STOLEN FUNDS: Buhari, Jonathan may clash again

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SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 3

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FACES @ THE BURIAL CEREMONY OF THE LATE PA EMIEMOKUMORE MANAGER IN DELTA STATE

Senate President Bukola Saraki (clad in blue, front row), flanked by Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Sen. Ibrahim Gayah, Sen. Phillip Gunka, Sen. Ighoyota Amori and Sen. Andy Ubah, among others.

R-L: Rev. Saliu Rail-Adamson, Rev. Patrick Edhibro, Pastor John Teghor, Rev. Frank Aghoghovwia, Rev. Moses.M. Oyinkin, Rev. (Dr.) Emmanuel.D. Kanos and Rev.D.C. Dijala.

R-L: Mr. Panama Gabriel Panama, Mr. Tony Aderojor, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, Mr. Billy Mami and Mr. Dafe Oghene.

*R-L: Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Dame Edith Okowa and Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State

L-R: Mr. Julius Pondi, member, House of Representatives, Chief Tunde Smooth and Hon. Nicholas Mutu.

A cross section of some members of Sen. James Manager’s family.

R-L: Rev. Saliu Rail-Adamson, Rev. Patrick Edhibro, Pastor John Teghor, Rev. Frank Aghoghovwia, Rev. Moses.M. Oyinkin, Rev. (Dr.) Emmanuel.D. Kanos and Rev.D.C. Dijala.

Senate President Saraki (m) being welcomed by Senator James Manager as Governor Ifeanyi Okowa looks on.

Economy Worse In 90 Days Of APC – PDP

By Henry Umoru

N

ATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, took a swipe at the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Con-

gress, APC, saying the nation’s economy under the Buhari administration is worse in 90 days.

According to the PDP, Nigerians have been scammed with empty promises since the President was inaugurated on May 29.

In a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the opposition stressed that instead of gains, official reports showed that the last three months under the APC-led government had brought a sudden decline in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with attendant losses and hardship to the citizens, while government embarks on propaganda of imaginary achievements, in addition to attempts to foist harsh economic regime to cover its ineptitude.

Metuh said, “The shambolic state of the nation’s economy within the period, which represents the worst in the nation’s contemporary history, is a direct fallout of uncertainty created by the inability of the Buhari-led government to chart a

clear-cut economic policy, worsened by abuse of regulations, and flagrant violation of constitutional provisions.

“If not for crass incompetence or a possible ulterior motive to subjugate Nigerians for selfish

A cross section of other family members of Manager.

Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo (2nd R), SSA to Delta State Governor, Hon. Funkekeme Solomon (left) and some guests at the burial ceremony. reasons, what else explains the adamant stance of this administration in running a government without the statutory components of a full cabinet and precise fiscal policy direction, even when the negative consequences of this strange totalitarian approach are taking serious toll on the economy and the polity in general?

“Whereas the APC led government is busy with its propaganda of imaginary achievements, official reports from the National Bureau of Statistics show that that the economy is being grounded with Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) plunging with about 2.35%, while job creation has dropped by 69 percent”

Buhari gives succour to Chibok girls’ parents

By Ndahi Marama RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari’s, yesterday, reassured the parents of the abducted Chibok school girls of his government’s determination to rescue the girls alive. Buhari, represented by Governor Kashim Shettima at a meeting with the girls’parents in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, said: “We share the agony and sorrow of our abducted girls, as gov-

P

ernment we are working hard to rescue your girls alive and healthy. I am optimistic that the girls are still alive and will soon be rescued and handed over to their parents by the grace of God”. The President said he feels the agony and the psychological trauma the agony the parents go through, as he is also a father and called on them to exercise patience as government is doing everything possible to make sure

the girls are rescued.

“We leaders are responsible for taking care of our people and are accountable before the Almighty God. As such, government will continue to render assistance to the parents of the abducted girls, as most of the parent cannot go to their farms nor carry on with their petty trading, because of the psychological trauma and agony they are going through,” Buhari lamented.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 5

Stolen funds: Buhari, Jonathan may American government ative means of ensuring that clash again the was in possession of docu- those who stole money re-

GLO LAUNCHES LITERATURE PRIZE FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: (L-R); with Prof (Mrs.) Akachi Ezeigbo of University of Lagos; Prof. Olu Obafemi of University of Ilorin; Prof. Mohd Inuwa Umar Buratai of ABU, Zaria; and Dr. Ogochukwu Promise, during a special evening which also featured the Globacom organised in honour of Professor Wole Soyinka and young literary stars at launched of the Glo Literature Prize for Undergraduate Students on Friday at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos.

Why I don’t respect OBJ, by Soyinka •Writes book on ‘Republic of Liars’

By Prisca Sam-Duru

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OBEL Laurette, Prof Wole Soyinka, has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo as somebody who should not be taken seriously, adding that he has no respect for him.

Soyinka said this at the weekend during an event organised by telecommunication giant, Globacom, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, in his honour.

The event, gathering of the creme de la creme in the literary industry, was tagged, “An Evening With Soyinka”.

Responding to a ques-

tion from Kunle Ajibade on Obasanjo’s judgment on him (Soyinka) recently as a political illiterate, Soyinka said Obasanjo has a right to his opinion, stressing however, that Obasanjo is a liar, as well as an ‘economic illiterate’.

“Obasanjo is entitled to his opinion. The question is ‘ who can respect the opinion of a liar’? He is a liar and can prove that.

He has been described as an economic illiterate.

His book, ‘My watch’ is full of lies. In fact, he began the book with a lie when he said that he deplores lies, and he repeated it several times.

I’m not bothered when

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

IS MONEY GUILTY?

By Richard Eromonsele

The holy writ says the love of money is the root of all evil.There is also a school of thought that believes that the lack of money is the root of evil.In order words,both expressions allude to the fact that the cause of evil developments such as wickedness,corruption,stealing,cheating and the likes in the world today, is the love and lack of money.Therefore,money can't be held liable.Money is a tool met to serve man.In the hand of a reasonable man,money is a delight.However,in the hand of a foolish man,money can only make him more foolish.Money is not guilty.Think about it!

somebody like Obasanjo passes his opinion about me. I have no respect for Obasanjo. He is a liar.

I am writing a book titled, ‘Republic of Liars,’ and Obasanjo has a prominent place in it. The book will be out soon.”

The event was a celebration of the renowned dramatist, poet, critic, activist and humanist. The event, which was also a celebration of young literary stars - Seffie Attach, Tope Folarin and E. C. Osundu - was marked with performances. In attendance at the colourful event were Profs. J. P. Clark, Ebun Clarke, Akachi Ezeigbo, Duro Oni, Bode Sowande; General Alani Akinriade (retired); Mrs Francesca Emmanuel among others. Hollywood star Richard More Damijo was the compere.

Continued from page 1 believed to have siphoned funds from government coffers”.

The source added: “While some of those believed to have been involved have had their accounts frozen, some have lawfully been interrogated while confessions are being extracted. There are enough grounds to believe that the nature of discourse in the political sphere is creating an air of audacity such that the recovery of looted funds is not going at an encouraging pace in the face of overwhelming evidence”.

Sunday Vanguard has been able to establish, through some individuals saddled with the responsibility of ascertaining and verifying some expenditure activities, that there were some contracts merely awarded on paper and for which payments were quickly made without corresponding jobs to show for the contracts.

It was learnt that high levels of fraud were discovered in the Ministry of Petroleum, Works, Nigerian Maritime and Safety Authority, NIMASA and in the procurement of arms and ammunitions for the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram, just to mention a few.

Indeed, members of some of the committees that Buhari has set up to ascertain the level of loss to the nation pointed out that the scale of the stealing of public funds, especially in the last days of the Jonathan administration, was so monumental that those asking for a soft-landing for the former president and his aides would be flabbergasted when confronted with the scale of looting that took place.

And contrary to the earlier denial in some quarters that

ments indicting most aides of the former President, it was understood that Buhari was, in fact, handed some of the documents relating to such during his visit to the United States of America last month.

It was learnt that the intervention of some individuals, including some African leaders, tended to suggest to Buhari that he needed to give his predecessor soft landing; and indeed, the President had agreed but on the condition that the aides and ministers who looted the treasury must return the funds to the coffers.

It was with a view to avoiding what another source described as a public embarrassment for the erstwhile leader, that Jonathan visited Buhari earlier in the month.

“The President advised Jonathan to prevail on his aides and ministers to return all they looted to enable him have access to funds with which to work. But the President became angry when Jonathan’s men became adamant”.

Continuing, a member of one of the verification committees told Sunday Vanguard: “Most of Jonathan’s men would have been arrested by now, but the President was being mindful of the nation’s democracy and, therefore, decided to pursue the matter in a civil manner. In fact, it was for this reason that the National Economic Council, NEC, decided to set up a special committee to ascertain the areas concerned and deal with it”.

One of Nigeria’s billionaires on the Forbes’ list of wealthy individuals once lamented aloud that “the amount of money that has been stolen from government coffers is too much”.

He went on: “The President would need to find very cre-

Air Force plane crash kills 7 in Kaduna

By Luka Binniyat, Kaduna

A

light military plane, Dornier 2k, has crashed in Kaduna with all seven on board feared dead.

The plane, which took off from Dana Airport, operated by the Nigeria Air Force, NAF, in Kaduna, came down some minutes after at the Kantoma Army Barracks, otherwise known as the NDA Barracks, around 6. 45 am, a source told Sunday Vanguard.

At the time of this report, all movement into and outside the barracks was barred.

But a top military brass in Kaduna, who spoke shortly after leaving the scene of the accident, said all on board perished.

He said: “It is true. A Dornier 2k plane crashed this morning at the NDA Barracks.

There were seven people on board. None of them survived”.

It was gathered that the pilot, co-pilot, two engineers and three passengers were on board the plane, which was on its way to Abuja.

A NAF statement, yesterday, by Air Commodore Dele Alonge, Director of Airforce

•Incident tragic – NAF chief Public Relations, confirmed the incident, saying: “A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Dornier228 aircraft, with registration NAF030, has crashed into a house at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna.

“Though no casualty was recorded on ground, there were no survivors among the passengers on board the aircraft.

“The aircraft was Abuja bound and had taken-off at about 6:45am from the Kaduna Military Airfield before the mishap.

“Bodies of the passengers have been recovered and fire fighters are already at the crash site to curtail fire from spreading to other buildings within the vicinity”.

Last night, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar, expressed deep pain over the crash, saying a board had been constituted to investigate the immediate and remote cause of the sad incident.

Abubakar, who spoke yesterday at the 97 Special Operations Group, Air Force Base, Port Harcourt, after a visit to

the scene of the incident in Kaduna, said it was tragic, adding that he will not want to pre-empt the outcome of the findings of the body set up to unravel the circumstances.

He said he had consoled the families of those involved in the crash.

“These are some of the hazards associated with flying. We have set up a board to immediately find out the immediate and remote causes of the accident . We will look at the report of that board to see the cause. It was a very tragic one . I have gone to condole the families, the pilots that were involved in the accident. I don’t want to pre-empt the findings of the board we set up to come up with its findings”, the NAF Chief said.

Fielding questions from newsmen, he said he was in Port Harcourt to charge the fighting spirit of his men against oil theft and illegal oil bunkering, adding that the airforce had acquired a marine patrol aircraft to enhance its operations around the marine environment of the country.

turn such funds. Yes, some of them are already making useful statements and confessing but the truth is that these people are also connected. In court, they can stall whatever cases are brought against them.

“Therefore, when you heard President Buhari admonishing those in the legal profession not to shield people from the law, it was a veiled reference to the possibility of some people escaping justice using the courts.

These people have stolen a lot and having such money in the hands of a few individuals in a country is dangerous. “Whatever the President needs to do, either in consultation or confrontation with his predecessor, the funds must be recovered”.

Initially, Sunday Vanguard learnt, it was not the intention of Buhari to probe the immediate past administration but it was gathered that the President became perplexed upon discovering the level of looting perpetrated by some aides and ministers of the former President, which a source at the Presidency described as monumental.

And in order not to be accused of witch-hunting some perceived political opponents, the Special Committee on looted funds chaired by the governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, recommended to the NEC to appoint external auditors to thoroughly look at the books and tell Nigerians their findings.

A source at the Presidency informed Sunday Vanguard that any one indicted by the audit report will likely face prosecution and that will be the first signal to the world that the President is determined to fight corruption. According to the source, “and from what we are hearing, many heads will roll, powerful Nigerians may go to jail. After that, every Nigerian will know that any attempt to steal even a pin, in any ministry, will be at your own peril”.

In the meantime, a Presidency source reacted angrily, yesterday, to the suggestion that recent visits by some former presidents to Buhari could dissuade him from pursuing the looters of the nation’s treasury.

The source pointed out that no individual or group could distract the President from his resolve to recover Nigeria’s wealth from plunderers.

“Look, let me make it clear this President is not one that can easily be influenced by anyone to change his mind from doing what he knows will benefit the country,” the source, an official in The Presidency, said.

“Those who insinuate that the visit by two former presidents to Buhari was to persuade him to stop the recovery of looted funds do not seem to understand him.

“No individual or group can stop PMB from recovering the stolen money from whoever is involved, no matter how highly placed.”

PAGE 6 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015

AS NEW IMMIGRATION BOSS QUITS IN 3 MONTHS

Damning security reports may stall succession

BY SONI DANIEL, Northern Region Editor

W

ith the confirmation of t h e appointment of Mr. Kure Martins Abeshi as the substantive ComptrollerGeneral (CG) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) by President Muhammadu Buhari, last Thursday, a fierce competition has begun among top officials of the NIS to succeed the incumbent who retires in the next three months.

Abeshi, whose service record indicates that he was born in 1955 in Nasarawa State, quits in November, paving the way for a new CG. The contest now brewing in the para-military agency basically involves the seven Deputy Comptrollers-General and no fewer than 22 Assistant Comptrollers-General as well as many controllers of NIS, who believe that they are qualified to serve in that capacity.

S u n d a y Vanguard investigation reveals that The Presidency might have asked the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board, CDFIPB, which supervises

the NIS, to begin the search for a qualified CG from among the top officials.

Findings indicated that the board has already directed the 22 Assistant Controllers-General and Controllers of Immigration to forward their curriculum vitae with immediate effect to it.

Findings also showed that out of the seven DCGs, no fewer than four were due for retirement between January and October next year based on their records of service while three others have between one and three years to go.

The DCGs include Mohammed Babandede, whose record showed that he was born in 1963; Ifeadi Emmanuel Udochukwu, 1956; Malgwi Henry Yasika, 1958; Olaitan Joseph; Adike Chibueze John,Ibrahim Abba, one Gbenga and Abiodun Towanu.

Going by the service records, it is only Babandede, who has the highest number of years to stay in the service while the rest have between one and two years.

Babandede may stand a better chance than others since he is said to have been for many years exposed to foreign missions and attached to other MDAs

outside the NIS. But given that there are many DCGs in the NIS, it is not clear why the board has asked the 22 assistant comptrollers and controllers to forward their bio data to it with immediate effect.

Competent sources said that the board might have widened its search to include the assistant controllers in case adverse security reports affect the DCGs, whose records are already before The Presidency.

It would be recalled that when former President Goodluck Jonathan wanted to appoint a substantive CG for the NIS, he requested for and obtained reports on all the DCGs. Besides, their performance in the NIS promotion examination was taken into consideration by The Presidency in arriving at the decision to elevate them.

Competent security sources told Sunday Vanguard that although most of the DCGs failed the promotion test and had very negative recommendations standing against them; they were all the same

Awardees (L-R): Mr Pattison Boleigha, Chief Compliance Officer, Access Bank Plc; Barrister U.A. Obot, Deputy Director, Central Bank of Nigeria; and Mr. Abimbola Adeseyoju, Founder/Managing Director, DataPro Limited, who received awards from the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, ACAML, in recognition of their contributions to anti-money laundering activities and combating terrorism financing in Nigeria, which held at Barcelona Hotel, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, recently. elevated. For instance, a popular DCG, who is one of the leading contestants for the top job, was described as ‘unsuitable and questionable’ by those who assessed him for elevation.

Similarly another DCG, who was simple described as ‘not suitable because of being diligent in duty but ‘tribalistic” by favouring personnel from his religious group, was also recommended and approved for appointment by the President for reasons not made clear.

However, one of them, who was described by assessors as ‘incorruptible, hardworking and accommodating, was inexplicably rejected by the promotion board but was countered and approved

for the post. However, only a few of the DCGs had very favourable security reports.

Two of them from the South-South had good recommendation: “The candidate is honest, hardworking and principled,” one of the reports, said.

The Presidency had however waved aside the tribalism allegation levelled against two of the DCGs and confirmed them, arguing that the accusation was not substantiated.

But as the race for the CG’s post hots up, there were allegations last night that one of the candidates was being bankrolled by a top telecoms provider from the South West while a former Interior Minister was backing one of the

major candidates from the North.

But of the many contestants, the odds, according to NIS sources, favoured Babandede, Ibrahim Abba, Abiodun Hundeyin and Musa Maza, who is said to be related to an influential member of the NIS board.

It is not clear who among the many would finally clinch the top job, but lobbyists from the northern and southern parts of Nigeria have intensified their efforts to get one of their own to take the beat from the retiring CG. However, there are fears that President Muhammadu Buhari may spring a surprise like he did with the Customs last week by appointing an external candidate.

Amaec hi ffires ires bac k: Wik ore his commission Amaechi back: Wikee also corrupt corrupt;; I won’t appear bef before

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

I

mmediate past governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, yesterday, accused his successor, Mr Nyesom Wike, of also being corrupt.

The former governor spoke, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, while addressing loyalists of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Amaechi said he was in the Rivers State capital to quietly attend a church program and will leave same day, adding that he had clear documents pointing at the alleged corruption acts of the governor.

Amaechi vowed never to appear before the Justice George Omereji Commission of Inquiry investigating alleged sale of the assets of the state by his government, insisting that the establishment of the commission did not comply with constitutional provisions.

The former governor said he will appear before any properly constituted commission in the state.

“I have been listening while in Abuja to Nyesom Wike accusing me of corruption and I laugh.

Even Nyesom Wike knows that I don’t like

money, he knows that”, he stated.

“The pressure Wike is putting on us is to let somebody call us together to a meeting to withdraw our case challenging his election from court.. The party has a right to go to court.

The law of Nigeria says

there is no independent candidate. Even if I, Amaechi, Peterside withdraw, APC will carry on with the case.

“The funny thing about the young man is that he knows I know him. I was his governor, I have documents to show that he is a contractor. I am

not a thief; so I don’t know what this young man is talking about.”

The former governor said he had had only one local bank account since he became governor.

According to him, he never handled any contract while he was governor.

APC leader ver sanit ation leader,, police clash in Ba Bayyelsa oover sanitation restriction *Alaibe dissociates self

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA, Yenagoa

T

here was panic y e s t e r d a y morning around the Edepie suburb of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital when some policemen allegedly attached to an All Progressive Congress( APC) leader clashed with the staff of the state Environmental Sanitation Authority led by its Chairman, Mr Oboku Offorji.

It was gathered that the clash, which occurred at the Tombia junction, followed a heated argument on the

barricade mounted to ensure residents of the state adhere to the restriction of movement order on sanitation day The Chairman of the state sanitation authority accused the APC leader and his supporters of deliberately flouting the restriction order in line with the sanitation law and attempting to disrupt the exercise with security personnel shooting sporadically into the air.

The leadership of the APC in the state dismissed the allegation saying officials of the state government were

trying to discredit the party.

Meanwhile, the media adviser to the state APC Chairman, Mr Alawoei Opukeme, dismissed the claims.

He said since the PDP now sees the APC as its greatest threat, it wants to do everything within to discredit the party.

In a related development, Mr Timi Alaibe said it would be irresponsible and mischievous of anybody to link him with the incident, saying he did not participate in or know anything about it.

“I can tell you truthfully that since the

day I declared for the APC in Bayelsa State, I have not gone back there for any function either personal or public.

Today, I am speaking to you from Abonema in Rivers State where I came to attend a burial”, Alaibe stated.

“I was never in Bayelsa State; neither was I involved any such incident as alleged.

Somebody wants to score a cheap political point by linking or including me in an issue I know nothing about.

“It’s all dirty politics.

I’m glad you could call like your other colleagues to get my reaction to this clear falsehood.”

The former governor, who accused INEC, SSS, Army and militants of conniving to rob the APC of victory in the last gubernatorial election in the state, said he and his party will continue to fight until they get justice from the court.

Madam Daramola for Burial

T

HE final burial rites of late Madam Susanah Omotiunwa Daramola (Nee Awobuyide), aged 92, commences on Thursday September, 3, 2015, with a Christian Wake at No. 10, Ekuye Street, Isinbode. This will be followed on Friday, September, 4, with a burial service at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Isinbode, Ekiti State.

Late Madam Omotiunwa Daramola

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, Page 7

2019 Elections: Platform for electronic voting VIEWPOINT

By Cordelia Agbebeku

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Strengthening the electoral regime

N

IGERIANS are without doubt dissatisfied with the process of manual elections in Nigeria which always begin with the registration of political parties and their candidates interested in participating in the elections through the voting process on election day, to the proclamation of results. A very crucial and tedious exercise is the registration of voters which takes place before election day.

During voter registration period, citizens who are eligible are required to present themselves at the various registration centers and get registered for the upcoming elections. After registration, a voter s identity card (ID) is issued to the individual which has to be kept safe until election day. Although this seems like a straightforward exercise, in actual fact, it is an expensive and complex issue.

Ballot papers and boxes are sometimes hijacked by thugs no matter how secured they are whereas in some areas, election mate-rials are always in short supply.

The general election earlier scheduled in February, 2015 was postponed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to March 28 (Presidential and national assembly) and April 11, (governorship and state assemblies) 2015, Announcing the postponement on Saturday 7th February, 2015 in a press briefing, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega told Nigerians that the postponement was due to security report by the Service chiefs of the security agencies in Nigeria. The postponement had some cost implications on Nigerians. Nigeria lost much of her economic projections for 2015 and further plunged into more hardship. With the postponement, various stakeholders had incurred several forms of loses.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has in recent years grown into one of the basic building blocks of our modern society.

The world is rapidly changing and institutions everywhere are using ICT tools to computerize their systems and meet up with the challenges of modernization and globalization.

Consequently, electronic voting (e-voting) is slowly gaining ground in Nigeria and many

countries are embracing it as a part of their democracy, modernization and a way forward for peace and development.

From smart phones to advanced military technology, the computer era is well and truly upon us, yet when it comes to voting, the clock seems to turn back time. Brazil, India, Namibia and France (to name a few) have been successful applicants in the quest for electronic voting. However, Nigeria has not yet jumped on the e-voting bandwagon.

Sticking to traditional methods of paper voting, some would argue it to be less reliable in ensuring a fair and just election

The 8th National Assembly that has a majority of APC lawmakers should progress towards sponsoring a bill to allow electronic voting

in 2019. The disadvantages of paper voting are as follows: High costs of physical Ballot paper: Secrecy of the ballot form being compromised: A report by the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa showed that election officials in the 2007 elections in Nigeria lacked a proper understanding of the counting procedure which subsequently lead to delays in the voting process.

An electronic voting system may not be able to bridge the gap between one of the biggest challenges of the election process - voter behaviour. I am however open to electronic voting and believes Nigeria will inevitably adopt an e-voting system in combination with traditional methods.

I think it is inevitable for Nigeria to adopt electronic voting based on how quickly things have moved over the past couple of years in terms of electronics. It is also possible to have a combination of paper voting and electronic counting or electronic voting where you put your ballot paper on top of a machine and that machine calculates it.

However, I believe that such a system would require consent and commitment between the political parties.

What is important about it is we need to have political parties agreeing and committing to it.

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, I want to challenge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fully implement electronic voting system and there is a need to strengthen the electoral regime to avoid violence.

Section 52(1) (b) of the 2010 Electoral Act says: “The use of electronic voting machine for the time being is prohibited.”

One wonders if the same honourable members of the National Assembly who passed the Electoral Bill into law were not the same one that approved the huge sums of money for the Direct Data Capture machines used in the voters registration exercise. Did it not occur to them that they were giving to Nigerians with one hand while taking away with the other hand?”. The 8th National Assembly that has a majority of APC lawmakers should progress towards sponsoring a bill to allow electronic voting.

The deliberate speed some lawmakers authorised use of PVCs could be applied to allow electronic voting, unless there are other ulterior motives for maintaining the status quo.

•Agbebaku is a professor of law and Vice Chancellor, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State.

Rotimi Amaechi, a linchpin for a new South-South VIEWPOINT

By Ike Peterside

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The traits of a former governor

F

OR many years, the economic emancipation of the South-South zone has been of great concerns to leaders of the zone who have done their best in various forms and dimensions. Some leaders took the militancy option to articulate the deep seated passion to transform the oil rich region while others took the inclusive, non-violent hue to get their messages across. This desire gave birth to leaders like Major Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro who did what he did but lost his life in the process and the late Environmentalist, Ken Saro Wiwa who also paid the supreme price in the struggle. In recent times, one leader who has taken the transformation of the region several notches higher is the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who built and sustained a bridge of understanding with other parts of the country in an intellectual and non-violent manner to win the confidence of other Nigerians. The man of the people built a wide network in the grassroots where he constantly lives in the minds of Nigerians who love him for his broadmindedness, impeccable integrity and selflessness. All these attributes stood in him in good stead during the last elections when he stood firmly behind President Mohammed Buhari and was even appointed as the Chairman of the Buhari/

Osinbajo campaign organization.

When Hon. Rotimi Amaechi resumed office as the Governor of Rivers State, little did anyone realize that he was poised to redefine governance in Nigeria, nay Africa. By the time he was through with the mandate given to him by his people, the entire Rivers State had become better than he met it.It was this practical achievement that primarily led to the oppositions and contentions that he faced amongst his own group who felt that he was already becoming irrepressibly popular and relevant among the grassroots as if he did not know that it was this lowly people that brought him into power and not the bigwigs. Rotimi Amaechi cultivated the grassroots as if his life depended on it and

The challenge before those accusing Amaechi of corruption is that incidentally, people are not going to use allegations, particularly unfounded and unproven ones to judge and measure performances

irrespective of the perfidies and chicaneries of the power that was then, Amaechi today remains the darling of his people.

It was also his power of vision that made him recognize President Muhammadu Buhari as the man of history who came with the Midas touch to turn the lives of the ordinary man around. When the dream of President Muhammadu Buhari’s aspiration to contest for the presidency of Nigeria was hatched, not even the star gazers would have given him any chance. But like the rock of Gibraltar, Rotimi Amaechi stood firmly by the man he believed in even if he had to stand alone in the entire South-south region to the condemnation of his friends and all other close allies. Today, his visionary streak has been vindicated.

Knowing Rotimi Amaechi from the distance would not rob anyone of the necessary insight into his character traits. When the man decided that it was time for him to move away from his old guards and chart a new course, people thought the decision would not endure because of the obstacles and barriers he would be meeting on this path to self actualization.

But being a man of commitment and principle , he did not look back and when the horizon looked bleaker because of the bulging groundswell of artificial and orchestrated opposition to him, he did not falter. He focused his attention on his goal and was ready to give it whatever it would require to get to the desired destination. It is this sinew that is actually the

hallmark of great leaders.

One strong trait that would always stand any person out anywhere in the world is empathy. If any man is capable of exuding true and genuine love, he will not look for friends too far even if his fortune is taking a downward turn. That is the major reason today even though he is out of power as a Governor, he is still the toast of many across the country especially the North.

Of all the commendable character traits of our amiable Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, none is so eloquently and visibly displayed and demonstrated as his acute sense of courage, boldness and bravery. As is commonly said, a sheep leading a pride of lion is a weak group, but a lion leading a flock of sheep is a strong group. And whatever happens to us in the Niger Delta area, and however we are perceived today, we have a lion to follow in Rotimi Amaechi and follow him we will.

Indeed, we shall not look back.

Anytime a man stands up against his own father, his own family, and his own people in favour of principle and common good of the nation, that unmistakably, is a man to follow. This would never have been thought possible in Nigeria’s political space until the small man in Port Harcourt stood against the big man in Abuja. It was a battle between the Biblical David and Goliath.

But God does not necessarily stand behind the man of strength, and today, the rest is history.

Whatever the whole world may think and since we are not

looking for a perfect man, we have come to the conclusion that Rotimi Amaechi is a man with sufficient quantum of sincerity, capacity, integrity and strategy that is required to lead a focused social regeneration. He is by no means likely to be the best man from the South-south who could be at the vanguard of the desired change, but he is one man who has put himself up for that daunting role. And until some other person comes along, he remains the lighthouse that would guide the ship of our people to the safety shores of glory and greatness.

The challenge before those accusing Amaechi of corruption is that incidentally, people are not going to use allegations, particularly unfounded and unproven ones to judge and measure performances. Sadly, our nation has become a scandal freak country where sensationalism has become the order of the day. Some people tried this against President Buhari during campaigns,but they failed woefully. Nigerians have become much wiser and so are the members of our group.

We want to see action, we want to see performances. Until these corruption charges are proven or we see better performances that would make a mess of what the former Governor has done we wish to insist just as most Nigerians would that Hon. Chubuike Rotimi Amaechi remains our man and we shall stand by him through thick and thin.

•Peterside is the Publicity S e c r e t a r y, P r o g r e s s i v e Professionals Platform

PAGE 8—SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015

Mr President steps on the gas pedal I

f there is one thing Ni gerians agree with without any acrimony, it is that we do not do things in half measures. We are committed and passionate about whatever we do. We do not take prisoners in expressing our thoughts on the state of affairs in our country. As a result, every Nigerian is a commentator on the state of affairs in the sleeping giant of Africa as they analyse news and not shy to offer opinions.

We are usually emotional when it comes to expectations from our government as we do not pretend to hide our feelings or emotions. This is why we are fanatical in our support or opposition of leaders in the country. As Nigerians, whatever we put our minds in, we usually do with style and panache, even when sometimes it is not in the best interest of the nation.

The news coming from Nigeria in the past three weeks have been sweet and sour combination. It has been sweet because the government of President Muhammad Buhari has finally taken off. In these three weeks, it has shown it not only have teeth, it is ready to use them. With recent events it has also shown to Nigerians and probably to the world that the government would not only bark but ready to bite, if need be.

Even if you are blind, you can still feel the flurry of activities everywhere. The continuous sack of appointees of the former government who might have been heavily involved in the mess the Buhari has inherited is an indication of readiness to break away from the past. The president seem very desperate to replace these set of nonperforming appointees with trusted and capable hands.

If there is one thing that really gladens the hearts of Nigerians, it is the sound bite of fighing corruption that has now become the “Songs of Praise” for the government. The improvished Nigerians are able to identify with these moves as they believe their lives are ruined daily by corruption and mismanagement.

They feel depressed when they read in the media that so and so amount of money has ben solen by their represemtatives.

The government has signified its intention to treat corruption as the greatest enemy of the state. The activities of the governemtn in the past three weeks have shown that there is not going to be any deviation from the electoral promises made by the President that fighting corruption and mismanagement of the country's resources shall be his priorities.

Unfortunately, apart

from the government's body language on corruption, and the recent announcement of key appointments, all other plans are still being kept close to the chests of Mr President and his confidants. This little bit is enough to bring hope to Nigerians who have been yearning for something to cheer in this new government.

On the other side of the news coin is the sour bit which has revealed that the beautiful ones are not yet born in Nigeria. As Mr President was busy signing the sack letters of the political appointees, Nigerians also learnt that some highly reverred politicians who we thought were“saints” have actually soiled their hands with “shady and unexplainable” deals. The revelations go beyond unacceptable business practices, but also totally unbelievable payments for jobs that should have cost “peanuts”.

It is no secret that corruption and mismanagement are the majot obstacles to development in the country. These did not start yesterday or last year, they have always been the bane of the largest black populated country in the world.

There is an adage that says the bigger the head, the bigger the headaches that worry it. This can be said of the country Nigeria. A big country with over 170 million (unofficial) citizens with aspirations to be rich and live a life of affluence.

While these citizens have legitimate rights to aspire to be rich and comfortable, the governmenats that are supposed to lay the foundations for these are unconcerned with the subjects. As a result of the lack of needed infrastructures and platforms for individual developments, the citizens had no choice than to "loot" the governemnt to achieve their dreams.

No one can blame the citizens, since they were taught in Civics (a popular subject in the Primary School curriculum) that the citizens are the government, and governments

As Nigerians, whatever we put our minds in, we usually do with style and panache, even when sometimes it is not in the best interest of the nation

are made up of citizens.

And by extension, they realised so early in life that democracy is actually a governent of the people, by the people and for the people.

While since independence, Nigeria has been unfortunate not to have uninterrupted democratic rules, this has not deterred the citizens from putting into practice what they learnt in Civics. Either military or civilian rules, the aim of majority of Nigerians is to be part of the government. In other parts of the world, this will be borne out of love and patriotism for the country, but in Nigeria, the desire to be in government is to have a platform for achieving the aspiration to be rich.

The idea is not far fetched, as the citizens have been taught in kindergaten that a country is a commonwealth where nations and citizens can draw from and be satisfied. This brings confidence and satisfaction to people, rather than remorse, when they dip their hands in government till.

They need not feel any guilt, as the money belongs to all and no one in particular.

Stealing from government dates back to so many years ago. The propelling factors for these stealings have not been identified as at yet. But many observers have written on this subject, trying to unravel the mystery. However, not most of these observers have identified a particular binding factor that operates in all Nigerians, no matter what tribe or region, religion or dialect.

This is the greed DNA. It runs in most Nigerians, especially those in positions of authorities and who have access to public funds.

No matter how glamorous and well paid a public service job may be, the typical Nigerian is most likely to have itchy fingers and desire to pocket the funds that are not his. Public service, unfortunately is no longer public. It has been redefined to be Self Service.

The ones that do not have direct access to government funds, have devised ways and methods they can milk the state and enrich themselves and their generations. Ask the National Assembly members who earn "obscene" wages to the detriment of the masses they are supposed to serve.

Unfortunate,y, the glamorisation of these political posts is one of the reasons for why people aspire to them, and not necessarily to serve.

The President must therefore be commended for the bold steps he has taken in identifying the key areas in our polity where corruption seem to have been institutionalised. He needs, however, to show more than political will as he goes about this task.

Steps to a Joyful home I

n our previous edition, we shared with readers, the issue of singles desirous of joyful homes and the Spiritual challenges that some of them are confronted with.

This issue is further discussed this week from a different perspective.

We kick off with the testimony of a lady who is about 60 years and got married in July 2015 and according to her “both families were fully in attendance”. This was read to the congregation of Laughter Foundation International Ministry by the General Overseer, Pastor Gbenga Oso. These days, it is fashionable to hear ladies or men say “ marriage is not compulsory. If I can have a child, it is okay”. This is not in line with the word of God and has led many ladies to permanent sorrow.

How? We’ll return to this later but first what is the word of God concerning marriage. Genesis 2 (18) is our authority. It states: “ And the Lord God said , it is not good that the man should be alone, I will make a help mate for him”. This also applies to a woman.

That it is the desire of God that we have joyful homes is not in doubt. Psalm 128 vs 3 lends credence to this. It states, “ Thy wife shall be as a frutitful vine by sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table”.

This is very clear.

God wants us to be fruitful but within a marriage not outside it.

We’ll return to the essence of this passage for women waiting on the Lord for children in subsequent editions.

Back to the issue of singles.

Some ladies in their desperation for marriage partners resort to the internet .

Some may have succeeded but many more have failed.

Indecent dressing These days it is fashionable to wear to the church trousers that expose their backside ie trousers with short tops that reveal all. Others put on other materials that expose their bodies.

Those who engage in this should know that indecent dressing cannot attract a decent man. This is only an aspect of this topic.

Alternate wife - Ladies who allow a married man to use them as alternates to their wives for whatever reason could be in for a sorrowful future.

In our last edition, I promised to return to this topic.

Now, I will like to share with readers, the experiences of three different ladies. A Lady H. a banker, went on to date a man who she knew was married.

Of course it was a secret relationship. The lady at some point began to harass the man that she was about 30 years old and needed to get married. Now, this man had told her that he did

not want to break his marriage but because the wife was still waiting on God for children, Lady H continued her harassment. She told the man to buy her a car, open for her a shop in Lekki and buy a house and a son will be his.

She said it as if she is the Almighty God. Of course, the man could not meet her needs and was not prepared to.

He was hopeful that one day, his wife would bear children.

Lady H did not stop at this.

She sent text messages to the wife calling her all sorts of names.

She confirmed to the man that she indeed sent the messages and that it was her plan to provoke the woman and get her out of her matrimonial home.

But when God is on your side, who can be against you? The wife who knew nothing about this ungodly relationship of her husband refused to be provoked.

The secret.? In one of her prayer sessions, her Pastor gave a word of knowledge that God said people should give an offering as a seed to conquer the spirit of provocation. . She did and this was what worked for her.

It is for such reasons that women waiting on the Lord should avoid unnecessary battles. They should also strive to control emotions, learn to subdue anger.

Though the woman knew her husband was cheating on her, she remained focused.

God wants us to have joyful homes but we need to take physical steps to attain it

She refused to be distracted but remained steadfast in prayer and worship.

One night, the HOLY SPIRIT of God spoke to her in a dream ( this is a true life story), it said to her “ Go and tell your husband that all his children will come from your own body and not that of Lady H”.

Madam never knew the name of Lady H but the Spirit of God told her. When she told her husband what the Holy Spirit told her in a dream, the man became dumbfounded. He knew that Madam never knew Lady H’s name or ever met her.

To the Glory of God, the wife a member of Laughter Foundation, had a break through and had a son after about 20 years of waiting.She laughed last. God fought for her and kept her home. Lady H was shocked. Of course, she finally lost the

man.

Another experience is that of a couple who have children but the man and a single lady; Miss X got involved in a relationship and had three children.

When the children began to grow up, they wanted to meet their father’s relations but the man bluntly refused.

He said he had told this lady that he was married and didn’t want to upset his wife and children.

Why then did he have children with this single lady?

The man said it was the lady that wanted children, he never told her he wanted children from her .

Worse, he had his doubts about the paternity of the children.

The man in question is dead now but he stated in his will that he had no children outside his wedlock and that anyone especially Miss X who claimed to have children must be ignored.

Of course, he made no provisions for those children.

A friend of his who was privy to the secret affair said the man repeatedly told him that all that Miss X wanted from him was his money and he had given her all he wanted to give her.

Now, where does this leave Miss X and her children? Your guess is as good a mine.

Rather than take steps similar to the ones stated above, why should a lady not remain steadfast with the Lord in prayer, worship and service?

Before I conclude this article, let me refer to a letter sent to me by one of the readers of this column.

The reader a man, said he has been having issues with his wife who wants more children. The couple has a child now. The man said anytime he wants to meet his wife, he would have no erection.

I asked him if he had a girlfriend and the man who claims to be a Christian replied in the affirmative.

