PDP,APC clash over Tinubu,Osinbajo deepen

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PDP, APC clash over Tinubu, Osinbajo deepens choice between a visionless President and principled President-inwaiting”, he stated. ‘’Having failed to discredit that outing, the PDP and the Jonathan administration have now resorted to making nauseating claims that are totally untrue, a b s o l u t e l y incomprehensible and nothing but sheer bunkum’’.

The APC said the claim is the latest in a series of desperate moves by the PDP and the Jonathan administration since the emergence of Buhari as the APC presidential candidate, ‘’They have thrown everything imaginable at Gen. Buhari, but he has continued to wax stronger and stronger.

They said he was not qualified, that he was too old, then they fabricated a medical report of an illness of their own choice, sponsored death wish adverts against him and instituted a myriad of court cases to stop him.

The preposterous claim of a secret oath reminiscent of what they do in their own party is their latest desperate act”.

The opposition party said it has so far refrained from engaging Fani-Kayode in his “game of character assassination, abuses and irresponsible name calling”.

Continued from Page 1 National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji L ai Mohammed, and the Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPO), vehemently denied the charge.

But the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO) insisted that Tinubu planned to replace Osinbajo six months after APC would have won the presidential election.

Mohammed said the allegation was designed to divert attention from “the runaway success of the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, at the Chatham House in London last Thursday.

The APCPCO, in its own statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said there was no iota of truth in the claim first raised by his PDPPCO counterpart, Chief Femi FaniKayode, on Friday.

‘Nauseating claims’ The APC National Publicity Secretary, in his statement issued in London, said “the PDP and the Jonathan administration still do not have any answer to what has now become an epochal moment that has separated the wheat from the chaff.” ‘’Our presidential candidate’s globallyacclaimed outing has presented Nigerians, and indeed the global community, with a

‘Tales by moonlight’ Shehu, in his statement, asked the PDP and the Presidency

THOUGHT FOR TODAY DISCUSSION AND DECISION (1)

By Richard Eromonsele

Discussion simply,is the process of discussing with somebody about something you want to take a decision on.Decision on the other hand is the choice or judgement we make after thinking,discussing and talking with someone about the best thing to do.Sometimes we may take a decision without even discussing with anybody.You see,there is a world of difference between discussion and decision.If you do all the discussion in this world without doing anything more and without taking a final decision on what to do,all you have done is nonsense..

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to focus more on the dwindling economy and corruption instead of engaging in unfounded lies.

“The Director of Communication for the PDP Presidential Campaign, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said with uncanny impudence that the APC Vice Presidential candidate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, was made to agree to an oath to resign six months after and allow Senator Bola Tinubu, in the event that APC wins the presidential election.

Quite evidently, this piece of bunkum was meant to vitiate the integrity of our respected Vice Presidential candidate by the band of d i s h o n o u r a b l e politicians in the PDP. We state, without any iota of equivocation, that this is untrue and unfounded,” the APCPCO statement said.

“It continued: We have shown these examples of the PDP-led

• L-R: Sister Opeyemi Odutola, the newly presented Lay President; Remo Diocesan Lay President, Sir Engr. Lana Odutola; his wife, Lady Ranti Odutola; and Brother Dayo Odutola, at Sir Odutola’s formal presentation at Revd Mellor Memorial Methodist Cathedral, Sagamu, Remo, Ogun State.

Presidency ’s conduct in desperately laying hold at straw despite the rejection of the Nigerian people, ahead of the general elections.

Unfortunately, the PDPled Presidency seeks to change the narrative by resorting to tales by moonlight.

“On our part, we shall continue to insist on these enviable standards of good governance in

the Nigerian political space.”

‘APC cannot deny conspiracy’ But responding to the APC statements, the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDPPCO, Fani-Kayode, maintained that the “plot will fail”. He dismissed the response by the APC as feeble.

Fani-Kayode said that rather than respond to the

alleged plot, Lai Mohammed claimed that the issue was meant to “divert attention from the runaway success of the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, at the Chatham House in London last Thursday.”

“From the APC response, it is clear that they have something to hide. They clearly cannot deny this dangerous plot”.

How SDP will govern Ogun — Odunsi

By Daud Olatunji, Abeokuta

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HE governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party,SDP, in Ogun State, Senator Akin Odunsi, has explained that he would govern the state with the fear of God if he is elected.

Odunsi, accompanied by the incumbent deputy governor of the state, Prince Segun Adesegun, the two senatorial candidates from Ogun Central and Ogun East, Senators Gbenga

FG spent N200bn on roads — Ex-minister

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

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VER N200 billion has been spent on the construction and rehabilitation of roads in the North Central by the Federal Government.

A former Minister of State for Niger Delta and Benue State Coordinator of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization, PDPPCO, Dr. Sam Ode, made this known at the senatorial districts town hall meeting, organized by his office in Makurdi, Benue State capital.

In his address, the guest speaker and Second Republic senator, Chief Jacob Gyado, stated that unhealthy strife among the tribal blocks in the country had been the bane of Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.

Obadara and Adegbenga Kaka, respectively, among other party chieftains, pledged that the SDP would put right the wrong policies of the Amosun administration.

The candidate gave the

pledge while addressing the Muslim faithful at the Jumat Service at the Central Mosque,Kobiti, Abeokuta.

Odunsi said he was optmistic that the SDP will win convincingly at the polls, pledging that

the government of the SDP would not discriminate.

He said: “I have genuine intention to rule,and I want to rule with the fear of God. We shall jointly transform the state.”

Why IDPs in Borno can’t go back home — Sen. Ndume

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja

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ENATOR Ali Ndume, who is one of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, as a result of the Boko Haram onslaught on the three states of North-east of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, has said that despite the recent success recorded by the military in the fight to rid the states of insurgency, the displaced people were still

reluctant to go back to their homes for the fear of counter attacks.

Ndume, representing Borno South, also said the 30 Mobile Police officers, reported missing about six months ago when the terrorist group, Boko Haram, struck in his area, were yet to be seen.

Speaking in an interview on the security situation in his constituency as elections draw nearer, he said that the combined efforts of the Nigerian

military alongside their neighboring Chad, Niger and Cameroon had made tremendous success in reclaiming the areas that fell under the control of Boko Haram.

He noted that the commitment made by the Federal Government in the past few weeks, if it had been the same commitment from the beginning, the insurgency would not have lasted more than two weeks.

CONFAB report implementation ‘ll bring change in Nigeria, says Jonathan

By Festus Ahon

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R E S I D E N T G o o d l u c k Jonathan, yesterday, said only the implementation of the National Conference report would bring about the desired change in the country.

Jonathan, who stated this in Asaba, the Delta State capital, during the rally of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Coexistence in Southern Nigeria, said the implementation of the CONFAB report would guard against the

discrimination amongst Nigerians.

Insisting that peaceful co-existence was key to human existence, he said his government was committed to the enthronement of peace in the country.

Jonathan, flanked by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr Steve Oru, and other top g o v e r n m e n t functionaries, said government was in the process of coming up with a law that would check the issue of discrimination against

Nigerians living outside their home states or local governments.

Holding that Nigerians must live together as one, he said he believed in one Nigeria and could not discriminate against any Nigerian. He said it was only the PDP government that could implement the confab report.

Clad in white ‘agbada’ and Hausa cap to match, the President said it was only a peaceful heart that could give peace, enjoining Nigerians not to allow themselves to be used to create crisis.

PAGE 6 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 1, 2015

Comrade Popoola; Comrade Olarenwaju Suraj, South Coordinator, Nigerians United for Democracy, NUD; Chief Ayo Opadokun; and Mr Femi Falana [SAN]; leading other members of NUD during a rally against alleged moves to further shift the polls and interim govt in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

Military pounds more Boko Haram targets •Plan to bomb bridge foiled

By Kingsley Omonobi, Abuja

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OLLOWING the continued push by the military to recapture all territories occupied by Boko Haram fighters, troops on cordon and search, along DjimitilloDamatur u Road, Yobe State engaged in fierce battle, at the weekend, with fighters suspected to be members of the Islamist group, after their hideout was discovered.

At Gulak, the headquarters of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, an attempt by some fighters to blow up a bridge to stop the military ’s advance, according to sources, was foiled as the troops, backed by air power, routed the Boko Haram insurgents.

The fierce fight to dislodge the fighters from the hideout along Djimtillo-Damaturu Road, close to a market, was said to have resulted in the capture of a cache of arms including several machine guns and rifles while scores of the fighters were killed.

A statement from the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) noted that many of the fighters died in the resultant fire that gutted the house where they had made their base.

During the encounter, a soldier was reportedly killed while another was wounded and was said to be undergoing treatment.

In the Gulak encounter troops, in pursuit of fighters, according to an account, caught up with some of them who were in the process of blowing up a bridge to deter

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HE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has arrested an Indian for importing and distributing fake and unregistered regulated products into the country.

This was sequel to a special raid and enforcement operation in some markets and locations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by

Northern leaders seek Jonathan’s backing for 2019 •Wants GEJ support for N/West candidate

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OLITICAL leadr s from the North were said to have reached out to President Goodluck Jonathan in a bid to secure assurances that their preferred candidate would be supported to succeed the President in 2019.

In a move seen as a follow up to the pact said to have been reached with the strategy Committee, comprising mainly northern leaders, some elders, led by elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, had visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja last week for further talks.

Though the group met with Vice President Namadi Sambo, sources confirmed that the key e

Elections must hold — Falana, Opadokun, groups •Any further polls shift will be fought — NUD

By Bashir Adefaka

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LANS by the F e d e r a l Government to further truncate the 2015 elections have failed.

This was the position of pro-democracy groups who came together, yesterday, at a rally held at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota,

NAFDAC arrests Indian for importation of fake products

By Chioma Obinna

troops advance.

Some of the fighters were not lucky as they died in the battle.

“The troops are continuing with cordon and search of the town and environs after overpowering the terrorists”, the DHQ statement said.

“A lot of ar ms have been recovered in the process. Troops are also dismantling the terrorist group’s flags hoisted in the liberated towns”. *More on Boko Haram and the liberated territories at pages...

Members of the Niger Delta People Salvation Front, NDPSF,protesting against the call for the resignation of the INEC boss, Prof. Jega, in Effurun. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire.

the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of the agency from Lagos.

Addressing journalists after the exercise, the leader of the team, Mr. Folorunso Idowu, a Chief Regulatory Officer, said the Indian was arrested along with several cartons of u n r e g i s t e r e d confectionery worth millions of naira following a tip-off in one of the hotels in Port Harcourt.

Lagos, to say that any attempt by the Jonathan administration to postpone the elections again or use the military in the electoral conduct would be met with stiff fight by them.

Addressing the gathering, tagged, “Citizens Expression of Love for Democracy,” organised at the instance of an umbrella pro-democracy group, “Nigerians United for Democracy (NUD),” activists were bold in making their positions known.

In one of the flyers distributed at the rally, they said, “Nigerians say no to further postponement of election date; no to politicising our armed forces; no to Interim Government and not to military rule again in Nigeria.”

In his address, the leader of the NUD, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), warned security chiefs to be awake to the reality that they had no

message conveyed through the Vice President to Jonathan was the need for assurances that power would revert to the North in 2019.

Sources confirmed that Jonathan had given indications that the North would take power in 2019 after his second term during the week long discussions that yielded the pact produced by the Strategy Committee.

But it was learnt that the elders came specifically last week to get words from the Villa that the North-west would be backed for the Presidency in 2019.

It was learnt that the northern elders had wanted to secure the assurances so as to be in the best position to define their messages to strategic elders and leaders of the North.

ICT experts, desperate politicians out to scuttle polls — REC

By Simon Ebegbulem

business interfering in electoral conduct, adding that the military had usurped the role of the INEC and the police by forcing themselves into electoral matters thereby committing constitutional breach.

On the leaders who claimed to be speaking for the Yoruba and Igbo and thus announced that they their people had endorsed Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to return as President in the coming elections, Falana and Mr. Ayo Opadokun believed that they were just a pack of game players who meant nothing in the real sense of the state of Yoruba and Igbo affairs.

Falana said although there was no coup, he established that Jonathan’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, had said that the Jonathan administration would never hand over to Geneal Muhammadu Buhari.

“The deal right now is to see how the North would reciprocate years of South-south backing with support for Jonathan, while the President will in turn back a northern candidate to succeed him in 2019. With that pact sealed, we have a concrete message for the North,” a source in the know said.

It was learnt that the team reiterated their message during the meeting with Sambo at the Villa last week and was told to expect words from the President directly through its chairman.

“I can tell you that the President was immediately briefed on his return to Abuja and words have been communicated to Alhaji Yakassai on the way forward,” the source further said.

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HE Resident E l e c t o r a l Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, Mr Mike Igini, has raised the alarm that ICT experts, in collaboration with some desperate politicians, want to derail the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct credible elections through the cloning and purchase of permanent voters cards (PVCs).

The REC, reacting to the

arrest of seven persons at the New Benin Market, Benin-City, allegedly involved in the purchase of PVCs from market women, described as heart breaking the connivance of some ICT experts and politicians to clone PVCs, just as he vowed that all those arrested will be prosecuted.

The suspects were apprehended by the police during an attempt to purchase PVCs from some illiterate market women for N5,000-N10,000.

Toddler abandoned in Warri newspaper depot

By Egufe Yafugborhi

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male toddler was, yesterday, found abandoned at the newspaper depot in Effurun, Delta State.

Esther Okafor, one of the newspaper distributors, told Sunday Vanguard: “The girl who sells tickets to people saw the boy left naked in dirty water outside. The

woman who owns one of the shops outside then bought clothes for him and Mr. Nation bought this Lucozade for him” Secretary of the Newspaper Distributors’ Union, Effurun, Akpaitam Aniekan, said the union was yet to comprehend the development, saying no one really saw when the child was dropped within their premises.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 7

Orji not booed at Aba burial – Abia govt

BY ANAYO OKOLI

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BIA State govern ment has described as “false and misleading” the report in a newspaper [not Vanguard] that Governor Theodore Orji was booed and pelted with sachet water in Aba during the burial ceremony of pioneer Catholic Bishop of Aba, Bishop Vincent Valentine Ezeonyia, in the commercial city on Friday.

The state government said “there was no time the governor was booed or jeered at not to talk of pelting him with pure water ” during the burial ceremony, saying the report was part of the war against the state by the said newspaper.

It said that the governor and other dignitaries, including the representative of President Goodluck Jonathan did not speak at the ceremony because there was no provision for them to make speeches, saying it was not true that Orji did not speak due to the hostile attitude of the crowd as reported by the paper.

In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Gover nor, Mr. Charles

Ajunwa, said “the report and the pictures painted therein never occurred”, describing the report as “a figment of the imagination of the reporter ”.

In his account of what transpired in Aba, Ajunwa said: “The environment at the CKC, Aba, venue of the funeral mass for the late bishop, was calm when the governor arrived at exactly 10 am with his wife and other government officials.

“On arrival, the Governor and his delegation moved straight into the cathedral which was filled to capacity without any incident.

“There was no time the governor was booed or jeered at not to talk of pelting him with pure water; the crowd outside merely cheered thunderously when he was officially announced as one of the dignitaries attending the burial”.

‘It was not true that the hostile attitude of the crowd towards the Governor prevented him from speaking at the event, pointing out that the truth is that from the programme there was no provision for the Governor or any other dignitary to speak”.

Russia opposition politician Boris Nemtsov shot dead

By Tony Nwankwo, with agency reports

The late Boris Nemtsov

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leadin g Russian o p p o s i t i o n politician, former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, has been shot dead in Moscow.

An unidentified attacker in a car shot Mr Nemtsov four times in the back as he crossed a bridge in view of the Kremlin, police said.

He died hours after appealing for support for a march on Sunday (today) in Moscow against the war

in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the murder, the Kremlin says.

In a recent interview, Mr Nemtsov had said he feared Mr. Putin would have him killed because of his opposition to the war in Ukraine.

Boris Nemtsov was one of Russia’s leading economic reformers in the 1990s.

Mr Nemtsov, 55, served as first deputy prime minister under President Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s.

He had earned a reputation as an economic reformer while governor of one of Russia’s biggest cities, Nizhny Novgorod.

Falling out of favour with Yeltsin’s successor, Mr Putin, he became an outspoken opposition politician.

Okpe PDP chieftains tasked on collection of PVCs

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HE Jonathan/Sambo C a m p a i g n Coordinator, Okpe local government chapter, Delta State, Hon. Blessing Oborevwori, has advised party chieftains across the council area to go and collect their voter cards to enable them vote massively all PDP candidates in the forthcoming elections Oborevwori, who was advising youths of the party at Orerokpe, headquarters of Okpe local government area of Delta State, said the importance of the voter cards cannot be over emphasized,saying

they will soon embark on ward-walk across the ten wards of Okpe council area to ensure that every party member collects his or her card.

He called for massive votes for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the Delta State governorship candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the Delta Central senatorial candidate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidate of Okpe constituency, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, in order to bring t r a n s f o r m a t i o n programmes to the grass roots.

PAGE 8 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 1, 2015

Jonathan settles Ijaw/ Itsekiri EPZ feud

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, SouthSouth

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R E S I D E N T G o o d l u c k Jonathan, yesterday, in Asaba, Delta State, resolved the stalemate between the Ijaw and the Itsekiri in Delta State over the groundbreaking of the $16 billion Delta City Gas City project at Ogidigben, Warri SouthWest Local Government Area of the state.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that a new date of March 15 was agreed for the groundbreaking ceremony, which had suffered three postponements since 2014.

A reliable source hinted that the President, who was on a two-day visit to the state, held separate meetings with the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, who led the Itsekiri delegation, and Ijaw leaders before he finally met with two principal protagonists, ex-militant leader, High Chief G o v e r n m e n t Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, and Itsekiri leader, Chief Ayiri Emami.

At the fence-mending meeting with Tompolo and Ayiri, brokered by Jonathan’s host, Governor Emmanuel

•Groundbreaking now March 15 Uduaghan, yesterday morning, our dependable informant said, “It was agreed that the groundbreaking be done on March 15 and the ethnic groups should abide by the names proposed by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, for the projects.

“While the main project, Delta Gas City, which many refer to as EPZ, is at Ogidigben, an Itsekiri town, the other one is Gbaramatu Sea Port in Ijaw territory.”.

It was learned that Uduaghan had to intervene before Ayiri accepted the deal.

With the new date, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, has been instructed to reach out to the foreign investors of the project to ensure their participation at the groundbreaking.

Contacted, Ayiri, a PDP chieftain, said he was at the meeting with Mr. President, but declined to speak on the outcome.

An Itsekiri leader, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, who attended the meeting of the Itsekiri leaders with Jonathan, on Friday evening, said he was not aware of the definite date of March

15, but he knew the Olu of Warri raised the matter afresh and the President said a new date would be fixed before the presidential election on March 28.

Similarly, Chairman of the Warri Study Group, Mr. Edward Ekpoko, whose group threatened earlier that Niger-Delta ethnic nationalities might not vote for Jonathan if the groundbreaking was not performed before the presidential election, said, “I was there at the meeting with President Jonathan on Friday, he said he would do the groundbreaking before the election but no date was fixed.

“He told us he would talk with Governor Uduaghan for a new date.”

Our reporter could not reach Uduaghan, who was busy with President Jonathan, for comment, yesterday, but a close aide said, “He is happy that the matter has been finally resolved and the President has asked him to work with the Minister of Petroleum Resources and other stakeholders to ensure a h i t c h - f r e e groundbreaking ceremony.”

Police arrest wife for setting husband ablaze

By Gbenga Ariyibi, Ado-Ekiti

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OLICE have arrested a jealous wife, Mrs. Bukola Olusegun, in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital who allegedly set her husband, Abimbola, ablaze for not taken her out on Valentine’s Day The couple were said to have had disagreement after Bukola allegedly insisted her husband must take her out on February 14, the Valentine’s Day, a request he reportedly turned down.

Unknown to the husband, however, Bukola had kept petrol which she intended to use to do the harm.

A neigbhour, who spoke anonymously, told Sunday Vanguard: “It was around mid night that the husband suddenly ran out from their apartment, raising the alarm that his wife had set him ablaze.

“He was burning and was battling with the fire his wife had set on him.

We had to rush out to rescue him by quickly getting water and pouring it on him.

“But for the prompt intervention of some of us, he would have been burnt to ashes. He was thereafter rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) where he is being treated.

“We also reported the incident at the Ado Central Divisional Police Station from where policemen promptly came to arrest the wife”.

When our correspondent visited the hospital, yesterday, he saw Olusegun

lying critically ill while doctors were battling to save his life.

One of the hospital staff attending to him, who craved anonymity, told our correspondent that the target of Abimbola’s assailant might have been his private part as it was badly burnt.

But Mr Albert Adeyemi, the Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), who confirmed the incident, said Abimbola’s wife confessed to setting her husband ablaze.

Urhobo youths condemn call for Jega’s sack by Asari’s group

By Perez Brisibe

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HE leadership of the Urhobo National Youth Council, UNYC, has described the call for the sack of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahirhu Jega, by members of the Asari-Dokubo-led Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force as unwarranted and undemocratic.

UNYC, in a statement

by its National President, Comrade Monday Oyeghe, yesterday, stated that INEC is a public institution whose actions are covered by the Constitution, stressing that it is undemocratic to call for the sack of its Chairman.

The group, while lamenting the yet to be collected PVCs, urged Deltans to use the remaining weeks to the general elections to collect their PVCs.

SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015,

Page 9

All letters bearing writers' names and full addresses should be typed and forwarded to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, Kirikiri Canal, P. M. B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E-mail: sunvanguardmail@yahoo.com

DIASPORA MATTERS

Beyond the Abuja Peace Accord

We are our choices T Far away from the

ODAY, being the first Sunday in March, let's take a break from politics or any national discourse and talk generally on what we are facing in the new world dispensation of "development". The new styles, new outlook on life and by extension, new way of doing things, that sadly, may not conform with acceptable norms in a society.

This piece did not directly "get an inspiration" from any recent event in Nigeria or in the United Kingdom.

But, to be honest, watching the various groups of Nigerians that gathered for and against one of the presidential candidates in London on Thursday I know my people have evolved. The realisation of this "evolution" took a long time for me, though.

The gatherings in and around Chatham House were mixtures of various classes of Nigerians Christians, Moslems, Atheists, Students, Professionals, Lesbians, Gays, Straights and also the confused. While we are used to some of the classes mentioned above, some of us at home still have not had a one on one experience with some of them. For whatever reasons, more Nigerians abroad are daily turning away from values that we are known for through the ages and adopting strange ideas.

Far away from the prying eyes of relations, parents, or friends, these "new" Nigerians are not shy to identify with their new form of "development" and freedom(?).

Let me introduce you to my friend, Adam (not real name). Adam is a thirty something year old Nigerian who came to study in the UK a few years ago. Adam stayed behind, like most Nigerians, after his studies. I met Adam at a function some months ago. Seated on different tables, waiting for the event to kick off, he approached my table and asked if he could sit next to me. "Yes, why not." I could do with a company.

At the end of the function, I felt I had known Adam from birth. But as events will unfold later, I discovered I was wrong.

I left the event with little thought for my new friend.

You know, just one of many Nigerians you run into everyday. You meet them in the library, in stores, parks and always ready to talk, sometimes about 'home' or just willing to keep you company or get you annoyed. Some of these country men and women are interesting, while some you silently pray to walk away and let you be.

Adam appeared to be

prying eyes of relations, parents, or friends, these "new" Nigerians are not shy to identify with their new form of "development" and freedom

genuinely nice, though curiously overboard in his hand movement and gesticulations.

I ran into Adam again at the City Centre a few weeks ago. I barely recognised him, but he remembered me and called out my name, excitedly. To be honest, at this time I was praying for a miracle so as to remember his name. But my memory failed me.

We shook hands and I "jumped start" the conversation in a bid to remember his name.

"Buddy, you got me. For you to still remember my name, you must have good memory."

God answers prayers. He said "I, Adam, never forget a name."

"Yeah, Adam", I chorused.

I had just a few minutes to spare and also not in the mood to encourage much banter, especially in the City Centre. Sensing my eagerness to "move on" Adam stretched out his hand again for a handshake. I caught it and he held on to it, looked into my eyes and said in a conspiratorial manner, "You know my status has changed. I am married now," showing off his wedding band. I stylishly touched mine on my finger and was reassured it was still there.

I did not remember him telling me anything about his partner or love life the first day I met him.

However, I feigned interest and shouted "What? Adam, congratulations. I am so happy for you." He ignored my remark and continued: "I got married to my partner two weeks ago".

"That's good news, Adam," I managed to say as I tried to gain freedom for my right hand. But he was not done yet. He said: "You know what? My partner and I do not want to change our surnames, so we decided to both keep them," he said.

"How come?" I asked curiously. "Is she not meant to bear your surname or better still keep hers if she does not want to bear yours."

"No, you do not understand. We love each other so much, but at the same time we do not want to lose our identities. So we have decided to bear both surnames," Adam said, with a big smile on his face.

"Brilliant, sort of a compound name? But is your wife's surname gonna be before yours?" I sounded alarmed at this strange arrangement.

"Yes, Babajide, it's the modern thing. I know it has not caught up with us back at home, but times are changing. Our culture back at home is too restrictive for people like me," he said. Now I moved from being alarmed to confused and concerned and all I could say was "Really?".

Adam continued: "I have been running around changing records to reflect the new name. I have to change my bank cards, notify my employer and utility suppliers. It's been hard work, bro," he said.

Now I really felt out of place with Adam and wanted to move on so I congratulated him again ready to leave, "Adam, let me wish you a very happy married life. I can assure you it is an enjoyable life.

Extend my warmest regards to your wife and tell her I hope to see her one day."

"Oh, you mean see him one day?," Adam said, laughing.

Shocked, I said "Him?" "Yes," he replied in a nonchallant manner and continued "I love him dearly. He means the world to me," he said.

"Adam, I am really happy for you. I wish you a very happy one," I said as I hugged him and did a few backslaps and hurried off.

Throughout the day, I could not get the thoughts of Adam and his revelation out of my mind. Adam is a completely adorable person, so I cannot fault his decision. But I find myself trying to "cook up" an excuse to avoid him when next I run into him. But a word of caution came to me and a voice said into my ears, "you cannot judge him based on what he just told you".

Yes, I have no right to judge him. Everybody has choices. Adam has decided to make his choice and as an adult he has this right.

So who am I to fault him?

I tried very much to justify Adam's choice to the society he has found himself. Is it to conform, like many people do? Was it a case of a trial and error that went wrong? How I wish I had the courage to ask these questions from this charming Nigerian.

But I doubt if I would ever have the courage.

Dear Sir,

I

F the morning shows the day, the build up to February 14, 2015 presidential election shows that Nigerian politicians, like the French Bourbons of the French revolution era have learnt nothing and forgot nothing. This is because, instead of addressing issues that affect the wellbeing of this nation in their campaigns, drums of war are being beating by the leading parties, their candidates and supporters. Character assassination, opprobrium against one another and inflammatory statements are being made by the supporters of the leading candidates.

In addition, elements from various ethnic groups where the leading presidential hopefuls come from have been promising hell if the election result does not favour their candidates.

Consequently, one heaves a sigh of relief when Professor Bolaji Akinyemi came up with the idea of Peace Accord to be jointly signed by the two leading presidential candidates. Opinions differ on the import of the Peace Accord and how it can stem violence in the polity. While some saw Professor Akinyemi’s action as being altrustic, others thought otherwise. Akinyemi’s proposal was seen by some as a decoy to tie the hands of opposition in case the election is rigged. Nevertheless, the signing of

the peace accord by President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP and General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC brought relief to Nigerians. It is hoped that if strictly adhered to, Nigeria may witness a peaceful pre and post election periods.

In my own view, peace accord is a good way of promoting cordiality amongst our candidates and thereby stemming the incidence of violence that could erupt through their vituperations, during the electioneering campaign. However, beyond the Peace Accord, I think the panacea for post election violence is free, fair and transparent election. The election should not only be free and fair but it should be clear to all people that the free will of the electorate has prevailed. Anything short of this may be counter productive. This is what I think our elder statesmen should demand from the federal government and the INEC. Peace accord to me could only reduce tension in the land by guiding the candidates in their utterances and action before or after the election. However, only free, fair and transparent election could avert post election violence. I hope the federal government, INEC and other stakeholders are listening.

Adewuyi Adegbite,writes in from Apake, Ogbomoso.

My candid advice for APC leaders Dear Sir,

T

HE party, APC, has many people I personally respect alot. Some of them are, the national leader of the party Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, Gover Babatunde Fashola, Gov Rotimi Amaechi, etc.These are people who have given a good account of the people’s money in their custody, through peopleoriented leadership.

It is therefore with utter disappointment that I read the party’s plans to form a paralel government if the elections are rigged. They have not only said it once, but have recently insisted on it, thereby giving the people of this country, the reason to fear.

From that statement I perceive a preconceived arrangement to cause trouble, using election rigging as an excuse. That is to say, once APC loses the election, under the cover of rigging, they may unleash mayhem on the nation. We know that as far as our politicians are concerned, every election is rigged unless they are declared winners.

I hope APC knows that Nigerians are not the only people concerned in the elections; a huge crowd of international observers and monitors are also interested, and they have their verdict on the elections; and indeed the views of the international community is even more respected than that of the local interests.

So, it is not enough to cry foul, the rest of the world should also echo it. I am also happy that respected lawyers like Governor Fashola are on board the party, so they should legally guide their party and not allow legal 'illiterates' drag the party into unwholesome situations.

In fairness to Jonathan, under him our present electoral body, INEC, better than any of its predecessors, has highly raised faith in our elections. Under Prof.

Attahiru Jega, INEC is the most credible and successful electoral umpire the nation has ever known, thanks to President Goodluck Jonathan who gave Prof. Jega the free hand and financial empowerment to run the organisation.

I am not campaigning for anybody, but let the truth be told; Prof. Jega has conducted the elections that have been accepted by both losers and winners; and losers have congratulated the winners, a situation we have never seen before in this country. The 2011 elections conducted by Jega’s INEC was adjudged the best election ever conducted in the

history of Nigeria.

Therefore if anybody intends to cause post-election violence, he should find another excuse, but not election rigging. Let the non-violence pact Jonathan and Buhari signed go beyond hugging and smiling.

Nathaniel Ngerem ngeremnath4xt@yahoo. com

An appeal to Oshiomhole for devt of Ihievbe/ Ihievbe-Ogben Dear Sir,

M

AY I through your news paper urge Governor Adams Oshiom hole of the need for a motorable link road from Ihievbe to IhievbeOgben in the Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State. The contract for this road was awarded to Setraco by Professor Osunbor-led PDP government and work actually commenced on it before Oshiomhole came in through the instrumentality of the Judiciary.

Professionals in different fields from these communities have in their own little ways contributed to the development of the state and other South – South environment, for example, the Concerned Edo Citizens of which I am a chieftain made bold moves during the 15% - 25% resource control debate of 2005 when some northern chieftains and others were asking derisively “ who are the elders of the South South “. Inspite of these and other efforts, it is only Etsako West that have benefited from the Oshiomhole development moves in the whole of Edo North; whilst our own people of Ihievbe - Owan East local government are cut off from development, condemning them to rural backwardness.

I also urge Governor Oshiomhole to please treat this request to provide a motorable link road between Ihievbe and Ihievbe-Ogben, as of immediate importance and also, to extend the Comrade Bus Service to these areas, afterall the people of these communities voted massively for him and his team in the July 14th 2012 governorship re-election .

It is unfair for the Government not to put the community in his development plans.

I also urge the people of the communities to speak with one voice in impressing it on the government to live up to its responsibilities to the governed.

Charles Afe Ikhaghe, Scribe, Concerned Edo Citizens

PAGE 10—SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

Mr. President, I’ll believe it when it happens

f you believe that, you will believe an ything.” That was my comment on five different occasions when Nigerian Heads of State, three military and two civilians have made categorical statements about their intention to depart.

And each time, events have proved me right. I remain firmly convinced that “Skepticism is the first attribute of a good critic”, thanks to James Russell, Lowell, 18191891. It is always sad, when Presidents and Heads of State, in Nigeria make the same promises, at very critical stages in their tenure of office, just to buy more time, while planning to disappoint the people later. They bank on the

reason was simple. Unnoticed by the ecstatic politicians, but easily noticeable by a born skeptic, was the fact that as we progressed into 1975, there was no plan for the transition to civil rule. Then, the guillotine fell on the hopes of civilians. Gowon announced that “1976 was no longer realistic, because the politicians had learned nothing and forgotten

Forget 2015, wait until 2017 said the same Ogapatapata who launched a ROAD MAP FOR POWER in 2011 promising 14,100MW of power. 'If a man fools you once, shame on him; if twice, shame on you'

nothing.” Almost immediately, several groups emerged from nowhere shouting “Go On With One Nigeria (GOWON if you don’t get it). It was

litical culture. I am happy to observe that our transition programme is on track.” (See my book PDP: CORRUPTION INCORPORATED, p 45). I

fairs in our country. We wanted to arrest the drift.

Driven by patriotism, influenced by the prevalence and popularity of such drastic measures all over Africa and elsewhere, we fought our way to power."

tration. First and foremost, we will plug the holes in the budgetary process. Revenue producing entities such as NNPC and Customs and Excise will have one set of books only. Their revenues will be publicly disclosed and regularly audited. The

Never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense "Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty-never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." --Winston S. Churchill e have had so much rumblings about the Buhari's visit to the UK. It has whipped the rumour mill to a frenzy. Depending on what was written by the conspiracy theorists; the London visit, did not really happen, he came for medical checks and anyway, the campaign is running out of funds and so on. The tittletattle has been going on for so long that, it would be wrong for me not to mention how this behaviour and how it comes across to rational human beings. Sadly, the reality of the situation is lost on those who cannot see sense.

I was not planning on commenting on any more politics and politicking.

Until Buhari had to walk in to my neck of the woods.

His visit to Chatham House had the rent-a-mob out, to register their displeasure with placards and printed T-shirts and in a

W

democracy, it is their right to do so. They do not represent the views of all Nigerians. It was obvious that it was orchestrated.

So, with baited breathe, we listened to the live stream of the speech Buhari gave at Chatham House. It was an inspirational and aspirational speech that gives renewed hope to Nigerians and a restoration of our long lost pride and hope for the future. It was honest and to the point.

Warts and all. It did not embellish Nigeria's short comings nor did it skirt about the issue of the heart of the matter; insecurity, unemployment, economic growth and corruption.

It was a speech that renewed hope that Nigeria will indeed rise again to its rightful place in the League of Nations and be a credible partners in the region.

On those waiting for the Buhari the military man they were disappointed. This was a man who knows that democracy is about people's power and not the power of the gun. He reassured them:" As you all know, I had been a military head of state in Nigeria for twenty months. We intervened because we were unhappy with the state of af-

,

On the insurgency he declared: "Boko Haram has sadly put Nigeria on the terrorism map, killing more than 13,000 of our nationals, displacing millions internally and externally, and at a time holding on to portions of our territory, the size of Belgium. What has been consistently lacking is the required leadership in our battle against insurgency. I, as a retired general and a former head of state, have always known about our soldiers: they are capable, well trained, patriotic, and brave and always ready to do their duty in the service of our country. And he further stated:" But in the matter of this insurgency, our soldiers have neither received the necessary support nor the required incentives to tackle this problem" This is a man on a mission to clear the country of the scourge of evil and barbarity. There is no place for extremism and definitely, it cannot longer let a rag tag, blight of society run amok and destabilise a whole region for so long.

On corruption, he said:" there will be no confusion as to where I stand. Corruption will have no place and the corrupt will not be appointed into my adminis-

,

I

“

fact that most Nigerians don’t remember history.

Stressing that the statement was made in the Presidency was designed to point out that the occupancy of that place is at stake. It is a fact that few people – Mandela, Charles De Gaulle of France – surrender power willingly. Most people, on reaching the highest office in the land, cling to it with all their lives – and the lives of many of their citizens.

Africa is most notorious in this area.

Before Jonathan’s “dogs of war ” start barking foul, permit me to lead thinking Nigerians down memory lane – in order to remind us that we have been fooled by such promises in the past. General Gowon, after seven years as Head of State, promised to hand over power to elected civilians in 1976.

The politicians were jubilant; but not me. The

,

“I’ll hand over if I lose”, President Jonathan, during Media chat on February 11, 2015, at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock.

the perfect political swindle at the time. Nigerians were being forced to clap for an Officer, but not a gentleman, who had broken his promise to the people. Thank God, Gowon did not last the year.

Babangida took over in 1985; waited two years, and started a prolonged transition to civil rule programme – which threw N40 billion down several drain pipes – called private pockets of those close to the regime. The destination, we were told, would be 1992. And, while delivering his annual budget speech in January 1992, IBB announced as follows: “For us in this administration, the year 1992 caps our political efforts in our attempts to lay a new foundation for a democratic polity within a new po-

I must emphasise that any war waged on corruption should not be misconstrued as settling old scores or a witch-hunt. I'm running for President to lead Nigeria to prosperity and not adversity

,

institutions of state dedicated to fighting corruption will be given independence and prosecutorial authority without political interference" And he reassures those who are afraid of reprisal and are worried:" I must emphasise that any war waged on corruption should not be misconstrued as settling old scores or a witch-hunt. I'm running for

was on of the few doubters then, and Babangida took a swipe at us. But, when he scuttled the transition, first in 1992, and finally in 1993, IBB was not gentleman enough to admit that we, who warned of HIDDEN AGENDA, were right after all.

Abacha took over in 1993, after overthrowing the Interim National Government, ING, headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan, installed by Babangida, as he “stepped aside”. In 1994, Abacha started his own transition to civil rule with a Constitutional Conference. On Monday, June 27, 1994, Abacha opened his own version of CONFAB, which I labeled “SHIP OF FOOLS”, despite the presence of people like Dr Alex Ekwueme, Ojukwu, late General Shehu Yar ’Adua among the delegates. Section 5 of Abacha’s address to the delegates read as follows: “As you all know, we in the present government in Nigeria are committed to ensuring that there is speedy and unimpeded transition to a civil democratic rule in which we shall not be participants.” (PDP: CORRUPTION INCORPORARED, p 5). The delegates gave Abacha a standing ovation. On July 3, 1994, on these

same pages, I wrote as follows: “If you believe that bit i.e “ we shall not be participants”, then you will believe anything” (p 6). The delegates went on with their collective delusion that Abacha meant what he said. I was picked up, the following Tuesday, and placed in detention for four days for calling the Head of State a liar.

History would testify to it that Abacha was indeed a liar and Ekwueme, Ojukwu, Yar ’Adua etc were indeed herded into a “ship of fools” captained by Head of State, Abacha….

LOST AND FOUND AND READY FOR DISTRIBUTION. Under a pile of books and documents in my store, we recently discovered twenty copies of PDP: CORRUPTION INCORPORATED. Read about how Nigeria was looted under “Saint” Olusegun Obasanjo. Text your order today. It’s a matter of first come first served.

LAST LINE: Forget 2015, wait until 2017 said the same Ogapatapata who launched a ROAD MAP FOR POWER in 2011 promising 14,100MW of power. “If a man fools you once, shame on him; if twice, shame on you”.

President to lead Nigeria to prosperity and not adversity." This was a measured response for those who are hell bent on convincing themselves that there will be a large scale penal colony in Nigeria for everyone that displeases Buhari. This is not the case and cannot be the case. This man is on a mission and the work ahead is one, that requires everyone and all hands have to be on deck for nation building.

