November 19, 2011

40-yr-old man gunned down over N200

Revenue Allocation meeting deadlocked again

WEST BROM BOLTON

•Family, colleagues set for showdown with Police

Page 11

Page 4

HODGSON BANKS ON OSAZE Pg. 34

Amosun can now probe Dipo Dina’s, other deaths Court vacates order Page 5

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Bayelsa primaries

Confusion in PDP Page

INEC stays away Sylva cries out as 3 soldiers take over Yenagoa Residents flee Presidency

Let’s discard ‘turn by turn’ syndrome Tinubu 5 Page

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IN THE NEWS

Subsidy

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Jonathan launches fresh strategy to woo Senators, Reps 4 Page

I don't want to end up getting married five times

23 ed s a b a i l a —Austr actress Nigerian Edigue o r a k o m O

2NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

Police have broken my backbone

r -y 5 8 n e k ic tr s fie r G — old grandma of slain Ekiti girl

•Madam Dada, Tayo's grandma

al •Tayo’s suitor (middle) at the buri

•The late Tayo

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T 85, Madam Rachael Dada, without any doubt, is in the twilight of her years on earth. Willy nilly, her existence is confined to two basic activities now: eating and constant rest.

No more the urge of the flesh or the promptings of material acquisition for her. But in old age, Mama needed a third ingredient which is joy. This has, however, been denied her by the Police.

“By killing Tayo, the Police have killed me”, was her opening statement to describe her grief over the loss of Tayo, who was gunned down recently by some policemen at a cassava farm in

Sulaiman SALAWUDEEN

Orin-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

Mama spoke to our correspondent on Thursday at Ora Road, the residence one of her children in Orin-Ekiti, after the burial of her grand daughter.

According to her, dutiful, 27year-old Tayo had lived with her for over 18 years till her death and she had found her a deserving grand daughter by all standards.

Although not directly in charge of monetary proceeds from the sale of fufu, Tayo, according to her grandma, was the only energy behind the

•Tayo’s suitor’s sister at the burial

making and sale of the staple food which she hawked on her head about Orin-Ekiti settlement.

Mama said: “Omo mi a so fun mi wipe kinma se wahala,” meaning: “My grand daughter would tell me not to get involved in any strenuous activity”.

She spoke further: “She would go to the farm to bring cassava.

We normally bought the staple item from the farmers on their farms. She would bring the cassava home and prepare everything to the final product.

“I am about 85 years on earth but I don’t lack anything because Tayo was always coming home with money for me. The Police did not kill Tayo, it was I they

•Sympathisers at Pa Abe's residen

killed.Well, God knows better.

“Tayo would carry the fufu on her head. She was never ashamed doing it. When she made the money, she would give me, not a part of it, but everything”.

The Chairman of Ido/Osi Local Government, Elder Ben Fatope, who represented Governor Kayode Fayemi, at the burial earlier, said all Tayo deserved was a last honour, which the occasion of her burial made possible.

Mr. Abe Martins, immediate younger sibling of Pa Abe, noted the intervention of both the state and local governments. He thanked both governments for

ce in Orin-Ekiti

not allowing the family to suffer in vain.

Another relation of Tayo, Mr. Akereja Oluseyi, said Tayo died a valiant death.

“It’s a pity you didn’t know Tayo; she was the delight of every parent in this town for her industry. When conditions were a bit hard for me, Tayo would come and counsel me not to resign to fate.

“She said she believed she would make it in life, if it is work people have to do to make it and she struggled and struggled, leading the way for her family.

Unfortunately, she died struggling”, Mr. Akereja said.

NEWS 3

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

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HE ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was thrown into confusion last night after it emerged that its Bayelsa State governorship primary scheduled for today in Yenagoa would be denied legitimacy by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Electoral Act stipulates the presence of INEC officials for such an event to be legal.

But following a court injunction restraining the Commission, the PDP and its acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje from “conducting, organising or holding any meeting or ward congresses and from embarking on any activities leading to the holding of any fresh gubernatorial primary election” in the state, INEC decided to shun the primary.

Spokesman for INEC, Mr.Kayode Idowu said on the phone last night that as a law abiding organisation, the commission would not be sending its officials to the venue of the primary, which the PDP had vowed to conduct, citing a section of the Electoral Act that says no court can stop a party from such an exercise.

Bayelsa primaries: Confusion in PDP Augustine AVWODE, Gbade OGUNWALE, Abuja and Isaac OMBE, Yenagoa

A Federal High Court in Abuja had restrained the PDP from conducting the primaries in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/ CS/931/ 2011 filed by Governor Sylva against the party.

Sylva, in the suit, is challenging his disqualification from participating in the primaries by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP. The Governor had followed up the court injunction with two letters to INEC, drawing its attention to the fact that he had been picked by the same party at an earlier primary and that conducting a fresh one would amount to replacing him in violation of the Electoral Act. It was also gathered that President Goodluck Jonathan may not attend the primary after having been so advised by legal minds on the implications of violating a court order.

This situation was at the heart of the confusion in the PDP,

•INEC stays away •You can’t overule court, says Falana •Sylva cries out as soldiers take over Yenagoa •Residents flee with some members pressing for the primary to go ahead as threatened by the leadership in separate statements during the week, while some other members urged caution against the background of the party’s avowed commitment to the rule of law.

Hundreds of armed soldiers were deployed in the streets of Yenagoa ahead of the election, prompting the governor and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the state to kick against the development The governor described the soldiers’deployment as uncalled for and capable of endangering the people’s fundamental human rights.

His Chief Press Secretary, Doifie Ola, quoted him as expressing confidence in the ability of the democratic institutions to address the existing political anxiety in the state.

Sylva called on the people of the state to refuse to be intimidated or provoked into any form of violence over the needless troop deployment and urged them to remain calm and go about their normal businesses.

Thanking the people for their continued support, maturity and patriotism, Sylva advised all parties in the political contest to bear in mind that what is most important now is the interest of Bayelsa State, not the ambition of any individual or group of individuals.

The State Chairman of the CPC, Comrade Wilfred Ogbotobo, in a separate statement, asked President Goodluck Jonathan to “immediately order the withdrawal of armed soldiers and other security forces deployed heavily on the streets of Yenagoa.”

He told the PDP to “as a mat-

•From left: The Registrar, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Mr. Bamidele Olotu; Vice Chancellor, Prof.

Femi Mimiko; and anniversary lecturer, Prof. Kole Omotoso, at the AAUA 12th anniversary lecture ... on Tuesday

ter of urgency explore internal mechanisms to put its house in order and not extend its characteristic features to rub salt into festering poverty, underdevelopment, insecurity and shattered values wrought on the people by its 12 years of irresponsible, reckless abuse of power by D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha, G. E. Jonathan and T. M. Sylva.”

Lagos lawyer, Mr.Femi Falana, was no less emphatic, telling the PDP in a statement that it cannot overrule the Federal High Court.

His words: ”The decision of the PDP leaders to overrule the Federal High Court is an invitation to anarchy. Since the reference to the Electoral Act smacks of contemptuous ignorance, it should not go unchallenged. ‘’The Federal High Court is empowered by section 6 of the constitution to adjudicate on all disputes between governments and citizens and among citizens inter se. To that extent, section 87(10)of the 2010 Electoral Act 2010 cited by the PPP to justify its provocative decision to treat a valid court order with disdain is inconsistent with section 6 of the constitution. That section of the Electoral Act is illegal, null and void to the extent of its inconsistency with the constitution. ‘’In any case, since no person, authority or principality in Nigeria has the power to set aside or vary a court order on the basis of a mischievous interpretation of the law, the Presidency and the security agencies should desist from collaborating with the PDP in subverting the rule of law in the country.”

Meanwhile, signals from the national secretariat of the party yesterday indicated sharp divisions among the top hierarchy of the party over the legal implications of conducting the primaries against the backdrop of a court order restraining the party from doing so.

Although the party had ear-

lier vowed to go ahead with the primaries in spite of the court order, last minute consultations by the leadership of the party appeared to put the party in a dilemma.

Our correspondent gathered that a few chieftains of the party had advised the leadership against going ahead with the exercise, citing possible legal encumbrances that could render the outcome ineffectual.

Those who warned against holding the primaries pointed out that the February 11, 2012 date for the Bayelsa governorship election still gives the party a grace of 84 days from November 19, 2011.

The party has a minimum of 60 days time frame within which to submit its candidate’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as prescribed by Section 31 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010.

By implication, the party still has extra 24 days to address the legal barriers arising from the suit challenging the propriety of conducting the primaries as scheduled.

But another group made up mainly of loyalists of President Goodluck Jonathan was said to have insisted that the decision to hold the primaries is fully covered by the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act regardless of the court order.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali avoided comments on the development as he ignored telephone calls and text messages forwarded to him by our correspondent yesterday.

A meeting which was described as crucial by stakeholders in the party was still going on at press time.

In Yenagoa, scores of residents were seen fleeing the town for fear of possible outbreak of violence. Checkpoints were set up in many parts of the town.

The state was scene of several military reprisals in the past, most notable of which was the Odi invasion during the Obasanjo administration.

Mixed reactions greet Jonathan’s Constitution Review Committee •It’s a weak option, says Sagay •It’s shadow chasing –Opadokun •Not far reaching – Agbakoba

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HE inauguration of the 21-man Constitution Review Committee by President Goodluck Jonathan has elicited mixed reactions from some members of the National Assembly and constitutional lawyers, with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Itse Sagay dismissing the Mohammed Belgore-led panel as “second best and a very weak option.”

The constitutional lawyer said it would have been better if President Jonathan had facilitated a national conference to do a thorough and far reaching job on the constitution.

“The option of setting up a constitution review committee is second best and weak.

At the end of the day, it would be referred to the National Assembly for approval and all that. But it would have been better if a national conference had been made possible where all ethnic groups would sit and sort out very fundamental issues affecting

Augustine AVWODE, Emmanuel OLADESU, Onyedi OJIABOR, Sani ONOGU, Victor OLUWASEGUN and Dele ANOFI, Abuja them,” he told The Nation.

He also faulted the composition of the committee, saying it should have been an all lawyers affairs because, according to him, “people who are not trained in law would find it difficult doing justice to the task at hand. Considering the importance and enormity of the job they have been saddled with, it will certainly take such people much longer time to move at the same pace with legal practitioners.”

He, however, asked the committee members to demonstrate the political courage and foresight to do justice to the job at hand, saying: “We need urgently to put in place two things. These are political and fiscal federalism. Political federalism is the restructuring of the polity by devolving more powers to

the states and removing those items of which the Federal Government has been grossly incompetent and doing a very bad job from the exclusive list. Such things include power generation and distribution, police and railway. These are things that if handled by the state governments will make the system give the best to the people.

“Then the issue of fiscal federalism; states should be allowed to keep the revenue from the resources in their states and pay taxes to the Federal Government and another small amount into a ‘pool’ where not-so-endowed states can draw from.

And states should be allowed to keep the proceeds from VAT collected in the states. If these are done, the country will be better,” he stated.

Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Olisa Agbakoba, SAN said ”it is not far reaching enough.” He, however, cast his vote for any approach, not necessarily national conference, which will

ensure that all the “contradictory constitutional provisions” are sorted out.

“It does not matter. Whatever method is used is welcomed. For instance, the NBA has its constitution review committee. Others may have their own. The important thing is that there is a Nigerian food to be cooked and that the menu on the table is tackling the major dysfunctional problem facing this country, which is lack of true constitution,” he stated.

Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER) Coordinator, Mr. Ayo Opadokun, said the seting up of the committee was nothing short of window dressing.

He said the President was busy chasing shadows by neglecting the popular path of convening a Sovereign National Conference, where representatives of the ethnic nationalities would discuss the basis for co-existence.

Opadokun described the ethnic nationalities as the building blocks upon which a strong national structure

can be constructed, adding that they are the legitimate authorities that must be consulted to build a great nation.

Chiding the President for also recycling Nigerians who had participated in previous futile efforts at reviewing the constitution, he said: “The inauguration of the Constitution Review Committee is a misplaced adventure. It has not worked in the past. It will not work now. It will not work in the future.”

Opadokun maintained that any constitution amendment that leaves out the ethnic nationalities would not be credible and legitimate, recalling that British colonial masters signed treaties with leaders and representatives of the ethnic groups before lumping them into a single country.

However, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe welcomed the setting up of the committee.

He said: “The Senate is okay with the committee

constituted by the President.

Whatever they bring to make governance easier, we will accept and consider it. The point is that not just the government, any citizen of Nigeria can bring up any issue he feels will make governance easier. The President is just doing his own job by setting up the committee. Our own job is when they bring the proposal; we will consider whatever they bring to make governance easier. It is okay with the Senate.”

Hon. Bush Alebiosu (ACN Lagos) said: “I guess his reason for setting up the constitution review committee is to take a profound look at the constitution and recommend areas for amendment. It is not only the legislature that can initiate an amendment; the executive can also initiate an amendment. And I believe that the Presidency want proper review of the constitution. If the executive and the legislature respect each other, there is no way the two will not work together.”

4 NEWS

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

Tinubu, Akande, others for ACN rally in Lokoja

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HE National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and its National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, will storm the party’s rally in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital tomorrow to campaign for the December 3 gubernatorial election in the state.

Governors Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo and Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola of Osun, among others, are also expected to be at the Lokoja Township Stadium for the rally.

A statement by Alhaji Halims Ibrahim, the Director General of the Campaign Organisation of the ACN governorship candidate in the state, Prince Abubakar Audu, said all categories of people in the state had been mobilised to listen to speakers on the occasion.

The statement said the party’s manifesto, which had been giving the people of Lagos, Edo, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun and Ogun states full dividends of democracy, would be highlighted at the rally.

It maintained that “Audu is not only the best, but the most experienced and matured candidate among other contestants, who could free the state and the citizenry from unemployment and underdevelopment.”

The party called on all electorate in the state to cast their votes for Audu so that they could witness and enjoy rapid socio-economic development in all local government areas of the state.

It further said: ”The ACN remains the only party that could rule the state successfully by providing jobs for the teeming youths, creating wealth for the people and reviving all the moribund industries in the interest of all and sundry.

The statement, therefore, urged the people of the state to troop out in large numbers to the stadium for the rally and vote en masse for the party’s candidate in the election.

“Since leaving office in 2003, Audu has remained active in politics and contested in the 2007 elections and the 2008 rerun election. But due to desperation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the 2007 general elections were cancelled, while the ordered re-run elections by the courts were stolen for its candidate,” the statement added.

Subsidy: Jonathan launches fresh strategy to woo senators, reps D ETERMINED to press ahead with the removal of fuel subsidy, President Goodluck Jonathan has decided to hold breakfast consultations with senators and members of the House of Representatives.

The first in the series of the breakfast session may hold on Monday because some senators and House members were placed on the alert yesterday.

It was also learnt that the government's desperation to remove the subsidy is meant to save the 2012 budget and ensure its workability.

But the government may soon release a list of palliative measures or safety nets to cushion the effects of the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the Presidency has been able to see that there is a communication gap between the Executive and the National Assembly on the fuel subsidy palaver, budgeting, and other national issues.

It was gathered that the

•Session may begin on Monday in batches Yusuf ALLI, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

Presidency has worked out fresh plans to woo senators and members of the House to appreciate its 'dilemma.'

A high-ranking Senator, who spoke in confidence, said: "The President has changed his strategy. We have been put on the alert that Jonathan will be holding breakfast session with senators and House members in batches.

"He may likely meet the first batch on Monday. We are expecting the invitation any moment from now.

"According to National Assembly leaders, who briefed us on the breakfast meeting, the session is designed to improve relationship with the National Assembly.

"We see the proposal as a

welcome development. We hope the President will use the opportunity to come up with facts and figures on the state of the economy and why the subsidy must be withdrawn.

"Some of us will also use the session to demand safety nets or palliative measures from the President and make input into the government's cushioning proposals.

"We have reached a stage that all palliative measures must be substantial with timelines."

A principal officer of the National Assembly said: "Dialogue between the Executive and the National Assembly on the withdrawal of fuel subsidy is still on.

"We may soon meet with the President again as part of the ongoing consultations."

Another source gave insight into why the Federal Government is adamant on the withdrawal of subsidy.

He said: "Ordinarily, the removal of fuel subsidy does not need legislative backing; it should be purely an Executive matter. But the President decided to consult with National Assembly members because of the economic implications of the withdrawal.

"The nation's 2012 budget may be in jeopardy if the fuel subsidy is not removed because the oil benchmark has been reduced from $75 per barrel to $70 because of the fluctuation of the market.

"The market situation accounted for why the 2011 budget has not been properly funded. That was why the government sought virement."

Nigeria needs targeted approach to tackle Boko Haram –US

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HE U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, Terence McCulley, wants the Federal Government to address "appalling" social problems in the restive North East and ease off on heavy-handed security crackdowns if the country is to overcome the growing security threat by the Boko Haram sect.

The group has been behind dozens of deadly bombings and assassinations in different parts of the country, including the attack on the UN office in Abuja.

President Goodluck Jonathan has said Boko Haram needs to be dealt with like other militant groups around the world, but many diplomats and aid groups have called for the government to look at some of the home grown issues that feed the violence.

Jonathan is deploying a growing military force to counter the sect's attacks but many residents say troops do more harm than good, while rights groups accuse soldiers of brutalisation and unlawful arrests that backfire into sympathy for Boko Haram.

"I think it's important for political and military leadership to impress upon soldiers on the ground that they need to do their duty but they need to do their duty in a way that doesn't violate the rights of the civilian population," Ambassador McCulley said in an interview with Reuters.

"At the same time, I think it's important the government looks at how to redress these social-economic indicators in the north. Pick any one you want, whether it be health, literacy or access to clean water, the situation is really appalling."

Boko Haram's ambitions are growing and its attacks are becoming more sophisticated.

A car bomb exploded in the car park of police headquarters in the capital Abuja in June, narrowly missing the

Inspector General, Mr.Hafiz Ringim.

In August, the sect hit its first international target. A suicide bomber smashed a car full of explosives into the side of the United Nations headquarters in Abuja, ripping off the side of the building and killing 24 people.

Intelligence agencies and security experts believe Boko Haram has expanding ties with jihadist groups outside Nigeria, including al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which operates in North African countries that border Nigeria.

"We've heard stories for years of individual members of so called Boko Haram or Nigerian Taliban travelling to northern Mali to train with GSPC (Group for Call and Combat), subsequently AQIM," McCulley said.

"Clearly, extremists here are learning techniques and are adapting their methods based upon what they've learned, what they've seen outside Nigeria."

On the style of administration of President Jonathan, McCulley said the Nigerian leader had made some "truly impressive appointments" and the U.S. was encouraged by the commitment he has shown to reforms, which include a sovereign wealth fund, removal of fuel subsidies and a plan to privatise the power sector, now a major drag on the country's economy.

International investors have said Nigeria's population of more than 140 million offers huge potential gains, but a common complaint is that corruption often stunts economic growth.

"It's clearly a problem. Corruption not only saps the confidence in people in government, it also discourages both national and foreign investment and I think it's a problem Nigeria needs to tackle more aggressively," McCulley said.

•L-R: Yeye Aare Modupe Afe Babalola; her husband, Aare Afe Babalola; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and former Governor of Ekiti State, Col. Inuwa Bawa, at Ado-Ekiti Golf Club during a function.

Revenue Allocation meeting deadlocked again

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OR the third time in two months, the meeting of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) for the sharing of the October revenue by the federal, state and local governments, as well as the FCT, ened in a deadlock in Abuja yesterday.

Journalists who had gathered at the venue of the meeting became suspicious after observing that the Chairman of FAAC and Minister of State for Finance, Alhaji Yerima Lawan Ngama, was not available to preside at the meeting.

The state commissioners of finance and their accountant generals soon started milling around the auditorium of the Federal Ministry of Finance venue of the aborted meeting angrily, commenting on the meeting.

When the Minister of State for Finance eventually showed up, he demanded that journalists be told to come back in three hours time to allow members of FAAC to

Nduka CHIEJINA (Assistant Editor)

meet, unaware that word had gone out that trouble was brewing.

The journalists took positions around the venue and after some time, the commissioners of finance and the accountant generals began to leave.

Unlike past FAAC meetings, the Minister of State for Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr Jonah Otunla both refused to answer questions from journalists when accosted at the

entrance of the auditorium.

On their part, the state commissioners of finance, led by the Chairman of the Finance Commissioner Forum and the Anambra State Commissioner of Finance, Mr Eze Ezechi told journalists: “The meeting was inconclusive, as the three tiers of government did not share the funds among themselves.”

Ezechi was hopeful another FAAC meeting would be rescheduled for next week if the contentious issues which stalled this meeting were resolved.

Other commissioners of finance who volunteered to

speak to journalists on condition of anonymity attributed the deadlock to irreconcilable differences between the Federal Government and the state governments over deductions from the federation account by the Federal Government and its agencies.

It will be recalled that the FAAC meeting for the September allocation suffered similar hiccup for weeks over alleged illegal deduction of N250 billion by the NNPC and the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Authorities (PPRA) from the federation account.

Pirates hijack Chevron vessel off Nigeria

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ARMED men boarded an oil supply vessel contracted by U.S. energy company Chevron off the Atlantic Ocean early yesterday, shipping and security sources said.

This is the second attack by gunmen on Chevron contracted vessels off the coast of Bayelsa State this month.

"The MV Endeavour was off the coast, serving Chevron's Agbami field, when gunmen boarded it in the very early hours," one security source told Reuters. Two other sources close to the incident confirmed the details. One of the sources said three men might have been kidnapped.

Chevron said it was investigating the situation but had no further comment.

NEWS 5

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

PHCN workers have resumed, says NLC John OFIKHENUA, Abuja

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•Asiwaju Tinubu delivering the lecture... yesterday

•The audience at the NIPSS lecture

Presidency: Let’s discard ‘turn by turn’syndrome — Tinubu ORMER Lagos State Governor and National leader of the Action Con-

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gress of Nigeria (ACN),Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is advocating an end to rotational political leadership at all levels in the country, especially the presidency, saying the current arrangement breeds conflict and disharmony.

Asiwaju Tinubu said while every Nigerian had constitutional right to aspire to any office, ”mandatory rotation of positions is an affront to democracy and places us further down the road of selection rather than election. It exalts mediocrity and access over talent and worth.”

He spoke yesterday in a paper at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Plateau State.

Denouncing what he called “Turn by Turn Nigeria Ltd,” he said: “I would rather we install in an important office a decent and able man from another region than a cruel and incapable man from my own family. I say this without hesitation because I speak from the heart and an unshakable commitment to democratic tenets.

“This type of mind-set is what had fed the anachronistic and false distinction between indigenes and settlers that has cost so many lives, destroyed so many communities and marred our national

identity. We must apply the constitutional guarantees in this kind of situation. If we must deploy tanks and armed soldiers for peace, we have already lost something. Government must give meaning to these words of our first anthem,’O God of all creation, Grant this our one request, Help us to build a nation, Where no man is oppressed.

And so, with peace and plenty, Nigeria may be blessed.’”

He also deplored the institutionalisation of unitary system of administration by the military in a plural society like Nigeria.

He said : ”After the civil war, the military sought to re-fashion Nigeria in its own centralist image. They thought the way to manage the country’s diversity was to bury it under the suffocating control of an all-powerful centre. By imposing a unitary state on a naturally federal society, the military sought to substitute a chaotic diversity with imposed uniformity, which they thought was necessary to promote order and development.

“Unfortunately, all the supposedly democratic dispensations since the civil war have substantially mirrored the over-centralised and unduly bureaucratic military political cultures. The consequence of this rigid model retards pluralism rather than advancing it. The Nigerian state thus presents the baffling paradox of appearing at once so power-

ful when protecting the narrow interests of the elite, yet so fragile in providing the barest services of a modern nation to the bulk of the populace.

Nigeria is run like a closely held private corporation with a revolving ownership. While the leaders may change, one thing remains constant. Those who run the corporation, run it solely for their own benefit.

“A nation that does not respect pluralism and the diversity of its own people can never achieve her full potential. A disregard for pluralism means a disregard for the peculiarities of citizens. Any nation that operates with such herdsman mentality will only end up diminishing itself.”

Asiwaju Tinubu said for Nigeria to develop, the people must change their orientation and give the progressives a chance to run the country.

“To free ourselves of the old mental shackles, we must discard old thinking. We cannot do this by talking as we have talked before. The problem is that we have not produced an alternative world view.

People must think and act on something. Before they leave the old, you must offer them the new, which is superior or more preferable. The nation that we model our government on has a saying, ‘from many, one’ to signify America’s unity. We have distorted this fine saying in our own regard. Our motto has become ‘from many, even

more.’

“The progressives want to change the way we interact politically and economically to bring greater democracy and economic development.

The conservatives believe in the status quo, hence have gotten us into this hole. The progressives believe in the development of new ideas and its operationalisation. I believe when the progressives win power, they will be able to lift Nigeria out of the hole by turning our riotous diversity into cooperative pluralism. No more the lack of continuity in development planning which has seen different governments enunciate different and often confusing socioeconomic policies.

“Are we still in the reform process or has transformation taken over? Are we still running on the Obasanjo reform mantra or the current transformation swan-song? What happened to the National Development Plans of the 60s and 70s? Policies like NEEDS, Vision 20-20 or 20-20-20 need to be re-examined in the light of current global realities. Can the National Institute investigate the failure or otherwise of these old policies and come up with newer and bolder ideas going forward?”

He charged the graduands and the alumni of the institute to use their position as policy makers to advise the Federal Government “ strongly on the need to provide incentives for

Amosun gets go-ahead to probe Dipo Dina’s, Daniel other deaths had on October 28

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GUN State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday got the nod of the state High Court sitting in Abeokuta to proceed through the Truth Commission and inquire into the complaints and cases of deaths, disappearance and assassination of persons during the administration of embattled former Governor Gbenga Daniel.

The Truth Commission is expected to inquire into the killing of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) chieftain in Ogun, Otunba Dipo Dina, the disappearance of Age (Animashaun) Lemomu, and gruesome killings of 65 political supporters of Amosun between 2005 and 2009.

It is also expected that the failed assassination bid on Daniel’s former Chief Press

Ernest NWOKOLO, Abeokuta

Secretary, Mr. Wale Adedayo, and spirited harassment and threats to the life of the former Ijebu East Local Government boss, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, would also get the attention of the commission.

The commission, which was established by Amosun last September 14, is mandated to determine whether or not such deaths, disappearances and assassinations of some indigenes of the state during Daniel’s era involved the abuse of power by any person or persons holding public office.

Members of the commission are Messrs Pius Adeyemi, Abdulahi Mustapha, Dalopo Akinsanya, Bamidele Aturu, Tunji Onabamwo and Lanre

Suraj.

The commission is to also ascertain whether the above cases resulted from any person or group of persons acting under the control or authority of such public office holder as well as identifying individuals, institutions and groups whose activities resulted in the acts so referred.

The liberty to proceed with the probe followed the order of the State High Court yesterday which vacated the stay of proceeding order earlier served on the state government last October 28 over the constitution of the Truth Commission of Enquiry.

The October 28 order restrained Amosun and the Truth Commission from probing immediate past governor, Gbenga Daniel, his aides or any one that served with him.

challenged the setting up and the constitution of the Truth Commission of Enquiry through his counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan.

The former governor told the court then that his successor, Senator Amosun, lacked the power to set up such commission and asked the court for a stay of proceeding, pending the determination of the matter and his prayer was granted.

But Justice Paul Onamade, who granted the initial restraining order, vacated same yesterday. He held that tentatively, the commission could go ahead with probing the alleged infraction of human rights, disappearance of persons and killings that occurred between May 2003 and May 2011, pending the interpretation of Section 36 (4) of the constitution by the Appeal Court.

the agricultural sector” and to “ challenge the government to establish commodity exchange boards for domestic and exportable products while guaranteeing minimum prices (MPG) for the farm products. This will put money directly into the pockets of farmers while assuring their products will be purchased at the guaranteed price. Farming will become more attractive because income would be less erratic, thereby reducing migration to our urban centres.”

He also said Nigeria deserves structural changes at this point in its life. According to him, the proposed steps in this direction include: •Reducing the items on the Exclusive List and transferring them to the Residual List to enhance the powers and responsibilities of states and local governments. Revise the Revenue Allocation Formula in favour of states and local governments to empower them fiscally to deliver the infrastructure development and social welfare programmes.

The Federal Government currently is obese, suffering from elephantiasis and unable to spring Nigeria into new realms and possibilities.

•Transfer ownership, control and development of all natural, solid mineral and agricultural resources to the states while paying appropriate taxes and duties to the Federal Government.

•Strengthen the electoral process by removing the sole power of the President to appoint the Chairman of the INEC and other electoral commissioners. Appointments should be open and competitive and not used as job for the boys. Kenyans have shown us a lead in this area when they drew a new constitution recently, which denies the president of their country the power to appoint or influence the electoral chief, the Supreme Court President, the Director of Public Prosecution and the Inspector General of the Police.

•Decentralise the power to generate, transmit and distribute electricity to revolutionise the sector and ensure that uninterrupted electricity accelerates national economic growth within a two-three time frame. Electricity should be treated as a commodity.

•Enact judicial reforms to reduce the abuse of power in the judiciary in order to strengthen the entire judicial system.

HE Acting General Secretary of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Owei Lakemfa yesterday confirmed the congress received reports across the country that Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers had all resumed work.

He disclosed this to The Nation in a telephone interview yesterday.

Besides, our Abuja correspondent confirmed from most of the workers in Abuja PHCN offices that they were back to work.

Asked whether the Federal Government has withdrawn the armed soldiers that scared them away, some of the members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE),who spoke in confidence, said: "We have come to work but soldiers are just standing here on their own."

The workers had Tuesday abandoned their duty posts, according to them, due to fear of the armed soldiers that Federal Government drafted to the company's installation.

The union however added that the government had not fulfilled the agreement it had with the workers on the privatisation of the company.

Odunsi flags off entrepreneurship scheme

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N fulfilment of the electioneering promises made to the people of Ogun West Senatorial District, Senator Akin Odunsi has nominated 30 graduates from the district to participate in the entrepreneurship training holding at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Entrepreurship Development Centre, Ikeja, Lagos from November 21 to December 16.

This team is the first set in the series of youth/women empowerment scheme considered by Senator Odunsi as primary towards the building and development of the human capital and resource base of the district.

Sen. Odunsi has requested that those with bankable business proposals be linked with financial institutions approved for such facilities by the CBN-EDC. The 30 persons were selected from across the various wards in the five local government areas of the senatorial district and they are also believed to have the requisite skills, drive, motivation and qualifications to undertake this training.

The senator said the crop of those to be trained would become net employers of labour and contributors to the nation’s economy. He also noted that the dearth of the critical mass of entrepreneurial drive had contributed to unemployment among young Nigerians.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

Boko Haram members have secret signs, SSS tells court

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EMBERS of the Boko Haram sect have secret signs with which they communicate and identify themselves, the State Security Service (SSS) yesterday told an Abuja Federal High Court.

Chief Investigator, James Izi, revealed this while testifying before Justice Bilikisu Aliyu in the trial of six suspected members of the group, which began yesterday. He, however, refused to state the signs for security reasons.

The suspects are Shuaibu Abubakar, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana, Mohammed Ali, Umar Ibrahim and a spiritualist, Musa Adam.

They have pleaded not guilty to a five count charge of criminal conspiracy and voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous means slammed against them by the State Security Service (SSS).

The alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under Sections 97 and 248(1) of the Penal Code Law, and Section 15 (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Establishment Act 2004.

Led in evidence-in-chief by the prosecution counsel, Thompson Olatigbe, Izi, who has put in 30 years in the service, said the SSS DG raised a special panel to trace, trail and arrest suspected members.

He told the court how the accused persons were caught transporting 200 detonators and 55 yards of blasting cables with which they made the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) used in perpetrating the acts.

He said the accused persons voluntary statements were obtained and the phones retrieved from them were subjected to analysis by bomb

—Trial of suspects begins in Abuja Kamarudeen OGUNDELE, Abuja

experts.

He disclosed that Salisu Ahmed was arrested at the tipper garage in Abuja.

“He led SSS operatives to a bomb making factory at Nasarawa-Iku where bomb compounding elements were recovered. A lot of handsets used for detonating IEDs from a distance were recovered on August 9, 2011,” he said.

