Terrorists kill pastor, 10 worshipers

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Terrorists kill pastor, 10 worshippers Continued from page 1

ing questions from newsmen, called on the Federal Government to deploy more troops to the area to enable them cover all the nooks and crannies in the mountainous terrain.

He observed that the state of emergency presently operating in the state only covers the highways, leaving rural dwellers at the mercy of attackers.

Fintiri warned that unless urgent measures are adopted by the authorities, the people of Madagali local government, which shares common border with Borno State, might migrate enmasse.

Apart from the terror attacks, the local government has, of recent, become a hot political bed in Adamawa State as the deputy governor, Bala James Ngillari, Special Adviser on Political Affairs to Mr. President, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, and the House Speaker, Ahmadu Fintiri, hail from the local government and belong to different political groups.

government, Mr. Ularamu Maina, who confirmed the attack, disclosed that the pastor incharge of the church was among those killed during the attack. According to him, the attackers, in their large number, at about 8.30 pm, stormed the church where worshippers were undergoing night vigil. ”On entering the church, the attackers started shooting sporadically killing many people, including the pastor ”, Maina stated.

“The attack left the town in confusion as people ran helter skelter even as the attackers continued to unleash terror and wanton killings”.

The attack came hours after the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Ahmadu Fintiri, visited Chakawa village, venue of last Sunday attack, where he sympathized with the people and donated relief materials.

The Speaker, while field-

From left: Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr George Uresi; Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, and Commissioner for Accident Investigation Bureau, Capt. Muhtar Usman, during inspection of the ongoing remodelling of Port-Harcourt International Terminal , yesterday.

L-R: Chief (Mrs) Josephine Diya; Prof. and Mrs. Rafiu Ishola Salawu (groom’s parents); Prof.

Revd. Oyinkansola Ajayi (Chairman of the day); the couple, Mr. & Mrs Oluwadamilola Omotayo Salawu; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the bride’s parents, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya (rtd) and Chief (Mrs.) Folasade Diya; at the wedding reception of Mr. & Mrs. Oluwadamilola Omotayo Salawu, held at the 10 Degrees Events Centre, Ikeja, Lagos.

AUTO CRASH ON ONDO-AKURE ROAD

NUJ chair, wife, daughter killed *Dep. Gov., monarch escape death jured in the crash, is on admission in Ondo State Specialist Hospital, Akure.

The deceased are the Chairman of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Alex Akinwale, his wife, Rebecca, and daughter, Pauline.

The Akinwales first child, Paul, who was also involved in the crash, however, sur-

BY DAYO JOHNSON

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OUR persons – a couple, their daughter and house help-yesterday, died in a miltiple accident involving the convoy of Ondo State deputy governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi.

A traditional ruler, the Osunmakinde of Ife Tuntun, Osun State, Oba Obawure Taofeek Olaposi, who was seriously inD

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v i v e d .

The wife was a staff in the Marketing Department of the NTA, Akure.

However the deputy governor escaped death.

Eyewitness account revealed that the crash occurred at ApomuOwena along Akure – Ondo Road when a white Toyota Camry car belonging to the monarch ran into Olanusi’s convoy among other vehicles while trying to overtake.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that the driver of the Camry dangerously overtook the vehicles and, in the process, rammed into on-coming vehicles including those in the deputy governor ’s convoy resulting in the multiple accident.

The NTA couple were coming from Ondo town after attending a burial ceremony.

It was gathered that the Camry rammed into the couple’s car before hitting the deputy governor ’s convoy.

The monarch and a teenager in his vehicle are receiving treatment at the Akure specialist hospital.

The corpses of the deceased were said to

have also been deposited at the hospital mortua r y .

The Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Mr Daisi Ajayi, said his principal was on his way to Ondo for an official

assignment when the incident occurred.

Ajayi said one of the security cars in Olanusi’s convoy was badly damaged as a result of the i n c i d e n t .

Meanwhile, it was wail-

ing at the premises of the NTA, Akure following the death of the couple.

Immediately the news of the death of the Akinwales spread, workers trooped to the television station located at ObaIle to confirm it.

Power shift controversy: Ndokwa group calls for calm *Don’t heat up polity — Gen. Onyekweli

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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S the agitation for power shift in Delta State for the 2015 governorship election increases, the Ndokwa Unity Group, NUG, has appealed to the Anioma people to allow peace to reign.

In a statement by its protem publicity secretary, Mr Akwatese Alexander, the NUG said the focus of the region was to work together for an Anioma person to emerge governor of the state.

The group identified the furore generated by the comments credited to the Secretary to the State Government, Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay, on the desirability or otherwise of a Delta governor of Anioma extraction, but urged the

issue should not be allowed to heat up the polity.

It said: “Understandably, the said publication has generated a lot of angst especially from our Anioma brothers. At this point however, the NUG appeals to our brothers to let peace reign.

“Our appeal is hinged on the fact that this is not the time to trade brickbats but rather focus our attention and energy on working assiduously for an Anioma person to ascend the exalted seat of Executive Governor of our dear Delta state.”

It further appealed to all stakeholders not to heat up the polity but advised that “politicians should exercise decorum in their utterances.”

While it commended

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for stemming the controversy, the group said, “We therefore implore all to toe the same line as our amiable governor.”