I told him not to look too far away. It could be the evil manipulation of his girl friend. Why? She is the one in an unholy contest with the wife but the good news is that the yoke can be broken with prayers under a truly anointed Man of God. He was advised to go and repent and join his wife to pray for more children.

There is power in the prayer of agreement but of course he must put an end to that secret relationship.

Why have I made reference to this? It is simply to warn men that some the ladies they have unholy relationship with may be deep in occultism . Such ladies do not only manipulate the marital life of their male partners but also their finances.

God wants us to have joyful homes but we need to take physical steps to attain it.

•Feedback- Lets share your experience- Joyfulhomes 2015@gmail.com

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 9

Which Nigerian Governor does not fight his predecessor?

L

ast week Saturday, I was greatly entertained by a drama piece I watched as a guest of my Bauchi State born colleague, Comrade Yakubu. The play, an exciting satire was about enemies who are fond of publicly professing friendship. The brilliant way the intrigues in the scenes were arranged made me to ask Yakubu if aides of the present governor of his state would not introduce some of those intrigues to him in his fight with his predecessor, Isa Yuguda. Naively, Yakubu assured me that no such thing would happen in Bauchi because elders of the state would intervene to save the day. This discussion and the play which propelled it immediately re-echoed in my mind 4 days ago when I read in the media; negative comments on the previous administration which Governor Mohammed Abubakar told State House Media Correspondents shortly after meeting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja. The Governor revealed

that following the activities of the committee he set up to recover property of government frittered away by officials of Yuguda’s government, about 72 cars and 60 generators have so far been recovered. Abubakar

The allegations that Fashola spent N78.3m on his personal website, www.tundefashola.com and N139m to construct two boreholes at the Lagos House, Ikeja, when he was governor were allegedly found on the state government’s website. If the fight was not real or didn’t have official backing, the reactions would not have taken the same pattern of evasive denials also confirmed that his administration inherited five months salary arrears and N14bn unpaid gratuities.

The fight in Bauchi is easy to understand especially as those involved belong to two different political parties. It also does not quite fall into the class of the interesting drama referred to earlier PhD,Depar tment of Philosophy, University of Lagos 08116759758 opuruiche2000@yahoo.com

Areas of concentration for President Buhari (3)

R

emember, a committee of the Senate of the Second Republic, headed by the late Dr.Olusola Saraki, was about to scrutinise the Ayo Irikefe Report concerning the purported missing NNPC funds when Buhari came to power through a military coup in December 31, 1993. Since then, the Report seems to have disappeared without trace.

So where is the Irikefe Report? Was Buhari cleared or indicted by the panel? If he was cleared, why was the findings not made public before he was overthrown in August 1985? As far as I am concerned, silly insults and shibboleths from B u h a r i m a n i a c s notwithstanding, President Buhari's anti-corruption reputation remains tainted unless contents of the Irikefe Report are made public or he publicly addresses the matter himself. Perhaps, Buhari refused to appear before the Oputa Panel set up by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to address some troubling national issues because he was either unprepared or unwilling to answer embarrassing questions concerning the $2.8 billion scandal. Such scornful attitude to the panel is a clear case of hubris bordering on the sacred cow syndrome that has made a caricature of the Nigerian system. The only

where the fight was disguised.

But Comrade Yakubu remains probably the only one that did not expect the Bauchi fight which was destined to happen everywhere including notorious areas like Rivers State where the current Governor Nyesom Wike came into office through a fight with the previous holder well before the election.

Incidentally the Rivers fight is still raging. If anyone imagines that there might be no fight where the candidate of a party was succeeded by another from the same party then such a person is yet to watch the drama on the disguised fight of giants. For now let us pick two states

way a political leader serious about fighting corruption can win over sceptics is by being transparent and humble enough to address serious allegations of financial irregularities that occurred in any public or private institution where he or she worked previously.

Another problem with President Buhari's scapegoat mode of fighting corruption is his arbitrary decision to beam his antigraft searchlight only on Goodluck Jonathan's tenure. Prof. Ben Nwabueze has masterfully discussed this matter in his thoughtprovoking and wellresearched series of essays entitled "Position of Igbo Leaders of Thought on corruption probe". I completely endorse his criticism of the specious arguments by the Presidency and other APC leaders supporting the selective character of the probe; hence there is no need to repeat his arguments here. But even if Buhari carries out his threat to probe Jonathan's gover nment only, one would not be surprised if some prominent APC stalwarts, especially those that decamped to the party from the PDP and who helped Buhari to emerge as President, are caught in the anti-corruption dragnet. On the other hand, as long as previous leaders aside from Jonathan are

where a party succeeded itself and see the pattern of the special fight we are seeking to describe.

Since Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressive Congress (APC) succeeded Babatunde Fashola of the same party on May 29 this year, Fashola has been enjoying ample bad not investigated by President Buhari, his war against corruption will remain grossly incomplete like a fraction without its integer. Besides, why the vuvuzela approach, the media orchestration, of the probe? Is all the media sensationalism necessary?

By announcing (advertising might be a more appropriate term) every time his intention to probe his immediate predecessor, President Buhari is unwittingly forewarning those he wants to probe to take necessary precautions that could lead to the disappearance of cogent and implicative evidence which might have c o n s e q u e n t i a l implications for the outcome of the proposed probe. In other words, loyalists of former President Jonathan and other key players in his government still occupy strategic positions in both public and private institutions. Therefore, to protect them, these loyalists would ensure that relevant information that might implicate their benefactors is hidden away from the prying eyes of the investigators or, better still, destroyed.

Inspite of Chief Obafemi Awolowo's scepticism about the usefulness of probes, the quantum of official corruption in Nigeria is so horrifying that the importance of scrutinising past governments cannot be dismissed cavalierly. But the way the current administration is handling the matter is somewhat amateurish, as if talking about corruption repeatedly makes combating it a lot easier.

There is no good reason why President Buhari should not revisit, in

press. Is someone fighting him? Those who suspect his predecessor- Bola Ahmed Tinubu have been directed elsewhere by Tinubu himself who claims that the enemy action was the handiworks of mischief makers sponsored by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While this is a possibility, the contents of the bad press seem to portray a different direction.

The allegations that Fashola spent N78.3m on his personal w e b s i t e , www.tundefashola.com and N139m to construct two boreholes at the Lagos House, Ikeja, when he was governor were allegedly found on the state government’s website. If the fight was not real or didn’t have official backing, the reactions would not have taken the same pattern of evasive denials. Government would have since refuted the allegations and publicized the true position. In the circumstance, Fashola is probably the only one who is free for strategic reasons to believe that the powers that be, are not against him.

The second state in issue is Kano where a governor, for the first time in the history of our current democracy, was succeeded by his erstwhile deputy. To the outside world, former governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso could never have found a more loyal follower than his deputy, Dr Umar Ganduje. The latter indeed served the former as deputy twice. Anyone who saw both men anywhere in white apparel matched with

red cap and beaming with the philosophy of ‘Kwankwasiyya’ could swear that nothing can go wrong between them. But, when the new governor, Dr. Ganduje recently hosted some Kano students abroad under the aegis of General Association of Northern Nigeria Students, he alleged that there was a distortion to the state scholarship programme and that it was the handiwork of Kwankwaso. In the words of the governor: “I’ve decided to let the cat out of the bag so that, as educated people, you would understand where your problems lie. For one year, Kwankwaso did not pay a single kobo as tuition fee for our students studying abroad. Right now, Kano State government owes those students N3 billion, and painfully, our revenue is dwindling and we would be cautious in handling the situation”.

Meanwhile a statement credited to the State Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports and Culture, Mallam Mohammed Garba, has debunked speculation of a strained relationship between Governor Abubakar Ganduje and his predecessor, Rabiu Kwankwaso. According to the Commissioner, Ganduje recently led a powerful delegation from Kano to attend a dinner organized in honour of Kwankwaso.

This, according to the statement could not have happened if there was a

conflict. Many people may have believed the commissioner’s statement.

This writer would have been one of such early believers of the story because it was never in the character of the commissioner who is the immediate past National President of our professional body- the Nigeria Union of Journalists, to tell half truths. I am however cautioned by 3 issues. First, the indictment of Kwankwaso by his successor was more real than the website one concerning Fashola as it was directly from the outburst of Ganduje that the nation learnt of the reported unwholesome act by his former boss. Second, the Information Commissioner merely dispelled a conflict without refuting the allegation that the former governor misapplied funds meant for students’ scholarship. Third, when I visited Kano last year, the official residence of Ganduje didn’t in my view befit a loyal deputy governor So, is Ganduje fighting his former boss? Since the official answer is negative, who then is not fighting who? In my state, Edo, I hear Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his deputy are pals but that the governor says both of them must leave office together because they started together. Should we expect any fight soon in the heartbeat of the nation?

Time will tell.

addition to cases of financial rascality that might have occurred during Jonathan's tenure, the $12.6 billion dollar gulf war windfall of 19901991, the hurried public expenditures towards the end of Abdulsalami Abubakar's regime, and the billions of dollars wasted on phantom electrification programmes and white elephant projects between 1999 to 2007. What about the gargantuan malpractices in the

imagine the sanitising anti-corruption effect on political office holders, civil servants and Nigerians in general if, after thorough forensic investigations, past and serving leaders found guilty were successfully prosecuted, sentenced to prison and stripped virtually of all they acquired through stealing of public funds. If President Buhari does this, he would automatically become one of the greatest anti-corruption leaders in Africa, alongside Jerry Rawlings of Ghana.

Unfortunately, he cannot: the very corrupt cabal that he ought to punish to send a strong signal that the days of elephantine corruption among the ruling class were over made his Presidency possible.

Therefore, President Buhari is in serious dilemma on the issue of corruption.

Having deliberately narrowed the extent of his searchlight, he has unwittingly left out some of the most corrupt government officials in Nigerian history. But the fulfilment of his anticorruption campaign promises depends largely on his capacity to deal with "sacred cows" found guilty of corruption after due process of law.

Now, assuming that Buhari followed scrupulously the dictates of law in probing Jonathan, and was able to identify some perpetrators of corruption during the period, selective prosecution of the war against it would lead to the same problems that bedevilled Obasanjo's halfhearted anti-graft programme implemented

by Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman, the Economic and Financial Crimes

Commission (EFCC). The best option is for President Buhari to empower antigraft agencies to investigate glaring cases of corruption from 1985 to 2015. By so doing, he would win more public support and trust, and dispel insinuations that he was afraid of probing some past leaders in order to secure his position and avoid revelations that could damage his relatively positive rating in the barometer of anticorruption.

President Buhari has no choice than to tackle quickly the twin problems of poor electricity supply and inefficiency in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Dr. Goodluck Jonathan tried his best to reduce bottlenecks in the generation and transmission of electricity nationwide. President Buhari can build on the foundation laid by Jonathan by ensuring that on-going power plant projects are completed on schedule, by constructing new ones and by making sure that distribution companies have the capacity to distribute available power efficiently. The federal government must also tackle the generatorimporting monsters sabotaging its efforts to deliver steady power supply, and frequent vandalisation of gas pipelines by undesirable elements. Alternative sources of electricity, especially solar energy, must be encouraged also.

Nigerians would not mind how much government spends on electricity, as long as the funds are used prudently and there is noticeable improvement in To be continued

President Buhari is in serious dilemma on the issue of corruption.

Having deliberately narrowed the extent of his searchlight, he has unwittingly left out some of the most corrupt government officials in Nigerian history

allocation of oil wells, oil fields, marginal wells and oil blocks from 1985 to date - why should the President not probe all this? As Prof. Nwabueze succinctly observed, "No evidence of corruption is more visible and concrete than the palatial houses built by past leaders, multibillion projects like a university, a library, mechanised farm etc". By probing Jonathan only, President Buhari will be ignoring these glaring signposts of graft. Now,

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUAT 30, 2015 insanity.” Alcuin, 735-804.

Henceforth, nobody should throw at us that halfdigested stuff about “voice of the people”.

All the above is merely an introduction to the topic. Most of the commentators have been combative; they have been too self-righteous and they have been hypocritical.

In praise of the maligned Peace Committee “When all think alike, no one thinks very much.”

Walter Lippmann, 18891974. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p245).

“A journalist should be pursuing a fair rendition of truth without regard to popular moods; the journalist should not be swayed by public opinion, (underlining mine), only by the pursuit of truth, as close as he or she can get to it.”

Malvin Kalb. (VBQ p 109).

V

ery few issues in Nigeria had generated so much heat, and so little light, as the recent visit of the Peace Committee to President Buhari and the interview which Bishop Hassan Kukah granted afterwards.

To me as a media practitioner, not a journalist, nothing has portrayed most of our journalists as pretenders

and hypocrites more than this matter. Close to ninetynine per cent of those who have written or spoken on the matter spoke out of total ignorance and they have heaped calumnies patriotic, decent and honest Nigerians, whose life-long contributions will suggest they don’t deserve the insults. One of the commentators, in our own VANGUARD wrote that “the voice of the people is the voice of God”. Apart from the fact that its part of the presumptions of our over-verbalised writers to assume they speak for “the people”. At any rate, he should have researched that quotation properly before adopting it, like most of them do. Here it is in full.

“Nor should we listen to those who say ‘the voice of the people is the voice of God’, for the turbulence of the mob is always close to

Buhari’s 100 days in office "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead."- Nelson Mandela y brother and his family visited Nigeria last month and they stayed for three weeks. He told me that the power supply has changed for the better. He was pleasantly surprised that there are longer days with power compared to the way it was in the past. He told me that the change was not just the power supply but in other aspects of peoples’ lives.

It will be naïve to say that everything is now fine and dandy. Far from it, but the shoots of change are beginning to take root.

Change is not easy, and admittedly for years people had given up hope and dared to dream, some still doubt if the recent change is really for the better.

It is understandable. The change in Nigeria has been long time coming and for many years, Nigerians had developed an attitude of futility and a wellworn saying that “only God can save Nigeria”.

Actually, God has nothing to do with it. The problem with

M

Nigerians, has always been self-inflicted, therefore, it is Nigerians’ responsibility to clear up the mess. The obstacles to progress has always been in part; the level of denial, self-interest and lack of leadership. For so long, people revelled in mediocrity and chaos, it was the given, that is the way things are and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Sadly, the past leaders did not try enough to change the status quo. It was not in their best interest. After all, if there was stability and progress, majority of Nigerians will benefit and the quality of life for the average Nigerian will be transformed.

Of course they did not want that! Anyway, I digress.

So, here we are at Buhari’s first 100 days at the helm since May 29, 2015 and what has he done? The facts speak for themselves; yes, prior to his administration the total power generated in the country was 3,155 megawatts and now is 4,032.2 megawatts and took six weeks into the Buhari presidency to change the previous administration’s promise. He has appointed new defence chiefs after sacking the heads of the army, navy and air force. He has tasked the new defence chiefs to redouble their efforts to

The only response to media terror is media terror. So they will have it.

Why am I getting involved in this explosive matter? Very simple. There

went with the rest to meet Buhari and I strongly believe that his presence alone on that delegation should have given most of our media practitioners a pause before reacting violently and rudely.

Let me make one confession before proceeding. Bishop Hassan Kukah, who is unknown personally to me, while briefing the State House Correspondents, went beyond the position of the rest of the Committee. I was busy with personal matters when the storm broke over what Kukah said. I was appalled by it. But, unlike others, I did what Malvin Kalb told us in the quotation above. I went to Uncle Sam to find out if they were properly represented. Let me render to our readers what Uncle Sam said. “The Committee told President

About two years ago, I had written that the National Publicity Secretaries of the PDP and APC were the two most dangerous men in Nigeria. None allows truth to get in the way of propaganda is one member of the Peace Committee on who I can bet my life (this is the second time in two weeks I will say that) that he will never plead with Buhari not to probe looters. That person is Uncle Sam, the Publisher of this paper. He

Buhari that they were in total support of probing all alleged looters, but, due process should be followed.”

I will return to that statement later.

Bishop Kukah, as the spokesman for the Committee, on his own

quell the activities of the insurgency. The United States pledged $5 million to the fight against Boko Haram, and other material support. The G-7 also offers support and commitment to strengthen Nigeria’s efforts to quash the insurgency.

There is a better relationship and cooperation with its neighbours Chad, Cameroon and Niger. Buhari has ordered the release of $21m to facilitate and establish HQ for the forces closer to the epicentre of the insurgency.

He is a strategist and is determined to fight Boko Haram. The army has been told to act within the law and abide by human rights convention. Discipline and moral integrity is returning to the armed forces.

Let’s us not forget that PMB was elected on an anticorruption ticket and he pledged to fight corruption, and he should be held to that pledge.

The Federal Government is planning to establish 37 of the Special Courts to try corruption related cases in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and the 36 states of the Federation. So, for those who have siphoned from the national purse, they are in for a rude awakening. There will be screening to identify fearless judges who would be responsible to preside on such cases.

President Buhari has approved the recruitment of 10,000 additional police officers and he has directed the Inspector-General of Police to trim the number of police attached to politicians and dignitaries, to redeploy the police men to their regular police duties.

Nigeria’s image has also improved overseas and neighbours and there are

more countries who want to do business with Nigeria. Recently, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Rangaian Ghanashyam, said that President Buhari’s ongoing effort at fighting corruption would attract more foreign investments and it seems to attract foreign investments.

The change in Nigeria has been long time coming and for many years, Nigerians had developed an attitude of futility and a wellworn saying that “only God can save Nigeria” Ghanashyam said that PMB’s commitment to fighting corruption would not only attract more foreign investments but would also make Nigeria “stand on itself’ and that Nigeria, is now in safe hands because what President Buhari is doing would make more investors to come to Nigeria.

PMB has dismantled some of the management structures and ways that the Federal Government does business.

Already he has announced plans to uncouple the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation which has long been a lightning rod for graft and corruption. The President

added all the other observations – which he had repeated ever since.

That was the cause of all the palaver. The uproar which followed Kukah’s report might not have occurred if the Bishop had granted two interviews – one to state the position of the Committee; the other to state his own position.

I can state categorically that the Peace Committee never begged Buhari not to probe looters. All those who have written or commented based on that assumption, if they are journalists, have simply demonstrated that they are lazy or incompetent journalists.

They should have tried to reach other members of the Committee to verify what Kukah said.

Among the most nauseating comments was the one written by a Publicity Secretary of the ruling party. Titled “Away with Peace Committee”, he declared that the Committee should be disbanded because they support corrupt people. I was not surprised. About two years ago, I had written that the National Publicity Secretaries of the PDP and APC were the two most dangerous men in Nigeria. None allows truth to get in the way of propaganda. Since then, I have concluded that all Publicity Secretaries of all political parties in Nigeria are full of malarkey. That writer obviously does not know

that in a democracy people are free to form committees and nobody can disband them unless they break the law. Even if the Peace Committee had canvassed for leniency, it is their view and there is nothing illegal about it.

Even a respected national newspaper disgraced itself by writing an editorial saying the same thing without investigating further. Is this journalism or what?

Before any of the selfrighteous hypocrites start throwing bombs, let me remind them that I alone wrote PDP: CORRUPTION INCORPORATED and started circulating it during Obasanjo’s administration. It is still available. They should go and read Chapter 8 of that book and find out what one of their current “Saints” did when he served Obasanjo. If they do, they will not be too hasty to defame patriotic individuals like General Abubakar and Uncle Sam. FUNNY FANI KAYODE. “Since 1960 every single one of our potential deliverers have failed” Femi Fani-Kayode, in WHEN COMETH OUR DELIVERER? August 18, 2015.

Femi, the clown, served Obasanjo and supported the Third Term ambition; he served Jonathan and worked for the Second term quest. Now he calls them failures. It serves OBJ and GEJ right for appointing a jester to high office.

has already done away with the previous management and put in place a highly recommended and renowned technocrat from Exxon Mobile, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu. There are indications that some agencies of government and civil service will be trimmed.

There is talk about a salary cut for our legislators, now that is in progress. PMB and his deputy did take a cut in salary so our honourable men and women have no excuse.

The President has brought in a new broom and a fiscal supremo, Godwin Emefiele, as the Central Bank Governor, who recently announced that the foreign reserves had risen by $2.89b in the first month of the Buhari administration.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has a new lease of life and is already at work apprehending the looters for those who helped themselves to the common wealth.

Change is good especially if it’s for the better. Change also, is contagious, and those that can’t feel it, is because they refuse to be part of the solution and they languish in the past where things did not work, chaos reign and fear has always been their currency of trade. Buhari is already assembling a team of highly skilled professionals that would help him to implement his promise of change. I remember several months ago, how people wish for a time like this because for those of us who knew, that period when things worked in Nigeria ,was a golden age.

For those who are not yet convinced of change, that is because they have not

contributed to the change and for them , I direct this Socrates ‘quote;” Let him that would move the world first move himself “.It is about time Nigerians focus on changing themselves to nation building.

500 days and counting – Chibok girls

Only those that feel it, they say, know it. It has been 500 long days and the relatives of over two hundred Chibok schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram, feel this pain intensely. For the relatives of these girls and their supporters, 500 days is a long time and they will not and cannot forget them. Nor should we. Although this administration has promised to bring the girls back, there has not been any sighting of these girls despite all the strategies of getting them out of the clutches of the insurgents. The fate of these girls remain unknown, we can only imagine what they are going through and the despair of their relatives. For the parents, their absence is a waking nightmare.

Shehu Garba, a presidential spokesperson, said there has been "intensified intelligence gathering and reconnaissance in a given location in the northeast". All well and good, but about time there is some real result.

Obi Ezekwesili, the leader of Bring Back Our Girls campaign, believes that more needs to go into the search for the girls; “These girls must be found, these girls are somewhere on this planet, they didn't become vapour and disappear" We pray for the safe return of the girls and a closure to the incessant abduction of children, women and men by these marauders.

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015 — PAGE 11

Nigerians in diaspora’s plan to make a difference at home, by Omole, UK Chapter Coordinator

BY ABIODUN ALADE United Kingdom Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, which has over one thousand registered members and broad social media followership, over 50,000 followers on social media including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc, remains one of the most vibrant chapters of the ruling party as it continues to fly the flag of the progressives, in the diaspora especially through UK TV channels.

The chapter is headed by Mr Ade Omole, an independent Director, Senior IT Professional leading the next generation of information intelligence viz technology solutions to drive governance, automation and compliance for international firms across IT, finance, banking and the public industry sector. Ade has a first degree in English, LLB degree in law, master’s degree in IT, and professional Cisco, Microsoft, Novell, Unix, Premavera and project management certifications. In this interview, he speaks on Buhari’s administration and the change mantra amongst other issues. Excerpts: our assessment of the 2015 elections in Nige ria and the roles of the diaspora community We campaigned hard to ensure the elections were free and fair.

We sent several petitions to the leadership of the British government and few international Agencies; through our vocal resistance in the UK, we were able to apply pressure on the Nigerian government to ensure the elections went ahead despite many attempts by a few saboteurs who wanted to block the elections or didn’t want credible polls to hold.

I am particularly pleased by the role played by our UK chapter during the elections. I am pleased that the initiatives we took such as “Make a call” and “Make a change”, where we spent thousands of pounds, privately donated, buying mobile phone cards for Nigerians in the UK to ring home to inform their families about the elections worked. This initiative amongst others in the UK such as politi-

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cal rallies, TV debates, forums, social media engagements, spearheaded by our UK chapter helped us to convince millions of people back home to sign up to the change our party is offering today.

How can the threat of insurgency in Nigeria be tackled?

I am not a security expert and my response would probably reflect that. However from my experience as a Nigerian, I can safely say that the level of corruption in the past administration stifled our ability to fight Boko Haram. I mean, how can a soldier who has to purchase his own uniform feel proud about defending such a country? Or how will such a man put his life on the line for such a Country?

And essentially when you join the army, you’re basically putting your life on the line for the good of the Country.

The new service chiefs have a great task in combating corruption and boosting morale. Also, the initiatives suggested recently in the UK Papers by my colleague, Mr Abdul Kuku, Deputy Coordinator, APC UK, make informative and poignant reading. I would advise the Federal Government to carefully heed his suggestions as this is not just a physical but psychological and spiritual battle. It is a battle not just for bodies, not just for the heart and mind but for the soul.

It is a battle against an unseen enemy. I agree with Mr Kuku that it is not a ‘typical’ battle where you just use a conventional army.

You need to empower and train the locals. They are indeed the first line of defence and the most vulnerable to the evil scourge of Boko Haram. They need to be trained and they need to be convinced that they have a key role to play in the battle. The Army needs to carry out serious and sustained sensitisation amongst the locals letting them know they are friends, not foe. They need to win the trust of the populace and they need to show that they care for the local populace.

That morale is low is stating the obvious so our new Service Chiefs know that they have to rebuild the confidence and trust of the

Nigerian Soldier. It is unfitting that middle-aged South African mercenaries amongst others are the ones that have had to be employed to fight the Boko Haram menace. So much money has been given to the Army to fight the scourge but what became of the monies!?

Trust has to be restored. The new service chiefs must tackle every awkward issue or subject matter and not rest until every stone is overturned. Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done.

The service chiefs have to show true leadership and lead from the front. In my humble view I believe that technology must be employed using security systems and satellite technology to locate and flush out these evil villains. Financial records can be traced and the power of the airwaves must be harnessed to locate insurgent groups and members. The service chiefs must not only talk the talk but walk the walk. They must show that they have the will and the capacity to stay the course.

This is a battle for the heart and soul of Nigeria.

How do you assess Buhari’s administration so far? Has the President justified the expectations of Nigerians?

The informed electorates are watching the new administration and are not being quick with their opinion – yet. It is in my view, with good reason; President Buhari has not allowed the pressure of wanting to impress to make ‘knee jerk’ decisions.

This Government has taken a step back wisely to study the situation and the system in place, creating think tanks; working with those currently in Government to assess where we are, where we need to be and how best and the most effective ways to get there.

It is easy to say the Government is ‘slow’ but it is better to consider each step taken first rather than rushing to nowhere! Nigerians are difficult to satisfy but you must accept that this Government is barely two months old and any ‘assessment’ at this time would be obviously premature. The Nigeria that we have today must not be underestimated. We have real and pressing issues that require urgent yet contemplative steps to address properly. It is good that no one can second guess this government and if the stories are correct, people in position are already redressing their ways without being told.

The government is aware of a lot of those who are accountable for some of the miasma we are experiencing today and have demanded restitution from them. I should say we should continue to look on and revisit

this question after another quarter.

If you are to set agenda for the Buhari administration, what are the issues that need urgent attention from the government?

I would set an agenda that would address security both generally and specifically. Specific as in the issue of both Boko Haram and MEND. We understand the BH issue which I have addressed to some degree earlier but why MEND? It would be foolhardy for this new Government to lose the gains it has made in establishing peace in the Delta by concentrating solely on BH and not ensuring that operational schemes put in

It would be foolhardy for this new government to lose the gains it has made in establishing peace in the Delta by concentrating solely on BH and not ensuring that operational schemes put in place to redevelop the Delta region and those who felt unfairly victimised; are maintained and in fact improved upon

place to redevelop the Delta region and those who felt unfairly victimised; are maintained and in fact improved upon.

Generally because we know that apart from BH we hear all too often of ‘fulani herdsmen’ who create mayhem in Plateau and other States especially in the North with whole villages sacked and hundreds of people massacred! The Government would do well to address generally the security hotspot issues across the Country.

The Government would do well to dust the reports of the various Inquiries such as that of the Oputa Panel and other Committee Reports on violence in various parts of the Country.

Failure to address these concerns would leave our Motherland sitting on a gun powder keg.

Education is another key area. We need to have a broader syllabus that would educate

the Nigerian more on our original history and not that given to us by foreigners. Imagine! Why should a foreigner be telling us local peoples about ourselves?

No one has ever considered that question. Left to me every child would have a copy of the Nigerian Constitution! Our children must know their rights. We need enlightenment and so this Government would do well to continue the culture of mass literacy campaign. The Government should pursue this policy radically and aggressively.

There must also be a lot of deradicalising of BH members and to reintegrate them into the Society. On the agenda as well should be the issue of IDPs. The Government should pursue aggressively a drive to restore displaced persons to their original habitat and help them settle where they wish to be as it is very important that we be reminded that Nigeria is for the Nigerian and that he can settle anywhere within her borders.

One major issue that I would expect the Government to address urgently is the current government set-up if our ‘change’ mantra is to manifest effectively in the hearts and minds of the electorate. I am already looking four years ahead. The current set up with the lopsided concentration of political ‘centrifugal force’ in the Centre is perhaps the major reason why corruption is so imbedded in our system. It has ‘systematised’ corruption. This is why some are prepared to maim and kill and sell even their souls just to get to the Centre. This is the reason why rather embarrassingly, our legislators can vote so much money for a fluff of wool!

Our president must look to address the current set up and to change it; by reducing the power of the Centre.

Recently a former politician, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, actually addressed this same question and he hit the nail on the head as to the reasons for corruption.

These are some of the fundamental issues that this government must forcibly consider and aggressively address if the Change Agenda is to hit home.

How do you think members of the diaspora community can help to rebuild the country and can the government earn their trust?

The commonwealth of the Diasporan Community across the world can hardly be quantified.

It is not enormous; it is ‘ginormous’! In my humble view, part of the agenda of this government should be to look at methods and systems by which it can lock into and then tap symbiotically and proactively the potential of the Diaspora for the growth of the Country.

PAGE 12—SUNDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015

rexmarinus@hotmail.com

Delta @ 24: The highest article of faith of Okowa’s govt is inclusiveness — Deputy Governor Otuaro

•Deputy Gov. Otuaro

BY LUCKY OJI The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barrister Kingsley Otuaro in this interview with Sunday Vanguard, speaks on Delta at 24, programmes of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and other issues.

Excerpts our Excellency, as the people of Del ta State celebrate their twenty-fourth anniversary as a state, what is your assessment of the journey thus far?

I can tell you that we have much to celebrate despite the onerous challenges we continue to grapple with. I am a positivist and it is my nature to see a glass as half full rather than half empty. In Delta, we have much to look back on and great cause to give glory to God for how far we have come as a state. Do not forget that this state has been a major contributor to the success of the Nigerian project, a status of glory that can never be denied us. Delta State is unique for its contribution to the overall success of the Nigerian project. I can hazard a safe guess that right from the colonial era, what is presently Delta State remains the biggest contributor to the national cake amongst all the states presently existing today. Quite apart from our oil wealth, we have always contributed to the national purse through timber, rubber, oil palm and what have you even before the era of crude oil.

We have always been more of a net producer than a net consumer and that is something worthy of positive pride on our part.

While that may be true, there are many challenges still to be met in terms of development in the state There are always challenges to be met. You can be sure that a serious government like the present Governor Okowa-led administration is committed to tackling them head-on.

But we must always remain focused on the brighter side as an inspiration to further excel. If you undertake a detailed assessment of all the indices of development in Nigeria, Delta State is always amongst those at the top.

This is a state of achievement and achievers. In any

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We are plugging the loopholes in government. We are engendering a sustainable template for managing our finances. We are committed to effecting a departure from a business as usual format for conducting public affairs area of human endeavor we are there to be counted and recognized not just among those who participated but amongst those who truly excelled.

But the challenges remain all the same And that is why we are here; to meet those challenges and indeed to surmount them. That is the vision of the Okowa administration as exemplified within his S.M.A.R.T. Agenda. We don’t believe in complaining, passing the buck or playing to the gallery. Governance is serious business and does not succeed by mere whitewashing or populism.

What is crucial at the end of the day is for genuine work to be done in service to the electorate. I cannot think of a person better configured, determined, inspired and hungry to genuinely deliver as my Governor. From this administration’s economic empowerment programmes to its pan-Deltan approach to governance and its commitment to inclusiveness, I can assure Deltans that they have a Governor who sees his stewardship from the prism of a divine mandate to better the lot of all Deltans. His Excellency’s vision for the state is encapsulated within his Prosperity for All Deltans mantra. It is a vision of economic empowerment through, amongst many other things, inculcating and nurturing an economic culture of entrepreneurship as a veritable tool of wealth creation through

job creation. We are on course. We will stay the course and God will ensure we arrive to the prosperity of all Deltans…

As the number two man of the state, how troubled are you over such allegations of bias on the part of this administration from a host of stakeholders and commentators?

I would say I am not troubled because, factually speaking, they are all a tissue of blatant lies and a cocktail of orchestrated falsehood. Unfortunately you will always have those who read wrong meanings into everything no matter how well intentioned. I must reiterate that from facts on ground, Governor Okowa has been exemplary in sustaining the momentum of the pan-Deltan platform on which he came to power by constituting an executive team and implementing governmental policies with all the hallmarks of a uniquely detribalized approach to governance.

My boss is a brother to all and a stranger to none. By way of the statewide spread of his appointments, programmes and projects, he has eminently demonstrated his panDeltan make-up and there is simply no way Okowa’s detribalized nature and vision for this state can empirically be faulted by any objective observer. I can authoritatively affirm to you that the watchword of the Okowa administration is inclusiveness and it remains the highest article of faith of this government.

As you celebrate this anniversary, what can Deltans expect from this administration?

They should expect governance re-energized and reloaded to do exploits in delivering genuine dividends of democracy that even the common man can see, feel, benefit from, acknowledge and attest to.

Governor Okowa is arguably the most detribalized and people-friendly Deltan I know. His emergence as Governor is a milestone in forging a Delta of pan-Deltan values rather than one of ethnic champions. We are plugging the loopholes in government. We are engendering a sustainable template for managing our finances. We are committed to effecting a departure from a business as usual format for conducting public affairs. We are restructuring, reforming, revamping, reengineering and reconstructing. Above all the Okowa administration is effecting a paradigm shift in governance that rightfully places the interests of the electorate at the core of governance.

As we mark our anniversary, I can only assure Deltans that they have just the right Governor to take this state to where it truly belongs. As we say over here in local parlance, “Delta no dey carry last.”

GOVERNORS AS RASCALS he president of Nige T ria has always come under intense public scru-

tiny. His actions, or inactions, often translate into any sense of failures, or the general sense of accomplishment attached to Nigeria. If the Eagles win an international competition, then the president is doing well. If there is a fire in the Alaba international Market, the president is summoned to intervene, sometimes by wide public outcry. No one considers that the Alaba International Market falls under the municipal oversight of the Ojo local government in Lagos, which should, under normal circumstances, provide the fire and emergency services; market security, and enforce safety codes. These duties of the local or municipal government, are sometimes taken over by the states, and so functions and responsibilities of the tiers of government blur so much that the average citizen has no idea where the recourse to public services lie. To whom should we go to demand proper public education for our children?

Who should carry away our garbage? Who fixes the gutters or the streets lights? Who collects property tax, and to what end?

These questions lie at the heart, or let us simply say, reflect the deformity of our federal system, and has been at the heart of our schizophrenic constitution, which seems to have been conceived and written by people with bi-polar disorder. In any case, in most instances, Nigerians think that the power of the president of Nigeria is absolute. Recently, some people have even started to call on president Buhari to “probe” the activities of their state governors. It is true that the President of the republic has enormous powers, but under a democratic dispensation, his powers does not include interrogating, probing, or sanctioning the governor of a state. In actual fact, the President has the same powers as the governor of a state except that the state is a smaller territory within the federation. The Federal constitution which established the powers of the federal government equally established the powers of the state government, to the extent of endowing each state with a unicameral legislature. It is incumbent on these legislatures to probe and sanction the executive excess of the governors. What has often not been clear to many Nigerians, who are generally ignorant about the functions of the state, is that each tier of government under the federal system is independent and has laws. But while the president is often the subject of intense scrutiny, very

often, the other tiers seem to be mere appendages to power. There is a backdrop to this: the military governments unified legislative and executive functions, and basically established a command structure of state that reflected the military hierarchy, in which the states were in fact governed as appendages of the central government. States depend mostly on “federal allocations.”

Nigerians continue to look at the center as the absolute source of national power and political action. They overlook the sig-

Legislators who collude with the executive administrations to deny workers their wages, and illegally seize local government funds that should have been used for grassroots development, must be recalled by their constituents nificant agency of the states and their governors, and in focusing utmost attention on the presidency miss the point of the re-

sponsibility of governance at the 2nd tier.

Indeed, since 1999, many of the states have had ineffective legislatures. They have mostly been rubber stamp Assemblies. In a democracy, the most powerful arm of government is the legislature. But in Nigeria, it has remained dormant because we tend generally to imagine power as a person. We also tend to elect, especially at the state levels, people of doubtful quality and pedigree to the Assemblies. This certainly is the case in Imo state. For instance, we have not recreated the powerful House of Assembly of the 2nd republic under the Atuloma Speakership, and a House Majority under the whip of Nze HSK Osuji, and the Minority whip, the then young, fiery lawyer, Mike Ahamba, whose contributions and debates were given equal airing in the

“Assembly Reports” of both the Imo State Broadcasting Service (IBS) and the Statesman – a quality regional paper of those years owned by the Imo state government. Perhaps

it is the absence of really powerful local media oversight in these places, but the effect is that since 1999, many of the governors elected from these states have been rascals – more so in Imo –where it seems public opinion has never counted for much. For instance, a man who was once held for armed robbery made a serious bid for power – to be governor of Imo. The current governor, Mr. Anayo Okorocha, has very little pedigree. You may hear him now and then claim that he had two private jets before becoming governor of Imo State.

Okorocha was not a trust fund kid. He was neither an Anyaehie nor Akwiwu or some known quantity of the old money from that region of Imo, none of whom owned private jets in any case. As the late Ikemba Nnewi used to say, the likes of Okorocha, who taught in a second rate, unaccredited commercial school in the city of Jos while some of us were already university undergraduates in the 1980s, must somehow have suddenly found and planted a money-bearing tree behind his house, to be able to afford private jets long before being governor of Imo. To top it all, the administration has been owing public sector workers and pensioners a backlog of their salaries and pensions. Last week, Imo workers finally rose in protest.

They blockaded the Imo House of Assembly and the State government house, demanding that their monies be paid, and the ridiculous policy or move to commercialize parastatals by the Okorocha government be reversed, and be not given legislative backing. It would seem that the days of impunity may finally be coming to an end in places like Imo state, and that serious attention will now be paid to those who govern at the two other important tiers of government, where we have paid very little attention. The EFCC has commenced probing the former governor of River state, Rotimi Amechi. It must also begin the probe of the Imo administration under Okorocha. Let me therefore be clear: governors and local government chairmen have also wasted, stolen, and misappropriated billions of public funds in the last fifteen years. The elected members of the assemblies of these states must be held accountable by the public, as the workers in Imo state have been reported to do last week. Legislators who collude with the executive administrations to deny workers their wages, and illegally seize local government funds that should have been used for grassroots development, must be recalled by their constituents. Unless the people insist, and hold elected leadership hostage and accountable, the only dividend they will reap from democracy will be chaos and tyranny. And every rascal who becomes governor will claim a free rein, and will become, as most seem to have become, infected by the God-complex.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015 — 13

PIRATE RADIO To some Igbo, Biafra is alive and kicking – Agbu, civil war veteran

BY YINKA AJAYI

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kunne Chuma Agbu is vice President, Agbalanze Society of Onitsha Kingdom. His group represents a section of the ruling structure in Onitsha, Anambra State. A veteran of the Biafra days and a trade unionist in the days of the Nigeria Railway in the 60s, he says, in the interview, that President Muhammadu Buhari should revive the railway to protect the nation’s economy.

