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Nigeria's Independence: 54 years of what, really?

President Jonathan hates Rivers state Page 11

Nigeria is better today even with all the crises around us!

- Andy Dawodu

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Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

2

Life’s Wall We Invite You To Share With Us Your Most Profound Thoughts!

Question For Last Edition: Kamara was travelling to the village by road one fateful day and unfortunately the vehicle boarded broke down & seeing the village was close by, came down upon seeing a familiar landmark & began the journey on foot to the village. On entering a footpath, strange groaning could be heard from a nearby bush. Curiosity always gets the better of anyone in such a situation - and on getting close a man being eaten alive by wild jungle cats was the sight to behold. Still in shock and heavily panicked, his briefcase half ajar with freshly minted wads of currencies peeping out was lying in plain sight. Will you dash off with the cash, leaving him to his fate or make some attempt to rescue him at the expense of your own life ?

Paul- Honestly speaking, I will help the man if he still has a chance to sur vive. A good name is better than silver and gold.

easily dash off with whatever is in it without risking my life, then I will. But this is only if I'm pretty sure there's nothing I can do to help the man

Amarachi- Firstly, I will move close to him and see if he's still breathing then I can decide on what to do, but if not I will take the money and waka fast.

Kenny- I'll just hang around till the cat leaves and pick up the money.

Joseph- Seriously helping someone these days is difficult in this our society because even though I want to help him, I am very sure a good hospital will be far from that village. If I succeed getting him to the hospital, I might be asked to go get some nonsense police report before he can be treated. What if he dies before getting to the hospital, what will be my fate?

Tough one I guess. Confused.

Sarah- I will make an attempt to rescue him by going back to go call for help because I know I can't handle it alone.

Stephen- I will take the money and run for my dear life. Who no need money and who knows what will become of me if I try to help and the man dies, won't I be arrested and then enter police wahala for what I don't know how it happened?

Chris- I will try all within me to help and save the dying man's life even though I have no money with me, I can easily use part of his cash to get him to the hospital and possibly find a safer place to keep his cash for him.

Olu J- I will help the dying man. Going away with the money is not polite because money is not everything in life. Honesty pays.

Dozie- If the money is in hundreds of millions, I will run away with the money as fast as I can but if there is any chance of saving the man's life; I might try and see if I can save his life.

Barr Tom- It depends on the stage of the brutality by the cat. If it is at the foundation stage and the man is still alive, I will assist.

Taiwo- Depends on how much is in the briefcase. But even if I don't know how much and I know I can

Golden Girl- I will do what a child of God will do, and that is to save him.

Anny- I must be safe first and then any other thing will follow.

Callistus- Safety first. If I see that he will still be able to make it. I will help him out.

Clement- I will go for the money and save myself.

I will run without looking back.

Joseph- I will look for how I can be safe. If I'm not alive there is no way I can spend any money.

Dave- I will hide myself somewhere in the bush and wait for the cat to go away.

Anonymous- To be sincere, I will make an attempt for the money, If I can get away with it, no turning back.

Emmanuel, Student- If I no collect the money make I know wetin cause am. I go wait make the animal chop am finish to a 'bellefactory' level, then I will chase it with a weapon and make away with the cash.

???

Barr. M. D West- I will run for my life please, since the cash is right beside him as the animal is devouring him I won't dare help or collect the suitcase. You can't quantify life with cash.

Didi, Student- If I leave that cash and run off for help-as I won't be able to do anything, seeing as I'm all by myself, someone else might just come along see the suitcase and elope with it! Chai! I'll just wait for the cat to eat him up, probably stroll off with a full stomach and I disappear with my loot.

Ann, Worker- Chai! See gobe! I will just ask God Almighty for the sweet repose of the soon to be departed because honest to God, there is nothing I can do! Will I dare try to shoo off the cat and it then turns on me with nowhere to run to and noone to help? No, I will wait till he's dead, make way with the cash and pay my tithe (20 percent sef).

Ngozi- This is scary. If you actually mean a big cat as in Leopard or Lion, hmmmm, I am afraid for myself. I will scream and run for my dear life, if possible fly or disappear.

Kenneth- Chai! If only wild animals know the value of money. I be sharp guy, I will wait and let the cat finish the feast of devouring, then I will go for the money.

Ibibo- I'll make an effort to save the life even if it ends up futile. That dying man could be a loved one or even you being eating alive. Wadding off with the money without any attempt to save the life makes you a thief.

Lizzy- Oh, I so wish the cat was tearing apart one of these so called politicians we have in this country. As for the money, I don't think I will be that courageous to be around there because the big cat might not go away immediately and my life will be at risk.

Question For Next Edition: What is that one mistake you will like to make right if you have another chance?

Please write on our wall...SMS your thought to 08060917396 or mail: wall@ph-microscope.com.

You can put your name if you want to. We will publish your thoughts in the next edition.

Write to sponsor a question, call or text or sms: 08060917396.

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Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

Editorial

Nigeria's Independence: 54 years of what, really?

“One of the greatest tragedies of life occurs when a people are in bondage and they do not know it!” – Anonymous

N

igeria was 54 years old as an independent nation on October 1, 2014. On that day in 1960, the Union Jack flag of the United Kingdom was lowered for the last time, and the Green/White/Green of Nigeria was hoisted. We stopped to sing All Hail the Queen and started singing “Nigeria We hail thee”.

Nigerians who were alive then looked forward to a new vista of hope, of prosperity and the start of a great nation building exercise. After all, was Nigeria not at that time already blessed with nationalists who were both intelligent and educated? Was not the nation blessed with hardworking and industrious people? Was not the land filled with rich vegetation and abundant natural resources?

Every inch of Nigeria had something its people could live on.

Rains were as plenteous as sunshine was. What could possibly go wrong? How could we possibly not make it as an industrialized and a rich nation?

The first set-back came when it was time for our first election after independence. The west of Nigeria became a theatre of war. The legislature, filled with well-read and urbane people, became like a motor park, decorum thrown to the dogs, and people elected to represent their people in the house came to blows.

The election that year was marred with irregularities, and this led to our first political crisis, with a state of emergency eventually declared in Western Nigeria. The politics of winner takes all started and continued from that moment. Political power was suddenly seen as a ticket to relevance and wealth. Our political leaders started to live luxurious lifestyles. Federal and Regional contracts were signed with substantial kickbacks to the Federal commissioners and the regional government leaders. Nigerians began to witness a senseless display of ill-gotten wealth by their leaders.

Even then, this was a new Nigeria, and the people still had hopes.

After all, the colonial mastershave gone. Now we are the ones ruling ourselves, and so this ballooning corruption was overlooked in the euphoria of self-governance. In the meantime, the nation was spiraling downwards. Soon we reached a point in January 1966 with the first coupd'etat; then a counter-coup in July of the same year, and after this coup, tribalism and ethnicity reared its ugly head within the military. The center began to fall apart, and could not hold anymore. National and regional camaraderie was broken. You didn't know who the enemy was anymore. From 1966, the soldiers entered politics, and soon they saw how much money is involved, they thought, why stay in the barracks when we can stay in the palace? And first Aguyi-Ironsi, and then Gowon… we went through a list of them till 1979 when there was a break, and the politicians were back. Still the same as pre-civil times, some even now came with their children in tow. They hungrily grabbed what the military threw at us- an imperfect state, and an even more imperfect constitution.

The Nigerian state was by now well and truly established in acts of tribalism and nepotism. Corruption was no longer a stranger lurking at the doors, it had become a bedfellow. We were used to it; we condoned it; we influenced people with money and various kinds of baksheesh. The politicians could not help themselves.

They went well and tr uly insane with the looting of the treasury, and acts of blatant ignominy. One of the famous politicians back then even had a special brand of champagne made with his name on the label.

After 4 years and 3 months, I 1983, the military had had enough.

They rushed back on the pretense of righting the wrong in the country. And they tried to do just that for the first 20months or so, and then, there was a palace coup.. anda master dribbler became the Head of state. What followed was 8 years of systematic collapse of the Nigeria we all knew; both at the infrastructural and

moral level. We sold ourselves to the IMF and the World Bank. Our external loans became a large burden. Our naira got devaluated; our economy plunged; essential commodities were being rationed; universities started going on regular strikes; in fact everybody started going on strike. The hospitals were empty of staff and drugs. The brain drain intensified, and so on and so forth.

After IBB, then Abacha, then the democracy campaigns and the imprisonment of MKO Abiola, then the death of both Abacha and Abiola in quick successions and after this came the regime of AbdulsalamAbubakar who at least handed over back to the civilians in 1999. Between Presidents Obasanjo and GoodluckJona hthan, the nat ion has had the longest period of unbroken democrati c governm ent.

Long and shor t, Nige r i a h a s com e a long way s i n c e ind ependence .

T h e que stion to a s k i s therefore succinct; how have we fared s i n c e independence? Are we really a free people? Have not simply passed from one set rulers to another set (colonial to military/civil rule).

What is it that we have achieved as a country in 54 years really? Can we look back and say that independence has been good for us? Recently, Scotland voted to stay in the United Kingdom.

The Scots are probably the ones who hate the English the most, but they decided that they are better off staying t. I know that our situation as a colonized country is different from Scotland's but I can't help wondering sometimes what would have happened to us if we were still under the rule of the United Kingdom.One part of my reasoning thinks we would have at least not become dehumanized as a people, and perhaps we would still have had our own internal self-rule even though we nominally will be accountable to the UK. It is interesting to note that the Western part of Nigeria gained internal self-rule as far back as 1957, so perhaps this could have happened across the nation, even without full independence.

PRINTER'S DEVIL In the last edition, we mistakenly wrote that Hon Dakuku Peterside is a member of the People’s Democratic Party. This is an error and is deeply regretted. Hon Peterside is a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC). Any embarrassment to him is highly regretted.

Anita B. West - Managing Editor Rhoda Longjohn -PR Executive Nzewi Anulika -PR Executive Kofi Bartels - Political Editor

KOFFFFIIIIII!!!!

W

e have the pleasure to welcome Kofi Bartels into our team. He will lead the Political Desk.

You can expect an interesting political discuss and interviews from going forward. Stay around.

Chief Thompson Sekibo was also said to be the Chairman, Solid Minerals Committee. This we find to be old information. He is the Chairman Committee on Defence and Army. All mis-representation regreted.

EDITORIAL TEAM Folarin O. Phillips -Publisher

in the UK than out of it. I know that our situation as a colonized country is different from Scotland's but I can't help wondering sometimes what would have happened to us if we were still under the rule of the United Kingdom.One part of my reasoning thinks we would have at least not become dehumanized as a people, and perhaps we would still have had our own internal self-rule even though we nominally will be accountable to the UK. It is interesting to note that the Western part of Nigeria gained internal self-rule as far back as 1957, so perhaps this could have happened across the nation, even without full independence.

Some argue that the colonial masters would have been taking our wealth out of the country, but the counter-argument is that the set of rulers we have had are probably even worse than the colonial masters in taking the wealth of this nation out of the land. The colonial masters at least would have ensured that infrastructural, social and human development continues to happen.

After 54 years, it is sad to see that independence has had no meaningful impact to the lives of the ordinary Nigerian. It probably has benefited the political class the most. There is no part of our national life that we can point to as a success story after 54 years. Some infrastructure, like the rail, have largely been untouched since the British left. There were no new tracks laid, no changes to the status quo, and even though we have been pouring money into this thing since the second Obasanjo regime, the nation is yet to see any substantial leap forward in this sector. The only ray of hope is the Lagos rail project that the government is constructing from Badagry to Lagos Island and mono rail in Port Harcourt.

If we take the schools, even though we have many more universities today in Nigeria, we can all agree that the quality of the schools, the quality of the teaching, and the general academic standards leave a lot to be desired.

This nation was self-sufficient in agriculture once! Today, we live on importation. Cash crops have been mostly abandoned. No one talks about this anymore as a main stay of our economy. The Malaysians came to beg a few seeds of the oil palm from us in the early seventies. They have since become the largest producer of that product and we have essentially shut down on exporting the product.

Granted, there are a lot of positives from being independent, but if one places the potential that this nation had, and what could have been achieved since independence side by side the awful waste and the slide that we have witnessed, you will be angr y at the way we have run this country. One hopes that there will be a turn around, and perhaps if this happens, then we can still sing Nigeria, we hail thee!!

Adeniran Adekola - Circulation/Operations Chuma Nnoli -Sports Editor Olawale Olaogun -Graphics

PH Microscope is a freely distributed fortnightly publication, dedicated to showcasing PH businesses, info, events, & offers affordable and effective advert platform to all. We do PR inserts, and help businesses, organise connect with their immediate environment. Even though we have our convictions, and we express these convictions in a generally objective manner, we pride ourselves as being non-partisan and we are not affiliated to any brand or organisation, we simply strive to provide an equal platform for opinion sharing, and information dissemination.

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Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

Metro Diary Sep 19

Sep 19

Sep 12

Igbo Clan tops HIV Council boss calls prevalence in Etche for selfless service A survey carried out by the Rivers State Agency for the Control of AIDS (RVSACA) revealed that the Igbo Clan in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, as having the highest number of HIV/AIDS prevalence in the area. In his speech at a one-day HIV/AIDS Sensitization meeting organized by Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in affiliation with RIVSACA in Etche, the Executive Director of RIVSACA, Dr. ChimezieOkeh, said the state of HIV prevalence was as a result of the attitude of the people in the area.

According to Dr. Okeh, HIV positive rate by sex in Igbo clan showed that from January 2013 to June 2014, prevalence in male increased from 4.69 percent to 10.49 percent, while that of female increased from 6.39 percent to 12.23 percent. The cause of this increase, Dr. Okeh said, is ignorance on the part of the people, which culminated in their indulgence in risky behaviors that exposed them to HIV. Such behaviours include women's preference to patronise Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) for deliver y than government approved hospitals or health centres and the proliferation of brothels in the area. “If you look at total delivery in 2013 in the hospital or health centre, you will see that 295 registered. Out of these, only 28 went back to deliver, and that is the most dangerous part. “That is why women die during deliveries because most of the TBAs don't know how to handle complicated cases”, he said. In order to check the trend of HIV in the area, therefore, the RIVSACA boss said each of the communities must own the HIV campaign.

Sep 22

Cleric urges christians to be steadfast The General Overseer of United Spiritual Church of Christ, Umuekpe in Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State, Bishop Mike O. Onuoha has charged Christians to sustain their faith in God through thanksgiving. In a sermon at a thanksgiving service, Bishop Onuoha, said that thanksgiving was important as it opens the gate of heaven for blessings, he also said that as Christians, there was need for commitment towards the work of God, noting that God does not disappoint those who commit their time and resources to his work.