On wealth distribution and societal benefit he said:" Our GDP is now valued at $510 billion and our economy rated 26th in the world. Also on the bright side, inflation has been kept at single digit for a while and our economy has grown at an average of 7% for about a decade. But it is more of paper growth, a growth that, on account of mismanagement, profligacy and corruption, has not translated to human development or shared prosperity. A development economist once said three questions should be asked about a country's development: one, what is happening to poverty? Two, what is happening to unemployment?

And three, what is happening to inequality?"

This is a man that thinks nationally and globally:" So let me say upfront that the global interest in Nigeria's landmark election is not misplaced at all and indeed should be commended; for this is an election that has serious import for the world. I urge the international community to continue to focus on Nigeria at this very critical moment. Given increasing global linkages, it is in our collective interests that the postponed elections should

hold on the rescheduled dates; that they should be free and fair; that their outcomes should be respected by all parties; and that any form of extension, under whichever guise, is unconstitutional and will not be tolerated" For me, what I am most excited about was the future of the young generation and the direction of their future in Nigeria (and I believed he nailed it;)" even by official figures, 33.1% of Nigerians live in extreme poverty. That's at almost 60 million, almost the population of the United Kingdom.

There is also the unemployment crisis simmering beneath the surface, ready to explode at the slightest stress, with officially 23.9% of our adult population and almost 60% of our youth unemployed. We also have one of the highest rates of inequalities in the world and "diversify the base of our economy, strengthen productive sectors, improve the productive capacities of our people and create jobs for our teeming youths" And with a parting shot to those rumour mongers and spin doctors; he had this to say:" I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and the future. So before you is a former military ruler and a converted democrat who is ready to operate under democratic norms and is subjecting himself to the rigours of democratic elections for the fourth time.

With that and thanking everyone, Buhari left the building. It was truly inspirational and I do hope that we can share in the vision of a better Nigeria and a better tomorrow for all Nigerians.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 11

Is PDP still the largest in Africa? the erstwhile ever-rising profile of the PDP was its denunciation by 5 of its state governors-Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) Aliyu Wammako

Another issue that may have caused the PDP sleepless nights is the new development in which the party has been pushed to the minority position in the House of Representatives

(Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa). 2 other governors, Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger) who were initially seen as part of those that threatened to defect changed their minds and reportedly stayed back in the party; but whether they are really there is not an issue that an analyst can discuss with certainty? By

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos, , 08116759758

The NNPC and its enemies(2)

I

T is doubtful whether a purist Muslim like Gen. Buhari would have appointed a woman to oversee the petroleum ministry, let alone support her for OPEC presidency. For unrepentant critics of President Jonathan, his support that enabled Mrs. AllisonMadueke to be both the first female minister for petroleum resources and the first female President of OPEC is nothing. But considering the culturally-induced subordinate role traditionally assigned to women in our society from antiquity to the present irrespective of their talent and intellect, deliberate refusal to acknowledge the significance of Mrs. Allison-Madueke’s achievement is a bad case of hubris. Of course, intemperate male critics of the minister would have celebrated if she were their mother, sister, wife, lover etc.

There is a growing pernicious tendency among Nigerians to believe without question any allegation of financial rascality levelled against high-ranking officials of government. Recently, for example, Mrs. Allison-Madueke has been subjected to relentless obloquy in a section of the media for allegedly spending N10 billion on official travels. Unfortunately, the same degree of publicity given to the allegation was not extended to her rebuttal of it. How many newspapers reported the interactive session that she had

virtue of his position as the North-west coordinator of the party ’s presidential campaign, perhaps Lamido is still there. Unfortunately it is not easy to fault the

with senior journalists in Abuja to give her own side of the story? At that event, the minister stated she was being framed by enemies of progress for her bold attempts to change the Nigerian oil industry for the benefit of the country.

She further averred that the lease of aeroplanes to run a highly technical and competitive oil industry is a globally accepted practice because it is more costeffective than buying.

Moreover, hiring of aircrafts has been the norm since the inception of the NNPC to enable it exercise due diligence over players in the oil sector. It would have been unwise, she explains, for anyone to spend N10 billion in leasing airplanes, an amount that can conveniently buy three new jets depending on type.

Thus, although the NNPC had an aircraft meant for the use of a sitting minister, she was advised by aviation experts to sell it off since it was purchased and packed abroad for some years, thereby raising safety concerns. Interestingly, Mrs. Allison-Madueke insists that she compared the financial implications of buying a new plane and leasing, and concluded that the second option was more economical.

Now, some key players in the petroleum industry argue correctly that although NNPC is still facing daunting challenges, particularly in the areas of financial leakages in the system and

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position of those who think he is only there in spirit. The way his own presidential ambition was thwarted particularly, the coincidence of the pursuit of his children for corruption charges as soon as he made his presidential bid public seems to make the genuineness of his continued membership of the party suspect. Again, his undiminished closeness to former President Obasanjo infrastructural deficits, there is noticeable improvement in transparency and accountability because the minister has been working hard to improve the mechanics of corporate governance in accordance with best global standards.

The germane questions that arise from our discussion above include; is there anything wrong if the petroleum resources minister chose the more cost-effective option of hiring planes for her official duties because it was cheaper to hire than to buy and maintain planes at prohibitive cost?

Would a reasonable public official who knows that N10 billion can buy three aircrafts to spend such a huge sum on official travels? Could it be that some

,

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A few years back, it was a common practice among members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to describe their political party as the largest in Africa.

None of us outside the party bothered to authenticate the claim. Perhaps some people just believed it. But it was indisputable that the party was Nigeria’s biggest judging by the overwhelming number of elected political office holders produced by the party from the level of a local council to the presidency. Indeed, the PDP won the Presidential elections of 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. At a point, some of the party chieftains boasted that their party would rule Nigeria for a minimum of 50 years. However, whether the strength of the party is still the same today as it used to be is a different ball game following several defections from the party as well as halfhearted aggrieved members.

The first major blow to

and Governor Amaechi of Rivers State who are already out of the party is another food for thought.

So is Lamido really still there?

As for his Niger State counterpart, it is slightly more difficult to ascertain if actually, he still belongs to the PDP in view of the inexplicable double-speak from his end. We probably mistook Babangida Aliyu as the leader of the aggrieved G7 as it was him who openly hit the nail on its head in an interview with a Kaduna-based radio station, Liberty FM in 2013 where he alleged that President Jonathan signed a pact not to seek election for more than one term. Neither Lamido nor Aliyu has told the nation if what provoked their initial discontent has been addressed. But the position of Lamido who has tried to explain why he had to disappoint his former group is easier to appreciate than that of Babangida Aliyu who wants us to believe that he was never on the same page with the group. The point to be made however; is that there is some risk in the PDP that the two governors along with their constituents are whole heartedly available Even the zone of safetySouth South from which the President hails is not exempted from quit the PDP threat. This came to the fore when the PDP Reconciliation Committee met recently in Abuja with aggrieved party members from the zone. The posture of the services infrastructure by supporting local production of pipes and mini tanks. It is envisaged that when these projects are completed in the next twelve to fourteen months, the four refineries in Nigeria would be refining to about seventy-five percent of installed capacity.

As usual, a major obstacle to progress in the oil sector is the cabal of powerful vested interests with strong media connections who thoroughly dislike the modest progress the minister has achieved in instituting greater transparency in NNPC’s operations. To buttress my point, consider the comatose Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), an executive bill that has been stalled for up to ten years in the Na-

if subsidies persist, unscrupulous businesspersons and a few corrupt public officials will continuously manipulate the system to make too much money at the detriment of ordinary Nigerians

prominent Nigerians benefiting from the old and inefficient manner of conducting business in NNPC are against the minister because her effort to improve the corporation is beginning to yield positive results detrimental to their selfish interests?

Available information indicates that Mrs. AllisonMadueke is trying her best to re-engineer NNPC for enhanced service delivery to Nigerians. We have already alluded to her efforts to ensure that corporate governance in NNPC meets internationally accepted global practice. In addition, the petroleum ministry is working to improve the level of indigenous oil

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tional Assembly. The PIB provides a legal framework for different aspects of the petroleum industry. Specifically, it is a legal mechanism that will drive investment policy in the industry.

Professionals in the field believe that the bill if passed into law could accelerate development in the oil industry, although some of them suggest that a piecemeal approach would have accelerated its passage by federal legislators.

Unfortunately, some key players in the industry and entrenched political interests have prevented the passage of such an important legislation, the repercussions of which on the economy can hardly be overes-

Akwa Ibom group in particular- a large number of aggrieved placard carrying members was rather worrisome according a party elder. They threatened to quit if the attempt by the Akwa Ibom Governor to hijack the party structure in the state was not stopped.

Several party members have since remained disillusioned over the conduct of party primaries in which their leaders allegedly skewed the exercise in favour of certain aspirants.

Another issue that may have caused the PDP sleepless nights is the new development in which the party has been pushed to the minority position in the House of Representatives. Although this has not been formalized because of a number of court cases on the subject, the reality is that the PDP has lost its supremacy in the House. It has even lost the position of the Speaker of the House.

Only last Wednesday, an attempt by presiding speaker, Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP to use his position to stop an issue on the floor of the House from being deliberated upon was effectively blocked by the main opposition party that now practically calls the shots in the House. Under the circumstance what is big about the PDP? The most dramatic of all PDP losses is that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo (Obj) following the public tearing of his membership card in public.

Many have condemned the timated.

We suggest that the petroleum minister, supported by President Jonathan, should mobilise resources at her disposal to encourage members of the National Assembly to pass the PIB before May 29, 2015. If eventually passed into law and implemented religiously, the bill will take care of knotty problems such as deregulation, appropriate tax regime for different stakeholders, and investment in the petroleum industry. Non-passage of the bill is discouraging investment in the oil and gas sector: investors, both foreign and local, are unwilling to put their financial resources in a sector characterised by subsidy and stochastic uncertainties.

Because of corruption in the management of oil subsidy, it is reasonable for government to remove it gradually. Clearly, if subsidies persist, unscrupulous businesspersons and a few corrupt public officials will continuously manipulate the system to make too much money at the detriment of ordinary Nigerians.

The latest attempt to end the subsidy fraud in January 2012 failed mainly for two reasons: (1) government did not embark on massive sensitisation programme to let Nigerians know why subsidy should be removed; (2) complete elimination of subsidy at once instead of graduated removal within a clearly defined period when the removal would be completed led to mass hysteria about hyper inflation that might result from immediate total subsidy removal.

Yet, subsidy cannot continue forever, and President Jonathan, in his second term of office, should have

manner of Obasanjo’s departure but it doesn’t add; instead it subtracts from the PDP. Those who think that the former President’s absence would not be felt because he merely formalized his previous anti-party activities are not speaking the mind of the PDP judging by the passionate appeals by many high ranking members including Senator David Mark, President of the Senate and Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, the National Chairman of the party to the former President not to leave the party. He did not only leave but reportedly took along his party ward chairman and over 300 other members who were present at the tearing of membership card event in Abeokuta.

As if the loss had overturned how the party thinks, some of its officials announced Obasanjo’s expulsion only after he had publicly ditched the party. Anyway whether he resigned or was expelled, PDP is down by one. As a face saving device the party claims that the torn membership card was no longer valid on account of who issued it. What this suggests is that all members who have the same card as that of Obasanjo, a former national leader of the party and later Chairman of its Board of Trustees are technically no longer bonafide party members. Our study must therefore change from whether PDP is still the largest party in Africa to whether anyone is still in its fold!

the political will to withdraw subsidy gradually over time.

Our discussion will be incomplete without some comments about the proclivity of Nigerians to believe hyperbolic negative false stories about President Jonathan and his lieutenants. Indeed, criticising and disparaging the President is a thriving industry presently to the extent that his achievements have been deliberately ignored or trivialised even by individuals who cannot manage their nuclear families let alone a hamlet or village. It is now fashionable to malign anyone who says or writes something positive about his administration, and to praise his malicious critics and worshipful admirers of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as those on the side of morality. Of course, incessant criticism tinged with mischief is far easier than constructive creative thinking, especially among people of mediocre intelligence. An objective observer would certainly acknowledge mistakes made by the President, and still commend him for the successes his government has achieved in different areas of our national life.

Therefore, it is more reasonable to encourage President Jonathan to do more than to make a career of bitterness towards a man whose life story, despite his weaknesses as a human being and as a leader, resonates with millions of underprivileged Nigerians inspired and motivated by the conviction that if Jonathan can rise from poverty to President, then there is hope for a better tomorrow.

Concluded.

PAGE 12—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH1, 2015

Buhari in Chatham House

The race ran (2)

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HE human ego is the undoing of our peace and on a personal level, its a character flaw we all have to work on if we are ever to live and live well. Let's even just leave the politicians and religious figures aside and focus on our personal peace and well being. The innate impulse to compete with our peers, our colleagues and even family has set us on a race that is wearing us out. Where we don't want to join the frantic race to get ahead, family and society call us failures, when we do join and start running we become anxious and still feel like failures. Maybe its middle age but I have reached my breaking point and I am retiring my running shoes.

I don't want to run like the hare when I just may be the tortoise! I need to feel at peace in my own life, without anxiety and the pressure to keep up with anyone and any expectations.

What do you have when

you silence the voice of your ego and eliminate all competition from your life? My answer is peace. Peace is a necessary precursor for joy and that eliminates all forms of suffering. There is a voice that I have always trusted deep inside of me and I know that to be the Holy Spirit; it is not subjective, its my guide, has always been and always will be. In the middle of December, I sat in my office contemplating the economy, deadlines, financials, obligations and my annual redecoration plans and before I could give in to worry that still quiet voice spoke a "word" that continues to minister to me.

"Better is a little with peace, than a lot with adversity".

It took a while to locate it in the Bible but I felt like someone who had just been doused in cool soothing water after a time out in a desert. I relaxed and didn't let workmen aggravate me, the perfect sofa was a month late being delivered

bly worse, kiss certain old posteriors that have done nothing but fart on Nigeria since 1914. Even so, the trip was shabbily arranged, even if its symbolism is ultimately bruising to the Buhari image. No political leader of weight in the UK rolled out the carpet to receive him. Not a single audience with the British Prime Minister, Mr. David

The trip was shabbily arranged, even if its symbolism is ultimately bruising to the Buhari image. No political leader of weight in the UK rolled out the carpet to receive him

Cameron, nor with the leader of the largest parliamentary opposition, Ed Milliband. Just an audience with Tony Blair, a has-been political weight; former Prime Minister and now Businessman and international consultant, who may sit for a photo-op for a good fee.

Buhari did not even stop to pump the hands, or meet and address any significant groups with the significant Nigerian community in the UK, just some scanty do in a very crummy dance hall, arranged by Dele Momodu, who made his name on the party circuit, and who could organize a quickie at the drop of a hat for a good

and on hindsight I should have let it arrive before giving out the old one, new set of staff hired were a bit ornery but my new found peace helped me teach them the ropes and settle their endless squabbles. I found the retirement of my ego was just the panacea I needed to embrace peace.

It was lesson 1 and I can report so far so good.

There is a school of thought that says the fall of Lucifer was a result of pride but his permanent condemnation no one can really explain. My nephew asked me what would happen if Lucifer suddenly repented and begged God for forgiveness and my answer was vague. In my view evil is incapable of repentance and since the Bible cant be re-written there is no provision for Satan's redemption. That question is probably better suited to theologians and even though it was asked a few years back, I would like to know if anyone has a better answer than the rather vague opinions I voiced. Brings me to lesson 2, the ego is very presumptuous, so it makes sense that when you get rid of the ego, you also become

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ria Island, and that would have had more weight; and could have convinced Nigerians that Buhari at least takes Nigeria and Nigerians seriously, and that he is not going to be a push-over, dragged hither-and-thither, by his handlers who seem to have their heads in the UK, but their feet in Nigeria trampling on it; and in this event, have been nothing more than ring masters in a political circus. I should add that Buhari’s fundamentally inexplicable trip to London, at the height of his presidential campaign has rightly raised much questions; and speculation is indeed rife about the true

less judgemental. A few Sundays ago, I was part of a congregation and I cant exactly say my heart leapt for joy when a new impromptu album was about to be launched. Its my experience that people who need to appeal to religious sentiments to promote albums or books tend to be

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geria. I speculate of course, but that seems to me quite clearly the signals in these meetings in London by a Nigerian Presidential aspirant who should be at home campaigning to Nigerians in an election that many polls now increasing suggest is just too close to call. What rather riles me is the continuing symbolism of Nigeria’s dependency and status as a minion nation – although it calls itself “the giant of Africa” – its “biggest economy after rebasing” or some such crumminess. In the midst of a political campaign, a Nigerian political leader and presidential aspirant does not have to take off time to go and appeal to British and foreign interests in order to gain legitimacy.

That is the powerful symbolism that Buhari’s London trip has registered in the minds of the Nigerian electorate.

There is no doubt that London still carries some weight in the Nigerian political mind and imagination. But, perhaps somebody, particularly from the APC should enlighten me a bit more, because I personally do not understand it, and I’m sure millions of Nigerians do not either: is Nigeria still UK’s colonial possession? It may be seen as pragmatic and necessary by Buhari’s handlers to drag the man off to London in the midst of a very bruising campaign, so he could kiss some rings and possi-

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HE APC Candidate has been on a tour of the UK, chaperoned by his political campaign advisers Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Chibuike Amaechi. Two things are rather immediately clear from Buhari’s UK tours: one, the APC presidential candidate has been forced to sup on bitter gravy over lingering animosities with Britain following the Umaru Dikko affair. This trip it seems is in part, made on bended knees. Is this Buhari’s attempt to bury the ghost of the past and any other hatchets with Great Britain? Was his meetings with Tony Blair and others in the UK’s political establishment a way of opening long sealed channels? Buhari had also used his hastily arranged talk at London’s Chatham House, to briefly outline the still sketchy architecture of his foreign policy.

The message is, Nigeria will maintain its status quo, looking Westwards for patronage; will not upset any apple carts with good old Britain, and where any may have been upset, particularly with growing trade with China, now seen as a threat because of China’s increasing importance as Nigeria’s biggest business partner in certain international circles, the Buhari presidency will normalize and redirect it, and possibly guarantee and secure Britain’s old and longstanding political and commercial interests in Ni-

price. Even the talk in Chatham House was hurriedly arranged, and had all the signs of an afterthought. The attendance had not the high and mighty of the UK foreign office or business and investment community. The hall echoed with much emptiness. Basically, Buhari was snubbed by the British political and media establishment. I should rather think that if General Buhari wished to unroll the outlines of his foreign policy, and reassure Nigeria’s key international partners, a significant event could have been arranged for such a thing at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) on Victo-

Judgement is a form of competition and a by- product of the ego. It's still a race of sort as it causes you to compare and judge something or someone by standards that are not always just

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commercially unviable and I was prepared to let my mind drift off when that still voice spoke again. "Listen without judgement".

Judgement is a form of competition and a by- product of the ego. It's still a race of sort as it causes you to compare and judge some-

nature of his business in London. It has ignited rumours about the true health of the APC flagbearer. The question of Mr. Buhari’s health is not to be easily dismissed, because if the former General and military head of state wants to govern, he must be seen to be fit. At his age, nothing should be left to chance.

Besides, Nigeria does not want to have a repeat of the Umaru Yar Adua situation so soon again. It is true however, that his former military coursemate in Aldershot in 1961/62, J.C. Ojukwu in an interview recently described Buhari as “tough and fit” and to such an extent that earned him the name, “mountain goat” during their military trainings, for his resilience often belied in his wiry frame. Yet, it is important for Buhari and his campaign to put to rest quickly, matters of this rumour about Buhari’s health, the most egregious of which is the circulation in the Nigerian on-line discourse community that the General may have been diagnosed with testicular cancer! Before the elections, Buhari’s personal physician must give Nigerians evidence that these rumours are nothing but, and swear to a clean bill of health for the APC aspirant.

But let me also quickly say here, that looking at Buhari in all his bearings, whether in meetings with John Kerry in Abuja, or Tony Blair in London, he looked presidential.

He carried himself with a lot of dignity and there is no inkling either of a physical or mental malfunctioning. At 73, the man looks quite good; lean and agile, and seems to me in ruddy good health. His speech at Chatham House was also apt, eloquent, enlightened

and well delivered, and ought to put finally to shame those who continue to Fani-Kayak about his High school education. A central policy argument Buhari proposes in that speech is that under the PDP government of the last sixteen years, Nigeria has indeed prospered, but prosperity has not reached 99% of Nigerians, but has been mostly to the benefit of a very small group who have gained from the privatization of Nigeria. He advances the argument that though his administration, if elected, will encourage free enterprise, there will be government regulatory intervention to give every Nigerian a fair chance at prosperity and a good life, not just the less than one percent, whom economic “rebasing” has long favoured.

This is music to my ears.

But it is music that should be played in Nigeria, in a debate with the current president. Buhari should not be saying this in Chatham House, London, but in a presidential debate with the incumbent President Jonathan.

His party ’s decision to shield him from a debate with his opponent, and Buhari’s unwillingness to debate Jonathan, smacks to the Nigerian public imagination as utter disregard for Nigerians whom he canvasses to lead “from the front,” and reminds Nigerians of his disdain for the Oputa Truth Commission invitation in 1999. If Buhari wants to govern Nigeria and wants to be trusted, he must not govern from Chatham house. Nigeria, after all has a National Institute of International Affairs, and it should not be beneath Buhari to address Nigerian political issues from there.

thing or someone by standards that are not always just.

I actually felt that I was chastised by the Holy Spirit for presuming and judging someone and their offerings before I had even heard one track. I quickly set judgement aside and I was pleasantly surprised.

This very unassuming young man who hardly ever made any eye contact had the voice of an angel, the song he did had everyone on their feet and I was humbled even more by how wrong my presumptions were. I have lately tried to not judge anything and anyone since then and I can say its making life fuller and even richer. Not judging anyone and anything is actually a big deal, it means you don't decide what is acceptable or abhorrent, you don't categorise or compartmentalise and most importantly you no longer have prejudices!

Saying something is beautiful or ugly is a judgement and while there are some calls I can't stop my brain or is it mind from making most times,I just let things be, I let people be. I don't name anything or damn anything, they are what they are by virtue of their existence. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made, end of story.

other people's races! I have thankfully never been one of those people who have modelled their lives on a mentor's life. I have people that I admire and look up to but I don't want to live their lives or run their race.

What has taken me time to figure out is my race, my abilities, my capabilities, am I the hare or am I the tortoise? I guess the answers to most of my questions will be left for posterity as only time will tell how fast and far my race was run! From where I stand, I would say a gentle trot is more my thing, I am not much for racing. I want to live my life in peace, I want to enjoy every moment of it without haste, I don't want to trample on anyone and I want to make several stops along the way. That may not be cut throat enough for me to get on the Forbes list but thats fine, I am assured by faith that I am exactly where I am supposed to be, doing what I am meant to do. The question I actually would invite everyone to answer is multi faceted. " Whose race are you running and why? We cant all live our lives by the mob mentality where everyone is running in one direction and no single person knows why they are running or even where they are going!

The tragedy would be to burn out and not finish the race God set before each and everyone of us because we couldn't decide whether we were the hare or the tortoise.

The thing about running life's race has bothered me for a while as I have started questioning exactly what percentage of my 45 plus years I have been running

SUND AY SUNDA

Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 13

BOKO HARAM Inside liberated territories! •Fighters disguise as women in escape bid

•Troops with a dismantled Boko Haram flag

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

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he six weeks postponement of the polls the security forces demanded to enable them flush out Boko Haram fighters from occupied territories in the Northeast states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa appears to be paying off. Military sources claimed that many of the towns captured by the Islamist group had been liberated.

Buoyed by the military expedition against the group, President Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday, visited the liberated territories and met with the troops deployed in the area against Boko Haram. Sources told Sunday Vanguard that the presidential visit was to encourage the troops to continue their onslaught against the terror C M Y K

group, expressing optimism that, at the pace of the battle against the insurgents, the target of liberating most of the occupied territories within the six weeks earmarked by the military would be met.

The renewed battle against Boko Haram, the source said, predated early February when the six weeks deadline was set to liberate the occupied territories.

The recaptured territories according to the military timeline: January 25 -TROOPS REPEL MASSIVE ATTACKS ON MAIDUGURI, OTHER TOWNS IN BORNO Nigerian troops successfully repelled simultaneous attacks on Monguno and Maiduguri by terrorists in coordinated air and land operations.

Scores of the terrorists died in the course of the attacks, while many were captured. A Cobra armoured vehicle and a heavy artillery gun, as well as machine guns & other weapons were recovered from the fleeing terrorists. Three cars loaded with explosives were destroyed.

Troops in Konduga successfully repelled terrorist attacks twice same day. Some soldiers, however, lost their lives. Others who were wounded were evacuated for medical treatment.

The 24-hour-curfew imposed in the course of the operation was to be lifted as soon as mopping up was concluded.

Meanwhile, an exclusively coordinated air campaign took over from ground forces in Monguno, as troops had to retreat from the location after the Brigade Commander & some troops were wounded

Nigerian troops successfully repelled simultaneous attacks on Monguno and Maiduguri by terrorists in coordinated air and land operations

while repelling the terrorist attack on the town.

Calm was restored in Maiduguri & Konduga as the operations continued with patrols & surveillance.

January 27- HEAVY WEAPONS CAPTURED As fighting continued, more casualty was recorded on the part of the terrorists as troops battled fleeing ones with reinforcement at the outskirts of Maiduguri and Konduga.

Substantial amounts of heavy weapons were captured, as more Boko Haram fighters died in the battle which lasted till the following morning.

Special forces also recorded casualty.

Meanwhile, ground troops took charge and airforce patrol continued.

Continues on page 14

PAGE 14 —SUND AY —SUNDA

Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

Inside liberated territories!

TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY REMAINS INTACT’ The DHQ, while reacting to reports that Chad crossed into Nigeria’s territory to kill Boko Haram fighters against international convention, said, “The Multi-National Joint Task Force in which Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad have contingents are part of the ongoing onslaught against terrorists in this region.

“The countries that make up the Lake Chad Basin Commission also had some understanding, which now enables a massive move against terrorists from all angles.

“Contrary to the impression being pushed in some quarters, it is the Nigerian forces that planned and are driving the present onslaught against terrorists from all fronts in Nigeria; not the Chadian Forces as is being propagated by some media.

“For instance Chadian forces have been deployed in Baga Sola, which is a Chadian territory.

“There have been some joint deployments and patrols around Kirawa, Ashgashiya and other locations in borders of Cameroun, Nigeria and Chad as part of these operations.

“Chadians and others are however keying into and working in concert with the overall plan for an all-round move against the terrorists as agreed.

“Nigeria’s territorial integrity remains intact”.

•Bodies of some terrorists killed in battle

Continued from page 13

January 29 - TERRORISTS SACKED FROM MICHIKA An extensive mopping up to search for arms or stranded terrorists and other casualties commenced in Michika, Adamawa State after troops sacked terrorists who had been operating in the town and environs. The main assault on the terrorists main positions was concluded the previous day and many of the terrorists died in the combat. Troops, who sustained injuries in the operation, were evacuated for medical attention. Other troops continued the pursuit of terrorists on the run from the town.

Meanwhile, Nigerian officers in key command positions of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, MJTF, who bungled their tasks, were summoned to account for their actions leading to the loss of weapons, men and location in their areas of responsibility.

“This is a normal military procedure in major operations or after some encounter. The essence is to extract and collate relevant information for subsequent missions. It could also lead to or determine appropriate disciplinary action where necessary”, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said.

January-30-MILITARY CAPTURES ARMOURED VEHICLES, ARTILLERY GUNS IN OVERNIGHT BATTLE Terrorists who, in their disarray, strayed towards Bama, Ngom, Alou, Delwa and Mafa in the night were contained after troops launched attacks on their C M Y K

•One of the Boko Haram vehicles destroyed by troops

positions. Mopping up led to the capture of several weapons, arms and ammunition including two armoured vehicles and two artillery guns as well as 17 Toyota Hilux vehicles. Several of the terrorists also died. The affected locations were secured and soldiers wounded given treatment. Patrols and pursuit of fleeing terrorists continued.

A further attack by terrorists on Maiduguri in the early hours of the day was quickly contained. The terrorists incurred massive casualty as a large number of them died in the encounter. The situation

remained calm as mopping up in the affected area took place.

The operation was in coordination with the MNJTF. The terrorists were engaged from all fronts including their previous safe havens and hideouts in the North-east.

“The strategy was in line with the arrangement for a comprehensive and coordinated military operation with inputs by military forces in the Lake Chad Basin Commission namely: Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon”, the DHQ said.

February 2-’NIGERIA’S

The terrorists incurred massive casualty as a large number of them died in the encounter

February 14 -300 TERRORISTS SMOKED OUT Mop up of some of the communities where terrorists had been cleared in the course of air and land operations confirmed massive casualty inflicted on them in two days of counter terrorist operations. Over 300 terrorists were killed while some were captured.

Several weapons and equipment were also recovered and some destroyed.

It was confirmed that five different types of armoured fighting vehicles, an antiaircraft gun, about 50 cases of packed bombs and eight different types of machine guns, five rocket propelled grenade, 49 boxes of various types and calibres of ammunition as well as 300 motorcycles were destroyed in the fighting.

Six Toyota Hilux vehicles, including those mounted with anti-aircraft guns, were

Continues on page 15

SUNDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 15

Kichimatari, Borokari Barati, Kauwa and other localities where troops flushed out the terrorists in the operations preceding the entry to Baga.

Feb. 22 -TERRORISTS DISGUISE AS WOMEN AS CORDON AND SEARCH YIELD WEAPONS The cordon and search in Baga, after its recapture, revealed that some terrorists disguised as women in their escape bid. The searches also yielded more discoveries of arms especially bombs hidden in various locations in the town. Apart from those captured in the course of fighting, many arrests of terrorists hiding in the town were made.

Furthermore, the air force stepped up its air bombardment of identified targets in Gwoza, Bama and Sambisa forest, preparatory to other phases of the mission. The air strikes hit vital targets with precision.

Terrorists were in disarray as they scampered to escape from the impact of the air bombardment.

•Arms recovered from insurgents

Inside liberated territories!

Continued from page 14 destroyed. However, two soldiers lost their lives while 10 others were wounded in the course of the operation.

Cordon and search operations took place along with aggressive patrols by troops who dominated the cleared communities of Monguno, Gabchari, Abba Jabari, Zuntur, Gajigana, Gajiram, Damakar, Kumaliwa, Bosso Wanti, Jeram and Kabrisungul. The various phases of the coordinated air and land operations also continued in the designated theatres that were handled by contingents involved in the renewed counter terrorism campaign in and outside Nigeria.

Feb. 15 – MILITARY OPERATIONS TO CLEAR TERRORISTS FROM MONGUNO SUCCESSFUL Following days of fierce fighting with the airforce leading from the air, troops completed the mission of clearing terrorists from Monguno and environs. A number of terrorists as well as truck loads of rice, beans and other logistics meant for resupply to the terrorists operating around Baga were captured in the course of operation. Heavy casualty casualty was inflicted on the terrorists and arms recovered as well.

Munguno, Marte and other C M Y K

communities were secured.

The air and land operation continued with aggressive advance towards other designated communities and locations meant to be cleared in the offensive against the terrorists.

February 18 - MORE TERRORISTS DIE IN SAMBISA AND GWOZA Concerted air campaign by the Nigerian Air Force continued in furtherance of the mission to clear terrorists from their enclaves. On this day, air strikes, which targeted the training camps and logistics dumps of terrorists in Sambisa forest and parts of Gwoza, were successful. The death of a large number of terrorists was recorded while many others scampered all over the forest and out of the struck bases.

Meanwhile, there were also air strikes on other locations of the theatre heralding the advance of troops and other elements of the mission.

Feb. 20 - TROOPS DEFY LAND MINES, FLUSH TERRORISTS OUT OF BAGA Several hundreds of terrorists drowned in the Lake Chad as they fled the heavy bombardment by the air force heralding the advance of troops on mission to flush them out of

In Adamawa State, the military onslaught, led by attack aircraft, resulted in the liberation of seven local government areas out of the eight that hitherto had Boko Haram fighters presence

Baga. Not even the strategy of mining over 1,500 spots on the routes leading to the town could save the terrorists from the aggressive move of advancing troops.

All the land mines were cleared one after the other.

Eventually, the resistance of the terrorists collapsed and the land forces finally stormed the town.

Many of the terrorists died while a substantial number of them fled with various degrees of injury.

Apart from the five antiaircraft guns and the rifles captured from the terrorists, over 34 motorcycles and five vehicles including trucks used for operations by the terrorists were destroyed in the course of the fighting as troops headed for Baga.

The troops finally began clearing the terrorists from Baga on arrival in the town the following morning.

A comprehensive cordon and search phase of military operation later took place to enable troops mop up arms and ammunition and also apprehend any terrorist who might be hiding.

Similar exercise was carried out in over 15 locations namely Gajigana, Ngaze, Ngenzai, Marte Junction, Mile 90, Yoyo, Kekeno, Kukawa, Cross Kauwa,, Kangarwa, Amirari,

ADAMAWA: SEVEN LGAS FRESH In Adamawa State, the military onslaught, led by attack aircraft, resulted in the liberation of seven local government areas out of the eight that hitherto had Boko Haram fighters presence.

The local government areas fully liberated are Mubi North, Mubi South, Hong, Gombi , Maiha, Ganye and Michika.

Madagali local government area, which has Gulak as its headquarter and was the only area still in the hands of Boko Haram, was finally liberated on Friday after two days of fierce fighting.

Bara, the headquarter of Gukani local governmet area of Yobe State, was also liberated as well as five other communities namely: Shikah, Fikayel, Tetebah, Buza, Kamla and Bumsa.

Nigerian military forces recorded this remarkable success following new acquisitions like mines counter armoured personnel carriers such as the High Velocity T72 armoured tanks and the Cobras equipped with night vision, which can operate in any terrain.

Instructively, if some countries, who claimed they were friends of Nigeria, had made these military equipment available to our military before now, Boko Haram probably wouldn’t have festered. The authorities had to resort to buying the equipment from eastern Europe which, military sources said, have even turned out to be more effective and durable than the ones earlier requested for from the West.

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SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 17

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Why I tell stories with songs -Simi

It’s hard not to be inspired by women - Falz STORIES BY KEHINDE AJOSE

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fro-pop singer, Falz, (Folarin Falana), son o f popular human rights activist, Femi Falana, is fast carving a niche for himself with his unique style of music.The singer whose Ello bae song is gradually becoming fans favourite has opened up to Potpourri on how women inspire his music.

“Women are in our everyday lives. It’s hard not to be inspired by them. I write about what I observe in my immediate environment, so I am inspired by my relationships and that of people that are close to me.”

Commenting on what inspired his new single, he said: “ Ello bae is a song that was inspired by common concerns of modern day relationships”. On what makes him unique, he has this to say:”I think it’s the funny character that I embody and the infusion of comedic lyrics

•Falz in my music that make me different”.

The singer who just unveiled his clothing line said people don’t know that he is a shy person.”People don’t know that I am actually a shy person. Because of the kind of character that I have, it’s hard for people to see it. But I am” he said.

Nollywood artistes call for peaceful polls in Plateau

•Simi

RCCG set for 73 hours marathon praise

By Marie-Therese Nanlong.

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ollywood actors and actresses as well as Josbased artistes have urged residents of Plateau State to fully participate in choosing credible candidates and also conduct themselves peacefully during and after the forthcoming general elections.

Addressing a rally at the Polo Field, Jos, the artistes including Dan Maraya Jos, Kanayo Kanayo, Patience Ozokwor, Chinedu Ikedieze, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, among others, who all rendered peace songs appealed to the residents not to treat the elections as “ war”.

Speaking with journalists, Mrs. Ozokwor said, “We have come to tell Nigerians who live here that our business in the coming elections is to vote those we feel will serve us best, not to fight for anyone because whoever C M Y K

Budding Afro pop diva, Simi is one artiste who is gradually becoming a force to reckon with in the music industry. After the release of her two singles Tiff and E no go funny, she is back with a mid tempo highlife song called Jamb question.

The X3M artiste reveals why she prefers to tell stories with her songs.

In her words: “When I write, I try to make sure whoever is listening isn’t only carried along with sweetness of the melody, music or voice, but also with the story. I think stories are timeless.

Also,when I tell a story, I know that at least, people have experienced it before.

On what inspired Jamb question, she says it is inspired by real life experiences of people. “The song is inspired by real life experiences of people. These are things that happen to both girls and guys.

Some guys are more shy than others. So, instead of being straight-forward and asking a girl out, they ask questions that are either silly or funny. I’ve always found it a bit funny and I wanted to put it in a song. I am grateful to how far I have come.

Anyone with big dreams is never satisfied though, because there will always be more hurdles to cross” she enthused.

•Patience Ozokwor wins or loses the election will only be individuals who can’t be greater than our country.”

The artistes cautioned the people against the sale of voter’s cards, saying, “Your PVC is your power, use it for the elections and keep it. Even if not for elections, you may need it for other things in the future”.

•73 hours marathon praise organisers

arathon Messiah’s praise is an annual praise concert of the Youth Wing of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. The concert kicked off when the General Overseer, Pastor E.A Adeboye clocked 70 years. This year ’s edition is focused on celebrating the 73rd birthday of the General overseer, hence 73 hours marathon messiah’s praise.

The programme will kick off from 2nd of March 2015 and end on Thursday, 5th March, 2015. It will feature the most sought after gospel artistes and praise and worship leaders.

The organizers of the event are sure that for everyone who has a prayer request,there will be answers to their prayers when they attend the event. The venue of the epoch making gathering is the Youth Centre at the Redemption Camp.

PAGE 18, SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Lets talk about sex N

ot many people feel entirely at ease discussing ‘Sex’ even though virtually everyone engages in the act. The American pop duo Salt and Pepa who reigned in the 80s captured the very essence of the awkwardness associated with treating the subject like any

item on the menu.

So, the song goes; Yo, I don’t think we should talk about this Come on, why not?

People might misunderstand what we’re tryin’ to say, you know?

No, but that’s a part of life Let’s talk about sex, baby

Let’s talk about you and me Let’s talk about all the good things And the bad things that may be Let’s talk about sex (4x) Yes,it is part of life and here, some of our popular screen goddesses air their opinions on the subject:

I feel bad after having sex – Cynthia Agholor C

urvaceous Nollywood actress, Cynthia Agholor has been around for a long time, knocked around with the movers and shakers of the industry but yet looks like a farmland still untapped. Though, there have been a number of controversies about her but she has managed to keep her acts together, focusing on the big score of making herself the envy of her colleagues.

While talking to Potpourri sometime ago, the busty thespian aired her views on the subject of sex, revealing the real person behind the facade of that sexy star.

“I think sex is good when someone is married. You know, you do it without fear of committing a sin or committing adultery. Sex is something every couple , married couple, should do, probably, everyday, I don’t know, probably every time they are moved to do it. Sex has the real pleasure when you are doing it without any form of fear. I’m not saying unmarried people should not engage in sex because there is nothing I will say that will make them stop but somebody like me, every time I do it I always feel bad that I’m sinning against God. Even before sex I feel frigid because there is always that looming fear that I’m not doing what is right. That is for me, I don’t know about any other person.

If I’m married to the man then I will feel very free and enjoy it very well” she says.

I can’t wait to have sex – Colette Orji C

olette Orji is certainl y not a woman you would miss in a crowd. Wh ile her beauty is so thing you can’t de me scribe as vicious ,th ere is a certain provocativeness ab out her that may ge t you suckered in with her long befor e you knew it.

