29 Brunt to death in auto crash

C M Y K

2 —SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 — 3

900 escape death as train rammed into trailer in Lagos

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN WITH AGENCY REPORT

O

VER nine hundred passengers escaped death yesterday morning when a 10-coach Iddo bound train rammed into a trailer truck at Ilupeju Railway crossing near Oshodi, Lagos.

The accident which occurred at about 7:30 a.m. led to traffic gridlock along the Ilupeju/Oshodi road for several hours.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that each of the coaches has 90 seats, but they were usually overloaded.

An eye witness said that the articulated vehicle blocked the railway crossing when the train was already close by.

The loaded trailer had crashed into the double barriers on the railway crossing shortly before the train arrived.

On seeing the approaching train, the driver jumped out of the trailer and ran away. The train then dragged the truck for some

distance, scattering the goods inside it — which were mostly empty cartons of Malta Guinness drink along the track.

The dragging of the truck also led to the damaging of some vehicles parked along the rail track by mo-

tor mechanics.

We gathered that the accident caused some damage to the engine of the locomotive and the track.

Confirming the accident, Mr Ademuyiwa Adekanbi, the Lagos District Public Relations Officer of the

F

EAR, panic gripped residents as many flee Damaturu, the Yobe state capital as over 20 people have been slaughtered in various parts of the state in the last few days.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that since the Eid-el-fitr Sallah festival, unchecked serial killings have been going on in the state capital. Worst hit areas marked as no go areas include Ajari, Powari, Gwange, Nasarawa and Jerusalem wards respectively.

It would be recalled that the sect members popularly known as Boko Haram had been claiming responsibility for several killings in the state and other parts of the country.

Reacting to the development, Yobe state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam yesterday in a special broadcast to the people of the state on the security situation and related issues, commiserated with the people over the loss of lives and property while he appealed for calm and continuous prayers towards the restoration of

“We have done enough jingles on radio and television, we have rallies and distributed fliers to sensitise people of the right of way of a train at level crossings,” he said.

The incident makes it

the third time in August that passenger trains have rammed into vehicles at railway crossings in

the Lagos metropolis.

CAN appoints General Secretary

29 burnt to death, several others injured in HE Christian Associ Yobe auto crash T ation of Nigeria in the nearby city of trating efforts to deposit Hospital, Potiskum,” (CAN), now has a new WO buses collided Potiskum. the corps at the General Umar stated.

General Secretary. He is T head-on and burst The State Sector ComRev. Dr. Musa Asake, into flames in Yobe State mander of the Federal yesterday, killing at least 29 people, police said.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that two Toyota Hiace buses travelling in opposite directions along Potiskum-Kano road in the state, had a head-on collision and thereafter went off in flames. 29 persons died,11 of them burnt beyond recognition.

Police spokesman Frank Mba confirmed the incident adding that that 16 others were also injured.

He said the accident happened at 1:00 pm, adding that the injured were taken to a hospital

Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Malam Shehu Umar, attributed the accident to reckless driving and over-speeding, adding: “accidents on this road are mostly associated with reckless driving and over-speeding.”

Although the commission was yet to identify the victims, Umar said that one of the vehicles belonged to Borno Express Bus Service.

“We are yet to determine the destination of the vehicles that is, where they took off from and where they were heading to because. We are still concen-

20 slaughtered as residents flee Damaturu over serial killings

BY MOHAMMED IGBADIA

Railways, said that no life was lost in the incident.

Adekanbi said that the corporation has embarked on enough enl i g h t e n m e n t campaigns on the use of the Railway Crossings.

normalcy in the state.

He said “ we have not witnessed the normalcy we desire and people

have continued to panic and flee Damaturu in thousands making it look like a ghost town”.

Ondo gets new HoS

T

HE Ondo State Gov ernment has announced the appointment of an Acting Head of Service.

She is Mrs. Stella Kosemani - Kolawole who until her appointment was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment.

In a release signed by the Ondo State Information Commissioner, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, the appointment of the Acting Head of Service takes effect from September 1, 2012 following the

retirement of the erstwhile Head of Service Mr. Ajose Kudehinbu, whose retirement from the Civil Service takes effect 31st August, 2012. . Ondo State Governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko who received the retirement letter of Mr. Ajose Kudehinbu congratulated him on the landmark achievements and transformation which he brought to bear on Ondo State Civil service during his tenure.

who was between 1999 and May 2005, General Secretary of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Jos, Nigeria.

Dr. Asake, a pastor and teacher, conference speaker and counselor, rose to this new assignment with a wealth of family, educational, academic, pastoral, teaching, education and church administration, cross-cultural, national and international, government and political experiences.

4—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

‘Mummy P’ abandons six babies ByIshola Balogun

P

RECIOUS Donatus Ogbona,remember her? The embattled woman who claimed to have delivered seven babies in one year may have abandoned them in the Social Welfare Home under Imo State government.This indication is coming after she had gotten another set of two babies (apparently in the same mysterious circumstance) within six months of her prosecution for child trafficking and related offences. But her counsel, Barrister Nwigwe said the battle to reclaim the children has just begun, adding that right now, there is no case against his client and he was ready to explore all legal means to secure the release of the babies.

On September 21, 2011, at Afam, Obigbo, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, one of the places designated as maternity home for the mysterious deliveries, the arrangements for another baby were perfected and not even a female member of her church was allowed in to witness the process; against earlier agreement that somebody would be allowed to witness it to prove her case. At the end, the process did not prove that she actually delivered a new baby or that she went through a gestation period. The DNA test conducted by Vanguard newspapers not only proved that she is not the biological mother of the seven babies; but also proved that none of the babies has the same maternity. A Police source revealed that the series of tests

No! we will claim the children back — Barr Nwigwe Says no case against her When Saturday Vanguard visited the Home unannounced recently, none of the remaining six babies were found at the Red Cross Home.

A source said authorities have transferred the babies to a Social Welfare Home in the State. The source noted that besides the quantum of publicity the controversial kids have generated for the Home, people now visit the Home more often than before with gift items, but also passed some comments about the purported miraculous birth of the babies.

The home itself has lost its bubbling streak as the number of visitors to the home has reduced unlike when the seven babies were receiving care.

A

Precious Donatus Ogbona

F

ollowing prosecution by the police, the seven babies were separated from her and kept under the care of Red Cross Motherless Babies Home, Owerri. One of the babies was later reported to have died. Since then, others have been receiving care at the home.A source told Saturday Vanguard recently that since Mummy P’ had gotten other babies, she seldoms visits the Home to see the babies.

Saturday Vanguard source revealed that the embattled woman has been so excited

He stated that at the moment, there is no case preferred against Mummy P which leaves her to seek the release of her babies

,

earlier carried out by the Police during investigation also showed that she had never passed through a gestation period let alone giving birth to a baby. But she came out with a baby she named Hero.

Few months later, she took her abrakadabra to Aba where she purportedly delivered another one, (the tenth baby) to give credence to her prophetic claim that God promised her 10 babies.

ll attempt to speak with Mrs Ogbonna proved abortive as she didn’t pick her calls on recognising the caller.

However, after several attempts, she spoke through her lieutenant saying: “Go and

thing against her. They are just keeping the children there without anything against her.

After the illegal detention, nobody has come up with any fresh charges against her.”

When Saturday Vanguard however enquired about the substantive case which another source hinted was adjourned till October 10, Barrister Nwigwe maintained that there is no case coming up except that he wanted to file. He said: “there is no case against her right now. I’m filing a fresh case against the police. We will ask the court to release the children to us. If there is no charge against her, why should they keep the children?” he argued.

He added that since the High Court is on vacation at the moment, he would wait till they resume but disclosed that he would begin the paper work pending the time the court will resume.

On the welfare of the babies,

,

having two more babies to keep her company and therefore, she no longer visits the home as she used to.

But would any sane woman who went through pregnancy and labour be comfortable when her babies are separated from her for more than a year?

Even insanity cannot make it any better. Take away the baby of a mad woman and you will see how wild she could be.

A woman who does not want

The babies

her name in print stated that: “A real mother who became a victim of anything will certainly go through much trauma for separating her tender babies from her.

“Real mothers often worry about the state of their babies especially in this condition. A real mother no matter what anybody says or does should be worried about the emotional needs of her babies by constant visit; or have they barred her from visiting?” Our source added that “that could mean a lot of things.”

write whatever you like.”

The counsel to Mrs Ogbonna, Chief NBE Nwigwe speaking to Saturday Vanguard on phone said he was preparing to get the release of the children from the police. He stated that at the moment, there is no case preferred against Mummy P which leaves her to seek the release of her babies.

He said: “We will be charging the Police and others.

We have concluded the case with government because they have not found any new

he stated that “you should go and ask the police. I don’t know where they are because we are not allowed access to them.”

He added that the Police have always said the children are in the welfare Home but no one knows the welfare home.

“It makes sense to say they are in a Welfare Home but which Welfare Home?” he queried.

“As soon as I file the papers, I will serve them a notice of disclosure and notice of production and they will produce the children,” he stated.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 — 5

PDP At 14:

Party begs Nigerians to be patient with Jonathan •Calls for Sober reflection on unity, justice •Says it will not interfere in primaries •Keeps mum on State Police, N5,000 note •We must focus on well fulfilled social contract with the electorate — Atiku

BY HENRY UMORU, Abuja

T

HE National leader ship of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP yesterday admitted that the mood of the nation especially against the backdrop of security challenge in the country will not allow it roll out its drums to mark fourteen years of its existence.

Members of the Boko Haram sect have threatened the security situation of the country following massive killings and wanton destruction of property in some parts of the country, thereby crippling the economy of Nigeria.

Addressing Journalists yesterday at the Wadata Plaza, National Secretariat of the party to mark fourteen years of the formation of PDP, the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP while admitting that there have been some shortcomings in governance and hiccups as it has not met its target of transforming the country, however, pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with the PDP led government.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on PDP to in the spirit of fourteen years of formation, look critically on how the party has fulfilled its social contract with the electorate.

According to Atiku in a statement, ‘’as PDP marks its 14years anniversary today, our attention must not only focus on how old our Party is today but how well has our party fulfilled its social contract with the electorate who has kept us going for the last 14years and how best we can do more. ‘’The 14years Survival of PDP cannot be written without a big salute to the strong efforts put in by people like you in seeing that our party flag continues to fly high. No mat-

ter the ups and downs, we must remain committed to the PDP vision of building a strong Nation where Economic & SocioPolitical growth has no boundary and the only way we can survive the years ahead is by insisting on electing our leaders and not allowing others to impose them on us no matter the influence, threat or inducement.”

According to Metuh, since the party was registered August 31,1998, Nigerians have been looking forward to greater achievements, but was quick to add that the government has stabilized the economy, exposed corrupt members even among the party. ‘’PDP is not unmindful of such expectation. We recall that exactly today in 1998, the historic efforts of eminent Nigerians from all walks of life to form a credible nationwide, issue and people based political party were crowned with the official lunching of our great party at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. ‘’The visions of the founding fathers of our party, the critical elements of its manifesto which centred on rebuilding Nigeria into a pride in the comity of nations, its untrammeled credibility as a truly national political party that has been providing a platform for all Nigerians to realize their political aspirations irrespective of religious, ethnic or cultural affiliations differentiate the PDP from its contemporaries, in deed, any other political party in the history of Nigeria. This unique character of our party has been the major reason for its preference

by Nigerians who have continued to renew our mandate as seen in 1999, 2003, 2007 and in 2011. ‘’There have been some short comings, it has not been smooth all the way, there have been some hiccups; we are not an excellent organisa-

tion, Nigerians should exercise patience, it will be okay next year,” he said.

The PDP has also vowed that ahead of the 2015 general election, it will not interfere in the process of selecting candidates to fly the flag of the PDP both at the local government, state and at the national level, adding that even at general elections, the people will decide through one man, one vote on who will be their leaders.”

The PDP National Publicity Secretary who noted that an occasion of this kind calls for celebration, but it is marked this year without pomp, however called on its members in Nigeria and in the Diaspora to soberly reflect on the values of justice, unity and progress which is the motto of the party.

Speaking further, Metuh disclosed that as a party, it has put in place internal mechanisms to assess and evaluate all its ministers and other public officials as that will be the means of getting the party’s ticket for the 2015 general elections.

The spokesperson who listed the achievements of the party in the last fourteen years, was however silent on the controversial proposed N5,000 denomination by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and the ranging state police being canvassed for by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, adding that the National Working Committee, NWC was yet to meet to take a decision on the issues.

He however called on Nigerians to be patriotic and put the interest of Nigeria over and above personal interest, adding, ‘’the National Working Committee (NWC) has decided that our members throughout the Federation and in the Diaspora should use the occasion of this year’s anniversary to soberly reflect on the values of justice, unity

Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson (middle) during the commissioning of some Taxis in Yenogoa yesterday. and progress which is the motto of our great party. We wish to add that the significance of our motto has remained a critical essential in navigating through the current challenging trajectory of our national history. ‘’Our anniversary should be an occasion for us to celebrate really but we have chosen to mark it this year without pomp.

This is in line with our determination to devote more attention to accelerating an all front delivery of our electoral promises to Nigerians and in def-

erence to the mood of the nation. ‘’On behalf of the National Executive Committee of our great Party, our National Chairman , Dr. Bamanga Tukur wishes to commend Nigerians for their support over the years. We wish to promise once again that the PDP will continue to make the welfare of the people a priority. We shall do more than we have done in the last fourteen years and urge that we all keep hope alive.”

Listing some of the

achievements, Metuh said, ‘’after fourteen years of the formation of the PDP and thirteen years in leadership of our dear nation, we are happy to express our deep satisfaction at the roles we have so far played in the course of the development of Nigeria. Nigeria has moved from a pariah nation which it once was, to an influential global player since the inception of the PDP Government. Our status as a regional, continental and global power has been enhanced.

Customs acquires plane, pledges higher revenue en the effective surveillance

BY EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief

T

HE Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has acquired a 12-seater jet for its operations towards checking activities of smugglers, stemming insecurity and boosting revenue.

The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who launched the plane, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, challenged the NCS to increase its revenue generation having been provided with the plane that will curb smuggling across the country.

She told the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Diko and his team to work harder to achieve better results for the country, adding “this aircraft is an investment for which the country expects good

returns”.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala disclosed that the approval for the purchase of the plane obtained from the Federal Executive Council, FEC, about three months ago was an indication of the federal government’s effort to improve the operations and contributions of the Nigeria Customs Service to the economy.

She said that the plane will help the NCS to strengthen aerial surveillance of the different terrain-land and sea- that dot the nation’s borders The terrain around the country’s borders includes difficult to access riverine and mountainous areas which make monitoring and combating of the activities of the borders very challenging.

Earlier the C-G said expressed optimism that the service would record greater revenue generation, giv-

which will enable his officers and men to give a new fight against smugglers.

He commended the minister promptly response to the occasion by assisting to make a strong case for the plane at the FEC Also, Captain Mbaya Kuni flew in the plane from the Unites States from where it was bought, revealed that the jet is equipped with state-of-theart surveillance and communications gatgets with which to share information with their colleagues on land operations.

Several Customs personnel have lost their lives or sustained injuries during attacks by smugglers in recent times.

It will be recalled that the service recently adopted a change of strategy to concentrate more efforts at the nation’s borders even as it withdraws from the highways.

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

N5,000 Note: The rage continues

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

CAPP calls CBN to order

HE Community Ac tion for Popular Participation, CAPP has condemned the introduction of N5,000 note. Mrs. Kyuata Giwa Executive Director CAPP in Abuja yesterday, argued that the introduction of the high currency denomination would not be in the interest of Nigerians but would rather draw back government efforts at ensuriing that the country became one of the 20 most developed economies of the world by

2020.

The Central Bank of Nigeria had on Thursday , August 24, 2012, announced plan to introduce a N5000 note into circulation next year. In addition it said that N 20, N10 and N5 would be coined, while the existing N50, N100, N200 and N1000 would also be redesigned with added new security features and launched at the same time.

Bishop urges FG to deploy T funds for infrastructure

BY SAM EYOBOKA

T

HE President and Pastor- General of Rhema Christian Church and Towers, Bishop Taiwo Akinola has advised the Federal Government to deploy the over N40 billion earmarked for the printing of new N5,000 notes for needed infrastructural development, saying the CBN new move is an unnecessary distraction from more serious national issues.

Addressing newsmen on plans for the forthcoming Rhema World Convention and the state of the nation, the cleric said the proposed introduction of N5,000 notes by CBN appears to be the most undesirable thing happening to the nation’s economy right now. ”It is unnecessary distraction, it is uncalled for, and I don’t see any sense to justify it,” he said, adding “as a matter of fact, I consider it to be a kind of policy summersault.”

Continuing, Bishop Akinola asked: “How long ago were we hearing the drums of developing Nigeria as a cashless society, where e-banking would be made strong as it obtains in other lead-

ing countries of the world? ”And how soon are we now, inadvertently, working towards reverting that? And by simple economic principle, I know that this is a way of encouraging inflation,” he stated, suggesting that the huge budgetary allocation for that endeavour be ploughed into other productive ventures that will rein-

vigorate the nation’s economy.

On the crucial state of insecurity in the nation, Bishop Akinola said that the development signals the need for Nigerians to move closer to God, while urging President Goodluck Jonathan to be more pragmatic in handling the precarious security threat to the nation’s corporate existence.

NBA vows to drag CBN to court

•Says it’s a reckless plan to push money laundering to new heights

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHERI, Abuja

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HE Nigerian Bar As sociation, NBA, yesterday, vowed to drag the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to court should it insist on going ahead with the proposed introduction of N5000 currency note.

The legal body which made the declaration in a communiqué it issued at the end of its 52nd annual conference in Abuja yesterday maintained that the idea was nothing but “a shallow, poorly thought-out, hare-

brained initiative by the CBN.” It argued that introducing N5000 currency note would “devalue the naira, diminish the lives of Nigerians and push corruption and money laundering to new unimaginable heights.”

While opposing the idea, NBA in the communiqué which was read by its immediate past national president, Mr J.B Daudu, SAN, commended the Senate for calling the apex bank to order, saying CBN ought to have firstly submitted such measure for legislative approval.

It said: “NBA notes the argument of the CBN that this measure or innovation will not promote inflation and rejects same on the ground that the realities in the Nigerian economic situation cannot be found in the Western business models that CBN officials are familiar with; this measure will bring and mete unimaginable hardship to Nigerians as the measure is a cunning strategy aimed at devaluating the Naira wholesale.

We may well see a N10, 000 or N20, 000 notes soon.

Though CAPP commended the CBN for the innovation in redesigning the Naira bills and the immortalization of the three Nigerian women, Fumilayo Kuti, Margaret Ekpo and Gambo Sawaba on the proposed N5000 bill but believed that the new denomination would rather do a major damage to the already ailing economy of the country.

Man of God condemns it

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & OGIEVA OYEMWENSA

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HE General Overseer of the Omega Fire Ministry, Auchi, Apostle Johnson Suleiman has joined other Nigerians in condemning the introduction of the N5,000 note by the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido.

He said that apart from the fact that it will further worsen “the colossal inflation in the country, we must study the European economy and that of Nigeria before putting up an idea. We must have to work hard to maintain a stable economy but without a stable economy you cannot compare us to other countries”.

“I am not in support of

it and I think the senate kicks against it. I think what Sanusi should try to do now is not to make N5, 000 notes but stabilizing the already existing notes and let it have a standard to avoid causing unnecessary crisis in the country.” Commenting on the victory of Oshiomhole, he said:“the victory of Adams Oshiomhole is the victory of Edo state people, we have voted for development, we have voted for continuity. This is not a party thing and so no party should celebrate. The election went well because the people voted not for the party but for the person.

“A lot of persons had not attended any CAN meeting, a lot of persons had not been connected to any CAN group but on that day they came out to vote for Adams.”

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 — 7

Appeal ICJ judgment on Bakassi now, NBA tells FG •As group gives Jonathan 7-day ultimatum BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI, Abuja

F

OLLOWING what it described as the “grossest form of human rights abuses,” the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, yesterday, asked the Federal Government to without further delay, apply for a revision of judgment of the International Court of Justice, ICJ, which in 2002, ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun.This is even as a consortium of lawyers led by Crownfield Solicitors, has given President Goodluck Jonathan seven days to initiate an appeal proceeding before the ICJ on the matter.

The group, via a letter it forwarded to the Attorney General of the Federation, leadership of the two chambers of the legislature, National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Secretary General of United Nations and the Republic of Cameroun High Commission, said it would not hesitate to sue President Jonathan for negligence of duty should he fail to appeal the Bakassi verdict before the October 10 deadline.

In the letter which was signed by its lead counsel, Mr. Festus A. Ogwuche, and made available to Saturday Vanguard, the group argued that the existence of the African Charter as an in-

ternational treaty binding Nigeria and Cameroun renders ineffective the transfer of the Bakassi Territory from Nigeria to Cameroun under both the purport of the ICJ judg-

ment and the Green Tree agreement.

Meanwhile, in a communiqué it issued in Abuja yesterday, the NBA warned that “the gross violations of the rights of

BY DAUD OLATUNJI Abeokuta

O

From left Dr. Akintunde Ayeni, National President, HTSN, presenting certificate to Alhaji (Dr) Olasunkanmi Qumas, the President,Lagos State chapter HTSN.

ARELY two months af ter the sacked 788 doctors in Lagos public hospitals were recalled by the state government, the doctors yesterday accused the government of insincerity over its agreement to fully implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale, CONMESS even as it demanded the payment of outstanding salaries for the months of April and May that the strike lingered.

They also alleged that state government withheld payment of April and May salaries as part of punitive measures against doctors that participated in the last

GUN State Police command said yesterday that it had arrested the coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC in Ifo,identified as Alabede Baaki who allegedly shot a member of the group Haruna Babajide during a charm-trial exercise in Ifo in Ogun state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi disclosed this through a press statement sent to

Insecurity: IG’s surprise drill throws Force Hqtrs into panic BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja

T

HE current level of insurgency in the country and strategies aimed at countering it, yesterday prompted the Inspector-General of Po-

lice (IGP) Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar; to take the entire personnel and visitors to Force Headquarters by surprise, as he ordered an impromptu Fire Safety and Security drill at the complex,

..demand payment of April, May salaries

B

thy of re-consideration: Consequently, the NBA calls on the Government of Nigeria to, without further delay, apply under Article 61 of the ICJ statute of 1946, to the ICJ for a revision of what is an unjust judgment over Bakassi.

Police arrest OPC leader for attempted murder

CONMESS: Lagos doctors accuse govt of insincerity

BY CHIOMA OBINNA & EBELE ONOURAH

the Bakassi people have the potential of spiraling into major insurrection spawned by the exercise of the right to self-determination.”

“The NBA is aware that

there are grounds upon which the Government of Nigeria may legitimately apply for a revision of the ICJ judgment of 10th October 2002, and having adjudged those grounds (or fresh facts that were not considered by the ICJ earlier on) as being wor-

industrial action. Briefing journalists at the end of their Ordinary General Meeting, OGM, the doctors under the aegis of Association of Resident Doctors, ARD, Lagos University Teaching Hospital Branch, LASUTH-ARD, appealed to the state government to remove all punitive measures following the April/May crises in the health sector.

Speaking, LASUTHARD President, Dr. Babajide Saheed alleged that while 10 per cent of the April salaries were currently withheld, the May salary had not been paid at all.

Saheed noted that the state government made good of its threat of ‘no-

work no-pay’ rule contrary to its promise to return to negotiation with the doctors following the withdrawal of the mass-sack order and suspension of seven weeks industrial action.

prompting “panic” in the force headquarters’ vicinity, even as the IG said it is pertinent to prepare for eventuality at all times.

The simulated drill took place just as the Defence headquarters yesterday took possession of a 3.75 KVA Mobile Solar PV Generator which would be deployed for use for military operations by the difference Joint Task Forces tackling terrorism and other internal security challenges across the country.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that while the simulated drill lasted, passersby took to their heels, while some Police

personnel who were not briefed of what was happening went to the extent of abandoned their duty posts thinking that Boko Haram or some other insurgents had stuck the premises again.

The Police boss had, shortly after he entered the Force headquarters premises at about 9.00 am, directed the Anti-Terrorism Squad leader to carry out practical demonstration of what a reallife insurgency attack on a premises of such magnitude would look like so as to test both the capability of his men and the staff to respond to such situations.

Police arrest man, 25, for allegedly hacking uncle to death

BY PETER OKUTU

E

BONYI State Police C o m m a n d , yesterday, said it arrested one Ifeanyi Okorie, 25, who hailed from Amatakwu, Ugwulangwu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of

Ebonyi state for allegedly killing his uncle with a machete.

According to the Command, the suspect had on Thursday after waking up from sleep, grabbed a cutlass and hacked to death his 65 years old uncle, Uwajie Obasi and that during

interrogation, the suspect confessed to have committed the crime.

Confirming the arrest of the suspect, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Sylvester Igbo stated that “A case of murder was reported at Ohaozara Police Station on 30th 2015 at about 1900hrs.

journalists yesterday in A b e o k u t a .

According to Adejobi Baaki who claimed to be the OPC leader in Ajowa in Ifo had reported the case to police that one Haruna Babajide was shot by unknown person but, he was however indicted during the investigation by the police.

He said “ Baaki reported that one Haruna Babajide also an OPC member was shot and wounded in the leg by a yeta-to-be identified person and was rushed to a private hospital. ”Investigation however, revealed that the victim was shot by the coordinator himself in a charm-trial exercise”.

The PPRO further stated that, the suspect has been detained and the victim has been transfered to a government hospital.

Nigeria can earn big from herbal medicines – Dr. Akintunde Ayeni

T

HE National Presi dent of Herbal Therapy Society of Nigeria (HTSN), Dr. Akintunde Ayeni, has said that Nigeria can earn up to ten billion dollars per annum from the production and marketing of herbal medicines.

Dr. Ayeni, who spoke at the inauguration and swearing in ceremony of new officials of the Lagos State Chapter of the association held recently at the Yemkem Plaza, Egbeda, said that notable Nigerian herbal therapy practitioners have had huge successes in producing potent and reliable herbal drugs that can be used to combat different ailments threatening the existence of mankind which when taken globally, can be another great source of income for the country.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1 , 2012

Rain wrecks havoc in Jigawa, destroys 350 houses, 507 farm lands

BY TINA AKANNAM, Dutse

T

ORRENTIAL rain fall with thick blocks of ice which lasted for over ten hours wrecked havoc in five villlages in Jigawa State, leaving over 507 farm lands of food as well as cash crops worth over N1 billion destroyed.

Saturday Vanguard’s visit to the five affected villages which include, Gidan Kuka, Labota, Gidan Mara, Garmazawa, Fanusau and some parts of Kiyawa Local Government showed that the disaster which occurred at night also rendered many people homeless but no life was lost.

The figures of the affected victims made available to Saturday Vanguard from the office of the Head of Community Development showed that over 300 houses with a total of 580 rooms were destroyed while a total of 507 farmlands were seriously damaged.

Some of the victims who spoke with Saturday Vanguard lamented that the loss recorded was beyond human imagination.

Speaking on behalf of the victims, the 88yearold ward head of Gidan Danmara village, Alhaji Ali Maiunguwa said that

they thanked God that the disaster which occurred in the night did not kill anybody, but added that if it had happened during the day time, many lives would have been lost.

The aged village head then confirmed that victims of the disaster in his domain lost food crops like guinea-corn, millet, Maiwa, Maize, while the cash crops consisted of Beans, Cassava, pumpkins, and water-melon.

His words” This is the longest rainfall we have witnessed this year, the ice falls lasted for at least 15 minutes while the heavy down pour lasted for about 12 hours.

We have never experienced this kind of rainfall together with blocks of ice for over a decade”.

Alhaji Ali then appealed to the state gov-

ernment and relevant authorities and concern citizens of the state to come to the aid of the victims, adding that their major problems for now are food and shelter.

Also reacting to the development, the ward head of Gidan Kuka all in Dutse Local Government, Alhaji Muhammad Hussaini described the disaster as pathetic and devastating, said the ice rain also wrecked havoc in his domain, leaving over 200 farm lands with crops worth millions of naira destroyed.

Alhaji Hussaini who commended the Chairman of Dutse Local Government Alhaji Sanusi Abdulazeez Dan-Kofa for paying them a sympathy visit also disclosed that officials of NEMA and SEMA have visited the affected area to assess their loss.

10 Niger Delta students bag SPDC post graduate scholarship in UK

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HE Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has awarded post graduate scholarships to ten students in its areas of operation in the Niger Delta to study in the United Kingdom for their masters’ degree programme.

The recipients include, six from Delta State, three from Rivers State and one from Bayelsa State.

The lucky beneficiaries are to study engineering courses related to the oil and gas industry at the Imperial College London, University of

Fire Outbreak: LUTH provides alternative arrangement for HIV patients

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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O ensure that HIV patients receive adequate treatment despite the fire which razed the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, APIN clinic at the hospital, management of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, yesterday provided makeshift arrangements for patients seeking care at the clinic even as it debunked reports that the Children’s ward and DOTS centres were razed and 35 children trapped in the inferno.

As at 9:00 AM when Vanguard visited the

Minister of Works inspecting the Onitsha-Enugu road and the late Odumegwu Ojukwu statue at the Head Bridge in preparation for President Goodluck Jonathan’s unveiling ...Thursday.

scene of the incident, the management had already moved patients to a makeshift space beside the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course, DOTS centre. However, smoke was still emitting from the debris.

Makeshift canopies and chairs were provided for patients for the administration of drugs and treatment so as not to disrupt normal activities of their Friday clinic day.

Speaking to journalists at the scene, the Coordinator, Corporate Services LUTH, Mrs Hope Nwawolo who spoke on behalf of the Chief Medical Director, Prof Akin

Oshibogun explained that the management had already made an alternative arrangement to ensure that patients continue with their treatments.

Leeds and University College, London.

Speaking at the award/ farewell ceremony for the 2012 beneficiaries of the scheme held in Yenagoa, the company’s Vice President, Sustainable Development/Community Relations and Communication, Mr. Tony Attah, said the scheme was part of the company’s drive to grow the talent in the Niger Delta for the oil and industry. Thirty indigenes of the region, he said, had so far benefitted from the SPDC Niger Delta Post-Graduate Scholarship Scheme since its inception three years ago. ”This award ceremony is the third edition and we are

delighted to have two women out of ten beneficiaries. Last year, we had only two ladies also, one of who was a Bayelsa State indigene,” he said.

According to him, Bayel-

Danfo passengers narrowly escape death road.

BY OLAYINKA LATONA

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family of three with some other passengers narrowly escaped death yesterday in a fatal accident that occurred at Freedom Junction along Apapa-Oshodi express

Security operatives kill two suspected armed robbers ered that the boys were youths after apprehending

BY FESTUS AHON

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WO suspected armed robbers, were Thursday shot dead, while three were arrested by a combine team of security operatives at Uwheru, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.

Saturday Vanguard gath-

among the armed bandits terrorizing unsuspecting travelers between Ughelli and Ohoro junction on the East/West road. A dependable source from the Uwheru community said the boys numbering three were among those perpetrating crime in the area.

The source, who pleaded anonymity said the

sa was chosen as the host state for the 2012 edition because of the low participation of students of the state origin due to low level awareness of the programme in the state.

the suspects, put a distress call across to security operatives in Ughelli, Ogor and Evwreni who immediately came to their aid, disclosing that the other one was handed over to the police at the Ughelli ‘A’ Police Division alive including the two corpses of the suspected armed robbers.

The accident which caused slight gridlock from Mile 2 to the scene of the incident involved a Conoil tanker with registration number XP 169 AAA, two commercial buses otherwise known as Danfo plate number XC 48 KSF. According to eye witness the tanker coming from Oshodi towards Apapa lost control due to brake failure and collided with the other two danfo buses that were trying to load at the Freedom bus stop.

Some of the passengers luckily escaped death by whiskers but sustain severe injuries.

Two women and a boy of about seven years old, also sustained injuries and were taken to hospital.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 — 9

Alleged killing of wife: Nollywood actor, Oganiru arrested BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja

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A Conoil tanker trailer with registration No Lagos XP-169-AAA, lost control and ran into two buses and five cars at Freedom Bus Stop in Mile-2, along Apapa-Oshodi Express road. Pix: The tanker, one of the cars and some sympathisers at the scene of the accident. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

OLICE authorities in Abuja yesterday confirmed to Saturday Vanguard that notable Nollywood actor, Mr. Rich Oganiru was arrested and is being investigated in connection with the alleged killing of his wife (names with-held).

According to the source, Oganiru was arrested following a petition by family and relations of the wife who claimed that she was poisoned by the actor who

CPC wants $15m bribe saga tackled T

HE Congress for Pro gressive Change (CPC) has decried the controversy surrounding the alleged $15 million bribe money offered to the former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu in 2007 by former PDP Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori.

The money currently in custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria is the bone of contention in a legal tussle between the Federal Government and Delta State Government over its rightful owner.

While the matter was pending in court, a Nigerian businessman, Chi-

buike Achigbu emerged with a claim that he was the authentic owner as a team of 10 lawyers filed a deposition saying he raised the $15 million as

donation to the campaigns of the PDP in the 2007 general elections.

Achigbu alleged he gave the money to Dr. Andy Uba, a PDP chieftain now

Fear grips residents as NURTW factions Ajiboye, were forced out clash in Mushin of the park at the start of

BY IFEANYI OKOLIE

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ALPABLE fear has gripped residents of Mushin area of Lagos State, following reports of possible attack on a popular motor park in the area by members of a warring faction of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW.

It was alleged that members of this faction have been stock-piling arms and ammunition within the area in a bid, to forcefully take over a motor park that was formerly under their control.