The man of God also urged the congregation to always wait for God's appointed time. He condemned the rush for miracles and breakthroughs, pointing out that what was important, as Christians was the ability to worship God in spirit and truth. In his words, “some Christians go to Church only to seek for miracles , healings, protection and financial breakthroughs.

“What is important is to worship God in spirit and truth,” he said.

The cleric also challenged members of the church to see prayer as key in their relationship with God and to be committed to the activities of the church while reminding them that Christ also prayed to God while on earth.

Sep 29

Rivers NAWOJ Gets New Exco The Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has gotten a new executive that would pilot the affairs of the association for the next three years.

The election of the new executive was the apex point of the 5th Triennial Delegate Conference of the association in Rivers State, with the theme, “Women: The Building Blocks for Better Service Delivery In Politics” held at the Ministry of Women Affairs, Port Harcourt.

The executive has as its Chairman, Mrs Lilian Okonkwo, Vice Chariman ,CalistaEzeaku, Secretary,Joy Grant-Amadi, Assistant Secretary, Susan Serekara-Nwikhana, Financial Secretary Lydia Manjor, and Tonye Nria-Dappa, Treasurer with the auditor being outstanding.

Delivering her speech at the occasion, the National President, MrsIfeyinwaOmowole charged the new executives to persevere a n d t a ke t h e a s s o c i a t i o n t o g r e a t e r h e i g h t s.

Represented by the Vice President, Zone F, MrsTimipreIdoko, Omowole noted that Rivers NAWOJ had been steadfast and supportive of NAWOJians at large, expressing optimism that the present executive would queue behind the good deeds of past executives as well as improve on them for the overall growth of the association at both state and national levels.

The caretaker chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Barrister NwabuezeAmadi has charged other members of his committee to see their appointment as a call to service.

The CTC boss who gave the charge during the swearing-in of members of the CTC at the council's headquarters in Isiokpo urged them to shun corruption.

He told them to ensure that every member of the LGA was carried along in the scheme of things irrespective of his or her political affliction. The chairman dismissed the rumour that he was not in good terms with the out-gone CTC chairman and called for the support and prayers of the people of Ikwerre local government area.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, Ogunde John Chnedu thanked everyone for coming, adding that they would work together for the progress of the people.

Members of CTC that were sworn-in by the KELGA chair man include, AkpenhchiGodspower, Ogundu John Chinedu, Amadi Paulina, Asuquo George Ita, Hon Henry AmadiWali and Hon Chukwumo Ochi.

Sep 24

Rebisi Stool: be neutral, Monarch tells Mayor Eze Emeka Anyabelem, the paramount ruler of Oroworukwo Community, called on the new chair man, Caretaker Committee, Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, Barr. Nnamdi Wuche to be neutral in the chieftaincy crisis rocking the Rebisi Kingdom. EzeAnyabelem made the appeal when the PHALGA caretaker committee chairman paid him a courtesy visit at his palace. The paramount ruler is the plaintiff in the civil litigation on the EzeAparaRebisi stool, following the demise of the former o c c u p a n t o f t h e s t o o l , E z e S u n d ay Wo l u ch e m .

He told the PHALGA boss that there was an existing court order restraining anybody to be recognised as the occupant of the stool adding that a Port Harcourt High Court had declared that all parties should maintain status quo pending the determination of the matter.

EzeAnyabem urged the people of the area to support the new mayor and his team to enable them have a successful tenure.

Responding, the chairman, Caretaker Committee for Port Harcourt City, Barr. Nnadi Nwuche said that he was in palace as part of his consultation with various stakeholders in the area with a view to achieving harmonious and peaceful relationship in the area. He described the royal father as a man of honour and integrity and solicited his support and cooperation.

Sep 29

CREEATE equips 50 Niger Delta Women The Centre for Creative Arts Education (CREATE) has trained no fewer than 50 Niger Delta women as employers of labour. The Executive Director Hilda Dokubo disclosed this at the 4th annual g r a d u a t i o n c e r e m o n y i n Po r t H a r c o u r t r e c e n t l y.

According to her, most of the women arrived the academy with shattered hopes, but have worked hard to redefine and rebuild t h e i r f a m i l i es, b u s i n e s s es a n d p e rs o n a l i t i es.

“At CREATE academy, learning is participating, interactive, experimental and industry based with a repertoires of highly reputable professionals with several years of teaching experience, believe it or not these women have worked extremely hard these past twelve months to achieve the success that we celebrate here today” she said.

“Looking at my skilled women today, my pride as a Nigerian is heightened as my faith is rekindled. Hope rests in me knowing that a pool of women who will not roam the streets begging and accepting handouts has been trained. I am pleased to inform you that 50 female entrepreneurs have been created, fifty employers of labours and wealth creators are ready to create their future”.

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Emohua Monarch decries communal crisis The paramount ruler of Emohua community, headquarters of Emohua Local Government Area (EMOLGA), Rivers State, HRH Eze V.C.B OkorMgbo Xii Nne Weli EmohuaNeriri has called on the indigenes of the town to shun crisis and embrace peace and developmental projects of the state government and the blessings of the land.

The paramount ruler who decried the recent killings in Ibaa community noted that without peace no community will prosper rather hatred and backwardness will be the order of the day.

EzeOkor who stated this at the coronation ceremony of Ohna Nathan ChimaKejeh, Nne Weli Mgbuetor community recently thanked the people of the community for their peaceful disposition, which made the ceremony a historic success.

Sep 24

Ogu/Bolo council boss assures on poverty alleviation The new Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, Hon. Mina Clever Tende has promised to reduce poverty to the barest minimum in the area.

Hon. Tende who made the promise while swearing in members of the Caretaker Committee at the council's conference hall at Ogu recently said as a former chairman of the council, he would bring his wealth of experience to bear and put smiles on the faces of the people, soliciting for their support and co-operation.

He said that he would consolidate on the gains of his predecessor and ensure that every fund is judiciously utilised to move the Local Government Area forward, for the people to enjoy the dividends of democracy of the present administration led by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

The Ogu/Bolo Council boss enjoined the people to shun political thuggery and other social vices as his administration would not tolerate such acts, and on the security agencies to redouble their e f f o r t s i n t h a t d i r e c t i o n .

Those sworn-in are Aaron Ayanabia, (Supervisor for Works), Christian Nyengiyikabo, (Supervisor for Health and Environment), Mark Tamunoiminabo, (Supervisor for Education), DokuboOkoseimiema, (Supervisor for Agriculture), Fortune Iniabipi (Supervisor for Women Affairs) and Williams Enos (Supervisor for Youth and Sports).

Sept 29

Native n Vogue rocks the continent The just-concluded Native and Vogue Port Harcourt International Fashion Week was a far cry from mediocre, as it very well could rub shoulders with international fashion shows the globe over. From 19th to 21st of September 2014, the Garden City was under siege of the world's biggest names in both the modeling and designing realm as the Hotel Presidential was the venue to celebrate the totality of African fashion.

Participating designers, models, makeup artists, back stage crew, all brought their A-game and delivered what was unarguably one of the biggest fashion events in the continent. Hon Chibuike Amaechi, welcomed guests and participants to Rivers of Possibilities on the opening nigh. Explaining state government's participation in the fashion event was a way of helping the youths of the state actualize their dreams and aspirations as well as giving them the opportunity to jump-start their budding careers.

The fashion week kicked-started with a buzz as glamorous models strutted down the runway in diverse cuts, shapes, colours and for ms to show-case breathtaking designs.

From dramatic floor-length dresses to dreamy, light-as-the-air ensembles, to innovative artsy numbers to avant-garde designs, participating designers over the three glamourous days of fashion culture, left the entire audience spellbound and dazzled,reiterating the fact that Africa had long dropped its wobbly infant steps in the world of fashion and has become a connoisseur to say the least .

Home grown models equally proved their worth, giving the walk of their lives every time they hit the run way. To add color to the glitzy event were musical performances by Chidimma, K-Cee and 2face Idibia.

The weekend's curtain fell ingrand styleas Allure Vanguard style award was handed out with encomiums to deserving models, d e s i g n e r s, m a ke u p a r t i s t s, a n d s t y l e i c o n s.

A Port Harcourt-based designer, Ibitein Thompson, emerged winner of the young designers competition and was issued a blank cheque by the Rivers State government with a promise of one year all expenses paid training in a fashion school in South Africa.

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Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

Metro Diary Oct 3

Oct 3

Amaechi: I have nothing against Daisy Okocha

PH hotel staff get We demand international job integration into government payroll transfers - TIMARIV

Rt. Hon ChibuikeAmaechihas said he has nothing against Justice Daisy Okocha's ambition in becoming the chief judge of the state, but rather was duly following the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. Amaechi, who stated this on Independence Day, during a special live Radio programme, in Port Harcourt said the lingering judicial crisis in the state was a ploy by the opposition who have blatantly refused to distinguish between personal and state interests.

He recalled that after the recommendation from the State Judicial Council (SJC) to the National Judicial Council (NJC), and the NJC made their recommendation to him, he rejected and asked for another recommendation but because the NJC has taken a stand, the body insisted on Okocha.

‘I requested from them to show me where it is in the Constitution that they must disqualify somebody. The law said any lawyer who has served 10 years in the Bar is entitled and qualified to be appointed as chief judge. So, it was based on this that I had to recommend Justice Peter Agumagu again. And there is a high court judgment on it. I hold nothing against Justice Okocha, but rather adhering to the law as stipulated in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria'', he said.

Oct 3

Workforce of the Rivers State Road Traffic management Authority (TIMARIV) has appealed to the government to integrate them into the Central Payroll of the Rivers State Government. The Chairman, TIMARIV branch of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), in the state, Comrade IgenewariKetuphel made the appeal at a press briefing held in his office in Port H a r c o u r t o n I n d e p e n d e n c e D a y.

Ketuphel said it is disheartening to note that after four years of active service, their wages could not be regularized and there was no condition of ser vice for effective ser vice deliver y.

He noted that within the period, most of their members lost their lives in active duty, some injured staff were not being taken care of, while families of bereaved officers were not compensated, and also appealed to the government and the authority concerned to consider their plight.

The union boss reiterated that on May 1, 2013, the Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi approved payment of N500 million to pay the back-log of salary owed workers, which he has fulfilled, and disclosed that during the May Day Workers celebration, the Governor promised to re-organise the outfit and re-structure it for better services as well as re-structure the agency.

Eight Nigerians working with a Port Harcourt hotel, Le Meridien Ogeyi Place, have been redeployed to one of the hotels under the global Starwood Hotels and Resort.

Thestaff who were working in the food and beverage department of the hotel got an international transfer to work at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Speaking during the send forth party organised by Ogeyi Place, the General Manager of the hotel, Mr. Chris Duncan, urged the redeployed staff to continue to work hard and show good example to staff from the other countries. Duncan noted the need for the workers to be good ambassadors for the hotel and Nigeria at large, adding that this could only be achieved if they stay focused.

In his contribution, the Human Resources Manager, Mr. Chile Nwabuko said that the staff have benefited from the opportunity offered by Starwood to work in another country.

Nwabuko said that the international transfer is aimed at giving the company's associates better scale that will enhance their future, as well as “prepare them for higher exposure and responsibilities with a better pay package.

Oct 3

Andoni Monarchs I'll deliver Ogu/Bolo throw weight behind to APC – Tende PHALGA boss vows Riverine Governorship to sustain peace in PH Aspirant

Oct 3

Oct 3

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Council, Hon. Mina Clever Tende has assured that he would deliver the local government to All Progressives Congress (APC) come 2015 general elections. Hon. Clever Tende gave the assurance during a sensitization tour by members of APC Contact, Political/Voters Education and Mobilisation Committees, led by the Chairman of the Contact Committee and member representing Opobo/Andoni Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. DakukuPeterside to the Local Government Area recently.

According to him, his appointment as CTC Chair man in the area had been giving some persons sleepless nights, adding, “the mass defection of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to the All Progressives Congress (APC) today is a clear manifestation of my efforts.”

He reiterated that his short stay in office would urge indigenes members of the area to veer into some form of trading through empowerment programmes and also promised to fill all pot-holes leading to the local government headquarters in Ogu.

PHALGA Caretaker Committee Caretaker Committee, Barrister Nnamdi Wuche, has vowed to keep up the peace in the state capital, just as he urged traditional rulers to assist in re- educating their youths on the need to maintain peace. Making this declaration when he led other members of thecaretaker committee on a visit to theEze Opara Rebisi, Chief Victor Woluchem, the council boss urged the monarch and his council of chiefs to continue to give the Rivers State governor, Rt.HonChibuikeAmaechi support, noting that the present government meant well for the people of the local g ove r n m e n t a n d t h e e n t i r e s t a t e.

He noted that all ethnic groups in the state have benefited from the present administration; adding that the Amaechi government was being criticized for adhering strictly to the rule of law and accountability in government.

Wuche promised to leave abefitting legacy in the local government area, saying he would not hesitate to develop all areas and carry everybody along for the overall interest of the local government.

Oct 3

Community leader decries politicization of Woji Royal Stool The Chairman of Community Development Committee (CDC), Woji, Dr. Brain Ogbonda, has blatantly warned politicians against politicising the stool of Evo Kingdom.

Dr. Ogbonda who doubles as the secretary of the Woji Town Council was speaking in an interview recently in Port Harcourt, said the stool should not be politicised for any reason.

The CDC boss assured the people of Evo that they would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the right person emerged as the new paramount ruler of Evo kingdom, as the Committee was working within the time frame given to them by the state governor to select a new paramount r uler for the Evo Kingdom.

On the re-appointment of Dr. Lawrence Chuku as the CTC Chairman of Obio/Akpor, he said the people of Woji were happy with his performance so far, given that it was the first time a Woji son would hold such position while also calling on him to look into the poor state of Woji roads and also provide the Woji Town Council with a bus.

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Traditional rulers and chiefs of Obolo ethnic nationality in Rivers State have thrown their weight behind the gubernatorial bid of one of their sons, Major Lancelot Anyanya (Rtd). The traditional rulers and chiefs gave the indication on Independence Day when Major Anyanya declared his intention to contest the 2015 governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking on behalf of the other traditional rulers in the area, a foremost traditional ruler from Ngo town, His Highness, Job W. Okuruket-Nnabiget XIV expressed joy that Major Anyanya who he termed an elegant son of the land, has stepped out to join the governorship race in the state.

According to him, the aspiration overwhelmed with joy the entire people of Andoni, including traditional rulers and chiefs.

