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FG may not refund applicants’ fees

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Sanusi’s suspension

DHQ raises alarm over fresh genocide campaign against military

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FG takes case to Appeal Court

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Saturday, May 31, 2014

Boko Haram kills Emir of Gwazo in Borno •Two other Emirs escape death •Driver, policeman killed too ...Northern govs condemn killing

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Yvonne P. 26

Kogi State governor, Idris Wada, in a warm hand shake with Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim OFR, pubisher of National Mirror, at the funeral service of Chief Mrs. Felicia Adeniyi, mother-in-law of Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday.

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Insurgency: Over 5,000 apply for enlistment into Army –Source

•‘North has highest figure’ x e STalk

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Text it to me dirty, baby!

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Top Stories Two Page I

t was a large gathering of prominent Nigerians in Epe, Lagos State on Friday, as a former Governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael Otedola, was buried at Odoragushin, his home town.

President Goodluck Jonathan, his wife, Patience, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo were at the burial.

Governors Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwunmi Adeshina and Minister of State for Defence, Mr Musiliu Obanikoro, graced the burial.

Also present were former Ekiti State Governor, Chief Niyi Adebayo, Director – General of Nigeria Security and Exchange Commission, Ms Aruma Oteh, and former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Speaking briefly during the funeral mass held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ibuwon, Jonathan described late Otedola as a man who lived a life of accomplishments.

“Late Otedola brought a characteristic level of uncompromising diligence and commitment to bear

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

May 31, 2014

Jonathan, Obasanjo, others bid Otedola farewell

President Goodluck Jonathan (left), First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan (middle) and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (right) during the funeral service for former Governor of Lagos State, Sir. Michael Agbolade Otedola at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ibonwon, Eredo LCDA, Epe, yesterday.

on his service to God God, country and community,” he said.

He condoled with the family over the loss, praying to God to

grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

Obasanjo described Otedola as a kind-hearted man and a leader

with firmness of purpose. purpose “History will record that when providence placed him in a position of influence and power, he

touched many lives in a positive way,” he said.

Fashola said that Otedola left a footprint of excellence and service in spite of his short tenure as governor.

He said that the late governor was a model of “politics without bitterness” as he tactfully engaged and accommodated his political adversaries as governor.

Fashola said that Lagosians would forever be grateful to the deceased for his exemplary leadership.

Amosun described late Otedola as an ambassador of good values, adding that his generosity and leadership qualities were remarkable.

“Everyone, who knows him, testifies to his disciplined lifestyle and gentle disposition,” he said.

Otedola, who was governor of Lagos State between 1991 and 1992, died on May 5, 2014. (NAN)

President, Jimoh Ibrahim, others honour Mimiko at mother-in-law’s burial HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

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resident Goodluck Jonathan led dignitaries across the nation to give the last respect to the mother of the wife of Ondo State governor, Mrs. Felicia Adeniyi, who died about a month ago.

Jonathan was represented by the Chief of Staff, Dehinde Arogbofa.

Three serving governors; Idris Wada of Kogi State, Jonah Jang of Plateau State and Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers State were also present at the burial ceremony, which took place at the Cathedral Church of St. Stephen, Oke Aluko, Ondo, in Ondo State.

Other personalities at the service include Publisher of National Mirror, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim; Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson; Evang. Bamidele Olumilua, Chief Wole Olanipekun; deputy governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi and his wife, Alhaja Bejide, the Labour Party governorship candidate for Ekiti State, Mr. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.

Delivering his sermon, the Archbishop of Ondo Diocese (Anglican Communion), George

Latunji Lasebikan, described death as an end to all things created by God and admonished the people to always see each day as their last.

He stressed the need to be upright and move closer to God while still living, saying it is very rewarding to follow the dictates of God to live forever in heaven than to die again for the second time.

The clergy described the world as a temporary home for every individual, urging the people to make effective use of their days on earth.

He described the late motherin-law of Mimiko as a devoted member of the Anglican Church, a community leader who lived a

Dr Jimoh Ibrahim (OFR) with the new Ondo House of Assembly Speaker and Mrs Oladunni Odu during the final burial ceremony of Ondo First Lady’s mum in Ondo yesteday. Pix by Hakeem Gbadamosi

rewarding and fulfilled life during her sojourn on earth.

He said the late Mrs. Adeniyi was a teacher, mother, singer and a sociable person whose footprint would remain indelible in

the society.

Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim described the late Mrs. Adeniyi as a pleasant mother.

“She was very friendly, calm, motherly and a complete resem-

Emir of Gombe too

At the burial ceremony of Emir of Gombe. Story on page 6

blance of the First Lady. They look like twins sisters and we are going to miss the departed soul,” he said.

Other personalities at the burial included representatives of governor of Edo and Kwara states, national chairman of the Labour Party, Bar. Dan Wayawu; LP chairman, Ogun State chapter, Niyi Osoba; former senator representing Ondo central senatorial district, Gbenga Ogunniya, members of the State House of Assembly led by the new Speaker, Jumoke Adeniyi; chieftains of the People Democratic Party, (PDP); traditional rulers, clergymen from various denominations as well various groups and associations.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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May 31, 2014

Saturday Starter

Youths overwhelm military with applications to enlist

Patriotism or desperation?

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he Nigerian Armed Forces announced the commencement of its recruitment exercise on Wednesday, May 21, 2014.

According to military sources, the response from youths to the announcement of a recruitment exercise “has been overwhelming.” This is despite the fact that the on-going recruitment is aimed at beefing up the population of the armed forces in order to face the challenges posed by Boko Haram.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen Olajide Laleye, while announcing the recruitment, had declared that the exercise, which started with online registration for interested applicants, would end on June 21, 2014. According to him, only those who would be ready to fight in the North-East should apply.

But barely three days after the announcement, the Nigerian Armed Forces declared that the response from youths who were ready to be enlisted was overwhelming.

According to a military source, while the call for applications by the military authority is directed at youths from all over the country, so far, the North has

the highest number of applicants.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Saturday Mirror, Brigadier General Olajide Laleye, said many applications have been received.

Although Laleye refused to disclose the number of men required and the number of applications received, he said the response has shown that there are still many patriotic Nigerians ready to serve their fatherland.

Laleye, who told Saturday Mirror that the figure keeps changing by the second, said, “I cannot give you figures for now. These things (applications) come and the figure changes per second, since it is online. I cannot give you figures for now. All I can say is that the response is overwhelming,” Laleye said.

Pointing out that the Nigerian Army feels highly encouraged by the response, Laleye described as patriotic, the overwhelming response it was getting from Nigerian youths.

The declaration of the Nigerian Army that the response to the recruitment announcement has been overwhelming has been corroborated by a cross section of youths interviewed by our correspondent. Both male

and female Nigerians, who indicated that they would love to be enlisted into the Army, told Saturday Mirror that their interests were driven by passion for the job as well as the desire for a platform to contribute to solving the present security challenges in the country.

Innocent Okechukwu, a young Nigerian resident in Abuja told our correspondent that passion and patriotism drove him to apply to be admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, earlier and that he would take advantage of this exercise to be enlisted into the Army.

He said that there was no basis for people to be scared about enlisting in the Armed Forces at a time like this, because if the country must win the war, it needs its Armed Forces to prosecute the war and it is only the citizens that would be used.

Okechukwu who said that he was also planning to apply, said, “Although some soldiers are dying and others getting injured, these are just hazards of the job. If everybody is scared to join the army now, then who will be used to prosecute the war? I will join. If I survive, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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May 31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Saturday Starter

‘It is volunteer army, not conscript army’ The Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Brigadier General Olajide Laleye spoke to UBONG UKPONG in Abuja

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hat is the progress so far concerning the application for recruitment?

The exercise is in progress. Patriotic Nigerians are registering en mass.

They are registering just the way we thought they will respond. At the end of the registration exercise, recruitment will be conducted to bring them into the Nigerian Army. We have very many patriotic young men in this country. I have several persons who have come to me, who are actually ready to join the army. I have also told them that they must go through the proper process.

Don’t you think that the rush is rather in desperation out of lack of jobs?

They cannot be more desperate for

the job than their lives. I have said that only those who want to fight for this country should volunteer. They are not fools. It is a volunteer army. It is not a conscript army. After this process, they will go through the recruitment. It is not for me to say they are desperate.

The youths are saying that they don’t mind dying for the country by joining the army. What is your take on this?

It is something we should encourage. Joining the army all over the world is a great service to the country.

If the youths have made such commitment then they should be encouraged.

We the elders should encourage them.

It is a thing of joy if able bodied young men decide to join the armed forces of any country. It means they believe

in that country. Anyone talking about desperation is unpatriotic. This is a serious issue and someone cannot be here talking about desperation by the youths.

Is there indeed a future for these young people in the Army?

The future is very bright for them, very bright. They have nothing to fear, they have nothing to worry. They will go through trainings just like any soldier that joined the Nigerian Army 100 years ago.

Are youths from all parts of the country accepting to apply?

Like I told you, the youths are showing patriotism. Youths from all parts of the country are applying. The patriotism that I am talking about is all over. Laleye

‘Recruiting purely for Boko Haram will be unprofessional’ David Azutoru, a Peace Support Operations trainer for the United Nations/African Union Peace Keeping Operations spoke to FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON

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hat is your view on the ongoing recruitment in the military for people to fight Boko

Haram?

I don’t want to look at this exercise as if the target is to fight Boko Haram. It is the usual army recruitment exercise to me.

Azutoru

Why do you say so?

At present, the military has the capacity and capability to deal with this situation. This is the usual time for the recruitment of the military’s direct intake.

From the reports that the army spokesman gave, the military have run short of resources.

There are special rules for funding and empowering them to do what they are trained for, which are lacking and the army command and federal government should wake up to it. If they have the intention to recruit now for Boko Haram, will those recruited not be trained?

How long are these new intakes going to be trained? Will the problem of dealing with Boko Haram still persist till these proposed soldiers become competent to handle weapons in war situations?

Could it then be said that the military has lost so much to the battle that they need to replace the lost soldiers?

That is not the point here. The military have enough personnel for this Boko Haram challenge. They can deploy personnel from other divisions as they do when deploying for peacekeeping operations.

I know they have lost officers and men including my very good friend and colleague Col Kabir Salisu. Recruiting fresh able-bodied men purely for Boko Haram will be unprofessional on their part.

How would you describe the response of those being recruited? Is it not suicidal?

Those who showed interest are inter-

ested to join the military as normal combatants and not for the mission of Boko Haram. It is a usual army intake, as far as I am concerned. Being an internal insurgency issue, the army recruiting men specifically for Boko Haram is indirectly saying they have a problem, but I don’t want it viewed in that direction. Boko Haram, as a terrorist group, does not need that if the army wants to deal with them. As I said earlier, they have the officers, men and strategy. It is now left for the government to fund and campaign about it and also give them the authority. As it is now, there is the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) intake for officers, direct entry for graduates and artisans. And this exercise is geared towards able bodied men from where we have recruits. That, to me, is what is happening. There are so many men in all formations in Nigeria that they can redeploy to the North East for Boko Haram rather than sending freshly recruited men.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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May 31, 2014

Saturday Starter

‘What’s wrong with dying for my country?’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 fine, if I die, fine. But God will protect me from the enemy.”

Patience Haruna, female, also in Abuja, told Saturday Mirror that she was interested and would apply. “What is wrong with dying for my country? I will go and apply and join the Army, if I die, I die. If I live, I live.”

Julius O. Nicholas, another young Nigerian, says he has already applied for

the Army job, and that he is good to go anytime if enlisted.

According to Nicholas, “To reject the call for enlistment into the Army at this time would have amounted to abandoning my country when she needs me most.

And I think the same should apply to everybody.”

Francis Ode, a Lagos-based Secondary School teacher, however, has a different take. He says, “The call by the army for

new recruits into their service means clearly that the terrorists are having upper hand in the ongoing battle. Even then, those who signified their interest to enlist cannot be said to have been motivated by love for the nation, especially when they are youths. There is no doubt that the youths of Nigeria are totally disinterested in the way the country is run.

It is clear that they would not just wake up one day and say they want to die for

the country.”

Recalling the recent ill-fated recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service when over 500,000 applicants applied for 4,556 jobs, Sylvester Odion, an unemployed graduate says, “It has nothing to do with patriotism. It is all for stomach sake. I have already applied. If you have been searching for a job, any kind of job, for 10 years like me, you will try anything.”

They are enlisting for revenge or out of frustration- Psychologist Abiodun Ogunkoya, a psychologist with the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba spoke with FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON.

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onsidering the ongoing recruitment exercise in the military for people to face the deadly insurgent group, Boko Haram, what do you think is the reason for people to come out for such, knowing fully well that a lot of people and even military officers have been killed by this group. Is it out of patriotism or desperation to get employed?

In that kind of situation, it is not about being patriotic or getting a job. The mission of the army to recruit and employ people is because they need people to fill the space of those who have died. It is not a call for employment on a normal basis. It is an employment for you to come and join in the fight. For instance during the civil war, at some point they wanted people to come and join in the war and that was why some of their family members did not allow their young ones to join in the fight back then. However, for those who are willing to join in this fight and have offered themselves up for recruitment, there are reasons for

them to do that.

What reasons could that be?

Take for example someone who has had an encounter with this insurgent group. For them, it is pay-back time.

They would want to get back at them to retaliate and avenge for what the Boko Haram have done to them or any of their family members. For others, it may be as a result of the fact that they are jobless and kind of lost hope on making it in life.

So for those set of people, it is a good opportunity for them to live for something.

What do they have to lose anyway? So for people like that, they feel they have nothing to lose if they take up such an offer.

If they succeed, fine. And if they don’t, they are not too bothered because for them, life is hopeless. You cannot expect someone who is educated and knowledgeable and can at least make something good out of life even if he does not have money, to opt for that kind of employment. Those who are taking up the job are either doing it because they want to avenge the evil that had been done to

them or their relatives by this insurgent group or those who have completely lost hope in life and feel that even if they die doing it, they have nothing to lose. So it is either way.

Are they not afraid for their lives?

That they could die in the process?

People like that are not afraid of death because their minds would have been made up. For those who see it as an avenue to revenge, they will take solace in the fact that even if it is one Boko Haram person they are able to kill, they have achieved something even if they have to die in it. And for the other man who feels life has nothing more to offer him, it doesn’t matter if he dies, because he would conclude that at least since life has nothing good to offer him, has been able to do something meaningful even if he dies doing it. What would a man on the streets, who has no family to look after him or to look up to, think of ? Or maybe an ex convict who had been imprisoned for years and is now out and has no hope of doing anything good again. It will not

Ogunkoya

matter to him. It is either he succeeds or nothing. Such ones may resign to their fate by opting for such.

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NATIONAL NEWS

May 31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Boko Haram kills Emir of Gwazo in Borno •Two other emirs escape narrowly •Driver, policemen killed too FROM INUSA NDAHI, MAIDUGURI AND UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

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unmen suspected to be members of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, yesterday ambushed three emirs, killing one of them, the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrissa Timta.

The other emirs ambushed are Alhaji Abdullahi Ibn Muhammed Askirama II, Askira and that of Uba, Alhaji Ali Ibn Ismaila Mamza II. They were ambushed

along Gombi-Garkida-Biu road in the early hours on their way to the burial of the late emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Usman Abubakar, who died in a London hospital, Tuesday evening.

Also killed were the driver of the slain emir (name withheld) and two policemen.

The driver was reported to be shot alongside the emir while attempting to flee the scene of the attack.

Sources said, the emir of Gwoza died during the attack when he was shot by the terrorists between Garkida and Hawul council area of Borno State,.

The emirs of Askira and Uba narrowly escaped death, even as reports indicated that many members of the emirs’ entourages were still missing.

The gunmen were said to have opened fire on their convoy at about 9:30am.

The Zanna of Gwoza, Alhaji Wali Ibrahim who was amongst those who escaped the attack, told our correspondent that the gunmen, large in number and in camouflage military uniforms ambushed the convoy of the emirs around Tashan Alade Villag, some few kilometres

to Hawul or Garkida town.

“Then terrorists opened fire on our convoy when we were heading to Gombe State to attend the burial of the late emir of Gombe; some of us had to reverse immediately, but unfortunately, the emir of Gwoza and his driver were killed by the terrorists, while the emirs of Askira and Uba escaped unhurt.”

Gwoza council area is South and about 140 kilometres away from Maiduguri, while Askira and Uba are South and about 160 kilometres drive from Maiduguri, while Garkida is a

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (l), discussing with President Goodluck Jonathan at the funeral service of former Lagos State governor, Sir Michael Otedola, in Lagos, yesterday.

...Northern governors condemn killing PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

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he Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has expressed shock and disbelief over yesterday’s killing of Emir of Gwoza, Idrisa Timta, and assassination attempt on the lives of Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ismaila Mamza and Emir of Aski-

ra, Alhaji Mai Abdullahi Ibn Muhammadu Askirama by gunmen believed to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

The forum chairman and governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, CON, in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Israel A. Ebije, condemned the attack, calling it war

on the traditional institution.

Dr. Aliyu who described the killing of the Emir of Gwoza as irresponsible, callous and an affront on the traditional institution and collective heritage of Nigerians said the attack came at a time the federal government had concluded plans to grant the Boko Haram sect amnesty.

It further called on Nigerians, especially those living in areas considered flashpoints, not to give in to despair in view of the unpalatable occurrences and charged them to remain calm and pursue their legitimate activities, adding that government would do everything possible to guarantee the safety of lives and property.

Sambo, Sultan, others at burial of Emir of Gombe DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE

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ice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar; Peoples Democratic Party’s national chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Mu’azu and Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo were among

thousands of sympathisers who performed the funeral prayer yesterday evening of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji (Dr.) Shehu Usman Abubakar ,who died last Tuesday evening at a London hospital.

The body of the late Emir which was flown into Gombe through Gombe Airport landed in the palace at about 7:00 pm while

the prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Gombe Central Mosque, Alhaji Aminu Pindiga, around 7:20 pm.

Other dignitaries who graced the funeral prayer were the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed; Minster of Transport, Senator Idris Umar; Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Sagir Aminu Saleh while Gombe State Deputy Gov-

ernor, Mr. Tha’ander Jason Rubainu was also present.

Many emirs and chiefs from different parts of the country also performed the prayer that saw an overcrowded palace and a crowd that blocked many streets in Gombe town after waiting for two days for the arrival of the corpse before the funeral prayers were offered.

border town with Adamawa State, and 241 kilometres south of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

It was gathered that the two first class emirs of Gwoza and that of Uba were travelling in the same vehicle when the terrorists struck.

The emirs were said to have open their car doors and fled into the bush.

A local Mallam Habu Shaffa, claimed that, one of the emirs was shot and the others escaped.

“We were going to our farms when we saw police and some people shooting themselves. We saw a car and we suspected that it belonged to highly respected mornachs. We thought it was the Emir of Biu but later we learnt that it was the Emir of Gwoza, Askira and the Emir of Uba who were passing when Boko Haram opened fire on their vehicles. One of the emir sdied, but the others were said to have escaped.”

A source from Gwoza emirate council said “Gunmen suspected of Boko Haram members shot dead the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrissa Shehu Timta, after the monarch and Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ali Ibn Ismaila Mamza II; were initially abducted Friday morning on the Biu-Garkida road while travelling to Gombe to condole the people over the recent death of Shehu Usman Abubakar, last Tuesday”.

Another eye witness who was on his way to the farm, Mr. Yahonna Anjili, said, “The emirs were travelling in an official Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) of two separate convoys of vehicles, before the gunmen ambushed the convoy and killed the monarch while others escaped unhurt”.

According to Askira Palace sources yesterday in Maiduguri, in a telephone interview, “the people of Uba, Askira and Gwoza emirates were “shocked and terrified” with the sad news that our royal fathers were attacked by armed youths in Toyota Hilux vehicles and motorcycles at a spot on Garkida road this morning by opening fire on their convoys. The se-

curity personnel attached to the monarchs however exchanged fire with the gunmen for several minutes, before the policemen were overpowered and killed the emir of Gwoza.”

It was also learnt that the Biu-Garkida road has been condoned off by the military for over six hours, to prevent the insurgents from further attacking and fleeing into the forest.

Our correspondent gathered that already, the remains of the Emir of Gwoza has been conveyed to Gwoza town for burial which will soon be announced by the family and the Borno State government.

Governor Kashim Shettima who has been in Abuja even before the Democracy Day celebrations had to return in a chartered plane to Maiduguri Friday evening following the sad news.

Confirming the incident in a statement issued in Abuja, yesterday, the Director of Defence Information, DDI, Maj-Gen Chris Olukolade said the body of the late Emir of Gwoza was recovered by troops.

He also confirmed the arrest of 23 armed gang members Jos. The statement reads in part: “Troops deployed in Garkida responded to the attack. The Emirs of Uba and Askira were secured while the body of Emir of Gwoza who died in the attack has been recovered.

“Troops are currently on aggressive patrols along the entire route with a view to apprehending the perpetrators and keeping the area safe.

“Meanwhile, raids carried out by troops of the Special Task Force operating in the north-central part of the country have led to the arrest of 23 members of armed gangs terrorising the region.

“The suspects including a hard drugs supplier were apprehended during raids on camps and criminal hideouts located in Bukuru, Jos South and Barkin Ladi general areas.

“All the suspects are currently undergoing preliminary investigation before they will be handed over to appropriate prosecuting agency.”

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NATIONAL NEWS

May 31, 2014

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... DHQ raises alarm over fresh genocide campaign against military •Fingers a powerful North East politician as funder UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

T L-R: President, Pearl Awards Nigeria, Mr. Tayo Orekoya; Chairman, Investment and Securities Tribunal, Mrs. Ngozi Chianakwalam; chairman of the occasion, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu; Special Adviser, Pearl Awards Nigeria, Chief Alex Akinyele and Chairman, Pearl Awards Board of Governors, Alhaji Umar Abdullahi, cutting a cake during the 10th Annual Pearl Awards Public Lecture for Capital Market Development in Lagos, recently.

Insurgency: Over 5,000 apply for enlistment into Army –Source •North has highest figure •We’re happy that our youths are patriotic –Army UBONG UKPONG ABUJA

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o fewer than 5,000 youths have already applied for enlistment into the Nigerian Army in the ongoing recruitment exercise, a reliable military source has disclosed.

The source said the applications done on line as directed by the authority is from youths across the country, but with the North having the highest number.

Although Army headquarters described the response to the call for application as overwhelming, it refused to give the exact figure of applications received so far.

It’s reason for the secre-

cy is “security”.

A source close to the Military Secretary, Army, which was responsible for the recruitment, told Saturday Mirror that the figure was on the rise on a daily basis, as more youths have continued to file their entries online for the army jobs.

The Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Brig-Gen Olajide Laleye, who also refused to give an exact figure, told Saturday Mirror that the figure kept changing per second since it was online. “ I cannot give you figures for now. These things (application) come and it (figure) changes per seconds, it is online. I cannot give you

figures for now. All I can say is that the response is overwhelming”, Laleye said.

After declaring its desire to recruit abled bodied young men in the country, the Nigerian Army had also made it clear that it was recruiting the youths specifically for the war against Boko Haram in the North East.

In spite of the warning that only those who ready for the course should volunteer, it was reported that there had been serious rush by youths in the country for the job.

The Nigerian Army has described the rush as patriotic, expressing joy that the youths still believe in their country and her armed forces.

Sanusi’s suspension: FG takes case to Appeal Court ISE-OLUWA IGE

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he federal government has requested the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal to void the verdict handed down, last week Tuesday, by a Federal High Court transferring to the National Industrial Court a suit by former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to challenge his sack.

The government is con-

tending that the judgment was warped and should be reversed.

Specifically, the government argued that the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, erred when he held that he had no jurisdiction on one hand only to assume jurisdiction on the other hand to transfer the case to the Industrial Court.

Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) who made the disclosure yesterday on the position of government on the verdict also asked the

National Industrial Court to suspend hearing in the case.

He is positing that it would be neater and proper if the NIC could suspend hearing in the suit pending when the higher court which is already seized of the facts of the case disposes it off.

Consequently, the President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo yesterday slated June 3, 2014 to hear the motions for stay of proceedings in the case.

he Defence headquarters, DHQ, yesterday, raised alarm over a fresh genocide campaign against the military in the ongoing offensive against the Boko Haram insurgents.

This allegation was contained in a statement by the DHQ, in Abuja, through its Director of Defence Information, DDI, Maj-Gen Chris Olukolade.

According to it, the campaignwas being financed by a powerful political leader in the North-East.

The statement said that the DHQ was alerted of the plot by some interest groups to embark on a renewed campaign to attract international condemnation and indictment of the Nigerian military and its operations in the Northern part of the country.

“The campaign which is to rely heavily on doctored and falsified audio visual materials, some of which are already trending in the social media, is to be coordinated and funded by a prominent po-

litical leader whose state is presently under the State of Emergency.

“The details of the plan which is already being fine-tuned by a group of media practitioners, is to be presented for the final ratification and funding by the political figure.

“The design is expected to forcefully whip up sentiments of genocide allegedly targeted against a particular religious group.

“The planners of this multi-media crusade also hope to use it to gain some mileage in the drive to secure international attention as they have not achieved this sufficiently despite previous efforts.

“The programme which is also meant to reinforce the ongoing media campaign against the military was adopted as an alternative by those who are bent on politicising the ongoing counter terrorists operations in the northern part of the country.

“It will be recalled that a newspaper, apparently testing the waters, last week published some of the doctored pictures which the Defence Head-

quarters instantly repudiated, pointing out that they do not represent activities or operations of the Nigerian military.

“This Headquarters wishes to reiterate its rejection of pictures and video footages from unverifiable sources claiming to reflect activities or so called atrocities purportedly perpetrated by Nigerian security forces. They do not reflect or depict the true state of affairs or operations of Nigerian military or any of the security forces.

“The public is advised to watch out and not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by these acts of infamy orchestrated by this desperate group”, the DHQ stated.

General Olukolade said that it must be emphasised that the dastardly acts of terrorism were against all Nigerians and all peace loving people all over the world.

“No amount of propaganda by apologists of terror group can justify the evil acts of terrorism by attempting to cast the Nigerian military and security forces in bad light”, he said.

8

NATIONAL NEWS

May 31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Solar CEO is guest NIS recruitment crisis: FG may Helvetic on Glo/CNN African Voices not refund applicants’ fees T OUR REPORTER

T

here are strong indications that the federal government will not refund applicants processing fee of N1,000 in the March 15, botched recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS. The Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, who superintends the paramilitary services under the ministry is said to have denied extorting job applicants and consequently not in custody of any such funds.

President Goodluck Jonathan had in the wake of the backlash generated by the death of some applicants cancelled the exercise and constituted a new committee to conduct a fresh one.

Jonathan had also or-

dered a refund of all fees collected from the applicants.

However, a ministry official who pleaded anonymity told Saturday Mirror that fiery Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, who had earlier taken the ministry to court on the issue, had also written the minister asking him to reimburse the candidates.

He added that the federal government, through the new recruitment committee that was announced by the president, would not renege on its promise to compensate deceased applicants and the injured.

The source who described the action of the lawyer as making “a mountain out of a molehill” said the military is also conducting a similar recruitment at present and applicants are being asked to pay N2, 500.

“In fairness, is that justified? The truth is that the minister did not ask any applicant to pay N1, 000 and so he has told the lawyer (Falana) that he did not extorted N700 million from the applicants. The ministry, through the Tenders’ Board only got a consultant to handle the exercise,” he said.

But in a statement by the minister on the issue of the N1000 collected from each applicant, it became evident that the money might not be refunded.

Part of the minister’s letter which was seen by Saturday Mirror reads: “In order to achieve result, an online Portal (website) was emplaced, applicants were then required to access the portal through the purchase of N1, 000 scratch card.

“For the records, neither I, nor the Ministry of Interior, or the Board of Civil

Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services , the Nigeria Immigration Service, was involved in the purchase of the scratch cards to access the portal.

“In fact, the board and the tenders’ board of the Ministry of Interior had approved that none other than the consultant should be involved in the process of purchasing the scratch cards and the processing of applications.”

Mr. Falana had however taking the minister up on the case, accusing the minister of being “vicariously liable for the actions” of the consultant which he said the minister engaged.

“Having publicly accepted responsibility for the loss of the precious lives of 20 of the applicants, you cannot turn round to wash off your hands like Pontius Pilate”, Falana said.

his weekend edition of African Voices will feature one of Africa’s leading young entrepreneurs and founder of Helvetic Group, Patrick Ngowi of Tanzania, as the special guest.

African Voices is a 30-minute magazine programme on CNN International sponsored by national telecommunications operator, Globacom.

The 29-year-old Chief Executive Officer of Helvetic Solar has dedicated himself to bringing light to the lives of Africans living in rural areas.

Viewers will hear the inspiring and amazing account of Ngowi, one of Africa’s pioneer solar energy entrepreneurs, on the programme which will be aired at 3.30 p.m. on Saturday and at 3.30 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.

There will be further repeat broadcasts on Monday at 2:30 a.m., 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. and on Tuesday at 6.30 a.m.

The final repeat will be done at 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Coming from a coun-

try where many do not have access to electricity, Ngowi has found a bright solution to the problem.

At 22, he founded his solar power company, Helvetic Solar, in his home country of Tanzania to provide electricity to rural dwellers.

