitoring the performance of the terms and conditions of concession agreements for the state; (h) Organising and participating in marketing events and activities, including exhibitions, conferences, trade fairs and seminars, for the promotion of investments in the state, and (i)Determining the framework for the engagement of consultant specialists and advisers for private/public partnership and all forms of private sector within the state.

With regard to the powers of the agency , the law spells them out as follows: (1)Making policy guidelines, rules and regulations for carrying out the functions of the agency, subject to the nod of the board; (2)Managing and administering the policies of the agency; (3)Negotiating with prospective investors; (4)Obtaining relevant data from any government agency or private concern as would enhance the operations of the agency; (5)Inspecting and monitoring concessionaries to ensure compliance with the terms of such concession agreements; (6) Making concession to private investors interested in public/private partnerships for the design, construction, operation, management, control, maintenance , rehabilitation and financing of public infrastructure or pubic asset in accordance with the State Public Procurement Law; (7)Making recommendations as to the amount of money that may be charged by any private or public operator with respect to any public infrastructure, public assets or amenities as toll or user fees, subject to the approval of the governor; ( 8) Setting up, managing and regularly updating a database containing all public infrastructure assets and projects of the state under the Private/public partnership module, and (9) Performing any other function(s) under the DIDA Law as may be assigned to it by the Governor of the state.

DIDA: ESTABLISHMENT, NATURE AND ADMINISTRATION OF A STRATEGIC AGENCY Like all other similar organisations and establishments, the law creating the Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA) outlined the processes and procedures for its administration.

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

From Right: Chi ef Godini Darah (Bayelsa) Chief (Delta), Chief Sa E.K. Clark, Nat mson Agbaru ional Leader, A Ibom), Alambo ir Commodore Id (Rivers) Dr. Godknows Igali Graham Douglas onge (Rivers) and Chi ef Francis Doukp sit Nkanga (rtd) (Akwa ola (Bayelsa).

BATTLE FOR N’DELTA LEADERSSHIP:

PANDEF smiles after Effurun meeting, PNDPC reorganizes

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South

I

T was a test of power, during the week, in the Niger Delta region between two rival regional groups, Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, and Pan Niger Delta Congress, PNDPC, both at war over the leadership of the oilregion.

Whereas, the former is shepherded by former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, who is the National Leader and Convener, the later is headed by former national chairman of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria, His Majesty Charles Ayemi-Botu.

As at yesterday, PANDEF strongly believed that the point as to which is the authentic voice of the region had been settled in its favor, while the PNDPC feeling unbowed by the events that played out, had, observably returned to the drawing board.

Still troubled by the October 26 disruption of its fourth assembly at Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, PANDEF guardedly, last week, scheduled its November 21 emergency general assembly at its cradle, Effurun, near Warri, Delta State.

RNDA threat However, leader of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, RNDA, and Coalition of nine militant groups, self-styled “General” Johnmark Ezonbi, which empaneled the PNDPC, swore barely 24 hours after that it would interrupt the assembly.

RNDA had warned, “Let us sound a note of warning that the planned PANDEF meeting scheduled to hold on Tuesday November 21, 2017 at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun will not hold. We will vehemently resist any attempt by members of the disbanded Pan Niger Delta People Forum PANDEF to meet even if it will mean blood spilling. Enough is enough.”

Ezonbi noted that the botched October 26 PANDEF meeting in

Port Harcourt “should have sent clear signals to members of PANDEF that the party was over,” adding, “The Federal Government should not hold us responsible if they allow the meeting to hold judging from the volatile situation in the Niger Delta, a word is enough for the wise.”

Clark’s retort, Mulade’s reassurance When Saturday Vanguard called Clark few minutes after RNDA issued the threat, the elder statesman said he did not see why he should dignify the militant group with a comment and referred our reporter to PANDEF’s Coordinating Secretary, Dr. Alfred Mulade, and others.

Dr. Mulade stated that PANDEF had contacted the Army, Police, DSS and other relevant security agencies to provide security for the meeting, adding, “The meeting is going to hold as scheduled, nothing is going to stop us.”

Loyibo, Ogulagha monarch’s revolution Twenty-four hours to the meeting, there was upsetting inhouse coup against PNDPC. The Coordinator of the group, Chief Mike Loyibo, Secretary, Prof Benjamin Okaba, the traditional ruler of Ogulagha kingdom, HRM Joseph Timiyan, pioneer national president of Ijaw National Council, INC, Prof Christopher Dime and others, pulled out of PNDPC. In fact, they visited Chief Clark at his Kiagbodo country home in Delta state to denounce PNDPC, declaring the body dead with their exit.

The exit of the HRM Timiyan, who is a close friend of HM Ayemi-Botu really baffled PNDPC leaders RNDA knocks Loyibo, others Both the RNDA and PNDPC tried to make light of the impact of their exit, saying that Loyibo and his cohorts were good riddance.

According to RNDA leader, Ezonbi, “The purported defection of six members of PNDPC is a charade, out of the

alleged six, four are nonmembers, namely Chief PerefughaKarawei, Chief Wellington Bobo, Chief Williams Borme and Chief D.S.P Oyadonghan.”

“Furthermore, it is on record that they said that the erstwhile secretary, Prof. Benjamin Okaba and Prof. Christopher Dime were never nominated by the RNDA, but brought in by Mike Loyibo to do his bidding as the interim secretary and twice, he forwarded his name for replacement with Professor Etim Eyong Eyo which we declined.

PNDPC dead, Loyibo insists Loyibo, nevertheless, insisted that he was the founder of PNDPC and that the initial plan was for the body to complement PANDEF, but he and other wellmeaning leaders and members of the group saw that some persons were turning the matter to a personality clash, with Clark as the main target, they had to exit the body.

He stated that those who left were the soul and spirit of PNDPC and with their exit, there was nothing left of the chief resistance group to PANDEF. Security transform overnight in Effurun Not many doubted the threat by RNDA to disrupt the Effurun meeting, despite the reassurance on security arraignments by PANDEF’s Mulade.

And for those who witnessed the October 26 Port Harcourt episode, it was curious that men of the Nigerian Police Force, who mounted sentry, Tuesday morning, at the entrance of the Conference Centre of

Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Effurun, venue of the meeting were not hostile.

Adjacent the entrance to the hall inside the premises, a team of soldiers clearly there to stop any intruder(s) was on standby.

As hours rolled by until the meeting ended, it was perceptible that whoever pulled the strings that resulted in the Port Harcourt affair could not muster such power again.

Before then, the Minister of Niger Delta, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Brigadier General Paul Boroh (retd.) visited Chief Clark at Abuja, where they apologized on behalf of the Federal Government for the Port Harcourt humiliation.

Vote of confidence on Clark At the Effurun e m e r g e n c y assembly, where leaders from the states of the Niger Delta region, passed a vote of confidence on Chief Clark, the South-South leader pointed out that the internal conflict posed by PNDPC had been resolved with the principal actors in the grouppitching tent once again with PANDEF. He announced that the main character in the group, Chief Loyibo, was at the PANDEF meeting with other members. Loyibo ceased the opportunity when he spoke to revalidate all that Clark said, maintaining that PNDPC was no more.

From the former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Alabo Tonwe Graham-

Douglas (Rivers), former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo (Delta), former Minister of Lands and Housing, Hon Nduese Essien (Akwa Ibom), Col Tony Nyiam (retd) (Cross River), Chief Francis Doukpola (Bayelsa) to Dr. Mike Asemota (Edo), leaders of the region passed a vote of confidence on Clark.

They echoed that he was a blessing to the region and his time was not over, and so, nobody should be in a hurry to dethrone him as Niger Delta leader..

Alabo Graham- Douglas said, “If not for Clark’s patience, understanding and communication among the leaders, we will not be where we are today.”

Nduese Essien and Tony Nyiam said that Clark remained articulate at 91 years and Niger Delta people were proud of him as their leader.

Dr. Asemota said Clark has provided outstanding leadership for the region Bozimo advises PNDPC leader Alaowei Bozimo, who with Elder T. K Ogoriba, worked behind the scene to bring Loyibo and others out of PNDPC, asserted, “I congratulate High Chief Mike Loyibo, Prof.

Benjamin Okaba, the young minds that were the driving force of the former group. The unity and understand displayed by our young men must be carried through in our drive.”

He had earlier at Clark’s home in Kiagbodo where Loyibo and others dumped PNDPC, stated that he has tremendous respect for the leader of PNDPC, HM Ayemi-Botu, but called him to join forces with PANDEF. No retreat, no surrender – Ayemi-Botu Commenting on the entire episode, which he described as a charade, PNDPC leader, HM Charles Ayemi-Botu, said the claim by Loyibo that the group had not merged with PANDEF was a lie from the pit of hell.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the purported merger of PNDPC with PANDEF is not only false and misleading, but also a mere figment of imagination of those who orchestrated the nonexistent merger,” he asserted.

“On the contrary, at Opokuma summit of PNDPC, it was unanimously agreed that the PNDPC would continue to operate as an independent entity mandated by the agitators to open fresh dialogue with the federal government on the way forward.”

We will pursue core mandate Ayemi-Botu stated, “As a credible body led by responsible leaders from the Niger Delta, the PNDPC shall continue to respect and uphold the rights of individuals to meet, form or belong to any organization and pursue their aims and objectives as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “ PANDEF feels rejuvenated That PANDEF felt fulfilled with its Effurun general assembly was obvious in its communiqué where it bluntly told the Federal Government that military intimidation of Niger Delta people would not stop their fight for equity and economic justice.

The group stated that the federal government addressed only one out of its 16-point programme to the government, which is take-off of the Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, Okerenkoko, since November, last year. Consequently, it asked it to set up its dialogue team with the group for the other unaddressed programmes to avert further trouble in the region.

SATURDAY Vanguard,

NOVEMBER 25, 2017—17

Ogbe-Ijoh, Aladja boundary dispute: •2 killed, 12 wounded in Ogbe-Ijoh •1 dead, 4 injured in Aladja •2 Isaba boys also hurt •Armed youths in army camouflage cause havoc

By Emma Emaize

T

HE casu alty in last week war between Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja communities in Warri South-West Local Government Area and Udu Local Government Area, both in Delta State, was avoidable. Yet three persons died in cold blood and several others injured, increasing the countless dead in the absurd boundary dispute between the warring Ijaw and Urhobo communities.

Fresh tension More than a week after the November 16 incident, Ogbe-Ijoh, which claimed to be under attack by Aladja, raised the alarm that their Urhobo opponents were still planning a fresh attack.

A source in the community said, “Aladja people have sent messages to Itsekiri civil servants working in the Warri South West secretariat at Ogbe-Ijoh to stop coming to work and leave their abode in the town as from next week because they are going to strike.”

“Our leaders have decided to write letters to the Army, Police and Navy to notify them of the plan,” he added.

Ijaws are the aggressors – Aladja However, youth president of Aladja community, Wisdom Onatomre, who spoke on last week’s crisis said that Ijaw people were the aggressors. He disclosed that invading Ijaw gunmen killed Kelly Onoduaire, 21, and injured four others, last Thursday.

His words, “Lately, Isaba and Ogbe-Ijoh,

are fond of the unholy alliance of launching a two- prong attack against Aladja simultaneously.

Yesterday, they were at it again. We started hearing gunfire from Isaba axis at dawn. By 6.30am, they started pushing in from their respective outskirts of our community. As I speak with you, they have killed Kelly Onodauire, 21. Bowmen Kingsley, Cassius Owolo, Anthony Onoriode, Wilson Patani and Victory Austin were seriously wounded and are in intensive care in one hospital How Aladja attacked us – Ogbe-Ijoh Ogbe-Ijoh leader, Chief Monday Keme, who bemoaned the losses in his community, revealed that Ebi Alelei was beheaded while his hands and private parts were cut off by his assailants.

According to him, Joseph Karegha, who was declared missing, miraculously came out alive, but with bullet wounds on his body.

Others injured were Austin Felix, Tolumor Oruware, Abonti Arekumor, Matthew Michael, Ebena Ibikoro and Goalkeeper Fine.

“At about 7.45 am on Thursday, November 16, Aladja attacked Isaba community and by 8.45 am, another attack was launched against Ogbe-Ijoh and lasted about two hours, leading to the

•Another Ogbe-Ijoh victim

•One of the injured Ogbe-Ijoh villagers

death of two persons and while 12 persons were critically wounded and are now receiving treatment,” he said.

Isaba, a neighboring Ijaw community also declared two boys injured in the intercommunal warfare.

Trading blames on who initiated attack on the other, Chief Keme asserted, “Once again, we wish to inform the government of Delta State and security agencies of today’s attack on Ogbe-Ijoh by Aladja community.”

Aladja launched offensive on us – Isaba However, Ogugu, an Isaba youth leader, said, “Aladja attacked Pere-Ama Isaba community at about 7.12am. They passed through Olori Waterside with a boat to Pamiaye in Isaba kingdom and walked through to attack the people of Pere-Ama. They were putting on army camouflage.

The gunfire was so serious that two of our boys were injured and are presently receiving treatment. They are Austine

Eyomi and Godspower Pukea,” he said.

Keme berates Delta govt Chief Keme obviously unhappy with the role of the state government in the management of the crisis, said, “It was very unfortunate that the Delta state government is yet to implement its findings on how to resolve the boundary dispute between the two communities. We have always maintained the peace in the face of unprovoked attacks. Once again, we call on the federal government to intervene as the governor of Delta state lacks the political will to enforce his own pronouncements in an attempt to resolve the boundary dispute,” he said.

Police sue for peace When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Andrew Aniamake said, “I have been made aware, I am in touch with the Area Commander and our men on ground, but we cannot rush into details in a hurry. We will do everything humanly possible within our means to ensure that law and order prevail. We have the wherewithal, but suffice it to say that ultimately, the enduring solution is that the people by themselves see reasons to sheathe their swords and live in peace and harmony.”

Discussing Buhari on Thanksgiving Day hat a beautiful evening it was near Lawrenceville in Georgia that night.

W It was a day for storytelling and merry-

making.

Everybody told his childhood story. I was not left out. Some joke had led to it, and everybody started recalling parental care in our childhood.

My father had been killed in the northern part of Nigeria during the pogrom that escalated into the civil war.

He was killed while trying to escape to the east. He had worked in the Railway Corporation, and we lived in Kano at the time the crisis broke out. We would have probably been all consumed if he hadn’t brought us to Enugu to spend his accumulated leave. He had returned to Kano to sort out some official matters when the crisis started. He never made it back as the killing of the Igbo started in the north.

Bringing us up fell on my mother and what a pretty good job she did as a disciplinarian. A friend of my father had arrived Enugu from the UK after the war.

He heard what happened and began to search for us. He visited with his family and tried to spoil us with gifts. Without the consent of my mother, I bought Stiletto shoe with my share of the money he gave to me and my siblings. Stiletto shoes were in vogue then, and only the big guys wore them. This was at a time my mother was struggling to feed us and send us to school. What a stupid thing I had done. Rather than return the money to my mum as others did, I went shopping for the latest shoe in town. I will never forget the beating I received for my seeming naivety. It was the beating of my life. I told the gathering my story and a friend of our host took off from there. He had arrived with his family - his American wife and children. Children were having their own fun in the two

sections of the sitting room while we were at the bar in the basement.

Our host, Charles Okebulama, an Abia born chief, served all we needed to have a grand Thanksgiving celebration.

Dan Ikpechukwu did not cease commending his culinary expertise as we devoured some of the delicacies he offered while telling our different stories.

Chief Okebulama is a nice gentleman whose passion for good wine is legendary.

The sumptuous six-course meal Chief Okebulama’s wife served, the special turkey the chief prepared himself, served with the different bottles of red wine meant more story telling.

It was with candour; the spirit got higher as the evening stretched.

Dan Ikpechukwu made comments from time to time and appeared to be moderating t h e conversation.

•Buhari H e was a f i n e sports journalist in Nigeria and was once chairman of Sports Writers Association in Enugu. Former Enugu Rangers captain, Ikechukwu Ofoje joined the party, and it turned into a jam.

We told stories of our soccer days in Enugu and excited all with the coaching vocabulary of one coach Makasi who can rightly be credited with helping many players from Enugu in our time.

Sometimes he spoke deep vernacular while coaching, attracting jokes often.

Football stories always thrill, and we all enjoyed the jokes.

Ofoje’s wife is American. She is the daughter of a professor in his college.

How they met was an interesting story, but it was interesting to note that while

the professor was drilling Ofoje in class, the footballer was doing same to his daughter outside the campus. It all ended up well, and Ofoje is always thankful for the wife God blessed him with. The man that stole the show was Okebulama’s friend whose name I can’t remember. He took off from where I stopped and painted how he was mischievous. Like I did, he had bought an expensive trouser while in secondary school. When his father asked him how he got such a stuff he boldly asked his father nke gi ene-efu, meaning “is your own missing?”

His father went for his jugular, and he jumped the fence and ran to his granny ’s in another village. And that’s how he was brought up by h i s grandmother.

He never returned to his father ’s house. The laughter his story drew was hilarious. We wondered how he had the guts to challenge his father in that manner. He ended up in the seminary, became a priest, but today he questions Christianity. Why? “White men brought Christianity to us, but the racism I experienced here in their hands changed my religious beliefs.” He could not convince us that racism made him turn his mind away from Christianity.

He is now a free thinker. The man who challenged his dad in the manner that he did could be a free thinker, we all thought, allowing the gist to go on. Our host, Chief Okebulama recalled the challenges he faced when he just arrived America and that it was in his first work place it dawned

on him why the toilet is referred to as Rest Room. “We worked all through standing, and the only place you could sit or rest was in the toilet,” he said, adding “It was then I realised why they call toilet a rest room.” We laughed. Okebulama was among those who worked as students. He changed the topic to politics. He monitors events at home, and he was almost swearing that Nigerians would suffer for electing Mohammadu Buhari President.

It turned a heated debate between us as I tried to educate him on the rot that swayed the votes in favour of Buhari in the 2015 elections. He would not agree with me. I argued that Buhari had good intentions and was determined to change Nigeria for good. Okebulama gave reasons he felt Buhari would leave Nigeria worse than he met it. He downplayed all the factors that led to the fall of Goodluck Jonathan and maintained that Buhari was not the right man for the job. He didn’t see anything bad in Jonathan’s administration, and I took him for a Jonathan apologist. I neither supported Jonathan nor Buhari but maintained that the situation at home at the time agitated the minds of Nigerians who clamoured for change and Buhari, being the only other credible option, benefited from the wind of change.

Two and half years down the line of this administration and one year after that gathering in Atlanta, while I still frown at the circumstances and still have my reservations about the Jonathan administration I doubt if, today, I would defend the Buhari administration the way I did that night in Atlanta. The memory of that 2016 night flashed through my mind when I was sending Thanksgiving Day messages to my friends in the US yesterday, and I quickly thought I should share those jokes with you after another Thanksgiving Day greetings with Dan Ikpechukwu, my beloved friend, and brother. This time, it was a long telephone conversation and no turkey or wine to mark it.

18 —SATURDAY Vanguard,

NOVEMBER 25, 2017

SATURDAY

Vanguard,NOVEMBER 25, 2017—19

20 —SATURDAY Vanguard,

NOVEMBER 25, 2017

SATURDAY Vanguard,

NOVEMBER 25, 2017—21

Ikpeazu, SHOWMANSHIP and SHOWMANSHIP and the 5th Columnists

Ben UDECHUKWU

W

hen you walk down the street, you may see a house that could pass for the best architectural masterpiece, with well laid out landscape, synthetic paints and superbly attractive to the eye. Inside, the walls have not been plastered or even painted, the bath tubs are hardly functioning while the doors still lay by the walls waiting to be fixed. That’s showmanship. The only aim it achieves is to entertain and make everything appear theatrical. In contrast, purposeful builders start from the inside, get the interior right before attracting visitors to the house. Put in another way, a showman lives in a fence without a house while the modest builder can live in a house without a fence yet.

I have watched Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, the Governor of Abia State as he works so hard to rebuild Abia, shying away from any act of foolishness that would defeat the interest of the unborn; consolidating on the gains of the past, repudiating any form of aesthetics without substance, being true to himself and understanding that “white wash” is not a product of posterity. As urbane as his conduct had remained, it appears that Ikpeazu is not skilled in the art of showmanship. He does not know how to live in a fence without a house.

Unfortunately, this is what those 5th Columnists who did not give him a chance of making a significant mark as Governor, those who think about the next election, those who are willing to mortgage the future of two million Abians require him to do. There are hospitals in the metropolitan cities, those within public traffic, those that would be noticed as grand achievement. He left them and instead found it very necessary to complete a model general hospital at Obingwa, a rural area. That’s the story of Ikpeazu, a Governor that appreciates need, prefers impact to public applause for showmanship.

Have you imagined why for thirty months as Governor, no major work has been carried out along Osaah/Mission Hill, the busiest entrance to Umuahia, the cynosure of all eyes, the Centre piece of attraction, one road through which vehicles from all parts of Nigeria assess Umuahia town. Okezie Ikpeazu is committed to areas that solve expedient economic problems at this time and not areas that would add aesthetics. This explains why Arab contractors are in the hidden area of Aba road, with low traffic

C M Y K

to visitors but in dire need of intervention to save the other areas from flooding. The work being done on that road is for posterity not for show. Instead of building a place of attraction, like a CIRCUS GARDEN at the famous ISI GATE, Ikpeazu is giving attention to ‘hidden’ but needful roads. He has gone to Awolowo. Uwalaka, roads in Low Cost Housing and several others not entertaining enough to show off. This is the same pattern he has replicated in majority of rural roads applying his knowledge of NEEDS ASSESSMENT in Isiala Ngwa, Ohafia, Bende, Arochukwu, Abiriba, Obingwa and the very many hinterlands dotting the State.

If you go to Aba at this time, I mean driving through the ‘frustrating’ traffic at Osisioma, enter Aba main town through either the Ngwa High school end of Aba Owerri Road or the newly constructed Omni Road or perhaps move down to navigate through Tonimas/ Umule bypass; you will see that Abia has a Governor who does not write the conclusion aspect of a project without getting the statement of problem right. In town, either you are assessing Ariaria from MCC or Faulks Road, the signature you see is that of a man who had understudied the perennial problems of Aba with a view to providing an enduring solution. Within the Faulks Road axis, the magnificent Ifeobara basin, as not so aesthetically appealing as it appears, holds a promise of putting flood issues in Aba to logical end. Ikpeazu is actually getting the inside right.

mind. Those who think that the flyover project at Osisioma is causing them “untold hardship” are those who drive cars with neat bodies, whose engines are hardly road worthy. They are showmen!

Have you been to MCC junction along Aba Owerri Road? Did you notice that the area is large enough to contain a SQUARE that would attract great applause from those entering Aba? Laying to the right is the road that leads to Umuojima and MCC/Old express. A showman would have attended to the express to impress those who want quick wins at all times.

Meanwhile, Temple Gate Polytechnic (one of the two private polytechnics in Aba) Juli Rose (the largest gas refilling plant in Aba), Our Lords Chosen Church (unarguably, an economy energizer going by huge turnover in their programmes), Oribis Hospital (a foremost hospital in Aba) thousands of small scale businesses

Let me entertain you a little. If Ikpeazu was skilled in showmanship, he wouldn’t have started tackling the Osisioma traffic disaster with a flyover that outlays a ring road. The attraction is not that Aba would have its first ever flyover. The selling point is that, the nightmare of commuters assessing the Enugu - Ph express road from Aba would end, just as the frustration of those coming from Portharcourt would not tempt them to do Umuahia from PH through Owerri. Some road users from PH actually avoid Osisioma as history records that commuters could pass the night as a result of traffic logjam. Look at the amazing space around the Osisioma Round about. Imagine an amazing water fountain. Imagine an entertainment park with 24/7 electricity with first class entertainers ushering in visitors to Aba. Imagine a gigantic statute of say Dee Sam Mbakwe. Osisioma will look beautiful, inviting and entertaining. Expectedly too, after beholding the theater at Osisioma, you go into an Aba that would debase your

Those who think that the flyover project at Osisioma is causing them “untold hardship” are those who drive cars with neat bodies, whose engines are hardly road worthy

•Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu

were at the verge of closing shop because MCC and Umuojima were in dilapidated conditions. Okezie knew that the shoe plaza area of Ariaria could get a boost if MCC/Old Express is reconstructed. He is done with Umuojima while the MCC project is progressing unobstructed. The revolution is silent, yet very productive and rewarding. No showmanship.

Hotels, hospitals and small businesses within and around Umuocham Road were disappearing. This road though strategic, is not situated where it could attract visitors. Okezie was not minded by location, he was interested in developmental needs. Umocham got attention, not attraction. The same was what he did by the quick solid reconstruction of Kamalu Road near Star Paper Mill Abayi. Kamalu became a night hard for residents and road users. That’s not the type of road that attracts newsmen.

Hidden, yet very strategic. In less than one year of his inauguration, Okezie delivered Kamalu and inadvertently buoyed commercial activities around the area that housed the largest paper mill and fast growing private secondary in Aba. Move down to Brass Street, undoubtedly the most famous junction inside Aba. Ikpeazu had a chance of starting his “project” with loud fanfare using Brass to make a statement. He would have impressed people with a magnificent PARK AND RELAX BUS STOP given that virtually all commercial vehicles coming from Lagos and the North stop at Brass Junction. What did Ikpeazu do, he bulldozed Brass, ‘destroyed’ the vista just to get Faulks Road right. For nearly one year, the governor has engaged the services of a first class construction company - SETRACO in massive reconstruction of Faulks Road, solid dual with pedestrian walk, to ensure smooth entry to and exit from Ariaria, the biggest market in Abia State, one market whose

Read more on www.vanguardngr.com

22 —SATURDAY Vanguard,

NOVEMBER 25, 2017

SATURDAY Vanguard,

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

W

hat is your assessment of the recent governorship election in Anambra State?

It was something that is of great value to Nigerians. We have had elections conducted before in the history of Nigeria but what happened indicated the good things to expect in 2019. If we can keep the good standard, it will be a more value added exercise in 2019.

Before the election, there were fears that the election may not free and fair. What is your take on that considering the conduct of the poll?

We had such apprehension but we were committed to making sure that we do the right thing to make the election credible. There were 37 political parties in the contest. Since all of them had their agents in all the polling booths, it was difficult for anybody to rig election and it paid off because we did not succumb to pressure. We faced them head-on.

Your defection to APGA was a surprise to many people...

What led to my defection to PDP was my decision to support then President Jonathan. I later joined the APC but they did not give me what I wanted, so I left them.

There were claims that the state governor, Mr. Willie Obiano did not really perform very well, can you reconcile that with your support for him?

NOVEMBER 25, 2017—23

Outcome of Anambra election sign of what to expect in 2019 —Ifeanyi Uba A CHIEFTAIN of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Dr. Ifeanyi Uba in this interview reviews last Saturday’s governorship election in Anambra State.

Who is performing very well in Nigeria? Is it Kogi that is performing very well? Is Cross River à performing very well? People can say whatever they want to say to get votes.

Your support for the governor was linked to 2022 governorship race.

How true is that?

I have not declared an interest in the 2022 election. My own vision is to develop APGA and make it a household name. The first thing is to get a regional concept of it and get every member to adopt APGA and then we can move to Enugu and other parts of the South-East.

What advice would you give to Obiano now that he has been reelected?