“Although, we, the traditional rulers and chiefs, are not politicians, we must give you our royal support and blessings to make your aspiration come to reality, Okuruket-Nnabiget said. Other chiefs also expressed support for Major Amayanya saying his entry into the governorship race would end the issue of upland / riverine dichotomy in the state.

According to Chief Gad Ekpirikpo who is a one time Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, it is only a candidate from Andoni or Opobo/Nkoro area that is qualified to occupy the Brick House, next year without resorting to argument and counterargument on the issue of zoning.

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Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

6

Education

HOW HAS OUR EDUCATIONAL SECTOR FARED SINCE INDEPENDENCE?

7

Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

Bayelsa News Gov Dickson Explains Adoption Bayelsa Denies Outbreak of Bayelsa Airport Progresses: of Jonathan as PDP Presidential Polio, Measles NCAA Undertake Tour of The Bayelsa State Ministry of Health has denied the reported Candidate Project outbreak of cases of 18 cases of polio and measles in Yenagoa local Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson says, the adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan as the presidential candidate of the ruling Peoples' Democratic Party, (PDP), is aimed at institutionalizing the right of refusal for an incumbent President, as contained in the Electoral Acts and promoting stability in the political system. He stated that the adoption of President Jonathan by the PDP Governors and the leadership of the Party is not a declaration of sole candidacy as being presented by the opposition groups, adding that the step taken is in accordance with the law. "If President Goodluck Jonathan refuses, the elective convention will be conducted. But, what we are going to have in PDP now is a nonelective convention due to the acceptance of the right of first refusal by the President. This decision is provided for by the electoral law."

Making this known during an interactive session with newsmen in Yenagoa, the Governor said, the decision, aside, putting an end to infighting among the political class during and after the primary, it will also reduce the huge cost of the campaigns. According to him, 'the action of the PDP State Governors and the Party leadership was to institutionalize the right of first refusal for an incumbent President and reduces cases of huge cost and in-fighting within existing Political Parties.

'Though the adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan has been wrongly termed "sole candidacy" by the media and the opposition groups, it is not a declaration of sole candidacy. The term sole candidacy is a far cry from what we have done. What we have done is to stabilize the political system.”

Gov Dickson Confirms Prof Ogoni as VC of State University Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has confirmed the appointment of Professor Humphrey Andrew Ogoni as Vice Chancellor of the State owned Niger Delta university at Amassoma in Wilberforce Island.

Professor Ogoni, was until his elevation, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, since 2012. The appointment is with immediate effect.

government area. According to the state health ministry, instead of the cases of polio and measles reported in the media, it said the state has recorded 18 cases of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) within the local government council between January to August of 2014.

The Bayelsa Ministry of Health,through the Disease Surveillance and Notification Unit (DSN) Officer of the Yenagoa local government council, Mr Oyaba Diemebonso, explained that the surveillance report showed that it identified 18 cases of AFP within the 15 wards of the council. Mr Oyaba Diemebonso also said that nine suspected cases of measles and three Neonatal Tetanus (NNT) were reported in the council within the period.

“In these communities, we visit and we gather information and capture data on disease weekly and monthly basis, especially the epidemic prone diseases like cholera. Lassa fever, measles among others. So far, we have been able to report 18 cases of AFP, nine cases of children with suspected measles and three NNT from January till date”. They said it is not correct to conclude that AFP is the same as polio adding that only a laboratory test will indicate whether a case of AFP is polio. Right now we have no case of polio in Bayelsa State”.

Ebola: Bayelsa govt commences training of 484 teachers Bayelsa state government, on Tuesday 30th September 2014, in Yenagoa, commenced training of 484 head teachers on preventive measures against Ebola virus disease (EVD) ahead of the October 6 resumption date of schools.

The two-day training workshop on EVD control measures was inaugurated by the state Commissioner for Education, Mr Salo Adikumo. The state government had constituted a task force in partnership with the state Ministry of Health, to combat incidence and spread of the disease in the state. He commended the federal and state governments for making the training possible for head teachers.

He urged the participants to pay keen attention to their lectures and to ask questions, where necessary to clarify issues. The resource person from the Ministry of Health, Dr Ebiye Soya, said the training would be followed by a written test which the participants were expected pass.

The Bayelsa State Government says sand filling work has been completed at the site of ongoing the state-owned International cargo Airport project at Amassoma.

The State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Barrister Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo made the disclosure Thursday 25th September 2014, while conducting a delegation of the National Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA on an inspection tour of the site of the International Cargo Airport, which is under construction. The Commissioner explained that, civil and other construction related works will commence as soon the sand, which is still sedimenting, as a result of the peculiar terrain of the area, settles down. He was however, quick to add that, construction of vertical drains, which will facilitate the sedimentation process will start soon.

2015 Elections: Gov Dickson Admonishes Politicians not to Heat Up Polity As the 2015 general elections approaches, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has admonished the political class not to heat up the polity, but play the g ame according to the r ules.

Governor Dickson gave this advice in Yenagoa at a state banquet marking the 54th Independence celebration of Nigeria and 18th anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa state.

He urged those seeking elective positions to establish contact with the people, rather than deploy what he described as, 'politics of thuggery and intimidation. His words: "I enjoin all those who are aspiring for one office or the other to play the game according to the rules. We have always won election without even buying single ammunition. This state has no room for that anymore. I, working closely with the President, our leader; we are determined to keep Bayelsa safe, so that Bayelsa will not be turned into what our detractors would want us to be.

"As I said on the day of my inauguration, we will not play politics with your development at all, we will not play politics with security issues; we will not play politics with issues that have to do with the protection of the Ijaw national interest.

The Governor, who said his administration, has worked hard, in collaboration with the Federal Government to keep the state peaceful and stable, stressed that, government would not condone any for m of violence or act, capable of destabilizing the state.

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Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

Politics  In 1931, Ikoku established

Herbert Macaulay

one of the earliest private secondary schools in Nigeria.

 2 February 1998.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo

 His commemoration on a  He was born in 1864. He

and the grandson of Bishop Ajayi Crowther and a trained engineer.

bill of Nigerian currency, the Ten Naira note

 He died on November 18,

19741

European corruption in the handling of the railway finances.

Nnamdi Azikiwe

government for the Western Region in 1957.

 He was the official Leader

of the Opposition in the federal parliament to the Balewa government 1959 to 1963.

founded the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), the first Nigerian political party.

 In 1946 Macaulay fell ill in

Kano and later died in Lagos. Macaulay was buried at the Ikoyi Cemetery in Lagos 11th May, 1946.

Professor Eyo Ita

move the motion for Nigeria's independence in the federal parliament.

 He obtained internal self-

 In 1964, he was trialed for

treasonable felony and sentenced to prison. He was released after the start of the Civil War.

 In 1944 Macaulay co-

founded the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) together with Nnamdi Azikiwe and later became its president.

skyscraper in tropical Africa: the Cocoa House (still the tallest in Ibadan).

in Ibadan.

argued on behalf of the Chiefs whose land had been taken by the British in front of the Privy Council in London.

 He was the Federal  Born November 16, 1904,

in Zungeru,in the Northern part of Nigeria.

 In 1937 he founded the

West African Pilot (a newspaper).

 In 1944, he co-founded the

National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC).

 In 1946, he became the

secretary-general of the National Council.

 In 1951, he became the

leader of the Opposition to the government of Obafemi Awolowo in the Western Region's House of Assembly

Commissioner for Finance and Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council in Yakubu Gowon's Federal Military Government during the Civil War.

 He was conferred with the

highest national honor of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (GCFR), a rank and a title that have ordinarily been bestowed upon the country's presidents.

His portrait is on the N100 naira note.

 Died in May 9, 1987

Sir Ahmadu Bello

 He was one of the earliest

Nigerian students who studied in the United States.

member of two movements in West Africa, the Youth movement and the Education movement.

 He formed the Nigerian

Youth Movement (NYM) in 1934.

 The Youth Movement

became to catalyst for championing the Nigerian Independent.

 He was the deputy national

president of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

 He campaigned vigorously

for education as a tool of freeing the African mind and soul and liberating it from forces of political repression.

 Died in the year 1980.

Alvan Ikoku

 On November 16, 1960, he

became the Governor General of Nigeria, with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister.

Minister, forming a coalition government between the NPC and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), led by Nnamdi Azikiwe.

- He retained the post as Prime Minister when Nigeria gained independence in 1960, and was re-elected in 1964.

- As Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, from 1960 to 1961, doubled as Foreign Affairs advocate of Nigeria.

- In 1961, the Balewa government created an official Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Relations ministerial position in favour of Jaja Wachuku, from 1961 to 1965, the first substantive Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Relations, later called External Affairs.

- He was overthrown and murdered in a military coup on January 15, 1966, buried in Bauchi.

- News of his murder spurred violent riots throughout Northern Nigeria and ultimately led to the bloody counter-coup of July 1966.

Udo Udoma Egbert

Nigeria from 1963 to 1966, holding the presidency throughout the Nigerian First Republic. republic in 1963, he became the first President of Nigeria.

 He died on May 11, 1996.  Was born 6 March 1909 in

Ikenne, in present-day Ogun State of Nigeria.

 He was the first Leader of

Government Business and Minister of Local Government and Finance.

 In 1949 Awolowo founded

the Nigerian Tribune, the oldest surviving private Nigerian newspaper.

 Between 1952 to 1959, he

was first Premier of the Western Region under Nigeria's parliamentary system

primary education and free health care programmes, for instigating the first minimum-wage policy by a Nigerian government at any level.

 Establishing both the first

television service in Africa

orator and was responsible for completing the founding of University of Ife in 1962 while still a premier in Western Region.

 Born July 22, 1923 in Uromi

Edo State.

 Enahoro became the editor

of Nnamdi Azikiwe's newspaper, the Southern Nigerian Defender, Ibadan, in 1944 at the age of 21, thus becoming Nigeria's youngest editor ever.

 He later became the editor

of Zik's Comet, Kano, 1945–49, associate editor of West African Pilot, Lagos, and editor-in-chief of Morning Star from 1950 to 1953.

 From 1953 to 1959, Udo

the modernization and unification of the diverse people of Northern Nigeria.

 He was assassinated on 15th

January 1966 in a coup which toppled. Nigeria's post-independence government.7

Tafawa Balewa  Born in December 1912  He was elected in 1946, to

Oloye Remi Fani Kayode

Commissioner (Minister) for Information and Labour under the General Yakubu Gowon Military Government, 1967–74; Federal Commissioner for Special Duties, 1975.

background. He excelled in sports at King's College and is credited with being the first Nigerian National to gain membership of a golf club in Nigeria.

 He was also the driving

force behind bringing FESTAC to Nigeria in the 1970s, during which time both Muhammed Ali and Pele visited the country to widespread acclaim.

 Chief Enahoro was the

 Born in the year 1921.  He was called to The British

Bar at Middle Temple in 1945 and he went on to be appointed Queens Counsel (Q.C.) in 1960 (he was the third and youngest Nigerian ever to be made Q.C).

 In 1954, the Oloye Fani-

Kayode was elected into the Federal House of Assembly on the platform of Chief Obafemi Awolowo's Action Group and he continued his fight for Nigeria's Independence from there.

 In 1957 he led the team of

Action Group lawyers who represented and fought for the people of the Northern minorities at the Willinks minorities Commission in their quest for the creation of a middle belt region which would have been carved out of the old Northern Region of Nigeria.

 In 1958 he revisited  He was born June 21, 1917,

 In the 1959 independence

 Bello's greatest legacy was

 Died on January 15, 1966.

 He later became Federal

 He came from a sporting

 Born June 12 1910.  In 1954, Bello became the

elections, Bello led the NPC to win a plurality of the parliamentary seats. Bello's NPC forged an alliance with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe's NCNC (National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons) to form Nigeria's first indigenous federal government which led to independence from Britain.

development of Premier Hotel and other monuments.

Ibadan, the capital of Western Region, on the day of Nigeria's first military coup which terminated the First Republic

became the first to move the motion for Nigeria's independence which was eventually granted in 1960 after several political setbacks and defeats in parliament.

 Died on December 15, 2010

first Premier of Northern Nigeria.

 He was also involved in

 Akintola was assassinated in

 In 1953, Chief Enahoro

chairman of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a prodemocracy group that fought dictator Sani Abacha till Abacha's death.

last Governor-General from 1960 to 1963

 He pioneered Nigeria's free

Arochukwu, present-day Abia State.

 He was elected Chief

 The first President of

As premier:

 Born August 1, 1900 in

government in 1952 as Minister of Works, and later served as Minister of Transport. In 1957.

 He served as the second and

 With the proclamation of a

 Akintola was dignified

the Legislative Assembly in 1947.

Balewa University in Bauchi is named in his honor his portrait adorns the 5 Naira Note

of Nigeria's Eastern Region.

 Born in the year 1904.

 House of Assembly, and to

 Balewa entered the

 The AbubakarTafawa

 In 1954; he became Premier

 In the 1930s, Ita was a

served as Minister for Health and later Minister for Communications and Aviation.

university – the University of Ife.

 He erected the first

 He built the Liberty Stadium

 In 1919 he successfully

 In June 24, 1923, he

 At the federal level he

 and the first Nigerian

 His party was the first to

 In 1908, he exposed the

in 1963.

 In the general election of

1965, Akintola won his position as Premier, not as member of the Action Group party, but as the leader of a newly formed party called Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) though accused of rigging it.

the Legislative Council in Lagos.

 Ikoku fostered considerable

government interest in the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), becoming instrumental in the Legislative Council's acceptance of 44 NUT proposals amending various educational ordinances.

 premier.  He was restored as Premier

Pa Anthony Enahor

 In 1947 he became part of

Enahoro's motion and the motion was again passed by parliament but it's date was not approved by the British.

Fani-Kayode's motion had called for independence to be granted to Nigeria on April 2, 1960.

in the Ibibio area of Akwa Ibom State.

Udoma was a member of the federal House of Representatives, under the platform of the United National Independence Party, and then he was a leading proponent for the creation of a Calabar/Ogoja/Rivers state.

 He was appointed Deputy

Premier of the Western Region of Nigeria in 1963.

 Later he was made Senior

Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1977 (he was the third Nigerian to be made a SAN).

 He also belonged to the

group that championed Nigerian independence from Britain and was one of the founding fathers of Nigeria.

 He spent four years as a

high court judge before he was appointed Chief Justice in Uganda.

- He was Chief Justice of Uganda from 1963 to 1969.

He spent 13 years as a judge on the Supreme Court of Nigeria and was chairman of the Constituent Assembly from 1977 to 1978.

 He died at the age of 80 on

Samuel Ladoke Akintola  Born On July 6, 1910.  He attempted to revisit the

motion for Nigeria's independence in 1957 and though his motion was passed by parliament it was not acquiesced to by the British colonial authorities and it therefore failed.