This week on African Voices, CNN follows Ngowi to see how his passion for renewable energy is helping put Tanzanians on the power grid, one solar appliance at a time.

Ngowi showed signs of entrepreneurship early in life.

He began by supplying mobile call credit to local vendors, and later became an importer and dealer in cheap mobile phones which he sold mostly to poor rural people.

Upon discovering that many of his customers had no electricity to charge their phone batteries, he saw the goldmine in solar energy.

A few years after studying renewable energy, he built a million-dollar fortune in solar energy and is today one of the leaders in the industry.

Chibok council boss wants scholarship for missing girls GLORIA USMAN ABUJA

T People living with disabilities in Imo, react after receiving N6 million cheque as empowerment from Shell Petroleum Development Company for starting business of their own in Owerri, yesterday.

Navy arrests 11 Nigerians, 1 Ghanaian stowaway SEGUN ADIO

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bout 11 Nigerians and one Ghanaian stowaway have been arrested by men of the Nigerian Navy off the Lagos waters.

The twelve stowaways were yesterday paraded by the Navy and subsequently handed over to officials of the Nigerian Immigrations Service.

Addressing journalists before the stowaways were handed over to the Immigrations officials,

Commander, NNS Beecroft, Navy Commodore Ovenseri Uwadiae, said the arrest of the stowaways was carried out in conjunction with officials of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

According to Commodore Uwadiae, “The suspects were found on board MV AFRICAN OSPREY, which cast off from Tin Can Port, Apapa, Lagos.

Having established a prima facie case against the suspects, they are being handed over to the Nigeri-

an Immigrations Service for further investigations and possible prosecution.”

It was gathered that the ship brought chemical items into Nigeria.

Receiving the suspects on behalf of the Nigerian Immigrations Service, Assistant Comptroller of Immigrations (ACI) in charge of Lagos Marine Patrol Unit, Odeh Adapoyi, assured that further investigations would be conducted on the suspects and while appropriate actions taken on them.

Said Adapoyi, “It is

quite unfortunate that these young Nigerians risk their lives the way they had done. They should even be thanking their stars that they are still alive today. We will continue to tell them that there are a lot of opportunities in this country.”

Reacting to the arrest of the suspects, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ilesanmi Alade, reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Navy to make the waterways safe and secure.

he chairman of the Chibok local government area of Borno State, Hon Bana Lawan, has called on the federal government to give special package in terms of scholarship to the abducted schoolgirls as soon as they are rescued.

The chairman, who made the appeal during Stakeholders Validation Meeting of Draft Humanitarian Response Plan for Chibok, Borno State, organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Abuja, added that the girls should be relocated outside Borno State to continue their education to guard against stigmatisation and enable them regain their confidence.

“I will also want to appeal to government to prepare a welcome package for those girls. I believe they will be back, they will return safely; something like maybe scholarship

for them at a school away from Borno State to help them avoid stigmatisation which will certainly happen. Those girls will need to marry one day and going away will enable them marry someone else and attending another school will enable them regain their confidence,” he said.

Represented by the Director of Personnel Management (DPM), Musa Elijah Kolo, Lawan clarified that out of the 221 abducted girls, 57 have so far escaped while 164 are still missing.

He said Chibok local government is safe contrary to the widely held opinion.

The Director-General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, said Sani-Sidi added that it was expected to validate a draft humanitarian response plan for Chibok and has become imperative to build synergy as well as strengthen coordination mechanism for humanitarian assistance to the affected persons and community.

NATIONAL NEWS

May 31, 2014

Group unveils 20.15m votes plan for Goodluck-Sambo re-election TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

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he Goodluck-Sambo 2015 Continuity Network has inaugurated its National Mobilisation Council with a charge to its members to mobilise at least, 20.15 million voters for re-election of President Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo in the 2015 elections.

Also, the pro-GoodluckSambo body inaugurated the National and State Executive Councils and invested the trustees with a view to building a strong political platform for its campaigns nationwide at an event in Abuja where delegates from

states were in attendance.

Speaking at the forum in Abuja, the national coordinator of the network, Comrade Eragbe Anselm Aphimia, said the members were motivated to support the candidacy of GoodluckSambo for next year’s presidential elections because they believed they had laid the needed foundation for political stability and economic development of the country that can be consolidated if they are re-elected.

Aphimia, who cited the reforms in the power and agricultural sectors as well as the ongoing National Conference as some of the landmark achievements of the

present administration as reasons for championing the re-election of the president and his vice, pointed out that the group would mobilise millions of Nigerians in the next eight months to make its dream come true.

He said: “We share in the belief that Mr. President is doing creditably well in all sectors of our national life and economy, by simultaneously developing all regions of our country through the Transformation Agenda of his administration with capacity building.

“We are positioned for the clarion call to support Mr. President to aspire and vie for a second term in of-

Group sensitises communities on Family Planning MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

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he Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative, NURHI, has called on communities in Nigeria to embrace family planning and increase their demand for commodities available for the programme.

The group made the call in Waru, a community in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, during the week through its Social Mobilisation Officer, Emmanuel Kannah.

Kannah said family planning should be desired by all families and that couples must access the health facilities which make family planning commodities available freely.

He added that families which accept the programme enjoy much better birth control resulting in their ability to cater for their children and themselves; improved health for the mothers; and better opportunity for the couples to

contribute more economically to their families.

NURHI brings couples in communities in AMAC and other six Nigerian developed cities together and sensitises them on the need to embrace family planning programme through its ‘getit-together’ advocacy plan.

Kannah said: “Get-ittogether is a family planning campaign designed by the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) project to increase demand for and sustain use of contraceptives among marginalised urban population in six Nigerian cities.

“The GIT campaign has a robust community mobilisation component that focuses on Youth Urban Mobilisation which is currently implementing the community dialogue shows.

“These GIT community dialogue shows are designed to showcase the GIT campaign benefits, materials and service provision points. The dialogue

shows are also used as an entertainment education platform for engaging community members and participants. The shows end with question and answer sessions targeted at correcting existing myths and misconceptions about family planning. The get-it-together campaign is sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,” he stressed.

One of the residents of the community and a mother of one who took part in the event, Mrs Maureen Ndoka, said she was better informed by the programme on how to better plan for her life.

“The programme is very good. I learnt how to better plan my family. My husband is already aware of this type of programme; I am sure, if we do family planning, I will have better health to do my business and I will be able to make economic contribution to my family as I was told here today.

fice, which is both legitimate and constitutional.

“We commit our unflinching support in furtherance of the on-going National Dialogue Conference to reposition our country, and our abiding fate in the indivisibility of Nigeria,” Aphimia assured.

He urged all the delegates to return to the grassroots and sell the candidacy of the Goodluck-Sambo for the 2015 elections to the people in a non-violent manner by showcasing the achievements of the administration over the past few years, adding that if they work well, about 39.2 million voters could be mobilised for the agenda by January 2015.

According to him, the 20.15 million-man support for Goodluck-Sambo 2015 Continuity Network is committed to giving its unflinching support in furtherance of the on-going national dialogue to reposition the country by advancing the cause of national cohesion and political stability.

OLUSEGUN KOIKI

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he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has announced the arrest of a Malian, Kone Ali, with compressed cannabis weighing 4kg.

The suspect, a businessman and student at Guangdong University of Technology, China, holds dual citizenship of Nigeria and Mali.

The spokesman for the agency, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, stated that the Malian was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos while attempting to board a Kenyan Airways flight to China.

The cannabis was allegedly hidden inside foodstuff like melon, dried bitter leaf and assorted local spices.

The 22-year-old suspect who is studying Chinese Language was travelling with a Malian international passport

ABUJA

T

Y Danjuma Foundation (TYDF) commenced a 4-day training for grantee training for the 2014 grants cycle.

The training which took place at Goshen City, Auta Balefi, Nasarawa State, was planned to take place in three zones: Abu-

ja, Taraba and Edo. The foundation also plans to extend the training to Jalingo and Benin.

All participants (35) and representatives (4) from each of the 9 organisations in attendance received certificates of participation.

Organisation in attendance include, Women’s Right to Education Programme (WREP), Ridders

for Heath, Pro-Health International, Community Based Care Support Programme (CBCSP), Mission to Save the Helpless (MITOSATH), Care Vision Support (CAVSI), Christian Care Women Association (CCWA), Fahimta Women and Youth Development Initiative, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS).

no. B0563273.

He stated that preliminary investigation revealed that his Ibo name is Ebuka Onyedigbo and he hails from Okija, Anambra State.

Kone Ali has lived in Guangzhou, China since March 2013.

He was found with a student identification card of Guangdong University of Technology, China.

NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, said that the suspect was nabbed while trying to check in his luggage.

“The arrest of Kone Ali by NDLEA officers took place at the departure hall of the Lagos airport when he brought two bags for check. The first bag was searched and no drug was found. While searching the second bag, it was discovered that five compressed parcels of dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis were packed together with foodstuff,” Hamza stated.

In your refreshingly different

How many foreigners are in Nigeria?

Nigeria’s main concern over insurgent acts has gained international attention. That’s no news. The Boko Haram militants group has seized no fewer than 200 Nigerian female children, upon whom hi-tech international politics has descended. That too is known to all. But do you know the number of illegal immigrants that have registered their presence in the country? And do you know what they are doing here? Get a copy of Sunday Mirror for clarity, tomorrow.

‘My parents’ s’ lifestyle e inÁuenced ced me’

TYDF hold 2014 grants training GLORIA USMAN

9

NDLEA apprehends man with cannabis at Lagos Airport

Looming crisis between Lagos and FG The Lagos/ Federal Government face-off over the deployment of Federal Task Force, a kind of paramilitary troop, in the federal highways in Lagos, has resonated in unforeseen crisis. Investigations have gone far-afield on why the Federal Government wants the task force on the Lagos highways and on why the Lagos State Government is averse to the idea.

Linda Adesuwa Osifo, a Nigerian beauty, has made the country proudd abroad. She lived abroad ad for over a decade and has returned to pursue her dream in acting. Thiss television host, in this interview, unveils her parents’ influence on her er life and her passion for acting. She says a lot.

Book a day with your vendor.

These and many more available tomorrow in your

Passion

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

10

May 31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From the Civil Service AU Group wants human rights embedded in Police training curriculum OMEIZA AJAYI

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n African Union AU Observer Group, the Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action PRAWA have begun the training of Commandants of all Nigeria Police Training Institutions on the Development of a Nigeria Police Force Human Rights Trainers’ Guide.

The group said its desire is to “mainstream human rights and torture prevention in police training curriculum.”

Executive Director of PRAWA and Coordinator, Police and Human Rights Project, Dr Uju Agomoh said the police had last year developed its own training manual with a view to inculcating global policing standard and

consequently speeding up the justice delivery system.

She said rather than being bogged by human rights violation issues in court, the training will enhance the public relations skill of the force, its investigative skill and human rights enforcement capacity.

“The focus is on the police mainly because, in the criminal justice administration, the force is the first point of contact for suspects before they are taking to the courts or prisons. The police are the face of the state and they need to get it right,” she stated.

The Swiss government

which is facilitating the programme said the Trainers Guide for the police will highlight the competencies and attitude required in various human rights contexts based on case studies, problem-solving and active experiential learning.

Deputy Head of Mis-

sion, Embassy of Switzerland, Dr Daniel Cavegn said in ensuring that human rights feature as a major crosscutting subject in police training, the hope is that it will not only enhance the effective practice of policing, but also its moral, legal and ethical

L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Head of Service, Mr. Olubunmi Famosaya; and Permanent Secretary, office of Establishment and Training, Mr. Lekan Ayeleso, at an interactive Session with Civil Servants, during the First Edition of the 2014 Public Service Forum, in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday.

imperatives.

“This appears as particularly important and relevant in the present times of testing internal security challenges, where your leadership and the conduct of the Nigerian Police are looked up to by the citizens of this country, and will prove key for the stability of Nigeria, particularly going into a period of hotly contested elections”, he added.

Earlier, while declaring the workshop open, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar, said human rights trainings are imperative for police colleges, adding that the rule of law and the balance of fundamental human rights are important for the force.

Nigerians may soon lose confidence in public hospitals, doctors warn MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

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he Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, yesterday warned that Nigerians might soon lose confidence in the nation’s public health services as a result of growing unrest, resulting in strikes among health professionals.

President of the association, Dr Steven Oluwole, who stated this at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, blamed his prediction on ‘failure’ of professionals in the sector to work within their line of duty to foster team work and effective service delivery at the public health facilities.

He said unrest among professionals in the nation’s public hospitals resulted from baseless demands and refusal of health workers to hon-

...Blame prediction on constant strikes by health workers our hierarchy in the hospitals.

Oluwole therefore suggested that one of the ways through which government could resolve basic challenges in the hospitals was to launch ‘national guidelines on hierarchy among hospital staff ’ in the country.

This, he said, would further assist in stipulating the limits of every employee in public health facilities across the country, ‘and thereby bring an end to years of inter-

professional crises in the sector.’

According to him, repeated threat of strike among health workers had never done the public hospitals any good, stressing that unionism must not supersede the need to save human lives.

Oluwole further informed that his group had met with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, including leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to resolve the

issues that led to planned strike by workers in the nation’s public hospital, under the auspices of Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU. He further informed that some of the demands of the health workers would negatively affect extant principles of the public hospitals if granted by government.

Speaking on some of the workers’ demands, he said: “The MDCAN has not opposed or hindered the career pro-

gression of members of JOHESU. Our position is that no staff of tertiary hospital should hold nominal titular office that will hinder function of other staff. That appointment of multiple Directors in tertiary hospitals will induce chaos in a system that requires well-defined chain of command. That patient will be subjected to unacceptably low standard of care if Directors that are not subject to the chain of com-

Ondo Assembly extends tenure of LG chiefs

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he Ondo State House of Assembly on Wednesday extended the tenure of 18 local government Caretaker Chairmen by six months.

The motion for extension was moved at plenary by the Majority Leader in the Assembly, Mr. Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, who

represents Ondo West Constituency II in the Assembly. The motion was seconded by Mr. Banso Adeyinka; representing Akoko North-West Constituency I. Akinsoyinu said the motion for extension followed the request from the governor for the extension of the tenure of

interim caretaker chairmen in the state.

He said the extension of the tenure of the chairmen became imperative given its expiration on Wednesday, particularly as local government election could not hold due to the pending law suit on the matter by the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP).

“Mr. Governor has sought for six months extension and I hereby move the motion for the extension,’’ he said.

The House, which was presided over by the new speaker, Mrs. Jumoke Akindele, resolved that extension of the tenure

mand under medical doctors are allowed in the tertiary hospital...

“Multiplicity of consultancy positions for cadres of support staff in tertiary hospitals will degrade the standard of care, reduce patients to objects, and create an environment where medical staff that were trained to manage patients are now controlled and directed by support staff trained primarily to dispense drugs, analyse body fluids and perform other laboratory duties.” of the chairmen would enable them complete on-going projects in their councils. In his contribution, Mr. Afolabi Akinsiku, the former House Committee Chairman on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said Section 12 of the local government law allowed such extension.

(NAN)

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

REGIONAL NEWS

May 31, 2014

11

SOUTH WEST

Robbers kill ex-Gov. Alao-Akala’s driver KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

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rmed robbers yesterday struck in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, killing one

of the senior drivers in the household of the former governor of the

state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala.

Saturday Mirror learnt that the deceased, identified as Alhaji Alabi Ajikobi, had gone to a bank to cash some unspecified amount of money when he was shot by

the suspected armed robbers.

It was further gathered that Ajikobi was attached to the former first lady, Chief (Mrs.) Oluwakemi Alao-Akala.

Alao-Akala, who is a chieftain of the Peo-

ples Democratic Party (PDP), is re-contesting the governorship seat he lost to Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2011.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor, confirmed to journal-

ists that the driver of the ex-governor was shot and killed on his way from the bank.

Her words, “It is true (Ajiobi’s death). We learnt that he went to a bank to collect some money. On his way, a man stopped him and

had some discussion with him. Then, two men on a bike shot him and collected the money away.

“We are on the trail of that man that stopped him. We have already begun investigation on the matter.”

Ogun to upgrade abattoirs –Agric. commissioner

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd right) being conducted round on-going construction of Ijegun-Isheri Oshun Bridge, by one of the officials of Hitech Construction Company during his inspection visit at Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), recently.

...As Ajimobi mourns Ladoja’s son

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overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has commiserated with a former Governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, over the death of his son, Adebola.

The late Adebola was involved in an auto crash last Thursday in Lagos, which claimed his life.

The governor, in a

statement, issued in Ibadan, yesterday, by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, described the death of the former governor’s son as tragic, disheartening, unfortunate and sad. ``It is with deep shock and utter disbelief that I received the death of Adebola, son of my cousin and former Gov-

ernor Rashidi Ladoja in a ghastly motor accident that occurred in Lagos on Thursday. ``It is even more painful considering the fact that Adebola was snatched by the cold hands of death in his prime,’’ he said, describing the deceased as a rising star and potential leader of tomorrow.

Governor Ajimobi

urged the former governo to take the incident as an act of God as nothing could happen to any human being without the knowledge of God. While praying for the repose of the soul of the deceased, the governor beseeched God to grant the former governor and the entire Ladoja family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Lagos PDP calls for national unity on Democracy Day

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t was an all-day event as the Lagos Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday staged a rally in commemoration of the Democracy Day in the state.

The party used the occasion to called for national unity among all ethnic groups in the country.

The rally, which was

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has suspended Sen. Adetunji Adeleke, a former governor of the state.

Chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Gani OlaOluwa, announced the suspension in a statement made available to reporters Friday in Os-

attended by a mammoth crowd of party faithful commenced from the party secretariat in Lagos to Ojota Freedom Park. Organisers claimed it was aimed at showcasing the unity that democracy has entrenched in the country.

According to a gubernatorial aspirant of the party, Owolabi Salis, “this event is an epoch-making

one that is necessary to further entrench the unity of Nigeria and to also tell Lagosians that PDP is a party to reckon with come 2015.”

Chairman of the party in the state, Captain ‘Tunji Shelle, also said that no matter the attempt to disunite Nigeria, it was important to celebrate Democracy Day. He also urged people of the state

to embrace the change of government the party would bring to the state come 2015.

In the words of Shelle, “We shall continue to urge Lagosians to refrain from accepting cosmetic infrastructures from the opposition party. PDP is ready to bring pro-masses development to the people and not for the elites as being witnessed in the state today,” he said.

Osun PDP suspends Adeleke

ogbo.

According to OlaOluwa, “the decision was taken at the extended Executive Committee Meeting of the party where activities of Sen. Adeleke were x-rayed.”

OlaOluwa said it

was embarrassing and “shameful that Adeleke could engage in anti-party activities when all hands should be on deck in ensuring that the PDP reclaims the state”.

Adeleke had last Thursday, in Osogbo, announced

plans to defect from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former Osun State governor said he would formally declare for the APC on Saturday, May 3, 2014, at a political rally scheduled for Osogbo.

he Ogun State Government said on Friday that it would embark on the upgrading and development of its abattoirs in Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Igbo and IsheriKara.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Ibironke Sokefun, said this while briefing journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital. Sokefun said that the new project would promote quality health in the meat sector in the state.

She said that a preferred partner had already emerged for the upgrade of the Lafenwa abattoir in Abeokuta and that N507 million had been earmarked for the project.

The commissioner also

said that other abattoirs in the state would be up-

graded through publicprivate partnership.

Sokefun said that refrigerated meat vans would soon be introduced to enure the transportation of meat in a hygienic manner.

Her words, “When we bring the vans, it will help curtail the spread of pathogens and reduce the risk of post-abattoir contamination,” she said.

Sokefun said the state government had purchased farming equipment for farmers at subsidised rates.

She said government had also rehabilitated farm settlements, established fish farms and cultivated rice at Eggua.

Akinbade emerges LP candidate for Osun guber

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former Secretary to Osun State Gover nment, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, has emerged the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) at the party’s congress in Osogbo.

The congress was held yesterday in the state capital.

The party’s national vice chairman, Mr. Callistus Okafor, who conducted the primaries, said that of the five aspirants that obtained forms for the primaries, only Akinbade returned his own.

Okafor, however, called for affirmation of the sole candidate and the congress responded with a deafening voice vote.

Akinbade, who was hitherto a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to the LP in efforts to realise his governorship ambition.

Responding, Akinbade charged other governor-

ship candidates to avoid bitterness and use of uncouth language against one another. He also called on them to eschew violence in their campaigns.

He listed the party’s programmes to include mechanised agriculture, industrialisation, integrated rural development, improved infrastructure and restoration of the middle class.

Other programmes are human capital development, water supply and sanitation as well as building of egalitarian society through welfare programmes.

The occasion, which was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, was hitchfree.

Scores of party members and supporters from the state’s 30 local government areas attended the event.

12

REGIONAL NEWS

May 31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NORTH

Jigawa legal Commission introduces new laws ABDULLAHI ODEY DUTSE

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esidents of Jigawa State are set to be introduced to a new legal system as the state’s Justice Sector and Law Reform Commission has concluded the review of operating laws in the state.

Jigawa State had been run and operating the old legal system which was put in place since inception 23 years ago.

Speaking on the planned introduction of the new legal system and its implications to residents of the state, Executive Secretary of the Commission, Barrister Musa Iman, maintained that step became imperative as the old laws have become “obsolete, deficient and wanting in their application.”

Barrister Iman, who made the disclosure in Dutse, the state capital, said

that the legal update also became necessary to reduce delay in the course of justice. He added that Governor Sule Lamido has already signed a legal notice to that effect.

Barrister Iman also said that the Commission has embarked ion sensitisation of the people of the state to introduce the laws to them.

Explaining the role of the Commission in the legal system review, the Executive Secretary said the Commission’s function was to consolidate all laws and do away with those that do not conform to modern times. Such laws, he said, have ceased to exist.

He therefore called on members of the public to always seek the services of the Commission particularly on legal matters that appears unclear to them.

Some of such services include free legal advice medication in disputes and litigation.

Nasarawa APC threatens to sanction erring members IGBAWASE UKUKMBA LAFIA

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he Nasarawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has threatened to sanction any of its members working against unity of party members in the state.

Newly elected state chairman of the party, Philip Shekwo, issued the warning in Lafia, the state capital, yesterday, while receiving members of the 2011 gubernatorial campaign organization of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura in his office.

Shekwo assured that the party in the state was working hard to reconcile aggrieved members, however, urged members to continue to work in harmony without rancour for the progress of the party.

In the words of Shekwo, “the leadership of the party is working towards the reconciliation of its aggrieved members in some Local Government Areas of the state towards maintaining the leadership posture of the party.”

He also warned that the party leadership would not hesitated to

expel any member who proves to be irreconcilable in order to avoid any fractionalisation in the state chapter of the party.

Shekwo, who commended the Ta’al campaign organisation for the visit, assured that his leadership of the party in the state is committing to building on the good works of the state government. He maintained that his administration would continue to be neutral in its dealings by providing a level playing ground for every candidates aspiring for any elective positions.

The state APC boss, however, appealed to members of the Ta’al campaign organization to

cooperate with the state leadership of the party.

Director-General of Ta’al campaign orgainsation, Musa Ilu, had earlier informed the state APC chairman that they were in his office to congratulate him and other members of his cabinet over their election.

Ilu stated that the orgainsation was an independent body that had worked assiduously to ensure the victory of Governor Al-Makura in the 2011 governorship election. Ilu also urged the state APC chairman to discharge his duties without fear or favour, so as to create a level playing ground for all aspirants in the 2015 polls.

Wada vows to rid Kogi of kidnappers WALE IBRAHIM LOKOJA

K

ogi State Government has restated its commitment to curtail activities of the kidnappers in the state, especially in the Okene axis.

It would be recalled that no fewer than four kidnapping cases were reported at the Okene axis in the last four months.

Recently, sons of Speaker, of Kogi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Momoh Jimoh Lawal, were kidnapped by un-

known gunmen.

Expressing this commitment, yesterday, was Governor Idris Wada, who berated the increasing rate of kidnapping in the Okene area. He assured residents of the state that the state government would not fold its hands and watch hoodlums from other states perpetrate evil in the state.

Governor Wada explained that the state government would continue to partner with security agencies in the state to rid the state of menace of kidnapping.

Kaduna Rotary distributes mosquito nets to pregnant women A ZA MSUE KADUNA

T

he Rotary Club of Barnawa, in Kaduna State, has distributed treated mosquito nets to pregnant women.

The gesture was part of its efforts to reduce malaria which can cause complications during delivery.

Donating the nets at Barnawa Primary Health Care, Rotary President of Barnawa, Sir Emmanuel Nosiri, also said the gesture would be extended to

other health facilities as a deliberate fight against malaria.

Nosiri also said some clutches were also distributed to disabled persons to enable them walk effectively. He assured that the group would continue to offer humanitarian services to the needy.

The Rotary President of Barnawa, however, called on wealthy individuals and organisations in the country to come to the aid of the less privileged for a better society.

L-R: Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State; Governor Alhaji Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State and Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Sagir Saleh, at the burial of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar in Gombe, yesterday.

Malaria: Bauchi to spend N140m on indoor spray

B

auchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) is to spend N140 million on indoor residual spray (IRS) to combat malaria in the state.

Chairman of the agen-

cy, Dr Abdulaaziz Manga, disclosed this in an interview with NAN on Friday in Bauchi.

He said that the exercise had already commenced in Misau and Giade local governments areas of the state and would last for 21 days.

According to Manga,``The agency has started another phase of the spray to ensure that this rainy season does not increase malaria cases,’’ he said.

Manga said that the exercise would be extended to all the 20 local

government areas of the state.

H e con t i nu e d , ``As soon as fu n d s are m ad e available t o t h e a g e n cy, we w i ll st ar t t h e sp ray i n ot h e r local gove r n m e n t are as of t h e st at e, ’ ’ h e sai d .

Yobe raises one million tree seedlings to combat desertification

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he Yobe State Government said yesterday that it has raised one million assorted tree seedlings for the establishment of shelterbelts across the state to combat desertification.

Yobe State Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Idi Gubana, announced this in an interview with NAN in Damaturu.

In the words of Gubana, ``The shelter-belts are to serve as wind breakers

to reduce the effects of winds that cause erosion, leading to the desert moving further into the hinterlands. ``The Yobe government is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Environment to implement the Great Green Wall Programme aimed at establishing orchards and tree plantations to serve as shelter-belts. ``The government has provided land for the Green Wall project and

sensitised host communities for active participation and success of the programme. ``The state Ministry of Environment has also embarked on the excavation and evacuation of water ways and drainage as the rains intensify. ``At the commencement of the season, we embarked on the evacuation of waterways and drainage in the five major towns. ``The towns include

Damaturu, Potiskum, Gashua, Giedam and Nguru, and this was to allow free-flow of rain waters to avert floods,’’ he said.

Gubana said the ministry had evacuated refuse dumps in the five major towns to check water stagnation and outbreak of diseases. ``We are also working toward collaboration with the Federal Government through the ecological funds to erect embankments in Gashua and Nguru.

Politics

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

May 31, 2014

13

APC, consensus arrangement and desired change EBERE NDUKWU

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he All Progressives Congress, APC, became a strong opposition to the Peoples Democratic Party ever since it was born. Remember that the merger of Congress for Progressive Change, CPC; Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, gave birth to it. For many Nigerians, it was a huge welcome development, mainly as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the scorecard of many have been unable to meet the expectations of the people in its hold on power since the return to democracy in 1999.

Aware of the fact that it requires to put huge efforts to get the PDP out of power, the APC launched a ten-point roadmap to convey its message of hope and vision to Nigerians. Some of the points of the roadmap are: creation of 20,000 jobs per state, free relevant quality education, restoration of agriculture, better housing plan, independence for EFCC, INEC, ICPC, SIECs, peace and security, establishment of technology driven industrial estates, ex-youth corps members to get allowance for 12 months and zero tolerance for official and private sector corruption.

With this, a good number of Nigerians hoped and believed that the right balm, the antidote that will bring solutions to the many injuries they have suffered under the PDP leadership has at last arrived, especially with APC boldly declaring its slogan as Change.

Like many analysts have, at different times pinpointed, Nigeria needs change that will bring about good leadership, strong economy, healthy society with access to good health, quality education, improved power supply, and other basic amenities. So, the change slogan of the APC sounded germane to the cries of the people.

But it appears the hope the people vested in APC is being threatened with the many challenges the party has had to face in its short period of existence, the latest of them being the party’s ward and state congresses across the country where the party adopted consensus option in electing it leaders. The process which was marred by a plethora of irregularities has forced many who once cherished the party to question its truthfulness in being the godot Nigerians have waited for since 15 years ago.

There are at the moment numerous disgruntled APC members across the nation all as a result of what many of them termed nefarious imposition of candidates as winners in the party’s recent congresses, a situation that has resulted in many of them threatening to leave the party if nothing is done to reverse the result of what some called coerced consen-

Akande

sus.

When one would have believed the party after its merger is united, the cries that followed the congresses in different parts of the nation didn’t suggest unity, making many people to fear how far the party can go in dethroning the PDP as only a united people have the power to achieve whatever they set out to achieve.

It appears there is deep fear at the moment, the fear of failure seated in the hearts of many Nigerians who had prayed for the dethronement of the PDP, after observing the poor showing of the APC in their ward and state congresses across the nation.