Sources told Saturday Vanguard that members of the faction, which is being led by one Joel

Oyerinde: Police move Ugolor, 9 others to Oko prison pending DPP advice

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI, Abuja

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HE Police in Abuja yesterday said that Rev. David Ugolor, the alleged mastermind of the murder of late aide to Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo State, and 9 others were yesterday put in jail by a Magistrate Court in Benin presided over by Magistrate JK Idiake and would remain in jail pending when the Director of Public Prosecution gives his advice on the investigation report.

Making the disclosure yesterday, Force Spokesman, CSP Frank Mba, said Ugolor along with Danjuma Musa, Murtala Usman, Auta Umaru, Moses Asama Okoro,

a senator who in turn passed it to Mr. Ibrahim Lomorde of the EFCC for the purpose of authenticating its suitability for donation.

Umaru Adamu, Garba Mainasari, Wilfred Iserhieirhiu, Hassan Babatse and Idris Abdul Hameed were arraigned before the Oredo Magistrate court and charged with 8 count charges.

The charges are conspiracy, murder, armed robbery, illegal possession of cartridges and receiving stolen property.

The Force Spokesman noted that all the charges relate to the death, the robbery and the killing of Oyerinde.

Continuing, he said that in a separate charge sheet, Danjuma Musa, Moses Asama Okoro, Abubakar Mohammed and other other at large were arraigned on a 5count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder of one Alhaji Ismaila Aliyu at Benin city

on the 24th of May 2012.

Finally, in the last charge sheet, Umaru Adamu, Moses Asama Okoro and Danjuma Musa were arraigned on a 2 count charge of conspiracy and attempted murder of one Badamasi Saleh and Saidu Dahiru.

The duo are chairman and Vice chairman of Hausa community in Benin .

While noting that the suspects are all to be remanded at the Oko Prison pending the advise of the DPP, Mba said the SSS suspects handed over to the Police would be re-investigated noting that when a sister agency handed over such suspects, the police will visit the scene of crime, take fresh statements and once that is done with, action will be taken on the findings.

violent clashes in Mushin by hoodlums from the notorious Akala and its environs, leaving them with no other area to control.

Police sources at the Area D Command, who spoke with Saturday Vanguard on the issue, said the Command is doing everything under its control to forestall any possible violent outbreak within the area. A senior police officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity said they are currently searching every part of the area for ammunition. “We’ve gotten a tip-off from some members of the public over a possible attack at the Mushin-Obalande Motor Park along Luth Road, Mushin, by a faction of NURTW. But we have mobilised our men to prevent such from happening. At the moment, no one has been arrested and our men are combing the entire area in search of weapons.”

Meanwhile, when Saturday Vanguard contacted the embattled former chairman of the park, Joel Ajiboye, he debunked claims that members of his faction were plotting to carry out any violent attack in Mushin, describing it as a ploy to create confusion and fear in the area.

•Poison not found in deceased body •He maltreated the wife — Police had allegedly perfected the act to do away with her in order to acquire her wealth said to be stupendous.

The wife was said to have been hospitalised for three months for an undisclosed ailment in an Abuja hospital with the Nollywood actor abandoning her until the last day she was to be discharged, before Oganiru came to the hospital to take her home.

On getting home, she died that same day. Police sources however told Saturday Vanguard that though investigation into the death and alleged murder of the wife was still ongoing, Mr. Oganiru has been granted bail.

When Saturday Vanguard sought to know why the Police would grant a murder suspect bail, the source disclosed that though there was evidence to show the actor did not treat his wife well regarding her well being, there was nothing to show the actor had a hand in her death.

The source pointed out that both forensic and medical examinations were performed on the corpse of the deceased and that the posthumous examination showed she did not die as a result of poison.

The allegation was that Rich Oganiru murdered his wife through poison.

Though our investigation showed he did not treat her like a wife deserves to be treated, there was nothing to show that she died or was killed by poison.

Agency reports had indicated that Rich Oganiru who prides himself as one of the pioneering

members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria and has starred in over 300 movies is under detention for complicity leading to the death of a very rich Abuja based multimillionaire businesswoman believed to be his wife.

The report alleged that the woman was not his first wife, as the first wife also died years back and that Oganiru was in a very poor state of life before he met the Abuja based multimillionaire who transformed his life in a matter of months.

Rich Oganiru, according to those who know him, continued the report, loves money and attention almost to a fault. Aside that, he also likes blowing his own trumpet as he always praises himself, “I have starred in over 300 movies, I am the Corporate Marketing Consultant to the Abuja Chapter of AGN, and a high flying Evangelist called to lead the skilled and unskilled gifted in art to realize their God’s given potentials in the Kingdom.

“I am the General Overseer of Davidical Order Ministry, we discover, develop, expose, empower and evangelize musicians, actors, and artistes to be relevant in their different churches- a non denominational outreach for the entertainment industry”, according to his self- appraised on face book.

Tracing the genesis of their liaison, the report alleged the late wife met the Owerri born actor who earlier lost his wife and mother of his two boys at a time he was facing financially challenges and could hardly afford daily meal.

BRIEF

Enu eulogizes Okunbor at 50

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WARRI based gas

dealer, Comrade Michael Enu has eulogized the sterling virtues of Kingsley Ehi Okunbor at his 50th birthday anniversary, describing him as a rare breed among his peers.

Comrade Enu who made this declaration in Warri, Delta state at the weekend, described the celebrant as an accomplished businessman in the gas industry whose strides have touched the life of many.

According to him, Okunbor an accomplished

administrator has demonstrated his prowess by assisting most gas dealers in tackling the multiple problems being experienced in the volatile oil sector in the area.The Comrade, however, hailed Okunbor for laying a solid foundation for a robust socio-economic development of the gas industry, adding that by his desposition, he has helped in no small measure to reenergize the dealers.

10— SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

N5,000 note and currency restructuring at what cost?

By Emmanuel Edukugho

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hen a swarthy man beckons you into a dimly lit alley, you would do well to walk briskly away. But in reality, you might be losing an opportunity to discover a delightful but out-of-the-way small restaurant. Fear and uncertainty about what would happen next, good or bad could be unpredictable.

This, to a considerable extent, captures the recent announcement by Mallam Lamido Sanusi, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on his plan to introduce N5,000 banknotes and conversion of existing currency notes of N20, N10, and N5 to coins. Sanusi said the N5,000 note will have the features of three women nationalists – Margaret Ekpo, Funmilayo Kuti and Gambo Sawaba on it while the other side has the National Assembly complex depicting our democracy.

At the same time, existing N500, N200 and N50 will be redesigned with new security features.

The CBN governor recalled that the last review of Nigeria’s currencies was in 2005 when the N20 polymer ban-

He introduced a cashless policy which is yet to gain ground in Lagos as a pilot scheme before spreading to other cities whose successful implementation is highly doubtful

,

knotes were introduced, followed by withdrawal of the N50, N10, and N5 notes in 2007 which were converted into Polymer banknotes in 2009.

According to him, several stakeholders fora were conducted in 2011 on currency restructuring to gauge public and independent perspectives on the existing banknotes and coin series.

That President Goodluck Jonathan gave approval to the plan in December 2011.

Sanusi assured that the initiative will not lead to inflation because countries like Singapore and Germany with higher bills of 10,000 have not been weighed down by inflation, adding, “the plan is in line with international best practices which require monetary authorities to review their nations’ currencies at intervals of five and eight years to address weaknesses and other challenges.”

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n the first place, many Nigerians have described the initiative as putting the cart before the horse much as the currency restructuring plan was not taken to the public domain for debate or hearing and consequent parliamentary approval.

Dr. Godwin Owoh, Executive Chairman, Society for Analytical Economics in an AIT discussion, said the N5,000 note will actually lead to inflation.

There will be statutory inflation considering initially the cost of retrieving the currencies being withdrawn apart from the cost of printing the new notes estimated at N40.3 billion.

Also, the cost of copper and other metals had risen in the international market used for making coins.

“It’s strange to say there won’t be inflation as the cost of over N40 billion for printing the currency is not productive to the economy, views of Nigerians not considered, public hearing overlooked, CBN didn’t open up nor had interactive session with the National Assembly.”

Owoh said reference by the CBN governor to Singapore, Germany and Japan with bills of 10,000 was wrong because these countries have the highest cost of living in the world.

On the other hand, Nigeria has one of the lowest standard of living in the world, 7th with the highest death rate, 41st out of 53 in Africa and 13th out of 16 ECOWAS states in terms of welfare.

“Public institutions like CBN belongs to all Nigerians and should not make decisions that will take Nigeria and the economy by surprise. CBN had already Continues on page 11

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—11

BY CHARLES ADINGUPU

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gain, the Central Bank of Nigeria Gov ernor Mallam Sanusi Lamido has come under serious attack following his proposed plans to introduce N5,000 note and coining of lower denomination. However a panoramic view of Sanusi’s previous policies since he mount the saddle of the CBN, shows, that the Moslem scholar has never had smooth ride.

For many Nigerians, the banking reform programme he undertook, laudable though it seems, threw many Nigerians out of job and has further put the apparatus of the economy in disarray. Much as it has helped in no small measure to checkmate excesses of the privileged few who in their parochial wisdom opted to help themselves with depositors’ funds, the dust generated by that reform is yet to settle. Today, most of the claimed bankers by the government are yet to find a foothold. The shareholders and few workers left are still in disarray. To say the least, banks seldom grant loan to prospective investors.

But while the quest to finally reconcile the abnormalities created by that reform is still in the works, the CBN yet again reeled out another provoking policy otherwise known as cashless.

The litany of criticisms pervaded by that already implemented proposal found expression in the fear exhibited

by Nigerians.

volves around ‘’cash and carry.’’

Conversely, the coining of the lower currencies will no doubt phase them out of circulation, as goods and services hitherto sold and rendered at such rates will tripple.

Also, the danger of carrying coins and its acceptability is another kettle of fish. For the blacksmith, the coin will definitely create a fresh challenge for them in the profession, while women will expect new designs in their jewelries and necklace.

ripples about N5,000 note

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Discordant tunes continued to trail the policy right from its draw board to its actualisation.

Despite the hew and cry against it, the CBN Governor made bold to uphold the policy amid the plethora of criticism it attracted. The gullibility of Nigerians speaks volume on the fast rate of its acceptance and subsequent implementation.

However, despite the un-

wholesome acceptance of this policy, the CBN in its wisdom has deemed it expedient to perfect plans that will lead to the introduction of N5,000 bill as well as coin the lower currencies of N5, N10 and N20 notes respectively.

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his arrangement provoked Nigerians who feel that the CBN Governor is in hurry to write his name in

gold. For them, whatever reasons the CBN Governor has proffered to justify his plan does not seem to hold water because according to them, the consequences far outweigh the benefits if any at all.

Apart from causing hyper inflation, the introduction of high currency denomination into the economy will aid corruption particularly in our nascent democracy which is re-

ccordingly, experts have pegged N40 billion as conservative estimate for the cost of the production of the new currencies.

The ploughing of this huge amount of money into such unwarranted project amid the lack of infrastructural underdevelopment needs much to be desired.

Though the Senate in its wisdom have deem it necessary to put the plan on hold. The reasons averred by the lawmakers appeared justified but how long will the Senate decision remain can be better appreciated in the CBN Act, which the CBN has applied in the implementation of previous controversial policies as bank reform, and cashless policies. From all indications, it appears the CBN may go ahead with this policy if not properly monitored.

The argument of whether the Senate has declared may not hold-sway if the President has given its nod on it. However, whichever way the pendulum swings, it is only time that will tell.

Currency restructuring at what cost?

Continued from page 10 completed the steps for currency restructuring, so what it has done is giving notice of withdrawal while the CBN Board and President Jonathan have approved the plan.”

“The CBN is not fair to the people. The value of any currency is determined by 60% of goods produced, 30% services and 10% credibility of the institution (CBN).

He warned of the social effects that the high currency denomination will likely cause such as increase in kidnapping and ritual killings for money.

“The restructuring and introduction of N5,000 are totally unpopular among the people.”

In defending the plan, CBN’s Director of Media, Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor in an interview with Channels TV, said it is easier and cheaper to carry high denominations of naira.

If you load one billion van with N5,000 notes, you will need five bullion vans to load N1,000 notes. If you load one ATM with N5,000 notes, you will have to load five ATMs with N1,000 notes, he said.

On the life span of the N5,000, Okoroafor claimed it will last for a long time as people may

not want to spray it at parties, and will be treated with respect, a symbol and thing of pride.

Another is that removing currencies with pictures of General Murtala Mohammed, Alvan Ikoku and Tafawa Balewa will hurt many people who regard them as heroes.

as a matter of urgency because they were not briefed – as it involves parlia-

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eintroducing coins will give goldsmiths raw materials to melt and make trinkets, necklaces.

He said if Nigeria is to go ahead with the plan, the CBN governor must give an undertaking that it won’t lead to inflation.

“Our only hope is the National Assembly who can stop the CBN. It’s a bogus programme.”

It is time that we get our priorities right as a developing country. There is no international law or convention stipulating that a country must review its currencies every five years. Nigeria can do so whenever necessary and desirable in the national interest. We should not deplete our resources to support restructuring of the naira.

This lack of adequate consultation and public debate might have informed the senate committee on banking, insurance and financial institutions chaired by Senator Bassey Edet Otu to stop the proposed introduction of the N5,000 banknote

mentary approval.

Sanusi introduced a cashless policy which is yet to gain ground in Lagos as a pilot scheme before spreading to other cities whose successful implementation is highly doubtful. But the cashless policy now seemed a clear contradiction to the introduction of N5,000 note. How can the two be reconciled, which points to the confused mind of the CBN governor.

After taking one step forward, he takes two steps backward. Cashless policy has completely defeated the objectives of the new N5,000 note.

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

Policy formulator s should make our currency become more valuable —Leo Godman Leo Godman is a financial director and works with an Advertising Agency in Lagos. In this encounter, he talks about the implications of N5,000 note and coining of currencies like N20 and N10.

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hat have you to say about the intro duction of N5,000 bill?

First and foremost ,I think it is ill advised and the Central Bank of Nigeria has come up with contradicting policies. I say so because we are pushing the cash less society policy already, and it took time for Nigerians to accept the cashless policy and they have adjusted to that and are loving it. I think coming up with the current five thousand naira bill policy is wrong timing. It is ill advised, it will distort our pricing and the economy. It will result to a lot of challenges. It is also an admittance that the monetary policy they have is failing. I will explain that.

We as a nation have been operating with some currencies and the highest was one thousand naira bill. It is the role of government officials and both the monetary policy and fiscal policy formulators to manipulate and work with both monetary and fiscal policies to such extent that inflation is controlled. We should not allow inflation to continue . It is also the duty of Central Bank on Nigeria to ensure that the value of our currency doesn’t fall.

Take a look at United Kingdom, or United States of America. Even in periods when United States of America has to inject a lot of money into the economy, especially under Obama administration just to inflate their economy, they have worked very hard on their currency to ensure that the value doesn’t drop. At a certain point, the value of their currency was almost going down, but they worked very hard and brought it back and made it to be stable. Also lets take a look at the British Pound, how many times have the value of their currency fallen ?

They do everything they can just to regulate their economy to ensure they stabilise it and their currency remains very stable. But in Nigeria

what is happening? Inflation is choking up the value of our currency. The value of our currency is falling from different angles. Nothing seems to be working. We have a lot of factors attacking the value of our currency. When you say you are using one thousand naira today and you are introducing a bigger denomination, it’s wrong. Indirectly, the apex bank is saying that look, our policies have failed, you are saying that sorry, we have not been able to hold inflation down, sorry we have not been able to hold the value of our currency, the value our currency is falling and inflation is going up which we all can see. But why are these happening? It is happening because we do not have good policies that can run the econ-

,

By Gabriel Ameh

Godman

through oil money and inflation is flying through the roof.

The value of our currency is falling and what CBN thinks is best is to introduce five thousand naira bill. It is a simple admittance that their policies have failed and in all sincerity. If inflation goes the way it is going and the value of the

The value of our currency is falling and what CBN thinks is best is to introduce five thousand naira bill. It is a simple admittance that their policies have failed and in all sincerity, their policies have failed, that is the meaning.

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omy effectively.

Okay, if inflation is going the way it is going, the value of our currency keep going down the way it is going down, we keep demanding for Dollar without exporting .The only source of income from Nigeria as at today is oil. Why are we not encouraging the real sectors, for instance like agricultural sector such that we have a lot for export that can yield us forex and then through that, the demand for dollar won’t be as much as it is today and through that, the value of naira can begin to appreciate gradually against other foreign currencies. Rather , what we are doing is that everybody is fighting and depending on the same dollar that comes in

naira is falling the way it is falling, and CBN introduces five thousand naira bill and inflation continues, the value of naira will keep falling.

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t means the next thing is to eventually introduce seven thousand bill, ten thousand bill and fifteen thousand bill and so on but where will that lead us? Is it not possible for us to work on the value of our currency such that naira will become stronger to the extent that when we take ten kobo to the market, it can buy something. Take for instance, Tom -Tom used to be sold for one kobo, and the price kept going up until the CBN called all those lower denominations and what happened to

Tom Tom ? It became three Tom-Tom for twenty naira.

When government cut the lower denomination, those coins will get out of circulation and even the banks will begin to reject the coins. Nobody wants to carry them because they are too bulky, too heavy and they smell.

In developed countries, they use coins. Even Ghana here uses coins which is quite light. Go to the UK, go to USA , look at their coins. They are light. You don’t need to carry coins that are so bulky. I hope Sanusi carries coins in his pocket and also I hope the people who are defending coining our lower denominations are carrying coins in their pockets. From experience, the lower denominations that were coined were phased out and you and I were witnesses to that.

Our lovely five naira, ten naira, and twenty naira notes should be left the way they are.

If CBN coins them, it will bring about price distortion and price increase. That is what Nigeria calls inflation.

People should understand what we are saying. We are not saying the introduction of five thousand note is what brings about inflation, but you are introducing five thousand at the same time you are coining the lower denomination. If you do those two at the same time, the prices of smaller commodities will now be re-fined at fifty naira. The implication of that is that items that was sold for five naira, will now be going for fifty naira. Another example is that okada that used to take thirty naira will now be

going for fifty naira automatically because that is the lowest denomination of notes.

People should not make reference to Argentina, Zimbabwe, India etc. Do we want to be like Zimbabwe? Must Nigeria model our economy like them? Look at our life style.

We as a country model ourselves after the great western countries and when it comes to currency issues, they start mentioning Zimbabwe, India and Argentina.

We should come off it.

I think what our CBN should do is to work in conjunction with the executive and ensure that this economy is brought back to the part of development, ensure that the value of our currency is continuously enhanced and ensure that Nigeria keeps getting stronger . What was the exchange rate when Sanusi came in, what is the exchange rate as at today? Our naira has been falling . I think what CBN should be doing is to formulate policies that will influence the value of naira and also give advice to the government on how to tackle corruption in our country.

C

BN talks to us about cashless society and shortly you go and produce five thousand naira note, the implication is that if I take two wraps of it, I have one

million naira on me, yet you are saying cashless. I clearly understand what CBN is talking about reducing cost of printing but we are not interested in the volume of money but value of money in circulation. If I go to the UK, I can take my one Pound and go into an eatery and buy myself food. Tell me, if you coin twenty naira, what can I buy with it? If that twenty naira is not so valuable, why should I carry it?

There is a need for us to make our currency so valuable, that should be the primary focus. If CBN can achieve that, I am assuring you that Nigerians are not different, we will begin to use coins. If our coins are valuable that they can buy something reasonable, why wouldn’t we use it?

What we are saying is that our policy formulators should make our currency become more valuable.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—13

CBN wants to wipe poor people out of existence —Bamidele For human rights lawyer and activist, Bamidele Aturu, the planned introduction of five thousand naira note and coining of the lower currencies if implemented will generate social anomia, economic dislocation and unquantifiable deprivations to the poor masses who are already on the edge of existence. He spoke to CHARLES ADINGUPU. pose to it so much so that I don’t even know how best to express my anger towards it.

But does the CBN Act really empowers the Governor to implement such policy?

My own position is that even though the CBN Acts grants

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he decision by the Cen tral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will certainly lead to hyper inflation. From experience, whenever such exercise was embarked upon, items hitherto sold at the price of coins will jump to naira price or currency note because nobody, either seller or buyer wants to transact business with coins. So, if the currency note is two hundred naira (N200), automatically, the price of the least sold item will invariably be sold at two hundred naira.

In Nigeria, any commodity that goes up certainly will never come down. I’m surprise that the CBN is coming with such policy at a time when Nigerians are suffering. I believe Nigeria is too big nation where anybody will just come to perform any kind of experiment. I think that is what the CBN is doing right now. They just want people to celebrate them.

They concoct obnoxious and fanciful policy and throw it at the Nigeria’s economic environment even when the conditions are not suitable. For me, I think that is quite despicable.

At the moment, what happens to the poor. Every developing economy must have the poor at its heart. They cannot be at its heart. They cannot be formulating policies that will throw the teeming poor masses out of jobs and that will create inflation and then create an environment for crime to thrive.

Anyway, I’m strongly op-

Nigerian people and truncating development.

How can you reconcile Mallam Lamido’s bank reformation and this present planned decision of creating of N5,000 note?

When the tsunami hit the

My own position is that even though the CBN Acts grants the Governor considerable autonomy, that is not a licence to do things that will jeopardise the state of Nigeria

the Governor considerable autonomy, that is not a licence to do things that will jeopardise the state of Nigeria knowing that such policy will wipe them out of existence, they reserve the right to wipe the CBN Governor out of existence by removing him from him from office. Though, I’m not interested in the legalistic argument some people are currently canvassing. Please let us not be legalistic about our economy. This is all abut political economy. So, even if he says he will make the least denomination one billion naira, are we going to allow him to do that? I’m saying that whoever appointed him in the first place either the Senate or Presidency should kick him out (Mallam Sanusi) of the place because the man is creating a lot of hardship for the

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banking industry, I publicly issued a statement supporting what the CBN did. And I want to state it loud and clear that I quite appreciated the CBN hierarchy for that timely intervention in the banking sector.

Also, we cannot allow a group of people to help themselves with depositors’ funds under any guise. Hence I supported it. However, I cannot go ahead to begin to support everything the CBN does. As I said earlier, and as I told some people, I’m beginning to now watch the CBN very closely. I thought that the CBN was operating generally from a progressive ideological position but I’m now not sure of that.

What are the implications of this policy to low income earners in particular if implemented?

What this people wants to do is wipe out the poor people out of existence. Hence we will not allow this policy to stand, because allowing the policy to stand is tantamount to wipe out majority of Nigerians who are mostly the poor. Definitely it will create a situation where the poor cannot send their children to school, pay medical bills and even move from one place another as freely as they should and they are now subjected to all sorts of deprivation or the other.

And again it will encourage corruption as politicians and other Nigerians can easily move huge amount of money without hassles.

I think that at this time of development, this policy is not called for, it is unwarranted, indefensible and cannot be allowed. If the President cannot advise the CBN leadership, let the Senate remove them for constituting themselves as obstacles to peace and progress to the people of

Nigeria.

But what could be in the mind of the coordinating minister at the moment over this planned policy?

Well, you know that the coordinating minister has no power over the CBN if you look at the CBN Act. I’m beginning to be worried. Do we give so much autonomy to people without also allowing legislative oversight. Some level of popular control, Then of course you are giving power without responsibility. I support some level of autonomy but anywhere in the world, you cannot have a CBN that just do anything it just wants to do at large. For now, I think the coordinating minister is powerless in this case and in any case these people are all in the same ideological boat.

They are all members of the economic management team.

She has not publicly oppose the idea at the moment.

Are we sure they are not working in tandem?

Introduction of N5,000 is not a big deal —Gbadamosi

R

Gbadamosi

enowned industrial ist, Rasheed Gbada mosi told Saturday Vnaguard that the planned introduction of N5,000 note into the economy is not a enough to attract the criticisms it has thus far generated.

Your reaction on the planned

introduction of N5,000 note into the economy?

It is just an expression of value. People are just making noise out of it. That is all.

But won’t it have any impact on the economy?

No! whatever is on a piece of paper, you take the expressed

value. It is just what it is, a piece of paper. It is just a mere psychology that this would do this and this will do that. But I’m sorry there is a lot of uninformed behaviour.

What are the misinformed representations?

People are being prejudiced

by what we call money illusion.

That is what is it is. You use the piece of paper to express value and so long it can exchange for your desired goods or commodity that is the end of the story.For me it is not a big deal at all.

14 — SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

Just when you think that we bare getting some important things right, wham ! It all goes dark and awry like a sudden power outage.

Viewing it from any point of critical assessment, power supply has been improving in the area of coverage and duration consistently in the past few weeks. It was enough to make some of us nervous; we were on edge with the anticipation that it may all soon revert to the days of two or three hours a day, and then darkness for the next two or three days. But it appeared that Professor Bart Nnaji, as the Minister of Power, would maintain the pace of the welcome development while in office.

Several citizens would naturally have wished him a protracted tenure, apart from the members of staff of the main agency under his control, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

The disagreement with the workers was centred on the unpaid benefits of several of them who were being removed from the staff. They claimed that they were being thrown out into the labour market empty-handed after many of them had served for many years—some up to over twenty years. This was linked to the organization of the privatization plans intended for electricity supply in Nigeria. The development, which is expected to boost the provision of power in the country has not found total acceptance from the workers, in the first place, though it is welcome in several other quarters. The fact that it is entangled with the laying-off of workers would naturally make it unpopular amongst those who are affected, but more so with the non-payment of their due benefits. A trade dispute has been brewing over this for quite a while.

Ironically, Professor Nnaji also had interests in two of the firms, Skipper Nigeria Limited and Eastern Nigeria Limited, which were involved in bids for the privatization exercise while he, in his position as the Minister of Power, is equally involved in stages of

•Prof Nnaji decision-making that affects the determination of the bids.

It amounts, of course, to a clear case of a conflict of interest, which the minister admitted but, it would appear, belatedly. It would, needless to say, have progressed to taint the entire privatization process and was already an embarrassment to his colleagues all round. He simply had to go unfortunately, perhaps.

Now, we need someone to maintain the impetus of the rising improvement in the power supply while ensuring an acceptable standard of personal integrity. We may ponder though, on why the eventuality of this development had not been forestalled through a comprehensive screening undertaking before his appointment. Someone who was a possible, or even probable, candidate for an involvement in any commercial project should not ordinarily have been considered for a ministerial position that would compromise his integrity.

That is why one must consider it all so unfortunate for it is really a fruit of the system we run - or that runs us - in this country.

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria has tried to assure us that the introduction ofN5,000 will not give rise to inflation in the economy. Such a notion, we are being made to believe, has no basis in economics—a subject that often yields to false projection or fallacious interpretation, anyway.

This was one of the attempts made to persuade us.

Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor is the CBN Director of Corporate Communiactions, and he has thrown a wide-open challenge to anyone “who is an economist” to inform him about “an economic theory that says that when you have a higher denomination in your pocket, it will change how you spend money.”

Come on, my friend, you don’t need an economist to tell you that.

It comes naturally. The availability of ready cash generally breeds a sense of well-being not necessarily aligned to reality, and the tendency is to feel that you

•Okoroafor can spend more than you should—especially when you are not used to carrying such a volume of money around.

Try it out with women at your peril.

But getting down to serious economics, inflation will occur when there is “an increase in the supply of currency or credit beyond a commensurate rise in production or services, leading to higher prices and a reduction in the purchasing power of money, and/or a value.” What is vital in that definition (which, by the way, has been enlarged for purposes of clarification) is “an increase in the supply of currency”. That is precisely what “a higher denomination in your pocket” creates.

But if it does not “engender inflation”, to borrow a phrase from Mr. Okoroafor’s televised deposition, what purpose does it serve? Rather tamely, we are informed that it is so performed in other parts of the world to carry out “liquidity mop-up” exercises which are routinely done here now and then - or so we

,

I

t seems there is no let on in the cyclone of events which succeed after one another; now we have a shut out in the Ministry of Power out of the blues, as it were. That was right in the midst of the Five-thousand-naira note missile aimed at our hearts by the CBN, confirming my misgivings about where Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is coming from. And, on whichever side you look, Nigeria does not seem to be holding out very well at the seams, does it? There are movements within movements even within the Southwest which has now ranked itself foremost in the ranks of the marginalised .And all that within a matter of just a few days.

are informed. Even so, the CBN Director of Corporation Communications declared that “a higher denomination in your pocket” does not cause inflation. But then, the currency change is also projected at combating the menace of counterfeiting, or so we are informed. That is eminently debatable.

However, the CBN would appear to rely on the strength of the powers conferred by the CBN Act with regard to the restructuring of the currency system of the nation. Such powers do actually extend to arbitrary limits, as it is well known, but can be curbed ... as it is also well known. Happily, the Senate has proceeded to publish that fact already.

Perhaps, one should not mention the little matter of

source of the synergy that endued them with the pride of fllace. In other directions, they stamped on the face of tradition and forgot their source, while some arrogated to themselves a hollow pre-eminence proclaimed by no achievement or sterling merit. What didn’t they do to cheapen their heritage and demean their heritage? In heartfelt throes of his anguish, the “Songbird of Ososa”, Hubert Ogunde, admonished his reckless kinsmen through a soulful drama presentation, to pause and ponder on their feckless ways: “ Yoruba ronu ” was the title.

However, the rot continued unabated. What used to be most vibrant social sector of the nation began to dwindle almost to only the shell of past glories too remote to even inspire in

There are rumblings growing louder by the season, of discontent within the Yoruba race

the cost of the project at only N40 billion which even, at N5000 notes, does fill a bit of space.

There are rumblings growing louder by the season, of discontent within the Yoruba race. Once almost incessantly proud of their ancestral heritage, they flouted their advantages of an early contact with Western culture which put them ahead of the other nationalities with which they would share the “geographical expression” of Nigeria. There was a time when the South-western area, which they occupy, led the rest of the country in every aspect of the nation’s existence. They were ahead in the commercial sector, in the social movement, and in the civil service. History testifies to that fact: the first medical doctor, the first lawyer and magistrate, the first senior police officer, and some other “first” men and women, were Yoruba people. The other people had to do a lot of catching-up so that several of them could rub shoulders with their Yoruba counterparts at the approach of independence.

They struggled hard and came up admirably. The Yoruba, on their own part, became complacent. They felt secure. And it is true that “security gives way to conspiracy”. While the waters receded behind their craft, they kept digging their oars into the sand until they finally looked back, and realized that they had been left high and dry.

Unfortunately, they had aided the process of their frustration in several ways b y themselves.Confrontations fuelled by jealousy and arrogance had eroded the

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contemplation. And the scene is now flooded by those who would rather carve a fiefdom away from the commonwealth, than join in a united front to revive a worthy heritage believing, as it were, that it all started with them.

The wealth and blessings of good birth still persists.

There are sections which were cut off by the vagaries of historical development which lumped them across ethnic lines with other parts.

They still are clamouring to rejoin their kith and kin in Y orubaland. There, are of course, other sections which have strayed far from the reality of their roots and would claim the aid of spurious history to deny their destiny. Time, with patience, can reclaim them.

Indeed, that is the urgent clarion call now.

Yoruba people can now borrow a word from a harrowing vocabulary of h e l p l e s s n e s s — marginalization. But it does not look good on them.

While it is true that other sections seem to have been preferred in the distribution of high positions ahead of them, it is within their power to offset any disadvantage in this regard by looking inward to the abundant resources of their own land.

But first, they have to unite. They also have to rise above the shibboleths of the past which recognized only a part of their aggregate as a worthy group. I wonder at the diminishing number of the journalists among their so-called “elders”, by the way.

A policy of “inclusiveness” would have recommended a number of Yoruba men of media antecedents, whose contributions down the years certainly merit an invitation to a caucus that is representative of their source.

Time out.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 — 15

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The Jonathan we know same figure bandied about during the Obasanjo era. Can’t we move away from this lazy figure and be more adventuristic in our determination to forge ahead.

development, agriculture, economy, foreign policy, domestic debt, vision 2020 whether it is still on or not, unemployment, and the general intention of government to provide quality life and make life more meaningful for the people.

E

ven as I would not blame President Jonathan much because he did not promise Nigerians anything when he was campaigning, hence it will be an excess luggage to demand too much from a man who did not promise anything, I still feel there is something in Jonathan that makes him appear “unpresidential” both in appearance and textual presentation.

According to President Jonathan, he is not one of those politicians who will make many promises without fulfilling them. He says he will promise you nothing but

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ast week Sunday, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President’s Spokesman, came up with a tawdry essay about what some Nigerians do not know about President Jonathan. Dr. Reuben Abati’s literary justification of the Jonathan “they” do not know strikes me like a fantasy, some piece of fiction written to pass West African School certificate examination, but certainly not to impress us or communicate with Nigerians.

That he condescended to the level of telling us about a President who went round the country to campaign for elections also presupposes that there is something about the President’s personality that is at issue and which Nigerians are yet to fathom.

The mere fact of telling Nigerians about a certain President they voted for underscores the sore point that the Nigerian presidency has been brought down from that Olympian height to a low l e v e l .

If I am told that a certain Reuben Abati, such a cerebral writer with sumptuous degree of intellectual savvy could be the one telling us about our President in such pedestrian verbiage, I will certainly cringe in my innermost. But that is the story today. Where has Abati,s critical mind gone all of a sudden? I understand that once anyone takes an appointment in the villa, no matter one’s ideological content, one would have to derobe oneself of his erstwhile nomenclature. Having taken the villa treated water and swallowed the morsels of well cooked delicacies, and washed down with some choice liquor, the language of criticism will easily take capital flight.

I expected Dr. Reuben Abati to tell Nigerians about the President’s intervention in different aspects of our national life; housing, education, infrastructural

•President Jonathan the reverse, then Abati should understand why we are still rotating on the same axis. All the pontifications of Abati about the number of women in government, the distribution of presidential aides and the agriculture revolution, simply beg the question and the real challenges facing the country. As at date our domestic debts have increased to N5.6

As at date our domestic debts have increased to N5.6 trillion

do more; more of what?, more of nothing of course. If by now we are still ruminating around the addictive properties of transformational mantra and the incoherence and contradictions of an agenda that is executed on

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trillion. Our foreign reserve has depleted.