Izi said one Ahmed Ezimakor earlier arrested with the suspects was the one that linked them to where they bought materials used in making the IEDs. The prosecution witness said the accused were illegally

trained in weapons handling and use of AK 47 assault rifle by one Ibrahim Bashir Madalla who is still at large.

He further told the court that several GSM handsets with which the suspects detonated improvised explosive devices were recovered from them.

Under cross-examination, the witness stated that investigations by the state security service revealed that the six accused persons are members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

With three more witnesses waiting to testify, Justice Aliyu adjourned till November 24 and 25 for continuation of the trial.

According to the charge, the accused persons at various times within the Federal Capital Territory and Niger State

allegedly prepared, planted and detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).

They are believed to be the brains behind the April bombing at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Suleja, Niger State, where 16 persons including serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members died on the eve of the rescheduled National Assembly elections.

The accused persons also allegedly conspired with others at large to cause grievous bodily harm by unlawfully planting deadly substances which led to the death of another three persons at a political rally in Suleja.

They also allegedly detonated explosives which resulted in the deaths of three peace officers in Dakna village, Bwari.

The alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under Sections 97 and 248(1) of the Penal Code Law.

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PUBLIC NOTICE NBAKPUO

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogechukwu Serah Nbakpuo, now wish to known and be addressed as Mrs Ogechukwu Serah Uzoechi. All former documents remain valid. Imo State University, Owerri, NYSC and general public take note.

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HE election petition filed by Prof. Steven Torkuma Ugba against the declaration of Gabriel Torwua Suswam in last April’s gubernatorial election will resume on Tuesday November 22, 2011.

A lawyer in Prof. Ugba’s legal team, Barrister Joe Abaagu said in a press release yesterday that they have been served with a hearing notice for the retrial of the case before a new tribunal on the new date.

It will be recalled that the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Dahiru Musdafa, had last Monday ordered that the Election Petition Tribunals sitting in Benue and Akwa Ibom states should hear afresh the petitions challenging the elections of both Governor Gabriel Suwsam of Benue State and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Godswill Akpabio.

Giving a unanimous Supreme Court ruling, Justice Musdafa overruled the decision of the Court of Appeal which struck out the appeals filed by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) challenging the elections of both Akpabio and Suswam in their respective states.

The two governors had in separate appeals before the Supreme Court challenged the mode of pre-hearing notices filed before the governorship election petition tribunals by the petitioners in their respective states to initiate election petitions.

But the Supreme Court Panel, in a unanimous decision, held that the petitions should not have been dismissed on mere technicalities, since pre-hearing notices can be done orally.

Even after the order of the Supreme Court that the cases be heard on their merit, doubts were still being expressed in certain circles that no new tribunals will be set up in the two states because the constitutionally stipulated180-day period for the determination of all governorship election petitions had expired.

Anambra court orders re-arrest of kidnap suspect ...after protest by traders Adimike GEORGE, Onitsha

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•From left: Yemi Odusote, President/CEO Pauline Fredericks Africa; Daniel Mobley, Regional Head, Corporate Affairs for Africa, Standard Chartered Bank; Diran Olojo, Head Corporate Affairs, SCB Nigeria, during a media parley with business editors at the Standard Charterdin Bank’s head office in Lagos on Thursday.

Court remands 84-year-old man in prison over alleged murder N Umuahia Chief Magistrate Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Isreal Nwulu has ordered that an 84-year- old man, Chikara Ugorji be remanded in the Federal Prisons, Umuahia, Abia State over an allegation that he killed one Sopuruchi Nzedibe.

The charge sheet No U/574/ 2011 reads: “That you, Ugorji Chikara, on the 30th day of September, 2011, at Ehume Umuopara village, Umuahia South, in the Umuahia South Magisterial District, unlawfully killed one Sopuruchi Nzedibe (male) by shooting him with a double-barrel long gun, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 319(1) of the criminal code, CapC38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Abia State.’’

Under the second count charge, the accused was said to have on the same date and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, “unlawfully had

New Benue governorship election petition tribunal begins sitting Tuesday

Ugochukwu EKE, Umuahia in your possession and control, a double-barrel long gun and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 and punishable under section 27(1) (a) (i) of the firearms Act Cap F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Abia State.”

Earlier, Chief Magistrate Nwulu had ordered that Ugorji be remanded in Prison custody.

The police prosecutor, Esther Nwosu, had applied for the substitution of the earlier charges in charge sheet no. U/494c/ 2011 against the accused with fresh charges.

According to the Prosecutor, going by fresh facts available to the Police, it became imperative that the Police turned in new charges against the accused person, adding that it was done without any prejudice.

Nwosu said: “The Police came up with new charges.

There were conflicting scenarios when the matter was first investigated. The new charges are perfect, my Lord. I want you to accept them in the interest of Justice.”

Countering the application made by the Police Prosecutor,

the counsel to the accused person, A.U. Kanu, asked to know under what law the prosecutor sought for the substitution of the charges.

Citing sections 162, 163, and 167 of the Criminal Procedure Act, Kanu maintained that the prosecutor’s intention was not to alter the earlier charges but to completely change them.

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Nwulu reminded the counsel to the accused that the matter was still in its pre-hearing stage and, therefore, “an amendment can be made in form of substitution or new charges.” He then discharged the accused person on the basis of the old charges, after which he was re-arraigned under the new charges.

HE trial of 10 suspected kidnappers of an Onitshabased transport magnate and Chairman of G.U.O. Motors Limited, Chief Godwin Okeke, took a new dimension yesterday as traders stormed the Onitsha Chief Magistrate Court in Anambra State to protest an alleged directive by the states Attorney General that one of the accused persons be discharged.

The trial Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Ngozi Okoye had remanded all the accused persons in prison custody and ordered the police to forward their case file to the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for onward transmission to the Attorney-General for further advice.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, news filtered into Onitsha markets that the Attorney-General of the state, Barrister Emmanuel Chukwuma, had directed the court to discharge Amaechi Ekweolu, one of the accused persons, on the grounds that no prima facie case was established against him in the kidnap matter.

Upon enquiry, the traders discovered that the discharge order was true. They, therefore, gathered at the court premises with placards and demonstrated against the order of the A-G to discharge the suspect.

Some of the placards read: "Our greatest ptroblem are kidnappers and armed robbers, so, Government should help us"; "our businesses are in trouble because of criminals and we are tired of these criminals taking over our hard-earned wealth"; "kidnapping must stop and we need security in Onitsha"; "it is only in Anambra State that kidnappers are released without trial", among others.

Accordingly, the case was called up and the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Okoye read the A-G's letter before the court, after which she discharged the accused person.

However, 20 minutes after the discharge, the accused person and the prison officials were still seated inside the courtroom when the court reconvened and ordered that the accused person be remanded in police custody.

Second Niger Bridge not on FG’s priority list –-Minister HERE were indica-

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tions yesterday that the construction of the much talked about Second River Niger Bridge is not on the priority list of the Federal Government.

The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, who dropped in Onitsha, Anambra State while fielding questions from newsmen after inspecting the three-killometre road project from Bridgehead to Upper Iweka, said the major issue bothering the government was the dilapidated Onitsha/Enugu dual carriage way.

Asked to comment on the Second Niger Bridge, he insisted that the major issue bothering the Federal Government was the completion of the dual carriage way before December.

Senator Chris Ngige had revealed in an interview that

the drawings of the Second Niger Bridge had just begun, contrary an earlier statement by the Federal Government that the bridge would be commissioned soon. Ngige had added that the drawing alone would take about 15 months.

The minister said: “We are talking about the dual carriage way and you are talking about Second Niger Bridge. This inspection is not about Second Niger Bridge. But for your information, the Second Niger Bridge’s preliminary works are being done. When it is time to break the ground, we will call you to cover it.”

He also maintained that the Federal Ministry of Works had done everything possible to make sure that the contractors handling the dual carriage way complete the project before December this year.

Onolememen, however, reiterated the readiness of President Goodluck Jonathan to complete all projects being carried out in the South East and other parts of the country, adding that the ministry would not allow any contractor to sabotage the efforts.

The minister disclosed that when the dualization of the road from Head Bridge through Upper Iweka to Awka and from Awka to Enugu are completed, it will, among other things, reduce the carnage being witnessed on the road as a result of its bad condition.

The Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, who accompanied the minister, lamented that after all efforts to re-construct the Upper Iweka axis of the road, traders had refused to leave the service lane to be reconstructed.

Warning traders on that portion of the road to leave, Obi stated: “I finished inspection from bridgehead to Upper Iweka up till Nkpor with the Minister of Works. I am using this occasion to tell all those that are trading on the service lane to leave immediately. Because we are going to come, and when we come, we are not going to look back.

CORRECTION We ran a story yesterday on Pages 6 and 7, with the headline: ‘Tears as remains of slain Ekiti corps member are interred’.

The deceased, Miss Tayo Abe, was not a corps member as reflected in the headline and the body of the story. We are sorry for the mix-up.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

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SIDE from the modern suicide bomber who goes willingly on a journey of no return, human beings and nations inherently want to stay alive and kicking, to overcome any obstacles in their path, no matter the odds.

For now President Bashar Assad in Syria is fighting for survival against all odds even as his once very loyal friend and PM of Turkey, Reccep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to cut electricity to Syria if Bashar does not stop killing his people and punish Syrians attacking the Turkish embassy in the Syrian capital. Portuguese PM Pedro Pessos was on a cap in hand trip to Angola this week to find out how its former colony could invest in Portugal and be part of the desperate Portuguese effort not to go the way of the ’pigs‘ acronym of the euro zone, of which Portugal is the infamous ’p‘in which the rest are Ireland, Greece and Spain the notorious debtor nations of the euro zone In Senegal the sitting president of the nation, Abdoulaye Wade asked his election opponents to take cabinet positions in his government a few months to the presidential elections as he was sure, he warned them , of winning the elections fixed for February next year.

And in a rich ‘ the rich also cry syndrome ’ US President Barak Obama went to the Pacific East to attend a routine economic meeting of East Asian Nations which have become the sweet bride of the global economy led

by China to whom the US is ready to show that it is not ready to play second fiddle in the Pacific sub region.

All these emerging and interesting events are symptomatic of the disease of economic, financial and political malaise pervading the global and geopolitical scenes of the world nowadays. World leaders and nations now know where the shoe pinches or try fast to find out and where they are reasonable they hurriedly try to make amends in order to survive and retain power or at least some semblance of it .It is their appreciation of the extent of the mess or financial travails they are in, and the extent to which they are ready to make pragmatic amends to survive, that dominate our discussions today. The discussion here therefore is about those leaders who are not ready to quit or flee from the pressure of office or economic plight and are realistic in their assessment and subsequent reaction and plan to survive.

The embattled Bashar Assad of Syria falls dubiously into this category even though he is clearly unreasonable in using overbearing violence against unarmed Syrians to survive and keep himself in power against the wishes of his people. He has mowed down over 3000 Syrians in recent times and even those who are his natural allies in the comity of nations have started to desert him. Old Syrian ally France has closed its embassy in Damascus and recalled its ambassador . The Arab League of which Syria is a key member has given a 3- day ultimatum ending today to Assad to stop killing his people and allow monitors of the

Emerging global survival strategies

League to enter Syria and see what is going on.

All these are pressures on a falling leader lacking the pragmatism to see the futility of his holding on to power when his people no longer want him.

Sadly then, and most unfortunately, the Muammar Gaddafi never yield, never go, die in office power syndrome and fever seem to be afflicting President Bashar Assad of Syria badly in Damascus and the result is obvious and predictable, given the recent trend of events in the Middle East nowadays.

However, it is the Turkish threat to cut electricity to Assad‘s Syria if it does not stop the violent repression of its people, that catches my fancy as a long suffering Nigerian, long used to life without electricity from the national grid but from standby generators and their stand byes.

I learnt recently that Syria generates more electricity than it needs and even exports to neighbors like Jordan and the UAE even though it has a supply arrangement with its hitherto trusted neighbor, Turkey.

But now Turkey is using the cutting of electricity supplies to threaten Syria and in the process unwittingly destabilize the sub region as Jordan too has through its king asked Bashar to leave office and Syria will naturally retaliate by cutting electricity to poor Jordan. So it is the first time that power or energy is being used as a weapon of war in the on going street demonstrations of the Arab world

which somehow is sucking in non Arab Turkey because of the contiguity of its location in the area.

What thrills me on this energy or electricity diplomacy is the confidence that I have as a Nigerian that no nation on earth, neighbor or not, can threaten Nigeria with electricity supplies successfully like Turkey is doing to Syria, for the simple reason that those who do not have electricity already cannot be bothered by a threat of a lack of it.

Indeed Nigeria too exports electricity to Ghana and some neighbors but the plain fact is that Nigerians are used to darkness because the state has abandoned its responsibility to supply power to their homes and industries long ago with the attendant serious socio economic and security implications. The local equivalent of the Turkish threat which however is effective is the recent silly threat by workers of the PHCN – the power corporation in Nigeria – to go on strike which is a laughable proposition as well as an impotent threat since there has been no regular power supply even when the corporation was not on strike.

So in a way Assad has my grudging admiration for making his people have constant electricity but even that is no excuse for killing them and he should go before the Gaddafi malaise consumes him sooner than later and in spite of my electricity generated s very con-

ditional soft spot for his administration Next the trip of Portuguese PM Pedro Pessos to former colony Angola may perhaps be a trip in the wrong direction for a developed nation to a developing one but it is a trip requiring the swallowing of a bitter pill to survive or achieve economic, financial succor, or survival and a sure relief that is urgently required if the patient -Portugal - is not to become financially comatose.

The political history of the abandonment of Angola by Portugal to a tortuous civil war that lasted decades become irrelevant and easily forgettable now that oil rich Angola has become the toast of western nations looking for alternative source of oil supplies because of the disturbances in Nigeria’s Delta region. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Angola sometime ago and was full of praise for that nation for the transparency and accountability in the management of its oil proceeds, the same reason for which she chastised the Nigerian government on the same trip.

Portugal abandoned Angola at independence to a most violent and long civil war that produced millions of boy soldiers who never saw the inside of a school but grew up as deadly warriors on the battlefields of Angola with the attendant high human costs and security implications for their nation. Indeed Nigeria under the late

Murtala Muhammed regime supported the MPLA faction led by Angola’s first President Agostinho Neto in the war of liberation in Angola because the other two liberation organizations –FNLA and UNITA were said to have affiliations with apartheid S Africa . Portugal kept very far away from her former colony in those days just like the Americans did with Liberia during her civil war and left the solution in the hands of a Nigerian led ECOMOG. Of course one can tell the Portuguese to their face that they are shameless and heartless and have no business coming to Angola and that the Angolans should not oblige them. But then the morals amongst nations are not the same as amongst individuals since in international relations there are no permanent enemies but permanent interests . So, let Portugal, like the fabled miserable dog return to its vomit, while its former abused and misused colony can afford to be magnanimous and play the benefactor or father Xmas this time around.

In Senegal which is due to have its presidential elections in February 2012 the president’s latest invitation to his opponents to forego the presidential elections and accept cabinet posts instead, is another ingenious way of perpetuating power unconstitutionally. This president has amended the constitution several times in the run up to this February 2012 elections and has even proposed that the elections be held earlier. He even at one time tried unsuccessfully to make his son succeed him.

Of course his opponents have dismissed his suggestion as unserious and have vowed to contest the elections. Given the absurdity and criminality of his suggestion, one can ask him if he is prepared to step down for one of his opponents thus saving the costs and suspense of the February 2012 elections. I have no doubt that he would react violently to any such suggestion and may even

charge the proposer with high treason. The Senegalese president has really raised the stakes on tenacity of office and political survival to an all time high in his nation and the international community is well advised to keep a close watch on political developments in this normally quiet francophone ECOWAS state.

Lastly Obama’s trip to Asia Pacific and his détente with old foes like Vietnam shows that the US has not abandoned or ceded that part of the world to either its major trading partner in the area, Japan or its major global trade rival the Peoples Republic of China. Which really is a wise business decision by the Obama administration and it again brings to mind the diplomatic cliché that there are no permanent enemies but permanent interests in international relations.

In relations with Europe or the EU the US has reached an unprofitable pass or dead end from which it must beat a hasty retreat or shoot itself in the legs economically and unwittingly accept China’s emergent but steady global ascendancy. By going to the Pacific and cuddling the East Asian nations Obama can say like that former Foreign Secretary of Britain Palmerstone said on the eve of British colonialist expansion in the 19th century that he has brought ‘a new world into existence to redress the balance of the old.‘ Hitherto the US foreign policy in Europe was hinged on support for Israel and that has been so costly globally in recent times and more so after 9/ 11. It makes sense therefore to move on to greener pastures even though those pastures contain nostalgic childhood attachments of growing up in Jakarta in Indonesia . It may sound personal, but Obama’s multicultural and racial background may yet be the main catalyst or engine room of America’s economic survival as a major and world power in the face of the roller coaster emergence of China as the new global power of the 21st century.

10 COMMENTARY

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

When medals are given for incompetence With

Vincent Akanmode 08077536312

vincentakanmode@yahoo.com

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NSTITUTED by the National Honours Act No. 5 of 1964, the award of national honours is aimed at recognising Nigerians who have rendered special and outstanding services in their various callings, for the benefit and progress of the nation. During the week, President Goodluck Jonathan decorated 350 Nigerians who were conferred with such honours as the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).

The conferment of national honours on productive and patriotic Nigerians can hardly come at a better time than a period the nation is at war with itself. The menace of the militant sect called Boko Haram has, in the last one year or thereabouts, shaken the nation to its very foundation. The Federal Government appears helpless as the dissidents take the battle directly to the security agencies, invading the Force Headquarters, police stations and military bases at will and ravaging them like a dreaded disease does when it seeps through the pores of a healthy body. Besides its dreadful forays into the nation’s federal capital, the sect also appears to have taken absolute control of the entire North East zone, leaving President Goodluck Jonathan and his cabinet members with the

remaining five geo-political zones.

It is, therefore, a time when the nation needs to showcase her patriotic and hardworking sons and daughters to serve as worthy examples for other citizens. A country which cannot flaunt a man like Aliko Dangote, one of the wealthiest businessmen on the planet, by conferring him with the GCON award will certainly be out of its mind. Indeed, given his domination of the nation’s economy, particularly the all-important manufacturing sector, I would have thought that the man deserves nothing less than the Grand Commander of the National Economy (GCNE), if the authorities feel he should not rival the inimitable Nigerian president in the First Republic, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, and the indefatigable former President Olusegun Obasanjo with the highest honour of GCFR. In a nation where forthrightness is subsumed by chicanery and double-speak, it should be a cheering piece of news that the nation can still identify 350 men deserving national honours. Given the spate of corruption, political assassination and other acts of malfeasance and malevolence in high and low places, I had thought that like the biblical Sodom and Gomorrah, getting five Nigerian men deserving of national honours would be a task as difficult as clearing the Augean stable. But here we are with a whopping 350 men and women. The number was so high that the President could not even produce enough medals to go round the recipients of the honours.

By now, the President’s traducers, who think he lacks the imagination for job creation, must be burying their heads in shame.

Imagine the huge employment opportunities the production of such medals would provide for goldsmiths, blacksmiths and other artisans that would be involved in their production. I have personally instructed a jobless cousin of mine to start looking in that direction for a career. A country where inflated contract is a way of life certainly has no business with unemployment when poli-

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My only worry is the criteria Jonathan and his men used in giving some of the highest honours in the land to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, and the service chiefs at a time the average Nigerian can no longer sleep with their eyes closed for fear of attack by daredevil robbers, assassins, the Boko Haram and other terrorist groups

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tician contractors can recruit its army of unemployed youths to produce a minimum of 350 silverwares at billions of naira on an annual basis. The main substance would be cornered by the politicians, no doubt, but the crumbs that would fall to the youths employed to make the medals are certain to guarantee them the good life.

My only worry is the criteria Jonathan and his men used in giving some of the highest honours in the land to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, and the service chiefs at a time the average Nigerian can no longer sleep with their eyes closed for fear of attack by dare-devil robbers, assassins, the Boko Haram and other terrorist groups. With Ringim as the Inspector General, Nigeria observed its independence anniversary for the first time in 51 years without the usual parade because of security threats. The Force

Headquarters where Ringim has his office was invaded by the Boko Haram and bombed, and Ringim himself only escaped death by a whisker.

Under his nose as the Inspector General of Police, the building that houses the office of the United Nations in Nigeria was bombed and scores of UN officials were dispatched to early graves. With Ringim as the Inspector General of Police, the National Youth Service Corps could not hold its passing-out parade for the first time since it was founded about four decades ago. With Ringim at the head of the Nigeria Police Force, youth corps members are slaughtered like rams and a sixth of Nigerian states have become no-go areas for non-indigenes. Nigeria must have witnessed more extra-judicial killings by the police under him than all his predecessors put together.

Jonathan’s response to these unenviable firsts is to reward Ringim with the award of Commander of the Federal Republic. The only justification for that, a friend said, would be Jonathan’s way of congratulating the police helmsman for escaping death in the hands of the Boko Haram and not on account of any merit on which the award of national honour is supposed to be anchored.

And Ringim’s case is just one of the numerous cases of medals for incompetence witnessed in the award of honours to 350 Nigerians on Monday. Considering the honour accorded him in the face of monumental failure, it is most probable that self-acclaimed Boko Haram leader, Aliyu Tisahu, would also have been honoured, if he had not escaped from the custody of our security agents.

Given his liberal disposition in the award of honours, Jonathan’s students would be very lucky with marks, if he were a lecturer.

The indiscriminate manner in which national honours are dispensed must have been responsible for the decision of Nigeria’s fine flower of literature, Prof. Chinua Achebe, to turn down the honours, first in 2004 and now in 2011.

As our David transforms into Goliath Knucklehead

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ITH most politicians, there is always a thin line between truth and deceit. I do not know whether that principle of deceitful politicking applies generally to all politicians but I do know that there is hardly an exception in this part of the world. Not even our meek and seemingly gentle President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has been able to stand firm on the path of truth. For as long as I can remember, Nigerians have had to live with truckloads of hollow promises. They have become used to the shenanigans in high places where grand deceit and lie thrive. Nothing shocks them anymore. They have learnt to shrug off the silly antics of their leaders as the nation sinks into deeper crises. As always, for the average Nigerian, laughter is a catharsis of some sort; the surest route to sanity amid the sickening madness. After many years of brutal battering by an unfeeling political class, the people have learnt how to keep a dignified distance from the maddening crowd of modern-day politicians.

When Jonathan was thrown up by sheer providence, it was quite easy for many to embrace his simple and unassuming style. Here was a man who never really struggled for power. Here was a man who rode on luck to become Nigeria’s President. Moreover, here was a man who promised a breath of fresh air where the tenets and principles of democracy, though sometimes slow, would be obeyed.

Here was a man who, some few weeks back, sternly defended his near-frustrating approach to governance, asking his critics to take a suicidal dive into the nearest lagoon. Here was a man who never got tired of making a song and dance of his strict adherence to equity, justice, rule of law and due diligence. Here was a man of peace; a dove that would do anything to maintain the symbolism of his whitish feathers.

He said of himself: “Some Nigerians still want the President of this country to be a lion or a tiger; somebody that has the kind of strength, force and agility to make things happen the way they think. I don’t need to be a lion, I don’t need to be Nebuchadnezzar, I don’t need to operate like the Pharaoh of Egypt, and I don’t need to be an army general. I can change this country without those traits.

“Some others will want the President to operate like an Army general, like my Chief of Army Staff commanding his troops. Incidentally, I am not a lion; I am also not a general. Somebody will want the President to operate like the Kings of Syria, Babylon, Egypt, and the Pharaoh-all powerful people that you read about in the Bible. They want the President to operate that way. Unfortunately, I am not one of those. But God knows why I am here, even though I don’t have any of those attributes, or those kinds of characters I have used as an example. But through your prayers, God placed me here. The only thing I ask you to do for me, and that is the prayer I pray every time, is for God to use me to change this country.”

Well, we are gradually finding out that Jonathan may just as well be a mixture of all the biblical examples he cited to justify his mode of governance. At least, we should be wise enough to identify shibboleths of deceit when we

see any. We do not need to be told that the modern-day Pharaohs in our midst are the ones pushing for the removal of fuel subsidy while the cartel behind the farce are being shielded from facing justice. Perhaps the VIPs in power and the fuel subsidy cabal are the same thing. Maybe that is why it has taken them eternity to compile the list of the fat cats that are milking the rest of us dry. Besides, only those who care less about the safety of their subjects would make a quick retreat to their safe havens at a time when what is required is the boldness to confront the agents of destruction that continually kill and maim the people. But enough has been said on how this administration has been bungling through this confetti of errors.

In all this, nothing shows how Jonathan has transformed into a Goliath and how brutal he could be than his shameful role in the travail of Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State.

From the unfolding drama in the battle for the February 2012 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa, it is apparent that Jonathan is employing a mélange of the leadership traits he once so glibly rejected, to forcefully push Sylva off the seat. He is sparing no punches despite his pretence to being a respecter of democratic ethos. Whichever way you look at it, the footprints of this husband of Patience are clearly visible in the outrageous scheme by the second-hand operators in the hierarchy of the People’s Democratic Party to deny the incumbent governor his right to seek re-election. Obviously, their patience is running out as the embattled governor has run to the court to seek solace and justice. They are waiting to kick his crotch.

The party apparatchik may deny it; but we all know that Jonathan is the looming figure behind the mirror; he is the tiger and the lion baying for Sylva’s blood. True, he may not be the Commander-In-Chief when the issue is about containing the threat posed by the Boko Haram menace as bombs go off across the nation. However, he is definitely in full command when the issue is all about the imposition and ‘coronation’ (apologies to Ben Murray-Bruce) of his candidate as the Governor of Bayelsa State. Because the President’s whim is all that matters, equity, due process and fairness in the selection process were thrown to the dogs. Everything was skewed in favour of the ‘anointed’ candidate of the man in Aso Villa. Therefore,, out of a register of strong contenders for the office including Sylva, Timi Alaibe and Bruce, it was not surprising that the pendulum of seems to be swinging towards Hon. Seriake Dickson, a man believed to be GEJ’s personal preference. Today’s coronation, should it take place in contempt of the court’s injunction, can only be a fitting encore to script written and acted in King Pharaoh’s Aso Villa.

We now know that, in spite of the pretence, all the political parties in this country are birds of a feather. They are under the firm grip of one godfather or the other.

So, why is this writer concerned? The answer is simple.

We cannot afford a Presidency that operates on the principles of Goliath——all brawn and power without brain. For sure, this is not just about Sylva and the laughable allegations that he threatened to kill President Jonathan. It is even ridiculous

With

Yomi Odunuga E-mail:yomi.odunuga @thenationonlineng.net SMS only: 07028006913 that, in this time and age, someone would opt to hang Sylva in the sun to dry for allegedly opposing the emergence of Jonathan as President when a constitutional crisis was foisted on the nation by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s prolonged illness. At least we know quite a number of persons who were violently opposed to Jonathan’s emergence but who are currently wining and dining with him as if they are best of friends. In addition, it is hogwash to say that the Bayelsa people have resolved to flush out Sylva by any means possible thereby justifying his disqualification. Did the same principle apply in the disqualification of Alaibe and Murray-Bruce? Moreover, when did the people meet to approve the clearance of Dickson and the six others? Since power belongs to the people, why can’t they exercise that right at the primaries by unanimously voting out Sylva?

A Goliath lacks tact and the President has displayed this much in the Bayelsa case. Let me make this clarification: I am not a fan of Sylva’s politics and will never be. However, I believe the Presidency overreached itself in its overarching desire to supplant Sylva with someone that would be more accommodating of its directives. That, to my mind, is an abuse of power.

In deploying that raw power without any recourse to constitutionality, President Jonathan could have unwittingly transformed into the dreadful image of the Goliath he once painted thus: “There are Goliaths everywhere; very terrible Goliaths, the ones that can even kill their father, their mother and even their children in order to stop government. And they are willing to do it. So, we have these terrible Goliaths that are trying to frustrate us, but surely with God we will conquer them.

“Every Goliath has an exposed forehead; all the Goliaths that are stumbling blocks to the development and growth of this country, God will expose their foreheads for the stone of David.”

Problem is: The picture is quite blurred and it is increasingly becoming difficult to identify a David in this gathering of Goliaths and brutal kings! All we see is a sea of exposed foreheads of people who have failed to walk their talks. It is something to worry about. Or is it not? Let the people decide.

r/ 19

Umuleri-Aguleri’s long road to peace

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- Kwara aFAirshtmLead Omolew

Life & style 41

alia-b —Austr actress Nigerian Edigue o Omokar

Scars of war

Office of governor's wife is a y responsibilit not a lifestyle

Thrille

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I don’t want to end up getting married five times ased

Weekend

PEOPLE THE NATION, Saturday, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

Relat io

nship

11

40-yr-old man gunned down over N200 •Family, colleagues set for showdown with Police

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Who will take care of us now? I have three siblings and I don’t know who will take care of my education and that of my siblings. We thought our father would come back home when he was arrested but we were shocked when the Police told us that he had died – Victim’s 13-yr-old daughter

Continued on Pages 12-13

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

Angst trails murder of 40-yr-old over N200 •How he was killed—Police

O

VERWHELMED with emotions, Pa Timothy Ayantoye, burst into tears while bemoaning the death of his first son allegedly in the hands of some errant policemen. The deceased, Mr. Ayandokun Ayantoye, was until his death an electronics technician in Eiyekorin area of Ilorin, Kwara State.

The beleaguered septuagenarian with bated breath opened up torrents of lamentations:”Ah, I want the Nigerian authorities to unmask those policemen who killed my son because I don’t want my son to die in vain. He was the breadwinner of this family and he had been talking care of me, his siblings, his children and other family members before his killers sent him to early grave. My son had been working as a technician for about 20 years and I never heard that he had any problem with the police, not to talk of him being detained in police cell.

I want those policemen who cruelly killed my son to be punished.”

Our correspondent gathered that the late technician was given a television set by a woman, simply identified as Titilayo, for repairs. He was said to have charged the owner of the TV set N2, 000 with a promise to fix the set in a few days. The transaction, however, turned awry when Ayandokun could not fix the set as promised. His reason was that he could not lay his hands on the necessary parts to carry out the repairs. He, however, promised to visit Alaba International Market, Lagos, to purchase the parts to fix the set, a development which did not go down well with the owner of the TV set. She

•Ayomide, daughter

•The late Ayandokun

Kunle AKINRINADE

was said to have asked for a refund of the money she paid the late technician.

It was further gathered that trouble began on Monday 24 October, 2011 when the said Titilayo visited Ayangbola in his workshop for the refund of the money. The late technician was only able to provide N1,800, with

a promise that he would defray the N200 balance at a later date.

The development irked the woman, who allegedly invited her police friend at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to arrest Ayangbola. He was subsequently taken to the Kwara State Police Command.

While the 40-year old deceased was

being detained at the station, his distraught family members and associates, who had thought he would soon be released after they might have secured his bail, were shocked when news of his death was broken the following day. He was allegedly shot several times a few minutes after the police assured his family that he would soon be released.

Speaking with our correspondent, a chieftain of the Kwara State Electronics Technician Union (KETU), Mr. Segun Aserere, said: “We strongly believed that Ayandokun was killed by the two policemen who arrested him. After he was arrested at about 6pm that fateful day, his family members contacted the policemen on the telephone at about 7pm and they were assured that he would be released. The following day when the

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

•Ayantoye, father of the deceased (middle), surrounded by sympathisers

deceased did not return home as promised by the police, the family called the police again only to be told that Ayandokun had died and that his remains were in the mortuary.”

Investigation revealed that the police officer who carried out the arrest had long been following Titilayo to threaten Ayandokun to refund the money paid for the repairs of the TV set.

Angered by the killing of one of their own, Ayandokun’s colleagues stormed the Kwara Police Command on Tuesday 25, October 2011 to protest the dastardly killing of their member. The protesters were led by the Chairman of the Kwara State Electronics Technician Union (KETU), Alhaji Isa Opeyemi, who condemned the cruel killing of Ayandokun.

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Peter Gana, who addressed the group, was said to have pleaded with the aggrieved technicians, assuring them that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.

