Saturday, july 27, 2013 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

2013 Umrah, Hajj pilgrims risk Coronaa virus, Lagos warns

Vol. 03 No. 32

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104 hospitalised as epidemic ravages Ogun P. 2

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What’s new with My Oga At The Top?

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Saturday, July 27, 2013

PDP crisis

Northern govs give Tukur conditions for truce P. 6

•No automatic tickets for president, govs, others •Members, govs should no longer be hounded •Leadership role of govs should be well defined •Party should return to the Sule Lamido committee report on Adamawa crisis

We’ll chase gay diplomats from Nigeria –CAN

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Sympathisers at the scene of an accident where an articulated vehicle fell off a bridge on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

ASUU strike: FG makes U-turn on 2009 agreement P. 7

...opts for renegotiation •Meeting continues Monday

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Top Stories

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Divorce court

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

July 27, 2013

2013 Umrah, Hajj pilgrims risk I sleep with men for Corona Virus, Lagos warns P.40

Court dissolves 19-yr marriage over infidelity

money to take care of my family –Beverly Osu

ver since she was chosen to contest in Big Brother: The Chase which is presently on in South Africa, the life of Beverly Osu, video vixen and model, has not been the same. Before TC, she was almost a regular girl. But with her appearance on it, her life has been dissected both through her own machinations and that of others who are curious to know all they can about this latest Nigerian international celebrity. Shortly after she entered the Big Brother House, naked pictures of her surfaced online. That wasn’t her own doing. But disclosing on BBA that she aborted a pregnancy once and having near-sex in the House is hers. The latest revelation about her is her disclosure that she sleeps with men for money to take care of her family. Considering all her naughty disclosures and escapades, people are wondering if they are her tactics to win the $300,000 BBA prize money. Well, if they are, then they are working for her as she is one of The Chase contestants whom is not having eviction problems.

MURITALA AYINLA

ntending Umrah and Hajj pilgrims have been warned by the Lagos State government to be wary of the deadly Coronavirus during their stay in the Holy land, even as it disclosed that the virus has not been found in Lagos or anywhere in Nigeria. The government had alerted members of the public to the existence the virus, urging intending pilgrims to take extra care to guide against contacting the virus which, according to government, could be contracted in a large gathering. Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and persons suffering from acute cancer, liver problem and other ailments are strongly advised not to embark on the pilgrimage. Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris who made the clarification today in Lagos along with the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, explained that the alert to members of the public was informed by the need to ask intending Nigerian pilgrims for the lesser Hajj to take precautionary measures since the deadly Coronavirus has been found in Asia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. According to him, no fewer than 90 people have been identified as being

Fashola

infected with the deadly virus globally, 45 of who have died. Seventy of the 90 cases were found in Saudi Arabia alone, out of which 38 have died. Idris urged intending pilgrims to wash their hands regularly with soap and water, avoid being in overcrowded places, especially places where unprotected sneezing is common. He also ad-

vised them against touching the eyes, nose or mouth frequently, close contact with people who are sick, as well as objects used by the sick which have not been sterilized. Idris noted that presently, there is no specific treatment for the illnesses caused by the Coronavirus and that the ways the virus is spread have not been extensively studied. He confirmed, however, that it could be transmitted easily from one person to another through coughing and sneezing, close contact such as touching or shaking the hands of an infected person, and touching one’s mouth, nose or eyes after touching contaminated objects or surfaces. He added that government might bar intending pilgrims who fall into the vulnerable group from the pilgrimage. The commissioner said, “The human Coronavirus usually causes mild to moderate upper respiratory tract illnesses and can progress to severe respiratory illness and pneumonia particularly in the aged, young and already ill people. Its symptoms include runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath and fever.” He called the public to suspect Coronavirus in people that develop acute respiratory illnesses, especially if they have recently travelled to areas where the virus has been reported and if they don’t respond to appropriate treatment for the listed complaints.

104 hospitalised as cholera epidemic spreads in Ogun •It’s gastroenteritis, not cholera –Government FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

ollowing the reported outbreak of an alleged cholera epidemic in two local government areas of Ogun State, private and public hospitals across the Abeokuta metropolis have witnessed an increase in the number of patients on admission for the decease. This is just as the state government confirmed the spread of the disease to Odeda and Owode Obafemi local government areas in addition to the already identified Abeokuta North and South local government areas. Death toll in what the state government described as “unhygienic condition of the affected areas” has also continued to rise, with causalities cutting across age and gender. Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka confirmed that 104 cases were already listed in what he described as “gastroenteritis” disease in Abeokuta South,

especially in Ijaye and Adedotun in Abeokuta North local governments, asserting that only three deaths have been recorded in the epidemic, which he stressed was not related to cholera. Soyinka, who emphasised that the outbreak of the epidemic was as a result of water contamination, however, called on the state water corporation to rise up to the situation. Saturday Mirror’s visit to the state hospital, Ijaiye and the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, in Abeokuta revealed that dozens of residents are either being hospitalised or treated for the water-borne disease. Patients included a traditional ruler, an official of the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as well as a state Correspondent of an on-line media company, who was discharged last Thursday. Though management of the hospital has refused to confirm the disease as cholera, a special patient ward has, however, been created for those on admission as a result of the epidemic.

Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Ogun State, Dr. Olusoji Jagun, said the association got a report of pockets of gastroen-

teritis outbreak, adding that laboratory investigations were on to really determine the real cause of the outbreak.

Edo LG chairman dies of kidney disease SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN

hock and disbelief reigned in Benin City, the Edo State capital and in Ekpoma yesterday following news of the death of the Chairman of Esan West Local Government Area, Hon. Hag Irunmundomon The executive council chairman, who was recently elected in a rescheduled election held by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) on Wednesday, April 24, 2013, was said to have been seriously sick with kidney problems even before he presented himself for the council elections

Confirming the death to Saturday Mirror at 8.00pm after repeated calls to his mobile telephone, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr. Peter Okhiria said the late council boss died at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Benin City. Okhiria said, “Yes, it is true. I can confirm to you that he actually died today at UBTH here in Benin City. He died as the state government was concluding plans to fly him to Germany for better treatment.” The middle-aged council chairman was a successful businessman in America before he returned home to contest the last council polls in Edo State.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

July 27, 2013

Saturday Starter

What’s new with Ever since Shem Obafaye, former Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, featured on Sunrise, a live interview programme on Channels Televisions that fateful Tuesday morning, his life has been an interesting mix of pain and joy. Saturday Mirror went on Obafaye’s trail to find out how he is faring in his new place of work in Ibadan, a city generally believed to be less ‘juicy’ than Lagos as far as postings and appointments are concerned. How is he doing away from family, friends and associates... far from the maddening crowd of Lagos and its ‘busy-body’ journalists?

My Oga At The Top? BY YEMISI ADENIRAN

ntil sometime in March this year when the former Lagos State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Shem Obafaye, featured on a Channels Television interview programme, “Sunrise”, the phrase, My Oga at the Top, did not mean much to Nigerians. It simply passed as the description of a boss in Pidgin English. However, the circumstance in which the phrase was used and the forum gave it and its “exponent” as instant fame. Obafaye, who was asked to give the website of the NSCDC had faltered, insisting that only “My Oga At The Top” could give the right website. And even when he finally decided to give one, he could not complete it. The celebrity that the NSCDC boss became was almost immediate. The fame did spread like wild fire and many cashed in on it to enrich themselves. Before one could say Jack Robinson, some smart indi-

viduals had gone to town, emblazoning t-shirts with the latest phrase in town – My Oga at the Top- and making good money from it. It was also a topic for the dance hall too as disc jockeys remixed it, creating some interesting tunes with it. In offices, almost everybody henceforth referred to their bosses as “My Oga at the Top.” To say that the interview from which the phrase emanated was an embarrassment to the NSCDC is an understatement. May be if the said interview was not a live programme of a visual media, the damage wouldn’t have been that severe. Many were not just shocked by the outing but expected the end of the road for the security boss. But the para- military agent was not only smart about the ordeal, they were equally considerate, hence, his transfer to the Oyo State command of the security agency. “He was not redeployed as a form of punishment.” NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Okeh had said. Even if there was no official statement that Shem was CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Saturday Starter

Making money from My Oga At the Top E

ntrepreneurs have been having a field day ever since the saga of “My Oga at the top” broke. For instance, clothiers have come up with all kinds of t-shirts with “My Oga at the top” insignia. Sellers of wrist bands also made a fortune out of “My Oga At the Top” The clothes and wrist bands have been selling like hot cakes across the country. Abdullahi Idris who sells clothings at Akute in Ifo Local Governmenet Area of Ogun State, is one of the ordinary businessmen who made money from the saga. Recalling his profit in the last few weeks, he said, “I did not know anything about the story of “My Oga at the top”

until I went to where I normally buy my wares and I saw a lot of t-shirts with the inscription on it. I was even persuaded to buy them. They told me the story and I ended up buying some. To my surprise, I sold all that I bought. I had to go back and request for more. “I made more than double of what I sold normally and they sold out quickly. I really thank God for everything. I am not rejoicing over the man’s misfortune but you know God answers prayers in different ways. Now, I know that the downfall of someone might just be the catalyst to lift another. I was praying for how to get money to pay my rent and it came at a time I least expected and in a way I never envisaged.”

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

July 27, 2013

Saturday Starter

‘What if it had cost him his job?’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 punished, it was obvious that his transfer was a face-saving exercise. Shem swapped position with his Oyo State counterpart, Mr Adesuyi Clement. Like the brave soldier that he is meant to be, Obafaye rose promptly to the newest demand of his job and resumed work at Ibadan, his new duty post. And waxing stoic, he told a daily newspaper in a telephone conversation: “I am determined to serve in Oyo State and I know God will help me.” Ever since he was posted to Oyo State, however, Obafaye has been quiet. At least, no word has since come from him, either over the “My Oga at the top” issue or any other. This leaves many to wonder what is happening to the now very popular NSCDC boss. Countless questions beg for answers. How did he take the instant fame that he has got? Has he settled down since he resumed in Oyo State and did he feel good about his posting? How was the issue taken by his bosses and the command he headed? How was the issue taken in the new command he heads? Indeed, many are certainly still dying to know what manner of man “My Oga at the Top” is. With the same amount of curiosity taking the better part of this reporter, getting answers to the questions became irresistible, hence a trip down to Ibadan where “My Oga at the Top” works. But how do you get to answer some of these questions without the knowledge of the subject is one task. Getting him to talk at the end of the day is another. Locating the office of “My Oga at the top” at Iyaganku area adjacent to the Police Command in Ibadan, on Thursday, July 18, 2013 wasn’t an arduous task. Entering the office, however, seemed not as easy as envisaged. Right at the main entrance were about five to six officers of the command in their blue and red uniforms standing with the firm and serious appearance that is commonly identified with military officials. There were no visible arms but no one dared enter without being quizzed. The environment throbbed with excitement. On both sides of the roads were shopping complexes occupied by men and women in all kinds of businesses and directly opposite the office is an untarred road that leads to an area called Alalubosa Estate. The road in front of the office, currently under construction, also took its toll on road users, especially with the rain that was said to have been falling heavily for about 16 days. Although most of the traders around were yet to have full information of the kind of person the new boss of the security agency is, as he is still very new, they were quick to speak about the orderliness of the officers in recent times. One woman who sells house wares in one of the shopping complexes said “I do not know the new boss physically as he has barely arrived, but I can tell you the man is a disciplined man. Ever since he came, we have seen that the officers are regularly at

Obafaye

the entrance more than how it used to be. They also appear more up and doing. May be this is because they now have a new boss and they are yet to understand him.” Another man, who simply wanted to be known as Bayo said he hadn’t noticed any negative thing from the agency in recent time. “I would say they have all been working well together. Why would they want to work against their boss if they would not want to lose their jobs? And from the way we see them from afar, everyone is buckling down to work because they do not know the kind of person the man is. Forget about My Oga at the Top, as far as I am concerned, tightening their belt is just normal. The man would not want any laxity at this delicate time. So, all of them are working more than before. Even if they will relax, I am sure it won’t be now,” Bayo pointed out. The officers at the gate were not hos-

tile but discharged their duties as strictly as expected. None was however ready to discuss their new boss. When at the end this reporter got two to speak, they did so under anonymity and resentment: “I don’t know what you people want us to say or what you want the poor man to do again. Just because he forgot something, you are jubilating and spreading it all around. Who cannot make mistakes? Are you saying you people are perfect? No one is perfect except God. You should be considerate whenever you are discharging your duties. I am sure these Channels people have forgotten that they don’t need to rubbish anyone to get popular themselves and they cannot think of coming to the man again. What if this had cost him his job, will they have been happy? “I am always surprised at the way you people are excited about negative stories. Of the entire lengthy interview that they had with him, it was only where he erred that they put on the internet. It is unfair. What do you want me to say now? The man is new and what would you want me to do to my superior? We all give our due respect to him and our duties. “He is a good person and I tell you he has not even transferred any pain to us should he have any. He is an officer and I tell you, he is going about his duties as bravely and diligently as it is expected of him. We are all giving all the support he deserves. Story or no story, an officer is an officer and a superior is a superior any day,” he said. Another officer who also spoke under anonymity said: “I must tell you the truth that Oga is very respectful, up and doing and keeps an open office. He may be new here but I have followed him quite closely even before now. He keeps an open office and like I said, he is nice to everyone. It is because of his openness to everyone that he was able to fall into the hands of people who would capitalise on his mistake now.

The (in) famous interview What is the website of the NSCDC? Yes, we believe no, I cannot categorically tell you one now because the one that we are going to… Do you have multiple websites? Wait, wait, the one we are going to make use of, I am not the one that will create it….. See, the question is: What is your website? Wait…the one that we are going to make use of, is going to remain known by “my oga at the top”. Yes! I can’t announce one now and my oga says it’s another one we suppose to use. Are you saying you have multiple websites? We cannot have multiple websites, but the one that my oga… No no no, it’s not the one for employment. What is your website? The one you use normally; your official website. When you want to know about NSCDC, what website do you go to? If you want to know about the NSCDC as at now, ok, www.nscdc. So, that’s all. www.nscdc that’s it?

Before, he wouldn’t keep any strict routine where the media was concerned. If you wanted to speak with him, he is free. Why? Because had no skeleton in his cupboard. But it is unfortunate that it has to be like this. All the same, that has not affected him in any way. He is going about his duties as expected and we have no problems with him,” he said too. But while Obafaye may not be having it tough with his staff, a trader around his office who identified himself simply as Alhaji Teru saw it from another angle. According to him, the whole show might have a political undertone afterall. “I smell a rat in all of these. You know that his position as the Lagos Commandant can never be the same as the position in Ibadan. It definitely must have attracted better benefits than whatever this new one will come with. I want to think some people might have set him up because I don’t see any big deal in someone forgetting a website. It may just be the work of his enemies. Somebody may want him out of the office in Lagos and the person might have achieved his aim. But thank God, his error did not finally get him out of the job. It is just a personal opinion. This is Nigeria, anything can happen. It is just unfortunate that he played into their hands,” he said. For Olu, a receptionist at a nearby hotel, Nigerians should learn a lesson or two from the whole episode. “There is a lesson for everyone in all of these. The man is a good guy but he is not tactical enough. May be he should have just told them to move to the next question since he wasn’t sure of his answers. But the lesson here is everyone should seek knowledge of what he is doing and what is hot or currently going on. We should not just be laid back or be contented with the little we know. We should aspire to know more because we don’t know when it will be needed. For those who put it on the internet, I want to say it is not good enough. The image of the nation, I can assure you, is negatively projected. We are like telling people out there that our top officials are not right to be there. This is not fair, we shouldn’t celebrate people’s down fall,” he advised. With the much gathered about “My oga at the top”, this reporter went into one of the offices in the building to see him, but was directed to the office of the corps Public Relations Officer situated in one of the one-story buildings within the compound. Both the boss and the publicist were not around. But the Assistant PRO, Mr Segun Odedina, was on seat. Upon request to see the Commandant, Odedina who asked for the identity of the reporter later disclosed that Obafaye was not around and would not be around till the next week. “Would you drop your contact number for a formal interview soonest?” An agreement was therefore reached and he promised to call the reporter when his boss returns. Saturday Mirror will be waiting for that call.

NATIONAL NEWS

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

PDP crisis: Northern govs give Tukur conditions for truce OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

eoples Democratic Party’s governors from four northern states, who are bent on unseating the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, have given conditions for a truce. The governors, Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule

Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), according to a source are willing to make peace with Tukur leadership if he meets their conditions which include returning to the recommendation of the Sule Lamido led presidential reconciliation committee on Adamawa PDP crisis. The conditions also in-

clude that the hounding of the party members, PDP governors inclusive, by the National Working Committee (NWC)must be addressed and that the leadership roles of the governors as the chief executives of the states must be clearly defined. The governors who insist that they would not dump PDP for any other party, the source said, declared that

the national headquarters must be open and positive as regards the 2015 general election as every party member must be encouraged to vie for any elective position at all levels. The governors, it was gathered, are positive that until the conditions are met, it would be difficult to give maximum support to the party leadership.

Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) (2nd right); Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Lagos State, Chief Henry Ajomale (right); chieftain of ACN, Chief Pius Akinyelure (2nd left), and the Asoju Oba of Lagos, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas (left), during the 40th days fidau for late Iyaloja-General of Lagos, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, at Blue Roof, LTV 8, Agidingbi Road, Ikeja, Lagos, recently.

Child marriage: We‘ll employ legal options against NASS –Okei-Odumakin TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

s controversy continues to trail the Senate’s refusal to outlaw child marriage through the amendment of the 1999 Constitution, President of Campaign for Democracy and Women Arise for Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said that civil society groups is prepared to employ legal options to press home their demands if the Senate fails to reverse itself on the obnoxious amendment. Speaking to Saturday Mirror in an exclusive interview, Okei-Odumakin said that the civil society and other eminent Nigerians

will mobilise people across the country whenever the need arises to impress the 36 states Houses of Assembly to reject any plan to approve child marriage in Nigeria. She also challenged Nigerians to ensure that Section 29 (4) (B) of the 1999 Constitution and others that may be considered as being against the interest of an average Nigerian is deleted from the constitution. Her words: “We owe it duty to let Nigerians know that the agitation is about the amendment of the 1999 constitution as it affects the right of the girl child though now being referred to as Child Marriage. But in fairness to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review,

there was no proposal in their recommendation approving Child Marriage. The contention is the decision of a section of the Senate to manipulate the process and throw away the committee’s recommendation which outright suggested the deletion of Section 29 (4) (B) of the 1999 Constitution. “There are several plans that we have put in place and just Thursday at the Lagos Airport Hotel, the Women Arise conveyed a stakeholder’s summit that had representatives of over 60 NGOs, the Lagos State government, the First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, and many Community Based Organizations.

This summit was chaired by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and we were able to come out with several far reaching decisions which are aimed at ensuring that Section 29 (4) (B) of the Nigeria Constitution is deleted for the sake of the girl child.” The CD boss, while speaking further on some of the steps taken so far by her groups and other organisations against child marriage, said that: “We have made our protest formal in form of our resolution which is being forwarded to the Senate and the House of Representatives. This we hope to consolidate on by mobilising our people across the nation to impress our State Houses of Assembly to reject that very unpopular decision of the Nigerian State.

Insecurity: Brazil to train Nigerian military EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

igeria and Brazil have held bilateral discussions on defence matters, as the federal government intensifies efforts at tackling insurgency in the country. Specifically, both countries are to cooperate in the areas of transfer of

military technology and the training of Nigerian soldiers on how to tackle emerging challenges of terrorism and other crimes. These and others were the fallout of a three-day meeting in Brazil between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, and his Brazilian counterpart, Mr. Antonio De Aguierpatriota.

A statement from the Foreign Affairs ministry reads: “On the invitation of the Foreign Minister of Brazil, Mr. Antonio De Aguierpatriota, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru visited Brazil from July 14 - 16, 2013. The visit was aimed at moving the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Brazil forward. “During the visit, Amb. Ashiru held discussions

with officials of the Ministry of Defence, to foster cooperation in defence matters, particularly transfer of military technology, as well as training of Nigerian military personnel. Consequently, an invitation has been extended to our Minister of State for Defence, EreluOlusola Obada, to visit Brazil for further discussions on this matter.”

A senior aide to the Adamawa State governor, Adamu Bagda, told Saturday Mirror that the disagreement between Tukur and the Northern governors started with the way the national chairman discarded the recommendation of a committee put together by the president. “The entire problem started with the Adamawa issue, the decison to put the Lamido committee was a collective one by all stakeholders and now after they have toiled and come up with a recommendation, he spurned it, the recommendation was not even considered not to talk of being debated. The implication is that no PDP governor is safe under the present party leadership. “Bamanga Tukur unilaterally dissolved the state exco and the president and the PDP governors agreed that what he did was wrong. A presidential committee was set up and Governor Lamido was asked to head it to see how peace can return to the state. He refused to work with the committee and he went ahead to conduct his own exco at the ward, local government and state. He refused to listen to the presidential committee. His plan was to dispose the governor in the state. What will a governor do with a party he has no say in, he is supposed to be the leader of the party in the state. But the national chairman brought members of the opposition. Every thing was done in flagrant disrespect to the people that matter in the party.” Another source who is a commissioner to one of the governors told Saturday Mirror, “How do we support a chairman, who is a northerner but has no interest of the North at heart. He has already sold the ticket for the 2015 to the present occupant without giving opportunity for other interested aspirants to test their popularity. “This is unfortunate. The governors will not support that illegality and until he comes out boldly to state the fact about the rotation policy of the party and where the power must reside in the 2015, then it would be difficult to guarantee the support of the northern governors. Presently, most northerners are beginning to see reasons with the four governors. I can assure you, it is not about personal interest, it is purely an issue which bothers on equity and fair-play.”

Recall that when the Norhern governors have visited Obasanjo a fortnight ago. They were quoted as telling him that “We have come to discuss some of the political problems affecting the nation especially as it affects the North, Rivers State and our democracy as a whole.” Also, speaking after their meeting with former heads of state, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubarkar in Minna, they affirmed that their meeting was fruitful, adding that they would also meet with more northern leaders in the days to come to “chart the way forward for the region.” They also told him of their plans to visit eminent stakeholders within the PDP, leaders which include some founding fathers like Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Solomon Lar, and Theophilus Danjuma amongst others in order to stop the rapid disintegration of the ailing ruling party. Speaking after their meeting with IBB and Abubarkar, they affirmed that their meeting was fruitful, adding that they would also meet with more northern leaders in the days to come to “chart the way forward for the region.” Notable Nigerians who are skeptical about the treatment of the Rivers State governors include Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former head of state, who described the lingering crisis in Rivers State as “a sad development which is capable of truncating Nigeria’s nascent democracy. According to the former head of state, “you have freedom of association, freedom of speech and freedom of expression and even freedom to ask questions, but your freedom stops where you are infringing on the rights of others.” The governors had also accused Bamanga Tukur of working to ensure the destruction of the party through his overbearing tendencies. It is not known whether the PDP will meet with the conditions by the Northern governors but the Special Assistant to the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Oliver Okpara told Saturday Mirror that such conditions are only in the media and until it is properly channeled the party can not respond to it.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NATIONAL NEWS

July 27 , 2013

ASUU strike: FG makes U-turn on 2009 agreement …opts for renegotiation EMMANUEL ONANI ABUJA

he federal government may have made a volte face on the 2009 agreement it signed with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Saturday Mirror learnt from a source privy to a meeting between the government and the leadership of the union. The meeting, which was ongoing as at the time of filing this report,was in

continuation of the federal government’s effort at ending the over one-month strike, embarked upon by the university teachers. However, there were strong indications that the meeting, which held at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, may fail to yield intended result, as the Anyim-led federal government team,was favourably disposed to a re-negotiation of the out-

standing 2009 agreement. But the source, who pleaded anonymity, expressed fear that the meeting may end in a deadlock, as ASUU may insist that the terms of the agreement remain “sacrosanct”. “The meeting just started a while ago, even though the mood here suggests that both parties (FG and ASUU),may stick to their guns,” he said Asked to explain what their different positions were, he said: “Well, it is clear that the government has foreclosed the possibility of honour-

ing the letter and spirit of the agreement in dispute,preferring rather to begin on a clean slate, and I doubt if ASUU will want to allow that.” Saturday Mirror gathered that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration feels the compelling need to enter into a fresh dialogue with the university lecturers, especially in view of the fact that the agreement in dispute was signed by the late President Umaru Musa Yar Adua government. This is notwithstanding the fact that govern-

ment is a continuum. While Anyim, Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai and her Labour and Productivity counterparts, Chief Emeka Wogu, are among other top functionaries from the side of federal government, president of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagge,led his executive members. Indications that ASUU would not welcome any negotiation appeared on Thursday when its national treasurer, Ademola Aremu, called on lecturers to brace up for a longer strike. Aremu, who spoke at a symposium at the University College Hospital,UCH,

Ibadan, was reacting to the move, which was disclosed by Wogu,when he appeared, during the week before the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to give account of his stewardship as Labour minister. “We believe that many Nigerian leaders wanted public education dead; the reason they have been establishing well-equipped private universities at the expense of the poor masses of this country. “But, we will not allow them the way they did to public primary and secondary education,” Aremu said.

...Meeting continues Monday EMMANUEL ONANI

T L-R: Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku; Executive Director, Petroleum Training Development Fund, Dr. Oluloye Oluwole, and Secretary, PHOTO: NAN SURE-P, Mr. Akachukwu Nwankpo, at a ministerial platform in Abuja, yesterday.

We’ll chase gay diplomats out of Nigeria, CAN warns minister •Calls on Jonathan to sack Ashiru over declaration A ZA MSUE KADUNA

he Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday called for the sacking of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Olugbenga Ashiru, who was reported to have said Nigeria would accept gay diplomats and their “spouses” posted to the country. CAN warned over the posting of gay diplomats to Nigeria, saying that any attempt to do that would be resisted. Ashiru was reported to have said that Nigeria would accredit foreign diplomats who are married to people of the same sex in spite of Nigeria’s opposition on the issue. The minister was quoted

as saying that “Nigeria is not against any country for legalising gay marriage, but in our country, given our customs and traditions, as well as religious beliefs, marriage as ordained by God is between a man and a woman… “But if we have diplomats with same sex spouses posted to Nigeria, we have no choice but to accredit them accordingly because they come from countries where such law is in place.” But,CAN’s Public Relations in the 19 northern states and the FCT, Mr. Sunday Oibe, in a statement described the position of the minister as hypocritical and unacceptable. CAN noted that both Christians and Muslims in Nigeria have all agreed that gay marriage is against their religious and cultural

beliefs and therefore is acceptable, maintaining any nation that sends a gay diplomat to Nigeria is violating the laws of the land and it should be resisted. According to him, for the minister to say that government would accept gay diplomats in Nigeria amounts to accepting gay marriage through the back door. He declared that Christians would mobilise and chase out any gay diplomat sent into the country. The statement reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to reports in the media credited to the minister of Foreign Affairs, Olubenga

Ashiru, where he said that Nigeria will accept foreign diplomats who are gay. “We are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to remove the minister because he is going against the wishes of Nigerians. “To us, this is ridiculous and unacceptable and we are seriously disturbed because for the first time, Nigerian Muslims and Christians have agreed that they don’t subscribe to gay marriage. “We want to make it abundantly clear, be it America or Britain or any country that sends a gay diplomat to Nigeria; we will mobilise to chase him out of the country.”

he meeting between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the lingering strike by university lectirers continues on Monday as both parties were not able to agree on the bone of contention. The meeting, which held at the instance of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,SGF,was also attended by the Benue State governor, Dr. Gabriel Suswam. Suswan is chairman of a 22-member committee by the federal government on the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities. The committee, according to Anyim, was set up as part of federal government’s efforts to reposition the nation’s universities. Outstanding issues for discussion are the “Earned Allowance” as well as adequate funding

of university education against the backdrop of infrastructure deficit. In his remark at the meeting, the SGF had stated that: “Our meeting today is blessed with injection of new hands, new faces and new minds. It is expected that our meeting today will be fruitful because we would have more hands helping us to resolve what is outstanding” “You might also recall that the implementation committee of Needs Assessment Report to Nigerian Universities was just inaugurated. The chairman of that committee is Governor Gabriel Suswam. After the inauguration of that committee, we appealed to him to join us in this meeting that is following soon after. “On this note, I am convinced that their desire to see this matter resolved is simply because of their commitment to national progress,” Anyim said.

CBN revokes Express Discount House licence TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said it had revoked the operating license of Express Discount Limited due to the company shareholders’ inability

to inject new funds into it after the opportunity given to them to do so was not explored. The revocation of the operating license of EDL took effect from July 18th 2013, as contained in the Federal Government Official Gazette No. 49 Vol. 100

of 19th July 2013. The decision, according to the apex bank’s Director of Banking Supervision, Mrs Tokunbo Martins, was pursuant to Section 2 paragraph (d) of the CBN Act, 2007 which confers on the CBN the responsibility of promoting a sound fi-

nancial system in Nigeria. Apart from the failure of the owners to re-capitalise the entity, Martins also disclosed that examination conducted by the CBN on the company showed that Discount House maintained false and misleading books of account.