In the meantime, the Deputy Leader of Ndokwa Political Forum, General Philip Onyekweli, has said that the controversy over power shift in the state should not be allowed to heat up the state.

He commended Uduaghan for dousing the tension over the agitation of power shift.

Speaking in an interview, Onyekweli said the need for power to shift in the state remains valid, adding that it will bring about equity and fairness in the state.

PAGE 6 —SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

FG LASHES AT CRITICS ‘No hidden agenda on National Conference’ *APC: It is Jonathan’s Dialogue

BY HUGO ODIOGOR & EMMANUEL AZIKEN

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ECURITY of the ven ue and places where officials and delegates to the forth-coming National Conference will be given top priority by the Federal Government even as it denies that there is a hidden agenda by the Jonathan administration. The Federal Government lashed out at those inputing hidden agenda on the conference came on a day the oposition All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed it as a Jonathan dialogue given the high number of delegates to be nominated by the president.

The Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Alhaji Ahmed Ali Gulak, yesterday, debunked the allegation of hidden agenda in the Federal Government’s nomination of 114 of the 492 delegates to the conference who, according to him, are draw from critical areas of national interest and security.

“The Federal Government will go the extra mile to protect the lives of the delegates and the vital facilities that will be committed to the business of the National Conference”, the presidential adviser said while speaking to Sunday Vanguard on security for conference members.. ”We have directed relevant security agencies to ensure optimal security of the venues and accommodation of delegates without disrupting other activities in Abuja during the period.”

He said the experience of the 2010 golden jubilee celebration venue that was bombed remains fresh “and we are sure that some evil-minded people would want to embark on such a

risky venture just to truncate the National Conference, but those who would attempt such thing would meet their waterloo”.

Gulak added, “Security agencies would be fully mobilised to frustrate any plot to destabilise the work of the National Conference when it is inaugurated by President.Goodluck Ebele Jonathan”.

On the claim that government has a hidden agenda in nominating a large number of delegates, the presidential aide said: “We know that we have perpetual doubting Thomases and professional critics who would always smell rat even when they see a cockroach. The administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is working hard to correct this negative attitude which built up over the years. We have come to the point where we must invest trust in our leaders if we want them to succeed in actualising our aspirations.

“Those who have raised doubts may mean well for the country, but they should have basis for raising such doubts because this government is not an occupation army,it is not a foreign sovereign, it is a government that came to power through the ballot box not through bullet; it owes its responsibility to the citizens of Nigeria, we must treat it as our own government, otherwise, the government and the people will work at cross purposes to the delight of those who want the government to fail.”

Meanwhile, APC said, yesterday, the National Conference could turn out to be a Jonathan Conference given the preponderance of delegates to be nominated by the president. Alhaji Lai Moham-

From left: Overseer Dr. Bayo John Ayorinde, Chairman, Board of Governors, The Apostolic Church Grammar School, Mrs. Ajoke Osokoya, ACEO, Lagos State Ministry of Education and Presiding Elder Julius Awotimiro, School Administrator, during the 50th anniversary thanksgiving service of The Apostolic Church Grammar School, Orisigun, Ketu, held at The Apostolic Church Headquarters, Ketu, Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez med, interim national publicity secretary of the APC said, nonetheless, the party will this week decide on whether it would send delegates to the conference.

Mohammed, at a press briefing in Abuja, also challenged the President of the Senate, Senator David

Mark, to read the defection letter submitted to him by 10 senators formerly of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. This week’s meeting of the APC top hierarchy, he said, would also finalise plans for the party’s membership registration exer-

cise which is kicking off on February 5.

15 million party members are expected to be registered during the exercise to be conducted in 120,000 polling locations across the country, the party spokesman said.

Given the modalities

rolled out for the nomination of delegates to the conference, Mohammed was asked if the APC and its governors would present delegates. He said: “I am happy to say that right now, almost all our fears are being justified and people are now calling it Jonathan’s conference given the fact that he alone is nominating about 90 delegates and even those who rallied round it at the beginning are now seeing what we saw right from the beginning.

“Our position on the National Conference is now being vindicated. If you remember, we said that we did not believe that the convener was focused and that we were completely worried, why a convener who all along had been completely against the idea of a National Conference would just now turn round and that the kind of National Conference we envisage is not the kind of National Conference that will be ratified by the National Assembly.

“I am happy that what we saw that this thing is just diversionary is what everybody is saying now. I wouldn’t want to pre-empt my party, but the whole thing looks very bizarre even from the beginning”.

NDLEA arrests passenger with 107 ATM cards at Lagos airport

BY DANIEL ETEGHE ATIONAL Drug Law N Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), yesterday, arrest-

ed a 36-year-old Turkish airline’s passenger with 107 automated teller machine (ATM) cards at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The suspect, who holds a dual identity, was apprehended during an outward screening of the Turkish Airline passengers to Istan-

bul, Turkey at the airport when the cards were discovered by anti-narcotics officials.

Speaking on the arrest, NDLEA Airport Commander, Mr Hamza Umar, noted that the suspect was also arrested with two international passports with his photographs but bearing different names.

“He had a Nigerian passport with the name Funsho Oladimeji Babatunde and a Turkish passport with the name Kosar Kursat both

bearing his photographs.