Speaking with our correspondent a few days ago, Opeyemi said the Police was being indifferent to the killing, adding that his group would pursue the matter to a logical conclusion until justice is done on the matter.

He said: “It is disheartening to know that policemen who ordinarily should provide protection for lives and property are the ones killing innocent people in our community. The late Ayandokun was a committed member of our association and he joined our group about 15 years ago.

“On the day of his arrest by the heartless policemen, Ayandokun pleaded with them that he would pay the N200 balance, but the stubborn policemen stood their grounds and instead took him in a chartered taxi to the police command. On their way, they ran into one of our branch chairmen who

‘

On the day of his arrest by the heartless policemen, Ayandokun pleaded with them that he would pay the N200 balance, but the stubborn policemen stood their grounds and instead took him in a chartered taxi to the police command

also pleaded for Ayandokun. When the policeman who led his colleague to arrest him refused, the branch chairman who saw them then decided to alert other members on what was going on, while the Ayandokun’s family was subsequently contacted. But while the family and our members were making arrangement to secure his bail, he was shot dead by the cruel policemen.

“Now, the question we are asking is: Why did the policemen kill an innocent man even after he had shown a degree of compliance by refunding part of the money he was paid to fix a faulty television set? We gathered that the woman, who invited the policemen to arrest the deceased before he was killed, was initially arrested but has since been released. We believe that there is a grand plan by the police authorities to sweep the matter under the carpet; we will resist such a plan. Ever since we staged the peaceful protest to the police command, we have not heard anything on the extent of investigation on the matter. So, we fear that the matter is being treated with levity in order to truncate justice.”

In his comment, a relation of the

’

deceased, Mr. Bayo Areo, explained that the late technician was quite unassuming, adding that his body was riddled with bullets allegedly fired by the policemen.

“Ayandokun was such an easy going person and he could not have even struggled with the policemen. When we saw his body in the morgue, it was riddled with bullet holes; we strongly suspect that he was shot by the Police while in their custody”.

Areo said the family was considering seeking legal redress against the police for the killing.

“We are considering legal action against police authorities for killing our brother. Why should the Police take his remains to the mortuary after he was shot without informing his family? This has clearly shown that they had a hand in his death and we have every reason to believe that he was shot by the police men who arrested him.”

Confirming the story, the spokesman of the Kwara State Police Command, Mr. Dabo Ezekiel, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the policemen who led his colleague to arrest the late technician was on illegal mission and that he is now being tried

by police authorities. He was, however, silent on whether the victim was shot by the errant policeman.

“Yes, it was true that the late technician was arrested by the Police and it is also true that he died of gunshots. From what we gathered from the policeman who arrested him, the late technician was arrested in his workshop and while he was being taken to the police command, he was said to have suddenly jumped out of the car and was running away. He allegedly was felled by gunshots from unidentified persons while he was running away.

“I want to make it clear that the policeman who arrested him was on illegal mission because he was not supposed to be on duty when he arrested the deceased person and as such could not have had access to fire arm or gun.

“At the moment, the policeman has been given an orderly room trial and he is currently being detained, while the woman who allegedly asked him to arrest the deceased has since been released because she has nothing to do with the killing.”

Speaking on the killing of her father, the 13-year-old daughter of the deceased, Ayomide, said: “Who will take care of us now? I have three siblings and I don’t know who will take care of my education and that of my siblings. We thought our father would come back home when he was arrested but we were shocked when the police told us that he had died.” Her comment drew tears from sympathisers who had come to offer their condolences to the family of the deceased.

The late technician was buried in his home town, Odo-Oba near Ogbomosho, Oyo State, after the completion of autopsy at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) a few days ago.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER19, 2011

Oyo community where

•Top & bottom: Scenes in the community

Many parts of Ibadan city, especially areas occupied by the natives, have had a fair share in the struggle to survive under filth and unsanitary conditions. The August tragic flood disaster and the attendant outbreak of cholera that claimed scores of lives have, no doubt, awakened the consciousness of the people to the reality of maintaining a clean environment. Despite the well-meaning efforts of the state government to let the people see the advantages of keeping a clean environment, some areas of the city are still battling with filthiness. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU, who visited some of the areas, reports that it is one of the ‘liabilities’that the new state government has to grapple with .

S

OME parts of Ibadan, the largest city in West Africa, has over the years enjoyed the unseemly reputation of being dirty. The residents of such areas appear unwilling to change their apathy to issues that border on hygeine and environmental sanitation.

One of such communities is Gege, which because of its dirty outlook, has the suffix Oloorun (smelling one) attached to it. Here, a popular bridge, which links Born Photo area to Oke Ado Road, has a tunnel through which different kinds of waste water pass to the Molete axis of the metropolis.

On the bridge, destitute persons are usually seen begging for alms.

All manner of refuse are dumped on and under the bridge. Every waste dumped into the wide canal that runs from Agbeni Mar-

ket, Oke Ado and even Oja’Ba Market find its way to Gege, thus emitting putrid odour that is strongly perceived by residents and passersby.

According to a resident, there has been an effort to change the tag oloorun to oloro (the smelly to wealthy) or onilofinda (the perfumed), these have done little to change the dirty nature of the area.

When this reporter visited the area recently, a female trader in her early 50s, said: “It is true that they call this place Gege Oloorun, but in our own case, we no longer call it Gege Oloorun but Gege Oloro.

This is where we have been rearing our children and we are doing fine.

“We eat here and carry on with our businesses. The odour does not affect us anymore because we have been living with it for ages.

You can see how robust I am. It has been long since they have been calling it so. I grew up to know that they call it Gege Oloorun,” she recalled.

Asked if the residents feel comfortable with the filthy environment, the woman said: “We don’t want it to continue to be like this.

We want the government to help us rehabilitate this canal. We want the government to make a scapegoat of those who carry refuse from Ageni, Oke Ado, Orita Merin, Oja’Ba and other areas to be dropped in this canal.

“Before I leave my shop between 8pm and 9pm every day, I hear people dropping refuse in the canal. If we protest against it, they ask us whether we sleep in the canal. So, what do you expect us to

say or do again?

“Our appeal to the government is that they should give us trucks in which refuse will be dropped so that it would be conveyed to an appropriate dumping site.

“This wide gutter here was recently cleared and expanded with the assistance of some well-to-do people here, including the doctor operating that hospital (pointing to a building nearby). But the following day, we discovered that it had been blocked with refuse again. That is our problem. It is not that we are happy staying in this kind of unhygienic condition.

“The attitude of our people is another problem. If refuse collection bins are provided at those areas where loads are thrown into the canal while some are brought here

and the government evacuates them on a daily basis, the situation would not be as bad as it is,” she said.

An old man, who simply identified himself as Adeleke, said: “At a time in the past when a police station was beside this canal, this place was called Gege Olopa. But when the station was relocated, it reverted to Gege Oloorun.”

An elderly man and community leader, who pleaded not to be identified, said the state government should not have allowed the unsightly condition to remain for so long. According to him, he had lived in the area for more than 20 years, and the situation had remained the same.

He said: “In Europe, all drainages are well planned and kept

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER19, 2011

filth is second nature

We eat here and carry on with our businesses. The odour does not affect us anymore because we have been living with it for ages. You can see how robust I am. It has been long since they have been calling it so. I grew up to know that they call it Gege Oloorun

‘

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We’ll soon beautify the place —Oyo govt

T

HE Oyo State government has expressed deep concern about the unsalutory situation at Gege Oloorun.

Speaking to The Nation through the Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Oladimeji Dauda, the state government decried the poor condition of the area.

It blamed the messy environment of not only Gege, but most parts of the city on the past administration in the state.

Alhaji Dauda said since the inception of the Governor Ajimobi administration, efforts and huge sums of money have been committed into clearing

of mountains of refuse that littered all parts of the city as well as the blocked water ways.

The state governor, he said, has been passionate about some of the areas, among which is Gege. He said the government has mapped out plans not only to clear the heaps of refuse but to take proactive measures to beautify the area by making necessary provision for toilet facilities and channelling of the water ways.

In the short term, the state government, through the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, hopes to accomplish much with the two days compulsory environmental sanitation every week and the desig-

nation of trucks to all the nooks and crannies to clear and collect waste, he said.

“Gege Oloorun is one of the many areas in our master plan to make Ibadan not only a beautify city but a place of pride. I can tell you that what we met on ground was very terrible. But now, we have made a significant improvement in terms of the cleanliness of the environment.

“Our plan is to focus attention on Gege and some other notable areas in the city, especially during our weekly environmental sanitation. And as you can see, the people are fully cooperating and Ibadan city is gradually changing for the better,“ Alhaji Dauda added.

clean always. They are well cemented such that water can easily pass through them. There would not be any blockade anywhere. The environment monitors ensure that nobody pours any dirt or refuse into the drainage.

“In Europe, you find containers parked in every ward. The environmental vehicles transport the refuse everyday, not every week, to the dump sites. Here in Ibadan, there used to be three dump sites, but where are they now?

“If the right steps are not taken, nothing will work and there will be no improvement. If the canal is widened in the dry season and it is fortified with strong concrete walls, it will be prevented from erosion during the rainy season.

“You can see that many of the

foundations of the houses close to the gutter are being eaten up by erosion. While I was a medical student in Europe, I never saw anything like this in my life. It is really unfortunate.

“In this area now, there are no toilets in the houses you see around. They do not even use the water from their wells because when they stool on the road and in the canal, the water passes underground and the dirt permeates into the wells. You will not be surprised that they even see stool in the wells. That is why nobody is using water from the wells here.”

Speaking on the need to construction public toilets in this kind of situation, the elderly man said: “The one behind this place is the only functioning one in the entire

local government. And how many houses do you expect it to serve as populous as this community is?

“Even, the one close to the canal here, which I said is functioning, was constructed during the administration of the Late Abdulkarim Adisa, when he was the military administrator of Oyo State.

“It also has bathrooms where the traders at the market can wash.

Some of them even sleep in the market. So, when they close in the evening, they go there to clean themselves up.

“It was constructed because Adisa went round here that year and saw that there were no private toilets and bathrooms in nearly all the houses around. So, he ordered that this one should be put in place

as an alternative to dumping of stools in the open gutter, to rid the community of epidemic.

“People who sell bananas and oranges, which are perishable fruits, would always drop them in the drainage when their wares go bad. Thus, they block free flow of water as well as cause a bad odour that covers the whole area.

“These pissed off the military administrator then and he ordered the construction of the public toilet. But the subsequent administrations have not done much to better the condition of the people here.

“I learnt the government of Otunba Christopher Alao–Akala said it spent about N9 billion on environmental sanitation, yet we live in this condition.

“Have they forgotten the 1980 Ogunpa flood? Is this local place not part of Ibadan and indeed Oyo State? You are only lucky to be here after yesterday’s rain. If not that it rained yesterday and the canal was washed by the rain, the stench that would greet you would have been unbearable.

That is how people around here have been coping with the situation.”

The toilet constructed by the late Adisa at Gege Oloorun was visited by our correspondent. Its manager, Kayode, who hails from Esa Oke in Osun State, said: “This toilet has 14 rooms on each side, but only about five are functioning.”

It was learnt that the other rooms were locked up probably because they had been filled up with excreta. Kayode said he could not comment on that because he only had access to the functional ones.

He said: “I was employed to manage these toilets and bath-

rooms by some people in South West Local Government. People who come to shit (defecate) pay N20 each. It is the same thing for those who come to take their bath.

“You can see this Baba (pointing to an old man), he defecated on himself. When he came here, I had to take care of him. I provided him with water from the well to wash his trousers.”

On how he accounts for the money he collects, Kayode said: “I account for it on a daily basis to those who put me here. I was managing the toilet at Oja’Ba before I came here. I don’t give receipt to the users, but I do not cheat the local government.

“Some people are around to monitor me. My conscience will not even allow me to keep back part of the revenue generated. I need to feed my family, and this is a source they have created for me to make a living. So, why will I not take it seriously? This is better than stealing.

“But I must confess to you, the menace of this canal behind the toilet is seriously affecting the functionality of the toilets, because many people who should come here and pay N20 prefer to bend down somewhere and throw their excreta into the canal”.

Also in the area is a place called ‘Attender’. It is very close to Agbeni and Gege Oloorun. The ‘Attender’ is a mini abbatoir where goats are slaughtered and sold to people. Beside it is a dilapidated public toilet with about eight rooms, which had sunk. It is still being managed by a septuagenarian.

Close to Gege Oloorun is also Foko in the same local government area. At Oho’s compound, Foko, a 36-room twin toilet, was seen well painted but locked up.

The washing room created for the manager of the toilet had already been turned into a makeshift store by a neighbour, who even tied a goat close to it. The aluminum overhead water tank erected to serve the toilets had become rusty.

All the doors to the toilets were under lock and key, even though the surrounding appeared clean.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER19, 2011

18

Man faces trial for allegedly using church’s name to defraud company of 958 bags of cement •Suspect: I’m a honest businessman, not a fraudster

•Olusegun

T

HE X-Squad of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Yakubu Alkali, has arrested a suspect described as the most influential fraudster in Lagos. The suspect, 53-year-old Olusegun Obaro Emmanuel, is believed to have been deploying his wealth and influence to avoid prosecution in spite of the numerous cases against him.

In a brief chat with our correspondent at the state police headquarters in Ikeja shortly before he was driven to court, Olusegun described his arrest as a mystery. He expressed regrets that he was not given enough time to refund the sums he was alleged to have defrauded people of. He also wondered why he was being rushed to

Ebele BONIFACE

court by the police.

He said: “I am surprised. I did not defraud anybody. I am not a criminal. The way the goods disappeared is a surprise to me.

All I asked was to be given enough time to refund the money. Give me time and I will pay all.”

A woman who came to court with him corroborated his claims, saying he was not given enough time to pay. She said: “He was not given time to pay.

Now they want to take him to court. I don’t know why the Police have refused to listen.”

Giving further insight into his

record, Olusegun said he joined Texaco, an oil company, in 1975 and later joined the Federal Ministry of Works in 2001, where he retired as maintenance officer at Glass House, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

His alleged antics began when he allegedly defrauded 15 people at Km 40 in Mowe section of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway of hundreds of millions of naira, but the Police could not arrest him to account for the money he allegedly collected from people illegally.

He was said to be so influential that no police officer would want to handle his cases for fear of losing his or her job. The alleged fraudster was said to immediately reach for his handset to communicate with some people in the corridors of power. He was also said to be guarded by private security officials, who at times wore camouflage military uniforms to scare victims away.

Some of his victims, who were said to be unable to get attention at the various police stations in Lagos where they had gone to lodge complaints against him, were said to have resigned to fate rather than spending more money on a case they were not sure they would ever get justice.

However, the alleged fraudster met his Waterloo when he dared the Redeemed Christian Church of God where he claimed he had a contract to

,

Yes, I carried the two and a half loads of trailers; 958 bags of cement. I did not sell them. I can’t tell how they disappeared. I have a clean record in supplying building materials to companies and people who need them.

I don’t know how these 958 bags of cement disappeared.

It is still a mystery to me

,

supply 958 bags of cement.

On how he carried out the act, he said he went to a company called Twins Company Nigeria Limited, which sells building materials, and lied to them that he had a contract to supply 958 bags of cement to the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Not knowing that he was an alleged fraudster, the company loaded 958 bags of cement in two trailers for him and he disappeared with the goods. Unfortunately, Olusegun did not honour his pledge and all efforts made to get him to pay for the cement he carted away yielded no result.

The management of Twin Company then petitioned the Commissioner of Police,

Yakubu Alkali.

The commissioner handed the case over to his X-squad commander, Jonathan Ogbeun, a Chief Superintendent of Police, who immediately mobilised his operatives and Olusegun and his alleged accomplices were arrested.

In a confessional statement he allegedly made to the police, Olusegun pleaded for time to pay the money, claiming that he did know how the 958 bags of cement disappeared. He said: “Yes, I carried the two and a half loads of trailers; 958 bags of cement. I did not sell them. I can’t tell how they disappeared. I have a clean record in supplying building materials to companies and people who need them. I don’t know how these 958 bags of cement disappeared. It is still a mystery to me.

“I am not a thief. I am a very honest business man. God knows that I am telling the truth. Yes, they loaded 958 bags of cement and I took them away. I don’t know how they disappeared. I did not sell the cement.

“My enemies must have done this. I am not a fraudster. If I am given enough time, I will pay all.”

Upon investigation, the operatives of the Commissioner’s XSquad were said to have discovered that the suspect specialised in collecting building materials, which he did not pay for. They were said to have discovered that in Mowe, Ogun State, several people had complained about his allegedly fraudulent lifestyle and wondered why the Police could not arrest him.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Samuel Jinadu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, advised that people should be careful in their dealings with others, so as not to fall victim to fraudsters..

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

Saturday

THRILLER

Scars of war

s ’ i r e l u g A i r e l u Um e c a e p o t d a o r g n o l

O

ver meadows of sunflower, the sun burned in tinselled fragments and with no heat. But the air was scorching all the same; pent-up bitterness like hot lava, spilled from the lips of Anayo Nwaezeigwe to drape in the air like curtained heat.

“Forgiveness will be a sin. There is no room for forgiveness when your house is burnt to the ground and your only son is abducted under your roof to be beheaded…there can never be forgiveness when you are only lucky to identify your son's body by his mother's wrapper; which happened to be the only thing he had on him at the time of his abduction,” raved Nwaezeigwe.

Olatunji OLOLADE, Assistant Editor Then he shifted off his bum to perch on the edge of his seat; as if altering his poise would divest his story of its premonitory chill. It didn't.

The more he tried to recall, more difficult it became to disguise that persistent lilt in his voice that sounded like a sob. But the 68-yearold could neither sob nor cry even if he must perhaps because it wouldn't be manly if he cried.

Thus he continued to reveal how 16-year-old Nonso, his “only son and heir” was spirited away and decapitated by invading youths from Aguleri, a sister community. “They claimed they had come to take revenge for the death of two of their brothers. I don't know what that had

got to do with my family. We were not even involved in the land dispute. Still, they chose my house and my son out of all Umuleri (pronounced Umueri).

“When I tried to pacify them, they barked at me and threatened to kill me too. I tried to struggle with them but they inflicted on me several machete cuts.

In the melee, I received a sudden blow to the head. I passed out and by the time I regained consciousness; the miscreants had departed with my son. The following day, they deposited him very close to our house,” he said.

Now, at 68, Nwaezeigwe's peace is tainted by a dark pall. “Since his mother and I separated, Nonso had been the shining light of my life. God will punish those who killed him,” said Nwaezeigwe.

Continued on Page 20

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

•After the bloodbath: From left to right...Scenes of destruction like these dot the country’s landscape in the wake of sectarian crises Continued from Page 19

Adaobi’s pain is equally poignant. The 74-year-old native of Aguleri rues the day she “was born an Aguleri.” The grocer’s world collapsed like a pack of badly stacked cards in the twilight of 1995. According to her, she was in the bathroom when she heard gunshots. “I rushed from the bathroom into the house because my son and his wife were inside. I grabbed their daughter (Chiamaka) from a tenant’s wife whom I gave her to hold for me as I took my bath.

She was running around the compound in circles screaming that Umuleri youths had come to kill us all.

“Inside I met five hefty boys cleaning their machetes with my curtain. They had severed my son’s head from his body. His wife was sprawled lifeless beside him. I thought she was dead but she wasn’t. She fainted as they cut her husband’s head off. Today, that poor girl has been unable to find another suitor. They destroyed her beautiful face with machete cuts. They would have killed me too had it not been that they heard that Aguleri youths were regrouping to face them,” stated Idikalu.

The manner in which youths of the two sister communities slaughtered each other depicts a gory plot fit only for horror films.

They were not content with mere carnage but revelled in de-humanising their victims.

For instance, the heads of Umuleri people severed from their bodies were allegedly displayed on spikes, while they engaged in dancing and gloating along the tarred roads.

“They dismembered the bodies they carried away from Umuleri villages, cutting the bodies in pieces, and making merriment.

They beheaded a 91-year-old woman and stuck her head on a spike ,” alleged a victim and eyewitness to the killings.

But another eyewitness fromAguleri debunked the claim, describing it as a “blatant lie.” According to him, it was one of the many lies being propagated by the Umuleris to curry the favour and sympathy of the government and the entire country, he claimed.

Despite their close historical ties, the people of the Aguleri and Umuleri communities have been at each other’s throats for centuries. The two communities have for decades lived and farmed side by side but with mutual distrust and enmity. At different times in September-October 1995 and April 1999, the situation exploded due to degeneration in relations between the two communities. Consequently, public property including schools, banks, post offices,

Umuleri-Aguleri’s town halls and even churches were razed to the ground; over 200 private houses were destroyed and countless people killed. The neighbouring community of UmuobaAnam was also drawn into the crisis as a result of the alleged shooting of nine of their sons, one of whom later died.

Genesis of the violence The history of Otuocha has been the source of problem that exists between the two communities. One account has it that Otuocha land was earlier known as Otuoche and was a farmstead (farmland) belonging to the people of AmukwaAdegbe Village of Umuleri . The small parcel of land that was later expanded and known as Otuocha was allegedly owned by one Ogbuevi Oche from AmukwaAdegbe Village and the land was then known as “Otu-Oche” (referring to the “Port” or shores of Oche).

This was due to the fact that it is at the bank of the Great Omabala River where many other “ports” or local “wharfs” were located. Though at the beginning, it was a very small portion within the shores of the Omabala (Anambra) River but with migration and expansion, it extends to include some parts of Aguarkor in the west and Offianwagbo in the East. The name was originally called “Otuoche” but was corrupted by the advent of Europeans who mispronounced the name as “Otuocha”. Since then the town has been known as Otuocha.

The Umuleri version of origin stated that Oche’s descendants brought Eze Idigo, the progenitor of Idigo family to Otuocha being a “nwadiana” or nephew to the Oche’s family and that he was the person that brought his people into the land.

However, the Aguleri claimed that Idigo founded the land as vacant piece of land and brought the other Aguleri into the land.

The Aguleri and Umuleri people were neighbours prior to the coming of the British colonialists. In fact, until recently, the historical origins of the two communities were traced together more than it goes to different sources.

Another account has it that the two communities previously settled at Enuobo

(uptown), and started drifting down and closer to the European settlement which happened to be Otuocha. Meanwhile, before the growing popularity of these areas, the Unuoba-Anam people had migrated from across the river to settle in their present location at Otuocha.

As things progressed, Otuocha grew into a centre of trading and attraction and land became communised and highly competitive. It was then the contests for ownership of some portions of the land became problematic resulting in court cases, explosive violence and propaganda.

It was the last crisis that took place in 1999 that for the first time brought in Umuoba-Anam after a long time of tension.

The proximate cause of the 1995 crisis was complaints over access to and ownership of land and allegations of discrimination based on place of origin. The failure of the government to ensure accountability for the extra-judicial executions and associated, sundry violations in 1995 led to the 1999 crisis, which appears to have been a retaliation for the 1995 incident. Indeed, the crisis between these communities has a long and complicated history.

It dates as far back as there is credible history of the two communities. The crux of the problem was a dispute over land and indigeneity status. Simply put, the question was, which of the two communities first settled where they are now and which of them has superior claim over the territory now called Otuocha?

This matter as well as the ownership of a disputed piece of land known as “Agu Akor” has been the subject of repeated litigation between the two communities. In 1933, Umuleri sued Aguleri over Otuocha but lost because they had earlier sold the land to the Royal Niger Company Limited and, therefore, had been divested of their right or title to the land.

The court held that Umuleri had no justification for the court to give them a declaration of title. In 1935, Aguleri now sued Umuleri claiming exclusive ownership of the Otuocha land. But they lost on the ground that they could not establish exclusive ownership of the land as evidence dis-

closed that both communities lived together and cultivated the land side by side.

In 1964 an attempt by the then Anambra County Council to alter the name of the Otuocha Headquarters to Otuocha-Aguleri attracted another suit by Umuleri community. The onset of the Nigerian Civil War between 1967 and 1970 suspended action on this phase of the dispute. After the war, the then East Central State Government restored the name to Otuocha. In 1975, Aguleri again sued Umuleri claiming exclusive ownership of Otuocha. They lost on the same ground as before. They appealed to the Court of Appeal which reversed the decision of the High Court. The Umuleri community appealed to the Supreme Court, which decided that neither community could claim exclusive ownership of Otuocha.

The judgment notwithstanding, the Umuleri and Aguleri communities continued to dispute exclusive ownership of Otuocha with resulting conflicts. No effort was made to interpret the court judgment correctly to the people. The result was that along the same street at Otuocha, signposts bore either Aguleri or Umuleri.

In 1994, Aguleri community decided to establish a Motor Park/Market at a location on the contested Agu Akor land and allegedly destroyed the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary mounted there.

They advanced to Otuocha removing all signboards bearing Umuleri and leaving the ones bearing Aguleri. It is alleged that the Aguleris had been planning to attack Umuleri with the support of the then Local Government Chairman who was from Aguleri. The drafting of Mobile Policemen to Otuocha between December 1994 and April 1995 nipped this plot in the bud.

Following the withdrawal of the Mobile Police unit from Otuocha, members of the Aguleri community allegedly attacked Umuleri on September 30 1995, unleashing massive destruction of human lives and property. In 1995, the then military government of Anambra State constituted a threeperson Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by a retired judge of the Anambra State High Court to investigate the violence

21

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

‘

Inside, I met five hefty boys cleaning their machetes with my curtain. They had severed my son’s head from his body. His wife was sprawled lifeless beside him. I thought she was dead but she wasn’t. She fainted as they cut her husband’s head off. Today, that poor girl has been unable to find another suitor...

’ long road to peace between the two communities. As will be seen below, the government declined to implement or accept the recommendations of the judicial commission concerning accountability for the violations committed during the violence.

In apparent retaliation for the yet to be redressed violence of 1995, the Umuleris launched reprisal attacks on the Aguleri in April 1999. The reprisal attacks allegedly occurred due to government’s disinterestedness in the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry. Further findings revealed that the failure of government to implement the white paper of the 1995 Judicial Commission of Inquiry led directly to the subsequent attacks of 1999. The Aguleri community was of the view that the 1999 attack was initiated by Umuleri to revenge the onslaught of 1995 on them by Aguleri.

The Umuleri community’s position is that failure of the government to demarcate boundaries for the two communities led to the subsequent attack on them by Aguleri.

The Umuoba-Anam community had always provided a buffer zone between the Aguleri and Umuleri. Umuoba-Anam also sheltered the displaced people who fled to them for refuge during the attacks. The cause of their involvement in the 1999 conflict is not clear.

It is alleged that they (Umuoba-Anam) joined forces with Aguleri to attack Umuleri.

According to the Umuleri community, Aguleri and Umuoba-Anam reached a pact that if Umuoba-Anam joined Aguleri to chase Umuleri out of the area, the Aguleri community would give Umuoba-Anam more land to expand their settlement. On the part of Umuoba-Anam, the story is that Umuleri shot nine of their sons during the initial crisis between Umuleri and Aguleri in 1995 and were treated with disdain by Umuleri when they complained to them about this.

This caused resentment within the Umuoba community and in retaliation for the killings they joined the crisis. Abuses of rights to life in the violence were mostly characterised by massive killings. The crisis in September/October 1995 led to widespread killings. Exact or credible figures for the kill-

ings in the violence are unavailable but different estimates put forward by different sources point to quite a significant number of victims of violations of the right to life.

From the 1995 incident, the Umuleri community estimated that, the people who lost their lives number about 160 and published the names of 40 persons whose bodies were identified.

The government’s Commission of Inquiry into the 1995 incident only acknowledged that four Umuleri were killed. According to the oral testimony of one of Umuoba-Anam representative, nine boys were shot at and wounded by their Umuleri neighbours, while one of them, a Senior Secondary III student was killed.

Losses suffered A major feature of the Aguleri/Umuleri/ Umuoba-Anam crisis was the high incidence of destruction of property resulting in internal displacement and other associated violations of economic, social and cultural rights.

The Umuleri community reported that 160 persons suffered loss of property valued at N410, 802,766, ranging from total destruction of private buildings and business premises to looting.

Another 138 persons allegedly lost their buildings. These were not itemised and valued. The government White Paper on the report of the Aguleri and Umuleri disturbances 1995 stated, “...A lot of houses, household property and personal belongings mostly at Umuleri side (sic) were burnt or looted.”

In 1999, 200 houses were said to have been damaged in Umuoba Anam while in Umuleri 1,120 persons reportedly lost property including residential buildings, offices, business centres and personal effects valued at N2,046,896,900 and another 34 persons lost only household properties with a claim value of N101,621,950.

In the Aguleri community, it was reported that five personal buildings and a clubhouse were destroyed in the attacks. Clearly, most of the persons whose structures, including a significant number of retirees and aged people who lived in the communities, became internally displaced as a result. This

was most pronounced in Umuleri where nearly every structure was destroyed.

One result of the recurring crises between these communities was the increase in poverty level. In Umuleri the natives recollected that in the aftermath of the 1995 and 1999 violence, they could no longer afford food.

Economic activities in the communities came to a standstill as people who had investments in the communities moved them out of the town and security measures within the communities restricted largescale economic activities.

Commercial institutions, such as banks, that were not destroyed totally were vandalised, resulting in their closing shop. The few people remaining in the community were the elderly and frail who were confined to their homes. Many of the youth had fled town in search of greener pastures. The few in Umuleri who had the courage to return were internally displaced as most of their houses had been destroyed.

The violence also adversely affected the members of these communities by denying them access to adequate health facilities. Existing health facilities, including hospitals and maternity homes were destroyed during the crisis. Consequently the residents of the communities had to travel all the way to Onitsha, about 100 kilometres away, for medical attention although some resorted to consulting traditional healers or herbalists.

Linus Ifeanyi, a peace worker, said that any purposeful attempt to prevent a violent resurgence of the crisis must be accompanied by a conscious attempt to device a system to give early warning signal in the area’s flashpoints. Without functioning early warning system, there can be no such thing as effective conflict prevention in the area, he said.

“The system must also build in past experiences and must seek information on how inter-ethnic crises have been coped with and if they are applicable to the given situation.

However, the first step in gathering information is the identification of the early warning signal. The selected people for this task must be reliable, well prepared, must have the necessary background knowledge, they should be able to identify the problem, to select relevant information and be unbiased in approach.

The information gatherers must have an intrinsic knowledge of the community being examined; they also must be familiar with its cultural background, language of its people and must enjoy their confidence and respect. The other element is the identification of target groups. Since inter-ethnic or religious conflict takes place between at least two opposing interest groups, it is very important to have a clear vision about who the victims and the aggressors are. The differentiation is essential as each target group requires specific approach. It is also very important to estimate the sources and preconditions of the conflict along with its level in due time because all these elements will ultimately determine the preventive measures,” he said.

A divisional police officer in the area who pleaded anonymity stressed the need for government to always intervene in time.

“Whatever measure that is taken must always be administered and supervised by highly conscientious and unbiased adjudicators.

“Asides that, there is also an urgent need for adequate institutional measures capable of nipping subsequent crises in the bud.

Very stiff penalties should be set out and enforced against all those who violate clearly articulated modalities for duly bringing disputes to the knowledge of relevant organs of arbitration. Commensurate efforts should be made to ensure that arbitration mechanisms are manned by people of high integrity. Efficient checks on corruption, favouritism, and other inefficiencies should be built into such arbitration mechanisms so as to ensure the confidence of Nigerians,” he said.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

LOCATION

BACKSTAGE

SNAPSHOT

REEL NEWS

MUSIC

SCREEN

Edited by: VICTOR AKANDE

Tel: 08077408676

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com

ntertainment

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

I don’t want to end up getting married five times

d e s a b a i l a r t s —Au s s e r t c a n a i r e Nig e u g i d E o r a k Omo

Why I relocated to UK with my family —Ruke Amata

23

See pages 28-37

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

STANDh BY! Wit

E-mail: victor_akande@yahoo.com Tel: 08077408676 (SMS only)

I

SNAPSHOTS

nt part of An importa s of any the succes is its civilisation late the mu ability to e t led to the a th factors ther success of o Eric s.— civilisation rt Reine

Yvonne Nelson When a sequel scores is independent a point of the previous G

VICTOR AKANDE

have had to argue with a few friends on the flexibility of sequel both as a literature and film terminology. Although many look at the word in its grammatical origin and hold it with such rigidity, I do understand that there is a place in the English dictionary for implied and applied meaning.