NATIONAL NEWS

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Alade Odunewu (Allah De) dies at 86

His place among the great is assured –Jonathan ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

resident Goodluck Jonathan has condoled with the family of foremost journalist, public affairs analyst, administrator and role model for media professionals, Alhaji Alade Odunewu, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 86.

A statement issued yesterday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said “on behalf of himself, the federal government and the people of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan commiserates with the family of Odumewu.” Jonathan said he joined the Odunewu family

and all who knew “Allah De” as he was popularly known in mourning the veteran journalist who attained national fame with his popular and widely read satirical newspaper columns with which he entertained, educated and edified an adoring public. The president said he believed that as Odunewu is laid to rest in Lagos, his

family, relatives, associates, admirers and the many media professionals for whom he was an inspiring mentor and role model should be comforted by the knowledge that his place alongside the greats of Nigerian journalism is assured. Jonathan also said that Odunewu would be eternally remembered and honoured as a nationalist and

patriot whose notable contributions to national development extended well beyond his chosen profession of journalism to the public service of his state and Nigeria where he served with distinction as commissioner, member of the Federal Electoral Commission and chairman of the Nigerian Press Council. The president urged the

present generation of Nigerian journalists to strive to emulate Alhaji Odunewu’s exemplary craftsmanship, courage, forthrightness, fairness, patriotism, honesty and moral rectitude which were most apparent in his life and also evident in “Winner Takes All”, the collection of writings which he has bequeathed to posterity.

He was icon of journalism, says Amosun

L-R: Publisher, Thisday newspapers, Chief Nduka Obaigbena;his counterpart, Vanguard newspapers, Pa Sam Amuka-Pemu; former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Justice Habeeb Adewale Abiru and Chief Imam, Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh AbdulRahman PHOTO: OLUFEMI AJASA Ahmad, during the burial of veteran journalist, Alade Odunewu, in Lagos, yesterday.

gun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has described the late veteran journalist and former chairman of the Nigeria Press Council, Alhaji Alade Odunewu, as an icon of journalism. The governor gave this description of him when commiserating with the media community in Nigeria on theloss of the frontline journalist and renowned columnist. In a statement by his

Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, Amosun described Odunewu as a cerebral writer and satirist extraordinnaire. “’Allah De, as he was fondly called, left indelible prints as a columnist, editor of Daily Times and chairman, Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Media Merit Award. The nation has truly lost a patriotic opinion moulder, educator and builder of men,” the governor said.

Allah De, an inimitable NGE condoles with Odunewu, Unuegbu families icon of journalism –Fayemi

he Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has described as shocking and sad, the death of foremost veteran Nigerian journalist and editor, Alhaji Alade Odunewu, popularly known by his pen name, Allah De. According to a statement issued by Mr. Steve Ayorinde (Vice President, West) and Isaac Ighure

(General Secretary), Allah De’s death had robbed the NGE and Nigerian journalism in general of his wisdom, knowledge, wealth of invaluable experience and fatherly advice. The statement reads in part: “It is noteworthy that Alhaji Odunewu was instrumental to the founding, nurturing and sustenance of the Guild, which today, has meta-

morphosed into a strong voice on national issues. “In addition, he also played a key role as the ombudsman of the Nigerian Press Council until he passed on last night. “The Guild wishes to recall that in his many decades as a practising journalist and editor, Odunewu became famous for his incisive and satirical essays and his `Al-

lah De’ columns in the Daily Times of Nigeria and later went on to publish a book, ``Winner Takes All’’, a compilation of some his writings.” The Guild also regretted the passing away of another veteran journalist, Herbert Unegbu, (Unu Habib), who edited the highly-regarded West African Pilot, founded by the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

We lost dean of satirical journalism –Fashola MURITALA AYINLA

agos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), yesterday mourned the passing on of veteran journalist, Alhaji Alade Odunewu (a.k.a. Allah De), who passed on in

Lagos on Thursday, describing him as one of the greats of journalism profession in Nigeria. In a condolence statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, Fashola said the one time Editor of former West Africa’s largest

circulating newspaper, Daily Times, has, by his passage, left a very big pair of shoes which would be difficult to fill in the journalism profession in the country. “Having bestrode the journalism profession for more than half a century, starting from the base to

the top and ending up as a trainer of journalists, Allah De has, by this passage left a very big pair of shoes hard to be filled. He was, indeed, a grand master who has used his talent to impact positively in nation building”, the governor said.

He is a journalism giant and true nationalist –Tinubu TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

ormer governor of Lagos State and national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola

Tinubu has described the demise of Odunewu as the exit of a journalism great. Tinubu, in a statement made available to Saturday Mirror yesterday, said the death of Odunewu perhaps drew the curtain on the gen-

eration of journalists who took the profession to an enviable and reputable status. Tinubu also recalled his several encounters and conversations with the late Odunewu and how each time he came away with

deep respect and fascination for his fanatical commitment to democratic ideals and his belief that the media holds the key to the sustenance of democracy and the protection of rights, freedoms and liberty.

kiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has described the late Alhaji Alade Odunewu as an “inimitable icon of journalism who used his pen to reform the society”. Dr. Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said Odunewu’s contribution to the media profession would remain indelible in the memory of Nigerians who appre-

ciated his readiness to defend the truth. The governor described Odunewu as a devout Muslim, a man of integrity, humanist and a believer in egalitarian society. He noted that Odunewu’s death had robbed the country of one of the doyens of journalism who mentored the younger generation of reporters, columnists and managers of newspaper business.

Allah De’s death, a huge loss –Aregbesola

he governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has described the death of the veteran journalist, Alhaji Alade Odunewu, popularly known as Allah De, as a huge loss to the nation and the pen profession. Aregbesola said Odunewu’s death signalled the end of several decades of service to father land and mankind. In a statement by the Director Bureau of Com-

munications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola affirmed that the octogenarian’s death further deleted the media think tanks. The governor said Odunewu, a prominent Nigerian journalist, who became famous for his satirical essays and his ‘Allah De’ columns in Daily Times of Nigeria, had contributed to the development of journalism and progress of the nation.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

July 27, 2013

NATIONAL NEWS

July 27, 2013

FG floats $1bn Euro bond V

ice President Namadi Sambo has commended the Debt Management Office (DMO) for successfully floating a $1billion Euro bond. The vice president spoke in Abuja yesterday when he chaired the 14th meeting of the Supervisory Board of the Debt Management Office.

Private Partnership initiative of the federal government and urged the agency to expedite action so as to set example to other government agencies. Sambo said, “I congratulate the DMO for being able to put up a building under PPP, this is the direction that government is taking. You should expedite action so that other government agencies can borrow from DMO on how to achieve

Power minister suffers power outage at lecture

…as Covenant varsity graduates 114 First Class MOJEED ALABI

t was an indictment of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan and efforts of his Power Minister, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, yesterday, when light went off for more than three minutes as he was addressing about 1,466 graduating students of Covenant University, Ota, in Ogun State. Nebo, who was in the middle of listing the efforts of the administration in transforming the country while the light went off, discussed the theme: Transformation-

al Leadership and the Quest for Global Relevance, as the university’s 8th convocation keynote speech. The embarrassed minister, who acknowledged the difficulties being experienced by the government to revive the ailing power sector, said President Jonathan is committed to providing stable power supply to Nigerians as part of efforts to achieve its seven-point agenda. In his address to the graduands, the minister advised them to strive to become future transformational leaders and not transactional leaders, who he described as leaders without motivational

and inspirational attitudes. Nebo also told the graduands to take their graduation as a step to achieving greater things as he recalled his times in school when the best student in his class could not proceed to grammar school because his parent could not raise the needed 50 kobo to obtain form. “Because so many others are out there waiting for this kind of opportunity but could not have it due to one problem or the other, God will not forgive any of you who fails to live up to expectation to impact the world and Nigeria in particular,” Nebo said.

Industrial court voids minister’s sack of ECN finance director

ISE-OLUWA IGE

he National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja yesterday nullified the dismissal of the Director, Administration and Finance, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Peter Maduegbunam Chigbo from service. Chigbo was dismissed from service on the directive by the Minister of Science and Technology,

The trial judge, Justice O. A. Shogbola, in a judgment, consequently ordered the immediate reinstatement of Chigbo, adding that all his salaries, allowances, promotions and perks of office from the date he was illegally sacked be paid to him. The judge had also declared illegal Chigbo’s dismissal during the pendency of a suit he earlier filed at the Federal High Court, challenging his earlier suspension. The trial judge gave all

the orders moment after he voided the letters of suspension and dismissal dated December 12 and 30, 2011 on which basis Chigbo was earlier suspended and later dismissed in 2011. The judge faulted the letters on the ground that they were written pursuant to the directive of the then Minister of Science and Technology, who lacked the statutory powers to exercise disciplinary control over senior civil servants.

Edo, Kwara government honour late footballer, Oliha SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN

he body of late Thompson Oliha was finally laid to rest at his residence in Benin City, Friday evening. However, the long solemn ceremony was tempered by an emotional demand for the remaining houses that the federal

government promised to give to the all-conquering Super Eagles team of 1994, of which the late Oliha was a regular player and first World Cup representative for the country. Earlier, in a short remark during the lying in state ceremony held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu

Oshiomole, lamented the death of Oliha as a big loss to the people of Edo State and Nigeria in general. Oshiomhole, who spoke through the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Ms. Omorede Osifo, said that the state government would be organising an annual youth football championship in his memory, the Thompson Oliha Soccer Championship.

government accommodation, on a Public Private Partnership basis,” adding that with this initiative “Government does not need to be spending money anymore to build offices.” Earlier, the Director-General of DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, attributed the success of the Euro bond to the support the agency was receiving from President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Sambo. He noted that the bond was fully subscribed to. Nwankwo also disclosed that the agency was making efforts to float the $100 million Diaspora bond. He explained that based on the directive of the vice president, the agency explored ways of funding the building of its official headquarters through the PPP initiative, which would require zero financial contribution from government. He added that currently the agency had got a no objection from the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to go ahead with the project.

APGA crisis: Okwu faults Umeh’s timetable for Anambra guber election TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

he Maxi Okwu-led All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), has disassociated itself from the Victor Umeh-led APGA timetable and N2million expression of interest form fee from aspirants wishing to contest the November 16 Anambra State governorship election. Okwu, in a statement made available to Saturday Mirror by his Senior Media Assistant, Francis Ede, enjoined APGA members, particularly aspirants, for the forthcoming local government and governorship elections in Anambra State to remain calm and wait for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s decision on the leadership disagreement in the party. The statement reads in part: “The attention of the All Progressives Grand Alliance has been drawn to a purported party timetable

released by one Alhaji Sani Shinkafi demanding two million Naira (N2m) for expression of interest form from aspirants wishing to contest the November 16, 2013 governorship election in Anambra State. “The authentic APGA leadership with Barr. Maxi Okwu as National Chairman dissociates itself from the fake timetable and N2million fee imposed on aspirants and warns party members to be wary of the antics of Shinkafi and Chief Victor Umeh, who are yet to account for over N400 million sales of nomination forms for the 2011 general election. “The real reason for the hasty release of the fake timetable is to hoodwink unsuspecting aspirants to pay the N2 million nonrefundable expression of interest form when INEC is yet to decide on the authentic APGA leadership following two contradictory Court of Appeal judgments,

In your refreshingly different Constitutional amendment: The rage, festering controversies over early marriage

Interview

ABUJA

Sambo directed the DMO to ensure that the funds realised from the bond sale was used for specific projects meant to touch the lives of Nigerians, particularly in the areas of road and rail construction, oil and gas, power, healthcare delivery, education and agriculture. He expressed delight over the initiative of the DMO to erect its head office, using the Public

‘Why Christians are second-class citizens’

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, in this exclusive interview with Sunday Mirror has been taken to task, to among others, expatiate on what he meant by his statement that Christians are second-class citizens in Nigeria. A snippet: “Don’t forget that the schools which Christians used their money to build were taken over by the government and the same government is using public funds to build special schools for Almajiri.” Read Oritsejafor tomorrow as he bares it all on issues pertaining to insecurity, the CAN achievements and a host of others.

Passion

ROTIMI FADEYI

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘I endured 14 years of childlessness’

For 14 years, Nneka Moses, Goge Africa presenter was waiting on the Lord for a child. It was the same story, year in year out, as the baby did not come. And in an African setting, the pressure is always high especially on the woman. How was she able to cope during the period? What about her marriage; how did she hold it intact and what was her husband’s reaction during the period? Read her story tomorrow.

For more than a week now, the Senate has been under fire over the amendment of section 29 of the Constitution which deals with issue of early marriage. What is it that has raised the ire of many Nigerians about this section of the Constitution that did not even scale the amendment’s hurdle? What precisely did this controversial section say? What was the contribution of former Zamfara governor, Senator Sani Yerima and another former governor, Danjuma Goje to the debate that has generated so much controversies? Why are Nigerians angry with the Senate over the issue? Is it a case of Nigerians not really understanding what the debate was all about? What really transpired in the Senate chambers on the day in question… that got the Senate President, David Mark angry? We serve you details tomorrow.

Why Northern governors are agitated It is no longer news that Northern governors have been on visits to prominent leaders in the country. They visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo last Saturday. During the week, they equally visited past military heads of government, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar. To many, the issue on their mind is the 2015 election and the crisis in their party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But it goes beyond that. And the questions are: what really is on the mind of these state executives? What are their grievances? For details, pick a copy of Sunday Mirror.

These and many more available tomorrow in your

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

REGIONAL NEWS

July 27, 2013

SOUTH WEST

You can’t be primary responder in Lagos, LASEMA tells NEMA MURITALA AYINLA

he Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) yesterday re-

iterated its stance that it is unlawful for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to usurp its responsibility of managing emer-

gency within the state, urging the federal agency to respect emergency command structures. General Manager of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi

Oke-Osanyintolu, gave the position of the agency yet again during a visit to the Lagos Mainland Local Government secretariat.

L-R: Grand Imam, Alhaji Jamiu Kewulere; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Chief Imam, Ise-Ekiti, Alhaji Usman Ayolo, during a Ramadan lecture and breaking of fast, organised by the state’s government in Ado-Ekiti, recently.

Oke-Osanyintolu said that the state’s emergency outfit has all that it takes to respond to emergency situation and rescue victims in the state, saying NEMA could only serve as secondary responder when it is called upon. In his words, “It is important to define the roles and responsibilities of emergency responders in other to achieve effective and efficient disaster management through proper command control chains structure, where the state Emergency Management Agency and all its primary stockholders including the Local Emergency Management committees are allowed to respond to emergencies/disasters in the state. “The NEMA, which is a secondary responder, should focus their attention in coordinating the activities of the six South-West State that comprises the Zone and however if need be, the SEMA will call NEMA for necessary assistance,” Oke-Osanyintolu

said. Oke-Osanyintolu argued that South/West NEMA could never be a primary responder in all the six states in the South/West zone of the country. He asked whether it was possible for NEMA to be a primary responder in Ondo or Osun states where their only office is located in Ikeja, Lagos State. Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu also informed that the State Government is coming out with a robust plan in building the capacity of Local Emergency Management committees as one of its important primary responder since the impact of any emergency is to the grassroots. Responding, Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government council, Hon. Oladele Adekanye, commended Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola for his commitment to the safety of lives and properties in the state, even as he lauded the state government for provision of a relief camp for the displaced victims.

Lagos PDP blames stop of mini-convention on opposition, fifth columnists OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

he Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed shock over the ruling of the Abuja High Court which halted the August 31, 2013, miniconvention of the party to fill the vacant positions

in the National Working Committee of the party. The party in the state said that the court’s ruling was the handiwork of the opposition and fifth columnists within the party. In a statement signed by the state’s party Publicity Secretary, Taofeek Gani, and made available

to Saturday Mirror, the Lagos PDP wondered why members of the party could be involved in unnecessary distraction and actions potent enough to eventually taint the nomination of the party’s candidates for future elections. According the Gani, “Not even the party’s pres-

idential ticket is guaranteed the way the trend is moving. We are thus calling on the party’s founding fathers and leaders to stand up at this time and be counted. All contending interests must now aggregate for the common interest of the party and thus sheath all swords, including withdrawing

Tukur to Ekiti PDP: You can’t suspend Fayose without my consent OBIORA IFOH ABUJA

he National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as an affront the decision of the Ekiti State Chairman of the party to suspend a former Governor of the State Chief Ayodele Fayose without its consent. National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji (Dr) Bamanga Tukur, won-

dered why such a sensitive issue involving a former governor and a gubernatorial aspirant of the party could be taken by the state’s chapter without due consultations and consent of the national leadership of the party. Tukur said this when he received some members of the Ekiti State executive of the party, in is office. The delegation was led by the former

governor who complained to the PDP chairman over the unilateral suspension of Fayose by the state’s chairman of the party. Special Assistant Media to the PDP chairman, Prince Oliver Okpala, in a statement in Abuja , yesterday, said the national chairman wondered why such a decision should be taken in a hurry. In the words of Okpala, “It is the view of the National Chairman that the State Executive having brought the matter would have al-

lowed the National Leadership look into the matter and take a decision before the hurried suspension.” He said that the national chairman sees such decision as a violation of lay down procedures of the party and therefore cannot stand. Speaking at the meeting, former governor Fyose Fayose denied having any hand in the catastrophic actions that tookplace in the state’s party’s secretariat recently.

all actions pending in the courts against the party,” the Publicity Secretary said. Continuing, Gani Says, “It will not be any excuse to blame the judicial system if eventually our candidates are not validly nominated in 2015. The antics of the

opposition and their cotravellers within our party must be nipped in the bud and now,” he said. It would be recalled that the PDP suffered its worst defeat in the SouthWest vide judicial pronouncements which have to date remained controversial.

Ikere-Ekiti hosts Olosunta cultural festival today

he annual Olosunta Cultural Festival in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, begins today. A release made available to Saturday Mirror says that this year’s festival would feature, amongst other things, road show, variety night for youths of the community, annual lecture and trade fair, among others. The release said that the grand finale if the festival would come up

on Friday, August 9, 2013, with a awards dinner, where prominent indigenes of the town would be honoured for their outstanding achievements in their chosen fields of endeavours, and also for their contributions to the progress of the town. The Olosunta Foundation, geared towards beneficial projects to the town, would also be inaugurated at the grand finale.

REGIONAL NEWS

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SOUTH EAST

Army boss warns soldiers against looting, partisanship NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

eneral Officer Commanding (GOC)82 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Olaniyi, has tasked soldiers in the division not to engage themselves in looting during crisis management or take sides with politicians during election periods. Gen. Olaniyi gave this advice yesterday at the Military Cantonment, Onitsha, during a oneday sensitization workshop on Election and Disaster Management in Anambra State. The 82 Division army boss told officers and men at the workshop that they must always abide by the rules of engagement in any operation they found themselves. The army general was represented at the occasion by the Assistant Director of Legal Services at the 82 Divisional Army Headquarters, Enugu,

Col. Yusuf Shalangwa. The GOC told officers and men that, “You are expected to maintain high ethical and professional standards whether

in internal security, civil emergency operations or election duties, adding, You must not loot in any civil or emergency duties you engage in or

take sides with politicians during the forthcoming governorship elections in Anambra State. You must work within your operational guidelines,” Gen.

Olaniyi said. He, however, said that the army was ever ready to protect its officers and men, who had discharged their professional respon-

L-R: Developer of Vivian Estate, Mr. Leo Ugwu; Developer of Elim Estate, Chief Ugo Chime; Executive Director, Policy and Strategy, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Mike Nwogbo and South-East Zonal Coordinator, Mr Simeon Agada, during an inspection of estate housing projects in Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

sibility creditably from unnecessary and unwarranted civil litigations, adding that the services of some reputable law firms in the country have been engaged the by military to defend such officers who had discharged their duties according to the dictates of the law. In his own paper entitled: “Military and Media Relations: The Way Forward”, Col. Hamza Gambo, Deputy Director of Army Information at the 82 Division, Enugu, said that the army and the press had enjoyed a historical robust relationship all along and urged that such harmonious relationship should be maintained. Earlier in his remarks, Commander of 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support), Onitsha, Col. T. A. Gagariga, had called on those in flood-prone areas to listen and take action after messages or alert sent to them through the media or social media network.

PDP Councillorship primaries: Ebonyi community protests death of youth ALIUNA GODWIN EBONYI

o fewer than 500 indigenes of Ekoli Edda in Afikpo South Local government area of Ebonyi State, yesterday in Abakaliki, the state’s capital, converged that the police headquarters to protest the death of one of their sons, identified as Kalu Ogbu. The protesters were mostly aged men and women, The placard-carrying protesters had accused the police in the state of cover-up in the murder of the late Ogbu. The deceased was murdered during the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Councillorship primaries in the state. Addressing journalists on behalf of the protesters, Mrs. Ugo Nnachi and Nze Nnachi Nkamaiye, both called on the police to do more in the search and eventual arrest of the suspected killer of Ogbu. They claim that effort alone would avoid further crisis in Ekoli Edda com-

munity of the state. According to Mrs. Nnachi, “The brother of the victim took the lifeless body of his brother to their compound and later retrieved it because some stakeholders decided to offer him N2 million and also promised make him

the next Councilor of his Ward,” she further alleged. It would be recalled that the late Kalu Ogbu of Amaeke Ward 1was killed on July 22, 2013 as he came out of his house with other friends cast his ballot in the Councillor-

ship election held in the community that day. The protesters who cried out for justice, accused one Stanley Okoro Emegha, one of the chairmanship contestants in the just concluded PDP chairmanship primaries, but who was disqualified

for reasons best known to the party, as the alleged killer of the late Ogbu. They also accused the police of arresting innocent persons who had nothing to do with the ugly incident. In a reaction, Ebonyi State police public rela-

tions officer, DSP Sylvester Igbo, urged the protesters to desist from making statements they cannot prove. He said the police arrested and released the alleged suspect because nobody from the community came to the police station to indict him (the suspect).

Anambra 2014: Idigo, APGA guber aspirant assures women of pride of place NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

s the November 16, 2013, governorship election in Anambra State hots up, an aspirant, under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alli-

ance (APGA), Mr. Chinedu Idigo, has reiterated his determination to give women pride of place in his government, if elected into office. Idigo who spoke at Onitsha during the Assemblies of God Church

women convention for Onitsha District, said he is a strong advocate for women occupying sensitive positions of leadership in governance. Idogo said he has unshakeble belief that women are better managers of re-

sources. Idigo said he decided to run under the platform of APGA because it represents the identity of Igbo race. He also used the occasion to urge women to pray for his success during his party’s primaries and the election proper. He assured the women that if he is elected, he

would consolidate on the achievements of the incumbent Governor Peter Obi. Responding, President of Onitsha District of the Church, Rev Mrs. Udeh, said the convention was to celebrate the goodness of God in their lives and share testimonies to appreciate Him.

World Igbo Congress holds August 29 in Texas

digbo will between August 29 and September 2, 2013, hold the 19th edition of the annual World Igbo Congress (WIC) convention in Irving, Dallas, Texas in the United States of America.

In a release signed by WIC Chairman, Joe Nze Eto, and two others and made available to Saturday Mirror, the congress, which will be hosted by the Chief Sam Nwankwo –led Igbo Community Association of Nigeria, Dallas Fort

Worth, Inc., is with the theme Njiko Na Oganiru Ala Igbo. The congress will afford NdIgbo in the Diaspora the opportunity to ‘discuss the feasibility of President of Nigeria of Igbo ethnic extraction in 2015.’ The release reads

in part: “The Nigerian president of Igbo extraction should no longer be a dream, but a practical matter that we must collectively accomplish within the context of one and united Nigeria.” The convention will also proffer strategies

for achieving Igbo unity. The release said that all governors of the south east zone of the country, National Assembly members from the zone, Ohanaeze leadership, and other Igbo leaders are expected to attend the convention.

Politics

Jonathan

TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

head of 2015 general elections, political gladiators in Nigeria have commenced serious moves towards positioning themselves for the seat of power. Their actions and inactions have ignited quite a number of issues of interest and they all boil down to preparations for the battle in the coming general election year. Following their aspiration for governorship and presidential positions, many a politician are currtently engaging in serious battles. While some are being fought within the parties, others are fought among parties. Among the numerous parties lacing the nation’s political firmament, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to be more enmeshed in trouble than any other. Many of the crises it is contending with are, no doubt, capable of making or marring it’s chances in 2015. Although PDP has described its internal wrangling as “family affairs”, political analysts are of the view that the crises have gone beyond what it can ordinarily contain, considering how several efforts to reconcile warring factions had failed. It is also believed that the ruling party had created a crack in its wall, which opposition parties are currently exploiting to penetrate it. Worried by the present state of the ruling party, for example, many PDP founding fathers, governors and chieftains are unhappy and are bent on going to any length to put things in place before the 2015 elections to prevent it from total collapse. In the last few days, there have been

Obasanjo

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July 27, 2013

Lamido

PDP and deft moves ahead of 2015 several meetings between the party’s chieftains and some former Head of States and president, and they come across as moves borne out of skillful political thinking. Last Saturday, President Goodluck Jonathan had a closed door meeting with former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in Abeokuta. The meeting is believed to be a follow up to the one held between the former president and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, the Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, last week in Abuja, to shore up support for Jonathan in his bid to return to office in 2015. Prior to Akpabio’s meeting with the former president, PDP’s national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, and the party’s BoT chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, had paid visits to Obasanjo. Five PDP governors, Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto) and Sule Lamido (Jigawa), under the aegis of G-5 governors, on Saturday and Monday, also held a meeting with three former number one citizens over the need to urgently intervene in the crises rocking the party. Last Saturday, four governors - Kwankwaso, Nyako, Wammako and Lamido - had a closed door meeting with former Presi-

dent Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, shortly after President Jonathan met with Obasanjo. According to a reliable source, the president and the four governors’ meetings held at different times centre on 2015 elections and the crises in PDP. While President Jonathan is believed to have moved out of his comfort zone to personally market his re-election bid in the face of growing opposition ahead of the 2015 presidential poll and to mend fences with the former president, the governors were reported to have visited Obasanjo to inform him about their discomfort in the PDP and their plans ahead of the 2015 elections. On Monday, two days after the Abeokuta meeting, four governors - Aliyu, Wamakko, Lamido and Kwankwaso - also took their campaign to former Head of States, Generals Ibrahim Babangida, and Abdusalam Abubakar. They met with the two former leaders at the Presidential Lodge in Minna, where they deliberated on the state of the nation. Speaking after the meeting, General Babangida described the governors as real patriots for the role they are playing to ensure peace in the polity. “I want to commend the governors and some of their colleagues. I was very im-

pressed because they have seen the problem of the country as our problem and they have taken the right steps to consult widely in trying to find solutions to some of these problems. These governors are real patriots and I am very happy and I told them so,” he said. To many Nigerians the visit of the governors who many see as anti-Jonathan’s re-election bid because of the role they played in installing Governor Amaechi as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) against the president’s wish, is very significant. The view that they are anti-Jonathan is also underscored by the manner they stood solidly behind Amaechi in his perceived battle with the presidency and PDP gladiators. The visit of the key Northern governors to the former Head of States is seen as a strategy to mobilise and win some key players in Nigerian politics to their side if any of them or any other candidate from the North decides to contest for the presidency. Going by the words of some of the governors in recent time, analysts are of the view that with the political network some of the Northern governors are currently CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

POLITICS

July 27, 2013

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‘Egbema not violent, but fighting political injustice’ Egbema for Positive Change is a socialcultural and political group borne out of the need to address alleged political injustice in Delta State. Prince Ebe Fetimi, the President of Egbema for Positive Change, in this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, speaks on the alleged marginalisation of the Egbema people in Warri North of Delta State and the recent crisis in the area among other issues.

hat is Egbema for Positive Change all about? Egbema for Positive Change is a social group that addresses the political injustice in Delta State. Since 1991 till date, in Warri North Local Government Area that is made up of two ethnic groups, Ijaw and the Itshekiri, the Ijaw speaking part of the local government area has not produced a chairman or the secretary of the local government. Out of the 746 staff of the local government, we have just 15 staff working in the local government when it is supposed to be 50-50. That was why we the Egbema for Positive Change and the leaders of Egbema community have come out to say that this political injustice must be addressed. What is the reason for your present agitation which seems to be attracting people within and outside your communities to your plight? In the three Warri local government areas, there was an agreement reached during the time of former governor of Delta, James Ibori. In the agreement paper, the Article 5 and 14, states that no ethnic group should oppress the other in any political appointment; be it at the state or federal level. The Warri South has implemented their own agreement, but the governor, because he is from the area, has refused to implement that of Warri North. We wrote an open letter to the president early this year and we copied the Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark and the Olu of Warri, but till today nothing has

Fetimi

come out of it. Your group was accused of carrying out violence in Warri North. Do you have any defence? My group Egbemas for Positive Change is a social cultural and political organisation agitating legally for the good people of Egbema kingdom. We are not a violent group; we are peace loving. The group recently expressed its dissatisfaction on the attack on some communities in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, most especially, the killing and burning of houses and other valuables. The group said this is totally unfair and quite painful. We pray for God to give the families the fortitude to bear the loss. As a matter of fact, we want to make it clear to the general public that our group is different from any violent groups in the council area. The truth cannot be swept under the carpet, we the Egbemas for Positive Change have been seeing all these things based on rumour and information, we have been hearing from different corners hence we have formally listed our pains and concern in several national newspapers through letters to the federal and state governments, calling on them to look into the political marginalisation and exclusion of Egbema Ijaws in Warri Local Government Area before things get out of hand in the council area. You complained about the issue of marginaisation. In what areas are you being marginalised? The issue of marginalisation and op-

pression started since the creation of the three council areas in Warri, when the headquarters of Warri North council was sited at Koko. While that was sited at Koko, the headquarters of Warri South West was removed from Ogbe Ijo to Ogidigben. All are Itshekiri communities which casued the Warri crisis at the time of Chief James Onanafe Ibori, who came up with a peace agreement in 2004 for peace to reign in the three Warri council areas. During that time, the incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Udughan, was the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of the state. The said peace agreement has been implemented in Warri South and South-West since 2004 in order for them to be free from political slavery with the exception of Warri North. Since 2004 our leaders agitated but it was swept under the carpet. In 2007 the present governor, in his first tenure, came up with all sorrt of political promises and we hoped that he would implement the said peace agreement for the Ijaws of Warri North to have political freedom purposely because we all came from the same local government area. Nothing has been done. However, in 2011, the Warri North Ijaws gave him 100 per cent vote during re-run election. Looking at the appointive and elective positions from the local to the state and federal, none was given to the Ijaws of Egbema. If you go to the government agencies such as DESOPADEC, NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, state board and the multinational oil companies operating in the area, you will not find any Egbema

sons and daughters in any key position. Even our primary and secondary schools have no teaching staff; all what they do is apply divide and rule policy in the state and local government. The same thing is applicable to us; they only gave small contracts and monthly stipends to some of our leaders and youths. In the actual fact, that is what the Ijaws have been facing over 21 years.Besides you can equally see some of them that called themselves leaders feed on giving informant to the JTF and state government. This continuous injustice and political marginalisation is not peculiar to anybody from Ijaws and Itshekiris in the local government area. At this point in time, we are using this medium to call on the federal government and Ijaw national leaders to wade into this matter to resolve it once and for all. Right now as we speak massive arrest is going on, our lives are at stake, what we want is equity and fairness in the local government area, state and federal level. What actually led to the problem between the people of your community and Chevron? It was caused by this same people. The radical group gave 14-day-ultimatum to the government to stop the political injustice in the area. Based on that, the governor connived with Chevron and the JTF Commander to arrest the boys that were preparing to go for a peaceful protest, killed some of them and burnt two villages. They also arrested six of our kinsmen that were released some days ago because we took the matter to court. We have vowed to continue this fight till the injustice is corrected because people have lost their lives in the process of this struggle. We have lived under this injustice for 22 years and we all know that the Itshekiri people cannot take this if they are the people facing this. We will not stop; we will continue to write, embark on protests till this is resolved. We urged the National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark to call all the people involved, sit at a roundtable, discuss and balance this injustice so that these things will stop.They also accused our group of being behind the crisis but our group ‘Egbema for Positive Change’ never sponsored any violence. There is also a group called Egbema Radical Group, they are the grassroots protesters in the area. They protested that what the Egbema for Positive Change is saying is the right thing and that they will continue to protest till the injustice is corrected. Our group never sponsored any protests. Because the governor is from the dominant part of the local government, he was against the protest. Before the protest came up, we made it known to even the president that we are not hoodlums and the publication was in some national newspapers. We told them that we are fighting political injustice. They have continued to give us different names but they are all lies, we are not sponsoring any attack.

