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Suicide bombers infiltrate IDP camps Vol. 5 No. 39
Saturday, September 12, 2015
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• Kill 12, injure 20 in separate explosions • Lax screening blamed for attack
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L-R: Governor of Kaduna State Nasir el-rufai; Chairman, Northern Governors Forum, Governor of Borno State Kashim Shettima and his counterpart from Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, during the 19 northern governors forum meeting in Kaduna State, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN
Corruption allegation trails HIV/AIDS funds in Nigeria Economy: Nigeria’s international passenger traffic declines — NBS Sealxk T
Why do women fake the big O?
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Cyber crime law: Can it bell the cat? Two bloggers were recently remanded in prison custody over alleged defamatory reports and infractions contained in the recently signed Cyber Crime Prevention Act. The ordeals of these bloggers have generated controversy over the nature of the law and its overall implication for internet journalism, free press and the justice system, writes NICK UWERU
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eun Oloketuyi probably thought he was doing great citizen journalism when he decided to publish alleged details of an affair between Nnamdi Okonkwo, Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, and a lady simply named Justina, also a worker at the bank on his blog. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
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‘Bloggers not familiar with anti cyber crime law’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
Jonathan: signed bill into law.
In his publication, Oloketuyi alleged that Okonkwo had an extramarital affair with one Justina who was married. The blogger also added in the publication that the affair between Okonkwo and Justina resulted in Justina’s husband, Ben, separating from her. The blogger also alleged that Okonkwo had sent Justina abroad for further studies and had taken over responsibility for Justina’s children. It was a sensational gist no doubt; one that did raise the number of hits on his blog site. But that was as far as the fun went until August 25, 2015. The blogger, in what appeared to be an unending nightmare found himself arraigned in court before Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos. He was charged with defamation and cybercrime. Ordinarily, going by precedence, defamation charges are bailable. But the big trouble was the cybercrime element in the list of the charges against Oloketuyi. Before long, Oloketuyi was remanded in prison custody with no option of bail. If this came as little surprise, the next suspect caught the public unawares. Chris Kehinde Nwandu is by no means a small fish as far as online blogging and publishing is concerned. As an ace journalist, defamatory charges could have been easily avoided by a professional of his calibre. But like Oloketuyi, Nwandu found himself arrested and arraigned before the same court allegedly for aiding Oloketuyi in the defamation and cyber crime charges. Nwandu was arraigned by the police for allegedly posting on his facebook page the story published by Oloketuyi, accompanied with some “purported” photographs of Okonkwo. Like Oloketuyi, the police slammed two count charges on Nwandu.
Cybercafe is hub of cybercrimes
analysts insist that there is need to sanitize cyber space on account of what they term irresponsible reporting journalism going on in the place. One of the counts read,”That you, Chris Kehinde Nwandu, acting in concert with one Seun Oloketuyi, on or about June 2015, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did knowingly or intentionally sent a message and pictures by means of computer system on your face book page purporting to be that of one Nnamdi Okonkwo, the Managing Director /CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, which you know to be false, for the purpose of causing him annoyance, insult and ill will and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention etc) Act, 2015.” The police prosecutor, Olakanmi Omisope, added that Nwandu is liable to pun-
ishment under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation. The offence is said to carry a maximum of three years imprisonment or a fine of N7m or both. Nwandu, however, pleaded not guilty to the two counts, following which the prosecutor sought for a court order to remand him in prison custody. “My Lord, in view of the plea of the accused person, we will be asking for an order remanding the accused in prison, while we also seek an adjournment for trial,” Omisope said. Counsel for the accused, Mudasiru Arhai, said he would be applying for his bail. The judge, however, ordered that Nwandu should be remanded in prison custody,
while he adjourned till September 7, 2015 to take his application for bail. Understandably the media industry has since been abuzz by these developments. Some say that Justice Yinusa has been rather high handed in the handling of the case by not granting bail to the journalists. Others differ, though, insisting that granting bail is a prerogative of the judge. This second group of analysts insist that there is need to sanitize the cyber space on account of what they termed irresponsible reporting and journalism going on the place. But those who knock the judge’s actions say that it appeared that there might be plan by some powerful men to muzzle the vibrant online media. Whichever side of the divide, there is a consensus that there is need to understand the new cyber law which appeared to be the nemesis of these bloggers as it were. Commenting on the merit or demerit of the case affecting the bloggers may be prejudicial; however, limiting the scope of what the cyber law entails to just online blogging appears to be just an infinitesimal aspect of the law. As it seems, more offenders may find themselves in court on account of ignorance of the new law. The law, known principally as the Cybercrime Prohibition and Prevention Act is not all about regulating online journalCONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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‘Unchecked application of law may breed vicious blogging’ Obed Awowede, ex-journalist, policy analyst and book publisher says that caution must be applied in the application of anti-cyber crime law, so as not to breed a vicious underground.
Some others say that there has been incessant case of irresponsible reporting in the online media chiefly because of the lack of regulation in the medium. Are you of this view? It is important to properly distil the online media, else media run by professional journalists, which are well-managed and run along journalistic tenets, may suffer from this blanket characterisation of the digital media. I think there are online media that are well-run and are established, the problem is largely in the social media and a few others, where journalistic norms are turned on their heads and opinions are considered sacred and facts free!
What do you make of the new anti-cyber crime acts signed into law at the tail end of Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure? Given that we now live in an increasingly digitised society, where transactions are carried out in electronic format across internet platforms and conventional laws do not cover these platforms, the act is desirable. It brings our laws up to date in terms of addressing previously unregulated activities and sectors. It is also very important in the context of the fact that a lot of archiving of sensitive materials such as commercial data is now done in digital media online and the impact of hackers is here with us. So, some regulation and outlining offences and punishment is inevitable, else you would find technical problems in addressing crimes of that nature. Recently, the court in Lagos ordered remand of some online bloggers in jail over publishing of alleged libellous stories. There has been uproar over the matter with some insisting that the judge’s decision is high handed. What is your view? One of the attractions of online social media to many people is the anonymity, where you choose to hide your identity. Another is its ubiquity and also its immediacy, unregulated, and so the tendency to make comments and unverified allegations as we find on platforms such as facebook and twitter, which are not subject to editing, is massive. It creates a situation where virtually anyone can be taken under the knife of a partisan blogger or a digital social butterfly. No society should be that permissive and no one who is responsible should make unverified comments. It is a different thing if you do satire and properly identify your mission as such but we have heard of ridiculous comments taken from the backroom of an office or a bedroom to the online media and the result is that because people are not discerning enough, they immediately fall for these comments as facts! I have heard claims and when you ask they tell you ‘it’s on the internet’. So there are problems that need cur-
tailing where the current laws of libel are not adequate. However, I don’t know why fresh laws are needed for libel, which is the appropriate charge for the concerned bloggers, except where our libel laws do not adequately cover offences on digital platforms. With regard to the blogger jailed and given stringent bail terms for the alleged libel, I would think it is a bit high; an alleged defamation is a civil offence and the bail terms as reported appeared rather high, but it may also be to serve as a deterrent to others. I have my worry for what an unrestrained and a high-handed application of the law can do to the nascent prac-
tice of citizen-journalism, especially where the internet has become the refuge for many seeking alternative news. The whole essence of law should be to mould society along acceptable behaviour but if the punishment appears too punitive you may force the creation of an underground citizen media that uses aliases, and which will be more reckless than what we have now, if we consider that reckless. What we may now see are people who would mask their identities and carry on online and I don’t know how equipped the police is in terms of human and capital resources to track such offenders.
Would you say that this action on the part of the judge could bring about the needed sanity in the online publishing industry? I think it would set people thinking first of the consequences of their prepared action before commenting in their blogs, yes, some caution will come but like I said it may breed a vicious underground. It happened during the military era when critical magazines were harassed and forced underground and the consequences for the governments then were more unwholesome as consumers trooped to these papers and whatever was printed was voraciously consumed as fact! Generally speaking, what is your take on the level of professionalism in the online publishing industry? Like I said, if you look at online publishers like newsdiaryonline, eagle news, the cable, promptnews, premium times and others set up and run by professional journalists, issues of professionalism are taken seriously and they are more believable because journalism teaches you that facts are sacred and opinions free, the inverted logic of which operates for some bloggers. So there are credible online publishers and you cannot eliminate quackery, not especially when all it takes is an internet-connected phone.
‘The law prevents cyber terrorism’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
ism. Signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan before leaving office on May 29, 2015, stipulates that crime or damage to critical national information infrastructure, sale of pre-registered sim cards, unlawful access to computer systems, cyber-terrorism, among others, would be
punishable. Beyond, this, it is important to note that the law is a harmonisation of several bills submitted to the National Assembly including the Critical Infrastructure Bill, the Cybercrime Prevention Bill amongst others. The essence of the law includes to provide an effective and unified legal, regula-
tory and institutional framework for the prohibition, prevention, detection, prosecution and punishment of cybercrimes in Nigeria; ensure the protection of critical national information infrastructure and promote cyber security and the protection of computer systems and networks of electronic communications, data and comput-
er programmes, intellectual property and privacy rights. Before now, offenders who use the computer and superhighway system to cheat the law had a field day. Following increased crime related issues such as physical attacks and stealing or vandalism of telecoms CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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‘Most bloggers are irresponsible’
Sanya Adejokun, veteran journalist, says there is need to caution most online journalists. What is your take on the anti-cyber Act? I have gone through the Anti-Cyber Crime Act 2015 and regard it as nothing new in Nigeria’s legal system in character. All the provisions against crimes have all been envisaged except that hitherto, they were committed on paper when the computer was not in vogue. Now that we use more of computer and the internet than paper and cabinets, there was need to adapt the laws. In essence, I see the new Act as more of adaptation of existing laws to emerging technology. Again, the penalties are much stiffer than what obtained in the old Laws of the Federation, Criminal Act and Penal Code which are mostly outdated. Pornography for instance has always been an offense in Nigeria and so also is forgery, perjury, stealing, robbery and obtaining by false pretense aka Section 419 of the Criminal Code. What is your view on recent bloggers remanded in prison custody? Bail has always been at the discretion of the judge. The dexterity of defense lawyers, mood of the judge and the ability of the accused to meet conditions are some of the factors to determine whether an accused will be granted bail or not. And of course, there are some cases that are regarded as bailable. Terrorism, armed robbery, murder (homicide), kidnapping are some of the cases which may prevent an accused from benefiting from the generosity of Hebeas Corpus. Incidentally, I am not fa-
simply publish opinion and fiction as news. It is unfortunate. This could have been because media owners are irresponsible too as they are not meeting their obligations thus forcing their employees to being forced to fill the pages with any available material. For the online media and bloggers, the simple reason that internet publishing is cheap enhances the proliferation of citizen journalism with all its attendant ills. Most of them are not aware of the rules, regulations and ethics. They are also not even aware of the basic laws of the land against defamation, libel, sedition and others like such. All the agencies that are established to ensure decency and regulation of the mass communication processes are all practically dead or panting under the yoke of various forms of corruption.
miliar with the specific charges brought against the bloggers or which laws are being used to prosecute them. That is why I may not be able to decide whether the judge was high handed or not at this point until I have more facts on the cases. What of the alleged irresponsibility of
bloggers and the social media? Without equivocation, it is my view that most bloggers in Nigeria today are irresponsible. I even believe that the traditional media has been pressured into irresponsibility. In Nigeria today, there is simply no regulation either for the new or traditional media. People
Will remanding the accused bring sanity to the practice? I do not think that remanding the accused would breed the much needed sanity in cyberspace. I do not support extended detention of the accused. I support express dispensation of justice. What will curb the ugly trend is for the regulatory agencies to be up and doing in educating the public on requirements for getting into the mass media practice whether online or even traditional media. Nowadays, there is little or no training for practitioners. Without prejudice, a lot of reasons could have led to refusal of the judge to grant bail requests, which may not have to do with the innocence or guilt of the accused.
‘Journalists, bloggers must learn about new law’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
facilities and base stations, stakeholders in the ICT sector began to seek ways to secure legislation for the protection of telecoms infrastructure and to confer on them protection as critical infrastructure. There were also issues such as the rampant and random sale of pre-registered sim cards, hacking of e-mail accounts and stealing of identities of online surfers, amongst many other crimes. Telecom facilities have since become fundamental and the most preponderant infrastructure in the country next to electricity installations. Therefore, it became worrisome that without protection from the law, operators might be compelled to slow down on investments if there are constant threats to infrastructure both from cyber criminals and vandals who cart away cables, diesel, generators and other hard ware.
Seun-Oloketuyi: arrested
Nwandu: alleged accomplice in cyber crime
The Cybercrime Act lists offenses and penalties including unlawful access to computers, unlawful operation of cyber cafes, system interference, intercepting elec-
tronic messages, emails, e-money transfer, tampering with critical infrastructure, and computer-related forgery, among others, as offenses that are punishable under the law.
Theft of electronic devices, electronic signature, child pornography and related offences, racism and xenophobic offences are also punishable under the new law. After it was signed into law, then Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, said that the law will enhance dispensation of justice. “The Cybercrime Prohibition, Prevention Act 2015 is in fulfilment of the reform agenda and a befitting response to the yearnings of stakeholders in the justice sector. “The enactment of this legislation is, therefore, an attempt to bring Nigeria in tandem with global best practices and modern trends in the justice sector,’’ Adoke said. Stakeholders especially in the media province of the cyber space agree that there is need for the law because quackery seems to have invaded online journalism.
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Livinus Menedi, Yola, And Gloria Usman, ABUJA
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bomb explosion believed to have been triggered by two female suicide bombers at a camp for internally displaced persons, IDPs, in Malkwoi, Adamawa State has left 7 persons dead and 20 others severely injured. The blast which occurred, yesterday, has also been blamed on lax security screening which inmates said may have triggered the explosion believed to have perpetrated by new arrivals from Sambisa forest into the camp, a day earlier. In the blast, seven persons were killed and 20 others injured at the Malkohi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), camp in Yola, Adamawa State. The National Emergency Management Agency
NATIONAL NEWS
September 12, 2015
Suicide bombers infiltrate refugee camps • Kill 12, injure 20 in separate explosions • Lax screening blamed for attack
(NEMA) confirmed this incident yesterday in a statement made available to Saturday Mirror. NEMA Senior Information Officer, Sani Datti said that, among the injured seven were treated and discharged while thirteen persons including four NEMA officials are still receiving treatment at Federal Medical Centre, Yola. The Agency said that
the incident occurred in a warehouse in the camp. It was gathered that the incident was preceded by protest from Inmates, who had premonition about something sinister happening following their discovery that 17 of the new arrivals into the camp were from Sambisa forest. According, to Saad Bello the state coordinator of the National Emergen-
cy Management Agency, NEMA, four out of injured persons are humanitarian aid workers, assisting in the activities of the agency in the camp, where the blast occurred yesterday in Yola. Ahmed Sajoh, state commissioner for Information confirmed the figure of the casualties Sajoh who spoke on behalf of the state government expressed dismay
Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen Tukur Buratai (middle) inaugurating vehicles donated by Toyota Nigeria Ltd to the Multinational Task Force in Maiduguri, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN
Ubong Ukpong ABUJA
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he Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has retrieved its weary ground troops from the ongoing Operation Lafiya Dole against Boko Haram insurgents in the North East. A statement yesterday, by the NAF Headquarters through its Director of Public Relations and Information, DOPRI, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, said that it has become a policy in the Air Force to withdraw the operations affter over six months of gallantry in the operations.
Air Force retrieves weary troops from war front Alonge said that the rotation was significant as it would give room for efficiency in battle and boost morale of troops. The NAF’s ground forces are fighting alongside the troops of the Nigerian Army in the North East. “The latest troop rotation, in line with the usual practice, was aimed at reinvigorating the minds of the per-
sonnel, and their commitment to the ongoing fight against the Boko Haram Terrorists, by replacing the weary hands with fresh ones. “The rotation also has the corollary effect of morale boasting for the troops. “Meanwhile, the subsisting troops have been airlifted with the NAF C-130H aircraft from the theatre of operation to
their various units. “During the short but colourful ceremony, the Commander of 79 Composite Group Maiduguri, Air Commodore Chris Egwoba on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar commended the efforts of the gallant airmen and wish them success in their future endeavours”, the DOPRI stated.
over the attacks, adding that the government has taken it upon itself to foot the medical bills of the victims receiving medical attention at the Yola, Federal Medical Center. Briefing newsmen about the incidence, Sajoh noted that the attacks was suicide bombing believed to have been masterminded by two female suicide bombers, who also died in the attacks. He also revealed that debris from the explosion is being subjected to forensic analysis by security agencies to discover the source of the materials used for the attacks, adding that the administration was still awaiting the authentication of another bomb explosion in Madagali local government. The Commissioner of Police, Adamawa state Police Command, Gabriel Adaji who was at the camp told news men that the bomber might have sneaked their way into the camp, adding that investigations into the incidence will however, determine what happened. Adaji also revealed that all the inmates of the camp will be rescreened again for proper identification, saying that the blast came from an Improvised Explosives Device (I.E.D). The camp had received 314 new returnees made up of 297 IDPs from Madagali and 17 others from Sambisa forest, who were brought into the camp the previous day, said Saad Bello, NEMA state coordinator for Adamawa while briefing newsmen, shortly after the blast. However, the late arrival of the new images and an alleged lax screening protocol, complained about by some of the IDPs who spoke to the newsmen on the development, allowed the alleged female suicide bombers to escape capture. Some of the IDPs who spoke on the attacks had claimed that they even protested sharing lodging with the new intakes into the camps because of how the returnees came into the camps. One of the inmates
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who gave her name as Samira, noted that most of the new intakes from Madagali and Sambisa brought with them luggages and that the luggages were not thoroughly checked because it was already late and most of the officials saddled with screening were allegedly exhausted. “Because of the way and manner they were brought some of them, especially one of the ladies who was to lodge in out tent, when we discovered that she was from Sambisa we protested sharing our tent with her,” she said. Meanwhile the Adamawa state deputy governor, Hon. Martins Nasir Babale has visited the victims of the attacks at the Federal Medical Centre, to assess the condition of the victims. Another bomb blast occurred similarly yesterday again much later after the first explosion, this time in Madagali Local Government Area of the state was reported and confirmed by the the Executive Secretary, Adamawa state emergency management agency, Haruna Furo. Furo confirmed the death of 5 persons in the separate suicide bombing attack which occurred in Madagali local government area of the state which also claimed the life of the suicide bomber in the process. Furo while confirming the Madagali attacks said five corpses including that of the suicide bomber has been retrieved from the scene of the blast. CHANGE OF NAME I formerly known and addressed as MR. MOSHOOD ADERIBIGBE SHITTA now wish to be known and addressed as CHIEF MICHAEL ADERIBIGBE SHITTA. All former documents remain valid.The general public please take note. CHANGE OF NAME I Formerlly called and addressed as HINDATU UMAR GALADIMA. Now wish to be Known and addressed as HINDATU MANSUR HASSAN. All former Documents remain valid. N Y S C and general public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME
Formally MISS TAMARAPREYE SINDIOAPAUN now wishes to be known and addressed as MRS. TAMARAPREYE APOMIEMIE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.
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September 12, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Buhari condemns bomb blast in IDP camps, orders tighter security Rotimi Fadeyi, ABUJA
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resident Muhammadu Buhari has directed relevant authorities to tighten
security measures in all camps harbouring Internally Displaced Persons in the country to guard against the bomb incident that occurred in Yola, Adamawa State yes-
100 days in office: Buhari makes noticeable progress —CDD Oseyiza Oogbodo
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he Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Abuja, has expressed concerns about decline in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its implication on the economy, depreciation of naira against major foreign currency and military approach adopted by the government in the fight against insurgency. This is contained in a performance-assessment report of President Muhammadu Buhari’s (PMB) 100 days in office. The report is CDD’s third BuhariMetre report and it is titled Delivering on Campaign Promises: The First 100 days Report. CDD, founded in 1997 in London at a time when Nigeria was under military rule, is a non-governmental organisation which aims to promote the values of de-
mocracy, peace and human rights in Africa, particularly in the West African sub-region. Given that the 100-days marker has become a universal practice to evaluating works of government at the early stage of governance, the 100 days’ report provides a short-term assessment of the performance of PMB and his political party, All Progressives Congress (APC), on the delivery of campaign promises. The report highlighted area of priorities of the government, actions taken by the government to achieving specific promises, key concerns and makes specific recommendations. “The report shows that PMB, in his first 100 days has made noticeable progress in achieving 24 promises, while no action has been taken so far to achieve 197. These constitute 10.8% and 88.7% respectively,” reads a statement from the organisation.
Northern Governors vow to defeat B’ Haram A za Msue, KADUNA
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he Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), yesterday, declared its readiness to defeat Boko Haram and other insurgents terrorising the region for years. The governors who pleaded for patience from northerners over the region’s challenges lamented that poverty within the northern region has assumed an alarming rate requiring an urgent attention.
The forum also stated that the northern region has become a thriving nest for war, terrorism, deep seated social divisions, senseless violence, mindboggling intolerance, injustice, destitution, joblessness, and all manners of other social vices. The chairman of the forum and Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima stated this at the maiden edition of the meeting which ended last night at the Hassan Katsina State House Kaduna.
terday. In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President equally condemned as heinous and cowardly the bomb blast in the Malkohi camp resulted in less of lives.
The President said that the terrorists are bent on causing fear and panic among the populace by detonating bombs within soft spots where hapless citizens reside, saying the public should not be deterred but rise in unison to wipe out whatever is left
of the terrorists. “We must not let the desperate and evil-minded criminals have any respite. There’s now an urgent need for all to be paying utmost attention to security issues at all levels - home, work, market, places of worships and schools”
“To defeat terrorism, all hands round the clock vigilance is called for country’s security agents with vital information to pre-empt and prevent crimes and to forestall further insurgent activities”, the President added.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Idiat Oluranti Adebule (left), the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Noh Kyu-Duk (2nd left), the Consul General, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Lagos, Mr. Younghoan Lee (2nd right) and the Counselor/Economy, Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Dae-Sup Lee (right) during the Ambassador’s courtesy visit to the Governor in his Office at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Friday, September 11, 2015.
Corruption allegation trails HIV/AIDS funds in Nigeria • UN agency accuses partner countries of treating programme with levity
Ubong Ukpong ABUJA
T
he United Nations Agency on HIV/ AIDS, yesterday alleged massive corruption in the implementation of the HIV/AIDS programme in Nigeria, saying that this was posing serious challenge to addressing the disease in the country. The Programme’s Country Director in Nigeria, Bilalis Camara, also faulted government on its commitment to the course say-
ing that the large chunk of money spent to address the menace was from foreign agencies. He said that the refusal of most partner countries on the programme to release counterpart funding was slowing down the pace of action in addressing the disease as targeted. Camara, who was at the National Assembly to meet with the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, said that out of the 700 million US Dollar spent in 2014 to fight HIV/ AIDS,
about 550 million USD came from foreign aid, with the country contributing very little to the process. He called upon nations to be wary of the dangers of the dreaded HIV/AIDS pandemic ravaging many nations of the world, warning that as of today, no country was free from the scourge. Camara said that more than four million persons have been infected by the dreaded HIV/AIDs pandemic in Nigeria already. “ what we are facing today is pathetic, the clear message is that we should share
in the responsibility,there is need for global solidarity,investment outside must match investment inside “he stated. While urging Nigeria to maintain her leadership role in Africa he also identified corruption as a major challenge in the fight against HIV/AIDS scourge in many countries. He assured that the world body for HIV:AIDS would not stop funding the programme, urging that people must desist from diverting money meant for the programme in the country.
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
NATIONAL NEWS
September 12, 2015
Economy: Nigeria’s international passenger’ traffic declines — NBS Olusegun Koiki
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n what appears to be further indication of what appears to be a steady decline of economic activities in the country, National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, says that number of passengers that travelled through the country’s international airports in quarter two of 2015 declined by a whop-
ping 27.93 per cent. Statistical figures have continued to point to a declining economy for the country leading to negative reviews from financial institutions. Only recently, Fitch Ratings projected a bleak future for Nigerian banks even as JP Morgan recently delisted the Nigerian bond. NBS, itself also stated that earlier that the economy only pro-
Infrastructure Bank announces N973m profit before tax in 2014
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he Infrastructure Bank Plc (TIB) on Friday announced N973 million as profit before tax for its 2014 financial year. The Chairman of the bank, Alhaji Lamis Dikko, stated this in his Annual Report at the bank’s Annual General Meeting at Transcorp Hotels, Calabar. . He said that the figure showed a marginal improvement over its 2013 profit of N875 million. He said that a strong set of results posted by TIB in 2014 fostered a trend of positive performance by the bank. Dikko said that the
performance of the economy in 2014 also determined the bank’s profit in the financial year. ``In 2014 the Nigerian economy faced several challenges some of which were heightened by the fall in oil prices. ``Conversely our pipelines of opportunities increased, a function of the bank’s increasing stature in the market and the significant latent demand for infrastructure assets development nationwide He said that the recapitalisation programme had further strengthened the bank, ad
NLRC grants licence to indigenous lottery coy
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he National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) has granted licence to an indigenous private lottery firm, Pay Day Lotteries Ltd, to commence operation in the country. Mr Emmanuel Jeminiwa, Director, Regulations and Monitoring of the NLRC disclosed this yesterday in Abuja. Jeminiwa said that facilities put in place by the new company would take lottery to a new level in the country. `` Pay Day Lotteries Ltd has been licenced to operate in Nigeria. ``The approval by the
NLRC to licence the company is not about the people involved, but about the system that has been put in place. ``The system put in place by Pay Day Lotteries is rated to be the most modern in the lottery industry, being used all over the world. ``Having seen the way it was test-run, we are very sure that this company will run the business in the most transparent manner. Jeminiwa underscored the need to sensitise the public to the importance of lottery to economic development and its difference from gambling.
gressed by mare 2 percent as against the 6 percent projection earlier envisaged in the year. The stock market is also witnessing massive divestment by investors. In this recent findings, NBS in its statistics stated that the traffic on the international routes declined by 406,369 passengers from quarter one to 1,048,598 passengers in quarter two. It however said that domestic travel showed a marginal rise quarter on quarter, with 16,752 or 0.71 per cent more passengers travelling in quarter two. It said the resultant 2,374,479 domestically bound passengers repre-
sented 69.37 per cent of the total number of passengers, up by 7.53 per cent points from the preceding quarter, yet down 1.35 per cent points from Q2 of 2014. Year on year, both domestic and international passenger numbers were lower, with 73,492 or 6.55 per cent fewer international passengers and 335,908 or 12.39 per cent fewer domestic passengers relative to the corresponding quarter of the preceding year. NBS, noted that the Murtala Muhammed Airport, MMA, Lagos continued to dominate domestic passenger travel in the quarter, with the 936,029
passengers representing 39.42 per cent of the Q2 2015 total. Despite still recording passenger numbers lower than in Q2 of 2014, with year on year growth of -70,758 passengers or -7.03 per cent, quarterly numbers were up, with a rise of 39,505 passengers or 4.41 per cent from the preceding quarter. Besides, Abuja airport, with the second greatest portion of Q2 domestic passenger traffic at 33.15 per cent of the total, showed a similar trend. The 787,067 domestically bound passengers travelling through the airport in Q2 represented a decline of 58,176 passen-
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gers or 6.88 per cent year on year, yet a rise of 22,698 passengers or 2.97 per cent from the preceding quarter. The only airports to record positive year on year growth were Katsina, increasing by 668 passengers or 319.62 per cent, Owerri, which increased by 9,243 passengers or 11.12 per cent and Yola, increasing by 1,121 passengers or 3.09 per cent. The greatest quarterly passenger growth was recorded for Ibadan airport, in which an additional 10,249 or 222.08 per cent more passengers travelled in Q2 against quarter one, increasing the total from 4,615 passengers to 14,864.