In South-West states, members of the defunct CPC, after the congresses had alleged wide marginalisation under the guise of consensus arrangement by defunct ACN members of the party, a story that is similar in the Northern states where defunct ACN members also alleging marginalisation by the defunct CPC members. The story is not different in the states where ANPP has upper hands.

The adoption of consensus option by the party in selecting its leaders nationwide, many analyst have come to argue, may have huge role to play in the success or otherwise of the party in 2015 general elections.

In a real sense, consensus is not a bad option in selecting leaders but why many frown about it in Nigeria is because they perceive it to have been bastardised. A true consensus is a process for group decision-making which goal is for the group to work collaboratively to achieve better solutions and to promote the growth and trust among the members. All the participants are encouraged to give ideas and input which are gathered and synthesized to arrive at a final decision acceptable to all.

Contrary to what a true consensus should be, the opposite appears to be play-

Jega

ing out in Nigeria, as many critics have come to say that the situation here has always been party leaders, who should be unbiased umpires, imposing their relatives or those who will play the stooge at the expense of competent and more qualified candidates. The huge danger associated with this is that you inevitably anger one section of voters or another.

The politics of consensus, many analysts have come to say, remains one of the biggest problem of the PDP, which also resulted in the mass cross-carpeting of its members not long ago. This same issue they argue is now eating deep in APC’s sustainability as a party.

Already, some commentators have come to brand the APC party as now chief in politics of consensus, making many people to wonder where the promised change by the APC will come from when the very virus that contributed in not allowing the ruling party bring the change people had expected from them to fruition, is now favoured and embraced by the APC. Proponents of consensus have always maintained that it is a process of synthesizing many diverse elements together and that it creates solutions that all the group members will support unlike voting. As much as that is true, the result is different in coarse consensus.

Therefore, consensus per se may not be a bad option in choosing leaders but what actually is wrong is when people are imposed on others by few party chieftains or a leader of a party in the name of consensus.

Going by the words of some political commentators, a consensus process is one where all those who have a stake in the outcome work together to reach an agreement acceptable to all parties. Hence, consensus is sometimes spoken of as more or less unanimous and when achieved creates commitment to the agreement.

A Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Cajetan Osisioma says “Either all parties approve a decision or there is no consensus. Though they may not regard all aspects of the agreement as ideal, consensus is reached if all participants are willing to live with the total package.”

If the above statement is true of consensus, those who are expressing fear about the truthfulness of the APC as a party to bring the much needed change in the country may be justified as many members of the party, in different states of the country, are yet to come to terms with its option of consensus in its recent ward and state congresses.

Like a political analyst, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Executive Director at African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development said, not too long ago, the culture of a few people, who have access to power, imposing their choice on the majority, has been a major threat to Nigeria’s democracy. Noting that, this culture of taking decisions by the consensus of the minority remained a threat to parties.

Collaborating with Igbuzor, the Head, Department of Political Science and International Relations Prof. Solomon Akinboye, sometime ago said the anti-democratic use of consensus deals to impose candidates was one of the remote reasons why PDP got torn into two.

At the moment, many APC members and non member who would love to see the party sweep the PDP off the helm of affairs of this country are worried because like it is with the PDP, so it is also at the moment with the APC and the latter seems to be taking the lead as was demonstrated by its last ward and state congresses.

The question many of them are left with which begs for urgent answer remains: If the politics of arbitrary imposition is the change to expect from the APC, when is the desired and true change going to come?

14

POLITICS

May 31, 2014

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N’Delta people not interested in Nigeria’s break-up –Evah Comrade Joseph Evah is a human rights activist and coordinator of the Ijaw Monitoring Group. In this interview with OBIORA IFOH, Evah speaks on the relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, over alleged plot to stop the governor from having a second term in office. He also gives insight on his discussion with the American government on the need to have peace in the Niger Delta. Excerpts:

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ayelsa State is the homeland of the Ijaws. How do you rate the state governor?

Governor Dickson is much focused.

You know that I don’t manage words about politicians. Governor Dickson, by every standard symbolises the Ijaw character and boldness. You know I criticised him when some youths were arrested for demonstrating about employment and as a listening leader, he allowed the court to set them free. We have states in this country that force the court in their states to keep those opposed to their policies away in prison custody for years. You see, Dickson is desperate to develop Bayelsa and he is a selfless servant who will never compromise hard work to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

Is the governor’s relationship with the presidency still cordial? Is there any plan to replace him?

There is nobody in the presidency planning that. President Jonathan will never plan such a thing. The president is lucky that somebody who is prepared to work is there for him to have rest of mind in Abuja. The president and his wife are still pleased with Governor Dickson. Let me tell you the truth, no normal Ijaw person will talk about replacing Governor Dickson now. Anybody thinking about that needs to re-examine his head. This is a governor with the government that the speed with which he took off has not yet abated. We know the kind of political class we produce in our region; 90 per cent of them are political gamblers. They don’t have conscience.

So, if we identify few that can work for the people we have to encourage them.

There are few people proving to the world that we are in government. Hon Kingsley Kuku and Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi of NIMASA and few others are symbols.

The secret of Governor Dickson’s leadership qualities and that of the likes of Ambassador Godknows Igali, Kingsley Kuku, Akpobolokemi and a few others is that they entered government to work for the people. So, the spirit of the struggle for mankind

will push them to do their best for society. When my set of executives in Ijaw National Congress, INC, left the scene after the military era, the Exco that Governor Dickson belonged took over.

I was the spokesman of INC when Abacha killed Ken Saro-Wiwa during the military era. Dickson cannot be a governor and do something else. It is God who saw the plight of Ijaw people and sent him to be governor. So, anybody who tries to be funny with his mandate will face the power of the people and I believe he will never derail because the Ijaw spirit is burning inside him.

We pray he does not fail till the end of his tenure.

You met the American Ambassador to Nigeria, and Assistant Secretary of State Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization in Lagos. Why the parley with the America top envoys?

The meeting was about the situation in Niger Delta. I told them the situation in Niger Delta. I told them the situation is very bad and that we need international assistance as it happened during the apartheid regime in South Africa.

They are aware of the bad situation.

There is no industry in the region.

I told them to encourage President Goodluck Jonathan to implement the United Nations Report on Ogoni which by extension means the clean-up of the Niger Delta region. After achieving this feat, I mean the UN recognition of our environmental problem and then somebody will tell my generation that Nigeria does not know what to do with it? And that report will be abandoned the Nigerian way? This is unacceptable to this generation.

Do you think the Americans are ready to assist the Niger Delta?

The Americans are ready because how long are we going to round-circle about development? They have seen that the Niger Delta youths are peaceful and law abiding but no job to engage their idle brains. We want massive engagement strategy to save the situation. Some of the governors are really trying their best but we want coordinated approach by the Federal Government, NDDC, Ministry of Niger

Evah

Delta and the government to massively work out a solution. When you hear that the federal government is owing NDDC N800 billion debt, you continue to wonder whether we are in a mad country that does not want peace. The federal government has owed NDDC since the Obasanjo era. It is a shame.

And our royal fathers are in court over the debts, it is shocking.

Do you agree with the president’s stance on the no-go-areas at the national conference?

Every area has to be discussed. The president cannot dictate for us what to discuss and what not to discuss. We must discuss on all areas, including whether we should disintegrate or not.

You can see that the Yoruba nation is going to the conference with national

identity. We are going to the conference to discuss on resource control and true federalism, maybe the president is afraid that some really wanted to breakup Nigeria. Niger Delta people are not interested in breaking up. Not even after we have seen what is currently happening in South Sudan. They said they wanted breakup and that was because of their oil. They said let those who aren’t producing oil go. Today, look at them, are they drinking their oil or are they drinking their blood? So, with the kind of greedy politicians we have in Nigeria, I don’t think that even the masses would really want this country to break up. The masses know that if we divide this country, the greedy political class will destroy us in a matter of seconds.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

POLITICS

May 31, 2014

I have kept faith with my agenda for Ogun –Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun in his Democracy Day broadcast.

“M

y dear good people of Ogun State, you will agree with me that events in these past three years have confirmed the doggedness, resoluteness and the commitment of our administration to truly rebuild our great State. Our collective commitment, dedication and co-operation through this

15

Talking

POLITICS consistently kept faith with the Five Cardinal Programmes of the Mission to Rebuild our dear State.

“And, as we approach the fourth year of our administration, be rest assured that we will not take your support for granted.

We solicit the continued cooperation and support of all in the task of rebuilding the State. Together, we will create an enduring, democratic, prosperous and greater Ogun State.”

period, as evident in the various development programmes carried out by our administration, has paid off.

“I am happy that we are already reaping the dividends of the sacrifices made. In the next few weeks, we will start commissioning various projects embarked upon by our administration across the three senatorial districts of our State.

“Undoubtedly, our administration has

Jonathan is doing creditably well –National Coordinator of the The Goodluck Sambo 2015 Continuity Network, Comrade Eragbe Anselm Aphimia, while inaugurating the National Mobilisation Council of the network

Sultan of Sokoto is wrong, Muslims are not marginalised –National Director of Mobilisation, Northern Youth Forum, Barrister Sirajo Gwaranyo,

“W

e are compelled to respond to the Sultan’s statement that Nigerian Muslims “are marginalised” and that “they are not happy” due to its implication for the unity and security of this country. Based on the available statistics at our disposal, there is no evidence that shows the marginalisation of Muslims in the distribution of public offices.

“Today, the Vice President is a Muslim and so are the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two ministers of Defence, National Security Adviser, Inspector General of Police, Comptroller- General of Customs, to mention but a few. Considering this, Muslims in Nigeria should blame their leaders who hold these kinds of strategic positions at higher levels for the pains they have now found themselves pushed into” “The timing of making such a statement is enough cause for concern. Taking a stand along religious lines is capable of breaching the peace and derailing our democracy.”

“I

do not subscribe to any form of dialogue with terrorists. We will not grow weary of making the point resoundingly clear that no country the world over has succeeded in curbing the menace of terrorism that way.

“Motivated by the tension, anxiety and sense of fear permeating the nation as a result of terrorism, ethno-religious cum regional champions who muted this awkward idea are not pacified as predicted.

This should explain exactly why the Alhaji Kabiru Turaki dialogue committee was and will continue to be a perpetual failure.

When the President first made the amnesty offer to the Boko Haram terrorists in April 2013, the terrorists categorically declined and instead offered amnesty to Mr. President!”

“Coming shortly after securing a reluctant approval from both Houses of the National Assembly, and when global outrage

“W

e share in the belief that Mr. President is doing creditably well in all sectors our national life and economy, by simultaneously developing all regions of our country through the Transformation Agenda of his administration with capacity building.

“We are positioned for the clarion call to support Mr. President to aspire and vie for a second term in office, which is both legitimate and constitutional.

“We commit our unflinching support

in furtherance of the on-going National Dialogue Conference to reposition our country, and our abiding fate in the indi-

visibility of Nigeria.

“The 20.15 Million-Man Support for Goodluck-Sambo 2015 Continuity Network is committed to giving its unflinching support in furtherance of the ongoing National Dialogue to reposition the country by advancing the cause of national cohesion and political stability.

“The agenda of our group is to encourage, motivate and woo the President to exercise his constitutional rights to a second term through peaceful and democratic means.”

Our party will save Osun from doom –Former chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Fatai Akinade Akinbade while being adopted as the candidate of the Labour Party in the forthcoming Osun governorship election

“T

here is no other time than now for Osun State to be rescued from the profligacy and disturbing trend of capital flight witnessed in the last three and half years of the present administration in the state.

“A Labour Party government will revolutionise agriculture, while industrialisation will be vigorously pursued in the interest of the State. The party will involve in rural integration development, expansion and development of infrastructure, while water supply and

sanitation will also be given attention.

“Let it be noted that as Osun State gov-

ernor, I will not be a sectional leader. The entire Osun state is my constituency and developmental projects will spread across the three senatorial districts.

“We will make the people of the state commit themselves towards promoting and encouraging shared objectives and building trust. As a matter of policy, the LP will ensure the continuity of any viable and people oriented programmes and projects by the out gone governments. The Labour Party remains the only hope to save Osun State from doom.

FG’s amnesty offer to Boko Haram will backfire –Lawmaker representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau State at the National Assembly, Hon. Bitrus Kaze

against the abduction of about 300 school girls from Chibok gingered foreign collaboration, the renewed offer of amnesty to the Boko Haram terrorists despite continued bombings and killings en mass, cannot be a step in the right direction.

“If government was planning another amnesty for the terrorists, why were we bothered with any extension of emer-

gency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States just about a fortnight ago? It is crystal clear from the instrument seeking the extension of emergency rule and our interaction with Service Chiefs that the primary objective for which the extension of the emergency rule was sought, ab initio, was to enable government consolidate on the gains of our military campaigns, not amnesty offer.

“If some of us had any inkling that the extension of the emergency rule will be followed with another amnesty to the terrorists, we would have emphatically voted against it. Government would have misap-

propriated precious time in the likelihood of failure of this new amnesty offer. The condition precedent to approaching the National Assembly less than six months from now with another request for extension of the current emergency rule is being created already.”

“Reportage in both local and international media says President Jonathan has been seeking support from his counterparts across the globe in fighting terrorism. Did he also seek foreign assistance in offering amnesty to terrorists? We need our foreign allies if the gains of our war against terrorism must not be reversed.”

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May 31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Living

EDITED BY: Nnamdi Onyeuma onyeumannamdi@yahoo.com 08035068825

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

May 31, 2014

17

Furniture making:

Old art, new ways THERE IS NO WORK THAT DOES

NOT HAVE ITS OWN CHALLENGES AND FURNITURE MAKING IS NOT AN EXCEPTION Living

P.40

‘I’m an athlete, just like the rest of them’

THERE ARE CHALLENGES AND TRIALS THAT COME WITH BRINGING UP KIDS.

I DON’T THINK MINE ARE ANY DIFFERENT - I JUST HAVE TO USE MY FEET. BUT I GOT THROUGH IT AND MY KIDS GOT THROUGH IT

Divorce court

‘How can my wife attend another church under my roof?’

•Separate us so I can make heaven –Wife

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Crime Watch

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Man stabs friend to death over debt AS THE TWO FRIENDS FLEXED MUSCLES, NWOKEDI ALLEGEDLY GRABBED A KITCHEN KNIFE AND AIMED IT AT HIS FRIEND’S NECK.

ONYEDIKA REPORTEDLY SLUMPED IMMEDIATELY

Living Revelling in cane Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

May 31, 2014

From water cane and in a setback on the outskirt of Maryland, Lagos State, some ingeniously gifted men and women combine skills and talent in sheer artistry to make beautiful household furniture money can buy, reports NNAMDI ONYEUMA.

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ver-looking the snaking Maryland-Ketu-Mile 12, Lagos road and located a few foot-flights away from a shadowing setback, which traces the under belly of the bridge like intestines, a ‘factory’ fit for a wonderland of cane furniture holds court. You may not envy the size of the factory; for, it really cannot compare to the sprawling factories of Charles Loudermilk’s Aaron’s Incorporated, world’s foremost furniture making and leasing company established in 1955 in Atlanta Georgia, United States, with presence in 48 States and Canada, and operating in over 2,000 stores and amassing an operating income of $183.3 million, and a total assets worth $1.7 billion as at December, 2011. Or, Artesania 1810 Trading Company, Edmonton, Canada; not even, second ranked Alfa Vega or Badcock Home Furniture, Mulberry, Florida, United States. But certainly the amazing designs of household furniture coming out from its bowls will rapture your attention. Here, like Aaron’s Inc., Artesania 1810 Trading Company, Alfa Vega and Badcock Home Furniture, perhaps, size is defined by skills. Little wonder, over the years, it has been a one-stop cane furniture resource for people of taste looking for something different from the usual wooden furniture. Even, more, brands and corporate affairs managers of big corporations find the Maryland cane shops potential sources for beautiful baskets used for hampers every year end.

Busy as the bee, every week day, an ingeniously gifted group of men and women largely native folks from the Niger-Delta unleash beautiful cane furniture of all sizes and shapes, money can buy.

The cane furniture factory has been in existence for more than two decades.

In the factory and with water cane anything can happen. In split minutes and often while you wait, these specially gifted labour force in a curious combination of hands and legs can turn an otherwise worthless cane littering the floor to a home-pride furniture.

From a delicately and artistically carved furniture such as recliners, baby cots, chairs and all kinds of home and office tools, your taste can be met. Amazingly, too, you can also have all sizes of cane beds to replace the wooden or steel type in your home, just for the asking.

Predominantly from Delta State, these skilled workers young and old, male and female, are at your service.

According to Jeremiah Ohworho, he has been in the business for 15 years.

Ohworho, who is from Ughelli, in Delta State syas joined the craft making trade

A complete set of furniture made from water cane

shortly after his secondary education.

“The cane skill runs in our family. My parents earned a living through it,” he says. The Lagos State Polytechnic Accounting graduate revealed that it takes a maximum of one week to finish work on a set of cane furniture, stressing that unlike wooden furniture, cane furniture are durable and last longer. “A complete set of household furniture can be ready within a week. Good enough, it could last for as long as six years,” he tells the newspaper in an interview.

Interestingly, it is not the exclusive preserve of men. In the sprawling factory, there are a number of women who are acquitting themselves in the art. Among them is Mrs. Anheya. In her 50s, Anheya, an indigene of Ogbaru North council area in Warri, like Ohworho, has been in the business for over two decades.

Asked how she came about the skills, she simply smiled and said: “It is a family business of sorts. My mother is into the business having also learnt it from her own mother.” However, typical of all business people, she would not disclose how much she makes from the business.

But in what seems like a subtle pointer to the value the business has added to her, she says, “to the glory of God, I have two graduates who earned their certificates through the proceeds from the business.”

On the challenges of the job, Anheya who could not be drawn into disclosing her surname says it is as challenging as any work that puts food on the table.

“There is no work that does not have its own challenges and cane furniture making is not an exception,” she says. According to her, the major challenge they face is what she described as constant ha-

THERE IS NO WORK THAT DOES NOT HAVE ITS OWN CHALLENGES AND FURNITURE MAKING IS NOT AN EXCEPTION

Cane makers are as busy as the bees

rassment by security agents, especially the police. “Almost on a daily basis, policemen like tax masters, come here to fleece us,” she says.

A source told the newspaper that when former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Modupe Adelaja, visited the factory, she had promised to discuss their relocation, but could not redeem the promise before she was relieved of her appointment. “The former minister was sufficiently impressed with what

she saw and promised to help turn our arts to foreign exchange earner, but that never happened before she was relieved of her post,” the source who refused his name in print said.

Instructively, though that dream did not come true, its failure has not by any means diminished the patronage enjoyed by the cane makers whose classes of customers range from well-heeled individuals, corporate bodies and government, including hotel owners.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

At the Furniture Village, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, the sight of exotic furniture greets you. FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON talked to the big players of the village.

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LIVING

May 31, 2014

aiyelolu Ajani makes and sells furniture at the popular Furniture Village, which is located in Olowookere area of Lagos by Cement Bus Stop. He says for in-depth mastery of the art, prospective furniture makers should be trained for, at least, three years.

He says, “Only when an operator is sound in the trade can he enjoy the benefits associated with the art. Failure to do this results in shoddy jobs that heap losses on clients.

“I spent four years learning this skill, and an additional two years serving my boss. And this was because I wanted a good understanding of the art. Some people, after spending one or two years, begin to parade themselves as furniture makers. However, they suffer from their lack of expertise when people begin to notice that they are not skillful.”

On the required start-up capital, Ajani says N250, 000 may be enough for anyone, who wishes to begin the venture, at least, on a small-scale basis.

He explains that the gains from the trade vary from place to place, depending on the location of operation, the maker’s negotiating ability, type of furniture work he is into, and most importantly, the profile of the furniture maker within the area.

“This work has a lot to do with one’s name and ability to deliver credible jobs.

If your customers confirm your work as good, you will get calls from them as well as other people, whom you don’t even know,” he says.

His advice is that those who wish to work as furniture makers should be dedicated and ensure that they pay attention to details required in the venture.

Ajani, who specialises in wooden furniture, says he has always been broadening his knowledge by learning how to use other materials to produce furniture.

He says, “The incursion of finished products from foreign countries is putting extra pressure and challenge on our wooden furniture. This underscores the need to learn more about the present and future dimensions to the trade. For instance, we now have tables that are made of glass, wardrobes that are made of steel, and chairs that are made of materials that are not wood.

“However, the good thing about wooden furniture, which is the reason most of us are still in business, is that furniture made of wood are stronger than some of new developments, including those products from overseas in most cases, he adds.”

Another furniture maker, Debowale Kazeem, spoke on the challenges of the trade, saying inadequate electricity supply has made the job tougher than expected.

Kazeem says electricity is important in powering some of the equipment used in furniture production.

According to him, 21st Century furniture making requires “brilliant wood finishing, excellent leather sewing and crisp polishing.”

19

‘Furniture making is no longer for drop-outs’

WHEN YOU DO A GOOD JOB FOR SOMEONE, AND THE PERSON IS HAPPY ABOUT IT, HE WILL GLADLY INTRODUCE YOU TO HIS OR HER FRIENDS WHO MAY NEED SUCH SERVICES AND THE REFERRAL GOES ON AND ON.

He says wood finishing, which is the process of protecting the surface of wooden materials, for instance, can only be done admirably by using a specialised machine.

“The process starts with surface preparation, and of course, furniture makers get the best from it when a specialized machine is used,” he says. Besides, he adds that getting supplies of good quality materials also poses a challenge to operators in the venture.

Though Kazeem says some of these material inputs are expensive, he, nevertheless, admits that the gains associated with the venture far outweigh the challenges.

He explains, “Creative furniture makers generate considerable revenue from the business. Interested people should not be deterred by the challenges because the gains easily rub off the pains. The innovations in the business are attracting increased patronage from clients, resulting in improved fortunes for furniture makers.”

The furniture expert, however, frowned on the importation of furniture from overseas, noting that furniture makers in the country are beginning to advance beyond what they were in the past.

In the same vein, he tasks existing and prospective furniture makers on the need

to try and learn from reputable individuals, as retraining programmes determine the level of brilliance displayed in jobs.

Another operator, Ademola Bolawole, who claims that he got into the business because of dreams dashed and has been into the business for over two decades, also affirms the former, stating that carpentry, auto repairs and other vocations were seen as for drop outs, as those who could not make it in academics are known.

However, the story is not the same anymore as there are several educated ones flocking into the business of furniture making.

Although he was not born with a silver spoon, Ademola quickly made the best of his life by learning the vocation since his dream to become a lawyer or an engineer was dashed because of lack of finance to further his education after his secondary education.

Despite being a very brilliant boy, he couldn’t go further for lack of finance.

At the age of 19 years, he came down to Lagos where he was apprenticed as a furniture maker and this has been his vocation ever since.

According to him “having a mastery of the job is very important and paying attention to all the little details. When you do a

good job for someone, and the person is happy about it, he will gladly introduce you to his or her friends who may need such services and the referral goes on and on. This is what helped me to get this far on the job,” he said.

“Furniture making business is quite a lucrative one that will never run out of season because one way or the other, people will need to change their furniture either at home or in the office. With this vocation I have been able to pay my bills as a family man, I feed well and do every necessary thing a man ought to do in life and I am happy. One can only hope for the best,” he enthused.

However, Ademola laments on the need for people in the business to keep learning more as the advent of technology had introduced a lot of new things and new designs and work tools are now available. Again the introduction of imported furniture is also another challenge that the business is faced with.

“A lot of offices and homes now opt for the imported furniture making the demand for the locally made furniture very low. But there are still some who cannot afford the luxury of the imported ones and that is where people like us are still relevant,” he said.

“Young ones should take their education seriously because it is the quickest way to unlock your success in life especially when seasoned with some good attributes like honesty, hard work, and good manners laced with lots of respects for the older ones. Before you know it, the sky will be your starting point” advised Ademola.

20

LIVING

May31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

How graduate scavenger turned waste to wealth An unemployed graduate rises above the challenge of securing gainful employment to re-invent himself

A

de Ogunbowale, a 31-year old graduate of Mechanical Engineering from one of the Nigeria’s universities has shared the story of how he made it as a scavenger. As is peculiar to many graduates roaming the streets, Ogunbowale could not secure a job after his B.Sc Degree and joined the legion of unemployed graduates three years ago.

According to him, he carved a niche for himself and became a scavenger at a dump site in Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos State.

Narrating the success story of how he makes a living for himself and sponsors his siblings, he said, “I pick up plastic bottles that litter the streets along my way as well as metals to make a living. Although, most people see the job as dirty, I am feeding my family from it”.

According to him, “There are several people the trade helps.

“Waste recycling is a business that if you decide to go into it today, you are sure of making money. The fun of it is that you might even decide to start now with nothing and still make more money from the business,” Ogunbowale said.

He explained further that, “most of the scavengers pick used materials at various dump sites and elsewhere.

They look out for objects that include glass, paper, metal, plastic, textiles and electronics.

“The materials are then taken to a collection centre where they are sorted, cleaned and reprocessed into materials bound for manufacturing,” he added.

“Recycling of such materials would produce fresh supply of the same material. For example, used office paper can be converted into a new office paper just as used polystyrene can be converted into making new polystyrene.

“But recycling of waste is just picking up in the country as a new business model and it surely offers lots of opportunity. For instance, one benefit of recycling is that it saves resources.

Also, to recycle waste is to simply reduce pollution. By recycling plastic material we can reduce air pollution as well as water pollution,” he said.

An Environmentalist, Michael Simire explained that turning waste to wealth is a very viable area common in other countries.

According to him, “waste needs to be managed effectively and it can also be a source of wealth if well handled.

A lot of projects have been embarked upon by these countries and they are using waste to wealth programme as their programmes under the United Nations Framework Convention on

I PICK UP PLASTIC BOTTLES AND METALS THAT LITTER THE STREETS ALONG MY WAY TO

MAKE A LIVING.

ALTHOUGH,

MOST PEOPLE SEE THE JOB

AS DIRTY,

I AM

FEEDING MY FAMILY FROM IT Scavangers at work

Climate Change, UNFCC’s theme development mechanism programmes.

“The UNFCCC is an international environmental treaty negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, known as the Earth Summit. I also understand that Lagos State Waste Management Authority, (LAWMA), has something similar that it is working on.”

He was hopeful that the country will soon join other developed countries in the area of turning waste to wealth. “I think, we will start from somewhere but I don’t think we have done so much in Nigeria. There is a project in Ikorodu whereby waste is turned to fertilizer by a particular company. The company seems to be doing something when it comes to recycling of waste,” Simire said.

He continued: “Our challenges could be how committed we are in handling such things. The question of sincerity should be put forward as regard such project. The technical know-how is another pressing issue to be addressed.

We should also be determined to make this project work. Discarded materials can contribute to local revenue, job creation, business expansion and the local economic growth.

“Recycling business generates employment and adds value to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country that wants to create wealth for its citizens.

“The collection of waste starts from the general waste stream through curbside collections by purpose-built waste collection vehicles, which moves the waste to the LAWMA Waste Bank. The waste is then sorted appropriately, for instance, plastic bank to contain a wide range of plastic wastes.

“Once the sorting is complete, the waste is moved into the recycling plant

I DESPERATELY NEED A WIFE BUT NO WOMAN HAS EVER AGREED TO MARRY ME BECAUSE OF

THE NATURE OF MY JOB.

I IMPREGNATED A GIRL

WITH THE AIM OF MARRYING HER BUT SHE RAN AWAY SAYING THAT SHE COULD NOT MARRY A

SCAVENGER.

SHE EVEN SAID SCAVENGERS ARE

NOT DIFFERENT FROM PIGS to be crushed and screened for substances that are unsuitable for processing.

Once cleared of unsuitable substances, the waste is then transferred by conveyor to the initial treatment vessel.

“As the business of recycling soars in Nigeria with more research going into the available materials for recycling in the country, some individuals and organisations are trying as much as possible to encourage Nigerians to ensure that recyclable wastes do not end up on the floor, fields, drainages and canals through indiscriminate disposal but contribute in generating incomes and adding value to people’s lives. For example, organisations like Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) and Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) are collaborating to create awareness on waste recycling and its economic benefits,” he added.

Also, Abubakar Abdul, another scavenger, said “I scavenge to feed my wife, six children.”

“The reason why I delved into the business is because I don’t have a job. As a poor man, there was no help from anywhere. I started scavenging since I was a bachelor and from the little money I’m making, I feed my family. It is not good if I sit at home doing nothing and allow hunger to destroy my family. I’m appeal-

ing to government to help us improve our living condition. Hunger is striking so hard despite all my efforts. I’ve a wife and six children and it is only from this picking of waste products that we feed.

Sometimes, we will not have food to eat just because there is no money.” he said.

Inspite of their resolve to make ends meet through this garbage business, the operators yet face societal stigmatisation amidst other unfriendly attitudes.

Narrating his ordeal, Abdul said people sometimes look at them as insane.

Wale Olofin, 30, said: “I started this business when I was 15 years old and since then, I’ve not recorded any tangible gain from it other than to feed. I desperately need a wife but no woman has ever agreed to marry me because of the nature of my job. I impregnated a girl with the aim of marrying her but she ran away with the notion that she can’t marry a scavenger. She even said we are not different from pigs,”Olofin lamented.