Our unemployment rate keeps increasing. With billions of naira spent on power, we are still oscillating between 4’400 and 4,500 megawatts. The

What is government’s profile on anti-corruption? What do we expect from a President that does not give a damn about asset declaration or making public his declared assets?

What explanation has the President given to Nigerians about the source of the stupendous resources deployed into his election campaign? The law forbids donation beyond one million naira but we are all living witnesses to the several billions of naira donated to the President’s campaigns by the same people who are now exposed as subsidy fat rats.

Abati spoke and wrote about the President as if the man grew up in isolation. He talks as if there are no Nigerians who know his background and can speak for his content of character. The fact that the President grew up not wearing shoes is the reason why the country is still vacillating on the same spot. Since the Boko Haram took centre stage, how many times has the President visited the troubled spots of Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and Plateau? How many times has he shown concern for the gruesome extermination of innocent lives?

Those who do not understand the language of prosperity cannot possibly preach

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hat a man can do a woman can do better; an age-old adage that has sparked off many a debate and several battles between the sexes.

Never before has it been brought home though (especially in these parts) as with the recent action of Liberia’s first elected female President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

In an unprecedented move, (I stand to be corrected) Madam President suspended 46 government officials for their failure to declare their assets. On a continent that generally aids and abets corruption as opposed to fighting it and one that specializes in providing ‘soft landings’ for corrupt government officials; this action in itself is huge. It does not sound like mere window dressing either. According to reports they remain suspended until Madam President ‘receives

What a man can do… confirmation from the Liberian Anti-corruption Commission that they have met the assets declaration requirements.’ And for good measure, before the suspended officials are reinstated they will have to pay the government an amount representing the value of their salaries and allowances for the period of suspension. (That should teach them not to waste government time!) Wow! She’s got balls of steel you’d

say!

As if all of that wasn’t dramatic enough, her son, Charles Sirleaf the erstwhile Deputy Central Bank Governor was among the suspended.

T

he fact that she did not spare her own flesh and blood is laudable yes, especially when you consider how in Africa, political office holders in high positions tend to turn a blind eye

when it comes to their relatives and cronies. But therein lays the paradox no?

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has not one, but three of her sons in key government positions. One is the Deputy Governor of Liberia’s Central bank, one is chairing the board of the country’s National oil company and another one in is charge of security. I say Madam has it all locked down pretty tight! It is also reported that until recently one of the President’s brothers, Ambulai

prosperity. It is like the common malapropism that big man dey talk, poor man say him get ideas?

It’s like someone who has not taken the tube, to be telling us about the suitability of same.

It takes experience on anything for one to have an informed perspective about it. Hence this issue of shoeless nomenclature does not fly in the positive sense. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Ghandi, Abraham Lincoln, Kwame Nkruma were not simple men of power. They were leaders of quotable quote intellect who combined vision, mission, courage and uncommon zeal to take their country to the desired destination. What Luther prayed for during his years of struggle in America, was delivered through Obama recently. If they had combined policy summersault and flip flop as the thematic focus of their leadership, the world would not have celebrated them so profoundly.

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he President’s acceptability on face book when he was running for election has taken a downward dive. His praises have turned to curses; his acceptability has turned to rejection. The same people whom he assured of fresh air are the same people who now accuse him of polluted air.

Nothing has been thought through and through since this President came on stream two years ago. Those who enjoy the levers of government are essentially ex-militants whose credentials are partly their expertise in handling AK47 and the geopolitical zone they come from. They have been singing war songs, and it is not on record that the presidency has cautioned them.

Yet Abati wants us to believe that the President is concerned about the unity of the country.

Abati should be reminded that walls have ears. Those who are in leadership position certainly have no private life. They are public persons and nothing is so secret in a manner that cannot be exposed.

To be continued

Johnson, was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, during the first term of the Unity Party led government, of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

One maybe, two is cutting it pretty close, but three?? As well as other relations in other key positions?? Nah! No matter how qualified they may be, that is nepotism right there. I’m sure you don’t have to look too closely to see several conflicts of interests. What does that prognosticate? That there are no other qualified people in all of Liberia?

B

ut hey, guess what? Madam President gets no knocks from me. At least she has the courage to call her relatives out and carpet them when necessary.

That’s more than I can say for our menfolk the majority of who carry on with impunity!

Me… sexist? Nah! What a man can do a woman can do better with her eyes shut and one arm tied behind her back! Madam President; carry go jare!!

16 —SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

Vanguard, SARTURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—17

C M Y K

18—SATURDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 Dear Aunty Julie, My boyfriend and I have been together for three years and living together for two. I have supported us financially since the beginning of the relationship since he has not had a steady work. We enjoy being together most of the time and his work prospects have recently greatly improved. However, I have a male friend , unknown to my boyfriend who doesn’t believe that women should have men as friends, who is attracted to me and I had a brief emotional affair with him (no sex).

Although I know I don’t want a serious relationship with my friend, I think about him a lot and I can’t achieve orgasm with my boyfriend without thinking about the closeness and warmth I experienced with this other man. My boyfriend and I have had our share of relationship problems and I have tried to break up with him but somehow, I always end up agreeing to try harder to make things work. But even though I don’t really want my friend, I can’t get him off my mind. I wonder if I do need to break up with my boyfriend.

Helen, Warri Dear Helen, Since there are a number of issues to sort out, it may help to think about them one at a time. First of all, it seems as if you feel this other man is meeting your needs for closeness and warmth in a way that your boyfriend is not. It may

Should I sta stayy with my bo yfriend or boyfriend mo movve on? help to sit down alone and identify the specific emotions that this other man fosters in you.

How do you feel when you are with him? What differences are there between the way the two of you interact in comparison to you and your boy-

friend? This type of thought process might lead you to a deeper understanding of why you are feeling unfulfilled in your current relationship — something which seems to be expressing itself in your trouble achieving orgasm.

Next, it is normal and quite

common, in fact, for people to find themselves attracted to other people while in a relationship. It is also reasonable to enjoy the company of many people, seeking different friendships — each having their special elements. One question to ask is, why does your boyfriend believe that women should not have male friends? Have you ever discussed his concerns about this?

What are your reasons for wanting male companionship outside of your romantic relationship? These might be some areas to explore with your boyfriend, even without discussing your emotional closeness to your friend.

Some other things to consider might be how supporting your boyfriend financially has made you feel and behave, how he seems to feel about this issue, and what, if any, impact this has had on your career decisions. A thorough discus-

sion of these issues might help to flesh out some of the difficulties in your relationship.

You’ve also stated that you and your boyfriend have had difficulties before, leading you to attempt, repeatedly, to break off the relationship. What has caused you to change your mind and “agree to try harder?” Has this been fueled by your interest in preserving the relationship, or have you felt pressured by your boyfriend?

How has this left you feeling?

Mulling things over with someone you trust may help.All of these questions might be important to consider when re-evaluating your relationship and your interest in possibly seeking intimacy with another man. Whatever you decide, thinking about your feelings and needs and having honest discussions with your boyfriend can only be beneficial to each of you as individuals, and as a couple.

What is the problem with this guy?

Dear Aunty Julie, I’ve been dating a guy for a year and a half. He says he loves me and has even thought of marriage. Then he tells me he doesn’t want to see me and doesn’t want a commitment and doesn’t have romantic feelings.

Then, we go back and he introduces me to family and breaks up again. I haven’t returned his calls this time. Is he crazy or what?

Janet, Benin

Dear Janet, If he is not crazy, he may be commitment-phobic and will, if you let him, drive you bonkers.

To me, it sounds like he doesn’t have a solid enough or good enough sense of himself. For example, does he feel good about work or his career prospects? This lack of being centered can encourage these volatile shifts, from declarations of love to fearful withdrawal. Also, the presence of such instability

invariably sets off a mood-disorder radar system. Might he have some underlying depression? Any family history of the same? And speaking of family, is he still trying to please them by marrying you?

Anyway, if he is depressed and is not getting proper therapy, he will continue this up and down, back and forth cycle. You are wise not to return his calls. However, if you do feel unfinished psychologically,

perhaps write him a letter. Express your hurt and anger at being dragged along this emotional roller coaster ride. And strongly suggest he get some counseling. The question for you: why did it take so long to get fed up with this emotionally exhausting and hurtful behaviour pattern.

How do you perceive yourself? Sometimes, when we don’t feel very worthy, it creates relationship problems.

He abuses me physically, should I go back to him?

M y guy and I fight a lot. I was the one who hit him the

first time but now he becomes aggressor.He’s the one who hits me now. I don’t hit back anymore, but this doesn’t seem to stop him. The last time he hit me,he ended up taking me to the hospital to get stitches in my head . The hospital asked questions and I covered up for him, but the police didn’t believe me and arrested him. He said he still loves me and has realized the horrible things he has done.

He said he wants us to get back together . Is there a chance for him to get better?

Should I go back to him?

Emem, Calabar Dear Emem,

As you and many others know, abusive relationships can be confusing and complex because they often have lots of positive aspects along with the hurtful and horrible ones.

From your letter, it also sounds as though you are confused about your role in the violence, particularly the times when you hit your boyfriend, too. It is important that you have recognized not only your boyfriend’s abusive behaviour, but also your own need for some effective, healthy communication and coping skills.

First, you could explore what you want from this relationship.

Aside from the physical violence, what parts of it are unhealthy? Do you know why you hit your boyfriend a while back:

Another Late Night An angry wife met her husband at the door.

There was alcohol on his breath and lipstick on his cheek. “I assume,” she snarled, “that there is a very good reason for you to come waltzing in at six o’clock in the morning?” ”There is,” he replied, “Breakfast.”

Four Letter Words A young couple got married and went on their honeymoon. When they got back, the bride immediately called her mother.

were you feeling helpless, angry, hurt, or something else?

These emotions can be communicated in ways other than physical violence. Identifying the feelings that led up to expressing yourself this way could help you understand what motivated your behaviour.

Did/does your relationship include controlling or manipulative behaviour? Domestic and dating violence often encompass more than physical violence. Emotional and psychological abuse is frequently present that may or may not be accompanied by physical violence. For example, does your partner criticize you, put you down, try to isolate you from your friends, or insist on know-

ing where you are at all times?

There can be forced or unwanted sex in relationships, and this is also abuse.

You also asked if violent people can stop being violent.

This is a complicated question.

Although your boyfriend loves you and knows that what he did to you was wrong, the fact remains: someone whom you love and trust seriously hurt you, which is painful and difficult to understand. The fact that your boyfriend wants to change his violent behaviour could be a hopeful sign considering that one must be ready and willing to change before change can actually happen. However, many men and women who hit their partners want to change, yet may

C O C K - T A L E S ”Well,” said her mother, “so how was the honeymoon?” Oh, mama,” she replied, “the honeymoon was wonderful! So romantic...” Suddenly she burst out crying. “But, mama, as soon as we returned, Pete started using the most horrible language — things I’d never heard before! I mean all these awful 4-letter words! You’ve got to take me home..., “PLEASE MAMA!” ”Sarah, Sarah,” her mother said, “calm down! You need to stay with your husband and work this out. Now, tell me, what could be so awful? WHAT 4-letter words?” “Please don’t make me tell you, mama,” wept the daughter, “I’m so

not have the coping skills to know how to do just that. Research shows that patterns of violence are often deeply rooted and can be difficult to replace. It can take years for someone to alter violent behaviour and s/he must make a consistent and persistent effort.

Making a decision to stay or leave can be extremely difficult and complicated, and it is not something most people “figure out” in a day or two. It can take awhile to know what is the best decision for you. There are ways that you can look at and evaluate your situation that might help you to explore what you want to do, and what your next steps will be.

embarrassed, they’re just too awful! COME GET ME, PLEASE!!” ”Darling, baby, you must tell me what has you so upset. Tell your mother these horrible 4-letter words!”

Sobbing, the bride said, “Oh, Mama..., he used words like: dust, wash, iron, and cook...” “I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes,” said the mother.

How long have you been married?

When a woman on the staff of the school where I worked became engaged, a friend and colleague offered her some advice. ”The first ten years are the hardest.” “How long have you been married?” she asked. ”Ten years”, he replied.

SATURDAY

Vanguard SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—19

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t’s been proved that you can be addicted to sugar.

Cravings, mood swings, fits of anger, depression and weight gain—they can all result from too much of the sweet stuff.

Sugar, say the experts, affect your body in the same way as alcohol and drugs. Take in too much of it and you experience a high. Then as you struggle to regain a normal blood sugar, your body becomes confused and craves another fix.

Are you a sucker for Sugar?

See how many of the following apply to you: a) I crave/eat sweet foods three or more times a day.

Does he think your flirting means more?

for it with him? The oldest line in the book and I declined. By the time he came back, I was already in a taxi heading home.

“I didn’t tell my husband what happened and I guess Wole respected me for it. He hasn’t been so frequent since then and I don’t pamper him any more like I used to on the few occasions he called. An affair is alright if you feel like it, but being expected to roll in the hay with your best friends is, to me, an insult! I refused to be treated like a prostitute in my own house!”

T

,

lot of men have had nothing but nasty things to say about girls who flirt. Yet, flirting has absolutely nothing to do with dragging a man by the scruff of the neck, so to speak, and leading him into the bedroom. Flirting is the little flattery things said to us by other people that make us feel good enough to be happy that we are female and are still desirable. The same can also apply to men. If it goes beyond that, it has an unhealthy ring to it, and it is called ‘leading on’.

Take the case of Wole for instance. He had been on very good terms with a couple for years. He’d known the husband since their university days in the North and the wife took to him like duck to water.

He was so used to the household that most of the time when work took his friend away from home he was always with the wife and three children. Florence, the friend’s wife told me that when Wole started flirting with her, she didn’t think too much of it.

“I mean, he was like the brother I never had. Then I noticed that whenever I wasn’t supposed to be looking, he would give me very intense looks. Several times, I caught him looking at me and I would stare right back at him but he never looked away. It got to a point when I started feeling uncomfortable around him.

Surely, he would be the last person to make a pass at me?

“Then he started making comments like ... “I could have an affair with you easily if you weren’t my best friend’s wife ... That friend of mine must be barmy to be always on the road with a pretty thing like you alone in the house? Did anyone ever tell you that you were a very attractive woman?...’

“At first,I was amused by it all but when he stopped laughing whenever he ‘made comments, I knew he was serious. Dead serious. He could no longer hide the lust in his eyes. Then came the day things came to a head. I came out of the bedroom in my nightie not expecting a visitor and he’d just been let in by

I was a bit embarrassed when he started running his hand up my thighs any time he shifted the gear. When I told him to stop it, he told me not to be silly

the house-help. ‘Oti o!’ he exclaimed in Yoruba, don’t tell me you’re not wearing anything under that dress.

,

Well, it was obvious I wasn’t, but I hurried back into the room to change. He wanted to eat and I didn’t

have anything in the house that he could eat. He said he would go out to get some fast food for both of us. Did I want to come?

Well, what harm could come out of that? He was a family friend after all, so I went with him.

“I was a bit embarrassed when he started running his hand up my thighs any time he shifted the gear. When I told him to stop it, he told me not to be silly. Was this one of the goodies his friend was enjoying? At this stage, I was thoroughly annoyed and irritated by his coarse behaviour and I asked him to take me home. In his conceit, he drove straight to his flat with this stupid excuse that he left his’ wallet in the house.

Did I want to come in and look

Are yyou ou a sugar junky? b) I crave bread, cereal, pastries or pasta everyday.

(Your body, say the experts, respond to these like sugar). c) I often feel tired 20 minutes after waking. d) I’m frequently sleepy during the day or after meals. e) I’ve hidden sweet foods from others before. f) I’ve lied about eating sweet foods. g) I feel jealous watching others eat sweet things. h) I’m overweight and can’t

lose the extra pounds. i) I feel comforted when I eat sweet things. j) I often find myself over reaching to stress.

How did you score? 0 - 3.

You probably have no real addictive behaviour concerning sugar or processed foods. 4 - 6; you have a strong response to sugar. Cut back on processed foods and white flour. 7 - 10; You’re actually sensitive to sugar and probably suffer from

addictive behaviour with sugar, processed foods or white flour products. The good news is you can take action to balance your body chemistry.

You can beat the sweetness if you: a) Keep a diary of your thoughts, cravings, what and when you eat. b) Have three regularly spaced meals a day. c) Eat small amounts of protein (meat, eggs, fish, dairy, beans, nuts, seeds) twice a day. d) Replace refined

hat is one girl who could put a screw on things if she has to. But Stella’s case is different. In the space of ten years, she has known several men, and the fact that she’s married doesn’t cramp her style. All it takes for a man to have her are a few gifts, some nice words and the right opportunity. Why did she do it? She told me: “I think I must be very weak and too trusting. At first I meant things to be on a flirtatious basis. But the more gifts a man buys me, the more I feel guilty about taking things from him. Most times I tried to prevent a showdown, but my ‘men would apparently spot a weak woman a mile off.

Inevitably, I always end up in a quiet room with them. A motel most times. A few times, it is the back of the car and during the usual struggle I think, why not get it over with him? After this once, you won’t have to pay back anything. And I would do just that. And believe me, they often never bother me again!”

I looked at her aghast! I felt like holding her by the shoulders and shaking some sense into her. What are silly gifts from a man who wouldn’t lose any sleep if you refused to sleep with him?” Like I said, flirting is one thing but going out to ask for trouble means you deserve every man that walks all over you!

carbohydrates (white pasta, white bread, pastries, biscuits) with complex carbohydrates (oat meal, rice, whole wheat pasta, potatoes). e) Cut down on sweet foods, alcohol and processed foods containing sugar.

Check all products for sugar contents.

Nutritionists agree that these steps will balance blood sugar levels to give you more energy and help weight loss.

20—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1 1, 2012 “Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.”

—unknown

to stalker-like behaviour. As time goes on, she continues to have little success. She vacillates between the role of thoughtful and patient spiritual superior and breaking down into the rejected lover.

She might contact everyone in her life in an effort to understand what is wrong with him and what she needs to do to make him recognize that they are connected on a higher level. She wants everyone around her to answer the “ why” question that really can’t be answered: “Why is he denying this connection?” But she has a line up

That’s bizarre.

Some of us know people like this in our daily lives, women or men who are “in love” with someone who doesn’t seem to love them back in the same way.

These aren’t purely fantasized relationships. These are relationships that may have started, but never really got off the ground. There was probably some dating and “hanging out.”

Most definitely, there was probably sex. Usually, there was never any talk about actual commitment beyond an ambiguous conversation. But at some point, she feels connected to him on a higher level she might describe as “meant to be.” And he is not on the same page.

So she starts to spin. The messages she receives from him don’t fit with what she is feeling, what she knows to be true.

Are you in a love delusion ?

She can list the evidence, all the signs that prove that she is right. She interprets his words, his tone of voice and body language, the way he looks at her, all in ways that give credence to her belief that the relationship was meant to be. She construes coincidences or otherwise irrelevant events in the world in ways that add to that belief.

She might initially shower him with empathy and understanding for his inability to see what she sees. That

empathy gradually fades to frustration and often results in angry outbursts. She is up all night writing long e-mails expressing every feeling, every thought, crafting every plausible explanation that might trigger his understanding to match hers.

She leaves him messages.

Texts. She finds ways to influence him through other means, his friends and family. Sometimes, women go so far as to drive by his home, his work, or “run into him” accidently (on purpose), en route

,

H

enrietta thought she and Isaac were an item. She spent time thinking about their future together, working out in her thoughts, how she would shape their relationship with each other. They were together most of the time even though nothing was said about relationships or commitments but Henrietta assumed Isaac was shy and so, she decided to live in her imaginations until one cold December morning when Isaac sent his wedding invitation to her e-mail. Henrietta collapsed and was rushed to the hospital and the story spread that her fiance abandoned her for another person. But the truth was that there was never a relationship or commitment.

Some of us know people like this in our daily lives, women or men who are “in love” with someone who doesn’t seem to love them back in the same way

,

of friends to say all the right things that, ultimately, only enhance the delusion: • You’re the one and you’re so perfect for him, but he’s afraid of that.

• He’s just out of a relationship and isn’t ready.

• He’s been hurt before, so he doesn’t know how to love again.

• He’s going through so much right now.

F

inally, when she doesn’t get results from her support system, she might seek spiritual guidance. All of this effort is a way of supporting her frantic efforts to understand why he does not respond the way she knows he should and to help her determine what she needs to do to compel him to see the light.

The key to remember is that she finds meaning only where it enhances the story she created. The story is, “ we were meant to be together.” So the meaning comes from everywhere. “See? All the stars have aligned? We like the same things. We use the same stores.

We both like the beach. We have the same favourite book.

I can’t stop thinking about him, so it must be meant to be.”

Meanwhile, she has skipped the other 600 million details in daily life that have no connection at all to the story: “We were meant to be.” She has overemphasized, even subconsciously created opportunities to reinforce her story.

In their book, He’s Just Not That Into You, Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo make light of the tendency that some women have to see connection where there is none. Greg talks about being surprised to learn that women, in general, put so much thought and energy into what are probably passing relationships. The authors also contend that women who speak of getting “mixed messages” are not getting mixed messages at all, but that they are avoiding or maybe ignoring the fact that, “he’s just not that into you.” It’s a hard pill to swallow.

Everything in his life is secretive

I

have dated a guy for over a year and a half and from the beginning was

very attracted to him and had deep feelings for him. But lack of emotional intimacy and communication seemed to be the major problem in our relationship. I was open, honest and patient with him, but no matter what I did to try to understand him and build the friendship, he always seemed too afraid to let me really know him. He lied repeatedly about everything and it seemed everything in his life was secretive. It seemed the slightest thing would be taken the wrong

way and create anger in him. He would be kind and loving and then cold and distant over nothing. He did not seem to be able to keep his word and said no repeatedly when I made a smallest request. I felt something was seriously wrong with him from the beginning and felt a deep fear inside me. It was always “I want you, no I don’t.” When things got good, he would become distant and cold, repeatedly. This created constant confusion. I felt I was being destroyed emotionally by this .

Juliet, Abeokuta Ans: What made you attracted to him and have deep feelings for him from the

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beginning? And the importance of this question is clear when you write: “I felt something was seriously wrong with him from the beginning and felt a deep fear inside me.” Okay, let’s assume there was some powerful physical attraction and sexual chemistry. Alas, that can disguise or mute some serious dysfunction. But you still had a gut fear.

So, were you ever in an emotionally or physically abusive relationship as a child or adult?

People who have been subjected to abusive or abandoning relations

tend to seek out partners who are ambivalent and hostile. These individuals fear and reject closeness despite their dependent longings.

Only a distant or detached partner provides enough challenge to prove her worthiness as a desirable woman who can capture the elusive love object. If the woman has been struggling with depression, recognized or not, psychological or biochemical, then, she’s even more vulnerable when it comes to standing up for herself and setting healthy boundaries.

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Do you have reactions to our stories or have you any experience you want to share with our readers? Please e-mail,anyagafu2@gmail.com Do you want to be linked?

Neither Chioma Gabriel nor Saturday Vanguard has any relationship with anybody wanting to be linked. We have no agents anywhere and charge no fees. We have no personal information of people who have been linked or want to be linked and therefore, are not answerable for disappointments or embarrassments some people may encounter in the process.

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SATURDAY

O

ne-night stand is un derstood as a single sexual encounter between two people with no expectations from either side for any long term commitment.

Having one-night stand is an individual decision and personal choice. While for some, it might be morally wrong but for others it might be experimentation. However, if you are experimenting with random sex, certain precautions can work for your own good. Use condom as this can protect you from pregnancy and STDs. Do not use any other contraceptive methods as it may avert pregnancy but not sexual infections.

For one night stands, a man’s attitude is much different to that of a woman. Men are just looking for a bit of kick, and considerably lower their standard of an acceptable mate.

Women, on the other hand, cannot resist the flattery unleashed liberally by their date and fall prey to their feeling of being desirable. If they were aware of the intention and attitudes of men on the prowl for a one night stand, it would help them be on their guard when on such blind dates.

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—21

Risks of one-night stand

T

What men want to find in one night stands?

•Sex appeal – Men are all out for sexual gratification when looking for one night stands. There is no set pattern of sex appeal, as the preferences of men in that regard vary a lot. Revealing clothes worn by women, such as lowcut top or short skirt would certainly ring the one-night stand bell in men than the long-term relationship aspirations. If you must wear such dress, know that many men would like to “have you” for the night. If one comes along looking at your body rather than meeting your eyes, this is a sure sign of such a guy.

•Risk taking – Everyone has experienced in some stage of their lives that they are more inclined to take risks. The risk appetite may vary between different individuals but there is a stage of life when an individual is more open to take risks. Having sex, taking al-

After sex, a woman’s system tells her to stay in bed and cuddle with hopes of seeing the same mate tomorrow, who will provide for her. This is why women feel depressed when they walk out after their hook up.

They should grow wise to their psyche and have pity on themselves by refraining from having a one-night stand.

Whatever notions young or old women have of feminism or free sex, they should know their evolution and keep away from casual approach towards one night stands that are full of risks.

Those women who believe they must have their “freedom” similar to men for having one-night stands should know that they will surely feel bad afterwards. This feeling which is very close to guilt makes them want to forget it.

cohol and drugs are some risks people want to take because all these are thrilling, despite being unhealthy. Men look for women who are in that stage of their lives.

•Inebriated women – All men know that women are going to resist their demand for jumping in the sac easily, as they know about the ditch the next morning. So, men look for women who have lost their ability to reason. Drinking is a sure way of losing your reasoning.

They can work their charm much easier on a drunken woman than one who is sane.

Women who want to drink should always be with a friend if they want to avoid these jerks.

•Women on a “low” – Many

women go through a bad phase in their lives, such as loss of job or breakup, and this sends them in the downward spiral of negative thoughts and emotions. Guys are always on the lookout for such girls so that they may take advantage of their vulnerable state of mind.

These are the kind of men who do not feel for you and would dump you the next morning without any guilt. So, be on your guard when going out with friends to cheer yourself up.

Risks of one night stands Apart from the risks of contracting STDs, the other risks associated with having onenight stands are mostly for

women. This is because their psychology is different from men. This is evident by the studies on brain chemicals released in the brain during sex.

They have shown that women have more to lose by having a one-night stand.

During sex, a hormone called oxytocin is released in women.

It makes them feel like nurturing their young ones that is supposed to come after sex. On the other hand, men get a great shot of testosterone which actually suppresses the oxytocin.

It actually urges them to look for another partner.

The male psyche is such that it is makes them look for as many mates as possible, for having many offsprings. One can see how the male psyche is different from the female.

he rising rates of alco holism in women can be attributed with conviction to the casual sex they are indulging in these days.

They actually feel that they need to be strong to allow themselves to do something that they do not want and their biology reacts against!

It is such a travesty of these times that such has become the fate of the women that they are actually convincing themselves to do something which they naturally should not.

One-night stands can only give cheap thrills. Even men, though their biology allows it, are only going to lose out in terms of gaining the trust of their partner.

Apart from the psycho-biological and socio-emotional factors, there is risk of contracting infections such as AIDS, Gonorrhoea, Herpes, Chlamydia, Syphilis, Genital Warts and others.

There are far too many risks of one night stand to indulge in them casually!Condoms are the most popular means of contraception and birth control and have been used for the last 400 years for safe and protected sex. This is the most effective medium that protects one from HIV virus and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

O-Men

Types of men, women find undesirable W

omen are most times very picky with their choice of men. There are always likes and dislikes. Though tastes and preferences may vary from person to person, there are some types that more or less applies to all. Women always keep a mental check on qualities that they prefer in a partner.

Unemployed man – Gone are the days when women fell for men without a look at their bank balance.

Shakespeare’s Juliet didn’t care; fa-

mous Punjabi tragic lover Heer didn’t care either. But modern day Heers and Juliets are aware that love doesn’t keep one alive all by itself. It is love with a thick bank balance, or else how pathetic will Valentine’s Day be!

The so-called perverts – Sex starved men are avoided at all times.

It doesn’t mean that women prefer sex less males.However, sex-starved men’s main motive is to get beneath the sheets.

Other than that, they really do not care much about anything else. A

sexually ravenous man is a no-no, primarily because he has sex in his mind all throughout the day.

The angry young man Sorry friend, but if you are perpetually angry all the time, you may not have a good chance with her. No girl likes to have some raging lunatic by her side. If a man is aggressive, that pretty much takes away all the fun from the couples’ life. Who likes to be with a man who has no shine and sheen? Who doesn’t like to appreciate the beauty of life and is constantly

nagging, angry and frustrated? Even Amitabh Bachchan, the angry young man of Bollywood smiled from time to time in his angry films.

The needy boy – Women are not so keen on attending to the emotional and mental needs of a needy boy. It’s like adopting a son.

And women don’t want sons, they want a man. On the contrary, this poor boy needs a mother. Most women like a confident and self reliant man and having such a needy boy in her life would be exasperating for her.

22—Vanguard, SARTURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

A

Davido

s a result of Debbie’s breast cancer story that went ‘crazy ’ on-line last week, Nigerian artistes have taken it upon themselves to raise funds in support of the cancer patient.

Davido fired the first salvo on Monday when he said to have donated N1million to the cancer patient.

Although he hasn’t publicly confirmed his donation, however he posted the following on his Twitter page this morning.

The campaign to ‘Save Debbie’ is being heralded by no one but popular rap act, Ruggedman.

Debbie is a medical technician suffering from 4th grade Invasive Ductal Carcinoma otherwise known as cancer of the breast.

As you read this, one of her breasts is already condemned and the cancer has moved into her second breast, including her neck.

Debbie desperately needs N6 million for surgery. Her family and friends say without the operation, she has barely one month more to live.

Championing her course on Twitter, Ruggedman has kept tweeting about Debbie, as he solicits for help from well meaning Nigerians.

“No distraction pls: Its all abt #SaveDebbie,lets not lose a sister to cancer .”

Popular comedian, Ali Baba then took it on, as he also tweets to save Debbie.

“RT @RuggedyBaba: We need 6,000 people 2pay a minimum of N1,000 into AccessBank Acc num 0000216933 Idiagbonya Osasere to #SaveDebbie” Ice Prince isn’t left in the fight to snatch Debbie from the cold hands of death, as he

My stor y —Debbie

donates N1m,

...as Alibaba Ruggedman, others take up ‘Save Debbie’ campaign

Ruggedman and others with Debbie, joins in the fight with tweets from his stable.

“We are blessed by GOD to bless others. Pls help Save Debbie To donate to Debbie – See account details below: Bank: Access bank

Account no: 0000216933 Account name: Idiagbonya Osarere If you need to reach anyone for more details about Debbie’s condition, then call these numbers 08096682757 or 08030968033.

Obi Asika, Olisa Adibua part ways

Lami reveals relationship status

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

N

T

here is a tidal wave blowing over Storm Records. Obi Asika and his cousin, longtime friend and ‘ partner ’, Olisa Adibua is parting ways.

Though no statement has been issued to that effect, E24-7 MAGAZINE’s checks revealed that the pair has decided to separate after a careful consideration of their fast waning relationship and inability to manage finances of the company together.

There are indications that the admiration and friendship they shared over two decades have waned and mistrust, misappropriation and lack of confidence have waded in in the last three, four years ago Since the misconceptions and lack of faith crept in, their interests as partners no longer align and they have not collectively pursued similar economic interest with

I

diagbonya Osarere Debbie whose plight has brought out the philanthropic best of Nigerian artistes spoke to our reporter on how she noticed the deadly cancer disease and steps she had taken to fight for her life.

‘I discovered a mass in my left breast on May 25, 2011 and I went for screening @ National cancer prevention institute ishaja road, from the screening centre I was advised to go for sonography which I did on May 26, 2011 at Ojuelegba scanning centre where I was asked to go for Fine Needle Aspiration for Cytology @ Mecure healthcare limited Oshodi…

So my Fine Needle Aspiration for Cytology said my breast mass n lymph nodes are negative for malignant cells..

I had my first surgery on the 13th of June 2011 and my second surgery on the 16th of November 2011. Then I took my lump for Histopathology investigation on November 24and the investigation reported I have Invasive Ductal Carcinomal on December 5,2011.

vigour for the company.

As at the time of filing in this report, the company has invited their lawyers and auditors to check their books and ensure compliance.

It is not clear what the erstwhile partners’ future plans are, but there are indications that Obi Asika would continue to run the business that has a track record of success in its concept and execution of several high budget showbiz events in Nigeria and parts of Africa while Olisa, currently a popular voice on BEAT FM may join a new firm with interests in entertainment projects financing and execution.

As ‘partners’ they ran robust portfolios including Storm Records, defunct Storm Vision, the first and only Big Brother Nigeria edition and GloNaija Sings, among others.

igerian pop singer and UN Ambassador, Lami has revealed her relationship status saying ‘she’s taken’..

She let the cat out of the bag on Twitter, when a fan asked whether she’s single or not.

The fan with the Twitter name @Ak Pizzle, had complimented her beauty and thereafter asked about her status.

Lami then replied with a straight answer, saying she’s already taken. @_Lami : No I’m not. Thankies RT @Ak_pizzle: Is @_Lami single ??you hot gan...FF back Meanwhile, Lami also revealed in an answer to a fan’s question as having started her own blogging site.

She said this much via Twitter when another fan asked her whether she has her own blog. @Lami: Started one on my w e b s i t e R T @wunmijay: @_Lami do you have a blog?

anguard, SARTURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—23

Musicians, journalists pay tributes to Ogbonna BENJAMIN NJOKU & OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

•Late Amadi Ogbonna

G

LOWING tributes continued to pour in, as Faze, Oritz Wiliki and Kel joined other Nigerians to commiserate with the family of Ogbonna Amadi who died last Wednesday after suffering from an asthma attack.

The superstars, in their separate condolence messages described the late Ogbonna as “a rare gem”, adding that the nation has lost one of its brightest entertainment journalists.