More so, with literary creativity comes a lot of inventions that may differ slightly with an original term or find a nomenclature, slang, or compound word that not only gives room for new meanings to thrive but also brings about grammatical independence to unusual expressions.

A colleague wanted to see the preceding part of Funke Akindele's Jenifa and I thought that irrespective of the link between Jenifa (Parts 1 & 2) film and The Return of Jenifa TROJ (which is a sequel), there is the need to treat TROJ with some level of independence. My argument portends that wherein the former is one film in two halves, the later is complete in itself. In other words, whereby both situations express a continuum from the previous, a film marked as Parts 1&2 is like a conjoined twins, while a sequel could be seen merely as an identical twin.

I figure that there is a difference between a movie in parts and a sequel. Whereby a movie in parts is the direct follow-up or prelude to the other, a sequel is an independent story that merely derives its origin from the first. Take for instance, you are watching a movie and just as a man wants to strike his wife or vice versa, the picture freezes, and an inscription follows, reading: “Watch Out for Part 2” or something like: “The Movie Has Just Begun”. You don't need anyone to tell you that you have just seen half of a movie.

Expectedly, the second half should continue directly from where the last one stopped. But a sequel (a possessive term for an independent part film) is different in that although it furthers a storyline, it is at creative liberty to employ twists that makes it independent of the previous. It can even change the lead cast without any apology to creative license. The most important thing in a sequel is the story idea, setting and characterisation and not necessarily the cast or trend.

Here, the story can take a very different dimension plying on the same theme. This is the creative license that differentiates a sequel from a

THINK

film in parts.

And a sequel they say is complete in itself, even though it continues the narrative of a preceding work. My friend thought this sounded like a Course 101 lecture on movie review or production.

He then fired back with another definition: 'A movie sequel is a narrative that continues a story or expands upon issues presented in some previous work'. He accused me of wanting him to ignore this standard definition because of TROJ. But I think this is a case of perception. While I am trying to let us see the word sequel in this contest as a 'term', my friend is bent on treating it as a 'word' with one meaning and without the need for contextual application.

It becomes even clearer to me that perception is one area that people differ in life and is why one editorial judgement will continue to be different from another even on the same issue of interest.

But do we agree that a sequel is meant to stand on its own?

My friend couldn't say 'yes' or 'no' throughout the argument.

Instead, I hear words like: “Victor, sequel means continuation, even for those of us wey no go school….. “Oga, the word sequel in itself means that it is the continuation of something. It can end a narrative or lead to production of series!”

Did I say anything to the contrary? No! I bought their point; the common point. But none bothered to see things from a broader perspective.

None wanted to agree that

'A movie sequel is a narrative that continues a story or expands upon issues presented in some previous work'. He accused me of wanting him to ignore this standard definition because of TROJ

creativity has shifted the goal post of traditional word game.

None wanted to second the fact that a sequel (a possessive term for an independent part film) must never remain colonised by the previous.

A movie sequel may reference the previous but should not be seen as an outright continuation.

If a work of art could stand on its own, this merely suggests that it is a sequel because it has an origin somewhere. This does not rob it of its independence or relative sovereignty.

Hollywood for example does not always follow its part themes religiously. See the movie Fast and Furious 1 &2; Tokyo Drift; and Fast Five. What about Basic Instinct? There are two versions of the same film.

The second is a sequel because it expands on the issue in the first film and even took it through a new dimension. I can go on and on. Transformers is about one of the films in this sequel analogy that readily comes to my mind as a movie that retains all the cast. Creativity is what it is because it is flexible and innovative. A traditional word cannot dictate the pace forever, instead that word will give way to new meanings. Sequel, I stand to be corrected, has given way to new 'terms'.

But I chose to rest my case when my friend said on a final note: “Still 'sequel' is a continuum, it's an English word and has been defined in the dictionary and the last time I checked the meaning it had not changed. No one says a sequel can not stand alone but it must continue a previous narrative. If producers of the films you mentioned decided to produce stand alone 'sequels', it's their choice and style”.

But that was not all. Another friend came in here and said: “A small dictionary I have here says that sequel is 'that which follows: followers, successors, consequences, upshot: a resumption of a story already complete in itself”.

I like the last part of that definition: “a resumption of a story already complete in itself”, with that, I thought my day was made. What do you think?

WRITE TO US! Do you watch Nollywood movies? What do you think of the Nigerian motion picture industry? Send your review of any movie or short essay on any topic of your choice about the film industry in not more than 200 words. Send entries by e-mail to: victor_akande@yahoo.com or SMS your short comments to 08077408676

HANAIAN sex symbol actress, Yvonne Nelson, has a personality which many people within Nollywood and Ghollywood have often described as quarrelsome, and in some cases, insubordination. This attitude had been linked to the actress' ban by the movie industry in her country some time ago.

But the last is yet to be heard about the actress who was on location of Mistresses in Nigeria recently with the likes of Halima Abubakar, Mary Uranta, and Bobby Michaels.

A fellow cast in the movie had

this to say about Yvonne when asked if the 'drama queen' had put up any of those traits. “I didn't see that side. Not sure she's rude. We worked peacefully and happily, “she said.

Yvonne is one of the very famous actresses in the Ghanaian movie industry who has worked closely with her Nigerian counterparts, perhaps more than any other Ghanaian actress.

Yemi Blaq finds second love

I

F the information reaching snapshots is correct, winner of Celebrity Takes 2 2010, Yemi Blaq, who we just found out has creativity as a closet poet will soon hit the studio to give time and attention to his new found love, music.

•Yemi Blaq

According to the actor, “music has always been in my blood.

And it is what I love doing too.”

A popular African actor who is also a producer, and script writer, Blaq made his appearance in the movie world in 2005, and has been in a lot of movies since then.

The actor has a BA (Hons) in Theatre Arts from the University of Benin, Nigeria. And has won awards which include the 2009 Zuma Award Winner: Best Supporting Actor (High Blood Pressure), 2009 AMAA (African Movie Academy Awards), 2010 Ghana Movie Award nominee: Best Actor West Africa Collaboration Category (Sinking Sands Movie), and 2010 Celebrity Takes 2 Dance Competition Winner: a show reminiscent of the popular reality show "Dancing with the Stars".

Mistura is elated!

F

OR her performance in Aiyesan as lead actress, fastrising Yoruba actress, Mistura Asunramu-Alao, has been nominated for Best Yoruba Actress in the forthcoming Yoruba Heritage Award billed to hold in London.

“My Experience in the industry is a great one because I have achieved a lot. I have learnt how to manage people and how to adapt in any situation in life.

It's what I enjoy doing most because it makes me forget any sorrow. I feel alive and fulfilled when am acting because it's an inborn talent. And I am happy

•Mistura

for this nomination too,” the actress says of her nomination.

She joined the Yoruba movie industry in year 2002.

IKPEBA LAMENTS

Nigeria Premier League poorly funded Pg. 30

Pg. 32

I’m getting back my groove, Torres warns Reds

Nation PAGE 29

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Pg. 34

Hodgson banks on Osaze

• Osaze

30

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NATIONSPORT SATURDAY, NOVEMBER19, 2011

NATION SPORT

NATION SPORT

IKPEBA LAMENTS

'I've signed with Man City the club I loveeyes another win over Wolves — Sammy Ameobi

Nigeria Premier League poorly funded

T

he disorganised state of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) is no longer news to football lovers in the country but that it has remained so with no solution yet at sight has become a source of worry to many.

In this exclusive chat with Florence Nkem Israel in Port-Harcourt, ex-international, Victor Ikpeba lamented the decline in the standard of the local league.

Excerpts.

LOOKING at football generally from the grassroot level, what would you say it has been like?

I think it has suffered for a while and it’s not new that we have all canvassed that we ought to develop football here. During the 70s, 80s and in conjunction with education and there was also YSFON in those days, so it was extremely easy for you to get from there young lads from schools who later became stars from the youth tournaments. The Federation cannot d e v e l o p football alone, so if they can blend a n d wor

don't come out any longer to support their clubsides compared to 70s and 80s when you have to go to Ibadan, Enugu and in fact, even here in Port Harcourt when Sharks played, the fans used to come out in numbers.

Yes, the quality might h a v e changed but that does n o t mean t h a t there a r e

no quality players playing in our leagues. Coaches has always been a big problem and a challenge here We need to improve our game and if we have to get back to what the league used to be in the 70s and 80s, the coaches have to get it right. We need to motivate the players too. So many of the players in the league are been owed and its not easy for players to play with empty stomach.

So we are appealing to the corporate bodies to spend money on our football. We need to see what's happening in South Africa - if our footballers back home are well paid, they don't need to be stru

•Kazeem Yekeen k together with the educationa l sector to get these young lads and t o develop them, I think Nigeria will come to where it used to be before.

How do you access the current state of the Nigeria Premier League in comparism to the past when most of its products were playing for the senior national team?

I think there is still talents. We should not forget that the league has been suffering. The fans

ggl ing to get out of the country to go and •Kwara United's ply their trades abroad. If money is Ayoola Moses well spent on our league, you will continue to see young talents who want to remain here and play. We all know the greats like Chukwu, Odegbami, Amiesimaka; they all plied their trades here and made a name for themselves here. So if we can put money into our league, organize it very well and develop our league, we will keep seeing talents. We cannot be One Hundred and Fifty million without football

What Keshi should do T

J

•Ikpeba

talents, its not possible.

Rather than ex-professionals coming home to play to boost and enhance the league, they will want to rush to the Federation or Coaching, don't you think that to be a problem?

Its not rushing. The criticism laid against the ex-internationals, I feel its a little harsh. The exinternationals are great ambassadors of Nigerian football.

These players have gone overseas and showcased. They played the game to the best levels. We should give them the chance. If you look at the atmosphere five to six years ago, there was no money and you cannot expect players to retire overseas and come back to a league you are not even sure of getting your salaries every month. If you look at what is happening in South Africa, McKathy leaves England, goes to Orlando Pirates and well paid.

Yekini did it for a while. Amokachi did it for a while. So if back home we have a strong league and players welfare well taken care of, I don't see why the likes of Osaze if they retire would not -they can come and play for a season or two before hanging their boots.

To the Super Eagles, what do you make of Keshi's appointment?

He deserves to be there. There is no sentiments about that. He has experience. He is one of the great captains we have in Nigeria football and one of the first Nigerians to go and ply his professional trade overseas, he has been a great ambassador when it comes to Nigeria football. With his experience, with assisting Bonfrere and Shuaibu and his even leading Togo, a small country that is not even up to Rivers state to their ever first World Cup, coaching Mali to Nations Cup, he comes with a great experience and pedigree, so its a great choice.

ust days after he made an impressive debut for England Under-21s, Newcastle United moved to tie down Sammy Ameobi with a new deal which will run until the summer of 2015.

After making his Magpies bow against Chelsea at the end of last season, the 19-year-old forced his way further into Alan Pardew's first-team with several goals in pre-season and has gone on to make seven appearances this term. His first goal came against Scunthorpe - a spectacular extra-time winner in the Carling Cup - and his displays in black and white caught the eye of Stuart Pearce, who brought the Newcastle-born youngster into the international set-up this month. And, having put pen to paper on the three-and-ahalf year contract on Thursday, Ameobi gave his first interview exclusively to nufc.co.uk and spoke about that meteoric rise, his love for the club and his hopes for the future...

•Ameobi

You just signed a new contract and after making huge strides in recent months, does this cap it all for you?

Definitely. It's been a brilliant start to the season for me, including pre-season. I've been progressing and I think this is a just reward for it.I'm very happy to sign with Newcastle, the club I love, and I'd like to stay with them for a long time to come. You never know what football will bring, but hopefully I can take it on from here.

You were born in the city, you're a Newcastle lad, so what does it mean to you to play for the club?

It means a lot, it means so much. I was born here, I've grown up and watched the club over the years. My brother Shola's here and it's the club that I love - and I love a lot. To be able to come onto the pitch and play in front of those fans is an amazing, amazing feeling.

Things have really happened quickly for you since you made your debut as a substitute against Chelsea in May, haven't they?

They certainly have. Obviously, with the way football goes you never know what'll happen; you can get your debut and then not play another game for a while. You just never know, but it's been wonderful for me to get my opportunity here under the manager, who has been great. And I'm going to enjoy continue working for him.

That afternoon at Stamford Bridge must have been a real highlight for you, but what other memories stand out for you since then?

My first goal, in the Carling Cup at Scunthorpe in August.

Obviously it was a good one as well, so that was massive. Also, being

called up for under-21s this planning two games good. It's great for my as well, so hopefully I'll get ups in the future.

the England month and for them was development more call-

You made your England bow a s a substitute against Iceland b e f o r e starting against Belgium this w e e k .

How did you find it?

I loved it. I got on really well with all the lads and we won the first game 50 .

Unfortunately we got beaten in the second game but I really enjoyed the experience of both matches. The next game's not until February (a European Under-21 Champions hips qualifier return fixture at home to the Belgians), so hopefully I'll get picked for Raheem that and we'll•go on fromOwolabi there.It's of 3sc clear for all to see how you have developed as a player in the last year or so.

Have you been working hard at y o u r game in order to keep improving?

Definitely - I've got to put in the effort if I want to get better so that's what I've been doing over the past few months. I feel I'm getting better and better, and I'm getting my opportunities t o play which is good. And I'll keep on doing that to hopefully keep on getting those chances.

You mentioned Alan Pardew earlier, and since he became manager last December he has put a lot of faith in you, hasn't he?

He has, and it's good that I've got a manager who really likes me. Hopefully I can keep doing what he wants me to do and show him that he can trust me to play. I want games for the first-team so hopefully I'll be able to get that experience sooner rather than later.

Now you've committed yourself to the club for the next three-and-a-half years, what ambitions do you have in that period?

Progression. That's the main thing for me.Hopefully I'll come off the bench more and more times and maybe get into the first-team as a regular. I'd say that's my aim - over the next three-and-half years, to develop into a first-team regular at Newcastle United.

HE first party of Stephen Keshi as Super Eagles Chief Coach ended last Saturday without much joy and the second gives no hope that laughter will be put in the mouth of Nigerians.

The players failed to lift their game and it ended goalless against a team which ranked around 88 in the world.

When they decided to raise their game in the second half, what we saw were ashes of time not well spent. The Zebras had sunk in in confidence and had ten men behind the ball.

The issue of commitment raised its ugly head as usual. The players were not committed to the country but to clubs as they kept reservoir tank in waiting for their pay masters. They were running away from injury and when they chose to apply themselves to the game, the game was all over. Keshi has to fight the canker worm of lack of commitment among some of the players and that of confidence which has been lacking since they were stopped from going to the Nations Cup by Guinea.

The confidence to play and score is lacking. There is disconnection between the attack and the midfield. The midfielders are not springing passes to the forward as they should and it has ensured that no goal is scored in the last two games. It may repeat itself against the Chipolopolo of Zambia, a team that defends as a unit.

The Zebras were made to look good. They are an average side that relies on defending and counter attacking just like the Syli Nationale of Guinea. They were made to look good because Eagles could not break them down. The job of breaking down a resolute defence lies with the midfielders. That they did not do their job is a testimony that Eagles could not win.

Keshi has to look beyond the foreign-based players to build his team.

The domestic players will play with commitment. They will play with confidence after a few matches. Complacency will not have a way in the team. Finidi George, Isaac Semitoje and Ben Iroha were discovered at home before they went abroad to play professional football. We need to set up a Scouting Committee as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is considering picking players from the domestic league. There is no way two Nigerian clubs will play in the semi final of continental competitions and would not produce players for the national team.

The foreign-based players must be made to sweat for their shirts and the only way to do that is through the invitation of players to the national team from the domestic league. The foreign-based players are not committed to the national cause because they are sure of shirts in the Super Eagles.

Super Eagles are not scoring because there is no creative midfielder in the mould of Austin Okocha in the national team. There is no way that we can have 20 teams in the league and there would not be one creative midfielder. Even if there is none in the whole league, we can convert one.

Professor Otto Gloria rearranged his team in the semis and final of the Unity Cup. He moved Felix Owolabi from the midfield to the defence and the former captain of Shooting Stars scored the winner in the semi final.

Eagles are not flying because of the absence of creative wingers.

Finidi was so creative that he made the Ajax Amsterdam first team in the first try. Emmanuel Amuneke was a creative winger on the left side and he created many chances and scored great goals.Ahmed Musa is a winger of the season in our football, but he needs to do more to fill the shoes of Finidi. He needs to work hard to ensure that Eagles fly. In the absence of a natural left footer, someone can be converted to the wing just like it was done with Folorunsho Okenla in the late eighties and early nineties.

The absence of a playing culture is not helping matters in the national team. The players gather from different playing cultures and the coach is expected to bind them together as a unit. There is little he could do to make the players play as a team. Keshi has to fight the monster to submission. Spain and England are playing beautiful football because they have a playing culture. The gradual injection of younger players into the England team will ensure that they play with one purpose on the field of play. The Spanish team is taken from Barcelona. This is why they are number one in world football. They play with a culture which is unique to Barcelona and the unique playing culture is rubbing off on the national team.

Our style of play is slow. We build up slowly and then break out with a sharp burst of energy. The world has known the style we got from our Dutch connection and they are countering it with speed. Keshi would have to put together a playing culture for the national team. It is in the best interest of every soccer- loving Nigerian.

THE NATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

31

NATION SPORT

Inyama: Re-inventing the cradle of National Football

H

AVING survived the intrigues that almost denied him a mandate to lead the Nigeria National League, poor cousins of Nigeria Premier League (NPL), Chief Emeka Inyama, the Chairman of Orji Uzor Kanu FC of Umuahia has discovered that thet task ahead is more herculean than the battle for admission into the board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The National League is our equivalent of the English Championship formerly sponsored by Coca Cola and produces teams that are promoted to the NPL while receiving those relegated.

The 2011 Super Cup is between Jigawa Golden Stars, Wikki Tourists, Rising Stars and Akwa United.

Considering the difficulties of securing tangible followership for the more glamorous NPL amongst Nigerians, it has been unimaginable to me that one could go through any modicum of inconvenience in aspiring to lead the less fancied lower rung of our professional league. But my engagements with Inyama in the last couple of weeks after he secured an all clear ruling by the Victor Iyanam-led arbitration appeals panel has offered fresh vistas on football club and league management.

This Wednesday, I found myself travelling to Bauchi for the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Cup with Inyama, who served as a Commissioner for Sports in Abia State. Setting off from

By Harry Iwuala

Abuja in his Prado Jeep and with his wife beside him, we negotiated the traffic from his office in Gudu area through to Nassarawa State and expectedly, our engagement centered on trending national football issues with occasional asides that were mainly reminiscences of.

“Harry”, he began as we cruised past some traders chasing us with assorted wares, “you know I cannot afford to do things the same way that they have been doing it in the past. I mean, there must be a marked difference that will reflect my background as a Sports Journalist and Sports Marketing practitioner. It must show the benefits of working with COJA and the FIFA U-17 World Cup” In the weeks before our trip to Bauchi, Inyama had approached me to consider seeking the rights to market the National League. I have had many junk sports assets thrown my way because for some people, this up-start, fresh from the corporate world of paid jobs is the best donkey to carry the dreg of sports products. Some others have slyly dug in to tap from a perceived rich repertoire of sponsorship experience which they believe could cost a leg and an arm if sought directly. With these at the back of my mind, the offer was shoved into the cart where others have equally been consigned until it occurred to me to seek second and third opinions.

•Inyama

But Inyama truly is burning with visions of where he thinks the National League and the six hours drive from Abuja to Bauchi (stooped over in Jos for a meal) was dominated by his analysis of where the league is, what are the challenges and optimistically outlining how he thinks it would be reinvigorated.

“I am determined to provide leadership of a fresh kind for the Chairmen of the 32 clubs that make up the two divides of the Nigeria National League and the first step towards achieving a new lease of life for the league will be to launch a rebranding and I mean complete rebranding that will redirect the perception of the league”, the NNL boss posited in between a drop into his mouth of some fried groundnuts shoved into his palm by wifey.

“Oh Harry, do you know that I have profiled some companies and what direction they have been going marketing wise… I know a bank that is aggressively pursuing national branch network spread and it is my conviction that if one makes a good presentation offering the bank a platform with national presence, we could reach deal”, he continued.

Arriving Bauchi, a command meeting of the organising committee was convened with minutes at our Zaranda Hotel base and it was at the session that Inyama took the members through his thoughts on the new direction for the league.

It was apparent to the group that a new paradigm was in the offing and their enthusiasm was obviously encouraging to the man leading the mission.

I was also fascinated by his resolute attempt to ensure that anyone watching the matches or the highlights on television will obviously see the footprints of FIFA events.

It was suggested an immediately agreed that kids be recruited to act as players’ escort for all games of the NNL Super Cup. The FIFA style football stand usually placed for the referees at the outer edge of the tunnel was equally fabricated overnight and installed to complete the look and feel of a FIFA organized game. What was missing was the anthem and which Inyama promised was in the works. Again, the concerted effort through radio and town criers to draw crowd to the stadium was another effort at doing things the right way. I had imagined what the impact would have been if the NNL Board had funds to break into national television with commercials for this event.

The truth about football is that it can only draw the audience when effort is made to inject value beyond the mere 90 minutes of the game.

It starts with the build-up which when professionally handled eschews all the negatives that drive a wedge between the fans and the stadium.

Vision and planning are very essential to the building of any sports brand and as a matter of fact, attainment of success in any endeavour. What has stunted football development in Nigeria has been the pervading lack of vision of where we are heading to and the skills to plan the accomplishment of the vision.

Furthermore, there is no quick fix to success and the only time Nigerians grow impatient with any project or sector leader is when they sense an absence of clearly defined vision and methodology. It is for this same reason that the populace is kicking against the touted oil subsidy removal by the government seeing that it did not include a well articulated plan of how the gains will be deployed for the greater good. All that government supporters are telling the masses is that the gains will be channeled into areas that will mitigate the sting of the anticipated rise in fuel prices.

Today, Inyama is telling his board members and the 32 clubs that there are new ways the league can be organized to make it attractive and profitable. He is going a step further to show how and all that is left is for them to queue behind his vision in the next three to four years to see how far it can go.

Harry Iwuala is a renowned Journalist based in Lagos, Nigeria

VOICE OF SPORTS

With Clement Nwankpa Jnr. sportswar@yahoo.com

Going...Going...

IF feelers coming from Super Eagles’ chief coach, Stephen Keshi are to be reckoned with, some of the players that were listed for the Botswana and Zambia friendlies may be plunged into international wilderness. Speaking at a post match press conference after his boys beat Zambia 2-0 in Kaduna on Tuesday, Keshi noted that some of the players who took part in the camping exercise were not good enough for the national team. It would be recalled that the list for the games was drawn by the Technical Committee of the NFF since Keshi had not been recruited at the time the list was compiled. The Big Boss pointed out the imbalance in the list. He observed that while he had 10 strikers in the team, he didn’t have enough midfielders. Thus when it became imperative to replace Fengor Ogude (injury) and Dickson Etuhu (fatigue) in the course of the Zambia game, there were no midfielders to be called up from the bench as Yusuf Ayila was also injured. This was responsible for the tactical substitutions which saw Efe Ambrose finish the match in the holding midfield role. Subsequently, Keshi plans to release lists which will have at least two players in each position instead of having a preponderance of players in a department. He has vowed not to take prisoners and some players are really going to get the chop? Who are those players whose international careers are threatened? I spent some time in the team’s camp this period and felt the pulse of those who should know so I have some clue here.

One player who is in for a raw deal is Mikel Obi. If Mikel plays for Chelsea this weekend, he may never get a call-up soon under Keshi. During the briefing, a journalist had asked Keshi whether he would be ‘disappointed’ if Mikel played for Chelsea this weekend having opted out of Eagles matches on the premise of injury. Keshi nodded his head and said; “I will be disappointed”. Then he pleaded with journalists to allow him do things his own way. His words; “After now, you guys (journalists) will attack me for dropping some players. Please allow me to sort things out my own way. Uuuuh (he bit his lips) make una allow me do this work o!” Whoever thought Samson Siasia was so strict should have a rethink. Compatriots, the Big Boss is in town.

I have interacted with the players and I have an insight into his modus operandi. Keeper Austin Ejide’s words sum up how the players perceive their new coachee. He said; “Bros, Big Boss can play all day but when he wants to talk, he tells you, ‘Listen!

I’m talking!!’ and everywhere will be calm. O naadi achi (he doesn’t take rubbish)”. I have it on good authority that Keshi has made up his mind on what to do with Mikel if he dons Chelsea’s colours this weekend. Whoever is so close to Mikel should tell him to stay poles away from the blue strip this weekend even if he ‘passes a late fitness test’. Keshi had limited midfield options in both fixtures and would be mad if insinuations that Mikel intentionally feigned injury to avoid both matches are substantiated. Mikel’s case is made more precarious by the fact that he is not really indispensable as the likes of Ogude and Nosa Igiebor could provide better alternatives. There is also Lukman Haruna, who was never invited during the Siasia era. Keshi particularly rates Igiebor highly. The Hapeol Tel aviv craftsman’s eye for goals is an ingredient that could give him an edge over Mikel.

Mikel is not the only player who could face the axe but while his undoing is his attitude, there are some who have not convinced Keshi that they deserve to wear the green and white colours. Top on the list, according to camp sources, is Leece’s Edward Ofere. Ofere never tasted action in both matches but he is said to have performed so badly in training that the technical crew were left wondering the criteria for the invitation extended to him. Ofere is usually deployed as an impact player, coming off the bench at Leece where he has Christian Obodo as team mate, but his form during the camping exercise left a lot to be desired.

Then there is Poland-based Ugo Ukah. Ukah has the requisite physical presence and looks refreshingly young. While sharing a table with him and his dad at the Prestige Hotel, Benin bar after the Botswana game last Saturday, Ugo had narrated how much he craved to wear the green and white colours. I had advised him to seize the opportunity whenever he was called upon but when he got the nod against Zambia, he faltered more often than not. His tackles were ill-timed and he looked nervous all the way. I also gathered that, like Ofere, he had failed to impress in training. Save for a miracle, he may have gone the way of the likes of Peter Ijeh and Michael Odibe, whose debuts did more harm than good to their international careers.

There could also be some question mark on Dele Adeleye’s place. Keshi seems to favour a Joseph Yobo/Yusuf Ayila pairing and when Adeleye got the opportunity to line out beside Yobo against Zambia, he did little to upstage Ayila. Onyekachi Apam’s return to action at Rennes would not help Adeleye’s course. Like Adeleye, Emmanuel Emenike’s poor form against Zambia may not have gone unnoticed by Keshi. Emenike was so bad that when he was substituted, he was booed.

33

32

Saturday Norwich v Arsenal Sunderland v Fulham West Brom v Bolton Wigan v Blackburn Man City v Newcastle Everton v Wolves Stoke City v QPR Swansea v Man United Sunday Chelsea v Liverpool Monday Tottenham v Aston Villa

Player

Team

van Persie Dzeko Aguero Rooney Ba Lampard Van der Vaart Bent Agbonlahor Klasnic Balotelli Pilkington Sturridge Graham Silva Bale Hernandez Defoe Suarez

Arsenal Man City Man City Man Utd Newcastle Chelsea Tottenham Aston Villa Villa Bolton Man City Norwich Chelsea Swansea Man City Tottenham Man Utd Tottenham Liverpool

Goals

11 10 9 9 8 6 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

THE NATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

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NATION SPORT

I

was at the two international friendly matches the Super Eagles played against Botswana and Zambia within three days and I am convinced that new Head Coach, Mr. Stephen Keshi has started on a good footing.

There have been so much discussion in the media on how long Stephen Keshi would last on the job, or whether the Nigeria Football Federation has not purposely digged man-holes for him in the contract with the mandate to take Nigeria to the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa and qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil, and also reach the quarter finals of the competition.

At the very first official meeting I had with Keshi, in the presence of the chairman of Technical Sub-Committee, chairman of Referees SubCommittee and the Acting General Secretary, I made it clear that the Nigeria Football Federation would give him all the support.

It does not serve the interest of the Nigeria Football Federation and the mandate it is entrusted with to do ANYTHING whatsoever to sabotage Stephen Keshi or any Head Coach for that matter.

Why do we need to do that?

I made it clear when I started this column eight months ago that it would only serve the interest of football and not the politics of it, or be used to ‘attack’ anyone. That promise stands.

However, it is pertinent that I address suggestions that the NFF is wishing Keshi bad luck with the clause in his contract to qualify the Super Eagles for 2014 FIFA World Cup finals and take the team to the quarter finals.

The targets that are clearly set for Keshi is to qualify the Super Eagles for the 2013 African Cup of Nations and also qualify the team to the FIFA World Cup finals Brazil 2014, and take the team to at least the quarter finals.

In life, people set targets, goals and objectives. Any man without aspiration is not headed anywhere. There must be dreams, to be powered by hard work, perseverance, good judgement and painstaking adherence to principles along the way.

Samson Siasia was relieved of his appointment because the

Inside The Glass House •Mikel

WITH AMINU MAIGARI

Not a bad start for Keshi Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, and not because he qualified and his team failed to reach the semi finals, as stated in his contract.

It is legitimate to be ambitious. A man without ambition is just another number, without any definite destination and certainly, without any desire for achievement. Perhaps, if Siasia had qualified the Super Eagles for the Cup of Nations and the team did well enough, even without getting to the semi finals, who knows what could have happened?

Someone suggested last week that the target set for Siasia was cynical? How, I ask? At the time Siasia was signing his contract, semi final-place at the African Cup of Nations by the Super Eagles was taken for granted. Reason: Before losing out of the race for the 2012 finals, Nigeria had failed to qualify for the semi finals of the African Cup of Nations only ONCE in 29 years. In 1982, as defending champions, the Green Eagles lost 0-3 to Zambia (yes, Zambia) after a 3-0 win over Ethiopia and 1-2 defeat by Algeria to crash out of the tournament in Libya.

In the following 28 years, it was only at the finals in 2008 in Ghana that the Eagles failed to get to the semi finals.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni put Nigeria ahead in the quarter finals against host Ghana in Accra but the Black Stars overturned it for a 2-1 win to send the Eagles home early.

In 1984, 22-year old Stephen Keshi led the team that reached the final of the African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, and Muda Lawal scored to put Nigeria ahead after only 10 minutes, only for

•Keshi

the more Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to turn the game around in the second half.

Two years later, Nigeria failed to qualify for the finals in Egypt.

In 1988, the Eagles reached the final in Morocco only to lose to Cameroon, again. In 1990, despite losing the opening match 1-5 to host Algeria and rampaging Rabah Madjer, Nigeria got to the final, this time losing by a respectable 0-1 to the same team.

In 1992, we won the bronze medal in Senegal, after beating Cameroon, and in 1994, the team captained by Stephen Keshi lifted the trophy in Tunisia.

The Eagles were not in South Africa in 1996 and were absent in Burkina Faso in 1998 both for political reasons. In 2000, as co-hosts with Ghana, Nigeria reached the final, though losing to Cameroon, again, on penalties.

At Mali 2002, Nigeria won the bronze medal at the expense of the host nation, and in 2004 in Tunisia, another bronze at the expense of Mali, again. In 2006 in Egypt, bronze against Senegal and in 2010, bronze after beating Algeria in a third place match in Benguela.

I have gone through the memory lane to show that no one meant any evil when it was included in Siasia’s contract to qualify for the African Cup of Nations and reach the semi finals.

And in the case of Stephen Keshi, qualification for the 2013 African Cup of Nations is absolute priority. After failing to qualify for the 2012 finals, even the Executive Committee would feel something is seriously wrong if we fail to make it to 2013.

And of course, qualification for the FIFA World Cup finals must be pursued with total seriousness and sense of purpose. After failing to qualify for Germany 2006, we made it to the 2010 finals on the last day and then failed to fly in South Africa. Nigerians want to see their team DO SOMETHING at the FIFA World Cup stage.

As I wrote last week, the Nigeria Football Federation has confidence in Stephen Keshi and hope he will do those things that are necessary to deliver. We will give all the support and assistance necessary and provide conducive environment. We will make the job easier for him through our co-operation and understanding. We will work together towards the same goal.

