ANAMBRA: Supplementary polls holds today by Vanguard Media Limited

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Kano Arms Cache: Court frees 2 Lebanese suspects •Sentences 3rd accused to life imprisonment for conspiracy •Orders FG to unseal Amigo Supermarket, Wonderland BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

USTICE Ademola Adeniyi of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, yesterday, dismissed the 16-count criminal charge that was preferred against the Lebanese coowner of Amigo Supermarket, Mustapha Fawaz, by the Federal Government, following his alleged involvement in the illegal importation of arms into Nigeria. Equally discharged by the court yesterday was another Lebanese, Abdullahi Thahini, who was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on May 11, 2013, and the sum of $61, 170, recovered from him. The government had alleged that Thahini, who it said had attempted to escape from the country via a Middle East airline, was deeply involved in terrorism financing in the country. However, the court, yesterday, found the 3rd accused person, Tahal Roda, guilty on two counts of criminal conspiracy contrary to section 1(14) (a) (i) of Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17, LFN, 2004, and sentenced him to life imprisonment on each of the counts, stressing that his sentence should run concurrently. It will be recalled that the federal government had specifically alleged that Fawaz who is equally the owner of Wonderland Amusement Park Resort in Abuja and his compatriots were members of the military wing of a Lebanon based terrorist organization, Hezbollah. Maintaining that the accused persons were in charge of the operations of Hezbollah in Nigeria, the government, through

Acting Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr Simon Egede, called 10 witnesses and tendered 25 exhibits in the course of the trial. Among the exhibits admitted against them by the court included guns, cartridge belt holders with ammunition, pellets for Air Rifles, 150 cartridges, 158rounds of cartridges, two bound copies of still pictures of arms and ammunition that were allegedly discovered in one of their premises at No 3 Gaya Road, off Bompai

Road in Kano, two video CDs and witness statements. Other arms allegedly uncovered at the underground bunker owned by the suspects were anti-tank weapons, rocket-propelled guns and anti-tank/anti-personnel mines. According to the security operatives that conducted the search, the arms and ammunition were properly concealed with several layers of concrete and placed in coolers, drums

and bags neatly wrapped. The 3rd accused who was convicted yesterday, Roda, was not only apprehended inside the bunker were the arms were recovered, but also confessed that he was commissioned by another Lebanese who is an in-law to Fawaz, Abdalhassan Tahir, currently at large, to be servicing the guns. The security services had insisted that the weapons were intended to be used to attack Israeli and Western targets based in Nigeria.

HERE was drama at the Obio Akpor local government council yesterday as Mr Timothy Nsirim refused to vac ate his office as Chairman of the council in compliance with the dissolution of the local government council on Thursday night by Governor Chibuike

that the inability of the government to bring the arms and ammunition allegedly recovered from them to the court for inspection rendered the photos worthless, even as they challenged the prosecution to produce an official gazette where Hezbollah was declared a terrorist organization in Nigeria. Clarke, argued that the federal government deliberately withheld valid evidence from the court contrary to section 167(b) of the Evidence Act, stressing that only President Goodluck Jonathan has the powers to proscribe Hezbollah in Nigeria, “such court pronouncement will only succeed in pitching the Arab countries against Nigeria,” he added.

Boko Haram: Nigerians urged to back FG BY TOMMY ANADUAKA

A From right R W Abraham Gyese, Asst District Grandmaster, Ghana; Chief B. Akin Adesola and Eng Chief F E Jackson-Cole during the Installation banquet

HUMAN Rights lawyer and founder of Help The Poor Foundation (HTP) Barrister Kelvin Nweke

N5bn pension scam: Ex-Director loses bid to reduce bail bond to N100m

ORMER Director of Pension Accounts in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, OHCSF, Dr Sani Teidi Shaibu, yesterday, failed to persuade the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to collect N100million and release him on bail. In a ruling he delivered yesterday, Justice Ademola Adeniyi dismissed the application as lacking in

merit, saying the erstwhile pension boss, failed to adduce sufficient evidence to warrant the court to exercise its discretion in his favour. Teidi was specifically alleged to have connived with a former manager with the defunct Oceanic Bank Plc, Mr Udusegbe Omoefe Eric, and diverted about N5billion meant

for pensioners across the federation, is praying the court to collect the sum of N100million and order his release from Kuje Maximum Prison. The duo are answering to a 22-count criminal charge that was preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. EFCC alleged that the

Drama in Obio Akpor as chairman refuses to handover to head LGA Port Harcourt High court continue the business of BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME, PH

Meantime, the accused persons denied all the allegations and urged the court to dismiss the charge for want of nexus linking them to the arms and ammunitions recovered in Kano state. Arguing through their team of lawyers led by Chief Robert Clarke, SAN and Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN, they maintained that the government, failed to adduce sufficient proof of evidence capable of warranting their conviction. Relying on section 86(4) of the Evidence Act, they challenged the credibility of the photographs and Video evidence admitted against them as exhibit 7(a) and 7(b), saying it could have been downloaded from the internet. They contended

Amaechi. Also the seventeen Councillors of the local government told newsmen that they would not comply with the dissolution. It would be recalled that Mr Nsirim who was suspended alongside seventeen Councillors of the local government by the state House of Assembly six months ago, recently secured a

judgement quashing the suspension Barely five days after the court victory Governor Amaechi dissolved the council and directed that the chairman should immediately hand over to the Head of Local g o v e r n m e n t Administration. Meantime, Mr Nsirim yesterday told newsmen that he resumed at the office as early as 7am to

the day as Chairman of the council. The Head of the Local G o v e r n m e n t Administration, Mr Singer Azubuike Singer at an interactive session with newsmen yesterday morning in Government House, Port Harcourt insisted that he was now in charge of the council, adding that the dissolution by the state governor was in order.

accused persons used nine companies and siphoned pension funds. It gave names of the companies accused of complicity in the scam as Gozinda Enterprises, Bashinta Nigeria Ltd, Haleath Enterprises, Uthatak Nigeria Ltd, Krasiva Nig Ltd, Badawulu Ventures Limited, Ebunu Attah Investment, Muha Millennium Motors Limited, Ribaile Petroleum Ltd. Meantime, it will be recalled that the ex-pension boss was on July 12 granted bail by the high court after he had spent thirtynine days in detention. The court had ordered him to deposit the sum of N500 million as well as produce two sureties in like sum. Justice Adeniyi had maintained that the sureties must be owners of landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court, adding that the title deeds of the properties be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.

has called on Nigerians to rally round President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in its efforts to bring to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the country. Barrister Nweke made the call in an interview with newsmen while speaking on the continued disturbance by members of the sect which he noted has caused a lot of damage to properties and loss of innocent lives. He said that numerous persons including the pitiable condition of one Mr. Tijani Oluwafemi Ajokunle who while living in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State, with wife and members of his family, and was attacked and all his property burnt, stated that even when he and family escaped to their church, Agape Love Assembly, the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists came and set the church ablaze. Barrister Nweke stated further that there was urgent need for the federal government to establish the existing bilateral relationship between it and foreign countries to enable such countries give the Boko Haram victims including Mr. Tijani Ajokunle who is currently held captive by the American authorities the privilege to go about and fend for their legitimate means of livelihood.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

HowAnambra we discovered fraud by Vanguard ex-financial decides ....... Anambra decides..............Anambra decides... controller — Auditor BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH

N Ikeja High Court, Lagos was yesterday told how the fraud allegedly perpetrated against Vanguard Media Ltd was hatched by the former company’s financial controller, Mr. Yisha Badmus and two senior regional officers with the company, James Unoka and Ejike Ezeobi. The trio are standing trial before Justice Atinuke Ipaye over alleged forgery and defrauding Vanguard to the tune of several millions of naira. At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presented Mr. Lawrence Adekunle Ajayi as its second witness who was the auditor that audited the books of the company that revealed the said fraud. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and a partner in Ajayi & Co., char-

tered accountants. Led in evidence by the EFCC lawyer, Mr. Abba Mohammed, the prosecution witness gave vivid account of how he was hired by the company through its Chairman, Mr. Sam Amuka to examine the account books of the company between 2007-2009. Mr. Ajayi told the court that moment he was given the assignment, he visited all the out-stations of the company including the Federal Capital Territory, where he got books on transactions of sales and the remittance made by the officials to the company. He noted at the conclussion of their investigations, reports were prepared and handed over to the company chairman. He disclosed that he was not aware of any probe leading to the court trial until he was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over the case. According to him, for him to succeed on the “special investigation job” given to

him by Vanguard, he specifically visited those out stations where there were reports of financial anomalies, from where his team of chartered accountants examined sales returns, cash remittances and the bank tellers meant for payments. He said : “We got our report through returns filed to the company by the officers. We also checked the company ’s account records. We met the staff at the stations including circulation executives responsible for selling of newspapers and how they remit the proceeds. ”It was from our investigations that we discovered that the United Bank for Africa tellers were not in agreement with the sales. For instance, teller number 6633835 of November 7, 2007 revealled the remittance of N254,200, when same teller read N4,200 in the UBA teller paid into the company’s account. ”We probed further what the problem was, we ob-

Yisa Badmus served that they always left space at the beginning of the tellers and at the end and when they come back to the office they will fill in the remaining figures. After the discovery, I travelled to Onisha and met with the 2nd defendant (Unoka James), who confirmed what we discovered and that it was collusion between him and the 1st defendant (Badmus) who was then the Chief Accountant. ”He also admitted that the differences between what was supposed to be depos-

ited and what was paid were shared between him and the 2nd defendant. He said he normally paid his (2nd defendant) share into a particular bank account given to him by Mr. Badmus. He showed tellers he used in making payments into the account. These tellers were submitted to the company alongside my report. ”From there we returned to Lagos and concluded our investigations and prepared my report dated November 11 and November 17, 2009.”

Under cross examinations by lawyers to both Badmus and Unoka, Messrs O. Ganiyu and S. Akweh respectively, the witness emphasised that he was never an external auditor to the company and he never had anything to do with the defedants, especially the ex-accountant before he was commissioned for the investigation. He also revealed that in his report, some managers, including the former internal Auditor, Mr Umana and former administrative manager, were indicted for negligence of duty. Asked whether he was paid to indict the defendants and that the report was written “without basis”, the witness said he was a seasoned and professional accountant who came to do a professional work to unravel fraud. After the two matters involving Badmus and Unoka were adjourned till January 15 and 27 respectively, the court called the third case involving Badmus and Ejike Ezeobi, another sales representative in the East but did not hear the case because of another official engagement by the trial judge who latter adjourned till January 27 for further trial.

Oshiomhole swears in new Head of Service BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has sworn in Mr. Jerry E. Obazele as the new Head of Service with a charge to reposition the service to meet modern challenges. Speaking after the new Head of Service had subscribed to the relevant oath-ofoffice, Governor Oshiomhole congratulated him on his welldeserved appointment. On Mr. Obazele’s choice as the new helmsman in the Edo State Civil Service, the Governor had this to say: “There would be many who are competent and eligible, but at any point in time it is only one person that God will choose to head a system. For the records, let me say that your appointment is based strictly on merit”. While speaking further on his choice as the new HOS, Oshiomhole said “I have looked at the list of the Permanent Secretaries, on the conventional approach of seniority, you are probably number three or

number four. That is when you use the criteria of the last appointment as permanent secretary. In my view this is not the best way to measure and to determine seniority. Oshiomhole who reminded the new HOS of

the importance of the oathof-office said “the problem of the country is that after subscribing to the oath, because it is not juju, some believe that the oath- ofoffice is a mere formality that is not meant to be obeyed”.

...apologises to widow, says “I regret my action”

OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has apologised to the widow whose wares were confiscated at the Oba Ovonramwen Square, Benin City last week. Speaking to a delegation of Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria in Government House Benin City, yesterday, Oshiomhlole said “I regret my action”. According to the Governor: “Last week, I had an encounter with a young lady at Oba Ovonramwen Square by Mission Road. She was trading on the road and too many people have been doing this. They block the road with their wares. Part of the problem of Benin before now is that it is so

difficult to drive round the City. “We have various officers we have assigned to keep the roads clean, to keep the walkways clean so that people can walk. As you may have noticed in the past, there is no street in Benin City that had a walk way.But you find some of our women; they just convert the road to trading post.’’ ANNIVERSARY Christ Apostolic Church, Power of Christ District Headquarters, 15 Disu Esan Street, Orile-Iganmu, Lagos will mark its 12 th anniversary tomorrow, Sunday, December 1, 2013 at 10.00 am prompt at the church premises.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013 — 7

Defection: PDP, Oyinlola in war of words •Oyinlola is politically inconsistent— PDP •PDP leadership, parading reputation they don’t have-Oyinlola BY HENRY UMORU, Abuja

OLLOWING the defection of five governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to opposition, All Progressives Congress, APC, the leadership of PDP and suspended former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola are engaged in war of words. The leadership of PDP yesterday described Oyinlola who was recently re-instated as National Secretary of PDP through a judgment by an Appeal Court sitting in Abuja as politically inconsistent, adding that the party was reluctant to allow him return to Wadata Plaza as National Secretary because of what it termed, Oyinlola’s chameleonic character. Oyinlola who fired back in a swift reaction also accused the leadership of PDP as parading the reputation they do not have. In a statement yesterday, PDP National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo said, “We are constrained to issue this statement on the recent conduct and pronouncements of the former Governor of Osun state,prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola . His political opportunism ,which shocked many principled politicians especially those

who drafted him into the governorship race in 2003 ,is an embarrassment to us in Osun state and to his many old allies and associates within and outside the government.” Oladipo’s statement which was signed by his aide, Abiodun Ojo continued, “being a political inconsistent is not what we are worried about; the problem is when political shamelessness is added to such reprehensible conduct. Ever since Prof Wale Oladipo emerged as the National Secretary of the ruling People’s Democratic Party,he has deliberately refrained from joining issues with Prince Oyinlola because of his respect for old relationship even when such are ruptured now. ”The National Secretary however viewed the turn of event as troubling because the recent activities of Prince Oyinlola is raising so many questions about his understanding of politics and suggesting a political disorientation of sorts. We make the following statements for the education of the public who have inundated the National Secretary with so many questions about the activities of Prince Oyinlola. ”We make bold to say that Prince Oyinlola has lost all moral standing and political legitimacy as a politician within and outside Osun state. His unstable,disloyal and theatrical betrayal of

allies and party that made him,disrobe him of any further claims on a party he has done so much to destroy. ”We affirm that Oyinlola has for long lost his political troops in Osun state due to demonstrated instability, chronic betrayal and manifest self- centeredness. Hence ,the fact that no politician of note is following him to commit political suicide in the state. ”We acknowledge the anger of Nigerians directed at the former governor who they see as jumping from one platform to the other and window shopping within the judiciary. Nigerians within and outside the judiciary now appeciate the political character of a claimant to an office which he regularly swears to destroy. ”And lastly,we assure Nigerians that the National Secretary of PDP is a law abiding ,principled citizen who is convinced that Nigerians have seen the chameleonic character of Oyinlola as well as the reason why the party is against his return to office as a National Secretary. ”Party members rejoice at Oyinlola ‘s exit from the party and we thank well meaning Nigerians for their concerns and inquiries. The National Secretary restates his loyality to the national leader of the party ,President Goodluck Jonathan and reaffirms his

540,000 men, women and children are on HIV treatment — PEPFAR BY VICTORIA OJEME, Abuja

RESIDENT’S Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) on Friday said that about 540,000 men, women and children are on HIV treatment. The results which were made available to Vanguard by PEPFAR on AIDS stated that the financial year for 2013 alone approximately 572,000 people have been reached with community outreach programs promoting prevention of HIV. Nearly 6.7 million people have been reached with HIV counseling and testing

services. About 47,000 pregnant women have been provided antiretroviral drugs for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Approximately 790,000 adults and children living with HIV/AIDS have received care to support quality of life, including TB/HIV care services and; about 530,000children orphaned by AIDS and other vulnerable children received care and support. PEPFAR’s response to the global AIDS crisis has also helped to establish a robust health care delivery capacity in partner countries – often where

little or none previously existed – that not only addresses HIV, but also a broader range of health issues, including tuberculosis, malaria, and maternal and child health. Meanwhile the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria James Entwistle on Friday said that the Federal Capital Territory Abuja has an HIV prevalence rate of 8.6 percent (well above the national median of 4.1 percent), and the Bwari Local Government Area, where the MAPA community is situated, has the highest HIV prevalence in the FCT.

L-R: Dr. Andrew Pocock, British High Commissioner to Nigeria; Chike Ogeah, Delta State Commissioner for Information; Segun Aina, President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and Kingsley Moghalu, Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at 50th Anniversary Award/Gala Night of CIBN in Lagos...Thursday committment to an harmonious working relationship with the National Chairman of the PDP,Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and other members of the National Working Committee.” Responding, Oyinlola said, “ the attention of the office of the National Secretary of the PDP has been drawn to a damaging statement circulated to the media today (yesterday) by those best described as political miscreants. How do you expect Oyinlola to dignify people who are

obviously seeking relevance with a response? It is interesting that Wale Oladipo has suddenly discovered that Oyinlola, whom he served as chairman of Osun State Basic Education Board for four years is a political prostitute. He knows how he went on his knees and begged traditional rulers to secure the appointment and curry other favours from former governor Oyinlola, after disagreeing and betraying Iyiola Omisore, his political mentor. ”It is political immaturity

on the part of impostors to parade a reputation they do not possess. Indeed, human memory is short. It is a pity that the Nigerian political setting harbours unstable characters who bite the fingers that fed them, even during their hours of travail. ”One must hasten to alert and warn President Goodluck Jonathan to be wary of these people who are only out to pursue a hidden agenda and could disappoint him should they fail in their rabid ambition to get what they want.”

ASUU dares FG over sack BY ANAYO OKOLI, Umuahia

CADEMIC Staff Union of Nigerian Universities [ASUU], Calabar Zone, has reacted angrily to the order to return to the classrooms issued to them by the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, saying that the action would worsen the strike action rather than solving the problem. ASUU accused the minister of deceiving President Jonathan on the crisis, alleging that Wike and some other unnamed officials of the Government did not want the lingering problem between the union and the Federal Government to be resolved. According to the zonal coordinator of ASUU Calabar zone, Dr. Charles Ononuju, with such threat the crisis would linger far longer than expected. In a statement in Umuahia,. Ononuju said that the union received

with shock the pronouncement by the supervising minister, saying the crisis could not be resolved that way. “We received with shock the pronouncement of by the Supervising Minister of Education, Wike, that lecturers should resume work or be sacked”, Ononuju said. He said that the union had gone far with discussion on how to resolve the crisis and

was waiting for President Goodluck Jonathan’s reply to their letter after their meeting when the minister came up with the “unfortunate” pronouncement. “Sacking lecturers will not solve the problem but will compound it. Wike should resign and come to the university and teach. This is not the way to go if they go this way, the crisis will not be resolved in the next 100 years”, he warned.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

Anambra: INEC holds supplementary poll •4,000 women protesters call for cancellation •INEC gate shut against them •Movement restricted BY VINCENT UJUMADU & UCHE OSIBE Awka

HE Independent Na tional Electoral Commission, INEC, will today conduct supplementary election in 210 polling units in Anambra State where election was cancelled on November 16, 2013 to determine the winner of the governorship election in the state.

About 4,000 aggrieved women protesting the plan to conduct the Supplementary election in Anambra State were yesterday stopped by security operatives who said they were acting on orders from above. The angry women who described themselves as “Anambra Women” carried posters which inscriptions which read: “INEC rigging, Bad for Anambra, We no go gree,”” Jega Must go,” “Jega-Jaga must go,”Jega rig Sokoto election, not Anambra,“ “Anambra shall be free,”Cancel Anambra Guber Election now,”New Election , February 2014,Reject INEC results 2013,” “Cancel Anambra Election, sack Jega.” The women who sang songs disparaging INEC officials and the conduct of November 16 governorship election were marching towards INEC headquarters to call for the cancellation, resignation of THE Commission’s chairman , Professor Attahiru Jega and removal of Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Onukogu. They called for conduct of a fresh election just as they said the scheduled Supplementary election of November 30 march would not hold. They marched from Aroma junction but were pushed back by the police as they cornered to enter the route leading towards INEC state headquarters. The police arrived in six trucks to block their way. The women who continued to sing abusive songs insisted that they and the freedom as provided by the constitution to assembly, associate, and express their grievances, but the police denied them access saying they had no authority to demonstrate. The women opted to stay put at the Aroma junction while the police kept surveillance for

about seven hours the women staged the protest. A spokesperson for the “ Anambra Women” who identified herself as an angry voter from Obosi, said the protest was aimed at sensitising the authorities that the supplementary election billed to hold today, November 30 be cancelled. She stated that what took place on November 16, this year was a charade saying INEC compromised and took side with a political party and the Presidency to thwart the people’s choice, adding that unpopular candidate was being imposed on the people through selection rather than election. She stated that the women would resist the imposition of an unpopular candidate as a governor.

Meanwhile, election has already been conducted in 4,398 of the state’s 4608 polling units, with the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Willie Obiano, leading with 174,710 votes and securing 25% in 18 of the 21 local government areas of the state, while Comrade Tony Nwoye of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress, APC, came second and third with 94, 856 votes and 92, 300 votes respectively. Nwoye also secured 25% in nine local government areas, while Ngige secured 25% in seven local government areas. The state returning officer in the election, Professor James Epoke, who is the vice chancellor of the University of Calabar, had said that the supplementary poll became necessary because the margin with which the highest scorer, Chief Willie Obiano of APGA beat the runner up, Comrade Tony Nwoye of PDP, was less than 113113 registered voters in the 210 polling units where election was cancelled. Areas where election will hold today include Idemili North local government area, which has the highest number of 160 cancelled polling units and a combined registered voters’ population of 89,997. Others are four units in Ayamelum local government (1247 voters), one poling unit in Anambra East (250 voters), six units in Anambra

West (2000 voters), one unit in Anaocha (276 voters), two units in Awka North (1356 voters), one unit in Aguata (310 voters) and one unit in Awka South (249 voters). Others are three units in Ekwusigo (884 voters), two units in Idemili South (800 voters), one unit in Onitsha North (484 voters), 17 units in Onitsha South (12299 voters), four units in Orumba North (588 voters) and four units in Oyi (1202 voters). In Idemili North where 89997 votes would be up for grabs today, APC already won 56.6% of the 12,604 votes cast on November 16, 2013 during the first exercise, while in Onitsha South where 12,299 votes would be contested for, APGA won 45% of the 16,782 votes cast, with APC securing 32.6%. At INEC office in Awka yesterday, a large number of commercial buses being used to covey election materials were sighted about noon as they drove in and out of the commission. The INEC office, which had remained lull since the end of the November 16, came alive yesterday with many ad hoc staff, apparently those that will be on duty today, going in for their materials. Earlier in the day, security was beefed up around the Aroma area of Awka, with police patrol vehicles stationed at strategic points and completely blocked the six- lane road leading to the INEC office. However, no sooner did the vehicles leave their positions than a group of women carrying placards assembled at the Aroma junction. However, they were prevented from advancing beyond the Enugu

Women protesters calling for Prof Jega’s resignation in Awka yesterday –Onitsha expressway into the INEC area. The police men merely watched as the women sang and made derogatory statements against the chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega and the commission. Some of the placards carried by the women read: ‘Cancel jaga jaga election’, ‘INEC rigging bad for Nigeria’, ‘New register, new election’, and ‘Anambra election should not be different from Edo election’.

Ikedife urges contestants to behave like sportsmen

Former president general of Ohaneze Ndigbo and current chairman of Anambra Elders Council, Dr Dozie Ikedife yesterday advised contestants in the election to develop the spirit of sportsmanship, warning that the Anambra election should not be used to cause chaos in the state. Ezeife said he was expecting free, fair, peaceful and credible supplementary election that would be generally accepted by all the partici-

pants. He said: “I hope this election will not lead the state to any crisis. The candidates naturally behaved well during the main election. I don’t think the mood has come to the level of causing crisis. But anybody who feels aggrieved has the right to express it, not violently. Anybody who feels cheated has the right to indicate that he feels cheated. That one is basic. You can’t beat a child and ask him not to cry”. On the likelihood of the grievances ending in court, the elder statesman said : “We should do what we can before we take matters to court. You see, the courts are not what they used to be. You cannot even rely on courts. You should allow the people to take a decision, rather than throw it into a court where one or two persons will take a decision. The court is not as neutral as you think, from experience of events. You can rush to any court now and with proper presentation of your case, get an injunction. The court has not performed up to expectations in certain areas.”

CNPP wants all parties to participate

The Anambra State Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, has also directed all its members that took part in the November 16 election to participate in the supplementary election in the overall best interest of Anambra State and her people. A statement signed by the state chairman of CNPP, Mrs. Kate Okafor and secretary, Chief Topsy Akudo said: “We advise those who are still aggrieved to seek legitimate and constitutional ways or options available to address their grievances, other than inciting Anambrarians against themselves. Meanwhile, the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday said movement would be restricted in Onitsha and Idemili North, the two areas where supplementary election would take place today. The poll will take place in 160 polling units in Idemili North, while the exercise will take place in 17 units in Onitsha South.

•••Don’t disenfranchise Idemili again — leaders urge INEC BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

EADERS of Idemili North and Idemili South local councils of Anambra State have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that voters in the area are not disenfranchised again in today’s supplementary election. Speaking under the umbrella of Nzuko Imeobi , a a socio cultural association of the two councils, the leaders, in a statement by High Chief Obiora Okonkwo (leader, Nzuko Imeobi Idemili Associa-

tion), said: “We the leaders of Idemili North and Idemili South Local Government Areas in Anam-

bra State hereby state categorically that the only way that the entire 2013 Governorship election in

Anambra State will be credible is if the people are allowed to vote and their votes counted.

APC may participate in supplementary polls BY OKECHUKWU NDIRIBE

ESPITE the call for a boycott of today’s supplementary governorship election in Anambra State by the National leadership of the All Peoples Congress APC, there are indications that the party would eventually participate in the poll. This view was

expressed by a political analyst while contributing to a live television programme monitored in Abuja yesterday. The analyst who identified himself as Melville Ebo said he was an indigene of Anambra State based in Abuja adding that he was in his hometown located in Onitsha South Local Goverment Area last Wednesday where he

witnessed agents of APC carrying out a door-to-door campaign for participation in today’s poll. Said he: “Even though the national leadership of the APC has said the party would boycott today’s poll, I witnessed agents of the party while they were engaged in a door-to-door campaign during which they asked the people to vote for their candidate.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013 — 9

Spread of terrorism: Don’t panic, we’re ready for them, Army assures Nigerians •Uncovers Boko Haram’s new tactics •Hails US’s designation of sect, as int’l terrorists By KINGSLEY OMONOBI-ABUJA, SIMON EBEGBULEM and Onozure Dania

HE Chief of Army Staff Lt General Azubike Ihejirika, has advised Nigerians not to panic over speculation of the spread of terrorists into other regions of the country, assuring that security moves were in top gear to monitor terrorists movements just as the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru also alerted Nigerians that Boko Haram terrorists have come out with new tactics to circumvent security measures put in place towards curtailing their activities in the North East. The new methods according to General Attahiru include resorting to attacks on soft targets and erecting snap road blocks on major highways in the north east. He however stressed that the Army has been responding swiftly

through effective combat patrols both on air and land. General Attahiru said: “While the onslaught on the violence extremist organisation continues, the insurgents have devised methods to circumvent the new security measures by resorting to attacks on soft targets and erecting snap road blocks on major highways in the north east”

he said. ”Equally, our troops have responded appropriately through effective combat patrols both on land and air in order to dominate the area of operations,” he stated. Describing the United States’ designation of Boko Haram and Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTO) as a step in the right direction, he noted that the

Nigerian Army has continued to carry out “full spectrum counter-insurgency operations, with emphasis on both kinetic and non-kinetic operations to shape the operational environment in the north east”. ”Currently, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with the Nigerian Air force had carried out simultaneous of-

From left Kayode Akinmade, Comissioner for Information, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Tokunbo Jegede, General Manager, Orange FM, Akure and Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko Ondo State First Lady, at the inauguration of the new state-owned radio station, Orange FM in Akure recently.

fensive operations. Based on these operations, insurgents were successfully cleared from some camps in Sambisa Forest, Bita Village in Damboa Local Government as well as Gujba in neighbouring Yobe State. Many insurgents were killed and large cache of arms and ammunition were also recovered,” the Army spokesman said. In the same vein, the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 2 Division Garrison, Major General Ahmed Jubrin expressed the readiness of the Nigerian Army to combat terrorism and other security challenges in the country. Addressing the soldiers, General Jubrin who was represented by the Commander, 4 Brigade, Benin, Brig.-Gen. Patrick Akem, said at the end of the 2 Brigade “Inter Brigade Combat Proficiency Competition,” which ended in Benin City, yesterday, said that the exercise was geared towards combat readiness, as much as confidence building for men of the Nigerian Army. According to him, “all these are geared ensuring that the desire of the Chief of Army Staff to

build capacity in a manner that will position us to tackle the challenges we are facing currently. We have done this not only to create awareness but to give confidence to the nation that indeed we are training and we are able to tackle the challenges that we are facing.