Lively and efferves cently refreshing, Co lette bares her mind as openly as an y down-to-earth pe rson would. On the issue of sex, she told me, poker-face, “You know what the Bible and our parents taught us and also what actually is happening out there. If you wa nt to listen to your parents or your Bible, you can wait till you get married. As for me, I don’t want to wait (laughing). I can’t abide by the Bi ble stuff on sex. Sex is something normal. If you know you are matured an d ready and you can handle it the n go ahead”.

•Cynthia Agholor

It is saddening that pre-marital sex has taken over – Biodun Okeowo

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•Biodun Okeowo

C M Y K

exy and popular Yoruba actress, Biodun Okeowo is fondly called by friends as either Her Sexcellency or Hips Don’t Lie, obviously on account of her curvy figure and provocative hips.

Contrary to the perception of her as a kinky one, Biodun is a modest Africa woman, at least, says her opinion when it comes to the matter of sex.

“It is saddening that pre-marital sex has taken over our time. In the past, most of our men would disociate themselves with girls who have been deflowered outside wedlock. Then a woman’s virginity was her pride but time has changed and human beings have changed. I am not happy about it. Maybe we should blame civilisation or modernity for this. I pray for God’s intervention in this era” she says.

And what more, Biodun has a profile to back her position as she would tell you she married as a virgin even though she is now separated from the husband.

Most people pretend to hate sex when they enjoy it – Sobola Sotayo

U

pwardly mobile Yoruba actress, Sobola Sotayo is as frank as they come. She bares her mind on issues without any fear or favour to any inclination. In a recent encounter with Potpourri, Sobola, who is currently on a location in London, said she is in support of pre-marital sex. According to her, it is a good way of measuring your partner before you sign up for life.

“I believe in sex before marriage, because you don’t know how good or how fertile the person is and you should know that before you get into marriage.

It’s not like you’re trying to get pregnant before wedding, what I’m just trying to say is, you have to know how healthy a person is, before you can say you want to go into marriage. Marriage is not something you pop in and pop out just like that, so you have to know your partner very well, sexually and otherwise, before you jump into it” she says

SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 19 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

Everybody loves sex

Sex is as normal to life as money – Ronke Ojo F

– Didi Ekanem

or heavily busty Yoruba actress, Ronke Ojo, there are no two ways about it; sex is not something to be compromised in life. She says even as a Yoruba Ambassador who believes some certain values should be upheld she cannot put aside the importance of sex, even before marriage. She says it is as essential to life as money.

“Sex is a normal part of life just like money. I know I am a Yoruba ambassador but personally, I believe any body above 18 that has a serious relationship can have sex even outside marriage.

The couple should know what they have underneath their clothes. What if I do not like the size as a lady? Frankly, it is one of the reasons why many go into extra marital affairs because even when a man has everything in the world and does not satisfy me sexually, there is serious trouble.

I can not go into a marriage and start regretting, besides, you won’t be able to tell your family members what you are going through in the name of marriage.

I can not manage sex, it is either I enjoy it or not” she declares

D

idi Ekanem has caused much commotion in Nollywood, both for her legendary bum and talent. But the beautiful actress is in quandary over the great fuss over her big butt, saying she wished people would appreciate her more for her talent than for her butt. Maybe someone should have warned her that you cannot cheat nature.

For her, she believes people should have sex as many times as they want it. “If you want to have it 100 times a day, good for you” she says.

“Who doesn’t like sex? I’m not going to sit here and tell you I don’t like sex.

Everybody loves sex; it is just natural, so I’m not going to pretend I don’t like it. For me, I’m a very busy person so I don’t have that time to even enjoy it as much as I should or have it as much as I would. Anytime I have the time and I want to, and I do. Every position goes, as long as I can feel what I want to feel at that point in time. Every position is fine” she concludes.

•Ronke Ojo

•Didi Ekanem

Sex is a form of expression

Good sex turns me on – Paschaline Alex

– Seyi Edun

B

udding Nollywood actress, Pascaline Alex doesn’t mince words when it comes to our feelings about sex. The sexy actress has said one of the things that turn her on is sex. “Let me skip the ‘Holier than thou’ stuff, sex sometimes turn me on too. But good sex follows when your man is good” she says.

“I think it is between two matured people, sex should not be a forceful act. I think it’s something that comes out from the mind, you want to do it and this person wants to do it, it’s a neutral thing. I tell people sometimes that you don’t have to force a lady or force a guy to have sex with you, it’s just an attraction. It’s just what the heart speaks and what you want to do at that moment. I see sex as a neutral thing; it’s not a forceful act. I feel sad when I hear of rape in this our generation, it’s not good. Sex is not rape; you don’t have to put it in a rape kind of way so I think sex is a very neutral thing, it’s a thing of the mind” she added.

W

•Paschaline

I don’t belie believve the Bible on se sexx – Queeneth Hilbert M

any writers have described Queeneth Hilbert as the most beautiful actress in Nigeria. Right or wrong, the model turned screen goddess is unquestionably beautiful with a touch of class about her. When I first interviewed her I felt an air of derision about her towards men but she was quick to tell me she has nothing against them although she has had her share of bad experiences with men. “ When I was trying to establish myself as a model, every man I met wanted something from me. In this country, most men you meet don’t want to do anything for you unless you are ready to offer sex. Only very few men are nice. I don’t know if it happens like that to other women but for me, it has and that doesn’t mean I have anything against men. I don’t” she says And her feelings haven't affected her desirability to have sex with the opposite sex. “Well, you see someone and you feel this guy will be good in bed, fine, go ahead and have it. Sex is something you can have if you feel good about it. I don’t believe all those Bible stuffs about sex” she quips.

hen wave-making Yoruba actress, Seyi Edun expressed her preference for pre-marital sex in a chat with Potpourri a couple of months ago, the story went viral because when the actress talks many listen. As much as Seyi didn’t so much fancy how people made a meal of the story, her view still echoes and continues to serve as a good word of wisdom to many youngsters.

“Sex is a good thing, we are all sexual beings.

Our sexuality is linked with the rest of our lives.

It’s a sort of bond between two people, a form of expression that goes beyond the ordinary intimacy shared. It’s a good thing” she says “Once you are an adult and you think you are ready, go for it. Personally, I think sex before marriage is good.

Because it will make you know your partner well before going into marriage.

So, if there is anything you are not comfortable with, you have an ample time to correct it before actually going into the lifetime contract of marriage. Doing it before marriage also reduces adultery and fornication. It is also a good way of studying your partner before you get committed to him or her ” she added.

•Seyi Edun

C M Y K

PAGE 20, SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015 Onikoyi68@gmail.com

I am not a Nollywood person - Sola Fosudo D

r Sola Fosudo is a veteran of some sorts in the Nigerian film industry. In this interview with our correspondent, the Director of LASU Centre for Press, Information and Public Relations bares it all about his life, the film industry and many more.

BY IBIKUNLE LANIYAN It is really a privilege to be talking to my greatest icon in the movie industry, at least being the only actor-scholar I know makes you my icon …(Cuts in) o, I am not the only actorscholar in the industry.

There are many others.

Kola Oyewo is one, at least, he has a Ph.D and he’s teaching at Redeemer University (laughing). Another one is Prof. Ayo Akinwale, he teaches at the University of Ilorin and he acts too. There is also Tunji Sotimirin. I can keep on counting. So, don’t say I am the only one. There are many of us.

N

How do you people cope with the rigour of lecturing and acting?

There is no rigour, everything in life is based on time. I may be in the office from Monday to Friday then take myself to locations on Saturday and Sunday and be back again in the office on Monday. Since I am not the person directing or producing the film I don’t have to be on location 24 hours of the day. As an actor you can wrap up your own scenes within a day or two and be back to your normal routines. So, it is all about working out a timetable with the people who are engaging you and I want to believe it is the same system that works for other actor-scholars.

Who is Dr. Sola Fosudo?

I am an Ijebu man from Ejinrin in Lagos State. My village is Igbo Oye in Epe local government area of Lagos State. So, I am a Lagosian.

When exactly did you venture into acting?

I can’t remember. I have been acting since I was in primary school and secondary school No, I am talking about Nollywood?

(Exasperatedly) I am not a Nollywood actor. We started acting long before the development called Nol-

C M Y K

lywood came. Before Nollywood, I have acted in several soaps. Was Village Headmaster part of Nollywood? I did Sound of Destiny in 1980 and it was never part of Nollywood. There were films I did like ‘The Third Eye for NTA; Ripples and others long before Nollywood came to being. So, that is why I said I am not a Nollywood actor. Many people thought it was Ripples that brought me to limelight but I would

No, I am not the only actor-scholar in the Industry.

There are many others. Kola Oyewo is one, at least, he has a PhD and he’s teaching at Redeemer University (laughing).

Another one is Prof. Ayo Akinwale

say it is Michael Enahoro’s Sound of Destiny that did it for me. It was a network programme of NTA. Many journalists have interviewed me in the early 80s and 90s. So, don’t be asking me about Nollywood. I am not a Nollywood person.

So, how do you compare movie industry of then to Nollywood of today?

Well,we have to look at it from different perspectives. In those days, most of the people ,who were involved in the biz were trained and so when you see any production, it would be qualitative; both in terms of acting and in terms of production quality. And then you also see

great attempts at creating something that is artistic and you would see creativity. But these days, most of the people in the industry are untrained. Secondly, most of them are commercial people ,they are not concerned with creativity. They are just interested in financial gains. However, having said that, one can also say that the activity of the marketers and the Igbo producers have actually opened up the space for the industry. There is a lot of money circulating now because they came in and pumped money. So economically, the industry has become an incomeearning avenue for many people. So many people are making a living out of the profession even though most of the people making a living are the roadside people, people who are not trained.The summary is that what the industry needs is regulation. It has become an industry that has made Nigeria popular. Nigerian films are known all over the world .

So, in other words, it has become a foreign exchange earner for the country but it needs to be regulated How many movies and soaps have you done so far?

The problem with you is that you insist on seeing me as Nollywood person. You’ll be surprised if I tell you that the total films I’ve done, both Yoruba and English, are not more than 30-40 films .

Was it because of the problem of poor quality you were talking about or what?

Stop referring to me as a Nollywood person (he insisted fiercely). When we started, we just started because we were interested in establishing a viable profession, a profession of serious minded people founded on arts. I studied theatre arts. I didn’t study films. If you ask me now how many plays I have acted, I can tell you over a hundred.

So, you did more plays than films?

Yes. But because you see somebody on television, you think that the person is Nollywood this or that. I didn’t study films I studied theatre arts and we performed plays on stage.

Okay, who is the pioneer of the indigenous film industry?

Hubert Ogunde But some people say he is a man called Alade Aromire ?

You asked me about the film industry not home video. For cinema or films, it is Hubert Ogunde while Aromire was instrumental to the starting of home videos in Nigeria.

You must have had mentors during your early days in the business. Who were your mentors or those who actually motivated you?

I have many mentors .I have those who taught me directly and the external ones. My teachers include Wole Soyinka, Dapo Adelugba in Ibadan, Bode Osanyin and Kole Omotosho. Among the external ones is the Indian actor called Amitabh Bachan, he was a man after my heart. I love the way he acts and I wanted to be like him. I believe there are some of his mannerisms in the way I act. Chief Obafemi Awolowo is also my distant mentor, though I didn’t actually meet him one on one. Having read about him and having learnt about him I think he was a great man. I also like to model my life after that kind of person.

SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 21

Just bef ore yyou ou ge e before gett intimat intimate

BY ONOZURE DANIA

I

t’s a hard pill to swallow, but it’s true. Just because a man has had an affair with a woman does not mean that he has even spent a second thinking whether or not he wants to be with her or have a relationship in the future.

So, if you are thinking that sleeping with a man will make him see your worth, you are dead wrong.

It is not the physical attraction a man feels for a woman or

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getting close to her physically, that makes a man really feel for you and want more of you. Yet almost every woman equates an affair with a relationship.

Let’s say you slept with a guy and then he got distant. You are probably thinking he played around with you and was not being honest about what he was looking for.

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If you have ever felt hurt because you became physical with a man and he ended up not having an interest in dating or starting a relationship, then the odds are you can look back and see that you have made this mistake. Of course, it does not seem like it’s you who is making a mistake in these situations. It feels like the man you are with is the one who obviously doesn’t get it and is a player for not being ready for a relationship.

But deep down, you know you slept with this man because you believed that if you could come up with enough “proof ” that he should love and value you, and if you could make things “perfect” between you

two, then he would become the open and loving man you imagined him to be.

You have to stop banking on what you think a relationship could be or should be.

Start opening your eyes to what is.

You are so wrapped up in his perspective, what he is doing, his feelings, his emotions and his desires or lack thereof, that you all have but have forgotten about something way important which is what you really want.

I will take a wild guess here and bet that the kind of guy that you truly want is not a guy who is going to freak out or act distant just because you are telling him how you are feeling after you have already slept together.

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PAGE 22— SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com

How I went evangelising on the streets of Italy — Beatrice Omorogbe, Italy-based evangelist

BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE

I

n an era where young ladies travel thousands of miles with unapologetic tenacity to get-rich-quick by engaging in sex trade in countries such as Italy, meeting Beatrice Omorogbe would send goose pimples down anyone’s spine. The Edo State-born jewel of Benin extraction agreed to join her mother in Italy in 2008 for a very unusual reason- to evangelise and win souls for Christ. Also a promising gospel music star to watch out for, Beatrice who flew recently to Nigeria to record her maiden album titled ‘Grateful Heart’ had an encounter with Feminista just before returning to Italy. She spoke about her album which will be set for launch soon and also reveals that Nigerians do not comprise the majority of sex workers in Italy, as against popular belief.

Tell us about this new album of yours?

The title is ‘Grateful Heart’ and it has five tracks. The album was inspired by the wonders God has done in my life since 2008 when I got into Italy. The experiences have been awesome.

Let us into these experiences...

First, my mum took me to Italy legally because she resides there; I also have two brothers residing there as well. I didn’t go there for prostitution like many think of our girls. However, there are mothers who carry their daughters to join them there, and who send them to road work (prostitution). I thank God my mother is not in that category.

I could still remember verbatim that God said to me “Go, you have a mission in Italy” when I was still refusing my mum’s offer to come to Italy.

I look back with gratitude because relocating to a foreign land like Italy with a different national language was not funny at all. One, I needed to understand the language to be able to do anything. So, I prayed to God for wisdom, especially because I knew He had a reason for sending me to Italy. Amazingly, in three months, a major miracle happened- I understood Italian! I still cannot explain how that happened.

Another thing happened again. When I got into Italy, I had a permit but had no job. I began praying to God and He told me not to worry but to start doing His work. So, I began evangelising.

Another thing is that most Nigerians prostituting in Italy do not act with wisdom; they are ostentatious about almost everything.

They make people want to think every girl in Nigeria is born and raised to become a sex worker

In evangelising, were you targeting Nigerian girls prostituting on the streets of Italy or what?

I didn’t target only Nigerian girls because Nigerians are not the majority of people prostituting in Italy. There are also Romanians, Moroccans, Albanians, Chinese and all; not only Nigerians. It’s just that news spread like wildfire when Nigerians are involved.

Another thing is that most Nigerians prostituting in Italy do not act with wisdom; they are ostentatious about almost everything. They make people want to think every girl in Nigeria is born and raised to become a sex worker. That’s why it seems they form the majority.

But I thank God I have been able to win some of them, including Italians and other nationals, for God. God actually performed a major miracle by making me understand the language because I would have been able to win Italians if I couldn’t speak their language.

I still cannot understand how that happened quickly even though I attended their language school because most Nigerians there still can’t speak Italian fluently.

That was how I went into evangelism on my own, using Italian to preach and win souls for God, just three months after entering Italy. Eventually, God brought an Italian family to help me with a job. That family eventually sent and saw me through a school that enabled me apply for a nursing programme afterwards. I’m presently undergoing that nursing programme.

What was it like recording your maiden album?

God’s grace has been sufficient, I must say. I’ve been doing music before now but this is the first time I’m going into a studio for recording. I’m actually a member of my church choir and that’s Christ Embassy in Torino, Italy.

Has doing music ever been your dream or caught your fancy?

I’ve always loved music since childhood.

I remember at about age ten when I would sing and drum with sticks and plates or bottles. Back then, I would

demonstrate in front of a mirror.

Interestingly, each time I sang and danced before a mirror, I imagined myself a star.

Sometimes, my grandma would shout at me but I simply told her I was preparing to become a music star for God; one whose songs would give lives a meaning.

But what brought about that childhood craze for music?

I would say it is simply a gift from God. Actually, we were taught to sing while in the children’s department in church back then as a child. Maybe that nourished the gift.

And at what point did you decide to officially utilise this gift?

That was at the age of 18 when I got inspired by a 12-year-old who released an album. I didn’t get the ball rolling immediately until nine years later (two years ago) when a revelation came through my pastor that I should stir and utilise the gift of God in me.

Hope you’ve realised gospel artists do not make as m u c h money as circular artistes…

M y passion f o r music is not moneydriven.

Rather, it is to g i v e meaning to lives like

I earlier said. It is important to learn to live our lives for God. Gospel music is the best at any time because life is meaningless without Christ. Circular artists sell because they beautify and make appealing their music.

Gospel artistes can do same and even make theirs more appealing with the Meshack anointing which is available for everyone. I thank God that some gospel artists now imbibe this. Now we have gospel artistes doing reggae, blues, highlife and many more.

My album ‘Grateful Heart’ for example has reggae, highlife and afro-beat in it.

Where do you see your music career in the next few years?

I see my fame in music spreading all over the world because I want to give lives a meaning; particularly that of youths and orphans. I want to reach out to these people with my songs, money and everything God has given me.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 23

08112662589

Blaming infidelity on too much booze!

O

RE, dressed to kill, was sure she was going to have a good time at a close friend\’s 50th birthday. For once, David, her husband had agreed to come too because Jane, the celebrant’s cousin has been good friends with both of them, helping David as much as she could with his construction company.

“Jane was pleased to see us and excitedly ushered us to her table”, said Ore. “We made for some empty chairs on the table when I saw a murderous pair of eyes bu4rning into mine. The eyes belonged to Ibiye, a once close friend whose husband I’d slept with. She has never forgiven me for it.

“We don’t want any homewrecker on this table’, she hissed, bristling with hostility.”We’re all respectable people here and prostitutes are not welcome!’

“I cringed. David was so embarrassed he turned to leave. What could I do but hang my head in embarrassment. You see, three years, Ibiye and I were very close and she visited us at home freely with Kenneth, her husband. It was Ibiye who dubbed David and I `the love birds’ and I relished in the compliment. She was chatty, confident and one of my oldest friends and I were thrilled when she got

married shortly after I did.

Their house was a few minutes drive from ours and we were always socialising together. But came this fateful day when Kenneth visited alone, looking glum. `I’ve had a row with Ibiye’, she sighed. `Nothing I do ever seems to be right”. I felt sorry for him and assured him he was free to talk to us any time he felt like it.

“After that, Kenneth often came around miserably revealing their latest arguments. Over the next months, David and I started having problems of our own. I’d always enjoyed a drink, but recently my boozing had been escalating. `Can’t you cut back now the kids are growing up’, David would ask, resentful. But though I wanted to, I just couldn’t seem to stop. Then one night, when he was out, I sat watching telly, nursing a bottle of my favourite wine when the doorbell rang. Getting up to answer the door, I had to grip the sofa to keep my balance. It was Kenneth, clutching another bottle of wine. `Can I come in?’ he asked. `Of course’, I slurred, sozzled.

“As we continued with his wine, he explained he and Ibiye had rowed again. `I don’t know how much more

I can take”, he said. We kept talking but in our drunken haze, our lips suddenly locked. Soon, we were tearing off each other ’s clothes, tumbling on the sofa. Our frantic lovemaking was over in minutes. Yet as we hurried dressed, through the boozedrenched fog, I felt guilt churning in my stomach.

I’d cheated on the love of my life. And with a family friend! As Kenneth hurriedly left, I sank back onto the sofa and more or less passed out. When, I woke the next morning, I vaguely recalled David helping me into bed. As he

walked into the bedroom, thee was a murderous look on his face. I must have muttered a confession during the night. What on earth had I done?

“When he returned from work that evening, I was very apologetic. `I was drunk’, I wept profusely. `It was a mistake’. He wanted to know if I fancied Kenneth but I told him truthfully I didn’t. But that only made what I’d done all the more stupid and pointless. My husband was inconsolable and barely spoke to me. My drunken confession may have soothed my guilt, but it had broken his heart. I

was so ashamed I couldn’t look him in the eye. I felt so stupid, so selfish. Thank God Kenneth didn’t get in touch.

But when Ibiye phoned reminding me of a party we were to attend together, I lied I had a fever. I was too ashamed to face her. Instead I turned to the bottle once more and even that couldn’t wash away my torment, Ibiye still trusted me, but I’d betrayed her n the most horrible way.

“A few weeks after, another good friend called and we both hit the bottle. To this day I can’t remember what devil got into me to `confide’ in her about Kenneth. The next day, Ibiye was round at my place telling me what atrocious lies the friend had been telling her about me and her husband. When she saw I wasn’t outraged she looked at me, confused. `We were both drunk’, I told her. `It didn’t mean anything’. It was as if I’d punched her. `You’re lying’, she snapped defiantly. So I rang Kenneth, putting the phone on loudspeaker. `I can’t go on like this’, I said to him. `Ibiye needs to know the truth’. `No! Don’t tell her!’, he begged. I hung up as Ibiye cried hysterically. `You trollop’, she raged. `You’re dead to me’.

“David was furious I could be so thoughtless. It was then I realised how selfish I’d

been. In another drunken moment I’d confessed all – and now I’d torn my friend’s life apart. I knew our friendship was over, so I just prayed she and Kenneth could work things out. For the next couple of years, I had to focus on salvaging my marriage.

So, I lavished David and the kids with love. I`I think we can survive this’, David finally said. `But promise you’ll never betray me again’. I did. It was the least I could do, and I kept my promise and drastically cut out booze.

“We didn’t have contact with Ibiye and Kenneth until we ran into Ibiye at the birthday party. After yelling at us, she stood up, refusing to share the same table with me and telling the other ladies with husband around to hang on to their men or they would be snatched by me! David said we should leave and I agreed. Ibiye’s hisses followed us. I apologised again to David but he said Kenneth was guilty too. It takes two to tango. Thank goodness I am off booze now. It made me cavalier with my own life – and nearly ruined two families.

What happened at the party was a sobering realisation and I’m determined never to touch another drop.

08052201867(Text Only)

No more stiff limbs!

I

had read an article on alternative therapies in which ralaxation techniques like meditation and biofeedback were taught patients to control heart rate, blood pressure temperature and other involuntary functions through concentration.

I wanted a colleague to benefit from the information so I gave him a photo copy. The article carried with it the picture of a medical doctor teaching correct meditation posture to someone. The particular posture happened to be what is known as the half Lotus.

When my friend saw this, his first reaction was that with his stiff limbs there was no way he could get himself to sit in that fashion. So I said he could sit erect on a chair and remain very still and completely relaxed physically.

He was to just watch himself breathe in and out-no more- for some 15 minutes morning and evening or at least once daily.

When I left him I thought C M Y K

to myself,” there had been a time when I too, was as stiff in the limbs.”

But I know that can be over come, I have here some postures whose practice

will gradually return the body to a state of agility and suppleness.

GORMUKHASANA or WRITER’S POSE. Technique:

,

As you sit on your heels raise the right hand from below to the middle of your back, grab the right hand with the left hand from above so that the left elbow points up upward. Hold the position for half a minute or more and alternate with the left hand below and the

The Fish posture restores lost suppleness to the ankles and knees. It is also said to correct conditions affecting the stomach, spinal column and the back

,

right hand above.

Benefits. This posture makes the muscles of the arms shoulders and back strong. And the jints of the upper ,body become supple.

SUPTA, VAJRASANA OR THE FISH POSE Technique. First sit on your heels and then putting them slightly wide apart bring your buttocks to the floor. Bend backwards and put one elbow on the floor and then the other. Now gently bring your back flat down on the floor with the dome of the head resting down as well, Put the palms together as if in prayer. Stay in this posture for as long as you possibly can.

Benefits. The Fish posture restores lost suppleness to the ankles and knees. It is also said to correct conditions affecting the stomach, spinal column and the back.

HEAD TO KNEE POSE (Standing) Standing with feet wide apart put your palms together at your back and move them further up the back. Turn to the left and drop the trunk, so that your forehead rests lightly on your left knee. Remain in this position for some 15 seconds and alternate to the other side.

Benefits. The head to knee pose with the palms pushed up brings suppleness to the wrists and shoulders. The back muscles get a good stretch and the hamstrings are toned up.

Yoga Classes STARTED Physical Therapy Centre @ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am

The Writer's Pose

The Fish Pose

on Saturdays

P AGE 24 — SUND AY Vanguard, MARCH 1 , 2015 SUNDA

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk 08056180152, SMS only

Second wives’ battle with their step-daughters for their men’s affection

M

Y husband, Made, a surgeon, was 56 and at the end of a 27year marriage when I met him five years ago”, recalled Susan when recounting her experience as a stepmother to three hostile children from her husband’s first marriage.

“I was 43, with a 10-year old daughter from a previous relationship; he had three daughters ranging in age from late teens to early 20s.

“While we realised weeks after meeting that we had most definitely fallen in love, we knew we would face considerable challenge blending our domestic lives. Still, we kept saying to each other, with deluded pride it would be a piece of cake. What I hadn’t realised, in my excitement, was just how demanding or complex becoming a second wife would be. For the first 18 months of our relationship, our blissful high, were punctuated by damning lows, raging arguments and periods of insecurity.

I hadn’t envisaged I’d have to navigate such lonely and unhospitable terrain.

“Four years into my marriage, I now have a special empathy for second wives. It’s like a taboo club, particularly if you’re struggling to unite two families. When you meed another member, there is this sigh of relief knowing that they relate only too well to what you are going through. I believe mine and Made’s problems stemmed from our different family backgrounds and attitudes. With a grass to grace background, he

didn’t place that much importance on education, and had never once encouraged his children to do their homework or even read school reports.

His former marital home was chaotic and untidy.

I, on the other hand; was upper middle class who believed in firm boundaries, discipline and tough love. Ass the daughter of a retired high court judge, education ranks highly amongst my list of parenting priorities. I’m also a house-proud neat-freak! “our different parenting styles became a sort of battle ground. I couldn’t believe that it didn’t matter to him if his daughters went to the university – or even strive to get a job. Worse, he would overcompensate whenever he saw or spoke to them.

I soon realised this is common among men who’ve left the marital home to begin a new relationship. Some days they are so eaten up with guilt about choosing their own happiness at the expense of their children’s security, that they can become overplacatory and – often in the eyes of the second wife, weak.

“I remember staring at Made open-mouthed the first time his youngest daughter then 16, joined us for lunch, six months into our relationship. (To this day, the two older children have refused to meet me. I have some sympathy with this; they felt we got married too quickly). As we sat in the restaurant, I simply couldn’t believe his funny, dopey smile and forced jollity. I’d never seen this side of him before and I was frankly

Y

OUR column to express your loving thoughts in words to your sweetheart. Don’t be shy. Let it flow and let him or her know how dearly you feel.

Write now in not more than 75 words to: The Editor, Sunday Vanguard, P.M.B. 1007, Apapa, Lagos. E.mail: sunlovenotes@yahoo.com Please mark your envelope: “LOVE NOTES"

The taste of my love Dear Theresa,here I am in a place that I' ve never seen before, the hour of love in a place that you woun't let me in. You came to me and I started to

stunned. And for the first year, whenever he spoke to his daughters on the phone, he would adopt an ingratiatingly sugary voice I’d never heard him use with anyone else. He’s endlessly patient with them, never rising to anger. Yet in the rough and tumble of our domestic life, he will shout at me, eyes cold with fury!

“In fairness to him, he’s always been wonderfully inclusive of my daughter. I did not introduce her to him until we were engaged four months into our relationship, so she, like Made’s children, had to accept our marriage was a done deal!

“As things stand, there is a constant fracture between his `his family’, i.e., the first family, and `our family’, the second one. I was so resentful of his first wife that I often broke the cardinal rule, criticizing his children. I asked myself how could he bring up children who

according to him were never taught to say thank you or tidy their room.

And because of my attacking nature, we had furious vows, and naturally he became defensive on their behalf.

He began to creep out to phone his children on his mobile, speaking to them in his car, which created a sense of betrayal. If they rang when we were in the car together, he wouldn’t take the call. His older children never phoned our landline, as that would mean they’d have to acknowledge I actually existed, and lived with their father.

This is my warning to anxious second wives; take note – the secretive texting and furtive calls your husband makes are far more likely to be to his children than his ex-wife or any other woman.

Recently, we were in the car when his daughter called. He was unsure whether to take the call, and I urged him to. But when he spoke to her, he

think that my senses have left me to die. Where is my strength when I need it the most.Tell me what have you done with my pride?. See me now through the depth of my infatuation,I could drown in the sea of love in isolation and I will take you down if you don't save me now. All the time that I gave away I will give to you now, all the love that I never made I will make to you now because nothing will be more electric to me than to give you a taste of the love that I hide.

Derek Nakpodia.08062811130 tedek4ever@yahoo.com

The way I feel about you!

My Angel, No words could ever tell you, No action could express The way I feel about you, With you, my life is blessed.

said, ‘I’m in the car as opposed to ‘ we’re’. I felt insulted that I was not referred to – as if my presence was a guilty secret. When I share my experiences with other ‘second wives’ I find the mobile phone scenario typical. One friend feels nauseated every time her husband speaks to his 27 year old daughter and goes all gooey and adoring, calling her ‘darling’ and ‘sweetie’ as if he’s speaking to his young lover. She also has to endure her stepdaughter rearranging his clothes and patting his hair to shape while staring pointedly at her.

Another friend is incensed every time her step daughter waltzes into her kitchen and help herself to the choicest of meat in the pot.

“I agree such behaviour over steps a boundary, just as I believe children should phone and thank their step-mothers when they have been to stay. Yes, it’s their father ’s house, but when you – as the eager-to-please wife – have put yourself out to accommodate them, trying far harder than with your most challenging and exhausting guests, it would be a generous gesture that the father could endorse. I’m not surprised statistics show that second marriages are struggling and increasingly ending in divorce. Third marriages are even worse”.

Give your brain a work-out Welcome to the ranks of those who are female and forgetful. The numbers of female scatterbrains are

growing daily – and the members are getting younger. Dr. Elisa Lottor, in California, believes short-term memory loss is now so widespread among women that it’s becoming an epidemic.

Elisa Lottor gives these five-step programme to help restore your memory and sharpen your mind.

Eat a balanced diet: High in fruit and vegetable and low in animal fats. Cut down on processed sugar, caffeine and fizzy drinks. Eat carbohydrates in the form of vegetables, fruit and whole grain rather than processed four, pasts and bread. Eat high-quality fats such as fish oils and olive oil.

Look at your lifestyle: Go easy on the booze, don’t smoke and make sure you get enough sleep and daily exercise.

Try to keep your weight sensible. The more fat a woman carries, the more oestrogen she produces, which isn’t good for memory.

Cut down on stress as far as you possibly can: Exercise your mind. Do puzzles and the cross words, or play a game of draughts, cards or chess.

Take brain boosting supplements on top of your healthy diet – 8 vitamins including folic acid and B12, plus antioxidants such as Vitamins E and C and selenium.

Or try the Chinese herbs ginseng and ginkzgo biloba.

Watch your health: Memory loss could be a sign of problems with hormone levels, your blood sugar level or your thyroid gland.

You're the light in my tunnel.

You are my pot of gold.

You are the strength that gets me through When despair has taken hold.

You're my once in a lifetime.

You make my life complete.

You are my blue ribbon In the shadow of defeat.

There's nothing I could ever say, And nothing I could do To let you know just how much Love is in my heart for you.

CENT OBAMA, centobama@gmail.com +2348061379003

SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 25

TWO YEARS AFTER TTORTURE ORTURE

Lagos moves to get justice for ‘ Ejigbo Two’ •1 0 suspects ha •10 havve their da dayy in cour courtt

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

T

he 10 persons accused of torturing two women at Oba Morufu International Market, Iyana-Ejigbo, Lagos, are, at last, having their day in court as they are to be arraigned at a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Tuesday.

There was disquiet in Ejigbo, a suburb of Lagos State, on December 3, 2013, following the posting of a footage on the internet of an alleged human rights abuse committed against two women (names wittheld), who were said to have been assaulted for stealing pepper. The footage immediately went viral on the social media.

The incident was said to have happened in February, 2013.

The footage showed the two women being stripped naked by a group of young men.

After being battered, the assailants put pepper in the women’s private parts.

The victims were alleged to have gone to a pepper shop in the market in the night and stole pepper before they were caught by the young men who descended on them.

Irked by the story, the President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joel Odumakin, made reference to the 1999 Constitution as amended in Chapter 4, Section 34, which states: ‘’ Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person and accordingly, no person should be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment”.

Odumakin, subsequently, on December 23, 2013, led a peaceful protest to the Lagos State House of Assembly and submitted a petition on the need for the lawmakers to intervene and ensure justice was done to the perpetrators.

The activist insisted that she wanted “this matter to serve as a deterrent to others so that anywhere those women are, they can be rest assured that some people stood for their justice, because justice delayed is justice denied; let us do the needful”.

Ejigbo council boss recounts The then Executive Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Lagos, Kehinde Bamigbetan, condemned the alleged torture.

The council boss, while making his presentation at a stakeholders meeting at the Lagos State House of Assembly, explained, “The first time I watched the video clip on December 3, I spent two minutes. The second time I watched it on December 7, 2013, I watched the full clip of eight minutes, two seconds, and I felt seriously sad about the inhuman treatment meted out to the two women, just because they were alleged to have

stolen pepper.

“I took special interest in the incident, after I established that the barbaric act took place in the local government where I am the chief security officer.”

Thereafter, he launched a private investigation into the incident, meeting with many stakeholders in the council in the course of trying to find out from them if they had knowledge of it. But, to his surprise, all of the leaders in the area, including the Iyaloja and Babaloja of Ejigbo, denied having knowledge of the incident.

The police, subsequently, launched investigation into the matter and arrested 10 suspects in connection with the crime. The suspects are now to be arraigned.

Trial C M Y K

•Odumakin, fellow actvists protesting the horror the women experienced

The prosecution alleged that the suspects inserted sticks into the women’s private parts Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye announced the March 5 date for arraignment last month following the absence of nine of the 10 suspects in court.

The suspects are being arraigned on 19 counts bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder, sexual assault, maliciously administering poison, obtaining money by false pretences and deprivation of liberty.

The suspects include Isiaka Waidi, Saheed Adisa, Lateef Tijani, Ahmed Adisa, Azeez Akinosun and Jimoh Busari.

Others are Adekunle Adenuga, Buhari Yusuf, Abdullahi Harun and Oloruntoyin Dauda.

The prosecution alleged that the suspects inserted sticks into the women’s private parts. They were also accused of obtaining the sum of N50, 000 from one Fima Agomo, who is a relative of one of the victims, on the claim that the money would be used to repay the traders whose pepper was purportedly stolen.

When the matter came up last month at the High Court, Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, Mrs. Idowu Alakija, said all the suspects had been admitted to bail by a magistrate court where they were initially arraigned and were probably not aware of the proceedings. Alakija, therefore, asked for an adjournment to enable the prosecution personally serve the defendants with the charge.

The judge, while acceding to the request, however, ordered the DPP to ensure that all the suspects were in court on Tuesday, March 3.

The judge also directed the Zonal Director of the Legal Aid Council to provide representation for the defendants in order to accelerate the hearing of the case.

Gender-based violence Meantime, Odumakin, while speaking on the trial of the case, said, “This case is very symbolic in the entire history of advocacy against gender-based violence (GBV), domestic violence, mob actions, thuggery, unlawful and indiscriminate assaults of citizens and all forms of

violence against persons.

“The end result of this will be a fundamental reference and new precursor to activities of lawless individuals. We, as civil society and activists have played the most vital role of drawing all organs of the State to make this a symbolic case. Ultimately, our demand is punishment of the assaulter by instrumentality of law.

“We have pushed it, alongside other stakeholders who were with us all the way to the doorstep of justice. Of course, our expectation is for justice to be done. The eyes of public are now on the judiciary.

“We have not lost it all on our judiciary. Our judiciary is reviving and this case is one of examples, hopefully, to prove vibrancy of Nigeria’s judiciary.

“We hope the assaulted victims will get justice and we are following the case. Impunity must be brought to an end. Injustice to one is injustice to all.

“We must all monitor the casethe media; the CSOs and all stakeholders must follow on the case and blow the whistle if we notice any ‘smart’ practice. We must all ensure that justice is done. “Women Arise will also not rest on her oars, the matter has just started and we are going to follow it through to the very endwe would keep a time to time update on the matter, we would also ensure that the court proceeding is not hidden from Nigerians.”

Emerhor, in Ndokwa, unfolds N10b empowerment package for women, youths

BY ABEL KOLAWOLE

T

he Delta State All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, says the APC will form the next Federal Government, adding that history is about to be made as Nigerians are tired of the ruling party’s poor performance. Emerhor stated this when his campaign team paid a courtesy call to the apex socio-cultural body of Ndokwa nation, Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), at Umuachi Afor in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the state. The APC governorship candidate was elated by the level of reception accorded him by the people of Ndokwa, saying Nigerians were tired about the way PDP is ruling the country. He stressed that the nation is clamouring for a change of government. He lamented that the country’s economy has been bastardized by the ruling party. The APC governorship candidate promised that the wind of change that is sweeping all over Nigeria will not pass Ndokwa by if he is voted into power.

Emerhor also promised them that his government will bring the much desired development that has eluded them for the past 16 years since the PDP has been in government, noting that the people of Ndokwa have suffered enough despite being a major contributor to the economy of the country. He vowed to protect the interest of Ndokwa if they support his governorship ambition. He added that he will attract development through fair distribution of Delta’s resources.

Emerhor promised to set aside N10 billion in his first one hundred days in office, saying the money will help women and youths set up small businesses to cushion the effect of poverty that is rampant in the state.

Responding, the President General of NNU, Pharmacist Paul Enebeli, thanked Emerhor and his campaign team for the visit, adding that the visit has proved that Ndokwa is the melting point of politics in Delta.

He said though NNU is not a political association, the union welcomes all politicians who come to solicit their support, adding that they will align with those that meet the aspirations of Ndokwa.

The Emerhor campaign train also paid a visit to the traditional ruler of Emu Kingdom, Johnson Ekpechi, the Obuemue of Emu Kingdom in Ndokwa West Local Government area of the state.

Speaking at the palace of the monarch, Emerhor promised to bring rapid development to the community if he is elected as Delta governor. He disclosed that his administration, if elected in April, will make sure that all the rural communities in the state experience substantial dividends of democracy, especially in the area of construction of roads. The APC deputy governorship candidate, Chief Thomas Abanum, who hails from the community, urged the people of Ndokwa West to vote massively for all APC candidates, saying the party has come to bring succour to the people of Delta.

All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate in Delta State, Olorogun O'tega Emerhor (left) addressing His Royal Highness, Johnson Ekpechi, the Obuemue of Emu Kingdom at the king's palace in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Extreme right is APC Deputy Governorship candidate, Chief V.O.T Abanum, who hails from Emu Kingdom in Ndokwa West.

