Saturday, March 23, 2013

Pressure mounts on Fayemi to replace ailing deputy P. 10

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Vol. 03 No. 14

Couple, five others perish in Ogun auto crash P. 8

Saturday, March 23, 2013

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Female journalist kidnapped P. 49 in Ondo

N150

Chinua Achebe departs •Jonathan, govs, literary icons mourn

•‘He’ll live forever through his works’ •Obi joins family in US

Pages 2,3,4, 5,6

“The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay.

Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one.

He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”

Things Fall Apart, 1958

Achebe

1930–2013 Extend state pardon to other 1997 coupists, Diya tells FG P. 8

INEC to parties:

E/Guinea offers Nigerians oil blocks •Confers highest honour on Jonathan

P. 7

P. 9

Expect new registration fee

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Top Stories

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

March 23, 2013

The world mourns Chinua Achebe He will live forever through his works – Jonathan

P

resident Goodluck has expressed sadness over the death of Nigeria’s globally acclaimed writer, scholar, tutor, cultural icon, nationalist and artist of the very first rank, Prof.

Chinua Achebe.

According to a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President on behalf of himself, his family, the Federal Government and

all Nigerians extended heartfelt condolences to Achebe’s family.

Jonathan said he joined Achebe’s family, his friends, colleagues, past and present students, admirers and all who have learnt indelible lessons of human existence from his award winning works of literature in mourning the legendary author.

Jonathan stated that as he mourns the literary icon, he is consoled by the knowledge that

Achebe would live forever in the hearts and minds of present and future generations through his great works which brought him enduring international fame and countless honours.

Believing that Achebe’s frank, truthful and fearless interventions in national affairs would be greatly missed at home in Nigeria, President Jonathan stressed that while others may have disagreed with his views, most

Nigerians never doubted his immense patriotism and sincere commitment to the building of a greater, more united and prosperous nation that all Africans and the entire black race could be proud of.

He recalled that with maturity and global stature, Achebe fearlessly spoke the truth as he saw it and became, as he advanced in

age, a much revered national icon and conscience of the nation who would be eternally honoured for his contributions to national discourse as well as the immense fame and glory he brought to his fatherland He prayed God Almighty to receive Achebe’s great soul and grant him eternal rest from his outstanding earthly labours.

He was courageous in his convictions –Buhari

T

he national leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari , has expressed shock at the news of the demise of Professor Chinua Achebe.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of CPC, Rotimi Fashakin, Buhari described Achebe as a Nigerian writer who effectively combined intellectualism and simplicity.

His words: “His debut liter-

ary work, ‘Things fall apart’ published in 1958, has continued to attract wide readership across the globe. He was known for an inimitable courage in freely expressing his personal convictions on prevalent national discourse irrespective of the desire of the principalities in the land.

“He rebuffed two attempts by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government to confer national honours on him because of his conviction

that the PDP, as a party, had not given Nigerians any hope of responsible governance.”

Buhari, therefore, on behalf of the Board of Trustees (BoT), National Executive Council (NEC) and the members of the CPC across the nation-space and in the Diaspora, condoled with the immediate family members of Professor Achebe on this tragic loss, praying the Almighty God to grant the family and the entire nation the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Great loss to humanity –Fashola

L

agos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), yesterday expressed grief at the passage of literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe, describing his death as a great loss not only to the literary world but

humanity.

Governor Fashola, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, recalled his meeting with Professor Achebe last December at Brown University, Providence

His death, a monumental loss –PDP

T

he leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lamented the death of Nigerian born, world acclaimed literary giant, Prof. Chinua Achebe, describing his passage as a “monumental national loss.”

The party said Achebe will be greatly remembered for his unwavering anti-corruption stand; his efforts towards promoting high moral values in the country as well as his contributions toward national development.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in a statement yesterday said the party

received the news of Achebe’s death with deep sadness especially as he left when the nation needed his wise counsels the most.

“Achebe was a rare gift to the nation. He was a hero and a great patriot who used his intellectual and physical energies to wage an unrelenting war against corruption and championed the inculcation of true moral values and social integrity in our polity.

“Achebe’s contribution to national human capital development using his books is unprecedented. His works stood out in projecting African cultural and social values. He used them to

in Rhodes Island United States, where he had gone to deliver a keynote paper at the 2012 Achebe Colloquium on Africa, saying he was particularly saddened by the fact that there was nothing that indicated that the meeting would be the last.

Fashola said: “I am particularly saddened by the fact that when I met him at Brown University last December, I never realized it will be my last with him. It is, indeed a great loss and given the great contribution he has made in shaping the course of African Literature, he will be sorely missed, especially by the literary world.”

Describing the literary icon as “Father of modern African Literature”, Governor Fashola declared: “He is a towering African figure whose personality transcends the walls of ethnicity and religion and whose literary prowess has taken Nigeria and, indeed, the African continent to the pinnacle of international recognition.

He was an anti-graft crusader –APGA

T

he National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has said with the death of Prof. Chinua Achebe, Africa, Nigeriaand Ndigbo have lost one of the greatest people God ever gave them.

Umeh described Achebe as a great literally mind, consummate Nigerian and complete Igbo man, whose fight against corruption and bad leadership in Nigeria is second to none.

His words: “From his books; ‘The Trouble with Nigeria, there was a country’ he captured his vision and account of what

made Nigeria underdeveloped in the midst of plenty resources.

“No doubt, in his death, Nigeria and Africa have lost an eloquent voice against injustice, corruption, oppression and bad leadership. The vacuum created by his death will be very difficult to fill in Nigeria.

“Prof Wole Soyinka and a few others should continue the struggle from where Prof Achebe bowed out. Our condolence goes to Ndigbo and Nigeria for the loss of a courageous and gallant crusader for social justice and good leadership.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 55

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March 23, 2013

Saturday Starter

Achebe

exits at 82 JIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

F

oremost Nigerian novelist, Albert Chinualumogu Achebe is dead. He died yesterday morning at the age of 82 after a protracted illness in a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.

A competent source close to the family, who pleaded anonymity, because he was not authorised by the author’s family to speak on the matter, said Achebe, made popular the world over by his first novel and magnum opus, Things Fall Apart, had for sometime been ill and was hospitalised in an undisclosed hospital in Boston.

His death was also confirmed by the Anambra State government, which spoke through a Mike Udah,

spokesman to Peter Obi, the state governor. The state said that the entire South-Eastern Nigeria was mourning its “illustrious son.”

Until his death, Achebe worked at the Brown University, Boston, Massachusetts as a professor of African Studies. He was also a David and Marianna Fisher professor of the University.

Born in Ogidi, in present day Anambra State on November 16, 1930, to Isaiah Okafor and Janet Anaenechi Iloegbunam Achebe, who were converts to the Protestant Church Mission Society (CMS), Achebe’s unabbreviated name, Chinualumogu, which meant “May God fight on my behalf ”, was a prayer for divine protection and stability. The Achebe family had five other surviving children, who were named in a similar fusion of traditional words relating to their new religion: Frank

Okwuofu, John Chukwuemeka Ifeanyichukwu, Zinobia Uzoma, Augustine Nduka, and Grace Nwanneka.

At age six in 1936, Achebe entered St Philips’ Central School, where despite his childish protests, he was made to spend a week in the religious class for young children, but was quickly moved to a higher class when his rare intelligence was noted by the school’s chaplain.

One of his teachers described the young Achebe “as the student with the best handwriting in the class, and the best reading skills.”

At the age of 12, Achebe left his family and moved to the village of Nekede, about four kilometres from Owerri, where he enrolled as a student at the Central CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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March 23, 2013

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Saturday Starter

Achebe

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 School, where his older brother John Chukwuemeka Achebe taught. In 1944, he sat entrance examinations for and was accepted at both the prestigious Dennis Memorial Grammar School in Onitsha and the more prestigious Government College in Umuahia.

Achebe chose Government College, Umuahia, established in 1929, perhaps because of its being modelled after the British public school, and also funded

by the colonial administration. He spent only four years in the school instead of the normal five years, having been double-promoted in his first year. He often recollected that his first punishment was meted to him for asking a classmate to pass the soap in Igbo language against the rule that made English language the accepted language in the school.

In 1948, Achebe was admitted as a Major Scholar in the first intake to the then University College, now University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier university, as

a result of the high marks he scored in the entrance examination and was given a scholarship to study Medicine. But after a year of gruelling study, Achebe changed course to English, History and Theology and thus lost his scholarship and had to pay tuition.

Achebe debuted as a writer in 1950, when he wrote a piece titled the “Polar Undergraduate” for the college’s University Herald.

Achebe began his working career as English teacher at the Merchants of

The controversial book H

is personal memoirs of the civil war, ‘There was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra” was released in September 2012 to both acclaim and criticism, owing to certain edgy issues he raised, which although criticised by some because the Biafran War remains a thorny issue in Nigeria’s side. The deceased pointed damning fingers at some of Nigeria’s revered statesmen as to the outcome of the three-year war including Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and General Yakubu Gowon (Rted); both active players in the conflict.

Achebe, who was once Biafra’s cultural ambassador used this memoir in the role of a defining historian. Family history and the circumstances of Achebe’s birth, education and career as a writer and intellectual, are inextricably intertwined in the book with colonialism, which Achebe describes in a metaphor that extends and specifies the Igbo proverb.

Achebe had confirmed in an interview prior to the release of the book that the story ‘haunted him for four decades, and had to be told then’. His death after the release of his personal memoirs has further strengthened the belief especially amongst his kinsmen, that Achebe’s life and existence had prophetic inkling.

Light School, Oba, where he taught for only four months before he grabbed an opportunity to work at the Nigerian Broadcasting Service (NBS) in 1954.

It was while at the NBS that Achebe met Christie Okoli, who later became his wife. They got married in 1961 and had four children.

In 1962, Achebe was chosen as the General Editor of the African Writers Series, published by the famous international publishers, Heinemann.

Achebe was also a major player in the Biafran war. He was an ambassador of the Biafran government and his personal memoirs of the war, There was a Country, which was published last year generated a lot of controversies, especially the section of the book which dwelt on the role of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the war.

After the war in 1970, Achebe took a job at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka and once again got himself immersed in academia, although he was unable to travel outside the country, because the Nigerian government revoked his passport due to his support for Biafra.

He was a staunch supporter of the defunct Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the Second Republic and rose to become its deputy national chairman in 1983.

The 1983 election was marked with fraud and violence. Achebe later got into a heated argument with the newly elected governor of Kano State on the PRP platform, Barkin Zuwo, which almost resulted in fisticuffs. He thereafter left the PRP and until his death kept his distance from politics, expressing sadness at the dishonesty and weakness of Nigerian politicians.

Achebe’s classic quotes “We shall all live. We pray for life, children, a good harvest and happiness. You will have what is good for you and I will have what is good for me. Let the kite perch and let the egret perch too. If one says no to the other, let his wing break.”

– Things Fall Apart “A proud heart can survive general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride. It is more difficult and more bitter when a man fails alone.”

– Things Fall Apart “Age was respected among his people, but achievement was revered. As the elders said, if a child washed his hands he could eat with kings.”

-Things Fall Apart “The land of the living was not far removed from the ancestors. There was coming and going between them, especially at festivals and also when an old man died, because an old man was very close to the ancestors. A man’s life from birth to death was a series of transition rites which brought him nearer and nearer to his ancestors”.

–Things Fall Apart

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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March 23, 2013

Saturday Starter

The bravery of an iconoclastic writer “I HAVE WATCHED PARTICULARLY THE CHAOS IN MY OWN STATE OF ANAMBRA WHERE A SMALL CLIQUE OF RENEGADES, OPENLY BOASTING ITS CONNECTIONS IN HIGH PLACES, SEEMS DETERMINED TO TURN MY HOMELAND INTO A BANKRUPT AND LAWLESS FIEFDOM.

I AM

APPALLED BY THE BRAZENNESS OF THIS CLIQUE

AND THE SILENCE, IF NOT CONNIVANCE, OF THE

PRESIDENCY”. - CHINUA ACHEBE

ADENRELE NIYI

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

T

hose powerful words, as spoken earlier by Chinua Achebe, one of modern African literature’s most strident voices, defined the ethos and steel-mindedness which shaped and propelled Achebe’s personal life and professional writing to eponymous status. Twice, the iconic Nigerian-born writer refused the Nigerian honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (2004 and 2011); part of the reasons for declining the honour was captured in the public statement he made above.

Only last week, the rumour mills were agog with Prof. Achebe’s state of health and speculated demise prompting Saturday Mirror to reach out to his niece, Ngozi Achebe, who confirmed that although the literary icon was hospitalised, it was nothing serious. She had told the paper that it was ‘a slight fever’.

However, Saturday Mirror gathered that after repeated visits to the hospital between that time and yesterday, Achebe passed on in the early hours of Friday, bringing to an end an era of literary excellence which was the hallmark of his writing career that spanned almost six decades.

Humble beginning Born on November 16, 1930 in Nnobi, a settlement nearby his hometown of Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Albert Chinualumogu Achebe, entered the land of the living in a pastoral setting which ultimately provided the perfect backdrop for his novels’ characters and world he created for them. It was the hey days of colonial rule in Nigeria and his father became a Christian and worked for a missionary teacher in various parts of Nigeria

before returning to Ogidi. Achene, then only five, recalled the homecoming as a passage backward through time.

Literary exposure A young Achebe received what was to become the foundation of his literary power from the tutoring at the prestigious Government College, Umuahia; he started to explore the school’s “wonderful library”. There he discovered Booker T. Washington’s “Up From Slavery”, the autobiography of an American former slave; Achebe “found it sad, but it showed him another dimension of reality”. He also read classic novels, such as Gulliver’s Travels (1726), David Copperfield (1850), and Treasure Island (1883) together with tales of colonial derring-do such as H. Rider Haggard’s Allan Quatermain (1887) and John Buchan’s Prester John (1910). After he was educated (English, History and Religion) at the University of Ibadan, Achebe taught briefly before joining the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) as director of external broadcasting (1961–1966).

Emergence of a writer Just prior to joining NBC, Achebe burst onto the world literary scene with the publication in 1958 of his first novel, “Things Fall Apart,” which has sold more than 10 million copies and been translated into 45 different languages.

Set in the Ibo countryside in the late 19th century, the novel tells the story of Okonkwo, who rises from poverty to become an affluent farmer and village leader. But with the advent of British colonial rule and cultural values, Okonkwo’s life is thrown into turmoil. In the end, unable to adapt to the new status quo, he explodes in frustration, killing an African in the employ of the British and then committing suicide.

The novel, which is also compelling for its descriptions of traditional Ibo society and rituals, went on to become a

Achebe in 1960

classic of world literature and was often listed as required reading in university courses in Europe and the United States.

But when it was first published, “Things Fall Apart” did not receive unanimous acclaim. Some British critics thought it idealised pre-colonial African culture at the expense of the former empire. A few other novels by Achebe early in his career were occasionally criticised by reviewers as being stronger on ideology than on narrative interest.

Besides novels, Achebe’s works included powerful essays and poignant short stories and poems rooted in the countryside and cities of his native Nigeria, before and after independence from British colonial rule. His most memorable fictional characters were buffeted and bewildered by the conflicting pulls of traditional African culture and invasive Western values.

For inspiration, Achebe drew on his own family history as part of the Ibo nation of southeastern Nigeria, a people victimised by the racism of British colonial administrators and then by the brutality of military dictators from other Nigerian ethnic groups.

The 1960s proved to be a creatively fer-

tile period for Achebe and he wrote the novels No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964) and A Man of the People (1966), all of which address the issue of traditional ways of life coming into conflict with new, often colonial, points of view. In a related endeavour, in 1967, Chinua Achebe and Christopher Okigbo, a renowned poet, cofounded a publishing company, the Citadel Press, which they intended to run as an outlet for a new kind of African-oriented children’s books. Okigbo was soon killed, however, in the Nigerian civil war. Two years later, Achebe toured the United States with Gabriel Okara and Cyprian Ekwensi, fellow writers, giving lectures at various universities. The 1960s also marked Achebe’s wedding to Christie Chinwe Okoli in 1961, and they went on to have four children.

Over the years, Achebe’s stature grew until he was considered a literary and political beacon.

Activism, car-crash and living abroad Achebe’s political thinking evolved from blaming colonial rule for Africa’s woes to frank criticism of African rulers and the African citizens who tolerated their corruption and violence. He

6

March 23, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Literary giants mourn Prof. Elechi Amadi

Odia Ofeimun

Poet and ex-school mate

Poet, writer

I Okediran

Dr. Wale Okediran

Author, ex-President ANA

A

chebe was a great man.

He is a loss to the literary world. As the founder of Africa’s largest and most enduring writers’ body, Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, of which I am a past president, I am greatly saddened by his death. His last controversial book notwithstanding, he should be given a state burial, the Federal Government should give him a state burial. In addition, an important public facility such as an airport or university should be named after him. May his soul rest in peace.

t is difficult to discuss African literature for any length of time without mentioning Chinua Achebe; he was a great pioneer and don’t forget he started the Association of Nigeria Authors. At the first meeting many years ago, he called all of us to Nsukka that was the beginning of ANA. We attended the same school not only that, we lived in the same school house; Niger house. He was three years my senior and at one point, he was the prefect of our house; we had that personal relationship.

Whenever we met when he was alive, we spent our time dis-

I Amadi

cussing and laughing about our school times and we hardly had time to talk about literature.

He was a great contributor to African literature and not only Africa will mourn him but the whole world. He is a global literary figure no doubt about that.

t’s painful to hear of Achebe’s death, a man who produced his best and whose best has become part of everyone of us. I mean he takes something of each of us when he died. We owe him so much and irrespective of how much we disagreed with Achebe his stories will last for very long.

Many of us will have to remember that last controversial book, “There was a Country”, because it may help us understand his earlier books better.

I disagree vehemently with the import of that last book, it tells

us a lot that we should have argued about much earlier

Prof. Femi Osofisan Renowned author, scholar

Mukoma Wa Ngugi

I

Author and son of Kenyan writer, Ngugi Wa Thiongo

I Ngugi

Ofeimun

do not see Achebe’s passing as ‘real death’. If you are a writer who has left so much of yourself in the world and on whose shoulders others will stand for generations to come, can you be said to be truly dead? All the same, my condolences to the Achebe family for whom the man was first a husband, father, brother, uncle and friend”.

Osofisan

t is still a shock even though he was old enough. Achebe was one of the truly great minds of his generation, who could be both grandly right and grandiosely wrong! That is perhaps why he has ended amidst a burning controversy for such is always the paradox of genius.

Only the small stars die without a noise. I am convinced that Achebe will continue to speak to us; perhaps even louder now from the grave.

The bravery of an iconoclastic writer CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 was very critical of his own country. The novels “A Man of the People” and “No Longer at Ease” were stories of corruption and collapse that anticipated the Nigerian civil war of 1967-70 and the years of mismanagement that followed. He not only supported Biafra’s independence, but was a government envoy and a member of a committee that was to write up the new and short-lived country’s constitution. He would flee from Nigeria and return many times and in 2004 refused the country’s second-highest award, the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, in protest over conditions under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Achebe had lived for many years in the United States, where he was a university professor, most recently at Brown, where he joined the faculty in 2009 as a professor of African studies after teaching for 19 years at Bard College in the Hudson River valley.

He continued to believe that writers and storytellers ultimately held more power than army strongmen.

“Only the story can continue beyond the war and the warrior”, an old soothsayer observes in Achebe’s 1988 novel, “Anthills of the Savannah”. “It is the story that saves our progeny from blunder-

ing like blind beggars into the spikes of the cactus fence. The story is our escort; without it, we are blind”.

On March 22, 1990, Achebe was riding in a car to Lagos when an axle collapsed and the car flipped. His son Ikechukwu and the driver suffered minor injuries, but the weight of the vehicle fell on Achebe and his spine was severely damaged. He was flown to the Paddocks Hospital in Buckinghamshire, England, and treated for his injuries. In July, doctors announced that although he was recuperating well, he was paralysed from the waist down and would require the use of a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

After the car crash and apart from a well-publicised visit in 2008 to his kinsmen to celebrate 50 years of his acclaimed book, ‘Things Fall Apart’, Achebe kept a conspicuous distance from Nigeria’s celebrity circuit and rarely visited the country. Prof Achebe limited his adventures to those of literary interest. In 1971, he became the founding editor of Okike, one of Africa’s most influential literary magazines, where a generation of Nigerian writers found a voice. He edited Okike as a Professor of English at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, United States from 1972-1976. His immense contribution to the reading culture in Nigeria is invaluable. Achebe

was Series Editor of the Longman’s African Writers Series. Achebe is a recipient of several honorary doctorates and international literary prizes. He was a member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.

Achebe never did win the Nobel Prize, which many believed he deserved, but in 2007 he did receive the Man Booker International Prize, a $120,000 honour for lifetime achievement.

A recipient of over 30 honorary degrees from universities in England, Scotland, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria and the United States, including Dartmouth College, Harvard, and Brown University, Achebe has been awarded the Commonwealth Poetry Prize, a Honorary Fellowship of the American Academy of Arts and Letters (1982), a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2002), the Nigerian National Order of Merit (Nigeria’s highest honour for academic work), the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, the Man Booker International Prize 2007 and the 2010 Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize.

Achebe wrote other novels, including: No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966) and Anthills of the Savannah (1987). His short stories were: Marriage Is A Private

Affair (1952), Dead Men’s Path (1953), The Sacrificial Egg and Other Stories (1953), Civil Peace (1971), Girls at War and Other Stories, including “Vengeful Creditor” (1973), African Short Stories (editor, with C.L. Innes) (1985), Heinemann Book of Contemporary African Short Stories (editor, with C.L. Innes) (1992) and The Voter. He also wrote children books among which were: Chike and the River (1966), How the Leopard Got His Claws (with John Iroaganachi) (1972), The Flute (1975) and The Drum (1978).

Achebe’s other works were poetry, which include: Beware, Soul-Brother, and Other Poems (1971), Don’t let him die: An anthology of memorial poems for Christopher Okigbo (editor, with Dubem Okafor) (1978), Another Africa (1998), Collected Poems (2005), Refugee Mother and Child and Vultures, while his essays, criticism, non-fiction and political commentaries include: The Novelist as Teacher (1965), An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” (1975), Morning Yet on Creation Day (1975), The Trouble With Nigeria (1984), Hopes and Impediments (1988), Home and Exile (2000), Education of a British protected Child (2009) and the controversial There Was A Country: A Personal History of Biafra, (2012).

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NATIONAL NEWS

March 23, 2013

7

E/Guinea offers Nigerians oil blocks •Confers highest honour on Jonathan ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

P

resident of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo yesterday said his country was ready to involve Nigerians in the exploration of oil in the country by making oil blocks available to those who are interested in country’s oil industry.

Speaking at a joint press conference with President Goodluck Jonathan, who was on a two-day official visit to the country, Mbasogo said his country would like to rely on the vast experience of Nigerians in the business to develop his country’s oil and gas sector.

Since striking oil in the 1990s, Equatorial Guinea,

a former Spanish colony which is off West Africa, has recently become one of sub-Sahara’s biggest oil producers and in 2004 was said to have the world’s fastest growing economy.

Speaking further on the offer, Mbasogo said: “It is true that Nigeria has been in oil and gas business for the past 40, 50 years whereas we just started recently and the experience that you have is far larger than ours. That is why we place our trust and confidence in our Nigerian brothers to help and assist us to develop the sector.

“In the past, we have allocated oil concession to members of this sector from Nigeria but for one reason or the other, this did

not actually yield the fruits expected. But nevertheless, we are still willing to offer oil concessionary blocks to those business people from Nigeria who will be willing to try their luck again.

“You know there is a great deal of luck issue in oil prospecting in the oil industry. It is not easy. It involves a lot but we still have a great deal of confidence that the experience of Nigeria can always be beneficial to the people of Equatorial Guinea in the growth of our oil and gas sector.”

On his own part, Jonathan commended the level of cordial relations between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, which he observed have been maintained from pre-colonial

and colonial times, saying that he was delighted to hear from President Mbasogo that Nigerians in the country were well behaved.

However, he stressed the need for the NigerianGuinea Bi-National Commission to meet regularly in order to address pending consular issues and those that may arise in future.

In a joint communique issued at the end of their bilateral talks, both leaders agreed to concretize cooperation in areas of mutual benefit including defence and security; trade, aviation, energy, culture and tourism; agriculture, telecommunications, shipping, environment, education, health and consular matters.

“In this context, the two heads of state instructed the Foreign Ministers of

the two countries to ensure the completion of all draft agreements exchanged between the two countries before the sixth session of the Joint Commission of Cooperation,” the communiqué stated.

In the communique, Mbasogo commended Jonathan “for his determination and firmness in the fight against terrorism and piracy, in accordance with the commitments made by all member states of the Gulf of Guinea Commission and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union.”

The two heads of states reiterated support for the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) in the search for

lasting solutions to the conflicts plaguing the states of the Central African Republic, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Guinea Bissau.

Meanwhile, Jonathan has been conferred with the award of Grand Collar of the Order of Independence, the highest award in Equatorial Guinea.

The Equatorial President decorated Jonathan with the medal at a State dinner organized in his honour at the Presidential Palace in Malabo in recognition of his contributions to peace, stability and development of the oil-rich country.

The honour which is normally reserved for visiting Heads of State, confers on Jonathan the rights and privileges of an Equatorial Guinean citizen.

Mainstreet Bank, FG, ex-staff reach agreement on gratuity

M

L-R: Secretary-General of Afenifere, Senator Femi Okunrounmu; former Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya and Secretary of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Senator Anthony Adefuye, at a press conference in Lagos yesterday on state pardon granted to Diya.

Sambo’s supporters in fatal crash A ZA MSUE KADUNA

T

ragedy occurred yesterday in Kaduna, as two supporters of Vice President Namadi Sambo were killed in a fatal convoy accident, with many others injured as they were returning from the Kaduna International airport.

The accident occurred shortly after the supporters had welcomed Sambo on arrival to Kaduna for the zonal reconciliation meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the retinue of supporters was driving to Kaduna city amidst jubilation at about 6 pm.

Saturday Mirror gathered that Sambo arrived Kaduna for the PDP reconciliation meeting with the stakeholders in the North

West zone, which was scheduled for today at the General Hassan Usman Katsina House, Kawo, Kaduna.

The Vice President’s Director General, Media and Publicity,Alhaji Umar Sani, said that both the dead and the injured persons have

been taken to Army 44 Reference Hospital, Kaduna.

Sani said: “It was not directly the VP’s convoy that was involved in the accident, but one of the vehicles of his supporters, and in the process, two persons were killed, and many others

were injured, all of whom are now in the Army 44 Reference Hospital, Kaduna.”

Also expected at today’s meeting is PDP national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as well the governors elected on the platform of the PDP from the zone.

OMEIZA AJAYI

ji Isa Bello Sali.

While promising to rededicate the commitment of the service to the government and the Nigerian people, Mr Aji assured that he would sustain the ongoing programmes of his predecessor in order to ensure a vibrant service.

The outgoing Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Sali who described his tenure as turbulent, said the pension saga was his most turbulent moment.

He said despite the gen-

eral outcry that greeted the scam and the public reaction that followed the arraignment of some civil servants which was little earthshaking, the support of the civil servants ensured the stormy waters was successfully navigated and the tension doused.

He attributed the success of his 18 months stay in office to the engagement of all stakeholders and keeping the communication channels open.

New HoS reads riot act to civil servants

T

he newly appointed Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, has read the riot acts to civil servants in the country, warning that he will not tolerate indolence in the service as all such cases would be severely dealt with.

Mr Aji spoke yesterday in Abuja while taking over from his predecessor, Alha-

ainstreet Bank at the weekend demonstrated its avowed commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) as management of the bank undertook to pay 100 per cent gratuity to former staff of the defunct Afribank Nigeria Plc. The agreement, between management of Mainstreet Bank, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and other Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), National Union of Banks, Insurance and other Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity would see the staff of former Afribank Nigeria Plc who were in the employment of the defunct bank as at 5th August, 2011 receiving 100 per cent of their gratuity.

According to the arrangement of the Bank, the Purchase and Assumption Agreement that led to the emergence of Mainstreet Bank Limited did not move the staff gratuity liabilities of the defunct Afribank Nigeria Plc to Mainstreet Bank Limited, therefore Mainstreet Bank Limited was not legally obligated to pay the gratuity of the staff of the defunct

Faith Tuedor-Matthews, Mainstreet Bank MD

Afribank.

The management of Mainstreet Bank said it decided to put human face to the whole bridge mechanism, which had seen National Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) taken over the delinquent Afribank Nigeria following the revocation of its banking licence by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Mainstreet Bank commended the contributions of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), noting that the agreement was reached after months of negotiation brokered by the ministry between the bank and the labour unions. AMCON is the beneficial owner of Mainstreet Bank.

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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Tragedy as couple, five others perish in Ogun auto crash FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

T L-R: Minister of Tourism, Chief Edem Duke; Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom; Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah and her Petroleum counterpart, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Madueke at a meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, recently.

One-third of Nigerian population have access to water –Minister MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

L

ess than two years to Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target by the Federal Government to provide safe drinking water to 75 percent of Nigeria’s population, Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, yesterday said that only 32 percent of the nation’s population (about one-third) had access to water.

The minister, who said this at this year’s World Water Day commemoration in Abuja, added that growing population in the country makes provision of potable water a challenge for government. Nigeria’s population is projected to be 170 million at present.

She pleaded for stakeholder’s support to help achieve the MDGs water target for the country which she emphasized was possible.

Ochekpe said of this year Water Day Commemoration: “This year has been declared as the International Year for Water Cooperation (IYWC).

The objectives of this year’s celebration are to raise awareness and foster increased cooperation in addressing the challenges facing water management with regards to greater demand for water access, allocation and services.

“This year’s celebration will also highlight the history of successful water cooperation initiatives and identify emerging and burning issues on water education, water diplomacy, trans-boundary water management, financing cooperation, National and

international legal frameworks amongst others.

“Therefore, it provides us with the opportunity to evaluate our present level of cooperation and initiate strategies to forge new levels of cooperation, collaboration and partnerships to address the challenges facing sustainable development of water infrastructure in order to meet the MDG target of 2015 and prepare ground for the take off of the post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals where there is strong agitation to water declare a Stand Alone Goal.

“Nigeria is blessed with abundant water resources, our water resources potential is estimated at 267 billion cubic metres of surface water and 92 billion cubic metres of ground water.

However, with the growing population, access to quality safe drinking water and sanitation has been a challenge. Statistics have shown that only 60 percent of the population has access to safe drinking water while access to sanitation is put at 32 percent. These fall short of the MDG 2015 target of 75 percent, 65 percent sanitation while the African Water vision for 2025 is 100 percent coverage. Statistics also show that Nigeria needs N350 million yearly to meet water and sanitation target.”

Meanwhile 66 million Nigerians currently lack access to potable water, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said.