Chief of Army Staff in Lagos

Speaking in Lagos while commissioning the remodeled headquarters of the Nigerian Army Engineers Complex, at Bonny cantonment , Victoria Island, Ihejirika noted that attempt by some insurgents to spread from the North eastern region of the country to other regions have met brick-wall following their subsequent arrests, adding that the Nigerian Army would continue to do its best in providing equipment and logistics to enable troops carry out their duties”. He said, “The spread should not cause panic. We monitor their movement and the exposure on them is beefed up in the North East in particular and in other parts of the North and the tendency is not for them to fret down wards.”

Nigeria ‘ll overcome her challenges — Jonathan BY TONY EDIKE, Enugu

RESIDENT Good luck Jonathan. yesterday, expressed optimism in the unity and survival of the country, saying that the present challenges of the nation would strengthen her. The President spoke at Umuida, Enugu Ezike, Enugu state during the funeral of Mrs Paulina Eze, mother of Senator Ayogu Eze. Jonathan said he was not deterred by challenges confronting Nigeria as according to him “every country in the world has crises and challenges”. He said: “The world is facing crises including Nigeria. These days once you hear breaking news, its all about crises. I urge clergymen to continue to pray for the country. The nation has challenge no doubt about that, in the world there are challenges everywhere. When you open the television,

they will always talk about crises here and there, there is always breaking news and whenever you hear this breaking news, it is never a good news. It is always sad, no good breaking news. All the breaking news I have seen for the past period are crises. The world is in crises. We are also having our own share of the crises but I am convinced that with your prayers, the prayers of men and women of this country, God will see us through.” He asked the family of Eze to emulate the good virtues of their mother, explaining that what was important was not how long one lived but what he/she was able to impact on others. In his homily, Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Revd. Godfrey Onah called on the leaders of the country to be focused. He said that the present challenges in the country were not insurmountable, adding

that it should strengthen the resolve of the people in service of God.

He charged politicians to continue to look unto God especially in difficult situations.

Pa Adeyemi passes on

prominent Jehovah Witness leader, Pa David Adeyemi Eweje is dead. He was aged 98 years old. Until his death on Monday October 28 , Pa David Eweje was one of the pioneers of the Famous Grace Bread that was widely acknowledged for its quality. He was educated at the Christ Anglican Church School, Iwade Ijebu-Ife and United School, Itele Ijebu and eventually moved to Lagos to further

his life career where he enrolled as a tailor apprentice, graduated and was employed by the UAC Nigeria Ltd as a tailor. He is survived by children, grand and greatgrand children, cousins, in-Laws and relations. The burial will hold on Saturday December 7, 2013 at 11.00 a.m at Kingdom Hall of Jehova’s Witness, Isensi Area of IjebuIfe Ogun State

ANNIVERSARY

HRIST Apostolic Church, Power of Christ District Headquarters, 15 Disu Esan Street, Orile-Iganmu, Lagos will mark its 12th anniversary tomorrow, Sunday, December 1, 2013 at 10.00 am prompt at the church premises.

•Pa David Adeyemi Eweje

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Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

DEFECTION OF G-7 GOVS:

Anxiety reigns in the House of Reps over Tambuwal’s seat

point when motions and bills were turned down by members of the nPDP who seemingly formed an alliance with the opposition and outnumbered the mainstream PDP. The grouse of the breakaway faction was hinged on the manner Tukur carried himself and his office. Some called him Lord of the Manor while others said he was becoming too autocratic and intolerant and subsequently demanded his sack. But President Jonathan was not ready to sacrifice Tukur. With this on the ground, the G-7 governors and the members declared “to your tents o Isreal”. To this end, meetings after meetings, sometimes nocturnal, were held between the President and the breakaway faction all to no avail. The matter also assumed another dimension when Tukur approached the court which eventually ruled in his favour. But that was far from solving the internal wrangling and

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE &LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

HAT fate now awaits the leadership of the House of Representatives in the light of the new development? Where does Speaker Aminu Tambuwal belong? Will he join the APC to keep his seat or sacrifice it? These are obviously questions earnestly begging for answers now that most of the G7 Governors have defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC). The aggrieved governors are Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers State), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa State), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano State), Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara State), Aliyu Wamako ( Sokoto State), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger State). As of now the Jigawa and Niger states governors have not pulled out of the PDP. The Governors have been having a running battle since August 31, 2013 when they with Abubakar Baraje and other members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) including former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Ababakar, staged a walk out from the party’s Special Convention at Eagles Square to form what later became the new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) chaired by Baraje. Shortly after the development, 58 members of the House of Representatives publicly switched sides to the Kawu Baraje nPDP after declaring their support for the governors. The members included Abdullahi Balarabe, Abdulmumin Jibrin, Ali Ahmad, Abdullahi Muhammad Wamako, Abdullahi Muhammed Rico, Abdulmalik Usman Cheche, Adamu Bashir, Ahman-Patigi Aliyu, Ahmed Zerew, Aishatu Ahmed Binani, Aiyedun Akeem Olayinka, Alhassan Ado Garba, Aliyu Madaki, Aliyu Shehu, Aminu Shagari, Aminu Sulyman, Aminu Tukur, Andrew Uchendu, Bashir Baballe, Blessing Nsiegbe. There were also Dakuku Peterside, Dawari George, Faruq Muhammed Lawan, Gibson Nathaniel, Gogo Bright Tamunu, Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, Hassan Adamu, Hussain Namadi, Ibrahim Ebbo, Ibrahim Tijjani Kivawa, Issa Bashir, Kabiru Achida, Khabeeb Mustapha, Maurice Pronen, Mohammed Sabo, Mpigi Barinada, Muhammad Ahmed Mukhtar, Muhammad Ibrahim, Muhammad Sani Kutigi, Mukhtari Muhammad, Musa Ado, Musa Sarkin-Adar, Mustapha Bala Dawaki,

President Jonathan

Former President Obasanjo

Gov. Rotimi Amaechi

Abubakar Atiku

Mustapha Mashood, Ogbonna Nwuke, Rafiu Ibrahim, Sa’ad Nabunkari, Sani Muhammed Aliyu, Shuaibu Gobir, Sokonte Davies, Sufiyanu Ubale, Umar Bature, Usman Wada, Yusuph Dunari Sule, Yusuph Galambi, and Zakari Muhammed. Following their sojourn in the nPDP, a virulent division erupted in the House between them and other members of mainstream PDP under the chairmanship of Alhaji Bamamga Tukur. Literally, the members were pro-President Goodluck Jonathan.

The division was felt on September 1, 2013 when Baraje led the group of G7 on a courtesy call on the leadership of the House. Little had introductions and protocols been observed than a rumpus occurred in the House between the members of the two factions. Clothes were torn. Chairs were freely used in the melee that later became a free for all. Since then, the House has never been the same as there have been deep -seated animosities and aggressions among members. The face-off reached its apogee at a

The grouse of the breakaway faction was hinged on the manner Tukur carried himself and his office. Some called him Lord of the Manor while others said he was becoming too autocratic and intolerant and subsequently demanded his sack

bickering eating up the party. It was to climax when the Governors began a massive consultation with those considered the ancient pillars of the PDP. This was in company of the likes of former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, who are leaders of the APC. This saw the likes of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former heads of state, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdusalami Abubukar hosting the governors in a bid to find solution to the matter. But the matter assumed a dangerous dimension on Tuesday when the five of the aggrieved governors nPDP leaders defected to APC. Surely, the development is expected

Continues on page 11

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Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—11

minority. Their status has changed. The leadership of the House will certainly become minority in the House while those within the APC will certainly become the majority.”

Continues from page 10 to have a spiral effect on the House. There is apprehension that it could scuttle the leadership of the PDP-led House. How? It will make the PDP which used to be the majority, a minority party in the House. This is predicated on the calculation that the members under the nPDP would also follow their governors to APC. At the moment, the House has 360 members. Of this number, APC which is an offspring of ACN, ANPP, and CPC has 138 members. At present, PDP has 208 members, while the opposition APC has 138 members. With the exception of Jigawa and Niger states whose governors said they are still part of the PDP, Kano, Kwara, Rivers, Adamawa and Sokoto states have a total of 48 lawmakers out of which about 40 are said to be with the nPDP. Should the 40 PDP members in the five G7 governors states join the APC, the party’s lawmakers will now be 178, while the PDP will be left with 168. This will ultimately make the APC to be in majority leaving the PDP as the minority in the House. Also if all the 67 nPDP members defect to APC, it will have a total of 205 members. With this, the mainstream PDP or Pro-Jonathan lawmakers will take the back seat while APC would take the lead. But there are big questions. Will Speaker Tambuwal whose State Governor, Wamakko and his colleaguelawmakers from Sokoto had gone to APC follow suit or play the dissident? Would he prefer to sacrifice his exalted office? What happens when the number is streamlined? House will decide my fate — Tambuwal However, on the heels of the development, the speaker said it was at the discretion of the House members to know whether they would follow their governors or not. In a statement by his Media Aide, Mallam Imam Imam, Tambuwal said they would follow the process if they wanted to cross carpet to APC. He said: “Members of Parliament ( MPs )will decide collectively on when to defect. They have their internal process if they decide to cross carpet, let’s wait and see whether they can activate the process or not.” Reps rule out leadership

It is a welcome development— Sumaila Also speaking, Hon. Suleiman Abdurahman Kawu Sumaila, Deputy Minority Leader, said: “We received with the joy the long-awaited merger of our beloved political party the All Progressives Congress with the group of G7 governors of the nPDP. It is a welcome development that will forever shape the political history of Nigeria. With this merger, a new chapter has now been opened in our collective struggles for the emancipation of the Nigerian people from the 14 years of internal slavery, bondage and suppression under the PDP.”

Baraje

Bamanga Tukur

‘House will decide my fate’ change in House Meanwhile, the House said on Thursday that despite the defection of five nPDP governors to the opposition APC, nothing will change in its leadership as no member has so far communicated to the leadership of his intention to move. Briefing journalists yesterday, Deputy Spokesman of the House Rep Victor Afam Ogene (APGA, Anambra) said until such a time when members formally declare their intention, the House remains the way it is. He said Section 68 (1) of the Nigeria 1999 constitution as amended provides that members can only defect to another political party in group base on merger agreement but that what is happening in the PDP cannot be defined as such. “In politics, things like this happen, but as a House, we remain one. Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, says people cannot cross carpet in group except in merger situation. But defection has to do with individual member, so if they’re defecting, the proper thing must be done by activating that section of the constitution. “As at now, we are not aware of any member defecting to another party. Remember, going by our rule, until a party has 181 members, you can’t talk of having the majority.” Before Ogene’s briefing,

individual members spoke to Vanguard on the implications of the development. It’ll make PDP a minority in the House – Nwuke Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, member representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said: “I think that the timing of the merger is perfect. It is coming in the face of

Gov. Bbangida Aliyu , for now, we can say to least , ourselves that we know those who are progressive-minded and we know those who are reactionary within the Nigerian system.” On the likely effect on the

As at now, we are not aware of any member defecting to another party; remember, going by our rule, until a party has 181 members, you can’t talk of having the majority unnecessary delays, unnecessary deceptions and some lack of faith in the negotiation between the President, officials of the PDP and the governors. I think that the governors had given hope to Nigeria and they have given a Christmas package to their supporters who indeed have been yearning for some change in the direction of Nigerian politics. So, I believe that the movement is significant at

House of Reps, he said: “Certainly, it will tilt the balance of power within the House. That is clear because what it means is that the PDP will move from a majority to becoming the minority within the House. That is the present impact it will have. I don’t imagine that it will affect the leadership of the House under Speaker Tambuwal. What is key is that as it stands now, the PDP is in

It won’t affect PDP –Bawa Chief Whip of the House, Hon Mohammed Ishaka Bawa (PDP,Taraba), said the development would not affect the PDP. ”As the Nigerian constitution provides, they have the right to freedom of association; they have the right to launch any political party of their choice. Nobody is in PDP by force. You can decide to leave at any time you wish to. But what I want Nigerians to know is that PDP will continue to wax stronger despite all that is happening. This is not the first time in PDP; this is not the first time in the political development of Nigeria. I’ll like to take you back to 1983 when some progressive governors decided to leave their party; we had Nwobodo, Abubakar Barde, Abubakar Rimi and a host of them who left their party, but what was the result after they left? ”If that is their wish, the constitution guarantees them that freedom. In PDP, we have 1001 ways of consolidating ourselves. In 2011, there were some strong members of the PDP that left, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, but the PDP still won. ”It depends on the calculation and the members that show interest. Is it all members that show interest? We’re not aware of any member that wants to move with his governor. Until a letter is sent to Mr Speaker and read on the floor of the House we cannot decide to count to know the number of people who defected. PDP

Continues on page 12

12—SA TURD AY 12—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

elieve it or not, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who defected to All Progressive Congress (APC) alongside 4 other erstwhile PDP Governors has a legion of supporters. One of them is Hon. Seconte Davies who currently represents Bonny/ Degema Federal Constituency of Rivers State in the House of Representatives. He told Saturday Vanguard in this interview that the PDP is facign a great threat to its existence. Bickering and infighting have engulfed your party, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with an implosion into the House of Representatives. How may you react to that? I won’t actually call it bickering or infighting. What I see is difference in opinions on how the party should be run. If you look at the PDP as it has turned out to be of recent, even people have complained about one challenge, problem from the direction it was going but I think that the situation presently has worsened. Some leaders of the party decided to redirect it. Apparently, the current leadership under Bamanga Tukur is not willing to listen to voice of reason. For me as a person, I am not much surprised because first and for most, Bamanga Turkur does not know how PDP came about. Therefore, whatever suggestion being given to him about what PDP is supposed to look like appears strange to him because he does not know where PDP supposed to be. The unfortunate part is that some persons who should know better Bamanga Tukur is doing are not speaking up

PDP is now a minority party in the House of Representatives —Davies

•Hon. Davies

and I don’t know why they are speaking up. Otherwise, they are in a solution to also tell Bamanga that look, the way you are directing the party is not the direction is not good. But whatever reasons he has which I don’t know, which they have not expressed. But as it is said, tyranny reigns when men keep silent. And so, there are still good men, relatively, who will not just sit down. They have to speak up. In fact, they went from place to place, talked to some of the leaders who believe that they were in a position to make thing work

But unfortunately, I have to tell you that the problem of the PDP has just started better. But that is not happening. What were the responses? Threats, intimidation, oppression using federal powers because PDP is the party in control at the federal level and all that. And we are in a democracy for Gods sake. Things that are happening now, I cannot even imagine them under the military rule,

even under the most draconian military regime we have had and since we are now in democracy, people must also stand up to protect their democratic right and that is what has happened in PDP. But unfortunately, I have to tell you that the problem of the PDP has just started. Whether PDP wants to believe it or not, the truth is that there are so many people who, nominally are still in the PDP but operationally, morally, they are no longer PDP. As the days go by, you will begin to see these things play out. It is not a question of saying if 10 people leave, 500 people will come. It is not a question of saying don’t worry when we win in 2015, these people will come back. There is not any guarantee. In fact, I tell you without any fear of contradiction that if PDP wins 2015 under these circumstances, under this arrangement, it will be a major miracle. And let PDP not deceive itself because we have the indices. In fact, every Nigerian that is not even a PDP person will know that what is happening in PDP does not portend any good. As I speak with you today, based on what has happened on Tuesday, PDP is a

minority party in the House of Representatives. It is now a question of formalizing their minority which may take one or two weeks.

development, I believe”. Hon. Aliyu Madaki (PDP, Kano), said: “This landmark event has shown us that our democracy is growing and strong too. If people can have the freedom to choose where they want to belong, I think, as a people, we should be commended. “For me, I see this as a way forward for our democracy and with this, the future is not only brought for our democracy but the entirety of Nigerian people. I believe Nigerians will see begin to see a more vibrant federal legislature because there is a new order in place”. Hon. Lanre Odubote (APC, Lagos), added: “It’s a development to our polity as it will save us from the impunity and corruption that pervade the system since

1999.” Rep Sani Madaki, PDP, Kano said he join Kwankwaso in APC. “We’ll follow our governors; there’s no doubt about it. We can’t continue to stay and face injustice. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for, and this will eventually change the leadership in the House. Also, Rep Razaq BelloOsagie, APC representing Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo said: “The G7 governors are Nigerians whose rights are protected in the 1999 constitution including the right of association with an alternative and truly progressive APC platform. Nigerians have lost faith in the ability of PDP as a party to provide leadership in a country so blessed with human and material resources.”

What is your grouse against Turkur? Our grouse against him is the fragrant disobedience of the laws of the party; Total ignorance of the party’s constitution. If Tukur knew the party’s constitution, in the first place he wouldn’t have suspended Governor Amaechi because it is only NEC that can suspend a member of NEC. Ameachi is a member of NEC. He tried that with Wamako and quickly did a retreat. Why did he not do a retreat in the case of Ameachi? Because they thought that there is somebody behind them who is supporting them. Every day, we hear the voice of Jacob, but see the hand of Esau. We are seeing that everyday. But one day, he will be exposed. And he has only one option. It is either he repents or he perishes. But I hope that the Jacob will be like Jacob in the Bible who ran to God. But if he is not Jacob in the Bible and he is Jacob in Nigeria, then he will receive the reward for deception.

‘House will decide my fate’ Continues from page 11 will never be minority in the House up to 2015; I can assure you that. The members will not automatically leave; they’ll remain in the party.” They’re free to join APC— Igbokwe Speaking in like manner, Hon Nnanna Igbokwe(PDP, Imo), lawmakers who wished to defect are were free to do so. “They are free to join any party they like, that is the beauty of democracy. But to say that it will affect the PDP, I don’t think so. This will make our democracy to become more robust; it will make us to go back and strategise. I would have loved that the issue causing the standoff was resolved amicably. PDP is a big party and I know that it will

overcome the challenge posed by the exit of these people”. Other Reps speak Also reacting, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Opposition Leader in the House, said: “We receive them and all others who are committed to change and who are progressive in inclination with open arms. The change that all Nigerians desire has only just started”. Hon. Dakuku Peterside (PDP, Rivers) said, “it is a watershed in our democratic journey and hope rekindled. The beneficiary is the Nigerian people, democracy and democratic culture can never be the same again and our democratic institutions will be strengthened by

If people can have the freedom to choose where they want to belong, I think, as a people, we should be commended implication . Never again will the people be taken for granted”. To Hon. Abiodun Faleke (APC, Lagos), “this is the best for Nigeria at this point of our democratic journey. The House of Representatives will witness better performance with this

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Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—13

No, PDP still controls majority number in the House of Representatives —Hon. Ofongo BY LEVINUS NWABUGHIOGU

on. Henry Ofongo is no doubt President Goodluck Jonathan’s man friday. He represents Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, the home country of the President. In this interview, he told Saturday Vanguard that the PDP still leads the National Assembly. With the defection of the 5 Governors from your political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to All Progressive Congress (APC), many now believe that PDP is in disarray. PDP as far as I am concerned is not a party in disarray. It is intact. In a party people can have misunderstanding. It is normal in politics that when you come as a union of people from different background, different ethnicity, different religions, it’s normal that misunderstanding will occur but the major thing is how you people understand yourself, how you handle what ever misunderstanding, you come together and work as a team. Talking about understanding, it appears that President Goodluck Jonathan and the Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Ameachi did not understand themselves? The truth is that, I will not say that the president is at logger head with the governor of Rivers State. They are brothers so to say. Balyesa and Rivers are one and so long as am concerned it’s only the governor of River State, Governor Amaechi that says he has problem with the President, but the President has never said he has problems with governor Amaechi. So to that extent, I know the president does not have problems with him; maybe he has problem with the President. I don’t know. In his interview, he was saying he is defecting to APC in order to protect Rivers State and he was making reference to oil wells. Well, I don’t know. Those are things that only the courts that can decide when there are issues like that. If the court has not decided I don’t think that is

good enough reason why you are leaving the party to another. May be there are other things in his mind. Do you agree that the G5 Government is threatening the present structure of leadership in the House? I don’t agree to that because up till this minute, as we speak, I know the PDP is in majority. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal is still a PDP member. The Leader of the House is still a PDP member. So long as I am concerned, as it stands now, there is no member of the national assembly who is of the PDP platform that has come out to say he is defecting to any other party. Until that happens before we will be able to asses whether PDP is in majority or in minority. Do you see that happening?PDP members in the House recently formed a group called Unity Forum? It is understood that is main objective is to give the President a leverage over the opposition party. How true is that? Well, I am a member of Unity Forum. The Forum was not formed just to support Mr. President. It is formed in the House to make sure that, one : the House is united irrespective of party affiliations. Two: we want stability in the body polity of this country because what holds democracy is the national assembly. During military era, you can see that the Executive is there, the Judiciary is there. Whether they form Tribunal or not, it doesn’t matter. What symbolizes democracy so long as I am concerned is the Legislature. So, if anything is happening in this country and we say we want to stabilize the unity of this country, we must make sure that support the unity of the country; support the government of this country. When I say the government, the president is only the Head of government heading the Executive Arm, then you have the legislature and the judiciary, that’s what make up government. So if we say we want unity, we want stability in all areas, we will support

every leadership at every level including the president. Will you support President Jonathan in 2015? Of course, if he declares, if President •Hon Ofongo Jonathan says he wants to Anybody can leave the party contest in 2015. I will support and others will come. Let me him. tell you what happened recently. Some people came Why? and said they wanted to join I will support him because he the party. People who want to has been trying. We all know leave are free to leave. Like I where we are coming from in said there are this country. We all know how misunderstanding but the this country has been party is not in disarray. Other bastardized. We have gone parties have been in disarray. through a long period of PDP is the only party that military rule primarily to when it was formed in 1998 stabilize our democracy. I has continue to maintain the think with his transformation same name, slogan, the same agenda, he has done a lot. I acronym. Up till now, it is cannot enumerate them; too same Peoples Democratic many things. You can see the Party, we have not changed. transformation in the Other parties have been in Agricultural sector, in disarray, changing from one infrastructure. It is just that name to another, from one most people fly by air. We all logo to another. So, how can know the state of roads, they you say a party that has been were all in comatose but now, in existence since then till so many of these things are now without changing name, coming back. Our railways logo, acronym or anything is were bastardized. They were in disarray. Simple

Some people came and said they wanted to join the party. People who want to leave are free to leave. Like I said there are misunderstanding but the party is not in disarray not functional, but now he is trying to bring it up. Go to our Airport, for the past 30 years, not even a paint has been done on them. But today you can see there is serious work going on there. You had a PDP caucus meeting on Thursday. Can you tell us what transpired? No, it for the members of the party. I am If they wanted the press, they would have called you. But basically what was top on the agenda? We discussed the unity of the party. Unity of the party? But you countered it earlier when I said that PDP is in disarray? No, PDP is not in disarray.

misunderstanding does not mean that the party is in disarray. If President Jonathan has ambition to run again in 2015 and has lost Sokoto, Kano with its number of voters, Rivers State, Niger State, Jigawa State, Kwara and Adamawa state as it stands now, do you not envisage any danger? Well, when you say that President Jonathan has lost Sokoto, Kano State, Rivers States etc, I don’t know what you mean by saying he has lost them. The governors of those states defecting to another party does not mean that everybody in that party will follow the governors. So, you can’t say he has lost them. It is only in an election

period that you can know that somebody actually lost in those states or that the person didn’t lose. As it stands now, the mere defection of Governors or individuals to this party does not mean that someone has lost those places. We all know our strong holds. PDP knows its strong holds. I am telling you that there is no right thinking PDP man who really belongs to the PDP from origin that will agree, after forming a party, making a party formidable and then because of misunderstanding, he will decide to leave. If there are misunderstandings, time heals. So, I believe that the President has not lost anything. It is only the election that will determine. I will encourage him to contest. If I have my way, I will tell President Goodluck, contest election come 2015. Do you believe that PDP has lost the majority in the House of Reps as it stands now especially with the supposedly imminent exodus of the members of the New PDP? The truth is that there is nothing like the nPDP. We have PDP. When people are aggrieved and they feel like they want to form a splinter group which they did and the court has said there is nothing like nPDP. I think that takes care of that that there is nothing like the nPDP. Let us take it that some aggrieved members of the PDP who felt maybe the way they want things to go, if it didn’t go that way, they are leaving the party. That doesn’t affect the party in any way and it does not affect the House in any way. Until such persons come out to say they are no more members of the PDP, they are defecting to other party, then that’s when we begin to know the strength and weaknesses by way of number in the House. So, that’s what I will say for now.