The cards found in his luggage are 68 Citi Interswitch Master cards and 39 Citi Interswitch Visa cards”, Hamza stated.

Meanwhile, Chairman of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, has directed that the suspect be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation, confirming that the suspect was caught with the ATM cards.

The suspect, a native of Iwo in Kwara State and lives in Surulere, Lagos,

told investigators that he was taking the cards to a friend in Turkey.

The Ordinary National Diploma (OND) graduate of Kwara Polytechnic said, “My friend in Turkey called me that I should help to send the cards to him in Istanbul, Turkey. When I collected the cards in Lagos, I kept them in my bag but, during search, the officer saw the cards and took me in for interrogation. I am an OND graduate of economics of Kwara Polytechnic” .

ANTI-SAME SEX MARRIAGE LAW Jonathan right in defying the West — Catholic Bishop

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA, Owerri

ISHOPS of the OwB erri Catholic Ecclesiastical Province have com-

mended President Goodluck Jonathan for ignoring threats from Western nations and signed the AntiSame Sex Bill into law.

The commendation was part of the 10-point communique issued after their first plenary meeting for 2014, held at the Pastoral Centre, Owerri, and signed by the Chairman and Secretary, His Grace, Dr. Anthony J.V. Obinna and Most Rev. Dr. Augustine T. Ukwuoma of Orlu Diocese,

respectively. ”We commend the collaborative effort of Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and the National Assembly for signing into law the Bill prohibiting same-sex union in Nigeria”, the bishops stated.

While describing themselves as “servants and custodians of God’s laws”, the Catholic Bishops unequivocally stated that “marriage is sacred union between a man and woman”.

They expressed sympathy with people with homosexual tendencies, adding that being a homosexual or lesbian is moral perversion.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 7

OMEGA FIRE, 10 YEARS AFTER

BY PHRANK SHAIBU

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IS story began few days after he was born, some men came into Benin (the place of his birth) from Warri and requested to see him; they said they had a message from God. They said they were prophets. His parents desired to know what the message was. The men said God told them a boy had been born who would be a prophet unto God and would minister in God’s presence. His parents refused to listen further because they were Muslims and did not see the possibility of their son leaving their fold.

As the young Johnson began to grow, his parents noticed that he was a bit strange in the way he did his things. He had soft spot for the things of God even while he was going to the mosque with his father. He came to Auchi for his secondary education and encountered DESTINY. Pressures mounted on him made him to withdraw for a while. But he returned to Benin where he finally reconnected with DESTINY. He started moving out with the brethren for evangelism and prayers. On June 20, 1994, he saw a revelation; the globe (world) was being given to him with Acts 10:38 written on it. Prior to this time, he had read through the Bible three times because his thirst for God was insatiable. All through his study, he had not given special attention to Acts 10:38.

He was so shocked when he recovered from the vision and checked out what the scripture revealed: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all

Suleman and wife that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him” — Acts 10:38.

That was when he understood what he was given by God to take round the world. It was a power ministry he received of the Lord.

There and then, he thanked God and asked for directions.

On April 29, 1998, he joined the “Armor of God” church, Lagos – Nigeria, as an Assistant Pastor. He was sitting one day when he heard God speaking saying, “I have given you grace to manifest the reality of my Spirit and I will make you an example of wealth in your generation.”

That clearly revealed that it was going to be a Holy Ghost controlled mission.

That same year, November 11, he was praying when an angel appeared and gave him a Bible and said: “Receive grace to open the seals and interpret”. It was clear that insight into the word was being made clear. Before these encounters, he was already preaching at various outreach meetings.

Then February 1, 2000 came the mandate and what we like to call “THE COMMISSION”.

God’s servant had a 24-hour encounter with the Lord in which He gave him a piece of cloth and said: “Take, wipe out tears from people all over the world, through the revelation of the word, manifestation of my power and reality of the Holy Spirit.”

The encounter in which God gave him Acts 10:38 was the ministry’s power base. The Lagos encounter was to receive grace to appropriate the manifested reality of the Holy Spirit. The November 11 encounter was when grace for the Word was released.

These three constitute the basis of the ministry in which God said to him: “Go and produce people of fire and enviable destinies.” He equally told His choice Servant: “Put an end to affliction; I AM SENDING YOU WITH AN OMEGA ANOINTING...” That anointing produced The OMEGA FIRE MINISTRIES INT. INC. which came to restore the joy of men, causing

men to manifest destiny, becoming the best God created them to be and frustrating the wickedness of the enemy. The ministry is one that believes in judgment on the wicked. It believes in the fire operation of the Spirit of God that refines, purifies and equally destroys.

In my privileged encounter with this ‘oracle of God’,Apostle Johnson Suleman, it was characterized with word depth, accurate prophetic ministration, creative miracles and salvation of souls. His ministry made me know that oppressions and demonic manipulations are real, and equally made us know the reality and authority of God’s power - it is all-powerful and allpervading. Since having an encounter with the ministry, I have come to hold the true belief that all power belongs to God and that the enemy has no scriptural right to manipulate the destinies of God’s creatures. In fact, the miraculous is a normal experience in OFM, as God confirms the assignment given to His son,Johnson Suleman with infallible proofs.