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POLITICS

July 27, 2013

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 building across the country and their romance with the pro-Amaechi governors in other geo-political zones, especially in South-West, they may move into the proposed All Progressives Congress (APC) or form a new platform to challenge the incumbent president in 2015. Attesting to the fact that some PDP governors may work toward the death of PDP if the present situation in the party persists, Governor Nyako, while speaking on the G-5 governor’s initiative, said that unless serious-minded Nigerians intervened on time, the PDP, “which all of us built and nurtured to maturity will die of natural death.” Governor Nyako who spoke through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Alhaji Ahmed Sajoh, stressed that: “We will continue to make efforts to save the party (PDP). But, if our efforts fail to work out, we have no alternative than to fold our arms and see PDP dead. We will help in burying it. We have held consultations with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Board of Trustee (BoT) chairman of PDP on the need for him and other major stakeholders to save the party from dying.” Governor Aliyu, while speaking after the four governors meeting with Babangida and Abubakar said that the initiative being embarked upon by the governors is a platform they could use to actualise their political dreams. His words: “It is a platform we could use to actualise our political dreams. We are consulting with our elders and leaders and let’s look at some of the problems and find solutions to the problems some of us perceive we are facing. We are consulting to make sure that we all understand the issue and we all come out with a solution. We also have to carry our people together as we go along.” In a swift reaction to the threat by some PDP governors that they would dump the ruling party, Tukur, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Prince Oliver Okpala, said that PDP would outlive those wishing her premature death. “The PDP, as an institution, has come

PDP and deft moves ahead of 2015 to stay and will never die; like democracy was propounded by Socrates and it outlived Socrates and became universally acceptable, the PDP will outlive those wishing her premature death and gain more recognition worldwide as the largest political party in the black world,” he said. The instructiveness of the meetings of the governors with Obasanjo and Babangida is seen in the fact that it points out the relevance of the leaders in the political calculations of the country. A look at the roles played by Babangida and other political gladiators from the North and South in the emergence of Obasanjo as president during 1999 presidential election and his re-election in 2003 are very important. The roles played too by Obasanjo and some others in the emergence of the late Umar Yar’Adua as president in 2007 and the emergence of Jonathan who is from the minority group as President in 2011 against all odds, are also clear examples. The relevance of these key people, obviously informed the move by the governors, knowing that Obasanjo and Babangida, among a few other people, give direction to the nation’s political reign, especially, in view of the interests of the North and the South. It may be relevant to note here that in the last few months, the relationship between Obasanjo and his political son, Jonathan, has gone sour, fuelling the impression that Jonathan’s ambition to return to office in 2015 may be adversely affected. On several occasions, Lamido and Amaechi’s rumoured presidential ambition has been linked to Obasanjo, based on their romance with the former president. Obasanjo is believed to have also, tactically, endorsed the two men. Obasanjo, while delivering his keynote address on May 29 (Democracy Day) in Dutse, Jigawa, at the opening ceremony of a three-day Jigawa State Economic Sum-

Tukur

mit, said that the Jigawa State governor had exhibited good governance abilities, and had the capacity and competence to rule Nigeria come 2015. His words: “You know you can help somebody to get a job but you cannot help him to do it. If somebody cannot do the job, we have Sule Lamido who is competent to do the job. “Some people are saying one person can’t make changes; this is rubbish. If you have a competent person who knows where he is going to, he can make changes along with his team that would impact the lives of people as we have seen it in Jigawa State.” Although the moves by the five PDP governors may be considered smart in a possible bid to oust the president in 2015, the chances are not totally bright for them, considering the huddles ahed of them. Observers are of the view that if the governors decide to back a candidate against President Jonathan during PDP’s presidential primaries, it may be difficult for their candidate to scale through. The stumbling block is the fact that the party’s structure is presently in the hand of the

president and many of his loyalists. It is considered that if the option of running with Jonathan within PDP fails, forming a new political party may not work out well for them. For instance, a consideration of going into the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is the coalition of the major opposition parties in the country, may be unfruitful because of the pristine structure and interests. An entrance into the APC may work well for them, some believe, only if the sole aim is to stop Jonathan in 2015 and not for anyone of them to take over from him. This is because the present calculation in APC is that former Head of State and three time presidential candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari, may fly the party’s ticket. Considering, therefore, the political clout of Buhari in the North and the fact that APC is built around him and the National Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, it may be difficult for any “outsider” to stop him from flying APC’s presidential flag in 2015. Without any iota of doubt, irrespective of the decision taken by the G-5 governors and political gladiators within the PDP, APC will still be a major determinant in 2015 elections and one of the issues that may likely favour APC against PDP in the ongoing political scenario is APC’s plan to zone the presidency to the North. With the ongoing campaign for Northern presidency in 2015, the Northerners may have no option but to support APC for the zone to produce the next occupier of Aso Rock Villa. Looking at the fact that the 2015 presidential contest seem to be a straight fight between the North and the South-South, analysts are of the view that the battle for Aso Rock may make many of the political gladiators to sheath their swords in order not to jeopardise their chances in 2015. With the ongoing reconciliation in PDP, all the warring factions may be brought together before 2015. But if the reconciliation fails, PDP may find it difficult to extend its reign in Aso Rock beyond May 29, 2015.

Tit bits

Fayemi, Tambuwal, others receive Zik Prize for leadership

kiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, will on Saturday receive the Zik Prize in Leadership Award (good governance category) during this year’s event holding in Lagos. Other recipients of this year’s prize are: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso; Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan; Managing Director Fidelity Bank, Mr. Reginald Ihejiahi; and Minister of Housing, Ms. Ama Pepple and former Managing Director Nigerian breweris, Chief Festus Odimegwu. The event which will take place at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island , will be chaired by Chief Sunny Odogwu with the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu- Gambari as Royal Father of the Day. The Zik Prize in Leadership Awards was set up in 1994 in memory of the first

dela (2000), President Yoweri Musoveni (2003), President John Kuffor (2008), President Seretse Lan Khama (2009), Senator

David Mark, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Otunba Subomi Balogun (2010), President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (2011), amongst others.

Old SW states to launch Awolowo football tournament

A Fayemi

president of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. It serves the purpose of encouraging and nurturing leadership on the African continent and the Diaspora. Some notable past recipients of the prize include President J.J. Rawlings (1995), President Nwalimu Julius Nyerere (1997), Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim (1998), President Sam Nujoma (1999), Dr. Nelson Man-

regional under-19 football competition in memory of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, will soon kick off among states that formed the bulk of the Old Western Region. In a statement issued in Lagos, organizers of the Chief Obafemi Awolowo Football Cup said the under-19 football event will draw young football players from Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Oyo states in the bid to re-enact the spirit of unity among people in what used to be one political and cultural bloc. The Old Western region was created in 1953 by the colonial administrators based on common history and culture. The Governor’s office in Ekiti State is the coordinating headquar-

ter of the event. According to the statement signed by the Special Adviser on Regional Integration in Lagos State, Rev Adetunji Adebiyi and the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs in Ekiti State, Mr Adewale Adeoye, the football completion named after the late statesman and first Premier of the old Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, will further unite the people of the South West, rekindle the spirit of brotherhood, constructively engage the huge population of young often idle children. It said the competition will also generate and recreate wealth. Football maestro, Chief Segun Odegbami is the head of the Technical Committee of the competition.

July 27, 2013

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Living

The ultimate mystery The wreckage

Bible survives road crash, inferno

…As car occupants also escape unscathed MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

iracles are experiential occurrences which spontaneously raise the conviction of believers and their devotion to spirituality across all faiths. One of such phenomena occurred in Abuja, last Saturday, when a Bible remained untouched by flames from a car that burnt into ashes. The car, driven by one Jeremiah Giwa, who arrived the country from United Kingdom about five months ago after completing his tertiary education, swerved off the road, tumbled and eventually landed in a ditch, exploding in flames. Jeremiah narrates his account of the event. “My younger brother, Joshua and I were going to pick our parents and elder brother from the airport, so we had an accident on the way at the road before Galadimawa. We were coming from our home in the Games Village. The car was very fine and it hadn’t developed any fault before. That morning, it was raining and the car began to swerve off the road. I tried to bring the car back on the road but the break was not holding anymore. I tried ceaselessly and I later lost control of the car. The car eventually tumbled twice after moving zigzag on the road and landed in a ditch. I have been driving close to five years and I was very okay when I drove the car. “When it happened, we immediately

The lucky brothers and their mystery Bible

unhooked our seat-belts; I talked to my brother for a few seconds to ensure he was okay. We unhooked the belts; thank God it wasn’t jammed. We tried to open the driver’s door but the door was jammed. We tried to break the glass too, it refused to break. We managed to spot one of the windows at the back; we broke it and climbed out through it, under one of the chairs. We went far away from the car to ensure our safety because the car was already in flames. The two of us were the only occupants of the car and my brother was sitting

beside me in front. We were so shocked that we both came out unscathed. “We watched the car go up in flames while other drivers initially drove past us. It was about a few minutes before 6am; so it was still a bit dark. By the time people began to stop, everything had burnt beyond recognition. To our surprise, the early morning rain which we thought could help save the car also stopped immediately the car was completely gutted by the fire. Sympathizers didn’t even know we owned the car. They all ran past us to

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July 27, 2013

see the burning car. They were wondering if people were still there and all that. “By the time my parents and elder brother were aware of the incident, they all cried, but I think it was for joy. Initially, when my dad was aware of it, he wasn’t happy that we were coming to pick them. We had intended to give them a surprise lift from the airport. But, when we took our dad to the scene of the accident, he couldn’t talk anymore. He was in tears. The car wasn’t the reason he cried. I guess he was just surprised and was grateful to God as to how we manage to come out unscathed and how the bible was not touched by fire. “I am sure God really loves us. We had just finished a youth vigil a night before the incident and prayed against destiny wasters. Shortly after we left the scene, we went to Garki General Hospital for necessary tests including x-rays. Nothing happened to us. We were given paracetamol and pain relievers, which to my knowledge none of us has been taking because nothing happened to us.” Jeremiah noted that the Bible was later recovered from the ashes of the burnt car while it was not scathed by the inferno, disclosing that many people had been coming to Christ Victory Life Church in the city to see the Bible and use it to pray over their problems. Bishop Napoleon Obayojie is the Presiding Bishop of the Church. He told said, “My reaction to the accident that happened is that God is God and that He takes care of his own and He shows forth His glory. The enemy had meant the accident for destruction, like the day of Shedrack, Mechack and Abednego. The Lord God came in and delivered the children. The Bible that was in the vehicle which the fire burnt to ashes did not burn; the Bible is still at my altar right now. That was a sign God showed to the world that He was the one that intervened and that caused everything that happened. If you had been to a scene of an accident, you will definitely know it is only God that can do that; no one else. “In these last days, I think there are many people whose faiths are wavering, whose beliefs are shaking, and who do not have the stamina to continue. Maybe one thing had happened to them or the other. They might attribute such to God’s failure or that God did not answer their prayers. But with this kind of thing that happened, they should understand and be convinced that God is still God and that He is in control of human affairs. He is in control of the entire world. So, if any man believes in Him and trusts in Him, He is very much reliable and He will never fail you. If your faith is already failing, you have to rise and be sure that the same God that did this would answer you. God is not partial, As He loves these children, so does He loves all brethren in other churches. If there is anyone that wants to know Him more, come closer to Him, you will experience Him. The Bishop noted that in the 17-year history of the church, no owner of any car in his church had died of accident “Christ Victory Life Church has been given a covenant since 1996. God declared it to me that you are going to serve people that are living, not the dead!”

LIVING

July 27, 2013

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Some of the buildings marked for demolition

‘Everyone is distressed here, not just the buildings’ When yet another building collapsed, this time on Oloto Street in Ebute Metta, officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency moved in with ‘big sticks’ and started marking out ‘distressed’ buildings for demolition. They had hardly started when another one collapsed in Surulere. Expectedly, they went into a frenzy and marked 30 buildings ‘distressed’ around Oloto Street alone. The exercise is billed to be replicated in Surulere and other areas of Lagos. But landlords and tenants are not finding the exercise funny at all. They cried out to THOMAS USHIE.

n July 11, 2013, a building located at 29, Oloto Street, Ebute Metta, crumbled to its foundation after standing for about twelve years. Properties worth millions of Naira were lost as the ground floor of the collapsed building served as warehouse for motorcycles, tricycles, spare parts, and several other goods. Even more sad, eight lives were lost among which were a couple, a pregnant woman and a baby. Sadly again, on July 29, 2013, a two storey building, which was still under construction, collapsed at 29 Onasanya Street, Ojuelegba, Surulere on a drizzly Sunday killing five people, among them a breadhawker with a baby strapped on her back who obviously sought shelter from the rain under the ill fated building. These tragedies convey a serious warning that is just too dangerous to ignore. Hence, the General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mrs. Animashaun Odunayo promised in the wake of the tragic incidents, that the agency would reduce the tide of building collapse in Lagos State. Accordingly, the agency swiftly moved into Ebute Metta, especially at Oloto Street and its environs

and marked 30 buildings “distressed”. However, as things have turned out, not only the buildings are distressed. More than 10,000 tenants, the landlords, their dependants, are also distressed! And the thread of existential misery and anguish has begun to define the lives of everybody who depend on these 30 distressed buildings. The tenants are already running helter-skelter, seeking desirable accommodation, while the landlords who depend on these distressed buildings for their survival are in despair. “Where shall we go from here?” is one question they share, as their hearts beat in desperation for survival. Commenting on the development, a landlord of one of the buildings, Adeshina Mesoye, sought for what he described as “circumspective expert evaluations of the marked buildings to ascertain their vulnerabilities before action on its demolition is taken.” While allaying the fears of some tenants and landlords living in despair and anguish due to the f impending demolition of the said defective structures, he added that the fact that the buildings were marked “distressed” does not mean that they would be demolished as government

would carry out material testing on them. “Although the houses have been marked distressed, the government would carry out material testing to know if a particular building is in danger of collapsing, before it would be demolished. In our own case, Number 27 Olotu, as you can see, the building is very solid. All necessary testing can be done to convince the government that the building is not distressed. Even though our own house is aged, it is still very strong. When the house was built, proper work was done on it with enough cement and good iron rods,” Mesoye maintained. Speaking on the agony of the landlords and tenants following the order that tenants in some of the buildings should evacuate immediately to avoid catastrophe, he said that all well meaning individuals and government should put themselves in the shoes of the affected tenants and landlords who depend on these buildings for survival, and make their deductions. “You can put yourself in the shoes of the tenants and landlords of these buildings and you will know exactly their agony. The pain on both sides is too much to CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

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LIVING

July 27, 2013

Distressed tenants, landlords CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 bear, when you wake up to discover that your place of shelter is gone or is going, or that your means of livelihood is slipping away or has slipped away. It is usually not a happy moment. We know that the Lagos State Government is trying its best to ensure the safety of the people. But we want them to do more. To secure accommodation in Lagos is very difficult, not to talk of the money involved. But what can we do? We can’t live under the bridge. We want the government to come to the aid of the residents and the community at large, to make sure that they are properly accommodated. More so, we want government to ensure adequate security in the area. You know when something of this nature happens, miscreants would take advantage of it and start looting. The Federal Government is not doing anything to alleviate the suffering of the masses, so I implore Lagos State Government to be on the side of the people,” he pleaded. Speaking with Saturday Mirror, Ope Adedayo, one of the affected residents, grieved that the collapsed buildings and the ensuing government action has put asunder what God and man have joined together. “When this building collapsed, the Lagos State Government came and started marking other buildings distressed, instead of looking for ways of helping the hapless people and victims of the collapsed structure. It is very unfortunate. We are not happy that buildings collapse and kill people, but I think the government is supposed to carry out proper checks, make adequate provision for the accommodation of the affected people before carrying out any threat of evacuation and demolition. Many families of the collapsed building have been separated, as well as residents of the other buildings marked by the government. You will see a husband hanging somewhere with a friend while his wife is hanging at another location with some relatives and friends, and their children scattered all over. It is so sad. We are all distressed by what happened,” Ope lamented. These fragmented Lagosians are presently faced with untold hardship as they strive to come to terms with the reality of homelessness, while embarking on the arduous task of searching for new accommodation. “As you can see, we are helping ourselves here. As far as I am concerned, the government has not done anything to help us. The only thing they did was to bring the pay-loader to help in the search and rescue mission for the trapped victims of the collapsed building. Even then, the machine is not working because there is no fuel. It is the street boys that did most of the rescue job,” a resident of one of the structures marked distressed, Akinola Akintayo, alleged. Continuing, he said that “For the past five days that this incident took place, we have been living miserably. I have a wife and a baby and life has not been nice with us. We want the government to look critically into the buildings marked distressed, carry out appropriate tests sincerely

Akintayo

Oby

Sotunde

Yemi

without discrimination before any drastic action is taken. This has become so necessary because not all the buildings are really in distress. Some of them need some renovations because they were built long ago with quality materials. When something of this nature happens, it becomes an avenue for exploitation. The government must guide against this because of the indiscriminate marking of the buildings as distressed. They should sincerely come and do the test so that people who are panicking, those who have run away, leaving their properties at the mercy of the hoodlums, those who have paid their rents ahead and are now facing the trouble of seeking for another accommodation, can repossess their apartments and those that really need to be demolished in order to save lives can be demolished.” “You can see the building we are standing on, it was built over 25 years ago but it is still standing very strong. The one that collapsed is about 12 years old. So, they should carry out the test in time, because looking for accommodation in Lagos is not an easy thing. The time, the money, the stress in seeking accommodation is just unbearable. To rent a room and parlour self-contained apartment within this vicinity is N300, 000, not to talk of a flat. So, it is not easy at all. The government needs to wade in and help the people before we die of stress,” Akintayo lamented. Also lamenting the precarious conditions the residents of the “distressed” buildings are facing, Sodiq Hassan, a son of one of the landlords and a resident of one of the distressed buildings, said that while they are not happy to endanger their lives, government must realise that the lives of many families depend on the

“so-called distressed buildings. Our parents depend on them to feed us, pay our school fees and take care of their needs. The government should therefore make sure that the test is justly carried out, so that landlords and tenants are not unjustly thrown out of their apartments.” For Yemi Chamakh, the government needs to “step up their housing policies by building masses-oriented houses that are affordable. Do you think that we are happy to live in this type of condition? Does anybody think that we would love to be chased out of our homes and turned into refugees overnight? “It is the economic condition which the government has failed to address that is causing these problems. The government should provide accommodation for its people instead of leaving it in the hands of unscrupulous get-rich-quick developers and agents who do haphazard jobs. And for those of us who are affected by the distressed buildings, the government should provide us with alternative accommodation in case they want to demolish them, that is, if they find the structures really defective. But they should be guided that many families depend on these buildings for survival and they should not do anything that would add more burden to people already burdened. “Presently, families have been scattered all over due to the government pronouncement. The marking struck terror in the hearts of many families who fear for their lives and had to run away. Some are still hanging on. That is why you could see me here. To secure a new accommodation is not just easy. So many people are stranded. We are stranded and distressed like the buildings. My brother is hanging with

his friends. My sister is in her school hostel and I wonder how she would be feeling right now as she cannot come home. So, it is very stressful. We have used nine months of our tenancy, but we have no choice than to start hustling for another accommodation. I therefore urge the government to come in and help provide alternative accommodation,” he implored. Another resident of a distressed building who simply identified himself as Oby, also urged the Lagos State Government to ensure adequate provision of houses for the masses instead of leaving it in the hands of quacks who “build time bomb in the name of houses and before you know it, it explodes on the people, causing death and pain. Most of the tenants are now sleeping outside. Those living in the marked buildings are doing so in fear of the government on one side and the possible collapse on the other side. It is just pitiful. The government needs to help us provide accommodation before everything and everybody becomes distressed”. Grieving over the general condition of the residents who fled for fear of the buildings close to the collapsed structure crashing on them, leaving their properties at the mercy of street urchins, Adebola Sotunde believes that the government ought to do more to help the residents. “We have not felt government presence since this tragedy occurred. The chairman and the commissioner came that very day and everybody just vanished without doing anything tangible to help the people. The pay-loader brought here to help in the rescue operation is not being satisfactorily used. Even the operator of the machine is complaining that there is no tipper to help in the evacuation of the debris in order to create chance for people to work. Some of the victims of the collapsed building whose properties are trapped are even bribing the operator before he can move in the machine to clear the debris,” she alleged. “Most of the houses have been marked for possible demolition. We heard that the occupants were given two days to evacuate. This is serious and the government needs to show sympathy to the plight of the people before everybody is rendered homeless. Even then, the government has to stand firm on what they have said and demolish structures that cannot stand the test so as to avoid future casualty instead of leaving them to be patched the way the one that collapsed was. “The occupants of the buildings the government asked to leave immediately ran away for their dear lives without taking their properties. They just locked their doors for fear of the building coming down, and left. Most of them are hanging around with friends. Unfortunately, hoodlums have taken over their properties and are looting them. It is so unfortunate. This is possible because there is no adequate security. We need more security. My family and I wanted to stay out of here for at least a week before coming back. But when we heard of what has befallen those that left, we had to come back,” Adebola Sotunde stressed.

LIVING

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Why did Oluwatoyin Ruth Amusan jump into the Lagos lagoon? It is no longer news that 48-year-old Oluwatoyin Ruth Amusan jumped into the Lagos lagoon by Leventis a few days ago. The question being asked by all who knew her, as well as witnesses to the suicide is: What could have made her choose to end her life, and in such a gruesome manner too? FUNMI SALOME JOHNSON AND OLADELE LUQMON

ife may not have been particularly fair on Oluwatoyin Ruth Amusan. Born 48 years ago to the Amusan family and the first of three children, Oluwatoyin had looked forward to a good life with lots of good things in stock. However, things did not turn out as expected as she was childless even when she died at the age of 48. She may have concluded in her heart that all hope is lost and that she may never be able to have children or live life to the full. This may have resulted in her decision to commit suicide by jumping into the Lagos Lagoon that black Thursday. Eye witnesses say they had initially thought she was enjoying the fresh breeze from the lagoon. They were, however, taken aback when she suddenly dived into the lagoon. Her body was taken out of the water when it floated later. Documents in a black polythene bag found at the bank of the lagoon, where witnesses said the woman had sat down for hours before jumping into the water, include Union Bank Savings Withdrawal Voucher, Union Bank Savings Deposit Voucher and Dividend Cheque of N8, 000 issued by Union Registrars. Also, the identity card found on her revealed that she resided at No 1, Sule Street, Ijegun, Ikotun Egbe, Lagos. Those who retrieved her body from the lagoon stated that they were not around when she committed suicide, adding that their attention was drawn to her floating body. “We just saw her body floating at the other end and we managed to get two ladders nearby which we used to draw out her body,” one of them said. Akin Amusan, one of the contacts in her phonebook, said he is the younger brother of the deceased and that he does not reside in Lagos. He further disclosed that the deceased has been mentally

Oluwatoyin

SHE HAD SOME PROBLEMS BOTHERING HER MIND. SHE WAS MARRIED AT A POINT BUT HAD A MISUNDERSTANDING WITH HER HUSBAND. THEY WERE ON THE VERGE OF MAKING UP WHEN SHE BECAME MENTALLY ILL. SHE WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL BARELY TWO WEEKS AGO ill for some time and was recently discharged from a mental institution. Ayodele Odetola, another of her contacts, who said he is her maternal uncle, also affirmed what Akin Amusan said about the deceased. “She had been ill for a while. She had mental problems and she was discharged from the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba barely two weeks ago” Was it then a case of abandonment by her family, perhaps because of the stigma attached to persons with mental health issues in the Nigerian society? Odetola further disclosed that he was

with her when she was discharged from the psychiatric hospital and was indeed the person who took her home from the hospital. He said, “It is true she had been ill mentally and she was taken to Yaba Psychiatric Hospital for treatment and rehabilitation. She was discharged about two weeks ago. I was with her during her discharge from the hospital. I took her to my house in Ikorodu when she was discharged and she had been staying with us since that time. She was already okay and was doing fine. We even went to church together on Sunday.

“On Monday, she said she was going to make some withdrawals from her account to renovate the house where she was living before the incidence. When she was leaving, I asked her when she would return and she said she would not return that day and that was why we did not know on time that something had gone wrong because I was thinking that she went to her house for the renovation as she had earlier said. I was shocked when I got the call last Thursday telling me that my niece had been found dead in the Lagos Lagoon. It is really sad.” On what could have led to Toyin’s suicide, Odetola disclosed that she had issues that had resulted into serious depression for her. According to him, the deceased was married at a point but had some misunderstanding with her husband. “She had some problems bothering her mind. She was married at a point but had a misunderstanding with her husband. They were on the verge of making up when she became mentally ill. She was discharged from the psychiatric hospital barely two weeks ago.” Witnesses to the suicide speculate that the documents found on the deceased, which included share dividends of various companies supposedly owned by her father, may have contributed to her undoing. Odetola, however, denied these insinuations emphatically, saying the relationship between the deceased and her siblings was cordial. “She had a very good relationship with her siblings and it could be described as cordial. They got along well and interacted very well. Toyin was a nice person and would be badly missed in the family. It is just unfortunate that things ended this way. Talking about the situation is really weighing me own. I am very sad,” Odetola said.

Entervaganza

With OSEYIZA OOGBODO

08023755142 kingseiza@gmail.com

Woman Trust is essential in marriage

–Uzamat Akinbile

Relationships What Wh t if your partner t asks you to change your first name?

Fashion •Something special

from April •Greener pastures

Sex talk Missionary again? No way!