The agency gave the figure in a release to remind government and stakeholders on the need to step up efforts to provide water for

the nation’s teeming population, especially the children, on the occasion of this year World Water Day. UNICEF said: “Of the 783 million people worldwide without improved drinking water, there are 66 million in Nigeria. On the other hand, there are 109 million people in Nigeria without improved sanitation. These high numbers of people without access places put Nigeria third and fourth on the list of countries globally with large populations without access to improved

water sources and sanitation respectively.

It noted that child mortality data show that Nigeria is among the five countries contributing about half of the global underfive deaths. Other countries, it said, include India, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Pakistan and China. “Two countries – India (24 percent) and Nigeria (11 percent) account for over a third of all deaths of children under-five years of age, globally”, UNICEF revealed.

ragedy befell residents of the cement town of Ibese in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State late Thursday night as trucks allegedly belonging to Dangote Cement factory crushed seven people to death.

An unidentified couple was alleged to have been among the six males and one female victims of the accidents which involved three trucks of the cement company.

Saturday Mirror reliably gathered that six of the victims were on two separate motorbikes, popularly called “okada”, while the seventh victim, a motor-boy of one of the trucks was clubbed to death by the angry youths of the community who violently reacted to the accident.

The development was said to have caused pandemonium in the entire Ibese community as youths of the community reacted violently and burnt down two trucks of the cement company.

The Itori Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Fatai Bakare, who confirmed the

accident to newsmen yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital attributed the accident to the recklessness of the truck drivers.

Bakare explained that one of the truck drivers lost control of his vehicle, thereby crushing the couple along with four others who were on the bike.

“The accident occurred when an articulated vehicle lost control and rammed into two commercial motorcycles, killing a couple and four others on the spot. The vehicle belonging to Dangote group was angrily set ablaze; two others vehicles of the same company were also set ablaze where they were parked”.

Bakare said that the angry mob burnt the three vehicles before his team and police team could arrive the scene of the crash, adding that the seventh victim was one the drivers of the three trailers, who was inside the truck when it was set ablaze by the angry mob .

He added that the number plates of the trucks had been removed before the arrival of his men and other security operatives, saying that the remains of the victims had been deposited at the Ilaro General Hospital morgue.

Extend state pardon to other 1997 coupists, Diya tells FG •Jonathan acted within the law – SAN TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE AND EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

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ormer Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd), has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to extend state pardon to all those who were involved in the 1997 phantom coup, adding that refusal to extend same gesture to them will make it become selective state pardon.

Speaking to newsmen at a press conference in his residence at Ikeja in Lagos yesterday, Diya, who commended both General Abdulsalam Abubakar and President Goodluck Jonathan administrations for giving him clemency and state pardon respectively said that he has forgiven all those who were behind his travail and detention over the 1997 coup saga.

The former Chief of the General Staff, while speak-

ing on the state of insecurity in the country, called on President Jonathan and the security agencies to change and adjust their tactics and approach in solving the insecurity problems in the country.

Diya, while speaking on the difference between clemency granted to him

by Abubakar’s regime and the state pardon by Jonathan’s administration, said: “There is difference between clemency and state pardon.

Clemency was authority to release us from detention and it was on the basis of the clemency granted to us that allowed us the state pardon.

The clemency allows us to be released from the prison while the state pardon allows us to receive all our full benefits. With the state pardon granted to me, I can now have access to all my benefits as a retired military officer.

The state pardon allows freedom without limitation.”

He expressed sincere

appreciation to President Jonathan for finding it expedient to use the power vested in him by Section 175 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to grant him and others state pardon, saying that the state pardon has exonerated him from the diabolic and unjust treatment meted out to him on the account of his principled opposition to forcrs of tyranny in the country.

He also expressed appreciation to former Head of State, General Abdusalam Abubakar and his Military Executive Council who “earlier gave us clemency. This clemency released us from our various places of detention.”

The former Chief of Defence Staff, while stressing the need for state pardon for other military officers and civilians linked to the 1997 coup, said that both the officers and civilians sentenced on the incidence must benefit from the Federal Government benevolence.

He also disclosed the possibility of releasing a book about his travail and many things surrounding the 1997 phantom coup.

Meanwhile, as criticisms continue to trail the state pardon granted former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Chris Uche has risen in defence of President Goodluck Jonathan’s action.

In an interview with Saturday Mirror, Uche argued that the constitution gives President Jonathan the power to pardon convicts, upon ratification by the Council of State.

According to the learned silk, since the National Council of State approved the clemency, “it means it was properly executed” by the president.

He said that the currently trailing the presidential gesture owes largely to the fact that Jonathan was Alamieyeseigha’s deputy.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NATIONAL NEWS

March 23, 2013

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INEC confirms proposing new registration fee OMEIZA AJAYI

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed proposing a new registration fee for groups applying to be registered as political parties.

The move, according to

the electoral umpire, is to discourage the proliferation of smaller parties as well as to use the money for some administrative costs.

Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, told Saturday Mirror in a telephone interview that the commission has put forward a proposal

to the political parties. He did not however say, if all registered political parties have adopted the N1 million proposed fee.

“There is a proposal which has just been put forward to the political parties for their input”, he said.

The Electoral Act empowers the commission to fix

the registration fee of political parties from time to time as it may deem necessary.

Consequently, INEC is said to have told the parties that the current N100,000 registration feeis not realistic.

Only few days ago, a group known as the African Peoples Congress (APC) announced that it

had paid its registration fee of N1 million to INEC. Section 78 (6) of the Electoral Act, says “an application for registration as a political party shall not be processed unless there is evidence of payment of administrative fee as may be fixed from time to time by the Commission”.

On the purported meet-

ing between the commission and the embattled All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Idowu denied knowledge of such, saying he was not aware.

“I’m not aware of any meeting between APC and INEC. Maybe there was such a meeting, but I’m not aware and can’t comment,” he said.

Kano bombing: Police quell reprisal attempt in Enugu DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

A L-R: Moderator/Former Managing Director, Samsung West Africa, Mr. Idonreyen Enang; Chief Host and Group MD, Verdant Zeal Limited, Mr. Tunji Olugbodi; Guest Lecturer and Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Chairman of the event, Mr. Bola Akingbade and Keynote Speaker, Mr. Udeme Ufot, during the Verdant Zeal Lecture Series, tagged “Beyond Branding: Building Lasting Values for Nigeria’s Growth” in Lagos, yesterday.

Church condemns Kano bomb attack •Urges Christians to be Christ-like OMEIZA AJAYI

T

he Northern Regional District of the Foursquare Gospel Church has condemned Monday evening’s bomb attack on a bus station in Kano State, describing it as wicked and selfish.

Consequently, the church said it will next week commence a five-day revival programme in Abuja, tagged ‘Jesus the King 2013’. It said the programme is meant to reawaken Christians to the demands of their faith in a nation that is fast growing Christ less.

The church, however, stated that since the gov-

ernment says it would not negotiate with “ghosts”, it is incumbent on aggrieved individuals or groups to come up and make their grievances known with a view to engaging the government in meaningful dialogue.

Regional Overseer of the Church, Rev Isaac Komolafe, told journalists at a news briefing in Abuja that the Kano attack is capable of reopening old wounds, urging Christians to deepen their faith in God rather than retaliate.

His words: “The recent bombing of the Sabon Gari Motor Park in Kano in which scores of people were killed and many oth-

ers injured is one that has opened up the wounds that we were thinking will begin to heal with all the talks about ceasefire by the Boko Haram sect and the clamour for amnesty by some Northern leaders of thought.

“This is a wicked and devilish act of terrorism, which does not add anything but evil to our sense of nationhood. You will agree with me that the situation is very disturbing and it is one that needs the collective efforts of all to address irrespective of creed, religion, tribe and interest.

We strongly condemn this and other brazen acts of terrorism in the North. We believe it is high time the

government took decisive step to curb this menace.”

Rev. Komolafe, who added that righteousness exalts a nation, also noted that the level of corruption in the country is frightening and capable of bringing the nation down to its knees in the nearest future.

“We therefore appeal to the Federal Government to fight corruption not only in words but in deed. This is in reference to cases like the fuel subsidy and power probes,” he said.

He urged leaders at all levels to continue to be just in their dealings with the people, noting that the day of accountability is fast approaching.

‘Shun Jonathan, declare amnesty for Boko Haram’ A ZA MSUE KADUNA

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he umbrella organization of Northern youths known as Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), yesterday called on the 19 Northern governors to shun President Goodluck Jonathan and declare amnesty for Boko Haram for peace to reign in the troubled region.

In a statement signed

by its National President, Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, after the forum’s emergency meeting which held in Kaduna, the youths accused President Jonathan of playing politics with the Boko Haram insurgency, which had further compounded challenges confronting Northern region.

The AYF added that politicizing the Boko Haram issue has done more damage

than good based on the situation on ground, stressing that governors of the region should act fast to salvage the region which from economic and social comatose.

The statement read in part: “That the 19 Northern state governors should, as a matter of preserving the Northern Nigeria region from extinction and attaining failed state status, grant amnesty to the Boko

Haram sect and all other groups responsible for the restiveness in Northern Nigeria. This is important, all Northern governors, members of National and state Assemblies must rise, roll their sleeves, because if the situation persists, there may not be a Northern Nigeria region again as a political and geographical entity in the larger sovereign state of Nigeria.

ttempt to retaliate on some Hausa traders at Ogbete market in Enugu by some people described as miscreants was immediately quelled by the police in the aftermath of last Monday’s bombing in Kano.

Though the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu, denied that there was a retaliation attempt, the youth leader of the Hausa community in Enugu, Mohammed Ibrahim, popularly referred to as IBB told Saturday Mirror that two motor park touts at Ogbete market on Tuesday attacked some Hausa petty traders but that the Central Police station arrived the scene on time and controlled the situation IBB said that it was not much of a scene but that it did happen, adding that the situation was brought under control and that there was no more tension after that.

He denied that the Hausa community was relocat-

ing to 82 Division of the Nigerian Army barracks for safety, stressing that the Hausa community in Enugu state has always enjoyed cordial relationship with its host communities.

A Hausa tailor at Owerri road, Asata, known as Alhaji said that what took place at Ogbete market was an act of criminally.

“Those Agbero people just did that thing as an opportunity for them to steal because they just looted those cigar traders at the Ogbete motor park before the police came,” said Alhaji.

He denied that his people were seeking refuge at the army barracks, stating that what happened was not much an event.

Meanwhile, the traditional rulers in the South East, yesterday, rose from an executive council meeting with a resolution urging all Igbo to remain calm on the issue of Kano bombing.

Chairman of South East Traditional Rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, said the meeting condemned the Kano bombing but that Ndigbo all over the world should remain calm till further notice.

Tuberculosis on the increase in Nigeria – Minister MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

T

he Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, has said cases of tuberculosis (TB) are on the increase in Nigeria.

Prof Onyebuchi made this known in Abuja during the commemoration of World Tuberculosis Day, yesterday.

According to him, “the number of TB cases notified in the country has been on the increase over the years with about 97,799 TB cases notified in 2012. 81,156 of these cases (83 per cent) were tested

for HIV, with the positivity rate of 26 per cent.”

“A total of 190,000 new TB cases were estimated in the country in 2011, out of which 27,000 persons died,” the minister said.

TB, according to him, is further made worse in the country by the challenges of HIV co-infection, drug-resistant TB and TB among children.

The minister however listed government efforts in fighting the disease to include commissioning of National TB prevalence survey with the field activities of the survey being completed.

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SOUTH WEST

Pressure mounts on Fayemi to replace ailing deputy ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

T

op politicians in Ekiti State have started mounting pressure on Governor Kayode Fayemi to replace his ailing deputy, Mrs Funmilayo Olayinka.

Sources said some prominent Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) members in the state are already strategising to fill the deputy governor’s seat any time it is declared vacant, just as others had begun presenting candidates to the governor.

The deputy governor, who is down with an undisclosed ailment, is said to be receiving treatment in Lagos.

The Ekiti State Government had, in a statement last Monday, declared that the deputy governor was on leave to attend to her health and it urged well meaning citizens of the state to pray for her.

Although government officials are keeping sealed lips on the thorny

issue, elder brother to the deputy governor and the Sasere of Ado Ekiti, Chief Olusegun Famuagun, confirmed the development, saying some “heartless politicians have begun moves to replace her.”

Famuagun, who said he confirmed the jostling for

his sister’s job during his meeting with Governor Fayemi, condemned those behind the scheming for their “inhuman moves.”

“For how many weeks has she (the deputy governor) been sick that they have started presenting another candidate to the

governor? We are all in this country, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan was ill, she even said she died seven times but she survived.

Some governors were also in the same situation lately. So, her case is not different. I can assure you

she will bounce back and those wishing her dead should stop playing God,” Famuagun said.

Insisting that his sister was hale and hearty before she assumed office, Famuagun added that he saw her last week Friday and had every cause to

believe that she would return to work soon. He also revealed that when her sickness became pronounced, he once suggested to her to resign if that would give her good health and her life, saying “her life is more important to us than the office.”

FEMI OYEWESO

also enlightened on the hazards of indoor air pollution prevalent among rural dwellers, was also intended to help unemployed youths, women and artisans as well as potential renewable energy entrepreneurs identify business opportunities that exist in the sector.

Declaring the workshop open, Ogun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Af-

fairs, Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipo, revealed that the state government had, earlier in the year, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BoI and UNDP on the project which will empower members of the Ogun communities to access renewable energy.

Oladipo, who stressed that the workshop stemmed from government’s belief in Public Pri-

vate Partnership (PPP) initiative, said that it would afford Ogun State the opportunity to demonstrate its readiness to transform the people at the grassroots into models for sustainable economic development.

In his address at the workshop, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industries, Bimbo Ashiru, expressed optimism that the project, Access to Renewable Energy (AtRE)

would improve the productivity of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector in the state.

Ashiru also said that the project would further develop the state economy in consonance with the federal government’s objectives of establishing National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) which aims to create three million jobs in the state.

Ogun partners BoI, UNDP on renewable energy

ABEOKUTA

T

he Ogun State Government in collaboration with the Bank of Industry (BoI) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) yesterday held a 3-day workshop to raise awareness on access to renewable energy technology for people living in the state.

The workshop, which

Lagos arrests 43 Area Boys at Oshodi

MURITALA AYINLA

W

orried by the recent complaints of resi-

•8 under-aged touts too dents on the activities of hoodlums, the Lagos State Taskforce on Envi-

ronment and Special Offences yesterday arrested 43 miscreants in Oshodi.

(L-R) Incoming teacher in German Language, Vivien Schwaneberg, Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye -Tomori, outgoing German Language teacher, Silke Matzke, Commissioner for Agric and Food Security, Mr. Wale Adedoyin and Special Adviser on Agric and Food Security, Mr. Festus Agunbiade at a Valedictory Service for Matzke, at the Governor’s Office in Osogbo, recently.

Oluwo stool: 10 princes storm Iwo, begin intense lobbying ADEOLU ADEYEMO OSOGBO

T

he race for the occupation of the vacant Oluwo throne in Iwo, Osun State may have commenced in earnest as no fewer than 10 Princes from the ruling houses in the community have reportedly relocated

from their various bases to the ancient town.

Sources close to the kingmakers revealed to Saturday Mirror that these Princes, who have been away from the town for a long period of time, are now back to strategise towards the final selection of the town’s new monarch. The Princes

are said to have the backing of their respective ruling houses.

However, at a press conference held in Iwo by the Ogunmakinde Ande ruling house of the town, it warned against kangaroo selection and installation of the new king, saying due process must be followed in the interest

of fair play, equity and justice.

The Heads of the Ogunmakinde Ande ruling house, Prince Babatunde Arowolo and Prince Kolawole Jabar, in a communiqué they read, urged the kingmakers not to be swayed by selfish people jostling for the stool.

Eight under-aged touts who were also arrested have been sent to the state’s remand home at Oregun.

They arrested persons were said to be suspected thugs who had been snatching bags and unleashing terror on unsuspecting commuters early in the mornings at Oshodi that several residents had complained of.

Speaking on the arrest, the Taskforce Chairman, CSP Bayo Sulaiman, said the hoodlums were arrested around 4.30am at their various hideouts, saying that two of the 43 suspected hoodlums initially arrested who proved their innocence had been freed.

Sulaiman, who said the arrest was a spontaneous

reaction to the complaints of residents who had been robbed by the hoodlums in the area lately, assured that the state would not relent in dealing with criminals.

“The raid on Oshodi will be constant. Once we discover that the miscreants resurface in the place, we will arrest them.

In all, 43 were initially arrested. Two of them who proved their innocence were released,” Sulaimon said.

He added that the suspects were arrested at the time they always carry out their nefarious activities, assured Lagosians that the taskforce is currently embarking on an understudy of the environment.

Tinubu, Fashola, Aregbesola, others for media award

N

ational leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governors Babatunde Fashola and Rauf Aregbesola of Lagos and Osun States respectively will be honoured with media awards next week in Lagos.

The award will be bestowed on the three leaders as well as many other eminent Nigerians by Factor magazine, an Ikorodu, Lagos State-based grass-

roots-focused publication.

Aregbesola, who is the Special Guest of Honour for the 10th anniversary celebration of the magazine, will also deliver a lecture with the theme: Nigeria’s structure: Federation, state governance and the role of grassroots journalists.

The awards ceremony will also feature the conferment of community builder awards on Tinubu Fashola and other prominent personalities.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

REGIONAL NEWS

March 23, 2013

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SOUTH EAST

Removal of traditional rulers: CD warns of impending communal strife DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

T

he South East zone of the Campaign for Democracy (CD) has warned of impending communal conflicts in the areas where their traditional rulers were dethroned by the Ebonyi State Government.

Governor Martin Elechi on Thursday announced the dethronement of four tra-

ditional rulers in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state for allegedly sabotaging the efforts of government from reclaiming the Nigeria Cement Company (NIGERCEM), Nkalagu.

The CD described the action as a “show of power and rascality in the state” and continued that it views the sack of the traditional rulers, the custodians of the culture and tradition of their

domains, over mere allegations without proper investigations by the governor, as “unfortunate and another attempt to instigate another bloody communal war in the already volatile area of the state.”

The South East zonal director of the group, Dede Uzor A Uzor, in a statement yesterday said that Elechi, an elder statesman, who should be preaching peace, is bent

on using state powers to cause disaffection in Ishielu where the raging Ezza-Ezillo communal war is ongoing.

The group said it was wrong for Elechi to dethrone the traditional rulers of Nkalegu, Umuhali and Nkaleha as the action could trigger communal strife in the areas.

“CD calls on Governor Elechi to follow due process in removing the traditional rulers by af-

L-R: Anambra State Commissioner for Water and Rural Development, Dr. Emeka Nwankwu, Governor Peter Obi and Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe during the presentation to the governor of the Rural Water and Sanitation Initiative (RWASI) award at the Rockview Hotel, Abuja, recently.

Smuggling: Owerri Customs boss talks tough CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

T

he new Area Comptroller of Customs, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’ Owerri, David Victor Dimka, has warned smugglers operating in the state to have a rethink or risk being hunted down and made to face the dire consequences of their ac-

tions. Dimka said this in an interaction with journalists at the zonal headquarters in Owerri, Imo State.

The Customs boss revealed that smugglers in the area have adopted new tactics which require the collaboration of all to tackle.

Identifying the new strategies being employed

by the smugglers, he said they now prefer to use the swampy routes which are difficult for his men to maneouver.

He commended the Rice Millers Importers and Distributors Association of Nigeria (RIMIDAN) for donating six Hilux patrol vans to the zone to strengthen its fight against smugglers and

said, “The vans can navigate these difficult routes without problems.”

He also called for a synergy between Nigerians and other security agencies to curb the evil activities of smugglers in the zone. He appealed to the public to volunteer information to the command to enable them track down smugglers.

Enugu seeks integrated approach to water access

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anaging Director of Enugu State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency (ENRUWASA), Mr Mike Oguama, has advocated for integrated approach by stakeholders to increase access to water supply.

Oguama made the call in Enugu in a ceremony to mark the 2013 World Water Day. He said if government and donor agencies in-

cluding UNICEF, Wateraid and NGOs should adopt such approach, access to safe water would be tremendously increased to better the life of mankind.

The water expert maintained that the adoption of demand-driven approach by the state government through the constitution of a committee to verify the need of every community was the greatest strategy to provide wa-

ter to the rural populace.

Oguama said one of the greatest challenges in the provision of safe water sources in some communities was their geological disposition.

His words, ``Some of the communities have peculiar problems and are not blessed with groundwater storage and perennial springs are difficult to come by,’’ he said.

Commissioner for Water Resources in the state,

Mr Charles Ajah, the state, also called for cooperation between and among groups and nations sharing trans-boundary river basins to ensure equitable and sustainable use of water. ``It is crucial not only to ensure the sustainable and equitable use of water but also to create and maintain peaceful relationship between people jointly exploiting this resource,’’ he said.

fording them the opportunity to defend themselves before a credible committee because this disrespect of Igbo tra-

ditional institution exhibited by the governor is an affront on Igbo tradition and culture,” the statement said.

Obi calls for speedy trial of tax evaders

A

nambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has called on the state judiciary to hasten the trial of tax evaders to increase the internally generated revenue (IGR) drive of the government.

Obi made the call in Awka Thursday night at a party organised by the office of the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Peter Umeadi.

Obi, who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the State Government, Oseloka Obaze, commended the idea of the dinner and expressed hope that it would be held annually.

He expressed worry over the lean revenue accruing to the state, asking the judiciary to ensure that tax evaders were speedily brought to book.

He announced that the state government had at-

tracted foreign investments to the tune of $100 billion to increase the tempo of development in the state and assured that the remaining days of his administration would be remembered for its developmental strides.

The governor also called for the appointment of younger lawyers into the judiciary to maintain the standard built by older lawyers.

The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Peter Afuba, assured that the judiciary would always work in line with the government for the common good of the people.

In his paper as the Guest Speaker, Justice John Nasam from Ghana pledged to collaborate with the Anambra State judiciary in the promotion of justice.

Onitsha vigilance group fetes serving, fallen members NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

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n commemoration of its 10-year anniversary, the Onitsha Main Market vigilance group in Anambra State has honoured some of its members, dead and living, that have contributed towards ensuring relative peace in the commercial city.

At a ceremony which attracted prominent members of Onitsha’s business community, the Commander-General of the outfit, Chief Chinenye Ihenko, described the group as a “child of circumstance which was conceived solely to compliment security agents’ efforts at ridding Onitsha of violent crimes.”

He used the occasion to commend Governor Peter Obi for his assistance to the group and also lauded the support

received from some past and present heads of police formations in Onitsha.

Several categories of awards like Safety Ambassadors Award, Youth Initiative Award and Distinguished Vigilante Award were presented to deserving members that were dead or still serving the group.

Some of those honoured include the late Innocent Obidike, Ebere Alabuike, Ojimbonu Okorie, Canice Amajuoyi, Udeagha Udensi, Chika Ekkwunife, Chinedu Osochukwu, Onnwuka Onwuka, among others.

In his speech, the chairman of Onitsha Main Market care-taker committee, Chief Innocent Agudiegwu, prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of operatives killed in action.

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REGIONAL NEWS

March 23, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SOUTH SOUTH

Edo: Cache of arms, 18 criminals intercepted in 2 weeks SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN CITY

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cache of 114 AK 47 rifles and seven boxes containing 6,300 AK 47 live ammunitions and other arms and

other dangerous weapons were recovered from criminals by the Edo State Police Command in the past two weeks. This was made known by Edo State police commissioner Foluso Adebanjo while parading some criminals

before journalists in Benin City.

18 criminals made up of armed robbers, kidnappers, car snatchers and child molesters were also arrested within the same period, Adebanjo further disclosed.

He also used the opportunity of the parade of the criminals to warn evil-minded ones still operating in the state to relocate from the state.

“We are going to go out after them to ensure that people of the state can

sleep with their two eyes closed,” he said. He was however silent on where the cache of ammunition was intercepted, saying that the case was still under investigation.

One of the car snatchers paraded, 39-year-old

Abba Josiah, was arrested for buying four Toyota Camry cars at Onitsha from one Emeka Onyeje who is now at large. He was arrested in Benin where he was selling the car to one Alhaji who is also at large.

Uduaghan commissions DESOPADEC free health care scheme in Ndokwa AMOUR UDEMUDE ASABA

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overnor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has flagged off the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) free health care scheme.

Flagging off the scheme yesterday at Ashaka in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the state, the governor, who was represented by the commissioner in charge of DESOPADEC, Mr. Timi Tonye, noted that DESOPADEC as an interventionist agency was set up by the state government to address the needs of oil producing communities in the state.

According to the governor, the free health care was targeted at the rural people and it

would be taken to them directly.

In his welcome speech, the commissioner repre-

senting Ndokwa ethnic nationality at DESOPADEC, Rev. Chukwudi Eke, stated that the free

health care scheme was in line with the human capital development programme of the state

government and he appealed to the people of the area to address their health challenges

Special Assistant to Rivers State Governor on Sewage Management, Dr. Ogu Emejuru ( r ) and the Spokesman of the Governor David Iyofor when they took journalists to the new ultra modern Waste Plant recently completed by the Amaechi administration in the state, recently.

through the scheme.

Eke, who explained that the scheme included surgery, dental examinations, eye surgery, provision of glasses, HIV/AIDS counselling and screening, maternal scans, diabetes screening, ear examination and many others maintained that the screening exercise was aimed at bringing health care delivery closer to the rural people who could not afford medical bills especially after the effect of the flood that ravaged the area last year.

He also disclosed that a team comprising 26 medical personnel from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba and led by the Chief Consultant, UBTH, Dr. Collins Iyamu, would attend to the patients in the state.

Rivers completes 71, 000 metre sewage plant

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he Rivers State Government has completed the construction of a 71, 000 cubic metre sewage plant for treating and processing waste in the state.

The waste processed by the plant would in turn be used for other things in the state.

Located in Oroworukwo community in the

Eagle Island area of the state, the project was conceived and executed by the Rotimi Amaechi administration. When commissioned, it will turn waste into fertilizer and methane gas for agricultural and domestic use.

Speaking to journalists during an inspection tour of the facility, Special Assistant to Gover-

nor Amaechi on Sewage Management, Dr Ogu Emejuru, said that apart from producing fertilizer and methane gas, the waste treatment and processing plant was also constructed to check the spread of diseases that come from the indiscriminate dumping of sewage in the state.

“About four years

ago, the governor had a vision to have a sewage plant because of the issues of dumping sewage in the creeks and in gutters.

When sewage is dumped indiscriminately, the issues of malaria, diarrhoea and typhoid fever would become the order of the day. So, the governor had the vision

that we should have a sewage plant where sewage will be dumped and processed into reusable materials like fertilizer, methane gas etc,” Emejuru said.

He also said the plant will process about 1,000 cubic metres of sewage per day or 20 truckloads of sewage daily, disclosing that talks are

Kidnapped UNIUYO female lecturer regains freedom

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female lecturer at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Dr Ime Udotong, who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen last Saturday, has regained her freedom.

The news of her release is contained in a statement signed by

Nwachukwu Anyim, chairman of the UNIUYO branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday following her release on Wednesday.

On whether any ransom was paid to effect her release, Anyim said, “The family would not

want to be dragged into that now. What we can say is that we are happy that she has regained her freedom.”

The union chairman expressed gratitude to security agencies in the state for living up to expectation as ASUU had, on Tuesday, carried out

a protest and issued 24hour ultimatum to security agencies in the state to hasten the release of their colleague.

Udotong, who is a lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry, was kidnapped by gunmen when she was returning from work.

Gov Akpabio

already on with sewage contractors in the state to be bringing sewage to the plant.

Also speaking, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr David Iyofor, said Governor Amaechi’s success of constructing the plant is further evidence that the governor gives priority to a cleaner environment.

Politics

Jonathan

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

March 23, 2013

13

Alamieyeseigha

Alamieyeseigha: How far can Jonathan’s govt go on corruption?

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

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he state pardon granted to former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and seven others last week has been generating lots of keen interest within and outside the shores of Nigeria.

It would be recalled that the National Council of State (NCS) last week Tuesday granted state pardon to Alamieyeseigha; former Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Major-Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua; former Chief of General Staff, Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya; former Minister of Works, the late Brig.-Gen. Abdulkarim Adisa; former Minister of Communication, MajGen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju; Major Bello Magaji; Alhaji Mohammed Lima Biu; and erstwhile Managing Director of Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama.

Since the news of the state pardon broke, there have being lots of commendation, criticisms, knocks and kudos trailing the action. Among those granted state pardon, the case of Alamieyeseigha seemed to have generated more controversies than others because many have faulted the state pardon granted to him, considering his antecedent.

Alamieyeseigha was impeached by the Bayelsa House of Assembly and prosecuted for money laundering and other corruption-related offences in 2007 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the leadership of its former boss, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, while Jus-

tice Dan Abutu of the Federal High Court in Lagos convicted him. He was jailed for corruption and ordered to forfeit illegally acquired assets.

While some people saw the state pardon as a good decision, many condemned it on account that it will be a great setback to the fight against corruption. Apart from various criticisms from Nigeria, the United States of America (USA) and other international organisations have also expressed dissatisfaction against President Goodluck Jonathan’s action.

The USA condemned the pardon granted, insisting that there was no justification to grant pardon to corrupt individuals as the action indicated a setback in the war against graft.

The Barack Obama administration last week Friday, through the State Department spokeswoman, Victoria Nuland, threatened to cut off aids to Nigeria or even sanction the African country after the government of President Jonathan pardoned a former governor accused of corruption.

“The United States’ government is deeply disappointed over the recent pardons of corrupt officials by the Nigerian government. We see this as a setback for the fight against corruption and also for our ability to play the strong role we’ve played in supporting rule of law and legal institution building in Nigeria, which is very important for the future of the country, obviously,” Nuland said.

Transparency International (TI), the global anti-corruption watchdog, also called on the President to rescind the state

pardon granted to Alamieyeseigha. TI, in a statement released by its Media and Public Relations Manager, Chris Sanders, criticized the decision, which may qualify Alamieyeseigha to stand for public office again.

TI’s vice chairman, Akere Muna, said: “This decision undermines anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria and encourages impunity.

If the government is serious about uprooting public corruption, sanctions against those who betray the public trust should be strengthened, not relaxed. President Jonathan should show that he is committed to fighting corruption and endorse the efforts of law enforcement agencies to end impunity for corrupt officials.”

The global anti-corruption watchdog said that one of the highlights of its disposition to the pardon granted the former governor of Bayelsa State and others convicted of corrupt practices is the fact that “Nigeria was ranked 139 out of 174 countries in the 2012 Corruptions Perceptions Index.”

Without any iota of doubt, corruption is regarded as one of the basic problems in the country. Some have even described corruption as a cancer that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the Nigerian system.

According to former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Nigeria has lost more than $500 billion in revenue to corruption since 1960.