14 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

Gowon,Oshiomhole, Tambuwal, Soyinka, extol the virtues of Oba of Benin BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, Benin City

VER N200million was realized Thursday at a book presentation by the Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa. The book was titled “Cradle of Ideas: a Compendium of Speeches and Writings of Omo N’Oba Erediauwa of Great Benin Kingdom..” The entire Benin Kingdom stood still for the Benin Monarch. Dignitaries including Governor Adams Oshiomhole; the former Head of state, Gen.Yakubu Gowon; Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; Chief E K Clark,; Captain Hosa Okunbor; Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka; Senate President, David Mark (who was represented by the senator representing Edo South senatorial district, Senator Ehigie Uzamere); Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Samson Osagie; Rasaq Bello Osagie; Kola Abiola; representatives of the governors of Lagos, Ekiti and Anambra states; traditional rulers from the three senatorial districts of Edo state and several others graced the occasion. Chairman of the occasion, Gen.Gowon, asserted that the scholarly disposition of his majesty who is indeed one of “Nigeria’s and Africa’s most educated and articulate monarch is not in doubt here”. According to him, “The title of this collection is quite interesting because it is a distillation of the essence of his majesty. Let us look at it this way, when a man is 90 years old, retired from the civil service 40 years ago and ascended the throne of his father 34 years ago ,what else can he be if not a repository of knowledge and culture? “His majesty is a welleducated, a widely travelled man, a man of culture and today on whose shoulder rest the custom and tradition of his people. We have seen that in all ramification that the Omo ‘N Oba is a well-rounded person and his source of ideas could only be likened to a cradle”. Gowon further stressed the need for traditional rulers to be accorded visible role in the constitution, asserting that the role of traditional rulers in the Constitution will enable the nation tap from the knowledge of the custodians of our culture and insulate them from politics, pointing out that his administration benefitted from engaging traditional rulers on key matters on nation-building, which according to him, helped to stabilize the polity.The former Head of State specifically recalled the contributions of Oba Akenzua in this regard, saying “that I can never C M Y K

forget,” just as he added that contributions from traditional rulers helped to moderate crisis. According to him, “What this further means is that we cannot run from the fact that the traditional institution needs to be properly accommodated in the constitution of the federal republic of the Nigeria. “ In the same way, that the advisory role of traditional rulers should be properly recognised, pre and post-independence through their contribution through the emirate council and the house of chiefs. “Constitutional recognition of traditional institution will ensure that the nation taps from the fountain of knowledge of the custodians of culture and tradition. It will I believe help to insulate our traditional rulers from practising politics so that Royal dignity can be preserved” he stated. He however observed that while reviewing the book that “my second concern is on the position of his majesty that traditional institutions were not accorded pride and place under the military especially between 1966 and 1975. As you know that period on the reference coincided with my leadership of the federal government of Nigeria. With all due respect, I do hold a contrary view of what was contained in the book. “ No doubt, this was a difficult period of our dear country but it was also a period under which we demonstrated absolute respect for traditional institution. In the absence of political leaderships,various Emirs, Chiefs, Obas served as councillors to our administration and to the various administrators. They were consulted on critical issues and their counsel were highly considered in the course of taking decisions that imparted the lives of our people and the livelihood of our nation at large”. Speaking also, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal who described himself as a son of the soil due to his love for the customs and traditions of Benin Kingdom, said “as a matter of fact, his royal majesty is one of the most outstanding traditional leaders in the country and one of the most reverred and to those of us who are younger both in age and at heart, we have a lot to learn from the words of wisdom of our elders much more the word of his royal highness, the Oba of Benin. “This book should be a book not for keeps but should be a book that should be your companion wherever you may be because you continuously need to go through it to learn, to add to your wisdom, to drink from the fountain of old wisdom of his royal majesty. So the book

I recommend it’s not for keeps but should be your companion” he stated. The chief host, Governor Oshiomhole noted that he had fallen in love with the Benin Monarch while he was President of the NLC, saying that he would ensure that the book is kept in all the tertiary institutons in the state so that the younger generation will tap from his words of wisdom. He further described the monarch as Nigeria’s most principled father of his own generation. Presenting the book, Nobel L aureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, said he shared two things with the Oba of Benin - Government College, Ibadan, which both of them attended, and the Oba’s view that Benin’s stolen arts would have been returned if the British authorities who looted them were approached appropriately. He said the expedition looters of 1897 were interested in looting of treasures in the palace of the Oba of Benin because they knew the values and were not bothered about the consequences of the invasion. “One thing I love in the book is that the Oba yabbed everybody,” Prof. Soyinka said, and described the Oba as a “brutally-speaking Oba.” Reviewing the book, Prof. Eghosa Osagie, said it among other things, recommended a new constitution based on national ethos of ethnic nationalities, a new political order that guarantees a stable social system and development, devolution of powers and a return to parliamentary system of government. Chief Launcher on the occasion and Chairman/ Chief Executive, Ocean Marine Nigeria Limited, Capt. Idahosa Okunbo, supported by his friends, bought 20 copies of the book with N50 million. Governor Oshiomhole on behalf of the state government, bought copies of the book for distribution to tertiary institutions and all principals of secondary schools with N60 million, while the 18 local government councils in the state also bought copies of the book with N36 million.Others were Aliko Dangote, N10 million; Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, N10 million; Katsina state government,N1 million; while Senate President, David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, purchased 109 and 360 copies of the book respectively for members of the and House of Representatives.The Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Prince Ehenede, who represented the Oba of Benin at the occasion, expressed gratitude to all those that attended the ceremony, particularly Gen Gowon who agreed to chair the occasion.

L-R: Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Prince Ehenede Erediauwa and Gen Gowon

L-R: Crown Prince and Prof. Gregory Akenzua

L-R: Crown Prince, Prof Wole Soyinka (m) and Captain Hosa (Chief Launcher)

L-R: Speaker Tambuwal (l) Gov Oshiomhole (2nd l), Gen.Gowon (m) and Crown Prince

Unveiling of the book by the book presenter, Prof Soyinka (r) and Oshiomhole

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—15

rmed robbers visit your house, spending over three harrowing and traumatic hours with you and your family. Young men who are not older than your first child, or who, given their scruffiness, could easily be your mechanic or house boy slap you around and kick your butt if you are tardy in obeying their rapid fire instructions. You willingly give your wrist watch, your wedding band and choice belongings. You watch helplessly, as your wife is led to where her valuables are and with trembling fingers, reluctantly give her life savings in jewelleries. At the crack of dawn, neighbours who had cowed under the bed during your hours of ordeal now come out of the woodwork to sympathise—you wonder if it is really sympathy or curiosity. They take a look at the physical wreck your home has become; the emotional wreck your family has become; the shame and disorientation you are trying stoically to mask; and someone in the crowd says, ‘lets thank God that nobody is harmed’. How about internal injuries? The kind that takes longer to heal?’ you want to ask. Another one says ‘at least they didn’t touch your wife and daughter’. On hearing that they did touch your wife or daughter, there is stunned silence until another well wisher says ‘well, let us thank God for life’. What life? You want to ask again. But you know it is a futile question. Not once does any one talk about apprehending the robbers or ensuring that it does not happen again.

answer was that Oloye had earlier promised his father who was his close friend, but of recent, he was beginning to double speak. So my friend was determined to snub Oloye and prove that he could win the election without his support. Win Kwara State without Dr Olusola Saraki’s support? I could only shake my head. It is this same foolhardiness called optimism, that has made very rich, but very unwise men to come out to vie for the gubernatorial election of Anambra State when nothing in what happened in Kwara and Kogi States a few weeks earlier had changed. I could have told them who was going to win for free. Yet they pumped money and energy into a futile exercise thereby giving credibility to a flawed process. Now they are shouting blue murder.

omeone once asked Fela what would happen in the country after the June 12 fiasco. ‘Nothing’ he replied. ‘Abiola go dey shout and Abacha go dey rule’. This was almost 20 years ago. Has anything changed to make us believe we the electorate can influence elections? In other words, has the presidency done anything to make the electoral process more credible? Has the Civil Society done anything? Has INEC done anything? Finally, have the people themselves who stand to gain from government of the people for the people done anything? So if we have been using the same methods that have been failing since 1959, why do we suddenly expect a different outcome when the stakes are even higher today? Anambra is a small but intellectually endowed state. What happened last fortnight was a disgrace; to Anambrans, to the South East zone, to Nigerians. Why should a credible bye election in a state that small be impossible to conduct if there was no hidden agenda? And why did the political class, the civil society and the populace not expect a hidden agenda and what did we do to confront it? I can tell you, again for free, that it will be more of the same in 2015 if we don’t push for major structural changes in the way we conduct our elections. And the time to do it is now. Otherwise, as Fela would say ‘opposition go dey shout and Jonathan go dey rule’. Sometimes I wonder why we bother with elections. It would be cheaper to dispense with the pretence and just allocate votes. In any case, isn’t that what we do at the end of the day after billions would have gone down the drain? I must give kudos to the INEC chairman though. He knows how to take care of his Ivory Tower constituency.

We are an incredibly optimistic lot who refuse to learn from the lessons of the past

man loses everything to an over night fire and escapes with only the shirt on his back. When a well wisher who prays to God to use the loss to replace life is told that the last two children died in the inferno, he quickly changes the prayer. ‘The Lord knows best’ he says and urges the victim to look at the brighter side when all this man can see is darkness; and it is not from the thick smoke fumes alone. Again, no mention of measures that will ensure there is no fire next time. Yes, we are an incredibly optimistic lot who refuse to learn from the lessons of the past. Half of the things that have happened in our dear country would have caused upheavals else where. Yet we keep looking for the elusive bright side, we keep looking for alibi, for excuses. As Fela put it so succinctly many years ago, ‘we keep suffering and smiling’ The class of Nigerians that takes the medal in optimism – or self denial—is the political class. I have been around politicians for long as a journalist yet I have never seized to be amazed at how optimistic they are. A friend once told me he was going to contest for the governorship of Kwara State. I asked him if he had consulted Oloye. His C M Y K

You can cchange hange yyour our destin destinyy T

oo many people are today being de ceived that their future is hopeless and that nothing good can come out of it. They have been lied to by satan that change is not possible. Some believe this lie or their present situation because probably they have tried certain things for years and yet no positive change has occurred. Thus, they have concluded that their lives can never be better. God has sent me to you today to let you know that His thought concerning you is of peace and not of evil and to give you an expected glorious end, a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11). God did not create you with a destiny that is useless. God is a glorious God. Everything He does is wonderful. This is why I know that your life is planned with great wonders waiting to happen. Don’t believe the lie that your present status is your destiny. It is not true. It can be changed. You can change it. Jabez in the Bible, was given the name by his mother. Jabez means sorrow, pain, displeasure etc. jabez was not responsible for his mother’s condition at birth yet the mother gave him a name that for a season was controlling his life. He saw himself as a hopeless person. Nothing seems to work for him. His brothers were celebrated everywhere they went while he was neglected. He was not recognized. He was despised by all. Everywhere he turned to, he could only see sorrow. His life was not only complicated but also messed up. To man there was no way out for him. He has no future and so he was not important. One beautiful thing about this whole situation was that his case seems unbearable. One would be wondering where is God? After all Jabez did not conceive himself, why should he be made to suffer unjustly. The truth is that before any man is formed God already knows. Remember Jer. 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations”. So you see the destiny of a man is not in the hands of any man. It is in your hands. God never created anyone useless. There is no uselessness in God. He is an excellent God. Thus you are an excellent person. You may not look like it right now but that is the truth. Shortly, all those that look down on you will regret it because your destiny will soon change for good. The best of God in your life will start to show forth. I perceive a stirring up in your Spirit. It is time to rise up. C

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Jabez accepted his situation until a day and time like this when he said to himself God is a good God and so my destiny cannot be hopeless but colourful. He rose and saw himself beyond been sorrowful. He saw that there is a God who changed the life of Jacob and made up his mind to call upon that same God that is the same yesterday, today and forever. The God who said call upon me and I will hear and answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not presently know. Thus, in 1 Chron. 4:9-10, the Bible states, “And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Isreal, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested”. From the text above, Jabez’s destiny as orchestrated by the devil through the mother was changed by him. Jabez had to rise to the reality that he was not created for pain, shame and sorrow. This applies to you today. You can change your destiny now. The God who did it for Jabez will also do it for you. First, do you really desire a change? How desperate are you? When you are truly desperate for a change, change will become inevitable. Call on God now from the depth of your heart. Cry out like the Isrealites did while in Egypt and God will hear you and change your destiny. Satan has denied you your glorious destiny for too long and it’s time to put an end to it now. Pray fervently about the change you desire and your destiny will begin to shine. To manifest testimonies like never before, you must constantly give Him thanks because it is His will. In doing His will, you will be pleasing Him and in return there shall be restoration in every area of your life because He reigns forever. Keep thanking Him and

God never created anyone useless. There is no uselessness in God. He is an excellent God.

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testimonies shall not cease in your mouth every day, week and month this year. God bless you and bless our great nation Nigeria. Have you given your life to Jesus? If not, please pray this prayer. Father, I come to you as I am. I invite Jesus into my life to be my personal Lord and Saviour. Wash me cleanse with the blood of Jesus and empower me with the power of your Holy Spirit. Thank you Father for saving my soul and making me your child. Your prayer request and praise reports will be welcome. Our contact details are below. You can also partner with us by supporting us financially.

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

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

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

t was the picture of Tony Nwoye, the PDP guberna torial candidate in Anambra gubernatorial election on the front page of Sunday Vanguard of November 17, 2013 that touched me the most. The candidate looked beaten and frustrated, sweating profusely after he could not find his name in INEC voters register. Simply put, if he were to be the only person voting for himself , he clearly had missed that opportunity to exercise his franchise. That apart, what about the several others whose names were not found in INEC voters register? That is besides election officials not being deployed in sufficient number to some polling units on the election day, making it difficult for those officials posted to the units to effectively carry out their duties and some voters like Tony Nwoye not finding their names in the voters register in many polling units. It’s calming for INEC to have resolved to conduct fresh elections in some areas that had logistic problems but what could be done about those whose names were not found in INEC register? Will such people have another opportunity this time to exercise their franchise? Anambra is just one state out of 36 states of the federation and INEC couldn’t prove beyond reasonable doubt that it could be trusted in one state let alone across the federation in 2015. Just before the election, allegations of INEC ‘s high level of incompetence in registering voters, compiling, maintaining, revising and updating voters register on continuous basis which would disenfranchise many from voting were rife. Nothing was obviously done about it and so, it came to pass. All these reports about police using tear-gas to disperse protesting women who were disenfranchised could have been avoided if Jega and his crew did their home work very well before the D-day. The initial reaction when the allegation was made about three weeks ago that some voters didn’t know when, how, and where INEC conducted its continuous voters registration and revalidation exercise as ordered by Section 9(1) and 10(1) of the Nigeria’s Electoral act of 2010 was that Jega’s enemies were at work. But it didn’t appear so anymore. The number of polling centers and registered voters which were given as 1,711,061 and 4, 608, were not verified. About 300,685 names were altered from the list of voters while the 93,000 double registrants in the state’s voters’ register could not be ascertained. INEC itself announced missing 53 polling centres in the voters register which included 34 in Awka South LGA,one in Ayamelum LGA, two in Anambra East LGA, two in Ihiala LGA, one in Idemmili North LGA, four in Nnewi South LGA and five in Nnewi North LGA. Why was the electoral body not able to secure its data before the D-day? INEC could have avoided the embarrassment it is suffering today if it had been more careful. But there are people who are satisfied with the conduct of the gubernatorial election and the result released by the same Independent National Electoral Commission and understandably, these are people favourable to Chief Willie Obiano of APGA as the next gov-

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Pity, Jega failed this test

ernor of Anambra State and who are satisfied with Peter Obi’s achievements as governor of the state. These people are not worried about hitch-free election as a test run of INEC’s competence to conduct the 2015 presidential poll or about the sabotage by desperate politicians which led to the cancellation of election in some polling centres. With the results announced so far, APGA is leading with 174, 710 votes against PDP 94,956, APC 92,300 and Labour Party 34,444. Many are confidentthat with these figures, INEC should declare APGA winner of

the election. But the controversies that characterised the election are too many to wish away. Agreed, Anambra state is an APGA stronghold and could still have won without any flaws but these obvious flaws are a reflection of INEC’s dismal performance as an umpire. For that, the Anambra 16 November, 2013 governorship election will remain a fluke in the perception of many. INEC does not need any soothsayer to reveal that it goofed! How would Jega and his INEC expect Nigerians to trust them for free and fair 2015 elections? The Anambra situation has re-

vealed that INEC is still unable to deal with the consistent challenge of late distribution of election materials and commencement of accreditation and voting. There was also reported mix-up of the election materials for certain areas and that is a clear reflection that INEC failed to respond to challenges in a timely and effective way. INEC officials were accused of exercising impunity, recklessness and dictatorial tendencies. INEC did not deliver to the people as it promised. It did not bequeath to Anambra people the sound election they

nPDP : The confusion rages

The opposition members of PDP that recently defected to APC took many by surprise. That is considering many circumstances. But what is really more baffling is that the former National Secretary of the party, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola whose photo was shown on TV embracing one of the top notchers of APC came out again to deny defecting to APC. How come? He was more militant in his approach to the crisis than the rest of the opposition members. In fact, there is always this feeling that Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola who was consistently poking his fingers in the eyes of PDP leadership has strong sponsors in the opposition party. And how does he expect to be fully reconciled to PDP with his consistent stance of fighting the party? From the time the court first relieved him of his position as National Secretary of the party; to the period of PDP mini convention and to the formation of nPDP with Baraje and G7 governors, he did not act as someone who had the interest of the survival of PDP at heart. His disposition seemed confrontational. He was always eager to spill everything on the pages of newspapers instead of showing passion for wanting to remain in PDP. If he didn’t join other opposition members to defect to APC, how come he was at the meeting where the decision to defect was finalised? What exactly does he want? If he wants to remain in PDP, how come he didn’t submit himself to the disciplinary committee of PDP to decide his fate? Many are beginning to feel he wants to be a mole for the APC inside PDP. Right or wrong? He alone knows. Indeed, publicity, especially when one is attacking the powers that be is sweet but

with the way things are going, a time will come when the remaining aggrieved members would either reconcile with the ruling party or join forces with APC leaving Oyinlola out in the cold! Let him take a closer look at things. What does he want in PDP now? An opportunity has come for him to defect to where he rightly belongs but he is blinking in the dark. Or is he still expecting to be fully reconciled to a party he has been spitting on its face and still maintain his capacity as the custodian of the seal of the party? Does he even have access to the seal of the party, let alone be it’s custodian? If he truly loves PDP, shouldn’t he be committed to every attempt to broker peace amongst aggrieved members and become part of the peace process? He claimed he has not relinguished his mandate as the National Secretary of the party and yet he was attending meetings with opposition APC. That was speaking from the two sides of the mouth! If Oyinlola is truly committed to the survival of PDP, he should prove that beyond reasonable doubt by talking less on the pages of newspapers. It is not possible to serve two masters at the same time and that appears to be what he is doing! While snubbing the disciplinary committee constituted by the leadership of PDP , Oyinlola in his ‘wisdom’ alleged that the committee was not validly created and that Umaru Dikko, the Chairman of the committee is the National Chairman of another political party and not a member of PDP! He should know that opposition is waiting for a man like him but if they succeed in using him as a willing tool to undo his party, the same opposition will equally sweep

were clamouring for. It created room for suspicion. INEC in that litmus test failed to prove to the public its commitment to uphold integrity, fairness and impartiality as an umpire of the electoral process. Some of it’s officials sold out! This time, INEC should eat the humble pie and look inwards to determine what the real issues are. But the one truth the other 22 candidates should know is that calling for cancellation of the entire result is not acceptable. APGA is the party on ground in Anambra state and it is almost near impossible to defeat a party which has the power of incumbency. I make bold to say that despite the hitches in many places which led to the cancellation of the poll in those places, the November 16 poll was substantially credible. There was no recorded violence. Some mischievous journalists had even before that election cast headlines like ‘violence mars Anambra election’ in anticipation of outbreak of violence. They were disappointed. And so, I wouldn’t support anybody calling for cancellation of results. Dr Chris Ngige knows this truth. And so also do Tony Nwoye and Ifeanyi Uba. Nwoye couldn’t have expected to win an election where he was cleared to contest only ten days to the election. The controversial issues in his own party were also against him. But when INEC failed to capture his name in the voters register, it gave him reasons to complain loudly. Whether we like it or not, APGA in the results so far released met the constitutional requirement of winning 25% in 18 Local Government Areas which none of the 22 other political parties that participated in the election can obtain in the re-scheduled election. So, even if Obiano doesn’t win in some of the places for rerun and supplementary election, he still remains the winner of the election except if the courts have cause to say otherwise. The people’s mandate is supreme for now and so INEC should comply by declaring the winner. Today is another day, we should avoid story-telling in today’s polls.

him out eventually because what goes around, comes around. As for the defector Governors, Nigerians are waiting to see how they would control APC structures in the states where they are governors because before this time, those structures were already under the control of some politicians. Will these simply jettison the APC structures in their states for their new members? Just like that? Is somebody beginning to see some of the hurdles facing the defector governors? There’s still wisdom on the part of Lamido of Jigawa and Aliyu Babangida of Niger to weigh their options very well. It’s only fools that rush in where angels fear to tread. While I am not joining forces with those who are predicting that the marriage would not last but as noted in this column sometime, APC will implode and the recent defection is a testament to that because in states like Kano, and Sokoto, things may snap sooner than expected. The second thing is, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission may have started dusting the files of some of the defector governors with the aim of digging up some dirts in their history. And will these governors really play prominent roles in determining who emerges as the APC presidential candidate for the next elections and be actively involved in the APC convention? Of course, Aminu Tambuwal is the new bride of APC who’s likely to be nominated for 2015 presidency. But will ‘aggrieved’ members of APC allow him? Ofcourse, APC has aggrieved members too! Sokoto and Kano where the governors and their predecessors are at loggerheads will likely experience mayhem. But then, some of these defector governors are serving their last term and may have nothing to lose!

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—17

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18—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

BY ANOZIE EGOLE

g n i h Switc r u o y to s ’ e s u spo r e t f a h c r u h C ! e g a i marr

She has to follow me — Emeka Ossai, Actor believe that when you are married to a Ishipman, you will convert to his religion or woraccording to his faith. Which means, ev-

hen you’re newly married, and all is sweetness and light, it seems easy to overlook certain things in order to please your spouse. This time of agreement often extends to your choice of place of worship. For the sake of marital vows, can you leave your Church for your spouse’s Church? This is the disturbing question, our reporter poses to some celebrities..

erything that has to be done must be according to his faith. That is the way it is supposed to be.

Why not?

— Angela Okorie, Actress as much as we are worshipping the IWhynsame God, I will definitely follow him. won’t I follow him? I can’t follow her — Charles Awurum,

Actor

don’t think I will be prepared to obey her. If I am the man in the house, she has to follow me to my own church. I am the one who married her. If she insists that I must follow her to her church, then it means that I am not in charge.

I can join my husband in his place of worship —Cossy Orjiakor, Actress

ell, I am not really a religious fanatic. But I can join my husband in his place of worship. I go to church once in a while. Most times, I prefer to stay at home. C M Y K

Love conquers all — Ayo Adesanya, Actress

can marry him. I believe that love conquers all.. With love, you can do the unexpected. I can mar ry every other person as far as we love each other. In fact, with love, we can turn around things. So, I have no problems with that

I have never thought of it —Beverly Naya, Actress

rankly speaking, I have never thought of it. I have always dreamed of a fairytale wedding. But it’s very unlikely that I will marry someone who is not a christian. He may be worshipping in another church. This is for the sake of our happiness and that of our unborn children.

I will follow him — Biodun Okewo, Actress

es, I will follow him because he is my

husband. He is the head of the family and since I am married to him, I am married to everything that has to do with him. I will definitely follow him to his church.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—19

Aunty Julie,

I am not enough for him

’m dating this awesome guy and we love each other so much but he watches porn on the internet so that he can pleasure himself. I don’t know how to react. Why would he do this? It makes me feel like I can’t pleasure him or maybe I’m not there much. So my question is: should I worry about it? Or just let him do what he wants? I just feel like I am not enough for him because I really don’t know what he’s looking for.

Udee, Cross River Dear Udee, You love your man so much. Your only concern is that he watches pornographic movies so that he can pleasure himself. First, you must understand that he’s doing that not because you’re not good enough for him. People who are stuck on pornography will view nude images no matter how much their wives try to please them sexually. The problem is not with you but with him. Should you worry about it? No. Worrying about it can lead to nagging which will only serve to compound the situation. But you should be concerned about his bad habit and try to help him. See this as one of the challenges in your love relationship. It is a hurdle you must cross to enjoy a stress-free love life. Why should you be concerned? Why should you not let him do just anything he wants? Why should you rebuke him for viewing pornographic images? The simple reason is . . . pornography eventually causes problems for a love relationship. How? It causes problems in at least three ways. It awakens in your man desires and fantasies that he may seek to fulfill in real life. And those fantasies may not be practical. If he can’t get you to experiment those orgies with him, he may seek it elsewhere. Pornographic models are real people with real addresses. People who meet online can arrange to meet offline to continue the relationship.

Pornography promotes loose living. It teaches its devotees to hold, kiss, and engage in sex with whomever they meet. No

She doesn’t trust me

caution, no sense of commitment. Sooner or later, devotees of pornography display some level of loose conduct. So, should you be concerned? Of course, yes. However, you can’t help him by engaging him in a quarrel, screaming at the top of your voice, or nagging. Subtle means such as appealing to his sense of reason seems to help. Remember that pornography is an addiction and it takes time to get over it. And even after the addict has broken free, there’s always the temptation to go back because pornography is everywhere and is extremely cheap. So, what should you do now? Be calm .Talk to him about it openly. Ask him why he likes it and tell him why you think it’s wrong . Then reason with him. Ask him what he wants for your love relationship. Help him see that viewing nude pictures won’t help your love relationship.

Dear Julie, I am 29 and I like this girl. She makes me feel different than any other girl I’ve met. I insisted to buy her gifts and bring it to her school though I do not go to her school. But she goes to my church. We have talked a lot, and I have drawn the attention of many people to her. I admit fault but yet she is still so untrusting and I told her I couldn’t be just friends. But I am willing to do whatever. What is there left to do? I can’t lose this girl. Bryan, Lagos Dear Bryan, Have you asked her why she is untrusting? She alone knows why and only she can tell you exactly why she is so untrusting. One source describes a woman’s heart as a deep ocean. Sometimes, it’s difficult to know for sure what’s in there. But then that applies as much to men as to women. The human heart is a deep ocean. When someone tells you something, it’s difficult to tell whether the person is lying or not except if the person has a reputation for lying. How does this apply to your situation? Well, she has a reason for not trusting what you say. You say you love her. You say you will do whatever it takes to win her. It sounds to me as if your love is genuine. But obviously, she has doubts about the genuineness of your love. Maybe she has been jilted before. Maybe someone has broken her heart before. If not, then maybe she has read or watched a number of heartbreak stories. Or she may have a friend or relative who have been broken hearted. Whatever the case, she has doubts about the genuineness of your love. How will you convince her that your love is true love? First, don’t pressure her excessively. Sometimes, men who pressure or ‘harass’ women to love them turn out to be bullies - men who just won’t take ‘no’ and will bully you until you’re forced to do things their way. Perhaps that’s what makes her scared of loving you. Dramatic men can be tough to handle. They just won’t see things your way and they insist you must do things their way. That’s enough to scare any sane girl.

He left me after 28 years Dear Julie,

have had a broken heart for years. My husband left me after 28 years for someone the same age as our daughter. What do I do to get over this? Aisha, Lagos Dear Aisha, Few women would expect their husbands to leave them after 28 years of marriage because it is expected that you would have been through rough times together and learnt to survive as one. Unfortunately, he left for someone younger. I can only imagine how you feel. And I know it must be terrible. You have endured this heartbreak for years. Obviously, you still feel a deep cut otherwise you wouldn’t have asked this question. So, what do you do to get over your heartbreak? The truth is, there’s no magic cure for your emotional pains. However, you can get over this. How? By letting go of the tough feelings. But how do you let go? Stop blaming yourself. Okay, maybe you could have saved the situation by doing certain things but that’s only an illusion. You don’t know that for sure. He left. He betrayed your trust. He is unfaithful. It’s not your fault! Say that to yourself and believe it. It may ease the pain. Get busy. Help people in need When you get preoccupied with your loss, you become myopic and narrow-minded.

And you feel like dying. However, when you step out of the door and see what others have to endure, you realize your problems are minute. Make a decision today. Reach out and help other people. You can do this via a volunteer service that provides assistance to people in need. It may be in your

neighbourhood or through your church. Reach out and help. Put a smile on someone’s face. Show them life is worth living. The more you do this, the more

you realize that there’s more to being alive than being married. This is your ticket to do something truly wonderful with your life. Use it.