PAGE 26 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

BY OLALEKAN BILESANMI

Bok am: Ur ant Bokoo Har Haram: Urant antaa commends milit ar or gallant per militar aryy ffor perfformance T

T

he campaign train

of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) candidate for the Njikoka/Dunukofia/ Anaocha Federal Constituency, in this month’s general elections, Mr Dozie Nwankwo, a proponent of politics without bitterness, has continued its tour of the villages and hamlets in the three-council federal constituency, spreading the message of massive development, hope and liberation. Nwankwo, a businessman and philanthropist, has become a literal moving political volcano that has just erupted in Anambra State.

He is known to be touching lives. That is why his eventual acceptance to join the political race raised the bar in the contest for the seat in the constituency, across all parties.

His victory at the party primary was as dramatic as his joining politics and choice of political party.

Some rabble rousers had stoked some smear campaign geared at fleecing him when they accused him of working against other political parties and government.

But the more they try, the more popular Nwankwo becomes. It even got the youths and women of the state so incensed they sent a strongly-worded letter to the principal actors in the smear campaign, warning them to stop or face their wrath. But Nwankwo sued for peace, stressing they were all brothers and sisters. He reasoned that since it was in the service of the people and for their good, it would be necessary to have an open, transparent and acceptable process. Three attempts were made before the traducers gave. At the primary, Nwankwo, popularly called ‘Onye Ndozi’, the peaceful creator, assured the constituents that he is going to the National Assembly to attract more democracy dividends and poverty alleviation programmes, which would improve the quality of life in the area. And as he was coming out at the prompting and collective will of the people, he said he was ready to allow all aspirants have a clear process such that as they arrived the venue as

•Dozie Nwankwo

Again, foreign medical mission heads to Anambra Mr Chijioke Okafor, from Ukwulu, confirmed that the yearly programme now occupies prominent position in the calendar of all the natives who he described as visibly appreciative brothers and sisters, there was need for them to leave at the end of the day as same. So, it was, that, at the end when he emerged with an overwhelming majority of votes, he was carried shoulder high by all even as other defeated aspirants turned round to celebrate him.

Nwankwo is a household name especially his federal constituency where he has, over the last two decades, given out about 3,000 scholarships, provided free medical treatment for more than 60,000 constituents annually, skill acquisition, soft/revolving loans for businesses, Keke to more than 500 youth, women/youth

empowerment, widowhood support and more than 600,000 free exercise books to pupils annually. Others include foreign surgeries for serious ailments for constituents, commuter buses to youth, micro credit, barbing/hairdressing salon equipment, and many others”.

Nwankwo’s campaign train has berthed at Nawgu, Ukwulu, Adazi-Nnukwu, Nimo, Abagana and EnugwuAgidi. He has also been to Neni, Akweze, Adazi-Enu, Adazi-Ani, Abagana, Nawfia, Nri, Agulu, Agulu-Uzoigbo, Obeledu and Enugwu-Ukwu amongst other communities, spreading his message of goodwill and hope for a better and greater tomorrow. As the crowd surged forward to touch and embrace him, he assured the that he’s bringing the foreign medical team into the country for this year’s annual free medical mission immediately after the general elections. Mr Chijioke Okafor, from Ukwulu, confirmed that the yearly programme now occupies prominent position in the calendar of all the natives who he described as visibly appreciative, in the three councils of Anaocha, Njikoka and Dunukofia in its more than 20 years existence.

he Executive Secretary of Nigerian National Summit Group, Mr Tony Ipriye Uranta, has commended the military on its onslaught that led to the reclaiming of some communities in the North-east region from Boko Haram.

In a statement, Uranta praised the military for its bravery and steadfastness.

The statement said, “We salute the gallantry of our military who have successfully taken the battle to Boko Haram enough to guarantee the security of the 2015 general elections beginning March 28.’’

The NNSG scribe also expressed displeasure over the conduct of INEC on the distribution of permanent voter cards. ‘’We, however, regret that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may still be unable to get PVCs to all registered voters who refuse to be disenfranchised from voting in these critically pivotal 2015 general elections,’’ he stated. ‘’It is with a great sense of responsibility, that we add our voices to those of millions of Nigerians in demanding that, rather than disenfranchise even one voter, INEC must (for peace’ sake) arrange to let voting be done by both PVCs and TVCs!’’ Tony Uranta, a human and environmental rights activist and member of defunct Presidential Advisory Committee on National Conference added, ‘’We are aware of the uproar some people may orchestrate against this very tenable option for INEC, but the NNSG is of the conviction that, in order that the gains of our democracy to be consolidated, INEC must do what is in the interest of the greater good.”

Methodist Solemn Assembly T

he Archdiocese of Lagos, Methodist Church Nigeria holds Solemn (Prayer) Assembly for the peace of the nation and the forthcoming polls at the Hoare’s Memorial Methodist Church Cathedral, 321, Herbert Macaulay Street, Sabo Yaba, Lagos.

The maiden edition, expected to attract a large turnout of the faithful, is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18 and the second edition, April 1. The Assembly, organized by the Arch Diocese of Lagos, Methodist Church Nigeria, will be presided over by the Prelate, Dr. Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche.

The Archbishop of Lagos, Dr. Joseph Sunday Ajayi, and the Lay President, Sir Bonajo Badejo, are the chief hosts, while the Resident Bishop Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Methodist Church, Nigeria, Rt. Revd Isaac Ayobami Olawuyi, is the host.

EX hair condemns att ac EX--ASUP cchair attac ackk on Auchi Poly Rector

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

A

former Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, Pastor Okosun George Okosun, has condemned what he described as the campaign of calumny against the Rector of the institution, Dr. PhiIipa Idogho.

A group had accused the Rector and her husband of allegedly running the federal institution like their personal estate.

But Okosun described the allegations as a figment of the group’s imagination, saying: ‘’There is no truth in the publications save to malign the Idoghos who have worked hard and are still contributing their best to human capital development of the Afemai land in particular and the country in general. “The Rector’s incredible fit by dint of her hard work both in human and capital development stands her out as an amazon amongst past Rectors of the institution and she should be allowed to be. The sundry allegations are no doubt a product of a disenchanted and disgruntled group which has been clamouring for the removal of the Rector for no just cause. “And having failed in their bid, now felt they could use the author of the article obviously for a fee to further orchestrate the blackmail. As a former ASUP Chairman and a priest speaking from the altar of God, I can tell you that no one staff, especially the academic staff, can be cowed into silence by any individual or group of individuals from any maladministration as the publications would have the public to believe.

The author and his accomplices took counsel in a fragile alliance of conspiracy to unleash a diminutive onslaught channeled through a systematic status degradation ritual. By divine twist of fate however, their devious ploy of incitement against the Rector and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.’’

‘Jonathan democr atised access ttoo tter er tiar democratised ertiar tiaryy education‘

By Dayo Johnson, Akure OUTHS from some states in the South-West Region Y have declared their support for

the re-election bid of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan.

The youths from Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states who came in their thousands gave their support at a zonal town hall

•S/West youths want him back

meeting held in Akure under the auspices of the PDP youth wing.

They said that the future of the Nigerian youth is better secured in the hands of the PDP candidate whom they said is vibrant, younger and result-oriented.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Matters, Jude Imagwe said Jonathan has

democratised access to tertiary education with the unprecedented of 14 new Universities and many other Polytechnics.

Imagwe used the medium to reeled out Jonathan’s achievements in the education, health, road and agric sectors which including the age long

racketeering and scam in the fertilizer industry.

He stressed that the Jonathan government is committed to electoral reforms as the party remained the only one that committed to its ideals in the last 16 years.

The presidential aide warned Nigerians not to be deceived by the antics of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which portrays

its presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, as a man of integrity and without blemish.

The Deputy National Youth Leader, Dennis Alonge-Niyi, said the difference between the APC presidential candidate and President Goodluck Jonathan is clear.

Alonge Niyi said Nigerians would enjoy more dividend of democracy during the second term of Jonathan.

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SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 27

BY DAYO JOHNSON, Akure

Urhobo and the controversial Uvwiamughe Declaration

T

HE biblical injunction in Jeremiah 17 vs 9 that says “ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked who can know it” is apt in the case of a 30-year-old commercial motorcycle operator, popularly known as Okada rider, Tumi Ayileka, who was alleged to have, despite the plea by a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member (names withheld), that she was three months pregnant, still forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

The victim had been posted to Ondo State and deployed to Imoru in Ose LGA for her primary assignment. The alleged rape happened on the route she had been taking on motor bike since she was deployed to Imoru.

She was said to have left the Corpers Lodge, located at Ifon, the headquarters of Ose LGA at about 630pm for Imoru where she was doing her NYSC. Sunday Vanguard was informed by a police source that the Okada, she boarded, instead of heading for Imoru, a short distance to Ifon, the rider stopped abruptly and diverted into the bush. He was said to have excused himself to obey the call of nature. But the corps member was said to have expressed concern why he had to stop to ease himself in a lonely and busy area.

Suspecting a foul play, she reportedly jumped down from the bike and ran towards the main road but the Okada rider was said to have over-powered her and allegedly dragged her back inside the bush.

The suspect, who claimed he also doubled as a farmer, reportedly forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her. The victim was said to have pleaded with the suspect that she was pregnant and she should be spared of the horror of rape but all her pleas were reportedly rebuffed by the suspect.

The source narrated that after having his way, the Okada man left the victim in the bush, jumped on his bike and left. But on a second thought he reportedly went back, picked the victim and took her back to her residence at the Corpers Lodge and sped off ’.

The victim, whose clothes were said to have been torn by the suspect, managed to find her way to the police station and lodged a complaint around 11pm. Detectives, according to the source, were sent out to fish out the suspect.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the detectives later trailed the suspect to his house. He was picked up at No 4, Olisa Street, Imoru and confessed to the crime. The suspect in an interview said: “I do not know what came over me when I raped her. “ When she was crying that she was pregnant, something told me to stop and leave her alone but another voice said I should finish what I started; that is why I raped her”. Asked if he had done such illicit act before, the suspect said, “No. This is the first time. “When she stopped me, I did not have the intention but when I started the engine of the motorcycle

I

t is no longer news that the Urhobo have been at

•Ayileka...suspect

HORROR IN ONDO BUSH

How I raped pregnant corps member —Okada rider and I looked at her eyes, I was attracted to her and the thought came to my mind. “That was how I started thinking of how to rape her because she is a beautiful lady.

“I knew that the only way I could rape her was to drive to the bush and pretend I

wanted to ease myself.

“It is the devil that pushed me. I want to be forgiven. I won’t do such a thing again. “ I have asked God to forgive me too. If I am released, I will never again in my life rape any girl. The suspect”, who said he is married, pointed out: “I became conscious of what I did after committing the atrocity. It is not my fault. I do not know what came over me. “It was so strong that I could not resist the urge to rape her. Öndo State Police Command also paraded a 35-year-old suspected secret cult member, Godwin James, of No 13, Isolo Street, Akure for attempting to rape one Damilola Akintake. One battle axe used to threaten the girl was allegedly recovered from the suspect.

In a similar development, a 30-year-old suspected member of a secret cult, Soladoye Ige, and his friend, identified as Lekan, allegedly gang raped one Tomiwa in Owo area of the

state on Valentine’s Day. After they had raped the victim, after luring her to Ige’s house, they inscribed, with blade on her laps”, Blue Angel”. Ige allegedly belong to the Eiye Secret Cult, was reportedly initiated in November last year by one Tope and three others.

The suspect was arrested at his No 32, Enete Street, Owo. Ige, according to the police, was a student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo while the victim is an Ordinary National Diploma OND student of the institution. He was said to have been eyeing the victim while in the institution but was not bold enough to voice out. An opportunity reportedly came when he saw the victim around his residence and he summoned the courage to voice out his likeness for her.

The victim was subsequently lured into the suspect’s room. On getting to the room, he reportedly met his friend identified as Lekan.

The two friends allegedly raped the victim in turns and thereafter drove her out of the room. The state Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke, said the suspected rapists will be charged to court after preliminary investigations.

loggerheads over the “Uvwiamughe Declaration.”

With some measure of fiat issued to recover its lead in democratic politics in Delta State, the UPU had decided that the Urhobo should give block vote to a national party that picks one of their own as its governorship candidate for the 2015 general elections.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since the declaration was issued, over a year ago. Prominent amongst them is the passing to glory of Gen. Patrick Aziza, the erstwhile President General of the UPU. The first deputy, Chief Joe Omene, was naturally handed the saddle to steer the affairs of the Urhobo pending a congress slated for December, 2014.

But because of high wire politicking at the time, Omene was allowed to carry on. No sooner than party primaries began ahead of the 2015 polls than the first blunder was made. As if the UPU was waiting for the PDP to make mistake, UPU went public to endorse Chief David Edevwie as its choice of a PDP candidate a few hours to the PDP primaries. It was not a surprise to many discerning Urhobo when Dr Ifeanyi Okowa from Delta North beat the UPU choice to clinch the ticket of the PDP. Many Urhobo saw this step as a blunder because UPU was not expected to enter into the political arena openly to take sides with one party against another. In spite of thus, the EXCO of UPU paid a visit to President Goodluck Jonathan where they pledged to work for with a view of returning him for second term. Their proposal was to work for him for Mr President and then work for an Urhobo

governor at the state level in another party with the assumption that the Urhobo governor will defect to PDP after winning the election.

This left the stage clear for Chief Otega Emerhor who lost a senatorial bid a year before under the platform of the APC as the most favoured that will meet the requirements of the Uvwiamughe Declaration. That was not to be as the People’s General, Chief Great Ogboru,

the most recurring decimal in Delta State politics, had laced his shoes under the Labour Party once more. In reality, it should be abundantly stated that Labour Party, however, is not a national party in the spirit of the Uvwiamughe Declaration as it does not have any federal representation after the defection of Governor Olusegun Mimiko to PDP. It was not long before an impasse was created. Two factions of the UPU emerged as they attempted to make a choice between Otega and Ogboru. While the mainstream UPU, led by Omene, went publicly again to anoint Ogboru as its choice for the election, a splinter group, led by Chief Tuesday Onoge, went public also and endorsed Emerhor of the APC as its preferred candidate.

The implication of the foregoing is that Urhobo is going into the 2015 election with a divided house. The consequence can be best imagined.

Concerned about the logjam, stakeholders, elders, sociopolitical organizations, eminent sons and daughters of Urhobo had to take the initiative under the aegis of Urhobo Leaders of Thought to wade into the matter and settle it amicably with only the overall interest of the Urhobo at heart.

The spokesperson of the body, Olorogun Abel Edijala, himself a former governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Delta State in the 2007 election, assured that in a meeting of stakeholders, the matter was tabled and a committee set up to meet with all parties.

He said that an enlarged meeting of the body slated for the weeks preceding the election will make public its resolution on how the matter will be resolved.

Fir ole ttoo reopen – Hon. Dar amola Firsst Bank in Ik Ikole Daramola A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Bimbo Daramola (Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1) has assured his constituents that the Ikole branch of the First Bank Plc would be reopened in a matter of weeks.

This assurance was contained in a statement, titled, UPDATE ON FIRST BANK PLC, IKOLE EKITI.

He said the customers and members of staff of the branch would soon get back to work after the temporary closure of the branch as a result of robbery attacks.

The lawmaker explained that stakeholders had been consulted while promising that the sufferings of his constituents would be over soon and adequate security

would be provided to forestall re-occurrence of armed robbery. Daramola, who has already secured a second term ticket on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) and a current Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Millennium Development Goals, also told his constituents: “This is my long lasting

creed and covenant with you as your representative and I will go to any length to keep fulfilling it as my modest efforts in the past three and half years attest to. Once again please let us endure a little bit more being satisfied that your representative is not oblivious of your pains rather doing all that is possible to take such pains away

PAGE 28—SUNDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

In

this concluding part of the interview with Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, he says PDP will not go down as the equation favours President Jonathan in the forthcoming polls and assures that Nigerians will vote Goodluck for continuity.

BY JIDE AJANI

W

e realise that we must intensify the war against terror.

We also admit that we are all Nigerians. We must improve the economy. Yes, but is the answer with the opposing party and its candidate? Do they have a magic wand to stop terrorism, to turn around the economy?

No. So, we are not afraid.

The president is not afraid.

We in the PDP are rather very confident that we will deliver because we exist in every polling unit. We exist in every ward. We have candidates fielded in all these elections. And if we could elect a president who lost his ward, his local government, his state and his zone, you should know that that kind of party; even with the loss of some governors, that kind of party will always have the capacity to win free and fair general elections. After all, we are a party of free elections.

What is the roadmap? The scenarios you are painting in 2011 are radically different from those of 2015. You referred to Buhari’s military past.

Obasanjo was also a military ruler. The same issues could be raised about him. In 2011, states where PDP had massive support are in the opposition camp. (…..Cuts in) Where are those states?

Rivers, Kano, even Lagos Can I analyse further for you?

You will do it. That’s the first question. Secondly, what happened at that meeting in Government House where you were present with Asari Dokubo, Government Ekpomupolo and a couple of others. Out of that meeting, the message that resonated was that if Jonathan doesn’t win, we are going to war.

What actually happened at that meeting because people wondered why that kind of message would be coming from the Government House, where you also sat in at that meeting? What actually happened?

First, you need to know certain things about Bayelsa State and the Ijaw people, the Ijaw nation, whose elected leader I am. Bayelsa

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is the Jerusalem of Ijaw nation, that is what we say.

Governor of Bayelsa has a duty to our country, a duty to Nigeria, a duty to Ijaw nation and a duty to Bayelsa people. Remember two things informed that interaction. First, it is my duty to interact with my citizens, whether you call them former militant leaders or not. In fact, those people, we call them freedom fighters, you need to interact with them as often as you can as part of the peace building initiative. But something happened.

There was a report about Buhari’s endorsement by MEND and the opposition media propaganda system played it up. That created a major problem for us in the Niger Delta. And when you talk of the Niger Delta, Bayelsa is the epicenter, it is the centre of gravity around which these issues revolve.

Once Bayelsa is safe, secure and stable, it permeates around others.

Insecurity or instability in Bayelsa will inexorably affect the security situation in other Niger Delta states.

I have always been conscious of that, particularly with my background as a product of Ijaw movement myself. So, when the issue of MEND’s endorsement of Buhari, came or let us say a section of the militant group endorsing Buhari, it created division. It raised tension and there was almost a crisis in my hand. Also, when the president went around campaigning, and some people were hostile and attacked him, particularly in the northern states, and it was continuing, it inflamed passion in the Niger Delta.

As a governor, when you have the reports and you read the security

Insecurity or instability in Bayelsa will inexorably affect the security situation in other Niger Delta states

•Governor Dickson

‘Nigerians will vote for continuity’(2) barometer, then there was need to step in, interact with the stakeholders, get their views and assure them; if there are messages, pass on and if there are steps to be taken, do so. But at all times, you must engage. Lack of engagement is not an option. So, part of the duty the governor of Bayelsa owes our country is to use his leverage, his good office from time to time to ensure that the security situation in the Niger Delta does not get out of control.

If Bayelsa boils, the whole Niger Delta region and therefore our country will be in crisis. That is what I did. They came and we interacted. It was unfortunate that the media, particularly the opposition propaganda, took up, instead of taking the conclusions of the meeting, which were an affirmation of the peace process and the need to maintain law and order. they now took individual contributions of the people in attendance.

Moving forward, let me assure you all that we, our people, believe in a strong, democratic, united Nigeria.

But the Nigeria we believe in is also the Nigeria of equal citizenship, a Nigeria that will be democratic, a Nigeria that will be peaceful, secure and prosperous. All of us have a duty to bring that about. We have to create and rediscover that Nigeria. It is my duty to continue to

work with agencies, stakeholders and players, whatever their descriptions are, whatever their past may be, to interact and network to ensure that the fundamental objectives of law and order and preservation of security are maintained.

Then the second aspect to your question, that the PDP is not as strong as in 2011.

That is why I said I wanted to do that analysis with you.

A lot of people are carried away by huge rallies in the opposition stronghold and so on. We, sometimes, don’t remember that PDP has never won, for example, in Kano, from 1999 till date. We have never won the presidential poll, not even when Yar’Adua, from a neighbouring state, was the flag bearer in 2007.

Therefore, would we have wanted a situation where a sitting governor, liked and respected, my elder brother, Kwakwanso, that’s not an ideal situation but it has happened. But don’t forget that in most of these states, our supporters are many, stakeholders, Shekarau for example, all of them. 25 percent, that is what the Constitution says we should have or more. So, we are not in these states struggling to win 90 per cent for you to use that to determine the outcome of the presidential poll. No. Yar ’Adua, who got elected as our president in 2007, from the neighbouring state of

Katsina, did not win Kano.

And yet he became president. The PDP is safe and secure in our strongholds. We are safe and secure in the Southsouth. We are safe and secure in the South-east. We are safe and secure largely in the North-central. We are safe and secure also in a number of states in the North-east and also in a number of states in the North-west. Yes, are we as strong as we were in 2011?

Clearly, we are the first to concede that it is not so. But don’t forget, as I said that we elected a president from the South-west, who didn’t have the South-west. Now, our candidate will even win more in the South-west. Yes, or already we have two governors in the South-west and we have a good candidate in Lagos and the leadership, the voters in Lagos, we have our ways of also monitoring how they are receiving our message.

Between President Jonathan and General Buhari in Lagos, our expectation is that majority of Lagos voters will vote Jonathan. They will vote for continuity; they won’t vote for uncertainty. They won’t vote for a continuation of the system they know in Lagos that has not served their best interest maximally. We will win. After all, the constitutional formula is to win majority of votes, one quarter of votes in two Continues on page 29

SUNDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 29

Continued from Page 28 thirds of states.

Still on PDP, the very simple question is, didn’t you see this coming? You were in charge of the reconciliation committee. People were wondering how governors walked out and the body language suggested, ‘ let them go’.

The leadership of your party and the president, as the leader of the party, has not shown sufficient leadership to put the party together.

Should Rivers be a problem to Mr President at this time?

I have earlier said that Rivers is not a problem, as far as the election of the president is concerned. We expect an overwhelming victory in Rivers State, just as we do in most states ultimately.

The question is not about Rivers but winning the presidential poll. You did not sustain your party. You know if PDP goes down now, for you to get up will be difficult.

PDP will not go down. We are the party that is for all Nigerians. We are the party for the small, as well as for the big. We are the party for the rich, as well as for the poor. We are the party of the minority, as well as of the majority. We are the only party since politics started in Nigeria till date that has given some thoughts, apart from the actuality of doing it, that has given some thoughts to the idea for someone from my place, our side of the country, being a presidential candidate. And not just that, producing the person as a winning candidate, which the party did in 2011. We didn’t do it alone. All Nigerians did it and we are eternally grateful to them. But that tells you about the nature and character of our party.

What we did in 2011 is akin, as I always say, to what the Democratic Party in the US did with the election of Barack Obama as the first black president of the United States. That’s exactly the same thing the PDP did with the election of Dr Jonathan as the first Southsouth minority president of our country, democratically elected, not emerging through a military dictatorship or a coup. Now, that gave this country the opportunity to renew and reinvent itself and, for us, it is only the PDP that can continue with that vision of an inclusive Nigeria, that vision of a Nigeria where, as we move forward as a leading nation, it doesn’t matter which state you come from. It doesn’t matter what ethnic group you belong to.

It doesn’t even matter the C M Y K

•Governor Dickson

‘PDP will not go down’ (2) God you choose to worship and how you do it.

Let us talk about development so that we don’t…

That’s actually what I want to talk about.

Three years in the saddle, what can you say are your greatest achievements?

As I said, going round Bayelsa and, even at my quiet time, thinking about some of the things we were able to put in place, I feel very fulfilled. Now, we are not where we want the state to be but there is, no doubt, if you go to Bayelsa, there is no doubt at all that we have made a lot of achievements, achievements in the area of infrastructure, which you see. There are some investments in government that are intangible. Nobody sees what you do. But if you go to Bayelsa and you see the roads and bridges that have come up, it is not

PDP will not go down. We are the party that is for all Nigerians

story. In fact, the story is that we are over working.

‘This governor self, na roads and bridges we go chop?’

But that is good.

That is complement for a politician, who is attacking frontally the issues of development because for you to move the state to where I want it to be, that is the Dubai of Africa, you have got to think of world class iinfrastructure. You have got to think of security.

You have got to think of health care. You have got to think of investment in education as we are doing.

Now, we have delivered on that. Roads and bridges connecting communities that nobody thought would be possible or people to be connected.

A lot of you who live in the urban area take a lot of things for granted. But you go to the heart of the Niger Delta, particularly Bayelsa, which was the least

developed part of old Rivers State that was carved out, with the most difficult terrain, the least developed, no educational facilities, people are poor and the whole place is rural. They don’t feel government presence; there is no electricity. Now, I am addressing those basic problems of connecting roads to all these communities and the cost of construction is 20 times what you have here. It is like building the Third Mainland Bridge. That’s what I am doing. What you call roads > there are actually bridges. And yet, those are the things that we must do.

Otherwise, we can’t have development. So, we have done a number of them, completed so many. A number are ongoing. With the shortfall in oil prices and so on, it is having a direct hit because we don’t have industries that are paying internally generated revenue. For example, in Lagos, you don’t care because of the investments here. The private sector is strong. The tax can run the state. But do you know that when I took over as governor, the IGR of my state was N50 million. We don’t have industries, so only the civil servants will pay tax. And even they were paying 10 per cent of it. In fact, they said it was part of my sin because I said no, pay as the law has provided.

I am not introducing anything new. The PAYE that you all pay is uniform, isn’t it? So, if you go to health care, hospitals built, modern diagnostic centres built, so much is being done.

What is your IGR now?

The IGR now is between N700 and N800m.

What was the magic you used?

Discipline, focus and an insistence that the right thing must be done. We spend political capital but that is what leadership is all about. You don’t shy away from doing what is right because it may sound unpopular. So, when I told civil servants, ‘sorry, no governor has the right to waive paying tax; that’s a federal legislation’. There is this culture of free, free, free.

The government must do everything free. People don’t pay electricity bill.

Government pays. Now, that is primitive. It is not sustainable. You cannot allow civil servants to be corrupt. I tightened up all of that and insisted that people must go to work, because, prior to when I came, the wage bill was inflated. One person will have three, four, five names collecting salaries and so on. If anything, that is the sin I have committed.

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SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 33

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PAGE 34—SUNDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

BY BEN AGANDE

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan, penultimate week, spent almost one week in Lagos during which he commissioned some federal projects in the South-west as well as naval war ships to boost the nation’s maritime security. He also met with different segments of the society where he told them why he should be re-elected on March 28 when the presidential election will be held.

Meanwhile, the unspoken reason for the President’s five-day stay in Lagos where he met with several groups from the South-west was to redouble efforts at getting significant votes from the region during the presidential election.

With the release of the number of people who have collected their permanent voter cards, PVCs, so far nationwide, it was apparent that with the lack of disposition of voters in the North western to Jonathan’s candidature, it became apparent that because of its high number of voters, the support of the South-west was critical to his re-election.

In this context, the postponement of the general elections by six weeks by the Independent National Electoral Commission was a huge blessing to the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and especially the candidacy of Jonathan. Although conspiracy theorists have argued that the postponement of the elections was orchestrated by the PDP, the reason given by the INEC and subsequent events that followed have since given a lie to this theory. For instance, the postponement has given eligible voters more time to collect their PVCs. But for the PDP, which appeared to have been doing so badly judging from the crowd that attend its rallies, especially in some northern states, the postponement offered an opportunity to cover lost grounds and the make some foray into the Southwest.

Jonathan met with a cross section of Yoruba political and opinion leaders beginning with the Yoruba Council of Elders at the State House, Marina, Lagos.

The President also met with market women groups under the aegis of the Iyalojas, the Oodua Cooperative Alliance from the six states of the South-west, as well as representatives of other ethnic groups and tribes in Lagos.

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•President Goodluck Jonathan

Jonathan’s new pact with Yoruba He visited the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Ajagungbade; and about 20 traditional rulers of Egba extraction from Ogun State. The significance of the meeting with the traditional rulers from Egbaland stems from the fact that this is same area which former President Olusegun Obasanjo, one of the worst critics of Jonathan, hails from.

The traditional rulers, who attended the meeting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, were led by the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo. Others at the meeting included the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Michael Sonariwo; and the Olowu of Owu, Oba Dosunmu. The Awujale and the paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, and Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, were absent.

The meetings provided avenue for the President to solicit support of the various groups in a more personal manner for his candidacy at the polls. For instance, while at the palace of the Alafin of Oyo, Jonathan used the opportunity of the visit to inform the nation that he

would implement the report of the National Conference.

Bearing in mind that the South-west has been in the fore front in the demand for a National Conference, the President could not have chosen a better place than the Alafin’s palace to give his commitment.

Jonathan’s whirlwind visit to the South-west appears

want self-determination within the federation that will ensure their form of government and politics and want to be able to develop their own region”, Fasheun said while justifying their support for Jonathan.

A meeting of Yoruba leaders in Akure, under the aegis of Afenifere with the

The promise he gave us is that if he comes back for a second term, he will ensure that the decisions of the Confab are perfected and implemented as soon as he comes in to be yielding dividends if the assurances given by some prominent Yoruba leaders are anything to go bay. For instance, the founder of the Odua Peoples Congress, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, has publicly stated that Yoruba elders have decided to support Jonathan based on his promise to implement the National Conference report.

“The promise he gave us is that if he comes back for a second term, he will ensure that the decisions of the Confab are perfected and implemented as soon as he comes in. The Yoruba

theme: ‘’National Conference, 2015 Elections and the Yoruba Nation’, also endorsed Jonathan for the 2015 elections, citing his commitment to implementing the report of the National Conference as their reason.

The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, in an elaborate explanation to justify the decision of the group, noted that the action was not borne out of partisan considerations but pragmatic assessment of the best interest of the Yoruba race.

According to him, “We are

supporting Jonathan because of the consistency of the Yoruba to have this country restructured so that it can develop. People are calling for change. I want a change in the Constitution of Nigeria. Only a change in the Constitution can truly bring about the change that we need.”

But if the resurgence of hope on Jonathan from the South-west is reassuring, the change in tide in the security situation in the North-east, which has been under the grip of Boko Haram terrorists, has brought a new sense of renaisssance.

Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east took a dangerously different dimension when the group graduated from attacking military formations and government offices to occupying large towns and villages across the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. The large scale defection of members of the armed forces as well as the large number of security service being court martial send a bleak message to many Nigerians, especially those living at the epicentre of these attacks, that the government is either unable or unwilling to bring about their sufferings to an end.

Three weeks after the postponement of the election, the military has dealt a devastating blow to the Boko Haram sect as hundreds of its members have been killed in battle, several of their military hardware and weapons either captured or destroyed while Baga, Munguno, Diwa, Gwoza and other villages hitherto occupied by the terrorist group have been liberated.

With the supply of new weapons and ammunition to the army and the renewed cooperation between the neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin Republic to fight the Boko Haram terrorists, the confidence of many Nigerians, displaced from their homes and villages by the terrorists, appears to be waxing stronger. And with the assurance by the President that the Boko Haram would be defeated and its leader captured or killed by the military, there appears to be new hope for the candidacy of Jonathan.

Whether these renewed interests will transform into electoral fortunes would be determined by moves that the ruling PDP and the opposition All Progressive Congress would make to convince the electorate who are yet to decide on who to vote for in March 28 presidential poll.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 35

The answers to national questions, by Buhari

A

ll Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, MajorGeneral Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), spoke on his aspiration to govern Nigeria at Chartham House, on Wednesday. The speech he read at the occasion.

Permit me to start by thanking Chatham House for the invitation to talk about this important topic at this crucial time. The 2015 general election in Nigeria is generating a lot of interests within and outside the country. This is understandable. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, is at a defining moment, a moment that has great implications beyond the democratic project and beyond the borders of my dear country.

So let me say upfront that the global interest in Nigeria’s landmark election is not misplaced at all and indeed should be commended, for this is an election that has serious import for the world. I urge the international community to continue to focus on Nigeria at this very critical moment. Given increasing global linkages, it is in our collective interests that the postponed elections should hold on the rescheduled dates, that they should be free and fair, that their outcomes should be respected by all parties, and that any form of extension, under whichever guise, is unconstitutional and would not be tolerated.

With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War, democracy became the dominant and most preferred system of government across the globe. That global transition has been aptly captured as the triumph of democracy and the ‘most pre-eminent political idea of our time.’

On a personal note, the phased end of the USSR was a turning point for me.

If you will, that was my own road to Damascus experience. It convinced me that change can be brought about without firing a single shot. As you all know, I had been a military head of state in Nigeria for twenty months. We intervened because we were unhappy with the state of affairs in our country.

We wanted to arrest the drift. Driven by patriotism, influenced by the prevalence and popularity of such drastic measures all C M Y K

•Muhammadu Buhari over Africa and elsewhere, we fought our way to power.

But the global triumph of democracy has shown that another, and a preferable, path to change is possible. It is an important lesson I have carried with me since, and a lesson that is not lost on the African continent.

In the last two decades, democracy has grown strong roots in Africa. Elections, once so rare, are now so commonplace. As at the time I was a military head of state between 1983 and 1985, only four African countries held regular multi-party elections. But the number of electoral democracies in Africa, according to Freedom House, jumped to 10 in 1992/1993 then to 18 in 1994/1995 and to 24 in 2005/ 2006.

According to the New York Times, 42 of the 48 countries in Sub-Sahara Africa conducted multi-party elections between 1990 and 2002. The newspaper also reported that between 2000 and 2002, ruling parties in four African countries (Senegal, Mauritius, Ghana and Mali) peacefully handed over power to victorious opposition parties.

In addition, the proportion of African countries categorized as not free by Freedom House declined from 59% in 1983 to 35% in 2003. Without doubt, Africa has been part of the current global wave of democratisation.

But the growth of

It is much more important that the promise of democracy goes beyond just allowing people to freely choose their leaders democracy on the continent has been uneven. According to Freedom House, the number of electoral democracies in Africa slipped from 24 in 2007/2008 to 19 in 2011/2012; while the percentage of countries categorised as ‘not free’ increased from 35% in 2003 to 41% in 2013. Also, there have been some reversals at different times in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritania and Togo.

While we can choose to look at the glass of democracy in Africa as either half full or half empty.

While you can’t have representative democracy without elections, it is equally important to look at the quality of the elections

and to remember that mere elections do not democracy make. It is globally agreed that democracy is not an event, but a journey. And that the destination of that journey is democratic consolidation—that state where democracy has become so rooted and so routine and widely accepted by all actors.

With this important destination in mind, it is clear that though many African countries now hold regular elections, very few of them have consolidated the practice of democracy. It is important to also state at this point that just as with elections, a consolidated democracy cannot be an end by itself. I will argue that it is not enough to hold series of elections or even to peacefully alternate power among parties.

It is much more important that the promise of democracy goes beyond just allowing people to freely choose their leaders. It is much more important that democracy should deliver on the promise of choice, of freedoms, of security of lives and property, of transparency and accountability, of rule of law, of good governance and of shared prosperity. It is very important that the promise embedded in the concept of democracy, the promise of a better life for the generality of the people, is not delivered in the breach.

Now, let me quickly turn to

Nigeria. As you all know, Nigeria’s fourth republic is in its 16th year and this general election will be the fifth in a row. This is a major sign of progress for us, given that our first republic lasted five years and three months, the second republic ended after four years and two months and the third republic was a still-birth.

However, longevity is not the only reason why everyone is so interested in this election.

The major difference this time around is that for the very first time since transition to civil rule in 1999, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing its stiffest opposition so far from our party the All Progressives Congress (APC). We once had about 50 political parties, but with no real competition. Now Nigeria is transiting from a dominant party system to a competitive electoral polity, which is a major marker on the road to democratic consolidation. As you know, peaceful alternation of power through competitive elections have happened in Ghana, Senegal, Malawi and Mauritius in recent times.

The prospects of democratic consolidation in Africa will be further brightened when that eventually happens in Nigeria.

But there are other reasons why Nigerians and the whole world are intensely focussed on this year ’s elections, chief of which is that the elections are holding in the shadow of huge security, economic and social uncertainties in Africa’s most populous country and largest economy.

On insecurity, there is a genuine cause for worry, both within and outside Nigeria. Apart from the civil war era, at no other time in our history has Nigeria been this insecure. Boko Haram has sadly put Nigeria on the terrorism map, killing more than 13,000 of our nationals, displacing millions internally and externally, and at a time holding on to portions of our territory the size of Belgium. What has been consistently lacking is the required leadership in our battle against insurgency.

I, as a retired general and a former head of state, have always known about our soldiers: they are capable, well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do their duty in the service of our

Continues on page 37

PAGE 36—SUNDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

Polls: How Igbo will

decide Jonathan’s, Buhari’s fate,

by Igwe Alex Nwokedi

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

I

gwe Ezeoba Alex Nwokedi, a former Chairman, Eastern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Forum and former Press Secretary to the Head of State, during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, has a message for the political class: Whoever has a hand in things capable of collapsing Nigeria will regret it. In this interview, the king of Achalla, Anambra State says the Igbo people have endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for reelection but warns him (Jonathan) against fighting Obasanjo’s personal interest.

Excerpts: Is there any particular position by the Igbo as to the endorsement of anybody for President in this coming election?

The position is that the entire Igbo nation has completely endorsed President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. It is him and not General Buhari the Igbo want to vote for at the election and there is no shaking about that. Anybody who goes against this position has gone against the Igbo nation.

How come this has become the position of the Igbo in the eyes of the criticisms about performance on the part of the President?

The criticisms that you see or hear against Jonathan are just no more than ordinary politicking. Building a nation is not complete in one day.

That is why you hear this saying that “Rome was not built in one day.” Building a nation, therefore, is an ongoing process. So, nobody should blame Jonathan for not having completed everything.

Similarly, Jonathan will come back to do his part, others will come after him and he is not going to be the last President of Nigeria. Jonathan’s team has embarked on a relay race, allow the team to end the race before you start talking about change.

You said the Igbo people have endorsed Jonathan.

Which of the Igbo?

Of course it is the Ohanaeze that endorsed him.

It is said that the Igbo have no one voice. Where did Ohanaeze sit to do this endorsement?

•Igwe Nwokedi

It is not true that the Igbo have no one voice, but Ohanaeze is the voice of Igbo people. They sat at a meeting in Anambra to do the endorsement; that is what happened.

Okay, but there is one group claiming to be Ohanaeze and which denied that it ever endorsed Jonathan. There was even a complaint by one of the Igbo groups that promises made by the President to the Igbo were not fulfilled, citing the Second Niger Bridge as an instance and asking what he did for the Igbo to warrant their endorsement?

There are many branches of Ohanaeze: the Anambra branch, the Imo branch, etc, but there is the main group, that is, the central body. It is the main group of Ohanaeze that endorsed the President.

On the promises he made, let me tell you this, government is continuous and so, all promises cannot be fulfilled at once.

Areas that cannot be fulfilled now will be fulfilled when he returns after election.

It is believed in some quarters that the President’s decision to engage your former boss and friend, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in harsh words the way he is doing will be costly for him. How do you react to that as a person between the two feuding leaders?

Look, I have read in the papers all the criticisms by my boss, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, against Jonathan.

There is a story I want to remind him (Obasanjo) about.

When President Ahmed Sékou Touré of Guinea visited General Obasanjo when he was Head of State and Commander-inChief of the Nigerian armed forces, at that time, I was Press Secretary to the Head of State, the Guinea leader accused him of not being dynamic with Nigerians and General Obasanjo replied him that when Sékou Touré emerged as the leader of Guinea, he came by revolution because it was hot iron at that time. But that he, General Obasanjo emerged Head of State when Nigeria was cold iron. And that if he struck the iron hard, he would either break it or break his own waist. He went on to say that what he did was do the cold iron gently until he

It is him and not General Buhari the Igbo want to vote for at the election and there is no shaking about that would be able to shape it the way he wanted it to look.