Keshi has achieved and led well as a player and I am impressed by what I saw in his first two matches. The Super Eagles showed spirit

and desire and played with renewed confidence against Botswana in Benin City, even though the goals failed to come. They created chances and were pushing upfield.

They were firm at the rear and showed no palpitations.

Against Zambia in Kaduna on Tuesday, the team did likewise. I was discussiing with a couple of media persons and I made it known how I felt about a couple of players. But we all agreed that if the Head Coach needed to take risks, to look at some players and make up his mind on them, that could only be done in a friendly match. And I am happy that at the end, Keshi himself said some players don’t deserve to be called into the Senior National Team of Nigeria.

At the same time, it means that Keshi now knows the players he will work with. And with the race to the 2013 African Nations Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals just by the door, we don’t have time to waste. We must get our acts together NOW and be focused on the challenges ahead.

Kenya, Namibia and Malawi have been confirmed as the Super Eagles’ opponents for the group phase contest of the African qualifying series for 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Nigeria Football Federation, Stephen Keshi and indeed all stakeholders must work together in the interest of the nation for us to make it a simple run as it looks.

Congrats, NPL I have to congratulate the Nigeria Premier League on the eventual end to what many have termed ‘the longest season in the world’. Now that it has ended, the NPL would be compelled to sit down with the NFF in order to ensure that this NEVER happens again.

And we also have to sit down and harmonize the different calendars in the interest of the Nigeria game I also congratulate the champions, Dolphin FC of Port Harcourt for their never-saydie spirit, even though the formal declaration of champions and relegated teams would come from the Annual General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation which comes up next month.

Sunshine Stars came so close, leading with one point into the last day, only to crash away to Kano Pillars while Dolphin FC won away to Bukola Babes in Ilorin.

That scenario going into the last day made it a breathtaking finale. We hope that next season would be even better.

NEXT WEEK: Fiesta in North Africa

West Brom banks on Osaze •Mikel eyes Liverpool match •Victor Moses tackles Aiyegbeni

A

FTER missing Nigeria's two international friendly matches against Botswana and Zambia due to knee injury, Osaze Odemwingie will return to West Brom starting line-up today against Bolton at The Hawthorns in the English Premier League.

The knee injury sidelined Osaze penultimate week in West Brom’s 3-0 defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates stadium.

West Brom coach, Roy Hodgson described the return of Osaze as timely as the Albions have not recorded any victory in the last two matches.

"Osaze has make progress so things look a lot brighter than they did two weeks ago," said Hodgson.

The Baggies, who sit 14th on the table, lost any momentum they had gained from a fourmatch unbeaten run after they suffered back-to-back losses at the hands of Liverpool and Arsenal.

And at Stamford Bridge tomorrow, Mikel Obi will either prove Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi right or wrong having refused to feature in the Nigeria international friendlies last week due to injury.

Keshi said he would be

By Bimbo Adesina disappointed if Mikel played for Chelsea tomorrow in the crucial match, but the Blues will be depending on the Nigeria midfielder against Liverpool.

Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge for the first time since their 5-3 defeat to Arsenal.

Chelsea and Liverpool are playing second-fiddle to the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United in this season's title race so far.

However, with three goals to his name, Yakubu Aiyegbeni who seem to have lost steam in the last few matches will aim to rebounce to give Blackburn the deserve victory as they face Wigan.

Wigan which also parades another Nigerian, Victor Moses, will see a firework as both teamstry to beat the relegation water.

Blackburn is in predicament, sitting one place and one point above their hosts with manager Steve Kean under increasing pressure to turn things around at Ewood Park.

Rovers have won just once this season in the league this season with seven defeats coming their way, leaving them second bottom and relegation looking a frightening possibility.

Ameobi returns for Newcastle

I

NJURED Newcastle striker, Shola Ameobi is set to feature his side in this weekend's cracker against top side, Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

With months on the sideline due to an hamstring problem, Ameobi will be fit for Newcastle as they face the biggest challenge to their undefeated start against the league leaders.

Alan Pardew's men have surprised all-comers with

their excellent start to the season, sitting third with 25 points from 11 matches.

A trip to Etihad Stadium on today provides them with a perfect opportunity to silence those critics, but they will have to do so against a red-hot City outfit.

City are the only other undefeated team in the Premier League, and they have won 10 of 11 to open up a five-point gap atop the table.

Olubanwo Fagbemi

On Sport Sport On SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

36

I

N Nigeria, being refined and called a Comrade has its vice. Some look at Comrades as street gangs looking for ways to enforce whatever they believe in. A comrade is looked upon as a bozo, who must flex muscles and appear macho. He must get the testosterone running to the point there is no stopping it.

Chairman of the Association of University Union [ASUU], Anthony Monye Emina is proving all these as balderdash. Emina as comrade is a man who won’t give anyone a grief. The man talks simply that even a dunce will understand him. Yet he is a man who will support that Universities are grounded if things are done abnormally.

Some say it’s hard to be humble when you are great. As ASUU boss at the University of Benin, Emina is great enough yet he’s got this image of happy go lucky, everybody’s guy. This could be reason he unexpectedly found himself on the golf course.

Dr. Monye-Emina, a lecturer of Economics and Statistics at Uniben over the years has been a Jack of all sports that could get him active. But not golf. At the time he loathed golf like sin.

Reason? At a point, and while on a working visit to Uganda and Pakistan, right from the view of the hotels he was lodging, he would see people

GOLFLINE

NTDC brings for WITH

Tony Akhigbe golflineintl@yahoo.com 08094863638

ASUU boss’ bold golf move on the golf course as early as 7 am. He would be thinking, with anger, what sort of sports could keep adults from jobs while idling some open fields, hitting around small balls. He felt this was insane and it must be a game for the idle-rich. He vowed to keep to his game of Snooker, no matter a fact that his wife, Sandra grumbled that Snooker was making him keep late hours.

Back to life in the Campus as a lecturer, to keep active, he joined in morning jogs around the Campus. In group of fellow joggers, he sauntered around the newly constructed golf course right on the grounds of the UBTH. The serenity, the entire greenery atmosphere of the course entranced him. So,

this is what the game was all about, he wondered aloud.

Breathing fresh in some great scenery while still exercising the body became more than he hoped for. He got sold immediately. It was here he knew why the game kept people on the courses in Uganda and Pakistan as early as 7 am.

“I joined immediately when I saw the beauty of the golf course”, Emina said. “I met the resident Professional, Victor Enaigbe on same day and had lessons lined up for me. That same I insisted that I hit some golf balls. The Pro offered me a Six-iron and I started hitting

balls well. I moved quickly in the game and I presently play off 17-Handicap. It’s great joy to be in the game”.

Well, Emina immediately brought his wife, Sandra into the game. Truth here is, the wife in no time I raised her game a shade better than that of her hubby. At the moment, the wife carts home trophies as there are tourneys. But this is okay with Emina. He says: “As far as the trophies come home, it’s okay with me. I don’t mind if my wife wins them all. She is something else. The way she moves up the ladder of the game is a surprise to me. She’s so good. The coaches at Edo Sports Council are eager to bring her in so she can represent the State at the next Sports Festival… even though she hails from Ebu, Delta State.

“I am considering winning gold medals at the Sports festival”, the mother of three girls and one boy said. “But I have not decided how I want to go about it. My kids are still very young and leaving them behind while on a golf mission could be tough. You know golf is a game of the mind. If your mind veers off, you are sure to score low. I could be away playing and my mind could be on my kids. It will affect the game. But I will give it a chance”.

Kaydees yearns for more tourneys

C

APTAIN of the Benin Golf Club, Kingsley Ehi Okunbor is already grinning from ear to ear that everything is set for the Oba Cup which will tee off on December 8.

This year’s Oba of Benin Cup will involve over 150 Professionals from across the country in a four-day battle. Some 250 amateurs will feature in a two-day event. The joy here is that the amateurs will have the opportunity of playing alongside the Pros in what is truly a Pro-Am. Access Bank and BGL Securities are sponsoring.

But one man that will not

rest until more tourneys get going is Okunbor, the spirit behind Kaydees, one of the biggest Eateries in Edo State.

“I want more tournaments”, Kaydees said. “It’s great the Oba of Benin will be huge. But we still want to host the Governors Cup and the Guiness Championship.

We shall do these tournaments before the year runs out. This will make our club not only the’home of golf’ in Nigeria but we must have surpassed other clubs given the number of tourneys we have played this year”.

Ekiti coming in roses

T

HE serene Ekiti Golf Club is presently making giant strides to fully join the league of great clubs in Nigeria.

The club, which for some years is short of tourneys to play, is now waking up in golf activities. The club had just seen through a Captain’s Day in honour of its Captain, Professor Femi Ajaja. And come next week, another tourney in honor of Chief Matthew Aderiye, who is celebrating his 70th birthday will play out.

To show that the club is set to toe the path to greatness, a new Green putting surface, on the 18th hole, has been constructed. This is courtesy of a Real Estate giant, Oludare Bello. The new Green, according to Bello is to showcase the beauty in a Green

to members who in turn can come up to help build the remaining eight Greens since the course is still a nine-hole affair.

Too true, the fortune of the Ekiti Golf Club has been changing since the big presence of Chief Afe Babalola, the spirit behind the Afe Babalola University which is on same road with the golf course.

Afe Babalola is just backing about every tourney and kitty in the club, but he is equally working on an arrangement where some 60 students of the University, in the first instance, will be taking golf lessons in the course.

“The is great”, says Professor Ajaja. “I mean this will afford the club some fund for further development of the course”.

•Kingsley Ehi Okunbor, Captain Benini Golf Club

Ghanians have landed IKE they often beat Nigeria in football, the men from Ghana are no longer staying on same page with their Nigerian golf counterparts. They now smack the best of our golfers without breaking much sweat.

Last week, and at the close of a N10 million tourney sponsored by the Senate President, David Mark, to officially open the newly constructed Green putting surfaces at his St. Marks course, Akpegede, Otukpo two professionals from Ghana, Emos Korblah and V. Torgay, walked away with the first and second prize monies before the Nigerian Pros could know what hit them.

Korblah, the ever enterprising ‘Cobra’ around

L

tournaments in Nigeria picked a champion’s cheque weighing a stunning N1.3 million.

Even though he could not make instant millionaires out of Nigerian Pros who featured in the event, David Mark offered to float more of such tourneys. As he put it… “Golf is the only passion I know”.

The golf crowd that besieged Otukpo for the event was quite stunning. So stunned at such huge crowd at the tourney, Benue governor, Gabriel Suswam announced that he would be sponsoring the governor Suswam Classic come early January next year.

This one, too, could come with some N10 million. And what a joyful trek into 2012 this could be for the professionals.

e-mail: deewalebf@yahoo.com

Nigeria: A football story

A

T different points in nationhood, almost every one of the officially recognised 33 sports in Nigeria produced celebrated individuals, but none enjoyed greater renown than football icons, past and present, late or living. From the 1945 hosting of the first official competition, the Governor’s Cup – later known as Football Association and then Challenge Cup in 1960 –, to the current neglect of local football for foreign football, the exploits of gifted players provided the core around which championship lore was woven.

The competition conferred star status on the country’s first selection of players known on a 1949 playing tour of the United Kingdom as the U.K. Tourists. In the years that followed, members of the group which included Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun, Dan Anyiam, Peter Anieke, Titus Okere, first national team captain Etim Henshaw and first goalkeeper Sam Ibiam helped kindle the combustible atmosphere that defined Challenge Cup confrontations. Among clubs successful in the first decades of competition were Marine, ECN, Lagos Railway, Ibadan Lions, Police, Enugu Rangers, IICC Shooting Stars and Sharks.

The opening of the 55, 000-capacity National Stadium, Surulere, in 1972 coincided with the push for international relevance. But the former national team fortress – Nigeria was unbeaten at ‘Sportcity’ until the Ghana/Nigeria 2000 Nations Cup final defeat to Cameroon – has since been replaced as home ground by the 60, 000-capacity Abuja National Stadium.

To ensure discovery of future talents, the defunct Academicals Cup competition or Manuwa Adebajo Cup was organised for secondary school students nationwide. Regular internationals at youth level soon joined existing contests that involved the men’s national team, initially named Red Devils.

A famous find of the period was schoolboy prodigy and consummate midfield maestro, Haruna Ilerika. The late ex-international and Stationery Stores great had for illustrious company Godwin Achebe, Sanni Mohammed, Tony ‘World 2’ Igwe, Sunday Oyarekhua, Victor Oduah and Kenneth Olayombo.

The schoolboys eventually transcended the Ghana-Nigeria West Coast rivalry to compete at world level. The achievements of Christ the King College, Onitsha and Sardauna Memorial College, Sokoto heralded successful participation, in the 80s, of teams from the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) in the Dana and Gothia Cup competitions.

When, therefore, the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) launched the Kodak/FIFA Under-16 World Cup in 1985 to stimulate youth football development among member countries, Nigeria made immediate impact. Its under-equipped but ambitious representatives stunned the world in Germany to bag Africa’s first World Cup title.

The Golden Eaglets, as they were soon known, finished runners-up in the next edition of the biennial championship in Russia before notching two more wins (Japan 1993 and South Korea 2007). Another second place finish was added at the edition held 2009 in Nigeria.

At Under-20 level, the national team twice claimed silver (Saudi Arabia 1989 and Holland 2005) in addition to bronze at the Russia 2005 edition. Long unbeaten in African competition, the Flying Eagles, however, suffered the misfortune of a two-year ban from FIFAorganised competition in 1989 due to age-discrepancies.

Many of the gems discovered at youth competitions gave impetus to the senior teams’ aim for international success. The national Under-23 team to the Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games was, for instance, an exceptional amalgam of talent across age categories. Dubbed Dream Team after the fashion of the star-studded, all-conquering American basketball team to the Barcelona ’92 Olympics, Nigeria’s group of stars led by Johannes Bonfrere was no less deserving of the nomenclature.

Before the Atlanta ’96 football gold crowned Nigeria’s football achievements, the Super Eagles squad successfully coached by Clemens Westerhof to the Tunisia ’94 Africa Nations Cup mesmerised the world with sumptuous skill at the USA ’94 World Cup finals. The nucleus of the team ranked 5th best in the world by FIFA in June 1994 and subsequently voted the most entertaining side at the World Cup ensured Nigeria again made the second round at the France ’98 Mundial.

In the team were gifted individuals Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba and Nwankwo Kanu – all past winners of the Confederation of African Football Player of the Year award – as well as skipper Stephen Keshi, Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi, Finidi George, Taribo West, Uche Okechukwu, Ben Iroha, Sunday Oliseh and Peter Rufai. They dominated African Elevens and would have achieved more but for a politically-induced CAF ban from the Nations Cup finals of 1996 and 1998.

But decline set in as players aged and retired over the last decade while the football federation grappled with administrative problems. Following the exit of the last of the ‘golden generation’ – Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha – the team strained to justify pedigree.

Fans have since struggled to reconcile today’s unimpressive lot in green with their more illustrious predecessors who threatened continental domination in the 70s before breaking through convincingly with the 1980 Nations Cup triumph. While Nigeria flaunts four silver and seven bronze medals beside the two Nations Cup successes since its first participation at Ghana 1963, arguably lessgifted but technically-astute Egypt boasts a record seven wins. Archrivals Cameroon and Ghana, each with four victories, are also rated higher.

With a bungled transition between old and new players as well as poor administration and player indiscipline, the Eagles crashed out of the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup finals in the first round and failed to qualify for the Germany 2006 World Cup finals. They staged a return to the prime competition at South Africa 2010 but managed to match the two losses and a draw recorded at the 2002 tournament following half-baked reform.

39

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

O

NE word will best de scribe this particular reader of my column.

Persistent. Yes, he sure was. Ordinarily, my published phone number is meant for sms only and when it rings, I do not pick; because it is on permanent vibration and I do not take it around with me. So, you can then imagine my surprise, when I saw fourty missed calls and about ten sms from the same number insisting that I pick this particular call. The caller went further to emotionally blackmail me by texting that my picking his call, will…save his life. Did that get my attention? Of course, the guy had succeeded in pressing my “mumu botton”. So I replied his text and told him when to call. Oh, he did call. And yes we spoke for like an hour! Below is a chequered detail of his call. (Rephrased of course).

Vera, “I have been reading you for about two years but never contributed since I’m not really the type that is patient enough to send texts. I have really thought this through and have decided that if anybody needed to hear my story, it had to be you. Before he continued, I sought his permission to publish this story, to which he answered in the affirmative.

He told me he was a widowed father of a five year old son. He said as at the time he lost his wife, his son was barely three year old. His late wife died during childbirth. He was quick to add that before his wife died, a prophet had told her not to travel to her country home whenever she became pregnant. A warning she ignored. She was in her first trimester of pregnancy when her mother called her up one night to intimate her that her father was very ill and sought to see her. Naturally, the first instinct was for her to quickly pack her things and head home to see her dad.

She followed that instinct. Her husband’s reminder that a prophet had warned her not to travel home with pregnancy fell on deaf ears. Her argument was that since the pregnancy was still in the early stage, no one would notice plus the fact that she could not ignore the wish of her dying father to see her before he passed on. He recalled with so much bitterness in his voice how he tried to stop her. At this point, he went blank; and I thought, perhaps his credit was exhausted; Dear Vera, We have read and heard severally of rape cases. Ladies and women need to be advised to limit their outings to only where the public can see them and save them in case some boys or men will want to be rabid! Ladies and women should avoid imagine that entering an enclosure with boys and men would still mean an ordinary love that would always be harmless. Generally,

or maybe the network was bad. To ascertain whether he was still at the other end of the line, I muttered a little ‘hello’ to the mouthpiece of my phone, he responded; apologizing that for a moment there that he was lost in thought.

With a quick assurance, he said he had enough airtime to last us for hours. And then he continued.

“You see, Vera, you women could be stubborn when you choose to be. My late wife, of blessed memory, was a very submissive wife, at a particular time, she was adamant. So, I had no choice but to drive her to the airport, to board the available flight to….”

“She came back home after one solid week. No, she was not sick, nor did she come back with any visible ailment.

“I was thankful for that; at that time.

“She came back saying that her father did not die after all; and that he was much better.

For that I was thankful too.”

So that my caller would know that I was still on the other end of the line, I asked him if this was why he called.

Not that it did not get my attention. A human life? Of course it did! Perhaps I was just trying to make conversation…Anyway, I thereafter urged him to continue. He did. “Long story short, my wife went into labour two months before she was due.

“The last time I saw her alive; was when she was being wheeled to the theatre.

“Two years after her death, I decided to succumb to pressure from my concerned aged mother, who was living with me at that time for the purpose of taking care of my mothersome boys and men could be potential rapists, many are indeed not.

Lanre Oseni Vera, rape is an offence.

Therefore a rapist can not be sued but charged. Also, a husband can not be guilty of raping his wife under Nigerian law. He can at best be charged with indecent assault or of wounding the wife but cer-

Vera, please… Stop me! less son; when I was at work.

My friends were equally concerned, and they all felt that it was time for me to move on.

Try my hands on another relationship. That was when I met Omotola (not her real name). I fell in love with her. (Or so, I thought). We were happy. She was a single mother of a four year old son. I thought to myself.

“Why not give my son and myself a sense of “stability?” so I proposed; six months after we met. She accepted my proposal.

Then we got married. Due to my busy schedule however, I had not gotten the time to relocate my mother from her present abode; which happens to be my home.

“My mother has been my pillar since I lost my first wife.

She encouraged me to come out of my mourning state, she took care of my son. Kept the home clean. Took my son to school, day in day out.

As a matter of fact, if not for pressure I was just okay; facing my job squarely and taking care of my mum and my son. But then came Omotola into our lives.

“The first year of our marriage was blissful, in fact till this day; I still wonder what went wrong. Omotola changed.

Overnight, she changed from the sweet, warm, loving woman I fell in love with to a female monster!

Her first attack was on my aged mother whom she completely banned from ‘her’ kitchen. She claimed that ‘my’ mother litters the kitchen after cooking and that there was no need for two women to be in

‘

Please stop me anyway you can if I attempt to go back to Omotola. Going back to her could mean my death. I am worried I might go back to her; but I assure you, it will not be of my own freewill

’

the kitchen. For peace sake, I was foolish enough to ask my mother to stop using the kitchen, just to please Omotola.

A kitchen my mother had cooked in for two years, after I lost my wife. She even lost her personal accommodation as a result of sacrificing her time for me and my son.

Omotola’s second attack came on my son, she started by forcing him to wash the bedspread whenever he urinated on it over the night. The fact that he was only five year-old did not deter her. Worse still, she made him wash those bedspreads before getting ready for school. Before you blame me for being a passive father, hear me out. I had severally tried to stop her monstrous act; but I reasoned that; if she were his mother, wouldn’t she have the right to discipline him as she should. Will she not feel slighted that I am trying to tell her how to run our home and our sons? So, I tried to look the other way, even at my own detriment.

“The fact that I looked the other way, even made things

sex every five minutes or when they see a woman why forcefully sleep with a woman after buying her food? Its called “love making” not sleeping with whoever. Men! Wake up!

she says that they at times go to a particular eatery that they are sure the “muguns” will always be around to buy them food. I cleverly educate her that it’s a bad behaviour, any woman who like ‘awuf’ can easily be raped.

Ade Moses, Lagos

Text messages Re: Are all men potential rapists? tainly not rape. However, when an order of judicial separation is in force and a husband proceeds to have forceful intercourse with his wife, he may be guilty of rape.

Please take note.

Vera, rape is alien in marriage legally speaking. A husband can

not be charged with raping his wife. So our Hadiza should cooperate with Fidel.

Barr. Moronkeji Not all men are rapists> The male tends to be over optimistic when interpreting the female. A woman with her curves and flesh all hanging out turns up at a man’s apartment for late night dinner. That is playing with fire. Do women have any ideal of the ache a man carries in his loins? However, there must be decorum on both sides (yes to a man’s money means yes to him). Until penetration, the woman has the right to say no. The honey pot in contention is hers. No no no can mean No. What would a man and woman be doing together in marriage if not sex? Hadiza overstated her case.

Aloysius Abuja.

I completely disagree with your article that all men are potential rapist. I am not one and will never be.

Peter

•Mr. & Mrs Olugbenga Ake during their wedding

worse. Omotola became more monstrous. She stopped giving my mother food. She stopped packaging food for my son’s lunch box; and put only water for him. Her son was better taken care of. In her stupid mind; she thought the entire marriage thing was about making only me happy. Give me sex. Give me food. Give me all the attention and then disregard my mother and my son. Severally I tried to caution her following which she would change for two or three days and then go back to her old ways. I finally had enough when a neighbour told me how my mother went without food for two whole days!. She did not tell me for fear that it would worsen the already tense atmosphere in the house.

“So, one nice morning, everybody had woken up, gotten dressed the went about their businesses. Omotola, my ‘tormentor’, this is how I would like to describe her; had gone to her working place as well. Unknown to her, I had paid for a three bedroom flat somewhere in the outskirt of Lagos. Paid for a self contained apartment for my mother. And that was how I relocated. I walked out of the disaster I once called marriage. Now, as to why I called…

At this point I was thinking, are you saying there is more…

Vera, Are you still there; yes, I responded changing the phone to my other ear since the previous one was getting a little hot.

I do not even know what or which was hot. The phone or my ear. My caller continued.

“I have moved on; away from that nightmare. I drive a very nice car now, my son, and

mother couldn’t but happier.

Problem is, I ran into Omotola recently. She was looking prettier than ever. The very reason I fell in love with her in the first place. (No wonder it has been established that the heart is not so smart). I have refused to give her my house address. I gave her my phone number though she has not stopped calling me since then, begging to come back to me. I also learnt that she located my mother’s place and has been pleading with her and sending emissaries to plead on her behalf. She says she has turned a new leaf.

She has even claimed that she is now a born again. I don’t know what to do. Foolishly I think I still have feelings for her. My mother has sworn never to have anything to do with her.

My mother’s stand is not even why I am calling. Omotola is not for me. Born again or not.

Now, I am beginning to have the feeling that she might resort to fetish means just to get me back. I know this because, unfortunately for her, she confided in a mutual friend of ours that she would do everything within her power to win me back. I then asked him, caller, how do you want me to come in? And these were his response. “Vera, please stop me anyway you can if I attempt to go back to Omotola. Going back to her could mean my death. I am worried I might go back to her; but I assure you, it will not be of my own freewill.”

The Omotola I know can not change. Stop me; Vera. Please!

My caller wants me to keep a tab on him for at least six months; to ensure that he does not reconcile with his estranged wife.

Readers, please tell me what you think?

Are all men potential rapists?

Yes, it the self control that differs! Men say they think of

Re: Are all men potential rapists? Hello Vera, Sex should be a mutual consenting act between a man and a woman. Any man that forces himself sexually on a lady is a rapist.

However, any lady sexually exploited by a man should take solace in the fact that irrespective of what has happened to her, she is a rose and a rose will always remain a rose and that she will always remain a flower in line with the song by Aretha Franklin.

Olumide Soyemi, Bariga My sister I agree with you a large extend that we men are potential rapist, yes over 80% men will do the act you painted in your article. But girl too should “never smell a food you can not eat.” If possible don’t take money, lunch, or anything from a man you can not friend.

Am over 50 years my last daughter told me a story. She’s a student in a university in this state

Men don’t care about the free lunch or dinner they offer to any person women inclusive.

The moment she accepted the thousands for her recharge cards from an almost strange man she became a target for exploitation by any means. She was supposed to reject the money politely. By accepting the money she equated herself with whores who stand about at night waiting for men and money. I thank you for your lucid writings.

Realistically speaking, I agree with your analysis on rape issue. Its only an illiterate he goat that thinks of raping a lady, truly women want to be loved and pampered before you accept our sexual advances either morally or otherwise, afterall you were formed from our ribs.It is just between convincing enough with romantic words.

Williams, Kad

40

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

For sweet Dame Patience

W

HY does my heart feel this happy? Could it be because some chance meetings turn out to offer some of the best memories of one’s life? Or could it be the personality of the special people you meet who touch your heart in the tenderest ways? It could be just the feeling of seeing love in its real form. If you have had the fortune of being where Her Excellency, Dame Patience Jonathan is, you’d feel as happy as I feel this moment. You feel you’re close to touching love in solid form. You’d feel you’re with your mother and you’d feel the warmth that comes with maternal affection. Of course, you would forget all the dread and protocol associated with being with the high and mighty. You may even forget that you’re with the First Lady of Nigeria. That is how lovely and how sweet Her Excellency, Dame Patience Jonathan is.

Over the years, I have been getting a lot of requests from people unable to pay either their school fees, medical bills or even buy gadgets for their trades and vocations. Yes, I have been blessed to have met a few people who rose to lend a hand to some of these people, but sometimes the help is never enough.

Some of you dear fans and readers of this column too have been quite helpful in reaching out to those who are less fortunate in the society every time I publish requests from such people here.

However, I have heard some unpleasant tales of girls especially being harassed by some of the very people who have offered to assist. That got me thinking of ways to protect our girls… our women and womanhood.

I must have been thinking aloud when somebody suggested a visit to the office of Women for Change Development Initiative, the women-friendly NGO of Her Excellency, Dame Patience Jonathan. Luckily, it is a walking distance from my abode in Wuye, Finance Quarters, Abuja.

The welcoming aura of the office and the smiles on the faces of the people in the office – from the gatemen to the secretary at the front office told me that these people must be working with (and not for) a very nice and happy person. I was so relaxed in that office that an outsider would probably think I was one of them.

The formal meeting with Her Excellency that I had anticipated dissolved immediately I saw the woman herself. Talk about simplicity, charm and warmth, she’s got it all. I felt like I was sharing some intimate gist with my long-lost favourite aunt or mother. The meeting was that sweet.

The good thing is that I have a lot of good news for Hearts readers who need different gadgets of trade sewing machines, wheelchairs and several good things to make many people happy as the New Year of 2012 draws near. Just buy The Nation newspapers on Saturday from this week on and keep the eight original copies of the Hearts with Adeola Agoro page. We’re working on the best ways to reach all of you from Lagos to Nassarawa to Onisha to Kutuweinji so you can benefit from life’s goodies… from Dame Patience Jonathan’s sweetness.

My mother wouldn’t tell me who my father is Aunty, please help me!! My name is Emeka, I was born in 1992. My mother had an affair with a Muslim man, which led to my existence. But my mother took me away from him and I grew up with my granny in Anambra but when I was growing up, people called me bastard and that made me feel bad. Whenever I ask my mother about my father, she changes the topic. I’m about entering the unive rsity and there ’s nobody to represent as my dad. My elder sister told me that my father wrote a letter then and named me Ahmed. Aunty please help me.

Dear Ahmed, your lack of proper identity must have given you a lot of headaches. Most young men want to identify with their fathers one way or the other, so it must really be painful that you don’t even know yours at all.

Your mother owes you a lot of explanations. She has to give you all the

missing links in her story. What really went wrong? Was the man married to another woman at that time and she had to take you away to avoid trouble? Did they have a bitter fight that made her vow never to allow him enjoy the joy of fatherhood over you? Were there issues of paternity?

These are all answers your mother must be willing to provide if she wants you to be a happy man.

It would have served you greater service if she had just simply said he had died rather than make you suffer. We must search for that man. Get his names and his address when they were together, his place of work and his vocation. I will publish the details for you. God help us find this man whether dead or alive.

N.B: If you’re reading this and the story sounds familiar, maybe your woman took your child away when you were living in Anambra or your brother/son has told you a similar story, please get in touch with me.

Thanks.

Re: My husband hasn’t made love to me for three years Let me add my own advice to this lady whose husband has not made love to her for 3 years. The man may have a different sexual orientation and only had the kids to ease family and societal pressures. Let her investigate – Frank, (08038000809).

•Dear Adeola, please kindly send that sex starved woman’s phone number to me. God bless you 07037783085.

P.S: What do you want to do with it her number o?!!! Pray with her or play with her? Please let us know.

I might do something terrible to my girl for dating other guys

Hi I’m Niyi by name, a student in his finals. I have been involved in a relationship with this girl for a year now and 6 months. During this time, I loved this girl to a height I never believed. I made sure I tried my best to do things to make her happy. I am not working but the little I had which I could have used in taking care of my pursuit; I gave to her just to make sure that she had something to hold on to. For some time now she has been keeping relationships aside ours - Bayo, Ayo and lots more Yet she still denies it. I’m scared because I’m beginning to hate her and if that fully sets in I might do something terrible to her.

Dear Niyi, I feel your pains but you must learn to inhale and exhale deeply when you’re angry. That way, you’re able to release some built-up tension and look at issues more objectively.

If your suspicion is right about this girl, then her love is for sale and the highest bidder gets it at any particular time. Get out of the group of guys bidding for her love, you don’t need it. Let her Bayo, Ayo and the rest take it from where you stopped.

DON’T do anything funny that will land you in jail, I beg. Just let her go; okay! You will find love in the most unlikely places and it will not be for sale. Good luck!

Hearts With Adeola Agoro E-mail: libranadeola@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 08023162609 Please Aunty Adeola, I’m a girl of 22 years and dating a guy of 27 years but I stay with my parents. I am still an underg raduate and I’m also working. When I close from school I go to my guy’s place and my parents are not happy with me because I usually get home late. Even my brothers and sister are not friendly to him and my guy finds it difficul t to unders tand. What should I do; should I jilt my guy because of my family?

Dear Undergraduate, you’re going to grow to become a woman one day and start raising your own family. Fast forward to that period in your life and try to consider yourself as the mother of a young woman as your daughter; would you offer her chocolates and a pat in the back when she comes back home late when you know because she has been with some guy instead of being at home?

Try to imagine what would be going on in the minds of these people who love you when they know you are with this guy. Of course, they know that he’s not telling you stories by moonlight. They

My parents are not happy with me because of my guy

know all the funny things you must be up to when you’re together till late in the night. They fear that he is getting the best of you when they’re not even sure he’s going to marry you. Maybe they’re not telling you some of their fears so I’m telling you now.

I wouldn’t know why your siblings are not friendly to him, but it’s your job to make them see the good in him (if any). He also has the responsibility to making them see him as a good guy.

I’m sure he doesn’t strike them as a fellow they can trust if he keeps you with him till late. You also need to create enough time for your family and have a balance between home, work and play.

You don’t have to jilt the guy just because your people do not like him yet.

If he’s good to you and you both love each other, it’ll be a waste to leave him but be responsible. That’s all you need.