Narrating some of the hazards of the job, Olofin said: “On many occasions, I have been bitten by snakes, scorpions including ants; I have also sustained injuries on my legs at dumpsites caused by sharp objects but I do not relent because I have to feed to live.”

Entervaganza The Saturday Mirror Magazine

Relationships What’s wrong with a ‘sissy’ man?

p32

Fashion Ankara, trendier than ever

p28, 29

Sex talk

Ini

Text it to me dirty, baby!

...Baking in style

p32

22

ENTERVAGANZA

H

ow did music start for you?

Music is something that makes me happy when I’m listening to it and when I saw that people are entertained by it, it became a passion for me, and the passion grew until I started to fall in love with how different songs sounded. But I didn’t really know it would be something that would later form a big part of my entire existence.

You know, sometimes you just find yourself loving something subconsciously and before you know it, it has grown to become something that takes over your mind.

But was music the only thing you loved when you were growing up?

I also loved playing football and I still do. The fact is that I would have been a footballer if I wasn’t doing music today. But music happens to have grown in me that I couldn’t even think of anything else and after a while, I decided to stick to what my mind wanted.

How did you convince your parents about your choice of career?

There was not really anything to convince them about because I didn’t let them know in the first place because I was scared. But after a while, my mum who happens to be my number one fan, asked me if I was sure music was I wanted to do, and I said yes. So, she gave me her blessing.

My dad is a businessman and he’s always very busy. I didn’t really grow up with him because he was always on the road travelling here and there for one business or the other. But when he started seeing what I have been up to on TV and social media, he said he was happy that I am doing something for myself and he’s happy that I have gotten to this stage.

How did you get signed by Bugatti Records?

Record labels don’t just pick you up on the street. You must have done something that would have caught their attention. It all happened basically on the social media. When I drop songs, I put them online for people to listen and comment. And they heard one of my songs, Low Low, that I did in 2011 and they also linked up with some of my other songs that had been online before and contacted me.

Most artists break up with their labels, despite what the labels did to make them successful. Do we see a situation like that with you in future?

There is something they call loyalty. If you know where you are coming from, you would know where you are going to. There is this saying that you should never forget your roots.

People who discovered you, freshened you up and put you where you could not have seen yourself in a few years from now, you don’t pay them back with disloyalty. My contract is one that I believe will go beyond this phase. I signed a good deal and I am going to honour it.

May 31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

I was scared to tell my parents I wanted to do music –Sossi Sossi is the latest music sensation ensation in town. ustin Bieber was Like international singer Justin spotted online, Sossi was also spotted online by Bugatti Recordss when his song, ering tens of Low Low, went viral, garnering thousands of downloads. He tells OSEYIZA d principles.

OOGBODO his plans and The industry is very competitive.

Do you really have what it takes to compete?

I am not ready to compete with anybody. I just want to do my thing and be happy. I want the people to be happy when they see me.

What’s your next step?

We are working on my debut album and we just shot my video in Ghana with Aje Filmworks. The video is for my song, My Boo, and we are doing everything to make sure it blows worldwide.

How are you handling fame and girls? Are the girls throwing themselves at you?

I am just concentrating on my work.

I am not new to fame and I’ve never allowed it to get into my head for one minute. And as regards girls, I will like to say music is my life right now, not women. I don’t have time for them now. I will handle them at the right time.

What’s your strongest point musically?

It’s my voice. It’s never disappointed me, and I know it will still take me to places I’ve only dreamed of.

You’re a Unilag student. But many successful artists like you dropped out of school. Will you do the same?

I won’t pull out of school for anything. I am in my third year and I am almost done, so why should I drop out?

I can’t trade my education for anything. School and music are two different things, and what I do is manage my time very well, because there is a time for class, test and all that and there is a time for music. My parents won’t even allow me to drop out and I even won’t drop out because it would be a waste of the time I’ve already put into my education if I do.

y t i r b e l e C

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

23

May 31, 2014

Tiwa Savage’s Wanted music video controversy It is tart –Charles Novia Leave her alone –Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi I’m okay with her sexiness –Husband

Nov o ia Novia

I

Savage Sav age g

INSET: INSET: Savage Savag Sa vag ge and and husband, husban hus band ban d, Tunji d, Tunji j

Ini Edo disappoints fans ... becomes bread seller

A

-list actress Ini Edo has gone into a business that has caught everyone by surprise: baking.

While having multiple streams of income is the in-thing nowadays, the fact that Edo has gone into the business of making and selling bread and other pastries is a surprise to many people and a disappoint to many of her fans because glamorous actresses like her are expected to go into the fashion business if they must have another source of income.

For instance, just last week, Bisi Ibidapo-Obe opened her boutique, following in the footsteps of Chika Ike, Lizzy Anjorin and many others who have done so since.

Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if Edo can sustain her baking outfit known as Ini Delicious.

Ragamuffin singer Daniel Wilson who was into it before her, couldn’t, and Kokoroko singer Kefee who went into a related business, restaurant proprietorship, couldn’t sustain it as well.

t seems se it’s it’ nott for f nothing thi that th t sexy singer Tiwa Savage studied music busisin ness at one of the greatest music schools nes in the world, Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of B t America.

At this point in time that she has become the most-talked-about and most demanded female singer in the country, it is obvious that what she was taught in those class upon class of music business is paying off her.

Right now, she is in the news again massively with her latest music video, Wanted, which is spreading fast because of its extremely sexy plot and costume.

Without a doubt, Savage uses the sexy strategy to make her brand connect with the public. But while it works very well for her, it doesn’t for many of her competitors.

But like a coin that has two sides, her sexy approach helps her and puts her in trouble at the same time. Since she got married earlier this year, it has been expected that she

Gbemi Gbe G bemi

would ease off on her sex strategy. She hasn’t however, dancing raunchily with a male fan on stage and now dropping the extremely sexy Wanted video which has gotten even celebrities attacking and supporting her.

Movie producer Charles Novia who keeps commenting on entertainment issues to keep himself visible to the public nowadays came out to describe the video as tart but on-air personality Gbemi Olater-Olagbegi jumped to her defence, saying she should be left alone and that if people like Beyonce and Shakira’s sexy videos, then they should like hers.

Meanwhile, her husband, Tunji Balogun, who is also her manager, has praised her for her sexiness, describing the Wanted video as a work of art. So those who keep criticising her for being sexy despite being married should know that her husband is okay with it and stop berating her on his behalf.

Sefiya too goes the sexy way

P

romising singer Sefiya is leaving no stones unturned in her bid to become as musically successful as Omawumi, Tiwa Savage, Waje and the other established female singers out there now.

Even as her latest music video, Lollipop, continues to spread through aggressive promotion, she has taken the step female singers are taking now to help their brands become visible.

She has opted for the sexy route and released several sexy pictures during the week. The pictures went viral immediately and generated more interest in her brand.

So if you start hearing more and more of her, don’t be surprised, as she is one determined lady who is ready to do all she

can and that she has to to attain genuine stardom.

Sefiya

24

May 31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CLASSICAL LYRICS

E-NEWS

Mother, then 12-year-old daughter, win N1m on WWTBAM

Orevaoghene

O

ne family that is happy with the popular game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, is the Omanufemes. Three years ago, Mrs Ebere Omanufeme, a teacher cum trader, won N1m on the show, and now, her daughter, Orevaoghene, who is a chip off

Ebere

the old block, has also won N1m on the WWTBAM Children’s Special edition to commemorate Children’s Day which was last Tuesday.

Speaking after her life changing win, Orevaoghene, a 12-year-old JS 2 student of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary

School, Yaba, Lagos, said, “When I first got the call from the producers of WWTBAM, I was anxious to go there because I needed to get money for my education and needed to be popular.

“Then for fastest finger first, the first test I had to pass, I thought I would not make it but I came out first in 5.56secs and got on the hot seat to play for N10m.

On the hot seat I was tensed up, I was feeling anxious to win much money.

When I got to the N2m question, I was not too sure, even after I called my uncle.

I thought I would fail because I was not really sure but I called my uncle and I got N1m. The least that I wanted to get was N1m and I got it.”

Advising children, she said, “Children like me, try to be reading. Read wide. If you read, you will pass. If you don’t read, you won’t pass, and you won’t win money for scholarships. That’s my advice to you.”

Speaking as well, the mother said, “I was also on the programme some three years ago and I won N1m too. It was a beautiful experience to be in the hot seat and get questions from the popular Frank Edoho. It was just cool. The N1m part was the coolest though. I used the money for different stuffs, turned it over and over again. It was good business.”

I’m the best music producer –Smoothkiss F

Smoothkiss

ast-rising music producer, Smoothkiss, has told E-News producer in that he is the best pro intends to take the country and that he inten his game to the internatio international stage.

Speaking with E-News over weekend, the Smoothkiss said, “I’m not in music production pr to make up the numbers.

I’m numbe the b best and I in intend to prove prov that to the world in the nearest future.” fut A c c o rd ing in to him, he is sure that he th will soon w be rated b in the i music inm dustry as d the very t best beb cause he has the support of Bugatti Re-

cords, the most promising record label in the country presently.

“My mission as a music producer is to be the best. But to achieve your mission most times, you need the right people backing you up, and that’s what Bugatti Records is doing for me. They have given me the necessary packaging I need to be able to become the best. Before I hooked up with Bugatti, I knew I could be the best, but now I’m with Bugatti, I’m sure I’ll be.”

Speaking further on his relationship with Bugatti, he said, “Bugatti signed me as an artist-producer. That’s why my latest song, Dalubole, is blowing fast now.

Bugatti is the magic behind its success.”

And on if he can successfully be an artist and producer at the same time, he was brash still. “Why not? I have the necessary talent to be a successful artistproducer. I’ve been in music since I was a little boy drumming in the church, so I know music, and my music knowledge is really helping me. As an artist, my voice and my lyrics will work for me, as I’ve proven through Dalubole and the many other songs I will still release, and as a producer, whenever I want to produce a song, I’ve listened and listen to a wide range of songs and I therefore produce songs based on the sort of songs they are, so I will do well in both of them at the same time.”

Savage

Wanted Artist: Tiwa Savage Intro Go Verse 1 My heart is beating Cos they looking for me And I can hear them screaming … yea ah, yea ah And I admit I was there But didn’t mean you should fall Cos when it started too bad I left him there Hook It was like a gun in my hand Killing him slow while I’m shake, shaking it I didn’t wanna do it cos I know Out in the street they call it murder Chorus Hmmm, by the way nothing you fit do Said by the way, nothing you fit do Cos by the way, I’m better than you That’s why I’m wanted That’s why I’m wanted Hmmm, by the way nothing you fit do Said by the way, nothing you fit do Cos by the way, I’m better than you That’s why I’m wanted That’s why I’m wanted That’s why you want it Verse 2 You got my number call me Make I yarn you something And if you ready for it He fell real quick Repeat hook Chorus Interlude Oh wu oh oh (3x) Repeat hook Chorus Adlibs (2x) See now I’m wanted by you That’s why I’m wanted And now he wants me too That’s why I’m wanted See I’m wanted by you That’s why I’m wanted That’s why I’m wanted That’s why he wants it

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

25

May 31, 2014

E-NEWS

Are these artists being subtly suppressed by their mentors?

T Wande Coal Sina Rambo

B-Red

May D

Harry Song

here is no doubt that Kcee and Harrysong have been beneficial to each other. Harrysong it was who composed Limpopo that Kcee recorded to tremendous success. And in appreciation, Kcee signed him to his record label, Five Star Music, and takes him around to his shows and other engagements and he has thereby enjoyed the sort of popularity he hasn’t since he’s been in music.

But being on the same label and competitors as well is definitely testing their relationship. Harrysong has always been deemed to be promising. He’s a producer, songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist and voice coach. Proof that greatness resides in him is that he penned the monster hit, Limpopo, the implication of which is that he can write another successful song like Limpopo.

Being responsible for Kcee’s success, there is also the implication that he can eventually be more successful than Kcee whom has always been criticised as not being a really good musician and only earned some little music respect courtesy of Limpopo.

So, as things stand right now, Kcee is subtly suppressing Harrysong.

Though they are on the same label, Harrysong is not getting the treatment Kcee does. It wouldn’t be really inappropriate therefore to say that Kcee is scared of packaging Harrysong in the right manner so that he doesn’t outshine him consequently.

They are not the first artists to be in this unhealthy situation, though.

As a matter of fact, it’s one of the common trends in the music industry: established artists suppressing promising artists on their labels so the promising ones don’t become more popular than them.

Another case like that which the spotlight focused on for some time was that of D’Banj and Wande Coal while they were still on the defunct Mo’Hits Records.

Not only was D’Banj Mo’ Hits biggest artist, he was also co-owner of the label and it is believed that Coal’s seeming inability to release his sophomore album two years after his highly successful 2008 debut, Mushin 2 Mo’ Hits, was because D’Banj was against it.

Accepted that D’Banj was established and recognised, Coal was however coming up so fast that his success could have consumed D’Banj and the successful release of his sophomore album then might have made that come to pass so D’Banj is believed to have blocked its release.

Now that D’Banj and Coal are no longer on the same label, his younger brother, Kayswitch who is on his new label, DB Records, is believed to be feeling the suppression antics.

It is generally accepted that Kayswitch is a bundle of talents and that he is even more talented than D’Banj. However, D’Banj is in control and the decisions he is taking are those that will keep Kayswitch in his shadow.

Accepted, he is Kayswitch’s mentor and Kayswitch is popular today because of D’Banj’s influence and efforts. However, it has gotten to the point whereby Kayswitch should have released his debut album. There is no word on that, however, and Kayswitch will remain in D’Banj’s shadow until his album frees him.

Another popular recent example involves P-Square and May D. One day, they announced that they had signed May D to their Square Records, featured him on their hit track, Chop My Money, featured him in the video of the remix with Akon and then one day, they suddenly announced that they had dropped him unceremoniously from Square Records.

There was however no concrete reason given for dropping him. Later, their manager, Jude Okoye, said they had to let him go because he wanted to be more successful than P-Square, thereby confirming that PSquare began to see him as a threat to them due to his rising popularity and success courtesy of their influence.

Still another example is Skelewu singer, Davido, and his cousins, B-Red and Sina Rambo, that he signed to his label, HKN Music. He hasn’t really made much effort to promote their careers and even works against them by releasing songs when they do so that the public focus still ends up on him.

The bottomline is that artists stay successful when they don’t have really serious competition. And if an artist faces serious competition from an artist he can suppress, you can bet that he will. And when that becomes the case, the suppressed artist will start fighting for his right and might even leave the label.

May D is doing well on his own, likewise Wande Coal, and B-Red and Sina Rambo are believed to have threatened Davido last year that they want to leave his label.

26

May 31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Celebrity kidney failure latest

President Jonathan forwards N10m to Chike Bryan

C

elebrities suffering kidney failure have been in the news massively since last year. This year already, the actor, Chris Nkulor, has died from it, leaving his colleagues, Pa Kasumu and Chike Bryan, as the two celebrities who are publicly known to still be in the grip of the deadly ailment.

Of these two, though, Bryan has been able to get a lifeline as President Goodluck Jonathan has given him N10m to enable him get the necessary medical intervention.

Jonathan’s reaching out to Bryan was facilitated by the President, Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ibinabo Fiberesima, and she has since presented him with the cheque at his Ijegun, Lagos residence.

Now that Bryan has been able to hurdle the financial obstacle which is always the major problem of every celebrity kidney failure case, we hope Pa Kasumu too will soon be able to hurdle his.

Chukwurah

AGN presidency war latest

Bryan

Yvonne Nelson sad over bleaching allegations

A

Nelson

Fiberesima

-list Ghanaian actress, Yvonne Nelson, has come out to disclose that allegations she is bleaching her skin make her sad.

The dark-skinned actress, who has been appearing light-skinned in recent pictures, said she isn’t bleaching her skin and that camera flashlight when pictures are taken of her is what makes her skin seem light.

Nelson is not the only celebrity to have been accused of bleaching quite recently. Actresses Thelma O’Khaz and Juliet Ibrahim and singers Cynthia Morgan and Dencia have also been accused and they all denied it.

Actress Tonto Dike however was bold to say that she bleaches, that she doesn’t see a big deal in it, and it’s her skin so she can do what she likes with it.

Clarion Chukwurah loses ground ... as Ibinabo Fiberesima gets more supporters

T

he war between Ibinabo Fiberesima, President, Actors Guild of Nigeria AGN) and presidential hopeful, Clarion Chukwurah, continues to spring new surprises every day.

The most surprising of all is that since Chukwurah labelled Fiberesima an ex-convict in order to aid her own chances of becoming the president, Fiberesima has begun to receive more support across board and against Chukwurah’s expectations.

A group calling itself AGN Youths has pledged its support to Fiberesima, saying, “We pledge our solidarity and loyalty to our MAMA, Ibinabo Feberesima.

In just two years, she has changed AGN for the better and in the next two years,

AGN will be the best (under Fiberesima’s continued leadership). God will continue to give you strength, wisdom and shame your enemies. We know you are not a convict but a change agent.”

In the same vein, Emma Ogugua, an AGN Board of Trustees member, has issued a statement in Ibinabo’s support, saying, “This is to WARN all those using my name to fight Ibinabo to STOP immediately. I am in full support of her. Don’t use my name again. Be warned.”

Meanwhile, Fiberesima has come out to deny being the ex-convict she was tagged by Chukwurah. According to her, she was indeed charged to court, but she is appealing.

Funke Akindele battles racism

J

enifa star, Funke Akindele, is set to tackle another of the world’s thorny issues: racism.

Along with her colleagues, Carol King, Osas Ighodaro, Matilda Obaseki, Oreka Godis, Diana Yekinni and Ade Laoye, she will star in a stage production of For Coloured Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow is Enuf.

The titles of these productions speak volumes about their messages.

An international franchise, FCO first came to Nigeria in December 2011 and it returns again to be staged in two weeks time at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos courtesy of Flytime Promotions in conjunction with the award-winning Nigerian playwright and stage director, Wole Oguntokun.

L-R: Laoye, Godis, Obaseki, King, Akindele, Ighodaro, Yekinni

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le StyGlam and

with Yemisi Adeniran

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May 31, 2014

Demure Indulgence by

House of Dorcas

(08037801158) ydiran@yahoo.com

I

f you are a conventional woman who loves to appear classy and beautiful at the same time, you will need to connect with this particular collection. Tagged Demure Indulgence by House of Dorcas fashion label, it is a bundle of colourful pieces running with the wind with cool colours, ruffles, tassels and sailor inspired fabrics. Classy and beautiful, the pieces in the collection are laden with whites, cool blues, bright reds and yellows to accentuate the subtle fearlessness in every woman. They are adaptable for both formal and informal events. The models here show how to dorn them.

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STYLE & GLAM

May 31, 2014

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Fashion Frenzy

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May 31, 2014

trendier than ever T

oday‛s fashion, especially where the Ankara fabric is concerned, is more than what anyone can imagine.

Far beyond what many designers have made out of it, the fabric is daily coming up with different styles for ladies of styles especially. Literarily rich in the African heritage, the Ankara fabric is friendly with almost other fabrics such that you can embellish and further accentuate it by the use of velvets, damask, silks, guipure, even lace fabrics. Gold and silver adorned by royalty are also used in trimmings and embroidery.

Beyond the common dresses of beautiful styles are jackets and other tops of sophisticated designs. But because most of the time, the Ankara fabric is patterned, it is important that the wearer takes caution on the accessories to go with it. To play safe, plain accessories are the best bet for the ankara fabric. You can ensure glamour by combining with a sharp and contrasting colour.

STYLE & GLAM

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STYLE & GLAM

Fashion Guest

May 31, 2014

Interior Glamour

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08038406671 , 07067730374 luxuryease@live.com

with Bukola Lepe

‘Elegance is all about creativity

Ms. Evelyn Oputu is the Managing Director of Bank of Industry.

The stylish executive spoke with YEMISI ADENIRAN on her take on style and taste. Excerpts:

Y

ou stand out in style in spite of your busy schedule. le. What‘s the secret behind this?

Let’s have it at the e back of our minds that God is the only one ne who makes things happen and possible.. If anyone has anything, assets or attributes butes that people can see and acknowledge, e, it is God that has given it to the person. If you ou are said to be beautiful, brilliant, rich orr good at anything, just know that you are just being blessed. Those who didn’t have those attributes are just not being privileged, it is not as if they don’t want it. So, o, it cannot be by anyone’ s power.

If you have a favourable urable stature, just know that at you are just blessed, it is not that you have done something special.

Are you saying ng one cannot work specially ally towards an admirable e look?

Of course it is possible, ossible, but what I am saying ying is even when you work and it becomes glaring to people around you, just believe lieve that it has been allowed wed by divine luck because use there are many out ut there who had worked ed so hard but had no fruitruitfulness.

What do you have ave to say about one’s e’s style and personalality?

I would say it iss about one’s creativity, one’s style and taste. A person’s style is the person indeed. It is how the person perceived life and his or her environment. It is the level of that person’s creativity. It reveals some deep things about the person, whether he or she is simple or complicated. It is about you, about the e individual.

How do you make a guy’s bedroom interesting?

M

y friends and I constantly argue about who has the most untidy rooms between ladies and guys. After one particularly long and noisy session, we concluded that really unorganised guys have the dirtiest, near inhabitable rooms and that you can easily tell what a guy’s room might look like just from his appearance while the reverse is the case with ladies.

Most ladies care about how their rooms look. It’s almost factored by the constant rivalry and competitive nature which they have. But guys on the other hand are indifferent. Most guys begin to bother only when they have a steady means of decent income or are seeing a lady in that position.

Unlike guys, It is almost impossible to determine what a lady’ bedroom would look like just by how she looks.

Men tend have an almost monotonous routine with design: whites, blues or greys, hard wood, leather and gadgets hanging almost anywhere.

For ladies, you find more of pinks, purples, reds and soft accessory touches.

So how do we make a guy’s bedroom more interesting?

Here are the factors to consider: Communicate your lifestyle: If you have a very rigorous routine , such as working very late or taking night shifts, having a cozy, dimmed room will enable you have good sleep during the day.

Having black out curtains or blinds would help control light that you do not need .

If you are single, how long do you intend to live alone? Having a cold looking room with very uncomfortable features

can be very disturbing for adaptation by someone else. Even if you are married, the aesthetics in your bedroom should not be unilaterally decided . Make provisions for things you assume you do not need ( you know what I mean) full length mirrors, fragrance diffusers, sockets for curling irons(yes, you heard me right!)

I used to have a friend who slept on his duvet until he was able to afford for himself an orthopedic mattress. An orthopedic mattress can’t be suitable for everyone but you can make findings about what mattress is most suitable for your body type. A good sleep can guarantee a lot of good things; a healthier you, better productivity at work among others.

One of the greatest achievements in bedroom design for me is taking it to that point where it can be your stay- in place for a whole day. You can achieve this by ‘planting’ the best audio visuals money can buy. Smart TV( if you can afford it) , Bang and Olufsen equipments , gaming consoles, etc. Built in wall systems, media theatre and TVs that drop from the ceiling are all worth considering.

A guy wants everything in his space to be functional, or else, he considers them unnecessary . Sockets in most corners, a nice recliner, an occasional chair, bedside drawers, diffuser bottles, lamp shades, microfiber pillows and duvets, bedside rug are all aesthetic pieces that still offer their own unique individual functionalities.

Depending on how much space you have, you can display stuff you collect on the walls or floor; guitars, books, plagues etc. Be careful with space management too, so they don’t appear cluttered.

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May 31, 2014

Male Essentials Grooming your hands 08036961187

with Oseyiza Oogbodo kingseiza@gmail.com w

B

eing fashionable isn’t all about clothing. It’s a complete package comprising a stylish wardrobe, well-groomed hair and nice hands.

Whether your hands are more active or unscathed, every type of hand requires a little more attention, as hands connote cleanliness and a healthy image.

The pampering of hands and nails is still widely associated with women, yet more and more sophisticated men are starting to take care of their hands and overall image. Here are a few tips on how to take care of your hands and nails.

Smoothen hands Most individuals that work with their hands (typing on a computer does not really qualify) end up having rough or chapped hands. To smoothen your hands, try dipping them in one of these blends. . The simplest way to get rid of the roughness in your hands is to massage them with vegetable oil once a week, or after each day of intense manual labour. . A more complex and effective mix is to use a blend of lemon juice and rose water in fresh butter. Rub down your hands for extra smoothness. Many gymnasts use this ‘lotion’ to smoothen their hands after a hard workout. . To get rid of darkness on finger joints, use a mixture of lemon juice in barley powder. It is recommended to do this twice a month. . Most men who train with weights will start getting callous joints and dry skin in the palm of their hands. A great way to get rid of these imperfections is to soak your hands in soap water for five minutes and let them dry for two minutes. Then, remove the dead skin with a sponge. . If none of the aforementioned solutions work to smoothen your hands, try a more scientific mix. Mix one tea spoon of glycerine, one of lemon juice and 5 drops of rose water and store it in a bottle. Massage hands in this oil for approximately 30 minutes, and repeat as needed. . Cucumbers are also known for their smoothening characteristics.

Mash a cucumber and massage your hands with the mixture. After ten minutes, wash off the mash and repeat if needed.

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Side note As a side note (this is not for your hands), if your elbows are dark and hard, mix glycerine with lemon juice and apply on the proper area. This will smoothen your elbows and remove the darkness in the skin.

Also, make sure your nails look clean.

Polish them The most important part art of your hand are your nails, simply because ecause they are the most noticeable. Here are simple ways to keep your nails strong and healthy.

When nails break easily, asily, il it i usually ll means you’re lacking calcium. cium. um. T Therefore, take calcium supplements nts or eat foods nt rich in calcium. This should ould be enough to strengthen your nails ls and avoid frequent breakage.

When nails are pale, the he secret is to rub them with h a piece of lemon. The chemical composition of the lemon juice should progressively replenish the colour of your nails.

If nails lack lustre, try delicately massagsome heating ing g so h oil on nails to your nail to give them shine. a nice sh hiin hi ne. Again, an this is a n ongoing o process that th hat might might take a few w weeks wee eek eks before you u notice e any results.

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Relationships

What’s wrong with T

Nothing!

he question to me seems to be really like asking if a man should be in touch with his feminine side. He doesn’t have to be gay or really feminine. I believe he could just know what style is, and want to look good. He will definitely be a man of style and someone who is sensitive to his environment and his partner. He will be someone who would be seriously domesticated and who will not see anything wrong in cleaning the house, going to the market and even cooking meals. He would definitely not see anything wrong in washing his own clothes and that of his partner if there is a need to do so. He will not be shy to show that he can do all the things a woman can also do in the house. For him, there may not be that macho swagger in his walk and manner of talking.

He will be someone who speaks in soft words and not brashly or aggressively.

Effeminacy according to different authoritative sources online and offline describes traits in a human male that are more often associated with feminine nature, behaviour, mannerisms, style or gender roles rather than masculine nature, behaviour, mannerisms, style or roles. It is a term frequently applied to womanly behavior, demeanor, style and appearance displayed by a male, typically used implying criticism or ridicule of this behaviour (as opposed to, for example, merely describing a male as feminine, which can be non-judgmental). The term effeminate is most often used by people who subscribe to the widespread view that males should display masculine traits and behaviours. Generally, the description is applied to individuals, but may be used to describe entire societies as an inflammatory allegation.

In most cultures, effeminacy is traditionally considered as a vice or a weakness indicative of other negative character traits and often involving a negative insinuation of homosexual tendencies or sexual passivity. The definition of what constitutes effeminate behavior varies greatly depending on the social and cultural context, as well as on the time period. While some effeminate behavior evokes stereotypical impressions of homosexuality in some people, others may simply view the behavior as unmanly without questioning the sexual orientation of the person in question. Examples of behavior noncompliant with conventional masculinity have included and are not limited to; Interest in women’s fashion; effusive emotional expressions; cross-

dressing or use of makeup and finally, exhibition of feminine mannerisms.

These examples have changed over time and will always vary depending on different contextual factors. During the Enlightenment period in Europe, fashion prescribed stockings, elaborate knee-length robes and long wigs for men, things that would most certainly be considered unacceptable for men and women in contemporary society these days. A “real” man of this time was to be skilled in armed combat and knowledgeable of literature and art, among other things while also being skilled in the art of speaking. It was more of mixing the modern masculine and feminine ideals together at the same time. In Africa too, the warriors of ancient empires like Oyo used to plait their hair. Some adherents of certain traditional religions also wore and still wear skirts with female hairdos which are seen by contemporary society as feminine.

Looking at all these scenarios, it is obvious that there is a misconception between being effeminate and being gay which is a sexual orientation. A man can be effeminate and not be gay.

This is not to say that we don’t have gay men who are effeminate but the funny thing is that there are a lot of men who exhibit alpha males characters too but have been confirmed to have sexual orientations that is homosexual in nature.

Well, until a few years ago i’d say no way would I support a man being effeminate because I was taught by contemporary society that a man should be aggressive and loud to be considered masculine and I always believed in the alpha male swagger.