My guy has wandering eyes Aunty Julie, I have been with this guy for 15 years since I was 15 years old, now I’m 30 and not once has he asked me to marry him. Now we have two kids, one 9 the other 5 and I am still confused if I should stay with him or not. Over the years, we have had some rough times but many good times as well. I just don’t feel like he sees me the way he used to and the truth is I am beginning to feel quite insecure with myself especially since I gained some weight. I am scared that I might be stuck with him for the next 30 years living the same old way. I love him and he loves me I believe but I am beginning to feel the eyes wandering on his part. I don’t want my kids to be without a father and besides, he is a very good father to them. I am just confused and don’t know what to do. What would you advise? Ebun, Ibadan Dear Ebun, Fifteen years is a long time to be together without being married. Why hasn’t he asked you to marry him all this while? Well, it’s convenient for him. He can walk out of the love relationship anytime because he has no serious obligations. Marriage is a sign of commitment. Each time the man thinks of going wayward, he remembers his

obligation and the cost of breaking up. My first advice? Get married to him if you really love him. Marriage cements a love relationship. It doesn’t matter that he hasn’t asked you. This is not a fresh relationship. You’re in it already. He’s already a huge part of your life. Right now, you shouldn’t wait for him to ask you. You ask him if he’s reluctant to ask. You said, “I just don’t feel like he sees me the way he used to”. Is that just a feeling or is that reality? Let me rephrase. Is it true that he does not see you the way he used to or you just feel he does not? If it’s true that he does not, has he changed for better or for worse? Is he less respectful of you? Does he listen to you less? Is he less empathetic ; less loving; less caring; less open to conversation and less husbandly or less understanding? You have to be able to distinguish between what you feel and what’s the case about your feeling of insecurity. Is it because he does not see you the way he used to or because you’ve gained weight? It’s well known that women are a bit more concerned about their weight than men are and are quick to attribute any change in behaviour of their partners to their increase in weight. If you’re concerned about what he thinks of your weight, ask him directly or indirectly. If you discover your weight is the cause of his worries, do something about it without being hysterical.

C O C K - T A L E S Home insecurity As I stepped out of the shower, I heard someone in my kitchen downstairs. Knowing that my wife was out, I grabbed my 1903 heirloom rifle—which no longer works—and crept downstairs, forgetting the fact that I was in my birthday suit.I came around the corner with the gun raised, only to find my wife loading the dishwasher.“What are you doing?” she asked. “I thought I heard an intruder. “I came down to scare him.” Scanning the contours of my doughy, naked body, she mumbled, “You didn’t need the gun.”

C M Y K

The three week diet A man says to a friend, “My wife is on a three-week diet.” “Oh, yeah? How much has she lost so far?” asks his pal. He replies, “Two weeks.” Exhibit A-Cup A man, shocked by how his buddy is dressed, asks him, “How long have you been wearing that bra?” The friend replies, “Ever since my wife found it in the glove compartment.” In your dreams

On the morning of her birthday, a woman told her husband, “I just dreamed that you gave me “a diamond necklace. What do you think it means?” “Maybe you’ll find out tonight,” he said. That evening, the man came home with a small package and gave it to his wife. She ripped off the wrapping paper and found a book titled The Meaning of Dreams. How I met your father Studying our wedding photos, my six-year-old asked, “Did you marry Dad because he was good-looking?” “Not really,” I replied. “Did you marry him for his money?” “Definitely not,” I laughed. “He didn’t have any.”“So,” he said, “you just felt sorry for him.”

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30 30, 2013 08052201257

ouples argue or quarrel from time to time. This happens naturally but what transpires during the fight can make or mar the relationship. Women are sensitive and possess fragile emotional levels. What many men consider to be a joke may lead women to blasting expressions especially when they are angry or depressed. Men need to be cautious to talk to them or even approach them. Dealing with an arguing or fighting woman is intimidating for most of the men. They wait to cling to your most innocent jokes and the simplest expressions of humour. There are certain things a man should never tell a woman during a fight. What comes out so spontaneously may turn explosive at such instances. Don’t use the word relax The word relax is a forbidden phrase in fight. By asking her to relax, you are indirectly indicating that she is out of mood and out of control, while she thinks that she is really serious on what she is trying to prove. Many men ask the question, are you mad? This is also equally detrimental to ask a fighting woman. Never try to prove that you are okay and the lady is abnormal. Do not even hint that she is talking nonsense, even if you are right to say so. Anything that puts them down during the fight will be resisted with utmost sense of defense. Don’t talk about love or sex Using ‘I love you’, or ‘can I kiss you’ type expressions are forbidden in a fight. The immediate answer will be a denial and it will only help to prolong the fight. Women may

consider the expressions as a way to divert attention and trying to play with her emotions. Do not even ask ‘how do you want it tonight’ questions. Direct mentioning of sex during a fight may worsen the condition than ever. Sex is not a

What guys shouldn’t do while fighting with their partners source of calming down for women; they enjoy it when they are calmed down. Avoid words about her past life Mentioning her ex-boyfriends or ex-husband while you fight may make her angrier. If you really wish to put an end to the fight in the most peaceful way possible, then keep mum even if she blasts at you about your past relationships. Never ask her ‘how many men have you slept with’. It just irritates the woman and she may go to unexpected extents of anger and hatred. She may consider the expressions as a trick to humiliate her or belittle her by reminding her of the past life. Do not go on apologizing Apologizing with a fighting woman many times bring back the negative results. When the man apologizes, she just jumps into the conclusion that he is mistaken not her. Silence or less-hurting arguments are better to calm down an angry woman. Do

If you really wish to put an end to the fight in the most peaceful way possible, then keep mum even if she blasts at you about your past relationships not admit all the mistakes at the first instance, which you may think may put an end to the issue. But the woman may feast on your sentiments and put you down to the soil. Try to defend your arguments in the mildest possible way.

I 'm afraid of being hurt I have a stumbling block which is hindering my relationship with the man I truly love. I still put up my walls as I am afraid that I will be hurt if I get too close to him. I have known him for one year and two months and he has given to me a promise ring that symbolizes our love for one another. How can I get these walls down once and for all so that I can re-assure him that my love is truly real for him? He has reassured me more than once that he loves me dearly and that he is my protector and does not doubt my love for him but he

does not understand the walls. Please can you help me as I am lost and I need to get my strength back. Abigail, Benin Ans: One year and two months is a long time, enough time to know the true nature and intentions of your man. You say he has re-assured you more than once that he loves you dearly. That’s great. But do you have reasons to doubt him? Is his love genuine and straight from the heart? If your answer to both question is YES, then the problem is not him but you. So, what could be the problem? What’s stopping you from trusting him? Why are you afraid that you will be hurt? Most women who put up walls and have difficulty trusting 100% the

man they love is due to past experience. These class of women loved a man in the past with their whole heart. They invested everything they had in the love relationship. And everything went well for a long time. Then suddenly, and for flimsy reasons, the man came to her door one day and said it was all over. He said he was sorry. But that doesn’t help. The breakup hurts these women deeply. The man they loved was so sweet and caring but what got over him? How could he just abandon her for some other woman after all his promises? Some women’s world fall apart. Many survive and find love again after a long while. But even at that, there’s this inner fear of uncertainty. The new love is

Do not pretend as if you did not pay attention Asking ‘ what did you say? I didn’t listen’, question is a big no in fighting. When you ask this, it gives a hint that you consider her talks as unimportant and not worthy to be listened to. Even if you didn’t listen, she is not going to repeat it to you. Trying to divert her attention to some other things may make her furious. Just pretend as if she says wonderful things and you listen and understand each word of it. With your body language and gestures, just convey that you are grasping what she says. Fights are not occasions to impose your ideas, thoughts, demands and desires on the other person. Fights are, in fact, uncontrolled moments in life and if people do not learn to deal with such situations in most mature way, the life can be hell and relationships so unstable. Fights are not times of communication; what happens in fight are thoughtless expressions of anger and frustrations. sweet, perhaps even sweeter than the previous love. He promises her the world like the previous lover. He makes her world go round like the previous lover. Is his affection genuine? Your heartbreaking experience with love relationships or those of someone you know may form the basis of your fears and the walls you put up. After being hurt once, you take everything a man says with a pinch of salt knowingly or unknowingly. So, what should you do to break down these walls and take him for his words? First, be convinced that he loves you. How? Decision time. Can you trust him to keep his promises? Does his attitude and approach to life and loving label him as a heart breaker? When you’ve convinced yourself his love is genuine, then start on the next step. What’s that? Build a solid bridge that’s unbreakable.

• Bamidele, 46, civil servant,from Osun lady between the ages of 20-29 State, needs a God-fearing lady of 28-45 for a for a serious relationship that will serious relationship on 08109655702 lead to marriage on •Efosa, 33, from Benin, needs an employed 07014805091 and hardworking lady aged 30-50 for a •Ifeanyi, male, dark skinned, marriage-bound relationship on graduate, HIV Positive, employed, based in Benin, needs an employed, aged 38, based in Port07052234100 educated man who is employed and also HIV Positive from 37 Harcourt, desires a caring lady of •Tola, 30, humble, gentle, tall, seeks a years and above for marriage on 08105843930 faithful, God-fearing soul-mate of 25-30 for 25-30 for relationship on •Romeo, 29, from Delta, wants to be linked with a working class marriage on 08133490248 07055030185 • Ugochukwu, businessman, from Anambra • Akeju,29, needs a State ,36 years, wants to be linked to a Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want woman of 25 years working class lady aged 29-35 for a marital relationship on 08148027737 on 08083286432 •Michael, 26, from Abia State, selfDo you want to be linked? •Felix, 33, based in Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting Abuja, wants a employed, wants a God-fearing and honest lady for a serious relationship on to be linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal informa- caring lady of 28-35 tion of people who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for 08109664890 on 07065191962 •Edna, female, from Edo State, 37 years,

C M Y K

SATURDAY

Vanguard,NOVEMBER 30 30,, 2013—21

Hostile mother-in-law and the scheming wife— who blinks first!

told him to keep his ears to the ground, look for one or two allies amongst the staff and tap their brain. It seemed to work for a while until one of the ‘allies’ started giving him the eye. Handsome is hardly a word to described Durmi, but he is intelligent and kind. In his early thirties, he could count the number of girlfriends he’s had on the finger. His idea of a wild night was having a good meal at a decent restaurant and topping that up with choice wine. So when he started going out with Fareedah, his mum’s personal assistant, I was happy for him. When he brought her to the house however, my enthusiasm dipped. The girl was very pretty and extremely extroverted. She

was considerably younger. What would she want with drab Dunni when she could have her pick of men? But then, I chided myself, she could have had her heart broken by a few Casanovas and wanted to give Mr. Nice Man a chance. Dunni admitted he was a bit wary of falling in love with her when we next met. “But she is very caring auntie B, “ he said. “You know I didn’t have that much experience with dating women, but she’d since taken care of that. The shyness I usually felt when I was near women disappeared when I went out with her the first time and she kissed me, I could hardly contain myself. As a result, our first experience at lovemaking was almost disastrous; I had no confidence because it had been such a long time I was with a woman that it was over almost before it started. But she was patient with me and the next time was better. Now we have the sort of sex I’d only ever dreamt of...” When I asked if he’d met any of her friends and family he

told me her parents were dead. “I’ve met her friends and they are rally nice,” he assured me. “If they thought it was odd her going out with me when she was so pretty and younger, they didn’t show it. Anyway, I’ve changed so much since I met her. She’s overhauled my wardrobe and made me buy a sexier car.

might be shy and not good at socializing but she’s bringing the best out of me. Mum is my problem really. She thinks she could have her pick of men, so why would she want me if not for the family fortune? She resent the idea that I buy her expensive presents and wasn’t very happy when we both travelled out to Dubai. But I can afford all these things. The girl has given me much more happiness than I could ever hope for and mum needs to really look at me to see how happy I really am. Can you have a word with her aunty? Tell her to leave me alone and concentrate on getting better” When I eventually had time to talk to Dunni’s mum, she told me she employed Fareedah because she was a go-getter. “She had

refused to live with her until I pleaded with her to give the poor woman a chance. They both tolerated each other until she had a beautiful son. When I visited, Dunni’s mother wouldn’t have her grandchild out of her sight. ‘He’s an image of his granddad,’ she gushed. She said she didn’t give a hoot if Fareedah was bunking the whole estate — the gift of a grandson has more than made up for her shortcomings! And I was pleased for Fareedah. I mean, how lucky can one person get? At the wedding, you could see the few members of her family that attended weren’t actually rolling in the lap of luxury. Now she’s been transformed into the upper crust just because of a simple ceremony that cost her nothing but her sharp brain! And she’s done

UNNI has been a sort of little brother for years now, and he freely comes to me anytime he wants any advice. Not that much was happening in his life, not for a long time at least. An only child, he schooled in Britain and only came home when his mum had a mild stroke and could no longer run the family furniture business. His dad had passed on long before then and he confessed he couldn’t, cope. “I’m not the businessman type”, he moaned the first time he discussed the family business with me. “I’ve noticed how firm mum deals with the workers but I don’t really have the bottle. For a start, I know little or nothing about the staff, and for another I can’t really shout when things go wrong. I’m not the aggressive type,”

ways of coaxing late payments from difficult customers. I didn’t ask questions as to how she did it so successfully, but your guess is as good as mine. Now she has her claws into my son. She knows how much the business is worth and she’s happy helping him spend the money. Just look at all the expensive things she now has! Even the smart car she talked Dunni into buying is driven by her most of the time as he hasn’t really gotten used to driving on Lagos roads.* Sure, she’s brought out the best in my son and he’s besotted with her, but would she have so much patience with a pauper’s son?” I told her to leave them be and let time take its course. “Time is what I haven’t got,” she snapped. “What if she gets pregnant and he wants to marry her? What if I even died before all that

Sure, she’s brought out the best in my son and he’s besotted with her

happened? She’s not the type of woman I want as a daughter-in-law.” I reminded her of the fact that her son was not a little boy. He didn’t need her consent to marry anybody. Dunni could do worse than what he has now and she should just pray and leave the rest to fate! Not long after, her worst nightmare came true. Fareedah was pregnant. Dunni was ecstatic but his mother wasn’t. What if the pregnancy wasn’t even her son’s? But that didn’t stop the couple from having a show-stopping wedding. “Sensing her new motherin-law’s hostility, Fareedah

nothing new. Women have always married for money and now men are even joining in. A few weeks ago, a friend moaned that her son had turned into an errand boy for his wife of five years. “He helps with the two children of the marriage,” she fumed; “their two children seem to prefer he takes care of them. His bird-brain wife can’t cook to save her life. But my son says he enjoys cooking. What sort of a spineless man is that?” Spineless or not, individual happiness is paramount here. Use what you have to get all you want!

Why your sex gets better at 40!

o you dread the thought of reaching middle age? Wearing sensible shoes. Worrying about your wrinkles. Going off sex. Tutting at what young people get up to. Well forget it! Middle age has had a make-over. Two different studies have revealed that far from facing a mid-life crisis, women in their middle years are increasingly confident; having more fun; enjoying better sex than ever. So why does life get better once you leave your 30s behind? That’s the question Jill Arnold, a senior lecturer in

Psychology at Nottingham Trend University asked a group of women. At the age of 59, she felt that talking to other women about then-lives and experiences might help her to understand. Along with her photographer daughter, she launched a project to find out how women view themselves as they get older. Arnold and her daughter interviewed and photographed 50 women aged between 45 and 65. Far from meeting frumps and grumps, they found people who were

funny, creative and more sure of themselves then ever before. “I think the increased confidence comes from knowing what you want,” says Arnold. “By the time they reach middle age, many women have spent years pursuing their careers and devoting all their energy to their children. Now they are looking forward to doing more things independently, even selfishly. One woman told me that she’d always thought she would feel isolated as she grew older. But her

life is fuller than ever and she has a long list of things she wants to do with her time as soon as she retired.” Arnold believes that although older women still feels under pressure to look good, they think to themselves: “I will try to find a way that is me.” She says:It’s not that these women don’t care what anyone thinks any more. They know that they will be the judge. But they are more confident about the choices they make.

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

ast weekend had elements of both the bitter and the sweet. With the National Youth Sports Festival coming up in Abuja in December, I had looked forward to monitoring the final preparation drills of the local athletics group that I’m associated with. Only to receive the disheartening update that the sponsoring State Government had suddenly elected not to feature any representation at the high profile event due to lack of funds. Now, admittedly, this is not an unfamiliar refrain in the world of Nigerian sports. Over the years, countless opportunities for our sportsmen and women to test their mettle against the best of their peers have been scuttled for the same exact reason. Still, it made the news no more palatable. If the venue of the competition were in China or some other faraway place, one could perhaps sympathize with the excuse of funds constraint. But, come on — in our own backyard in Abuja?

y angst stemmed from my awareness of the several months that the young athletes had spent in training, with the objective of executing all the knowledge they had painstakingly acquired on whatever professional platforms were available for them to showcase their talents and commence the building of a resume that would be key to career progression. And then, just like that— gone. Months of toil and sweat —all in vain, with no tangible end product to measure (talk less of justify) the effort. What student would be overjoyed at the cancellation of an exam, months of studying had gone into preparing for? And in the face of uncertainty over when the exam might eventually take place, what motivation would there be to continue studying? For any athlete (especially an upcoming one), participation at quality competitions (whether local or international, it makes no difference) for your discipline is a necessity, not a privilege. It is vital to professional growth and development to engage in live battle and learn as much as possible

A plague of wolves from the experience. Chances of an athletics scholarship to an international univer sity (a coveted opportunity to fast track individual progress and maximize ability) would be considerably influenced by one’s track record on the local sports circuit; absenteeism at such events would be a significant professional disadvantage (not to mention the negative implications for morale). But when I lamented to an acquaintance nearby over the apparent insensitivity of the

22—SATURDAY

individuals sufficiently possessed of the requisite qualifications and goodwill to judiciously administer our God-given endowments for the benefit of all. But by diabolical design, they always seem to be excluded from any arena of meaningful influence. Instead, on far too many occasions we are invariably afflicted with public ‘servants’ who convert their privileged positions of trust and accountability into predatory toll booths that levy a charge on any transaction that requests passage through — or else.

These children were playing ‘one-touch’ soccer in the tradition of the mighty Barcelona

State’s chief decision-maker to the plight of the youths, he reminded me that as usual in this country, there might have been more to the decision than met the eye. After all, who knew what cost estimates for the trip had been presented to the Governor? If regressive precedents for similar situations in the past had been adopted, then a grossly inflated budget that included expenses for up-scale hotel lodgings, transportation, feeding, etc, for a disproportionately large number of sports officials (as compared to the athletes themselves) may well have been the chief nail in the coffin of the youths’ thwarted dreams. Which caused me to reflect for the umpteenth time on why this nation continues to labour under the curse of dysfunctional leadership? *Why are our precious resources always under the stewardship of the most inappropriate guardians? The country is replete with

In truth, it is akin to posting a wolf (of all creatures) on guard duty at the door of the sheep pen. Yes, it may vaguely resemble a German Shepherd, but there the similarities strictly end. In reality, its natural instincts are very different; its interests in direct and violent conflict with those seeking to depend on its services of protection. It is cruel to repeatedly find that the critical stations of our administrative systems are manned by the very last people who should be entrusted with such responsibilities, to the detriment of the nation as a whole. These dark ruminations were not improved by the sight of my athletics group being displaced from the track of the training facility by an U-13 zonal football qualifier that had apparently pre-booked the venue. At a loss with what to do with an apparently wasted morning, I dropped onto a concrete ledge and began to aimlessly watch the juvenile proceedings in progress.

he conflicts can range from fundamental issues like childlessness, money matters, infidelity to minor issues like television channel to watch, dinner and failure to run water for bath. Honestly, we cannot even say with biblical finality what is fundamental and what is minor in a marriage because one person’s mountain is another’s molehill. C M Y K

Conflict resolution in marriage But no matter what the issues are they must be resolved. Long ago I was reading a novel on a mafia boss where he was saying that he does not leave any problem unsolved no matter how small, because an unsolved small problem today snowballs into a big problem tomorrow. I often tell people that a happy and successful marriage is not that where there are no conflicts but that where there are conflict resolution mechanisms. What are these mechanisms? One, the issue at stake must be clearly defined and the couples should focus on it, not.... muddling things up by bringing other issues in the past. Two, there should genuine communication. Communication is one of the live wires of marriage. Once couples stop talking, the marriage starts dying. Communication is a full topic for another day, so we shall leave it this

way till then. Three, it is very important you seal your lips when tempers are high because it is at such moments you say hurtful words to your spouse. Even if you apologise thereafter, you cannot erase what you have said from

Always remember that you are not perfect, so do not expect perfection

n the 70s when we were very young one of my brothers used to recount how he overheard a man telling another that if spouses do not quarrel in their marriage, it means one is being cheated. As time went on this statement became a recurring decimal... but from the first day I heard it, it became a habit for me to look for the spouse that was cheated in marriage I came across including my parents.’It was not till the 90s when I was preparing to get married that I took a critical look at this statement and understood it better. Disagreements and conflicts in a marriage are inevitable because you are dealing with people whose lives are interwoven living together within a limited space, and can only avoid each other as much as they can avoid using the restroom. These are people with differing backgrounds and upbringing who came into the marriage with different expectations.

your spouse’s memory. Four, you do not have to be the guilty party to initiate reconciliation; you initiate reconciliation if you are the more mature and secure party. If you are in the wrong, please apologise and if you are the wronged party please forgive. Sometimes you will not get the apologies you think you deserve, but you have to find it somewhere in your heart to forgive. Always

And became quietly fascinated. Because I saw these adolescents knocking the football about with a verve and confidence I didn’t know existed at that age group anywhere, talk less of in my own backyard. I don’t consider myself easily impressed, but honestly, these children were playing ‘one-touch’ soccer in the tradition of the mighty Barcelona —and doing so in a very matter-of-fact fashion (the stadium was virtually empty so there was no crowd to impress) as though it was as natural to them as breathing. To say they were well drilled puts it mildly—their teamplay bordered on telepathic, such was their understanding of what to do with ball when in possession. I mean, on a pitch that has hosted a senior international match, I literally saw a tiny runt score from a freekick taken outside the 18-yard box by lobbing the reasonably wellpositioned goalkeeper!

nd make no mistake—these were tiny runts. Not of the naturally shortstatured variety who in times past scraped head and chin in an effort to beat the radar of age-detection even as their hard eyes revealed the true mileage of their physical frames. No, these were authentic U-13s; in fact, several looked under 11 and probably were. A fact that was dramatically underlined in the subsequent match that featured a team of 11 against a team of 8. Caused not by a multiple sending-off, but by pre-match disqualifications taken by the apparently eagle-eyed officials against over-aged representatives. From both a technical and ethical perspective, there was great reason to cheer. It appeared that there was a quiet revolution going on (at least at that level) in Nigerian sport and it boded very well for the future – if only it would not be derailed in the process of time. And that was my only twinge of disquiet – the fact that there didn’t appear to be much media publicity being given to what seemed to be one of the few oases of excellence in the howling desert of administrative ignominy. Because the spotlight of public awareness is a useful tool in regulating behaviour that might otherwise succumb to counterproductive influences that are rife in a less transparent setting. I pray their good work continues. And I pray that wherever next the country may require an Alsatian, we do not wilfully or accidentally contract the services of its wild cousin instead.

remember that the marriage is bigger than either of the spouses. Five, in marriage some people say it is a 50/50 arrangement. I disagree because 50 per cent (which is not even guaranteed) is short of what you require for its success. Others say 100 per cent, but I also disagree because nobody can be 100 per cent responsible for the success of his/her marriage because no marriage can succeed without the cooperation of your spouse.

will rather settle for Pareto’s 80/20 principle. Be 80 per cent responsible for the success of your marriage and leave only 20 per cent to your spouse. Throughout my formal education, 80 per cent was always marked excellent so 80 per cent is good enough input to put into your marriage. Hopefully, your spouse will oblige you with more than the expected 20 per cent which will make your marriage a runaway success. But even if he/she falls short, whatever percentage she/he contributes will still make your marriage excellent. Six, always remember that you are not perfect, so do not expect perfection from your spouse in dealing with your spouse always. Seven, “a family that prays together stays together”, is a common cliche. Family prayer is a very powerful tool for conflict resolution. Eight,every couple should have a customized conflict resolution mechanism(s).

SATURDAY

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013 —23

At second glance

was in Yola recently and one of the activities on the itinerary was a TV interview. Because of my vocation a lot of the questions were centred around the movie industry which is understandable; what was not, was the way the interviewer kept harping on all the negative stuff —why do Nollywood marriages collapse, why are the storylines wishy-washy? Why are people in Nollywood dying? At the point where he asked whether actors should be banned from international travel because one person was caught trafficking drugs I had to set him straight. Why were we focusing on all the negatives? Why weren’t we talking about the marriages that have endured the years, the industry and even stardom? No matter how few and far between why were we not talking about those stories that were so tight they had garnered global critical acclaim? As for people dying, what can I tell you..? People die. It’s the natural course of things; and sadly a lot of my argument was that we wasn’t much to glean from his people die young. I am yet to should stop judging books by mien; inscrutable behind the see empirical proof that their covers and especially ever present opaque lenses. people die faster or more stop stereotyping people Sum total of my impression of people die because they work because they were found in a him based on my perception particular profession. After of immediate past socioin show biz. we were done and as I was political history and current nd like seriously, you’re walking back to my hotel events I would toss him with going to seize my room it occurred to me that all the others—a corrupt passport, and bar me from to a very large extent, before politician who had been deinternational travel because coming to Yola I was guilty of balled, a has been who continues to seek relevance someone in the same the very same bias. You see, prior to this my and an elder statesman profession did something wrong….?? Suffice it to say first visit, every single wannabe. Ouch! Did I mention that by the time we were done impression I had of the strong my disdain for a majority of our little friendly chat had man of Adamawa was based Nigerian leaders past and become a ‘head to head’ on what I had read or heard present? However being a guest at the encounter and the thrust of about him. There definitely

I am yet to see empirical proof that people die faster or more people die because they work in show biz

American University of Nigeria in Yola, and being given a unique opportunity to see and experience firsthand the structures and systems that are in place there and more importantly and more profound interacting with all kinds of people affiliated to this mammoth organization from students to faculty members, to service providers, nonacademic staff, and even the villagers themselves; I was compelled to give our former Veepee a second glance.

t wasn’t rocket science anyone who had the vision to set up a place like this, in ‘Yola’… and the perseverance of staying committed especially in these environs, and here’s the clincher; being able to divorce his ego from the project in order to allow it thrive and flourish as it should. Anyone who can still have such credentials despite being immersed and emerging from the murky waters of Nigerian politics certainly has to be cut from a slightly different cloth than

the rest… I don’t see to many of our leaders who encourage let alone set up structures that encourage people to think, expand their minds, question the current status quo and strive to creating better, faster systems that work locally. Not only is the institution a hub of new thought it is like yeast permeating the environment through its sustainability programme which empowers members of the local community, through adult education programmes and small scale entrepreneurial start up schemes. The kids are encourages to go into the villages, interact with the people there, find out what their problems are, and together, come up with a solution. This way the university helps to sustain the environment in which it thrives as well as forging great relations between the students and their host community. And I’m told that the university is just one of the many organizations he has set up for the advancement of the people up in that region and beyond. Is he a great leader...? the jury is still out on that one but he is definitely a man with vision and a demonstrated and measurable love for people … two key traits lacking in most.

(Text Only) Technique: Lie flat face downwards on the floor. Keep the hands at your side. Breathe out and bend the legs at the knees, drawing the feet above the thighs. Stretch the arms back and catch hold of the right ankle with the right hand and the left ankle with the left hand. Make secure the position of the hands, with normal breathing. Raising the head, body and knees by tugging the hands and legs, so that the whole weight of the body rests on the abdomen. Retain

The Bow the posture for a few seconds. Gradually increase the duration. While remaining in the posture, concentrate on the abdomen, thighs and back muscles. Release the ankles, stretch out the legs and bring the legs, chest and head to rest in a straight line on the floor. Relax in Makarasana for a seconds. Repeat this Asana twice with normal breathing. Benefits The bow expands the thoraxic region. Of great benefit

to those with respiratory problems, it renders the spine elastic and the muscles of the back get a good massage and there’s a general strenghtening of the entire musculature. Main Benefit: The Bow gives a full backward bend to the entire length of the spine and all the muscles of the back, from the neck to the lower back, or lumber region.