I want him to look into the situation of things that need his attention and take decisive decisions. I join all men and women of goodwill to celebrate and congratulate Akpokuedike, my dearest brother and governor of my beloved state on his well deserved victory at the just concluded governorship elections. His success is perhaps the biggest milestone we have achieved this year. The victory

is a demonstration of people’s trust and staunch belief in his passion and genuine commitment to a greater tomorrow for Anambra State. I urge him to remember the promises and commitments he made to Ndi Anambra. I also implore him to recall that he owes Ndi Anambra and Nigeria in its entirety a duty to uphold good governance and provide the dividends of democracy to our people. In the just-concluded contest, there is no victor and no vanquished. Anambra belongs to everyone of us. All have the interest of the state at heart. I implore the governor to offer a hand of fellowship to other contestants as well as all stakeholders including those who were not in support of his re-election bid. No one has a monopoly of wisdom and as such, it is my firm belief that we all can contribute our quota to make Anambra State greater.

On Buhari May I also use this medium to commend Mr. President and the Independent National Electoral Commission for providing a level playing field for everyone who participated in the contest.

•Ifeanyi Ubah

This singular show of unparalleled patriotism has created an excellent precedent for the 2019 general election.

On governance in the Southeast When I contested in 2013, I said so many things including that I need not be in governance to make physical cash. Some of them are building millions for themselves.

They are only thinking of how to accumulate wealth. It is very painful.

There is nothing I can do because I am not yet a governor.

I don’t see what one would be expecting from a game’s village than where people can have leisure and exercise. We need to make it a world tourism centre. We need to engage our people in sporting

activities. And also use it to help ourselves and bring dividends to the country. We want to celebrate Anambra State again like Delta State. Anambra has been leading in sports and won’t stop.

There is no construction company in this state that has the kind of equipment we have at the construction site for the stadium.

This is solely our company’s project.

But I thank God I was able to move them to the state and they are giving us lots of value in terms of logistics.

We can’t wait to have a game village before the end of this year by the Grace of God. The storm will soon be over. The people that love football will live to enjoy it. We will soon conduct an election for Ifeanyi Ubah FC. On women football, we are working on to have a team.

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Discordant voices in PDP after loss of Anambra governorship poll

By Vincent Ujumadu

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LOOMY faces greeted the first meeting of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stakeholders in Anambra State in Awka since the party lost the governorship election to the incumbent governor, Chief Willie Obiano of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. One could hear murmurs from aggrieved members, who without mincing words, were pointing accusing fingers at some of their members who were also seated there at the meeting in Awka.

Primarily, the meeting was to brief the stakeholders on the guidelines for the planned congresses of the party ahead of its national convention in December.

The meeting was attended by the governorship candidate of PDP in the November 18 election, Mr. Oseloka Obaze and his wife, Ofunne, as well as one of the governorship aspirants, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, secretary of the state caretaker committee, Iyom Josephine Anenih and very few members of the committee.

Conspicuously absent at the meeting was the former governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi, as well as most of those who participated at the primary that produced Obaze.

Also, many chieftains of the party did not show face, an indication that all is not well in the party.

Mrs. Anenih, who presided at the meeting, following the resignation of the chairman of the caretaker committee, Professor ABC Nwosu on Monday, pleaded with PDP members not to lament so much about the loss, reminding them that they could still regain the lost ground during the 2019 general elections.

She said: “The party does not belong to any individual. The party belongs to all of us. We all have equal right in the party. We have to start again and there is no better time to start than now. We want to move forward and build a strong, resilient party that will win elections in Anambra State. Some people were masquerading under PDP when they were actually working against the

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•Oseloka Obaze party, which was very unfortunate.

“We must say no to deceit. PDP has lost the Anambra governorship election and very soon those people who worked against the party will come back to tell us they are members of PDP. We must not allow them. We are going to lay a new foundation and anybody whose plan is to derail our programes must be shown the way out of PDP. “The greatest honour we can do to our great leader, the late former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme is to rebuild PDP in Anambra State .

We must therefore hold our congresses, which should be the first step forward.”

To Senator Margery Okadigbo, “If one does not like PDP, he is free to leave the party and form his own, instead of pretending to be a member of PDP and destroying it from within”. She recalled that it was her late husband, Senator Chuba Okadigbo that coined the slogan ‘power to the people’ because he believed that it is the people that own power.

Chief Frank Oramulu, a former state chairman of PDP observed that many members of PDP worked

for APC and APGA during the election, adding that they have come back to pretend to be PDP members. “We knew how many of them worked. They even held rallies for APGA at Osumenyi and in Nnewi, but very soon, they will tell us that they are PDP stakeholders. After sabotaging our efforts, they will come back to start fighting for structure with us in PDP. You should listen only to our authentic leaders in PDP. The question is, why are we doing this to ourselves?”, he asked.

Former deputy chairman of the party, Mr. Ngozi Agudosi was very blunt in apportioning blames on why PDP did not do well in the governorship election, suggesting that the best solution to PDP problem in Anambra State was to go back to the drawing board and see how to move the party forward.

He said: “Even as we are talking of congresses, some people who call themselves stakeholders have already compiled list of their cronies as party officials. In fact, we have it in good authority that some of the people being listed as officials of the PDP in Anambra State are loyalists of the state governor, which means that the governor of this state will be controlling PDP, in addition to controlling his party, APGA. If that happens, PDP will not have any chance during the national assembly election in 2019, “What PDP needs is true reconciliation because without reconciliation, we won’t have a party. And I want to challenge members of the National Caretaker Committee that if they want PDP in Anambra to succeed, they should suspend the congresses and listen to the leaders of the party.

“For instance, Iyom Josephine Anenih cannot assume the position of the state chairman following the resignation of the chairman of the state caretaker committee,

Professor A.B.C. Nwosu. The party did not even want to find out why he resigned. We cannot jettison somebody like ABC Nwosu in this party. Something is wrong somewhere. The proper thing is that once the chairman of the caretaker committee resigns, the entire committee stands dissolved because the members are not elected and they do not have the mandate of the people. So to me, the idea of issuing guidelines for the congresses is a charade.

“And trust our people, if they discover that the remaining members of the caretaker committee are going ahead with the congresses, court injunctions will start flowing from all the corners soon.

“Even the caretaker committee is divided. There is one faction led by the former majority leader in the state House of Assembly, Mr. Humphrey Nsofor and there is one led by Professor ABC Nwosu, who has resigned. So there is no caretaker committee of PDP in Anambra State in the strict sense of it.

“In this gathering of stakeholders, there are only three members of the caretaker committee out of 30. Does that mean we are moving forward or going backwards? “I spoke to most of the caretaker committee members and they said they would not attend the meeting because it would not yield anything. It is unfortunate that somebody somewhere is manipulating the process and with this we cannot rebuild the party.”

At a stage during the meeting, it was obvious that the anger of many people in attendance could no longer be controlled as they were prepared to start mentioning names of people who allegedly worked for APGA during the election.

For instance, when a member of the state House of Assembly was given the microphone to speak, he shouted the PDP slogan and there was thunderous shout of ‘APGA’, a sign that he worked for APGA during the governorship election. In fact, due to objections from the audience, he could not speak and he was forced to sit down. Unable to

bear the humiliation, he left the scene immediately and was booed as he was leaving. The feeling of the people was that he was among hundreds of PDP chieftains that worked against the party during the Anambra governorship election A female leader of PDP also received the same treatment when she rose to address the audience.

Once she shouted PDP, the response from the people was ‘UPP’, indicating that she worked for UPP during the election. At that stage, the meeting almost became chaotic and further speeches were suspended.

A governorship aspirant, Dr. Obiogbolu who came second at the governorship primary, expressed disgust at the role played by many PDP members during the election.

He said: “As a Christian, I always believe that the will of God should be done. I must not be governor before contributing to the development of my state. We know some of our members who were given money for campaign, only to work for another party. God in heaven sees the heart of men and God has the final say in everything.”

The PDP candidate, Oseloka Obaze, who rounded off the speeches, commended those who worked genuinely for PDP during the election. He said: “Power comes from God and that is why I am at peace with myself after what happened. It is a new dawn and I believe we can make the party stronger. The party does not belong to any individual. The power belongs to the people and the umbrella is big for everybody. We must take ownership of this party.

Our leaders must respect the wishes of the people.

“There are those who are generally aggrieved and those who are pretending to be aggrieved. PDP has the structure, having been in power for 16 years at the centre and I believe that if we are united, the party will return to the winning ways.

“We should not forget that even up to the last general elections in 2015, PDP had always won the national assembly seats in Anambra State, which is an indication that it is well- rooted at the grass root level.”

24 —SATURDAY Vanguard,

NOVEMBER 25, 2017

SATURDAY

Vanguard,NOVEMBER 25, 2017—25

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

ROTIMI AGBANA 08137741609 Email: rotimiagbana@gmail.com

Why I’m focused on gospel music —KSB

I’ve invented a new method of playing guitar —Sir Victor Uwaifo N

•Sir Victor Uwaifo

ecessity, they say is the mother of invention, little wonder multi-awardwinning veteran highlife maestro, Sir Victor Uwaifo, continuously improves on his craft as a multi instrumentalist and dynamic musician of all time.

Though he has built an enviable pedigree for himself in the Nigerian music industry, he still feels the need to remain relevant after over three decades of stardom.

In an exclusive chat with Showtime, Sir Victor Uwaifo disclosed that he recently concluded a unique invention with the guitar, musical feat world famous guitarists such as Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix, B.B King, Eric Clapton, and John Mayer among others, were unable to achieve.

“I’ve invented a new method of playing the guitar called ‘Flesh and Metal, the 6th finger style’. I can alternate between the normal finger harmer flick style and metal to produce sound that simulates steel pedal Hawaii guitar, electric guitar or box guitar. It goes beyond 22frets of the guitar board and can match the high octaves of the violin or piano”, he said.

Speaking about what prompted the discovery of this new musical innovation, he said: “I wanted a way to make the guitar sound unusually unique and simulate the sound gimmicks of the violin, steel pedal and computers.”

However, he boasted of being the first instrumentalist in the world to invent such.

“Yes, I’m the first and nobody has ever done it; if anyone wants to imitate it they would need a patent right from me”, he boasted.

Timaya, Olamide, Falz, YCEE to headline Hennessy Artistry

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ome December 2nd, headliners for the 2017 edition of Hennessy artistry concert, will be king of afro-dancehall, Timaya, versatile rapper cum songwriter, Falz, voice of the street and legendary rapper, Olamide and new school king, Ycee, will light up Lagos with music jamboree.

According to the organisers, the concert which is scheduled to hold at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos is a unique integrated global platform that brings the art of blending to life by creating exceptional consumer moments through a fusion of music, art culture and creative talent.

The invite-only concert will exceed all expectations with a spectacular line up of Nigeria’s best artistes, world class production and an unforgettable experience.

•KSB

S

easoned Nigerian gospel singer, Kenny Saint Best, better known as KSB, is often criticised for dumping secular music for gospel.

But in a chat with Showtime, KSB, who during her hay days as a secular musician blazed the trail of the music industry, explained why she is now more focused on gospel music.

“Everyone has a season and I’m privileged to know my season.

When it was time to write books I wrote them, when it was time to do politics I went ahead to do it.

But the season I’m in now is the new age; what I’m doing now is worship, soul music. It’s

I

n a brief chat with Showtime, apala/hiphop singer, Terry Apala who has carved a niche for himself in the Nigerian music industry as Musiliu Ishola’s protégé, while his contemporaries lose relevance in the music industry, has said he would continue to enjoy stardom because none of them can make music like he does.

“Believe me, in 20 years to come; Terry Apala will still be relevant, and I’ll tell you why. Nigerian artistes are fond of something, when one musician comes out with something different all others will want to copy. So, I’m trying to do something that nobody else can ever do.

If you listen to Ghana’s Sarkodie, he’s does more of flipping, and that’s what I’m trying to do with apala music. So even if you copy some aspects of my apala music, you can’t get it all because as the original owner there are some things I’ll never show you. Believe me, with my unique sound, I’ll remain relevant in two decades from now because no Nigerian artiste can do what I’m doing”, he bragged.

intentional, because if I’m going to collaborate with mainstream secular acts it’s going to be funky praise and worship and on my own terms, depending on the artiste. There were so many of them I did collaborations with in the past, like Konga and Jaywon”, she said.

According to her, now that she is focused on gospel music, she is still the first gospel artiste that comes to mind whenever secular artistes intend to collaborate with a gospel musician.

“Whenever they want to do gospel music, the first person that comes to them is KSB, the person who can bounce on their vibe and their own beat without any issue.

You can’t be there at Live in Worship and then you are at Femi Kuti’s shrine the next day jumping with the likes of Konga and others.

So it’s the season and the season now calls for praise and worship, specifically worship, so I’m going to concentrate on that, she added.

No musician in Nigeria can sing like I do — Terry Apala

•Terry Apala

Why D’banj lost to Wizkid, Davido, others — Koffi

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•D'banj

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•Don Jazzy

o say that behind the success of every human endeavor there is a major factor is correct; which is why popular controversial stand-up comedian, Koffi, may have been right when he said Dbanj’s music career nosedived when he decided to dump Mavin Records henchman, Don Jazzy.

At a recent event, Koffi, a daring humour merchant who is never scared to take hilarious swipes at

any entertainer, while cracking ribs on stage, noted that self styled ‘Koko Master ’, Dbanj, would have been locking horns for supremacy with the likes of 2face, Wizkid, Davido and other contemporaries of his, if he had maintained his relationship with Don Jazzy instead of dumping him.

Recall that the warring parties were once co-owners of the defunct Mo’ Hit Records, which

was home to Dbanj, Wande Coal, D’Prince, and Dr. Sid, but had to part ways acrimoniously due to unresolved differences.

“Have you noticed that any song featuring Don Jazzy is always a success? But D’banj was not wise enough to realize this. If he had maintained his relationship with Don Jazzy via Mo’ Hits Records, his music career would not have crashed the way it has”, he said.

SATURDAY

By AYO ONIKOYI 08052201215 onikoyi68@gmail.com

Jim Iyke splashes millions in new reality TV show 'The Adventurer'

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•Jim Iyke

ollywood icon, philanthropist, traveler, investor and executive producer, Jim Iyke, who made his reality TV debut in 2013 with 'Jim Iyke Unscripted', has returned with another one tagged ‘The Adventurer’. Bringing a fresh and new perspective to TV, "The Adventurer" is said to be about human endurance of different kind, which takes its contestants on a journey for rejuvenation of perspectives.

Speaking to Jim Iyke, who will also be hosting the show, he says the show will force a conversation along all the lines of division currently existing amongst today’s Nigerians and expose their thought patterns, ideologies and mindsets.

“The main idea is to bring people from diverse backgrounds to leave their familiar terrain/comfort zones and challenge them by pushing them to experience and learn from the excellence of world-famous destinations such as Cape Town, Dubai, Marrakech, Sydney, and Los Angeles amongst many others” he says The actor hopes that by the end of "The Adventurer," the competitors will emerge as better persons - a narrative he hopes would stretch to their immediate family, the immediate space, and consequently, the nation as a whole. Jim who hates to describe the show as a reality show says for him, it is a lifestyle and life coach journey.

According to him, the winner of 'The Adventurer' goes home with a cash prize of $10,000 while every other participant is guaranteed 300 thousand naira each for getting to the final stage of the show.

The show will air twice weekly via popular television stations like TVC Entertainment, Silverbird TV and AIT and others.

Vanguard,NOVEMBER 25, 2017—27

Ayefele set to celebrate 20 years of auto accident that changed his life

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igeria’s popular gospel singer, Yinka Ayefele is set to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the ghastly auto accident that was to change his life forever.

In a statement by the musician, he will be remembering with a sense of gratitude to God the accident that has confined him to a wheel chair but fortunately did not lead to his death.

According to the musician, who has been confined to a wheelchair since the unfortunate incident, he has concluded plans to mark the two decades of the accident with a weeklong series of activity traversing two states of Oyo and Ekiti starting from December 12 and climax on December 17.

As part of the activities lined up, on Tuesday, December 12, Ayefele and his friends will be in his hometown of Ipoti, Ekiti State, to commission a multi-million naira hall he will be donating to his alma mater, Ipoti High School.

Also on that day, the musician, through his Yinka Ayefele Foundation, will be putting smile on the faces of 100 women of Ipoti stock by empowering them with various cash gifts.

Within that same week, Ayefele and his team will be visiting various orphanages, old people’s homes and hospitals, particularly, the University College Hospital, UCH in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, where he will present buses, cash gift and food items to the less privileged in the homes and patients in the hospital.

The remembrance event will climax on Sunday December 17 with a thanksgiving service, launching of the 20th year remembrance album and public presentation of his first book titled “You and Your Spine”.

Ric Hassani, Aramide, others to perform at Live & Wavy concert

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overs of good music are in for a treat this festive season as music concert Live & Wavy- the full expression of music, is set to have its maiden edition at Freedom Park, Lagos Island on Friday December 8, 2017.

Headlined by multiple Headies Awards nominee Ric Hassani, Live & Wavy will feature performances from other top-rated alternative music artistes including Aramide, TJan, Jon Ogah, Bez, JohnnyDrille, Isaac Geralds, Yung L amongst others.

Commenting on his involvement, Ric Hassani said “I am very excited to be headlining Live & Wavy.

My musical journey has been challenging but interesting and I am so appreciative of the friends and fans who have supported me thus far. I am convinced this concert is going to be wonderful and memorable for those who show up.”

Live & Wavy was birthed out of the demand for more music shows dedicated to showcase diverse musical talents present in Nigeria and it aims to enthrall attendees with heartrending and melodious musical performances.

Live & Wavy is being organized by 10Stringz Production and Media Panache Nigeria.

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Aramide

Yinka Ayefele

African Movie Channel lights up StarTimes with blockbuster series I

Ric Hassani

n a bid to further enrich entertainment and viewing pleasure of subscribers across the globe, StarTimes viewers are set for more exciting moments and delightful viewing on television as African Movie Channel (AMC) have lined up new exciting series on StarTimes this November.

AMC Series is a premium African entertainment channel showcasing the best and award-winning TV soaps, comedy and drama from Nigeria, peppered with some of the best series from all over Africa, 24 hours a day for the whole family.

AMC in Series in November premiered Boiling Point, the story of a newly married woman who finds difficulty in her new home. She does all she can to share the undying love her husband has for his daughter but the daughter notices and makes the house a living hell for her stepmother.

Boiling Point is a Family Drama starring Akin Lewis, Cassandra Odita, Eric Obina and more. The blockbuster drama airs exclusively on AMC Series in Nigeria on channel 072 and 134 on StarTimes.

Also airing on the station this month, is a brand new and exclusive AMC Movie-Talk show that airs ever y Mondays & Fridays by 8:30 – 10:30 PM. The program puts its viewers in the know of latest happenings in African and Nollywood cinema; actors, actresses, directors, producers, classic cinema and soon to be blockbuster hits.

According to the Brand and Marketing Director, StarTimes Nigeria, Qasim Elegbede, “The holiday season is upon us and we have a whole lot of fantastic content lined up to ensure every member of the family is happy this season. On StarTimes, theres a lot to keep everyone glued to the TV including kids, music lovers including Nollywood and Hollywood movie fans”

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

Gowon backs ZUMA filmfest 2017 .To chair annual film lecture

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former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), GCFR, has thrown his weight behind the 2017 edition of ZUMA Film Festival,ZUFF, billed to hold at the prestigious Jabi Lake Mall, Abuja, from December 1 through 3rd.

ZUMA Film Festival, Nigeria’s foremost film festival is under the auspices of the Nigerian Film Corporation. The first edition of the festival, known then as Nigerian National Film Festival was held in 1999, at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. However, the name of the festival was changed to ZUMA Film Festival in 2006 and subsequently moved to Abuja, the nation’s capital.

A statement from the festival secretariat and signed by Brian Etuk, (Coordinator, Press and General Media) says that

General Yakubu Gowon, is elated by the decision of NFC to host the film festival and use its as a platform to sustain the narratives on the need for Nigerians to live together as one great people.

The former Head of State commended the management of NFC under Dr. Chidia Maduekwe (Managing Director/Chief Executive) for providing the necessary environment for the development of Nigeria’s motion picture industry.

Gowon said, during an N F C management visit to him recently in Abuja that Nigeria’s creative industry, especially the film sector has grown in leaps and bounds, with the capacity to shape the thinking and behaviours of

•Yakubu Gowon

Nigerians.

Gowon said, it was against the background of NFC’s achievements and the Corporation’s desire to sustain its contributions to the overall

growth of the nation that he threw his weight behind ZUMA Film Festival 2017, and subsequently accepted to Chair the annual film lecture.

The 8th edition of the NFC

Learn to cater for your ailing colleagues, Mabel Oboh tells entertainers *Plans to set up Nigerian entertainment foundation

*Mabel Oboh and Akorita

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ORRIED by the prevailing situation in which Nigerian entertainers go 'cap in hand begging for assistance any time one of their own is down with a terminal disease, veteran actress, Mabel Oboh has hatched plans to stem the tide. The actress has expressed a strong desire to establish an entertainment foundation to tackle the problem.

Oboh made this known to HVP, during the week, after she visited the ailing veteran actor and broadcaster, Sadiq Daba in his MKO Abiola Gardens,Alausa, Ikeja residence. Sadiq has been down with Leukemia for some time now.

Speaking on the plan, Oboh who returned to acting recently after a long absence from the cinema screen decried a situation where entertainers openly solicit funds to take care of their ailing colleagues. She condemned the act, C M Y K

insisting that rather than begging for assistance, Nigerian entertainers should establish a welfare scheme for actors and industry operators alike.

“What I call useless deaths should stop in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Their counterparts in other parts of the world suffer similar ailments and they survive them. It's only in Nigeria that when someone suffer an illness and he or she is finished. So, for us in the entertainment industry, it is time, we begin to take care of ourselves. I think we should protect our own. I lost Enebeli Elebunwa and Sam Loco to the cold hands of death because of lack of proper lifestyle. I'm calling on entertainers in Nigeria to learn to take care of their own,” said Oboh, who just returned from the UK, where she went for a cancer fund-raising programme.

Oboh said, she intends to replicate similar project in Nigeria, so that ailing entertainers can have access to funds any time the need arises. “ I'm planning next year to bring Akorita to Nigeria to organize a fund-raising for cancer. In the UK, she raised funds for breast cancer. I will try to convince her to do similar project in the country since she is a Nigerian. I want a situation where we have funds available for any ailing entertainer before it becomes too late to save the life that person. This is not about talking, I am passionate about this,”he added.

Recall that Ibinabo Fiberesima as the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria,AGN, once agitated for the establishment of a welfare scheme for actors to avert the so many cases of sudden death that have plagued the industry in recent times.

•Uche

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Annual Film Lecture, with the theme “Sustaining SocioCultural and Political Integration in Nigeria: The Film Perspective” will to be delivered

by Professor Femi Shaka, film scholar and Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The lecture to be delivered on day two of ZUMA film festival 2017, (Saturday, December 2nd) will provide the fulcrum for all Nigerians, especially motion picture practitioners to address the current narratives of threats to o u r country ’s unity, peace a n d progress through the development of positive images and stories, translated into moving images that portray and reinforce tendencies that promote our diverse cultures, economies, languages and dialects, yet as one indivisible nation.

Uche MacMacUche Auley's 'Next 'Next Auley's Chapter' Chapter' ...as she floats online TV channel with hubby

ollywood actress cum producer, Uche Mac-Auley who staged a comeback to acting last year, starring alongside talented actor, Femi Branch in "Mid Life" after a long absence from the screen is poised to take her career to the next level.

The soft-spoken actress and publisher is on the verge of floating, EliaLand, a new online TV Channel, which she calls, "The Next Chapter."

According to Uche, 'EliaLand' is beyond entertainment, as most of the offering the channel will be serving, will not only be entertaining, but thought-provoking, rewarding and insightful, sometimes shocking and controversial.

"We intend to build a huge loyal following of online community in a short while, EliaLand is designed to set the audience on an adventurous journey of fun, laughter, revelation, education, and inspiration."

Set to hit the screens on the 30th of November, EliaLand which is the brainchild of Uche and her hubby, Solomon Mac-Auley will debut with a variety of programmes, including talk shows, true life exposé, celebrity interviews, street shows, entertainment tidbits, and lots more. “Our intent is to get as much of the online community who feast on videos from this part of the world, as deeply immersed in this, as possible. We are therefore creating content that will not only get people inspired, talking and thinking, but rewarded in many ways for being part of the EliaLand community, the actress added.

Uche is best known for roles in movies such as "Onome," "Obstacles," "Saving Alero," among others. She was also in the now rested sitcom, Checkmate. Recall that few years back, the Delta State-born actress dumped acting for writing for children and encouraging their literary abilities. Only last year, she decided to retrace her steps back to Nollywood after she featured in “Mid Life.”Her latest project is a reaffirmation of her resolve to stay on top of her game.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017—29 Juliet Ebirim 08137897935 juliet.ebirim@gmail.com

Adenike Ogunlesi, Tara Fela-Durotoye, others for ‘Mums-in-Business’ Conference T

he highly anticipated, free 2-day event begins today. Hosted by Motherhood In-Style Magazine, the maiden edition of the Mums-inBusiness conference holds today Saturday 25th and Sunday, 26th of November, 2017 at King’s College Annex, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event put together by Pauline Rumm, Founder/Publisher of Motherhood In-Style Magazine, has an impressive mix of phenomenal women as panelists. These women spread across numerous industries

•Adenike Ogunlesi

like fashion, law, beauty and food, to name a few. All eight speakers for this year ’s Mums-in-Business conference have been carefully selected and are leaders and innovators within their respective fields.

The keynote speaker for the event, Mrs Adenike Ogunlesi, is the Founder and Chief Responsibility Officer of children’s clothing brand, Ruff ‘n’ Tumble.

The panelists include Tara FelaDurotoye, Abimbola Balogun,

Osayi Alile, Hadiza Nyako Tukur, Emem Isong, Abimbola Akeredolu (SAN), Toyin Poju-Oyemade and Chinwe Kalu.

With this diverse body of Mumpreneurs, the maiden edition of the Mums In Business conference aims to provide a platform for mums to interact, exhibit, sell, inspire and acquire the knowledge they need to take their business and family lives to their optimum level.

Yussuf Babalola’s Oil Magnate, Kabir Gbemisola surprise birthday bash adds another feather

By Oba Michael Soyebo

By Oba Michael Soyebo

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op businessman, Alhaji Yussuf, the CEO of Eleven07 Group is one jolly fellow with no airs, even as a successful businessman. Few days back, the down-to-earth man of honour had reasons to celebrate, as he added a year in style. It was another occasion of class and opulence as friends and associates treated the birthday boy to a colorful surprise birthday at his cozy Pool Lounge & Restaurant located at Adeleke Street, Allen in Ikeja area of Lagos.

The atmosphere for the high flying guests was breathtaking and expectedly, there were lots to munch and drink as champagne flowed like water,

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•Yussuf Babalola while other sumptuous Intercontinental dishes were on offer throughout the memorable night.

Kehinde Odeneye set for Ijebu Praise Concert

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ome first Friday in December, Ijebu will be playing host to top socialites as they converge for the first ever Ijebu Praise Concert, powered

by Honourable Kehinde Odeneye popularly known as OK. The show will have popular christian gospel artistes minister, as well as their muslim counterparts. Artistes billed to perform at the concert including Lanre Teriba Arise, Timi Oshunkoya Telemi, Ere Asalatu, Ajoke Omolope and Bola Obi among others Honourable Odeneye, member representing Ijebu Central Federal Constituency, said the event was not a political or religious gathering, but a day of thanksgiving. “We are supposed to have a day to praise God; that is why we choose that day which is the first day of the last month of the year.

It is a day we want to praise God, irrespective of religion or tribe.

It is not for Ijebu or Ogun State •Odeneye alone, but

for the whole federation. I observed that we don’t praise God enough in this country; so we want to use that day to praise Him.

il businessman, Kabir Gbemisola, the Chairman of Fatgbems Petroleum has added another beautiful feather to his cap with the commissioning of new ultra-modern retail stations in Awoyaya, Ajah in Lagos and Adedotun in Abeokuta, Ogun State. We gathered that the feat described as one of the company ’s goals of expanding its value chain and optimizing its customer base.