However, with what I know about effeminacy and the idea of homosexuality, I will say that to an extent there is nothing wrong with a man being in touch with his feminine side. An effeminate man stresses over wardrobe and actually knows what to wear for any occasion. He isn’t afraid of colour and even coordinates his outdoor coat with his outfit. He is a man who loves attending musicals and plays, loves to cook and bake and he dances when the mood hits him no matter where that is and he shows his insecurities like a woman would. I find that endearing in a guy. Now don’t get me wrong because a man must have his ‘manly’ side also and he must be playful and aggressive about life too as hell. For me, a real man must exhibit the perfect balance of manly and feminine to be complete.

SEX TALK

This column is x-rated

Text it to me dirty, baby!  How to flirt with text messaging The idea of sending your lover a sexy text can be quite exciting. It also doesn’t hurt knowing that the little ding of the cell phone text could alert your lover while s/he’s in a meeting, in class, or somewhere else. No matter where s/he is, s/he can get your message -- loud and clear.

There are so many benefits to sending sweet or naughty text messages.

For starters, they are a great way to keep the spice in your relationship and serve as a thoughtful reminder when received unexpectedly. If you want to let your partner know what you’re thinking but have a hard time saying it, the text will do it for you!

Likewise, if you’ve just started dating and you’re ready to move your relationship to that next level, a flirty text will certainly have him/her intrigued and wanting more. But the best reason to send them is that they are safe and fun.

How 2 sext Depending on what type of phone you have, you may run into the issue of having limited characters to say what you want over a text.

But you don’t have to over-complicate things. When it comes to texting,

less is more. You’re not writing a novel, but just delivering a fun, sexy hello.

Check out these 10 ideas below for short abbreviated texts that definitely get the message across!

1. u look hot 2day 2. hey baby 3.

I want to touch u 4. wanna come play?

5. thinking bout u right now 6. what r u wearing?

7. cnt wait 2 c u 8. thx 4 lst nite 9. guess what im wearing 10. u r so sxy If you and your special someone are in a long distance relationship, here are a few sexy text message ideas to send.

• Even though we are apart, my love 4 you will never part.

• Hand in hand and heart to heart my love for you shall never part.

• 1000 miles away and you are still right here in my heart • I’d walk a thousand miles to touch you tonight • I can’t wait to be in your arms again • Can’t get you out of my

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RELATIONSHIPS

May 31, 2014

33

a ‘sissy’ man?

FUNMI COKER 08139350223 dainty31.fc@gmail.com

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This column is x-rated head • The best is yet to come • My dream come true would be waking up next to you • Being away from you is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do If you are a romantic at heart and just want to send the occasional text to remind your loved one that he or she is on your mind, try one of these heart-warming romantic text message ideas.

• In case you didn’t know, I’ll be loving you always and forever!

• Loving you has been the best thing to ever happen to me!

• Your love is all I’ll ever need.

• You are the centre of my world. And for that, I am thankful each day.

• Even though we are apart, my love 4 you will never part.

• You are on my mind now and always.

• I love you more with each passing day.

Essentials of sexting

humour.

1 Use This is your chance to compose

some of your best one-liners without being under pressure. S/he’s not staring at you while you try to come up with something funny, and you can take all the time you need.

This column is x-rated So charm him by making him/her laugh out loud. bold.

2 Be After you’ve

exchanged some witty banter and impressed him/ her with your sense of humour, be bold and ask him out via text message. It can be a super-casual date, like grabbing a drink or catching a movie, but the point is that you can go from flirty repartee to setting up a date -- all with the push of a few buttons on your phone.

drink & text. (‘I drunk 3thatDon’t I’m not swear’) As much fun as flirty texting can be, don’t do it while inebriated. If you’ve developed a great rapport with a guy/gal you think is cute, the last thing you want to do is mess it all up by sending him/her a series of drunken texts. Sure, texting gets tempting when you’ve got a buzz on, but make sure you have a friend ready to stop you if you get the urge after you’ve had a few.

4

Don’t wait too long between texts.

Don’t overwhelm him/her, but don’t make him/her to think you forgot about him/her, either. Wait no longer than 24 hours between texts to maintain the momentum of the text conversation and show him/her that you’re still interested.

Is he gay?

hat is so reprehensible about effeminate men?

Why is it such an unwanted behavior for a man to exhibit a slight bend in the hand, an appreciation for fashion and style, or to act like a lady around the house?

The hierarchy within the Nigerian family is pretty firm, even in the single mother households and alternative structures. To a man, adopting the role of a woman is a little demeaning from being the head of household except of course he is a single father, because the traditional role of women is to keep the home and care for children. The male figure is the decision maker, often the breadwinner. As such, a man that exhibits female traits is often thought of as one who will be dominated by a man, cannot and will not make decisions, is frail and easily oppressed, besides most effeminate men tend to be homosexual.

Men are revered in our society, sociologically, we look for the presence of a man to judge if a particular family unit is strong and intact, and could a man do this if he has feminine qualities?

Effeminacy in men is without doubt associated with homosexuality. Certainly not all homosexual men give evidence of these characteristics, and some effeminate men are not homosexual, but the traits are common enough to create almost universally recognized stereotypes.

As a man, you have to command authority and gain the respect of the people around you. To gain respect, you have to prove that you’re hardworking and a “tough cookie”.

Most definitions for “effeminate” are based on culturally defined criteria, such as clothing styles, hair length, or mannerisms, such as a high-pitched voice, limp wrists, or an upper class accent. But the Bible must be talking about something more universal than that. Certainly God is not going to gauge eligibility for heaven on a person’s testosterone level, or on what clothes they wear.

This whole subject of being “effeminate” needs to start with a look at what it means to be “masculine” or “feminine” in the biblical sense.

The Bible tells us, for example, that “there is neither male nor female in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) At the same time, it uses what has been

called “sexist language” almost exclusively, referring to all “people” as “men”, and occasionally even (as in the reference above) attaching a negative value to feminine traits.

I will tell you a story about an effeminate man who was asked to leave the church at a morning service. Some church members claimed to have been disturbed by the presence of an effeminate man during Sunday’s service. The Deacon said his high pitched singing and lengthy, peculiar handshakes during greeting time left them feeling a bit uneasy, so the Pastor interrupted the service in the middle of

his sermon and had the man forcibly removed. When things were settled, the congregation learned that the gentleman was holding eye-contact and pursing his lips at Associate Pastor for nearly 15 minutes. The Pastor mentioned this to the Deacon who began observing the man during the first part of his sermon. The Pastor told the congregation that it was a judgment call that just had to be made. Then he said “I don’t know how the ‘riff-raff ’ gets in here, but somehow they do, and it’s our duty to remove these abominations from the sight of God.” The Pastor noted later that ushers should have known there was going to be trouble after the man insisted on giving a Brother a Hardwick a hug. After the service, in Fellowship hall, church authorities learned that one parishioner was ‘sickened unto the point of nausea’ after shaking hands with the man. He had to run off and find a quiet place to vomit. The effeminate man was escorted out of church, and led to his car by security officers wearing rubber gloves. But matters were further complicated when the effeminate man started flailing his wrists and yapping at church Deacons.

Deacons were forced to stuff the lisping Nancy-man into the trunk of one of Landover police cars. He was asked to leave and never come back. Church members were questioned about the man and not one person knew where he came from.

Even if he did not cause any trouble, his appearance and the fact that he is effeminate already has.

Like I said before, an effeminate man would only be associated with a homosexual.

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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Woman

your career and home. What’s the secret?

Well, God it is and my determination to make both work. If a woman is determined to make something work, especially marriage; it will surely work. And if one is also lucky to have a supportive husband, it will simply become easier. This applies to all kinds of job and not just acting. Career women need the assistance of their husbands otherwise, they won’t go far. There must be an agreement between the two and there must also be trust.

It is when trust is lacking that we have marriages collapse even before they were made. I am grateful to God that I have a trustworthy husband who has seen me this far. We are like twins. I enjoy peace at home and even at work. Besides, I don’t over assume and over estimate myself. I am contented with what and where I am and I am grateful. I don’t hide anything from my husband and he doesn’t hide things from me too. I think all these have come together to help me.

What are some of the challenges you face on the job?

The challenges we have in the movie industry lies more in the script. I just believe that any role or script given to me must be well interpreted.

‘Women need the support of their husbands’ Although actress Keji Yusuf has been acting for two decades now, acting, for her is not a do or die affair. She spoke with YEMISI ADENIRAN on why this is so and the journey so far.

Y

ou celebrated your 20 years on stage recently. What do you have to say on the journey so far?

So far, I would say, it has been wonderful. God has been good, the job has been fair unto me, so also are the people in the industry, even my fans. God has ensured my existence up till now, He has ensured my progression, my success in the industry.

He has made me relevant even with the little I have contributed. So many people that we started at the same time together have died, some have fallen off the cadre, they are no longer relevant today. Some

have bitter stories of losing their husbands and kids to death and some other negative circumstances, but mine is not like that. This is why I believe it is important for me to celebrate it. It is worthy of being celebrated.

You studied Catering and Hotel Management, how come you are able to excel this much in acting?

I love acting and I have so many things in me that I want to do. I love to impact positively on people’s lives and I guess acting is one way by which I can do this. My utmost desire is to go into peoples’ homes through the roles that I play.

I want them to get to know some certain facts about life and all these I do through the roles that I play from time to time.

You are married to a retired colonel in the army and you have been able to keep both

But you play motherly roles most of the time?

It still needs expertise. If I don’t do them well, they wouldn’t be giving them to me. Besides, that is not the only role I can play. I can play other ones too. Whatever I’m being given, I make sure that I go through my script well. I must emphasise here that I’m not a stereotyped actress. Though I act motherly roles, they are different in terms of interpretation. For instance, in a particular film, I can decide to act a village mother, in another script, it could be a city mother so I’m not stereotyped in any way.

At times, I do act the role of an aunt and to the best of my knowledge, my fans have not complained in any way, so I think I’m on the right track.

Would you then say you are fulfilled as an actress?

Yes, I am and I thank God for that.

If it has not been acting, what would you say it would have been?

If I had not gone into the movie industry, I would have been a singer.

Really, that means you must have a very good voice?

(Chuckles) I love singing How would you describe yourself ?

I like people who are faithful and godly-minded.

I hate people who are not natural, people who pretend. So, I hate pretenders a lot. If I like you, I want you to be who you are and stay truthful and faithful.

Can you recall the movie that brought you into limelight?

There are a lot of them but I’d say that it was Ologbo Iya Ijebu that has brought me fame and that was some three years back. Different people know me by different titles of films.

What made this particular film unique?

What made it unique was that the film was based on me; the story was made for me from the beginning till the end, so it was very easy for me to translate the role. People thought that I wouldn’t be able to translate that role well.

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But why?

First of all, I had to speak the Ijebu dialect and secondly, people thought that I wouldn’t be able to carry the pussy cat used in the film, play with it, eat with it and all that.

I played with it and fed it so people were amazed and said they never knew I could do all that.

Can you remember how many movies you have featured in?

Oh, I’ve lost count.... let’s say like fifty.

Apart from Ashadele, are there other people that you look up to in the industry?

Well, I have some of my colleagues who have mentored me and I respect them a lot. The likes of Adebayo Salami (a.k.a. Oga Bello), Dele Odule, Yinka Quadri, Jide Kosoko and some other people.

What’s your take on the Nigerian movie industry? Are there

How rich are you?

Did you say rich? I’m rich in the Lord.

Asides acting, what else do you do or intend doing?

Prior to going into the acting profession, I wasn’t doing anything but I’ve decided now to do something else because we are not really making money in the movie industry, but because we have a passion for what we do, that’s why majority of us are still there. The Yoruba movie industry is not really paying well.

Are you talking now in terms of remuneration?

They do pay but it’s very meagre compared to what our colleagues in English movies earn.

What’s the reason for this?

It’s simple, I-know-you, you-knowme syndrome is there and that is not good enough. This is what we do for

IF A WOMAN IS DETERMINED TO MAKE SOMETHING WORK, ESPECIALLY MARRIAGE, IT WILL SURELY WORK. AND IF ONE IS ALSO LUCKY TO HAVE A SUPPORTIVE

HUSBAND, IT WILL SIMPLY BECOME EASIER problems, if so, what do you think can be done?

In life, there’s nowhere where there’s no problem but it is only God that can solve the problems in the movie industry. The industry has improved a lot and things are taking shape step by step. We do hope that in the near future, everything will be okay.

Can you tell us about your most embarrassing moment?

I don’t have. I’m married and I carry myself around with respect, so nobody tries to embarrass me.

Have you ever acted a compromising and intimate role before?

No, I haven’t. They don’t give me such roles because obviously they know that I won’t accept it.

How do you relax?

Well. I watch movies.

Do you watch your own movies in order to appraise yourself ?

Oh yes, I do. I love to watch my movies because in doing that, I’m able to correct my mistakes. I even like it when I watch it in the midst of people so that they can criticise me. You know it’s healthy criticism.

I’m able to correct myself. I do watch my own movies. I also read novels and listen to music too.

What do you look out for before you accept a script?

I study the script well and if it’s not a role that I can play, I won’t take it. For instance, if somebody wants me to take a role where I will show half of my body, I certainly won’t take it. Usually, they don’t give me such scripts. For me, acting is not a do or die thing.

WOMAN

May 31, 2014

a living, its business and should be seen as such. Sadly, it has been like that for a while but the good thing is that the younger ones coming up now are trying to correct that notion. If you have passion for a certain thing, you just can’t get out of it because of the love. You just can’t let go.

For instance, look at Mama Bukky Ajayi, as old as she is at over seventy, she is still there. Her children are grown up and comfortable and they are based abroad and have tried to convince her to come over there but she said ‘No, let me die with this job’ How much is she being paid? She prefers to remain in the movie industry and keep doing what she likes.

That means for now, acting remains a full time job for you?

Yes. What message do you have for your fans and other women?

To my fans out there, I just want them to know that I love them. Without them, there’s no me and they’ve made me who I am today. I urge them to keep on encouraging me and on my part, I won’t disappoint them.

For women, both young and old, they should be contented with what they have and who they are, they should be open to their husbands and not keep bad company for it corrupts good manner. And for upcoming actresses, I advise that they believe in themselves, they should believe in hard work and not in this assumption that acting is all about using what they have to get what they want. This will not let them go far. They should learn to be creative and be decent in themselves.

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Keeping ABREAST

The silent child whose words spoke to millions •Tribute to Maya Angelou, who died this week aged 86 YASMIN ALIBHAI-BROWN

M

aya Angelou was a phenomenal woman. This African American, who had the most horrendous experiences as a child, rose to become a bestselling, globally famous author and poet, civil rights activist, feminist, speaker, artist and an inspiration.

In 1993, she wrote and performed a poem at President Clinton’s first inauguration and since then, all presidents, including George Bush, have paid her various tributes. She addressed the UN, was feted by world leaders, awarded top awards and honorary degrees. But most of all, best of all, she was loved by millions of her readers.

She died at her home in North Carolina aged 86. It was her amazing life and the telling of it in seven autobiographies that made her name. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969) takes us from childhood to when she was 17, by which time she had undergone terrible experiences and survived.

Born in 1928, in St Louis, Missouri, she was the second child of Vivien Baxter, a nurse and Bailey Johnson, who was a doorman and dietician. The marriage was made in hell and the couple parted when Maya was three and her brother Bailey, was four. The two children were sent off to live with Johnson’s mother, Annie Henderson, a good Christian, who owned a small, profitable store in Stamps, Arkansas. They were happy there.

Four years later, without any explanation, Johnson moved them back to live with their mother. Soon afterwards Vivien’s boyfriend raped Maya, then only eight. d He was arrested and jailed for one day – one day! Four dayss after he was released he wass ed murdered and Maya stopped ut speaking for five years. But she read, watched, listened, learnt, thought and expanded her imagination. By the time she was 17 she was a mother.

Black Americans then had few rights, endured appalling rac-sism and many also lived in dysfunctional families. k Maya Angelou’s first book was in many ways a parable off these multiple disadvantagess iand instabilities. Some African Americans criticised herr for her ‘treachery’. Like otherr s, beleaguered communities, d they guarded their secrets and o. thought she should have too. e But she had been mute once and never would be again.

Unlike too many of her people, she overcame her circumstances. In fact all the adversities of her long life – and d there were so many –spurred erher to make something of her-

self, to show all those who had so badly failed and hurt her and also white supremacists for whom black people were forever damned.

God seemed to have gifted her a vast array of talents, as well as spirit, sensuality, audacity and extraordinary resilience. Raising her son gave her immeasurable joy and, I think, was her greatest fear. She was at various times, a cook, dancer and singer – even a prostitute when times were hard.

She was unshakeably committed to the civil rights movement, was close to Martin Luther King and white Americans who were part of the struggle in the Sixties and Seventies. By the time she reached middle age, Maya Angelou had won over people of all races in the US and elsewhere.

And she had loyalties beyond race.

In fact she backed Hillary Clinton in the fight for the Democratic nomination and again provoked much criticism from her black brothers and sisters. When Obama won, she graciously trans transferred her support to him.

I in interviewed her three times over eight years. The last time was in 1998.

She h had got very grand by then, loved fine fo food and whiskey and being driven aroun around by chauffeurs. It was important to her to be seen as a somebody, al always.

But when we talked, she was o open, wise, caring and always, alw ways mesmerising. We exchanged rrecipes – both of us loved cooking – and talked about how we were rraising our sons and our hopes for tthem.

Very few writers can speak as beautifully and evocatively as b Maya Angelou did. Our very first M meeting was in 1989, just after my m ex-husband had left me and I was ex feeling fragile and alone. I told her fee what wh had happened and she invited me to her birthday party in a lovely private venue in London. And there pr she sh recited one of her most popular la poems, Still I Rise, looked at me m and smiled. It was a poem celebrating the strength of women, eb who wh will not be beaten down.

And A yes, she gave me strength and hope. As she did most women who read h her. And men too.

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May 31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Parenting

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

How to deal with rude kids C

hildren can be bad mannered and they may need some guidance. Many bad behaved children do not have the appropriate discipline or re-direction in their lives.

(Their parents don’t seem to care). These steps will help you to guide your child right.

1

. Listen to children!

When your child comes into the house from playing and their feelings are hurt, you need to listen to them. Have them tell you what happened and ask them why their feelings are hurt.

If they have been exposed to a rude kid, they might need your assistance. If the rude behavior is really causing hurt feelings consistently follow the next step. Listen to both sides of the story.

Don’t assume that your child is totally being honest. . Confront the children or child who has the behaviour problem. Ask the child if they said or did what your child said. Or if you heard or saw the child acting badly, ask the child why they did what they did. Most children will say “I was just

2

joking or playing around”. If that is the response that you get, talk to them about how it made you or your child feel.

3

. Let them know that their behavior is not ok! Usually when an adult or different parents talks with children, they listen. Getting their full attention is required when talking with them.

4

. Talk to the child’s parent or parents. This only works sometimes but it is worth it to notify the parents of the un-mannered child.

This will make you feel better as a parent knowing that you tried to resolve the issue and that you did the right thing.

5

. Stop having your child or yourself around the rude kids. Keeping your child away from bad behaved children will help you and your child both. This will keep your child from not picking up the bad behaviours. Don’t let your child play with rude and bad behaved children. Ignore the presence of these children.

If they are at the same park, store or place, just ignore that

ParentingUpdate

they are there.

Remember that you are the adult and need to remain calm. Your child is learning how to negotiate, and if you are combative at this time, your child will be combative in arguments with other children and you as they grow older.

6

. Set a good example in front of you children.

Treat your partner with respect. This will give a visual example to the kids on how to treat others. It’s very important that you and your partner show mutual respect to one another.

8

. Be consistent. Once you have set the rules, you must follow them. You must carry through with a punishment each time your child is disrespectful.

9

. Verbally praise your child when you notice them acting respectful of you and others. It’s important to take notice of good behaviour, as well as bad behaviour

Tiny Feet

7

. Sit your child down, and go over what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. If your child has been getting away with disrespectful behaviour in the past, explain that you have made mistakes when dealing with the situation. Make clear how you expect them to behave and what will cause them to be punished. Also, explain what type of punishment they will receive when they step out of line.

NAME: Hameedat Eniayo Ajayi

BORN TO: Mr. and Mrs Hameed Ajayi AGE: 3 weeks BIRTH WEIGHT: 3.9 kg Have you just had a baby? Send a picture of your bundle of joy to mirrorbabies@gmail.com

So much for the one child policy!

Largest family in China is made up of mother, father and TEN children

T

en children is a sizable brood for any set of parents, but it is particularly astounding in a country with a one child per family policy.

Liu Xiangying, 58, and his wife Yi Mamei, 40, have five daughters and five sons. The pair, who have been married for 22 years, have nine more children than the law allows in China because they did not know about contraception.

The family, who are uneducated and poor, live in a hut in Chefang township in east China’s Jiangsu province and do not have any contact with authorities.

The couple’s eldest children are two girls, 22-year-old Liu Huan and 16-year-old Liu Min. They have a son, Liu Cheng,

13, a daughter, Liu Xiaoxiao, 11, and another two sons, Liu Peng, 10, and Liu Chang, 7.

There are two younger boys, Liu Zhuang, 5 and Liu Jian, 4, as well as newly born twin sisters. The seventh child, a boy, Liu Zhuang drowned at the age of five, and his mother says she cries every day at the loss.

They have a small one bedroom flat where some of the family live. The owner of the building also rents out a shed at the end of the garden where the rest of the family are housed.

But now their future is in jeopardy because Liu, the father of the family, has fallen ill.

When he sought medical treatment, the authorities learned of their large family, which breaches the strict one child only law in place across China.

Chinese communist party officials say they have not yet decided whether the couple will be punished.

But for father Liu, the lack of a welfare network now that he has taken ill is punishment enough. He says, “I don’t know how I am going to feed my family. I talked with my wife about offering some of them for adoptions but we can’t bear to be parted from them, we love them too much.”

Doctors say they don’t know when or if Liu will be back on his feet, saying, “He is worn out, ten children to feed and no break in what is a seven days a week job, year in and year out.”

According to the couple, they will ‘adopt measures’ to avoid pregnancy in the future.

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LIVING

May 31, 2014

Mouth organ: Rainy season’s quick fix for hunger The rains are back and so is the attraction to maize, known in local parlance as ‘mouth organ.’

NNAMDI ONYEUMA writes about this seasonal delicacy that is steadily fixing hunger with relative ease.

Maize in the fire brew. (Inset) A group of children enjoying the delicacy

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stop-gap for the hungry, maize, like most seasonal delicacies, comes with such a great fixation and attraction by old and young, men and women. Going by many names ranging from maize, agbado, Oka or... as common in English, Yoruba, Ibo or Hausa, respectively,or, just any name, but for Andrew Uka, a vulcanizer at Command, suburb of Lagos State, it is simply the ‘mouth organ.’ Prepared to taste and choice –you can have it roasted or cooked, in small or large quantities, just as it comes hard or soft. Truth, however, is that whichever way you go with the rainy seasons back, maize is certainly a street-side affair in the villages, big or small cities in Nigeria, today. From street corners to the heart of town; from markets to car terminals, the attraction grows as maize offers a new taste to a fruity season. Incidentally, to make the maize delicacy ready, just a few items come to mind – charcoal, a hand-fan to continually stoke the fire, bowl or basin or as common, today, a cooking pot, can serve the purpose. In split seconds while you wait, someone, man or woman, sitting behind a stewing charcoal, pulls out either cooked or roasted

W E MAKE BETWEEN N2, 500 AND N3, 000 ON A RAINY DAY . I N ALL CIRCUMSTANCES , THERE IS ALWAYS ENOUGH TO KEEP THE FAMILY AFLOAT ON A DAILY BASIS maize for your eating pleasure.

This season, maize sellers wear a permanent smile though it takes the unassuming to do a hard job, smiling. But why not? Everyone craves a bite of roasted or cooked maize, especially with prices usually the size of everyone’s pocket.

Interestingly, too, depending on taste, maize could be garnished with beans either for lunch or dinner. Daramola Awoyade, an undergraduate of the Lagos State University, Lagos State, likes his corn fresh and soft. He tells the newspaper that when he came to town newly, he almost lost his thirst buds for maize to bad handling of the delicacy, which he described as the

rainy season’s perfect match. As far as he is concerned, maize is poorly handled in townships. “The villagers know how best to roast maize to bring out its golden colour,” he says.

According to him, what we see in Lagos and most townships is a corrupt version of roasting. They often allow it to get burnt,” Awoyade noted, waxing lyrical by saying that a perfect treatment on the fire furnace brings out its natural taste.

Unlike Taiye Shola, a commercial bus driver, who enjoys the delicacy when combined with coconut, Awoyade’s thirst bud peaks when he combines his roasted maize with pear. For Awoyade and Shola, perhaps, the only meeting point is the poor handling by most sellers in Lagos, a minus, which Shola agrees diminishes its smoky flavour. This, interestingly, comes miles away from Otitochukwu Ogwu’s taste. “I like my maize cooked,” he tells the newspaper matter-of-factly. Ogwu, a books seller, says he enjoys his maize either with coconut or pear, noting that it must come fresh from the farm.

This is probably where the sellers get their own grove. Like in all businesses, experience as well as strategic packaging also counts. For those

37

who have long been in the business, it is not just about selling, but largely a subject-matter of packaging and source of supply. Since it is a free market, the more experienced sellers go to the remote parts of the country where they can buy at a very cheap price and in turn, sell at prices that do not hurt the buyer’s pocket. According to a seller who simply identified herself as Mama Ayo, she wakes up at the wee hours of the morning and travels to far places like Ifo, Idiroko, suburbs of Abeokuta, Ogun State to get her supply directly from farmers and in large quantities, too. Back in Lagos, she tells the newspaper in an interview, “I retail my buy to some customers who usually book in advance.”

Madam Ayo is popular in her Alagbado neighbourhood. With her two daughters assisting morning and evening, she sells a variety of cooked and roasted maize. Madam Ayo who disclosed that a bag of maize sells for between N5, 000 and N6, 000 says that on a good day, her profit ranges between N3, 000 and N4, 000.

“We make between N2, 500 and N3, 000 on a rainy day,” she says, stressing that in all circumstances, there is always enough to keep the family afloat on a daily basis.

While Madam Ayo is happy, it is not so for most eateries. Since the return of the rainy season, sells have plummeted as roasted or cooked maize has taken the place of junk foods needed mostly for their quick fix solution for hunger.

This, the newspaper confirmed when a burger consumer who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that since the return of the rainy season and availability of maize in all corners of the streets, he has found an alternative to junk foods.

Interestingly, it is not only in Nigeria that the business of corn roasting is booming. It also booms in places like New Delhi in India and China. However, unlike in Nigeria where it is roasted with the help of charcoal under the grill, in India and China, sellers use the gas or electric grills.

Instructively, maize is America’s number one field crop, leading all other crops in value and volume of production. The country contributed 39% of the world’s corn in 2010. Also America is world’s leading exporting countries in maize with the export of 45, 320, 920 metric tonnes maize annually, while Japan leads the list of importing countries with 16,225, 720 metric tonnes. Maize is a major source of food for both human and animal and it is grown in more countries than any other crops. Maize is a major component in many food items like cereal, snack food and soft drinks.

Apart from its nutritional value, maize has also been used in the production of fuel alcohol.

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May 31, 2014

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He is a thief! He stole my jewellery worth N100, 000 –Wife •It’s blackmail –Husband FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON

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business woman, Mrs. Hannah Ajayi, who resides at 22, Coker Road in Gbagada area of Lagos State, last Tuesday urged an Ikeja Customary Court to dissolve the union between her and Tunde, her husband of seven years, on grounds of adultery and theft.

Ajayi told the court how Tunde has been having illicit affairs with several women within and outside their neighbourhood. According to her, she had even caught him in the act on two different occasions.

Once, she told the court, in his office and another time, in his car in the front of their house where he was smooching and caressing a strange woman.

Ajayi said the last straw that broke the camel’s back, as they say, was when she caught him in his car with another lady.

“He keeps affairs with several women and each time I confront him over the issue, he denies it and begins a fight with me. The last time I saw him smooching a girl in his car

parked in front of our house and accosted him he started a fight, too. We fought and he angrily left the house for about four days without saying anything to anyone about his whereabouts. Four days after, when I returned from my business place, I noticed he had packed all his belongings and left. But he did not just pack his things alone, I noticed that my jewellery worth about N100, 000 was also missing and that he took along our six-year old son. He was away at his sister’s place and no one else had the house keys except me and him. So, who could have stolen my jewellery? I sell jewellery and the ones missing are not even mine because it has been paid for by a customer who was supposed to come for it in a week time. I am tired of the marriage and will want the court to separate us so I can have some respite in life. It is bad enough that he is a womaniser and worse still, a thief. Please, dissolve this marriage now and please, tell him to return the jewellery he stole from my closet because they are not mine. I will also

want the custody of my son to be given me so I can take good care of him,” she said.

Tunde, however, said he is not with the missing jewellery and that there was no jewellery missing in the first place as, according to him, Hannah was just looking for trouble where there is none. He said

the jewellery issue is only a blackmail to have him back and that he is not interested in the marriage anymore.

“I did not take any of her things and I did not take any jewellery from her closet.

There is no jewellery missing; she just want to blackmail me with that so that

I can come back to her at all costs and that will not work. I am not interested in the marriage anymore. I want a divorce and she is free to go with our son.

The case was adjourned to June 12 for judgement by the court president Mr. Sam Aluko.

‘How can my wife attend another church under my roof?’