L-R: Chairman Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Dr. Ephraim Faloughi; Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wale Onaolapo; Vice Chairman, Mr. Olusegun Ajaiye during the company’s 20th Annual General Meeting in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN
Obasanjo, other African leaders to attend Afreximbank inauguration T he investiture of the African Export-Import Bank’s (Afreximbank’s) new President and the inauguration of the Bank’s headquarters in Cairo have been slated for 20 and 21 Sept. 2015. The Bank said in a statement on Friday in Cairo that the two ceremonies would be attended by former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, high
ranking African government officials, heads of international organizations, members of the diplomatic community, leaders of international financial institutions and the business community. It said the Egyptian Prime Minister, Ibrahim Mahlab is expected to perform the inauguration of the headquarters building on Sept. 20.
The statement said the inauguration would be followed on Sept. 21 by the investiture of Dr. Benedict Oramah, as the new President of the Bank, to be performed by Alexander Chikwanda, Minister of Finance of Zambia and Chairman of the General Meeting of Shareholders of the Bank. Oramah would take over from Jean-Louis Ekra, who
would be stepping down after completing two five-year terms as President. The foundation stone of the nine-floor Afreximbank headquarters building was laid on 18 Dec. 2003 and construction completed in 2010. Afreximbank began the use of the building on 10 Nov. 2010 but decided to put off the formal inauguration until a convenient date.
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NATIONAL NEWS
Ubong Ukpong, ABUJA
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he fight against insurgency in the North East has received a major boost as trucks have been donated to the military to support the Multi National Joint Task Force, MNJTF, operations in the North East. A statement, yesterday, by the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, through its Director of Defence Information, DDI, Colonel Rabe Abubakar, said that Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) recently donated the Hilux vans to the MNJTF in Mai-
September 12, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Insurgency: Toyota donates operation vans to MNJTF duguri, Borno state. Receiving the donation, he said the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Gabriel Olonisakin expressed profound gratitude to TNL, describing the company’s gesture as a show of public support and approval for MNJTF actions.
“This donation is a laudable one and very timely, too. This shows that the fight against Boko Haram insurgency will come to an effective end going by the presidential directive. The provision of adequate security, not only in the northeast, but in all corners of
the country is a task that must be done and done quickly too”, the CDS said. Represented at the occasion by Air Vice Marshal Olutayo Oguntoyinbo, the CDS promised that the Hilux vans would be used to ensure success of the operation against all forms
of guerrilla movements and cross-border crimes around the Lake Chad Basin. While charging soldiers to make maximum use of the vehicle he urged other companies and corporate organizations in Nigeria
and countries around the Lake Chad Basin to emulate Toyota Company in this noble gesture calling on all Nigerians to come forward and support the Nigerian Military in the ongoing campaign against terror.
PTDF seeks patent rights on fuel catalyst •Builds first plant for its production
T L-R: Programme Manager, Conflict Prevention and Peace Building, Nigeria, Mr. Mattews Alao; Director-General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Prof. Oshita Oshita, and Peace and Development Advisor, Mr. Takwa Suifon, during a news conference to mark the 2015 International Peace Day, in Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN
Faseun knocks politicians on state of education Ayo Esan
T
he founder, PanYoruba Group, the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, has declared that Nigeria’s education sector is in trouble and that the task to salvage the sector from her current troubles belongs to all Nigerians whether as government, as individuals or as organisations. Fasehun who made this declaration yesterday while receiving the award of the “Most outstanding African man of the year” bestowed on him by the West African Students Union, WASU, in Lagos. He said all hands must be put on deck to help in building Nigeria Educational
Sector that will emulate global best practice and be the envy of other nations saying ’in this task, we cannot afford to fail’. “Some years ago, Ghanaian youths rushed into Nigeria to become vassals, shoe-shiners and domestic servants. But when a good leader came into the life of Ghana, education was touched positively and now the drift has been reversed. Nigerians now drift to Ghana to learn from those people who used to serve us as servants. Currently, it is estimated that between N100 billion and N160 billion goes into paying tuitions for the about 71,000 Nigerian children studying in Ghana”,Fasehun said.
Fasehun further said that there appears to be a display of irresponsibility by the political class and government to the education of the younger generation. He said this irresponsibility is displayed in many ways, and that they include: Government officials declaring openly at local and international forums that Nigeria’s educational standards have fallen; Incessant, insensitive increment in public school fees ;Condoning of hyper-inflation in fees charged by private institutions; establishment of cutthroat-priced private schools and universities by former rulers; deficient budgeting and underfunding of public schools and the
public education sector; or reading culture and the failure on the part of authorities to promote good reading culture and overpopulation of classes in public schools. He said Nigeria has consistently fallen short of the 26 per cent that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommends that countries should set aside for funding education from their annual budgets. “In the current year 2015, the Federal allocation to education was N492 billion from the N4.3 trillion total expenditure for the year; that is just a little over 11 percent of the total,” he said. he added that the problem is that politicians have refused to walk their talk concerning education.
he Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has unveiled a pilot plant for the production of Zeolite catalysts, an important chemical substance used for petroleum refining A statement from PTDF’s Head of Press and External Relation, Mr Kalu Otisi in Abuja on Thursday, said that the chemical would also be used for a variety of applications in the petrochemical industry. Zeolite catalyst is an essential additive in the conversion and refining process of heavy gas oil into usable gasoline and petrochemical products in refineries. The statement said that the major raw material used in the development of the product is the Kankara clay, obtained from Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State. It said the Executive Secretary of PTDF, Mr Femi Ajayi, commissioned the plant located in the premises of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU). The statement said that the Zeolite technology was discovered by the outgoing PTDF professorial chair in chemical engineering at ABU, Prof. Abdulkarim Ahmed. It described the endowment of Ahmed in
the university as one of the various laudable programmes and projects initiated and implemented by PTDF to develop relevant indigenous technology for the oil and gas industry. It said that the PTDF resolve to continue to invest in research was one of the vehicles through which its mandate was being achieved. ``The issue of Zeolite development is a success story. It is with fulfillment to note the tremendous breakthrough in application of novel technology in Zeolite development for industrial use in the country.`` The statement said PTDF filed for and obtained the intellectual property right and patent on Zeolite Y catalyst, while the IPR/P on Zeolite ZSM-5 was being processed by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. It added that PTDF had commenced the process of developing an acceptable and implementable template on the research commercialisation, to open a window for additional source of revenue. ``The expectation is that oil and gas operators will buy-in and collaborate with PTDF in a bid to effectively standardise the product for national use by the existing four refineries.``
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REGIONAL NEWS
September 12, 2015
11
South West
Oyo CP assures of curbing crime in ‘ember months’
Kemi Olaitan Ibadan
D
etermined to tackle the menace of armed robberies, kidnappings and ritual killings through Oyo State highways during ‘ember months’ and festive periods, the new Commissioner of Police in the state, Adeleye Oyebade, yesterday began a tour of 15 highways in the state where it shares boundaries with Ogun, Osun, Kwara and neighbouring Benin Republic. The police boss, who said the era of corruption in the force is gone for good, assured the officers and men of the state’s command of adequate compensation for
discharging their duties without let or hindrance. Speaking with journalists on the sideline of the Lagos/Ibadan expressways, he said his administration would not take kindly to corruption, sabotage and undue interference in the discharge of modern policing in the state. While explaining the rationale behind the tour, he said “this is another special visit to our men on the highway. We have a lot of our men on the highway because we have at least 15 highways that connect other states and a neighbouring country.” “Among these highways are the Lagos/Ibadan highway, Ibadan-Ife, IbadanAbeokuta, OgbomosoIlorin, Iyana-Offa/Osun
border, Ibadan-Oyo, and 10 others. We have our safer highway patrol men 24 hours on these roads. They are accompanied by
the patrol men and then we have mobile men who give backup support. What we are doing is to reassure our men that we are behind
them and also the members of the public that during these ‘ember months,’ they should know that the roads are very peaceful for travel-
ling to any part of the country. They can travel without any iota of doubt that the road is safe against men of the underworld.”
‘Effective, efficient personnel necessary for health sector growth’ Abiodun Nejo Ado-Ekiti
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he President of Fabotas School of Science and Health Technology, Ado-Ekiti, Chief Boboye Olanipekun, has said that effective and efficient health personnel was necessary for the development of the sector. Olanipekun said there was need to address the situation where many health experts did not have the requisite technical know-how to handle complex situations. He spoke in Ado-Ekiti yesterday while disclosing that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has grant-
ed full accreditation for the running of six courses in the three-year-old private institution. He said both private and public health institutions had vital role to play in redressing the trend. Olanipekun assured that all the courses in the monotechnic would be accredited soon for the College to serve as veritable platform for the training of higher and middle cadre health experts in the state. He said the institution was desirous of training students that would help in strengthening the country’s health institution and add values to the sanctity of human lives.
Tribunal upholds Ondo Rep’s election Ojo Oyewamide Akure
T
he Election Petition Tribunal in Ondo has upheld the election of the lawmaker representing Ondo East/West federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Joseph Akinlaja. The three-man panel dismissed a petition filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the last National Assembly election, Olabamidele Olanubi, asking for the nullification of the poll.
The APC candidate had told the tribunal that the election was characterised by irregularities and noncompliance with the electoral Act. In the judgement read by Justice A.B. Akogun, the tribunal ruled that the petitioner failed to tender credible evidence or call credible witnesses to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt. The court also held that Akinlaja of the Peoples Democratic Party scored the highest lawful votes cast at the poll.
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (left) with Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, during the commissioning of the Awujale Shopping Complex at Ipebi in Ijebu-Ode...yesterday
Osun workers reject proposed mode of salary payment Boladale Bamigbola Osogbo
O
sun State may again witness another round of industrial unrest as the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) yesterday said workers in the state will not accept payment of half salary for the month of March being proposed by the state’s government. JPSNC, a body compris-
ing the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and other bodies, in a communique issued after an emergency meeting held to x-ray the position of government, regarding how workers will be paid their outstanding salaries in Osogbo, said the mode of payment being proposed by government contravened the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the parties involved. It will be recalled that
the state Head of Service, Sunday Owoeye, had on Wednesday, while responding to issues relating to the payment of workers on a radio programme monitored in Osogbo, said government had directed that half of March salary be paid to civil servants. JPSNC however says that “It was on record that bailout funds of N34.988 billion was released to this state on Thursday 3rd of September, 2015 according to the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele and instead of government fulfilling her own side of the deal by carrying out section 3(f) of MoU signed with the labour on the 13th and 29th July respectively, reverse was the case. “Labour movements in the state reject in its entirety the payment of half salary as announced by the Head of Service on Wednesday 9th, September, 2015 and should not be paid into workers’ individual accounts.”
Ayodele, PDP lose appeal against Ashafa’s victory Oseyiza Oogbodo
F
ollowing the July 27th dismissal of the election petition filed by the PDP and its candidate, Mrs Salis Ayodele, against the lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, and his party, the All Progressives Congress, the Court of Appeal, Lagos
Division, yesterday dismissed an appeal on the matter. The decision to file an appeal challenging the verdict of the Justice C.U Anwukah-led tribunal was taken by Ayodele and her party immediately after the July 27th dismissal. The Court of Appeal is the highest level a National Assembly election petition can go. In its appeal, Ayodele and the PDP alleged that
the lower tribunal’s judgment was erroneous on the grounds that the tribunal erred on many issues in arriving at its dismissal decision. They also questioned the qualification of the chairman of the tribunal to sit on the case. In the final judgement read yesterday by Muhammad Danjuma (JCA), the judgment dismissed the appeal and stated that there was no evidence pre-
sented to show cause and prove that the tribunal chairman was not qualified to hold the office. Commenting on his victory, Ashafa said that “the time for politicking has gone and all contenders should sheath their swords. In the spirit of democracy, I extend a hand of friendship to the PDP in Lagos East. Let us work together for the development of our dear state.”
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REGIONAL NEWS
September 12, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
NORTH
Borno: Human rights lawyers demand release of suspects in NAF custody Inusa Ndahi Maiduguri
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Governor of Kogi State Idris Wada receiving an award of excellence from the Chairman, Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Kogi State Chapter, Comrade Dominic Ondeku, recently.
Three candidates shortlisted for Kogi varsity VC Wale Ibrahm Lokoja
T
he names of three best candidates out of 27 jostling for the office of the Vice Chancellor of Kogi state University, Ayigba have been forwarded to the Visitor of the institution. The outgoing Vice Chancellor of Kogi State University, Professor Hassan S. Isah, who disclosed
this while fielding questions from journalists at the Conference Centre of the institution yesterday, said arrangement has been concluded for the Visitor to announce his successor very soon. Professor Isah explained that the University has satisfied all laid down procedures for the appointment of new vice chancellor, stressing that advertisement was placed
in the newspapers. He stated that 21 candidates initially applied, but the list was enlarged to include six more people when some candidates claimed that they did not see the advertisement. Isah pointed out that the 27 candidates were subjected to both written, oral interview and public presentation of how to govern as vice chancellor if given opportunity. The outgoing vice
chancellor said, he was never a member of the panel for various stages, noting that after thorough proceedings three best candidates emerged. “The University management has forwarded the names of the three successful candidates to the visitor of the University and the governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Ichalla Wada to pick one and ratify his appointment as new vice Chancellor.”
human rights lawyer, Barrister Adam Bashir of Talbash Chambers & Co based in Maiduguri, has at the week end, issued a letter to authorities of Nigerian Airforce (NAF) 79 Composite Group to immediately hand over one Mr. Nura who is in its custody to the Bulumkutu Police Station or face legal action. In a 3- three page letter duly copied the Chief of Air staff, Chairman Human Right Commission in Abuja, the Police Commissioner in charge of Borno Command and the media in Maiduguri, the legal practitioner made the appeal to NAF to repair its machine. The letter stated that “one Hon. Abba Mohammed Bashir who is a Senior Special Adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State and referred as the complainant, on sighting this devilish and inhuman act, rushed to the rescue of the victim and thereafter made a complaint against the said Nura to the nearest Bulumkutu Police Station. “The Bulumkutu Police Station immediately acted upon the complaint and send its personnel to the NAF Base to arrest the suspect for investigation and further prosecution in accordance with the provi-
Jalingo residents urge Ishaku to open up access roads Justin Tyopuusu Jalingo
A
s governor Ishaku of Taraba State continues to count his achievements after his 100 days in office, some residents of Jalingo the state capital want him to rehabilitate roads in the state capital which have cut them away from the rest of the town.
Parts of metropolis mostly affected by poor road network and a nightmare to motorists include; Old Magami road, NTA road and Mayo Dassa among others said to have been abandoned by previous administrations. A resident of Magami, Mrs. Esther Musa, told Saturday Mirror that they (residents) no
longer use their cars, but now trek from their houses to the main road to get tricycles, fondly called keke NAPEP, the only available mobile commercial service in the town to reach their destinations. Mr. Ismail Aliyu who shared his experience with Saturday Mirror said the tricycles who managed to ply the road
do charged high fares. “Giving the poor nature of the road, if you are not strong and you are conveyed on the road by keke you will give up on the way. It is even more risky using your car on these roads as many people now park their cars,” he said. Residents are now calling on the state governor, Darius Ishaku
to take a second look at the township roads with a view to addressing it so that residents of affected areas would not be permanently cut away from the rest of the town. They lamented that series of appeal for the roads to be rehabilitated have fell on deaf ears and they urged governor Ishaku to address their problems.
sion of Section4 of the Police Act Cap P19LFN 2004 which states that; the police shall be employed for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged and shall perform such military duties within or without Nigeria as may be requested by them, or under the authority of this or any other Act. “The police on reaching the NAF Base to carry out their duties were unlawfully obstructed by some personnel of the Nigerian Air Force to arrest the assailant and refused to hand over the suspect to them and took the suspect to their custody in order to protect him from facing the consequences of his illegal act as if the suspect is above the law. “The personnel of the NAF went further to take the matter from the hands of the police and demanded for statement of the return in order to compensate him which was denied by both the victim, the complainant and the police”. As human right lawyers, Barrister Bashir Talba & Co said they write to inform the NAF Commander of the 79 Composite Group that the act of his personnel is mischievous, illegal, unconstitutional and an act of impunity. “The act of obstructing the police from carrying out their duties is in itself a serious criminal Act and publishable as it is against the Police Act 2004 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2004. “It is worthy to note at this point that the NAF is a respectable Force which must be seen to fight criminality and not to support same. It is against this backdrop that we urge you with a very serious voice that you intervene in the matter and immediately direct the handover of the suspect to the police to avoid any serious and damaging legal consequences.
Politics
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
September 12, 2015
13
Assets declaration: The hues and cries
Buhari
Lekan Adejuwon
T
he past one week has been both traumatic and engaging for the nation’s first two citizens and their handlers, following the official declaration of their assets to the Nigerian public ostensibly, to meet the 100 days deadline of the new administration of Presi-
dent Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu who, penultimate Thursday, disclosed in part, the contents of the assets declaration forms separately submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau CCB, by President Buhari and his Vice, also hinted that the verification of their assets was ongoing and that the forms would be released to the public after the CCB’s verification. According to the President’s spokesman, Buhari’s assets include about N30m in his only bank account with the Union Bank Plc and a total of seven houses, comprising two mud and a standard house in Daura, his hometown; two homes in Kaduna, one in Kano and one in Abuja. The President’s other assets also include two undeveloped plots of land in Kano and Port Harcourt, an orchard and a ranch in Daura with 270 head of cattle, 25 sheep, five horses, a variety of birds and a number of economic trees. According to the statement, Buhari also has several cars, two of which he said were bought with his savings, while the others were supplied to him by the Federal Government in his capacity as a former Head of State. The statement further added that “The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who has been a successful lawyer before his foray into politics declared a bank balance of about N94million and 900,000United Statea Dollars in his bank accounts” ”Vice President’s asset declaration includes his 4-bedroom residence at Victoria Garden City, Lagos and a 3-bedroom flat at 2 Mosley Road, Ikoyi. “The Vice President also has a 2-bedroom mortgaged property in Bedford, England. “Apart from his law firm known as SimmonsCooper, the VP also declared shareholding in six private companies based in Lagos, including Octogenerium Ltd, Windsor Grant Ltd, Tarapolsa Vistorion Ltd, Aviva Ltd and MTN Nigeria “His personal vehicles are one Infinity 4-Wheel Drive SUV, one Mercedes Benz and a Prado Jeep. “As soon as the CCB is through with the process, the documents will be released to the Nigerian public and people can see for themselves,” Garba declared. Unknown to the President’s spokesman, the open disclosure of Buhari’s assets in the manner it was done appeared to have opened the President to vitriolic attacks from critical Nigerians and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP
Osinbajo
even as some Nigerians are raising questions over the value of the President’s assets, which were considered as vague in the document. Not a few analysts could draw comparisons between the President’s action and the late former President Umaru Yar’Adua, who made history as the first Nigerian President to publicly declare his assets. It would be recalled, that Yar’Adua on June 28, 2007, a month after his inauguration, made public photocopies of his completed assets declaration form as submitted to the CCB. The document detailed Yar’Adua’s assets, valued at N856, 452,892, with a total annual income that was put at N18.7m. In the document, Yar’Adua declared the values of all his assets. A breakdown of the assets declaration showed that Yar’Adua had a total of N43, 702, 892.43 as cash in his bank accounts, with other assets contributing for the rest. In addition, Yar’Adua disclosed that his wife, Turai, had a total asset of N19m, made up of houses. He stated the value of each of the houses. Considering Yar’Adua’s declaration of assets, analysts have described Buhari’s recent version as a clear departure from a full declaration of assets. They labelled the declaration of assets as done by Buhari as having too many holes, saying Buhari should have specified the total number of his cars rather than stating that he has several cars, two of which he said were bought from his savings. Some have argued that Buhari should have stated the value of each of his houses saying that a declaration which include having ‘two homes’ amounts to deception since many houses can constitute a home. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a swift reaction, described as “a deceptive window-dressing to hoodwink unsuspecting Nigerians” the release, by an aide of the President, of a mere list of some belongings of President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in place of the pledge made to Nigerians by Mr. President as candidate of the APC on March 18, 2015, at exactly 5 pm. The party recalled that the President in his own words had stated to Nigerians that, “I pledge to publicly declare my assets and liability and also encourage my political appointees to publicly declare their assets and liability.” The PDP however, observed that President Buhari and his vice failed to produce copies of their declarations, detailing the exact nature and value of respective assets. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Friday said “the release of a mere list of belongings falls short of credibility, transparency and anticorruption standards as well as exposes the proclivity of the present administration for deception.” “We have noted the release of a flimsy list of belongings of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo by the Presidency, who want such to pass as the public declaration of assets as pledged by the President. “Nigerians are not deceived by this poor attempt at window-dressing designed by the Presidency to hoodwink the unsuspecting populace in a desperate bid to shore up its diminished image. “Mr. President, this is a mere list of your belongings and not public declaration of assets in fulfilment of your covenant with Nigerians” Abuja-based legal practitioner, Mr. Kayode Ajulo and a chieftain of Laabour Party, said the President had yet to complete the declaration “as it is the law that his spouse is not a civil servant; the spouse must declare her assets in the same manner as done by President Buhari. “The same goes for his deputy. As it is, there may be likelihood of violation of the law on declaration of assets,” he added. Ebun Adegboruwa, civil rights lawyer described Buhari’s assets declaration as belated, blaming the President for failing to disclose the worth of the property and stocks he listed as belonging to him. He said, “He should have let us know the worth of those assets, especially the ones in Abuja. So without knowing the worth, we cannot estimate what the President has. The information supplied to the public by the President is so scanty, as to totally amount to hoarding vital details of his assets. “For the assets declaration to make any meaningful impact, it should have been declared voluntarily and without any prompting upon the President by Nigerians. The implication of this is that the President was forced to declare his assets. But another Lagos-based lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, while commending the President for his public declaration of assets, also joined his voice with those calling for a more detailed declaration. He said, “I commend the President and the Vice President for what they have done. “Moving forward, our expectation is that now that we have a summation of this asset declaration, number of houses is disclosed, the account is disclosed and the credit in the account is disclosed. In a similar vein, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Emeka Ngige, dismissed claims by some of the analysts, saying that the task of valuating the listed property should be left to the CCB. He said, “I think the actions of the President and the VicePresident have sent positive signals on governance. The policy should now be extended to all political office holders appointed by the administration.” Another civil rights lawyer, Liborous Oshoma, described the criticisms trailing the asset declaration in some quarters as “sentimental.” He said, “For me, the essence of this is to open a new struggle for us, a new fight, a new demand of accountability. It is not necessarily about the worth of what was declared, but the fact that the assets were declared. However, worried by the torrents of mixed reactions that trailed Buhari’s assets declaration, the President has officially reacted to the development last Monday in Aburi, Ghana. Buhari, who tasked journalists to investigate his declared assets, insisted through a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina that he has so far, declared his assets four times in the course of offering service to the country saying it was a constitutional requirement that all public office holders in Nigeria should declare their assets before and after their term in office. “I recall that in 1975 when late Murtala Muhammed became the Head of State, we were lined up – governors, ministers, members of the Supreme Military Council. Officials of Ministry of Justice were brought and every individual was made to declare his assets. “All Heads of States and Government, governors, ministers, permanent secretaries have to declare their assets because it is a constitutional requirement”. “I have declared my assets four times. When I was governor in 1975, I declared. After being Minister of Petroleum and as a member of Supreme Military Council, I declared. When I was Head of State and now as a President, I have also declared. In what appears a turning point to the anti corruption stance of the Buhari’s administration, a serving member of the Senate, Shehu Sani, who represents Kaduna Central Constituency said, he was worth 22 million naira and has several houses and cars. The senator, thus on Monday became the first sitting member of the legislature to declare his assets publicly, following President Muhammadu Buhari’s example. Sani’s move may be a clarion call to the governors to follow suit in declaring their assets.
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POLITICS
September 12, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Corruption probes not selective – Lai Mohammed Alhaji Lai Mohammed, spokesperson of All Progressives Congress, APC. Speaks on the steps being taken by Buhari’s government to revamp the economy. LEKAN ADEJUWON reports
I
think there is a general feeling that the power generation is better than it was four months ago, a lot of people are quietly worried that they have not seen a required strategic response into the issue of the international oil market in the way oil prices have been going down in the world market and the currency turmoil inherent. Everybody is saying that Buhari administration is a breath of fresh air. What should the public be expecting to be the real economic thrust of this administration as many Nigerians would like to see the making of budget in place? One thing is that this administration would rely much less on oil as the mainstay of the economy. I think it was the President of Sao Tome and Principe that came and give a lecture on the security of the Gulf of Guinea and I think he struck the cord when he said, ‘our economy is based on agriculture and tourism’. I think we made this prayer also during our campaign that we want to diversify the economy and we are looking at manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and mining as the new pillars of the economy. The volatility in the oil and gas sector is such that we are not in control, and I think the earlier the country starts to look in this direction the better. If today, 70 percent of our earnings come from oil and gas sector and it is only important that we reform that sector. One of the first steps the President took was getting a world acclaimed economist to head the NNPC and I think only last week, he told us that well, we have saved about 27 million dollars from turnaround of Port Harcourt refinery. When people now talk about economic direction, you get the fiscal direction of a country from its budget. The budget was signed only on the 28th of April. So therefore, we are bound on that budget until we submit either a supplementary budget or otherwise. When you look at economic direction, it is expenditure assessment. They are all embedded in 2015 budget which we have little or no control over but if you see the way are going, we are leaving no sector alone because for us, all the promises we made to Nigerians such as one-meal a day, constitutional cash transfer, we are still committed to implement them as soon as the government is fully formed and you’ll begin to see more actions. But the opposition have said in terms of war against corruption, that it is selective, that all the targets that you had so far did not include members of your party and definitely there must be some members of your party that have questions to answer in terms of corrupt practices. I don’t know how you will react to that? If you are going to fight corruption, prepare yourself that corruption is going to fight back. The PDP had been in power for 16 years. Those 16 years, they have at most depleted our economic policies. They made the appointments, they awarded the contracts. So, it is natural. Even if you are
probing from 1999, it is only natural that you start from 2011. You are probing parastatals, you are probing ministers, you are probing government. What is the argument about Oh, you also have corrupt people in APC. It is childish. If you have anything against anybody, go and write a petition. Today, to the best of my knowledge, APC former governors are being investigated. Which APC former governor is under investigation? The former governor of Adamawa is being investigated, legislators, who are APC are being investigated, there are APC senators who are being investigated. We have Christians who are being investigated and Muslims being investigated. So, the argument of being selective to me, I think, is just to distract us, it is just muddled water. If anybody has anything against anybody, the President has said it loud and clear in Washington that no member of APC will escape justice on account of being a member of this party. I like to know what the party position is on what is going on in Osun State which is very embarrassing. They haven’t pay salaries for seven months, you have a judge who writes a petition and they start bringing things about the judge. I want to know what your party position is on things like these? When President Buhari came out, he was not appreciated by most people because they failed to understand the reason why most states are unable to pay the salaries of their workers. It is not necessarily that governors of those states were corrupt. The truth of the matter is that between 2011 and 2014, every month the three tiers of government were sharing an average of N840billion. By December last year, it has been cut down to N380billion. A state like Oyo that was taken N5bn a month was reduced to N3bn. Ordinarily, If you have been taking N5bn a month and your wage bill is about N3.8bn and you now start taking N3bn is either one of two things; you either go back to the bank to borrow money which you are going to service with interest. So it is not correct to say that the problem in Osun is because the governor has been careless or corrupt. I am not saying he is corrupt. He probably might be bad manager of resources because it just occurred to me that whatever resources you have, you just have to keep some reserve. If you are running a business and you couldn’t pay salaries for seven months, you could be close down. And if you are an executive and you can’t pay your staff salaries for seven months, may be, what you are doing is wrong let somebody come and start something else? It doesn’t work that way with due respect. Alhaji, these are people with families, the teachers, the nurses and this man has not paid salaries for seven months and you don’t see the need to change him? At what point in time did he stop not
Lai Mohammed
paying the salaries? Aregbesola has been in office for more than 60 months and he now owes seven months salaries. I have just told you this that by June 2014, a crunch had come and what he did was to use his reserves even today to pay salaries. Don’t also forget that Osun State has little or nothing in terms of Internally Generated Revenue unlike Lagos or Rivers and Akwa Ibom. So the little he had, I think he managed it judiciously. You don’t think that he has over reached himself with some of the projects he embarked upon? It is very convenient for people to say he over reached himself because if a man was taking N5b every year and he was budgeted to spend say, 4.3 to 4.7billion and he was saving some money. Now if you embark on the projects he embarked upon like one meal-a day, you embark upon mass employment of the youths, you begin to ask yourself, where do I cut it down or what do I do? We met him in the run off to the election and what he told us was that the organized labour in Osun State were very happy with the way he’s running the state because every month, he called them and show them this is what we have received. But no worker would be happy if his salaries were not paid for months Yes, a worker will understand when you have genuine difficulties. You will agree with me that one of the things that this government has achieved is the bail out package which is little appreciated by Nigerians. Appreciated by those who collected their salaries? At the time we assumed power in May 29, there were more than 20 states who were owning salary arrears. It is interesting that everyone is talking about Osun. I am not justifying what happened in that state, but it was simply because of the failure on the part of central government. When will the workers get their pay now? Very soon, because, they have applied for
bail out package and probably by next week. Former Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Fashola recently at a recent book launch in his honour, many of you were not there including you. You didn’t send a representative. Were you invited? I was invited. But you were not there? I had a meeting with the editorial board of the Leadership newspapers the same day and I spoke to Hakeem Bello, the day before that I was engaged. The chairman of the party in Lagos was also not there neither was he represented. There is a rumour going round town that the National Leader of your party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu doesn’t want Fashola to become minister. How do you react to this? The rumour factory is one of the most productive in Nigeria. I want to ask you if the crisis that brought in Saraki has been finally resolved because I know some of your senators are presently in court. What I want to say as the spokesperson of the party is that whatever I do and whatever I say is to bring harmony to the party but I can assure you that efforts are being made at resolving all the issues in due course. Is it to help him maintain his position or for the party to have its own candidate as senate President? What is the party’s stand? The party’s stand is to bring back harmony to the party. But as the spokesperson of the party, what does the party want? Is it Saraki or someone else as Senate President? If you want to know what we want, come and join the party but all I am going to tell you is that we are going to work to resolve the matter in the senate. If we are able to resolve the matter in the House of Reps, I am sure we are capable of resolving the matter in the senate.