 In 1959 He became the

Pemier of western Region.

 In mid-1962 Awolowo's

 In 1979 he was elected to

the position of the National Vice-Chairman of National Party of Nigeria

 Died in the year 1995.

Aug. 27, 2014 - Sept. 10, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 22

23

Fashion and Style

54 YEARS OF RECYCLED FASHION

MEET THE FIRST NIGERIAN 'MADE IN NIGERIA' SEAMSTRESS

Fashion mostly refers to the style of clothingworn at a particulartime. Fashion can also mean a style of language or behavior. The term 'fashion' is often used a synonym for glamour and style. There are fashions in many types of human activity and ways of thinking. There are fashions in architecture and interior design. There are fashions for dance and music, and for the way people speak. For the purpose of this article we would be looking at fashion as in the aspect of clothing, also we would be looking at the a woman who made fashion the name it is in Nigerian today, and also take a look at the various fashion styles in Niger-DeltaStates.

FASHION IN THE PRE- AND POST-COLONIAL ERA The first woman to own a boutique in Nigeria, Mrs. Sade Thomas Fahm, who had just returned to Nigeria at that time after her studies abroad, had a hard time trying to convince Nigerians to wear dresses made with local fabrics. The few seamstresses then were hot cakes as they made brisk business designing English dresses for Nigerians. Mrs Fahm embarked on finding an identity for Nigerians by inventing and creating many innovative styles using traditional African fabrics. Her efforts kick started what is today known as the Nigerian fashion industry. Nigerians did not embrace the new trend, because has at then the clothes designed in prints were not considered as cutting edge style. The postindependence years, therefore could be described as one of fashion revolution in the Nigerian nation. As Nigerian women began to identify with our, traditional prints and other fabrics.

Like Mary Quaint who is often credited with the mini rage in the UK and other countries in the 60s, the boubou and kaftan could also be credited to the creative ability of Mrs Sade Thomas Fahm.

NIGER-DELTA FASHION AND STYLES Whenever we talk about Niger-delta fashion or styles the first thing that automatically come's to our minds is the native and cultural attire of our people, In modern times, the dress pattern of the Ijaws has taken a contemporary shape for both men and women of the state with the Feni Biteh, Kuru kuru Biteh, Ikaki Biteh and the Goerge these are various wrappers wore by the women of the Niger- Delta and the men are not left out with their, Etibo- a long shirt with straight collar down to knee length worn over trousers or wrapper. While the Woko- a round neck, shortsleeved big shirt worn over trousers is fast becoming a ceremonial dress these are the native attire of a typical Rivers man. Traditionally the chiefs and Kings of the land could be identified with big white wrapper or fabrics of the highest quality tied from their waist down to the ankles.This is enhanced with beads made from corals or ivory wore on their necks and wrists. Now royal fathers are identified in longer versions of the Ebito known as 'Don' worn over trousers or wrappers. In most cases, the occasion determines the quality of the fabric to be sewn. While the walking sticks is a very important part of every Niger-Delta man's dress.

CORAL BEADS: Coral beads create a very cultural and traditional appearance of bride to her groom and wedding guests. Every Niger- delta bride whether from Edo, Delta or Rivers, Bayelsa state, outfit can never be complete without the beads costume. There are also of different sizes and shapes ranging from small sized bead to medium to large to extralarge! Customarily, coral red color is the standard color for the beads even though some use other colors like white, peach etc. The beads can be worn as a top on the wrapper tied on the chest; it basically covers from the shoulder down to the waist in some parts while some others use the beads as caps.

BOWLER HAT: Bowler hat is a hard felt hat with a narrow brim and a rounded crown. It was also known as bob hat. It was first made in 1849 for Edward Coke, British soldier and politician and the younger brother of the 2nd Earl of Leicester. The bowler hat was popular with the working class during the Victorian era, and later on with the middle and upper classes in the United Kingdom.

But nowadays we can see the bowler hat been wore as part of every NigerDelta man's dress code mostly over the native attire, but we can also see some wearing it over their suits, jeans, and most time over shorts and a shirt, which could be wore to the office, wedding or any other kind of occasion.

The bowler hat has now created a new sense of style for every Niger-delta man, it is also unisex wore by women also in the

SENATOR: The senator is two-piece native attire made up of a trousers and either a short or long-sleeved shirt the can be wore with either the trousers made from the same fabric or with any other plain kind of fabric but cannot be wore jeans.

WHAT'S YOUR FASHION STYLE? What's my style is this is a part of the article were we talked to a couple of women in other to find out their style really was and what their do's and don'ts were when it comes to their own fashion style. This an interview done with some of Port-Harcourt own elites giving us an insight on their own fashion style.

Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

10

Fashion and Styles

My Fashion Style MRS BOYE DICK-IRUENABERE

MRS MOJI IGBINOVIA

Mrs Boye: Interestingly, I don't have a favorite colour. I just go with the mood. The occasion will determine the colors I would wear. For my casual clothes, I just go through the whole colour range but for evening wear and funerals I prefer muted colours.

PHM: Are you a perfume person?

Mrs Boye:. I love perfumes and it's not about the designer, I just like things that smell nice. I don't have any favorites; I have a wide range of them.

PHM: So you don't have any particular fragrance Mrs Boye: No, I don't.

PHM: Do you mix and match or do you just wear one?

Mrs Boye: I wear one at a time and I don't mix and match. What I choose to wear generally depends on my mood and the occasion. I wear softer notes for everyday use and more exotic notes for nighttime and special occasions.

PHM: Are you a fan of heavy make-up?

Mrs Boye: I think less is more when it comes to make-up. Make-up is not supposed to make you look like someone else, but to nicely and gently enhance your looks; it should draw attention to your finer points; and downplay the points that you really don't want to be noticed. People should at least know it's you wearing the make-up not the makeup wearing you.

PHM: What will you wear to a wedding?

Mrs Boye: To be honest, I am of the opinion of that it is not in good taste to be better dressed than the people celebrating. It is their special day, let them shine.

PHM: How will you dress to church on a Sunday morning?

Mrs Boye: I would wear most things apart from my casual wear. So I could do a nice dress with a hat, I could do my traditional outfits as well, simple, with a little effort.

PHM: Do you have any favorite labels?

Mrs Boye: No! Seriously, I appreciate designer things because of the quality more than the name. A good label guarantees quality, but otherwise I am drawn to things that look good, not the name necessarily. If it is a perfume it has to smell nice, if it is a pair of shoes it has to be beautiful and comfortable.

PHM: Speaking of shoes. What is like your favorite types of shoes?

MRS AMAKA DAWODU PHM: Can you please tell us about yourself MRS AMAKA: My name is Mrs. Amaka Dawodu, I am business woman PHM: What's your fashion style?

MRS AMAKA: My fashion style is simple. Not flashy.

Good taste but done simply.

PHM: What's your take on the fashion sense around Nigeria since independence?

MRS AMAKA: For me what I realize is that the generation that comes up and the trend that follows the generation dictates the taste. When you talk of the western world influencing us, even our elderly ones that met them face to face were not really influence that much as per fashion because when you see most of their pictures in those days, they wore more of Nigerian style than those from the western world. I'll just say the generation we have now is following what is in vogue which is the western vogue PHM: How will you dress to a wedding?

MRS AMAKA: A nice dress or a gown, perhaps a skirt suit. I will wear my hair very nicely as I don't do hats except if the church says you have to cover your hair. Then I will have my high heel shoe and a bag to match PHM: What is your favorite

color?

MRS AMAKA: I am not particular about the colour, but whatever the colour is, I like my shade to be very bright.

PHM: What would we not find in your closet?

MRS AMAKA: You wouldn't find a trouser suit or Gele (head tie) because I am not a big fan of them PHM: How do you like your make-up?

MRS AMAKA: I am not a big fan of heavy make-up. I feel it should be applied lightly PHM: Are you a perfume person?

MRS AMAKA: Yes I love perfumes. I like them musky.

PHM: What is that thing that you will not be seen dead or alive wearing?

MRS AMAKA: Those will be spag tops!

PHM: What is that one thing that if you forget to take with you, no matter how close to an event you are, you will turn back?

MRS AMAKA: My perfume. My flat shoes for events where I think I may need to stand up a lot or walk about a lot.

PHM: Sunshades?

MRS AMAKA: Yes, I like sun shades. I have a couple of them.

Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

11

GENESIS DELUXE CINEMAS MOVIE SCHEDULE

Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

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Metro

Mr. President hates Rivers State

– Governor Amaechi

(Transcript of an exclusive interview with the Rivers State Governor)

Recently, the Rivers State governor, Rt Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi was a guest of Kofi Bartels on his talk show- Hard facts. The interview was quite revealing and brought out a lot of issues on to the fore. The Governor also answered questions bordering on his projects and explains what is really going on between him and President Goodluck Jonathan. We have the pleasure to reveal that PH Microscope have receive the exclusive right to publish that interview for your reading pleasure

Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

13

Metro

NIGERIA IS BETTER TODAY EVEN WITH ALL THE CRISES AROUND US!- Andy Dawodu We spoke to a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, also the CEO of Posten Consulting Services, Mr. Andy Dawodu to seek his opinion on what can be done to curb the spate of rising collapse of buildings ar ound the nation. He gave us a lot of insights into this problem, and also took time to speak about the situation of Nigeria as we mark our 54th year independence. Enjoy the rest of the interview…

PHM:Happy Independence Day celebrations sir. A lot of people say happy independence, should we really say that?

What is happy about this our independence?

AD: Of course, we should, we are not where we were yesterday as a nation. Whichever way you look at it, Nigeria is better today despite the crises around us, and these crises will take us to a better place.

PHM:So are we better today as a nation than we were before independence?

MR ANDY: Yes, it depends on the directions you're looking at it from. For example, in the 60's we didn't have these phones we are using now.

PHM: But the world didn't have mobile phones in the 60's…

MR ANDY: Yea if you say in the 60's the world didn't have phones, maybe mobile phones but some had landlines they were using that time, but we were still far, far away, so whichever way you look at it, whether it is in the economy- the economy has diversified from what it was in the 60s; also as a people we are now more enlightened than we were in the 60s.

Then we just had a few people who were up there at that time and we could count them, but nowit's different. If you take fashion;it has has evolved in every strata. Building designs have transformed completely. Look at our roads too;we now have eight and twelve lanes in some places and some states are going further to start building light rails, so we are better whichever way you look at it.

PHM:Talking about the 60s some of us were not here, so where were you then?

MR ANDY: Laughs….. I was on the way coming… at least three years after the independence I came, and yes I lived through the 60s and the 70s particularly and these where the groovy years for Nigeria because we just came out of independence, everywhere was bubbly. We had nothing to do with money according to Gowon, so you could see it everywhere then that life was very rosy.

PHM: Where did you live between the 60s and the 70s?

MR ANDY: I was born in Ibadan, grew up in Ibadan until my father died, then I now moved home to the village, we had to naturally move then, because my father was working in Ibadan, but my mother was not educated, so what would she be doing in the big city of Ibadan, so we had to move to the village and continued life from there again.

PHM: Where is this village?

MR ANDY: My village is called Igarra in Akoko-Edo LGA in Edo state, Edo north to be precise, we are surrounded by hills and that's why we can fight any war at any time (laughs). We can just go to the caves and hide ourselves.

PHM: Speaking of war, did you witness any part of the civilwar?

MR ANDY: Yea I saw only a little in all honesty because my place was the headquarters of the local government at that time. I know that we had an army settlement in my place and

soldiers were living in my community, even in my house and I saw some of what they did. I remember the army men then, how everyone would be running away to hide and how they would catch some people and beat them. We didn't know much at that time, perhaps some of these people were classified as 'behafara' and how they would beat others on the road. I saw a bit of those ones.

PHM: So there was no fighting around your town?

MR ANDY:No..no..no there was no fighting in my town . It was well protected but because my place had an inter-state road passing through it, vehicles were always passing, you just see some soldiers that would stop cars on the way and ask people to come down and they would start beating them we didn't know what it meant they cause we were still young.

PHM:So talking about this country, many people say to your tents O Israel. Do you think we are better together as one nation?

MR ANDY: Yes, we are better together and will be better if we still remain together. Nigeria has been in existence before now it's just that some people would just rise up and decide that they want to divide because they perhaps have oil and other natural resources. But if we think like brothers, and I deal with food and you deal in oil, everything is still ours. In Nigeria today if you go to the north the muslims are a majority but the christians are also not inconsequential in the far North. Look at Chibok which is on the outskirts of Maiduguri, many of those Chibok girls are Christians. The bottom line is that many of these militants and Islamistsare not fighting any cause, but their own selfish interests. i.e.Boko Haram;they only want to enlarge their territory.

PHM:The problem of Nigeria is not about dividing but corruption. How do you see us going forward as a nation and how do we tackle corruption?

MR ANDY:I was among those who initially wanted us to divide but over the years I have come to realize that it makes no sense because God cannot be wrong. Like I earlier said, the problem of corruption is Nigeria is multi-faceted and can only be tackled if we each decide to live based on good conscience and do the right thing.

PHM:Do you believe that there would come a time that people would begin to do the right thing?

MR ANDY:I certainly believe so. I'm an optimist PHM:Do you think we need some sort of Messiah that will help us do the right thing?

MR ANDY:Well as a child of God I believe that if God doesn't want someone to be in a position he won't be there, but I believe that as things get better people would begin to do right.

PHM:Let's look at this situation; during the time of the colonial rulers, things were working, but now it is as if we have been coming down as a country. Do you think if the white man had continued may be for another 10 years, we would have imbibed enough of their culture to prevent us from sliding from that peak?

MR ANDY:(exhales) Haa!!! Yes and no. Yes in the sense that maybe we would have been able to learn from them a bit more, and those whowere agitating at that time for independence would have come up a bit and would have seen and learnt one or two things.

PHM: So are you saying that we got independence too early?

MR ANDY:Errrr…… And that is the no side. No, I don't think we got it too early. I think what happened to us was that, in the real sense, we are a not country that was starting on nothing.

Nigeria was starting with something. We already had natural resources and wealth and that is what finished us because we just met too much that we did not work for. If some countries have the oil from Port Harcourt and ObioAkpor local governments alone,they would have sustained themselves on it. We cannot say that we got it too early, no! It wasn't that we didn't have people who were well read, who would have been good administrators, we had them. We had people who were already good, who were good enough to continue from where the colonial masters stopped, but apparently maybe because they met something that didn't challenge them to struggle and think, they just sat down with what they have met and said ok let's ride on. Otherwise they would have been able to plan, because we even got to a point that the head of state of the country thenwas saying we had so much Continue on page 20with it. money we don't know what to do

7

Aug. 27, 2014 - Sept. 10, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 22

Vox Populi

VOX POPULI (VOICE OF THE PEOPLE)

Nigeria @ 54: Have we benefited from this independence.