A communiqué issued at the end of a one-day seminar on the “Trends of Corruption, Indiscipline and Disregard to Rules and Regulations” in Minna, Niger State, last week revealed that between 1960 and

1999, about $400 billion was stolen, while another $100 billion was siphoned from 1999 to date, thereby placing Nigeria in the 156th position out of 186 countries, on the Human Development Index (HDI).

The communiqué said corruption, indiscipline, disregard for rule and decline in ethics in both the public and private sector, was responsible for lack of growth and endemic poverty in the country, adding: “When individuals think that they are stealing on behalf of their people, they invariably ended up leaving their people and everyone impoverished.”

The communiqué said that corruption has become invidious and insidious virus afflicting Nigeria; and the bane of its development and unity that has also fuel a lack of faith in the survival of the country as a united nation.

It also said corruption became deeply entrenched in Nigerians’ polity since 1962, when the concept of the good of the region was replaced with the good of the individuals who made up the party in power.

It would be recalled that President Jonathan at his last presidential media chat on Sunday November 18, 2012, told Nigerians and the world that no government has fought corruption more than his.

His words: “I can assure Nigerians and the global community that this government is fighting corruption frontally and the results are obvious, it is just that sometimes some people confuses Nigerians. I believe that the efforts this government has made in terms of fighting corruption, CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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P

POLITICS

resently, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is having crisis at the national and state levels.

What efforts are being put in place by the Anambra PDP to resolve the various wrangling within the party ahead of the 2014 governorship election?

There is no political party that is free from crisis in Nigeria today. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a big family.

Even in small hamlet, when people compete for positions, people are bound to try as much as possible to outdo one another. Whenever people say all is not well with the PDP, I ask, which party is it well with? There is crisis in the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and other political parties. But the issue is, we (the PDP) have to come together as a family and handle it as family affair. As our Baba will always say, it is a family affair. The truth is this: there is no family in human associations that politics is not played.

Politics is where people try as much as possible to get to the end before the next person because it is just about interest. In politics, people are selfish. So, I disagreed with claims that all not being well with the PDP. It is all politics. But it is something that should be managed so that it won’t be that all the time we are on the front pages of newspapers, that is not the best.

We are putting a lot of things in place and our term of reference is just to resolve the crises in Anambra State PDP. It is true that the PDP is having crises in some of its own states but there is no party that doesn’t have crises, so it is not limited to the PDP alone. Every party is trying within its power to see what it can do to resolve its crises. We are doing everything possible to restructure the party before the next elections.

Considering how wrangling in Anambra PDP splinted the party during the 2010 governorship elections leading to many chieftains of the party contesting that election on the platform of opposition parties, don’t you think the wrangling would affect the party in the forthcoming 2014 governorship election?

The PDP is doing some underground work to get its house in order. I know that the party executives both at the national and state levels are working seriously to see how we can end the problem. Again, the party getting it right in the forthcoming election depends on the individual nominated to fly its flag, because people don’t vote for parties; they vote for the people they believe in. I can assure you that the party is working seriously to reclaim the state.

Don’t you see the recent merging of four major opposition parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a threat to the PDP in Anambra and at the national level?

The APC is not a political party now. It is just in a process of being merged. There are so many things that are supposed to be put in place before you can say the APC is a political party. There are a lot of things presently to show that the APC is not yet a political party. When you come to Anambra State, you will be talking of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) as the true APC. We all know what is happening in APGA now; APGA has its own crises and some people within APGA are

March 23, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

2014: PDP‘ll reclaim Hon Chizorr Lambert Obidigwe, is a member of the House of atives representing Representatives Oyi Federal Anyamelu/Oyi cy of Anambra Constituency digwe State. Obidigwe speaks to TEMITOPE NKE about OGUNBANKE the internal wrangling within the Peoples c Party (PDP), Democratic nambra State the 2014 Anambra hip election, governorship ence of the emergence gressives the All Progressives Congress (APC), among s. Excerpts: other issues.

saying they are not part of the merger and some people are e saying they are part of it.

So, the APC is not a threat to PDP and as far as Anambra State is concerned there is no APC. Some people e are of the view that the APC would help elp the Igbo to actualize the Igbo presidency idency project in 2015 since there are re speculations that President Goodluck dluck Jonathan may run for presidency in 2015. What hat is your take on n this?

I don’t know, because I am not part of the APC. SecObidigwe ondly, I don’t know what the condition and terms of the APC are but like I said, the APC is just at the process of emerging, the new political party called the APC is just at the process of being formed. If those people who are Igbo in the proposed merger have what it takes, they may request that they want to produce the next President but it may be difficult to concede to that because the two players in the merger are the ACN and CPC. And if the Igbo are keen to produce the next presidential candidate in the merger, what it means is that the two major players will back out. Therefore, in response to your view about Igbo actualising Igbo presidency on the platform of APC, I don’t see that happening.

The race to succeed Governor Peter Obi come 2014 is generating keen interest among the three senatorial districts in the state. How do you see the contest, especially as the people of Anambra North, are seriously clamouring to produce the next governor?

I am from Anambra North and the truth is that Anambra North is clamouring for a taste of the seat but I am not interested in the seat. Politics is not something you compel somebody to do. So, if anybody is con-

vinced within himself, willingly to run for the election, let him come out. Going by the views of many people, we may have more political heavy weights in Anambra South and Anambra Central but power belongs to God and that is my motto. It does not really matter. Look at the present President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, nature has its own ways and there is always balance in nature. Anambra South and Central may have more political weights but if it is the turn of the Anambra North, I tell you, somebody from nowhere would claim it. Someone you cannot even think of. I take myself for an example, I was not intending for this position but here I am today. When I was coming out it was like; ‘Hmm, who is this young man?’ But here I am today. It is like what the Christians say, when God says Yes, no man can say No. Power belongs to God and I tell you just as it was in the Bible, God moves in a very mysterious way. You never can tell and that is why nobody can say for sure that this is the next governor of Anambra State. It is possible that in six months time, you can say this is the likely person but as I am talking to you now, you cannot say this is the person. Even about two months to the election after knowing the candidates, it is still possible that you

still cannot say for sure that this person will win the election. So that may bring me back to the issue iof who or which party will win.

In Anambra State today, we have the PDP, APGA, ACN, ANPP, Labour Party (LP) among others, but the major political parties in the state are just three, the PDP, APGA and the ACN. And I tell you that if it is not impossible that any of these parties can produce the next governor, everybody will be working to see that his party produces the next governor.

In the House of Representatives, we have 11 members from Anambra State, the PDP has five members, APGA, five members and ACN, one. In the Senate, we have two PDP and one ACN senators. So, you see, y o u

cannot just dismiss the ACN with a wave of the hand, neither can you just dismiss APGA with a wave of the hand. Remember the present governor is APGA and when you get to Anambra State House of Assembly you have majority of APGA members. So, it is not a clear cut something where you can say this is the party or the person that will win the election.

One of the issues on the front burner in the proposed constitutional amendment is the local government autonomy; do you support the independence of the local government?

Knowing my background and what I went through, anybody will for sure, even without saying it, know that I will support the autonomy of the local government. It is a constitutional issue and local government is the third tier of government recognised by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So, why can’t that tier of government operate on its own?

It should operate on its own. It is just like saying that the state government is an appendage of the Federal Government, it shouldn’t be. I would in all honesty suggest and subscribe to the scrapping of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs). Independent National Electoral

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

POLITICS

March 23, 2013

15

Anambra State –Rep Commission (INEC) should take charge of all the elections so that all the elections will be held the same period.

Since the expiration of the tenure of local government chairmen in 2002, there has not been any local government election in Anambra State. What is your reaction to the view being canvassed by many people that the non conduct of council poll is affecting development on the state?

If local government election in Anambra State had been conducted, the rural man and woman in remote villages can go to the door of his/her councilor, knock and wake him up because the councilor of a ward lives with the people and if there is no water, he should be able to tell the people that there is no water. If there is no electric-

ity, he should be able to tell the government that there is no electricity likewise other things. These are the things that people in rural villages see and feel. If they have elected councilors and elected local government chairmen, things will be a lot more easier for the people because the local government is closer to the people and it will be discharging its responsibilities, no matter how bad it does that, things will certainly improve. In fact I tell you, if an individual is elected as a councillor or as a chairman and he performs creditably well, people will have to say we are returning you, if he performs badly in a turn of three to four years, people will say we are not voting for you because they are the ones that feel it.

But what is happening to the non-conduct of the local government election is where

you see the rural man moving to the House of Assembly member to say he doesn’t need this and when that is happening, you will now find out that it is not everybody that have access to the man who is representing him or her at the state level not to talk of the federal representatives, senators or their governors. So, that is it. The-non conduct of local government is something that should be looked into.

In your own view, has the non-conduct of local government elections affected development in your area and Anambra State at large?

Not just my state, everywhere. Anywhere you see that local government elections have not been conducted, people suffer. It is affecting development negatively and there is no two ways about it.

Obidigwe

Alamieyeseigha: How far can Jonathan’s govt go on corruption?

To the Founder and Executive Director of Hope for Niger-Delta Campaign (HNDC), I don’t think that any other government has Comrade Sunny Ofehe, the timing of the done that. state pardon to Alamieyeseigha was wrong.

“I am not saying that we don’t have corHis words: “I am against the timing of ruption any longer in the system because the state pardon to Alamieyeseigha, conthere is no nation that is free from corrup- sidering the fact that he was convicted of tion; you just make sure that some people corruption and fled prosecution in the UK. don’t do what they like. I believe that we Such a credential will never make a state have done well in fighting corruption, al- pardon on him popular in Nigeria and inthough in terms of perception, most people ternationally. This decision has further believe that corruption is responsible for all blighted the confidence that people have in of our problems.” this government to fight corruption. The But placing the President’s claim side by international community is enraged and side the state pardon granted to Alamieye- some countries have decided to withdraw seigha, the question begging for answer is: their financial support to Nigeria in the “Is Jonathan’s government really fighting area of tackling corruption. corruption as he claimed?

“I know that President Jonathan sinSpeaking to Saturday Mirror many cerely want to fight corruption but so far people expressed their dissatisfaction over his administration has not been able to Jonathan’s administration fight against prosecute any corrupt government official corruption. despite the fact that we have seen many The Assistant General Secretary of situation of public funds embezzlement by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Denja few known officials.

Yaqub, said Jonathan’s administration is “There are so many high profile cases fighting corruption by words and not by ac- that have gone lull for political and corruption. He said: “If the Jonathan government tion reasons. We must not forget also that is truly fighting corruption, it is possibly corruption in Nigeria is endemic and rootthrough interviews. When you grant state ed in the fabric of our social system which pardon to someone who got convicted on makes it very difficult to tackle.” account of stealing public funds that could Ofehe advocated for freeing the anti have saved lives; put people in schools; give graft agencies like EFCC and the Indepenbetter medication to the sick, especially in dent Corrupt Practices and Related Offencplaces like Bayelsa where multinational oil es Commission (ICPC) from government firms have imported all sorts of sickness interference, adding that if well funded, into through land, air and water pollution, the agencies would deliver, saying that the it becomes evil for anyone, sitting on any “President still has ample time to prove type of constitutional provision to pardon critics wrong that he meant well for the such a person who aided the annihilation country.” of his own people and still lay claim to beNobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, ing their leader as the Governor General of while speaking in Lagos on Wednesday Ijaw nation. during a programme ushering in the Lagos “He is presently a leading promoter of Black Heritage Festival, described Alamicorruption with his public association with eyeseigha’s state pardon s an act of impusubsidy thieves like Femi Otedola and the nity and a symbol of corrupt mentality. state pardon for Alamieyeseigha. I comHis words: “What is going on right now pletely support the decisions of the U.S gov- gives the picture of a government that is ernment. I think more governments should floundering and justifying the unjustifido same, if that will help us rid our country able. It is amounts to encouragement of of the only ‘natural’ disaster in Nigeria. corruption. The felon is wanted by the Corruption is our only ‘natural’ disaster United States government. We have a case and President Jonathan has said he doesn’t of an officer of the law – a governor – who ‘give a damn’ about this. I regretted stand- went to another country and broke the law ing in the sun to vote for this President.” of the nation. He jumped bail.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

“I believe that such a person does not deserve a state pardon. So, I have joined the league of the ignorant persons condemning the act. I criticize and deplore President Jonathan for granting pardon to the former governor.”

But holding a contrary opinion, the national coordinator of Rights Monitoring Group (RMG) and Country Director, Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity (CCDI), Mr. Olufemi Aduwo, believed that

granting state pardon would not stop Nigeria from detecting corruption in high places.

Aduwo said: “Mr .President did not violate any provision of the constitution by granting pardon to Alamieyeseigha and others. My organisation has being partnering with the EFCC, CCB and CCT on corruption and related matters. The pardon would not stop us from detecting corruption at high places.”

In your refreshingly different

Living under a dangerous haze

Residents and workers in Ogun State communities of Sagamu and Ewekoro have somewhat become endangered species. Experts say their lives are under threat as a result of health hazards posed by the presence of cement companies within their habitation. They are, on daily basis, contending with gales of poisonous dust from the cement factories. Sunday Mirror dug in to find out the extent of the hazards and what the authorities of the cement companies and respective government organs are doing to safeguard the people’s lives. Keep a date with us.

PDP in search of peace Recently, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) undertook tours of peacemaking in the South-South and South-West regions. In the exercise called ‘Reconciliatory Meetings’, there were dramatic events as there were oddities. But above all, has the PDP been able to achieve its troubleshooting mission, aimed at keeping its house in order ahead of coming polls? We tell you tomorrow.

Passion

‘Very soon we’ll get married’ Chidimma and Chidiebere Anake are Nollywood twins making waves in the Nigerian movie world. While Chidimma is a graduate of Mass Communication, Chidiebere studied Business Administration. But like all other stars that are yet to parade ‘Mr. Right’, the twin sisters say there is no casuse for alarm as they will soon unveil the men in their lives. They also spoke about other issues, including how taking pictures and posing in striking manners have a fascination for them.

These and many more available tomorrow in your

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March 23, 2013

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MAGAZ INE

Relationships Would you date a person with an illness?

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Sex talk Getting the most of afterplay

p22

Fashion •Red carpet ready •When choosing a necklace

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Anne

...Awesome queen

18 Samklef became a household name when he produced several hit songs including Pakurumo for Wizkid.

He is also an artiste and has many hit songs of his own, especially Labalaba and Molowo Noni. In this interview with OSEYIZA OOGBODO he spoke frankly on several issues. Excerpts:

March 23, 2013

dation for myself. I started customising my name on my shirts, shoes and all that, just to register it in people’s mind.

It was in that process that I produced Durella’s My Life which brought me to the limelight. It was like a journey that began from the church where I met different people who made the dream a reality. Life is about opportunity, meeting the right people at the right time. After My Life, I did Tease Me for Wizkid. From there, I did Jonzing World. It was Skales who introduced me to Banky W and Wizkid. From there, they invited me for the production of Tease Me and some other songs. It was then that I realised that there’s chemistry between Skales and me. He’s a positive, hardworking guy who knows what he wants. We did a lot of songs together. But before you knew it, I did Molowo Noni for myself. I actually tried to get a record label, but it didn’t work, so I decided to take things slowly. I decided to set up my own studio and office. Right now, I’m self-made, selfsigned, not under any record label.

Celebrity

W

hat’s your view on the music industry?

We are trying, but still have a long way to go. The only thing is that those who give awards don’t understand the music chain yet. I don’t want to mention names, but when I see the categories of some awards, I get disappointed because they don’t know how to categorise music, they don’t know genres of music. All the same, most of the songs we are doing are afrobeat.

Many artistes in Nigeria started singing from the church, but virtually all of them sing secular music, not gospel. Why? Some people will not like me for what I’m about to say right now. Everybody started from the church, but the churches don’t show love to artistes. Most of these pastors don’t care about you; they don’t even want to know what you are going through. I’ve been to a church where the pastor told me that I was selling my talent, but I was like, you don’t kill people’s star. Most pastors are star killers, they are dream killers, so they forced these people to the secular world.

Most of these people take their time to learn music instruments and they add value to the church so they need to be appreciated and encouraged. For instance, I was collecting salary from the church, but when I realised that it was like a trap, I stopped it because if they refuse to pay you, instead of worshipping God, you will start rebelling against Him. I told myself that I was not going to be collecting salary again.

While I was playing for the church, none of the members bothered about what I was going through, but God has been good to me, not the church.

Is that what discouraged you from playing gospel music?

Yes. If you notice, more gospel artistes are trying to go into the secular terrain now. Terry G started from the church too. I used to follow him to a Redeemed parish. He has been a star right from the church.

At what point did you discover that you can sing?

That was when I discovered rock music. One day, I went to a studio and they were playing Copley’s music and I loved it. I realised that my voice range is closer to that kind of music, which is on a low pitch, so I started playing rock.

Even when I started production, I introduced the rock feel to it and that’s what makes me unique.

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What are your plans for 2013?

We thank God for 2012, and also thank Him for witnessing 2013. As far as I’m concerned, this is going to be a great year for me because last year I was busy investing and laying the foundation for my music school, studio and all that. But this year, no time for play. Basically, it is going to be a great year for me.

Was there any memorable achievement for you in 2012?

Yes. The fact that I’m where I am without the help of any record label. I have been able to invest or get something for myself that I can hold on to. In 2012, I was able to settle down. I got married and had a son. Much negative stuff happened too but at the end of the day, everything worked out for good. In 2012, I was part of the Tuface tour we did in America. Later, Jesse Jagz and I spent about one month trying to study the American music industry so that we can come back here and add more value. We did this because the most important thing in life is value. Basically, 2012 was like laying the foundation for 2013.

‘Most churches don’t care about artistes’ What has your journey into music been so far?

I lost my dad when I was very young and I went through a lot of storm in life.

Later, I met some young guys who have been doing the music thing. I had also been listening to the likes of D’Banj/ Don Jazzy, Cobhams and P-Square and I wanted to be like them. Terry G started the first music group that I joined, Pinnacles. It was a gospel music group.

Later, the group disbanded and I formed another one, One Voice Crew. I was playing keyboard in a church at Pen Cinema

then. At a time, I looked at the lifestyle of my keyboard teacher and didn’t pray for it. I decided that I wouldn’t be playing keyboard for the rest of my life because I wanted to drive good cars and be comfortable. So, I met some guys doing music production, and I fell in love with the game. I was alone on the streets, no support from anybody. Eventually I started working in a corporate company called Sound Factory, but before then, I was working in a studio called Back2Black.

That was where I met Vector and some other people and started building a foun-

What did you target in 2012 that could not be achieved?

Many things. I wanted to shoot a video, but could not. I was supposed to sign an investment deal, but it didn’t work out. But I’m not regretting because every disappointment is a blessing. Right now, everything is well planned.

How would you describe yourself ?

Samklef is a businessman, an entrepreneur. I do almost everything. I edit and direct videos, I produce music and mix. I do almost everything. The only thing I don’t know how to do is to kill because I don’t know how to carry gun.

But I have killed mosquitoes. Basically, I’m a businessman and I can play the keyboard and drums and I’m also a motivational speaker because my life is a testimony.

There are speculations of a faceoff between you and Wizkid?

There is nothing like that. I’m cool and he’s cool too. We still talk to eachother.

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March 23, 2013

Entervaganza

With OSEYIZA OOGBODO

08023755142 kingseiza@gmail.com

Sammie Okposo organises free Easter show

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op gospel artiste, Sammie Okposo, will on Easter Monday hold a free concert, 9ja Praise Party, at D Incubator by 12 noon to 7pm.

Describing as seven hours of praise, prayer, comedy, dance, worship and wonders, Okposo said, “9ja Praise Party is gonna be great, it’s gonna be something else and I can only advise people to arrive promptly so that they don’t miss out.”

And going by the roll call of scheduled performers, the concert surely promises to be exciting. The headliner is of course Okposo and the others include Bouqui, Nikki Laoye, Eben, Soji Israel, Provabs, Jedi, Akpororo, Igos, MC Abbey, Liza C, Eric Arubayi and Tim Godfrey.

Danmole

Celebrities storm KNK all-white show

L

ast Saturday was a memorable one for top fashion designers Korede Danmole and Nkiru Modebe as celebrities turned out en masse for the all-white show of their fashion label, KNK. The high octane event held at the prestigious Ember Creek and Elenu,

Anne Inyang launches Awesome

C

NN African Voices sponsored by leading telecommunications operator, Globacom, this weekend profile Nigerian film director, Jeta Amata. Amata is one of Nigeria’s most popular film directors and comes from a family of veteran filmmakers (Ifoghale Amata, Zack Amata and Fred Amata).

His grandfather was a prominent writer and actor. It is therefore, not surprising that he has soared in the world of filmmaking and entertainment and is now part of the new generation of Nigerian movie-makers committed to telling African stories to a global audience.

He speaks with CNN’s Isha Sesay on

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calls to showcase our designs to a larger audience. We have several clients, many of them celebrities, who said we had to do it to let people know what beach wear is all about as many people nowadays just wear whatever they like to the beach and that’s not right.”

his upcoming film and his experience working with major Hollywood and Nollywood film stars. He is particularly popular for such movies as The Amazing Grace, Alexa Affair and Mary Slessor and has received local and international acclaim. He rose to global prominence when he produced a film/ documentary for the BBC in 2003 using his film Game of Life as footage for the documentary.

African Voices, a 30-minute magazine programme, was broadcast yesterday at 8.30 am. It will be broadcast today at 3.30 pm, tomorrow at 9 am and 6.30 pm and on Monday at 10.30am and 6.30pm.

Motivacomedy rocks Lagos

M Inyang

Str8 Up Hip-Hop digs deep with Lyricism 101 his month’s Str8 Up Hip-Hop, Lyricism 101, is focusing on lyrics and what they mean in hip-hop.

As a forum dedicated to the entrenchment and propagation of genuine hiphop culture in the country, Str8 Up HipHop which is organised by Now Muzik En.Core in partnership with Beat FM continually selects a different feature of hip-hop to focus on monthly to educate the teeming hip-hop aficionados in the country.

Deji Falope, Nigga Raw and Sexy Steel were some of the celebrities who were on hand to witness the unveiling of the KNK beachwear collection that was the highlight of the show.

Speaking with Entervaganza, Danmole said, “We had to organise the show due to demand and repeated

Glo/CNN African Voices profiles Jeta Amata

A

lmost two decades after scoring her first smash hit, Akanam Nkwe, in 1996, Princess Anne Inyang proved last Sunday during the launch of her latest album, Awesome, that she still has what it takes to keep churning out hits.

At the launching held at MUSON Centre, she performed several songs from Awesome and mesmerised the audience who were mostly listening to the songs for the first time. One of the songs that really resonated with the audience was God Punish The Devil which should be a crowd favourite soonest.

Celebrities that put in an appearance to support Inyang during the launching included Emem Isong, D’Bling, Azeezat and Pasto Goody Goody.

Modebe

Respected hip-hop head, Mode 9, will preview his forthcoming Alphabetical Order at Lyricism 101 which will be hosted by Andre Blaze while DJ Jimmy Jatt will facilitate a tribute to one of hiphop’s most respected personalities, the late American rapper, Notorious BIG. There will also be performances by Butafly(TBB), Dolapo, Phenom and Five Mics, graffiti art by Uprizin, B-boy and MC battle sessions and DJ Ozee will be on the wheels of steel.

otivacomedy, organised by entrepreneur and motivational speaker Somi Uranta, held in Lagos last Thursday to pass on the secrets of survival in business to the public in a relaxed atmosphere.

Speaking with Entervaganza, Uranta said, “Motivacomedy, as its name suggests, was conceived to motivate businessmen on how to run their business successfully and also thrill them with comedy to get them relaxed from the stress they’ve encountered in their business endeavours.”

Adding that the business personalities targeted were basically into small and medium scale enterprises, he said, “Research has shown that businesses die during the first five years and those that don’t die become stunted so Motivacomedy was all about teaching the guests the secrets of business expansion

Uranta

to aid them greatly in their businesses.”

Comedians who cracked ribs at Motivacomedy wre MC Pato and MC Lanusoro and music performance was by Daphee.

ENTERVAGANZA

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March 23, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CLASSICAL RYHMES

AIRWAVES LINK

Honour for Bucknor, Odegbami, Irabor, Dabiri-Erewa O

n-air personality Tosyn Bucknor, Genevieve magazine publisher Betty Irabor, top female politician Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Funmi Odegbami, internationally respected makeup artist and daughter of soccer personality Segun Odegbami have been named among the 100 Most Inspirational Women in the World.

Compiled as part of the commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day to celebrate women who have driven a cause one way or the other, the 100 inspirational women list is headed by America’s First Lady, Michelle Obama, and also includes American TV hosts Oprah Winfrey and

Bucknor

Ellen Degeneres.

Reacting to her inclusion on the list, Odegbami, who is based in Europe and is a member of the Black Women in Europe Power, said, “I would like to say a huge thank you to Olori Supergal for this honour. I feel extremely overwhelmed and blessed at the same time. I am not sure what’s happening in the world for someone like me to be recognised in this way, but I won’t fight it and I thank God for everything He is doing on my behalf.

I started on this journey because I had a strong desire to make a real difference in the world and just like the MiNK motto, to encourage others to dream big too.”

Gongo Aso Odegbami

MI states intent with Chairman

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rom every indication, it’s going to be a big year for self-acclaimed ‘African rapper number one’ MI. His last album, MI 2, was released in 2010, was a big hit in the market and it created a yearning for another album from him.

That anticipated album, which will be his third and will be titled Chairman, is slated to drop later this year in June, and in preparation for its arrival, MI officially released its title track, Chairman, during the week.

Chairman is already fast burning up the airwaves, a further indication that the Chairman album is going to be a huge sensation when it drops as Akpata, another single that MI released last week is also spreading fast.

MI

Another N5m winner on WWTBAM

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op TV game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? has produced yet another N5m winner. While the ultimate prize on the show is N10m, only one person, Aroma Ufodike, has won that so far and many others Abraham have also won N1m and N2m.

Speaking with Entervaganza, Sammy Davies Abraham, the latest N5m winner who is a teacher based in Ibadan, disclosed what he would do with his huge win.

“I am going to invest it in my educational establishment, Livingstone Preparatory School, which I started about 10 years ago with the assistance of my wife, but because we didn’t have the capital to invest in it, we were not getting

what we actually want to put on ground. Now that God has answered our prayer, the whole amount is going into the school.”

Funny enough, Abraham only got to know about WWTBAM when he started watching TV recently. “Some years back, we members of Deeper Life weren’t watching television. So about four years ago, a friend of mine gave me a television and said I should pay just N3,000 for it and the video player and that was how I got it. Even after getting it, I really didn’t use it because

I was not really used to gadgets like that.

“But later we started using it and I came across the programme (WWTBAM). I liked it because it revived all that I had learnt over the years in the college of education, because college of education training in Ghana where I trained is very rigorous. In fact, it’s like someone going for a Master’s degree course.

“So, I like WWTBAM so much that sometimes I will rush from the church as soon as we close just because I want to keep a date with it.

And anytime it is aired, I will be getting the answers correctly so my wife and children said why do you sit here at home wasting all the answers, why don’t you enrol, try it and let us see what comes out of it. So that was what motivated me to start dialling 132 and when I won N20,000 in the home quiz about two years ago, it encouraged me to continue to try for the big money.”

Artist: 9ice Chorus Gongo aso, kutupu ahu, anywhere I dey now Gongo aso, kutupu ahu, any show I go now Ajisebi Oyo laari, Oyo o’sebi baba eni kankan I be double now, aiye nlo, e’ o ri nkan Verse 1 Gongo aso, you know am on fire no be beans talk Gongo aso, you know eni foju ana woku ebora abalaso This time no dulling Everywhere wey I dey na party Hennessy nlo, Moet nlo, Baccardi nlo [nloooo] We no go stop, till the break of dawn, bebe nlo [nloooo] Forget say you owe money Call your pady dem, make una join body Chikitos dey there dem wan follow judi Party jolly, jolly party Fidi gbodi, make u shack Squadi, Make your eye dirty From now till eternity Repeat chorus Verse 2 You be government worker you collect salary Ka mari, kin ma gbomi gbin Kin ma jaiye ori mi before I play lotto No be me You know I’m a ghetto solder Khaki no be leather Every Friday for Sandra’s Bar Laroda ojo that kain weather Life is too short you know Nobody knows tomorrow Dance away your sorrow Do like no tomorrow Money speaking, speaking Any idea wetin wetin Tin ba je demi Aiye a gbo Oorun a mo Gongo aso [you know] Repeat chorus

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ENTERVAGANZA

March 23, 2013

BOX OFFICE HITS

BRAIN BEHIND THE SCENE

Pascal Atuma … selling Nollywood in America

P

ascal Atuma is not just one of those people trying their utmost best to sell Nollywood to the world. He is very passionate about Nollywood becoming as highly rated as the pacesetting Hollywood.

But he is also very realistic and admits that since it took Hollywood many years to attain its current enviable status, then Nollywood too will have to bide its time.

Nonetheless, Atuma is not letting Nollydewood’s slow growth d eter him from trying his best to contribute to its growth. He is a director, producer and screenwriter and also an actor. He also identifies that manpower development is one of

Nollywood’s major problems and has called for continuous training and retraining of all the practitioners in Nollywood’s different sectors.

Born in Nigeria but based in the US, he wrote the screenplays of and produced the movies My American Nurse 2, Hurricane In The Rose Garden, My American Nurse and Only in America and directed two of them.

F

our sexy college girls plan to fund their spring break getaway by burglarising a fast food

shack. But that’s only the beginning.

During a night of partying, the girls hit a roadblock where they are arrested on drug charges.

Hungover and clad only in bikinis, the girls appear before a judge but are bailed out unexpectedly by Alien, an infamous local thug who takes them under his w i n g a n d leads them on the wilde s t Spring Break trip in history.

Rough on the outside but with a soft spot inside, Alien wins over the hearts of the young Spring Breakers, and leads them on a Spring Break they never could have imagined.

W

h e n t h e

Atuma

Atuma (3rd left seated) at a movie event

White House (Secret Service Code: “Olympus”) is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President is kidnapped, disgraced former presidential guard M i k e Banning f i n d s himself trapped within t h e bu i l d ing.

A s the national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning’s inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President and avert an even bigger crisis.

Antoine Fuqua (Training Day)

directs an all-star cast featuring Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Melissa Leo, Ashley Judd and Rick Yune.

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March 23, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Relationships

Would you date a Not a tea party

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hen I was younger I believed in unconditional love. I dated girls without any thought of whether or not they would be “wife material”. I dated ladies who opened my eyes to the differences between love and lust. I believed in “building a relationship” with my intended. I was made to believe that love was the only thing that mattered in a relationship.

The naive little boy in me believed so much that when you do so much for people, you would get whatever you did back through love. Let’s fast forward a few years and with my heart broken, bruised and battered so many times, I’m wiser now and I know that what you give is not always what you get unless you want to keep fooling yourself.