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September 12, 2015
Talking Politics ‘I’m fully in charge of Lagos PDP’ ‘I’m no longer interested in PDP’
—Tunji Shelle, Lagos State Chairman of PDP
“T
here is no crisis in Lagos PDP at all as I am fully in charge. I have moved into
the office officially the day I did my press conference. “I travelled to Bayelsa to solidarise with the state governor on his official declaration for second term. I arrived yesterday (Wednesday) and I am presently in the office with some of my staff ”. “I am always in touch with the national body of the party. They want to do e-registration exercise in all the states. All the documents are coming to me. The aggrieved members I understand are now looking for reconciliation which is okay by me. I don’t have any issue with anybody. Once they are ready to work, I am ready to work too”
‘Nothing like power struggle in APC’ — Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, National leader of APC
“D
on’t listen to rumours, there is no struggle. Our party is not even looking at the direction of power struggle or anything of such. The support structure is to encourage and support the President, as you have heard from Chief Bisi Akande, to help him institutionalise his goal, principle and vision for a new Nigeria “There is pitfall in rushing, quick fix, depending upon the depth of the rot. And that rush can cascade into mistakes of unimaginable magnitude. There is equally glory and recovery in slowness, when you have a slow fix of a bad foundation. So to me, I would rather take the one that will last the country and endure for a longer period of time than the rush hour shopping.”
ty does Ebitu Ukiwe belong to, what party does TY Danjuma belong to or even General Gowon. Yet you cannot deny their service to this country. Why can’t I be in that kind of category helping this country without any partisanship? “So I am not interested in the PDP because I have not seen signs that they want to change. I cannot go to the APC, so I will remain an elder statesman and I will support the right thing this government does and I will criticize when they do the wrong thing. I have never allowed myself to be tied by party strings’
‘I didn’t collapse’
—Mallam el-Rufai, Kaduna State governor
“Y
ou can say el-Rufai has collapsed and died, but here I am alive. My deputy is here, he’s alive and can continue the good work we are here to do for the good people of Kaduna State “Only last weekend, my deputy announced that some money (N24bn) has been recovered from various accounts in the state because of the single account we now operate “Some people became jittery. Now, they are peddling rumours that I collapsed and was taken out of the country. Let me say it here that, I am alive and your money in Kaduna money is alive and intact.
“Kaduna State now has money to pay its workers and all civil servants will get their pay before Sallah. “We will not wait for federal allocation before we pay workers”
— Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District
“What can I do about ministerial nominees? They have the right to speculate, they have the right to their lies and I have the right to debunk”.
Chief Phillip Asiodu, former Federal Permanent — Secretary
“T
“H
ow can you deny me, a former governor of the state the right to vote and you think I will just keep quiet because it is PDP? There comes a time when you have to rise above party considerations and that is exactly what I am doing. I will be 77 this November, so what do I need a party for? “I am practically disengaging from the PDP because those coming to lead the party are not the kind of people I will acknowledge as my leaders. What party does Chief Anyaoku belong to, what par-
‘Gov El-Rufai working against me’
‘Nigeria has deteriorated drastically’
he security situation and stability has deteriorated so drastically over the past two decades that on the eve of this year’s election, some international commentators and some Nigerians predicted disaster and disintegration of Nigeria. Thank God that prediction did not materialise. “Some of us here are old enough to remember with nostalgia the days when the country enjoyed internal peace and order, when high standards of honesty and integrity was the watchword of government officials, executives and employees in the private sector and when appropriate sanctions were promptly visited upon any offenders.”
— Obong Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State
“I
was not his favourite candidate for the Senate but I defeated his candidate in the primary election. But when I won the Senate and he won the governorship election, I came to discover two things. “We have ideological differences. He is from the political right and I am from the political left. He is a core conservative capitalist, who believes in capitalism and I believe in the progressive, welfarist, leftist and idealistic system. So, that is where we differ.
“Again, after we had won the election and it came to sharing positions, he sidelined me and gave the power to the man I defeated in the election, who was his preferred choice. By so doing, he has clearly appointed someone who he is grooming to fight me. “Let me say that if you are doing this politically and amassing troops and an army close to where I am standing, I dont want to wait for you to fire the first shot. That is the situation of things.”
‘Our leaders have consumed the future’
— Utomi
“W
hat has happened in Nigeria is such that this nation has lost its relevance even in the comity of Africans and that is why a national rebirth is inevitable.
“Drivers of change in Nigeria have shown that our economy moves two steps forward and up to four or six backward. So these are some of the reasons why society fail and it is our objective to re-strategise for that change. “What I consider as some of the challenges of Nigeria is paying less attention to human dignity and it is very unfortunate that some of our leaders today have used up all that is meant for this country. “They have consumed what belongs to their children in the future and they still want to consume what should be for their grandchildren. This is very unfortunate and that is why our rebirth as a nation must start with the process of valuing lives.”
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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Living
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
September 12, 2015
17
Nightmare over school resumption
As schools resume for a new academic session this week, many parents will face knotty challenges, writes JULIET UMEH
I
t is definitely a trying time for mother of Maruf and her son at present. For this widow who is an artisan in Oyo State, Maruf, her beloved son may not be joining his classmates back to school as schools will be resuming in a matter of days. This unfortunate decision by the widow is not the making of the poor Maruf, a secondary school pupil in the state but a decision being driven by the introduction and imposition of N3, 000, education levy by the State Oyo State government to the pupils of the state. The Oyo State Government recently, announced that because of the state’s current poor finances and the lackadaisical attitude of students to
raising quality of education in the state, it will stop paying for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) of its public school pupils. According to Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Soji Eniade, he claimed that the measure would enhance quality education in the public school system. Moreover, the state announced that each pupil is to pay N3, 000 as Education Development Levy per session to complement the state government’s efforts in the improvement of infrastructure in public secondary schools. The Oyo HoS said payment would be in three equal installments of N1, 000 per term. And funds gathered would be utilised to complement
government’s effort in the improvement of infrastructure in public secondary schools. This decision of Oyo State Government has ushered, a citizen, Maruf ’s mother to a trying time and presented a nut too hard to crack for many parents in the education-friendly South-West state, where free education was flagged off in 1955 by iconic Chief Obafemi Awolowo, when he was a premier of West Region. But for a mother and a widow in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, the new state policy on education, has triggered her desperate decision to stop the education of Maruf, her promising, beloved son. Therefore, the young lad will not reunite with his classmates and friends when schools resume for another session. Nevertheless, Oyo citizens are not the only one, feeling the heat of new school session challenges. For a Lagos resident, Mr. Frances Odum, an Information Technology (IT) professional with an unnamed media company in Lagos, this
is really a bad time for him going by the depreciation this has caused his health, and likely further degenerate if nothing is done concerning his children return to school. Mr. Odum hasn’t received salary for many months in his workplace while his wife, who is self-employed, has been lamenting over the low turnover in her business. The little proceeds from it she uses to meet the family of five’s need for sustenance. However, their children, Adanna, Nneka and Obinna who are in Senior Secondary School I, Senior Secondary School II and Primary Six respectively in a Lagos State private school, may be missing in school just like Maruf in Oyo State, not because of a fault of theirs, but the accumulated salary arrears by their father’s employers. But their 47-year-old dyed-in-the-wool Christian father strongly believes that with divine intervention and full financial assistance by good-spirited individuals, his children will reunite CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
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‘School fees are hard nut to crack’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
with their schoolmates soon. In a heart-to-heart discussion with Saturday Mirror on Monday, Odum bitterly disclosed: “One thing I don’t joke with is my children’s school fees. I normally set aside the money for this and their basic needs. I know it is not negotiable, because their school won’t allow them into the hostel if the bills are not paid ahead of the resumption. I don’t overshoot my budget anytime I am spending because I know my children’s education is paramount in my agenda. But at the moment, I was not able to save because there’s nothing to save.” Besides fees, parents’ other responsibilities concerning the education giving them goose pimples and migraine include uniforms, bags, shoes, lessons fee, parent-teacher levy, water bottles and text books. However, the soaring prices of books and scarcity of some of the prescribed ones, are things giving cause to worry about. Popular books market at Boundary at Ajegunle/ Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government of Lagos State, since July has been a beehive as hundreds of parents that swarm the place sweating faces and their hands wielding lists of books while they move round to check their children’s books from the cluster of stores. The same scene is replicated at Oshodi and Lagos Island, other popular books market. Many parents Saturday Mirror spoke with at popular CSS Bookshop, Broad Street, Lagos Island, complained about the prohibitive prices of books, “though those available are of high quality unlike pirated cheap copies found on Lagos streets, their prices are not fair,” a buyer who begged for anonymity stated. Yet, despite the belief that books sold at other places are cheap, a buyer, Ngozi Davies, a mother, told our correspondent that she had spent over N14,000 on books for her child in a Senior Secondary School in Edo State. “Yet I have not bought everything on the list of recommended books, because some are out of stock,” she declared. But giving reasons why some books are scarce, Oluwatoyin Alarinde, a bookseller in Sango Ota, Ogun State, informed that the change in the school system from 6-33-4 to 6-3-3-4 necessitated a re-plan of the curriculum of schools, “therefore when an old curriculum is phased out and a new one is produced, it means new syllabus is prepared and new books are written to accommodate the various aspects of the new curriculum. Such takes time because a good book is not written in a day or a week. Apart from this, most recommended books are imported, this also is a herculean task considering the formalities of international trade,” he concluded. But many parents like Florence Bassey, a mother of two, are coping with financial challenges delimiting their ability to get ready their children’s needs in school
next academic year. The guardian of a fresh and young secondary school girl, and a teacher at a school in Vitoria Island, Lagos, sadly told Saturday Mirror that life is tough because of cash flow and her meagre salary, which is like a drop of water in the ocean of her child needs.
and recession in the country, that was why we gave such a grace, but some parents abused it.” Nonetheless, some teachers and school proprietors have learnt a lesson from the story told by Mrs. Ohio-Ehimiaghe to Saturday Mirror about the ingrate parents of God Save Nursery and Primary School.
School children
According to her, the needs of her two sons, Desmond and Charles, recently promoted to new classes and that of her niece have kept her restless and stressed out. “As a graduate, let’s assume I have a good paying job I wouldn’t feel the heat. If there are enough funds, I would have gone into business, but no fund. It is a big load for me, because everything for the three of them would be new,” Mrs. Bassey lamented. However, school owners have their portion of worry in a new session because it is a period when they incur a lot of misfortunes in their business account. The Proprietress of Ostra Private Schools, Mrs. Rosemary Ohio-Ehimiaghe, situated at Okota, Lagos, told a long story of losses she had recorded as an entrepreneur in the business of education. Speaking with Saturday Mirror, Mrs. Ohio-Ehimiaghe said: “We have had a number of challenges when we allowed some students to pay their fees at the end of the term. By the time we knew it, they had accumulated so much and they left. Their parents changed their school and their phone lines remained unreachable. We in the school understood the economic hardship
Mrs Bassey, a teacher, said the founder of her school had announced that there shouldn’t be payment by installments in her school any longer. “Before now, my school gave grace to some parents to pay in installment, but because of past experiences, my proprietress has therefore decided that there wouldn’t be any payment by installments payment again. Some of the parents were so callous, after they were given the grace they abused it,” she recalled. Indelible in her memory are two parents whose kids passed through first, second and third terms and at the end of the third term, they moved their children to another school despite the fact that they supplied the students all the textbooks, yet these parents never showed appreciation for the kind gesture by the school. Education from primary school to secondary school is free in some states in Nigeria, but a visit to some of the public schools showed that apart from population explosion, many of them lack classrooms, desks and tables for the students, therefore many students sit and write either on classrooms floor or receive their lessons under trees. Also
We have had a number of challenges when we allowed some students to pay their fees at the end of the term. By the time we knew it, they had accumulated so much and they left. Their parents changed their school and their phone lines remained unreachable.
the quality of education children of such school acquire is suspect because the workload of teachers is so enormous that it cannot allow proper teaching and evaluation. Moreover, the education qualification of most of the teachers is below the modern day requirement for the classes they teach. But Mrs Bassey’s panacea for parents who cannot afford the high fees paid in private schools is to register them in public schools; but the idea is unpopular nowadays because the standard of teaching and learning in public schools is below average. But she attacked this opinion on the grounds that there is no qualitative difference between public and private schools’ teachers, since they use the same syllabus. Yet despite the belief that private schools are too prohibitive, some schools proprietors with milk of human kindness still give considerations to some children in their schools despite some parents’ failure to abide by part payments. The proprietor of Bachel Group of Schools, Lagos, Mr. Ayokunle Fasasi, was more particular about the children’s performance and their appearance, therefore he does not turn pupils back because of parents’ inability to pay their tuition fees at the beginning of any new academic session. “I normally give them till the middle of the term. After this long grace period, I might ask such a defaulting child not to come to school until the fees are paid,” he said. However, when Saturday Mirror went to feel the impulse of most parents, it observed that problems facing them concerning the education of their children can be traced to economic recession, non-payment of salary, underpayment of salary, unemployment, politics and wide poverty. Poverty, for many years, has remained a strong factor against the ambition of many Nigerians to get educated, therefore “inability to clear this hurdle before many parents may increase the population of illiterates,” Taiye Popoola, a school principal believes. But the current dwindling financial status of the country, states, local governments and schools has engineered a surprise welcome package for the students as they will discover that the general cash crunch in the country will take its toll on the ability of their parents to conveniently shoulder the financial responsibility their education attracts. At the last count, federal ministries and parastatals, 23 states, many private organisations in various sectors of the economy have backlog of unpaid workers’ salaries while many schools have introduced additional payments which were unprecedented in the annals of history of Nigerian education. A sampler is the introduction of N5, 000 insurance policy for students of Federal Government Colleges by the Federal Ministry of Education. According to the World Bank, 66 per CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
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Has Lagos Rail line project turned to rail line toilet? Eric Elezuo
I
n April 2008, the Lagos State Government approved N70 billion for the construction of the Okokomaiko-Iddo-Marina Line, with an estimated completion date of 2011, which has over time shifted to the first quarter of 2014, and completion is now expected in 2015; a time that by every indication is far from tenable. The system is being sponsored by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), which is responsible for policy direction, regulation, and infrastructure for the network, and is envisioned to consist eventually of seven lines. The railway equipment including electric power, signaling, rolling stock, and fare collection equipment will be provided by the private sector under a Concession Contract. The first section of the network (Phase I of the Blue Line) was scheduled to enter revenue service by the first quarter of 2014, but sadly, had not yet opened as at today. The Lagos State government had declared at inception through the then Commissioner for Environment and Urban Development, Mr. Tunji Bello, of its intention to expand the
Mile 2/Badagry Expressway, with the addition of a light rail as well as a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) axis to include providing a suitable alternative to transportation system as well as ease movement of workers and residents of the axis wherein it is located. However, almost ten years down the lane, the operation seems to have gone moribund, or as one of the residents puts it ‘is still born’. The project, which has gulped funds in millions of dollars, has incredibly become a dump site, and wait for this, a public toilet of some sort. From the Orile area through to the Mile 2 bus stop where the rail line has spread to, visible, fresh, big and small faeces as well as stench adorns the atmosphere. Investigations conducted at the Mile 2 stretch of the project reveal that pedestrians, commuters, commercial transport operators, hawkers, kiosk owners as well as miscreants have found for themselves another avenue of letting off nature’s indiscriminate call; right across the gutters bordering the rail line, and in most cases, on the rail tracts themselves. One frustrating thing about this act of impunity is the fact that there is a public utility toilet nearby, Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) office
and security post very close to the construction site. A pedestrian, who spoke to Saturday Mirror, expressed disgust, not only at the perpetrators of the act, but also at KAI officials, whose office is nearby, and who he accused of always in the habit of harassing any well dressed person for no just cause, but to extort from them. “This kind of civil disobedience is rather unfortunate, much more
As pedestrians pass through these areas, one thing is obvious, their hands are raised to their noses in total abhorrence of the acrid odour emanating from the round, square, oblong and sometimes, triangular shaped mounds of ‘shit’, the hallmark of the environment. This is even as construction workers are seen performing one function or another, or seem to be performing a function on the rail tracks.
We see them, and they don’t even care. They don’t fear the construction workers, KAI people or even the police. They just come, pull their knickers and do their thing, careless of what anybody thinks or says as there is a KAI office around the corner which supposed to create fear in the minds of would-be offenders. They are rather interested in embarrassing passersby with the sole aim of extorting them,” the pedestrian, who gave his name as Akeem said.
An expatriate, who told our correspondent that he was the supervisor at the site though he declined to give his name or full identity, narrated in his heavily accented English Language that CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
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‘Government should save us from impending epidemic’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19
most of the faeces are discharged in the nights when work for the day has been concluded. “We don’t really know who do this, but it is obvious that these are done under the cover of darkness when the workers are closed and retired to their homes. However, everyone is a suspect, including our own staff,” he said. But a woman who is involved in petty trading of cigarettes and illicit gin within the rail line area, who though refused to reveal her name, but was heard being addressed as Iya Kafa, contradicted the ‘supervisor’, saying that most of the faeces are deposited during the day time, in the full glare of the public, and no one dares confront the offenders, promising yours sincerely that if he hangs around much longer, he may just see one or two coming to do their thing. She added that it is the miscreants, touts and sometimes, commercial bus operators who are the culprits. “These things, in contrast to whatever anyone tells you, are done in the day time. We see them, and they don’t even care. They don’t fear the construction workers, KAI people or even the police. They just come, pull their knickers and do their thing, careless of what anybody thinks, or says,” Iya Kafa said in well cooked Pidgin English. It has however, been noticed that the Mazamaza area of the
construction work is to some extent devoid of faeces infestation; a situation most people praised the searchlights mounted at strategic corners for. A cross section of persons who spoke to Saturday Mirror confirmed that the lit environment makes it difficult for anyone with such intentions. It is consequently believed that if the Mile 2 axis and other areas could be lit like Mazamaza,
miscreants and those who use the area for uncanny reasons will stay away. Lending his voice to the situation, a LAMATA official, who prefers anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on the matter, said that so far the issue has not been brought to their notice officially, adding that the authority will deal expressly with the matter once it is brought to its notice.
‘Resumption nightmare’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 cent of the Nigerian population lives below poverty line of less than $2 USD a day. This clearly indicates that poverty is still and will remain a problem not only of students but of the nation. About 10 million children of school age are not attending schools due mainly to poverty and unemployment status of their parents who cannot afford to provide them with basic education. Many of them live in environments without adequate shelter, sanitation, or clean drinking water and limited health care facility. Even most children who managed to be in schools experience so much hardship and poverty of congenial learning situation like over-crowded classrooms, lack of ventilation, insufficient reading books, writing materials and disgruntled, illmotivated and poorly paid teachers. Also, poverty in the society has forced parents to introduce their children to child labour, a crime against universal children’s rights. Their poor parents in
order to survive the harsh economic climate take them to the streets to hawk foods such as groundnuts, oranges, mangoes, sachet water, minerals, bananas, carrots, tomatoes, pepper, vegetables and cooking oil, just to mention a few. Some of these child-hawkers later become victims of kidnappers, ritual killers, rapists, hitand-run drivers or victims of hazardous environments. The Federal Government, in order to get children of school age from underage labour has promised to provide students with a meal per day. This, many has seen as a welcome idea going by its many advantages. “It would be a very good idea if it is well implemented. What is bothering so many parents’ mind is the idea of waking up around 4 am or 5 am to prepare the children’s food every day. But if this idea is put into practice, it would be a kind of relief to most homes,” Mrs. Bassey said. Looking at this issue from the prism of psychology, Mr. Okonkwo, a clinical psychologist in Lagos State University
Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), sees the idea of free lunch as a motivating factor going by the level of children who have resorted to hawking in Nigeria. “Some of the hawkers are actually the children who are supposed to be in school. Government should also make school attractive to some of these children so that they can be motivated to go to school. “Of course, the public schools are free, but then some things are not free. Some people cannot afford to go to school. Just like the free food, the current administration’s promise to school children, if it is carried out, more children will be attracted to going to school than being on the street. Because some these children even when they are forced to go to school, some of them can remove their school uniforms and go to hawk sachet water so that they can find what to eat,” Mr. Okonkwo said. On the other hand, some people have criticised the idea on the ground because they suspect it could be a flash in the plan. Says Mr. Darlington Okezie, “It is better
“The situation has not been brought to our notice so far, but we will definitely get to root of the matter once it is brought to our notice, and everyone will know that we have done something,” he said. While LAMATA awaits the official consultation before swinging into action as regards a project they are supposedly supervising, Saturday Mirror’s investigation turned to the Governor’s office where the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Habeeb Haruna, said he was not in a position to speak on the matter, but referred yours sincerely to one Mr. Salami, whom he said was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works. Mr. Salami however, said he wasn’t and referred the paper to Mr. Olubade, who as at press time, was not forthcoming with answers to the lingering situation. Most residents of the Amuwo Odofin area believe that government is keeping sealed lips and turning blind eyes to the situation because it is not happening in Lekki, Victoria Island or one of the high brow areas of the state. They claimed that such misdemeanor will not be allowed in such areas, stressing that it is allowed in Amuwo Odofin because most of the residents are of low and middle class cadre. They appealed to the government to do something urgently before the situation becomes an epidemic, and difficult to control.
not to even start it than to start it and not continue it. This is not the kind of policy we want them to make. They should create economic policies that would see that there is a conducive social environment for everybody and a credible social system that really works so that they don’t just feed the children, but make their parents comfortable enough so that their children don’t go hungry. This is just a case of giving the man fish rather than teaching him how to catch it,” he said. He however advised that if they insist on providing lunch, “the meals must be the same quality of meals their children can eat and not meals not even good enough for dogs. They should also mind the food contractors, so that they won’t poison the children of the poor, because rich Nigerians often maltreat poor Nigerians like dogs and feed them like dogs while most of them claim to be ‘Christians’ and ‘Muslims,’” said Mr. Okezie. As the children march into their classes this week, poverty, if care is not taken, may be the evil spirit that may permanently retain some on the street of vice.
Entervaganza
The Saturday Mirror Magazine
Relationships
Is it okay to date your boss? P.32
Sex talk Why do women fake the big O?
P.32
Seyi
Fashion Go green!
P.28
Yemi
...sultry divas
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ENTERVAGANZA
Celebrity
September 12, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
I’m crushing on Vector and Kiss Daniel —Miss Charismatic runner-up Budding model and runner-up in the Miss Charismatic beauty pageant, Oluwatobi Elizabeth Adebayo speaks with VICTOR UDOH about her life, passions and career. sic and have always lived a simple life. Where do you see yourself in the next five years? I see myself as an icon; a very successful presenter and also one of the Victorian secret models by God’s grace. Who is your mentor? My mother and Professor Wole Soyinka. This is because I get inspired by their great achievements.
Tell us about yourself. I am 18 years old, and the first child and only girl in a family of five from Ondo State. Though I live in Lagos, I spent my teenage days in Ibadan, Oyo State with my parents and I’m currently studying History in the University of Ibadan. How did you get involved in beauty pageantry? It started as a joke when I got admission into school. I was told to pick a beauty pageant form for new students: Mr/Miss Fresher. I didn’t take it seriously at first. Later, I saw it could be a platform for me to go into modelling, something I’ve always wanted to do. God so good, I won the competition. Are you facing any challenges so far in that direction? Presently, I wouldn’t say I’m facing any challenge because I am just starting. But with time, I know things will turn out great. Also, I’m ready for anything. You know, there is always a challenge when something great is about to happen, nevertheless I can’t wait to conquer them. Tell us about Miss Charismatic that you contested for.
Miss Charismatic is about harmonising and empowering female youths towards the attainment of a desired goal, to promote issues that affect Nigerian youth, to restore the moral pride of the Nigerian women. It is also aimed at reinvigorating and re-establishing the standards that will ensure improvement in the quality of life as well as redefine beauty pageants among Nigerian youths, eliminate moral decadence and become the number one beauty contest in the country. How do you feel as the Miss Charismatic second runner-up? I’m excited. It’s a privilege to be one of the top three, though that was not my aim. But I thank God who made that happen and I know something good would come off this. How was the experience in camp? It was fun in camp. Really amazing. It was life changing and I’m sure other contestants feel that way because of the fame involved. So it is something I will look back on with pride. Thank God I was there. What was your growing up like? It was funny being the only girl and first child; I know I have responsibilities. My siblings look up to me. I grew up to love mu-
Apart from modeling, what else do you do? Right now I am a student and am living a normal life and working on being a journalist. How do you intend to give back to the society? I would like to create the standards that will ensure quality of life and also propagate the effects of environmental pollution, issues of rape, HIV/AIDS, premature pregnancy and prostitution as well as develop our African culture. Like I said, being Miss Charismatic as created a platform for me, which I intend to leverage on attracting incentives towards the development of our African culture and also be an inspiration and pride to Nigerian women.