•Separate us so I can make heaven –Wife

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63-year-old man, Joseph Okeleke on Monday, urged an Ikorodu Customary Court, Lagos State, to dissolve his 24 years marriage to his wife, Uju, over her alleged change of church.

Okeleke, who lives at 25, Oduyebo Street, Odogunyan Area, said that his wife refused to attend same church with him.

“She is troublesome and adulterous. Uju joined the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement while I was going to Celestial Church of Christ.

How on earth can my wife attend another church under my roof ? She has also turned my children against me. She said she would divorce me because her church doctrine does not allow her to be a second wife.

In fact, she has turned our five children against me and she

lacks control. Please separate us; I am no more interested,’’ he said.

Uju, 48, a trader, told the court to grant the petition of her husband because she was

also fed up with the marriage. ``I want to divorce my husband so that I can make heaven.

My husband’s first wife is the original owner of our husband and my new church made me

believe that being a second wife to another person’s husband is a sin. I have never been adulterous in my life. He is just saying that to back up his claims. I am also no longer interested in the

marriage, please separate us,’’ Uju said.

The President of the court, Mr. T.K Dabor, ordered the couple to come with the children at the next adjourned date. Dabor adjourned the case till June 8, 2014, for further hearing. (NAN)

‘I’m no longer interested in my wife’ •I love him dearly –Wife

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44 year-old-man, Alhaji Saka Audu, of Edun Community in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday, told an Ilorin Area Court that he was no longer interested in his wife, Bashirat Audu.

Audu, therefore, prayed the court to dissolve his marriage to Bashirat Audu.

“I am just fed up with the marriage and I prefer to be

alone and live my life with peace and rest of mind,” he said.

The plaintiff said that he did not have any zeal to carry on with the marriage, saying he preferred staying alone without any woman in his life.

He told the court that the marriage was contracted in 2008 and had produced three children.

“My lord, I want an end to this marriage because I have lost the passion to cope with the marriage and I want to be happy, since I know I deserve happiness,” said the plaintiff.

The defendant, however, objected to the prayer of her husband, saying she was still interested in the marriage.

“I love my husband and I will do everything to keep him for

the sake of my three children because I don’t want them to suffer in life,” she said.

She urged the court not to grant the prayer of her husband and asked for an adjournment for her to make a reconciliatory move. The Presiding Judge, Mr. Yusuf Abdulkareem, adjourned the case until June 19, 2014, for report of settlement or continuation of hearing.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

DIVORCE COURT

May 31, 2014

‘My wife has epilepsy’ A

Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, dissolved the four-year-marriage between Lukman Adebisi and Aminat, for using three-old child for street

begging.

The President of the court, Mr. Ezekiel Ogundipe, held that it was ridiculous for anyone to capitalise on the state of the economy to use innocent children for

Court dissolves 25-yearmarriage over beatings

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n Abeokuta Customary Court sitting in Ake on Thursday, dissolved a marriage of 25 years between Tawakalitu Tejuoso, 45, and her husband, Owolabi Tejuoso, 49, over frequent beating.

Tawakalitu, a business woman, had filed for divorce on April 29, 2014, citing unruly behaviour, provocation and threat to life from frequent beating by her husband.

The marriage is blessed with four children aged 23, 21, 16, and 13 years. Tawakalitu told the court that she could no longer continue with the marriage.

“I cannot continue with this man; he is just too troublesome and frequently fights me. He lacks love and care, provokes and always threatens my life.

“I have been so patient enough tolerating him, just because I have children for him and I do not want to leave them. But not until last two years when my husband decided to send me out of my matrimonial home without allowing me to pack my properties for no reason. I am also not interested in the marriage anymore since he has sent me out of his

house,” she said.

Tawakalitu pleaded with the court to dissolve the marriage and grant her custody of her children along with her properties which Tejuoso locked up.

Owolabi, who resides at Isabo area in Abeokuta, responded that he was also not interested in his wife anymore. “She can go, but please my children are important to me. All I want from this honourable court is to grant me the custody of my children; I want to take proper care of them educationally, financially and morally,” he said. The Presiding Officer, Mr. Olalekan Akande said that the couple had been sent back home previously for family and friends to mediate and settle the matter.

“I can see that all efforts to reconcile the couple had proved abortive,” he said. Akande dissolved the marriage and ordered each to go their separate ways.

He, however, said that the children were adults who could decide where to live.

He also gave an order that both parents be responsible for the welfare and the upkeep of the children. (NAN)

street begging. “I see that Aminat is not responsible and her action constitutes child abuse. I hereby put an end to the union between both of you,” Ogundipe held.

Adebisi had earlier told the

court that Aminat was using their three-year old child for street begging.

“My people told me that whenever I am not around, Aminat use to display my child at Sabo mar-

39

ket at Mokola to solicit for arms.

In addition to this, she suffers constantly from epilepsy and I can no longer bear the trauma,’’ Adebisi told the court.

Aminat, who had earlier, been served two court summons, was absent from the court to defend herself. (NAN)

70-year-old man asks court to dissolve marriage over threat to life

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70-year-old man, Gabriel Oni, on Thursday, urged an Ikole Customary Court to dissolve his marriage of 40 years to his wife, Funmilayo, over alleged threat to his life.

Gabriel told the court that he married the respondent in 1974 when they both met in Germany, adding that the marriage produced three children.

He said Funmilayo’s wayward

lifestyles made him to send her back to Nigeria shortly after their marriage, but that they started living together as husband and wife when he returned to Nigeria. “We started living together after the rift was settled by family members when I returned to Nigeria, but there was no remorse from her as she has no regard for me as husband.

She does not care for me or

the children; always fighting me and threatening to kill me,’’ he alleged.

The respondent, however, denied the allegations, and told the court that the two houses owned by the petitioner were jointly built by them.

The president of the court, Mrs. Yemisi Ojo, adjourned the case till June 3, 2014, for continuation of hearing.

(NAN)

‘My wife brought her boyfriend to beat me up’ •He’s temperamental –Wife

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n Ikeja Customary Court was turned into a battleground when a 34 year old Akinsanmi Odusile, engaged his wife, Beatrice Odusile, in a fight right in the courtroom.

The incident, which generated a lot of attention inside the court premises, was alleged to have begun when a friend of the divorceseeking couple pleaded with the husband, to settle out of court but the plea fell on deaf ears.

Odusile told the court that his wife was sleeping with different men when she travelled to the United States of America in September 2013. He further stated that on 15 August last year, his wife slapped him when he accused her of stealing his properties and solicited the support of

her lovers to beat him for bringing up such an allegation against her.

“This woman is an adulterer and it is obvious that she will never change. She sleeps around with other men when I went to the US last September and even before then she stole some of my properties. When I confronted her about it, she slapped me and even connived with her lovers to beat me up for pointing fingers at her. She even absconded from her matrimonial home. Before I am forced into doing something I will forever regret, I want the court to dissolve this union and I will want custody of my three children,” he said.

Beatrice, however, denied stealing Odusile’s properties as he

alleged, just as she said she had never and would never arrange men to beat him up. She also debunked the allegations of sleeping around with men stating that her husband is the one who is frivolous and temperamental, adding that she did not abscond from her matrimonial home but had to run for her dear life when her husband suddenly turned her to a punch bag.

“In the first place, I did not abscond from my matrimonial home as he said. I had to run for my dear life when he wanted to kill me with an iron belt. We have not lived apart for two years like he claimed. My husband is the one who is frivolous and, worse still, very temperamental just like he has demonstrated in the

courtroom a while ago. He beats me at will at every little provocation and accuses me of sleeping around with men. He even said I should stop working and I cannot become psychologically disengaged doing nothing. He is not willing to set up any business for me and he doesn’t want me to work. I am equally tired of the

marriage and will want the union dissolved. But I will plead with the court to grant me custody of our three children,” she said.

After listening to both parties, the court president Mr. Sam Aluko said the couple should maintain the peace while adjourning the case to June 19 for judgement.

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T

LIVING

his past weekend at the NPC Junior USA Bodybuilding Championship, only one bodybuilder among hundreds of the men and women competing got a standing ovation.

Though she didn’t win any major awards, armless bodybuilder Barbie Thomas had the crowd cheering and on their feet.

The 37-year-old mother-of-two lost both her arms during a horrific electrical accident as a toddler - but that hasn’t stopped her from pursuing her bodybuilding dream.

Thomas lost her arms when she was two years old. She climbed onto an electrical transformer and grabbed the wires. The electricity entered her hands and surged through her body - scorching her arms down to the bone and turning them into something ‘like charcoal.’

She said, “I would say to anyone, you can do whatever you put your mind to. The only limitations are the ones you put on yourself. Everyone has limitations and handicaps in some way or another - mine are more visible than yours maybe.”

Competition organizer, Tres Bennett, was first introduced to Thomas when she requested that her trainer be allowed to come backstage - a request he normally rejects.

But was astonished when she said: “I need him to help me put on my costume.

It’s because I have no arms.” They have been firm friends ever since.

Thomas entered her first competition in 2003 and has been hooked ever since.

The amazing mother of two can hold her own against the competition, despite having no arms Thomas says she can do anything an average person can do - except she uses her feet. That includes brushing her teeth, making dinner, taking milk out of the fridge, texting, shopping, putting on makeup and even driving.

The single mom - who has been married three times - began bodybuilding back in 2003.

She said, “I used to read about all the fitness competitors in magazines - and

May 31, 2014

‘I’m an athlete, just like the rest of them’

THERE ARE CHALLENGES AND TRIALS THAT COME WITH BRINGING UP KIDS. I DON’T THINK MINE ARE ANY DIFFERENT - I JUST HAVE TO USE MY FEET. BUT I GOT THROUGH IT AND MY KIDS GOT THROUGH IT I thought that was the coolest thing ever. I wanted to be like them and do the things they were doing. I thought it was amazing.”

Thomas decided to take the plunge into the sport after years of doubting herself and wondering if she’d even qualify because she didn’t have arms to do the competition mandatories.

“I finally called the locale chairperson and talked to him about it; and he gave

me the green light.”

“So in 2003 I entered my first fitness competition and loved it. Now it’s in my blood and I can’t live without it.”

Thomas admits there are certain challenges when it comes to raising her two sons, but says she just uses her feet where others might use their hands.

Thomas, while demonstrating how she uses her feet to text on her phone, said, “The doctor said I wouldn’t live - and if I

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did live, I’d probably be a vegetable.

“But God had a different plan for me; I’m still here, healthy, and alive and well.”

Not only is Thomas alive and well but she continues to push her body to the limits by dancing, swimming and playing soccer.

“My first few fitness competitions, I did get some funny looks,” she admitted.

“I’m sure people were wondering what I thought I was doing up there. Obviously it’s a physique competition and I’m missing part of my physique and I don’t have the symmetry of what they are looking for.

“But after I did my routine for the first time, people realised that I was an athlete just like the rest of them - and I did belong up there. I don’t know why they go as crazy as they do for me. Maybe its because I’m something different.”

So far, Thomas’ greatest bodybuilding victory came in March 2012, when she came in fifth out of six competitors.

She added, “It was actually the first time I placed ahead of people - and that was a big milestone for me. Even though I still was fifth place, I was happy I placed ahead of someone - someone who actually has two arms and their whole body.”

Bodybuilding gives Thomas a goal to work towards and makes her feel good about herself. Her workouts vary each day from cardio and abs to stretching and track work.

“Thomas believes that the mind is a really very powerful thing - and so is attitude. When not competing, she loves doing the things a normal mom would do and enjoys looking after her two sons.

She added, “Yes there are the challenges and trials that come with bringing up kids. I don’t think mine are any different - I just have to use my feet. But I got through it and my kids got through it.

“Sometimes I have to sit on the floor or sometimes I have to sit on the counter - but it’s still the same stuff you do. The mind is a really very powerful thing and so is attitude - and if you keep a really positive attitude and believe in yourself and believe that you can - then anything is possible.”

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EVENT

May 31, 2014

AMAA glitters again The Africa Movie Academy Awards, better known as AMAA, held again last weekend in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and as usual, it was a glittering high octane affair that had A-list celebrities in attendance, especially as it was its tenth anniversary edition. Richard Mofe-Damijo, Ibinabo Fiberesima, Belinda Effah, Bob Manuel Udokwu and Segun Arinze were some of those celebrities.

Segun Arinze

Desmond Elliot

Jackie Appiah

Bob Manuel Udokwu

Belinda Effah

Kunle Afolayan

Joselyn Dumas

Fred Amata

Rita Dominic

Paul Obazele

Fathia Balogun

Richard Mofe-Damijo

Kanayo O Kanayo

Lydia Forson

Ibinabo Fiberesima

Zainab Balogun

Lancelot Imasuen

OC Ukeje

Eniola Badmus

Saidi Balogun

Ivie Okujaiye

Maryam Elisha

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42

People

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

May 31, 2014

NNAMDI ONYEUMA

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alking art, he is the new kid on the block. Soft-spoken and gentle, you would wonder if he could hurt a fly. Meeting Michael Ikobi for the first time, you would easily notice the extra efforts; a body language that looks like he musters all the energy and strength in him to make his points.

Listening to him, you would observe this infectious calmness that gives him away as a quiet and reserved gentleman. But the lion in him wakes almost with a start when you engage him in a discussion bordering on works of art.

Then, he comes alive with this sharp piercing look that could pin you to a spot when it is trained on you.

Didactically, he takes you on a ride through the rough, sharp, curvy and beautiful world of art; picking his words perfectly well that you slowly, but steadily begin to feel a sense of jealousy; wondering, perhaps, if you had not missed a career in art. According to Ikobi, art was all he ever wanted to do.

A 1997 graduate of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, this Mgbidi in Oru West council area of Imo State born artist, says he is living his dream. A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree holder of the University of Benin, Ikobi, who has expertise in landscaping, sea-scaping, stain-glass, mosaic, portraiture and print-making tells the newspaper that it was not by accident that he is where he is today. According to him, art runs in the family. “My father was a craftsman. He could reproduce any art work while you wait,” he says. It is not only his father; his younger brother could carve, too. “Before my younger brother obtained a degree in Pharmacy, he displayed so much flair for art. In fact, most people thought he would pursue a career in arts.” Ikobi said.

The first child in a family of seven; three boys and four girls, Ikobi told the newspaper that growing up was quite challenging. Survival was a little to the right and a little to the left.

He told the newspaper that his father had plans to send him overseas to pursue his Masters Degree programme, but could not as the family’s economy took a sharp twist for the worse. “It is difficult to explain, but I am glad that at last, I hold a Masters degree now,” he says. Ikobi said things were so bad that, today, he relies on proceeds from the many exhibitions and art works he produces to offset his academic bills in school. He also confesses to huge assistance from his wife, Ngozi, a 1998 graduate of Agric-Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State. “She is such a pillar of support and encouragement to me,” he says of his wife.

Indeed, like fine steel that has passed through the furnace of fire and therefore refined to good work, Ikobi has seen it all. He recalls retrospectively the seasons when as an amateur artist, he faced rejection. He admits, too,

Ikobi’s work

Ikobi in his Art Studio

Micheal Ikobi: Gifted artist

MY FATHER WAS A CRAFTSMAN. HE COULD REPRODUCE ANY ART WORK WHILE YOU WAIT.

BEFORE MY YOUNGER BROTHER OBTAINED A DEGREE IN PHARMACY, HE DISPLAYED SO MUCH FLAIR FOR ART. IN FACT, MOST PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WOULD PURSUE A CAREER IN ARTS to being looked with skepticism by potential art collectors. “They would not give you art contract because they felt you were relatively unknown.

Even when someone recommends you highly, you still discover the lack of believe in your ability to deliver on the part of the man who needs the art work that you can perfectly carry out effortlessly,” he says, describing them as baptismal years. Ask if he was ever discouraged and he coos into your eyes as if the answers were trapped in there. “Of course, who wouldn’t?” he fires back. But quickly adds, “However, I was encouraged by the unfailing knowledge that I had acquired over the years in my walk in art.

“Of course, I had this silent, but overwhelming assurance common

with every graduate of Auchi Polytechnic. Our school counts among the best in arts in the country and practically speaking, I maximally appropriated the knowledge while I was in school.”

Even at the University of Benin where he obtained his Master of Art degree, he was a student-teacher. Ikobi trains fellow students - undergraduates and graduates who fall short of the right art skills. Perhaps, to demonstrate his confidence in his natural, learned and acquired skills, Ikobi says, he has been on his own since his graduation.

“After my Industrial Training experience at the Lagos Television (LTV), I have always keyed into group exhibitions,” he says. First, he was part of the artists that exhibited a collection

of artworks at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja in 2000. The event was tagged: Sight and Scene. In 2001, he also participated in yet another exhibition held at Legacy Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.

Like the young and restless, Ikobi was also to join a group of artists in 2002 in an art exhibition rightly tagged: Celebrating womanhood. The exhibition, which took place at Ikoyi Club, saw the artist showcase creative work of arts that hyped and highlighted the virtues of womanhood. There was one at, Milestone, at Aina Onabolu Complex, in 2003, as well as Expressions, which held at Apapa Club. Over the years art exhibitions have taken him from Lagos to Benin, in Edo State. Every year since 2000 to date, has offered projects as well as challenges in art, which he has never shied away from. For him, it is all about skill, but more than anything, he says, passion. “I am passionate about everything that I do; nothing is too small to be taken with a laissez faire attitude,” he stated. According to him, plans are in top gear to hold a solo exhibition early next year. He hopes the exhibition will announce his arrival in the art scene, the big way.

Ask if he sees himself as a successful artist and Ikobi cuts in, sharply. “I am rich though not in terms of money, but in terms of the enormous experiences money cannot buy.”

As if to rub in his message, he adds, “Most people who are into art are not into it because of the financial fortunes, but out of the desire to express themselves in a way different from the normal way of expressing a feeling.” Ikobi is probably right, for, he does not come close to a man of immense means. Yet a keen observer would not look too far to notice that what he probably lost in fat bank accounts, he gained with expressive art skills. This is, perhaps, what sets him apart from his peers. For, every of his art works communicates as easily as spoken words. “Yes,” he admits, “it is my joy; the joy of every artist.”

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

43

May 31, 2014

For seasoned travellers only!

Bolivian hotel built with one million cubes of SALT …but you are not allowed to lick the walls

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his hotel will certainly leave you thirsty for more.

Standing atop the largest salt flat in the world, the Palacio de Sal has taken the idea of using local materials to the extreme, constructing the building with one million blocks of salt.

Everything from the walls and floors to the beds and tables have been carved out of salt taken from the Salar de Uyuni salt flat in a project that took two years to complete.

But while it may sound somewhat stark, the hotel offers every comfort travellers may need, from saunas and steam rooms to, unsurprisingly, saltwater baths.

The Palacio de Sal is located on the edge of Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni - the largest salt flat in the world.

Around one million 35cm bricks of salt were used to construct the hotel, which has to be repaired after each rainy season There are strict rules for seasoned guests to the 30-room resort, such as ‘don’t lick the walls’.

Of course, the hotel is somewhat fragile and has to be repaired after each rainy season sweeps in and dissolves parts of the construction.

Hotel spokesperson, Pedro Pablo Michel Rocha, said, “Guests who see it for the first time are amazed and don’t believe it’s all ll made out of salt. I’ve actually seen some e try to lick the walls or tables to make sure.” ” The bedside tables, beds and even the e desks are made from carved slat blocks. s.

Thankfully the beds have mattresses forr extra comfort “We can promise that and more,” sayss the spokesperson. “As the name indicates, s, our hotel is like a palace. It has a unique innfrastructure and is a treat for the eyes. The e bedrooms attract attention because they y resemble igloos built with salt blocks.”

Creator, Don Juan Quesada, dreamt up p

the idea of the world’s first salt hotel as it was the most abundant building resource in the area.

The Palacio de Sal was first built in the mid 90s but had to be dismantled in 2002 before being rebuilt.

Others have tried to follow suit but the Palacio de Sal, 25km from the city of Uyuni in south west Bolivia, remains the biggest and best, according to the spokesperson.

The owner of the hotel says people love staying at the Palacio de Sal because its rooms resemble igloos built of salt Even the quirky retreat’s swimming pool, tables and chairs in the dining room and nine-hole golf course are made from sodium chloride.

The hotel sleeps up to 48 people across 21 twin rooms and nine double rooms with prices starting at a tasty £85 a night.

Hotel spokesperson Pedro Pablo Michel Rocha said, “Our dining room is indescribable. Guests can enjoy our exclusive and exquisite meals prepared on the basis of salt, flame and lamb meat from the region, or salted chicken.

“The bedrooms attract attention because they resemble igloos built with salt blocks.”

With prices starting at £85 a night, the hotel has all the modern cons including a sauna, steam room, whirlpool and games room.

All facilities fabricated with salt!

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LEISURE

May 31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

May 31, 2014

45

NFF accuses Glo of contract violation JOEL AJAYI ABUJA

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Super Eagles players celebrate after scoring the equaliser against Scotland on Wednesday.

Chukwu, Rufai want Eagles to be focused IFEANYI EDUZOR

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ith less than two weeks to the commencement of Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, Former Super Eagles handler, Christian Chukwu has advised the Super Eagles to be focused and approach all their Group matches with all seriousness, even as he described the team’s 2-2 draw with Scotland in a pre- World Cup international friendly last Wednesday as a good result.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent, he advised Nigerians not to judge the team’s performance at the Mundial with the game against the Tartan Army noting that the match was to enable Coach Stephen Keshi prepare his team well ahead of the World Cup. He however expressed optimism that their next friendly match against fellow World Cup-bound country, Greece, will bring out the best in the team.

“I am quite impressed with the perfor-

mance of the Super Eagles against Scotland because the match showed that the team has a good fighting spirit which we hope to see in Brazil.

“It is true that the team committed some technical blunders, but the most important thing was their ability to fight back to earn a well desired draw. “ I hope that by the time they play their second friendly against Greece, the coaching crew will be in a better position to assess the players individually and come out with their final 23-man list ahead of the Mundial”, the former Harambee Stars of Kenya coach said.

On how he would like the Super Eagles gaffer to approach their group stage matches at the Mundial, Chukwu advised that the team should think less of Argentina and concentrate more on how to beat Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina who he said could be more dangerous than the two-time World Cup champions.

“World Cup is a serious business and any country that qualifies to be part of

the Mundial must be taken serious and as such the Super Eagles must be weary of Iran and Bosnia as they are capable of spoiling the day for the team.

“There is no doubt that Argentina is a very strong team with pedigree and one of the favourite teams to lift the World Cup, but they also respect Nigeria because matches involving both teams is always difficult. Therefore, concentrating too much on Argentina could be counterproductive,” he cautioned.

Also speaking on the team’s chances at the World Cup, former Super Eagles goal keeper, Peter Rufai noted that the team has what it takes to qualify from their group, but must not underrate any of their opponents as doing so could be dangerous.

“I believe that the Super Eagles will definitely qualify from their group because Coach Stephen Keshi has done a good job to see them through. However, they must be weary of their other group opponents; Iran and Bosnia because they have some

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has accused its major sponsor, Globacom Nigeria Limited of reneging on their contractual terms by refusing to pay nearly two years of sponsorship fee to the football federation.

A top executive committee member of NFF who does not want his name in print revealed this to the media yesterday in Abuja.

He said: “The Globacom deal is the worst NFF has ever had. It is just 13 days to the kickoff of the World Cup in Brazil, but the Glo management have not in any way met with NFF to support the Super Eagles in their campaign ahead of the Mundial beginning on June 12.

“The annual sponsorship fee is N350million, but last year Globacom paid only half of the amount and have not paid anything at all this year, while leveraging on all the national teams to promote its products.

“In a World Cup year, we need all the monies we can muster but Globacom have not been forthcoming and they always use our national teams to promote their products. They have refused to pay the owners of the properties which is unfair and we are compelled to go to the press over this matter,” the official blasts.

Explaining further, the NFF official said if not for the support of the Federal Government and other sponsors, the World Cup plans of the federation could have been in jeopardy.

“We cannot go begging every time, when we know that it’s our due and they have been benefitting.

“If it continues like this, we may have to review our relationship with Glo,” the official said, adding that several letters to Glo have yielded no results up till the time of going to press.

good players who can cause heartache to any opposing team,” Rufai said.

The former Go Ahead Eagles safe hands further expressed optimism that the discipline which Keshi has instilled in the team will play out in Brazil as he advised those that will not make the final 23-man list not to be discouraged because they will still have the opportunity of making it at the big stage in future.

Meanwhile, ex-international Victor Ikpeba has voiced his frustrations over Super Eagles inability to score from setpieces, as well as the inability to utilize chances.

Ikpeba made this observation while speaking at a promotional event for the World Cup organized by SuperSport in Lagos on Thursday.

After watching Wednesday’s friendly game against Scotland, Ikpeba noted that the Super Eagles inability to score from set-pieces is an area coach Stephen Keshi will need to work on, as the World Cup draws near.

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SPORT

May 31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ejide: My fears for Eagles at Brazil 2014 W

ednesday’s international friendly match between Nigeria and Scotland which ended 2-2 apiece came as a real test for the African champions. It served a great purpose for soccer pundits in the country and those in Diaspora in the area of assessing the readiness of the team to take on the world at the Mundial commencing in Brazil next month.

After the encounter HT took a special interest in Austin Ejide and wondered why the Super Eagles gaffer, Stephen Keshi took the gamble of including the Hapoel Be’er Sheva of Israel goal tender in his provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup. On that match day HT saw a robust, cheeky, heavy and flatfooted goalkeeper who could not dive full length to stop the ball from entering his goalpost. In fact, his below average performance may have made fans to ask whether this is the real Ejide or should they expect another?

Aside the two goals the Scots scored on the night, the most annoying aspect of Ejide’s inefficiency in the Nigerian goalpost was that he lacked the ability to organise his defenders well in an explosive encounter of such magnitude.

Then came the match-fixing speculation!

The Nigerian goalkeeper had looked like he deliberately threw the ball into his own net during a challenge from a Scottish attacker. And the Scots followed up by celebrating that they have scored in that first-half attempt,

HARD TACKLE with

Andrew Ekejiuba anelsports@yahoo.com

but the referee became Eagles’ saving grace as he overruled the goal, claiming that the 30-yearold goalkeeper had been impeded by his opponent.

Following that expensive mistake, HT gathered that Ejide has come under intense scrutiny by the global media as they remain suspicious of the way and manner which he handled the ball in that incident.

Frankly, the whole scenario looked funny like a movie, but too serious to comprehend especially from an experienced goalkeeper like Ejide, as HT strongly believes the goal tender is probably nursing an injury which made it impossible for him to be at his best.

Earlier before his invitation to the national side for the Mundial, Ejide had taken time to dispel the rumour that he was injured and could miss the 2014 World Cup. The Hapoel Be’er Sheva player insisted that he was fit and did not break his ribs as alleged by some overzealous fans and would be available for

08054103021

the World Cup. “I don’t know where peddlers of such a rumour got it from. I don’t know who really is wishing me bad; you know because this is not the first time they will peddle such rumours about me,” Ejide stated.

“When a competition is close by, you begin to see stories here and there that Austin is injured.

Some even went to the extent of printing out pictures of past events to say I’m injured which is not true,” he added with a tinge of regret.

On record, Ejide has been a long-term second choice to Vincent Enyeama, and he is one of the four goalkeepers that made the 30-man team for the World Cup squad, but his poor show against the Scots has given skeptics another opportunity to substantiate their claim.

HT gathered that this is not the first time Ejide is coming under intense scrutiny by soccer fans and even the media.

Prior to his call up to the 2013

Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) squad, it was reported by the media that Ejide will be replaced by former U-20 international Daniel Akpeyi due to an injury sustained in a match against Cape Verde. However, this did not happen and on February 10, 2013, Ejide won the 29th edition of AFCON with the team as an unused sub, thanks to Sunday Mba’s lone strike at the final against ambitious Burkina Faso which gave Nigeria a 1-0 win.

With the recent development on Ejide’s poor form, Keshi again has a herculean decision to make on the goalkeeper, as fans await his final 23-man list within the next 72 hours.

Aside the fact that Nigeria’s first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama is in the best form of his career after winning the Marc-Vivien Foe prize for the Ligue 1 African Player of the Season, there is a dire need for a formidable second choice goalkeeper since it is clear that the

likes of Ejide and Chigozie Agbim are no match to Enyeama.

Even the fourth goalkeeper in the 30-man provisional list, Daniel Akpeyi, is yet to test a ‘Grade A’ international football action for Nigerians to assess him well.

To be sincere, the goalkeeping department of the Super Eagles is HT’s major worry ahead of the FIFA World Cup commencing on June 12 and it is expected that Keshi should do a major shakeup in the hierarchy of the four goalkeepers competing for the three spots in the final list.

A super-sub to Enyeama is what the Eagles need to excel in the month long tourney because when the first choice goalkeeper cups up injury, the onus will then fall on the second choice goalkeeper to rescue the team from any defeat.

Eagles deserve the best in its final list, but not with a goalkeeper that may be out to give fans hypertensive moments at the Mundial!

Poorly positioned Austin Ejide watches as Scotland’s defender Charlie Mulgrew scores the opener during the international friendly football match between Nigeria and Scotland on Wednesday.