Divas against child marriage

ENTERVAGANZA

Celebrity H

ow does it feel to be a Glo ambassador? It’s amazing. It’s an opportunity to represent a brand that is African and is gradually going global as well, you know, which is sort of like my brand. So it’s a great thing for me, and definitely, I know they have accomplished a lot of strives and processes so it’s a brand that I’m trying to associate with as well, you know, because I’m trying to go that route, you know, increase my process, go global, so it’s just amazing being on the same platform with that brand. What did you do to be chosen out of the numerous celebrities in town? I got called. I actually got called and we had a couple of meetings and the negotiation process started, so I didn’t do anything. I think I was just being me, you know, we are doing music and they paid attention and they called us. Seriously. Are you saying categorically that your management didn’t go and lobby for it? No. It was a surprise when they called us actually. It was like wow! And then we went to them and had a few meetings, and that was it, so my management didn’t approach them. We don’t actually get to know the details of Nigerian endorsements, unlike in America and Europe where they tell you everything about theirs. Can you tell us the details of yours, how much it’s worth, and so on? It’s because it’s a contract. When you sign a contract, you are actually bound to, you know, secrecy. So there’s no way you can share out the details. The only details you see online are speculations. They can never know the main details. Why is it a secret? Why can’t you tell us about it? What’s the big deal there? It’s because when you sign a contract, will you tell me how much your salary package is? You likely wouldn’t tell me because you signed a contract. It’s a job, you know, I’m employed by Glo to do a job, so it’s sort of like saying, what is your salary package, how much are they giving you for allowance, most likely I will not tell you that. The Glo ambassadors you took over from were actors. Does it mean that the music sector is bigger than the acting? I think both sectors are huge. You go to Gambia, Kenya, many places, and they know all the actors and actresses. Nollywood is like number three in the world in the volume of movies being churned out. And in the same way, Nigerian artists are huge all around the world. We are celebrated worldwide, Nigerians are everywhere, so it’s hard to say which one is bigger, because I do not have figures, statistics regarding, but from my travels around the world, I know they hold the artists in high respect and the actors in high respect as well.

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

I am not marrying Rashidi Ladoja’s daughter for money -Bez Bez is one of the lucky celebrities in town. He is one of the celebrities who have a juicy endorsement with telecommunications giant, Globacom. He tells ENTERVAGANZA about it and his upcoming marriage to ex-Governor Rashidi Ladoja’s daughter. How did you get signed on by Cobhams to his record label? I met him in 2008, and he was looking for somebody to open up for Asa because she was having a concert, and somebody recommended me to him, and we hit it off, you know, he liked my music and we became friends, started working together that same year, and it was a smooth transition to ‘OK, let’s do this for real. The album is coming out in 2011, let’s sign a contract, not because you’ll run away, we are friends, but this needs to be done properly.’ And that was when we made it official in 2011, but before that, we had a gentlemen’s agreement. How do you feel about many of your colleagues just walking out of their record contracts? I think there must be an issue or a problem, an internal problem, and I do not know what the problem is so I cannot advice or give my opinion. But in my case, if there’s an internal problem I try to sort it out amicably. And if it can’t be settled amicably, we’ll have to find a way of sorting it the right way because we signed a contract, it has to be done the right way through the courts or you bring your lawyers or something. Don’t just walk away. That’s what I’ll do. But right now, I’m pretty happy with my label. What’s the latest about your music? We released a video this week. It’s for Say, a song in my album, it was shot by Kemi Adetiba, we tried to do it in a movie kind of way, and it’s great. I’ll also be work-

ing on my next album in New York, Houston, Nashville, and it’ll be released next year, but we’ll start bringing out singles this year. Who’s producing it? It’s Cob-

hams Asuquo as well. So why are you guys going to record outside the country? Well, the studio setup we have in Nigeria is great, but like these studios we are going to record have been in existence for years. I mean 40, 50, 70 years. Nashville is a town for music. So when you go to a new environment to record, I did my last album in Lagos, but we are trying to go to a new environment, see how it’s being done there, take in the air, the people and just have a different mindset when we’re recording. Next time, it may not be in America, it may be Brazil or somewhere. You were nominated for six Headies last year but you didn’t win any. How do you feel about that? I felt really disappointed because I thought that I would win at least one. But it didn’t come true. But my music has never been about winning awards. If it comes, great. If it doesn’t, life goes on. Like I said on Twitter that day, because people were like ‘Sorry, sorry,’ I was like music is not about winning awards and if you don’t win, go on to the next performance, rock it and catch your fun and come back and work some more. For you to be nominated six times shows at least that you are recognised in your field. People feel you are trying to marry money by marrying Rashidi Ladoja’s daughter soon. Well, people are entitled to their opinion. My dad was a politician as well and he lost his life when he was trying to become a governor when I was in JS 2. From then on, finances crashed and all that, but I never debased myself. I was in a great school, Loyola Jesuit, and I had a network f friends, so will I now leave that network to go to the village to get a wife? It’s the person that you are around that you become friends with so if you become friends with people in your class, eventually you might marry one of them, and that’s what’s happening, so people are entitled to their own opinion, whether it’s money, whether it’s anything.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

ENTERVAGANZA

July 27, 2013

ignorant,

You are Audu Maikori blasts BrymO

Maikori

hocolate City boss Audu Mikori has attributed the still-raging issue of BrymO’s problem with the highly successful label to ignorance and warned the Ara singer that he wants to mess his career up. Speaking during an interview with Factory78 TV, Maikori refused to say anything about the problem directly, claiming that “I have said I will not say anything about it simply because it’s a legal matter. And being a lawyer myself, I wouldn’t want to pre-empt it.” Indirectly however, he said, “But I think it’s pretty simple. You have a contract and you need to abide by its terms and conditions, so I’ll say it’s mostly ignorance. If I have a contract to build the Hilton, for example, and I feel angry or upset, can I just get up and leave? No.” One of Nigeria’s revered music personalities, he then cited an instance of an artist who had a contract dispute and regretted it. “Music is serious business. People think it’s about Twitter and Facebook but it’s not. There are many cases in point where people did the same and ended up regretting it. Mase is one of such people. I just feel sad that someone will mess his career up by himself.” Waxing philosophical, he concluded that, “People are worried but I’m not. I see it all as part of the growth process of the entertainment industry. This same thing happened twenty, thirty years ago in America when record labels would sign artists with a gun on the table. So I’m excited because it’s all part of the entertainment industry’s development.”

Iyanya disses Tonto Dike

Controversy trails MBGN again

t a time when controversial actress Tonto Dike is unusually quiet following her marijuana stunt that got her noticed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and her Twitter rant allegedly at Mercy Johnson, her colleagues are helping her to make the news. Last week, it was celebrated actor Nonso Diobi who got her in the news when he tweeted about her rant at Johnson, asking why Poko had an issue with Johnson and that she should respect Johnson’s decision to return to work, not try to make her unhappy. This week, it’s the Kukere master, Iyanya, who has got Poko in the spotlight again by unequivocally dissing her. During an interview on Rubbing Minds with Ebuka, Iyanya didn’t bother about diplomacy as he declared that he would prefer to have dinner with Genevieve, die for Yvonne Nelson and dust off Dike. His declaration has been generating a lot of buzz, with many wondering what he means by dusting her off. S u r p r i s i n g l y, Poko’s reaction has been mild. She tweeted in reply that “Nigga sounds pained.” Pundits however believe that Iyanya’s comment is just a publicity stunt between Poko and Iyanya as they had a working relationship recently when she hosted his concert in the UK.

BrymO

N Mo’ Cheddah stuns in bikini

usically, not much is being heard of If You Want Me singer, Mo’ Cheddah, presently. Since she quit Knighthouse that made her into a household name, she hasn’t really been musically visible. But she became very visible again during the week, not musically, but sensually, with her release of sexy pictures of herself in a bikini. The pictures have generated a lot of buzz and have gotten many of her male fans licking their lips lasciviously as they were unexpected, considering that she is one of the female singers who didn’t use sex appeal to enhance her career.

owadays, it is more about controversy for the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria. Last year, the prestigious pageant was rocked by a scandal that is still hanging over it. The winner then, Isabella Ayuk, was discovered to be overage, and so could not participate in the Miss World beauty pageant as is the due of MBGN winners. The latest edition of the prestigious pageant, which held last weekend in Bayelsa State, is also being trailed by controversy. Sponsored by the Bayelsa State Government, held in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, and won by Miss Anna Banner representing Bayelsa State, people are however saying that the pageant was manipulated so that the Bayelsa State representative could win it and that she knew the questions beforehand and so didn’t have the surprised look of a winner when she was announced as such. The fact that she has also been appointed as a Special Assistant to Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson on Tourism and Culture is also raising a lot of eyebrows because she is just 18 years old.

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CLASSICAL RYHMES

MI outshines Onyeka, Rockstone at X-Factor I

t was all drama and excitement during the first perfor mance of o the finalists of o Glo X-Factor, the music realth ity show with the biggest prize monbig ey in the country. Recorded at Dream Reco Studio, h hosted by Toolz, and judged by the trio of Onwenu, Reggie Onyeka On and MI, X-Factor Rockstone a kicked off its final finally kick phase with just 9 contestants from the thousands auditioned for it in Nithat audition Ghana. geria and Gh The final 9 are Ankara Twins, SymphoBoi, DNA T ny, Eshun, Vicky, Pheel, Pat Mohie, DJ Princess P Switch, and Smooth Boiz. The first performance of the night was by Ankara

Boi. Though he tried his best and got favourable comments from Rockstone and Onwenu, MI criticized his performance and made it known for everyone to hear that he meant business and that he intended that one of his mentees must win the talent hunt. Unlike other talent hunts, X-Factor’s format is such whereby the judges also mentor the contestants. MI’s contestants are Princess Pat Mohie, DJ Switch and Pheel. Onwenu’s are Ankara Boi, Eshun, and Vicky while Rockstone is mentoring Symphony, DNA Twins, and Smooth Boiz. As the night wore on, it became apparent that MI wouldn’t take too kindly to criticisms of his contestants while he would readily criticize those of his fellow judges. In their own case,

D’Banj’s sister’s wedding ceremonies begin today

t was back in March that the news first broke that D’Banj’s sister, Taiwo, twin of his singing brother, Kayswitch, was going to wed Cool FM’s Dotun. Then, Dotun had just proposed to her in faraway South Africa and had just been through a minor scandal. Well, the time has come that Dotun and Taiwo must walk their talk. Their wed-

Onwenu and Rockstone had nothing but kind words for all the contestants. And thus it came about that MI was the one bringing drama to the show which might have been boring if not for his combative tactics. When Symphony, a group from Ghana performed, MI blasted their mentor, Rockstone, for allowing them go on stage in drab outfits. All in all, MI made the difference on the night, just as DJ Switch, one of MI’s contestants, had the undisputed best performance, and he made sure to hype her properly. One thing is certain. There is more drama to come in the weeks to come on Glo X-Factor, especially from next week when the contestants start getting eliminated.

D’Banj

ding ceremonies begin today with the traditionditional wedding today and the white wedding ding next week. It definitely y promises to be one of the showbiz marriages of the year, so don’t be surprised when it goes viral.

good rapper out there who has been struggling for a breakthrough in the highly unpredictable and tough music unp iindustry might just start realizing his music dreams if he wins the Don’t Break Da Beat 2, a rap competition in its second season that offers the whopping sum of $20,000 as reward.

Great Nation Artist: Timi Dakolo

Don’t Break Da Beat 2 offers $20,000

Mode 9

Dakolo

Sponsored by Nokia, and organized in partnership with highly acclaimed music channel, Trace Urban, the organizers are charging unknown rappers better than Mode 9, Vector and the likes to enter for the competition to prove their worth. So if you’re a rapper worth his salt, this is an opportunity for you that you shouldn’t miss. For entry details, just go online to Facebook.

Verse 1 Here we stand as a people With one song, with one voice We’re a nation, undivided and poised We will take our stand, and build our land With faith, to defend what we love Here we are as a people With one heart, for one cause We’re determined, to rebuild a nd restore Where freedom reigns, and truth prevails A land where there’s hope for us all (2x) Chorus We’re all we have, we’ll defend our land We believe in this nation, and we know we’ll get there We’re all we have, we’ll defend our land We believe in Nigeria and the promise she holds And that one day we’ll shine like the sun We’re a great nation VERSE 2 Though we are many people Different tribes, different tongues We’re united in our strength and resolve To uphold the honour of our land And for generations to come Repeat chorus

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

July 27, 2013

BBA: THE CHASE

BIG BROTHER UPDATE

ulu betrayed me -Angelo

During candid Diary Sessions, the Chasemates opened up about Pokello and Bassey’s departure. They seemed particularly shocked at Bassey’s Eviction. Cleo reminisced about all the fun times she and the Sierra Leonean have had since they first met. “I’m so sad he’s not here. Bassey was so sweet and loving. I loved his ‘Roman from Yorkshire’ alter ego. The House will not be the same without him,” the Zambian said. When asked about Pokello’s departure, Oneal was as brutally honest as always. “Pokello dug her own grave. Simple as that,” he said. His sweetheart, Feza, was more considerate. “Africa clearly loved Pokello because they saved her so many times. However, it was her time to leave,” she said. Angelo, on the other hand, expressed how disappointed he is at Sulu for stabbing him in the back. “I called Sulu my brother. I really feel betrayed. I’m still angry, disappointed and confused. This move will definitely change our relationship. I asked him about it and he doesn’t even feel sorry about it. He just told me he had to do what he had to do,” Angelo said.

Annabel abe scared sca ed of o eviction e ct o Kenyan beauty Annabel is very worried that her time in The Chase will end tomorrow. Despite the brave face that she is putting on, the pressure of constantly being on the chopping block is getting to her and she made her fears known to Eveva. She has b e e n

nominated every week for the past few weeks and it has finally dawned on her that she might not survive this week because she has been nominated with two of the strongest contenders in the game, Sulu and Elikem. She told Eveva how worried she is that she might be going home on Sunday, stressing that she’s most likely for eviction because she’s up against only two other Housemates whereas there were six others to choose from in past weeks. Eveva told her to keep the faith and play her game because she is still here. “Nobody knows how Africa will vote,” Eveva said, consoling her.

Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe out! Bassey and Pokello’s Evictions mean that Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone are officially out of The Chase. Sierra Leone’s Bassey and Zimbabwean Pokello became the 15th and 16th Chasemates to leave the game. Bassey was put up for possible Eviction by Ethiopia’s Bimp after removing his own head from the chopping block. The exit of Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone follows those of Malawi, Angola and Uganda. This means that only Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and Zambia still have their teams intact. Botswana, Ethiopia, Namibia and South Africa still have one Chasemate each in the running for the much coveted $300,000.

Big Brother The Chase is an individual game but because Housemates represent different African countries, it becomes difficult to divorce the two.

Feza becomes the fool for Oneal’s love If you thought Feza and Oneal’s relationship might be slowing down, you sure are wrong. Their relationship is going stronger and they are even looking forward to the future, according to the Tanzanian Feza. “We’re getting more serious. Meeting Oneal in the House has brought out a side of me that I didn’t think people would see, the softer and more vulnerable side.” However, it seems Feza notices another trait that has reared its head. “My friends from back home say I become too submissive and lose myself. One person needs to be somewhat of a fool in relationships. It’s really hard though because sometimes I just want to go wild and I can’t because this relationship is not just about me. It’s about me, Oneal and Africa,” she said. She also told Biggie how Oneal has been holding back just a little as well and that they can’t wait to leave the House to explore their relationship further.

Cleo, Feza make up over Oneal After Oneal’s initial attraction to Cleo in the early stages of the game, there was a bit of tension between his current squeeze, Feza and the sexy Zambian. The two girls have however made up. In the garden, they discussed

everything from Oneal to their beliefs. “Initially there was an attraction between me and Oneal in the early stages of the game. However, we all changed and moved on and I ended up finding happiness with Hakeem and now he’s with you,” Cleo said. Feza assured her that she had no problem with her and that she was happy Cleo approached her with her concerns. “I won’t lie. There has been tension between us. I didn’t know what it was but I was aware of it. I’ve even prayed about it and I’m glad that we are fine,” she said. As soon as Cleo and Feza hugged and went their separate ways, Feza went to the bedroom upstairs to tell Oneal about it.

Nando helps Annabel strategise Who knew that behind Nando’s pretty little face is the mind of a strategist? “Even Africa gets tired of saving your ass all the time. Play the game now,” he told Annabel. He spent a lot of time advising her on how to strategise her way to the top five of The Chase. “You already know where you stand with people. The people that you feel nominated you, go to them and make a deal,” he advised her further.

Beverly, Annabel dislike each other Beverly and Annabel can’t hide their dislike of the other. During nominations, Beverly chose Annabel, saying she is too cocky for her liking, while Annabel chose her, saying Beverly’s excuse from keeping her from the Head of House task is lame.

Annabel

Nando

Oneal Cleo

July 27, 2013

Funke

Funke Akindele moves on I

f you want to continue to wallow in pity for Funke Akindele over her failed marriage, think again. The hot-in-demand actress and crossover entertainer seems to have moved on from the unsavoury episode that she tried to keep away from the public before her ex-husband salaciously revealed it to the world. Unlike some people who might have retreated into a shell at the breakup of their very young marriage, Akindele is already on set doing what she knows best. The Jenifa star posted pictures of herself and Mercy Johnson, another actress who has been rumoured to be in a horrible marriage, on a popular social networking site, and the two of them certainly didn’t look like people feeling the effects of a failed marriage, in Akindele’s case, or a horrible marriage, in Johnson’s case.

he hottest issue in the country presently is definitely that of the scandalous and controversial Child Marriage Bill. It has subdued that of the bill opposing same sex marriages which also threatened to become a turbulent issue but is gradually losing steam. Since the CMB became public lic knowledge, it has generated a lot of reactions. Top Nollywood actressess Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Monalisa Chinda, inda, Tonto Dike and Stella Damasus have also reacted, spitting fire against the he bill and not mincing words. At the Most Beautiful Girl in n Nigeria Niige geria pageant last weekend, Omotola ola made de her views on the issue known wn to the world through a concise speech. h. According to her, she is the success she is because she wasn’t given off to marriage before the age of eighteen. More to the point, she said d she says no to paedophilia, implying that hat that’s what child marriage is. Also incensed about it, Chinda nda tweeted her reaction to the world ass well, d a saying, “My country and its ignorancegnoranc ncee induced sentiments. Unfortunately, nately, no individual or nation ever gets anywhere with this kind of mindset.” Colouring the issue politically, cally, she asked in another tweet if the CMB MB is a calculated attempt to finally divide the country. Though Tonto Dike has been en rather quiet in the last couple le of weeks, the CMB has made de her bare her fangs again. And nd knowing her, the reaction credited ited to her was so acidic and venomous mous that it is already being refuted.. Stella Damasus too was not to be left out. Her reaction recorded on video and broadcast for the whole world has been the most logical. She questioned where the Nigerian women in power are now at this his crucial time and labeled the CMB a legalization galization of sexual abuse of underage girls. irls. “I cannot believe that such a barbaric and degrading issue would be discussed by the senate, in a country which hich is described as the giant of Africa,” ” she said. “Of all the issues facing thiss country, corruption, energy, unemployment, yment, infrastructural deficiency, health, th, education, security, our senators have ve decided to waste taxpayers’ money to o discuss how to enable these shameless ess randy old men to marry underage children hildren legally. I cannot believe that a senator enator of Nigeria will push for child slavery very to be made legal.” She concluded by declaring ng that “I am Stella Damasus. I stand for what is right. I stand for what I believe eve in. I have a right to speak my mind.. I have a right to fight for my children.. I have a right to fight for every Nigerian gerian child and so do you. The time to o act is now.” Ekeinde, Chinda, Dike, and Damasus are not the only celebeb-

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nollywood rejects scandalous Child Marriage Bill rities that have reacted to the CMB. And you can be sure that there will be many more of them reacting depending on if the bill surv ive s o r not.

Omotola

Dike

Chinda

Damasus

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

July 27, 2013

le StyGlam and

with Yemisi Adeniran

(08037801158) ydiran@yahoo.com

Something

special

April

from

ather than presenting the familiar conservative look at your next wedding event, April, a new fashion label showcases a selection of wedding

picks of a more mature and versatile appeal. Something specially made for an uphill climb, Olakunbi Oyelese, the designer said they are meant to add fun and frills to the good old accepted look at wedding outings. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Though they are nothing overtly unusual in terms of designs, we ensure that they are all in a class of their own in fabrics and other details,â&#x20AC;? she said.

STYLE & GLAM

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fashion

rom subtle to statement-making, the

green colour comes in envious shades

and can be worn in a multitude of

ways. Currently the most popular

decorating colour, green symbolises nature. It is the easiest colour on the eye and can improve vision. It is a calming, refreshing colour used

to depict positivity in different sectors of

For instance, people waiting to appear on TV

in â&#x20AC;&#x153;green roomsâ&#x20AC;? to relax; hospitals often us

because it relaxes patients. Brides in the m

ages wore green to symbolise fertility. Dark

green is masculine, conservative, and implies wealth. However, designers often refuse to

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

July 27, 2013

Frenzy

STYLE & GLAM

Facelift

Tips for kissable lips (II)

life.

V sit

green thread on the eve of a fashion show for fear that it will bring bad luck. Above all, it is

se it

universally flattering on all skin tones and com-

iddle

plexions making it friendly to whoever makes it

a choice. Whether for formal or informal dates,

these fashionistas demonstrate what to do with

use

a green colour you may pick in the future.

For masculine lips, facial hair can hide imperfections. Stubble seems to strike a good balance because it signals masculinity (the ability to grow facial hair) while still maintaining a youthful appearance. Be aware that if you have very sharp stubble, extra long kissing can result in abrasions on your partner’s face. o If you smoke, you’ll eventually get “smoker’s lines”, which are fine lines and wrinkles above your top lip. These will make your lips look less attractive. They can only be prevented by not smoking and they can only be hidden by makeup. Smile seductively. Smile seductively. A big, genuine smile is attractive, but you don’t smile like that all the time. When you make eye contact, whether it’s in a conversation or from across the room, curling the corners of your lips upwards can capture the essence of a smile while still showing off your kissable lips. Take a small amount of honey and petroleum jelly and mix them together. Rub it onto your lips. Follow a daily evening and morning regimen 1. After brushing your teeth at night, gently rub a moist towel over your lips. This will soothe and remove dead cells. 2. Brush your lips with a dry toothbrush. This will exfoliate your lips. 3. Apply a bit of Vaseline. Keep it on for the night. Do not use chapstick, for it is considered an addictive substance and can dehydrate your lips, forcing you to use more. Next time you use lipstick, notice your lips before and after: it’s a guarantee that your lips will be worse off after. 4. In the morning, rub a moist towel over your lips. 5. Apply your choice of lip colouring. Apply it as smoothly and evenly as possible. It helps to use lip liner so your colour doesn’t bleed out. 6. Put a medium sized drop of lip gloss or shine to the centre of your lower lip. Don’t overdo it because greasy lips are not attractive. 7. Even it out on both sides of your lower lip. 8. Apply a small covering of lip gloss to the top lip. 9. Wait about 20 seconds before closing your mouth. Repeat the morning process throughout the day as much as you wish. 10. Drink a lot of water. Dry, cracked lips are a major telling factor

STYLE & GLAM M

July 27, 2013

Fashion Guest

‘I love unique things’

Besides being pretty and hardworking, sultry actress, Lizzy Anjonrin, is simply glamorous. Bold and convinced of a bright future, she believes the only thing that makes a woman a fashionista is when she is able to carve a niche for herself. “Standing yourself out in unique collections makes you a fashionista,” she said in this close-up with YEMISI ADENIRAN.

our Kofo Tinubu movie showed another variance of your acting stunt. How were you able to cope with the challenges involved? I have always believed in putting in my best to achieve a desired goal. I was raised to trust in my abilities, never to see anything as impossible and always doing my best at any given time. These are some of my guiding rules and they really helped me with the backing of God. Besides, as a good actor or actress, one is expected to be versatile and I am happy it all ended up as very rewarding, I mean, with the awards that it accrued afterwards. As a beautiful and career woman, how would you recognise a stylish woman when you see one? The fact that one wears whatever that is in fashion does not qualify the person as being stylish. But when you are able to stand out in a unique way giving attention to those beautiful things in fashion, you can then be said to be a fashionista. Standing out in unique collections that are just peculiar to you makes you a fashionista, not dubbing what someone else just wore or wears. Adding your own touch singles you out. If you are also a fashion conscious lady, you will know your assets and play them up to stand you out beautifully. You will again know your flaws and try to hide them as much as you can.

Lizzy Anjonrin

‘Timing, key to pretty face on wedding days’

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

s far as fashion icon, Chief (Mrs) Elizabeth Osisanya, is concerned, every bride who desires a stunning face on her wedding day needs to put into consideration the timing of her wedding programme before applying any make-up for the day.

Fashion Trivia

“Always consider the time of the day of your wedding before applying a make-up for a lasting effect,” she said at a fashion conference held for Lagos hairdressers and beauticians at the Sheraton Hotels and suits, Ikeja recently. “If your wedding is an afternoon wedding, use black eye shadow with discretion. If you are fair-skinned, use deep brown shades for contouring instead of black. The light of noon is usually harsh

and draws attention to every flaw on the face area,” she added.

‘Women should use toners’

lthough it is generally believed that skin toners have adverse effects on women’s skin, a group of Asian dermatologists recently de-

bunked the idea. According to Dr. Doris Day, their head and author of Forget the Facelift, gentle toners with the right cleanser will do the skin more good than the harm it was always attributed to it. He said, “Gentle toners calm the skin and balance pH levels.” He, however, recommended alcoholfree versions as “an alcohol-based toner strips off natural oils.”

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

July 27, 2013

Male Essentials

08036961187

with Oseyiza Oogbodo kingseiza@gmail.com w

Hair Statement Buy clothes J

ust like women women, men as well ll use their hair to make fashion sstatements. While the majority of men en ssimply imply go for low cuts, im uts, you can be one of those men who sspend long hours urs at the saloon to done. get their hair d second set of men go for uniq unique hair This secon ique ue h air styles that are the firstt thing you notice st them. Phyno, Danny about the ab anny Young, Terry Iceberg Slim are G and Ice e some of them. Though Thoug such hair styles require a lot maintenance,, just like those lo of m women, you won’t o wo of on’t regret all the time you spend end on them when you become w wh me the cynosure of all eyes. no yes.

you like F

ashion isn’t simply ab about what about the imyou wear, it is the abou project to othage and style you proje ers. Most people conform to mass-marp m keted new trends tren making it seem as though they ey don’t have any personal style. The of Th strength st marketing is very ry powerful and influential an and people become sheep-like folshee lowing every little fad i n the mar market. Why n o t be yourb s e l f and buy a things make you that feel original and content? While shopping, m o s t people ask for someone’s opinion. Peropi haps someone else’s opinions should be valued when purchasing a fas fashion item but to what degree? If you really love an article of clothing and feel good in it, purchase it depurch spite outside opinions. You will w be the one wearing the item, not your opiny ionated companion. The same rule applie applies lies rregarding advertising; do not purchase any garpur ments simply because they look good beca l on a billboard billboar model or in a television advertisement. Chances are tthat every other man in town has that same sweatsa er. A go example marketing’s good od e xamp xa mplle of ma strength marketing str is The Gap ‘s new m campaign, Everybody A lot ca i E b d iin lleather. t of people who refused to wear leather jackets suddenly rushed to The Gap jac to purchase a leather item. Make decisions sio based on personal preference, not popular culture. po The Law of Supply and Demand’ makes it difficult to steer clear of m trends. New collections that appear in tre stores are all influenced by the same sto trend, which makes buying something tre original pretty difficult. or There is nothing wrong with following in trends as long as they spurted out of genuine fondness and not a ‘follow the th leader’ syndrome. A perfect example pl of this occurred a few years back when stores pushed orange clothes. wh Plenty of young men that lack personal Pl style sty rushed out and purchased these pumpkin-colored garments. pu The ideal situation here would be to buy shirts with darker blends of orange an so that they may be both trendy and an classy. The difference between being in a fashion victim and fashionable in depends on to which extent you follow de personal taste. Obviously, basic rules pe should be followed, but you should sh generally buy what makes you feel and ge look loo good.

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Relationships

What if your partner asks you That’s asking for too much

eople change their names as they grow up for different reasons that may bother on new religious understandings, group or new cultural affiliations, personal educational development to reflect their new elitist understandings and much more. It is asking for too much from one’s partner to want to force our ideologies down the neck of whoever we are in a relationship with. Our given names are an integral part of who we are. They have become part of our identity and asking us to change that is definitely asking us to change who we are. When I hear issues like this being discussed one question I ask those who care to listen is that what happens if the relationship ever gets sour. What’s going to happen to the name change? Is there going to be a reversion to the old name or the new name will continue to be used. Another question is if the person can or should change names and or revert back to the former one or even pick a new one again if another lover comes along? All these name changes to me will just become a bag of very serious confusion. Let’s call a spade a spade, what’s even in a name? I’ve said it here times and again and in other media that I believe in what Sir Williams Shakespeare said about a rose being called another name still smelling the same. It is quite irritating to hear someone who has no stake in how you’re brought up to now wake up one morning and say because he or she has been given space for tenancy in just a tiny little piece of land in your heart, he or she can now ask you to change the names given to you by your parents’ and which everybody have been using to call you like forever all because that person wants to fulfill the dictates of some beliefs. I for one wouldn’t dream of changing anything about my partner because I do not believe in changing rules halfway into the game. My perceptions as per first name changing just like anything and everything in a relationship I go into is that to do so is changing the person I initially

saw and by the end of the change, the new person is definitely not going to be the person I met and fell for in the first instance. Let’s take a step back and look at it critically, what’s even in a name? People choose to bear names that have a particular meaning for them while some others people are also called names that may reflect an attribute we see in them or that we are expecting them to have as adults once they grow up. Circumstances or situations also influence the names our parents call us and they use these names as a remembrance of those circumstances or situations. Names like Esugbayiti, meaning the devil cannot take this from me or Ojetola, meaning the masquerade has tasted wealth are names that have over time become associated with the cult of the African traditional religions and the new wave of westernization among our youths have made them names that people don’t want to be associated with. Other traditional African first names have also fallen victim of this over westernization and religious revivalist tendencies. It’s also the same for those in the Islamic faith too. People are veering away from all things traditional and African and it’s no more special or strange for people to tell you about names changes without batting an eyelid. If changing my name to a name my partner is comfortable with is a sign of showing love, I’d rather stay with my old name and remain single for life. If you can’t love me with the way you see me, let me be and remain my own person. It’s a different kettle of fish entirely if the name change is coming from the name owner. Asking me to change my first name to suit my partner’s whims and caprices is asking for too much from me. My take is ‘what you see and hear before the relationship starts is what you’ll get”. It’s subsuming my identity for the sake of saying I’m dating someone or being in love and I do not believe in that as a sign of showing love or being in love.