He is regarded by many a clergyman as “a rare gift to this generation” of Christians. The man fondly called ‘the Oracle of God’ is known for his exact and direct prophesies, holiness, soul winning, prayer, humility, integrity and humanity.

The “Oracle of God” did not rest on his oars as he continues to give the church its global outreach. He distributes his message globally through Facebook and a 24-hour Christian television channel called Celebration TV’ ,as well as a 24 hour Christian radio station ‘Voice of Fire Radio’. Apostle Johnson Suleman preaches the gospel alongside his

wife Rev. Lizzy Johnson. Christians and Muslims alike receive salvation for their souls, accompanied with signs, miracles, prophetic ministration, deliverance and healing. Today, his trademark ‘I don’t serve a dead God He is the same yesterday,the same today,the same forever more! – is one of the popular ringtones for mobile phones.

Suleman, who in the past prophesied the death of President Yar ’Adua, the death of former South African President,Nelson Mandela,the death of NUJ national officers as well as the crises in the PDP, revealed, in his 54 prophecies for 2014, released on December 5, 2013 that President Jonathan should not run for another term in office as his destiny could not be stretched beyond one term, but if he insists and rigs himself to victory, he may not complete the four year term.

More than ten of the prophesies for 2014 have come to pass just less that 30days into 2014.

If you doubt the accuracy of the prophetic grace upon his life and this great ministry, join me in Auchi from February 5 to 9 as this fastest growing commission in Africa, which was officially inaugurated on February 1, 2004 in Auchi, Edo State - Nigeria, celebrates her 10th anniversary!

Within 10years of operation, he already has branches in 43 countries and spreads in Europe, America and various parts of Africa and supervises the international operations from the headquarters at INTERNATIONAL WORSHIP CENTER on km 132 , Abuja/Okene expressway, in Auchi - Edo State. * Shaibu is an Abuja based public communications consultant.

Seplat: Board composition as business advantage

BY FLORENCE NWOSE

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HOW me your friends and I will tell you who you are, so goes the adage and it is one that preeminent Nigerian oil and gas independent, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, seems to have taken to heart.

The company, which emerged as an SPV between Shebah Petroleum and Platform Petroleum and successfully bid for Shells OMLS 4, 38 and 41, became a PLC October 3, 2013. It held an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Monday January 27, 2013. It was at that meeting held at the Southern Sun Hotels, Lagos that SEPLAT unveiled new faces that have joined its Board.

Prominent amongst them were Basil Omiyi, former Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, and IfuekoOmogui-Okaru both of whom have joined as Independent NonExecutive Directors.

Others are Michael Alex-

ander (Non-Executive Director), Mr Stuart Connal and academic, Dr. Charles Okeahalam. Stuart Connal, former CEO of Centrica, joined SEPLAT as COO and has now been promoted to the Board as an Executive Director.

With the addition, the SEPLAT Board has a more robust flavour and is now made up of tested professionals with vast inter- disciplinary experiences – ABC Orjiako, Austin Avur u, Macaulay Ofurhie, Jean-Francois Henin, Michel Hochard, AlhajiNasir Ado Bayero, Basil Omiyi, IfuekoOmogui-Okaro, Michael Alexander, Mr Stuart Connal and Dr. Charles Okeahalam.

Commenting on the addition to the Board and what it means to them, Orjiako, Chairman of SEPL AT, declared: “We are delighted that we have put in place for our company a very diverse and experienced Board, made up of people of high intellect and outstanding integrity. We have now moved from a wholly

Members of the new Board during the EGM. shareholder Board to a broadbased Board with strong Independent Non-Executive representation as well as executive presence. We have not only approved appropriate international corporate policies but the Board is also collaborating with the management to ensure implementation across the breath and length of the company. We are poised to maintain leadership by example from the top.”

A strong Board like SEPLAT has put in place is a sine qua non for a publicly listed company which is statutorily required under the Companies

and Allied Matters Act CAP C20 LFN 2004 to comply with certain regulations and make its books available for public scrutiny.

Recognizing that imperative, Orjiako noted that compliance is key at SEPLAT because “corporate governance and best practices are the bed rock of our existence. They are pivotal to the sustainability of our growth aspirations.”

With Board members like Omiyi, who broke new grounds at Shell as a high flying and well respected professional who was widely regarded as a the consummate oil

man and Omogui-Okaru, who charted new paths at the FIRS growing tax collection astronomically from slightly below N1.2tn to over N4.6tn in 2011 alone, SEPLAT will not want for good counsel while other Executive and Non-Executive Directors are expected to bring their wealth of experience to bear too to enable SEPLAT achieve its aims and objectives which were clearly articulated by the Chairman when he said: “This is the fifth year of existence of SEPLAT as a company and I am delighted to inform you that this company has recorded phenomenal strides within this period and has continued to grow exponentially. We take pride in being an indigenous Nigerian oil and gas company but we are happy with our international disposition and global reach. This company was founded on strong shared entrepreneurial passion and vision. Our mission is clear and driven by a very lucid vision, “To be a World Class Energy company delivering premium value to all stakeholders”.