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

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24—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

re you in love? Are you considering marriage to this person? Do you hesitate because you want to make sure that you get it right? Statistics show that many people today delay getting married until they are older. The reasons for this are varied, such as, the need to: finish school, start a career, make more money, or, feel the relationship will last. The high divorce rate has given people enough concern to pause and ask, “How do I get it right?” The following points will inspire a conversation that leads to goals for you to work on together and give you hope for your dreams. * Is your life successful? No one can give you a successful life, make you happy, or solve your problems. That has to come from you. If you want your relationship to give you confidence because you feel insecure, or give you companionship because you don’t have any friends, or supply you with money because you don’t make enough, you are going to be sorely disappointed. A successful life includes good friends, a self-supporting career, and personal integrity. When you get these areas together, you are ready to be a great partner for someone. * Are you both willing to grow? Have you chosen a cooperative partner? The number one deal breaker in a relationship comes from one or both people being unwilling. For your love to last, both of you have to be willing to talk about the issues and be open to personal growth. If one of you says: “I’m not going to talk, you’ve got problems because you’re standing on shaky ground. * Does one of you play the blame game? If one of you is convinced that all the problems in the relationship belong to the other one, you are stuck in the “blame game”. Take a look at your boundaries, expectations that may be unreasonable, patterns of behaviour in former relationships, and level of personal success. Somewhere in one of those areas, you may find an answer that will bring you to a greater understanding of yourself. *Are you affectionate? This is not an absolute requirement for many relationships to work, but it certainly makes life a lot

relationship last; and if you are dedicated to getting it right, think about the above.

DDoes this happen to you? You feel like you have

Getting it right with the one you love sweeter. Affection lights up the day, makes people feel loved, and removes any doubt about how you feel toward your partner. *Can you apologize? When two people genuinely care about each other, hurt feelings and spats don’t last long if the perceived offender apologizes right away. If you defend yourself, explain why you did what you did, and make light of the offense, you will fan the flames of pain. Whatever your partner is

XPERT E S E H T K AS

The size of my manhood is three centimetres at rest and eight centimetres at erection. Is this good enough? Additionally, I ejaculate only five-six drops of semen during masturbation. Am I fit to make my wife pregnant? I am 22 years old and will be getting engaged in the near future. Do not enter marriage with ignorance. Take premarriage sexual counselling. The size of your penis is adequate. I am 26 years old and my girlfriend is 2I

upset about, sit down and listen, empathize, and give comfort. Most of all, sincerely apologize, and ask how you can make the situation better. If you can do this, whatever happened will soon be forgotten. *Can you forgive? If your partner has hurt you in some way, if she makes an earnest effort to apologize and change, can you forgive her? Or will this offense become another weapon in your arsenal of past hurts that you bring up when you are having a fight? All couples will have disagreements. But it is how you choose to act out your disagreements that affect your relationship quality. * Are you generous? Can you give gifts (within your budget) for no reason other than you are in love? Do you include your partner’s friends and family

in your activities and welcome them into your life? To be a generous person, make your partner’s welfare as important as your own and you will have a lasting relationship. *Are you kind? The word kindness encompasses a lot of other characteristics, like loyalty, devotion, honesty, and trust, because if you can’t provide those qualities in a committed relationship, you are not being kind. Kindness also means turning the volume OFF on a temper, and resorting to other ways to express yourself when your feelings are hot and angry. Kindness is patient, wise, loving, and strong. *Are you working on your demons? Everyone has a gremlin of one kind or another. Whether you eat too much, spend too much, gossip about others, get to work late, or anything else that is unbecoming or detrimental to your physical or mental health, are you working on it? If you don’t handle it, this could become a big issue in your relationship. If you want to know how to become closer to the one you love; if you want to know how to make your

We will be getting married next year. The problem is, her breasts are very small. Will we face a problem after marriage due to this? Do suggest a solution to increase her breast size. If you have a boob fixation, do not marry her. Her breasts will remain the same size. Is that all you find attractive in her? I am a 24-year-old woman. I got married last year. My husband is 29. We lead a healthy sex life and make love almost every day, excluding the days I am menstruating. The problem is, after every session, my husband wants to know whether I am satisfied or not. Though I tell him that I am completely satisfied, he persists on

gotten your confidence up to the point where you should have no problems at all walking up to a woman and making a lasting impression on her. You’ve memorized a few lines that are supposed to be proven and you even have a few routines to fall back on just in case one does not work. You have others to bring into the mix. So, you head out for the night, pretty amped up about your chances of being able to sweet talk and seduce a woman into bed with you. And then it happens. The proven lines that are supposed to work on any woman you approach don’t seem to have much of an effect at all. The routines that are supposed to be original and effective are causing women to walk away from you, not wanting to have any more to do with you at all. Now, your confidence which had been stronger than ever is free falling and you don’t know how to bring it back or what to do from there. All you can think of is that it’s just going to be another night where you end up going home alone. What happened? Well, for starters, most proven lines that you read on the internet are anything but proven. Many times, they are just thought up by some guy

writing out things that he *thinks* will be effective on all women. Or, if they did ‘work’, all it actually got him was a little bit of flirting, maybe a phone number but nothing more than that. And most routines that guys learn with the hopes of seducing women will not work on most women. And even if they did, they are used by enough guys that any woman you try them on probably has already seen it and heard it before. What should you be doing instead? Instead of being focused on

pick up lines to seduce a woman or using routines that are supposed to be effective, why not instead learn how to use natural techniques to create rapport with a woman. When you come across as being totally natural, you are a lot less likely to look like just another guy hitting the clubs and bars looking to get lucky. You come across as a guy who just knows how to talk to women, a guy who women want to gravitate towards.

asking again and again. What can I do to convince him? Device a signal like a kiss and let him understand that when you kiss following completion, it means that you are satisfied. Since my husband rarely has sex with me, I have started having sex with my 55-year-old father-in law. He refuses to use a condom, besides, he’s also having sex with another woman in our neighbourhood who’s the same age as me. I don’t want to get pregnant. Better avoid what you are doing. If you wish to continue, start taking a low dose of hormone tablets. However, I must warn you that you might catch an infection if his other partner has one.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—25

BY IYABO AINA

Meet Kim Kardishian’s ex and current lovers B

efore finding happiness and having a daugh ter, North with rapper Kanye West, Kim Kar dashian has romanced many stars including Ray J-her infamous sex tape co-star, Reggie Bush, Nick Cannon, and Kris Humphries, among others. Also, the reality TV show starlet is no stranger to break ups. Before her recent short-lived marriage to Kris Humphries, Kim had a string of failed romances.Meet her past and present lovers!

Gabriel Aubry and Kim

Gabriel Aubry K Kim and Demon Thomas

Demon Thomas

im Kardashian and Gabriel Aubry were seen at a Lakers game together in November 2010, and a source said they’ve been dating. In early December, sources also said the two split, mostly because Kim thought he was just using her for fame.

usic producer Demon Thomas was Kim’s first groom ,back in 2000. The couple eloped when she was just 19, while he was 30. The tumultuous marriage , which Kim has claimed included domestic violence ,didn’t fare much better than her second union . This time, Thomas filed for divorce in 2003. Still , their nearly four years marriage lasted a little longer than Kim’s latest 72 days marital stint.

Kim and Nick Lachey

Nick Lachey N

ick Lachey briefly dated Kim Kardashian after his divorce from Jessica Simpson in 2006 , where they were photographed together as a couple of all time, holding hands.

Riggie Bush A

Kris Hempries and Kim

Kris Hempries K

im Kardashian and Kris Humphries were mar ried in a lavish wedding attended by some of the biggest names in Hollywood on August 20, 2011. The two announced they were separating about 10 weeks later on October 31, 2011.

fter reconciling, it looked as if they couldn’t make it last. As rumours would have it that Bush’s family had issues with Kardashian . These two lovebirds quickly became a power couple, with pictures of the very photogenic pair regularly filling the pages of gossip magazines everywhere. Riggie Bush and Kim

Gabriel Aubry and Kim

Gabriel Aubry K

im Kardashian and Gabriel Aubry were seen at a Lakers game together in November 2010, and a source said they’ve been dating . In early December, sources said the two split, mostly because Kim thought he was just using her for fame.

Ray J and Kim

Ray J K

im Kardashian first met Ray-J while she was working as a stylist for his sister, Brandy. The two are said to have been on and off for nearly three years before things ended for good. In 2007, their split got really messy when a sex tape they made was picked up for distribution by Vivid Entertainment. At first Kim denied rumours of the tape’s existence, but later settled with Vivid for $5 million.

Kanye West

fter watching ‘The Hunger Games’ together, grabbing dinner at NYC eatery Serafina, and spending the day at FAO Schwarz in early April 2012, it became clear that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were more than just friends. In May

Kanye West and Kim 2012,, they spent a week in Cannes together for the city’s annual film festival. Later on, the lovebirds welcomed a daughter, North West, in June 2013, and got engaged on Kim’s 33rd birthday, October 21, 2013.

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

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30— SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

08116759764 anozieegole@yahoo.com

Tiwa Savage, beau step out as couple N

ewly married couple, Tiwa and her beau, Tee-Billz made their first public appearance as couple at the MTV Base Shuga premiere which held last Tuesday, at the Silverbird Galleria,Victoria Island, Lagos. The couple were a delight to watch on the black carpet clearly enjoying every moment of the exciting evening. Tiwa who plays the role of club owner, Sade in the third season of the award winning drama series joined a host of other members of cast, including Chris Attoh, Leonora Okine, •Tiwa and Tee-Billz Emmanuel Ikubese, Okezie Morro, Dorcas Fapson, Sharon Ezeamaka, Olumide Oworu among others to be part of the premiere of the first Shuga season ever shot in Nigeria. Also, in attendance were Basketmouth, Banky W, Bovi, Alex Ekubo, OC Ukeje, Uru Eke, Damilola Adegbite, Toolz among other celebrities. Tiwa Savage last Saturday afternoon got married to her beau, Tunji Balogun.

h e

m u c h t a l k e d a b o u t Nigeria’s Centenary Pa g e a n t organized by AOE Events and Entertainment limited which kicked off yesterday in Yenagoa, the capital city of

Centenary Pageant:

20 contestants set for the hot seat

Bayelsa State with 38 young ladies will this weekend take a new dimension as the contestants compete to be part of the ‘lucky 20 ‘ who will be making it to the grand finale billed to take place on the 6 th of December. The CEO of AOE Events

and Entertainment Limited, Nike Oshinowo said, everything has been done to stage a successful pageant. She thanked the Bayelsa State Government for accepting to host the pageant. “From what I have seen, the state government has put everything in place for a wonderful event “, she said.

MMH set to unveil “On da Mic”

By CHRISTOPHER NJ OKU

ore M on ey Ho us e En M specializes in promotin ter tai nm en t, an ou tfit tha t g up and coming artist well as comed es as

ians has un Da Mic” which is billed veiled an award winning gig, “On Center in Surulere. The to take place at Da Villa Event coming artistes such as event promises to feature up and just to mention but a few Benjay, King Fix, Groovie, Shock, . Speaking on the event, wh o is ex pe cte d to be Max Mark Entertainment strives to the ho st sa id, M ore M on ey talented muiscians to be provide platform for young and help them grow and bu come superstars. “ We are out to ild confidence while on said. stage,” he

Don Jazzy, D’banj move to reconcile? B

•Don Jazzy

arely one year after their break up, there are strong indications that Don Jazzy and his former Mohit partner, D’banj are on the path to bury the hatchet and strike a new deal again. During the week, Don Jazzy posted some group pictures where he was captured alongside D’banj on his Instragram. The pictures have sparked off a lot of speculations as to whether this may signal the beginning of a new era of collaborations between the former Mohit partners. Judging from the look of things, the former business partners who seem very ready to come together again as had a meeting with the Nigerian American rapper, Wale and sensational artiste, Olamide hopefully to do good music for their fans.

Abdul’s marriage is intact, says manager

elf acclaimed Mid-night crew supreno,Mike Abdul is definitely not a happy man at the moment. Rumours have been making the rounds that his marriage to his wife, Vivien Stephen Eva has crashed due to irreconcilable differences. But reacting to the rumours, the manager to the talented gospel singer, Modupe described the rumours as “ lies”, insisting that Abdul’s marriage is intact. “They are not divorced. They are still together. There is no marriage that does not have challenges. Nothing like that happened,” he reacted.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—31

Actress Chika Chukwu turns singer By SAM ANOKAM

Pomp as Nollywood @ 20 celebration ends By SAM ANOKAM & FLORENCE AMAGIYA

t was the climax of the month-long celebrations of Nollywood’s 20th anniversary which began last month. Held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the grand awards night was a rendezvous of who is who in the entertainment industry. The event featured different categories of awards which were given to deserving practitioners who have paid their dues in the industry. A special documentary tribute to legends of the Nigerian film industry was shown to the large audiences. It had the likes of Francis Oladele, Ade Afolayan, Eddie Ugbomah, and Hubert Ogunde. The almost endless list of awardees include Prince Jide Kosoko,Eddie Ugbmah, Okey Affason, Madu Chikwendu and Zeb Ejiro in the first category. Another category of awards went to Ralph Nwadike, Tunji Bamishigbin, Abiola Olanrewaju, Keppy Ekpenyong Bassey, Yinka Quadri, Sunny MacDon, Kate Henshaw, Lanre Hassan, Tunde Kelani, Tunde Alabi Hundeyin, Don Pedro Obaseki, Francis

Onwochei, Azuh Arinze. The outstanding recognition awards were given to Femi Odugbemi, Ibinabo Fiberesima, Fidelis Duker, Emma Isikaku, Nobert Ajaegbo, Bond Emeruwa and Emma Ogugua. Also, actors like Larry Williams, Pete Edochie, Franca Brown, Idowu Phillips, Kingsley Ogoro, Obi Madubuogu, Joe Dudun, Chico Ejiro, Cosmas Ndulue, Kasumu Yaro, Mahmood Ali Balogun, Emeka Ossai, Obi Osotule, Prince Ifeayi Dike and Alibaba were rewarded for the extraordinary services they have been rendering to the industry. Veteran awards were given to Olu Jacobs and his wife, Joke Silba, Teco Benson, Tade Ogidan, Emem Isong, Fred Amata, KOK, Adebayo Salami, Sanni Muazu, Chidi Nwokeabia, Lancelot Imasuen, Okey Ogunjiofor, Opa Williams and Abiola Atanda. While Fidelis Emeta, Mike Nliam and Jonathan Gbemuto were grouped as Unsung Heroes of Nollywood, Funke Akinddele, Segun Arinze, Patience Ozokwo, Desmond Elliot, Stephanie Linus, Dagogo Jack, Iyen Obaseki, Mohammed Abdullahi,

Ngozi Ikemba bagged the Outstanding Talents awards. Other awardees were Andy Boyo, French Embassy Nigeria , Pharmaterx, AIT, UNILAG,Henry Chibueze Matthew, Africamagic, Adrien Gbinigie , Nigeria Communication Commission, NTA and Digital Bridge Institute who were given the Outstanding Partners awards.

ctress turned singer, Andrea Chika Chukwu is set to release the video of her song, “Music from the Soul” which was shot in New York City . According to the actress who is known as Jumoke in the popular sitcom Fuji House of Commotion, the neo-soul jazzy song which she jointly composed with singer, Aramide was borne out of her desire for something that is deep. Speaking on why she travelled to New York to shoot the video which is already trending on YouTube, the actress said, “I wanted to project that feeling of calmness and classy look that New York represents. I also wanted to put in the whole African print.” The video, which is set to drop tomorrow was directed and produced by Stacey Holman.”

Ex-Sunday Editor of The Guardian Newspaper, Jahman Anikulapo and film critic cum journalist, Shuaib Hussein respectively bagged Outstanding Media Partner awards. There were also thrilling performances by Timi Dakolo and X Project. The event was anchored by Olisa Adibua and Maryam Apollo.

GOtv launches GOcusto mer forum G

Ot v Ni ge ria ha s continued its second an ni ve rs ar y ce leb ra tio hosting its subscribe ns rs in Ib ad an at an in te ra cti ve forum at the Jogor Ce nt last Saturday. Tagged re “the

GO cu sto m er Fo ru m ”, th e ev en t wa s or ga ni se d to appreciate the first cu stomers to come onboard its pay-TV platform while affordin g the subscribers the oppo rtunity to gi ve GO tv fir sth an d

feedback on its service s. In a we lc om e ad dr es s, Marketing Manager GOtv, Mr Dare Kafar said , “The GO cu sto me r Fo ru m is an exclusive event dedic ated to interact with as well as show ap pr ec ia tio n to GO tv su bs cr ib er s. As GO tv ce le br at es tw o ye ar s of op er at io ns in Ni ge ria deemed it fit to meet wi ,w e th subscribers face-to-fac our e deliberate on ways to and serve you better.” “In deciding where to first ho ld th is fo ru m , it on ly seemed appropriate to come

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32—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

yemisisuleiman670@yahoo.com

HAIR-FASHION

avy lobs, layered pixies, berry highlights... change up your look with one of the season’s cutest, no-fuss hairstyles

2 Berry Highlights Pink strands (whether dyed or clipped-in) were one of this season’s biggest hair trends. For a sophisticated twist, try a few highlights in a rich shade of raspberry or cherry like Kerry Washington.

Light-as-Air Curls

Tight curls like Brandy’s are making a comeback on the red carpet, but this time around they’re bouncier and less tightly controlled than the ringlets of recent years.

Better Life Programme Partners NAIF for Clean Energy

etter Life Programme for African Rural Women has partnered with Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility to ensure access of African rural women to cooking techniques that militate against incidences of illnesses and deaths resulting from indoor air pollution. The plan to implement the project was recently unraveled in Abuja at the ‘Partnership for Clean Energy ’ workshop organised by BLPARW in partnership with NAIF, where participants were on the one hand, sensitized to the dangers inherent in traditional cooking practices of using firewood and coal, and also introduced them to clean cooking techniques and tools, which could be acquired with assistance from Microfinance banks aid. The workshop enumerated ways by which the organisers will partner with the private sector to make the clean energy cooking techniques available for women and small and medium enterprises. This has become necessary against the ominous threat provided by the starling statistics that reveal that “smoke inhalation from cooking was equivalent to smoking

three packets of cigarettes (60 sticks) a day;” and about 93,000 deaths occur annually in Nigeria courtesy air pollution caused by firewood cooking and other biomass fuels, which was partly caused as a result of lower income levels among rural women which made accessing health-friendly cooking techniques difficult. Having painted these pictures in her presentation, Hajia Amina Salihu, Senior Gender Advisor, NAIF, proffered ‘Gender Social Enterprise Model Option’ to the rescue. According to her, the model would ensure that 20 million African rural women would have acquired clean cooking stoves by 2020, if the model is religiously pursued. She therefore implored State Governments, Small and Medium Enterprises, Business Management Organisations and Non-Government Organisations to embrace the initiative and make it a success. In her remarks, Erelu Hajiya Aisha Babangida said there would be a coordinator, through whom all products requests, purchases and information would be directed in each state for ease of distribution of the products.

3 Alexandra Burke

Sometimes just a few faceframing layers like Alexandra’s are all you need to give your classic shape style.

Hollywood hair centre reward customers H

ollywood Hair Centre the full lace wig specialist is reaching out to all her customers in appreciation for their patronage. They are offering Personalised Privilege Card for thousands of her customers. According to Bettina Briggs Chief Executive of Hollywood Hair Centre, the card will enable Hollywood Hair centre offer their customers points each time they purchase their service and once accumulated, these points can be used in any of their branches to pay instead of cash. “This is a way of saying thank you to all our customers who have been with us since the inception of Hollywood Hair Centre in 2007.” She says. Hollywood Hair Centre value their customers and over the years they have listened and involved their customers in identifying products that these customers want and they have continued to come back to Hollywood Hair Centre. These innovative ideas Mrs Briggs says, helped Hollywood Hair centre to meet customer needs consistently over the past seven years. In appreciation Hollywood Hair Centre wants to recognise each customer each time they visit, so they developed a smartcard that contains unique number and allows each customer to earn points for every purchase they make. These points will then be

used to purchase goods or services in the salon at any time. In the past 7 years, customer feedback has led Hollywood Hair Centre to maintain high quality product range including; the full lace wigs, untreated Brazilian weft hair, Indian Remi weft hair and a host of other hair attachments. Bettina informs that Hollywood Hair Centre Privilege card will compliment other successful promotions “like the annual Christmas offer, gifts and numerous offers like the one we are doing this Christmas, like getting a free wig when you buy a lace wig from 1st of December. These promotions are very successful and will continue to be our annual business event. The Privilege card will be unique, it offers promotion each time you purchase any item.” She said. The Privilege card will not only be used to pay for products, card holders will also enjoy other benefits like preferential treatment and service, special discounts, previews and speedy service especially during high season. The Privilege Card is free and available in all their branches, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Abuja and Owerri. Owerri opens on the 1st of December. The Privilege card can be used in any of these branches regardless of the branch where you got the card from, before the Christmas Sales and discuss your 2014 looks with one of the trained stylist!

Vanguard, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—33

We touch beauty and fashion because if you are happy, the next thing you want to be is beautiful BY MOSES NOSIKE

velyn Okere is a woman of many colours. She is the Managing Director/CEO of St. Eve Concepts and St. Eve Magazine. In this interview , she reveals her passion in seeing people look healthy, beautiful and fashionable. She is also of the opinion that if the society could be kind enough to support women, they would do more than expected. Excerpts: My background My name is Evelyn Okere, Managing Director, St. Eve Concepts, a health management outfit. We’re weight loss experts. We make people lose 3 – 5 KG within 7 days. It’s more like nutritional microscopy where we investigate how your body is able to break down the food that you eat and nourish yourself. We believe that malnourished cell will definitely malfunction and the gradual processes of that malnourishing degenerates to diseases and then medical doctors will give it a name. I’m also a publisher, I have a magazine called St Eve Magazine. It’s a health, beauty and fashion magazine.We touch beauty and fashion because if you are happy, the next thing you want to be is beautiful, and from beauty, you want to be fashionable. These three key things at the end of the day is what makes the human personality. Therefore, we pick those three topics because they are very controversial, volatile and unique. So, we have been able to bind it to the level where we can tap ourselves and say we have done well. Then, we have the Rose Di Omimi which was born out of St Eve Magazine. It’s like a clothing neighbour where we make very simple pieces where people come to buy and wear to the streets. Before now, you worked in the bank. How did you become a therapist/weight loss expert? Banking was a way of getting busy in a sense. It was when my school was on strike that I had the opportunity to work there. Again, I found out that I had no passion for banking . I left that to work with another company, Econet, now called Airtel and I did that for a couple of years and still discovered it was not my calling before I started running my own company. I have always been passionate about what is happening in the human body, how we can look better and live better in everything we do. It was born out of passion and we found that a very good arm of what we wanted to do which is making people live healthier is through the use of enzyme supplement. Enzymes are already in your

I have passion for good health, beauty and fashion — Okere ple that I work with and then go home and stay with the kids and attend to everyone in the home. Somehow, we Africans are strong people, strong women for that matter. That is why I keep clapping for Nigerian women. We are strong emotionally, you can see that in the Afro-American people, you can’t hide a gene. We have a way of just managing everything no matter the psychological problem or challenges we might have. We still have a away to forge on. So, I have been able to get all these working together and we have developed to a particular level.

body and we are only adding more into your body to help digest your meal properly. Most of the diseases that are wrecking the human body are due to lack of digesting your meal properly for your body to take the nutrients from these meals and feed the cells, organs and in turn, the cells can feed the organs. You must take the food to the most simplest complex monopole that the body can observe. For instance, yam doesn’t go into the body as yam. It has its own formula that transforms all the way to the glucose. That is really our passion and we now carved a niche for our-

selves and we have been propagating the use of enzymes supplement to live healthy and to prevent diseases. Reason is that if you nourish your body, your white blood cells will work effectively to fight any form of bacteria, viruses etc. It also will give that maintenance you need to survive everyday. How do you manage your career and home front? Amazingly, you work at particular hours of the day and you have to dedicate some hours to the home. So I have been able to share my time, running all the businesses, having to work with other peo-

What challenges do you encounter running your company and your home front ? To be honest with you, I will tell you. In all I have done, I have not really had much challenges because if you have a very supportive husband and friends, it makes the job lighter and easier. I have been blessed with people who are very supportive. I have a wonderful partner and staff. I have wonderful people around me who understood what we are trying to do. Challenges are there to make you stronger and determined in what you want to do. If you have people supporting you in what you want to do, it makes it easier. Most times, most of the women are not supported, either in politics and in others. But those who are dedicated overcome that barrier and at the end of the day, get respect and approval from the opposite sex who saw that they were able to face challenges and overcome it. That is it. If you are determined, you overcome those challenges. The role of women in the society... I think everyone knows that the female gender has so much to contribute to the society and the world at large. You can see what is happening today, women taking mantles and positions and delivering beyond expectations. The jobs that people think are not a woman’s job, the women are proving points now and are being appreciated. So, it is important that women come into certain position. If they have the capacity, the wherewithal to function in a job, they should be given the opportu-

nity to do so. We would thank the president because a lot of women have been made ministers and put in different positions of authority. The truth remains that if you still look at the records, you would find out that there were some reasons why they could not meet up. Yet, there must be a support from the society to encourage the women in politics to any level they can go. They should be given that support. There are few women in government, is it because there are no support for them or what? The truth is that this present government has given women a lot of opportunity compared to the past. They have been given more opportunities and responsibilities and most of them are delivering. The government is doing well in the sense that the president is giving women the opportunity and that is why I’m answering this question. We have some of our women that earn respect nationally and internationally, like our dear Dr Okonjo Iweala who is known internationally because of her intellectual performance on the economic ladder. The way she is encouraged will encourage a lot of women who have that capacity and personality to be anxious to develop whatever responsibility given to them and turn it to something better. The society should not look down on us, but give us the necessary support so that our contribution would help build and make Nigeria a better place. What point do you want to prove with your upcoming fashion show? St Eve Magazine stands for three major things in the lifestyle world, which are health, beauty and fashion. So, our brand-building will evolve around these three issues. We succeeded with the Rick Ross event last year, that is bringing for the first time health entertainment. This time, to carve a niche in the fashion world, we are bringing the first of its kind: an outdoor fashion show because at St Eve Magazine, we stand for creativity and uniqueness. Nigerians are very fashion conscious people and the industry is booming. So, why not expose talents and bring their skill to the world. We have our own line that we wish to show the world. The name of our label is ROSE DI OMIMI. It is a beautiful world and St Eve Magazine wants this world to be healthy, beautiful and fashionable. Our brand speaks to the people just as our magazine.We touch areas where people don’t dare and succeed. So God is on our side.Nothing can stop us on Decemeber 8, except Him.

34 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

HOTFLASHES! Tee Y Mix to produce Funke Akindele’s Jenifa 3 soundtrack

UNKE Akindele, the award winning ac tress has commissioned Temitayo Ibitoye popularly known as Tee Y Mix to produce the sound track of her forthcoming flick Jenifa 3. She recently posted a picture of herself and Tee Y mix on her Instagram account revealing that the duo have been collaborating together..According to her:@Teeymixofficial working on #everybodylovesjenifa soundtrack #ELJ” she said on Instagram

2face, Psquare, others rule at CAAN awards By SAM ANOKAM

ROM all indications, Bayelsa State is fast becoming the entertainment capital of the country. The state once again successfully hosted the first edition of the Caribbean African American Nations (CAAN) Music Awards 2013, at the Cultural Centre, Yenagoa. As expected, there was no dull moment at the world class event which was beamed live to the world last weekend. Anchored by celebrated On-Air-Personality, IK Oskioduwa and supported by beautiful Toccara Jones ( America ‘s Next Top Model) and Claudia Jordan (Celebrity Apprentice). The star studded event opened with a beautiful rendition of the national

anthem by Bayelsa State-born singer, Timi Dakolo followed by a well choreographed dance performance by the state’s Council for Arts and Culture. While welcoming guests to the state, the excited governor,Henry Seriake Dickson reiterated his administration’s commitment towards uniting the world through the arts by using the platform of the state’s potentials. According to him, “ There is no doubt that Bayelsa State has become the entertainment headquarters of the continent. By next year, we will release our tourism and entertainment calendar of the year. Every month, we will be hosting an international event.” Also, speaking at the occasion, the Chairman, Silverbird Group, Ben Bruce said, the CAAN music awards would serve as an icon of the music industry on the continent.