The commissioning event which was said to be part of fulfilling the group’s brand promise was attended by top dignitaries including Ogun State House Assembly Speaker, Hon.Suraju Adekunbi, Representative of Paramount ruler of Iwerekun land, Otunba Muniru Elemoro, Executive

Secretary, Deport and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr Olufemi Adewole, Chairman Lagos Chapter of NUPENG, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, Senior Management Staff of the company, families, friends and wellwishers.

Recall weeks ago, the company had a special five years remembrance of the s e l f l e s s philanthropist and versatile founder of the group, Chief Abdul Fatai Gbemisola who had pioneered one of the biggest retail distribution petroleum firm before his demise. And since his death, the brand has continued to wax stronger under the leadership of the experienced oil business impresario as the brand.

‘Project 45’ remembers Dr. Bolaji Carew

•Keppy Ekpeyong introducing the keynot speaker, Prof.

Fagbohun

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global body of professionals committed to effecting positive changes in the Nigerian society has emphasized the need for the Federal Government to build strong institutions, if it must succeed with its current anticorruption drive. The group,

Project 45 made this position known at the maiden Dr. Bolaji Carew Memorial Lecture which held last Saturday in Lagos.

The event which was held in Orchid Hotels, Lagos was the inaugural edition of the lecture inaugurated to

celebrate the life and achievements of Dr. Carew, an erudite and foremost scholar, who served as Provost at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, and Lagos from June, 1991 to June, 1998.

A member of the group, the Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Ojo, Prof Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun; Ph.D. Was the Keynote Speaker for the event. He spoke on the theme: ‘Promoting the Rule of Law in Nigeria: The Role of Institutions’.

Eulogizing the late Provost, the National President of the Project 45, Chief Charles Okonkwo said “We are here to celebrate a man whose passion for youth development and empowerment was commendable.

•Kabir Gbemisola

Pomp and funfare, as SPAR drinks festival ends

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PAR Nigeria has brought its exciting drinks festival to a memorable and resounding halt with five power packed musical concerts across the country. As a part of the Wine, Spirits and Beer Fest 2017, SPAR Nigeria treated shoppers across Enugu, Calabar, Port Harcourt and Lagos to musical concerts parading top artistes.

Courtesy of the anchor partner brands like Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Campari, Guinness and Nigerian Breweries, guests were treated to exotic cocktails, drinks and tasty finger foods as they enjoyed the best hits from their favourite artistes. They also ensured the line-up of top artistes who entertained the crowd to the wee hours of the night.

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•Guests at the event

30—SATURDAY Vanguard,

NOVEMBER 25, 2017

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Vanguard,NOVEMBER 25, 2017—31

32—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

How I battled early marriage –Dr. Violet Arene

By Chris Onuoha

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walk into her modest domain in Aja, Lekki-Epe Expressway that houses all of TV production studio, corporate office, church and living house would have you first greeted with an infectious smile and warm welcome. The unassuming youthful demeanor and incurable laughter that characterized her down-to-earth carriage will diminish and even melt a heavy heart. How best can you describe an amazing woman whose heart touching story of a turbulent childhood experience that has spiraled to an epistle of faith, hope and resilience than as an unbecoming heroine of destiny and achievements.

Dr. Violet Arene is a social counselor, Minister of the Lord, Management Consultant and Trainer of Business Executives, Television Producer, Presenter and founder of TV programme, ‘Voice of Eve’, Seasoned Author, Conference Speaker, Leader of women per excellence and the Global Youth Matron of African Women in Leadership Organisation (AWLO). Speaking to Vanguard Weekend Woman recently, she undauntedly described every chapter of her life with broad laughter, saying, ‘I was born to laugh’.

•Dr. Violet Arene

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n your days, girl-child disadvantage stories were common. How did you survive it and even stand out?

I was born during the Second World War at a time when opportunities were very minimal for girls. In fact, the greatest and highest purpose for a girl-child’s reason for existence was to marry and settle as a housewife. Marriage, having children and being accepted to a man and his people was the in thing.

It was a disaster not to be married.

It was a stigma. My generation from the eastern part of the country where I come from found it difficult to get education. Mine was a struggle and circumstances did not stop me.

Money for school fees was not there but I still went to school. Then of course, early marriage, I escaped it.

After everything was done to marry me off at a tender of age of 15, I resisted it with all vigour and told the unfortunate man, ‘I am sorry I am not entering your house’.

The early marriage story: My family members counseled among themselves to take money from a suitor behind my parents’ back because they found it idiotic for my father at that time to send me to secondary school when other girls are getting married and settling down. To them it was very incomprehensible.

Family members, especially elder ones do have superior opinion in homes as it was a culture then. I was already meant to be trafficked for money for them to solve their own problems. My father found himself in a quandary. I was made a sacrificial lamb because a contract was made behind my back with somebody I did not know. It was terrible and I had to be pulled out of class. I was a very brilliant student in my class then.

You resisted it. How emotionally strong where you then to withstand that kind of situation?

I fought like a tigress to liberate myself because my father also reluctantly consented to their wish.

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Mine was a struggle and circumstances did not stop me, money for school fees was not there but I still went to school Although, two women were behind me in this cause - my grandmother from my father ’s side and my mother. I was supposed to go to my village from Port Harcourt where we lived to meet the father of the man who will take me to him in the North where he lived. In the course of my refusal, I was sent out of the house for being a stubborn girl. My mother who was eight months pregnant then was emotionally disturbed and quietly persuaded me to comply. I eventually travelled to meet him but it did not work. To me everything was nonsensical.

Here I was in school diligently topping my class, pulled me out to go get married because I am a girl, everybody wanted to see me get married because it was my destination. I was just only 15 years old then and I wondered if I could stay in such a marriage.

It was mercy deliverance for the man and me because it couldn’t have worked. Unfortunately, the man in question is educated, highly placed,

a manager in a colonial company in the north. I was supposed to be highly well married in their eyes but it didn’t make any sense to me. His position was meaningless because I wasn’t there at all. This happened in 1958 before independence. I felt sorry for him at some point because both of us were victims of a marriage that would never be. I was very immature and did not know how to handle it. I became as obnoxious as possible. I wanted my education and I did not care what anybody thought. I was implacable. It didn’t matter what happened to me. I wanted to go home immediately.

It is quite amazing to imaginable the confidence that propelled such action.

The Lord kept me. To recall back, during the journey that lasted for three days, it was broken at Jos and I was put in a room with another lady who was equally travelling to meet her own husband to be. As we start talking, I asked her if she was willing to go and get married, she said yes because she had no choice either. Unfortunately, I met this same woman years later. By then, she looked worn out like a 60 year old woman. She never got any further.

She just sank into the trap of early marriage, retired in the village while I was then blossoming in NNPC as a General Manger because I finished my education. I went to higher school, obtained my first degree, postgraduate diploma, master’s degree in USA and PhD also. In all these I could say apparently the woman did not have any fire in her but for me, I was God’s amazing grace.

It was a miracle as how I stood up to the village because it then became a village feud – the man’s village versus my village. They accused my father of deceiving them and collecting money which he did not eventually take but my auntie did.

The heat generated to banishing my mother and I. God kept her as she started picking here and there until

I finished my school at St Catherine’s Girls Secondary s c h o o l , Nkwerre, Imo State.

H o w m u c h effort did y o u r mother make to influence your decision?

My mother was just a married woman. She did not have much say, especially with her sister in-law being there. She was just under the mercy of her in-laws as the custom permitted then. Although, she was helpless in their eyes but secretly, she and my grandmother were my heroes, my confidence and bulwark I had at that time. My father drove her and myself out asking her to persuade me to go – that I am bringing an embarrassment to him.

She cried and cried and eventually left the house with me. We took a long walk and when her tummy pains became severe; she pleaded with me and asked me to accept the journey but never to consent to that marriage if I got there. That was one of the confidence I had to travel and did what I did. When I got home, my grandmother was there to receive me and that was the last time I saw her before she passed on. On narrating the whole story to her, she drew me closer and whispered in my ear, “if you don’t want to get married, don’t do it but look around your fathers compound, you will take care of it”. And that’s what I am doing till today.

After that, she started mentoring me, saying, “You will be going into the world.” This was in 1958, she said, “A bended knee is what a cub uses to sucks the mother ’s milk” – meaning with all diligent and humility, I shall overcome. She also repeated that with a smooth tongue, a snail walks in the dark over thorns, pestles and broken bottles. I have used these two proverbs to teach hundreds and thousands of

managers I coach. Even when I was with IGI executive board, the late vice chairman said that I was the most humble executive he had ever seen. My grandmother had died over many years ago and her words are still working in me.

Did this mar your relationship with father?

To point out here, my father was my greatest fan despite the fact that his family members coerced him to consent to early marriage syndrome. He suffered a little disappointment because I was not a boy as a first child. In those days there was no scanning. He expected a boy and got disappointed when I came out a girl but he comforted himself and gave me the name ‘Nwakaego’ – child is greater than money. He consoled himself with that name and took special interest and attention over me. He monitored my education then.

During one time I was playing in the sand as a minor. He came to me and asked me to write ‘laughter’ on the sand. I got it right. He saw what I did, picked and threw me up and was highly excited for getting it right.

From then, I became his best friend.

Your real marriage and the Nigerian civil war experience The Nigeria Biafra war affected me directly. I met my husband in the University of Ibadan a young lecturer who came back from Oxford University, London. I met him in a difficult circumstance. The very first day he visited my house, I was beaten black and blue by my father. I was just 18 years old and had finished secondary school. He came a few minutes to six and I told him it was a wrong time because my father would kill me if he found out that a man came to look for me after 6pm. As I hurriedly escorted him out and rushed back to house, I didn’t notice that my father had seen me, armed with a cane at his back. The rest is the story. With all the intimidations about men, I kind of hated men the more because I was

Continues on pg 33

SATURDAY Vanguard,

Rewriting history: Africa’s hope

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here are three sides of every story, they say: The story of the “right”, the story of the “left” and the true story. In history, there are no true storiesonly the story according to the writer of it.

Historically, we Africans have been disadvantaged because we had not the ability to record past and ancient occurrences by writing, having mastered the oral tradition of handing down history from generation to generation, by mouth.

This worked until the unique system was inadvertently truncated by the advent of Western education, with the historians of most families embracing another way of life.

With this truncation, in our particular situation, came modern history, whereby students of history leant only those things that were written down, mostly by people who were not present at the events, people with clear and dangerous biases and combinations of both.

The removal of History as a subject from the Nigerian primary school curriculum was both a blessing and a curse- a ‘curse’ because a people who do

not know where they are coming from will have much difficulty even knowing where they are, not to talk of where they are going; a blessing because much of the material that had been published as History was no better than brainwashing.

Many children of Generation X played hopscotch to a certain song on playing grounds across schools in Western Nigeria : Ojukwu wanted to split Nigeria; Gowon said Nigeria must be one; We are going to fight together; To make Nigeria one!

Thus a whole generation was brainwashed into believing other people’s sides of the story to be the stark, unchangeable truth.

Years of singing this song and playing to its strains stamped some clear messages into the brain of even the most intelligent child: Ojukwu was the villain of villains whose intentions had been to wreck the wonderful utopia known as Nigeria for no apparent reason other than his wickedness. Gowon, on the other hand, was the angel sent by the Almighty to save the nation from the doom of this impending polarization. Out he had come with his blazing magic wand and

commanded wholesomeness to the entity called Nigeria, and so it was!

This song does not expressly say so, but it is definitely implied that the unity of Nigeria is non negotiable; and that anyone who so much as suggests otherwise is an enemy of the state, like Ojukwu had been.

Thus, heroes, heroines and villains were assigned according to the whims of the assignors with no apparent reason for the assignments. At best heroism was assigned along ethnic and other less than honourable lines.

Awolowo was revered by the Yoruba and envied by others because he protected and provided for Western Nigeria. He was the villain, as far as many easterners are concerned, the fellow who sold them out during the war and deserving of nothing but curses. Some even hold him, and not those who started the war, directly responsible for the starvation of one million children.

Gowon has maintained his pristine reputation as a nationalist and peace loving individual, and no one speaks any more of the fact that he was installed in the first place as an

olive branch of sorts to compensate for the wasting of Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa while at the same time assuaging Christian angst.

Nigerian sectarian history has Nnamdi Azikiwe- the Zik of Africa himself who spent most of his youth tirelessly contending for N i g e r i a ’ s independence – has largely been painted with the brush of a coward who deferred to nationalistic ideas and failed to bring Western education to his people on the kind of scale Awolowo had done to the Yoruba.

Ojukwu wanted to split Nigeria; Gowon said Nigeria must be one; We are going to fight together; To make Nigeria one!

Before his passing the Nigerian state had failed to draw on the vast experience and great wisdom of recently belated Chief Alex Ekweme mostly on account of the perception of him as being a nationalist who never even pretended to align himself with any less than moderate sectarian sentiments. Truth be blatantly told: the reason the country has come to be more divided than ever is not because we have a president from a certain part of the country but because our children are nurtured on the unwholesome milk of unbalanced history.

As revolution sweeps across Africa- a continent blighted by dictatorships for the later part of the 20th century- we have been forced to bring out and dust up our history books on modern villains like Libya’s despotic

How I battled early marriage Continues from pg 32 worried over why I should be beaten for escorting a man I didn’t know much about.

Although, after the aborted early marriage at age 15, with my subsequent refusal to associate with men, I became obnoxious and decide that I must read and get education to the highest level. I made this decision because I suffered a lot in the hands of men and that was my own little childish thinking then. But the irony of it all is that my father took it for a little while and came after me saying ‘why did you say you are not getting married’, that I must as a woman.

After much persuasion, I consented.

Thereafter, referrals and matchmaking appointments came surging, even clashing with each other. Every young man who came from abroad was referred to me and it became a tough competition among the men then. By the time I was to consent to my real husband, I was naïve and made some miscalculations which could have cost the marriage thinking he wouldn’t let me continue my education after marriage, but fortunately he encouraged it.

The wedding day: We were to get married on October 1 1966 in the University of Ibadan but the civil war caused it. We had to flee Ibadan at the heat of the war drums to the East. Secondly, every arrangement made to

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conduct the wedding in Ibadan was dashed, abandoned but we eventually had the wedding on October 1, 1966 in Enugu. At last my father was very happy that I finally got married, had my education and was full of life.

Did all these experience rob off on your children?

My children had a brilliant father and they had no issues with upbringing. I always tell people, ‘don’t call me brilliant’ because my children and husband are more brilliant and academically favoured than me. I attended St. Catharine’s Girls School, Nkwerre, in the former Eastern region and Queens College, Lagos for my higher Certificate, University of Ibadan for my first degree, Arizona State University, USA for masters and University of Lagos for my PhD. My first son was the overall best when he took Jamb before entering the university. All my 3 children, one boy and two girls are medical doctors and doing well.

Even when we wanted to prevail on the last girl to study Law, she refused and said she wants to tow her siblings’ line. She is a psychiatrist today. My first daughter was in John Hopkins University, US as an Assistant Professor for seven years before establishing her own firm in the US today.

Having gone through all this in life and attained heights, you seem not tired. What are current projects driving you on?

I have been in the church ministry for some

time now. I am a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG as an elder pastor. I think if a man or woman have not found God, the person is in jeopardy. There is no way you can be complete without connecting with your maker. I found myself in him by divine appointment. My book tells more about how I came to Christ while I was in the heart of the oil and gas industry. I went to Bible College while I was in NNPC and started pastoring. I have pastored for over 20 years now before I became an elder pastor in the ministry. I had the privilege to be in Jesus ministry which I call my number one project.

Secondly, I am a believer in human development. I am a builder and it is a talent in me.

Although I didn’t discover it in time but it is not a waste as I am utilizing the opportunity now. I like venturing into virgin territories. For, instance, I am the first settler in my area here at Aja Lekki. I like to make something out of nothing. I have never been given any job someone has done. I was always given pioneering projects and I never fail.

Wherever the Lord takes me to, I will develop there and leave a legacy.

Legacies punctuate my life all over – In NNPC, the chief officers’ programme is still there for me. Also in Federal Ministry of Education, we started the counseling projects that were inculcated into the curriculum. I was one of the pioneer counseling members.

In IGI Insurance Company, I am their first training coordinator among numerous duties all over.

And now, because of my

NOVEMBER 25, 2017—33

•Dr. Violet Arene

predilection for development, it follows me everywhere. Whatever I do, by the way teaching counseling and developing people, it wins prizes. That is where the anointing is. You may think that having done 36 years in Public service, I should retire. But having retired formally and not in reality, I was sent to African Women in Leadership Organisation AWLO for development and that’s my favourite subject because if you believe in human development, you should believe in leadership. And the Lord, in keeping with his consistent faithfulness, assigned me to be AWLO’s Global Youth Matron.

I have written about 18 books and still going to write more – mainly on social critics, Christian books, women that have issues with life and leadership. I also anchor a television programme called

leader Muammar Ghadaffi and more recently, Robert Mugabe. As we struggle to balance present realities with happenstance of the past, we are better empowered to articulate present positions and navigate the way forward. Africa is tense about Zimbabwe for instance not just because they are displeased by Mugabe’s political exit but mostly because they are better informed about the history of E m m e r s o n Mnangagwa, aka “Garwe.”

Nelson Mandela, though referred to as one of the most beloved individuals that ever walked this earth in modern history, also has his own harsh critics.

His Truth and Reconciliation Commission of 1996, set up by The 1995 Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act has been knocked for its immunity clauses and in fact has been fingered as being the cause of South Africa’s difficulty with moving forward.

Yet what this country needs more than anything right now is truth and re conciliation.

It is strange that the room in which people were shouting above the din demanding secession and restructuring has suddenly gone quiet. Perhaps what has happened is that we have suddenly realized that those things are not as urgent as reexamining and rewriting our history.

‘Daughters of Eve’. I have tried to say, after this year, I will not labour myself again, but the way I am seeing it, God hearing my prayer when the time comes, I will retire for good.

Looking at your ordeal back then, how can you compare parenting to this day?

If you read my book, ‘Amazing Grace’, you will see that parenting in those days is so strict which is not so now. In fact, I don’t even know that such things l i k e romance, sex a n d socializing with boys w e r e supposed to be enjoyed from the way we were been cautioned and taught.

Interaction with a boy alone could cause you pregnancy not to talk of getting closer or being seen alone in a quiet place. You are not supposed to talk to a boy until you get married.

Parenting was extraordinary – you are taught how to behave at home, outside home, and other things, so that when they are looking for a potential wife, it must be you.

My values: I can humble myself to any level.

My knees are flexible; I can answer ‘Yes sir, Yes ma’ to anybody at any time. I can genuflect to any anybody and it is easy for me because I was brought up that way. Above all, I am a very stubborn and difficult someone. If I believe in something, I must pursue it, unless I see a danger of death in it. That is how my life has been. I value my humility and it is the driving force of my success today.

34—SA TURD AY Vanguard, NO VEMBER 25, 2017 34—SATURD TURDA NOVEMBER

Harvv es estt of NIPR holds memorial symposium in honour Adult Har Ewulomi C & S church of Late Ogbuagu DIVINE Ewulomi Evangelical Church of Christ (C NIGERIAN Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has remembered one of its legendary members, Late Bob Ewulonu Bamako Ogbuagu, by holding a memorial symposium in his honour. The well attended symposium took place in Lagos recently at the Business Club, Alausa, Ikeja.

Late Bob Ewulonu Ogbuagu, who died on August 21, 2017 was a former Managing Director of Champion newspapers and one of Africa’s foremost Public Relations practitioners.

Photos by Sola Oyelese

and S) held their 2017 ‘Adult Harvest’ tagged ‘Total Joy’ last Sunday at church headquarters, Arowojobe Estate, Mende, Maryland, Lagos.

Photos by Sola Oyelese

L-R:Chief Mazi Mike Okereke, guest of honour; Mallam Kabir Dangogo, CEO, Timex Communications Ltd, Kaduna; Mrs Nkechi Ali Balogun; Dr (Mrs) Ada Wikina (nee Bob Ogbuagu) daugther; Mrs Iheoma Nwachukwu (nee Bob Ogbuagu) , daugther and Dr. Rotimi Oladele, President of NIPR.

L-R: Bobs Ogundeye, Dr (Mrs) Yinka Daramola, Mr Lanre Gidado and Kabir Alabi Garba .

L-R: Mr Willy Ogbidi, Kabir Alabi Garba and Dr S. Olunifesi Adekunle, guest lecturer.

Lady Imhanzenobe Rotar y’s District 9 11 0 Go tary’s 911 110 Govv celebrates retirement visits R otar Ro taryy Mega Club of

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ady Flora Omohe Imhanzenobe recently retired from the Lagos State public service after serving meritoriously for 35 years. Her husband, Sir Roland Imhanzenobe joins her here to cut the celebration cake.

Lagos Island

L-R: District 9110 Governor, Rotary International, Rotn. Dr. Adewale Ogunbadejo; the president, Rotary Mega Club of Lagos Island, Rotn Sanjeev Tandon (3rd Left), the club’s President’s wife, Rotn. Geetika Tandon.

Celebrant; Lady Flora Omohe Imhanzenobe and husband, Sir Roland Imhanzenobe .

L-R: Rt. Rev. Bamidele Ibikunle; Very Rev. Akin Leshi ; Fr. Rev. Oladapo Babalola; Prophet Bishop (Dr) Oluwademilade Akpata;Spedial Apostle (Prophet) Korede; Propet (Dr) Olugbenga Olusoga and Elder (Prophet) Gbenupo Hannu Moiett.

L-R: Shows the Charter President, Rotary Mega Club of Lagos Island, ROTN. Vinod Gard; the District 9110 Governor, Rotary International, ROTN. Dr. Adewale Ogunbadejo, his wife, ROTN. Ann Olufunmilayo.

L-R: Rt. Rev. S. T.V. Adegbite; His Eminence Rev (Dr) E. Akintayo, C and S headquarters, Ebute Metta and Chief Host, Prophet Oluwademilade Akpata, General Overseer, Divine Ewulomi Evangelical Churh of Christ, C and S, Mende Lagos.

L-R: Oba Gabriel Adebisi Onafawa, Oliworo of Iworo; Oba Adeleke Idowu Basibo (J P), Alaperu of Iperu; chief host, Prophet (Dr) Oluwademilade Akpata, founder /General Overseer, Divine Ewulomi Evangelist Church of Christ (C and S).

L-R: Snr. Mother-in-Isreal, Tolani Akpata; Rev Mother M. O. Olusoga and Apostle Mother O. Osinubi

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, NO VEMBER 25 NOVEMBER 25,, 2017—35

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Even happily married couples row to release tension!

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ll couples argue from time to time. As a matter of fact, the idea of people being permanently sweet-tempered, never displaying any irrational behaviour smacks of unrealistic happy-ever-after romantic stories. Of course, the degree of dissent varies from couple to couple—some show only occasional, short-lived hostility, while others live in a world of constant bickering argument and retaliation.

Sumbo and Ishmael are in their late 30s, and have known each other for 12 years. They went out together briefly when they first met; separated and were then reconciled six years ago. They have been married for five years and have a son.

“Ishmael and I quarrelled about very minor things and the arguments always arise out of his obstinacy and my demanding “Before we were nature”, Sumbo said. She ‘The other night for married, the rows is a civil servant and her instance, we had a row husband is an accountant. lingered on for much because I’d spent money longer because, as we “My husband says I’m that I shouldn’t have. He weren’t living together, spoilt and he won’t give thinks I’m a bit of a spend in because he thinks it’ll we didn’t resolve thrift. I really pushed him anything. So in some make me even worse. to the limit on this ways, things are better “When things are going occasion until finally he badly, we argue about now, although at least yelled, ‘it is finished’ and before, when we got three or four times a walked out of the door. I back together again, week. That’s usually was sure he’d come back because I’m suffering the passion was as he didn’t take the car. I enormous after such a from pre-menstrual lay awake all night long separation. tension. There have been thinking he’d been a a few occasions when victim of the ‘onehe’s hit me but I’ve he only good chance’(criminal deserved it every time. thing about rowing is the making up. Since marrying Ishmael, my relationship with my o you live with Mr. mother has improved Angry? He is the kind of greatly because I used guy who loses it at the to have terrible arguments with her, slightest thing—on the pitch, but now I take it out on on the road, in the pub. He him instead. needs to learn that getting “When we’re in the into a rage not only middle of a row, he’s jeopardises friendship and no such thing as jobs, it is very bad for your rational argument and health. Extreme anger, say we very soon forget experts, affects your blood what we’re arguing pressure and can even trigger about. Some of our a heart attack. So how can fights are incredibly you help your man keep his ferocious and we end cool? Encourage him to up tearing each other recognize his own flashapart. I wish it didn’t points and then to talk about happen so much what sets him off. Suggest because it wears me that he tries to avoid stressful out and sometimes I situations. If driving winds think I’m going to die him up, maybe he should because my hearts’s take the bus. If he loses his pounding so much. rage when he’s drunk,

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operators,) or had been run over by a car and it was all my fault. Before going to work the next day, I left him a note saying how terribly sorry I was, and when he got back, he rang me at work and said he was terribly sorry too. We’re always quick to apologise and to make up.

“A lot of rows happen because he misinterprets my jokes. For instance, after an evening out with friends, I might say, in a sarcastic manner, ‘ you were very chatty tonight”, and he actually thinks I’m being serious.

Then I have to say: ‘Actually, you weren’t, you were pathetic.’ And so not surprisingly, we start fighting. I hate to see couples bickering in public, so I never say anything when we’re out—but afterwards, when we’re alone, I can’t help tearing into him. Most of our arguments happen because he thinks I’m trying to make him into someone he isn’t”.

“Quarrelling couples tend to follow certain unconscious and unconstructive rules”

observed Mercy, a marriage counsellor.

“For instance, he or she will take any criticism personally, look for ulterior motive for the attack, agree with nothing said in reply, repeat all prior criticisms, never relent, and if hard-pressed, either cry or storm out.

One consequence of such behaviour is that people can’t remember what was said in any coherent fashion because they constantly shift from point to point during a high state of tension and anger.

“Even couples who are happy fight—some frequently and ferociously, love invokes passionate feelings and anger may be nothing more than love frustrated. But arguments needn’t be destructive as long as anger, hostility and even rage can be expressed in words and as long as people are willing to listen to each other. At least like this, tension is released, whereas constantly repressing feelings can result in physical and psychological damage.

How to curb your man’s anger

D

The only good thing about rowing is the making up

perhaps he should cut down on his drinking.

Come up with ways of diffusing that surge of energy—he could go for

Encourage him to recognize his own flashpoints and then to talk about what sets him off

a run, pound a punchbag (help you with pounding yam maybe?!) or pummel a pillow. Teach him that it makes sense to walk away from a potential flash-point.

He shouldn’t wait for the other bloke to back down—losing face figuratively is better than losing your face literally. Above all, get him to understand that he should never act in the heat of the moment, chances are he will regret it later. It is better to calm down first and then plan the next move.

36—SA TURD AY 36—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, NO VEMBER 25, 2017 NOVEMBER

“…a woman can also do,” and some people will add, “and even better.” The revelation sometime ago by the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem that, “55 husbands reported wives battery” in the first eight months of 2017 in Lagos State did not come to me as a surprise. What surprised me was the meager number. May be, the majority of the men are too ashamed to come forward to report being beaten by their wives. And that is just physical battery.

We are not talking of mental, psychological and economic battery.

This week, one of the stories that trended was the death of 35-year-old Bilyamin Bello, from injuries sustained allegedly from battery by his wife. The story is still unfolding so we shall see.