PAGE 8, SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

JONATHAN’S CONFAB:

What difference will it make?

zThe hurdles, challenges zIt is dead on arrival – Masari zJourney to save Nigeria has begun – Ezeife

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

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The hurdles, challenges

Looking at the modalities, an avalanche of hurdles that must be surmounted before the confab can kickoff stares one fixedly on the face. And even when the dialogue begins proper, there is a litany of challenges that may make the exercise not to yield the desired dividends.

For instance, there is no enabling law yet for the

Litany of questions

JONATHAN exercise. Many stakeholders have been clamouring for a conference of ethnic nationalities or an exercise where the ethnic nationalities will produce two-third of the delegates. Only 90 delegates or 18.29 of the 492 delegates have been allotted to socio-political/ cultural and ethnic nationality groups in the confab.

There are over 380 ethnic nationalities in the country. How will these groups produce the miserly 90 delegates? This question is apt especially when the socio-political/cultural and ethnic nationality groups were not named.

Government expects the conference to begin late February or early March. This is premised on the understanding that stakeholders will nominate their delegates on or before February 20. It is arguable if this deadline would be met.

If stakeholders met the deadline for the nomination of delegates, funds for the conference may constitute another hurdle. The funds are provided for in the 2014 Budget, which is currently before the National Assembly. For the confab to kick-off as scheduled, the budget must be passed within the next four weeks. Whether or not the budget would be passed speedily is difficult to tell on account of the power tussle between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the National Assembly, especially in the House of Representatives. Matters are not helped by the directive of APC leaders to their federal lawmakers to shut down government by blocking the passage of the 2014 Budget until the Federal Government resolved the political crisis in Rivers State. Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, told Vanguard, last week, that the president might not intervene in Rivers unless organs of government saddled with the responsibilities of handling such issues like the police and the DSS failed and asked for help.

Given these challenges, a litany of questions is trailing the move. The questions include: What difference will this conference make compared to past similar exercises? In the long run, won’t it amount to a jamboree and waste of tax payers’ money? Since it may be difficult to resolve issues at the confab, is it not better to allow the National Assembly effect the desired changes through ongoing Constitution amendment? Isn’t the confab too close to the 2015 elections? Is three months not too short for delegates to discuss and reach consensus on the gamut of contentious issues in the polity? As things are, what is the way out?

Assessing the modalities, eminent Nigerians are divided on whether or not the confab would make a difference in the affairs of the country. They also

,,

AST Thursday, the Federal Government released modalities for the proposed National Conference, which immediately set the polity astir on account of the timeline, number of delegates, how issues will be resolved at the conference and what to do with the outcome.

The modalities have some similarities with former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s National Political Reform Conference (NPRC) held in 2005. In the Obasanjo conference, the Council of State approved a conference size of 400 delegates all to be nominated with Obasanjo nominating 50 including the Chairman. The time-frame was three months but could be extended if necessary. The unity of the country was a no-go area.

According to the template for the Jonathan dialogue, scheduled to last three months, the indissolubility of Nigeria is not negotiable and 27 categories of stakeholders were penciled down to nominate delegates, namely: Elder statesmen (37), military and security (18), traditional rulers (13), retired civil servants (13), Organized Labour (24), Organised Private sector (8), youths (18), women (24), political parties (10), Christian and Muslim leaders (12), Civil Society Organisations (24) and Nigerians in the Diaspora ((8).

The rest are People Living with Disability (6), Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (2), Nigeria Guild of Editors (2), Nigeria Union of Journalists (2), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (2), socio-political/cultural and ethnic nationality groups (90), professional bodies (13), national academies (13), judiciary (6), former political office holders (24), Federal Government (20), state governments and FCT (109), former council chairmen (6) and chairman, deputy chairman and secretary to be nominated by President Goodluck Jonathan (3).

This is strikingly different from the late General Sani Abacha National Constitutional Conference (NCC) of 1994 where, of the 396 delegates, Abacha nominated 96 and the rest were elected. A common strand, however, is the unity of the country, which must not be discussed.

The outcome of the Abacha conference did not become law on its own. However, it was part of the ingredients that the General Abdulsalami Abubakar departing military regime used to cook the 1999 Constitution.

Agreements reached at the Obasanjo confab died with his alleged third term ambition as the National Assembly shot it down.

Currently, some critics, especially the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), are alleging that the President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposed confab is diversionary, wasteful and meant to boost his 2015 reelection ambition. They fear MASARI that the exercise may go the way of immediate past attempts.

Major proponents of the National Conference are clamouring for a restructured Nigeria, fiscal federalism and devolution of power to the federating units among other contentious issues which, they are argue, underpin the country’s stunted socioeconomic and political development Given the modalities, major contentious issues in the country may not be resolved at the conference because at least 369 delegates or 75 per cent of the 492 delegates must agree. In essence, such issues have a better chance of being resolved by the National Assembly where a two-third majority is needed. Two-third of 492 is 328, which is 41 persons less than 369.

What to do with the outcome of the conference is another issue. The modalities did not state this.

Some proponents want the decisions arrived at the dialogue table to become Nigeria’s new Constitution after a referendum.

President Jonathan said recently that the outcome would be sent to the National Assembly for consideration, a statement that elicited strident criticisms in the polity. In essence, if the National Assembly is opposed to the confab, its outcome would be thrown away. In the alternative, the decisions may be included in the ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution. A host of speakers want the 1999 document mid-wived by the military jettisoned because it did not emanate from the people as wrongly claimed in its premise.

