Leadership news2

42

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Celeb sCandals

Stephen Collins’ molestation leak In October this year, Stephen Collins, who played a minister and father to seven children in 11 seasons of the WB’s 7th Heaven got his own share of scandal. In an audio tape that suddenly found its way to being aired, Collins appears to admit to molesting and exposing himself to multiple underage girls. The disturbing audio was secretly recorded during a therapy session with Collins’ wife, Faye Grant. The two have been engaged in a prolonged divorce proceeding. The 67-year-old actor filed for divorce in 2012 and most of the issues in the case have been about money, although Grant included details about the molestation allegations in court filings last year. It is believed that Collins wife released the audio recording after the actor had asked for a divorce. His estranged wife has denied that she leaked the

recording made during a 2012 therapy session.

The American actor, writer, director, and musician, perhaps best known for playing Eric Camden on the long-running television series 7th Heaven, is also known for the roles of Captain Will Decker in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and more recently as Dr Dayton King on the short-lived ABC TV series No Ordinary Family.

According to reports, he will most likely not be prosecuted since the crimes occurred decades ago and the victims have not pressed charges. And while Collins has yet to be charged with any crimes, the allegations have had a major impact on his career, with the actor being dropped from the hit ABC show Scandal as well as the film Ted 2, which he was set to start filming just days after this story first broke.

Tag team scandal of Teresa and Joe Giudice The married stars of the Real Housewives of New Jersey, Teresa and Joe Giudice traded the drama of reality TV for prison when they were both sentenced to time in prison in October for conspiracy and bankruptcy charges. Teresa Giudice was sentenced to 15 months in prison on while her husband, Giuseppe ‘Joe’ Giudice was sentenced to 41 months followed by potential deportation to Italy. Together, the couple must also pay $414,000 in restitution. Both Giudices pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and three types of bankruptcy fraud. Joe Giudice, 43, also pleaded guilty to failing to file a tax return for 2004.

The couple are allowed to serve their sentences separately, so one parent may be allowed to stay with their children. Teresa will begin her

sentence first, which is set to begin on January 5, 2015. The mother of four is to surrender in January and Joe will begin his sentence immediately on her release so that one parent can remain with the children.

A source is reported to saying that since Teresa has been meeting with numerous lawyers since being sentenced. And several lawyers who have met with her have conveyed to her that under the terms of the plea deal she signed, any appeal would be automatically rejected. She was however advised that any lawyer telling her the judge would overturn the prison sentence isn’t being honest with her. But the source says she’s still convinced she can find a loophole!

That’s right - Teresa sincerely believes that she understands the law better than a judge and a bunch of lawyers.

Nollywood celebs iNvolved iN scaNdals Ebube Nwagbo

Even though Ebube Nwagbo has tried to make people know she’s just a normal lady, people have not ceased to see her as a trouble-maker and controversial character.

Ebube has seen it all as far as scandals are concerned. The most recent is the story that she moved in with her old flame, the Limpopo master, Kcee. She was also said to have gotten in a fight with another actress, Anita Joseph, whom she claimed she had never met as at then. But the one that hit the base with her was the story that she went to church, praying and fasting for a man to marry.

Chika Ike

Chika Ike got married early at the age of 20 and had a long spell of scandal-free life until she dumped her husband and started

seeing the other side of life. The first story that crept up to haunt her was her dating a member of the Nigerian Senate. The actress particularly made sure she tried to make it clear to people that she had nothing to do with the prominent figure and rejected the rumours about collecting any gift from him.

But she is beginning to learn that marriage has certain privileges as more and more stories are coming her way.

Uche Jombo

Uche Jombo is not exactly known for controversies but it seems the beautiful, prolific movie maker is too busy making movies, to be concerned with wallowing in little waters of rumours. But, some rumours from nowhere emerged about her aborting a six-month-old pregnancy and this got the star so infuriated, she said the story

was fabricated. This has been the actress’s biggest scandal ever and the actress is not taking likely because she has taken the soft-sell magazine to court for writing what she considers the worst media story in her entire life and career.

health was shaken to the roots. She said she was alarmed at the speed the story spread and it got to a point where some of her fans and most Ghanaians vowed to throw stones at her.

Lydia Forson

Halima Abubakar is down-to-earth and is probably one of the nicest persons in the Nigerian show business. Little wonder, the curvy actress has had some controversies trailing her career but the most alarming one is when it was alleged that she posed nude during her modelling days.

She confirmed that she was modelling, although maybe to some people, the pictures were a little bit revealing but she claimed she was not nude and has never had anything like that. As she claims, the scandal nearly destroyed her acting career.

Ghanaian actress, writer and producer, Lydia Forson, who was the first Ghanaian winner of the prestigious African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2010 has a painful recollection of one that nearly tore her world apart. It was a sex scandal, which happened years ago. It revolved around a non- existent sex tape, which never surfaced. But it was no longer funny when it got to the hearing of her family. Her father, a reverend, suffered, his faith and

Halima Abubakar

43

Saturday, December 20, 2014

GAMETROPIC

GADGETED

In the game Punch-out, the Russian fighter Soda Popinski was originally named Vodka Drunkneski. His name was changed to avoid controversy.

What if your smartphone could be transformed in order to have it work as a universal remote? This is what Pronto intends to do.

By working alongside the Peel Smart Remote app; it turns your iPhone into a personalised universal remote control.

TechLiFe

Man creates a hover board using household items Hover boards have become an obsession for amateur designers ever since Marty McFly jumped on one in Back to the Future II. Now, one Texan claims he has finally been able to create his own version for just $250 using garden leaf blowers that float on a pocket of air. Ryan Craven, 27, built the device using four leaf blowers, a 1.2 by 1.2 metre piece of plywood, a skateboard deck, shower liner, coffee can lids and gaffer tape. He claims that anyone can build their own in eight steps using simple tools that include a tape measure, sand paper, staple gun and a hole saw. The waiter said he came up with the idea after seeing another hover board project on Kickstarter, which inspired him to design one which anyone can build. ‘I’m a huge Back to the Future fan and always wanted to build one,’ he said. ‘I saw the HUVR Kickstarter campaign with Tony Hawk and thought it

was the perfect time to try building one. ‘It can move quite a bit once

it’s going, and despite the steering issue, which really isn’t quite there, you can go quite far and move a little bit.

Mr Craven explained that the device is essentially a miniature version of a hovercraft. He has also released instructions for anyone who would like to make their own. A skirt fills with air that is released below from strategically placed holes that create a small pocket between the device, dubbed ‘Mr Hover board’, and the ground. ‘‘The Back to the Future hover board has always been the impossible dream, but I wanted to make a real hover board that was accessible and workable and fun to use, and not too expensive,’’ added Mr Craven. ‘There are so many variations of skateboard and this one could easily end up being just another variation. But I would love for people to take my idea and develop it to the point where it becomes universal.’’

Google releases its top searches in 2014 list Robin Williams’ suicide seared into the world’s collective mindset more than anything else this year, based on what people were searching for on Google. The reaction to Williams’ death in August topped Google’s list of 2014’s fastest-rising search requests.

It beat notable events such as the World Cup, the Ebola outbreak, the March disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and the Ice Bucket Challenge, an Internet video craze to raise awareness and money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Other topics of worldwide intrigue on Google included the addictive smartphone game ‘Flappy Bird,’ bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst, the Middle East extremist group ISIS, the hit Disney movie Frozen, and the Winter Olympics in Russia. Williams, Ebola, the World Cup and the Ice Bucket also ranked among the most-discussed subjects this year on Facebook, which

Click! Click!!

released its list last week. Google’s worldwide list of the year’s hottest search requests mirrored the activity in the US with a few exceptions.

Wurst didn’t make the Top 10 list in the US, nor did the Winter Olympics.

Instead, Web surfers in the US were seeking more information about the August confrontation that culminated in a white policeman shooting and killing Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Ukraine’s conflict with Russia also held more intrigue in the US than the rest of the world. Google’s review follows annual roundups compiled during the previous two weeks by its main search rivals. Although Google’s list usually comes last each year, its rankings typically provide more telling insights into what people were thinking because the company’s technology processes about two out of every three search requests made on the Internet. Yahoo’s search lists indicated that its websites tend to attract entertainment-minded people. While Ebola topped Yahoo’s rankings for 2014, celebrities or entertainers occupied six of the other slots.

for the upwardly mobile

Apptitude Waterlogue turns your photos into artistic watercolours Waterlogue app lets you watch as it paints over your photos to create a beautiful watercolour version. There are 14 different styles, and you can create the perfect picture by tweaking wetness, pen outlines, and colours.

Get your news on the run with NYTNOW With handpicked stories from The New York Times’ editors, NYT Now is designed for mobile users. The app tells you ‘what you need to know to start your day,’ pulling content from The New York Times and other news sources.

Steller lets you create stories with photos, videos, and text.

Designed to be as flexible as the story you want to tell, Steller helps you build and share multi-page stories that combine photos, text, and video however you’d like from your phone.

Track your activity and heart rate with Health Mate Health Mate is a minimalistic activity tracking app that works with Apple’s Health app. There’s basic step counting, the ability to set goals, and a heart rate tool that uses your iPhone’s back camera for measurements.

Get elevate and watch as your memory, focus, and speaking skills improve Elevate features 25 short mini games that train your brain by asking you questions that will build your memory, reading comprehension, writing, math, focus, and speaking skills.

Facebook is falling out of favour with teenagers

Despite claims young people are leaving the site in droves, Facebook is still the network of choice among 12- to 15-year-olds. Almost three times as many children use Facebook than any other site, and the Californian firm’s Instagram is in second place. But social network use across the web has declined in the past year; with figures showing only 56 per cent of users check the sites on a weekly basis. The numbers come from Ofcom’s International

Communications Market Report 2014, and its Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report.

The US, China and Japan saw similar decreases, but at an average of two per cent overall. While Italian social network users rose from 60 per cent up to 75 per cent. Ofcom blamed the general decline on the popularity of social media apps, such as Snapchat, WhatsApp and WeChat. There has also been a drop in social network use among young

children. But despite this drop, the Ofcom report revealed social networks are still the most popular activity on smartphones and tablets, ahead of watching videos. Last year, 97 per cent of 12- to 15-year-olds used Facebook, compared to 96 per cent this year. But, Instagram use has doubled in a year, up to 36 per cent. This was followed by Twitter, down from 37 per cent to 28 per cent. Snapchat and WhatsApp were included for the first time this year,

and use for these apps was just below Twitter on 26 per cent and 20 per cent respectively. Boys are more likely than girls to have a profile on YouTube, 29 per cent versus 15 per cent. While girls are more likely than boys to have a profile on Instagram, 42 per cent versus 30 per cent. A total of 2,800 UK children and adults were surveyed.

Some two per cent of 3- to 4-yearolds have an active social network which is double last year’s number.

44

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Cultured!

CULTURE

for the uninformed & clueless

SHOCK

El Colacho festival in Spain involves laying infants on mattresses in the street, then adults jump over the infants in order to keep devils away.

Superstitions

Dresssense

Ashley Roberts shows some skin in a daring low-cut dress As a former Pussycat Doll, Ashley Roberts is used to wearing scantily-clad outfits. So she certainly had the confidence to show off her fabulous figure in a very daring dress at the British Comedy Awards on Tuesday. The dancer and singer, 33, flashed her cleavage in a very low-cut orange AQ/AQ dress as she arrived on the blue carpet at the Fountain Studios in North West London. She teamed the outfit with a pair of simple beige and gold high-heeled sandals and no jewellery to distract from the plunging neckline.

Ashley completed her glamorous look with her long blonde hair styled in loose curls.

The star was at the star-studded ceremony to present an award alongside Joey Essex.

And Ashley showed she knows how to work the red carpet as well as the stage, as she flashed some gorgeous poses and pouted her lips. The blonde bombshell perfectly observed the legs or boobs rule in the fulllength peach number. She finished off her

In Yemen, it is believed that a pregnant woman can determine the gender of her unborn baby by throwing a dead snake up in the air. If the snake lands on its back, the baby will be a girl. If it lands upright, the baby will be a boy.

sexy look with a splash of deep red lipstick and her hair was worn in soft, bouncy waves. Though she and Tulisa Contostavlos may not have been nominated for a British Comedy Award, they stole the show with their red carpet outfits. Roberts is training for reality TV show The Jump. And is learning winter sports ahead of the 2nd series of the series which returns in the New Year. Last week, she admitted she was loving travelling at speed in training, tweeting: ‘Oooooh I be diggin the speed kids. #TheJump.’ Meanwhile, Ashley was recently revealed she is single following a brief romance with Lawson singer Ryan Fletcher. The pair were linked over the summer, however Ashley told Gino D’Acampo that she is single, when he questioned her over her love life on daytime show.

Proverbs Do not respond to a mosquito with a hammer because you will miss and hurt yourself.

- Kenyan Proverb.

The turtle lays thousands of eggs without anyone knowing, but when the hen lays an egg, the whole country is informed.

- Malaysian Proverb Don’t approach a goat from the front, a horse from the back, or a fool from any side.

- Jewish Proverb

excusez-moi Socialising with the French

Indulge

The French do most business entertaining in restaurants.

thailand's $22m tropical island Thailand has plenty luxurious villas to offer when it comes to tourist attractions but the most impressive property is the Villa Sawarin which recently hit the market. Available for anyone for an astonishing price of $22m, the island is set on a lush embankment on the tip of the Yamu Peninsula. The villa occupies the most exclusive area of Phuket Island, a place reserved only for the most exquisite residences. Designed by renowned French architects Phillipe Starck and Jean-Michel Gathy, the villa features splendid views towards the sea and the Phang Nga Bay, as well as its 24-meter long infinity pool, stretching across the extraordinary lawn. The villa covers a whopping 42,894 square feet and it is part of an exclusive resort area developed

by COMO Resort, a company that is famous for its exquisite properties.

It features 10 bedrooms and 14

a concierge, a gourmet chef and top notch security systems. The property also comes together with its own private spa, gym and a huge golf course. Other features include a huge indoor dining hall, games room, private cinema, a boathouse and an exterior dining area for 30 guests. Villa Sawarin, blends the traditional Thailand architecture with contemporary elements, resulting in a terrific combination, which guarantees the best comfort all year round. Its ample windows and glazed walls offer spectacular views towards the sea, the jungle and the Thailand landscape, creating a serene environment for relaxation and meditation. Every room offers extraordinary views towards the sea and the incredible tropical garden that surrounds it. With all this components, the villa is a true showcase of luxury and style.

bathrooms, dotted across two impressive wings and four levels. The villa has a variety of luxury services available 24 hours a day, including

uncommon history of common things Before the acceptance of the germ theory of medicine in the late 1800s, surgical bandages were made from rags, pressed sawdust, and other unsterile materials. English surgeon Joseph Lister changed all that with his studies on antisepsis.

He presented his findings to the Philadelphia Medical Congress in 1876; Brooklyn pharmacist Robert Johnson was in the audience,

paying close attention. Johnson and his two brother’s partnered and began packaging sterile dressings of gauze and cotton. Calling their company Johnson and Johnson, they also came up with a zinc oxide adhesive tape and other products in the 1890s. Their most famous and successful product was invented in 1920 by an employee, Earle Dickson, whose wife was continually nicking

Reservations are necessary for most restaurants.

The French still consider lunch a private time; however, the business lunch is becoming more common.

Business lunches are formal and include appetizers, a main course, cheese, dessert and coffee.

The French consider dinner a social occasion and a time to enjoy good food, wine and conversation. They do not like to discuss business during dinner. Be prepared to discuss French culture, heritage and government.

Senior managers socialise only with those of equivalent status.

The French do not include spouses in business lunches; they may include spouses in business dinners.

Adhesive bandages

herself in the kitchen. He prepared several ready – made bandages by placing pieces of gauze along a strip of adhesive tape. To keep the tape sticky, he put crinoline on it. When bandage was needed, his wife simply had to cut one off and peel away crinoline. Dickson demonstrated the first aid item to James Johnson, and company began making Band-Aids. The product sold

slowly at first. But after the company gave away huge numbers of the product to Boy Scouts and butchers, people began taking notice. By the late 1920s, the adhesive strips were being sold in various sizes and with aeration holes in the gauze pads to promote healing. Dickson went on to become a company vice president and member of the board of directors.

45

Saturday, December 20, 2014

TRAVELOGUE In many ways Sweden has become a traveller’s paradise. From the Fairy-tale Drottningholm Palace on the island of Lovö, to the Vasa Museum in Stockholm and Stockholm’s wondrous archipelago, the country has a lot of variety to offer this season.

DESIRABLES

THE MUSTREADS AND LINGER-ONS

QUEEn Rania Of JORdan

Champion for women and children's rights Education advocate, promoter of educational opportunities for the world’s youth, and international voice of cross cultural dialogue. These are some of the words that best describe Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan.

As UNICEF’s first eminent advocate for children and honorary chair of the UN Girls’ Education Initiative, Queen Rania has played a significant role in reaching out to the global community to foster values of tolerance and acceptance for women and children.

She has also been particularly vocal about the importance of cross cultural and interfaith dialogue to foster greater understanding, tolerance and acceptance across the world. She has used her status to correct what she sees as misconceptions in the West about the Arab world. Forbes magazine ranked her as one of the world’s 100 most powerful women in 2011. Her business knowledge has help people through the World Economic Forum, for which she is a Foundation Board member, the Forum of Young Global Leaders, the World Economic Forum, the International Youth Foundation, and the Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship.

To most people, Queen Rania is a glamorous figure and a champion for women and children’s rights who has founded numerous charities to support her cause. What most people do not know is the fact that Queen Rania is also outspoken critic of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

According to her, the bloodthirsty killers of Islamic State are trying to ‘hijack’ the Arab world and ‘drag us back to the Dark Ages’ through social media.

During a powerful address to the Abu Dhabi Media Summit in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the 44-yearold monarch spoke out against the horror videos of decapitated prisoners being promoted by ISIS on Twitter and Facebook. ‘A minority of irreligious extremists is using social media to rewrite our narrative and hijack our identity,’ Queen Rania said.

‘That’s what ISIS is doing to the Arab world and all of us’.

Referring specifically to the

Facts about Queen Rania She was born on 31 August 1970 She once worked for Apple Inc. in Amman, Jordan She met her future husband then crown prince Abdullah Bin al-Hussein at a dinner party in January 1993.

Two months later, they were engaged and by June they were married.

They currently have 4 children Rania admitted in an interview with American TV host Barbara Walters that she has grown comfortable in her role since marrying the King.

“People are mesmerised by the Queen thing, but for me it is everyday life,” she explained.

Alongside her royal duties, Queen Rania also finds the time to write children’s books. Jordan’s leading lady has released four books for children including The Sandwich Swap, which became a New York Times book list bestseller.

The wife of King Abdullah II is an active user of Social Media and currently uses Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. She currently has more than 2.8million followers on her Twitter page, and one of her followers includes Prince Charles’ Twitter page @ClarenceHouse.

As one of the most photographed women in the world, Queen Rania has been praised for her effortless style and has been named as one of People’s most beautiful women.

In her spare time, she loves to run and is a “seeker of good jogging tunes”. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends and can loves to bake a “mean chocolate chip cookie”.

Powerful: Queen Rania at the Abu Dhabi Media Summit

videos of beheadings, the Queen said: ‘These images don’t represent me anymore than they represent you.

‘They’re alien and abhorrent to the vast majority of Arabs – Muslims and Christians.

