Weekend observer 12 10 2013

THE WEEKEND

Weekend

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

PUBLISHED SINCE OCTOBER 6, 1990 • Vol.XI NO.3,205• SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 20 13 • N 100.00

ENCOUNTER Ministry Of Housing And Urban Development To Revolutionalize Housing - Page 8

Edo Development Driven By Oshiomhole’s Vision - Agba

By HENRY BALOGUN

THE Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities, Hon. Clem Agba has said that the monumental achievements recorded by this administration since its inception was occasioned

by Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s Vision for development and transformation. adding that the vision He made this assertion was earlier dismissed by recently in his office in a many as mission chat with Weekend impossible but that with OBSERVER. Hon Clem careful planning and Agba stated that the determination to beauty of Benin City was succeed, Benin City is a product of intensive now wearing a beautiful study and planning,

look.

Speaking on the project of deflooding Edo State, Hon. Clem Agba explained that an indepth study of the topography of Benin City was undertaken before commencement of work.

He pointed out that having known the fact that the flood in Benin City could be channeled to two rivers namely Ogba River and Ikpoba River, high powered

drains were constructed within the flooding areas of Benin City with a view to chanelling the water to these rivers.

Speaking further he said that Benin City has 23 water – sheds, stressing that the state government created

storm drains in Iheya area in order to cater for the flooding challenges within that vicinity.

According to him “in its determination to put an end to the challenges of flood in Benin City, the state government has created a network of

drain at five junction and other points in order to address the problem of flood within the various vicinity. We are also constructing side drains in Igbinadowa area. We have also constructed tributaries and cannals in Uwelu College Area and

environ.”

The commissioner pointed out that the state government had also reconstructed the drainage system in Sapele road even as he added that a m a i n t e n a n c e Continued on page 4

Alleged N77m Fraud

Ex-Oyo State Commissioner Gets N10m Bail A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, granted a N10 million bail to Kazeem Adedeji, a former Oyo State Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Cooperatives, charged with N77 million fraud.

Adedeji, along with Yinka Fatoki, a former Director in the Ministry, and Kolawole Adewole, an employee of the Bank of Industry (BOI), are facing a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud.

Ruling on the bail application by Mr.

Olabode Iranloye, the defence counsel, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N10 million each, with one surety each in like sum.

The judge ruled that the sureties must be public officers not below grade level 15 in either the Federal or Lagos State Government and must possess a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.

He added that the sureties must also produce evidence of tax payment and must

deposit the Certificate of Occupancy of such landed property with the court registry.

He then adjourned the case till November 25 and 26, for trial.

Reports say that the accused were arraigned on October 3.

At their arraignment, the prosecutor, Mr. Effiong Asuquo, had told the court that the accused committed the offences between July 2012 and June 2013.

He said that sometime in 2012, while Adedeji Continues on page 4

MOMENTS OF SCRUTINY

LETTER OF CREDENCE: President Goodluck Jonathan (right), receiving a Letter of Credence from the Ambassador of Czech Republic to Nigeria, Mr. Pavel Mikes, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja recently. With them is the Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri

THE NATION

Celebrating Non Achievement

President Jonathan And His Bootlicking Cabinet

- Page 5

- Page 6

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N ws

CRIME

Man In Court For Allegedly Robbing Pedestrian Of His Blackberry A 25-YEAR-OLD man, Victor Erusiafe, has appeared before an Apapa Senior Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for allegedly robbing a pedestrian of his blackberry phone worth N95,000.

Erusiafe, of no fixed address, is facing a twocount charge of conspiracy and robbery.

The Prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Inedu, said the accused committed the offences on October 6, at about 4:00 p.m. at 1st Gate Bus/Stop, on the Badagry Expressway, Lagos.

Inedu said the accused, and others at large, robbed the complainant, Mr. Eker Chris, of his blackberry phone worth N95,000, while armed with a broken bottle.

“Chris raised an alarm which attracted

passersby, who helped to apprehend Erusiafe, and handed him over to the Police,” he said.

The offences, he added, contravened Sections 295 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr. Adeyemi Amos, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

In addition, Amos said the sureties, who should be civil servants, should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Reports say that the accused may be sentenced to a maximum of 21 years imprisonment for robbery, if found guilty.

Further hearing in the case has been fixed for November 6.

L-R: Area Commander, Metro, DC Charles Ezeala; Assistant Commissioner of Police, CID, Mr. Haruna Garba and Commissioner of Police, Plateau, Mr. Chris Olakpe, during the news conference on the Force activities in Jos recently.

Police Arraign Man, 19, For Alleged Possession Of Fake Naira Notes ENUGU - The Enugu State Police Command has arraigned one

Police Arraign Man For Allegedly Defrauding Woman Of N200,000 ABUJA - The police has complainant reported that arraigned a 22-year old businessman, John Kenneth, in a Life Camp Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for defrauding Miss Ada Joseph of N200,000.

Kenneth, a resident of Anguwan Cement in Abuja, is charged with joint act and cheating, offences which contravene the provisions of sections 79 and 322 of the Penal Code.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Simon Emmanuel, told the court that the complainant, Miss Joseph of Karmo Village, Abuja, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station on October 6.

Emmanuel said the

Kenneth and three others, now at large, defrauded her of N200,000 after promising to give her laptops and dollars.

He said that in August, Joseph boarded a taxi where she met Kenneth and three others on their way to Kado.

Emmanuel said the three passengers deceived the complainant and the driver diverted the vehicle to an unknown location in Dape where they collected the money from her.

He said that Joseph later discovered that accused belonged to a syndicate, after they had absconded

with her money.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge levelled against him.

The Magistrate, Mr. Abdullateef Abolaji, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum.

He also ordered that the sureties must have known addresses and must live within the jurisdiction of the court.

Abolaji further said that the sureties must deposit a copy of their driver’s licence or national ID card with the court registrar, and adjourned the case to November 25 for continuation of hearing.

Court Remands 2 Students In Prison For AN FCT High Court has Alleged Armed Robbery ordered that two students, Monday Odaletan and Sunday Samuel be remanded in prison custody pending ruling in their bail applications.

Odaletan and Samuel are standing trial on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and receiving stolen properties.

Justice Maryann Anenih, who gave the order, adjourned to

October 30 for ruling in the bail application.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Mr Ikenna Ihezuo, told the court that the accused, sometime in April, conspired with one Yahaya Idris, now at large, and carjacked Mrs Ugo Uche’s Toyota car with registration number FST 134 LA. Ihezuo said the alleged carjacking occurred in AbujaZuba Expressway.

They pleaded not guilty

to the charges.

The prosecutor told the court to adjourn to enable him present his witnesses.

The counsel to the accused, Mr. Chinedu Igwenazor, applied for bail for his clients.

Igwenazor submitted that granting the application was at the discretion of the court.

“We urge your lordship to use your discretion and grant them bail pending trial,’’ he said

Okwudili Onovo, 19, from Akpugo in Nkanu West local government for alleged possession of fake currency.

Onovo was charged before an Enugu Magistrates’ Court for allegedly possessing the notes amounting to N13,000.

Police prosecutor Emmanuel Ajiogu told the court that the matter was reported to the Central Police Station, Enugu on June 7.

Ajiogu said the accused was unable to explain how

he got the fake notes at the time of his arrest.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge, saying he did not know the money in his possession was fake.

When the Magistrate, Mrs. Ifeoma Oruruo, asked the accused if he had a surety to bail him, he said his relation, Gozie Onovo, who resides in Onitsha, had promised to bail him but had not shown up in the court.

Ajiogu urged the court to grant the accused bail since he was in court, so

that he would not be taken back to the police station.

Oruruo granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum since the prosecutor concurred with the bail request.

She said the address of the surety should be within the jurisdiction of the court and that he should deposit two passport photographs of both the accused and himself.

The matter was adjourned to November 4 for further hearing.

AN Ado-Ekiti Customary Court has dissolved a 12 year-old marriage between Mulikat and Lateef Mohammed for lack of love.

In her judgment, the President of the court, Mrs. Akomolede Olayinka, awarded the custody of the three children to the wife.

Akomolede held that the husband should have free access to the children and pay N3, 000 on each child per month for their upkeep.

He also ordered Mohammed to pay half of the children’s school fees, while the Mulikat

should pay the balance.

“Since the respondent has repeatedly shunned the court, he was deemed by the court to have admitted the allegations in the charge sheet,” Olayinka said.

Mulikat, 34, the petitioner, had told the court to grant the divorce because of her h u s b a n d ’ s maltreatment.

“My husband started maltreating me in a manner that suggested that he probably did not like the sex of the child.

“It got to a point that I was unable to pay my house rent that I had to pack and stay with my

mother with the children because there was no one to help me.

“The matter was settled by our family members, but unfortunately shortly after the reconciliation, the beating continued.

“One night, I got a phone call that my husband had burnt all my belongings in the house and shop,” she said.

According to her, anywhere she goes, her husband will always foment trouble to scare people away from her.

The petitioner, therefore, urged the court to dissolve the marriage.

Court Dissolves 12-YearOld Marriage In Ekiti

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N ws Sobe Community Marks 22nd Anniversary Stories By AUDU ADAMS

Edo State Head of Service (HoS), Princess (Mrs.) Ekiuwa Inneh, presenting an award to one of St. Maria Goretti students during the scholarship award by Goretti Old Girls International (GOGI) in Benin City recently. Photo: OSADEBAMWEN SUNDAY.

THE annual Sobe day which is observed in commemoration of the community’s reunion with her kin and kith in Edo State since 1991 climaxed with the distribution of gifts to Sobe Youths especially to the Artisans by Sobe Development Association, [SDA] Abuja branch as well as free medical care and the distribution of drugs for different ailments for all ages in Sobe land by the Lagos State branch of the Association The gift items ranged from Grinding Machines, Clippers, Hair dryers and Sewing Machines.

In an exclusive interview, Martins Ilegoma who is the National Secretary of the SDA who spoke on behalf of

Hon Akerejola Inspects Projects

WITH a view to making life more comfortable for his people, the Chairman of Akoko – Edo Local Government Area of Edo

Hon. Folorunsho Akerejola

State, Hon. Joseph Folorunsho Akerejola has executed no fewer than Thirty – one projects which spread across the Ten Wards in the locality between the months of June and September, 2013.

The Council boss disclosed this while conducting Newsmen round the various projects.

A breakdown of the various projects indicates that a block of Three Classrooms, Headmaster’s Office and a Staff Room each have so far been constructed in Three Primary Schools in wards 4, 7 and 9, a block of 4 Class rooms with Stores in Lampese and a block of six classrooms in Ibillo have

been renovated and re – roofed while 110 Units of Desks/ Benches and 40 units of Setter Desks/ Benches have also been procured for the various Primary Schools in the locality.

A 500KVA/33/0.415KV and 2.5 MVA/33/11KVA Transformers have been procured and installed in Ibillo and Igarra respectively, while 500KVA/11/0.415W Transformers have both been installed at the market road junction, Igarra and Somorika. Also installed in Igarra and Sasaro are 3 0 0 K VA / 3 3 / 0 . 4 1 5 W Transformers while at the

Etsako Central Laments Citizenry Insesitivity To Cleanliness

THE insensitivity on the part of the citizenry to the call by the Edo State Government that everyone should clean his/ her environment on sanitation days has again been decried.

This displeasure was expressed by the Head of Department, Social Development, Etsako Central

Local Government Area of Edo State Alhaji Sedenu Muhammed while monitoring last month’s environmental sanitation exercise in Ekperi and environs.

Alhaji Sedenu Muhammed emphasized that in spite of the huge resources Governments at the state

AS part of measures to ensure Residents of Etsako Central Local Government Area comply with the Edo State Monthly Environmental Sanitation Laws, ten persons were on fortnight ago prosecuted by the Mobile Court set up by Council Secretariat in Fugar for various Environmental Sanitation offences.

Those arraigned and prosecuted were some commercial drivers conveying market women to the market, those found loitering, those who were

caught drinking alcohol in commercial joints, Youths that engaged in playing football and those who operated their business centers using their electrical generating sets during the period of the sanitation exercise.

The Presiding Judge of the Mobile Court, Justice Lawrence Wilson who read out the State Environmental Sanitation Rules as well as their legal implications, fined the Violators five thousand naira each with an option of seven days imprisonment.

Prosecute Sanitation Violators

and local levels have invested to ensure clean and healthy environment, people are still being forced to clean their surroundings.

The Head of Department however suggested that mobilization of the people to environmental cleanliness should not be left in the hands of the Government alone but also enjoined religious and community leaders to get themselves involved in that mobilization. , The Senior Information Officer and his Assistant of the Council Mr. Godwin Oboh and Irale Boniface, expressed some worries that in spite of the fact that the Council has repeatedly mobilized the people through the relevant Electronic and the Print Media including the use of Town Criers through the Village Heads in the locality, the people still display non-chalant attitude towards environmental cleanliness.

same time extension of Electricity and replacement of existing Wooden Poles and Aluminum Conductor have also been done in Utua quarters in Igarra.

Drilling of a Borehole and installation of 150mm PVC, construction of galvanized

steel structural stand with7, 500 litters Plastic Tank, 7.5 KVA Generator and a house though still on - going, have all been provided each for Igarra, Ibillo and Unene – Nekhua Communities.

the Abuja branch, told the weekend Observer that the Abuja branch of the SDA had in 2011 embarked on the building of a block of four classrooms, the Vice – Principal’s office, the staff room in Sobe High School, Sobe while over half a million Mr. Ilegoma noted, was spent on Youth Empowerment alone. He disclosed that his Association has been proactive in the development of Sobe land stressing that the excess of what they have done so far is to express their joy for the ultimate reunion with their kin and kith in Edo State.

The Odiadelua of Sobe land Chief Dr. Cletus Owuze, on his part, told the Weekend Observer that the awareness in Sobe land that Government alone cannot do everything for any community informed the execution of the self – help projects by the various branches of the Association.

Dr. Owuze disclosed that the week- long celebrations commenced last week Sunday through Monday with interdenominational prayers organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria, Sobe branch in all churches in Sobe land.

Sobe Community Appeals To LG Boss

THE Owan West Local Government Chairman, Hon.Barrister Goddie Aigbedion has been enjoined to grade the about four kilometer Ububezi /Sabogidda – Ora axis of the Nineteen kilometer Sabogidda- Ora – Sobe road as a palliative measure pending when the Federal Government will complete the abandoned project.

The appeal which was made on behalf of Sobe Community by the Odedialu of Sobe land Chief Dr, Cletus Owuze at the Sobe Township Hall, Sobe as part of activities marking this year’s .Sobe Day.said the Federal Government has successfully bridged the road, constructed the necessary Culverts and had asphalted about eighty percent of the

project.

He however expressed dismay that in spite of the series of appeals by Sobe people, the Federal Government is yet to complete the slippery axis which makes the road inaccessible even to Okada riders during the raining season.

Chief Owuze further lamented that his people still have to travel through the old Sabogidda – Ora – Ifon in Ondo state back to Sobe in Edo State saying !a journey

Sobe Community Appeals To EDSG

THE Edo State Government has been enjoined to complete the on – going water project embarked upon since 2010 in Sobe by treating the water and connect same to all the quarters in the Community.

A community leader in Sobeland, Deacon Thomas

Hon Akerejola Promises Prudence THE Chairman of Akoko – Edo Local Government Area, Hon. Joseph Akerejola has assured his people that the various projects executed by his Administration would be adequately protected while Education would be given priority with more Youths empowered by next year.

The Council Boss who disclosed these in a media chat shortly after the inspection, stressed that in spite of the financial challenges and those from his detractors, he has performed more than his predecessors within a short time saying ”I

which would have taken about fifteen minutes through the new road takes about an hour through Ifon!.

Chief Owuze emphasized that apart from the long Israelite journey they are forced to embark upon while going to their administrative headquarters in Sabogidda – ora, the many sharp bends, Pot holes, the narrow bridge and the hilly nature of the old road has continually constituted a menace to its users.

never inflated projects. I have lived here for years so I know the problems of our people. Let them bring the EFCC to the Council I am not worried. The detraction is premeditated while the blackmailers are those who were either not appointed or were given any contract to execute.”

Hon. Akerejola however reechoed his promise that no community or ethnic group will be victimized in the Council area as there is still more time for him to perform even as a vote of confidence has been passed on the Council Chairman by the Legislative Arm of the Council.

Adeoyo who made this appeal in Sobe during the Youth Empowerment and the Free Medical treatment ceremonies organized by the Abuja and Lagos branches of the Sobe Development Association for Sobe Community as part of activities marking this year’s annual Sobe Day, emphasized that for the past two years, the untreated water has been gushing out from the borehole – a development which the man of God noted has constituted a menace to those living around the vicinity where the borehole is located.

In his further lamentations Deacon Adeoye said “it is a pity that we have been made a humiliating stock before those we thought were not our friends as we are usually forced to go to them to beg for drinking water during the dry season. These people are now aware that life has not been the same with us since we left them in 1991”

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N ws Outbreak Of River Blindness Recorded In Auchi

By MORRISON HAYBLE

AN outbreak of Onchocerciasis disease otherwise known as River Blindness has been recorded at Auchi and environs in recent times. Rotary club of Auchi has alerted.

A team of eye care providers under the auspices of Rotary club of Auchi metropolitan made the revelation while on a free eye test and awareness campaign in the locality.

President of the club, Rotn Andrew Eboreime who raised the alarm said the disease was fast having its negative impact as several cases were identified during the exercise and appealed to the Ministry of Health and State Government to come to the rescue as a matter of urgency.

Investigative visit to the Eye Care centre, Auchi by our correspondent corroborated the alarm as a medical worker in the clinic confirmed the prevalence of the disease said to be common in Edo North senatorial district.

The Respondent however lamented the complacency of the residents of the locality over the risk of the disease and were therefore not wiling or shy to report cases of it to the eye centre for immediate medical attention as they often attempted crude medication.

While noting that the disease could lead to irreversible blindness, the Respondent advised the public with symptoms of eye disorder relating to River blindness to come forward for medical examination and treatment free of charge.

The lack of potable water in the area and the dependence of the people on water sold by tankers from questionable sources was also seen as a factor for the presence of the disease said to be highly infectious.

Also commenting, a Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr. Jaafar Kadiri confirmed

the presence of the disease in the area and lamented the dearth of Ophthalmologists in the country to sufficiently handle eye problems.

Dr. Kadiri explained that there ought to be at least one Ophthalmologist per four hundred thousand persons going by the World Health Organization, WHO standard for developing countries and regretted that Edo North with a population of one million by 2006 census had ever had a Resident Ophthalmologist since the creation of Nigeria.

He disclosed that the initiative of Rotary Club of Auchi brought about the temporary presence of an Ophthalmologist for the first time in the area for a two year contract which expired in September, 2013.

Statistics have revealed that about 37million people are infected with the River Blindness disease across the world while roughly 300,000 of them are already irreversibly blind with approximate 140million in Africa at risk of infection.

Oyo State Government entered into a partnership with the Bank of Industry, known as the OYSG/B.O.I Fund.

According to him, the fund, with a total of N1 billion, was a pool from which indigenous entrepreneurs could access credit facilities.

Asuquo explained that the State Government and the bank had each contributed N500, 000, 000 respectively, towards the fund.

He said the joint venture was aimed at promoting Micro and Medium business in Oyo State.

The prosecutor said that Adedeji lodged the said contribution into Enterprise Bank, where his wife worked as account officer, without the consent and approval of the Oyo State Government.

He told the court that the accused then conspired to obtain over N77 million from the fund, which was allocated to non-existing companies.

Asuquo said that the accused granted the facilities to Josh-Tolani Ventures, Tembenatil Ventures, Ojoo God’s Grace Cooperative Society, Agric Preserve Company Ltd, and Adis Steel

upon investigation at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), it was discovered that none of these companies were registered.

He said that the offences committed contravened the provisions of Sections 1(1), 1(3) (a) and 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, Cap A6, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Reports say that the offences attract a term of not less than 20 years imprisonment, if convicted Adedeji and the others had, however, each pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Ex-Oyo State Commissioner Gets Ltd. Continued from page 1 N10m Bail Works The prosecutor said that was still Commissioner, the

Edo Development Driven By Oshiomhole’s Continued from page 1 for the Comrade Governor to Vision enable him to continue to be mechanism had been built into the drains for the purposes of durability.

Hon. Agba disclosed that the present administration ably led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole had put in place, a strategic plan for the development of Edo State for 25 years and that the projects that have been implemented so far would last for several years.

He revealed that as a man with a private sector backgrounds, he had found his assignment as a member of the Edo State Executive Council interesting and challenging. He commended the Comrade Governor for the Information Technology System that he had set up, which according to him had been of tremendous help in his day to day duties in government.

Hon. Agba described Governor Oshiomhole as a great thinker and as a man of vision with penchant for excellence. He revealed that Governor Oshiomhole’s commitment to use public funds to better the lives of the great number of people is

unswevering.

Hon. Agba called on Edo people to be patient with the state government even as he enjoined them to always pray

in good health and therefore be in a position to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to Edo people.

of Ugbighoko Quarters, Benin City is appealing to the relevant authorities to rescue him from what he termed as injustice done to him by an official of the department of Welfare, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development on the dispute between him and his wife over the custodian of their children.

Osaheni narrated to newsmen in Benin City that their marriage which was contracted in 2005 has produced three male children – Vincent 8, Charles 6, and Nobert 4.

He said in May 2012, his landlord had called him on phone informing him of his wife’s unholy affairs with men.

According to him, he confronted his wife on several occasions “until she confessed to having an affair with one Adams, an employee of PHCN”.

A situation he said led to their separation before she reported the matter at the state welfare department.

He said “despite the fact that the case is already before the welfare department she has been threatening me with thugs both at home and on phone and even arrested and detained me”.

He said since welfare granted Susan the custody of their children he was never allowed access to see them, rather “they are always requested for the N50,000 for upkeep of the children.

“Since then, I have never been allowed access to my children.

Not even the eldest who is 8 years old now.

The welfare department under the Director, Amadasun asked that I should be paying N50,000 for my children’s upkeep, which I have been complying with until I

EXECUTIVE Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Reverend David Ugolor has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to focus more on solving the nation problems and avoid playing politics with the wellbeing of Nigerians.

Reverend David Ugolor stated this on his way out of the country at the weekend while fielding questions from journalists on President Goodluck Jonathan’s announcement on Independence Day celebration that the government has built a robust economy and as well waged a steady battle against poverty, unemployment and corruption.

According to Reverend David Ugolor, one of the

ANEEJ Appeals To President Jonathan

biggest problems in Nigeria is that the political leaders find it difficult to accept the reality on ground, adding that President Jonathan should accept the fact that there is a wide spread of corruption, poverty in the country.

“One of the biggest problems we have in the country is that leaders should learn to accept when there is problem. Jonathan must accept the fact that there is a wide spread corruption, poverty in the country.

People are dying of hunger.

He lives in Aso Rock with his people but you will agree with me that if you go to the Ijaw land, if he ever visits the creeks across the Ijaw land, I’m sure that Jonathan will not be happy with his job. He

Edo FRSC Boss Cautions Motorists On Road Safety

By VICTOR OMOALU AS Christmas approaches, The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Edo State Sector Command has intensified efforts to salvage the high level of road crashes across the state during this ember months.