What current projects have you at hand? The project I am working on, though I haven’t started yet, is about stopping the Rape of Teenage girls and the forceful marriage of young girls in the north, as well as female education. What kind of book do you read? I read all kinds of books, particularly when I have exams. What is your philosophy of life? It is about impacting other people’s lives for good. What is your worst moment as model? My worst moment was a very long time ago. I attended a friend’s birthday party and I was about to leave with my friends when two drunk guys came appeared and were misbehaving, making fun of my slim body. They called me funny names and I felt so bad, it was terrible. What is your advice to the current government? My advice to the present government is to rectify the bad things the previous government has done with particular reference to corruption, unemployment, terrorism. Also, the issue of incessant power outage and to rectify the good image of Nigeria in Africa and on the globe. What is your advice to your fans? I want my fans out there to learn to believe in themselves. They should always take positive risks, strive to be the best they can be and always be grateful.
What is your greatest achievement in life? Going into Miss Charismatic Nigeria. I think this would be my greatest achievement for now. But I hope to achieve greater feats in life.
How do you relax? I relax by watching movies, eating and sleeping.
Why are you into pageantry? Going into pageantry as been fun to me, seeing me happy with what I do will definitely make my parents proud. So my joy is their pride and they are cool with it.
Which celebrity do you have a crush on? My biggest crush is Vector and Kiss Daniel because they are both so cute, especially Vector. I love his crazy punchlines and vocal delivery, particularly when he raps.
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
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September 12, 2015
I don’t smoke marijuana —Don Jazzy
N
owadays, Nigerian musicians, especially those in hip-hop, are synonymous with the smoking of marijuana which they also refer to as weed, poli and some other coded names. But one of their most prominent personalities, Don Jazzy, has come out to say that he doesn’t smoke it, and he doesn’t see why any of his colleagues, especially the upcoming ones, should. Jazzy made his mind on the conscientious issue of marijuana smoking known through #WhenYouFinallyBlow, a list of ten tips he posted online for upcoming artists. The list is explosive, as Jazzy didn’t mince words on it. He called a spade a spade and though he said it’s meant for upcoming artists, every entertainer can learn from it. Tip 1: Dear upcoming artists. The real job starts #WhenYouFinallyBlow. Tip 2: #WhenYouFinallyBlow Know that there is a huge difference between carrying yourself like the new star you are and being an a*$hole. Tip 3: #WhenYouFinallyBlow Pray against the
‘don’t you know who I am? I am a celeb’ spirit. Tip 4: #WhenYouFinallyBlow Don’t be in a hurry to move to Lekki. It’s not that serious. Plenty fake people out here. Tip 5: #WhenYouFinallyBlow You don’t need to smoke weed or take some next ish to help write songs. I have over 100 hits and I don’t smoke it. Tip 6: #WhenYouFinallyBlow It will do you a lot of good to know that it won’t last forever. No be curse. Tip 7: #WhenYouFinallyBlow to the point where you have your own company, carry your guys up with you. It’s not beans but try. Tip 8: #WhenYouFinallyBlow Respect the legend 2face Idibia. Tip 9: #WhenYouFinallyBlow Don’t let flying first class/private jets become a habit. U go drink garri when hits no come oh. Tip 10: #WhenYouFinallyBlow No be everybody wey no like your song be hater. Sometimes our songs no go sweet to some people. E dey happen.
Project Fame update
Chike, Oluchi, Joy evicted A
s the competition gets stiffer week in week out, the contestants have also continued to hone their skills, knowing well that a lot is at stake. In the end, the power still lies in the hands of West Africa to determine the ones that have impressed them enough to earn their votes. This time around, their votes saved four contestants except Chike, Arewa, Pearl, Kumi, Oluchi, and Joy. This was revealed right after the contestants opened the evening with a brilliant tribute performance to the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. As always, the group performance was a beautiful blend of different vocal textures rolled into one. After the six contestants with the lowest viewers’ votes performed again, it was time for the judges, faculty, and the contestants saved by viewers’ votes to save one each, but before they made their decisions known, Shola (Season 7 alumni) graced the stage to thrill everyone with one of his hit singles, Amin. Back to the moment of truth,
Chike
the judges saved Arewa, the faculty chose Pearl, while the contestants’ votes ended in a tie again. The onus to break the tie was then placed on the contestant with the highest viewers’ votes, Ada. She decided to save Kumi, and this sadly marked the end of
Oluchi
Chike, Oluchi, and Joy’s journeys in the competition. The bundle of talents performed for the last time in the competition with Chike performing Suddenly by D’Banj, Joy Irawo by Seyi Shay, and Oluchi - Bimpe by Asa.
Jazzy
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September 12, 2015
CLASSICAL LYRICS
E-NEWS
War brews between Seyi Shay and Yemi Alade
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ivalry in the entertainment industry begins seemingly innocuously. And the one that’s brewing between Johnny singer, Yemi Alade, and Murda singer, Seyi Shay, is certainly starting on that note. Prior to last weekend, there wasn’t any talk of rivalry between them. But last weekend, Alade won the best female award over Shay at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards. And being that it was the second time she would win such an award over Shay in less than three months, it has set the tone for not just a rivalry, but a full-blown war. Put bluntly, Alade has disgraced Shay by winning the best female category over her twice. The first time she did it was at the MTV Africa Music Awards. Alade’s wins over Shay means only one thing: her brand value will increase over Shay’s. Considering that an artist’s brand value is his or her selling point, Shay can certainly not be the happiest of artists right now. The only solution is for her to fight back, through whatever method is available to her, and when she does that, Alade
Shay
Alade
will fight too as she wouldn’t want to lose the goodies that come with being the more successful artist. Oh well, their rivalry will only be a good thing for music lovers as they will make music to do outdo each other, and in doing
that, the fans will be the ones that benefit most, just like in football rivalry when rival teams bid to outdo themselves on the pitch and it’s their supporters who get entertained greatly with the great football they play thereby.
SoundCity blacklists P-Square T
his is one piece of information that must be catching everyone by surprise. According to tweets by Peter P-Square, Nigeria’s top satellite music channel, SoundCity, is no longer showing P-Sqaure’s music videos, and it’s doing so deliberately. From the tweets, it was obvious that Peter was conversing with fans who had enquired from him as to the absence of their videos on SoundCity. And responding, Peter, who is the extrovert brother in P-Square, didn’t mince words. “Dear fans,” he said. “We see your complains about the absence of our videos on @SOUNDCITYtv. Just to clear the air, they refuse to play us.” He then went on to recommend other channels where their videos can be seen. “Please keep watching us on other reliable channels like MTV Base, HipTV, Trace, Afropop and other terrestrial channels. Thanks for the love.” And though he didn’t disclose why SoundCity stopped airing their videos, SoundCity has since come out to say that P-Square is not grateful for SoundCity’s support of their brand, so they stopped showing their videos on January 1st.
P-Square
Waconzy looks out of place at American event
I
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Celebrate singer, Waconzy, is one artist who really likes to hype himself and portray that he’s living the celebrity lifestyle. Like many other celebrities, social media is his avenue to let the world know that he’s living the good life. Every opportunity he has, he goes online and posts pictures and messages of his flashy lifestyle and successes. He has also been fighting against malaria since 2013 through his Waconzy Versus Malaria Zero Tolerance campaign. And when he was given an award recently at the 6th Annual World Music and Indepen-
dent Film Festival in America in recognition of his contribution to the fight against malaria in Africa, he let the world know again through social media. But while his aim in posting a picture of himself at the festival with an American celebrity, Shari Belafonte, was to probably let himself be seen in a good light, the opposite has been the case for him. The way he looks in the picture has drawn a lot of criticism, though, with some saying he doesn’t look good in it and that he looked out of place (in dressing and grooming) at the festival.
Belafonte and Waconzy
Reggae Blues Continued from last week Artist: Harrysong featuring Kcee, Olamide, Iyanya, Orezi
Everybody wanna groove Dey grOve, dey groove As far as E-Money dey pay Dey pay, dey pay Ibiro pop champagne oh ah ah Verse 3 (Iyanya) Baby say am more than good He’s good, he’s good Na me dey put am in the mood oh In the mood, in the mood Baby come over my place oh My place, my place Make you dance the reggae, dance the blues The blues, the blues If you give am to me I go take am … take am I like the way you dey shake am … shake am Call me daddy, I go call you mummy oh I like the way you dey take am … take am Na only you wey no dey fake am … fake am I call you mummy Just call me daddy oh, daddy Because Chorus (Harrysong) After the reggae play the blues The blues, the blues Make you do as I do I do, I do Enjoy yourself baby boo Bae boo, bae boo Even your boo get a boo A boo, a boo Share the gala, share the booze The booze, the booze Everybody wanna groove Dey groove, dey groove As far as E-Money dey pay Dey pay, dey pay Ibiro pop champagne oh ah ah Verse 4 (Orezi) No go think am na dollar we spend no be ****…..ah ah Na enjoyment dey, cos me no come this life to suffer … eh eh Enugu girls dem like to do To do, to do As long as you get money to boost To boost, to boost Baby your baka big like Toolz Like Toolz, like Toolz Follow me come and pay your dues Your dues, your dues I know that you’re feeling the nigga oh … nigga And na my money, you feeling the knicker oh Knicker oh, knicker tinini tanana nita Sapala biko nta Chorus (Harrysong) After the reggae play the blues The blues, the blues Make you do as I do I do, I do Enjoy yourself baby boo Bae boo, bae boo Even your boo get a boo A boo, a boo Share the gala, share the booze The booze, the booze Everybody wanna groove Dey grove, dey groove As far as E-Money dey pay Dey pay, dey pay Ibiro pop champagne oh ah ah Concluded
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
E-NEWS
September 12, 2015
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Artists and unfulfilled potentials
Alabai
T
he music industry is full of established, promising, upcoming and underground artists. The established ones are always the most popular and most successful, the promising are those believed will eventually become established, the upcoming are the newcomers and the underground are successful and respected artists who prefer to stay out of the limelight. Talking about the promising artists, they are very peculiar because they mostly remain promising and never become established. Artists are seen as promising when they’ve released one or two hit songs, performed at prestigious industry events and concerts and their name is buzzing on people’s lips and trending on social media. Once they’ve gotten to the promised stage, they are expected to go on to become established and those that don’t become known as artists yet to live up to expectations. Among them are Mo’ Cheddah, YQ, Soul E, Kween, Sheyman, Alabai, Sean Tero and many others. Many things have been expected of Mo’ Cheddah since she burst onto the scene about four years ago with If You Want Me. She was so hot then that MTV Base dedicated a whole month to her and she won notable awards. But she broke up with her label after the release of her debut album, Franchise Celebrity, and she is only just trying to make a proper comeback now, releasing song after song, the latest of which is Bad on which she featured Olamide. “I am YQ.” People familiar with YQ’s hits would definitely be acquainted with the three-word lyrics preceding this sentence as YQ uses them frequently in his songs to endear himself to his fans and the musicloving public. YQ became really known and respected when he
Soul E
released the hit, Efimile, featuring Dagrin. Efimile was the song that actually made him and Dagrin into stars. He followed it up with I Like Girls, another big hit, Dress Code, a notable hit, and his debut album, I Am YQ. So promising was he rated that Obi Asika’s Storm Records went into a partnership with his initial label, 2Koncepts Entertainment, over him. Suddenly, it all fizzled out for him. From being talked about, no one really talked about him again. Even though he keeps releasing songs, none of them has become as successful as Efimile and I Like Girls. There are many talented rappers in the country, and there is no doubt that Alabai is one of them. In fact, he stands out amongst them, so much so that bigtime artists including Paul Play Dairo and Sunny Neji featured him on their songs. But when he released his own song, Voice Of God, it was critically but not commercially successful. And after he released his album and it didn’t make much waves, he sort of disappeared off the scene. Then he returned as a singer with Ogbanje which became a notable hit. And he continues to make moves so it’s possible that he will finally attain the superstar status that is expected of him. The name Soul E is one that broke through the unknown barrier and became known when his song, Soul E Baba Dey Here, became a monster hit. Its followup, Naija Is Blessed, wasn’t really accepted and when he became embroiled in a legal battle over his contract with his label, Colossal Entertainment, his career just kept descending instead of ascending as expected. Though he keeps trying his best to get to the next level, it’s just not working out for him. He even switched from secular to gospel at a point in time, still no tangible result. One thing is certain, though, he has all it takes to
YQ
become a very successful established artist, and it still might happen for him. Choko master, Sean Tero, is another artist whose failure to have become a big star by now is still astounding to pundits. His song, Choko De Choko, was the biggest hit in town a few years ago and many big things were thereby expected of him as he had even recorded some consistency before Choko’s success. Yet another artist yet to live up to expectation is Sheyman. An artist and a producer, his success as the producer of many hit songs that include Bigiano’s Shayo and KSB’s Turn Me Around, has led to the expectation that he will also be very successful as an artist. He is however yet to prove that he does have the X-factor required to be a successful music artist as he has released a few hit songs but is not in demand all the same. Of them all, Kween is probably the one that the most has been expected of. Kween’s case is indeed very peculiar. She is one lady who has all it takes to become a megastar. She is tall, beautiful, sexy, connected and talented. Many good things were therefore said of her, especially as she rolled with the JJC, D’Banj and Don Jazzy clique while she was in London and on her return to Nigeria. And when three of her songs, Oluronbi, Come Wiv Me and Jebele, became hits, it was taken for granted that she would become very big. She hasn’t however but the industry hasn’t given up on her and she is expected to still prove her real worth. Though the promising artists are not limited to those mentioned here, those here are some of the most high profile among them and all of them still have a chance at the big time that will see them getting major league endorsements and headlining tours and concerts.
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September 12, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Zee World brings extraordinary entertainment to Africa
Z
ee World treated media guests at the MultiChoice Content Showcase in Mauritius to a gastronomic journey of Indian cuisine before launching into a discussion about its dynamic channel that has been customized for mainstream audiences in Africa. Earlier this year, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), one of India’s leading television, media and entertainment companies launched this exciting new television channel. Since then, the channel has offered Africa an extraordinary world of entertainment, and is the first of its kind showcasing Bollywood movies, series, reality and food shows and will be adding much more action packed content. Zee World has a strong worldwide presence, boasting over 33 channels which entertain 960 million viewers across 169 countries. Pioneers of television entertainment industry in India, ZEEL’s wellknown international brands include Zee TV, &TV, Zee Cinema, Zing, Zee Punjabi, Zee Khana Khazana and Zee Living amongst others. ZEEL first ventured into Africa 18 years ago as the brands first international territory and its widely acclaimed flagship channel ZEE TV has been present on the DStv platform since 1996 and Canal Plus since 2006. “Zee World is the first offering from ZEE for mainstream viewers in Africa.
ZEEL officials
We will be launching another channel for our French audiences in Francophone Africa before end of this year with more channels scheduled for launch next year,” announced Harish Goyal, CEO Zee TV Africas. All content on the channel has under-
gone extensive research and customization, including editing and dubbing. The content research is a continuous process for all upcoming shows in future on Zee World. Zee World has award-winning shows like Saloni, Laali, The Promise and Destiny with a wide collection of star studded block-
Toke Makinwa flashes her assets for husband?
buster Bollywood movies. The channel also has other genres such as food, reality and will be adding health shows and other world series soon. The channel has dramatic and thrilling content which is available on DStv and GOtv.
Toyin Aimakhu returns to matrimonial home
F Makinwa
I
t’s no longer news that Toke Makinwa’s marriage is in serious trouble. And probably to relieve herself of the resultant stress, she took a holiday in which she really let down her hair to the extent that she posted extremely salacious pictures of herself online. Her physical assets were really on display in the pictures and men must definitely be salivating over them right now. The pictures are her most intimate ever, and they seem to be a message to her husband, Maje Ayida, maybe to remind him that you don’t appreciate what you have until you lose it.
ollowing the widespread reports of the crack in her marriage, Toyin Aimakhu, who packed out of her matrimonial home, has reportedly returned to that same home and to her husband, Adeniyi Johnson. Aimakhu’s marriage, which has hit several rocks in its two years of existence, hit a really bad rock quite recently when she discovered that her husband was flirting. Her reaction was one of most women in such a situation. She was dismayed, angry and bitter and she instantly made the world aware of her husband’s infidelity by deleting all his presence in her social media accounts. Her husband was however more practical. He publicly admitted he was in the wrong and pleaded that he didn’t want the marriage to go under.
Aimakhu and hubby on their wedding day
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
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September 12, 2015
le StyGlam and
with Yemisi Adeniran
T
oday’s fashion is forward moving and definitely no longer business as usual. It is not straight jacketed, it is not conservative. It is going the extra mile, taking a notch higher than what you have or what it looked like the previous day. It is creative, beautiful and unpredictable. Weird and comfortable still, is meant for the youngat-heart women of style. For this cause, Nigerian design label, Ma’am has come up with its pieces tagged “Beyond Boundaries”. Aimed at women whose style transcends the ordinary and who are not afraid to push the boundaries of fashion their mix of chiffon, sheer, silk and more shows their versatility and an eye for blends and contradictions.
Beyond Boundaries from
m a ’ Ma
(08037801158) ydiran@yahoo.com
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STYLE & GLAM
September 12, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Fashion
Go green! F
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Fashion
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
n frenzy
n frenzy
September 12, 2015
STYLE & GLAM
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B
Fashion Guest
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STYLE & GLAM
September 12, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
‘Every woman 9 tips for great should have a mental health style’
Amede Nzeribe is the brain behind Amede, a fashion label that has, over the years, stood out in the art of tye, dye and batik designs. A lawyer-turned designer, she told YEMISI ADENIRAN about her passion and why it is best for every woman to carve a niche for herself. Excerpts: It’s a wonder why you have found excitement in fashion designing when you were trained as a lawyer. Could you tell us why? It is all about passion. I have always been interested in fashion since I was a child and I thank God that I was able to realize or make real the dream. But really, I have not just found excitement in the fashion designing profession, I have found fulfilment. It has taken me to places I have never thought it could, I have met with people of good quality, I have been able to express my creativity, my inner strength, my specially endowed gift from God. I have been able to make impacts on my generation via it and I am still doing, I am grateful to God for this and many more that He has in plans for me. All the while I was in the University, I was doing my designing. It is one passion I cannot let go of. What are those things you look out for when you are designing a cloth? The first thing I look out for is comfort. I love to design clothes that give comfort to the wearer. I also look out for colours because
it adds beauty and glamour to the design and the person wearing it. Why have you chosen tie and die specifically? May be because of my disposition to the African culture and because like the Ankara fabric, it is very friendly with any style and other fabrics. It comes out distinctly with any style, any shape of woman and can be adapted into both formal and informal wears. Above all, I don’t believe in just joining a crowd, I believe in the power of personal style. It stands one out and add colour to one’s style. It is a niche I have created for myself. With all the years that you have been dealing with African women, What have you discovered that they desire most in fashion? An African woman wants different things at different times. She wants to look elegant, she loves to stand out in anything she wears, she wants to keep up with the fashion trend as much as possible. What is your advice to them? They should try and create a style for themselves. They should know what fits them, what gives them comfort and avoid dressing overboard.
E
njoying mental health means having a sense of wellbeing, being able to function during everyday life and feeling confident to rise to a challenge when the opportunity arises. Just like your physical health, there are actions you can take to increase your mental health. Connect with others. Develop and maintain strong relationships with people around you who will support and enrich your life. The quality of our personal relationships has a great effect on our wellbeing. Putting time and effort into building strong relationships can bring great rewards. Take time to enjoy. Set aside time for activities, hobbies and projects you enjoy. Let yourself be spontaneous and creative when the urge takes you. Do a crossword; take a walk; read a book; sew a quilt; draw pictures with your kids; play with your pets – whatever takes your fancy.
Participate and share interests. Join a club or group of people who share your interests. Being part of a group of people with a common interest provides a sense of belonging and is good for your mental health. Join a sports club; a band; an evening walking group; a dance class; a theatre or choir group; a book or boat club.
Contribute to your community.
Volunteer your time for a cause or issue that you care about. Help out a neighbour, work in a community centre or do something nice for a friend. There are many great ways to contribute that can help you feel good about yourself and your place in the world. An effort to improve the lives of others is sure to improve your life too. Take care of yourself. Be active and eat well – these help maintain a healthy body. Physical and mental health are closely linked. It’s easier to feel good about life if your body feels good. You don’t have to go to the gym to
exercise – gardening, cleaning, dancing and walking all count. Combine physical activity with a balanced diet to nourish your body and mind and keep you feeling good, inside and out. Challenge yourself. Learn a new skill or take on a challenge to meet a goal. You could take on something different at work; commit to a fitness goal or learn to cook a new recipe. Learning improves your mental fitness, while striving to meet your own goals builds skills and confidence and gives you a sense of progress and achievement. Deal with stress. Be aware of what triggers your stress and how you react. You may be able to avoid some of the triggers and learn to prepare for or manage others. Stress is a part of life and affects people in different ways. It only becomes a problem when it makes you feel uncomfortable or distressed. A balanced lifestyle can help you manage stress better. Rest and refresh. Get plenty of sleep. Go to bed at a regular time each day and practice good habits to get better sleep. Sleep restores both your mind and body. However, feelings of fatigue can still set in if you feel constantly rushed and overwhelmed when you are awake. Allow yourself some unfocussed time each day to refresh. For example, let your mind wander, daydream or simply watch the clouds go by for a while. It’s OK to add ‘do nothing’ to your to-do list! Notice the here and now. Take a moment to notice each of your senses each day. Simply ‘be’ in the moment – feel the sun and wind on your face and notice the air you are breathing. It’s easy to be caught up thinking about the past or planning for the future instead of experiencing the present. Practising mindfulness, by focusing your attention on being in the moment, is a good way to do this. Making a conscious effort to be aware of your inner and outer world is important for your mental health.
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September 12, 2015
Male Essentials
08036961187
with Oseyiza Oogbodo kingseiza@gmail.com
Invest in a good
watch
W
atch prices have been booming since the turn of the millennium. Coupled with ever more astronomical auction results for landmark pieces, the second-hand watches market is creeping steadily upwards. Compared to your comatose savings, which are losing value as Mark Carney keeps interest rates near zero, putting your cash into a luxury timepiece isn’t the decadent splurge it might appear. Of course, there are no guarantees. Watches are what economists call an “illiquid commodity”. Which translates as unshiftable should times go bad. But watches do have one advantage over other investments: if you buy carefully, even if the market collapses, you’ll still own something beautiful, well-made and useful. Not something you can say of your stock portfolio.
Where to start:
With very few exceptions (anything with a waiting list, like a stainless steel Daytona) new watches depreciate like cars. If you’re happy for yours not to be the first wrist it sits on, a pre-owned watch usually represents a significant saving. And you needn’t worry that it’s going to leave you behind the times: 2014 and 2015 models are already appearing online, having dropped more than £1,500 from list price. Buying privately is worth it if you’ve got the time
and expertise to sort the wheat from the chaff; if not, retailers like Watchfinder, Watch Club and Watches of Switzerland all offer pre-owned watches that have been verified, serviced and cleaned. “Generally speaking, once a watch has suffered its initial hit of depreciation, the follow-on depreciation is very minor,” says Lloyd Amsdon, founder of Watchfinder. Often the rising prices of new pieces bring the second-hand market up too. “Rolex’s Deepsea Sea-Dweller, for example, costs more pre-owned now than it did brand new at launch. Five to ten years is about the right time to start seeing rising RRPs cancel out and overcome the gentle depreciation that comes with age.” And unlike real estate, that decade comes with style points as interest.
The safe bets:
If you want to assure your watch is worth more next year (and the year after that) the solution is simple. Buy a Rolex. If possible, buy two. More specifically, stick to the most popular models: the Submariner, the Deepsea, and that holy grail of watch profitability, the Daytona. Their values rise as effortlessly as a loaf of bread, but that predictability means serious upfront outlay to get your hands on one. Beyond the Crown, investing in almost any Patek Philippe watch, or an Omega Speedmaster, means your money’s safe.
Buying on a budget: Pockets not deep enough for Rolex and Patek? Look to the other best-known brands and stick to the flagship models. That’s the Monaco and Carrera from TAG Heuer, Chronomat, Transocean and Navitimer from Breitling, and the Pilots and Aquatimer ranges from IWC. If you’ve got £2,000 to £4,000, that’s enough to pick up a five-year-old version of any of them. And all are that killer combination of well known and well made. From Omega, Lloyd recommends the Seamaster Professional: “It is climbing in value following the discontinuation of the quartz variant, tipping the scales at around £1,500–£2,000.” Look for the older version, before the ceramic bezel was introduced, for the best returns.
Taking risks:
Buying watches isn’t like betting on horses; here, the safest bets tend to bring the biggest rewards. But buying for pleasure as well as investment means your portfolio lives on your wrist, not a safe. And if you don’t want to wear the ‘route one’ Rolex or Omega options, you may fancy your luck trying to second-guess the market a little bit. Take the 1996 Patek Philippe Calatrava in yellow gold, yours for just under £7,000. It’s affordable because, at a dainty 31mm wide, it’s out of step with recent tastes to-
wards the oversized. But all signs are that watches are now downsizing again, so you might find yourself ahead of the trend with a watch that’s picking up value.
Future prospects:
Here you’re going to want to do your homework. Some watches just aren’t worth their retail price in any meaningful sense of the word, and will keep depreciating, bottom out and sit there forever. You’ll do well to bear in mind the fundamental conservatism of majority watch tastes: brands with admittedly successful modern designs like Bell & Ross, Hublot and Graham see their values crater within a couple of years. As Lloyd Amsdon says, “The lesser known a brand, the less likely its watches are to hold value. This is when buying a watch becomes a head versus heart issue – do you buy a watch that will hold its value well, or do you buy the watch you really want?” You need to be a bit of a trend spotter. What’s going to please the whims of collectors in a decade’s time? If you spot something a little bit different from a pedigree brand, it may be worth a punt. Similarly, look for slight variations on well-loved models or watches whose production runs are likely to be small (without commanding the premium of explicitly limited editions).
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September 12, 2015
Angle
Male
Jide animashaun 08034710902 jidemashaun@yahoo.com
Tricky business
T
his is a very complex issue. Office affairs can be very tricky. People meet under different circumstances and the office environment is one of them. Even if it may be unethical to have a relationship within the workplace, two people meeting and hitting it off is a natural thing. This romantic situation may turn out well and it may end in shambles. Seeing your boss in the light of a potential mate is a normal progression after spending lots of time in each other’s company. The fact is that we all spend more time in the office interacting with each other than in any other place. However, dating your boss is a very tricky business. If you feel that you have some attraction to your boss, you need to think long and hard about the possible endings to this love story and if you can live with the possibility of any of the endings. One of the endings is probably that you both will hit it off so well that wedding bells will soon be ringing for both of you. Another is that you begin to date, but the relationship does not work out well and it hits the rocks. Career advancement is really aided, especially if your boss is in the direct position to influence your promotion. This comes about as a positive side effect of your dating the boss. Another positive side effect is the financial raise you will get from the promotion. There is also the direct fall out of having the trust and confidence of the boss who will entrust more career advancement jobs to you. Finally, there is the freedom to express your feelings without the fear of the backlash at office meetings because most of what will be discussed at those meetings would have been discussed before hand with the boss. On the other hand, emotions will affect work speed and quality if the relationship is not properly managed. Your objectivity and judgment may get affected sooner or later. If one party is sad in the relationship,
it will have a direct influence on that person’s work due to the inter relationship of emotions at play here. Also, there is the fear of the backlash of victimization when the relationship is over. There will be the inordinate fear that the boss will start victimizing you because of love turned sour. Depending on how the relationship ended, you could be dealing with an angry or vengeful boss and if the atmosphere becomes really tense, are you prepared to leave the job if need be? Jealousy on the part of colleagues. A relationship of this nature will breed hatred and jealousy, especially when career advancement is believed not to be merited. Finally, there will not be any privacy in the relationship because there will be control of one’s private life to suit one’s official life. Not many people can survive working together with their romantic partner. It is very taxing on the relationship. If you want to still date after all the issues raised and discussed above, it is still probably best to keep your relationship strictly for after office hours and be as professionals in your behaviour during the working hours as possible. Your behavior should not cause any distractions or disruptions in the office. Even though you are not trying to be loud in the relationship or be sneaky about it and make it look as if you are doing what you are not supposed to be doing, you should not hide it either; that will just make everyone uncomfortable and make the office to run less productively. Also, you need to be sure that you are not getting wrong signals. You must verify through subtle means that your boss has the same feelings of attraction as you. The last thing you want to do is to embarrass yourself by misreading any signals you thought you received from your boss. The bottom line here is that you have to be careful about dating your boss, even though the part to true love hardly ever runs smooth.