And they should make every Arab across this region seethe. ‘Because they’re an attack on our values as a people and on our collective story. This is their version of the Arab world’s story, their plot, their narrative, their heroes, and the rest of the world is listening and watching.’ Queen Rania also said the ‘silence’ of moderate Arabs made them complicit in ISIS’ success, adding: ‘At the heart of the assault is an

ideology. ‘And if you think you can defeat an ideology with a bullet, think of what happened when Osama Bin Laden was killed.’

Queen Rania explained: ‘Sure he died, but his legacy is an even stronger, more twisted extremist movement.’ ‘We must create a new narrative and broadcast it to the world.

Because if we don’t decide what our identity is and what our legacy will be, the extremists will do it for us.’

Queen Rania urged people in the region to post their own positive ‘profile picture of our Arab world’ on social media sites. She also highlighted education and job creation as being the key to thwarting

the extremists.

A doctor’s daughter, she was born in Kuwait on 31 August 1970. The queen is known for her amazing fashion sense.

She went to primary and secondary school in Kuwait, then earned a degree in Business Administration from the American University in Cairo. From there she went on to a brief career in marketing at Citibank, before taking a job at Apple Computer in Amman. She met her future husband at a dinner party in January 1993. Two months later, they were engaged and

by June they were married.

When King Abdullah Bin al-Hussein and Queen Rania al-Abdullah ascended the

throne in 1999, they brought a more populist approach to the Jordanian monarchy. The royal couple have eschewed palace surroundings in favour of a suburban home outside Amman. While her husband is known for mingling with his subjects in disguise, Queen Rania prefers to visit remote villages in the kingdom. Her trips are unplanned and unannounced. She simply gets into her car and drives off with a pair of security guards in tow.

The king and queen now have four children. Jordan’s first lady is an active woman. Her hobbies, according to the Queen Rania web site, include water skiing, running and cycling.

46

Saturday, December 20, 2014

MiNDFUL

RANDOM

for the LeISUreLY-MINDeD & thoUGhtfUL

FACTS

LAST WEEK'S

CROSSWORD

AIR FORCE AMERICA APPRECIATION ARMY BRAVERY CEREMONY DUTY FLAG HEROES HOLIDAY MARINES MILITARY NAVY PARADE SACRIFICE SERVICE SOLDIERS UNIFORMS

SUDOKU CLASSIC

WORDSEARCH

WORDLADDER Can you climb the ladder and find the missing numbers?

?

118 ?

56 28

SUDOKUCLASSIC

26 13 9 6 4 See solution below

HOMEWORK FOR GROWN-UPS 1 Who earned infamy for noting: 'A billion dollars isn't worth what it used to be’? a) Warren Buffet b) J. Paul Getty c) Bill Gates 2. What is the main colour of the UN flag? a) Sky Blue b) Blue c) Brown 3.What cat does not have a tail? a) Manx b) Onyx c) Ocelot 4.What was the most common name given to girls in1995, in the US? a) Grace b) Serena c) Ashley 5.Who created the

famous children's character Pinocchio? a) Carlo Collodi b) William Shakespeare c) Enid Blyton

WORDLADDER SOLUTION

6. In what field of study are the terms CPU, PC, and VDU used? a) Biology b) Politics c) Computer Science 7. What was the title of Pixar's 1995 blockbuster animation movie? a) Toy Story b) Finding Nemo c) Ice Age 8. What common element is used in the manufacture of computer chips? a) Hydrogen b) Carbon c) Silicon

HOMEWORK

Answers

b) J. Paul Getty b) Blue a) Manx c) Ashley a) Carlo Collodi c) Computer Science a) Toy Story c) Silicon

WORDSEARCH

Put each of the numbers 1-9 once in every row, column and 3x3 box

CROSSWORD

1. Major prize (7) 5. Sentinel (5) 8. Circus performer (5) 9. Skittish (7) 10. Synthetic fabric (5) 11. Relating to the moon (5) 12. Proficient (5) 14. Mild and pleasant (5) 19. A closed litter for one passenger (5) 21. One more time (5) 23. Copy (7) 24. Rabbit shelter (5) 25. Locations (5) 26. Assimilates (7)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

1. Nocturnal canine (6) 2. Enthroned (7) 3. Appointed committee (5) 4. Lessee (6) 5. Large ape (7) 6. Fruit of the oak (5) 7. Wilderness (6) 13. Writing implements (7) 15. Leviathan (7) 16. Takes over without authority (6) 17. Elongated fruit (6) 18. Treasure (6) 20. Terminus (5) 22. Dull pains (5)

SOLUTIONS

ACROSS

4(+2)=6(+3)=9(+4)=13(x2) =26(+2)=28(x2)=56(+3)=59 (x2)=118(+4)=122

DOWN

Horses fall asleep while standing.

47

Saturday, December 20, 2014

a la carte

25%

gRaffiti

THE LOTS TO CHEW ON AND REGURGITATE

Percentage of burns to children caused by hot water and associated with more deaths than with other liquid.

93%

Average percentage of greeting cards purchased by women.

lady'S WORdS When a lady is approached by a panhandler, and the lady chooses not to give him her money.

She does not say: “Why don’t you get a job?”

“Sorry. All I’ve got is a hundred-dollar bill.”

“Do you think I’m crazy? I know you’re just a drunk.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t give money to people on the street-but I want you to know that I give big bucks to help people like you, and I also serve Thanksgiving lunch to the homeless.”

But she does say: Nothing, unless she knows the address of a nearby homeless shelter.

A lady decides for herself whether she wishes to give money-even in small amounts-to panhandlers.

If a lady chooses to give to a panhandler, she does so discreetly, simply saying, “You’re welcome,” when she is thanked for her generosity.

In no case does she risk her safety by preaching to a stranger of whose motivations she is uncertain.

When an acquaintance asks a lady how much she has paid for an item of clothing or some other personal property.

She does not say: “Why are you asking?”

“I can’t believe you’d ask that.”

“Probably more than you could afford.”

But she does say: “Gee, I’m not sure I remember.”

Whether this response is accurate or simply a means of escaping an awkward situation, it may short-circuit any further probing. If the nosy acquaintance continues to push, saying, “oh, come now, that dress must have cost $750:’ a lady may simply close the discussion by saying, “I’m sorry, but I’d rather not talk about that.”

change yOuR WORld Learn about your body One minor problem with the whole idea of eating better is knowing where on earth to start. It is well worth spending the cash to go and spend an hour with a nutritionist.

Ask around to see if you can find one who has some reputation for understanding the environmental side of

eating. You want to come away with an idea of what foods you personally should not be eating and how to cook good, tasty meals in a sustainable way. There is no point in going on some Nazi diet if you can barely maintain it for a day.

Whatever you do needs to

feel like it can be maintained for life. Every evidence for the idea that the greener you eat, the healthier you will be, and if you go in with that attitude, your nutritionist will be able to point you in the right direction to make your diet easier and simpler to maintain.

Buy organic wine When you buy organic wine, the benefit to the environment is two-fold. The wine has to be produced without synthetic additives and the farming methods

associated with the vineyard have to be such that the soil’s productivity is maintained and enhanced over time. It takes a little while for vineyards to

become completely organic but there are few in the pipeline so keep an eye out for your cellars releasing organics in the next few years.

laugh–Out–lOud If it isn’t death, it’s taxes Once, a man with an alligator walked a pub and asked the bartender, “Do you serve IRS agents here?”“Sure do,” the barkeep replied. “Good, give me a beer,” said the man. “And my gator’ll have an IRS agent.”

Discussing the environment with his friend, one man asked, “which of our natural resources do you think will become exhausted first?”“The taxpayer,” answered the other.

A grieving widow was discussing her late husband

with a friend. “My Albert was such a good man, and I miss him so. He provided well for me with that fifty-thousanddollar insurance policy – but I would give a thousand of it just to have him back.”

word.” Mrs Willencot thought a moment. “Cadillac for sale.”

On her eightieth birthday, a woman from Brooklyn decides to prepare her last will and testament. She goes to her rabbi to make Mrs Willencot was very frugal. two final requests. First, When her husband died she she insists on cremation. asked the newspaper how “What is your second much it would cost for a death request?” the rabbi asks. “I notice. “Two dollars for five want my ashes scattered words.”“Can I pay for just two over Bloomingdale’s.”“Why words?” she asked. “Willencot Bloomingdale’s?”“Then I’ll be dead.”“No, two dollars is the sure that my daughters visit minimum. You still have three me twice a week.”

48

Saturday, December 20, 2014

BONUSPACK $102 238 kmh million

THE TAKE-AWAYS THIS WEEK

KEEPSAKES

FASTFORWARD

Speed of the fastest serve at Wimbledon, achieved by Taylor Dent.

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the new york times united States the guardian united Kingdom the People’s Daily china the Daily Mail united Kingdom the Washington Post united States the Daily telegraph united Kingdom the Wall Street Journal united States uSa today united States Los angeles times united States the times of india india the examiner united States the independent united Kingdom Daily news united States el Mundo Spain financial times united Kingdom Bild germany el País Spain chicago tribune united States the Sydney Morning Herald australia La repubblica italy Le Monde france Hürriyet turkey Le figaro france china Daily china the globe and Mail canada corriere della Sera italy Houston chronicle united States Die Welt germany gazeta Wyborcza Poland new york Post united States Daily Mirror united Kingdom the christian Science Monitor united States Milliyet gazetesi turkey Marca Spain Süddeutsche Zeitung germany asahi Shimbun Japan the age australia the Hollywood reporter united States Die Zeit germany the toronto Star canada the Sun united Kingdom the chicago Sun-times united States yomiuri Shimbun Japan Mladá fronta Dnes czech republic the economic times india the Washington times united States the Philadelphia inquirer united States San Jose Mercury news united States frankfurter allgemeine Zeitung germany the onion united States the Denver Post united States il Sole 24 ore italy aBc Spain clarín argentina Komsomolskaya Pravda russia o globo Brazil Libération france La nación argentina newsday united States the australian australia the Sacramento Bee united States Star tribune united States Kommersant russia La gazzetta dello Sport italy the Hindu india the Miami Herald united States the Dallas Morning news united States Der Standard austria aftonbladet Sweden national Post canada the Boston globe united States the oregonian united States the Jerusalem Post israel Le nouvel observateur france the Baltimore Sun united States Metro united Kingdom Der tagesspiegel germany the Seattle times united States the atlanta Journal-constitution united States the new Zealand Herald new Zealand nihon Keizai Shimbun Japan al-ahram egypt rossiyskaya gazeta russia De telegraaf netherlands L’equipe france the Hindustan times india Philippine Daily inquirer Philippines 20 Minutos Spain Boston Herald united States the Star online Malaysia Qingdao news china Dainik Bhaskar india the Plain Dealer united States the Japan times Japan aS Spain Detroit free Press united States Seattle Post-intelligencer united States

please cut along this line and keep

SEEN & OVERHEARD

great Christmas quotes The supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in washington, DC. This wasn't for any religious reasons.

They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin.

JAY LENO

I stopped believing in santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.

SHIRLEY TEMPLE please cut along this line and keep

PaPer

Christmas is the one time of year when people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ.

BART SIMPSON

Christmas time! That man must be a misanthrope indeed, in whose breast something like a jovial feeling is not roused in whose mind some pleasant associations are not awakened by the recurrence of Christmas.

CHARLES DICKENS

santa Claus has the right idea.

Visit people only once a year.

VICTOR BORGE

Let's just say that on this day, a million years ago, a dude was born who most of us think was magic. but others don't, and that's cool. but we're probably right. amen.

HOMER SIMPSON

Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in alaska won’t make it white.

BING CROSBY

Mail your packages early so the post office can lose them in time for Christmas.

JOHNNY CARSON

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house/Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

CLEMENT CLARKE MOORE

JUST UNBELIEVABLE Total earnings from Tiger Wood's USA PGA Tour as of March 8, 2013.

ENGLISH PHRASES Inch Every inch To the utmost degree. Why aye, there is not one of my name but myself that knows what patience means. you are a true Grampus, sister Di, let me tell you, every inch a Grampus.

Give somebody an inch (and they’ll take a mile) Make a small concession to somebody (and they are bound to want more). Give them an inch, and they’ll take an ell, blow you the fire, their greedy passions swell, they think they must exceed, or else they can’t excel.

Inch by inch Slowly and gradually. Emma felt the glory of having schemed successfully.

But it would not do; he had not come to the point ... ‘Cautious, very cautious,’ thought Emma; ‘he advances inch by inch, and will hazard nothing till he believes himself secure.’

Not give an inch To make no concessions at all. Tilly’s Men might be killed and knocked down, but no man turned his back, nor would give an inch of ground, but as they were wheeled, or marched, or retreated by their officers.

Within an inch of something Very nearly at the point of doing or reaching something. ‘What is the matter now?’ The matter now is that I an a man again, and no more a fool than usual. But I came within an inch of taking that girl au serieux.’

Within an inch of one’s life (Said especially of violent or vigorous action) done very thoroughly or intensively (literally) almost to the point of death. Their persistent hardness of heart will be the subject of everlasting remorse to them should you be taken from us - But now seems (barbarous wretches!) you are to suffer within an inch of your life.

Plan Go to plan (Said of an undertaking) to proceed as intended or expected. Everything is going to plan, they want the crest of this hill for anti-aircraft. The guns will take the view and searchlights probe the heavens for bacilli with narrow wands of blue.

49

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Onigbinde Hails Ibadan Unification Match

By TAOFEEK LAWAL, Abuja

FIFA and CAF advisor, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde has commended Heroic Image Sports Club the organiser of the unification football match scheduled for Sunday between footballers from the East and Western part of country at Lekan Salami Sports Complex Ibadan.

Speaking on the match, Chief Onigbinde who is also based in Ibadan, said the idea of coming together of all prominent players in Ibadan to play and raise funds to cater for the distressed ones is a fan-

tastic one, stressing that he is often moved to tears seeing some of our players especially the ones residing in Ibadan living in abject poverty and pitiful state.

He urged the sincere football fans that have enjoyed the services of these players while active to storm Lekan Salami in large numbers to watch unification game so that the organiser can be encouraged to continue with the good work.

Meanwhile, 3SC Team Manager, Dimeji Lawal who is one of the organisers of the event, Ike Shorunmu, Super Eagles Goalkeeper train-

er, Gbenga Okunowo, Duke Udi ex-Shooting Stars and Super Eagles midfielder, now Coach of Giwa FC, Bright Omokaro, Tony Alegbe, Femi Opabunmi Mutiu Adepoju, Ajibade Babalade, Muyiwa Lawal among others have been training hard to exhibit what is left in their kitty come this Sunday.

The match according to Heroic Club president, Kenneth Umeh was designed to strengthen the bond between players resident in Ibadan, both active and retired and to raise fund to assist the ones in distress.

This May Be Best Chelsea Team Ever – Cech

With 16 games gone in the EPL, Chelsea are top, even though a considerable advantage over Manchester City has been whittled down in two weeks, Petr Cech believes that this current side can go on to become one of the best ever Chelsea sides-but they must win silverware at the end of the season.

“This team has the potential and the quality to become one of the best teams in Chelsea’s history if it proves it by winning the trophies,” Cech told his club’s official website.

“But I keep saying you can only judge teams at the end of the season when you see how much the team achieve.

“In this moment, we have been doing remarkably well but we have no trophy in our hands. So let’s see what’s going to be the case at the end of the season.

Chelsea lost their unbeaten start to the season at Newcastle but have progressed on all other

fronts.

Cech continued, “We want to win as many games as possible, as many competitions as possible, then let’s see what it’s going to bring us.

“It is difficult to know how many of them you can actually manage to win.

“You cannot say, ‘We leave this competition, we chase that competition’ because in the competition you pick you have one unlucky game and you have nothing.

So you can’t treat competitions like that.

“We progressed in the Champions League, our aim, we’ve progressed in the League Cup, we are top of the league, so far we are doing well,” he added.

Chelsea have been drawn against PSG in the UEFA Champions round of 16 and will play Liverpool in the Capital One Cup semi-final over two legs.

Cech

My Barcelona Days Are Numbered – Xavi Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez has stated that his playing days are over and he would relish the opportunity to follow the path of former manager Pep Guardiola in the future to coach the Spanish heavyweights.

The petit attacking midfielder replaced Guardiola as Barcelona’a playmaker after Louis van Gaal promoted him to the first team and now he has revealed his in- Xavi tention to manage the ‘La Blauof Guardiola”, the 34-year old grana’.

“I would like to follow the path midfielder told Spanish newspa-

per El Pais.

Xavi is a key member of of a golden generation for Barcelona and Spain, but he says it was not easy to shoulders comparisons to Guardiola.

“My playing days are numbered, that is crystal clear. I can feel it in my body”. He stated further.

Time would tell, if Xavi can reenact the spectacular coaching form of Guardiola who amassed a huge collection of trophies at Barcelona and he’s replicating the same form at Bayern Munich.

Arsenal, Tottenham Fight Over Shaqiri Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are set to battle over the signing of want-away Bayern Munich star Xherdan Shaqiri.

The Swiss international wants to leave the Bundesliga champions, and the Premier League could be his destination. He wants more time on the pitch, which he is not

getting currently in Munich. This is despite manager Pep Guardiola persuading him to stay longer in the last transfer window when he had the same worries.

The midfielder shone at the 2014 World Cup, and has already played 43 times for his country despite only being 23-years-old. Rumours linking him to England were

rife in the summer, and they seem to be starting again with the January transfer window coming up.

He has apparently been told that he can leave for as little as £12.5 million in the next month, and this price should entice any prospective buyers with it being very cheap for the man known as the “Alpine Messi.”

Eduok Joins Norwegian Club

Eduok

Dolphins star Emem Eduok has agreed to a deal in principle to join Norwegian side, Sarpsborg 08 in January.

The deal for the 20-year-old is yet to be finalised between both clubs but the reports says that the player left the shores of the country to sort out personal terms.

“I hope that we can give Sarpsborg football audience a real Christmas present. We are in contact with a player, but there are still details left before the play-

er can be ready. I do not want to confirm the name or nationality of this player,” said ThomasBerntsen ,Sarpsborg sports director.

The fee mentioned for the 3-year-old is $150,000 (around N28 million) as transfer fee for Eduok, and part of the agreement includes a 50-percent sellon clause to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in future transfer of the player.

“Emem has agreed a threeyear deal with Sarpsborg 08 of Norway. He has agreed personal terms and the club have also talked to us (Dolphins). He (Eduok) will go for a transfer fee of $150,000. But it is from the sell-on clause that we will benefit from as it is around 50 to 60 percent of future transfer,” a source close to the player stated.

Eduok emerged the second highest goalscorer of the Nigerian Professional football league (NPFL) and was outstanding in Dolphins 6-0 drubbing of Nembe City in one of the games as he scored all the goals in that match.

50 SPORTS

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Hazard Set For New Chelsea Deal Chelsea are virtually certain Eden Hazard will sign a new five-year contract worth £200,000 per week in the coming weeks.

The Belgian’s representatives and Blues officials have been locked in discussions for months over an improved contract.

And the process is finally coming to a positive conclusion for Chelsea, with Hazard virtually certain to pen a new deal.

The news will come as a major boost to manager Jose Mourinho, whose side are top of the Barclays Premier League.

Hazard has proved an instrumental member of the Chelsea squad since the Portuguese’s return

Hazard

to Stamford Bridge at the start of last season.

Paris Saint-Germain are longterm admirers of Hazard and have been heavily linked with a swoop for the forward.

But news of Hazard’s new deal will, for the time being, end the French club’s hopes of landing him.

Mayweather Is Scared Of Me – Khan

Berahino

Sterling

5 English Players Who Could Move Abroad

Khan

Amir Khan triumphantly returned home to his gym in Bolton and, after being confronted by a huge mural of himself, laughed off suggestions he is not a big enough name to face Floyd Mayweather.