Indeed, it was not a night for long speeches as well as undiluted performances. The guests were thrilled with electrifying performances by a long list of Nigerian and foreign artistes such as General Pype, TJ Wonder, Chuddy K, Bba Dee, Daddy Showkey, Sheyi Shay, KCEE, Timaya, Tuface, Waxcomzy, Mafikizulu, Sean Kingston, among others. The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of awards to deserving artistes. Baba Dee won the Dance Hall Reggae Album of the Year, while Dance Song of the Year went to P Square. Others winners were Best Act South Africa – Mafikizulu, Song of the decade – Tuface’s African Queen, Producer of the Year – D’Tunes, Best Act West Africa – Sarkode, Song of the year was won by Kcee and Album of the year which went to Flavour .

Eedris, Brown Shuga unite for Abuja Girls By JULIET EBIRIM

AST rising act, Brown Shuga a.k.a Aliu Oshiomale is certainly not shying away from his resolve to become the next big artiste in the country. Recently sensational rapper, Eedris Abdul Kareem recently featured him in a new track titled “Abuja Girls.” The album also featured Pupayanis and rapper, C-mo the black Caesar. “I’m so honoured working with a star like Eedris Abdul Kareem. He has so much depth. I’m glad he featured me in Abuja Girls. He is one of the artistes that trans-

formed the industry through great hits and that’s the reason I feel so honoured working with him. The experience was simply mind blowing,” Shuga said. Meanwhile, only last month, Brown Shuga released his debut singles “In My and Have Mercy”featuring Tekno. An indigene of Edo State and an undergraduate of Mechanical Engineering, Auchi Polytechnic, Brown Shuga started doing music at the age of 10. Today Brown Shuga has performed at Wave Ur Banner Concert, Abuja All Stars’ Show and a home coming concert held in his honour in Auchi. •Eedris and brown shuga

•Funke Akindele with Teey

Basketmouth, Uganda’s Salvador, others, ready for Enugu Glo Laffta Fest

lo Laffta Fest comedy show storms Enugu, the Coal city this Sunday with 12 Nigerian top rated artistes and East Africa’s best stand-up comedian, Salvador who are billed to dish out unlimited fun and entertainment to a live audience.

A statement iby Globacom management disclosed that the Enugu show, which will hold at the Golden Royale Hall, will feature the foursome of Seyi Law, Ogus Baba, Mayor and Frank D Don, who are performing for the first time in this season of Glo Laffta Fest. “We are introducing new, but popular acts like Seyi Law, Oguns Baba, Mayor and Frank D Don to the Enugu audience,” the statement disclosed. In addition to the foursome, the statement added that Basketmouth, the anchor man, Okey Bakassi, Bovi, Uganda’s Salvador, Funny Bone and 2CanTalk will also be on duty to entertain the people just as Wande Coal, Omawumi and Bez will spice the night with a potpourri of performances.

•Basketmouth

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—35

BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

ate nursed the ambition of finding herself in the United States of America or London, through arrangee type of marriage, without giving a damn to any consequence that might crop up as a result. This singular desire, informed her decision to enroll into the prestigious School of Nursing, Amaigbo located somewhere in Imo State, rather than waste precious years, sitting for Jamb which turned most of her class mates into seasoned customers. Kate soon discovered that even before students graduated, parents and relatives combed the institution for marriageable girls for men who resided in Europe. Before she left the school which of course, she did with flying colours, she was cork sure that her becoming a nurse was the outcome of the best decision she had taken in her entire life. Instead of her career becoming a mere means to an end, Kate eventually fell in love with it. Not long, she became a midwife and was employed in one of the biggest private hospitals in Surulere, Lagos. As she progressed in her career, she discovered a burden in her heart to make her job an avenue with which to please God. Nursing to her, turned into a pure humanitarian job. It was while working at Care4Life Infirmary that Madam Ezeoke met Kate. But before she proceeded on her annual leave, Kate was on the team that took care of madam Ezeoke. Incidentally, she began her leave before the rich old woman was discharged from the hospital. While she watched an episode of Tom & Jerry in her self contained apartment, her phone rang and the voice was completely strange. “Hello?”, Kate wondered who it could be. “Halo?”, the cracked voice replied in what could well pass for Igbo English. “Sorry, this is a wrong number ”, Kate replied as the voice tried to make incoherent introduction of herself.” “It is you, I know your voice...your friend gave me your number ”, the voice insisted in Igbo Language. The caller ’s insistence led to the conversation dragging further and not long, Kate realised it was the same kind-hearted and loving woman who always insisted she shared some fruits with, at the hospital. Madam Ezeoke had fallen in love with every health personnel who catered for her during her treatment, but felt something different for Kate. She resolved to recommend her to Obinna her son who resides in London. Kate showed she was ready so long as Obinna was resident in London. “But why the rush?”, Jenny asked. “What do you mean by why the rush?. Since we’ve been working together, have you heard that I had a suitor?”. “But Kate, you hardly know this guy, so I suggest you cool down and make proper investigations before saying yes.”

Waiting game “You know your biggest problem, Jenny, you are too meticulous and I hate that. I don’t plan remaining in this hell called Nigeria where the youths hardly have any future.” “Does that warrant you not to look before you leap?”, Jenny said sympathetically. “Never mind my dear friend. Obinna’s mother is such a nice woman and I’m sure he’ll be exactly like his mother in everything” But what if you get there and you discover you can’t put up with his person...” “What did you call it? what if I get there(LAUGHS WILDLY), that means, I’ll get to London first before discovering anything...Chilax sweetie, I’m the one getting married here” Kate’s mother ’s joy knew no bounds when surprisingly, Obinna came back a week before the traditional marriage. “God, I thank you for shutting the mouths of my enemies who have been gossiping that Obinna my Inlaw cannot come to Nigeria because he doesn’t have a permit. Even though Kate and Obinna proclaimed their love for each other over the phone, they experienced something different and deeper on meeting each other. After the traditional wedding, Obinna accompanied Kate to Lagos and spoiled her with whatever she wanted, for an additional one week before leaving for London with the promise to process her papers immediately. Kate was optimistic that the British embassy wouldn’t refuse her visa, considering that Obinna was resident in London. No night passed without the couple discussing over the phone and two months later,

Kate was optimistic that the British embassy wouldn’t refuse her visa, considering that Obinna was resident in London. No night passed without the couple discussing over the phone and two months later, Obinna was surprisingly, disappointed when Kate confirmed she was not pregnant Obinna was surprisingly, disappointed when Kate confirmed she was not pregnant. “I smell something negative here, Jenny” It’s getting to 8 months now and it appears that my husband has relaxed concerning my joining him in London.” “I don’t know what to say, but just remain optimistic, there could be hitches” “ I agree with you Jenny, but why has he not been happy that I couldn’t get pregnant after nights together before he travelled, Could this be a game? “You can’t be too sure about that Kate,... I’ll advice you keep disturbing him about speeding up things?, Jenny suggested. Four years later, Kate’s dream about relocating to London completely vanished. Obinna told one story or another about how it was difficult securing her a visa. At

last, Kate discovered after investigations that Obinna was legally married to a Swedish who refused granting him divorce because he fell short of meeting the conditions for a divorce. Kate became devastated. That afternoon, Kate called her mother and wept over the phone for close to three minutes before she was able to say something sensible. “No mother, Obinna is a fake. The whole thing has been a waiting game” she cried. “My dear, he can’t be a fake when he has spent so much on this family.” “You don’t understand mother...he wanted to get me pregnant so that with his child, I could wait until he regains freedom from the white woman.” “But he would have as well waited untill his freedom before coming to Nigeria to get married... why, oh why me, why is this happening to my daughter.? Instead of the usual pleasantries, and exchange of how they loved each other, Kate and Obinna quarrelled all the time. Barely six months later, Obinna almost developed a heart attack while going through comments on Facebook. Right there on his Ipad, where wedding pictures of Kate and a stranger. “Can this be real? We spoke yesterday and although she didn’t sound happy, she never mentioned anything about breaking up. Wait a minute... Nollywood movie?, no Kate has never talked about acting.” Obinna’s questions were answered the following day when he was told over the phone that Kate’s family had returned the dowry he paid because she had wedded a doctor from a neigbouring community.

36 —SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013 — 37

C M Y K

38 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—39

Weekend Treat Delicious pounded yam with okro soup, good for you

Pounded yam is one of the popular foods made with yam and a special delicacy among Nigerians. This special delicacy can be eaten with okro soup. Enjoy

08111813025

I learnt how to eat right as a child — Okorie By ADERONKE ADEYERI

ollywood diva, Angela Okorie is our guest in this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk. The Cotonou born actress and ex Delta soap model takes us through her healthy lifestyle and what keeps her fit. Enjoy it Was there a time you were allowed to cook for the family while growing up? I was not always in the kitchen. Most times, my mother would have done the cooking before my arrival but I started cooking at sixteen. What was food to you as a child? Food was everything. I was priviledged to know how to eat right as a child. So, I wasn’t eating food I have on my table. I know how to balance my food intake and that helped me so much. Now, it is not about eating any kind of food but eating a balanced

diet. So, is there any food you preferred the most? My favorite food is pounded yam and okro soup. As a matter of fact, I can prepare this particular food provided I have the luxury to do so. Is this special food of yours peculiar to your state? Not exactly. I believe the E b o n y i indigenes have their special delicacies. As for me, I chose this special food because I like it. Your kind of fruit? My favorite fruit is mango. ...and exercise?

Recipe A tuber of yam Mortar Pestle Water Okro Stock fish head (medium size) Beef Fresh fish Dry fish Roasted fish Seasoning Salt and pepper to taste Palm oil Crayfish Preparations Peel off the brown outer layer of the yam, slice and wash the white part with lots of clean water. Pour the yam into a cooking pot and start cooking with just water. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes; then check to see if the yams are soft enough for pounding. Ensure

I like jumping most of the time to keep fit. How do you unwind? Though my schedule is so tight, I spend my leisure time with my wonderful family. And my children like pounded yam too.

that the water is not completely dried because you will need it while pounding the yam. Transfer the yam into a mortar; then go ahead and pound with a pestle, pound until the yam is seedless and can easily be molded. Now slice the okro and set aside in a bowl. Cook the fresh fish,dry fish,stock fish and beef for five to ten minutes. Put clean water in a pot and leave to boil. Then add your pepper to the water to cook for some minutes. Pour the cooked stock fish, dry fish, and every other ingredient to cook for about ten minutes . Lastly, pour the okro to boil for some minutes and your okro is ready.

HEAL TH TIPS HEALTH

Inexpensive foods that boost fertility I

nfertility is a problem that has led to the separation of many couples. However, this scenario can be averted by eating some affordable foods that can boost fertility in men and women without hitting your pocket. The following food items can be considered:

Your kid needs healthy snack for growth

Garlic Garlic helps improve blood circulation. Fish Fish can help you become fit and fertile. It contains essential fatty acids which helps improve circulation around the reproductive system and boosts sperm quality in the process. Nuts

TummyZone 4 Kid & Teen

Nuts of various varieties including almonds and walnuts which are rich in Vitamin E heightens the female sex drive while protecting the embryos from miscarriages. Potatoes Potatoes are rich in Vitamin B and E which enhances cell division, increasing the likelihood of a healthy ova being produced. (continues next week)

chool age is the perfect time for children to learn about healthy food, bodies and activity. This is the time they start a busy social life, have pocket money and begin to help choose their own lifestyle. Children of this age learn quickly and are also influenced by their friends and popular trends. Children need a wide variety of foods for a well-balanced diet. The amount of physical activity they have in a day will be an important part of how much they need to eat. When children are busy and active, snacking is important to keep energy levels high. A healthy morning snack at recess and one after school are usually needed each day.

morning helps your child to stay active and concentrate at school. It also means your child is less likely to be hungry during the morning and it can help with performance at school. Be a role model and let your child see you eat breakfast too. A bowl of cereal with milk and fresh or stewed fruit is a great starter for the whole family.

...As breakfast is important too It is important to encourage breakfast. A good night’s sleep followed by food in the C M Y K

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30 30, 2013

SATURDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—41

C M Y K

42 — SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

Asari-Dokubo debunks reports of flying into Abuja aboard presidential jet •Says I am still in Cotonou •Threatens legal action against Beninoise gendarmes

impression making rounds in some quarters concerning the unfortunate incident in Benin republic in the arrest of the leader of

BY CHRIS OCHAYI Abuja

Airtel commissions adopted school in Imo

HE leader of Niger Delta People’s Volunteers Force, NDPVF, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, Friday, debunked reports that he was flown into Abuja aboard presidential jet shortly after his release by the Beninoise gendarmes, saying he

was still in Cotonou, the capital of Benin Republic. Alhaji Asari-Dokubo who described the reports as tissues of lies said he will be flying into the country aboard commercial flight any moment from now Asari-Dokubo who spoke through the South East/North Central Coordinator of Niger Delta People’s Volunteers Force,

Mr. Emmanuel Amakiri in Abuja, accused enemies of the present administration for his current travail and incarceration by Beninoise gendarmes. He said that there was no iota of truth in the insinuation that President Jonathan deployed a jet to ferry him to Abuja a few hours after his release. According to him, “we want to correct erroneous

NDPVF and our mentor, Alhaji Mujahid AsariDokubo. “After all efforts by his followers and the Nigerian people we were able

to secure his release, there was a rumour that presidential jet was deployed to Benin Republic to fly him to Abuja.’’

•As Imo State Government Commends Airtel

EADING Telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has taken another bold step in fulfillment of its corporate vision to become the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians with the

commissioning of one of its adopted schools in Amumara, Imo State. The Telco said the rehabilitation of Community Primary School, Amumara, Imo State as

well as the donation of borehole and educational items to the primary school underscore its commitment to providing first-rate educational opportunities for underserved communities across the country. Speaking on its Adopta-School initiative, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the company, Segun Ogunsanya, said the company is passionate about creating real value for underprivileged children, its customers and other stakeholders. Ogunsanya who was represented by the company’s Regional Operations Director, South Region, Godfrey Efeurhobo, said Airtel will continue to look for opportunities to partner with governments at various levels in the development of the education sector. As part of its Adopt-aSchool programme, Airtel has renovated and commissioned schools in Lagos, Ogun and Cross River states and also donated educational materials and other facilities such as borehole and generating sets. Airtel’s Adopt-a-School programme is a robust initiative that offers underprivileged children access to quality education in a conducive environment. It also provides them with all the materials for learning and study. As part of the programme, Airtel organises trainings for teachers of its adopted schools to ensure that a high teaching quality is always maintained.

GCUOBA holds annual luncheon

OVERNMENT Col lege Ughelli Old Boys Association, Lagos Branch, holds its annual luncheon party on Sunday, December 1, 2013, at Grand Ball Room, Eko Hotel & Suites, Adetokunboh Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, from 2 p.m. Dress Code is formal.

SATURDAY, Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013 — 43

A beac h af fair ffor or FFaloughi aloughi @ 70 beach affair

L-R:Oriton Faloughi, Barrister (Mrs) Wendy Faloughi, Chief Ephraim Fagha Faloughi, celebrant, Fagha Faloughi and Emi Faloughi.

L-R: Admiral Allison Madueke with Mac Oruche and Sir Ogala Osoka.

usiness mogul and Chairman, Sovereign Trust Insurance, Chief Ephraim Faloughi turned on some style when he celebrated his 70 th birthday penultimate Saturday. Joined by close friends, the celebrant and family hopped aboard a luxury boat which conveyed them from Civic Centre jetty, Victoria Island down to Ilashe (Fashola) Beach where the beach party took place. Many dignitaries graced the occasion. Photos by Akeem Salau

L-R:Chioma Madubuko,Dr Eyimofe Atake ,Chief Ephraim Fagha Faloughi, Mrs Dorothy Atake and Chief Ayo Iroche

GOtv cust omer customer omerss forum in Ibadan

Otv subscribers were let into the amazing world of GOtv at a customers’ forum organised by the company in Ibadan last Saturday. Here are moments from the event.

L-R:Chief Ephraim Fagha Faloughi Celebrant With Chief C. Ikokwu and Barrister Sam Onyeleonu. L-R: MultiChoice Ibadan Branch Coordinator, Mrs Bukky Awofeso, Regional Ops. Manager, MultiChoice, Mrs Mirian Anyakie, Marketing Manager GOtv, Mr Dare Kafar, PR Manager, GOtv, Miss Efe Obiomah and Ops Manager GOtv, Ms Lanre Oluwole.

L-R:Nkiru Chigbo, Fifi D Moon, Miss Laverite, actress Lydia Owan. Standing: (L-R) Shirley Abengowe and Ugochi Odoemenam.

Hon. Patricia Simon-Hart,Commissioner for Water Resources, Rivers State, Mrs Ada Ralph Ekezie and Mrs Adetayo Akintunde

Ne wY am ffestiv estiv al New Yam estival MANY dignitaries graced the New Yam festival which held at Iriji Ikeduru, Imo State, Some of them are Chief Chuka Odom, former FCT Minister, Chief Uzoma Obiyo, Chairman, Multinet Group and a host of others

L-R:Chief Chuka Odom, former Minister of F.C.T and Chief Dr. Uzoma Obiyo, Chairman, Multinet Group

Chief Dr Uzoma Obiyo, cutting the yam as the Iwaji Chairman

L – R: Ops Manager GOtv, Ms Lanre Oluwole, Regional Operations Manager, MultiChoice, Mrs Mirian Anyakie, Rev Michael Soneye (GOtv subscriber), PR Manager GOtv, Miss Efe Obiomah and Marketing Manager GOtv, Mr Dare Kafar.

A cross-section of GOtv subscribers at the GOcustomer Forum

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

08 116759 759 081 6759759

Ar ect behind designs of ‘V agina Arcchit hitect ‘Vagina Stadium’ ffor or 2022 W orld Cup is a W OMAN World WOMAN A

rchitect behind designs of ‘Vagina Stadium’ for 2022 World Cup is a woman, and she isn’t very happy about critics’ comparisons of her plans to female private parts. Female architect Zaha Hadid

is behind designs for the stadium . Iraqi-born Hadid has hit back against claims her plans resemble female genitalia. The new Al-Wakrah stadium in Qatar is instead inspired by a dhow boat. Designs

for new climate-controlled stadium went viral after being unveiled. Immediately, the stadium was likened to a woman’s private parts Iraqi-born Hadid, who is considered one of the world’s best female architects, also suggested the plans would not have faced the same criticism if they were designed by a man. ‘It’s really embarrassing they come up with nonsense stuff like this.‘What are they saying? Everything with a hole in it is a vagina? That’s ridiculous,’ she told Time. Hadid, who won the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004 added ‘if a guy had done this project’ there wouldn’t have been the same level of criticism.

Inside the world of Mexico’s m aith healer myysterious ffaith healerss S

triking photos lift the veil on reli gious festival that celebrates 20th century ‘miracle worker.’ Texas photographer Scott Dalton traveled to Espinoza, Mexico, to document the religious celebration of the county’s most revered faith healer, El Nino Fidencio. Although he passed away more than seven decades ago, Fidencio’s fame as a miracle worker has continued growing along with the

number of his devotees, known as fidencistas. Twice a year, thousands of people descend on Espinoza to ask the healer’s spirit to cure whatever ails them—from headaches and insomnia to infertility and other more serious conditions. In life, Fidencio prescribed herbs for different disorders, pulled teeth and painlessly removed gall stones without

anasthesia — all free of charge. It also has been rumoured that he was allegedly able to cure cancer and paralysis. But it was his practice of administering sacraments that got him in trouble with the Church. According to anthropologist Raul Cadena, a Catholic bishop met with Fidencio two years before his death and asked him to stop

'Y ou should have 'You closed your legs'

efence lawyer tells rape victim she should have D ‘closed her legs’ to prevent being attacked by bouncer who assaulted her in New Zealand. A lawyer

Bogus bride caught out B

ogus bride caught out when she ‘flinched’ as fake husband touched her knee during wedding ceremony. A bogus bride was caught out because

she ‘flinched’ when her phoney husband-to-be touched her knee in a register office. Emilia Ginova, 22, was jailed today for posing as a blushing bride ready to walk up the aisle with her groom. But a court heard Ginova had only first seen Nigerian student Louis Esene on the day of the service —and was being paid £3,000 to take part in the sham marriage. She was caught out by an eagle-eyed registrar who spotted her shocked reaction when Esene, 28, reached out to touch her leg. Registration officer Donna Davies said: ‘The groom tried to touch the bride’s knee but she looked very uncomfortable. ‘She flinched and there was no interaction at all. I knew it was a scam.’ The marriage was stopped— and the pair were both arrested at the register office in Pontypridd, South Wales.It was later revealed that Esene wanted to stay in Britain because his visa had run out.The court was told a friend recruited Ginova — who is a Slovakian-born Roma — and was four months pregnant by another man at the time of the wedding. Esene and Ginova pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law.

defending a bouncer who was convicted of raping a 20year-old woman told his client’s victim that she should have ‘closed her legs’ to avoid being attacked. Defence lawyer Keith Jefferies made the remarks when summing up at the trial of his client at Wellington District Court on Wednesday, the Dominion Post reported. The newspaper said the 20-year-old woman was drunk in the central business district when the bouncer, George Pule, approached her and told her that he could get her into a nightclub where her friends were socialising. Instead he led her down an alley and raped her, although Jefferies said the victim did not struggle or cry out. According to the newspaper he told the court: ‘All she would have had to do was to close her legs? it’s as simple as that.’ ‘Why didn’t she do that? The reason she didn’t do that was because the sex was consensual, as easy as that.’

administering rites because he was not an ordained priest. The healer briefly complied, but later flouted the Church ban. The circumstances of his death in 1938 are shrouded in mystery, with some saying he was felled by an illness, while others claiming Fidencio may have been murdered.

‘Take that haters!’ P

regnant mother whose body-building photos sparked media storm gives birth to a healthy baby boy. Lea-Ann Ellison, 35, sparked outrage after posting the photos on Facebook. The Los Angeles fitness fanatic was branded ‘selfish’ by some commenters. But the mother-of-two kept exercising until three days before the birth. She had a home birth for baby Skyler who she says is ‘a very chill dude’ Skyler weighed seven pounds and three ounces —although if he is anything like his mother, it won’t be long befo re he is

piling on the muscle. Ms Ellison, who has declared she wants to be a ‘Hot Mom’, gave birth to Skyler on November 7 in her home using a birthing pool —and kept exercising until just three days beforehand. Since the birth she has already returned to the gym and her CrossFit regime, a system of exercises created 13 years ago and now used by thousands of gyms worldwide.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—45

C M Y K

46 — Saturday

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

How Police in Onitsha arrested leader of deadly robbery gang •Suspect reveals how vigilante operative was killed •How gang realized whooping N500m in recent bloody operation By OKONKWO EZE, Onitsha

esidents of the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State and it’s environs may heave a sigh of relief, following the arrest of one of the notorious member of a deadly armed robbery gang operating in various parts of the area. Men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, attached to Okpoko unit recently launched an onslaught against the gang that had terrorized the inhabitants ,and the leader of the gang identified as Friday Christian was arrested. The arrest of the said Christian, according to a reliable police source, has so far revealed the operational base of the deadly gang, their identities and modus operandi.According to the source, the gang which usually operated with motorcycles, had in October, this year, allegedly gunned down and killed an operative of Okpoko vigilance group simply identified as ‘Stubborn’ at Mugambo Street, Okpoko in the Onitsha suburban area. Not satisfied with the killing of ‘Stubbon’, the source stated, the gangsters allegedly laid ambush and attacked another team of vigilante operatives in another location in the same Okpoko and injured the driver of the vigilante operatives, after riddling their patrol van with bullets. Last Friday, the gangsters carried out a bloody operation when they robbed motorists at Old Motor Spare Parts Market, Ugwuagba Layout, Obosi, popularly called ‘Mgbuka market, during which they realized N500,000 and killed a teenage girl. The source further stated that during the operation, the robbers were shooting indiscriminately and in the process, a stray bullet hit the teenage girl and she slumped and died, while the gangsters carted away their N500,000 loot. But 24 hours after the incident, men of the SARS apprehended one of the gang members, Christian, on top of Upper Iweka Fly-over bridge who not only confessed to the operations of his gang but also mentioned the names of their gang leader and others. He also confessed to the police that their gang leader gave him only N50,000 as his own share out of the N500,000 loot while

•IGP, MD Abubakar others shared the remaining N450,000, adding that they were after the vigilante group because of teaming up with the police to ‘spoil’ their robbery business. The commander of SARS at Okpoko Unit, DSP Anthony Ogar, who confirmed the arrest to Crime Guard in his office, declined further comments, adding that the suspect had been transferred to Anambra State SARS Headquarters, Awkuzu, for further investigations. O gar whose crime fighting tactics had been acknowledged by the inhabitants in the area, including some human rights bodies, however, maintained that the police are on the trail of the leader and other members of the gang, hence the long arm of the law would soon catch up with them, particularly now that their identities and operational base have been revealed. It would be recalled that the armed robbers had chased the deceased vigilante operative from the rear and before he could escape, he crashed into iron protectors in the window of a compound which could not allow him jump through. The robbers followed him into the compound and allegedly shot sporadically on the door and succeeded in pulling it off completely from the wall. They now pumped bullets into ‘stubborns’ skull and chest until they emptied one magazine on him before leaving him. According to an eye witness, it took the combined efforts of men of the Okpoko sector of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and other members of Okpoko vigilante group, based on information provided by members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, to unravel the mystery of the armed invasion and killing.

By DAYO JOHNSON, Akure

olice detectives in Akure,Ondo State, are working tirelessly to unravel the circumstances that surrounded the death of a 4-year-old pupil of Falaye Memorial Nursery and Primary School located at Fanibi area, Elizabeth Wanogho, after her parents alleged she was sexually assaulted by one of her teachers. However,the school authorities claimed that little Elizabeth was neither assaulted nor beaten, and accused her father of being complacent over her treatment after she fell sick. The father of the girl,Ovie alleged that his daughter was beaten to death because she reported to him that her teacher sexually assaulted her and pleaded that justice be done by the police and the matter should not be swept under the carpet. The 45-year- old Civil Engineer with HFP construction company in Bauchi who was transferred to Ondo State three months ago said he suspected foul play by the school proprietor and police. His story Narrating his ordeal to Crime Guard, Ovie alleged that his second daughter was defiled and strangled by her teacher who is also the son of the school proprietor, Mr Kola Alade. According to him, “One afternoon, my daughter returned from school and I overheard her telling her mother that her new uncle put his hand in her private part and touched her bum bum. Before I could come out of my room, her mother brought her to me and she repeated it. “I took her to the school the following day to report to the proprietor, Mr Kola Alade who summoned the teacher and Elizabeth repeated what she said at home. The teacher, Alade then said in Yoruba’ mo kan ba sere ni’ meaning 7(I was just playing with her). I then warned him seriously that such should not repeat itself again. “The proprietor promised that such will never happen again. My daughter returned that day to report to me that because I came to warn her uncle, he pressed her neck saying that ‘your parents are not here, I will deal with you.’ She made me know that the teacher is the proprietor’s son. She complained of neck pains and I went to a nearby chemist and bought the prescribed drugs and administered it on her, only for her neck to swell overnight and I rushed her to the hospital that night. “On my way, I met the school proprietor driving out. I explained my plight to him but he said my wife and I should wait for him. We waited but he never returned before I got help from another neighbour who took us to the Military Hospital at the barracks where Elizabeth was placed on drips and antibiotics to just reduce the swollen neck but to no avail. “All along, I was concerned with my daughter’s recovery but with all the treatment, she was not responding to treatment and each time she asked for

•Ovie: father of late Elizabeth.