Excerpts: Can you compare the Nigerian Railway of that time and now?

It is indescribable, I never thought the rot would get to this level. Former President Goodluck Jonathan did his best to revamp the sector because the bad state of the railway is one of the major reasons the country is suffering today.

How do you mean?

You can’t imagine the rate at which trailers are killing people everyday. Go to Lagos, fuel tankers and trailer drivers continuously cause gridlock on the Apapa / Oshodi Express Road. It was reported in Ogun State, recently, that a trailer crushed to death students of Olabisi Onabanjo University along the Shagamu Expressway.

Just imagine that at our level of development, trailers killing university students probably due to brake failure or mechanical inadequacies. Whereas one train, manned by a driver, a set man and a guard, can carry 30 tanker trailer loads of petrol conveniently from anywhere, even from Port Harcourt to other parts of the country, including the North, for safe delivery.

What actually led to this decadence in the railway?

Our railway system was effective before the civil war. But during that war, rail tracks were destroyed.

And this seriously hindered the movement of goods from the North to the South and vice-versa. This became a big challenge in the transportation sector.

This caused scarcity of food across the country, particularly in the SouthEast. So because the North has to send their food items like yam, tomatoes and others, they decided to buy trailers to convey these items to the South. This was the beginning of the problem. You are aware that the war was as a result of the genocide that was suffered majorly by Ndigbo in the North, because there was this thinking that the Igbo were not wanted in

northern Nigeria. I count myself lucky that I survived the war but I was prepared and willing to die for a just cause. I didn’t wait to be conscripted. I joined the Biafra Army on my own accord to fight for the survival of our people.

When you look at the Boko Haram insurgency and the authorities response to it, there are people who say genocide is still going on in the country. What do you say?

I believe Boko Haram has political tendencies. I am of the opinion that this insurgency was instigated by these northerners, as a bait to cause trouble, but they never knew it would get out of hand. If you are conversant with Nigeria’s history, you will notice that the North had always wanted to carve itself out of the Nigerian nation. This passion grows whenever they are out of power. The amalgamation of 1914, for instance, proved this. The British then was part of the problem because the North used to be on their own while the South stayed on their own. They interfaced for trade.

With President Buhari committed to ending the insurgency, do you foresee a peaceful North-East soon?

It is too early to rate his achievement, but even the commendation they gave him during his military days should go to the late Gen. Idiagbon. If Gen. Babangida did not remove them, Nigeria would have been a better place now.

However, I believe his mission to the United States of America is to get support on security matters with regards to the insurgency in the NorthEast. But with my experience as a Biafran soldier, he should engage vigilante groups to fight the insurgents. You can imagine young girls being used by the sect as suicide bombers. So matching them man to man will help to end the problem, instead of shooting in the bush without knowing where the bullets drop.

What is the impact of sacking security chiefs and replacing them on the Boko Haram issue?

The removal of services chiefs is a political strategy. Their replacement ought to have political spread among the six geopolitical zones. Why would two replacements of the top service chiefs come from Borno State alone? I am not a soldier now, but if what he is saying is that two out of six offices can be occupied by one zone, then

because they were lazying about when they knew the 8th Assembly was going to be inaugurated at 10 o’clock that morning? They forgot that the Clerk had constitutional authority to commence the proceedings of the Assembly.

Senators Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu must be commended for not joining a crowd intent on derailing the Senate. Ekweremadu has a Ph.D. in law, he should know his rights in the present circumstances. They should just move ahead and stop reopening old wounds. It is a sweet/bitter pills they have to swallow to move Nigeria forward as they have acknowledged.

*Agbu ... Igbo were vanquished

They said no victor no vanquished.

Why can’t they accept it! Even though it is not true because we were vanquished.

That is the reason we have not gotten our deserved position in Nigeria

politics is playing out.

But analyst say that with appointments into major parastatals, it is clear he intends to take care of all sections of the country?

I have knowledge of administration.

President Buhari is no longer a soldier, he is a politician. So there is always an element of politics in political appointments.

Should he not adopt the federal character in major appointments?

As an activist, that is the type of fight we are happy to engage in, so as to set the records straight. But remember he belongs to a political party which many say belongs to the Hausa/Fulani and the Yoruba. Members of the House of Reps are still fighting, even the Senate.

They could not help a situation where an elected PDP politician emerged as Deputy Senate President.

Do you also commend the process that saw the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President?

Absolutely! It shows true and patriotic politics. Look, I was in Britain during the Labour Party regime. It was tough. They aligned with the Liberal Party, and since then, its been Conservatives all through, because the Liberal no long agrees with the Labour Party. It was in the labour movement that the governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiohmole, won the confidence of the people.

Now, he is talking politics.

He is my junior in unionism.

He didn’t know me but I knew him when he was in Kaduna as the leaders of the Textile Workers Union where he became popular. We met in Zaria, 1973,when I went to do Public Relations and Administration on Trade Union Scholarship for nine months.

There are those who say Senator Ekweremadu should resign for peace to reign in the Senate. What do you say?

Why should he resign on a position he was constitutionally elected in the Senate! Is he to resign

What do you think of the Nigerian government jamming Radio Biafra and declaring the station illegal, as well as trailing the sponsors of the station?

Sincerely, to some Igbo people, Biafra is alive and kicking. During the war, Radio Biafra was in the air.

It can be likened to Radio Kudirat operated by NADECO forces during the late Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime. They were moving it about from one location to the other, and from one frequency to the other. I heard their broadcast recently. It is, however, the job of the Federal Government to stop them. I don’t agree with the sponsors of Radio Biafra because they are dragging us back as a nation. They said no victor no vanquished.

Why can’t they accept it!

Even though it is not true because we were vanquished.

That is the reason we have not gotten our deserved position in Nigeria. But at my stage in life I don’t want trouble. Although some Ndigbo are still bitter about the treatment they got, the government is not ready to negotiate with them; so they should hold their peace. We, Ndigbo should be re integrated into the main stream of the Nigerian nation.

Nigeria and Nigerians owe that to us.

What is the significance of Agbalanze in the development of Onitsha Kingdom?

It is a prestigious cultural society that has moved ahead to be a highly ranked association. I was initiated into the Agbalanze 11years ago. Now, I am the Vice President of Agbalanze Cultural Association. We removed the word society because it seemed to connote a lot of things both evil and good. Six years ago, we changed it to an association of like minds. The Agbalanze is the third tier of government in Onitsha, after the Igwe and the Ndi-Ichie. It is a prestigious association.

PAGE14 —SUND AY —SUNDA

Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015

Prologue

EFCC’S ALLEGED DIVERSION OF TRILLIONS

Lamorde and the schism in the Senate W

BY HENRY UMORU

ITH Senate on annual recess, and to resume on September 29, one would have thought that the recent standoff in the chambre would be put behind the senators in the interest of peace

and the country.

Following the passing of vote of confidence by 81 senators on Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, after a motion by Senator Samuel Anyanwu, PDP, Imo State, many had thought that peace had finally returned to the red chamber. Meanwhile, each passing day, intrigues play out among the lawmakers with new wounds inflicted.

Prior to June 9 when the former Kwara State governor and Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology in the 7th Senate, Saraki was elected Senate President, two lobby groups emerged in the chambre, Senators of Like Minds, made up of lawmakers loyal to Saraki and the other, Senators Unity Forum, comprising of loyalists of the contender for the Senate president who lost in the contest, Senator Ahmed Lawan, APC, Yobe.

The groups engaged in accusations and counter accusations as the race for the position of the Senate th presidency went on. It was like the 8 Senate will never stabilise as there were forces from outside parliament trying to influence who became the principal officers of the Senate. Lawan was officially the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the contest for the Senate presidency.

With the election of Saraki, the Senators Unity Forum has, since then, never seen anything good in the person and actions of the Senate President.

The anti - Saraki group, only last week, in collaboration with some senators hitherto in the Senate President’s camp took their fight to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

The new move by the anti- Saraki group reared its head when the Committee, headed by Anyanwu, invited the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Lamorde, to appear before it following a petition against him by George Uboh, a security expert and Chief Executive Officer of Panic Alert Security Systems.

Uboh had, in his petition, dated July 31, 2015, accused Lamorde of under-remittance and nondisclosure of proceeds of corruption recovered from some convicted former public officials, including a former Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, and former Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

The petitioner assured the Senate that he would produce “overwhelming evidence” to back his claims against the EFCC boss, alleging that the anti-graft body had not accounted for “offshore recoveries” and that “over half of the assets seized from suspects are not reflected in EFCC exhibit records”.

His complaint to the Senate prompted the probe and Lamorde was invited to appear before the Senate Committee at Meeting Room 120 of the New Senate Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja, by 10 am on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 over the allegations. The key leg of the allegations is that the

C M Y K

The petitioner assured the Senate that he would produce “overwhelming evidence” to back his claims against the EFCC boss

EFCC fraudulently diverted over N1 trillion proceeds of corruption recovered by the anti-graft agency, just as the Committee insisted that there was no going back on the invitation as it would act within the ambit of the Constitution.

The invitation extended to Lamorde inevitably divided the Senate.

The leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the chambre immediately kicked against the probe.

Fire works The PDP senators, in a statement by the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio; his deputy, Emmanuel Bwacha; Minority Whip, Philip Aduda; and

deputy, Biodun Olujimi, who rejected the probe, said , “It has come to the notice of the PDP leadership in the Senate that the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions would begin a public hearing on Wednesday, August 26, 2015 and the committee has invited the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to appear before it.

“The PDP leadership in the Senate is not against any committee of the Senate performing its oversight duties and/or functions but we feel that this is not the appropriate time to embark on the most important assignment, particularly since the same action was mooted and had failed at previous plenary session.

“We therefore urge the committee to suspend its public hearing on this particular matter until further notice.

“The PDP Senate leadership reassures the Nigerian public of its support for the war against corruption by the Federal Government of Nigeria but hastens to add that such fight against corruption should be total and not selective.

“Nigerians need peace at this period of economic challenges precipitated by the falling of oil prices and actions that will overheat the polity and generate unnecessary friction between the executive and the legislature should be avoided.”

Reacting to the position of the PDP leaders in the upper chambre, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Anyanwu, also a PDP lawmaker, who noted that the Committee and the Senate acted in line with the Standing Rules as amended, however, said that Akpabio and his colleagues, in their statement, misinformed Nigerians.

Anyanwu said, “As the Chairman Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, I am answerable to the Senate in the first instance. Two, this Committee attends to every petitions that come from Continues on page 15

SUND AY SUNDA

•Bukola Saraki

•Godswill Akpabio

Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 15

•Samuel Anyanwu

Lamorde and the schism in the Senate Continued from page 14 the public. And the invitation to the EFCC boss is one of those petitions and the petitioner is going to appear before the Committee. And if you look at the press statement by the Minority Leader of the party, Senator Akpabio, it was a misinformation. There was an amendment of a motion on the floor of the Senate where the CBN Governor was to be invited with the EFCC boss regarding money laundering and all that. But we stood it down. So, there was a misinformation. So, he thought that it was the same issue. But this is a petition against the person of the EFCC boss.”

On whether the Committee would go ahead with the probe, he said, “Of course, this is a Standing committee of the Senate. It is not only EFCC boss that was invited. There are other petitions which we have invited the petitioners and those that were petitioned against.

We have FIRS; the Comptroller General of Customs is also coming tomorrow. So, I don’t know why this should be an issue. We are guided by the Senate Standing Rule and the 1999 Constitution to invite anybody when the matter arises.”

On how he would react to a statement

by EFCC spokesperson who said the Senate did not follow due process in inviting the EFCC Chairman, the Senate Committee Chairman said, “No, that is not correct. There are ways petitions can come to the Senate. A petitioner can write straight to the Senate President and the President would minute to the appropriate Committee that is involved.”

Procedural defect Also speaking on the development, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, PDP, Delta North, through whom the Uboh’s petition was submitted to the Senate, who noted that procedures were followed, explained that the petitioner, from Ika South, his senatorial district, sent the petition in accordance with the rules, just as he said that the Senate Rule empowers the Senate President to send such a petition through plenary or during recess. He added that in line with the rules guiding the Senate, Saraki forwarded the petition to the Committee like other public petitions.

Nwaoboshi, who described the attention the invitation was getting as unnecessary against the backdrop that the Committee had over twenty petitions with plans to invite persons and organisations connected with them, stressed that there has never be a time a public petition was debated on the floor C M Y K

of the Senate as such petitions were always sent to the relevant Committee, adding, “ the Procedure is correct, rightly done, why the hue and cry, Lamorde should appear before the Committee and if what is there is nonsense, he can come and defend the issues raised. EFCC Act is an act created by the National Assembly, we can amend or repeal it, Lamorde has been inviting others, he should also honour the National Assembly.

Also speaking to Sunday Vanguard, Senator Matthew Uroghide, PDP, Edo South, who noted that the Committee was not probing Lamorde, but acting as an arbiter following complaints and petitions from Nigerians, said that he was not facing any interrogation, but for the EFCC boss to come up and defend the allegations raised in the petition by a Nigerian who has the right to do that. Uroghide added: “Why must we probe Lamorde, we are only inviting him, we cannot sack him, we just want to hear his side of the story regarding the petition against him, we are not probing him, we are not interrogating him, the invitation was based on complaints, let us get it right.”

Senator Ighoyota Amori, PDP, Delta Central, while equally speaking on the issue, corroborated Nwaoboshi. Amori stated: “The Senate acted in line with the Constitution and the Standing Orders 2014, and the issue has no relationship with the invitation of Toyin Saraki, wife of Senate President, Saraki. They are unrelated. The Senate acted within its constitutional function. It has nothing to do with Saraki’s wife invitation (an exercise that was politically motivated). I belong to the PDP Caucus in the Senate and our position is that since that invitation failed to sail through on the floor earlier, the Committee should apply caution and suspend the invitation for now.”

Another lawmaker, Senator Ibrahim Rafiu, APC, Kwara South, said, “That insinuation of a vendetta is laughable.

Is it a senator that wrote the petition?

Or are you expecting the Senate not to investigate such serious allegations?

Every Nigerian has theright to write to the Senate and all issues will be taken very serious without bias by this 8th Senate. We have keyed in totally to the anti-corruption fight as being led by President Muhammadu Buhari. The parties involved just needed to prove their facts and the Senate will make appropriate recommendations to be executed or not to be executed”.

Breach of rule

Even with the statement from the PDP leaders in the Senate that Lamorde ought not to have been summoned, the Anyanwu-led Committee went ahead and that led to the appearance of Uboh on Wednesday to defend his petition

Even with the statement from the PDP leaders in the Senate that Lamorde ought not to have been summoned, the Anyanwu-led Committee went ahead and that led to the appearance of Uboh on Wednesday to defend his petition.

Lamorde was however absent as he was said to have sought for time to enable him prepare his defence on the allegations raised.

As the Committee went into business, there was a dramatic twist as the lawmakers under the Senators Unity Forum of the ruling APC, kicked against the probe of Lamorde, describing the process as illegal and a breach of the Senate Standing Orders.

In a statement by Senators George Akume, Abu Ibrahim, Barnabas Gemade and Ahmad Lawan, they said in a standard parliamentary practice, a petition is routed through either a senator or a member of the House of Representatives and, when received, the representatives would inform the presiding officer of the chamber and, thereafter, present the petition in the plenary.

The statement read: “Upon presentation in plenary, the presiding officer will invite the senator/House of

Representatives to lay the petition on the table in the chamber, which automatically becomes public document. Thereafter, the presiding officer will refer the petition to appropriate committee for consideration upon which it would be returned to the Senate plenary.

“In this regard, nothing of the sort happened. Senate proceeded on recess on August 13 and it is not on record that the petition of Mr. George Uboh, accusing Lamorde of diverting over N1 trillion recovered from some corrupt Nigerians, including former governor of Bayelsa State, DSP Alamieyeseigha, the former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun was presented to Senate in plenary.

“The Senate Unity Forum does support the position earlier adopted by some of our colleagues that the Lamorde probe should be halted as it did not follow due parliamentary process. For the avoidance of doubt, Rule 41(1-3 of the Senate Standing Orders specifically spell out how petitions are handled in the parliament.

“Rule 41(1-3) states:(1) A petition may only be presented to the Senate by a Senator, who shall affix his name at the beginning thereof. “(2) A senator presenting a petition shall confine himself to a brief statement of the parties from whom it came, the number of signatures attached to it and material allegations contained in it and to reading the prayers of such petitions. “(3) All petition shall be ordered, without question being put, to lie upon the Table. Such petition shall be referred to the Public Petitions Committee.

“It is after these steps have been taken that the presiding officer would refer the petition to the afore-mentioned Committee.

“It should be noted that, in this case, none of the laid-down procedures was followed before the Senate Unity Forum read in the newspapers that the Senator Samuel Anyanwu -led Ethics privileges and Public Petitions Committee would on Wednesday, August 26, commence probe of EFCC chairman. We stand against this probe. It is illegal and unconstitutional because it did not follow our rules.”

Echoes of trillions At the probe hall, it was alleged that Lamorde failed to remit N2.051 trillion to the Federation Account apart from diverting more than one trillion naira recovered by the anti-graft agency.

Defending his petition against the EFCC and Lamorde. Uboh asked the Senate to get Lamorde arrested for failing to remit the money which the EFCC recovered between 2004 and 2013, just as also asked the Senate to compel Access Bank to bring complete and unadulterated statements of the EFCC from 2004 till date as well as force Aminu Ibrahim and Co (auditors) to shed light on the discrepancies.

The petitioner alleged that Lamorde’s younger brother, Usman Lamorde, was given choice assets especially in Abuja.

He said Bayelsa State Government was his client as he was hired to recover the unpaid money to the state by the EFCC, presenting a mandate letter from the state government dated November 19, 2013. He alleged that Lamorde used his paraphernalia of office to intimidate the Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, who later withdrew the letter and disassociated himself from him (Uboh) despite an earlier agreement between both parties, adding that the governor personally went to court to withdraw the case that he (Uboh) had

Continues on page 16

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Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015

Continued from page 15 against the EFCC without his consent.

Uboh told the Committee that he should be arrested if his petition and presentation were fake, stressing that, if genuine, Lamorde should be arrested.

Drama There was, however, a mild drama when the Committee walked out the representatives of the EFCC boss.

While the petitioner was being crossexamined, Chile Okoroma, Director of EFCC Legal Department, who led the anti-graft agency team to the hearing, interjected that he had a presentation to make as he expressed surprise at the documents that had been tendered by Uboh, adding that the EFCC did not get the copies containing those facts.

He, thereafter, asked to be briefed on the workings of the Committee, explaining that it was wrong for the petition to be heard when the accused was not present.

Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), a member of the Committee, explained that it was their prerogative to decide the direction of the hearing.

But Okoroma insisted on speaking even after explanations by the senators.

Consequently, the Committee Chairman, Anyanwu, announced that Okoroma and others on the EFCC team should leave the hall against the backdrop that, having written to be given enough time, they ought not to have come.

Anyanwu had earlier read a letter where the EFCC boss pleaded for enough time to respond to the issues raised in the petition. The Committee Chairman then directed that the hearing room be cleared of all EFCC representatives before the Committee could continue.

Speaking to journalists after he was walked out, a member of the team, Osuagwu Ugochukwu, who noted that the EFCC boss asked him to represent him at the hearing, expressed his fears, saying he was disappointed at the Senate Committee.

He said: “They invited Lamorde to come here today and in the letter they wrote to him, they never stated that their coming here would be for the petitioner to be heard alone.

“There was no procedure attached to the invitation letter that this is how this panel will run its sitting. So, to our greatest surprise, in spite of the fact that we even wrote a letter that because of the tight schedule of the commission.

This is because we needed some of the members of the legal team to come along with us to the hearing. We wrote them a letter and there was no response and if there was no response, it’s assumed that the letter is ignored. So, Lamorde insisted that I must be here for him. But I came here to see a different procedure, where a petitioner is allowed to give evidence when the respondent is not in the venue of the sitting.

“One senator, I don’t know his name, said they might bring the petitioner if there’s any need to face the respondent.

Of course, they will hear from us, but what we are saying is that it is wrong, in standard practice, rules of natural justice, even the Constitution, that the respondent or accused should be confronted without the petitioner.”

On whether he has confidence in the Committee, Ugochukwu said: “I have confidence in Nigeria. You can see it yourself. Well, as far as I am concerned, we are disappointed but if the Committee feels that they can do the right thing and correct the wrongs, fine for them. But as you can see now, I am highly disappointed.”

Also speaking to journalists shortly C M Y K

Lamorde and the schism in the Senate

•Peter Nwaoboshi after the Committee walked them out, the Director, Legal, EFCC, Okoroma, said: “ As you must have read out, requesting for this and for us to come and make our presentation, we didn’t get a reply from the Committee and the Committee is going on in our absence despite our protest that we are not even given the opportunity. These are distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I wanted to be enlightened on the propriety of conducting proceedings in our absence when allegations were made in the absence of the other party. The Constitution is our grundnorm and they are here talking about the Constitution, that is the point we want to make.”

Toyin Saraki saga Speaking further, the petitioner, Uboh, who swore to an oath holding a Bible, in his presentation and a document he later made available to journalists, said that his petition had nothing to do with the interrogation of Toyin Saraki, wife of Senate President Bukola Saraki as the case has been on since 2013. He said: “EFCC confirmed that several cheques and drafts valued at N1,577,815,942 and $1.3m seized and forfeited by DSP Alamieyeseigha were deposited in the Commission’s recovery account.

“An agent appointed to manage and dispose six real estate properties forfeited by Alamieyeseigha confirmed that N1.9bn was remitted to EFCC between 2008 and 2009 as proceeds from the sales and interests from the properties.

“The agent confirmed remitting N60bn vide Intercontinental Bank draft in 2008 as balance of rent while N3.7 was confirmed by the EFCC as the amount received from Alamieyeseigha seized assets.”

According to the petitioner, the EFCC traded with N3.7 from March 2009 to February 2010 with 12 per cent per annum, alleging that Lamorde failed to remit the interest of N1.1bn to government, the sum which contains the N467.7m interest gotten from the actual N3.7bn that was used to trade with. He added: “EFCC continued to trade with the balance of N1.1bn from January 2010 to October 2013 with the interest rate of 12 per cent per annum. This money yielded N474.2m which should have accrued to Bayelsa State Government but EFCC is not only keeping it back but still trading with it.”

•George Akume Uboh, who also alleged that Lamorde failed to account for 95 per cent of offshore assets and funds, said, “EFCC declared a fraction of what was seized from DSP.” The naira recovery, he alleged, was different from offshore recoveries, adding, “in a December 02, 2011 letter, EFCC sent to the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, EFCC stated that the aggregate recoveries from 2004 to 2011 was N1.3 trillion. EFCC did not mention where the N1.3 trillion recovered was remitted to.”

Uboh zeroed in on what the EFCC recovered explaining that former EFCC chair, Farida Waziri told the then President, Goodluck Jonathan that naira recovery was N1.9 trillion while

Uboh told the Committee that he should be arrested if his petition and presentation were fake, stressing that, if genuine, Lamorde should be arrested

•Ahmed Lawan offshore recoveries stood at $316.1m, •32.1m and £1.2m respectively, adding that Lamorde should have remitted N2.051 trillion to government.

“EFCC diverted and concealed N779 million of recoveries from Tafa Balogun in its record (aggregate should be N3.037bn and not N2.258bn). Instead of transferring N3.3bn from Spring Bank to its Access Bank recovery account, EFCC transferred only N2.2bn and concealed it by understating the summation of the balances in the various accounts hence the Access bank statement had N2.2bn after concealment”, he alleged.

“EFCC would be compelled to pay Bayelsa the remittable amount due now with interest and the Commission should be compelled to declare all offshore assets and funds seized from DSP and others.

“EFCC should be compelled to remit N2.051 trillion to the Federal Government while Access Bank should be forced to bring complete and unadulterated statements from 2004 till date.

“Aminu Ibrahim and co, auditors of the EFCC, should be compelled to come and shed light on the discrepancies.”

According to him, on Naira recoveries alone, “In a December 02, 2011 letter EFCC sent to the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, EFCC stated that the aggregate recoveries from 2004 to 2011 (eight financial years) was N1,326,754,554,482:80. EFCC did not mention where the N1.3 trillion recovered was remitted to. EFCC’s claim that it did not recover up to a trillion is completely false”.

With the reopening of old wounds by the senators on the action of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to summon Lamorde, how far will the 8th Senate go in remaining united especially against the backdrop that some senators on the platform of the PDP who made Saraki’s election as Senate President possible are joining forces with the opposition Unity Forum to unsettle the chambre.

How far can the Senate go with the wounds and the continued war of acrimony when it was yet to constitute the 57 Standing Committees? It is hoped that the senators would get it right and settle down for serious legislative business in the interest of the common who look up to them to act in a manner that will improve their wellbeing.

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 17

I love God-fearing men but not poor ones —Nazareth Bako

N

azareth Jesse Bako isn’t a new face on the scene, she started acting as far back as 2001 even though her first appearance in a movie came about in 2004. If there’s really someone with an interesting background, Naz, as she is called by friends, has one to be proud of.

She was born in Jerusalem, brought up in Bida, Niger State. Her both parents are from Kuje Area Council, Federal Capital City, Abuja. She graduated from University of Abuja with B.Sc. in Economics. In a recent chat with Ayo Onikoyi, the actress said she receives countless marriage proposals every year but is yet to make up her mind with whom to settle down. When the time

comes the actress has a clear vision the kind of man she wants to share her bed with for life.

“A man who is God-fearing and matured in heart and also caring. Once you have a man who loves God every other thing is secondary” she boldly told me.

But would she settle for a poor man that is God-fearing?

“There is nothing like a poor man in my diary.

They will go for their class of women. I want to marry a ready-made man. I was not born to suffer all my life. I have tried to get to where I am so settling down would be resting and giving birth to my kids and taking good care of them.

•Nazareth Bako

Abuja controversial prophetess Nonnie declares “war” in new song T

hough it has not been officially released yet, during the review of the track titled, ‘’Zion take your place,” an awe-inspiring song produced by Joseph Fabs, Prophet Nonnie Roberson refers to the new generation of believers as Zion who must make haste to take their place both on earth and in heaven, backing her position with the biblical injunction of the, ‘’Kingdom of God suffereth violence and violence taketh it by force. ‘’The prophetess known for her controversial messages tends to be saying that people should hold their government •Nonnie accountable for every of their actions.

Roberson The song which is highly embedded in metaphor calls for the radicalization of the gospel of Christ in order to achieve the purpose of one’s creation. It says ‘’ unless we realize our strength and our place, we will remain stagnant. ‘’The President of the Nigerian Women in Clergy who does not believe that church must hold only on Sundays, in the song, appears to be propelling Nigerian and African youths as well as potential leaders to take their place in governance, ask questions where necessary and possess their possession as they are sons and daughters of Zion with the authority to change their own destiny. The song also tends to reignite the consciousness of an average believer who may have given up on himself, his family, his career and his country, urging him to wake up from the present slumber and act proactively to change the hopeless situation. The song which will be officially released on September 7, 2015 upholds positive thinking as against melancholic and nostalgic feelings, urging sons and daughters of Zion to see a •Adibeli Ify brighter future instead of the past characterized by darkness.

The review was held at the Abuja branch of the New Wine Assembly.

I went into acting for money but found fun

— Adibeli Ify N

ollywood upcoming actress, Adibeli Ify had her first shot at acting at the age of sixteen. For her the experience and the money that came with it was so good she decided it would be more than one-off thing. She said she was paid N5,000 just to dance in a film. To her, that was a hook she wouldn’t let go herself. But along the line, the money she thought would be rolling in faster than she could spend it ran into a lull. Now, what sustains her is her passion for the job and the fun she claims to have found “At first my going into acting was for the money after I was paid N5,000 at 16 in my first movie just to dance. So, I thought it would continue but I found out otherwise. Right now it is all about fun and love for the job. Now, if you ask me I wouldn’t say there is much money as I thought. Its very much hardwork and you have to pay your dues before you are even recognised. But right now I am loving it and getting to know more people in the process” she said.

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

PAGE 18— SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015

Who wins? Anita Joseph challenges Nicki Minaj in the Anaconda pose

W •Nicki Minaj

Cossy Orjiakor flaunts house on social media N

igeria’s queen of big boobs, Cossy Orjiakor is known for many things. She’s an actress, a singer, dancer and many other things on the entertainment scene but she’s hardly known as a landlady who runs her estate as any discerning Lagos landlord.

She once had a tenant of hers arrested for erring on rents payments and also ran into a mud-slinging mess with another for alleged husband-snatching saga that never panned out. Cossy at the time declared she never had any problem with any of her tenants and she backed it up with proofs. We believed her.

Last week the buxom singer flaunted the house on her Whatsapp’s displlay picture and all could see the actress hasn’t been doing badly. Though she confessed to Potpourri that business is slow even though when we have it on good authority that she’s flying out to Frankfurt, Germany to shoot a new movie soon.

hen Trinidadian-born American rapper, Nicki Minaj released the artwork for her third studio album ‘Anaconda’ showing off her curvaceous posterior in the tiniest of undergarments, the Internet went into an uproar. The album soon became a hit and so was the sensual posture which has come to be known as the ‘Anaconda’ posture.

Nicki has hardly had any competition with her invention until Nigeria’s singer and actress Anita Joseph decided to hit the studio for her own ‘Anaconda’ posture or something as close to it as omelette is close to egg.

No doubt Anita Joseph has her share of sensual collection of suggestively •Anita Joseph sensual pictures.

This one may just be one of those that will go on the top of her drawer.

Iyanya, friends to shut down Abuja, unveil new album A

Cossy Orjiakor House

Cossy Orjiakor •Iyanya

buja, Nigeria’s capital shall be taken over by Nigerian stars from across the country on Saturday, September 19, as Iyanya unveils his latest album.

The event which has been scheduled to hold at the popular ThisdayDome will parade A-class artistes to include Olamide, Banky W, Patoranking, Kcee, Harrysong, SeyiShay, Tekno, Selebobo and a host of other artistes.

Accapella, Chuks D’ General and Shortcut will crack audience’s ribs at the event which many have tagged star studded.

According to Mallam Yankee, CEO Yankee Entertainment and organizer of the show, residents of Abuja will live to remember the night of September 19 following the calibre of stars billed for the show.

He said, just a few days to the launch of the album, requests for tickets have reached unprecedented level. “I think this is because the launch appears like a melting pot for Nigerian stars who are currently on top of their games. I think our selection is fine,” Yankee said.

It will be recalled that the last time the Kurukere crooner launched his album in Abuja, the main hall of the International Conference Centre could not contain show patrons, as people were made to watch the show standing at the apron and other available spaces.

Announcing the date, Iyanya said, “Abuja is my home. Like our last show here, we are ready to take the city by storm.”

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

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 19 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Pounds for pounds: Who wins?

Timaya vs. Kcee

Love or hate them, Kcee and Timaya have paid their dues in the music industry. They have won awards, have huge fan base. Lets see them pounds for pounds, to know who’s bigger in the industry.

Timaya -Plantain boy turned superstar T

he Bayelsa State-born dancehall act has five albums to his credit, several hit songs like Ukwu, Plantain boy, Bum bum and others. He has recorded six studio albums namely: True Story (2007), Gift and Grace (2008), De Rebirth (2010), LLNP (Long Life N Prosperity-2011), Upgrade (2012) and Epiphany (2014).

In 2011, Timaya was appointed a Peace Ambassador by the Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP). He has won six awards and nominated for eight awards.

Social media power: As at the time of this report, Timaya has 288,000 followers on Instagram and 311,000 followers on Twitter.

The video for his hit song, Ukwu has over 5 million views on YouTube as at the time of this report

Kcee: Church boy turned Limpopo sensation K

cee is now a solo artiste signed to his brother’s record label, Five Star Music. The huge hit song Limpopo smashed all his struggles as an artiste and made him a genuine hit maker. Since then, he has released songs like Pull over featuring Wizkid, Okpekete with Davido, Hakuna matata and others. He has an album to his credit called Take over. Kcee is known for his generosity, giving out cash and gifts to his fans. Earlier in May, Kcee renewed his endorsement deal with MTN for the third year running. Kcee has toured China this year Social media power: As at the time of this report, Kcee has 266,000 on Instagram and 311,000 followers on Twitter. The video of his groovy song, Pull over has 12 million views as at the time of this report.

•Timaya

Illrymz, Ebuka, Yemi Blaq speak as Gulder brand ambassadors

•Gulder Ambassadors

A

s part of activities celebrating the unveiling of the world’s largest poster, Ill Rhymz, Ebuka Obi Ochendu and Yemi Blaq were recently unveiled as Gulder brand ambassadors. The colorful ceremony was held at the Okpara Square in the Coal City of Enugu. The three newly selected brand ambassadors of Gulder expressed their pleasure at the recent connection with the beer brand.

Speaking on the epoch-making event as well as his recent status as a brand ambassador, Ill Rhymz said: “it feels wonderful to be in Enugu and to witness what Gulder is doing. It is a great honor for me to be identified with Gulder because it is a brand that makes the Ultimate man.”

Ebuka Obi-Uchedu, who spoke in Igbo, said his trip to Enugu was like coming home. He said: “it feels great to be in Enugu to see what Gulder is doing. As we all know, Gulder is the beer for the ultimate man and I am also happy to be a brand ambassador of Gulder.”

Yemi Blaq applauded Gulder for the milestone achievement in breaking an existing world record.

Past winners of Gulder Ultimate Search were not left out of the fray as Dominic Mudabai, (2007 winner), Chinedu

•Kcee

Ubachukwu (2014 winner) and Ifunnaya Onike (last female contestant standing in 2013) played a major role in the day’s activities.

In his welcome address, the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde recounted Gulder’s momentous stride in the beer market and the company’s choice of Enugu as the rallying point.

He stated that “since the commissioning of our second brewery in Aba in 1957, the South East has been a solid base for our operations and a veritable home to our brands. It is in continuation of this robust relationship with the South East that we are here in Enugu courtesy of Gulder the ultimate lager beer”.

He also informed that the recent world promotion poster is a glowing testament to Nigerian Breweries’ commitment to winning with Nigeria. “This commitment covers all aspects of our investments, our footprints, our people and our socio-economic impact. As Nigeria’s leading brewing company, this feat showcases Nigeria Breweries’ continuous commitment to expand the frontiers of consumer promotion in the history of Gulder with over 4 million prizes to be won.”

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

PAGE 20, SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Why I support my son’s music career —Zack Orji

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opular actor, Zack Orji has said that he supports his son, Leo’nel’s music career because he believes that everyone has their different gifts which they must utilise to succeed in life. According to him, he didn’t even try to persuade his son to follow in his footsteps as an actor.

In the words of the veteran actor, ‘Everyone has the skill and talent that are embedded in them from God, the creator, and the only way we can achieve the purpose of our creation is by fulfilling the purpose that God created us for, which is to make use of what He has put in us and then bring it out for the benefit of our community. So when my son, Leo’nel said he wanted to go into media, I said fine I will give you all the support as long as you work hard to be the best.’

Speaking on his first reaction when his son told him of his plans to go into music, he said, ‘I welcomed his decision. When he finished secondary school, I asked him what he wanted to do, and he said media; that he would like to study media enterprise. He eventually got admission into the University of Bradford where he studied Media with Television. Even before then, he said when he finishes, he wants to do music. At the end of the day, you cannot force your child to be what you want him to be.’

Hinting that another of his children is also delving into entertainment, he said, ‘I have three children; a son and two daughters.

My first daughter is already showing an inclination towards music. In the last Kids Got Talent Awards that was held at the Muson Center, she won two awards: Best Creative Act, and People’s Online Choice award. My point of view is that we should encourage our children to be the best they can be.

Whatever it is your child shows a special skill in, you should encourage them because anything can raise a child from nothing to something, and bring glory to the family. The Bible says a man’s gift will make a way for him and bring him before kings.’

On his perception of actors then and now, he stated, ‘We have good actors now just like we had good actors back then. The quality of acting has improved, and don’t forget that some of us are still around.’

On whether Nollywood is paying attention to the technical aspects of filmmaking, he quipped, ‘We are already paying attention, but it takes some time; it is not an overnight thing. Don’t forget that we all have our strong points. South Africa is doing well when it comes to media, and technical aspects of movie production, and when it comes to

performance, Nigeria is there. I’m glad to say that an award like AMAA has created a certain convergence of various aspects of motion picture practice to the point that when we see work coming from other African countries that are better than ours, we strive to gravitate towards that level. It is already happening; not only in movie-making, but also in in the music industry as well. I can assure you that we are definitely working towards it.’

When told that there are rarely collaborations between Africans in the movie industry, except Ghana and Nigeria, he disagreed. He said, ‘No, I disagree with you. And that’s

Everyone has the skill and talent that are embedded in them from God, the creator, and the only way we can achieve the purpose of our creation is by fulfilling the purpose that God created us for

because I am one of these who pioneered international feature co-productions between Nigeria and other countries. We started with Ghana as far back as 1998, before moving on to South Africa, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Liberia, Cameroon and others. We have been gradually reaching out to colleagues in other African countries and the response has always been encouraging. The good thing about the work we have done so far in Nigeria is that we occupy a vanguard position in all of Africa to the point that a lot of our colleagues in other African countries invite us when they want to do the kind of things we are doing in Nigeria, and that is very welcoming and commendable.

The only thing you can say is that at the governmental level, Nigeria has not signed the co-production treaties with other African countries.

Meanwhile, countries like South Africa have already done that. When we cross that bridge, it will make certain funds available for feature co-productions.’

On what he thinks makes an award

•Zack Orji

credible, he noted, ‘I’ll say authenticity, and the sincerity of the organisers and judges, as well as an atmosphere of truthfulness such that if a person truly deserves an award, he is given. And if a person wins an award, then he knows that he deserves to win that particular award.’

Temitayo Etomi, Omoni Oboli, Odunfa, Punch editor, entrepreneurs speak at YBLN Launch N

•Temitayo Etomi

ollywood actress, Omoni Oboli, Temitayo Etomi, a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow, Founder/CEO, Digital Jewels, Mrs. Doyin Odunfa, the Founder/Principal Partner, George Etomi & Partners, Mr. George Etomi and Country Partner, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Mr. Uyi Akpata were among prominent personalities that graced the launch of Young Business Leaders of Nigeria (YBLN) at the Muson Center in Lagos recently. Speaking at the event, the host, Temitayo O. Etomi, a 2014 Mandela Washington Fellow shared her experiences within and outside the country and unveiled the Aspiring Entrepreneurship Programme, which is aimed at providing amazing opportunities for young Nigerians.