The truth be told, dating or marrying someone with a very serious illness is not an easy thing. It is a very serious business and as important as marriage itself because it’s what lays the foundation for a good and enjoyable marriage. Love or something else will not carry you further than the nearest hospital I must tell you even if Hollywood and Nollywood have glamorized the concept of love conquering all. The stress level to be encountered and surmounted will be almost too unbearable for a partner to cope with.

I don’t want to sound pessimistic but I have to say that coping with a serious and maybe almost terminal illness is one of the most challenging and difficult situations one can ever find oneself.

It is a little bit better if the partners are married because the concept of “for better or worse and in sickness and health” can come in. The diagnosis of a life threatening illness can scare a spouse to the extent of running away because of not being able to cope with the challenges to be encountered not to mention the idea of a partner who is not yet married. Suffix to say that we will only be fooling ourselves if we say that love is all one needs in a relationship because different illnesses come with their peculiar challenges.

In many budding relationships that are expected to go all the way, relationship problems of spending quality time and financial considerations towards saving for the wedding and the marital life after are normal expectations. These things are the expected points for stress expected during the dating. It is expecting too much to add the issue of coping with an illness

which is beyond what one can cope with. Imagine dating someone who’s been diagnosed with any of the cancers. In as much as it may sound very callous of me to say, the financial implications of coping with treatments to manage the illness will be too much for a young man to bear. And before you say that no one is expecting the man to do so, please don’t forget that we are in Africa where it is expected that the man should be able to bear some if not all the woman’s burden especially the issue of her health. People will even go as far as saying that a man who cannot do so either through not having the financial wherewithal or not is not caring or loving enough.

In an ideal situation, people will tell you that saying you love and care about someone means you have to stay through “thick and thin” with that person. Yes I agree to an extent with these people but when it comes to dating and loving someone who’s living with an illness, I’ll always advice that one should look at the practicalities involved. Despite knowing the proper medications, therapy and treatments, the unique circumstances and personalities involved within the relationship are the determining factors to know whether any of the partners can cope with each other.

Most times people living with illness or challenges are overly sensitive to words and nuances and they are unnecessary short-tempered over issues.

They are also very suspicious of people and situations.

The ideal of love being worth all the troubles it meets becomes burdensome when a partner suffers from a natural illness. Coping with the sometimes impossible scope of problems that will arise in the relationship through the illness has nothing to do with you not loving the person you are dating. Like I’ve already mentioned, the practicalities involved are very important and personally, I don’t believe I have to go through the stresses mentioned above when I’m not yet married to the partner. The fact is that my suffering and staying with her all in the name of love does not mean that she won’t dump me if the case is reversed. All in all, I cannot even imagine the mental struggles and torture that one will be going through all in the name of dating which should naturally be fun. So to answer the question on loving and dating a partner with an illness, I’ll say that’s not for me please.

SEX TALK

This column is x-rated

Getting the most of afterplay After a particularly hot and sweaty session of fulfilling sex, satisfaction will hang heavy in the air… but have you ever thought about what ought to happen next?

Why should you enjoy afterplay?

For years, the average man has endured ample criticism and been called a ‘typical male’ when he starts snoring just moments after sex, while his wife is still gasping for air after an energetic session. But thanks to ample media coverage and women beginning to play an equal role in the bedroom, men have begun to realise that if they wish to defend their reputation in bed, bed-etiquette is an absolutely must.

Many modern men are wise beings and do appreciate basking in the afterglow of sex, but a significant percentage of men still see this part of sex as an over-indulgence. Great pity! All the different stages of sex are important in the creation of sexual enjoyment for both him and her. Foreplay awakens latent sexual feelings and is the catalyst

for great orgasms, while afterplay is the part of sex which ensures that love is involved.

For Men: tips for fantastic afterplay Make sure you do a few special things to show her that you do take her feelings into consideration.  Don’t fall asleep. Whatever you do… don’t fall asleep.  If she is lying on a wet spot, bring her a towel to absorb the stickiness.  If she needs the toilet, don’t run out in front of her, even if you think your urge is greater!  Let her shower first, or even better, shower with her.  If she’s thirsty, fetch her a glass of water or something else to drink.  If you use condoms, make sure you throw them away and don’t leave them in bed or on the bedside table… not

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RELATIONSHIPS

March 23, 2013

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CHINWE ANNIE AMAECHI 07028684481 chinweamaechi@gmail.com

person with an illness?

It depends

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This column is x-rated even for a minute!  If she used a female condom, give her the time or help to remove it.  For top-notch cuddling, drape your entire body over hers.  Praise her with genuine compliments.  If she wants to put her underwear on, pass it to her.  ...But reassure her that you prefer her without it!  Don’t get up… not for a drink, and not to check your emails!  Don’t talk about irrelevant things that she has no interest in.  Stay away from your cell phone/ blackberry – it can wait until later.

Your woman is physiologically different from you. She wants to be caressed… but there is also another reason why she’s still awake after sex whilst you rub the sleep out of your eyes. Maybe she hasn’t reached orgasm… or maybe she has, and she’s ready for round two. If you really want to be her hero, ask her if there is anything else you can do for her. Perhaps you aren’t ready to have another erection, but who says you always need your Mr. John to please her?

Talking like this will get a man full points:  “I can’t get enough of your body.”  “It’s times like these that remind me why you and I are together.”  “I could lie here with you forev-

This column is x-rated er...”

For Women: Remember, he is created differently While he looks as if he has just run a marathon (maybe this is why he’s tired)… you may feel wide awake and want to talk. Men feel that talking after sex is unnecessary. They are actionorientated and feel that you have both ‘talked’ using your bodies. If you really have something on your heart, feel free to talk, but make sure you DON’T discuss the following:  “So tell me… how do you feel about our relationship?”  “Do you think we should have a baby”  “When am I meeting your parents?”

Rather try the following:  “Wow! You are such a stallion!”  “You know just how to let your fingers do the talking…”  “I wish we could do this every day.”

Use these strategies for best results:  Leave a note on your partner’s pillow that says: ‘I still feel your hands on my body’.  Send a text later in the day that says: ‘Last night is still a vivid memory’.  Send an intimate email that says: ‘20 reasons why I love you’.

he marriage vows, as powerful as they are, may not really make much impact or place very high demands on someone, until he/she has to cope with the negative side of the vows – “in sickness… for worse…” By “illness”, it is clear that we are not talking about malaria or typhoid, but chronic illnesses such as cancer, asthma, sickle cell anaemia, HIV/AIDS, leukaemia, and deformities caused by polio, etc.

People would feel guilty about leaving a spouse because of a chronic illness that began during marriage, but when the illness exists before vows have been exchanged, it is a totally different scenario.

Imagine that you are dating someone and just as you are considering marriage, you discover that he/she has a chronic illness that may last a lifetime and will possibly cause untimely death, will love compel you to walk down the aisle with him/her?

I have heard people make statements like: “I am so in love with my spouse that if he/she had a chronic illness before we got married, I would still have married him/ her”. This is easier said than done. I once read about a guy in the US who sought counsel about whether to marry his long-time girlfriend who had a non-life-threatening illness which prevented her from taking up employment and which required regular medical visits and expensive prescription drugs. This gives us an idea of the categories of chronic illnesses and their attendant effects on the person and his/her loved ones.

Chronic illnesses may or may not be life-threatening. In the nonlife-threatening cases, the downside may just be the person’s inability to work, his/her need for extra attention (medical or otherwise), and high maintenance requiring lots of money. On the other hand, the life-threatening illnesses may in addition to the need for extra attention and plenty cash, keep the ill person and his/her loved ones in a constant apprehension of inevitable death.

Like every other project, you must count the cost before you venture into marriage. Marriage in itself is not for the faint-hearted because every marriage has its challenges, even without chronic illness, so you can only imagine the will power and courage re-

quired to marry, nurture and love a spouse with an illness. Even the so-called non-life-threatening illnesses that can be “managed” through proper diets, rest, supplements and medication still require extra effort on the part of the ill person’s spouse. In any case, the fact remains that love conquers all and true love involves sacrifice, dedication and support even in the face of life-threatening situations.

I believe that someone with a chronic illness should not be deprived of the joy of marriage, if he/she deserves it. He/she should be able to find that one person who will love him/her in spite of the illness. He/she should in turn, be ready to cull up strength to love and cherish his/her spouse as much as possible so that the relationship will not be parasitic.

People say it is easier for a woman to marry a man with a chronic illness than vice versa and the reasons are obvious. Women are natural caregivers, and are proven to be more loyal, sacrificial and committed in their relationships. All a woman needs is the assurance that you love and appreciate her, and she will be willing to lay down her life for you. There are men with such high levels of commitment and courage to marry and nurture spouses with chronic illnesses, but they are very rare.

Clearly, it would be heroic and romantic to see someone who damns the consequences and walks down the aisle with someone with a chronic illness, but it will be heart-wrenching if such a marriage breaks-up soon after. The main opponents to such marriages are friends and family members who “want the best for you”, but the truth is this: when it comes to the decision on who to marry, one need not rely solely on the opinions of friends and family, though important and helpful. The final decision is entirely yours to make because you alone must carry your cross. Whatever you decide please let your decision not be based on guilt or emotion; think things through and take whatever step you are convinced to take. Let love be the guiding light.

So should someone’s illness prevent you from marrying him/her?

It depends.

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March 23, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Woman I don’t joke with my job – Ayo Adesanya One thing you can hardly take away from actress Ayo Adesanya is her versatility when it comes to acting.

A graduate of Communications and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan, she told YEMISI ADENIRAN how she journeyed into acting, her exploits and many more.

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our performance in “0ba omo” shows your comic side. How easy did it come to you?

A good actor or actress is one who is able to diversify at any point in time. What I mean by this is that as an actress, you need not be stereotype. If you are, you will be limiting yourself and with time, you are likely to be pushed out of relevance.

As long as I am able to understand whatever role I am given, I try as much as I can, to interpret it well.

The Yoruba people will say idi ise eni lati n moni lole. This means when you get to your working arena, you must indeed work and prove to all that you are not a lazy person.

A good job or performance is not judged by the words of mouth only, you need to practicalise it. That is exactly my idea of work and life generally. If you are known with a particular kind of work, do it well and let everyone be convinced that you can do it. I don’t joke with my job, I love what I am doing and I will always give it my best shot any time.

As far as I know, whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.

What then do you say about a lot of actresses and actors who are in this same profession and are not able to act naturally?

There are lots of reasons for this.

Many are in the acting world just because their friends are there or because they want to be seen in movies. Others are there because they feel it is the only option available for them at least for the time being. It is therefore not easy for any of these set of people to be at their best when performing or when given a particular role. You must be sure of the reason you have chosen to act. You must be passionate with it. If you are passionate with whatever you are doing, not just acting now, you are likely to give your best. If you are passionate about your job, you will be able to see or notice people doing it better than you and borrow

some leaves from them. If you love what you are doing, you won’t want to be stagnant, you want to improve on your strength, make your better best. That’s the trick. If you are not passionate about your job, you will continue to criticise your colleagues who are doing well, you will be running them down, you will be playing dirty politicking and I tell you it will also push you into some other dirty deals.

What kind of dirty deals?

Trickish things. For instance, as a student, if you are not passionate about your books, you will seek a short cut to passing-cheating and other dubious things. And as an adult who loves wealth, if you will not try and put more effort into what you are doing, you may be tricked into money-making rituals, fraud and even theft. This is why it is very important for one to be convinced of his or her choice of career and stay by it. If you are sure of where you are and your choice of work, you will be able to face whatever challenges that come your way and you will be ready to take corrections where necessary.

How did your journey into acting start?

I have always wanted to be an actress right from my childhood.

When I was in the nursery school, I stood out as an actress. I also acted when I was in the secondary school and very outstandingly too. In the church, I was also a good actress.

Even as a youth corper, I acted. So, I can safely say that acting has been part of me since I could identify myself as a human being.

What was your first role and how did you get it?

I actually went for an interview one day and there, I met Ifeanyi. He was the one that invited me for an auditioning. He gave me a wakapass role that day and my career in acting kicked off from thence on.

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WOMAN

March 23, 2013

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Keeping ABREAST Who are your contemporaries in the industry?

They are many but I will mention some that I can remember.Bimbo Akintola, Sandra Achums, Ucheria Anunobi and some others. I can not remember their names now.

What about Regina Askia?

Haa! Regina started before me. The reason why people always think we started together is because we acted many films together. For instance, we were together in “Most Wanted” where I played a lead role with her and that film shot me into the limelight. So many people thought we are contemporaries. No, we are not, we started differently, she started before me.

How would you describe yourself ?

I am just a normal person, an easy going person who loves what she is doing and will always want to be on top of her game. I am a cool person, I am not controversial.

How do you cope with the challenges of this job and life generally?

I see challenges as stepping stones to good success. Life is all about facing challenges. Anyone who runs away from challenges is not ready to move on with life. In life, we must surely face challenges but if we will see it as part of life, coping with it won’t be any big deal. I thank God for giving me the ability to be focused in life. I don’t see what is stressing me; I see where I am going. I see whatever difficulty that comes my way as one of those things and just get on with life. I don’t allow situations to weigh me down, I rule situations around me. That’s my attitude to life and I thank God, He has been helping me.

Have you found another love?

Yes. I have found another love. Let me say I am in love with a person. I am into a new relationship.

Would you say love has been fair to you?

Yes o, love has been fair to me, and I thank God for that.

You are one of the sexiest actresses in Nigeria. What’s the sexiest part of you?

My eyes are the sexiest part of me, and people always talk about them. I thank God for endowing me with them and also for keeping them still. Some people have some things like some parts of their bodies working for them at one time but after a while, they don’t have them again. I thank God for making my eyes sexy and captivating. Not just the eyes but for everything good working for me. It is good to praise God always and for all things.

It appears you prefer the Yoruba movie caucus to the English. Why is this so?

I just feel I should go back to my

roots. But that does not mean I don’t appear in English movies any longer.

For instance, I acted in Iru Oka alongside Ramsey Noah, a Yoruba film while I was still in the English caucus.

So it was not as if I did not act in Yoruba before or that I have abandoned the English movie genre totally. No, I am still part of them and will yield to their call anytime. However, I just want to be fully with the Yoruba sector, it’s my root, I belong to them, I am one of them.

How would you compare the two worlds?

There is no much difference. The only difference is that Yoruba movies are richer in their story lines. They have very deep story lines that teach good moral lessons and expose all to our rich cultural heritage. I am not casting any aspersion on any tribe or group here; I am just giving a personal opinion.

Have you at any time been sexually harassed? What’s your view about the issue?

I have never had such an experience before. And to me, I did not believe any one is harassing anybody. If you are talented and you know what you are doing, nobody will ever harass or molest you. As a fine lady, you are bound to have admirers and that cut acrosses everyone and every profession, you know? It now depends on the way you handle it. If you choose to date the guy in question, it will be your choice and I believe that can’t be called a sexual harassment. If you choose not to accept the offer of the proposing guy, no one will force you. No one has ever been reported for sexually harassing any one, not to my hearing. It is never a do-ordie matter. In short, if you know what you want, nobody can harass you.

Of all the films you have acted, which one will you say is most challenging?

I will say all my roles have been challenging. Take for instance, my role in Osuka, where I played two roles, was one very challenging. In that movie, I played a role of a young girl and an old woman, which was very challenging. Meanwhile, Amope Alasela, one of my recent movies too is also very challenging. In it, I played a dual role.

I must tell you, it was very tasking too because I have to change many times to play the roles of two different people. The director had to wait for me to change many times. There was a scene where both characters met. It was very challenging, quite demanding. I play very tasking roles which makes almost all my films very challenging.

What do you advice younger actresses do as they come up in this career?

They should be very focused and know that Rome is not built in a day, so, they should be patient to learn the ropes.

Don’t wash intimate areas with shower gels and soaps –Researchers

W

omen who use shower gels and soaps in intimate areas are putting themselves at higher risk of developing sexually transmitted infections, experts have warned.

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, say that soaps and lubricants can damage sensitive tissues and raise a woman’s chance of becoming infected with herpes, chlamydia and HIV. According to the researchers, “There is ‘mounting evidence’ that using these products internally can increase the risk of bacterial vaginosis (a condition that occurs when the bacterial balance becomes disrupted) and sexually transmitted infections.”

The research team recruited 141 women who agreed to answer questionnaires about their product use and undergo lab tests for vaginal infections.

The researchers found that 66 per cent of the women reported using lubricants and cleansers internally.

The most commonly used products were sexual lubricants - 70 per cent of the product-using group used commercial lubricants, while 17 per cent reported using petroleum jelly and 13 per cent used oils.

Test results showed that the women who used products not intended for internal use, such as oils and Vaseline, were more likely to have yeast and bacterial infections, according to the findings published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

For instance, 40 per cent of the women who used petroleum jelly as a lubricant had bacterial vaginosis - an infection that can be caused by a number of common bacterial species - compared to 18 per cent of women who did not insert petroleum jelly.

And 44 per cent of women who reported using oils tested positive for Candida, the fungus that causes yeast infections, compared to five per cent of women who did not use oils.

Researchers suggest the increased risk for these common infections might result from the products upsetting internal pH and beneficial microbe communities, allowing harmful organisms to proliferate.

Normally, the vagina area is home to a finely tuned system of good and bad bacteria, which produce acids that protect against infections and viruses.

Doctors do not recommend that wom-

en wash themselves internally because it can alter the balance of these bacteria and does not seem to offer any benefit.

The natural balance of bacteria in the vagina is an ‘evolutionary protection that is just washed away,’ with soaps and perfumes, according to gynaecologists.

Commercial sexual lubricants, which are designed for internal use, were not associated with an increased risk of infection in the study, but they still require further evaluation, according to the lead researcher.

However, a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology claims that, many personal lubricants contain glycerin which breaks down to sugars and promotes yeast infections and possibly also bacterial vaginosis, Lubricants without glycerin and those that are silicone based may give better results.

The problem with perfumed products is that they change the natural pH or acidity of the vagina.

The normal pH is four to five. If this is altered and made less acidic, it loses its natural protection and bacteria are allowed to thrive and multiply. The very product designed to improve body odour can, in a short space of time, do the opposite by contributing to an overgrowth of odour-producing bacteria.

And many strong chemicals and perfumes can have a direct irritant effect on the sensitive mucosal lining as well as the relatively thin and delicate skin, causing contact dermatitis or inflammation. This can make the vaginal area more prone to harbouring bacteria, causing secondary infections.

If products containing talcum powder are sprayed around the area, the tiny particles can be driven up into the female reproductive system.

There have been many studies suggesting a link between these talcum particles and ovarian cancer and while it is difficult to know whether these results are true, it is important to steer clear from anything which can cause such potential harm.

The truth is as long as a woman is healthy, washes thoroughly with soap and water frequently and changes her underwear every day there should be no need for cover-up deodorants. Using a chemical perfume to cover potential odours may mask an underlying infection or even cause one.

Culled fromwww.mailonline.com

26

March 23, 2013

Parenting

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Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression

How to be your daughter’s best friend M

ost mothers run into conflicts with their daughters as soon as they come of age. Meanwhile this is not supposed to be so as the two of them are supposed to be closely knit in love. Here are most causes for conflicts between the two and ways to sort them out: Avoid critical remarks Some girls often complain about their mothers’ making critical remarks about them. Although its a mother’s prerogative, if not her obligation, to make sure her daughter looks her best, she is expected to be mild in her comments on their appearances. One good way to go about your observation is to let them see the good part of your remarks and not only the critics. For instance, if a mother prefers that her daughter change a particular dress probably because it makes her look much of a whore, she should employ a permissible language otherwise, the girl might be put off or see her as wicked and an old school. You must try as much as possible not to be harsh and mean in your criticism, that way, she would appreciate you and your advice. Be careful not to despise the power of praise.

Listen and respect what they have to say Whenever there is an issue of discussion between you and your daughter, learn to listen to whatever she has to say and her own side of the discussion.

If it is on relationships, learn to consider her feelings before making your comments. If you are too hasty and edgy, your action might present your intention negatively to her. If you will choose to criticize her on her choice of career, friends and opinion without considering her feelings, you may end up pushing her off you. Let them have it their way too though not all the time. They would appreciate it if you consider their choices too. A good way is to find a good time to talk with them.

They usually have things to say but might be put back if you are too busy to listen to them. Make them understand that you are accessible. You shouldn’t wear a look of disapproval when your daughter walks up and

says “Mom, there’s something really important I want to talk to you about” Give them a consent, and don’t rebuff them even though you have too many things to think about as well.

Give her free ways Let her visit friends especially those that you know she really likes. Don’t choose friends for your daughters because these friends are those they share their intimate feelings with when they find them too confidential to share with you. Not only that, encourage her friends to keep coming and don’t always appear too harsh when her friends her around looking for her, it destroys their friendship eventually because they would end up talking about how unwelcoming you were when they visited your daughter.

When you see a friend with a bad trait, don’t chase them yourself, talk to your daughter about him or her later instead of calling your daughter to the room when the friend is still around. Talk to her about the friend you don’t like and give reasons for your disapproval, you would be surprised that your daughter would come home one day and say “ Mom, I’m no longer friends with so so person, I found out that he pretends.” That’s because she has taken time to study him after

your comment.

Do not try to incite her against her father A daughter may believe that her mother is a victim of a bad father, and sympathize with her mother. If a daughter supports her mother’s criticism of her father, they may feel more closely bonded which is wrong.

As an adult, the daughter may unconsciously seek a partner, who is like her perception of her father, and treat him in much the same way as her mother treated her father and drag her own children into the fight. But going by the reverse, if your daughter supports her father in any of your conflicts with each other, do not try to paint her father black, if you do, you will be influencing orientation and this might make a distance between the two of you. Instead, sit her down and explain things though not in a way that would speak ill of the father anyway.

Most mothers seem to believe that their own childhood was normal, and so try to impose their childhood norms on their children. You can’t possibly build her into a wonderful woman that way. It is good to ensure always that the communication gap between you and your daughter is filled. With that, you would have a long lasting relationship that you’ve always wished for.

Tiny Feet

NAME: Omoshalewa Olayiwola

BORN TO: Mr. and Mrs Taofeeq Olayiwola AGE: 6 weeks BIRTH WEIGHT: 2.8 kg Have you just had a baby? Send a picture of your bundle of joy to mirrorbabies@gmail.com

ParentingUpdate

You can cut your baby’s risk of asthma •Avoid exposing them to house dust, nuts, eggs and dairy products -Study

P

rotecting babies from highly allergenic foods and dust mites in their first year of life can prevent the development of asthma during childhood, a new 23-year study has discovered.

Researchers found that a child’s risk of developing the condition is reduced by more than half if their contact with common triggers of allergy is reduced.

According to the researchers, “Although genetic links are arguably the most significant risk factor for asthma in children, environmental factors are the other critical component.

“Although this was a small study, we have found that the risk of developing asthma at some point during childhood is reduced by more than 50 per cent if we introduce control of a child’s environment.”

The researchers assessed 120 patients with a family history of allergies.

The children were recruited at birth 23 years ago to find out whether or not breastfeeding mothers who avoided dairy products, eggs, soya, fish and nuts, while also using vinyl mattress covers and pesticides to kill dust mites, had a lower risk of seeing

their children develop asthma.

They performed follow-up tests when the children were two, three, four, eight and 18 and found that while only 11 per cent of those in the prevention group had developed asthma by age 18, more than a quarter of those who were naturally exposed to substances linked to allergic reactions had the condition.

The researchers said: “By introducing a combined dietary and environmental avoidance strategy during the first year of life, we believe the onset of asthma can be prevented in the early years and throughout childhood up to the age of 18.

“Our finding of a significant reduction in asthma using the dual intervention of dust mite avoidance and diet modification is unique in terms of the comprehensive nature of the regime, the length of follow-up and the size of the effect observed.”

The research, published in the journal Thorax, is the first study to show a persistent and significant reduction in asthma throughout childhood.

•Culled from www.mailonline.com

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

27

March 23, 2013

le StyGlam and

with Yemisi Adeniran

ooking hot on a red carpet is really not meant for those in Hollywood or Nollywood only. It is all about attitude. Whether you are dressing for a gala night or a star –studded dinner, making up your mind to combine the right accessory with a dashing dress is what will make the difference. You must have it in mind that going all-out glamour is no bad thing.

So, even if you aren’t slinking down a red carpet this weekend, it doesn’t mean you can’t inject a little Hollywood razzle-dazzle into your evening look. Start by choosing a dramatic gown with a long, swishing hemline. White is a very chic option also this season, as is jade green or that perennial favourite, nude.

Flaunt your star credentials by accessorising with a small, structured and a stiletto heel, before rounding off with a frosting of diamonds.

Whatever colour or dress you finally choose, ensure to be very comfortable in it.

L

(08037801158) ydiran@yahoo.com

28

STYLE & GLAM

BEAUTY

Q&A

March 23, 2013

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Your candid response to all fashion questions Perfect jean for your body type

Sometimes I hate buying jeans because the frustration of finding that pair that is right for my body type is a hassle. Most times I end up compromising and buying a pair of jeans that look like I might have borrowed them from someone else. Unfortunately and fortunately for me, jeans just happen to be what

I wear most of the time (if not ALL of the time) thus, I cannot but wear it. I am pear-shaped and need to find a solution to my dilemma.

You must first of all understand that there is a perfect pair of jeans for any body frame. Well, it has been observed that there are at least 12 distinct body types, all of which need their own considerations when picking flattering outfits including flattering jeans!

While many cuts will flatter all 3 of these shapes, each has its own

character denim.

The be While yo may find seam you Featur A wid

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STYLE & GLAM

March 23, 2013

Fashion Frenzy

29

Facelift

Tying your gele

When choosing a

necklace H

alf the fun of choosing an outfit is picking out jewelry to match. One piece of jewelry rises above the rest in terms of style and overall impact: the necklace. Simply switching one for another can change your entire look, so it’s important to put thought into which piece you’re going to wear. Here are a few tips to help you choose a necklace that’s sure to please: Consider your neckline. If you’re wearing a deep V-neck, you can use a necklace to fill in the bare space between your face and the shirt.

Consider a large pendant or bold beaded piece for a stylish look. A more demure scoop neck might benefit from a simple strand of beads or a classy chain..

Don’t be afraid to overlap. Longer necklaces are definitely trendy right now, so consider choosing a piece of jewelry that can be worn over your shirt. If you’re sporting a bold pattern, a chic pendant may be just the thing.

For a solid-colored shirt, consider playing with colors and patterns in your jewelry. A necklace

ristics that can be played up by choosing very specific cuts of

ell: The bell boasts of a great behind and enviably long legs. ou’re the envy of less bootylicious women everywhere, you it difficult to find jeans that feature both the extra-long inu need and a contoured waist that will cover your ample butt. res to look for: de leg - this will balance out the disproportion between your

featuring lots of different stones would look gorgeous on a neutral top.

Weight matters. It is not how heavy or light the necklace itself is rather, visual weight. A thin chain looks lighter than chunky beads – even if the beads are plastic and the chain is heavy. A visually heavy necklace will dress up a simple outfit, while a lighter one is just right for an ensemble that’s already got a lot of details.

Play with colour. A necklace featuring cool tones will sparkle against an outfit that’s mostly warm, while a warm-toned necklace will pop when worn with clothing in cooler tones.

Think about the occasion. If it is a party, you can get away with a huge, sparkly, overthe-top necklace. If it is not a party,keep your jewelry simple so you don’t have to deal with a tangled strand of beads while trying on clothes.

No matter what clothes you’re wearing, there’s a perfect necklace out there just waiting to make your outfit special. Spend some time experimenting with different jewelry pieces and figure out what’s right for you.

skinny calves and your butt. A lower rise in front with a contoured waist – this will add length to your torso and balance you out, while the higher back rise will prevent you from flashing people. Cuts that run a size or two bigger in the hips than in the waist – this will prevent the dreaded “gap waist,” which plagues you and the Hourglass more than any other body type.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

...a step by step guide The head wrap or head-tie plays an important part in Africa’s fashion styling, specifically in West Africa. There is a saying that “an attire is not complete until it is topped with a gele”. That is why you need to learn the easy tricks to getting it right.Tying your gele is as easy as making a bow but more versatile. The following steps will work you through the basic styles. Head-wrap styles are as versatile as your imagination can take you.

• The weight, texture, and size of the fabric will affect the end result. For the basic style, use ½ to 1 yard of 100% cotton fabric.

• Always keep your head gear piece crisp with a spray starch for better results.

The steps: 1.

Start by folding the head gear fabric to a width of about six inches. This can be achieved by folding the piece in half lengthwise, and then folding again twice or so.

2.

Wrap the fabric around your head with the right side extending about one and half over the left side.

3.

Push in the left side but keep the ends out while crossing the right side over (on top of the left end); also keep the rightside ends out.

4.

Pull both ends as tight as desired.

Push the left side while pulling the right side to get the desired comfort.

5.

Push in the right side only from where it touches the left side but without pulling it all the way through. This forms a bow.

6.

You may now move this bow to the front, to the side (left or right) or leave it on the back; the choice is yours.

7.

Spread out the two ends to obtain a rose petal look, or pin the two ends to obtain yet another look. The different possible styles and looks are endless. You’ll be surprised what you can achieve by experimenting.

30

March 23, 2013

Male Essentials

OLUWASEGUN IJABIKEN

J

ames Zino, a runway model is an eclectic guy beyond reasonable doubt that who has proven beyo he knows his onions, when it comes to fashion.

He sees fashion as an aven avenue for individual expresthat he makes each outfit, a sion, such tha experience, thereby making different exp statements with his appearvarious sta ance.

Suit is major in his fashion staple. And he does it creatively staple with bold colours in a simple, classic and unique manner. cla This trend has been unT equalled. He never forgets to accessorise with sunglasses and same colour wristwatch to match. To adopt his style, you need also need to be daring too.

If you have problemof how to combine your colours, then James’ suit sswagger style is a nice option ti ion to imbibe.

James Zino style

5 tips to a better skin (2) Continued from last week 3- Moisturize kin care for most men starts and stops with a basic bar of soap or cleanser. But washing is the absolute least you can do to prevent your face from turning into a big blackhead. Even if you happen to live in a sauna, skin can get dry after showering and, over time, that godforsaken process known as aging makes it lose elasticity. Add all that to the horror of placing a sharp blade next to your face everyday to appease rigid HR standards for clean-cut wholesomeness, and you have a recipe for irritated skin that’s parched and taut.

Showering and shaving open up pores and allow precious water to escape, but a light moisturizer can fix everything. It replenishes the skin’s moisture content and prevents razor burn. A moisturizer with SPF will also provide a critical shield against the sun. Harsh UVB rays cause the skin to burn, but it’s the UVA rays that lead to long-term damage like deep lines and skin cancer. A moistur-

S

izer with multispectrum defense takes care of it all.