SEX TALK

This column is x-rated

Missionary again? No way!  How to up your sex ante Ask for what you want Don’t be afraid to be more verbal. If you have a fantasy, then speak up and take responsibility for your own pleasure. Realise your desires and communicate them to your partner. People don’t talk enough about sex when they’re with someone, but this is exactly how you can guarantee a more fulfilling sex life. Talk about your desires, wants, needs and fantasies. Be open about it -- this includes dirty talk. Don’t be embarrassed to say what’s on your mind while you are having sex. Whether it’s an emotional connection you want -- or something more kinky -- it’s never wrong to speak up. The first step to getting what you want is identifying it and then asking for it

Stop over-thinking things Sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in your thoughts and insecurities, but that can be a total mood killer in the bedroom. Focus on your partner and what your bodies are doing. Make a pact with yourself to stop thinking about that memo you have to write for work, what you’re going to have for breakfast tomorrow, and especially what your partner is thinking. You won’t be able to read your partner’s mind no matter how hard you try, so save yourself the trou-

ble. If your mind wanders during sex, s/ he will probably notice and get insecure, and everything will fall apart

Find yourself sexy That popular saying: “You can’t love someone else until you love yourself ” cannot be truer. It makes sense then that you can’t fully enjoy sex with someone else until you enjoy it with yourself ! You can up your sexual ante by thinking of something new that turns you on just for you. Enjoy your new source of pleasure and then see how it translates into even more pleasure with your partner. And don’t forget that you are gorgeous, sexy and powerful and that you have a wonderful body. The person you are intimate with is lucky to have an opportunity to see you in your birthday suit! Don’t you dare get self-conscious about your body! If you are only willing do it in a pitch-black room under the sheets, it’s time to stop. You are hot and you have nothing to apologise for. Your partner wants to have sex with you, and that means that s/he is attracted to you, so let it all go and let yourself enjoy the moment. Nothing is sexier than that!

Lead It sounds intimidating, but you’ve al-

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RELATIONSHIPS

July 27, 2013

CHINWE ANNIE AMAECHI 07028684481 chinweamaechi@gmail.com

to change your first name? Does he have a good reason?

This column is x-rated ready voiced what you want -- now take matters into your own hands (literally). You don’t have to throw your partner against the wall and initiate everything. But you shouldn’t lie there like a rag doll, either. Women, especially, tend to forget that it takes two to tango, and it’s not all up to your partner to make the sex good. You have to perform, too. Take a little bit of control and help guide things in the right direction. You have the power to make this experience memorable and delightful for both of you. Some men also like to lie back and take it, especially if they have weight issues. If you are one of such men, it’s a good idea to hit the gym and lose the extra flab, rather than unburden your woman unnecessarily.

Extend the foreplay Ever heard the cliché “give and you will receive”? Well, it’s true when it comes to foreplay and those moments before sex. It’s important to be giving and compassionate in your relationship, both emotionally and physically, because what comes around goes around. This includes more foreplay, more teasing and more flirting. If you’re not getting the foreplay you need from your partner (most women require foreplay to get in the mood), you should start by taking more time to undress each other. Tease each other and do everything three times slower than you think you should. You can also suggest taking a shower together, asking for a foot rub or just a long hug. Women need time to get their motors running and it’s imperative to ask for it. Men want to know what turns you on and will be happy to hear you asking for what you need.

Learn some new tricks Missionary again? No way! It’s very easy to fall into a routine when it comes to sex. Something as simple as making it

This column is x-rated a goal to try a new position every month can really rev things up. It may be a great idea to pick positions from “mildto-wild” as the months go by. Start with a small tweak to a favourite, and save a new grand-finale position for December.

Be more touchy-feely Remember how hot it was back in the days when you would make out for hours in the backseat of your boyfriend’s car? Those hot make out sessions don’t have to be a thing of the past. Kissing is the first thing that goes in long term relationships, so try and commit to more passionate foreplay. The more excited one gets, the higher their pain threshold grows, so don’t be afraid to get a little aggressive with your kisses during sex. Bite each other’s lips to release feel-good endorphins. Then to top it off, take a nibble at the nipple. Or for some spine-tingling chills, swipe on some mint lip balm or champagne (if you can afford it) before planting a kiss on your dearest’s lips. The menthol from your lip balm will electrify your kiss and the fizz from the Champagne will produce a new pleasant effect.

Have sex on every surface Nothing spices things up like an unexpected location. Find new places and surfaces on which you and your partner can have a sex escapade.

Initiate (and win!) an orgasm race Next time you’re feeling competitive, why not have an orgasm race? Doing something competitive with your partner will help get both of your adrenalines running and really set the mood. Whoever wins has to assist the loser in climaxing and the ‘winner’ gets to have the ‘loser’ do something sexy when they’re ready to go again! Sounds like fun? Yeah!

ne of the fundamental choices made regarding us which we had no involvement or “right of first refusal” is the choice of our names. Some of us were named before we were born, while others were named after birth. If you interview parents about how they chose their children’s names, you will hear all sorts. Some parents do not even bother finding out the meanings of names before they adopt them for their children. This is why lots of people change their names when they come of age. The question is this: how will you react to a request from your partner that you should change your first name, especially when the change was not on your agenda? We all know that most women automatically change their surnames when they get married, but I have come across a lot of women who changed their first names as well after marriage. For some, their husband’s felt both of them should answer English names, so the men gave the women new names; for others, the men felt their wives’ names had negative meanings and they did not want negative names in their households. The way a woman reacts to a request for name change would depend on the ‘story’ behind her name, if any; the meaning of the name, and more importantly, her partner’s reasons for requesting the name change. For some women, making such a request on the ground that the meaning of the name is negative may be interpreted as an insult to her parents. For others, it is not a big deal, more like: what’s in a name? The way I see it, a woman should not be offended if her partner requests a name change as long as he is a husband or a genuine husband-tobe; not just a boyfriend. This is especially if the basis for the request is reasonable. Of

course, if I discovered that my name had a negative meaning such as “timid” or “deceitful”, I would immediately change my name. Why would a parent give his/her child a name with such negative meaning? Search me! In my opinion, a man does not have the absolute right to demand a change of his partner’s first name, but nothing stops him from making the request if he feels strongly about it. The mature way is to respectfully and lovingly discuss the matter in a way that the man can convince, not coerce, the woman to change her name. Even some religions and cultures make change of surname after marriage optional, talk less of first name change. Ladies, note this: if the request to change your first name comes before marriage and the man does not make a fuss about it when you refuse, do not think assume that the matter is over, particularly if his request was backed up by “strong” reasons or religious beliefs. Whatever was an issue before marriage is very likely to be a bigger issue in marriage, except it was properly and conclusively resolved before marriage. I do not belong to the school that sings “what’s in a name’ because I believe that names affect people. Call someone a fool for a long time, and all you have to do is watch him/her act out the name. Call your wife “princess” continuously, and she acts like one; call her “foolish/stupid” woman and enjoy the consequences! Names are powerful and we owe it to our spouses and children to ensure that we all answer good names which will not impact us negatively. However, we must do this maturely and lovingly. As long as your partner has good reasons for requesting a name change, do not fight about it. So, what should you do if your partner asks you to change your first name? It depends…

July 27, 2013

Woman

‘Trust is essential in marriage’ Princess Uzamat Folasayo Akinbile kinbile is a trained pharmacist who later turned oil magnate. In this interview with e Ijebu-Ode, Ogun TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, the d politician recalls her State-born busineswoman and successful foray into businesss in her undergraduate days, her marriage and how she hass impacted positively on many people. ate of divorce in Nigeria and many other issues. Akinbile also speaks on the rate

ou are a successful businesswoman oman and pharmacist. What was your journey to stardom like? y secondary school days when I used I have been in business since my ps to various communities where she to accompany my mother on business trips purchased foodstuffs to sell. I also helped her to sell at her shop. We were then living in Ile-Ife, Osun State. I started my own business after I left secondary y school. I went into buying and selling tilll I got admission into the University istry for some time. I opened open op ened ed a shop of Ibadan (UI), where I studied Biochemistry Ibad dan an, Oyo Oy State, because I was called Princess Ventures at Sango area of Ibadan, nd Gambler. I was selling some already an accredited agent of Procter and of the company’s products like biscuits and diapers. I later left UI beecured another admission cause I did not like Biochemistry. So, I secured o study Pharmacy. into the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to hen you got to LaDid you continue your business when gos? ess with studies At UNILAG, I was still juggling business and because I lived around Yaba, I got another shop e rice, beans and I continued to trade in food stuffs like ur and sugand flour. I sold other things such as flour tablished ar, in large quantities. Along the line, I established a computer school and a cybercafé that attracted a lot of patronage from residents. iness How were you able to combine business with your studies? sn’t Combining studies with business wasn’t ay. easy at all. It affected my studies in a way ve At a point, I had epimerises for about five o months when I was pregnant. I had to a abandon my studies, hence, I had an extra year and graduated in 2006. You are into oil business. How did you venture into it? I went into oil business in 2000 while I was still in school through the encouragement of one of my business mentors, Alhaji Olaoluwa Adeogun, an oil magn nate. I started building a filling station sieven before I graduated from the university. I have never worked for anyone in my life iness and I was so sure I could succeed in business me from against all odds. The start up capital came personal savings from the foodstuff business. Upon graduation, a company offered me a job with a salary of N250, 000 among other perks of office but nt to work for I declined the offer because I did not want any one. You are a trained Pharmacist butt you seem to be ou still practising more interested in business. Are you your profession? I still practice my profession because itt is a profession I love

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

WOMAN

July 27, 2013

I AM RELATIVELY SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE I HAVE ADHERED TO CERTAIN PRINCIPLES OF RUNNING A MEDIUM SCALE BUSINESS TO

Keeping ABREAST

GREATER HEIGHTS most. Even wherever I might be in politics, I would still come back to assist my people because it is not everybody who can be a pharmacist. It is not a course that is easy for everybody to do. So, when you have that grace you must be ready to assist people. It is a part of service too. When somebody is very sick and you see that person dying, you must be able to consult and assist that person positively. You now head a group of businesses spanning oil and gas with a chain of filling stations, pharmaceutical and information technology. Was there any period you experienced difficulties in your business and how were you able to overcome them? I will never forget 2007 because it was a year my business was dealt a terrible blow as a result of simultaneous fire and robbery incidents. In October 2007, one station was robbed by armed robbers and millions of Naira carted away barely few weeks after the filling station located in Ajasa near Meiran, Lagos State, started operation. As if that was not enough, on November 12 of the same year, a fire incident arising from generator explosion during the discharge of fuel rocked one of my filling stations. Although I lost money and vehicles to the incident I thank God that five of my employees who were victims of the incident did not die. I am relatively successful because I have adhered to certain principles of running medium scale business into greater heights. The rules of running a business and making a success out of it are not cast in iron but require a deep understanding and relative financial discipline to apply those rules. My pharmaceutical company (Musaroq Pharmaceuticals) is sole representative of big overseas-based drug manufacturing companies while another subsidiary, Musaroq Information Technology Ltd., is growing from leaps and bound and a new filling station was just opened in Ikorodu. How do you manage being a businesswoman, pharmacist, politician, wife and mother at the same time? To God be the glory, I’ve not been found wanting in all the aspects you have mentioned. God has given me the strength to carry on and I have a very supportive husband that, wherever I am going and whatever I am doing, he is always there with me. And my children too have grown up and they appreciate me. I give them time; no matter how busy I am I give them time. We are always together on Saturday and Sunday and wherever I am going, I won’t leave my house until 1pm on Saturday and on Sunday. We go to programme together unless I have a crucial programme or appointment to go for. In my business too, I have good hands on deck in terms of my staff. I have staff that we have been working together for good 10 years and we have gone through many thick and thin to-

gether and they understand the business. Even if I am busy with many programmes my husband is there to take charge of our business. The rate of divorce in Nigeria today is alarming. Why do you think marriages are being dissolved? We would only pray to God about that because the two people that were joined together are usually the factors to the divorce. When you say you love somebody and the person says he loves you, then suddenly, you don’t trust each other any longer, there is a problem. In marriage, the first fundamental thing that you must ensure is intact is trust. When there is trust you won’t find faults. Everybody has his positive and negative sides, but if you overlook the negative part of the other person, you will get on well. You should be able to manage the other side of your partner properly. Also, you should make up your mind to stay with your husband for the rest of you life, even during the period of crisis.

Some people have attributed high rate of divorce in Nigeria to early marriage which makes two imature people come together. Do you agree with this belief ? I don’t accept that because many people get married at old age and still go through divorce. So, it is not the age that matters. The cause of divorce in Nigeria today differs from the background. Religion and many things in the society are responsible for diverce. Economic factor brings about divorce, for example. It is not the age that brings about divorce; to me age is just a number because you see some children of 20 to 25 years that are more mature. I would say that economic factor brings about divorce. As it is, not many men can cater for their wives as required by Islam. Anything from the woman should ordinarily be in support, but as it is now, the economic situation in the country has not made it possible for the man to actually provide well enough for the woman. What is yor view about a woman being a full time housewife? I don’t subscribe to the wife being a full time housewife because there are lots of negative impacts to it. Your husband may be able to take charge of everything, but when you look at it critically, it may not the best because the end can come anytime. So, if your husband takes full charge and tomorrow you lose the husband, what will be your fate? I don’t really subscribe to full time housewife. At least a wife should be able to go out there and do little things to add to whatever the husband is bringing in. Whatever you can do, do it to affect the family positively. Even if your husband does not permit you to go out and run around to hustle like some women are doing, you can still do something reasonable within the four corners of your room than sitting down and doing nothing.

‘Pregnancy can be a time of serious sleep disturbance’

or most women, pregnancy is a time of great joy, excitement and anticipation. Unfortunately, for many it can also be a time of serious sleep disturbance, even for women who have never had problems sleeping. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation’s 1998 Women and Sleep poll, 78% of women report more disturbed sleep during pregnancy than at other times. Many women also report feeling extremely fatigued during pregnancy, especially during the first and third trimesters. Considering the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy and the prevalence of sleep disorders among pregnant women, it’s no wonder that expectant mothers become so tired. One of the reasons for fatigue and sleep problems during pregnancy are

changing hormone levels. For example, rising progesterone levels may partly explain excessive daytime sleepiness, especially in the first trimester. Hormonal changes may also have an inhibitory effect on muscles, which may result in snoring and in obese women increase the risk of developing sleep apnea and may be partly responsible for the frequent trips to the bathroom during the night. These interruptions as well as those caused by nausea and other pregnancy-related discomforts can result in significant loss of sleep. Many women experience insomnia due to emotions and anxiety about labour and delivery, balancing motherhood and work, or their changing relationship with their partner. Culled from sleep foundation.org

Alcohol, tobacco harmful on women’s bone health –Study

lthough alcohol’s damaging effects on bone are most striking in young people, research has shown that women between the ages of 67 and 90 who consumed an average of more than 3 ounces of alcohol per day (the equivalent of six drinks) had greater bone loss than women who had minimal alcohol intake. In addition to such research in human adults, studies of animals that began consuming alcohol as elderly animals also revealed deficiencies in bone volume and density. These studies in adult animals agreed with cell–culture studies, suggesting that in these adult animals, alcohol consumption has greater deleterious effects on bone formation than on the breakdown (i.e., resorption) of old bone. In addition to alcohol use, lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, exercise and body weight, nutrition, and hor-

mone replacement appear to play a role in bone health and osteoporosis risk, although the magnitude of these roles is not well understood. Brief summaries of research on such osteoporosis risk factors are provided below, followed by a discussion of how alcohol might interact with each factor. However, as these discussions underscore, in most instances, there has been very little research addressing their association with alcohol’s effects. Many—although not all—studies have shown a link between tobacco use and decreased bone health. Heavy smoking has long been associated with greater risk for osteoporosis; a higher incidence of bone fractures, lower bone density, and fewer teeth; a dramatic decrease in the mineralisation of bones in the hip, hand, forearm, and heel; decreased bone healing and a decrease in new bone formation.

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Parenting

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

Home remedies to Tiny Feet stop thumb sucking

ecause infants associate sucking with pleasure, they continue the habit throughout toddlerhood, and revert to it especially during times of stress. This need to suck usually diminishes sometime during the first year. Some toddlers, however, retain thumb or finger sucking as a normal method of using their body parts for pleasure or relaxation. The good news is that by the time a child is old enough that thumb sucking might harm her teeth, she should also be old enough to understand how it is harmful. The causes that lead to the habit of thumb sucking have long been a mystery. Parents have tried a host of products on their children’s thumbs as a way to discourage the practice. There are products on the market that you paint on your son or daughter’s thumb or thumbnail. These products are non-toxic, but they taste horrible. The foul taste is thought to discourage thumb sucking. Instead of trying store-bought products such as these, you should try home remedies to stop thumb sucking. Actually, the experts, such as Stephen J. Moss, D.D.S., professor and chairman of the Pedi-

atric Dentistry Department at New York University College of Dentistry advises parents not to be too concerned if your child is under the age of five and sucks his or her thumb. Dr. Moss considers it to be fairly normal for a child between birth and three to have this habit. According to him, thumb sucking won’t affect a child’s teeth during this time either. However, when a child reaches six years old, he or she begins to get their permanent teeth. This starts the time when thumb sucking can cause damage to their teeth. Of course, the front teeth are the most vulnerable to becoming distended. That’s due to the force that’s applied to them by the thumb and the sucking action. So, what are some effective home remedies to stop thumb sucking? First, you have to find out what the cause of thumb sucking is, if you can. According to the National Center for Children Exposed To Violence (NCCEV), children under the age of five years of age are “heavily affected by their parent’s responses to trauma.” This can cause children to be overcome by anxiety. Their anxiety can lead to clutching to their parents, crying,

ParentingUpdate

screaming, wetting the bed, having nightmares, and... sucking their thumbs. Since children are unable to deal completely with their emotions, they are prone to frequent bouts of anxiety. Still, there are home remedies you can use to help stop your son or daughter’s thumb sucking habit. Especially if he or she is six years old or older and you want to avoid having to pay for braces to straighten his or her teeth later on. Children who suck their thumbs also tend to develop speech problems. They have problems pronouncing the “S” sound and other sounds that require using the tip of the tongue. And, sometimes a thumb can actually develop minor health problems from the constant moisture and sucking action it’s exposed to. Calluses, dry, cracked skin, and nail infections are common examples of these minor health problems. The first home remedy you need to know about is dealing with your child’s anxiety. If he or she has more stress than normal in his or her life, this can be causing their thumb sucking habit. So, talk to your child about his or her fears. You may be surprised at what you find out! He or she may need more love and at-

NAME: Ayomiposi Delight Odesanya

BORN TO: Mr. and Mrs Olaolu Odesanya AGE: 3 months BIRTH WEIGHT: 3.5 kg Have you just had a baby? Send a picture of your bundle of joy to mirrorbabies@gmail.com tention than your other children do. Another home remedy to stop thumb sucking is to give your child rewards for stopping. Make up a page on your computer and print it out so you two can keep track of their progress on a daily basis. Pulling their thumb out of their mouth, yelling, threatening, and embarrassing a child isn’t going to help the matter. Instead, explain to your son or daughter why it’s important that he or she stop. Then, decide together on how your child is going to accomplish this with your help.

The rewards can be some time spent at the local park, a visit to the zoo, an extra story at bedtime, a small toy, et cetera. Another home remedy to stop thumb sucking is to help make your child aware of their habit. Habits are hard to break. Your son or daughter can stick their thumb in their mouth without even realizing it. A good way to discourage thumb sucking, and keep your child aware to stop, is to place a small dab of perfume on his or her thumb. The taste will discourage thumb sucking. Plus, the smell will help remind them of its purpose.

Baby born deformed after misdiagnosed ectopic pregnancy

achel Schoger of Caldwell, Idaho (USA), had been trying to have a baby for two years and eight months -- a grueling wait interrupted by three positive pregnancy tests and three unexplained miscarriages. After a fourth positive test, she went to her doctor for answers. The news was devastating. “It’s ectopic,” Schoger recalled the doctor saying after a hormone test and an ultrasound. “I was so upset because we’d been trying for so long.” An ectopic pregnancy is one that occurs outside the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes. Because the fetus cannot survive and the mom could suffer life-threatening internal bleeding, ectopic pregnancies, which may account for as many

as one in 40 pregnancies, are terminated at the earliest sign. Schoger’s doctor recommended using methotrexate -- a chemotherapy drug that would save her and her fallopian tube, and kill the doomed fetus. Schoger was given two highdose shots of methotrexate in the fatty tissue above her hips to abort her pregnancy, which was four weeks and five days along. Days later, she started having nightmares about a baby crying out in pain inside her. So when she returned to the doctor for a second round of shots a week later, she insisted on a follow-up ultrasound for peace of mind. “I needed it to calm me down, to know I was doing the right thing,” she said. As the ultrasound technician

rolled the probe over Schoger’s pelvis, her jaw suddenly dropped. Schoger was still pregnant, and the fetus was in her uterus where it belonged. At the expiration of the nine-months pregnancy term, she gave birth to Seraphine. “She was beautiful,” said Schoger. “She had 10 fingers, 10 toes. She just looked so good.” But relief quickly gave way to panic as nurses struggled to take Seraphine’s temperature. The baby, who, against all odds, appeared to be normal, had no rectum. She also lacked a vagina and a uterus, and has a malformed spinal cord. These are all birth defects Schoger is convinced stemmed from methotrexate exposure in the womb. (www.abcnews.com)

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

July 27, 2013

uberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Tuberculosis (TB) a global emergency in 1993 and it remains one of the world’s major causes of illness and death.

Tuberculosis

How TB Spreads TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The TB bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

TB is NOT spread by • shaking someone’s hand • sharing food or drink • touching bed linens or toilet seats • sharing toothbrushes • kissing Latent TB Infection and TB Disease Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection and TB disease.

Latent TB Infection TB bacteria can live in the body without making you sick. This is called latent TB infection. In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. People with latent TB infection do not feel sick and do not have any symptoms. People with la-

tent TB infection are not infectious and cannot spread TB bacteria to others. However, if TB bacteria become active in the body and multiply, the person will go from having latent TB infection to being sick with TB disease.

TB Disease TB bacteria become active if the immune system can’t stop them from growing. When TB bacteria are active (multiplying in your body), this is called TB disease. People with TB disease are sick. They may also be able to spread the bacteria to people they spend time with every day. Many people who have latent TB infection never develop TB disease. Some people develop TB disease soon after

becoming infected (within weeks) before their immune system can fight the TB bacteria. Other people may get sick years later when their immune system becomes weak for another reason. For people whose immune systems are weak, especially those with HIV infection, the risk of developing TB disease is much higher than for people with normal immune systems.

Symptoms of Tuberculosis Symptoms of TB disease include: Y a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer Y pain in the chest Y coughing up blood or sputum Y weakness or fatigue Y weight loss

Y Y Y Y

no appetite chills fever sweating at night

TB Risk Factors A number of factors make people more susceptible to TB infections. The most important risk factor globally is HIV. In addition, Tuberculosis is closely linked to both overcrowding and malnutrition, making it one of the principal diseases of poverty. Those at high risk thus include: people who inject illicit drugs, inhabitants and employees of locales where vulnerable people gather (e.g. prisons and homeless shelters), medically underprivileged and resource-poor communities, high-risk ethnic minorities, children in close contact with high-risk category patients, and health care providers serving these patients. Chronic lung disease is another significant risk factor. Those who smoke cigarettes have nearly twice the risk of TB than nonsmokers. Other disease states can also increase the risk of developing tuberculosis, including alcoholism and diabetes mellitus. Certain medications, such as corticosteroids are becoming increasingly important risk factors, especially in the developed world.

Testing for TB Infection There are two kinds of tests that are used to detect TB bacteria in the body: the TB skin test and TB blood tests. These tests can be given by a health care provider or local health department. If you have a positive reaction to either of the tests, you will be given other tests to see if you have latent TB infection or TB disease. TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

LETTER

How can I be free from mouth odour? Dear Mirror Doctor, I just want to ask about drugs to be taken to cure ‘mouth odour’. 0703-----59. Mirror Doctor Replies Mouth odour (halitosis) treatment is not about the use of drugs. The origin of mouth odour may be oral (within the mouth) or extra oral (outside the mouth). It may be as a result of bacteria and decaying food particles. There are hundreds of nooks and crannies in the landscape of the mouth where these offenders can get lodged. Brushing is not enough. Some causes of mouth odour are retention of bad smelling food particles on and between the teeth, retention of food particles

on the tongue thereby forming a coating which further results in production of offensive odour, accumulation of food particles in the tooth cavities thereby leading to acid production and intolerable odour, infections or lesions of the respiratory tract, and some medical conditions. There are many ways to cover up bad breath, but if you are tired of quick fixes and want to get rid of mouth odour once and for all, take these instructions to heart or should I say mouth! First, the tongue which is like a shaggy carpet where all kinds of smelling stuff can hide should be ‘scraped’ using your tooth brush. Make the use of dental floss instead of tooth pick as much a mindless habit as brushing your teeth. This way, you are able to dislodge chunks of food that have ‘stuck’ to your teeth and gum.

Ensure you keep your mouth moisturized as a dry mouth is a stinky mouth. That is why bad breath is worse in the morning because the mouth produces less saliva as you sleep. Saliva is the enemy of bad breath because not only does it physically wash bacteria and some food particles away, it also has antiseptic and enzymes that kill bacteria. Next, choose your gum carefully. Chewing gum simulates saliva production (in addition to covering up the odour with some kind of scent). Though any gum will help with bad breath, some gum however have, better bad-breath fighting abilities than others. You may look for gum sweetened with Xylotol as this is a sugar substitute that actually works to prevent bacteria from replicating in the mouth. Mints do not encourage saliva

production. Furthermore, if you are on a low carbohydrate diet, you might have what is known as ‘ketone breath’. Basically as the body breaks down fats instead of carbohydrate for energy, it creates ketones some of which are released in your mouth. Unfortunately, ketone smells bad and so will your breath. If you are on a diet that forces you to burn fat instead of carbohydrate, consider taking apples or banana along with your diet. Now days, lots of mouthwashes are available which help to get rid of bad breath. Flavored mouthwashes are of great help. Finally, if you have followed the above steps diligently and the bad breath persists, you may have a medical issue that needs to be treated.

EVENTS

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Yvonne Nelson premieres House of Gold Top Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson premiered her latest movie, House of Gold, starring Omawumi, Ice Prince and many other stars at the Silverbird Cinemas last weekend. Unsurprisingly, many stars, including Majid Michel, Rukky Sanda and Ebube Nwagbo, put in an appearance to support the beautiful actress. Yvonne Nelson and Mai Atafo

Celebrities take a group photo

Venita Akpofure and IK Ogbonna

Yvonne receives a gift from a fan

Yvonne’s friends

Ebube Nwagbo and Majid

Rukky Sanda and Yvonne

How Omotola stole the show at MBGN 2013 By now, everyone knows that the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria beauty pageant for this year held last weekend in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and that the 18-year-old Miss Anna Ebiere Banner was the winner. As usual, it was fun and thrills all the way at the high octane event which was attended by the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, and Silverbird Group’s chairman, Ben Murray-Bruce. Astoundingly however, Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, turned out to be the star of the night. From her arrival at the airport, to her stylish striped gown, to the honorary award of ‘Unique Personality of the Year’ that was presented to her by Dickson and Murray-Bruce, to her graceful physique that made Dickson compliment her by saying “Looking at you, now I know why they call you Omosexy,” and her speech condemning the Child Marriage Bill, Omosexy just stole the show without any apologies to anyone. Way to go, girl!