“The programme has been scheduled for September 2015. 20 young people will be picked from the north and brought to Lagos to experience business skills, marketing and finance. They will have the opportunity to visit real business locations and interact with business owners on a one-on-one basis. They will be in Lagos for eight weeks. We are targeting 1,000 entrepreneurs by the end of 2017,” she explained.

She also unveiled the ‘Employability Master Class,’ which will address skill deficit in Nigerians. She enjoined those looking for employment to register online on the organisation’s website, lenges of finding the right employees in a business environment by organisations.

It should be recalled that in her own way of supporting the event, Nigerian actress and filmmaker, Omoni Oboli had promised guests and participants special gifts and true to her words, she handed out free copies of her multi awardwinning movie, ‘Anchor Baby.’ Omoni Oboli impressed all present with the depth of her speech hammering on a broad section of issues.

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

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 21

Mak e a man ffeel eel good, that he’ll ne Make nevver want tto o lea our side leavve yyour your center and let your

In fact, often times they backfire on you and the man in your life feels like the problem whatever it is, is more important to you than it is to him and this is a sure way to put distance between you and him.

For a man to feel like he wants to get to know you better and eventually have a committed relationship with you, you need to build a solid foundation of positive experience that makes him practically unable to imagine

life without you.

If you want to know how to create the kinds of experience with a man that will make him feel the right positive feelings about you so that he continues to take your relationship to the next level, then you must learn how to “own” your emotions in situations with men, and communicate them in a way that uses their power to benefit you and your relationship not to break it apart.

Urhobo, Isoko or Ijaw lady for marriage.

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BY ONOZURE DANIA

et me tell you about something you are probably all too familiar with, there’s a certain situation that happens in relationships so often and causes so many problems for women that dealing with it should be a health care benefit or something.

This “situation” prevents a man from opening up and getting close to you emotionally.

It causes you tremendous stress because you won’t be able to get what you want from a man when it’s happening.

Do you know what it is?

Giving up! I’m talking about what happens when you lose

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08160185796

DISCLAIMER!

fears and emotions take over about something that simply isn’t going to be a big deal to you later.

When you don’t take the time to process emotions and put them into perspective, then the feelings you share have a very different effect on your man than you would like.

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PAGE 22—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015 sam.eyoboka@gmail.com

08023145567 (sms only)

C

HILDREN are the glory of marriage.

Then there is the glory of the first-born and the glory of the last-born. The first-born is given pre-eminence in all things. He gets the best and the biggest portions.

He goes out without being chaperoned. He is treated with great respect by his siblings.

The last-born, on the other hand, gets all the attention.

What he wants, he gets and he gets it when he wants it. When he cries, his parents pay attention and he knows it. He is likely to be preferred over the other children and is more likely to be spoilt.

Root of bitterness I was the last-born in a family of five children, nevertheless, I was neglected.

I was the last-born, but my brother, Kola, who was two years older than me, got all the attention. He did because he was sickly. At a very early age, he was diagnosed with sickle-cell anemia. Therefore, I discovered to my great annoyance that the glory of being sickly exceeded the glory of being the last-born.

There were times when I wished I was the one who was sickly. There were times when I wished I would fall terribly sick, just to get my parents really worried and upset. I wished I would fall down and die, so they would regret all the time they had failed to give me the attention I craved.

But I did not die. It was my brother who died. At the age of 14, Kola died. After he died, the attention then shifted to me. But I was no longer interested. I sulked for years and rebuffed all entreaties.

THE GOD WHOSE STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN OUR WEAKNESS Kingdom dynamics Jesus says: “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” (John 6:12). From these fragments of my embittered childhood, I learnt an invaluable lesson about the glory of infirmities.

God is the God of the sick.

God sent Jesus expressly for the healing of the sick. Jesus says: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.”

(Matthew 9:12).

Therefore, if we are not “sick,” we are of less interest to the Great Physician. The glory of the doctor is in the healing of the sick. Therefore, Christians should not be overwhelmed by sickness or sin.

We should recognise that the glory of God comes from man’s infirmities. (John 11:4).

That means sickness is not a curse. On the contrary, it attracts God’s tender-loving care.

Have you ever been at a church-service where someone boasts he has not been sick for years? What kind of testimony is that? Surely, not falling sick does not make a believer a man of faith. What validates our faith is falling

Any affliction that brings us down to our knees before God is a blessing sick and getting healed. At no time does God promise us immunity from sickness. On the contrary, he declares: “I am the Lord who heals you.”

(Exodus 15:26).

God created us for his glory.

(Isaiah 43:7). A testimony that we never fall sick is not to God’s glory but to ours.

Therefore, our boast should be that God healed us and not that we did not fall sick.

Indeed, any affliction that brings us down to our knees before God is a blessing.

Lazarus template When Lazarus fell sick, his sisters quickly sent word to Jesus to come and heal him.

But rather than come immediately, Jesus delayed. Finally, he said to his disciples: “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sake that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” (John 11:14-15).

In effect, when God decided

to be good to Lazarus, he allowed him to fall sick and die. Natural men wonder about this kind of goodness.

Why would God allow the man he loves to fall sick?

Could Jesus not have prevented Lazarus from dying? If he loved Lazarus so much, why did he delay before coming at his hour of need? But the reason why Jesus allowed Lazarus to fall sick and die was so that he could be good to him to a degree that Lazarus could not have imagined before.

Jesus was determined to reveal to Lazarus that he would not only be good to him in life, he would also continue to be good to him even in death. Through his resurrection, Jesus said eloquently to Lazarus that his natural life was far too short for the goodness that he had laid up for him, but that he would need eternity to express it fully. “Therefore, Lazarus, be confident that with long life

War against corruption must be total---Okoye urges Buhari

A

been like a state policy, where former administrations the BUJA - The General all past administrations were way we are going about it Overseer, All active players.

Christian Fellowship now, not one will come out He said: "If we were to probe clean."

Mission (ACFM), Rev. William Okoye has called on President Muhamma-du Buhari not to be selective in the ongoing fight against corruption, reports CALEB AYANSINA. The cleric, who lauded the federal government for insisting on the prosecution of those who had looted the public treasury, noted that majority of the protagonists of the anticorruption war were also corrupt.

Okoye, who stated this at the 40th Anniversary *President of Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Francis Wale Oke (l) of the ACFM in Abuja, and other pastors praying for the nation after a press confference on the maintained that in the state of the nation held at the Garden of Victory premises in Ibadan on past corruption had Monday. PHOTO: DARE FASUBE

T

HE annual spiritual gathering of Christ Apos tolic Church, CAC, Agbala Iyanu (aka Atamatase Miracle Centre) tagged ''Prayer congress'' which kicked off on July 28 will end on September 8, 2015, reports BOSE ADELAJA. The event, the second of its kind, is a special annual spiritual exercise spread over seven Tuesdays between 7.00 a.m. and 12 noon at the church auditorium at 36-

CAC prayer congress continues 38, Omowunmi Street, Isolo Road, Mushin, Lagos. General Overseer Oluwakayode Adio said the programme with theme; ''Moving to greater heights'', was conceived to create the right connection between God and the people in appropriating their blessings. According to him, the

rationale for creating a special congress for prayer was to itemise the prayer points in order to simplify them for the congregation, noting ''there are certain secrets in prayer that are known only to few people and every item of need has its own password and code to activate it."

will I satisfy you, and show you my salvation.”

If Lazarus did not die, his knowledge of Jesus would have been limited. If he did not die, he would not have known that Jesus is not just a healer, but he is also the resurrection and the life. If he did not die, Lazarus would not have seen that glory of God; and neither would his sisters.

Kingdom contradictions Now, the word of God is a living word, and we believers are living stones that are being built up as a spiritual house. So let us put the death and resurrection of Lazarus in a contemporary setting.

Jesus wants to give you the abundant life, so he allows you to fall sick. Jesus wants to give you the abundant life, so he allows your business to fail. Or he allows your marriage to break up. Or he allows you to lose your job.

Within the context of the collapse of your life, the Lord now says to you: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die; yet he shall live.

Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). If you believe, then like Lazarus, he raises your business from the dead, or he heals your marriage, or gives you a better job.

The believer should know that, according to the dynamics of the kingdom of God, God creates the good out of evil. He does not create good out of good. God creates success out of failures. He creates life out of death. He creates wealth out of poverty.

If there were no failures there would be no successes. If there were no evil, there would be no good. If there were no darkness there would be no light.

Deadly ignorance During a Redeemed Church fellowship in the home of Muyiwa and Bimbo Dada, the Lord told me to call out a girl called Waikini. He asked her to sing any praisesong of her choice. After she did, he declared: “I have changed her blood. She no longer has sickle-cell anemia.

Tell her to do a blood-test for confirmation.”

The irony was not lost on me. The same sickness that killed my brother, Kola at the tender age of 14 was healed unceremoniously through a praise-song to the Lord 30 years later. Why did our pastors back then not tell us Jesus heals? “We were a people without understanding; so our Maker had no compassion on us, and our Creator showed us no favour.”

(Isaiah 27:11).

Jesus declares: “My grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Corinthians 12:9).

NGO seeks youth inclusion in decision making

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NONG O V E R N M E N TA L organisation, Gospel Socio Responsibility Foundation (GSR) has advised government at all levels to include young people in decision-making to facilitate developmental rate in the country, reports OLAYINKA LATONA. The submission was made by the GSR programme co-ordinator, Chinenye Bakare during its maiden Youth Excellence Series seminar in commemoration of 2015 International Youth Day. Theme: “Youth Civic Engagement”.

Bakare argued that denying youths the opportunity to meaningful participation in decisionmaking runs contrary to their human rights and amounts to a failure of the democratic process.

She also urged government to create a conducive environment, provide necessary social amenities that will encourage Nigerian youth to fully participate in decision-making in the country and this, according to her, will help put the nation’s quest for development on the right track.

“Young people are not just the future, they are the present leaders of this great country.

They have to educated and be inspired to be involved in politics,” she said.

Speaking on “Excellence in Life”, the NGO country manager, Violet Timothy, encouraged the participants to cultivate excellence by first discovering their purpose and vision, maintaining that they can only achieve this through the Word of God. She further encouraged youths to contribute to societal development in whatever little corner they find themselves.

Encouraging the youths to join political parties and contribute their quota towards the development of democracy in Nigeria, a political consultant, Pastor Harrison Oguegbu who spoke on “Youth and Politics”, said the youths constitute the largest part of the country ’s population hence their participation in politics is a sine qua non to the attainment of sustainable human development.

Also speaking was a professional farmer, Pastor Dele Kuye, who spoke on; “Youths and Agriculture.” He enumerated key opport-unities youths have in the agri-cultural sector, maintaining that it is the only sector that can absorb the teeming unemployed youths in the country.

The programme was supported by Refuge bank, Fax Consult and Dwon Consulting International Company.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 23

Lads who share their ‘love’ with their partners family members!

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RE today ’s women trying to out-do the men in their quest for sex?

When we accuse some men of being lechers, isn’t their success to do with the connivance of their ‘victims’? When I came across a recent story of the nightmare a young man Andy said he went through in the hands of her fiancee’s mum and grandma, 1 was lost for words. According to him: “I had a wonderful fiancee and we were saving up to rent a flat together. I was very happy with my life. Then something happened to change that.

“It began when my fiancee asked me to help her decorate her mother ’s house. We both took the day off work and threw ourselves into the job.

Halfway through, she got a phone call from the office, asking her to go in.

I felt bad leaving her mum to decorate alone, so I offered to stay and finish it off. I worked hard all day. My fiancee’s mum was delighted and suggested toasting her new-look home with a drink. She opened a bottle of wine. We both

F

C M Y K

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or most people over thirty, the abdomi nal region gets to be the least toned set of muscles of the body. We work with our hands and walk with our feet, therefore, somehow, those parts are almost always in better shape than the abdominal wall.

A trim waistline doesn’t only look impressive aesthetically, it also speaks volumes of the state of health of the individual.

Reduce the girth and presto! You instantly look youthful. You will begin to digest your food and absorb it more efficiently.

Once the belly is shrunk appreciably, we can then learn to perform certain exercises which can help the system achieve better bowel action - a veritable way f eliminating toxins.

As regards exercise, there are countless ways to deal with the bulge of the belly.

Some get results from practising dit-ups, others from leg-raises and so on.

But there are some less familiar practices that deal with flabby stomach a lot more thoroughly.

Besides strengthening the muscles of the abdomen, some of these practices can be used for purification purposes along with drinking large quantities of salt water. The following exercise will help trim the waist and keep it so, forever. I C M Y K

had a couple of glasses and I began to feel tipsy.

What happened next took me by surprise. One minute we were admiring the room, the next we were kissing passionately.

We stumbled upstairs to the bedroom and into bed ..

“A little while later, I heard a creaking sound.

I glanced up to see my fiancee’s grandmother popping her head round the door. She looked shocked but put her finger to her lips, then

disappeared.

Her daughter didn’t notice a thing. A few minutes went by, then the front door opened and shut loudly and we heard my fiancee’s grandmother calling hello.

Her daughter leapt out of bed, threw her clothes on and told me to come down in 10 minutes. 1 did as she asked and said I’d better be off. My fiancee’s grandmother insisted on giving me a lift. 1 couldn’t refuse.

“As we got into her car, she started to laugh. She told me not to worry, that she wouldn’t say a thing.

She said if I did her a small ‘favour’ then she’d lose her memory ”: We arrived at her home and went inside. I asked where she wanted me to start decorating but she ignored me. Instead, she began telling me that she hadn’t been with a man for many years. That even though she had vibrators, she missed the ‘human touch’.

Suddenly, I realized what she was asking of me. I was horrified but knew she’d tell my fiancee if I didn’t agree.

I thought that once it was over, I could put it all to the back of my mind and forget about it. I was wrong.

“Now I have two women constantly pestering me for sex. They won’t give up. They keep inventing excuses for me to go to their homes to ‘help out’.

It looks mean if I don’t go, but once there, I’m cornered. My fiancee is starting to suspect that something is wrong but she’d never guess the truth.

The guilt is overwhelming.

I desperately want to tell her but I know it would spell the end of our relationship. I love my fiancee so much and I’m desperate not to lose her.

Is there a way out for me, or have I ruined any chance of a happy future with the woman I love? .. “ My first reaction was to laugh. Who did this adventurer think he was kidding?

Did he genuinely believe that if he didn’t bonk his fiancee’s grand-mother, she would let it slip about

his being caught in bed with her own daughter?

And risk being condemned by both daughter and granddaughter? Please!

I recently shared Andy’s experience with a male friend of mine, expecting him to be appalled by Andy ’s recklessness. He told me he was actually bemused by my indignance. “Women are equally wayward when it comes to the grand seduction,” he told me flatly. “You hear of the devoted wife and mother who constantly sleeps with her fatherin-Iaw, or the disgruntled ex-wife who still bonks her ex’s much older uncle years after the break-up of her marriage. The uncle makes sure she never wants for anything financially and even if the ex finally gets a whiff of the scandal, there’s nothing he could do except make a lot of noise.”

When if comes to sex, he affirms, your best bet is to get it wherever you can and with whomever you can as long as the chemistry is right! I’m still trying to get that round my head!

Tightening the abdominals have had the same waistline since the past thirty years and I am fifty two now. If yours truly can do it, so can you! All it takes

is diligence. Lets consider the Rocking.

Technique: Sit with the knees drawn and the hands placed at the back of the

knees. Now, lunge both legs forwards and quickly draw them back and thrust them forth again. Keep this to and fro movement

of the feet going continually. If you break the rhythm by hesitating you rill immediately fail to keep going. You may do as few as 5 thrusts and withdrawals of the feet initially and then increase the number of times as you improve.

Benefits: The Rocking toughens the upper thigh and abdominal muscles.

The exercise is reputed to also improve the soundness of sleep.

The Abdominal Lift Technique: Standing with the feet about a foot apart, breathe in deeply and exhale forcefully.

Now, with the breath out, draw in the muscles of the abdomen until you have a hollow forming beneath the ribs. The hands should be placed on the thighs and the knees bent a little. Keep the trunk a bit tipped forward

but don’t lower it. Maintain the retraction of the diaphragm by keeping both hands firmly pressed against the thighs as you lean on them.

Keep the position for as long as can be without breathing.

Then, ease up, stand erect and begin to breathe normally. Repeat only once more if you’re just stating this exercise. As regards this very exercise, Indra Devi advises gradually bringing it up to seven times adding one time each week.

Warning: People with a weak heart or serious abdominal or circulatory problems should refrain from this exercise.

Yoga Classes STARTED Physical Therapy Centre @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

P AGE 24 — SUND AY Vanguard , A UGUST 30 , 2015 SUNDA AUGUST

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 08056180152, SMS only

Is a divorce party a sick way of celebrating the end of a marriage?

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t seems that while p r e v i o u s generations may have considered divorce a failure, something to be ashamed of, it is now regarded by many as an occasion to be marked in much the same way as a wedding – with a cake carrying a far from uplifting message. Like so many trends, it originated in the U.S., where for several years, divorcees have been celebrating the end of their marriages with icing brides and grooms being massacred on fany cakes. British bakers are reporting a growing number of requests for sugary representations of carnage between husbands and wives.

One of such bakers, Fay Miller said she’d been commissioned to make tongue-in-cheek creations in which a bride is pushing a groom, or vice versa, off a cake.

“I’ve turned down others that seemed to be vindictive”, she said. “A woman asked me to ice a cake with `F*** you, Gary’ but I refused. I did make one cake featuring a bride stirring blood soup beside a pie with a foot sticking out of it, because that seemed like a bit of fun.”

When Alilce, a mother of nine-year-old twins was dumped by her husband of 15 years for another woman much younger than she is, she said: “I cried for three days and went through every emotion imaginable – anger, sadness, disbelief. When everything was finalised, I started planing a divorce party – a friend of a friend had one a couple of years before and my friends talked me into doing the same – and a cake seemed like the perfect centre piece.

I wanted to mark the end

of what had been a terrible time and thank everyone for helping me through it. Also it was a great opportunity to let my hair down”.

Naturally, Grey, her ex saw things differently. “I wasn’t happy at all”, he said. “What man would be, seeing a graveyard with `RIP Greg’ and other insults on tombstones?

I told myself, `If that’s her way of getting over it, so be it’. I didn’t say anything at the time or object to our nine-year-old twins being at the party because I didn’t want to do or say anything that might affect my chances of seeing them. But I don’t think it could have been healthy for them to see those insults about me, their dad”.

According to child psychologist Dr. Jack Boyle, “When warring parents say ‘I hate you, I wish you were dead’, it is upsetting for children, who don’t want to get caught up in the hostility because they love both parents.

A graveyard scene, even meant as a joke, would be interpreted by children in the same way as such insults.”

When Helen’s divorce was granted a couple of years age, she celebrated with two divorce cakes - courtesy of a close friend who runs a confectionery shop.

According to Helen: “On top of one of the cakes was a groom whose tackle had been sliced off with a bloodied knife.

The second was a two-tier cake of which the bride was pushing the groom from the top layer into a sharp-infested waters beneath. It didn’t seem in bad taste at the time, it looked like a bit of fun and after all I’d been through, I felt I deserved that. .

“I had a great time on the night, but with hindsight 1 realised 1 was floating around in a sea of anti-depressants and I had a bit of a breakdown afterwards. I had lost my marriage, my

OUR BOND

Y

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

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

hopes and dreams for the future and my home.”

According to the psychologist: “Divorcees may feel that having a celebration at the end of their marriage, as they did at the beginning, is a way of marking the end of the relationship, so they can put it behind them, but it may be a sign they are stuck in the past.

‘If you’re re-rooted in the past and constantly thinking about your ex, having a cake to mark your divorce may be a sign you’re not moving forward with your life.

Take Alice’s case for instance. Even though her distress at her husband cheating is understandable, one can only hope she’s right in her assumption that her young twins were oblivious to the macabre messages on her divorce cake. Otherwise, sweet though they were, these blocks of icing shaped like tombstones with their father ’s name etched on them could leave a nasty taste in their mouths in years to come.”

Our love signifies transformation and rebirth, Just like the butterflies, Your pure heart makes your worth, Growing under the blue skies.

I admire you sincerely For you are a topnotch lover Which makes me love you dearly Wishing to be yours forever.

You're as pure as a dove Although we were once strangers But being with you is the magic of love Which brought us together.

And have always wondered If I could ever be with another.

Okeowo Boluwatife (Tife) Okeowof2@gmail.com

Is that partner your soul mate?

He’s tall. He’s dark.

He’s extremely handsome. And he wants to take you out.

But before you go running off with what appears to be your Prince Charming, try asking him to fill in your specially designed questionnaire.

Your future happiness could well depend on his answers.

Apparently, we’ve been looking for love the wrong way. We’ve been relying on true romance to hit us like a bolt of lightening or we expect its raw animal passion to overwhelm us; when we should have been sussing out which men like the same TV programmes as we do, and are of the same mind when it comes to pets.

The only way to find a love that lasts, say the experts, is to find a partner who shares your opinions on such everyday matters.

“Society today goes about the matter of finding love in completely the wrong way ”, says Dr. Glen Wilson, a psychologist at the University of London and co-author of the Science of Love. “We tend to dismiss people who don’t fit the blueprint of perfection in our heads, but our research proves that true love is doomed unless we have a number of what appear to be mundane and obscure things in common”. As a result of his research, he has devised a simple quiz that reveal whether or not we have enough in common with a partner to enjoy a lasting relationship. He calls it his Compatibility Quotient, or CQ test. You

can easily devise yours, taking into consideration IQs, appearance, sex drive, etc. Dr. Wilson found that while it is important to agree on a number of issues, from how we like to spend our free time to sexual fidelity, some are more vital to a good relationship than others.

Different opinions on pornography and politics were most likely to spell disaster in any long term relationship.

Women, he says, were eight times more likely to admit that their relationship was unhappy if their views on pornography are different from their partners’. And for men, the big issue was sexual experience whether their women were more or less experienced than they were. Such inequality in the bedroom spelt long term unhappiness for 40 per cent of men. Couples who liked the same food were three times more likely to stay happy than those who clashed on the subject and partners who liked to watch the same programmes on television were three and a half times more likely to stay happy. But interestingly, there was one area where it was better to disagree, and that was on the subject of alcohol.

“Partnerships where one member drank heavily and the other abstained were deeply content. While other differences seemed to lead inevitably to unhappiness in longterm relationships, differences in drinking habits brought couples together ”. So, the next time you meet a teetotaller and he offers to buy you a double brandy, accept. He could be the one!

My Path I choose you as my path...

I know you will lead me to a good destination [happy home] I believe in loving you most sincerely, I know with you I will see my second generation[grandchildren] before departing..

To tell them you are the best grand ma ever...

To cherish every minute of my life with you...

To always be by your side...

To love and care for you...

Spy-beauty, you are really one in a million...

I love you dearly. Cheers...

James N Okonkwo C [Freesoul] ngesinaj@gmail.com 08066043380

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 25

Special Report

UNICAL AT 40: FOCUS ON OUTSTANDING ALUMNI E

•Mike Epelle

•Paddy Ezeala

•Mrs. Patience Dappa •Assoc. Prof. Paul Ezeonu

Quality healthcare services should not be limited to the capital cities

Assoc. Prof. Paul Olisaemeka Ezeonu

Chief Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki

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otwithstanding the remarkable feat he has recorded in his personal and professional callings, Assoc.

Prof. Paul Olisaemeka Ezeonu, the immediate past Chief Medical Director at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki is a humble and unassuming person. In the course of interacting with him, it was easy to come to the conclusion that this doctor of repute is an exemplary leader abundantly gifted with a blend of courage and charisma.

Ezeonu, an outstanding alumnus of the University of Calabar is a selfless go-getter whose achievements have proved beyond doubts that the virtues of hardwork, perseverance, devotion and focus are a veritable signpost of success. Also, he does not hesitate to tell whoever cares to listen that his professional accomplishments and success are not unconnected with the quality education he acquired at UNICAL. He left Nigeria for Germany in 1992 to further equip himself in the medical field, while in Germany he attended University of Hannover Teaching Hospital where he was under the tutelage of the renowned Prof.

Shneider who invented Rhogam and Prof.

Degenhart who invented vaginal probes.

He later served at St. Josef Krakenhaus which was affiliated to the University of Freiburg.

He returned to Nigeria in 1999 to become the pioneer head of obstetrics and gynaecology department at Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki which later metamorphosed to Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA). He rose through the ranks to become the pioneer Chief Medical Director at FETHA in 2011 after the Federal Medical Centre was merged with the Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital. During his four year tenure, Ezeonu recorded a monumental achievement with the building of the ultra modern teaching hospital complex which is fully equipped with modern health care facilities as well as the establishment of the School of Nursing and Midwifery which kicked off in 2014.

“I became a doctor based on the circumstances that led to my birth. My mother told me she was in labour for several hours on a farmland before local midwives came to her aid. She is the only child of her mother because her mother died after giving birth to her due to complications as there were no doctors or hospitals to treat her, so I made up my mind to become a doctor so that I can help reduce maternal mortality in this part of the world. After my secondary school education at Mary Knoll College, Ogoja, C M Y K

Cross River State, the only tertiary institution on my mind was UNICAL because most of my seniors at Mary Knoll were already there and I was eager to reconnect with them. My experience at UNICAL was awesome both socially and academically, the environment was conducive and we had the best lecturers.

My greatest experience was at the malabor hostels because it afforded me the opportunity to mix with students in other departments from whom I learnt so many things which has been helpful in my career”, he reminisced.

A fellow of the International College of Surgeons and the West African College of Surgeons who is also a member of International Federation of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Society of Gynaecology & Obstetrics of Nigeria and the German Society of Reproductive Medicine, G e r m a n Society of Obstetrics & Gynaecology,andNigeria Medical Association, on the secret of his achievements at FETHA, he said, “perseverance and honesty was key to what was achieved during my tenure. One important lesson I learnt in Germany is that they don’t give up on their dreams.

When we started the construction of the new hospital complex while I was the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre in 2007, a lot of people never believed we could make it a reality because it was a massive project which required huge capital but the government came to our aid and the rest is history now.”

He emphasized on the need for a holistic overhauling of existing teaching hospitals as a way of improving medical education in the country. According to him, “the problem with our healthcare system is that we are still running an archaic system and the training of medical students is too theoretical which is why some doctors cannot practicalise what they were taught at the medical schools because the facilities at the medical schools cannot go round, so there is need for our teaching hospitals to be well equipped. There is also need for state governments to establish modern healthcare centres across the states for an improved healthcare delivery system. As it is presently, you will need to get to the capital of each state of the federation before you can have access to quality medical services because the concentration is on the capital cities which is not ideal in this age.”

stablished in 1975 to encourage the advancement of learning, the University of Calabar, UNICAL, is one of the foremost Nigerian universities that has over the years churned out great men and women of repute who have made their marks in their chosen fields.

Malabites and Malabresses as they proudly address themselves have been known in their various fields of endeavour to always prove their mettle regardless of what challenges come their way as evident amongst the many graduates that this great institution has produced.

No doubt, thousands have passed through this ivory tower, and many can be said to have excelled as reflected in notable successes they have achieved in their chosen fields. Meet some of these exceptional alumni in these special report.

Government should invest more in the education sector

Mr s. PPatience atience Ef edar ho Dappa Mrs. Efedar edarho

Executive Director, Group Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Masters Energy Group

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esourceful and performance-oriented, Mrs. Patience Efedarho Dappa (Nee Etor) an exceptional alumnus of the University of Calabar has distinguished herself as an outstanding professional in both private and corporate legal services.

A lawyer by training having studied law at UNICAL and attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos. She holds a master degree in Maritime Law from London Metropolitan University in addition to two other master degrees obtained from the University of Lagos in Law (LLM) as well as Humanitarian Law and Refugee Studies (MHRS).

Dappa started her career as a legal adviser at T & A Management Consultant before joining Alegeh & Associates where she worked till 1995 when she established Pat Dappa & Associates. She joined the services of Masters Energy Oil & Gas in 2007 and consequently resigned from her position as Principal Partner at her law firm. Today, Patience Dappa is an Executive Director and Group Company Secretary/Legal Adviser at Masters Energy Group Limited.

She explained that the beautiful environment which Calabar is known for was part of the reasons she left her home state, Bendel, now Delta State to study at UNICAL having been convinced by her grandmother to study law. She described her experience at her alma mata as one which taught her so many things about life and got her well prepared for future challenges. “I enjoyed my time at UNICAL because the people are hospitable and the lecturers were fantastic.

The likes of Prof. Umezurike who was the Dean of the Law Faculty and other lecturers simplified law and made it so easy to understand”, she said.

A charismatic lawyer with over 23 years experience in legal practice, she is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the legal activities of the Masters Energy Group as it affects oil and gas, marine and shipping, exploration and production, storage terminal, retail outlets, commodities, aviation, contracts, properties as well as LPG. She explained that being a corporate lawyer has exposed her to various issues as it affects Maritime, oil and gas industries compared to when she was into litigation as a private lawyer. According to her, “as a corporate lawyer you must be vast with the applicable laws and regulations in the sectors in which your organization operates. By virtue of my position in Masters Energy, the onus is on me to

know what laws guides operations in the sectors in which we operate and to also keep abreast with latest developments and policies as it relates to the industry. It is my duty to interprete contracts and also ensure we adhere to our obligations in contracts to avoid unnecessary litigations.

I must also ensure corporate Governance is at play in our group, fulfilling our corporate social responsibilities as well as timely payment of taxes. Being a corporate lawyer also helped me go extra mile to know more about labour, financial and insurance laws because we employ staff on the need basis, insure company properties and sometimes take facilities from the bank to execute contracts. It has been challenging but worthwhile.”

Despite her tight schedules at work, Dappa has been able to balance her career with the home front, she harped on the need for more awareness as regards girlchild education in the country. She said, “I think it is time government implemented a policy to make basic education free and compulsory for every child in the country, probably the situation will change if those parents who still believe it is useless sending a female child to school are made to face some stiff penalties as consequences for denying their female children basic education.

There is need for more awareness and orientation among those tribes that believe in such archaic ideologies because such children end up being cheated for the rest of their lives, though they can see with their eyes they are intellectually blind.”

She further advised that government should review salaries of academics and also upgrade facilities at government owned tertiary institutions as a way of addressing the sanity that has eluded the education sector. “It is disheartening that some lecturers are more interested in selling handouts to students and it is on such patronage that the students are awarded scores. This is happening because the lecturers are not well paid and most times their salaries are delayed. I have had cause to interview a graduate with a second class upper Degree who couldn’t compose a simple sentence. This is the reason why some parents are sending their children to private universities because they want value for their money, so government should wake up to its responsibility of restoring the lost glory of the Nigerian education sector”, she stressed.

P AGE 26 — SUND AY PA SUNDA

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Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015

s one of the eminent products of the University of Calabar, UNICAL, Mr. Patrick “Paddy” Nnadozie Ezeala, the Head of Corporate Communications at Premium Pension Limited stands tall among his peers owing to his accomplishments. The UNICAL best graduating student in French in 1990 confessed that the quality of education he acquired at his alma mata has gone a long way in shaping his career and personality.

“UNICAL had a special kind of attraction it exuded. The academics and social life were top notch. The University then had just a few alumni who had not really begun to make their mark on society. So I wouldn’t say I actually looked up to anybody before making any choice but my father had a school mate, late Professor Victor Uchendu whose activities and influence permeated the entire humanities and social sciences and it was my father’s wish that I was not far from him, so that contributed to my choice of studying at UNICAL. I was offered admission in 1986 to study Languages and Linguistics with a JAMB UME score of 294 which was the third highest score at the university that year. The Department of Languages and Linguistics exerted so much intellectual and physical energy from both lecturers and students then. I majored in Languages, specifically French, which was even more tasking as majority of us started from the scratch, however, the lecturers were highly dedicated and their commitment was palpable. The likes of Late Professor Ada Ugah, Professor Francis Unimna Angrey, Professor Elerius Edet John, Professor Bennedict Okiwelu and Professor Imenyen Noah are unforgettable because they gave me all the needed encouragement”, he recalled.

Ezeala who also holds a master degree in English and Literary Studies from his alma mata started his career as a press officer at Cross River National Park and later became the Africa Communications Officer of the foremost global organization, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). He later joined the services of the Nigerian

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Special Report

Available resources must be deployed to develop other sectors of the economy Mr atric Mr.. PPatric atrickk Nnadozie Ezeala

Head of Corporate Communications, Premium Pension Limited Conservation Foundation (NCF) where he served for over six years as Senior Manager, Media and Public Affairs before he became the Corporate Affairs Manager at First Guarantee Pension Limited. He was also the Group General Manager, Corporate Affairs of Daily Times of Nigeria, Plc until 2010 when he was recruited by Oxfam America as West Africa Regional Communications and Campaigns Coordinator which saw him shifting base to Senegal. Due to his excellent strides in the field of communication, he was headhunted to lead the Corporate Communications Department of Premium Pension Limited in January 2014.

A prolific writer and publicist who has had cause to address environmental issues in Nigeria, Paddy as he is fondly called explained that environmental degradation affects virtually every aspect of the Nigerian land mass and emphasized on the need to review environmental laws in the country to meet current realities. He said, “environmentalism was enrooted in Nigeria after the Koko toxic waste saga in 1988 as it dawned on Nigerians how easily human lives could be endangered or even decimated for lack of environmental consciousness. This led to the setting up of the then Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) and subsequently the promulgation of the National Parks Decree, No 36 of 1991 as well as the Environmental Impact Assessment Decree No 86 of 1992.

However, the Ogoni crisis of the mid-1990s internationalized the issue of environmental degradation in Nigeria with

serious political consequences. A professor once defined the trajectory of environmental degradation in Nigeria to be the desertification of the Sahel, the sahelization of the Savannah and the Savannization of the Rainforest. This is without prejudice to the waste management challenges and consequences of uncontrolled and unplanned urbanization, soil and gully erosion as well as air and oil pollution. It is most unfortunate that all the effort by government and non-governmental organizations to control environmental degradation in Nigeria cannot be said to have yielded positive results. Between 1981 and 2000, Nigeria lost 1,700 hectares of forest cover and it has continued at the rate of 3.5% loss annually. The National Parks are not well-funded and managed and an area of ecological importance like the Sambisa forest has become a theatre of war. I think fuel subsidy should be removed and part of the proceeds used to beef up the ecological funds. There should be a comprehensive environmental audit in the country and environmental policies and laws reviewed to meet current realities.

Environmental Education should be in the school curriculum across the country and the Federal Government should take keener interest in the Environmental Education Institutes at the University of Calabar and College of Education

Ekhiadolor, Edo State to produce more environmental education teachers because the cost of environmental ignorance and improvidence is too high.”

A tested corporate communications specialist with pedigree, since j o i n i n g Premium Pension, he has put his skills to bear in positioning the company for greater market share in the i n d u s t r y.

“Premium Pension is a p i o n e e r Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) which is ranked top among the market leaders in the Nigerian pension industry. The Company currently maintains well over 600,000 Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) and has paid out over 87 billion naira to over 33,000 retirees or their next-of-kin as entitlements since 2007. With pension assets under its management in excess of 370 billion naira and pension enrollees under the company’s management spread in over 1000 organizations across the country, Premium Pension has already been firmly established as a key player in the new Contributory Pension Scheme.

Professionalism in pension service rendition at Premium Pension is complemented by the Company’s adoption of the robust Canadian Pension Administration Software (CPAS). It is also important to note that Premium Pension has consistently posted return on investment of pension asset well above industry average and above inflation. The company is run by young Nigerian professionals and a wholly Nigerian board of diverse background and competencies”, he informed.

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he establishment of University of Maiduguri has been a blessing to Nigeria. In its forty years of existence, UNIMAID has produced exceptional alumni who are contributing to the socioeconomic and political development of this country and Barrister Ibrahim Wakawa, Executive Director/ Administration; Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) is one of them. In this interview he speaks about his background and the impact of the institution on his career.

BACKGROUND I am from Garkida, in Adamawa State, where I had my Primary School. I attended Government College, Maiduguri, Borno State, after which I proceeded to the then School of Basic Studies, University of Maiduguri which had just been established in 1976.

The school of Basic Studies was the successor to the former North East College of Arts and Science (NECAS) which became the nucleus of the newly established University of Maiduguri. I graduated from the University in 1981 with a honours degree in Law. Thereafter I proceeded to Nigerian Law School for the one year mandatory professional course. My National Youth Service (NYSC) was with the Legal Aid Council in Sokoto State. Upon completion of which I took up appointment as a State Counsel with the defunct Gongola State. I had the rare privilege of serving under the present Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who was then the Solicitor-General and

I do not regret attending UNIMAID

Barris ahim W ak aw Barristter Ibr Ibrahim Wak akaw awaa

Mshelia with the CBN, just to mention but a few. It is no hidden fact that quite a number of them Executive Director, Administration; Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) have risen to the pinnacle of their career/professions both at the later Attorney-General of the Federal and states levels and are State. I resigned from the doing very well. services of the State in 1984 and went into private Legal practice, THE LECTURERS THAT but eventually took up MADE IMPACT ON HIM appointment with the defunct Those that readily comes to my National Provident Fund (NPF), mind are, Professor Ibrahim now Nigeria Social Insurance James who taught us History Trust Fund (NSITF), in 1994. I while in the School of Basic have worked with NSITF from Studies (SBS). An erudite September, 1994 to date rising Scholar, very witty, with strong through the ranks as Assistant command of the English Manager (Legal) to the career language, even though I learnt position General Manager/Board he studied in the then Soviet Secretary Legal Adviser. In Union. He would come to the November 2012 I was graciously lecture hall, with a piece of chalk, appointed as an Executive and sometimes a small piece of Director by Mr. President and paper in his pocket, but proceed consequently assigned the to deliver his lecture to the fullest, position of Executive Director/ mesmerizing and keeping you Administration of the Fund, the spell-bound for the duration of port folio I am currently holding. his lecture. With him, you never get bored. There was also now WHY HE CHOSE UNIMAID Rtd. Justice Niki Tobi who I had the choice of attending founded the Faculty of Law in the any University in Nigeria in 1976, University. He was a workaholic. because I met all the qualification He taught law with a practice of requirements for attending, but the profession in mind. No st I decided to stick to the University MATES There are several of them, but wonder even the 1 set of of Maiduguri, which was just students that graduated from the recently established. The a few that comes to mind are some Faculty all passed their University which inherited that attended the same professional examinations at the NECAS, like I earlier mentioned Secondary School and later the Nigerian Law School. Dr. D. P. had excellent facilities, even University. The likes of Dr. Daley of blessed memory who surpassing some of the so-called Abubakar Ali Gombe, a taught us English literature first generation Universities. I Consultant Physician who was at vividly also comes to mind. therefore, simply did not see any one time a Minister of State for need to look elsewhere. I have Health and now with Federal Professor Jibril Aminu who not regretted that decision in any Medical Centre, Gombe, Dr. became the second ViceAbwaku Englama, West African way.