The welterweight - fresh from his victory over Devon Alexander - arrived in England on Wednesday and addressed the media on Thursday at his Gloves Community Centre in Bolton.

Khan posed for pictures in front of a giant mural of himself in his refurbished gym and with the 24-carat shorts he wore during his emphatic win over Alexander last Saturday.

Khan put on his own goldstandard display against Alexander and won much praise on both sides of the Atlantic. He has been vocal in his desire to face Mayweather in his next fight, but the pound-for-pound king poured cold water on the idea and has called out Manny Pacquiao.

‘The other night I think he did 4,000 (attendance), so, Amir Khan, his name holds no weight,’ Mayweather told reporters during the World Boxing Council convention.

‘No one knows who Amir Khan is, except for people who are involved in boxing.’

But Khan has hit back saying, ‘I want the fight, but is Floyd going to take the fight? Is Floyd going to give me that chance? That’s some-

thing we’re all waiting to hear from Floyd Mayweather.

‘I’ve been asking for the fight for the last two or three years.

Now he needs to come back to the press and say, “I want the fight with Amir Khan”. I know I’m touching distance away from that super fight. I think I’ve proven myself many times and I think this time I’ve proved myself in the biggest way so he has to take the fight. What else do I have to do?

‘I have a bigger name than (Marcos) Maidana did or Victor Ortiz. I’m one of the biggest names in boxing. I know if I can bring Floyd Mayweather to Britain then I’ll sell out Wembley Stadium. How big does he need my name to be?

‘I think these are little excuses. I’m sure people realise that. It seems to me he doesn’t want to fight me. I have the speed, dexterity, accuracy, movement, power; I think it’s something that he doesn’t really want to mix with.’0 The chance to face Mayweather has been something Khan has long wanted. He pulled out of his original fight with Alexander last year because he believed he had a May date with the Money Man. However, Mayweather instead fought Marcos Maidana, leaving Britain’s former Olympic silver medallist without a fight in 14 months before he took on Luis Collazo in May.

Liverpool players feature heavily in this list, with a number of their stars currently in uncertain situations over their futures, while an Arsenal midfielder and promising Premier League youngster also seem to be attracting some interest from overseas.

Read on to see the five players who could follow in the footsteps of AS Roma left-back Ashley Cole, as well as former greats such as David Beckham and Michael Owen who made the decision to try their luck with a move away from England…

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) One of the most exciting young players in Europe at the moment, let alone England, Raheem Sterling’s future at Liverpool is by no means certain at the moment after stalling

on signing a new contract at Anfield, which has reportedly alerted Spanish giants Real Madrid and German champions Bayern Munich.

Theo Walcott (Arsenal) With his season plagued by injuries again this year, Theo Walcott has been linked with an exit from Arsenal to gain fitness, and Fiorentina have emerged as surprise contenders to sign the England winger on loan for the second half of the campaign.

Glen Johnson (Liverpool) A move that looks more and more likely to happen before long, Liverpool could lose their England international rightback Glen Johnson to AS Roma on a free next season, with a pre-contract likely to be agreed in January. After a long spell at Anfield, the former Chelsea defender could link up with his former international colleague

Ashley Cole at the Stadio Olimpico.

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) A target for former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, Steven Gerrard could be another Liverpool player on his way out for a move abroad this January as Inter Milan come calling for the 34-year-old, who recently retired from England duty after serving as captain for the last few years.

Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion) Another player linked with Inter Milan this January is West Bromwich Albion’s highly-rated young striker Saido Berahino, who only recently earned his first call up to the senior England international squad.

The 21-year-old looks to have a bright future and is attracting plenty of interest, which may lead to a surprise move to Italy.

Gay’s Former Coach Banned For 8 Years Tyson Gay’s former coach has been banned for eight years by the US Anti-Doping Agency. Jon Drummond, a former Olympic relay gold medallist, was found to have possessed, trafficked and administered banned drugs to an athlete he coached.

The ban comes into force on 17 December, the date of the decision. Earlier this year, former 100m and 200m world champion Gay was suspended for a year after testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid.

That penalty was reduced because he provided information that led to Usada’s case against American Drummond, 46.

Drummond helped the

United States win gold in the 4x100m relay at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Usada chief executive Travis Tygart said: “Coaches have an inherent responsibility to protect athletes, not take advantage of them.

“But to ensure that they receive the support, training and advice they need to win fairly and in accordance with the rules.”

Drummond’s ban prohibits him from coaching, training or advising athletes.

He is not allowed to participate or coach at any event sanctioned by USA Track and Field or the sport’s global governing body the IAAF.

Drummond

SPORTS 51

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Liverpool Target Mignolet’s Replacement Liverpool could make a move for Sampdoria goalkeeper Sergio Romero as a replacement for struggling number one Simon Mignolet.

The ‘keeper shares the same agent as Mario Balotelli, and this could help the deal to go through. The Reds need a new man between the sticks after recently dropping Mignolet for Brad Jones, only to have the Australian make mistakes on his return to the side.

The Argentina international impressed while in the side that made it to the 2014 World Cup final, and has also been linked to Manchester United in

the months since as he used to play under their manager Louis van Gaal.

Former scout and director of football Tor-Kristian Karlsen believes that the 27-year-old could be a good fit for the Premier League were he to sign for the Merseyside club.

He said so in a series of tweets, explaining that Romero’s “aggressive” style could mean that he won’t need to adapt as much as most do to the rough and tumble of English football.

He also claimed that the Guillermo Ochoa rumours may not be true.

Falcao To Justify Man Utd Stay On-loan striker Radamel Falcao told reporters he is keen to make his stay with Manchester United permanent but admitted he’s unsure the feeling is mutual, given the difficult start he has had to life in the Premier League.

“From my point of view, yes, but obviously I have to analyse the situation, see if I play more and see what decision the board takes.

But from my point of view, I really want to stay.”

The Colombia international joined the club during the summer on a one-year loan deal worth £16 million, and the Red Devils have the option to make the transfer permanent. Injuries and poor form have limited Falcao’s impact so far, however, as he has only start-

ed three Premier League matches.

The lack of playing time weighs heavily on his shoulders, but he hopes the proper work ethic will lead to more chances. “Every footballer wants to play, no one is happy when they are not playing, when they are on the bench, but whenever I am given the opportunity, whether it be for five, 10, 20 or 90 minutes, I have to give my best.”

“I am very well. I’m almost at 100% now, let’s see wait and see what the decision of the coach is, when he wants to use me more. I feel ready for the moment that the team needs me. Whenever I have the opportunity to come on I try to do my best for the coach and I try to help the team.”

West Brom Coach Promises Ideye More Playing Time West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Irvine has declared his intention to grant his Nigerian striker Brown Ideye more game time to help the forward complete his gradual return to form.

The Baggies Manager who remains positive about Ideye delivering well after his £10m acquisition revealed that there have been so much improvement on the part of Ideye in recent training sessions in the past days.

“He does need games and obviously this is a great time for him to be doing it,” he is quoted as saying by the Birmingham Mail. “He’s going to get his games. It’s really important that he was back to where he needs to be. The signs were that he’s started scoring goals again in training on a regular basis. He went through a period where he couldn’t score for weeks in training.

“We play 11 v 11 but don’t necessarily play them on full size pitches. We play them on smaller pitches when chances should be more frequent and he couldn’t score. But now he is. He’s in a position where

Ideye

again it’s that little bit of sharpness and just him being quick enough to get into positions and be composed when he’s actually making that finish.

“Until you get that then you might be quick enough, but you’re not composed and it comes off you.

He’s in a much better place. He just really wants a goal to come.”

Ideye, 26 only last weekend enjoyed his third start for West Brom and so far has just a solitary goal to his name in nine appearances.

Henry Reveals Favourite Arsenal Goal Thierry Henry has revealed his favourite ever goal for Arsenal, and it’s a somewhat surprising choice.Considering Thierry Henry scored 228 goals for Arsenal, including some of the most outrageous flicks, volleys and solo runs ever seen in the Premier League, his choice of his favourite goal ever is slightly surprising.

The goal was the first one the Frenchman scored in 2012 when he returned to Arsenal on a loan spell from New York Red Bulls, as he explained: “There is one goal, don’t get me wrong I enjoyed all of them, but the one when I came back to play for Arsenal that I scored against Leeds on my first game back,” he told the Telegraph.

“Look at the emotion, my emotion – you rarely saw me doing that. The celebration between myself and Arsène, that was genuine. You never saw me do that before.”

It certainly was an emotional moment to see the legend return to Arsenal and score again, even for non Arsenal fans.

The goal was textbook Henry too. Although he’ll always be remembered for some of

Henry

the more incredible goals he scored, his bread and butter were goals just like this.

Hovering wide out on the left, the striker sees Alex Song pick up the ball in the middle of the park, and makes his move, staying onside until the midfielder plays the pass.

Henry dashes in behind the Leeds full-back, but is forced to slow slightly as Song has played the ball too close to his feet. Henry’s magnificent first touch recovers the initiative however, and the forward coolly slots the ball into the far corner with his right foot.

Bulgaria Want Berbatov Out Of Retirement Bulgaria are hoping to bring Monaco striker Dimitar Berbatov out of international retirement.

The 33-year-old former Tottenham, Manchester United and Fulham striker quit Bulgar-

ia international duty in 2010 after scoring 48 goals in 74 caps.

Ivaylo Petev, who was appointed Bulgaria coach on Thursday, said: “I have the ambition to meet him and talk. We’ll see what will happen.”

Bulgaria are fourth in Euro 2016 qualifying Group H. Berbatov has scored five goals in 12 Ligue 1 appearances this season for Monaco, and helped his side reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Newcastle Consider Emergency Goalkeeper Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew will speak to the Premier League about the possibility of signing a goalkeeper on an emergency loan ahead of Sunday’s derby against Sunderland.

Third-choice keeper Jak Alnwick, 21, injured his shoulder at Tottenham as Freddie Woodman, 17, sat on the bench. Regular number one Tim Krul and deputy Rob Elliot are already injured.

“There is no way that a 17-year-old should be allowed to go in goal at Premier League level,” said Pardew. “We will perhaps talk to the Premier League about his situation.”

Karl Darlow, 24, might have been an option for the Magpies, but he is on loan at Championship club Nottingham Forest for the entire season and cannot be recalled.

With the transfer window not due to open until 1 January, Newcastle need special dispensation to boost their goalkeeping options.

Manchester City signed Sunderland keeper Marton Fulop

Pardew

on an emergency loan in April 2010 with Shay Given and Stuart Taylor injured and Joe Hart out on loan at Birmingham.Premier League guidelines state that clubs with only one fit and available goalkeeper are technically eligible to make an emergency loan signing.

Newcastle have conceded eight goals in their last two

matches, beaten 4-1 by Arsenal in the Premier League before losing 4-0 at Spurs in Wednesday’s League Cup quarter-final. Netherlands goalkeeper Krul, 26, is out with an ankle injury suffered in training at the start of December, while Elliot, 28, tore a thigh muscle during last weekend’s 2-1 win against Chelsea.

52

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Feature 53

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Elaborate Nature Of Funerals In Igboland Elaborate burial rites often follow the demise of relatives and loved ones. However, how much could be said to be enough for such ceremonies? MIKE UBANI, Enugu; OKECHUKWU OBETA, Awka; MATTHIAS NWOGU, UMUAHIA and OBINNA OGBONNAYA, Abakaliki, write

P

a Uche Nwankwo, a native of the ancient town of Arochukwu in Abia State, died on June 24, 2013, at the age of 76. He had six children; four males and two females.

The four male children of the deceased are successful businessmen while each of the two daughters got married several years ago to equally successful businessmen.

Ironically, when Pa Nwankwo was down with pneumonia, the eldest son recommended that he be given traditional medicine which proved ineffective at every attempt.

Though the remaining children sent money home for Pa Nwankwo to buy conventional medicine, but in totality, the money was awfully inadequate to buy the requisite drugs.

Expectedly, Pa Nwankwo’s health went from bad to worse. And the man died. His corpse was deposited in the mortuary of a private hospital in Umuahia, the Abia state capital.

And following Pa Nwankwo’s death, his six children came back home to arrange for his burial. Significantly, there was a consensus that Pa Nwankwo would not be buried until a magnificent as well as expansive house that would be a cynosure of all eyes was built in the village. The cost of erecting the building was conservatively put at N20 million.

The children also agreed to raise another N20 million to take care of other burial expenses, including the purchase of a state-of-the-art casket, sewing of uniforms, buying of assorted food items, drinks, souvenirs, hiring of the best musician in town etc.

This is not an isolated case. In almost all parts of Igboland, the living spend lavishly to bury their dead ones. Even if the deceased was a pauper, all the traditional burial rites - which are extremely, elaborate, expensive and complex must be observed to the letter.

It is very expensive to bury loved ones, especially parents in Igbo land. In order to accord a father or mother a befitting burial some people even go to the extent of obtaining loans from bank or from friends and or sell their family land to raise enough money for the funeral.

Cases abound where people after organising funerals for their parents start finding it difficult to provide for his immediate family, including payment of children’s

An Igbo masquerade entertaining guests at a funeral. PHOTO SOURCE: GOOGLE

school fees because of the difficulty in repaying loans obtained either from banks or friends.

Culture according to its definition, is said to be the totality of peoples way of life, it has been argued in many quarters if flamboyant burial ceremonies witnessed in the South East Geo-political zone of the country is also their way of life. One school of thought is of the believe that expensive burials for the rich families is a sign of showing affluence but to the poor, it is another way of giving last respect to the deceased.

Suffice it to say that some families have incurred debts that they were unable to repay after exhibiting some level of affluence during burial ceremonies. It is also common in the South East to see families selling their heritage( land) to enable them meet up with financial obligations that comes with expensive burials. It has also been observed that there are stages towards the preparation of burials and each stage comes with its demands.

A critical analysis of the process shows that each of the stages, the deceased family either contributed money to ensure that each of the stages records success. First, families that believes that they do not have a befitting house to accommodate the expected visitors, eitherrushes to the bank to raise a loan or would decide to sell off their landed property to erect a new and befitting building in the village before the burial date. This is one aspect of the burial that gulps huge sums of money from the family. The situation is made worse in an event the family is either a Roman Catholic, Methodist or Anglican denomination family.

These three denominations instituted a process that a deceased most not be kept in the mortuary for more than 2 year before the

burial. So to avoid the hammer of the church, the family decides to hide the passing away of the individual for a period of 1 to 2 months to enable them raise money and erect a new building for the laying in state of the deceased. Apart from the erection of a new building, mortuary fees become expensive considering the number of months or years the fellow must have stayed in the mortuary.

Most often, deceased persons stay as long as one year in the mortuary before they are buried.

According to Mr. Samuel Aniegbo, an Enugu-based business man, cultural protocol involves two burial ceremonies. The first ceremony transitions the deceased to the spirit world, while the second which is referred to as “ikwa ozu,” means “celebrating the dead.”

This rite of passage allows the dead to enjoy peace and respect among the ancestors, given the fact that Igbo culture does not view death as an end to life.

Aniegbo further explained that the Igbo spend generously to bury the dead against the background of the long existing belief that if a dead man is not accorded “a befitting burial his spirit will roam the earth to torment the living”.

This explains why some families go to the extreme of selling family land or any property of worth to bury their dead ones befittingly so as to keep the spirit of the dead at bay.

Beyond that, any man – particularly the first son of the family who gives either his father or mother a shabby burial, loses the respect of members of his age grade. When such a man dies, tradition forbids giving him an elaborate burial since he failed to extend same to his parents.

Nevertheless, Chief Odogwu Odoemelem, a veteran journalist,

condemned the practice of spending huge sums of money to bury the dead. He said such money ought to have been used to cater for the dead persons while they were alive.

He urged the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, to put a limit to burial expenses.

He decried the idea of keeping corpses in the mortuary for a long period of time, saying that in the past, the dead were buried at most two days after they had given up the ghost.

Mr Felix Nwachukwu, from Okija, Ihiala local government area of Anambra state recalled his experience when he buried his father who died at 70 years of age.

“When my father died, I was not crying because my father died. I was crying because of the money I will use to bury him. It cost me N3.7million because I had to buy seven cows, made uniforms for my relatives, kinsmen, Inlaw’s, friends, hired canopies, renovated the house, etc. Ambulance and casket alone cost me N630,000. At the end of the funeral, the financial support I received from friends and well wishers was merely a little over N100, 000,” he said.

Also, Mr. Jude Ogene, from Amiyi town in Ogbaru local government area of the state said, “sometimes, after burying a mother or father, you may not have money to pay children’s school fees. It is worse when your father dies and your grand father who died earlier had not been accorded a befitting burial according to tradition. You have to first of all fulfill the customary rights for burial of your grand father before you can bury your father. If you failed to do this, you incur the wrath of the ancestors and mysterious deaths will start happening in your family”.

Sources, however revealed that

This rite of passage allows the dead to enjoy peace and respect among the ancestors, given the fact that Igbo culture does not view death as an end to life

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54 FEature

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Elaborate Nature Of Funerals In Igboland 53

reasons for burial ceremony in Igbo land are as a result of many factors which include, the social status of the deceased and that of the relatives, especially if the children are wealthy. Funeral ceremony of a traditional title-holder is normally expensive because of the many segments of the society that must be given their compulsory entertainment. Whether the children are wealthy or not is immaterial. Even if they don’t have the money, they will be compelled to obtain loans to satisfy the funeral requirements.

Another factor is when the deceased have affluent children. The children or the relatives of the deceased will organise expensive burial ceremony to reflect their social status and not actually that of their deceased father, mother or relative so as not to earn scorn from members of the society.

Some families delay burial of loved ones for several months to upwards of between two to eight months and even more just to enable them raise enough money to finance the burial.

The irony however, according to Mrs Oby Nnosimike, a resident of Okpoko community in Ogbaru local government area is that some people when they lose their loved ones including parents would spend so much even to the tune of millions of naira but when the person was alive, they could not give such a person money for proper feeding or treatment when the person was sick.

Notedly, the immediate past Governor Peter Obi administration in Anambra State in a deliberate policy to take care of the indigent elderly introduced monthly stipends of N5,000 for all aged persons from 70 years and above.

A traditional ruler in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Eze Friday Okenyi who did not see any wrong done by families in having an expensive burial for the deceased stated that he has already warned his children that if they lack the resources to give him a befitting burial, he would sell all his lands, save the money in the bank with a strict warning that the money must be utilised for his burial rites.

“After all my struggles on this planet earth and I join my ancestors at a ripe age, someone would tell me I would not be buried like a king? Burials are meant to be expensive, it is the last respect those who are still living give to the dead, so why would money not be spent and spent extravagantly if you choose to call it that way? It’s not an annual thing and you would never do it again for such an individual, so I take exception to those saying that the South East engages in expensive burials. It is our way of life, we are not like the Northern people, the way they bury their own people is their way of life and ours is peculiar to us,” he said.

The traditional ruler further described those who do not take proper care of their parents or elderly ones while alive but give them an

Traditional dancers entertaining guests at an Igbo funeral photo by BBC

expensive burial in death as people who have respect for the dead.

According to him; a deceased person even if he was a poor man while alive and is given a befitting burial rejoices while joining his ancestors.

“We have recorded cases where prominent people were not given befitting burials and within a space of time, all their wealth that the children were waiting to enjoy could not be sustained because he was not given an expensive burial. This has nothing to do with the church or state of the economy, one should receive an expensive burial so that he can rest happily,” Okenyi said.