4- Protect your eyes There is one place on the face that men almost never touch: the eyes. But the skin around the eyes is the only area that actually deserves special attention, because men don’t age the same way that women do. Instead of a slow progression of fine lines and wrinkles, men’s aging occurs in quantum leaps, and one of the first visible signs of aging comes from the skin around the eyes. The soft, thin layer of skin that surrounds the eye is especially prone to developing creases and crinkles long before other parts of the body begin to show their age. All of this can be prevented with regular use of an eye cream. It smooths and protects the skin, but requires serious commitment and proper usage. Applying eye cream once in a blue moon does nothing, and against all common sense, it shouldn’t be put on the soft skin underneath the eye. Instead, eye cream needs to be dabbed gently on the edge of

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

the bone around the eye to maximize efffectiveness and prevent irritation. It will ll slowly absorb and spread to the fragile e areas that need it most.

5- Protect your lips A close second in fickleness to the e skin around the eyes are the lips. The e skin here is incredibly thin and prone to o severe dryness, cracking, bleeding, and d burning from exposure to the elements. s.

That’s because the lips lack both oil il glands to keep them naturally moist and d melanin to provide protection against st harmful UV rays. A little dryness and d flaking every now and then sounds like e no big deal, but over time the combinaation of sun exposure, stress and a small ll cut can lead to nasty cold sores. Herpess simplex, anyone? Forget first base. You u can’t even leave the dugout with contaagious crap like that on your face. Reguular application of lip balm with a hint off SPF once a day can help you avoid a life fe of being benched.

•Concluded

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31

March 23, 2013

Dear Igho

TTel: e 08023924679 (SMS only) ighomit@gmail.com

Having difficulties with relationships, family, work or any other aspectt off your life? lif Help is at hand with TOBORE IGHO OVUORIE

How do I move on without him?

Dear Igho, About a year ago, I fell in love with my best friend, but I was too scared to tell him how I felt.

I knew we were both attracted to each other, and eventually I fell into the trap of becoming, well, a friend with benefits. When I brought up the option to date each other, he came up with a lot of excuses why he didn’t want to. This crushed me, and I felt like my heart was broken. But I did not tell him how I felt. I told him I understood his reasons and that we could continue to just be friends.

Months later, I still can’t move on from what happened. I still talk to him. He was, and still is one of my closest friends; we just don’t fool around anymore. And he doesn’t know how much he hurt me. Also, he had become good friends with many of my family members, so I still see him all the time when he spends time with them too. Part of me wants to just remove him from my life. But I love my family, so I don’t want to avoid them in order to avoid him. And he is still my closest, and one of my only friends. I am really shy and have an extremely difficult time making new friends. He has alDear Igho, I have been with my fiancé for five years. He is home to me.

He is my best friend and nobody gets me like he does. However, he is 30 years old and cannot pay bills. He still lives like he’s 19. I love him with all my heart and I know he loves me and gets me like nobody else would. Recently, an old friend came back into my life and he is everything on my checklist of a perfect guy. He is good looking, caring, romantic, works hard, pays his bills and is my age. Talking to him makes me feel like I deserve better than my fiancé, and it makes me see

ways been there for me, and I know he didn’t just want me for my body.

How can I move on from this? I feel like all my options result in pain.

Ayodele Kuku, Lagos Dear Ayodele, For one, the option of telling him how you feel is still on the table. You do your-

self no good by suffering in silence. At least it could give you some, dare I say it, closure. And there are other options to help you out of this pain. You can move on, but you have to make a concerted effort to do it. You must understand that he is not available to you.

Sincerely, you knew a FWB (Friends With Benefits) was risky. You even termed it “a trap.” It’s so often the case that one party is more attached, or in love, and

the other has clearly defined, emotional boundaries. You said he gave you excuses as to why you and he couldn’t date, and whether valid, or not, he had them! If you decided to cut off ties with him, I think it would be reasonable to expect family members, were you to tell them why, to keep him out of gatherings you’ll attend, and see him on their own time. It would be expected if this were an ex, and an ex friend is no exception. Some loyalty should be expected.

But whatever you do, it’s time to face facts. He does not want a committed relationship with you, and I believe it’s because you’re not truly the right woman for him. That is his right, and we all have our taste in who we want in a partner. The fact that you’re shy, and have trouble making friends is troubling to me. That means you’ve put a tremendous amount of stock into this relationship, and you expected a great deal in return -- because he has been your one and only friendship focus. It’s too much concentration on one friend who doesn’t offer the type of relationship you want. And that you need to address in earnest.

Really, I think you can move past this, eventually, but seeking one-on-one counselling which must be in phases to bring your “social” insecurities to light would be an excellent plan.

Do I deserve a better man? him as less of a man. This friend really wants me to leave my fiancé and be with him. There is a big part of me that wants to. I’m curious to see what my life would be like if I wasn’t having to be the “man of the house”. But every time I think about leaving my fiancé, my heart breaks.

He is home to me. He is safe. But do I deserve better? What should I do?

Tracy Nana Wabote, Port-Harcourt Dear Igho,

You and your fiancé are in more of a “brother/sister” type of relationship.

He’s family, and that’s why you would hate to end the relationship and break his heart. But if he’s not the guy you admire and respect before the marriage, and you’re going to be pulling the financial weight after one – and resent it.

You’d better end the relationship no matter who’s waiting in the wings.

Honestly, there might be a woman who wouldn’t mind this responsibility, and thinks his teeny bopper behaviour is en-

dearing, but you’re not one of them.

He does seem immature, and 19 doesn’t look good on a guy who is 30. But this is who he is, and he’d have to make changes based on thinking it’s time to become a man and put away childish, and irresponsible behaviour.

Sweet heart, it’s either you accept him, warts and all, or leave this relationship.

Meanwhile, this other man represents what is missing in the relationship you have with your fiancé. To be candid with you, it’s a wakeup call.

Dated best friend’s cousin, uncle, now in love with her brother Dear Igho, I’m really in a jam here. I’ve recently reunited with a close of mine and her family. We have been friends since primary school, I am now 32.

The problem is that I’ve dated her cousin while in secondary school and, then, her uncle while I was in 100level in the university.

Here’s the problem: her younger brother, who is 30, confessed to me that he has always had a crush on me and secretly I did too, but he was way too young back then, plus I didn’t want to upset my girlfriend.

My question is: Would it be wrong to get to know him on a different level now that he is older? I still feel a connection when I’m around him.

Am I a bad friend and person?

Damilicious, Abuja.

Dear Damilicious, You’re not a bad person, but you seem to have an affinity for this family’s male contingency. I would make sure this was okay with your girlfriend and her fam-

ily before proceeding were I to be in your shoes.

Of course, you and he are of age, and you can do what you want, but that may come at a price if they have a bad taste in their mouths from your past behaviour – no matter if it’s not justified.

If you become persona non grata with them over this, a relationship with him, I think, will be troublesome.

32

March 23, 2013

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ages. The vast majority of ovarian cysts are considered functional (or physiologic). This means they occur normally and are not part of a disease process.

Most ovarian cysts are benign, meaning they are not cancerous, and many disappear on their own in a matter of weeks without treatment. While cysts may be found in ovarian cancer, ovarian cysts typically represent a harmless (benign) condition or a normal process.

Ovarian cysts occur most often during a woman’s childbearing years.

The most common types of ovarian cysts are the following:

Ovarian Cysts

O

varian cysts are small fluidfilled sacs that develop in a woman’s ovaries. Most cysts are harmless, but some may cause problems such as rupturing, bleeding, or pain; and surgery may be required to remove the cyst(s). It is important to understand the function of the ovaries and how these cysts may form.

Women normally have two ovaries that store and release eggs. Each ovary is about the size of a walnut, and one

ovary is located on each side of the uterus. One ovary produces one egg each month, and this process starts a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle. The egg is enclosed in a sac called a follicle. An egg grows inside the ovary until estrogen (a hormone), signals the uterus to prepare itself for the egg. In turn, the lining of the uterus begins to thicken and prepare for implantation of a fertilized egg resulting in pregnancy. This cycle occurs each month and usually ends when the

egg is not fertilized. All contents of the uterus are then expelled if the egg is not fertilized. This is called a menstrual period.

In an ultrasound image, ovarian cysts resemble bubbles. The cyst contains only fluid and is surrounded by a very thin wall. This kind of cyst is also called a functional cyst, or simple cyst.

If a follicle fails to rupture and release the egg, the fluid remains and can form a cyst in the ovary. This usually affects one of the ovaries. Small cysts (smaller than one-half inch) may be present in a normal ovary while follicles are being formed.

Ovarian cysts affect women of all

Follicular cyst: This type of simple cyst can form when ovulation does not occur or when a mature follicle involutes (collapses on itself). A follicular cyst usually forms at the time of ovulation. The rupture of this type of cyst can create sharp severe pain on the side of the ovary on which the cyst appears.

This sharp pain occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle, during ovulation.

Corpus luteum cyst: This type of functional ovarian cyst occurs after an egg has been released from a follicle.

Usually, this cyst is found on only one side and produces no symptoms.

Hemorrhagic cyst: This type of functional cyst occurs when bleeding occurs within a cyst. Symptoms such as abdominal pain on one side of the body may be present with this type of cyst.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

LETTER

Dear Mirror Doctor, I have diabetes for the past four years, but my family doctor is not taking the treatment serious. The case comes and goes through some treatment. Please what shall I do? I am worried.

Ekeh, C Mirror Doctor Replies Mr Ekeh, if truely you are diabetic and your doctor is not taking the treatment seriously, you need to worry. First you need to understand the condition so as to enable you cope with the management. Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.

This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).

Diabetes is a defect in the body’s ability to convert glucose (sugar) to energy.

Glucose is the main source of fuel for our body. When food is digested it is changed into fats, protein, or carbohydrates.

I am diabetic

Foods that affect blood sugars are called carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates, when digested, change to glucose. Glucose is then transferred to the blood and it is used by the cells for energy. In order for glucose to be transferred from the blood into the cells, the hormone - insulin is needed. Insulin is produced by the beta cells in the pancreas.

In individuals with diabetes, this process is impaired. Diabetes develops when the pancreas fails to produce sufficient quantities of insulin – Type 1 diabetes or the insulin produced is defective and cannot move glucose into the cells – Type 2 diabetes.

Either insulin is not produced in sufficient quantities or the insulin produced is defective and cannot move the glucose into the cells.

How is diabetes diagnosed?

The diagnosis of diabetes is made by a simple blood test measuring your blood glucose level.

Usually these tests are repeated on a subsequent day to confirm the diagnosis.

Both forms and all stages of diabetes

are serious, with many possible complications, including eye, heart, kidney, and nerve damage.

If you have diabetes, there are many things you can do to help yourself. Medication is only one aspect of your care; maintaining a healthy weight, increasing your physical activity, making life style changes, eating healthy foods, testing your blood sugars, taking your medications as prescribed, requesting a referral to a certified diabetes educator and/ or a dietician, attending diabetes education programs, and consulting with your health professional to keep your blood sugar in control will help you control your diabetes and stay well. The amount of self-management you can achieve will affect the quality of life you lead.

What is the treatment for diabetes?

As yet, there is no “cure” for either type of diabetes, although there are many ways of keeping diabetes under control.

Diabetes treatments are designed to help the body to control the sugar levels in the blood. Studies have shown that good con-

trol of blood sugar is the key to avoiding diabetic complications. The treatment depends on the type.  Type 1 diabetes requires insulin.

Injected insulin replaces the insulin missing in the body. You will need to learn how to balance your insulin with your food intake and your physical activity.  Type 2 diabetes treatment will vary dependent on your blood sugar levels.

Many patients are counseled to change their lifestyle and lose weight. It is important to work with a diabetes educator and dietitian. Treatment begins with changing certain food choices and beginning an exercise program. Diabetes is a progressive disease, and the treatment may change over time, requiring oral medication; if you are already taking medication, you may need an increased dose or multiple medications, and eventually, you may need to start on insulin.

See your doctor every three months until your blood sugar is in control, once it’s under control, your numbers and medication regimen should be reviewed every six months.

With the above in mind, I presume you are better informed to managing your diabetes. I advice you go to a proper secondary or tertiary hospital to get expert management.

Living

The burnt luxury buses

AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

M

arch 18, 2013 marked yet another dark day for Kano residents as suspected terrorists hit the commercial city with explosives in a manner that equalled the 20 January, 2012 multiple bomb explosions that killed no fewer than 150 persons, including security agents.

Monday’s attack, which has again jolted the business community, was carried out in the ever busy central motor park, located on New Road in the Sabon Gari area of Kano State capital, occupied vastly by non-Muslims and non-indigenes.

No fewer than 60 persons, including passengers of a 59-seater luxury bus with about 20 others were killed and several others injured when suicide bombers blew up the bus as it was about departing the park for Lagos, its final destination.

Apart from the Gobison vehicle, 10 other luxury buses were torched as the park went up in flames; about 40 shops were also destroyed by fire which spread to the business area of the Sabon Gari park, which accommodates South East and Lagos-bound buses.

The suicide attack occurred at about 4.30pm and was known to be targeted at the bus operated by Gobison Motor Company. Sources hinted that the suicide bombers, about three in number, positioned their Golf car, primed with explosives between the ill-fated Gobison luxury bus and another one and detonated the explosives immediately the driver of the bus started its engine.

As soon as the multiple explosions were heard, the military Joint Task Force (JTF) and the police rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area, apparently to pave way for smooth evacuation of the victims, the death and the injured.

There was no sign of rescue team

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

March 23, 2013

33

Shattered windscreen of another luxury bus

Black Monday in Kano

How terrorists bombed luxury bus Kano, the commercial nerve of the northern part of the country, is fast getting another sobriquet: terrorists’ battle ground. Residents and visitors are, however, not finding it funny. Last Monday’s bomb attack was another one.

Survivors recall their close shave with death. from Red Cross and the Emergency Relief Agency, almost 45 minutes after the attack, a situation, which worsened the conditions of the injured victims, as the only rescue effort came from sympathisers, some of who used their cars to ferry the survivors to hospitals for first aid before they were later taken to Mallam Aminu Teaching Hospital, Murtala Mohammed hospital, the Air Force Base Hospital and the National Orthopaedic Hospital, all in Kano.

Men of the Fire Service were also not handy as they were spotted at the scene almost after one hour after the incident during which period the inferno had wreaked havoc, spreading to 10 other luxury buses.

It had also destroyed neighbouring buildings.

Some of the injured victims had amputated arms and limbs, resulting from the

severe impact of the explosions. About six explosions were heard in the busy park.

Other categories of victims in that attack were hawkers of petty items, like sachet and bottled water among others, most of them died in the explosion.

When help finally came, the place was cordoned off and most of the victims evacuated on wheel barrows and deposited on the new Igbo Road junction where vehicles moved them to the hospitals.

Investigations have, however, revealed that a number of park workers are still missing.

Captain Ikedichi Iweha, spokesman for the JTF was not forthcoming with details relating to the attack. He said, “our interest now is to ensure that the injured were taken to the hospital for treatment, while efforts are been made by fire-fighters to ex-

tinguish the raging flames in the park. We are also making efforts to prevent thieves from taking advantage of the situation to steal properties.”

The Chairman of the Kano Chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Tobias Idika, said from records available to him, 60 persons died in the encounter, while five luxury buses were burnt.

“This is the worst experience in the lives of the Igbo in Kano. We have lost over 60 souls while five buses were burnt to ashes. This shows that we have always been the target of attack.”

The Kano State Police Command, however, reacted on the attack on Tuesday.

According the State Police Commissioner, Musa Daura, the Command can only confirm so far the death of 22 persons and 65 others with varying degrees of injury.

“There was an attack March 18 on Kano Motor park by terrorists and the Police Command is displeased to inform the public that so far, 22 persons have been confirmed dead, 62 with varying degrees of injuries when suicide bombers drove a Volkwagen car into the luxury bus park on New Road in Sabon Gari, Kano.”

The Deputy Governor of Kano State visited the injured victims in their variCONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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LIVING

March 23, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Victims of the bomb attack on their hospital beds

Injured victim of the bomb attack at New Road Motor Park

Another victim being taken to the hospital

‘All my friends are dead’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33 ous hospitals on Tuesday to sympathise with them.

He described the attack as barbaric, criminal and anti-Islam, pointing out that perpetrators of the heinous crime would not go unpunished.

The Deputy Governor was in Dala Orthopedic Hospital, Air Force Specialist Hospital and the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, where he commiserated with the victims and assured them that: “We have been working round the clock to ensure that those injured victims were saved and we were also doing our best to make sure that they are safe and alive by the grace of God. “We have been going round to assess the situation and condition of those in the hospitals and the medical doctors have been given adequate instruction to save the lives of the survivors by putting in their best in this situation for speedy recovery.

“This kind of attack exposes the disadvantage of having a motor park in the heart of the city, you are aware we were creating a Mega Motor park and it would be a modern motor park with necessary facilities and security arrangements.”

The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr.Abdullahi Ganduje, has said that the government would foot the bills of those injured.

Survivors also spoke from their sick bed, narrating their experience in the ugly event. Ahmed Abubakar Warawa, a cap seller, who suffered second degree burns and currently on admission at the

Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, relived his encounter with death: “On the fateful Monday evening, I was at home when they informed me that my wife was very sick and needed some drugs. But since I had no money on me at that time, I had to rush to the motor park to sell some caps to raise funds to purchase the drugs.

“I was negotiating with some potential customers when I heard the bang, accompanied with smoke, at that point I never knew where I was again until I recovered consciousness and found myself in the hospital “Now, my situation is pathetic. I have no money to take care of myself and my sick wife; I have three wives and eight children. How do I cope with feeding them? I am in serious agony which these heartless people have put me into.”

Abdulazeez Rimin Kebe is another victim of the blast. He works at the Motor Park. Now lying critically ill on his Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital bed, he recounted his ordeal.

“The people that put me in this agony would surely be visited by the wrath of God because for now, I cannot explain my present condition.

“I have lost my nose. I also have a deep gorge in my stomach. I am placed on drips. I am severely feeling the pain.

I may die any moment from now, only God will avenge what these people have done to me, I will never forgive them,” he lamented.

Emmanuel Bassey, 27, who works with Ezenwata Transport Service, is now on admission at the Murtala Mohammed General Hospital with multiple fractures

on his left leg. He also has a ruptured intestine. He is another victim.

“Our luxury bus was beside a Lagos bound bus; suddenly I saw a Golf car on top speed heading towards our direction.

All I heard was an explosion and I found myself in the hospital. All I could remember is that four of my friends standing with me that day are now dead,” he managed to mutter on his bed.

Gobison’s worker, Emeka, now on admission at Dala Orthopaedic Hospital, said, he was discussing with friends and his manager at the park when the incident happened.

He said, “we saw a white Golf car, and we thought that the occupants were attempting to deliver some parcels for courier. Within a short while, all we heard was a huge sound with thick smoke, which enveloped the area.”

Disturbed by the incidence President Goodluck Jonathan said that his government would no longer tolerate wanton destruction of lives and property as witnessed last Monday in Kano and challenged the state government to deploy its resources and any means available in dealing with the situation.

The President who spoke through the Federal Government delegation to Kano headed by the Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, lamented the effect of the risen conflict in Kano and some northern states.

In his remark Governor Kawnkwaso said his government has been doing its best in protecting lives and properties of residents adding that before the devastating Monday attack on the motor park

there were attacks “even after then we have also recorded some attacks.

The governor also frowned at the tribal sentiment attached to the incidence saying that from the list of 25 victims at the hospitals, majority are indigenes. Kwankwaso said both Christians and Muslims have been praying for the return of peace and unity in the state.

“We would continue to partner with the Federal Government and local government to find lasting solution to the conflict.

He described as regrettable that politicians in Abuja have started politicising the matter adding that it is a wrong thing to do.

“We were already collecting names of those who died in the attack and from what we see they make be composed of mostly natives and people from this part of the country,” he added.

The Federal Government delegation included Minster of Police Affairs Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade(rtd), Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar among others.

Kano has recorded a beehive of activities as sympathisers trooped to the city to condole with the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Amongst guests at the monarch’s palace were the Comptroller of Immigration Services, R B Musa, Customs Comptroller for Kano/Jigawa command Abubakar Umar Sanusi and the leadership of Northern Elders Forum. They all prayed for the return of peace in the state and the country at large.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

LIVING

March 23, 2013

35

Free at last!

Isolo residents laud closure of mortuary

Alex

For some time now, residents of Isolo, Lagos have been groaning under the yoke of a putrid stench which could be a harbinger of diseases and death. Suddenly Lagos State said it would shut the mortuary of the General Hospital that emits the stench. FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON captured the mood of the residents.

I

t was around 10am and it was a Monday. Everyone was in the mood for business, waiting and hoping that customers would come in one after the other to buy from them. Good enough, prayers were answered as patrons started trickling in requesting for one electrical item or the other.

Then, it happened: suddenly from nowhere expected, the breeze blew and it was accompanied by a putrid smell. It oozed all over the whole neighbourhood. It was like the smell of a rotten fish or turkey. It was worse though. It was the smell of decomposing human bodies oozing from the mortuary of the Isolo General Hospital, Lagos.

Within seconds everyone had one piece of material or the other covering their nostrils. Those who had no piece of cloth or hanky used their fingers to hold their nostrils.

After some minutes, it blew away gently and silently as it came.

For some time now, that had been the lot of residents of Isolo, the host community of the hospital.

So, when a couple of weeks ago, the Lagos State government announced the proposed closure of the mortuary at the Isolo General Hospital that would take effect from Tuesday 26 March, 2013, the response of the residents was predictable.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, had said the closure was to be in conformity with public health norms.

No doubt for many of the residents of Isolo vicinity, it is an answered prayer.

They have been clamouring for a thing of that nature for long owing to the fact that they see the terrible smell oozing out of the mortuary as a health hazard to the residents and workers around the place.

While speaking with Saturday Mirror on the issue, Sunshine Okolie who owns an electrical shop adjacent the hospital previously described said that for him, the announcement was a welcome one as it would put an end to the endemic odour that the whole environment is characterized with most times.

According to Okolie who has been operating a retail shop in the area for over three years, the situation has been quite unbearable as customers cannot do business conveniently because of the terrible odour from the mortuary.

“I was so happy when the announcement was made by the Commissioner two Mondays ago. The odour is such a terrible one that each time it starts, it is so unbearable. The state of the mortuary is a very

Aderogba

Okolie

Isolo General hospital premises

terrible one and it is a shame that the state government could not provide adequate facilities to keep the place in order. Sometime ago when I had to collect my brother’s corpse from that mortuary, the whole place was in real mess. The odour comes most times when the light is off and I wonder why there cannot be a standby power generating set at the place. The closure is just the best; at least we can have some respite now,” he added.

Mrs. Abosede Aderogba, another resident of the place who also owns a restaurant close to the hospital, also expressed her joy over the proposed closure of the mortuary.

She described it as the best thing to be done to the place.

“The decision to close down the place is a very good one because it has been hell for those of us who not only live around here but also work around here. Imagine the huge loss we incur most of the times as a result of the terrible smell that ooze out of the place. Many times customers who come in to eat would change their minds once the odour starts. It is a very serious situation that if not quickly attended to can actually endanger the lives of people living around here. And for people like us it does not just end at the shop because we live around the place so most of the times we live with this bad smell,” she said Babatunde Alex is also elated at the decision of the government. Although he lives a little far from the area but he works close to the place.

“I am an Okada operator and I have been operating in this area for a long time and contending with the smell that usually comes out of the mortuary. It has been a real pain. The smell can only be likened to that which you get when a cold room’s power supply is down. It is a smell of rottenness and decomposition.

“It is just a sad situation that the government cannot operate the place successfully putting all the necessary things in place.

Mortuaries are no longer fit to play the role of temporary resting places of rest for the dead. In and around the morgue, there hangs a heavy stench posing a great health danger to the inhabitants of the area,” pointed out Babatunde.

A staff of the hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity told Saturday Mirror that half of the cold chambers used for the preservation of corpses in the mortuary have broken down and have been in that condition for a long time now.

He said the place smells because of the huge number of abandoned corpses that the state environmental monitoring unit picks up daily on the streets which were being deposited in the mortuary and left to decompose.

He added that though they have a formalin tank that helps them to preserve the bodies, the bodies brought in daily are more than the capacity of the mortuary.

He explained that apart from the breakdown of the cold chambers, the bad state of the mortuary is caused by the frequent power outages. The generator at the hospi-

tal is always over-worked” While speaking with Dr. Oji Obiora, a medical doctor at the Military Hospital in Ikoyi on the inherent dangers that could arise from the terrible odour on the residents of the place.

“The exposure to decomposing bodies poses a lot of risk to human health. In a situation where corpses are allowed to decompose without being properly preserved could serve as breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria.

Obiora explained that in deaths caused by diseases like tuberculosis, the pathogenic bacteria from decomposing bodies could easily become airborne and lead to an outbreak of respiratory infections and so the decision to permanently close the place to avoid endangering the lives of the inhabitants of the place is the best.

Although many believe that the lackadaisical attitude of the government is the fundamental challenge faced by the mortuary but the government believes the best thing to do is to close up the place while other state owned mortuaries like the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Lagos Island General Hospital, Ikorodu General Hospital and Epe General Hospital remain open for use by members of the public.

The recently renovated mortuary in Mainland General Hospital has now been designated a Social Responsibility Centre and as such it will henceforth receive and accommodate only some categories of bodies.

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LIVING

March 23, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Lagos BRT buses: Molues in the making Some BRT buses

I

n March 2008 when the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) was launched in Lagos, residents believed they had finally bid farewell to the yellow rickety mass transit buses called Molue.

The euphoria which greeted the introduction of the blue and red buses as they are also known is fast fading and in place apprehension and a recollection of one the songs of the late Afro Beat Maestro, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Shuffering and Smiling.

The “49 standing” passengers Fela sympathized with are today, humoured as “standing committees” in BRT buses and one of the passengers who spoke with Saturday Mirror, Ojo, captured this.

Ojo, a passenger at the TBS BRT bus station held that while the ticket fare is passenger-friendly, “the queue is getting too long by the day. Today it is just too much. I have been on this queue for more than an hour. My legs are aching. You can see passengers sitting down on the pavement helplessly. The government needs to add more buses to the fleet to assuage the suffering of the passengers. There is no luxury in it at all. It is now a mini molue” Asked what he meant by a “mini molue”, he said that “when you enter the BRT this time of the day (around 5 p.m.), it is 39 sitting 99 standing committee. But I think that if they can get more buses, the services would improve.

According to the operators of the bus service, Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA), Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), “is a transport option, which relies on the use of dedicated ‘interference’ free segregated lanes to guarantee fast and reliable bus travel. The BRT buses run on physically segregated lanes and thus make them run faster in a situation where there is traffic congestion. It is one of the several options available for tackling the huge public transport predicaments of Lagos”.

Saturday Mirror’s investigation shows that most of the blue buses have between 36

When Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) was introduced in Lagos, it was greatly applauded by all and sundry. A couple of years down the line, however, Lagos residents are having a rethink. The buses are fast becoming grim reminders of the (in)famous Molue. THOMAS USHIE reports.

Ojo

Okoye

and 48 sitting spaces. However, at peak period, those standing are usually more than those sitting as passengers are cramped inside the bus belly-to-buttock, gasping for breath whenever the bus is, contrary to the position of LAMATA, entangled in traffic gridlock, especially on all the bridges on its routes, from CMS through Stadium, Ojuelegba, causing a temporary setback to the aim of the scheme “rapid transit”.

Speaking on the rapidity of transit which the bus system ought to be known for, one of the regular users of BRT at Leventis Terminus, Remi Akinbade, said that such service is better enjoyed when the bus is on the Ikorodu Road, from Fadeyi terminus to Mile 12 as it does not enjoy immunity from traffic snarl from CMS to Alaka as well as the bridges.

“The only area and time we enjoy the rapid services of this bus is from Ikorodu Road, that is, from Fadeyi towards Mile

12. This is because from that area, the BRT lane is properly demarcated and protected from other vehicles. The other vehicles don’t bother at all about on coming BRT buses on the yellow lane so when there is traffic hold up, it affects all vehicles including the BRT, that is, from CMS to Alaka.

“In terms of time, the service is very enjoyable from 10 a.m when the traffic is not heavy. Within this period, the usual long queue that we encounter in the morning when people are going to work and from 5 pm when people are closing from work is almost absent. Generally, the system is a far cry from what we were made to look forward to. There is room for improvement if the operators are determined to sustain the system,” Akinbade explained.

Corroborating Ojo, another passenger who identified himself simply as Simon, spoke with Saturday Mirror onboard an overcrowded BRT heading towards Mile 12:

“The bus is turning into a molue but I believe that Fashola is not aware of this ugly development. You can see the number of people standing inside this bus. It is even more than those sitting. I don’t think that is what this kind of bus was meant to be. I believe it is overloading that is even making the bus breaking now and then,” Seun suggested while promising his unflinching patronage of BRT because “it is very cheap for me to use the bus from CMS to Mile 12.

“If it were to be other commercial buses, I would have spent so much but with BRT, I am paying 120 naira only. It used to be 100 naira before it was increased. So, for common people like us, I think that BRT has helped us a lot.”

Relieving her excruciating experience boarding BRT buses, Mrs Ojerinde called on the government not to allow the system degenerate into the dreaded molue where miscreants prey on innocent passengers.

“I do patronise more frequently the red buses. In terms of quickness, I have not really enjoyed it because whenever it is stuck in traffic, you can be there for as long as it lasts. The smaller buses can easily manoeuvre their way out of the traffic but the case is different with the long red buses competing on the same road with the daring danfo. I have had some quite ugly experiences with these buses, both red and blue. For more than five times, I boarded the bus and it broke down on the way with full passengers on board. But while we may pardon occasional breakdown, it is the evacuation and conveying CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

A long wait for BRT (standing department)

Lawal

LIVING

March 23, 2013

Standing Inside the BRT

Levi

Charity

‘We’re suffering and smiling’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36

guilt. I stared at him with anger and as we approached the next bus stop, he alighted. of the passengers on board such buses that It is even so unfortunate that like the sad I don’t feel comfortable with. One of these days of molue when pick-pockets rule, such five times, the bus left its shelter for like 10 a thing is creeping into the BRT system minutes and it broke down. It was so bad too. While we may not blame this on the that it was around 9.30 p.m. in the night. operators, I think it is because of the overWe waited for so long and while some were congestion of the bus with passengers that able to struggle to join some of the buses is causing it,” Ojerinde, narrated. that came by already fully loaded with pasShe advised that “the operators should sengers standing, I had no choice than to have good communication system so that source for alternative by joining the danfo they could call for back-ups in such an bus and forfeiting the ticket I have already emergency. I think this is absent as, since bought and submitted at the bus station I started patronising them, no bus has before taking off to the disappointment. broken down and an empty bus comes to There is also a painful encounter when I convey the passengers. Even in this era was to go with my parents to the hospital. I of GSM, most times, the drivers don’t have told them to go ahead of me and that I will credit on their phone to call for back up. I meet them at the hospital. I had thought think so because they would not even make that I would use the BRT and get there in efforts to call. The drivers would be moving time only for the bus I boarded to break around helplessly waiting for any bus to down at Maryland. My parents waited and come b. The buses are breaking down and got angry with me. There was another ugly passengers are really being traumatised. encounter when I was going home after the If you don’t have extra money, banking on day’s work, I boarded the bus standing from your tickets, you might be stranded. This the bus station in CMS. As the bus was should not be the case.” moving, I noticed that something fell on my It will be recalled that about a year after legs. I stooped slowly down and reached out the launch of the BRT transport scheme, to it. Behold, it was my chain. A thief in Governor Babatunde Fashola, while makthe bus attempted to steal my necklace and ing a presentation on the “Transformationin the rubbing and scrubbing of body as al Impact of Transport Projects in Lagos” the bus moves, he cleverly cut the chain but at a three-day World Bank Transport Focould not get hold of it properly. I looked rum with the theme “Transport: Invisible round people standing close to me and no- Force-Visible Impact” in Washington DC, ticed a young man who was covered with USA spoke glowingly of the BRT system.