My friend always asks my guy for money I’m a girl of 19 years and there’s this guy that I love so much. I want to know if I’m of age to go into a relationship because this guy wants to marry me in future so he is preserving me. Another problem is that one of my girlfriends is always asking him for money and I don’t know what to do to avoid problems - Queen Beauty- Aba. Dear Queen, at 19, you’re ripe enough to go into a relationship so far you know how to handle it. Thankfully, your guy seems to be serious with his no-sex approach to the relationship. At least that will make you feel he’s not just after your

body but your heart too.

I don’t know about this your friend asking your guy for money o. Is she trying to get his attention or what? Most times, girls who ask their friend’s boyfriends for money end up offering themselves on the altar of sex for such boys. And in your own case, you and the guy are not ‘doing’ yet, so she may want to play smart by giving him what he’s not getting from you.

Have a deep talk with this guy about how he should ignore friends of yours who ask him for money. Let him know you’re not too comfortable with him giving them money. Then try as much as possible to reduce your friend’s closeness to this guy.

That should work wonders for you.

I’m depressed because she won’t let me Good day, I’m 27 years guy. My break her virginity fiancée says she cannot have sex with me since the two years ago we have started a relationship because she’s from a highly religious family. And she told me that she is still a virgin and I told her that if she would not allow me to break the virginity, and discover that she is no longer a virgin when we get married that I would divorce her and she agreed, and I’m thinking of leaving her and look for another person. What can I do, please I need help, I’m been depressed.

You’re depressed because she hasn’t allowed you to ‘break’ her virginity. Please go on and get more depressed. Look at the word you used to describe what you intend to do to her – BREAK. Let me give you the synonyms of that word ‘break’; they are shatter, smash, rupture, sever

and destroy. Haba! You do not seem to mean well by the choice of your words alone.

I beg, leave her and go and do sex with those who will not give you hassles. Her virginity is her pride. Let her do with it what she wants to do with it. Pronto!

Lost contact Hi Adeola, please kindly help me reach out to my classmate who is currently schooling in Kaduna State, her name is Mary Oguntunyi, (aka Mary J Success) she can reach on: 08075731614, 08134960290, 07068348639 or my email rilkadrewaoJo@yahoo.com – from Rilwanu .K. Salifu.

I missed my period though I don’t do sex

•Hon Atobatele Olufemi Ajibola (middle) flanked by Hon Shile Ogundiyan (left) and Hon. Omolewu Bolanle during the swearing-in of Mushin Local Government legislators in Mushin, Lagos

Hello Aunty A, I have not seen my period for 3 months. I was raped at the age of 9, I am now 17, since then I haven’t slept with any man, not to even talk of being pregnant. I hope I am okay.

It is true that most women have between 11 and 13 menstrual periods each year but you may be different: You may have more or fewer.

Missed or irregular periods must be looked at in terms of what is normal for you.

Periods are often irregular during the first few years after menstruation starts. It may take several years for the hormones that control menstruation to reach a balance.

If you are not pregnant, other causes of missed or irregular periods include: Excessive weight loss or gain.

Although low body weight is a com-

mon cause of missed or irregular periods, obesity also can cause menstrual problems. Eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia. Emotional stress, illness, travel, problems with the pelvic organs , such as imperforate hymen, polycystic ovary syndrome may cause a missed period.

Other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, tuberculosis, liver disease, and diabetes can cause missed or irregular periods, although this is rare. However, if any of these diseases are present, you will usually have other symptoms besides menstrual irregularities.

If you’ve skipped a period, try to relax. Many women miss periods now and then. Since you’re not pregnant, chances are your cycle will return to normal next month. See a doctor.

&

LIFE

Society Profile

THE NATION, Saturday, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

f o e c i f f O s ' r o n r e gov wife is a y t i l i b i s n respo e l y t s e f i not a l , y d a L t s r i F a r a w K d e m h A a Omolew

SEE PAGES 44 & 45

STYLE Gossip Interviews

41

44 The wife of the Kwara State Governor and founder of Life Empowered Anchors Hope (LEAH) Charity Foundation, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, had a chat with select journalists in Ilorin, the state capital, during which she shed some light on her pet project. ADEKUNLE JIMOH was there.

Excerpts:

Office of governor’s wife is a y t i l i b i s n o p res e l y t s e f i l a not , y d a L t s r i F a r a w —K d e m h A a w e l o m O

W

HAT informed your recent decision to host some children from less- privileged homes for a Sallah party?

Apart from children from humble backgrounds, children of commissioners. permanent secretaries and directors general were also part of the party. We want children from humble backgrounds to see that they can be what they aspire to be. We also want the children of the supposedly fortunate to learn and appreciate where they have found themselves.

Some of the children would never have thought of visiting the Government House, not to talk of coming to felicitate there. We want to encourage their hard work, because one of the criteria used to invite them was to write to public schools to give us their best five pupils.

So it is also like a reward system for the good ones; that despite their poor back-

grounds, they are still striving to make the best of the situation.

We also wrote to Islamic organisations, which we have been collaborating with since the inception of the present administration, to come along with five recognised orphans each, to give them hope and tell them that their future is bright. When you empower life, it is hope for the future.

What is LEAH Charity Foundation all about?

The foundation is an NGO, and I am the founding trustee of LEAH. Our slogan is ‘touching lives’. Basically, that is what we do. We work in three core areas: health, education and social welfare. On health, we have the Omolewa Safe Motherhood Initiative, which is meant to combat infant and maternal mortality in Kwara State. This is a continuation of the efforts of my predecessor, Barrister (Mrs) Oluwatoyin Saraki, who is now working at the international

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

•Mrs. Ahmed

level.

Also, we do financial medical interventions like my predecessor did. This is a medical fund to foot the medical bills of indigent children who for one reason or the other cannot pay their hospital bills. It is called LEAH Medical Intervention Fund. On social welfare, I am doing a lot with widows, because I realise that this is a very vulnerable group. I’ve not really heard of a situation where in the budget, allocation is made for widows. And these are people who found themselves in that situation by fate and not by their own making. We are doing empowerment programmes for them.

This festive period, in our own little way, we gave money; fabrics and food items like rice, vegetable oil, tomato curry; something to celebrate with. Some of them didn’t even have the hope of something to give to their children for Sallah. The gesture touched them. And we did it across all the 16 local government areas. I asked all the chairpersons to nominate five certified widows from their localities. We also got our Islamic societies involved. The gesture will be replicated with Christians across the 16 councils in Kwara State come December.

We are also doing empowerment programmes to complement that of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in KWABES. In our own little way, we are working with companies. We have empowered 50 youths across the state in telecommunication business. The telecommunication company did the training for us, and with the support of Apex Micro-Finance Bank to finance them, we were able to successfully set up 50 of our youths. And from the report we are getting from the

bank, about 75 per cent of them have started refunding the revolving loan given to them.

In education, we are starting the Adopt a Child programme next year. We realised that education in Kwara is free, with free books, except the Parent-Teachers Association ( PTA) levies. We found that some children cannot afford the N500 PTA levy, school sandals and uniforms.

Thus, they are found on the streets. So, the LEAH Foundation, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, planned to get well-meaning Kwarans to adopt the children. The children may not necessarily be taken off their parents, but the people will adopt the educational needs of the children.

Another programme is LEAH Reading Club aimed at reviving the reading culture in our students who no longer read like we were doing during our time as students. We will start next year with 12 schools, four each from the three senatorial districts; two primary schools and two junior secondary schools. It will be an extra-curriculum thing, where we will provide books. We will also ask the wives of political office holders to go round schools to read to children to encourage them. I will read to them at the flag off.

We also do medical interventions in hospitals. We have paid for lots of surgeries, especially for children. We have lots of cancer patients and children whose mothers are sick and can’t breastfeed.

What are you doing to ensure quality health care in the rural areas?

We have a health programme called Clinic On Wheels. In fact, we need sponsors for drugs from pharmaceutical com-

‘

45

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

‘We seem to be following the trend that led to the civil war’

‘

It has been tough; quite tough.

Before I assumed office, I thought I knew how people were suffering.

But coming into office, I realised that I didn’t know or knew too little. That is where these people have found themselves; not that we are better of. We should constantly be reminded that we are just privileged by God

panies for the programme. There is an ambulance of drugs given to us by the First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan. What we are doing with it in Kwara State is that we have personnel, volunteers and those who believe in what we are doing. We go from one local government to the other, taking basic health to our people.

This is not the case of the sick looking for doctors. Here, it is doctors who go to look for the sick. We create awareness and sensitisation where we go to do minor preventive health issues like malaria, cough, HIV, and we give them referral to hospitals. We also do free eye screening. We give glasses. We will begin cataract operations in the first quarter of next year.

How do you manage to combine of-

’

ficial and domestic responsibilities as the wife of a governor?

It has been tough; quite tough. Before I assumed office, I thought I knew how people were suffering. But coming into office, I realised that I didn’t know or knew too little. That is where these people have found themselves; not that we are better of. We should constantly be reminded that we are just privileged by God. My philosophy is that whatever God blesses you with, it is not for you but for the people out there. And I must say that the quote given to me by my predecessor when she was handing over, which has been like a guide for me, is that the office of the wife of the governor is not a lifestyle but a responsibility.

Continued from Page 15 got a company grouped and decided to make me the OC. He said that Ironsi was coming to capture us and that we were rebels. Of course, in the Army, when they say get ready for war, you dare not tell anybody you are not going. What the hell are you? How dare you say no sir, I am not going? Of course, he has no time. The best he could do is to shoot you before you talk about anything.

So, you were conscripted into Nzeogu’s coup or what are you really trying to say?

Ah… I was appointed. In the Army, you cannot be conscripted. It is you civilians who call it so. In the Army, we go to anywhere we are commanded to.

Who told you where to go?

Nzeogu, of course!

Was he your Commanding Officer?

At that time, yes Where did he send you to?

To Jebba, to command the troops. Because, according to Nzeogu, Ironsi was coming to capture us in Kaduna and he was going to go through Jebba.

Why was Ironsi coming to capture you?

That we had committed a crime, plotting a coup.

But did you know of the crime you were alleged to have committed?

No. I was doing an exercise. That was what I thought. I was privileged to have participated in an exercise because we were supposed to go and demonstrate in Abeokuta.

Because he (Nzeogu) was organising an Army Captain’s type of combat course. He was going to use my company as a demonstration, so I must get some details ready.

You fought on the side of the federal troops in the civil war. What was your experience like?

I had acted for Shuwa in Tiv land in 1965 when he was going for a course. I was still a Captain and Shuwa was a Major. But he went on course in America. When Ironsi was killed, I was a Brigade Major. So, I knew what was happening, because as a Brigade Major, my major job was operations, not administration. It has two other arms, but I was heading war. So, I knew what was ahead since whatever came from the ends would reach me before I passed them on to Shuwa. He was the Brigade Commander.

Most correspondences would be passed to me and then I would pass them to him.

Of course, I cannot claim to see the mails before Shuwa, but you know practically it was so, because Clerks won’t go to Shuwa without passing through me. I got to my office latest 7 O’clock every day, and Shuwa was not expected to come to office till 8 am.

So, I would make sure the mails were arranged. And naturally, I would know what the mails contained before I passed them to him for his instructions.

Well, the war started on the 6th of July 1967 and the orders were given to us at 3 Battalion. We were supposed to strike at what you call start line, that is, at the same time when you cross certain imaginary lines. All the 3, one at Obodu, me in the centre, facing what you called the Biafra.

Then, Sule Apollos was at the Nsukka side.

My centre was Aleide (in today’s Benue State). I remember Buhari was my adjutant.

What rank was he then?

He was a Lieutenant and I was Major.

From the starting point, we were supposed to cross at the ‘H’ hour as it is called.

What does that mean?

It is an imaginary line where you are supposed to cross and all timings are taken from that point for the activities and other operations. So, I crossed my start line at 10 minutes past 6. But I understand the other two didn’t start until 10:30 in the morning.

What was the reason for that?

(Laughs) They had their own reasons. Incidentally, all of them are late so I would not…

Do you know where the first shot was fired during the civil war and who fired it?

I think so. I think we call him Gado Nasco.

Gado Nasco, who was supporting me, fired the shots. He retired as a Major General. He was in the artillery and that was, as it were, the signal. From there, others started firing.

Where was he?

He was in the artillery.

Where was his particular location?

Ah… we are not supposed to know. I don’t know. I did not even bother to know, because as long as I know, he was firing and

his shots were landing on my target.

Then, that was what was on my mind.

But he had to hide his own… Remember, my starting point was the Tiv land towards Ogoja, where the boundary of Nigeria and the so-called Biafra was.

What were your experiences in terms of suffering or otherwise during the war?

Well, I joined the Army to go wherever I was sent. I applied. In fact, I begged to apply. Then I got the job. How do I complain at the end of the day? But I do know that for six days, most of the soldiers in my battalion never pulled off their uniform, not to talk of bathing.

They were in the trenches?

Of course, with water inside too.

What about feeding?

Oh… I had no problem. Buhari fed us exceptionally well.

Was he responsible for feeding you?

He coordinated what was happening at the rear where the food was and where we were fighting.

He was of which corps?

Infantry. Both of us were infantry. But later S & T, and he worked with them.

But I met him as an infantry officer.

What was your worst moment during the war?

I did not have that advantage.

But you were at the forefront?

Yes! That was what I expected. I expected death and there was death. So, why would I complain about death?

So, you were expecting death?

Of course! That was why I said it was what I signed for. So, I cannot say I had any bad experience. And remember, we have people like Shuwa who were men among men.

Where did you draw your encouragement and strength from?

Of course, Shuwa commanded the sector and I commanded the battalion under Shuwa. The terminology at that time was something like area commander.

From your southern Kaduna area, who were the other officers that served with you during the war?

I remember the late Joshua Gin and, of course, the late Abdul Wya. Of course, we had at the time an officer who was junior to us, retired Major General Y.Y. Kure, who I told you is my cousin. But before I left the army, we started having people like Major General (Zamani) Lekwot. Then, after I left, we had people like Major General JI Bakut (retired).

What are your regrets generally about the Nigerian civil war?

My regret is what Lieutenant General Danjuma said some years back, even though I cannot remember the occasion.

He said he does not remember a country that fought two civil wars and still remained a country. The worst I hate to remember is that we are behaving as though we are going for a second civil war. The question now is that at the end of that second civil war, can we come out as one Nigeria for which we fought? And I think the chances are slim.

If we go for a second civil war, we will not come back as Nigeria. We will return as different countries, answering different names and whatever that might be. When people start behaving as if we did not learn any lesson from the civil war we fought, they are only preparing for another civil war. The truth of the matter now is that I am not happy. I do not know, may be I am not knowledgeable, but we seem to be following the trend that led to the civil war.

46

THE NATION, SATURDAY,FEBERUARY 19, 2011

Miss Venezuela crowned Miss World 2011

•Runnerup: Miss Puerto Rico, Amanda Victoria Vilanova Perez

•Runnerup: Miss HE 2011 edition of the Miss World Beauty PhilipPeagent, the 60th in the series, was held at the pines, Earls Court, London to celebrate its diamond Gwendoline Gaelle anniversary.

Sandrine It returned to the city where it all began last SunRuais day night. The first was held in London in 1951 during the Festival of Britain on the South Bank of the River Thames.

Miss Venezuela, Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colmenares, a lady who spent five years living and studying in a nunnery and once dreamed of becoming a Catholic sister (nun) was crowned Miss World 2011. She beat contestants from 113 countries to the coveted crown after impressing the judges in the categories of beach beauty, top model, talent, sports and beauty with a purpose - where the contestants must demonstrate involvement in a charity project.

Sarcos Colmenares, 21, one of 13 siblings, was orphaned at eight. Her life took a different direction, as she gained a degree in human resources and worked for a broadcasting company before becoming a beauty queen.

She was the favourite for the Miss World title during the competition, but reacted with delight and disbelief when she was announced the winner of the famous beauty pageant. Now she said she wants to use her title to help other people.

“Winning means everything to me and I hope to take advantage of being a winner in a productive manner. I am unbelievably happy to have won and there are some incredible girls. I first and foremost want to help people in need. I would like to help people like me. I am an orphan. I would also like to help the elderly and troubled teenagers. As many people as I can.Unfortunately I lost both my parents at a very young age which led me to study for five years in a nunnery. I spent my five years in there and my dream was to become a nun.’ said Sarcos Colmenares Runner-up prizes went to Miss Philippines and Miss Puerto Rico, and Nigeria’s representative and current Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MGBN) ,Sylvia Nduka, failed to make the list of top 30 contestants.

But throughout its 60-year history, the beauty competition has attracted critics as well as fans.This year was no different and campaign groups, includ- •Miss ing London Feminist Network, Object and UK South Feminista, voiced their opposition to the “sexist con- Africa test”. A statement on the London Feminist Network Bokang website rallied women to join a protest they held at Ramaredi Montjane Earls Court, while the competition was taking place. looking A statement on their website said: ”Let the organis- stunning ers and all those profiting from the event know that in her we are all angry that such an event is once again yellow gown being held here in London.”

T

•Representing the UK:Miss England, Alize Mounter, made it into the top seven

47

THE NATION, SATURDAY,FEBERUARY 19, 2011

Chanderlies beauty!

T

HE renaissance of these classic wide range of earrings, which are elegant with many sparkles which can certainly guarantee ease and absolute comfort to the woman, cannot be overlooked. Whether you are a corporate executive or a housewife, you need to be

Blessing OGHIATOR enfolded in the comfort of a genuine jewellery accessory which can offer you only the best in terms of quality, elegance and practicality.

Chanderliers earrings are one of the most important wardrobe accessory you can own.

•Stella Damasus

Versace to do couture show Versace is back on the couture

calendar for the first time in eight years.

According to a one-line press release from the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, the fashion house will show on January 23 in the schedule’s first time slot.

Although Versace hasn’t shown couture since 2004, choosing instead to do still-life presentations — meaning no models were used for sitting editors only or buyers.

More on Mary Katrantzou’s new collection for Topshop Twitpics showing a look from the line broke online last week.

Grazia now reports that the spring 2012 one-off collection will include fourteen pieces, all available to buy next February as part of the store’s ten-year anniversary of its NEWGEN sponsorship programme for young designers.

48 Hon. Nathaniel Agunbiade is the lawmaker representing Obokun/ Oriade (Ijesa North) Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) legislator speaks with DAMISI OJO about his recent victory at the Appeal Court in Akure, the spate of insecurity and proposed removal of the subsidy on oil, among other issues.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER19, 2011

Insecurity: I would have fired the service chiefs if I were Jonathan — Osun Rep, Agunbiade

,

If I were in his shoes, if only to serve as a deterrent, there should be a change of guards. Let him remove all the service chiefs, because I cannot comprehend how my Defence Chief would tell me he cannot guarantee my personal safety and I will take that from him as President...

,

T

HE spate of insecurity in Nigeria at present is alarming, especially the bombings by the Boko Haram Islamic sect. As a federal lawmaker, what is your take on this?

The situation where we are today, particularly the issue of insecurity in Nigeria, is artificial. It is manmade in the sense that it is our people who are deliberately bringing insecurity to Nigeria. The issue of terrorism was hitherto unknown to Nigerians. In a situation where we now see Nigerians engaging in suicide bombing, one begins to wonder what Nigeria is now turning into.

Is it because of poverty? Is it because of lack of education? I would say no. Insecurity has largely been caused by politics and politicians.

What do I mean? These people, particularly in the North, live among us, and they have politicians as their godfathers. Until they see reason as to why Nigeria should know peace, as to why Nigeria should not turn into Afghanistan or become another Libya, we will not know peace.

Some people have blamed President Goodluck Jonathan for insensitivity on the issue of insecurity, but I won’t blame him. He stays in Abuja and he has security chiefs.

The only area I may blame the President is why he is still keeping his service chiefs. If I were in his shoes, if only to serve as a deterrent, there should be a change of guards. Let him remove all the service chiefs, because I cannot comprehend how my Defence Chief would tell me he cannot guarantee my personal safety and I will take that from him as President.

In the first place, his duty is to provide security. The moment you tell me you cannot guarantee security, he has failed. The honourable thing is for him to resign his job.

Even up till now, we have not heard that he has been queried. We have not heard that the President is thinking of reshuffling the position.

Until President Jonathan puts his feet on ground and let the entire world know that he is in charge, I doubt if there will be peace in Nigeria.

Recently, the Senate exposed the dwindling finances of many states. What do you consider the recipe to the problem?

The only solution is true federalism. Financial crisis is the daughter, the son and everything due to lack of true federalism. If we oper-

•Hon. Agunbiade

ate federalism as ACN has been canvassing since we commenced the Seventh Assembly, the reverse would have been the case today.

The Federal Government has no business in certain areas of government. How could Jonathan sit down in Abuja and know what the people in my constituency (Obokun/ Oriade) want in terms of agriculture? It is only state and local governments that could handle that.

There is lopsidedness in revenue allocation and revenue sharing in this country, and until all those are seriously addressed, states will continue to go bankrupt. More than 80 or 90 per cent of the money taken from the federal purse are used for the payment of salaries alone, without money to develop infrastructure.

I thank God that when the CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) was categorising states, my own state (Osun) was not among the financially sick states. That tells you the enormous work of our govenor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, is doing here. It is not that we have money in Osun. But we are not poor. That is what my governor would say. If Nigeria returns to true federalism, there would not be paucity of money in all the states. A situation where a state in the oil producing area takes about 10 times what my own state takes is unfair.

Osun State has more schools than Bayelsa. It has more teachers than you have in Rivers State. But because of one indices or the other, they are paid more than Osun col-

lects from the Federation Account.

Apart from that, the Federal Government takes more than half of the revenue. What we are clamouring for is complete review of the whole system in favour of states.

Give more money to the states to do what is required for a whole lot of people and the local governments councils which are closer to the people will also benefit. This has been the bane of development in the state.

There is widespread apprehension over the proposed removal of oil subsidy. What is the position of the National Assembly on this?

I tell you, I am one of those who believe that the day the removal of oil subsidy is ratified, it will be a declaration of war against the masses. No sane person will support the removal of oil subsidy, and that is why ACN members in the National Assembly are resisting it.

Remove oil subsidy and set fire on Nigeria.

I remember between 1986 and 1989 when Babangida was in government, a litre of petrol sold for as little as N3.25k. In those days, they told us there was subsidy. When it was increased from N3.25k to N7 or N6.50k, they still said there was oil subsidy. Today, when the product is being sold for N65, they still say there is oil subsidy. It is my fervent belief that there is no oil subsidy anywhere in Nigeria. They are not subsidising oil in whatever form.

Do not forget, we are one of the largest producers of petrol. I can-

not comprehend why till date, Nigeria will continue to import oil. Let them put all the refineries in shape.

It doesn’t have to be gigantic. With small refineries here and there, we will bring sanity into the system.

In some oil producing companies, they do not even sell petrol. In Libya before the war, I can say categorically that petrol and petroleum products were sold at a give-away price. You have a designation and a voucher with which you take it free of charge. This is because they produce oil. Here in Nigeria, we produce oil, yet we cannot see the oil. So, I will say no to removal of oil subsidy. And this is not just my personal view; it is the position of my party.

Recently, your election was upheld at the Appeal Court, Akure, against the petition filed by your predecessor and PDP candidate, Hon. Wole Oke. What should your constituents expect from you now that the dust has settled?

During the electioneering campaign, we told the entire populace in Obokun and Oriade Federal Constituency that ours will be a different style from that of the PDP and that we would not donate vehicles to individuals; that what we are going to do is to embark on projects that will be beneficial to the generality of our people. Just this morning, we were coming from OwenaIjesa, where I went to see the site where I will construct a borehole to cater for the entire people in the community.

These are some of the things we

have arranged for them. I had over 2,100 votes from the area. Will I be able to distribute over 2000 Tokunbo and new cars? And those were the people who voted for us. So, having been elected, those people who voted for us and those who voted against us are all my people. I have to take care of all my constituents.

In Oriade and Obokun Federal Constituency alone, we have more than 60,000 registered voters. These are people we want to take care of.

I don’t know where I will get the resources to buy and distribute over 60,000 cars, motorcycles, freezers, etc. What I have tried to do, for example, a few minutes ago, the principal of Erinmo Grammar School came here. We are engaging private teachers who are being paid from my own pocket to take care of students in Mathematics and English language.

These are the things we believe we should do to touch every home rather than highlighting one or two people to enrich them at the expense of many others. Definitely, I am not going to do that. I have told my party people that this recent Sallah and during the last Ramadan festival, what we did for our Muslim brothers was for everybody. And when it is Christmas time, we will also take care of our Christian brothers. So, everybody in this constituency will enjoy the dividends of democracy without discrimination.

Distributing cars to individuals has no effect on the development of the constituency. Most of those who were lucky to get car gifts during my predecessor’s era are now finding it extremely difficult to maintain them because of financial constraints. Rather than do that, I will empower people and provide visible projects and infrastructure that will transform the constituency and the generality of its people, God helping me.

What is your advice to the people of Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency?

They should continue to maintain peace and support the present administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, which is ready to transform the state in all facets of life. This is a progressive government that will impact positively on the lives of the people across the state.

49

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

•Top and bottom: Views of the beach resort

Suntan: Basking in neglect T

HERE are a few places the world over that boast of tourist endowments like the Badagry waterfronts. It is a mix-mash of blue ocean, white sandy beach and rows of coconut trees that eternally sway to the gentle caress of the ocean current. That there is little or no development in terms of resort and other leisure outlets speaks so much about Nigeria’s lack of recognition for nature’s endowment and how to make effective use of it. This manifests in the Suntan Beach , Badagry , Lagos.

More than a decade ago when the beach resort was first developed, it was the iconic symbol of Badagry’s natural tourism endowment. A weekend was not complete without a trip to the beach resort. Promoters jostled to hold events at the beach as they were sure of a large turnout of visitors weekly.

As a beach resort, what are its unique selling points: Wonderful beach with unpolluted ocean water; an environment generally peaceful except for the distant noise of vehicles. There are also picturesque rows of cocoanut trees. Just beside the ocean shore are more than 20 huts built for people to sit and enjoy the view and feel of the sea.

The accommodation is nothing to write home about. Ordi-

narily, Suntan ought to derive steady patronage from the tourist traffic of both Benin Republic and Nigeria being strategically located.

It is surprising that in Badagry, not much can be written about in terms of decent accommodation facilities, except maybe the Lagos Civil Service Resort and the ASCON, Badagry.

During the recently held grand finale of the Olokun Festival at the Suntan Beach, one had the opportunity for a close view of the resort.

Initially with one or two constructions at the entrance of the Suntan, one thought that finally the owners of the beach resort said to be the local government had woken up to the realization of the full potential of the place when fully developed. But it was an expectation dashed on entering the beach. Apart from the reconstruction of some of the sitting huts beside the ocean, there has not been any meaningful development on the beach. All around are decayed facilities that need urgent attention. The place is definitely not inviting for an overnight stay. Yet a resort can come better endowed.

Due to the poor condition of the resort, major leisure or tourism activities are hardly held there. The resort currently depends on the annual Olokun Festival, organized by the Olokun Foundation, for publicity and relevance.

Suntan Beach is a classical example of why many tourism indus-

try practitioners argue that government should not go into the business, but simply create the enabling environment for tourism to thrive. It is easy to argue that the traffic gridlock in Okokomaiko, a Lagos suburb, is a disincentive to visiting the tourist sites in Badagry like the Suntan Beach, but that may not be tenable, considering the fact that a resort like the Whispering Palms Resort and an

older privately owned resort far removed from the road is still doing well, then one wonders why in the case of Suntan Beach, the reverse is case.

The local government should be bold enough to develop the tourism in Badagry . The first step is to either sell off the resort to a reputable hospitality group with track records or dispassionately engage the services of a top hospitality management group, either local or international, to take over and manage the

place effectively. The idea of using the resort as a kind token to close allies with little or no record of how to mange and develop a resort is a disservice to the people of Badagry.

The natural endowment of Badagry like the Suntan Beach resort should not be allowed to continue to waste away. Something should be done about the place. For now, one can’t recommend the resort for an overnight stay.

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THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

Imoke unveils 2011 Carnival Calabar theme

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OVERNOR Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has unveiled the 2011 Carnival Calabar theme at the International Conference Centre, Abuja .

While unveiling the theme “Endless Possibilities”, at a ceremony tagged “ A Glimpse of Destination Cross River”, Governor Imoke described as “tedious and tasking finding a suitable theme for the carnival because it is more than dance, costume and regulations exercise as each has been a difficult job because the latest does not reflect the previous ones.”

The governor said that each of the five carnival bands were guided by the theme and were expected to work hard to interpret it into dance, float and costume as it affected the people and the future, adding that it was distinct that participants should key into the opportunities provided because the carnival had grown in leaps and bounds.

He explained that in this year’s festival of 32 days of well-packaged events, everything would be put in place to ensure that it grows bigger and better than the previous editions, as it is driven by the visions shown a few years ago which have now attracted world recognition, while commending the immediate past gover-

nor of the state, Mr. Donald Duke, for initiating the project.

He said the unveiling ceremony was only a tip of the iceberg as more awaits those that intend to visit Cross River State in December, assuring that it will be “nerve raking and tasking”.

Minister of Culture, Tourism and Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke, in his goodwill message, commended the state for refining tourism as an enterprise because it drives the third largest economy after agriculture and banking, while thanking Governor Imoke for his creativity, courage and commitment which are reflections of a viable vision, adding that tourism employs about 200 million people in the world with low entry barrier in terms of academic qualification, but has the potential of placing food on the table of many families.

Chief Duke, who said Cross River State has introduced a new lexion in Nigeria ’s tourism programme by initiating Carnival Calabar, noted that the carnival should not be viewed as dancing and glamour, but a sector that can contribute to the nation’s GDP because it has the capacity of turning a poor man into a rich man.

He reasoned that the time has come for other governors to queue behind Governor Imoke as the future of

L-R: Minister of Tourism, Culture and Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke; Cross River State Governor, Sen. Liyel Imoke, and wife, Obioma, at the launch of “A Glimpse of Cross River” in Abuja recently Nigeria’s tourism development “starts from today,” while urging theatre performers in Abuja to emulate the wife of Cross River State Governor, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke ,by initiating social activities that will keep the International Conference Centre busy with entertainment as a way of promoting tourism.

The minister further enjoined Nigerians to find a way of being in Calabar in December to participate in the Cala-

Kehinde FALODE: 08023689894

Yorkshire pudding recipe

bar Festival, especially Carnival Calabar because of its attractions.

Mrs. Liyel Imoke, while presenting her pet programme, “Breath of Life”, solicited for funds to enable her procure vaccines to save the lives of children suffering from pneumonia because currently, 467,000 children suffer from the life threatening ailment, stressing that it kills more children than any other known diseases like malaria and AIDS.

According to her, Pfizer has promised to donate vaccines worth millions of naira as support, while the launching of the project is scheduled for November 12, adding that the launching was keyed into the programme because of her passion for children.

Mrs. Liyel Imoke disclosed that her other pet programme,“Mother Against Child Abandonment(MACA),”

Chocolate mug milkshake

The texture of a Yorkshire pudding is nothing like a pudding in the modern sense of the word. Not custard, it’s more like a cross between a soufflé and a cheese puff (without the cheese) served alongside a beef roast.

Yorkshire pudding is traditionally made in one or rather the in a muffin tin or popover pan.

Ingredients •1 cup flour •1/2 teaspoon salt •1 cup milk •2 Tbsp melted butter •2 eggs, beaten •2-4 Tbsp of roast drippings Preparation •Sift together the flour and salt in a large bowl. Form a well in the

centre. Add the milk, melted butter and eggs and beat until the batter is completely smooth (no lumps), the consistency of whipping cream. Leave for like an hour.

•Heatoven to 450°F. Add roast drippings to a casserole dish, coating the bottom of the dish. Heat the dish in the oven for 10 minutes.

•For a popover version ,you can use a popover pan or a muffin pan, putting at least a teaspoon of drippings in the bottom of each well and place in oven for just a couple minutes.

•Carefully pour the batter into the pan (or the wells of muffin/popover pans, filling just 1/3 full), once the pan is hot. Cook for 15 minutes at 450°F, then reduce the heat to 350°F and cook for 15 to 20 more minutes, until puffy and golden brown.