Monetary Institute, (WAMI) Chancellor of the University, though a Medical Doctor by SOME OF HIS UNIVERSITY Accra, Ghana and Marc Ali training, always left you

Medical research is key to improved healthcare Dr. Aigbe Greg Ohihoin Chief Research Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research

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pon graduation from the University of Benin with a degree in medicine and surgery, Dr. Aigbe Greg Ohihoin has since made impact as a medical practitioner not just in the field of medical research but more importantly as an obstetrician and gynaecologist. To say that he has a history of many firsts is merely stating the obvious, Ohihoin is the founder of Nigeria’s first online maternity platformwww.pregnancyonline.com, he is the author of the first exclusive pregnancy/ postnatal guide for blacks and also the first Nigerian Dr. Aigbe medical doctor to pass the GregOhihoin membership examination of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK. Ohihoin who today is a Chief Research Fellow at Nigerian Institute of Medical Research started his career at Irrua Specialist hospital in 2000 as a house officer, he left as a registrar in 2006 to further his career at Jos University Teaching Hospital where he served as Senior Registrar till 2008. He had a brief spell at St. Nicholas Hospital between 2009 and 2010 where he served as Consultant/Head of Obstetrics and gynaecology. Between December 2010 and September 2013, he was a Consultant in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Lagos Island Maternity Hospital before joining NIMR. On his choice of becoming a gynaecologist, he said, “growing up I was close to my sisters than I was to my brothers, so I was able to understand the psychology of women coupled with the fact that I enjoy listening to women when they talk. The truth is that when women are going facing

certain challenges, they like talking to people who would grant them audience to pour out their heart.

I do that very well without getting bored”, he enthused.

A fellow of the West African College of Surgeons, Ohihoin explained that poor funding is a major challenge that is facing medical research in Nigeria. “Nigeria is blessed with the best hands, but the problem is that medical research is not well funded compared with what obtains in the d e v e l o p e d countries which explains why some of our doctors go abroad after training. However, they get amazed when they see what we have achieved with the little resources we have at our disposal. This challenge also extends to non-availability of the necessary technology to aid medical research which leads to a situation of knowledge decay when our doctors have gone outside the country to be trained with modern technology but cannot put them to practice upon return to the country. Though the situation is changing for the better but there is still need for more intervention by the government in terms of funding because a breakthrough in medical research can save a generation”, he stressed.

Passionate to his calling, Ohihoin who has to his credit a number of medical books and journals is working on a number of research works among which is the management of fertility in women with chronic infection.

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HE Nigerian literary land scape may, in a few years’ time, welcome another Chimamanda Adichie, given the way 15year-old Shirley Oiza Okauru is going. On the heels of her first book, The Jealous King, started while she was only eight, Shirley has recently published a novella entitled The Lost Child.

This is a book written by a teenager for fellow children and adults alike, with a strong moral (and even spiritual) bias. It opens with a bold and categorical statement about the two principal characters. Victor is a badly-behaved city boy who has fallen out of favour with his poor mechanic-father. Angela, on the other hand, is an only child, a good girl from a rich home, but who is addicted to electronic games and films.

The characters and habits of these two individuals not only facilitate the disaster of their first chance encounter but also define the direction and content of the entire narrative. The characterization is fairly good for a beginner. The author achieves this mainly by her surprisingly good descriptive ability, but also by the quality of the dialogue. Again, such insight into how various individuals are supposed to talk and behave is quite impressive, considering the age of the author.

The author certainly appreciates the place of humour in literature. Examples abound, but one of the most outstanding is in Chapter 5. It relates to when the

wondering whether, he was a Philosopher or a Historian. We always look forward to his speeches which are delivered with finesse at either the convocation or matriculation ceremonies. He had a great impact on any serious student who was interested in scholarship.

U N F O R G E T TA B L E MOMENT DURING HIS UNIVERSITY DAYS The ‘Ali must go’ demonstrations of 1978 by Students of Nigerian Universities against increase in the price of meals served in the University cafeterias remains one incident that one would always remember.

Nigerian Students were united in that struggle that shook the nation at that time. Attempts to break the ranks of the students from the North and the South did not succeed. Student Union leaders like Segun Okeowo (Unilag) and Mr. Bukar Mbaya (ABU), both of blessed memory paid the ultimate price as they were rusticated from the University. The Student Union in Unimaid under the leadership of Mr. Kunye Barasa played a prominent role in that struggle.

ADVICE TO UNIMAID STUDENTS They must strive to excel. If they set the goal of excelling and work hard at it, certainly they will excel. Hard times sometimes do bring the best out of those that are prepared to face the challenges. They should also try to seek mentors amongst the several alumni that have excelled in their chosen careers/ professions.

A Child Prodigy Emerges two detectives – Adaviriku and James – are trying to gain entry into the premises where Angela and the other kidnapped girls are being held. Although they already know that the place is a criminal hideout, one of the detectives responds to a query from within thus: “It is me Adaviriku and my friend James. We are here to lodge in your hotel.”

The Lost Child also reveals tentative steps towards handling several other literary devices such as flashback. Mastery of these devices, however, is still some way off and, fortunately, time is on the side of the author.

There are lessons in the book for children and parents alike, especially in this era of crimes against the human person, such as kidnapping and ritual murder. Apart from the moral angle, The Lost Child also provides some spiritual lessons. The long journeys to fraudulent witch-doctors by Mrs. Obi and her friend do nothing to cure her husband’s illness. But Mr. Obi’s hospitality to Mr. Bassey, a total stranger, ultimately leads to the discovery of the criminal hideout and the release of Angela and the other kidnap victims.

In conclusion, with careful mentoring and encouragement, the author could blossom into a good novelist, particularly crime-writer in the mold of the celebrated Agatha Christie. The book is highly recommended for all and sundry.

SUNDAY, Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 31

AYO ONIKOYI 08052201215

ose Egbe Rose Onik oyis of Lagos remember patriar ear Oniko patriarcch 20 yyear earss Temisan R marks 60 in London af aftter

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ons and daughters of the Dosunmu Ruling House of the Onikoyi of Ikoyi, Imoba and Obalende royal family of Lagos, from every nook and cranny of the country, came together penultimate Saturday, August 22, for the 20th Memorial Service in honour of one of their patriarchs, the late Chief Adamo Olatunde Fagbemi Onikoyi, Dosunmu II (OON) who was Chief Onikoyi of Lagos between 1982 and 1995.

Late Chief Adamo Onikoyi, fondly called ‘Baba 90 90’ retired as town clerk of the defunct Lagos City .

Council.

He was a product of Wesley College now Methodist Boys High School. He was from the Fagbemi clan of the Dosunmu Ruling House of the Onikoyi of Ikoyi, whose kingdoms include Imoba and Obalende.

The Onikoyi-Dosunmu Ruling House also has claims to the following royal thrones, Opeluwa in Iddo, Obanikoro and Ojora in Iganmu. Photos by Sola Oyelese

L-R: Imam Uthman Idoluwo, Alhaji Chief Imam Saba Musa, Alh Imam Lateef Adekanbi, Alh Imam Yekini Inosa and Alh Imam Junaid Sangross .

L-R: Alhaja Kehinde Adegbite Onikoyi, Alhaja Muyinat Idowu Onikoyi and Alhaja Risikat Idowu Sanyaolu.

L-R: Mrs. Wura Onikoyi, Mrs. Shade Onikoyi, Alhaja Tawa Onikoyi Mrs. Yetunbe Onikoyi and Mrs. Toyin Onikoyi.

M

s Temisan Rose Egbe had reason to be a happy mother as she celebrated her land mark Birthday. The children decided to honour her when she was treated to a dinner party attended by family and close friends of Temisan Rose Egbe at the Phoenix Palace Chinese Restaurant in Marylebone, London NW1 5PG

L-R: Alhaja Kehinde Adegbite Onikoyi, Prince Shamusideen Alani Ope and Alhaja Risikat Idowu Sanyaolu.

L-R:Chief G. Olorogun with Chief D. Sasore

L-R: Taofeek Ojugbele, Monsuru Onikoyi, Ayo Onikoyi,Vanguard’s Entertainment Editor and Okanlawon Onikoyi.

Ms Temisan Rose Egbe with family, cutting her birthday cake.

Ms Temisan Rose Egbe with family and friends in London

Investiture of 25th President of ICSAN DR Nat Ofo was invested on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos as the 25th President of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, ICSAN. Many dignitaries graced the historic occasion

L-R:The immediate past President, Dr Suleyman Abdu Ndanusa decorating the President with insignia of office.

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From right: Chief Bala Yesufu of Cadbury, Mrs. Faith Ofo and Dr. Nat Ofo

Dr. and Mrs. Nat Ofo in group photograph with some colleagues and friends.2nd Right is Chief Bala Yesufu of Cadbury.3rd Left is Barrister(Mrs) Abiola Laseinde of Cadbury.

PAGE 32 —SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015

By Jide Ajani

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n this interview, Professor ABC Nwosu explains why President Muhammadu Buhari should not be bugged down with the anti-corruption mantra, insisting that governance and the move to rid the country of corruption can go together.

He also reveals what the leaders of PDP are doing now after losing power.

Excerpts: Where have you been Prof? You’ve been unusually quiet for a while.

I have been dealing with some health challenges and taking much-needed rest.

After the elections, I decided to step back to assess the political situation.

So what is your assessment of the political situation, especially the performance of the APC government so far?

It is morning yet on creation day and everyone is anxiously and impatiently looking everywhere for signs of change. We are also awaiting the appointment of ministers and the unveiling of policies and programmes of the change agenda. Until these things unfold, most of us shall remain on the fence.

When you say it is still morning yet on creation day, are the fight against Boko Haram and the anticorruption war of this government not part of governance?

They certainly are. They are top priority concerns of the citizens and therefore of government. But they are prosecuted primarily by the defence forces and anticorruption agencies under directive of the Commanderin-Chief. They do not and should not require 24-hour attention of the President or ministers to the exclusion of every other thing.

Boko Haram had been substantially degraded before the 2015 elections.

Besides insurgency, we are impatient to see the CHANGE policies, projects and programmes because you cannot support or criticize legislations and policies unless they are unveiled. As the saying goes, faecal matter does not emit odour inside the stomach until it is voided.

We are also anxious for the appointment of ministers because the governance of a large country such as Nigeria in a democratic setting is not a one-person C M Y K

Professor ABC Nwosu

MESSAGE TO BUHARI

Governance is far more

than fighting anti-corruption war — ABC Nwosu • ‘Why Nigerians must wish President well’

affair. In a democracy, ministers are required to assist Mr. President to unveil change policies and drive the change-agenda.

They are constitutional requirements for democratic governance. That ministers and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, have not been appointed up till now is certainly troubling to most citizens, except sycophants.

But that does not mean the change agenda is not being felt by Nigerians?

What I am saying is that it is morning yet on creation day whilst urging the APC government to make haste to unveil the change policies, programmes and projects.

CHANGE is not the issue

As an example, President Obasanjo appointed me on 29th May, 1999. When I went to see him that evening after his having been sworn in, he gave me two draft bills – one on NDDC and the other on ICPC! He had them ready before day one

but what type of CHANGE? As President John F. Kennedy said in 1963: “Change is the law of nature and those who keep looking backwards are certain to miss the future”. Enough has been said on change.

I’m sure you’ve heard President Buhari lament that the reason for the slow pace is that his party underestimated the mess your party left behind?

I hope this is not what government is saying.

This is what a section of the public is also saying But the APC and the President painted horrid pictures of the situation before the elections.

They, thereafter, won the elections. They should now get on with governance and correct the mistakes and misgovernance with regard to the priority concerns of the citizens such as insurgency, corruption, poor and epileptic electric power supply, high cost of living and dollar-exchange rate, youth unemployment, decline in education and health services, bad roads, etc.

You must answer the question about the mess Jonathan and PDP left behind for Buhari?

Talking about the mess the

Continues on page 33

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 33

Continued from page 32 PDP government left, I am a founding member of the PDP. The founding fathers were men of integrity most of whom had fought tyranny as the G34 did.

When Nigerians gave the PDP overwhelming mandate in the1998/1999 local government and general elections, where were the current APC leaders? It is yet to be seen whether APC shall do better. Everybody wishes President Buhari and the APC government to do well and so, APC loudmouths should stop fouling the political air with their bad-breath and get on with governance. The time for electioneering propaganda is over. And in case we all have forgotten, it was a PDP-led government that set up the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to be funded by the Federal Government, oil companies and state governments. It was a PDP-led government that brought the GSM. It was a PDP government that initiated the NIPP and established several new universities. It was a PDP government that executed Nigeria’s foreign debt buyback. Examples abound.

These are abiding institutions, programmes and achievements. This is what governance is about.

You’re not being fair. The APC has just been in power for just three months?

All I have said is that government should make hay while the sun shines.

As an example, President Obasanjo appointed me on the 29th of May, 1999. When I went to see him that evening after his having been sworn in, he gave me two draft bills – one on NDDC and the other on ICPC! He had them ready before day one. Both institutions were new concepts but they have endured till today. This is the difference between success and failure in governance – enduring good service & delivery institutions! There will always be mistakes. Good governance corrects past mistakes and moves on with the new agenda. It does not stay glued to mistakes of previous governments to the exclusion of everything else.

In correcting mistakes of the past, there would be the need to look critically at what went down. That is what the probes being instituted by President Buhari would attempt to achieve but your party

people are crying wolf?

Nobody is against probes and inquiries. The PDP is not against probes.

President Jonathan says he is ready to be probed. The general concern however is that the proposed probes must be within the law. They should not be selective and targeted witch-hunt. Anticorruption war will backfire if it breaches the law. We should bear in mind that in any democracy, all convictions are through the court of law. If we do not follow the rule of law and lose anti-corruption cases in the courts, Nigeria would again have missed a golden opportunity to kill corruption in its politics and public service.

‘Why Nigerians must wish President well’

How do you mean miss the chance?

Because prejudiced corruption trials would presume that persons and

Everybody wishes President Buhari and the APC Government to do well and so APC loudmouths should stop fouling the political air with their badbreaths and get on with governance parties are guilty before competent courts pronounce so.

This would be wrong and self-defeating. Important and critical cases may then fail at the law courts. This would be very bad.

Those of us who have refused to quit the PDP know that apart from Governor Tinubu and Governor Ogbonnaya Onu, most of the current APC leaders were high ranking PDP members, former chairmen of party (PDP), former PDP governors, former ministers in the PDP– federal government, etc. We know them well. Many of them have EFCC files and court cases initiated by PDP Federal Governments. We hope that these files and cases shall not suddenly become cold because the persons involved have metamorphosed into “saints” upon joining the APC! In

Professor ABC Nwosu

addition, there are wellknown scandals which no government has dealt with so far. There are therefore no saints and sinners in this anti-corruption war.

Nigerians are happy with President Buhari for the renewed anti-corruption war especially the hurricane at NNPC which is the major revenue earner for the country. Nigerians want this hurricane to extend throughout the entire sector to the operations of the oil bloc owners. In addition, Nigerians are praying for similar hurricanes at other major revenue earners such as the Customs, Ports Authority, Inland Revenue Service and NIMASA among others. Nigerians are keenly watching the new anti-corruption war and are praying that God shall give President Buhari the courage to sweep clean all the rot, not just from the immediate past

administration.

Finally, Prof. what would you have President Buhari fix immediately?

Like most other Nigerians, I want to see positive change in Nigeria – the development of the economy; the development of our social and physical infrastructures resulting in improved living standards for all Nigerians. I want to see a violence-free and caring Nigerian society where every citizen, no matter his ethnicity, is free to undertake his business and raise his children anywhere in the country.

But PDP, your party, could not achieve these things in 16years?

(Laughing). I thought you had said “Finally”, but I will answer.

Nation-building is a process that is achieved over a long period. This process

had often been truncated in the past. The PDP was founded in 1998 by patriots so as to restore the process through policies such as ROTATION AND ZONING OF POLITICAL OFFICES so as to give every part of the country a sense of belonging in Nigeria. PDP was, therefore, a centrist political party that won elections in all parts of the country.

Between 1999 and 2015, it has made some mistakes.

Nigerians have now decided to give the APC a chance to govern; so they will compare their achievements with those of the PDP. That is the beauty of democracy and having a credible alternative. That is also the good of having two strong political parties. The PDP will now go into deep introspection, address its errors and re-strategise. In the end, it is the Nigerian society and Nigerians that will be the beneficiaries.

PAGE 34—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015

•China Yuan

How China yuan’s devaluation will hurt Nigeria’s economy *Other African nation’s economies also at risk

BY DEBORAH BRAUTIGAM

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hina’s development decisions are critically important for Africa.

In Lagos, Addis and Johannesburg, China’s surprise yuan devaluation has African analysts scratching their heads.

Obviously Chinese goods will be cheaper in Africa, and African exports more expensive in China. So far, this decision is just a tremor, not a quake. Yet why did China devalue, and what is this likely to mean for Africa?

To understand China’s devaluation, we need to take a step back. Beijing has been trying to manage China’s enormous structural transformation ever since Chinese leaders made their historic decision to move out of poverty by turning to the market in the late 1970s. Their supercharged development model depended on low wages, high levels of foreign and public investment, and rapidly expanding, cheap exports.

Today, China is an upper middle income country with more expensive labor. Their economy is increasingly based on domestic innovation, consumption, and exports of high-tech products. Chinese firms have become significant foreign investors themselves with interests outside China’s borders.

This has been mainly good news for Africa. China’s growing reserves were recycled into large loans for

infrastructure finance across Africa. Prices for African commodities rose with Chinese demand, helping underpin a long period of sustained — if unequal African growth. Trade between Africa and China skyrocketed to $220 billion in 2014, nearly three times the U.S. level.

Consumers benefited from low cost cell phones and other goods. On the down side, African manufacturing suffered from the competition with Chinese imports. Critics charge that China’s embrace — like that of other major powers — has not budged African economies away from high dependence on raw material exports.The devaluation is a step backward in China’s strategy. Chinese authorities had pressing, but short-term political and economic reasons to devalue.

Beijing’s policy-makers need to avoid rocking China’s political stability, while still pushing forward with measures that might cause temporary pain as they transform into a high income economy. Slower growth is now necessary, but this needs to be gradual, not dramatic In 2015, China’s economy began to slow a bit too rapidly.

The Chinese had been using their foreign exchange reserves to prop up the yuan against the challenge of a strong dollar. This pushed their currency to appreciate by 14% over the past twelve months.

The stronger yuan led to a drop in Chinese exports:

8.3% in July alone. That month, China’s factory sector experienced its largest contraction in two years, leading to layoffs. Combined with the recent stock market crash, this was too much change, too quickly.

Penultimate week’s decision allowed the market a greater role in setting the yuan’s value, and it promptly fell. This should lead to a modest export recovery but will do little for the long term goal of continued transformation.

Long-term view So far, China’s devaluation has been fairly modest — about 4% — but how will this be felt in Africa?

Prices for African commodities will worsen, then improve. In recent years, China’s slower growth has pushed down prices for gold, crude oil, copper, platinum and iron ore. South Africa’s mining sector was expected to lose over 10,000 jobs due to lower demand. In response to China’s devaluation, global prices for crude oil and some other African commodities fell further.

These goods have now become more expensive for Chinese buyers using yuan to buy inside China,leading to even lower demand. Yet over the medium term, if growth in China picks up as a result of the devaluation, demand for Africa’s commodities will increase, and prices should recover.

- Africa will import even more from China. Cheaper Chinese exports will please African consumers while putting

Cheaper Chinese exports will please African consumers while putting Africa’s manufacturers at a further disadvantage.

There will be more pressure for tariff protections

Africa’s manufacturers at a further disadvantage. There will be more pressure for tariff protections.

Lower cost steel imported from China will hurt African steel producers, but will benefit other manufacturers who use steel in their products. Chinese tourists will be more likely to vacation at home as African safaris

become relatively more expensive.

China’s African investments will be helped — and hurt. The appreciation of the Chinese yuan had eroded the value of profits from Chinese investments abroad when transmitted back to China and exchanged into yuan. Now, Chinese investors will see their profits from African investments automatically rise (in yuan terms) and this could lead them to expand.

On the other hand, new investors will find that they have to pay more (in yuan) to buy dollars for overseas investments. Furthermore, low wages in Ethiopia and elsewhere had been attracting significant factory investment from China. With costs now relatively lower in China, the push to relocate factories overseas will slow. This will save Chinese jobs, but postpones Africa’s own structural transformation.

In the short term, it is hard to see how this devaluation can help Africa, notably its productive and export sectors.

But if this step backward works, China will bounce back and Africans will benefit. *Brautigam is the Barnard L. Schwartz Professor of International Political Economy at Johns Hopkins University ’s School of Advanced International Studies where she directs the International Development Program and the ChinaAfrica Research Initiative.

She contributed piece to CNN.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 35

BUHARI’S ECONOMIC POLICIES’ REVIEW

Our concerns on manufacturing, agric, SMEs – Umoh, MAN chief

BY UDEME CLEMENT

The move by the Federal Government to review the economic policies of the Jonathan administration to enhance job creation in the country has divided stakeholders in the economy. While some economists said the review is imperative for inclusive growth and development, others stressed that massive investments in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as the real sector will pave the way for creation of jobs, not only for youths, but also for the about 70 per cent of the population in poverty. The Chairman, Toiletries and Cosmetics (T&C) Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Ikpong Umoh, in this interview, advises government to invest more in agriculture, manufacturing and SMEs to tackle unemployment crisis in the system. He stresses that the composition of the committee on policies review by the Federal Government should cut across all strata of the economy to ensure transparency and sustainable development. resident Muhammadu Buhari has just ordered a review of the economic policies of former President Goodluck Jonathan, to enhance job creation. What do you think will come out of this?

Frankly speaking, I think President Muhammadu Buhari is on the right track and has good intentions. It is important to review the economic policies of the previous administration.

Some policies that were good can be continued with, while others that may not fit into the present circumstances should be modified. Most importantly, the committee doing this review will have to be properly constituted to avoid the discussions and deliberations from being hijacked, such that the outcome becomes heavily coloured by perceptions anchored on personal, selfish and parochial interest of few individuals as well as entrepreneurs.

The composition of this committee should cut across all strata of the economy, not dominated only by the multinational- Organised Private Sector (OPS) - players, who are after personal interest and that of their members. The reason is that these multinationals see SMEs as competitors that must be killed for them to have complete market advantage.

With this mind set, they will not give government information about the true picture of the level of decay in our industries. If the President wants to succeed, my advice is for him to widen his scope of consultation and to focus more on revamping agriculture and SMEs to stimulate large scale economic activities. The review of previous economic policies must be done in a manner that will allow

P

•Mr. Ikpong Umoh agricultural activities and SMEs to start-up in various places across Nigeria, to create jobs for the citizens.

Beyond the review of previous policies, government should investigate why sustainable economic progress has eluded this country since 1960 in spite of huge revenue and investments in agriculture and industrialisation.

What is hindering the growth of the SMEs sub-sector could be traced to the multiple taxation system by all tiers of government and the practise of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The MDAs in the quest to generate revenue have all metamorphosed into regulatory agencies drawing revenues from SMEs. Let us reverse the trend by tasking all these agencies on encouraging the growth of SMEs by giving back instead of milking them to death.

Government should embark on more developmental projects in the country to create jobs for the citizens. For many years, Nigeria has been operating an economy based on crude oil as a major source of revenue, so now is the time to invest more in the real sector in order to move away from over dependent on crude oil.

At present, oil revenue, from which the government relies to fund more than 60 per cent of its budget has lost more than half its value in the past 12 months.

Meaning there is need to get other sources of revenue to keep the government running. Also, government must work towards blocking leakages in its income flow, recovery of looted funds and tackling corruption in the system, especially in the civil service.

These should take centre stage of government’s attempt to revamp the economy holistically.

Also, government should do more in diversifying the economy. The more number of people are gainfully employed, the more the unemployment issue is tackled.

Encouraging more investments

in agriculture, manufacturing, especially the SMEs will definitely boost government’s revenue in the short and long term. This will also open new windows for job creation in the country.

Why do you say so?

This is because some of the agencies are inventing more regulatory requirements every day to make money from the SMEs. Some of these requirements carry heavy financial burden on SMEs, and many cosmetic SMEs are discouraged from the start. Take for instance NAFDAC’s requirement for a stand-alone building for anybody who wants to venture into cosmetics is out of tune with what obtains elsewhere. In other advanced countries, the requirement for stand-alone building applies to Pharmaceutical and Foods industries but here it is extended to cosmetics, mainly for the purpose of increasing their revenue. This is done in spite of the fact that cosmetic products are not ingested but applied on the skin and has little or no tendency to cause severe damage.

A typical small budget standalone building will cost nothing less than N15million. Aside from the big multinational companies, how many small scale cosmetic industries can afford such a huge sum? Can a cosmetic firm operating with a capital of N500,000 afford N15million for a stand-alone building?

Can you give us the statistical analysis on how you arrived at N15million?

It is very simple. To acquire a land in Lagos State, you need over N5million to N6million. You have to pay another N4 million to get the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O). Without C of O, no bank will give you loan to finance your business. So, you have to spend more than N7million for construction and finishing, to bring the building up to the standard required by

NAFDAC. In fact, at the end of it, you may need more than N15million just to get a standalone building. The capital for raw materials and equipment are not included in this N15million.

Now let us be sincere, how many micro SMEs can afford this amount? Ironically, some of the cosmetic products we see on our shelves in Nigeria are made by micro industries in China, Taiwan and even Senegal. The Nigerian Micro SMEs are deliberately being prevented by regulation from being actively involved in making cosmetics. Have you seen how regulatory agencies whose mandate is to safeguard public health and nurture the growth of SMEs indirectly killing the industries?

Right now, there is another requirement by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), that prospective operators of SMEs who want to buy a new machine must pay between N300,000 and N600.000, for SONCAP Imports Permit to bring in equipment. That is outrageous for SMEs. The President should include these issues in the policies review in order to merge these agencies and reform them to get into creative and productive ventures, to generate money for

Buhari should bring out an Economic Blueprint tasking all government agencies to be productive and accountable. Let these agencies engage in productive ventures to generate revenue (this is the true IGR), instead of killing SMEs with multiple charges their use instead of churning out toxic regulatory framework to kill SMEs. You are a stakeholder in the SMEs sub-sector, also an employer of labour. With these challenges, what do you advise government to do?

Well, let government look at practical solutions for SMEs, especially industries operating at a micro level. For example, every raw material that is not produced locally within the country should be allowed to come in at 5 per cent import duty. Then anything that can be made locally should be restricted by any means to reduce its inflow. Government can control influx of finished goods that can by manufactured

in the country by imposing high tariffs, let say 50 percent and above to discourage importation of such items. The recent directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to restrict the use of its forex window for importations of some items is a welcome development ,but this should be revised as some packaging materials for some industries, which cannot be sourced locally are embedded in that broad classifications.

Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) initiative should focus only on industries that will reduce dependence on some imported raw materials. For example foreign investors capable of manufacturing Proteins ,Talc, enzymes, synthesising and certain pharmaceutical active ingredients using locally available start-up materials should be encouraged to come in, not those coming to manufacture items that Nigerians are already producing.

The CBN has also given a new directive to stop foreign firms from printing cheques for Nigerian banks. What is your take on this?

To me, such directive should be given to our commercial banks and not the foreign firms. Aside from that, banks should be compelled to fund and support the growth of SMEs. They declare huge profits every year, yet they are reluctant to support SMEs. The sale of government bonds should be restricted, because banks prefer investing in bonds instead of SMEs. On the whole, Buhari should bring out an Economic Blueprint tasking all government agencies to be productive and accountable. Let these agencies engage in productive ventures to generate revenue (this is the true IGR), instead of killing SMEs with multiple charges. For example, NAFDAC has a mandate to generate its own revenue by establishing high profile industries and managing them. Let NAFDAC set up a drug manufacturing industry in Nigeria. Aside from NAFDAC, we have SON, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Raw Materials Research and Development agency, among many others. All of them should engage in productive ventures to produce positive results that will help government in building the economy, instead of existing on revenues generated from industries.

Also, it is good that Buhari met with manufacturers within the Manufacturers Associations of Nigeria (MAN), which we are also members. This is a welcome development as he will get to know the problems of this formal sector and put in place incentives that will drive the sector in a sustainable manner. The President should continue to widen his scope of consultations with other stakeholders who may not be members of MAN.

PAGE 36—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015

Odogwu’s panacea for industrialisation ‘Let’s limit local industrialists to SMEs’ *Wants manufacturing sector solely in foreign investors’ hands

BY CHARLES ADINGUPU

R

enown industrialist and enterprer, Chief Sonny Odogwu, the Ide Ababu of Asaba Kingdom, his advised the Federal Government to shop for foreign investors to help Nigeria harness our human and natural resources.

He charged government to evolve a system that will allow capitalists to thrive.

He stated that the government must realise that Nigeria is a consumer nation with a large population. “I consider it slightly dangerous trying to get ourselves in industries that make the Western nations survive”, he stated.

“If we limit ourselves to the provision of raw materials for the industries to thrive, we can do very well on just that. In time past, we did it when we provided rubber from the then Bendel State which was used for the manufacturing of most plastic products including tyres. We also have other raw materials too numerous to mention.

“However, if Nigeria must venture into industrialisation, let it be on a small scale. In other words, our industries must not compete with that of the foreign investors. Though, Nigeria has the human resources, it lacks the materials and technology to drive the research that would encourage the growth of indigenous industries.

“But fortunately, the governments of Brazil, India and Nigeria are still making the same mistakes. These led to the extinction of our steel and petro-chemical industries.

We can succeed if we allow the West to harness our materials and lead them to drive our resources.”

What government must do Odogwu suggested that the federal government should limit indigenous firms to concentrate on small scale industries for now and allow foreign investors to use our resources to manufacture goods for export. “The government should create human and material infrastructure. The foreign firms will pay tax and generate employment for the teeming jobless youths. China is currently manufacturing goods for America.”

We must invest in tourism The celebrated hotelier and a man of wealth who ups the ante in the hospitality industry in Nigeria disclosed that there are great promises in the tourism industry in Nigeria.

The Ide Ahaba who noted in dismay that Nigeria has many

President Buhari

•Chief Sunny Odogwu tropical land which are currently under-utilised and wasting away also stated that apart from the vast lands available, “ we have enough wild life, animals, mountains as well as human and material resources to make fortune from this sector as well as enhance our economy. According to him such move would help to bail Nigeria from her mono economic status”.

He went on: “Switzerland economy depends mainly on tourism and banking. Tourism has remained the largest foreign earner for most countries in Europe and Asia.

We don’t need any aid but investments. We want the Western nations to invest their money and we shall encourage them by giving them land and creating an enabling environment for them to succeed. We don’t need loan, but help us to stop corruption.

“Also, a country like UAE whose economy is largely dependent on tourism today, exports flowers as a means of foreign earning. Nigeria as a nation has the potentials because for every five black man, there is always a Nigerian there. How do we expect to survive if we still continue to nurse fear. Let’s give the white-man a

comfortable place to come and establish.”

The bane of corruption Odogwu believes corruption in Nigeria is being taken out of context.

According to him, the level of corruption in Nigeria today is

Odogwu believes corruption in Nigeria is being taken out of context. According to him, the level of corruption in Nigeria today is largely because of the gradual fading away of our rich cultural values

largely because of the gradual fading away of our rich cultural values.

“The invasion of capitalism into our tradition makes a mockery of the liberalism embedded in the capitalist system. The African tradition does not encourage stealing in whatever guise.”

He advised the Federal Government to create a better social system that would cater for the elderly and the jobless youths in Nigeria.

“In Europe, governments create convenient environment for people to live happily. Such countries make education free for her citizens, the elderly are well taken care of, the health system is functional and there is social security for the unemployed.

“We have suffered for almost 60 years and we cannot continue suffering. Let us challenge and fight against those vices that set us back.

We must learn to love ourselves and live in unity. We shall succeed. Corruption in Nigeria will reduce. But if we dissipate energy fighting corruption because the West says we are corrupt, then, there is problem,” he said.

How to tackle corruption The Ide Ahaba expressed optimism that one of the ways

the nation would be corruption free is to resort to our inherent rich culture, which is laced with respect for human dignity.

The business mogul disclosed that in Europe, at a certain age, every citizen is expected to join the military because it is the foundation for enforcing discipline and nationalism. Why can’t it happen in Nigeria? he queried.

Chief Odogwu however disclosed that in Europe it is compulsory for every citizen at specific age to enlisted into the army because it is a foundation for enforcing discipline and nationalism.

Against this backdrop, he advised the current government to put in place a perfect social security system that would help to put corruption to check.

“It will be proper to put a working system that will address corruption. Whenever incidence of corruption arises, it behoves on the government to look at the system,” he said.

Beyond these, the Ide Ahaba advised the government to tackle unemployment frontally, as well as poor social services, infrastructural decay, and create enabling environment for competition among youths to thrive.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 37

How Nigerians can survive financial crisis — Lanre Olusola *Explains why he authored ‘’The Money Book’’

BY CHARLES KUMOLU NUDGED by the increasing socioeconomic inequalities in Nigeria, a Financial Expert and Premier Life Coach, Mr. Lanre Olusola in this interview, explains how both low and high income Nigerians can survive the current financial crisis. He also explains why he recently wrote a book, titled: The Money Book

T

he financial crisis is actually hitting hard at the economy of most Nigerians, as an expert and someone who recently authored a financial book titled: The Money Book, how do you think Nigerians can cope with the situation particularly given that the purchasing power of many has been affected?

Crash in oil prices is not new. Life is cyclical. Everything is cyclical. The financial market is also cyclical. We have booms and crashes. The oil business is also cyclical. The coming of the shale oil which caused the drop in oil prices is also affecting the whole world. It is not just Nigeria alone. There will always be one thing or the other that will affect people positively or negatively. What is most important is for an individual to identify the cycle and plan towards it. It is also important for every nation to identify it and plan towards it. So, you adjust and adapt your own financial dynamics in line with this.

It is by beginning to project the solution that you were born to be and package it in such a way that you are providing such solution with immense value. Whether there is financial crash, shale oil or not, Nigerians need not to fear. Life will go on but what needs to be done is to make the requisite adjustment and project that life unfolds in cycles. That is why we recommend a long medium and short term financial plans for Nigerians.

Having done that, people should stick to the reason why they are planning it and refuse to be swayed by anything. Adjustment when there is need for it is very important.

Diversifying of portfolio and always converting money to stable instruments, is important to survive at this time. If people put their

•Mr. Lanre Olusola money in foreign exchange, whether there is financial crisis or not would not matter. Nigerians should have a financial plan by refusing to live for today through proper financial planning. This is also the time to balance outflows and inflows in a way that people spend less than they earn.

What inspired the writing of the book, Money Book?

Looking in retrospect, I realised that many things contributed to bring out the book. I was in a place in Germany where I had gone for vacation. I was alone while I had deep thinking about the different classes of people in the world and things that militate against actualisation of most dreams in the world. At that point, I started thinking about the varying mindset of the poor and rich people. Looking back, I realised that with my interaction with people as a serial entrepreneur and salesman, I discovered that a lot of people had dreams, needs and wants but they could not realise that because of money. As a life coach also, I realised that many people had different goals, but the absence of money stops people from living their dreams. A classical example is the habit of focusing on money without always exploring other options, which has continued to hinder people from realising their dreams.

Frequent examples like this make us realise how money stop people.

So, it nudged at me to help set people free from the stronghold of money. Interestingly, I found out that money is the only thing that God compares himself with in the Bible.

We anchor our nuggets on how Nigerians can imbide the content of the book in their financial habit so as to survive the current financial realities.

We are doing these so that people take charge of their financial situation and live the kind of life they want to live He said that you can not serve two masters. Which means that there is God and there is mammon.

Wanting to acquire everything and chasing after money is the service to mamoon. And that is not advisable. The practice now is that people are using God to serve mammon like the practice of sowing a certain amount of money because the person expects to get more in return. I thought that if God took that as a serious matter, then that will the first topic that I will ever write about. Another thing is to debunk the philosophy that money is evil. Money is neutral. It is neither good nor bad. It is what you want to use money for that colours how people see your relationship with money. Money is supposed to be a servant but a lot of people are regrettably servants of money. So, it is to help people to be where they desire to be or designed to be.

On financial independence This book is a first step towards financial independent and empowerment programme. People don’t have to live in abject poverty in Nigeria. The poor man and the rich man have different mindsets and I want to correct that with this book. The poor man sells his time for money, while the rich men spend money to buy more time. The poor man is giving his own time to the rich man, thereby making the rich man have so much time to produce a lot more. The book also touched

on getting to know that 95 percent of employees own five percent of the world’s wealth. And 95 percent of the world’s wealth is owned by five percent employers and entrepreneurs. It means that critically, for one to be wealthy, you must be doing your thing by solving problems and living your passion.

Every rich man has same gifts like the poor man but the rich man understands the principles and laws of money better. That translates passion into profit but the poor man does not know it. So the book helps in understanding the principles of translation of gifts and talents into wealth. The money book is really an exposé and revelation that every one was born with same potential to be a millionaire.

Looking at the Nigerian context, how practicable do you think these nuggets are, particularly when most Nigerians live on less than two dollars a day?

The responses we are getting so far from people show that Nigerians are ready to embrace a positive attitude towards becoming financially independent. On the day of the book signing, the General Manager of Radio Continental was around. And his driver walked in. When his boss asked what he had come to do inside the venue, his reply was amazing.

He replied thus: ‘’Oga this thing make sense o, I hear about this book on radio and that is why I come here come buy my own because me sef want dey free.’’ About 30 minutes later his mechanic also came in to purchase the book. He said he was moved by the review which he heard on radio. His reason was that the massage in the book will liberate him from financial bondage. I used the two examples to tell you that it appeals to every one. The book speaks to the ordinary man. It deals with behavioural, habitual and relationship issues. One of the fundamentals principles in the book is to learn how to spend less then you earn to be able to have a positive cash flow. We want to encourage the life style of financial independence in the country, whereby people will have the habit of making financial plans early enough in life from whatever they earn. This will centre on education, empowerment and investment. The money book is the first step in line with the financial empowerment movement that we want to create. The second step is for us to release the financial intelligence quotient online and get people to respond to it online for free and identify where they are

within the ranking of financial intelligent quotient. After that we get them to embrace our interventionist programmes in line with where they desire to be. We are doing a lot to help people improve their financial intelligence quotient.

Are there extra measures in place to ensure that the nuggets encapsulated in this book get across to the target audience given the existence of a poor reading culture in Nigeria?