The new Edo State Sector Commander, Mr. L.U Ikpi made this known when he led other top officials of the command on a familiarization visit to the Enogie of Etete HRH Omorodion in Benin City.

Ikpi noted that the command was not unaware of the huge challenges ahead, especially during the ember period, adding that the command has concluded plans on measures that will help save road crashes.

One of such efforts, according to the sector commander who toured the unit commands across the state was the advocacy visit to stakeholders on the need to caution their subjects, especially the motorists that the issue of safety is everybody business.

Ikpi said the command has concluded plan to role drums

Man Seeks justice over custody demanded that I want to see my

By GEORGE OGBOLU of children children and know how they EGBEOBAUWAYE Osaheni fending, since their mother does not stay in Benin City.

He told Journalists that he wrote about four letters to the welfare department for the review of the children’s custody, but proved abortive.

I can tell you that my children are not with their mother because she does not live in Benin. I have also visited the school I was told they are attending where it was disclosed that they don’t even go to school.

“I am capable, I can use the money I am paying to welfare to take care of my children. I want to bring up my children in a God fearing way”.

That is why I am appealing to the relevant authorities to intervene in this matter.

Efforts to reach the Director of Welfare Department, Mr. Amadasun for comments failed as he was said to have been transfered to an undisclosed ministry.

with a view to embark on motorise public enlightenment campaign, just as he disclosed that the command’s plan to reach out to the government at all level, Churches/ Mosques, traditional rulers organizations and youth bodies on the need to ensure that safety on the road.

According to him, “We will deploy our men to all those areas that are prone to road crashes and we want the public to partner with us, ”

stated Ikpi.

CHANGE OF NAME AIKOROJE – I, formerly called Miss Egbezieme Rita Aikoroje is now known and called MRS RITA EGBEZIEME UWAGBOE. All former documents remain valid. High Court of Justice, concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME EHIZOGIE – I, formerly known and addressed as EHIZOGIE AISOSA OSAZEE now wish to be known and addressed as UHUNMWANGHO EHIZOGIE OSAZEE. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

would not be happy with himself. And continuously he has not impacted positively on the region.

“He can say that because those who live in Aso Rock, their economy status have improved drastically; there is no doubt. But I know that about 90 percent of Nigerians who live below one dollar per day, those men and women, who have no employment in the country, do know that the economy is biting hard on them. So, those who live currently in Aso Rock can claim the economy is doing well. You and I know that if you look round the streets today, you see hunger written in the face of the people. You see that crime has increased.

Oil theft in the Niger Delta has increased”, said Ugolor.

CHANGE OF NAME IMHADOJIEMUN – I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IMHADOJIEMUN M A G D A L E N E EBEHIREMEN now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OSAWE M A G D A L E N E EBEHIREMEN. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities, Edo State Civil Service Commission and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME SHELU – I, formerly called Miss Shelu Irene now wish to be called MRS. FELIX IRENE TEMIDAYO SHELU. All former documents remain valid. Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, NYSC, other concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EKO – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Tessy Evi Eko now wish to be known and addressed as MRS TESSY EVI OHIORENUAN. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

AUCTION SALES There will be a public auction sales of accidented, unclaimed and abandoned vehicles, motorcycles and household items at the following Police Divisions, Edo State Command. SABOMGIDDA ORA DIVISION:- Mitsubushi Bus, Seven Motorcyles and other items. TEXTILE MILL ROAD DIVIDION:- M/Benz 190 Reg No. CZ693 BEN, Some M/Cyclees and household items. IKPOBA HILL DIVISION: AUDI 80 Car, Golf 3 Car, Passat Car Reg No KSF 120 AT, some motorcycles and household items. Date of sales is two weeks from this publication.

Contact.

Signed: PRINCE EHINON UDEBHULU Police Auctioneer 08073603589, 08097416581

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“The PDPs administration has lacked the human face and the milk of humane kindness flowing in its veins. So what does President Jonathan want to celebrate but the incarceration of the souls of hundreds of millions of Nigerians who are in the dungeon of pain and suffering.”

Celebrating Non Achievement HERE in Nigeria today, we have fallen in love with the absurd. There is also the problem of leadership, and there is little doubt that we have drifted off course.

If anything, what the Nigerian government has always done is to pay lip service to the issue of national development.

Right now it seems as if President Goodluck Jonathan is caught in the web of pursuing his socalled “Transformation Agenda” or playing politics with the whole issue.

This is indicated in a recent report in one of the nations leading newspapers of the purported plan by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP to stage series of rallies termed “the two million man March” across the six geo-politic at zones of the federation in order to show case the achievements of President Jonathan.

This idea came to me with bewilderment and dismay. To me this was nothing but scandalous, unbelievable in today’s Nigeria of the 21st century?

Again, this idea of a two million man march is nothing but nonsensical, even as it is ill-conceived and ill motivated.

It is surely absurd that the PDP would imagine that

staging a two million man march would redeem the image of a drowning party and its erring leaders.

The PDPs belligerent attitude to the wishes, aspirations and dreams of the Nigerian people has since betrayed it as a party of unethical values.

unemployment, pervasive insecurity of life and property.

President Jonathan’s removal of the so-called petroleum subsidy without consulting the Nigerian people come as the unkindest cut of all his belligerent attitude to

opinion and confuse the international community by staging such rallies. We recall in particular the infamous five million man march staged by the late General Sani Abacha when he had concluded plans to transmute from a military dictator to a civilian ruler”.

Jonathan

Tukur

The PDP has been largely an unprincipled party especially at the centre over the past four decade and four years.

PDP as the ruling party has made life unbearable and uncomfortable for Nigerians.

For instance, the PDP’s administration has plunged Nigeria and Nigerians into the abyss of abject poverty, huge.

suffering.

What has President Jonathan achieved that is worth showcasing but increasing corruption upon corruption, and corruption.

An editorial in the Nation Newspaper recently, succinctly captured the aberration of the PDP to

Nigerians followed by the hike in electricity tariff and all that.

The PDPs administration has lacked the human face and the milk of humane kindness flowing in its veins. So what does President Jonathan want to celebrate but the incarceration of the souls of hundreds of millions of Nigerians who are in the dungeon of pain and

stage a “two million man march thus “we find it difficult to see the rationale for such a move at a time the country is confronted with serious challenges.

We see it as a march to an inglorious past when military leaders out to perpetuate their hold on government lever and consolidate their seizure of the national treasury chose to manipulate national

Thus the illogic of the PDP’s intension to launder its rotten image at the centre and to continue to mislead ignorant Nigerians and the international communities is really sickening.

The PDP’s plan to celebrate its nonachievement is really absurd as such march is a march against Nigeria and the will of Nigerians.

Still, according to the Nation’s editorial “the Jonathan/PDP plan is a sad reminder that all is not well with the country. Around the time that all Nigerians should be mobilized to reflect on the state of the country, the presidency is being linked to a plan that is at best a carnival lacking in sincerity and further draining the resources that should be used to Prosecute repairs of infrastructures. It is difficult to reconcile with the logic informing this move at a time that murderer, kidnappers and armed robbers are striking at will in different parts of the country. Life in Nigeria today is akin to that described by Thomas Hobbes as ‘short and brutish’.

The presidency and the PDP should know that they need not blow their trumpet themselves, if they were performing, or are performing as the case may be, it is the people that would actually and virtually blow the trumpest for them.

Let the presidency know now if it didn’t know before that the removal of petroleum subsidy did not go down well with the masses.

And knowing that we are in a democracy, (whether real or imagined) the will of the people is expressed through the ballot box…

“The Jonathan/PDP plan is a sad reminder that all is not well with the country. Around the time that all Nigerians should be mobilized to reflect on the state of the country, the presidency is being linked to a plan that is at best a carnival lacking in sincerity and further draining the resources that should be used to Prosecute repairs of infrastructures.”

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T e Nation

President Jonathan And His Bootlicking Cabinet

FEW minutes after concluding the piece originally meant for this week, I dashed off to SaharaReporters’ site. The title of Sonala Olumhense’s article “An Outbreak of Political Worshippers” serves as a bait that lures me to read the item.

Olumhense’s article was acerbic criticism of event that took place at the luncheon with President Goodluck Jonathan.

Olumhense was one of the Nigerian professionals in the United States invited to lunch with Mr. Jonathan in New York.

Billed as a PR stunt to sell or resell Nigeria to Nigerians abroad, the event soon turned to exaltation of the president by “political worshippers.” Mr. Jonathan was instantly transformed into Nigeria’s savior and the apotheosis of all kingly and godly qualities.

Apparently in disbelieve, Olumhense was miffed by the superbly choreographed musical comedy of praises by some of Mr. Jonathan’s cabinet members namely Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Coordinating and Finance Minister, Olusegun Aganga Industry and trade Investment Minister, Ade Adefuye Nigeria’s

By BAYO OLUWASANMI Ambassador to the US, and two unidentified MCs. According to Olumhense, Adefuye spoke about Mr. Jonathan’s “heart and his wonderful decision-making” ability. Okonjo-Iweala “described how well the Nigerian economy is doing,” while Aganga “praised Jonathan’s wisdom, leadership and achievements.”

“One of the MCs bragged about N i g e r i a ’ s ‘achievement’ as Mr. Jonathan would speak in 4th place at the United Nations General Assembly debate… that Mr. Jonathan would ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange,” recalls Olumhense.

That President Jonathan is a weak leader as aptly stated

by Olumhense is an understatement. It’s no news therefore that the bootlicking cabinet members of Mr. Jonathan are taking full advantage of a disabled and deluded president whose leadership deficit grows everyday with his presidency.

The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. Mr. Jonathan has failed miserably to define reality.

He is caught up in his

own power, pride and arrogance that ultimately drive his administration. As a leader, Mr. Jonathan is afraid to make mistakes and failed to admit them when he did.

He has created an atmosphere within his administration where risk taking is not encouraged. He is more concerned with his popularity than any other thing which leads him to believe his own press.

The need for courageous advisers and cabinet members who could brave the presidential aura and awe and tell Mr. Jonathan the truth cannot be stressed enough. A good leader must encourage reflective backtalk which allows the leader to learn and to find out more about himself. Mr. Jonathan believes in pleasing people than in serving people.

The make-up of Mr. Jonathan’s cabinet and advisers tells us that he likes people who would deceive him and tell him lies he would like to hear. In the contrary, a good leader encourages dissent.

Mr. Jonathan needs people around him who have contrary view, who are devil’s advocates, who can tell him the difference

“It’s no news therefore that the bootlicking cabinet members of Mr. Jonathan are taking full advantage of a disabled and deluded president whose leadership deficit grows everyday with his presidency.”

between what Nigerians expected and what is really going on. Instead, Mr. Jonathan hires

they feel trapped, crushed, helpless, and choice less.

Mr. Jonathan is incapable of balancing stakeholders’ competing claims and needs of a huge nation like Nigeria.

The leader thinks of

Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain failed to heed warnings from several parties concerning the threat posed by Adolf Hitler.

Instead, Chamberlain pursued a policy of “appeasement” and c o n f i d e n t l y announced “peace in our time.” He died a year after the Nazi invasion of Poland.

the impact of every decision he makes on public opinion, on the poor, the middle class, on consumers, on labour unions, on the states, on the municipalities, and so many other groups in the society.

As a leader, one is sure to face choices that affect not only his own life, but many others. A leader must put others first many times people whom you are likely to disagree with.

A leader must choose what is best for others, not what appeals to his own taste. A leader must constantly ask himself who will benefit most from his decision, me or others?

History offers a countless examples of leaders who failed because they refused to heed warnings. Just before the outbreak of World War II, British

A good leader knows when to heed warnings and advice.

Mr. Jonathan has demonstrated over and over again that he is not receptive to advice and he is too deaf to warnings. The handling of Boko Haram terrorists, the petroleum subsidy saga, the Governor Amaechi affair, and lately the ASUU strike bear witnesses to the grotesque leadership style of Mr. Jonathan.

The president’s counselors and cabinet members have run out of arguments – but not of praises. Given the extent and extreme hypocrisy and ineptitude of J o n a t h a n ’ s administration being exposed on daily basis, the advisers and the coterie of cabinet liars have less and less to say. Guilty consciences want to flee justice, but the

Jonathan

reflectors and clones who will mirror his opinions and desires.

The Okonjo-Iwealas, the Agangas, the Adefuyes and countless others in Mr. J o n a t h a n ’ s administration are all too aware of what they perceive as dangers in speaking up. The duty of Mr. Jonathan is to look into the eyes of his staff and tell them point blank: “I want you to tell me exactly what’s wrong with me and my administration, even if it means losing your job.”

As a leader, Mr. Jonathan does not possess optimism, faith, and hope.

Optimism and hope provide choices.

But how can the president give what he doesn’t have? The opposite of hope is despair. Nigerians are in despair. And when the people are despair

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h

T e Nation

Who Is Responsible For Nigeria’s Retardation?

HOW convenient it is for people to denounce an unattractive pass. It is so convenient that even those who have hands in making a situation hard-featured, can go ahead in condemning the parlous outcome of their indiscretion. An ugly state of affairs becomes a Mary Magdalene who many would want to stone notwithstanding that they have had quickies with her at some nights!

I’ve asked myself why some people would be this hypocritical and a major reason that comes handy is that they may be trying to exculpate themselves from whatever mess their innermost self know they are responsible for. Their mischievous mind must have told them that merely speaking against something torpid absolves the speaker of any complicity whatsoever. And so they shouted on top of their voices!

They condemned the turn of events in our country, hoping that, that’s enough to blindfold we the populace from recognising them as being among those turning events from its straight course. This freedom of self expression, of thinking that one isn’t expected to use his or her right to the extent that it abuses that of another.

Here is a case of people exercising their freedom of expression and in the process, insulting our sensibilities.

Let’s take a trip to the red chamber so we can better appreciate today’s subject; in the course of debating a motion sponsored by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egbe which was titled: “Congratulations to Nigerians on her 53rd Independence Anniversary”, Senator Ita Enang and about ten others took turns to regret that Nigeria was performing far below expectation, especially when compared with its contemporaries like Malaysia and Brazil. They insisted that the country was in a more pitiable state than its peers.

According to Senator Ita Enang of Akwa Ibom Northwest: a number of factories that existed at independence have ceased to function while those functioning had relocated to neighbouring

countries following the absence of conducive environment for operations.

Speaking on the swell in unemployment, the Senator recalled that when the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recently advertised vacancies for employment, as much as six million Nigerians applied for the few vacant positions.

Hence this poser: Isn’t it within you and your colleagues’ powers to make

By UGOCHUKWU UGWUANYE

late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, etc, who started the Nigerian project on a very solid note, anchored on maximizing the greatest goods for the greatest number of people, most of the modern day leaders after the independence era, have been running aground the Nigerian nation, being parochial leaders.”

Did I just hear: ‘maximizing

• Senator Ndoma Egba the enabling laws for factories which generate employment to exist? For if the right laws are passed, that will be a veritable way of creating the conducive environment for factories to function.

One online commentator who gave his name as Okolie Emeka, in responding to Senator Enang’s claim of six million applicants going after few NIS job openings, said: “If you slash your monthly home take by 50%, and the Lower House does the same, in a year, that will be enough to sponsor more than 2000 graduates to set-up small businesses who will in turn employ others.” I can’t agree any less because 50 per cent off our federal legislators pray that is channelled to productive sectors of our economy would create enough jobs, yet wouldn’t make our lawmakers paupers.

In his contribution to the debate, Senator Smart Adeyemi of Kogi West said: “Unlike patriotic leaders like the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Nnamdi Azikwe, the

the greatest goods for the greatest number of people’?

If only this principle had guided those of them at the Senate, I’m sure things wouldn’t have been this terrible. If they had this in mind, they wouldn’t have allowed their budget take up to 25 per cent of our national budget (apologies to Lamido Sanusi).

Senators Mohammadu Magoro, Eyinaya Abaribe, Kabiru Gaya, were all of the opinion that at 53, problems such as teeming youth unemployment, poor electricity supply, incessant ethno-religious crises etc, should not be heard of in the country. But then I ask: what have they done to make these problems not to be heard in Nigeria? This is as Senator Ademola Adeseun, in his contribution to the same debate, noted that the first republic is rated the best era in the nation’s history because that was more or less driven by the parliament.

The rock band, Coldplay in one of their famous hits titled Clocks, asked a vital question: “I’m I part of the

cure or I’m I part of the disease?” It’s obvious that members of the Nigeria Senate didn’t ask themselves this soulsearching question before electing to speak about the failure of leadership in the course of their last Thursday’s plenary.

For if they did, they would have found themselves as part of the disease hence sensed the need for them to refrain honourably from acting holier when they aren’t even holy to start with.

However, it is possible they know they fall on left side of the question thus had to rely on orchestrating those eloquent speeches to conceal their collusion.

Yet, it calls for wonder that they would be so bothered about our knowledge of their avarice and corrupt tendencies amidst glaring ineptitude to the extent of trying to down-play them.

This is because they have always swaggered with a whiff of arrogance and impunity; the one that suggests: now you know, what can you do? I suspect that they are either propelled by their conscience which must have continued to prick them, or they see us all as fools who know not the exact spot leaking in the roof that have permitted drops of rain to drench us.

But, hello! Your speaking out against the deplorable state of things in the country does not and cannot make up for the role you all played in making our country a hell hole. If you like, make the most flag-waving of speeches, that wouldn’t compensate for the fact that an American Senator earns 174,000 US dollars a year, his UK counterparts earn about 64,000 US dollars while in Nigeria, you lawmakers pocket about 1.7 million US dollars (240 million Naira) amidst the biting penury!

Little wonder that on the same day they were on the floor exonerating themselves from the deplorable state of our country under the guise of commemorating Nigeria’s 53rd anniversary, protesters marched from Eagle Square to the National Assembly building to demand transparency and accountability from them.

That demand just like other demands for accountability directed at them is on point considering that although our senators are the most paid in the world, they passed just 28 Bills in two and half years with majority of the Bills coming from the Executive arm. Also, out of the 109 Senators there is, 34 of them are yet to sponsored a Bill for the past two years. Tell me, does people with such an abysmal record amidst

they didn’t help these countries get developed at the expense of Nigeria?

They must have done this by either establishing firms in those countries, travelling there for holidays and treatment of ailments or by sending their children there for educational trainings.

With them doing any or all of these, there isn’t a way Nigeria’s independencemates wouldn’t get ahead of Nigeria in the bid to get

• Senator Ita Enang tremendous perks have any moral right to speak against what have become of our country?

Now, you can understand why many of them spoke with their tongue in check, for they surely know that they are parts of the disease. We couldn’t see them exude much mania in the said debate as they do whenever new PDP and old PDP is the bone of contention. Imagine how pleasant it would have been if those of them who considered themselves as impeccable seized the moment to point accusing fingers at the bad eggs amongst them, telling them to their faces and in front of the cameras that they are behind our backwardness as a nation.

Perhaps, we couldn’t see such an action-thriller because there is none impeccable amongst them.

Since many of them complained that countries which in1960 or afterwards attained independence are leaving Nigeria behind in the race for development, how many of them can vouch that

developed.

Taking it further, it is instructive to tell the senators that the slow pace of development in the country can’t be far removed from their luck-lustre attitude towards oversight. The oversight responsibility empowers lawmakers to ensure that ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government are up and about in delivering the goods, but what do we hear?

Cases of lawmakers making financial demands on the very MDAs they are supposed to supervise!

Yours sincerely considered what eventually became the caption of this piece as adopt because many who watched the senators contribute to that motion commemorating Nigeria 53rd independence anniversary would have concluded that those responsible for our underdevelopment are in Timbuktu. As such, it is expedient to jolt such people back to reality by asking again: can we truly acquit our senators of any complicity in Nigeria’s backwardness?

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nThe Ministry Of Housing And Urban

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Development To Revolutionalize Housing HONOURABLE Francis Evbuomwan is the Honourable Commissioner for Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. An Architect by training, Hon. Evbuomwan served earlier in the Ministry of Works before being appointed as commissioner in this second tenure of ‘Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Highly knowledgeable in building and architectural matters, Hon. Francis Evbuomwan has made tremendous positive impact as an Architect in the private sector before he was appointed as Hon. Commissioner for Ministry of Works, and presently Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Calm, hardworking and proactive, weekend observer interacted with him recently.

Excerpt The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has been newly created What are your duties as its Hon Commissioner?

This ministry has been set up to assist government to develop the Housing Subsector of’ the economy of this state. We are preent1y working on several initiatives.

Recently in conjunction with the public private partnership (P.P.P.), we have advertised in the news papers requesting, we have advertised in the news papers requesting interested investors who want to partner with Edo State Government with a view to developing housing in Edo State to indicate their interest.

Many organizations have been showing interest. Zenith bank,

Aso Resort Saving, Federal Mortgage Bank, among others have written to us to indicate interest.. We will ensure that equity and fairplay prevail in the utilization of the resources that will be provided. Government will provide land.

Government is also making arrangement to build a new town. This proposed new town will have a residential, commercial and institutional zones. It will contain several houses and will be far bigger than . the usual housing estates. A vast land has been provided for this laudable vision.

What impact will the Urban development aspect of this ministry make in the lives of Edo People?

A lot of work has been done to renew Edo State.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole

has created the urban sphere of this ministry to renew and beautify Edo State as well as to manage urban development. Let me also mention that the issue of building approval is now the duty of this ministry.

Only registered

We invited the professional bodies in the building industry and representatives from the ministry of environment and the ministry of Justice with a view to drafting a law that will govern and sanitise the development of urban

to open a Geographical information system unit. The world bank is assisting this ministry to set it up. This unit will give us accurate information on the number of streets, houses, schools etc.

This will assist the state government in terms of

• Hon. Francis Evbuomwan, Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development

professionals quantity surveyors, Architects, Town Planners and Builders are allowed to practice in the building industry and we are working out modalities geared towards ensuring that the process is transparent,

centres. The body has given us a law and within a short period from now by God’s grace, this law will come into effect sanitise urban development.

Government has approved our request

“Today, we are proud to be Edo People because of our newly built modern schools and roads. Benin City is now looking beautiful. What is more, transportation has received tremendous boost Government is determined at providing housing for do People.”

planning. We want to do our best to prevent people from building on important places such as the moats and Ogba river. This system will assist us in identi1ing these endangered areas to enable us address the problem.

The world bank is assisting us in the area of training and building capacity.

What is your view on Governor Oshiomhole’s administration?

G o v e r n o r Oshiomhóle is an enigma, a great leader

and committed democrat, Kudos must be given to Governor Adams Oshiomhole for creating this ministry and making me its commissioner, I thank him profusely from the bottom of my heart.

This administration is people focused and this explains why the administration has recorded these greats achievements in all the facts of our society.

Today, we are proud to be Edo People because of our newly built modern schools and roads. Benin City is now looking beautiful. What is more, transportation has received tremendous boost Government is determined at providing housing for do People.

How would you describe your experience as the Hon. Commissioner for Works in the first tenure of this administration?

The experience was challenging and great.

As a professional, I had to do my best, more so when my boss the executive Governor of the State, Governor Oshiomhole, a workaholic, inspired me tremendously. I had to give my best in line with the Governor’s vision of transformation and re-building of Edo State.

What message do you have for Edo People?

My message to Edo People is that they should continue to have faith in this administration. Let us continues to pray for governor Oshiomhole and support his administration.