A pastor in one of the pentecostal churches in Abakaliki, Chukwuebuka Ukandu stated that the church has continued to kick against expensive burials in the zone but most families believe that people would make a mockery of them if they fail to have an expensive burial.

“It is unfortunate that people, now, after attending a burial start discussing the kind of food they were given, the type of gift items shared, the number of committee of friends and their different uniforms, the price of casket bought and the casket bearers, it is sad that burials are now used as a tool to measure the standard and level of respect of families in a community. We advocate that those left behind should have something left after the burial but who would listen, everybody wants his or hers to be the talk of the town.

“The problem is the society, our society today values a man or a family based on what they are able to do which includes, the kind of burial accorded to the dead. It is difficult now to change from such trend.

Friends and associates would rate you based on the kind of burial accorded but we would continue to preach against such act because burial calls for a sober reflection

not a period to display wealth and affluence,” Ukandu said.

However, expensive burial to many Igbo people is subjective as it depends on where one comes from or his cultural background. If one uses what obtains in his own cultural setting as a paradigm, burial in the Igbo society may be looked at as expensive’. The Igbo value life and revere achievement, so when one has achieved much while on earth, at death he or she is given a befitting burial. It is this word befitting that many people especially outside the Igbo society misunderstand as expensive.

Mr John Nwoke a trader who resides in Ogbor Hill area of Aba, Abia state who recently buried his 85-year-old mother said though they spent over N800, 000 , they never saw it as expensive as according to him, they would not have buried her without fanfare.

“Our mother was an achiever, having seen all of us through secondary school education, trade and skill acquisition and lived to see us married with children. We owe her that honour of a befitting burial. I don’t see what is expensive in buying a cow for my mother’s people as is the tradition in Ngwa land.

Come to think of it, if a people are magnanimous enough to give out their daughter in marriage to another community, surrender their name and whatever they invested in training her, what is expensive in returning her corpse with a fat cow as the Ngwa custom demands? Can a cow be compared with me who is a dividend of that marriage? This one of those things that make burials expensive.”

Nwoke also disclosed that his mother while alive belonged to so many organisations both in the society and in the church.

“All these groups would be informed, the invited are also entertained during the burial ceremony, I

cannot tell you how much in terms of money those groups brought as their condolence gifts,” he added.

On how much he spent on taking care of his mother during her old age, he said his mother died in the home of her eldest daughter who took care of her welfare “while we, the others, sent in money from time to time to assist her. It is only a renegade child that would allow the parents to suffer in life only to spend a fortune to bury here ‘ It is a rare occurrence that may be found among ritualists”.

Commenting on expensive burial, the traditional ruler of Okahia autonomous community, HRH Eze Okechi Ananaba said the status of a man in the community or the wealth of a person in the community determines the cost of his burial.

According to him,the demands for a titled man are far different from those of ordinary citizens and these are already known by their children . However we do not encourage people to go outside their financial capability in burying their dead but in our society, we don’t believe that people should just throw their dead into the grave without entertaining those who came to sympathise with them.”

Tradition, the monarch said, has inbuilt checks that makes it mandatory for people to take care of their parents especially when they are old or sick and those who fail in this responsibility are ridiculed by their age grade or even the society and since no one enjoys such ridicule, many people take good care of their parents and also give them befitting burials at death.

“It would interest you to note that the Umuada (married daughters ) impose fines on anybody who failed to take care of the parents especially health wise only to save money for an expensive burial,” he added.

The traditional ruler further described those who do not take proper care of their parents or elderly ones while alive but give them an expensive burial in death as people who have respect for the dead

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Saturday, December 20, 2014

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Ittihaj Diary Of A Northern Single Mother 08025120766 (texts only)

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Life After Death…

I

was born in the 1950s.

Before I was born, the universe came into existence with a ‘Big Bang’ some 4.6 billion years ago and our solar system formed.

Life arose and lots of animals evolved. Somewhere on the continent of Africa, modern Man also rose, and spread across the other continents.

Civilisation blossomed, along with the domestication of animals, tools, technology, and information; I was oblivious to all of these events.

I didn’t exist yet, but everything that ever happened in the universe, happened – and it went by in an instant.

That “instant” spanned about 13 billion years. It could have been even longer, it doesn’t matter, because for you and I, it was still an instant. We have the luxury of science and history to tell us of our universal past, but without that, the only recollection we could possibly have of anything is what we actually lived through.

I will freely admit that death itself does not scare me; it’s the physical act of dying that terrifies me

What’s The Point?

The point is that when you die, it’s likely the same thing.

The only difference is that there is no “instant” at the other end for you to suddenly become conscious, like birth.

Instead, time and events like the ones listed above will happen on their own, without you, just like they did before you were born. Time will go on until the end of the universe; if there is an end, but you won’t be able to know it.

Thus, should you be afraid of death?

I will freely admit that death itself does not scare me; it’s the physical act of dying that terrifies me. I don’t want it to be painful, and I don’t want it to be drawn out. I want peace and tranquility, like any other normal person would want.

Though I am not afraid of death, the thought of it saddens me. I love life so much that it crushes me to think that I wouldn’t be able to spend all of Time with family and friends. Of course, losing a loved one is equally painful for the same reasons. It also saddens me that I wouldn’t witness the next great advances in technology. Imagine

the people of the 1800’s; they could never have imagined BlackBerry, IPad, Facebook, Skype, Instagram, email etc.

I’m in my 60s now; can you imagine what kind of technology the human race will discover in the next century?

Now, to the koko of this matter, this is not to rattle your belief in Heaven or Hell and life after death, but just to make you think. After all what do I know, even as I write this I maybe high, but it is my opinion and not yours.

All this razzmatazz and curiosity about what happens after we die is very funny. Some people are so curious about it that they forget living here on earth. We are meant to enjoy life and bask ourselves in the goodies that life brings, because the aftermath might just be total hush…silence.

Here is one chance at everything, take it or leave it. It would be reassuring to know that there was some sort of life after death, but simply put, there is no real evidence for this, no matter which religion is scrutinised. There’s no proof anywhere about life after death.

Besides, a bird in hand is better than two in the bush!

Enjoy what you are sure of; the other might simply be an illusion.

Long story short…We have got one life to live on this planet, just one. You should do everything in your power to enjoy it to the fullest. No slacking my guy; and make sure that everyone and everything around you has the same opportunity. So, what happens when you die? I think the answer is mundane and simple, nothing!

I looked at Abdul from head to toe and hissed. He gasped in surprise. I couldn’t remember ever hissing at him. Hissing wasn't me; no matter how angry I got. In fact I viewed it as crude. Now, Abdul had made me hiss and I didn't even have any regrets about it.

"You hissed at me Ittihaj?" He finally found his voice.

"I will do worse if you don't leave my house right now."

"Not without my daughter."

"Let's meet in court. And please stay away from my house."

"As long as any of my children is with you, you’ll have me to contend with. I came to see how Khadija is feeling. Since you kidnapped her from the hospital, I haven’t seen her."

"I will call her for you because I am not as mean as you are. You deny my children access to see me even though you know they miss me a lot. I will be here while you greet her."

I walked to Khadija's room and peeped in. She was pacing. I knew she was aware of her father's presence and our argument. I beckoned on her, she followed me nervously.

She saw her father standing in the middle of our sitting room and went towards him slowly and hugged him.

Abdul hugged her tightly, refusing to let go of her. I could see a sad emotion in his eyes and I almost pitied him. He must have missed his daughter a lot. But I shook the momentary weakness off. I was glad he was experiencing what I was going through. I missed my sons so much and it hurt a lot.

I cleared my throat to draw their attention. They separated and I could see tears streaming from my daughter's big beautiful eyes. I quickly drew her into my arms.

"You see my daughter wants to be with me but you are forcing her to stay with you," Abdul said triumphantly.

"You are misunderstanding her.

She just feels hurt that you separated her from her brothers."

"Stop it!" Khadija's voice scared me. I have never heard her speak that way. We both looked at her.

"Can't you people be matured about everything? Can't you consider us in this your war? Why don't

you see that you are destroying our future? I am beginning to think that this fight is not all about us...." My daughter stopped without being told to. She must have realised that she was talking to her parents and that her outburst was wrong because she covered her mouth with her palms before turning and fleeing to her room.

I looked at Abdul who looked disturbed. I just pointed my index finger towards the door. He stood there pretending not to notice my hand.

He slowly moved towards me, but I stood my ground. His eyes were now calm and dreamy. One of those charms that made me swallow all those pains just to remain his wife.

He knew that and wanted to use it this moment.

"Don't move towards me because you may regret it," I said and truly meant it. I might find my former husband irresistible, but the anger I felt towards him was so powerful that I could never sacrifice my dignity for him. He had lost his chance. I was sure Abdul didn't believe what I was capable of because he kept coming towards me.

As he was about to touch me, I brought a taser out from my blouse which I was sure Abdul thought was a handset. I activated it and Abdul went down on his face. Everything happened quickly. I heard Alhaji shouting, “No, no Ittihaj!” and Khadija came out of her room screaming that I had killed her father. I looked down at the security device in my hand and flung it away in fear.

When I was buying it, I was told it wasn't lethal; that it would only weaken an attacker to give you opportunity to run or seek for help. I had never tried it on anyone. Now, in anger and without verification, I had killed the father of my children who claimed to love me more than he had ever loved another woman; a man whom I loved with all my heart. Khadija fell on him crying and shook him. I sat down in a daze and I saw Alhaji rush to him, pressing his chest and giving him mouth to mouth respiration. Abdul remained motionless.

➔ TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

When I was buying it, I was told it wasn't lethal; that it would only weaken an attacker to give you opportunity to run or seek for help. I had never tried it on anyone

56

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Jonas Agwu

Khadija Abdu Iya

Road Safety Column

Searching Inward

08077690055 122 FRSC Toll-free emergency number jonasagwu@yahoo.com

Should Your New Tyres Be Installed In The Front Or Back Axle?

I

t is less than a week to Christmas and I am certain a good number of drivers have plans to buy new tyres or even change a few. What really should be your guide? Please read through this piece on tyres that is useful for all seasons.

When most people buy new tyres, they tend to install them in the front axle. They give a number of reasons for doing so.

Among such reasons are: With the engine in the front, new tyres should be in the front since they are stronger and so should be able to effectively support the weight of the engine.

New tyres are less likely to suffer a blowout and since blowout of a front tyre is more dangerous than that of a rear tyre, it is safer to install new ones in front.

Front tyres suffer the rigours of acceleration, braking, steering and bad road conditions more and so wear out faster than the rear tyres. So, new tyres are better installed in the front.

The above reasons sound logical, but unfortunately following that logic would land you in serious trouble. It is downright dangerous to install new tyres in the front axle, especially during the rainy season. Why? Because of a phenomenon called hydroplaning.

Front tyres suffer the rigours of acceleration, braking, steering and bad road conditions more and so wear out faster than the rear tyres. So, new tyres are better installed in the front

What is hydroplaning?

You will observe that your tyres, if not worn out, have some grooves and channels on the treaded portion that is in contact with the ground. Those grooves and channels are designed to, among other functions, help remove water under the tyres on a wet surface so that the tyre will maintain adequate contact with the road surface for proper traction.

A situation may arise where the channels are not able to remove water fast enough or where the channels are not deep enough, because the tyres have worn out. In either situation, the tyres will not maintain contact with the road surface and will simply float on the pool of water. This phenomenon of floating on water because of lack of contact with the ground is called hy-

droplaning. It is dangerous and may lead to loss of control and a crash. When a vehicle is hydroplaning, application of the brakes will make matters worse!

Now, let us consider the effects of hydroplaning with new tyres in (a) the front axle and (b) the back axle.

New Tyres In The Front Axle (Old tyres at back axle) New tyres, by nature, should have more tread depths than tyres in use. So the tyres at the back – because they have less tread depths – will hydroplane before the new tyres in front.

With the rear tyres hydroplaning first, a situation called “oversteering” may occur. This is a situation where the rear tyres will lose traction before the front tyres and the rear of the vehicle begins to slide.

Over-steering is far more difficult to control, and in addition to the initial distress felt when the rear of the car starts sliding, quickly releasing the gas pedal in an attempt to slow down may actually make it more difficult for the driver to regain control, possibly causing a complete spinout, loss of control and a crash.

New Tyres At The Back Axle (old tyres in front axle) When you have new tyres at the back axle, the old tyres in the front will hydroplane before the back tyres. This may lead to “under-steering”. This means the vehicle will continue to move in the straight forward direction even when you want to steer it either to the left or to the right. This is easier to control. By easing up on the gas pedal, the vehicle will slow down and make it very easy for the driver to control.

Testing Experience Members of The Tire Rack team had the chance to experience hydroplaning at Michelin’s Laurens Proving Grounds. Participants were allowed to drive around a large radius, wet curve in vehicles fitted with tires of different tread depths - one vehicle with new tires on the rear and half-worn tires on the front, and the other with the new tires in the front and half-worn tires on the rear.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

07033726351 (Text only) searchinwards@yahoo.com 0708 370 1955 cedarministriesintl@yahoo.com

Tough love (2) CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

Recently, a newly wedded couple had issues and part of the plan for the groom was for his bride to cook for her parents. After providing the entire ingredients she needed…the bride prepared the meal and left for her parents’ home. The girl’s parents welcomed them. The mother whisked the bride away to the inner room after sighting the dishes they came visiting with. She asked gleefully, “All this for us?” “That’s very kind of you Fouadah. I never thought you would start bringing food for us so early in your marriage,” her mother said obviously thankful and proud of her.

“Oh, it was Saeed’s idea,” she said. “He wanted us to come spend some time with you and Baba, and felt we shouldn’t come emptyhanded. He urged me to cook for you,” the bride said meekly.

“He is such a nice fellow; you are lucky to have him as your husband,” her mother told her. “Go get me plate and let me have a taste before your dad does,” she winked at her daughter lovingly.

Fouadah’s mother was about collecting the plate from her to serve herself, when Fouadah protested that it was her duty to serve her mother.

“What a lovely daughter you’ve become,” she said to her filled with gratitude.

Hardly had the first piece of the food visited her palate, before she ran to the nearest bathroom to rid her taste buds of the meal.

Verdict She looked at her daughter in horror, visibly inflamed. “Who cooked this?” she asked.

“I did Mama,” Fouadah answered with great fright, confused by her mother’s action and question.

Her mother couldn’t believe what she heard and went to fetch her father, who was having a great time with his son-in-law. “Come please,” she whispered.

The groom sensing what it would be about straightened his spine, awaiting the verdict! The father went inside the inner room and found his daughter seated on the floor depressed, eyes glued to the ground.

“What is it?” he asked his wife, his gaze darting from one to another.

“Your daughter brought some food for you; eat it,” she said.

“But that could wait till I’m done discussing with my son-in-law,” he

said innocently, not knowing the shock that awaited him.

Pensive “That’s okay; but have a taste first,” she pushed.

Avoiding any further argument, he took some. Reacting in the same way as his wife he also headed for the bathroom to spit out the food.

“AudhzuBillah! Who cooked this?” He inquired from his wife, pretending not to have heard her earlier on.

“It’s your daughter,” she answered. The old man sat down pensively. After a while, he requested that his son-in-law be invited to the inner room.

Saeed went in, unsure of the reaction he would get.

“Salaam-alayka,” he greeted as he approached the door.

“Come in,” the father-in-law requested. “Allah Yayi maka albarka (May Allah bless you). You have earned my respect today,” he added as the son-in-law found a seat not too far from his wife’s.

“Is this what you’ve been eating since you married her?” He asked rhetorically? “So this isn’t a jolly visit after all; you came here to report her. I admire your maturity,” he stated further.

Kitchen Person “This is the product of her mother’s carelessness,” he shot at the mother, disappointedly.

In swift defense, the mother asked her daughter, “How many times did we talk about this? How many times have I scolded you about cooking? Since you were barely out of your diapers I made you come to the kitchen to do little things; directing you on how this or that goes into the pot. You always told me that you really aren’t a ‘kitchen person’. There are times I asked the house helps not to cook, forcing you to do it yourself, yet you refused to learn. All you wanted to do was watch movies, talk on the phone or chat away.”

“Is it true or not?” The mother screamed at her daughter, enraged and embarrassed at the same time.

Who do you blame in the above story? The parents or the girl?

Most definitely the girl! This is a girl who had finished a higher degree and at that stage of her life, she should be aware that some things are necessary and shouldn’t be taken for granted.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

“So this isn’t a jolly visit after all; you came here to report her

57

December 20, 2014

MEN’S HEALTH

Test Your Knowledge Common Health Beliefs—True or False?

Alcohol: Check Your Consumption This Yuletide Season

BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA

Eating very little food and drinking beer, which is low in sodium, can also cause hypernatremia

It is that time of the year again, when most people get to be more indulgent with alcohol. It is important that you consider more reasons to quit or, at the very least, check your alcohol consumption.

Ultimately, drinking too much can cause dehydration. When you become dehydrated, your skin might become baggy and loose, including the skin under your eyes.

This can make dark circles appear more prominent. Baggy eyelids can cast shadows that increase the impression of dark circles. Chronic alcohol use can increase dark circles under your eyes. Skin thins in alcoholics, making blood vessels beneath the surface more visible.

Research shows that, if you drink alcohol in excess, you can throw your electrolytes out of balance, including your sodium level. Also, while, dehydration can cause low sodium levels too; eating very little food and drinking beer, which is low in sodium, can also cause hypernatremia, the medical term for low sodium.

Remember, your body doesn’t break alcohol down into glucose. Instead, the liver breaks alcohol down into acetate first, and then into carbon dioxide and water. So, if you drink a mixed drink containing juice, soda or other foods containing carbohydrate, those elements will break down into glucose, but the alcohol itself will not.

Experts assert that, some drinks do appear to cause more severe hangover than others, so, the type of

alcohol rather than whether or not the drink contains sugar might make the difference.

Studies show that, the drinks most likely to cause hangovers are dark-coloured drinks high in congeners, substances used to colour and flavour drinks. Brandy topped the list of drinks likely to cause hangovers, followed by red wine, rum, whiskey, white wine, gin, vodka, beer and, last, pure alcohol mixed with orange juice, which negated the presence of congeners.

However, light-to-moderate alcohol intakes are not known to have adverse effects on your body’s ability to absorb and store vitamin B-12. However, chronic alcohol consumption damages the delicate villi in your intestines. The villi are crucial to B-12 absorption, as well as other B vitamins such as folate and thiamine. Therefore, long-term, chronic alcohol consumption puts you at risk for B-12 deficiency.

Medical Terms and Meaning

Hantavirus: A group of viruses that cause hemorrhagic fever and pneumonia. The hantaviruses include the hantaan virus that causes Korean (and Manchurian) hemorrhagic fever. Hantaviruses are transmitted to humans by direct or indirect contact with the saliva and excreta of rodents, such as deer mice, field mice, and ground voles.

1.

You need to drink eight glasses of water a day.

True or False?

The amount of water your body needs depends on your level of thirstif you consume water-rich foods, like soup or fruit, you may not need to drink as much water throughout the day. Common signs that you aren’t getting enough water include headache, dry mouth and decreased urine output.

Correct answer: False 2.

You should not clean out your ears with cotton swabs.

True or False?

Cotton swabs can push wax farther into your ear. Wax should only be removed if you are experiencing pain, fullness, a plugged feeling, ringing in the ear, itching, odour or discharge.

To do so, doctors recommend applying a few drops of mineral oil to soften the wax and then rinsing the ear with water.

Correct answer: True 3.

Women do not always experience chest pains when having a heart attack. True or False?