“I have to make special mention of the BRT project - I am always pleased to tell anyone that would listen that in my 39 years, this is the first policy project that I have experienced from any government in any era of country’s history to give the poor man advantage which the rich do not enjoy.

“Today Lagosians who used to take four buses in perilous condition over three and half hours to get from Ikorodu to CMS between 4.30am and 8.00am now leave Ikorodu at 6.30am and arrive at work before 8.00am A reading culture is being enhanced by the BRT phenomenon alone. The orderly queues have also proven that when any people (Nigerians also) are given value for money they will maintain requisite order and decorum”.

Asked to voice his take on the services of BRT, another passenger at the Leventis Bus Stop, Levi, said that while he enjoys the culture of “orderliness” instilled on the passengers who queue up patiently waiting for buses, there is need for training of staffers of the scheme on service delivery as well as increase in communication services among the drivers, station managers and the bus depot.

“I am not a regular user of this bus. Nevertheless, the few times I’ve used it, I think that they are okay except for few hitches like the delay in the availability of buses.

It is human to experience such hitches but the important thing is the need for improvement. And I believe, as a profit mak-

37

ing establishment, they will continue to improve their services from time to time.

There is no outright perfection. Having said this, I also think that they urgently need to improve on their communication between the bus shelters and the main bus station for the deployment of buses to the various stops that need it. As you can see, the queue here is very long. I have been on it for more than an hour without knowing what is going on. I must commend the orderliness and patient of the passengers.

I also think that their fare is reasonable.

They should also train and retrain their staff on the basic methods of customer services,” Levi advised.

Charity is a female passenger. She said that “passengers queue up for too long and suffer before boarding the buses because they are not always forthcoming. We have been on the queue for more than an hour now with no end Also speaking, a passenger at the BRT Onipanu station, Paschal Inieobong, berated the decrepitude state of the bus’ dedicated lane while calling on the operators of the scheme to speed up maintenance of the dedicated lanes as well as buses before the system degenerates into full fledged molue.

Commenting on the deviation from the “original plan” of the scheme, one of the passengers who identified himself as Lawal stated: “The original purpose of the transport system has not been achieved.

I think that the operators have deviated from that plan of discouraging the use of private cars and by extension, decongest the roads. Regular private car users would not find it funny to queue for this long. They will not find it funny also to board an overcrowded bus. The bus is not radically different from molue. The only difference is that unlike molue of those days, there is orderliness as we can queue up for more than two hours and continue to maintain order while boarding the bus.

Even then, most surviving molue operators have adopted the same style. It is so unfortunate that there is no adequate maintenance culture with the operators of the BRT buses. Some seats are falling off. Some of the doors cannot close again while in motion. So many things have gone wrong with the buses. It has become a glorified molue. The ticketers are even so rude and even when I praise their orderliness, sometimes, the station officers do abuse it. I think they can still go back to the vision of the scheme. The earlier the better”.

Speaking with Saturday Mirror the Public Relations Manager of LAMATA, Kolawole Ojelabi, while clarifying the role of LAMATA on BRT as regulatory rather than operational, blamed the long queue especially at the Leventis and TBS bus stations during peak periods, on the occasional delay in the arrival of buses at the various bus stations due to high volume of traffic.

“Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) is not the operator of the BRT. It is the regulator. However, when there is traffic, there is nothing that can be done to get the buses to the various stations where there are urgently needed.

But when we hear complains like this, we make efforts to intimate the operators appropriately in order to ensure good service delivery. And we would do so accordingly to ensure a hitch free transportation system in Lagos State” Ojelabi stated.

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TOURISM

K AYODE FALADE

O

gbunike Caves are situated in a valley behind the “Ogba” hills in which lies St. Monica College, Ogbunike.

Descending into the valley where the caves are located is a lengthy walkway made up of about 317 steps said to have been constructed by the Anambra State Government in the mid 90s. At the end of the walkway is an open space used as a reception point where visitors are by tradition to remove their shoes.

The main cave consists of a massive structure with a big open chamber of about 5m high, 10m wide and 30m long at the entrance. There are 10 tunnels at the main chamber leading to different directions.

Within the tunnels are big chambers and other tunnels of varying lengths, some of which are inter connected. The caves are occupied by a large colony of bats of various sizes. There are streams and body of water at various places. A stream flows out from one of the tunnels into a rapid flowing river (River Nkissa). At the meeting point of the river and the stream one can feel the warm water from the caves and the cold river water.

Beside this portion of the river is a table land of about 5 X 5 square meters used as a relaxation spot by visitors to the caves. The immediate environment of the caves up to about 200 meters radius is a thick tropical rainforest type of vegetation. Among the fauna of the site are deer, antelope, grass cutter, porcupine, rabbit, alligator, snakes and frogs. Others are fish, crabs and birds.

Ogbunike caves are associated with living traditions and are said to be used by the people for many centuries. The site still retains its historical and spiritual significance. There is an annual festival called “Ime Ogbe” celebrated in commemoration of the discovery of the caves. The biodiversity of the site has remained almost intact.

The integrity of the site can be attested to by the presence of the primary forests around the caves. The Nkisa River flows by the side of the caves into which the water that drains from the caves empties itself. At that point, where the difference in temperature is felt between the river and

March 23, 2013

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Ogbunike caves

Return to the Neolithic age the water from the rock. The entire site is within ranges of undulating hills and valleys which stretch across other communities and farmlands. The site has sufficient boundaries (20 hectares) to protect its values from direct effects of human encroachment.

The Ogbunike caves like the ancient cave temple of Arochukwu in Abia State were a symbol of justice. Ogbunike caves have attractive waterfall at the North West part of the cave that could compare to Kalambo falls in East Africa. The caves are believed to have been in existence for centuries with minimal defacement. The caves occupy a large expanse of area.

Recently, Chief Edem Duke, Nigerin Minister of Culture and Tourism, revealed that tourism in this modern time provides six out of every eight new jobs created .

The country is fortunate that there is hardly any of its states that do not have natural endowments with which Nature has so richly blessed them.

AnambraState, for instance is blessed with many potentially revenue-yielding

tourist attractions such as the Igboukwu Museum, the Agulu Lake and caves located in Owerre-Ezukala and Ogbunike. However, these tourist sites have not been fully utilised to yield the much-needed revenue to drive the developmental agenda of Anambra.

The Ogbunike caves, described by geologists as millions of years old, are the yet undiscovered cash cow of Anambra. One of the cave tunnels exit at the Ogbunike Town Hall, about six kilometres away from the cave proper, and another tunnel, according to folklore, terminates at Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area.

The much talked about employment generation will find ready expression in the cave, if a perimeter fence was built to secure the cave grounds with a gate to be manned by revenue staff, working shifts. The gate will serve as entry and exit point for thousands of individuals, groups, and bus-loads of knowledge-seeking pupils, students, researchers and excursion groups which daily stream into Ogbunike to feast their eyes on the wonders of this God-given gift to Anam-

bra. The inscriptions, carvings, drawings, signatures and etchings on the cave walls over the years bear testimony to the thousands of visitors the cave has played host to over the centuries.

The Anambra State Ministry of Commerce and Industry can partition and allocate the grounds in square meters to restaurant owners, fast food and drink retailers for a fee renewable annually. Ground rents can also be charged sellers of local delicacies like “Okpa” and local drinks like “ngwo” and “iti”. For those who wish to pass nights and weekends in the cave to further savour its delights, the Anambra State Government needs only construct safari-type pre-fabricated bungalows with thatched roofs to harmonize with the cave locale and eco-system. The interior of these bungalows can be plumbed, wired and tiled for modern comfort. Who says the Peter Obi government cannot throw in a capacious conference hall, also to be thatch-roofed but interiorly-modernized for conferences, brain-storming retreats and wedding receptions, all for a fee!.

People

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March 23, 2013

39

CHARLES OKEKE

B

arrister Vincent Ezenwajiaku is a pharmacist and a lawyer. He was a foundation member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

An astute politician, he contested for seats in the Federal House of Representatives and Senate on the platform of APGA. He is currently the Commissioner for Special Duties in the Peter Obi administration.

But why would a pharmacist leave his profession for politics? He answered: “I am a pharmacist and a Barrister at Law by profession. I ventured into politics because I believe it offers me wider spectrum to contribute to the advancement of humanity.”

Ezenwajiaku, however, does not see himself as a professional politician. In fact, he frowns on those who regard themselves as such.

“In fact, some of us who are professionals are against people seeing politics as a profession. It is not. I often get angry when some people introduce themselves as politicians. The reason for this obsession with politics is people’s view and belief that it is a shorter route to wealth and fame. We have a trend in the country today of people who soon after their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, plunge into politics without attempt to practise their profession. For such people, whenever you ask them about their profession, they will say “I am a politician.” The consequence of this is that if they contest any post and fail, rather than go back to their trade, they will be running around the corridors of power.

They are ever ready to become sweepers of the offices of people in power for them to be seen to belong. This is not good and it has not augured well for the country, because it is the direct cause of people trying to cling to power at all costs.”

Another thing Ezenwajiaku would not like to do is score the government he serves.

“I am part of that government and would hurt objectivity if I try to judge it. I think the judgement is better left for outsiders to do. Whatever I say would be followed by people saying, ‘Ah, as a government official, what do you expect him to say?’ I therefore leave it to you to do the assessment as you all are in the state and are witnesses to what is going on. Even as umpires, you can go out and seek the views of those who are in a position to tell you the bitter truth regarding what the government has done since 2006 when it came into being.”

Pressed to give his views, the pharmacist turned politician quipped: “Giving you my views is very easy; all I am saying is that those views cannot stand even for balancing. As the governor of Anambra State, one thing we cannot take away from the governor is abundance of energy that I do not know how many people can meet up with his pace.

“These days, if you read papers, you would have discovered that due to his poli-

Ezenwajiaku

Vincent Ezenwajiaku: Pharmacist, lawyer and politician cy about education that saw him returning schools back to their owners; he is much in contact with Church leaders. I read in the papers how Archbishop Valerian Okeke of the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha reviewed what he is doing across all sectors and rated him as the best governor Anambra State has had.

The commissioner is ever quick to celebrate his principal. Ask Ezenwajiaku anyday about what Peter obi has done, you will never find him wanting.

“Where do we start? He has tarred over 700 Kilometres of roads and we are still counting. Almost every day he commissions road projects and work is going on all of them. He constructed roads in the most difficult part of the state where nobody thought about until he came on board.

In health, he has built a teaching hospital from the scratch, rehabilitated general hospitals, built new hospitals and health centres, bought hospital equipment, and got accreditation for the health institutions.

As we speak, he is building, in partnership with the MDG, about 25 structures in missionary hospitals.

“It was Obi who built the first secretariat in the state; the first and second massive business parks, bought vehicles for ranking government officials in the executive, judiciary and legislature.

“He is equally superlative in the intan-

gible part of governance. He cleared the arrears of salaries and pension of close to N10bn,” Ezenwajiaku reeled off the score chat of Obi. For a state that has never had it this good, Ezenwajiaku said Anambra should be eternally grateful to God for giving it such a person like Obi. The residents according to him should also be grateful to Obi for allowing himself to be used by God to bring Anambra this far.

Not long ago, there was the issue of about 60 bodies found floating in the Ezu River. As a Commissioner for Special Duties, what roles did his principal perform and were they satisfactory?

“Well, we are satisfied with what the governor has done. Remember he cut his trip short and returned to the state the moment the sad incident was discovered. Since then he has visited the place four times, personally supervised the removal of the bodies from the river and commissioned an autopsy on the bodies. He also got the entire town fumigated, sent supplies to them and provided the only borehole that is working.

I say this because some people pretended they were digging boreholes but nothing has happened. If you go there today, the only boreholes working in the town are the two provided by the governor.

But what about the state of the autopsy; did it reveal how the bodies were killed?

“We are all waiting for the report,” was his response.

On why the state’s Internally Generated Revenue remained low, Ezenwajiaku said: “Anambra was the most notorious state in Nigeria until Obi restored its sanity. Before him nothing worked as gangsters took over the place. Today things are changing. We have completely got some things right, but because the Internally Generated Revenue was a mess the rate of getting it right appears long, but the governor is working assiduously to get it right for good.”

Having run for elective offices more than once and still in active politics, one would expect Ezenwajiaku to come out gun smoking about what his political ambition is, more so when Governor Peter Obi is currently serving his second term in office. But if he has any ambition, Ezenwajiaku is keeping it close to his chest.

“By the grace of God and confidence in me by the governor, I am a commissioner.

My present preoccupation is assisting the governor to turn Anambra State around.

When we get to the bridge, we shall cross it.”

He, however, has this for the residents and indigenes of the state: “They should all continue to pray and support the governor to remain focused in his work as he has continued to do.”

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LEISURE

March 23, 2013

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Sport

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March 23, 2013

41

World Cup qualifier

Super Eagles set to feast on Harambee Stars IFEANYI EDUZOR

N

igeria’s Super Eagles will today at the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar, battle the Harambee Stars of Kenya in one of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for Brazil 2014.

The Coach Stephen Keshi-tutored side which is still basking in the euphoria of their victorious outing at AFCON 2013, where they emerged champions after 19 years of waiting, goes into today’s game with the advantage of being group leaders. Nigeria leads Group F with four points following a 1-0 victory over Namibia and a 1-1 draw against Flames of Malawi in Blantyre.

Namibia is second in the group with three points following a 1-0 victory over Kenya and a loss to Super Eagles.

Malawi is third with two points after playing 0-0 and 1-1 draws against Kenya and Nigeria respectively, while Kenya is last in the group with just a point after playing a goalless draw with Malawi.

Super Eagles has met their Kenyan opponents four times in the last ten years with the Eagles winning all the matches.

They recorded a 1-0 victory against the East Africans in a friendly match in 2007, defeated them 3-0 and 3-2 respectively over

the two legs of qualifying matches for South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup in 2009, and recorded an impressive 3-0 defeat of the Harambee Stars in a friendly match in 2011.

Although going by the above record, one could say that the Super Eagles will have an easy ride over their opponents, but considering that there are no more minnows in African football, coupled with the fact that the team boosts of a good tactician in Belgianborn Adel Amrouche, it becomes difficult to write off the ambitious Kenyans.

Amrouche, who was recently appointed coach of Harambee Stars, is not new to African football having been credited with turning around Burundian football after about four years of being in charge of the country’s national team known as the ‘Swallows’.

A victory today over Kenya would increase the Super Eagles points to seven and solidify their position in the group, while any upset by the visitors would increase their points to four and this will help build up their confidence ahead of the return leg in Nairobi.

Aside the aforementioned, any slip will put pressure on the Super Eagles to win all their remaining matches to be assured of a ticket to Brazil.

Amaechi wrestling tourney gets new LOC P. 43 chairman

John Obi Mikel (right) of Nigeria battles for the ball against Minyahile Teshome of Ethiopia during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations group match against Ethiopia, and it is expected that Obi’s experience will be brought to bear in the Eagles, as they clash with Harambee Stars of Kenya, today, in Calabar.

In today’s encounter, Keshi will not have the luxury of the services of team captain, Joseph Yobo and another six players from the team that won the Nations Cup. Though he will still enjoy the services of most members of the victorious AFCON team with few additions, Keshi hopes the squad will put pressure on the Harambee Stars and grab the maximum points available in today’s match.

Meanwhile, AFCON 2013 final goal hero, Sunday Mba, has assured Nigerians that the Super Eagles will record a convincing victory over the Harambee Stars.

According to Mba, the team has put the Nations Cup victory behind them and is now focused at grabbing one of the continental tickets for the 2014 World Cup. Speaking ahead of the match, he noted that they will not underrate their opponents because

there are no more minnows in African football.

“We are convinced that we are going to grab the maximum points in today’s encounter because the spirit in camp is very high and we are all roaring to go, but we are not going to underrate our opponents.

“They have some excellent players and they just appointed a new coach, so I do expect a difficult game from them, but we are capable of containing any threat they would pose,” he said.

Also speaking on the match, captain of Harambee Stars, Dennis Oliech, said he is confident that his team can surprise the Super Eagles before their home crowd in Calabar.

According to him, pressure will be on the Super Eagles as the current African champions to post a good performance and maintain

Ubido fancies Heartland chances P. 43

their ratings at international football, which his team can latch on to defeat the Super Eagles.

“The pressure will be on Nigeria especially having won the Africa Cup of Nations trophy. We will go into the match as underdogs. Everybody will be looking at how Nigeria will perform, this being their first competitive match after 2013 AFCON final.

“We have prepared well for this encounter and the team spirit is high, especially after we beat Libya last month in Tunisia. We just need to maintain the same momentum and spirit. We can shock them.

“We are no longer the underdogs we used to be referred to in the past and besides there is a new fighting spirit flowing in our camp which makes it possible we can record an upset in today’s encounter,” he concluded.

AYC: Obuh must overhaul Flying Eagles attack to succeed P. 44

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SPORT

March 23, 2013

Kwara United suspends Obadaki

CAF Confed Cup

Ubido fancies Heartland chances SAYO OGUNDEJI

H

eartland FC of Owerri midfielder, Julius Ubido, says his side faces a tough test when they take on the Gabonese side US Bitam during the return leg of their CAF Confederation Cup fixture on April 5, but added that his side has what it takes to beat the host at home.

Heartland, one of Nigeria’s representatives in the competition defeated the Gabonese team by a slim 2-1 victory in the first leg second round of the competition and will need at least

a draw to make it to the next round of the tournament.

Jolly Osas and Akor Isah had put Heartland ahead in the encounter before Alain Djessikadie pulled one back for the visiting team in the 53rd minute, but Ibido who helped his side retain the Federation Cup last year is optimistic his side possess the character to get a favourable result in Gabon.

“We wanted to win by a wide goal margin but the victory here has given us the psychological boost ahead of the return leg.

“We are also aware it will not be an easy task going by their performance here

43

N

Ubido

in Nigeria, but our team is determined to improve on its performance during the last competition and with majority of the players who took part in the last tournament available to us.

“We have the experience not only to beat US Bitam but

to go as far as possible in the competition,” Ubido added.

Nigeria’s other representative; Lobi Stars of Markurdi also defeated Liga Muculmana of Mozambique 3-1 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi last weekend.

igeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Kwara United have angrily handed a month suspension to defender Halilu Obadaki.

Obadaki was sent off on Wednesday in Kwara United’s Week 2 duel against visiting Sunshine Stars after a revolting tackle on Ajani Ibrahim.

In fact, the Akure Gunners’ attacking midfielder could have been killed as he was badly hit by Obadaki in the 90th minute.

The encounter, however, ended one apiece at the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin.

Obadaki has also been ordered by the Afonja Warriors to write a letter of apology to Ibrahim with immediate effect as he will also not be paid until after his suspension.

While speaking to supersport.com, Kwara United gaffer, Samson Unuanel re-

vealed that what Obadaki, 19, did was totally “unacceptable in football.”

“What my player did was the worst tackle I have ever seen in my life as far as my coaching career is concerned.

“I would never embrace indiscipline and he must serve his punishment,” he fumed.

Reacting to the suspension, Obadaki accepted his punishment in good faith.

“I know what I did was bad, as I was upset and wanted my team to score the winning goal before he (Ibrahim) killed my move which pained me. I am very sorry to him and Sunshine Stars,” he said with remorse.

Meanwhile, Solomon Yahaya has been given the nod to replace suspended Obadaki, as the player is now expected to watch Kwara United next five games from the stands.

Amaechi wrestling tourney gets new LOC chairman

Cricket: Sharma dedicates victory to hard work

IFEANYI EDUZOR

L

R

ivers State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has approved the appointment of the Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru as the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of the forthcoming maiden edition of Governor Rotimi Amaechi Wrestling Extravaganza expected to hold in six centers of Rivers State.

Disclosing this to our correspondent during an interactive session, the President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Prince Hameed Olanrewaju Mohammed noted that the Governor took the decision in order to ensure a successful hosting of the championship which is being put together in recognition of the Governor ‘s numerous achievements since he became the Governor of the state.

According to him, the Federation is in contact with all the foreign wrestlers that will participate in the week-long tournament, even as he announced that the former

LOC chairman, Anthony Abiodun Banigo is back in the country after a successful European tour where he met with some of the foreign wrestlers that have indicated interest to be part of the biggest wrestling tournament in the continent.

“We are getting ready to organize the best wrestling championship in the continent and I am happy to announce to you that Governor Rotimi Amaechi has directed his deputy to be the chairman of the LOC. “To ensure proper coordination of the foreignbased wrestlers, the Federation has also decided that 20-time Tag-team Champion, Big Daddy, will coordinate American wrestlers while BRF champion, Bambikiller will coordinate wrestlers from Austria, Germany and Russia with Banilux Bulldog overseeing those from UK, Scotland, Holland and Belgium.

Also, Makoto Morimitsu of Japan will coordinate Asian wrestlers while Mr. Omar from Iraq will be in charge of wrestlers from the Arab

IFEANYI EDUZOR

Engr. Tele Ikuru

countries with Body Steel coordinating Canada and wrestlers from the Caribbean.

Prince Mohammed while explaining that he is in contact with 22-time world champion, Huck Hogan, who will serve as match commissioner in the tournament, noted that the championship will be spiced up with beauty pageant that will attract contestants from about eleven countries.

He also announced that 80 dancers from all the geopolitical zones of the country including popular musicians such as Seun Anikulapo Kuti, 9ice and D’Banj will entertain fans during the championship.

agos Asians Cricket Club captain, Ricky Sharma says their upset against GCI Cricket Club, Ibadan at the ongoing second stanza of the Club Cricket Committee (CCC) league decided at the TBS Cricket Oval was achieved through hard work.

Sharma, who expressed his happiness over the victory, gave credit to his bowlers and batmen which made them defeat the former CCC league champions, adding that beating GCI was as a result of good bowling coupled with hard work.

“The victory was very impressive and credit must be given to the bowlers and the fielders of my team. They kept on mounting pressure on our opponents; playing 6 wickets in succession which gave us victory.

“I cannot describe the game as our best game so far and I must give special commendation to Harprey Singh for batting freely and Rafiq who scored 34 runs not out.

“Though GCI Cricket Club batted first and scored 107 runs in 27 overs, but the Lagos Asians over turned the scores by 105 runs over 8 wickets,” Sharma said.

Members of the Asian Cricket Club in a group photograph.

He also expressed great joy on his invitation to the national team which is preparing for the ICCWorld Division 7 slated for Gaborone, Botswana.

“I am quite excited to be one of the players invited to represent the national team in the forthcoming ICC-World Division 7 league slated for next month in Botswana.

“I am training hard for that tournament and I have spent some time in an academy outside Lagos working on my batting and wicket keeping skills. I hope to make maximum use of it in the Southern African country,” he added.

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March 23, 2013

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AYC: Obuh must overhaul Flying Eagles attack to succeed Former Super Eagles attacking midfielder, Etim Esin, has called on Coach John Obuh to overhaul his attack formation or risk an early exit in the ongoing African U-20 Championship in Algeria. In this interview with ANDREW EKEJIUBA he expresses his dissatisfaction on the quality of play exhibited by the team against Gabon in their Group B encounter and calls for greater commitment by the players.

W

The grouse of most Nigerians over Obuh is that having spent so many years with the Flying Eagles, he is still grappling with the issue of blending the team effectively. What is responsible for this?

I may not give you a definite answer on the question you asked, but I still want to say that, it is not yet over for Obuh and his boys.

Let us wait patiently to see the outcome of their game against Congo DR. After then we can now judge him.

AND JUST ONE GOAL IS NOT A GOOD REFLECTION OF THEIR SOCCER PROWESS,

hat is your assessment of the Flying Eagles game against Gabon at the ongoing African U-20 Championship in Algeria?

I was not impressed with their display because there were glaring deficiencies in the attacking formation of the team.

As the defending champions of the competition, they must improve in their next game or pay dearly for their wastefulness in front of their opponent’s goal area.

A win is a win, which is good, but the team had the opportunity to score more than a goal in that match against Gabon.

And to make matters worse, must they rely on a penalty to win?

It is really sad that virtually all the players were in a haste to score and shine which was responsible for their below par performance.

Two matches and just one goal is not a good reflection of their soccer prowess, therefore the entire team needs to improve on their scoring ability in order for them to go far in the competition.

The Flying Eagles must learn to play like a team and this is what Coach John Obuh must work on before their next game against Congo DR. What are Nigeria’s chances of qualifying from Group B, after Mali pulled through to the semi-finals after winning their two group matches?

As a patriotic Nigerian, the Flying Eagles chances of qualification are still bright and that will be decided against Congo DR. I wish them well, but I will advise the boys to go all out for the maximum points against Congo DR and avoid wasting scoring chances as we saw in their last group match on Wednesday where they managed to beat Gabon 1-0.

They need to beat Congo DR convincingly and failure to do that, will be to their own detriment because a loss simply means they are out of contention for this year’s trophy.

TWO MATCHES

THEREFORE THE ENTIRE TEAM NEEDS TO IMPROVE ON THEIR SCORING ABILITY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GO FAR IN THE COMPETITION.

Eagles featured, but the team was unlucky to break even. What was the driving force for the team then, and compare whether such drive is still in the present squad?

We were greatly motivated by the then government of the day, and we had no such distraction as I mentioned earlier.

For example, the issue of a player being forced to sign for a particular agent or a player greasing the palms of a coach before he is fielded was never heard in any quarters.

The country was solidly behind us and that was why we played so well during our time, unlike now the commitment is not total.

Etim Esin

Some football analysts are already calling for Obuh’s sack for presenting a lackluster team; do you think this is right?

Nigerians are great lovers of good football and I will not blame them for speaking out. But if I may replay what happened in Stephen Keshi’s case at the Nations Cup in their group games, it was the criticisms of Nigerians that brought out the fire-power in the Super Eagles, so I think they will improve.

I still believe that confidence can still return to the Flying Eagles at the end of the day, if they work hard.

You know these youngsters have this mentality of displaying their youthful exuberance and trying to shine to the detriment of team work. I hope the coaching crew will do a lot of tactical work and talking to them, so that they can play as a unit instead of that individual play I saw in them.

Take a look at Nigeria’s youth football development, are you impressed with the quality of youth teams we have produced in the past two decades?

Sincerely, we ought to have done better than what we have achieved so far and my reasons are not farfetched.

We need more investment from the private sector into our youth football development because a situation where we have lots of talented footballers rotting away at the grassroots is really sad. We need to discover and nurture them to stardom.

Also, I want to state that our present youth players are always under great distraction from coaches and their agents, which was not the case during our time.

Aside that, we need more soccer academies in Nigeria to continue to churn out more materials for the nation, so that our football can continue to blossom.

Still talking on the way forward, we also need our club sides to have feeder teams like as it was done in the past, so that we won’t be found wanting in the aspect of producing quality footballers who will graduate to the Super Eagles. We need a good football culture in this regard.

You played at the Chile’87 World Youth Championship where Flying

What are your expectations in saturday World Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles and Harambee Stars of Kenya in Calabar?

I expect an explosive game because this is another test for the Eagles after their Nations Cup triumph in South Africa.

My advice to the team is that they should not underrate the Kenyans who have vowed to cause an upset in Calabar.

They must remember that the era of minnows in African football is no longer tenable. For example the feat Cape Verde achieved at the Nations Cup is enough to teach other countries lessons, especially how they deprived Cameroon a ticket for the finals is still fresh in our minds and the Eagles must guard against such.

Finally, what’s your advice to the Nigerian fans who will gather in Calabar to support the Eagles?

I am happy because the fans would be there to cheer them to victory. We have a good fan base in Calabar and they have a sports-loving governor of the state behind them.

From past records, Calabar has always been a good home for the Super Eagles and expect the fans to rally round them to victory. I wish them good luck.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SPORT

March 23, 2013

Robben yearns for European success B ayern Munich attacker Arjen Robben is desperate for Champions League glory after missing out in the final of two of the last three seasons.

The Dutchman missed an extra-time penalty in the showpiece at the Allianz Arena last term as Chelsea eventually prevailed and is eager to go one step further this time out.

“I’ll give everything in my power to win the Champions League.

“I’ve contested two Champions League finals with Bayern, and two semi-finals with Chelsea. But at the end of the day, you have to go on and win the cup at some point.

“We’re in the quarter-finals again, so we’re in good shape.

Liverpool duo makes progress

M

artin Kelly and Fabio Borini are making good progress in their recovery from injuries, Liverpool have revealed.

Striker Borini needed surgery after dislocating his shoulder against Swansea in February, while defender Kelly has been sidelined since September with a cruciate ligament problem.

Anfield’s head of performance, Glen Driscoll, said both players had a chance of returning before the end of the season but admitted to caution over Kelly’s comeback.

“Martin is doing extremely well; he’s probably at the late stage of his rehab.

“We’ll probably look to prioritise getting him back for preseason 110 per cent fit - 10 per cent fitter, stronger and quicker, more powerful and agile than he was previously.

“He’ll probably be in a position where it will be tempting to put him into games again this season. But we want to make sure that he’s in a very strong position so he can fly next season.

But when you look at the clubs who are still in it, you know it’s going to be very, very hard again this season,” he said.

The Dutchman then went on to discuss the upcoming quarterfinal tie against Juventus, and expects two close encounters.

“If you’re aiming for the final, you have to beat the likes of Juventus. It could have been better, but it could have been worse, too,” he said.

“Juventus are brilliantly organised in defence and also boast immense quality up front.

It’ll be tough, and we’ll probably have to be patient. We’ll have to try and prise them apart with our creativity. We can expect two great games.”

The first leg of the tie will be at the Allianz Arena on April 2.

Goetze keen on United

B

orussia Dortmund star Mario Goetze has said he is open to joining Manchester United but admitted that a move is some time away.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder is rated as one of the best young prospects in world football and has major clubs across Europe tracking his progress with keen interest.