But the fact is husband battery, like wife battery, is real. Some women are giving their husbands the beating of their lives.

They say women are the weaker sex; how come they have become so strong, they are battering their husbands? The matter has different branches. First branch: the economic down turn has taken its toll on many men. They have lost their economic power and with it self-worth, ego, their male pride, will power and physical strength. Their wives are in charge and know no magnanimity in victory. The husbands have been reduced to the status of drivers and houseboys. Some madams slap and kick drivers and domestic staff, so that is also the lot of these husbands.

What I find most painful in some homes now is that the wives have used their economic power to turn the children against their fathers. They do not listen to or respect their fathers anymore. They are accomplices in the humiliation of their fathers. I will never be able to understand why any normal woman will reduce her husband to a subhuman. These women are unknowingly putting their families on the path of destruction. The fourth

“What a man can do....” commandment says: “Honour your father and your mother (not only your mother) that your days will be long in the land your God has given you.” It is the only commandment that carries a reward. Children, remember God’s words are immutable. Daughters, who acquiesce to their mothers’ evil deed, can never be good wives; their

But the fact is husband battery, like wife battery, is real. Some women are giving their husbands the beating of their lives

marriages will crumble or at best be colourless and unhappy. The sons, who cheer their mothers on, will encounter the same humiliation one way or another in the future. I am not cursing anybody; I have lived long enough and have seen these things happen.

Second branch: older men and younger wives. Some of the men who

report battery are older men married to younger women. It is bad enough that some of these younger women serially cheat on their husbands. In addition, they regularly beat up these men. These men also complain that the wives do not take care of them; they do not cook for them; they are generally abusive and put them through mental torture. Some of these old men have gone to court to file for divorce. The third branch: men who are sick and the wives maltreat them. For some of the women, it is as if it is payback time.

Even if the man did things to you in the past that are wrong, forgive him or walk away. Taking advantage of a sick person is inhuman.

I remain an apostle of the indissolubility of marriages, but I cannot see any basis for the continuation of a marriage when your husband has become your foot mat. I know a few houseboyhusbands; they look haggard and mentally drained, defeated and deflated. If they had any ego, it is now distant memory. Looking at them, I get this eerie feeling that they do not know what their wives’ nakedness look like anymore, although when it comes to husband and wife matters, you never know.

Maybe, they still perform their conjugal duties, but only at the instance of their wives. Who is a

houseboy-husband to make the first move? If your body hot, baff with cold water!

Painfully, these are bubbly guys of yesterday who had good jobs or businesses until things went awry. The truth is that it is not good for a man to be economically powerless. No matter how little, earn something. Your wife might earn more, but just earn something. Let those your dry bones rise again, you must go look for wherever you threw away your hope and retrieve it. It is going to be a tedious and uphill climb, but it is better than the humiliation you are currently going through. Once the will is there, there is going to be a way.

Helpers will come along the line. Do not hide yourself in your room, sleeping from morning to evening or watching television all day and night.

It is this kind of behavior that annoys some of the wives. Go out there, do volunteer work in church or other places where help in needed. The Bible says it is in giving that we receive. The tragedy of many people today is that they do not know they have something to give. It is not always about money, donate your time. Someday, something will turn up and turn your life around.

Wives, your husband is your crown, treat him well. We know that what a man can do, a woman can also do and even better, but let this cliché pertain to positives only. Do not join the men in this odious spouse battery. If you do, you will cut your nose to spite your face. The end can never be positive. If the tales we have read so far about Bilyamin’s wife is true, then she is in big trouble. Any woman who marries a Muslim man knows ab initio that there is a possibility of cowives. I do not understand the jealousy bit that led to the rage that snuffed the life out of the young man.

(Text Only)

The Spread Eagle variation

•SpreadEagle

Hip, Hip hurray!

Triangle Pose Technique:

S

tanding with the feet rather wide apart, turn the trunk to the left and lowering it place the palm of the left hand flat down on the Moor on the outside of the left leg while raising up the right hand and straightening it at the elbow.

Fix your gaze on the palm of the

C M Y K

raised hand. Breathe normally and retain the position for about 10 or 11 seconds.

Benefits: The triangle stretches the leg, spine, and trunk muscles.

It also promotes flexibility of the hip spine and legs. It tones the nerves of the spine and the abdominal organs. And it reduces pain in the lower back and invigorates the circulation.

•The triangle

SpreadEagle Technique: Sit down and spread the legs as far wide apart as possible, and keeping the trunk very upright, place the hands on the shins and breath normally for 10 to 15 seconds.Rest and repeat.

Technique for Eagle variation:

Standing with feet together bend the elbows and place the sight on the top, the left one and bring the palms together while

you raise and bend the left leg and rap it around the right lower leg with the foot sticking out.

The left leg must be slightly bent at the knee to make this possible.

Benefits:

The Eagle instills a sense of balance and also banishes varicose veins.

The Spread Eagle stretches both the harmstrings and inner tigh muscles;and tones up also the muscles of the abdomen.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, NOVEMBER 25, 2017—37

I

met and interviewed Mr Robert Mugabe in 1981. He was already the Prime Minister of the then newly independent Zimbabwe against my hopes and expectation. The man I had hoped would be the Prime Minister was Mr Joshua Nkomo whom I had interviewed earlier in a guerrilla camp somewhere on the outskirts of Zambia.

I liked Mr Nkomo instantly. He was voluble and engaging as we sparred and fenced for almost two hours. I guess the affectionate feeling was mutual because he told me at the end of the interview that it was one of the livelier ones he had ever had. I was not alone in thinking Nkomo would be Prime Minister. Many people round the world thought so. Mugabe was the taciturn one while Nkomo was the extrovert. More importantly, Mugabe was in prison while Nkomo was visible.

But politics is about numbers and Mugabe is from the larger Mashonaland while Nkomo was from the smaller Matabeleland. Whatever the reason for his choice, the Mugabe I met was a Prime Minister and the setting reflected that. He was reserved but with a quick wit. He sounded intelligent and was certainly impressive. Dressed in a dark suit, he seemed more ‘British’ than Nkomo his arch rival. I felt he would easily blend and be accepted by the British despite his socialist leaning.

I became an anti-apartheid sympathiser by default. In 1977, Nigeria hosted a ‘World Action against Apartheid’ conference in Lagos. I was asked by Punch, the newspaper I worked for then to cover the event. It was there that I got enlightened and was able to grasp the full extent of the anti-apartheid struggles. I was able to understand the relative helplessness of the neighbouring African countries, the importance of patience and the effect of the war of attrition that was being waged internally and externally against the white supremacists and their allies. As a young man, I was appalled by the extent of man’s inhumanity to man and felt the world needed to go beyond mere words. By the end of the second day of the conference, I had had enough of the

Mugabe: The fall of the last man standing

rhetoric and was filled with indignation. That was when older, wiser and more experienced heads calmed me down.

Nigeria’s ambassador to the UN, Ambassador Leslie Harriman explained to me as if to a child, that the mere fact that the whole world was

But he is a mere man after all, and the two deadliest tempters of men are women and power. He fell to both standing still to discuss and condemn the apartheid regime was in itself a sort of victory. Joe Garba, the country ’s External Affairs Commissioner, explained further.

Over lunch, he highlighted the economic dependence of the so called front line States on South Africa and how a frontal attack would cripple those countries. He could not, he said, even reach any of them on the phone without going through South Africa.

It was a mortified, but more

enlightened and more determined me that left the conference.

Within two years, I had met and interviewed Oliver Tambo, the President of ANC which was the main opposition group that was fighting apartheid in South Africa. I had also met a few of the foot soldiers in Mozambique and Zambia. The eventual collapse of apartheid caused jubilation in several parts of the world especially in Africa. I looked forward to meeting and interviewing Mandela and Mugabe the newly anointed helmsmen of the newly independent countries. The former was not to be but the latter happened.

Mugabe the Marxist became Mugabe the Statesman. He quickly courted the West while not ignoring the East. The economy of the then Rhodesia was one of the best in the region at the time. Mugabe did his best to maintain that in the early 80s.

He concentrated on education while trying to integrate the war veterans into the system. Then things started to go awry in the 90s. Some people say the West spurned him when he redistributed the fertile lands owned by the whites to the war veterans.

Others say it was the other way round; that the West spurned him because of his repressive attitude towards opposition and he in turn distributed white lands to his cronies in retaliation. Either way, it is safe to say politics got in the way of the economy. And as time went on, selfsurvival got in the way of both. The country became the casualty.

The quest for self-survival had been the driving force behind many of

A

party that swept all three Senate seats, all but one of the 11 House of Representatives seats in the 2015 elections should not play second fiddle in Anambra State. However, what last Saturday ’s governorship election again showed was that the intractable conflicts in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP would for the foreseeable future continue to harm its prospects of governing the state.

Even though the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA won last Saturday ’s governorship election, almost every political stakeholder in Anambra affirms the dominance of the PDP at the grassroots. The only time APGA has shown electoral strength was in the 2015 state House of Assembly election when Governor Willie Obiano took advantage of the demoralised state of the PDP after the presidential election loss to for the first time put an APGA majority in the state House of Assembly.

So, how come the PDP again lost? A chieftain of the party, Chief Chris Uba pointed at the direction of a former governor of the state, Mr. Peter Obi for the party’s loss hours after the election result was declared.

Uba’s claim was the general refrain among leading PDP chieftains from the state even before the election results distilled.

Indeed, even before the results of the election had crystallised, one leading stakeholder in the party, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu even sent out congratulations to APGA. While many of the PDP chieftains C M Y K

Anambr a: Wh tr anger Anambra: Whyy sstr tranger angerss ‘ll continue ttoo go vern PDP SSttat govern atee state caretaker committee of the party, Prof. ABC Nwosu, Prince John

actively collaborated with APGA to deliver Chief Willie Obiano, others sat on the fence in anticipation of the loss.

Besides Chief Uba who is a member of the party’s Board of Trustees, BoT, other nationally acclaimed chieftains of the party in the state include the national secretary of the PDP, Senator Ben Obi, Senator Stella Oduah, the immediate past national publicity scribe, Chief Olisa Metuh, the chairman of the

Many of the stakeholders also believed that Mr. Obi wanted to use a victory to claim the 2019 vice-presidential ticket of the party

Emeka, Senator Annie Okonkwo, among several others.

All of these chieftains all lost their wards and even in several cases, even their polling booths, reflective of either their unpopularity or their unwillingness to deliver the party. In several cases, it was the later. At the heart of the disenchantment of the party, stakeholders was that Mr. Obi took over the structure of the party using his influence in Abuja to push his associate, Mr. Oseloka Obaze who Uba and others felt was a stranger in the PDP having only recently joined from APGA. Even more dangerous to the party was the claim by party stakeholders that Mr. Obi wanted to win the election on his own using the legacy of his good works when he was governor. Many of the stakeholders also believed that Mr. Obi wanted to use a victory to claim the 2019 vicepresidential ticket of the party.

Despite the fact that a number of

Mugabe’s actions and his refusal to share power had characterised his concept of statehood. It was what led him to politically destroy Joshua Nkomo, his earliest rival and to ruthlessly destroy his base by virtually annihilating the Matabele people.

Mugabe looked at the works of his hands, saw that it was good, and proceeded to use it as a template against other political rivals. Only he became more ruthless and messianic as time went on. He labelled critics as traitors and sell-out and dealt with them accordingly. The last serious opposition was Morgan Tswangirai in 2008. Many of his supporters suffered for his impunity. He almost did not live to regret daring to contest. By this time the economy had plummeted and inflation had spiralled out of control.

Sanctions from the West were biting and the East had become lukewarm.

China became his main beacon, his prop. It was self-survival that made him cling to power well after his sellby-date. It was self-survival that made him lean towards his wife as a possible successor. By this time of course, the line between the State and his person had become blurred. His sense of entitlement had become heightened.

He also felt invisible and was increasingly contemptuous of opposition. All these showed in his often rambling speeches. In the end, he virtually lost everything—the people, the party, the army and much of his legacy.

Is Mugabe a hero or a villain? In time, the dispassionate verdict of history will determine that. But I am too keenly aware of his role in the antiapartheid struggle to call him a villain.

I also spent about an hour with him within his first year in office and came away with the impression that he meant well for his country. But he is a mere man after all, and the two deadliest tempters of men are women and power. He fell to both. And power, when it is absolute, destroys absolutely.

Is this the end of an era? Too soon to tell. Suffice it is to say that Mugabe did not act alone. Many of his co-actors are still very much on the scene.

Prayer for all: may we start well and end well. the stakeholders were co-opted into the PDP Governorship Campaign, it was, however, generally believed to be window dressing.

Even worse was the fact that just about three months to the election the Ken Emekayi led executive of the party was dissolved, and a new caretaker committee inaugurated.

The dissolution of the Emekayi tendency that had managed the party and was believed to have brought some measure of stability to the party was particularly flayed by stakeholders who saw it as the beginning of crisis ahead of the governorship election.

So it was not surprising that on election day that the structure which had been nurtured by Emekayi all through the years for the PDP was turned over to deliver APGA. Such claims are, however, dismissed

by Mr. Obi’s associates who cite what they claim as Obaze’s refusal to bribe the PDP chieftains.

They also note the collaboration of the security agencies and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC with alleged agents of APGA. Even if the PDP had won the election it would certainly not have meant that Mr. Obaze would have even comfortably strolled into Government House, Awka. Waiting as a trap was a suit with the intention of disqualifying him as the PDP candidate on the claim that he did not have an waiver to contest. So, had PDP won the election, perhaps Dr. Obiogbolu who took second position could well have emerged as governor!

38—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 ugabe is gone. That is settled.

He came in 1980. In 1983 he organized the massacre of 20,000 Ndebeles, in Matebeleland.

Matebeleland was a stronghold of the Joshua Nkomo led opposition ZAPU party. He said the Ndebeles needed some re-education. The death cries of the Ndebeles were ignored by the West. So in 1994, the Queen recognized Mugabe for his outstanding work for humanity, and knighted him. He was their boy. Their righteousness covers the iniquities of their wards.

He should have left decades ago. servitude and forgoing their rights to He should have left after he listened lands stolen from their fathers. He could to the hinterland and took back the have simply explained the beauty of lands. The lands that white inclusiveness to the dispossessed black imperialists had stolen. He should folks. He could have told them it was have left before the vengeful better to remain poor casual laborers for tendencies of imperialists took hold of rich white farmers than incur the them. He should have left before they unforgiving wrath of the West. But he remembered him he was a dictator chose the precarious path. He chose to and named him a demon. He should challenge white supremacy. have left before they came after him He could have easily remained the with sanctions. And brought darling of the big white farmers. All he Zimbabwe to utter ruins. Mugabe had to do was throw the land should have left decades ago. redistribution agreements reached at Alternatively, he could have Independence into a trash can. Britain would have nodded in satisfaction. He could have said it was in the best economic interests of the country. After all the blacks were poor, and couldn’t farm the lands. The cousins and children of Cecil Rhodes would have told their cousins in England about his uncommon He would have remained Sir But western media won’t call intellect.

Robert Mugabe, foremost African on France to tell the statesman, on the BBC. He would have remained an exemplary Camerounian army to hold democrat. It wouldn’t have mattered that down Biya so the party in he had scant regards for the rule of law.

Harare can move to Yaounde Because an exemplary democrat doesn’t need to abstain from intimidation of political opponents. He only had to be remained. But he should have in the good books of the West. He would remained docile and quiet. And mouth democratic principles. He could remained obedient and in their good mouth gender equality. Then he would books. He could have ignored the waffles on gay rights. He would have cries of the poor rural blacks. And a remained president. They would have grateful West would have definitely given him the guns, bullets and tear gas continued to ignore his transgressions canisters needed to keep his people against democracy and freedom. quiet.

Mugabe could have played the game He wouldn’t have become the demon . And advised the indignant rural that he became. Because African folks and their children to remain dictators become demons only when they casual workers on white farms. He anger the West. They become pariahs would need not to spell it out. He when they ruffle the interests of the West. wouldn’t have to tell them there was If Mugabe had remained in bed with no dignity in clinging to genial white Zimbabweans, the opposition in

M

Mugabe, Museveni, Biya and the stench of White hypocrisy Zimbabwe would have been regarded as vindictive trouble makers by the West. It would have fallen on the opposition to champion land reforms. They would not have received the help and support they got in the name of democracy from the West.

Some say his wife was his problem. But it wasn’t his wife that made his fate different from Museveni’s in the last 15 years.

Museveni has been president of Uganda for 32 years. He is 83.

He was a guerilla, like Mugabe.

He has also dismantled term

We are happy Mugabe has gone. But the West must let go of its stinking hypocrisy. It is more abhorrent, more tyrannical, than Mugabe’s despotism limits. He is effectively a life president too. The West, however, holds him in very high regards.

It’s not baffling. He is a trusted ally. He is not referred to as a dictator by the CNN. He is not banned from visiting the Queen.

There is no scrupulous searchlight turned on his family, their birthdays and their expenditures.

His obituary has not been written in advance. Museveni is not

he Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC T meets next Thursday November 30 at

the Vienna, Austria headquarters to review the extended production freeze that expires in March 2018. Last December, 24 global oil-producing nations agreed to cut output by five percent or 1.8 million barrels a day initially for six months, and by nine months till March 2018. OPEC as a global oil cartel has members’ budget trains in varying degrees dependent on crude sales.

As the global oil market is still rebalancing and counterbalancing, there is a possible rollover plan until the end of 2018 to lower global inventories and shore up prices. But whether there would be an equilibrium in crude supply and demand may not be effectively determined by OPEC even as its monitoring team on compliance achieved a resounding success in one year. A reduced oil inventory was to prop up prices for more revenues. But would the deal as anticipated continue to bolster oil prices? Early November, Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih said that everybody recognises that the job is not done yet and so still have significant amount of work to do to bring in- ventories down, he told Reuters.

OPEC consensus is that the deliberate cut in supply has become beneficial to the cartel members in budget deficits reduction. The intention was to draw down crude inventories and control the structure of backwardation. Backwardation in this sense is the amount by which the price of oil for immediate delivery differs from the price of delivery at a future date. But prices have still not C M Y K

Doubts on Russia in OPEC rollover plan been able to rise beyond the US$50-59 range. If that was the reason, OPEC would want a further extension. But nonOPEC leader; Russia is yet to give a nod to oil production cut beyond March 2018 which diplomatic shuttles are still on going.

Last year, the high inventory in the major trading hubs was a problem the oil cartel contended with. The limit to OPEC control was in its members and not to the American producers who have nothing to do with any production cut by OPEC and its allies. Over the years OPEC had resorted to production cut for a target price per barrel. The cartel controlled the price but the beneficiaries were outside the fold of OPEC. Next year an additional problem OPEC may be confronted with may be Russia that may opt out of production cut if price of crude goes beyond US$60 dollars a barrel.

Investors in crude have therefore been kept busy speculating on possible directions of futures oil markets. Russia believes that beyond US$60 a barrel, a more Pandora’s Box may be opened for American shale to counterbalance OPEC’s production cut. Many believe that Russia ab initio have agendas that do not tally with OPEC even when it supported production cut last December.

An expert in advancing reasons why

Russia may drag its foot in lowering global oil inventories say a deal extension beyond March 2018 for crude oil price of US$60 and above becomes more beneficial to their competitors, the American shale producers. Increased U.S. shale production would keep inventories at levels that would lead to another glut; and with the vicious circle continuing.

Russia also believes that the geopolitical tensions in the fragile petro states of Venezuela,

Next year an additional problem OPEC may be confronted with may be Russia that may opt out of production cut if price of crude goes beyond US$60 dollars a barrel

Mugabe because he has been careful not to hurt important Western feelings and interests. He didn’t seize white stolen properties. He didn’t have to. So no one remembers just how long he has stayed on the throne. In I997 Magdalene Albright called Museveni a beacon of hope . He had been on the throne for 11 years then. He was running a oneparty democracy. He has since decimated Acholi land in the guise of fighting the LRA insurgency. But no one has pointedly asked him to leave office.

If a coup happened in Uganda today, the west would be quick to label it a coup.

They won’t waffle. They won’t call it a transition. Museveni is not a demon.

Biya has been president of Cameroun since Ahmadu Ahidjo handed over power to him. He has been on the saddle for 35 years. He has survived many coups and many sham elections. He has left Cameroun rural, desolate. But no one cites him as an example of a political tragedy. Mugabe is the African tragedy.

Biya spends months on end holidaying in Switzerland. But the western press leaves him in his peace. No one is intent on bringing him down in the name of democracy. Biya has repressed political opponents. Biya has supervised genocidal incursions into the English speaking parts of Southern Cameroon.

But nobody thinks of Biya and remembers the ICC. France is the nanny of Cameroun. But that apostle of freedom and rule of law would not open her mouth and tell President Biya to step down. The French president is the defacto commander-inchief of the Cameroonian Armed Forces.

But he won’t nudge the army to do a Zimbabwe in Cameroon. Western news media celebrated crowds on the streets screaming obscenities at a Mugabe held down by the army. But western media won’t call on France to tell the Camerounian army to hold down Biya so the party in Harare can move to Yaounde.

Biya can remain on the throne. France is happy with him. He can junket around the European Union. He can loot the Camerounian treasury and stash it in France and Switzerland. If he challenges French authority then his sins will come to the fore and he would become a demon.

We are happy Mugabe has gone. But the West must let go of its stinking hypocrisy. It is more abhorrent, more tyrannical, than Mugabe’s despotism.

Nigeria, Iraq, Iran and Libya are near term threats to global supplies. And that includes the United States recent decertification of Iran in the nuclear deal. In the last two months, Russia made two significant inroads into two big emerging energy markets, China and India to make it not panic about moderate crude price increases. Russia sold 14.16 percent equity stake in its prized state owned oil company, Rosneft to CEFC China, a private collective enterprise that has energy and financial services as its core business. The US$9 billion dollar deal is for long-term supply of Russian crude to China.

Again Rosneft acquired 49. 13 percent of India’s Essar Oil in a consortium of US$12.9 billion deal concluded last August.

Russia’s energy deals with China, India as well as proxy deals with some other countries has geopolitical and economic implications aimed at expanding market share influence and revenue bases. Dave Forest writing in the Business Insider is of the view that well beyond these two countries, China now has a backdoor access into markets like India through Rosneft’s recently-acquired holdings in that country. “That is a critical development for the world energy picture given that Chinese companies haven’t directly gained much access into India despite being one of the most important emerging players on the energy stage.

Ownership in Rosneft could help open up opportunities in other parts of the world; with Rosneft currently having operations in places ranging from Egypt to Brazil to Venezuela.”

Russia believes in lower price in the 40s and 50s a barrel to checkmate the American tight oil. The magic formula which OPEC de facto leader Saudi Arabia has deployed internally but under the table is the massive investment in the downstream to reduce budget deficits. Nigeria can buy that for a dime.

Ogundipe’s son speaks out!

M

y piece last week attracted reaction from Mr. Babajide Ogundipe, son of Nigeria’s first military Vice President, Brig. Babafemi Ogundipe, as presented below:I must confess I am not a regular reader of the Vanguard newspaper. However, my attention was drawn to a piece written by Emeka Obasi, which appeared in the edition of Saturday November 18. The title of the article was:”In defence of Babafemi Ogundipe.”

For the record, Babafemi Ogundipe was my father—my “real” father, as President Olusegun Obasanjo asked me after I was introduced to him when I encountered him last month.

After reading what I thought was an excellent article, I searched to see whether Mr. Obasi, who I’d never once come across before, had written anything else about my father. I came across another piece, which appeared in the July 8 edition of the Vanguard concerning a photograph of Nigerian Army officers purporting to show the first Nigerian officers but did not show all of them, including my father.

As I have just stated, I had not come across Mr. Obasi before now, so I do not know him. It does appear, however, that he might know my cousin ,Sola, to whom he referred in his November 18 article. What I find striking, and refreshing, is that Mr. Obasi has looked at the events of July/

enultimate Friday, precisely P November 17, 2017, 26 wooden coffins were laid out in a circle in the

middle of Salerno’s cemetery, Italy. In the 26 wooden coffins in this faraway city were 26 bodies of young Nigerian women said to have drowned during a migrant crossing of the Mediterranean Sea from Libya.

The bodies said to have been recovered November 3, by Spanish rescue ships were being honoured with an interfaith funeral ceremony by the Italian government.

At the ceremony where Salerno Archbishop Luigi Moretti told the crowd that the women “lost their lives as they were seeking freedom and a better life,” there was no representative from the Nigerian Embassy or Consulate present.

And among the 26 bodies recovered, only two were identified. They were Marian Shaka, a Muslim, and Osato Osara, a Christian. Prosecutors were also said to be working to contact relatives of the others, using phone numbers the women had hidden in their clothes before setting off from Libya.

According to them, autopsies showed all but one drowned. “The other had internal bleeding from a ruptured liver as a result of blunt trauma before falling in the water. None bore signs of recent physical or sexual abuse. Two of the women were pregnant,” they said.

And then came the twist! Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Monday, November 20; told journalists in Abuja that the Italian Embassy had earlier indicated to the Director General, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons

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August 1966 and concluded that the judgments made about my father and his actions were completely wrong.

At the time General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was murdered, I had been in Nigeria, on holiday from school in England for a few days [ somewhere in the archives of the Daily Times is a photograph, that appeared on its front page, of my father meeting me at the airport when I, a 10-year-old child, arrived in Lagos—on reflection I am astonished that the event was considered newsworthy!].

When General Aguiyi-Ironsi disappeared, so did my father. I did not see him for about three weeks after this occurred, and after the family, less my older sister who was in school in Ibadan, had been transported to the United Kingdom, where we eventually saw my father.

The English media described him as an early arrival for the 1966 Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference, which was being held in London.

Mr. Obasi states in his article that history has not been fair to my father. I ,of course, agree with this, but I leave the conclusion to others.

In support of Mr. Obasi’s thesis however, I would like to add the following:

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017—39 As observed by Mr. Obasi, my father history may have turned if Welbyserved in Burma [Myanmar] in the Everard’s recommendation to the Second World War. When he left to fight, Minister of Defence as to who would he was not yet 18 years old. He was a be his successor as GOC had been combatant and was wounded in action. accepted. However, it is clear that if a He remained in the army after the war professional soldier, with direct and was eventually commissioned from knowledge of my father’s professional reached these the ranks in August 1953, with seniority capabilities, conclusions, then the numerous from January 1951. ‘commentators’ who have declared his He served in the Congo with Nigeria’s actions to be cowardice but who, for contingent to United Nations troops most part, had no military experience there, eventually serving as Chief of Staff and did not know my father, are only of the entire UN force in 1963. In September 1964, when recommending demonstrating their ignorance.

Senior military officers command him to be the next General Officer Commanding [GOC] of the Nigeria troops and do not fight, themselves.

Army,Major General Sir Welby- My father had already lost soldiers, Everard—the last British GOC of the who had been swiftly cobbled together to confront the mutineers. To have Nigeria Army—described him as follows: sought to find additional, ill-equipped “ Whilst Chief of Staff in the Congo, he soldiers to send to their death would earned high praise for his military ability, have been foolish, irresponsible and contrary to all the training and experience that he had received and accumulated since he became a soldier in 1942. It would also not have accomplished anything positive and may have brought about a civil war, earlier and of an entirely different What I do seek ,however, is the dimension. it would be hugely satisfying presentation to us of the Star of toWhilst the family if my father’s contribution the River Benue conferred on to the efforts to keep the country unified to be given official recognition, him in the National Honours list were it is not something that I, personally, of 1964, and which he never seek. The little that my father was able to teach me in his short life prevents received me from doing so.

What I do seek ,however, is the fine character and powers of organization. presentation to us of the Star of the His professional knowledge is good and River Benue conferred on him in the he possesses a sound and balanced National Honours list of 1964, and judgment. He has an equitable which he never received. He already temperament and is universally respected earned that. If, in addition, Nigeria decides to further recognize his by all ranks in the army.