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Relatio
Is it okay to da
SEX TALK
This column is x-rated
Why do women fake the big O?
Faking an orgasm is never good; not for the man, and definitely not for the woman! But in case you are wondering, here are 22 reasons a woman could be faking her orgasm instead of waiting for the real one. Fake pity. You’re not arousing her enough to bring her to climax, and she’s given up on achieving an orgasm. But your woman doesn’t want to hurt your feelings because she cares about you, and finds it easier to just fake it and end it. She’s not in the mood. You’re horny and turned on. But she’s not. And she’s having sex only because you want it. She’d probably try to warm up to the act, but if she doesn’t feel like it, she may just fake it. She knows she’s not going to orgasm. This is psychological, and she probably knows she’s going to fake it even before you penetrate her. As a guy, you may have experienced a few occasions yourself when you start having sex with your girl, and almost immediately know that you may not last through the sex. And just like that, sometimes your girl may know she’s not going to orgasm, and she just wants to be done with it. She’s preoccupied. There’s something on her mind, and she’s too distracted to enjoy sex. She may make love to you, but her preoccupied mind may just distract her from having a real orgasm. She knows you’re trying hard. She’s feeling bad about it, but for some reason, she’s just not able to orgasm. And she doesn’t want to hurt your feelings or land a blow on your confidence, so she lies to you just to see you smile proudly. You’re boring! Well, let’s face it, you may be
rather boring one night. And if she’s getting tired of the to-and-fro and is subduing her yawns with her palms, it may just be easier to fake it without being too mean. You’re waiting for her. You’re almost about to explode, and she can feel it. You are holding your breath like you’re trying hard to prevent a case of premature ejaculation, before continuing again. And your woman, being the sweetheart that she is, may just fake it to save you from an awkward spurt! She’s embarrassed. She’s not able to orgasm for some reason beyond her knowledge, and she feels embarrassed by it. And her embarrassment is making her feel worse and preventing her from even enjoying the sex. It’s so much easier to just fake it because she doesn’t want you to think it’s her fault. Anger issues. She’s angry with you, or is giving you the silent treatment. And your teasing her and seducing her into having sex isn’t helping, because she’ll hate you more for it. But if she doesn’t want to confront the issue or sit up talking about it, she may find it easier to just do the deed instead. She’s stressed out. Your woman could have had a long and tiring day, and as much as she wants to enjoy sex, she may just be too tired to enjoy it. And if she doesn’t want to upset you or make you feel bad about your performance, she may just fake it. She’s in a hurry. You’re initiating sex out of the blues, and she’s got better things to do. Perhaps, she
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RELATIONSHIPS
September 12, 2015
onships
ate your boss? A
This column is x-rated wants to sleep, watch her favorite show or get out and do something. What’s the fastest way to wrap sex up? Yeah, fake it! The pressure to make it awesome. It’s a special day and sex is just expected to be awesome and mind blowing! It could be your anniversary or a birthday, and if she doesn’t feel great that night, she might just pretend to be completely turned on and aroused, just to make sex more memorable for you. She’s had her share of fun. A woman doesn’t always have to orgasm to enjoy sex. Sometimes, she may feel like she’s had her share of fun and may just want to end it. Boredom. She’s bored with her sex life, and the things you do just don’t excite her anymore. It’s monotonous and boring, and rather than confront it, she may just resign her mind to the fact that sex isn’t as exciting as it once was! The guy takes too long. Your girl may just want to finish up because she wants to sleep or be done with it. And if you’re trying really hard to push her soft spots and make her orgasm, she may just give in and fake an orgasm just to end it and go back to sleep. Uncomfortable positions. So you’ve read about a new position that you want to try, or you’re suddenly feeling very horny while watching the television. And you push her down on a hard surface, contort her body and start the deed. She may try to enjoy it, but if it’s too uncomfortable to experience any pleasure out of it, she may just want to end it with a fake orgasm. Her sex drive is down. Her sex drive may have taken a nosedive because of stress at work, too much alcohol during a party, or some pills she’s been taking recently. And rather than make you feel bad for not making her orgasm, she may want to fake it and please you instead. It’s that time of the month. Most women have varying sex drives at different times of the month. Some women are more aroused
This column is x-rated easily when they’re ovulating, while a few other women feel the friskiest a day or two before their period. And at certain times of the month, they may feel too mellow to experience a real, wild orgasm no matter how hard a guy tries. She’s never really had an orgasm! Well, there are many women out there who still don’t know what an orgasm is. They’ve had sex, and they’ve programmed their mind to squeeze their pelvis before a guy ejaculates. They just don’t know what it feels like to orgasm, and they don’t really care to fix it because they’re too used to it! It’s emotional. Girls are far more emotional than visual when it comes to experiencing sexual pleasure and orgasms. Perhaps, she just hasn’t reached that stage in the relationship where she feels comfortable enough to experience a real, knee buckling orgasm in your arms. She just wants more. This isn’t a guy’s fault really. Maybe you’re just dating a girl who’s too demanding. She needs a lot of foreplay and a lot of sore sex before she actually feels an orgasm. And since she knows it, she may fake it once in a while just to make things easier for you. What did you do?! Did you do something stupid in bed like stick your finger up her butt when you know she hates it? Or did you tell her that you want to have sex with her sister? Sometimes, a girl may just fake it and end it because of something you said or did in bed because she just doesn’t want to continue having sex anymore. The reasons why women fake orgasm may be plenty, but they would all fall into these 22 reasons. And as long as both of you still communicate well, and the fake orgasm is just once-in-a-while, it’s not something you need to be too worried about… just yet!
Female
33
Angle
JACQUI IWU 08165049669 email: amiicaregroup@aol.com
Don’t do it!
s we all know, it is only natural to build friendship and bond with someone with whom you spend most part of your time. It is therefore not strange to witness or hear about “office romance” from time to time as most of us spend over 80% of our conscious lives (times when we are not asleep) in the office. If your boss who is of the opposite sex considers you to be a great asset to the Company, there is a tendency for his admiration for you to extend to deep affection. On the other hand, if your boss displays good leadership skills, and is generally a great role model in the corporate environment, you may begin to nurse deep feelings for him. People hardly take up jobs with the intention of dating their bosses or subordinates, but such situations often arise. The question is: is it okay for you to date your boss? Although people say that the considerations for dating are different from those for marriage, I am of the view (probably old-school and conservative) that a lady should only date someone who she sees as a potential husband. I still cannot comprehend why people date just for the sake of it, knowing that they can never get married. In this regard, I want to narrow down this topic to address the pros and cons of a single lady dating her boss who is unmarried. (We will address the issue of dating a married man in another edition). The workplace is generally a serious and formal environment where tasks and deadlines are the order of the day. Co-workers do not necessarily have to be pals; what is required of each employee is the ability to work effectively with his/ her colleagues to meet the organization’s objectives. People can transit from being just colleagues to being best of friends, but their duty to place office matters above their personal interests (especially during office hours) remains. On the other hand, a dating relationship in itself automatically creates an informal environment around the couple whenever they are together. Save for times when they wish to pretend or hide their relationship, their communication is usually very informal and intimate. Even the basic courtesies –“please”, “thank you”, and “I’m sorry”- are expressed in a special way. The concept of office romance seeks to create a blend of the formal relationship which ordinarily exists in the workplace with the very informal and intimate relationship that exists between couples. This is the first challenge of dating someone within the same workplace. It becomes a greater challenge when the person is your boss. How do you substitute “honey” with “Sir” or switch from his first name to “Mr. so and so” when the occasion arises? Those who have been involved in this sort of relationship
will admit that the occasional switch is not as simple as “ABC” and mistakes usually abound. Some other challenges (or disadvantages) of dating one’s boss include: •You are likely to mix business with pleasure. Occasional lunch dates which span beyond the official lunch hour; official meetings which are not exactly official; intercom calls just to exchange ‘sweet nothings’, etc •You don’t get the “breathing space” or “time alone” every human being needs to have from time to time. Even a married person needs time away from his/her spouse, even when the love is still hot! •You are likely to make demands and expect certain official ‘perks’ which you may not ordinarily be entitled to. Salary increase, promotion, good appraisal, etc. •Your relationship will form part of office gossip and co-workers may start treating you differently. You may do a good job of hiding the relationship from co-workers, but they will eventually suspect you two and before long, you will be the subject of office gist. Those who are strongly opposed to ‘boss-dating’ may become cold towards you while those who play office politics will try to get close to you in order to gain favour from the boss. •If you break up or have a fight, you may not have the much needed space to ‘cool off ’ because he will be in your face. Of course, you dare not calling sick because Mr. Boss from whom you require permission to be away from work happens to be the sickness itself ! •You are likely to be ‘victimized’ after a break up. No matter how mature your boss is, he is likely to pick on you and make you miserable after a break up. This is irrespective of who ‘dumped’ the other. •If the relationship leads to marriage, one of you would have to leave the organization, except where he owns the business and there is no policy against it. Some people don’t see this as a disadvantage, though. There are many more challenges and disadvantages of dating one’s boss, but every of such relationships has its own peculiarities. There is no hard and fast rule governing office romance and like people usually say; “it’s a free world”. However, in making decisions as sensitive as whether to date your boss, it is very important to consider all possible consequences. I usually tell people that whenever one hesitates about doing something and it is clear that it will take too much trouble to defend it, then it is better not to do it at all. Also, it would be quite silly and presumptuous to resign from a job just because you want to date your boss. Hey! You better wait till you get to the altar! So, is it okay for you to date your boss? I don’t think so.
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September 12, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Woman
‘Women should see their husbands as their first kids’
Mrs. Rosemary Ohio-Ehimiaghe is the proprietress of Ostra Private Schools. A pastor and an educationist, she told JULIET OMEH why there is a drop in the standard of education and the secret of her successful marriage. Excerpts:
Give us an insight into your background? I’m from Owan East local government area of Edo state but was brought up in Ibadan. I did my primary and secondary school there. I went to Teachers’ Training College, I also have the National Certificate of Education, (NCE), first degree and Masters. My first degree was from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, (UNN) and second degree from the University of Lagos (UNILAG). I had a very humble beginning. I lived with an aunty. With her, if we didn’t hawk or sell cooked groundnut or fried yam; we were not going to eat. This aunty of mine believed in doing everything pos-
sible to send us to school even when things were not that easy especially in Ibadan, where we lived. But God saw us through with His infinite mercy. I got married after my NCE to late Mr. Styne Ohio-Ehimiaghe and we are blessed with a lovely daughter who is now a lecturer with a doctorate degree in Development Economics. She has made me a grandmother of two lovely sons. We started living in Lagos as early as 1981. I did my National Youth Service Corps in Air force Secondary School in Ikeja and was employed shortly after because I was hard working as a corps member. I was with the Air force
from 1982 to 1995 before I retired. Shortly after my retirement, I went back to school for my masters degree in UNILAG. I started running a private school, Ostra Private School in 1995. I have a passion for helping people because it was somebody who helped me. This was what led me into having an NGO. What kind of people were your parents? My parents were famers. Like I said, it was my aunty that took charge of me from the age of six. She didn’t have her own biological kids which was why she took her own sisters’ children as her own. She brought me up till I got married. She died
last year and God used us to give her a befitting burial. I lost my father when I was nine. What were your childhood dreams and how much of them are you living today? I am living all my dreams today to the glory of God Almighty. For instance, that I am running a private school of my own is not accident but one of the dreams. When I was growing up and while helping my aunty to sell, everybody around saw the love I had for children around. Whenever they were going to the market to sell, they would leave their child with me. I would back some, carry some and still did my
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September 12, 2015
Women should be hard working. It is pretty bad to have to wait all the time for your husband before you can get some little things done house chores. I love having people around me, I am very hospitable. If you come around us, you must eat something, you must do something and have something to take back home. All those things really informed my upbringing, I always love to give back and always love people. As an educationist, what is your observation about education of today as compared with what it used to be? At our own time, we were so determined because we saw education as an ornament, as a weapon that can take us out of poverty. So, we were ready to give all that it would take even if it meant being a house girl or house boy to go to school and be educated. We were serious- minded. Today, our children read more on their handsets. That’s why I made a policy in my school that each child must read a book in a week. It is not as if I have anything against information technology but I discovered sometime that it’s a quick way out. I see this difference as a function of the mind, function of the head and a function of value system. The value system now is that ‘I know that even if I didn’t go to school if I engage in some dubious act or whatever, I will be rich which to them is the real reason for being alive. We celebrate mediocrity these days. Not many celebrate achievement any longer. No one cares about hardwork again. In those days, we were more serious minded because we know it is only by hard work that we can excel. Now, a lot of people don’t place much importance on education, everybody is looking for the shortest cut to wealth. It is therefore important that we begin to teach our children about good morals and essence of hardwork. We should discourage them from depending on their parents’ wealth; they should learn how to survive with or without their parents’ achievements. They should read and acquire knowledge and allow their education be an instrument that will give you liberty. Most parents complain that extra lessons are burdensome on their children and that they are ways of enriching the schools. What is your opinion on this? I don’t do extra lesson in my school. The only thing I do is that I make it compulsory for my students to live in the school’s hostel in Senior Secondary Three so that they can get serious. Some of our teachers engage in extra lesson but that is private and between them and the student’s parents. There’s no way I can monitor their houses to say don’t do this or that. But in my school, there is no extra lesson. You don’t have to tell a child until I give you some extra lessons, you may not make it. Teach that extra thing within the school periods. Ostra Private Schools don’t engage in extra lessons. During my time in Bishop Philips Academy Ibadan, it was compulsory for students to be a border from Form four to afford them the opportunity to learn good morals, self discipline. As far as they believe, day students are
over-pampered by their parents. However, when our children want to do common entrance exam, we organise some lessons for them. How did you meet your husband? We grew up together in the same area. We are from the same place. We were brought up in Ibadan. In our community we have village meetings and all that and so our parents were friends and then one thing led to the other. Then, he was in HSC and I was in the secondary school. We actually started our relationship in 1975 but we have known each other while growing up. What is the secret behind your successful marriage? It is friendship. We talk as friends we behave as friends and that helped us to know more about each other. As friends, you need to be truthful to one another. We joke about everything. People say love but love can just be facial or temporal but you need understanding. He was a good man that if I come to this world again he is the same man I love to marry. We have just one child and it was not a problem for our marriage. What do think are some of the reasons marriage break these days? I ministered somewhere and somebody asked why I concentrated more on women. I said to the person that 65 percent to 70 percent of the responsibility of keeping a home depends on a woman. The woman therefore needs extra patience, endurance, sense of accommodation to have her home intact. My husband was the first of 13 children of his mother and step mother. So, how did I cope? I knew from day one that they were not all going to be with me forever, I just needed to cooperate with my husband who was the first born and saddled with that responsibility. Today, I’m a happy woman even after my husband had passed on. All these younger ones see me as their mother. Trusting one’s the husband, adoring him, admiring him and encouraging him will also help any home. Men, to me, as a woman should be seen as one’s first child. Whatever you will do for your first child, as a woman, do it for your husband. At the end of the day, the man will realise this and love you for it. And put God first. With God, everything will fall in place. To avoid some of the challenges like finance, women should stop comparing their husbands with other men. Women should be hard working too. It is pretty bad to have to wait all the time for your husband before you can get some little things done. Men should also invest in their wives. Women should learn to save. If your husband invests in you, learn to be hard working so that the man will be impressed to even do more for you. Women should concentrate on their husbands and children. Be prayerful too to make things work for your husband. It is in his wellbeing that you will also be happy and fulfilled. What does fashion mean to you? Oh! I love good dressing. Good dressing is about good self esteem. I love dressing that will not expose you. Dressing is to cover up your nakedness. You can ask all those people who have ever seen me, they will affirm that I don’t wear dresses that show my cleavage. It has been like that for the past 45 years and that’s how I intend to keep it. Good dressing is important because the way I see you is how I will address you. What is that fashion item you cannot do without? It is bag. Good hand bags.
Keeping ABREAST
Why female Viagra may not change your sex life I
t seems the much-hyped ‘pink pill’ designed to tackle low sexual desire, is getting the thumbs down by experts. According to sexpert, Tracey Cox, “There is a huge need for a drug that increases women’s desire for sex - but it seems this isn’t it. Most reputable experts are saying the pink pill is ineffective, the side effects are scary and it has enor mous practical drawbacks. “It’s not looking good. First up, you can’t drink alcohol while taking it and you have to take a pill daily, which means you can’t drink at all while on the drug. Even a small amount of alcohol can have potentially serious consequences like fainting or blacking out from seriously low blood pressure. “The other thing you might need to rethink if you want to take the pink pill is taking the oral contraceptive pill: it doesn’t react with that so well either. “Oh, and think twice before you reach for that innocent medicine to treat yeast infections, too: the chances of fainting could also increase if you use an American brand used to treat thrush Diflucan (fluconazole). “But let’s say you are prepared to go teetotal and take yourself off the Pill, what then? Will the female Viagra revolutionise your sex life? “Given it only appears to work on between nine and 15 per cent of women, statistically the odds aren’t in your favour. “Even if you were one of the lucky ones and it did work for you, the huge prize for all the sacrifices you need to make to take it is this: one extra ‘sexually satisfying sexual event’ per month. “In the trials to test the drug, the starting point was 2.7 ‘events’ per month for the women involved. Those taking the placebo drug clocked up 3.7 events per month and those taking the pink pill rose to 4.5 per month. There’s only 0.9 per cent difference between the placebo result and the real drug. “The trials were well-designed and the effect appears to be real, but it’s small and it only occurred in around 10 per cent of the women. I’m disheartened it doesn’t look like being the life-changing drug the makers are saying it will be. This leaves us with no other alternative but to keep calm and carry on and try to deal with it without drugs. “There are several crucial things we can do to solve low desire.
“Research continues to suggest that something happens to women in long-term relationships that doesn’t appear to happen with men. “At the beginning of a relationship, women and men both want sex equally as much. But somewhere between one and four years in, women’s desire for sex falls. True, both sexes want less sex the longer you’re with each other, but the decline in desire is greater for females. “There are many (many) reasons for this - the most obvious being we’re the ones that have babies which wreak havoc on our bodies, sleep patterns and therefore libido. “The other obvious but less talked about reason is it’s generally harder to make a woman orgasm than a man. “A lot of men aren’t particularly technically proficient sexually and a lot of women don’t open their mouths to let them know, for fear of offending them. “The result is a much lower motivation for sex. Unlike men, there often isn’t a guaranteed orgasm at the end and if our partner’s technique is truly rubbish, it might not be enjoyable at all. The blame for this, of course, is split evenly: women need to speak up, men need to ask for directions and feedback. “But it’s certainly not entirely woman’s fault so we need to stop shouldering the blame. “If the drug developed to solve the desire drop off problem isn’t going to work, surely part of fixing the problem is simply acknowledging it. “Both sexes need to accept it doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you and it doesn’t (necessarily) mean you don’t fancy your husband, want to or are sleeping with someone else. “We also need to deal with another major biological flaw - the fact the clitoris is outside the vagina rather than inside (which would have been a damn sight more helpful in facilitating women being able to orgasm through intercourse). Because of this, most women don’t orgasm through penetration alone (around 80 per cent don’t, to be precise). “Some people cling stubbornly to the myth that says most ‘real women’ have most of their orgasms through intercourse, but sensible couples have long since accepted it as fact and work around it. They simply add clitoral stimulation or make sure she has her orgasms before or after intercourse, through oral sex or other means. We need to take the same approach with low long-term female desire.”
Parenting
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September 12, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Getting children to help with house chores Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression
Work through ChoreRelated Whining
Children will do almost anything to get out of chores.
Typical excuses they give range from from ‘I’ve got a stomach ache,’ to ‘I’m a kid. I shouldn’t have to do chores.’” In fact, one survey found that 74% of parents report that their children rarely help with chores unless asked. And a full 50% of parents say they spend as much time arguing with their kids about chores as the children spend doing chores. For many parents, it may seem easier to do the chores themselves. If you’re one of them, this article is for you. The following are tips on how to get kids to do chores.
Make Chores Predictable To take the sting out of chores, set aside a time each week when the whole family does chores, Saturday morning from 8 to 9 for example. This way, you don’t get into battles about when chores get done. Having the whole family do chores at the same time also helps. Your kid knows that every Saturday morning, this is what the family does.
Assign Chores by Age Tasks that are clearly over your child’s head will make chore time dreadful for everyone. The following suggestions can get you started on assigning age-appropriate chores. Then it’s your turn to get creative.
4 and 5 years old: Sort socks, put away toys, help set the table, stack magazines. 6 and 7 years old: Take the dog for a walk, empty the dishwasher, prepare lunch, make the bed. 8 and 9 years old: Set the table, load the dishwasher, clean the bathroom sink, feed, brush, and bathe the pet. 10 and 11 years old: Put away groceries, run the dishwasher, fold laundry, take out trash. 12 and 13: Do laundry and put it away, change sheets, mow the grass, make simple meals, clean the shower and toilet.
Make Chores Personal Cleaning his own room will make a lot more sense to your son than having to clean his sister’s room. Personalizing it is important because you’re teaching your child self-reliance and how to take care of himself. The rewards will be obvious: your son gets to spend time in a tidy room where everything is put away and easy to find.
Add Variety to Chore Time You might set up a system of rotation, or you might have your children draw cards to see which chores they have that week. Either way, it’s a good idea to rotate chores rather than make kids do the same ones all the time. Your children will become competent in several different areas, and you can avoid charges of favouritism.
ParentingUpdate
D
iarrhoeal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under five years old, and is responsible for killing around 760 000 children every year, World Health Organisation says. Diarrhoea, According to WHO, can last several days, and can leave the body without the water and salts that are necessary for survival. Most people who die from diarrhoea actually die from severe dehydration and fluid loss. Children who are malnourished or have impaired immunity as well as people living with HIV are most at risk of life-threatening diar-
rhoea. Diarrhoea is defined as the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day (or more frequent passage than is normal for the individual). Frequent passing of formed stools is not diarrhoea, nor is the passing of loose, “pasty” stools by breastfed babies. Diarrhoea is usually a symptom of an infection in the intestinal tract, which can be caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms. Infection is spread through contaminated food or drinking-water, or from person-to-person as a result of poor hygiene.
Make Chores Visual Some chores need to be done every day. Others are once-aweek tasks. Sears and his wife posted a magnetic chart on the refrigerator to help their kids keep track. There should be a column for each day of the week and the chores each kid was responsible for that week. The whole family could see the chores and which ones had been completed. Because it is visual, it will be less overwhelming for the kids. If your child is inspired by technology, you might check out some of the apps that track chores assigned and completed on mobile phones and tablets. Some have features that randomly assign chores. Some assign points for completed chores. All employ technology as a tool rather than an escape mechanism.
Some parents enforce a 2-for1 policy when kids whine about chores. If there’s whining and complaining, the child gets another chore in addition to the one they’re already doing. Usually the child learns pretty quickly that whining doesn’t work.
Listen to Your Child
Withstanding whining does not mean turning a deaf ear to your child. If a child says, ‘This is too hard for me,’ you might say, ‘OK, let me help you.’ Your child still does the chore, but with your assistance. The message is that you are in this together, so your child is less likely to equate chores with punishment.
Tiny Feet
Be Realistic About Chores While you can and should make it clear ahead of time what counts as a completed chore, you might also need to relax your standards, especially with young children. If your daughter knows you sneak into her room to straighten the bed after she made it, she might as well leave it for you to do. Praise will help build your child’s confidence and make chore time smoother in the future.
NAME: Arafat Akinbayode BORN TO: Mr and Mrs Akinbayode, AGE: 3 months old BIRTH WEIGHT: 3.5 kg Have you just had a baby? Send a picture of your bundle of joy to mirrorbabies@gmail.com
Diarrhoeal disease is the second leading cause of death in children – Study
Children who die from diarrhoea often suffer from underlying malnutrition, which makes them more vulnerable to diarrhoea. Each diarrhoeal episode, in turn, makes their malnutrition even worse. Diarrhoea is a leading cause of malnutrition in children under five years old. Interventions to prevent diarrhoea, including safe drinking-water, use of improved sanitation and hand washing with soap can reduce disease risk. Diarrhoea can be treated with a solution of clean water, sugar and salt, and with zinc tablets. Rehydration: with intravenous fluids in case of severe
dehydration or shock. Nutrient-rich foods: the vicious circle of malnutrition and diarrhoea can be broken by continuing to give nutrientrich foods – including breast milk – during an episode, and by giving a nutritious diet – including exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life – to children when they are well. Consulting a health professional , in particular for management of persistent diarrhoea or when there is blood in stool or if there are signs of dehydration Culled from www.WHO. com
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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
September 12, 2015
People
Meet Britain’s longest reigning monarch On Wednesday, Queen Elizabeth II became Britain’s longest reigning monarch. With a whopping 63 years under her belt, the 89-year-old beat the record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria who, Buckingham Palace has calculated, reigned for 23,226 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes
Q
ueen Elizabeth II has sealed a special place in Britain’s history by becoming its longest-reigning monarch but, amid warm tributes from the public and politicians, says she never aspired to the landmark. Born on April 21, 1926, her full name at birth was Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. She married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten on November 20, 1947. He had been born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. However, he renounced the titles and became a British subject when he married Queen Elizabeth. At 5:30pm on Wednesday (2:30am AEST, Thursday), Elizabeth, who is also the nation’s oldest ever monarch, officially surpassed the 63 years, 7 months, 2 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes that her great-greatgrandmother Queen Victoria spent on the throne. The occasion was marked by cheering, flag-waving crowds on the street, bells ringing out in Westminster Abbey and solemn messages in parliament, but Elizabeth wanted little fuss. The Queen made only a brief reference to it in a speech as she opened a new railway line in Scotland, saying she never aspired to overtake Victoria. “[People] have also kindly noted another significance attaching to today, although it is not one to which I have ever aspired,” the 89-year-old monarch said. “Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones. My own is no exception. But I thank you all and the many others at home and overseas for your touching messages.”