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n Nigeria Can Rise Above its Problems

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and Challenges

He exudes all the characteristics of a true man of God. He is humble, simple, patience and accommodating. He is a man of God who believes that the ordinances, rules and precepts as laid down in the bible and nothing more should be the guiding Principles of anyone in true search of God. His name is Rt. Rev. Dr. Osama Usuanlele, prelate of United Baptist Mission. Weekend observer in our vision to serve you with a robust package for your weekend went to town to interact with Rt. Rev. Dr. Osama Usuanlele in his office on contemporary issues of interest. He demonstrated to our team or reporters that he is an interviewer’s delight any day.

Excerpt:Sir, what are your comments on messages delivered by some pastors which are centered on materialism rather than the spiritual?

Many Christians are doing what they are supposed to do in line with the requirements of the Bible. They are adhering to the teachings of our lord Jesus Christ. I must however add that we have pretenders in the church.

These are the people that are giving the church a bad name. God wants his children, the Christians to prosper or succeed in life in their endeavours because he has promised to bless the labour of their hands and because he is a God of integrity and credibility, he has always manifested his good works in the lives of true Christians.

What is your view on messages in many of the churches which are centred on prosperity and not on spiritual wellbeing?

It is good for Christians to be comfortable and live well. In our church we do not ask our members to go out of their way to make money at all cost. People easily forget that we have other religious bodies in the country but whenever things go wrong, accusing fingers are always pointed at the church. We as leaders of the churchy always advise our leaders on issues bothering on our

society. They listen to us but sometimes, they don’t accept our advice. We also commit these men of God into the hands of God. We do this because if anybody is in a position of authority, it is God that has ordained it for some reasons.

Revered Sir, what is the difference between the Baptist convention and United Baptist Mission?

We were once together under the America Baptist church. Along the line, we had doctrinal differences and we left to form the United Baptist Mission, The Baptist Convention invites me to their church to minister and I always honour their invitation and we also invite them to our events and they always honour our invitation, We relate cordially. The body of Christ is one and I believe that the event that brought about the separation was designed to spread the word of God. There has been separation, in many churches and this has led to the spreading of the word of God. For instance, Pastor Ayo Oritshejafor and Revered Omobude left church of God mission founded by the late Bishop Benson Idahosa. Till this day these three churches still relate well.

Nigeria is 53 years yet, we have nothing to show for it except poverty and hardship. What is your

opinion on the state of Nigeria at 53 years?

There is always solution to every problem because the almighty God is on His throne. The problems and challenges that we are presently contending with are traceable to the failure of government. Corruption has been entrenched in

- Rt. Rev. Usuanlele

can grow like this. Efforts are being concentrated on oil without a corresponding attention on other sectors of the economy. All hope is not lost. We can still wake up and join hands together to make this county great.

We only need to be true to our selves, shun corruption and make

should know that the end has come, however the Bible says that nobody knows when He will come, Jesus Christ is a compassionate God and father. He wants everyone to repent and come to him.

Inspite of numerous biblical principles and promises, why are most (Christians still poor?

• Rt. Rev. Dr. Osama Usuanlele, Prelate, United Baptist Mission

our society and this can ruin a nation. The truth is that people are supposed to seek for power in the interest of the people and not for selfish reasons. If the rich people in our society build industries, unemployment will be at a minimal level. We import everything and no country

sacrifices.

Sir, are these problems presently be-devilling the world not the signs of the end time?

I would not say so.

Although the bible says that if we see these signs like earthquakes, man’s inhumanity to man and wickedness, then we

In the book of Psalm chapter 24 vs 1, Bible says that, the earth is of the lord and its ftl1ness thereof.

The almighty God owns the earth and the wealth in it. When God said that we I-us children should possess our possession, it means that we should work and then God that

gives increase will bless the labour of our hand. It is not about just praying and fasting and then you expect one miracle to happen. God has enjoined all of us to work before his blessings will come upon us Gold is good but you have to dig very deep to get it. We are teaching our members the importance of packaging and repackaging, that is we are encouraging them to be creative and to develop new skills. Those who not want to go to school and do not want to develop themselves will end up as conductors instead of Doctors. When GSM newly arrived, it was big in size but some persons did creative thinking and discovered that GSM could be designed and made smaller for comfort and convenience. The result is what we have today in the form of small GSM handset and those who were responsible for this innovation have been smiling to the banks.

What message do you have for Christians and non Christian?

Those who are yet to know our lord Jesus Christ should repent from their sinful lives and come to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and light. Christians should strive to be close to God and do His will at all times.

As a nation, we have several challenges namely insecurity, economic hardship and other problems. As Christians, we must endeavor rise to the occasion through prayers and hardwork.

Our leaders only think of how to make money for themselves. We need to pray in other for our case not to be like that.

“Corruption has been entrenched in our society and this can ruin a nation. The truth is that people are supposed to seek for power in the interest of the people and not for selfish reasons. If the rich people in our society build industries, unemployment will be at a minimal level.”

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r A Life Not Yet Lived

T ibute IT was the thriller maestro James Hadley Chase who wrote the novel, A Coffin from Hong Kong, in which Nelson Ryan a private investigator arrives his office to discover a dead Chinese girl, obviously murdered.

With this development, Ryan is pitched right into the teeming and sordid nightlife of Hong Kong to solve the mystery of a coffin which arrives at the US from Hong Kong.

In the same vain “o death, where is thy sting” these are also immortal words of a renowned poet. In a complete state of awe and Sobriety, the poet lamented the mystery behind death.

In a situation of despair, he could not come to the reality of man’s inability to lay the reality of death bare before humanity and so he asked “Death where is thy sting”?

What has made you so powerful and dreadful that humanity trembles at the mention of your name? Why have you continued to remain a war that mankind has not been able to overcome? Why is it that no man can stop you when you are ready to strike? These are some of the numerous questions for which answers have not been provided.

You come into people’s life at their happiest time and turn their joy into sorrow. You rub people of their dear loved ones and leave a permanent vacuum in them while you make millions of children orphans, women windows, men widowers and many homeless.

As mortals, there are certain puzzles of life that defy human understanding and only God has answers to these controversial issues.

Death is a topic that makes many folks uncomfortable. It brings us face to face with our own mortality. It causes us to stop and think about our views on what happens after death. It causes us to consider if we do in fact believe that when life leaves the body that is all.

But however, death remains death and it will come when the time has come. The demise of loved ones often throws the living into a state of agony, grief, pain and despair.

From the day we come into the world kicking and

screaming or quiet and unassuming, we are one step closer to the end. Some try to defy the end by having cryogenics performed and who knows what else. But the fact of the matter is when the bell tolls, it may be for us. It will inevitably be for us.

But when an individual dies, the African belief is that such person has gone to the great beyond and has joined his ancestors.

While some great minds have argued that the longevity of human life is inconsequential and that the impact is what matters while others have said that the joy in existence lies in longevity of human life.

Personally, I hold the view that while an individual lives, he or she should make the best use of the opportunity of living because the joy of life lies in existence.

Death is said to be inevitable; that it will come when it will come but the question is when and how it will come is what we don’t really know. This is the reason we get shocked, tremble and devastated whenever death comes, calling. Death is especially tragic because of its finality.

It is also never expected and that is why everyone receives the news of the death of any acquaintance with a deep shock, even when the person is old.

Death comes; it comes to each family each person and is a part of the cycle. We expect it when our family members are old and infirm and have lived many decades. We expect it when our loved one has been ill for a long time.

It is expectedly troubling when a loved one who is in the prime of his/her life dies suddenly without any warning. Sometimes one is talking with us, joking with us and then without explanation they are gone.

This shock is therefore often more painful when death visits a younger person in the prime of his/ her life. Such is the shattering shock with which I have when receiving the news of the death of my close relatives and friends for the past few years.

In 2008 I lost one of my most caring and lovely sister in a ghastly auto clash along Lagos/Benin road on her way from Lagos. Late FLt

By LAMAI CASSIUS

Lt Grace Clementina Aigboayiemieh Omoerah age 40. She was the First Female Air Force Officer from Fugar and had a very promising life. Clementina

snatched our promising young Air force officer from the family when she was needed most. The death of Flt. Lt. Clementina Omoerah has left perpetual

• Late Felicia Kadiri

died as she was coming to resume as the new Matron at the 81 Nigerian Air force military base Benin City after receiving some Basic Military Training at the Nigerian Defense Academy Kaduna (BMTC 1/91) in 1991, commissioned Flying Officer into the Nigeria Air force as a member of DRC 12.

In 2005 she was promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant and in July, 2007 she was also nominated to attend junior course at the Armed Forces command and Staff College Jaji where she was awarded PJSC. Her death was so painful as she has just finished her junior officers course waiting for her promotion to Squadron leader, it was so traumatic as she died the third day of her return from America where she had visited her suitor in preparation to their wedding which was just a month away before her untimely death and she left without saying good bye.

This unseen wicked death

pains in our lives.

As if that was not enough for me to bear, death decided to raise its ugly head again on December 2nd, 2010 when one of my professional colleagues in the office late Emmanuel Okenyi who everybody regarded as Mr. Gentle died mysteriously along with his brother on his supposed 43rd birthday.

Late Emma as he was popularly called was the deputy Sunday Editor in the Nigerian Observer, a forthright, humble, persuasive, easily accessible, diligent to his duties and a fine young gentleman but death came to him swift and sure when the bus he boarded nosedived into a burning petroleum tanker along Lagos Badagry Expressway in Lagos where he intended to get a vehicle to Benin apparently to celebrate his birthday with his colleagues in the office as he was born on December 2nd. 1967 The mystery of Emma’s

death was that he died on the day of his birthday along with his brother. A man who would not even hurt a fly, you never will hear his voice raised for any reason, have gone and gone forever.

When I described his nature some may think that I have enlarged him beyond reality after his death, such is not the case. He had a gentle spirit. A gentle soul who loved passionately and gave unselfishly of his time and himself (and in monetary ways when he was able). He would go out of his way to help in any way he could…..even if it meant putting himself out for our needs. Emma was one of the few ones from the office who personally sent a gift to me from Lagos with an apology letter that he could not attend the occasion.

He was a one-in-a-million kind of a young man….and he will be missed every minute of every day of our lives.

It is said that whatever that happened to us we should give God thanks and praises, but why should He allow those mysterious deaths to happen?

Death that seized not to exist struck again to my very good friend a brother from different parents and a soul mate late Lucky Osi Agunu who slept but never to wake.

Late Lucky Osi Agunu died on the 12th, February, 2013 at the age of 37 years leaving his wife and a child behind without saying a word of good bye.

This is where I am right now. And while I have faced the death of loved ones before, the death that I am grappling with now has caused not only me but all of those who loved this young lady late Felicia Kadiri to struggle to come to terms with this loss and to begin the grief process especially the staff of Edo State House of Assembly where she was a staff.

What else will I say about this girl who was just a month away to her wedding? Ever smiling and lovely girl loved by all who came her way always calling “bros, very soon” was snatched away from us on the 16th March, 2013 by this wicked death. The news of her sudden death immediately took my mind back to when we met to discuss about the wedding

plans not knowing that she will not live to see the day come to pass.

Today my heart goes out to my respected lawmaker, Hon Paul Ohonbamu who the late Felicia worked directly with in the Edo State House of Assembly and was personally present with his wife at the burial in Fugar.

My heart also goes out to her fiancé Richard who they were already waiting for the solemnization of their matrimony before death separated them. I also condoled with the family of Kadiri for the irreplaceable loss of their dear daughter at the very prime of her life.

I will not also forget to condole the entire staff and students of Auchi Polytechnic over the death of my very good friend, late Mr. Nasiru Ikhazuagbe, who this same wicked death snatched away from us on April 24th 2013 at the age of 42.

Mr. Ikhazuagbe AKA “don’t have problem with me” who was one of the outstanding lecturer in Mass communication department in Auchi Polytechnic. He died when he was needed most.

I have kept mute over all deaths including members of my own family through various circumstances but singled out these people.

Many may want to know why their deaths touched the nerves of my life so I decided to single them out.

I considered the circumstances surrounding their death be beyond human comprehension.

Death has made war upon our houses and great households are no more, only the broken fence stands.

However, it is said good men must die, but death cannot kill their names. This was one of Bob Marley’s songs when you live for yourself you live in vein but when you live for others you die to live again. Though late Clementina Omoerah, Emma Okenyi, Lucky Agunu, Felicia Kadiri and Nasiru Ikazuagbe may have died at their prime age and when they were needed most, but their names will continue to remain in our lips forever and I pray Almighty God to grant their souls eternal rest till we see again to part no more.

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

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I sues Nigeria: A Country Of Surprises MY heart bleeds as I write; I can’t help but ask how did we get into the sorry state? How did we sink this low? Where and how did we lose it as a people and as a nation?

Nigeria is rapidly becoming a theatre of shame, not a single day goes by without news of one sorrowful event or the other taking place in Nigeria, the obnoxious and awkward does not rain, it pours, nothing is news in Nigeria anymore. Nigerians have sadly developed a thick skin for bad news. Nothing shock Nigerians anymore as we are used to expecting sad news on a daily bases.

In the past few months, Nigeria has witnessed enough absurdities or sad events that could have probably crumbled some other countries. In the last few months Nigeria news headlines include stories of multiple buildings collapsing in a day, in a country where there was no natural disaster yet we are living in fear, fear of the unknown.

The painful death of 42 and 50 innocent persons in a school in Yobe State, the children/students whose crime were seeking for knowledge and the killing of policemen whose offence is to protect lives and property of Nigeria citizenry. The scandalous score line in two football matches, (67-0 and 79-0) which is reminding or suggestive of the Nigerian example of democracy, where 16 is greater than 19 in the case of Nigeria Governor ’s Forum and where 5 is greater than 27 to impeach a speaker. Add to these, the River State House of Assemble mayhem, the news of a pastor raping two eleven years-old girls and senate’s indirect approval

of marriage of underage girls. If happenings in Nigeria in recent times are indicative of the future, then we are afraid we are in big trouble with our leaders both spiritual and temporal as their only purpose it would seem is to ruin the country. How else does one explain the sighting of lawmakers playing and associating with miscreants? How does one explain the rape of children by pastor? How does one explain the circuitous endorsement of marriage to minor by people who should be making laws against such condemnable practice?

Nobody seems to be talking about how to fight corruption in the country any longer as it is regarded as part of our daily lives.

We should try then to see how we can inculcate it into our national anthem to be singing in our primary school levels where we learn how to sing national anthem.

Nobody is in doubt that cultism and rape activities are very prevalent in Nigeria and constitute a real menace in the society.

But it becomes particularly worrisome when leaders both spiritual and temporal indulge and actively promotes the very evil they are supposed to fight against.

John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton a philosopher and the first Baron Acton of Aldenham must have had Rivers State in mind when he stated that, “the most certain test by which we judge whether a country is really free is the amount of security enjoyed by minorities”. Using the above statement, the developments of show of shamein Rivers State in particular and Nigeria in general shows that Nigeria

By LAMAI CASSIUS

is truly not free.

The state of anarchy, oppression, victimization and acrimony is indeed here with us in the country.

This is just a dress rehearsal for 2015 general elections. The royal rumble continues with personal ambition superceding the will of the people. The outcome of setting a dry

themselves and the chamber was invaded by political thugs and cultists.

It is little wonder therefore that politician winning power is now depended on how powerful their cultist/ thugs are It is evidently clear that Nigeria politicians are so addicted or involved in thuggery/cultism as it was

thugs and by the thugs?

Watching the clips, you apparently discovered that some security operatives were so focused on making their individual paymaster happy that they simply forgot their duties and joined in the fight. In fact, by now those policemen who were involved in the show of shame wrestlemania fight ought to have been

• President Goodluck Jonathan bush on fire can never be predicted.

It has become so embarrassing that it is only in Nigeria that 5 is greater than 27 thereby having sole constitutional power to impeach speaker of House of Assembly against the will of other 27 members in the house for the interest of someone’s personal ambition comes 2015 general elections.

Going back to the River State house of Assembly show of shame as it was viewed by all, the so called honourable members chose to disgrace

witnessed at the floor of Rivers State House of Assembly mayhem and because of their level of involvement, they also find it so difficult to fight against it unlike corruption which has eaten deep into our fabric.

It is not surprising therefore that one finds it very difficult to call them leaders/honourables we have in this country. Is this the kind of democracy Nigerians deserve? Rivers state legislators seem to have contrived their own version of democracy: democracy of thugs for

“Nigeria is rapidly becoming a theatre of shame, not a single day goes by without news of one sorrowful event or the other taking place in Nigeria, the obnoxious and awkward does not rain, it pours, nothing is news in Nigeria anymore.

Nigerians have sadly developed a thick skin for bad news.

Nothing shock Nigerians anymore as we are used to expecting sad news on a daily bases.”

dismissed from the force by now but this is Nigeria, a country where anything goes. The only thing that matters is the power behind you and the higher the power behind you the greater the level of obduracy.

It is only in Nigeria lawmakers are known to be carrying battle axe to the hallow chambers as it was witnessed at the Edo State House of Assembly in the past. It was in Nigeria a man was openly protested against his nomination over series of allegations yet, he was still cleared for a commissioner. Do you know it is only in this country a senator/governor is exonerated of corruption charges by our judiciary while a poor boy will be jailed for stealing handset of N5,000. What would you say about a terrorist who has sued the federal government for killing innocent people?

Nigerians has become so

used to sad news that nothing shocks us anymore. According to the late cerebral journalist, Dele Giwa who was also killed through the first ever parcel bomb in the country said “Nigerians have been shocked to the level of unshockability”. It is in this country that a serving minister was murdered right in his bedroom when the security men attached to him went to eat at the same time and the irony of it is that, the alleged killer was arrested and won an election even right there inside the prison, what a surprise?

Many a time, Nigeria is regarded as a developing nation meanwhile our politicians are over developed financially. It beats one’s imagination as to why on earth our elected politicians are trying to change the Nigerian constitution to enable them to be collecting gratuity and pension whereas 99% of them have worked and retired as army generals and in public places where they had already received their gratuity and also receiving their monthly pensions. It is only Nigeria politicians that are always trying to change Nigeria constitution over night over an issue that will benefit/ favour them forgetting the negative impact on the masses.

The question now is at what level would they be entitled to gratuity if approved? Is it going to cut across the entire political office holder in the country down to the local government level?

Our Nigeria universities students are still at home for the past three months roaming the streets as a result of ASUU strike, the National Assembly seem not to be interested over the issue because their children are in different universities abroad while the children of the poor are here waiting for when ASUU strike will be called off.

Our political leaders seem not to be interested about the welfare and security of the Nigeria citizenry as they are busy planning on how to win 2015 general elections that is still more than a year from now.

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

I sues National Dialogue: Still A Must THE Senate President, David Bonaventure Mark, is a man known for not shying away from facts of the matter, when he is convinced and, it seems on this issue of the National Conference, he is now convinced and supports the idea for the convocation of Nigerian ethnic, professional, religious groups, to come together and decide on how they can continue to stay in Nigeria for peace, unity, justice and development to reign. This has been the call by many progressives in the social, economic and political rights movement since the 1990s.

That, there is everything wrong with Nigeria’s social/ political development and, it is better and secure for us to meet at a round square or triangular table to talk and agree on the way Nigeria and Nigerians live together rather, than allowing our children to shoot the guns tomorrow.

Since the unfaithful fusing of Nigeria in 1914, there has been the question of identity, citizenship rights in Nigeria.

The citizenship question has been abused and debased often by our leaders and their subjects. It is still happening till date, the former Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Chimaraoke Nnamani, during his tenure as the governor, sacked all non-indigenes of the state from the state’s civil service with no justifiable reason other than that they were not from Enugu State.

This ugly incident was repeated in Abia State by Gov. Theodore Orji, who sacked non-indigene civil servants. And, most recently it was heightened by Gov. Raji Fashola, who deported fellow Nigerians from Lagos to Onitsha, Anambra State, where he dumped them. In all these, no reactions from the Federal Government warning the states to desist from such unconstitutional and provocative acts or face sanctions.

These acts by government powers in the states has further made me to be convinced that indeed Nigeria need to go to the negotiation table, we really are supposed to talk, dialogue on how we can continue to co-exist as one people, one nation. We cannot continue to deceive ourselves and plunge our children into future crisis. We are obviously very far from the attainment of unity. There is every sense in convoking a national conference now to enable us talk on how we can save this country from anarchy and doom. Few years back, the Niger Delta area was a no go place due

to the insurgent of the boys from that enclave fighting against the injustice meted out to them by the Federal Government. It took the intervention of our late President, Umar Yar’Adua, to engage the boys to lay down their arms.

Now, some religious fanatics in some parts of the north, in the name of Boko Haram, have made peace and development extremely difficult in that part of the region. Although, they lay claim to religion but, many political analysts have said that there demands, operational targets are more of politics. We do not know where the pendulum will swing next but, these are all signs that the country is troubled. These were the signs we experienced before Nigeria went into the 30 month civil war, 1967 – 1970.

Many countries in the world has gone through such conferences to settle their differences for the sake of unity, socio-economic development of there country.

We must do same here to enable us secure a nation built on justice and fairness to all. As long as we deny ourselves of the basic foundation of democracy, unity will continue to elude us thereby, denying us of security, political development and socio-economic growth.

There are no strong pillars holding this building – Nigeria, this is the simple truth. A situation where one group sees itself as superior to others is not healthy for the development of this country.

There is no justice in Nigeria, the real reason we are going through social, economic and political quagmire. We must seek for the strong pillars that would continue to hold this structure and, the only way for me, is to have a national dialogue. Those, against the national conference, do not in my mind understand Nigeria’s political history Problems, and, I urge them to study our political development beginning from 1914 or possibly earlier than this. It is only people without the interest of their country at heart that would not look for solution of their problems peacefully. Jaw-jaw is an option left for Nigeria’s continued co-existence.

The conference is a call to a new era of relentless pursuit of reconstruction and national rebirth. It is for us as a country to live in harmony, mutual respect for all. President Goodluck Jonathan should be encouraged to convene the conference as it is the only avenue for us to strengthen

counter coups, annulment of a free and fair election, political unrests, ethnic, political and religious killings, communal clashes, insurgents here and there,

that is not fully in practice.

Federalism is practiced by many countries of the world such as, America, Canada, India, Australia, etc. It is a political system adopted to look into the diversities of these societies and, finding and maintaining unity within

deportation of citizens, etc. In all these, development has suffered so much, while countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, that we started with have crossed from third world to first, we are still lagging miles behind. The government must begin to toe this line of argument, assembling Nigerians together for discussions on the settlement of its myriad of problems.

The fear, usually, expressed by members of the National Assembly are unnecessary.

The national conference is meant to address some very naked injustices, imbalances and grievances in the country which the National Assembly may never deliberate on. No one or group can remove them from their elected positions to perform their constitutional duties on behalf of the people who elected them into power. But, they must also accept that, truly there are very germane areas of national discourse they just have to allow the people deliberate on which are denying us of our peaceful coexistence.

We have a federal system

the country even in diversity.

But, Nigeria’s case is far from such. Many political analysts have posited that when Nigeria practices true federalism then, peace and unity, justice and development shall be attained. If we have chosen a federal system of government, then we must practice it to the letter. The system is working perfectly in other countries, galvanizing the peoples for greater achievements.