Vixen and Omotola

Dickson, Omotola and Murray-Bruce

MBGN 2013 top three winners: 1st runner-up, Miss Imo, Stephanie Okwu; winner, Miss Bayelsa, Anna Banner; and 2nd runner-up, Miss Adamawa, Powede Lawrence Omotola and hubby, Matthew Ekeinde

Harrysong, a guest, and Kcee with Banner

Dickson congratulating Banner

Kcee’s arrival

Omotola’s arrival in Bayelsa

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

EVENTS

July 27, 2013

Ahead of the Miss Global Nigeria beauty pageant holding tomorrow at Xovar Lounge by Bespoke Events Centre, Lekki, Lagos, MGNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contestants, led by its project manager, Faith Irabor, paid a courtesy visit to National Mirror on Thursday in appreciation of NMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support of the pageant. They were received by the Editor, Daily, Mr Seyi Fasugba; the Senior Manager, Strategic Development, Mr Gani Kayode-Balogun; and the Arts Editor, Adenrele Niyi.

Miss Global Nigeria contestants visit National Mirror

The contestants in a group pose

Princess Akan

Valerie Solomon

Ejiroghene Tejere

Winifred Orji

Atinuke Giwa

Victoria Antai

Feyisayo Ajimati

Michelle Udeka

Oluwa Busayo Abiri

Josephine Onuabuguchi

Victoria Samuel

Temitop Olowoniyan

Bunmi Akinseye

Oluwatola Ayayi

Urenna Onyeneke

Sholape Olateju

Adepeju Odusole

Winifred Mavoro

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Court dissolves 19-yr marriage over infidelity •Orders ex-director of Law Union Insurance to pay N500, 000 damages to mistress’ husband WALE IGBINTADE

Delta State High Court sitting in Kwale has dissolved the marriage of a Lagos business man Fiddis Chukwunwike Ogwugwa on the grounds that his wife, Charity Chineye Ogwugwa, had roman-

tic affairs with the former Executive Director of Law Union and Rock Issuance Company, Olusegun Augustine Ilori. Justice Jahegho Williams in his judgement ordered Olusegun Ilori and Charity Chineye Ogwugwa to jointly pay the sum of N500, 000 damages for the suffering and pains caused Og-

wugwa. The court also granted Ogwugwa custody of their children. The court noted that the respondents, Charity Ogwugwa and Olusegun Ilori, failed to file reply to the petition and never showed up in court. Consequently, Justice Wil-

‘My husband secretly married a new wife in the village’ •The woman is my friend’s sister –Husband TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

business centre operator, Mrs. Toyosi Babalola, has expressed her decision to divorce her husband, Mr. Babatope Babalola, who, according to her, secretly married and kept a new wife in the village. The plaintiff, Mrs. Babalola, who is seeking dissolution of their 13 year-marriage, which is blessed with two children, said her husband has been cheating on her in the last few years. Backing her claim with evidence, Toyosi showed the court a photograph where her husband was half naked in a deeply romantic pose with another woman inside a room. But in swift reaction to the allegation levied against him, Mr. Babalola told the court that the woman in the picture was his friend’s sister and that there was nothing between them. Having allegedly caught her husband in adultery act, the wife said she is no longer interested in the marriage based on lack of love, constant fighting, keeping of malice and other irreconcilable offences. “My husband keeps malice a lot and despite living together in the same house, there are periods that we talk for only three days in a month. We have been keeping malice in the last 13 years. My husband is stingy and he only gives me N200 per day for me and the children. At times, he goes out on Thursday and comes back on Sunday without leaving money for feeding. “I detected recently through the help of the Holy Spirit that my husband has a wife somewhere. After many days, I discovered that my husband had a

secret wife in his village.” Asked how she knew that her husband had a wife in the village, Mrs. Babalola brought pictures of her husband and a woman in different places on a banner. “When I discovered that my husband had married a new wife, I didn’t ask him because we don’t talk regularly. I got all the pictures of their secret affairs from his digital camera

where he kept it,” she said. Responding to the allegation of infidelity against him, Mr Babalola said, “The woman in the photograph is my friend’s sister and there is nothing between us. She was only greeting me in the picture. If I have anything to hide, I would have kept the digital camera where she cannot find it.” The case was adjourned to August 5, 2013.

liams held that the evidence led by the petitioner was not challenged. The court stated that since the wife moved out of her matrimonial home on March 3, 2011, she has thereby satisfied the one year provision of section 15 and 31 of the Rules and Matrimonial Causes Act. The divorce petition was originally filed before a Lagos High Court, but was struck out. The petitioner re-filed the suit before a Kwale High Court and was granted judgement. Olusegun Ilori was at the time of filing the divorce petition Executive Director of Law Union, while Charity was Project Manager. Ogwugwa had in his petition stated that he was lawfully married to Charity at the marriage registry on November 25, 1994 in line with The Marriage Act, adding that the marriage produced two children a boy and a girl. He stated that he became suspicious sometime in 2003 when his wife began excusing herself to receive phone calls at odd hours of the day. The petitioner added that between December 2003 and February 2004, he found an amorous text from Ilori to his wife. He them called both of them and cautioned them about this misconduct, an accusation which both of them denied vehemently, stressing the absence of any sexual relationship between them. He stated that on April 18, 2010, email messages were exchanged between the two lovers and that his wife in error forwarded a copy of the message

to him. Consequently, Ogwugwa sought the following orders of the court; namely the dissolution of the marriage on the grounds that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, custody of the two children produced by the marriage, and N20million as special and general damages for the trauma, trespass and irresponsibility of the respondents. At the trial, the petitioner testified for himself and produced a recorded compact disk in support of his case as evidence that his wife committed adultery. Besides, he told the court that his wife was so troublesome and always wanted to be in control, adding that she moved out of the matrimonial home on her own volition on March 3, 2011, and all attempts to reconcile with her proved abortive. In her judgment, the presiding judge said, “I have carefully considered this petition. They are not contradicted or controverted and as such, assumed to be correct. This court, therefore, has no option in the absence of any other fact mitigating against the petition, has been proved as required by law. I, therefore, dissolve the said marriage of November 25, 1994. Further, I give custody of the children to the petitioner. “I also award the sum of N500, 000 against Charity and Olasegun Ilori, jointly as special and general damages for the trauma and trespass of them, particularly for the irresponsible acts of Segun Ilori in ruining the matrimonial home of the petitioner.”

‘My wife denied me sex for almost three years’ • He said I was not good in bed anymore -Wife

hirty-two-year-old Olabisi Adekoya, a Lagosbased business man who deals in phones and accessories, has filed a divorce suit against his wife, Deronke, at the Ikeja Customary Court for starving him of sex for almost three years. He accused his wife, who is a beautician. of infidelity and engaging in extra-marital af-

fairs. He said: “I told her to stop calling men on the phone and that she should find a way to make her marriage work. She would not listen. She is fond of making secret calls to a man she was befriending. She also sent text messages to him often. “She has deprived me of sex for almost three years now and that is why I decided to bring

the case before this honourable court. It is almost three years ago that we made love last.” The respondent denied the allegations, accusing her husband of using her ill-health to cheat on her by flirting with different women. “It was because of my poor health that we both agreed to refrain from having sex, based on my doctor’s advice. Besides,

whenever l wanted to fulfil my marital role in bed, he would tell me not to kill myself for nothing and that I was not good in bed anymore. As a wife, l tried to fulfil my part despite my ill- health, but he refused to cooperate with me.” After listening to both parties, the President of the court, Sam Aluko adjourned the case till August 26, 2013.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

‘My husband is a thief’ •I found ‘spiritual soaps’ under her bed -Husband

yinkan Adedolapo last Tuesday pleaded with an Ikeja Customary Court to dissolve her marriage to Abiola Adedolapo over allegations of robbery. She accused Abiola, a plumber, and her husband of ten years of “robbing her shop several times.” Oyinkan told the court that each time she stocked her shop with goods; her husband would rob her. “One fateful day, when I opened for business, I discovered some of my goods were missing, I called Abiola to inform him and he said I was robbed due to my carelessness. But neighbours keep telling me he was responsible for the theft,” she said, adding that only Abiola knew where she kept the keys to the salon. “He got a girl pregnant in our compound, but I didn’t ask him about it. Still, he threatened to bath me with acid and destroy my salon. I left the house with my children on August 1, 2012 when I saw a bucket of acid under his bed. My son pleaded with me that we should leave the house. He has been threatening me on phone since the case got to this court in February. He still threatened me with a text message on Sunday.” Abiola however, told the court that their misunderstanding started when he found a bible and some “spiritual soaps” under his wife’s bed. He claimed to have reported the incidence to his wife’s sister, but that it only compounded the issue. Abiola further explained that his wife mistook a cleansing chemical for acid and also denied his wife’s allegation that he impregnated any girl. “What she is mistaking for acid is not acid. It is a chemical we use to clean tiles after fixing them. And as for the pregnancy she is talking about, I am not responsible for the lady’s pregnancy. The man responsible was arrested by the police,” he said. He pleaded with the court to grant him custody of his three children and said he was willing to pay the sum of N10, 000 monthly for their upkeep should the court deny his request. The court president, Mr. S. Aluko remarked that alternative dispute resolution had failed to work for the estranged couple. The case was adjourned till August 26th.

DIVORCE COURT

July 27, 2013

‘I will only divorce my husband if he deactivates the Ifa covenant between us’ •I gave her a bead to prevent her from committing adultery -Husband TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

28-year-old food stuff seller, Mrs. Saidat Yusuf, has appealed to the Agege Customary Court to prevail on her husband, Mr. Dauda Yusuf, to deactivate the love

covenant between them before granting her husband’s wish for divorce. Speaking as a defendant in a divorce suit brought to the court by her husband, Mrs. Yusuf told the court that she entered an Odu Ifa covenant with her husband not to leave one another and any attempt to grant

the prayer of her husband for divorce may put her own life in danger. Saidat told the court that, “It will be too dangerous for me to divorce him because two of us entered into Odu Ifa covenant and we are bound by the covenant. He took me to a place for the covenant and a bead was tied

‘I caught my wife in bed with my apprentice’ HAKEEM GBADAMOSI

customary Court sitting at Odode- Idanre in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State has dissolved a 20-year marriage between a 48 year old driver, Eric Akinola and Mrs. Omoyokun Akinola on the grounds of infidelity. Mrs Omoyokun Akinola had approached the court seeking for the dissolution of the matrimony on the grounds of drunkenness, threat to life and lack of care. But in a twist of events, the husband told the court that his wife is a serial adulterer who has been caught severally sleeping with men outside and within the matrimonial home. Akinola said he caught his wife in their matrimonial bed sleeping with one Morufu who was his apprentice and had to beat the apprentice to the point of death before releasing him. He said “I caught my wife sleeping with my apprentice on our matrimonial bed and I near-

ly killed the boy because I could not imagine how my wife will be having sex with my apprentice in my home “My wife is promiscuous. When I suspected her, she denied until she was caught in our bedroom with my apprentice having sex with her” Akinola said he was tired of the relationship, saying that his wife had brought disgrace to him within the community as he listed names of his wife’s lovers within the environment. He explained that he once had to lose his job due to his wife’s waywardness because she was sleeping with one of his co - workers at Omi Ifon farm settlement. The management of the settlement had to sack him because he fought with one Mr. Omolade who was sleeping with his wife and they had to show him and Omolade the way out of the company. He said all the allegations filed against him by his wife were unfounded, describing the allegations as spurious and urged the court to dissolve the 20-year marriage that produced

four girls on the grounds of infidelity. When the president of the court, Hon. Ademujimi, demanded to know the effort of the family in settling the disputes between the couple, Akinola explained that both families intervened in the matter to ensure that they lived together again. He said, “Our families tried to settle the disputes, but my wife would not back off from her illicit acts. Even recently, she met an old tailor in the community with whom she started doing what she knows how to do best and I think we need to go on our separate ways. “She has vowed that nobody could separate her and the tailor, and it will be useless persuading her to come back to my home. I therefore plead with this court to dissolve this marriage” Ruling on the case, the President of the court said the marriage had broken down saying, “Starting from today, you cease to be addressed as husband and wife. You shall go your separate ways and maintain peace.”

round my waist while my husband’s own bead was tied on his left hand. The covenant prevents me from having any relationship with any other man. So, because of the covenant between us it will be dangerous for me to marry another man if we separate. “During one of our disagreements, I angrily untied the bead from my waist, thinking that I will be free from the covenant. But I was told that there is still more to the covenant. People told me that unless the covenant is deactivated at the shrine where it was done, it will be risky for me to remarry or have any affair with any other man. Since he says he wants to divorce me, he must deactivate the covenant first before I will agree to the divorce.” Mr. Yusuf who first swore with The Holy Quran and the Month of Ramadan that he never entered into any covenant with Saidat, after intense interrogation from the court judges later confessed that he had an Odu Ifa covenant with Saidat to prevent her from committing adultery. “I can swear with The Holy Quran and the Month of Ramadan and the fasting that I am observing presently that there is no covenant between us. I never had any oath with her,” said the husband initially. But when pressed further by the presiding judges based on Saidat’s assertion that Daudu’s bead was tied to his left hand, Mr. Yusuf later confessed that, “It is true that we had Odu Ifa covenant. I gave her a bead to prevent her from committing adultery.” When asked why he is seeking for divorce despite the covenant between them, Dauda said, “I am seeking divorce because I later discovered that Saidat is not the person that Ifa meant for me. The person that Ifa meant for me is still young and is still in the village.” Having established the fact that there is a covenant between them, the court pleaded with Mr. Yusuf to take his wife to the shrine where the covenant was activated for it to be deactivated, so that Saidat would be free from the covenant before the case can continue. They both agreed to go for deactivation of the covenant on Friday July 26, 2013. The court adjourned their case to August 1 for judgement.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

July 27, 2013

People

Fatai Abiodun Olumegbon:

Defending overlordship of Ajah Chief Fatai Abiodun Olumegbon is the traditional ruler of Ajah and Okun Ajah in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos. He is the Olumegbon of Lagos and head of the Idejo class, the traditional owners of Lagos. WALE IGBINTADE Background was born with the proverbial golden spoon. My father was the third marine engineer in Nigeria. He was a very wealthy man and my mother was a business tycoon. I am the only child of my mother and the last child of my father. They both died within five months and things changed drastically afterwards. I had to go and live with my mother’s cousin, Alhaja Sikirat Eko and her husband, Alhaji Akani Eko. They were highly disciplined people. At that time, I thought they were not nice to me. I never knew they were preparing me for the future. Each time I remember them, I pray for them even though they are no more alive. If my mother was alive, I believe she would have pampered me and I won’t be able to face the crisis I am facing today. I won’t be able to manage the exalted throne of my forefathers. I started my primary education at Ansar-ul-deen Primary School, Alakoro, Lagos. I later moved to St. John’s Catholic School, Falomo. Shortly, after the death of my mother, late Alhaja Oriat Agbeke Lawal, I went to live with my mother’s cousin, Alhaja Sikirat Eko and her husband who enrolled me at Ansar-ul-deen Primary School, Babatunde Street, Surulere, Lagos, from where I gained admission to Ansarul-deen Grammar School, Randle Avenue, Surulere. I passed out in 1977 in flying colours. Due to lack of funds, I went to Ojo to work with the Nigeria Biscuits Company at Apapa as a cadet clerk. I worked for about a year and got another employment with Metal-Box Toyoglass, Agbara as Bottle Inspector. I was eventually promoted as Supervisor. In 1984, when there was scar-

city of raw materials, we were all laid off. That was when I established my business: Olofin Ajayi Nigeria Enterprises. At the initial stage, business was not forthcoming. Sometimes, I ate once in a day for my children to eat three square meals. I have witnessed poverty in life and I pray to God never to experience it again. Nevertheless, it has made me strong. When I see people who are in need, I remember the days I was in need and assist them. Ajah crisis I am a graduate of History. There is something in History called land tenure system. Land tenureship in Africa makes it difficult to differentiate the clear owners of land and their tenants. Within the compound, you have the original owners. Then you have the squatters and the squatters have children, they have grand-children, who will tell you they are also owners of the land. Look at the Mfecane War in South Africa in those days. Mfecane was a war fought among South Africans themselves before the coming of the Dutch. They were fighting over land; the Mfekayo and the Chakazulus were fighting over land. So it is not peculiar to Nigeria that we fight over land. When we won the Supreme Court judgment, we took possession of our prop-

erty. It was hell but we prayed to God and God assisted us and we took possession. We are all living under the rule of law in this country. If a governor is given a court order to vacate office within 24 hours, he or she must hand over and leave office. So if there is a Supreme Court judgment, the other party must abide by that judgment. The crisis in Ajah is caused by the aggrieved parties. Nobody will have a property and want to destroy it. I don’t think it is possible, except the person is insane. Before my arrival in Ajah everybody knew how Ajah was, they know how it is today. I brought sanity into Ajah. When I came into Ajah, there was no motor park. All those buses usually parked on the road causing traffic. It was when I came that I got parks for them. The boys came together and formed a union called “One Love”. If we don’t do that, there will be a lot of crime. Because of the connection with government, they tarred the road from Ajah to Badore for us. Airtel provided the community water. Things have been going on well since I came. But when detractors want to talk, they do not see any good in what we have done. But, whether you hate or love me, you must see me as a hero in Ajah. You

must. Ajah axis is highly developed. We have elites living here. I have the right profile to be overlord of Ajah. My son is a graduate of Civil Engineering, my daughter is a lawyer, and my wife is also a graduate. If I am not responsible, you won’t have responsible children around me. The Ajah crisis has already been resolved, because we have terms of settlement which stipulates that ten members of Ajah and Olumegbon are to form the management committee to deliberate on the issues of Ajah. It was agreed that when we have seven or eight members, we have formed a quorum. One of the terms is that when we have a group of people who are not ready to assist or come into the committee, government and the security agencies should be alerted and made to know that they are the trouble makers. The court has said we should go back to what the two parties signed. We signed it ourselves, our counsels witnessed. The agreement was prepared by the late jurist, Justice Teslim Elias whose mother is our tenant in Ajah. Foray into politics I was the Publicity and Organising Secretary of Awori Youth Movement in 1987. In the defunct Nigerian Republican Convention, I was the Publicity Secretary in Ojo Local Government, which has been divided into about seven local government councils now. I was also a state and national delegate. Later, we formed UNCP and I was a ward chairman and later Secretary of the Local Government. After the death of Gen. Sani Abacha, I was appointed Supervisory Councillor for Works in IfakoIjaiye Local Government. It was from there I was called upon to come and mount the throne of my forefathers on September 25, 2002 when I became the Olumegbon of Lagos, the head of the Idejo class and the overlord of Ajah and Okun Ajah, in Lagos. I am used to politics and I am used to people. I am used to managing people and I am used to managing community. I was chosen in Ojoo to serve at Ifako at that time. When I was leaving, people were crying, the workers were crying, the security men were crying. They didn’t want me to go. The records are there; go and ask at Ifako, they didn’t want me to go. I lived in Ojo for 29 years. When I was leaving Ojo to come and become Olumegbon, people were crying. The day I was capped, three quarter of the people that attended the ceremony were from Ojoo, because of the love they have for me. I am a man of the people. I have taken possession of my ancestral property in Ajah. Once you have accepted the throne and you have been capped, you are bound to lead and whatever you do is history. You know I am a student of history and what is history? History is the past, the present and the future. I must make sure I set a good record for my children so that when they want to ascend the throne, people will be ready to assist them because I brought back life to the family. I liberated the family from poverty.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

July 27, 2013

Ramadann does not affect ct sausage roll sales Mr. Tony Abor, Regional Sales Manager (Lagos and South-West) of Rapido Foods Limited, producers of Fibi Beef Sausage Rolls, shares the challenges of marketing sausage rolls in Nigeria with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

hile some businesses require minimal capital to start, others require huge capital. According to Tony Abor, the Regional Sales Manager (Lagos and South-West) of Rapido Foods Limited, the production of sausage rolls is quite capital intensive. He says, “Sausage roll production is capital intensive and that is why not more than four or five companies are producing sausage rolls effectively in Nigeria today. Another challenge is maintaining customer loyalty in the face of competing brands. Many producers of sausage rolls have packed up their businesses because of their inability to maintain the loyalty of distributors and consumers. Many companies are producing just for the sake of it. People prefer to buy less known and low quality products at low prices. Some of these low quality brands are big in size, and this is an attraction to consumers. They don’t seem to care about quality. Maybe because of the economic situation, people go after what will fill the stomach at the expense of quality. These highquantity, low-quality products are creating lots of competition in the market today. That is why you will see some people coming into the business only to zoom out almost immediately because they cannot withstand the challenges of the business. Despite the challenges, the sausage roll business is not without good sides. Says Abor, “Some products are seasonal. When you

talk about rain, seasons, festival and many others things, they affect some products. But we don’t have that tight seasonal issue with our products, because come rain come sunshine, people relish our products. Besides, we know how we project our products for effective sales.” “For instance, Ramadan does not affect our sales. If you have 10 per cent drop in sales because of Ramadan, I don’t think that is much. It is when you have about 40-50 per cent drop that you will say it really affects business. The way and manner we are distributing our products during Ramadan and other seasons, we still maintain our sales volume.” Another challenge identified by Abor is the various laws put in place by Lagos State, especially the law banning trading on major roads and streets, and the recent law against eating while driving. “We are seriously looking for a way out of the issue of street hawking, looking for other ways of marketing our products apart from hawking on the streets. We have what we call school partnership and we partner with most schools in Lagos to make sure that we promote our products in those schools. Recently, we invited some schools for our customers’ forum. We are still planning other avenues to make sure that we our product are in demand in every area. Although we are working with some hawkers, but with various laws

PEOPLE PREFER TO BUY LESS KNOWN AND LOW QUALITY PRODUCTS AT LOW

PRICES.

SOME OF THESE LOW QUALITY BRANDS ARE BIG IN SIZE, AND THIS IS AN ATTRACTION TO CONSUMERS. THEY DON’T SEEM TO CARE ABOUT QUALITY in Lagos and the presence of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officials in many parts of Lagos State, we are looking beyond street hawking and that is why you don’t see some of our products on the streets. “What we are bringing into Lagos and selling in Lagos is at about 20-30 per cent of the total market share of the sausage roll market. We are doing everything possible to increase our sales. We are doing road shows and doing promos. Presently we are even doing promos with distributors and retailers. We are going to super markets and many places.” The unique selling point and largest consumers of sausage rolls are children, students and youths, and they get special attention from the manufacturers of Fibi Sausage Rolls. According to Abor, “Children are our unique selling point, because most of the things we do as parents and adults are usually induced by children. We believe that if we induce the children,

Abor

they will be able to pass the message across, and from there, we would be able to get the right volume we are looking for.”

LEISURE

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

July 27, 2013

CHAN 2014

Super Eagles striker, Sunday Mba (left) on the prowl against Cote d’Ivoire in their CHAN first leg tie in Kaduna, and he is expected to lift the Eagles in today’s second leg cracker in Abidjan

Eagles set to deny Elephants ticket IFEANYI EDUZOR

ome-based Super Eagles will today in Abidjan confront the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the second leg and last qualifying match for the finals of the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN). In the first leg match decided at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, on July 6, the Eagles defeated their West African neighbours 4-1 to brighten their chances of picking their first qualification ticket for the competition. Nigeria has never qualified for the competition before as the Super Eagles lost out to Ghana in the race to the inaugural edition in Cote d’Ivoire in 2009 and then faltered against Niger Republic in the qualifying series for the second edition held in Sudan in 2011. But the team stands a good chance of qualifying for next year’s cham-

pionship slated for South Africa if they can maintain their goal lead against Cote d’Ivoire in today’s crucial second leg tie. Although the Super Eagles who parade about six of the players that prosecuted the last FIFA Confederations Cup tournament in Brazil could be said to have an advantage over their opponents in today’s encounter considering the goal difference, but when one considers the soccer rivalry existing between the two countries over the years, it becomes difficult to predict the outcome of the match. Already, the Ivoirians are still bitter over the marching orders given to two of their players in Kaduna, and will be desperate to cancel the three goals to enable them pick the ticket to South Africa 2014, thus the Coach Stephen Keshi’s tutored side will have their hands full as they try to consolidate their victory, by not giving the Elephants an opportunity of turning

Rojenny Games Village gets management body P. 46

the game against them. Keshi has promised Nigerians that they are not going for a tea party in Abidjan and as such will not allow the hosts to have an easy ride over Nigeria. Speaking after one of the team’s training sessions in Abuja, he noted that all the players knew the importance of qualifying for the first time for the competition and were determined to do the country proud in Abidjan. “My team is psychologically and mentally prepared for the second leg and we are going to Abidjan to pick a win and qualify for next year’s championship in South Africa. “The players are quite aware that the Ivoirians will employ a lot of antics to ensure they cancel the three goals lead, but we are prepared to ensure they don’t succeed with their plans because having failed on two previous occasions to qualify for the championship, we are

Cycling: P. 47 Bashir banks on national championship

ready to play in the competition this time around,” Keshi said. Meanwhile, coach of the Elephants, Saraka Norbert, has declared that though it would be difficult to upset Nigeria’s 4-1 lead during the return leg of the CHAN qualifiers in Abidjan, they will give the Eagles a good fight. Saraka said the strength of the Eagles lies in their compact defense and that Côte d’Ivoire hope to overcome it in order to secure one or two goals. “We are quite aware that the second leg will be difficult for us because it will not be easy scoring three goals against a strong side like Nigeria, but I believe that in football, nothing is impossible. “My players were brave in the first leg, but the match officials did not apply the rules correctly which affected our game plan. I hope we can still salvage something in Abidjan,” he said.

NSF 2014: Cross River almost ready –Amadi P. 48

SPORT

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Life ban not enough for match-fixers

he dust raised by the Nigeria four amateur clubs involved in a recent playoffs match fixing that produced outrageous results is yet to settle, as many stakeholders of our beautiful game are still in shock over the development. On Monday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) descended heavily on the clubs involved in this show of shame with many soccer fans still having some reservations. Aside the four clubs involved in the outrageous score lines, their players, referees and officials of the two matches were not spared. The clubs bagged 10 years suspension each from football action, while the referees and matc commissioners received life ban for their roles in the matches that produced unprecedented unreplied 146 goals. The drama began penultimate week when Plateau United Feeders somehow manufactured a 79-0 victory over Akurba FC, while the Police Machine FC demolished Bubayaro FC 670. At the end, a total of 146 goals were scored in just two matches, an action which has never happened in the history of organised football in the country. To many stakeholders of football in Nigeria it was like a dream or a fairy tale, as the Chairman of the NFF Organising Committee, Chief Mike Umeh, became alarmed when he was informed of this development. Umeh, who doubles as NFF 1st Vice President promptly directed that the four teams at the centre of the scandal be grounded, pending investiga-

HARD TACKLE with

Andrew Ekejiuba anelsports@yahoo.com

08054103021

Action recorded during a Nigerian league match

tions and further sanctions to be recommended by the panel set up to probe the match-fixing. HT gathered that all the teams involved in this shameful deal were in promotion playoffs in which the winners would qualify to play in the Nigeria Nationwide League Division 3. However, last Monday the committee turned in their report, as the NFF handed out sanctions to the clubs and officials found

guilty in the despicable saga. Umeh read out the verdicts at a well-attended press briefing same day at the Glass House in Abuja, where the two centre referees, Umar Garba who handled the Police Machine vs Bubayaro match and Mohammed Mohammed, who officiated the game between Plateau Feeders and Akurba, were shown a life-long red card. Also banned for life, are players of the teams and the match

commissioners, Olu Okuneye and M. Bakare. The assistant referees, S. Ciroma, A. Shina and H. Muritala were not spared as they were also put in the cooler for life. The NFF 1st Vice President further announced that the four amateur clubs have been banned for 10 years from getting involved in the round leather game. However, it is not the NFF’s sanctions that really necessitated this piece, but on the need to prosecute some of the match officials. There is a crying need to prosecute this bunch of greedy green-eyed fools to serve as deterrent to others who may like to tow the same line, because it may prove difficult in the long run for the NFF to checkmate the players and officials who were involved in this show of shame. Aside the aforementioned, Umeh revealed in his report that all the four teams involved in the match-fixing scandal were invited by the probe panel but only Plateau United Feeders and Akurba FC attended which is unacceptable. Therefore, it is the stand of HT that the match officials who had remained faceless since this match-fixing scandal blew open should be prosecuted alongside the clubs because their actions negated FIFA’s spirit of fair play. The intentional loss by Bubayaro FC to Police Machine of Adamawa and also the loss of Akurba FC of Nasarawa to Plateau United Feeders were all aimed at addressing the question of who tops the table at the Bauchi Centre to qualify for the Nationwide Division 3 League. The aforementioned was responsible for the match fixing,

thus negating FIFA’s fair play, as the winners were desperate to win, while the losers were too willing to lose in a bid to produce fixed match results. As noted earlier, fair play is a fundamental part of the game of football because it represents the positive benefits of playing by the rules, using common sense and respecting fellow players, referees, opponents and fans. But in the case of the four teams at the centre of the match fixing, they simply threw caution to the winds and ridiculed Nigerian football. The actions of the four teams and officials may have made FIFA to give fair play more visibility in its statutes, as it created a programme that turned the generic notion into a simple design and an easy-to-understand code of conduct that must be recognised and respected by players and fans alike. Fair play is also acknowledged and rewarded at every FIFA tournament, as the Technical Study Group evaluates and rates the behaviour on and off the pitch of all participating teams in a FIFA competition. Thus, it is expected that this fair play spirit should trickle down to our local football. From the foregoing, it is clear that Nigerian football has again come under attack from those who do not wish our game well and NFF should endeavour to take the bull by the horns by prosecuting the officials. The time to prosecute publicly those involved in this scandal is now, because this is one game that has continuously united this country and must be defended by all who wants our game to see the light of day.