He has already established himself as a key member of both the Germany and Dortmund lineups and has 20 international caps so far as well as scoring 14 goals and providing 16 assists for the reigning German champions this season.

“Clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United are attractive; other top leagues would help me develop.

“But I’m not thinking of that at the moment,” said Goetze in an interview.

“I’m happy in Dortmund and very happy how things are going. Therefore, it is still a bit away” Goetze signed a contract extension that will keep him at the Westfalenstadion to March 2016 and is therefore unlikely to move in the near future.

Robben

Juventus line up summer swoop for Hernandez

J

uventus have earmarked Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez as a fallback option if they fail to prise Luis Suarez from Liverpool.

The Italians want a striker to play alongside Fernando Llorente who is to join from Athletic Bilbao.

Hernandez, 24, is keen to play more games and has also attracted attention from Atletico Madrid.

Suarez’s Liverpool future has been the subject of intense speculation after the striker’s comments in an interview in his na-

Goetze

Hodgson denies rift with Wenger

E

ngland manager Roy Hodgson insists there is no feud between himself and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger over the fitness of Jack Wilshere.

The 21-year-old midfielder is unable to represent the Three Lions for the upcoming World Cup qualifying double-header against San Marino and Montenegro due to a recent ankle injury, and is currently undergoing rehabilitation in Dubai.

Wenger was reportedly frustrated at Hodgson’s decision to play Wilshere for 90 minutes of the February friendly with Brazil, but the England manager was quick to deny any conflict with the Gunners boss.

“The thing about club managers is they’ve got another job to do.

“That conflict is always going to be there, between club and national team, because people will want them to be there playing for them. But I

45

don’t have any ¬criticisms of them.

“Wilshere is injured and that is ¬unfortunate. We are disappointed he isn’t with us because, on merit, he’d be picked and would play. But injuries occur. It occurred to Michael Dawson and Gary Cahill.

“These things are ¬unfortunate but part and parcel of life as a football coach. It would have been nice if he was here, but he isn’t,” Hodgson said.

tive Uruguay.

“I am very happy at Liverpool but you never know in football,” Suarez said ahead of his international side’s World Cup qualifier with Paraguay.

“If another team comes around with more prospects of competing in international club competition games, which is willing to have me, they are welcome.

“We would talk to the club, we would see if I want to go or if I don’t want to go.”

But Liverpool’s managing director Ian Ayre played down talk that the striker could be on the move.

“You can read into the comments - it was given in his native language so I think maybe it was a bit lost in translation.

“We’ve been consistent with Luis. Last summer he signed a new four-year contract and we have no desire to sell Luis. He is a fantastic player and a great contributor to our team.

“We’ve been very honest with him and he’s been very honest with us,” Ayre said.

Kelly

“Martin has almost been a showcase for the quality of our medical science department.

He’s getting the best of all our staff and it’s going very well,” Driscoll said.

Borini has suffered two longterm absences from the first team this season, but Driscoll believes the forward could return before the campaign concludes.

PREMIERSHIP TABLE TEAM

P

GD

PTS

1. Man Utd

29

38

74

2. Man City

29

25

59

3. Chelsea

29

28

55

4. Tottenham

30

14

54

5. Arsenal

29

23

50

6. Everton

29

11

48

7. Liverpool

30

18

45

8. West Brom

30

2

44

9. Swansea

30

2

40

10. Fulham

29

-4

36

11. Stoke

30

-8

34

12. Norwich

30

-18

34

13. Newcastle

30

-11

33

14. West Ham

29

-11

33

15. Sunderland

30

-9

31

16. Southampton

30

-10

31

17. Aston Villa

30

-25

30

18. Wigan

29

-21

27

19. Reading

30

-22

23

20. QPR

30

-22

23

EURO BRIEFS

Diego flattered by Atletico De Gea vows to turn down Barca offer overcome some inconMadrid link sistent form at the start anchester United

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olfsburg midfielder Diego says he is flattered by reported interest from Atletico Madrid. The 28-year-old enjoyed a successful

season-long loan spell with the Spanish club last season and the Brazilian is more than happy to be linked with the La Liga outfit.

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goalkeeper David de Gea claims he would reject any approach from Barcelona in order to stay and win trophies at Old Trafford. The 22-year-old Spaniard has

of his Old Trafford career with Barcelona reportedly keen on him after it was made clear that Victor Valdes will leave the club at the end of the season.

Kakuta: Chelsea squad too big

G De Gea

ael Kakuta says there are too many players at Chelsea and he would prefer to be playing elsewhere again next season rather than return to a club where he will not

play regularly. Kakuta has spent this season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem in Holland and has previously had temporary spells with Fulham, Bolton and Dijon.

46

EMMANUEL IJEWERE is a chartered accountant and the Managing Director of Best Foods Global Nigeria.

He also serves as the Chairman of the Agriculture and Food Security Commission of Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). In this interview with STANLEY IHEDIGBO, he spoke on the current policies of the agriculture sector, challenges and opportunities. Excerpts:

March 23, 2013

‘Govt should provide enabling environment for agribusiness’

cassava; when you plant a large farm with cassava, you will discover that you won’t be able to consume good quantity of your cassava produce either as Garri or “Akpu”, but cassava has so much use that you need a lot of processing and semi-processing coming along and you now have the value chain also coming along.

What I am actually saying is that the new concept that the minister has brought in is one that we all need to embrace. That means agriculture should be a business people will be proud of.

W

hat really motivated you into going to agriculture?

When I realised at my age, it would be difficult for me to start anything new, I called my partners and told them that I was considering retiring.

They wanted to know what I would be doing next but I told them that I didn’t know either. But by accident, I saw the way people were carrying meat all over the place and there’s no decent abattoir in Lagos and I said to myself let me start from there. So I set up an abattoir with some colleagues – veterinarian, a marketer, an accountant and few other people in the name of Best Foods along Epe Express Way. That was the first one we had there. When we got there we discovered the thing was not as easy as we had thought but then I love challenges and stayed in it. From there, I moved on to working with Zimbabwean farmers who came to Nigeria and were into horticulture.

That is why I am in Epe planting tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber and other kinds of vegetables. We also have a plantain plantation and a snail farm.

My second son is running the meat processing unit which is the first to be established and my third son is running the dairy while my wife is into fish farming.

What are the challenges to profitable agriculture in the country?

The main challenges have been the dearth of education. Let’s take for example; we don’t have a generation that has passed on agricultural best practices. In many of the developed world even in South East Asia, some are third, fourth, fifth…seventh farmers but in Nigeria you don’t have that.

Around 1970, everybody went into the business associated with oil, banking, leaving for big cities and so on such that the villages were abandoned.

The people we left behind are now getting old, they are in their 60s and 70s and it is difficult to move them to

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ijewere

that level of modern agric business and all that. That is one of the major challenges we have as a nation. Another one is the fact that we do not have enough young people today who are interested in agriculture because the perception that existed before was that agriculture meant farming which is no longer true and a farmer is synonymous with poverty and that must also change. If that changes, younger people will start coming in.

As a matter of fact we had a problem at Epe getting people to work for us because they would rather be okada riders rather than work in the farm. There are a lot of people looking for work in Lagos but how many of them are prepared to work in the farm? So we have to go as far as Benue State to get people to work for us. If you look at employment chart of Nigeria, Benue State has the lowest rate

of unemployment in the country. This is because they take agriculture very seriously and I think it is the most viable way of providing job and creating wealth for Nigeria and giving us food security on a sustainable level.

How would you handle the situation if you were the agric minister?

Right now I will say to you emphatically that I will do exactly what the current minister is doing. I will adopt the same attitude as he is adopting – taking the private sector very seriously, carrying them along, thinking along with them, working and cooperating with them, recognizing the fact that that government is not a farmer and therefore government should be involved in creating environment that will make agribusiness to thrive and taking the entire value chain. I will give an example with

What is your view on the current policies on agriculture?

I am not flattering the current Agric Minister, but I would say that emphatically he is a gift to Nigeria and I thank God for him . That is why I said that I am encouraging the private sector to work closely with him because this man means well for Nigeria and working with him will be good for the country.

He had the courage to change what he met on ground.

Of course he still has problems with a few people here and there who are rent seekers in the country. Let’s take fertilizer for example, if you know the amount of billions that were being shared by people before. It ended up that only less than 11 percent of farmers got fertilizer at the end of the day, some of those importers were even importing sand in the name of fertilizer. All these were going on because those who were importing it were not farmers themselves.

But now that it is in the hand of the private sector, quality is important and it is now demand based. It is no longer government doing the importation and distribution. That is an example of the kind of courage he has brought in and he has done it very well. Yes the results may not have started coming out as big as we want them but it will take time.

It took us very many years for us to get into the mess we are in and it will take us a few years to get out of the mess.

The important thing is that we are in the right direction.

A number of things are also happening; the state governments are being brought on board. The one that I feel very bad about which I feel is very important but unfortunately the minister does not have ability to change is the local government. They all have supervisory councillors for agriculture but how committed are they? Oil will disappear one day but agriculture will never, as long as human beings live.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

47

March 23, 2013

Produce and export vegetable oil, smile to the banks A

nation that wants to grow must look inwards so as to harness those areas where it has comparative advantage over other nations.

When this is done, then efforts would be made to develop those areas to the advantage of the nation.

Apart from petroleum, Nigeria is blessed with agricultural products which when processed and exported can fetch up to 60 percent of her foreign exchange earnings. Unfortunately, some of those natural resources the country is endowed with are not fully utilised.

Could you imagine that until recently, before the Federal Government announced the ban on importation of some items, that vegetable oil was being imported into the land? This does not tell well of a nation that wants to generate employment to teeming unemployed school leavers. It does not tell well of a nation that wants to generate more foreign exchange to correct imbalance of payments. It does not tell well of a nation that wants to develop rural areas. Therefore there is urgent need to think of how to make good use of what we have to get what we want.

In this write up we shall discuss how to establish a project using abundant raw materials grown in abundant in Nigeria; vegetable oil is in high demand in the international market as well as within the country. Vegetable oil includes palm oil, palm kernel oil, sesame seeds oil, and groundnut oil to mention but a few.

Prospective investors will be educated on how to use either local technology or imported machines to set up internationally acceptable product.

Raw materials and sources The raw materials needed to set up this project are cottonseeds, melon seeds, groundnuts, palm nuts or palm kernel sesame seeds etc. All these are grown in all parts of the country.

Therefore easy procurement of raw materials is assured.

Uses of the envisaged product Vegetable oil is a major ingredient in soap, cream, butter and margarine production. It is used at homes and fast food centres as cooking or frying oil. It acts as a substitute to a more expensive olive oil, as salad oil. Vegetable oil is therefore used by cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food and beverages industries.

The cottonseed, sesame seeds, mel-

on seed, groundnut and palm kernel cakes are rich in protein and carbohydrate and fats and are necessary input in livestock feeds formulation.

Vegetable oil and cakes are therefore commercially and domestically valuable. As a result no waste is envisaged.

Marketing of the product The increase in the demand for soap, cream, butter, margarine and other industrial products, has made the demand for vegetable oil very high. The demand covers not only Nigeria, but also across the globe. Some companies in Europe, America, Asia and even some parts of Africa are readily available to purchase in bulk from those who may wish to exploit the opportunities in international market. Details of such foreign buyers will be given to prospective investors on contacting the writer.

Technology (plants and machinery) The plant and machinery required depends on the type of product the prospective investor may wish to produce and the raw material input.

From survey carried out the major raw materials required include crusher, toaster, filter press, refining plant. Other equipment includes receiving tanks; weighing scale, project vehicles etc.

The advantage of the plant is that it has economic efficiency of processing cottonseed, melon seed, groundnut and palm nuts as well as palm kernel. What the promoters need is to have separate processing shaft for different vegetable

oil seeds. The promoters have the option of using either locally made machines or imported ones. Details on how and where to procure and install, quality machines and equipment (both locally made and imported ones) will be given to prospective investors on contacting the writer.

Production capacity Technically, it implies that the processing plant would be worked to its optimal capacity and all the estimated projections would be achieved. Details would be given to prospective investors.

Quality Control It is advisable to prospective investors to maintain high quality standard so as to attract wider acceptability of the product both internationally and locally. The refinery plant should be well equipped enough to refine an internally acceptable product. The quality control specified by Nigeria and International Standard Organization is therefore very essential. Moreover NAFDAC requirements are also very important. Prospective investors will be given details information on these vital issues.

Packaging Packaging is another important area to pay much attention to. There is internationally recommended method of packaging the vegetable oil. Locally, there may not be much worry about the packaging. In this case the promoters may opt for P.E.T bottles. In terms of international market, adequate care should be taken. Details will be given to

prospective investors.

Financial Implications The project cost for each of the projects depends on the type of raw material to be applied. It also depends on the proposed location and type of machines to be applied. The cost will be established after discussing with prospective investors on all these issues.

Funding There are financial institutions and special project funding organisations that would be recommended to prospective investors on contacting the writer.

Investment profit Ppotentials The seeds contain 25 percent of yellow oil. Adopting two processing machines for project take off at 5 tons per plant, and working for 300 days, 3,000 tons of vegetable oil would be produced in a year. Given 25 percent as oil content per ton, 750 tons of cake would be produced annually. Assuming a conservative price of N125, 000 per ton, an average of N93.75 million would be made in a year as annual turnover. Selling in the international market will yield more returns.

For further details on comprehensive and bankable feasibility studies and reports, procurement and installation of the machines and equipment (both local and foreign made) test-running recruitment of quality manpower and training, funding arrangement, please contact the writer.

Courtesy: Uba Godwin, ubagodwin@yahoo.com

48

March 23, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘Quality is key in cosmetics business’ FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON

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anufacturing in Nigeria is no doubt arduous. What with many challenges including the major one of epileptic power supply.

But for Jerry Adekoya, the challenges notwithstanding, it is a worthwhile effort to venture into a business such as that more so with the lessons life has taught him.

In 2005 Adekoya came to Lagos with the intention of looking for greener pastures. Although he knew that life in Lagos could be quite challenging, he was determined to work very hard to make good use of any opportunity that came his way.

Knowing full well that success is one of the major by-products of hard work and determination, when the opportunity came his way to learn something new, he quickly grabbed it.

After doing his feasibility studies, he discovered that people and women in particular had problem with damaged hair. That was how he ventured into the manufacturing of his popular brand Veego Hair fertilizer and since then there has been no looking back.

Like in everything in life, challenges are bound to come and for Adekoya, he had challenges starting the business due to lack of fund.

He painted his challenges in a moving way: “Entering into a market that is already saturated with local and foreign brands posed the biggest challenge. Nigerians are very difficult to convince to use Made in Nigeria prod-

ucts. And more so it was not easy to get NAFDAC number.

“Sometimes we get to the market and people tell us that our competitors say our product is fake. So when we go to the market we were often rejected.”

At some point, continued Adekoya, discouragement set in but with perseverance his products gradually gained acceptance.

“There were very discouraging moments when we initially started and our products were rejected in the market but with time and a great deal of persistence, we were gradually accepted and today our product has circulated throughout Nigeria and even to some African countries.

“As a business, notwithstanding the challenges, production of hair fertilizers is a lucrative business because it cuts across everyone, young, old, man and woman alike. It thrives anywhere because it is a product that can be used by all and sundry. It is not a seasonal product although sales during the last quarter of the year are high,” he pointed out.

The business explained Adekoya is not too capital intensive but it requires a formal training with a professional cosmetologist for at least one year so as to learn the intricacies and the nittygritty of the business.

“I started my own business about four years ago after a long wait due to fund with about N10, 000 and it has grown tremendously. Even if you do not have up to such an amount, you can start with a smaller capital because the raw materials you need could be gotten in smaller quantity. If you do not have

I STARTED MY BUSINESS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO

N10, 000.

HOWEVER, YOU CAN WITH

START ON HIGHER A SCALE money to buy them in large quantities, you can get smaller ones. However, you can also start on higher scale than I did with about N500, 000” He also affirmed that the major ingredients to a successful business are endurance, being focused and never compromising on quality.

“In our business we not ready to compromise standard. This is because it takes time to build the trust and confidence of customers and that is what we do not want to lose. Sometimes when prices of raw materials go up, we increase retail price instead of reducing quality.

“It makes my heart glad when I hear reports people give that our products works well even better than what the label says it does,” he added.

For Adekoya, honesty is the watchword as this quality has paid off for him on many occasions and he enjoined every entrepreneur to adopt it.

According to this managing director of Adej Holdings, the producers of Veego Hair Fertilizers located in Ipaja area of Lagos State, one can be pressured to cheat on customers to get extra

Adekoya

money but when the customer realises it, one would not only lose them, one may also lose every other person they tell.

Another important factor in the business is getting good staffs to work with.

“In business I have learnt that your staffs are a very important part of the success of any venture and so I relate well with my workers and make sure that my workers are involved in decision and ideas that could develop the company.

“I do not think I can do it alone. I solely rely on God and my staff; we work as a team and one family,” he said.

Crime Watch Crime Watch P. 51 Ex-principal bludgeons hubby’s mistress

BRIEFS

Gun runner in Enugu police command’s net

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suspect, Ozoemena Nnamani of Akpofu village in Nkanu East local Government Area of Enugu State, has been arrested by the men of the Urban Patrol Mopol 3 of the Enugu State Police Command for allegedly being in possession of a double and a single barrel gun.

Suspect was allegedly arrested on March 21 at about 5.40 pm at Ozalla junction along Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway Enugu during a routine stop and search exercise carried out on a 18 seater commercial bus with registration number AGU 293 XA driven by one Ifeanyi Egbo of Amechi Village Awkunanaw.

Meanwhile, a full scale investigation into the incident has commenced.

Man, 35, bags 5 months imprisonment for criminal trespass, theft

A

n Abuja Grade Two Area Court on Friday sentenced a 35-year old man, Peter Dauda, to five months imprisonment with an option of N5,000 fine for criminal trespass and theft.

The judge, Mr Ahmed Ado, sentenced Dauda after he pleaded guilty to a twocount charge levelled against him.

Ado said the sentence would deter others from engaging in such acts.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Simon Ibrahim, told the court that the case was reported at the Utako Police Station by one Mr Yahaya Abdullahi of Government Secondary School Jabi, on March 9.

Ibrahim alleged that the convict fraudulently broke into the school premises at Jabi District and stole sliding windows, water tanks, fumigation equipment, hoes, cutlasses, buckets, rain boots and shovels valued at N150,000.

Man, 29, docked for rape

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29-year-old man, Jamiu Lawal, who allegedly raped a 20-yearold girl, was on Friday charged before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Lawal, who resides at No.11, Kadara Market St., Ebute Meta, is facing a threecount charge of conspiracy, breach of peace and unlawful carnal knowledge.

The prosecutor, Etim Nkankuk, told the court that the accused, with others still at large, committed the offence on March 7 at 11.30 p.m. at Kadara Market.

“The girl was passing through the market when the accused and some boys, now at large, attacked her.

“They carried her to an uncompleted building and raped her; they threw her into a nearby canal when she fainted.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

March 23, 2013

49

Journalist kidnapped in Ondo, another escapes OKE IS SAID TO BE NURSING A BABY. SHE HAD THE BABY AFTER LOSING A FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILD TO LAST YEAR’S FLOODING. OJO OYEWAMIDE AKURE

A

female journalist, Olubunmi Oke, has been kidnapped.

Oke works with the Nigerian Television Authority in Akure, Ondo State.

She was reportedly kidnapped by four gunmen on Oba-Ile Road, Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Oke was kidnapped on Thursday evening as she returned home from work.

She is said to be nursing a baby. She had the baby after losing a five-year-old child to last year’s flooding.

Meanwhile, another female journalist identified as Cecilia Magi, escaped being kidnapped earlier on Thursday.

Magi was said to have suspected foul play when the suspected kidnappers approached her, asking for what she knew was a completely wrong information.

Magi, who works for the Ondo State

Oke

Radiovision Corporation, was reported to have fled from the kidnappers at that point in time.

It was gathered that Oke was abducted shortly after she read the news on NTA that evening and was with her child and housemaid when she was abducted.

The journalist, whose whereabouts

remain unknown was reportedly driven away by the abductors in her car after dropping the baby and the maid.

The victim’s car was said to have since been recovered along Igbara-oke Road on the outskirts of Akure, fuelling suspicion that she may have been taken outside the state to an unknown destination.

The Nigeria Union of Journalist, Ondo State Council, said it was saddened by the incident, describing it as barbaric. In a statement by its State Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, the union said it had informed the state government and the various security agencies in the state of the incident, appealing to them to help secure the release of the victim from the den of the kidnappers.

Described as an easy-going and jovial broadcaster, Bunmi is the latest victim of the activities of kidnappers and the pervading insecurity in Ondo state.

The State Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Wale Ogodo, confirmed the incident, saying efforts were being made to secure the release of the journalist.

He said: “We are making effort to ensure that the woman is freed from the kidnappers. We have spread our dragnets and by the grace of God, she will regain her freedom.”

NSCDC arrests job racketeer in Katsina JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

A

suspected fraudster who specialises in defrauding people with intent to get them employment at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been arrested by men of the same security organisation in Katsina State.

The suspected fraudster, Usman Musa, hails from Bida Local Government Area of Niger State and was apprehended in the state based on a tip off.

In a statement by the NSCDC Public Relations Officer in the state, Aliyu Jamilu, said the amount collected by the suspect varied and depended on the type of job applicants sought for.

The statement said that some of the suspected fraudster’s victims paid him as low as N2,000 and others as high a sum as N100, 000.

It said the suspect came to the state from Niger State and lodged in one of the hotels where he invited his victims to come along with their documents and money for commencement of training.

It also said that most of his victims are university graduates, NCE and ND holders from Niger, Kwara, Oyo states and Abuja.

According to the statement, the fraudster’s intention “was to collect money from his victims and disappear but our

personnel got the information about him and finally arrested him before he disappeared”.

Wife sues for divorce over husband’s illicit affairs with friend WALE IBRAGIM LOKOJA

A

middle age mother of three, Mrs Jumai Ibrahim has urged a Lokoja Upper Area Court, Kogi State to dissolve her 10-year-old marriage alleging that her husband, Murtala Mohammed, was indulging in extra-marital affairs.

Jumai who is a Marketing Officer with a Federal media organisation in Kogi State also urged the court to grant her custody of their three children upon the dissolution of the marriage.

While testifying before the court yesterday she stated that she and her estranged husband dated for nine years before tying the nuptial knot in 2003 adding that they started quarrelling barely a month after the marriage.

Jumai pointed that her husband started dating her bosom friend and co-worker, one Hauwa Abu, who is now married

adding that she once cut them red-handed in her matrimonial bed.

She claimed that the three children from the marriage presently living with their father since she left him are not living well as he was “feeding them with junk food” adding that one of them recently fell ill and was hospitalised.

The estranged husband, Murtala, in his defence had said that he loved his wife dearly adding however, that his alleged affair with Hauwa was a figment of his wife’s imagination in her quest to give the dog a bad name to hang it.

He said Hauwa was his wife’s bosom friend and co-worker whom she brought to live with them when she (Hauwa) had accommodation problem.

He added that Jumai left all her domestic chores for Hauwa when she stepped into the house and he frowned at the development, giving rise to her insinuating that he was in love with Hauwa.

Do you have a story for us? Contact 08138773277 or crimewatchmirror@yahoo.com

50

CRIME WATCH

March 23, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

nab Caught in the act: How vigilance Police kidnap group arrested robber in action kingpin, z … Gun, cartridges, charms found on him

burst den

Every day for the thief; only one for the owner. So the adage goes. So, it was for 27-year-old Sunday CHRIS NJOKU Sowemimo who was caught red handed at a robbery scene. How did it happen?

OWERRI

Sowemimo

SEGUN ADIO

S

unday Sowemimo, a suspected armed robber, recently had his wish thwarted by the ever awake and security-conscious vigilance group of Fagbayinu-Olokodana Streets, Ebute Metta Area in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Sowemimo, 27, and two of his partnersin-crime, Ismaila and Mutiu, stormed the community around 12:45a.m, ;n a motorcycle, when residents were deep in sleep.

They parked their two-wheeler a distance away from the entrance of the street beside a stationary lorry. Once this was done, the three men crawled their way to the targeted house where the breadwinner was said to have just returned from an overseas trip.

Moments after the arrival at Olokodana intersection, the three men reportedly stopped to re-strategise. Moments after their brief meeting, they resumed their belly walk towards their target.

But unknown to them, some members of the community were keeping vigil over the entire area as a precautionary measure to ward-off robbers in the wake of series of robbery incidences reported at Ebute Metta, recently.

Just as the three robbers were about the launch their attack, guns in hand, the vigilance group swooped on them.

Ismail and Mutiu reportedly outsmarted the advancing vigilance group and took to their heels. The two suspected robbers disappeared into the night. But Sowemimo was not so lucky. While he was trying to also jump through a low fence into the next compound, he was overpowered and wrestled to the ground.

After a thorough search was conducted on him, a locally-made pistol with some cartridges was found in the inner pocket of the second pair of trousers he had on.

(The suspect had on two pairs of trousers at the time of his arrest).

Sowemimo was initially un-cooperative about disclosing their mission in the area.

However, he later owned up when he was

threatened of immolation. He then gave a confessional statement to the assembled residents before he was handed over to the police,.

He claimed that the three of them had been reconnoitring the area for about two weeks working out modalities for the DDay. According to Sowemimo, “Three of us came for the operation. I was the one in font and when we heard the noise of the vigilance group, Asunmo and Mutiu fled through the gutter close by. I wanted to go with them, but before I could make a turn, two vigilance group members swooped on me,” he said.

Asked whom they actually came to rob that morning, Sowemimo answered, “It was a friend living in the area who told us about a man who recently returned from overseas saying that the man had a lot for us. That was why we came here.”

A member of the vigilance group that busted Sowemimo and his partners-incrime, but who wanted to remain anonymous, told Saturday Mirror that a keen look at the hand-made pistol in his pocket smelt of recent use. According to the elderly man, “I was the one who took the gun from his pocket and when I brought it out, I perceived that the gun was recently used.

It seemed as they had just expended some bullets in it. They must have carried out an attack before they got here,” the elderly vigilance member said.

A resident of the community, identified as Kasumu, claimed that the noise of the vigilance group woke his entire household. According to Kasumu, “It was their noise that woke my entire family from our sleep. Our community had been at the mercy of robbers in the recent times. But for the efforts of the vigilance group, only God knows what would have become of Ebute Metta by now.

A police source told Saturday Mirror that Sowemimo actually confessed that the three of them rode on a motorcycle to Olokodana Street where they parked it and made the last of the journey on foot.

Three men go to jail for attempted fraud

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hree men, Adekola Bushari, 26, Salawu Suleiman, 24, and Olarewaju Seun,31, were on Thursday sentenced to one year imprisonment each for attempted fraud of N1.68 million.

An Ibadan Chief Magistrate, Mr Sofiat Oyediran, convicted the defendants with an option of fine of N30,000 for each of the two-count charge.

The prosecutor, Sunday Ogunremi, had told the court that the defendants were facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and attempted fraud.

Ogunremi said that Bushari, Suleiman and Seun conspired to defraud Sky

Touch Lotto of the sum of N1.68 million when they were caught, adding that the conspiracy would have resulted to the loss of the sum by the company.

He added that the defendants obstructed the lotto result by preventing the lotto box from closing by 7:45 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., inserting a ticket in which 24 out of the 25 tickets had the wining number.

Ogunremi said that the offence contravened section 516 and 435 of the Criminal Code Cap. 38 Vol. II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.

Oyediran said that based on the evidence before the court, the prosecutor was able

to proof all the essential ingredients of conspiracy and attempted fraud.

She said that the witness and the statement made by the defendants, confirmed to the court that the offence was committed and that the defendants were guilty of the charges.

Before the judgment was made, the Defence Counsel, Mr Adekunle Rufai, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

Rufai said that the defendants were first offenders and had been coming to the court since the case began in 2011, adding that an option of fine should be considered.

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he Imo State Police Command has burst the den of kidnappers in Orlu in Imo State where they arrested members of the gang that murdered two policemen and a businessman two weeks ago in the state.

The command with the strategic assistance of Lagos Police Command also arrested one Richard Chika Nwabrije a kidnap kingpin declared wanted last week as he was attempting to cross the border to Niger Republic with his wife and kid.

The 27 year old Nwabrije from Omoku Onelga, Rivers State of 18 Ndoni Street Omoku was declared wanted by the state police command over his involvement in the attack and eventual killing of the MD of Naija Plaza Hotel Oguta in Oguta Local Government Area of the state and two policemen on March 14, 2013.

His arrest led to the arrest of the rest of the serial kidnap gang in the state.

Speaking to journalists, the State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Katsina, explained that Nwabrije was brought back to the state after his arrest “and in the course of investigation gave us an insight into the structure of the gang and details of his members.”

“Based on information provided by the suspected criminal, the CP disclosed that Nwabrije and other members of the gang were apprehended in the pre-dawn raid by the command’s Special Ambush Squad in Orlu and River State” The police commissioner who personally led journalists to the den of the kidnappers, a fenced one storey uninhabited building overgrown with weeds near the Imo State University College of Medicine Umuna Orlu, Orlu LGA, where one of the arrested suspects 27 year old Akachukwu Obijiaku confessed that they kept their arms and some of the kidnapped victims.

Akachukwu from nearby Eziachi village latter led the team to his family house where he disclosed they also kept some of their victims.

According to him they had carried out three operations which yielded N500,000, N600,000 and N1.2milliom.

Other suspects who all confessed to the crime were Udoka Dara (31), Okechukwu Ikenna (29) , Chetachi Mefor (20) and 26 year old Uchechukwu Emmanuel.

The police boss who said their victims had been rescued added that the command “will never waiver, we’ll never recoil until the state is rid of hoodlums.”

Crime Extra

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

March 23, 2013

51

Suspecting that her husband was unfaithful, Mrs Bamgboye went berserk. By the time her eyes got cleared of the emotions that overwhelmed her, her suspected rival was on the floor, inert and bleeding. Bamgboye could not believe her eyes; she fled!

SEGUN ADIO

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retired vice principal in one of the secondary schools in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamgboye, is now on the run following allegation that she smashed another woman’s head with stool on the suspicion that the latter was having her affair with her husband.

Bamgboye, 56, lives separately from her husband, who is said to be a senior civil servant with the Ogun State government before his retirement. While her husband lives at Ilaro, Mrs Bamgboye, who reportedly retired a couple of years back, lives with her four children at the Ayobo area of Lagos State.

Though the husband and wife were not divorced, Mr. Bamgboye, it was gathered, chose to live close to his roots after retirement. He is an indigene of Ilaro in Ogun State. But his wife chose to stay back in Lagos where she could monitor her new business as well as her children’s marital lives. It is reported that the former vice principal visited her husband once every month.

It was the same once-a-month visit that she went for on Saturday, February 23, 2013, when the burble busted. It was reported that in the course of their marriage, the Bamgboyes had had to contend with allegations and denials of alleged infidelity against the head of the family.