True federalism encourages every state or region, as it was then known to experience massive infrastructural facelift, enviable economic policies.

The system gives hope, sense of duty and belonging to all citizens of the country.

The military incursion into politics in our case destroyed our political and economic progress, we must not continue to lament but, seek ways forward.

It is on record that Nigeria’s Democracy is the most expensive and wasteful in the world. When in other climes, there democracy allows meaningful development, ours has brought us woes.

By UZODINMA NWAOGBE Nigeria and make it play its deserving role in Africa and the rest of the world. This conference if held in good faith will produce a new kind of leaders with a sound sense

President Jonathan of focus to direct the way forward, avoiding back passing to addressing real national issues. However, if the right structures, leaders for the conference are not in place for the conference then, it will become a regrettable conference after all.

It is on this note that the President must not agree to approve any financial support for the conference to hold.

The ethnic nationalities, religious and other groups that would be assembled for the conference are financially buoyant to sponsor their members. This is also a way to remove any financial gains at the conference, seek seriousness of purpose at the talk and reduce government undue interference or influence on members of the conference.

Nigeria has just marked its 53rd independent anniversary, yet, it is not uhuru. The road to where we are has been unsteady, rough, and painful. There were killings of thousands of non-indigenes in the north in 1960s, a civil war followed immediately, that again took lives of millions, coups and

This, no doubt calls for quick intervention from both genuine followers and leaders. When there is trouble in the land, people gather to talk about it, find solution to averting a repetition of such, agreeing to say Never Again.

Ours should not be different, Nigeria cannot continue in this form and we expect it to remain unbreakable. There are cracks of disunity everywhere, lack of faith and trust amongst citizens, and, the question on many lips is, are we truly one people, one nation?

President Goodluck Jonathan should be courageous to convoke a national conference; it is a duty he owes Nigerians now.

It is a conference that would encourage people to gather together to speak on ways Nigeria can remain an indivisible entity for eternity.

Achieving this and many other would have given him an enviable record above all his predecessors. History will record him as a man who heard the cries of his people, saw the anger in their faces, brought them together to diagnose the ailment and seek a better way out of the pain. Today, we cannot talk about peace in the Niger Delta and not give huge credit to former President Yar’Adua, because he showed understanding, invited the militants for talks, agreed on terms and gave abiding faith to such. President Jonathan must also support Nigerians to talk on how we can retain Nigeria for the good of all irrespective of ones religious, political, ethnic leaning.

President Jonathan must realize that he became a president in 2010, not because he showed interest, campaigned and won but, because his boss died on duty. He should also not forget that for him to be recognized as acting President while his boss was seriously ill was an uphill task, and now, for him to freely vie for second term has become an issue even when the constitution qualifies him. The question then, that should be at the back of his mind if you ask me is, what is the hope of another Niger Delta becoming the President of Nigeria? It is then right and just for him to look at all these and decide that we must all talk to protect Nigeria and its peoples inalienable right to truly exist as Nigerians.

The decisions reached at the conference would be passed to the people for a referendum. It is all in line of sustaining a country where every man, woman play a role in building Nigeria. Nigeria must be built in agreement and understanding with the people.

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

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I sues

Peculiar Conference And Peculiar Expectations

LIKE a soldier that has just returned from the war front, I was engaged in the pasttime of admiring what looked like a ‘war trophy’ that is colorfully made 1,148 page book I recently bought in Enugu during my recent trip to the South East for some speaking engagements at the behest of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

It was therefore in that convivial atmosphere that I glanced through it and read what Marcus T. Cicero once said that; “I shall always consider the best guesser the best prophet”.

Ironically, this pleasant discovery of a wise saying was made by me approximately twenty four hours after the 2013 Independence Day national broadcast by President Goodluck Jonathan in which among other things he promised to convoke a national conference.

Putting President Jonathan political promise to organize a national conference side by side with what I have just discovered from the book titled “World famous quotations”, compiled by R. N. Munshi, in which I encountered the above mentioned quotation

by Marcus T. Cicero, then it could rightly be said to be a worthy trophy.

Importantly, Marcus Cicero’s wise saying as encapsulated in the book aforementioned spurred me on to further ruminate on the recent scholarly work of the late Professor Chinua Achebe titled “there was a country: a personal story of the Nigeria – Biafra war” in which he masterfully sketched Nigeria’s political firmament as a huge circus stage whereby the players are adept at unleashing series of jokes all aimed at grand deception.

The thought therefore flashed in my mind that Professor Achebe will for all times occupy the center stage of our intellectual debate as one of the finest prophets who devoted substantial segment of his meritorious life to show Nigerians the light which if we follow those prescriptions with devotion, then the sky they say is our limit.

It was my reflection on the just unveiled determinations of the current federal

government to organize a national conference that makes good the belief by Professor Achebe that Nigerian contemporary political rulers are masters of deception and deceits. The contents of the Independence day national broadcast by President Jonathan therefore is a true reflection of the saying that Nigerians are still dancing around our fundamental challenges and are largely unwilling and lacked the will power to do the needful to take Nigeria to the much talked about promised land.

In the national broadcast aptly titled: “We have a duty to put Nigeria first”, President Jonathan who is on record as the first doctorate degree holder to have mounted the highest political office in Nigeria said his administration has listened to the groundswell of agitation for the convocation of a national conference and has thus decided to do just that .

His words: “Fellow Nigerians, our Administration has taken cognizance of suggestions over the years by wellmeaning Nigerians on the need for a National Dialogue on the future of our beloved country. I am an advocate of dialogue. When there are issues that stoke tension and bring about friction, it makes perfect sense for the interested parties to come together to discuss.”

President Jonathan further offered reason for his type of national conference thus; “In demonstration of my avowed belief in the positive power of dialogue in charting the way forward, I have decided to set up an Advisory Committee whose mandate is to establish the modalities for a National Dialogue or Conference. The Committee will also design a framework and come up with recommendations as to the form, stricture, and mechanism of the process.”

True to the peculiar expectation of disappointed Nigerians, the current administration followed the already notorious module practiced by his discredited predecessors in office by appointing same old foxes that have actively participated in the underdevelopment of Nigeria to form the core of the people

By EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO

to work out mechanisms for the convocation of the Jonathan’s brand of national conference.

“The Committee will be chaired by Dr. Femi Okurounmu while Dr. Akilu Indabawa will serve as the Secretary.

The full membership of the Committee will be announced shortly. I expect the Report to be ready in one

unlikely that a contemporary Nigerian political office holder deeply entrenched in the merry-go-round of spoils of political office could supervise the eventual demolition of the structures that enables the political elites to continue to hold Nigerians as hostages.

That said, it is also not impossible to find a person with the patriotic zeal to lead

• Senator David Mark

month, following which the nation will be briefed on the nomenclature, structure” and modalities of the Dialogue”, he stated.

Laudable as the above decision may seem on the surface, deep inside the mind of the current government, just like past administrations, the national conference will definitely be choreographed to achieve a pre-determined agenda which substantially will not fundamentally alter or tinker with the faulty foundation on which Nigeria’s formation was laid by the British Colonial over-lords both in 1914 (amalgamation of North and South protectorates) and the October 1st 1960’s declaration of political Independence from Great Britain.

To be fair to Jonathan; it is

the crusade for Nigerians to democratically decide whether to continue to remain as one united political entity or for the component parts to go their separate ways.

This writer is not one of those in support of the national conference as contemplated by President Jonathan.

I support the convocation of a national conference with all the sovereign power to so determine the final fate of Nigeria. I believe that power and sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from where government officials derive their authority and legitimacy and so there is nothing wrong in the owners of the sovereignty to so decide to fashion out ways, means and strategies of our co-existence.

The national conference

being contemplated by the current political administration in Abuja will be spearheaded by the same old dramatis personae who ruined Nigeria and as the saying goes it will be “garbage in, garbage out”.

The talk shop would be choreographed to gulp huge public funds in meaningless monologue that wouldn’t be far-reaching enough as to determine once and for all the future of Nigeria’s diverse nationalities in view of the fact that the hurriedly packaged amalgamation of 1914 by the British Colonal over-lords is no longer sustainable and was indeed abinitio, a calculated mischief to perpetuate inequities and injustices and the Jonathan’s national conference is an attempt to assuage the agitation for the convocation of a sovereign national conference which has been roundly rejected by all the forces in the legislature and the executive arms of government who are neck deep in the destruction of Nigeria’s Commonwealth and Patrimony.

From 1999 till date, different leaders of ethnic nationalities and civil society stakeholders have always called for the convocation of sovereign national conference so Nigerians can peacefully and peaceably determine their future in compliance with international humanitarian laws.

Part one, Article one of the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights provides thus; “All People have the right of selfdetermination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, cultural and social development”.

Besides, Nigerians ought to pursue meaningful activities that will inevitably promote their collective rights to development as members of the global village.

The right to development, according to those who know, places the human person at the centre of the development process and recognizes that human being should be the main participant and beneficiary of development.

By and large, the convocation of a sovereign

national conference would have permitted Nigerians the opportunity of not just self determination politically speaking, but would have become an avenue for pulling Nigeria and Nigerians away from the heavy weight of mass poverty and the other institutionalized inequities and injustices that have combined to make Nigeria a poor nation even when the country is endowed with abundant human and material resources.

Sovereign national conference would have addressed the situation whereby states in the North treat a particular religion as state religion as against section 10 of the constitution therefore allowing fanatics and extremists to unleash violence against adherents of other religions other than theirs.

Now that the current powers-that-be has chosen the charade and gambit of a national Conference, it may not be out of place to suggest some basic agenda for the delegates.

To a lot of Nigerians, the widespread cases of impunity and break down of law and order characterized by unprecedented violence and organized crimes therefore makes it imperative that the nation’s policing system must be reformed and transformed and the need to create state and local police has become even more imperative.

Besides, the justice delivery system in Nigeria is skewed in favour of the rich even as corruption has taken the better part of the nation’s judiciary.

The National Conference should devote time to understudy why the two antigraft bodies set up over one decade ago have failed to check the rampaging incidence of widespread corruption and economic crimes among political office holders and their surrogates.

The National Conference delegates must also address the corrupt electoral system in Nigeria with a view to suggesting strategies for making the electoral panels at all levels Independent and transparent because if the 2015 general election is perceived to be manipulated to favour the powers-that – be, then we can begin to sing nuncdimittis to Nigeria.

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

I sues Sovereign National Conference

Effective Or Futile–Like Before?

AFTER years of trying to avoid the issue, Sovereign National Conference (SNF) has bubbled up again in Nigeria.

Against its repression by mass psychological denial of the insurmountable problems bedeviling Nigeria, SNC has still managed to rise to the surface.

Against its suppression by sectional and personal interest which benefit from the people’s woes and Nigeria’s dysfunction, SNC worms its way back to the surface. It is like lava or molten rock which can no longer be contained underground: it erupts as a volcano with evident force.

So, can we get something straight? No matter how Nigeria spins its status and denies its problems and prides itself in its pretense, it is still a rumbling volcano, and there will be destructive eruptions, and there will be need and calls for SNC. SNC itself is like medicine: when one reaches for medicine, one is finally admitting that there is threatening illness which cannot be wished away; and that this medicine will remedy the illness—when taken correctly. Yes, like all medicine, if it is not taken correctly, the illness can only persist.

Nigeria is a place where lessons are never learned, it seems. Not only that, Nigeria acts like it does not matter that she refuses to learn obvious lessons.

Faced with serious illness, Nigeria feigns ignorance.

When it is finally faced with complete destruction, it reaches for medicine.

Typically, it reaches for the wrong medicine, out of denial, until compelled by failure to try the right one.

Then, she manages to take the medicine but not as the doctor prescribed— deliberately.

SNC-like activity did not start occurring (and failing) in Nigeria with Obasanjo’s failed so-called National Political Reform Conference (NPRC) of 2005. Forty years before that, on Saturday, January 2 1965, then Prime Minister of Nigeria, “…said today that to avoid bloodshed an urgent meeting of regional representatives should be called to resolve Nigeria’s election crisis…” in

response to widening and serious electoral crisis to which the South had reacted with the threat of secession.

The meeting or conference never happened, because within the ensuing day, then President Nnamdi Azikiwe,

By OGUCHI NKWOCHA, MD

Confederation. But Gowon and his Military government stepped in firmly against such a confederation; they wanted their style of “Federation” and of course,

• President Goodluck Jonathan

with the aim of preserving one-Nigeria, was intimidated by the North into a compromise, which essentially handed power to the North over the rest of Nigeria. Supposing that meeting of regional representatives had actually happened and they truly tackled the issues equitably then? We’ll never know; but what we certainly know is the catastrophic result of that failure, and it didn’t take long to manifest. That result continues today.

On September 12, 1966, a “National Conference” authorized by Gowon’s Military Government commenced in Lagos to help find a solution to Nigeria’s life-threatening quandary (remember: it is the latter half of 1966 in Nigeria). Representatives came as regional delegates from the four regions (East, West, Midwest and North); 26 prominent Nigerians joined them. After intense discussions and negotiations, by September 17, they were all leaning towards a loose

one-Nigeria. What followed is well-known to everyone.

There was yet another attempt: the now famous or infamous Aburi Conference, this time, of Nigeria’s leaders themselves, in January of 1967. This time, Gowon himself was present, a participant. The transcripts of the meeting are clear on the agreement: Loose confederation. But before the ink had dried on the agreement, Gowon was to renege on it. This set off the fuse that finally lit the BiafraNigeria War. As “Volcano Nigeria” continued to erupt during Obasanjo’s regime in the 2005, he was reluctantly forced to accept the need for SNC. But in his characteristic powermongering complex, he stole the concept from activists and turned it into his own thing: the NPRC was thus born—a stillbirth, though, because he had unilaterally fixed the endpoint of the conference to be the endorsement of one-Nigeria. Thus failed the conference; SNC energy

was dissipated for the time being then. Until now.

Today, as President Jonathan and his government and politicians have moved from total denial of the need, to an endorsement and a serious and credible plan of action, for SNC, he seems to be forgetful of why previous SNC’s failed. SNC fails in Nigeria because of the insistence on the outcome of one-Nigeria. David Mark, the President of the Nigerian Senate, appears to be speaking for the government when he stated that a “red line” has been drawn placing the discussion of the unity of Nigeria in the “no-go area”— just like Obasanjo’s NPRC and Gowon’s misadventures before him. This time around, at least one group, the Afenifere, has come out with courage and the wisdom from previous experiences to advice President Jonathan not to draw any red lines. There should be no-go areas.

As for David Mark, he insults the peoples by taking away and denying them their natural right of sovereignty. Sovereignty belongs to the people, even if the people are foolish, passive or cowardly enough to allow a political class such as is foisted over them to trample on their rights. In Nigeria, the people have their individual ethnicities: that’s natural; no one can wish or take it away from them.

That’s where sovereignty is based and vested. Ethnic nations are sovereign. It is these sovereign ethnic nations who will be represented in SNC if the conference is to be given the chance to succeed. And if the SNC is to be effective, no one or force should presume to set, or actually set, the outcome.

The ethnic nations must work out the outcome among and between them, whatever that will be.

Yet, it is mindboggling to observe the mindset of the Gowon’s and Mark’s of Nigeria. On January 1 1965, in the thick of the latest crisis rocking Nigeria, President Azikiwe “described Nigeria as a nation charged with suspicion, fear and hatred…” Has that changed since then? No. Gowon

himself also observed that “After six years of independence, we seem to be further away from national solidarity” (Associated Press.

September 12 1966).

Earlier, he had declared that there seemed to him “…no basis for Nigerian unity, which has been so badly rocked, not only once but several times…” “Rocked”?

This was still in August 1966; the war had not even happened yet. Has the rocking of Nigeria stopped?

No. President Jonathan has been advised elsewhere to be the Soviet Union’s Gorbachev of Nigeria. He

the Serbian leader and President of Yugoslavia who, in contrast, stubbornly insisted that Yugoslavia (of which Serbia was part) had to remain united even when the different constituent nations wanted to go their own separate ways. This led to a horrendous war with heinous atrocities committed on helpless civilians, including ethnic cleansing and genocide— horrible things that are familiar for Nigeria. In the end, those nations (Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo; as well as Slovenia) did all separate; Yugoslavia was broken up. Milosevic was arrested and sent for trial in the Hague for war crimes

• Senator David Mark

can use the Sovereign National Conference as the vehicle for this function by ensuring that this is the meeting of delegates representing the different sovereign ethnic nationalities hithertofore caught in the destructive web woven as Nigeria by colonial intent. Or, he can be the Milosevic of Nigeria.

Gorbachev led his people to and through a peaceful selfdetermination process resulting in the non-violent dissolution of the Soviet Union. The world did not end on that day, and the different nations separating out of old Soviet Union are on their own and managing their own respective affairs today.

Slobodan Milosevic was

and crimes against humanity which he had instigated and permitted. He died in prison after 5 years while his trial was still in progress.

Gorbachev or Milosevic: which will President Jonathan emulate? This will determine whether SNC is the usual dud and joke it has always been, or if this time around, it can release the peoples from their misery. In the end, like Gowon said, there is no basis for unity of Nigeria.

Events and experience bear this out.

(Quotes taken from “The Untold Story of the NigeriaBiafra War” by Dr. Luke Nnaemeka Aneke. 2007 Triumph Publishing).

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The Problem Of Juvenile Deliquency In Nigeria

J U V E N I L E delinquency is a major problem globally. It has been on an increase in Nigeria. A juvenile is a person who has not attained 18years of age. A juvenile delinquent can also be regarded as a young individual that has committed anti-social crimes or broken the law of the society as an adolescent or minor.

These crimes include possession of firearms, vandalism, burglary, arson, theft, gambling, rape, and consumption of alcohol. Juvenile justice on the other hand, is a process whereby the juvenile maybe dealt for an offence in a way which is different from an adult. However, major crimes committed may force the court to try a juvenile as an adult. Sometimes, they commit more serious crimes when they are youths. What differentiates a juvenile from an adult may be determined by law.

When a juvenile commits a crime, he/ she may lose the freedom while being placed under detention. It affects the family and this can

create instability in the family and the delinquent’s future.

The factors responsible for juvenile delinquency in the society cannot be farfetched. Due to inadequate supply of basic needs in the home, the child may be forced to seek for opportunities outside the home. Also, broken homes and parental attitudes also contribute to this social menace. The pursuit of income and other material things by parents at the detriment of the children and ward, can gravely affect them. Lack of home discipline is also another factor. Poor parental discipline causes a child to grow up as a delinquent.

Violence within the home also contributes. Children, who witness violence in the home, feel it is acceptable and may try this so as to feel some power of their own.

One major importance of the juvenile delinquent law system is that a young person who is held accountable and takes responsibility for his or her behaviour, will have a more

balanced life in the future.

The manner, in

control such acts that may be detrimental to the child and the

plays a major role in the life of the child.

When a child grows up in an unfavourable environment, he/she tends to adopt such behaviours.

In addition, to this, peer

which a child behaves in the society, reflects on the way he is brought up. A good personality of the child depends on the parents. As a child grows up, he interacts with, which can lead to him gaining certain attitudes and behaviours that maybe advantageous or disadvantageous.

The parents have a great responsibility to

society in general. In Nigeria, most of the electoral and political violence, are perpetrated by youths..

Today, poverty is one driving force behind juvenile crimes. Most of the remand homes are poorly equipped and this makes it impossible to rehabilitate these juveniles.

Also, the society also

group influence can also result in juvenile delinquency. ‘’show me your friend and I will tell who you are’’.

Children tend to imbibe the behaviours of their friends.

Delinquents who are from poor homes, run the risk of getting caught and then put through the criminal justice system than those from wealthy homes.

By ODINUKAEZE NNENNA

“One major importance of the juvenile delinquent law system is that a young person who is held accountable and takes responsibility for his or her behaviour, will have a more balanced life in the future.”

In advanced societies, a way to curb this problem, is by creating programs that can help preventing the children from committing crimes.

These are avoiding drug use, gang involvement and counselling.

One important factor of the juvenile delinquent law system is that a young person, who is held accountable and takes responsibility for his or her behaviour, will have a more balanced life in the future.

Parents should monitor their children at home to know what they are up to and also try meeting their friends. If this is not done, the society will blame the parents because they failed in their parental roles.

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Nigeria At 53 –

OTHER than the usual congratulations, platitudes, expressions of joy and offerings of thanks to God I believe that as we celebrate our nation’s 53rd i n d e p e n d e n c e anniversary it is time for us to bare our minds in a candid and frank manner and to really sit down and think. During her election campaign just a couple of weeks ago, Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany and the world’s most powerful woman, said ”multiculturalism is dead in Germany”. In 2011 David Cameron, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, echoed the same sentiment when he asserted, in his first major speech as Prime Minister, that ”multiculturalism has failed in the United Kingdom”.

Can we learn anything from these assertions as Nigerians about the shortcomings and dangers of a multicultural state?

What are the implications of these observations for Nigeria’s massive multicultural and multi-ethnic super state? Are we really a nation or are we nothing more than a melting pot of squabbling and bickering ethnic and cultural incompatibles? Was Chief Obafemi Awolowo right when he described Nigeria as” not being a nation” but a mere”geographical expression”?

These questions surely need to be answered.

On September 11, 2013 1.6 million people of the Catallan region in Spain staged a dramatic protest and expressed their desire for secession by forming a 400 km long human chain which stretched from one end of the region to the other. According to the

By FEMI FANI-KAYODE

polls 52 per cent of the people from that region wish to break off from Spain and to establish a new European sovereign state.

Similar agitations have emanated from other parts of Spain over the years some of which have degenerated into a bitter and protracted armed struggle such as that of the Basque people in the north who share their boarders with France.

Again the palpable tensions that exist

European mainland.

For example the beautiful “emeral island” of Ireland successfully broke off from Britain in 1921 after much agitation, conflict and bloodshed.

Northern Ireland, which remains part of Britain till today, still experiences varying degrees of tensions between the protestant and the ”Finian” catholic communities, one of which wishes to remain in the UK whilst the other wishes to be part of

• Late Tafawa Balewa

between the Frenchspeaking Waloon people of northern Belgium and the Flemish of the south are legendry and the call for a break-up of that nation into two separate entities is as old as the hills. Such aspirations and agitations for ethnic emancipation from unitary and quasi-unitary states is by no means limited to the

Northern Ireland each of whom now have their own parliaments.

As a matter of fact, later this year the people of Scotland are having their own referendum to determine whether or not they wish to stay in the United Kingdom. From the polls, it is very clear that the majority of Scots wish to have their own new sovereign state and that the Scottish Nationalist Party, which has championed the

everyone respects the right of the various ethnic groups and nationalities within their wider nation to exercise their right of selfdetermination which is an integral and fundamental aspect of international law.

Exercising that right does not turn them into villains and does not make them any less patriotic than their compatriots who do not share their views. It just means that they have a different perspective and that they believe, as many believed before Malaysia and Singapore broke up

• Late Obafemi Awolowo

mainland Ireland. Over the last twenty years Britain itself has finally acknowledged the fact that the cry for regional autonomy, secession and ethnic nationalism cannot be resisted forever and she has gradually devolved power from Westminster in London to the various regions of Scotland, Wales and

secessionist cause, enjoys massive support.