Royal officials have stressed that the Queen wanted to keep the date low-key as the calculation of the length of her reign is based on the moment it began with the death of her father George VI in 1952. However, in London, political leaders heaped praise on a head of state who became monarch aged just 25 at a time when Britain was emerging from the ravages of World War II and has witnessed massive political change, social upheaval and the end of the British empire during her long reign. “The Queen is our Queen and we could not be more proud of her,” prime minister David Cameron told parliament, calling her a “rock of stability.” “She has served this country with unfailing grace, dignity and decency and long may she continue to do so.” In central London, the royal barge Glo-
riana led a flotilla of boats down the River Thames and past a four-gun salute from the battleship HMS Belfast, now permanently moored on the river. As the clock struck 5:30pm (local time), a town crier announced Elizabeth’s recordbreaking reign outside Buckingham Palace, while a tweet published on the monarchy’s Twitter page read “Today Queen Elizabeth II has officially become the longest reigning British Monarch”. Initially the Queen did not even intend to mark the event publicly, but she bowed to public pressure and undertook the official engagement in Scotland, where she traditionally spends her summer holiday. Her second son Prince Andrew said that for her, it would be business as usual. “It’s a milestone in UK terms but as far as her consistency, leadership, it’s the normal
run of the mill sort of day,” he said. “It’s an extraordinary achievement in some respects but actually it’s about the consistency and the leadership that she is showing and has shown throughout her reign that I think is probably the one thing that marks her out more than anything else,” he added. The admiration was shared by many in the crowd at Edinburgh’s Waverley station where she took a journey on a steam train before the opening ceremony, accompanied by husband Prince Philip, who has been at her side throughout her reign “It’s brilliant,” said May Marshall, 58, wearing a jacket and hat covered in Britain’s Union Jack flags. “No-one else will ever do it. It’s testimony to her stamina.” As a young princess Elizabeth had not expected to become monarch, as George VI only took the crown when his elder brother Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. She was 25 when she ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952, following George’s death. That made her the 40th monarch in a royal line that traces its origin back to Norman king William the Conqueror who claimed the throne in 1066 with victory over the Anglo-Saxon Harold II at the Battle of Hastings. The year she became Queen, the Korean War was raging, Joseph Stalin was leader of the Soviet Union and Britain announced it had the atom bomb. “There is a motto which has been borne by many of my ancestors - a noble motto, ‘I serve’,” Elizabeth said in a televised speech to mark her 21st birthday. “I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” Since becoming Queen, she has seen 12 prime ministers, starting with Winston Churchill, and there have been 12 US presidents, from Harry S Truman to Barack Obama. Not only has Elizabeth reigned the longest but according to a poll in the Sunday Times this week, Britons also think she is the country’s greatest monarch, ahead of her Tudor namesake Elizabeth I and Victoria, who reigned for much of the 19th century when Britain built up its empire. Now, Elizabeth is Queen of just 16 realms, including Australia and Canada.
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September 12, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
‘My wife goes from one party to another’
• She cannot do without attending three to four parties a week. Sometimes she will go for days without bothering about what the children will eat —Husband
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other woman again. “To my surprise, he impregnated two women after that and I knew I had to call it quit with him. “He beats me at every slight provocation and even threatens to kill me; he does not give the children money for feeding or pay their school fees. “I got him arrested sometime last year because he wanted to stab me and at the
police station, he was asked to move his things out of my house,” she said. The prophetess told the court that her husband had been living in the house which she built. She urged the court to dissolve the marriage and give her custody of the children. Her husband, Adewale, did not appear in court and had also been absent in the last two sittings.
to reconcile the warring couple were futile. Adeyeri ruled: “Both parties are no longer husband and wife. They are free to go their separate ways.” The petitioner, Mr. Olukayode Atolagbe, 47, had filed a suit seeking for the dissolution of his 18-year marriage over his wife’s frequent partying. He said: “My wife hardly stays at home as she frequently goes from one party to another, both on weekdays and at weekends. “She cannot do without attending three to four parties a week; sometimes she will go for days without bothering about what the children will eat.” He described his wife as a “fighter and a trouble maker,” saying that she always fought their tenants and even himself in public, to the extent of tearing his clothes. “Before I built my house, our landlords always ejected us from our apartments due to my wife’s frequent fighting with either the landlords’ wives or fellow tenants,” he said.
but the court is yet to reach a compromise on the custody of their two children. While making his case, Owolabi insisted he has evidence of his wife’s internet ‘sexcapades’ with several men including his junior at secondary school, adding that Tinuola uses Facebook and WhatsApp to do her many connections. Muyiwa presented print-
outs of the alleged ‘compromising’ pictures on WhatsApp, and his estranged wife’s conversation with one Toyin Igbalajobi, who allegedly connected her (Tinuola) with men in Lagos. These evidences were admitted by the court president, Mr Joseph Ogunsemi and marked as exhibits. Among some of the alleged partners of the woman were Benson Onyechere, Muyiwa’s
junior at Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti, Facebook lovers Taiwo Oyetunji and Alaba Sunday Samson (whom he claimed had the effrontery of coming to their matrimonial home to visit Tinuola) were also top of the list. Others are Aduloju Olu and Andy Harris who is based overseas, Yinka Daramola and Kunle Lawal and Bashir(Naija.com)
n Igando Customary Court in Lagos has dissolved the 18-year marriage between Mr. Olukayode Atolagbe and his wife, Bisi over her frequent partying. The dissolution was handed down by court’s President, Mr. R. I. Adeyeri after efforts
‘Four women had four children for my husband in three years’
• I was in the church sometime in 2009 when a woman came with three children, claiming they belonged to my husband, who she said, had neglected her. It was a thing of shame because I am the founder of the church and also a prophetess, while my husband is one of the pastors —Wife Stories by: Muda Oyeniran
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51-year-old woman has pleaded with an Agege Customary Court to dissolve her 22-year marriage over alleged adultery and threat to life. The petitioner, Mrs Titilayo Oluokun, a prophetess, who lives at 8, Aina Aladi Street, Agbado, Lagos, told the court that her husband, though a pastor, went after “everything in skirt’’. “Four women had four children for my husband in the last three years and he also has numerous girl friends; I know some of them because they live on my street. “I was in the church sometime in 2009 when a woman came with three children, claiming they belonged to my husband, who she said, had neglected her. “It was a thing of shame because I am the founder of the church and also a prophetess, while my husband is one of the pastors. “I gave the woman N20, 000 and begged her; I told her
not to come to the church to disturb me again and when I told my husband, he only thanked me,” she said. The mother of two children aged nine and 18, told the court that she once brought her husband before another customary court and the case was settled there. “In the other customary court in 2011, he was asked to write an undertaking that he would not impregnate any
‘My wife commits ‘Social Media’ adultery’
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or catching his wife having illicit affairs on the social media, an Ekitibased businessman, Muyiwa Owolabi, has reportedly dragged his wife, Tinuola, to Ado Ekiti Customary Court to dissolve their ten-year-old marriage. Reports say the woman, who did not argue over the claims, has agreed on the dissolution of the marriage,
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
DIVORCE COURT
September 12, 2015
‘He wants to use me for ritual’
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• We were told to slaughter a goat at the end of every month. But when my husband couldn’t afford it, I overheard him telling the herbalist that he would prefer a human being to an animal —Wife • My wife agreed to follow me; I did not force her. Even when the herbalist wanted to give me the soap, my wife requested for hers —Husband
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27-year-old woman, Folashade Adebayo, has prayed an Alakuko Customary Court in Lagos State to dissolve her five-month marriage to her husband, Mathew, she accuses husband of being fetish. Folashade, an advert manager in a private company, said, “a month after we got married, my husband forced me to swear that I would not tell anyone that he took me to a herbalist. I was given a black soap from a calabash, while my husband’s soap was in a white container. Each time I used the soap as instructed, my late mother was always fighting me in my sleep. “We were told to slaughter a goat at the end of every month. But when my husband couldn’t afford it, I overheard him telling the herbalist that he would prefer a human being to an animal. I told the head of my family because I was tired of seeing my mother fighting me. It was then I was told that my husband wanted to use me for money rituals. We are just incompatible. My husband said if I was no longer interested, I should inform the clerics who joined us to dissolve our marriage. It’s been three months since I left his house. I don’t want to remain in this marriage.” However, 37-year-old Mathew, who is a transporter, denied the allegation. “My wife agreed to follow me; I did not force her. Even when the herbalist wanted to give me the soap, my wife requested for hers. Whenever there was a lull in my business, my wife would threaten to leave the house. My
intentions were misconstrued. I pray my mistakes are corrected because I still love my wife,” he said. President of the court, Chief Awos Awosola, advised the couple to maintain peace and be lawabiding.
‘He wants to kill me with too much sex’ • I wish to divorce my husband because he is too fond of sex. All he knows in his life is sex. He has sexual
intercourse with me at least six days of the week and it may be twice a day. He does not give me rest of mind. He monitors me around —Wife
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middle-aged woman, Soliat Adekojo, has asked a Grade ‘C’ Customary Court sitting in Mapo, Ibadan South-East Local Government Area of Oyo State to dissolve her five years marriage to her husband, Musibau over his excessive sexual desire. The complainant, a trader who resides at Amuloko Area of Ibadan told the court that he seduced her into marrying him five years ago and the union is blessed with a child. Soliat said, “I wish to divorce my husband because he is fond of sex. All he knows in his life is sex and is not an ordinary desire, but a marathon sex. He used to have sexual intercourse with me, at
least six days of the week and it may be twice a day. He does not give me rest of mind. He monitors me around. “I later got to know through his mother that I am the plaintiff ’s ninth wife. “A week after I left his house, the plaintiff came with the police to arrest my brother, that I conspired with my brother to steal his N2.5 million. “My brother was detained in police custody for three days but I was bailed the second day by one of the plaintiff ’s daughters, Sakirat. Sakirat explained to the police that her father (the plaintiff) was lying about his claim of stolen money. “Last year June, my husband’s friend, Alhaji Adebolu, called me to inform me that my husband
had parked all my belongings to his house. He explained that he also told him that he did want to see me and his son again. “I later went to his friend’s house to park my things. A week after, I fell sick to the extent that I was referred to a psychiatric hospital for a brain examination because they said I was always mentioning the plaintiff ’s name during the sickness. “My Lord, while passing through this sickness, the plaintiff did not for once ask after me or his only son. “Early this year, the plaintiff arrested my brother again and he was detained at Agodi Prison for six days. He continuously threatened everyone around me with arrest. “My Lord, I am fed up with this
relationship. Please, separate us. I don’t want to die now.” Responding to his wife’s allegation, Musibau who is an Alfa admitted to the claims but asked the court to allow him have custody of the child because his wife cannot cater for the child. In his ruling, President of the court, Chief Agbaje Olasunkami averred, “Having observed the evidence given by both parties, the court rules thus: the divorce on repayment of bride price is hereby granted with immediate effect.” Olasukanmi ordered that the child remain in custody of the plaintiff while the defendant must be paying a monthly sum of N3, 000 for the upkeep of the child until he is grown up. (NAN).
‘My husband sleeps with church members’
• At first, I thought he was always doing a follow up on them for deliverance or counseling. I cannot condone it anymore. It is becoming so glaring and disturbing —Wife
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Lagos State based top pastor and founder of a Bible believing church, Pastor Amadi Ibeh and his wife have become frequent visitors of Grade A Customary Court Ojo, in attempt to end their 7-years old marriage over the case of severe infidelity, battering, lack of respect, no more love and more. According to the petitioner, their marital problems escalated when she started noticing unusual closeness between her husband and some female members of the church. “At first, I thought he was always doing a follow up on them for deliverance or counselling. Then I started hearing ru-
mours of how he has been desecrating the house of God by having carnal knowledge of some of his prayer partners. I openly confronted him and denied it vehemently,” she lamented. After the first encounter trying to make her husband desist from his unholy shenanigans, it was a flop. Yet the speculation kept disturbing her and was at the verge of tearing the church apart. Taking another bold step of courage, the self-acclaimed prophetess asked her husband again about the ‘sex in the church’ accusation but painfully she got the beatings of her life. “I couldn’t condone it anymore; it was becoming so glaring and disturbing. As a wife who cares about her husband and the
welfare of the church, I asked him again if he has anything sexual relationship with some women in the church, but he descended on me and hit me mercilessly. His beatings later became constant and our marriage began to fell apart,” she said. Since all her efforts to make her husband turn a new leaf fell on deaf ears, Gloria resulted for a formal dissolution of the union to give way for peace and the separation of their ministry. Meanwhile, when the visibly embittered man was summoned into the evidence box to either affirm or deny the allegations leveled on him, it was a twist of tale from his account. Amadi intensely denied soiling his hands in any form of adultery, but maintained that his wife was
badly influenced by her friends and family who kept feeding her with false news and bad advice. “I have tried all I can to make her believe in me and concentrate on taking our ministry to greater height but she wouldn’t listen. I thought that my wife would one day change from her awkward behaviour but to my utmost dismay, I came back from my office one fateful day to meet my house deserted. She had parked out all her belongings including mine. namely my money, clothes, and other accessories. And till date, she is yet to return them back to me. I am also fed up with her behavior but I don’t want to quit the union. I believe that with God everything is possible. I plead with
the honorable court to intercede on my behalf to beg her to come back home.” After listening to both parties, the members of the court tried to mediate and broker peace between them but the woman was adamant and insisted on divorce and nothing less. However the bride price paid on her was advised to be returned as a starting point for the divorce proceedings. But Amadi argued that he and family paid N20, 000 but Gloria and family insisted it was N6, 000. The President of the court, advised them to go back home to reach an agreement on how much was actually paid. He thereby adjourned the case to later date for further hearing (Naija.com)
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EVENTS
September 12, 2015
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Nigerian stars storm New York for NEA The Nigerian Entertainment Awards held last Sunday in New York, USA and lived up to its usual glory with several Nigerian stars flying into New York for the star studded event. Praiz, DJ Cuppy, Simi and Jaywon were some of them.
DJ Cuppy
Jaywon
Praiz
Simi
Juliet Ibrahim
DJ Lambo
Fally Ipupa
Sonia Ibrahim
Niniola
Swanky Jerry
Ruth Kadiri
Toyosi Phillips
Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
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September 12, 2015
Anemia Doctor Talabi has answers to your health questions
Write him today at prettyprevent@gmail.com or text 09099346165 (sms only pls)
I
hear these complaints all the time. ‘‘Doctor I think I am short of blood’’ or ‘‘I think I have short of blood’’. Such patients have their various reasons; it could be that they get tired persistently or they feel they are pale even when everyone thinks otherwise. Sometimes, it is because they have just finished a course of antibiotics and believe, like so many others, that swallowing of blood tonic must follow. In most cases, they have got no Anemia! Causes/Types Anemia may be caused in three major ways 1)Blood loss: From trauma, Gastrointestinal bleeding (ulcers) Heavy periods Cancers, such as colonic cancers etc. 2)Reduced red blood cell production: From deficiency of nutrients such as Iron e.g. in Hookworm infestation which is common in Africa Vitamin B12 And Folate Also in Tumors of the bone marrow (where production of red cells takes place) 3)Increased red blood cell destruction: May occur in sickle cell anemia In infections such as malaria In Autoimmune disease and As a side effect of some medications. Anemia is also common in pregnancy and rare conditions such as G6PD deficiency
Symptoms Anemia may be asymptomatic, especially in its mild form Common symptoms are varied and sometimes depend on the
cause of anemia. They include -tiredness -palpitation -easy fatigability -headache -blood transfusion to replace -pale skin sudden blood loss -fast and irregular heart beat And Chest pain and dizziness -surgery in some cases Note that any of these sympPrevention toms could be as a result of other Though some causes of anedisease condition, hence a proper mia are not preventable, some diagnosis is always required before the conclusion is reached are: -premarriage and preconcepthat the problem is anemia.
Treatment In treating anemia, sometimes the only requirement is to eat a healthy diet rich in iron ,folate and vitamin B12 such as green leafy vegetables, beans, dairy products, and fruits. You may also be required to take supplements as prescribed by the doctor. This is very important as in some cases of anemia, taking iron supplement is forbidden while in other cases taking folic acid supplement is dangerous. Other treatment modalities include; -treatment of the underlying causes -deworming in the case of hookworm infestation
tion counseling may be necessary if you have inherited disorders such as sickle cell and thallasemia -eating balanced diet may help prevent deficiencies -Regular deworming which
is always a plus in Africa
Tips Do not start blood tonic except you are sure you have anemia Let your doctor alone determine the type of supplements you can take Eat iron rich food to prevent anemia Get genetic counseling prior to marriage and conception if you have inherited disorders that may lead to anemia
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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
September 12, 2015
Kainji Lake National Park: Face to face with nature
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ainji, in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, is the host of Nigeria’s largest wildlife park. The Kainji Lake National Park comprises the Kainji Lake and the Borgu and Zugurma Game Reserves. It was established in 1979 and covers an area of nearly 5,400 square kilometres. The park is managed by the Nigerian National Park Service, assisted by the Niger State Tourism Board and Borgu Emirate. The park presents a sombre look at first sight. After a gruelling drive from the park entrance, the dirt road terminates at the chalets of the Oli River tourist camp. It is eerily quiet for a wildlife park – no chirping of birds, or distant howl of hyenas. Welcome to Kainji Lake National Park. Bordering Niger State, Kwara State and the Benin Republic, it is about 6 hours from Abuja by road. Despite the abundance of wildlife, Kainji is better known for being home to the Kainji hydroelectricity dam. The best time for sightseeing is early in the morning or at dusk – these are the times of the animals’ local migration to watering holes or familiar terrains. You can only see a lion if you are patient. Huge herd of buck are known to migrate in their hundreds across the park, their rich brown hides with white dots spreading across the landscape, and creating an alluring vista. There is also a sanctuary protected by a long barbed-wired fence which leads to a huge undergrowth of vines and climbers that opens onto a lake which contains crocodiles. A little wait and patience will make a tourist come face to face with hippopotamus. Its appearance begins ripples across the ponds. Then what looks like
the top of a giant head will peep above the surface of the water, and a moment later two eyes are visible and then there, in all its majesty, is a shy hippopotamus. There
are eight ponds in the sanctuary spread over almost 25 kilometres, all filled with hippos. Elephants have left the park since the
Nigerian Air Force built a training airstrip not far from the Game Reserve – the screaming jet engines scared them away and they migrated to Benin. But they are likely to come back. The Nation’s premier National Park was established by the amalgamation of two former game reserves-Borgu and Zugurma in 1976 and the legal instrument setting it up was promulgated in 1979 (i.e. Degree 46 of 1979). The park was subsequently reconstituted under Acts 36 of 1991 and 46 of 1999 now Cap (act) 65 of 2004 which established additional National Parks in Nigeria. Kainji lake National Park is located in the northwest central part of the country between latitude 9°40’N and 10°30’N and longitude 3°30’E and 5°50’E in Niger and Kwara states ,500km from Lagos and 385 km north east of Abuja the Federal Capital. An effectively Protected National Park with a total area of 5340.82sq/km separated into two distinct non-contiguous sectors namely Borgu sector with an area of 3970.02 sq/km and Zugurma sector with an area of 1370.80 sq/km respectively. The Climate exhibits wet and dry seasons April to November and November to April respectively. The mean annual rain fall is 1100 to 1200mm about 200 days. Temperature ranges between 10oc and 30oc (Mean is 30oc) and the average relative humidity is 53%. The Park is a typical inselberg landscape with round hills wide pediments/ plains separating them and incised river channels slopping down towards the River Niger valley. Some of the Rivers in the Park include Oli Menei, Doro and Manyara rivers.
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September 12, 2015
LEISURE
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September 12, 2015
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From the Civil Service UNICAL resident doctors resume work after three-month strike
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he Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), on Friday returned to work after a three - month strike. Investigation showed that activities in the hospital were in full swing as doctors were seen attending to patients. It would be recalled that the resident doctors embarked on an indefinite strike on July 5 to demand for improved working conditions. A communiqué signed by Dr Ukweh Ikechukwu, President of ARD, UCTH branch said the strike was suspended on passionate ground. According to the communiqué, ``the strike is hereby suspended on compassionate ground because of the suffering of patients and work is resuming on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015’’. The doctors had demanded payment of skipping allowances, among others and resolved to reconvene on Oct. 10 to re - appraise the level of implementation by management. It also demanded that no member of ARD should be victimised on account of the strike. Meanwhile, some residents of Calabar have expressed relief over the suspension of the strike by the doctors. A cross section of the residents who bared their minds in separate interviews on Friday in Calabar, said the suspension was a welcome development. Mr Aniete Ukoh, an engineer said that the
suspension of the strike was long overdue and urged relevant authorities to meet the demands
of the doctors to avoid future occurrences. ``I advise relevant authorities to do everything
possible to meet their demands to avoid them returning to strike, ‘’ Ukoh said.
A pregnant woman, Mrs Irene Uwakwe expressed her happiness,
adding that pregnant women who registered in the hospital had been receiving skeletal services since the strike began. NAN
400 ESUT staff benefit from TETFund training –Registrar
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ore than 450 staff of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Enugu, have benefitted from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)-sponsored training in the last four years, an official has confirmed. Mr Leonard Khama, ESUT’s Registrar, disclosed this while conducting newsmen round TETFund projects in the institution on Thursday. He said that TETFund’s intervention in the school had widened its carrying capacity and impacted on academic and infrastructural development of ESUT. ‘’Previously, it was pretty difficult, if not impossible for us to sponsor staff within and outside the country for training programmes. ‘’In the past three years, it has been wonderful; more than 50 academic staff have
benefitted from TETFund oversea training. ‘’In terms of conferences and workshops, it is about 400.’’ According to him, the
institution still needs more computers, classrooms and hostels. On his part, Mr Emeka Ojiogu, TETFund Desk Officer in the institution, said
that the fund had committed N3 billion on projects in the school between 2011 and 2014. Ojiogu, however, said that the institution had yet to access the second tranche of the Needs Assessment intervention which had been trans-
ferred to the Federal Ministry of Education. Some of TETFund’s projects in ESUT include a seminar chamber, hostels, faculty buildings, main library complex and postgraduate building, among others. (NAN)
L-R: Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello; Lagos State Nigeria Labour Congress Chairman, Mr. Idowu Adelakun and Chairman Trade Union Congress of Nigeria,Mr. Akeem Kazeem presenting a letter to President Buhari through the State, during a rally for anti corruption and good governance in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN
Ugwuanyi enlists civil servants in fight against corruption
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ov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has enlisted the support of civil servants for the onslaught against corruption by the Federal Government. Speaking during a solidarity rally by the organised labour in Enugu on Thursday, Ugwuanyi said that the crusade would not be successful without the civil servants. He said that Nigerians from all walks of life needed to come together to stamp out corruption, adding that
the ongoing exercise by the Federal Government to eradicate the menace was a worthy cause. “I am convinced that this exercise is a worthy cause, hence, I decided to identify with it by coming to address you personally,’’ he said. The governor reiterated his recent directive to local government chairmen to pay arrears of salaries owed to their workers and pledged his administration’s readiness to improve the lot of the workers.
He said that his administration would continue to partner with the organised labour in the state for better understanding and cooperation. Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Council in the state, Mr Chukwuma Igbokwe, said that the governor by his actions had shown to be worker-friendly. He commended Ugwuanyi for allocating 100 one-bed room flats to civil servants in
the state within his 100 days in office. “Now it has dawned on the workers in Enugu State that they have a father,” he said. Igbokwe pointed out that the rally was to sensitise Nigerians on the need to partner with the government in the ongoing anti-corruption war in the country. The Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Enugu State, Mr Virginus Nwobodo, said that
the labour was in support of any cause that would bring good governance. Nwobodo said that the governor had rekindled hope in the state’s civil servants following his good policies that had impacted positively on them. “Before, we had lost interest in the affairs of Enugu State, but we now have a governor who will come and stay with us for such a long time and interact with workers of Enugu State,” Nwobodo said. (NAN)
Sport
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September 12, 2015
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U-23 team in a training session ahead of today’s clash with Senegal
AAG: Nigeria, Senegal renew rivalry in Brazzaville Ifeanyi Eduzor
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igeria U-23 team and their Senegalese counterparts will today continue their soccer rivalry when they clash in the second Group B match of the on- going All Africa Games. Dream Team VI got off their campaign on a winning note courtesy a 2-0 win over rivals and defending champions, Ghana on Wednesday at the Unity Stadium, Kintele to go top of Group B while the junior Taranga Lions played a goal less draw with their Ghanaian counterparts in their first match. While Nigeria has already qualified for the semi-final of the event, Senegal will be seeking at least a draw to ensure they book a place in the last four while Black Meteors of Ghana will be hoping that Nigeria beat their opponents by at least three goals to enable them squeeze through on goal difference. There are only three teams in Group B after Egypt withdrew rather than field
a weakened team, and this enabled t Nigerian to secure a swift passage to the knockout stage. Both teams are no strangers to each other, having met at both the senior and junior levels in the past with their recent meeting been at the 2015 African U-20 championship tagged “Senegal 2015” in which Nigeria defeated them 1-0 in the last finals. Today’s encounter which promises to be exciting will see the Nigerian’s trying to maintain their dominance over Senegal in the age group competition as well as emerge the overall winners of the group while the Senegalese will be aiming to pick a point against their fellow West Africans and not allow Ghana overtake them in the group. Although Coach Samson Siasia will be missing the services of AC Madeira’s Shehu Abdullahi and Godwin Savior of KVV Oostende who were not released by their clubs, while Taiwo Awoniyi has been excused to settle down at his new employers, FSC Frankfurt 1899, where
he is on loan from Liverpool FC and Usman Mohammed as well as Chima Akas who were with the Super Eagles when they played Niger Republic on Tuesday but it is expected that the team will re- enact the form that made them over run Ghana when they meet Senegal in today’s cracker. To ensure a total annihilation of junior Taranga Lions, the U-23 gaffer, will be making use of players like skipper, Azubuike Okechukwu, 3SC striker, Junior Ajayi who scored the first goal against Ghana, Enyimba’s Kingsley Sokari who doubled the lead with three minutes left in the game as well as Mustapha Abdullahi and Christian Pyagbara to get the three points at stake in today’s encounter while his Senegalese counterpart, Cheikh Tahirou Fall will be counting on players like Ousseynou Thioune, Ibrahima Keita, Sylvain Badji and Moussa Saydi to ensure they get at least a point against Nigeria. Meanwhile Siaisa has promised Nigerians that he will maintain the same
approach which he used against Ghana in prosecuting today’s match. According to the former Super Eagles handler, the absence of some of his key players notwithstanding, he has the players to pick the gold medal at the AAG. “We are fully prepared for the game against Senegal and we are going to approach it the way we did our game with Ghana. “It is true we have qualified for the semi- final but we are not taken anything for granted because or aim is to have a clean slate ahead of the finals. Speaking in the same vein, Senegalese, Coach Cheikh Tahirou Fall noted that his team will not be intimidated by the Nigerians as they are going to put in their best to ensure they pick one of the tickets in group B. Fall while admitting that the Dream Team VI has an edge over his team, however expressed optimism that they are capable of grabbing a point from Nigeria.
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SPORT
September 12 , 2015
Ayew, Pelegrini win Premier League awards S wansea City striker Andre Ayew has been named August’s Barclays Premier League Player of the Month, while Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has won the managers’ award. Ghana international Ayew, 25, has scored three goals as the unbeaten Swans sit in fourth place with eight points from their opening four games. Pellegrini’s side lead the table with four wins from four games. They have scored 10 goals and are yet to concede. Ayew took the award ahead of his team-mate Bafetimbi Gomis as well as Manchester City duo David Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov. Also
nominated were Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez and Manchester United’s Chris Smalling. Ayew joined Swansea in June from French club Marseille and scored on his Premier League debut against Chelsea. He and Gomis have provided all of Swansea’s seven league goals so far. They visit Watford on today. Pellegrini’s side visit secondplaced Crystal Palace on today and the Chilean said he wanted his team to carry on with their stylish play. “The highlight was the way we played,” he said. “It’s important to continue the style of football; the team won the four games in the way I like to play.”