The poor are not the only target market. We have three categories of target. The first is the people that live on less than what they need to survive; those that live on just enough while the third category are people that live on more than enough. We are using digital media to further spread the message because there are different kinds of people on the digital media. We anchor our nuggets on how Nigerians can imbide the content of the book in their financial habit so as to survive the current financial realities. We are doing these so that people take charge of their financial situation and live the kind of life they want to live. Inthe book, we made it obvious that no matter what, rich men invest their money so they can leave an inheritance for their children, while poor men don’t invest because they rely on their children to take care of them when they are old. One of the things that we recommend is the need for Nigerians to plan their financial future ahead of retirement. It is important because Nigerians have poor attitude to that.

On social inequality in the country I did consider the socio-economic gap and I also considered that all men are equal and all men has same 24 hours a day. Yes there is inequality in the country, but both the rich and the poor have same potentials. That is why this book teaches to learn the fundamental principle and mindset that engender wealth. The most critical is to put processes in place where your money will begin to work for you and that would make people to be able to leave money for their children’s children. It is good to aspire to be the richest but not everyone will be like Dangote because every one was born to get to a certain place. Focusing on your own path is one of the things that this book teaches. But what is most important is to learn the fundamental principles and mindset that engender wealthy people. All we are asking people is to do all that they are supposed to do to realise their goals.

MG Vowgas: Trademarking made in Nigeria

BY DAPO AKINREFON

W

HEN Godwin Odokpa Izomor delved into the fabrication business, little did he know what he was venturing into.

But part of efforts to improve the standard of local contents in the country, MG Vowgas Limited took the bull by the horns with the consturction of an UltraModern Fabrication yard in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The company, which is a wholly 100 per cent Nigerian company was incorporated in 2006, but did not commence operation until 2009.

The company is presently collaborating with one of the CFE Engineering of Singapore, the best engineering firms in Singapore which is reputed for not cutting corners.

MG Vowgas has achieved a feat

by constructing a fabrication yard which will be a significant milestone in the engineering and development quest of Nigeria, especially in the oil and gas sector.

Aside being an expertise in oil and gas production support services, it also boasts to have acquired the required experience after being involved in contracting processes for Agip, ExxonMobil, SPDC and others As part of its local content policy on Fabrication Yard development, the company, which is a wholly owned Nigerian company, ensures that all materials utilized in the fabrication of the yard is been sourced locally.

Also, all its personnel used in carrying out activities on the fabrication yard site are Nigerian professional/skilled/

unskilled labour, while their engineers are COREN Registered.

When this facility becomes operational, the company to render services including Specialized Steel Structural Fabrication, Construction and Fabrication of Specialized Offshore Equipment.

The company is committed to providing excellent services at affordable technical expertise and sustaining a development based network for the industry.

Emphasis is placed on quality engineering and construction services, with flexibility to conform to owner ’s specific requirements, all on a competitive basis.

As part of its objective to provide the client the best quality, utilizing the best materials/ resources with a commitment to deliver on time every time, safely

and cost effectively with proactive co-operation with the client, innovating involving, and progressing together, the fabrication company seeks to satisfy of its clients.

Also, it aims to reach the industry peak with highly integrated and qualitatively packaged menu of products and services.

With the high demand for barges in the oil and gas, which serves as movement of materials to far offshore and swamp destinations, MG Vowgas has been in the forefront of the fabrication of various tonnage of barge between 400ton and 3000tons.

Also, the barges are used in the movement of heavy machineries including rigs and consumables to locations not accessible by land.

Presently putting into service the Tecon WBB Jetty for its fabrication works situated at

Woji creek, Oginigba village Trans Amadi layout Port Harcourt, the company has an endless list of customers, including Genaro limited, Hopkins Global Resources Limited, Multiple Energies Services and Siayo Associate Limited, who patronise MG Vowgas.

Stakeholders initiative

commend

On hand to tour the fabrication yards, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, ably represented by National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPPIMS), gave kudos to the management of MG Vowgas.

Commending the initiative, an official of Facility Department of NAPPIMS, Mr. Frank Isofi, said •Continues on page 38

PAGE 38—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015

BY FESTUS AHON

A

mukpe, a sleepy town in Sapele Local Government Area wore a carnival look as the Job and Wealth Creation Scheme of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s S.M.A.R.T agenda was formally inaugurated. Inside Songhai Delta, venue of the inauguration of the Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP), excited participants beamed with joy as they commenced their journey to becoming self-employed.

The Job and Wealth Creation Scheme tagged OkowaPlus was introduced in June to tackle the problem of youth unemployment and create wealth. Over 70,000 persons applied to be enlisted in the scheme which also included Production Processing and Support Programme (PPSP), Development of Agro-Industries and Extension of Microcredit. After three rounds of interviews across the three Senatorial Districts, successful candidates were invited for oneweek orientation programme at Songhai Delta. The programme featured modules in personal branding, leadership development, business management and problem solving, which Governor Okowa said were critical ingredients for becoming successful entrepreneurs.

In his address, Dr Okowa asserted that “today’s event is undeniable proof that our administration’s S.M.A.R.T agenda is well and truly on course. Job and wealth creation are the bedrock of the S.M.A.R.T agenda, with YAGEP and STEP as the flagship.” According to the Governor ,”all the programmes have been strategically designed, stringently planned and specifically tailored to tackle the problem of youth unemployment and produce lasting and sustainable prosperity across board.”

Turning to the participants, Governor Okowa said: “After this orientation programme, you are expected to proceed to various skills training centres to obtain the requisite technical/vocational skills after which you will embark on an internship in an existing business setup in your chosen field. The last week of your training will bring you back here to SONGHAI-DELTA for a rigorous and robust education in entrepreneurship and business management. Graduates will then be given starter packs to start their businesses.

He drew a difference between OkowaPlus and similar programmes in the past. “While previous programmes sought to prepare people for employment, the Job and Wealth Creation Scheme

Delta: The prosperity journey begins with OkowaPlus seeks to produce wealth creators and job creators; critical differences also exist in the selection and screening process, training approach, management system, and collaboration with the organised private sector,” adding: “this scheme is not your typical empowerment programme that is often cash-based; it is a wealth and job creation scheme, it is not about skills acquisition; it is about building a knowledge economy and the aim is to equip participants with the technical know-how, vocational/ technical skills, values and resources to become self-employed and employers of labour.”

The Governor explained that his administration’s interest in Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) was driven by their potential for tackling youth unemployment. According to him, more than 90 per cent of businesses in Nigeria employ less than one hundred persons which put them in Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) category, asserting that was a sector that can get most Nigerian youths off the street.

The Chief Job Creation Officer for Delta State, Professor Eric Eboh, had described the programmes as a success so far, assuring Deltans that both programmes will be carried through to fruition. Addressing newsmen upon conclusion of the interview phase of the programme in Delta South Senatorial District, Eboh while reiterating the importance of both initiatives to the success of Governor Okowa’s S.M.A.R.T. Agenda, asserted that the exercise was in furtherance of the Governor ’s Prosperity for All Deltans mantra.

According to Eboh, “the success recorded so far at this stage of the programme is all the more heartwarming as it is indicative of the fact that this administration is determined to deliver on Governor Okowa’s vision of building entrepreneurs, who will be selfemployed and who will in turn be in a position to create employment opportunities for others.”

Noting that Governor Okowa had charged the job creation team of the administration to ensure the success of the programme, Eboh insisted that the team would leave no stone unturned in delivering on the Governor’s vision for massive job and wealth creation in the state.

It will be recalled that Governor Okowa had indicated his vision of

•Governor Okowa (middle), his deputy Barrister Kingsley Otuaro (left) and Dr. Kingsley Emu (right), Commissioner for Economic Planning at the occasion. Photo by Goddy Umukoro.

The YAGEP and STEP programmes were therefore packaged for the proliferation of small and medium scale enterprises which the state government insists are the bedrock of any successful economy anywhere in the world economic empowerment with a focus on entrepreneurship rather than mere recruitment in tandem with his philosophy of economic renewal that enables citizens of the state stand on their own economically as entrepreneurs capable of providing further employment for their fellow citizens.

The YAGEP and STEP programmes were therefore packaged for the proliferation of small and medium scale enterprises which the state government insists are the bedrock of any successful economy anywhere in the world.

Participants from across the Senatorial District commended the manner in which the interview was conducted, noting that it was characterized by transparency and

inclusiveness while being devoid of favoritism as many of them expressed surprise that they never relied on godfathers to qualify for the exercise.

Many also expressed hope that the Governor’s pan-Deltan approach to economically empowering Deltans is sustained and not hijacked by those who may not be on the same page with the Governor in what they see as his genuine desire to create jobs and wealth for the citizens of the state.

One of the participants from Delta South, Oritseweyinmi Davidson, equally advised that all hands should be on deck to ensure similar success of the exercise in Delta Central and Delta North Senatorial Districts, insisting that “the transparent success of the entire programme will further accentuate Governor Okowa’s credentials as a truly detribalized and people-focused pan-Deltan Governor.”

A participant from Delta Central Senatorial District, Helen Adjobome, commended the Governor for what she described as the all-inclusive approach of the economic empowerment exercise.

Another participant from Delta North Senatorial District, Vincent Okolotu, appreciated the state government for the initiative, noting that the idea of job creation through entrepreneurship demonstrated “Governor Okowa’s proactive approach to job creation.”

However, Special Assistant to the Governor on News Media, Mr. Michael Tidi, had assured all participants that what they were witnessing was merely a tip of the

iceberg of what the Okowa administration has in store for the economic revamping of the state, while asserting that the twin programmes were “essentially a testament to the commitment of Governor Okowa to the economic empowerment and social uplift of citizens of the state who have been unfortunately excluded from participation in the socio-economic life of our dear state.”

While pointing out that the challenge of taking citizens out of the poverty trap requires innovative thinking, the media aide stated that seeing such programmes to fruition remains a cardinal objective of the Okowa administration.

Mr Tidi, said the exercise was deliberately anchored by Governor Okowa on the principles of inclusiveness, merit and transparency in consonance with Okowa’s desire to institute, nurture and sustain a paradigm shift in governance in the state.

The official flag off of the job creation initiative of the administration involving one thousand, six hundred and forty-five youths was superintended by Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa himself.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning in the state, Hon. Kingsley Emu had in a welcome address said, the participants’ spirit are high and assured that at the end of the day, they will surpass the governor’s expectations.

Also, the Sole Administrator of Songhai-Delta Dr Theophilus Okpidi, in an address, thanked Governor Okowa for revamping the centre, adding, “I salute your courage and pray that God will make ways for you and direct your steps towards the actualization of the job and wealth creation scheme for the benefits of Deltans.”

The inauguration which was laced with cultural and other skillful display by the trainees had in attendance the representative of His Royal Majesty, Orhue I, CFR, the Orodje of Okpe, elder statesman and retired judge, Chief (Hon. Justice) D.E Uwerhiavwe (rtd), the Otota of Okpe Kingdom, who in appreciating the job creation drive of Dr. Okowa had prayed for the governor, stating that “the best I can say about you is that God will be with you and lead you through your efforts in life” adding that he hoped that the trainees would contribute their quota in building “a very good future for our country”.

MG Vowgas: Trademarking made in Nigeria •Continued from page 37 the vision being executed by MG Vowgas was laudable.

Isofi said: “We came to inspect the construction site for fabrication of subsea and oil and gas facilities, which is driven my MGVOWGAS. We are really impressed. We see that MGVOWGAS is doing everything to position itself to drive the local content. It’s is the aspiration of Nigeria to see that Nigerians take over the job given to foreigners.”

Besides, he said for the company to have achieved this feat, “I am confident we have Nigerians who are driving themselves to take over.”

Also on hand to witness the unveiling of the fabrication yard,

One of the things that we recommend is the need for Nigerians to plan their financial future ahead of retirement the General Manager, Zonal Coordination and Board Projects of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Dr. Gina Ginah said, “I came to see their latest initiative in developing Nigerian content. My impression has been okay. It’s a major

initiative and a lot of money has been sunk in. So anything that improves Nigerian content impresses me.

“We advise other companies to emulate MGVOWGAS. The law empowers us to stop anybody from bringing in foreign goods an services when they are available in Nigeria. So they actually don’t have a choice, so the best solution is to do made in Nigeria products. The board is also empowered to ensure that the host community are part of the projects in their domain. When the host community is engaged, who will ferment trouble?”

Speaking with newsmen after a tour of the facility, the Managing Director of MG Vowgas, Godwin Odokpa Izomor explained why he ventured into fabrication

business.

Izomor said “We in MG Vowgas are pained daily when we see that for almost every little construction, other international companies take such jobs to their countries to fabricate and eventually ship it back to Nigeria. Apart from the loss of time and huge revenue, that system really depreciates Nigeria as it creates job for others in other countries and leaves our people even more unemployed.”

“Unlike other countries that have operated in Nigeria: Samsung, Hyundai, other foreign companies, none of them has developed a good fabrication yard, like ship building fabrication yard, that can compete anywhere in the world.

They are all renting and seeking

companies. They come here, collect multi-billion dollars and they don’t develop the economy.

They collect the whole big contracts, $4 billion, $5 billion and they don’t have anything to show for their having operated in this country. They go to their countries fabricate these things and bring them to Nigeria. This must stop. That is why we expect the government of Buhari to look into how to strengthen the local content,” he said.

Izomor, who has an experience in the oil and gas industry spanning up to 15 years explained that “building of barges, houseboats and tugboat are part of our construction jobs but what we are trying to do is to leave manual process to build those things.

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 39

08116759757

AFTERMATH OF HIDDEN PREGNANCY

Our daughter dumped day-old-baby on the street — Couple •Make u-turn, seek her release

SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

O

n June 13, 2015, a baby was dumped at Obazuaye Street in Evbuareke Quarters, Uselu, Benin City, at about 11am.

Residents, including Mr and Mrs Osarhiakhi Ebohon, thronged the scene to catch a glimpse of the little girl, wrapped in a black nylon bag.

The Ebohons, among other residents, placed curses on whoever might have thrown the child away. The police was invited to take away the baby who was later sent to the Ministry of Women Affairs in Edo State. But later that night, Mrs. Ebohon observed that their eldest daughter, Joy, was feeling uneasy. She tried to find out what her daughter’s problem was, to no avail.

However she went to inform the husband to probe Joy to know her problem. At about 5am the following day, Mr Ebohon woke her daughter up and threatened her to tell him the cause of her unease.. It was there that Joy opened up to her parents that she was the one who dumped the child on the street. Her angry father went to the police to report the matter. Mr Ebohon then handed over the daughter to the police for prosecution.

She was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Benin by the police on June 17 and was remanded in Oko prisons pending advice from the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on the matter.

Now, Mr and Mrs Ebohon are appealing for the release of the daughter whose first son is barely two years old. Narrating the incident, Ebohon, a farmer, said: “I decided to go to the village to farm because of the difficulty to get money to train my children. My daughter, Osarhiakhi Joy, in jail now, left secondary school some years back. She is my eldest daughter and she is 28 years old.

About five years ago, she wrote her SSCE and passed all her papers and got admission into the College of Education, Ekiadolor, but I couldn’t pay the fees. I begged her to be patient till some other time. Before I knew it, she became pregnant. I called the boy responsible and told him that I didn’t want any stupid act and asked if he was going to marry her and he said yes. Then I told him the condition that my daughter wanted to further her education by studying pharmacy and he said okay.

So she gave birth to the first child, a boy, who is about two years C M Y K

now. After that, she told me she couldn’t be staying at home, that she wanted to learn a trade before gaining admission and pending when the husband, or myself would be financially okay to send her back to school. I said it was okay.

That is how she started learning fashion designing.

She told her husband to come and beg me so that, at times, she could be staying with me because her place of work is closer to us and they don’t have their personal house.

That is how she stated living with us again. I never knew she was pregnant this second time because I don’t stay in Benin; even the mother that stays in Benin never knew about it. I didn’t know she will be this clever to cover-up without our notice.

“On June13, I came to Benin from the village to relax. I discovered people were shouting that they discovered a baby very close to my compound. I never had the belief that it was my daughter who gave birth to the baby. I was taking my

As I was bathing, I entered into labour, the child came out smoothly. I was confused on what to do. I got a nylon bag around, quickly poured water on my body to clean up the blood.

I rushed out of the bedroom, walked down the street and quietly dropped the child on the ground and came back home

siesta that afternoon when I woke up and ran to the place and I had been hearing the cry of a little baby thinking it was the next compound. I and my wife were among the first person to place curse on the culprit. I was the same person who organized to go call the police that what the person did was bad.

“The next day when I was ready to go back to the village, my wife called me to say I should ask our daughter that the way she was looking at her, there were changes in her. Then I called my daughter at about 5 am and told her to tell me the truth so that I could help her. That was when she told me that she was the one, I was about to collapse but as a man I controlled myself and asked her who was responsible for the pregnancy. She said it was the husband though they are not married. When I asked her why she behaved that way, she said when she told her husband about the pregnancy, he told her to go and abort it. She said she wanted to tell me but didn’t know what confused her. I was annoyed and took her hand to the chief security officer in my street to arrest her and let her suffer for what she has done so that others will learn from her.

Then I took my bag and left for the village because I was having an appointment that morning with some people that are going to work in my farm.

“The same day, they called the police and handed her over to them. She was detained at Textile Mill Police Station with her mother.

When I heard about it, I didn’t care because what she did, I was not happy with it. Since then she has been in custody. It was later I heard that she was remanded in Oko prisons after the Evboriaria Magistrate Court said it was not in the position to handle the case as it is within the jurisdiction of the High Court. So they sent the file to the DPP. I said I wouldn’t be part of the case but it was later that people were begging me to realize that my daughter is not a wayward child; that something must have happened. Maybe the way the husband threatened her must have made her do it and she knows I don’t tolerate nonsense because I told her to be very careful as marriage is for better for worse. Then I called the husband and asked if he was responsible for the baby, and he said no. I called the two sisters of the man and told them to ask their brother if he is the one. They started saying that their brother was not the father of the child, that he was ready to go anywhere for a test, that even the first child, he was not sure if he is the father, that he had to do a test before he could accept him. In fact the boy said we should go to Ayelala (native doctor) to find out that he was not the father of the child. Now I have so much pity for my daughter who already has a two-year-old son with us. I want her released. I had to act the way I did because what she did was bad. But I have realized that my daughter has

Continues on page 40

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SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015 08116759757

ABIA:

The NDLEA raid that went bloody •Ikpeazu’s timely int er vention inter ervention

BY OKECHUKWU KESHI UKEGBU

I

n John Pepper Clark’s poem”, the Casualties”, various categories of Nigerian Civil War casualties were captured. The categories of the casualties stretched beyond those who lost their lives in the war to those who were amputated and, according to the poet, “ await burial by instalment”.

They include those the poet describes as “ emissaries of rift”- those sent on foreign missions to negotiate for assistance on behalf of Biafra.

They were confined to the comfort of their hotel accommodations overseas while their compatriots back home languish in untold suffering.

Recently, a tragedy befell Ariaria International Market,a hub for commerce and trade in Abia State. Security agents, on an operation to raid drug hideouts within the neighbourhood of the market, allegedly inflicted pain on the peaceful and serene environment.

The incident left on its trail scores of people severely injured, including the

Divisional Crime Officer, DCO, of Ariaria Police Station, who sustained a serious machete cut from miscreants, and few other civilians whose lives were cut short in the process.

The first casualties of the Ariaria tragedy are members of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA , who engaged in such operation in a densely populated market.

One would have expected the agency to take a critical study of the operations and design the best practices to undertake. The lives of innocent civilians are not worth more than whatever operations they went for in the market, and no amount of provocation could warrant them to apply live ammunitions in a densely populated environment.

I don’t want to delve into the argument of why our security agencies are still using st live ammunitions in the 21 century to demobilise mobs, while pepper spray and synthetic ammunitions can serve the same purpose.

Security agencies such as police and NDLEA have tampered with the forms and

•Gov Okezie Ikpeazu narrations of the incident to suit their intents and purposes,whereas this piece is not for buck passing, the security agencies are seriously indicted in the Ariaria tragedy- including those who initially went for the operations and the soldiers who were later drafted to put the situation under control, who rather allegedly escalated the casualty rate.

The second casualties are the miscreants who allegedly took laws into their hands and made two frantic efforts to burn down Ariaria and Uratta police stations and, in the process, injured the DCO and burnt two exhibit vehicles.

At this era of world development, people are not expected to take laws into their hands. There are legal

and informed means of venting their anger ,which the miscreants were expected to abide with.

However, the laudable efforts of the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu deserve mention here. The governor did not hesitate to visit the victims in the hospital where he sympathised with them and made unspecified donation to them. The governor’s action portrays him as a governor who has the interest of his subjects at heart and is ready, at all time, to identify with them in thick or then.

To this end, civilians and security agencies are enjoined not to upset the peace and stability which is currently enjoyed in Abia.

The giant strides of Ikpeazu in securing lives and property in the state is self-evident.

Ikpeazu’s administration recently restored military checkpoints on the state’s roads, and established a special security operations with open security phone lines to be used at the collation centre.

Establishment of the centre came on the heels of the launching of a special security outfit, comprising army, police, and SSS to check insecurity, especially kidnapping in the state.

Members of the public were by the statement encouraged to make use of the numbers in giving useful information that will aid the security agencies in the fight against the crime of kidnapping and other offences.

The latest effort by the Abia government is the reenforcement of the order that banned commercial motorcyclists from operating within Aba and Umuahia

metropolis. This order now restricts the operations of the motorcyclists to the outskirts and the communities.

The order is accompanied by the regulation that restricts tricycle operators to operate beyond 7pm.The order was borne out of security reports which reveal that the hoodlums operate with motorcycles and tricycles.

For the security agencies, instead of dissipating energies in operations which leave in their trails human and material casualties, there is an onerous task before them to secure public facilities, especially INEC offices across the state.

It will be recalled that recently the INEC building at Mgboko, Obingwa Local Government Headquarters was razed by yet- to-be identified hoodlums. The state government said it has also uncovered a plot by the same hoodlums to raze INEC building at the headquarters in Umuahia in line with the desperate bid by some disgruntled elements to paint the state as unsafe to justify any excuse to relocate the governorship tribunal sitting at Umuahia to Abuja.

Abia is peaceful and stable and no cause calls for alarm. Security agencies should live up to their expectations by complimenting the laudable efforts of the government by securing lives and property, especially public facilities such as INEC offices in the state. A stitch in nine saves nine!

*Ukegbu, a public affairs analyst, lives in Umuahia, Abia State.

Our daughter dumped day-old-baby on the street — Couple Continued from page 39 learnt from her mistakes. We are going to take care of the child. People should realize that I am not a bad person; if I am, I would not have informed the police to arrest her. The child is at the orphanage home now. We will accept the baby if my daughter is released. I am begging the authorities”.

Asked if she was not aware that her daughter was pregnant, Mrs Ebohon said, “ I was not aware of the pregnancy and I don’t know how she kept the pregnancy that I was not aware. The first one, I was the one that detected it but this one she hid it from me. She told me that the husband is the cause of everything because she wanted to go to school when she got admission into the college of education. Because we didn’t have money, she C M Y K

•Mr Ebohon couldn’t go to school, that is how the boy hooked her.

After the father informed the police, they came to arrest us and took statement from me

and her; fromTextile Mill Police Station, she was taken to Esigie Police Station. She was there for some weeks and I have been going to see her and people were saying it was not her fault; she even said it was the husband who frustrated her that she had to hid it from us. Though we were annoyed of what she did, people were begging us to pardon her that it is not her fault since she she was not able to take care of the first one. In fact she had that baby on June 13 but the child was discovered on June 16. When we even went to the Ministry of Women Affairs to see the child, they said they will not allow us to see her. My daughter is in prison now crying and begging God to forgive her, and release her to unite with her baby. She insists on going back to school if the opportunity

comes”.

It was a pitiable sight when Sunday Vanguard, in the company of her parents, visited Joy at Oko prisons; she wept uncontrollably when she saw her son.

Asked why she decided to throw away the child, she narrated: “I was frustrated because my husband threatened that if I didn’t remove the pregnancy, he will not accept it. And I was afraid of telling my parents because my father will not take it lightly with me. What happened was that I went to the toilet to have my bath.

As I was bathing, I entered into labour, the child came out smoothly. I was confused on what to do. I got a nylon bag around, quickly poured water on my body to clean up the blood. I rushed out of the bedroom, walked down the street and quietly

dropped the child on the ground and came back home”. Asked how she felt when people were placing curses on her, she said, “I was feeling very bitter inside me. I wept without people knowing why I was crying. It was because of my condition that my mother started suspecting me. I was scared on what to do because my father will not be happy with me that my husband rejected the baby, while my husband warned me he will not accept the child if I kept it. And I didn’t really want to abort the baby. I have prayed God to forgive me, people should forgive and allow me go and take care of my baby.

Poverty caused this problem for me, if not I would not have met this man. But God will judge him for rejecting this child that is his blood”.

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 41

500 DAYS AFTER ABDUCTION

Remembering the Chibok 219

By LAIDE AKINBOADEORIERE

I

t was exactly 500 days last Thursday since the 276 girls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, were abducted from their hostels.

Boko Haram fighters had stormed the school in the remote town of Chibok in Borno State in the early hours of April 14, 2014, seizing the 276 girls who were preparing for their senior secondary school exams.

Some 57 girls were able to escape but nothing has been heard of the 219 others since May last year, when about 100 of them appeared in a Boko Haram video.

The days turned into nights C M Y K

and nights turned into months, yet the girls have not been reunited with their parents.

There have been calls for more action from the federal and state governments, religious leaders, political leaders and citizens in ensuring that the girls are released..

In an interview with Sunday Vanguard, Rev. Enoch Mark, whose two daughters were among the abducted girls, said the girls that were able to escape told him that one of his daughters was killed because she refused to talk and the other one is still missing.

He blamed the former administration led by Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for not doing enough to

The days turned into nights and nights turned into months, yet the girls have not been reunited with their parents

rescue the remaining girls.

He said his wife had developed high blood pressure, while parents of 17 of the missing girls had died over the issue.

Shehu Garba, presidential spokesperson, said there has been “intensified intelligence gathering and reconnaissance in a given location in the Northeast in search of the girls”.

Garba added: “In the past, government had contended with intelligence that was very peripheral. I think we’re getting something deeper and clearer and more specific.”

On Thursday, August 27, 2015, BringBackOurGirls, BBOG, campaign group, at the 500th day commemoration of the abduction, made it clear that

bringing back the girls and reuniting them with their parents is a must.

Two prominent religious leaders in the country, the Chief Imam of Apo Mosque, Shiekh Nura Khalid, and John Cardinal Onaiyekan, insisted that Nigerians, especially political and religious leaders, were not doing enough to rescue the girls.

“I’m terribly disappointed that people are not doing as much as I expect. The church has always expressed its sympathy about the abduction, though it might not be much; we have always prayed for the release of the girls and the crisis in the Northeast to end. What I think is

Continues on page 44

PAGE 42—SUNDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015

We must stay strong and hopeful – Oby Ezekwesili Dr Oby Ezekwesile, Co-Chairperson of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBoG), the advocacy group spearheading the release of the abducted school girls from Chibok, Borno State, speaks on their efforts, 500 days after the kidnapping allegedly by Boko Haram.

5

00 days after, are you satisfied with what you’re seeing on the efforts made by this administration to rescene the abducted girl?

I think thus far, especially after we had our June 8, 2015 meeting with the President and the Vice President albeit with the old security team that the President inherited from the previous administration, one thing that was very clear to us was the genuineness of the pledge the President made.

Which pledge?

He reiterated what he had said in his inaugural speech where he stated that we would not have aid to be successful in the war against terrorism and the acts of Boko Haram until we have rescued our Chibok girls.

What signal does such a strong statement send?

For me that was a very strong statement for the President to make. And when we met together with some of the parents of the Chibok girls and the community of Chibok, that emphasis on the necessity to BringBackOurGirls was very clear to us.

We had a set of ABC of our demands which were welcomed as being intellectually strong and practically possible to do.

For us, our follow on letter to the President emphasises the necessity for setting up the systems that we C M Y K

requested for.

Which systems are those?

Systems of feedback to enable the parents as well as the community and members of the interested public – particularly our group as a movement that has stood up for the last 485 days at the Unity Fountain in Lagos, Abuja, Osogbo, London, New York, Washington DC, to follow milestone progress that is being made.

One of the things that we’ve so far heard is that there is significant work in the area of intelligence gathering and tracking of the movements of these girls since they were abducted.

And so, here we are on Day 500, completely saddened by the fact that contrary to what we expected when on the 30th of April we first advocated for our girls, we have had to count from Day 30 to 60 to 100 and now 500. It makes us so really sad.

This fresh determination by the army to win this war: Does it make any difference?

It does make some difference but as you know when hope has been deferred for long, it has a way of wearying you.

But one thing that became clear to me this morning because I was saying to myself that 500days is a long time for the poor girls to be captives of savages, and so, this morning, I was caught between the cry that followed that sense that it had taken so long and a determination

I was caught between the cry that followed that sense that it had taken so long and a determination to stay strong despite all of it and, you know, the spirit won over the soul which wanted to be emotional and what we’ve done is to say that genuinely

to stay strong despite all of it and, you know, the spirit won over the soul which wanted to be emotional and what we’ve done is to say that genuinely, many centres around the world has been praising the new security

team and the architecture of engagement of combating terrorism, those praises were not there after a while with the previous administration.

Why do you think that was so?

Because these centres know certain things that are not public previously, it is a symptom that we may actually be on the way to decimating the capacity of Boko Haram and as the President says not just being able to bring back our Chibok girls who stand as a symbol for all other abducted people.

Did the visit of UN Secretary General bring any renewed sense of hope for the possible rescue of the girls?

One thing the UN stands out as is that it is the topmost global platform through which nations of the world collaborate and solve common problems so the public good of nations believe around that table and in what we’ve seen so far as the menace of global terrorism is, many nations are learning that collaboration and synergy go a long way because terrorism

is an activity across borders.

There is no way you can use national systems to solve the problem of terrorism because it is a global bad so, collaborating, reaching beyond your boundary means that some of the countries with less sophisticated systems of tracking information and, of course leverage on other members of the UN. Sometimes it is difficult for countries to speak to countries so it becomes important to use the platform of the UN. So, it is quite possible that the UN can facilitate some of that but bilaterally, especially during the visit of President Buhari, it registered quite well with the establishment in the United States that this is the time to re-engage – and as a matter of fact, Secretary Kerry said that much.

So, there is hope?

Of course, there is hope.

We won’t give up and hold up our hands in hopelessness. We refuse to do that.

THIS INTERVIEW WAS AIRED ON CHANNELS TELEVISION

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 43

Inside Bayelsa killing creeks!

•Ban on modular refineries fuels attacks, violent deaths

By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

N

o one would have imag ined that the creeks and waterways of Bayelsa State, given their serenity and alluring vegetation, on both sides, could be turned into killing fields by sea pirates.

Several persons including security operatives have lost their lives along the waterways which some have dubbed ‘more dangerous than shark infested waters’ due to the activities of hoodlums.

Some two years ago, twelve policemen were murdered by renegade militants along Lobia waterways in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.

In another attack, sometime in April, a naval rating was shot dead by suspected pirates at Ogbokiri along the Akassa waterways in Brass council area of Bayelsa. The gunmen struck yet again close to Otuokpoti community along the Ikoli creek, killing two policemen in a botched kidnapped attempt.

Bayelsans were yet to put behind them the sad incident when tragedy again struck early this month in the troubled waterways when armed gunmen, C M Y K

suspected to be pirates, launched a deadly attack on a JTF base in the Nembe creek.

Four soldiers and a policeman were said to have been killed in the incident, although military authories denied the killings.

This is aside the several attacks on passengers’ boats plying the waterways and the attendant loss of innocent lives.

Though government has demonstrated enough resolve to ensure that Yenagoa, the state capital, is secure, the same cannot be said of the waterways where the hoodlums are not only exploiting their vast knowledge of the terrain but have also carved a territory for themselves where they operate with impunity.

Ironically, there was a measure of security along the waterways at the height of youth militancy when compared to the current scenario where people travel in fear along the waterways.

A concerned Bayelsan, Ayebatonye said, “The creeks and waterways of Bayelsa are complicated and potentially perilous as the waters have become increasingly popular with pirates and sea robbers who take cover in the inlets while they stalk victims.”

The level of crime in the creeks has increased since security agencies started the destruction of bush refineries and rendering most of those engaged in the business jobless and idle

The state chapter of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, had, last November, embarked on strike in protest against the upsurge in attacks on its members by the sea pirates along the waterways. Government had to plead with them to return to work promising to tackle the security problem in the creeks.

Sadly, the commissioning of about 40 gunboats sometime in April by the military authorities to boost security in the waterways had yet to put the rampaging hoodlums to

flight.

Lamenting the security situation in the creeks, Chairman of the MWUN, Comrade Lloyd Sese, in an interview with Sunday Vanguard in Yenagoa, said they had resigned to fate and only prayed for God’s protection whenever they sail out on the waterways.

A passenger, who simply identified himself as Collins, said, “I have scaled down my travelling home due to the activities of sea pirates along the waterways.”

Speaking on the sad turn of event in the creeks, a visibly disturbed Bayelsa Field Coordinator for ERA, Comrade Alagoa Morris, told Sunday Vanguard, “As one working for a grassroots environmental/human rights advocacy group [ERA/FoEN], travelling to and from communities in the creeks of the Niger Delta became inevitable. This was the case even when militancy was at its peak; especially in Bayelsa State. And so, I was one of the very first Bayelsan to raise the alarm on the gradual return of criminality in the creeks in 2012 but security agents, especially the JTF, said my observations were exaggerated then.

“It is sad that the authorities failed to see such genuine efforts to alert government/ public as an opportunity and privileged information to

follow up with investigation and nip the act in the bud.

Unfortunately too, while some thought there was more threat to life and property during the era of militancy, the sailing scenario now indicates that the lives and property of travellers are more at risk now that it was when militancy sailed; for very obvious reasons.

“This they have done by ensuring that the JTF compels every passenger to raise hands before passing any oil flowstation [Oporoma, Ogboinbiri, Peremabiri. The Southern Ijaw Local Government Chairman, also set up a Special Oil/Gas Taskforce that is acting as if it is another formal security outfit; just to ensure the Federal Government gets enough revenue from our resources to share among the 36 states and the federal capital monthly.

Governor Seriake Dickson first sounded warning at Koluama 2 on February 20, 2012 [during the Chevron gas explosion and related movements] that, while his administration would not tolerate environmental terrorism (referring to the oil companies), he won’t accept what locals are also doing to the fragile ecosystem (referring to local refinery operators).

He vowed to deal with the local/bush refinery operators.

The threat and the action of the Southern Ijaw local government Chairman must have been responsible for bringing the local refinery operations in the state to VERY low level, it is almost non-existent now. This, they have done with collaboration with the security agencies: JTF and Civil Defence.

“While one may not quarrel with dealing with the issues of bush refineries, as the operations further degrade the environment, it is sad to note that nothing is being done by the local, state and federal Governments to bring down the ever soaring rate of unemployment,’’ the ERA leader, Morris, said.

The level of crime in the creeks has increased since security agencies started the destruction of bush refineries and rendering most of those engaged in the business jobless and idle. Yes, while not supporting criminality, I would not hesitate to refer to the wise saying that ‘an idle mind is the devil’s workshop’.

“Ordinarily, one should expect government to take steps to implement the recommendations of the Technical Committee on the

Continues on page 44

PAGE 44—SUNDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015

Remembering the Chibok 219 Continued from page 41 possible is that the main community of ISLAM in Nigeria is challenged now, what they (Boko Haram) do and preach is contrary to Islam. We must do as much as we can to tell others that they are wrong”, Onaiyekan said.

“I have asked the question why Imams and Sheikhs are not talking as much as they should and I am made to understand in the practical terms that it is not that easy, because many Imams have been slaughtered. We cannot remain like this, that means some people must be ready to put their lives on the line and keep talking”.

The Cardinal who expressed his disappointment at the low turnout of people for the event, lamented: “I thought that this place will be congested but I was terribly disappointed, this whole thing doesn’t seem to hit the hearts of Nigerians; we are lucky that the media carries it tonight and amplifies it so the country hears that something happened here

today.

“This morning when I woke up, I did not have the plans of coming. I was about going to take my bath when I had a phone call came from Rome, from Radio Vatican on the 500 days remembrance of the Chibok girls and I was ashamed to say that I had not seen too much around and I told them there was going to be a march today and by the grace of God, I was going to be there, so having made the promise to the Radio Vatican and to the world it will be a mortal sin not to keep my promise.

“I was telling them on the Radio Vatican that I hoped that the 500 days will be a symbolic catalyst to move Nigerians into recognising we have a serious problem; my heart bleeds for the young ladies, the fact that they called me from Rome means that they have not forgotten, it is we that have forgotten”.

The Sheikh spoke in the same vein, saying, “As a nation, we are not doing enough, we are doing little or nothing in as much as the Chibok girls

•Rev. Enoch Mark are far away from th eir families. We must start doing something.

“Secondly, I can’t say our religious leaders are doing enough. We must stand together as a nation. I want to tell the world that we Nigerian Muslims are always ready to unite with our Christian brothers and sisters to fight for the soul of Nigeria. I want to challenge all the Imams that we should use our purpose to fight for the freedom of the Chibok girls, we must tell the world that Boko Haram will never succeed and they are not winning and

Ban on modular refineries fuels attacks, violent deaths Continued from page 43 Niger Delta. The comatose condition of our social institutions, corruption, poverty, unemployment and lack of the dividends of democracy are some of the causes of the current state of affairs.

“In the light of the above, I would suggest that state and local governments pursue the main purpose of government with all sincerity of purpose. The happiness of the people and C M Y K

protection of lives and property is the main purpose of government and, this is roundly lacking in our clime. Bayelsa State government and local governments, especially those of Brass, Southern Ijaw and Nembe, should pursue, with vigour, the delivery of dividends of democracy, with the same spirit they are dealing with the issue of bush refinery/bunkering.”

“Traditional rulers and community leaders [including the youths] should be

part of this, to work with security agencies. The issue of security of lives and property should be taken holistically, because a hungry man, they say, is an angry man. In the light of the above, government should lift whatever ban there is on employment; there are many things to do to keep our society safe and clean.

“This needs proper thinking and strategy. State and local governments should reconsider their stance on

•Shiekh Nura Khalid, Chief Imam of Apo Mosque

•John Cardinal Onaiyekan

Nigeria will win this battle. We are peace lovers, we are peace workers and we shall die as peace workers.

“The Cardinal is the symbol of peace and we are working together to bring peace to Nigeria and we will never stop until we die. The Chibok girls are a symbol of peace in Nigeria because their freedom is what symbolises that we are living in peace in Nigeria. “But in as much as they are there, then Nigeria is at war, even if no one is killed, without bomb, without shooting guns if Chibok

girls are not back to their families, then Nigeria is at war.