Faze, who is still dumbfounded at the time of filing this report said, “I’m finding it hard to believe that the boss is no more. It’s so sad because he was a great journalist who touched many lives in the entertainment industry.”

Also, Wiliki declared that “since I heard about Ogbonna’s death, I’ve not been myself. I just wish it’s not true because I haven’t been able to do anything. The news is hard to come to terms with because anybody that is anybody in the entertainment industry today, owes it to him. I don’t think I can find the right words to express myself now. I’m in shock.”

Kel said “it’s really sad. He was a great man and good at what he knew how to do best. I’ve met him one on one and he always gave me advice on how the entertainment industry works.

I think the entertainment industry will miss him greatly.”

Notable movie producer, Wale Adenuga was lost in thought just as Don Pedro Okojie said his death came to him as shock. Musician Dele Abiodun was one of the early callers at the deceased’s house. While he was there, Abiodun broke down and cried like a baby.

However, entertainment journalists who stormed his Ogba, Lagos residence expressed disbelief and a sense of lost. Some of them who spoke to Showtime had this to say about him...

Ogbonna was a brother and friend Charles Okengene, Deputy Editor, Saturday Independent Newspaper Ogbonna was my brother as well as my friend. I met him in 1992, on the job in a night club and have been

K Solo, wife re-unite

I

f you think music producer, K-Solo and wife, Kikelomo are still on the war path and are living separately, you may be in for a shocker.

The couple has since buried the hatchet and they are living as husband and wife again. Kikelomo made this revelation while speaking on Channels Television during an interview session.

According to K-Solo and Kikelomo, the story of their marriage break-up was all a publicity stunt.

They claimed stories about their breakup were cooked up as they were ‘just having fun’.

friends ever since. I can still picture the adire that he won on that fateful day. My relationship with him was such that we usually agree to disagree. Our colleagues are aware of this claim. That was the level of my relationship with him. Okengene stated that Ogbonna who had three sons firsted started as a communication reporter before he was later redeplored to report entertainment.

According to him, it was Hakeem Ikandu that brought him into journalism. Ikandu used to be the editor of Today’s Choice.

We ‘ll miss his wealth of experience- Film critic, Shaibu Husseini I’m still finding it difficult to believe that Ogbonna is no more. We are going to miss him in the entertainment industry. This is a guy who is going to be 50 years on December 5. It’s a very big blow to the entertainment industry.

He proved that he was a veteran. Anywhere he went, he tried to protect the interest of the entertainment journalists.

I feel so bad because we have lost a book, we can’t get that book anywhere. We have lost an encylopaedia, a guy who has history in his head. He doesn’t need to consult any book to tell you about anyone in showbiz; We are going to miss his wealth of experience, and his cloud...

He will find peace with God --Victor Akande, Entertainment Editor, The Nation Newspaper I feel very sad. The last meaningful discussion I had with him was when we travelled to Benin to cover the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria

...deny feud

“Nothing really happened. We were just having fun,” Kikelomo said during an exclusive interview with Channels Television.

K-Solo also agreed with her claim and spoke against her prior accusations of being physically assaulted by her husband.

According to him, “I’m a showbiz person, If I don’t do singing, I can do acting. What you guys actually saw was acting. A lot of people were taking Panadol for another man’s headache. But on the long run it was getting bigger.

pageant. We drove in my car and our discussion centred on God. It was good because we shared the same idea about God and his infinite powers. I have consolation in the fact that Ogbonna would find peace with God.

Ogbonna was a role model-Chuks Nwanne, Entertainment reporter, The Guardian It is so unfortunate that we have to be the ones paying tribute to Ogbonna. He was one entertainment journalist that most of the young ones looked up to, for direction. While he lived, Ogbonna was a dogged fighter. He fought against injustice in the industry and insisted that journalists are fairly treated.

I’m short of word!

Osamudiamen Ogbonmwan, The Source magazine I’m short of words. Amadi was a dear colleague and a friend. We will forever miss him.

Stop The Nudity!

KSB battles Don Jazzy, Wande Coal over new video

BY OPEOLUWANI OGUNJIMI

E

ven though fans of Wande Coal are having the fun of their lives with Wande Coal’s new videos, Turn Me Around crooner, Kenny Saint Brown isn’t taking it cool with Don Jazzy and Wande Coal.

She took to Twitter, bearing her mind on how irritated she feels about the high rate of nudity in Wande’s new video, Go Low, produced by Don Jazzy.

In a tweet where she copied both Wande Coal and his producer, Don Jazzy, KSB blasted: “We don’t want rape cases to increase o. Pls @wandecoal @DONJAZZY stop dis nudity in ur videos b4 God stops you.”

And while the former tweet is being devoured, she dished out yet another, also accusing Jazzy and Wande of promoting rape in the country.

24—SATURDAY Vanguard,SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

Nollywood at crossroad • Stakeholders chart the way forward

Actors in action ALEX EYENGHO

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xcept a proper u m b r e l l a s t r u c t u r e is immediately put in place for the professional regulation and conduct of practitioners in various strata, the Nigerian movie industry popularly called Nollywood is heading for an impending doom sooner than latter.

This was a consensus view held by some leading Nollywood practitioners during a roundtable discussion on Nollywood at the recently concluded 3day first international media and culture conference of the School of Media and Communication (SMC), Pan-African University, held in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking on a roundtable discussion topic: “Where is Nollywood Headed: A Future of Endless Possibilities”, stakeholders who represented the various strata in Nollywood including producers, distributors, director, writers, cinematographers and studio owners among others, noted that it was time the much talked about Motion Picture Council of Nigeria (MOPICON) came alive in the interest of Nollwood and its continuous survival.

Speaking from the perspective of a producer, President of the Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP), Alex Eyengho stated that C M Y K

unless and until a structure like MOPICON comes on board, no serious individual or corporate body both within and outside Nigeria would take Nollywood serious, stressing that “the all-comers status” of the industry presently was sending a very negative signal to the outside world. He added that ANCOP’s effort at deepening and globalizing the Nollywood brand, made it joined the Federation of International Film Producers’ Associations (FIAPF) with headquarters in France.

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n his part, President of the Motion Picture Distributors of Nigeria (MOPIDON), Chief Gab Onyi Okoye (a.k.a.

Igwe Gabosky), pointed out that there was no need for a producer to waste money shooting films if there are no properly structured distribution outlets for such films, with cash guarantees by distributors to such producers. He disclosed that the loan his company secured from the Bank of Industry (BoI) would solve this challenge to a great extent.

Former President of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Mr. Ejike Asiegbu who spoke from the perspective of an actor, pointed out that the issue of discipline on set by actors was very paramount, even as he reemphasized the need for MOPICON to properly regulate activities in the Nigerian motion picture sector. “There is presently no proper control. Anybody can just wake up today and become an actor, producer or director. This is very wrong

and must stop”, Ejike further stated.

Others who spoke at the highly intellectually engaging roundtable included veteran scriptwriter, Mr. Joe Dudun, ace movie director, Mr. Uzor Amadi, consummate filmmaker, studio owner and sound expert, Mr. Chris Ekejimbe, and former President of the Nigerian Society of Cinematographer (NSE), Mr. Isa Abubakar.

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ean of the SMC and co-convener of the conference, Prof.

Emevwo Biakolo charged Nollywood practitioners to elevate their local contents to global standard and endevour to be creative and innovative in doing this, even as he urged them to beware of what he described as “too much protectionism”.

On his part, another coconvener of the conference and

head, Mass Media and Writing of the SMC, Dr. James Tsaaior, asserted that the way forward for Nollywood vis-à-vis globalization, was for practitioners to concentrate more on shooting films in indigenous Nigerian languages but with an eye firmly on global best practices in terms of technicalities, particularly the story, picture and sound quality.

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Stv audiences across Africa are set to get more movie magic as entertainment powerhouse M-Net embarks on an exciting new chapter.

From Monday, October 1, 2012, the M-Net movie offering on DStv will be expanding to include eight genre-themed movie channels.

The eight movie channels are themed according to movie type, and will include M-Net Movies Premiere.

M-Net Movies Comedy, MNet Movies Family, M-Net Movies Action Plus, M-Net Movies Drama and Romance and M-Net Movies Showcase. Rounding off the M-Net movie line-up are MNet Movies Action (previously M-Net Action) and M-Net Movies Stars (previously M-Net Stars).

With the tag-line, A Movie for Every Mood, audiences can now be assured of a wider choice of the best possible selection of available movies anytime of the day.

This marks a significant evolution in M-Net’s movie line-up that currently

M-net expands movie offerings on Dstv encompasses only 2 generic movie channels. The new range of movie channels, which debuts in October, is specifically designed to ensure easy navigation for audiences so they know just where to find their favourite type of movie.

To find out more on each channel, please read on…

M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv Channel 103): This

where the viewers are expected to find the freshest movies appearing on television for the first time.

Five new movies, according to M-net, will be screened every weekend on M-Net Movies Premiere, and kicking off every weekend on a Friday is 4 of the 5 blockbusters.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—25

London.

At her birthday bash, which had Mike Ezuruonye as the only attendant from Nollywood, the Abia State born actress had reasons to debunk the rumour that she has dumped acting career, saying that “I’m still into acting.”

The actress said she is o n l y

that “it’s not true.”

Uche however went underground in order to cool the heated controversies surrounding her acting career and possibly to rebrand. She is a graduate of the University of Lagos. The first movie in which she appeared was "Tears in Heaven."

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•Uche Uwuji

From London, Uche Iwuji plans to storm Nollywood again!

Since her proposed marriage plan with a certain dude who syndicated her naked pictures online few years ago, actress Uche Uwuji has maintained a low profile until last Sunday, when she came out of her shell to celebrate her birthday in grand style.

Currently based in London, Uche used to be one of the most-sought-after actresses in Nollywood before she was hit with controversy leading to her decision to relocate to

observing a break from the movie scene, but promised to storm the country with a bang.

On what she is currently up to, the controversial actress who came into limelight after her roles in such films as “Passion and Pain”, “The Secretary”, “Fair Game”, and ‘Heart of Bitterness” said “I’m trying to re brand myself, which I’m currently working on.’” She also refuted the rumour making the rounds that she is pregnant, stressing

Rita Dominic, Mildred Okwo set for the big Meeting ..as Stephanie Okereke returns to the trenches

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he Audrey Silva Company (TASC), a firm co-founded by Rita Dominic and Mildred Okwo has picked October 19, as the date for the theatrical release of their latest movie, “The Meeting”, just as Stephanie Okereke Idahosa is currently on location shooting her new movie months after she walked down the aisle with her hubby in Paris.

The movie titled ‘Dry ” according to our source, is based on Vesico Vaginal Fistula, which is said to be prevalent in the northern Nigeria.

On the movie, “The Meeting”, Silverbird Distribution Limited is named as being in charge of marketing and sales.

The romantic comedy stars Rita Dominic alongside C M Y K

•Rita Dominic

veteran actor, Jide Kosoko. It also featured Kate HenshawNuttal, Basorge Tariah, Nse Ikpe-Etim, and Chinedu Ikedieze. “We are excited about this film because it is a truly Nigerian story that cuts across borders. Anybody anywhere in the world will find something peculiar on his or her immediate environment. We are not only introducing upcoming stars including Femi Jacobs and Linda I. Ejiofor but we are also showcasing a different and dynamic Rita Dominic,” said Managing Director of TASC ,Mildred Okwo. The movie is the company’s first cinematic offering.

Structuring Nollywood: The MOPICON option (2)

•Sani Danja

Kannywood actor debuts in Nollywood

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

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multi-talented Kannywood actor cum singer, Sani Danja is gradually conquering the famous Nollywood industry, going by his recent exploits in the industry.

At the moment, the handsome entertainer is rounding off the production of a new movie that will launch him into the industry.

The movie titled “Daughter of the River ” is currently being shot in Enugu and it is expected to round off this weekend.

Danja, who played the lead role in the movie, alongside other actors has been on location for the past 3 months, working round the clock to make the flick a talk of the town, when it finally hit the shelves in next few months.

The actor played the role of a Prince (Ojiofor Acolyte), whose identity was shielded away from the public because he was born outside the royal home. He was however, discovered when his father became bedridden and the search for the next King began.

In his words, “we’ve been working day and night to make this movie an award winning film. The movie has a lot a story to relay to the audience.”, he quipped.

started this topic last week with a brief historical antecedent of the proposed Motion Picture Council of Nigeria (MOPICON) for practitioners in Nollywood. I made it manifestly clear that a so-called Coalition of Nollywood Guilds and Associations (CONGA) populated by a few characters with very unclear motives, was scheming to play the role of interim MOPICON albeit through the backdoor. This has been firmly resisted by major associations, guilds and stakeholders in Nollywood, thus further widening the gulf of unity and one voice the industry is seriously longing for. Bellow is the concluding part of the essay. Enjoy it. …It has always been tough for Nollywood practitioners to be unified in one formidable unit. This, in my view is as a result of the lack of a body enabled by a legislated law to unify the various interests in the Nigerian motion picture industry. If the well-received stakeholdersinitiated Conference of Motion Picture Practitioners of Nigeria (CMPPN) died a natural death mainly as a result of the lack of a legislative legal backing, I wonder what made the handlers of CONGA think they could fly with all the shenanigans, and particularly without first sincerely, consciously and deliberately building consensus among key stakeholders in Nollywood. In my view, CONGA, as presently constituted is peopled and controlled mainly by some former association and guild heads who are using the platform of a popular agitation (for MOPICON) to achieve their hidden agenda (of perpetually remaining relevant as leaders in Nollywood) to, as usual, invariably box and pocket the industry as their personal fiefdom! To them, since they are out of power as heads of the existing associations/guilds, CONGA is yet another association/guild to be used to open doors for them in government and corporate circles!

For the avoidance of doubt, it is illegal, fraudulent, scandalously misleading, null and void for anybody to claim that CONGA is an umbrella body, which represents the interest of all associations and guilds in Nollywood.

At the very best, the group can only represent the interest of those who subscribe to it. CONGA can NEVER represent Nollywood as presently constituted. CONGA can only be CONGA if all associations and guilds in Nollywood (both the ones registered by CAC and the ones yet to be registered) are automatically free to be members without any form of inhibition – religion, tribe, location, political affiliation etc. Anything short of this is not CONGA in the true sense of it but COSNGA (Coalition of Some Nollywood Guilds and Associations).

Anything short of this is criminally erroneous and therefore, a ‘CONGAROO’!

In terms of structure, the legitimate and allencompassing way forward for Nollywood is for MOPICON to come alive with all its attendant benefits.

For instance, it would streamline activities of practitioners in the motion picture industry and force every practitioner to conform to guidelines set for the industry and inhibit most of the challenges the industry is currently facing. It will perpetually kill the challenge of proliferation of associations and guilds in Nollywood. There will be just one producers’ association in the country and every producer must fall in line. Ditto for actors, directors, writers, distributors and other guilds.

MOPICON will also boost the confidence level of investors and other financial institutions to putting their money in Nollywood. Against the backdrop of criticism that Corporate Nigeria is refusing to contribute to the growth of Nollywood through partnership on film projects, I dare say that it is difficult to work with an industry, which is lacking in structure.

26—VANGUARD, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 , 2012

By Anozie Egole 07088551416 egole.anozie@yahoo.com

Mercy Johnson thanks God as she turns 28

Directing ‘Hoodrush’ wwas as ver veryy complicated — Dimeji

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igerian actress Mercy Johnson Okojie is thanking God as she celebrated her 28th birthday on the 28th of August 2012. Mercy Johnson Ozioma was born on August 28, 1984 into the family of Mr Daniel, a former naval officer and Mrs Elizabeth Johnson. From calculation, Mercy Johnson age, as of present, is 28. Mercy hails from Okene in Kogi state, and is the sixth of her family’s seven children. She had her primary education, first in Calabar, where she stayed with her father, and later at the Nigerian Navy Primary School, Lagos. For her secondary education, she attended Rivers State Secondary School and the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, both in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

In 2011, Mercy officially got married to the man of her dreams. Her husband is Prince Odianosen Okojie, an Edo-based business magnate.

Mercy Johnson was shot into stardom by her role in the movie, “The maid” (2004) in which she played the role of a housemaid possessed by demons. Her performance in the movie was so exceptional that she was offered many more acting roles subsequently.

That was how her success story began.

Within a period of just 8 years, Mercy Johnson had featured in many home movies. Some of them are : The maid ; Into temptation; House party; Women in power; Lost to lust; Kill the bride; The Gods are wise; Tiger king; Beyond desire; Clash of twins; Entanglement; Heat of the moment and several others.

In an interview she once granted, Mercy Johnson

•Mercy Johnson

narrated how her coming into acting came by coincidence. She decided to audition for movie roles after she failed her JAMB exams. She also revealed that growing up, she found life very hard and tough, as she had to work as a house cleaner in order to survive.

he director of the first African 3D movie to be shot in Nigeria, Dimeji Ajibola spoke on his movie titled, Hoodrush; the challenges he encountered in the course of shooting the movie and what prompted him to produce the movie.

Speaking to journalists, he said that what motivated him into movie industry in Nigeria is not basically making money but to uplift the standard of movie industry in Nigeria.

“Nollywood is popular but not for its quality but just otherwise. People like us who are in the field feel somehow when we hear people say certain things about the industry because, we know what the people want to get from us.

We think we can do better than what the people want to hear from us.”

For him, it is all about coming out with quality. Talking about cost and how he raised his fund to be able to finance that type of project knowing how capital intensive the project is, he said he used the savings he made from advertising and anchoring of programs for the project because of the passion he has for acting. According to Dimeji, the major challenge he had in directing the movie was coping with some new actors and also convincing Bimbola his lead actor to sing since she was not a singer. The musical movie which featured an ace actress Bimbo Akintola, and some other actors and actresses like, O.C Ukeje, Chelsea Eze, Gabriel Afolayan among others will soon hit the cinema.

I grew up in a ‘books’ environment — Katya Anyagafu •Katya

As a baby, all I ever saw my mum do was write or read. She always had eenage author, Katya Samuel-An something to do with either reading yagafu recently published her sec or writing and there’s always a ond novel ‘Obiageli’s Choice’ which she mountain of newspapers and magapresented during the send-forth ceremo- zines to read. It is natural for anyny of ‘Class of 2012’ of Kings Anchor Col- body who lives in a house like mine lege, Alimosho. Two years ago, she pub- to be well acquainted with books. lished her first novel,’ The Flute Dancer ‘ My mum writes about social and and in this encounter, she talks about her political issues but I prefer to bring life and books and what inpires her. the village to the city. So, I harvest Excerpts. folklores, folktales and folksongs.

I didn’t just start writing. I grew up in it. Tell me an interesting folktale and I

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will write a book on it and find a way to improve on it for my own generation.

Writing ‘Obiageli’s Choice’ was not easy. It was my second novel after I published ‘The Flute Dancer’ two years ago.And like ‘The Flute Dancer’, ‘Obiageli’s Choice’ is a folktale. I tried to interpret a folksong that has an interesting lesson for the young generation.

I am a teenager and I have taken my WAEC exam. I made good grades and God was good to me to the point that I made the best result in my school in the May/June WAEC. I thank God for everything because it is not by my power or by my might.

I read a lot. In fact, you cannot live in my kind of house and not be able to read or write. I grew up in a reading and writing environment and I tried to make the best of it. I read so many books but my mum always

watches to ensure I don’t read the wrong books. There was a particular book, I’ve forgotten the name, I brought home from school. I didn’t even start reading the book but my mum made her usual adventure into my school bag and saw the book.

She confiscated it.

I had good teachers too. At school, I’m proud to say I had the best and at home, different teachers came to take me on different subjects. But I am basically an arts student and I did very well in all my subjects especially English, Literature, Government and the entire result is waoh! I was a bit scared about Mathematics but I made a B3 . I made nine credits: 3 As, 3 Bs, 3 Cs. I made C4 in Yoruba.

I hope to take writing to the next level as I grow and I hope someday, I will be like Chimamanda Adichie.I read her works. I read ‘Purple Hibiscus’ so many times because I like her style of writing.

I love to see native tongues mixed with English language in a book.

I used to think that after ‘Things Fall Apart’, that style of writing is out-dated but after reading Adichie’s book, I knew one can

still write like Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka in my generation.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1 ,2012—27

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rectile Dysfunction(ED) is probably a man’s greatest fear. Inability to get the male sexual organ erect for sexual intercourse occurs as a result of many factors that may interact with a normal erection. Many men report being unable to get an erection at least once in a while, and a man can be completely healthy, but sometimes there are emotional or physical factors that may affect them and consequently there is no erection. Here are the most common factors responsible for ED.

Alcohol Among common factors that may kill erection is alcohol. A few drinks will not stimulate sexual desire. You might consider having a few drinks to get in the mood, but overindulging could make it harder for you to finish the act.

Heavy alcohol use can interfere with erections, but the effects are usually temporary. Moderate drinking might have health benefits and those risks are similar to erectile dysfunction risks, too.

Medications Medicines could affect performance in the bedroom.

Common drugs that can cause ED include certain blood pressure drugs, pain medications, and antidepressants. Street drugs like amphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana.

Stress Who feels sexy when they’re stressed? Stress can cause different reactions in the body and can interfere with your erections.

It’s not easy to get in the mood when you’re overwhelmed by responsibilities at work and home.

Stress can take its toll on many different parts of the body, including the male organ. Lifestyle changes promote well-being and relaxation, such as exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and seeking professional help when appropriate.

Anger Anger can make the blood rush to your face, but not to the one place you need it when you want to have sex. It’s not easy to feel romantic when you’re raging, whether your anger is directed at your partner or not. Unexpressed anger or improperly expressed anger can contribute to performance problems in the bedroom.

•ED,man’s great fear

These things can kill a man’s libido

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Depression The brain is an often-overlooked erogenous zone.

Sexual excitement starts in your head and works its way down. Depression can dampen your desire and can lead to erectile dysfunction.

Ironically, many of the drugs used to treat depression can also suppress your sex drive and make it harder to get an erection.

It can be embarrassing to talk to about your sex life, but it’s the best way to get treated and get back to being intimate with your partner

back to being intimate with your partner. The doctor can pinpoint the source of the problem and may recommend lifestyle interventions and treatment options such as ED drugs, hormone treatments and counseling.

Erectile dysfunction and age Myth: ED is just a normal part of growing older and men just have to learn to live with it.

Fact: Although ED is more common among older men, that doesn’t make it “normal” — or something you just have to live with. It’s not unusual for older men to need more stimulation to help get them aroused than they did when they were younger. But there’s no reason you should have to accept a lack of sexual function as one of the inevitable consequences of getting older. Many men are able to get erections and enjoy sex well into their senior years, and there’s very likely no reason that you can’t be one of them.

Myth: Erectile dysfunction doesn’t hit younger men. It’s only a problem for older guys.

Fact: Although erectile

, •...ED itself isn’t necessarily dangerous,but a man can lose sleep over it

Anxiety Worry that you won’t be able to perform in bed often makes it harder to do just that.

Anxiety from other parts of life can spill over into the bedroom.

All that worry can make you fear and avoid intimacy, which can spiral into a vicious cycle that puts a big strain on your sex life — and relationship.

Middle-aged spreadCarrying extra kilos can impact on a man’s sexual performance, and not just by lowering his self-esteem. Obese men produce less of the male hormone testosterone, which is important for sexual desire and producing an erection. Being overweight is also linked to high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries,

which can reduce blood flow to the male organ.

Self-image When you don’t like what you see in the mirror, it’s easy to assume your partner isn’t going to like the view, either.

A negative self-image can make you worry not only about how you look, but also how well you’re going to perform in bed. That performance anxiety can make you too anxious to even attempt sex.

Low libido Low libido isn’t the same as erectile dysfunction, but a lot of the same factors that stifle an erection can also dampen interest in sex. Low selfesteem, stress, anxiety, and

certain medications can all reduce your sex drive. When all those worries are tied up with making love, your interest in sex can take a nosedive.

Health Different health conditions can affect the nerves, muscles, or blood flow that is needed to have an erection. Diabetes, high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, spinal cord injuries, and multiple sclerosis can all contribute to ED. Surgery to treat prostate or bladder problems can also affect the nerves and blood vessels that control an erection.

Solution It can be embarrassing to talk to about your sex life, but it’s the best way to get treated and get

dysfunction is more common in men over 75, men of any age can develop erectile problems.

Myth: ED may be upsetting, but there’s nothing dangerous about it.

Fact: Although the ED itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, it is often one of the earliest warning signs of other underlying health conditions that can be quite serious. One underlying health condition is diabetes, heart problems such as hypertension or atherosclerosis, as well as hormone imbalances and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

Myth: If you have trouble getting an erection, it’s because you’re not attracted to your partner.

28—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

I’m not bothered about my marital status — Bimbo Akintola

BY ANOZIE EGOLE How will you describe yourself?

Bimbo Akintola is a peaceloving, God-fearing young woman who is so dear to her parents. I love acting and I do not think I can do any other thing apart from acting and directing. I played a lead role in the yet to be premiered movie, “Hoodrush”after several years off-the- camera.

I am the kind of person who always like to please myself first before any other thing.

That doesn’t mean I am selfish. It is what every other person would do. You please yourself first before thinking about the other person.

What are your grouses regarding your long absence from the industry?

Well, part of the reason I

stayed off-the-camera for a long time now includes the fact that I hardly understand most of the scripts that are sent to me. I hate to be typecasted and most times when I send such scripts to a close friend to appraise, she would return them to me after few weeks with a remark that she doesn’t understand the scripts.

We can’t keep saying that when we get to the location, we will iron it out.

Sometimes, it doesn’t work out that way. I can’t quit acting. I am still an actress. Talking about what I do aside acting, I am a producer and also a director.I also anchor programmes on the television.

For any program I anchor, they pay me more than the amount I realise from acting.

So, I do enjoy my programmes and they are less stressful. I’m paid handsomely for being on air for few hours unlike acting where it will take months for a production to be completed.

Sometimes, the time frame clashes.

Why do you act more Yor uba movies than Nollywood?

Why I enjoy Yoruba movie most is that the stories are original. They are very easy to understand. So, I enjoy Yoruba movies a lot.

Lets talk about your role in the movie “Hoodrush” and how you have been handling your audience and their criticisms?

You know there is nothing you will do without rumours.

It has been going around

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ne of Nollywood top actresses, Bimbo Akintola who has been missing on screen in recent times has come out to explain why she decided to go undergound. She also talks about her role in the yet-tobe premiered musical flick “Hoodrush”where she played a lead female character. She also cleared the rumour that she is having an affair with her co-actor O.C. Ukeje.

Exrcept...

was taken, there must be people there and also some crew members. So how can they expect something to be going on where these number of people are present or do they think it will be a public thing? For God’s sake, things are not like that. It is high time Nigerians start getting things right. As for criticisms, I try ignore them so much.

There are some people that cannot do without criticizing others. There was a time they published that I fought in the airport because of runs money. Unfortunately, I was not in Nigeria then and my mother called me and was complaining.I told her to ignore them and she listened to me. If you want to take them to court, you will remain in the court forever. One of them was bold enough to tell me, Bimbo, you don’t even care and I told him yes I don’t.

There was a time I felt so bad that I was ready to fight back because I felt that they have gone too far in writing negative things about me.

What is your body chemistry with O.C on the screen?

Whenever I pick up a role to act, I will do it in such a way that the person I will be

It is high time Nigerians start getting things right. As for criticisms, I ignore them so much

town that I am having an affair with O.C whom I acted with, but I want to clearly state to you that there is nothing like that. Why do people think like that? Because he was my toy boy in the movie and we had some pictures together, the next thing I heard was that we are dating. Before the picture

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acting with will understand me and follow up. This makes our body chemistry to grow up. Of course, there is always the feeling of togetherness when two people act together, stay together and do a lot of things in common. At a time, they might start feeling for each other.

There are speculations that you like acting with young people, how do you feel doing that?

There is nothing like that.

There is no difference acting with young and old men. To some extent, young people are more vibrant to act with.

After all, we started one day.

The only problem is that some of these young actors when they act with established actors, they start being nervous. So what I do is to make fun of myself to make them feel free. I don’t think that they being young means that they are not established.

What about you marital life, who is you kind of man?

I am stating clearly now that I am not botherd about my marital status. I know all fingers are not equal so I am not disturbed when they talk about marriage. If I had wanted to marry fifteen years ago, I would have done that.

In the area of raising children, I have several children under my care though they are not my biological children. They are the children I am helping.

Some of them are married with children so, I am a grandmother now. I know marriage is a bigger task. You cannot compare it to the boyfriend stuff where you can pack your things and go if you are provoked In marriage, you are going nowhere. It is for better, for worse. I strongly disagree with this idea of an ideal man.

There is nothing like that. As far as you’re given attention by the man, the age is insignificant. There is no particular man that is ideal.

Choose the things you like about the man and you work from there. Before you know it, things will start working good from there. In marriage, you will continue to have problems until you understand yourselves well.

And it takes a lot of time for both parties to understand themselves. So, if you are looking for a perfect man, you will die old ,wretched and wrinkled.

Does it mean you are supporting having children outside marriage?

I didn’t see any bad thing with that. There are some women who are ready to marry but they have not seen the right man. Some of these people are above 5oyears and they still have not gotten married.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—29

‘My ‘ Ikebe’ almost landed me in palaver ‘ beautiful w o m a n endowed with a body any man would kill for seems like an impossible trade mark in any average girl.Yet Amaka Obi has it and more but she doesn’t see it as everything. She didn’t give in to sexual advances when her physical assets would have opened several doors in her early years.

Her story is likened to one who went through thick and thin to get to where she is today. In this last interview with AMADI OGBONNA and FLORENCE AMAGIYA, she speaks about her childhood, sexual harassment experiences in the industry as well as her foray into the mainstrem acting .

You have an awesome back, is it real?

Yes it is real oh!

Women in their bidto meet with the trends wear artificial bum these days and others go through the surgical knife to acquire it? Did you acquire yours through surgery or are you wearing something?

I didn’t go through any surgery, neither am I wearing any artificial bum or whatsoever. I grew up seeing myself like this.

How did people react to you?

If I can remember, I have always been chubby even during my primary/secondary school days. Well, l got so many reactions from people while growing up especially men! Some wanted to date

me, others wanted me to be their pet daughters, others claimed they wanted to buy me ice cream and that l should be close to them. But one thing kept me safe and that was because l was very close to my mum and always confided in her on everything l was going through before taking any decision. My mum had told me when l was a younger girl that l would be pregnant if l was touched by any man. Perhaps that fear also kept me from trying on what these men wanted from me. I didn’t want to be pregnant.

How does having all these make you feel?

Well l feel blessed and honoured to be given these by the Almighty God, I owe to Him all the thanks. And as for the men, I am stingy about my looks. I do not share at all!

How was childhood like?

My childhood was rough and thinking about it

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eing a

schooling for more than a year.

On several occasions, we were thrown out of school because we could not pay school fees.

We opted to hawk all kinds of wares in order to make money.

Every now and then, we changed school because we could not meet up the payment of our fees. This development went on until we relocated to Owerri. My mum all this time was doing menial jobs to take care of us. She became a washer woman and it became a family business.

But the bottom line is that God somehow converted all the stress turned into glory. I lost my elder sister but we are better today. Mum managed to build our own place at Owerri with all the savings we made from the menial jobs, so we moved out from where we were squatting into our own home. Today, we are all stabilized, we are all grown, doing one thing or the other.

Are you saying you managed to complete your education?

Yes. God made a way and l read Marketing at Enugu State University (ESUT) though I was also doing business amidst classes.

How did you come into Nollywood?

My father wanted me to be

l got some many reactions from people while growing up especially men! Some wanted to date me, others wanted me to be their pet daughters, others claimed they wanted to buy me ice cream and that l should be close to them

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sometimes makes me cry, although, it eventually turned out well. We were three girls in my home and l was the last child at that time until my mum got pregnant again for the fourth child. There was so much pressure from my father ’s family on my mum because she had only female children and unfortunately for us, my father chose that time to die. My dad’s family seized everything from my mum and left her with nothing. My mum eventually gave birth to a boy but it wasn’t believed that my father was responsible for that pregnancy. So we moved out of Lagos to Port Harcourt. My siblings and I stopped

a TV personality, but l wasn’t offered Mass Communication at school. However, after school, l got a job working at a car trackers company. I went through Amstel Box Office (AMB) three times, but didn’t go far in it. So, l met a guy who told me how to go about auditions. I went for it and l got the job.

What was the pay like on your first job?

My pay was okay, but l do not want to talk about it.

Have you ever been harassed on the job?

I haven’t been harassed at all. In fact, I have played a

love -making scene before but l was wearing a bra. Acting is make- believe but it has to be real. I acted a love- making scene no doubt, but l wasn’t harassed. I think it is because l have not placed myself in a position to be harassed. I do not expose myself on the streets. I wear clothes that cover my body whenever l am out of my home! I do not go where l am not supposed to go . I am in one place at a time.

The way you carry yourself matters when it comes to harassment. It is the way you dress you would be addressed.

What is the best part of your body?

I think the best part of my body is my face. It is my face because if my face is not appreciated by someone ,then it would be about lust because all he would be thinking would be about pulling my clothes to see my bum and all that.

Not yet

30 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

Walcott rejects Ar senal deal, Arsenal aler ting Manc hes alerting Manches hestter City • Contract worth £75,000 a week turned down by representatives •Manchester City and Liverpool interested in signing winger

Andy Carrol and Brendan Rodgers

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heo Walcott played in Arsenal’s goalless draw at Stoke City on Sunday but has now rejected an offer of £75,000 a week.

Manchester City are considering making a bid for Arsenal’s Theo Walcott with the champions conscious his future at Arsenal is in serious doubt after discussions over a new deal broke down.

There has been no official offer from City but Roberto Mancini admires the forward with the Italian having retained an interest in Walcott throughout the summer. With Adam Johnson having departed for Sunderland and his initial replacement, Scott Sinclair, having seen his move from Swansea City to the Etihad Stadium break down, Walcott’s potential availability may move Mancini to lodge a bid, although Liverpool have also been linked with the England international.