Similarly, Goodluck Jonathan took over Nigeria as a very cold iron. So, it became a long distance race for him. He started consciously and later picked up as he was going in the race. He will breast the tape in his next term.

How does that relate to the current situation where people are saying things would not be as bad as they are if the President is strong?

How? I mean, for instance, look at what Charles Soludo and another financial expert, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, are saying. Also, there was the now Emir of Kano, who was in the CBN, Central Bank of Nigeria, dishing out money as he liked. How do you expect Jonathan to pick up in that condition? Isn’t it sensible, therefore, to do gently at the beginning and pick up eventually?

Good enough that Reuben Abati and his colleagues are doing a very good job. They should assist the President more in order to avoid breaking his waist.

I just want to warn against a situation where President Jonathan would, because of the issues on ground, descend on Obasanjo’s children. No. Don’t do that. Leave Obasanjo’s children alone and face the issue of building the nation. Don’t fight personality war; face the business of government squarely.

You have just mentioned that Reuben Abati and the handlers of the President have done well. But many of the problems concerning the President have been blamed on his handlers like those you just commended. What do we not know which we need to know?

It is always the case all over the world that people in the corridors of power are blamed for misdirecting the President.

Has anybody given him any suggestion that he didn’t consider? Obasanjo said he needed his permission to visit Boko Haram. Did he require his permission to do that? If I want to save my country, I should just go and do that and become a hero. That was what Obasanjo should have done.

Goodluck Jonathan likes team work and it is now time to give him the needed support and he will breast the tape brilliantly.

Anybody who wants permission will work alone.....

I want to urge Nigerians to give Goodluck Ebele Jonathan a good team to help him breast the tape brilliantly. There is nobody who cannot be President, even you, with your experience, can be President.

So, we are not comparing anybody.

When you wake up one morning and hear people threatening war if their candidate does not win, what does it remind you of as an Igbo leader?

If you say if your candidate does not win the election

heaven will fall, it is your own heaven that will fall not the heaven of all of us. However, how can somebody even say that? If heaven falls, who will be saved? If there is war, who is going to be at peace? People desist from such comments because it is sheer irresponsibility to do so.

People should be gracious in victory and noble in defeat. If you lose, thank Almighty God that you have been able to do your own part for your people and that you are not going to rest and in peace too. Like me, today, before I became the Uthopo Na Eze, the king of Achalla, Anambra, I had offers to become minister. But I was more comfortable with being Igwe. That should be the case to all. What leaders of various groups should do is call for peace and encourage people to pray for Nigeria. That is why I respect former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon. He has been calling for peace and he, himself, leading in praying for Nigeria. That is how it should be not to call for war.

There is this comment credited to Asari-Dokubo and the rest leaders of the Niger Delta about this issue of threatening war if Jonathan does not win the election. I think he has denied that comment. Igbo and Ijaw are discussing now on how to vote, not how to fight a war. Has Asari-Dokubo got anything to fight war? The only thing people can do is guerilla war but you can only wage that kind of war where you are popular and that is not possible for anybody as far as the current situation is concerned.

Finally for now, how do you see Nigeria surviving this election period?

Only God knows tomorrow.

We as His creatures only have the duty to work while He shows us the light, the path and how to walk through the path. All we need to do is obey His laws. On the long run, I can only hope that it will all be well with Nigeria.

C M Y K

SUNDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 37

Continued from page 35 country. You all can bear witness to the gallant role of our military in Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Darfur and in many other peacekeeping operations in several parts of the world. But in the matter of this insurgency, our soldiers have neither received the necessary support nor the required incentives to tackle this problem. The government has also failed in any effort towards a multi-dimensional response to this problem leading to a situation in which we have now become dependent on our neighbours coming to our rescue.

Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently, that Nigeria will return to its stabilising role in West Africa, and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service, we will give them adequate and modern arms and ammunitions to work with, we will improve intelligence gathering to choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels, we will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan promoting infrastructural development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas.

We will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester, and I, General Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front and return Nigeria to its leadership role in regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.

On the economy, the fall in prices of oil has brought our economic and social stress into full relief. After the rebasing exercise in April 2014, Nigeria overtook South Africa as Africa’s largest economy. Our GDP is now valued at $510 billion and our economy rated 26th in the world. Also on the bright side, inflation has been kept at single digit for a while and our economy has grown at an average of 7% for about a decade. But it is more of paper growth, a growth that, on account of mismanagement, profligacy and corruption, has not translated to human development or shared prosperity. A development economist once said three questions should be asked about a country’s development: one, what is happening to poverty? Two, what is happening to unemployment? And three,

•Muhammadu Buhari

‘The answers to national questions’ what is happening to inequality?

The answers to these questions in Nigeria show that the current administration has created two economies in one country, a sorry tale of two nations: one economy for a few who have so much in their tiny island of prosperity; and the other economy for the many who have so little in their vast ocean of misery. Even by official figures, 33.1% of Nigerians live in extreme poverty. That’s at almost 60 million, almost the population of the United Kingdom. There is also the unemployment crisis simmering beneath the surface, ready to explode at the slightest stress, with officially 23.9% of our adult population and almost 60% of our youth unemployed.

We also have one of the highest rates of inequalities in the world. With all these, it is not surprising that our performance on most governance and development indicators (like Mo Ibrahim Index on African Governance and UNDP’s Human Development Index.) are unflattering. With fall in the prices of oil, which accounts for more than 70% of government revenues, and lack of savings from more than a decade of oil boom, the poor will be disproportionately impacted.

In the face of dwindling

Corruption will have no place and the corrupt will not be appointed into my administration

revenues, a good place to start the repositioning of Nigeria’s economy is to swiftly tackle two ills that have ballooned under the present administration: waste and corruption. And in doing this, I will, if elected, lead the way, with the force of personal example.

On corruption, there will be no confusion as to where I stand. Corruption will have no place and the

corrupt will not be appointed into my administration. First and foremost, we will plug the holes in the budgetary process. Revenue producing entities such as NNPC and Customs and Excise will have one set of books only.

Their revenues will be publicly disclosed and regularly audited. The institutions of state dedicated to fighting corruption will be given independence and prosecutorial authority without political interference. But I must emphasise that any war waged on corruption should not be misconstrued as settling old scores or a witch-hunt. I’m running for President to lead Nigeria to prosperity and not adversity.

In reforming the economy, we will use savings that arise from blocking these leakages and the proceeds recovered from corruption to fund our party’s social investments programmes in education, health, and safety nets such as free school meals for children, emergency public works for unemployed youth and pensions for the elderly. As a progressive party, we must reform our political economy to unleash the pent-up ingenuity and productivity of the Nigerian people thus freeing them from the indignities of poverty.

We will run a private

sector-led economy but maintain an active role for government through strong regulatory oversight and deliberate interventions and incentives to diversify the base of our economy, strengthen productive sectors, improve the productive capacities of our people and create jobs for our teeming youths. In short, we will run a functional economy driven by a worldview that sees growth not as an end by itself, but as a tool to create a society that works for all, rich and poor alike. On March 28, Nigeria has a decision to make. To vote for the continuity of failure or to elect progressive change. I believe the people will choose wisely.

In sum, I think that given its strategic importance, Nigeria can trigger a wave of democratic consolidation in Africa. But as a starting point we need to get this critical election right by ensuring that they go ahead and depriving those who want to scuttle it the benefit of derailing our fledgling democracy. That way, we will all see democracy and democratic consolidation as tools for solving pressing problems in a sustainable way, not as ends in themselves.

Permit me to close this discussion on a personal note. I have heard and read references to me as a former dictator in many respected British newspapers including the well regarded Economist. Let me say without sounding defensive that dictatorship goes with military rule, though some might be less dictatorial than others.

I take responsibility for whatever happened under my watch. I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and the future.

So before you is a former military ruler and a converted democrat who is ready to operate under democratic norms and is subjecting himself to the rigours of democratic elections for the fourth time.

You may ask: why is he doing this? This is a question I ask myself all the time too. And here is my humble answer: because the work of making Nigeria great is not yet done, because I still believe that change is possible, this time through the ballot, and most importantly, because I still have the capacity and the passion to dream and work for a Nigeria that will be respected again in the comity of nations and that all Nigerians will be proud of.

PAGE 38—SUNDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

It is evil for the APC to attack the Church

play by the rules of the game. The PDP is intact; there is no problem.

Those who left have joined other parties. But it was not deliberately done on our own part.

On Obasanjo, I believe he can be best described by his children, Iyabo and Gbenga. I will not make further comments. He is their father. If you can have that kind of father, you know what it is, the kind of trouble that the PDP has gone through. They described their father. I am not here to describe Obasanjo.

—Secondus, PDP Dep. National Chairman

•’We are ready for the polls’

BY HENRY UMORU

P

rince Uche Secondus, the Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in this interview, bares his mind on how prepared his party is to win the March 28 and April 11 general elections, why Nigerians should vote for President Goodluck Jonathan, the politics of Rivers State, among other issues.

When is the PDP commencing the next round of campaigns?

Leaders of various groups or ethnic nationalities have been meeting with the President. You are aware the President was in Lagos. The Yoruba Council of Elders met with the President, the Igbo are also meeting with the President. So it is another form of campaign. We have been campaigning.

We are going to emphasize on town hall meetings, meeting directly with the people, face-toface, to know what is going on and that has been going in virtually all the states of the federation.

You are aware that some of our governorship candidates have taken the campaign to the markets, to the mechanic workshops, talking to the people directly.

If you have to reflect on your campaign so far, are there things you would have wished they were done differently?

Not at all. The only regret is that when we visited some of the states in the North, some misguided youths threw stones at us.

We are inclined to believe that it was part of the APC propaganda to arrange the youths to attack Mr President in some of these northern states to create the impression that the President is not liked by Nigerians.

The fact of the matter is that a party has been on the ground for over 16years. If you do a comparative analysis, you will know that we have the structure across all the wards and the polling units across the country and this is their major headache, how to dislodge us. They believe that by engaging in the throwing of stones and misinformation and propaganda, blackmail, those things will turn the people against us. But those things are not working because we know their tricks.

Governor Amaechi of Rivers State, who is also the DG of the Buhari Campagn, specifically, accused the leadership of the

Church in Nigeria of receiving N6billion from the PDP and the Presidency. This is part of the misinformation to the public, it is evil.

I have said it before severally that when they come up with all these stories, the ultimate aim is to misinform Nigerians in order to destabilize the country. So we should watch out. This was the trend in 1965, 1966. APC is beating the drums for crisis and bloodshed.

Amaechi said they will form a parallel government if they don’t win. Oyegun (APC National Chairman) repeated the threat. This has to stop; the country has reached a level where people should know the truth about the lies being disseminated by the APC leadership.

But Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State said those who stoned Mr President in Bauchi were sponsored by the FCT Minister and that it was carried out by members of the PDP.

•Uche Secondus

directly. We have won elections in the past, so we know the style of winning elections. We were even ready for the polls on the 14th of February but for the fact that INEC was not ready.

Before the 14th of February, Jega (the INEC boss) called all the political parties to a meeting, I represented the PDP at the parley.

16 political parties said Jega was not ready, they accused him directly, not only on the issue of security.

At page 11 of his memo, he said if INEC had a little more time, they would perfect their arrangement. You can see that

APC is beating the drums for crisis and bloodshed How do you marry the claim with your allegation?

You know the governor and the FCT Minister have their own problem.

But what I saw that day because I was there is not the question of the PDP. Our people were at the stadium, we went to the palace to pay a courtesy call on the Emir. As we came out of the palace, the stones came in torrents. The stones could not have been from our people who were seated in the stadium. The blame game between the governor and minister shows the house is not united, but that is left for them to sort out. We believe those youths were sponsored by the APC. Before the postponement of the elections, you went round the country. How do you assess your campaigns and was PDP ready for the elections and are you still ready?

PDP is 100% ready for the elections. As you are aware, we contested general elections from 1999 to 2011. So we are more on ground than any other political party in the country and we are ready.

We have been going round the states. Ours is not to bring zones to one state and do media gymnastics; we were meeting with the people

between the time he met with us and now, some millions of PVCs have been distributed.

They are just recruiting election staff and training them now.

We were ready then, but we said it was better for those PVCs that had not been distributed to be distributed and Jega himself asked for a little more time.

What is the position of the PDP on the issue of card reader and the deployment of military during elections?

The issue of security should be handled by experts, we are politicians. I believe that it is not the first time the country has deployed the military for elections.

If you see what happened during Ekiti election, soldiers were stationed at strategic locations in case there was uprising, thuggery or whatsoever and that is how it is supposed to be.

What I suspect is that some people are afraid of enhanced security so that they can deploy their own private armies during elections; they want to throw this country into crisis and destabilize the nation.

Don’t forget the Americans have predicted that there will no country called Nigeria in 2015, but God forbid. The PDP supports the

government to make sure that lives and property are safe guarded during the polls.

You remember what happened in the first republic. The then government was caught unprepared. But we are advanced now. In Ekiti, they accused us, the APC said soldiers were used. But reports from the monitors showed clearly that the elections were free and transparent. The soldiers deployed were not stationed at the polling booths, but strategically positioned for any unforeseen situation, you never can tell.

Maybe the recent video footage on the alleged compromise between the PDP’s candidate Ayo Fayose and military commanders in Ekiti informed the fears of the opposition.

Fani Kayode has said it was concocted by the APC. And we also showed what happened in Osun where some APC members were caught thumb printing. That didn’t happen in Ekiti. So you can see the difference. Who is fooling Nigerians?

Many people believe that if the PDP had put its house in order by not allowing its governors to defect, its leadership was not arrogant, it managed former President Obasanjo and President Jonathan very well, there would not have been this magnitude of challenge to the PDP ahead of the polls.

What happened, why was the leadership of the party unable to manage the relationship between Obasanjo, Jonathan and the party?

Obviously, human enterprise is the most difficult things to manage. When a child has grown to the age to marry and he feels he is independent, he goes out to marry, he separates himself from the family.

Most of the governors felt they could do it on their own. There is no way you can control them.

There were lots of peace talks; there were lots of meetings and all that and so on. And so it happens that if any man feels that he can do it on his own and that is what we find today, then it is healthy for politics in Nigeria. Let everybody

The APC always accuses the PDP of trying to use the military to suppress the opposition and that the PDP is afraid of the growing popularity of the APC. Mr President is the Commander in Chief; he is different from the previous leaders. Jonathan is such a quiet man that would not hurt a fly. Like I said earlier, these allegations are cooked up by the APC; there is no truth in it.

The President has never given order to the military to harass the APC or other political parties. In fact, you can see the case when they conducted election in Osun, they won. Some other President would have used the army to snatch that victory from them. The same thing in Edo, the opposition won. But the APC is such a propaganda freak that on every issue there must be propaganda in order to malign and blackmail the PDP. They cook up stories in order to cause confusion in the country.

What is your take on the crisis in your state, Rivers?

The cause of the crisis in Rivers is Amaechi. He shut down the courts; he shut the assembly; he is now the sole administrator and maximum leader and the people are resisting.

Salaries are not paid as and when due, money is being taken away from the state to sponsor Buhari.

Our jet is deployed for the campaign of Buhari, the people are not happy? So he is sustaining himself on the pages of news papers. All his projects have failed, he has collected so much money on mono-rail, and the project has failed. No people oriented project in Rivers that is going on the last 35years.

He is now planning to release people who are awaiting trial, criminals arrested for cultism, to use them for elections. Is that a governor who wants peace? Now, PDP members are defending themselves. The Okrika issue is APC vs. APC, but Amaechi in orchestrating it as if it is a PDP affair and even bringing the name of the wife of the President into it.

Amaechi has insulted the intelligence of the Rivers people.

He is now permanently based in Lagos. In fact, the government of Rivers has collapsed because Amaechi is no longer governing.

What is important to him is how, as the DG of the Buhari Campaign, the APC will win. He has left governance because the assembly doors are closed, the judiciary, which is the third arm of government, is shut.

Have you seen where a governor will present the budget and one hour after that budget is approved by the House? Is that not a shame to democracy and the man will come to the television and say he is democratic.

What are you doing to stop this as a national leader of the party?

All we are doing is that we are praying and asking the security services to take charge.

SUNDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 39

BY OLA AJAYI, IBADAN

G

overnor Abiola Ajimobi has steered the ship of Oyo State since 2011.

There have been claims and counter-claims on the performance of his administration. In this interview, he speaks on his achievements. But will the achievements enable him to win the March 28 election and be the first governor to govern the state twice in succession?

What has happened to the technical university that your government promised to establish? People are waiting for its take-off. What is happening now?

When we came in, we started with the establishment of the university when we set up a committee that consisted past vice-chancellors, renowned scholars and we even travelled together to Texas and we reached an agreement.

Everything went well, we acquired land at Ajoda New Town in Egbede Local Government Area. But a couple of months to the takeoff of the university, the authorities called me and said they were worried about the security situation in Nigeria with Chibok girls still in captivity and other kidnappings going on elsewhere. They said they would prefer to suspend the resumption date and other activities until the situation improves in Nigeria. We have two options. Option one is to wait until the security situation in the country improves so that the school can resume. The other option is to find new partners. So, the university project is still going on but it is subject to the willingness of our partners coming back.

On roads, we make sure that all inlets into the six zones; Oyo, Ogbomoso, Ibarapa, OkeOgun 1 and 2, Ibadan and Ogbomoso, are dualised the dualisation was not there where we came. We started them and we will ensure that all of them are completed. In fact, if not for the cash crunch, we would have completed Ibadan roads dualisation most of which are over 95 per cent completed. We are doing Onireke axis, Eleyele and Aleshinloye. All those ones have been completed. We just need to commission them. We will finish that one that goes to Orita Challenge before our first term ends.

The one in Oyo is 90 percent completed. We have asphalted it; it is only a small stretch that has not been asphalted. That of Ogbomoso would have been finished by now but the Federal Government did not do Tanke Road. The moment we completed that one, they started diverting trailers to the road and they spoilt it. We did not make the road for trailers. It was a town-traffic road. We have appealed to the people that they we are going to reconstruct the road to accommodate trailers; the engineering work has been completed. We are sure we will complete it before the end of our first tenure. Saki-Ibariba

•Governor Ajumobi

APC will floor PDP, Ladoja, Akala — Gov. Ajimobi

•Speaks on the guber jinx in Oy o Oyo

Road, we cannot finish that one now.

Circular Road will cost us N55billion but we don’t have money for it now.

Looking at the governorship candidates in the forthcoming elections in the state, you have two former governors, you as well as others. Do you think you can break the jinx of being the first governor to govern this state twice?

There is always a first time to everything. There had never been Governor Ajimobi in Oyo State and the first one we have now will be the first to govern the state twice. It will become history that the first Ajimobi did two terms. Two, you said candidates or contestants. The beauty there is that two of the co-contestants had been governors before and we ran election together and I defeated them. What is the big deal? We are contesting this election again and I am going to defeat them. Another beauty is the record of all of us. If you look at the bedrock of governance, which is safety and security, which other governor has done that?

During their tenures, we witnessed brigandage, violence and other vices and Oyo State was seen as a pariah state.

The state nobody outside there wanted to go to. Today, if you compare my tenure with

There had never been Governor Ajimobi in Oyo State and the first one we have now will be the first to govern the state twice Adebayo Alao-Akala’s and Rashidi Ladoja’s times, who has been able to bring peace to this state? If that is the only thing we achieved, it is enough because the foundation of growth and development anywhere in the world is peace and tranquility. Do you want to go back to those dark days when fear, insecurity and uncertainty enveloped the state? Do you not like the way you are sleeping well? Those who want to come back, ask them what they achieved when they were there. We have given more welfare. People talk of stomach infrastructure, we have done stomach infrastructure more than any other government. During the time of Ladoja and Akala, they drove people away from Elekuro and Aperin , Iwo Road. Did they give them any shop? We are the first government to remove people from the roadsides and under tension wire and built

shops for them free of charge.

Let any government challenge me if it had done that. Not only that, we provided money for them to trade at no interest and it is money that is unlikely to be recovered. We spent up to N500m on that. Every other month, we spend close to N2b giving widows and other people food free. We are changing Oyo State.

In terms of development, there was a publication by the Federal Bureau of Statistics. We did not publish it. It was a Federal Government Agency that published it that investment flow into Nigeria grew by almost 200 percent and that investment flow into Oyo State grew by almost 697 per cent with eight big new companies. We have a soya beans manufacturing company.

It is the largest in West Africa.

We have a company that produces more than 100, 000 chicks everyday. It is the largest

in Africa.

We have the largest bread producer here now and largest edible oil factory, largest ICT service provider in Africa, Shoprite. These have the multiplier effect of creating jobs. We have provided 20,000 jobs for youths, we just employed 5,300 teachers. As we do this, we are keeping families together because we did not sit down here and post them from Ibadan. We went to their localities. We are rehabilitating schools. When you quantify what each of us did, I think we have done relatively better.

Look pensioners. It is this government that paid 142 per cent increase to them. No government has done that. The pension problem we are having now is because past governments did not do anything. They paid lip service to everything. Even the immediate past government stole about N6billion from pension fund. But, we came and I paid N2.4billion to pensioners as 142 per cent increase. Ask teachers also.

Our teachers are among the highest paid in the South-west.

We pay teachers’ salaries before other workers. Our government is the only one that has paid the 13th month salaries consecutively for three years. No government has done that and we have increased salaries and wages from N2.9 to N5bn. We have done better this is not propaganda; figure for figure.

In this election, people will vote for us.

On the N500 billion allegedly returned by the administration of former Governor or Ladoja I don’t believe in much talking. He has threatened to take us to court. Let him do that; the facts are there. We are not illiterates. The fact is that Ladoja and his group returned N500m. Let him now deny the incident that he did not turn in the money directly. He did it indirectly. So, let him go to court. We are no fools.

Nobody can fool us. For him to say I should apologise to him, never! He should apologise to me and the people of Oyo State for deceiving them. He should not even give me seven days ultimatum to retract my claim on the returned money, let him give me one hour.

PAGE 40—SUNDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

Battle for Abia South T

HE battle for Abia South senatorial seat is principally between the incumbent Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a philanthropist and business mogul, Chief Chris Nkwonta of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Abaribe initially wanted to contest for the governorship slot but buckled at the eleventh hour purportedly under the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan to seek reelection for the third time into the Senate.

Abaribe is from Obingwa Local Government in Abia South, the same council where the PDP standard bearer for the governorship of Abia State. Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, hails from, whereas Nkwonta is from Ukwa East Local Government Area of the same senatorial zone.

The decision of the PDP to hand back her senatorial ticket for Abia South to Abaribe till date has not gone down well with many members of the party and the people of the zone for various reasons.

Firstly, the senatorial seat had rotated between Ukwa and Ngwa after every eight years of two tenures since 1999.

Between 1999 and 2007, former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, from Ohambele, in Ukwa-east, occupied the position. In 2007, Abaribe, from Ngwaland, succeeded him. It was a mutual understanding between the two ethic nationalities of Ukwa and

•Sen

Enyinnaya Abaribe

Ngwa to allow the position to rotate between them in the interest of equity, fairness, justice.

Moreover, with the decision of the PDP to zone her gubernatorial ticket to the Abia South which comprises of Ukwa and Ngwa, it was expected for equity sake that the two positions of governor and senator should rotate between the Ukwa and Ngwa people.

But against this expectation the PDP in its wisdom, decided to cede both positions to Obingwa Local Government Area of the state.

Abia South is made up of six local governments of Obingwa, Ugwunagbo, Aba North, Aba South, all Ngwaland, and Ukwa East and Ukwa West.

The zone had cried of marginalisation that since the creation of the state 22 years ago, they have not occupied the position of governor and the PDP, under Governor T.A. Orji,

•Chris Nkwonta decided to appease them by zoning the slot to them.

Now Ukwa people are crying that same equity which made the PDP to shift the governorship slot in favour of the zone should be implemented by sharing both positions between the duo.

They are wondering why two positions meant for two brothers should be taken by one.

In 2011, Nkwonta contested the senatorial position under the PDP but was told to allow Abaribe complete his tenure.

Despite the fact that he was the popular and preferred candidate and was coasting to victory, he was pressurized at the eleventh hour to step down for Abaribe.

He accepted the decision of the party and resisted all pressures to dump the party.

Instead, he collapsed his political structure to support the PDP. Many members of the PDP see him as one of the most

loyal members of the party.

In 2014, he was said to have indicated interest in the governorship race after the position was zoned to Abia South.

But he was said to have been told by the leadership of PDP in the state to jettission that ambition and run for the Senate. This was after he had traversed the Abia North and Abia Central zones consulting and selling himself to the people . It was gathered that he was enjoying overwhelming support of the people before he was told to terminate the ambition for an Ngwa man to take the first shot at governorship.

It was reliably gathered that the PDP had pencilled him down for the senatorial seat until a day to the primary of the party when the President was said to have directed that Abaribe be returned.

He felt disappointed and had to dump PDP for APGA and there is no doubt that his defection coupled with the overwhelming influence of the change’ message of the governorship candidate of the APGA in the state, Dr Alex OTTI, is giving the PDP sleepless nights.

Moreover , many PDP members and people of Abia South sharethe opinion that Abaribe has failed to give the zone effective representation as there as nothing could be pointed at for his eight years in the Senate.

APGA is the most virile opposition in the state and has become a change song in

the lips of majority of Abians and they are parading candidates jostling to wrest power from the PDP. Analysts believe Abaribe is attempting to scuttle the mutual understanding between Ukwa and Ngwa people.

If the crowd that received Nkwonta at Ward Five, home of Abaribe and other wards of Obingwa council and comments from politicians from the area are to be relied upon, Abaribe may be disappointment with his third term ambition of going to the Senate.

Comrade Henry Nwaigwe,an activist and coordinator ,Abia Rescue Movement (ARM), in a statement recently, said that the PDP has in the past 16 years of its administration the state failed and that the entire state is desirous for change.

He said: “Go to all the streets, villages and communities of Abia South and the entire state and seven out of every registered voter would tell you, it is APGA and the people are determined to effect a change of leadership in the entire state”.

Okonta’s philanthropy across Abia speaks volumes and people say, if given opportunity to go to the Senate, he would not disappoint.

Over 140 students in tertiary institutions are studying under his scholarship through Chris Nkwonta Foundation.

Re: Ernest Ndukwe versus Andy Uba

BY NKEM ANEDO

I

n his article with the abovementioned title published in Sunday Vanguard of February 15, 2015, Mr. Uchem Obi, Senior Media Assistant to Senator Andy Uba, tried so much to create in the minds of his readers a present day semblance of Joseph Goebbel, the Nazi propaganda minister under Adolf Hitler in Germany in the Second World War. Obi’s ‘Goebbelian’ script, loaded with hyperboles and assumptions fashioned in a manner to please his master, is to say the least, a political piece intended to mislead the electorate in two ways. The first is to lead them into accepting that Andy has taken the shine off his brother Chris Ubah who is battling to have his way to the Senate chambers. The second is to lead the people of Anambra South zone into believing that the number of years one has spent on the corridors of power is all that it takes to win an election, whereas the product of such years in power has evidently been abysmal as the people of the zone could easily testify in the case of Andy Uba as a senator. While no one takes it away from Andy Uba that he

has the fortune of being in the corridors of power either as Special Assistant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Anambra governor (though with short-lived tenure) or senator, his records show that his participation in governance has not made positive impact on the people he represents contrary to what Uchem Obi wants us to believe.

Otherwise Andy’s younger brother Chris Uba, now fighting to unseat him through the judiciary and by other means following their controversial senatorial primaries under the same party platform – PDP did not mince words when he told journalists while declaring his senatorial ambition that his intention was predicated on the need to offer effective representation to the people of Anambra South as earlier representatives including his brother Andy did not perform satisfactorily.

While it is doubtful that Andy Uba may be more popular in his home town of Ugah than Ndukwe, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) senatorial candidate is very popular in all the local government areas within the zone. A recent survey has shown that in the various local government areas, three out of every four persons like

•Ernest Ndukwe

Ndukwe because of his credibility, trustworthiness and fulfillment of promises. The former Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) boss is largely perceived by those who know him as having a good reputation, transformational spirit, benevolence, intelligence, professionalized and an accomplished manager of men and resources as ably displayed while in charge of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

Uchem Obi’s description of Ndukwe as a lightweight politician who has never fought in the political arena and not capable of challenging a ‘champion’ like Andy Uba is a mere grandstanding that attempts to give credence to the belief in

some quarters that only the Uba brothers have the presidential connection to win elections or decide who wins in Anambra South and even the state in general. Andy Uba may have won many elections in the past by ‘Technical Knock Out’ (TKO) as Obi would want us believe, but the product of his election victory is what matters so much to the electorate and not necessarily how he won it once he has been officially declared as the winner.

Nobody is interested on how many punches he threw to win the elections, but what have become the dividends of such victories matters more. Regrettably, there is nothing to show for his presence in the Senate.

The reasons why men seek to lead their fellow men are multiple.

Those driven by the sheer desire to exercise control over others often end up as sociopaths. They are thrilled by the very idea of power and tend to wield it with reckless abandon. Some others recognize the potential advantage of using position of authority to improve the lot of their fellow human beings. Ernest Ndukwe easily fits into this class. He is a well accomplished technocrat and consummate public servant who by being a catalyst for the revolutionary transformation of the telecoms industry has forever redefined what it means to head a

government establishment as the NCC – a watchdog in the telecoms industry.

His tenacity of purpose and commitment to national assignment remains legendary.

If NCC, under his management, could transform into the national institution it is today, one begins to wonder what Obi means by insisting that Ndukwe should have played in the lightweight category than opting for the Senate. By December 2000, Nigeria had only 400,000 telephone lines, with many numbers either dead or disconnected. But by the time Ndukwe finished his second tenure in 2009, Nigeria had about 80million registered lines,thus emerging as one of the world’s fastest growing markets.

A professional telecommunications engineer, corporate executive, entrepreneur and business management trainer with over 39 years of international experience in business management and in the telecommunications industry majority of which have been at the CEO-level positions in private multinational companies and in government telecom policy and regulation.

* Anedo, member, Voters Right Initiative, lives in Abuja.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 41

AS NAIRA HITS 220 MARK TO THE DOLLAR

Nigeria’s economy in recession technically — Prof. Ajakaiye

BY UDEME CLEMENT

As the Naira continues to fall, the Federal Government has concluded plans to introduce new policy measures to check activities in the foreign exchange market, even as the Senate approved $52 benchmark for the N4.3trillion 2015 budget. Also, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that the oil sector contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dropped from 10.45 percent to 8.97 percent in the last quarter of 2014, while Steel Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) is threatening to stop operations due to high cost of electricity, arising from the new Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO), which became effective from January 2015. Mr. Olu Ajakaiye, a professor of economics, one-time Director General, Nigeria Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER), and former Director of Research, African Economic Research Consortium in Nairobi, advises government on how to manage the market for the economy to pull out of crisis. s the Naira contin ues to depreciate, the Minister of Finance, Dr (MRS) Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, has said that government is going to introduce new policy measures to check activities in the foreign exchange market, in order to shore up the local currency. Do you think this would remedy the situation?

Well, government is trying to curtail round-tripping in the foreign exchange market. This is what the apex bank is also trying to do, by asking deposit banks questions like, what do you want to do with foreign exchange? You have to tell us what you have done with foreign exchange so far? The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is gradually moving in the direction of trying to see the desired relationship between the demand for foreign exchange and the production level in the economy.

Also, the movement in the foreign exchange rate in an economy like ours is influenced by many factors. The critical factor is availability of foreign exchange to actually defend the value of the naira.

This means the ability to meet the demand of people because people build up expectations, and when they see the foreign reserves moving down south, based on the expectations they are building, people automatically front-load their demands. Such that, what they think they need in the next six months, they start making de-

A

mands right now, due to uncertainty in the economy.

Another thing is that when you have an economy like ours where production is very low, we depend on import for many items including irrelevant things, the tendency is there for the demand for foreign exchange to go beyond what would support the economy.

What I see happening going forward is, unless the confidence is re-built, reliance on free flow of the market forces to drive the system would inevitably result in further depreciation of the naira for the reasons I gave earlier. But if we can manage the market well, not that we disrupt the market, but manage it efficiently, positive changes can happen.

How do we manage the market now with so much uncertainty and speculation in the system?

Market is like an instrument and if you don’t manage it well, it becomes a problem. We can manage the market by ensuring that frivolities are removed, which is exactly what the CBN is trying to do.

The more we use our foreign exchange to bring it producer goods into the country, the better for us, but the more we use our foreign exchange to import toothpick, jewelleries and certain items that should be produced locally, the lower the level of productivity in the economy.

Can you give us more insight into what you mean by producer goods?

These are capital goods like machinery and equipment required by factories for the production of other goods to increase productivity in the manufacturing sector. We do not have a very mature industrial structure that has the capacity to produce more intermediate goods. As such, we have to import some of these intermediate goods. The undesirable situation is for people to be bringing in finished goods because we do not have the supply capacity within the country.

Unfortunately, we have allowed our industrial structure to shrink, infact to collapse, because in the 70s and even up to early 80s, the economy was moving very well in the direction of even producing some capital goods. For example, we had assembling plants where vehicles were assembled in Nigeria, air-conditioners, even refrigerators and other items were assembled in our country.

All those assembling plants if they were still functional, the next stage would have been to de-link them from import and began to produce some of the components here, eventually began to produce some machinery and other equipment for our factories. That is why at that time, the plan was to develop the steel and plastic industries to feed the intermedi-

•Prof. Ajakaiye

Any economy where the profit margin in the banking sector is far larger than manufacturing sends a wrong signal that the economy is on the way to crisis, which is where we are now ate and capital goods requirement of the economy, having had the assembling plants in place.

In that case, why didn’t we achieve that target to boost our local manufacturing capacity?

Unfortunately, we did not do it well. We could not get into the stage of producing those intermediate and capital goods in the country when the crisis of the 1980s came. The same kind of cri-

sis we are experiencing now, whereby everything started collapsing, all those industries went under and we were back to square one.

At present, output in the manufacturing sector is declining, even as some manufacturers are already threatening to stop operations due to high cost of electricity tariff amid erratic power supply. With what is happening now, do

you think our economy is going into a recession?

I would not say, we are going into a recession, may be we are already there technically speaking. This is because when you have an economy with serious level of unemployment, unacceptable level of inequality, that economy is not operating at a level you can say it is not in recession. So, technically speaking, where people do the calculation and say if you have GDP declining in two quarters, then you are entering into recession like the advanced countries do. But to me, I think our economy has been in an undesirable state for a long time. So, the questions we should ask are, how do we get out of this situation? How do we rekindle the system to boost productivity?

As a professor of economics, what do you think is the way forward?

The way forward is to manage the market effectively and leave the speculators and people playing casino, who have more or less hijacked the entire economy. We have a way of controlling these things by putting in place not suffocating, but appropriate regulatory frame-work that would direct the market to go the way the society wants.

Are you saying that our financial market is moving in the wrong direction now?

It is clear that the way our financial market is going now is not the way they society wants.

The economy is going down and the financial market is not moving in the direction that the society wants. For instance, look at what is happening in the banking industry. The bankers are saying the cost of operations is very high, that they are spending so much money on buying generators and diesel, yet every year, the declare huge profits. The manufacturers who also buy diesel and generators like banks declare losses, and the banking industry ought to be servicing the real sector. If the banking industry is doing well and the real sector is collapsing, then the banks must do things differently to help manufacturing industries to thrive. Any economy where the profit margin in the banking sector is far larger than manufacturing sends a wrong signal that the economy is on the way to crisis, which is where we are now. If the high profit in the banking sector is the result of the intermediation in the system, the economy would be far better.

Otti’s business agenda for Abia

BY AKOMA CHINWEOKE

cade along the Port Harcourt Road, which is in a terrible state of disrepair, en route to the Old Cemetery Road Market.

While some walked the more than seven-kilometer distance on foot, others climbed the roofs of some of the campaign vehicles, displaying his posters and chanting songs in support of his candidacy.

The motorcade had hectic time in the attempt to meander through the dilapidated roads from the Flyover end of Port Harcourt Road to the end of the Old Cemetery Road.

Addressing the traders and arti-

A

BA, the commercial hub of Abia went agog as traders and artisans closed shop to receive the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Otti.

Otti, who was on a campaign tour of the city, visited Asanentu Old Spare Parts Market on the EnuguPort Harcourt Expressway and the Old Cemetery Road Market.

At the Asanentu market, the crowd of supporters and admirers spilled to the roads within the vicinity, causing traffic gridlock.

Scores of the supporters, mainly youths, followed his long motor-

Dr. Alex Otti

Continues on page 42

PAGE 42—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 1, 2015

Financial market turbulence: CBN partners regional body on monetary policy mgt

BY UDEME CLEMENT

I

N a bid to build a strong capacity on monetary policy and financial management in the economy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is partnering with the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) for capacity building in the financial sector.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the course on, ‘Economic analysis, monetary policy and financial management for the staff of CBN’, the Head, CBN’s Learning Centre in Lagos, Dr. Job Olorunshola, said that the programme was necessary to further equip the participants on the importance of monetary policy and financial management, especially now that the nation’s economy needs effective coordination of these policies to enhance tangible development.

Speaking, the Director General of WAIFEM, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, explained that the main objec-

DG, WAIFEM, Prof. Akpan Ekpo (right), and the Head, CBN Learning Centre, Mr. Job Olorunshola, at the opening ceremony of the course on, ‘Economic analysis, monetary policy and financial management organised by WAIFEM for the CBN staff, in Lagos.

tives of the course were to upgrade the skills of participants in the formulation of monetary policies and conduct of effective monetary operations, as well as financial stability. “The course covers recent developments in money market operations, in-

cluding the response of Central Banks to the recent financial market turbulence. It also examines how monetary operations interact with a central bank’s financial stability and regulatory mandates”, he said.

According to him, “Economic

analysis helps to understand the functions of the economy and the forces that impel the choices people make under the constraints they face. Much of economic theory is based on the predictability of behaviour. Though it is possible to observe actions and their consequences, observation and descriptions alone are not sufficient to understand them and predict outcomes. Economic theories explain important variables as the output, prices, consumption of goods and services, the level of employment, saving and investment, but appropriate capacity building needs to be carried out for the various synergies among these variables and sectors of the economy to be highlighted, perhaps monitored on a sustainable level.”

He added, “The recent global economic challenges have made it necessary for organisations involved in economic management to build and strengthen their indigenous capacity for policy making and analysis. This stems from the realisation that effective

policy design by economic planners require that they should be adequately equipped with the requisite tools and techniques of economic analysis to enable them handle prevailing economic situations.

“Given the recent reforms in the CBN geared toward ensuring a sound and stable financial system, it is only rational that these reforms be complemented with appropriate capacity building programmes required to synergise the bank’s institutional reform agenda. The analytical techniques involved in the work of the apex bank require constant updating on the movements within the economy at national, sub-regional and international levels. The techniques often adopted in economic analysis are the building blocks for macroeconomic management. Therefore, the course is designed to sharpen the analytical skills and competences of participants in the making of economic policies and management”.

Sustaining value in the Pay-TV industry

BY EBITIMI WARITOBO

I

F, like me, you want top class television content at a cost that has charity written all over it, this piece is for you.

I grew up watching television content for which we did not have to pay. And even up till today, millions access plenty of TV content such as sports, sitcoms, news, movies, music and kids’ entertainment without paying for anything other than electricity consumption and, of course, the oneoff purchase of their television sets.