De Gea signs new Man U contract
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Ayew
Courtois to undergo surgery
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Courtois
helsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois requires knee surgery and will be out for “quite a long time”, manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed. The 23-year-old Belgium international damaged his medial ligaments during training on Wednesday. Mourinho confirmed the extent of the injury at his media briefing before today’s trip to Everton. “It is a big blow, it is not easy to have the best goalkeeper in the world injured,” said the Chelsea boss. Former Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic will replace Courtois, having already stood
SPORT NEWS
Ifeanyi Eduzor
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ational wrestling heavyweight champion, Power Lee has for the umpteenth time appealed to the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and well meaning Nigerians for financial support as he prepares for the Pro Wrestling Africa (PWA) title later in the month. Power lee whose real names are Godspower Ikpide will on September 19, at the Palais De Sports, Yaoundé, Cameroon meet Cameroonian champion, Michel Noudem “Le Matraqueur for the African heavyweight title. He told that few weeks to the title challenge, he has not received any help from either government or corporate organizations noting that he needs adequate support to enable him win the coveted title and put smiles on the faces of wrestling fans in the country. “I am physically and psychologically ready to meet my opponent and defeat him in the Central African nation because I am battle ready and will write the name of the country in gold on September, 13. “It is true that I am ready for the fight but without adequate support from relevant authorities and public spirited Nigerians, things might be rough and that is why I am appealing to the Delta State Government, Senator James Manager, Sir Tim Kome Owhefere, Isoko Development Union, Isoko indigenes in Diaspora, NDDC, DESPOADEC, Isoko North and South Local Government Areas and corporate organizations to come to my aid as I prepare to make history”, said the Owhe, Isoko, born wrestler. He noted that as he prepares to go into the bout tagged, “Clash of the Heavies”, he has resolved not only to bring the belt back to Nigeria but to defend it in Nigeria in Oc-
in for the Belgian when he was sent off against Swansea on the opening day of the season. “I’m very sad for Thibaut and the team but we have a top keeper and Begovic will be in goal.” Mourinho said the club will provide further information on Courtois’s prognosis later. After spending three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid, Courtois was made firstchoice Chelsea keeper for the 2014-15 campaign, displacing Petr Cech.Begovic was brought to Stamford Bridge following Cech’s switch to Arsenal in the summer.
Wrestling: Power Lee seeks Delta govt support tober to enable my fans see what I can do in the ring. “It has always been my dream to go outside the shores of the country and win a belt for Nigeria and this presents a big opportunity for me to achieve that ambition. “I have been told that because of the importance attached to the fight by the Cameroonian Government, they had already assigned four security men to guide their champion but I won’t be intimidated by such antics because I know the stuff I am made of and that is why I am making this appeal because I know hat with adequate support, I will bring the belt back to the country. Secretary of PWA, Olusesan Olukoya, said that if Power Lee beats the Cameroonian champion on September, 19 September, he will defend the title in Nigeria within a month, noting that he does not
World Physiotherapy Day:
Power Lee
only need the support to win the fight, but to prepare grounds for the title defence at Asaba Township Stadium on October, 18.
NSP raises neglect alarm
Afolabi Gambari
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Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
embers of the Nigerian Society of Physiotherapy (NSP) have called on the Federal Government to declare state of emergency on the practice of physiotherapy in the country. The national president of the NSP, Taiwo Oyewumi made the call at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja at this Year’s celebration of World Physiotherapy Day. He said the nation required over 42,000 physiotherapists to manage the nation’s health system which he described as old fashioned with inadequate professionals.
Oyewumi described physiotherapists as persons trained to help promote and sustain healthy long life just as he frowned at government’s neglect of the sector even as he blamed many premature deaths of Nigerians on government’s inability to provide modern physiotherapy equipments as well as shortage of trained personnel across the country. “As against the 42,000 physiotherapists required to cater for the country, only about 4000 are registered and certified while we currently have about 1000 physiotherapists that are gainfully employed. The rest are working outside the country, this to us, is a state of emergency,” noted Oyewunmi.
wansea City striker Andre Ayew has been named August’s Barclays Premier League Player of the Month, while Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has won the managers’ award. Ghana international Ayew, 25, has scored three goals as the unbeaten Swans sit in fourth place with eight points from their opening four games. Pellegrini’s side lead the table with four wins from four games. They have scored 10 goals and are yet to concede. Ayew took the award ahead of his teammate Bafetimbi Gomis as well as Manchester City duo David Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov. Also nominated were Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez and Manchester United’s Chris Smalling. Ayew joined Swansea in June from French club Marseille and scored on his Premier League debut against Chelsea. He and Gomis have provided all of Swansea’s seven league goals so far. They visit Watford on today. Pellegrini’s side visit second-placed Crystal Palace on today and the Chilean said he wanted his team to carry on with their stylish play.
De Gea
Coaching role could have kept me at Anfield, says Gerrard
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teven Gerrard has revealed that he might have stayed at Liverpool had the club offered him a chance to move into a coaching role. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Gerrard says he would have been willing to combine a scaled-down playing role together with taking on a No 2, No 3 or No 4 coaching job at Anfield. The former Liverpool talisman also admitted he misses being at the heart of the Anfield set-up as well as the buzz of playing in the Premier League. “I miss being Steven Gerrard, Liverpool captain and walking out in front of my people with that pressure and trying to get a result for them,” he said. In his new autobiography, which has not yet been released, the 35-year-old midfielder even devotes a whole chapter to The Slip ; his infamous error against Chelsea in 2014 which halted Liverpool’s march as they appeared to be closing in on the title. Although Liverpool did offer Gerrard a contract before he opted to move to the US, he said the club failed to recognize his desire to move into management or coaching and to accept a part-time playing role.
Gerrard
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SPORT
September 12, 2015
Neymar shares cheeky snap with twin sister
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International Pairs:
Lenovo stakes X1 Carbon ultra book, Porsche keyed-in
... organisers plans golf academy in Lagos
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s the 2015 edition of International Pairs competition billed to hold at the golf section of Ikoyi club 1938 gathers momentum, IT giant, Lenovo has keyed-in to the competition offering to stake X1 Carbon, the world lightest ultra book as a hole-in-one prize on hole 12 and several Lenovo laptops and cell phones to be won in the competition, even as Luxurious Car maker, Porsche has also added to the glowing preparation with a pledge to have on display some of their best models in a designated hole during the competition. Meanwhile, FALCON Golf Development Company, franschise holder of International Pairs competition in Nigeria have said that their major desire in this year’s event is to secure the future of the game of golf in the country. Speaking in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of FGDC, Remi Olukoya said, the need to secure the future of the game informed the desire to build the country’s first ever Golf Academy in Lagos State. “We all enjoy the game of golf
but how many of us think of what will become of the game in the next fifty years. Who are the players we are looking up to take over in future? When will Nigeria discover her own Tiger Woods? We have come to realize that we will never discover our own stars in golf except we catch them young and that is why we are working hard to set up a golf academy in Lagos. That will not just be my contribution but the contribution of all golfers who dream of a secured future for the game, Olukoya explained. He therefore appealed Nigerians, Golf enthusiasts and sports lovers to join the effort in making this dream a reality. “By participating or sponsoring our events you will be writing your names in Gold as having been responsible for investing in the future of our children and children’s children. A lot has been done and is still been done to promote golf, but very little is been done to develop the game. We are very interested and passionate about developing the game of Golf in Nigeria. All hands must be on deck to make this a reality”, Olukoya added.
McIlroy sets for WGC-HSBC challenge
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ew York is currently playing host to an array of sporting talent, with Brazil’s national football team and the world of tennis descending on the US city. The two sports collided on Saturday night, when the twin sister of Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard shared a snap with Barcelona forward Neymar at the Red Bull Arena. More used to watching her sister in action at the US Open, Bouchard’s twin Beatrice swapped the tennis court for the football pitch to watch Brazil take on Costa Rica in an international friendly. Neymar himself only played eight minutes of his side’s 1-0 win, and was happy to cosy up to the 21-year-old after leaving the field, where they shared a series of pictures, later posted to Instagram. Bouchard said ‘he’s the cut-
est’ in reference to the footballer, before using the same emoticon. Eugenie was nowhere to be seen at the Red Bull Arena, her focus firmly on recovering from an injury which has seen her withdraw from her doubles competitions at the US Open this week. She pulled out of the women’s doubles and mixed doubles competitions at the American tournament after suffering a ‘locker-room accident’ that resulted in her sustaining a head injury on Friday. A statement was later released by tournament director David Brewer which confirmed the incident, and said that the Canadian tennis star’s health would continue to be monitored by on-site medical personnel. It also recommended she withdraw from her doubles matches scheduled for later that day, which she did.
Though the two were at each other’s arm, nevertheless, Neymar is already a father to a baby boy in August 2011 at age 19. The baby’s mother is Carolina Dantas, but Neymar is not in a relationship with her. The baby, David Lucca, was born in São Paulo. Neymar was quoted as saying “I cried when I learned that I would be his father. At first, I felt fear. Then joy. It is a new responsibility and I am now enjoying it.” He later described the birth of his baby boy as “2.8 kilograms of pure happiness” and also said “Mother and baby are in good condition just after childbirth”. He has a very close relationship with his sister Rafaella Beckran, and cemented this closeness by tattooing her face on his arm, while Beckran tattooed her brothers eyes on her arm.
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ory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and defending champion Bubba Watson are the first players to book their place at this year’s WGC-HSBC Champions at the Sheshan International Golf Club from November 5-8. Spieth, winner of the first two Majors of the year, the Masters and the US Open, is looking to lift his first World Golf Championship trophy while McIlroy, whose season was stalled by an ankle injury, will be looking to finish the season on a high. Watson is hoping to repeat his spectacular victory of last year when he holed a bunker shot for an eagle to make the play-off and a 25-foot birdie putt at the first extra hole to defeat South Africa’s Tim Clark, winning his first WGC title to add to his two Masters Tournament victories. “I can’t wait to get back to Sheshan for the final WGC of the season,” said McIlroy. “To win the biggest tournament in Asia would be a huge end of season boost and give me great momentum going into next year. “I always look forward to the superb quality and condition of the course and the really warm welcome I receive in China. The
energy, excitement and enthusiasm from the crowd is like nowhere else and, as always, the field is going to be very, very competitive.” Spieth said: “It’s been a great year and I can’t wait to compete again at the World Golf Championship in China. Playing internationally is extremely important to me and I’m looking forward to returning to this great event.” Watson added: “I am really looking forward to defending my WGC-HSBC Champions title in November. I am so proud to have won such a prestigious event and would love to be able to win it again. It is a special tournament at the forefront of golf in Asia and it has the potential to inspire a generation of golfers here.
McIlroy
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Medview/NUJ Games ends today Ifeanyi Eduzor
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Vinci
US Open: Vinci shocks Serena Williams
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erena Williams’ hopes of securing a calendar Grand Slam were ended in stunning fashion by Italy’s Roberta Vinci in the semi-finals. Vinci, the world number 43 and playing her first Grand Slam semi-final, caused a huge upset with a 2-6 6-4 6-4 win. Williams, 33, had been two wins from completing a clean sweep of all four majors in 2015.
Ifeanyi Eduzor
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uper Falcons of Nigeria who began their quest for gold medal at the football event of the on-going All African Games with a 5-1 victory over hosts, Congo Brazzaville before recording an emphatic 3-0 victory over Tanzania in their first match will today meet fellow West Africans Cote d’ivoire in their second group game of the championship at the Stade Municipal de Kintélé, Brazzaville. Both countries have already booked their place in the semifinal stage of the championship and will be playing today’s game to determine who wins Group A. Reigning African champions, Nigeria’s Super Falcons humbled the Twiga Stars of Tanzania at the Massamba Debat Stadium in Brazzaville, whilst ‘Les Elephantes’ of Cote d’Ivoire beat hosts Congo 1-0 in the other Group A clash at the newly built Unity Stadium, Kintele. Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire
Vinci, 32, will play Flavia Pennetta in an all-Italian final at Flushing Meadows today. Williams’ hopes of winning a first calendar Slam ended just two victories short, and in the most sensational of upsets. The American had survived 11 final sets in 25 Grand Slam matches during 2015, but at the 12th time of asking came up against an opponent who simply grew stronger.
When Williams smashed her racquet after dropping the second set it was clear that the tension was beginning to boil over, and her cries of “Come on!” in the third set took on an increasingly desperate air. There was still the possibility that Vinci would crumble in the decider, but she served out to love with two nerveless half-volleys for the win of her life. “It was an incredible match,’
said the Italian.”I lost the first set, and tried to stay in every point. I tried to stay focused and not think about Serena. It is the best moment of my life.” Williams remains the holder of all four major titles for another 24 hours, having completed the “Serena Slam” at Wimbledon, but the calendar Slam remains something achieved only by Maureen Connolly (1953), Margaret Court (1970) and Graf.
AAG: Falcons set for Ivorian challenge
have six points apiece but the Ivoirians are behind Nigeria on inferior goals difference
Ifeanyi Eduzor
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resident General of Nigeria Football and other Sports Supporters Club Dr. Rafiu Ladipo has commended members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos Chapter for its unbiased reporting of events in the country. He made the commendation when the Rafiu Ladipo Sports Foundation donated some set of T-shirts to the union as part of its efforts support the annual NUJ games. According to him, the cordial relationship existing between the Supporters Club and NUJ convinced him to donate the Tshirts to the union noting that he looks forward to more robust relationship between the two bodies in future. “For several years now, we have been involved in sports de-
whereas Tanzania and Congo are without a point after two games. Hosts Congo and Tanza-
nia have no realistic chance of reaching the next round with a game remaining.
Ladipo commends Lagos NUJ …donates T-shirts to union
President General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rafiu Ladipo presenting T-shirts to Chairman Lagos State NUJ, Deji Elumoye with other
velopment in the country and the NUJ has supported us all these years and that is why my foundation taught it wise to donate the T-shirts as part of our little contribution to the success of the NUJ Games. Receiving the T-shirts on be-
half of the union, Lagos NUJ Chairman, Deji Elumoye expressed the gratitude of the union to Dr. Ladipo just as he stated that his numerious contributions to the development of Nigerian sports cannot be quantified.
t will be a carnival like event at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos when the annual Nigeria Union of Journalists Lagos Chapter media Games come to an end today. Tagged,” Medview/NUJ Games” , the competition which kicked off on Monday, September, 7 attracted practicing journalists who seek for honours in such games as 11-aside football competition , Athletics ( 100meters, 200 and 4x100 meters) for men and women, Ayo (men and women), scrabble (men and women),Draught (men) and Marathon ( men and women) and Tugof War (men). According to the Chairman of the Lagos chapter of the NUJ, Deji Elumoye the weeklong games will be rounded up with a marathon race that will kick off from Costain Bus Stop and terminate at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos even as he announced that the newly appointed Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission, Ayodele Agbesanwa will declare the games closed. The closing ceremony will be spiced up with the final football match between Complete Sports Newspapers and Lagos Ministry of Information while the third place match will be between Sports Day and Daar Communications. To get to the finals, Complete Sports defeated hard fighting Sports Day 1-0 while Lagos Information defeated Daar Communications 5-3 penalties after their game ended 2-2 at regulation time.
Lagos opens facilities to public Afolabi Gambari
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irector General, Lagos State Sports Commission , Ayodele Agbesanwa has directed that all the sports facilities of the state should be thrown open for the use of the various communities contiguous to each facility. This directive was given at a meeting with nine sports facilities managers held at the Commissions’ Office at Teslim Balogun Stadium. According to him, usage of such facilities would enhance healthier and physical well-being of the people as well as prevent Lagosians from running foul of the law on street closure even as he charged the facilities managers to reach out to schools, sports clubs, Non-Governmental Organizations and the communities on the need to make adequate use of the facilities. The facilities includes Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Campos Mini Stadium, Lagos Island, Onikan Stadium, Onikan, Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba, Agege Stadium, Jalisco Sports Complex, Oshodi, Amuto Play ground, Lagos Island, Elegbata Playground, Lagos Island, Isheri Swimming Pool, Isheri/Magodo and Ijede Playground, Ijede. Agbesanwa promised that various sections of these facilities that need repairs or renovations would be attended to by the state government.
Crime Watch
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September 12, 2015
Undergraduate, tricycle rider arraigned for hacking into bank accounts Patience Ogbo
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final year student of the Nmandi Azikiwe University (NAU) Akwa is facing charges of forgery, stealing and fraud after he was arrested alongside a tricycle rider for allegedly hacking bank accounts of big companies and diverting millions of naira into personal accounts. According to the police, the accused belong to a 3-man syndicate allegedly led by a 400 level Environmental Science undergraduate student of NAU identified as Patrick Nwafor who is on the run. However, before the gang was exposed, they had succeeded in hacking into a law firm’s account with the UBA and diverted N8million. The police arrested the undergraduate identified as Ebuka Orumba a 400 level Computer Engineering part -time student and his accomplice, a tricycle rider one Ator Kalu after the gang had diverted the said amount and attempted to withdraw the money. The suspects who were charged at an Ikeja Magistrate court by policemen attached to the Special Anti -Robbery Squad Ikeja on a five count charge bordering on forgery, stealing and fraud however said they were lured into the crime by Nwofor. Narrating their roles in the gang, Orumba in his confessional statement to the police said “Nwofor and I are friends in school. Nwofor sold the idea to me and he told me to recruit Ator. Nwofor is the brain behind the hacking. I acted as a facilitator. I don’t know much about the hacking stuff” Narrating his role in the gang, the tricycle rider, Kalu, said “I know Orumba from Anambra. We are childhood friends from the same village. One fateful day, I had issues with my tricycle and I needed money to fix it. I went to Orumba to help me with
Fatai Owoseni, Lagos CP.
money but he told me that he can give me a job to help me with my problem. Orumba took me to the licensing office at Ojodu Berger Office where he helped me to obtain a fake driver’s licence with the name Engineer Asukwo John Okoro. He gave me N2, 500 to open an account 2O86943174 with Zenith Bank. Orumba told me that Nwofor will be paying some money into the account. After a while, Orumba told me to go to the bank and check that some money has been deposited in the account. I went to the bank at Mushin to check but when I
asked the branch manager, he told me that N3million was in the account. I screamed as I had never expected such huge amount. I was trying to inform Orumba about the money but the bank manager told me that network was slow and I could not withdraw the money. He told me to wait a while but to my shock, the branch manager was suspicious and he handed me over to the security in the bank. I was arrested and our gang was exposed” According to police investigation, the gang allegedly hacked into the account of
NDLEA apprehends notorious drug baron with cocaine at Lagos Airport Olusegun Koiki
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he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, attached to the Murtala Muhammed International Aiport,MMIA, Lagos has announced the arrested of an alleged suspected notorious drug baron, Chief Odugwe Joseph Azubuike, over unlawful importation of 1.025kg of cocaine. NDLEA in a statement by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju stated that Odugwe who is currently on bail over several drug charges brought against him by NDLEA was found with wraps of powdery substances that tested positive for cocaine at MMIA. Ofoyeju stated that the arrest was made during inward screening of passengers on Emirates airline flight from Dubai. He added that the wraps of cocaine were packed in duty free polythene inside his luggage, saying that the mode of drug concealment in duty free bags was similar to
the last drug charge involving him. He noted that Azubuike during investigation described has action as a big mistake, but emphasised that he pleaded not guilty to previous charges where drugs were not found on him. He attributed his crime to the handiwork of his enemies. He hails from Umunya in Uyi Local Government Area of Anambra State. NDLEA Commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Ahmadu Garba described the arrest of Azubuike as a sign of what to expect in the future. “I am happy with this high profile arrest. It is a good way to start and sign of better days ahead. The suspect travelled to Dubai on 6th September and was arrested on 10th September on arrival at the Lagos airport,” he said. The commander promised to make the airport difficult for drug traffickers. Also, Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade said that the arrest of Azubuike was rewarding for the country’s fight against drugs.
He said, “The game is up for the suspect who has been charged to court for sponsoring several drug couriers. This latest arrest is like the icing on the outstanding charges against him. He claimed to be an importer of legitimate goods but his source of income had been exposed. We shall be diligently prosecute and dispossess him of illegal drug proceeds.” Giade also assured Nigerians that no drug baron shall escape the dragnet of justice. In May 12, 2010 Chief Odugwe Azubuike was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Liman at the Federal High Court Ikoyi, Lagos on three count charge of conspiracy, aiding and unlawful importation of heroin. The accused pleaded not guilty to all counts of the charge and was remanded in prison custody. Chief Odugwe was nabbed in a follow-up operation to the arrest of Olehi Josephine Otuochinma who was caught with 3.150kg of heroin at the Lagos airport on December 29, 2009 at about 1345 hours on arrival from Dubai aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight.
the law firm Simmons Cooper Partners and diverted N8million which they moved into three different accounts with fake identities and documents. The police investigations further shows that the gang opened the accounts with the name Chief Ndumanya Raphael where they diverted N3million into an Access Bank account number 0047148640. They allegedly diverted N2million into a GTBank account number 0164661104 with the false name Barrister Tochukwu Gospel Okika and another N3million was diverted into a Zenith Bank account 2086943174 with the name Bar. Asoquo John Okoro. The charge sheet read, Count one reads “That you Ator Kalu,Ebuka Orumba and others at large on the 7th day of July,2015 at about 11.30hrs at Zenith Bank Plc Mushin branch Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial district did conspire together to commit felony to wit forgery and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. Count two reads: That you Ator Kalu, Ebuka Orumba and others at large on the same date,time and place in the Lagos Magisterial district did forge payment instruction mail in the name of Bidemi Oseni of Simmons Cooper Partners, addressed to the head Customer Service Unit UBA plc for the sum of Eight Million naira (N8million) and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 363(3)(h) of the criminal law of Lagos State 2011. Count three reads: that you Artor Kalu, Ebuka Orumba and others at large on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did steal the sum of three million naira (N3,000,000.00) by causing the said amount to be fraudulently transferred from the account of Simmonscooper partners in a Zenith Bank account No. 2086943174 with false name Engr. Asukwo Okoro John and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. Count four read: that you Artor Kalu,Orumba and others now at large in the month of May 2015 at Ogba Lagos in the afore said Magisterial District did forge Nigeria Drivers license bearing the name of Asukwu John Okoro but with the photograph of Ator Kalu and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 363(2) (b) of the criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. Count five reads: that you Artor Kalu sometime in the month of May,2015 at Zenith Bank Plc Mushin Branch Lagos in the aforesaid Magisterial District with intent to defraud did open an account with number 2086943174 with false documents bearing the name of Engr. Asukwo Okoro John and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 363 of the criminal law of Lagos State 2011. The accused who were arraigned on September 2nd however pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The magistrate Mrs. O.O Olanipekun granted the accused bail in the sum of N250,000 each and remanded them in prison custody.
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CRIME WATCH
September 12, 2015
We will hunt down, arrest killers of policemen — AIG Patience Ogbo
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he new Assistant Inspector General of police in charge of Zone 2 police command Onikan Lagos, Bala Abdulahi Hassan, has vowed to fish out killers of policemen and stop further killing of policemen by vandals. The AIG stated on this on assumption of office. He was also reacting to the incessant killing of policemen by vandals at Ikorodu and Arepo communities. He said: “When the IGP came on board he emphasized police partnership with the members of the community, we are going to improve on that. We are going to work with the members of the community to get these boys arrested and punished; Also we are going to device means of protecting these men we send out” He said. While marshalling out his agenda for Zone 2 Command, the AIG assured residents that the police under his watch will reduce crime to barest level in tandem with the thrust of the Inspector General of Police, using the safer highway vehicles provided by the IGP. The AIG also promised to set up an Anti kidnapping unit in the zone to check rising cases of kidnappings. “Although kidnapping is nothing to worry about much in Lagos but we are setting up an Anti -kidnapping Unit and we are going to ensure that this Unit maintains the low level of kidnapping in this particular zone and also any case of kidnapping would be attended to expeditiously so that what is happening in other zones would not filter in and become a problem to this zone,” he said. AIG Hassan promised that his team will also tackle the surge of traffic robbery.
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NAFDAC arrest man with N40 million fake drugs
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he National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested a man named Paul Osita Eli in his home with assorted counterfeit drugs worth over N40 million. The raid took place in Asaba, the Delta State capital. The suspect, who was identified as Paul Osita Eli, was arrested in the early hours of Monday at Number 2, Charles Edozien Avenue, Asaba, where he was reportedly packaging the counterfeit drugs with mobile authentication number to make it look genuine. The drugs found in his three-bedroom apartment where he operates from included Maloxine, Lumatem (anti-malaria drugs), LOFNAC, Buscomac and Rysovin alongside already printed mobile authentication numbers. Paul Eli, who claimed to be a graduate of Management Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, while speaking with newsmen, said he had been in the business for over one year, adding that he did the packaging of the drugs after receiving them from his business associate, whom he simply named as Achubuike in Lagos. Disclosing that he distributed the drugs in Kano through his business partner, one Chubuike in Sabon Gari, the suspect, who hails from Anambra State, said the drugs were imported from India by his partner in Lagos
Solomon Arase, IGP
“We are sitting down after this meeting to devise strategy to ensure that this thing is stopped. Most of these people capitalize on the hold up in traffic in Lagos but we are going to tackle it frontally on two ends. One is through visibility policing; that is keeping policemen in some places that would deter people from committing
crime. Secondly, apart from preventing crime, we will face the issue of traffic decongestion in Lagos, by deploying some of our men to go to the road to ensure free flow of traffic. If this is done, it is another way of checkmating this people who go about pretending to be selling while robbing innocent citizens,” he said.
Barracks, Oja-Odan. It is, however, because of lack of logistics and manpower we have been unable to open other observation points at Idiroko and Agbara. “This particular arrest was made on August 16, 2015. While we were searching for small and light ammunition, which are our primary objective, when we discovered that the suspects were carrying expired Maggi food seasoning, which are not good for human consumption,” Akinola said. Akinola added that the suspects were taken to Iperu Police Station, but NATFORCE was advised to transfer the case to Sagamu Police Area Command. According to him, the area commander ordered that the case file be transferred to Ogun State Police Headquarters at Eleweran in Abeokuta. He added: “We were also instructed to provide a towing vehicle because the truck has developed a mechanical fault. “We took the vehicle to Eleweran and after a brief meeting with the police; the police concluded that it is the jurisdiction of NAFDAC to further examine the products.”
Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdulmajid Ali
Giade
Task force intercepts expired seasoning
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he National Task Force on Small and Light Ammunition (NATFORCE), Ogun State Command, recently intercepted a truck loaded with expired Maggi seasoning at Ogere, Remo, Ogun State. NATFORCE officials were on a routine check for small and light ammunition when the vehicle, marked Lagos BDG 368 XL, was intercepted. The team was led by the Director of Operations, Michael Chukwuemeka. Speaking at a press briefing at NATFORCE’s office, at Idiroko, Director of Administration, Mr Oluwatosin Akinola, disclosed that the truck contained 38 cartons of unregistered Akbar Brothers Tea from Colombia, 15 bundles (30 pieces each) of suspected substandard foreign bags, three cartons of phone accessories and two units of 40 inch plasma television. The suspects said they were taking the items to Kano State. “We have many observation points within the state, such as Igboora, Ijebu-Ode and Alamala, which is very close to Army
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Sergeant, others arraigned for kidnapping policemen
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Crime Watch
September 12, 2015
1-year-old sergeant, Akowe Jacob, and three others were on Tuesday arraigned before Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court in Lagos by the police over alleged kidnapping of nine policemen. The accused allegedly kidnapped the policemen on May 24, 2014 at Arepo, a community in Ogun State. Others arraigned alongside the sergeant on a 10-count charge of terrorism are Godwin German (36), Tamarami Tunwa (23) and Mayibi Hazeez (29). According to the police prosecutor, Raymon Odion, the kidnapped policemen are ASP Abdullahi Bature, Inspector Raymond Oriere, Inspector Usman Muhammed, Inspector Oguntimehin Kolawole and Inspector Tijani Jimoh. Others are Corporals Elogbamen Timothy, Yakubu Aliyu, Usman Abdulkareem and Dauda Mohammed. Odion added that the four accused kidnapped the policemen about 9am on the fateful day. The alleged crime was said to have been contrary to Section 2(c) (ii) of the Terrorism Prevention Act. Odion said the four accused were also liable to be punished under Section 33(1) (a) of the same Act, which, according to him, prescribes a jail term of up to 20 years upon conviction. However, after the charges were read to the accused, they all pleaded not guilty. Later on, the prosecutor sought an order to remand them in prison custody, as well as an adjournment for the start of their trial. However, the defence lawyer, Chief S. W. Baidi, drew the attention of the court to a bail application he filed on behalf of his clients and called for their release on bail in liberal terms. He said: “My Lord, bail is a discretionary remedy but the constitution allows the applicants the benefit of presumption of innocence until proven otherwise. The offence that the defendants were charged with is a bailable offence and attracts not more than 20 years if convicted.” Ruling on the bail application has been fixed for September 15.