Nobody in either Spain, Belgium, Ireland or the United Kingdom has insulted those people or labelled them as ”ethnic jingoists” or ”primitive tribalists” for wanting to break off from the greater whole and establish their own country.

This is because

and before Indonesia and East Timor broke up, that the interests of their various peoples are better served when and if they go their separate ways.

They opted to be friendly neighbours rather than to be compelled to remain within the same territory against their collective will.

As we in Nigeria approach the 100 year anniversary

of our 1914 amalgamation and, as the 2015 elections are fast approaching with both the northern region and the south-south zone desperate to take or to hold on to power at any cost respectively, we need to begin to ask ourselves some basic and fundamental questions about our future. For example is our interest better served by remaining as one nation or is it time for those nationalities that wish to leave the federation in a peaceful and orderly way, as a result of a legitimate and honest referendum, be allowed to go?

If the breaking up of larger countries into smaller and more viable ones is good enough for India (which broke into three), the Sudan (which broke into two), Czechoslovakia (which broke into two), Yugoslavia (which broke into five), the Soviet Union (which broke into fifteen), United Arab Republic (which broke into two) and numerous other countries over the years why is it not good enough for us?

Again why should those that believe that Nigeria ought to break up be subjected to so much suspicion, ridicule, contempt and insults from those that do not share their views? Some of the questions that need to be answered are as followsfirstly, is our union working? Secondly, is our marriage a good one and if it is it a happy one as well? Are we satisfied with what has essentially become a country that has been turned into nothing more than (with apologies to Chief Bode George) ”Turn by Turn Nigeria?”

“If the breaking up of larger countries into smaller and more viable ones is good enough for India (which broke into three), the Sudan (which broke into two), Czechoslovakia (which broke into two), Yugoslavia (which broke into five), the Soviet Union (which broke into fifteen), United Arab Republic (which broke into two) and numerous other countries over the years why is it not good enough for us? Again why should those that believe that Nigeria ought to break up be subjected to so much suspicion, ridicule, contempt and insults from those that do not share their views?”

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A Time To Think

where each ethnic group simply looks forward to enjoying its time to control the federation and all the nations resources from an all powerful centre? Are we not meant to be far more than this? Is this what the founding fathers of our nation envisaged?

More than anything else the recent Igbo /Yoruba debate over the issue of who owns Lagos state and the deportation of a handful of Igbo destitute back to the east has proved to me that we as a people are very different from one another and that our interests may be better served if we are no longer bound together as one. I dare to voice this opinion even though many Yoruba’s share it but will not say so publicly. Is it not time for us to begin to accept the bitter truth that our marriage is uncomfortable and unhappy and that it may not have been made in heaven or ordained by God? Is it not clear that each region or each nationality ought to be able to develop at their own pace? Is it not time for us to have a confederation of nationalities in Nigeria and to restructure the country drastically to give maximum autonomy to the various regions and nationalities or indeed is it not time to just break up and go our separate ways?

Many may disagree but one thing that I believe that we can at least agree on is that perhaps it is time for us to be courageous enough to begin to talk about these issues openly and debate them. We must not sweep our differences under the carpet and ignore them as if they do not exist but instead we must find the courage and muster the resolve to acknowledge them and understand them. As far as I am concerned this is the challenge of our time and these are the questions that need to be answered.

Whatever happens in 2015 and whoever wins,

• Late President Musa Yar’Adua

whether it be a northerner or Goodluck Jonathan of the south-south, I see blood on the horizon and I see disaster approaching.

Stark promises from notable players such as ”there will be bloodshed if Goodluck is not reelected” do not help and are not encouraging.

There are equally strident and bellicose murmurings from the other side as well and some have threatened that if there is a repeat performance of the massive rigging that the north witnessed in the Presidential election of 2011 anywhere in the country in 2015,”Nigeria will burn” whilst another key player said that”both the dog and the baboon shall be soaked in blood”.

These words must be taken very seriously indeed and they reflect the thinking and mindset of millions of people from both sides of the political and regional divide. Worst still, whether we like to admit it or not, religion has now become a major factor in our politics with Christians being told in their churches that it is their solemn duty to support a Christian presidential candidate and Muslims being told in their mosques that it is theirs to support a Muslim. We are

• President Goodluck Jonathan

sitting on a keg of gunpowder and in my view 2015 really will be the year of make or break for Nigeria. Sadly, in my humble opinion, it is far closer to ”break” than it is to”make”. If we wish to avoid the road to Kigali we must change our mindset and make the necessary concessions that we need to make. We must begin to think outside of the box and be far more innovative and adventurous.

For example why is it a must in the minds of some that the PDP must field a southern Christian as its presidential candidate and why are some in the APC of the view that the party must field a northern Muslim as its own? These hard and fast fixed positions are most unhelpful and the right thing and proper thing to do is to completely discard them and attempt to find a

presidential candidate that is a Nigerian before being a northerner, a southerner, a Christian or a Muslim.

And thankfully there are quite a few of such people around in the new generation if only the system will be far-sighted and enlightened enough to allow them to emerge and run. Failing that we must open up the space now and consider the unpleasant assertion that the premium that a united Nigeria attracts may not be worth paying simply because we are getting nothing but failure after failure and sorrow after sorrow as our consistent return.

I do not have all the answers and neither do I claim that I do. Indeed I may well be wrong which is why I would be interested in hearing the views of others.

Whichever way it goes

and regardless of what we all think, let us not allow this debate to be driven by the uninformed or ignorance, pettiness, hate and acrimony. Let us not insult one another or act as if any tribe or nationality are a collection of angels whilst others are nothing but demons. Let us join issues and exchange ideas in a civil, restrained and decent manners without hurling insults at one another or allowing our emotions to becloud our thinking.

At the end of the day we all want the same thingnamely, to put in place a system that is in the best interest of the Nigerian people and to empower a new leadership that will allow them to achieve their full potentials. That is the objective and that alone.

Permit me to end this contribution with two points that are worthy of note,

firstly Chief Bola Ige once said that”the oil of the Niger Delta area acts as a glue that keeps Nigeria together”. This is true. Yet the question that often comes to my mind is as follows- If the oil and gas had been situated in the core north, the west or the east would the major ethnic groups that hold sway in those areas have willingly shared it with the rest of Nigeria? Would they have remained in the federation?

Secondly, at the 1954 Constitutional Conference that was held in Lagos, the Action Group, under the distinguished leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, demanded that the “right to secession” be included in the proposed new constitution. This was rejected by the Colonial Secretary, Oliver Lyttelton.

Prior to this, in 1953, after the Kano riots, the Northern Nigeria legislature passed an eight-point programme which in effect demanded the dissolution of the Federation. Again this was rejected by the British. By way of contrast the ”right to secession” clause was incorporated into the Ethiopian constitution in the 1990’s though it has never been invoked.

Perhaps if we had been permitted to adopt that provision in 1954 we would have avoided a whole load of problems including a very brutal civil war between 1967 and 1970 and today’s challenge of Boko Haram.

Perhaps it is not too late to adopt it now. And that is what may save us from the impending carnage of 2015.

Happy Independence.

“For example why is it a must in the minds of some that the PDP must field a southern Christian as its presidential candidate and why are some in the APC of the view that the party must field a northern Muslim as its own?

These hard and fast fixed positions are most unhelpful and the right thing and proper thing to do is to completely discard them and attempt to find a presidential candidate that is a Nigerian before being a northerner, a southerner, a Christian or a Muslim. And thankfully there are quite a few of such people around in the new generation if only the system will be farsighted and enlightened enough to allow them to emerge and run.”

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Immorality In Nigerian Society IMMORALITY is the quality of not being in accordance with the standards of right conduct. It relates to behaviour which transgresses a given system of morals like sexual, and violence and political immorality.

Every society, is bedevilled with various problems be it social, economic, political and other forms of immorality.

Indecent dressing is also as a result of immorality. It is the deliberate exposure of one’s body to the public.

Ladies dress half naked all in the name of fashion to occasions and this is contrary to the norms and cultures of the African society.

Some girls have been embarrassed or even abused because of these clothes. Indecent dressing is one major cause of sexual abuse which is now rampant in Nigeria. The ladies are not the only ones who dress indecently, the guys do also. This days, young men wear their trousers below the waist, it is called ‘’sagging’’ or ‘’low waist’’.

Many innocent young males have been arrested on suspicion of being armed robbers as a result of their dressings. Indecent dressing has now turned Nigeria into an immoral society. It is giving the country a bad image.

Additionally, human trafficking is also another major global problem. According to facts, it is the third most lucrative criminal

By ODINUKAEZE NNENNA

enterprise. It targets women and children, forcing them into labour and prostitution. Nigeria is also a safe haven for human trafficking. It is an origin, transit and destination country for forced prostitution. The reason for this, is as a result of the rampant poverty in the country.

prostitution in tertiary institutions is alarming.

Campus prostitution is a situation whereby female students give their bodies to men for money.

They do this not minding the end result of their actions. Many of

Music globally is viewed as a means of entertainment and livelihood. Today, music has contributed to the increase in immorality in the society. Music from Nigeria and all over the world showcases sex and violence. The lyrics

People who are desperate for a better life are tricked by these traffickers to travel abroad under the pretence of economic independence.

Also, universities which are supposed to be a place for learning, now breed prostitutes and rascals. Rich, old men now invade universities to woo and deceive ladies. The growing rate of

them end up infected with HIV/AIDS and also fall prey to ritual killers.

Also, the social media has helped to further ignite the fire of immorality in the society.

Today, it is very common to come across pages online which advertise the phone numbers and email addresses of ‘’sugar daddies’’ and ‘’mummies’’.

Music is an integral part of our society.

often contain satanic contents and symbols.

Others carry messages that promote immorality.

Others promote drug and alcohol abuse, p r o s t i t u t i o n , homosexuality and p r o m i s c u i t y.

Furthermore, the public has now been introduced to several adverts of television.

Nollywood and Hollywood also showcases immoral

“The high level of immorality in Nigeria could be as a result of the breakdown of values in the family.”

behaviours through movies.

In addition, Music now has an impact on the fashion of young people. Most youths dress to emulate their favourite rap artist and the ladies dress to match the women and dancers featured in the music videos. They tend

to look for role models but unfortunately, the role models in the entertainment world do not serve as the best role models to follow.

Immorality does not bother alone on indecent dressing and prostitution. There is also something known as political immorality in Nigeria. Just two-years to the 2015 general elections, politicians are busy scheming for tactics towards the elections, with some playing victims, like governor Amaechi. It is sometimes to know whose interests these

politicians are after.

There is nothing to show that these politicians are in positions for the betterment of the citizens of this country. Politics takes the back seat immediately after elections; those who are elected into office no matter their party affiliations are to squarely face the business of governance.

But that is not so in Nigeria. The president’s behaviour towards the PDP crisis and his undivided attention shows that our leaders play politics at the detriment of Nigerians.

Nigeria politicians are selfish and greedy. They are extremely immoral and selfish. They are only concerned about themselves.

The founding fathers of Nigeria, did not govern Nigeria the way these present ones are doing.

Nigerian senators are the highest paid in the world. No wonder they are killing themselves to occupy these political positions. Is it not a wicked and immoral person that will collect millions of naira as salaries and benefit while their fellow Nigerians are wallowing in extreme poverty?

The high level of immorality in Nigeria could be as a result of the breakdown of values in the family. Most parents do not have time for their children, because of their busy schedules. As a result, they are not able to bare their minds to their parents. Parents should take the moral upbringing of their children seriously. They should learn to make friends with their children and advise them always.

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The Goodness Of Marriage

MORE evidence that marriage may benefit overall health comes from findings that in the first year after having blocked blood vessel leading to the heart cleared, married patients feel much better than unmarried counterparts.

Even after researcher adjusted for other cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, family history cholesterol, unmarried patients were more than twice as likely to die and to experience major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, in the year following the procedure known as angioplasty.

Heart patients need a lot of support and their care does not end in the hospital, says the study’s senior author, Dr Ron Waksman of the Med Star Washington hospital Center in Washington. DC. “The implication is if you do not have someone to take care of you, you should be flagged for special care.”

Previous research has found an apparent health benefit from marriage. But it is poorly understood and the result are not always consistent. For instance, bad marriages have been linked to heightened stress hormones and inflammation, both of which raise risks for heart disease and other illness.

But enough evidence suggests a positive marriage effect that Dr Waksman’s team set out to try to measure it in patients getting angioplasty to clear blocked coronary arteries — either to stave off a heart attack or as a result of already having had one.

The researchers analysed the records of 11,216 patients

gathered over 18 years through telephone contact or office visits.

The patients’ average age was 64, and 55% were married while 45% were unmarried. The singles group included people who were never married. Widowed or divorced, 65% of them were men, 66% were white and 26% were African American.

Although high cholesterol and family history of heart disease were both more common among married and individuals, it was the singles who were more likely to have major heart problems including death, a heart attack or need for another angioplasty - in the year following their procedure.

The trend started right after patients underwent angioplasty, with 1.1% of unmarried patients dying in the hospital, compared with 0.4% of married patients, according to the results published in the America Heart Journal.

Within 30 days of their procedures. 3.1% of unmarried patients had major cardiovascular events, compared with 1.2% of married patients. At one year, 13.3% of singles versus 8 .2% of married patients had major cardiovascular events and singles were also more than twice are likely to die of any cause.

Married Benefit The apparent marriage benefit was more pronounced for men than for women, and the researchers warn that the singles were generally sicker before their procedures for example, they were more likely to have had a heart attack that prompted the angioplasty.

Theories about the role of marriage in health mainly comes down to

By EFEMWENKIEKIE OSAS KELVIN

the possibility that healthier people tend to get married, that spouses take care of one another better than individuals living alone take care of themselves, or that the social and emotional support of a spouse has positive physiological effects.

says.

These findings should heighten awareness of physicians to socioeconomic risk factors beyond the standard cardiovascular disease risk factors and may encourage domestic partners to be more engaged in the

difference: those with high—satisfaction marriages were 3.2 times more likely to be alive 15 years after bypass surgery compared with those reporting low marital satisfaction.

But even unsupportive spouses were better than no spouse at all in their study, Dr Reis says.

Dr Waksman thinks the stress—buffering effects of marriage are important. He also noted that patient compliance, including adherence to a medication or exercise regimen, is generally a major issue in cardiac care and that a partner is more likely to assist with this.

“What drove us to do this study we see that many patients do not adhere to their medications. and when we ask why we get all kinds of answers, he

health care process after cardiac interventions.”

Spousal Support In another recent study, Dr Harry Reis, professor of psychology, and Dr Kathleen King, professor Emerita at the School of Nursing at University of Rochester, found that married patients were 2.5 times more likely to be alive 15 years after coronary artery bypass surgery compare with married patients.

And the quality of the marriage did make a

Multiple factors probably account for the marriage benefit, he says, “most likely a combination of spousal support and survivor motivation to adopt a healthy lifestyle, along with the provision of emotion support”.

All this, in turn, could influence physical processes responsible for slowing the advance of cardiovascular disease he adds.

Dr. Mary Whooley, a US professor of medicine at the VA

Medical Center and the University of California in San Francisco, says patients with poor social support are less likely to exercise, to eat well and to seek medical attention.

Dr. Whooley, who studies the interactions between depression and heart health in particular,

says unhealthy behaviour can lead to biological changes that can increase the risk and severity of heart disease.

“We know that most of this is about health behaviours,” she says, noting there are measures that can help people improve their medical adherence when they do not have a spouse. The important intervention is to ensure that individuals feel “there is someone they are accountable to”.

“Theories about the role of marriage in health mainly comes down to the possibility that healthier people tend to get married, that spouses take care of one another better than individuals living alone take care of themselves, or that the social and emotional support of a spouse has positive physiological effects.”

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Stories

By EFEMWENKIEKIE OSAS KELVIN

W eKEND ENTERTAINMENT Madonna: “I Was Raped” A WORLD famous singer reveals shocking fact about her life. Speaks on feeling lonely in a big city and on going through accusations when adopting her children.

Her very first year in New York, when she was 19, Madonna was attacked.

“The first year, I was held up

at gunpoint” Raped in the roof of a building, I was dragged up with a knife in my back, and had my apartment broken three times”.

This fact didn’t prevent the star from moving further and fighting for her future.

Trying to become a professional dancer she was

posing nude for art classes.

Madonna talks about feeling lonely in that period of her life. “But it was hard and I was lonely, and I had to dare myself every day to keep going”, she said.

Madonna made a confession that she moved

Madonna

Sound Sultan To Quit Music It has been revealed that Nigerian artiste Sound Sultan might be taking a break from making music soon. He did say that he hope to set back in the music scene later in the future. He said: “I have not

done ten percent of what I am suppose to do and currently, I have three artistes on my record labels until three of them drop their albums, I want to actually take a break and allow these talented guys

to make their marks”.

The singer became known some year ago when he released his then hit singles, Mathematics. He is one of Nigeria’s most respected contemporary singers, Sound Sultan recently released his sixth album.

to England after marrying film director Guy Ritchie was not an easy step for her, as there were a lot of things she couldn’t understand in the country new for her, like class system, pub culture and others. “Once again I felt alone. But I stuck it out and I found my way, and I grew to love English, Georgian architecture, sticky toffee pudding, and the English countryside. There is nothing more beautiful than the English countryside”.

Madonna described the decision to adopt her son Davio from Malawi as “another daring chapter” in her life. “I was accused of kidnapping, child trafficking, using my celebrity muscle to jump ahead in the line, bribing government officials, witchcraft, you name it”, she said “I could get my head around people giving me a hard time for simulating masturbation onstage or publishing my sex book, even kissing Britney Spears at an award show, but trying to save a child’s life was not something I thought I would be punished for”.

She survived and, what is more, adopted her second child. Still she had to spend a lot of time in the court to prove that she will be a good mother.

“I tried to be more prepared, I braced myself.

This time I was accused by a female Malawian judge that because I was divorced, I was an unfit mother. I fought the Supreme Court and I won. It took almost another year and many lawyers, I still got the shit kicked out of me, but it didn’t hurt as much and looking back, I do not regret one moment of the fight”.

Having undergone a lot of difficulties and problems Madonna has developed her own life principles. One of them reads: “one of the many things I learned from all of this; if you aren’t willing to fight what you believe in, then don’t even enter the ring”.

David and Victoria Sell Beekingham Palace David and Victoria Beckham have reportedly sold their Beckingham palace home and a fleet of cars for £12million as they put in an offer for a new £45million mansion.

The superstar couple raised their sons Brooklyn 14, Romeo 11, and Cruz 8 at the home, and it is said the retired soccer legend is ‘desperately said’ to move on.

David in particularly was desperately sad to sell the family home as there are so many memories. ‘They have had years of happiness in the home, but practically now there is no need to keep it. It’s

the beginning of a new era for the family; the home and several cars have been sold for £12million as the couple look to raise their family-including two years old daughter Harper-in London and take them to Los Angeles for the school holiday.

The source said: ‘The Beckhams love both England and LA. They want the Californian sunshine for the kids but the education system of the UK-so they’re getting the best of both worlds. “It’s an exciting time for the Beckhams as they enter a new chapter of family life.”

David Beekham and Victoria

Joke Okoro Went To Visit His Girl Friend

Sound Sultan

Okoro went to visit his girlfriend. On getting there, he saw N1,000 Note on the floor and he kept it in his pocket. After 20minutes, the mother of the girl came out and started looking for the money, the girl asked her mum what she is looking for? The mother replied her; “my

daughter I’m looking for my N1, 000 Note. Okoro quickly brought out his wallet and gave her the money. The woman was surprise when she saw N1, 000 (hundred naira) note in 10 places. The mother asked Okoro; my in-law, why did you change the money into N100 notes?

Okoro replied… “Ma, I don’t want to hear you complain about change because the last timeI helped a woman to find her money she complained about change and that’s why she did not give me anything… so, I don’t want the same thing to repeat it self again.

THE WEEKEND

21

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013 Stories By EDIONHON UYI THOMPSON

e

W eKEND ENTERTAINMENT

Jay-Z Talk About His Drug Dealing Past

Jay-Z LOOKING so dashing on the cover of Vanity Fair‘s November 2013 issue, 43year-old entertainer JayZ got to share with the

magazine his Rags-toRiches Story, wooing Beyonce, how they reacted when the media said her pregnancy was fake, and

Drama As Lizard Enters Femi Kuti’s Car, ...Evil People At Work Recently in Lagos, popular Afrobeat singer, Femi Kuti caused a scene that attracted a large crowd when he sought help to fish out a lizard that entered his car through the dashboard on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

Femi Kuti narrated his ordeal jokingly at MUSON Center ’s pre-event news briefing. The Afrobeat King said he was horrified by the event.

He said a lizard appeared all of a sudden, from the dashboard of the car, while he was at top speed, starring at him snappily before ducking away. In no time, the search party increased around the Black Prado Jeep, perhaps, it dawned on the musician how seriously he had painted

Femi Kuti

the scenario. The crowd, including his colleague, Yinka Davies begun to get amused, and Kuti tried to make a joke of the situation.

“He said you know it could have been a disaster if the lizard had run through my trousers, climbing to my private part. You can imagine how jumpy I could have reacted, try to protect my manhood. Because that to me is an important part of who I am”.

He continued “I can’t joke with it”. The crowd roared with laughter. And he said that evil people could be at work added the musician jocularly, still wondering how the lizard got into his car.

After the event, Femi Kuti refused to drive the car until the lizard was found.

how their daughter Blue Ivy is his “Biggest Fan”. His words: I know about budgets.

I was a drug dealer. To be in a drug deal, you need to know what you can spend, what you need to re-up. Not until later, when I realized the effects on the community, I started looking at the community on the whole, but in the beginning, no. I was thinking about surviving. I was thinking about improving my situation. I was thinking about buying clothes.”

On his daughter Blue Ivy being his biggest fan: “he said she does like her mother (Beyonce’s) music – she watches (Beyonce’s concerts) on the computer every night. And my album came out and I don’t know if Blue ever heard any of my music prior to this album — she’s only 18 months old and I don’t play my music around the house.

But this album was new, so we played it. And she loves all the songs. She plays a song and she goes, ‘More, Daddy, more . . .

Daddy song.’ She’s my biggest fan. If no one bought the Magna Carta (album), the fact that she loves it so much, it gives me the greatest joy.

And that’s not like a cliche.

I’m really serious. Just to see her — ‘Daddy song, more, Daddy.’ She’s genuine, she’s honest, because she doesn’t know it makes me happy. She

just wants to hear it.”

On wooing Beyonce before they began dating: “the Hip Hop king said, you know, you’ve got to try first.

You got to dazzle… wine and dine…. she’s a charming southern girl, you know, she’s not impressed. But I would have definitely had to be this cool.”

Jay-Z revealed that “of course” he pursued Beyonce, and also said that his lovely wife (Beyonce) was dating a gas-station attendant and she pulled up and also disclose that if I’m as cool as I am, yes. But she’s a charming Southern girl, you know, she’s not impressed. . . . But I would have definitely had to be this cool.” Jay-Z confirmed that the line on his latest album, “She was a good girl ’till she knew me” is about Beyonce, and when he was asked if she’s not a good girl anymore, Jay-Z laughed, saying: she’s gangsta now.”