Walcott’s future at Arsenal has been in the balance for some weeks. The player has entered the final 12 months of his deal at the London club but, after a period when negotiations over an extension were put on hold, his advisers reopened discussions

Brendan Rodgers says Liverpool must sell players before buying more Walcott

• New manager’s Anfield budget is already spent • Andy Carroll, Charlie Adam and Joe Cole available

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iverpool’s new manager, Brendan Rodgers needs to offload players such as Andy Carroll before he can with Arsenal last Friday and before yesterday's deadline sign any more of his own targets. a final five-year offer worth unless they receive a clear inBrendan Rodgers has said Liverpool cannot afford bigaround £75,000 a week was dication that he is ready to money deals before yesterday’s transfer deadline unless duly put to the winger. How- commit his future.

Andy Carroll and other superfluous high-earners accept ever, it is understood Walcott’s Arsenal, who have stressed their Anfield careers are over. representatives informed the to Walcott that they invested The Liverpool manager wishes to sign Theo Walcott, declub over the weekend that considerable faith in the spite Arsène Wenger’s desire to hold on to the player, and they would be rejecting that winger when signing him has deals lined up for the remainder of this transfer winproposal. from Southampton in 2006, dow. Any permanent captures over the next 48 hours, howFurther talks took place on would seek to raise about ever, rest on raising funds and reducing the wage bill from Tuesday but, while Arsène £15m through Walcott’s sale Wenger is instinctively keen rather than allow the 23-yearthe existing squad, meaning one or more of Carroll, Charlie to retain Walcott’s services, he old to leave for nothing next Adam, Joe Cole and Jay Spearing will have to go for Walcott and the club’s hierarchy have summer and would be willing or Fulham’s Clint Dempsey to move to Merseyside. now made it clear that they to enter negotiations with Carroll’s prospects of a return to Newcastle United are all will look to sell the winger both Liverpool and City. but over, as Alan Pardew has confirmed, but West Ham United’s offer of a £2m loan fee plus £17m should they avoid relegation this season remains on the table. West Ham are also prepared to pay Carroll’s £80,000a-week wage and could face competition from Aston Villa and Fulham. But the England international, as has been the case all summer, does not want to leave Liverpool for any of those three clubs s Edin Dzeko off to Arsenal? will have to be shot and seductive rugs and only a late change of heart will Maybe. Stranger things, like will have to be cut, pronto. And with enable Rodgers to further his inGervinho playing well, have that bromidic, banal analogy out of the terest in Walcott, with whom he happened. way, let’s get down to the business of shares an agent. City may also The Mill has never been one for the day. move for the Arsenal winger dethose awkward bars where over-sozThe greatest trick Theo Walcott pending on the outcome of Scott zled men in contrast collar and cuffs ever pulled was convincing the world Sinclair’s proposed transfer from shove notes into the impossibly that he is a footballer. Week in, week Swansea. skimpy underwear of girls the same out, year in, year out, Theeee-O! Adam, who is reluctant to leave age as their daughters at home. But Theeee-O! would dash, scamper and Anfield just 12-months into a fouras an all-singing, all-dancing, rarely scuttle up and down various sidelines year, £60,000-a-week contract, is truthful transfer turbine that is forced throughout the land , often even considering an offer to join Stoke to perform its sordid dance to the touching the ball , fooling fans, manDzeko City, who are looking to off-load transfer gods each and every morn- agers, casual observers, not-so casuWilson Palacios, on a permanent ing, the Mill can consign its two left al observers and the Swiss Guard into basis while Spearing is expected feet into the Christian Louboutin’s of thinking that he knows what he is to leave on loan. Bolton and those girls and find them a reason- doing, when in actual fact, Theeee-O! Wolverhampton Wanderers have ably snug fit.

Theeee-O! appears to know about as held talks with Spearing. LiverThe same must go for footballers up much about football as the Mill knows slapping some dead presidents on Arsène and down the land right about now. about post-structuralism, paradigmat- Wenger’s almost broken table in return for pool have not received any official There is less time to the close of the ic analysis and the work of Algirdas Theeee-O! Theeee-O! But fear not Arsenal approaches for Cole, whose transfer window than that afforded to Julien Greimas. Nevertheless, that fans, that deal will only be getting the green £100,000-a-week wage is unsurEddie Murphy and Nick Nolte and if hasn’t stopped Liverpool – who, in light if Liverpool can get rid of Andy Carprisingly discouraging potential players want their move, poles will fairness to them, know a thing or two roll and we all know that ain’t going to be suitors. have to be climbed, smouldering looks about buying duff midfielders – from happening no way, no how.

Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko to Arsenal?

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Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 — 31

English Premier League :

Two of League’s hottest clubs face- off today

GOLF

Luke Donald, the Moses lost in the desert

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n 37 major champion ships, Luke Donald has

somehow managed to come up empty-handed. That’s not a drought; it is Moses lost in the desert for 40 years.

Despite having a swing that would put Ben Hogan to shame, Donald currently owns golf’s most dubious title, the world’s best player without a major championship.

The 34-year-old is on his way to joining a long, luckless list of athletes that never converted on their sport’s biggest stages. Ted Williams. Elgin Baylor. Warren Moon. Carl Yastrzemski. Charles Barkley. Barry Sanders.

The Englishman is an especially perplexing case study because he appears powerless in majors, yet has garnered worldwide success by beating the most

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he start of the English Premier League sea son has brought many surprises already.

Two of those surprises are clubs who are off to excellent starts.

Those two clubs are Everton and West Brom, and the two will face off today at The Hawthorns. West Brom, who are the hosts today have responded well to new manager Steve Clarke.

Clarke, who previously spent time as an assistant at Chelsea and Liverpool is in his first season as a club’s manager.

The institution of a more offensive formation provided the spark that the Baggies needed. In the club’s first match of the season, it surprised everyone by beating Liverpool 3-0.

Last weekend, the Baggies displayed a nevergive-up attitude on the road and earned a 1-1 draw with Tottenham.

One player who has stood out in the first two matches is Romelu Lukaku, the 19-year-old Belgian who is on loan at the club from Chelsea.

Lukaku’s physical presence up front has given opposing defenses a fit each time he has come on to the pitch as a substitute.

Now, the question for Clarke is if he will start Lukaku ahead of experienced forwards Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie.

West Brom are not just impressing others with their attacking players, their defense has quietly started off the season very well. The back four of Jonas Olsson, Gareth McAuley, Steven Reid and Liam Ridgewell have held two of the EPL’s top clubs to just one goal in 180 minutes of play so far this season.

Add goalkeeper Ben Foster into that equation and the Baggies have a back line that right now have a ton of confidence and believe that they can hold any opponent to a clean sheet.

As for the visitors in today’s match, Everton have bucked their trend of recent seasons and have begun the season with positive results.

Everton are traditionally a club that thrives in the second half of the season, but David Moyes’ club is trying desperately for that not to happen this season.

After their first two matches, there is reason to believe that the Toffees will be able to perform well in the first half of the season for once.

The Toffees opened their season at home and pulled off a shock of their own with a 1-0 win over Manchester United. The shock win over United was followed by a 3-1 victory over a struggling Aston Villa club.

•Donald

elite of competition many times, actually securing the

Premier League 2012-13 Guide: Everything you need to know The 2012-13 English Premier League season is about to begin.After an offseason filled with the usual big-money transfers and incredible moves, clubs are ready to get on the pitch and let their feet do the talking. Whether this is your first season following the EPL or you’ve been doing so your entire life, we’ve got a season guide for you, complete with everything you need to know. So read away. It promises to be one heck of a season. this season.Who prevails will be an interesting battle to watch.

The 2011-12 Season Last year, the Premier League went the way of Manchester City, who won their first league title in 44 years,beating out rivals Manchester United to the title courtesy of a last-round, last-minute win against Queens Park Rangers.

Arsenal and Tottenham rounded out the top four, though the latter of those two did miss out on their 2013 UEFA Champions League berth due to Chelsea’s incredible victory over Bayern Munich on penalty shoot-outs in the 2012 Champions League final.

Everton finished ahead of Liverpool, much to their dismay and Newcastle’s incredible run under Alan Pardew continued as the Magpies finished in the top five of the League.

Wigan Athletic somehow managed relegation, whilst Wolves, Blackburn and Bolton weren’t so lucky—all dropping back down to the Championship.

Great work has been done documenting the top 50 storylines to watch in the EPL this year. For me, the two main storylines to watch are always the top and the bottom—who’s going to challenge for the title and who’s going to win the relegation battle.

The title seems to be coming down to a Manchester race once more, with Chelsea threatening as an alternative to the two. The dreaded drop-zone, on the other hand, consists of several teams this

year including West Ham, West Brom, Swansea City, Reading, Aston Villa, Southampton and Wigan.

All of those teams could genuinely drop down

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three 10 times (40 percent), top five 13 times (52 percent), and top 10 19 times (76 percent).

world No. 1 in golf rankings in

What to watch out for this year

Everton players

2012.

Since turning pro in 2001, Donald has won seven times and over • 14 million on the European Tour, and five titles and over $27 million on the PGA Tour.

Not impressed?

2011 was Donald’s zenith, a “transcontinental quest”. He won the money title on both the European and PGA circuits, a feat never before accomplished over a career, much less over a single season.

In 25 events, Donald won four times (WGC-Accenture Match Play, BMW PGA Championship, Barclays Scottish Open, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic).

He also finished in the top

Players to Watch Top 50 players have been tracked to watch in the EPL this year. The two sets of players to watch this year are those that made big-money moves into the EPL and those that made big-money moves around the EPL. The first set includes Eden Hazard to Chelsea, Shinji Kagawa to Manchester United and Lukas Podolski to Arsenal—all of which were big offseason acquisitions from their former clubs.

New Teams in the Premier League Reading Following a huge off-season where they purchased a lot of players with not a lot of money, Reading could well surprise some people this year. They have a good squad and have players that, when on their game, can content with the best in the EPL. I see Reading comfortably avoiding relegation,finishing around 14th—this season.

Southampton Southampton’s season pretty much hinges on the play of one man—Rickie Lambert. The striker was fundamental to their promotion back into the EPL and whilst one can see him having success this year, one can’t see it being enough to keep them above the drop-zone. Southampton is seen slipping back down to the Championship, finishing in 18th position.

West Ham The final of the three teams promoted this season is West Ham, who many will be glad are back in the Premier League. The Hammers will no doubt relish the opportunity to be back in the top class and under manager Sam Allardyce will be quite competitive this year.

32—SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

My rise from grass to grace—Cosmas Ilo

* Cosmas Ilo

Cosmas Ilo is a young entrepreneur and the Chief Executive Officer, Coisco Petroleum Limited, Owerri, Imo State . He recounts the story of his rise from grass to grace...

Background came from a very poor background. My father died while I was three years old . There was nobody to send me to school. I struggled to complete my secondary school education. But today, I’m a proud graduate of Tourism Management of the Imo State University. I believe in my dreams and also, in the fact that education helps to liberate us from our fears. I never believed I would not make it in life despite the odds.

What life has taught me?

Life has taught me how to believe in my dreams. Though it is full of ups and downs, if is focused, one will definitely achieve his dreams in life. It has also taught me to be tolerant, easy-going and Godfearing. I try as much as possible to be myself and never had any reason to live above my income. Nothing comes easy in life, and the knowledge of this axiom made me to be careful in whatever I am in life.

Rising from grass to grace!

I had a cousin who was into the oil business. He was the one who introduced me into it.

But before I joined the oil business, I was formerly dealing on palm oil. Then, I used to buy and sell palm oil

I

in large quantity.

When the opportunity called for me to delve into the oil business, I grabbed it because I had already developed interest in the business.

Then, I had no outlet I could call my own. Later, I used the little money I saved while I was dealing on palm oil to rent a filling station in Ow-

,

BENJAMIN NJOKU

the police had already recovered the cell phones from the robbers.

So one day, I dialled the line and somebody at the other end received the call. He told me that the owner of the cell phone was admitted in a hospital.

He directed me on how to get to the place. But when I finally got to the place in the company of my brother and one of my friends, the unexpected happened. The policemen pounced on us and accused us of being the fleeing armed robbers.

They wouldn’t take any explanation from me and they detained us for almost one month.

It was after they concluded their investigation and ascertained that we were not armed robbers that they released us. That is one of my greatest setbacks I had in life

about three branches at the moment.

I’m doing very well in my business, and God is my strength.

Set back have not recorded any serious setback so far. Even when I was dealing in palm oil, I was on top of my business. Before I joined the oil business, my mother used to warn never to take what does not belong

I

I try as much as possible to be myself and never had any reason to live above my income

erri. After renting the station, I was left with little or nothing to continue my business. At this point, some of my friends and business associates came to my rescue.

I thank God today, my business has expanded beyond my imagination. The only thing I would say that has seen me through is my honesty. In whatever you are doing in life, try to be honest with the people you come across in the day to day running of your business empire.

It is important for one to learn to keep his or her hands clean and never indulge in cheating anybody. Oil business thrives in trust. It is

one business where the dealers are expected to live up to their promises as the marketers supply petroleum products to them on trust.

They are expected in return to pay the marketers after disposing their products. But some dealers who are found wanting in this regard have gone out of business because of greed. At a point, I had no money to continue my oil business. It was my honesty that kept me in business.

Marketers were still supplying me with petroleum products despite my financial incapability.

Particularly, there was this marketer whom I call my godfather who rescued me. Out of his generosity, he signed a cheque of N16 million to support my business in addition to supplying me with the petroleum products. To the glory of God, I have over 60 staff, and

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to me, or cheat anybody in the name of doing business. I internalized that piece of advice, and today, I’m well off. I have progressed over the years as a result of my honesty.

One major challenge I had as a businessman was when I was arrested and detained for almost one month by the police.A gang of armed robbers stormed my filling station, in Owerri, and robbed me of my valuables including my two cell phones at gun point. Unfortunately, the robbers did not switch off one of the cell phones as it was ringing each time I dialled the line.

I went to the police to report the matter, after which I started tracing the robbers. But unknown to me,

* Cosmas Ilo

SATURDAY

Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—33

BY MOSES NOSIKE

A woman had been appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria for the first time, do you see things improving with that appointment?

It is a huge step in the right direction, one that’s long overdue.

Women are under-utilized assets. Any society that denigrates women is actually missing an immense natural

Enahoro

Women are nation builders —Enahoro Chidi Asika-Enahoro is a Nigerian woman with the passion to help humanity. This no doubt, has led her to embark on several humanitarian courses and trainings to enable her assist in human rehabilitation. In this interview, she talks about her passion and her work. Excerpt: resource. Most progressive economies have women in many key positions.

Things will improve in that women will become embolden to come up and seek justice when they are wronged. On the other hand, she has to be fair in meting out justice. She is not there to represent only women.

How do you combine career and home life?

To be successful in whatever one does, it is important to set priorities in life. I had to learn to wear many hats and figure out which is more appropriate and when. When my children were younger, they were my priority because they were not selfsufficient. I did not have servants in the US like most people do here. I had to compartmentalize activities in my head and figure out how to meet work deadlines, do grocery shopping, attend PTA meetings, do home-work, cook, tend to the sick, clean the house, play with my two children, take them to extra curricular activities and be a loving attentive wife.

I mastered the art of multi-tasking and surviving with very little sleep. I managed my time very wisely and

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My background and the concept behind my career.

I am Chidi Asika-Enahoro, a Nigerian by birth. I have formal university degrees in Clinical and Community Psychology from the US. I am a Rehabilitation Consultant and a Motivational Speaker amongst other things. I have a host of certificates on varied subjects including being a certified Senior Disability Analyst; a certified Hypnotherapist; a certified Trainer and a certified Yoga teacher. I have an extensive background in rehabilitation spanning over twenty years of working with drug addicts, drug pushers, the mentally ill, exconvicts and criminally insane murderers. I empower clients by utilizing my unique multi-cultural heritage and point of view to facilitate their needs.

I am an avid reader and a prolific writer who has written many articles for various newspapers and websites.

I have appeared on international television stations and magazines on various women’s issues.

As a trainer, I have conducted many well received workshops across the globe. The topics I present range from child abuse, prevention of child sexual abuse, dating/cheating issues, violence against women, professional ethics, cultural diversity, counseling skills, management techniques, meditation/relaxation techniques and leadership skills. I live and train extensively between England, Africa and the United States. I hold various leadership positions including President of Florida Rehabilitation Association (two terms in Miami); Board member of several Community Organizations; co-founder and operator of a US Non-Profit Organization; a State of Florida Trainer, Contract Manager & Rehabilitation Consultant. I am the CEO of Love and Balance, Inc and the President of Social Initiative for the Emancipation of Women & Youth in Nigeria, an NGO. The concept behind Love and Balance is that if you do not have love in your life, you will never find balance. By love, I mean the ultimate one, which is the love of God and the love of self. A balanced life springs from that foundation. Without those two loves, it is hard to truly love others and have compassion for humanity.

Our mission is to display our diversity as assets and illuminate our spirituality by providing the necessary skills individuals can utilize to heal their emotional problems, some physical ailments and live balanced life-styles. Our living skills assist clients to emancipate themselves. We try to bridge the gaps created by today ’s life styles of stress and multiple health problems through facilitating peace and balance within.

Our mission is to display our diversity as assets and illuminate our spirituality by providing the necessary skills individuals can utilize to heal their emotional problems

,

accomplished a lot at work, in the community and at home. I meditated daily to find inner peace and balance.

I also have a wonderful husband.

The rate of child sexual abuse and raping of women are increasing by the day, how are you contributing to help victims out of this menace both in Nigeria and US?

Public awareness is invaluable.

There should be appropriate punishment for these types of crimes.

I suspect that more of these aberrant behaviours are now coming to the forefront because people are reporting the problems and many others are frowning upon them. Many women and children are becoming informed of their rights to say no and their rights to report and seek justice.

Society has a huge responsibility to take care of all its citizens, not just some. These predators belong in families and their family members must stand up for what is right. We all know when we have family members that are not quite right in the head. The families should seek mental health counseling before the problems metamorphose into serious criminal activities. Perpetrators must be brought to justice and rehabilitation because it is a disease when a grown man cannot control his urges and violently pounces on innocent victims. Victims must receive counseling, to understand that it is not their fault that a lunatic violated them.

What is the focus of your NGO? Our focus is the promotion of human rights for these oppressed groups. We educate them about health, mental and physical issues. We empower them by giving them the training they need to pick the mantle and liberate themselves instead of waiting for manna from heaven.

We believe that everyone has value in this life and we do not all have to be college-educated to make a difference. We teach people to grow from where they are and have pride in their natural born talents. We evaluate clients to determine the level of support and mentoring they need to get going. We also provide counseling for mental health problems and spiritual guidance to elevate lives, bring joy and inner peace.

A lot of men are not comfortable marrying career women, what do you advise on that?

First of all, you have to be very rich to not want your wife to work. Money issues aside, there is a lot of value in getting up and going to mingle with the outside world once in a while. So if your wife does not need to work, she can volunteer some hours to do charity work and help the less fortunate outside the home.

Most of the issues arising from career women is when they do not balance their time well and start neglecting the home front. Men who are secure in their manhood do not fret over their wives working. Most homes here have house helps, so house chores should be well taken care of. My husband (Victor Enahoro) was very helpful at home in the US and did his share of the chores because we had no other help. We did things together at home and it brought us even closer and lessened the burden on one person.

Sometimes, it’s an issue of trust. Some men feel that other men may start to check their wives out and she may stray. I think this is because such men stray with other women so they judge from their own deeds.

If a wife is going to stray, keeping her at home does not safeguard that because she may end up with the most unlikely men. If a man takes care of his business as he should and is attentive and tender to his wife instead of wandering around town with floosies, he has no need to worry about his wife cheating at work.

34 — SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

EBUN SESSOU

I enjoy eating vegetables — Alhaja Kudirat Mrs Kudirat Okoya is the first wife of Chief Razak Okoya, Lagos socialite, entrepreneur of immense repute and business mogul. She is our guest in this edition of Celebrity Tummy Talk. She speaks on her healthy lifestyle and how she has been able to keep herself in shape. Enjoy

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an you share the secret of your healthy lifestyle?

My health is my wealth and so I was determined to take my health seriously right from my childhood. I devote time to eating good food and that has been my strength. I do not fall for every food I see on the table and so, I grew up in that direction. As an adult, I cannot do without my medication and that is what I do most of the time now. In the same way, I eat three times daily.

Tell us what your feeding habit entails on a daily basis.

I eat fruits in the morning.

Fruits are an important part of a healthy diet. They are naturally low in calories, fat, sodium, and cholesterol. Fruits play an important role in keeping the body healthy and have many benefits. I don’t indulge in so much food because I still have the remnant of yesterday’s food. I do not eat so much

HILI peppers, despite their fiery “hotness”are one of very popular spices known for medicinal and health benefiting properties. The chili is actually a fruit pod from the plant belonging to the nightshade family of solanaceae, of the genus; capsicum.

However, Chili pepper contains impressive list of plant- derived chemical compounds that are known to have diseasepreventing and health -promoting properties.

It contains capsaicin, which gives strong spicy pungent character. Fresh chili peppers are rich source of vitaminC which is a potent water-soluble antioxidant. It is required for the collagen synthesis in the body which is required for maintaining the integrity of blood vessels, skin, organs, and bones. Regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin C protects the body from scurvy; develop resistance against infectious agents (boosts immunity) and scavenge harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals from the body.

•Kudirat Okoya •Chili pepper

Ghanaian Jollof Rice & Beef Kebab Recipes Cups of basmati rice Tablespoon of olive oil Heaped tablespoon tomato paste Red onion chopped Red onions Tomatoes Fat cloves of garlic Piece of ginger Scotch bonnet chillies – reduce if you don’t like it spicy Seasoning Carrots sliced diagonally Handful of french beans cut diagonally Okra’s sliced diagonally Salt to taste Preparation In a food processor, grind together the ginger, garlic, chillies, tomatoes and 2 onions and then keep aside. In a non stick frying pan ,heat two tablespoons of olive oil and fry the chopped onion till soft, then add the tomato paste and fry for four minutes. Now ,add the blended tomato in onion mix and fry well. Crumble in the seasoning and mix well. Cover and let it cook till the oil floats on the top. Now add the rice and some cups of water, stirring it to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom. In another frying pan, drizzle a few drops of olive oil and fry the beans, carrots and okra with a sprinkle of salt till they are half done. Now, add these to the rice and by this time the rice will need some more water. Add some cups of water and cook till the water is almost evaporated. Now cover and simmer of slow gas till the rice is cooked through. Your jollof is now ready. Children love this dish as it's a great way for them to get nutrition .

Beef Kebab – 4 skewers

Recipes Beef fillet, cut into cubes Scotch Bonnet Chillies Fat cloves of garlic Tablespoon grated ginger Red onion Seasoning Tablespoon olive oil Large green pepper cut in cubes Large red onion cut in cubes

Nutritional Values of Chili

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food especially in the morning.

In the afternoon, I eat vegetables with either rice or plantain.

It is healthy and it is important not to joke with vegetables while I drink tea in the evening.

The fact is that, as one grows older, you do not need to eat all sorts of things for the sake of it. It is important to know that there is a limit to what someone can eat as he or she grows older.

And exercises?

I have a large compound and so it is easy for me to walk around it for as many times as possible. There are times I walk around the compound three times in a day.

How would you advise young mothers ?

They should be good to their children because that is their utmost goal. It is important to instill discipline in the lives of their children. Training up our children will make us to be happy at our old age . Women need to be patient and bear their burden, they should have all the qualities needed in a woman.

Today’s Menu

Healthy Eating Tip

Preparation In a food processor, grind together the chillies, ginger, garlic, onion, seasoning and oil. Form a smooth paste and marinate the beef for at least hour hours. Now thread these onto your metal skewers alternating with the peppers and onions. Grill on charcoal till the meat is tender and almost falling off the sticks.

Serve with some jollof rice.

Muslim faithful celebrate Eid-el-fitr in style I T was a sweet experience at the just concluded Airwick Ramadan Scent Tour as Muslim faithful across the world came together to break their fast under a relaxed and refreshed atmosphere.

The event which offers them the opportunity to experience the uniqueness of the airwick brand was organised to felicitate with observers of the holy month of Ramadan.

The season tagged “Airwick Ramadan Scent was to keep consumers in-line withairwick as they celebrated the Eid-idfitr.

The programme was organised in some mosques across the state including Lekki, Victoria Island, G.R.A, Ikeja, Amuwo Odofin amongst others.

Speaking, Communications Consultant to Reckitt Benckiser and Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Nigeria, Mr. Israel Opayemi, said the initiative was premised on the need to encourage people to show love and care through giving and sharing.

According to him, it is a time to create a relaxing and refreshing scent room as well as make fruits available for those

who have fasted to renew their strength. The rationale for this campaign is to demonstrate compassion, love, care and sharing the essential virtues associated with the Ramadan season.

His words: “The campaign is meant to give the Muslim community an experiential knowl-

edge of the airwick brand as a home brand that creates the right mood for relaxation and happiness in the family. It also amplifies the essence of the holy month as a period for the renewal of bond, unity and togetherness not only among members of the family, but in Nigerians”.

•Muslim faithful enjoying themselves; during the ‘Airwick Ramadan Scent Room Activation’ at Amuwo Odofin Muslim Community Central Mosque, Lagos.

Email: youthfulvibes@gmail.com

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Let your dreams run wild because dreams are free — Chidi and Chika Nwaogu

•Chidi and Chika

W

hat inspired you to set up Lagbook?

It’s a very funny story. We once studied for a degree for Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the Imo State University (IMSU). We later abandoned our academic pursuit at IMSU to accept an offer to studyPhysics at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

It was a Wednesday morning during our first semester at UNILAG. We were headed for a Physics lecture at the Faculty of Science. We were still freshers. It was February 2010.We saw this light complexioned, beautiful and elegant girl close toKing Jaja Hall. I (Chidi) assumed she wanted to take a passport or acasual picture because she was at the Photographer ’s corner under a big tree. That was our first time we had a lecture at UNILAG,because we got a hostel accommodation very late. I told my twin, “This girl can’t be a Science student.

She’s way too hot for Science”.

network for students of the University of Lagos?” They will have to register with a valid matriculation number, and supply upon registration, their mode of entry, year of entry, mode of study,department etc.The basic idea was for UNILAG students to unwind, connect with one another and share their daily experience on campus. But then, we realized that we had to leave our identities (the people behind the project) undisclosed if we wanted our social network not to fail, just like the previous one.

Some might just sign up to have a sense of belonging to something as prestigious as the University of Lagos. Which ever the case, they all registered.

After tossing around with a couple of names, we finally arrived at LAGbook because we knew that UNILAG students will see it as theirs, thinking it means Unilagbook and whenwe expand, we could emphasize the capitalization of the letters

,

S

eptember 11, 2001Twin Towers attack awakened the world...and that changed the world for ever.

While it was the twin towers that was attacked in this instance, we have similarly seen human set of twins making a difference, ‘attacking’ issues and proffering solutions... . This weekend, Youthful Vibes brings to us the story of a dynamic Nigerian identical twins,Chidi and Chika Nwaogu (22 years old), Cofounders of Africa’s Largest Social Networking Website, Ladies And Gentlemen book, popularly known as LAGbook, with over 280,000 registered members from over 200 countries.Chidi leads us in this chat. Excerpts:

My twin and I as at that time are what I called “SocialNerds”. We got good fashion sense, but we didn’t have a social life

My twin (Chika) disagreed, he said “Science has got some way much prettier girls than any other faculty at school.” We argued for few minutes and we had to adjourn the argument indefinitely. You may be asking “Why didn’t one of you walk up to her and ask. My twin and I as at that time are what I called “SocialNerds”.

We got good fashion sense, but we didn’t have a social life.

We didn’t party, we didn’t hang out with friends, or “scope” the ladies. We loved our laptops more than anything in the world. We used them at least 20 hours a day!Few weeks later, we started working on a dating site called “SingleTreasures” with a room-mate, AnayoUghamadu. Anayo provided the funds for the project, while we provided the technical know-how and publicity. Everything worked out, the site was launched few weeks later. Unfortunately, Single Treasures was a huge failure; lowsign-ups, high bounces, zero revenue. The fuel ran out in a few weeks after launch. While eating lunch at a canteen in EniNjoku Hall, our hall of residence , I brainstormed on a simple butelegant solution that could help us verify the faculty of the girl we saw at King Jaja Hall. Then the big question was asked, “Why don’t we create a social

,

“LAG”,meaning “Ladies And Gentlemen book”. Now, we’re all set. Development began. We started on a Saturday night, April 17, 2010, coding at a class at the Faculty of Education. While others were reading over night for the forthcoming exams, we were coding over night for our forthcomingwebsite. Everything was done after a vigorous 4 hours of coding. We bought the domain name, on April 25, 2010.

Everything worked out fine. We had over 3,000 UNILAG students registered on LAGbook within the first 2 months of run. All our room-mates’girlfriends were already on LAGbook. LAGbook was the rave, the BIGthing, the phenomenon. We got campus reviews and grew thanks to viral marketing; word of mouth.

Finally, the girl whose information we wanted, registered on LAGbook on our 8th week of run. Her profile picture of course caught our attention.

Unfortunately, I (Chidi) was wrong. My twin (Chika) was right. She was a Science student.

We got the information we’ve always wanted and we had a huge asset in our control, LAGbook.

H

SA TURD AY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—35 SATURD TURDA had no money saved in the bank. Recently, we struck an We had a bad spending habit. So advertising deal with Research we asked Anayo to come into the In Motion team to fund it, just as he did (Blackberry)Nigeria, which with Single Treasures. As at that raised funds for extra time, we had a bill of $990 USD bandwidth and storage to pay. Anayo backed purchase,CPC advertising out,thinking it might fail just like and New Technique Adoption.

Single Treasures did and he didn’twant to invest such large o you have young amount of money into something people working with he isn’t affirmative will succeed. you? What inspiration can I told my twin, “We can do this young Nigerians draw from on our own steam”. So we your initiative? searched for free platforms to Yes, we’ve got some young host LAGbook in the meantime. people working with us. We We bought the domain name for used to have a team of 25, $10, that wecould afford. The before we underwent a team publicity came after our cover reorganization that dropped appearance on acampus ourteam size from 25 to 5. At magazine, “Shey You Know the moment, my twin and I are Now?”. We didn’t pay for it, we working withJosh Osemwegie had an agreement, though one (our Chief Financial Officer), in which we regrettably didn’t NosaIlegbinehi (ourChief hold up to. We flooded the Publicity Officer) and campus with 1,000 wall stickers, Emmanuel Alugo (our Chief paid thanks to Anayo. He was TechnologyOfficer). All, owing us N7,000 as balance including us are under 25. payment to will our 50% stakes We want young Nigerians to of Single Treasures to him.We always believe in their ran into a ditch, when the dreamthough many may not platform used to host LAGbook share it with them. Dreams are scrapped all its free plans to free, so let yourdreams run focus more on its paying wild. You aren’t paying for subscribers. We had to search for them, are you? another free and good platform to move LAGbook to. We found hat is the future of it, but upon migration, we lost our LAGbook in view of member’s login information. We stiff competition vis avis other were able to retain their e-mail social networks? addresses but not their We’re growing by the passwords. So,we had to give second. Statistics show that we them random passwords. This attract at least3 new members made us loose a lot of traffic as in every minute, and 4,000 returning users couldn’t access new members everyday. This their account except they isall thanks to the funds we requested for it via the “Forgot received from Blackberry to Password” link. Traffic went low advertise theirbrand for 8 for 2 months. Finally, we decided weeks. Although, the funds is to use this misfortune to enter the almost exhausted, we’re still Nigerian market. So we started growing at an increasing pace.

Cost Per Click (CPC) advertising People are telling people. on Google and Facebook, thanks It’sviral. We’re not just a to the funds we received from Nigerian phenomenon. We’re building a website for the a global brand. We’ve had Customer Relations Executive of several international MTN Communications,Akin mediaattention, which Braithwaite. More funds rolled includes our appearance on in after we built some websites. TechCrunch and Yahoo!News.

ow did you get the funds to set up the website and who is currently maintaining and funding it?

As at that time, my twin and I were some “broke nerds”. We spent most of our money on gadgets and ran broke so fast. We

W

YOUNG NIGERIANS MAKING THE DIFFERENCE CHRISTOGONUS C. IBE

I

BE CHRISTOGONUS CHIDIEBERE is a dynamic youth leadership and crime prevention advocate committed to the reduction of crime among youths in Africa. A Florida Crime Prevention Training Institute trained crime prevention expert.Chris is the Executive Director/Founder of African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention (AYICRIP).

He holds a Bachelor Degree in Human Kinetics and Health Education from the University of Lagos, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from OlabisiOnabanjoUniversity,Ogun State respectively. He holds several leadership positions.

His Leadership and Crime Prevention programmes cuts across, Crime Prevention summits, Crime prevention Ambassador Awards and Campus Marathon programmes, Crime prevention clubs, Crime prevention volunteer corps.

He has attended so many local and international conferences as speaker and participant on Youth development issues, crime prevention and Drug Abuse/ Illicit Trafficking.

Chris and Pam Bondi, Attorney General of Florida State recently in the US.

36 — SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

Disabled Nigerian athletes poised to thrill the world

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he London 2012 Paralympic Games have finally begun, and Nigerian athletes with disabilities are poised to thrill the world along with athletes with disabilities from other countries. I cannot vouch for the preparation of the Nigerian Paralympics contingent, but I can assure you that, these Nigerian disabled will come home with medals; including gold medals. I am pretty certain that about 4 billion global TV audience and millions of life audience will bear witness to the abundant athletic talent of

Nigerians with disabilities. Imagine the mileage Nigeria will gain from this anticipated successful outing.