At the beginning, the President assured Nigerians that there would be no no-go areas at the confab, that they would be free to discuss all issues.

However, the government has back-tracked on this assurance by insisting that the unity of the country is a no-go area.

Currently, some critics, especially the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), are alleging that the President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposed confab is diversionary, wasteful and meant to boost his 2015 re-election ambition

differ on whether or not we should proceed with the exercise.

It won’t make any difference – Masari Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, said the conference should be aborted because it is dead on arrival.

His words: I do not see the confab making any positive difference for the following reasons among others: It has no legal base; as such, its decisions are mere recommendations to the President; representatives will not be chosen by the people; in our Constitution, there is no provision for 4th Assembly; if the President has an agenda of any kind, let him send it to the National Assembly and not waste our resources.”

Having sub-optimal confab is postponing the evil day – Ugwu-Oju President of the South-East, South-South

Continues on page 9

SUNDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 9

Professionals of Nigeria (SESSPN), Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, picked holes in the modalities, warning that the problems of the country may persist and we would be postponing the evil day by holding a conference that is below par.

Speaking on the view of the SESSPN on the modalities, he said: “There are millions of professionals in the SESSPN. Our executive will meet to discuss the modalities and address the nation, accordingly, next week. But, personally, the modalities do not meet the expectation of my people because of our previous stand and there are fundamental issues that should be addressed for Nigeria to work. Ethnic nationalities should meet to discuss the basis of continuing to stay together. So, most of the nominees should be from the ethnic nationalities. But that is not the case according to the modalities because most of the delegates are nominees of the Federal Government and state governments. Ethnic nationalities should have been two-third but they were given 90 slots which do not reflect that.

“Again, giving the confab three-month time-frame and 75 per cent majority for decision to be made do not really add up. It might take time for people to reach consensus. The duration should have been determined by the conference. Besides, the conference should have been broken into two—a mini conference of the six federating units to have their constitutions after which they will meet at the centre to have the National Conference.”

Asked if something could be salvaged from the confab the way it is structured, he said: “Our intervention as professionals has always been that we try to be the best we can be. We should not be going for sub-optimal conference for the sake of it. If we are going to have a conference that will produce result, we should not hold it as presently planned.

If we hold elections without a genuine conference this country, will be heading to

AGBAKOBA

OKORIE

MBADINUJU

EZEIFE

destruction.”

Nigerians need conference – Agbakoba

A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), urged continuation of the dialogue because Nigerians need it.

“The modalities are okay except I would have preferred more representation for the Bar and the National Judicial Council to nominate judges by themselves. It is clear this conference is needed and I am hopeful the outcome will make our nation a better place,” he said.

It’s national call to duty –Mbadinuju

A former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chinwoke Mabadinuju, urged Nigerians to see beyond the shortfalls and make the best out of the confab to reshape the country.

He said: “There is an Igbo proverb about bone, which says that both the dog and the spirit each wanted to eat a bone thrown away by a child. As long as the child has thrown away the bone, it is up to the dog or the spirit to consume it. So the dog and the spirit must fight to get the bone. None can help any of the two. The interpretation is: as long as President Jonathan has set in motion a process for the National Conference to take off, that is all that the President could do. The rest will be up to Nigerians to rise to the occasion and take this singular opportunity to restructure our federal system to live at peace with one another. It should entirely be up to us. I support the President’s initiative for the National Conference as part of his Transformation Agenda. This should go beyond partisanship and we should see the whole exercise as a national call to duty.”

I hope for a good outcome – Azike

Mr. Ziggy Azike, a lawyer and public affairs analyst, said: “Nigeria is

JONATHAN’S CONFAB: What difference will it make? on the march again. I am an incurable optimist. So, I pray that this conference will lead us somewhere better than where we are now.”

Representation is broadbased—Adegbuyi

A lawyer and a chieftain of the Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Mr. Bisi Adegbuyi, said the modalities are “broad based and representative of critical stakeholders.” Adegbuyi continued: “Our would have wanted more representation for ethnic nationalities, conferences are work in progress and all issues cannot be addressed in one fell swoop. Let us achieve as much as decentralisation and autonomy as possible and then wait for another opportunity. The task ahead is to get delegates that understand the dynamics of the issues at stake to attend and, hopefully, the arduous task of nation-building would have commenced.”

The journey to save Nigeria has begun –Ezeife Third republic governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, backed the confab, saying it is capable of saving the country.

He enthused in a text message to Sunday Vanguard: “President Ebele Jonathan has taken a step that can immortalise him in the polity of Nigeria. Future generations of Nigerians will credit him with the permanence of one Nigeria. They will call him blessed as they reap from the transformation of Nigeria from a failed state to a country where things work.”

It ‘ll yield positive results –Uwazurike

President of Aka-Ikenga, the Igbo intellectual think tank group, Dr Goddy Uwazurike, threw his weight behind the exercise, saying: “The guidelines are apt for a conference that is intended to produce positive results. The President swore to uphold the Constitution and cannot be a party to any gathering where the indivisibility of the country will be questioned. The mode of representation is okay as it cuts across all strata of the nation.”