On the fake rumors that Beyonce wasn’t pregnant he said “It’s just so stupid. You know, I felt dismissive about it, but you’ve got to feel for her. I mean, we’ve got a really charmed life, so how can we complain? But when you think about it, we’re still human beings. And even in hip-hop, all the blogs — they had a field day with it. I’m like, we come from you guys, and we represent you guys.

Why are you perpetuating this? Why are you adding fuel to this ridiculous rumor?”

He throws more lights on trade marking his daughter (Blue’s) name, he concluded by saying “People wanted to make products based on our

child’s name and you don’t want anybody trying to benefit off your baby’s name.

It wasn’t for us to do anything; as you see, we haven’t done anything.”

The Big Boss Son Clocks One Popular music director and producer Omorodion Isiekwene AKA The Big Boss has fixed the 12th day of October for his son’s birthday ceremony.

Richie Omorodion Ishiekwene came to this world on the 7th day of October 2012. The Big Boss who is based in Accra, Ghana and Nigeria is the managing director of Best Roy entertainment whose

head office is in Ikeja, Lagos and branch office in Accra, Ghana.

In a chart with Weekend Entertainment, the Big Boss wife Celestina Isiekwene said that she’s full of gratitude to God for the wonderful son God use to blessed her family (Richie) and pray for God to continue to strengthen her son and her entire family.

Richie

Jesse-Jagz -I Am Not At War With MI Rap artiste, Jesse Jagz talks about his career and his exit from Chocolate City recording label. He said it has been great I have had to adjust at it, is good because the same team that was with me at Chocolate City is the same team with me now and I have not had to do anything new. At the same time, it is still a lot of responsibility and that is why the adjustment is needed.

Jesse disclosed that he spent five years at Chocolate City, his words: I got there in 2007 and left officially 2012.

Chocolate City is not my company. I had put in so much work in my new album and felt it was time for me to do things for myself. It was not a spur of the moment decision, it was something I had thought about over time.

The reason why I probably did not tell anybody was because sometimes, family might be more concerned about you taking business risks. The day I took the

Jesse Jagz decision, I did not tell anyone including my brother, MI. I produced about four albums for Chocolate City, I don’t owe them anything and I don’t know where the news

that my contract had not run out came from.

He continued, by saying, it is not a label in anyway and I am not signing anybody on.

Jagznation is just a business

outfit, where I put out my music. And said that there is no fight between him and his elder brother MI (MR. INCREDIBLE) we have been talking and there is no personal war, saying MI and Ice Prince are my brothers; therefore, we will always find time to work together.

The rap machine gun said that he still saw MI last week and at my show I said, MI I love you but I am at war with Chocolate City, I said this so that people can understand certain things. Yes, MI is my brother but as an executive of that label, he must own up to other people and be the same thing applies to me. What If he was not my brother? I would still have to do what I did. We are shooting missiles at each other, it’s just business.

On the issue of Brymo living Chocolate City, Jagz said that Brymo has been his friend before he even got signed on.

He is still my friend but we never sat down to discuss our plans to each other before parting Chocolate City.

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

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H alth

The Silent Killer Called Obesity

OBESITY is a growing health problem in the world today. It is usually results from a chronic imbalance between energy intake and output. In a common medical term, “it is a situation in which the body fat mass is above the standard norms which correlate age, sex, height and muscular mass”. The World Health Organisation (WHO) described obesity as, “an excess of body fat leading to negative consequences on health”.

In one of the largest studies done on obesity, researchers found out that more than 60 percent of men and 50 percent women across the globe were either overweight or obese. They concluded that, obesity is becoming a fast growing problem all over the world; even among the Asian population who were traditionally known for having lean and fit figures.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2005 estimates, there are at least 1 billion overweight adults (age 15 plus) globally, and at least 300 million of them are clinically obese. At least, 20 million children under the age of 5 are overweight globally.

Worldwide , at least 2.8 million people die each year as a result of being overweight or obese, and an estimated 35.8 million (2.3 percent) of global DALYs (Disability-Adjusted Life Year) are caused by overweight or obesity. As back as 2008, 35 percent of adults aged 20 and above were overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m2). And an estimated 205 million men and 297 million women over the age of 20 were obese, a total of more than half a billion adults worldwide. The World Health Organisation projected that by 2015, approximately 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese.

UK statistics in 2009 showed that 44 percent of men and 33 percent of women were classified as overweight, (BMI 25 to less than 30kg/m2) and almost a quarter of adults (22 percent of men and 24 percent of women were obese (BMI 30kg/m2 or over). In the United States, 55 percent of adults are overweight, and a whopping 23 percent of adults are considered obese.

In Africa, more than one-

third of African women and a quarter of African men are estimated to be overweight, and it is predicted to rise to 41 percent and 30 percent respectively in 2016. In Nigeria, although the incidence of obesity is low, there is a trend of profoundly increased cases of overweight. A 2008 World Health Organisation reports puts the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Nigeria at 26.8 percent and 6.5 percent respectively.

Children and adolescents are not exempted. The periods of strong oscillation and transition of body adiposity which occur in childhood and adolescence are believed to be the critical stages for the development of obesity. Cathy Nonas clearly stated that, “Childhood obesity is a huge systemic problem. It’s a pandemic to a certain extent”. In 2010, globally the number of overweight children under the age of five is estimated to be over 42 million.

These overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese in their adulthood, and are more liable to develop non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease at a younger age.

MEASUREMENT OF OBESITY The rising prevalence of obesity in the world today, warrants the need for accurate methods of assessing adiposity. There are a number of ways a person’s weight can be assessed. But BMI (Body Mass Index) is the most widely used indicator of overweight. BMI is a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of his or her height (in metres). A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese.

A BMI equal to or more than 25 is considered to be overweight. When the BMI is over 40, it is considered to be very obese (known as “morbidly obese”). When it is below 18.5, it is considered underweight, and when it is between 18.5 to 24.9, it is considered a healthy weight. The BMI provides guidelines on the identification, evaluation and treatment of adults who are obese.

Other methods of measuring body fats include measurement of the waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio, measurements of skin

By UTI ANIEKAN UDOH

fold thickness, and techniques such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography.

CAUSES OF OBESITY Obesity is actually caused by over-eating (especially the consumption of high calorie which are found in junk foods), irregular meals,

factors can affect appetite, the rate at which you burn energy (metabolic rate), and how the body stores fat, making the risk of becoming obese high.

Pregnancy can also cause obesity, because during pregnancy a woman weight increases. And some women may find it difficult

and the lack of daily physical activity. The British Medical Journal notes that, “Obesity is fuelled by economic and psychosocial factors as well as increased availability of energy dense food and reduced physical activity”. To simply put it, a person becomes obese when he/she eats to much high calorie meals than he/ she burns it.

There are also a number of conditions that can cause overweight or weight gain such as Polycystic Ovary syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome, and other diseases and conditions.

Recent research shows that in some cases, obesity can be hereditary; certain genetic factors may cause the changes in appetite and fat metabolism that lead to obesity. These genetic

to lose this weight after the baby is born. Also, certain medications can lead to weight gain, if these medications are not compensated through diet or physical activities.

CONSEQUENCES AND HEALTH RISKS An obese person is more likely to develop a potentially serious health problems and this include; Cardiovascular disease, Diabetes (type 2), Musculoskeletal disorder (especially Osteoarthritis), Cancers (breast, endometrial, gallbladder and colon), High blood pressure, Coronary heart disease, Stroke, Abnormal blood fats, Metabolic syndrome, Sleep Apnoea, Obesity Hypoventilation syndrome, Gynaecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

Gallstones, Dyslipidemia, and Liver and Gallbladder disease.

Psychologically, being overweight or obese can affect a person’s self esteem. It may also cause depression and anxiety.

Physically, it can cause difficulties breathing, difficulties walking or running, increased sweating, and pains in the knees.

TREATMENT OF OBESITY To treat obesity, a team of health professionals, including dieticians, therapists, and nutritionists

are needed. Professionals that will help you understand the condition, and be able to make changes in your eating habits, so as to maintain a healthier weight, reduce the risk of serious health problems, and enhance your quality of life. Obesity can be treated by changing your diet, exercising, changing your lifestyle, prescription of weight- loss medications such as ‘Orlistat’ which can aid weight loss, and weightloss surgery. The weightloss surgery may be considered if you have what is known as extreme obesity (a Body Mass Index of 40 or more). You can also purchase an internet application such as the NHS BMI Tracker tool that can be used to monitor your weight.

There is no magic treatment for obesity, fighting obesity can be stressful and challenging, and it definitely takes commitment for you to see results. I leave you with tips that can help prevent unhealthy weight gain, and at the same time help you lose weight: EXERCISE REGULARLY: One of the best ways to lose body fat and prevent weight gain is through exercising.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, you need to get 150 to 250 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week to prevent weight gain.

MONITOR YOUR WEIGHT REGULARLY: You need to weight yourself regularly in order to detect small weight gains before it becomes a big problem.

Having a scale at home and weighing your self once a week is recommended.

BE CONSISTENT: Developing a healthy weight definitely takes consistency.

You need to be consistent to increase your chances of long-term success.

EAT HEALTHY: One of the major cause of overweight and obesity is unhealthy diet. These days, people excessively consume junk foods and high calorie meals which are known to cause overweight and obesity. Subodh Gupta warned that, “If you keep eating unhealthy food then no matter how many weight loss tips you follow, you are likely to retain weight and become obese. If only you start eating healthy food, you will be pleasantly surprised how easy it is to lose weight.” You need to focus on low- calorie, nutrient- dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Avoid saturated fat and limit your intake of sweets and alcohol. Subodh Gupta advised that, “Eating healthy nutritious food is the simple and right solution to get rid of excess body weight effortlessly and become slim and healthy forever.”

EAT WHEN YOU FEEL HUNGRY: Eating when you feel hungry can be a great way to tackle the out-ofcontrol eating, and prevent obesity. You need to control how you eat and what you eat. Studies have shown that those who are naturally fit only eat when they are hungry.

THE WEEKEND

23 HAVE you ever thought about what gives you real pleasure or makes you come alive, or perhaps makes you glad you are who you are? You may be pleasantly surprised at

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013 breakfast in bed, writing etc.

Many of us may have suspected this for years but it is only recently that doctors and psychologists have discovered that

our brain keeps us alert and ready for action by calling for that well known stress hormone adrenaline. When it is time to stop however, if we don’t send right messages to our brain,

way to achieve a feel good boost. We are all different and you need to discover the truth about yourself. Once you know what works for you, make sure you indulge yourself on a

Beauty Shop With Gloria Omoruyi

Pleasure: Key To Physical And Mental

Well-Being how many ways you can enjoy yourself.

Dr. Elizabeth Mapstone, a chartered psychologist says: Enjoying the simple things in life not only makes us feel good, pleasure is also the key to both mental and physical well-being.

Most people discovered that simple everyday things come to mind like chatting with friends, watching movies, doing crosswords, having

our body chemistry appears to require regular imput from feelings of pleasure.

Just as we need sleep to sort the experiences, of the day and reorganize our memory banks so too do we need to restore the chemical balance in our body after a day’s job by allowing the senses to relay messages of wellbeing to our brain.

While we are so busy dealing with our lives,

7 Ways To Unwind 1. Window shop: Without walking the streets you can be in the comfort of your room while you gloss over the latest styles in your fashion magazine and making your order.

2. Call a friend: You can call a friend especially one you have been meaning to talk to for ages or have a gossip with the person who always make you laugh.

3. Watch a movie: Make sure it is your choice alone, not a compromise with your family or partner.

4. Read a book: Treat yourself to a book and read it even though your are not on holiday. Most of us get too busy for this simplest of pleasure.

5. Sort out your

wardrobe: Have a good throw out of all the old clothes in your wardrobe, too long a task? Go easy and tackle it, a drawer at a time or in sections.

Always good for the soul.

6. Take a walk: you can take a walk in the park or around your neighbourhood in the early hours of the day or in the cool of the evening. Don’t hurry or try to turn it into a hike. A leisurely stroll is a great antidote to stress.

7. Sort out old photographs: You can sort out old photographs piled up in boxes for years and put them in albums. In the process you can have a good laugh when you see shots of your good old days.

that “fight or flight” hormone will continue to circulate in our blood making true relaxation impossible even interfering with sleep, if we continue to live with high levels of adrenaline, our health will suffer. The best way to avoid adrenaline overload is through allowing ourselves to unwind.

Pleasure alerts our brain to reduce adrenaline and increase the output of serotonin, a natural chemical that reinforces feelings of calm and happiness.

Serotonin is nature’s Prozac: an ecologically sound self-medication under our own control without any harmful side effects.

Psychologists do not prescribe drugs, but they can prescribe behaviour. Stimulating your mind is a great

regular bases.

Fulfilling your daily description may be difficult. If you have to rely on other people for your enjoyment.

People are important of course and many of our pleasures can come from love and friendship, fun and laughter.

But the life is lived within our own bodies

so that all our senses – sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, contributes to our capacity to find pleasure in being ourselves and feel happiness inside our own skin is crucial to everyone’s well being.

Everyone needs pleasure in life, so keep list of the simple things that please update

them when you discover something new, select at least 30 minute’s worth to enjoy.

It doesn’t matter what it is, so long as it brings you an overall sense of well-being.

You will begin to feel wonderful in no time because pleasing yourself is just what you need what is more, everyone in your life will benefit.

“People are important of course and many of our pleasures can come from love and friendship, fun and laughter. But the life is lived within our own bodies so that all our senses – sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, contributes to our capacity to find pleasure in being ourselves and feel happiness inside our own skin is crucial to everyone’s well being.”

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

S ciety Introduction

VIOLENCE is not new to the human race. It is an increasing problem in modern society. With greater access to firearms and explosives, the scope and efficiency of violent behaviour has had

people see on tm consider this: the average Nigerian child will witness 200,000 violent acts on television by age 18. Young people may become desensitized to violence and more aggressive. Media violence sometimes begs for imitation

people” (actors/actresses), whom kids have been taught to admire. Even though kids are taught by their parents that it is not right to hit someone, the television says it is OK to bite, hit, or kick if you are the good man. This can lead to confusion when

V i o l e n c e In order to reduce media violence, parents need to limit television viewing to one-two hours daily and watch programs with their children, enabling them to address any objectionable material seen.

Media practitioners should

adequate’ warnings provided to the public.

Parents also need to educate themselves about popular culture. Becoming familiar with the media that the child consuming, including what they watch, play, listen to and look at

phones. Some children have a television set in their bedrooms. This gives a greater opportunity for children to view programs without – parental supervision. Studies by R. Hodge and rose buck revealed that children

The Effects Of Media Violence On Our Children:

Opportunities For Parental Intervention serious consequences; from militancy to Boko Haram.

While it is difficult to determine whether children who exposed themselves to televised violence are at greater risk, there appears to be a strong correlation between media violence and aggressive behavior within vulnerable segments of y o u t h .

Violence in the media has become a conflicting topic.

While some individuals believe that media violence places society in danger of anarchy, others find that violence in the movies and on television has no negative effect on the society.

Research has shown that there are pros and cons to having violence displayed in the media.

Background/Preview Eugene V Beresin observed that, over the past 30 years, there has been extensive research on the relationship between televised violence and violent behaviour among youth. Longitudinal, crossyoung children sectional, and experimental studies have all confirmed this correlation.

Televised violence and the presence of television in Nigerian households have increased steadily over the years. From a research that was carried out in Ozoro through purposeful sampling by the writer, concludes that in 1980, only 10% of Nigerian homes had a television.

Today 70% of homes have television sets. In fact, more families have television sets now as mobile phones. Some children have a television set in their bedrooms. This gives a greater opportunity for children to view programs without - parental supervision.

Studies by R. Hodge and rose buck revealed that children watched approximately 4 hours daily and 28 hours of television a week, more time than they spend in school.

The typical Nigerian child will view more than 200,000 acts of violence, including more than 16,000 murders before age 18. Television programs display 81 2 violent acts per hour; children’s programming, particularly cartoons, displays up to 20 violent acts hourly.

To give us perspective on just how much violent young

because violence is often promoted as a fun and an effective way to get what one w a n t s .

Definition Of Terms Violence: violence refers specifically to physical assault performed on another person with the intent to hurt them. It also refers to physical acts committed against property in order to destroy it.

Aggression: aggression is much broader than violence.

It refers to all acts that are aggressive acts on media in their used to harm another playing with peers. person—psychologically and physically.

Media: media does not refer simply to lust television.

Media also includes newspapers, magazines, popular books, music and even video games. Media is essentially the arena in which we receive information.

Media violence: media violence is known to be a cause of Media Violence And Aggressive Behaviour With the rate of behavioral change in some of our children today, one would agree with Charlotte Grayson, Mathis brown, and other researchers who have demonstrated that very young children will imitate aggressive acts on media in their playing with peers. The fact is that, many violent acts are perpetrated by the “good

By FR OBI, OVIEMUNO INNOCENT OMV kids try to understand the difference between right and wrong. Before the age of four, children are unable to distinguish between fact and fantasy and may view violence as an ordinary o c c u r r e n c e .

In general, violence on television and in movies often

make parents and schools “media literate,” meaning they should understand the risks of exposure to violence and teach children how to interpret what they see on television and in the movies, including the intent and content of commercials. In doing so, children may be increasingly

conveys a model of conflict resolution. It is efficient, frequent, and inconsequential. Heroes are violent, and, as such, are rewarded for their behaviour they become role models for youth. It becomes normal to carryon automatic weapon and use it to knock off the “bad people.” the typical scenario of using violence for a righteous cause may translate in daily life into a justification for using violence to retaliate against perceived victimisers.

Hence, vulnerable youth who have been victimized may be tempted to use violent means to solve problems.

Unfortunately, there are few models of nonviolent conflict resolution in the media.

Additionally, as observed by Anthony Smith, children who watch televised violence are desensitised to it. They may come to see violence as a fact of life and, over time, lose their ability to empathise with both the victim and the v i c t i m i s e r .

How To Reduce Media

able to discern which media messages are suitable.

Schools and homes should teach children conflict resolution. We should be speaking up to the networks, cable vendors, local stations, federal agencies, and our political officials to help ensure that programming decisions are made with an eye open to the potential consequences to the viewing audience aggressive behavior, particularly in children. This includes exposure to violence on television, in movies, music at the internet, as well as video games. And that when violence is present, there are

online. Once you understand the content that your child is exposed to, you can draw limits on what he/she watches, in an informed way.

Drawing limits are important and create opportunities for your child to entertain him/ herself in ways that do not involve exposure to violence in mass media.

Talk to your children about what media they are exposed to encourage your child to become healthy sceptic when it comes to consuming media one way to approach this conversation is to ask your child what he/she thinks about the messages of certain shows, video games or songs whether they are accurate or helpful. You may also model this behaviour by deconstructing popular culture in front of your child.

C o n c l u s i o n we have endeavoured to expose how media violence affect the upbringing of the children in our society, and how parent can be viable instrument in controlling and reducing such violent activities in the society.

Parents desiring good moral behaviour of their children can help to limit the amount of time their children watch television or movies and should prohibit violent video games. Furthermore, children should not have televisions in their bedrooms and should only use the computer in public areas of the home.

Parents equally need to talk to their children about what they see in the media to reassure children that violence is not normal and that much of the violence is pretence.

That in 1980, only 10% of Nigerian homes had a television. Today 70% of homes have television sets. In fact, more families have television sets now as mobile

watched approximately 4 hours daily and 28 hours of television a week, more time than they spend in school.

The typical Nigerian child will view more than 200,000 acts of violence, including more than 16,000 murders before age 18. Television programs display 812 violent acts per hour; children’s programming, particularly cartoons, displays up to 20 violent acts hourly.

To give us perspective on just how much violent young people see on TV consider this: the average Nigerian child will witness 200,000 violent acts on television by age 18. Young people may become desensitized to violence and more aggressive. Media violence a fun and an effective way to get what one wants.

Definition of terms Violence: violence refers specifically to physical assault performed on another person with the intent to hurt them. It also refers to physical acts committed against property in order to destroy it.

Aggression: aggression is much broader than violence.

It refers to all acts that are used to harm another person – psychologically and physically.

Media: media does not refer simply to just television.

Media also includes newspapers, magazines, popular books, music and even video games. Media is essentially the arena in which we receive information.

Media Violence: Media violence is known to be a cause of aggressive behaviour, particularly in children. This includes exposure to violence on television, in movies, music and the internet, as well as video games.

Culled from The Catholic Media Encounter

“Today 70% of homes have television sets. In fact, more families have television sets now as mobile phones. Some children have a television set in their bedrooms. This gives a greater opportunity for children to view programs without - parental supervision.”

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

n

E vironment

Auchi Gully Menance: Intervention

Getting Rather Late

By MORRISON HAYBLE

DISTRESSED residents of Auchi town in Etsako West local Government Area of Edo State who are under the siege and torment of ravaging erosion gully have again appealed to the relevant

property worth millions of naira to the floods.

Although the topography of Auchi town is susceptible to high erosion impact resulting in gully due to the low bearing capacity of the soil according to

pitiable adding that the loosing of the school to the gully confirmed the heedless cries to the authorities over the years.

Also of horrible sight is

having more than nightmares as they continue to loose to the flood, valuable property every time even as they now completely ravaged

authorities for urgent intervention as many of them have been rendered homeless while many other families have no access to their homes.

The appeal is coming on the heels of intense rainfall in recent times which continued to plague and complicate the plight of the residents, a situation observers say might force the town out of existence in the near futures if the heavy rains predicted in some states in Nigeria including Edo by the Nigeria metrological Agency is anything to go by.

Already, about a hundred houses have been lost to the gully, described as a holocaust and the destructions is continuing unabated.

Each time it rains, residents are often made to swallow bitter pills, as it was followed with weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth consequent upon lost of

environmentalists, the gully menace had severally come under media focus, drawing both national and international attention to the problem but worried indigenes insinuate that there appears to be a political hamstring blocking Government intervention ever since.

More pathetic is the massive devastation sites on Inu-Umoru street where an over 60meters deep and about 80meters wide land slide had claimed a block of class room in Momoh Primary School including several other houses in the periferi.

Other areas are Ebgeadokhai Street and environs where many buildings had gone with the gully, leaving no sign that the area was once inhabited while an extension of it is also fast approaching the Central Hospital on the Western axis of the town.

An official of the Ministry of Education in the town described the situation as

Aboitse quarter where a whole street had being taken while many surrounding buildings have since been vacated by their occupants for safety. It was also discovered that worshipers at the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cheruben and Saraphine Church, Auchi district Headquarters and other residents still managing to hang on precariously, can not access their place of worship and homes.

A vineyard worker, Apostle Peter Nwobodo who bemoaned the predicament said the church in collaboration with the neighborhood had tried initially to no avail to curtail the erosion effect by sand filling and with several truck loads of laterite and urge Government to send officials to Auchi to see for itself in order to be able to appreciate the magnitude of the problem.

The situation on Igbe road is inexplicable but suffice to say that the resident are

road is left with patches of asphalt reminding one that it was once tarred.

In all of these, none of the unfortunate displayed persons as a result ever received any form of consolation or sympathy from the authorities to signify a sense of their belongingness while victims of the recent flood menace in parts of the country who either suffered partial or major loses got well consoled and supported financially and materially.