He has the military ability, leadership contributions, we would gratefully receive such recognition. November qualities and the personal characteristics 20 marked 46 years since he died at to make a good GOC.” the age of 47.

One can only speculate how Nigeria’s

Death in the Medit err anean Mediterr erranean (NAPTIP) that the burial of the girls would take place on November 26, 2017.

She therefore wondered why they went ahead with the burial nine days earlier without informing the Nigerian government.

The SSA, who addressed newsmen alongside a NAPTIP representative, Mr. Abdulrahim Shaibu, said a protest letter had been sent to the Italian envoy in Nigeria to the effect.

“Why were they hurriedly buried nine days before the date communicated to the DG, NAPTIP by the Italian Embassy without any information to the Nigerian government? Why the rush to bury the bodies without carrying out a

So, obviously, something didn’t go right in this matter and something isn’t also going right at the moment in Libya where Nigerian illegal migrants en route Europe are being captured

by Libyan authorities and sold off as slaves for various amounts in the range of $400

post-mortem to determine the causes of death?” she queried.

According to Dabiri-Erewa, information indicated that only three of the girls were identified as Nigerians, noting that the identities of the other victims had yet to be ascertained before they were interred.

She also said the victims’ families might have wanted them buried in their countries of origin.

Wonderful! If the argument above is what the Federal Government has to offer on this matter, then those knowledgeable on issues of foreign affairs will easily conclude that the line of communication between Nigerian government and her Italian counterpart must have been faulty, ab initio. Or that the Nigerian government out rightly abandoned its own.

Considering that the Italian version was about the only information regarding the incidence in the public domain before Monday’s press conference by the SSA and the NAPTIP representative, the question is: Between November 3, that the bodies were discovered and probably identified, and November 17, that they were buried, a clear two weeks, what move did the Nigerian government make to see that those girls got a befitting burial in Italy, or for their bodies to be repatriated?

In international affairs, this is not for an SSA to the president on Diaspora, or director/representative of NAPTIP to carry out, since they have no locus standi to take on such matters without acting ultra vires.

As a matter of fact, experts on foreign affairs say such office as SSA on Diaspora has absolutely no presence and recognition, whatsoever, within the

international community beyond what the foreign minister tells the office to do/say. Or very unlikely, what the president directs the office to say.

Anything to the contrary amounts to meddlesomeness, which ends up sending conflicting signal to the public (both Nigerians and the world in general) on what Nigeria’s foreign policy is. Such pronouncement and action is mandatorily made by the foreign ministry using the embassies as vehicle.

So, was this procedure followed or not? Did it result in any conflict? Those concerned must set this record straight.

Unfortunately, and before the burial of these young girls by the Italian authority, little or nothing was heard from the Nigerian side on the development, something that actually triggered lots of reactions, especially on social media, as to whether Nigeria has an ambassador in Rome or not.

If the Nigerian government, which obviously has a diplomatic mission in Italy, were in constant communication with their Italian counterpart, one would expect that the issue being raised by Dabiri-Erewa, as it were, will not arise. The Nigerian government would have been part of the plans from day one.

So, obviously, something didn’t go right in this matter and something isn’t also going right at the moment in Libya where Nigerian illegal migrants en route Europe are being captured by Libyan authorities and sold off as slaves for various amounts in the range of $400.

The time for the Nigerian government to act on the Libyan issue is now, not when these young men, though on illegal journey, may have been killed and buried by foreign authorities.

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

By Emeka Mamah, Vincent Ujumadu, Chidi Nkwopara, Anayo Okoli, Chinonso Alozie& Ugochukwu Alaribe

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rrespective of claims by the Federal Government that works were ongoing on many federal roads in the Southeast geopolitical zone, an investigation by Saturday Vanguard revealed that little or nothing had been done on the roads.

The finding across the five Southeast states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo showed that the roads were still in terrible states.

In Abia State, the Aba - Ikot Ekpene highway, Ohafia - Arochukwu highway, and Umuahia -Ikot Ekpene highway were found to be in very bad shapes.

The Enugu/Onitsha Expressway had remained impassable as motorists were forced to make a detour at Umunya in Anambra State before getting to Enugu from Onitsha.

Work was found to be seriously ongoing along the Enugu axis of Enugu/Onitsha Expressway.

Similarly, work had progressed up to Amichi on the Oba/Nnewi/ Okigwe federal road.

Saturday Vanguard discovered that Anambra State government was carrying out palliative measures between Awkuzu and Umunya on Enugu/Onitsha Expressway.

The Enugu/9th Mile Corner/ Opi/ Obollo Afor/ Makurdi roads were found in dilapidated conditions. Potholes and craters are common sights between Opi Junction and the 9th Mile corner alone.

Contracts for the construction of roads Passengers and other road users, who travel from Abuja and other northern states to Enugu and other southern states, tell stories of woes as they often spend many hours to get to their destinations.

A retired journalist with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Mr. J o h n Ndukauba, asked the Federal Executive Council, FEC, to approve contracts for t h e construction of the roads.

Ndukauba said: “The government should commence work on the roads by awarding the contracts. The Aba Ikot Ekpene highway collapsed four years ago constraining commuters, traders and business people from Cross River and Akwa Ibom going to Aba, the commercial hub of Abia state find it difficult doing so.

“Cross River, and Akwa Ibom states have two airports, a seaport, and heavy industries. With the collapse of Aba Ikot Ekpene highway, the heavy duty trucks, trailers, petrol tankers have all diverted to the narrow, Umuahia -Ikot Ekpene which is a single lane road. As a result of this traffic, gridlock is a common occurrence.

“For the Ohafia -Arochukwu highway which links Abia State to neighbouring Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, the commuters face more difficulties.

Three hours to get to Arochukwu from Ohafia “The poor state of the highway has cut off the people living in that section of the state. It takes about three hours to get to Arochukwu from Ohafia, instead of about 30 minutes if the road was good.

“May all men of goodwill bring these roads to the attention of the federal authorities. They should not tell us that we need to wave the broom before these roads are reconstructed.” Broom is the symbol of the ruling party, APC. Death traps in Imo In Imo, Saturday Vanguard observed that most federal and state roads were in a very terrible state.

The Obinze-Ihiagwa-NekedeNaze-Egbu-Uratta-Orji road and the Owerri-Anara-OkwelleOkigwe road have become death traps.

The story was not different along Ulakwo-Umuowere-UmuoheNtu-Eziama, as well as OkpalaEziama-Amala-Igbodo roads in Rivers State

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‘We must not w roads are cons •A bad portion of the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road A villager from Ntu, who simply identified himself as Chinonye, lamented that at the peak of the rainy season, it was often difficult to travel on the roads.

He said: “It is •Buhari easier to squeeze water out of a stone than accessing our communities at the peak of the rainy season. However, we manage the road during the dry season but we contend with reddishbrown dust.”

When Vanguard visited the ObinzeIhiagwa-Nekede-Naze road, some members of staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, lamented over the deplorable state of the road.

They were unanimous in their stance that the federal and state governments were not interested in rehabilitating the road.

A woman, who pleaded anonymity said: “Because the nation cannot boast of accurate data, the government may not know that Nigeria may have been spending more money in procuring vehicle parts than in the importation of rice.”

A bus driver, Kachy Madumere told Saturday Vanguard that a bad spot along the Owerri/ Onitsha road, adding that Uchenna Bus Stop in Irete, Owerri West Local Government Area had been a nightmare to motorists.

Companies operating on the Aba/Ikot Ekpene highway He mentioned Owerri/ Portharcourt road, which extended to Imo Polytechnic in Umuagwo, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area. The road also extended to the boundary between Imo and Rivers states.

Another road user, who identified himself as Lemmy, lamented over the difficulties experienced on Owerri/ Enugu road, especially at Akabo, Atta and Amaraku Junction.

He also mentioned Anara on the way to Okigwe Local Government Area.

Commenting on the Owerri / Aba road, he pointed out that there were uncountable bad spots from Wetheral Roundabout to the Polytechnic Junction,

•Dad roads in Aba Abia State adding that the Airport Junction and the road leading to Abia State had become an embarrassment.

In Abia State, the rehabilitation work on the dilapidated EnuguOkigwe-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt has recorded appreciable progress, adding that contractors had returned to the site.

Nonetheless, some portions of the road were found to be very bad.

However, the contractor handling Enugu road is very slow.

No portion of the road has been completed.

Another bad portion is the boundary between Enugu State and Lokpanta Cattle Market in Umunneochi Council of Abia State, which has remained a nightmare for the road users.

The situation is a little different on the part of the Okigwe-Umuahia-Aba axis where the contractors could be said to be doing well.

A greater part of the road from Okigwe junction in Imo State to Umuahia was discovered to have been completed.

Also, the contractors handling the Umuahia-

•Ngwa Road Abia Aba axis of the road had made remarkable progress. Work on the stretch had progressed to Owerrinta junction.

In Aba, companies operating on the Aba/Ikot Ekpene highway were observed to have closed shop over the deplorable state of the road.

Hotels, filling stations, restaurants, mechanic

SATURDAY Vanguard,

NOVEMBER 25, 2017—41

wave brooms before structed in S/East’ •Another Dad Ngwa Road Abia

•Another bad portion of the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road workshops It was observed that owners of hotels, filling stations, restaurants, mechanic workshops, and farms have abandoned their places business place.

Further check revealed that the Aba- Ikot Ekpene road which is the major link between Aba and Akwa Ibom and Cross River hosts 46 filling stations, 15 mechanic workshops, two hospitals, seven hotels, eight schools, 32 Palm Beaches, three farm settlements, 50 restaurants and supermarkets and

By Juliet Ebirim he grand finale for the 4th Annual National T Literacy Competition held on Thursday, November 17, 2017 in Lagos. The competition which is the Corporate Social Responsibility of Lafarge Africa PLC, a leading cement and building solutions company, saw six winners (three boys and three girls) emerge who were awarded national prizes. In this interview with Juliet Ebirim, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem who is the Communication, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development Director for Lafarge Africa Plc, sheds more light on the initiative;

Corporate Social Responsibilty has been associated with the sinking of boreholes, renovating of schools and other eye-catching projects. Why did you choose to embark on a literacy competition?

We’ve committed to this because we are specifically clear about where we want to participate from a corporate social responsibility standpoint. And one particular area has to do with education and that also sits quite well with our overall business strategy.

One of the four key areas we are looking at is people and communities, under which we have education. My role as a sustainable development director comes to play here, because we look for ways to achieve sustainable impact. Literacy is a natural area where we feel we can make a huge change.

This initiative is in line with the LafargeHolcim2030 Plan, which articulates our efforts to improve the sustainability performance of our operations focusing on developing innovative and sustainable solutions.

You started this in 2014, how has it been so far?

It’s been very good. I’m very pleased to say that in terms of reach and depth, it’s been progressively improving. And by that I’m referring specifically to the fact that when we

four manufacturing companies.

The worst sections of the highway which have been abandoned are the Alaoji/Ukpakiri, Umuokpo/Umuwaoma and Onicha Ngwa/ Nlagu areas on the 20km stretch from Opobo Junction in Ogbor Hill to Nlagu which is the last border community between Abia and Akwa Ibom state.

Many communities along the highway have been cut off as residents and motorists now

pass through bush parts.

The people of Obingwa Local Government Area and environs now find it difficult to access the Nigerian Christian Hospital, Nlagu.

A farm owner along the road, Mr. Uzochukwu Okwu lamented thus: ‘’It is a shame that the Abia State government and the federal government allowed this allimportant road to degenerate into this level where it is now totally impassable. You can

What we want to achieve with the National Literacy Competition – Folashade Ambrose-Medebem started, we were just three regions, but now it cuts across the entire six regions in the country. We want to help create more literacy enhancement opportunities for several indigent students across Nigeria. We have been doing this successfully for the past four years and we are quite pleased with the positive impact we have made so far.

What is different about this year''s edition when compared to the previous ones?

First of all, we’ve expanded the reach in terms of the six geo-political zones where we operate. We’re also trying to expand it to include the teachers and not just the students alone. We’re also looking at other critical stakeholders – State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), UBEC. We’re trying to bring stakeholders within the government, at the state and federal level.

That’s how we can get the sustainability.

Another aspect is how we can collaborate and so the theme for this year is “Bridging the literacy gap together”.

Apart from the prizes, what else is in it for the participating pupils?

A lot, in terms of education. They’ll be gaining a lot of indepth knowledge and also the Lafarge Africa study guide is being incorporated into the curricular across the schools in which we operate. Literacy is not just about reading, but also about thinking and being able to comprehend and use it as

•Folashade Ambrose-Medebem a bridge. Hence we have the theme “Bridging the literacy gap together”. The teachers will be gaining a lot as well. So far, two of our students have actually earned scholarship which is an outstanding testimony to inspire

imagine the number of business enterprises on this road and the number of families they feed. Conservatively, these businesses created nearly 3000 jobs.’’

The lawmaker representing Obingwa East Constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, Mr. Solomon Akpulonu, appealed to the state and federal governments to rehabilitate the road, adding that the road had been featuring in national budgets since 2009 without being rehabilitated. others. It will inbibe in them those habits that will enable them use education to be the best they can be. There’s no limit to what we can do with education from a literacy standpoint. The illiteracy rate in sub-saharan Africa, especially Nigeria is high. We want to partner with the government to check this.

Ultimately, what do you hope to achieve with this?

It is to make sustainable impact in terms of improving literacy among Nigerian students across the country. Collaborating in order to make sure that we get to the world class standards as a country and also trying to expand the depth and reach of our impact.

So far, we’ve impacted over 300,000 students country-wise.

Why is the focus on public primary schools?

That’s deliberate. If you want to build a house, you start with the foundation. You need to get the foundation right for the house not to collapse. Education plays a huge role in the development of a country, that’s why we need to engage the leaders of tomorrow on critical literacy skills at an early stage. We want to get it right at that level and we are working on getting the key people at the state and federal government level to come on board. We’ve recorded some level of success – In Cross River, for instance, they’ve already started to adopt the curricular within some schools.

How have you monitored the progress of the past winners/beneficiaries?

We continue to keep in touch with them. Two of our past winners already gained scholarships, which is impressive. We do teachers training and so on.

What are the major challenges you’ve had?

We are very clear about where we are going and how we intend to get there and so we don’t remember the challenges. Yes, there would be a number of challenges but I don’t see the merit in dwelling on those. What we are focused on now is how we can improve and get people to understand that impact is being made. Let’s make literacy trend and make sure everyone plays a role.

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42 —SATURDAY Vanguard,

NOVEMBER 25, 2017

SATURDAY

Vanguard,NOVEMBER 25, 2017—43

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44—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

Life and times of world's most diabolical criminal •Dies in jail- with at least 150 murders to his name

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ICKNAMED ‘ The Beast’, he ordered at least 150 murders during a life of crime which saw him rise through the ranks to become the multi-millionaire ‘boss of bosses’ of the Sicilian Mafia.

Salvatore Riina spent 23 years on the run, during which he ruthlessly reigned over the mob’s drug trafficking network, ordered the assassination of two leading anti-Mafia judges, and was called ‘the world’s most diabolical criminal’ by the FBI. Last week, it was confirmed that the mobster, barely 5ft tall and known as ‘Shorty’ by his criminal colleagues, had died from cancer aged 87 while serving 26 life sentences.

He died in a prison wing at a hospital in Parma, northern Italy, where he had recently been placed in a medically induced coma.

His death came hours after the Justice Ministry allowed family members to visit him on Thursday, his birthday.

Anti-Mafia prosecutor Franco Roberti said Riina had never repented his crimes. ‘He was still considered the “boss of bosses”, even in prison,’ he said. An association for victims told an Italian newspaper: ‘God have mercy on him, because we won’t.’

Riina was born the son of a farmer in the mountain town of Corleone in central Sicily.

Author Mario Puzo borrowed the town’s name for the main character in his Godfather novels.

Riina’s father was killed when he was 13, and at 19 he joined the local Mafia, committing murder to gain entry. In 1969 a court acquitted him, for lack of evidence, of murdering three Mafia bosses. He was sent in exile, and under surveillance, to a village near Bologna – but disappeared the following month and went into hiding.

Investigators believe Riina jockeyed his way to the top of the Mafia by pitting rivals against each other, then standing out of the way of the bloodshed that felled one boss after the other in the 1970s. His ascent saw him become the governor of Cosa Nostra – the elite ‘knights’ of the Italian-American crime syndicate who control prostitution in the US and elsewhere, as well as drug and arms trafficking and the laundering of kidnap money.

During his decades on the run, Riina lived with his wife Antonietta, a school teacher from Corleone, whose two brothers were leading Mafia figures, and their four children in the Sicilian capital Palermo, where he laughed at Italian justice from behind a myriad of disguises and massive armed protection.

Despite his violent activities, Riina was docile and humble in his manner, according to one Mafia defector.

•Car bomb: Riini ordered the killing of judge Paolo Borsellino

•23 years on the run: Mobster Salvatore Riina is flanked by police officers in 1996 ‘I’ve never seen him angry,’ he said.

According to John Dickie, author of Cosa Nostra – A History of the Sicilian Mafia, it was ‘a practice of deceit’ that he tried to pass on to his followers: ‘They always had a smile on their lips. Riina chose people like that and taught them that they had to smile – even if there was an earthquake.’

But Riina’s calm persona belied an uncompromising brutality, particularly in relation to those who broke the mob’s code of silence. He was once overheard saying: ‘If it wasn’t for them [the defectors], not even the whole world united could touch us. That’s why we’ve got to kill them, and their relatives to the 20th remove, starting with children of six and over.’ Another informant said: ‘ His philosophy was that if someone’s finger hurt, it was better to cut off his whole arm just to make sure.’

But after he began a campaign known as ‘the slaughter’ in 1981 to eliminate his rivals,

many gangsters, fearing for their lives, began to co-operate with investigators. Hundreds of Mafia members were convicted in a breakthrough case.

Riina responded by ordering the murder of Judge Giovanni Falcone and his magistrate wife Francesca in May 1992, and the assassination ‘God have mercy on him, because we won’t’ of Judge Paolo Borsellino two months later. When riina’s luck ran out in 1993 and he was arrested in his car in Palermo, he stayed calm.

‘Gentleman, you are making a big mistake,’ he said softly. The only photograph authorities had of him at the time was more than 30 years old.

While he was in detention, riina ordered the kidnap and murder of an 11-year-old boy to try to prevent his father revealing information

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UNBELIEVABLE:

about the Mafia. The boy was strangled and his body dissolved in acid. riina told prosecutors he was an innocent, God-fearing family man, who ‘scraped by’ on £150 a week working for building firms.

He steadfastly refused to collaborate with law enforcement. Earlier this year, he was reportedly recorded on a wiretap saying he ‘ regrets nothing... they’ll never break me, even if they give me 3,000 years in jail’.

Moves were made to claw back his vast fortune, and by the end of 1995, about £125 million, mostly in property, had been confiscated. riina was imprisoned in Milan under a law that requires strict security for top mobsters, including isolation and limited time outside their cells. In July, a court denied a request by riina’s family to transfer him to house arrest because of his ailing health.

Police say riina’s death will lead to a power struggle at the top of the Cosa Nostra. It has been marginalised in recent times in comparison with the Calabrian-based ’Ndrangheta crime syndicate that has spread into Italy.

‘We are now seeing an increase in activities on a financial level by Cosa Nostra subjects,’ Mr roberti said. ‘We are monitoring this.’

Michele Pennisi, archbishop of Monreale, which includes Corleone, said riina’s death ‘ends the delusion of the Cosa Nostra boss of bosses’ omnipotence’.

But he added: ‘The Mafia has not been defeated, and therefore we should not let down our guards.’

Chinese doctor tries head transplant T

HE world’s first human head transplant has been carried out on a corpse, it was claimed yesterday.

During an 18-hour operation, doctors in China showed that it is possible to reconnect the spine, nerves and blood vessels to a severed head.

Controversial Italian neurosurgeon Professor Sergio Canavero, who announced the breakthrough, said an operation on a living human was now ‘imminent’.

The next stage is a ‘full head swap’ between brain-dead organ donors – which British scientists said would be extremely difficult and ‘nothing short of criminal’.

The Chinese head transplant was performed on two human corpses by a team led by Dr Xiaoping Ren, an orthopaedic surgeon from Harbin

Medical University. Last year he decapitated two rhesus monkeys and connected the head of one to the other’s body.

The date for the first live human head transplant is due to be announced in the next few days by the Chinese team, who will also release an academic paper on their operation on corpses.

Their aim is to use the procedure to help people with long-term medical conditions.

The first human head transplant is expected to be carried out on a Chinese volunteer with paralysis.

Speaking at a press conference in Vienna, Professor Canavero said: ‘The first head transplant on human cadavers has been done. A full head swap between brain- dead organ donors is the

next stage. And this is the final step for the formal head transplant for a medical condition.’

The professor, who wants head transplants to help people live beyond 120, added: ‘For too long, nature has dictated her rules to us. We are born, we grow, we age and we die. For millions of years humans have evolved and 110billion humans have died in the process. That’s genocide on an unprecedented level.’

Professor Canavero was described as a modern- day Frankenstein in 2015 when he said he would be ready to transplant a human head within two years.

British experts were unimpressed by yesterday’s announcement.

Dr James Fildes, NHS principal research scientist at the transplant centre of the University Hospital of South Manchester, said: ‘To surgically attach a dead head on to a dead body warrants no publicity and is not a head transplant.

‘His next goal, to transplant the head from a brain-dead donor on to the body of a brain-dead donor, again will not be a head transplant.

‘Unless Canavero or Ren provide real evidence that they can perform a head, or more appropriately, a whole-body transplant on a large animal that recovers sufficient function to improve quality of life, this entire project is morally wrong.’

Jan Schnupp, professor of neuroscience at the University of Oxford, said: ‘Professor Canavero’s enthusiasm notwithstanding, I find it inconceivable that ethics committees in any reputable research or clinical institutions would give a green light to living human head transplants in the foreseeable future.

‘Indeed, attempting such a thing given the current state of the art would be nothing short of criminal.’

•Culled from the Mail

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017—45

I studied Judaism in Israel, built a temple to cure the sick but ended up in crime

— Man arrested for killing 69-yr-old kidnap victim •Victim fed with boiled plaintain before death

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etectives attached to the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, in conjunction with an Intelligence agency, have succeeded in breaking the stronghold of a deadly armed robbery, kidnapping and a killer gang that abducted a Lagos based oil dealer, Pa Basil Agha, 69, in his hometown, Umuofor in Ogberuru Local government area of Imo state in October, last year. The gang ended up killing and burying their victim in a shallow grave after collecting a huge sum of money as ransom from members of his family.

The arrest was made just 10 months after all efforts to trace his abductors failed. The prime suspect was arrested through the relentless effort of the team who were yet to be compensated with the promotion assured them after the arrest of kidnap guru, Evans.

The fair-complexioned suspect, Ikenna Solomon Agubosi, 46, notoriously called ‘Master’ is now cooling his heels inside police cell at the dreaded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, Lagos. He gave a chilling account of how the gang operated and the blood-cuddling operation that ended up in burying the innocent man in a shallow grave.

He spoke with our crime desk crew of; Emma Nnadozie, Hanna Oyeleru and Suliat Elemosho Excerpts:

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n the beginning “I come from a very poor family from Amagu in Imo state. I was selling empty bottles while in school and that was how I was able to train myself in school. I passed out from Amannna Secondary School in 1998.

After that, I became an apprentice in an electrical shop at Jankara market in Lagos where I served for seven years.

I also served another man at Alaba International market, Lagos but all these people failed to settle me as agreed after all those years. I had intention of furthering my education to university level but I could not make it. In fact, my father who is a prophet in Jewish religion said I was destined to be a business man. That was why he did not make efforts to train me in any higher institution. I was brought up to worship in Jewish religion that originated in Israel called Sabbath church.

“So, after I completed serving my masters and they refused to pay me, I started hustling in the market. While I was doing that, I noticed that I could not concentrate. It was as if I was being disturbed for not serving the Jewish God. I was seeing vision for people. When I noticed that the calling was real, I wrote to the worshippers in Israel and they gave me admission to study Jewish religion. I went to Jerusalem in Israel and was nurtured properly in Judaism. I spent four years there before coming back to Nigeria in 2013.

I went back to the east where I started doing spiritual works for people. I was curing people of

different ailments.

How I met gang leader “When I was in Lagos, I met one boy called Benneth. He is from my maternal home in Ihuoma, Imo state and he was selling medicine in a chemist shop.

We lost contact for many years until I came back and he resurfaced in our village during a novelty match in December period. We exchanged telephone numbers. One day, he called to inform me that he had somebody that was suffering from insanity, that he would like me to cure him. I charged him N100, 000.00.

Later, he brought a man of about 60 or 70 to my place of worship in Ihuoma in a red car. The man was looking very weak and he dropped him in my church promising to come the following day. However, when I approached the man to commence treatment, he told me that he was not sick but a kidnap victim. I gave him boiled plantain which I prepared when I noticed that he was very weak and he ate it hungrily.

I noticed also from the way the man was speaking that he was really a victim and I called Benneth to come immediately to my place and take the man away.

Burial in a shallow grave He later came in the mid night and left with the man. Few minutes later, he came back and complained that he could not get out of the village because of the heavy security mounted by members of the vigilante. He later told me that he had killed the man and pleaded that I should help him

•The suspect ikenna

to bury him beside the forest in my temple. That was where I made mistake. Benneth, whose real names are Benneth Ibe Onyebuch alias Japan, tricked me into committing the crime. If I had known, I should have rejected all his pleas to help him and bury the man. We then carried the man into the forest, dug a shallow grave and buried him. He paid me N70, 000.00.

What I have in my place is temple and not shrine. I have an Ofor tree there and that is where we carry out our activities. I was not into kidnapping or armed robbery but I help fraudsters.

What I do is to help them succeed in duping people. If they have problem with their clients, I will use juju to make it work in their favour. That is how I made my money and bought cars. I use to charge them between N100, 000 and N500, 000.00.

How we defraud people We have different kinds of work. We have the one we call Come and Serve, that is when they convince their victims to come with huge sums of money, after showing the fake huge amount of money in our possession. As soon as we succeed in convincing the person that he will make money from the transaction, we will disappear with his real money. There is another one we call Come and Buy. That’s when we convince unsuspecting victims that we have expensive cars for sale at a very cheap prize. We usually collect the person’s money and disappear with it.

We also have drug business where we convince buyers that we have large consignment of drugs for sale and at the end of the day; we will defraud him of his money. Our victims are mostly people we treat in my temple. Before I was arrested, I had made over N5million from the fraud business.

My relationship with gang leader, Onyebuchi I have known him as a troublesome person for long. I did not know him as a kidnapper but we have been suspecting his means of livelihood. After the burial of the man, Onyebuchi left and I left also to Port-Harcourt. I was arrested after I returned to attend our feast of New Year in my village. They took me to their station and after interrogation; I took them to where we buried the man. We dug and brought out his bones inside the thick forest.

The truth is that nobody can get our leader, Onyebuch on phone. He only calls to speak with you but you cannot get him. He told me really that he killed the man because he recognised him and it was impossible to get out of the village that night because of the tight security around the village. I feel very sad and sorry for what I did. If I had quickly informed the police when I discovered that the man was kidnapped, I would not have been in this trouble. I am very guilty that the innocent man died this way and I participated in burying him in that shallow grave, a man I just fed with plantain, Ooooh! , I am pleading to God for forgiveness.