It’s a jamboree –Ekujimi

A human rights and pro-democracy activist, Comrade Nelson Ekujimi, said the modalities fall short of expectation, adding that the outcome would go the way of past failed exercises.

He said: “It is far below the expectation of not only me but also millions of Nigerians. One expected, if the government and its confab committee were serious, a genuine confab composed of only representatives of ethnic nationalities making up the geographical expression called Nigeria. This impending jamboree will go the way of previous ones.”

It falls short of expectations – Chekwas Okorie

The National Chairman of the United Progressives Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie, said the modalities

for the National Conference fall short of the expectations of most Nigerians.

His words: “It is the expectation of all well-meaning Nigerians and groups that the delegates to the conference shall be dominated by representatives of ethnic nationalities drawn from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria on the basis of equality of the zones. Instead, what we have as a National Conference is largely dominated by persons to be appointed by government, government agencies, associations and professional bodies where government still has overriding influence. This country is made up of ethnic nationalities, which were clobbered together by the British colonial masters without any form of consultation. The National Conference that will restore people’s confidence in a united Nigeria ought to have been convened around the ethnic nationalities as major and critical stakeholders.

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Continued from page 8

What to do with the outcome of the conference is another issue. The modalities did not state this.

Some proponents want the decisions arrived at the dialogue table to become Nigeria’s new Constitution after a referendum “I am worried at government’s approved method at arriving at decisions at the conference.

Government approved that where there is no consensus on any particular issue, 75 per cent of the delegates to the conference shall be the required number to pass such issue at the conference. This is not satisfactory. What this means is that if majority of the delegates want a particular decision adopted by the conference, that majority will lose out to the minority simply because they do not number up to 75 per cent. We shall end up having a situation where the dissenting 26 per cent of the delegates will have their way while 74 per cent of the assenting delegates will only have their say.

“I am thoroughly disappointed that government intends to have decisions reached at the conference incorporated in the Constitution. This is deceiving the Nigerian people who welcomed the President’s initiative for a National Conference with great excitement and expectations. Nigerians expect nothing short of a brand new Constitution that will go through referendum as a pre-condition for it to be promulgated into law. To incorporate that outcome of this convention into the flawed 1999 Constitution will amount to an exercise in futility because it would only mean that a N7billion will be spent on mere proposals for constitutional amendment.

“The President in his October 2013 independence day broadcast promised Nigerians that there will be no no-go areas in the conference. What we have seen is that, that commitment to Nigerians has been reneged on. This is really unfortunate.

It is a pity that this government is unwittingly playing into the hands of its detractors on the matter of the proposed National Conference.”

PAGE 10 —SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

To Alhaji Bamanga Tukur with gratitude

M

OST often a person in high office, public or private, does not know who his true friends are, while in good standing – until he starts to slide down the greasy slope of fortune.

By then it is too late. My sympathies are always with those who have been used and discarded – like tissue paper.

Alhaji, your night came; when you were forced to resign the Chairmanship of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. Before and immediately after, you became the butt of jokes and commentaries by those who never wished you well and probably

never knew you. Your houses and offices, formerly crawling with human debris are now deserted – except for a very few loyal friends. Some are the people you least expect to stand by you.

But, Sir, just remember this – you are not alone at this time when almost everybody else had turned their backs on you. My thoughts and prayers are with you and I will stand by you – now more than ever.

The reason is quite simple. Although, we have never met, you did a colleague and friend of mine a great favour in the early 1980s, when I was working in Kano.

The fellow (name withheld) was recruited from the United States to work for the company – where I worked as a Financial Analyst. For reasons too complex to disclose but which can be summarized as the Nigerian Factor, he was threatened with dismissal.

Without another job in

Cut off your nose to spite your face "New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common." -- John Locke

T

HE Governor of Osun State, Rauf Arebgesola was in the UK recently on the invitation of the All-party parliamentary group on Agriculture and food for development and the partnership for Child Development, Imperial College, London to deliver an address inside the House of Commons.

The invitation was in recognition of the outstanding performance of Arebgesola's elementary school model, O 'Meal. If I am preaching to the converted, I wholeheartedly apologize. Nigeria does not often get good things to celebrate. This is one of those rare moments, that is worthy of pride and deserving of recognition.

We should all demand

such similar programme in every state and we should push for the federal government to lead the way by putting our money to good use. I do not understand why some of our leaders are hell-bent on wasting the finite oil reserve by recklessly writing off our young peoples' future, by not investing in the most precious community of all: our young.

What Osun did was review the state education and it quickly realized that the future of its society (or any society) rests solely on educating its young. They also realized that there were issues to be overcome, like hunger (we all know that an army marches on its stomach).

They established that in order for the children to be effectively educated that a comprehensive programme has to consider and put in place the mechanism fully incorporate every aspect of the child's nutritional health and wellbeing and that is what the O 'Meals does. The state

sight and having just brought his wife and kids from America to the company house allocated to them, losing his job would have been totally devastating to the entire family.

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“And a night comes when all is over; when many jaws have closed upon us that we no longer have the strength to stand; and our meat hangs upon our bodies; as though it had been masticated by every mouth.” Louis-Philippe, French writer.

lously got a job from your company in Yola. That job offer not only rekindled hope, it saved several lives from ruin. Until then, I never heard of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; but, from that day, I promised myself that, if ever a chance presents itself, I will on behalf of my friend express my deepest gratitude by trying to repay, at least, part of the debt owed to you.