Sometime in 2004, a woman, whom Bamgboye once dated while in the university, reportedly resurfaced in his life.

The Accra, Ghana-based woman, identified simply as Atinuke, and Bamgbiye were said to be lovers back in their university days in Ibadan, Oyo State.

It was said that both were supposed to get married but the woman’s parents would not have their daughter get married to him at the time.

That was how the woman reportedly left for Ghana where she eventually settled in with the man she eventually married and bore three girls for. But in 2004,

Ex-principal bludgeons hubby’s mistress Madam Atinuke left Accra and returned to fatherland after her husband’s death.

She has reportedly been living in Nigeria ever since with her children.

That year, Bamgboye and his ex-lover reportedly met at a party in Osogbo, Osun State. As ex-lovers, the two soon got entangled in romance yet again though without any promise of marriage this time. This made Madam Atinuke, who also currently lives in Lagos to pay schedule visits to Bamgboye at his Ilaro home.

The man arranged his mistress’s visit so that it would not coincide that of his wife. This had been going on for years and at a point, Mrs. Bamgboye had had course to challenge her husband of unfaithfulness, which the latter denied.

But on that fateful Saturday, Mrs. Bamgboye reportedly called her husband that she would not be coming to Ilaro as she often did. She claimed that she was expected in Abuja the following Monday to get some documents from the Ministry of Education. It was a decoy after all.

The woman actually sold the dummy to her husband and came into Ilaro unannounced hoping she would catch the

woman that had been reportedly sneaking into her matrimonial home.

Convinced that his wife would not be coming for the weekend, Mr. Bamgboye put a call through to his mistress to come spend that weekend with him. The woman wasted no time in going to see him. Trouble started when Mrs. Bamgboye burst into their compound around 8:10pm of that fateful day.

Having woken the guard from his sleep to open the gate of the compound for her, Mrs. Bamgboye headed straight for the expansive sitting room on the ground floor, which was left ajar in any case. There she got shell shocked when she saw her husband and Madam Atinuke, the two lovers in each other’s arms, half naked.

The former principal reportedly stood speechless for seconds before she dashed towards the woman and engaged her in fierce battle. While Madam Atinuke was struggling to get dressed again, Mrs Bamgboye reportedly rushed into the kitchen close by, and appeared with a short stool, with which she reportedly smashed the woman’s head. Blood soon filled the floor as Madam Atinuke re-

portedly collapsed and fainted. With the prompt intervention of neighbours, Madam Atinuke was rushed to a hospital where she is reportedly responding to treatment.

Speaking with our reporter, a neighbour of the Bamgboyes, who declined to be mentioned, claimed that Atinuke was first regarded as the man’s second wife because she frequented his house once the real wife was not around.

The neighbour, who claimed he was one of the sympathizers that rushed Atinuke to the hospital, maintained that the woman’s sustained deep cuts on her forehead.

“We thank God that this jealous wife did not kill that woman. We heard that all efforts by the husband to stop his wife from carrying out that act were futile. Uncle Bam Bam (as Mr. Bamgboye is often called) also had to run for dear life when he saw his mistress on the floor with blood gushing out of her forehead.”

Mrs. Bamgboye, upon seeing what she had done, reportedly ran out of the compound into her car and drove back to Lagos.

Police arraign trader for assaulting co-tenant

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39 year-old trader, Lekan Oladapo, who allegedly attempted to set a co-tenant ablaze, was on Friday brought before an Ojokoro Senior Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

The accused, who resides at No 12, Obajimi St., Ile-Epo in Oke-Odo area of Lagos, is facing a charge of assault.

The prosecutor, Clara Olagbaye, told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 18 at No 12, Obajimi St., IleEpo at 10.00 p.m.

She said Oladapo and a co-tenant, Mr Oluwatoyin Akinwoye, had an argument and in the process, Oladapo attempted to set him ablaze.

“Oladapo had an argument with one Mr Oluwatoyin Akinwoye, a tenant, after which he poured petrol on him and threw a lantern at him.

“It took the intervention of neighbours to rescue Akinwoye,” according to Olagbaye.

The offences, she said, contravened Sec-

tion 171 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

Oladapo, however, pleaded no guilty.

The magistrate, Taiwo Akanni, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000, with one surety in like sum.

She adjourned the case to April 28, 2013, for mention.

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March 23, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NORTH

Plateau killings: Stakeholders chart roadmap to peace JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

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ome stakeholders in Plateau State yesterday met to strategise on how to restore permanent peace in the state. The meeting followed the series of attacks and killings by gunmen in some parts of the state which have left scores dead.

As part of measures to achieve peace in the state, the Special Task Force (STF) in charge of internal security in Jos and environs has been urged to liaise with security agencies in Taraba and Nasarawa States to avert cross border infiltration of terrorists following the fresh hostilities that led to killings of innocent lives in Wase Local Government Area of the state.

The directive is contained in a communique jointly signed by the Director of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed; Chairman, Jukun Development Association, Wase Local

Government Area, Musa Umar Mavo and the state’s Commissioner of Information and Communication, Yiljap Abraham, after a crucial meeting of representatives of the

state government, the Special Task Force and community leaders in Wase Local Government Area.

According to the communiqué: “We condemn in strong terms the action

that resulted in the loss of lives in Wase and other neighbouring local governments and agree that the stakeholders will appeal to their communities to end all hostilities with

IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

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itizens of Nasarawa State were reminded of the need for healthy teeth, gums and mouth for healthy living during the celebration of World Oral Health Day (WOHD) in Lafia, the state capital.

Welcoming participants to the first ever WOHD in the state, President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele, said the celebration offered the health community a platform to reduce the global disease burden.

“By working together

as a team, we can unite our efforts to prevent tooth decay, gum diseases and loss and help our communities to maintain proper dentition for life. Therefore, it is high time we emphasize on practicable preventive measures such as eating good diet, good brushing habits and regular dental

K

ogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada, has pledged the state’s readiness to partner the National

check to curb oral menaces,” Enabulele said.

Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Bawa Yahaya Ubam, Head, Clinical Services, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, described the event as very important and timely.

“Any infection in the mouth would go to other parts of the body so it is

very important for us to make sure that we take proper care of our mouth and teeth.”

The high point of the event was provision of free dental examination services, distribution of free toothpastes, tooth brushes and free dental treatment for participants.

Katsina to construct 2,000 houses before 2014 ends JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

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he Katsina State Government is set to construct 2,000 housing units before the end of next year as a way of meeting the housing requirements of civil servants and the state’s other residents.

The state’s Commissioner of Works and

Housing, Mustapha Kankia, stated this while conducting a delegation from the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) round some major projects executed by the present administration.

Kankia said the houses, when completed, would be sold to interested indigenes of the state at subsidised price.

He added that a special

discount would be offered to enable the state’s citizens secure decent accommodation, adding that the state government had constructed 1,772 such housing units in the past five years and sold same to civil servants at 50 percent discount.

At the ongoing ultramodern stadium, the commissioner said the N4 billion-worth sporting

PHOTO: NAN

Kogi to partner NDLEA on drug abuse LOKOJA

and we are calling for close liaison and collaboration among traditional and community leaders to enhance communal understanding and confidence building.”

Nasarawa marks World Oral Health Day

Plateau State Polytechnic students protesting the strike of their lecturers in Jos, recently.

WALE IBRAGIM

immediate effect.

“We urge the Special Task Force to liaise with their security counterparts in Taraba and Nasarawa States to avert cross border infiltration

Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the fight against drug trafficking in the state.

Wada disclosed this yesterday while speaking at the presentation of the award for best Command

of NDLEA in the north central zone at the NUJ Press Centre in Lokoja the Kogi State capital.

Wada, who was represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Dr.

John Achigbogwu, said that the state government will also consider collaborating with the agency in the provision of rehabilitation centres for counselling the drug addicts in the state.

complex would be completed by June this year.

He however lamented that the project launched in 1989 had been abandoned by successive administrations.

In his remarks, Executive Director of NLI, Yinka Oyinlola, com-

mended the state government for the projects so far executed in the areas of education, health, road construction and sports.

He said the state has set the pace for others in the country in the area of project execution for the benefit of the masses.

Executive/legislative feud: Ahmed urges restraint

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overnor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State on Friday called on the executive and legislative arms of government to eschew confrontation for the presidential system of government to work.

Ahmed made the call in an address he presented at the opening of a threeday workshop for selected members of the National Assembly and Speakers of Houses of Assembly in Ilorin, the state’s capital.

He said that the presidential system of government required consensus among democratic institutions. He observed that duplication of activities among the three tiers of government had led to wastages which had not allowed Nigerians to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

He urged the legislature to take a critical look at the areas of duplication of responsibilities in order to ensure optimal allocation and use of resources.

Saying that separation of powers among the

three arms of government could be sustained without sacrificing the spirit of compromise necessary for effective and efficient governance, he called on lawmakers to always legislate for the enthronement of true federalism to make the nation’s democracy more inclusive and economically beneficial to the people.

Earlier, Speaker, Kwara House of Assembly, Razaq Atunwa, said the years of military intervention had induced some anomalies into the presidential system as practiced in Nigeria.

“Separation of powers seems to have assumed a vertical line rather than a horizontal one. The executive give the impression that the legislature is an organ under the executive to be used and controlled as it wishes,’’ Atunwa said.

Atunwa also stressed the need for financial autonomy for state Assemblies in order to ensure proper separation of powers.

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REGIONAL NEWS

March 23, 2013

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2013 budget: Nasarawa earmarks N1.7bn for lawmakers IGBAWASE UKUMBA LAFIA

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he Nasarawa State Government has set aside N1.7 billion in this fiscal year’s budget to compliment the role played by the State House of Assembly in the efficient discharge of legislative functions.

A breakdown showed that the sum of N1.53 billion will go to constituency project allowance for members of the state’s House of Assembly and

N184 million for capital projects in the House of during the 2013 fiscal year.

Permanent Secretary in the state’s ministry of finance and economic development, Dr. Dominic Bako Adagadzu, disclosed this yesterday in Lafia, the state capital, when analysing the state’s 2013 budget to journalists.

“The vital role of the State House of Assembly in the efficient discharge of legislative functions cannot be overempha-

sised. Therefore, the sum of N184 million was appropriated for capital projects in the 2013 fiscal year.”

Among the projects to be embarked upon, according to Dr. Adagadzu, are the purchase of ceremonial dresses for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms and staff with the sum of N20 million while the procurement of vehicles, library books and equipment, communication gadgets, computers and

internet services is to consume the sum of N132 million.

Further analysis by the permanent secretary showed that out of the N110.146 billion 2013 total size budget of the state, N62.896 billion has been projected as recurrent revenue with an anticipated receipt of N15.163 billion from Ministries/ Department, N2.732 billion from Boards and Parastatals and Statutory Revenue Allocation/Excess Crude is expected to

turn in N45 billion.

Adagadzu gave the total capital size for the 2013 fiscal year at N67.959 billion with other sources to include N1 billion as Opening Balance, N20.709 billion from Recurrent Surplus Transferred to

Capital Development Fund, N7 billion as Value Added Tax (VAT), N4 billion of Grants and Miscellaneous Receipts and Bonds and Commercial Bank loans are expected to inject a total of N30 billion.

Kwankwaso reassures Kano residents on security

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overnor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State has reiterated his administration’s determination to ensure the safety of lives and property of all persons living in the state.

Kwankwaso gave the assurance when he received a federal government delegation on a condolence visit over the bomb blast in Kano the metropolis on March 18, 2013. The delegation was led by the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro.

A statement from the Kano State Government House quoted Kwank-

waso as saying that the state government and other stakeholders were working together to ensure the protection of lives and property.

The statement said that the governor decried the ethno-religious connotation given to the blast by some people he called ‘Abuja politicians.’

“The blast affected all manners of people and was not restricted to a particular ethnic group as widely suggested on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.” Kwankaso said.

Suntai may not return to duty soon, says CMD

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Women buying goods in front of the Ministry of Women Affairs, after the weekly Juma’at programme in Gusau, recently PHOTO: NAN

Kaduna screens 790 SURE-P beneficiaries A ZA MSUE KADUNA

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he Kaduna State Government has commenced the screening of about 790 beneficiaries of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme, SURE-P, in the state.

Addressing the prospective beneficiaries, chairman of the screen-

ing sub-committee and the state’s Commissioner for Works and Transport, Suleiman Yahaya Richifa, said 700 tricycles, 40 taxis, 35 mini buses and 15 luxurious buses are to be distributed to them.

He lamented that the forms received from beneficiaries were slightly lower than the numbers distributed and urged interested beneficiaries

to produce two reliable guarantors each to qualify for the items.

Using the opportunity to deny speculations that the beneficiaries of the scheme are card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, he maintained that the items were meant for all citizens of the state irrespective of their political affiliations.

The commissioner also said that the actual distribution of the items would be flagged off next week by Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.

He also said that 15 luxury buses will be given to the state-owned transport outfit, Kaduna State Transport Authority (KSTA) to ease the transport problem in the state.

hief Medical Director (CMD) of Taraba Specialist Hospital, Prof. Zakari Aliyu, yesterday said the ailing governor of the state, Danbaba Suntai, might not return to duty soon.

Aliyu stated this in Jalingo while testifying before the ad hoc committee of the House of Assembly investigating the motives behind the CMD’s recent press interview on the governor’s health.

The CMD had said in the controversial interview that the governor’s brain injury sustained in the plane crash had made him lose some cognitive abilities.

The doctor, at Friday’s session, reaffirmed the contents of his earlier interview.

“When I arrived in

Germany, I met the physicians of the governor and we reviewed the details of his medical report and given the nature of His Excellency’s condition, he can’t be expected home in one or two weeks,” he said.

The CMD added that his motive of granting the interview was just to ginger up the state government on the need to transfer Suntai from Germany to Johns Hopkins Hospital in the US to avail him of better treatment options.

Explaining that he had been handling Suntai’s health for the past five years, he added that the ailing governor had also been receiving treatment for three chronic diseases which he could not be divulge for ethical reasons.

Army seeks Kebbi’s support to check aliens’ incursion

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he Brigade Commander,1 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Tasi’u, has called on Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State to partner with the army in preventing the incur-

sion of bad elements from neighbouring countries.

Tasi’u made the call in Birnin Kebbi when he paid a courtesy visit to the governor. He described the state as strategic, saying, “I am here to rub minds with your

government on aversion of common threats from across the borders.

I commend the diplomatic approach by your government in preventing breach of peace with communities in neighbouring countries. The

new security challenge facing the country is the exploitation of the peaceful nature of Nigerians by bad elements to invade and cause havoc in our society but we are countering such.”

Responding, Governor

Dakingari assured the brigade commander of maximum cooperation with the army in the protection of lives and property.

“Kebbi has maintained and will sustain the good relationship it

has with the Nigerian Army for peace and unity. The community policing policy of the state would be sustained in close relationship with the Nigerian Army and relevant security agencies,” Dakingari said.

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

March 23, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Blast kills 6 in Pakistan, injures 30

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powerful explosion racked Pakistan’s troubled Balochistan province yesterday, killing six people and injuring 30 others, police said.

Militants planted a bomb in a rickshaw parked in crowded marketplace in Dera Allah Yar, assistant police superintendent Zahoor Fareedi said. Around a dozen shops were damaged in the blast.

There was no immedi-

President Obama, flanked by Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, right, and Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun, are joined by children at the Church of the Nativity during their visit to the West Bank City of Bethlehem, yesterday

Britain’s gas price soars to record on pipeline closure

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ritain’s wholesale gas prices surged to a record high yesterday after one of its main gas import pipelines shut down unexpectedly, exposing yet again its vulnerability to foreign supplies.

The country is already grappling with a potential gas supply crisis as a late blast of winter depletes stored reserves, coal power plants close and pending maintenance in Norway threatens to further squeeze supply.

Gas prices for within-

day delivery spiked at 150 pence per therm, more than 50 percent above Thursday’s closing price, following the closure of the pipeline linking Britain and Belgium that facilitates gas imports from Europe.

“I don’t think the price has ever been higher. It’s certainly super spike territory,” a gas trader at a utility said yesterday.

A water pump failure forced the shutdown of the UK-Belgium Interconnector gas pipeline at around

0700 GMT. Flows resumed at a reduced rate at 1145 GMT, but the pipeline operator warned that it was unable to meet customers’ end-of-day gas nominations.

“Interconnector UK Limited (IUK) has a technical issue at its Bacton terminal which stopped gas flow into the UK. We have now resumed flow at a reduced rate,” Interconnector said in a market message published at 1151 GMT. After news that im-

ports from Belgium had resumed, within-day gas prices fell to around 100 pence per therm.

Gas flows through the Bacton terminal where the Interconnector arrives rose from zero to around 8 million cubic metres per day just after midday, National Grid data showed.

Britain’s National Grid said it was monitoring the situation and the energy ministry added Britain had sufficiently diverse capacity to cover unplanned interruptions.

France, Britain sound alarm over chemical weapons in Syria

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rench and British foreign ministers expressed concern yesterday over what they said was President Bashar al-Assad’s willingness to use chemical weapons in the civil war in Syria.

The Syrian government and rebels accused each other of using such weapons in a rocket at-

tack near Aleppo on Tuesday that killed 26 people.

However, a U.S. official has said it increasingly appeared that a chemical weapon was not used. Nor has any previous such deployment been confirmed.

But in a letter to EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton, sent before a meeting of EU foreign

ministers in Dublin to discuss Syria, ministers Laurent Fabius and William Hague said: “The crisis is increasingly threatening regional stability... and we are increasingly concerned about the regime’s willingness to use chemical weapons.”

In the letter, a copy of which was seen by Re-

uters, Fabius and Hague reiterated calls for the European Union to ease its arms embargo on Syria to allow for more help to the opposition.

The two ministers also said it would be increasingly difficult for the European Union to maintain its sanctions against Syria without exemptions for the opposition.

Tunisian rapper gets jail term for calling police dogs

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Tunisian court has sentenced a rap singer to two years in jail in absentia for insulting the police in a case likely to fuel debate over free speech under the Islamistled government.

The singer, known as Weld el 15, is on the run.

Two of his associates, singers Mohamed Hedi Belgueyed and Sabrine Klibi,

were in court when they received suspended sentences of six months each, a Justice Ministry source said yesterday.

Belgueyed and Klibi were arrested earlier this month for a music video in which lyrics sung by Weld el 15 describe police as dogs and accuse them of using violence unjustifiably.

The two men asked the

judge to pardon them before the sentences were handed down at Thursday’s court proceedings.

“I was only using the language of the police. They have harassed me verbally and physically. As an artist, the only way I could answer them is through art. I gave them a violent art,” Weld el 15 said in a video posted on Facebook.

Secular groups say freedom of creativity and expression are threatened under a coalition led by Tunisia’s moderate Islamist Ennahda party, a charge the government denies.

In particular, they accuse authorities of failing to prevent attacks by militant Islamist Salafis on cultural institutions and individuals.

ate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, is routinely racked with violence.

In addition to sectarian attacks on Shiites, unrest in the province in the country’s southwest is believed to be fomented by several insurgent groups, including the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban.

DR Congo’s Bosco Ntaganda in ICC custody

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ongolese war crimes suspect Bosco Ntaganda has left Rwanda and is on the way to The Hague in the custody of the International Criminal Court.

Gen Ntaganda, a key figure in the conflict in eastern DR Congo, surrendered to the US embassy in Kigali on Monday.

The ICC has charged him with 10 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which Gen Ntaganda denies.

A date for his first appearance before judges is expected to be set soon.

Gen Ntaganda is the

first suspect to surrender himself voluntarily to the ICC’s custody.

“This is a good day for victims in the DRC and for international justice,” ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme.

“Today those who have long suffered at the hands of Bosco Ntaganda can look forward to the prospects of justice taking its course.”

Known as “The Terminator”, Gen Ntaganda has fought for a number of rebel groups as well as the Congolese army.

Israel apologizes to Turkey over flotilla deaths

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srael’s leader has announced the restoration of normal diplomatic relations with Turkey after apologizing for the deaths of nine Turkish activists in a 2009 Israeli naval raid on a Gaza-bound international flotilla.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that he had expressed regret during a phone call with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. President Barack Obama helped arrange the call shortly before leaving

Israel.

The flotilla incident severely harmed ties between the once-close allies. Turkey withdrew its ambassador from Israel, and diplomatic ties and military cooperation were greatly scaled back.

Netanyahu said the “tragic results” were not intentional and Israel “expressed remorse” for the loss of life. He cited “operational mistakes.”

The boat was carrying activists trying to breach Israel’s blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Tourist kidnapped in Egypt’s Sinai

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wo tourists, an Israeli man and a Norwegian woman, have been kidnapped by armed men in the Sinai peninsula in Egypt, security officials said.

The tourists were seized while travelling between Taba and Dahab in the south of the peninsula, reports said.

Such hostage in Sinai takings are usually resolved quickly.

Security in the desert region has deteriorated since the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak two years ago.

South Sinai’s Red Sea coast is a major tourism hub.

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March 23, 2013

Exit of a great African –Ahmed

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

He was an iroko of integrity –Atiku

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ormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the late Nigeria and Africa’s literary guru, Professor Chinua Achebe, as an icon of unmatched integrity

and conviction.

In a tribute to the late Professor and author of the famous “Things Fall Apart”, the former Vice President, in a statement signed by his Media Office, recalled how

Achebe forcefully rejected and condemned the July 2004 political crisis in Anambra State during which thugs attempted to remove a democratically elected governor on the orders of a godfather.

Tambuwal: We are proud of giving the world Achebe

S

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday said that he received with a heavy heart, the news of the death of literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe.

Reacting to the news of the death in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal described the deceased

as the conscience of the nation whose words and deeds mirror those of his country men and women.

The Speaker noted that Achebe would be remembered as a very decent man of great integrity whose passion for the progress and development of his fatherland served as an inspiration for his literary works and political commentary.

He said Achebe did his best to uphold and propa-

gate the ideals of a profession he loved and lived for.

Tambuwal said the death of the Professor was a colossal loss to Nigeria in particular and the whole world in general, adding that our country will forever be proud of giving the world Chinua Achebe.

Tambuwal equally prayed to God to give Achebe’s family, relatives and friends the fortitude to bear his demise.

nized.

Amaechi recalled his fond memories of Achebe including his play “A Man of the People” which is the governor’s favorite work by the writer.

Also Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda has condoled with the immediate family of literature and cultural icon, Professor Chinua Achebe, over his death, describing it as great blow to the literary arena of the not only Nigeria but indeed Africa and the

world at large, considering his immense contribution to the literary world.

Yuguda in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ishola Michael Adeyemi and made available to Saturday Mirror yesterday, described the death of the elder statesman as most unfortunate, coming at a time when his elderly advices and counseling were most needed to reshape the literary and cultural aspect of the country.

Amaechi, Yuguda mourn

R

ivers State governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed shock and sadness over the passing on of renowned writer, Prof. Chinua Achebe.

Amaechi who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. David Iyofor, described Achebe as one of Nigeria and Africa’s finest literary giants, whose works speak volumes and is internationally recog-

Based on his convictions and principle, Atiku said the late professor rejected a national honour conferred on him by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan administrations.

According to the former Vice President, few Nigerians would have followed the courage of their conviction and reject national honours because of the fear of losing favour from those in power.

he Governor of Kwar State, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has described the death of Professor Chinua Achebe as an exit of a remarkable African, literary genus and promoter of African culture per excellence.

Governor Ahmed recalls, in a message on the death of Professor Chinua Achebe issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, that Prof. Achebe’s incursion into the creative world through works like Things Fall Apart, Arrow of God, No longer at Ease helped in pushing African literary creativity to the front

Achebe’s death shakes UNN

T

he death of famous novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe, is quaking Nigeria’s foremost indigenous higher institution, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

Achebe taught English at UNN from where he sustained spinal cord injury through a ghastly auto crash along Enugu-Nsukka highway before he left Nigeria to seek treatment.

Obi condoles with Achebe family

P

rof.

Chinua Achebe, who died in the early hours of yesterday, has been described by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, who broke the news of Achebe’s death, as one of the finest minds the world has ever known.

Obi said this in a text message, which reads: “I woke up early this morning and saw two missed calls from Prof.

China Achebe’s son, Dr. Ike Achebe, with whom I have been in regular touch to ascertain his father’s well being. I immediately returned the call, and to my greatest shock and disbelief, he informed me that his father has just passed on.

“The world has lost

burner of world attention.

“There is no doubt that Late Prof. Chinua Achebe was African Ambassador to the world literary scene who played critical role, through different genres of literature, in reshaping the world’s perception of Africa”, the Governor added.

According to Governor Ahmed Prof. Achebe would be sorely missed by all good people of the world. He urged the Achebe family to take solace in the fact that their patriarch’s memory will remain ever green in the minds of many across the world who accessed his literary works.

one of her finest minds.

Africa and Nigeria have lost one of their greatest global Ambassadors.

“I have duly contacted Mr. President to inform him about the sad development. I have also contacted some prominent Nigerians who also expressed shock at the development.”

Obi, who said he was in touch with the Achebe family is said to have completed arrangements to depart to the USA later today to confer with the family.

The state government also said it is ready to take full part in the burial of Professor Achebe, who died early yesterday morning in the United States where he lived for more than 25 years.

Although the university is on recess, lecturers and students interviewed by Saturday Mirror lamented the death of the colossus.

UNN’s dramatist and playwright, Prof. Emeka Nwabueze told Saturday Mirror that even though they were aware the famous novelist was previously sick, they did not anticipate his death this moment.

Prof. Nwabueze, playwright of “When the arrow rebounds,” an adaptation of Achebe’s “Arrow of God,” said the sage inspired in scholarship particularly in his use of proverbs.

“It’s a sad event; the son of great iroko who touched lives of scholars in the universe is gone. His burial will be great.

“We wish he had stayed longer to teach us how to write. His Arrow of God which I wrote an adaptation was going to be premiered at UNN matriculation. I had already obtained his permission for that and we were talking. He inspired me a lot, especially in the use of proverbs in my works. His death is shaking UNN.” Meanwhile, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has described the death of Professor Achebe as a huge loss to mankind and to Africa and Nigeria in particular.

Quote

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The motion urging the removal of Ms Arumah Oteh hinged on the fact that her appointment as SEC DG was a gross violation as she does not possess the minimum professional qualification prescribed for appointment to that position.

House of Reps Deputy Minority Whip, Hon. Garba Datti, in his motion calling for Oteh’s sack as the lawmakers yesterday insisted to President Goodluck Jonathan to sack her for incompetence.

Saturday, March 23, 2013. www.nationalmirroronline.net

The African Military in an age of democracy (II) T he African military’s role in politics has largely overshadowed a key question -- what should be the key attributes and skills required to do the job before it today?

The variability of African militaries can be a threat to the people they are supposed to protect. Africa’s post-independence history shows that if you neglect your army, they can become a domestic risk.

Aside from the over-riding need to act in support of the constitution, another essential guideline stands out: The military should contribute to a secure environment for development.

The best contribution the military can make in this regard is to stay out of politics. Institutional incentives should be geared to wider, national objectives rather than those narrow, elite and often patronage-driven interests linked to one or another political party or personality.

But here, a further different taxonomy can be developed, a categorization of African military capabilities -- distinguishing at least in terms of peacekeeping capacity between ‘enablers’, ‘providers’ and ‘followers’.

The reality is that the African military is generally under-resourced for the roles it is expected to assume, financially and in terms of available skills and equipment. Obviously, as with every area of government, hard choices will have to be made on capabilities.

Inevitably, the biggest African gaps exist, as in most areas of government, in management, logistics and, more controversially, in the way in which militaries

with President Olusegun Obasanjo hexcellency2011@yahoo.com

THE BEST CONTRIBUTION THE MILITARY CAN MAKE TO DEMOCRACY IS TO STAY OUT OF

POLITICS. INSTITUTIONAL INCENTIVES SHOULD BE GEARED TO WIDER, NATIONAL OBJECTIVES RATHER THAN NARROW, ELITE AND OFTEN PATRONAGE-DRIVEN INTERESTS

can and should respond to development needs.

One important principal stands out.

While there are sometimes exceptional circumstances (the fight against Nazism is one), the military cannot be stronger than the national economy can afford.

A corollary is that it should not do anything to undermine the economy. This includes the furthering of elite over na-

tional interests.

The traditional notion is for armies to deal with development as a ‘secondary’ role through engineering inputs and disaster relief. But there is a more explicit security aspect. The experience of agriculture development specialists working with US special forces, for example, in Afghanistan, shows that promoting better techniques not only led to 350% increases

SPORT EXTRA

AYC: Dami tips Flying Eagles to fly over Congo DR SAYO OGUNDEJI

A

former U-20 goalkeeper, Dami Paul, has tipped Nigeria’s Flying Eagles to beat Congo DR in the last Group B match of the ongoing Africa Youth Championship, adding that the John Obuh-led team has the experience to see off their opponent.

Nigeria who is the defending champions of the tournament currently sits second on the log with three points behind Mali who has six points having managed a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in the first leg.

The John Obuh-led boys who are gunning for their

seventh title, defeated Gabon 1-0 on Wednesday, but need maximum victory against Congo DR in order to make it to the semi-final of the tourney and ultimately, qualify for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup holding in Turkey later in the year.

Despite the team’s poor start to the tournament, the diminutive goalkeeper believes the team will turn the table around in their next game.

“Though the Flying Eagles didn’t have a good start to the championship, they have created many chances and that shows they are good. I believe they will beat Congo DR come Saturday,” Dami who was in goal when Nigeria emerged champions in South Africa in 2011 said.

in yields but a tenfold reduction in IEDs in some of the most insecure districts of the restive Kandahar province.

All this raises questions about where and how external actors might assist African militaries as they continue their transition out of politics to traditional roles and capacities. External assistance should be guided in this regard by sustainability, cohesion and relevance.

Changes that are instigated by outsiders but cannot endure without their support, have historically failed and should not be attempted.

Understanding why solutions fail is essential. It usually goes beyond money, and to the heart of the design of the solution, and to the extent of local ownership.

External assistance should also distinguish between explicit military support and strengthening the civil institutions in which militaries are located or those the military has to work with, including the police.

Above all else, leadership mentoring, and especially training for local budgetary, procurement and logistics processes would help to reinforce the essence of a modern military. Teaching soldiers how to fight is not the principal problem.

Rather it’s the system that supports them which is lacking.

Better systems can promote a positive cycle. Improved capacity and less stress over resources will in turn help to keep the military focused on national rather than partisan political interests.

CONCLUDED

FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Today’s Matches Cameroon v Togo 15:30 Congo v Gabon 15:30 Namibia v Malawi 16:00 Nigeria v Kenya 16:00 Ivory Coast v Gambia 18:00 Senegal v Angola 18:00 Burkina Faso v Niger 19:00 Tunisia v Sierra Leone 19:10 S/Africa v CAR 19:15

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