MESSAGE I will advise people, especially the young ones, to avoid getting involved in any crime. This is because any bad thing you do, you must suffer for it. This is why I am suffering now. I know members of my family will be greatly disappointed in me now. I was in the right position to save that man but I failed. In fact, God will judge me because when they brought this man to me, I failed to save him. Honestly, before this incident, I was warned to avoid any violent thing. But, I ignored that advice and soiled my hands. That’s why I am suffering now.”

46—SA TURD AY 46—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , NO VEMBER 25, 2017 NOVEMBER

By Gabriel Olawale

I

t was about midday in the sleepy town called Sogunro Community. Quietness pervaded the environment as if there were no human lives present. It was later discovered that most of the residents had either gone to their offices out of town or had gone about their business and trades. For the housewives or older residents; they were either resting in their own homes or just minding their individual business.

As Saturday Vanguard roved the community, it was hard to realise that this location is situated within the bustling Lagos city. Originally, the essence of the reporter’s visit was to ascertain the claims that lives of pregnant women in the community were at the mercy of a TBA popularly called ‘Baba Eja’.

Sogunro is a community on the Makoko/Iwaya Waterfront. It is regarded as one of the largest aquatic trading communities on the suburb of Lagos Mainland coast of the Lagos Lagoon. Sadly, so, it lags behind in some of the social amenities that make life comfortable.

A trip by Saturday Vanguard to the community leaves much to be desired. As the canoe man paddled our reporter on musky water, Sogunro which inhabits over 100,000 people can simply be regarded as an “isolated community in its own world”.

History has it that Sogunro community comprises of displaced villagers in the late 1950s who lived in one of the villages such as -Abule Odubayo, Igan Oko, Abule Moso, Abule Aladiye, Pedoro, Sogbodie, Abule Elejo, Akinwunmi, Agege-odo -surrounding the present day University of Lagos (UNILAG) axis.

On the waterfront are different ethnic groups from across Nigeria and the Republic of Benin whose economic structures revolve around fishing, wood logging, sawmilling and boat making.

Despite a history that precedes even the Nigerian nation, Sogunro is dying for government attention for provision of basic social amenities like schools, standard hospitals, roads, potable water, security, stable power, standard market place and sanitation, among others.

Trooping out of the community to join the canoe that will paddle dwellers to the other side of the community were young and old women carrying assorted trays laden with wares of smoked fish known as ‘Egun Fish’ their major staple among several other items to be sold at the markets. Young children of school age were also seen hawking.

Sogunro Community –Breeding town for ‘Baby Mothers The sight was striking and one that would naturally force a first-time visitor to halt and ponder. In their numbers walking aimlessly across, or so it seems, were a teeming number of pregnant teenagers between ages 14 and 19. Shame or sense of remorse was not in the picture. To them, it seemed all right.

Teenage pregnancy seemed like a way of life that is readily acceptable in the community.

And by the minute, it was as if their numbers were getting higher.

Instinctively, the reporter began to probe. A respondent named Emeka, a fisherman in the community hinted that: “Here, teenage pregnancy is no big deal. There is a sense of laxity that enables these young girls engage in sexual activities. Education is not necessarily enforced due to so much poverty in the community. Poverty is the major factor fuelling the development. We have a situation in which many of the girls are lured with money by young men who are mostly Okada operators.

“Another very sad aspect is that majority of the girls are not registered for antenatal care, mainly as a result of financial constraint and cultural beliefs. Again, the belief is that because we are surrounded by water, once the young girls or ladies feel cold, they believe that the best way to shake off the cold is to see someone that will warm them up. It

•Outlook of Baba Eja house in Sogunro Community

SOGUNRO: Lagos community where Pregnant Women Die Giving Birth Teenage pregnancy seemed like a way of life that is readily acceptable in the community

doesn’t matter whether they have a formal relationship or not as long as cash is exchanged. And they do it with no sense of remorse like I said earlier. And to shock you, they don’t really believe in condoms as many of them say condoms deny them full enjoyment of sex.”

Asked how they cope with labour and delivery when they are due, Emeka said: “That is so sad and many of them do not really seem to be bothered. Time and over again, whenever any of the pregnant girls go into labour, particularly at midnight, they are usually in a dilemma.

This is basically due to their inability to afford to register in a standard hospital. And for those who could afford it, reaching the centre at midnight is a tug of war while obstetric complication that may require surgery is out of the question.

Honestly, unless there is urgent government presence with sensitization programmes, a wellequipped public health centre at least, the situation here may escalate to the point where our young girls will be dying like fowls and their babies going down with them. It is a sad story my brother,” he noted with finality.

Encounter with Baba Eja As Saturday Vanguard moved round the community to locate the major Traditional Birth Attendant, TBA, Mr. Elijah Paul, a.k.a ‘Baba Eja’, the stench from stagnant waters and refuse at different spots filled the atmosphere bellowing ‘epidemic on the prowl’.

On arrival at Baba Eja’s place, he

had just delivered Mrs. Fatima Balogun, of a new born baby. She later told the reporter that she lost her first child due to complications in delivery two years back.

While waiting, the reporter did a quick survey of the delivery room. It is a single wooden room surrounded by stagnant water and refuse. Its interior was ‘decked’ with several herbal ‘tools’ serving as Baba Eja’s ‘medical items.’ There is also a single chair, table and a mat laid on the bare floor which represents the ‘labour bed’.

The floor is a sandy platform devoid of concrete or plastering on the wall. The side-walls made of wood were full of holes that served as easy access for mosquitoes.

But to Baba Eja, all these were the reporter’s cup of tea as he retorted with pride after cleaning up Fatima and offered her a warm bowl of pap.

Three hours later, both Fatima and Baba Eja were ready to answer the journalist’s questions.

“I have been taking delivery in this community for over 25 years. And if we are to look at the number of deliveries, it cannot be less than 20,000. That is actually the reason I

•Mr Elijah Paul (Baba Eja)

am being called Baba Eja meaning ‘Father of Fish’.

“I am available 24/7 for any pregnant woman,” he bragged.

“There is no time of the day or night time they knock on my door that I won’t respond to their distress call. I want to assure you that I have the necessary documents to practice as a TBA. Really, my initial focus as an herbalist was not child delivery. I began to step in when many pregnant women were dying during delivery in our community here.

“The closest health facility is about 10 kilometers from this town. And then, if you inquired, you would be told the women died yesterday why trying to give birth either because she could not get to the health centre on time or there were no health officials to attend to them. And when the situation was becoming worrisome and repetitive, I stepped in.”

Further, Baba Eja said he actually mixed his practice with some level of conventional medical practice. “I do encourage them to go for scan to ascertain baby position. And if the result comes out contrary, I have herbs that I give the pregnant women

:

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017—47

•Mrs Agati Ufon

•Chief Yusuf Kumayon (Baale of Sogunro)

•Mrs Tanwa Kazeem

•Mrs Fatima Balogun

•Mr Kayode Omiyale (Chairman Yaba LCDA) to enable the baby position properly.

Also, I have a trained nurse that I call in whenever there are challenges because delivering a baby is not something only one person can face as it has to do with life.

“I demand N10,000, but most of them have never paid beyond N5,000. And I don’t see them again until probably during another delivery.”

Amid the interactive session, Baba Eja, who hails from Ipokia Local Government Area in Ogun State said he was planning to leave the Sogunro community very soon. The question is: ‘Is Sogunro community willing or ready to leave Baba Eja?’ The old man, who does not even know his real age, has lived and practiced herbal medicine for over 25years in that clan. In the thought of every pregnant woman in the community is ‘Baba Eja’ to rescue them in the delivery of their babies.

However, Baba Eja is appalled by the depth of poverty the residents of that community are subjected to on a daily basis. And to say that such a community is within Nigeria’s commercial heartbeat, the city of Lagos, is something very hard to fathom. He lamented: “Honestly, It is due to challenges of life that make many people to live here. It is not that they are happy to do so. Given other choices, many of us will live in far better spots in Lagos. This seems

like a forgotten part of the State. The community is never considered when the government is doing anything good for the state. So sad.”

Fatima’s story Looking frail and pale was the newly delivered mother, Fatima Balogun, 22, as she laid on the only mat serving as bed on the sandy floor.

She told the reporter that she had registered for antenatal with Baba Eja after she lost her first child at the age of 20.

Narrating her story, Fatima said: “I lost my first child about a year ago. I would have died with the baby but God just preserved my life. My labour pains started at midnight and my two female neighbours promptly responded. They tried all they could to help me deliver the baby. But it proved difficult. So, they quickly took me to a nearby TBA where I later give birth to the baby around 6:00am. But the baby died a few minutes after delivery.

Fatima, who is a hairdresser, later registered with Baba.

On a woman’s delivery process at Baba Eja’s shelter, Fatima gave an insight.

“Before delivery, Baba Eja gives the intending mother some herbs to drink and bathe with. He also makes the woman to eat some concoction to ease labour pains and make the passage of the baby easier.

“But for this particular delivery, Baba Eja had experienced some challenges that made him call in the nurse to come and inject me. I really did not know the exact challenges. After the injection, I experienced some labour but still the baby didn’t come out on time.

So, Baba Eja told the nurse to administer infusion drip while he also gave me another concoction.

After all these, the pressure to push intensified and I was able to push and the baby came out.”

In Fatima’s view however, the baby’s delay to exit her womb was not Baba Eja’s fault.

“I believe that the delay in my delivery was due to my failure to carry out some sacrifices Baba Eja recommended much during my pregnancy. I was unable to do them as a result of financial challenges.

He had told me to appease the witches that prevented my first baby from staying but I could not due to poverty.” Both mother and baby however, survived this ordeal.

As the reporter continued the investigations on the maternal plight of women in Sogunro community, it was obvious others have tales of woes to tell.

Mr. Kunle Adigun, a resident, told Saturday Vanguard regretfully that he lost both his wife and baby boy during childbirth.

David, 27, also said his wife, Bolanle, could have been alive today to experience the joy of motherhood, but her dream was cut short because she found herself in Sogunro community where good life and health facilities are scarce. “Her desire to give life led her to the great beyond. She went into labour in the middle of the night. We suspected that was a problem on its own. Her mother, who was with us at the time called for help. But there was little anyone could do because there was no means of conveying her to the other side of the canal for medical attention,” David lamented.

“Prior to her delivery time, Bolanle had registered for antenatal at a private hospital in Yaba.

But there was no canoe to convey her there at that time of the night.

That was how she and her baby died after several hours of labour in the hands of a TBA.” Tanwa Kazeem, 28, a pregnant woman who is close to her delivery period lamented that healthcare delivery situation in Sogunro is

worrisome, adding that when a baby falls sick, rushing that baby to hospital for emergency attention is not possible due to lack of any nearby healthcare centre.

“I registered with N5,000 for antenatal at a private hospital in Iwaya area of Lagos. And I go there every Tuesday and pay N1,000 for checkups. Already, I have paid the mandatory N10,000 for regular delivery and I pray that my labour and delivery will occur at a good time during the day when we can still move quickly to the hospital. I have two children already also delivered in the same hospital and at a good time of the day. I also practice exclusive breastfeeding on my children and as well, give them the medically advised three years’ spacing interval. But government needs to come and help us here.”

Agati Ufon, related that all her children were delivered in Cotonou as she would not risk giving birth to any child in the community. She said affirmatively: “I don’t deliver in this village. Once my delivery time is approaching, I travel to my place in Cotonou. Even though I patronise TBAs here where I registered with N3,500 and do collect herbs with N500 monthly, I still will not risk delivering in this community.”

Baale Speaks The Baale of Sogunro, Chief Yusuf Kumayon, crowned by the late Oloto of Oto in 2007 went down memory lane.

“Since the existence of this community, government only remembers us during election. That time, irrespective of the obstacle, they will find their way to our community but after election they forget us.

Once our pregnant women fall into labour at night, crossing to the other side of the water is a major challenge. Many times, the women die when there is no means of taking them to the hospital. The only Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) is in Iwaya about 20 minutes’ drive away and it does not operate at night.

“Sogunro and two other nearby communities, Makoko and Oko Agbon have population of over 500,000 without a single PHC. Some of our pregnant women register in private hospitals in Yaba, Adekunle and Gbagada but to get them there at night has been a Herculean task. On our own, we use planks to construct bridges. But, immediately rain falls, the planks are washed away. We want government to support us in construction of roads, hospitals and schools for our children.”

Kumayon disclosed that so far in 2017, “about 20 women have been lost to pregnancy-related deaths.

Of the 20 women less than 10 children survived because both the mothers and babies got exhausted during labour.

“Once in a while, we have benefitted from the Lagos State Immunization Programme just as some non-government organisations do come here. However, we need the government of Lagos, our own state, to come here and see our plight. We don’t think that those representing us are really presenting our case to the Governor because we can see how other areas of Lagos are being transformed. We believe in continuity. That is the reason we voted for him but we have not enjoyed the benefit. If we can have one PHC strategically positioned for benefit of the three communities, we would appreciate that as a starting point.”

What obtains in Sogunro community therefore shows that despite government’s provision of health services through the PHCs, many women still chose TBAs due to poverty and proximity; given the

level of trust people repose in them and their newly established relevance in maternal care delivery.

Ambode said his administration would strive to take traditional medicine to a higher level through innovative research and development, just as he advised the TBAs to discharge their duties well according to the ethics guiding their profession, urging them to improve their practice through training.

Much as the LASG expresses its high level commitment towards achieving a reduction in maternal mortality; the state MMMR is still below the national average because many of them lack access to services for women residing in hard-toreach areas, among others.

LASG reacts In his reaction to the development, the Chairman, Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr. Kayode Omiyale, said the ordeal of the 500,000 people of Sogunro, Makoko and Oko-Agbo is known to government and moves are in progress to ensure the residents have access to quality healthcare.

“Since the palliative bridge built to cross the canal was swept away by heavy flood some time ago, efforts are on to build another one.

We have health committees in place and they are coming up with ideas to resolve the issue. It is however not possible for us to put health centres in all the 34 communities which we have grouped into CDAs. What we want to do is to cluster them and build PHCs that will not be too far to easily reach. We will ensure they have at least one PHC that will serve the three communities on a PublicPrivate Partnership scheme before the end of first quarter of 2018.

Medical Experts speak Dr. Olusola Odujinrin, a community health expert and Fellow of the West African College of Physician (FWACP) said Nigeria has not done well in the provision and maintenance of Primary Health Facilities (PHFs) which may have contributed to the sad reports.

“Nigeria is way off the track in meeting all MDGs and SDGs’ stipulations. We are on the back row because we lack healthcare infrastructure which necessitated the high mortality rate. Our first goal in tackling all these is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger according to the World Bank’s projection for sub-Saharan Africa.

We can still address these challenges if we have the political will to do just that. The appropriation of the PHC has been grossly inadequate, thereby putting the lives of the mother and child at risk.”

According to Mr. Bayo Onajole, a health official with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), “The major problem is that there have been so many programmes in place as regards the PHC. There is a need to review all these programmes. For the ones that are working, we need to appraise and for those that are not working, we need to modify them. If we do that, we will be moving a step close to solving the problem.

Now, we are not calling for a complete departure, but for a change to reinforce the project to tone down the high mortality rate.

Government could help to bring down the mortality rate through appropriate financing and monitoring of the fund allocated to PHC as well as checking graft. The nation can also have periodic personnel training and infrastructure development.”

48—VANGUARD, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

NNPC, Kebbi State Partner on 84million Litres of Fuel-Ethanol …As Parties Sign MoU on Biofuels

MAINA!

BY DR UGOJI EGBUJO

M

aina came. There was an uproar. There was a rumble in the council chambers. There was exchange of inter ministerial missiles. There was expectation of a political bloodbath.

Maina was hurriedly re-dismissed. The president turned Pontious Pilate.

The HOS did the woman thing- sang and freed herself. The Attorney General sent his boy to fly the kite of legalism. While he ducked and did a COZA. All don cool down, brother! (Fela) The report has been with the angry president for weeks now. Maina , who was heading to his office with police guards before he was dismissed, cannot be found. Those who went to Dubai to bring him back have adorned righteous cloaks.

The public has submitted to apathy. The outrage turned out a mere whimper.

They have been let off Maina has gone. Under the carpet. Off the radar But they won’t keep quiet. Maina sends us hymns of his greatness and holiness from hiding. The Attorney General has developed persecutory delusions. He claims pension thieves are after him. He now says he took the war to them, they want to destroy him. He reels out Maina’s figures , he claims them as his achievement.

He and Maina now sing from same hymn sheet, in confounding harmony.

NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru (right), and Kebbi State Governor, Alh. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, signing an MoU today in Abuja on NNPC’s plan to build an 84 million litres per annum capacity fuel-ethanol project in Kebbi State.

As part of efforts to transform the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into an integrated energy company, the Corporation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kebbi State Government to build an 84 million litres per annum capacity fuel-ethanol project.

Speaking during the signing of the MoU between the NNPC and the Kebbi State Government (KBSG) at the NNPC Towers, in Abuja on Thursday, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said the MoU was to commence the practical implementation of the NNPC Fuel-Ethanol Projects in Kalgo and Koko Besse Local Government areas of Kebbi State.

He stated that the occasion was a milestone in the drive by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to diversify the economy with a view to saving the Country from the uncertainties of absolute NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru dependence on oil, stressing that the signing (right), and Kebbi State Governor, Alh. Abubakar Atiku of the MoU between KBSG and NNPC Bagudu, posing with copies of an MoU both endorsed in Abuja on NNPC’s plan to build an 84 million litres epitomizes the gains of the per annum capacity fuel-ethanol project in Kebbi State. laudable vision of the Federal Government.

Dr. Baru noted that the Sugarcane and Cassava-Fuel megawatts of bio-electricity to potentials for biofuels in the Ethanol Project in Kebbi State power the plant and lighten up country and for export were would involve the development the surrounding communities, enormous, stressing that the reduction of NNPC was willing to offer of 20,000 hectares of an effecting integrated plantation and plant Greenhouse Gas Emissions, opportunity for investment in production of refined sugar and the project by citizens of the complex.

“Let me use this opportunity to Industrial starch as well as State.

Earlier, Kebbi State Governor, convey my sincere appreciation production of animal feeds.

He noted that Kebbi State was Alh. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, to the Government of Kebbi State on her interest to partner NNPC trying to take its rightful place in who led a high powered in achieving the Federal the biofuels project, as he delegation representing every Government’s mandate on attested to the large expanse of strata of the state, congratulated automotive biofuels production in arable land the State is endowed the President and the GMD for the vision of the biofuels project, Nigeria. Today is a watershed in with.

“We are greatly encouraged to stressing that the move would the life of Kebbi State prime position as the food basket and observe that Mr. President, transform the NNPC into a fullyfeeder of the nation. The MoU Muhammadu Buhari, is very fledged energy company.

Alh. Bagudu stated that the today will move you to the next passionate about the Biofuel level of not just a feeder of the Industry vision. It is my energy sector was an evolving nation, but one which also expectation that the signing of the one, adding that Kebbi State provides fuel for the nation. We MoU between KBSG and NNPC was thankful for the opportunity hope that very soon, you will will open the way to the Federal to partner with the NNPC on Economic the biofuels project. invite President Muhammadu Government’s diversification drive.

Also, it is “The GMD and top Buhari for the ground breaking hoped that this event will send a management of the NNPC, we of the project,” Dr. Baru stated. clear message to other State in Kebbi State will do our utmost The GMD listed the benefit of Governments who are yet to come best to make sure that the the project to include: creation of on board in the new agro-allied objective of the biofuel project rural wealth, generation of industrial revolution,” Dr. Baru is realized,” Gov. Bagudu reassured.

1,000,000 direct and indirect jobs, averred. co-generation of about 64 Dr. Baru stated that the

The Attorney General has not explained why he and the president are singing different hymns on Maina. The Attorney General has not explained why he and the HOS saw two different pictures in Maina. The Attorney General has not explained why he and the EFCC have two different summaries on Maina.

Maina has gone. The Attorney General is going nowhere. The President is not going take any quick action. Let me go quickly, and mind my business.

While Nigeria was praying . . .

By PROF Abel Idowu Olayinka

A

fter independence, in order to build a great nation, each country went to “WORK” .

But in Nigeria, after independence, our people went to “PRAY” and fast,but we were taught to “WORK and PRAY”.

So, while we were praying, neglecting the WORK content,Malaysia came here and took our palm seedlings and built a great factory of it.

While we were praying, Singapore went into investment in technology.

While we were praying, India went into ICT. While we were praying, China went to massive industrialization.

While we were praying, UAE went into massive infra structural development.

While we were binding and casting Lucifer, Japan went into technological development.

While we were speaking in tongues, Denmark,EMPOWERED THEIR TEACHERS and went into education of her citizens.

While we were mounting big speakers in our places of worship, USA was mounting man on the moon.

After our prayers, God, being a wise God decided to reward us according to our labour.

Since those that went into industrialisation, technology, infra structural development, ICT, education etc have been rewarded accordingly. It’s only wise God rewards us with our efforts in prayers.

That’s why today, Nigerian pastors are competing in building the biggest churches. That’s why there are more prayer houses and worship places than hospitals and schools. That’s why people rush to prayer houses for medical and business solutions instead of hospitals.

That’s why we don’t do business visibility before jumping into it since we are going to back it up with prayers. And when it collapses, we blame devil.

That’s why it’s a sin to say anything negative about Pastors and Imams.

That’s why our Pastors don’t consider the opinion of engineers while building and blame devil when the building collapses.

That’s why faith in God replaces building pillars and when it collapses we blame it on Lucifer.

That’s why our Pastors are making sure they plant Church branches instead of schools on every street in Nigeria.

That’s why we always wait for God to do for us that which ability would’ve accomplished.

That’s why we want our teachers to labour on earth and go to heaven for their rewards.

Nigeria is a prayer loving, God fearing nation. Religion has taken the place of technology, infrastructure, education etc.

When travelling, we ignore all the necessary road requirements, servicing of our vehicles and pray. And, once we pray, we can put a half serviceable vehicles on the road and blame our step mothers or mothers in law if anything goes wrong.

That’s why there are more people dying on our roads than wild animals in the forest. IT IS NOT TOO LATE,LET US RESOLVE TO BRING BACK THE “WORK” ,content.

SATURDAY

I star oom startted dr dryycleaning in m myy rroom with m e—Adebayo myy wif wife

*Launches first drycleaning academy M r Eniibukun Adebayo, founder of CleanAce brand, CleanAce Foundation and CleanAce Academy.

The first drycleaning academy in the country.

In this interview with Moses Nosike, he revealed how he started drycleaning in his room with his wife, and after his primiary, secondary and university education, he went back to drycleaning because of the burning passion he had when he was young.

“I have been in this business for 25 years. It started from my grandfather to my father and my very self; but my own component of the business started in 1991. This is the only business I have done and I’m still doing it. I took it more as a calling.

My motivation, passion to set up CleanAce Academy was the fact that for 25 years of drycleaning business the industry has no formal structuring and I looked at it that for businesses to thrive there is need for structuring, rules and regulations to guide operation.

I came into dry cleaning industry in 1991. I have worked in my father’s business, also worked in the biggest and best laundry in Nigeria. After that I wanted to go into consulting in the drycleaning industry, but on a second thought I was convinced to first build a brand of worthiness before I can start training or consulting for others so that the brand would be a prove to people that this man really has a idea of what he wants to give out or share”.

What inspired you into drycleaning business?

The inspiration came when I was a young boy. So when I was in the primary and secondary school levels, I had some school mates in my class whose fathers were drivers, mechanics, capentre, petty traders, vulganisers and any time our teachers asked what is father doing for a living my colleagues would be bold enough with high level of satisfaction to say it to the hearing of everybody even though there were the children of the rich, accountants, doctors lawyers etc. my happiness was we were all sitting in the same classrooms.

But for me as a young boy, I love pressing clothes even though I don’t like washing it but I can spend a whole day, weekends pressing clothes. I did so much that my father’s friends in the streets were bringing their clothes to me for pressing and I would do it happily without complain or ask for money. I was passionately doing it.

In 1991 when my father was starting his first laundry I was happy because I saw it as an avenue that could enhance my skills having seen bigger pressing irons that makes pressing clothes easy like the ones you saw in our training rooms. So when I finished secondary school in 1988 and was expecting admission which delayed because I wrote JAMB for 6 consecutive times before I could gain admission into the higher institution. When the admission finally came, my father having seen my passion for the business asked me if I wanted to continue with the laundry business or go to school, but I decided to go to school, realising that education would enhance skill for laundry business.

My story is that I already had it mind during my growing up that for me and many young people that would be interested I would build a good place in Nigeria where people will work, train them and they would be happy to tell people they are working in a laundry. However, coming into the drycleaning industry, I discovered a lot of loopholes and why young people would not be interested in the industry because it lacks structure, no training, everybody is doing it at

Adebayo, the local level, no standard except few of us who were able to travel to England, America and other part of Europe to learn drycleaning professionally. I now decided to replicate the training here instead of going to aborad for training, let us have a drycleaning training academy here with same standard in abroad.

The vision of the CleanAce school of drycleaning is to be the reengineering and re-defining factor in making quality fabricare affordable to all. Our mission is to establish a self-sustaining organization, pioneering the promotion of international best practice in drycleaning, laundry operations and allied services in

Nigeria.”

With your passion for drycleaning, how is the academy going to run?

Before now, people use the local way of pressing clothes in the business, but now there are mordern equipment that can wash as many clothes efficiently and more economical. The academy would strictly implore modern innovation that promotes drycleaning business. This is the technology applied for drycleaning services in hotels. So what we are bringing to our people is first of its kind. We are bringing professional people that would mind the faculties, train people in a proper way of running laundry. Even the

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017—49

tailors that make clothes, do they know proper way of testing materials before joining them together? The academy is set up to address those issues. In the aspect of chemical usage for drycleaning, trainees will be taught rightful ways of using chemicals for washing and how to avoid imitations and chemicals that are injurious to health. So, the academy is set to support the vendors, manufacturers, tailors and so on and so forth.

Can you estimate how much involved in equipping such a modern laundry academy?

Going by the quality of our facilities in the academy, we have spent about N50 million and more innovation is still in progress. On how many students we can admit, with the 3 classrooms for training and a fully fitted factory for practical demonstration, what we want to do is to create a training platform for many that want to add value to their lives and by extension impact in their business. You can’t decide the number of people that would be admitted; who doesn’t clean. In Lagos alone, we have at least 6,500 drycleaners at different level. These drycleaners have workers working with them. A lot of people are working in this industry but nobody regulates nor trains them. We are number one in Nigeria and Africa and we want to reach the whole Africa because the academy is for everybody.

Is the training going to be free?

It is not going to be entirely free and that is why I talked about the CleanAce Foundation which is our way we want to give back to the society, but the academy is the operational arm. It must be self sustainable. It’s not for profit. We are not begging people to come and support. It is what we have been called to do, it is a legacy we are proven to leave behind, that we have come into the drycleaning industry and we are not going to leave it the way we met it.

Are you into partnership with government or any corporation?

It is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.

We hope to get both private and government support so that we can

reach more people. First, we are moving to sort out issue of training.

Now I have not talked about the other things the academy is going to be doing on entrepreneurship, soft skills on leadership, management, sales, marketing etc. We are going to train people on customer service in the drycleaning industry with the use of technology in managing quality control, operational and entrepreneurial management. And for those who want to start drycleaning business, we can support you to get it right from the onset of your business. You may ask me how do I manage competition?

For us this is not a competition but a legacy. If we can impact lives, safeguard investments in fashion and style we would have achieved 99% of our goal because a lot of investments are being wasted over the years because of the shoddy drycleaning and laundry services available, we will position to support as many that will be interested in quality drycleaning.

How do you ensure sustainability of the academy?

Sustainability will be hinged on the little the people are encouraged to pay for their training. We are not here to make the money but to meet the need of the people. The truth remains that commitment to anything that is free is always low, and commitment is key for us. We are going to be charging a fraction of the real cost that will keep the place up and running. The support the CleanAce drycleaners will be giving to the Academy will not stop.