Nigeria turned 54 recently and Nigerians had a couple of things to say on the state of the nation, even comparing the colonial era to the present Independence Nigeria. Below is the perception of diverse Port Harcourt indigenes as we took to the streets to feel the pulse of the city as they poured out their heart's content. Like the proverbial adage, he who wears the shoes knows where it pinches him the most. Port Harcourt folks knew exactly where they are feeling the pinch. Enjoy reading people's reaction.

Anonymous, Janitor – Obio Cottage Hospital: It hasn't benefitted me in any way, only affected me adversely. As you can see independence or not, I'm here on duty. so its of no consequence to me.

Austin, Medical Doctor: Life was way better pre-independence, things have deteriorated. Salaries were low but cash had immense value. Standard of living was better. Political climate was more stable then. It's all just a mess now.

Innocent Kalu, Public Servant: What independence? The colonial era was far better as there were lot of amenities that were affordable, unlike now. Life is very difficult, no jobs, no stable electricity. Then, these things were there and managed properly. The whites had a great sense of maintenance culture.

Prophet Elijah: I have nothing! What you produce as a nation can't be used without hiccups for e.g your common torchlight – you use it today and tomorrow it's packed up. It's only Belgium products you buy and sleep with both eyes closed. We produce things we can't enjoy, for fear of buying inferior made in 9ja stuff, we all opt for foreign made, well crafted Belgium. The independence is useless as we are still not self sufficient and very much dependent on foreign goods.

Shola: On the continent alone not even globally what has Nigeria produced at 54 that we can say we are known for and every Nigerian can use? Others can boast of produce they now even export! Chai!

See Cameroun zinc we all gladly buy; Ghana insults us as they offer to export electricity to us. There's nothing to be proud of, at 54, we can only celebrate embezzlement.

Smith, Welder: At 54, the corruption level is alarming.

Mismanagement of resources is worrisome. Ever since Independence, ethnic sentiments are the order of the day. Prior to independence it wasn't like that at all.

Freedom Edet Ekpo: If the civilian rule had taken over right after independence, it just might have been different but since the military was at the helm of affairs for over thirty years, so let's give the civilian dispensation a chance especially Goodluck Jonathan – he hasn't been given a chance with all the Boko Haram wahala. Civilian dispensation brought freedom, which we're thankful for.

Independence has been a beautiful experience, during the colonial era, we lived in thatched houses while the white man lived in brick houses, we were relegated to our villages and communities but today we can mix freely with every tribe of the nation. That alone is some thing to be thankful for.

B.J: Not a thing has changed. No difference! . Present government is still taking us back!

Mr. Morocco: There's no co-operation in Nigeria. NEPA brings bill of over 200 thousand naira, when we supposedly have our own power station. So, assuming you are jobless, you can't enjoy Nigeria – certain amenities are now for the rich. The only

basic things the poor man can enjoy from the government –road, light and water are only in his dreams. Sorry!.

leaders were as credible as Sam Mbakwe, things would have been much better.

Anonymous Female: The present scarcity has said it all on how far we've come at 54. Abeg abeg abeg! I have nothing to say I've gained, it's a complete mess.

Stella, Food Vendor: This year's Independence is the worst. There is no love in Nigeria anymore. Things are too hard, workers are crying, no money. They say there is free education but parents are crying because of high school fees. So many are suffering in the hands of politicians. The issue of electricity is an abomination. Let government help the poor.

David: Well, things may not be as good as we hope for or desire, yet, God has been faithful to us as a nation. We must learn to thank Him for our present state while we seek a redress, in that, God commanded us to be thankful In all things, be it in a terrible, good, or ugly situation.

Chuks: For me, I think we have gained so much from being independent. However, we still have so much ground to cover.

MARSAM: We must continue to thank God for the peace we enjoy as a nation inspite of all the challenges, while we trust him for the better country that we so much desire.

Kenny: We keep celebrating independence without any big achievement...look at other small countries with good development in ag ricultural g rowth, even their educational sector is better than ours so what are we celebrating.

Nothing to show for our celebration instead we are negotiating with terrorists, we can't protect our land and we call ourselves Giant of Africa.

Tosin Esther: We are not independent at all jare.

Clement: I gained nothing oh! We are not anywhere yet; don't let us lie to ourselves.

Jackson: I think the benefit of independence is not well spread. I feel it's only our leaders that are benefitting from it.

Nkechi: In my own honest opinion, we didn't benefit because of the selfishness of our leaders. They seem to have all the whole benefit to themselves.

Gideon: I think I benefitted from the independence. If not for the independence, we may still be under bondage and slavery acts. The colonial masters would have oppressed us more than this. Even despite being independent we can see how the white guys in the country are laboring the blacks that works for them. I think we benefitted from independence especially from the angle of being oppressed.

Enobong: I think we all benefitted from independence but it is the mismanaging attitude and selfish ambition of our leaders that makes all feel we didn't benefit at all.

Mr Moses, Taxi Driver: I will say Nigeria is really Independent. It is over 25years we have been using electricity in our village since the time of Sam Mbakwe; the first civilian Governor Imo State had. The problem we have is the recent leaders; they make things look like we are not independent. If our leaders were as credible as Sam Mbakwe, things would have been much better.

IJ, Food Vendor: There is no independence. It is three months to Christmas and they have started hoarding fuel and kerosene, thereby inflating the price by the scarcity.

Mrs Nkechi- Marketer: We are not celebrating anything. We are ironically celebrating Ebola Virus, Boko Haram, Poverty, and Joblessness. Nigeria at 54years, we are nowhere, we are far behind; no electricity, our educational sector is nothing to write home about.

Our politicians are busy insulting and fighting themselves and enriching themselves. Imagine Ghana telling us they want to export electricity to Nigeria. I shake my head for this country.

Juliet: I am proud to be a Nigerian. Nigeria is a blessed country but our leaders are corrupt. I celebrate my President, he has done wonderfully well. I celebrated Nigeria at 54 because of the effort they put in place combating Ebola Vir us, it was amazing. Another area they should do something drastically is the issue of Boko Haram.

Prince: I think Nigeria has fared well so far; nevertheless, the devises are up and down. The issue of electricity is the only aspect we are not independent on. I am proud to be a Nigeria.

Uchamma: I would have benefitted a good job from the so-called Independence but there's no room for employment in Nigeria. They should create employment for the youths. I have not benefitted anything from the government.

Mr Chika, Occupational Driver: It is worth celebrating. Nigeria has benefitted so much from having their own factories, industries, farm and production of locally made products. The major problem is Boko Haram. I must commend the federal government and Rivers State government for containing Ebola Virus.

Mrs Ifeoma, Kerosene Seller: What nonsense Independence. It is three months to Christmas and there is scarcity of kerosene and fuel already. If you manage to find kerosene, it will be twice the price.

Independence na only for Aso Rock.

Sincerely, I pity this generation. Nigeria is 54 years and there's just very little to show about it. I stopped believing in Nigeria very long ago because I have not benefitted anything I can hold onto. Does the government even know I exist? Bobby

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Aug. 27, 2014 - Sept. 10, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 22

Health

HEALTH NUGGETS By Victoria

What happened to my hair?

W

e all lose hair every day, so there is no need to free out every time a few strands of your hair fall off. Even though our hair is continuously growing, at some point, some strands reach their “old-age� and fall out.

Depending on your genetics, however, some guys have fewer strands growing in to replace them. Much like the rest of your body, your hair goes through changes as you get older. The hair cycle -- rest, shed and grow -- slow downs, and can lead to hair loss which can be very traumatizing. Hair loss is commonly referred to as balding.

The human hair changes every seven years. There are actually 150,000200,000 hairs on our heads and we shed about a 100 of them in a day; making 36,000 in a year on average. It regenerates at approximately the same rate, although a little bit less as we get older.

15 is the golden number; this is when you grow the best head of hair you will ever have your entire life.By the time you're 30 there will be a significant change in your hair, but not one you may not have noticed it started noticing it. By age 37- 40, there's a marked changed. This is where people panic, but it's just a natural cycle of aging."The causes are always the same . The number one reason is stress, number two is iron deficiency and the number three is hormonal.

However, instead of panicking at the strands of hair in your brush, experts recommend taking control of your body by eating healthier."It's really how healthy your body is. You start to notice more shine and elasticityif you start treating your body from within. If you have a way of finding out if your body is acidic, imbibe foods that would make it more alkaline: Fresh vegetables, fresh salads, fresh nutrients in our drinks and our foods. Avoid or minimize acid making foods like milk and dairy products, breads, and potatoes because they change the pH value of your body.

Eat your hair back into growing

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16

Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

Entertainment and Society

Ibinabo Fiberesima Weds in December

Okey Bakassi branches Into Laundry Business Veteran Comedian and Actor, OkeyBakassi, has branched out into the laundry business.

According to him, his new business is to keep people clean, clean homes, business premises a n d c l o t h e s .

The comedian, who first started with stage play before the screen disclosed that the response on stage is spontaneous. He said you will see the acceptance immediately and if you have done well the audience will judge you and you will be happy with your performance that is why acting on stage is quite different from acting on camera, because you do not get immediate response from acting on camera.

The Nollywood actor stressed that a comedian is a story teller of a different kind and for you to tell good stories, it takes additional creativity or talent from God in addition to your ability to observe and be in tune with your environment. He stressed that when you are before your audience you bring that story to life within a short time in such a way that it makes an impact.

He noted that the inspiration apart from God is from your environment; being a keen observer of your environment. According to him, humor is everywhere around us, but it is for you to put in your best and pass it to others. He stated that in addition to the happiness you derive when people are happy, there is also the fact that this work brings you income.

Former beauty queen IbinaboFiberesima has found love in the arms of an Igbo big boy and they are set to tie the nuptial this December.The ageless and youthful looking Ibinabo stunned all several weeks back when she announced her engagement via her social media that she is in love right now. Anyone who sees how glowing she looked will not believe that she is a mother of four adorable children. The actress, who just came back from the United States of America (USA), where she was honoured with a woman of Worth Award at the Women Leadership Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, said she has found her soul mate, friend and brother, that is why she is glowing.

She disclosed that she met her heartthrob when she was an undergraduate at the University of Ibadan and they had remained friends ever since. She further revealed that it was his kids and hers that planned the reunion, so when he proposed to her, she just said yes, because she felt it was the Lord's doing. “We have the fear of God which is paramount in our relationship,” she said.

KCEE, Lady IB steal show at PH Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and Joke Silva receives The Prestigious MFR Int'l Fashion Show Nigerian Music Sensation, Kingsley Chinwike Okonkwo, National Award popularly known as KCEE and Rivers born lady of songs and current President of the Performing Musicians Employees Association of Nigeria (PMAN) Rivers State, Lady IB, literarily stole the show at the just concluded second edition of Native and Vogue Port Harcourt International Fashion Week held at the Hotel Presidential from September 19th to 21st 2014.

Their performances on the second day of the event brought the mammoth crowd to their feet as they danced and sang with them. It made the night very lively for all present.

Meanwhile, KCEE has just dropped two spanking new music videos namely, 'Ogadinma' and 'Ogaranya'. Accoding to information from 5 star music, the music label KCEE is signed with, Ogadinma is a song that encourages people to work hard and believe in themselves, while Ogaranya is a song that talks about wealth; it is a song for the big boys.

Nollywood stars Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and Joke Silva were bestowed with the prestigious MFR Award. A total 313 people in the fields of politics, security issues, sports, entertainment, business and the corporate world were awarded for their outstanding contributions to countr y.

Among them are 77-year-old designer of the national flag Taiwo Akinkunmi; an Abuja traffic warden Solomon Dauda; the Chief Steward of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, who served nine Presidents and Heads of State Onuh Isaac Michael and many more individuals.

Tuface, Kcee, Davido others nominated for The Headies 2014 Nigeria's big gest and innovative awards, The Headies have revealed this year's nominees. This year's nomination is based on the year in review starting from July 2013 to June 2014. Some of the nominees include Tu Fa c e I d i b i a , D a v i d o, Mavins, Timi Dakolo, Sheyi Shay, Wizkid, KCee. Phyno.

Iyanya set for UK Tour Ini Edo's Marriage Crashes, Only a few months after the successful completion of the 1st Family Returns Bride Price official tour of the United states alongside his Triple MG family, Iyanya has announced he’ll be embarking on a tour of the united Kingdom(UK). With his latest song Mr Oreo still rocking the airwaves, the singer has confirmed that 3 cities namely Manchester, Birmingham and Nottingham have been confirmed and he’s looking to adding more dates to the tour. It is still unclear if the tour will include fellow triple MG artists, Tekno, Emma Nyra, Selebobo and Bassey, but one thing that is certain is that the tour will kick off next week.

It has been revealed that the wedding of the Nigerian actress Ini Edo which was contracted in 2008 has ended. The actress is said to be beaten by her husband all the time because she allegedly cheats on him. The groom's family also added to the whole show because the endowed actress Ini Edo didn't bear a child. They have however made sure that the bride's family returned the earlier bride price that was paid at the inception of the lifetime commitment.

Glitz, Glamour as Curtain Falls On Maltina We will never do talent hunt; Psquare Nigerian music sensation P Square have revealed they Dance All 8 “Rhythm of Happiness” would never do a talent hunt show to get any artist signed to their label. The Brothers Peter and Paul who make up

The Utere family from Port Harcourt, Rivers State has emerged the winner of the just concluded popular family dance show Maltina Dance All (MDA) Season 8; They thus smile home with the grand prize of N10 million and also earned themselves the title Nigeria's number one dance family. T he second runner up, the Uzodinma family went home with the N3 million naira, and the Odigie family bagged N1 million naira as the third prize winners.

the group said this in a recent interview with Lagos based satellite channel, Hip TV. According to them, these days, a majority of prospective musicians are driven by their quest to get fame, money and women instead of the passion for good music, something the duo detest based on their own experiences while coming up in the industry over a decade ago. “ In today’s generation, everybody is in a hurry to make money, so I can’t work with that kind of spirit, we came into this industry when there was nothing” said Paul, the part of the duo with dread lux. P Square who only recently released their 6th album which features hit single Ejeajo did however note that if they see a good and humble talent that impresses them, they will support such to gain stardom. “if I see somebody that is good and I love that person, my mind tells me work with that person, I will work with that person but we cannot do talent hunt. He added.