While chest pain is a common symptom, it doesn’t occur all the timeespecially for women. Symptoms to watch out for include shortness of breath, sudden fatigue, nausea or vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Correct answer: True 4.

You should lean your head back to stop a nosebleed. True or False?

Leaning your head back during a nosebleed can lead to you swallowing blood. Instead, keep your head level and pinch your nostrils for three to five minutes.

Correct answer: False You should always have your kids wait 5. an hour after eating before going swimming.

True or False?

There is no research that proves eating immediately before swimming increases the chances for cramps or drowning.

Correct answer: False One alcoholic drink a day can increase 6. your risk of breast cancer by 10 per cent. True or False?

It’s scary, but true. (Three or more drinks a day increases your risk by 30 per cent.)

Correct answer: True Women burn the same amount of 7. calories per day when they are 35 years old as they did when they were 25 years old. True or False?

Women actually burn 300 fewer calories by the time they turn 35.

Correct answer: False Women should get a mammogram an8. nually after the age of 40. True or False?

Regardless of family medical history, all women should get a mammogram once a year beginning at the age of 40.

Correct answer: True Women who eat four or more apples 9. a week while pregnant reduce the risk of their babies developing childhood asthma. True or False?

In one study, pregnant women who ate four or more apples a week had children who were half as likely to develop asthma.

Correct answer: True 10.

Stress causes ulcers. True or False?

Most ulcers are actually caused by bacteria, though stress can make an existing condition worse.

Correct answer: False

58

December 20, 2014

Ayurvedic Medicine:

Pancreatitis Acute pancreatitis may be caused by interference (often from gallstones) with the outflow of digestive juices from the pancreas, as a result of which the pancreas begins to digest itself A long, thin organ, the pancreas has both digestive and endocrine functions, and for this reason contains two completely different types of cells. It measures about 5-6in. (12-15 cm.) in length and is situated within the curve of the duodenum.

Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas which can be either acute or chronic. Acute pancreatitis may be caused by interference (often from gallstones) with the outflow of digestive juices from the pancreas, as a result of which the pancreas begins to digest itself. Heavy drinking is another cause, and is almost always responsible for cases of chronic pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis is more common in men than in women and is most commonly due to heavy drinking.

The dominant feature of chronic pancreatitis is upper abdominal and back pain. Diagnosis of pancreatitis can be difficult since it closely resembles peptic ulcer and acute appendicitis.

Symptoms • Acute pancreatitis: severe central abdominal pain, spreading to the back and shoulder, then the whole abdomen -nausea, vomiting, and shock. Chronic pancreatitis: constant pain, often in the back - weight 1055 • if bile duct obstruction occurs there will be jaundice.

RIGHT An infusion of yellow dock is recommended for an inflamed pancreas.

Treatment.

Herbalism • Soothing herbs include liquorice and yellow dock, drunk as an infusion in an attack.

• Treatment would be individual, according to the cause of the illness.

Homeopathy For acute pancreatitis, ring for emergency medical attention, and give Aconite, every 10 minutes, until help arrives.

• For chronic pancreatitis, constitutional treatment is necessary, but the Following remedies may help in an attack: • Phosphorus, when there is craving, for cold drinks that are then vomited up.

Herbal Clinic With Buki Fagbenle

Tel: (SMS only) +234-705-983-1992; Email: buki.fagbenle@leadership.ng

What Has Sex Got To Do With It? We are living longer and very few of us (1 in 10,000) die of old age. Most of us become sick and die prematurely from ‘natural causes’ long before our biological life span. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) the average life expectancy of a Nigerian is 53years, way below Ghana which is 66 and; 75 for men and 82 for women in the western world, even though cell culture studies indicate that our true life span lies between 110-120.

Some people look old before their time while others look youthful and enjoy good health into their old age.

Why is this? We used to die of infections and trauma but most of these have been eradicated by 20th century medicine. The major causes of our ill health and death nowadays are the chronic degenerative diseases like coronary artery disease, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis and cancer. David Weeks, a clinical psychologist based in Edinburgh, studied a group of 3500 volunteers whom he called ‘Super Young’ - these are people who look and act at least 10 years younger than their age. His main findings are:” 1. They had an active and varied sex life - they enjoyed a lot of quality sex, not the wham, bang, thank you one but the slow, thoughtful, giving and enjoyable kind.

This is not rocket science. Sex is a form of exercise and any form of exercise would boost the heart and the immune system, not to mention the pleasure and happiness derived after a fulfilling session. Sex also stimulates the brain to release the Growth Hormone, which helps repair the body.

2. They were optimists who were curious, active, involved and stimulated by life and not ‘worriers’ with worry lines etched on their faces.

3. Most of them were ‘grazers’ - they ate lots of fruits and vegetables,

occasional oily fish and nuts, cereals (whole grain oats and wheat) and pulses (beans, soybeans, lentils).

These place less stress on the digestive system as they are easier to digest and are better for bone and muscle development.

To be comprehensive they should also be taking a synergistic antioxidant combination and a good multivitamin and multi mineral supplement daily.

Starved of the key nutrients we need, our restorative systems run down.

We must appreciate that our biological tissues are dynamic with the processes of decay and regeneration going on in tandem. For example, bones and joints are constantly being built and worn down and; atheroma is constantly accumulating and being removed inside our arteries. This process needs to be in balance to ensure sustained good health otherwise if decay rate is faster than repair rate, a net loss of healthy tissue will occur and a pre- illness state will begin until clinical illness finally emerges.

This is the reason we become ill and die prematurely. Our bodies are made to self-heal and regenerate if supplied with the right nutrients. Most researches show that our processes of repair are below par mostly due to the rapid depletion of multiple micro-nutrients (multivitamins and minerals).

I can show you how to extend your natural biological lifeline and slow your ‘clock’. Starting with a simple regime of moderate exercise (in varying forms - walking, swimming etc) de-stressing (don’t sweat the small stuff), a sensible diet with supplementation and an active sex life will make a lot of difference. What are you waiting for? Grab your partner and your walking shoes and start living .

Combating Common Health Conditions This Yuletide Before touching any sick person, look at him carefully. Observe how ill or weak the person looks, the way he moves, how he breathes, and how clear his mind seems.

Look out for signs of dehydration Notice whether the person looks well-nourished or poorly nourished.

• Has he been losing weight?

• Check for symptoms of hangover.

When a person has lost weight slowly over a long period of time,

he may have a chronic illness (one that lasts a long time).

Also note the colour of the skin and eyes. Healthy black skin can hide colour changes behind it, so look at the parts where the skin is paler, for example, the palms of the hands, the finger nails, the insides of the lips or the lining of the eyelids.

• Paleness may be a sign of anaemia.

• Blueness may mean serious problems with breathing with

the heart. A blue-gray colour in an unconscious child may be a sign of cerebral malaria.

• Yellow colour (jaundice) may result from disease in the liver • It may also occur in new born babies and children born with a weakness of the blood (sickle cell disease).

The colour of a person’s skin depends on the colour of her parents’ skin. The colour sometimes changes when the person is sick. It may go darker

with starvation, but with kwashiorkor the skin and hair colour go lighter. They may also go lighter as a result of tuberculosis in the lungs or elsewhere in the body.

Look also at the texture of the skin when a light is shining across it from one side. The earliest sign of measles rash on the face of a feverish child will be seen this way.

An early sign of onchocerciasis on the back of a farmer may be areas of skin looking like the skin of an orange.

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December 20, 2014

Live Well Tips

Live well tips are NOT medical advice.

Please consult your doctor before taking medicine or supplement, changing diet or exercise.

• If you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. For women that means no more than one drink a day. The risk of various types of cancer including breast and liver appears to increase with the amount of alcohol you drink and the length of time you’ve been drinking regularly.

• If you feel constantly on edge or under assault, your lifestyle habits may suffer and so might your immune system. Take steps to reduce stress or learn to deal with stress in healthy ways.

• Green tea contains compounds that prevent cell damage and has been effective in slowing down or preventing tumour development.

• Soy (tofu, soy beans, soy nuts, miso, tempeh, soy burger has) isoflavones that inhibit cancer growth if consumed during adolescence.

• Tomatoes appear to protect against some cancers by prevent cellular damage.

• Please brush your teeth before reaching for your cup in the morning. Don’t forget to brush at night too. Clean teeth = zero cavities.

• To avoid smelly feet, please wash them regularly with anti-fungal soap, change socks daily and allow shoes to air out.

PHOBIA Psychophobia- Fear Of Mind

B

eing labelled as insane or crazy carries an awful stigma in our society.

People who are known to be crazy are often feared by others and were cast out from society. They were also locked up in mental institutions and historically were subject to very harsh treatments such as electric shock therapy, or some even water immersion therapy and light-deprivation therapy.

People who fear the mind and insanity are called psychophobes and is otherwise known as dementophobes and their fear is not entirely irrational because we all fear being crazy. People with this phobia might have seen in movies where the so-called crazy people were locked-up and left to rot, forgotten by their family members, and treated like dogs in the mental institution. Others might have family members who are crazy and they are extremely scared that this can also happen to them.

We all have our moments of insanity but people with psychophobia will make sure

that they act prim and proper and will not be thought to be crazy by other people. They will feel extremely anxious when they are around people who are acting crazy or when they see crazy people in the street.

These psychophobes should be taught there are not medications available to treat the mentally ill and most of these patients are able to lead a normal life. Psychotherapy may also help these psychophobes because if this fear is not addressed, their phobia may later become full blown psychosis and they will become what they fear the most.

Your Sexual Health Questions Answered!

Pubic Hair: Getting A Clean Shave Or Seek Behind Extra Fluff Variety they say is the spice of life, just as people have a variety of practices for grooming the mammal fuzz on their heads, faces, armpits, and legs, there’s no right or wrong look for women or men when it comes to the hair down there. Some people prefer things trim and tidy, while others just go “au natural.” Feel free to leave things as they are or experiment with a new ‘do — either way, your hair will keep growing as usual.

Sometimes shaving is simply about function, not form. Some people enjoy a clean shave for added friction, while others may like playing hide and seek behind extra fluff.

Like the rest of our body hair, pubic hair varies by colour, quantity, and texture. No two patches are alike, and grooming (or not) is completely up to you.

There are plenty of women and men who could care less, or don’t think twice, about hair — pubic or otherwise. To the contrary, just as some folks may favour a sleek bob or a spiky Mohawk, other folks may prefer a certain look below the belt on themselves or a partner. Some women grow the thickest bush in the forest, while others prefer a blank slate.

There are also women who like to trim a little here and there, from the patch of hair that looks like an upside-down triangle covering the mons pubis (the soft area of fatty tissue over the pubic bone) and/or the hair around the labia majora (the outer lips of the vulva). When it comes to man-scalping, there are just as many options. Some men find that being clean-shaven gives the appearance of larger equipment, while others prefer a grizzlier look down below.

Strange but True!

Dreams May Be Linked To Health Problems, Experts Say The report revealed scientists believe that a dream can disclose clues about people’s health and the possible occurrence of an illness even before the physical symptoms emerge.

Here are some forms of dreams and what they reveal about our health: Nightmares The occurrence of nightmares could be due to heart conditions, migraine, sleep deprivation and beta blockers. According to Professor Jim Horne from the Loughborough University, blood pressure drugs can cause nightmares.

A study of 6,000 people, published in Netherlands Journal of Medicine, has revealed it could be a sign of a faulty heart. Another study revealed that it could be due to a looming migraine as disclosed by analysing 37 migraine patients. This may also be caused by less sleep as explained by Dr. Nicholas Oscroft of the Papworth Hospital in Cambridge. Less sleep can trigger sleep paralysis.

Dreams About Being Attacked According to Dr. Oscroft, these kinds of dreams are early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. These dreams may be experienced about 10 years before other symptoms surface.

“It can be the first symptom we see, I warn people diagnosed with this to look out for other warning signs of neurological disease, such as tremors or memory loss, as this will enable them to get early treatment,” Oscroft said.

Dreaming More Than Usual When a person dreams more than what he usually does, the roots of the symptom could be brought by hormonal changes, chronic pains or getting too hot or cold at night.

According to Prof. Horne when a person feels too hot or cold in between the sleep, it can cause him to dream too much and the dreams are easily remembered.

Hormonal changes or pain during periods and other times can also cause dreaming more than usual. A person tends to wake up in between the sleep which means that she will remember the dream.

Oscroft added few sleepless nights or nights with very little sleep would also result in a night full of vivid dreams.

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December 20, 2014

Think Yourself Thin With Zahra Bakari - Imam

08183666800 (text only) thinkyourselfthin@yahoo.com, twitter@thinkurselfthin

It’s Not What You Eat, But How Much That Matters Getting the Best Out of Herbs and Spices …continued from last week •Garlic Powder - Garlic powder is made from dehydrated garlic cloves and can be used to give dishes a sweeter, softer garlic flavour.

•Ginger - Ground ginger is made from dehydrated fresh ginger and has a spicy, zesty bite.

•Chia Seeds - No, these seeds aren’t just for growing crazy terracotta sculptures! Nearly flavourless, they can be ground into smoothies, cereals, and baked goods for extra nutrition and texture, or even used as a vegan egg substitute.

•Cloves - Sweet and warming spice. Used most often in baking, but also good with braised meat.

•Coriander Seed - Earthy, lemony flavour. Used in a lot of Mexican and Indian dishes.

•Cumin - Smoky and earthy.

Used in a lot of South-western US and Mexican cuisine, as well as North African, Middle Eastern, and Indian.

•Fennel Seed - Lightly sweet and licorice flavoured. It’s excellent with meat dishes, or even chewed on its own as a breath freshener and digestion aid!

•Fenugreek - Although this herb smells like maple syrup while cooking, it has a rather bitter, burnt sugar flavour. Found in a lot of Indian and Middle Eastern dishes.

•Gochugaru - This Korean red pepper spice is hot, sweet, and ever-so-slightly smoky.

•Grains of Paradise - These taste like a cross between cardamom, citrus, and black pepper. They add a warming note to many North African dishes.

JOKE What Kiss means to Professors from Colleges • Prof. of English: a “KISS” is a noun that is used as a conjunction; it is more common than proper; it is spoken in the plural and it is applicable to all.

• Prof. of Accounting: a “KISS” is a credit because it is profitable when returned.

• Prof. of Architecture: a “KISS” is a process which builds a solid bond between two dynamic objects.

• Prof. of Dentistry: a “KISS” is both infectious & antiseptic.

• Prof. of Statistics: a “KISS” is an event whose probability depends on the vital statistics of two minds and hearts.

Prof. of Philosophy: a • “KISS” is persecution for the child, ecstasy for youth, and homage for the old.

• Prof. of Computer Science: What is a “KISS”?

It looks to be an undefined variable, whose possible value can equal love.

• Prof. of Algebra: a “KISS” is infinity, because it is two divided by nothing (not zero).

• Prof. of Geometry: a “KISS” is the shortest distance between two lips.

• Prof. of Physics: a “KISS” is the contraction of two mouths, due to the expansion of the heart.

• Prof. of Chemistry: a “KISS” is the reaction of an interaction between two hearts.

• Prof. of Zoology: a “KISS” is the interchange of friendly salivary bacteria.

• Prof. of Physiology: a “KISS” is the juxtaposition of two orbicularis oris muscles in the state of contraction.

• Prof. of Economics: a “KISS” is that thing for which the demand is always higher than the supply.

Cutting calories, not necessarily fat or carbs, is the key to long-term weight loss, a new study found.

“It’s all about calories in versus calories out.” This popular weight loss adage, which claims that all you have to do is burn more calories than you consume to lose weight, got a boost from a new study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

In the study, a team of researchers at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La., randomly assigned several hundred overweight people to one of four diet combinations: low fat and higher carb; high protein with low fat and higher carbs; high fat and lower carbs; or high protein, high fat, and lower carbs. Each participant’s plan was designed to cut 750 calories a day from their current diet.

After six months and again after two years, researchers gauged par-

ticipant’s weight, fat mass, and lean mass. Across the board, the strongest predictor for weight loss was not the makeup of any particular diet, but rather how stringent the participants were in sticking to the reduced-calorie plan. Researchers concluded that the findings show that dieters should choose restricted-calorie plans that work for them, and not base their diet plans off of a particular fad (e.g. a low-carb diet isn’t the best plan for someone with a sweet tooth).

This study mirrors the results of more recent results from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, which found that extra calories and low protein are the two largest culprits that lead to weight gain. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers in this study concluded that the extra calories lead to weight gain, while the low protein levels caused participants to gain fat and lose muscle mass over time.

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Saturday, December 20, 2014

Pastor T. O. Banso Faith 08155744752

cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com

God Will See To It! (3)

W

hen Isaac asked his father, Abraham for the animal for the sacrifice, Abraham said, “Son, God will see to it that there’s a sheep for the burnt offering.” That phrase, “God will see to it” has been the fo-

cus of this series.

No impossibility with God In Matt 14:13-21, Jesus supernaturally fed 5,000 men. The story is also recorded in Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-14.

And In Matt 15:32-38 and Mark 8:1-10 Jesus again su-

pernaturally fed 4,000 men.

He supernaturally multiplied five loaves of bread and two fish to feed 5,000 men and multiplied seven loaves and a few small fish to feed 4,000.

God saw to it that the multitude did not disperse in hunger. God will see to it that your needs are met. He’ll see

to it that you’re not stranded.

Nothing is above God! There’s no impossibility with Him! God saw to it that the body of Jesus didn’t see corruption – didn’t rot. (Ps 16:10, Acts 2:27, Acts 13:35) God raised His Son from the dead. (Acts 2:24, 32, 3:15, 26, 4:10, 5:30, 10:40, 13:30,

33, 34, 17:31, Rom 10:9, 1Cor 6:14, 2 Cor 4:14, Gal 1:1, Eph 1:20) Death couldn’t hold Jesus captive. God saw to it that he rose from the dead! His tomb became empty. Halleluiah! What you consider impossible, God will do for you. He’ll see to it!

By faith, Abraham told his

son God will see to it that there was a lamb for the sacrifice. But when he got to the place of sacrifice, there was no lamb rather it was his son he wanted to kill. I imagine Isaac wondering aloud: “But my father said God will see to it that there is a lamb for the sacrifice. Where is the lamb?”

Abraham also must have been wondering how to handle the situation. Would he not appear to his son to be a liar? Would he not appear to Isaac to be a callous father?

What explanation would he offer to the servants he left behind to continue the journey with his son with the promise of the two of them returning? If he returned without Isaac, what would he tell them?

Just in time Time was ticking away.

No lamb for the sacrifice.

Will Isaac really die? What a painful action for a father! But Gen 22:11 says, “Just then an angel of God called to him out of Heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ ‘Yes, I’m listening.’” Just then! I love that. Just then means at the nick of time. Just then means just before it is late. Just then means just in time. Just then means at the last possible instant.

The angel came just in time to stop Abraham from killing Isaac. He commended him for loving God more than his child and obeying the painful command of God. He pointed to him the ram to replace Isaac as sacrifice. Indeed, God saw to it that He provided a ram for the sacrifice. That ram with its horns tied to the thicket was what Abraham eventually sacrificed to God. And “Abraham named that place God-Yireh (God-Sees-to-It).

That’s where we get the saying, ‘On the mountain of God, he sees to it.’” (Gen 22:14 TM) “God-Sees-to-It” is one of the compound names of God. God is never a late comer. He has His own timetable. Don’t lose hope. Have faith in God. Just in time, God will see to it; you’ll not be stranded.

Whatever is your current situation, believe God to see to it – see to your healing, your deliverance, your provision, your promotion etc. He’s your shepherd, you shall not lack.