The sustainability is assured because this is our brand and what we stand for.

Employment opportunity...

There is nobody that doesn’t wash his or her clothes. Everybody must wear clean clothes, it doesn’t have to be a new one. But they must be clean and fit right. We are a very fashionable set of people in Nigeria, there must be people to maintain all the investment in these clothes.

My wife and I started washing with our bare hands in our apartment in Gbagada and today, see what God has done with over 100 plus people working in CleanAce and our 12 branches.

Paxful joins in the drive for financial inclusion, educates Nigerians on Bitcoin

A

s part of efforts to help people from different walks of life transact online without limitations and make money, Paxful unveiled Blockchain and Cryptotalk at Pelican Hotel and Resort Lekki, Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Paxful CEO, Ray Youssef, said: “Paxful is a global marketplace for bitcoin. We solve a problem for vast amount of people that cannot transact online due to restrictions in place by their local government on foreign currencies and lack of access to cryptocurrencies for over 300 methods.

Our aim is to educate Nigerians on how to start their businesses and how bitcoin can help solve financial problems. Paxful bitcoin is a flexible tool to help you store money.”

“Bitcoin is a way of sending money like sending an email. To use bitcoin, you need a wallet. You can use your bitcoin to buy things online from many websites that accepts bitcoin. The good thing is that you can sell your bitcoin to make profit. Also, if you have bitcoin in your Paxful wallet, you can withdraw in naira.

L-R: CMO,Jan Strandberg , COO,Elliott Hoffman; CEO, Ray Youseff, Lucky Uwakwe, all from Paxful during a lecture in Lagos.

On Paxful, you buy bitcoin from other people to add money directly to your wallet. Sellers list their ads to sell you bitcoin. You have the opportunity to pay for bitcoin in diverse ways. Some take gift cards, others use debit cards and bank transfers. Your fee is taken to get you

bitcoin fast and privately. Paxful doesn’t charge you any fee for buying bitcoin.”

“We are completely reeling out our brand image and planning to open a Paxful office in Nigeria soon for easy interaction with our community. Our website is going

through a complete redesign, and we have so far been focused on development with our users in the correct way. Paxful is not a lending platform. If you are a buyer, you are 100 percent protected. We verify and check all our sellers for safety, you can pay with confidence with 2-factor authentication, escrow, highest level encryption and professional audited security”.

“Our biggest markets are currently in the US and Nigeria. However, we are seeing highest growth in Africa as we are bringing financial inclusions to many countries where people are largely unbanked or underbanked. The community of bitcoin users is fast growing and Paxful is here to ensure support to existing users and educate new entrants on the opportunities for entrepreneurs and individuals.” he added.

Other speakers at the well attended event include Elliott Hoffman, COO Paxful, Chimezie Chuta Coordinator Blockchain Nigeria User Group, and Lucky Uwakwe Certified Crypto Expert.

Nigerian beverage market booms with Chivita Chapman Happy Hour

I

n its strives to keep its customers refreshed and satisfied, Chi Limited has introduced a new variant of Happy Hour from the stable of Chivita into the marketplace. The new variant, ‘Chapman Happy Hour by Chivita’ will now join other popular variants from the brand’s stable to offer consumers more choices for refreshment.

A brand analyst, Hassan Mustapha stated that the new Chapman Happy Hour by Chivita offers a refreshing way to enjoy our favourite chapman drink. “It is interesting to see how this brand has been able to coin a compelling narrative, ‘Refreshment Naija Style’ to endear itself to consumers. It ticks the right boxes in this regard as it is made in Nigeria, takes into consideration our local taste, connects with our style and offers

refreshing value that is in a class of its own,” he noted.

Ibiyemi Idowu, an insurance broker, stated that chapman drinks are the favourite starters in a Nigerian party and a refreshing drink the average party goer looks forward to on the menu. “I believe the new Chapman Happy Hour by Chivita is a bold statement by the brand to complement our authentic Naija experiences through amazing refreshment”.

In addition, Marketing Director of Chi Limited, Mr. Probal Bhattacharya said that Chapman Happy Hour by Chivita is an indigenous drink ideal for its offer of an unrivalled burst of refreshment.

“Chapman is all about refreshing taste and flavours deeply ingrained in the Nigerian mindscape. For us, this is more than just a regular

refreshment offering – it’s a tribute to what makes us happy and refreshed in our own Nigerian way – hence Chapman Happy Hour by Chivita is truly ‘Refreshment Naija Style,” he stated.

First rolling out in 150ml juice boxes, each pack of Chapman Happy Hour by Chivita is full of tasty fruitiness that is guaranteed to keep the consumer refreshed and satisfied.

Nigeria needs organisation to bring about change — Osinbajo

VICE President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said that Nigeria needs to become very organized in order to achieve the impactful change the citizens aspire for. Osinbajo made this statement at a book launch titled, ‘From Consumption To Production: The Whys and Ways out of Failed Industrialization In Nigeria’ held in Abuja. The book written by Professorial Fellow, United Nations University, Milton Keynes, UK and former Director, UN Habitat, Kenya, Prof.

Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, was reviewed by secretary-general, committee of Vice-chancellors, Prof. Michael Faborode.

According to Osinbajo, the book is instructive for policy makers, policy executors to learn a lot on how to move the country from a consumption nation to a productive.

“In this book there is a lot we need to take away especially policy makers, policy executors as the book gives a complete description on how to make Nigeria work. We need organization to make this country work. We have all the needed academics and knowledge and they are not doing badly so we need to learn how to implement things”.

50 — VANGUARD, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

Continued from Page 7 president which ended up being leaked. In that memo, he admitted that the All Progressives Congress had “not only failed to manage expectations of a populace that expected overnight ‘change’ but has failed to deliver even mundane matters of governance”. Of the party itself, that same governor said “Mr. President, Sir Your relationship with the national leadership of the party, both the formal (NWC) and informal (Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso), and former Governors of ANPP, PDP (that joined us) and ACN, is perceived by most observers to be at best frosty. Many of them are aggrieved due to what they consider total absence of consultations with them on your part and those you have assigned such duties.”

Since that memorandum was written up until today, nothing has been done to reverse the treatment meted out to those of us invited to join the All Progressives Congress on the strength of a promise that has proven to be false. If anything, those behaviours have actually worsened. But more importantly, the party we put in place has failed and continues to fail our people, especially our young people. How can we have a federal cabinet without even one single youth? A party that does not take the youth into account is a dying party.

The future belongs to young people.IadmitthatIandothers who accepted the invitation to join the APC were eager to make positive changes for our countrythatwefellforamirage.

Can you blame us for wanting to put a speedy end to the sufferings of the masses of our people? Be that as it may be, after due consultation with my God, my family, my supporters andtheNigerianpeoplewhom Imeetinallwalksoflife,I,Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa, hereby tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress while I take time to ponder my future.

APCtoAtiku:GoodLuck,We won’tmissyou The APC has however wished the former vice president “goodluck” in his future political endeavours, saying, for now, it would not misshimexceptifinthecoming days, it is able to ascertain that a substantial number of its members left with the former chieftain.

Spokesman of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi who addressed journalists in Abuja also added that the party had not been informed of the defection of the former vice president.

Henotedthat“Politicsisabout interest. We have not seen any formal notification to that effect but based on what we have seeninthesocialmediawecan say all together it is surprising but for us, politics is all about interest. So, if the former Vice President feels that his interest is better served elsewhere, we can always wish him goodluck”.

On the several reasons listed

APC quakes as Atiku quits

by Mr. Atiku for deserting the APC, Abdullahi said the party was still in the process of buildingitself,sayingthatforthe APC, “the task of building a politicalpartyisnotaday’sjob.”

According to him, “it is a marathon, and it takes many years, and we will continue to improveonoursystemuntilwe are able to get the kind of party that we want to really, really build. It takes many years to build a strong political party. In a new party, you find some people are happy, some people are not so happy, and everybody would have to take theirdecisionsatsomepoint.So, we don’t have anything to say rather than to wish the former Vice President Goodluck”.

On how Atiku’s exit would affect the fortunes of the party, the APC spokesman said; “A lossoffortuneisinnumbers.So, if we are able to see the number of people that followed the Vice President to his new party, that is when we will begin to worry, butwehavenotseen.So,when we see, we will know whether we need to worry or not. It is about numbers”.

Shira, Atiku’s Associate Leaves APC, Moves To PDP Alhaji Hamisu Shira, who served the Shira Federal Constituency in Bauchi State for two terms and a long time associate of the former vicepresident while welcoming Atiku’s move said he had himselflefttheAPCandwasset to register with the PDP in line with other associates of Atiku.

He hinted that a significant number of unhappy members of the party in the legislature would soon be leaving.

“From the National Assembly I can tell you that a significant number of persons would be joining us very soon,” he told Saturday Vanguard yesterday evening.

SGF in unity visit to Party Secretariat Meanwhile, barely three hours after Atiku announced hisdecisiontoquittheparty,the SecretarytotheGovernmentof the Federation SGF, Boss Mustapha was at the national secretariat of the party to meet with the executives.

Though, the details of his visit were not public; Mallam Abdullahi said the SGF’s visit totheAPCNationalSecretariat was a most welcome development.

“Commendably, the Party notes that the SGF had earlier visited the National Assembly.

The visit has had a positive impact as seen in the way the National Assembly has been treating some outstanding issues”, he said.

Abdullahi said this signifies a new era in the relationship between the government and the Party, and with the other arms of government, especially the National Assembly.

“The Party urges the SGF to continue and extend the interface to other relevant bodies. Indeed, President Muhammadu Buhari has chosen a right man for the job.

The era of acrimony that has slowed us down in the past is gone”, Abdullahi added.

TheSGFisfromAtiku’shome

state and had until not too long ago been on the same political wavelength with the former vice-president.

El-Rufai denounces Atiku Governor El-Rufai during a visit to the Presidential Villa yesterday described Atiku as a serial presidential contestant who jumps from one party to another, saying that Abubakar wasnowhereathreattoBuhari’s re-election.

Mallam El-Rufai who spoke to State House correspondents shortly after joining President Buhari for the Friday Juma’at service at the State House, Abuja, also said it was likely the former Vice President could come back to the APC, by 2019 if he failed to get the ticket for the election.

Besides, the Kaduna State Governor said that Atiku was alone in his exit from the APC, claiming that no governor elected on the platform of the party will follow the Waziri Adamawa to any new party he would decide to settle with.

Fielding question from State House correspondents on how he felt in the departure of the former vice-president from the APC, he said, “Well, I won’t even say we wereintheAPCtogether.Some of us formed the APC, some of them joined because they thought that the APC was a platform for which they will contest election, but when they didn’t get the opportunity they started looking around.

“I have heard about what the former Vice President said about leaving the APC. We knew he was going to leave in December, but he has left in November which is good becausetheearlierheleavesfor where he belongs, the better.

“He has changed political parties a few times; there is nothing surprising. Before the 2019 elections if situation changes and he thinks he can get the ticket in 2019 (in APC) he will come back. That is what he has done a few times.”

On the allegation in some quarters that the former Vice President was driven out of the APC, he said, “No one has driven him out of the party, the APC is an equal opportunity platform for everyone.

“He has in his statement of leaving the party made reference to the memo I wrote to Mr. President in September 2016,whereIwascallingonthe President to reach out to party leaders that feel aggrieved, and I mentioned him, the Asiwaju and many others.

“TheothersarestillintheAPC because they believe in the direction of the party, they believe we have come to save the country from a very bad situation. But the former Vice President is always looking for an opportunity to contest. He is aserialcontestant,andwewish him luck.”

On whether some members ofAPCloyaltoAbubakarmight go with him to his new party, the former Federal Capital Territory, Minister said, “I don’t know about the loyalists in the APC that will go with him, but I want to assure you that there is noonegovernorintheAPCthat

is going to go with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

“The only governor that he would think will go with him, thegovernorofAdamawaState (Jubrila Bindo) has already endorsed President Buhari for the 2019 elections. And there are many governors I will not mention the number, but a majority of the APC governors have already taken the position that the president should run for a second term in office.

“And we are grateful to the AlmightyGodthatthequestion marks about his health have been put to rest, he is getting better every day, and we are confident that the way to preserveourpartyandadvance the interest of Nigeria is for Mr. President to run for a second term.

Also on whether the resignation of Abubakar from the APC, was not a threat in the event the PDP gives him the ticket, and he runs against the President, he said, “He has never been and will never be a threat to President Buhari.

“Let me say this very clearly, and I had said this to the former Vice President in 2014 Dubai when we met because before joining the APC he sent for me.

He told me of his intention, and I welcomed it because politics is a game of addition, not subtraction. So the more you have, the merrier.

“However, I told him not to run for the presidency because I believe very strongly this is Buhari’s era. As long as President Muhammadu Buhari is in politics, I do not see anyNigerianfromthenorthern part of the country that will be able to match him in popularity.

“The people of the 19 northern states and Nigeria have decided because of the President’s history of integrity and good governance they are committed to him.

“Anyone standing up to challenge him is wasting his time. God has decreed that this is Buhari’s time, and we are waiting for the PDP to give Atiku Abubakar the ticket, and wewillfacehimonthefield,but I have no doubt that I will not lose any sleep about it.”

APC Senators Lament Senator Abdullahi Adamu,

APC,NasarawaWest,however, lamented the situation saying yesterday: “his exit is sad, he is a father, a founding father of the party. If he thinks that his leavingthepartyisthebestway for him in his political career, I cannot question him; this is democracy, it is part of democracy.”

SenatorSabiAbdullahi,APC, Niger North on his part said Atiku’s exit was a sad moment for him and the party especially against the backdrop of the role the former Vice President played in bringing the party to life and subsequently becoming a ruling party.

Senator Abdullahi said that it is hoped that the APC would look inward to find out what exactly led to Atiku leaving the party he formed and to avert a situation where a similar situation will not happen again in the party.

He said, “It is for us as a party a sad moment, party is about membership, even if it is one. It is really a big loss to the party, especially when you look at the personality that is involved, a former Vice President of the country and one who was one of those that formed the APC. It is my sad moment; it is hoped that the party will look inward andlearnlessonsfromhisexit.”

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, PDP, Abia South on his part described the exit of the former vice-president from the APC as “a welcome development.”

Members of the House of Representatives also shared divergent views on the resignation of the former vicepresident from the APC. APC Rep, Faleke says somethingiswrong Rep. Abiodun Faleke, APC, Ikeja, Lagos on his part also lamented Atiku’s exit saying that it pointed to the fact that something was not right with the party.

Faleke in his reaction said “in my opinion, Atiku’s defection is a pointer to the fact that all is not well within the party.

“Howelsecanweallworkfor the party and efforts are rewarded with rejection and complete abandonment.

“Imagine the Kogi situation where we worked, spent our resources and energy only for

the party to handover the fruit to someone else.

“His defection is indirectly saying the party must take action before it is too late.

Rep. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, PDP, Abia in his reaction described it as a welcome developmentthatwillpositively impact on PDP. He said “Atiku has the political clout to make the difference as he has what is required to move the party (PDP) forward.

“Today nobody in Nigeria can say that Atiku is not a factor in our political space as he contributed meaningfully to ourcountryastheVicepresident to Olusegun Obasanjo.

“His case is like a woman whomarriedtwohusbandsand has suddenly realised that one is better than the other which is the PDP. I join others in welcoming him back to the proper place which he belonged.

Rep Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma,PDP,Edoonhis part felt that Atiku’s home coming to PDP will have no positive effect on the Nigerian political space.

Group Prints 4 Million Red Cards To Issue APC Meanwhile, a PDP support group, named Why It Must Be PDPin2019(WIMBPDP2019) yesterday commended Atiku forgivingtheAPCwhatitcalled a red card.

National Coordinator of the group, Chinedu Eya at a press conference in Abuja yesterday saidthatAtikuwasnotsatisfied, like other Nigerians, hence the decision to resign his membership of the party.

He described WIMBPDP as a grass root campaign mobilization for the PDP in 2019, even as he appealed to Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to come together to oust the ruling party.

Accordingtohim,“morethan 4 million red cards will be distributed to Nigerians and to have it close by if you come across any APC member.”

He said: “The former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, did not resign but gave the APC a red card because he is not satisfied and felt the party is not running a worthy government.

“PDP is the home of Atiku, andhewillbewarmlywelcome back to the party.”

Things Atiku’s defections have in common with Buhari

By Charles Kumolu

W

HILE it would not be wrong to describe former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as a serial defector, profiling him as the only person, who had crisscrossed parties in the quest for the presidency could be termed fallacious.

Even with his latest move yesterday, which was the third in its series, Atiku is not alone on this road. In fact, it is a path widely taken by most Nigerian politicians.

Instructively, his dumping of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, was not a

novel action by a presidential aspirant in Nigeria, as President Muhammadu Buhari had also taken that route in the past.

Consider this: President Buhari contested in 2003 on the platform of the All Peoples Party, APP, and did same as the standardbearer of All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, in 2007.

In 2011, Buhari ran on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, while his fourth attempt was as the candidate of the APC. Buhari had in his third attempt said he would never run for the presidency

again at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, but reneged on that to contest four years later.

Like the President, Atiku, who had vied for the presidency on the platform of Action Congress, AC, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and APC, vowed that APC was his last bust stop in 2015.

Atiku, who is likely to contest for the presidency again on the platform of a different party, said this in Lagos at an event that was covered by this reporter.

Vanguard had published the story on March 19, 2015, with the headline: ‘’Atiku says: I’m not going back to PDP.”

VANGUARD, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 — 51

APC Chieftain found dead in Katsina

BY BASHIR BELLO

Why Buhari must support Benue anti-grazing law —Reps •Say we can’t be second class citizens in our fathers' land •Beg FG to establish Mobile Police Units at flash points •We’ve lost over 5,000 Benue citizens •Ask Buhari to call Miyetti Allah to order or...

By Emman Ovuakporie

A

PPARENTLY disturbed by the negative reactions of some groups after the establishment of the anti-grazing law in Benue State, the lawmakers from the state on Friday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to support the law to save the citizens from the menace of herders.

The lawmakers also sent a warning signal that if the members of Miyetti Allah group were not called to order, Benue citizens may be forced to defend themselves because they can’t be second class citizens in their own Father land.

Addressing a press con-

ference at the National Assembly, Spokesman of the Benue Reps caucus, Rep John Dyegh in a statement entitled: Why FG Must Support Implementation Of AntiOpen Grazing Law In Benue state said: “This press conference is to sound a note of warning to those who have vowed to violate the law and cause crisis in the state.

“It is also to draw the attention of the Federal Government and make a passionate appeal to the President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari to grant full support to the Government of the State by giving a

standing order to all security agencies to ensure maximum implementation of this wonderful piece of legislation.

“You are not unaware of the carnage and massive destruction visited on the peace-loving people of Benue by heartless terrorists operating under the cover of Fulani herdsmen for some years now.

“While this lasted, economic activities in the state were almost grounded as people abandoned their farms and businesses due to the ravaging activities of AK47 bearing herdsmen, who constantly invaded their communities, destroyed farms, property,

From left: Mr. Ben Edafiadjebre - National Publicity Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Edna Abibetu Abidde - National Treasurer; Chief Peter Eruse Obodo - National Vice President; Ugege Essi Juliet - National Financial Secretary; Prince Emmanuel Ogbon - National President; Mr. Clement Siakpere - National Secretary, Chief Victor Otomewo - Former National President/ex-Officio Member; Mr. Edwin Augustine Masoje - Deputy National Publicity Secretary during a meeting of the National Exco Members of Essi College Old

Students Association held recently in Lagos.

I won’t leave APGA for APC —Obiano •Describes Ojukwu’s son as inconsequential in Anambra election •Says election was free, fair •No, it was a bizarre — Okorie

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

G

OVERNOR Willie Obiano who was recently declared winner of the November 18, governorship election in Anambra State has vowed not to abandon the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, the political party that gave him victory to join the All Progressives Congress, APC. The Governor also said that the son of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu who dumped APGA few days before the governorship election and joined the APC was inconsequential and did not have any political relevance.

Governor Obiano stated this while fielding questions from State House correspondents on Friday after he had a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said he was at the State House to thank the President

for ensuring a free and fair election without the interference of the ruling APC to manipulate the process.

But the National Chairman of the United Progressive Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie has described the election as a mere bazaar where the police were allegedly engaged as canvassers for the APGA, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in a brazen manner.

Fielding question on the insinuations that he had a pact with the APC where it was agreed that after winning the election for a second term, he would decamp to the APC, Governorship Obiano said there was no iota of truth in that.

He said, “No. Never. That is totally unfounded. I will never leaver APGA, I am the leader and the BoT (Board of Trustee) Chairman of APGA and again by God’s grace the governor and governor-elect.”

Asked whether he will woo

back Emeka Ojukwu junior who dumped APGA for APC before the election, he said, “He is of no consequence I am sorry to say.”

Explaining why he was at the State House, he said, “I came to see the President and to thank him for keeping to his word that the election in Anambra would be free and fair and that was exactly how it went. I am very happy to come to report to him personally on the success of the election.”

On whether he had expected to win such a contentious election looking at the level of opposition against him, he said, “Well, I thank God it is the Lord’s doing. To win 21 over 21 is not an easy task, it just showed the faith the people had in me and that was exactly why it happened and I thank Ndi Anambra for the confidence reposed on me and reassure them that this will encourage me to work harder.”

maimed and killed indiscriminately.

Dyegh continued, “the people of the state lived in constant fear of being attacked thereby forcing surviving victims of these dastard acts to abandon their homes.

“Our people are still living with the sordid memories of the massacre in virtually every nook and cranny of the state, particularly in Buruku, Guma, Tarka, Logo, Agatu, Gwer West and Gwer East etc. thousands of lives and property worth billions of naira have been lost to these inhuman actions of these so called Fulani herdsmen.

“Worried by the continued desecration of our land and a clear agenda to exterminate our people, the Benue State House of Assembly this year passed the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Bill, which was signed into law by the Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom on May 22, 2017.

“Benue people should not be treated as second class citizens or aliens in their own country.

“We must state here clearly and emphatically that the people of Benue have a long standing history with the Fulani’s dating tp decades of peaceful co-existence.

“The Fulani’s we know and lived with for decades bore only sticks, machetes and perhaps Dane guns.

“They mingled freely with us and exchanged banters, attended the same markets. But the so called AK-47 carrying herdsmen we see today are not the Fulani’s we know.

“We believe they are foreigners perhaps from neighbouring West African countries. They are a blood thirsty group of Fulani’s whose stock in trade is to maim, destroy and terminate lives.

“The Federal Government must therefore live up to her responsibility of protecting life and property and support the full implementation of this law so that the largely agrarian people of Benue can resume their farming activities and sleep with their two eyes closed.

The implementation of the law took effect on November 1, 2017.

After reading his text, other members of the caucus gave a vivid account of the travails of their constituents.

T

HE Secretary of All Progressive Congress, APC in Dutsinma Local government area of Katsina, Idris Bature has been found dead.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Besen Gwana who confirmed the development while addressing newsmen in the state, was silent about Bature’s identity but said the deceased was found with injuries on his head.

Gwana said one Aliyu Bala alias Ubangaja has been arrested for culpable homicide and in connection with the death of the APC chieftain.

According to him, “On 19/11/2017 at about 20:30hrs, one Aliyu Bala alias “UBANGAJA” aged 54years of the same address invited the deceased to escort him to Kuki village, Dutsinma LGA of Katsina state.

“However, on 20/11/2017 at about 07:00hrs, the body of the deceased was found lying along Kuki road, with injuries on his head.

“Consequently, the police traced the motorcycle of the deceased to the house of the suspect Aliyu Bala alias “UBANGAJA” who invited him for the journey.

“Investigation is ongoing into this case.

Oritsefemi weds his beau, Nabila Fash today

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU

E

IGHT months after his court wedding to his Nabila Fash, Ajegunle-born music Taliban, Oritsefemi is set to tie the knot in a society wedding, holding today in Lagos.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that the wedding ceremony will take place at The Ark, Okunde Blue Water Drive, Lekki, Lagos. The dress code of the day is gold and purple.

The couple had a private civil wedding in April, this year, and the groom has been passionate about his love for Nabila, who is a PR expert working with Multichoice.

According to the pop singer, Nabila accepted him despite having three older children from previous relationships.

Oritsefemi was quoted as saying earlier this year that he had a prior plan to have a destination wedding like 2Baba and Tiwa Savage, but he decided against it because he wanted people around him to be a part of it.

Born on January 5, 1985 in Ajegunle, Oritsefemi is best known for his remake of Fela Kuti’s “Double Wahala” song.

He’s the third child of his mother, and was raised in a polygamous family of 25. He hails from the Itsekiri tribe of North Warri, Delta State.

Gulder hosts Awoniyi, Winner of Ultimate Party Contest

BY NAOMI UZOR

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ELEBRITIES and other socialites joined the winner of the Ultimate Party online contest, Adedamola Awoniyi, for a memorable night hosted by Gulder in Lagos. The allnight gig brought together leading entertainers. MI Abaga, Dr. Sid, Ice Prince, Alexx Ekubo, Uriel Oputa and Blossom Chukwujekwu. The Ultimate Party, a dream-come-true experience, was one of the brand’s activations leveraging on Guy Code, a male-centric television series currently showing on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322).

Speaking at the party, the Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries, Franco Maria Maggi, said the event was to strengthen the connection between Gulder, a premium brand from Nigerian Breweries Plc, and its consumers, adding that many of such experiences should be expected from the brand.

“The idea is to reward the ultimate guy. There are millions of ultimate guys out there, but we cannot reward everybody at the same time. The Ultimate Party is for the man who is striving to achieve success,” said Maggi. He described the Ultimate Party as “a celebration of new beginning” for the brand. Maggi added: “For the consumers, the important thing is to stay connected to Gulder. This is because the brand will continue to celebrate them.

52—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

Mourinho fears Fellaini’s exit LIVERPOOL V CHELSEA:

All eyes on Moses, Mane, Salah

•Moses

S

UPER Eagles star, Victor Moses will return to the Chelsea squad for to day’s trip to Anfield.

The Nigeria international has not played for the Blues since suffering a hamstring injury in the first half of October ’s defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

But Antonio Conte has revealed Moses is now “fine” and the wingback is set to be included in the matchday squad at Liverpool.

“His condition is good and for sure he needs a bit of time to recover the best form,” Conte said. “[Saturday] he is in our squad and I want to bring him on the bench and decide if there is the necessity to have him on or not.

“I am very happy as now he is fine, but needs a bit of time to have the best physical condition.” Moses spent a season on loan with Liverpool four seasons ago, scoring once in six League starts. It will be interesting to see how he will perform on his return to Anfield against the likes of Mohamed Salah and Saido |Mane, who like him are the other contenders for the 2017 BBC African player award.

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says Salah has nothing to prove when he plays against his former club Chelsea today.

The forward has impressed this season at Anfield but failed to make a significant impact during his time at Stamford Bridge before leaving.

Fellaini

Zidane: I don't know when Bale will play R

•Salah

•Mane

“He was very young in a very strong team and didn’t come through. That happens often,” Klopp said.

“Another player similar is Kevin de Bruyne and he is not doing too bad now.

“They already had a fan-

It’s Black Friday for Pistorius

S

•Oscar Pistorius

outh Africa’s Supreme Court more than doubled Oscar Pistorius’ murder sentence on Friday after the state argued the original jail term of six years for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was “shockingly lenient”.

The gold medal-winning athlete, known as the “Blade Runner ” for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, was not in court to hear the new sentence of 13 years and five months handed down.