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Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

Lifestyle

What happened to our Iconic Schools?

There was an era in the fifty-four years Nigeria has existed that certain educational institutions were famous within their regions and districts, and even across the entire nation. If you hear Kings college, Queens College, Government College Warri, Edo College, CKC (Christ The King) Onitsha, Elelenwo Girls, Holy Rosary, Bayero College and a host of others like them, you will quickly associate them with the finest of the best in secondary education.

Every child at that time would gladly give an arm to proudly dorn the uniform of such schools much to the chagrin of peers who weren't lucky enough to either have gotten admission or passed c e r t a i n criteriaon merit.

Pa r e n t s fought tooth and nail to secure spots for their wards in such

institutions (not by offering bribes and the likes but getting their wards to fastidiously meet any given pre-requisites the institution laid down as entry process) because they knew the standard of education offered was next to none and as an added perk, they earned bragging rights amongst their friends when a ward got accepted into one of such prestigious educational centers. At independence most of these schools were taken over by the government, and since then they have been deteriorating and they have all now lost their iconic status due to inadequate funding and a lackadaisical approach to educational quality.These schools were hallmarks of academic success, and everyone wanted to be associated with them. It is obvious that their success had a lot on input from the colonial government and even the missionaries.

Then there were the federalgovernment colleges and other unity or models schools owned by states and federal governments.

These schools had a lot of money pumped into them, and they were the next icons long after the schools of the pre-independence eras. As the old missionary schools were going into decline, government not only turned a blind eye, they actually voted to spend more money on their new pet projects, the unity schools.

They sprung up everywhere and they became the go-to place for children of the rich and government big men.

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Fast forward to the 21st century, and these schools are now shadows of their old selves. Private schools have taken over in terms of class and status. These schools are now so deteriorated that you wonder what had happened.

The same rot can be seen in every government owned primary and secondary schools all over Nigeria. Go to most of them, you will see roofs blown off, windows removed, grasses overgrowing, teachers n where to be found, students come in whenever they like.

Physical dilapidation is one, but deterioration in the quality of learning is another big one. One remembers the famous Edo state teacher who could not read out what was handed over to her by the Governor.

At least in rivers, with the Amaechi administrations, these schools started to witness huge transformations. In some other states, there are efforts to put things right, but the sincerity and determination cannot be measured at the moment.

When our maintenance culture as regards education is brought under the kaleidoscope, it is clear that things have fallen apart in our educational sector. Standards have been dropping since the 1980s. And generally since, as days rolled into weeks , weeks into months and the months into years, the academic quality of these schoolshad continued to be diluted – as the government was mostly paying lip service to education.

The result was decayand these schools began releasing halfwittedstudents. Emphasis shifted from quality education to financial gratification i.e. if the financial wherewithal was available to push a ward in without certain academic rudiments met, the authorities in question would turn a blind eye.

These and other factors played immense roles in the decline of the educational sector in Nigeria to the point that full fledged graduates today cannot write a simple official letter; obviously some building blocks at the secondary level were not laid.

Who makes a school? It's the teachers and parents – hence the inception of PTA (Parents Teachers' Association), the parents play their part in taking time at home to see to it that their wards do their homework, making sure during the long vacation they occupy them with good books – educative and entertaining like.

An evaporating reading culture across the nation can't be wholly blamed for the fizzling out of these unity schools as we see that this same scourge of a lost reading culture has ravished this present generation too – a casual look at the past WASSCE results in the nation will have you bowing in shame at the retrogression to the halls of not just illiteracy we are sprinting to but a much worse one, semi-literacy, churning out half baked products.

A unity school is best termed an educational institution belonging to the federal government of Nigeria and you would unarguably concede to the fact that most government parastatals or institutions breed a lethargic attitude. The average civil servant hasa malignant mindsetthat one can authoritatively say is cast in stone;it is the I don't caredisposition;it's not my father's company, so anything goes!

Alas! Since independence, the 'anything goes' spirit has been sinking its venomous fangs deep and tearing down the very fabrics of these esteemed unity schools and in the result is that the high standard of education that had predominant in the nation's secondary schools which produced manysound, balanced minds that confidently went on to do well in the universities. Even for those who opted who for some form of vocational training had a highly regarded O'Level certificate under their belt. Nowadays, our schools may be likened to the proverbial Humpty Dumpty ;It has come crashing down and may can never be pieced together again.

This is the painful reality of our secondary (and even primary) schools today.Can there a turn around? We believe yes, our schools can rise again! It's never too late. As a country and people,we must be dogged and determined revamp our schools and the entire educational sector so we can go back to the glory years of our education.

What then is the panacea to this cancer collapsing the true educational experience? First, the 'money talks' syndrome should be tackled, it should be a criminal offence. It may surprise a lot of people, but till date, parents still buy their way through these unity schools (I'm a living witness- I got admitted into the Federal Government Girls' College, Abuloma over a decade ago – scored over 470 over 600 at my entrance examination, saw my name flashed on the merit list, only to return a few weeks and it was sold.)

MERIT should be the number one criteria. Merit as a criteria must be brought back from the garbage bin that we tossed it into. Merit is not the only answer but it will be a first step in the right direction.

We still have to tackle the menace of bad teachers and 'half-baked tutors, but let us stick to admission on merit. Principals list, VP lists, supplementary lists should be eradicated. It is a wicked ploy to deny brilliant students of their right to get into these schools?

If we keep working this path, we will be able to checkmate this ever growing menace. We can then proudly beat our chests and point to worthy graduates from these schools who will go on and do well in their chosen tertiary institutions, home or abroad.

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Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

Politics

NIGERIA AT 54: A GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY?

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Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

Lifestyle

The Township Girl Diary of a PH chick B-WEST (abwspectrum@gmail.com) From last edition Literall y too weak to even attempt separating the brawl, I just lay there, completely still. But wait a second, I was the reason for turning fully grown matured men into a pair of mad wild cats gunning for the jugular of each other in a bloody conflict !

Smiling to myself, all I could feel were the same exact feelings the princesses in fairy tales felt when their knights in shiny armors battled to protect and win their love. But abeg wait oh! Make person no come die on top my matter ooh , that one go come be a different police kwarangida , I thought aloud and sat up sharply, scrambling to get out of the car..

W

ill you boys cut it out? Chineke God! What has gotten into you two?” I screamed at the top of my lungs, as I tugged with next to no success at both of them, trying to tear them off each other.

I was left with no choice than to angrily beckon at amused onlookers who saw it as an avenue to unwind and just stood moping at the scene- to them it must have looked like a NatGeoWild clip of two lions tearing up each other.

“Una just tanda there dey look, na when dem kill demsef. una go begin dey scamper to avoid police arrest abi? Now for una to put hand separate dem,unadey there dey look deylaff .Na wrestling match for una eye bah? I barked angrily at them as they reluctantly began breaking them up; men and women alike, as I stood by exasperated from trying to put off two full hot blooded virile young men from each other. Whew! What a task indeed – the solid African carbs aka eba and akpu were really energy generating packs!

“E don do for unana, haba?Na because of woman una wan turn una mama dem to orphaners?” an elderly man commented, which sent everyone reeking with laughter. I couldn't help it too as I broke into a smile as both guys were still panting furiously trying to catch a breath, inspecting both their torn apparels and checking out their individual bodies for bruises and scars of war.

“Papa lo-lo abeg shift go one side, we dey talk serious Romeo & Juliet matter for here wey don dey turn world war 3, you dey come blow dodo wey Cambridge never manufacture sef for us” a rascally young lad retorted.

“Look here my friend, will you sharrap your mouth! Where were you when I was slugging it out in the Biafra war?

“Ehen! Una see wetin I dey talk? E don blow anoda one! Wetin be slugging abisluggy”, he mockingly bemoaned his sparse audience, further infuriating the old man.

“Were you born?” the bent over war veteran raged on,“Were your parents even born? Will you disappear from here before I forget my ten fingers on your face and physically bamboozle your skeletal frame beyond recognition?” he boomed angrily at the juvenile, as he dangerously closed in on him, the smart Alec laughed him to scorn as he ran off. Leaving the amused audience quivering with laughter at the grammatical missiles the old man meted out in quick succession at the poor dunce.

“Wetin come dey happen for this campus today na?iyaa!! So –so gbege up and down”, a middle aged bread seller interrupted, a rather idle busy body who had dropped her wares to come partake in the mini theatre performance that happened to have me as the major character.

“We never finish the matter for ground over this mature

By now the tension in the air had simmered down as random folks coincidentally had dampened the rife atmosphere with pretty many hilarious liners. I had almost forgotten the grave mater at hand, as I realized both guys had drawn blood from each other as I cast glances at them and as if that wasn't nerve racking enough, the knowledge that I was the center of the whole ruckus made my stomach churn. mensdem,wey say na on top woman matter dem wankpai”, she quipped, rolling her eyes at me- very typical of her kind(a vice all traders seemingly had in born) as she sized me from head to toe.

Puzzled at what boy guys must have seen in me to have them at such fierce loggerheads. Being a female, of course, I could tell what was running through her mind by the message her eyes screamed directly at me.

But the time and place gave no room for female unspoken rivalry, so I ignored her completely as she rendered her colloquial valedictory or rather 'maledictory' speech. “..una don start una part two , God abeg ooh! In short I bind every blood sucking demon wey just longside come this side, Angel Uriel, Angel Micah , I calls upon you to waka come fiam , flush out any demons demweydey possess these pipo”.

I couldn't help but think how much of besties this bread seller and my over-bearing aunt would become if they ever stumbled on each other and realizing how they were both on the same fanatical, delusional page of religion.

By now the tension in the air had simmered down as random folks coincidentally had dampened the rife atmosphere with pretty many hilarious liners. I had almost forgotten the grave mater at hand, as I realized both guys had drawn blood from each other as I cast glances at them and as if that wasn't nerve racking enough, the knowledge that I was the center of the whole ruckus made my stomach churn.

“Sotonye! Where have you been? Where were you all night?” My dramatic aunt marched towards me, screaming at her lungs. I could see others members of my family at the hostel entrance, my mother wasn't part of the entourage thankfully.

Sweet Lord! Had this woman gone on to create panic across the whole family and had everyone come down to make a scene?

“Do you know the trauma, turmoil and tension you've put everyone in, you wicked child? All because I asked you to come for a night vigil to better your life!! So God could touch your soul and uproot every devilish input”.

“Madam, please can you not yell at her like that even if she's your child, she's been through hell and back. Trust me you wouldn't want to trade place with her when she tells you what she has been through. She needs nothing more than comforting warmth from family”, my knight in shining armour said in a gentle yet stern tone.

Instantly on hearing that comment from him, I felt sorry for him, as I knew exactly what would follow suit, she was that predictable.

If eyes could kill, that poor young man would have been with his ancestors that very instant.

“Look at this roasted Sahara humbug! Who the hell are you? Who invited you into this matter? Hosts of Heaven! Thank your lucky stars, you dimwit that I'm yet to descend from the mountain. I would have sent fire and brimstone to blast that head off your neck for daring to interrupt me”, she barked at him.

“Tell him ma, that's the same thing I was telling the oaf before he attacked me!” Chinda blurted out, trying to back her up. “I don't know who he is or where he is from- but you just can't jump into family maters without being invited” he spat out with his eyes almost bulging from the sockets.

I squirmed within, as I knew another bombshell would be dropped the next instant “Err..by the way who made you family and who are you again?

Didn't your mother teach you never ever to jump into your elders' discussion? Are you an ill formed zygote that lost its bearing? here somewhere you should be this split moment?”My aunt queried him, driving nails into his coffin.

What are you doing here by the way? Isn't there somewhere you should be this split moment?”My aunt queried him, driving nails into his coffin.

“What side of the family are you from because I can't seem to remember you, Mr…??, I thought as much. Will you disappear from the surface of the earth to Mars!” she thundered at him.

I could see Chinda literally turn red even though he was a rather dark skinned dude. He would have given all the treasures of the world to have the ground give way and swallow him whole, as he sensed piercing eyes from all angles bore holes right through him –some with pity at the merciless lethal dress down, others with gleeful evil mockery and snide remarks like “Chai! Bros sorry you hear, but if I be you I for find bottle just enter because this kain bazooka na die oh.”

The smirk on my knight in shining armour's face told me he was more than delighted at the dress down his rival had gotten.I was almost at my wit's end by now, my ribs were threatening to go on a walk if I curbed anymore of the spring of laughter welling up in me. But to conveniently avoid being told off inthe rather demeaning classic cold manner my aunt alonecould whip up, I swallowed the laughter, kept a straight face and addressed the guys “I'd appreciate it if you both just left me in peace, to sort myself out with my family”.

“But Soty” Chinda interjected, apparently frustrated that he wasn't yet seen as family and wanted so badly to redeem himself before me and onlookers.

“Please, but me no buts, just leave. We'll talk later” I snapped apparently irritated at his pushiness.

“I understand perfectly your position, I'm sorry if I caused you anymore troubles than you'd already been through. See you around some other time” my knight said and sauntered off to his car in the most dignified gait he could muster. My butterflies were doing not just cartwheels by now but also hoop a loops.

“Chinda, please follow suit”, I said in the most stern tone I could sum up.

I turned around walking to my hostel; leaving Chinda looking dazed and confused- he was a small fry I could tactfully handle later.

With my aunt right at my heels, talking animatedly to herself as I couldn't be bothered by a syllable she said,it all sounded like gibberish anyway, even as I knew there was a stor m awaiting me few blocks away ..

As if awaiting the return of a prodigal child, it seemed my entire clan had landed on campus to know what had happened to me the night before as I was in communicadoand my dear aunt being chief ring leader, appeared in front of the local assemblyfacing me in the twinkling of an eye, armsakimbo, all ready for hell to freeze over before letting me off the tribunal, then I heard my uncle's dreaded voice boom from behind her, “Sotonye, Have you grown this wild because you were left all by yourself on campus?

“Words failed me to respond. Where would I begin? As he was already on the offensive. I remained quiet.

“Where were you last night?” He spat out in a most bitter tone.

With no iota of energy in me to fight back, I replied flatly “I was kidnapped by ritualists on my way to auntie's vigil.”

The shocking wave that swept over everyone in earshot and gasps from everyone's lips put a smile on my face. My auntie was in for it.

Angel Uriel wouldn't get her off this one fast enough.

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20

Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

Lifestyle Continue from page 12

NIGERIA IS BETTER TODAY...

ObioAkpor local governments alone,they would have sustained themselves on it.