“Therefore we must continue this cause, it is a good cause. I want to make a promise. I am on my way to a journey in Saudi Arabia and when I come back, I am going to start a voice that you will want to hear; we are going to start telling the world that Boko is; wajib, the word wajib is the opposite of haram, haram is forbidden, wajib is obligation, so, to us, boko is wajib, boko is no more haram, boko will never be haram”.

the bush refinery operations and take positive advantage of it. They should not throw away the baby with the bathwater; we need to seek ways of improving the local technology and grant licence to those willing to operate modular refineries in the creeks; after proper environmental impact assessment [EIA].

“This is because, even if the four Federal Government owned refineries are working, the products are far from the people in the creeks and more expensive to them. Once approved, modular refinery operators would get the crude oil from formal supply routes and, such operations will boost local economy, reduce crimes in the creeks and reduce unemployment.

“This will yield a win-win scenario. Yes, local refinery may be a crime now, government should grant operational licence to those willing to establish companies and operate modular refineries. We shouldn’t wait until Ghana starts it before we do. This is one sure way to involve the locals in the oil industry and make them happy.”

Meanwhile, a boat driver, who spoke anonymously, said: “Insecurity on our waterways in recent times

has continued to be a threat to lives and property, especially the killing of security officers who were legitimate duty in the Nembe creek. We call on the state government to beef up security in our waterways.”

Also, Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiohga John Jonah (retd), had, during a forum, admitted the problem of insecurity in the waterways and assured Bayelsans of government’s preparedness to tackle the menace.

“Insecurity in our waterways is very sad. It is true that our waterways are insecure. It is true that we have demonstrated enough resolve to ensure that Yenagoa city is secured”, Jonah stated.

“We have acquired some boats to ensure that the waterways are secured… but it is very difficult; quite unlike roads, the creeks are so many that you may not be able to police all the creeks at the same time. Ours is to make sure we reduce criminality to the barest minimum.

If we can avoid it all the best. There are plans to make sure the waterways are secured so that when travelling you don’t have to be watching your back”

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 45

BY TAYO WILLIAMS

T

he race to succeed the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade as the next Ooni of Ife has reached feverish pitch. Predictably, many Ife princes have emerged to stake a claim for the coveted seat regarded as the most influential monarchy in black Africa.

As things stand, only princes from the Lafogido, Osinkola and particularly Giesi Ruling Houses are eligible for the throne as the late Ooni hailed from the Ogboru Ruling House. The Giesi Ruling House, which last produced an Ooni in 1894, is in pole position to produce the next king.

Indeed, in the last couple of weeks, a few names have been thrown up as possible successor to the late king, but given the remarkable achievements of Sijuade in his 35-year-reign, Ife now needs to move forward and only a young, vibrant and energetic Oba in the mould of Prince Adetunji Adeyemi Ogunwusi can deliver that. A scion of the Giesi Ruling House of Ojaja quarters in Ile-Ife, Adetunji has been variously described as a visionary and a builder whose leadership qualities have endeared him to many.

Born on December 8, 1967 into the family of John Oluropo Ogunwusi from the famous Ojaja lineage of the Giesi Ruling House of the Agbedegbede Quarters in Ile-Ife, his mother, Margaret Wuraola Sidikatu Abegbe Ogunwusi, hailed from the family of Soji-Opa, a prominent cocoa merchant in Ile-Ife. He attended Subuola Memorial Nursery and Primary School, Agodi, Ibadan between 1971 and 1977, and Saint Patrick’s Grammar School, Orita Bashorun, Ibadan from 1978 to 1983.

Shortly after he graduated from University of Ibadan where he studied agric economics, Prince Adetunji joined the then Nigeria Intercontinental Merchant Bank in 1991,where he was an authority in loan packaging and investment arrangement for four years.

In 1995, he was appointed as Head of Credit and Marketing at Hillcrest Merchant Bank which later became Intercontinental Bank Plc and now Access Bank Plc. After 10 years of exceptional performance in the banking sector, he became a managing partner at New Africa Investment Limited. His employment life provided him with 17 years of valuable insight into structured and product financing, investment arrangement, large scale procurement, product development, business creation and marketing in the Nigerian economic terrain while also utilizing the efforts of both local entrepreneurs and strategic partnership from overseas especially where foreign expertise was required.

This provided a solid launch pad for his foray into business and reinforced his belief that anything is possible for those who dare to dream. Whilst he worked in the financial sector, a vision began to form in Adetunji’s mind. He dreamt of establishing a revolutionary real estate and property development company that will become the best in the sector.

Primewaterview Limited, formed in 2005, was the product of that audacious dream.

Before Pricewaterview came to be, no indigenous private developer dared to invest in residential high rise development. It was considered a high risk investment with a concomitant high percentage of failure. But Adetunji understood the terrain and navigated expertly to deliver Gardens 1 Estate (107 units of high-rise development) within 14 months. Buoyed by that remarkable feat, he immediately commenced the construction of Garden 2, another high-rise development of 348 units.

The Ooni has spiritual and physical powers

– Prince Adetunji, contender for vacant stool With these two projects completed, Adetunji was immediately reckoned with as a reference point in the industry and became the go-to man for mega real estate projects. Within nine years of stirring the ship at Primewaterview, over 700 units of various types of housing units on the Victoria Island Annex/Lekki Corridor were completed.

Noteworthy is that some of these projects were on-going at the time of the global economic melt-down, which adversely affected the property market globally, but Adetunji was unscathed; he emerged from the distress even stronger.

Contrary to the views held in some quarters, Adetunji’s exploits in the real estate terrain is not just limited to development of luxury apartments; his primary concern as an investor is to open up new business opportunities and create a bigger playing field for other actors in the real estate sector and beyond. He was instrumental in the opening up of a number of communities on the Lekki Corridor. Between 2005 and 2006, he delivered 49 units of mixed dwellings in Oniru and pioneered the development of major infrastructures within the community.

Before he diversified his efforts to other communities within the Lekki axis, his company developed and delivered over a hundred units of mixed dwellings. Yet, he was never reluctant to share his dreams and visions with others, which is why most of the developers currently operating in Oniru got their motivations through Adetunji’s mentoring.

Because of his penchant for taking risks, Adetunji was one of the first Nigerians to make an entry into the then budding Dubai real estate market.

He also facilitated good returns on investment for many indigenous businessmen and companies in the market. Some of the countries where he has business interests and partners include: China, United States of

America, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirate, Taiwan, Italy, Hong Kong, Spain and Australia. Having enjoyed unquestionable success in the business world, Adetunji, 47, now turns his sight on service. As a scion of Giesi Ruling House, he stands in good stead to mount the sacred throne as the next Ooni of Ife. And he is qualified to do so in all respect, yet, his aspiration is not motivated by the undeniable grandeur, grace and glory of the palace. He is challenged by the obvious need of his people which is why he sees royalty as service to humanity. He opined that royalty is both spiritual and physical empowerment of monarchs to ensure provision of adequate welfare of their people and protection of their socio-cultural heritage and not a position of exploitation or selfenrichment.

A monarch’s ability to rule is not based only on one’s divine right of succession, but also on one’s ability to shoulder the responsibility that comes with being divinely appointed

“The respect and dignity that come with royalty should be earned; Kingship is power and ability to serve the community at large. A monarch’s ability to rule is not based only on one’s divine right of succession, but also on one’s ability to shoulder the responsibility that comes with being divinely appointed. A monarch should possess the ability to lead his subjects wisely, placing the welfare of his kingdom above his personal desire,” he said in a recent interview.

Shedding some light into his vision for the people of Ife, if given the opportunity to serve, Adetunji promised to redevelop the historic city of Ile- Ife into becoming the regional centre for commerce and promote its cultural heritage. “Ile-Ife in the past accommodated and welcomed visitors and traders alike with warmth and open arms for the economic benefit of the indigenes.

So, this would be the driving ideology for all my infrastructural, economic policy and developmental strategies,”he said. To underscore his readiness for the throne, the Prince has delivered a six-point agenda called WEALTH; W = Wealth creation, E = Education, A = Agricultural Development, L = Leveraging, T = Tourism and Trade, H = Human Capital Development.

Since he declared his intention to occupy the throne of his ancestors, Adetunji has enjoyed an outpouring of support from Nigerians across board. US based Asiwaju Olumide Mayungbe, the Asiwaju Omo Yoruba of Houston Texas USA, while showing support for the prince described him as an upright man. “Give him a billion dollars for a cooperative business agreement; you don’t have to look at your shoulders. He is a very astute business icon and a strategic builder. A very passionate humanitarian,”Mayungbe said.

He was corroborated by another prominent Nigerian, Alhaji Sule Abiola, younger brother to the late multi-billionaire businessman and presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola. “To envisage what impact Prince Adetunji Ogunwusi as Ooni would have on the socioeconomic development of Ife, one only needs to look at his achievements and their impacts on people both individually and as communities. His business focus and targets in diverse sectors of the economy are deliberate to achieve adding maximum values to people lives in specific unique ways.”Mr. Eric Balogun, a retired investment banker described him as “a man of good exposure with international contacts and connections. Prince Ogunwusi is very kind, compassionate and with very strong feelings and empathy for his fellow men especially the down trodden.”

With all the fore goings, it is clear that unlike men of his vast wealth and influence, Prince Adetunji Ogunwusi does not court the media for selfaggrandisement. But in the business world where he has his hands in several lucrative pies like construction, real estate, oil and gas and hospitality among others, he is a Rock Star. Adetunji believes that his successes, achieved through his own derring-do and initiatives, can be deployed to making Ile-Ife and indeed,Yorubaland better if enthroned as the next Ooni. And if that is what destiny holds for him, so be it!

PAGE 46—SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015

SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

R

ecently, the Enojie of Opoji and the first Vice Chairman, Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, Ehidiamen Aidonojie 1, celebrated his 29th anniversary and 60th birthday at his palace in Opoji, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State. The occasion was witnessed by dignitaries including the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun.

In this interview, the monarch says he is now a born-again Christian, just as he declares that traditional rulers belonging to cults will have their kingdoms destroyed.

He speaks on life on the throne, why the chairmanship of the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs is exclusively that of the Oba of Benin, how monarchs will vote in 2016 Edo guber and other issues.

I was branded a black leg for supporting the Oba of Benin

—Aidonojie, the Enojie of Opoji •Says royalty and cultism are a dangerous mix

How has it been in the past 29 years as the Onojie of Opoji?

By God’s grace, it has been good seeing that my community has been fortunate with development. Most of the development we had has been from my subjects. I approached people like Chief Mike Inegbese who bought me transformers, the late Vice President Admiral Aikhomo brought NEPA to energize the transformers. After that we were lucky to have the first digital telephone in Nigeria.

We had the station at Irrua and Opoji was connected to that network until the GSM came. The community has always been united. We call meetings every time and chart the way forward. We have a health center, cottage hospital that government has not opened, we have secondary schools one of which was renovated and the Edo state government spent a lot of money there but the other one is nothing to write home about. We are still trying to persuade the state governor to look at it because the building has broken down, students now learn under the trees.

You were one of those who resisted the rotation of the Chairman of the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, insisting that the Oba of Benin should remain the chairman. Can you recall what led to that argument then and how was it resolved?

There was this problem we had in the Edo Traditional Council,that was during Chief Oyegun’s tenure as governor. Traditional rulers then were deeply involved in partisan politics. We saw the Oba of Benin then supporting Oyegun and some of us supported Lucky Igbinedion. It was for that reason that we met in Agbede to define who a traditional ruler is: His kingdom must have a domain, a geographical area not responsible to any other one. We however had problem bringing in the Benin chiefs, but after Oyegun’s regime the army came in and for many years the army was there. When Lucky Igbinedion came in as governor, I told my colleagues that there was need for us to relax our resolution and allow the Binis come in with their chiefs as members of the Traditional Council. They all called me a black leg and said they will not. I told them, in the Agbede accord where we definined who a traditional ruler is, that the Chairman of the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers, where we decided that it should be rotational among the three senatorial districts, should now be laid to rest because it has been overtaken by events since there was no more SDP/ NRC. But they said no. When the governor came, he discovered that even our tenure as members of the Traditional Council had elapsed. We were supposed to be there for two years but we had been there for over ten years; so I told the governor to dissolve the council and follow the relevant edict. Lucky Igbinedion was the governor and I asked him to do three things, dissolve the council as we had over stayed our tenure, implement the edict which says we should be here (Traditional Council) for only two years and Edo South Traditional Council should be made to bring in their members because the Oba could not be our Chairman and the only one from Edo South while we were all coming from the North and Central.

At the end of it all, the governor answered

I don’t encourage traditional rulers to go with their old tradition of being fetish. They should know God, serve God and promote justice. If a traditional ruler goes into cultism there will be no truth in that palace because he is affiliated to a group

• Ehidiamen Aidonojie 1 all I pleaded, those that saw me as bad leg were now coming to rejoice with me. That was how the Oba brought in his chiefs from Benin into the Council. In other words, I can say it loud and clear that I made it possible for the Benin chiefs to be members of the state Council of Traditional Rulers.

As a matter of fact, I moved the motion which now changed the Council from Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers to Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs.

Again I stood my ground that the seat must not be made rotational, that the Oba of Benin should continue to occupy it. I am called “Osiobaedo”, that is, a “Friend of the Oba of Benin”. He is a father, I have known him for years, I am part of the palace and we have a good relationship.

Since that era, we have had a robust relationship with Prof Osunbor and Adams Oshiomhole. But I must tell you it is only under Oshiomhole’s regime that government actually accorded us due respect. The government recognizes us in public and private and that was never done by any government before. And at times I see in the governor (Adams Oshiomhole) a man with a lion heart, a man that does favour for his enemies and friends. If you go round some states in the country today, they are unable to pay salaries but he has managed to pay Edo workers and everybody all these years.

How would you rate Governor Oshiomhole’s administration so far?

It is very clear and people can see the achievements of Adams Oshiomhole. The schools, the roads, and paying of salaries

can be credited to Adams Oshiomhole; he also gives due respect to traditional rulers.

People think I am too close to Oshiomhole, yet I don’t have any good road in my domain. But I recognized that the man carried so much load when he came in as governor, he has built several roads and has promised to do the road in my domain soonest.

One has to be patient because government can’t do all these things at once and he has given me his word and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly has also assured me that the road will be tarred.

Now the government has written to the NDDC to steer clear of the road and use that kilometer to do some other roads in the community while they do the road because that is the only access road we have to our local government headquarters, Irrua. I have to go through Esan West, and local government council, to get to Irrua.

There is this belief that traditional rulers are fetish and belong to different cult groups. Do you belong to any? How do you perform your traditional rites?

You may not be too far from the truth but, for me, I am a practising Christian, I am not just a church goer. We don’t sacrifice goat, we don’t worship idol but we keep the tradition to make sure that our customs are respected; one thing we don’t do is to start kneeling down for idols or trees. As we are developing, we are getting more civilized.

Christianity has come in and, of course, my people are happy with me because one, I don’t belong to any cult and two, I am a Christian and because of that, that spirit of

providing for the needy has entered me.

The widows in Opoji community, I give them rice the first week of every month, and that has been on for the past seven years. I have never missed one month. I have partnered orphanages. I trained one blind girl from Uromi, she just graduated and finished service, she is not from my place. I met her in Charilove.

I am praying to God to bring me more handicapped or physically challenged persons to assist.

Traditional rulers into cultism don’t progress, they will have the spirit of limitation.

And because I am serving the living God; if I tell you my blood pressure, you will think I am 35 years. I don’t have any problem though I know a man’s problem never ends until he dies, but God has

taken care of my problems, taken care of my community; and we know that what other communities have that we don’t have God will make it possible for us. So I don’t encourage traditional rulers to go with their old tradition of being fetish. They should know God, serve God and promote justice.

If a traditional ruler goes into cultism there will be no truth in that palace because he is affiliated to a group.

How do you appease the gods?

Which gods are we appeasing? We serve the Almighty God. I am born again, my chiefs are Christians and we pray with the holy book. It is only those that are in darkness that those things affect. If you are a Christian, those things don’t really bother you.

Only those in darkness knows how to please fake god which is the man made god.

What kind of governor are we looking at ahead of 2016?

A governor that will have the kind of heart like the present one. Oshiomhole has made sure that we are comfortable. One will not go for a governor that will bring us back to poverty. What I mean by that is that whatever percentage you are sending to the traditional rulers, for instance it is seven percent, when you get it, don’t give them half or 2 per cent; we don’t want that kind of government. We pray to have a governor that will have that kind of spirit like Oshiomhole who I see as a man too righteous to steal, not a man that who come and surround himself with sycophants and wouldn’t listen to traditional rulers or accord us respect.

As 2016 draws nearer, it will be clearer where the arrow is going to but right now it is not clear. People are making speculations here and there but I reserve my comment on that for now.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015 — PAGE 47

SACKED OGUN WORKERS:

It’s time we own up

BY SOLA ADEKANMBI

T

he situation in Ogun State as it relates to the sacked education officials appears to be fluid. It seems some of us who initially wanted Governor Amosun’s head on a platter may now have to recant, or as we say in local parlance, eat our words.

The scud missiles of the SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), the rocket-propelled grenades of some opinion writers, lawyers and academics and the Molotov cocktails of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) appeared to have been directed at a wrong target. What a colossal error! I had read an article in the newspapers by one educationist, Ayobami Odesanya, who said: “The greatest tragedy in the question paper has not been highlighted by many commentators. I discovered to my horror and chagrin that the so-called SUMMARY passage was actually a summary or synopsis of opinions expressed in newspaper adverts sponsored by the opposition in the months leading to the April 11 governorship election in Ogun State!”

Initially, I was not strongly persuaded because of the plight of teachers in Nigeria. I joined in the condemnation of the Ogun State governor based on what has now turned out to be a onesided information available at the time. Some of my not too apolitical colleagues at the weekend showed me a couple of leaflets and handbills distributed by the opposition

parties towards the end of 2014 and in early 2015. I also saw some newspaper adverts by the leading opposition party in the state. When I married them with the controversial question paper which led to the dismissal of some education workers, I saw a smoking gun. Indeed, some words appeared to have been lifted from the opposition materials.

This is regrettable. I am not an educationist but I agree with the submission of Mr Odesanya: “The action of the teacher or ministry officials who approved the question is totally inadmissible. It’s an attempt to corrupt the pupils politically and discredit the government that has provided them with free education... Condensing into an exam passage published attacks of the opposition political party against the government is totally reprehensible. Children are too impressionable to be drawn into such high-wire politics. We should not toy with their future.”

There is something particularly funny about the Ministry of Education in Ogun State. Was it not in the same ministry that an alleged scam of N200,000,000 was uncovered in 2013? I understand huge sums were traced to the accounts of some of those involved.

Certainly, the practice must have been going on for years, where money voted for WAEC by the government was diverted into private pockets. It is not clear whether this is the reason the government stopped giving running cost to schools as investigation revealed it was in the aftermath of the alleged scam that the grant stopped.

Could it be that some ministry officials were equally fiddling with the grant which was increased by about 50% by the Amosun administration?

Of course, there is bound to be reactions since the state government has shut all the sleaze doors and blocked loopholes exploited by the workers. And one could see

manifestation of such frustration in the partisan political question set for the innocent children. It’s really a shame. We often criticize governments across Nigeria for not giving enough allocation to education but here in Ogun were education officials allegedly diverting millions of government money meant to pay SSCE fees of children of the poor into their private pockets!

I think we’ve really been unnecessarily hard on the government of Ogun. For a state whose IGR is ridiculous in comparison to Lagos to be paying teachers higher salaries deserves commendation rather than scorn. What is more, the number of public schools in most of the states in the country is so small in comparison to Ogun. Lagos with humongous resources has about three or four public higher institutions of learning but Ogun has more than 10! I wonder what the government wants to do with such number anyway! In all, Ogun alone has almost twice the number of public schools in Lagos. And the number of public schools keeps increasing, necessitating the need to employ more teachers. Perhaps this is the reason the government dithered in dismissing the over 200 teachers involved in the SSCE scam, many of them in the service for many years.

If, in spite of these challenges, the current governor has been able to renovate over 2,000 school buildings, pay arrears of SSCE fees, salaries,and pensions he inherited, build world class model schools for public school pupils, I think he deserves our understanding and support even if such support is measured. From information in the media, enrollment figures for primary and secondary schools rose sharply as a result of the free education with free textbook policy of the Amosun government. Between 2011 and 2013, enrolment figure for upper

secondary school increased from 146,737 to 162,536 while that of lower secondary school jumped from 174,820 to 214,837. And the number has been growing every academic session.

Last week, the taciturn governor finally reacted to the spate of attacks, which now appeared to have been directed at the wrong person. The news media carried the press release signed by Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa who is the Secretary to Ogun State Government.

Following this press release, I got a copy of the Constitution. I discovered that the Civil Service Commission is a creation of Section 197 of the constitution.

I also checked Part II, Third Schedule to the document and confirmed this: 2. (1) The Commission shall have power without prejudice to the powers vested in the Governor and the State Judicial Service Commission to (a) appoint persons to offices in the State civil service; and (b) dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding such offices.

(2) The Commission shall not exercise any of its powers under sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph in respect of such offices of heads of divisions of Ministries or of departments of the Government of the State as may from time to time be designated by an order made by the Governor except after consultation with the Head of the Civil Service of the State.

It is crystal clear that those of us who had and are currently attacking the personality of the governor are all guilty of jumping the gun and leaping before looking. We all need to own up to our mistakes and error of judgement. So the governor even had no power to sack any civil servant!

We should not excoriate public

Continues on page 48

The Edos And Political Renaissance

BY YUSUF ABUDU he historical evolution of the Edos, the people who live in Benin City and the seven local local government councils of present Edo State and descendants of ancient Igomigodo (Not to be confused with Edolites or Edo citizens) have a prominent place in the making of Nigeria. Mindful of the relegation of the subject of history in our school system, one cannot but be suspicious of the knowledge of history by the computer age generations. Whether, we admit it or not, those who do not know their history cannot be proud of themselves because they least appreciate their identity.

It is on record that when parts of Nigeria came under European influence in the fifteenth century, the powerful Benin Empire established one of the earliest formalized relations at the highest diplomatic level with the Portuguese. In the 1931 Annual Report On The Social And Economic Progress of The People Of Nigeria to the colonial office, only ten main ethnic nationalities were recorded and recognized as follows: Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba, Fulani, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv, Edo, Nupe and Ijaw. That was seventeen years into Nigeria as an emerging Nation. Today, eighty five years down the line, the Edos

T

seem to have lost her relevance and her voice to conterminous groups whose identities were merely subsumed under Edo. BY whatever criteria, be it merits, historical exploits, population, contribution to the national pulse, what the Edos have suffered, particularly in the last two decades amount to humiliation and robbery in equal measure.

Consequently, in Edoland, pervasive feeling of powerlessness to exercise influence over the Nigerian political space and social direction is evident.

Yet, they are recipients of the exercise of power by other parts of the entity, more painfully, by elements who were once their subordinates and inferior to her in pre-colonial Nigeria.

In contrast, the first republic was built on a firmer footing and would have steadily delivered on the vision and aspiration of Nigerians had the self righteous military been a little more patient with the challenges of forging a nation out several precolonial entities. Sadly, when the military dabbled into politics in 1966, they dismantled the federal structures, rolled back the gains of self government at the regional level and imposed a retrogressive unitary command structure where powers were exercised like garrison commanders. States and local governments were created without

recourse to enduring principles and criteria. Rather, mere sentiments, insouciance and frivolities reigned supreme. Few illustrations will drive the point home; when Delta State was created, the choice of Asaba as the State Capital was solely determined by the sentiments of the moment. In Edo State, when virtually every village, at the risk of exaggeration, became a Local Government Council by military fiat, the decision were not based on any logic or criteria other than opportunism. The Military high command, who by twist of fate ruled over Nigerians, later contrived a post-military quasi federal structure, inherently snookered by boobytraps for the civilians successors to wrestle with. That amorphous caricature has continued to be the harbinger of unresolved crises of confidence in our democratic match till date. Thus, Nigeria as an amalgam of pre-colonial ethnic nationalities has been consigned to the limbo of endemic distrust and suspicion, still unable to evolve into a nation. The sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo described Nigeria as ‘a mere geographical expression’ in 1947.

The arbitrary and capricious style of government continued under civil administration and destroyed time tested principles and policies.

Consequently, sycophants and people who paid casual attention to diligence and self esteem opportunistically flourished. But the Edos, proud and urbane bore the brunt and suffered. Unfortunately, the few Edo indigenes who fought their way like orphans into highly coveted positions of responsibility at the national level have coicidentally retired in the last couple of years and regrettably, leaving behind tenuous participation of the Edos in national governance.

Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, a well rounded scholar and administrator who trod the oil and gas industry like a colossus exited service in 2009 as Group Executive Director of the NNPC. Mrs. Ifueko OmoiguiOkauru who did a yeoman’s job at the Federal Inland Revenue Service retired in 2014 while Mr. Steve Oronsaye, former Head of Service of the Federation left service about the same time. No doubt, these three, ranked among the few stars in the public service of the federation at the time. In the trio, the Edos had a sense of belonging and relevance in the national equation!

If the Edos are desirous and determined to fast track the development of their 56% land space in Edo State which has suffered a long history of abandonment and if they are desirous of increasing her

visibility at the centre, they must find a way to engage these highly trained, experienced and competent hands in the governance of the State. Fortunately, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi has indicated interest in providing leadership at the gubernatorial level. Not a few are excited at his willingness to bring his enormous experience, capacity and competence to bear on the governance of the State. It is indeed, a call to the Edos to honour someone that has a reputation for exercising conscientious judgment and commitment to principles at critical junctures of decision making in the NNPC. Within the corporation, he is better known as Mr. Local Content in appreciation of his patriotic zeal in pushing the local content policy to reality. Today, the implementation of the local content policy has opened new vistas of opportunities for young Nigerian to participate in the industry.

We must recognize the fact that our relatively young and strong retirees are assets in terms of capacity and should find ways of harnessing their skills and expertise, as well as their influence in the development of the State. They too, must be ready to accept the responsibility of counseling and mentoring young

Continues on page 48

PAGE 48 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 30, 2015

SACKED OGUN WORKERS: It’s time we own up Continued on Page 47 officials for the sake of doing so. Just as public office holders can be wrong, we, also, the public watchdog, can be wrong.

However, by my own reading of the press statement, it does not mean the approval of the governor would not be obtained before the disciplinary measures were effected. Without prejudice to Part II, Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, the combined reading of the Constitution suggests that the

governor cannot entirely be shut out from major employment or major dismissal of workers by the Commission. The Civil Service Commission cannot do major employment without the authority or permission of the governor, because he has to pay the workers. In the same vein, the CSC cannot dismiss workers at such a level that involved very senior officials without seeking the final approval of the governor. But to hold that it was the governor who sat behind a desk in his office and sacked the erring officials, as some of us initially believed, is a grievous

offence. When the National Judicial Council dismisses a judge and the President accepts the dismissal, no one talks about the judge being sacked by the President. The process of sacking a civil servant or a judge is tortuous. No one can wake up in his bedroom and order the sack of a civil servant. There are procedures and, from my personal study so far, all these were complied with by the Civil Service Commission in respect of the sanctioned officials. The principle of fair hearing was complied with to the letter and some of the senior officials were

even alleged to have owned up to negligence on their part.

I wish to use this medium to draw the attention of the governor to the Sango-Akute Road. When he started this road, we were very happy, but construction work appears to have stopped. One understands the current financial situation in the country but Amosun should kindly give it priority once things begin to improve.

Finally, I think the Commission should give more information to the public or unravel the processes that led to its decisions in order to aid

exposed to the political dimension of public administration. Without solicitation, it is hard to gloss over the pedigree of this proud Edo son and pretty difficult not to extol his solid qualities. Only few Nigerians possess such tall credentials!

The emergence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun as national Chairman of the ruling national party could not have happened at a better time. This in a way poses challenges that must not escape the consciousness of the Edos; that of electing someone that has the strength of character and

humongous influence at the national stage to join forces with Chief Odigie-Oyegun in order to push forward the real Edo agenda at the State and national level. The combination of forces shall doubtlessly unleash a positive force that will precipitate the political renaissance of the Edos. With the network of local and international contacts of Chris Ogiemwonyi, the possibilities of Edo ethnic nationality is immense. His experience and understanding of the high politics of patronage and the skills to navigate through the labyrinth of geo-politics and ethnic

diversity in terms of power relations at the center will be an asset. From every indication, the odds are overwhelmingly in favour of Chris Ogiemwonyi!

The Edos are on the verge of achieving a new dawn, a new reawakening and the resurgence of Edo spirit and prosperity. The emerging scenarios on the horizon are promising. But for this to happen, all active players in the polity must have their hands on deck and act with a sense of unity and purpose in the larger interest of the people. Let it not be said of us that we were so close to the diadem but

further commentaries on this matter. More importantly, what does the law say about those that set partisan political question for school children, thereby attempting to corrupt them? What about those workers in the education ministry who allegedly diverted N200,000,000 meant for SSCE fees into their pockets?

N200,000,000 is not a small amount of money. Has the stupendous sum been recovered?

How long has the practice been going on? Is there any guarantee that the millions of naira voted for bursary has also not been diverted over the years? * Adekanmbi, a medical doctor, lives in Akute, Ogun State.

The Edos And Political Renaissance Continued on Page 47 Edo graduates on how to navigate their way through public service career at the national level in particular. More importantly, they should be ready and willing to participate in mainstream political and economic running of Nigeria.

In this regard, one is enthused at the decision of Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi to bring his wealth of experience to bear on gubernatorial governance of the State. Having served in the recent past as Minister of State, Works of the Federal government, he can be said to be sufficiently

Adeyemi raises the alarm over re-trial delay tactic

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, LOKOJA enator Smart Adeyemi has raised the alarm over statement credited to

S

Senator Dino Melaye that the transfer of his re-trial case to Justice Akon Ikpeme led panel is a pointer that the case will suffer frustration

until the 180 trial days will elapse.

The story went viral in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, yesterday, that Melaye at a

20 dead in Ebonyi road crash *Gov Umahi laments, tasks FRSC

T

HE Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi, yesterday, lamented the death of about 20 people in an accident on the Ezillo section of Abakaliki-Enugu Road at the weekend.

Gov. Umahi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Emma Anya, noted that information available to him showed that the accident was caused by overtaking and called on motorists to avoid being in a haste while driving.

The governor also called on the FRSC to deploy more of its men on the highways in Ebonyi State to check reckless driving,especially by commercial vehicle drivers.

The governor, who lamented

that the accident on Friday occurred barely two weeks after the killing of 14 people on the Afikpo-Okigwe highway, directed the Commissioner for Health to move to a hospital in Enugu

Buhari’s appointments unfair to Igbo —Ohaneze Women Leader

BY ONOJA INNOCENT

T

he Ohaneze Women Leader Worldwide, at the weekend, expressed displeasure with President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of the Secretary to the Government of the

•As Ijaw caution Buhari

By Tony Nwankwo

T

he Ijaw Monitoring Group has described the latest appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari as a betrayal of his inaugural speech on May 29, 2015 “I am for everybody and for nobody”.

In a statement by Comrade Joseph Evah, Ijaws demanded that the President put a stop to his purely sectional appointments to avoid heating up the polity.

“The President is gradually making mockery of his inaugural speech. President Buhari is known as a man of honour. He should not allow any cabal to hijack and deceive him to cause disunity in his first journey as an elected President

briefing was jubilating that he had been successful to transfer the case back to the first tribunal panel; boasting that he will use the avenue to frustrate the case.

The National

Assembly and Legislative Houses Election Tribunal, sitting in Lokoja, had, on Wednesday, dismissed the application by Melaye who asked the tribunal, led by Akiniyi Akintola, to decline jurisdiction in hearing the retrial of the Adeyemi case.

Melayi, through his counsel, Adeyemi Ogunleye, had, on August 8, filed an application asking the tribunal to hands off the case in view of his protest letter to the President of the Appeal Court against the judgement of the

of Nigeria. A time the whole country is committed to making him succeed as a nationalist, a regional, ethnic and sectional agenda is gradually playing out from the Presidency. This should concern every patriotic citizens”, Evah said, adding, “The President can only succeed if he sees himself as the President of one Nigeria. We want to see that in his actions and not only in his words”.

The Ijaws also insisted that citizens from their region who were removed from the management of NNPC without committing any crime be recalled, adding that no nation can move forward if dedicated technocrats are frustrated out of the system without fair hearing.

Federation,outside of the SouthEast among others.

Chief (Mrs.) Calista Adimachukwu, in her reaction, while speaking in Nnewi, Anambra State, said: “ God has given the people of Nigeria everything a nation needs to be successful but when the leaders fail to harness the most important resources like human resource among others, nation’s building is at stake. Mr. President’s ways of harnessing this resources especially in human aspect is biased”.

“How can Nigeria with diverse of ethnicity and socio cultural backgrounds as well as strong political back up apportion power to a few people from the same region without considering other regions especially the South-East. We all know that integration is very important in a nation’s building but with lopsidedness and tribalism being shown by Mr. President, there will be great consequences for the unity of the country. Mr. President has demonstrated his deep hatred for Ndigbo, even after he had said he belong to nobody but belong to everybody”.

lost it to crass self interest and the blind pursuit of mammon. Let it not be said also, that our present leaders saw the promise land but could not take the people there! Let the descendants of the great empire builders build a modern empire within the construct of democratic ideals, never aspiring to dominate or marginalized any but to flourish under the principles of equity and fairplay. 2016 beckons on all to act right! *Abudu, a religious scholar and public commentator, is resident in Edo State.

Appeal and the transfer of the case to a panel different from the panel that dismissed the case at the tribunal level.

But counsel to Adeyemi, Dr. J.O Olatoke, in his counter affidavit, urged the tribunal to refuse the application, saying the transfer of the case was mere administrative decision of the Appeal Court President and could not be disputed at the tribunal.

Olatoke, in his 24-para-

graph counter affidavit, also stated that the issue of payment of fee for pre-hearing raised by the 2nd respondent had already been dealt with at the Appeal Court.

The tribunal aligned with Adeyemi counsel’s prayer that it had jurisdiction to entertain.

In dismissing the two applications that were consolidated, the tribunal held that they lacked merit and struck them out.

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 49

...All about the North

How 11 girls paddled canoe to death

•Alhaji Hamza Isa, Dan Gunu village head

BY WOLE MOSADOMI, MINNA

I

t was a sad moment for two communities in

Munya local government area of Niger State last Monday. Fourteen youths went to the farm to harvest crops but never returned..

The boat in which they were traveling capsized on their way back home; they perished in River Sarkin Paw. Eleven of them were teenagers and others adult females. A similar disaster claimed three more lives in River Guni.

Meanwhile two residents survived the River Guni tragedy as they swam to safety. The victims in the Sarkin Paw incident apparently went to farm early that day..

They were returning home in the evening when tragedy struck.

Their boat capsized.

Sources said the boat was not overloaded, neither did it suffer any major fault. The accident was blamed on rising water level as a result of downpour.

None of them was said to have put on life jacket because they didn’t anticipate turbulence on the trip.

When it was time for the youths to return and there was no news from them, there was tension in the village.

The sad news eventually filtered into the village that there was a disaster in the river and this led to pandemonium in Dangunu.

The Sarkin Ruwa (Head of Swimmers) in the village, Malam Salisu Abubakar, told our correspondent that the incident was reported to him

around 9pm on the fateful day.

He said as late and shocking the message was, he immediately mobilized some fishermen and swimmers in the village and headed to the river for rescue operation.

He narrated: “Between 9 and 10pm that day,I had a phone call and when I picked it, I was told of what happened and I immediately informed the Council Caretaker Chairman and I also mobilized my men to the site and succeeded in recovering the eleven corpses.”

Abubakar attributed the sad incident to lack of experience on the part of the teenagers who embarked on the journey pointing out that they could have escaped the untimely death if one or two elderly ones were with them.

He said that following the sad development, a directive had been given to fishermen at the river banks to disallow teenagers from embarking on journeys without any male adult.

He called on Niger State government to assist them with life jackets to guard against future occurrence.

The village, it was gathered, had never experienced such a disaster before. The sad event threw the community into mourning.

The village head, Alhaji Hamza Isa, said the community had never experienced such a water level before.

Isa said: “This is the first time we are experiencing this. At times, we even cross this same river on foot without any threat.

We learnt that when these children were crossing to the other side of the river in the morning, the water level was normal but before

What happened was completely a human error and carelessness on the part of the deceased

the end of their assignment in the evening, the water level had risen and being children, they took the risk and crossed.”

While describing the incidence as an act of God, he said all necessary steps will be taken to guard against future occurrence.

AGONY OF A BEREAVED FATHER Narrating his trauma, the father of one of the victims could not hold his tears as he recapped

•Senator David Umaru

the development to our correspondent.

Malam Idris Dansami, Hafsat’s father, said, while sobbing, “What can I say. I see it as an act of God. Though I am shocked over the sudden death of my daughter, it has happened and there is nothing I can do about it.”

He called on government through Senator David Umaru representing their constituency to assist the community with canoes and life jackets.

Senator Umaru, representing Niger East, who paid a condolence visit to the community, promised to mobilize other federal law makers towards the actualization of the HYPPADEC Bill.

“There ought to have been the HYPPADEC Commission that had already been passed to law but the implementation of the law has not taken off. I think it has become very imperative to make sure that the law is implemented because it is going to take care of the ecological problems arising from the flooding related issues and so, I will call on relevant bodies to ensure that the law is implemented to the letter to take care of any eventuality that could arise from the overflow of water from the dam,” the senator remarked.

He described the damage done to farmlands in the area as enormous and promised to press for immediate assistance to affected people.

Like many other communities in Niger State, Dangunu, a large settlement for farmers, lacks basic infrastructures like schools, health centres among others.

•Alhaji Salisu Abubakar, Head of Swimmers

Besides, the community has no access to portable water. The only source of water in the community is a well.

Our correspondent observed that all the children of school age are completely out of school as there is no single school in the area.

TRAGIC PADDLE Niger and Kwara states coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA), Mr. Luggard Bijimi, threw more light on the mishap, saying what happened was completely a human error and carelessness on the part of the deceased.

“After the girls had finished their work in the farm on the fateful day, they got to the river bank to take off but met the boat already parked and the operators retired home for the day. Instead of searching for the operators or looking for an alternative, they entered the boat and decided to paddle it themselves as young as they were. Besides their inexperience in paddling the boat, there was poor visibility because it was already getting dark”, Bijimi said. He explained that NEMA was looking beyond the occurrence but working to guard against future incidence..

According to him, the body would partner with the Inland Waterways to educate riverine communities on how to ply the waterways safely. “We will collaborate with the Inland Waterways and Ministry of Transportation and jointly provide life jackets for the people so that no boat operates without providing life jackets for their passengers.”