Steenkamp’s family were also absent but welcomed the sen-

tastic offensive team. Nobody is to blame and for sure not Mo. “He has improved a lot, especially physically-wise. I don’t think he has to prove something and I don’t think he sees it like that.” tence — the minimum 15 years prescribed for murder, minus the time Pistorius has already served — and said it showed justice could prevail in South Africa.

“This is an emotional thing for them. They just feel that their trust in the justice system has been confirmed this morning,” Tania Koen, a family spokeswoman, told Reuters.

Rights groups in a country beset by high levels of violent crime against women say Pistorius, 31, received preferential treatment compared to non-whites and those without his wealth or celebrity status.

PSG battle Monaco on StarTimes

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eaders PSG travel to the Stade Louis II stadium tomorrow to battle Monaco in the star game of this weekend's Ligue 1, with StarTimes set to show the game live to its subscribers PSG were beaten to the title by Monaco last season but the tables have been turned this year, as Monaco lag behind PSG with six points. The Parisians are very much in the ascendancy while Monaco’ season appears to be heading downhill following their elimination from the Champions League and a rough start to the title defence PSG have scored 43 goals in 13 games and are on course for 126 goals tally which would crush Monaco’s haul of 107 last season. A win tomorrow will move PSG nine points clear of their rivals. This will place PSG in

Jose Mourinho is worried Mar will leave Manchester United in ouane Fellaini contract talks continue to drag on.the summer as The 30-year- old has endured tionship with United supporters a difficult relaat times but has become an influential player und er the Portuguese.

That form was recognised as Uni td triggered the one-year extension in Fellaini the start of the year, but agreeing ’s contract at the summer is proving difficult. a deal beyond Asked if he was worried that Fell aini would not be here next season, Mourinho said When asked if there was anythin : “Yes, I am.” to turn it around, the United boss g he could do ing. It is a discussion between the added: “Nothboard. I am not involved in con player and the tracts, in deals.

And I respect both.

“I respect the player because the player has the right to decide his future. He finis hes his contract, he has the right to decide his future, and I respect the board because the dec isions and the discussions are under their control.

“So I just wait, wishing that they will have an understanding but it’s out of my control.”

prime position to reclaim the title it won four seasons in a row before Monaco ended the run last season.

PSG will unleash their fearsome threesome attack of Mbappe, Neymar, and Cavani on Monaco, who will depend on Radamel Falcao. Cavani is now arguably the most lethal striker in Europe and took his tally to 21 in 18 games after netting twice against Celtic.

According to the Brands and Marketing Director, StarTimes, Mr. Qasim Elegbede, “the live telecast of these matches reflect our commitment to provide the best sporting action to our subscribers at a very affordable cost. Football lovers can enjoy the thrills and action of these games such as the Serie A, Bundesliga, French Ligue 1 and Chinese Super League''.

eal Madrid coach Zine dine Zidane refused to say whether fit again Gareth Bale would be in the squad to face Malaga today.

The injury prone Welshman has not been available for the Frenchman since the end of September through injury but was able to train on Friday without problems "I prefer to have Gareth, what he can offer is strength, he is very good, fast and

crosses well," Zidane told a press conference.

"He offers a lot, and what is important is that he is with us, training and that he plays because that would take away all the negativity that he can have around him.

"This time it will take less time for him to get into shape because the injury was not very big and now he needs to recover 100%."

Pacquiao eyes McGregor

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ANNY PACQUIAO has expressed his interest in boxing Conor McGregor.

McGregor, the reigning UFC lightweight champion, entered the boxing world in August to take on Floyd Mayweather Jr in a multi-million-pound bout.

Ireland’s first UFC belt holder entered the contest with no boxing experience to his name but more than held his own against the former five-weight world champion.

However, he was soon overcome by fatigue, which paved the way for Mayweather to register a tenth-round TKO victory.

Immediately after his unsuccessful boxing debut, McGregor refused to rule out the opportunity of returning to the ring.

And it seems that Pacquiao wants to be the man to be McGregor’s second opponent in the squared circle.

Pacquiao revealed his desire to face the UFC superstar in posts on his Twitter and Instagram pages, which featured a picture of McGregor relaxing on a chair.

The accompanying caption

read: “Happy Thanksgiving @TheNotoriousMMA Stay fit my friend. #realboxingmatch #2018.”

The likelihood of McGregor facing Pacquiao is very slim given the fact he hasn’t fought in the UFC in over a year and has yet to defend his lightweight title.

Pacquiao’s call out of McGregor has made him the second boxer in the space of a week to try to bag themselves a fight with the UFC’s poster boy.

Last Thursday, Olympic gold medallist and former six-weight world champion Oscar De La Hoya issued a challenge to ‘Mystic Mac’ during an appearance on ‘Golden Boy Radio’, saying: "You know I'm competitive. I still have it in me.

"I've been secretly training, secretly training. I'm faster than ever and stronger than ever. I know I can take out Conor McGregor in two rounds. I’ll come back for that fight. Two rounds. Just one more [fight]. I'm calling him out.

“Two rounds, that's all I need.

That's all I'm going to say. You heard it on Golden Boy Radio.

Two rounds, that's all I need."

•Neymar

Cantona wants Guardiola to coach Man U

M

anchester United great Eric Can tona says he admires Old Trafford boss Jose Mourinho - but would prefer Manchester City's Pep Guardiola to manage his former club.

Cantona, who spent five years at United between 1992 and 1997, described Portuguese Mourinho as "a winner who will continue to win".

But the Frenchman also told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: "He is playing in this defensive way, which is not the identity of Manchester United.

"Both Guardiola and Mourinho are

great, but I prefer attacking football, when it's more creative. It's the way I tried to play all my career."

Speaking later on BBC Radio 5 live, Cantona added: "I cannot understand why United would take a manager who plays in a defensive way. I love Mourinho, but I prefer to watch Barcelona play.

"I prefer the way Guardiola plays, and I would prefer him as manager of Manchester United, it's more logical. I don't watch Man City because it's Man City but I would love to watch the team managed

by Guardiola."

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017 — 53 in position of authority. They are not genuine stakeholders but are doing it to make money, unlike us, who do it for the development of the game. We are aware of this and that is why we

Mikel has neglected our youths — Laloko •speaks on Pepsi Football Academy

By John Egbokhan

O

n November 22, 1992, what cynics and sceptics termed a pipe dream was given life by a former Technical Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Kashimawo Laloko, who founded a football academy at the Agege Stadium in Lagos Two years later, soft drinks giants, Pepsi, bought into his vision, causing the name change to the Pepsi Football Academy.

The coming on board of Pepsi, seemed to be the plug that would spark the academy to a whole new level, as it started drawing extremely talented kids into its fold, cementing its place as the foremost football breeding ground in the country.

The academy has undoubtedly had a positive hand in shaping the development of Nigerian football, having bred highprofile footballers like Super Eagles captain and former Chelsea midfielder, John Obi Mikel, 2013 AFCON hero and former Rangers midfielder, Sunday Mba, present Eagles fullback, Elderson Echiejile, Dominic Onato, Echiabhi Okodugha, Joseph Akpala, Conquest Osaroigwe, Soga Sambo, Ejike Ozoenyi and Yinka Adedeji.

Mikel may seem like the stand-out name in this stellar cast that the Pepsi Football Academy has nurtured to stardom, but the fruits of Laloko's dream some 25 years ago, are scattered in various parts of the world even as new

seeds are being nurtured through the expansive network, cutting across 16 training centres in the country.

Designed for students between the age of six to 18 years and operating all year long and armed with no fewer than 50 crack coaches, Laloko said the academy has become the melting pot for the development of the complete age-grade footballer.

Laloko, who is the DirectorGeneral of the PFA, while reminiscing on the journey so far, told Sports Vanguard that he has been amazed with the feats achieved by the institution/ ''We were 25 years on Wednesday, November 22 and I must admit that I have been amazed with the achievements that we have recorded in the course of performing our roles with these young kids and teenagers that we have come across and nurtured to stardom. ''The successes we have achieved are many and we are thankful to Mr Iain Nelson, who believed in us and has contributed immensely to the success story that the academy has become in Africa'', added Laloko, who said plans were on to take the academy closer to the masses. ''We recently secured the use of the Sabongiri stadium in Kano and the Ranchers Bees stadium in Kaduna, so that these youngsters can maximize their potentials. In Jos, we are at the Lampang stadium, in Abuja, we are at the Astro-turf pitch of the State Sports Council. In Enugu, we are trying to secure the Nnamdi Azikwe stadium and in Aba, we are awaiting the government to give us a suitable ground to use. ''I am proud with what we

•Obi mikel

h a v e are reachieved. estab•Laloko We are playing lishing ourin the Copa Lagos selves for the chalBeach Soccer competition holding next month. Last year lenges ahead''.

Laloko said the NFF has we played against Arsenal and this year, we are due to play shown that it lacks a clear fothem again. We lost to them in cus on football development, 2016 but we are working hard noting that a national ageto defeat them when we meet grade tournament for U-20 in December.'', added Laloko, and U-17 should be holding a former technical director of by now if the country was sethe Nigeria Football Federa- rious about developing the game. tion. ''By now, we should be playHe said the academy has faced peculiar and general ing a national age-grade comchallenges in the last 25 years. petition. That is what they are ''Even though we have doing in Europe and accountachieved, we have had many ed for the success of England ups and downs. We used to in the last FIFA U-20 World supply players to the national Championship. We need to teams but now, football offi- be focussed so that we can cials, who run academies, are succeed at all levels'', said Lataking over because they are loko, who berated the NFF

for going abroad to shop for ready-made players, instead of encouraging the cultivation of talents in the Nigeria. ''The idea of going overseas to beg players to come and play for Nigeria is a lazy approach to achieving success.

Our academy is a great one and all our coaches are CAF Licensed instructors. Our standards are high but the problem is with the NFF, who keep appointing coaches without licenses to handle our national teams. ''The fact that one played the game to the highest level does not make the person a competent coach. We need to follow standard procedures. The case of those who handled the last Under-17 team is an example to learn from'', Laloko added.

Despite being in the business of grooming talents, Laloko insists that the academy has not been making money, unlike other academies, who he claims sell players to agents, who in turn sell them to clubs overseas or in Nigeria. ''All we are doing is develop players. We are not making money. We don;t charge fees to admit kids into our academies, unlike others, who charge as more as N200, 000 for players to join them. How can we charge money when we know that kids who play football are from poor homes? That is most unfair and wicked.. Those who run academies do so to make money but we don't. Others have agents who take their players to abroad but we don't. These is no club in Nigeria that does not have our player in the club because we don't do players transfer'' Having played a part in nurturing Mikel to limelight, Laloko feels that the Eagles captain has let the academy down in many ways. ''Mikel was brought to limelight through our Jos centre around 1995 to 2002. We gave him the breakthrough that made Nigerians to know him.

He was unpolished when he came but we refined him. If not for us, maybe, he would not be where he is today but since he became a star, I have not heard that he visited the Jos centre to donate a pair of jersey to the players there.

That is most unfair. ''Some former players give us money for the running of the centres but Mikel has not done such. Osaze is an example of a player who paid us because he recognised what we did for him. There was a time we wanted to use Mikel in a advertising campaign for the academy but he shunned us.

His agent was asking us to pay a huge sum of money but Mr. Nelson could not believe it and that was how the deal fell through. I don't think Mikel has done well for Nigerian youths'', added Laloko.

54—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

•Serena williams, Alexis Ohanian and child

REVEALED: The joke about rats that attracted Serena to Alex

back to the exact table where we’d met. We were both really nervous but also excited to take this huge step.

It was such a beautiful moment.” Ever the jokester, in addition to having the hotel cleared and flowers everywhere, Alexis had placed a small plastic rat on the table. Serena announced her happy news by posting a sweet poem on Reddit.

In September, Serena gave birth to the couple’s first child, Alexis “Olympia” Ohanian, Jr., and the two parents are absolutely besotted with their now 2-month-old daughter. The baby, who already has more than 105,000 Instagram followers, was present for the ceremony last night and looked on as her mom and dad tied the knot among 200 family and friends in the Big Easy.

“Alexis really wanted to do New Orleans,” explains Serena. “It’s his favorite city besides Brooklyn. It’s got a heavy European influence; it’s fun and has amazing food. He just loves the vibe. The venue—the Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans—was a decision we both made. Painting and art is something I’m really passionate about, so it just felt natural and different to do it at a contemporary art museum.”

The two chose November 16 as their wedding date in memory of Alexis’s mother, who passed away nine years ago. “It is her birthday, and we wanted her to be represented at the wedding,” says Serena.

“Obviously, we wish that she could be here for this, but choosing her birthday as our wedding date was a nice way of making sure she’s still involved and made us feel more connected to her on our day.”

Once they’d settled on a date and a place, they hired their wedding planner. “I knew early on that I wanted to work with someone on the East Coast, and Jennifer [Zabinski] felt fresh and new, but also has a lot of experience in planning and is organized and thorough,” explains Serena. When Jennifer first

Details of what went down before and during their wedding

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ome might say that just like the protagonists in Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve’s fairy tale, Serena and Alexis are an unlikely match from two very different worlds. She’s the greatest female athlete ever, arguably the greatest athlete of all time. (No man has ever taken home a title pregnant! Enough said.) Meanwhile, he’s the founder of Reddit (the birthplace of many a meme), a guy who grew up playing Game Boy, and has been referred to as the “mayor of the Internet.” When they met, she’d never heard of Reddit, and he had never watched a single one of her matches. But, as we all know, opposites attract.

It all started in Rome with a meetcute worthy of a romantic comedy.

Despite being notoriously disciplined, Serena is not a morning person. But she’d heard good things about the epic breakfast at the Cavalieri Hotel, where she was staying for the Italian Open, so she got out of bed early and went with a few members from her team to check it out. They arrived at the buffet only to find that it had closed just five minutes earlier, so instead, they grabbed a table by the pool and ordered à la carte. Alexis was speaking at a conference and staying at the same hotel. That morning, he had also made his way down early to indulge in the buffet he’d heard so much about. When he, too, discovered that it was no longer open, he took a seat at a table next to Serena’s with the intention of

ordering food and doing work on his laptop.

Frustrated that an interloper was encroaching upon their space, Serena’s friend Zane started teasing Alexis, saying there was a rat at his table and that he should move. “I was so annoyed that he’d sat down next to me,” remembers Serena.

“There were so many empty tables!”

Undeterred by the frosty reception he seemed to be receiving, Alexis jokingly responded saying that he was from Brooklyn—he’d seen lots of rats, and they didn’t bother him.

Serena started cracking up and asked him to join her group. He obliged but was still a little unsure whether the person with whom he suddenly found himself having breakfast was actually the Serena Williams.

You see, Alexis didn’t follow tennis at all. The first time he went to watch Serena play he infamously Instagrammed a photo of her foot

faulting. But no matter. The two hit it off. That first time she asked him to come see her in the Paris Open, he knew it was a bit far-flung but he thought, What’s the worst that could happen? I know people in Paris, so if it doesn’t work out, I’ll have a great story to tell my friends about that time I almost hung out with Serena Williams.

Serena appreciated his happy-golucky approach to life, and their first date involved simply meandering around the City of Light with no destination to speak of, something the always-scheduled, alwayssurrounded athlete almost never gets to do.

Fast-forward 18 months later and the Internet entrepreneur was proposing to the superstar. “I came home one day to find my bags already packed for me, and I had absolutely no idea where I was going until I got on the flight,” Serena admits. “Alexis flew me out to Rome,

It’s his favorite city besides Brooklyn. It’s got a heavy European influence; it’s fun and has amazing food. He just loves the vibe

met with the bride, the tennis champ wasn’t quite ready to get into specifics, so the two discussed their mutual love of dogs instead. “I think she had to feel comfortable with getting to know me and me getting to know her,” Jennifer says. “There’s so much there in terms of her vision.

She’s actually an amazing planner herself, and the running joke now is that she’s going to be my intern.”

“The whole process was so smooth!”

Serena adds.

“Communication is really important to me, and Jennifer and her team were always great at giving updates and keeping t h i n g s m o v i n g consistently.”

Similarly, Serena’s dress search was the stuff wedding dreams are made of—she worked with Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. “I flew to London to meet with Sarah and ended up falling in love with the ball gown silhouette, which is completely the opposite of what I ever thought I would choose for myself,” Serena says. “I loved the idea of doing a really spectacular ball gown, and it has turned out to be such an incredibly special piece.”

At 5:15 p.m., guests including Beyoncé and her mother, Tina Knowles; Kelly Rowland; Kim Kardashian West; Anna Wintour; Ciara; and La La Anthony arrived for cocktails before taking their seats in the ceremony space. There,

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017—55

Minding the Gap in Nigeria’s Track and Field

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‘

ind the gap’ is an audible warning usually directed at passengers on the London Underground, because an unsafe gap is created when a train stops at a curved platform, and if a passenger is not vigilant, there is the likelihood of stepping into the gap and getting injured.

If there is one malady that isentrenched in the Nigerian system, it is the issue of continuity – or rather, the lack of it, leading to adisruption of the process, andcreating a vacuum at the end of the day. Being a subset of the Nigerian system, the Sports sector is not left out of this malaise. In fact, Track and Field, which used to be Nigeria’s biggest sport, is one of the hardest hitin terms of lack of continuity. In other words, we are not minding the gap that has been created by our lack of foresight as a nation.

Nigeria’s best Olympics outing was at Atlanta ’96 where the country won six medals: four of which were from Athletics (including ChiomaAjunwa’s Long Jump Gold

medal). The country managed to win two medals in Track and Field at Sydney 2000, another two at Athens 2004, and then two more at Beijing 2008. And then the draught began!

London 2012 and Rio 2016 went by without Nigeria getting to the podium in any Athletics event. Tokyo 2020 is barely three years away,yet there is nothing to suggest that things are going to be different this time around.All over the world, countries much smaller than Nigeria have created effective systems that give no room for a lacuna as far as the development of talent is concerned, and Nigeria can learn a thing or two from these countries.

A cursory look at some of the results of the Rio 2016 Olympics show that Jamaica had three finalists in the women’s 100m final, including the winner of the race, 25-year old Elaine Thompson.It is interesting to note that the winner of the women’s 100m event at Beijing 2008 and

•Serena williams, Alexis Ohanian

everyone watched a short video that told the story of Serena and Alexis’s relationship on TVs encased in gold frames above the aisle. The seating had a fashion-show feel: “I wanted the whole thing to be as nontraditional as possible,” explains Serena. “We did sofas instead of chairs, with everything facing the aisle instead of the altar.”

Bridesmaids made their entrances to rounds of applause wearing custom Galia Lahav dresses. Before the ceremony, Serena’s best friend, Val Vogt, told Vogue: “She talked to all of us and just kind of let us have creative control as to what dress fit our personality. And then she approved it, of course!” Val carried the bride’s beloved Yorkshire terrier, Chip, down the aisle in his very own tiny tuxedo.

Then, with all eyes on her, Serena emerged in a dramatic strapless, belted Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen princess gown with a cape, carrying a bouquet of white roses and sparkling with jewelry by XIV Karats, worth $3.5 million in total. Alexis, in an Armani suit, was

smiling from ear to ear as Serena slowly walked up the aisle to join him. The couple wrote their own vows. Alexis’s called Serena his queen and said that they already have their princess. With a bold, confident voice, he talked about how she takes such good care of everyone in her life, and now he wants to spend the rest of his life taking care of her. His words led to laughter at the start—”I will always have bad jokes that make your eyes roll, make you give me the side eye”—but by the end, everyone was crying happy tears: “You are the greatest of all time, not just in sport,” he told Serena. “I’m talking about as a mother and as a wife. I am so excited to write so many more chapters of our fairy tale together.

And my whole life I didn’t even realize it, but I was waiting for this moment. And everything that I have done, everything that I am so proud of in my career, and in my life, for the last 34 years, pales in comparison to what we’re doing today. And I am so grateful, and I am so in love.”

After the couple was pronounced husband and wife, cheers erupted

London 2012, was Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (30), and even though she wasn’t in top form in Rio where she finished 3rd, the Gold medal still came to her country. That can only happen as a result of foresight and a d e q u a t e planning.

The Gold and S i l v e r medalists from the men’s 100m at the London 2017 World Championships a r e Americans: Justin Gatlin (35), and 21year old •Blessing Christian Okagbare Coleman.

There is a 14year gap between the pair, but should Gatlin decide to retire from Track and Field today, there are already several athletes waiting to take his place; Coleman is only one of such athletes.

Jamaica had three finalists in the women’s 400m in London:Shericka Jackson, StephenieAnn McPherson and Novlene Williams-Mills who finished 5th, 6th and 8th respectively. Aged 35, a veteran of six World Championships and a Breast Cancer survivor, London 2017 was Williams-Mills’ final outing before calling time on her Athletics career.

McPherson, the reigning

Commonwealth Champion, is aged 29.

The youngest of the trio, Jackson (23), won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships, which incidentally, was her debut outing at the championship.

She also won another Bronze at the Rio Olympics where she was also making her m a i d e n appearance.

Ironically, her older teammates haven’t won individual global medals, but young Jackson already has two. Talk about minding the gap!

At the same women’s 400m final in London, USA’s Allyson Felix (32) who came as the defending champion, lost her title to her younger teammate Phyllis Francis (25), and had to settle for the Bronze. Perhaps, the examples of the US and Jamaica may seem too far-fetched, so we will focus onour continent.

31-year old Isaac Makwala of Botswana is a two-time African Champion (2012 and 2014) in the men’s 400m, and former African Record Holder in the event. At the 2016 African Senior Championships in Durban, Makwala was expected to race to a third successive title.

However, it was a different scenario altogether as his much

younger compatriots Baboloki Thebe (20 years old) and KaraboSibanda (19) won Gold and Silver respectively. Both athletes were still juniors at the time, and they formed the nucleus of the young Botswana 4x400m team that dethroned Nigeria as continental champions; Makwala wasn’t even a part of the team.

Makwala has competed in two Olympic Games (London 2012 and Rio 2016) but has never gotten to the final. But Sibanda, who was only 18 at the time, was in the final of the Rio Olympics where he placed 5th! The Botswana team went on to win a Silver medal in the 4x400m behind the US at the 2017 IAAF World Relays in the Bahamas.

Botswana would have had two finalists (and possibly a medalist) in the men’s 400m in London, but for the unfortunate situation that led to Makwala being quarantined despite having qualified for the final, following an outbreak of gastroenteritis at the athletes’hotel. His teammate Thebe finished 4th in that race in spite of an injury.

Since Atlanta ’96 where Ajunwa (Long Jump), Mary Onyali(200m) and FalilatOgunkoya (400m) won individual medals in their respective events, no Nigerian athlete asides Blessing Okagbare (Long Jump Silver at Beijing 2008) has won an individual Olympic medal. It took a period of 12 years for Nigeria to find a saviour in Okagbare, and it is now nine years since she performed this feat. Who is going to bridge that gap for Nigeria?

Versace moment that made her look like a fashionforward superwoman. It took a team of five embroiderers to create the dress, Donatella Versace told Vogue. They “worked nonstop to make sure the tiniest details were perfectly taken care of, for a total of 1,500 hours.”

The newlyweds sat in gold throne-like chairs that looked like they were made for a king and queen. “The whole fairy-tale idea came to us early on,” says Jennifer.

“Serena’s very girly. She was like, ‘I love Disney, how can we incorporate it in?’ Then Serena and Alexis said, ‘What do you think about a royal ball?’ Serena was like, ‘I just want it to be opulent. I want it to be like a fairy tale.’ “ Southern, Armenian (a nod to Alexis’s heritage), and Italian food, as well as a “steak house” station and a salad wall, were all available on offer. “Serena wanted a ball, but she wanted a modern ball, not anything that was too stuffy,” says Preston Bailey, the man behind all of the decor. “For the flowers and overall aesthetic, she wanted something that was very different and unique.” Chandeliers encased in gold birdcages, trophy-style place cards, and the “black lamé” table linens achieved this goal.

Following dinner, Alexis took the stage and asked the guests, who had been dancing to the Élan Artists’s

band, to clear the floor.

“This is the only time I’ll ask you to do this all night, but I need for you to get off the dance floor,” he said, laughing. “This is the first time I get to introduce Serena Williams as my wife. Come out, wifey!”

Serena appeared in her third dress of the evening: a stunning fitted Versace look with a short skirt. She joined Alexis on the dance floor and the band started playing “Tale as Old as Time,” which then segued into “If I Can’t Have You.” There were spins, twists, and lifts, to lots of cheers—the two totally nailed every step.

Guests then joined the couple for more dancing before moving into the next room for a surprise performance by New Edition. The band called the couple up onstage, where Serena and Alexis nailed yet another dance routine with the guys as Beyoncé, Kelly, and Ciara cheered them on.

Curtains then opened, and everyone relocated back to where the ceremony had taken place— Preston’s team had completely transformed the space into a chic lounge for the after-party. DJ Mike Wise was on the turntables playing lots of old-school ’90s rap. At about 1:30 a.m., Alexis grabbed the mic to reveal the final surprise of the evening for his new bride. People told him it couldn’t be done, he said. But, when people say no to Alexis in his business or personal life, he always accepts the challenge. Just then, a curtain dropped, revealing an illuminated, all-white carousel.

Serena screamed with excitement, and guests jumped up on horses while Ginuwine’s “Pony” played in the background.

The newlyweds cuddled on a bench while everyone partied on the carousel as it spun—a picture-perfect scene to end a fantastical night.

and guests made their way out onto the street for cocktails while the bride and groom took their formal family portraits in the Arts Center’s Black Box Theatre. During cocktails, Kardashian West told Vogue, “I’ve known Serena for so long and am so happy she’s found her prince.

From the moment she told me she met Alexis in Rome, it was like . . . she’s been so happy and has this light about her that is so special to see.

You just know it is so real. He makes her so happy and that just makes her friends happy.”

A second line parade then led everyone back inside where the band was playing “Be Our Guest” and an around-theworld-themed dinner by Creative Edge Parties was served. As guests found their seats at four long tables named after Serena’s Grand Slam wins, the newlyweds were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Alexis Ohanian, and Serena debuted •Serena williams her second dress of the evening, a dramatic beaded, feathered

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 25, 2017

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Everton FC Coach, David – (8) 5 Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Joseph Obinna – 4) 7 World’s Longest River – (4) 8 Chairman, Joint Admission & Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dr. Emmanuel – (6) 11s Former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Joseph – (3) 12 Nassarawa United Coach, Kabiru – (4) 13 Ignore – (4) 15 State in Nigeria known as “God’s Own state”? – (4) 16 Group Managing Director, Public Affairs Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Ndu – (8) 19 Nigerian Athlete, Orukpe – (8) 22 Former Plateau State Governor, Mr. Chris (4) 24 Observe – (4) 25 Peruvian Capital City – (4) 27 Cameroon Indomitable Lions Midfielder, Daniel – (3) 29 Solar Planet – (6) 31 Cereal – (4) 32 Director of Information & Public Relations, The Nigerian Air Force

(NAF), Air Commodore Yusuf – (4) DOWN 1 Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Mr. Emmanuel – (4) 2Secretary-General, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Mohammed – (6) 3 African Waterbuck – (8) 4 L.G.A in Adamawa State – (4) 5 Traditional Ruler of Warri – (3) 6 Post Master-General/CEO, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Mr. Bisi – (8) 9 Qatari Capital City – (4) 10 Ethnic Group in Nigeria – (4) 14 Colour – (3) 15 Ogun State Capital – (8) 17 Tunisia “Carthage Eagles” Midfielder, Maher – (8) 18 Protein Source – (4) 20 Anambra State Capital – (4) 21 L.G.A in Imo State – (4) 23 Tottenham Hotspurs Midfielder, Aaron – (8) 26 Igbo Word for “Six”? – (4) 28 Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Mr. Kelechi – (4) 30 Former Minister of Education, Mr. Wada – (3)

SOLUTION TO PUZZLE 51

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