SPORT NEWS

Rojenny Games Village gets management body NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

he proprietor Rojenny Games Village, Oba, Anambra State, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, has inaugurated an eight-man committee to manage the newly refurbished stadium. The committee has John Udeagbala, a former Chairman of Idemili LGA as its chairman, while Emmanuel Adogu, a sports administrator, will serve as secretary. Other members include Victor Nwangwu, technical adviser; Makala Akobi, Ben Oguejiofor, Ben Chibueze, Peter Edmund and Chiogo Mbanefo. Inaugurating the committee at a ceremony, Ezeonwuka who identi-

fied the members as men with proven track records in public administration, charged them to help in re-positioning the stadium to meet the needs of its enhanced status. Ezeonwuka added that they should equally promote sporting activities in the stadium, take proper care in nurturing the facilities on ground, as well as generate income. Other responsibilities of the committee, as contained in their terms of reference include the coordination of events, directing and supervision of staff (permanent and ad hoc) that may be engaged to work during events at the stadium. He therefore gave the assurance that he would offer all necessary sup-

port and logistics towards facilitating the work of the committee. In his remarks, the Special Adviser to Governor Peter Obi on Sports, Arthur Egbunam, advised the committee to restore the past glory of the stadium, since it had in the past made significant contributions towards the develop-

ment of sports in Anambra State and the country at large. Chairman of the committee, Udeagbala, assured that they would discharge their responsibilities diligently and pointed out that the members would work harmoniously with the proprietor.

Ezeonwuka

Judo: Nigeria shows class in Benin IFEANYI EDUZOR

igeria has emerged the overall winner of the just-concluded Invitational Open Judo Championship held in Cotonou, Benin Republic. The country’s Judokas won seven gold and three

silver medals to lead other nine countries at the three-day championship. Board member of the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF), Damisa Suleiman, who was one of the officials at the competition praised the Judokas for their brilliant performance and urged them not to relent on their efforts.

“The athletes were impressive. They put up a brilliant performance at the championship that made them the toast of officials from other countries,” he said. The male gold medallists include Eniafe Alabi (60kg) and Abduljabar Abdulkareem (66kg) while the remaining five were

female Judokas namely; Esther Sule (78kg), Esther Augustine (68kg), Winnie Gofit (70kg), Lucy Ekechukwu (48kg) and Chinwe Mba (+78kg). The three silver medallists include Daniel James in the 66kg and the duo of Kafayat Azeez (52kg) and Christiana Victor in the 50kg.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SPORT

July 27, 2013

NBBF elections: Why we went to court –Ahmedu IFEANYI EDUZOR

roprietor of Dodan Warriors Basketball Club, Col. Sam Ahmedu (retd), says the shoddy manner with which all the relevant sporting agencies handled their election petitions into the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) made him to seek redress in court. Amedu and five others, including Osita Nwachukwu, representing the South-East, early this week instituted a legal action at the Federal High Court, Abuja against the Sports Minister/Chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; NBFF president, Alhaji Tijjani Umar; his members, Muktar Kaleh and Patrick Omorodion; and Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba. They have been summoned to appear at the Federal High Court on Thursday, October 17 to answer charges for their

roles at the election. The plaintiffs according to the writ of summons are praying the court for a declaration that the exclusion of Col. Ahmedu from the board of the NBBF is unlawful, and an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 4th defendant (Tijjani Umar) from parading himself as president of the NBBF board and the 5th defendant (Muktar Kaleh) as the vice president of the board. They are also praying the court to grant an order nullifying the elections held on May 14, 2013 on grounds of non-compliance with the electoral guidelines; an order of the court directing the first, second and third defendants to conduct fresh elections into the NBBF board in strict compliance with the electoral guidelines and asking that the sum of N100, 000, 000. 00 are granted them for general damages against the defendants jointly and severally. Aside these, the plain-

tiffs are praying for an order of perpetual injunction retraining the 6th defendant (Patrick Omorodion) from parading himself as a member of the NBBF. He noted that the four delegates representing 24 states out of the 36 states of Nigeria who walked out of the election had taken their petition to the seven-man elections appeals panel and the recommendation was that there was a need for petitioners to take the game to the next level, hence the committee chaired by Barr. A. U. Mustapha appealed to the Honourable Minister to use his good offices to reconcile the petitioners with other board members of NBBF with a view to fostering healthy working relations among all the parties. According to him, after he and the 5 other stakeholders had painstakingly waited for a response from all the parties they petitioned but got no positive response hence their choice of a law suit.

Director, Consumer Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Oluwole Rawa (l) and Director, Retail Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Charles Ogunwuyi (r) presenting a brand new Mercedes Benz SUV to the first monthly draw winner of the ongoing Etisalat/FC Barcelona Promo, Stephen Ubah.

Barca promo: Etisalat rewards winners IFEANYI EDUZOR

elecommunications Company, Etisalat, has kept its promise of giving its customers and fans of FC Barcelona an exciting time by rewarding the first monthly draw winner of the ongoing Etisalat/ FC Barcelona Promo, Stephen Ubah, from Imo State with a brand new Mercedes Benz Sports

Cycling: Bashir banks on national championship IFEANYI EDUZOR

echnical Director of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), Mohammed Bashir, says that athletes discovered at the forthcoming National Cycling Championship to be hosted by Delta State in September will represent the country at the next All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville in 2015 and other international tournaments. He told Saturday Mirror that the championship which is for both male and female athletes would enable young cyclists to showcase their talent and skills, adding that the six-day tourney will follow international cycling union (UCI) format. “The Federation as part of its efforts to develop cycling is organizing the championship to give equal opportunities to all athletes to showcase their talent. “We expect the tournament to attract the best cyclists from all parts of the

country and at the end of the six-day event all athletes discovered will form the bulk of cyclists that will represent the country at international competitions like the All Africa Games and other international competitions. According to him, the cyclists will compete in road race, individual time trial, team time trial and team pursuit just as he stated that the Federation in conjunction with the Delta State Government are working towards ensuring a successful championship.

Cyclists in action at the last national championship

aptain of Dolphins Football Club of Port Harcourt, Sunday Rotimi, believes the club can still win the 2012/2013 Glo Premier League. Rotimi told Saturday Mirror that the target of the team initially was to

win the league and the players believed it was still possible. “The task at hand is to win the league and since we have done it before, I believe by God’s grace we will do it again. “We also know that anything short of that may not go down well with the sponsors of the club so the

players know they must continue to fight hard to amass points that will take us to the top,” Rotimi said. He stated that after the unfortunate loss to Akwa Starlets in the Round of 32 of the Federations Cup, the defeat has made the team to start focusing on winning the league, which he believes is possible with hard work.

customers through the promo with an appeal to Nigerians to patronise the firm. The promo commenced in June and will have winners emerge from three categories of daily draws, monthly draws and a grand finale. Six winners will emerge in the daily draws to win N500, 000.00 each while a Mercedes Benz SUV car is up for grabs for winners in the monthly category and the final prize of a trip to Barcelona, where 10 lucky subscribers will have the opportunity to watch their favourite football team, Barca, play a live match at the prestigious Camp Nou.

Referees performance excites King

‘Dolphins can still win Glo League’ IFEANYI EDUZOR

Utility Vehicle (SUV). Other lucky winners, Fagbile Ibikunle and Chinakwe Nikki, where also presented with N500, 000 cheque for emerging as one of the six daily draw winners. Presenting the prizes to the winners at the company’s office in Ikoyi, Lagos, Director, Retail Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Charles Ogunwuyi, said Etisalat embarked on the promo to reward millions of its customers and encourage them not to relent in patronizing the company. Receiving the car keys, Ubah expressed happiness that Etisalat fulfilled its promise of rewarding its

kwa Starlets coach, Emmanuel King has attributed his side’s success story in the ongoing 2013 Federation Cup to the balanced officiating so far exhibited by the referees. The Nigeria National League (NNL) side on Wednesday at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar defeated NNL Division B leaders, Abia Warriors 2-0 to book passage to the quarter-finals against last year’s runners-up, Lobi Stars. The Uyo-based side had early shown the way out to Glo Premier League sides like Kwara United and Dolphins from the annual football fiesta. King said that his wards are wholly rookies but the referees have made it possible for them to display their raw talents to the fullest unlike the scenario

that plays out in the league. “The performance of the referees in the Federation Cup has given me hope that the referees could perform excellently even in the league if they wanted to do so. “The same side that are excelling in the Federation Cup are not able to repeat the feat in the league due to questionable officiating therein. “We haven’t seen very good officiating in the league as it’s the case in the ongoing Federation Cup not that I’m in the quarterfinals but it’s an open secret any unbiased person could readily attest to. “Aside fair officiating hard work and hunger to excel among the entire team have been contributory to the team’s success story so far in the Federation Cup,” said the Akwa Starlets gaffer to supersport.com.

SPORT

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NSF 2014: Cross River almost ready –Amadi Cross River State Director of Sports, Mr. Jude Amadi, has opened up on the preparations of the state towards hosting a memorable National Sports Festival in 2014. He tells ANDREW EKEJIUBA, in his office in Calabar, that participating states should prepare large contingents to enjoy the hospitality of the state. Excerpts:

ow is the state preparing for the National Sports Festival next year? We are working hard and currently Cross River State is very busy with activities because we want to make sure that all the facilities needed for us to host successfully the 2014 National Sports Festival are ready. So, we are on facility upgrading and construction of new ones for the festival. Also, I want to state that the Ikom and Ogoja stadia are almost at 90% completion and from the look of things; we are ready and rearing to go! At the last National Sports Festival hosted by Lagos State, Cross River placed a distant 8th position on the final table; were you satisfied by that feat and what actually happened? Yes, we were satisfied because we finished 8th at Eko 2012 and we achieved our aim for featuring at the event. If you recall, we finished 15th at the National Sports Festival hosted by Rivers State in 2011 with 36 medals comprising of seven gold, 12 silver and 17 bronze medals. And when we came to Lagos last year we ended at the 8th position which is an improvement from what we had in Rivers in 2011. At Eko 2012, I remember telling the sporting press that our target was to make the top ten at the close of events and we did achieve that, so as hosts for next year’s sports festival, we are aiming at how to finish in the top three and we are working seriously in achieving this by God’s grace. Why do you think Cross River will finish in top-three at next year’s festival? I’m confident because all machinery have been put in place to achieve this because we have gone across the state for talent hunt and the ones discovered are undergoing intensive training. Also we have embarked on exposing the athletes discovered in national and international championships for them to garner experience and exposure ahead of the sports festival next year. As you are aware, our female table tennis team represented Nigeria in the Africa Table Tennis Club Tournament in Congo Brazzaville recently and they came out in flying colours. So, we are

proud of them because it is our team. Also the National Judo Championship has just ended in Ibadan and we won four gold medals at the end of the competition, thereby finishing third on the medals table which is a good result. So you can see that we are building up to Calabar 2014 National Sports Festival with all the athletes we have discovered from the grassroots. In your earlier interview with us last year, you said that your commission would be going to the grassroots to discover more talent; do you now have enough athletes to haul medals come Cross River 2014? My answer is yes, because if you are talking of young athletes we have them in large numbers and they are going to be featuring in all the various sports the state shall be competing for honours at the National Sports Festival next year. In the last two years, Cross River State has remained the leading state in school sports in Nigeria because we hosted the 2011 edition of the National School Sports Festival and we won it. In the 2012 edition which was shifted to earlier this year and hosted by Port Harcourt we also came tops. Even the National Youth Games is coming up in Abuja in September, and we are preparing seriously for the event at least to use it to make a statement that Cross River State is a model for youth sports development. We have a comprehensive youth sports development programme and we are ahead of many other states in this regard. At every National Sports Festival, host states always want to win-at-allcosts; are we going to see such happen at Calabar 2014? No, no. If you have taken time to study the indigenes of Cross River State, you will understand that we do not harbour such feelings in the sporting arena. We are peace-loving people and we are going to extend such love at the National Sports Festival next year. Our athletes are going to put in their best in every event we are going to compete in a free and fair manner. We are promising our visitors that Cross River State is going to put up a great show and we are going to host well. We are not going to intimidate our visitors

Amadi

or crucify people because we want to win medals. That will never happen because we will use our natural and top athletes to prosecute the events and I know we will never disappoint Nigerians from all walks of life that will coming for the event. However I know Team Cross River will perform well because we know we have prepared our athletes adequately for the challenges ahead, but not in a do-or-die affair manner. His Excellency, Governor Liyel Imoke, has told us that the events are not going to be staged in a do-or-die manner and we must not disappoint him in that regard. It is our hope and prayers that our best effort should be able to see us through. What advice do you have for the states that will be coming to Cross River for the Festival next year? We want to assure them of their safety because Cross River is a home for entertainment, culture and tourism. My advice is that they should come with many contingents as possible because the entire city of Calabar is going to be agog since the event will coincide with our carnival period. We are eager to welcome our visitors because we want them to enjoy the hospitality of our people. I want to encourage those whose sports may not make the festival to come and witness the hospitality of the good people of Cross River State. The President of Nigeria Darts Federation (NDF) and some of his members visited you earlier; can you share with us highlights of your discussion? Darts as you know is one of the 16 optional sports listed for the National Sports Festival to be hosted next year in the state and out of the 16 optional sports,

the host state will pick five that will be included for competition as medal winning events. Their coming here is to see how darts can gain popularity or be included as one of the optional sports athletes will compete for medals. The sport is relatively unknown in Cross River State, so the NDF president promised to donate some darts equipment to the host state, which they actually did here today to enable our athletes and officials know the rudiments of the game. Aside the donation, they promised to provide more equipment for the sport in Cross River so that our athletes will totally embrace darts which is a laudable idea. Let’s take a look at the 2014 Commonwealth Games coming up in Glasgow, Scotland; do you see Team Nigeria doing well at the Games? Of course I foresee Team Nigeria doing well because at the Commonwealth Games level, Nigeria has always done well. We have had that prospect of winning gold medals in various sports that the country has featured in the past and Glasgow 2014 is not going to be an exception. Despite the fact that we have some top sporting countries like Australia, Canada and England at the Commonwealth Games, but Nigeria has remained a force to reckon with in the event. I’m hopeful that we are going to do well at Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Finally, which events do you think we can win medals at Glasgow 2014? I’m sure we shall win medals in athletics, wrestling boxing and some of the combat sports because these are events we have comparative advantage over other countries in terms of winning medals.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

SPORT

July 27, 2013

Neville backs Moyes to succeed at Man U

hil Neville believes that David Moyes has all of the qualities needed to be the perfect replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager. Neville returned to Old Trafford this summer in a coaching capacity, following eight years playing under Moyes at Everton, where he was handed the captain’s armband. Moyes has come under much scrutiny in his early days in charge of United, but Neville insists that the new boss is already having a big impact on the training pitch. “David has been preparing for this job all his life and whether it has been at Preston or Everton, he has, at the back of his mind, always been thinking that one day he wanted to manage the best,” he told The Sun. “He has the drive and the determination and already

he has the respect of the players. That is his strength - out on the training field when he is coaching the team. “As a young coach, you can learn a massive amount from his sessions. The players have said that the structure and the way each session has a theme has challenged them. David is very hands-on and likes to do a lot of the coaching. “It’s not just about

stamping his own style, but it is continuing the style we have got and that United demand while adding his own touches to it as well. Neville retired from playing football at the end of last season, but was keen to follow in the footsteps of his brother, Gary, by going into coaching, and he says he was delighted to be able to continue to work with Moyes.

Bale set to extend contract

Bale

Rodgers EURO BRIEFS explains Napoli targets Martinez N Reina loan deal

Moyes

ottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has revealed talks are still going on between Gareth Bale and the club about a new contract for the striker. Reports have suggested that Real Madrid are ready to make an offer for the 24-yearold Wales international. “There was contact between the club and his agent last year and there is ongoing contact between the club and his agent,” Villas-Boas said. “Talks are ongoing but that doesn’t mean there is an agreement.” Villas-Boas, who has insisted Bale is not for sale,

is hopeful that a new deal will be reached between the player and the club despite admitting no developments have been made. Former Southampton player Bale signed a new four-year contract in June 2012 but continues to attract interest from top clubs after another impressive season in which he scored 26 goals for the London club. “We renewed his contract at the beginning of last season, if you remember, and it’s something that is being dealt with by the chairman and the agent,” the Spurs boss concluded.

iverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says Pepe Reina was allowed to go on loan to give the goalkeeper more chances to play. The Spain international is on the verge of completing a season-long move to Napoli in Serie A, where he will reunite with former Reds manager Rafa Benitez. The recent arrival of keeper Simon Mignolet from Sunderland had thrown Reina’s future at Anfield into doubt. Reina was linked with a move to Barcelona last season, and Rodgers hinted that he had been steeling himself for his goalkeeper to depart the club. “As a senior goalkeeper, he needs to be playing. It wouldn’t have served any purpose, both for the club and him personally, if he’d been the one missing out.” “It was obviously a difficult decision. From last season I was led to believe that we were going to get an offer for Pepe that would probably see him leave the club,” said Rodgers.

that his side can build on last season’s 14th place finish, and the Italian believes that the new signings show that the club is moving in the right direction. “We try to create a fantastic working environment, whether it’s in the offices or on a football pitch. It actually motivates people to work and to work even harder,” he told Sky Sports News. Liverpool were rumoured to be have been interested to be in the

chase for Lovren prior to his move to St Mary’s, and Cortese admits that he was surprised to clinch the deal for the defender. “He is a player we didn’t think we could really land to be honest. Even though he’d been having some issues at Lyon, its part of the circumstances and we are very happy to have him on board,” he said. Speaking of Wanyama, Cortese said: “We had to be patient in negotiations but ultimately, we got the

apoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has confirmed his club’s interest in Porto forward Jackson Martinez. De Laurentiis took to twitter to respond to speculation linking the Serie A side with a number of players around Europe, including Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti. De Laurentiis said: “We are a friend of Paris Saint-Germain and Verratti is not for sale.

Reina

Cortese

player on terms which are fair value to him and he is a quality addition.

Matinez

Milan continues Honda pursuit A

Honda

C Milan is persisting in their bid to sign Keisuke Honda, even though they remain some way short of CSKA Moscow’s asking price for the forward. The Rossoneri have already struck an agreement with the 27-year-old over a transfer in January, when his contract with the Russian club expires, but they are keen on bringing the move forward to this summer.

Thiago denies Man U interest

ayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara insists Manchester United were never close to signing him. Thiago, 22, was linked with a move to United from Barcelona before opting to join the European and Bundesliga champions. According to Thiago, David Moyes’ men were never in the hunt and he said United had not even made contact.

Thiago

Dortmund not keen to sign Borussia Dortmund has Seung-Woo confirmed that they are not

Seung-Woo

Southampton boss defends big spending

outhampton chairman Nicola Cortese has defended the summer spending which has seen the club splash over £20million on new additions. The Saints broke their transfer record to seal the signature of midfielder Victor Wanyama for a reported fee of £12.5million from Celtic, while highlyrated Croatian defender Dejan Lovren joined from Lyon in a deal believed to be worth around £8million. Cortese is now hoping

about to sign South Korean player Ryu Seung-Woo. The Chung-Ang University attacker has been linked with the German side for most of the summer but Dortmund general manager Michael Zorc said that a deal will not be happening.

Giroud praises Arsenal ambition

rsenal striker Olivier Giroud has praised the club for showing ambition and chasing want-away Liverpool star Luis Suarez. Liverpool has rejected two bids from Arsenal for Suarez, and they reportedly want £50million for the Uruguayan. Arsene Wenger is eager to add a striker to his squad after the English Premier League giants missed out on Gonzalo Higuain, who joined Napoli from Real Madrid. Giroud said his team needed another striker and the Frenchman would welcome the competition for his place.

“I think we need maybe two or three more players. Yes, that’s what we need to show ambition,” he said. “The club has to show the fans that we want it. I and my team-mates, we need it as well. It’s all about the team. It will be a really positive thing if we have a new striker. “I am not worried but I will wait until September so we know the team. “The most important thing is the team. We are waiting for one striker but we don’t know. I think it will be good for the team and for me as well to have another striker, to have more competition between us.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

July 27, 2013

BRIEFS Randy pastor banished for defiling sister, daughter

he Asaba Elders’ Forum in Umudaike quarters, Asaba, yesterday banished a randy pastor identified as Boniface (surname withheld) over alleged sexual intercourse with his sister and daughter. Speaking on the issue, one of the elders, Ogbueshi Philip Morka, said the lid of his randy activities was blown open by his younger sister who turned down his request for sex. The Elders’ Forum said, “We have asked the man to leave our land as it is a taboo for any man to sleep with his blood sister and daughter,” adding that the pastor had also been caught burying strange substances at the house of a sick person he had gone to pray for. It was reliably gathered that the self-acclaimed man of God hails from Ogbaru, Anambra State, where he was allegedly banished to after confessing to have killed several kids after afflicting them with a strange ailment. The randy pastor was said to have moved to Asaba through a friend who allegedly acquired magical powers for healing in India to establish a church around Umudaike quarters where they have performed several miracles.

Grandmother sells eight-month-old baby

en of the Plateau State Police Command have rescued an eight-month old baby girl, who was allegedly sold by her grandmother in Jos, Plateau State. The baby was sold in Jos a few weeks ago, but was rescued in Onitsha, Anambra on Wednesday by men of the ‘A’ Division of the state police after a complaint by the mother and a tip-off by some members of the public. According to a police source, the mother of the baby was impregnated by her boyfriend while she was staying with her grandmother at Rukuba area of Bassa Local Government. The grandmother was said to have been displeased with the birth of the baby and sought to dispose of her secretly. She was said to have found an ally in a woman living at Army Engineers area of Jos North, whom she sold the baby to. The woman was said to have resold the baby to another women in Onitsha, using an intermediary. The baby was again sold to yet another woman in Onitsha, who again resold her to another woman in the same city. The source said, “The baby was rescued after a painstaking investigation because she was sold and resold many times. Our men went to Onitsha and they came back with the baby in the early hours of Thursday. (www.gazellenews.com)

Crime Watch Siege of the under-aged The gun found on me is for self defence. I have a lot of enemies -17-yr-old student SEGUN ADIO AND CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

eshach Okeke, a Secondary School 1 student in Owerri, Imo State recently shocked police high command in the state when he declared to them that the shot gun found on him was meant to defend himself from aggression of any kind in his neighbourhood. Okeke, 17, was recently paraded along with some others, for cult related activities, armed robbery and gang rape. Okeke and three of his gang were arrested on their way to attend the burial of a friend who was allegedly electrocuted. Upon his arrest by members of the vigilance group guarding the area, a shot gun was found in the inner pocket of his trousers. Also, two cutlasses were reportedly found in a school bag in the custody of one of his other friends who was arrested along with him. Okeke, who hails from Ihitte Uboma in Mbano Local Government Area, said in his confessional statement, “We were arrested when we were travelling for the burial of one of our friends who died of electrocution, but the burial could not hold because it was postponed. The shot gun does not belong to me. It actually belongs to one of my friends. “Actually, I asked my friend to borrow me the gun because I have a lot of enemies in the place where we were going for the burial. So, I thought I needed to defend myself in case I was attacked. It is not true that I was going to rob with the gun,” Okeke said. But his claims were countered by some residents of the area where he was arrested. According to a resident identified as Charles, “The boy is notorious and that fact is well known in the community. He

Suspected cultists cum armed robbers

must have been using the gun to terrorise and carry out his nefarious activities before he was caught,” he said. Amadi Onyewuchi and Cyril Nwoke, both from World Bank in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state were also arrested the same day and detained for being in possession of dangerous weapons and for cult-related activities. While two axes were found in a big bag in Onyewuchi’s custody, some charms and three cutlasses were found in Nwoke’s handbag. Nwoke, 19, did not mince words about their mission that fateful night. He admitted to being a member of a secret cult in his school. He also said that he and Onyewuchi were to be joined by six of their gang members from other parts of the metropolis. Nwoke confessed that he and his partnersin-crime were on a revenge mission to a school in a village some 70 kilometres from Owerri. He said, “We are not robbers, but we belong to a cult gang in the area. We were not going for robbery as is being said. We were actually on a revenge mission at another village far from Owerri. “Our girl friend was beaten and injured

by another group of cult members. That we could not stomach because it was a challenge to us. So we decided to go for a revenge mission. But we had not even got to where we intended to go before the vigilance group arrested us and took us for robbers.” Speaking on the arrest of the suspects, spokesperson of the Imo State Police Command, Joy Elemoko, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, expressed worry of the rising rate of cultism in the state, saying that most of the suspects were secondary school students. According to Elemoko, “Majority of the suspects in our custody are mainly secondary school students, aged between 17 and 22. We have found that they operate as both links and major actors in kidnapping, armed robbery, assassinations, gang rapping and drug peddling and other crimes committed in the state lately. DSP Elemoko said these cult gangs were major causes of the problems facing the state because, “they act without any remorse or conscience,” adding that the groups had been terrorising the state in the past four months.

Teenage robbers terrorise Bariga residents SEGUN ADIO

esidents of Alubarika Street in Bariga area of Lagos State did not bargain for what they received in the hands of suspected armed robbers on Thursday, July 18, 2013. Five suspected teenage robbers, reportedly armed with different kinds of weapons, invaded the community threatening to kill whoever dared them in their ‘operation.’ Azuka Ossai and four others stormed two streets in the area, breaking into houses and dispossessing residents of their valuables. According to witnesses, shortly after midnight, a night guard reported suspicious movements of strange faces in the

area and alerted some elders close, by but no serious thought was given to his alarm. But around 1:00a.m, a couple of gunshots were heard around Keke Street, which apparently sent many residents jumping off their beds and wondering what was amiss. The teenagers reportedly moved from one house to the other, beating their victims and forcefully collecting their mobile telephones, jewellery, cash and other valuables. The raid reportedly lasted about an hour. At the end of the day, no fewer than five houses were raided, while several households were dispossessed of their prized items. But when the five suspected robbers were carrying out the raid on the firth building, some residents mustered enough courage to alert law enforcement agents.

When the law enforcement arrived, the robbers took to their heels. But Ossai was not lucky after all. He tried to escape from the balcony of the house he was operating in, but he was overpowered by some residents. Ossai reportedly got the beating of his life before he was handed over to the police. Ossai confessed his crime, saying that his gang had carried out series of robbery attacks in different parts of Somolu and Bariga areas of the state. The suspect was promptly taken into police custody. A police source confirmed Ossai’s detention but declined to comment while the search for his accomplices is ongoing. A female Constable, however, told Saturday Mirror that Ossai’s gang has been a thorn in the flesh of residents of the area for a long time.

Do you have a story for us? Contact 08138773277 or crimewatchmirror@yahoo.com

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

CRIME WATCH

July 27, 2013

fficers attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Adeniji Adele, have arrested a native doctor, Fawole Awosunmi and one Tajudeen Ogunremi, for allegedly defrauding a businessman of N2m. Both suspects were said to have connived with another accomplice known as Alhaji, who is currently on the run, to deceive an Ibadan-based businessman (name withheld) into buying a trailer that did not belong to them. Awosunmi and Ogunremi reportedly lured the businessman to Sango in Ogun State where a trailer, which had been put up for sale, was parked along Ojuore road. The said businessman was introduced to Alhaji, who acted as the owner of the trailer. Ogunremi said, “I sell planks at Lafenwa, Abeokuta. Alhaji is an old friend. He called me and asked if I could help get a buyer for a trailer. I brought in Awosunmi to help me. Ater sometime, we were able to get a businessman from Ibadan. “We brought him to see the trailer and he also met with Alhaji at Sango. Alhaji agreed to sell the truck for N2m and the money was paid into Alhaji’s account.” The businessman was said to have suspected fraud when he returned to take possession of the trailer. He was said to have been informed by residents of the community that the trailer belonged to someone else. Confirming the arrests of the suspects, the Police Public Relations Officer, FSARS, Lekan Ogundare, said the command acted on a petition it received on the case. Ogundare said, “The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Gana, on instructions from the DIG ‘D’ Department, Force Headquarters Abuja, ordered an investigation.

Awosunmi and Ogunremi

Native Doctor, accomplice defraud businessman of N2m “Through the bank details of the account where the payment was made, we were able to get the contact of someone who knew Ogunremi and Awosanmi. Most of the documents and photos used to open the account were false. “Ogunremi and Awosanmi were trailed and arrested. They confessed to operating a syndicate in partnership

with Alhaji where they defrauded unsuspecting traders and businessmen of their money. Efforts are being made to arrest Alhaji and bring him to justice.” Awosanmi denied being a member of the syndicate, claiming instead to be a herbalist. He said, “It was Ogunremi who brought the deal to me. He said we

should do the business together but we knew it was fraudulent. “For the part we played, Alhaji paid us N500,000. We thought we had gotten away with the whole thing until the police came to arrest us.” Ogundare advised that proper enquiries be made by business persons before any business transaction.