According to The Sun Newspaper report (not Nigerian Sun Newspaper); the Paralympics expects to get a total worldwide TV audience of four billion. Broadcasters in more than 100 countries have snapped up deals with organizers after rave reviews from the London’s Olympics.

International Paralympic Committee President, Sir Philip

L

ie flat on your back, take a deep breath and swing both legs backwards such that the toes touch the floor with the chin pressing against the chest. If you can’t manage that it will do to let the legs hand some distance to the floor. In fact, you may even use a chair, resting the feet on the backrest of the chair.

Once you assume the plough posture, your breathing should be normal.

You may retain the pose for 10 seconds.

Then bend the knees and gently roll down flat onto the floor.

Benefits:

recall with nostalgia, that while Nigeria was sweeping the medals and Nigeria’s National anthem was being played repeatedly, I was filled with an indescribable joy, pride and a sense of f u l f i l l m e n t .

Unfortunately, most Nigerians at home did not witness these unprecedented accomplishments; which would have lifted their spirits after the poor showing of our non disabled Olympians 2 weeks earlier.

At this juncture, I wish

•Gloria Nneji,middle poses other foreign medalists Craven, said that the huge number expected to tune in over ten days would smash the 3.8billion viewing audience of Beijing 2008. Ten new deals covering the US, Canada, South and

The Plough Technique:

Central America, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Ireland and Iran, have been added to 36 existing broadcast contracts. However, I do not know if any Nigerian broadcaster is among the broadcasters’ from100 countries who have signed deals with the organizers to broadcast the Paralympics. If not, then we are missing out because that will entail that only those of us with access to the cable networks that have the rights to transmit the London 2012 Paralympics will be able

This posture relieves and removes various diseases and complications of the back, spine and shoulders as well as pains in the stomach and elbows. *The spinal nerves are stimulated and better blood circulation is effected to the abdominal organs, the spinal column, the back and the back of the neck. *It relieves tension from the cervical (upper back) and shoulder regions. Excess fat from

to witness the expected heartwarming, glorious outing of our indomitable athletes with disabilities.

D

uring the Sydney 2000 Paralympic games where I lead the Nigerian contingent, I

to call on all Nigerians to hook up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games as they are sure to be glad they did. For the members of the fourth estate of the realm, may I enjoin you to please give Nigerians a treat by ensuring good coverage

the abdomen, thighs and hips are also reduced.

On the mental front, it relieves insomnia and restless sleep. It enhances physical and mental relaxation.

The Plough (with a chair)

P

lace a chair at the head of your practice mat. Put your head half way underneath the chair. Now swing both legs and place the feet atop the

of the Paralympic Games. I know some of you who would like to attend the games and cover it live are probably unable to find sponsorship. Whatever the case may be, in this information age, you will not lack materials to write about Nigerian athletes’ performance at the games if you want to. Please, let us give these athletes the support they deserve as they fight for medals and honour.

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan will be proud of these athletes who have consistently do this nation proud in all their international engagements.

Mr. President Sir, may I appeal to you to find time to welcome and honour these athletes when they return with medals. You will do well to also use the opportunity to right the wrongs of the Obasanjo administration that failed to honour the Paralympians who represented Nigeria in Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games after winning a record 7 gold medals, 1 silver and 5 bronze medals.

back rest of the chair.

Duration: Stay in the plough pose for about 10 seconds. To return to the original position, first bend the knees and gently roll down flat onto the floor.

Main Benefit: All regions of the spine and back muscles are stretched, but the plough benefits the muscles of the upper back and the neck in particular, as the position releases stress from these

Yoga Classes @ 32 Ademola Adetokumbo Victoria Island Lagos 9.00am — 10.00am on Satufdays

Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—37

SENSITIVE SCALP:

PLANNING AHEAD IS KEY

I

•Sally Intiego design

get a lot of inquiries from women who burn with every touch-up. I cannot emphasize enough, the importance of planning when your scalp is sensitive. If your scalp reacts adversely to chemical cream Relaxer, you must plan ahead, so that the scalp is calm before chemical application and therefore less likely to be traumatized by the relaxing agent. Accept your sensitivity, embrace it. Do not compare your situation with any other. Yes, your friend may be able to go swimming for an hour or two, visit her stylist on the way from the pool for a touch-up with super strength Relaxer, and NOT burn; truth is your friend is not you!

What do I mean by plan?

First, with scalp so sensitive, you must not be tempted to

•Keto design

‘Re-touch’ it. In spite of that, there is ONLY one option: take out your extensions, do NOT comb or agitate the hair with a brush, and perform 2 different treatments immediately-

T

he first treatment is two-pronged: Apply a s o o t h i n g ‘Reconstructor’ to scalp and a detangling deep-penetrating conditioner to hair. Wrap hair in foil paper and cling-film; sit under a hot dryer for 20 minutes. Next, comb hair from scalp area using ONLY a

Nigeria fashion show to hold in paris next week

A

fter successfully presenting 5 Nigerian designers at the Nigeria Fashion Show in Dublin, Ireland in August, Legendary Gold Limited moves the train to the World’s fashion capital, Paris. The Nigeria Fashion Show comes up as part of the Ethical Fashion Show at the prestigious Carrousel du Louvre on the 8th of September, 2012.

Ethical Fashion Show is the

•Keto design this exclusive event include O’godor, Keto couture and Sally Intiego.

O

• Mrs Okorie Keto second biggest show in Paris, France. It is a unique international platform for designers and fashion accessories producers to present their collection and exhibit their products to the French fashion audience, buyers, fashion journalists and a diversified wider French audience.

N

•Sally Intiego design

igeria Fashion Show in Paris will be chaired by the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Culture & National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke. Special Guest of Honour is Her Excellency, Mrs Obioma Imoke, First Lady of Cross Rivers State.

Chief Host is the Nigerian Ambassador to France & his lovely wife Mr & Mrs Akin O. Fayomi.

The 3 designers that will present their collection during

’godor : O’godor which means in Igbo language ‘good quality fabric’ was established in the year 2003.

O’godor predominantly uses the Ankara fabrics as a medium of expression to create cosmopolitan designs that can and will compete favourably with its international contemporaries.

K

eto couture : Keto couture is a creative label that is fast making an in-road into the international market. It makes elegant designs for both genders and with electrifying effects that only reflects the nobility of the clientele. Keto couture is based in Abuja, Nigeria.

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ally Intiego : Stephine okeke , a 17 years old lady, is the creative director of Sally Intiego. Sally Intiego is a company that features creative and unique designs.

The ensembles are also elegant, classy and fun.

Intiego stands for Internal Inspired ego expressing that those who wear her designs will have confidence from within.

•Curly long hair, effect of following planning schedule ‘re-touch’ on a whim. You just MUST respect your scalp for it not to disrespect you. There are two possible scenarios you may be confronted with:

B

y the time you are 4 weeks after a touchup, you have to start thinking about when the next touch-up will be. Remember NO whim! You can not afford to ignore the choices you make as far as hair styles are concerned; your style will determine how much your scalp will/may be agitated with chemical work. If you are wearing braids or weave-on for instance, remember that it is WRONG for you to have a touch-up on the same day you come out of your extensions.

It is NOT an excuse that your undergrowth is too ‘gruesome’ to expose; you risk serious burns and breakage.

You do a touch-up same day at your own peril.

So, putting in extensions at 4 weeks after ‘Re-touch’ means you intend to carry it for another 3 to 4 weeks. That means at 8 weeks, undergrowth will be massive and you may be tempted to

wide-tooth comb to remove tangles. Rinse treatment out with cold water, cleanse with a moisturizing shampoo and do not towel-dry. Squeeze out excess water. The second treatment follows with application of angels studio SCALP CRÈME to the scalp area and a superior leave-in conditioner product to damp hair. If you do not have any of the above, you may use extra virgin olive oil. Proceed to style as usual.

These treatments will enable you carry your hair for another week or two, provided you do NOT attempt to force-comb the hair from the scalp.

Concentrate all combing efforts on the hair itself so that your scalp is not overly agitated as your touch-up day approaches. Now, if you like your hair all sleek especially at the edges, it may prove to be a bit of a challenge for you to manage a hairline that desperately needs gloss. So, if you have to wear a wig for those transition days, just so you are not tempted to ‘Retouch’, then that’s what it is going to have to be.

38 — SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—39

40—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER1, 2012

HAIRS T YLE OF THE WEEK HAIRST

What your hairstyles say about

you

— According to guys

E

ven though a woman’s hair adds to her beauty, many are still yet to realize this. In fact, most ladies are fond of 'stealing' hairstyles spotted by celebrities without considering what mood, the kind of face, stature, or even what that celebrity was going through at that particular time which makes the ‘why’ she decided to wear such hairstyle.

And you know that only few women strive to make their hair beautiful because they themselves love it. Most ladies, with their hairstyles, are more concerned about winning admiration from the opposite sex. You know that quizzical look guys sometimes give—the one that wordlessly squeaks out? Well, that look is brought on by not only our totally awesome fashion choices; sometimes our hairstyles are meant to please the girls or ourselves, or just get us from point A to point B. Other times, our hair are just as dreamy to men as they are to us.

Ladies, here are what guys think about our hairstyles.

,

Whenever I see a lady wearing long wavy hairstyles, she strikes me like a future wife.

Long wavy hairstyles are sexy and makes me want to run my fingers through them

,

Super-long hair can be intimidating.

“Whenever I see ladies with hairstyles that are too long, it means her hair would be everywhere! Cut a few inches and we’re good to go.” –

Stephannie Okereke- Idahosa

Niran, 30

Super-short hair sends a low-maintenance vibe.

Lami “I like the idea of hairstyles that a lady can wear and just roll out of bed and go. It means she can spend a few extra minutes with me in the morning!” —Bobby, 28

around the house. “Isn’t topknot hairstyles what girls wear when they are washing their faces? I don’t like my girl wearing that on a date with me” —Teddy, 24

A sophisticated updo is way sexy.

“I really like hairstyles that make a lady look more professional and sassy. So, I her hair rolled up because it exposes her face and neck which I like so much.”

If you want to look girly, go for a basic braid.

“Whenever a lady wears braids, it makes her look innocent and sweet.”

—Ken, 35

Spiky pixie cuts look like you’re missing your better half.

“Spiky hairstyles are better on girls dating some ‘crazy’ guys. Otherwise, I hate spiky hairstyles.”

—Yemi, 28

Knit hair accessories show your cozy side “Hair accessories add to the beauty of hair and even makes a lady ’s face look more beautiful. It makes a lady look creative—and that’s a good thing. I’d love to take such a lady for a dinner date” —Amadi, 34 Rocking your natural hair texture is hot.

“I love to see ladies digging their natural hair.”

—Michael, 30

Bobby-pinned hairstyles aren’t always as sweet as we think.

“Flappers are cool, but uh, this also feels a little ‘founding father.”—Dare, 32 A messy topknot can look too unfinished.

Unlike what Ken said about updo hairstyles, Teddy thinks a topknot should be worn only

—Alex, 30

Drawing inspiration from celebrities can distract them.

“Ladies should learn to wear hairstyles that soothe them and not copy celebrities.

Besides, that Omotola Jalade wears a particular hairstyle doesn’t mean it’ll fit another lady. I prefer ladies with natural looks.”

—Benjamin, 35

Long, wavy hair is both sexy and family-friendly.

“Whenever I see a lady wearing long wavy hairstyles, she strikes me like a future wife. Long wavy hairstyles are sexy and makes me want to run my fingers through them.”

—Omorege, 30

Midlength hair shows a lady is even temper.

“This works for me. There’s just something so right about a lady being right in the middle.”

—Lorenzo, 39 Air-dried hair makes me think of shower and sleepovers.

“Whenever I come across a lady with too dry hairstyles, it makes me think she doesn’t even care about her hair or what people think about her at the moment- maybe she’s going through some emotional challenge.”

—Akofe, 32

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—41

note, not our priority —Alile

,

N5000

questionable.

For instance, the American dollar can be on the market for months. So, the cost of managing Nigerian currency is very high. And the temptation for somebody to make the higher denomination so that the quantity of the coins and

The temptation in Nigeria is very high. Policy makers would want to carry N10m in a brief case

,

BY EBUN SESSOU

A

postle Hayford Alile, the Spiritual Leader of St. Joseph’s Chosen Church of God, (International), is the former Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. He is of the opinion that the N5000 note is not and should not be Nigerians priority. According to him, the CBN research institute is the best institute in the world and it should be handled with

care.

What is your opinion about the N5000 note?

I have not read through but I used to be on the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria. I know that the research department of the CBN is one of the best research department in the world, but I hope, it is still the same department that I used to know.

And they generally used to do their studies well before they

come in the open and if that is what they have done, I hold my breath.

But, if you look at the cashless policy under our brother Sanusi, and you mixed it with this N5000 currency, I don’t know how it comes in. I remember that I was on the board when the issue of N500 came up and the truth is that, the cost of manufacturing those currencies is not a joke. And the mutilative attitude of our citizenry on the currencies is

papers are not as much as it should be might be considered. And I hope, that temptation is not what drove the policy. When we were there, I used to be on the currency committee and I was on the board of the mint. But, the value we place on our currencies is nothing to talk about compared to what is obtainable in other parts of the country. With all the corruption and stealing.

When we wanted to change to higher denominations, there

They should be looking at policies that will stabilize the economy —Emeka Madubuike (Stock Broker) Stories by Anozie Egole

F

or me, I think the govern ment should be looking at policies that will stabilize the economy rather than causing additional controversy.

This seems to counter the cashless policy earlier introduced by the same CBN Governor that is still in the pilot stage. The N40b meant for the coining and the printing of the new note can be used for investment that will stabilize the economy. That was the point I was making earlier that they should make policies that will stabilize the economy rather than using the money to print new currencies.

I am not saying that printing a N5,000 note is completely useless, what I am saying is that the idea is not critical at this point where there are several things not yet put in place.What the introduction does is that it reduces what amount of cash that somebody can carry at a particular point

in time. There are more pressing issues the country is battling with now. There is this saying that when a patient is in trauma, you will first of all put things that will resuscitate the person before admitting drugs on the person.

Using our economy as an example, you will find out that our economy is in a very big trauma so what we need now is a policy that will stabilize the economy before adding another burden to it. There are so many reforms in the

It is very good ——Bright Oki (Artisan)

Y

es, introducing N5,000 currency is a nice idea. At least, it will be very convenient to carry the money. This is not the time you will have to carry large number of currencies. With the new note, you can go with a large amount of money with lesser stress. It is even safer. Because, going with large number of currencies most times, attracts armed robbers. When you are going with large currencies, it will be obvious that you are with something. I think what the CBN has introduced is a nice and wonderful idea. I applaud them for that.

Bright Oki

economy. It will be very difficult when those reforms start countering one another. I will simply advise the government to find a good policy for the good of the economy.

were lots of talks by politicians, hoping that an average individual can move around with N10,000 while policy makers and politicians would move around with higher monies which the lower denominations will not be able to accommodate.

And they were clamouring for higher notes and we had to stop at N500. But the temptation in Nigeria is very high.

Policy makers would want to carry N10m in a brief case.

But, we have to be very careful.

What do you think is the social and economic implication of this?

I was in the board of Central Bank when Joseph Sanusi was Governor. He left the First Bank where he was Managing Director while I left the Stock Exchange where I was Director General. And Obasanjo came in, the first appointment he made was Joseph Sanusi and I spent three years with him and Soludo came up and I spent three years with Soludo. Both of them love this country, most CBN governors love this country and they are people of high integrity but I pray that they can give a second look at this thing.

Do you think, it is the priority right now?

I don’t think it is still priority. Americans value their currencies and place it in high esteem. But, here it is the opposite. The fact that people do not value Nigerian currencies anymore, they will not stop at N5000 note. They will be aiming at N10,000 note. America has currencies of 100,1000 but you hardly see these in the pockets of people. The maximum you will see is $100. We define currency as a store of people’s sweat. The value of our naira has come down seriously and we need to boost it up.

Does the CBN Act allow for the CBN governor to do anything without approval from the lawmakers?

I have not really read that portion but I advocate for autonomy of the CBN. The more power you have, the more responsibilities and one has to be careful in managing it. I was on the board of the CBN for six years as Chief Executive of the Stock Exchange, I used to interface with them very well. It is a very serious institution in this country. But, we pray that they are more sensible in handling issues like this. I pray that if the autonomy exists, the man who is called to manage that institution should also know he has a serious responsibility to maintain some very disciplined and patriotic posture. He should love this country more than himself.

C M Y K

42—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

Litany of criticisms trail planned introduction of N5,000 note

Chinedum

Essien

By Anozie Egole

s

ince the CBN an nounced plans to intro duce N5, 000 note and coining of lower denominatrions of N5 , N10 and N20, Nigerians appear to go weird over the policy. According to them, it will worsen the already inflation the country is currently experiencing as well as going contrary to the CBN clamour for cashless society.

Much as the senate has ruled against it, most Nigerians who

It doesn’t make sense—-Essien Aneffiong (Journalist)

Oguezeh

spoke to SATURDAY VANGUARD insist that it will create more hardship for the people.

That’s a very bad idea—Kizito Oguezeh (Businessman) It is not quite long ago when the CBN governor introduced cashless policy which each and every Nigerian accepted after a long argument. People said if going cashless is the

best thing, so be it. Now how can you go and tell the same people you ask to go cashless that you want to introduce N5, 000 note? So if he is introducing a N5, 000 note, what is the essence of the cashless policy that was introduced earlier. For me, he is contradicting himself and it is not good.

To me, the money that will be spent to print these new currencies is a waste. That amount of money can be used for another thing that will be

TRIBUTE

of good benefit to the economy of the country. And note the way they want to use it.

Some people might be saying that it enhances convenience, if they are saying so, then what is the essence of the cashless policy? As a businessman, there is a stipulated amount of money banks do collect from us. We cannot deposit more than that sum of money per depositor. And the banks in order to enhance this cashless policy, have introduced money transfer where

Our Ogbonna Ogbonnayya Amadi—Deba Uwadiae ‘Did you hear about Ogbonnaya Amadi?’ It was a question that carried some weight of urgency and anxiety and so my immediate instinct was “a sad news?”, except that I did not figure out what form of sad news. It came as sad news really as the New York correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria, Edwin Nwanchukwu broke the demise of our ebullient and gregarious friend and brother to me.

I had given him a call while partnering with a colleague at our campus radio studio in Columbus, Ohio. We had hardly finished exchanging our usual banters when he popped up the question. Though we had not seen for a while he was always part of our discussion whenever I am on phone with Femi Aderupatan(former Vanguard reporter) in Chicago, Illinois. And so I immediately sent a text to Femi informing him

C M Y K

about the news. He called back and the sadness and pain was palpable enough to be felt through the phone because we have lost a friend and a brother.

We were all just in our immediate 20s in 1984 when we met as freelance reporters and interns at the Vanguard Newspaper, Apapa, Lagos. I still remember very vividly with nostalgia the youthful bubbling spirit we all shared to do well as

journalists. We were bunch of optimists with desire, determination, and commitment to make Vanguard the newspaper of choice. Many of us were youthful – Femi Aderupatan, Azuka Mordi, Ogbonnaya Amadi and myself. We also had Onochie Anibeze, Tunji Olawuni, Funmi Jolaoso , Joy Ege and Jossy Nkwocha. We were encouraged by our seniors then who gave us the chance to grow and discover our

Adieu, Amadi —

It is indeed shocking to hear of the death of a friend and colleague.

Ogbonnaya and I had come a long way. I knew him through his journalism work even before I came to Vanguard in 1991. Very unassuming and forthright. As Editor, Sunday Vanguard then, we came so close that oftentime he gave ideas

potentials - (Muyiwa Adetiba (Editor), Fola Arogunda, Elly Obasi, and Frank Aigbogun (News Editor).

The fact that Ogbonnaya’s death is being reported in virtually all the newspapers that I read online showed that he worked hard to achieve his dreams, those dreams we had and shared together in the early days of Vanguard Newspaper. He may not have achieved all but his footprints have been edged in the footpath of entertainment reporting in Nigeria. Our Ogbonnaya Amadi, you played your part, you did well, you fought well and we will miss you but where you are now is better.

Sleep well our Ogbonnaya Amadi.

Deba Uwadiae, Columbus, Ohio United States of America

Kunle Oy at omi Oyat atomi

on how he could improve on his usual pullout on Saturday for Sunday newspaper. He knew his limitation when it affected his health so he avoided those drinks that could knock him off.

Ogbonnaya was not just close to me, he was a family friend as he often got in touch with my son because of the latter ’s

you can directly pay in money into an account without withdrawing. All you need to do is to give the bank the person’s account number and they will transfer the money as far as you are using the same bank with the person. Some of the banks are seriously working hard to make sure that you can pay in to a different bank account number from another bank account.

So you see, whoever that is telling you that we the business men are enjoying it is lying to you. Ok, let’s take for instance here in Lagos State, how can you board a bus of N100 and at the end of the journey, you give the conductor N5, 000 note? You will look stupid before the conductor. I will advise the law makers to have a critical look at this policy before signing it into law.

love for music. He was indeed a maestro in entertainment reportage.

Just few Sundays ago, I met him with his wife @ Bishop Vinning Memorial Church, Ikeja, where Mr Edwin Igbokwe marked the 1st anniversary of death of his wife, Essien, not knowing that was our last m e e t i n g .

I send my condolences to my colleagues in Vanguard over the loss of this fine reporter and editor, and in particular to his wife, who I refer to as my sister. May his gentle soul rest in peace.

To me, it doesn’t make sense. We are going cashless.

So N1,000 denomination is still ok. After all, cooperate bodies cannot withdraw more than N1m in a day and an individual is not supposed to withdraw more than N500,000 in a day. So to me, it is of no use. It is not the right thing to do at this time.

It is another means of devaluation of the naira—Vincent Chinedum (Trader) To me, the government wants to use it to devalue our naira. Each time the Nigerian government wants to devalue our naira, they will think of making a bigger denomination. To me, it is madness for them to budget that amount of money to print the new currency where there are several other policies there for them to execute. There are more to what the government is saying than the printing of the new currency. They want an easier avenue to syphon public funds.

They want a place where they can go about with millions of naira without being noticed.

They are looking for something easier to enable them move the money out of the country.

There are several things they can invest this money into for the poor masses to benefit from instead of this kind of a thing.

For you to know that they know what they want to do, how can they print money and say that it is not for everybody, that it is for some selected Nigerians. So they are indirectly telling us that the poor masses are not recognized as far as the country is concerned.

So, where are we heading to? that’s the question.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 —43

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ut for the pervasive fear of the unknown, Gombe State , espe cially the state capital would have always remained a 24-hour business and tourism destination. That was understandably the case in the yore days of social innocence and tranquility which apparently gave rise to a scintillating, care-free night life that almost knew no bounds. But presently, any attempt to keep late night by anyone would either prompt brushes with the security agents or cause a gargantuan pulsation. Reason: the serial killings that usually occurred at dawns and subsequent curfews have become the people’s albatross.

Mr. Chimezie was Batch B Corps member in 2008. He had spent well over 8 months of his service year in Gombe before his redeployment letter to Abuja arrived finally. Even though he reluctantly left for Abuja , he chose to keep his belongings in Gombe and decided to return to town after his passing out. It was to the greatest chagrin of everyone in the lodge. He told Saturday Vanguard he made it back to Gombe that same day of passing out. An average trip from Abuja to Gombe takes 6 to 7 hours and that was the risk Chimezie took and arrived Gombe by 2 am. One would have thought that Chimezie would sleep in the park, but no, he got a commercial bike that took him home even with a friendly fare.

That explains the good old days in Gombe when trees were play-grounds of the monkeys, when the serenity and the atmosphere were safer and benign, when killings hadn’t polluted the air, when light and darkness had no relationship whatsoever, when the known even feared the people, when curfews were still an alien word in social and political lexicons of Gombawas as Gombe people are called.

By its location, Gombe is strategically positioned in the centre of North – Eastern hemisphere . States like Bauchi, Yobe, Borno, Admawa and Taraba flanked Gombe, thereby giving it both business and tourist advantage. Be-

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” is a popular phrase that depicts both exhaustion and rejuvenation. At night fall the world over, people seem to relax at eateries and bars to cool off after hectic activities at work. Is the situation the same with the security challenges in Gombe State , Saturday Vanguard’s JOHN BULUS in this special report x-rays the situation.

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By John Bulus

The Gombe’s first fire of baptism that instilled huge fire in most “night crawlers” was actually the dawn attack on a secluded Deeper Life Church at Nassarawo area of the metropolis in the early days of January this year

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sides, the people, mixed in their religions lived friendly with one another.

The state was carved out Bauchi State by General Sani Abacha’s regime in 1996 and therefore every infrastructure appears new and attractive.

Interestingly, the previous administration of Alhaji Mohammad Goje built an Airport that has continued to attract air travelers in their numbers from neighbouring states and beyond.

There is also a good network of motor-able roads in the metropolis and its environs. Again, the smallness of the area helps to give some security sense to everyone. But to say the least, all that, even though the infrastructures physically exist, may have vanished in the subconscious of most people prompting caution which has so much amplified itself in the state.

In retrospection, Gombe’s first fire of baptism that instilled huge fire in most “night crawlers” was actually the dawn attack on a secluded Deeper Life Church at Nassarawo area of the metropolis in the early days of January this year. Gunmen attacked the church during active worship and killed over 10 persons while several others were seriously wounded. And almost in quick succession, a similar

scenario also played out on Gombe Divisional police Station. The Explosion that ensued razed down the building. Lives were also lost in the melee.

This is besides the news of wanton killings of some persons in some eateries and drinking bars months ago.

Expectedly, the State government and the Police often imposed curfews on the wake of these attacks as a measure to curb and forestall further attacks. Obviously, the curfews, sometimes dusk to dawn would naturally bar people from even going to the market let alone patronizing the bars at nights. Even when the situation improved, one would have noticed that most drinkers and club freaks had taken precautions. Indeed, all these had helped to kill night life in Gombe.

But then, there is one place in Gombe that is always alive at night no matter the state of insecurity and other occasional social breaches. It is popularly called the Mammy Market, strategically located in the Army Barracks. For any one who may wish to “indulge”, the Mammy Market is the destination. It is usually so because the heavy presence of soldiers puts the peoples mind at rest. At least, everyone would expect that whatever eventuality, supposedly, that may break out anywhere in the town won’t affect the market. Eateries, bars, relaxation centers of all kinds exist there. But then, the scenario at the barracks does not paint the picture of extremity. In fact, enquiries revealed that there is control, vigilance and surveillance at the place to prevent any mishap.

Meanwhile, times are changing. The serenity is gradually becoming humane again. The state government during the commencement of the Ramadan Fasting recently, lifted the ban on commercial motorcycles and the curfew which has been in place for some time now, got extended to 12 am from 6 am, meaning that night life itself has also got an extension.

While the situation holds, Saturday Vanguard made a spectacular observation: There is high level religious tolerance in Gombe State . That one does not eat a particular meat does not mean one should constitute impediment to another who eats. And the man who eats or drinks does not take it to the extreme to constitute public nuisance. To such people, temperance is the watchword even as every one expects that the yore days won’t be long to come back in the state.

Night life still booms at Enugu

By Tony Edike, Enugu

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or those that enjoy night outings, Enugu is a suitable place for them.

There are a good number of places where one can hangout at night and have a feel of the hospitality that the city offers. But at the same time, there are areas where one could not comfortably spend sometime at night owing to the activities of miscreants. Restaurants and joints within such areas as Coal Camp, Uwani, Achara Layout, Abakpa and Awkunanaw are deemed

not very safe for the big boys in town because of reports of incessant robbery attacks at such spots. Besides, the presence of the middle class at such places is seen as a threat to bourgeoisies, who would want to keep late nights with friends and have a feel of what the city offers. Hence, happening places like New Haven, parts of Independence Layout, Presidential Road, Asata and Ogui New Layout have remained the happening places in town where night crawlers usually spend hours with friends drinking, partying and clubbing.

Within the densely populated Ogui New Layout, Asata, Achara Layout, Uwani, Coal Camp and Abakpa and Awkunanaw, most eateries, drinking joints and restaurants are shut down as early as 7pm for fear of being attacked by hoodlums who normally operate on fast-moving motorbikes. To stem the tide, the Enugu State government recently banned the operation of the motorcycles within the state capital both at day and night. This has gone a long way in sanitizing the city of criminals who hitherto forced peoContinued on page 44

44—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

Enugu has become a city of celebration Continued from page 43

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ple into their rooms in the early hours of the night as if they were observing self-imposed curfew.

Most sit outs in Enugu operate daily and entertain guests till the late hours of the night, but most nightclubs in Enugu run on weekends particularly Fridays and Saturdays and many of them witness influx of guests.

The popular spots where people hang out at night include the Shoprite Mall, which has become the hottest spot at night, Roban Stores Mall, Nike Lake Resort, New Berries Park, Blue island Sit-out (Blue Island Hotel), Villa Toscana Sit-out (Villa Toscana Hotel), Neocourt pool Side & Bar (neocourt Hotel), Cube 10, 8 Hours sit-out, Feelinn station, Zeez Resturant & Garden, Nza Street Bush Bar, the NUJ Press Centre and Crown Guest House among others.

On the other hand, nightclubs that are regarded as popular choices in the city are Afro Lounge, 380 Night Club, Grand Rivera Night Club, Bar Code Night Club, Grand Cave

wine bars and joints, drink, eat and have fun with friends and family. People work in the day and at night move to joints for a rest. Hotels in the city are also said to be having appreciable bookings especially during weekends.

An hotelier at a popular hotel located along Chime Avenue said that unless guests make advance bookings before the weekend, it is usually difficult to secure accommodation in any of the hotels within that area by just walking in.

The presence of the sex workers had been a source of concern to some residents

Night Club and Villa Toscana Night Club all located within New Haven and Independence Layout. It is interesting to note that the present administration of Governor Sullivan Chime created conducive environment for night life in the capital city. The government’s commitment towards enhancing the security

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of the state, the provision of good roads, taxicabs and street lights which have given the capital city a facelift are some of the measures that have given the residents confidence to keep late night unlike what obtained under previous regimes. As a result, Enugu has become a place of celebration where people hang out at

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ome other joints, where African dishes like IsiEwu, Ugba, Nkwobi, Pepper soup and African salad are served with palm wine are also enjoying bumper sales within New Haven, parts of Asata, Uwani, Abakpa and Independence Layout lately, as they now operate and close late at night owing to improved security.

The provision of 700 taxis by the government has also enhanced easy movement of people at night as some of the operators maintain presence on the roads 24 hours.

In Benin City, it’s always a weekend groove B

enin City the ancient cap

ital of Edo state has always been known as a bubbling city from time immemorial. Night life in the city is quite enticing that people leave the neighboring Delta state to come down and unwind, particularly during weekends. In the early 70s night clubs like Talk of the Town, City Bell, Mr A, Central Hotel, were the talk of the town then. Musicians then such as Sir Victor Uwaifo, Patrick Idahosa, Mochikobay, made night crawlers savour what Benin then was known for. No wonder then, night crawlers from Lagos, Warri and Sapele always come down to the city to enjoy their weekends. The City then was very peaceful and people enjoyed lots of fun and any one who has been following the life style of the people of the state, will know that Edo people are fun loving people. However, the spate of crime affected night life in the city prior to the administration of Governor Adams Oshi-

omhole, but the administration has made frantic efforts to ensure that it is restored. Edo state has the largest concentration of hotels, inns and guest houses in any part of Nigeria. On Boundary road, in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) alone, there are over forty of such establishments where girls and women of easy virtue ply their trade both day and night. We have nothing less than seven higher institutions in the state and every evening, girls from these institutions visit the major joints in the city to have fun with their male counterparts.

In Benin City, we have popular night clubs and joints like Timeout, Carwash, Asotime, Hipnotics Club, Hexagon night club, Nova night club, Joevil and several others. In addition, the city also boasts of the Oba Ovaranwen square, where the Oshiomhole’s administration erected one of the most beautiful water fountains in the country. Young men and women converge at night to enjoy themselves in the area which is also

Though the issue of kidnapping and robbery made it impossible for people to stay out late as they would wish to stay, but that aspect was taken care of by the state government when they purchased almost hundred Hilux vans with a view to ensure security in Benin City and its environs at nights.

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By Simon Ebebulem

Although operators in the tourism sector are making enough economic gains from the increasing activities at night, the number of “Good evening girls” loitering around Otigba junction, Ogui junction and Bissalla road are now on the increase as the atmosphere appears very conducive for them to hawk their own “ wares”. The presence of the sex workers had been a source of concern to some residents who believe that such immoral acts were not good enough for the image of the state. Those who spoke anonymously cited the recent arrest of over 52 prostitutes by Lagos State government, which has vowed to sanitize the city. They called on the state government to do likewise.

The coal city, which is regarded as the home for all Igbos from different states in the South East and South-South, has continued to play host to both residents and visitors with minimal discomfort and many believe that the state capital is indeed worth living in.

Night life in Benin City was also boosted with the erection of street lights by the state government in the entire city

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beautified with gardens.

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ight life in Benin City was also boosted with the erection of street lights by the state government in the entire city. Areas such as the Gani Fawehenmi Layout, Ihenyen road and others have been lit up and that has boosted the night life in these areas.

These are areas regarded as a low class area but with the

beautification of the area , it was observed that youths apart from enjoying movements till about 4am in the morning, children in these areas can play ball at nights. Though a lot of the oil companies are not located here in Benin City, but a lot of people still have the cash to hang out at nights because even though the state is regarded as a civil service state, a lot of Benin sons and daughters reside abroad.

Therefore, they always come back with either their fiancées or girl friends to come and relax in the ancient city. But unlike cities like Port Harcourt where you have strip tease/nude clubs, there are no such clubs in Benin City but you have several of them with live bands where the dancers entertain their guests with different dance steps. People enjoy such groove in areas such Joevil, Motel Benin at weekends, Time Out and others.

ith the presence of both police officers and soldiers in some of the night clubs and bars, people feel safer in Benin City at nights. Some of the busiest areas in Benin City at night include the Government Reservation Areas (GRA) where the big boys prefer to hand out due to the fact that it seems to be more secured. Other areas include Ekenwa, Textile Mill, Ugbowo and New Lagos Roads.