SPORT NEWS

CaN set to launch ‘Mr. Ambassador’ sports competition AYG: Team Nigeria garners 15 gold medals, surpasses Morocco feat vice to the nation and be good ANDREW EKEJIUBA

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he Continuity Ambassadors of Nigeria (CaN) has concluded plans to organise, ‘Mr. Ambassador’ sports competition among the youths in the country.

National President of CaN, Solsuema Osaro revealed in an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Lagos that the group has already paid a courtesy call to one of their Patrons, Engr. Ukodhiko Jonathan who doubles as the Group CEO, Joeny Holding Limited, to acquaint him of their plans.

“Plans to stage ‘Mr. Ambassador’ sports competition by CaN has actually reached advanced stage and that is why we paid a courtesy visit to one of our patrons, Engr. Ukodhiko Jonathan, who also used the occasion to advice Nigerian youths on the need to be selfless in ser-

ambassadors of the country in the face of daunting challenges,” Osaro began.

He hinted that CaN in collaboration with Centenary Youth Ambassadors Initiative, Ofalaru International Limited and Royal Treasure Agency will be organizing the Centenary Youth Ambassador of Nigeria (CYAN) sports competition to groom and empower 774 Youths Ambassadors from the 774 LGAs of the federation.

“Coming on the heels of restiveness and insurgencies dominated by youths, we intend to successfully organise the sports competition through a well designed and properly planned programme that will stimulate creativity, patriotism, brew leadership qualities, braveness and bring out sports-finesse in our youths,” Osaro added.

The competition will begin with an open screening of ath-

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Imagwe

letes to pick Youth Ambassadors from the LGAs and build them up through the states and zones.

The zonal selection is expected to start from the FCT on June 23 to 29 and later seven finalists drawn from the 6 zones and FCT will contest in the final competition culminating to the emergence of ‘Mr. Ambassador’.

eam Nigeria has consolidated their position on the medals table at the 2nd African Youth Games in Gaborone, Botswana as they earned more gold medals to increase their haul to 15, eight more than the seven they won at the inaugural edition held in Morocco four years ago.

Saturday Mirror gathered that Team Nigeria now have 15 gold, 7 silver and 11 bronze medals to place third behind South Africa and Egypt with two days left for curtains to be drawn on the Games.

One of the two gold medals came from the unexpected field of golf where Anita Uwadia beat all the contestants in the Girls’ single and also led three others namely Diana Osmond, Sunday Yusuf and Tokunbo Pedro, son of former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Femi Pedro to

win silver in the Team Event.

The other gold came from another female athlete, Favour Debeiyen who won in the C1 Canoe Sprint event and also got bronze in the K1 Sprint while Gbamire Goodluck Blessing took the C1 Sprint silver in the Boys’ category.

Earlier, boxing produced a gold medal through Agwu Celina Ezinne in the Girls’ 69-76 kg category, while Oyakojo Muideen Ojo and Isiaka Kazeem got bronze and silver in the Light Fly weight and Heavy weight categories respectively.

Karate got three bronze medals in the Team Kata event as well as -76kg male and +59kg female through Odoemenam Divine Favour and Nwankwo Caroline Ujunwa respectively, while Taekwondo which began competition on Wednesday got a bronze in the -63kg Girls’ category through Esther Godwin.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SPORT

May 31, 2014

Lampard Barcelona desperate to play on

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ngland international Frank Lampard is contemplating his future as he prepares for the World Cup finals in Brazil.

The 35-year-old concedes his trophy-laden 13 years at Chelsea may be coming to an end this summer.

Lampard has won three Premier League titles, picked up the FA Cup four times, enjoyed two League Cup triumphs, while winning the Europa League and Champions League in his time at Stamford Bridge.

But the midfielder insists he would just like to keep playing for another few seasons, although he is unsure where that may be at the moment.

Lampard has been linked with a switch to Chelsea’s west London rivals Queens Park Rangers, while he also has the option of moving to the United States of America to play in the MLS. “I don’t know if I’ll be at Chelsea next season,” the former West Ham favourite said.

“I’d like to carry on for two or three more years but it would be good to end on a high. So, if that means it all ends tomorrow, I wouldn’t have any regrets.”

EURO BRIEFS

Wenger agrees new contract

Fabregas not for sale!

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rsene Wenger has agreed a new three-year contract with Arsenal which keeps him at the club until 2017. Wenger had gone nearly nine years without winning a trophy until Arsenal won the dramatic FA Cup final against Hull and the new deal will take his tenure at the club to 21 years.

Sagna confirms Arsenal exit

B

B

arcelona have no intention of allowing Cesc Fabregas, Javier Mascherano or Xavi to leave the club this summer.

It has been suggested that Spain international Fabregas is once again figuring prominently on the transfer wish list of Manchester United.

The Premier League outfit pursued the former Arsenal midfielder for long periods in 2013, only to see him remain at the Nou Camp.

Fabregas has offered no indi-

Fabregas

cation that he is looking to secure a return to English football any time soon, and Barca maintain that he remains an important figure in their plans.

President Josep Maria Bartomeu was quoted as saying: “We don’t want to sell players.

“Barca do not want to sell Fabregas or any other players that may appear to be on the market.”

Among those also generating plenty of speculation ahead of the re-opening of the transfer window are versatile Argentine Mascherano and long-serving

playmaker Xavi.

Neither, though, are going anywhere according to Bartomeu.

He added: “Mascherano is a key player on the field, he stays at Barca.

“Xavi’s contract ends in 2016 and he has two more years with the club. Coaches rely on experience for the future, and he has been at the club for 16 years.”

Barcelona have also been linked with a number of possible incomings, with a transfer embargo postponed on appeal.

ickie Lambert is expected to undergo a medical at Liverpool today after an initial £4m fee was agreed with Southampton.

The Reds had a bid accepted for the 32-year-old and personal terms have been agreed.

Lambert, who was born in Kirkby, was part of the youth team at Anfield before being released at 15 and is a lifelong Liverpool fan.

The centre-forward, who is in England’s squad for this summer’s World Cup, scored 14 times last season for the Saints, who paid Bristol Rovers £1m for the player’s services in August 2009.

Since then he has become an established Premier League striker and scored on his England de-

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Lambert

but, notching with his first touch in international football after coming on as a substitute against Scotland in August 2013.

alaga have moved quickly to replace Bernd Schuster with the announcement of Javi Gracia as head coach on a two-year contract.

Gracia, who left his role with Osasuna following their relegation from La Liga last season, will take up the reins next week after Schuster announced his departure on May 16.

The 44-year-old only spent one season at Osasuna and was unable to keep them in the top flight, with relegation coming on the final day of the season despite a 2-1 victory over Real Betis.

After leaving Estadio El Sadar the head coach was linked with a

Gerrard: Scholes wrong about Rooney

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ngland captain Steven Gerrard has dismissed Paul Scholes’ claim that Wayne Rooney may be past his peak.

Last week, Scholes wrote in his blog that Manchester United striker Rooney has already entered into decline.

The former midfielder’s comments led to a debate over whether Rooney should start for England at the World Cup, with Daniel Sturridge also pushing for a starting role following a fine season for Liverpool.

acary Sagna has confirmed that he will be leaving Arsenal as contract talks did not go “in the direction I wanted”. The fullback told the Gunners that he had turned down their contract offer earlier this week, and his current deal is due to expire at the end of June, after which point he will be free to sign for another club, but Manchester City are favourites to sign the 31-year-old.

Sagna

Lambert undergoes medical Malaga appoints Gracia as coach at Liverpool

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Lampard

47

However, Gerrard has been quoted as saying: “Paul Scholes is wrong. Wayne’s been Manchester United’s best player at home and in Europe.

“He’s been in terrific form.

What I’ve seen from his performances in the United team, his form has been really positive.

“He’s in a better frame of mind going into this tournament than he’s had going into previous tournament, when he’s had injuries.”

England manager Roy

Hodgson, meanwhile, has said he would consider dropping Rooney, following suggestions that the forward’s reputation could precede him.

He said: “I’d like to think that, as a manager for a long time, I have the capacity to make the decisions that are necessary.

“Secondly, of course I don’t think Wayne’s past his best. I’ve selected him in a 23-man squad that I’m very proud of. I believe in Wayne Rooney. He’s still a young man.

Gracia

move to Malaga should Schuster bring his tenure to an end, and his arrival at La Rosaleda was confirmed yesterday.

“Malaga Football Club and Carlos Javier Gracia have reached an agreement that will bind the coach for the next two seasons,” Malaga confirmed on their official website.

“The new coach will be presented on Tuesday, June 3 at 12:30 at the Estadio La Rosaleda.”

Gracia will be challenged with rebuilding Malaga’s fortunes after a disappointing 11thplace finish in La Liga, which followed two consecutive top-six placings.

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SPORT

May 31, 2014

EVEREST ONYEWUCHI SPORT EDITOR

I

f a tree could make a forest, Portugal would easily win the upcoming 20th FIFA World Cup in Brazil, just for having in its team, Cristiano Ronaldo, the reigning World Footballer of the Year.

From age to age, Portugal produces star players – Eusebio, Luis Figo, Ronaldo – yet it was only at their first appearance in 1966 in England that they mounted the podium for the bronze medal. That time, they were spearheaded by the irrepressible Eusebio.

The Portuguese do not have fond memories of their next appearance on the big stage which came at Mexico 1986.

Despite opening up with a win over England, they went out in the group phase after defeats to Poland and Morocco.

They didn’t qualify for Italia `90, USA `94 and France `98, and only contested their third World Cup at Korea/ Japan 2002, where they once again fell at the first round.

A very different story would follow at Germany 2006. Coached by Luiz Felipe Scolari, the man who had taken Brazil to the world title four years earlier, Portugal made it all the way to last four before being knocked out by a Zinedine Zidane penalty, with Scolari’s side then going on to lose the match for third place against hosts Germany.

In South Africa four years ago Portugal’s dream ended in the Round of 16, when they were edged out 1-0 by eventual champions, Spain.

On the Road to Brazil, the Os

Portugal thirsts for glory

Line-up of Portuguese P team

Navegadores (The Navigators), for the second time in succession had to go through the play-offs in order to advance to the world finals. Paying back for their aggregate defeat of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the road to South Africa 2010, they saw off Sweden 4-2 over two legs to book their place at Brazil 2014.

Their hero on the night was none other than their talisman, Ronaldo, who scored all four of their goals against the Swedes to round off a qualifying tournament full of ups and downs

for Coach Paulo Bento’s side.

Portugal began their campaign to reach their sixth FIFA World Cup finals as the favourites to win Group F, having made the semi-finals of EURO 2012, where they lost on penalties to Spain. And though they held their own against Russia, losing in Moscow but winning the return fixture in Lisbon, the Portuguese had to settle for second place in the section after surprise draws at home to Northern Ireland and home and away to Israel.

That left them with no option but to take the play-off route again, but in a duel that

In Ronaldo, a tree can make forest

C

Ronaldo

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH (born February 5, 1985), known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is Portugal’s captain and talisman.

He became the most expensive footballer in history when he moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009 in a transfer worth £80 million ($132 million).

Ronaldo’s contract with Real Madrid, under the terms of which he is paid 21 million euro per year (after taxes), makes him the highest-paid footballer in the world, and his buyout clause is valued at 1 billion euro as per his

contract.

Last Thursday, the reigning World Footballer of the Year and his Real Madrid mates, Pepe and Fabio Coentrao, joined Portugal’s World Cup training camp in Obidos, bringing the squad up to its full contingent of 23 players.

Ronaldo and his Madrid mates had been granted a few extra days to recover before linking up with the national team following last week’s UEFA Champions League final in Lisbon where Real defeated city rivals, Atletico 4-1.

But Ronaldo, who is still feeling the effects of a thigh injury sustained late in the season remains a doubt for today’s friendly match against Greece in Lisbon.

The Portugal captain instead carried out rehab work at the team’s hotel, the Portuguese Football Federation said in its daily medical report.

pitted together two of the world’s best players, Ronaldo got the better of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the scorer of his side’s two goals, to guide the Portuguese safely to Brazil.

Portugal will not be about only Ronaldo against Germany, Ghana and USA in Brazil. The central-defensive pairing of Pepe and Bruno Alves is the cornerstone of a very solid rearguard that also features flying full-backs, Joao Pereira and Fabio Coentrao.

Joao Moutinho is the heartbeat of a creative midfield unit, while Nani can also be relied upon to shine alongside Ronaldo.

FACT-FILE CAPITAL: Lisbon POPULATION: 10.48million ASSOCIATION: Federacao Portuguesa de Futebol NICKNAMES: A Selecao, Os Navegadores (The Navigators) APPEARANCES: 6 (First in 1966) BEST OUTING: Third place in 1966 FIFA RANKING: 3 MOST CAPPED PLAYER: Luis Figo (127) TOP SCORER: Cristiano Ronaldo (49) CAPTAIN: Cristiano Ronaldo COACH: Paulo Bento

GROUP MATCHES Monday, June 16, vs Germany (Salvador) Sunday, June 22, vs USA (Manaus) Thursday, June 26, vs Ghana (Brasilia)

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

49

May 31, 2014

How Diabetes affects the eyes and vision

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tunately these new blood vessels are weak. They are also in the wrong place growing on the surface of the retina and into the vitreous jelly. As a result these blood vessels can bleed very easily and cause scar tissue to form in the eye. The scarring pulls and distorts the retina. When the retina is pulled out of position, it is called retinal detachment.

hat Happens?

Diabetic retinopathy is the name given to the changes in the retina, which occur over a period of time in diabetics. The retina is the back part of the eye and is made up of cells, which are sensitive to light.

It is fed by a network of blood vessels and it is changes in these which cause the difficulties with vision. The walls of the blood vessels become fragile and then start to break, leaking blood around them. Sometimes, before the walls actually break, the weakened area can be seen, by the person who examines the eye, to have ballooned out.

If these break, the amount of blood which leaks out is fairly small, and the only symptoms may be a few areas of blurring or floating spots in front of the eyes. These may well disappear without treatment.

Later the blood vessels may stop carrying blood permanently, and the cells in the retina will die from lack of nourishment. This kind of loss of sight is gradual but at the present time, it is permanent. When old blood vessels close down, new but abnormal ones will grow to take their place. They are unable to nourish the retina properly, and may grow into the transparent inner part of the eye, and further affect vision.

Why are regular eye tests important?

Most sight loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented. But it is vital it is diagnosed early. You may not realize you have anything wrong with your eyes but an opthalmologist will look into the back of the eye to detect any changes.

Your eye has a lens and an aperture (opening) at the front, which adjusts to bring objects into focus on the retina at the back of the eye. The retina is made Dear Mirror Doctor, I am an asthmatic patient so also is my boyfriend and we are planning to get married. I want to ask if there won’t be any problem when we get married. +23813---------45 Mirror Doctor Replies In answering your question, it is necessary for you to understand what asthma really means.

Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (airways) that causes swelling and narrowing (constriction) of the airways. The result is difficulty in breathing. The bronchial narrowing is usually either totally or at least partially reversible with treatments.

Bronchial tubes that are chronically

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy can include: up of a delicate tissue that is sensitive to light. At the centre of the retina is the macula, which is a small area, the size of a pin head. This is the most highly specialised part of the retina and it is vital because it enables you to see fine detail and read small print. The other part of the retina gives you side vision (peripheral vision).

Diabetes can affect the eye in many ways. Usually it involves the fine network of blood vessels in the retina hence its name, Diabetic Retinopathy.

How can diabetes affect the eye?

Temporary Blurring - Your vision can become blurred whilst your diabetes is being controlled. This is due to the swelling of the lens of the eye. Once your diabetes is stabilised it will clear.

Cataract - This can occur in two forms. Young people with diabetes very occasionally develop a special type of cataract. Although their vision gets worse, it can be restored by surgery. Older people with diabetes can be especially prone to developing cataracts. Cataracts can be successfully removed by surgery and usually it is possible to insert a lens implant. However this is unsuitable for some people and you would be told if this is the case.

Diabetic Retinopathy - The most serious diabetic eye condition involves the retina and is called diabetic retinopathy.

Background Diabetic Retinopathy - This condition is very common in people who have had diabetes for a long time. Your doctor may be able to see abnormalities in your eyes, but there is no threat to your sight. There are two types of diabetic retinopathy, which can damage your sight. Both involve the fine network of blood vessels in the retina.

They are described below.

Maculopathy - This happens when the blood vessels in the retina start to leak. If the macula is affected, you will find that your central vision gradually gets worse. You may find it difficult to recognise people’s faces in the distance or to see detail such as small print. The amount of central vision that is lost varies from person to person. However the vision which allows you to get around at home and outside (navigation vision) will be preserved. It is very rare for someone with maculopathy to lose all their sight.

Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Sometimes diabetes can cause the blood vessels in the retina to become blocked.

If this happens then new blood vessels form in the eye. This is nature’s way of trying to repair the damage so that the retina has a new blood supply. Unfor-

LETTER

• Blurred or double vision • Flashing lights, which can indicate a retinal detachment • A veil, cloud, or streaks of red in the field of vision, or dark or floating spots in one or both eyes, which can indicate bleeding • Blind or blank spots in the field of vision

The Importance of Early Treatment Your vision may be good and you may not be aware of any changes taking place. Most sight loss in diabetes is preventable.

• Early diagnosis is vital • Have an eye examination every year • Do not wait until your vision has deteriorated to have an eye test Remember, however, that if your vision is getting worse, this does not necessarily mean you have diabetic retinopathy. It may simply be a problem that can be corrected by glasses.

What is the treatment?

Laser treatment is used which aims to save the sight you have, not to make it better. The laser is a beam of high intensity light that is focused with extreme precision.

My boyfriends and I are asthmatic inflamed may become overly sensitive to allergens (specific triggers) or irritants (nonspecific triggers). The airways may become “twitchy” and remain in a state of heightened sensitivity. This is called “bronchial hyperactivity” (BHR). It is likely that there is a spectrum of bronchial hyperactivity in all individuals.

However, it is clear that asthmatics and allergic individuals (without apparent asthma) have a greater degree of bronchial hyperactivity than non-asthmatic and non-allergic people. In sensitive individuals, the bronchial tubes are more likely to swell and constrict when exposed to triggers such as allergens, tobacco smoke, or exercise. Amongst asthmatics, some may have mild BHR and no symptoms while others may have severe BHR and chronic

symptoms.

Asthma affects people differently.

Each individual is unique in their degree of reactivity to environmental triggers. This naturally influences the type and dose of medication prescribed, which may vary from one individual to another.

Asthma symptoms may be activated or aggravated by many agents. Not all asthmatics react to the same triggers.

Additionally, the effect that each trigger has on the lungs varies from one individual to another. In general, the severity of your asthma depends on how many agents activate your symptoms and how sensitive your lungs are to them. Most of these triggers can also worsen nasal or eye symptoms.

Triggers fall into two categories namely allergens (“specific”), and nonallergens -- mostly irritants (nonspecific).

Once your bronchial tubes (nose and eyes) become inflamed from an allergic exposure, a re-exposure to the offending allergens will often activate symptoms.

The following is a simple checklist of common asthma triggers: “seasonal” pollens, year-round dust mites, molds, pets, and insect parts, foods, such as fish, egg, peanuts, nuts, cow’s milk, and soy, additives, such as sulfites, and work-related agents, such as latex, epoxides, and formaldehyde.

The basic fact is that if you are able to identify your trigger factors, you can live a relatively healthy life.

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Crime Watch

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

May 31, 2014

BRIEFS Motorcyclist arraigned for stealing phone

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motorcyclist, Dayo Babatunde, 26, who stole a telephone was on Friday arraigned at an Abule Egba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Babatunde, who lives at 40, Ikola Ilumo Str., Ipaja, near Lagos, was alleged to have stolen the telephone belonging to one Mrs. Olayinka Ogunjobi from her shop.

The prosecutor, Insp. Racheal Williams, told the court that the offence was committed on May 23, 2014, at Redeemed Street, Ipaja.

Williams said that the accused was apprehended by a passerby who saw him stealing the telephone, adding that he was subsequently handed over to the police.

She said that the value of the phone was N4,500 and that the offence contravened Sections 278 and 306 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.

Elias adjourned the case until June 30.

Man, 42, docked over breach of public peace, assault

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42-year-old man, Ikechukwu Ogbodo, charged with breach of public peace and assault, was on Friday brought before an Itire Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused, whose address was not stated, is facing a two-count charge of breach of public peace and assault.

The prosecutor, Insp. Olakunle Shonibare, said the accused constituted himself in an annoying manner and breached public peace by his conduct.

He alleged that the accused had on May 27, unlawfully harassed one Chidinma Ezinnu and publicly assaulted her at No. 8, Ishaga St., Isolo, Lagos.

Shonibare said Ogbodo, who had once helped the complainant, Ezinnu, to resolve a matter that was pending at the station, demanded that she returned the favour by sleeping with him.

He said the complainant, who felt insulted, asked Ogbodo out of her shop, which he refused and out of anger, Ogbodo pushed the complainant and publicly assaulted her.

Shonibare said the offences contravened Sections 168 and 157 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Man lynched for attempting to kidnap toddler SEGUN ADIO

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t was a red letter day for travelers to Ogun State on Wednesday, May 7, 2014, when a man was reportedly set ablaze after he was suspected to have kidnapped a little boy at the Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos State.

The victim, names unknown, was reported to have been decked in flowing white apparel with a Muslim rosary in his hand. The heavily- mustached and bearded man, was reportedly seen in company of the young boy identified as Jamiu whose age was put at between eight and nine years old.

It was gathered that the ‘fake’ Islamic Cleric was holding the young Jamiu and by the hand at the Abeokuta garage, apparently waiting to join a vehicle supposedly out of the Lagos State.

It was also gathered that while the man and Jamiu were moving about the area together, the boy hearkened to all directives of the man, signifying that Jamiu was his son. But he was not.

The lid over the alleged plot was reportedly blown off when according to sources, one of the transport operators approached the ‘cleric’ to know where he and his ‘son’ were going. The newspaper gathered that the man promptly replied the transport operator, saying that they were heading to Abeokuta.

It was gathered that while the transport operator tried to prevail on the ‘cleric’ to join his bus on the journey, the man claimed he could not wait for the bus to be filled up as he was late for his appointment. He reportedly dragged the reluctant, but visibly weak and confused Jamiu to stand with him by the road side waiting for a bus that was ready to move immediately.

Fielding questions to reporters, a

man who simply identified himself as Alhaji Salami, said that ‘the cleric’ appeared real until the transport operator in a bid to crack jokes with the ‘cleric’s son’ discovered that Jamui was not happy. Salami, who claimed that he operates a shop near the car park, told journalists that: “It all started like a joke. What happened was that when the ‘cleric and his son’ could not wait for the bus to load, but went to wait for another bus by the roadside, the conductor continued in his efforts to persuade the ‘cleric’ to join his bus. So, in the process, the bus conductor also joked with the ‘son’ of the man to compel his father to join his bus. While the conductor made efforts to convince the ‘cleric’ and did so by addressing him as the boy’s father, he noticed that the boy was disapproved of the tag of ‘Dad’ given to the man holding his hands.

So, the curious conductor then decided to interact more with the boy and suddenly the boy started crying, calling: Mummy! Mummy! Mummy!

That immediately deepened the conductor’s curiosity and he drew the attention of people to the man and the boy just before the ‘cleric’ made attempt to cross over to the other side of the road.

More so, while the conductor told the man to take the boy to his mother, the ‘cleric’ became obviously insecure and made to escape further scrutiny. The ‘cleric’s behaviour was further to make things worse when some union members pointedly sought to know from him what relationship he has with the boy, who was still crying and looking everywhere, apparently searching for his mother.” Salami continued, “The conductor then asked the man if he was the father to

the boy to which, the ‘cleric’ replied affirmatively. One question followed another until the conductor asked the ‘cleric’ the boy’s name. Shockingly, he did not know his name. That was when confusion set in. By this time, a couple of people had gathered round the three of them.”

It was gathered that when it became clear that the man could not convince the people that the boy was his son, an angry member of the National Road Transport Workers (NURTW) kicked the man and hit him repeatedly on the face. It was learnt that once the slap landed on his face, the man’s moustache and long beard fell off from him into the ground.

Another eyewitness, Uchenna, an electronic items dealer at the bus stop also told reporters that the miscreants around eventually lynched the man. According to him, ‘after someone slapped the man and his beard and mustache fell to the ground, people lost their cool and descended on him immediately using all kinds of items to beat him.’

It was reported that the men of the Dopemu Police Station later arrived to see the lifeless body of the suspected kidnapper. Jamiu was reportedly taken away by law enforcement agents.

A police source at Dopemu Police Station confirmed the incident, but condemned jungle justice meted to the man by the irate mob. According to a police source, the station knew about the matter after the man had been lynched. The police source, expressed shock at the manner of killing, pointing out that it was against the law to carry out jungle justice on a suspect as, according to him, the appropriate thing would have been to call in the police and hand the suspect over for proper investigation.

Do you have a story for us? Contact 08138773277 or crimewatchmirror@yahoo.com

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CRIME WATCH

May 31, 2014

51

Man stabs friend to death over debt SEGUN ADIO

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he last has certainly not been heard of the death of one trader, simply identified as Onyedika, who was reportedly killed by his friend as his relatives are currently seeking justice and pushing for police investigation on the matter.

Onyedika reportedly met his untimely death in the hands of his bosom friend, one Udoka Nwokedi, recently, over a scuffle that allegedly had to do with unpaid debt.

The two friends, it was said, had reportedly rented a oneroom apartment at 6, Cardoso Street, Kirikiri Town, in Oriade Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.

Having been friends for years, reports say, the late Onyedika and Nwokedi decided to live together under one roof a couple of years back and pulled resources together for the apartment.

But trouble broke out between the two friends some days before Onyedika’s death which made the two friends fall out and were not in talking terms for days. Although there are conflicting reports of the cause of the disagreement between the two friends, a close friend to the duo, identified as Ken, told reporters that trouble started after the

two friends had quarreled over ownership of a telephone handset charger, which he reportedly claimed might have belonged originally to the deceased.

But a neighbour of the two friends, who refused her name in print, in an interview claimed that she had mediated in the quarrel between the two friends some days before the sad incident. According to her, the deceased had approached her to broker a peace deal between them. The woman claimed the late Onyedika had reported his friend to her and complained that Nwokedi had seized his (Onyedika’s) ATM card over some money he owed Nwokedi.

On the fateful day, it was reported that Nwokedi refused the deceased to leave home for his office until he gave him the money he was being owed, which the deceased reportedly told him he would redeem in another week. It was reported that Nwokedi had refused the deceased’s promise after many of such promises had failed.

Determined to keep up with an appointment, it was reported that the late Onyedika pleaded, albeit unsuccessfully, with his friend to allow him leave home early enough for the appointment, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Fight soon broke out between both

friends. Amid the scuffle and efforts to free himself, a neighbour reportedly intervened, but to no avail. It was at this time that the deceased lost his cool and a fight erupted. It was gathered that while they were fighting, the shocked neighbour still made efforts to separate them. It was learnt that as the two friends flexed muscles, Nwokedi allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and aimed it at his friend’s neck. Onyedika reportedly slumped immediately while blood reportedly gushed out of his body. By this time, Nwokedi reportedly became confused and called for immediate assistance to have his friend’s life saved.

Onyedika reportedly gave up the ghost moments after he was stabbed by his best friend.

According to the woman, who claimed to have tried to settle the two friends, ‘there was a day, he, (Onyedika) came to my shop to complain of his friend’s strange behaviour towards him. Since the two of them are my customers, I decided to come in so as to settle them, but I could not because the other one refused to listen to me. But on the day that the boy died, I was out of the shop in the next street when one of my girls in the shop ran to call me that the boy had been killed. Everyone there thought it was a joke until we saw people rushing to

Police charge accountant, 40, with criminal breach of trust, cheating

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he Police on Friday arraigned an accountant, Yahaya Ocheni, 40, in a Mararaba Senior Magistrates’ Court for criminal breach of trust, cheating and theft.

The prosecutor, Mr Steven Kwaza, told the court that the accused, who lives in Mararaba, allegedly stole N652, 650 from a company.

He said that the counts were contrary to Sections 314, 322, and 287 of the Penal Code.

Section 314 stipulates that whoever commits criminal breach of trust shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years and shall also be liable to fine.

Section 322 stipulates that whoever cheats shall be punished

with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.

Section 287 says whoever commits theft shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine or both.

The prosecutor said that one Kayode Olaniyan, an employee of Mama Cass Nigeria Ltd, Garki 2, Abuja, reported the matter to Sani Abacha Police Station, Mararaba, on May 21.

He said that the complainant told the police that the accused was given N1, 410, 263, the proceeds from sales of the company from May 16 to May 18.

He said that, instead of depositing the sum into the company’s account in Ecobank Plc, the ac-

cused paid in N757, 613 and converted N652, 650 into his personal account.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Mrs Rita Onyia, counsel to the accused, applied for bail of her client, which was not objected by the prosecutor but she pleaded with the court to make the bail conditions stringent.

The Presiding Officer, Mr Habila Abundaga, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N500, 000 and one surety in the like sum.

Abundaga said the surety must be a civil servant from Grade Level 12 and above and must also deposit two passportsized photographs with the court registrar.

Nwokedi

the house where they live. By the time we got there, we saw blood all over the entire room and the corridor,” the woman said.