P AGE 50 —SUND AY PA —SUNDA

Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015

...All about the North

KOGI TRANSFORMA TION AAGEND GEND A TRANSFORMATION GENDA

With Korean tech, Wada breaks new ground in vocational training

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, LOKOJA

T

he Transformation Agenda of Kogi State Governor Idris Wada, hinged on a ‘Threshold of a new renaissance’, has education as one of its cardinal points. Since January 27, 2012 when he was sworn in, the governor has shown, through his actions, that the educational objectives of his Transformation Agenda will not be only qualitative but one that will also develop a total man who will be self reliant. He kept saying an educational system that empowers the graduates of all tiers with the ability to use the mind and hands to create wealth will remove the citizenry from being job seekers to job owners.

True to his words, he took pragmatic steps to ensure the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) his predecessor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, signed with the Korean government to establish Korean- Nigerian Friendship Institute of Vocational and Advanced Technology in Lokoja becomes a reality. The MOU, signed in 2010,

had a facilitator appointed for it in 2013 by Wada to ensure its delivery as quickly as possible.

We are gradually moving into a vocational and technology- driven world. Vocational centre gives succour to unemployed persons who will be trained in various fields using the most modern technology.

It is an elevated form of craft center of old, for both the educated and uneducated. The Kogi/Korea Vocation School, located within the Kogi State Polytechnic premises, is a state of the art facility, designed to be a hub for sub Sahara Africa for skill acquisition. The school, a joint venture between the Korean government; Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Kogi State government, was completed within two years.

The first of its kind in Nigeria and indeed sub Sahara Africa, the million-dollar investment has four departments: Automotive technology, welding and fabrication, electrical and information and communication technology.

Speaking during the inauguration of the center, Korea Ambassador to Nigeria, Noh KYu- Duk, was full of

praises for Wada, calling him the architect of industrialised Kogi State.

The ambassador however charged the Federal Government to copy the Korean style and develop its vocational and technology sector, saying unless that is done, the country’s dreams of meeting up with the developed countries will not be realised. His words, “Over the last two decades, mainly through KOICA, Korean Government accumulatively provided around 29 million US dollars equivalent grants and technical cooperation programmes for the development of Nigeria focusing on education and HRD, vocational training, governance and agricultural sector. I am happy to note that Kogi State remained our strongest development partner. Let alone this vocational training project, KOICA provided HIV diagnostic equipment for five zonal hospitals, five rice millers for the flood victims in 2013 and 2014 respectively, and supported basic education by constructing 16 classrooms in four schools in 2010.

“We cannot overemphasize the importance of the vocational

training. When the youths are equipped with updated skills and technologies, the job shall be secured, income generated, poverty reduced to such a great extent. In one word, the quality manpower is sure to serve to the economic growth of Nigeria.

“In case of Korea, without a strong policy drive to beef up the Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET, in the 1960s and 1970s, Korea’s economic growth would have been critically hampered. I may inform you that Korea ranked number one 19 times in the world’s skill competition. The new (federal) government must build one vocational training center in each state of the country”.

The Korean envoy advised the government and the people of Kogi to take the ownership of the centre seriously through proper use of the facilities and the management of the center to keep alive the ideals for the next generations to benefit.

Wada, in his remarks, charged the youths in the state to embrace vocational education for self reliance.

The concept of the institute, he said, is teaching the younger generation to learn how to fish instead of waiting to be given fish, adding that the school will turn out graduates that will be self reliant. He maintained that only well mobilized youths in terms of capacity building will be able to contribute meaningfully to the technological advancement of the nation.

He said Kogi and its people deserve only the best, saying that the building of a world class vocational institute was in fulfilment of his campaign promises to reduce unemployment and youth restiveness in the state. He regretted the over dependence on government for jobs by young graduates, attributing it to lack of political will and commitment of leaders to develop and implement the right training for the younger ones leading to the loss of middle level manpower. Wada, who said the state government committed N410m to the TVET project, said Nigeria stands to benefit immensely from it, “The physical work on the project commenced with my administration in 2012 and KOICA has committed about USD$3.5M. As at today, Kogi State Government has expended almost N410M (about USD$2.6 Million as per the foreign exchange rate of 2012) on the project, as counterpart contribution.

“With regard to the programmes and courses of the Institute, the State Government constituted a Curriculum Development Committee which worked with the Korean experts to develop curricula acceptable to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). The interaction with the NBTE shall be a continuous exercise eventually leading to the accreditation of courses,” the governor stated.

“The philosophy behind the establishment of the Institute is to broaden the technological skills of our youths in four key areas namely: Electrical Engineering, Welding and Fabrication, Automobile Engineering and Information Communications Technology (ICT).

“The Institute shall run academic programmes in Innovation Diploma, Ordinary Diploma and Certificate courses. It will also run National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes. It is expected that graduates of this Institute do not necessarily have to approach Government for employment as they can be self-employed with little or no assistance, or take up employment with private companies.”

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 51

20 15 Badagr es tiv al... calls ffor or end tto o modern 201 Badagryy FFes estiv tival... al...calls sla slavver eryy in Africa

By JAPHET ALAKAM SYMPOSIUM

I

t was another historic reunion between Nigerians and some Diaspora African members at the International symposium of the 15th edition of the Badagry Diaspora festival as people from all walks of life came to be part of the day and to celebrate the Haitian revolutionary Toussaint l’ouverture. The event which commemorates the International Day for Remembrance of Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and its Abolition declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1988 put together as part of the activities of the Badagry Diaspora Festival 2015 by Africa Renaissance Foundation (AREFO). With the theme ‘Toussaint L’ouverture: The Catalyst for the Global Struggle for Liberation of the Black Race’ the symposium, apart from reminding many of the memories of the obnoxious slave trade which happened many years ago, once more brought to the fore the need for Africans to go back to their roots which according to the speakers were distorted with the coming of the Europeans in order to halt the current exodus of African proffessionals.

The event which was held at the Soneye auditorium, ASCON, Topo, Badagry was attended by many seasoned scholars from Haiti, Benin Republic and Nigeria who presented educative and expository papers that harped on the need for Africans to come together to salvage their motherland. Speakers at the event which was chaired and moderated by Prof. Olusola Ojo, Dean of Humanities, Macpherson University, Ogun State include Jacques Nicolas, from Haiti, Mere Jah, Mallam Yussuf Abdullah Usman,

Dr. Yakub Moses, Dr. Abisoye Olatunde and Femi Koshoni from Republic of Benin. .

Looking at the exploits of Toussaint L’ouverture whose military genius and political acumen transformed an entire society of slaves into the independent black state of Haiti, the speakers, argued that there is the urgent need for Africans to forge closer ties between them for the development of their motherland in order to address the present political, economic and leadership crisis ravaging the African countries, which has forced many Africans, especially professionals to migrate to European land in search of greener pastures where they are being enslaved again.

In his paper, ‘African Political Leadership and Development: The Diaspora Connection’,Dr. Amos O. Abisoye of the Department of Social Sciences of Crawford University, Ogun State, painted a graphic picture of economic travails of the continent. He said: “A thin line differentiates the forced migration of the slave trade era from the rampant incidence of brain drain which is

Nigerians should wake up, stop being the verbal leader and assume real leadership and show others the way to stabilize Africa now the order of the day in Africa. The west has continued to pull out the best of Africa’s population today just as it was during the slave trade era.”

He condemned the lootings by

• Gen Ishola Williams speaking on African traditional Religion as Foundation, while Mere Jah Evejah(L) and Chiefs from Badagry listen

African leaders that bring pain and hardship to its people. He then called on Africans in diaspora to come home and invest.

In his address, OlaideMesewaku ,President of AREFO, stated that,”The annual Badagry Diaspora Festival exemplifies the creative power of history: reconstructing the tragic contextual features of the past history of a people for celebration of freedom and emancipation. The history of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade is a monumental genocidal crime committed against the continent of Africa from which Great Britain, Portugal, France, Spain, Holland and the United States (in the case of Badagry in particular) were the major beneficiaries of the spoils of this crime”. Descibing the TransAtlantic Slave Trade as genocide against African people.

Jacques Nicolas, a Pan-African cultural activist from Haiti, who demonstrated his true African nature when he poured libation to the voodoo gods for their protection charged Africans to be passionate about arts and culture in the continent. “And if the arts and the culture are both the card and the standard of a nation, we understand why the true African Renaissance will be through its culture, its arts and its traditions, as well as when all states on the continent will unite, not only

among themselves but also with their diaspora to form a fishbowl world of this wonderful bundle of brotherhood and solidarity that will be the spearhead of a new Africa, the Africa of our dreams, and to which I am already so flattered and proud to belong, through me, the entire African diaspora, a new Africa that will no longer be the maligned, disinherited and overused continent, but a continent that will finally play its role in global governance.” he added.

On her part, Madame Mere Jah Evejah, a Haitian lady who has since returned and settled in Benin Republic, brought the feminine angle of the struggle when she extoled the contributions of four women that played prominent roles in the Haitian struggle for independence, and tasked the present African first ladies to emulate them.

Speaking on the topic, a NeoLouverturian Approach to the fulfilment of the 11th commandment, Oluwafemi Kochoni, Vice President of World Council of Panafricanism from Benin Republic pointed out that the panecea to African woes is a panAfrican solidarity, stressing that presently Nigeria should wake up, stop being the verbal leader and assume real leadership and show others the way as “we de-

pend on you for the struggle of Pan-Africanism to stabilize Africa”. He stated that what Africa needs at this point is educational revolution that will take its mind of mental slavery and bring back the continent’s age-old and time honoured values for its regeneration.

Founder, PanAfrican Strategic and Policy Research Group, Gen. Ola Ishola Williams (retd), who stated that African Traditional Religious System is the only identity they can maintain, urged Africans to do away with foreign religions on the continent. According to him, “Africa’s religions are the basis for the emergence of a new Africa capable of taking care of its needs, as all the scientific and technological innovations the continent needs are enshrined in its indigenous religious practices.”

Earlier on Lagos State governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by Mr. Tunde Anan, commended the organisers and promised to energise efforts to develop Badagry into a tourism hub.

The event also featured a performance by Nichalson Hiatian, a musician and performer from Haiti who treated the audience to some reggae tunes as well as African talking drum by Egan people from Badagry.

Prioritize electricity to help artisans, Achie Abia tasks Buhari

By CHRIS ONUOHA VISUAL

O

ne of the household

names and self made artist from Eket in Akwa Ibom State, Achie Abia, has called on the new government of President Muhammadu Buhari to consider electricity as a priority for Nigerian economy to have a facelift.

Achie, who can be regarded as an exponent of bone art said that irregular power supply to run business in Nigeria has forced many entreprenuers to seek other menial means of survival or even indulge in crime.

The artist who have garnered massive publicity in Nigerian media far back 1995 till date stemming from his effort in creative bone works, made the call during a chat with Sunday Arts.

Speaking on how animal horns from rhino, elephant and lately cow, used for crafted ornaments and decoration inspired his imagination considering its durability, he creatively re-engineered

this somewhat animal waste, Cow precisely, to an art piece that has become his unique signature.

However, considering how critics generously evaluated the bone works aesthetically, and having basked in the euphoria of that visibility, Achie expressed displeasures on the infrastructural challenges in Nigeria such as irregular power supply that has put the bone work on hold, paving way for other creative experimentations like mixed media painting.

“I picked interest in bone works

Delving into painting and mixed media works has reduced my bone art practice, caused by inconsistency in power supply

• One of the works by Achie Abia titled, ‘Broad Street’

because I recycle waste. Yet I still recycle waste in my new found medium which is painting and mixed media. The inspiration came in a dream many years ago and when I shared it, I was told it was what God put in my heart to do. Through the revelation, I started practicing art fully with bone works as my first art experiment.

It was a success story then, however, delving into painting and mixed media works has reduced my bone art practice, caused by inconsistency in power supply as

the small generator machine cannot effectively power the heavy duty drilling machines. It was difficult meeting clients’ target because of the exigency of the demand coupled with the amount of time put to produce a masterpiece bone work.

I believe with the current wind of change being felt in some sectors of the economy by the new President Buhari administration, things could change for better.

Meanwhile, I would appeal to government to seriously consider electricity as a priority for

Nigerian economy to have a facelift. This will also help young entrepreneurs to be actively relevant to themselves and Nigeria in general.”

Achie who never had a formal art training, but was inspired by artists friends like Ini Brown and others, said he experiments in saw dust, sand, paper and other materials to produce mixed media paintings, installation works and metal sculptures. The artist can also boast of some commissioned works of paintings at Covenant University guest house, Nigeria Ports Authority gate at Apapa and numerous giant metal sculptural works adorning both private and public buildings in Nigeria to his credit.

“I don’t just do works for aesthetic sake. I do works that carry messages. Most of my work evokes feelings of crisis in Africa and a need for government to do something. Globally, Africa has the most internal crises. I use my works to reawake the spirit of Africanism and also evoke the consciousness of peace and unity bind in our national anthem.”

PAGE 52—SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015

By Prisca Sam-Duru VISUAL

W

ho would dare to tell what the future holds for a nation? It becomes more difficult when the country in question is Nigeria, with all her complexities, political upheavals, menace of terrorism, high rate of unemployment, etc.

Predicting in visual form, the future histories of Nigeria, is the herculean task before the 12 finalists of the National Arts Competition, NAC, who were unveiled penultimate week at the Lagos Bar of the Nigerian Breweries Plc, Lagos.

Interestingly, NAC which is sponsored by Nigerian Breweries and coordinated by African Artists’ Foundation, is for budding artists only. And this kind of makes one wonder how on earth this category of artists will cope with the huge responsibility of foretelling, what the histories of Nigeria’s future will look like. But then, workshop facilitators in the likes of Oliver Enweonwu, Fidelis Odogwu, Theo Lawson, Victor Ehikamenor, Uche Uzorka, Wura Oguniji, Uche Okpa Iroha, had during the NAC retreat, imparted in the finalists, everything needed to mould them into world class artists. Thus, the herculean task of utilising their innovation and creativity as tools to shape and mould the future histories of Nigeria, becomes job made easy. After all, Dudu Emmanuel, Erasmus Onyishi,

12 ffinalists inalists cchase hase millions in Ar tition Artt compe competition

mistakes, we grow when we learn, by so doing we become better by the day.

With the use of impressive poetic style, simple language

for easy understanding, I therefore recommend the book to all. However, I suggest that the poet learns to link the title of the book to the content.

•Some of the finalists during a retreat at AAF HQ, lagos

NAC promotes the conceptual development of contemporary art in Nigeria Chinenye Emelogu, Maryam Kazeem and May Okafor. Others on the list are; Komi Olafimihan, Ngozi Omeje, Babatunde Oyeyemi, Folami Razaq, Sebastine Ugwuoke and Stacey Okparavero.

Consequent upon their selection, the finalists proceeded on a week long retreat which focused on placing emphasis on the process of artistic creation as part of the effort at developing the artists. Following the end of the retreat, the finalists are given up to November to execute their final project.

This 8th edition is unique in that women dominated the list, it has a provocative theme-–Future Histories; and now, NAC enjoys the support of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) and Samsung Electronics West Africa.

This only means that the competition is gaining strong reputation globally.

Songs of Miracles places God above all

By GLORY EKWENUYA

out that no one is perfect. We all strive for perfection,we grow by overcoming challenges, we gain experience by correcting our

REVIEW

L

ooking at the contemporary issues in our society, one will discover that many live their lives without acknowledging the giver of life, appreciating life itself or even knowing how to live a fulfilled life.

This situation has given many inspirational writers a great concern. It was as a result of this situation that a young and determined Nigerian poet, Dr.Chukwunyere S.D.Chukwu came out with a new book titled, Songs of miracles.

The 73 page book published by Nobeldiv Limited, Okota, Lagos which is a collection of poems address some of the issues of the present age. The poems, according to the author were written out of passion to eradicate societal ills. In the poems, the young poet bares his mind on such themes of politics, bad leadership, religion, poverty and love and others that are always searching for the truth about humanity and reflect also on the contemporary issues in the society to drive ahome his points.

Chukwu, who is also a playwright and Novelist, in the loose ryhthm of free verse makes his poems economical like the old ballard, simple on the surface but profond.

It is a collection of 73 poems that are spiritually inclined. One special feature of the book is that at the end of each poem is a bible verse that add meaning to the poem.

Some of the poems, includes: My choice, To whom Honour is Due, Imagination, The limits of Religion, Show me a perfect Man, God is Real, A child is a Great Gift, God’s Nature, Don’t Fret, The word, Spiritual corruption, The value of Prayer,

Unveiling the 12 finalists, Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Kufre Ekanem said that “Over the last eight years, his company has sponsored the National Art Competition organised by the AAF with the aim of promoting the conceptual development of contemporary art in Nigeria and to raise awareness on relevant social issues through the use of diverse creative artistic expressions.” adding that “Future Histories, provokes the artists to creatively design and narrate a future for the nation based on experience and

knowledge of the past.”

As the country eagerly awaits the crowning of the winner of the 2015 National Arts Competition in a grand event in November, it isn’t clear yet who wins the prize of 2 million naira from the treasury of the Nigerian Breweries Plc, and other benefits such as solo exhibition and of course, a fascinating and exploratory trip to Dubai. Also, the 1st and 2nd runners up will each receive cash prizes of a million naira each. All other finalists will be provided with a convenient platform to lunch their careers as future greats in the arts.

AAF Director, Azu Nwagbogu commended NB for rewarding artists all over Nigeria stressing that their contribution is not only about rewarding artists but impacting values and professionalism into the competitors.

Narrating his transition from nothing to fame, 2008 NAC winner, Dudu Emmanuel said his story as a wandering artist changed into a well sort for talent from across the globe since winning. After a successful group art exhibition at the Gallery 23 in Dubai, he has moved from being a local artist to an international artist being sorted after by foreign and local art galleries.

Modupeola Fadugba, Yegwa Ukpo,who are all past NAC winners, turned into internationally recognised artists, courtesy of NAC. Out of over two hundred strong and conceptually sophisticated proposals received from across the country, the panel of judges led by Professor El Anatsui considered each proposal on the grounds of its originality, creativity and clarity in relation to the theme.

The process birthed, Adetunwase Adenle, Funmi Akindejoye, Michael Ametuo,

A yyear ear af eA ustyn aftter er,, Lagos ANA honour honourss lat late Austyn Njoku

By ELIZABETH UWANDU READING

I

Songs of Miracles; Chukwunyere S.D.Chukwu; Nobeldiv Limited, Okota, Lagos;2014;PP.73

Loved by God, Each Day is a Gift, and many others .

This collection of poems is full of fire, passion and striking expression. They give the reader a sense of pleasure, wonder, exultation, so electrifying and so moving that we know at once that our lives are touched, this is the feeling one gets from reading this collection.

The poet, in his choice of word, used inspirational and impactful rhythms to make his readership know more about life and God. In chapter 16, rhythm like “A new day is a gift that should remind you, that you are very important to God. If men knew the value of a new day,they would treasure everyday, as a special gift to us, from God. Living life without the giver of life is useless. Chukwu urges we humans to place God who gives life above all things, by so doing making him our priority not an alternative.

The author, clearly pointed

t was another scintilating and remorseful moment for art lovers especially ANA members as they gathered for the ANA monthly reading, August edition and 1st Austyn Njoku memorial held at the Creative Arts department of the University of Lagos.The reading with the theme, Poetry in the heart of music : Dynamics of being a poet, Performance Poet and Musician in the present day Nigeria with Segun Akinlolu aka Beautiful Nubia as the guest artist.

The special reading which was well attended witnessed the presence of many writers , among them was award wining writer and lecturer at UNILAG, Prof. Mrs Akachi Ezeigbo, Dagga Tolar, Mr Eriata Oribhabor, Tanko Okondwa, Mr Chike Ofili, Dr Tunji Shotimeyin, Mr Femi Onileagbon, and the host of the event. Also present were two children of late Austyn Njoku.

The guest artist, Dr Segun Akinlolu, popularly known as Beautiful Nubia who took everyone by surprise during his presentation and performance stated that ‘Nigeria needs a revolution for it to move forward.

Akinlolu who is not comfortable with the education system in the country said, “the glory of the public schools have diminished, Nigerian youths live a pseudo life as they are told what to do and the

•Late Austyn Njoku

balance between the poor and the rich and the near collapse governance need urgent attention.

What Nigeria need is not a revolution of cutlass and knife where we make more mothers cry; we need a “thought revolution” as we came about this sorry state we are in today through negative revolution.”

The guest artist said restoring the image of the nation is a social engineering process which writers are the best tool to effect positive change.

In his words,”I feel people in the creative sector, the artists, poets, writers musicians and dramatists. This is the time to double our effort, be strong and stop the infighting, the constant need to be the best or rise above someone else. The competition that we have to compete, should be between writers and the craziness in the system. We need

to do this through songs, music and live performances.

On the balance between writing for love and eking a living through writing, Beautiful Nubia said, writers need to lay their hands on other meaningful means to eke a living considering the situation of the country , as the same time not forget their primary goal to be the voice of the voiceless.

In his words,”Of course, writers need to feed themselves, but we must not forget our primary goal of being the voice of the masses and voiceless in the society.

In the same vein, the event which was also put to commemorate the one year demise of the former national treasurer of ANA saw many eulogising on the good deeds of Mr Austyn Njoku.

So, it was an evening of sober reflection as artists and friends of late Austyn Njoku extolled his virtue and deliberated on actions to support the bereaved especially members of the Association of Nigerian Authors in advent of demise.

Dagga Tolar a close friend of the late Njoku gave soul rendition of poems titled “One year after :One heart missing with an eulogy of the life and time of the deceased who until his death on August 8th, 2014 was the former national treasurer, ANA.

S UNDAY Vanguard SUNDAY Vanguard,, AUGUST 30, 2015 PAGE – 53

Passport palaver: Oliseh drops Salami from Tanzania match W

ARRI Wolves striker Gbolahan Salami’s passport palaver caused him to lose concentration and form. As a result, the Glo Premier League hotshot has been dropped from the Super Eagles squad billed to take on the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier this weekend.

Salami was a surprise exclusion from a list of players from the domestic league who will continue training with the Super Eagles in Abuja in the new week.

A top camp source said that the non-release of the former 3SC striker ’s international passport by the Norwegian embassy in Lagos was a big distraction for the striker and as a result his form suffered.

“Salami’s mind was not in the training camp. He really wants to move to Norway and the non-release of his passport by the embassy really took his mind away from the training camp.

This affected his form and it was why he was dropped,” revealed the official.

“He will most likely get his passport and fly out to sign in Norway before the transfer window closes.

Thereafter he will be better focused when he is invited again by the Eagles.”

Salami scored when Nigeria beat visiting Chad 2-0 in an AFCON qualifier in June in Kaduna.

Nasarawa United midfielder Bature Yaro, Sunshine Stars striker Tunde Adeniji and Ezekiel Bassey from Enyimba were seriously considered for the final squad to Tanzania.

•Salami

George, praised the team’s spirit. She stated that the women are totally focused on winning a medal for Nigeria.

In the women high jump, Doreen Amata failed to find her bearings. She could only muster 1.88m in the final won by Russia’s Maria Kuchina with 2.01m Usain Bolt added relay gold to his list of triumphs at the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing as Jamaica eased to victory in the 4x100m final. Bolt was barely tested on the final straight and crossed the

E

AGLES assistant coach Salisu Yusuf has disclosed he expects the team to resume training on Tuesday in Abuja after both players from the domestic league and overseas would have made their way to Abuja.

“Players in the Nigeria league and those in Europe have matches on Sunday and so I do not expect us to resume training earlier than Tuesday when all the players would have arrived the previous day,” Yusuf disclosed.

The Eagles will train till Thursday when they will fly out to Tanzania for an AFCON qualifier next weekend.

“We will only have a handful of trainings but that should not be a problem because all the players are playing for their various clubs. We just have to let them know how we want them to play,” Yusuf said.

Six players from the domestic league will join up with 18 overseas pros for the match against Tanzania.

The home boys are Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba), Chima Akas (Sharks), Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Prince Aggreh (Sunshine Stars), Solomon Kwambe (Warri Wolves) and Austin Obaroakpo (Abia Warriors).

Oliseh is an asset —Howard

By Eddie Akalonu

A

HEAD of the September 5 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie between the Taifa Stars of Tanzania and the Super Eagles in Dar Es Salaam, former Flying Eagles captain, Franklin Howard Super has lauded the burning desire in both the national team players and their handler, Sunday Oliseh, saying the coach has set the right tone for victory.

“I’m happy at Oliseh’s plan for the game. The players both home-based and their foreign

Nigeria Continues from B/P

Eagles resume training Tuesday

line in 37.37secs after Nickel Ashmeade, Asafa Powell and Nesta Carter had laid the foundation for success.

A US team made up of Gatlin, Tyson Gay, Trayvon Bromell and Mike Rodgers initially took silver but were later disqualified after their final baton exchange was adjudged to have occurred outside of the designated zone.

That decision led to hosts China being promoted to second and Canada snatching bronze, but Great Britain disappointingly dropped out of medal contention when their third handover between James Ellington and Chijindu Ujah was botched.

counterparts have all shown a burning desire to give their best in the match” Howard added, “It is also good news that the NFF have backed Oliseh by providing him with the necessary instruments he requires as a coach to lift our game high.”

Howard, was confident Oliseh would succeed in this first outing with the team, because he has shown he is one with a

vision and the capacity to turn the fortunes of the national team on an upward swing.

“He knows all about being in the spotlight.”

He said the former Eagles mid-field player and Olympic gold medal winner has been in the corridors of football for long, hence he knows how to compose and shape his team having seen what those before him, both

Enyimba Continues from B/P

Harcourt. The Kadiri Ikhana-led side are still without their top scorer, Christain Obiozor, who is out with an injury.

Skipper of the side, Chinedu Udoji, was overlooked by Ikhana in Monday’s 1-0 home win against Taraba United and with the duo of Kamal Sikiru and Markson Ojobo impressing in his absence, he may have to make do with a place on the bench once again.

Fourth-placed Wikki Tourists will hope to capitalise on Sunshine Stars’ poor away record to improve their position on the log.

The Owena Waves have picked only one win on the road in this campaign, but head into the game in good stead following their 5-0 mauling of El-Kanemi Warriors last weekend.

Shooting Stars Sports Club, still basking in the

euphoria of their hard fought 2-1 home win on Wednesday against Nasarawa United, will host in-fom Abia Warriors at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.

Third-placed Warri Wolves will keep a date with Heartland in Owerri.

Wolves’ preparations for the game have been marred by the strike action embarked on by the players to protest the non-payment of their salaries and bonuses.

Champions Kano Pillars who lost for the first time at home in 12 years to Nasarawa United last weekend, will travel to Jalingo where they will be guests of Taraba United.

Dolphins will host Akwa United at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt. The Port Harcourt Dwellers will be without their captain, Austine Festus, who is suspended for the tie after bagging a red card in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Rangers in Enugu.

foreign and local did right or wrong.

•Oliseh

Palace

Continues from B/P

opener, as Palace earned a 2-1 win - their first at Stamford Bridge since 1982.

Palace have now won eight of their 10 away matches in the league under Pardew, who has three victories against Mourinho in the last two seasons.

Mourinho played down the significance of statistics ahead of his 200th Premier League contest and 100th at Stamford Bridge, insisting three points was

all that mattered.

But the Blues were unable to add to his record of 76 wins in the previous 99 home games as Palace emulated Sunderland’s April 2014 success.

Mourinho may have complained of the nature of the Black Cats’ success - his resentment at the officiating still lingering - but Palace were deserved winners to move second behind Manchester City.

Chelsea are eight points adrift after four points from four games.

Asumnu Continues from B/P

while Trinidad and Tobago won bronze with 42.03. But Nigeria’s team: Asumnu, Stephanie Kalu, Deborah Odeyemi and Cecilia Francis had a bad day on the track, they finished 43.89 the lowest time in the contest, and placed last in their heats.

Asumnu, revealed her frustration claiming that the coaches did not come up with the right strategy. “ I am utterly disappointed. Not so much in our performance, but how team officials continue to fail us over and over.

“Going into this 4x100 the team they put out there did not work with each other.

Even our relay coach up until this meet was Maurice Greene but for whatever

reasons upon arriving here he was no longer our coach.

“To arrive on race day to the track and have a coach tell you what you’ve known all along and then give you new leg assignments etc goes to show how unprepared we were as a nation. The embarrassment on a world stage is too much and disheartening,” Asumnu lamented on her social media platform.

Interesting, Blessing Okagbare who officials boasted would be back for the relays after her no show in the 200m, did not dress up for the event and questions are being asked, on the rationale behind her inclusion to the world championships, when officials knew she was not fit.

PAGE 54, SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015

SQUEEZING... Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney and Marcos Rojo close down West Ham United’s Diafra Sakho during a premier league game.

Expect a different United, Van Gaal warns Swansea

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OUIS VAN GAAL has warned Swansea to expect a vastly improved Manchester United team from the faltering outfit they completed the double over last season.

Van Gaal’s first Premier League game in charge of United ended in a shock home defeat to the Welsh club on the opening day of the season and they were also beaten 2-1 at the Liberty Stadium later in the season.

Garry Monk’s team were the only side to complete the double over United last season and it

clearly still rankles with the Dutchman as he prepared for United’s trip to South Wales on Sunday – which will be his 50th game in charge.

He said: “The first match I played was

Libya dim Taifa Stars T

AIFA Stars, lost 2-1 against Libya in a buildup match held in Kartepe, Turkey Frday, where the team has pitched camp in preparations for Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers clash against Nigeria at the National

Musa Ahmed’s CSKA eye bright start in Russia

A

fter winning a place in the Champions League group stage, Premier League leaders CSKA Moscow now need to turn their focus back to domestic action and extending their perfect start to the season.

A brace by Ivory Coast sharpshooter Seydou Doumbia and the decisive goal by Nigerian striker Ahmed Musa not only granted CSKA a place in the Champions League group stage but also provided a welcome confidence boost for this weekend.

But CSKA head coach Leonid Slutsky said his C M Y K

against Swansea, we lost and now I have to play the 50th match. I hope we can show how we have improved because that is the main thing.

“Last year we only lost all the points against

Swansea and I always want improvement of my team and players.

“I think the first match last season we were not well prepared because of the USA tour and I have explained that already more than 20 times.

“We were prepared for the second game against Swansea but it was an unlucky game for us.

Swansea have a very good team this season as they did last season and they have proved it by drawing at Chelsea and winning at home to Newcastle.

United are on a high after beating Bruges 7-1 on aggregate to reach the Champions League group stages but Van Gaal warned of any complacency.

He added: “Bruges is in the past already. It is not so important any more. Now we look ahead and we see a match against Swansea.

We have already had a meeting about it and a training session in relation to it. Now only Swansea is important.

That is the life of a football player and a manager.”

men were taking nothing for granted against Kuban, who are sitting 15th with just three points after six games.

“We showed strong character and skills to win a place in the Champions League,” he said.

“But we should never forget about the domestic league. Now we need to perform at our best in Krasnodar to get three points there.”

Title holders Zenit, who beat Rubin Kazan 3-1 on Monday, need to win to keep CSKA under pressure.

Manager Andre VillasBoas, who expressed his great satisfaction with his men’s performance at Kazan, said Samara have been improving.

“It was really important for us to win especially keeping in mind that away matches in Kazan have never been simple,” the former Porto, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur coach said.

Stadium in Dar es Salaam next Saturday.

Taifa Stars, gunning for its first appearance in the Nations Cup finals in 35 years, went into the match break 1-0 down against Libya. Libya goal was scored in the 26th minute of the game, which was played at the Green Park Hotel ground in Kartepe, Turkey.

John Bocco scores for Stars in 58th minute from a spot, after Simon Msuva was brought down in the danger zone by Libya defender.

After the goal, Stars kept on the pressure but they were unlucky as they failed to utilise the chances they

created.

Libya scored the winner when one of its striker capitalised on Stars goalkeeper Said Mohamed blunder, to put the ball into the back of the net to make the score 2-1 .

Taifa Stars squad has been training rigorously since arriving in Turkey under the watchful eyes of the technical bench led by head coach Boniface Mkwasa.

Mkwasa’s charges held their first training session on Monday evening for one and a half hours in frosty weather and performed two sessions of workout on Tuesday and Wednesday.

•Chief Vincent Obianodo (MON) cuts the tape during the commissioning of the Navy Sailing Cub Games Room last Wednesday in Lagos.

Commodore of the club, Babatunde Giwa Daramola (r) is assisting.

Bolt is athletics’ Messi, says Barca coach Luis Enrique has compared Usain Bolt to Barcelona star Lionel Messi, stating that he is the best sprinter of all time.

The 29-year-old beat Justin Gatlin in Beijing to lift gold in the 200 meter at the world championships for the fourth time in a row. And t h e Barca

coach believes that the Jamaican is to athletics what Messi is to football.

“You could make a good comparison between Messi and Bolt,” he told reporters.

“Bolt is the best sprinter of all time and is a brand and I think Messi is the best player of all time.”

The Catalan side has been drawn with Bayer Leverkusen, Roma and BATE Borisov in its Champions League group, and the coach is looking forward to beginning his team’s defense of the European crown.

“It’s a more exciting competition with tough opponents, how could it be otherwise? We have a tough group, like most

GIANT STRIDES...

Usain Bolt celebrates his win in Beijing. teams,” he said.

“It is a very attractive, very difficult group, no doubt. It’s not as difficult as Sevilla’s group - they drew Juventus, Manchester City and B o r u s s i a Monchengladbach, but it is difficult.”

Sergio Busquets and Neymar have missed Barca’s start to the season through injury, but Enrique is pleased with how they are recovering.

“Busquets has been able to train since yesterday and is doing very well,” he said.”

CYG: Nigeria’s team fly out to Samoa

BY BEN EFE

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igeria’s team to the 2 0 1 5 Commonwealth Youth Games is expected to leave today for the Pacific Ocean Island country of Samoa, where the events will hold from September 5 to 11.

The team is made of nine track and field athletes, two weightlifters and two boxers. They will compete with over 900 other youths from the Commonwealth member countries. This will be the first time Nigeria is being represented in the four-yearly Games, which began in 2000.

Speaking on the development, athletics youth development coach, Seigha Porbeni disclosed that the team

has prepared adequately enough to do the country proud at the Games that will take place in Apia, the Samoa capital city.

“We have trained hard to do the country proud.

It is good that we are exposing our youths to events such as these.

They are the future of our sport.

“Just look at the the world athletics championships in Beijing, China you will see emerging athletics talents from other countries.

“But how many Nigerians do you see?

We need to take our youth development more seriously and it is by training them in camp and participating in youth championships like this,” said Mr. Porbeni.

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015, PAGE 55

C M Y K

SUNDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 30, 2015

Stop embarrassing Nigeria, Asumnu tells AFN officials S

Beijing 2015:

PRINTER, Gloria Asumnu ripped into coaches of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria whom she blamed for the country ’s ouster from the women 4x100m of the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China.

The team failed to clinch a berth in the final of the event won by Jamaica with 40.07 a new championships record.

The USA was second with 40.68 seconds season’s best,

continues on page 55

Nigeria in face-saving medal hunt

•Asumnu

Palace sink Chelsea

•Women 4x4 in final

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OEL Ward’s late header gave Crystal Palace a 2-1 win over Chelsea and their first win at Stamford Bridge in 33 years.

Jose Mourinho’s 100th Premier League home match as Blues boss saw a second loss as Palace claimed a rare success.

Chelsea secured the title with a 1-0 defeat of Palace on May 3 but the Eagles were triumphant on this occasion, stunning the hosts just when they thought Radamel Falcao had got them back into the game with his first goal for the Blues.

Ward popped up to restore the lead, after Bakary Sako’s continues on page 55

By Ben Efe with Agency Reports

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IGERIA’S women 4x400m are in a position to win a medal and spare the country some blushes as the IAAF World Championships ends today in Beijing, China.

The team featuring Regina George, Funke Oladoye, Tosin Adeloye and Patience OkonGeorge clocked a season’s best of 3.23. 27mins to come first in their heat, while the USA with 3.23.05 seconds won the second heat. The other fast times are those returned by Jamaica and Russia; 3.23.62mins and 3.23.75 respectively.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the OkonGeorge anchored team could clinch the gold or at least settle for a silver.

“It is in God’s hands, and we leave that to Him. But we will do our best,” Regina George said after the race. She had a good start and led all the way to the first change over.

“I didn’t do what I wanted to do in the 400m open and so I came out here to give it best,”added the athlete who has a very strong finish.

Her team mate Okoncontinues on page 55

Enyimba, Sunshine continue Glo League title push

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•FINAL HOPE... Nigeria’s Patience Okon George, leads Jamaica’s Christine Day and Russia’s Kseniya Aksyonova to the finish line in the women’s 4x400 metres relay heats.

Nigeria has the second fastest time and are in frame to win a medal. AFP

Oliseh drops Salami from Tanzania match—P.55 CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1. Governor of Sokoto State (8) 5. Assistant (4) 7. Praise (5) 8. Upright (4) 9. Lantern (4) 11. Tradition (6) 13. Lagos masquerade (3) 15. Exclamation (2) 16. Pig’s nose (5) 18. Agent (3) 20. Glitters (6) 24. Forward (5) 25. Nigerian state (6) 27. Boring tool (3) 29. Ghanaian fabric (5) 31. Perform (2) 32. Oshiomhole’s state (3) 34. U.S. currency (6) 36. Vow (4) 38. Musical quality (4) 39. Inclination (5) 40. Eager (4) 41. Damages (8)

DOWN 1. Sample (5) 2. Niger state town (4) 3. Observe (5) 4. Lecture (6) 5. Everyone (3) 6. Use (6) 10. Inquires (4) 12. Carpet (3) 14. Colour (6) 15. Resistance unit (3) 17. Coax (4) 19. Rollicked (6) 21. Hatchet (3) 22. Satisfied (4) 23. Nigerian state (3) 26. Cry of derision (3) 27 . African country (6) 28. Endure (4) 29. Child (3) 30. Spoke (6) 31. Adorn (5) 33. Baking chambers (5) 35. Asterisk (4) 37. Possessed (3)

NYIMBA and Sunshine Stars face tricky away fixtures on Sunday as both sides continue their push for the Glo Premier League title.

Leaders Enyimba, who have the best away record in the Nigerian top flight this season having picked 17 points on their travels, will confront relegation threatened Sharks at the Liberation Stadium, Port

continues on page 55

Results Newcastle Stoke City Chelsea Liverpool Tottenham

0 0 1 0 0

Arsenal West Brom Crystal Palace West Ham Everton

1 1 2 3 0

Fixtures Sharks Ifeany Ubah Giwa FC Dolphins El-kanemi Wikki Heartland 3SC Nasarawa Taraba

See solution on page 5

Southampton Swansea City

v v v v v v v v v v v v

NPL

Enyimba Bayelsa Utd Lobi Stars Akwa United Rangers Sunshine W/Wolves Abia Warriors Kwara United Kano Pillars

EPL

Norwich City Man United

4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 1:30 pm 4pm

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