We cannot say that we got it too early, no! It wasn't that we didn't have people who were well read, who would have been good administrators, we had them. We had people who were already good, who were good enough to continue from where the colonial masters stopped, but apparently maybe because they met something that didn't challenge them to struggle and think, they just sat down with what they have met and said ok let's ride on. Otherwise they would have been able to plan, because we even got to a point that the head of state of the country thenwas saying we had so much money we don't know what to do with it.

PHM: Take Scotland who was also, so to say, colonized by England. They recently voted 500 years later to still remain part of the United Kingdom. Perhaps if Nigeria had continued till today under the United Kingdom, would we have wanted to be independent? What will be our loss for not being independent?

MR ANDY:Looking at today generally as the world exists, I'm not sure we would have lost anything because of what we have seen, actually we would have been better. Because if they had colonized us and we are still under them till today, the rails will still be working, the roads will still be good, everywhere will be fine. Yes, those things may be basic, but they are the exact basic things that makes us feel we are backwards today, and these are what those who colonized us take for granted.

If they were still here, all these things would have still been in order.

Go to Port Harcourt town, it was planned while they were around. If those places were not as planned as they were I am sure we would have built on those roads; but because they marked out the roads, fixed it before they left, it had mostly remained liked that. In essence, we would not have lost anything, we would have been better.

When you talk about infrastructure and every other thing, as individual, as Nigerians, many people would not have the opportunity to steal money as the have today. Look at Nigeria today, what we have is that few individuals are so wealthy and everyone around them is poor, that's what we have today. Under the white man it won't have been possible to keep stealing the common wealth of others, because it's our commonwealth they are taking. What would have been available to every other person, they have appropriated it to themselves, that's why we now have the multi billionaires all over everywhere with private jets doing nothing.

PHM: So which means the only people that benefitted from the independence is the ruling class?

MR ANDY:Yes, it's the ruling class. We used to have a middle class when I was growing up, there is no middle class again in Nigeria today, you are either rich or you are poor.

PHM:Talking about the things the colonial masters were doing, you mentioned the house inspectors, and even though I was not here when they were here, we read a lot of things about how they were inspecting places, schools and even houses etc.…. As a chartered quantity surveyor, where have we lost it in terms of standards especially in the building industry? Perhaps start from what a chartered quantity surveyor does in the construction industry?

MR ANDY: The Quantity Surveyor simply put is a Development and Construction Cost Adviser in Building, Civil and Engineering projects. He is the financial expert in all the above-mentioned disciplines of construction. No matter the project, whether it is civil works, engineering and building works, we are involved in all of these areas. If you go to the US they call them cost engineers but it's still all about quantity surveying;it's still the same role.

PHM:Do people still use Quantity Surveyors during the building construction process or do they just use them to get an initial idea of the building costs?

What are the particular areas where taking out quantity surveyors from the chain is now causing problems for us?

MR ANDY:When we werein school like I made reference, we discovered that we could not build without getting an approval of the drawing to get the approval there are guidelines which you were supposed to follow. Today however,we have now gotten to a point where we have lost those checks and without even going anywhere, you can just call the person in charge to come and collect the drawing from you and just stamp it. It was not originally like that because if it is what it is today, we will not need to have gone to school to go or bothered to get a degree. The proper practice is that as a client, the moment you begin to think of building something, the first person you call is the architect. You tell the architect your thoughts and your plans, and he will go ahead and develop this into a set of drawings and bring it to you. The next thing is you think about how much it would cost, then you come to us. We are supposed to be the second person in the chain. You come to us, because the architect has put it there, and has told you the shape everything is going to take. We come in to give you the first raw idea and cost calculation with what you have. Once we have it we now know whether you can afford this cost or not. If the preliminary estimate is looking too big, we can advise the architect to scale down to about what the client can afford.

But what we do these days is that you directly just call the builder and say, let's go to site. The owner then becomes the supervisor but this is not the right way. There is supposed to be a cost adviserwho will help to manage this money so you don't overrun on your cost. A quantity sur veyor will make sure you are not stretched beyond the budget you have and at the same time that the contractor does not run at a loss because of you. Yes he is working to make a profit and the profit will be reasonable based on what is the standard practice. We help you manage your money at site and make sure that at any point in time that a change is required, we will tell you and you can decide whether to go ahead or not. By not using the QS, what we are doing to ourselves is that we end up spending more. I tell people when they come to me, because of the hundred thousand naira you will pay to me over the period of say six months, you believe that you can push me aside and just do it directly? I give professional advice to you, and if I am not there, the contractor will take advantage of you or even your supervisor or foreman. Look at the collapsed building in Lagos lately. I understand the government is asking the people where they got their approved plan from but they can't produce it. As a QS, if I am at the site and you bring in reinforcement, I know reinforcements that are ductile from the ones that not ductile because I'm a professional. If I see the one that once it's stressed it will slack, I know, but some of these people don't know. Some even believe that the thicker the better but it's not. To curb these collapsed building issues, the supervising agencies need to have people inspecting the site, just like the health officers of old. You don't need to invite them, once they see a construction going on they should know and they should have inspection schedule. You cannot tell me that when the construction of that collapsed building in Lagos was going on, nobody knew to go to go and check. They just didn't bother, or maybe they got there and were checking other things.

ahead and develop this into a set of drawings and bring it to you. The next thing is you think about how much it would cost, then you come to us. We are supposed to be the second person in the chain. You come to us, because the architect has put it there, and has told you the shape everything is going to take.

We come in to give you the first raw idea and cost calculation with what you have. Once we have it we now know whether you can afford this cost or not. If the preliminary estimate is looking too big, we can advise the architect to scale down to about what the client can afford. But what we do these days is that you directly just call the builder and say, let's go to site. The owner then becomes the supervisor but this is not the right way. There is supposed to be a cost adviserwho will help to manage this money so you don't overrun on your cost.

A quantity surveyor will make sure you are not stretched beyond the budget you have and at the same time that the contractor does not run at a loss because of you. Yes he is working to make a profit and the profit will be reasonable based on what is the standard practice. We help you manage your money at site and make sure that at any point in time that a change is required, we will tell you and you can decide whether to go ahead or not. By not using the QS, what we are doing to ourselves is that we end up spending more. I tell people when they come to me, because of the hundred thousand naira you will pay to me over the period of say six months, you believe that you can push me aside and just do it directly? I give professional advice to you, and if I am not there, the contractor will take advantage of you or even your supervisor or foreman. Look at the collapsed building in Lagos lately. I understand the government is asking the people where they got their approved plan from but they can't produce it. As a QS, if I am at the site and you bring in reinforcement, I know reinforcements that are ductile from the ones that not ductile because I'm a professional. If I see the one that once it's stressed it will slack, I know, but some of these people don't know. Some even believe that the thicker the better but it's not. To curb these collapsed building issues, the super vising agencies need to have people inspecting the site, just like the health officers of old. You don't need to invite them, once they see a construction going on they should know and they should have inspection schedule. You cannot tell me that when the construction of that collapsed building in Lagos was going on, nobody knew to go to go and check. They just didn't bother, or maybe they got there and were checking other things.

PHM: So the building that collapsed in Lagos, what's your opinion? Some say it was a spiritual attack? What do you think?

MR ANDY:I'm so sorry to use the word, because it's a strong word, I think it is irresponsibility on the owner's part, I think someone just decided to be irresponsible and they are now tying so many things around it. That place is on the route of airplanes taking off and landing in Lagos because I know the axis, but what about the people who live in Agege and Ikeja? These areas are even closer to the airport and have many planes fly over their roof every daybut have you heard that their houses have collapsed? If it is due to a plane flying nearby, they should all have been dead since, so what are people talking about?The problem we have in Nigeria is that instead of facing realities we begin to distract ourselves with what is not necessary. When I heard what they were just saying, I was just laughing, I said how can? Is that the only structure there? Did the plane drop a bomb there? Then if it is vibration that made it to collapse, then it was not a strong structure in the first place. It's just because they have refused to build what is right- even in that church there could be professionals, who will advise strongly but nobody will listen to them.

Follow the rules so that if some things happen, it will be seen that you have followed the rules. We are not even a volcano prone country. It is when people don't do what they are supposed to do that they begin to blame something else.

PHM: What is the role or what is the responsibility of a quantity surveyor in a site like that?

MR ANDY:I am qualified and chartered quantity surveyor. If I want to do anything that is contrary to my profession, what I think about first is the discipline that is going to apply, because if they get to know, I know the sanctions. That's how it's supposed to be. If you are a quantity surveyor, it means you have graduated from the school, and that you have passed the exam.

This does not make you chartered and does not give you the right to even practice. Youmust now go ahead and register with the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors. After that, you also need to apply to the Quantity Surveyors Regulatory Board of Nigeria. They will qualify you again and if you are successful, they will then give you a stamp and a seal to practice. Once you have that one, you know that any documents you stamp, you are liable if anything goes wrong. Some people will come to me now, for example some junior QS, and they will say we want to borrow some money from the bank, this is what I want to do, I have been able to put the cost together, please Oga can you please stamp it for me, because the bank will not agree except they see the stamp or seal of a professional. Now, maybe he has charged the person two hundred thousand naira and he tells me we will share it into two. Some QS will just stamp it, but Ican't do that. I will have to see the drawings.My staff in the office must look at the calculations and look at what you have done before I put my stamp. Otherwise if anything happens tomorrow, the quantity surveyor involved is in trouble, a big trouble. Secondly, the QS must be at the site every time. Youmust be there regularly, and if you see anything that is not in conformity with what you have in the bill of quantities, you must be able to raise your voice to say no, and put it in writing letting the client know that what is going on at site is not acceptable to you. You should also try not to be the all in all in a site. You cannot be a QS at the site and there are no any other professionals there,e.g the architect or even the civil engineer that is supposed to be checking the structure! For me I will not be involved in such projects. I will tell you straight away that I am not an engineer and will not therefore do the job of an Engineer. In such a site, the QS has the responsibility to inform the owner of these discrepancies, and advise him to take action to remediate. If the owner does not, the QS may have to assess the situation and based on his integrity he can take a decision to pull out of the project, and perhaps inform the regulatory authorities.

a stamp and a seal to practice. Once you have that one, you know that any documents you stamp, you are liable if anything goes wrong. Some people will come to me now, for example some junior QS, and they will say we want to borrow some money from the bank, this is what I want to do, I have been able to put the cost together, please Oga can you please stamp it for me, because the bank will not agree except they see the stamp or seal of a professional. Now, maybe he has charged the person two hundred thousand naira and he tells me we will share it into two. Some QS will just stamp it, but Ican't do that. I will have to see the drawings. My staff in the office must look at the calculations and look at what you have done before I put my stamp. Otherwise if anything happens tomorrow, the quantity surveyor involved is in trouble, a big trouble.

Secondly, the QS must be at the site every time. Youmust be there regularly, and if you see anything that is not in conformity with what you have in the bill of quantities, you must be able to raise your voice to say no, and put it in writing letting the client know that what is going on at site is not acceptable to you. You should also try not to be the all in all in a site. You cannot be a QS at the site and there are no any other professionals there,e.g the architect or even the civil engineer that is supposed to be checking the structure! For me I will not be involved in such projects. I will tell you straight away that I am not an engineer and will not therefore do the job of an Engineer. In such a site, the QS has the responsibility to inform the owner of these discrepancies, and advise him to take action to remediate. If the owner does not, the QS may have to assess the situation and based on his integrity he can take a decision to pull out of the project, and perhaps inform the regulatory authorities.

Continue from page 20

NIGERIA AT 54: A GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY?

Yes, it depends on the directions you’re looking at it from, in the 60’s we didn’t have these phones we are using now.

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21

Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

Relationship Please I need your advice, I'm so worried

Heart 2 Heart

By Ayodeji Faleye E-mail: ayductdejiro@gmail.com

I am 25 years old and I'm dating a 30 year old guy I met a couple of months ago. It has been a distant relationship. He's a nice guy but my problem is that he doesn't have time for me. Even when he is around my place, he keeps on saying I'm coming to you and at the end of the day he won't come. He never calls me, he only chats with me on WhatsApp. Please I need your advice, I'm so worried. I like him a lot.

What should I do? Should I break up with him or should I give him some time?

Tel: 07034636125, 08079694583

R e s p o n s e s Debby - My dear, I'm not sure he is so serious, because if he does, you will always be on his mind. Let go of him, he does not care about you.

Chisom - Are you guys just dating or you are in a serious relationship? If it is just a mere dating, then I don't have much to say, but if it is a serious relationship, I think the guy is not ready yet. So it's better you don't waste your time on him.

Kamsey - I think you should just give him some time; maybe he is a little busy for now. Exercise a bit more patience. Thereafter, if he doesn't change, then find your level.

Theresa - It's very obvious that you don't have a future with him. If he could neither visit nor call you, then he doesn't love you or probably doesn't want you.

Michael - The truth of the matter is that, it is where your treasure is that your heart will always be. Definitely, you are not the only one in his life, he still has someone else somewhere. I'm also a guy, if I am unable to call my girlfriend within 3 hours, I will be feeling uneasy.

Because I love her and I always love to hear her voice not even to chat with her, you can't substitute call with chat.

Ogechi - In short, he doesn't love you and that is why he doesn't see any need to visit or call you. Just like you said, “He keeps on saying I'm coming to you and at the end of the day he won't come. He would never call me, he only chats with me on WhatsApp .” Don't allow him to waste your time, forget about him and move on.

Annabel - Don't even think about it. Give him some time or what did I hear you say? Someone who doesn't visit or call, you still want to consider him. Girl, wake up, he is just a player, and

She needs your advice.

What do you think is the best step to take so as to keep her joyful home from being destroyed?

8 years ago, this woman was raped while attending her friend's birthday party. Her friend, the celebrant, had introduced her to a guy to keep her company since she didn't come with anyone. They both had nice time and exchanged contact. From there, it all started! He called her consistently and they kept getting in-touch with one another. Later she went out on a date with the guy. They agreed to meet at a hotel. She got there and met him in a room at the hotel. Long and short, she was raped by the guy. That experience has now come back to haunt her.

After the incidence, she met and got married to a guy.

They are both Muslims, and they had a loving home. The marriage is blessed with a child. She went to Mecca at a time, and when she came back, she began to see a specific number flash her repeatedly. When she tries to call back, it's not picked up. After a while, she sent him a SMS demanding to know the flasher's identity. He revealed his identity in a bit, as the ''one who slept with her years ago'', mentioning the name of the hotel. She replied with a text, 'that has been buried in the pit of awful curses'. She wondered how he got her number and called him again to find out, but he didn't disclose how.

He never stopped calling her, telling her he wants her back for a relationship, even though he knows she's now married. He even threatened that he will contact her husband and wake up the ghost of her dead past. "I don't know how he got my husband's number" she said in brutal tears.