One unique thing in the city is that there are several beautiful girls majority of them from different higher institutions in the state who do what is called “runs” to survive.

These set of girls are not like the kind of calls girls you find in the streets, waiting for customers that will take them home. They are well organized, beautiful and intelligent. However, their pay per night is more than the usual call girls in town. The big guys prefer to hang out with these set of girls because majority of them are so intelligent and from rich homes that you will wonder what they are looking for.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—45

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r. Sola Akinsiku is a taxi driver in Akure who now prefers working at nights obviously due to the glittering street lights provided by the state government which now illuminate the major roads in the city from dusk to dawn every day.

He feels proud conveying his passengers who just arrived at the city from the northern part of the country around midnight on Tuesday as they watched with admiration the glittering city of Akure as they journeyed from the Road-block end of the Akure-Owo Bye pass enroute Oyemekun Road.

Akinsiku tells the visitors who listen with rapt attention how he now works late, sometimes till the early hours of the following day when he would go and pick his wife who sells cooked foods at the Old garage area on Oba Adesida Road.

Saturday Vanguard observed that there are now very bright modern streetlights erected in the entire stretch of Oyemekun Road from the Ilesa-Owo Expressway junction down to Oba Adesida Road up to the Fiwasaye end of the road.

The streetlights are powered by a state-of-the-art generators which usually switch themselves on automatically around 6:30pm and stop by 6:30am, everyday.

They had also been extended to Ondo Road from the Cathedral junction end of the Oba Adesida Road up to the Army barracks, on the way to Ondo town and from the Cathedral junction through Arakale Road to the NEPA area of the metropolis.

The street lights no doubt had added colour and glamour to the smooth roads, the beautiful bus shelters and the beautification projects on the two sides of the roads and within the median also complimented the inviting looks of the city that would provoke glowing expressions from any visitor to the city.

Apart from Akinsiku and other cab drivers who no longer needed to put on their headlights whenever they are working through out nights because of the unbelievable brightness of the lights, petty traders and night crawlers had attested to the fact that Akure is a place to be at night.

The driver noted during a chat that the only set of people who would be grumbling in silence about the latest development in the city are the hoodlums and others with criminal tendencies that had now been forced to relocate

Residents now make more money in Akure at nights Exciting social and economic activities now characterized the city of Akure at nights

from their various hideouts which the brightness of the night had exposed.

Another cab driver, Mr. Simon Owolafe explains that the provision of the street lights had complimented the various urban renewal projects aimed at transforming Akure and make it look like a true state capital.

He said, “The sparkling lights have really illuminated the entire town and make it a beautiful sight to behold at night.

“The entire stretch of Oyemekun road through Oba Adesida down to the Fiwasaye end of the state capital now have super street lights which to me, is the best of its kind in Africa.

“The entire Ondo road, some parts of Alagbaka and the Owo road through Ijapo up to the Oke –Ijebu round about have also been lightened up by the Mimko magic wand which has made movement at night not only easy and safe, but also highly economically rewarding for me.

“Before now, movement in the capital city at night required exceptional bravery to travel through because of the darkness that used to envelope it.” The Cab driver confessed that his cab does not have a functional headlamp which he has been unable to fix for lack of fund and that the development usually made him to relocate home as soon as it was dark.

At the moment he says, “a cab driver does not need to have the headlight on whenever they are working at night

because of the wonderful illumination of the streets by the streetlights.”

He says, “I now works till dead of the night even though, my vehicle’s headlamp has not been fixed. The street lights provided by the Mimiko administration have provided an avenue for me and some of my colleagues to make extra money which had been hitherto impossible.”

The impact of the street lights on residents of the city has been discovered to be so enormous that it has become a major topic of discussion at gatherings, especially drinking joints and fast foods cen-

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By Chioma Gabriel

lights and the operational mode of the generators fascinates him.

Adebayo says he was by the side of one of the generator at the Adegbola area of the town recently, and was surprised when it switched itself on and the street lights in the area automatically came on without seeing anybody manipulating any device around it.

He says, “I woke up early the following morning to confirm the same process and the equipment switched itself off and the lights were off ” Adebayo observed that areas hitherto considered to be black spots or red zones in the city

The sparkling lights have really illuminated the entire town and make it a beautiful sight to behold at night

tres in the town.

For instance, another cab driver in Akure, Mr. Dapo jaiyesinmi, who was found waiting for passengers who are enjoying their cold beer and fresh pepper soup around 11:15pm at a drinking joint on Oba Adesida on Tuesday says the provision of street lights had enhanced his income.

He says, “I could now afford to work late, as against what used to be obtainable in the past.

A banker, Mr. Deji Adebayo says the timing of the street

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had suddenly became safe haven as a result of the illumination.

He says, “Gone were the days when street marauders would hide under the cover of the night that was prevalent around the city in the past, to carry out their nefarious activities.

“As a result of the opportunity provided by the street lights illumination, residents now transact businesses till late as was the case in the developed towns and cities abroad that are safe, unlike

before when the streets of Akure would have been deserted by as early as 8.pm.”

It was further observed that the hitherto scary darkness at night in the capital city which had crippled its night life has suddenly come alive and entertainment business picked up considerably.

A visit to the Old garage and Araromi junction area recently revealed that recharge card sellers now make brisk business at night even up to 12 midnight.

Pharmaceutical stores and supermarkets located on major roads in the City are now beneficiaries of the new development.

A random check at the stores revealed that the operators stayed later than they used to since the ‘Mimiko light’ became operational.

A supermarket owner, Mr. Uche Nweke said, “because people stay out late these days as a result of the visibility made possible at night by Mimiko, we also have the courage to remain in the shop late as we make sales at night than day time because when you attend to people with emergency cases at night, you are expected to make more money.”

A cross section of fun seekers sighted at Fountain and the Dew Spinner constructed at the First Bank roundabout and the Fiwasaye junction in the Alagbaka area of the city as at 11:00pm on Wednesday, said they are now free to move about as they like now that the streetlights had been keeping Akure awake at nights.

It was observed that the two state-of-the-art facilities now add beauty and glamour to Akure at nights as beautiful multi-coloured lights installed in them had provided excellent sight to behold.

Also, Vulcanisers operating within the city have now had good stories to tell as one of them said “that since vehicular movements extends till later than it used to be, they are naturally forced to extend their time of operation as well” Many residents of the state have however, appealed to the state government to replicate the streetlights in major towns of the state like Owo, Ikare, Okitipupa, Ondo Idanre, IleOluji, Ore, and Igbokoda among others to reduce all forms of criminality at nights.

46—SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

WHITE WITCHES

Unless we pray, there won’t be election in 2015 C

hief Okhue Iboi is the Spokesperson for the Community of Nigerian White Witches. The 53 years old native of Edo State is proud of his association. “I am a white witch whose duty is to repair and not to destroy”. He is known for benevolence magic and accurate prediction. In this exclusive interview with Saturday Vanguard , “The Gifted One” unveils after the meeting of White Witches held in Abuja last Thursday “that witches, are trying their best to ensure that there is peace in the country and reveals that former president Ibrahim Babangida is not a terrorist. “He is the best president Nigeria has ever had.” He disclosed that the witches have concurred that the EFCC should investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria. He never failed to applaud president Jonathan for his steadfastness amid the security challenges in Nigeria. Excerpts My story My father. Chief Jonah Iboi, was a respected community leader, a farmer and hunter. He went on hunting expedition with one of his friends. At a point, he heard the screaming of an animal in pain. He cocked his gun and pulled out his matchet to kill a deer he saw, but to his amazement the deer was not held by a trap but was on the verge of giving birth.

Having allowed the deer to have its birth, a voice echoed from the animal that he should not touch it if he still wish to have his own children.

My father was not overly surprised about what he has seen and heard from the animal because of his knowledge of herbs enable him to understand the whole incident.

He, however, kept this bizarre experience to himself, until a month later when one of his five wives, Alice, being my mother became pregnant. Instead of the usual nine months, I spent 12 months in my mothers womb. When I was born in the 50s, I had leaves in my hands, which was a symbolic prelude to what I am renowned for today, as an herbalist, white witch.

As a white witch, where are the areas you specialize most?

...IBB is not a terrorist

Chief Okhue Iboi

I started from my childhood. I did not learn it but was a natural gift from birth. I also heal different types of sicknesses. I was asked to leave the primary school because, during those days, I do perform magic in the class and if a teacher is writing on the blackboard, instead of seeing what the woman is writing, I will be seeing different types of leaves there. I predicted in 1993 during the time of M.K.O. that he will win but will not be sworn in because of what he did to Awolowo. I also predicted to IBB that because of what he did to MKO, he will not rule Nigeria again.

I will not deny the fact that IBB is the best head of state Nigeria has ever had. I have predicted to so many people and it came to pass. Even in our other word, we praise him as the best head of state this country has ever had.

wise. That is just the difference between the white and black witches. We also have international body where the whole witches in the whole world meets. We can meet anywhere anytime.

What is the difference between white witches and other ones?

White witches are the group that sees to the welfare of the people. We use our powers to heal people, predict what will happen in future and just for the good of the people. But people mis-understood us. They think we are the ones that kill people. It is only the black witches that can do that. Like as we are thinking of the way to make the country good, the black witch can never think like-

possible. To me, they are just joking. They know that it is quite impossible for Jonathan to comply to such demand. In our meeting in Abuja (Witches), we have seen it before other people that their demand cannot be possible. So, they should better stop disturbing themselves. We know that everything will soon settle. Peace will soon return to the country but it is just a matter of time.

Recently, the Boko Haram sect made their demand that the president should resign for the deputy to take over and he should also change to Muslim for peace to reign, as a spokesman to Nigerian White Witches, what is your take on that?

Their demands can never be

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By Anozie Egole

think are the conditions for them to stop the bombing?

Yes, we have sent their leaders to talk to them. It will not be more than three months anymore the whole situation will return to normal. We the witches are trying our best to ensure that there is peace in the country. So we have sent messages across to Northern witches to talk to their people to give peace a chance.

State policing I do not think there is any need for that. It will not bring solution to the problem. Most governors will use state police to victimise their opponents especially, during election period. You know any law is made in this country, we the witches see that ahead of every other person. We know if it will work or not. I know that this state policing is a failed project.

They will adopt the use of vigilante instead of the state policing.

Demolition of houses in Abuja?

As you rightly said, yes we saw that. And we knew that it will not bring any problem in the country. People whose houses were affected will only complain after which, they will settle. All the land are owned by government, so the government has the reserved right to ask people who did not comply with their requirements to leave whenever they want. We Nigerians are very stubborn. We Nigerians do not like doing what is right, we prefer the hard way.

Over dependence on oil I strongly do not agree with this Nigerian idea of putting all their trust in oil as the only source of livelihood. There are some other countries that do not have oil but they still survive better than us. So I do not see any reason why a reduction in oil price in Europe will be affecting us here in Nigeria. We

I want to tell you the truth; IBB has no hand in that. Him with other Imans are praying seriously for the good of this country

You said that they will soon stop bombing, what do you

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should find other thing to develop as a source of living instead of believing solely in oil.

The funniest part of the whole thing is that this oil money is circulating in the hands of few Nigerians while others are suffering.

Impeachment saga ?

Yes, we have had a meeting of the National Conference of Nigerian White Witches in Abuja about that issue and we have seen that it cannot work. They cannot impeach the president.

Privatization of PHCN? That is a very wonderful idea.

The best way I believe to tackle the problem of power failure is if the PHCN is privatized. If this happens, there will be competition in the sector just like what is happening in the telecommunication industry. There are different companies who are ready to render the services properly at a very cheaper rate. So, everybody is struggling to meet up in order not to lose its customers. With this PHCN privatization, you can comfortably choose which company to use and in a situation where any of the companies fail in its service delivery, you conveniently, change to another company. A huge amount of money has been pumped into this sector which suppose to make it work perfectly well starting from the Obasanjo administration. But we do not know where all these money are being directed at.

Some individuals will sit in their houses and embezzle the money meant for the good of the nation. In fact, this is a very wonderful idea by the government. We applauded the idea when we heard it.

On CBN The witches want the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria. That is one institution that many people have not look into. The governor, Mr. Sanusi is a good man but the people that are working with him are not sincere, so they should be investigated, because we have seen it from our world.

What do the witches foresee in 2015 general elections?

In that year, Nigerians need to pray as they have never prayed before because, from what we see at night during our meetings, there will be war. All the religions in the country should pray. Christians, Muslims and traditional worshippers should pray whether there will be election that year. The Northerners are saying that they are cheating them that they supposed to produce the head of state, likewise the Easterners and other parts of the country. This will create problem. And if Nigerians cannot pray, there will be no election.

IBB Vs Clark I want to tell you the truth; IBB has no hand in Boko Haram. He with other Imans are praying seriously for the good of this country. I do not see any reason why somebody will be suspecting him. He is innocent.

Chances of Jonathan on second tenure It will be very hard. Jonathan going for the second tenure will be very hard for him. Because, there will be a very big problem. Though he is a very nice man but since he is not a military man, his chances are not bright.

SATURDAY, Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 — 47

Nolirat Sonek an laid tto o rest Sonekan

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he Sonekan family, living in the country and abroad recently came together for the final burial ceremony of late Alhaja Nolirat Sonekan. The 8th-day Fidau prayer for the deceased took place at Chief Adio Sonekan’s House in Obantoko area of Abeokuta. Family and friends, including notable personalities from Ogun state and beyond graced the event. Photos by Wumi Akinola

Memorial ser vice ffor or service Iheancho Maduagwu

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t was a gathering of family, friends and who’s who in Imo state when Elder Iheanacho Maduagwu’s memories came alive again at a Memorial thanksgiving organised in his honour at the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Diocese of Egbu Imo State. Photos by Nwankpa Chijioke

Cross section of the children, left are Omolola, Azeez, Sekinat, and Sakirat Sonekans

L-R: Dr Chimdi Maduagwu;Mrs Chiaka J. Amadi, daughter of the Late Elder Iheanacho Maduagwu and his Widow, Mrs Precilia Ben-Maduagwu

R-L; Chief Fatai Adio Sonekan (husband of the deceased), Seidat Sonekan, daughter and Olori Basirat Adesanu

L-R: Iyalode Alaba Lawson, Chief Fatai Adio Sonekan, Senior brother, Chief Ernest Sonekan, Seidat Sonekan and Azeez Sonekan

Priestly ordination Reverend Father Damian Moneke was recently ordained as a Priest at the Holy Ghost Novitiate Chapel, Awomamma, Imo state.

L-R Ven. Ezechukwu Onwuekwe and Ven Ugochukwu Ekeada

Fr. Damian Moneke receiving blessing of the Bishop Most Revd. E.R. Pates

L-R: Rev Fr. Damian Chukwumenye Moneke flanked by other clergymen

A cross section of the Gentle Seraph Choral Entertainment group, Owerri with Prof Chimdi Maduagwu

Wedding bells

Installation

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Wedloc k edlock

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lfred Louis Nkemakonam Obiweluozor and his bride, Trisha Lucile Williams were united man and wife at Ikoyi Central Registry in Lagos, Nigeria.

edding between Olakunle Odegbesan and Miss Adedamola Adeoba took place at the Living Faith Church, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.

Family and friends were there to witness the union

otary Club of Asaba East District 9141 Installation ceremony of Rotarian Pamela Ifeom Gbemudu as President of the Club at Nelrose Hotel, Asaba, Delta state. Photo by Nath Onojake

Left: Grooms’ father, Chief Kennedy Obiweluozor with groom Alfred Louis Nkemakonam Obiweluozor and his bride Trisha Lucile Williams centre with Hon. John C. Efianya

The couple; Mr Olakunle Odegbesan and Miss Adedamola Adeoba with bride’s parents; Pastor and Deaconess David Adeoba

Rtn. Emmanuel Ogenyi [right] decorates the newly elected President, Rtn. Pamela Ifeoma Gbemudu

48—Vanguard, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

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53-year-old trader, Nzewi Donatus is currently facing a twocount charge at the Ojo Magistrate court, Lagos, for having canal knowledge of his daughter, Oluchi Nzewi, 18, without her consent, an offense punishable under section 258 of the criminal laws of Lagos state. He is also being charged for threatening to kill one Ngozi Emeka, for reporting the matter to the police.

Donatus, a tenant at No. 11, Akoberu street by Cele bustop, Ojo was reported to the police by Ngozi Emeka who is a friend to the deceased wife of Donatus after he, (Donatus) chased his daughter out of the house because she accused him of having sex with her. Oluchi, who appeared before the court narrated her the story. She alleged that the father has been having canal knowledge of her for five years after the death of her mother. “My father has been having sex with me whenever I am asleep and there is this drink he always forced me to drink before I sleep and when I wake up, I do noticed sperm all over my body. When I asked him, he will deny it and warn me never to ask him such question. On the 15th day of August when I woke up, I noticed such on my body again and this time, I was bold enough to ask him but he responded by beating to pomp and sent me out of the house. So, I went to one Ngozi for shelter and narrated my ordeals to her.

She quickly ran to the police to file a report,” she lamented.

Crime Guard gathered that since his wife died,the suspect has been maltreating his daughter by even sitting with her at a bar drinking alcoholic drinks. He also allegedly chases away any male friend that comes visiting his daughter. Some people who never knew his reasons for doing such thought he was protecting the innocent girl from adventurous men but unknown to them that his action was mainly for personal aggrandisement.

Crime Guard also learnt that when he was invited to the police station, he never showed any remorse but instead rained abuses on his accuser for exposing his nafarious atrocities. He also allegedly threatened to kill Ngozi Emeka for reporting “a case that did not concern her” to the police. Another witness who pleaded anonymity also disclosed that he saw Donatus beating his daughter but when he tried to intervane, he

How my Dad drugged and had canal knowledge of me ...Confession of an 18-yr-old girl

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By DONALD ARJI

When I heard Oluchi screaming for help, I ran to see if I could talk to his father. But when I tried doing so, he gave me the worst insult of my life accusing me of having a secret affair with his daughter

got the worst insult of his life.

“When I heard Oluchi screaming for help, I ran to see if I could talk to his father.

But when I tried doing so, he

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accused me of having a secret affair with his daughter. I got pissed off and had to leave so as to mind my business”.

When the charges were read

Confession of car thieves

My brother pushed me into car vandalisation —suspect

By DONALD ARJI

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or some time now, residents of Shibiri under Oto -Awori development Council in Lagos, have been going through untold harassment in the hands of car thieves who usually vandalized their vehicles at night. The robbers crime guard gathered, usually came in their number and sometimes,snatch vehicles from where they are parked ,even from mechanic

workshops.

In order to checkmate activities of these hoodlums, the neighborhood watch, a local vigilante group, extended its dragnet to every nook and carnies of the area .

Their effort seem to have yielded positive result following the arrest of four suspects on Wednesday.

The suspects, according to leader of the vigilante group, Mr Saka, were caught right in the act while vandalizing some vehicles parked in a

CP. Manko to him by the prosecutor, Supol Eze, he pleaded not guilty but the presiding Magistrate, Mrs

J.O.E Akhanamaya, rejected his bail and he was remanded at kirikiri prison custody for further hearing of his case.

mechanic workshop. He explained that: “ We were on guard as usual when we received a distress call from one Joshua that some unknown men were robbing along Shibiri road. We drove to the scene of the crime. We started shooting into the air.

Immediately they heard the gunshots, two of them ran out and we gave a chase eventually arrested them along side their collaborators, recovering some of the vandalized items from them.”.

The suspects were identified as Jude Onogo,28, Akonyi Chibueze,26, Patrick Nwaonzu,35, and Ifeanyi Onwkue,30.

One of them, Jude Onogo , during interrogation confessed to be responsible for several car thefts in the area. According to him, “ I vandalized Oba of Ijaniki’s car and those of the Oloto of Oto-Awori community and the chairman of the OtoAwori local development area councils.

I am also responsible for several others within Oto -Awori community.

“My elder brother pushed me into this. I know I have brought my family’s name to disrepute. I blame my elder brother for this because he pushed me into it. My brother (name withheld) refused to give me money to start a business of my own.

Each time I approached him, he would rain abuses on me and compare me to my age mates who are all doing well. At times he would say that I am not brave enough , that my

mates are out there pushing drugs while I am here demanding money from him, instead of being independent . I got frustrated by his continuous outburst each time I approached him for money . That was why I gave consent when my friend Ifeanyin introduced me to this business” “ We usually go out to operate at night because that is when everyone will b e s l e e p i n g . We w o u l d armed ourselves with a toy gun with which we scare our victims. If I don’t tell you , you won’t know its a toy gun. Most times we wear black clothes so as not to be easily identified. We also make use of a customized metal in form of a gun at times.

And immediately we get the car of our choice, we would go into action by vandalizing the parts we want and then l e a v e . We h a v e b e e n operating in this area for long and never had we been accosted . I have been using this as my only source of lively hood.

When we sell the parts we share the money among ourselves and I use my share to buy food and clothes.

But I promised that if I am let off the hook, I will just pack my belongings and go back to the village to join my mother in the farm. That way, I know God will help me” The suspects were thereafter handed over to the police for further investigation.

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 — 49

How Youth can make a difference and make histor y

By CHURCHIL JAMES

Y

Dearest Jets,

L

ast week, we talked about the death of the young Cynthia who met her waterloo in the hands of her internet friends. Today l am mourning the death of my boss at the office. His own death also would have being avoided, but it happened and it was not avoided.

We need to do so much for the structure of this great nation. We need to seriously pray for this great Nation. We need to write to the appropriate quarters.

What exactly are we planning for our children if we go on this way?

In this edition, a motivational speaker sent an entry he culled from the internet; students in Lagos state were sent to recycle ‘ waste for food’. And the last but not the least is Gracious Leadsway International School, they held their 4th valedictory service and you need to have been there. These and other are on your darling page.

Have a great weekend!

outh activism in present day Africa is dominated by political party circuses, to the point of the din of discord. Even so, there is more that youth can do to contribute to the development of their community, country and continent. The wise before us have said that “economic disaster and unemployment begin with the philosophy of doing less and wanting more”. These weaknesses are reflected in both the government and youth groups.

Young people cannot afford to continue to run away from issues of national importance, simply because they “hate politics” and that “poli-

tics is a dirty game”. Youth have to realize that without checks and balances Africa’s present democracy dispensation will be further weakened, as political leaders tussle for influence.

Our liberators are not always right. This fact has been proved true in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malawi, Libya, Tanzania, Cameroon and many other countries that have suffered due to a sit-

Gr acious Leadsw ernational Gracious Leadswaay Int International holds 4th vvaledict aledict or vice. aledictor oryy ser service.

By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

T

he 4th valedictory service and prize giving ceremony of Gracious Leadsway International School was held recently at the school premises with fun filled activities to mark the celebration.

In his opening speech, the guest speaker, MR. Yunosa, encouraged the graduating students to be ambassadors and good representatives of the school through their attitude and behaviours which speak volumes of their school and family. Persuading the graduating students to be determined and dedicated in their pursuit of a successful career, in life, he charged them to exhibit positive vir-

tues like humility and shun arrogance.

The service which began with opening prayers by Pastor Olumide who rendered special prayers for the graduating students had different cultural presentation by students from the school.

The high light of the event was the handing over of the symbol of administration by the outgoing senior school prefect Joseph Awele to Busayo Ojo the newly installed school female prefect for the new session.

back attitude that youth take to issues of national policy.

In the end it’s the youth that suffer because of their inherent individual vulnerabilities and lack of economic advantages.

Being youth comes with so many unwritten responsibilities, and it takes great leadership within us to recognize, and take ownership of our obligations.

Some of these responsibilities are spelled out in the African Youth Charter, a continental legal framework for youth that was developed by the African Union and accepted by some countries including South Africa, so that young people can assert their rights and responsibilities.

As a youth leader myself, I would like to share simple ideas of harmless actions that young people can do to make a difference in their communities, country and continent.

Even if by so doing, you don’t make it to the history books (or whatever they will be called in 20 years of technologic improvement), you will feel good about yourself today.

Join Youth Clubs and Build capacity for community organizations Individual voices are weaker than associations. Join or form informal associations at churches, school, community or sporting teams. This gives institutional security when you want to address issues that can invite backlash. Use these platforms to campaign, fundraise and be the voice of the voiceless.

Culled from the internet To be continued...

Was o-wealth: LA WMA launc hes w as or ffood ood initiative ffor or kids astte-t e-to-wealth: LAWMA launches was astte ffor I

n the spirit of catching them young at the formative stage, Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, in collaboration with private partners last weekend launched the waste for food campaign programme for children and adolescents aimed at inculcating healthy habit

C M Y K

and ensuring total cleanliness of the environment.

Through the initiative, LAWMA with its partners are offering school pupils, other children to buy into its waste removal, recycling and reuse advocacy early on in life by exchanging waste collected for food.

For any pupil who is able to turn in a kilogramme of recyclable waste, LAWMA will give a voucher that will entitle the kid to good meal from one of the eatery partner, Tastee Fried Chicken

outlets in the state.

The recyclable materials, especially plastics, will then be converted to polyester chips and fibres by a textile manufacturing company, Alkem Nigeria Limited, which is also collaborating with the agency to convert waste to w e a l t h . ‘ Waste for Food Campaign’ programme was unfolded last Saturday at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, which had in attendance thousands of pupils from across the state as well as representatives of corporate organisations, non-governmental organisations and faith-based organisations collaborating with LAWMA. During the event which coincided with the commemoration of worldwide cleanup campaign, Master Uche Kalu

of Agindigbi Junior Grammar School won the quiz competition receiving a big Wheeler bin prize.

Other participating schools were CMS Senior Grammar School, New Era Secondary School Mushin, Birth Freeman High School, Kids clean Club among others Speaking at the event, Managing Director, LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya, said the focus of the organisation was on recycling aimed at reducing the volume of waste dumped at landfills and create another resource regime while pursuing the cause of cleaner Lagos.

He said, “The objective of the Waste for Food Campaign is to integrate the children and corporate organisations into the recycling process as part of their corporate social re-

sponsibility. The campaign is aimed at encouraging children and members of the public to sort waste from source.

“The programme will encourage communities to be actively involved in segregating their waste as the burden of managing waste cannot be left for the government alone.”

According to Oresanya, recycling is a key element of modern waste management; and involves transforming used materials into new products; with each person generating an average of 0.5kg of waste daily, making up over 10,000 metric tonnes of waste collected each day by LAWMA.

50—SA TURD A Y Vanguard 50—SATURD TURDA anguard,,

SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 Olotu: Security is important for business to grow

Integrity, secret of business success—Olotu midwest western region in 1975 before it was incorporated. So I was not just an overnight contractor.

We grew as preliminary engineering firm with government ministries and eventually registered with the Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC) in 1983 as a minor contractor. However, because of our integrity in business, we received an upgrade in 1986 as major contractors. This feat was not common to accomplish because expertrates need to scrutinized firms to ascertain if they can deliver what they are bidding for and if they have the capacity to do business.

Our firm satisfied all these conditions and e started enjoying jobs from them and others. We were given intermediate major projects and advance systematically to the construction of daily locations though our company policy of no “shoddy jobs” helped immensely. Besides, as a person I like quality things and that is why I do quality jobs and that governs everything I do. Base on that, I have received several recognitions. For instance, there was a challenge in a particular

project location that was to be drilled, a work-over. So, the location they supposed to go for drilling, the programme failed because of some unforeseen circumstances. They now fall back on us that if we can get the location prepared for them in three weeks. We took over that project and they were surprised at the outcome in three weeks time and that earned us a recommendation from Shell. Since then, we have been growing from strength to strength. By the grace of God, here we are today.

Mind you, God doesn’t bless a lazy man and those who don’t honour him.

How can you rate S.O. Olotu Group of companies?

We avoid confrontation with our competitors, workers and people we operate in their communities. People have their different understanding to life.

Hence, the first task we do is to bring people to our level in order to better appreciate them. We make them feel like one of us. It helps in operations. Several areas where other contractors couldn’t work, we worked successfully.

Imomoh further stated that the outcome of series of meetings between his firm and Oriental senior management including representative of the institution that led to the commission of Professor Ekwere Peters of the University of Texas in the United states of America to produce a detailed plan on the necessary action required to restore the department to its rightful status.

The chairman expressed optimism that with the donation, the institution

will be better position to train qualified and skilled engineers for the energy sector which over the years lack professionals.

Similarly, Oriental Energy Resources’ chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi who expressed joy over the accreditation of the Petroleum and Chemical department, promised to work towards achieving overall aim of a people-centred culture.

Indimi stated however, that it’s only by so doing that technical and business excellence will be

What is responsible for poor performance by indigenous firms?

Some don’t have the technical know-how. They are emergency contractors and political contractors.

Such firms lacked the professional competence to

However, because of our integrity in business, we received an upgrade in 1986 as major contractors undertake such jobs but because of their political affinity to their godfathers, they got the job. The Nigeria factor of man know man. There is nothing to show that they are capable

Two firms donate equipment to Uyo Varsity R

eprieve came the way of department of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom as two renowned energy firms, Afren Nigeria and Oriental Energy Resources in partnership, recently made provision for Laboratory equipment, scientific journals and text books for the institution.

Prior to this donation, the institution’s Petroleum and Chemical department were denied accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) in 2008.

But consequent upon the gestures by the two energy firms to the varsity, the two regulating bodies announced full accreditation status to the department.

Earlier, Afren Nigeria’s chairman, Egbert Imomoh disclosed that his firm began discussions with the University representatives in 2010 on how it could assist in revitalising the Petroleum and Chemical Engineering department.

of handling such contracts.

Definitely contractors who cut corners will do shoddy jobs. Again, if you are not a qualified engineer it must surely reflect on your performance. However, some see gaining of contract as their own share

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o doubt the Nigerian b u s i n e s s environment is becoming more volatile in each passing day consequently upon the harsh economic realities and insecurity in particular. However, the Group Chairman/CEO Olotu Group of Companies, Evang. Dr. Solomon Ogheneweta Olotu JP told Saturday Vanguard how his firm overcome these daunting challenges which bestrode the nation’s economic milieu. The business mogul posited that his company’s policy “no to shoddy jobs,” remains the secret behind the colossal success he has recorded thus far: Excerpts: what are the main preoccupations of S.O. Olotu group of companies?

The companies were established to encourage human capital and economic development.

We are into oil, dredging, building, civil engineering, contracts and others. These are the areas we are contributing to nation building.

When did you begin operation?

S.O. Olotu & Sons was registered with the then

attained.

He also pledges the company’s commitment towards community development programmes particularly in their area of operation.

Speaking on behalf of the University Vice Chancellor, Head of the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering department, Professor Aniedi Ette thanked the two firms for their generous donations and their contribution towards the general development of education.

Second left, Barr. Chigozie Iheama; CEO Bestway Transport, Chinedu Iwuoha (c), flanked

by President & CEO, Business Initiative Director, Jose E. Prieto and others at the award ceremony of International Quality Summit award New York 2012.

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of the national cake, so when they collect the money instead of concentrating on the contract, knowing that the money given to them was

for the executing of contracts, they gamble with it. Sometimes, clients enter into dirty agreement, many end up abandoning the contract or do a shoddy job.

And this had led to many abandoned projects in Nigeria.

The issue of epileptic power supply is driving investors out of Nigeria to neighbour countries, what is your take on this?

The epileptic power supply in the country affects majorly those in the manufacturing sector. It doesn’t affect construction firms much. Investors moving out of Nigeria is not because of epileptic power supply but insecurity. If the environment is hostile, how do you operate your business. Quite sure we need power supply but when there is no peace, rancour, youth restiveness, it becomes difficult to operate.

What is your assessment of the Nigerian business environment?

Without mincing word, everybody knows that Nigeria is endowed with rich natural and human resources. Unfortunately, many of us don’t appreciate these endowment. The fear of God is no more ruling us as a people and a nation, even our leaders. Look at what is going on, destruction of lives and property. It’s uncalled for.

We should join hands to make the country conducive. But today, everybody is scared. There is so much empathy and bitterness in the land.

People are not sure of their security anymore, too bickering. There is no way we can convince foreign investors to.

The atmosphere is not conducive.

Ndokwa sets to embark on youth empowerment T

he Ndokwa people under the aegis of Ndikwa Youth Development Association in Delta have perfected plans to begin an aggressive enlightenment campaign for indigenes in diaspora and at home on the need to focus on man power development.

The Association’s President, Comrade Sylvester Edeme who made this disclosure in an interactive session with journalists at the weekend, said the project would help to engender massive employment, exposition of Ndokwa rich cultural heritage, technology and a general reorientation of the Ndokwa in all strata of human endeavour.

Against this backdrop, the President stated that the group has concluded arrangements to sensitize government and companies operating in its domain to assist the Ndokwa people in actualising the millennium development goals particularly in the distribution of basic amenities and infrastructural development through Ndokwa nation.

Edeme disclosed that his group will help to liaise with prospective oil producing firms in the area and government agencies particularly the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and DESOPADEC to assist in speeding up development for the region by creating employment for the teeming youths and provision of infrastructure of the Ndokwa nation.

He harps on the need for the government and oil firms to ensure equitable distribution of development projects and evolve a holistic scientific agriculture revolution development of the region. The President promised to ensure the judicious utilisation of funds accruing to youths in the oil and non-oil producing communities in Ndokwa.

He also stated the Association’s preparedness in addressing the lingering criminal activities in the area by raising a strong security network throughout Ndokwa nation.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012—51

Skoda records best July in 117 years

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KODA AUTO continued to grow in July 2012. Despite an

Honda Crosstour

Crosstour, Odyssey redefine Strategic Vision ...as Honda marks 30 in US

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ELYING on a unique methodology to both quantify and qualify owner-reported vehicle quality, Strategic Vision recently presented 2012 Total Quality Awards to two different Honda vehicles, while also reporting the company is “as strong as ever ”.