A printed notice some years ago on the wall in the area indicating vacant apartment has now become more of ridicule than the serious message it was

then meant to convey as no one would accept to be accommodated there even with all the best conveniences in the world free of charge. This explains the terrible state the people are currently into.

Commenting on the situation, a disturbed and fruastrated community leader, Prince GAZ Momoh whose story building as at the crest of one of the gullies described the situation as pathetic, horrible and unbearable lamenting that the problem appeared not to be receiving the listening ears of the authorities.

His words: “Nobody is listening to us. Everybody is quiet about it. It looks like they don’t hear in Nigeria what is happening in Auchi.

It appears they regard us as outcasts, as if we are not Nigerians, for whatever reason we don’t know”.

Prince Momoh regretted that over 50 houses had gone with the gully in his quarter alone while many owners of the lost buildings had died from extreme frustration adding that more houses were being threatened and lost daily as the rains continue.

On the other hand, a prominent indigene of the town, Chief Bob Isah who was loath to speak on the development when approached however remarked tersely, “ Of what use is the noise. We have said more than enough in the past and nothing happened.

So we are tired of talking”.

This explains the degree of pain, disappointment and frustration in the minds of the people relating to the environmental disaster in the town in the past years.

However when contacted, a member of the house of Representatives, representing Etsako Federaal Constituency, Hon. Abubakar Momoh assured that bureaucratic bottleneck stalling the tackling of the Auchi erosion gully was soon to ease out and provide a lee way for the project execution as a

partnership agreement between the federal Government of Nigeria and the World Bank is set to mobilize resources towards giving it a holistic approach.

Abubakar Momoh has assured the people that consultants for the partnership were already updating records on the project.

However assurances by occasional visitors of government officials over the gully menace no longer serve to placate the people as their patience had been overstretched after a couple of years of unfulfilled promises.

The former Minister of environment, Mr. John Odey’s visit to the gully sites in July 2010 following public out cry and out rage when the Auchi – Okene highway was cut off as a result, did not make any impact in spite of his pronouncement of promises of federal Government readiness to tackle the problem. There were similar visits and assurances by government officials many years ago amounting to empty promises while the problem continue to worsen by the day, month and year, a palace chief in the town, chief Usman Otobo lamented.

Some respondents are also of the opinion that the federal Government has a responsibility in this regard given the years of unrealized hope, to erase the wrong impression as the case may be and demonstrate that it has a large heart to accommodate all and sundry across the country irrespective of political linings.

This, they noted would go a long way towards restoring the confidence that Government promises are after all, not mere empty vessels and that they also have a sense of belonging in the Nigerian nation.

“However assurances by occasional visitors of government officials over the gully menace no longer serve to placate the people as their patience had been overstretched after a couple of years of unfulfilled promises.”

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

n

E vironment Dangers Of The Depletion Of The Ozone Layer THE United Nations have set aside 16th of September every year for creating awareness on the need to preserve the Ozone layer. Ozone layer could be defined was a natural habitat designed by God to moderate the heat of the sun from damaging the world eco-system.

Indiscriminate depletion of Ozone layer in the past 5 decades had led to climate warming, sea over flowing, leading to Sunami and other world ecological degradation.

Consequently, there is a growing awareness of environmental problems and the realisation that unless we take pragmatic steps to safeguard the planet earth, it will no longer be capable of sustaining life as it has done for millions of years.

The disastrous effects of America attack on Japan Hiro-Chima and Nagasaki during the 2nd World War and the Russian nuclear accident at Chenobe the Indian Pestcited linkage at Bodah that have claimed the lives of so many people are the apex of the world Ozone layer attacks.

Oil spillages in countries endowed with crude and gas flaring have made headline news. People are becoming more apprehensive about the quality of water they consume on daily bases due to acid rain.

They are also concerned about the effects of car exhaust on their children and the disappearance of local wild life habitats.

The result of these concerns has been to apply pressure on government to take action on business and other organization to clean up their act and improve environmental performance, pressure

from public opinion therefore takes a variety of forms.

Starting with buyer of products popularly known as customers, they are daily increasing their environmental consciousness.

Consequently they are now selecting their mode of purchases in production and services.

They like to identify with goods that are packaged – biodegradable or recyclable.

People now prefer to patronize washing powder that do not constitute toxic materials in water or the environment as well as consuming petrol that is devoid of lead poison.

In the U.K., the government promotes consumer information to encourage the manufacture and distribution of products which are less environmentally harmful and more energy coefficient.

Many countries are currently introducing labelling standard in response to popular

customers demand and to ensure that they give consumers a measure of environmental credentials of products.

Whether a business manufacture goods runs

could enforce stringent penalties for failing to meet the prescribed environmental friendly standard while good environmental friendly standard encourages

s t i p u l a t e d environmental polices.

And should be able to respond accordingly in this direction. In this regards cooperation and a compatible approach can lead to improvements all around.

processes or provides services. Its customers are likely to demand to know about its environmental policy.

People who bought shares in companies want to be absolutely sure that their interest is well protected.

Questions are being asked on daily basis concerning the environmental impact of companies they have invested. To ignore concerns about the environment could lead to loss of business shares. Government

efficiency through less waste of energy and resources.

Therefore, financial investors, banks and insurers too need to asses the risks and the term viability of companies they invest in.

However, business partners have a part to play for a firm to keep an excellent record of environmental performance, it is important for the companies with which it does business to understand it’s

In addition, the ability to attract good employees, their productivity and commitment can be enhanced if a company present a positive environmental image and keeps its staff informed and involved in environmental improvements.

The neighbourhood communities, local government authorities “NGO.” And the local media are all supposed to make an impact in sensitizing the companies in their areas

By EKAIWE IGINUA OSEMWENKHA

of the need to be environmental friendly.

Neighbourhood watch can influence the performance of a company through it’s attitudes of planning applications for instance, maintaining and communicating a good environmental performance can have significant business added value.

To crown it all pressure groups can solicit, support from members of the public by p u b l i c i z i n g environmental concerns and staging campaigns on specific objective.

This will positively have an impact on the environmental policies of national and local g o v e r n m e n t ’s parastastals. This can also put pressure on companies with poor environmental records to tow the way of an acceptable level of environmental protection.

In the face of daunting challenges confronting the universal ecosystem and bio-diversity occasioned by gas flaring, oil spillages and nuclear accident, more pragmatic steps have to be adopted by UNESCO to reduce the menace.

The campaign of addressing the issue of protecting the Ozone layer should not be left to urban dwellers alone rather the government should be able to disseminate information to the rustic dwellers.

“People now prefer to patronize washing powder that do not constitute toxic materials in water or the environment as well as consuming petrol that is devoid of lead poison.”

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Today’s Diet With Pastor E. A. Adeboye

Overcoming The Enemy Memorise: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7 Read: Psalm 20:7 Bible in one year: Psalm 73-75

ON the 5th of this month, we analysed how Satan engaged Moses in the ring and after some jabs, and the hook, he finished him with an upper cut.

Believe it or not and whether it appears so or not, we are all engaged in a fight with the devil and his agents. We are also boxed in the ring, but the question is: who will overcome?

May you overcome in Jesus n a m e .

What can you do to win this battle?

You must be able to apply the word of God as appropriately as possible. If the right word is applied to a wrong situation, it will not work. Square pegs of the word must be placed into square holes of situations for you to get results. This is why Joshua 1:8 says the word of God must be a part of you — you must meditate on it at least on your

rising up in the morning, and shortly before going to bed at night. That is, the word must start and end each day.

Secondly, constantly plead the blood of Jesus on yourself, your family, and everything you have, and everything you are doing. Soak your finances with the blood of Jesus.

Cover your plans with the blood of J e s u s .

Remember, the enemy cannot prevail over the blood of Jesus.

Some people dare the devil with their own strength. This is dangerous because except for God’s mercy, he can easily destroy them.

When you want to

challenge the devil, challenge him by the blood of the lamb and he will flee.

In addition, never let the name of Jesus be far from your mouth.

When people are in an emergency, what comes out of their mouths at such times, clearly shows who they lean on for protection or help.

It is not surprising to hear some people calling their fathers, mothers, uncles, or children.

These people cannot help you at such a time. They might even not be there. But calling on the name of Jesus delivers and helps you in whatever situation you may find yourself.

The name of the Lord guarantees your safety. It can make an exception of you in the time of danger. All that name now! Jesus!

KEY POINT: It is never old fashioned to use the name and blood of Jesus, as they never expire.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

s

I sues

The Role Of Traditional Rulers In Transforming Nigeria Gone are the days, when

By UTI ANIEKAN UDOH

THE importance of traditional rulers in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. From time immemorial, traditional rulers have been exercising important functions, and continue to play an important role in the society of today; although, their functions have been changed with the present day circumstances.

Traditional ruler means the traditional head of an ethnic community, vested with the power and authority to rule over people in the affairs of life. Adewunmi and Egwurube (1985) defined traditional rulers thus: “The group referred to as traditional leaders/rulers or tribal leaders/rulers are individuals occupying communal political leadership positions sanctified by cultural mores and values, and enjoying the legitimacy of particular communities to direct their affairs. Their basis of legitimacy is therefore tradition, which includes the whole range of inherited culture and way of life; a people’s history; moral and social values and traditional institutions which survive to serve those values”. These traditional rulers, heads traditional institutions which are very vital in bringing development to their community or society.

In Nigeria today, the role of traditional rulers has been undergoing changes as the democratic dispensation within the country develops. This calls for an urgent need to redefine their role as heads of their polities within the framework of developmental efforts by the federal government.

These traditional rulers for a variety of reasons, remain important to the building and development of our country. Their core functions include mobilization of their communities for development purposes.

They provide infrastructures for enhanced standard of living within the community.

Traditional rulers work together with their subjects to carry the whole

community along to accomplish development projects that will be of benefit to the entire community.

In the socio-cultural aspects, traditional rulers act as the custodians of tradition, religion, arts and culture of the people. They serve as the link between the people and government, and assist the government in political education and socialization of the rural people.

Traditional rulers settle disputes and ensure peace, order and security in their communities. Axel (1998) asserts that, “traditional rulers try to make peace within the community and with the n e i g h b o u r i n g communities. To some extent, they also act as instruments of state (government) control at the local level.”

With the coming of modernization, the duties of traditional rulers have been reshaped.

Modernization has helped traditional rulers to introduce new ideas for community development.

Traditional rulers have become democratic in their decision, giving room for the people to participate in community affairs.

Traditional rulers of modern times, in conjunction with the local government in their jurisdiction, perform vital roles such as the construction of schools, and providing learning materials in schools to help develop the educational system; provision of medical facilities and building of health centres, embarking on awareness campaign on HIV/AIDS epidemic. They also provide social amenities such as pipe-borne water among others.

traditional rulers remain dormant. Today, Kings and Chiefs are now at the forefront of agitations for political administrative and advisory roles. Some traditional rulers in most communities in Nigeria are highly respected for wielding considerable political and economic influence; although they have no formal role in the democratic structure and in the constitution. Today, there have been agitations by some traditional rulers, for their inclusion in governance of the country.

During the public hearings organized by the members of the National Assembly across the federal constituencies, many of them aired their grievances over their exclusion from governance. They believe that their wealth of experience could add value to governance across their tiers.

While many persons agreed to this, others held contrary opinions. Some even believe that, the royal fathers cannot cope with the political insults, bickering, sabotage, prevarications, and other vices associated with Nigerian politics. Some also think that, the inclusion of the royal fathers in Nigerian politics will deepen the gulf between them and the politicians.

But the bottom line are, traditional rulers play an important role in nation building. They have over the years and are still performing reasonable functions that have helped in the building of our great nation. And let us not forget one thing, building anything starts from the foundation, the grassroots.

And that, my beloved Nigerians, is where the traditional rulers and their traditional institutions will play a crucial role.

“In the socio-cultural aspects, traditional rulers act as the custodians of tradition, religion, arts and culture of the people. They serve as the link between the people and government, and assist the government in political education and socialization of the rural people.”

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

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I sight

Benin Traditional Dirage And Modern Day Undertakers RETROSPECTIVELY, when there was a lamentation dirge in a community, it was a very sober reflection for all members of a community – especially the immediate and close

who were not so sure of M&K said. “Why do you have to come with all members of your family when you are not so sure of when the ceremony will actually

witches and wizards who had been excommunicated from their Abode after taking oath of allegiance to be of good conduct. This means that the witch or

They play with caskets as if it is a cricket game between India and Pakinstine. You will be amazed to see young boys and men driving vehicles in a very reckless manner, Okada riders will remove their hands from their bike on top speed. These people seem to be celebrating with

relations of the demised.

The closest children and relations were seen to dress in black apparel.

Black tread were tied round the necks of the toddlers very often, the wife of the deceased was anointed with black powder made from charcoal.

But in the early sixties and till date, a dirge had systematically metamorphosed into a jamboree and merry go round. So when there was a dirge at Idale village in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the defunct Benin Province, the onlookers who cried more than the bereaved were at the scene and their expectation for free food was their driving factor.

Some of the villagers

commence.

In response M&K said, “I am very sure my children will be well fed here as long as they joined members of the bereaved in demonstrating that this kind of incidence should not have occurred in the first place.”

In the rustic environment, the death of any person was usually associated with handiwork of a warlock in Benin Kingdom. So a warlock was seen as a social misfit and was confined to a particular area at Ikpoba Slope in Benin City after confessing to have killed a human being “Ekonorue” the Benin monarch social security center, was a place the Oba had created for

wizard had undergone purifications and now repented of evil life style capable of causing disreputation in their communities. Despite their genuine contrite, the good people in their neighourhood still detest and refused to freely associate with them.

These days the new Era of undertakers is taking a more bizzarra dimension in the sense that young boys no longer show any fear or respect for the dead.

“Ogogoro”, Indian hemp, ciggaretts and other dangerous drugs publicly. So, one seem to wonder if these people are mourning the dead or jubilating for loosing a love one in the family. Some secret cult members who had partake in this kind of show can easily behead their fellow human being in the opposite cult as just mere animals.

A respondent Pastor Chucks as regards commercialization of

By EKAIWE IGINUA OSEMWENKHA

casket business in Benin Metropolis said “A situation where casket business is now fully commercialized is totally unacceptable to the true church of Christ. According to the pastor, “people are supposed to live up to 120-years and when the person is dead before the family can place order for a casket”. So he had advised me to communicate this kind of illegal market to the palace, in response, I told the Pastor that the palace observation is not different and that on several occasions the palace had frowned at this development and instructed the producers of this casket to desist from exposing their products which is antithetical with Benin tradition and customs.

Against this back drop, it has become imperative for the “Ewase” the palace diviners to put paid on the perpetrators of this illegal business by sealing up such premises.

The English dictionary had defined death as a termination, abrupt ceasure of all vital organs in the human body. The African traditional religion preaches that a dead person is only removed from the physical earth to the spiritual world where he is more powerful and can still influence the way of life of the living.

To the Christian religion believers, once a man dies, he is no longer conscious of anything until the

judgment day. So consulting the dead is merely invoking demonic spirits who can even talk like the dead man.

A respondent traditional doctor Mr. Adodo as to the where about the dead person had this to say. “There are some people who can testify that a dead person in Benin City was found in Lagos trading on confectionary and haberdasher. So the belief that when a man dies, he is no longer conscious of anything is not correct”.

In an article in Nigerian Tribune, issue of October 21, 1984 a man called John Onigbogi was said to have received a letter from his dead colleague. This is verifiable from people who insists that the dead is not conscious of anything until resurrection day.

According to the man, “there was a mysterious wind blowing around . suddenly, I felt some thing in my hand, it was an envelop, I was about to throw the letter away but on taking a closer look, I discovered the letter was addressed to me in capital letter.

This story is left for my esteem readers to belief or not.

In the light of the above, people should be sensitive of the need to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner when carrying out a funeral procession, casket producers should desist from exposing their products to commuters and pedestrians plying our road on daily basis.

“In the light of the above, people should be sensitive of the need to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner when carrying out a funeral procession.”

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Alba Out For Another Six Weeks

Cardiff Fans Call For Mackay To Stay THE Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust has called on the club’s owner Vincent Tan to back manager Malky Mackay after reports he was asked to resign.

Mackay’s future at the newly promoted Premier League side is in doubt after head of recruitment Iain Moody was placed on gardening leave and replaced by Alisher Apsalyamov, a 23-year-old who is believed to have spent the summer on work experience at the club.

There has so far been no official comment from the club on speculation about Mackay’s future, but Tim Hartley, chair of the supporters’ trust, is quoted by the Guardian as saying that current events could prove to be “hugely damaging” in their first season in the top-flight since 1962.

“Fans will be concerned with the recent behind-thescene developments at Cardiff City which appear to put into question the future of our manager, Malky Mackay,” Hartley said.

“Supporters are surprised that someone who appears to have little hands-on experience has been put in charge of transfers at the football club.

“Fans want Malky Mackay, who has done a fantastic job as manager taking the club to the Premier League, to remain at Cardiff City. We don’t want to see any action taken to undermine his position as manager and Cardiff City’s efforts to have a successful first season in the top division.

“There are fears that the current developments could drive Malky into the arms of another Premier League club and that would be hugely damaging for the Bluebirds. Malky is a talented manager who has huge respect among the fans for what he has delivered. Fans deserve a clear statement on the position from the club on what has been happening and Malky’s position needs to be made perfectly clear.”

Former England manager Graham Taylor was chairman of Watford when Mackay was manager and believes there is a serious prospect of the Scot leaving Cardiff. “I think there is a distinct possibility of that,” said Taylor. “On the face of it, if you are the manager of all things football you are being usurped. I cannot believe the decision to replace Iain. I just cannot believe it. It is a very, very strange situation.”

BARCELONA fullback Jordi Alba will remain on the sidelines for a further six weeks after suffering another injury setback at training.

The 24-year-old left-back sustained a hamstring injury during the 3-2 league win over Sevilla in September and had resumed training with the aim of returning to the squad.

Barca’s Alba out for three weeks.

However, the club have confirmed that the Spaniard

Malky Mackay

suffered another thigh injury which will keep him out of the ‘El Clasico’ on October 26 and Champions league clashes against AC Milan.

Alba has made just five appearances for the Catalans in all competitions this season and his absence has seen Adriano Correia getting featuring regularly in the starting eleven.

Juventus President Open To Idea Euro Super League JUVENTUS’ Andrea Agnelli has reflected on the potential Europe’s top clubs have when united, including the financial lure a European Super League has.

The Bianconeri president is Europe would be the best from in London for the Leaders in an economic point of view.”

Football conference and has Agnelli’s mind is also on the reflected on how greater domestic game and how Serie organisation between UEFA’s A must ‘improve’. clubs is the way forward.

“We must improve the “We should have a common system, because we are still strategy, because we are stuck in a land of no-one. We stronger together,” spend much time discussing considered Agnelli this week. how to spend the money and “The best example is that of not on how Italian football the ECA [European Club should develop internationally.

Association] - what they have “Football is followed by half done in five years is the country and thus as the extraordinary, they have created a strong understanding and constructive dialogue with ZINEDINE Zidane has UEFA and FIFA. “Financial Fair Play? I revealed he wants to take sole support it because it is the charge of a team in the future, only reasonable measure to but says being Carlo Ancelotti’s prevent clubs spending assistant at Real Madrid is beyond their means, but it “perfect” for now.

Zidane, 41, joined Ancelotti’s must be effective.

“I want to know first what the technical staff when the Italian penalties are. A fine of 10m took over at the Bernabeu this euro would not even be much, summer. Actively involved in and disqualification is not Ancelotti’s decisions affecting plausible. the first team, the former “Imagine that UEFA France international told RMC excludes Juventus, Bayern, he remains determined to Real Madrid and Manchester eventually take a top coaching United from its competitions. role himself.

What would the television “That’s the aim,” he said. “I’m companies say? just going along my way, I’m “A European super league? learning. I’m in contact with The problem is that UEFA will people who are important in automatically reject the football. It’s a good experience.

American system, but a “With what I’m looking at closed championship doing in the future, being between the 20 best teams in

ability to act as a guide to Italy’s political situation. To this should be applied a sense of responsibility, perspective and discipline.”

The president admitted an inclination in the future to try and increase revenue that Juve’s current ground generates.

“The Delle Alpi, it could hold 68,000 people, but it was basically a white elephant, a cold and inhospitable place to watch a game with a very low average attendance compared to the capacity.

“The Juventus Stadium has 41,000 seats and is almost always sold out, generating revenue of 40m euro compared to 13m euro from the previous ground.

“At Stamford Bridge, they collect 80m euro to 90m euro, and this is the target that I have in mind - the economic situation and low prices of our competition, however, does not help matters.”

Read the original article on Football Italia - The ultimate website for English-speaking fans of Italian football

Zidane Reveals Coaching Ambitions assistant to Carlo Ancelotti is perfect. It’s good preparation for the rest of my career. I’m happy. It’s a job full of passion, difficult but interesting.

“There are two assistants, one of which is Paul Clement, who prepares and takes training sessions. It’s very interesting to talk to him because he’s been doing that for 22 years. He explains things well to me.

With Ancelotti, we talk more about tactics and the players.”

After hanging up his boots in 2006, Zidane has progressively moved closer to the dug-out after initially being named presidential advisor and club ambassador at Madrid.

Negredo Tips Sevilla To Improve MANCHESTER City striker Alvaro Negredo believes his former club Sevilla will

Alvaro Negredo

improve as the season progresses.

The Andalusians are currently in 11th place on the La Liga standings with just two wins from eight matches but the Spaniard believes the new players will adapt to Unai Emery’s style.

“The team needs tranquility and time,” Negredo told Canal Sur Radio.

“They really have not played their best football yet, but last Sunday’s game against Almeria was one that in another season they would not have won.

They have many injured players still to come back and when they do, everything will be better.”

Negredo says he is adapting to life at the Etihad alongside former Sevilla teammate Jesus Navas, who is already a regular starter for City.

“The adaptation from Navas into the side has been phenomenal,” he said. “A lot of people doubted his adaptation but he is happy, whilst at a footballing level we all know what he can contribute.

“What do I miss about Spain? The climate, the people and the food. But I have no complaints. I am happy and to go to Manchester was a wise decision.”

More of a figurehead under Ancelotti’s predecessor, Jose Mourinho, the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000-winner is revelling in his current handson role.

“With Mourinho, I wasn’t on the pitch, and wasn’t even involved in what happened on the pitch. I didn’t have any meetings with him about the team, about tactics, about what he wanted to put in place. Now, on the other hand, I have a real role. I have to tell Carlo Ancelotti how I see things,” he explained in L’Equipe, adding the former Paris Saint-Germain coach remains in overall charge.

“There’s a boss, that’s Carlo Ancelotti. He decides, he has the final word. But what’s really great with him is that there is a real exchange on tactics, on players, on the make-up of the team. I’m learning, I see how he works and how I can give him something.”

Zinedine Zidane

Jordi Alba

Pareja Pleased With Sevilla Return SEVILLA defender Nico Pareja says he is pleased with his contribution for the club since returning from injury.

The 29-year-old has started three matches for the Andalusians since recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered during the first league match of the season.

Although he is still experiencing some discomfort, the Argentine believes he will continue to improve with more game time.

“It’s always good to be back in action, especially since I returned ahead of schedule,” he told reporters.

“Despite the slight discomfort, I’m happy with the return because as a player you always want to play.