Her husband knows nothing of her past, and she is scared of telling her husband because the outcome might be far from good.

She needs your advice. What should she do to keep her home from being destroyed?

Text us your advice, suggestions and questions to the number above. Your questions/contributions will be published in our next edition.

ry!

Tell us your sto PH Microscope introduces True Life Stories If you have a story that is personal, true life, and it happened to you or someone close to you, then come to us. We will listen to you, interview you, and will write your story for the world to see and share.

They can be stories of your life, your struggles and victories, and all. The world wants to hear it….and someone may learn from it!

We will share it with the world...

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2, 0806091739 on 0807778877 oscope.com Call us today her@ph-micr Email: publis icroscope Twitter: @phm croscope ok.com/phmi www.facebo you Facebook: connect with and we will

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Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

Faith & Religion

HOW CAN I TELL IF IT’S LOVE OR INFATUATION? know when it is being taken for granted, and thus takes wise and appropriate decisions.

It is undue emotional attachment to a person that makes the person blind: it is not love.

Once you get emotionally attached to s o m e b o d y, y o u develop a soft/blind spot for them. Correct assessment/judgment of the person's character, flaws or weakness becomes very difficult. This is why some say, “Love is blind”. When you are emotionally bonded with somebody, it is difficult to make sane judgment about the person. Your estimate of the person is likely to be clouded and misguided. Love makes

I

f you ever thought the bible is full of only spiritual things, then have a rethink. A book of the bible, The Song of Songs, compares well with the best love poems in the world. It has love as its central theme. One of the passages has some interesting bearing to the topic we are discussing today. Check chapter 2 verse 7, it says, “Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the hinds of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.” This shows that there is a link between love and time. When it comes to differentiating genuine love, time plays a major part. In this piece, we will like to answer some questions as pertaining to love.

Is there such as thing as Love at First Sight?

Yes, many youths claimed to have had this experience of love at first sight. This is when there is an attraction to the opposite sex by just sighting the person for the very first time. It is a pull of attraction which many misconstrue as love. It is just a passing emotion which should not be taken very seriously. However if love at first sight is properly nurtured and guided with values, a meaningful relationship can result from it.

Is genuine love really blind?

Genuine love is never blind. It sees. It may only be waiting for time, believing for a change that is rewarding. Genuine love is patient with others' weaknesses and flaws, but it is wise enough to

How does real love come?

Real love takes time to develop. It comes in small measures and it comes gradually. Real love is not just an emotional sensation. It is tempered with reason and guarded with m o r a l v a l u e s .

Is it easy to distinguish love from infatuation?

It is not easy to differentiate love from infatuation. They both have many things in common. However, there is a thin line of difference which is worthy of note. Check out the differences in the table below:

Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.'

Mature love says 'I need you because I love you.’

Love or Infatuation: Know the difference Love

Infatuation

1. Is patient and allows time for the relationship to grow Is impatient, rash, impulsive and unreasonable 2. Is self-controlled and wants the best for the other and the relationship

Is self-willed and demands its own way

3. Looks beyond the external and is attracted also by the character traits. It is person centered

Is preoccupied by external qualities, which arouse passion and lust. It can be sex-centered or self-centered.

4. Cannot be separated from God who is love

Is caught up with momentary and romantic sensations and often leads individuals away from God

5. Is built on self-acceptance and assume the best in the other by implicit trust

Is often unsure of self and therefore jealous and possessive of the other.

6. Is built on friendship and leaves individuals better for Has an unsure basis and leaves behind scars and having known each other even if they break up painful memories of the other.

May cause individuals to do what is wrong for fear of 7. Is true to personal values even if it may risk the loss losing each other. of the relationship 8. Feelings and circumstances do not alter the Is feelings/mood dependent and creates a certain commitment to love. It is a commitment of the will. nervousness/ uncertainty about the relationship 9. Grows with time and lasts despite separation or distance. Out of sight is not out of mind.

Weakens with time and leads to separation.

Out of sight is out of mind.

10. It's not a passing feeling or desire. It deepens with time and knowledge

It is a passing emotional phase. Given enough time it evaporates. It cannot stand the test of time. Is impatient, rash, impulsive and unreasonable

If you have a question or need counseling or you want to comment on this write up, you can write to us via our email address or send a text or use our facebook profile. The publisher may print your response in the next edition E-mail: oluchris@gmail.com Facebook profile: bolym youths Tel: 08063247337, 08023649812, 08054033211.

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Oct. 2, 2014 - Oct. 16, 2014 Vol. 2 No. 24

23

Sports Extra

By Chuma Nnoli (chumality@yahoo.com)

Nigeria's Sports development in 54 years

Celebrating Nigeria at 54 would not be complete without mentioning her highs and lows in Sports at the national, continental and global levels. The Country's surgeon in sports started even before independence with The likes of Hogan Kid Bassey who became the world featherweight boxing champion in 1957 and Dick Tiger who won the middleweight crown and later the world light heavyweight crown, in athletics Emmanuel lfejuna won a gold medal in high jump during the Commonwealth Games in 1954. But looking back from 1960 till date, the most populous black nation on earth has had it own fair share of successes and even failures. In football, from winning the all African games gold in the 1970s, the green eagles lifted their 1st nations cup crown with Christian Chukwu as captain of the side in 1980, after a change of name to super eagles, Nigeria's senior male national team have won the African crown two more times, in 1994 and 2013, also winning gold in the “Atlanta 96” Olympic Football event. Their female counterparts the Super falcons have dominated the African scene winning seven of the nine senior continental championships. The junior levels have been the country's most successful division, emerging FIFA under 17 world champions four times, in 1985, 1993, 2007 and 2013, including getting to the male and female under 20 world cup finals twice each, 1989, 2005 and 2010, 2014 respectively. There's been a bit to also cheer about in Athletics, with the country's first Olympic Gold coming in 1996, Chioma Ajunwa getting that in the Long Jump event, Blesing Okagbare and the 4x400m male relay team also

finishing tops in the year 2000 Olympics among others. Nigeria has also over the years proven its mettle in boxing as Samuel Peter was crowned world heavyweight champion in 2008, alongside a handful of medals won by the nation's boxers in commonwealth and Olympic Games. Traditional wrestling and weightlifting have also been a strong point for the “giant of Africa” in its 54 year history.

However, despite all these positives mentioned above, it is important to note that with the abundance of talents on offer the west African Country should have achieved far more. One of the bane of sports development in Nigeria has been over reliance on government for funds, in more advanced societies, the private sector plays a major role in driving the cause, with Governments merely supporting through sports friendly policies and grants once in a while. It's also disheartening to note the habit of late preparations and release of funds ahead of a major global or continental championship, a situation like this caused us to have a dismal performance at the 2012 London Olympic games where we returned with no single medal. Age falsification has also not done our sports development any good as the question keeps arising, if we have won the FIFA under 17 world cup 4 times, why have those sets five or ten years later not translated that success to the Senior world cup.

I would not also fail to mention a decline in the competitive nature of our school's sports over the years, the days where every secondary and even primary school is expected to have enough space to accommodate sporting facilities, seem to have gone past us, even as its also worthy of note that our over concentration on football is having a very negative effect on the growth of other sports in our country.

It is my earnest prayer that by the time we celebrate another independence day, some if not all of these issues will be tackled so we can reach even greater heights in the Nigerian Sporting sector.

Usa ‘96 Olympic Gold Medalist

More injury woes Platini returns for Dortmund watch to FIFA

Borussia Dortmund defender Marcel Schmelzer faces up to four weeks on the sidelines after breaking bones in his left hand in his team's 1-0 defeat at home to Hamburger SV on Saturday.

The defender underwent a successful operation a few days back, adding to BVB's already lengthy injury list which includes Marco Reus, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Ilkay Gündogan and Jakub Blaszczykowski, among others.

Schmelzer has been restricted to just two league appearances this season after missing the first few games of the campaign with a groin injury sustained in Dortmund's Supercup victory over FC Bayern München in August.

UEFA media director Pedro Pinto has revealed in an interview with a German paper Die Welt that president Michel Platini has handed in a $25,000 watch given to him at the World Cup to FIFA. Last month, Platini, 59, had said he would not return the watch, which was given to the 25 FIFA executive committee members and the presidents of the football associations by the Brazilian Football Confederation at the World Cup in June.

FIFA, world football's governing body, had told the officials they had until Oct. 24 to hand in the watches or face ethics proceedings for accepting a gift that had more than a "symbolic or trivial value.”

Maria Sharapova rises on WTA rankings

Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has moved up to number two in the world rankings. The French Open champion who was fourth in the September placement climbed 2 places after her triumph in Beijing in the China Open over the weekend. Sharapova beat Petra Kvitova in 3 sets 6-4 2-6 6-3 to win her first title since capturing the French Open earlier this year. The Victory came just five months after the Russian was one defeat away from dropping out of the top 10 for the first time since 2011. Despite the climb though, the 27 year old is still almost 2000 points behind world number one Serena Williams who pulled out from the China Open tournament in the earlier stages due to an injury. Romanian Simona Halep occupies the 3rdspot on the rankings with the beaten finalist in Beijing, Petra Kvitova placed 4th. Rounding up the top 5 is Chinese super star Li Na who recently announced her retirement from the sport.

U.S. Basketball team qualify for 2016 Olympics

The U.S. women's basketball team has joined their male counterparts in clinching a berth in the 2016 Olympics even though the global fiesta is still 2 years away. The place was sealed as they team beat Spain 77-64 in the (Federation of International Basketball Associations) FIBA world cup final to emerge champions. The Olympics which is the biggest sporting event on earth features male and female basketball as one of the sports to be competed for, with 12 countries each in both categories set to battle among themselves for the gold, silver and bronze medals at stake in the games. The qualifying process sees the continental champions join world cup holders and the host nation to gain automatic entrance, with 3 and 5 other qualifying places on offer in the male and female draws respectively.

Sports Extra

Did you

Know?

Nigeria has the 32nd largest land mass in the world Nigeria is the 7th most populous country In the world.

7% of the world’s language are spoken in Nigeria.

Nigeria is the 20th largest economy in the world.

National honors will inspire me to win more - Amuneke Golden Eaglet's coach Emmanuel Amuneke says the national award bestowed on him and his colleagues will inspire him to want to achieve even more in football for Nigeria. As assistant coach of the Country's Under 17 team that won the 2013 FIFA World cup Amuneke was one of 313 distinguished Nigerians honored by President Goodluck Jonathan on September 29 in Abuja. The Former African footballer of the year who bagged the MFR award had since been appointed chief coach of the current Golden Eaglets squad and only last weekend guided the team to qualify for the 2015 African under 17 championships with a 6-2 aggregate win over Gabon. "For me it's a privilege I'm really grateful and I'm happy that Nigerians are recognizing our efforts and hopefully this will be a very big motivation to us and it also will be a very big motivation to the new generation that will be coming on after us". Amuneke told PH Microscope.

Meanwhile the Former Barcelona player has revealed he's not under any form of pressure to replicate or even surpass the achievements of his predecessor, Manu Garba, insisting that he knows Nigerians always love winning and will keep working hard to fulfill that without putting unnecessary pressure on himself and the players." I'm not under any pressure, as an ex player i always like to win, I'm a winner , I'm a fighter and I try to transmit that to the players, only God know where the journey will take us to" it will be recalled Garba who Amuneke assisted led the golden eaglets to 2nd place in the African Championship before guiding the team to win the World Cup.

Ogunbote Confident of Continental ticket next season Coach of Sharks FC of Port Harcourt Gbenga Ogunbote still believes the club can get a continental ticket at the end of the season. The Blue Angels who topped the Glo NPFL table for a major part of the 1st stanza of the season now find themselves 6th in the standings, 5 points behind table toppers Kano Pillars with only 8 games to the end of the 2013/2014 campaign. This drop has come as a result of very inconsistent performances from the team since the resumption of the 2nd stanza especially in away games. however after amassing 7 points from their last 3 games including an away draw against Elkanemi Warriors in Kano the former sunshine stars manager speaking exclusively to PH Microscope insists it will be unwise to rule Sharks completely out of the running for a top three finish, which is what will give them a ticket to represent Nigeria in the Caf Champions league or Confederations cup. "I think it's still possible, you can't write off any team at this point in time, we have as many as 8 games to go, we have 4 home and 4 away, we just pray we can work on ourselves and still try as much as possible to get all our home games and get some games on the road, anything can still happen" he said.

Nigeria has the 2nd largest debt and stock market in Africa.

Super Falcons coach Edwin Okon insists Nigeria's group in the African Women's championship is not an easy one despite not being paired with Cameroon or Ghana, claiming that its more difficult to come up against “unknown foes” in competitions of this magnitude. The Nigerian Ladies have been pitted in group A of the tournament alongside hosts Namibia, Zambia and Ivory Coast who knocked out 2012 champions Equatorial Guinea in the qualifying series. While fans in some quarters are excited that the falcons avoided group B, which has the likes of Ghana, South Africa and Cameroon, coach Okon has been quick to downplay such thoughts. “no team today is a push over in football, so I don't know what they mean by group of death or group of life” the former Falconets handler said in an exclusive chat with PH Microscope. “the group we belong is a very dicey and hard one, this is an unknown group so if you come to think of it, ours is the group of death” he added. The 8 nation championship is billed to take place in Namibia from October 11 to 25, with the top 3 teams qualifying to represent Africa in next year's FIFA world cup. Nigeria dominated the competition in the 1st 7 editions but have failed to lift the trophy since 2010.

There's still room for Ballotelli Conte

2nd largest movie industry in the world.

It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open?

Next time you feel a sneeze coming try it!

Our Group is the Group of death Coach Okon

Van Gaal has another defensive injury to deal with Manchester United defender Paddy McNair has been ruled out three weeks with a hamstring injury. McNair, 19, deputised at centreback in the recent Premier League victories over West Ham and Everton at Old Trafford after a defensive injury crisis hit United.

The youngster, who excelled in both games alongside Marcos Rojo, was expected to be handed a Northern Ireland call-up ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifiers with Faroe Islands and Greece.

Italy coach Antonio Conte has defended his decision to again omit Mario Balotelli from the national team.

The Liverpool striker was overlooked by Conte in his first squad selection last month and Conte feels the ex-Manchester City striker needs more time to focus adjusting to life at Liverpool.

Balotelli, who played for Italy at the World Cup in Brazil, has now also been left out of the Azzurri's 26-man roster for the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Malta.

"Mario has started a new path," Conte said in Monday's press conference. "It's not an easy one and I believe he must be given the necessary time to adapt at Liverpool.

"We are following him just as we monitor all Italians that play abroad.