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Saturday, December 20, 2014

Most Incredible Verbal Gaffes Of 2014 The year 2014 has without any shade of doubt been very eventful and one of the things that stood it out was the number of verbal misadventures from highly placed persons in various spheres of the nation. From the beginning of the year in January when the defence chief boasted about ending insurgency in a matter of weeks to the likening of President Goodluck Jonathan to Jesus Christ by his spokesperson and likening of the president to arrogant King Nebuchadnezzar who was punished by God,

by Prof Wole Soyinka, there have been many unexpected gaffes that made the talking points in the course of the year. They include but are not limited to the ones reproduced here.

January 2014

We’ll End Boko Haram In April Not a few persons were taken aback when the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, shortly after his appointment on January 20, 2014, boasted that the Boko Haram menace would be brought to an end in three months, precisely in April 2014. He was reported to have said the military would bring the on-going carnage and mayhem “to an end before April this year in order to prevent a constitutional problem in the polity.” Many Nigerians didn’t take him seriously. His comment was dismissed as one made by a person showing appreciation for his promotion by making empty promises. He was to deny the report days later, saying he didn’t mean it that way.

However and whatever he meant, the Boko Haram carnage is still far from over.

May 2014

There is God ooo

First Lady Patience Jonathan while carrying out and inquisition into the abduction of the Chibok girls broke down in tears.

But that was after she made some real hilarious comments which have become part of the Nigerian lingo. This stands out as the most incredible gaffe of the year. Excerpts Do you come with two teachers?

You were not informed too?

Ehn? Continue… No problem… No problem God will see us.

There is God in everything we are doing.

Those bloods that are sharing in Borno will answer What of two teachers… two … eerrrm… wayec Two teachers that can tell that they conducted that exam…

Do you come with any?

Principal…

No too? Only you waka come?

Okay.

Now the first lady is calling you Come I want to help you find your baby…

Your missing child. Will you keep quiet?

Chai! Chai! There is God ooo The bloods that we are sharing, there is God ooo There is God oo There is God oo (breaks down in tears)

February 2014

Boko Haram Is No Big Deal

Boko Haram

The General Officer Commanding the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Shehu Yusuf, in February, reportedly described the insurgency in the north-eastern part of the country as inconsequential. According to reports, Yusuf said, “we are committed to solving the problem in

the North-eastern part of the country. The crisis in the North-east is not a big deal. It is just that we have not come together to work out strategies to tackle the problems properly.” Several months down the line, Boko Haram has proved to be a big deal, killing many in its vicious attacks.

Junaid Mohammed

May 2014

October 2014

During his 7th media chat, President Goodluck Jonathan shocked not a few people when he attempted to make a distinction between corruption and stealing, saying what many people often refer to as corruption is “common stealing.”

“What many Nigerians refer to as corruption is actually common stealing. Stealing is not the same thing as corruption.”

He went on to in an attempt to clear the air on the alleged missing $20 billion from the federal coffers say if such

Convener of the Coalition of Northern politicians, academics, professionals and businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed in an interview published in a national newspaper in October, said, “Igbo remains one ethnic group in Nigeria that is so devoid of any shame to show their greed, selfishness and contempt for other ethnic groups.” In the same interview, he went on to say, “the Igbo are mercenaries; they are there for sale. If the devil were to come today to say, I am the devil about whom the Bible and the Quran have spoken, I am prepared to give money, the Igbo will take the money and vote for him.

Quote me!”

Stealing Is Not Same As Corruption

Badeh

Patience Jonathan

Igbos Are Shameless

Jonathan

an amount of money is missing, the US would notice as it is their money.

“It is not possible to steal $20 billion and America will not know. It is their money,” the president had said.

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Saturday, December 20, 2014

Friday Ebinyi

Most Incredible Verbal Gaffes Of 2014 November 2014

IGP Refuses To Recognise Tambuwal As Speaker Buhari

October 2014

I Will Consider Muslim-Muslim Ticket Considering that Nigeria is a multi-religious country and politics of religion is a serious matter in the country, not a few people found it strange when presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2015 election, Gen Muhammadu Buhari, in an interview, said he is not opposed to a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. Expectedly, the comment was met with wide spread outrage and condemnation.

The inspector-general of police (IGP), Suleiman Abba during an investigative hearing convened by the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs insisted that Aminu Tambuwal is no longer the Speaker of the House. This followed Tambuwal’s defection from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abba, at the hearing, repeatedly referred to the Speaker as “Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal”, a development that infuriated the lawmakers and other Nigerians.

Suleiman Abba

December 2014

Jonathan Is Like Nebuchadnezzar Okupe

December 2014

Jonathan Is Like Jesus Christ Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, said the president is just like Jesus Christ. He said the burden Jesus carried when he died for the sins of mankind was similar to what Jonathan was presently carrying.

Speaking during a programme on Channels Television, Sunrise Daily, he said, “people do not understand the burden this president is bearing. He’s like Jesus Christ. He’s bearing the burden of everybody,” he said.

Expectedly, the comment by Okupe was met with wide spread criticism, with many of his critics describing the comment as blasphemous.

Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka according to critics, went overboard when while presenting a paper at an event he likened President Goodluck Jonathan to neo-Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, saying Jonathan as a president, embraces impunity.

“I shall not insist that the historical/biblical figure of Nebuchadnezzar is uniquely apt for the pivotal figure of the ‘democratic’ history in the making at this moment – for one thing, Nebuchadnezzar was a nation builder and a warrior. One could argue even more convincingly for the figure of Balthazar, his successor, or indeed Emperor Nero as reference point – you all remember him – the emperor who took to fiddling while Rome was burning. However you should easily recall why I opted for King Nebuchadnezzar – the figure that currently sits on the top of our political pile himself evoked it, albeit in a context that virtuously disclaimed any similarities, even tendencies,” he said.

Impactful View impactfulview@gmail.com

Tel: 08150741383 (text only)

Recovering Lost Marriage Values(2)

S

pouses are to ensure that every selfish tendency is eliminated from their relationship and union, having the willingness to forgive one another, seeing each other as complementary and not competitors, being on the mature side in conflict resolution and amicably settling every difference in the spirit of love.

Avoiding pressures from third parties to set the union on the edge, and do not expose the weakness of your spouse to anybody. Be wise in handling sensitive marital issues that could derail the marriage, and have agreed principles that strengthen the union and strictly adhered to by both spouses.

Allow the fear of God to be the major driver of your marriage, and let His marriage model revealed in Ephesians Chapter 5: 25-28 be the oil that greases the wheels of the marriage.

It is also imperative to understand that marriage is very precious in the sight of God irrespective of background as far as it is contracted according to God’s approved standard.

Remember not to embark on any venture that will derail and put the sacred union of marriage asunder and you cannot get away with it, because you will definitely attract the divine wrath of God. Go back to God and plead for mercy to help you recover the lost values of your marriage.

And God will repair and restore the lost values of marriage if only people are ready to humble themselves and do what God demands from them.

It is heart breaking seeing marriage values treated with total disregard and reckless abandon by the ‘modern’ society across the globe and Nigeria not exceptional of this rot in the matrimonial system.

The aberrations brought into God’s foundation for marriage has brought curse and chaos in the world system, therefore creating various violence that have never occurred in human history.

Today, virtually all parts of the world are experiencing varied calamities and pains as a result of moving against what God has ordained before man was created.

Some of the distortions borne out of this age of man’s quest for knowledge and invention upon laws made to satisfy and justify their selfish ambition have led to collapse of marriages as the sacred values safeguarding the marriage union has been tampered with and discarded.

Many marriages today, are in jeopardy with regards to lack of love and affection between the couple who professed before God and man that they love each other and were ready to live together for better or worse.

The value of submission upheld in high esteem by God, which He clearly stated that the wife firmly keeps has fast erod-

ed because she had allowed her ego on whom she is in the society, place of work and level of educational attainment to rule over her. Following loss of this vital cornerstone most marriages have hit the rocks.

Flagrant disobedience to marital vows by both parties in the marriage union has brought war into the relationship. Many homes are in serious turmoil and tempest as the raging storm of unfaithfulness has taken strong grip of the marriage.

The issue of extra marital affair is gradually becoming an accepted norm in most societies, which family and friends encourage partners in the union to go out to satisfy their urge. This has turned out to be serious challenge in most families that cannot contain and tolerate each other on certain issues like barrenness, impotence, sex starve, ailment, diabolism, fault finding, ingratitude, pride, long travelling, nature of job and others.

Wrong marriage counselling has also corrupted values that make the union strong and sacred to go down the drain as marriage counsellors and religious leaders put in more controversies than solutions that would have strengthen the bond of love and peace in the marriage system.

It bleeds the heart to see the levity that goes with ‘modern’ marriages; incessant divorces, increasing unfaithfulness, secrecy, fears, anxiety, lack of trust, diseases, drunkenness, unabated greed and covetousness, competition, insubordination, oppression, cruelty, and other evils.

The Lord Jesus Christ said, “…in the beginning it was not so…”, and God hates anybody and anything that puts asunder the marriage union for no reason. When people begin to give excuse and justify their actions to break the values the anchors marriage that means they do not have the fear of God. For the values of marriage to be recovered society has to return to the basis and the original plan of God for marriage-the husband loving the wife as his own body, because they are one, the wife unreservedly submitting to the husband and according him the respect and recognition as the head of the family, and giving him due honour at home and in his absence.

64 news across the states

T.Y Danjuma Foundation Distributes Relief Materials To IDPs In Taraba The T.Y Danjuma Foundation has distributed relief materials worth millions of naira to hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs) taking refuge in Taraba State.

Distributing the items yesterday in Jalingo, the executive director of the foundation, Dr Florence Etta Akin-Aina said the distribution of the relief materials to three IDPs camps in the state was to support the on-going efforts of governments and development partners to bring humanitarian assistance to those affected by the insurgency across the North-eastern states in the country.

The T.Y Foundation is a private philanthropic grant-making foundation established by an illustrious son of Taraba State, Rt. Gen. T. Y Danjuma to assist the needy.

The executive director who was represented by the internal auditor of the foundation, Mr Peter Salifu said the foundation has provided grants for 23 projects across Taraba State.

She stressed that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported that since January 2014, about 250,000 people have been displaced from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

By Andrew Ojih, Jalingo

Nothing Will Happen To Me – Sanusi In what appears to be a reply to the Boko Haram leader, Shekau, the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II, said that he remained protected against any evil attack and nothing was going to happen to him except the will of Allah, the creator.

“I am protected and nothing is going to happen to me”, the Emir stated.

This was disclosed during a Friday special prayer session held at the Kano City Central Mosque (Masallachin Sarki) yesterday. Sanusi who presided over the special prayer reiterated his earlier call on the general public to protect themselves against the attacks of the Boko Haram sect.

On Shekau’s position on attacking religious groups, Muhammad Sanusi II urged all Muslim faithful and the followers of Tijjaniyya, Qadiriyya and Izala religious movement to be vigilant and continue to guard themselves and rise against insurgent attacks.

He called on the people to be vigilant and protect their mosques, churches, markets and hospitals against any attack.

According to the emir, it is rather unacceptable for people to abandon their daily deals or desert places of worship because of the fear created by evil doers. He urged all not to succumb to fear and be their brothers’ keepers.

By Abubakar Salihi, Kano

Saturday, December 20, 2014

FG Signs MoU To Generate 500mw Of Power Through Solar Energy

By Chika Okeke, Abuja

In furtherance of efforts to tackle the incessant challenge of power in the country, the federal government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the People’s Home Association to generate 500 megawatts of power through solar energy.

At the agreement signing ceremony in Abuja, the minister of power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who represented the

federal government called on the partnering firm, People’s Home, to ensure that quality work is done and the project is completed within the agreed time-frame while pledging that the government would fulfil its part of the deal.

While speaking at the ceremony, the chief operating officer, Sub-Sahara Africa of People’s home, Rasaki Perbeni said the agreement is for his company to build five solar plants of 100mw each in different parts

of Nigeria.

He also explained that the federal ministry of power is to supervise and map out the areas these plants would be located while his company would mobilise and carry out the technical aspect of the agreement.

According to him, “this project is set to generate 500mw of power through solar plants within the different zones in Nigeria and under the supervision of the federal ministry of

power. One power plant will be completed within six months and will also generate 10,000 jobs.”

While speaking on the nature of the workforce to be used in the project, Porbeni, who did not give any financial worth of the project, noted that since the company is owned by Germans, it is expected that expatriates would come in while young Nigerian engineers would also be encouraged through training to participate in the project.

short news Group Unveils Plans For Culture Export

A trailer loaded with second hand clothing and textile materials coming into the country through Geidam/Yobe border to Kano accosted by Customs anti-smuggling team in charge of Jigawa, Kano and Katsina states recently.

Ayogu Eze Insists He Is Enugu Governorship Candidate

By MIKE UBANI, Enugu

The Senator Ayogu Eze Governorship Campaign Organisation, yesterday countered a statement credited to the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party alleging that Senator Ayogu Eze forged the result of the December 8, 2014 governorship primary in Enugu State, describing the allegation as wild and contempt of the court.

In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP Weekend, the organisation insisted that its candidate is the duly elected candidate in the December 8, 2014 primary adding that its candidate was elected by the authentic delegates elected on November 1, 2014 and validated by an Abuja High Court.

The organisation wondered why the

PDP in Enugu State rushed to court on December 9, a day after the primary to stop its candidate from parading himself as the governorship candidate in the state.

“Why did they rush to court to stop our candidate if they truly believe the result of the election was forged?” the organisation asked in the statement signed by its director of legal services, Barr Kingsley Onyeke.

The organisation said the panel that conducted the kangaroo primary that Mr Asogwa referred to in his alleged unguarded statement admitted in the full glare of the press that it came with a forged delegates list.

Describing the allegation by Ikeje Asogwa whom the organisation said is not the chairman of the PDP in Enugu State, as part of the desperate cam-

paign to intimidate its candidate out of the 2015 governorship race in Enugu State, the statement said its candidate would never succumb to blackmail.

“Our candidate is determined to unfold his programme of physical transformation and spiritual rebirth for the people of Enugu State and no threat or blackmail will take him off that course, “ the organisation said.

The organisation said it was refraining from going into details in its response since the matter under discussion is a subject of litigation at an Enugu State High Court as well as a Federal High Court in Abuja.

It described Mr Asogwa’s allegation as an affront on the judiciary which it said is the only institution that can make a pronouncement on the matter as it stands now.

A private organisation with interest in promoting Nigeria’s culture, MS Media Limited, has rolled out plans towards reawakening the country’s diverse cultural heritage and exporting its values.

The organisation has also unveiled plans towards holding what it termed ICON Events Nigeria (IEN), its maiden edition of beauty pageant contest which would produce Nigerian Icon Queen in 2015.

Speaking yesterday in a press conference in Abuja to formally launch “the television reality contest and beauty pageant show,” the MD/CEO of MS Media, Engr Muhammed Sa’ad, said the organisation was taking steps towards promoting Nigeria’s culture to enviable heights worthy of attracting global attention.

He stated that IEN is intended to be an annual national event designed “to harness, promote and showcase Nigeria’s beautiful and rich cultural heritage.”

By Paul Chiama, Abuja

United States Condemns Gumsuri Attack ...Military says it’s investigating mass abduction

By RALIAT AHMED-YUSUF, BAYO OLADEJI, KUNLE OLASANMI, Abuja

The United States has condemned an attack on the village of Gumsuri reported to have been perpetrated

by Boko Haram fighters earlier this week.

In a release made available to

LEADERSHIP Weekend by the American embassy in Abuja, the US said it was aware of reports from persons who fled the scene of the attack that suspected Boko Haram gunmen kidnapped more than 100 women and children and killed 35 people during a raid on the remote village in northeast Nigeria but are not in a position to confirm the details.

The statement reads in parts, “we abhor such violence which continues

to take a terrible toll on the people of Nigeria and we extend our condolences to the victims and their families.”

The US however reiterated its commitment to help the government of Nigeria address the threat posed by violent extremist organisations and its efforts to find and free the girls abducted in Chibok and all others who have been abducted.

The Nigerian Military High Command said it was yet to verify re-

ports of alleged kidnap of scores of villagers in Borno State earlier this week but said its officers were investigating as well as patrolling the area in search of the terrorists.

A statement on the defence headquarters blog said, “troops are patrolling the general area of Gumsuri in search of terrorists who were said to have attacked the community last weekend. Although it has been confirmed that some people were killed by the terrorists during the attack.”

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weekend politics Saturday, December 20, 2014

Weekend Politics Editor: Chibuzo ukaibe

Political Events That Shaped 2014

As the year winds to a close, Chibuzo Ukaibe reflects on some of the major political events that occurred this year, that helped to define the trajectory of the polity. Excerpts.

2

014 was always going to be a defining year politically, and surely it was. It was a year of dirty deals, tough decisions and suave political undercuts, ahead of the home stretch of the 2015 general elections.

The highlights of the year span parties’ national conventions, acrimonious party primaries, high-powered defections, political endorsements and protests against the use of state security forces to intimidate political opponents. There was also the politics of the insurgency war in the northeast, where blames were traded between the ruling and opposition parties, while President Goodluck Jonathan and his predecessor, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, had a sparring match over the state of affairs in the country.

Tukur resigns, Mu’azu, Oyegun Emerge PDP, APC National Chairmen There was no better way of kicking off the political firesworks than with the resignation of the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Bamanga Tukur on 15 January 2014. The lid over the simmering face-off between Tukur and the PDP governors blew off, resulting in what was later reported as a forced resignation by Tukur, who had declared that he would not resign because only the party’s convention could remove him.

However, the party, on January 20, settled for Dr Adamu Mu’azu, a former governor of Bauchi State as national chairman of the party.

The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), the second most powerful organ of the party, adopted Mu’azu pending the ratification by the national convention, the highest decisionmaking body of the party.

His emergence as consensus candidate followed series of meetings between President Goodluck Jonathan, governors elected on the platform of the party and other party bigwigs.

Six months later, former governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, emerged national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on 14th of June.

Having merged last year, the APC in June assembled delegates at its first national convention in Abuja and elected Oyegun by consensus, despite initial stiff opposition from his kinsman, Tom Ikimi who was not seen at the venue of the convention. This was after two other aspirants for the chairmanship position, Chief Sam Jaja and Timipire Sylva agreed to back down, thus leaving Oyegun and Ikimi to contest.

Ex-CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi Named New Emir Of Kano Following a fallout with the presidency over raising an alarm over missing funds from the oil revenue, former Central Bank governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was against objections by hawks in the presidency, named the 14th Emir of Kano. With the circumstances surrounding his ascension clouded in an intense political atmosphere, Sanusi’s appointment, which was formally announced at the ante chamber of the Kano Government House by secretary to the state government, Rabiu Bichi, took immediate effect.

Defections The defections which happened this year weren’t so much as unexpected as they underscored the ease with which politicians switch camps for self preservation and continued patronage. Miffed with the outcome of the national

Jonathan

The lid over the simmering faceoff between Tukur and the PDP governors blew off, resulting in what was later reported as a forced resignation by Tukur

Obasanjo

convention which produced the APC national chairman, former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a crucial member of the merger process, Chief Tom Ikimi, crossed over to the PDP. Not long afterwards, another former chieftain of the APC, a former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, moved to the PDP, citing irreconcilable differences with the APC. He had been in the opposition to the PDP for most part of the political journey since 1999.