Death of causes fu food, she could not swallow when the food was brought to her. It was after we spent few days at the hospital that the soldiers asked about the proprietor and I took them to the school and the proprietor claimed that he was not aware of what happened.

e also disclosed that the teacher who assaulted my daughter is his son and an undergraduate stating that he asked him to help retain the class because some of his teachers had left and he never knew it will lead to this. After this, he also insisted that he will only produce his son if I will not be around because he was afraid of how I will react. And the girl died. “We were later referred to Mother and Child Hospital, Akure, where I was asked to buy blood but because I do not have money, I volunteered to donate my blood and two pints was taken from me to just save my daughter’s life. It was then that I received a call from the police that the proprietor was negotiating the release of his son at the Police station. When I rushed to the station to know whether it was true,I received another call to rush back to the hospital. “When I got to Mother and Child hospital I saw my daughter and she stretched her hands to me and called me, ‘Daddy! Daddy!’ As soon as I moved to her and carried her, she breathed her last.I thought it was a joke. I raised her hand, it dropped and I realized she was gone. (After this, Ovie betrayed emotions and cried like a baby.) The doctor’s report revealed that something struck her vaginal and strangled her on the neck. She is in the mortuary now and what I want is justice. I want fellow Nigerians

Saturday Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013 — 47

My encounter with the Police in Lagos — robbery victim “Can something good come out of Nazareth?” A would be disciple asked. “Come and see”, replied the other. By BIMBOLA TEMITOPE

•The deceased pupil- Elizabeth

4-yr-old pupil ror in Ondo •Parents allege sexual assault •School says father was negligent to help me, I have three kids and have lost one. She is my carbon copy, I gave her my blood to keep her but she has left me.”

School reacts

eacting to the allegations on behalf of the school management, the Proprietor, Mr Kola Alade denied all the allegations by the father of the deceased. He explained that Elizabeth was not assaulted as claimed by her father. “Ovie never came to my school as claimed, it was the mother of the deceased that came to the school with her children to complain and I summoned my Head mistress and the teacher, Adebayo who in turn denied that anything of such happened. “When the girl was in the hospital, I told my Headmistress to go and visit her and we even advised the father to take the child to Mother and Child hospital but he preferred that his child be taken to the Military Hospital. Her father was complacent on the treatment of his child

which resulted to the death of the girl, he was reluctant all along as he did not respond when he was called to donate blood for his daughter which was late before he eventually did. “Her father simply wants to tarnish the image of my school as all he claimed are untrue. We have urged him to go and let an autopsy be carried out on the girl but he has been avoiding that because when we know the cause of death, we will be able to know what really happened to the girl.” In her reaction, the Headmistress, Tinuola Ajimajasan said Elizabeth was not beaten or assaulted as claimed, and the school was not aware that she was sick as the little girl in question is in Kindergarten class. In his reaction, Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) ASP, Wole Ogodo said the suspect, Mr Adebayo Alade has been apprehended and is presently in detention at the State Criminal Investigations Department,SCID, Akure. Ogodo said the post mortem will reveal the cause of death. “We will need an expert to do the autopsy on the deceased as the police cannot rely on any hospital to come to conclusion.” He therefore pleaded for patience on the part of all concerned.

ccording to the Holy Bible, the would be disciple was skeptical about his brother’s discovery of the Messiah in Nazareth of all places. He was not scornful in his skepticism. Nazareth of old was not renowned for producing men of lofty deeds, of valor, of reputable disposition. But his brother was sure of his finding, Jesus Christ, even from Nazareth! The disciple went, saw and believed. I have my reservation for the Nigeria police, and I am at liberty to be stingy with my sympathy for it. Like most Nigerians, my aversion for the police was borne out of third party narrations. Everybody is The victim -Bimbola talking ill of the police so must I. After all, the organization itself is not so meticulous about its image. Who then am I not assistance and report the conduct of to be frugal in my love for its members? the wayward police officer who inciA Yoruba adage says that masquerade is dentally was a superior officer honoured abroad while people are appreciated (Supol) thus expected to know better on close contact came to the fore better. recently when I had a close encounter with the It wasn’t until Sunday evening Nigerian police. After this incident, I that I had time to call the PPRO with metaphorically fell on my knees asking Father the motive of persuading her to use to forgive me for I did not know what I was her position to compel the desired doing. action. I never bargained for the At the wee hours of Friday 15th November, result that I got from her. She 2013, I had an encounter with the men of pleaded with me to come to her underworld who snatched my car, a green office the following morning Infinity G20 saloon car with Reg. No FQ 821 (Monday). On getting there, she LND in front of my street gate at Onike area, made me narrate the story again Yaba, Lagos State. I reported the incident at and she promptly sent for the the Sabo Police Division promptly and was officer but changed her mind and advised to report same at the Control Room at asked if I could present marked Oduduwa, GRA, Ikeja. That singular action money to the officer, saying that the altered my perception of the Nigeria police for Command was desirous of weeding live. It was so dramatic that I felt like a Nollywood itself of all bad eggs. Hardly had I actor in a ‘B’- rated detective movie. given the marked money to the On getting there, I met with an officer who officer than he was promptly pitied my plight and promised to “go all out to arrested by the men of the X Squad assist me” by sending a radio signal to all police who were lurking nearby. We were formations in Lagos State command and both taken to the presence of the environ pronto, if only I could part with the Commissioner of Police ( Umar sum of six thousand Manko), who asked us to naira. I was not narrate what happened. disappointed because I The arrested officer wasn’t expecting a more corroborated my refined behaviour from statement but countered the police. I thought it it by saying that he only was just ‘normal’ to asked me to come back ‘settle’ before ‘action’. I the following day to hadn’t that much money “show appreciation” on me (as every thing with the six thousand had gone with the car. I naira (N6,000.00). The therefore promised to CP tongue lashed him bring the money the before ordering his following day. He detention. ‘generously’ promised to My car was later found help me send the signal at the LASTMA office, the following day after Iponri. Investigation the payment of the revealed that the Lagos State Police Public money. He gave me his LASTMA officers towed Relations Officer, PPRO , identification and phone it from the road side Mrs. Ngozi Braide, (DSP) number so that I could where the thieves contact him when abandoned it. It had coming. While soliciting been ticketed N30, 000! for the money, a curious lender asked why I The police went further to write was so anxious for such a meager amount of LASTMA to release the vehicle to money. I told him. He was furious at me and them for further investigation, scolded me for being so naive and uninformed arguing that it was a stolen vehicle. about the re-branded Nigeria police. He said I We are still awaiting the reaction of should contact the Police Public Relations LASTMA on this latest Officer, PPRO , Mrs. Ngozi Braide, (DSP), for development.

48—SA TURD AY 48—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

But is obvious today that the only way Nigeria can survive is when the PDP is out of power and that is the only way Nigerians can have power. Because today we are in darkness, electricity is not on, so the only way we can have power which will generate employment, create wealth is for the PDP to be out of power. And what we are seeing today is the introduction that PDP initiated in Lagos. You remember when the PDP went to Lagos for a rally they said they have political tsunami but today it is no longer political tsunami in Lagos it is political tsunami in the PDP. What we are seeing is a clear departure from the old order where people see PDP as the only means to power and the only means to survival. I think I will salute those governors that they have good will and they have courage because for them to be able to defect shows that they have Nigeria at heart and they have seen PDP collapsing and they have seen Nigeria collapsing if PDP is not kicked out of power. Impunity has become the order of the day in PDP and when there is impunity where everybody feels nothing can happen, that they can steal at will and nothing will happen, the danger of that is the sign of a collapse country. And I think more governors will still defect and honestly we will have a country that is called our own. Look at

Edo Govt is not owing N200billion, Orbih is confused — Shuaibu · Says defection of 5 PDP Govs will deepen democracy

ecently, the Edo State House of Assembly suspended the Chairman of Orhiomnwon Local Government Council, Chief Roland Ibierutowhen and the entire councillors for allegedly travelling to Italy without permission from the state government. In this interview with the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Philip Shuaibu gave reasons for their suspension just as he responded to the recent allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the state is indebted to N200billion and other national issues. Excerpts:

•Hon.-Philip-Shaibu

By SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY

uspension of Orhionmwon chairman and Councillors We are a party that believes in the rule of law and the wishes of the people. The Orhiomnwon people rose against their leadership for locking up their Local Government secretariat to travel to Italy to go and learn legislative duties. You cannot imagine a chairman, the Vice chairman, secretary of the council and all the councillors going to learn legislative duties in a country that do not speak English. That is crazy, for us may be they want to introduce Italian language to the parliament in their area. That does not show responsibility and we are not ashamed to fish out any one of us who do not want to follow the trend of development in our area. We are not PDP that covers up corruption in the name of their own, like the Oduah case where they are trying to use a civil servant as a scape goat to save Oduah. I think for us the people matters not individuals. The chairman of the PDP in Edo state, Chief Dan Orbih recently said the state is indebted to N200billion and that Governor Oshiomhole has received over N19billion as security votes, what is your take on that? I think that for an opposition to be a strong one it has to be able to work with fact not speaking

blindly. Everybody today knows that Edo state is much much better than PDP left it. There is development everywhere but because Orbih is not used to good roads, good hospitals, during their tenure so he sees the good things now as under development. Now he said Oshiomhole has received N19.5billion security votes. We have never heard of N5billion security votes in this state because we just concluded our Ministerial briefing. The present security vote is N4billion and even the N4billion during the Ministerial briefing, it is about 45 per cent of that N4billion that was expended. I expected that he should have met our colleagues in PDP who has the document before speaking. The state government today is paying debts incurred by PDP government. The only debt this administration is owing was the N25billion it borrowed from the capital market and as we speak over N14billion has been paid. So from the N25billion the state is owing about N11billion. So how can about N11billion constitute to N200billion debt? When government took that loan they took it with a repayment plan and that repayment plan has a time lag when the money will be defrayed. About N700.N800million is being deducted from our allocation to service that loan. And when the PDP always raise that alarm that Oshiomhole is owing debt and he will leave it for future

government, I want to assure them that before Oshiomhole leaves office, there won’t be any debt to hand over to his successor unlike Oshiomhole who inherited so much debt left behind by Orbih’s PDP. He also inherited a dilapidated state, the PDP confiscated properties belonging to Edo people including their lands. Before Oshiomhole came the state was run by the PDP like a family business. So Edo state is not owing N200 billion. They should speak with facts, when we were in the opposition in this state we speak with facts. We have the documents, if they want them we will give it to them. I expected Orbih to speak about the inability of the PDP led government to pay allocations to states. I expect him to speak about the oil theft, to speak about Oduahgate.PDP is out of this state and they are out for good because we have seen they still have some charlatans as leaders. You discover that the PDP in Edo state especially their chairman, they are confused. When a party chairman does not have statistics to criticise a ruling government then there is a problem. When somebody who calls himself a chairman of a party in a state does not know what development is and under development then there is a problem. When a PDP chairman can stand up to say Edo state is under developed then that means what constitutes development to him is under development because he has never witnessed development in his life as a party chairman of PDP now development has come to Edo state, he is not seeing it as development he is seeing it as under development. He

is used to untidy classrooms, he is used to bad roads, he is used to all the negative vices of the society. For us we are of the new order and the new order is construction of roads, expanding rural areas, providing the basic amenities that is what governance is. And APC stands for that change, that change is a clear departure of the PDP slogan of under development. APC belongs to that new generation that believes that those ailing industries that are leaving Nigeria, the UACs, it is time for them to return to Nigeria when APC is in government. Because the PDP has shown

Impunity has become the order of the day in PDP and when there is impunity where everybody feels nothing can happen, that they can steal at will and nothing will happen, the danger of that is the sign of a collapse country that they do not have the capacity to develop our country and they have failed woefully. It is a clear signal from the departure of those governors that the PDP has no medicine to cure the problem of Nigerians and that is why APC is coming at the right time to cure the headache of this country. Defection of five PDP governors I think for me it is a good sign for Nigerian politics and also to save this country from the verge of collapse. The PDP cannot develop this country, from 1999 they have been in power, they have been boasting that they were God and in the next 50 years they will continue to rule this country. And obviously man is not God.

those involved in the purchase of PHCN you will know that in the next ten years if things are not handled properly, we will be worst than what we are before the privatization of PHCN. So i am very happy that Nigeria is about to have power, that Nigeria is about to enjoy what democracy is all about. This is also a clear signal to the police including the IG that he is the IG of the Nigerian people notthe IG of the PDP. They should be neutral in this game so that Nigerians will enjoy the police. What is happening today is a clear signal for those people that feels impunity is the order of the day. Nigeria is no longer a one party state,

Continues on page 49

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Goodluck is the only president talking about development —Chief Evarist Nwosu

BY PRISCA SAM-DURU

hief Evarist Nwosu is a former Comptroller of Customs who retired voluntarily from public Service in 1993. As a strong believer in the unity of Nigeria Chief Nwosu maintains in this interview that Nigeria has the capability to compete favourably with developed countries of the world if only she expands her resource base. He also, speaks about his new book, “Leadership & Developmental Issues in Nigeria: A Search for Development Strategies”. Excerpts Why delve into development issues? I have considered the way Nigeria is going and I thought she needs to grow and develop. But while I was in the public service, I couldn’t make comments on issues concerning leadership in the country but I secretly wrote articles which were published in The Guardian, for instance, “Why the Military Intrude in African Politics”, published in 1978. I retired voluntarily from the Customs and began thinking of how to write a book that will encapsulate all my ideas about leadership, growth and development. By that, I tried in my book,“Leadership & Developmental Issues in Nigeria: A Search for

Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—49

•Chief Evarist Development Strategies”, to make a distinction between growth and development. Growth is simply economic expansion where you produce and people consume and it does not translate to development. But development is when Political Leadership begin thinking in terms of how to bridge the gap, that is technological gap between us and developed countries of the world. This is done by building infrastructures, mass transit fares to move people, building aeroplanes, why can’t we build our own automobiles and automobile parts and couple them in this

country and then sell to other countries? We need industrialisation, technological acquisition, development and adapting, etc , these are ingredients for development. It is surprising that people say no we can’t develop that way but if you look at developed countries of the world, they are the most advanced in terms of technology, they are the richest, and so, Nigeria cannot continue to depend on only one natural resource; selling of oil and all that, otherwise, why are we always broke? The answer is simply because the profit or whatever money we make from oil sales is not enough to run the affairs of this country. That is why we run borrowing from time to time. We need to expand our resource base, by industrialisation, manufacturing and exporting, producing food in abundance for everybody then put prices down, develop housing for people and when you give them transportation in addition to low cost housing, you don’t need to pay big money as salary because they have transport and other amenities. Nigeria’s level of development? I will limit myself to this present administration. It appears that because

Other countries will not take us serious if we don’t begin to put necessary infrastructure in place, for the nation’s development. President Jonathan is educated and also, a science person, it seems to me that for the first in the history of Nigeria, we have someone who is thinking about development. Jonathan is such a leader, apart from Late Yar’Adua who would have been such a person but death stopped him too early. But Jonathan stepped into his shoes and seems to have gone further than expectation as far as I am concerned. I am speaking for myself. Jonathan is talking about development, launching of satellite, building our own automobiles and all that because he is the kind of president that has

Edo Govt is not owing N200billion, Orbih is confused Continues from page 48 look at the National Assembly it is APC now by the time you have a balance of force i can tell you that the people that will benefit is the Nigerian masses. But there is this rumour that the EFCC might go after them? I think Nigerians are wiser now, the EFCC are too. Because the EFCC cannot go after the defected governors when Oduah is still roaming the streets. EFCC cannot go after the governors when Okonjo Iweala has not been investigated over his younger brother that is a consultant millionaire in dollars in Ministry of Finance. EFCC cannot go after those governors when EFCC has not investigated Deziani the Minister of Petroleum over the theft of our crude oil that is being

stolen on daily basis. The EFCC has a duty to tell Nigerians the truth over our oil that they are selling inthe

name of theft. So before they go after those governors they should go after Deziani, Oduah and Okonjo Iweala first. EFCC is supposed to be an umpire so they should not allow themselves to be used. When Farida was there we remembered when even a Minister was using her to chase his political enemies, but I want to tell Lamorde because for me he is a seasoned trained officer and he learnt from the beginning when EFCC was established. I want to advise him that it is for his own interest and that of Nigerians that he balance his forces. If he wants to tell Nigerians that he is ready for work, he should go after Oduah, Deziani and Okonjo Iweala because these three women unfortunately they are women, they are the major problem we are having in this country. The money Nigeria is losing on

daily basis in the name of theft is from a lady. The consultancy programme that is taking millions of dollars in the Ministry of Finance is also from a lady. The car saga, the Airport renovation, all these things we are aware. I think it is time for Nigerians to sit up, and it is time we ask those questions. And the EFCC must prove that they are actually an agency to fight corruption because the international community is watching us. And the only way we can prove to the international community that we want to fight corruption in this country is when people like Okonjo Iweala, Stella Oduah and Deziani are behind bars. Anambra election and INEC I do not have confidence in INEC but I have confidence in Jega. There is difference between Jega as a person

development agenda for the nation. Objective of the book? My book is to create awareness and arouse in the minds of political leaders the need to bridge development, technological and industrial gap between us and advanced countries of the world. Other countries will not take us serious if we don’t begin to put necessary infrastructure in place, for the nation’s development. Once again, Nigeria needs to grow and develop and that is why I have in my book, documented all the indices of development which have been lacking in the governance of Nigeria How can Nigeria win the war against corruption? First and foremost, the presidential system of Governance should be dropped because it is not conducive for Nigerian polity. Parliamentary system which will keep leaders on their toes is best because there will be no room for corruption. What we have at the moment is a situation whereby the executive, judiciary and legislature are busy chasing their personal agenda because the presidential system does not check them properly. All these are documented in my book for reference purpose.

and INEC as an institution. For INEC to have credibility it needs a courageous man to stamp out all those corrupt officers and all those people who are ready to mess him up because for me I believe that Jega means well, I believe that Jega is sincere because for the first time this is the first time an INEC chairman will come out and accept his faults. Before the Iwus will come out to tell you that it was the best election conducted in this country. But today we have an INEC chairman that accepted responsibility and ready for change. I don’t believe in the system but I believe in the head and the head must stamp his authority. But before 2015 Jega needs to prove to Nigerians that he is actually ready to bring sanity. I want him to remain there but I want him to have that will to whip out those characters that are not ready to flow with the new change that Jega has brought into INEC.

50—SATURDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

FLAF reconciles, empowers beach and bridge boys to families

Tec hnology driv en cargo compan echnology driven companyy, un unvveils special holida holidayy shopping for cust omer customer omerss tarting from Friday, No vember 29, one of the S leading cargo shipping giants,

American AirSea Cargo, said it had begun to reward its customers around the world, particularly in Nigeria with special holiday shopping and shipping offers that will last through the Yuletide. Speaking from the regional office, Lagos, Operational Manager, Hauwa Odebisi, said that the firm had rewarded its customers in this manner for the past four years. She said: “We would ensure that our customers benefit as low shipping costs as $15 to ship items from America to Nigeria. “Such has never been heard of before, but we want to make this a reality for Nigerians this season. You will see savings of over N200,000 on just a single 60” TV set by using the system we have put in place for this season”. American AirSea Cargo, which has achieved a lot in the area of global cargo shipping, using the latest technology available seeks to encourage individuals to have access to quality products this season irrespective of where they are. The company has procured first class facilities to make its operation easy and simple nationally and internationally. This has helped the company

to drive the confidence of its customers globally and compete favourably. More importantly, the devices in operation have helped the company render equal and quality services in all the countries where it operates without reservations, as it has taken it as its civic responsibility to maintain a cordial business relationship with its clients globally. Such designed devise like its E-procure solution which is currently being utilized by thousands across Africa and Nigeria in particular, has enabled customers purchase items from any online store of their choice in America, UK, China etc. and have those items delivered right at their door step anywhere in Nigeria. Odebisi said, this has really made international shopping for millions of Nigerians cheap, easy, safe and convenient and has brought millions of goods sold by global giants such as amazon.com, ebay.com, zappos.com, aliexpress.com right to the door step of Nigerians. This solution relies on allowing Nigerians to have their own private address in any of these countries, she said. “In America, November 29th marks the starting of the holiday season and is popularly called Black Friday and marks the commencement of Christmas sales in U.S. Following the huge

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sales on Black Friday is Cyber Monday on the 2nd of December for those who miss the black Friday deal. All in all from the 29th till late January great discounts are seen throughout US stores and we hope Nigerians will use the sales opportunity to save thousands this year. Stores drastically reduce prices on virtually all items to encourage both local and even foreign buyers to make purchases. The deals and discounts seen from the 29th last till the end of the holiday season and even well into the month of January in America. For sustenance of standards and quality service delivery, the tested and seasoned management team has made provision for consolidation option that allows purchases in multiple sites, but still have just delivery and shipping cost. Moreso, repackaging that reduces bulky items into smaller sizes hence lowering the shipping cost drastically is part of the things customers stand to gain during this special holiday offer, while warehouse monitoring online of all items procured using American AirSea Cargo innovative online portal. In addition, customers have been assured of full tracking and monitoring of items until it gets to the final destination.

t was life and all fun at Fair Life Africa Foundation home as the non profit organisation specialised in rehabilitating and reconciling street children to their parents, organised a-leaving-party for those it rescued from Lagos streets in September 2012. The boys, who came in rough and looking hopeless were given useful training and education. This is a short-term programme which runs alongside the academic year to provide respite for runaway children who are genuinely seeking reconciliation with their families according to the Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Ufuoma Emerhor Ashogbon. “While at the Foundation Home, Lekki, Lagos, the boys were enrolled into private schools according to their levels and their families when contacted were encouraged to visit their children regularly, in order to reconcile and renew such family relationship. Twelve boys were envrolled and nine of them successfully completed the training session. “The boys were rightly disciplined in the Home as they dropped old and bad habits and picked manners with good behaviour. A good behaviour chart was kept in the Home that records those doing well in this regard and they were rewarded accordingly. A lot of the children had been rewarded with trips out of the Home to various places. According to Ufuoma, the children were well behaved and managed themselves with little supervision from the staff. They were all eager to go back home, having rediscovered

their love for family and rekindled their passion for their future. At the event, families of seven boys were present to celebrate with the Foundation having rehabilitated and reconciled them with their children and to officially receive them from the Foundation. Those who witnessed the occasion were, Police Officers, Juvenile Welfare Centre, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. CEO of L AFARGE, Mr Joseph Hudson, came with his family and gifts for the boys on behalf of LAFARGE. Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Olorogun O’tegaEmerhor, and Mr John Onojeharho (a founding Trustee) were also on seat. Olorogun presented the children with awards for good behaviour and a lot of gifts and ecademic empowerment were given to the boys to continue their education. However, for continuity of the good work the Foundation, Fair Life Africa launched recently at Lekki for the street children in order to keep moving the passion of Mrs Ufuoma Ashogbon, who left her computer engineering career for welfare service to give succour to the beach and street children. Families that benefited from her good service testified while ten people were given awards during the launching.

Ho w tto o ge How gett the best of pig farming

earing pigs may not appear as classy as manufacturing or being in the financial services sector, but it’s very profitable. Animal farming generally is another means of selfemployment which helps countries to reduce rate of unemployment. Many Nigerians running to the urban cities in search of white collar jobs which are few these days, would have been making money if they had joined the little league of wise Nigerians investing in pig farming according to Animal Farm Consultant, CEO, Jovana

Farms, Prince Arinze Onebunne. According to him, pig meat is a delicacy and it is served in big hotels, beer palours and restaurants as well as some joints patronized by the highly placed. “As unemployment rate increases with more jobs being threatened, people are advised to embark on animal farming to support their families and earn more income and become wealthy since it was revealed that 70% of Nigerians live below one dollar/day. Investment in animal farming would

Pig farming reduces poverty and creats self-employment

improve the standard of living in the country. Pig farming, because of its high multiplication and turnover is proven to be one of such business people can do to earn living and also earn good money. Apart from achieving the dream of becoming your own boss, it’s a business that can generate millions of jobs for citizens that are interested”. The animal farm consultant said, no government can create enough jobs for its citizens. Government creates enabling environment while the people create jobs themselves. It’s agriculture that creates the highest number of jobs in the society. Our economic and financial system need to be restructured to empower the average citizen so that those that want to invest in agriculture can access soft loans. Pig is a monogastric animal Onebunne said. “Before now, pig rearing is not very popular in the country because it was considered to be a dirty animal and a secondary host for tapeworm which may be transmitted to humans”. However, studies have shown that these challenges occur when the free-range system of

rearing is adopted in pig farming. Nowadays the intensive pig rearing is clean and attractive. “Pig farming can be carried out on a small portion of land safe from flooding. When laying concrete, make sure levels are correct to avoid stagnant water. It is important when going into piggery, you choose the most reproductive and fast growing species that is now available for sale at Jovana Farms. Some breeds give birth to up to 17-20 piglets and some 8-12 piglets and some breeds grow faster than others”. “The gestation period in pig is 115days; so they reproduce regularly to provide income for the farmer. The business requires patience. Anyone who wishes to go into pig farming must have passion for the business. Feeding pigs takes a period of 7months before they mature for selling. Jovana Farms organizes nationwide sensitization training seminars on the practical ways of making it through small-scale animal farming. Visit us at www.jovanafarms.com for more details. Choose also the nearest venue from the advert box on this page.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—51

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN AN escaped but wild cow changed the destiny of Daniel Emori, 31, when it knocked him down leaving him with permanent disability. Like a bonnet of a fast moving car, the animal came full at him with its bawling sound throwing him on his back on the concrete track; and by the time the cow finished and strayed away, Emori became immovable. The unlucky young man, a native of Adadama community in Abi Local Government Area in Cross River State who had just started a job as a delivery van driver in one pharmaceutical company was rushed to the hospital but was later turned back for his inability to pay the required hospital emergency fee. Ten years after, Emori is not only atrophied, his condition is getting worse as he has since not been able to access medical attention as a result of poverty. “It was after my SSCE in year 2000 I traveled to Onitsha, Anambra State in search of greener pasture. I was employed in Peter E. Venture Plastic Company as a

Crushed by a cow, chased out of hospital, bedridden for 10 yrs •Begs for medical aid

•Daniel Emori years and went for a 6month driving training at Fegge Driving Tr a i n n i n g Field. After the training, I was employed by Ricol Pharmaceutical Company as a Delivery Van Machine Operator where I worked for two

Driver. That fateful day which was 10th of October 2003, as

I went to work that morning, our manager called me and told me that a customer had just paid for a large quantity of goods, that we should load and go straight to deliver the goods before going any other place.” “So, on getting there, we did not meet the said customer and it was on our way back after we waited for more than three hours that a closeby customer pleaded that we deliver the goods to

her instead of taking the goods back. I parked out of the road and jumped down from the vehicle but unfortunately I was immediately knocked down by a stray cow which came from God knows where.” “I became paralyzed till date. I was rushed to a nearby clinic and the next day being Saturday, I was later referred to University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, where cervical (neck) injury was detected after some series of medical test (scan and x-ray). But after all efforts at providing the hospital emergency fee of N75,000 before any treatment failed, I was rejected and sent back home.” “Since then I have been critically lying at home helpless and disable with part of my joints now stiff due to constant lying down on my sick-bed. I can’t sit, I can’t work and

I can’t access medical attention. I have written to both my local and state government but all to no avail. That is why I decided to use this medium to seek support from Nigerians.” On his parents, Emori said he lost his father a few years after the incidence as a result of the overwheming health condition. “My health condition contributed to my father ’s death in June 2009.” My mother who is an ordinary village farmer cannot afford the money for my drugs let alone paying my hospital bills. My siblings who could have assisted are not working.” Emori who was not very coherent while speaking with Saturday Vanguard pleaded: “please sir, try include my contact details for people who may wish to assist me.” Emori can be reached on 07031655209, 08086387108. Bank details: 0062253610 Edu Blessing Benjamin, EcoBank.