•Cut into squares to serve. If you double the recipe, add an extra egg to the batter.

Continued on Page 51

Health and nutritional benefits of milk Milk is an unavoidable part of human diet. It provides minerals, protein, fat, carbohydrate and vitamins. So it is also known as a complete diet. It is recommended that every human being should consume a certain amount of milk for fulfilling their nutritional deficits. Milk can be consumed either as a drink or in the form of milk-derivates like dairy products.

Its benefits include good bone health, smooth skin, strong immune system, prevention of illnesses, such as hypertension, dental decay, dehydration, respiratory problems, obesity, osteoporosis and even some forms of cancer. The beneficial health nutrients obtained from milk are mandatory for human body and help in the prevention of chronic ailments.

Healthy teeth: Encouraging children and youngsters to drink milk would give them excellent dental health, as milk protects the

Foluke ADEMOLA

has saved the lives of over 150 abandoned babies while 200 children are being accommodated in a home at the Destiny Child Centre, adding that 80 young pregnant girls have been taken off the streets because their families do not want to do anything with them.

She further explained that the Carnival Calabar Queen has gone round the state to

This is a nice chocolate drink, good for both the young and the old.

It replenishes the body and gives good vitality. It can be taken during the day or at night after meals.

Ingredients •4 cups chocolate ice cream •2 cups milk •1/4 cup brown sugar •1/4 cup white sugar •1/4 cup ground cinnamon Directions •In a blender, combine ice cream, milk, brown sugar, white sugar and cinnamon.

•Blend together until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve either hot or cold.

enamel surface against acidic substances.

Drinking milk for energy and health would dissuade children from consuming soft drinks, thus reducing the risk of decayed teeth and weak gums.

Calcium: Milk is the best source of calcium supply to our body.

Calcium protects the body from major chronic ailments such as cancerous chemicals, bone loss, arthritic condition, migraine headaches, premenstrual syndrome and obesity in children and aids in losing unwanted fats.

Rehydration: Fluids are an integral part of human body. The body needs to be replenished with liquids at regular intervals. It is very essential for growing

children and they must drink at least six to eight glasses of fluid every day. Milk contains a good quantity of water molecules and is considered the best fluid for rehydration.

Improving diet and vitamin intake: According to medical research, drinking milk considerably improves our intakes of vital minerals and vitamins. A man who consumes a carton of whole milk doubles his chances of fulfilling calcium requirement per day, whereas, another person consuming a can of fizzy or carbonated drink may in reality lower his calcium levels by one third per cent.

Healthy bones: Milk is rich in calcium which is very essential for growth and proper development of strong bone structure. Bone disorders such as osteoporosis can be prevented with daily intake of adequate quantity of milk.

Children deprived of cow milk have an increased chance of bone fractures when injured.

Acidity reduction: Consumption of milk products can also help in reducing acidity.

Wholesome food: It contains a whole lot of vitamins and minerals to keep you fit, healthy and strong. A glassful of milk contains vitamin A & B for good eyesight and increasing RBC count, carbohydrates for vitality and energy, potassium for proper nerve function, magnesium for muscular function, phosphorous for energy release, protein for body repair and growth.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

Save the North for tourism —Amachree

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NE of the pioneer tour ism industry practitio ners and former President of the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), Alabo Mike Amachree, has called on top northen elders to, as a matter of urgency, wade into the current Boko Haram crisis to end it as it is killing the tourism industry in the North.

Amachree lamented that a lot of effort has been put in by tourism practitioners in the country to encourage development of the sector in the north and that all these are becoming a waste with the activities of Boko Haram.

He said: “The northern states are very much well endowed with many tourist attractions and sites. Before the present political era, during the military era, tourism was more practised in the North than the South.

“Places like Jos, Kano and Bauchi very much focused on tourism more than what obtained in the south. Then, when visitors arrived Nigeria through Lagos , they always travelled to the North to see out tourist endowments. So, because of that, we feel that the current Boko

Haram crisis is a big blow to the North, if something is not urgently done to solve it. The northerners should themselves look into this. They should realize that it is a danger to their economic wellbeing.

For instance, when I was the president of the ATPN, I took part in several tourism programmes in the North.

“During the Plateau State tourism development fund launching, I was part of the organizing committee.

General Ibrahim Babangida was the military president of Nigeria at that time and General Yakubu Gowon chaired the occasion. We visited Bauchi with my association members to inspect their tourism endowments. It was then we discovered that the late Alhaji Tafawa Balewa cenotaph in Bauchi was attracting tourists. We went to the town in company with personnel from the state tourism ministry to invite craftsman to come and exhibit and sell their crafts there. “ In Kano , we went to the Emir of Kano , Alhaji Ado Bayero, and discussed how his palace could be opened

•Alabo Amachree to foreign tourists. He was very happy with it. When we saw the change of guards in his palace by the horsemen, it was a fantastic sight, something that could lure tourists to visit.

The activities of the horseriders whenever the emir was coming in or going out was another fantastic thing.

We told the emir these were things the tourists would want to see to appreciate our rich culture.

“Places like the Yankari National Park and others are some of the places that are making tourism in the north to boom. So, I personally have interest in promoting tourism in the North.

“Now with the activities of Boko Haram, I, as a tourist, would have fear and misgivings about going to the north for touristic reasons. Practitioners are finding it difficult to package tourists to that place.

We practitioners will not want to take any tourist there. Anything can happen to them and also happen to us. When we look at it and see that it is not safe, we will not go there. “ So, I am using this opportunity to call on northern leaders like General Babangida, General Mohammadu Buhari and General Gowon to join hands with President Goodluck Jonathan ‘s administration to put an end to this crisis. I am pleading with them to fight this menace because it is affecting the north very negatively. I am saying this because I am a tourism practitioner.”

Imoke unveils 2011 Carnival Calabar theme Continued from Page 50 counsel young girls to abstain from casual sex, as the pageant is not only about beauty, but brain, while commending her husband for the assistance and support given to the project.

The Special Adviser, Events Management, Mr. Nzan Ogbe, in an opening remark, described the Calabar Festival under the state’s tourism development thrust as a brand new industry that creates jobs, wealth and skill for the people as a culmination of events because it is not only to entertain, but also educate and has grown bigger by the year.

Mr. Ogbe described it as one of the biggest branding events initiated by any Nigerian government and commended Governor Imoke for not just keeping it going, but also developing upon it to include other activities

•Prize presentations to 2010 winners A representative of First Bank, Mr. Uke, representing sponsors of the festival, said it has been in partnership with the state tourism commission in the past four years, while the relationship between the state and

•Cape Town

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HE executive committee of the World Council of May ors, a body made of more than 22,000 members, will be having its meeting in Nigeria next month. In a release signed by the Mayor of District Heights, Maryland, the United States of America who is the Vice President of the body, part of the activities for the conference is the election of officers of the body.

The meeting, scheduled to last for a week, will involve a lot of activities. According to Mayor Walls, among the activities for the meeting is the a “roundtable talk about good governance, trust, trade, tourism, technology transfer, training, twin city, treasury and women. During this meeting, we will be looking to foster an educational MOU between a USA university and Lagos State University and an MOU between the Prince George County Board of Education and Lagos State Ministry of Education.”

Towards making a success of this event, the organizing committee has swung into action in putting in place logistics and other relevant structures that need to be in place before meeting.

According to the local organizing committee, the meeting of the World Council of Mayors’ executive board in Nigeria has once again offered the nation the opportunity to not only show how secured the country is,but also to showcase the vast tourism assets of the country. And that some West African countries like Senegal and a few others, through the World Council of Mayors, have drawn huge economic, social an educational benefits to the country, not to talk of the opportunity to showcase their tourism potential to the world.

Maximus Air, Lufthansa expand scope of cooperation

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AXIMUS Air, UAE’s all-cargo airline, and Lufthansa Technik AG are now expanding their cooperation for the airline’s existing contract for component supply from Lufthansa Technik.

The cooperation has been extended by five years, and new aircraft have been added. In addition, Lufthansa Technik will carry out line maintenance in Europe for Maximus Air’s airbus A300-600 freighters.

Maximus Air has had a Total Component Support TCS contract for four years for the carrier’s current two A300-600 freighters. This agreement has now been expanded to include three more freighters being added to the fleet, and simultaneously extended to cover all five aircraft through 2016. At the same time, Maximus Air has commissioned Lufthansa Technik with line maintenance and A and C-checks in Leipzig and Brussels .

“The relationship we have enjoyed with Lufthansa Technik over recent years has been integral to our success . We are, therefore, pleased to expand this close cooperation to cover our growing fleet,” said Fathi Hilal Buhazza, President and CEO Maximus Air.t of a dedicated maintenance provider ensures optimum availability of our aricraft at all times and the shortest response times in case of issues which in turn allows us to maintain the reliable, high quality service for which we have become renowned.”

SUDOKU the bank dates back to 1900, which precedes Nigeria as a nation, noting that as a big bank, it sees the programme as a catalyst for social engineering as well a support for the youth to show talents.

The bank, which currently

has 14 branches in the state, stated that the event goes beyond tourism as the state has today become the biggest investment destination in the country and it thanked Governor Imoke for giving them the opportunity to partner in the programme.

Table Mountain gets new status

ABLE Mountain is a New 7 Wonder of Nature, fol lowing the official announcement on Friday, November 11.

“We are very, very excited about this win! From being awarded the World Design Capital 2014 designation just a few weeks ago to Table Mountain being named one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature , Cape Town and South Africa are standing proud,” said Cape Town Tourism

51 World Council of Mayors storms Nigeria

CEO, Mariëtte Du ToitHelmbold.

Having initially been chosen as one of 440 candidates in 2009, Table Mountain attracted millions of votes from around the world before voting closed on Friday.

The New7Wonders of Nature are the Amazon, Halong Bay , Iguazu Falls , Jeju Island , Komodo, the Puerto Princesa Underground River and Table

Mountain .

In Cape Town , a crowd gathered at the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre for the official announcement. There were huge celebrations when Sabine Lehmann, CEO of the Table Mountain Cableway, read out the results in alphabetical order.

Table Mountain ’s campaign was promoted by various celebrities, including Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Hollywood actor, Blair Underwood and the Springbok Rugby Team.

A survey by respected accounting firm, Grant Thornton, forecasts a R1.4-billion annual boost to the South African economy, as well as the creation of 11 000 jobs in the next five years.

Table Mountain , which is about 360-million years old, is one of the world’s oldest mountains.It is an iconic landmark for many reasons. Of all the final 28 contenders for the New7Wonders of Nature, it was the most accessible, just 20

minutes’ drive from Cape Town International Airport .

The Table Mountain Cableway, established in 1929, has taken more than 21-million visitors to the top of the mountain, where there are fantastic views of the Cape Town coastline, city centre and suburbs.

Hikers can take the Platteklip Gorge route up Table Mountain and be at the top within an hour.

Table Mountain is home to a wide range or fauna and flora, boasting more species of plants than the entire United Kingdom . Table Mountain forms part of the Cape Floral Region, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Said Lehmann: “I would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote for Table Mountain and the celebrity ambassadors - from Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Springbok Rugby Team to all the journalists, musicians, comedians, actors, politicians and sports stars who campaigned on our behalf.’

1ST STEP IN SOLVING PUZZLE 353: Look at the 3 left vertical (abc) 3x3 boxes. The bottom box has 8 in cell Ga, while the middle box has its 8 in cell Ec. The top box must, therefore, have its own 8 in column b, where there is only 1 vacant space -cell Ab. Reasoning along these lines, try and fill in the other vacant cellss

SOLUTION TOMORROW. HAPPY PUZZLING!

52

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

Marriage in three realms (3) of you is given to the other party.

Because marriage is for life, you will be secure, in that you are not giving yourself to someone that will take a part of you and run away with it.

Nevertheless, fear of crossing the acceptable boundary should not keep you from enjoying the act of sex. God created sex to give man pleasure, so make it a return to Eden. However, …Wisdom is profitable to direct (Ecclesiastes 10:10).

Note: Marriage is founded upon a very delicate material called trust.

One cannot afford to be caught in the webs of adultery, because when trust is broken, suspicion sets in, which might eventually break up the marriage.

Second is Help Meet. Marriage is meant for improved living. God’s Word says: …It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him (Genesis 2:18). It is evident that one of the physical fulfilments of marriage is being a help meet. God saw that Adam needed physical help to fulfill some responsibilities. Thus, He provided him a help that is suitable, adaptable and complementary –

not just any kind of help.

Third is the Fruit of the Womb.

The fall of man opened the door to barrenness, but Jesus, by His Blood, has redeemed mankind from every curse of the law. God’s plan from the beginning is that the marriage union produces children (Genesis 1:26-28). If this is not quickly accomplished, frustration and grief often set in. I see your frustration and grief ending right now in Jesus’ name! Nevertheless, the seal of God’s approval is not just in having children, but raising godly ones!

Fourth is Divine Presence. God’s Word says: …If two lie together, then they have heat… (Ecclesiastes 4:11). That is, the enemy hunts for “cold” homes to infiltrate. The home can be said to be “cold” when there’s fighting, selfishness, unforgiveness, discord, etc. But when there’s love, understanding and harmony in a home, God rewards it with the warmth of His presence and peace that burns off the attacks of the devil, which could cause tension.

God’s presence is guaranteed, when there’s unconditional love

from the husband to the wife and total submission from the wife to the husband. That way, they have succeeded in keeping the home “aflame”, to ensure that the fire there never goes out (Proverbs 26:20).

Grace to undeniably enjoy the physical fulfilment of marriage is the privilege of those born again.

Being born again entails confessing your sins and surrendering your life to Jesus to take charge. If you are set for this new birth experience, say this prayer of faith: Dear Lord, I come to You today. I am a sinner.

Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Now I know I am born again!

Congratulations! Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: faithdavid@yahoo.com Tel. No: 234-1-7747546-8; 07026385437, 07094254102.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Making Marriage Work, Marriage Covenant and Building A Successful Family.

EAR Reader, It is my privilege to welcome you again and share with you from God’s Word. I began a series on Marriage In Three Realms. Last week, I taught on the spiritual phase of marriage.

This week, as we go further in this teaching, we shall be examining the Physical Fulfilment of marriage.

God’s master design for marriage is to involve the body.

God honours the physical union of a man and his wife, by ensuring that they find pleasure and fulfilment in each other’s body. This is why God frowns at adultery, because your partner should be

enough to satisfy you.

I often say humorously that there’s nothing another man or woman has that your partner doesn’t have. All you need is to be content with your spouse, then you will enjoy the blessings of marriage.

The following are attributed to the physical fulfilment of marriage: The first is SEX. It is only within the context of marriage that guilt does not accompany sex. Until you are legally married and joined in the church, you are not permitted to engage in sexual intercourse.

Sex no longer becomes forbidden for the married. If anything, it becomes an essential part of the union.

Each time you engage in sex, a part

V

All you need to know about vitamins

D

ITAMINS Vitamins are organic compounds required by living organisms in order to perform the processes of life. While some animals need more or different vitamins than others, humans require the largest amount of different vitamins to live healthily. Vitamins perform many tasks within the body, ranging from hormone triggers to antioxidants to co-enzymes that help with metabolism. Each set of different vitamin compounds performs a different task when integrated into the body.

About Vitamins Along with carbohydrates, fats, protein and minerals, vitamins are essential nutrients that allow the human body to properly function.

Function Figuring out which vitamins are important for which body functions has been an ongoing process. While often times it was not known that a specific vitamin was responsible for curing an illness or strengthening the body, foods rich in vitamins were often prescribed as cures— even though doctors back then didn’t know it was the vitamins doing the curing. For example, ancient Egyptians often prescribed a diet high in liver for those people who suffered from night blindness.

Today, however, we know this is because liver is rich in vitamin A— a vitamin that helps with sight.

Effects The lack of vitamins can have a profound effect on the human body.

For instance, in the case of scurvy, the lack of vitamin C can cause teeth to fall out and other hideous conditions of the skin and bone, eventually leading to death. The lack of vitamin B in the diets of some Asian cultures lead to the disease known as beriberi, another deadly illness.

The lack of vitamin B12, well known for its role in supplying energy, can create pernicious anemia.

This disease has many different symptoms, but the most major is severe fatigue.

Considerations Today, there are set guidelines for the amounts of specific vitamins that humans need each day. The recommended daily allowances are chosen so that the body will perform at its optimum capacity and so that illnesses caused by the lack of these vitamins can be avoided.

Most doctors believe that if you eat a completely balanced diet, full of vegetables, fruits, meats and grain, you will get all of the vitamins you need for a day. If your diet is less than balanced, a multivitamin

might make sure that you are getting all the vitamins you need to be healthy.

Nutrition In order to experience a normal and healthy development, an organism must ingest an appropriate amount of vitamins. In humans, from the moment a fetus starts to grow, it will need vitamins and nutrients. These nutrients cause chemical reactions that create bone, muscle and skin. Vitamins are available through different types of foods and in supplements. A nutritious diet will help to ensure that a person receives a healthy amount of vitamins.

Which is better, Fruits and vegetables or supplements Researchers found out how important it is to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and highquality protein sources to maintain physical, mental and emotional health.

Then came the studies on individual vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. After years of focusing on single nutrients, nutrition researchers began to focus on whole foods, finding that food is more than just a sum of its nutrient parts. So, instead of taking a handful of vitamins each day, the advice that came down the scientific pipeline was "Eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day has superior health benefits because of the ‘synergy’ of food." This means that all of the compounds in a piece of fruit or a vegetable work better together in your body to perform different jobs than taking the same indi-

vidual vitamins.

This is not to say that vitamin and mineral supplements are not of value. Many people need a vitamin/mineral supplement to meet specific nutrient needs that they cannot or do not get from food.

Physicians often prescribe vitamins or minerals for meeting nutrient needs or for therapeutic purposes. For example, doctors may advise pregnant women to take an iron supplement, and adults over age 50 to get their vitamin B12 from a supplement or from fortified foods.

In the last few years, a new player had entered the field – whole food supplements. Whole food supplements have emerged to support the shortage of fruits and vegetables we are getting in our diets.

Fruit and vegetable supplements contain not only a far wider variety of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals than traditional vitamin supplements, but also the antioxidants and other phytonutrients, even the fiber, found in fresh raw fruits and vegetables.

Whole food nutritional supplements contain natural fruit and vegetable juice powders in capsule form. The powders are concentrated from fruit and vegetable juices using a proprietary, low temperature process that leaves as much of the nutrition as possible intact.

Nothing can quite equal the value of eating fresh fruits and vegetables every day, but when that is not possible, multivitamin/mineral supplements and the new whole food supplements can certainly help

•Fruits and vegetables contain more vitamins than supplements

you maintain your good health and vitality.

Liquid Vitamins Many people think that by taking vitamins in liquid form, they will experience better mineral absorption. This is true to an extent, but the liquid form may be a better medium for only certain minerals.

Because of its ease of ingestion, liquid vitamins benefit those who have a tough time taking pills and capsules. They are more effective for people whose gastrointestinal system has been compromised and cannot effectively break down compressed material. Liquid vitamins are convenient, because they do not require water and may be available in spray forms.

Mineral Absorption Although liquids are typically absorbed more expediently than solids, this does not necessarily mean that liquid vitamins deliver higher absorption. The problem is that liquid vitamins have less mineral content than vitamins in pill form, so while the liquid has higher and faster absorption, it is not necessarily more beneficial. However, vitamins such as B12 and folic acid that are naturally delivered in small doses may be better ingested in liquid form.

Intestinal Ease Some people do not have any problem swallowing pills, but may not be able to digest the pill once it is inside the intestine. This is a common condition in people who suffer from diverticulitis, where the sharp edges of the pill can cause serious inflammation and even bleeding. Liquid vitamins are less aggressive to people with such conditions.

Does one need to take Vitamins?

Like oxygen and water, vitamins are essential for maintaining a healthy body and mind. While some vitamins are replicated inside the body and obtained from other sources such as the Sun, daily intake of vitamins is necessary for a number of reasons including the ability to fight off sickness and disease. Either consumed through foods, or taken as supplements, vitamins are required by the body to function properly.

Digestive System Help Vitamins can work to cure all types of digestive and stomach woes. Nausea and upset stomach can be soothed by lowering the production of acid in the stomach. Vi-

tamins can also help in the breaking down of food to obtain the required nutrients and enzymes the body needs. It can then help to flush out the remaining waste through the excretory system and out of the body.

Cholesterol Help Vitamins help balance the levels of cholesterol in the blood. By lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol, the onset of coronary and other diseases is lessened. By the same token, by raising levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, the body is able to use the necessary cholesterol in its daily functions.

Maintaining a healthy level of cholesterol in the body is vital for proper circulatory health.

Anti-Aging Vitamins help to slow or reverse the oxidation of cells and tissue.

Oxidation is the aging process by which skin and other tissue lose elasticity, become dry and are less likely to be able to regenerate and renew themselves. The vitamins help to keep the body younger by inhibiting the aging process. The underlying collagen is allowed to keep skin tighter, and wrinkle-free.

Heart Health Vitamins work to lower blood pressure and aid the cardiovascular system. The blood is then able to flow easier throughout the body as it carries essential nutrients, all without making the heart pump harder through restricted walls. By relaxing the walls, the heart is protected from such ills as attacks, heart disease and stroke.

Mental Health Vitamins contain enzymes very similar to those in the brain that control normal function and provide stability and cognitive processes. They work to stabilise these parts of the brain to ensure clear, precise thinking when faced with stressful situations. Symptoms such as “cloudiness” and “fog” are lifted, allowing the mind to better focus on tasks at hand.

Anti-Inflammatory Vitamins provide anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce and soothe a number of ailments. Common colds and flu start from the respiratory system being inflamed, which can be halted from vitamin intake. Arthritis symptoms and asthma attacks are also results of inflammation in the body. Moreover, any inflamed areas throughout the

Continued on page 53

53

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 2011

Marijuana: Matters arising saw your topic on “marijuana as a social drug”. I smoke it but not an addict, can it have after effect.” OG It definitely has an effect.

Many people smoke marijuana across the globe. You are not an addict if you can do without it and it does not control your life. However, by the very nature of the drug, you are going along the path to addiction; you just have not yet reached your bus stop. Drugs of addiction take over the user at some stage. For some people, it is quickly; for others, it is gradually.

The level of addiction also varies from unnoticeable to disastrous. Many indulgers who seem to know how to take drugs ‘safely’ are possible only dependent. Dependence, in pharmacological terms, means you use the drug to enhance something in you and your wellbeing or performance is not optimal without it.

You need it or you want it and it helps you. For example, you may do less brain work or do brain work less efficiently the day you do not take your morning coffee. But you could be very efficient at tidying up your office (or at gossiping) on coffee-less days. In other words, life can still go on without coffee, even though you do have some dependence on coffee. However,

“I

with addiction, the drug is your master and life cannot go on without the drug.

For some people, there is a thin, fine line between dependence and addiction and addiction happens to them unprepared.

For others, the margin of risk is wide and they can sustain a casual dependence, seemingly, without ever getting addicted. An addict is not just a suffering person but is also a person that makes society suffer.

So for the sake of others, if you must sustain the habit, please do it commonsensically. For your own sake too, watch out for when things take a turn for the worst: you are spending more time on it, you are spending more money on it, it is affecting your relationships, it is affecting your well-being and work performance, it is taking you away from family and social responsibilities, there are physical manifestations of addiction in your body or in your mentality such as bad moods and frequent anger. Be forceful on yourself in making a U-turn.

Also, if you have good friends or confidants, tell them to look out for you and alert you if they see change for the worse and not to abandon you if things get bad.

“Dear Dr John, I am an addict of marijuana. Now I need to stop. Some told me to flush my system with drip so as not to have the urge again. Is it true?

Kindly tell me what to do.”

Dear Reader, if “some” told you, I believe those people are people who are either in the marijuana business or are marijuana users.

Very often, people in particular circles have their trade secrets so I would not tell you they are wrong. You are free to explore that option.

Be careful to get clinical assistance for the use of drip. It is easy to get contaminated by non-sterile or recycled products and needles especially in the black market or underground circles and you don’t want to wind up with AIDS or some other disaster.

I know that some people have tried ATIVAN drip (lorazepam) for alcohol addiction and this can be obtained without prescription. Other people use drips that contain amino acids, minerals, and vitamins.

The amino acids assist the body in producing depleted brain chemicals or neurotransmitters and work in conjunction with vitamins and minerals. I would be interested in knowing what drip those people refer to.

There are different things that people may be trying out in the streets that are not open knowledge in academic and clinical circles. If there is substance in it, let us share your experience.

However, when non-professionals give you a medical tip, be sure it is not just hearsay and that there really are people who have successfully done what you want to try. Drinking a lot of water can help to remove

waste chemicals from our bodies faster and more efficiently.

Using drip is even faster because the fluid goes straight into the blood for circulation all over the body. However, with drugs of addiction, there are reasons why this may not work. Firstly, some of these drugs are soluble in fat and dissolve into the fatty membrane of the cells from where water cannot easily flush them out. Secondly, if the drugs are flushed out, they leave the body changed so that their effect continues to be felt in some way.

Many ordinary drugs that we use are like true servants; they enter the body and they serve the body’s needs and then leave appropriately. Drugs of addiction are a little more than servants. In fact, they are colonial masters. If you can, think of a cell magnified and full of different structures and functions just like your city.

Inside the body, at the level of the cell, drugs of addiction take over and re-

organize, maybe even restructure, and create a new agenda for the cell to follow.

The cell thus begins to function under their rule and everything is alright, maybe even great. But, when the colonial master is driven away, there is a leadership vacuum.

There may be chaos, anarchy, and doom if the other factors controlling the cell do not re-strategize to get the cell functioning normally again. Re-establishing control, of course, may take some time and, in the meantime, there may be a bit of wrangling and mangling. So, with the drugs of addiction, it is not just their presence or absence that matters. It is what they have done that matters most.

You may drink a lot of water or use drip but you should also try to get some clinical support. I hope you stay clean.

Dr. ’Bola John is a biomedical scientist based in Nigeria and in the USA. For any comments or questions on this column, please Email bolajohnwritings@yahoo.com or call 07028338910

All you need to know about Vitamins Continued from page 52

body can be eased by vital nutrients the vitamins contain.

Immunity Assistance Vitamins boost the immune system by seeking out free radicals and toxins throughout the body. They work to neutralise them before they can latch on to healthy cells and tissue and cause sickness and disease.

They also help to bolster defense against allergies and other daily threats. In addition, they help to build white blood cells and antibodies that fight illnesses that attack the body.

What Vitamins Should Not Be Taken Together?

One simple thing that you can do to make sure that you’re not getting the wrong vitamins taken together is eat from nature, because in nature all the different vitamins are in the foods in the right proportions in order to be absorbed best by your body.

One thing to keep in mind also is to always cook your vegetables in a little bit of healthy fat, like olive oil or butter, and this actually helps with nutrient absorption from those foods, and it also tastes good.

A couple vitamins that should not be taken together are; iron should not be combined with calcium, so if you are taking iron pills then you don’t want to take it with a glass of milk, or cheese, or

anything like that. Instead, it’s better to take it with some sort of vitamin C, so something like taking your iron with a glass of orange juice or an orange is great.

Other vitamins that you don’t want to combine or nutrients are different amino acids, such as lysine;

falters, so they’re huge, but even more importantly than vitamins, and the role that they play in chemical reactions, and the enzymes going on in our system, are minerals. Most people are much more mineral deficient, than they are vitamin deficient. You are what you •CEO HOPE Worldwide Nigeria, Mr. Ola Clement (middle) shaking hands with Mr. Clem Ugorji, Public Affairs & Communication Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria while Mr. AbasiEkong Udobang, Health Portfolio Manager, MTN Foundation looks on, during the media briefing of the Great HOPE Worldwide Walk 2011 at HWWN corporate office in Lagos.

10,000 people expected at 2011 Great Hope Walk BOUT 10,000 people will be participating in the 2011 edition of the Great Hope Walk .

The event which comes up in Lagos on December 3 is expected to kick of by 7:30 am.

Volunteers are expected to converge for the event at Maryland by 7:30a.m and from there, they will proceed to Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

The walk, themed, "Support a child, build a great nation," is meant to raise awareness on the issues faced by orphans and vulnerable children who have no one to cater for them.

According to the CEO, Hope Worldwide, Mr Olaoshebikan Clement, 60,000 vulnerable children and orphans will be enrolled this year for care till University level.

He made this disclosure

A combining lysine with other protein foods if you’re using lysine for specific lysine purposes.

How Do Vitamins Help Your Body?

Vitamins help the body by being a key component of the chemical processes in the metabolism system.

Vitamins help your body, because vitamins are a key to all of the chemical processes that occur in our system, that basically metabolism requires them, and of course, if we don’t have certain vitamins, then that part of the metabolism

eat, and vitamins create our structure and function in our body, so that we can be at our fullest self expression, and things work properly.

Side Effects If you ingest a large dose of vitamins, you may experience some side effects such as vomiting, diarrhea and nausea. In the worst cases, you can experience vitamin poisoning. Most people can recover from side effects by reducing their vitamin dosage. In 2004, there were three deaths that were due to the over-consumption of vitamins.

Risikat Ramoni during a press briefing at the Hope Worldwide Lagos headquarters in Lagos on Thursday.

Clement said that the Great Walk will be done in 10 cities across the country with volunteers from all walks of life. The Lagos walk will be flagged off by Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, the wife of the Lagos State governor.

He added that all volunteers will be given free TShirts, a yellow T-shirt from MTN Nigeria and a red from Coca-cola.

"There will adequate security on ground to ensure the safety of the vounteers throughout the walk", said Clement.

The CEO urged the Federal Government to take the issue of the child rights law in Nigeria more seriously

as the law could go a long way to reduce the suffering of children in the country.

He urged Nigerians not to hesitate to support a child, who are otherwise referred to as the future leader.

The Public Affairs and Communications Manager of Coca-cola, Mr Clems Ugorji said that the health and wellbeing of the citizens of the country matters to them, that is why they have consistently been a partner in the last 10 years.

Health Portfolio manager of MTN Foundation, Mr Abasi Udobang added that Great Hope Walk is their own way of giving back to the society. He urged people to turn out enmasse to participate in the walk which will not only create awareness for the children, but will also make the volunteers more fit and healthy.

INTERVIEW

54

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER19, 2011

Free education controversy

I challenge Kokori to a TV debate — Uduaghan

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, recently met with journalists in Warri, Delta State, where he spoke on the payment of the N18,000 minimum wage, the issuance of N50 billion bond and other issues concerning the administration of the state.

SHOLA O’NEIL was there.

•Uduaghan

R

ECENTLY, the State House of Assembly suspended sitting in order to compel you to order contractors of major projects back to site...

They took a legislative action which, for us in the executive, is really a House of Assembly action.

At the end of it, they moved a motion that I should urge, not all the

major projects, but specific projects, which are the dualisation of the Ugelli/Asaba Road and the reconstruction of the Asaba drainage system. They were specific on

these two, and they sent a letter to me to order the contractors back to site. Those two projects at the moment face challenges that are mainly weather-related. For many of us who understand our terrain, it is difficult for contractors to work during the rainy season.

For the Ughelli/Asaba dualisation project, I can say it is not a secret because I have challenges with one or two contractors there. Most of you will bear me witness that I have visited the place up to three times. We have actually started the process of revocation on one aspect of the contract. But we were doing it quietly before this motion was raised. It is the legislature, and I think they are handling it the best way they can.

There have been no heads in the local government councils since the tenure of the past chairmen ended. What is the situation now?

As for the local government councils, unfortunately, about the time their tenure ended, the tenure of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) also ended. We had initially intended to set up transition committees, but we had some legal challenges concerning that. But the House of Assembly has passed the bill which I have accented to.

The transition committee will come on stream in the next few days, and I will send the list of the DSIEC members to the House of Assembly. They will be inaugurated. And they need to have some time to settle down and plan all the processes for elections. As soon as possible, we will have an election for the local government councils.

Chief Frank Kokori recently accused the state government of not fulfilling its promise to pay examination fees for students in the state’s schools...

Kokori is just being political. I want to him to face me on television so that we will tell each other some simple truths. I do not like talking to elders like this, but it might get to a time when they say something in the media and we need to correct such expressions.

Because of the issues of WAEC, NECO and the maternal/child health care, I had a town hall meeting and I heard people grumbling.