Former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, also left the APC, moving to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He cited a demand by his supporters to do so having been relegated, upon the defection of the incumbent governor, Aliyu Wammako, from PDP to APC. Former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, a staunch opposition figure in the state and integral member of the APC merger, also defected to the PDP noting, “The Legacy Group sacrificed all interests for the merger, but for the past six months all agreements reached

have not been met.”

Former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, however waited till after he left office to switch from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the ruling PDP, a move which outrightly subsumed him politically, sapping away whatever influence he had which hitherto stretched to the presidency. In Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko also defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the PDP, which expectedly sparked off some rumbles and eventual settlements.

This year also, former vicepresident, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, formally resigned from the PDP and joined the APC, having frolicked with the leadership of the opposition party after he saw that his political ambitions could not be achieved in the PDP. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in a mother of all defections, abandoned the PDP for the APC, which left in its trail a heated debate over whether or not he should forfeit his seat as stated in the constitution.

Governorship Elections Two governorship elections

This Week On Backlash

The situation in the power sector sparked off a debate between the presidency and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). The senior special assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on public affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, while defending his boss over the state of power supply in the country, declared that this administration has been able to increase power from 2800 to 4800 mega watts since he came on board. But the spokesman of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says it’s not true.

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66 weekend politics

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Backlash

Jonathan’s Administration Has Raised Power Generation From 2,800 To 4,800 Mega Watts – Okupe

I Nigeria has even been commended by the international community for power privatisation

n a bid to exonerate is boss from the blame for poor power supply in the country over the years, senior special assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, has said it will be unfair to blame the decay in the power sector on the president, noting that this administration has raised power generation from 2800 to 4800 mega watts.

Okupe, while accepting that Jonathan promised regular power supply for Nigerians during his 2011 presidential campaign, however, laid the blame for poor power supply in the country on previous administrations.

The presidential aide who spoke during an event titled ‘The Media Presentation Of Candidate Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’ in Lagos, further advanced that no administration since 1960 had improved the nation’s electricity as the Jonathan administration

had done.

He said, “This is the first government in Nigeria to look at power and create a roadmap for solving it. I will not lie for the purpose of gaining votes. Yes, he said four years ago that there would be constant power but let us be reasonable.

“If I said letter ‘J’ is my destination and I am able to get past letter A to B, C, D, E, F and then G, you should look at the progress that I have made. We are not at ‘J’ but we are not far from it. Nigeria has even been commended by the international community for power privatisation.

“We are having some problems but we are doing better. For instance, in Ikeja, the infrastructure on the ground has been there since independence.

They have decayed and can’t withstand increased capacity of electricity.”

In the area of insecurity, Okupe

Okupe

said the Nigerian army had been able to recover all the towns seized by Boko Haram.

He added that Nigeria had been able to reach an agreement with Cameroon and Chad such that terrorists would not be able to cross borders easily.

He said, “We are working with multilateral agencies to cut off their funding. Also, Jonathan has

been engaged in diplomacy with our neighbours because terrorists in Cameroon and Chad come to Nigeria to carry out attacks and then go back.

“But now we have a multilateral joint force; that was why Boko Haram changed its tactics and started seizing towns because they could not flee the country like before.”

Rancorous Primaries And Ministerial Loses In preparation for the elections next year, political parties held primaries for elective offices, based on the guidelines and timetable provided by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). While the APC had a relatively calmer post primaries crisis, the PDP had a more intense post primaries crisis.

Also, of all the former ministers who had resigned to contest the governorship elections, only two-Nyesom Wike and Darius Ishyaku- were able to emerge candidates of their party.

However, for Adamawa, Taraba, Borno and Yobe States, party primaries were held in Abuja on grounds of ensuring safety of the process.

sponsoring the insurgency in the northeast region. Moreover, Nyako had defected alongside four other governors to the APC. Governor, Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Adams Oshiomole (Edo), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) also survived impeachment moves.

In Enugu State, the deputy governor, Sunday Onyebuchi was ruthlessly kicked out of office by his boss, Sullivan Chime ostensibly for rearing poultry in his residence. However, Onyenuchi’s removal was not unconnected to his cosy relationship with politicians seen to be in the opposing camp of the governor. The speakers of the Ebonyi and Ekiti States Houses of Assembly were impeached in circumstances linking their governors to the plot.

Political Events That Shaped 2014 65

were held in Ekiti and Osun states respectively. These elections were the first true test of the popularity between the two major political parties, PDP and APC. While Governor Ayo Fayose of the PDP defeated the then serving governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in Ekiti State, incumbent governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola of the APC defeated former deputy governor and PDP candidate, Iyiola Omisore, in Osun State.

A governorship election that was supposed to hold in Adamawa State on account of state governor, Murtala Nyako’s impeachment was stopped following a court ruling.

National Dialogue Another issue that defined the political scene in 2014 was the national dialogue, which held between March and August.

President Goodluck Jonathan constituted a 494 delegation that participated at the National Conference, under the leadership of former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Idris Kutigi.

While the modalities for the conference were being sorted, the APC rejected it completely, describing it as diversionary.

President Jonathan’s plan to turn in the decisions of the conference

to the National Assembly also generated heat. But the confab faced more criticisms due to the suspicion that it could be used to prolong the president’s tenure.

However, while the conference started on a shaky note, the series of meetings the Confab chairman, Idris Kutigi, held with zonal leaders in the course of the exercise, paid off as the delegates agreed on a position on the controversial draft constitution.

The confab ended with a minor amendment to the third volume of the confab report by replacing the draft constitution to read “Resolutions of the conference as draft amendments to 1999 constitution.

The amendments to the third volume was moved by Maina Waziri. Richard Akinjide moved the motion for the adoption of the confab report. The motion was seconded by Yadomah Mandara.

In all, over 600 resolutions; some dealing with issues of law, issues of policy and issues of constitutional amendments were reached. The magnitude of their work was reflected in a Report and Annexures of 22 volumes of approximately 10,335 (ten thousand, three hundred and thirty-five) pages.

Gale of Impeachments and Near Misses This year also saw the removal of some elected government officers, prominent of which was former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako. While he was impeached over charges of abuse of office, some analysts believe that his removal was influenced by Abuja over his allegation that the president was

Court Cases There were also court cases that helped to define the political landscape. The eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2015 election was put to the test at the courts this year. Also, a federal high court in Abuja struck out a case instituted by the PDP seeking to sack five of its governors that defected to the APC. The national chairman of the

Onyenuchi’s removal was not unconnected to his cosy relationship with politicians seen to be in the opposing camp of the governor

weekend politics 67

Saturday, December 20, 2014

the lashback

Power Generation Is Below 3,000 Mega Watts According To Federal Ministry Of Power – Mohammed

T I can understand his (Okupe) problem; they have to lie because they have nothing to show Nigerians

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has punctured claims by the senior special assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, that power generation currently stands at 4800 mega watts, having risen from 2800 megawatts when President Goodluck Jonathan emerged president.

The national publicity secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, while reacting to Okupe’s claim that Jonathan had improved on electricity more than any other administration since independence, said the presidential aide contradicted the figures released by the federal ministry of Power on December 11, 2014, which put power generation at 2,945 megawatts.

Mohammed said, “He says Jonathan has improved on electricity more than any other president. So, is that why we have gone below 3,000 megawatts? You can’t lie about that.

This was contained in their offi-

Mohammed

cial statement. I can understand his (Okupe) problem; they have to lie because they have nothing to show Nigerians.

“Anybody that buys diesel or petrol to fuel his generator everyday will know the truth. That person will be able to calculate the number of hours of blackout. It is a pity that they have nothing to show Nigerians and so they resort to telling lies,

which has to stop.”

Mohammed berated Okupe for claiming that the Jonathan administration had been able to curb corruption.

Okupe had said Nigeria’s movement from its 144th position on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index last year to 136th position this year was an indication that a lot had been achieved by

the Jonathan administration in the anti-corruption war.

However, Mohammed said he was not surprised at Okupe’s remark as it showed that the Jonathan administration embraced mediocrity.

He said, “Why would they celebrate such stupid mediocrity?

Is that worth celebrating? Ask Okupe that if his child comes home with such a scorecard the will he be happy? We in the APC have no time celebrating such nonsense. Right now we are focusing on the issue of what we are going to give Nigerians.

“Nigerians have seen from the conduct of our convention and our presidential candidate that we are ready for change.

Our ranking on corruption is shameful.

“Is it not funny that it is the same Okupe who, a couple of months ago, when Nigeria was ranked 144 by Transparency International, rejected the report and questioned the integrity of the organisation but now he is rejoicing. No serious government should celebrate such.”

Political Events That Shaped 2014 65

PDP, Adamu Mu’azu however survived a move to sack him from office in court, over the manner of his emergence as chairman of the party. Immediate past national chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur was involved in the case filed by another PDP member. Upon squashing of the case, Tukur was slammed by the party for engaging in perceived anti-party activity.

The Obasanjo/Jonathan Rift The back and forth between former president, Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan which manifested last year continued this year.

Obasanjo made scathing remarks on the performance of his estranged godson, which the presidency replied to.

The former president also released his no-holds-bared memoir titled “My Watch” . It is a narrative of some events while he was in office, which detailed some critical and uncomplimentary remarks on some prominent Nigerians, including his former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.

Tambuwal

INEC’s PVCs and CVR The electoral commission, ahead of 2015 general elections, commenced the distribution of the Permanent Voters Card and the Continuous Voters Registration exercises. While the commission carried out the electoral exercises in phases across the 36 states, it has been criticised for not meeting the logistics demands, as voters have complained of not being able to access their cards or get registered.

Tambuwal Tear-gassed The National Assembly complex in Abuja was thrown into chaos

as the police and other security agents battled unsuccessfully to stop House of Representatives speaker, Aminu Tambuwal from entering the chamber.

Efforts by the speaker to enter the complex were resisted by security forces, mainly the police, led by acting police commissioner, Wilson Inalegwu.

The policemen were in combat gear and fully armed. With them were hooded Department of State Service (DSS) personnel.

Lawmakers removed their shoes and climbed the iron fence to make their way inside the chamber. Teargas fumes choked the environment, drawing tears from the lawmakers’ eyes. Many were shouting and screaming.

In anger, the lawmakers launched an impeachment battle against President Goodluck Jonathan.

By evening, no fewer than 130 of them —there are 360 members in the House— had signed a register to back the Jonathanmust-go move. Efforts by the speaker to enter the complex was resisted by security forces, mainly the police, led by acting police

commissioner, Wilson Inalegwu.

The policemen were in combat gear and fully armed. With them were hooded Department of State Service (DSS) personnel.

Buhari Vs Jonathan President Jonathan and former head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari emerged presidential candidates of the PDP and APC respectively at the national conventions of both parties which held the same day, but in different cities of Abuja and Lagos respectively. Jonathan, who going into the PDP convention was the sole candidate, merely had an affirmation vote; while Buhari defeated governors of Kano and Imo States, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Rochas Okorocha, alongside Atiku Abubakar and chairman of Leadership Group, Sam NdaIsaiah.

Jonathan stuck with his vice president, Namadi Sambo as running mate for the election.

Buhari after days of deliberations and horse-trading picked former attorney general of Lagos State, Yomi Osinbajo, as running mate.

Efforts by the speaker to enter the complex were resisted by security forces, mainly the police, led by acting police commissioner

68 news across the states 2015: INEC Sets Up Task Force On Internally Displaced Persons The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has constituted a task force on how to get Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to vote in the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

The task force, whose constitution has been approved by the INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, has a national commissioner, Mrs Thelma Iremiren, as chairperson; along with nine other members – including the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States.

Specifically, members of the task force include the director, Electoral Operations, Mr Kayode Oladimeji; ag. director, Legal Services, Barrister Ibrahim Bawa; director, Voter Registry, Engr. Emmanuel Akem; chief technical adviser to the chairman, Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu; and special assistant to the chairman, Professor Mohammed Kuna.

Others are the REC of Borno State, Professor Tukur Sa’ad; his Adamawa State counterpart, Barrister Kassim Gaidam; the REC of Yobe State, Mallam Sadiq Abubakar Musa; and director, Planning and Monitoring, Barrister Okechukwu Ndeche, who is also the secretary of the task force.

The task force has seven working days from Monday, December 22, 2014 to submit its report.

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

APC Deepening Democracy In Nigeria – Jim Okolo The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking election into the House of Representatives for Idemili north and south federal constituency in Anambra State in next year’s general elections, Hon Jim Chimeze Okolo, has said the activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are a boost to democracy in Nigeria.

Okolo stated this in an interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend following his emergence as the PDP’s flag bearer hoping to represent his constituency in the House of Representatives if elected in 2015.

“Democracy provides for equal political participation of individuals and groups and leaves the choice for the people to make during elections. I must commend the activities of APC for providing another platform that is prepared to challenge PDP at the forthcoming polls; that’s the beauty of democracy.

“APC’s push will make our great ruling party, the PDP, sit up and improve on governance. If you allow only one party all the time without stress, that’s not democracy in practice,” he said.

By Abah Adah, Abuja

Saturday, December 20, 2014

NUPENG, PENGASSAN Suspend Strike ByMichael Oche, Abuja

Oil workers in the country under the auspices of NUPENG and PENGASSAN yesterday agreed to suspend the nationwide strike action after a prolonged meeting with the supervising minister of labour and productivity, Alh Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, which lasted 13 hours.

In a communiqué signed at the end of the meeting by all relevant stakeholders involved in the discussion, the government agreed to meet some of the demands of the unions while further discus-

sions will continue on the others.

The communiqué reads in part, “transfer and termination of the Port Harcourt zonal secretary of PENGASSAN, Mrs Elo Victor-Ogbondah by Total E & P Nigeria Limited: Agreement was reached for Mrs Elo Victor-Ogbondah to be reinstated.

“Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB): The meeting noted the benefits associated with the Bill but regretted the delay in passing by the National Assembly. It was suggested that the FML&P, MPR, NUPENG and PENGASSAN should meet on the subject

to decide on the best productive line of action.

“End of contract of the Port Harcourt zonal treasurer of NUPENG, Ikohesa O. Ikohesa, by Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited: The meeting appealed to the Mobil Producing Nig. Unlimited to request the contractor, Messrs Halden Nig. Limited to reabsorb Ikohesa for employment.

“Casualisation, contract staffing and outsourcing: The meeting noted that the guidelines are still subsisting and the Trade Unions were advised to sub-

mit the names of companies defaulting from the guidelines.

Furthermore, it was noted that the guidelines have been submitted to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for gazetting as regulations. Also, the need to update the guidelines in view of the changing world of work was identified.”

Other issues such as refineries turnaround maintenance and crude oil supply were stepped down as no comment could be authoritatively made at the meeting on the state of the refineries.

short news

APC Primaries: Kwankwaso Campaign Organisation Thanks Delegates

President Goodluck Jonathan (R) receiving the report of the presidential committee of experts on Inter-professional relationship in the public health sector from the chairman of the committee, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed in abuja, yesterday. Photo by nan

Inferno Kills Family Of 7 In Benue

By Solomon Ayado, Makurdi

The people of Anyamkor area of Gboko town in Benue State were yesterday thrown into mourning when a family of seven was burnt to death in a house fire.

Mr Lawani Oye, a motor mechanic,

his wife simply called Mama Tunde and their five children were all consumed by the fire in the densely populated commercial town.

LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that the ugly incident which occurred at about 11.40pm on Thursday was triggered by an electrical spark that

abruptly started in a part of the two bedroom flat.

Witnesses say the uncontrollable fire ravaged Mr Oye’s flat before it spread to the other apartments in the building.

They further stated that it was one of the victims, Mama Tunde, who raised the alarm when the fire broke out.

Nasarawa PDP Guber Primaries Most Credible – Agabi

BY Ekele Peter Agbo, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Dr Yusuf Mohammed Agabi, has lauded the conduct of the December 8 governorship primary election in the state where he recorded a landslide victory.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend in Abuja yesterday, Agabi said the Nasarawa PDP governorship primary election was the most credible compared to other primaries across the country trailed by the grievances of aspirants who lost out.

“I can affirm that the December 8 Nasarawa PDP governorship primary was free, fair and credible. It was the most transparent, not because I emerged the

winner but for the fact that the processes were transparent and credible. None of the other aspirants that participated in the exercise is aggrieved. It was a peaceful conduct and each and every one of the contestants satisfactorily accepted the results. We have all resolved to work together for PDP’s victory in the 2015 general elections in the state,” Dr Agabi said.

The PDP governorship candidate also said that his emergence was a strong quit notice to the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration by Nasarawa people, saying PDP would provide visionary leadership that would liberate the people from poverty and underdevelopment.

It would be recalled that Dr Yusuf Agabi, who is having his first stint with pol-

itics, was declared winner of the PDP gubernatorial primary election in Nasarawa after defeating the former minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, Sen. Solomon Ewuga and six other contestants.

Announcing the result at the guest house of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa local government area, the returning officer, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, declared that Dr Agabi polled 214 votes, while his closest opponent in the keen contest, Mr Maku got a total of 160 votes.

Others were Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma (129 votes); Sen. Solomon Ewuga (31 votes); Chief John Michael Abdul (28votes) and Col. Jibrin Bala Yakubu (4 votes).

The Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s campaign organisation has expressed its appreciation to the national delegates of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to the party’s third convention and entire members of the party, for their support for the governor at the recently conducted presidential primaries.

This was contained in a statement signed by the chairman of the organisation, Senator Saidu Dansadau. The chairman said that the support given to the governor attests to the fact that Nigerians are appreciative of his sound leadership quality, adding that coming second behind the eventual winner, General Muhammadu Buhari, indicates that the governor is a presidential material.

Senator Dansadau thanked the leadership of the party and the electoral committee for the transparency and maturity shown in the primary.

By Murtala Mohammed, Abuja

news 69

Saturday, December 20, 2014

FAAN Suspends Cargo Flights To Lagos Airport

By Samson Echenim, Lagos

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has suspended cargo flights to the Lagos Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) as a result of congestion at the cargo terminals following their closure by the Nigeria Customs Service after a faceoff with some clearing agents recently.

Even though the terminals have been reopened after the customs comptroller-general, Alhaji Abdullahi Inde Dikko visited two weeks ago, the congestion at the terminal has apparently hit unmanageable heights.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria is advising operators of all cargo flights to find alternative entry points for their cargo rather than the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

“Already, FAAN has advised the Nigerian Airspace Manager Agency to issue a notice to airmen (NOTAM) to this effect,” the airport authority stated yesterday.

“This has become imperative due to the congestion created by the backlog of cargo created following the two-week closure of the terminal by the Nigerian Customs Service,” it noted in a statement signed by its general manag-

er, Corporate Communications, Mr Yakubu Dati and made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday.

Dati said FAAN had initiated measures to accelerate the clearance of these goods and return the situation to normalcy, but advised operators to make use of alternative airports until the suspension is lifted, as he added the authority was constrained to take this measure for the time being for the safety and security of all concerned.

Leader of an importers’ and exporters’ association, the Lagos Shippers Association, Reverend Jonathan Nicol had at the peak of faceoff between agents and the customs maintained that his members were considering diverting their cargoes to the Accra airport, saying that the closure of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) and Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) terminals has led to loss for the importers and exporters.

Clearing agents under the aegis of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) who were involved in the fracas with the customs accused FAAN and the aviation handling companies of compromise which according to them, led to serious security lapses at the MMIA.

LGC Election: PLASIEC Chairman Docked For Contempt

By ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos

The chairman of Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) Mr Peter Dalyop has been docked for contempt of court.

The chairman appeared before Justice Daniel Lonji of Plateau State High Court N0. 8 Bukuru, for his refusal to obey the order of the local government election appeal tribunal which declared Hon. Dan Dull of the Democratic People Party (DPP) winner of Langtang north council election held on the 25th of February this year.