Es ango oover ver plots of land Esttat atee agents, cus custtomer omerss in ttango We ‘ll settle all subscribers in three months, company begs By Ishola Balogun and Aderonke Adeyeri LAND remains a gift of nature to man. Its acquisition, most often, is fraught with one form of controversy or the other especially in urban and semi-urban areas. The emergence of land speculators popularly called Omo-onile in Lagos and other thriving cities of the country does not offer any pleasant experience to many too. While a lot of such cases ended up in law courts, others have sparked unimaginable crises leading to loss of lives and wanton breakdown of law and order. It is in this light that property dealers offer professional assistance to clients in order to make their dreams of owing a home become reality. But are they immuned to the vagaries of the Omo-onile syndrome offering genuie service to customers, or they are thorns in the flesh of would be buyers? Recently, some of those who procured plots of land through Pretoria Atlantic, a Lagos based property dealer told Saturday

Vanguard how they paid for plots of land since 2009 and are yet to be given land allocation. Dr Anifowoshe Gabriel, an employee of Lagos State Health Service Commission, one of the clients of Pretoria Atlantic told Saturday Vanguard that since he completed his N420,000 mandatory down payment, it had been stories upon stories. “I paid through a mortgate system a total of N420,000 and for close to two years now, the company has failed to give me posession of the peice of land or to return my money.” Narrating how he got into the deal, Anifowoshe stated: “I read an advertorial on a daily newspaper where Pretoria Atlantic advertised a mortgage program on acres of land located at Pakuro, Ogun state. The acres of land is located at Pakuro opposite Deeper Life campground which is popularly known as Diamond Estate and the mortgage was to run for 12 months at N50,000 monthly on a total of N600,000 with a provision of paying 2/3 of the money (420,000) before getting allocation and

taking possession of the land. The advert also indicated the physical possession of the land after paying two third of the total money”. He continued: “Despite the completion of the mandatory payment close to two years now, the company has failed to either give me possession of the land or refund my money.” Anifowose added that at a time, the company promised to give him another plot of land close to Sagamu at another estate called Intercontinental estate but all to avail. Saturday Vanguard visited Pretoria Atlantic located opposite Hamio Plaza, Isheri, Lagos and on the three occasions we visited the company, and inspection of the site, the Director ,Mr Olalekan Awonusi was not available to react to the issue. The Customer Care officer, Miss Blessing Francis confirmed that the management was making efforts to get across to all the subscribers who paid but yet to recieve allocation, adding that letters have been

prepared waiting to be dispatched to affected subcribers. Also speaking on the issue, the Site Manager, and the company ’s spokesperson, Adeyemi Badmus gave an insight into what led to the delay in allocations. He allayed fears of any scam adding that the estate is there and will soon be ready for allocation. “When we had this problem, we begged them to be patient and we even told them that we will give them another place and compensate them with additional half plot. There is nothing to hide, we did not just start this business today, we have no record of fraud, subscribers should just be patient with us.” According to him, “at about the time we planned to begin the allocation shortly after everybody had paid, families involved in the land had issues among themselves on the land and the issued had just been settled. Very soon we will begin allocation of the land.” Badmus who refused to state what the issues were stated that the rainning season slowed down work

•Diamond Estate site at Ijere, Ibafo. on the site since they had begged them and gave to clear the bush and them option of moving levelled the ground before them Intercontinental allocation. Badmus who estate which is close to took Saturday Vanguard to Sagamu and added half the site to inspect level of plot of land to each work done at the Diamond subscriber for causing them Estate at Ijere, Ibafo, Ogun all the trouble in the change location. Some state, maintained that the in company had spent so subscribers agreed and much in making sure that moved to Intercontinental the place was ready for estate while some refused allocation before now bluntly. Luckily for us, the adding that now that the case has been resolved a rains had ceased, work month ago and the only will begin on site in earnest challenge we have now is and within a couple of to have a dry land to move months, the place will be equipments to site and ready for allocation. “I make it ready for want to assure you that allocation. But we are within the next two promising that before the months, say by February, end of February every we will begin allocation to subscriber will have physical allocation of his all of them. “During the crisis, the or her land,” Badmus management had to stated.

52—SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

BY SOYOMBO OPEYEMI

he Saturday, November 16, 2013 Vanguard health report and its earlier version in the November 11 edition of Vanguard, “NMA threatens Amosun over alleged unkempt promises” are embarrassing to Ogun state government. It is important to set the record straight before certain segment of the public is misled by political opportunists, who have become desperate in recent months. First, Ogun has no sevenpoint agenda as the reporter of the stories claimed; we have a five-cardinal programme. The general public is very much aware that Amosun never promised free health for all citizens of Ogun during his electioneering campaign. What he promised, which is the second cardinal programme of the administration, was Efficient Health Care Delivery. He, however, said pregnant women, children up to the age of 5 years and the elderly above 70, would receive free health services. The free component of the health objective could not be implemented immediately, as the new government discovered to its chagrin that the debt portfolio and rot in the health sector were deeper than what the public knew. The state of decay is illustrated by the fact that the nearly 800 qualified health workers recently employed have still not been quite enough to plug the gap in human resources bequeathed to this government. Today, Governor Amosun has continued to devote billions of Naira that should otherwise have gone into development to offset inherited debts. The challenges listed by Ogun NMA chairman at a recent press briefing were all inherited, and spread over decades. And I do not know yet of any administration in the world that has the magic wand to completely solve such enormous problems within just 30 months in office. The start-off point was renovation of primary health care centres across the state; in addition, they were provided with generating set and borehole. I am astounded that this escaped the attention of the Chairman in the said press conference despite the fact that health professionals across the country continue to harp on the importance of primary health care and service delivery to the grassroots. General hospitals, including dental centres across the state are gradually being renovated. Also, to fill the equipment gap, a massive consignment of equipment was imported and distributed(Autoclaves, oxygen concentrators, x-ray machines, ultrasound machines, portable ventilators, ECG machines, defibrillators, dental chairs, operating microscopes, consumables, stethoscopes, blood pressure machines, fridges, blood banks, etc, etc.) The NMA Chair should have acknowledged these massive investments. What he also did not mention was the mountain of arrears of salaries owned workers which has been

Understanding the Ogun Health Scheme

cleared as well as the increase in staff employed in OOUTH, and the rapid conduct of delayed annual promotion exercises conducted there on the approval of the Governor. Today, in at least 9 Local Government Areas, extremely poor pregnant women are enjoying free health services. In fact, under the Gbomoro initiative, the women not only enjoy free health services but are given transport money and free ante-natal materials and after birth, they receive a ‘mama kit’ with more material gifts for mother and baby. The scheme has been a great success. So far, MATERNAL MORTALITY OF ENROLEES IS ZERO SINCE THE SCHEME BEGAN. This is a record-breaking achievement for any government. It is expected, of course, that this scheme will be rolled out to all the local government areas in due course. Statistics of deliveries in our government clinics are showing rapid increases - a testament to the improving quality of care which is impacting positively on maternal and infant mortality. Much effort is being directed towards improving health literacy. In areas concerning maternal and child health, malaria and HIV/ AIDS, for example, government is using education (awareness enlightenment) as vaccine against ill-health! Three interconnected strands can be gleaned from the Efficient Health Care Delivery programme of the administration: (a) rehabilitation and construction of heath care centres with provision of modern facilities and adequate medical personnel that are motivated with enviable conditions of service (b) introduction of Community Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBHIS), where every individual contributes a token (a premium) to access qualitative (and by implication) affordable health services; (c) and from the template of CBHIS. In

addition to the ongoing Gbomoro initiative, the dream of Governor Amosun is fulfilled, as government takes over the payment of premium for the three categories of citizens to enjoy free health services. The NMA, according to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Olaokun Soyinka, should have an idea of the immense complexity of designing and running a health insurance scheme. The Primary Health Care Development Board is finalising the development of a robust and technologically-driven system. Initial field tests have been conducted. HMOs have been engaged and community sensitization is underway; the launch will ‘convince all doubters’. The health policy of the

The future holds some major initiatives that will put the state on the global healthcare map. The government has signed a MoU with an International Group to build a state-of-the-art Cancer Institute in Sagamu, the first of its kind in Africa. A number of new general hospitals will soon be developed to reduce pressure on existing hospitals and add to the capacity to cope with our booming population. Development is a work-inprogress. With the physical and administrative structures being put in place, state-of-the-art equipment being supplied to the hospitals, the international collaboration that are yielding concrete results, Gbomoro and CBHIS, among others, there is

Statistics of deliveries in our government clinics are showing rapid increases - a testament to the improving quality of care which is impacting positively on maternal and infant mortality administration is therefore on course in spite of the inherited daunting challenges. What happened in the case of the doctors under the aegis of the Nigeria Media Association (NMA), Ogun State chapter was that the union obtained some loans that the previous administration guaranteed. The repayments were deducted from their monthly salaries spread across 3 years. The deductions were, however, not remitted to banks as and when due. This administration paid off all deductions that had been made but, unfortunately, heavy penalties had already been added by the banks resulting in a debt that was unfortunately held against the borrowers. The situation is being resolved with active government involvement.

no doubt that our health programme - Efficient Health Care Delivery – is on course. The media, labour unions, etc should be stakeholders in the task of nation-building. There is need for journalists to cross check their facts and figures and union leaders should be wary of comments that border on political agitation and outside the purview of extant labour laws. It is noteworthy that due to the ambience provided by the Amosun administration, labour leaders in Ogun State now express themselves freely. It was not so in the past. Nonetheless, we should all regard freedom and responsibility as two sides of a coin. Soyombo is media aide to the Ogun State Governor

SATURDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—53

C M Y K

54 —SATURDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

Giggs’ records are unbelievable – Irwin D

ENIS Irwin does not believe the records of 40th birthday boy Ryan Giggs will ever be broken. The Manchester United winger reached the latest milestone of his spectacular career yesterday, which will be the prelude to him joining a select band of players who have appeared in the Premier League after entering their fifth decade. It goes alongside his 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two UEFA Champions Leagues, the stand-out moments from a glittering career that, following his spellbinding appearance in Wednesday night’s 50 thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen, now also extends to 953 United games. The figures are mind boggling. And Irwin, who spent 12 years as a team-mate of Giggs at Old Trafford, is certain they will not be matched. “That volume of medals will never be broken,” said the former defender. “The number of games? That would take some beating as well. “What he has done is unbelievable. That kind of longevity at such a top club. This is no run-of-themill, mid-table team or one in the Championship. You are talking the very highest level for the last 23 years. “The amount of games. The number of trophies. The dedication needed to go the distance and challenge yourself every year. To come back for pre-season training and keep going with the same intensity shows what type of player and person he is.” As the man who limped

HE recent appoint ment of two American coaches by the National Sports Commission to better the lot of Nigerian athletics has received the blessings of some Nigerian coaches working abroad. This is just as the Nigerian coaches association, jettisoned its despondency and toed the line of optimism as they await a new dawn in the country’s athletics that is needing a new lease of life. The NSC, keying into the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN revival efforts had announced the appointment of Angie Taylor and Eric Campbell to help Nigerian win medal at the 2016 Olympics and

off injured in the game against Everton at Old Trafford on 2 March 1991 to enable Giggs’ debut, Irwin played a unique role in the Welshman’s career. For well over a decade, the pair patrolled the left-hand side of the field. Giggs was the flamboyant winger, Irwin Sir Alex Ferguson’s Mr De-

pendable. But the Irishman has a secret. He doesn’t believe his own contribution could have been possible without Giggs’ assistance. “I was a right-footed fullback,” he said. “Throughout all the time we played together, Ryan was my left foot.

GOLF: Scott hits Australian Open record

Nigerian coaches abroad support NSC imports

ASTERS champion Adam Scott fired a course record 62 as Rory McIlroy was hampered by putting troubles in round one of the Australian Open in Sydney. Scott started with six successive birdies and had 10 in total to beat the record at Royal Sydney by three shots. He leads by three strokes at 10 under, with American John Young Kim and Canadian Ryan Yip tied for second. McIlroy shares 16th, seven shots off the lead, after mixing five birdies with two bogeys in his round of 69. While Scott needed only 24 putts, world number six McIlroy, yet to win a tour event in 2013, took 29 and admitted: “I drove the ball pretty well off the tee but just didn’t

get any reward on the greens. “I missed three short ones and that was just wasteful as I felt it could have been a lot lower, given that I am driving the ball the best I feel I ever had. “It’s just a matter of being more efficient and putting better, and that’s really it as I only played the par fives in one under par, and the way I am driving it, I should be playing those in four under.” Scott’s scorecard had a particularly distinctive look as he began from the 10th with six consecutive birdies and then birdied his final four holes from the sixth to the ninth.

beyond. Speaking on the development; Coach Taiwo Ariyo who happened to have worked with Campbell in Saudi Arabia noted that Nigeria has taken the right step forward. “I think it is a right step in the right direction. Considering the fact that the ministry is thinking about track and field development, this is a new beginning. Eric is a good manager that could help us both home and abroad. “I see the positive side of the new thing happen and how it’s been done in other places. Change is the constant thing, but we might get opposition from people because it’s a new thing.

•Okagbare

•Ghanaian kids during the IAAF programme in Accra

Ghana embraces IAAF / Nestlé Kids’ Athletics L

AST weekend the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) became the latest national IAAF Member Federation to activate IAAF / Nestlé Kids’ Athletics, the flagship of the IAAF School / Youth Programme, which is now running in more than 120 countries. Created in 2005 and with the support of its partner “Nestlé Healthy Kids” since January 2012, IAAF / Nestlé Kids Athletics – which aims to introduce children to Athletics in fun activities at a basic level – is one of the biggest grassroots development programmes in the world of sports. On Friday (22), Ghanaian Deputy Minister of Sports Joseph Yasmin and the Deputy Education Minister in charge of basic education Alex

Kyeremeh, along with other dignitaries and more than 400 enthusiastic kids from the University of Ghana Basic

Schools, attended a colourful and vibrant launch event in the main sports stadium of the country’s capital Accra.

Cross River maintains vice grip on youth athletics

OR three consecutive years, Cross River State has maintained its strong hold on grassroots athletics competition in the country and as the National School Sports Festival ends today in Ilorin, Kwara State, the young lads from Calabar have demonstrated once more that hard work pays. As at the time of filing the report yesterday, the State was topping the athletics medals table with as much as 25 medals, much to the admiration of other States who have failed to toe the path of youth development in their areas. Director of Cross River grassroots sports development, Bruce Ijirigho stated that his athletes will dominate the grassroots sports terrain for a long time with the overall ambition of extending to the national level in the next couple of years.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 30, 2013—55

TP Mazembe, CS Sfaxien battle for Confed Cup title Tunisians but was seeking Congolese giants TP Mazembe believe they can overturn a two-goal deficit in this weekend’s Confederation Cup final second leg against CS Sfaxien.

Being at the World Cup means so much to me — Odemwingie C

ARDIFF City strik er, Peter Odemwingie, has stated his desire to represent Nigeria at the Fifa World Cup in Brazil in 2014. The former West Brom striker, who has 55 caps for Nigeria was last involved with the national team about a year ago and has since been overlooked by coach Stephen Keshi. Odemwingie, who made a deadline day move from West Brom to Cardiff City in the summer, wants to join the likes of Gary Medel and Kim Bo-Kyung, whose countries, Chile and South Korea respectively, have both qualified to appear in Brazil. “I was in the Nigeria squad for the last World Cup finals in South Africa and I would love the chance to go again,” Odemwengie told Welsh portal, WalesOnline. Odemwingie believes if he has a massive season for Cardiff City, then he is in with a shout to be recalled by Nigeria to fight for a shirt in the team. “Why not? Certainly, I believe I have a chance and when it comes I would be delighted,” he said after Cardiff drew 22 with Manchester United last weekend. “I haven’t been selected lately because the coach is making changes to the squad. “It affected all the older

•Odemwingie players so the situation wasn’t friendly, but he has insisted that any player who is active and eligible will have a chance to play

at the World Cup so we will see. “Playing for my country in Brazil would mean so much to me. Brazil is even

more popular footballwise so it will be great if it happens.” Nigeria beat Ethiopia 41 on aggregate to qualify for the football fiesta for the fifth time in their history and Odemwingie feels it will take a lot of hard work if he is going to get into the squad. “Playing in the Premier League can only help me,” Odemwingie stated. “No player will be in the squad unless they do well for their various clubs. Odemwingie made his Nigeria debut in 2002 and has represented Nigeria at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He was also a silver medallist at the Beijing 2008 Olympics with the Under-23 Olympic team who lost to Argentina in the gold medal match.

The Tunisians won last week’s first leg 2-0 to put themselves in control of the tie and on the verge of winning the trophy for a third time. But Mazembe are confident they can bounce back in front of their home fans in southeast of the country today. Mazembe’s wealthy president Moise Katumbi said the four-time Champions League winners have everything going for them in the reverse fixture. “We need to have faith, we lost a battle but not the war,” Katumbi said in a statement on the club’s website. “We are going to play for the cup to stay in Congo. “Two-nil is nothing. I believe in our team and in our fans. Personally, I like this kind of situation because it is in difficulty that we can achieve great things.” Mazembe’s French coach Patrice Carteron (pictured) said his team will need to do something special to turn the tables on the

inspiration from his country’s comeback win against Ukraine in the World Cup play-offs. “With the deficit from the first leg, we have to do something extraordinary to now reach our goal,” admitted the former Rennes, Lyon and Saint-Etienne defender. “France’s feat against Ukraine? We will try to follow that example. I hope we will be able to do it at home.” Mazembe lacked the cutting edge in Tunis with Zambia striker Given Singuluma and Tanzania international Thomas Ulimwengu both failing to put away the few chances they created. Tunisia forward Fakhreddine Ben Youssef was involved in both goals at the Rades Stadium near Tunis and his pace and trickery down the flanks will again be vital in the decider. For Sfaxien’s Dutch coach Ruud Krol, victory over Mazembe would be his first international success as coach.

Johnnie Walker set to host Formula 1 Champion in Lagos

OHNNIE Walker, the luxury Scotch Whisky from the stables of Diageo, has concluded plans to host Formula One legend Mika Häkkinen in Lagos today as it treats its esteemed consumers to an unforgettable experience as part of the Johnnie Walker Step Up to the VIP Lifestyle campaign. Häkkinen, the two–time Formula One champion and Johnnie Walker Glo-

bal Responsible Drinking Ambassador is expected in Nigeria to promote ‘Join the Pact’- an initiative for responsible drinking. The spectacular event which holds at The Palms Mall, Victoria Island, would afford guests an opportunity to experience the drive of a lifetime with Hakkinen as he takes some of them through an F1 experience in a Caparo supercar.

Boxing: Bring on Mayweather, Mundine screams A

NTHONY Mundine is eyeing a bout with Floyd Mayweather after beating Shane Mosley in Sydney this week. The former Australian rugby league star said on Thursday: “I just want the best. Obviously I want Floyd; he’s the best of the best. But that’s not going to happen next. “You’ve got to do your time and beat the right fighters. There’s Cotto out there, there’s Alvarez. They are the calibre of fighters I want to fight.” Mundine, 38, won the fight against Mosley when the American veteran retired after the sixth round with severe back spasms. It was the biggest scalp of Mundine’s career, earning him the vacant WBA international super-welterweight title on a technical knockout. Now he has the peerless Mayweather, unbeaten after 45 bouts, in his sights. This victory over Mosley should improve his chances of a crack at Mayweather, but Mundine is willing to face the likes of former champions Miguel Cotto and Saul Alvarez, who have lost to Mayweather. Mayweather beat Mexico’s Alvarez in September to claim the unified super-welterweight championship in what was the richest fight in boxing history. It earned nearly US $150 million in pay-per-view revenues.

According to the Managing Director and Chief Executive, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Seni Adetu, the Johnnie Walker ‘Step Up to the VIP Lifestyle’ campaign showcases the luxury and prestige associated with the range of the Johnnie Walker brand, as the brand steps up its campaign to promote responsible drinking, gathering over million commitments across the world. Also, Mr. Felix Enwemadu, General Manager, Diageo Brands Nigeria, said invited guests will be treated to the Johnnie Walker Step up to the VIP lifestyle after party that promises to be as memorable. The party will be headlined by award-winning and international artistes including: rap sensation Wale, hip hop star, D’Banj, rhythm and blues sensation Banky W among others.

•School children playing chess at the sports festival in Ilorin.

Time out at the Quadrangular Games

HE 2013 Quadrangular Games which is being hosted by the Apapa Club will officially end to-

day. The Games which began last Sunday was attended by over 200 competitors from the four major social clubs in Lagos namely Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos Country Club, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club and hosts, The Apapa Club. Vice Chairman of the Apapa Club and chairman of the Organising Committee, Emmanuel Ibru told reporters that the games had gone well and, although the essence was to bring the four pioneer clubs in Lagos together under a relaxed atmosphere, the level of competition has been h igh. ”We have seen tremendous competition in all the games here and that goes to show how every competitor was ready to defend the name of his club,” Ibru said. ”We have really enjoyed the games while it lasted and we have been able to up the ante in terms of organisation and quality of facilities on display,” the LOC chairman said proudly. The closing ceremony comes up today at the Apapa Club.

NWF boss splashes dollars on medalists

•Floyd Mayweather

HE camp of the Nigerian weight lifting team in Malaysia bubbled with joy last night as the athletes not only got their allowances, but pocketed a special package from the president of Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF), Hon. Chidubom Nwuche. Nwuche before returning to Nigeria ahead of today’s closing ceremony doled out a special winning bonus to the lifters that won gold, silver and bronze, even as he ordered the NWF scribe Amaechi Akawo to pay them all their allowances. The lifters sang the praise of the NWF

boss declaring that they have never had it so good. Gold medalist, Joy Chika from Ebonyi State commended Hon. Nwuche for marching words with action. “Before we left Nigeria, he (Nwuche) promised to encourage us if we do well here in Malaysia. I am happy with the support we are getting from him and the entire NWF board. This is a morale booster for us,” she said. Fatima Musa who won gold in the 73kg body category said she was heading straight to the souvenirs stand to buy a few things for her siblings after getting Nwuche’s largesse.

SATURDAY Vanguard, NOVEMBER 30, 2013

Brazil 2014: Akpoborie charges NFF on more friendly matches for Eagles BY EDDIE AKALONU

ORMER Super Eagles striker, Jonathan Akpoborie, has reminded the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, of the need to organise more quality friendly matches for the national team before

the World Cup in Brazil next year. Akpoborie, who acknowledged that the friendly game against Italy in London met his expectation, insists that such grade A matches would not only expose the team, but instill the needed confidence in the players especially the home based ones who may meet final selection criteria of the coaches. According to him, “this period is not the time to over celebrate the little success we have achieved, but having qualified for the World Cup, we must make it a sense of duty to make an impact in the competition. “I am impressed with the result we had against Italy but the NFF must organise more of such games. We are likely to be in a group having more South American countries. So NFF can organise for the team to play about two matches against South American countries and may be one team from Europe. By so doing we could spring a surprise at the World Cup,” he concluded.

Mikel’s Nigeria’s best in 2013 — Mabo

•Stephen Keshi with Mikel Obi (INSET) Joe Erico

Advocates of foreign Technical Adviser after money, says Erico By EDDIE AKALONU

ORMER assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Joe Erico has hailed recent statements from the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and the Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi that restated that the country has no need for a foreign coach of whatever class to take the Super Eagles to the 2014 World Cup in Bazil. Erico who served as assistant coach with Stephen Keshi under Shaibu Amodu in 2002 said the pronouncements from the top shots of sports and football to reaffirm support for Keshi were wise decisions. “Any such move for a foreigner translates yet to waste of public funds. Foreign coach advocates are purely after money,Erico

affirmed, adding that “ what has past foreign coaches done in the World Cup? Before anyone mentions foreign coach, let us remember that Las Lagerback was once here, Bora Milutinovic came and Berti Vogts also came. Except for the Asian continent, we have had them from around the world and those that came in recent times were massive failures and our football suffered under them. So, my heart is with Stephen Keshi because he has done a good job and he remains an ambassador of Nigerian coaches for what he has done. I will continue to root for him because he is our own. We will get better with time,” he stated, adding “whatever we can do using our own resources and people is the ideal thing.”

Coach Erico, who reminded the NFF about the need to plan towards making Nigeria’s fifth World Cup finals a huge success and not one of

mere participation, said past records show that pre-World Cup changes of the national team technical crew in 2002, and 2010 ended in failures.

CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1. Birmingham City Coach, Lee – (5) 2. Corps Marshall, Federal Road Safety Corporation (FRSC), Mr. Osita – (7) 8. State in Nigeria Known as “The Eastern Heartland”? – (3) 9. Construction Material – (5) 10. Libyan Capital City – (7) 11. Drenched – (3) 12. L.G.A in Niger State – (5) 13. Osun State Capital – (7) 17. Container – (4) 19. Israeli Currency – (6) 22. National Executive Commissioner, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chief Okechukwu – (6) 26. Greek Alphabet – (4) 28. Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Chairman, Mr. Larry – (7) 31. Spain and Napoli FC Goalkeeper, Pepe – (5) 32. Adhesive – (3) 33. Former Inspector-General of Police, Sunday – (7) 34. L.G.A in Imo State – (5) 36. Abia South PDP Senator, Hon. Enyinnaya – (7)

4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 4 pm 6:30pm 1

ORMER Super Falcons head coach Ismaila Mabo has tipped John Mikel Obi to win the Goal Nigeria Player of the Year award, insisting the Super Eagles’ midfielder pipped his compatriot, Vincent Enyeama to the award from his own standpoint. Mabo was the first Nigerian coach till date to lead the country’s senior female team to the quarter final of the World Cup after the heroics of his team at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup hosted by the United States. In a chat with Goal, the former international revealed that Mikel was exceptional in 2013 and so deserves to be Nigeria’s best this year. Though it took him time to finally decide his choice as the country’s shinning light in 2013, Mabo noted that Mikel had a slight edge over Enyeama and so should be recognised as the one for the award.

Today’s matches Aston Villa Cardiff City Everton Norwich City West Ham Newcastle

Sunderland Arsenal Stoke City Crystal Palace Fulham West Brom 5

37. Legendary Queen of Zaria – (5) Down 1. Cross River State Deputy Governor, Mr. Essien – (7) 2. General Secretary, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (APE), Mr. Isaac – (7) 4. Ireland National – (5) 5. Traditional Ruler of Calabar – (5) 7. This Acid is Found Mainly in Proteins – (5) 14. Interlude – (4) 15. Traditional Ruler of Benin – (3) 16. Purchase – (3) 20. Vietnamese Currency Unit – (3) 21. relative – (3) 18. Barcelona FC Defender, Jordi – (4) 23. L.G.A in Yobe State – (7) 27. Motor – (6) 28. State in Nigeria – (5) 29. Lagos State Capital – (5) 30. L.G.A in Kebbi State – (5)

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SOLUTION on page 15

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