I tried to get the facts. There were so many women who came out and none of them who were delivered of babies in government hospitals were asked to bring money. The people who were complaining were the people who had never gone to government hospitals. They heard it from the market and started complaining.

So, when people make some of these complaints, especially the is-

sues of WASCE and NECO, I will challenge Kokori to bring a student who has paid money. And, of course, you know what I will do with the principal of the affected school. Chief Kokori has access to some of the political leaders. We know where he is politically, and he should remain there.

What are the plans to upgrade the state-owned hospitals to enable them cope with the increased demand for free medical care?

As for the upgrading of hospitals, we have some challenges with the maternal health care programme because of the increase in the number of women patronising government hospitals.

So, what we are trying to do is to see how we can provide more facilities. The Asaba Specialist Hospital is almost completed. We are trying to equip it so that we will open it. I do not know which of you has been to Eku Hospital recently. I think it is one place I would want us to go to, if we have time, so that you can see what we are doing.

At the Warri Central Hospital, we have also started constructing our maternal and child health centre. If you go there now, you will see the construction work going on there. It is a very big health care centre. When it is completed, it is going to be the best. We are also ready to award another maternal and child care centre at the Ekpan General Hospital which has become one of the busiest hospitals in the state today. So, it requires an expansion and we are already in the process of awarding a maternal and child health care centre. It may not be as big as the Warri Central Hospital, but it is going to be very comprehensive.

These are in addition to the Oghara Teaching Hospital which has started operation. And we have to applaud ourselves because the hospital has graduated its first set of medical students who are certified as medical doctors.

What is the state of work on the Refinery Road dualisation project ?

That is a project that started on a very fast lane. The quality of work there is very high. But I was told that the contractor slowed down because of rain. And you can notice that we have started patching all the failed road portions in Warri and Udu. What we did was to first of all start with the immediate ones. So, we need to finish the emergency roads before the construction of roads begins.

There was a report recently that some states are broke and Delta State was listed among those states in bad financial condi-

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER19, 2011 tions. Then, you went to the bond market for N50 billion...

First, I want to say that we are not broke and we are not among the states that are distressed. I want to assure you that we will never be distressed in Jesus name.

On the issue of bond, all over the world, governments take bonds to fast-track development. And there is no government that has embarked on comprehensive development without taking bonds.

First, it is cheaper than taking loans from the banks. Second, the rate of payment is quite long. So, they are the cheapest source of funds for development. There is no way we can get all the infrastructure we are talking about without bonds because what is very critical now is to ensure that we create the enabling environment for job creation. We need to bring in investors and industries that will create jobs for the populace. And, of course, one of the major infrastructural facilities we are talking about is road.

We have taken bonds worth N50 billion. Now let me explain that the process of taking bonds from the bond market is very tedious.

We were lucky that we were able to get ours at the time we did because other states that were processing theirs at the same time with us were caught up with by the financial year and they had to start all over again. You would notice that some states that are thriving today have depended on bonds from day one. We have taken N50 billion while some states took N200 billion. That is what they have been using and people from those states are not shouting. But anything in Delta, we will always shout.

And let me say that as we are seated here today, we have not taken one kobo from the bond. The process of taking money from the bond has been on. The various financial agencies that were involved in the process of putting the bonds together had taken their fees and what is due to Delta is there; nobody has touched it.

We have initiated a process that will make it impossible for any leakage in that particular bond.

You are also aware that it is not the kind of money you can just spend anyhow because the process of accessing the funds is not done by only the state government.We have to carry some l institutions along,including the SEC. They have their eyes on whatever you are taking. They have a way of monitoring it. If they notice that you are not spending the funds well, they can penalise you or stop you from having access to the funds.

So, I want the people to be aware that it is not the kind of funds anybody can just sign for and take. We have given them specific projects that we want to use the bond for and they already have the list of the projects and they are monitoring them. Each time we want to pay a contractor, they have a way of getting an alert. They also come around to look at the projects to ask us where we are.

As commissioner for health, I managed the bond that came into the ministry. The renovation work we did at that time had given the government a good image. So, I am not a new person in terms of management of bond funds. I have done it before and by the grace of God, I was successful because all the projects we did then were scored high. I want to assure Deltans that the funds will be used for what they are meant for. But this time, if you notice, we are paying a lot of attention to the educational sector: construction of classrooms for primary and secondary schools.

Now that we have had the funds,

INTERVIEW

55

‘

Kokori is just being political. I want to him to face me on television so that we will tell each other some simple truths. I do not like talking to elders like this, but it might get to a time when they say something in the media and we need to correct such expressions

,

•Uduaghan

we are starting with the rehabilitation of 60 schools. We have paid the money and we have awarded the contracts and contractors have moved to sites. So, in the next two or three months, we will be going round some of these projects.

Why has the state resorted to taking loans in the last few months? Before your election in January, the acting governor took a bond of N20b. We hear that all these are meant for contractors, but even those contractors are still complaining that they are not being paid?

Loans were taken at that time, and they were for specific projects.

The total amount of the contracts awarded was very huge. But we

had to do that so as to address the issue of infrastructure. Some of us are asking for infrastructure, but we do not ask where the funds will be coming from.

I think it is very unfair when people say that Delta is very rich.

I find this very ridiculous. We are not a very rich state, and we cannot do all the things at the same time. We will need to do them gradually.

You have often lamented the huge percentage of the state’s revenue that goes into payment of salaries. But what you don’t say is how much of that money goes into the payment of political appointees?

This is interesting. You know for

two months, we did not have political appointees and I thought the wage bill would reduce. But I can tell you, it is just marginal. What political appointees get, compared to the total wage bill, is marginal.

Secondary school teachers alone take N2.4 billion out of the N7 billion. I can give you the breakdown. Maybe in our next meeting, I will give you a breakdown of all of them. The challenge of political appointees is at the initial time.That is, when they are appointed in the area of the money we spend in providing logistics for them.

What is the state of the Independent Power Project (IPP)?

We are on course because we have paid for the turbines, and I think they are in the process of shipping them from their base between Europe and Canada. In the main time, construction work is going on at the main site to receive the turbines. Like I said before, we did not want to start construction at the site because if we had done that, the place would have been overtaken by weed. So, we are trying to make sure that it synchronises.

There are complaints everywhere that the state government owes contractors. Does this lend credence to reports that the state could be broke?

I know it has become a song in Delta State that contractors are not being paid. I think it will get to a point where I will begin to publish what and what is being paid to contractors because there is a particular contractor that I have paid up to N17 billion and he is still saying that he has not been paid. I just wonder! We paid him for all the contracts that he specified. What some of them do is that even when they have not finished processing their papers up to the point of getting the contract, and even when they get the contract, they believe that they should get

paid. But there are processes.

When you have not fulfilled the conditions of payment, I will not pay you. As to up-to-date payment of contractors, I think we have been up-to-date, except for a few.

There is a disturbing situation where some projects, especially roads, begin to fail almost immediately they are commissioned.

Are you satisfied with the quality of work done on the roads?

We have one major problem which is not peculiar to Delta State, but to all the states in the Niger Delta region. Our terrain is a major challenge. For example, where we are now is below the sea level. The only way to address this challenge is to construct the roads with concrete which the Ogbemudia government did in those days. But to do that kind of road now, you know the kind of money that is involved. We have also not been able to get an adequate drainage system that will drain most of our roads. What we do construct are just gutters. I have told the engineers that we need to adequately drain our cities.

We have started a drainage system in Warri and Asaba, and I am not too happy with the work that is going on because if we do not get the drainage right when we start work on the roads, when it rains, the road will be spoilt. And some of us, when we build houses, there is no drainage. Even if you construct these gutters, some of us use them as dumping sites. So, we have this bad habit.

You see traders still hanging around major roads in the state, even though two modern markets remain unoccupied several years after their completion.

What is responsible for this?

There are two markets that are yet to be occupied.Let me talk on the Ughelli/Ogor Market, for instance. The problem was that it was allocated by the last administration to those who would hire the market out. And naturally, those who wanted to use it refused to rent it from the people who had no business in the market. When I discovered this, we revoked the allocation, set up a committee headed by the Deputy Governor because we had discussed with the traders who would use the market, and we did some renovation work. Now we have got the traders to bid for it. The list has been compiled, and very soon, they will move into the market. And when we have finished with it, we will go to the Ogbolokposo Market which has almost the same problem.

What is the situation with the Ajamimogha Bridge which collapsed a very long time ago?

At the time the bridge collapsed, there was a controversy because it was initially built by Chevron which insisted that they would rebuild it. The problem they had was the costing which, according to the management, was on the high side. So, when I stepped in, we decided that there was no need to argue over who should construct it. We took it over from Chevron and we have started the construction. I heard that work is a bit slow, but I have directed that they fast-track it and finish it on time.

When will Delta State commence the payment of minimum wage?

In Delta State, we are already paying N17,500. So, conversion from relativity to minimum wage is very marginal. It is just N500, and it will just cost us about N65 million a month. I have told them that if they do not pay it this month, they must pay it next month. We have been paying N17,500, and that is why the workers are not complaining.

DIALOGUE DIALOGUE

56

THE NATION, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER19, 2011

‘Why Edo people want Oshiomhole to return in 2012’

“B

ENIN is changing. I was watching a documentary on TV the other day and I noticed the transformation taking place in Benin City, I am really impressed” - Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto.

It was exactly 1,095 days last Saturday since Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was sworn in as Governor of Edo State, on November12, after retrieving his stolen mandate from Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor and it has been a very sweet story for people of the state since then.

On assumption of office, Comrade Oshiomhole, fresh from being the Labour Leader Number 1, made a pledge to the people of the state that the decay in which the previous PDP government left the state would be reversed. Before the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government, the PDP had held sway in the state for 10 years and they were years of the locust with tales of woes and gnashing of teeth in the state.

Today, just three years after, the promises have been fulfilled and the people now see that government can really work for the people. The success story of the Oshiomhole administration is felt in all parts of the state, from Benin City the state capital to Ososo in Akoko Edo; from Uromi in Esan North-East to Ozalla in Owan West the report is the same: Oshiomhole is working.

The governor’s magic wand is seen across the 18 local government areas in the three senatorial districts.

In Benin City, in three years, the Oshiomhole government has completed the Gani Fawhinmi Layout comprising six roads complete with covered drains, walkways and street lights; Oba Market road complete with covered drains, walkways and street lights; stadium road, complete with covered drains, walkways and street lights; Sokponba road, complete with covered drains, walkways and street lights; 2nd West Road complete with covered drains, walkways and street lights; Akpakpava road complete with covered drains, walkways and street lights; Sapele Road, dual-carriage way, complete with covered drains, walkways and street lights; Airport road, dual carriage way, among many others.

Completed, refurbished, rehabilitated, renovated and rebuilt schools include Adolor College, St Maria Goretti, Niger College, Idia College, Agbado Primary School, Ohonba primary School, Payne Primary School and Olua Primary School, among others.

The 5-Star 120-bed hospital Complex at the Central Hospital is ongoing. In Edo Central, Ekpoma and Iruekpen which have been without water for over 25 years due to the rocky and low level of the water table now boast of potable water as boreholes have been sunk in both places with the Dando drilling rigs purchased by the government. Also installed at the two sites are water treatment plants to make further purify the water. Both projects have been completed and the people of Iruekpen and Ekpoma now enjoy potable water. Also, there is an ongoing borehole project at Ohordua.

On roads, the Isua-Uzenema road is completed with side drains; the Igueben-Udo road, IguebenEwohinmi-Ewatto-Ohordua road; the Amedokhian-Ugboha road; the Irrua-usugbenu-Ugbegun-Ujogba road are all ongoing.

The schools completed are Ewu Junior Secondary School; St John Bosco, Ubiaja; Annunciation Catholic College, Irrua, Ibhedu Primary School, Ohordua, Okaigben Primary School, Ewohinmi and Eguare Primary School, Ekpoma. The ongoing schools projects are Our Lady of Lourdes, Uromi; Our Savior Primary School, Iruekpen. All these schools,

•Oshiomhole Peter OKHIRIA roads and water projects are in addition to the rural electrification projects in many communities in the area.

The Women and Children Hospital at Ewohinmi has also been completed and awaiting commissioning.

In Edo North, many of the road projects are near completion and subsequent commissioning. Schools were also completed in the area.

In addition to these, the foundation stones of three model schools, one in each senatorial zone were recently laid with a promise to build a fourth one solely for boys in Edo South.

Borehole projects at Jattu, Ogbona, Iraokhor and Ogbido among many others have also been completed and working, while the Women and Children Hospital at Otuo is completed and awaiting commissioning.

All these projects are in addition to the completed rural electrification projects in the areas.

On erosion control, the government has secured a N25 billion bond from the stock market to adequately tackle the erosion problem in a modern way. Known as the Benin City Storm Water Masterplan, the project is divided into phases and the first Phase has been launched.

The first phase involves the construction of a Distilling basin of 120ft x 120ft of massive drainage which takes all the floods from secondary drains into the primary drain which then flows into the Ogba River.

The Distilling basin will take a massive 20,000 metre tonnes of excavation, requiring 18,200 metric tonnes of cement and 20,000 pounds of boulder and it will have a 2.5m x 2.5m doubled culverts stretching for about 1kilometre.

,

Connecting the Distilling Basin, which will be self-cleaning and desilting is a trapezated drain which is 45ft wide at the top, 12ft wide at the bottom and almost 7m deep. It will run round parts of the state and will be completely covered by the road in densely-populated areas.

The first phase will take care of the flood problem in Teachers’ House, Uwelu axis, Akugbe road, Otete Street, Igbinaduwa, Adolor College road, Obakpolor, Textile Mill road, Oro Street, Iheya, Ivbiye Street and Lane, 3rd Cemetery and the 5 junction area and adjoining streets, in the process taking care of about a quarter of flood in the capital city. All the roads which will be constructed or rehabilitated in the storm water project will come with walkways, street lights and drains.

The good thing is that Oshiomhole’s achievements have not gone unnoticed by people in the state and even outside the state as his many achievements have fetched accolades, honours and awards.

This year alone, many awards have been bestowed on him for the unparalleled development in Edo, among which is the “Governor of the Year 2010” by the Leadership Newspaper Group, Publishers of Leadership Newspapers. Also, the NUT honoured him with “Governor of the Year” for his contributions to the education sectorat the Worldf Teachers’; Day celebrations on October 5, 2011 in Abuja.

On October 15, Governor Oshiomhole bagged the Nigeria Social Entreprise Report Award (The SERAs-Nigeria CSR 2011 Awards) for his achievements in Education, Healthcare and Infrastructure Development which are the priority areas of the Millennium Development Goals.

Oshiomhole, a member of the National Institute of Policy and Strate-

gic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, was also Silverbird Man of the Year 2009, Sun Man of the Year 2008 of the Sun Newspapers and he won the “Emerging Tiger” at the prestigious ThisDay Award in 2010.

Also, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree (Ph.D in Public Administration) by the Igbinedion University in 2009. The icing on these string of awards is the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger which the Federal Government has bestowed on him.

No wonder, all the discerning people in the state and outside the state are rooting for him to return in 2012 as governor of the state including royal fathers, highly respected chiefs, professionals, clerics and the ordinary man on the streets.

The Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, CFR, while receiving ACN leaders to his palace recently fully endorsed Oshiomhole for 2012. He said on the occasion: “You are all praying for Oshiomhole to come back in 2012.

We are also hoping that he comes back and I and my chiefs say you will come back and complete unfinished projects.”

His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin is not alone in his endorsement of Comrade Oshiomhole, the Eidenojie of Uromi, Zaiki Anslem Ehizojie minced no words too when he openly declared support for Oshiomhole.

Speaking during a visit to his palace, he said: “Your Excellency, I refer to you as an accomplished son of Uromi. We are very proud of you, we are very proud of your developmental efforts.

“Your Excellency, if someone says you have not put gold on the streets of Uromi, he should not be taken seriously, that person should be ignored. Because if what one government could not achieve in 10 years, in only two years you are doing it, then we should thank God for giving you to Edo State. I want to assure Your Excellency that myself and the people of Uromi will continue to support you and we will vote en masse for you.”

Just as the Uromi royal father gave his unflinching endorsement, so did his brother royal father, the Onojie of Igueben who told the Governor during a visit that “we have absolute confidence in your government. Your Excellency, achievements speak loud for you. In 2012 for your reelection, we believe that if you continue at this rate, what we are hearing and witnessing in Lagos will be a child’s play and these achievements will continue to live and speak after your tenure.

So we urge you to continue in that stead.

“As the tradition ruler, I know that you have the support of Igueben Local Government already because your projects are already speaking for you. We thank you and pray that you’ll continue to work as you have been working.”

The Okagiesan of Esanland and Onogie of Irrua, Alhaji William Momodu, on his part declared his support for Oshiomhole thus: “I’m not hiding my feelings, I’m in support of what Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is doing in Edo State. In just two years, he has changed the face of governance in the state. Once he says ‘vote for me’, he knows I will vote for him.

“Comrade Goverrnor, the Irrua people say thank you for the good works you are doing, expecting you to do more. Have an assurance that we will vote for you. Other people from Esanland will vote for you; we will never forget Oshiomhole, we will never forget ACN.”

From what people that come and go say, I don’t think there are adverse comments against your government. I only pray that you keep it up and do not allow yourself to be distracted or provoked by people who do not want you to make those progresses

,

In Edo South, the Enogie of Ogbeson was full of praises for the Comrade Governor for the development activities in the state. The Enogie, His Royal Highness Aduwa Ogiegbaen, told the governor: “Your work is already campaigning for you and your political party, the Action Congress of Nigeria. I assure you that everywhere in the state, you are in the minds of 99.9 per cent of the people.

“Those who are not happy with the good works you are doing and want to constitute a stumbling block will do it long after you are gone.”

And from far-away Sokoto, came the acknowledgment of the fast pace of development in Edo. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, while commending Governor Oshiomhole for the transformation taking place in Benin City and other parts of the state during a visit to his palace, said: “Benin is changing. I was watching a documentary on TV the other day and I noticed the transformation taking place in Benin City, I am really impressed”.

President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Joseph Daodu (SAN), was so impressed during his visit to Edo State that he said “I acknowledge that you are doing a very good job.”

According to him, “I have always been familiar with Benin City, and indeed Edo State; I do a lot of cases here, so I’ve always had cause to come in. But on flying in this afternoon, I noticed some changes in the landscape. I could see some schools not looking the same way I left them; I saw a lot of roads have changed. I saw structures. I know that there are more that is not visible to the naked eye and I’ll just like to place on record that with what I have seen, I acknowledge that you are doing a very good job.

“The essence of democracy is for people to benefit from the quality of leadership. From what people that come and go say, I don’t think there are adverse comments against your government. I only pray that you keep it up and do not allow yourself to be distracted or provoked by people who do not want you to make those progresses.”

For the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God Mission International, Archbishop Margaret BensonIdahosa, Oshiomhole’s developmental strides in the state are monumental. Said she: “We are here to come as a body to tell you that since you came into office, we have seen a dramatic change in Edo State. I am saying this because we are seeing it. It is being practicalised. It is seen by the big and small.

“I travelled and I came back last year and my children told me, mum at seven o’clock we must drive round ring road. I could not believe my eyes. I thought we were outside the country. I was elevated in my spirit. I am proud that I am a free born of this state and that we finally have found somebody that has allowed God to use him to bless this state.”

Commenting on the transportation sector, the cleric said: “People no longer carry loads on their heads and walking on the streets because buses are everywhere. And they are cheap to alleviate the suffering of the people”.

For the Chief Imam of Benin, Alhaji Abdul-Fattah Enabulele, Oshiomhole’s achievements are enough to guarantee a second term ticket. Said he: “Our confidence, support and expectations have not been betrayed, the new Edo state is working and in all directions, there are landmark changes taking place.

“It is the wish of the Muslim Communities in the state, taking into consideration the excellent performance of Comrade Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and his loyal deputy, Rt Hon Pius Odubu in the last three years to be given the opportunity once again to consolidate on the achievements come 2012.”

•Mr. Okhiria is Chief Press Secretary to Governor Oshiomhole.

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SPORT EXTRA LONDON 2012 FINAL QUALIFIER

Eguavoen names Nwankwo as captain

P

ARMA midfielder Obiora Nwankwo will captain Nigeria Olympic team at the final qualifiers for London 2012 in the absence of Lukman Haruna.

Nwankwo is to be assisted by Kingsley Udoh.

“In the absence of Lukman Haruna, Obiora Nwankwo is the team skip-

per. And where Nwankwo is not available, Udoh takes over,” team spokesman Arafat Aliu told MTNFootball.com “Where Udoh is not available, Ayo Saka is captain.

And in the absence of all these players, Odion Ighalo is captain.”

Defensive midfielder Nwankwo, who is on loan

to Parma from Inter Milan, was captain when Dream Team V defeated Liberia 6-1 in an Olympic qualifier earlier in the year in Benin City.

The former Wikki Tourist star featured at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

He is expected to join up with the rest of the squad on Thursday.

Yesterday’s men • Continued from back page happened to him against the Zambians. May be his off-day; it happens like that in the career of any footballer,” Keshi said.

Reading Keshi’s lips on the other strikers mentioned brings pain, if they are dropped, but they could fight back through their European clubs, more so as they are young men.

Then this from Keshi: “I called up Obafemi Martins to find out how he was doing and he was shocked. I have never felt that way before. He could make a return to the team, if he continues to play well for his European club.

Clap for Siasia Samson Siasia is civilised and his conduct during Stephen Keshi’s unveiling as his successor spoke volumes. Not only did Siasia attend the ceremony, he gave Keshi the symbolic number 4 jersey he wore as a player.

That tradition is alien in Africa because of the animosity surrounding such change of guards. It is for this reason that one is forced to applaud Siasia and wish him well. It is highly debatable, if Keshi would have done that for Siasia. Join me in clapping for Siasia as he bows out of the Super Eagles coaching job. Aluta!

Let Mikel be Mikel Obi shouldn’t be made to look like an unpatriotic person, if he happens to play for Chelsea against Liverpool on Sunday. He understands too that he needs 75 per cent national team appearances to secure a work permit in the event of a new deal.

Mikel has been struggling to grab a first team shirt this season. We need to help his career by allowing him to concentrate on his club’s matches. We know his qualities and should use his absence to discover others.

If he plays well for Chelsea, it rubs on the Super Eagles when the big games come. The new midfielder could bench him in the Eagles. After all injury stopped him from the 2010 World Cup, yet Nigeria played its mandatory matches.

Stephen Keshi shouldn’t make an issue out of the possibility of Mikel playing for Chelsea on Sunday.

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Tomorrow in THE NATION PUNCHLINE

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011 TRUTH IN DEFENCE OF FREEDOM VOL.7, NO. 1949

Nigeria cannot afford to continue to evade some serious questions about its existence as a multiethnic and multi-religious nation-state.

The search for sustainable peace and stability in the country will require the federal government to provide opportunity for a national dialogue that will enable religious and cultural groups including Boko Haram to bring their own demands to the table for discussion

W

AS renowned man of letters, Chinua Achebe, right in rejecting for the second time in seven years the national honours conferred on him by President Goodluck Jonathan? Of course, this is a subjective question. It is a moral issue that involves the value judgement of the individual. But was the famous novelist right in insisting that nothing has changed between now and 2004 when he threw OBJ’s award back at the old soldier?

Achebe’s specific reason for turning down the honour then was the utterly dishonourable state of affairs in his native Anambra State. We will recall that in one of the most insane moments of this political dispensation thus far, armed thugs virtually took over Anambra State destroying public property in an orgy of violence with the police calmly watching unconcerned. The architect of this sheer madness was the then all powerful presidential aide on domestic affairs, Chris Uba, who, with the full backing of Aso Rock, was hell bent on dislodging the government of Dr. Chris Ngige by all means. Till date not a single person has been brought to book for that brazenly treasonable act.

On the surface, Nigeria seems to have changed significantly between 2004 and now. Afterall, we now have a President Goodluck Jonathan who never fails to aver at the slightest instance his commitment to constitutionalism and the rule of law. In reality, however, this country is in far worse condition today than in 2004. It is difficult to fault Achebe’s position. OBJ held the rule of law in total disdain and he never hid the fact. You knew where you stood with the Ota farmer. It was thus easier to fight and contain his excesses. But Jonathan rhapsodizes passionately about his faith in the rule of law while insidiously eroding its very essence through his deceptively dangerous style. We are all thus lulled into complacency while Jonathan’s gloved iron fist wrecks havoc on the polity.

Today, for instance, the PDP has threatened to go ahead with its governorship primaries in Bayelsa State despite an order by the Federal High Court in Abuja stopping the exercise. While lack of internal party democracy is not limited to the PDP, the party’s impunity as regards its gubernatorial candidacy for the forthcoming Bayelsa governorship election is without parrallel in this political dispensation. The party has given no cogent reason for the disqualification of Governor Timipre Sylva. It is apparently enough that some powerful elements

Things falling apart

•Jonathan

• Achebe

within the party do not like his face. Such arbitrariness!

Now, I am no fan of Sylva. I am in no position to say whether he has performed as Governor or not. But that verdict should be left to members of the governor’s party in Bayelsa to make and ultimately the electorate in general. Why must a cabal within the party stop the governor from testing his popularity at the primaries? If Sylva had been given the nomination to fly the party’s governorship flag on January 12, 2011, what has now changed between then and now? What has he done wrong that he cannot even be allowed to participate in the rescheduled primaries? If the PDP says Sylva has failed as governor, is that not a self indictment?

Does that not suggest that the electorate should give another party a chance at the

polls?

It is instructive that President Goodluck Jonathan has maintained a thunderous silence on the issue. Yet, it is obvious that the entire absurdist drama in the Bayelsa PDP is ochestrated from Aso Rock. That is the difference between Jonathan and OBJ. The latter would have taken a stand and made his position clear no matter how unpopular. But Jonathan affects pretentious statesmanly neutrality while his mischievous fingers are pulling the strings of impunity behind the scene.

Here is a President who has been most impotent in responding to the raging Boko Haram insurrection. Emboldened by his timidity, Boko Haram threatened to unleash a harvest of bombs in Abuja on October 1.

Jonathan promptly fled the Eagle Square

—Ropo Sekoni holding a mockery of an independence anniversary parade within the safe confines of Aso Rock. A President who continues to condone the glaring incompetence of his Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, promptly ensured the redeployment of the former Bayelsa State Commissioner of police for partisan political reasons. He has ordered massive deployment of security agents including troops in Bayelsa in order to impose his will on the party. Surely, this President can act if he wants to.

It is amazing that a President confronted with so many daunting national challenges can afford to dissipate time, attention and energy on the most trivial matters. Beyond the ongoing impunity in Bayelsa, the country has deteriorated in virtually all sectors between 2004, when Achebe first rejected the national honours and now. Nigerians are worse off today than they were in 2004. How can we be awarding so called national honours for purported individual excellence when as a collective, we are retrogressing at the speed of light? A serious President would put the national honours farce on hold until we get our act together as a nation.

I am sorry to say that President Goodluck Jonathan is setting new records in sheer leadership incompetence and mediocrity. His tenure is turning out to be an unmitigated disaster of unprecedented proportions in the annals of Nigeria. His vision is embarrassingly blurred. His motion is markedly confused.

His sense of mission is severely famished. It is difficult to know what he stands for. It is therefore easy for him to fall for anything. In President Jonathan, Nigeria has been so tragically ‘blessed’ with a most calamitous Goodluck. Is this the best that the Niger Delta can offer Nigeria? What a great pity.

If I am harsh on President Jonathan, I will even be harsher on Nigerians. There was absolutely nothing about Jonathan that justified the so-called pan-Nigerian mandate he was given at the last election. He did not perform with distinction in any previous public office that he held. Many of us left our brains at home when going out to vote in April.

Dear President Jonathan, please do not spare your thoughtless country men and women. Flagellate them with fuel subsidy removal. Lacerate their backs with tenure elongation. Insult their intelligence with conferment of national honours on dishonourable characters. Scourge them with scorpions. Next time they will hopefully vote with wisdom at the polls. As for Chinua Achebe, no one will say that the great man did not warn us that things are fast falling apart.

Ade Ojeikere on Saturday talk2adeojeikere@yahoo.com

Yesterday’s men THE Super Eagles and Stephen Keshi have received their spiteful reality checks, first in Benin City against the Zebras of Botswana last Saturday and then in Kaduna with the Chipolopolo of Zambia on Tuesday. The message from the Big Boss is frightening- clear the deck.

Eighty per cent of the players that Keshi worked with for the two matches are not national team players. So, why did it take this long to realise that the Eagles need a complete overhaul? Is Keshi’s confirmation not what Samson Siasia said when he was appointed? Did he make any change? If, indeed, he did, why are we returning to fix the puzzle of searching for new players eager to fight for their fatherland and not the ones who cannot distinguish between playing for their country or their European clubs?

So, who are the yesterday’s men and how did they find their way into the team? The Big boss is happy with what he saw from goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide. Is that new? The difference this time is that Enyeama knows that Ejide can unseat him if he strays. What one finds interesting

is the decision to always make the third Eagles’ goalkeeper the best among the domestic league clubs’ safe-hands? Ruled out are goalkeepers Dele Aiyenugba and Rotimi Sunday, who fumbled against the Guineans and at the WAFU Cup tournament in Abeokuta. They are the first yesterday’s men because even if Enyeama and Ejide fumble, the search will be in the domestic league. I hope that Keshi keeps this promise.

The riddle in the Eagles has thrown up Yusuf Ayila as the best partner to Joseph Yobo, except that he is injury-prone. The solution won’t come from one of the yesterday’s men because Dele Adeleye may have played his last for Nigeria at this level.

His outing against Zambia was awful and the verdict coming from a distinguished defender, who is their coach, is cast in stone.

The Big Boss doesn’t think that Ambrose Efe can play in the central defence because of his frail stature. He has, however, stated that Efe could fit in at the right back to give Chibuzor Okoronkwo good competition.

Are these two not yesterday’s men? Keshi was asked. He revealed plans to be in Morocco to watch the Dream Team V attempt to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Keshi believes that he can get younger boys

to fight for shirts in the Super Eagles. He closed his eyes, beat his chest and screamed that Taiye Taiwo and Elderson Echejile fit like glue at the left back position although he threw his mind open for new lads who must come from the local league.

Prancing, he remembered Thankgod Ike, domestic league player for Warri Wolves FC, who he said could pair Yobo in the central defence with good training and then smiled.

Still thinking, Keshi broke into Pidgin English saying: “Old boy, my midfield na jaga jaga. Problem, big problem don dey my neck. I still dey think. We no get midfielders again for this country.”

Talking seriously, Keshi expressed satisfaction with Joel Obi, Dickson Etuhu and Fengor Ogude. In the case of Kalu Uche, the Big Boss shrugs his shoulders, hands akimbo saying: “Okay, he is good but he doesn’t mark the ball. I won’t accept give-me- the ball-and-shine players in the Eagles. Everyone must work for each other. It is a team game so when you lose the ball, you have fall into place to fight for the ball or cover up the space created from the error.

Keshi remembered John Mikel Obi and Obinna Nsofor, moved two steps and mur-

mured Sani Kaita’s name. Not satisfied, he insisted on watching the domestic league to grab midfielders who he could train to be creative, stressing that Joel Obi, the only creative head needs help, in the event of sustaining any injury. God forbid! he exclaimed.

Keshi wants to play a two-man attack, perhaps because he likes having two holding midfielders from what one saw in the two games played. He also plays two creative men who can open the game on the flanks whenever the team initiates its attacking forays.

One tried to second guess the Big Boss by tipping Ikechukwu Uche as the arrow head of the Eagles attack, but he interjected: “Ike is a good player no doubt. But he does not mark when the team loses the ball. I have told him that he must mark; otherwise, I will drop him from the team. Ahmed Musa is my jewel. I admire him a lot. He is very reliable and plays with his heart. He fights and wants to win always. That is the man for the team.

He loses the ball this moment, he fights for it or he is covering up openings at the rear as we strive to win back the ball. That is the man who plays modern day football.”

Yesterday’s men in the Eagles’ attack will be Chinedu Ogbuke, Ekigho Ehiosun, Emmanuel Emenike and Brown Ideye. This writer prodded the Big Boss further. “Ok, Emenike, good player but I don’t know what •Continued on Page 61

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