Another neighbour, who identified himself as Seyi, told reporters that Onyedika would not have died had his attacker raised the alarm early enough. In his words; “No one knew what was going on inside their room until the boy that stabbed his friend came outside to inform people of the development. By that time, things had gone bad. We

tried to rush him to the hospital but he had already lost so much blood.”

Nwokedi, it was gathered, had planned to escape from the house but some vigilant residents prevented him and ensured he was handed over to law enforcement agents at the Kirikiri Police Division.

He was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department at Panti, Lagos State. A police source at Panti confirmed the detention of the culprit, but refused further comment on the matter.

Kano NDLEA impounds cocaine concealed in radio set ALEX MOMOH KANO

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he Kano State National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has impounded a consignment of cocaine worth about 142 grammes. The banned substance was concealed in a radio set.

Commander of the agency in the state, Ahmadu Garba, disclosed this to journalists, yesterday, in their Kano office. He said the command has seized a total of 481,502 kilograms of different kinds of illicit drugs and narcotics this month alone.

The suspect, Charles Offurum, reportedly claimed that he

was sponsored by one of his boss in Lagos to be operating the drug business on his behalf in Kano.

Reeling out the activities of the command, Gara also said that another suspect, Adamu Muhammed, was arrested with 32 kilogrammes of cannabis apprehended with a bag containing the substance which he (Muhammed) claimed said belonged to his friend who left it by the entrance gate of his house.

Other suspects paraded by the agency, included one Felix Obey, who was arrested with 252 blocks of cannabis weighing 145kilogrammes; Nababa Sani and Abubakar Sani who were arrested with 207 blocks and parcels weighing 177kgs of cannabis, respectively.

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May 31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

N

o nation can grow industrially without hygienic packaging of consumables.

Nylon is one of the materials used for packaging of some manufactured goods.

Here, the perfect nylon extruding plant is discussed with emphasis placed on how to establish and manage it and also market your nylon products effectively and efficiently.

Petroleum bye-products are what are extruded into polyethylene sheets which can be made into various shapes, designs and sizes for industrial and domestic uses. They can be further made to have pictures and suchlike printed on them for specific appeal.

The uses of polyethylene sheets cannot be exhausted. Industrially, they are used as membranes for semipackaging and wrappers. For domestic purposes, they are used as shopping bags, rain coats, shower caps and many other things.

Pharmaceutical companies are not left out in needing them. Surgical gloves are just an example of what they are used for medically.

Polyethylene products enjoy both national and international patronage.

In fact, they are among the fastest selling consumer goods in the country today. This is because demand for them has a relationship with the level of demand for other goods. They are demanded all year round but most demand during the rainy season.

In spite of the very high level of demand, the supply of polyethylene products is limited. This is basically as a result of the high cost of setting up its plant in the country.

Its machines are all imported, making their cost enormous and thereby discouraging to most interested investors.

With the help of research and technological development in machine fabrication, the issue of high cost of machinery has been addressed as they are now locally fabricated.

Yet, the supply is still far below the demand.

The production plants come in various capacities and complexities including high density extruder, low density extruder, high density twin

Investment

Profiles

with Godwin Uba ubagodwin@yahoo.com 08034494437

Shopping bags as big business head extruder, dual functional extruder, cutting and sealing machine and handle cutting machine.

The major raw materials are petroleum bye-products and Master-Berg.

Master-Berg is the colour matter added to the polyethylene bye-products to give them various colours.

The process of producing polyethylene sheet is simple but technical. The raw material is poured into the heating and melting unit of the extruder machine, heated, melted and converted to a liquid substance which is blown under pressure through a passage and simultaneously cooled in the process by an air generating apparatus.

A series of rollers then convert it into bales in the output unit. The sheets are then taken to the cutting

and sealing machine and subsequently to the handle-cutting machine.

From a controlled factory experience conducted, seven bales of polyethylene sheets contain 1,000 pieces of shopping bags measuring 50 x 40 x 0.45 (white colour).

Two 25kg bags of raw materials and 8kg of Master-Berg are required to produce those seven bales.

The plant under consideration will produce 10,500,000 pieces of shopping bags measuring 50 x 40 x 0.45 per year at full capacity.

It will produce 35,000 pieces per shift of 8 hours daily.

The proposed plant will cost N15.6m to start up a medium scale outfit if the machines are to be imported, and N7.5m if local machines are to be used.

VIABILITY AND PROFITABILITY TESTS CONDUCTED INDICATE THAT THE PAYBACK PERIOD IS ONE YEAR AND

10 MONTHS.

THE COST BENEFIT RATIO IS THREE TIMES OR

300%. THE NET

PROFIT AFTER TAX IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF OPERATION IS

N3.8M. THE NET CASH INFLOW OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS IS

N28.61M

Viability and profitability tests conducted indicate that the payback period is one year and 10 months. The cost benefit ratio is three times or 300%. The net profit after tax in the first two years of operation is N3.8m.

The net cash inflow over a period of two years is N28.61m.

Based on our professional evaluation and the high demand for the product, the proposed polyethylene extrusion plant will yield very impressive returns to investors. We therefore urge Nigerian investors to invest in it.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

REGIONAL NEWS

May 31, 2014

53

SOUTH SOUTH

Uduaghan sacks Burutu LG chair over alleged misappropriation THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

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he Transition Committee Chairman of Burutu Local Government Council of Delta State, Mr De-

inne Buckman, has been sacked by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Buckman was sacked over alleged incompetence and misappropriation of the council funds, Saturday Mirror can ex-

clusively report.

Our reporter gathered that the former Burutu Council boss was butted out of office by the governor late Thursday evening with immediate effect.

A source at the council

told Saturday Mirror that Governor Uduaghan was alarmed by the several allegations leveled against Buckman by the people of the area. The allegations bothered on ineffective administration of the

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa (l), presenting a souvenir to Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Uriel Palti, during his courtesy visit to government house in Yenagoa, yesterday.

Imoke’s wife tasks Fire Service on new equipment RICHARD NDOMA CALABAR

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ife of Cross River State Governor, Mrs. Obioma Liyel-Imoke, has charged men of the state Fire Service to make good use of fire-fighting equipment in the care, and not divert same for personal use.

Mrs. Imoke gave the charge while handing over four fire trucks donated by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDC), to state Fire Service Command. She also supervised the distribution of live-saving equipment for empowerment of over 300 rural women

in the state.

The equipment was donated to beneficiaries by Chairman NDDC Governing Board, Sen. Bassey Ewa and NDDC Commissioner, in the state, Hon. Paul Adah. Fire fighting items donated included one articulated fire truck, one regular fire truck and two water tankers and the distribution of 240 sewing machine, 55 grounding machine and 88 baking ovens.

The governor’s wife urged beneficiaries of the equipment to use them appropriately which she said would go a long way in reshaping their lifestyle for the better. Mrs. Imoke also noted that the

gesture was a sign of the beginning of good things to the state, stressing that she was optimistic that many more lofty projects would still be attracted to the state by the NDDC officials.

Special Adviser to Governor Imoke on Special Duties, Mr. Fabian Okpa, at occasion, harped on the important role of NDDC in the state. He maintained that the NDDC has lived up to their responsibility, while praising the Commission for coming to the aid of flood disaster victims at their point of need last year.

Earlier, the Commissioner representing Cross River State on the

NDDC Governing Board, Hon. Adah, said the masses empowerment programme and the distribution of fire service equipment was the Commission’s own way of marking 15 years of democratic governance in the country.

According to Adah “The Niger Delta Development Commission was established through an Act of National Assembly in the year 2000 as a Federal Government interventionist agency in the Niger Delta. It was set up to bring development to Niger Delta Region that had been environmentally degraded and polluted.”

Bayelsa Speaker’s mother-in-law kidnapped

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other-in-law of the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Kombowei Benson, Madam Ogboro Dark, has been kidnapped by armed gunmen.

The kidnapped woman is aged 90 years.

Madam Dark, fondly called Obololo, was reportedly abducted by unknown gunmen operating along the waterways of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

She was abducted in her hometown, Korokoro-

sei Community of Southern Ijaw, at about 2.00 am yesterday.

NAN learnt that the armed men entered the community through the waterside in three speed boats.

A community source, who witnessed the inci-

dent, said: “the gunmen came at about 2.00 am.

According to the source, “They shot sporadically before making their way to the woman’s home; we were all afraid because of the gunshots.

“They seized her and took her away to an

council activities.

Another source alleged that the sacked council chirman has been foisting his will on the people without consultation with other council members which has resulted in a running battle with caretaker committee/transition committee members including other management staff of the council.

Just recently, a concerned group under the aegis of Burutu Progressives appealed to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and state chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Nwaoboshi, to call the caretaker committee chairman to order to avoid crisis in the area.

The group in a protest letter to the state governor and PDP chairman, accused the council boss of highhandedness

and brazen display of impunity which they said was not in the better interest of the council area.

Buckman was appointed as the transition committee chairman November 2012 by the Delta State Governor, and since then, his reign has been marred by controversies and allegation of financial embezzlement and highhandedness’.

Buckman, a retired Navy Captain, had early this year been removed from office, but found his way back after Ijaw National Leader; Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, intervened and was returned.

Our sources further added that he has been replaced by one Mr. Julius Takeme, an appointment which would be confirm next week.

Rivers to complete 154 roads, bridge projects in 2015, says smaller roads; the Commissioner clude state government has so

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he Rivers State Government has said it would attain 95 per cent completion of 154 ongoing roads, bridges, reclamation and shore protection projects before June 1, 2015.

Commissioner for Works, Mr. Victor Giadom, stated this in a report titled ``Financial Road Map to Completion of Ongoing Projects-March Towards 2015” in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Giadom said the 154 projects comprising of dual carriage roads were expected to cost the state government the sum of N120 billion.

He said that 146 of the 154 ongoing projects would reach 95 per cent completion before May 2015.

According to the commissioner, ``If we in-

far awarded 275 roads of which the non-carriage roads in most rural communities have been completed. ``Similarly, a total of 116 roads and bridges, reclamation and shore protection projects were completed between March and June 2013. ``The completed roads are equipped with street lights, pedestrian walkways and modern drainages to contain the present influx of people and growing commercial activities in the state,’’ he said.

Giadom said the state government had completed the Federal Government Ogoni-Opobo Unity Road project at the cost of N28 billion.

He said the projects were in line with the government’s commitment to reduce traffic situation in the state.

unknown place. They showed no pity at the age of the woman,’’ the source said.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Hilary Opara, confirmed the development and said the police had ‘’swung into action’’ to free the victim.

Opara, who vowed to make the state uncomfort-

able for criminals, said the anti-kidnap squad of the police had been directed to rescue the woman.

His words, “The divisional police officer in charge of the area alerted me early in the morning about the development. It is wicked and we will ensure we rescue the woman,’’ he said.

54

REGIONAL NEWS

May 31, 2014

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SOUTH EAST

Okorocha lauds Orji over U-turn on non-indigenes

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overnor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has commended his Abia counterpart, Governor Theodore Orji, for reinstating sacked Imo indigenes working in Abia.

The commendation was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Okorocha, Mr Sam Onwuemedo, in Owerri,

the Imo State capital.

The Imo State governor’s statement read in part: “The government of Imo State has received with delight the report that the Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, has in his wisdom, reinstated non-indigenes in the state who were sacked from the state’s civil service some time ago.

“The Imo governor and indeed, the government of the state wish to sincerely commend the Abia governor for appreciating the concern of most Nigerians, especially the Igbos over the sacking of nonindigenes from the state’s civil service.”

The statement noted that those who spoke against the action did not do so out of malice

or hatred but out of the concern that such action would give others the wrong impression about the unity of Ndi Igbo and their ability to love themselves.

It continued, “It is a good thing that the governor of Abia state has realised the implications of that action, both in the short run and in the long run and acted in

the spirit of conviviality by recalling them.”

The statement explained that the comment of Governor Okorocha then on the incident was never meant to discredit the Abia governor.

It said that it was also important to appeal to the Abia governor to complete the good work he began by reinstating

the remaining ones.

“He has acted well by reinstating 2,700 out of a total of 4000 but his action will be speaking louder to the glory of God if he reinstates all the remaining ones.

“By so doing, he has taken a prominent position as a considerate governor, who also listens and accepts superior arguments.”

Voter’s registration: Nsukka residents task INEC on machines

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ome residents of Nsukka town in Enugu State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide more machines in some registration centres in the towen, to enable eligible voters register before the end of the continuous voter registration.

The residents made the

call in Nsukka in separate interviews with NAN. The Councilor representing Ala-Uno Ward in Nsukka Legislative Council, Mr. Paul Omeje, said that few machines deployed by INEC might limit the high turn out of residents for the exercise.

According to Omeje, ``Since Wednesday when the exercise started, resi-

dents have been trooping out to register but the problem is inadequate machines for the registration. ``You may not believe that only one machine is being used in the whole of Ala-Uno ward. ``I have complained to Mrs Nwaneke Nwala INEC representative in Nsukka Local Govern-

ment Area, but she said the commission has distributed all the machines it has for in Nsukka for the exercise, ‘‘Omeje said.

Another eligible voter Mrs Nnedimma Ugwoke also complained of inadequate machines for the exercise. ``If people did not come out government will complain, now people that they have responded,

there is no machine to register them, “she said.

In Ede-Oballa, EhaAlumona communities, several eligible voters said they came out as early as 7a.m. to be attended to by registration officers.

Deputy Leader, Nsukka Legislative Council and Councilor, representing Edenta Ward, Mr Thomas Onyishi, also told NAN that the exercise was going on smoothly in his ward.

He, however, complained of poor functioning of the machines and late arrival of INEC staff.

In his words,``I am impressed by the turn out of people; this large turnout shows that people are well mobilised, ‘‘he said.

Majority leader, Nsukka Legislative Council and Councilor, represent-

ing Eha-Ulo Ward, Mr Chukwurah Ikeoha, also expressed satisfaction with the large turnout of eligible voters for the exercise.

He however complained that using one machine for eligible voters would make it difficult for everybody to be captured.

Another respondent, Mr Gabriel Ogbu urged INEC to provide more machines so that the efforts made by eligible voters to register would not be in vain.

When contacted, Nwala INEC representative in Nsukka Local Government Area, said that machines were distributed based on the number of people that were unable to secure their permanent cards in various wards.

Abia CJ frees 8 inmates, grants 6 others bail People waiting at Umuofiagu, in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State to be captured in the ongoing voter registration, recently.

Shell empowers physically-challenged persons in Imo

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hell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria Limited, yesterday, disbursed skill acquisition kits and cheques totaling N6 million to 30 young physically challenged persons in Imo State.

The cheque and kits were presented to them

by Mr. Nedo Osayande, the company’s General Manager, Sustainable Development and Community Relations, in Owerri.

Represented by Mr Evans Krukrubo, the Government and Community Relations Manager of the company, Osayande said the gesture was part of the sustainable develop-

ment programme of the company in its areas of operation.

He added that the gesture was also part of the 2014 Shell LiveWire Nigeria awards.

The general manager said the award was initiated and sponsored by the company in partnership with the Imo Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and NNPC to train persons living with disabilities to enable them to earn a living.

He said the aim of the programme was to encourage young people, aged between 18 and 35 years to consider self-employment as a desirable career option and to start

their own businesses.

According to him, ``Our goal is to build capacity for business through access to entrepreneurship training and business development. ``These core commercial skills are combined with the necessary startup capital with a focus on expanding or increasing youth-owned businesses in the state,” Osayande said.

He noted that LiveWire Nigeria, which begun in 2003, had trained more than 5,000 Niger Delta youths in enterprise development and management.

According to him, 2,700 out of the 5,000 have been

assisted to start businesses of their own and create employment opportunities for other youths.

He said the effort would help to reduce youth unemployment and poverty in the region.

Thirty of those trained include 10 blind people, 10 deaf and dumb and 10 physically challenged persons.

The training, Osayande said, covered three days of business development and 27 days of skill development.

He said the training was being conducted at selected centres in the state, adding that, this was the first time the programme focused on persons with disabilities.

E

ight inmates of the Federal Prison in Umuahia have regained their freedom while six were granted bail by the Chief Judge of Abia, Justice Nnenna Otti.

Otti, who granted the reliefs during a jail delivery, said that the exercise was part of efforts by the judiciary to bring justice to all manner of men.

According to the Chief Judge, ``Out of the 780 inmates, 745 are being held in custody without trial and most of these people have served out their term while in prison custody,” she said.

Otti called for accelerated hearing and quick dispensation of justice in the case of those whose matters were already before a court of law.

The Comptroller of Prisons in Abia, Mrs Ukwuori Kalu, said she was delighted that the exercise was a success. ``Most of the inmates here are innocent and I am hopeful that with an exercise like this, they will regain their freedom,’’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the freed inmates who were between the ages of 25 and 75 had spent between two year and five years in custody without trial.

The inmates were being held for offences ranging from murder, armed robbery to lesser ones such as stealing, malicious damage, and conspiracy, among others.

(NAN)

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

May 31, 2014

Poster fury

Pakistani police accused of inaction in woman’s stoning death

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A sign posted near London’s Bartlett Park warning dog-walkers not to walk their dogs in the area which it claimed is Islamic. The sign has generated a row in London.

India gang rape Police sacked over hanged girls

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wo police officers in India have been sacked for refusing to help search for two missing girls who were later found gang-raped and hanged, officials say.

They were also charged with criminal conspiracy, police said, adding that three people had been arrested so far.

The government has pledged to set up a fasttrack court to prosecute the crime, which took place earlier this week in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Alleged police inaction sparked outrage in the teenagers’ village.

The father of one victim told the BBC he was ridiculed by police when he sought help in finding

his missing daughter.

He said that when policemen found out he was from a lower caste, they “refused to look for my girl.”

Authorities said on Friday that they were still looking for two other suspects.

Meanwhile, reports are emerging that two more gang rapes of minors occurred in the state this week.

The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh reacted angrily when asked about the rising number of rape cases at a news briefing.

“You are safe, why are you bothered?” Akhilesh Yadav told a journalist.

“No other state has the kind of police control room we have here. If there is any incident, we will take action.”

55

Senior police official Atul Saxena earlier announced there would be a “thorough investigation” into the allegations of caste discrimination by police.

Divisions between India’s castes run deep, and violence is often used by upper castes to instil fear in lower castes, correspondents say.

Although both the victim and the accused in the latest case belonged to a group known as “Other Backward Classes,” the victims were lower in that hierarchy.

The girls, two cousins aged 14 and 16, went missing in Badaun district on Tuesday night. They had apparently gone out to relieve themselves as they had no toilet at home.

akistani police officers will be investigated because they didn’t intervene when a woman was publicly beaten to death with bricks, a court official said Friday.

Pakistani Chief Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, speaking live on state TV Friday, said he’s asked the police inspector general to provide a full report on the “honor killing” of Farzana Parveen, 25, who apparently died because she married a man against her family’s wishes.

“I have also ordered that a case be filed against the police officers present at the crime scene,” Jillani said, because it appears the “cops helped the criminals by watching the crime as silent spectator.”

Authorities said they arrested two of the woman’s cousins, an uncle and a driver. Her father was arrested earlier.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday called the killing “totally unacceptable” and said it’s a “great shame” for such a crime to happen in the presence of police.

About 20 people, including members of Parveen’s immediate family, attacked her with bricks Tuesday outside a court building in Lahore, police said.

Aamir Jalil Siddique, vice president of the Lahore High Court Bar Association, told CNN, “We believe that this was an oversight on the part of the police -- they were stationed there and did not do anything. We have security, Punjab police officers, at the high court 24 hours a day. The advocate general’s office, which is

next door to the gate, has additional security.”

Despite the expressions of public outrage, honor killings are an ingrained part of Pakistani culture, though they usually happen in rural areas, not large cities such as Lahore. Human rights activists said bystanders, including police, often don’t intervene because the killings are considered family matters.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said 869 women were victims of honour killings last year in the nation of about 180 million people.

Honour killings are so named because the women are accused of bringing dishonour upon the family such as having an adulterous affair, being raped or wearing clothes consider revealing.

Women’s rights advocates say the actual number may be much higher.

The United Nations estimates at least 5,000 women worldwide die yearly in honour killings.

The prevalence of violence against women in Pakistan became apparent Thursday when Parveen’s husband, Mohammad Iqbal, revealed to CNN that he killed his first wife six years ago so he could marry Parveen.

His son said Iqbal served a year in jail.

Iqbal, a neighbor of Parveen’s family, said he and Parveen were supposed to marry with the family’s approval last year.

In December, Parveen’s mother died, and her father and brothers decided Parveen, who came from a village in Punjab, should instead marry a cousin,

police said.

Parveen and Iqbal eloped and were married January 7 in a court ceremony. But Iqbal told GEO TV that Parveen’s family was infuriated and filed a kidnapping case against him and other members of his family. They also demanded 100,000 rupees (about $1,000), he said.

The couple went into hiding and filed statements in court to prove the kidnapping allegations false, Iqbal said. On Tuesday morning they were scheduled to appear before a judge when Parveen’s family allegedly attacked outside the court building.

“We went to the court to seek justice to tell them what had happened. We were sitting there when all of a sudden they appeared,” he told GEO TV. “Someone fired shots in the air. My wife and I were sitting and then bricks were thrown, then a lady came and took Farzana away.”

Police stood and watched and didn’t come to their aid, Iqbal said. He said the crowd killed his wife and her unborn child.

In addition to the prime minister, other officials rushed to denounce the killing.

The chief minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the inspector general to arrest the suspects. He asked that a murder trial be held in an anti-terrorism court.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said, “There is absolutely no honour in honour killings, and I urge the government of Pakistan to do all in its power to eradicate this barbaric practice.”

course of the protests.

Since taking power the military has summoned and detained dozens of key political figures, including Ms Yingluck. She has been released but remains under some restrictions.

Journalists and academics are also among those who have been called in.

On Monday the coup leaders received royal endorsement. However, the military’s actions in removing an elected government has drawn widespread in-

ternational criticism.

The current deadlock dates from 2006, when the military ousted Ms Yingluck’s brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, in a coup.

Both have strong support in rural and northern areas, propelling them to successive election wins.

However, many in the middle class and urban elite, who comprise the heart of the anti-government movement that began in November 2013, oppose them bitterly.

Thailand elections not for a year, says coup leader

T

he leader of Thailand’s military coup has said elections will not be held for more than a year, to allow time for political reconciliation and reform.

In a televised address, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha called on all sides to co-operate and stop protesting.

He repeated warnings against any resistance to the military.

The Thai army seized power on 22 May, and detained senior politicians

for several days saying stability had to be restored after months of unrest.

In his first public address since the coup, Gen Prayuth said: “The (ruling military regime) have a timeframe of one year and three months to move towards elections, Gen Prayuth said a first phase of about three months would focus on “reconciliation” with a cabinet and new draft constitution put in place.

Reforms would then be in-

troduced over a second, yearlong, period and only after this could elections be held.

“Give us time to solve the problems for you.

Then the soldiers will step back to look at Thailand from afar,” he added.

Gen Prayuth has previously warned that if protests continued he would have no choice but to use force.

In his address he repeated the warnings, saying resistance would only slow the process of bring-

ing “happiness” back to the Thai people.

Also on Friday, hundreds of troops sealed off a major Bangkok intersection during the evening rush hour to prevent a possible protest.

Thailand’s military stepped in after six months of political deadlock as protesters tried to oust the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

At least 28 people were killed and several hundred injured over the

Quote

of

the

day

I have instructed our security forces to launch a full scale operation to put an end to the impunity of terrorists on our soil.

Nigeria President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, during his speech to mark Nigeria’s fifteenth year of democratic governance last Thursday.

Saturday, May 31, 2014. www.nationalmirroronline.net

How God destroyed the city of Tyre

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city that was predicted by God to be the capital city of the world was destroyed by the same Almighty God. Our God is mighty in all things. It is not only that Tyre was destroyed according to the Almighty God speaking though Prophet Ezekiel (592-570); the city of Tyre shall not be rebuilt again.

What went wrong that the blessing of God for Tyre was withdrawn by the same Almighty? The blessing that Tyre shall be the commercial centre of the world was replaced with the curse that the name of Tyre shall not be known again. And of a truth, who knows the president of Tyre today? How many people can still claim remembrance of Tyre, except in teachings of the wrath of God, the consequences of disobeying the Word and the fulfillment of prophecy?

The Lord said unto Tyre that nations shall rise against Tyre and it shall be destroyed, that the houses in Tyre shall turn to dust and the people there shall be killed by the sword.

What went wrong? Biblical accounts show a clear warning from God at all times; “Touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm.” Even the devil knows that Jerusalem is an anointed city of God. It is that city that produced Our Lord Jesus Christ from the tribe of Judah. Tyre lost its blessing because its people rose against Jerusalem. After God had blessed them, they moved against Jerusalem in pride.

Sometimes when I pray, I make this simple request: ‘Anyone that rises against me and my businesses, no matter how highly placed such a person is, God, even if you have blessed him before, I pray that you destroy him like you destroyed the city of Tyre. And once you have destroyed him o LORD, never rebuild him again.’ This prayer works like magic!

I hope you will join me in praying this simple prayer: ‘God, anyone that rises up against Nigeria at this time, even if you have blessed him before, Father destroy him permanently and don’t let him be known again. Kill his family and businesses, and bring down all that concerns him as you did to the people of Tyre.’

Tyre, the trading city “Queen of the sea”, was located twenty miles south of the present day Sidon on the Lebanese coast of the Mediterranean Sea. My father in the Lord, Professor Grant Jeffery, de-

I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN ME IN PRAYING THIS SIMPLE PRAYER: ‘GOD, ANYONE THAT RISES UP AGAINST NIGERIA AT THIS TIME, EVEN IF YOU HAVE BLESSED HIM BEFORE, FATHER DESTROY HIM PERMANENTLY AND DON’T LET HIM BE KNOWN AGAIN. KILL HIS FAMILY AND BUSINESSES, AND BRING DOWN ALL THAT CONCERNS HIM AS YOU DID TO THE PEOPLE OF scribed Tyre as very proud, rich, receiving the trade and tribute of many lesser cities.

According to Jeffery, “In its day, it was equivalent to the present day New York City.” Despite its military power and defensive positions, however, massive military invasions brought Tyre down.

Reporting accurately God’s decision on Tyre, Prophet Ezekiel clearly delivered the message of God - that the Lord God shall bring upon Tyre, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, that God will cause many nations to rise against Tyre; and that the enemy will destroy the wall of Trye and make her like the top of a rock.

The predictions of God on the destruction of Tyre are clearly stated by prophet Ezekiel in the book of Ezekiel 26:26-3, 7-8, 12, 14 and 21 They are summarised as follows (a) God will bring upon (Tyre) Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon; (b) God will cause many nations to come up against thee as...Waves...come up;

TYRE

(c) Enemies will destroy the wall of Tyre and make her like the top of the rock, (d) Tyre’s enemies will lay the destroyed city’s debris ‘in the mist of water’.

The original city will be ‘built no more’; (e) The original city will ‘never be found again’; Those predictions were made sixteen centuries ago about the powerful and rich city called Tyre. The fantastic thing is that today, they have been fulfilled exactly as they were set out by Prophet Ezekiel. My father in the Lord, Professor Grant Jeffery, summarised the events in the most appropriate way as follows: “The history of Tyre, once the greatest city of the ancient World, stands as silent and profound witness to the prophetic authority and supernatural inspiration of the Word of God” There is no more empirical evidence required to prove the reliability of the Bible as the most authoritative, accurate and persuasive Scripture than the coming to pass of the authority of God and his words concerning Tyre and its people.

On one of my trips from London to Cairo, part of the flying time and route took us through the Mediterranean Sea and involved flying over Tyre. I requested my pilots to kindly fly low when the map indication on the plane showed that we were around the area occupied by the city of Tyre. To my greatest amazement, what I saw when I looked though the window of my aircraft as we moved close to the city of Tyre was that along and inside the waters across the city were large deposits of stones. I simply remembered Professor Philip Nyers quoting from Prophet Ezekiel “This is an exact fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophesy that the larger part of the site of the once great city is now bare as the top of a rock, where the fishermen still frequent the spot and spread their nets to dry.”

Archaeologist Hanns-Wolf Rackl was quoted by Professor Jeffery on the present situation of the ancient city of Tyre as follows: ‘Today, hardly a single stone of the old Tyre remains intact... Tyre has become a place to dry fish nets, as the prophet predicted’ The accounts of the lesson learnt concerning the destruction of Tyre confirm the authority of the Creator to do anything he likes concerning Man and Nations. He could build the life of a man and make it greater than that of a nation. He could even make a nation to borrow from a man. At the same time, God can destroy the same man such that he may not be built again forever, if such a man rises up against God’s anointing or anointed.

If a nation fails to be on the cautious path of honour, she can be great, but the price for such greatness that the nation will pay, like an individual for his sins, if he refuses to repent and be on the part of righteousness, is that the nation’s greatness can be withdrawn or destroyed and never be built again like Tyre.

Tyre offers us another opportunity to renew our covenants with the Creator and move fast to improve on our attitudes of pride, wickedness and destruction of one another. We do not have the opportunity again to argue, no matter how brilliant our arguments may be, about the reality of the accuracy of the Scripture, with the terrible and frightening conclusions presented by the story of Tyre.

The Good Lord will not destroy us.

Amen

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