After listening to the argu-

ment of the counsel to PLASIEC and Hon. Dull, Justice Daniel Longji then adjourned the motion for committal of contempt of court by the PLASIEC chairman to February 12 2015.

Hon. Daniel Dull of the DPP had dragged the PLASIEC chairman to the state high court for his failure to obey the order of the appellant court which ruled that the honourable was the winner of the February 25th LG election and so should be issued certificate of return by PLASIEC and subsequently be sworn into office by the state government.

NIJ Matriculates 305 Students For 2014/2015

By Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani, Lagos

The Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Lagos has matriculated 305 students for the 2014/2015 academic session.

The provost, Dr Elizabeth Ikem, admonished the new students to remain true and patriotic students of the institution.

“I want you all to remain true and strong students of

this institution and also defend your purpose in NIJ. I charge you to uphold your studentship here and never cut corners,” she said.

She urged them to remain patriotic towards the nation and work in fear of God. The students comprised the full-time and part-time National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Post-Graduate Diploma studies of the institute.

L-R: Sgt. Usman Mohammed; Puzzles Group President, Mr. Bayo Adeyemo and Inspector General of Police, Sulaiman Abba during the 2nd Inspector General of Police Award in Abuja. PHOTO BY JANE OKEKE

Ekiti: Tribunal Okays Fayose’s Election ...dismisses APC’s petition

By Kunle Olasanmi, Abuja

The Ekiti State governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja has dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressive Congress (APC) challenging the victory of Governor Ayodele Fayose in the last gubernatorial election.

In a judgement that lasted for about four hours, the tribunal dismissed the petition in its entirety on the grounds that the petitioner failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

That party had approached

the tribunal asking it to nullify Fayose’s election, claiming that the election was marred with irregularities.

Joined as respondents are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fayose, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chief of Army Staff and inspector-general of police.

The petitioner had asked the tribunal to withdraw the certificate of return given to Fayose and hand it over to Kayode Fayemi.

The petitioner hinged its petition on the fact that Fayose was earlier impeached by the Ekiti State House Assembly based

on breach of code of conduct and hence not qualified to contest.

The petitioner also alleged that Fayose forged a Higher National Diploma (HND) from the Ibadan polytechnic.

Justice Suraj Mohammed, who led two other judges on the tribunal panel held that the petitioner failed to prove that the election was marred with irregularities.

It noted that the petitioner contradicted itself when it said that the election should be nullified and in another breadth said the certificate of return should be given to its candidate (Fayemi).

Striking Health Workers To Meet FG On Monday ...We’ll Tackle Unhealthy Rivalry In Health Sector- Jonathan

BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port harcourt, George Agba, Abuja

The leadership of the Joint Health Sector Unions of Nigeria (JOHESU) will on Monday, December 22, 2014, meet with officials of the federal government to find ways of putting an end to the full-scale strike embarked upon by health workers in the country on December 15, 2014.

Secretary of JOHESU in Riv-

ers State, Dr Chris Mbata, who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, said those expected at the meeting, which will hold in Abuja, are officials of the federal ministry of Labour and Productivity as well as those of the federal ministry of Health.

The health workers, who declared an industrial action on November 12 as a matter of last resort, are protesting the federal government’s refusal to show full commitment in addressing the demands put forward by the union.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan vowed yesterday that the federal government will leave no stone unturned in tackling what he described as unhealthy rivalries among health care professionals.

This is even as the presidential committee of experts on Inter-Professional Relationship in the Public Health Sector said it identified 50 areas of conflict after receiving memoranda and interacting with about 40 professional bodies in the public health sector and members of the public.

Infinity Foundation Hosts 200 Orphans

BY Boboye onduku, Abuja

To round off the year, Infinity Foundation, an indigenous non-governmental organisation (NGO) is rounding off a four-day camp meeting tagged “Activate Camp 2014” for 200 orphans from over 20 orphanage homes within Nigeria, as well as 300 secondary school and undergraduate students.

The camp opened on Thursday, December 18 and rounds off tomorrow December 21, 2014 at Canaan Land, Ota. The camp meeting is a mentorship scheme aimed at identifying various

talents and flairs in these “specially privileged youths” and guiding them on how to make the best use of the innate potentials God has deposited in them in other to become world changers irrespective of their backgrounds.

The theme for this year’s event is ‘Made Of More’ and various speakers will mentor as well as tutor these orphans through various topics that would make them world changers.

Speakers are Mr. Wale Aboderin, chairman, The Punch Newspaper, Pastor Ntia Ubong, and resident pastor of the international headquarters of Living Faith Church, Prof. Patrick

Utomi, CEO, and Centre for Vision and Leadership, Jimi Tewe, CEO, Inspiro Consulting and a host of others.

Sunday’s programme will see each orphan paired with a successful adult or a successful couple while they share personal stories, eat, watch movies and play games together.

Infinity Foundation is a non-governmental organisation passionate about the Nigerian orphan with a vision to amend the general perspective of the populace towards orphans and to create a mind-set within these orphans that anything is achievable regardless of background.

70 issues

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Benue 2015: Credible Election And Electorate’s Choice

BY TYOWASE ANDREW TYOWASE

The stage is now set for the February 2015 general elections in Benue State following the emergence of candidates that would be sponsored by the various political parties for the various elective positions.

Competent sons and daughters of the state with very intimidating credentials threw themselves into the various contests from governorship to the State Assembly positions.

The two active political parties in the state – the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the opposition All Progressives Congress, undoubtedly, provided the Benue electorates a wide range of options.

Interestingly, the governorship ticket was the most keenly contested, particularly those on the platform of the PDP with several aspirants as against the two who contested on the platform of the APC in the state. Nonetheless, the PDP and the APC recognised that the next governor of the state should emerge from among Ihiarev, Masev and Nongov (MINDA) axis of the state with four local governments of Gwer East, Gwer West, Makurdi and Guma.

Its worthy to note that the aspirants from the four local governments campaigned with vigour

and decorum while the PDP settled for a former speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Terhemen Tarzoor from Makurdi, the APC went for the former minister of state for industry, Dr Samuel Ortom from Guma local government.

It would be recalled that Dr Ortom joined the APC after losing the PDP gubernatorial primaries and squared up against the likes of Chief Akange Audu and Hon Emmanuel Jime, all from Makurdi local government.

The two candidates (Tarzoor and Ortom) are very eminently qualified to rule the state. However, the seemingly high handedness of the leadership of the APC in the state to impose the former minister on the party is one major challenge the party is facing among its ranks and threatening its chances in the 2015 elections.

Hon Emmanuel Jime and Chief Akange Audu, according to APC loyalists, have laboured very hard to build and sustain the party and could not understand why they should be edged out without any convincing reason; not even on the strength of the voting population of where they both come from or any past records that could create a moral and constitutional burden for the APC. Analysts and APC faithful believe that as a three-term mem-

Ortom

Tarzoor

ber of the House of Representatives and former speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon Jime would by whatever standards fly the flag of the APC better than the primordial considerations that were placed above the interest of the majority of the members of the party in the state that made the leader of the party in the state to pitch tents with the former minister.

Today, tongues are wagging; there is total disenchantment and a strong sense of disillusion by the huge followers and loyalists of Hon

Jime.

It is not any different in the camp of Chief Akange Audu, whom members of the party see as a pillar right from the days of the Action Congress of Nigeria, who has done more than any other member of the party through sponsorship of candidates of the party for elective positions in preparations for this governorship contest and then be treated with outright disdain, a situation his camp describes and considers an affront on their collective sensibility. This is a pointer that the inability of

the APC to manage its governorship primaries in Benue State is the beginning of their journey to crash.

However, beyond the internal wrangling within the APC, it is not clear whether Ortom would adopt the manifesto of any of the APC aspirants or impose his on the party, which is one matter the people of the state must watch out for.

On the part of the PDP, some have raised observations about the candidature of Hon Tarzoor as to whether he would be able to run the state citing age and experience as reasons but they failed to understand that old age on the other hand is not a leadership criterion. It is pedestrian to hold the view that having been elected a member of state Assembly and one time speaker, one has not had the experience to govern a state.

The promoters of this flat campaign fail to realise that creativity, uprightness, humility, decisiveness, accountability, honesty, are some of the attributes of a leader and age is certainly not part of it.

Yes, the task of fixing Benue, given the current state of the economy, which has resulted to non-payment of salaries in the state is quite enormous, but can be achieved through well thoughtout initiatives with timelines and the political will. — Tyowase wrote from Abuja

/ SPORTS 71

Saturday, December 20, 2014

FEPSGA GAMES: ‘ONDO 2014 Best Ever’

By SALIFU USMAN, Abuja

The ongoing 33rd edition public Service Games in Akure, Ondo State capital has been adjudged the best in the history of the tournament.

Comrade Hassan Dahiru, president of the Federation Public service Games (FEPSGA) made this known while interacting with newsmen at the venue of the swimming event of the games at the Akure Township Stadium when a 54-year-old woman, Mrs. Tamigbere Oruebide of the Ministry of Niger Delta won a bronze medal in the 200m event.

According to Dahiru, the medal won by the woman is the true reflection and perspective of the games, which is meant for recreation, unity and making friends among public servants.

He assured that his adminis-

tration is putting everything in place to ensure that non-eligible civil servants are prevented to competing.

Dahiru said, “gentlemen, I want to confidently inform you that since the inception of FEPSGA Games, 32 years ago, we have never had games like this, in terms of free and fair competitions. Also in terms of organisation, we have 95 per cent of facilities concentrated in one place, good human relationship with the local organizing committee, particularly the State Head of Service, Barrister Toyin Akinkuotu, who is always in all events from time to time to ensure all is well, you can see we have nothing to complained of unlike other states where we will be moving from one center to another for our events. As the President of the federation, Ondo 2014 remains the best.”

Falcons Move In FIFA Ranking

By TAOFEEK LAWAL, Abuja

Despite the slide in the ranking of their male counterparts, the national female football team, the Falcons have improved in the latest ranking released by FIFA on Friday.

The seven time African champions have moved from 35th position to 32nd position in the world.

Germany’s women team ended the year top of the ranking table taking over from previous leader, the USA women

national football team.

France are in third place, taking the place of reigning world champions Japan, who dropped to fourth. In Africa, the Falcons are number one, followed by Ghana and Cameroon in that order.

According to a release from the world football governing body, FIFA, “the results of 170 matches have been taken into account for the current edition of the Women’s World Ranking. Seven teams have re-entered the ranking: Papua New

Guinea, Tonga, Cook Islands, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bhutan.

“As seven teams have also dropped out of the ranking after long periods of inactivity, the number of ranked teams remains at 132.

“The next FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking will be published on 27 March 2015.”

The Falcons’ best ranking of 23 was achieved in July 2003 and their worst, 35, was in September 2014.

Di Maria Fit For Villa Tie Manchester United manager, Louis van Gaal has confirmed the return to fitness of Argentine winger Angel di Maria after a three-week injury lay-off.

The newly crowned Argentine footballer of the year returned to training this week to hand manager Louis van Gaal a massive boost heading into the match against Aston Villa.

Di Maria limped off with a hamstring injury in the game against Hull City at the end of November

but the Red Devils have gone on to win six games consecutives.

“He has trained this week with us but he’s not match fit after one week, Van Gaal told a press conference ahead of the Aston Villa game.

“Maybe I shall select him for the bench, or maybe not. I have to make my decision because we have one training session to go.”

Manchester United are currently third on the premier league log after 16 round of matches.

Balotelli To Miss Arsenal Game Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has apologised for his controversial post on social media after being handed a one-match ban by the Football Association.

The Italy international found himself in hot water with English football’s governing body after uploading an image of computer game character ‘Super Mario’ - with whom Balotelli shares a nickname - along with an antiSemetic comment.

The forward will now miss Sunday’s Premier League clash against Arsenal, while he was also fined £25,000, warned as to his future

conduct and ordered to attend an education programme.

A Liverpool spokesperson told Sky Sports News HQ: “The club acknowledges the decision reached by the independent panel and due consideration will be given to the written judgement once we receive it from the FA. “Any further action taken by ourselves in relation to this matter is between the club and player.”

Balotelli has also confirmed he will not appeal the decision, and apologised for any harm his actions may have caused.

ITF Name Djokovic, Serena 2014 world champions Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams have been named 2014 world champions by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

The annual award takes in performances on the regular Tour and grand slams.

Wimbledon champion Djokovic takes the men’s prize for the fourth time having won seven titles this season and the year-end top ranking for the third time in four years.

Williams wins the award for the fifth time in a career which has brought her 18 grand slam singles titles -- the most recent

at this year’s U.S. Open.

‘I’m so honored to be named ITF World Champion for the fifth time. This was a year of challenges and triumphs, so to win another Grand Slam and retain my year-end No. 1 ranking is an accomplishment I’m very proud of,’ she said.

‘I’m grateful to have the support of the tennis community in every way possible. I can’t wait for 2015.’

Americans Bob and Mike Bryan were named ITF men’s doubles champions while Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci of Italy won the women’s honour.

Falcons players

2014 Public Service Games Climaxes Today

By SALIFU USMAN, Abuja

The 33rd edition of the Federation of Public Service Games (FEPSGA) holding in Akure, the Ondo State capital will come to a climax today, with dignitaries from across the country expected to grace the occasion.

The Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko is expected to declare the 10-day sporting extravaganza close, but not without the presence of the director general National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye , Head of Service of the Federation, Barrister Danladi Kifasi and Ondo State Head of Service, Barrister Toyin Akinkotu and other invited guests.

According to the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) Mr. Dele Olegbese, the competition which has been adjudged as the best ever since the inception of FEPSGA Games would be loaded with fun and entertaining programmes during the closing ceremony by different ministries, departments, and agencies which include the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation Agency, the Nation-

al Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) that would be displaying it’s operational equipment as well as the Ondo State Arts and Culture and young musical artistes from the state.

Meanwhile, a new record has been set in the 200m men swimming event by Gberefadei Green of Ministry of Niger Delta with the time of 2: 52:89 seconds against previous time of 2:58:90 seconds.

His performance earned Team Ni-

ger Delta their first gold medal and also launched them to their winning ways.

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who were prevented from competing in some sporting events swept all gold medals in the four events they competed in.

10, 000 athletes and officials from more than 50 ministries, department and agencies are participating in the championship.

FEPSGA president, Comrade Dahiru Hassan (middle) leading other officials during the games

AMUSEMENT PARK

IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF STINkING ODOURS IN THE kITCHEN, STOP COOkING

— Erma Bombeck

20.12.14

www.leadership.ng

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

No. 463 N300

The Weekend Column Capt Daniel Omale

I

In just five years of this administration, Nigeria has witnessed more regional and tribal sentiments than any other government in the history of this nation

f Tompolo, a militant/ terrorist, is now in charge of the security of our Maritime, then it’s time for real change in our political direction.

It’s rather unfortunate that Nigeria, a country of over 170m would relegate its military force to second fiddle and allow a known terrorist to handle the security of the nation’s maritime.

Tompolo’s company, Global West Vessel Services, has just bought its seventh warship for the security of our maritime at the expense of the Nigerian Navy and other security agents in the nation.

I have not read former President Obasanjo’s newly released memoirs, “My Watch”, but it’s obvious that he has every reason to regret his actions while in government.

Every rational thinking Nigerian is aware that President Jonathan is doing the best of his ability and, pushing him to exceed his ability may not be that easy. Unfortunately, the best of his ability might not be what is necessarily good for Nigeria.

I am equally of the opinion that if Jonathan Goodluck has rational people around him, with good intention toward a united future for Nigerians, he would have reconsidered some of his unrealistic policies.

Nigeria is at war with Boko Haram; an insurgent group, which Mr President, himself, has acknowledged the presence of saboteurs, as his core reason for the persistent insecurity in the country.

If these saboteurs are greater than our military intelligence, then we surely need a new commander-in-chief.

In his acceptance speech two weeks ago, President Jonathan finally admitted that there is corruption in Nigeria. He had hitherto denied any form of corruption but mere theft. If he is voted in February 2015 to continue to lead the nation,

Gen. Buhari To The Rescue?

08054102747 (text only)

daniel@leadership.ng

he promises to fight corruption this time. This is a paradox.

From denial to acceptance within a few months shows inconsistency of policy and lack of the required knowledge of the governed.

The President’s party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is a symbol of corruption in every real sense of the word.

Every election under PDP is rigged; party leaders at every level of government are corrupt and lawless. No single PDP contestant has won a clean election to any political post since the inception of democracy in 1999. Election results are always manipulated to favour individuals with more financial or political influence in the constituency, usually with the consent of the party heavyweights at the centre. It is therefore difficult for Nigeria to change its corruption syndrome under the same regime.

The war against insecurity is mere lip service; saboteurs are the same perpetrators of the scourge, and since everyone is profiting from the lingering terrorism, there will never be an end to insecurity under the same government. Profiteering from the blood of the dead has consequences; but only the wise would realise this adage.

Another four years in the life of a nation might not sound much, but at the current rate of unstoppable bomb explosions everywhere in the northern part of Nigeria, few human beings will survive until the 2019 elections.

The PDP has shown that it is incapable of leading Nigeria to a safe destination, where unity and economic prosperity for all will reign.

After fourteen years of poor leadership and very bad governance, it’s time for change.

The level of divide among Nigerians is unprecedented; South- South, Niger Delta, North, and so forth are clear

signs of a polarised polity, a society without unity.

In just five years of this administration, Nigeria has witnessed more regional and tribal sentiments than any other government in the history of this nation.

Goodluck’s humble beginning which every Nigerian can relate with, would have shaped his leadership qualities, but he has allowed greedy and misleading clowns to dictate the future of Nigeria for him. This government is merely serving the interest of a few cronies whose ultimate desire is to loot available public resources. And, in the name of divide and rule, they have established a parallel regime to serve those considered as the rightful owners of Nigeria’s oil deposits.

If Tompolo’s company is now bigger and more effective in curbing oil theft in the Niger Delta area, then the escalating daily crude oil theft of about 400,000 barrels would have subsided by now, but the contrary. Still, Mr President’s kinsmen are more important to him than the majority of Nigerians whose lives are under threat by terrorists.

Good governance is an indeterminate term used in international development literature to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources. Governance is “the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented)”. The term governance can apply to corporate, international, national, local governance or to the interactions between other sectors of society.

The concept of “good governance” often emerges as a model to compare ineffective economies or political bodies with viable economies and political bodies. The concept centres on the responsibility of governments and governing

Buhari

bodies to meet the needs of the masses as opposed to select groups in society.

Liberal democratic states, concentrated in Europe and the Americas, are often used to set the standards to compare to other states’ institutions when talking about governance.

General Buhari’s victory in the just concluded primaries under All Progressive Alliance (APC) is a testimony to his honest character and a symbol of hope for a hopeless society. Nigeria’s economic/ social situation has deteriorated so badly that it is almost impossible for a new government to salvage it in the first four years of assuming office, but a positive redirection or change of course towards clearer skies would suffice for now. General Buhari and his party should save Nigeria from PDP’s corrupt regime.

GHANA MUST GO 70% of candidates fail Nov/ Dec WASSCE — News

TANscript!

• LEADERSHIP (ISSN 0331-328X) is published in Abuja by LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Off Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Way, Utako District, Abuja P. O. Box 9514, Garki II, Abuja. Lagos Office: 34/36 Adegbola Street, Anifowose, Off Oba Akran, Ikeja. E-mail: info@leadership.ng, advert@lerdership.ng, newsroom@leadership.ng