Father rapes 16-year-old daughter

he Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 45-year old man, Toyin Sodimu, for allegedly raping his 16-year-old daughter in Temidire community of Oke Apo, Akomoje, Abeokuta. The State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement that the teenager reported the incident to the Adatan Police Division after her fa-

ther raped her about 2am last Saturday. Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said following Sodimu’s arrest, the 16-year old girl had been taken to the hospital by the police for medical examination and treatment. He added that the state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, had ordered an investigation into the incident and

vowed that the suspect would be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others. The statement read in part, “The policemen attached to Adatan Divisional Headquarters in Abeokuta, Ogun State, have arrested one Toyin Sodimu in Temidire community of Oke Apo, Akomoje Abeokuta after he raped his own daughter, aged 16 years on Saturday.

Husband stabs wife to death for bearing only female children

48-year-old man (names withheld), has allegedly killed his wife for not being able to give birth to a male child. The deceased, 46, simply identified as Mama Feyi, was heavily pregnant when she was allegedly stabbed to death by the husband during an early morning dispute. It was gathered that the alleged murderer, who hails from Abusoro area in Akure, Ondo State, has since been arrested and is presently being detained at the Ala divisional police station. Eye witness accounts say the suspect had been having a running battle with his deceased wife for over two years shortly after the woman gave birth to their fourth

daughter. Sources say trouble began a month before the brutal murder when the husband complained aloud that his wife is incapable of bearing him a male child. The incident led to a fierce altercation between the couple. Shocked neighbours expressed disbelief at the death of Mama Feyi. One of their neighbours, Mr. Isijola, said he was awakened by loud arguments coming from their room very early in the morning. “I ignored them as it is a norm for them to always argue and have altercations. I decided to ignore them at first, but when the noise was getting unbearable, I stepped into their room only to find the lifeless body of the woman on the floor, lying in

the pool of her blood. I saw the man holding a knife and he threatened to stab me if I didn’t leave. I alerted the police who immediately came to arrest him.” Naratting the incident, a daughter of the deceased, Feyisara, said, “It all started on Sunday after my mummy had cooked rice. She asked me to go and collect money from my father to prepare stew. On getting to him, he started shouting. But he later gave me N500 which my mum refused to collect. They both argued and had a fight. I had to make a distress call to neighbours to settle the dispute. Later when my mum asked him to give her some money for her ante-natal, he refused. They started fighting and before we knew it, daddy brought out a knife and stabbed mummy to death.”

“The lady went to report the ugly incident to the police in Adatan division after her father had forcefully had a carnal knowledge of her in her room at about 0200hrs. “The victim has been taken to the Abeokuta General Hospital by the police for examination and treatment. “The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State, Ikemefuna Okoye, has ordered full scale investigation into the horrible incident and vowed to make the suspect face the wrath of the law to serve as deterrent to other cruel and devilish fathers who may want to venture into raping their daughters in the state. “Okoye has also appealed to parents particularly mothers to keep watch on their children and avoid collapse of marriages which is perceived to be a catalyst to cases like this. “He urges other rape victims to always emulate this victim’s bravery to report any rape case which will help the police tackle rape and related offences in the state” Adejobi said the police command would partner with the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to find a lasting solution to the menace. (www.gazellenews.com)

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Group donates foodstuff, detergents to prison inmates

A Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun in a group photograph with winners of Ogun State 2nd Edition of Ramadan Quiz/Essay Competition during the prize giving ceremony at the Valley View Auditorium, Isale-Igbein in Abeokuta...today (July 26) Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Akinjide distributes food items to Oyo Muslims KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

n the spirit of caring and sharing associated with the holy month of Ramadan, the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Olajumoke Akinjide, has distributed food items worth over N20 million to Muslims all over Oyo State. A statement signed by her Media Assistant, Alhaji Isiaka Kehinde, and made

available to journalists in Ibadan, said the items, which were distributed at Ile Aperin home of the Akinjides and shared across 351 wards in the state, included over 2,000 bags of rice, beans, groundnut oil, hundreds of cartons of sugar, milk, among others. The statement explained that Muslim clerics, prominent leaders and top notch politicians in the state were also part of the beneficiaries of the minister’s gesture.

Isiaka said, “Akinjide has been touching people’s lives positively in diverse areas in the state, irrespective of creed and political affiliation, a trend which has endeared her to the people who see her philanthropy as unparalleled.” The minister then urged Muslim in the state to avail themselves the benefit of the season to pray fervently for political and economic survival of the country as well as encourage peaceful and harmonious living.

Borno gov’s wife solicits support for widows, orphans FROM INUSA NDAHI MAIDUGURI

ife of the Borno State governor, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, has appealed to wellmeaning Nigerians and donor agencies to support widows and orphans in the state, so that they will leave a comfortable live and be able to carter for their domestic needs. The governor’s wife made the appeal yesterday at the commencement of distribution of cash and food items to 400 Muslim widows and orphans, aimed at cushioning the fasting of the beneficiaries. Hajia Nana Shettima also observed that the rate at which people die in the state has forced many women and children to become widows and orphans, noting that, government alone cannot cater for their needs.

She therefore solicited the support of well-meaning Nigerians and donor agencies in the country to assist the needy especially in this Holy month of Ramadan. Hajiya Nana Shettima who is the Founder Support for Widows, Orphans and Tsangaya (SWOT), a non-governmental organisation, also observed that widowhood is not by choice, but an inevitable situation that people experience at a time in life when their husband or wives die. She also promised that SWOT would

not relent in supporting the less-privileged in the state. Earlier, Chairman of SWOT Foundation, Alhaji Mohammed Bello, thanked the governor’s wife for her concern on the plight of widows and orphans in the state. He however, enjoined beneficiaries of the scheme to maximise the items given them. He also charged them to spend the period of Ramadan to pray for the restoration of peace in the state.

n Islamic group, JIBWIS, has donated foodstuff and detergents to inmates of Yola and Jimeta prisons. Presenting the materials on Friday, the National Chairman of JIBWIS, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala-Lau, said the gesture was in the spirit of Ramadan and to give the inmates a sense of belonging. Bala-Lau urged other groups and philanthropists to extend support to the under-privileged in the society, noting that that would promote peace and unity. He reiterated the group’s commitment to continue to support the less-privileged, saying that JIBWIS had established a Family in Difficult Circumstances Scheme for such support. Also speaking, the Sarkin Matasa of Adamawa Emirate Council, Alhaji Abdul-Aziz Nyako, commended JIBWIS for the gesture. Nyako urged the inmates to accept their position in good faith and make use of their time in prison to reform for good. “Use the time you have here to reform for good. You need to forget and forgive so that by the time you leave here, you will be a reformed person that will contribute positively to yourself and society,” he advised. Responding on behalf of the inmates, Aliyu Lawan thanked the group for the gesture and called on others to emulate them. Lawan listed drugs, uniform and a vehicle to convey those awaiting trial to courts as some of the pressing problems facing the inmates. “Prison authorities are doing their best, but the problems are so many for them to contain, hence the need for groups like yours to intervene and assist,” Lawan said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlights of the occasion was preaching and offering of special prayers for the inmates conducted by Sheikh Kabir Gombe, the National Secretary of JIBWIS.

Cleric urges Katsina govt to assist the poor with food

he Chief Imam, Islamic University, Katsina, Malam Abubakar Maikano, on Friday commended Katsina State Government for donating grains to Muslims. Maikano, who made the commendation while delivering a Friday sermon, urged the state government to do more

because many people were in hardship. He said that what the government did was worthy of commendation, adding that , “that is, however, inadequate, hence the need for more to reduce the present economic predicament of the people in the state.

“We are appealing to the government to do more in assisting the poor and to alleviate their sufferings during this Holy month of Ramadan.” The state government had recently donated 70,000 bags of grains to Muslim faithful as Ramadan gift across the 34 local government areas of the state.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

REGIONAL NEWS

July 27, 2013

SOUTH SOUTH

Akpabio tasks France on health tourism TONY ANICHEBE UYO

overnor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, has called on the French government to establish a Nigerian-French Hospital in Uyo, the state’s capital. The move, Governor Akpabio said, would

strengthen the bilateral relations existing between the two countries. He also said the establishment of the hospital would enhance medical tourism for the state. Governor Akpabio made the call yesterday when the Consul-General of French Embassy in Nigeria, His Excellency, Francoise Sastourne,

paid him a courtesy visit at Governor’s Office, Uyo. According to the governor, “If we have a Nigerian-French Hospital in Uyo, that on its own means that there’s a lot of co-operation between Nigeria and France. We can find a way to partner in the major referral hospital that we are constructing at Itam and that

can assist us in terms of medical tourism,” Governor Akpabio said. The governor frowned at Nigerians travelling overseas for medical treatment. Continuing, “If we have NigerianFrench hospital, we will save foreign exchange and then medical tourism between the two countries would be en-

couraged,” he said. Governor Akpabio also hinted that the state’s government was looking for investors to partner with it in the Ibaka Deep Seaport, distribution of power generated by Ibom Independent Power Plant and the Akwa Ibom International Airport. Earlier, the French envoy, who described the

development in Akwa Ibom State as “extraordinary,” commended Governor Akpabio for his visionary leadership in the state. Mr. Sastourne recalled that Nigeria was France’s first economic partner in sub-Sahara Africa and a major political partner because of its strategic influence in the politics of the region.

aggrieved parties remain adamant. Already the IYC has two factional electoral committees appointed to conduct the forth-coming election. Saturday Mirror was informed that one of the electoral committees is being chaired by a foremost female rights activist, Ann Kio-Briggs, while the second one is being led a Nollywood diva, Hilda Dokubo. Concerned members of the socio-cultural body alleged that a serving governor in one of the South-South states was strongly behind some aspirants contesting the election. It was

learnt that the election may not be free and fair given the meddlesomeness of some government officials. But speaking in an interview, outgoing Spokesman of IYC, Jeremiah Owoupele, said the crisis would not mar the poll. According to Owoupele , “It is true that we met in Abuja. We have never had that magnitude of gathering at the meeting with all Zonal Chairmen, past Presidents and executive members of the IYC, all founding members of the IYC, and signatories to the Kaima declaration, Clan Chairmen and Ijaw Parliament members in attendance,” he said.

Festering crisis threatens IYC election EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

ndications emerged yesterday that the festering crisis plaguing the Ijaw Youth Council(YC ) fold may

mar its election scheduled for August 10, 2013, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. There are fears that the much awaited poll may turn violent if the influential government officials meddling into the

affairs of the body do not stay away and allow peace to reign. The factionalized Ijaw group has no fewer than 10 Presidential aspirants jostling to pilot the affairs of the influential pres-

sure group. Saturday Mirror was reliably informed that notable Ijaw leaders, including Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, had waded into the crisis to nip it in the bud, but the

Stakeholders advocate youth empowerment to reduce crime SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN CITY L-R: Special Guest, Prof. Iyke Ekweozor; Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Georgewill Owunari and Guest Lecturer, Dr. Victor Fodeke, at the 6th Distinguished Lecture of Nigerian Environmental Society in Port Harcourt, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Ex-CLO scribe knocks Dickson over arrest of protesters EMMA GBEMUDU YENAGOA

rstwhile secretary of the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Bayelsa State chapter, Morris Alagoa, yesterday slammed Governor Seriake Dickson, for allegedly masterminding the arrest of some peaceful protesters in Yenagoa, describing the act as “undemocratic and crude.” Alagoa, a rights activist and Project Officer of the Environmental Rights Action (ERA), in the state, particularly condemned the recent arrest of about 13 physically challenged persons and 23 unem-

ployed graduates that stayed a protest on the streets of the state capital. The arrested protesters, who were pensioners, had reportedly protested their unpaid gratuities promised them by the present administration in the state, which reportedly angered the state governor. The protesters were tear-gassed and arrested by the Police and hauled into detention. In a chat with Saturday Mirror, Alagoa disagreed with Governor Dickson who claimed the protesters were sponsored by opposition politicians to destabilise the state. The rights activist charged Governor Dickson, a onetime Attor-

ney General of the state as well as a member of the House of Representatives, to prove the sponsorship of the protest by the opposition. In the words of Alagoa, “In the light of the above, I guess he (Governor Dickson) should know better that he who alleges must prove .The burden of proof is not on the accused. So those claiming that protesters were sponsored should prove it to the general public .Could it be rightly stated too that the members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) currently on strike were sponsored? Which tribe or nation also

sponsored the Ijaw youths to carry arms against the Federal Government and oil companies which led to militancy?, Alagoa queried. “ Continuing, Alagoa says, “While I am not in support of violent protests that will deny other members of the public of their human rights, it is known that peaceful protests are allowed in democracy . If peaceful protests cannot be allowed to sail or tolerated by a democratic government .What comes to mind is something close to a military regime. Crisis management should be part of our democratic culture,” he said.

ecurity experts have called for the economic empowerment for the nation’s jobless youths as a means of reducing the present high rate of crime and criminality in the country. The experts made this known at a one-day symposium on The Role of Neighbourhood Watch in Tackling Recurring Security Challenges in Nigeria, held in Benin City. Former President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Peter Esele; Edo State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Mobilization, Ms. Omorede Osifo; Chairman of Edo State Neighbourhood Watch, Major-General C. O. Omoregie (retired) and the President of Initiative

for Youth Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development and Reintegration (IYAMIDR), Mr. Solomon Okoduwa, all called for the enhancement of the capacity of the youth in order to reduce crime. In his lecture, Barr. Julius Abure said that, “Poverty and unemployment are the bye products of crime and criminality. The vast majority of Nigerians are poor and unable to afford basic needs of life. It is said that majority of Nigerians live on less than one dollar a day.” In her speech, Ms. Osifo stated, “Neighbourhood Watch as a veritable tool towards curbing the societal security challenges has created opportunities essential for strengthening and maintaining a crime-free community and neighbourhoods.”

REGIONAL NEWS

July 27, 2013

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

NORTH

Gay diplomats: Northern CAN calls for sack of foreign minister A ZA MSUE KADUNA

he Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday called for the sack of the minister of

Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru. Ambassador Ashiru was reported to have said Nigeria would accept gay diplomats and their “spouses” posted into the country in spite of Nigeria’s opposition on the issue of same sex mrriage.

The northern CAN warned over the posting of gay diplomats to Nigeria, saying that any attempt to do that would be resisted. Public relations officer of CAN in the 19 northern states and the FCT, Mr. Sunday Oibe, in a statement described the position of the

minister as “hypocritical and unacceptable.” CAN noted that both Christians and Muslims in Nigerians have all agreed that gay marriage is against their religious and cultural beliefs and therefore is acceptable, maintaining any nation

Benue police rescues 17 trafficked victims HENRY IYORKASE

enue State police command has arrested seven suspected child traffickers. Parading the suspects, the state’s police commissioner, Mr. Adams Audu, revealed that his men intercepted the suspects along Otukpo/Enugu road in three mini buses, loaded with 55 persons meant for trafficking and for human labour in other lands. The police commission-

er further disclosed that upon stop and search, his men uncovered inside the three vehicles, 17 children (10 girls and seven boys) of various ages ranging from 5 to 17 years old were being shipped to Lagos, Abeokuta and Ibadan in the south western part of the country. During the interrogation, the suspects disclosed that most of the children were taken from Oju Local Government Area of the state as well as Yala Local Government

Area of Cross River State. The Benue police boss also the identities of the abductors as Adekunle Adebisi, Odeh Adogu, Ochefu Adakole, Edwin Onah, John Odum, Ubeh Mike and Philip Adema Adegu. All seven abductors claimed to have the consent of the parent of the children, but were to be engaged in child labour, prostitution, hawking and so on, in return for monies for their parents. Each of the children is said to make an average of N400,

000 monthly from hawking and begging in major cities in the country. A member of the Benue State House of Assembly from Oju constituency, Dr. Joseph Adoga Onah acknowledged that the case of child trafficking is rampant in his constituency, saying that most of their sons and daughters make their livelihood from child trafficking. The lawmaker, however, said efforts are being made to get perpetrators arrested.

Some of the trafficked teenagers paraded by Benue State Police Command in Makurdi, yesterday

that sends a gay diplomat to Nigeria is violating the laws of the land and it should be resisted. According to Oibe, for the minister to say that government will accept gay diplomats in Nigeria amounts to accepting gay marriage through the back door, declaring that Christians will mobilise and chase out any gay diplomat sent into the country.

The statement reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to reports in the media credited to the minister of Foreign Affairs, Olubenga Ashiru where he said that Nigeria will accept foreign diplomats who are gay. We are calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to remove the minister because he is going against the wishes of Nigerians.

FG rolls out 30-year Master Plan to attract foreign investors AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

inister of National Planning, Shamsudeen Usman, has called on government functionaries at the federal, state and local government levels to embrace the National Integrated Infrastructural Master Plan (NIIMP) with a view to promoting and sustaining the nation’s economic growth. The minister disclosed that the federal government has rolled out a 30-year Master Plan that would attract foreign investors into the country, saying that NIIMP has the potentials of attracting foreign investors to Nigeria. The minister gave the charge yesterday in Kano during the Zonal Validation Workshop on the NIIMP draft for Northwest zone of the country. Usman said that the purpose of the scheme was to give first-hand information to foreign investors on the state of socio-economic

cum infrastructural development in the country, so as to encourage them pick interest in establishing their businesses in Nigeria. According to the minister, President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda, is putting necessary infrastructure in place to attract foreign investments, adding, “If the concept of NIIMP is properly galvanized and enhanced, the nagging problem of unemployment will become history and the Nigerian youth will benefit tremendously from the whole idea.” Usman further noted that, “NIIMP provides the capital allocation framework, which identifies the required investments to bring infrastructure in Nigeria in line with the country’s growth aspirations. The plan also identifies and elaborates on enablers for implementation that would be needed to be put in place for successful execution,” he said.

Collapsed buildings: Dangote Cement to partner institutions on block-making AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

ement manufacturing giant, Dangote cement company, has expressed its willingness to partner relevant technical institutions in the country to set up block molding school. The block molding schools, it said, would train local block

molders and bricklayers in the country. This was coming on the increasing rate of building collapse in the country, which the company claimed it is poised to find last solutions to. This was disclosed at a one day workshop organized for block molders in Kano State by the man-

agement of Dangote cement at the Fountain Inn Hotel, in Bompai area of the city. Regional Manager sales and marketing of the company, Johnson Adeniye, told participants at the workshop, that chairman of the Dangote group Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has on several occasions ex-

pressed dismay over cases of collapsed building in which several lives had been lost and properties wasted, pointing out that Alhaji Dangote was determined to find lasting solution to this ugly situation. To realize this dream, Adeniye said that Alhaji Dangote has promised to ensure that block mold-

ing companies have the required equipment to do the job to the expected standard, and has also promised to equip block industries with the necessary tools so that they could do their job effectively and efficiently. According to Adeniye, “Again it has been discovered that most artisans do not know how to mix block-making ingredients or how to mix

the materials they have. In view of this, the company is willing to collaborate with relevant technical institutions that will offer free education to them on the proper process of block production,” he said. Adeniye also claimed that over 18,000 block companies are scattered across the country with high concentration in Lagos and Abuja.

Saturday Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

July 27, 2013

U.S. kidnapper faces 1000-year sentence

former Cleveland, United Stated of America, school bus driver, Ariel Castro, accused of holding three women captive in his home for about a decade agreed to plead guilty yesterday in a deal to avoid the death penalty. In exchange, Ariel Castro would be sentenced to life without parole plus 1,000 years, prosecutors said. Castro was in court yesterday morning to enter the guilty plea. When asked if he understood he would never be released from prison, Castro said: “I do understand that,

your honor.” He added, “I knew I was pretty much going to get the book thrown at me.” The deal comes more than a month after a statement issued on behalf of the women said they were “hopeful for a just and prompt resolution” and had “great faith in the prosecutor’s office and the court.” Castro, 53, had been scheduled for trial on August 5 on a 977-count indictment. The indictment included two counts of aggravated murder related to accusations that he punched and starved one woman until she

miscarried. The former school bus driver also was charged with hundreds of counts of kidnapping and rape, plus assault and other counts. He was accused of repeatedly restraining the women, sometimes chaining them to a pole in a basement, to a bedroom heater or inside a van. The charges alleged Castro assaulted one woman with a vacuum cord around her neck when she tried to escape. The sticking point on a plea deal had been whether the prosecutor would rule out the death penalty. The Cuyahoga County

prosecutor had kept that issue under review. The three women disappeared separately between 2002 and 2004, when they were 14, 16 and 20 years old. Each said they had accepted a ride from Castro, who remained friends with the family of one of the women and even attended vigils over the years marking her disappearance. The women escaped Castro’s house May 6 when one of them kicked out part of a door and called to neighbors for help. Castro was arrested within hours and has remained behind bars.

PONTIFICAL ADULATION

Crowds flocked around the Popemobile in Rio, hands and cameras held aloft, as they jostled to get closer to Pope Francis on his visit to Brazil

Egypt crisis: Morsi accused of plotting with Hamas

usted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi is being held over allegations of links with Palestinian militants Hamas and plotting attacks on jails in the 2011 uprising, it has been announced. He is to be questioned for an initial 15-day period, a judicial order said. Morsi’s supporters are holding a mass rally in Cairo and counter-demonstrations are also under

way. Eleven people have been injured in clashes between rival groups, security sources say. The order issued yesterday is the first official statement on Morsi’s judicial status since he was overthrown. He has been held at an undisclosed location since his removal by the military on 3 July. Since Morsi, the country’s first democratically

elected president, was ousted, dozens of people have died in clashes between his supporters and opponents. Militants have also staged deadly attacks in the Sinai peninsula. The army chief, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, has called on people to take to the streets to give the military a mandate to confront violence and “terrorism”. The judicial order says the former president is suspected of conspiring with

Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip and has strong links with Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, during the uprising against former President Hosni Mubarak. He is accused of colluding with the Palestinian group to storm police stations and jails, “setting fire to one prison and enabling inmates to flee, including himself, as well as premeditated killing of officers, soldiers and prisoners”.

Ex IMF president to face pimping trial

ormer International Monetary Fund (IMF) president, Dominique Strauss-Kahn is to face trial on pimping charges, French prosecutors say. Investigating magistrates have decided he should be tried in connection with an alleged prostitution ring at a hotel in Lille. The former presidential hopeful has admitted attending sex parties there, but says he did not know that some of the women were paid prostitutes. The case is the last of the sex-related allegations

many times to greet the crowd. An estimated one million pilgrims attended the event, following a papal visit to a shanty town, or favela. Meanwhile, bad weather has forced this weekend’s

events to be moved from a drenched farm on the outskirts of Rio. A site set up at a farm on the western outskirts of the city for Saturday’s vigil and Sunday’s service, where up to two million people are expected, was covered with

mud and puddles after two days of relentless rain. The authorities have announced that these events will now also take place at Copacabana beach. Hours before the Pope arrived at Copacabana on Thursday, young pilgrims

faced by Strauss-Kahn. A series of lurid claims have been made about the high profile French figure since he was arrested in New York in May 2011 after a hotel maid said he had tried to rape her. Charges were eventually dropped, and StraussKahn subsequently reached a settlement with the maid, Nafissatou Diallo. Two other cases against him have also been dismissed. An allegation of sexual assault in Paris in 2003 was not pursued because it had taken place too long ago.

Halliburton to plead guilty to destroying Gulf evidence

S company Halliburton will plead guilty to destroying evidence relating to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The plea agreement, which is subject to court approval, means Halliburton will have to pay the maximum possible fine. The spill occurred at BP’s Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico and was the worst in US history. BP had accused Houston-based Halliburton, its contractor, of destroying evidence and asked it to pay

for all damages. The major oil spill three years ago followed a blast at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that killed 11 workers. “A Halliburton subsidiary has agreed to plead guilty to one misdemeanour violation associated with the deletion of records created after the Macondo well incident, to pay the statutory maximum fine of $200,000 and to accept a term of three years probation,” the company said in a statement.

Suicide bombs kill 39, over 100 injured in Pakistan

t least 39 people have been killed and over a 100 injured after two suicide bombers on motorcycles hit a market in Parachinar, capital of the tribal Kurram area in northwest Pakistan, officials said. Reuters news agency reported that yesterday’s explosions targeted two Shia mosques in the town, which is near the Afghanistan border. Police spokesman Fazal Naeem Khan said the bombs went off in

Thousands meet Pope Francis at Copacabana beach event ope Francis has visited Copacabana beach, in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, to hold the greeting ceremony for World Youth Day. After arriving by helicopter, the pope drove along the 4km of the beach, stopping

started gathering along the beach. “I’ve always heard that Cariocas (Rio-born people) did not like the cold or the rain. But you are showing your faith is stronger. Well done!” Pope Francis joked with the crowd at the start

two places in the bazaar or market as people were doing their evening shopping, some grabbing lastminute items to break their daily fast. He said explosives experts are still examining the site. The second bomb detonated about four minutes after the first, about 400 yards (365 meters) away from the initial blast, government official Javed Ali said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. of his address. Groups resembling Olympic delegations were holding up the flags of their countries and many were carrying the distinct World Youth Day backpacks in yellow, green or blue, the colours of the host-country’s flag, the BBC’s correspondent in Rio, Julia Carneiro, says.

Quote

the

day

He will be eternally remembered. His family, relatives, associates, admirers and the many media professionals for whom he was an inspiring mentor and role model should be comforted by the knowledge that his place alongside the greats of Nigerian journalism is assured. President Goodluck on the death of veteran journalist, Alhaji Alade Odunewu.

Saturday, July 27, 2013. www.nationalmirroronline.net

Modern requirements of Africa’s sustainable development

ince the days of the Club of Rome in the 1970s, there has been great awareness of the limitation of natural resources for the sustainability of life on earth. Many of us take some of life’s most important gifts for granted. Hence we abuse, pillage, distort, main and destroy the very things that keep us and have kept us and will keep the future generations. This, to a great extent, directly impugns on the way we manage our world, our communities and ourselves. The question or concept of sustainable development would probably not to be so useful but for our constant efforts to recognise those basic things of life and how pertinent they are to our existence. In spite of this truth, mother-nature has continued to provide us with the lessons and resources to support life and humanity on earth. In other words, we always have a ‘‘second chance ’’ with nature. Has the world dealt fairly with these ‘‘chances’’? In most societies of today, the future is of as great concern to the people as the present. In Nigerian culture, the past, the present and the future are always taken together in the context of development. The spirit of the departed is believed to need being catered for in the process of

with President Olusegun Obasanjo hexcellency2011@yahoo.com

WHILE PEACE IS RELATIVE IN SEVERAL RESPECTS, THERE CANNOT BE MEANINGFUL DEVELOPMENT WHERE WAR AND VIOLENCE

RAGE.

PEACE AND SECURITY ARE SINE QUA NON

FOR DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN PROGRESS

development. There are certain forests and terrains reserved as the abode of the spirits. They all form part of the innate designs and activities for sustainability of develop-

ment. Then, for the future, all planning in terms of buildings, means of production and education is carried out with the coming generation in mind. In other words, sustainability and continuity of

SPORT EXTRA

Kenya FA under investigation

enyan football chiefs are under investigation by the country’s anti-corruption agency over allegations that several hundred thousand dollars received from (FIFA) and other donor agencies have gone missing. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has received information about the alleged misappropriation of up to $410,000 by the Football Federation of Kenya (FKF) and investigations are ongoing, said the agency’s public relation chief Yasin Ayila. “We have information concerning the accounts and everything will be investigated including financial statements, bank accounts and reports,” Ayila told reporters.

The soccer federation representative from Coast Province, Hussein Terry and some officials produced documents including bank statements, which they took to the anti-graft body, the Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Hassan Wario, the game’s world ruling body FIFA and the continent’s governing soccer body CAF. The officials claim the federation received $410 000 through its bank accounts which are not in the current financial report. Football Federation of Kenya chairman, Sam Nyamweya, has rejected the allegations, saying the documents are fake and that only signatories to the federation’s bank accounts can be given genuine statements.

human existence with adequate provision of essential needs and desirables are the underpinnings of development. The first condition for achieving sustainability and continuity in human existence, is peace. While peace is relative in several respects, there cannot be meaningful development where war and violence rage. Peace and security are sine qua non for development and human progress. Relatively, the world is regarded as more peaceful today, but the nature of war and violence has somewhat changed. The protagonists of war have also evolved. Where we used to have violence sponsored by the state, now we have violence sponsored, promoted and executed by non-state parties and in some cases by individuals and or persons who are few in number and do not wield the capacity or cohesion of the state. Sustainable development cannot be without peace. Peace is a major prerequisite for development and progress. It is not only the foundation of sustainable development but its pre-requisite. Peace will only reign when certain basic values are entrenched. Peace and security are two sides of the same coin and they must go together.

TO BE CONTINUED

Women’s Euro 2013 Final Sunday, July, 28, 2013

“Those bank statements they are peddling around are not ours. We have asked our bankers and they, too, deny the statements originated from them,” Nyamweya said. Kenyan football has been embroiled in wrangling and mismanagement for the past 10 years, leading to two suspensions from international competitions by the world football governing body FIFA. Among the monies allegedly missing from the accounts are funds from FIFA’s Financial Assistance Programme, sponsorship for the national team, revenue from a World Cup qualifier with Nigeria and television sponsorship for a match scheduled against Jamaica which did not take place.

Germany vs Norway International Club Friendlies Cerezo Osaka 2 - 2 Man U Red Diamonds 1 - 2 Arsenal CHAN 2014 Qualifiers

Today’s Matches Cote d’Ivoire Vs Nigeria Botswana VsZambia Niger Vs Burkina Faso Rwanda Vs Ethiopia Uganda Vs Tanzania

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