There are millions of others that find the programming on non-conditional access television sterile, making them pay some money to pay-TV companies with considerably better programming and audio-visual quality.

Frankly, many of those in the paying category, certainly, would wish they did not have to pay for the vastly superior service they enjoy. Even within this category, there are many that wish to pay for the superior service, but not the same amount the television companies are charging. They would rather pay, preferably for a lifetime, a tiny fraction of what they currently pay. I do not mind paying, but prefer to pay the same subscription rate forever.

But it does not require plenty of acumen to know that this is not possible. After all, I am not earning the same wage I earned three years ago.

So, can I, with any justification, assume that whatever I pay to access premium television content should remain the same despite economic signs that such is not possible?

And if I do, will I be on solid grounds? Answer: NO. The reason is simple. The economics of pay-television, driven largely by live sports broadcast and airing

of movies, makes such an assumption untenable.

Sports, without doubt, is responsible for a huge percentage of television’s programming costs and accounts for more than half the revenue of many professional sports. I am certain that without television, professional sport would be nothing like we currently know it. And without sport, the influence of cable TV on her lives would have been considerably weaker than what it is.

Television content, especially of the world class variety, has always been pricey. It is exactly why we are required to pay certain amounts in subscription fees to have access to such.

The subscription we pay is for the programming ( those channels we watch, that is) and the distribution (the infrastructure and profits for the cable companies).

It means that every time we pay subscription, the channels collect a fraction of the fee. That fraction is called an “affiliate fee.”

The affiliate fee is the way cable providers compensate producers of the content that thrills us. Affiliate fees are what drive content development. They represent a “share” of the subscription fee we pay to our cable or satellite operator that is then shared with the content owner or distributor, often on a per subscriber basis.

The most watched channels attract the highest fees. And those tend to be entertainment channels like those of sports and movies.

In the current economic climate, marked the naira’s free fall, I have continued to wonder how pay-TV companies, charging the same as they have always charged will remain in business.

The more I think about it, the more I am convinced the devaluation of the naira is what will

unhinge them unless, of course, they have acquired an expertise akin to one required to turn water into wine.

The broadcast rights for much of the content they bring to us is paid for in dollars. And in many situations, contracts for many of such are due for renewal. The implication is that pay-TV companies are condemned to pay a lot more than they paid the last time to have the rights to bring the content to us. The bidding process for such rights, anywhere in the world, does not allow for low-balling. The most in-demand content attracts fiercely competitive bids, a state of affairs that puts Nigerian pay-TV providers at a huge disadvantage on account of the naira’s limpness.

The latest television deal for the broadcast of England’s Barclays Premier League matches, signed earlier this month, showed a 70% jump in cost. This was provoked

by the frenzied bids by Sky and BT. The deal, which runs from 2016 to 2019, will cost Sky, which got the lion’s share of the matches, £4.176billion.

The outlay sparked panic among Sky subscribers, who wondered if they would not have to pay more than they currently do. Keen to quell the panic, Sky issued a statement saying subscribers will not foot the bill. But in the same statement, the company said it would minimise the impact of the outlay on the subscribers. In plain language, Sky was saying that subscribers have to pay more because it has had to pay more.

But it is not only foreign content that is affected by the sliding naira. Currency devaluation drives up the costs of goods and services, even if they are not coming from abroad. What this means is that pay-TV companies with interest in original local

content production will have to spend more to have the type of content that keeps subscribers glued.

This is in addition to acquiring content for which they have to pay. The movie offerings on MultiChoice’s eight-channel AfricaMagic range has cost implications in form of payments to movie producers. If pay-TV companies lose the capacity to pay adequately, content producers will see their investments faced with the threat of going belly up.

Pay-TV is business, it must be stated, is not social service.

It does not depend on government subventions. It creates value and for it to continue to create value, it must have a value-an appropriate value to which the subscriber’s contribution is required.

Waritobo, a public affairs analyst, lives in Amasoma

Otti’s business agenda for Abia Continued from page 41 sans at the two venues, Otti told them to weep no more, saying that he had come to wipe out their tears and restore the lost glory of the commercial city.

Unveiling his blueprint for the overall development of the state, he assured them that Aba would be accorded priority attention with the creation of a ministry to be in charge of Aba affairs.

He told the people that he would not only fix the almost 135km roads in the city and its environs but would build three flyovers to be located at Ngwa High School, Port Harcourt Road and Ogbor Hill to ease transportation.

Otti also said that he would

tackle the problem of flood in the city by building a functional drainage system that would empty into the Waterside area of Ogbor Hill.

He also said that he had a comprehensive package on waste management, which would help to convert waste to wealth and also create job opportunities.

He promised to abolish multiple taxes and the use of task forces to harass residents and visiting traders and businessmen in the city.

He further assured the people that erratic power supply in Aba would soon become a thing of the past.

Otti said that the Geometric Power Plant at Osisioma, which

he attracted to the area, while in office as the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank Plc, had been completed and would soon be inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said that he had a robust programme on job creation as well as women and youth empowerment that would help to check youths’ involvement in crime and criminality.

A cross-section of the traders, who expressed joy over Otti’s candidacy, described him as a ‘’transparent and accomplished man.”

The people promised to vote massively for him, saying that ‘’this is the quality of person we need to govern Abia now.”

SUNDAY

Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 43

Our fear for March 12 rescheduled NLC election —Akporeha, Delta State NLC Chairman

...Gives reasons for inconclusive poll

BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

C

omrade Williams Akporeha is Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Delta State Council, National Treasurer of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, as well as the NUPENG Mandate Coordinator for Comrade Igwe Achese, for NLC President 2015. He spoke with Sunday Vanguard on the botched delegates conference, why Achese stepped down and the prospects for a successful election on March 12, 2015. Excerpts: To start with, what were the chances of Comrade Igwe Achese before he stepped down?

Comrade Achese rose from the ranks as a young refinery worker at the Port Harcourt Refinery who got involved early in the struggle for improved welfare for workers. He attained union leadership role and became an activist who not only participated in the struggle to actualize June 12 but also led workers to shut down the Port Harcourt Refinery during that impasse for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria. He became a major actor and catalyst in trade union activism and was elected Port Harcourt Zonal Chairman of NUPENG covering 11 states of the federation. His leadership style, courage and achievements at this level built workers confidence in him and had no challenges in rising to the position of Deputy National President of NUPENG and later National President. Comrade Igwe Achese has been on the driver’s seat as President of NUPENG, one of the most vibrant and radical workers union for six years now leading the fight for rights by workers in the oil and gas industry including picketing stings to stop anti labour practices in the sector and I dare say without any fear of contradiction that his leadership principles has further moved the activities of NUPENG and workers welfare to a more enviable level.

Therefore, it is my conviction that apart from his exemplary leadership style, the battles he has won in the course of struggle as a foremost defender of the rights and welfare of workers

had placed him shoulder high above the other contenders for the position of NLC President.

With such huge advantage and envious credentials, why did he step down?

Okay, for those of us who had worked closely with Comrade Achese for some time now, we have come to know him as a very firm but humble personality. He is a progressive, a team player with experience, an astute achiever but never a desperado. I was therefore not surprised at his decision to step down from the Presidential race and opted to vie for one of the three Deputy President seats. By taking this decision, Comrade Achese has once again demonstrated his unwavering principle of putting service to humanity first at all times. It is not about position but about the service for workers wellbeing.

Everybody has antecedents and I can truly tell you that Comrade Igwe Achese was vying purely for patriotic reasons. But when the activities leading to the elections became murky, he took the decision to step down honourably for the interest of integrity, unity and stability of Congress. It also very important for me to state here that Comrade Achese was a candidate of the NLC Unity Forum headed by Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, President, Comrade Mike Alugba.

Regrettably, the agreement to cede the presidency to the private sector candidate was jettisoned by some public sector union leaders even while agreements and decisions had been reached. Nonetheless, Comrade Achese humbled himself at a critical moment to ensure a united NLC and opted to contest for one the three Deputy President seats so that he can continue to be part of a unifying and progressive contributor to Congress and asked his supporters to vote Comrade Joe Ajaero for presidency.

What actually led to the aborted NLC elections as an active participant?

First of all, I must say that what happened at the venue of the NLC election was

•Comrade Williams Akporeha unfortunate. However, there are lessons to be learnt and, to that extent, I can also say it was good for the democratic process within Congress. So, without dwelling on this unfortunate incident, the event clearly shows that the Nigerian worker is now more politically aware and informed and can hardly be hoodwinked or short changed in a democratic electoral process and procedures. I can bet that if this incident had happened some 15 years ago, the perpetrators would have had their way undetected. I am happy that the present average Nigerian worker is very alert, committed and familiar with electoral processes.

The second thing is that the incident is a clear signal to those, whether presently or in future with clandestine intentions, that the Nigeria Labour Congress is bigger than any individual no matter how highly placed in the hierarchy.

For the record, when voting commenced on that day, some delegates observed that some ballot leaflets repeatedly had two or more slips with the name of a

Nigerian worker is now more politically aware and informed and can hardly be hoodwinked or short changed in a democratic electoral process and procedures

particular candidate. It therefore became very difficult to attribute this irregularity to any process error as they were all in favour of the same candidate. At a point, it became obvious that the process might have been skewed to favour one of the candidates. This led to the general conclusion by majority of the delegates that the process could not guarantee a fair contest.

Let me also mention here that the situation got out of hand due largely to the care free attitude of the Congress handlers at the venue. So what followed was inevitable given the present level of awareness of workers as the process could at best be described as a wholesome disregard for the rules of free, fair and credible elections.

Do you have any assurance that the March 12 will be different?

It is said that once beaten, twice shy; so I believe and have hope that the rescheduled election for March 12 may be free, fair and credible for a new national leadership for NLC to emerge. However, there are issues. Statutorily, the Nigeria Labour Congress is not just an institution but also a movement built on the fulcrum of integrity, equity and justice. Therefore, a situation where certain contestants from some Industrial Unions select delegates from only one particular region for fear of losing election is certainly not a good omen for Congress. At least, some of us noticed traces of this parochial tendency in the botched delegates’ conference.

As the name suggests, it is Nigeria Labour Congress and expectedly, it is a matter of obligation for contestants from any of its affiliate unions to cross ethnic and regional boundaries in considering delegates for Congress election. I therefore use this opportunity to appeal to leadership of Congress at all levels to rise above board and arrest this

dangerous trend of rowing the boat of Congress into the stormy waters of regional divide. To say the least, it smacks lack of confidence, beclouds unity and widens inner bickering. I will also like to remind everyone that one of the dreams of the founding fathers of the Nigerian Labour Congress is that every Nigerian worker has the inalienable right to aspire and be part of the success story of Congress and not to be disenfranchised or alienated from being voted into position for reason of religion and region differences.

What is your take on the intervention by labour veterans?

First of all, I want to thank God for the life of our founding fathers like Comrade Hassan Sumonu, our immediate past President, Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Honourable Joseph Akinlaja and others for rising up to the occasion. But let me quickly add that I would have appreciated more if their intervention came earlier because the underlying factor of rotational succession between the public and private sectors is a key issue that is still challenging the smooth transition of power in Congress and for which our past leaders have continued to look away. It can never be over stated that resolving to continue to retain leadership of Congress in one particular sector or region of the country can never strengthen Congress. Congress must be seen to reflect and demonstrate equity and justice at all times.

I am therefore hoping that before the rescheduled election on March 12th, the statesmen of Congress should deploy tact, honesty and pragmatic means to address and resolve this structural inequality in the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress once and for all.

PAGE 44— SUNDAY VANGUARD,MARCH 1, 2015

IBADAN SUMMIT AND THE CONTROVERSIAL REPORT

Our case against Buhari, by Yoruba leaders

Chief Olu Falae

BY OLA AJAYI, IBADAN

T

HE post-National Conference Summit, held last Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, was an assemblage of ‘ who is who in the country particularly from the South-west. The attendance cut across religious and political persuasions.

At the parley, were Chief Olu Falae, a former presidential candidate of the defunct All Peoples Party; Chief Reuben Fasoranti, leader, Afenifere; General Adeyinka Adebayo(rtd), leader of the Yoruba Council of Elders; Senator Femi Okurounmu; Otunba Kunle Olajide, former Secretary, YCE; Chief Shuaibu Oyedokun; PDP leader; Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu; Otunba Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Ogun State; Otunba Adebayo AlaoAkala, former governor of Oyo State; Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State; Dr. Doyin Okupe, spokesperson for President Jonathan; Otunba Iyiola Omisore; Chief Richard Akinjide, former Minister of Justice; and Senator Lekan Balogun, a PDP chieftain.

Others at the meeting include Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Minister of State, FCT; Prof. Wale Oladipo, National Secretary of PDP; Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Publicity Secretary, Afenifere; Senator Teslim Folarin, PDP governorship candidate in Oyo State; Mr. Gani Adams, Oodua Peoples Congress leader; Prof.

Temitope Alonge, Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital; some members of Accord Party and Labour Party.

Meanwhile, Oyo State governor, Chief Abiola Ajimobi and his three other colleagues from the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) in the South-west viz: Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Rauf Aregbeshola (Osun) and Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) stayed away from the Summit.

This was not unexpected.

Their party did not endorse

Chief Reuben Fasoranti the National Conference which report was the crux of the matter at the Summit. In fact, the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, also from the South-west, described the National Conference a distraction ahead of its inaugration. Analysts believed the APC rejected the Confab out of its fear that it was designed to buy favour from the South-west which had continued to clamour for the restructuring of the country as the basis for a peaceful co-existence of the northern and southern segments of the nation. Unfolding events seem to have proved the analysts right.

Though the Summit, entitled, “The National Conference, 2015 elections and the Yoruba nation”, was hinged on Yoruba’s future, it had a semblance of politics as the convener, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, governor of Ondo State; Fasoranti and Chief Ayo Adebanjo, also a chieftain of the apex Yoruba group, said the Summit was to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan’s candidacy.

General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), the presidential candidate of the APC, was severally maligned for his role as a military Head of State in 1983. Reference was made to how people who fought for democracy then were thrown into prison.

Buhari’s action and the refusal of the APC to support the National Conference were repeated almost by every speaker except Ladigbolu who said he was not a politician and would not speak like one. He just advised Yor uba people to tread softly in their choice of who leads the country from May 29.

Mimiko said, “Today, the Yoruba people have marched out in their large numbers to their political capital, Ibadan to discuss and articulate, once more, an issue which, for decades, has been considered to be the main agenda for their race. You will recall that for several decades, the Yoruba were at the fore front of the agitation for the convocation

•Senator Okunrounmu

of a National Conference. I, therefore, congratulate the Yoruba nation and all Nigerians that, finally, their dream of coming together to dialogue how they should be governed has come to reality.

“Let me salute President Goodluck Jonathan for his bold and momentous move as well as his focused leadership which was demonstrated through his compliance with the agitations by Nigerians to debate their collective future. Convening the 2014 National Conference was indeed a historic assignment that we are proud of and as a people; we must do everything possible to ensure that the CONFAB recommendations get implemented.

“No doubt, Nigeria has passed through various stages of national dialogues before without being able to emplace a constitutional and political arrangement that is accommodating enough to sustain the dedication and patriotism of many. The Constitutional and governmental experiments that we have had seem inadequate to capture the essence of those things that have the inherent capacity to

Otunba Gbenga Daniel

serve of the Federal Government since independence, have now been brought to the concurrent list. States can now create employment and develop at their own pace. With all that, it liberates everybody, it opens up the political space”.

Fasoranti and Adebanjo explained why they prefer Jonathan to Buhari.

Adebanjo said, “Those shouting Buhari today don’t know the past and it is our duty to tell them where we are coming from. One section of the country dominates the other. I am not a member of any political party. Why we are so attached to Jonathan is because we know where we are coming from. Anybody who has the national interest as his focus no matter where he comes from, we will support him”.

Prof. Dupe Olatunbosun, who presented the keynote address, entitled, “The 2014 National Conference and the future of the South-West, reeled out the achievements of Jonathan saying, “Considering the various challenges Jonathan-led government has been facing since 2011, these are remarkable achievements. Added to the giant strides of President Jonathan‘s courage, determina-

The CONFAB report when implemented, will create room for each state to have its own Constitution, its own police force, its own prison service, can create its own local governments, can build its own airports, seaports and railways and in addition; in the economic domain unite us despite our ethnic and religious cleavages.

“The CONFAB report when implemented, will create room for each state to have its own Constitution, its own police force, its own prison service, can create its own local governments, can build its own airports, seaports and railways and in addition; in the economic domain, solid minerals that had been the exclusive pre-

tion and genuine love for the unity of Nigeria that made him organize the national conference which other leaders before him failed to do. The success of the national conference has laid a solid foundation for the unity of the country when its recommendations become implemented”.

“There are some people, particularly, the APC, who have refused or failed to see these various monumental laudable

achievements of Jonathan-led administration over the past four years mainly because of malice, prejudice and bias as well as jaundice and glaucoma in their eyes. Certainly, everything about President Jonathan seems to be providentially right and timely”.

Looking at the array of people at the Summit and sudden u-turn of some Yoruba groups like the Yoruba Council of Elders, led by Adebayo, which, some weeks ago, distanced itself from Afenifere’s endorsement of Jonathan for re-election, the political calculation seems to be changing. The YCE’s sudden turn-around may have been occasioned by a meeting which reportedly held in Lagos where the President was said to have endeared himself to the elders.

While the leaders were having their Summit, hundreds of youths, under the auspices of the South- West Youth Network and led by Kunle Yusuff, said the option left for Nigerian youths in the March 28 election, was for them to vote Jonathan to enable him continue his transformation agenda.

The event, organised by the aides of Jonathan and VicePresident Namadi Sambo, centred on the South-West Youth Voters Awareness and sensitization programme ahead of the rescheduled general elections.

Yusuff, who is also the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Lagelu/Akinyele in the March 28 election, advised youths to hold their destinies in their hands by voting Jonathan again.

Yusuff said, “We concentrate on youths because 70 per cent of the voting population comprises youths . Youths are the bedrock of this election. We have decided to form this organization to reach out to millions of Nigerian youths on the need to be active participants in the on-going electioneering campaigns by getting their Permanent Voters cards (PVCs) and vote for the person of Mr. President who is giving his all to position the youths as true leaders of tomorrow.”

SUNDAY VANGUARD,MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 45

POLLS: Our husband has gone mad again

BY YOMI OBADITAN

T

he Nigerian politics and the politicians are nega tively peculiar, comparatively different from other westen democratic political processes. It reminds one of the awardwinning play titled: “ Our husband has gone mad again” by Ola Rotimi. The play takes a comic swipe at ideological misfits and opportunists, who strut over the ever-accommodating political landscape of contemporary Africa. From the First Republic till the present time, our politics has been characterised by greed and violence. The post-independence political processes collapsed and failed because of political intolerance and wanton destruction of lives and properties.

The Second Republic failed on the same pedestal. The National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and the Federal Government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari was not only corrupt, but also lawless, insensitive, violent, and ruthless.

The military 16 years intervention could have been a blessing, if the Buhari/ Idiagbion military regime had stayed long to cleanse the polity and show us the right political ideology to follow.

Within a short time of the Buhari administration, there was law and order, the War Against Indiscipline was on, and there was sanity everywhere. The looters of the nation’s treasury were brought to book. The undoing of that regime was that it ruled with iron fist. The retroactive decree that terminated the lives of drug traffickers, Ojuolape and two others, dented the image of that regime. The Decree 4 that was promulgated against the media was another albatross on the neck of that government. The nation woke up to discover there was a palace coup carried out by Ibrahim Babangida. The eight years of that administration led to the fall in the value of our currency,n while a loan from International Monitory Fund (IMF) marked the beginning of our economic ruins.

The 1993 presidential election was nullified for no just cause.

The winner of that mandate Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO) was detained and died in custody. The nation was thrown into political crisis until the political elite compromised the national issue and General Olusegun Obasanjo was brought it in to console the Yoruba over the death of Abiola. If General Sani Abacha had not died, the nation would not have heard about how the general and his family looted the nation.

The civilian administration has also been bedevilled by corruption. The Transparency International rated Nigeria as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. We have been told that our leaders stole more than $300 trillion from our economy in the last 20 years. The eight years of Obasanjo was a disaster. That administration had no respect for rule of law. It wasted over $65 billion on the power sector. The infrastructures were dilapidated.

The 2011 presidential election was conducted with the hope of electing a doctorate degree holder as President, the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria. Goodluck Jonathan was massively voted for nationwide. Four years later, the same Peoples Democratic Party candidate is struggling to avert defeat at the polls. Why? Jonathan himself provides the answer in his interview with ThisC M Y K

day Newspaper, when he said: “We underated the capacity of the Boko Haram, and probably the issue of corruption, because these are the two areas people tackle us; corruption and security. But people often say my body movement encourages corruption, which is not true.”

The recent violence in the polity is a sign that “our husband has gone mad again”.

Notwithstanding the peace pact brokered by Professor Bolaji Akinyemi and Mr. Koffi Annan, from Lagos to Kano, Gombe, Ekiti and Rivers, it has been violence all the way. The latest and most frightful of the violence that

occurred in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers State, where the campaign rally of the APC gubernatorial candidate was terminated by bullets from political thugs. A policeman was reportedly killed and 50 others were injured, despite the guarantee the party received from the state Police Commisioner.

The president has not condemned the attack. Tension is on the rise daily, but are there no beautiful ones among the political groups that should call for time to heal the wounds, to bridge the chasms that divide the nation in order to build a better and new nation?

Any government which lays claim to legitimacy is expected to ensure there is a measure of social welfare for its citizens; guarantee their security irrespective of social status and religious beliefs. It is just and rightful that the people’s right to freely choose the type of leaders they want is guaranteed. That is the more reason Jonathan must allow the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) to independently perform its duties as electoral umpire.

The military needs not be told that its duty is to protect the nation from external attacks, while

the internal security of the country lies with the police. Section 217, Sub-Section (c) of the 1999 Constitution provides for the involvement of the military only in the suppression of insurrection so as to restore order, therefore it is most appropriate to deploy the military to the areas affected by insurgency. It is wrong for the military to openly contradict the court verdict which forbids it from electoral duties.

Leaders go, leaders come but the nation must continue to exist.

The election scheduled for March 28 and April 11 must not be disrupted by any security chief.

‘Gang up against Jonathan's election will fail’

By Lucky Oji Mr. Michael Ejueyitsi Tidi, a Niger Delta activist of Itsekiri stock, an erstwhile candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, for the Delta State House of Assembly in 2011, and currently, member, Media/Publicity Committee of Delta State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Campaign Organisation, in this interview with Sunday Vanguard, speaks of his interest in the protection of itsekiri ethnic nationality, controversies surrounding his loyalty to the PDP and support for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Excerpts ertain people have described you as controversial in the politics of Itsekiri land and Delta State in general. What do you have to say about this?

Anyone who chooses to describe me as controversial is just playing to the gallery and being most disingenuous. How can anyone legitimately describe me as controversial?

I am not controversial. I am just a young detribalized Itsekiri man who will do anything for the good and greatness of the great, noble and ancient Itsekiri race and go the extra mile in deepening interethnic harmony in Warri and Delta State as a whole. If that is what amounts to being controversial, I am proud to say I am positively controversial in that case..

You have been described as being disloyal to Governor Uduaghan having once decamped from PDP. In fact, it is alleged that you had to be begged to return to the party.

Governor Uduaghan is my elder brother and I have never been disloyal to him. As they say, blood is thicker than water so it cannot be my fellow Itsekiri man that I will ever be disloyal to. I have been most unfairly treated in my own party, the PDP and to this very day, I have not been compensated by the party, by way of contracts or political appointment. I had met with His Excellency, our amiable Governor on two occasions over the past four years wherein he solemnly promised to adequately reintegrate me and my loyal supporters into the party. It is on record that I have not gotten any appointment from His Excellency.

In fact, the only appointment I got was from Hon. Victor Ochei, Speaker emeritus of the Delta State House of Assembly. I ended up losing it due to the unfair resignation of Ochei and up till now, no member of the PDP can stand before me and say that His Excellency has compensated me in anyway. My return to the party was not as a result of any monetary

C

inducement from party leaders.

The fact that I remain a staunch member of the party is in fact a testament to my loyalty and discipline.

Are you therefore saying that you have not benefited anything from the Governor,contrary to rumours making the rounds?

Even His Excellency knows that I have not in any way been compensated. I won an election fair and square in Warri South Local Government Area and was duly returned the elected member of the Delta State House of Assembly, from Warri South Constituency 1, in the 2011 elections. Absolutely everyone in Warri knows this. I was most heinously rigged out of my mandate and denied the opportunity of providing my beloved constituency with the quality leadership it deserved.

Why then have you aligned your formidable structure with Omawumi Udoh of PDP? It is most shocking to me how my beloved tribe, the Itsekiris have been treated in the present dispensation. Nevertheless, I remain a loyal party man and believe that there is still hope for us under PDP. Since Omawumi Udoh is our candidate I am willing to support her in the spirit of Itsekiri solidarity as well as party loyalty consistent with the norms of our great party, the PDP. Your supporters in Warri and environs have of late been complaining about the selective empowerment of certain persons in Delta. What is your take on this?

Why should they not complain?

A situation whereby thugs and persons of questionable character are being empowered and appointed to high offices at the expense of genuine intellectuals who have the interest of the common people at heart, do you expect people to keep quiet? I am a Master ’s Degree holder and presently a PhD student at the prestigious premier University of Ibadan. Whereby, hooligans, nitwits, sycophants and bootlickers are being empowered to the detriment of genuine patriots, do you really expect the common people whose future is at stake to stay silent?

Some people have wondered why you are not supporting certain candidates they would ordinarily had expected you to align your formidable structure with.

In our tradition, it is the person who calls you a person that you equally call a person. Anyone who wants my support is free to call on me but I am certainly not going cap-in-hand from house to house like a hungry man looking for whom to support. That is certainly

Mr. Michael Tidi

The fact that I remain a staunch member of the party is in fact a testament to my loyalty and discipline not the Itsekiri way and proudly Itsekiri is who I am.

Your supporters have been accused of causing a political storm in Warri insisting that if you are not the next member of the Delta State House of Assembly from Warri South Constituency 1, they will bluntly refuse to work for the PDP. I have amicably resolved that issue with my supporters. To be fair to them, they were quite entitled to be angry in the first place. Having won the election hands down in 2011, decamped from the party and returned, natural justice, equity and good conscience should have dictated to my beloved party, the PDP that I have an incontestable right of first refusal for the ticket of Warri South Constituency 1. I deserve the PDP ticket for Warri South Constituency 1 but since my party has chosen to give it to my sister, Omawumi Udoh, I am, with all sense of political maturity, prepared to assist her in getting to the House.

What informed your decision to align your structure with that of Senator James Manager for the purpose his Senatorial election.

Like I said before, all over the Niger Delta, and perhaps everywhere else in this world for that matter, it is who calls you that you answer. It is quite painful what my beloved Itsekiris have suffered in the present dispensation.

Nevertheless, those contesting against Manager, how serious are they? We do not even see them campaigning in their own constituencies. Senator Manager on his part has been campaigning in every nook and cranny of Delta South, traversing Itsekiri, Isoko, Urhobo, and his own Ijaw areas of

his senatorial district, ensuring that everyone is given a sense of belonging in Delta South. If Manager is willing to treat Itsekiris as his fellow brothers and sisters, going from house to house, diligently and humbly persuading absolutely every tribe in the senatorial district to vote for him and we the Itsekiris who are hungry for an Itsekiri Senator hardly see our own brothers who are contesting for the Senate on ground, apparently behaving as if they have already won the election, political pragmatism simply dictates that they are not serious. If there was a serious Itsekiri contender, I would most certainly have voted for him, indeed regardless of party loyalty. Since there seems to be none, I am left with no choice but to support Manager, who from all indication remains the detribalized Deltan most of us have always known him to be. You recently wrote an article in the Vanguard in which you strongly criticized fiery lawyer and public affairs commentator, Barr. Jesutega Onokpasa for abandoning his party, the PDP, and working for APC candidates. Many people were taken aback that given your relationship with him, you would have published such a strongly worded article against him.

In the first place, Barr.

Onokpasa is my elder brother.

Even though I am Itsekiri and he is Urhobo, our relationship is like that of an elder and a younger brother born of the same parents.

In fact, I actually informed Barr.

Onokpasa that I was publishing an articled against him in the papers out of respect and to his credit, he assured me that as a lawyer he would protect my right to criticize him any time, any day.

I am entitled to defend, campaign and project my candidate. My candidates for the 2015 elections unwaveringly remain President Goodluck Jonathan for President and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for the governorship of Delta State, and Barr. Kingsley Otuaro for the Deputy governorship of Delta State.

Unlike Barr. Onokpasa, who allowed himself to be frustrated out of the PDP by those who despite their pretense do not even wish our next Governor, Senator Okowa well, I remain a loyal party man, and ironically I learnt part of my unyielding sense of loyalty from him. I was rather taken aback that he is now the one championing the cause against Senator Okowa. In spite of the seemingly gang up against His Excellencies, President Goodluck Jonathan and Senator Okowa PDP will still win these elections.

PAGE 46—SUNDAY VANGUARD,

MARCH 1, 2015

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

We’ve not found love in Nigeria — Otunba Osokoya

• Says he plays football at 70

By Aderonke Adeyeri Otunba Albertson Babatunde Osokoya, born in 1945, served virtually in every segment of the Ogun State Civil Service, became a Permanent Secretary at the age of 35 and Secretary to the State Government at 49. In this interview, the septuagenarian who still plays local football says the bane of Nigeria’s challenges is absence of love.

How did you receive the news of the postponement of the general elections?

Postponing election at this time shows our lack of trust and being suspicious of one another. Every word from each political party carries different interpretation to the other parties and has formed their various campaign strategies and methods which, to some extent, can be responsible for the postponement. Some political parties believe it is the best time to gather more supporters and destabilize their opponents. INEC, on its part, says the election has to be postponed because of the insecurity in the country, but if our present situation is good for campaigning, then our present situation is good enough to conduct a free and fair election.

Again, the postponement does not guarantee that every Nigerian will get his or her PVC. Although I know that the Chairman of INEC is at his best to ensure a free and fair election in the country, there are many factors to be considered and until we begin to reason in that direction, we may just be wasting time. We have never had an election whereby 70% of registered voters went to the polling booths to exercise their civic right.

Many people thought the date earlier fixed for the election (February 14) would have hampered Valentine’s celebration across the country. Do you share that perspective?

The election would have affected the much celebrated Valentine’s Day, no doubt.

Many Nigerians would have been scared of the aftermath of the election such that they will not want to leave their homes. The election would have hindered the annual celebration. But suffice to say that what we are experiencing in the country is the opposite of love.

At 70, would you say you are fulfilled?

Attaining age 70 is a fulfillment on its own. It is one level every individual aspires to reach especially now that there are many terminal diseases around and other challenges of life. I am fulfilled in every ramification of life.

Professionally, I attained the position of a Permanent Secretary at the tender age of 35; I became the Secretary to the State Government when I was 49. I retired from Civil Service much earlier than the expected age as the Chairman of Ogun State Civil Service Commission. I have a big, happy family with grand children; living a disciplined life and engaging myself in sports also gives me an added advantage. I go to the field to watch football and I play football too, but not as often as before. I was the Chairman of Ogun State Football Association for many years. I still walk around almost every morning for 20 minutes.

What was the driving force for those achievements at your early age?

With God, discipline and focus, it is achievable. So, many people didn’t believe in me. They were considering my age and not what I had up my sleeve. It got to a point that an older Permanent Secretary told me to always consult him before approving or doing anything in my office.

Also, it was a time I was just raising my family but my wife was very supportive and understanding. I happened to be the only child of my

•Otunba Osokoya

I go to the field to watch football and I play football too, but not as often as before

mother. She devoted her life to seeing to my welfare unlike many women who will pamper an only child to a fault. I graduated with a second class upper in history at the age of 22 which looks almost impossible as at 1967. I was the best graduating student in my school, so I got a scholarship for my postgraduate studies. But during my final year as an undergraduate, I had written

many application letters to both private and governmental organizations. I was later invited for an interview in the civil service and I was among the few that were employed. I joined the Western Nigeria Civil Service before I was deployed to Ogun State when the state was created in 1976. Many of my friends at the university were on my throat to come for my doctorate degree but

something just kept me to my new job. On many occasions, I slept with my colleagues at the post-graduate hall of University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). Along the line, I was sent to study public administration and I also emerged the best student. Three years later, I was again sent on a master’s programme in public administration by government.

And that was how I got stuck in the Civil Service. Early education, commitment, prompt promotion and good luck made me Permanent Secretary, not favoritism from any one.

With all these achievements, what were your regrets in life?

No regrets at all. My case was just God directing my path. I am happy and fulfilled to have been a civil and public servant all my life. I consider it a means to serve my country and become relevant to humanity.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 47

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

By Ebele Orakpo

instruction on how to cover a war and survive. Being able to treat oneself and colleagues who are wounded is also essential. Here in the U.S and Britain, there are organisations of war veterans who will train journalists to work in war situations. Almost every nation has war veterans who could educate journalists in working in war conditions.

D

on North, professor of journalism, is so many things rolled into one. He is the Director of Northstar Productions, Inc., Virginia, USA, a communications expert, teacher, writer, documentary filmmaker and above all, a veteran war correspondent having covered the wars in Vietnam, Borneo, Cambodia, Afghanistan, ElSalvador, Egypt, Israel, the Gulf, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq. He has worked for ABC News and NBC News.

In this interview conducted online, North, who has won awards for some of his works including Remembering Saddam (Aurora Awards); Time of the Jackals (gold medal, New York Film Festival), Siege of Beirut (Berlin Film Festival) and a recent book, Inappropriate Conduct: Mystery of a Disgraced War Correspondent, speaks on his experience as a war correspondent, Boko Haram coverage in Nigeria and says he always felt his reporting would educate people on the horror and futility of war.

Who is Prof. Don North?

I was in Nigeria last year as a visiting professor at the American University of Nigeria, Yola. I grew up in a little town called Ladner in the south west corner of British Columbia, Canada. It was a very peaceful town of farmers and fishermen and my father was the manager of a grocery store. I heard the reports of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) journalists during the Second World War and I was impressed with their courage and determination to tell the truth about war. I took several years of university education but was anxious to start work as a journalist; so I travelled to India and began writing news stories and sending radio reports back to Canada.

I worked for two years at the China Mail Newspaper in Hong Kong but was soon drawn to the war in Vietnam as a freelance photojournalist. I spent about five years covering the Vietnam war for newspapers, radio and television. I hated the war but loved the job of covering it...that was 50 years ago. We were journalists of a lost war. The U.S. suffered defeat in an unwinnable war, fighting against a country about which we knew virtually nothing and in which we had no vital interests.

I believe photographs of a conflict can lure our senses into awareness. Some among us may be influenced to heed reason, to find a way to right that which is wrong

*Don North, war correspondent in Vietnam for ABC News, crosses a stream in the Mekong Delta, 1968

*Prof. Don North (2014)

I hate war but love covering it – Prof. Don North

•

Says he has covered 16 wars since Vietnam

through photographs. I believe in it very strongly as a journalist.

And so I became a journalist who specialised in covering wars....16 wars since Vietnam.

What was the experience like?

Very challenging, but some of the best of journalism is produced in war and I always felt my reporting would educate people on the horror and futility of war.

How will you rate media coverage of war situations in developing countries?

The US, Canada and Britain have a history of having journalists accompany their soldiers into battle. Although the media relationship with the military has never been smooth, in the West, we are expected and given close relationships with the military in time of war. It is recognised as the citizens’ right

It is high time the Nigerian government made arrangements for journalists to accompany the army in countering Boko Haram forces

to know, especially in times of war, what our nation is facing.

Unfortunately, in many third world countries, the freedom of the press is often at risk and journalists are not allowed access to soldiers in conflict situation.

This is regrettable as a nation needs to fully understand the challenges and realities of the battlefield to support the military in time of war. It is important to understand the nation’s military successes and failures in order to support them.

Are war correspondents specially trained?

I had minimum military training before I covered combat in Vietnam. I survived thanks to the help and advice of journalistcolleagues. Today, modern war is much more difficult and dangerous to cover and any journalist venturing into battle conditions must have basic

War coverage in Nigeria: In the four months I spent at AUN, I read with great interest a wide variety of Nigerian news reports.

I was not impressed with their accuracy or unbiased views. Because the Nigerian military does not allow journalists to embed with them to cover the conflict, it is almost impossible to have access to the battlefield. It is high time the Nigerian government made arrangements for journalists to accompany the army in countering Boko Haram forces. It is not reasonable for journalists to travel into contested areas without the protection of the Nigerian military. However, more contact with local stringers is essential and local stringers should be well paid to cover the conflict. Perhaps, more communication facilities by phone and internet need to be arranged. Journalists must also strive to report in depth, background and context to the stories they report. Just a bit of bang bang and casualty figures is not enough to clearly explain a conflict.

Advice to young journalists in developing nations: My advice is the same for journalists in developed countries. Journalism is a valuable resource to any country to help the citizens and electorate decide intelligently on what persons and powers to support.

I believe the western allies were poorly served by journalists who did not question the wisdom of attacking Iraq. I have always felt journalism is an honourable profession of great benefit to the population when it is followed vigorously and honestly. I support and admire journalists throughout this world who, through their honesty and intelligence, write about the major problems, crises, tragedies and joys of this world...plumb the depths of this world and learn the secret songs that orchestrate our universe. We are a global village now and we live in a transitional era of profound pain and identity quest, but the agony of our age is the labour pain of rebirth. May the force be with Nigeria in these trying times.

Page 48—SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

How Nigeria can help to end the war in Ukraine – Russian envoy The Russian Ambassador to Nigeria, Nikolay Udovichenko, speaks on the war in eastern Ukraine

of Ukraine. We, in turn, also can’t forbid Russian volunteers from going to Ukraine and protecting their relatives and families, while Ukrainian authorities use mercenaries from Great Britain, Sweden, Poland and other countries. The US has recently sent military advisers to Ukraine clearly not to engage in agriculture development.

As for the Russian passports Poroshenko juggled, it again comes from the same stories, of which I spoke earlier.

Besides, Russian military personnel don’t have passports, what they have is a special military ID. How hard does Putin want to go on the shelling on eastern Ukraine?

Let’s look at the facts. Shortly after the violent coup, the new Kiev regime, not Russia, started using enforcement bodies and police against ethnic Russians in south-eastern Ukraine who did not agree to such a revolution and refused to accept a new order in Kiev. Using the army, the new regime tried to carry out punitive operations with heavy artillery, prohibited worldwide weapons, such as cluster munitions, against residential areas and settlements. Self-defence forces in Ukraine’s east were forced to defend themselves and responded by fighting. So I can’t accept your question.

Russia is the least of all that would like to see military action in a neighboring friendly Ukraine, because it is a direct threat to our national security. You should look for those who benefit from it.

By Victoria Ojeme

D

o you think

eastern Ukraine should be part of Russia?

I think the question sounds a bit strange, since never had Russia questioned the integrity of Ukraine. Quite the opposite, we consistently advocated and supported the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Our position did not change even after we saw a constitutionally elected government overthrown by a US-backed coup d’etat in Kiev, in February 2014.

Why does Russia care so much about what happens in Ukraine?

It is not surprising that we take to heart everything that happens in Ukraine. It is well known that Ukrainian and Russian people are a single ethnic Slavs nation.