Man arrested for pouring hot oil on wife
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he Anambra state police command has arrested one Uchenna Okoye for pouring hot oil on his wife Njideka during an argument at their home. When interrogated, the father of three said he got into an argument with his wife after he returned from work last week Tuesday and there was no food for him to eat. He said he got angry when she told him she’d sent someone to go buy foodstuff for her to make the food as he’d repeatedly warned her not to send people to get their food stuff. As they argued, he poured hot oil on her. A remorseful Mr Okoye has since pleaded for forgiveness from his wife and the police. He is however still being detained at the Central Police station in Awka, the Anambra state capital.
Njideka
Fake doctor:
Suspect worked with LASUTH, BAT
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Fake doctor, Nwosu
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t has emerged that the fake female doctor, Angela Njide Nwosu, recently arrested in Abuja had in the past worked for Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH and the British American Tobacco company, BAT. Angela was arrested last week in Abuja on her first day of work at a private hospital where she would have been earning N280,000 monthly. It was gathered that the fake female doctor at different times worked for the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, and the
British American Tobacco company, BAT, with forged Nnamdi Azikwe University medical school certificate, and also claimed she did housemanship at the institution’s teaching hospital. It was gathered that her impersonation was not oblivious to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) as the regulatory body had been hot on her trail before the long arm of the law caught up with the fake female doctor when her new employer forwarded her credential to the regulatory body for verification.
September 12, 2015
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Invest in sugar Cube sugars
Sugar canes
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he Minister of Trade announced recently that Nigeria has been losing about N568Billion yearly to importation of sugar, representing 98 per cent of sugar consumed in the country. The Federal Government thereafter announced that it will ban the importation of packaged sugar (finished cube and granulated) into the country. The prohibition is in line with the new sugar policy intended by the government to replicate the success achieved with the backward integration policy in the cement industry. The importation of raw sugar will stop being an all-comers’ affair According to the new policy, a full era of backward integration will begin, which will tie importation of raw sugar by producers and manufacturers in the country to the quantum of their local productive capacity in sugar cane cultivation and development, either as fresh growers or out growers. The Minister added that the new shift of focus from mass importation to increased local production was aimed at increasing local production of sugar cane to processed sugar; creation of employment and conservation of the nation’s foreign reserves This calls for investment in the sector either as a farmer cultivating sugar cane or a manufacturer establishing a mini-sugar cane processing plant to produce granulated and cube sugar. Sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) is one of the most important crops in the world because of its strategic position and immense uses in daily life as well as its industrial uses, all aimed at nutritional and economic sustenance. Sugarcane contributes about 60% of the total world sugar requirement while the remaining 40% came from sugar beet. Sugar cane is a tropical crop that usually takes between eight to twelve months to reach its maturity. Matured cane may be green, yellow, purplish or reddish. It is considered ripe when sugar content is at its maximum
Nigeria is one of the most important producers of the crop, with a land potential of over 500,000 hectares of suitable cane field capable of producing over 5.0 million metric tons of sugar cane. If processed, it will yield about 3.0 million metric tons of sugar (NSDC, 2003). Nigeria is noted to be abundantly blessed with human, water and environmental potentials for the production of sugarcane. Areas with high potentials for commercial sugarcane /sugar production have been identified through studies sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Industry There are about four major sugar production companies in Nigeria at the moment. The combined installed capacities of these mills are about 120,000 metric tons of processed granulated white sugar per annum. However, total domestic production has fluctuated between 16,000 and 50,000 tons annually, which is able to satisfy only about 5 percent of the total national demand for sugar. The sugar industry, the major user of sugar cane as its raw material, source their requirement from local producers through out-growers scheme of cane delivery. This is the major practice in Nigeria. Under this concept, sugarcane farmers are organised to grow and supply sugarcane for processing by the existing sugar plants Apart from producing sugar cane, one can also invest in processing of sugar cane into sugar granules and cube sugar production and packaging
The consumption of sugar all over the world in general and Nigeria in particular is very high. It has been established that the consumption of granulated sugar has been on increase. With overall sugar consumption in the region of 1.5 million tons per annum, Nigeria is the largest consumer of sugar in Africa apart from South Africa, and the industry is still dependent on raw sugar imports. Health wise, it is not medically advisable to consume granulated sugar, which is made specifically for industrial use. In the developed world, consumption of granulated is widely discouraged . The preference is for cube sugar, which is carefully produced in a very hygienic condition. Research has shown that here in Nigeria, the consumption of granulated sugar has been on the increase due to the higher cost of carefully produced and packaged cube sugar. From our market research, only two major companies produce cube – sugar in the country at the moment. These two are serving a population figure of over 150 million people in Nigeria and as well as other African countries. The high level of demand and cost of production has led to the increase in price of the well packaged cube sugar. The supply therefore has not matched effectively with the very high level of demand. The demand has outweighed the supply position. Therefore more hands are required to increase the supply of cube-sugar production in the country. It is a project anybody can establish and run on cottage, small, medium or even large scale depending on the available funds. One can also combine sugar cane plantation with processing of sugar cane into sugar granules and cube sugar.
The new shift of focus from mass importation to increased local production is aimed at increasing local production of sugar cane to processed sugar; creation of employment and conservation of the
nation’s foreign reserves.
This calls for
investment in the sector
A cube-sugar production plant can be established in any apart of the country, provided that there is electricity and enough space of land for the project. Other factors such as good road networks, nearness to markets and related factors can also be considered. The most important aspect of this project is the technical issue. The investor should consider the type and quality of machines to be used for the project. Interested investors may be able to procure a set of the machines for N6 million. The machine will be made up of a full set of cube-sugar producing line and associated packaging system. The cost will include the installations and training of your manpower. The proposed plant will be able to produce 50 cartons of cube sugar in every double shift. This implies that the plant will be able to produce an average of between 225,000 and 250,000 cubes in a day. Different products can be produced by prospective investors depending on the target markets. An investor can produce chocolate and orange flavour cubes as well as low-diet cube sugar for those that are diabetic. The major raw materials required for this project are locally available, so an investor does not need to bother about importation or running into shortage of supply. The raw materials are sugar cane for production of granulated sugar, which can easily be obtained from granulated sugar making companies all over the country. The production processes are very simple and include harvesting, cutting, extraction, boiling, mixing, heating, conveying, drying and packaging through a mechanized system which is very easy to operate. The project can comfortably be run by five to ten people. This project can be embarked upon by anybody in the society including politicians, professionals who want to make extra income, retirees, those planning for their retirement, and every member of the society, who may wish to develop his community to generate more employment for the unemployed. From investment analysis, the payback period is about one year. Return on investment is about 68%. The cost-benefit ratio analysis is very impressive.
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REGIONAL NEWS
September 12, 2015
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Onitsha traders back SON on war against fake products SOUTH EAST
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raders in Onitsha, Anambra State, yesterday, rose in defense of the efforts of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in ridding markets in the state of fake products, describing recent protests and attack on the organisation in the state as misleading and unwarranted.
The traders, who spoke under the aegis of Anambra Traders Forum (ATF) at a Press conference in Onitsha, said all allegations against SON and their war against substandard and fake products are false and baseless, and an attempt to malign the reputation of the organisation. The chairman of the fo-
rum, Chief Daniel Okeke, who spoke in the midst of officers of the forum, noted that some people, led by one Benjamin Uzochukwu Nwizu, organised a protest against SON after it carted away some BIC shaving sticks from his company, Bendusco International Ltd. During the protest, Mr. Nwizu alleged that the
Director-General of SON, Mr. Joseph Odumodu, raided his company’s office, carting away goods and demanding the sum of N20 million from him, stressing that his forum had after a painstaking investigation found the allegation to be false, adding that SON was right in confiscating the products because they were fake.
Residents of Imiringi town with the help of nest oil company, clearing the refuse blocking the carnnal in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa ahead of inpending flood following a routine release of water from lagdo dam in cameroun, due to excessive amount of water presently contained in
Don’t lose hope on Buhari
— Anambra monarch tells Ndigbo T he traditional ruler of Igbariam ancient kingdom, H.R.M Eze (Dr.) Kelly Nzekwe, has advised people of the South East not to lose hope on President Mohammadu Buhari, stressing that he has not forgotten them. He gave the advice yesterday while speaking to newsmen during this year’s Iwaji festival of his town at his palace, Okalakwu Palace of Igbariam ancient Kingdom, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State. Eze Nzekwe said that President Buhari is trying to attend to the section of the people who voted for him massively first, and noted that Igbo race should mourn for not voting for him. He said: “Igbo should not lose hope; President Buhari will still remember them. President Buhari is attending to people who voted for him first, I believe he will still remember the Igbo, so they should all rally round as a race, and give the president maximum support”.
Speaking at the occasion, HRM Eze Obidiegwu Onyenso, Eze Nri, the ancestral home town of all Igbos advised Igbos not to lose sleep on the recent appointment of President Buhari, but should give the President support to
succeed. Contributing, Sir Lawrence Anikpe aka Onwa Igbariam, a prominent son of the town who represented Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State at the occasion, said celebration of New Yam festivals
is always a celebration of peace and rich cultural heritage of a people. He noted that the celebration is like Christmas when many indigenes uses as opportunity to come home to felicitate with each other in love.
Imo CP goes tough on criminals, warns MASSOB
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he new Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, yesterday read the riot act to criminals operating in the state, stressing that he would, apart from the traditional role of fighting crime, adopt other methodologies that would lead to total elimination of violent crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping and cultism. The CP, shortly on assumption of duty, said that he was poised to create a crime-free environment that would make economic and business activities to thrive in the state without hindrance. According to him, while
the state Police Command had commenced the replacement of structures that would deal decisively with crime and criminality, reforming, restructuring and re-positioning of the force for optimal efficiency are ongoing. His words: ”We have put in place strategic training, re-training and re-organisation of the Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force with a view of improving professionalism in Police Performance, service delivery, ethics and conducts.” Lakanu pledged to work in tandem with various communities in the state by co-opting them into the activities of his Command, making them part of the po-
licing strategies in order to achieve the stated goals. The Police boss who claimed ignorance of alleged invasion of the private residence of the MASSOB Leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, in Owerri, and the arrest of some members of his organisation recently as reported by the media reiterated the indivisibility and corporate existence of the nation. He urged the citizens to always remain law abiding at all times and assured that the Police would continue to accord due respect to humanity, and enjoined MASSOB members to respect the laws of the land so as to prevent the wrath of the Police and other security agents.
He confirmed that Bendusco International Ltd was actually pirating the products of Lagos based Nigerian Ball Point Pen Industry Limited, the original manufactures of the BIC shaving sticks. Bendusco International Ltd, he said, has his fake manufacturing outfits on Owerri Road in Onitsha, and Nsugbe in Anambra East Council Area of the state. Okeke, however called on the Managing Director of Bendusco International Ltd, Mr. Benjamin Nwizu, to tender an apology to the SON Director-General and the company whose product he faked for tarnishing their image in the public eye through false and malicious allegations, adding that they found that the protest he organised was actually a ploy to bring SON to disrepute. He also enjoined the Anambra State Police Command, the State Security Services (SSS) and
other security agencies in the state to investigate Bendusco International Limited to find who between the company and SON is right. “He organised the protest and mobilized his workers to the street in the name of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Onitsha branch, which he is not even a member. We want to state that SON was right to have raided his company, and made some seizures because he was faking the product of another company. “He can’t indict the integrity of SON. We know what it takes to have a product registered with SON. We challenge him to produce certificate issued to him by SON when he registered the BIC products he now claims to be his. “The Police should investigate him because he pirated somebody’s products, and the act of protesting is aimed at bringing down an Igboman who has risen in public service,” he said.
Industrial crisis: Ebonyi workers petition Ayuba over punitive transfers
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he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),Ebonyi State chapter, yesterday raised alarm over alleged punitive transfers of labour leaders by the state government. While condemning the redeployment, the labour leaders describe it as an attempt to prevent workers from demanding their entitlements. In a statement by its Secretary, Comrade Chukwuma Onwe, the union said it was not against the redeployment of any government staff in the state, but that it must be done in good faith. “We, the organised labour in the state, feel bad about the present redeployment of labour leaders in the state who are in the payroll of the government. “Transfer is a routine thing, and it should be done in good faith. So we are not happy about our current transfer. “What business does a person like me who is a broadcaster with a Mass
Communication certificate has to do with Building Material, the same thing with other labour leaders who were also transferred? “We have reported this matter to our National President, Ayuba Waba, because the whole aim is to stop us from agitating for our rights and entitlements, he said. Meanwhile, in the transfer paper dated 9th September, 2015, Onwe, who is the state chairman of Radio and Television Theater Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) and Secretary of the state NLC was transferred from the Ebonyi State Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC) to the state Building Materials Industry. His Secretary, Kama Chima, a senior reporter was transferred from the station to Ebonyi Hotels Afikpo; while the PRO, Samuel Okpor of Programme Department in the station was transferred to Ezillo farm in the state among others
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REGIONAL NEWS
September 12, 2015
SOUTH SOUTH
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Prof. Zana Akpagu emerges new UNICAL VC
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L-R: Director, Planning and Research, National Population Commission, Dr. Samson Olanipekun; Federal Commissioner in-Charge of Edo, Dr. Tunde Lakoju; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Ezekiel Oyemomi, and Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, during a news conference on Violence Against Children Survey 2014, in Abuja, on Thursday. PHOTO: NAN
he Governing Council of the University of Calabar, on Friday announced Prof. Zana Itiunbe Akpagu, as the new and 10th Vice Chancellor of the institution. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akpagu is the immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) in the university. In a statement signed by Mr Effiong Eyoh, the institution’s spokesman, Akpagu is the second Vice
PDP plots to compromise Delta tribunal with N115m bribe –APC Alleges
…It’s not true –Delta Speaker Theophilus Onojeghen Warri
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elta State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said the party has uncovered a plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the state to compromise the state House of Assembly election tribunal panel sitting in Asaba, the state capital with a N115m bribe. APC alleged that the 23 PDP House of Assembly members, whose election is being challenged by its candidates at the tribunal contributed N5m each to settle tribunal panel to deliver judgment on their favour. The party told newsmen that the alleged N5m was being coordinated by the state House Assembly Speaker, Hon. Monday Igbuya to compromise the members of tribunal particularly panel 2 and 3. A lawmaker who spoke to our Correspondent in confidence, denied any involvement in the scam, however, confirmed the allegation that a PDP member in the house actually approached him, to buy into the project in order for him to get victory at the tri-
bunal. He added that since he was very confident that he won his election fair and square, he doesn’t need to undermine the justice. However, when contacted on the allegation, the
speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Monday Igbuya, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Henry Ebireri, debunked the allegation. In a statement, the speaker described the allegation
as wicked and baseless saying that 23 PDP members in House never at anytime contributed N5million each to compromise the panel of judges and receive a favorable judgment against opposition petitioners.
According to him, “The Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Monday Igbuya, is an honest and highly effective speaker. He has built a reputation anchored on integrity over the years.”
Chancellor to emerge from the Faculty of Arts, after the shortlived tenure of Prof. Solomon Unoh in 1995. “He will take over from Prof. James Epoke, whose tenure ends on November 30,’’ it stated. It added that the Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, unveiled Akpagu at the Council Chamber of the institution. The statement quoted Iwuanyawu, as saying that Akpagu polled 74 per cent to win what he described as a ‘Close Contest.’ He said that eight candidates who were duly screened participated in the ‘Interview Selection’ exercise. He described the exercise as one of the fairest since the inception of the institution. Pro-chancellor commended the council for maintaining decorum, integrity and high standard throughout the entire process.
PDP fails to proceed with defence at Akwa Ibom Tribunal F or the third day in a row, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday, failed to proceed with their defence at the Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, despite the assurances by the party’s counsel, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo that the Tribunal will close their case on Friday. It emerged at the beginning of the Tribunal that the PDP could not continue with their defense because staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was unable to bring the remaining bag of Incident Forms to
the tribunal as promised yesterday. According to an online media Sahara Reporters, Mr. Adekunle Oyesanya, the counsel to the PDP, then pleaded with the Tribunal to adjourn hearing in the case to Monday, September 14, 2015 to enable them put their house in order. Mr. Paul Usoro, the counsel to the 1st Respondent of the petition, informed the Tribunal that he has no objection to the application and assured the Tribunal that the Respondents will not exceed the 14 days period allotted to them for defense. On his part, Mr. To-
bechukwu Nweke, the counsel to the 3rd and 4th Respondents, INEC and the Resident Electoral Commissioner Akwa Ibom State, apologized to the Tribunal for the inability of the INEC representative to be in court with the remaining one bag of the Incident Forms. He told the Tribunal that the bag, which was kept at the INEC warehouse, is yet to be located and that a search for it was ongoing. Responding, the counsel to the Petitioners, Mr. Solomon Umoh, expressed his disappointment with the way the time of
the Tribunal was being wasted. He wondered why the 2nd Respondent should even ask for an adjournment because a subpoenaed witness has not been able to produce a document when they still have 19 remaining witnesses. He however said that it was not his business if they have decided to abandon their remaining witnesses, as it is their case. Mr. Umoh finally submitted that though he was not opposing the application for adjournment, INEC should be ready to open their defense on Monday by bringing their witnesses to court should the
2nd Respondent fail to continue with their defense. In his reply, the counsel to INEC told the Tribunal that he could not guarantee that they will open their case on Monday. Meanwhile, the Respondents have so far spent 7 out of the 14 days period allotted to them for defense. Ruling on the application for adjournment, the Chairman of the Tribunal stated that there would be no extension of time for defense. He then adjourned the matter to Monday, September 14, 2015 for definite hearing.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
September 12, 2015
87 killed in crane collapse at Mecca’s Grand Mosque
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towering construction crane collapsed on Friday during a violent rainstorm in Saudi Arabia’s city of Mecca, Islam’s holiest site, crashing into the Grand Mosque and killing at least 87 people ahead of the start of the annual hajj pilgrimage later this month. Videos and photos posted by social media users showed a grisly scene, with police and onlookers attending to bloodied bodies on the polished mosque floors. Saudi Arabia’s civil defense authority provided a series of rising casualty numbers on its official Twitter account. As of late Friday, it said those injured in the disaster numbered 184. A photo posted online by the authority showed police and workers in hardhats inspecting a pile of collapsed concrete slabs inside a part of the sprawling, ornately deco-
rated mosque. Authorities did not provide details on the victims’ nationalities, but it was likely that the tragedy will touch several countries. The Grand Mosque and the cube-shaped Kaaba within it draw Muslims of all types from around the world throughout the year, though numbers increase significantly in the run-up to the hajj. Performing the pilgrimage once during one’s lifetime is a duty for all able-bodied adult Muslims. Pan-satellite Al-Jazeera Television broadcast footage from inside the mosque compound said to be from the aftermath of the accident, showing the floor strewn with rubble and what appear to be pools of blood. Another video, on a Twitter posting, captured the apparent moment of the crane’s collapse during a heavy rainstorm, with a loud boom, screams and confusion.
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Laszlo kicking the young girl
from a holding camp in Hungary when she saw a man running with a child in his arms. She tripped him, sending them tumbling to the ground. Moments later, the same camerawoman kicked other migrants, including a young girl, as they ran. A backlash ensued after video of her attacks sur-
No more Israel in 25 years
–Ayatollah Khamenei
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srael will not exist in another quarter century, Iran’s supreme leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said during a speech this week in Tehran, state-run media report. “I’d say (to Israel) that they will not see (the end) of these 25 years,” the Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Khamenei as saying Wednesday at the Imam Khomeini Mosque. Khamenei raised
the issue while discussing the recent nuclear deal between Iran and the so-called P5+1 -- the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, China and Russia -- by which, among other things, Iran agreed to cut its uranium stockpiles and centrifuges and limit uranium enrichment in exchange for the West lifting sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Dozens missing in Japan floods
I A man points at a large crane that collapsed inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Sept. 11, 2015
Hungarian camerawoman apologises for kicking migrants Hungarian camerawoman has apologized for kicking desperate migrants as they fled, saying her actions had nothing to do with racism. In a video released this week, Petra Laszlo was documenting the wave of migrants, many from the Middle East, sprinting
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faced, prompting her employer -- the Hungarian nationalist N1TV station -- to fire her. Now the videographer says it was all a misunderstanding, one for which she’s sorry. The rush of migrants burst through a police cordon, which was scary, she wrote in a letter to the daily Hungarian newspaper
Magyar Nemzet. The letter describes how the ensuing panic scared her and made her think she would be attacked. “I am very sorry for the incident, and as a mother I am especially sorry for the fact that fate pushed a child in my way. I did not see that at that moment. I started to panic and as I re-watch the film, it seems as it was not even me,” her letter states. Laszlo is being investigated on suspicion of committing a public nuisance offense, a spokesman for the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Szeged told CNN. Prosecutors are also considering whether to investigate her on more serious offenses, the spokesman said. Laszlo was one of the videographers filming the flood of migrants trying to get through Hungary on the way to Austria and Germany. The migrants include refugees trying to escape the carnage brought on by terrorists and war in their homelands.
n the latest area to suffer from extreme flooding caused by a lingering rainy season and compounded by a tropical storm, rescue teams in Osaki City, in the northeastern prefecture of Misaki, are battling to save residents after a section of a levee containing the Shibui River broke early Friday morning. Around 100 buildings in the city have been flooded, prompting calls from residents to the city government and emergency services for aid. As many as 1,000 people live in the affected area, the city’s disaster prevention office told CNN Friday, but the office could not confirm how many were seeking rescue. More than 700 Osaki residents have been temporarily placed in shelters according to NHK, Japan’s state media. Rescue workers including firefighters and members of Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) were using boats and helicopters to reach residents. The disaster prevention office said that 115 people had been rescued as of 2.50 pm Friday. Heavy flooding over eastern Japan has caused three deaths, almost two dozen unaccounted for and houses washed away as residents were forced
to their rooftops, desperate for rescue by military helicopters. In Miyagi Prefecture, one woman was found dead in her floating car, and in Tochigi Prefecture, to the north of the capital Tokyo, two deaths were reported, one in a landslide and another who had drowned. At least 28 people are injured across 10 prefectures in Japan, police say, and at least 22 people have been reported missing since floods inundated parts of eastern Japan. Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper cited authorities in reporting the landslide death of a 63-year-old woman in Kanuma, Tochigi Prefecture. The raging brown floodwaters spawned from Tropical Storm Etau, which has dumped 60 centimeters (2 feet) of rain over some areas since Monday. Combine that with several weeks of near-daily rainfall, and swaths of eastern Japan are now deluged. “Tochigi Prefecture is facing a grave danger and is in an emergency situation,” Japan Meteorological Agency Spokesman Takuya Deshimaru said Thursday. “It is experiencing unprecedented downpour.”
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“Things have become so bad, so much so that we can say without fear of contradiction, that in Nigeria today, poverty glaringly wears a bold Northern face.” —Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima
Wanted: A systemic solution for Nigeria Saturday, September 12, 2015. www.nationnationalmirroronline.net
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hat can be the solution to the problem of 167 million people in a nation (arguably) called Nigeria that does not have basic infrastructures, cannot provide employment or pay salaries to workers as at when due, cannot provide basic health care delivery, good primary schools, coordinated and progressive universities, mortgage, housing policy, or a good gender policy. This is a nation that celebrates institution void. It is either democracy today or semi democracy tomorrow. Every one is crying corruption, stealing of government funds. It has even grown to the level where a President will personally sign government cheques. State governors treat government assets as if the state is registered as a limited liability company with family holding 100% of her shares. Some even donate government funds to anybody they like Where is Nigeria heading to? When a Yoruba man gets into power, the Yorubas become the main ministers and heads of major government departments. So also when it is the turn of the South-South or any of the other zones. You hear things like, ‘He is our son and it is our government.’ It does not matter from where he got the votes from. We lost almost all the good things of yesterday and we are approaching tomorrow with almost empty hands. No more development plan, no more budget. About two years ago, government achieved 28% of her budget in the ninth month of the year! In the private sector, we say budget must be achieved by the 10th month. We moved from six regions to twelve states. Now we have 36 states. Still the agitation for more states continues unabated. We are getting to a situation where some large families may agitate for their own states. It looks like moving from unity to
CFR
We moved from six regions to twelve states. Now we have 36 states. Still the agitation for
more states continues unabated. We are getting to a situation where some large families may agitate for their own states. It looks like moving from unity to disintegration disintegration. The governor of one state can abuse the government of another state without restraint, and nothing will happen! Leaders are using the language of war in peace time. But who can wait for war? Bloody civilians! Obasanjo came with a very good agenda for development. We started to get back to the road from the dark days of Abacha. Yar’Adua moved the country forward with the rule of law. Jonathan, even with the greatest opportunity of good oil price (at $120 per barrel with production of 2 million barrels per day!) lacked the pride of command. He did not show any agenda for a better Nigeria. He kept oscillating between fear and courage. He reduced the presidency to a local government affair. The
initial excitement that a PhD holder has come with intellectual capacity became empty, as the president suddenly became an embarrassment to knowledge. On one or two occasions, I personally visited Aso Rock to discuss with Jonathan about the economy. He even promised to put me on an economy committee. I was less than excited, because I knew it was going to be a waste of time for me, as I wasn’t even sure the president was going to understand some of the economic theories we would be discussing in the committee. I remember very well, as Segun Adeniyi will be my witness, when the late President Yar’Adua appointed me as chairman of CAC. When he spoke to me on the phone, I was
in the village. After he dropped the phone, I asked Segun, ‘What is CAC?’ He said, “Corporate Affairs Commission.” I said, ‘Thank God it’s not the church.’ Any staff of CAC can attest to what we did in the period. Jonathan dissolved the board of federal parastatals, and for a year, he could not constitute it. Yet he was fighting corruption. The president attended all sorts of parties and was overwhelmed by the fact that he became the president. When I took time to find out from the Bible about Jonathan, I realised that every Jonathan king is punishment upon the land and the pains of Jonathan ruling is unending, except with prayers. The dollar is everywhere, yet the people have no naira to procure it. Government is not only an aberration, but an instrument of wasting the wealth of Nigeria. People are working without purpose, yet in the midst of the pains, there is no reflection from the Government. When you see some ministers, you will wonder where they come from. Some people with clear evidence of failure as ministers are even sometimes designated super ministers! I know of a minister that went to Aso rock for the very first time and told me that the place is like heaven. What is in the place beyond horticulture and some sets of chairs from Dubai? There is no human development. We conduct weekly executive council meetings without a presidential library. Where does the knowledge come from? Maybe from the spirits in the village! We have no respect for knowledge and there appears a ground plan to kill the schools! Is there any reward for evil? People derive satisfaction from the destruction of people they cannot make (apologies to Professor Esiemokhai)….and a nation they cannot build. TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK
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