Honda also marked 30 years of production in the United States with the all new Honda Accord.

The Honda Odyssey followed up the Ridgeline’s performance with its own Total Quality Award in the Minivan category. Also the segment leader for fuelefficiency, the Odyssey can achieve EPA grades of up to 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway/22 mpg combined.

Finally, the innovative

Honda Crosstour was rewarded with the Total Quality prize in the MidSize Multi-Function segment. The Crosstour provides owners with a radically fresh solution to their family- and cargohauling needs, combining the space and versatility of a traditional crossover with the kind of superior ride and handling most often found in mid-size sedans like the Honda Accord. And note, too, that the Crosstour is getting a significant makeover, introducing a freshened appearance and, in the V6-powered models, a new six-speed automatic transmission.

Meanwhile, this year marks the 30 th anniversary of Honda’s first U.S. manufacturing

plant, located in Marysville, Ohio, and the automaker recently celebrated in ideal fashion. Late in August, the much-revised Marysville facility built the very first all-new 2013 Honda Accord for this country ’s retail customers, with millions

likely to follow. After all, the Ohio plant already has assembled more than 9 million Accords since it first went online in 1982, with continued success likely in the cards.

“This new Accord excels in all areas, and it’s being built in a plant that excels in all areas as well—

Traffic Law: Lagos erects more road signs

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ETERMINED to ensure the successful implementation of the Road Traffic Law and voluntary compliance by road users, the Lagos State Government has commenced the installation of 15,000 road signs. The Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa,

said the 15,000 road signs were in addition to the existing 10,000 traffic signs currently adorning major roads and highways in the State.

Opeifa said that the massive installation of these signs would enable road users to be more conversant with the signs and their significance. He

GM commits next-gen Chevrolet Cruze to Ohio plants G ENERAL Motors will invest $220 million for tooling and equipment to build the next-generation Chevrolet Cruze in two northeast Ohio plants retaining more than 5,000 jobs at facilities in Lordstown and Parma.

The Lordstown Complex, with support from the metal center in the Cleveland suburb of Parma, has built more than 500,000 of Chevrolet’s top-selling compact passenger sedan since production began in Sep-

tember 2010. More than 1.6 million Cruzes have been built globally since 2009.

“Thanks to northeast Ohio’s supportive business climate, we’re able to build on a great foundation and steer the Chevrolet Cruze into the next generation.” GM Manufacturing Manager Arvin Jones said. “A special thanks goes to Governor John Kasich and his team at Jobs Ohio for their strong leadership and advocacy for GM and our em-

including flexibility, efficiency and quality for the customer,” said Hide Iwata, president and CEO of Honda of America Mfg. “For 30 years, the Accord has been the signature vehicle from Honda, and it remains the industry benchmark in a very competitive segment.”

ployees.”

GM has invested more than $7.3 billion in its U.S. facilities since 2009.

Production timing of the next-generation Cruze will be announced later. But Jones said the new model will offer new exterior and interior styling, improved fuel economy and an improved interior compartment and more storage space. Preliminary work to clear space in the body shop

at Lordstown has begun.

Chevrolet Cruze

added that the signs would also assist road users to know the various restricted routes for motorcycles and tricycles, designated bus stops, no parking, no trading, no waiting, no u-turn and no entry zones to mention just a few.

The Commissioner urged Lagosians and visitors in the State to be conscious of traffic signs whenever they drive as these would further guide them on how to drive safely and make proper use of the roads.

i n c r e a s i n g l y challenging economic environment, the brand increased its deliveries to customers by six per cent year on year to 72,600 (July 2011: 68,500). This is the best July sales result in the company ’s 117-year history. From January through July 2012, sales rose by a total of 8.1 per cent year on year to 565,600 (January through July 2011: 523,200).

“We managed to continue growing and sell more cars in July despite an economic environment that is increasingly very difficult,” said Jürgen Stackmann, ŠKODA board member for sales and marketing. “We have improved ŠKODA’s position further in the first seven months of this year.

However, development of demand in many European markets worries us. What we now need to do is stay our course,” said Stackmann.This growth include Western Europe, Estern Europe, East Central Europe, China, India, Australia etc.

Despite a difficult overall market, the brand advanced significantly in major markets of Western Europe: in Great Britain in July 2012, ŠKODA delivered more than 20 per cent more cars year on year. In Denmark, too, (+24.7 per cent), Belgium (+8.2 per cent), Norway (+6.6 per cent) and France (+6.2 per cent), ŠKODA grew markedly. In Western Europe overall, SKODA sold almost 25,300 cars in July 2012 (-7.1 per cent). ŠKODA’s most popular models in Western Europe in July were the ŠKODA Octavia, which sold over 8,500, and the ŠKODA Fabia, which sold more than 6,600 units. The Citigo subcompact, which has been on the market for several months, also fared well and sold almost 2,600 in July.

52 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1 2012 One of the keys that will propel your rising is the key of persistent thanksgiving. Thank God that the devil could not stop you despite all he threw at you. For some it was hardship, sickness, loss of job, loss of fortune, death of member of the family, discouragement. For others, it was pain, sorrow, barrenness, unprogressiveness, miscarriages, etc. In the midst of it all, God is still God. There can be no Thank God that you are be no fruitfulness. Thus, your life for granted. other God like Jehovah alive. Thank Him for you cannot see any Nothing is too small to that reigneth from your present status. reason to be thankful. give God thanks for. eternity to eternity. The Know that you are not Your attitude is what When you appreciate truth of the matter is that the worst. You are better determines your altitude Him for that little, much no matter what you may than someone else. in life. If you are not will be added. Don’t let have lost, God’s When you thank Him, grateful to God, you will the devil stop you and intervention is the reason He will lift you higher be grounded. When make you to focus on why you did not lose than your present level. gratitude becomes your what you have not everything. Remember You are just one step lifestyle, you will received. Stay focused that Satan’s ministry is away from your desired continue to gain altitude on your future but be to steal, kill and destroy goal. in life. Thanksgiving totally grateful for your while Jesus came to give There are three days in will take you to a higher present. Your future is you life and life more a man’s life. Yesterday, realm in life. Hear me, too great compared to abundantly (John 10:10). today and tomorrow. as you commit to where you are now.

I beseech you to join You can do nothing thanking God always, Thank Him in advance the league of those that about yesterday because your status will change for where He is taking constantly thank God in it is gone but you can do this year. you. everything (1 Thess. something today and Learn to recount God’s Beloved, see God as 5:18). That you have life look forward to a brighter benefit in your life and the reason behind every is by grace. You did not tomorrow. Refuse to be give Him thanks. The good thing in your life. make or created yourself. tied to your negative Psalmist said in Ps. Know that, no man can God is your maker. He past. It will rob you of 103:2, “… and forget not prevail by strength (1 made you for a glorious your now and future. It all His benefits”. Never Sam 2:9). Every good purpose. Remember is a killer of joy. When take the happenings in gift comes from God what He told Jeremiah, there is no joy there can “before I formed thee in For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard the belly, I knew thee; Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town and before thou camest or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 07029235279, 07029235280. E-mail: forth out of the womb I Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org. sanctified thee, and Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust ordained thee a prophet Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407. unto the nations” (Jer. Worship with us on Sundays, 1st Service: 745am-9:15am; 2nd Service 9:151:5). No matter the 11:30am. Wednesdays Word Revelation 6pm. Counseling days Tuesdays, present state of your life, Thursdays and Fridays. 11am-5pm daily or by appointment. Showers of blessing it is not the end. You are every 2nd - 4th Sat. of each month, 6 a.m - 7.15 am. on your way to greatness.

The power of thanksgiving

(james 1:17). “For who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? (1 Cor. 4:7). Know that God is the doer of everything good in your life. It is not by your act of hard work, “for without God ye can do nothing” (john 15:5).

Lift your voice and thank Him for every good thing that has happened to you.

Know that God expects you to thank Him. In Lk 17, He asked the leper who returned to thank Him about the other nine that were cleansed of leprosy. This means that God keeps record of what He has done and He is waiting for you to return the glory to Him. The leper that returned to give Him glory was made whole while those who did not return to give Him glory were not made whole. As you thank Him, He will make available what is missing

by making your life whole. It is time to make thanksgiving your lifestyle daily and constantly.

To manifest testimonies like never before, you must constantly give Him thanks because it is His will. In doing His will, you will be pleasing Him and in return there shall be restoration in every area of your life because He reigns forever. Keep thanking Him and testimonies shall not cease in your mouth every day, week and month. God bless you and bless our great nation Nigeria.

Have you given your life to Jesus? If not, please pray this prayer.

Father, I come to you as I am. I invite Jesus into my life to be my personal Lord and Saviour. Wash me cleanse with the blood of Jesus and empower me with the power of your Holy Spirit. Thank you Father for saving my soul and making me your child.

Canadian visa blues

By MUYIWA ADETIBA This, before some one starts to say ‘not again’, is not about me. Its about my egbon. Mr Mac Ovbiagele, a foremost advertising practitioner, and I dare say, one of the best in his generation—likes to do things by the book. I should know since I have known him for almost 40 years and I have used him as a sounding board for many of my projects.

True to type, when he realised he needed to travel to Canada, he started preparing early. By January, he had booked his ticket for a wedding that was to take place towards the end of July.

On May 4, he took his passport with all the necessary documents to the Canadian Embassy. Although the Embassy said the applicants should give an allowance of 30 working days for processing, he was prepared to give more.

When he got to the Embassy, he met three ladies he had known for a long time. One of them was his contemporary at the University of Ibadan.

Everybody was confident that they had made early preparations and acted responsibly. But had they?

Three weeks later, one of

them had an all expenses paid offer for a three-day trip to Dubai for a board meeting. But she didn’t go because her passport was in the Canadian Embassy vaults. Another of the ladies thought it would be a good opportunity to cross over to the US after her business in Canada. She wasn’t sure if her visa would not have expired at that time and she wanted to book for an appointment at the US Embassy. But she could not because her passport was locked up in the vaults of the Canadian Embassy.

The third lady had what turned out to be a fortuitous experience. Her son had a bad back condition that needed to

was more important than going to Canada. When she made moves to retrieve her passport, she was told, ominously, that she would have to go to the bottom of the line and start all over again if she brought her passport back. She retrieved her passport any way and flew to the UK with her son. The operation was timely and was successful. What’s more, she put in for the Canadian visa in the UK. To her surprise, her application was granted in 24 hours.

Please note. It was the same woman, the same passport and the same documents. You want to ask. What is it about Nigeria that sets these Western countries

What is it about Nigeria that sets these Western countries on edge? be operated on. The doctors advised a quick operation so that some nerves would not be damaged permanently. Again, her passport was locked up in the Canadian vault. But being an ‘abiyamo’ (an endearing Yoruba word for motherhood) she decided that her son’s life

on edge? And why should any country lock up any body’s passport for any length of time in this day and age? Back to my big brother, Mr Ovbiagele.

Sensing that he might not be able to make his earlier booking, he [ wanted a new date. He was

asked by his travel agency to cough up an extra two hundred the US. No child lives in the thousand naira for something UK. And they say she doesn’t that was definitely not his fault. have ‘sufficient attachment’ to So he did what any reasonable Nigeria or the’ US man would in the All she wanted was to be able circumstances. He took the ‘aso to attend the wedding of her -ebi’ and all the wedding things niece slated for early August. in his possession and couriered And as at the time she applied, them to Canada — at a she had a five-year visa which considerable cost of course— was about to expire. Now tell and cancelled his booking. As me. What pull does UK have we speak, more than three over the US and Nigeria where months after, none of these three she has her family, her home, people has had their visa or their and her businesses? And if it passport returned to them. P.S. was her intention to disappear Now, I have just been told that into the thin (or wet) UK air, a friend’s wife (and also my why did she have to wait for her wife’s friend) has just been five year visa to expire? Doesn’t refused a UK make much sense does it?

Visa. Reason? She didn’t show PS 2 I am sure there are many ‘sufficient attachment’ either to ridiculous and sometimes the US where she resides, or to ludicrous visa experiences out Nigeria, there. I’d like to hear (and her country of birth. maybe air) them.

Now, this lady is close to 60.

I told you of mine six months She is a grandmother who has ago at the US Embassy. To their been travelling to the UK for at credit, they responded and least 30 years. corrected what many She has a green card which considered to be an anomaly. entitles her to live and work in Please send your experience to the US. She and her husband this column through the editor have a beautiful home in the US, or simply email me at titbits and beautiful homes in Nigeria. 2012@yahoo.com All her children had their tertiary education in the US. A couple are back in Nigeria and Adetiba was the former the others comfortably settled in Editor of Vanguard

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 — 53

Amike defends ex-internationals role at London 2012 F

ORMER African hur dles champion, Henry Amike has urged Nigerians hurling brick bats at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria after Nigeria’s failure to pick a medal at the London 2012 Olympics, have no understanding of sports administration in the country.

He argued that the political and social situation in the country made it almost difficult for those in the helm of affairs in Nigerian sports to function properly and unless things are done in the proper way, the country will continue to struggle at international sports events.

“Those who are criticising the AFN and its president Solomon Ogba are

missing the point. They should first of all take note of the level of politicking surrounding the funding of sports in Nigeria. Those who are talking loud cannot sit in the comfort of the homes and criticizing without understanding the peculiarity of the the Nigerian environment.

“They are making noise about N2.3 billion.

What is that compared to what other major countries are spending to develop their sports?”

Amike quarried.

He argued that the inclusion of ex-internationals in the athletics set up was a step in the right direction, however, he urged the sporting authorities to empower the former athletes to en-

able them groom young athletes. “It is a good thing ex-internationals are being brought on board. This is the first time they are being invited to camp. There was nothing they could have done in three months of preparations, but now that the Olympics is over, these these ex-internationals should be empowered to enable them work and produce fresh talents.

“You cannot say someone has been employed when he is not given an employment letter or paid salary.

“They need to be encourage with financial incentives so that will have courage to do their work and also win the respect of the athletes they are expected to coach.”

•Efugh

I slept like never before with Federation Cup — Efugh

By JOHN EGBOKHAN

a club to win Bolt wants it all again in Rio 2016 F OR the Nigerian version of the English FA

U

SAIN Bolt wants to defend his three Olympic titles at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, though he’s undecided about plans for next season.

He’s not sure which events he’ll compete in during the 2013 world championship season.

“If I can go to Rio and really defend all my titles, that would make it even greater,” Bolt said at the Weltklasse Diamond League meet.

Bolt has revived his old flirtation with adding the long jump to his usual program of 100 and 200 meters and 4x100 relay in Jamaica colors at the 2013 world championships in Moscow or beyond.

The strategy of track and field’s biggest and most marketable star will be discussed soon with coach Glen Mills.

“I will be saying long jump, he’ll probably be saying 400 meters,” said Bolt, who has traditionally dismissed thoughts of training for the onelap event.

“I’m not sure what I’m going to do next season.

We have to work all that out first.”

Bolt said his options included focusing on lowering his world record times — 9.58 in the 100 and 19.19 in the

200 — or adding more titles and gold medals.

“You never know what we might come up with.

Let’s try to run under 19 seconds, let’s try to run 9.4, 9.3,” he said. “When you have world records, it’s kind of hard to focus solely on trying to go faster.”

He intends lining up at Moscow next August, “ without a doubt,” though insisted he does not know in which

•Asumnu

events. Still, the 200 is his favorite event and he will surely want to regain the 100 world title he ceded to training partner Yohan Blake after being disqualified from the final for a false start last year.

Bolt responded without obvious enthusiasm to a question about competing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Cup back to back, shows that the team are the best in the country. That is the verdict of Heartland captain, Chinedu Efugh, who on Sunday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, had the rare privilege of lifting the new Federation Cup trophy, donated by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola.

Indeed, it was the sports-loving Lagos Governor who amidst celebration and fanfare, presented the shinning giant trophy to the former Mighty Jets defender, who was nicknamed Mr. Utility by teammates because he can fit into any of the defensive positions.

The Abia State-born highly talented player, who has the knack for venturing forward to have a sniff at goal can never be overlooked in any setup.

Born on Mar 30,1986, Efugh, who has established himself at Heartland since his transfer from Rangers, where he was captain for several seasons, was brimming with a wide grim as photojournalists clicked away as he lifted the trophy a l o f t .

Comfortable either in the

heart of the defence or as a defensive midfielder, Efugh was excitedly omfortable with the many camera lights entering his eyes, as he joined the list of a a few class of captains, whose clubs, had successfully defended the competition once known as the Challenge Cup. With six Champions League appearances under his belt, Efugh has seen his bit of the continent but on this night, it was the joy of retaining the Federation Cup that was on his mind.

Speaking later, Efugh said that Heartland’s feat was proof that the players can go great things if well supported.

“We worked hard for this victory. It did not come easy but because of the unity in the team, we have the cup in our hands”, Efugh said at the stadium.

And the morning after the triumph, Efugh, said in a radio interview that he slept like a giant because of the giant feat achieved by Heartland.

“I actually slept like a giant with the trophy by my side because the joy of winning the Federation Cup back to back was so much for me to hold. It was the best moment for me because to win this competition, you need to work hard and luck must be on your side. “Many teams wanted to beat us

because of the prestige associated to this competition and for us to win it again, made me feel like a giant and I had no choice that to sleep like one as the mission has been achieved, after all the troubles and sleepless nights”, added Efugh on Ray Power FM. On the club’s next target, Efugh said that amongst other teams that they hope to join the likes of Rangers who won the Federation Cup thrice in a row. He said that feat was going to cement their place in the history books of Nigerian football.

“The hunger is in the team to go for a record tying third triumph in the Federation Cup. It is going to be very special to win it again next year and I am confident that we can win if we stay humble and united. As expected, most teams would be wishing for our fall but that is what football is about and we are up for whatever challenge that may come our way.

“We want to enter the history books of Nigerian football and with God on our side, this target would be achieved. We want to win for the good people of Imo State because they have always been praying for our success and we dedicate the cup to them”, Efugh added.

54 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

I don’t have time for men — Ordega

BY KATE OBODO, Japan

N

i igeria’s Francisca Ordega has scored four goals in the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard in Japan she said that her target is to score eight goals. She also opens up on her relationship with the opposite sex. Excerpts Happy Feeling am so happy that we have come this far especially scoring four goals in three matches.

For me, it is so amazing. And I am very happy about it. I am also impressed with what we played against Mexico, though the Mexicans really

I

did well but I am happy that we qualified. It is so amazing.

Drive for scoring goals It is an inspirational thing. Each time, I am with the ball, I pray for God to give me the direction and because I have mentioned God’s

name, the confidence comes in and before you know it the ball is in the net.

Semifinal match against USA We will come out to do our best and I believe we would come out victorious. Although the USA are a strong side. but we would put our acts together and as well train hard to succeed, I believe they are not the team to stop us in this competition.

Target Before I arrived japan, my targeted was to score eight goals and I thank God that I have score four goals. Although I have not gotten the eight goals, I believe that with two matches left, that I can still achieve the remaining target.

How I manage my male admirers Even though I have a lot of male admirers, but the truth is that I do not have time for men now. It is a natural thing that as a girl, for men to admire you and I have to appreciate them, since I am not the creator of myself, so they are free to appreciate me.

Why? Because I am into a very serious relationship with somebody who is very dear to my heart. I have to stay in arm’s length because I have somebody very dear to my heart.

Preference of being an actress or the best striker in the world, I want to be the best striker one day, and also the best actress the next.

•Ordega in action against Mexico

Ndubuoke counts blessings, as Heartland emerge champs again!

BY PATRICK OMOTODION

I

T was legendary reggae crooner, late Robert Nesta Marley a.k.a Bob Marley who said that when one door closes many more will be open. That is exactly what has happened to Chief Fan Ndubuoke, General Manager of Heartland Football Club of Owerri, who is thumping his chest to say, “I’m now a fulfilled man.”

Two years ago, Ndubuoke, one time Chairman of the Spots Writers Association of Nigerian, SWAN, picked up a form to contest for the position of President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF but his credentials notwithstanding, those who called the shots in football in the country believed he was not the kind of administrator they were looking for.

Ndubuoke definitely is not the type to be pushed around or who will do the bidding of the mafia who have held Nigeria’s football hostage all these years, so irrespective of the plans he and other contestants said they had to lift the NFF and Nigeria’s football, the mafia

ensured their favoured candidate, Aminu Maigari was installed via a kangaroo election.

Unknown to Ndubuoke, the Imo state government then led by Chief Ikedi Ohakim listened to the debate where he reeled out his manifesto on how he intended to reposition Nigeria’s football and “I was invited by the governor to come and do for Imo and Heartland what I said I could do for Nigeria’s football. I thank Ohakim for giving me the opportunity to prove myself and I am grateful to God for the successes I have recorded in two years”.

Grinning from ear to ear during a chat with this reporter, Ndubuoke who also served as one of the top managers of COJA during the 2003 All Africa Games which Nigeria hosted said, “In two years, I won three trophies, that is two Federation Cup titles, 2011 and 2012, one Charity Cup in 2011 and two continental tickets, that is my story at Heartland,” adding that if he decides to leave the club now for other ventures, he is already fulfilled as an administrator.

Recalling his first days at the Owerri side, Chief

•Fan Ndubuoke Ndubuoke said he had to work hard to ensure that he didn’t fail because apart from those who were waiting to see him fail and say that he was not the right person for the job, there were obstacles he met on ground in Owerri, having been appointed by the former government which belonged to another party.

“Many people felt that since I was appointed by the opposition party, the governor should remove me and put one of their own. I don’t belong to any political party and I felt that as an indigene of Imo State, I could help to contribute my quota to the development of football in the state and I want to thank the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha for giving me the opportunity to lead Heartland to this level.”

Stressing that his two years at the helm has not been a bed of roses, the former SWAN boss said he met a club without a structure, as “the club was run by one man and nobody knew how much came into the club or how the funds were spent but I had to democratise the club and introduced departments with quality men as heads.”

Continuing, he said, “Heartland had no office before I came but now they have a club house with offices. It is one of the best run clubs in the country today but we are still not there yet,” because, as he said, the Nigerian economy is still government driven unlike in advance countries where their economy is private sector driv-

en.

After the club defended the Federation Cup title last Sunday where they beat Lobi Stars of Makurdi 2-1, Ndubuoke said he had promised the players that they would be rewarded handsomely if they could beat the Makurdi side.

“I told them to play the way they played against AFC Leopard of Congo last year. In Congo they played so well but the referee just manufactured a penalty with a few minutes to go.

You wouldn’t believe they were a Nigerian side. Even though they didn’t play as well as they did in Congo, I’m happy they still won and today we have won the title back to back.

The thing going for me at Heartland is my transparent style of administration.

I don’t hide anything from either the players of the management team. They players know that anything that is approved for them I release to them hence they play their hearts out. They play for me and I don’t joke with their welfare.”

On why the players had to embark on strike during the 2011/2012 season, he said, “the governor believes he should not dip hands into state funds to run the club, he believes the club should source for funds from other avenues

but you know that our economy is still government dependent but we have tried to raise funds to keep afloat,” adding that he had to source for funds to prosecute the Federation Cup as his proposal was still with the sports commissioner.

“We were on course for the league title until the players went on strike and we lost two home matches against Pillars and Sunshine Stars. With another continental ticket, we will strive to do better than last year in the continent. We are however, calling on the NFF to support teams representing the country in continental competitions by playing the politics involved.”

He narrated how they got to Congo only to be informed that the South African Match Commissioner for the encounter had been changed for another one from Gabon, a neighbouring country because their host knew the game they wanted to play.

As they embark on another campaign for the 2012/2013 CAF Confederations Cup, Ndubuoke called on both the government of Imo, the NFF and supporters of the club to ensure that the team gets the necessary support to lift the trophy to the glory of Imo State and Nigeria.

C

ELTIC have signed Efe Ambrose on three-year deal, the Parkhead club have confirmed.

The Nigeria international and Olympic silver medal winner has spent the last three years playing for FC Ashdod in Is-

Transfer.....Transfer ….Transfer

Fulham sign Berbatov B

ULGARIAN striker Dimitar Berbatov has joined Fulham from Manchester United, with the 31 year-old penning a two-year deal.

Berbatov joined the Red Devils from Tottenham for £30m in 2008, but following the arrival o f Javier Hernandez and Robin Van Persie the former Bulgaria international found himself outof-favour at Old Trafford.

It was thought that the ex-Spurs player was on his way to Serie A side Juventus, but Berbatov

had a late change of heart as he wanted to remain in the Premier League and Fulham have won the race to sign the experienced frontman.

Berbatov was eager to find first-team football elsewhere as he fell down the pecking order at Manchester U n i t e d , often finding himself not even included on the bench.

Musa almos ulham almostt at F Fulham

J

AMES Musa is poised to complete a remarkable career turnaround by signing with English Premier League club Fulham.

The centre back from Whanganui caught the eye of Fulham’s chief scout while playing for New Zealand at the London Olympics and will

put pen to paper on a short-term deal before the August transfer window closes at 10am today (NZT).

Musa played three games for the Wellington Phoenix in 2010-11 but was not re-signed and dropped down to the national league with Team Wellington.

Bendtner joins Juve

J

UVENTUS have con firmed they have completed the signing of Nicklas Bendtner on a season-long loan deal from Arsenal.

The Italian champions have the option to sign the Danish striker at the end of his spell and the

24-year-old is looking forward to playing in Serie A. “I want to fulfil my potential here and show the fans my absolute best as that is yet to come. I am sure I will,” he wrote on Twitter.

Ivory wins another gold for Nigeria Continues from B/P try’s worst ever performance in recent times.Turkey’s Cigdem Dede won the silver medal with a total lift of 105 kg while 34 year-old Lidiia Soloviova of Ukraine took the bronze, after she managed to lift 100ko.

Also yesterday, Nigeria won two silver medals in the power-lifting competition. Ikechukwu Obichukwu finished second in the Men’s -52 kg powerlifting event. His 175

kg lift was just 1kg short of China’s Qi Feng 176 haul, which was enough to fetch the latter the gold medal while the Nigerian had to settle for the silver.

Later in the evening, 16 year-old Anthony Ulonnam, competing in the Men’s -56 kg, hauled 188 kg to claim silver while Egypt’s Sherif Othman, lifted 197kg to win the gold medal. China’s Jian Wang took the bronze, with a lift of 185kg.

Celtic sign Ambrose

raeli top flight. Speaking to the club’s official website Ambrose said: “It has been a long day, but it has been worth it. Today is one of the happiest days of my life, signing for one of the biggest clubs in the world - a club I have known about since I was young.

“I just can’t wait to get started, to play in front of the fans and call this place home.

“I would like to thank God for everything and to thank the manager and directors here at Celtic - who have placed their trust and confidence in me.”

“The move to Israel really opened the door for me and gave me my opportunity. I had been to other clubs, but they were the ones who gave me my chance.

“For that I would like to thank the coaches and directors at FC Ashdod, my agent Dudu Dahan and also my colleagues and the fans - who all helped develop me as a player.”

Ambrose plays at centre-back or along the back line, but insists he has no preference.

Ambrose

City clinch Maicon

I

Berbatov

Ajax re-sign Babel A JAX have swooped to re-sign Ryan Babel in a surprise one-

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 — 55

year deal from Hoffenheim.

The 25-year-old started his career with Ajax and his sparkling displays for the Dutch giants convinced Liverpool to sign him for £11.5million.

Babel failed to live up to billing on Merseyside and joined Hoffenheim last January, but has struggled to consistently produce his best.

He now has the chance to rebuild his career in his homeland and will play under former Ajax legend Frank De Boer.

NTER Milan defender Maicon has completed a move to Manchester City for a fee believed to

Maicon

be in the region of £3 million. The 31-year-old Brazilian defender has played 66 times for his country and has previously worked with Roberto Mancini at Inter.

“I’m very happy to have signed with Manchester City. I can’t wait to go to the Etihad Stadium and meet the fans that supported the club last year ‘

Ndanusa mourns Onibokun’s passage P RESIDENT of the Ni geria Tennis Federation, Sani Ndanusa has said that the death of famed tennis player, Thompspn Onibokun was a great loss to African tennis. Onibokun, one of the

great names in Nigerian sports passed on during the week in Oyo town, at the age of 76. Speaking yesterday, Ndanusa, who is also the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, said that the

Emenike vows to shock can make history as we Barca will shock everybody. We

N

IGERIA striker Emmanuel Emenike has tipped his Russian club Spartak Moscow to shock mighty Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.

Spartak Moscow, who eliminated Fenerbache of Turkey in the playoffs, have been drawn against Barcelona, Benfica and Celtic in Group C of the competition.

Celtic have Nigeria midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim. ”The group is tight as all the teams in group stage of the competition are good for the title, but there are always favourites,” Emenike said.

“We will not be a pushover to Barcelona and the other teams. I know people don’t rate us as one of the favourites but we

are capable of going all the way to beat Barcelona and all the teams in our group.”

entire Nigerian tennis fraternity was still in shock over Onibokun’s demise.

He added that his passage was a big loss to the game, noting that it was going to be difficult to see another Onibokun in our life time. “He was a true champion, an exemplary leader, a worthy leader, a father to the little ones and a rare-breed tennis player, who made his mark during his playing days and also a coach of great players. We are

going to miss him greatly”, said Ndanusa, who prayed God to give the family of the departed the fortitude to bear this great loss.Onibokun was one of the finest tennis players to have come out of the continent in the 60s and 70s. He served as Nigeria’s Davis Cup non playing captain, which was Nigeria’s best times in the competition, when they narrowly missed the World Cup after losing to the Netherlands in Benin City

Nigerian sends USA into semis Continues from B/P up with Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Japan 2012.

The two teams had earlier exchanged top quality goals from Vanessa Di Bernardo and Kim Su Gyong during the second half of a hard-fought encounter.

Indeed, it proved to be positive portents for the Stars and Stripes as midfielder Di Bernardo broke the deadlock soon after the break with a spectacular 30 metre strike.

Korea DPR looked dangerous with a succession of corners and drew level as Kim Un Hwa unlocked the defence with a superb short pass on the edge of a packed penalty area, and Kim Su Gyong produced an equally clinical finish.

Midway through the first period came the game’s decisive moment as substitute Ubogagu, whose parents are Nigeria, peeled off her marker at the back post and headed home a perfectly flighted Dunn cross.

Born in London, England, before moving to the U.S. at age 3, Ubogagu. carried a weighted GPA of 4.975 in high school. Her grandfather played for the English side Tottenham Hotspurs as well as the Nigerian national team.

She is a dynamic striker, with great speed and skill, who has the ability to beat defenders one on one. She is a proven goal scorer, so Falconets have to be wary of one of their own

SATURDAY Vanguard, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012

I don’t have time for men — Ordega P.54

EMOTIONAL ...Ivory Nwokorie of Nigeria (centre) celebrates with Cigdem Dede of Turkey (left) and Lidiia Soloviova of Ukraine, during the medal ceremony for the women’s -44kg powerlifting competition at ExCel on August 31. Nwokorie won the gold medal.

TODAY’S EPL FIXTURES West Ham Swansea Tottenham West Brom Wigan Man City

v v v v v v

Fulham Sunderland Norwich Everton Stoke QPR

12:45pm 3pm 3 pm 3 pm 3pm 5:30pm

Ikechukwu celebrates with his silver medal yesterday.

Ivory wins another gold for Nigeria

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

J

UST as her name sug gests, Power-lifter Ivory Nwokorie yesterday increased Nigeria’s gold medal tally at the ongo-

ing Paralympics Games in London to two, on a day that Team Nigeria won two silver medals. Competing in the Women’s 44 kg, the 33 year old special sports athlete, hauled

Nigerian sends USA into semis ….sets USA against parent country

A

N extra-time winner from substitute Chioma Ubogagu, has lifted

USA to a 2-1 victory and into a semi-final matchContinues on page 55

109 kg to land the most precious medal that eluded the able-bodied Team Nigerian counterparts at the recently concluded London 2012., which saw Nigeria finish without a o single medal, the coun

Celtic sign Ambrose P.55

Continues on page 55

SEMI-FINAL FIXTURES September 4: Nigeria Japan

v v

USA 8am Germany 11.30am

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Super Falcons Striker, Perpetua (7) 5.L.G.A. in Bayelsa State (5) 8Igbo Word For “Mother” (3) 9.Country in Europe (7) 10.Enormous (5) 11.Nothing (3) 12.Oyo State Governor, Abiola (9) 16. Part of a Circle (3) 19. L.G.A. in Ogun State (6) 22. Shell Fish (6) 25. L.G.A. in Taraba State (4) 27. Super Falcons defender, Onome (3) 28. Country in Africa (7) 32. Romania Currency (3) 33. L.G.A. in Kogi State (5) 34. Pakistan Capital City (7) 35. Large Deep (3) 36. Former Minister of Technology, Professor Turner (5) 37. Super Eagles Midfielder, Olufemi (7)

Chioma Ubogagu of USA celebrates her goal yesterday.

DOWN 1. Heartland FC Coach,

Ndubuisi (5) 2. L.G.A. in Delta State (5) 3. Egyptian Capital City (5) 4. Former PDP National Chairman, Chief Tony (6) 5. Wales Striker, and Cardiff City Centre Forward, Graig (7) 6. Fruit (7) 7. She Stopped the Killing of Twins in Calabar, Mary (7) 13. Plateau State Capital (3) 14. Fifth Month of the Year (3) 15.Romania Currency Unit (4) 18. Germany Midfielder, Dennis (4) 19. L.G.A. in Anambra State (7) 20.Super Eagles Striker, Michael (7) 21.Former Golden Eagles Coach, Godwin (7) 23. Ocean (3) 24.Igbo Word for “Cow” (3) 26. L.G.A. in Enugu State (6) 29. Egypt National President, Mohamed (5) 30.Brazil Full-back and Inter Milan defender, Ferreira (5) 31. Former Super Falcons Skipper, Mercy (5)

SOLUTION ON PAGE 52

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