Historical ties between the two nations are very close. For almost 80 years, our people lived in one state, the Soviet Union, where economic, cultural, social and family ties were fully integrated. Now we have millions of mixed families with Russians and Ukrainians living in both countries, speaking the Russian language. We can’t remain indifferent when the rights of Russian speaking people, specifically our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and children, are rudely and shamelessly violated. Their only offence is that they did not support a nationalist coup in the country and demanded respect for their rights.

As the crisis in Ukraine grows, there looms interruption of

C M Y K

economic relations that existed between our two countries. The problem is not only that Ukraine is a recipient of Russian gas and a transit country for Russian gas supplies to Europe, but also in close commercial ties, including industrial and aerospace complex.

The conflict affects both the economy of Ukraine and Russia, on those of its strategically important sectors, which are closely related to the enterprises located on the territory of Ukraine. Recall that the south-east of Ukraine is home to large industries where transformers, various parts of motors, manufacturing and industrial equipment, etc. are being produced in cooperation with Russian companies and shipped to Russia.

Today, the partnership between the two countries in these sectors is hanging.

Russia has long denied military involvement in Ukraine but the passports of many Russian troops have been found in Ukraine territory. How do you explain this?

Russian regular armed forces are not involved and have never been involved in the conflict in Ukraine.

No wonder neither the Ukrainian officials nor NATO have been able to present real evidence on that. As for all the funny fables or fake photos about the flow of Russian troops and arms, they provide them in abundance. Indeed, the show must go on. The serious institutions like the OSCE (Organisation on Security and Cooperation in Europe) saw no Russian regular military troops in Ukraine’s east.

It is no secret that citizens of different countries are taking part in combat operations in the south-east

Russian regular armed forces are not involved and have never been involved in the conflict in Ukraine. No wonder neither the Ukrainian officials nor NATO have been able to present real evidence on that

Is Russia affected by the sanctions imposed by the US and its allies?

Of course, sanctions imposed on Russia in violation of international law are not very helpful but they will not achieve their goals. At the same time we see a positive side of that. Russia had focused too much on the European market and integration with it, the sanctions have forced us to further develop domestic production, strengthen relations with other parts of the world such as Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

Besides, all sanctions have a boomerang effect hitting the economy of the initiators. Whatever they say, businesses in Europe suffer losses.

What’s going on, on the sanctions the United States previously imposed on Russia?

These sanctions are also counterproductive and affect everyone, including Russia, but Russia will emerge from this situation with an advantage. The countries that triggered the spiral of sanctions will not escape the negative effects in light of the global redistribution of economic and social power. So it’s not our problem. As I mentioned earlier, we have a good opportunity to develop our economy. I want to emphasize another important point. It’s necessary to clearly understand that Russia has emerged as a sovereign country pursuing an independent, assertive foreign policy designed to defend its own national interests and to ensure peace and international security as the number of conflict areas in the world is growing and it doesn’t happen

by itself. These sanctions are attempts to punish Russia for its independent foreign policy, its sovereignty and its unwillingness to blindly obey the outside demands.

Eastern Ukraine peace remain uncertain. When do you think solution will be found in Ukraine?

Russia is interested in a speedy resolution of the conflict in Ukraine more than any other country. We are convinced that the Kiev government is not able to resolve the conflict by military means.

We do want the Ukrainian people to restore their unity but it should be done on the basis of real nationwide dialogue. Moscow is consistently and patiently calling for the start of direct talks between Kiev and Donetsk and Lugansk on practical steps to restore the common economic, social and political space within the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The Kiev government should learn to listen and talk to the people in the eastern part of Ukraine. This is the only way to find a really longlasting solution to the conflict.

Is Russia ready for peace talk?

We are not just ready, but unlike many partners, we are doing everything possible to scale down tensions and to achieve a political settlement in Ukraine. We firmly believe that there is no alternative to an exclusively peaceful settlement.

Given the acute crisis in southeast Ukraine, only the people of Ukraine without any foreign interference must determine their future. Direct contact between Kiev and the selfproclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics are of fundamental importance in this context. All other formats involving external players, including the Normandy and many other formats, as well as the OSCE activities, must be aimed at assisting a direct and sustainable dialogue on issues that need to be resolved to settle the crisis. On its part, Russia will continue to assist the creation of favourable conditions to settle Ukraine’s formidable problems in this spirit. We also want the EU and the US to increase their influence on Kiev and to urge the new regime to speak with its citizens as they have done in other conflicts like in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan where they called for dialogue with the opposition forces, part of which consisted of very radical groups. Now we are disappointed to see a totally different approach to everything that concerns the crisis in Ukraine’s east.

SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015,

Page 49

2015 elections : The covert interests of US, UK BYADAMU GWAZUWANG

A

MONG the many strange encounters of the 2015 elections, the cohabitation of incompatibles in APC, the leading opposition to the second term of President Goodluck Jonathan, stands out like a whitlow.

Hard line pro-democracy agitators, who fought tooth and nail against entrenched military dictatorship in Nigeria for years and eventually won, are today sweeping away heroic memories and the gains of democracy in league with the most vicious of Nigeria’s dictators, General Muhammadu Buhari, who has emerged as the presidential candidate of the “progressives”.

The nobility of service to the fatherland through liberation from the shackles of colonialism was to have been complemented by the struggle against local repressive forces that imposed martial law to enslave citizens under military rule. Now we are confronted by the sinister spectre of inbred political colonialism unleashed against the first purely civilian elected government of President Goodluck Jonathan by a conspiracy of conflicting interests united only by the inordinate lust for power.

Stranger than fiction, however, is the emerging hostility of the so-called traditional foreign friends of Nigeria, the self-styled international community represented especially by US and UK, to their traditionallypreferred civilian democratic administration in Nigeria.

The Jonathan administration has everything going for it to enjoy the favours of the EuroAmericans : it is not Islamic, it has retained a matriarch of the Bretton-Woods financial overlords, Ngozi OkonjoIweala, in its kitchen cabinet and has maintained cordial diplomatic ties. But as the 2015 elections approached, strange encounters unsettled the tradition in the most mysterious and intriguing ways.

We had the Americans strongly forecasting the disintegration of Nigeria and then the Boko Haram insurgents suddenly became a launch pad for sustained propaganda, not against “Islamic extremism” but against the government and

C M Y K

President Goodluck Jonathan

These revealing scenarios go to confirm that neo-colonialism is the diplomatic disguise deployed by the grandchildren of the old generation of exploitative colonial masters now in power to protect and pursue the imperialist mindset informed by the notorious predatory principle of “no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, just permanent interests!

military establishments of Nigeria! The US embassy threw all diplomatic niceties to the dogs as its ambassador practically adopted the opposition’s vendetta against the Jonathan presidency as official policy.

Not to be outdone, the UK’s Economist echoed Britain’s betrayal by lashing out an editorial in the heat of electioneering that incredulously endorsed Buhari’s candidature under the solicitous slogan “ an exdictator is better than a failed democrat”. This was while the nation’s media was saturated with series of chilling playbacks of the horrors of Buhari’s draconian decrees and violations of human rights and rule of law.

What is neither strange nor fictitious about all the friendly fire from friends turned foes of Nigeria is that, as with madness, there is a method to the malady. It did not require voodoo to unveil the “sins of Nigeria” for which the sword

of neo-colonialist imperialism must be aimed at its jugular.

Some discerning minds have not forgotten the threats thrown at Nigeria by the US and UK because our higher moral values and piety in deference to God’s laws reinforced our rejection of the abomination of same sex marriage which has become their major foreign policy principle.

Though the US and UK have not forgotten that “sin”, it has just been revealed that what they will never forgive are economic “excesses” that pose threats to their uncompromising command and control over the oil resources of the world.

Nigeria, under President Goodluck Jonathan’s u n c o m p r o m i s i n g determination to break the decades old jinx of arrested development afflicting Nigeria in spite of its abundant resources, decided to extend the frontiers of development partnerships

General Muhammadu Buhari beyond the traditional World Bank/IMF/EU. This bore fruit in 2010 when China signed $23 billion oil deal with Nigeria to build three oil refineries in Lagos, Kebbi and Bayelsa states and a petrochemical plant. The refineries would have a combined capacity of 900,000 barrels per day (bpd), double the expected domestic demand of 450,000 bpd by the time they are completed in five years.

Earlier, during the Yar Adua administration, the stateowned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) offered between $30 billion and $50 billion to buy up to six billion barrels of Nigerian reserves while expressing interest in the 23 prime offshore fields where Shell, Total, Chevron and ExxonMobil have been operating.

The mere mention of Shell, Total, Chevron and ExxonMobil, the conglomerate faces of EuroAmerican world oil empire coming under the looming threat of a Chinese take-over bid should set the alarm bells ringing in Washington and London and woe betide any nation that triggers such alarm. History of world oil politics impact on international relations proves conclusively that Euro-American foreign policy is driven by the multibillion dollar profits generated from the oil and gas industrial complex.

It is so critical that even the much-touted insistence on democracy can be relegated in pursuit of petro-dollars as the cosy relations between US, UK and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a monarchy, signify. The world

oil powers have gone and will go to any length to resist encroachment and jealously preserve monopoly.

Here then lies the greater “sin” of Nigeria and the Jonathan presidency in rabid reaction to which former friends suddenly turn foes triggering a curious chain of strange encounters and collaboration of incompatibles all motivated by vested interests openly hostile to the overriding national interest of majority of Nigerians.

Discerning obervers of international relations are therefore not fooled by America’s claim it can not sell arms to Nigeria in the war against Boko Haram because of it unsubstatiated claims of human rights abuses by Nigerian soldiers. All efforts to convince Barack Obama and his government that Boko Haram insurgents have stolen uniforms of the Nigerian Army personnel to perpeprate inhuman acts of brutality and savagery have simply fallen on deaf ears.

These revealing scenarios go to confirm that neocolonialism is the diplomatic disguise deployed by the grandchildren of the old generation of exploitative colonial masters now in power to protect and pursue the imperialist mindset informed by the notorious predatory principle of “no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, JUST PERMANENT INTERESTS!” By the same token, as Jonathan has demonstrated, in pursuit of the national interest, Nigeria should be free to look far and beyond the confines of old friendships- as far as China. *Gwazuwang lives in Abuja.

PAGE 50—SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 1, 2015

Jolly 60th bir thda or A dolo Ok otie-Eboh birthda thdayy ffor Adolo Oko

F

.

Chief and Mrs Adolo Okoti-Eboh

L-R: Mrs Merit Ofulue, Mrs Tobi Odunaiya and Ms Oma Otchie

Mr Peter Arigbe (left) and Arc. Fred Dudu

T

ormer Delta State Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Joe AdoloOkotie-Eboh clocked the diamond age of 60 last week and rolled out drums to celebrate it with his high-profile friends who sacrificed the last Sabbath to wine and dine with him in an atmosphere that was as exhilarating as it was refreshing.

The celebration started with a thanksgiving service at Ikoyi Baptist Church, from where the merry crew cruised back to his Ikoyi residence for the climax which ended with a bang. Photos by Biodun Ogunleye

L-R: Chief and Mrs Adolo Okoti-Eboh and celebrant's mum, Madam Dorothy Oritsejero-Wilkinson

Mr & Mrs Richard Sunderland .

Dr (Mrs) Dere Awosika Nee Okotie-Eboh (left) and Aare Dr Akin Olugbade

Yeye Rewane (left) and Mrs Rita Amuka

L-R:Mr Bello Ibrahim Guandu, former MD, Nigerian Ports Authority, AVM Femi Gbadebo and Siene Allwell-Brown

Ejiro Jobi weds Ebenezer Omobude

he families of Rev. Dr. Omobude of Edo State and Jobi of Delta State became one recently when their children, Pastor Ebenezer Omobude and Ejiro Jobi got married at the New Covenant Gospel Church, Benin City.

Ebenezer and Ejiro during their traditional marriage C M Y K

The couple at the centre with men and women of God

L -R: Bride’s parents; Mr & Mrs Jobi, Chief (Dr) Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the couple, Ebenezer & Ejiro, groom’s parents; Rev. (Dr) & Pst Mrs. Omobude, Chief Eghobamien, a Chief and former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rev. Peter Obadan

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 1, 2015—PAGE 51

RALLY FOR JONATHAN IN ASABA

President Goodluck Jonathan acknowledging cheers from supporters at a solidarity rally and endorsement by Arewa Initiative For Peaceful Co-existence in Southern Nigeria, yesterday.

Photos: Henry Unini & Nath Onojake

From right: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; President Goodluck Jonathan; Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor, Sokoto State; and Alhaji Awwalu Tukur, SA to Uduaghan on Special Duties and a leader of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence in Southern Nigeria.

From left: President Goodluck Jonathan; Gov Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State; Director-General PDP Campaign Organisation, Dr Ahmadu Ali; the Deputy Director-General, Mr Peter Obi. *A cross section of PDP supporters

Senator Ifeanyi Okowa , Delta State PDP gubernatorial candidate (right) and Chief Edwin Uzor, PDP Chairman, Delta State

*A cross section of PDP supporters

THE PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO THE ASAGBA

From left; The Asaba of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien, President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State when the President visited the Asagba, yesterday.

From right: President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Senator Patrick Osakwe C M Y K

President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan

PDP gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa (left), welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan on arrival at the Asaba Int. airport during his visit to Asaba.

President Goodluck Jonathan receiving a gift from Enyi Theodore Giwa-Amu at the palace of the The Asaba of Asaba, Obi Chike Edozien (left) welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan.

Asagba of Asaba.

PAGE 52— SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

AMERICAN WOMAN’S DISTRESS CRY FROM KIDNAPPERS’ DEN

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, LOKOJA EMI –OWORO is a small community located between Ajaokuta and Lokoja, Kogi State capital. It’s a community that is relatively unknown. Even commuters from the eastern flank of the country who traverse the ever busy Ajaokuta federal road may not notice the name. The only time the community has ever come into reckoning was in December 2012 when the governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada, was involved in an accident that occurred in the community.

But for the past few days, the community has crept into the headlines; this time, over the kidnapping of an American missionary, Mrs Phillis Sortor; who has been living in the community since 2008.

Sortor, the Director or, better put, the proprietress of Hope Academy, was kidnapped from the school compound on Monday morning by five gunmen. The Hope Academy itself is situated in a fenced environment. The school gate is about 10 feet away from the main road, but the buildings are hidden inside the fenced school. Aside the newly constructed six blocks of classroom that house the secondary arm of the Hope Academy which is close to the gate, the remaining buildings are well tucked inside.

The school is surrounded by hills.

The location provides good learning environment – open to the outside world, yet well hidden to be disturbed by the noise road users may make or from disturbances by villagers. As good as the location is, it is also a good ground for abduction to take place.

Sortor’s abduction occurred barely two days after the Director of Adavi Local Government, Abdulazeez Ohere, kidnapped, penultimate week, was released by the police from his abductors.

The kidnappers were said to have invaded Emi-Oworo, took the American out of her office, scaled the fence and escaped through the forest behind the school.

Sortor was said to have relocated from Akwa – Ibom to the village in February 2008. Why she developed so much love for the area may not yet be known. Maybe her love for nomadic education which the school provides or for the state, no one knows. Even after her husband, James Richard ‘Jim’ Sortor, fell sick and died on October 9, 2008, months after coming to Emi-Oworo, the woman only carried the corpse of to Texas, the US for burial and returned to Nigeria. JIM MEMORIAL HALL, in the school, is named after the husband.

HOPE ACADEMY Hope Academy has 400 students in its nursery, primary and junior secondary schools. Out of the C M Y K

‘Pay ransom, save me from captivity!’

•Inside her school where Fulani nomads don’t pay fees •How Chinese fuel abductions in Kogi – Source

•Mrs Phillis Sortor...captors want N30m ransom

students, 60 percent are Fulani who are sought after by Sortor and given free education. The remaining 40 percent are from the community, some Christian children, and some students brought in from Eti – Ose; a community in Ondo State.

Only few of the students actually pay school fees (if the little fees charged could be called school fees). But since 2008, the school has not stopped running.

The school is supported by a nongovernmental organization, International Child Care Ministry, ICCM, and since majority of the ICCM members fellowship at the Free Methodist Church, anywhere the NGO establishes a school, it plants a church. That explains the reason the Free Methodist Church is also situated within the compound.

Since the kidnapping, life in the school, the community and Kogi State has changed.

The staff and students of the school are in pensive mood even when they try hard to hide it. It took courage and encouragement from outside sources not to close down the school.

The Principal of the school, Mrs. Shaibu Roselyn Ojone, said the abductors came in through the main gate and started shooting sporadically into the air, made for the victim’s office, took her and scaled the fence.

“The staff and students have been praying since for her safe return. Mrs Sortor is just like a grandmother to all of us. Peaceful, dutiful, she approaches every one of her staff as if they are her direct children. She never clashes with anybody. Not even with

The Principal of the school, Mrs. Shaibu Roselyn Ojone, said the abductors came in through the main gate and started shooting sporadically into the air, made for the victim’s office, took her and scaled the fence

any of the villagers. We have been wondering why it has to be her. What did they want?,” Ojone told Sunday Vanguard.

“We have been crying, wailing, praying and fasting to God to release her safely to us.”

The Principal said there was initial thought of closing the school, but there was a message from the sponsoring body and Kogi State Commissioner of Police not to do so.

“If not for their words, we would have closed the school. We had even started making efforts to move the students from Eti –Ose community in Ondo State back to their town,” she said.

Also reacting, the traditional leader of the community, Alhaji Saidu Abdullahi, who spoke with Sunday Vanguard through an interpreter, said since the “white” woman established the school in his domain, there had not been any problem with her.

“I gave the land to the woman free of charge to build the school. We have no reason to regret her coming to the village.

The first bore-hole in the community was dug by her. She has also provided employment opportunity to some of the villagers to work at the Hope Academy. Only few of our children pay school fees. The remaining ones have been schooling courtesy of the scholarship offered by her,”Abdullahi said.

“Since her abduction, the community has been in pensive mood. Immediately we heard gun shots coming from the direction of her school, we mobilized the members of the community police committee to go there. We were the ones who also called the police and showed them the path through which the abductor escaped.

“We have also been praying in our traditional way for her release”.

CONDEMNATION Reactions have continued to trail the abduction. Aside Kogi State government, an NGO in the state, Great Transformation Support Initiative, GTSI, lent its voice to condemn the action.

The state coordinator of the group, Zacch Jonathan, said, “We hereby condemn the abduction of the American missionary, Rev Phyllis Sortor, and call for her unconditional release.”

RANSOM The kidnappers made contact with the school demanding N60 million ransom. The kidnappers were said to have called the Superintendent of the Free Methodist Missionary Church, Mr Mathius Emenike, on Tuesday night, demanding the ransom.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the kidnappers called again on Wednesday and reduced the ransom to N30 million while the woman, who was allowed to speak to the church Superintendent, begged him to inform the sponsors in American to see how the money could be raised to effect her release.

The Principal of the school, Ojone, who confirmed the ransom, said, “The kidnappers spoke with the Superintendent of the missionary church, Mr Mathius Emenike, where the ransom was reduced to N30 million.

“In the conversation, Mrs Sortor pleaded with Emenike to try, by all means, to raise the money to enable her regain her freedom.”

Ojone appealed to security agents in the state to come to the aid of the school for the rescue of the woman.

‘HOW CHINESE ENCOURAGE KIDNAPPING IN THE STATE’ Kidnappings in Kogi State have occurred mostly in the central senatorial flank, but not heard of in Ajaokuta or Lokoja until some Chinese came into the area.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that since November, last year, when a Chinese worker was kidnapped in Ganaja village, a suburb of Lokoja metropolis, kidnappings have surged. The police were said to have advised a Chinese firm not to pay the ransom demanded but were rebuff.

The Chinese firm, apparently not sure the police could handle the situation, allegedly paid the ransom.

That was said to have done a great harm. Within the next 30 days, seven other Chinese workers were believed to have been secretly abducted and ransom secretly paid.

Kogi State government was allegedly told the story when the Chinese Ambassador visited the state last December and informed of the ordeal his citizens encountered in the hands of kidnappers while working on Ajaokukta Road.

SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 53

AS TERRORISTS SPILL BLOOD AGAIN IN JOS

We saw bomb blow away traffic warden – Eye witness

BY MARIE-THERESE NANLONG

I

n the late afternoon of Thursday, when residents of Jos, the Plateau State capital, witnessed the first rain of the year, many were elated as the heavy showers brought coolness to the environment.

Though happy at the coming of the rain, many residents, who were not prepared for the downpour, were trying to find their way to their destinations and, for the residents of the Bauchi Road axis of the city, there was no premonition that danger lurked at the corner.

As many were taking shelter from the rain and some defying the weather and going about their businesses, the enemy struck at two motor parks along the road at about 6pm leaving behind tears and sorrow.

Though Jos is not new to bomb blasts as such ugly incidences had wreaked havoc in the past with the victims still counting their losses and the city yet to recover from the impact, residents were beginning to enjoy some peace when the twin blasts shattered the peace of the city once again.

At the time the incidents, which occurred at about 10 to 15 minutes interval, many did not know another tragedy had befallen the city as they thought the blasts sounds were those of thunder result from the rain.

All the same, the rain was actually a blessing in disguise as it minimized the effect which the blasts could have caused as witnessed in the May 20, 2014 twin blasts at Terminus area of the city which left almost 200 people dead.

This time, the casualty figure was minimal as the attendant fires which always burn after such incidences consuming more victims did not occur as a result of the wetness of the environment.

But, despite the closeness of the University of Jos to the scenes of the blasts, no student of the institution was affected as the only 100L Medical Science student, who was close to one of the scenes, had a minor scratch and was treated in a nearby private clinic and discharged on Friday.

Be that as it may, about 18 people lost their lives and 17 people injured in the incidents which occurred about 160 meters away from the main campus of the University of Jos and the victims taken to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, the Bingham University Teaching Hospital and

•Survivors relive explosions •How rain mitigated impact

•Survivors: Baba Umaru and Abdullahi Inusa

While some said it was tyre burst, others said it was thunder and some others said the sound was too loud and could be a bomb

private clinics in the neighbourhood.

Narrating their experiences to Sunday Vanguard in Jos, the survivors said though they were in pains, they gave thanks to God for surviving the incidents as some known faces to them were not as lucky.

According to 60-year-old Abdullahi Inusa, who sells CD and DVD plates at the entrance of the Bauchi Park, “I went to the mosque to pray and, on returning, the rain had increased and we were just

sitting under a shelter when we heard a loud sound at about 6pm. I thought it was a tyre burst from vehicle and we made comments about the sound.

“While some said it was tyre burst, others said it was thunder and some others said the sound was too loud and could be a bomb. Before we knew what happened, another exploded very close to us and we began to run for safety.

As we were running, my legs hit something and I fell and something hard hit me on my hand and blood gushed out and entered my eyes.

“I was there trying to help myself when security men and other people came to rescue us and I was brought to this hospital. I thank God I survived but my neighbour, Kabiru, was not lucky and the traffic warden, Oga Musa, also died.”

Inusa added there was no premonition or rumour that such incident would occur as residents had put the ugly past behind and were striving to live in peace but “those who do not want us to be free in Jos are not tired of causing pains to people.”

On 50-year-old Baba Umaru, mai nama (meat seller), who just lay on the hospital bed without uttering a word,

the brother, Ali Yusuf, who escaped unhurt, said, “He is still shocked at what happened.”

Telling their story, Yusuf, who also does petty business in the motor park, stated, “This thing came to us as a surprise because we were not expecting this kind of thing again in Jos. I saw the traffic warden, Oga Izang Musa, came in to take shelter with us because of the rain and he was trying to buy orange when blast occurred. The thing just blew him away and that is how he went. May God save us from this blood suckers.”

The late Izang Musa was attached to the Angwan Rogo Division and was said to be directing traffic at his duty post before the rain started.

Besides those who lived to tell their stories, relatives of the dead also recounted their ordeals as Abubakar Zakari, whose brother, 21-year-old Alhassan Muhammed, lost his life in the incident, said he had handed everything over to God. A relative of the deceased traffic warden, who gave his name as Daniel, lamented the situation saying, “This is really painful because we were not expecting this kind of bad news in this new year. His working in that Division had been giving us cause for concern because of the situation in Jos but, just when we began having hope of his safety in that area, the bombers denied him of life in such a violent manner but it is well!”

Meanwhile, the member representing Jos North-North in Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Ibrahim BabaHassan, in whose constituency the incidents occurred, described the blasts as “the highest level of irresponsibility and wickedness.”

He condoled with the families of those who lost their lives and urged the people of the state to be calm and pray for the souls of the departed.

Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, who also came to sympathize with the victims, stressed, “Nigerians should be human because we are gradually drifting to becoming animals where people wake up in the morning to go about their businesses but within a twinkle of an eye, life is snuffed out of people for nor just cause.”

At the time of this report, Muslim faithful had taken buried their dead according to their right before the Friday prayer and few corpses were seen at the Plateau Specialists Hospital morgue awaiting evacuation by relatives.

Meanwhile, as residents continue to count their losses, caution and prayers are being admonished as no one knows where the next target is and who the next victim will be as enemies of the State are trying hard to resurrect the seed of discord among religious and ethnic groups which well-meaning citizens are working hard to bury

PAGE 54—SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

By EMEKA AGINAM

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arely thirty days to the 2015 Presidential elections, the delay in the distribution of Permanent Voters Card, (PVCs) by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has continued to attract concern among stakeholders in the industry.

The delay in the printing of PVC coupled with the challenge of security in the North-east part of the country, according to the concerned stakeholders in the Nigeria IT sector leave little room for confidence in the entire electoral process Meanwhile, INEC earlier extension of PVC distribution was intended to give registered voters yet to collect their PVCs the opportunity to do so in readiness for the cancelled February 2015 general election.

With barely one week to the end of the extension granted by the INEC for registered voters to pick their PVCs as much as 15 million PVCs are still lying at the various collection centres across the country.

The latest breakdown from INEC as at February 23 indicates that 53,466, 635 out of a total of 68,833,476 registered voters have collected their PVCs, representing 77.68 per cent. According to the information, Gombe, Zamfara, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom States have the highest number of collected PVCs with 95.05 per cent, 93.42 per cent, 93.20 per cent, 92.68 per cent, 91.98 per cent and 91.28 per cent respectively.

Address IT issues in 2015 poll

•NCS President, Prof. Adewumi

•Jega

2015 elections:

NCS expresses fresh worry over delay in PVCs distribution ...Urges FG to use innovative technology to achieve credible poll

Worried with this development, Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), an umbrella body of the Nigerian

IT professionals has called on the Federal Government to urgently address relevant Information Technology (IT)

Online voting opens for BoICT 2015 awards

C

OMMUNICATION Week Media Lim ited, publishers of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek newspaper and daily newsletters, has thrown its portal open to the general public to vote for nominees of this year’s Beacon of ICT Awards.

The BoICT Awards were instituted to reward the vision and enterprise of individuals and companies that have contributed to the growth of the ICT industry in Nigeria.

Now in its sixth year, the Beacon of ICT awardees are chosen by Nigerians who recognize and appreciate the guiding lights of the organizations and individuals as well as the symbols of hope they raise.

The awards are meant to individuals and firms that integrated ICT into IT, Banking and Finance, Aviation, Maritime, Courier/Postal services in the country, among others.

The awards categories feature Nigeria CommunicationsWeek “Man of the Year”, “Broadband Company of the Year”, “Most innovative Player of the Year”, “GSM Effective Customer Care Operator of the Year”, among other categories.

The public are allowed to cast their votes by emailinfo@nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng or through voting on a portal created for the

purpose on the company’s website: http:// nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/beacon-of-ict-distinguished-lecture-awards-series-2015.

Commenting on this year’s awards, Ken Nwogbo, chief executive officer, Communication Week Media Limited, said that, “The merit- centric celebration honours finest and brightest companies and individuals who have helped put Nigeria on the global ICT map”.

Beacon of ICT Awards is an annual industry wide celebration that recognizes deserving talents, contributions and commitments to the growth of the ICT industry.

Over the years, the awards motivate stakeholders in effective utilization of ICT for citizen’s services and ensure that ICT professionals are provided a benchmark for recognizing and validating outstanding contribution.

Being the authoritative voice of ICT and how they affect lives, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek is uniquely placed to view government and business organizations as well as individuals’ contributions, creativity and excellence in the application of ICTs and solutions.

development and IT sector issues in light of the ongoing 2015 electoral process to position and sustain democracy in Nigeria.

The President of the NCS , Prof. David Adewumi, while reacting to the current scenario said that for Nigeria to achieve credible election, application IT is imperative.

Improved and innovative utilization of technology Committed to playing its advocacy role to ensure Nigeria receives the very best in the 2015 elections, NCS, according to him, is advocating for improved and innovative utilization of Information Technology (IT) in the

FG should urgently address relevant IT development and IT sector issues in light of the ongoing 2015 electoral process to position and sustain democracy in Nigeria

organization of free, fair and credible elections in 2015 and in future elections in Nigeria.

While IT professionals recognize the IT contributions and initiatives of the INEC , he noted that there was need for improved project management in the deployment of IT as well as security management.

Delays in PVC distribution worrisome “Logistic issues and delays in PVC distribution being experienced are painfully not ideal in today’s 21st century.

“Further innovation of the electoral management process is required with inputs from NCS and stakeholders, most especially in terms of considering electronic voting for future elections.

“The 2015 elections are about the future of Nigeria.

Critical matters “And the role of IT is critical to development and growth.

Though there has been improvement, a lot still needs to be done. As the 2015 election approaches, NCS challenges present and aspiring political leaders to prioritize IT sector productivity as well as improved impact and depth of IT development”, he noted.

NCS, he said was concerned that those seeking votes were not addressing these critical matters. “We urge the electorate to ask questions and raise issues at all levels with all parties and their candidates about their plans for building an innovative economy to create jobs and address the nation’s developmental challenges. “ In particular, answers are needed about what they will do to strengthen important government agencies in IT, most especially National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN).

Use IT professionals in project “Quite importantly what will they do about legislation to foster the development of IT and IT enabled activities, Growth of the IT profession and Industry, professionalizing the industry (Having IT Professionals on the boards of MDAs) and Preferential usage of Nigerian professionals in IT projects”, he explained.

Violence free and issue based campaigns The NCS President said that the umbrella IT body is also calling for violence free and issue based campaigns, improved and innovative election management and the election of innovative and informed leaders. “Continuing with the status quo is not in the nation’s best interests. Nigeria Computer Society is ready and willing to partner with INEC and other stakeholders in these matters towards the upliftment of our dear nation Nigeria”, he added.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 55

I

N Isaiah 40 in the bi ble, there is a voice crying in the wilderness, proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of God. The voice declares that every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill brought low. But when the voice stops, the Spirit of the Lord commands it to cry out the more.

“What shall I cry?” the voice asks. God says: “I want you to tell my people that all flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers; the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades. But the word of our God stands forever.”

Many in the church have yet to hear this cry in the wilderness. Most have refused to heed it. And yet, the message is central and fundamental to the Christian faith.

Quit notice If you are living in a rented house and the landlord gives you notice saying he is going to demolish the house very soon, what would be your attitude towards the house? You certainly would not spend a lot of money repainting and refurbishing it. That would be a waste of time and resources on a building slated for demolition. So it is with our flesh whose owner and landlord is God. God pointedly refuses to redeem the flesh. Instead, he condemned sin in the flesh.

ALL FLESH IS GRASS (I) (Romans 8:3). Nevertheless, we remain tied in this life to a habitation in the flesh. But we need to recognise that all investments in the flesh are time-bound.

We are prone to plea-bargain with God: “Dear Holy Spirit, I owe my flesh some things I would like to redeem. I owe my body expensive clothes and shoes. I owe my pride exalted positions and properties. I owe my reputation a high status. In order to make these payments, I may have to engage in some sharp practices.

Please bear with me. As soon as I finish paying these debts, I promise to live strictly according to your precepts.”

I can imagine the Holy Spirit asking: “How long do you think it is going to take for you to pay back all that debt?” “It should not take longer than five years at the most.” “No,” says the Holy Spirit, “it will take you a lifetime.”

Limits of the flesh Indeed, “we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.” (Romans 8:12).

Everything about the flesh is limited and temporal.

Everything about the flesh

2015: I

need prayers to run credible polls ---Jonathan

By CALEB AYANSINA

A

BUJA – PRESI DENT Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to all Christian faithful to intensify their prayers for the stability of the country, arguing that his administration can only conduct free and fair elections with the prayer support of the faithful.

Jonathan, who was speaking at the first 2015 plenary session of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), tagged: 'Good Family, Make Good Nation', in Abuja, thanked Christians for their prayers for the country.

“I am ready to champion the course that would bring Nigeria to an enviable height.

"I need prayers and support of all Nigerians to run free, fair and credible elections.

"I am convinced that this country will continue to be stable," he said.

The President used the opportunity to reassure that the 2015 elections would be held as scheduled, urging Nigerians to co-operate with his

Solomon says: “I returned and saw under the sun that---the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favour to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.”

(Ecclesiastes 9:11).

government.

"Elections will be conducted as scheduled by INEC. Look at what happened in Gombe on February 14, if elections had been held the casualty figure of that attack would have been great.

"Its better for us to conduct elections that will not be contested, elections that are credible, free and fair.

"I will not do anything because of personal interest that would jeopardize the interest of this nation," President Jonathan assured.

The CBCN president and Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama called for political campaigns based on issues and not of inciting utterances that were capable of increasing the already tensed political climate.

His words: "The feverish barren political campaigns do not allow room for a national family spirit and the quest to win elections at all cost contribute to heating up the political temperature.

"We are then surprised that some people domiciled and doing business

Death was Jesus’ secret weapon. Jesus triumphed over life by laying down his life dies. Everything about the flesh leads to death.

But then here is the rub.

Everything that we see: in Nigeria; in America; in Switzerland; is the creation of the flesh. We sit in chairs made by the flesh. We spend our lives catering to the flesh. We wear clothes to adorn the flesh. We eat and drink to gratify the flesh. We drive cars to transport the flesh from A to B. We build houses to accommodate the flesh. We go to school to perfect the flesh. We go to hairdressers to improve the flesh.

How then can we, in such context, disregard the flesh?

The carnal believer asks: “How can you tell me the flesh is grass when everything about my life is to the glory of the flesh? In order for me to listen to what you are saying, I have to use my ears. In order for me to look at you, I have to use my eyes.

How can you tell me my flesh is grass when, in order for me to survive, I have to eat and drink?” elsewhere are moving back to their home towns for fear of political violence during the elections.

"We are deeply saddened by unedifying pronouncements by persons or groups from the North and South, who threaten brimstone and fire should their preferred political candidate fail to win the presidential election.

"We have not relented in our conversation with the aspirants to ask them to do something urgently to check this ugly trend," he noted.

TWOREM holds anointing night

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HE Way of Recon ciliation Evangelis tic Ministries (TWOREM) a.k.a Prophetic & Solution Chapel, Lagos, will hold a 3-special anointing nights, tagged:“Anointing Night” with the theme:“Let the fire fall”, where God’s fire will be destroying all manners of demonic attacks, deliverance from satanic bondages and healing the broken hearted –souls…, with prophetic impartations, declarations and revelations from Wednesday, March 4 to Friday, March 6, 2015 by 10pm.

“Everything about me is flesh. If my flesh is useless, then I am useless. If the flesh is useless, then every human achievement is useless. If the flesh is useless, then scientific discovery is useless; technological innovation is useless; advancement in medicine is useless; development in the arts is useless.

Indeed, it means all knowledge is useless for the simple reason that knowledge is only profitable for the sake of the flesh.”

Born again The tragedy of this Christian logic lies in our claim to be born again even while we are still walking according to the flesh. The confused believer says: “I am born again; nevertheless, I remain the same. I am still eating. I am still hustling. I am still looking for a job. I am still studying Physics and Chemistry. I am still striving so that I can make ends meet, pay my rent, pro-

vide for my family, and acquire all kinds of things in the flesh. So how can you tell me all this is a waste of time?”

But while these pursuits may be profitable for now, they are ultimately a waste of time because they have no eternal consequence.

For the man who is truly born of the Spirit, the things of the flesh lose their attraction and importance. It no longer matters whether he is a have or a have-not. It is no longer important whether he is tall or short, or dumb or smart. These are all distinctions of the perishable flesh. But in the case of the eternal Spirit, these distinctions are inconsequential.

Jesus says: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6).

That is why, in the kingdom that God brings down from heaven to earth, every distinction of the flesh is scattered. The poor become rich and the rich became poor.

The first become last and the last become first. The old become new and the new become old. The master becomes the slave and the slave becomes the master. The elder serves the younger.

Death: the leveler Everything about life is unfair. You want to get into the university or military academy, they use the flesh as the yardstick, and the flesh discriminates. Some are smart and some are dumb. Some are tall and some are short. Some are rich and some are poor.

For this reason, the greatest weapon of the believer is not life but death. Death is a leveler. It equalizes everything. Life is unfair, but death is fair. Everybody dies.

The rich die, and the poor die. The strong die: as well as the rich. You cannot buy your way out of death.

There is nothing you can do to change or avoid it.

Indeed, the only way to prevail over life is to die. It is only death that can rule over life. Death was Jesus’ secret weapon. Jesus triumphed over life by laying down his life. Then, on the debris of the life he relinquished, he resurrected to a completely new and indestructible life. Jesus says: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” (John 12:24).

(CONTINUED).

Allegation of N7bn bribe can't be true, says Pastor James

By Olayinka Latona

A

S allegations of bribery against CAN continues to generate controversy, founding pastor of Glory Christian Ministries, Pastor Iruofagha James during the week described the allegation as part of ongoing grand design to smear the Church.

Pastor James said: “I don't want to believe it, but whatever is the case, the truth will surely be revealed," noting that there will surely be those who will be causing issues in Christendom.

According to him "it has been happening even in the days of Jesus Christ.”

He warned Christian leaders against compromising their faith through unholy inducement from politicians but show good examples and make the political arena better.

Addressing newsmen ahead of the church's 23rd anniversary and annual summit with a theme; “A Thousand Times More” scheduled to begin on March 4 at the Gloryland Dome, Ijeshatedo, Lagos, Pastor James charged politicians to desist from overheating the polity with in-

humility on the part of those seeking to be leaders and shun prideful boast-ings, baseless accusations and name-calling in the name of campaigns by all politicians.

"Naïve and gullible as majority of the Nigerian voting public might be, the truth is Pastor I.S becoming clearer by the day; that those James who seek to win elections by fire, by thunder and as a matter of life and death are citing statements but innot fighting for the betterment of the masses," he stead promote peace by stated. devoting more time to isSpeaking on the 23rd sumsue-based campaigns.

The cleric further warned mit, the cleric said the ocpolitical parties currently casion will deliver much campaigning for 2015 spiritual renewal and refreshment for every particielections, against political pant, stressing that opporthuggery and attempts to tunities still abound for the disrupt future elections, saying doing so could uncountry to receive and endermine the future of the joy God’s blessings. coming generation.

Guest ministers expected at the five-day summit inJames also cautioned policlude: the presiding bishop ticians not to allow their maddening craze for the of The Redeemed Evancontrol of the nation's gelical Mission (TREM), treasury to blind-fold them Bishop Mike Okonkwo, in breeding political merSenior Pastor of Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor cenaries that will later prey Tunde Bakare and other on the society. anointed ministers of God. In his words: “We call for

Page 56 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

VIEWPOINT

By Emma Ogbuehi

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

An intriguing gubernatorial contest

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ULLIES are cowards, it is said. They are also empty.

This is why, when overwhelmed in an encounter, they leave the issue and resort to throwing mud at their opponents.