“After five weeks away, the aches and pains do not matter much, but I’m looking forward to being one hundred percent fit.

“Credit must go to the medical team and our physiotherapists who have also worked hard so that I could return well and ahead of schedule.”

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Hoddle Calls Fro Pro-English Rule

dialogue, I’m pretty sure of FORMER England manager Glenn Hoddle has that. suggested a quota system should be employed in the “Hopefully they’ll see what Premier League to improve the national team’s chances we’re trying to do and say, of success. pretty sure they’re going to Hoddle, who on ‘Well, actually we do want help out with whatever the Wednesday was confirmed representation on there’.” commission comes up with, as a member of the Football Another subject for the the ideas and the rule Association’s commission to commission will be the changes. There will be look into improving England’s qualification criteria for discussion, there will be fortunes, believes legislation representing England, which is required to boost top-flight opportunities for homegrown players.

“The rules have got to change in the short term.”

In Hoddle’s playing days Serie A was the biggest draw for the top players, but now England’s top flight attracts many world stars.

Former Tottenham and Monaco midfielder Hoddle said: “In the Eighties Italy was the place to go to, where the money was, but the rules were there were only two foreign players allowed in each team, so it didn’t affect the Italian players.”

The Premier League insists it is part of the commission, yet has not taken a place on it - Premier League chairman Anthony Fry declined an offer from FA chairman Greg Dyke - and Hoddle believes it may be “wary” of probable findings.

Certainly the implementation of a quota in a league adored globally may not be welcomed by clubs Jerome Valcke and officials, even if it is by young English talent.

A study for BBC Sport has found that English footballers account for less than a third of all the minutes played in FIFA has announced that tests at the tournament in the Premier League, a drop German company Brazil last summer. of three percent from the FIFA issued a statement 2007-08 season.

GoalControl GmbH will be which read: “Today’s Discussing the Premier the goalline technology League, Hoddle said: provider for the 2014 announcement follows an “Perhaps they’re a little bit World Cup finals following evaluation process in wary of what’s going to be a successful trial at the which the relevant departments within FIFA said, what changes are going Confederations Cup. to happen.

GoalControl was examined the use of “Maybe they’re just waiting awarded the contract for GoalControl-4D during the until they understand it a bit the Confederations Cup, FIFA Confederations Cup. more. plus the Club World Cup While there were no goal“I do believe that they do and the World Cup, in April line incidents in which the want the English game to but the deal was subject to technology was required thrive. the technology passing to determine whether a “Behind the scenes I’m

became a talking point as a result of the FA declaring an interest in Manchester United’s Belgium-born Adnan Januzaj, who has Albanian and Kosovan parents.

Hoddle is unconcerned by place of birth.

Pointing to the example of Jack Charlton’s Ireland team

which fielded numerous English-born players, he said: “I think you’ve got to go by whatever the rules are of the day.”

FIFA Confirms Goal Line Technology goal had been scored, the system met all necessary FIFA requirements and indicated every one of the 68 goals correctly.

Importantly, there was also a high-level of satisfaction reported by match officials.

“Furthermore, FIFA can today confirm that GLT will be used at the FIFA Club World Cup to be played in Morocco from 11-21 December 2013 and that GoalControl GmbH will be

Euro Clubs Plan Own League - Gala G A L ATA S A R AY ’ S president says European clubs are in talks about launching a new continental competition that could replace UEFA’s Champions League.

Unal Aysal said he is hoping a 20-team continental super league can launch after 2018 when UEFA’s current agreement with the European Club Association expires.

Aysal says “it would be 20 big teams, with three to five teams changing every year. ... It is a concept that is under discussion for a few years.”

However, he did not say which clubs have been

involved in the talks, or how far they have progressed. The ECA says a new competition “was

never discussed” by the 214-member organization.

Speaking at the Leaders in Football conference in London, Aysal said he has

spoken with potential sponsors for the competition, including two “big brands.”

the official GLT provider for the event.

“The use of GoalControl4D in Morocco and Brazil will be subject to a final installation test at each stadium, which is a standard procedure as part of the official certification process defined in the GLT Testing Manual. These tests will be conducted by an independent test institute. Prior to the start of every game, the match officials will also carry out their own tests, in-line with the operational procedures approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).”

Security: Brazil Wins FIFA Confidence FOOTBALL’s world governing body FIFA is confident Brazil can ensure security during next year’s World Cup, its secretary general said Thursday.

“There is no additional demand on the part of FIFA” in terms of security, Jerome Valcke told a Rio press conference.

In the wake of massive street protests in June as Brazil hosted the

Confederations Cup, Valcke said authorities “reacted well and gave us all, teams, trade partners, confidence in their capacity to control these situations”.

The protests, which brought more than one million people onto the streets of major cities, were against the high cost of hosting the World Cup and also to demand better

public services and an end to endemic corruption.

During Valcke’s visit to Cuiaba, capital of the central-western state of Mato Grosso, last week, some 50 people, most of them public employees, held a protest.

“They have the right to protest and we have the right to organize the World Cup,” the FIFA secretarygeneral commented.

Lionel Messi

Brazil Could Use A Messi - Ronaldo BRAZIL’S national squad could use a Lionel Messi, the country’s former World Cup winner Ronaldo said Thursday.

Asked at a Rio press conference whether he would like a foreigner to play in the Selecao, he replied: “I would love to have a Messi or (Portugal star) Cristiano Ronaldo rejected in their country and then able to play with the national squad.

“If Messi did not play for Argentina, I would love to have him (with us). I would prefer Messi to Diego (Maradona), even though Diego is also my friend,” he added with a chuckle.

The Brazilian football great meanwhile said he saw no problem with Diego Costa, Atletico Madrid’s Brazilianborn striker, playing for Spain in next year’s World Cup. “Players who are not used in their own country and have a second citizenship are used by other countries,” he noted.

Costa recently indicated he would be keen to play for world champions Spain.

And Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said he was prepared to call on him if football’s world governing body FIFA declares him eligible.

“If a player cannot play for his own country, why would he not be able to play for another country,” said FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke.

Ronaldo played for Brazil in 98 international matches, scoring 62 goals and was part of the national squad that won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups.

The question of eligibility follows England midfielder Jack Wilshere’s comments that only English players should represent the national side.

The Arsenal star was speaking after it emerged the Enlgish national governing Football Association had looked into the eligibility of talented Manchester United forward Adnan Januzaj to play for England.

Belgium-born winger Januzaj can play for the country of his birth, Albania, Kosovo, Serbia and Turkey and the 18-year-old could represent England in 2018 on residency grounds if he remains in the country for the next five years.

THE WEEKEND

31

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

Milo Football Clinic

Canada 2014 Qualifier:

Rufai Hunts For Talents In Benin

Falconets Now To Play Sierra Leone The Falconets, Nigeria’s under-20 women football team, will now play against their Sierra Leonean counterparts in the qualifiers for next year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in Canada.

This is contained in a statement in Abuja by Ademola Olajire, the Assistant Director (Media), at the Nigeria Football Association (NFA).

It said the fixture was in the first round of the African qualifying race for the competition.

“This is according to a letter from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and is as a result of the withdrawal of Burkina Faso from the race to Canada 2014,’’ the statement said.

It said the Falconets, who were already in a screening camp in Abuja, would host the first leg game at the Abuja National Stadium on October 26.

“The Falconets will play the second leg game in Freetown on November 9,’’ the statement said.

It added that CAF had already appointed Dayves Leopoldina from Guinea Bissau as Centre Referee for the match in Abuja.

“Her compatriots Amancio Deolinda and Gomes Antonio will act as Assistant Referee 1 and Assistant Referee 2 respectively.

“Fadouma Dia from Senegal will be the Reserve Referee, while Helena Williams from Ghana is the Match Commissioner,’’ the statement added.

By NICHOLAS EBOIGBE

Aminu Maigari, NFF’s Chairman

with Dodomayana for the Under-13 boys in seven states of the Federation including Edo state.

He said those players who make the final list will represent the country in the Milo Football Competition scheduled to hold next year in a yet-to-be disclosed venue and date.

Rufai, a member of the 1994 squad of the Super Eagles that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, believes that intelligent budding stars that have enormous potentials abound in different parts of the country.

Dodomayana was not prepared to retrospect on his past days and the problems associated with Nigerian football but only expressed his determination to help build the lives of the young ones in the soccer game.

The programme will end today at the same venue.

Brazil 2014: Nigerian Delegates Storm NIGERIA’s delegation to tomorrow’s game between the Super Eagles and Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia will arrive in Addis Ababa this morning, an official said in Abuja.

Musa Amadu, the after 8 a.m. Ethiopian time,’’ Secretary-General of Nigeria the NFA secretary-general Football Association (NFA), said. told newsmen that a Boeing Reports say that Ethiopia is 787 Jetliner will depart the two hours ahead of Nigeria.

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Amadu disclosed further Airport, Abuja at 1.40 a.m. on that the delegation would Saturday. include 23 players, four Reports say that the aircraft coaches, eight team had been chartered for the trip backroom staff, NFA board to Ethiopia for the 2014 FIFA members, National Sports World Cup final elimination Commission (NSC) officials fixture’s first leg match. and members of the National “The plane is expected to Assembly. touch down at the Addis “The delegation will also Ababa Airport some minutes have some NFA management

Addis Ababa and secretariat staff, some other Nigerian football stakeholders, media representatives and members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, all totalling 263 persons,’’ he said.

The NFA secretary-general said an advance party of two persons from the association had been in Addis Ababa since Tuesday.

“They have been working assiduously with officials of the Nigeria Embassy in

NFA Banishes Kwara Utd FC To Lokoja The Emergency Committee of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) has ordered Kwara United FC of Ilorin to play its remaining home matches in the 2012/ 2013 Premier League season in Lokoja.

The decision is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Media Officer of the NFA, Ademola Olajire.

The committee, according to the statement, decided to temper justice with mercy, following a special appeal by the Ilorin-based club.

The club had appealed against the decision of the appeal committee which had on October 3, ordered that its remaining home matches be played in Abuja.

The decision was a fallout of the Kwara United FC versus Warri Wolves League match, where fans of the Ilorin club invaded the pitch and assaulted players and match officials.

“It was the unanimous position of the Emergency Committee that the penalty of forfeiture of three points and three goals and fine of three million naira was in order.

“We also resolved that the club should play its remaining home matches in Lokoja on leniency premise,’’ the statement said.

FORMER Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Peter Rufai has said that he is partnering with Milo, a brand of Nestle PLC to assist in developing young people in the game of football.

Peter Rufai A.K.A “Dodomayana” stated this yesterday at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City, where he is doing a programme to select players in the Under-13 category to give back to the society what he gained from the country.

According to Dodomayana, “the country made me. I am returning to the country, the good thing it gave to me by assisting the young Nigerians to establish themselves in football to become professionals someday.”

He disclosed that the programme is the fourth edition of Milo Football Clinic

Kwara United had in a letter of special appeal dated October 8, requested consideration to play its home matches at home or in any other neighbouring state.

The Ilorin-based club, hinged its appeal on the high cost of living in Abuja and the financial commitment of match logistics, coupled with the financial challenges facing the club.

Article 41 of the NFA Statutes states that “the Emergency Committee shall deal with all matters requiring

immediate settlement between two meetings of the Executive Committee.

“The committee shall consist of the president of NFA and five members chosen from the Executive Committee for a period of two years,” the statement added. reports that the emergency committee consists of the chairman, who is also the NFA President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, assisted by six other members.

Other members are the NFA Vice Chairman, Mike

Lagos May Host 2013 Schools Sports Festival - NSSF The Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) said that the 2013 edition of the AllNigeria School Sports Festival may be hosted by the Lagos State Government.

NSSF’s President, Ibrahim Mohammed who disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos however added that discussions were still ongoing on the proposed hosting by Lagos.

Reports say that Akwa Ibom was earlier tipped as a possible host for the fiesta hitherto scheduled to hold in November, but it later pulled out of the arrangement.

“We are yet to pick a date for the commencement of the festival, since Akwa Ibom are no longer hosting. But we are now looking at Lagos as new hosts.

“We believe that with support from all quarters we will be able to put together a great competition,’’ Mohammed said.

The NSSF president urged the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, to keep to the promise he earlier made to support the federation’s programmes and on the issue of hosting the festival.

Umeh, the Executive Committee member, Emeka Inyama and Alhaji Muazu Suleyman.

Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed, Ahmad Kawu, the NFA General Secretary and Musa Amadu are also members of the committee.

Ethiopia to tidy up all arrangements for the delegation.

“On Thursday, the advance party met with officials of the

Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF).

“This was to verify reports that the federation was determined to stop Nigerian supporters from going into the stadium with their drums and trumpets on match day.

“However, EFF officials denied this,’’ he said.

Hope High For Ethiopia Players

Ethiopian national team players have the belief that they will outsmart Nigeria when they face-off in a 2014 World Cup play-off first leg qualifier in Addis Ababa tomorrow.

Defender Abebaw Butalo and Shemles Bekele said this morning at the Inter Continental Hotel in Addis Ababa that the whole team is determined and hungry to shine.

“We have the belief that we shall make it and stop Nigeria,” said Butalo.

The St George defender said they have been working so hard since last month and

know what to expect against Nigeria.

“The Nigerians have been so confident since the draw was made, but they will be in for a surprise,” he added.

Bekele who plies his trade with Al Ittihad in Libya said he is so impressed when the levels of belief in the team.

“All the players in camp are so determined and going to die a little for the country on Sunday,” he added.

Ethiopia has never qualified for the World Cup, while their opponents Nigeria have made it a record four times.

DOSU Advises Super Eagles To Be Focussed Joseph Dosu, a former Super Eagles goalkeeper, has advised the team to concentrate strictly on activities on the field of play during their Oct.13 match against the Walya Antelopes.

Dosu told newsmen in Lagos that he was sure the team would get a positive result if they focused on the match.

Reports say that the Super Eagles will face their Ethiopian opponents in Addis Ababa in the first leg match of their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification play-off.

“They should come together as a team and concentrate on the task at hand. They should avoid being distracted by what happens outside the field of play.

“I’m confident something good can come out of the encounter if the team remains on track with its training and

if it avoids distractions,” Dosu said.

The Atlanta 1996 Olympics football gold medalist said players’ consistency at club level would also determine how technically fit they would

be for the encounter.

He however urged Nigerians not to be unduly anxious ahead of the match, saying the team’s current form was good enough to give their fans reasons to be confident.

Mikel Obi (left) tries to dispossess an apponent during a World Cup qualifier match.

CMYK

Weekend Sport THE WEEKEND

32

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013

World Cup: Super Eagles Psychologically

Prepared For Ethiopia Clash - Okosun SUPER Eagles’ Psychologist, Dr. Robinson Okosun, on Thursday said the team was mentally prepared for the clash against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia on October 13 in Addis Ababa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match is the first in the two-match 2014 FIFA World Cup Final Round Play-off.

Okosun told NAN in Abuja that his greatest joy as the psychologist of the team was the fact that all the players were ready for the match and in high spirits.

“My most important job is to ensure that the boys are focused, by reducing every distraction to the barest minimum. And, as it is now, there is serenity in the camp and everything is alright.

“All the ingredients necessary for the players to do well is what we try to impart to them and I am happy they have been co-operating so far, which makes my job easier,’’ he said.

The psychologist said he was also happy all the invited players were on ground and injury-free.

“It becomes worrisome if the coaches had penciled down players for the game and one or two of them are injured.

It really affects team strategy,’’ Okosun said.

He said however that working on the players’ psyche was a continuous process, adding that the game against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa was not just against the host players.

“It is against the home

crowd as well.

“However, they (the players) have been to more violent and difficult terrains than Ethiopia and are aware of how crucial this match is to Nigeria,’’ the psychologist said.

He went on to explain the team’s decision to travel a day before the match and return immediately after the game.

“It was due to the Ethiopian high altitude which is expected to be unfavourable to the players.

“We are adhering strictly to our programme in the sense that Ethiopia has a high altitude and that is why we have decided to be there on Saturday and depart on Sunday.

“If not for that, we would have chosen to travel about four days before the match. But because of the altitude, we will be travelling on

Saturday.

“We have also conditioned the minds of the players to the situation, that we will get there and play and leave immediately, before the altitude problem sets in,’’ Okosun said.

He assured Nigerians that the mindset of the team was to go for an outright win in Addis Ababa.

“These players possess very high technical qualities and playing against Ethiopia is not a big deal to them.

All they need to do now is to condition their minds and remain focused.

“This team, since winning the 2013 African Nations Cup (AFCON) in South Africa has improved, compared to the games we played before then.

“So, we will keep working hard to ensure that we get it right,’’ the Super Eagles psychologist said.

Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike in action as he scored for Nigeria against Malawi during a World Cup qualifier game last month

Nwanu Slams NFF On Travel Arrangement, Urges Eagles To Beat Ethiopia

FORMER Super Eagles’ defender, Chidi Nwanu has faulted the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to airlift the country’s senior national team to Ethiopia 24 hours ahead of the first leg of the 2014 FIFA World Cup play-off against the Walya Antelopes scheduled for Sunday at 2pm (Nigeria Time).

The Football House The Eagles will battle had arranged for the the high altitude and a Eagles to train at Abuja bumpy pitch in Addis for about four days Ababa and to reduce the before the team would effect on the team, the storm Ethiopia for the NFF stated that the game. players would hit the In a chat with Goal East African nation on from Belgium, Nwanu Saturday a day before expressed his the all-important qualifier reservations about the billed for Sunday.

travel plans of the NFF for the Eagles and said that the team might struggle to cope with the weather condition in Addis Ababa.

He stressed that the best option would have been for the NFF to arrange for the players to get to the match venue at least a few days before the clash so as to properly acclimatise.

“I still don’t understand

Mikel Unfazed By Ethiopian Bumpy Pitch CHELSEA star Mikel Obi has said he is unfazed by reports the Eagles will play on a “bumpy” pitch in Ethiopia in Sunday’s World Cup playoff.

The Nigeria advance party to Ethiopia led by NFF technical committee chairman Chris Green has already warned the star-studded Eagles they will play on a bumpy pitch at the Addis Ababa National Stadium.

However, Mikel has assured the Eagles will cope with the poor pitch.

“We have heard about the poor pitch, but that should not stop us from qualifying for the World Cup because most of us started on such pitches,” Mikel told MTNFootball.com “Personally, I started my football on the streets of Jos, playing with stones and rocks, and I know the various injuries and problems we suffered doing that.

“I don’t have a problem with such a pitch as long

as it is not an artificial pitch.

“Our focus is qualification for the World Cup and so we hope to win on Sunday.”

Birthday boy Ideye suffers knock Fellow Eagles star Victor Obinna Nsofor also told

MTNFootball.com they are very much aware of the difficult local conditions in Ethiopia.

The Lokomotiv Moscow striker, who was part of the team who played out a 2-2 draw with Ethiopia two years ago, insisted a sharp change in weather,

bumpy pitch and a partisan home crowd will not affect them.

“We are not taking the Ethiopians for granted, we are aware of what we are going there to face on Sunday. I played there in 2011 and I know how bad the pitch was, we expect same on Sunday,” Nsofor said.

the reason why the team will be leaving for Ethiopia 24 hours to a crucial match such as this World Cup qualifier.

The best option for the Eagles would have been to arrive Addis Ababa few days to the game so as to get used to the weather and other unpalatable conditions.

“It is not a good decision by the NFF to have the players in Ethiopia on Saturday

booking.

The Sporting Braga star defender was booked when Nigeria forced Kenya to a 1-1 draw in Calabar in

Elderson Echiejile

March.

He therefore risks missing the return leg in Calabar on November 16 if he were booked on Sunday inside the Addis Ababa National Stadium.

“The booking will not affect me. I am a professional and I have the experience to deal with such a situation,” the 25-year-old left back said on his official website www.elderson3.com “It’s a very important game and at all times the team comes first.”

The defender is one of four Nigeria stars on a booking heading to Sunday’s World Cup final

and Anderlecht’s defender however affirmed that the Eagles should be able to hold their own and get a decent result in Addis Ababa before finishing up the job at home during the second leg.

He encouraged the Eagles’ players to be focused and play the game of their lives in Addis Ababa so as to brighten their World Cup qualification chances.

Keshi May Stick With Malawi Conquerors NIGERIA’s coach Stephen Keshi is likely to start the same team he paraded last month against Malawi on Sunday in Ethiopia.

Keshi, for one, did not change his squad for last month’s final group game in Calabar.

Echiejile Plays Down Booking ELDERSON Echiejile has assured he will be at his best against Ethiopia in Sunday’s World Cup playoffs even though he is on a

when the game is fixed for Sunday.

“When will they have a feel of the turf and what impact will the weather have on them,” the defender who graced the 1994 World Cup asked.

“Shabby programme and lack of adequate preparation will be of no good to Nigeria. We need to do more to get the desired result. When there is no labour, there is no sweet,” he added.

The former Beveren

playoff.

The others are Fenerbache striker Emmanuel Emenike, Ogenyi Onazi from Lazio and Turkey-based defender Godfrey Oboabona.

Elderson was an unused substitute when both teams last clashed in Addis Ababa two years ago and played out a 2-2 draw in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

He featured for the entire duration when the Eagles flew past Ethiopia 2-0 in South Africa in January during the 2013 Nations Cup.

This means Keshi will again keep out 2013 AFCON hero Sunday Mba and Real Betis Nosa Igiebor for Italy-based Nnamdi Oduamadi in the midfield.

Keshi has praised Oduamadi’s dare and speed.

Overall, the Eagles played with a lot of understanding and spirit against the Flames of Malawi in Calabar.

Sunday Mba vows to defy critics And the 2-0 win was a bit flattering to the visitors because their goalkeeper pulled off at least three big saves in a game dominated from start to finish by Nigeria.

Jet-heeled Ahmed Musa, who is going great guns at Russian double champions CSKA Moscow with some very crucial goals, would have scored at least two goals, but he was not clinical in front of goal on the day.

And he was not at his best during the AFCON clash against Ethiopia.

MTNFootball.com scored him 3 out of 10 in that match.

When Nigeria beat Ethiopia in January with two second-half penalty goals by Victor Moses, Mba started, so too Fegor Ogude, Kenneth Omeruo and Ikechukwu Uche.

It was a laboured victory, but after which the Eagles stepped up a few gears on the way to a third Africa Cup of Nations triumph.

The Eagles back four against Malawi was beaten at least twice by the Flames and that must be a cause for concern for Keshi as Ethiopia will be a lot more adventurous and confident than Malawi, who relied on fast counters in Calabar.

The likely starting XI vs Malawi Vincent Enyeama – Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echiejile, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe – Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Nnamdi Oduamadi – Victor Moses, Emmanuel Emenike, Ahmed Musa.

Printed and published by Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, 24, Airport Road, P.M.B. 1334 Benin City. Telephone; Lagos: 01 4930929, Benin: 052 257492, 257531 Editor: HENRY BALOGUN - (08058767088). Lagos Office: 3/4, Amode Close, Kudirat Abiola Way, By Olushosun Bus Stop, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos. Abuja Office: Floor 1, Edo House, 75 Ralph Shodeinde Street, Central Business District Abuja. Tel/Fax: 09-5237631. All correspondence to: 24 Airport Road, Benin City. E-mail: nigerianobserver@yahoo.com (ISSN 0331-2674)