This is, sadly, the current situation in Abia. Since the present turn in the ongoing dispensation, especially with political parties getting through with their governorship primaries, there have been grave unease in Abia Government House and the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

For a party in government and power, there should not have been need for it to be bothered, ordinarily. But that, incidentally, is its nemesis. With a performance record that is still out for the jury, the party further shot itself in the foot by a

The shadow-boxing politics in Abia highly flawed primary that foisted a less-fancied Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu on the members as its candidate.

Curiously, while the state bled profusely on account of this faulty leadership recruitment process, the beneficiaries had fed fat on the people.

It is on this backdrop that the onslaught against the aspiration of Dr. Alex Otti, the state governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), by PDP and agents of the state government, will be adequately appreciated.

While taking a dive from his apparent comfort zone where he had successfully led a relatively surefooted Diamond Bank, for Abia governorship, Otti had reckoned that the engagement was not going to be a tea party. He in fact, did his research and due diligence before embarking on the exercise.

Confronted with the discovery of a poorly managed entity character-

ized by acute infrastructure decay, dilapidated education system, bungled health care system and ill-motivated workforce, among others, there would have been the temptation to back pedal. But for a man that interprets perceived problems, rather, as projects, Otti has not been deterred from his dream.

At many forums, he has declared that service to Abia and not exercise in self-aggrandizement has been the driving force behind his aspiration. The APGA candidate has, in this respect, laid out a template for fixing the state. In his manifesto, he has established roadmaps towards repositioning the state’s education, health, agriculture, economy and other sectors.

The expectation, therefore, had been that his opponents, especially the PDP, would have taken his challenge in good faith and come with superior argument, if any. But that is not the case. Rather, the par-

Haruna Abubakar: Ten years on VIEWPOINT

By Dele Agekameh TRIBUTE IN BRIEF A friend of inestimable value

T

HE Saints will march on, goes the famous saying that reflects on the life hereafter, after we might have transited from this sinful world to the great beyond.

For Senator Haruna Abubakar, my late brother and friend of inestimable value, it is exactly ten years that he suddenly departed this world to be at the bosom of the Lord, his creator. While on earth, he distinguished himself as a good, caring family man. As a lawyer who was God-fearing, he approached life with all sense of modesty and simplicity. He played his part well throughout his sojourn in life.

I met Haruna Abubakar long before he became a senator in 1999. It was a chance meeting at the home of a former president of the country and our chemistry clicked. With a friendship firmly anchored on the tripod stand of love, mutual trust and respect, the relationship blossomed till his last day on earth.

In 2003, he lost his uncle, Alhaji Maidunama, a former diplomat

and influential businessman, who died in a German Hospital. He despatched Ibrahim Musa, his Aide-De-Camp, ADC, now a retired Superintendent of Police and a lecturer at the Nasarawa State University, to liaise with me. That was how I led the delegation which included top members of the Arewa Community in Lagos, to receive his uncle’s body at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, deposited it at the Eko Hospital Mortuary overnight and arranged for the corpse to be flown to Abuja the following morning. Such was the depth of our relationship.

As a journalist, I took him up several times on National issues and what always baffled me was his humility, patriotism and his disposition to the cause of humanity. He exuded scholarship and could go on and on to argue his position on any discourse even after it was clear that he had made his point.

As a deeply religious man that he was, Haruna Abubakar fasted every Thursday of the week and he never missed his prayers or any Ramadan fast.

He was simply a unique person who had great respect for the institution of friendship. I could remember the day he was turbaned as Dan Iyan Lafia, at a colourful

*Senator Haruna ceremony which was held in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State in Year 2000. The ceremony was witnessed by a capacity crowd which included Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the then Vice-President, almost all his colleagues in the Senate led by the late Chuba Okadigbo, the then President of the Senate, many members of the Federal House of Representatives, the Diplomatic community, traditional rulers, religious leaders and many eminent people from all walks of life. They all congregated on Lafia that day to give honour to a man whose life had impacted positively on them.

It is quite unfortunate that he departed this sinful world few years after that great turbaning ceremony. But my consolation lies in the words of David Hume (1711–

ty and its candidate, Okezie Ikpeazu, of course, backed by the state government, have chosen to side step the main issue of the discourse and have resorted to muck raking and shadow-boxing.

didate. The next phase of the propaganda is expected to be the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), being accused of favouring Otti.

For Abia PDP and its candidate that have clearly been rejected by the electorate even before the polls, there seems to be no limit in the muck-raking exercise. This is especially as its candidate, Okezie Ikpeazu, is not comprehensively equipped with an agenda on how to pilot the affairs of the state, if ever elected into office.

Having thus failed the people in agenda formulation and delivery; and not adequately equipped with a recovery plan, hence their apparent rejection, Abia PDP, Okezie Ikpeazu and the state government are seeing Otti as the cause of their problems. But is it really so?

The latest in this regime of misguided undertakings has been associating the APGA candidate with actions and antics that are not in his character. Among this is the curious allegation that he has been going about with hoodlums dressed in military and police uniforms. The allegation had further been extended to the ridiculous extent of accusing him of working with the military to bamboozle Abians. The military, has instructively, put a lie to the unfounded story.

Having failed on that, there had also been an attempt to drag Diamond Bank into the fray, by accus*Ogbuehi, a public affairs coming it of partnering the APGA can- mentator, lives in nm Umuahia 1776), the Scottish historian, philosopher, economist, diplomat and essayist known today especially for his radical philosophical empiricism and scepticism: “I am dying as fast as my enemies could wish and as cheerfully as my friends could desire.” The mammoth crowd of distinguished and eminent people from across the globe, who bade him farewell on the day his remains were committed to Mother Earth in Lafia, ten years ago, simply attested to his larger than life image and the desire of those he left behind that he be accorded a heroic burial.

Today, I believe Haruna Abubakar is remembered by all those who either came across him or whose lives he touched in many ways. He was a reputable lawyer mostly referred to as Lawyan Talakawa (Lawyer to the poor) because of his dedication and devotion to free legal services for the poor. He was at different times, company secretary and legal adviser to the Benue Cement Company in Gboko, Benue State. He was later appointed Managing Director, MD, of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, PPMC. He was a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1999 to 2003 and he became the Deputy Senate President between 1999 and 2000.

A renowned businessman, Haruna Abubakar established the

popular Metro Plaza located at the Central Area, Abuja. He also established Amana Suites, a cluster of three-bedroom bungalows, located in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja and many other businesses. Throughout his tenure as the Deputy Senate President, Haruna Abubakar was always admired by his colleagues whenever he presided over the Senate in the absence of the Senate president. He was generous to a fault and kind to all and sundry without recourse to ethnic, tribal or religious considerations.

During his eventful lifetime, he embraced his workers as brothers and sisters. He did not discriminate among his friends who cut across vast linguistic and geographical locations all over the globe.

Like Alfred Damon Runyon (1880-1946), the famous American newspaperman and author, once said: “You can keep the things of bronze and stone and give me one man to remember me just once a year.” Alhaji Haruna Abubakar, Maryam, your wife, your children among whom are Muhammad Auwal, Binta, Sadiq, Musa and others, including the multitude of your genuine friends, remember you today, just like they do every passing day in the last ten years, with love and gratitude to Allah for having given you to this country. Though you left ten years ago, your wonderful legacy lives on!

The Nigerian leadership, followership conundrum VIEWPOINT

By Lanre Akinbobola

VIEWPOINTS IN BRIEF

The need to fight misgovernance

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HE feeling of Nigerians, since the dawn of independence in 1960, is whether it was right for Nigeria to have gained political autonomy from its colonialists.

The argument is whether under colonial rule, the country would have been in the present state of anomie it currently is, with apparent lack of direction, both on the part of the leadership and the followership. However, the greater portion of the blame appears to be on the part of leadership, as it ought to have charted the path to the nation’s development.

The followership cannot be completely extricated from blame because the people are not vigilant enough to call the leaders to account. Even the Holy Book (Bible) stresses the need for people to be vigilant about the type of leadership they get. The Bible is the greatest gift ever given to mankind

by God as could be found in the book of 1 !Kings 12:4, where there is a story of one of the kings of Israel, Rehoboam (son of Solomon).

When he was crowned king, Israelites came to him and complained that he should “lighten the harsh labour demands and heavy taxes that your father imposed on us, then we will be your loyal subjects.”

This shows that even in the Bible, the government was criticised.

Therefore, whoever stubbornly

refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.

Consider the injustice that stares everyone in the face; the shameless display of ill-gotten wealth; abuse of authority; wrong use of position and corruption in high places all of which have worked to make life unbearable for our people who have been shortchanged by succeeding governments in the country since independence, military or democtaic.

Therefore, if Nigerians do not want the country to drift to military dictatorship, and unbridled corruption, they must speak out against misgovernance at any level and demand accountability; they must demand justice; chal-

lenge the authority and criticise when things are going awry and also offer useful suggestions. It was U.S. Senator J.W. Fulbright who said: “ Criticism may embarrass the country’s leaders in the short run, but strengthen their hands in the long run; it may destroy a concensus of values. Criticism, in short, is is more than a right; it is an act of patriotism, a higher form of patriotism.”

I challenge Nigerians to fight for justice, speak out against bad governance, fight for equality and question the immoral conduct that permeates every fabric of the society. Since justice is blind, we are the light of the wrong doing in the nation. And since the leaders have become parasites on the society, we all have to join forces

to engage them to liberate the country from the claws of poverty. Various international organisations have in recent times ranked Nigeria as one of the countries in the developing world where poverty is all-pervading, with more than half of the population living below the poverty line.

We cannot have a society where we cannot criticise our leaders.

What leaders had done in some countries is to put a bulwalk between the people and the right to criticise and these are countries with totalitarian policies and strong negation of peoples rights.

Nigeria cannot afford to travel that road. *Akinbobola is resident in Lagos

SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015,

VIEWPOINT

By Habib Aruna

Yes, I can vouch for Jega!

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF In defence of the INEC boss call off the polls; they made him real-

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TTAHIRU Jega, professor of political science and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was supposed to address a world press conference at 5pm on Saturday February 7, 2014, just a week to the all important general elections. The country waited with deep breath for hours for the media parley to hold!

It eventually took place six hours after and Jega, a long respected former President of the Academic Staff of Nigerian Universities (ASUU), took the stage to confirm what has been trending many hours before then, that the much awaited elections would have to be postponed.

The INEC boss told a surprised nation that the elections would be shifted because the security chiefs could not guarantee security on the planned day.

He said the National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), in a memo addressed to him, asked for six weeks postponement to enable the military deal decisively with the insurgents ravaging the northeastern part of the country. It was implicitly clear from the tone of Jega that the military gave him to option than to

ize that the voters and electoral officials would be vulnerable if the poll went on.

Now, for a country that was told few weeks ago in far away London by the NSA that the elections should be postponed to enable INEC take care of the problems occasioned by poor distribution of Permanent Voter cards (PVC), to now be informed that the military would need six weeks to chase away the terrorists from our shore and therefore elections should not take place, need much to be desired.

All the same, Jega was on the hot seat and expected to justify the extension to apprehensive Nigerians who had made preparations for the polls.

The INEC boss tried as much as possible to convince the people that the security of lives and property was equally important as holding elections and that we would have to give the security agencies the benefit of the doubt since according to him, they are in a better position to know the situation on ground.

Through his body language however, it was clear that the INEC boss was boxed to a corner to take the decision; it was clear that he has been blackmailed and as some have rightly noted, ambushed to take a decision that

was clearly against his wish. The military, in a democracy, was supposed to be subservient to the dictates of the civilian leadership and not dictate the rules; the military was supposed to take directives and orders from the elected representatives of the people and not to unconstitutionally, circumvent laid down procedures; and more importantly, the military are not suppose to set timetable for elections as we are now seeing, their duty is to secure the country from external aggression.

The police are indeed responsible for security before, during and after elections and not the military. It is an aberration for soldiers to be patrolling polling stations on election day.

Well, some might argue that it is part of our political evolution, but we also know that too much involvement of the military in politics may turn out to be counter-productive. Military should and must not be the body setting election dates! What happens if the military failed to crush the terrorists in six weeks? Are they going to ask for six more weeks? This is where the danger lies! Hence, the need to listen to those who have been crying foul that the move was to slow down the momentum that has been on the side of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

And expectedly, 24 hours after the postponement,thoseostensiblybehind the shift went to town with calls for Jega to be sacked, since according to them, he has failed to perform. This group led by Yinka Odumakin and the so called Southwest PDP elders led by Chief Bode George, said they have lost confident in the INEC boss and that he should be shown the red card.

Indeed, more than casual observers who saw the handwriting on the wall and that the next script would be calls for the sack of Jega, told President Goodluck Jonathan to come out clean on the renewed call for Jega to be sacked.

That was exactly what the President did during his chat with the media when he restated his trust in the capacity of Jega to conduct free and fair elections. It was apparent that Jonathan waved off pressure from his party to sack the INEC Chief, knowing fully well that it would be unacceptable to both Nigerians and the international community.

My intervention therefore with this piece as a former student of the enviable professor, is to come out and vouch for his integrity and dedication to the Nigerian project. When his name came up before the 2011 general elec-

Page 57

tions as a possible replacement to Professor Maurice Iwu, I never hesitated in telling who cares to listen that the man would make a better electoral umpire than most of his predecessors.

I indeed, said on TV and Radio programmes that Jega will not disappoint Nigerians. His appointment was a plus for the President and he has not disappointed given the global applause that trailed the 2011 polls.

Four years after, it is gratifying to note that Jega has surpassed our expectations and even willing to do more thisyear.Therearehowevermanylandmines on the way for a credible and transparent election. The postponement without a doubt would affect the outcome since elections are never an event but a process. It is now left for stakeholders to be pragmatic and look at the bigger picture. The country cannot afford another postponement.

The Jega I know will want to leave behind an INEC that is well structured to ensure that subsequent elections in Nigeria are credible; he would want to make sure that INEC is truly independent; he would want an electoral body that is also financially autonomous and he would want to see an INEC that Nigerians can at any point in time be proud of. That is the Jega I know; that is the erudite professor that taught us ‘State, Society and Economy’ during my final year class at the Bayero University, Kano. *Aruna, a journalist, writes from Ikorodu, Lagos.

Delta 2015: Youth, political participation and decision-making VIEWPOINT

By Michael Tidi

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

The right gubernatorial candidate

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HREE major political parties are presenting, to Deltans, gubernatorial candidates for the April 11 election.. Deltans will vote for a governor who is expected to carry out his or her party’s manifesto and meet the needs of the teeming populace.

Youth empowerment has been said to be declining or in need of policies that are implementable to meet up with changing times.

It is within this context that, xray youth political participation in Delta State.

Since the Arab Awakening, many youths in developing countries, like Nigeria, have remained politically active.

Opportunities for youth to engage

in governance and participation in political and decision making processes depend largely on the political, socio-economic, and cultural contexts where social norms in many parts of the country result in multiple forms of discrimination against young people.

Instructively for the Peoples Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, his readiness to address the lopsided youth participation in politics/decision-making is well known in Delta. He once said: “The new Delta State under my watch will not be just about empowering political loyalists and followers but also about creating a conducive environment for investors to come in for huge investments and build their factories for Delta teeming youths; skilled and unskilled; graduates and non-graduates will be employed”. Okowa, unlike other contenders, is mind-

ful of the “World Programme of Action for Youth for 2000 and beyond”, which touched upon the importance of youth participation in decision-making, thus, he went further to state that youth will prominently feature in his administration.

In addition, his grassroots credentials point to the fact that he is a youth-friendly person, as could be gleaned from the young vibrant men and women that man his senatorial secretariat.

The APC gubernatorial candidate, O’tega Emerhor, in his manifesto, said at least 1,000,000 youths and women would be taken off the unemployment market, but failed to state how he intend to achieve this, given the dwindling oil revenue.

In the case of Great Ogboru, the Labor Party gubernatorial candidate, he refrained from reeling out bogus empowerment figure but promised to take development to

the nooks and crannies of the state, as well as empowering the youths. Again, just like Emerhor, he failed to properly articulate his youth driven policy.

Judging from the foregoing, one could aver that there appears no tangible policy targeted at the youth, save for the PDP gubernatorial candidate. As youth, we must not allow self-centred opposition politicians to use us, we must not be seen as irrelevant in the scheme of things, rather we educate the people on the right candidates, and the youths are totally disheartened without necessary capacities and objective conditions to achieve their goals simply because of lopsided government policies.

Delta Youths are the right persons that can build their future. If they allow these elders to continue to decide their future, they will give us the future they want and not the one we envisaged. The

The illusion of progress VIEWPOINT

By Kunle Aderemi

VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF

Lagos cannot be a company with CEO

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SIDES all the politics, propaganda and jokes, there are serious issues in Lagos that need to be addressed; the rich are getting more comfortable while the poor are living in circumstances that are becoming more unbearable by day. As we approach the elections, it’s imperative that we know just what the candidates are offering as their agendas and policies to change these dire circumstances. Only upon such knowledge should we cast our votes. Don’t vote for someone whose policies are actually voting against you. It’s like sell-

ing your soul and forgetting to collect the payment.

The cries are getting louder but it seems no one’s really listening.

Are you there? Do you see the countless of people waiting to get into the BRT buses? Are you possibly one of them? The countless of low income earners displaced by ‘burned markets’? The forcefully retired okada drivers not empowered to work in other economic spheres? Are you there at all? The neglected Ocean Economy? Do you even know what an Ocean Economy is?

There are a number of things the Lagos State government can do to make life better for the ordinary man. The only reason they haven’t done so is because they don’t care about the ordinary man. The government can invest in efficient transportation since there’s no cheaper alternative and

majority of our population are low income earners. Efficient transportation doesn’t just mean new buses, it means a system that works. It means a timed schedule, convenient routes that are well spread across the state - a system good enough for the man with a car to decide to leave his car at home and take the bus.

Don’t just say “It starts from somewhere”, yes it does, but we’ve been at that somewhere for quite a while now and the state is cosmetically looking better but the living conditions of the people are getting worse.

Lagos State government can invest in extending development further down the mainland, away from the Island to relieve congestion so people don’t have to wake up by 4am to travel across the bridge for three hours before they get to work. The state govern-

ment can localise developments across the mainland so that certain geographical areas on the “Island” aren’t tremendously more important than others on the mainland. They can sieve and monitor extra taxes so low income earners don’t suffer the consequences while high income earners reap the benefits.

The government can invest and expand it’s Ocean Economy. But if we don’t know these things are possible, we won’t ask for it, and we might just end up giving to someone who intends to take everything from us.

Lagos is not a company, it needs a leader not a CEO. While a number of people boast of credentials, let’s make sure our next leader’s heart is also boasting of concern for the ordinary mans difficulties. Akinwumi Ambode, the APC gubernatorial

youths must be enlightened on using their voting strength to position right leaders in government offices. We want credible candidates and not money bags, we want leaders that will bring back quality education, create jobs and crush poverty because bad leaders are worse than ebola virus. Our future lies in voting.

Thank God, Okowa shares this perspective. He is one individual who has transformed countless lives especially the youths and the less privileged ones in the society.

He has pragmatically designed programmes for the youths to brighten their hopes and aspirations through qualitative education, empowerment programmes and active participation in governance. Let us vote him to succeed Governor Uduaghan on May 29. *TIDI, member, Media/Publicity Committee, Delta State PDP Campaign Organization, lives in Warri. candidate, has demonstrated tremendous qualifications suitable for world leading companies but a government should not be about making money or raising profits; it should be about executive administration and changing lives. If that’s the case, take a good look at both of the fore running candidates; one called Lagos a company, called himself a CEO and is well qualified to be termed as such while the other has over the past eight years demonstrated executive ability in running his own company and businesses to be called a leader and more importantly has been actively involved in affecting lives - years before the elections.

Remember Lagos is not a company. If you’re not opposed to that notion, remember if it becomes one, we certainly can’t all be partners. *Aderemi, a public commentator is based in Lagos.

PAGE 58—SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505

Govt should support art, culture, build museums— Ogbonna

By JAPHET ALAKAM VISUAL

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hief Solomon Ogbonna is a Lagos-based art collector and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Aguene Art Foundation. His love for art is so great that apart from the art works he inherited from his late father, he also bought that of his siblings, no wander his house in the Ajah area of Lagos, is home to hundreds of art works across various media. But, despite all his exploits, Ogbonna is not happy with the government and the way they are handling art business in Nigeria. In his interaction with the reporter, he decries lack of support from government, poor art appreciation in Nigeria and also calls for the building of standard museums in the country.

“I believe that art is a form of culture and an extension of the mind and reasoning of the spirit. I am an advocate for the customs and traditions of Africans, and I am convinced that nothing will strengthen a people as much as a proper appreciation and understanding of their own history as recorded by their own people in their own language,” Ogbonna says. e stated that if he has his way, one of the biggest and best museums in the world would be in Nigeria.

He believes strongly that the country is so blessed with rich arts and cultural heritage that are not being given due attention. Indeed, one of the things that have continued to surprise him is why government, especially the governors are paying lip service to Nigeria’s art and culture?

“It is a shame that most of the states in Nigeria, despite the rich cultural heritage and artifacts in them, yet the country cannot boast of any standard museum that can showcase their ancient or modern arts or compete favourably with museums in other parts of the world.

Rather, our sons and daughters travel to the western countries and are proud to flaunt it that they saw one, two or more art works of their tribes on display in various museums abroad, that are raking in money for these western countries. It is a known fact that Nigerian art works do not serve decorative purposes alone, apart from being priceless, they also convey important messages to the people, especially bronze, copper and wood works, which have been rated in the world as the best and most valuable African art.”

According to him, “Our

H

leaders should know that setting up a standard museum that will attract tourists from all over the world is not about a certificate or how educated one is. It is also not about appointing a friend or relation who has no interest or knowledge in, or love and passion for art and tradition as a Commissioner or Minister.

It is also pertinent know that no one can govern his people without having a clear knowledge of their art, culture and tradition,” Ogbonna said.

He recalled that the preservation of art, culture and the tradition of the people is a passion in his family, pointing

I am an advocate for the customs and tradtions of Africans, and I am convinced that nothing will strengthen a people as much as a proper appreciation and understanding of their own history

out that t h e Aguene Art Foundation which he established is a product of his love for art. “ W e launched the foundation about two years ago, specifically, on

•Chief Solomon Ogbonna, calls for revival of art in Nigeria

August 21, 2013. I want to use this foundation to help young artists who are talented but do not have the material to showcase and expose their talent to the world. The foundation will help them with their creativity and make them independent, and also serve as a medium to empower students who are talented – in primary and secondary schools and also in higher institutions.

“I have over 6700 arts works including modern and ancient arts, bronze, bead works, wood carvings, paintings, batiks, ceramics, fibre glass works,

some of them dates to 200 years ago. I have some terracotta (Nok Culture) works that are about 2000 years old.”

So, is he just collecting art works just for its appreciation and documentation or is he also thinking of making money from them?

“For the modern works, yes,” he said. “I can commission specific works for people to buy. For such work I also personally supervise them to make it special, make it different. What I do with most modern works that I commission, I don’t use one

artist. Sometimes one artist could do a work to a particular stage and I will tell the artist to stop so that someone else will touch it. So you cannot claim the work, also you cannot copy the work.”

“I hope to hold the first exhibition of most modern works I have collected for over two years. The exhibition will hold here in my house in April this year. The works for the exhibition will be limited to those I collected from two years ago till date,” he said, adding, however, that the works are not for sale. “The works are just for people to see.”

Why I am presenting two new books --- Prof. Abugu

By JAPHET ALAKAM BOOK NEWS

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aving realised the missing link, after many years of teaching and practice as a lawyer and lecturer, Prof. Joseph E.O Abugu, head of department of Commercial and Industrial Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos is set to effect a change in the Nigerian law books stand with the introduction of two new academic and practice textbooks , Principles of Corporate Law in Nigeria and Company Securities: Law and Practice second edition to the law book stands.

The public presentation the two books which by all standards will change the course of law practice and study in Nigeria is scheduled to hold on Thursday March 5th, 2015 at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The event which will be graced by eminent personalities, top business executives, members of the academia, students and others is expected to kick off by 1.00 pm.

The Principles of Corporate Law in Nigeria is designed to provide in-depth theoretical and practical insight of the

subject to the law researcher either as a student or practitioner. While the second book, Company Securities: Law and Practice, second edition is designed to further deepen available literature on securities law and strengthen the case for its inclusion in the course curricula of Nigerian universities.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Prof. Joseph E.O Abugu, who is also the Principal Consulting Counsel in the firm of Abugu &Co., Solicitors said that the move was a response to the over reliance by Nigerian law students on English law textbooks for their studies and practice

The move is in response to the over reliance of Nigerian law students and practitioners on English law textbooks for their studies and practice

On why he is presenting the two books, Abugu said, “the first of the books, Principles of Corporate Law in Nigeria will be the first authoritative academic and practice text on company law in Nigeria. Until now, a lot of our students and practitioners are relying on English textbooks in these areas of the law.

This is a holistic effort to provide both students and practitioners, a full compendium on the law in Nigeria. So its going to be useful tool, not only to students, practitioners and judges.” he second book, •One of the books Company Securities: it use to be a nine chapter book law and Practice, second but now it is expanded to 17 edition, “the first edition chapters. Contemporary issues, was published in 2005 and issues and laws relevant to the it remained the pioneer and securities industry have now leading academic and been adequately addressed.”

Continuing, he stated that it practice textbook on company’s securities law will be a delight, not only for and practice in Nigeria. No students, corporate laws other one known to me has practitioners, security law come to fore since I first practitioners and members of published that in 2005. the Nigeria Stock exchange Developments in that area community particularly stock of law that has taken place brokers, investment advicers, particularly since 2007 has Registrars of companies and now been taken into company secretary of major consideration. The book is corporations in Nigeria will find now much more expanded, it useful.

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SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 59

‘Golden Gloves’ Obisia Nwakpa, in his days, held the African and Commonwealth super-lightweight titles. Having surmounted tough opposition to become number one contender to the WBC belt in his class, hence he had a shot against champion Saoul Mamby but lost. He spoke with Eddie Akalonu in Lagos about boxing in his time.

Nigerians were passionate about boxing in the days you reigned. What memories do you have of that time? was loved and appreciated by Nigerians cutting across ethnic lines. At that time we had managers and trainers who were professional and astute businessmen, There were promoters who were honest and also professional because they never breached contracts entered into with a boxer. Truth was that boxers then were serious and showed they wanted to work hard and make boxing a source of living.

What event and at what time do you see as the turning point in your boxing career?

First the owner of Olumo Records, Olatunji Yusuf openly declared his liking for my style and prowess in the ring. He encouraged me to turn professional offered to manage me after watching me in training.

So he invited me to see him and when we met, he gave me one thousand naira. In my life I had never held such bulk money. I was happy. As an amateur I had traveled extensively but I had never had one thousand naira as allowance. That money was big to me. Then I turned professional, applied for a license and when news went round that Obisia had turned professional, promoters were all over me. They came to my house and at training but Olumo was not one of them but we met each other from time to time. I won my first two fights and the third was against Anthony Andeh. And Olumo Records was at the ringside to watch. Before the fight Andeh held all records as African and Commonwealth gold medalist. So Olumo made a pledge that if I won he would buy a car for me. Luckily, by round seven, I was ahead and he was wobbling and the bout ended in round eight. It was a wonderful night because the crowd was so much I could not see Olatunji Yusuf. The next day he sent for me. He expressed his happiness that I won the fight. .Then he said he wanted to reward me and requested that I name what he could do for me. I said I wanted a car. Surprisingly, he wrote a cheque for four thousand five hundred naira cost of Datsun 280, which was the car in vogue then. But I met a brick-wall in getting the car. Everywhere I went, I was told an order would take a year before delivery. I sheded tears and after about two months, I returned the cheque to him because I could not get the car. As I returned the check, I burst out crying I was losing what I needed. He consoled me an alternative would do. Then he sent me to a company, again promising that any car I saw and liked he would pay. Incidentally, the car I saw, a Renault cost four thousand naira more.

When he heard, he said no problem, go and get it. That was how fans and regular bouts that upped Nigerians of all walks of the profiles of boxers for life made me glow and ratings by WBC and the eager to do more as an Commonwealth Boxing athlete.

Nigerians Board of Control. When idolised and made me a I was to travel to the United States for cult hero.

What other ways do training, I sold the car. you recall made boxing Returning to Nigeria tick? For instance who and winning more fights and what were the major the traditional Ruler of contributors to it’s my town was happy and gave me a second car I growth?

The Nigerian Boxing used. Then armed Board of Control led by robbers collected the car Chief Ralf Ogunbufumi, from me but Governor and secretary general Sam Mbakwe quickly Emma Adeleye played replaced it for me. I vital roles, arranged would always remember late Yinka Craig of NTA

I

•Obisia Nwakpa explaining a point.

Obisia Nwakpa: I adore Nigerians because they made me a cult hero because he got Nigeria AGIP company to sponsor my trip abroad to prepare for the world

title. The peculiar thing around it was that Yinka Craig came and said “acknowledge you have

collected it because he was told not to tamper with it because it’s separate from whatever

dealings they had. He gave me the money all intact and I signed and collected it.

Nigerian Sports Award commiserates with Award at the 2014 Ogan’s family edition of the Award.

O

RGANISERS of Nigerian Sports Aw a r d - U n m i s s a b l e Incentive Limited have commiserated with the family of the Late Nigerian sport veteran Dr. George Ogan who died recently in Port

Harcourt.

The late Dr. George Ogan was one of the three sports veterans that was honoured by the Nigerian Sports Award with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement in Sports

Speaking on behalf of the Award Panel, the Chairman of the panel, Mr Ikeddy Isiguzo described the death of the late sport legend as a great loss not only to his family but also for the entire Nigerian sporting community.

•Late Dr. Ogan

PAGE 60, SUNDAY VANGUARD, MARCH 1, 2015

Chelsea, Tottenham rivalry reach boiling point O

rdinarily, there is nothing special about today ’s League Cup final between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs at the Wimbley Stadium. But because Jose Mourinho and his Blues are involved, there is a rush of interest.

The match will see Mourinho and his wards wishing to erasing the embarrassing 5-3 thrashing they received in the hands of Tottenham on New Year day. Also Mourinho is eager to win his first trophy since returning to Chelsea.

And, ahead of the game, Mourinho revealed his team were going into the clash with only one aim: to leave Wembley with the League Cup title. Spurs came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 in the 2008 final.

‘This cup final is the most important cup final of my career,’ said Mourinho. ‘More important than the Champions League. More important than the other cups I’ve played before.

‘Do I look stupid? It’s because it’s the next one. The next one. I just think about this game. We have a final to win and nothing else matters.

‘I don’t care about medals. I care about the club winning trophies and me and the players winning trophies.’

Tottenham Hotspurs boss, Mauricio Pochettino does believe, however, that after the two games between the clubs, it is now a battle of wits between himself and Jose Mourinho.

He said: “It is only small, tactical

details because it is Chelsea. We know Chelsea and Chelsea know us.

“It is about our performance, it is a final and it is about winning not about playing good. It is important to get the trophy.

“Chelsea is one of the best teams in the world and I think that whoever plays for Chelsea, they have the same philosophy and great team – for us, we need to be focused on our game.”

Tottenham have the chance to end a sevenyear wait for silverware and this could be their moment. Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 home win over Spurs side back in December.

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s Arsenal pick up the pieces to face Everton today in the English Premier League after their Champions’ League debacle against Monaco, chairman Sir Chips Keswick has requested the team be more consistent if the club are to achieve its financial and footballing aims.

Arsenal lost 3-1 to Monaco on Wednesday and risk dropping out of the competition at the last-16 stage for a fifth successive season.

It was only their second defeat in 10 outings as the club shoot up the Premier League table to third.

But Sir Chips has reiterated the need for results on the pitch as the club seek to boost their finances heading into the back end of the season.

He said: “On the field, the team has produced some strong results and the squad is looking fit and better balanced.

“However, we need to find our best form on a more consistent basis as we approach, what I hope will be, an exciting end to the season.”

The club released its latest six-month financial results that saw turnover from football (including matchday ticket sales) increase £12.6million to £148.5m between 2014 and 2013.

Ronaldo, Bale fit for Real

Eaglets Continues from BP seem to have a goal-shy attitude will not lay down for their opponents to roll over.

“This game will give the players the opportunity to redeem themselves. In their first match against Guinea, they had a bad start, but this time around it will not be the same story,”said Abiodun Morakinyo, the team’s media officer.

He added that the team will leave Niamey for Lagos on a chartered flight unlike when they took a bus ride for the tournament.

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Fight to Finish... Tottenham’s striker Harry Kane outruns Chelsea’s attacking wingback Branislav Ivanovic during a previous match.

NFF

City have upper hand against Liv er pool — Pelligrini Liver erpool

Continues from BP reference to clauses which make him answerable to several persons and committees.

This is no doubt, is like a smack in the face of the NFF officials who had ignored cries by majority of Nigerian football fans not to renew Keshi’s contract after he failed to qualify Nigeria for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. The NFF under Aminu Maigari, fired Samson Siasia, when he failed to take the Eagles to the 2012 Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, this was despite pressure to retain Siasia from higher authority.

Arsenal’s supremo demands consistency

eal Madrid stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale have both returned to full fitness and are expected to face Villarreal today in a La Liga match.

Ronaldo, Bale and centre-back Raphael Varane, have all sat out sessions for various precautionary reasons as Madrid enjoyed a rare midweek without any competitive games, but all three are likely to named by coach Carlo Ancelotti for the game against sixth-placed Villarreal.

Luka Modric, who is back training with this teammates after over four months out with a serious hamstring tear, could make his return in the fixture at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Last Thursday neither Bale nor Ronaldo played a full part in the daily session, with the Wales international working alone and the Portugal captain inside in the gym. However Friday’s post-training statement had happier news for Blancos fans.

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City Talisman... Yaya Toure back in the squad

anuel Pellegrini believes Manchester City have been handed an advantage against Liverpool by the Merseysiders’ draining workload in the Europa League.

Liverpool played 120 minutes against Besiktas in Istanbul last Thursday before losing on penalties, only arriving back in England in the early hours of Friday morning, and then kick off at midday.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers had said even before the game that the scheduling gave City an advantage, and Pellegrini said: “You cannot prepare the game because you finish on Thursday night and you must play on Sunday. The players need at least 48 hours to recover. It is an advantage for the other team.”

The City manager guarded against complacency, saying his side still need to perform to their potential against Liverpool, even if their hosts are tired.

Real Connection.. Ronaldo and Gareth Bale fired up.

SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 61

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Page 62 — SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

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SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015, PAGE 63

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SUNDAY Vanguard, MARCH 1, 2015

CAF U-17 Championships: Eaglets battle Guinea for bronze waited until the 89th minute

T

HE Golden Eaglets are set to redeem their image as they play Guinea for bronze at the CAF African Under-17 Championship this afternoon

in Niamey, Niger Republic.

The match between the two losing semi-finalists will be a repeat of their last group A game, where the Eaglets

to cancel a Guinean lead from the first half.However, today the Nigerian team officials are optimistic that the Eaglets who Continues on Page 60

FIFA cancels Nigeria, Ghana friendly

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IGERIA’s quest to play Ghana next month in London in an international friendly has been scuttled due to a FIFA directive.

AccordingtotheFIFAregulations, no country should play two games across two continents in three days.

The Nigeria Football Federation had announced the Super Eagles would play Bolivia on March 26 in Uyo (Africa) and then take on the Black Stars on 29 March in London (Europe).

This means the Ghana Football Association can now consider proposals from teams including Australia.

It has the option to play all two matches during the FIFA free window next month either in Europe or Asia.

Ghana finished second at the just ended 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea after losing 98 on penalties to Ivory Coast.

The Super Eagles were seeking to use the game against their sworn rivals to kick-start their preparations for the 2017 African qualifiers.

EXPRESSIVE: Falcao swivels his body to meet the ball with a header as Man U beat Sunderland 2-0 at Old Trafford

NFF panics over Keshi

BY BEN EFE

statements about the next step forward after Keshi’s rejection of the latest contract offer.

“Please I cannot make any statements for now. There is a whole lot of media frenzy and I don’t want to be dragged into it,” said NFF boss Amaju Pinnick, when we sought his reaction to Keshi’s statement that he was offered a slave contract..

He advised that the NFF

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•Pinnick

IGERIA Football Federation has been thrown off balance by coach Stephen Keshi’s declaration that he was offered a “slave contract”.

From all indications, the position of the Super Eagles chief coach will remain vacant for sometime as NFF top shots refused to make any

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1. House of Reps Speaker (8) 5. Assistant (4) 7. Praise (5) 8. Upright (4) 9. Lantern (4) 11. Tradition (6) 13. Lagos masquerade (3) 15. Exclamation (2) 16. Pig’s nose (5) 18. Agent (3) 20. Glitters (6) 24. Forward (5) 25. Nigerian state (6) 27. Boring tool (3) 29. Ghanaian fabric (5) 31. Perform (2) 32. Oshiomhole’s state (3) 34. U.S. currency (6) 36. Vow (4) 38. Musical quality (4) 39. Inclination (5) 40. Eager (4)

41. Damages (8)

DOWN 1. Sample (5) 2. Niger state town (4) 3. Observe (5) 4. Lecture (6) 5. Everyone (3) 6. Use (6) 10. Inquires (4) 12. Carpet (3) 14. Colour (6) 15. Resistance unit (3) 17. Coax (4) 19. Rollicked (6) 21. Hatchet (3) 22. Satisfied (4) 23. Nigerian state (3) 26. Cry of derision (3) 27 . African country (6) 28. Endure (4) 29. Child (3) 30. Spoke (6) 31. Adorn (5) 33. Baking chambers (5) 35. Asterisk (4) 37. Possessed (3)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7 8

9 11

13 14

10

12

16 21

17

W

18 19 23

22 24 25 26

27

29

28

30 31

34 36

38

39 40

32 35

37

41

See solution on page 5

CAF Champions League Pillars 3 Malakia 0 Confederation Cup W/Wolves 3 RC Bobo Diolasou 0 EPL West Ham 1 C/ Palace 3 Burnley 0 Swansea 1 Man U 2 Sunderland 0 Nescastle 1 Aston Villa 0 Stoke City 1 Hull 0 W/Brom 1 Southampton 0 Today’s matches CAF U-17 Nigeria v Guinea Final Match South Africa v Mali

4pm 7pm

EPL Liverpool Arsenal

v Man City 1pm v Everton 3:05pm League Cup

Cheslea v Tottenham 5.00pm

Rooney sends Man U to third

15

20

spokesman, Ademola Olajire should be contacted for comments, but several phone calls made to Olajire remained unanswered.

Olajire had sent a release appealing to sports journalists not to overheat the “football polity” with their celebration of Keshi’s submissions.

Keshi was widely reported to have dismissed the contract offer of the NFF. “From the clauses I have seen so far, I don’t know what words to use but the contract can be described as a ‘slave contract’”, he said, probably in Continues on Page 60

RESULTS

33

AYNE Rooney ended his eight-game Premier League scoring drought with a brace as Manchester United climbed back above Arsenal into third with a 2-0 victory against a dogged Sunderland on Saturday.

United were booed during stages of another underwhelming first half at Old Trafford but Rooney, restored to his favoured

forward position, dispatched a 66th-minute penalty after Radamel Falcao was impeded

by John O’Shea.

Fellow former United man Wes Brown was wrongly shown the red card instead of O’Shea despite the remonstrations of Sunderland’s players before Rooney added his second with a simple finish in the 84th minute.

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