It has been a long time coming and I was already giving up hope that we might never say “Thank you” for your gift of life – when it mattered the most. Then you entered the race for Chairman of the party.

I was dismayed when you entered the race for Chairman of PDP for the simple reason that a job which had claimed about nine men, since 1999, is not a job for which anyone should be contesting to hold

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It was to me, alone, he disclosed that he brought to Nigeria a revolver he bought while in the US. And, he was going to commit suicide – right on the company’s premises whenever he received the letter sacking him. Apart from the corporate embarrassment, it would have placed his family in serious jeopardy. All seemed lost – until he miracu-

To be quite candid, Sir, I was dismayed when you entered the race for Chairman of PDP for the simple reason that a job which had claimed about nine men, since 1999, is not a job for which anyone should be contesting to hold. In fact, by now, the PDP should be begging people to take a job which had destroyed the good (Lar, Ogbeh and

identified from the onset that there is a direct correlation between a healthy body and a sound mind.

With this multi prong approach. It is no wonder this programme works and pays untold dividend.

Since its launch in April 30th, 2012 to date, the enrolments of elementary children have increased from 203,858 to 252,793 pupils (representing 24.0% increase). And the programme costs the administration N3, 813,700,000.00, which is at the cost per child per year is N15, 100.00 or N45.70 per day. It has also employed and trained 3,100 women community food

fish 15,000 whole chickens and 35 heads of cattle per school week What I find fascinating is, that the programme factored in deworming the children, stated that it is to ensure that the nutritional value gained is not lost through worm infestation and other parasites in their bodies that could cause anemia and Vitamin A deficiency for growing children. We embarked on hygiene promotion drive through hand-washing with soap and water to prevent dysentery and diarrhea which unsanitary environment can cause.

And this is what the Osun Government has done, so

,

Nigeria does not often get good things to celebrate. This is one of those rare moments, that is worthy of pride and deserving of recognition

,

vendors, 462 fish Out-Growers for mass fish production, 1,000 farmers including 90 women farmers were graduated under the cocoyam rebirth programme. (Pink cocoyam is more nutritious through our university in Osun)O'MEALS fed the pupils with: 456,000 crates (or 8,400 crates per week) of eggs, 400 metric tonnes of

there is no excuse whatsoever to delay on this one that should be applauded and replicated nationwide.

We are on to a winner here and I really question the wisdom of our leaders, and our people who are so hell bent on paralysing the benefit by simply stalling on the grounds of tribe and religious divide.

Nwodo) as well as the rest. Your successor needs all the sympathies which can be bestowed on a gladiator going into the arena to face lions with a pen-knife. Professor Soyinka once said something about a nest of killers. What he failed to say was that, like hyenas, they devour their preys alive. So, I fervently prayed you will not win. I just had the premonition that it would end in a disaster.

I was happy, for you, when you lost the primaries in the Northeast; at least the cup of sorrow would pass to someone else. But, you persisted and got the President to impose you on the party.

Again, I prayed that the party would over-rule Jonathan. Your eventual victory constituted a heart-break for me because, from historical experience, since 1999, you should have known that the blessings derived from being Chairman of PDP never last. The situation has not changed with your ouster.

Now that you are out of it, I am very happy and let me borrow the words of President Ibrahim Babangida, when he addressed the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, on 26th October, 1985, to pray for you. IBB said: “I believe wholeheartedly in the promise of God that in the middle of the utmost adversity He cre-

ates and brings forth a new and greater glory and more auspicious circumstances for people that suffer.”

So let your detractors laugh and jeer now; media know-nothings can pen their puerile analysis and comments. As for me and my friend, we honestly pray that Allah will bring you “greater glory and more auspicious circumstances” before your days are done on this earth. We may never meet; but, deep in our hearts, we are with you every step of the way. Thank you, Alhaji; we remain for ever grateful.

The model like I said in my previous article is one of simplicity, common sense and pragmatism. We need to invest in our young and Osun State has done exactly that. You would have thought other states would follow suit, but no, they instead are fighting amongst themselves and keep ignoring the most valuable resources of all, the young people.

In his presentation, Aregbesola spoke about the use of biometric registration of beneficiaries of the Home Grown School Feeding programme worldwide to eliminate corruption and guarantee transparency.

Addressing the concerns of development partners on what was referred to as allpervading corruption through which project funds were usually lost in the past, the Governor did expressed with conviction that once beneficiaries of the programme are registered biometrically, banks that are linked with the programme funding would rely on the data to process payment and ensure that no fund is lost at the implementation stage.

In order for the programme to have a long lasting effect it does face some major challenges; that of funding and sustaining O' MEAL with the limited resources as available revenue to the administration. The governor did say that his administration

would require more support from its technical partners in the area of capacity building to achieve biometric registration and digitization of beneficiaries of O'MEALS programme to guarantee transparency and efficient resource management. More importantly, it was clear that there is and remains lack of political will and funding by states to embark on the programme. Osun remains the forerunner out of the original 13 pilot states in the Nigerian federation.

There lies our problem, we end up harming ourselves rather than embrace this innovative and pragmatic programme. The beneficiary of this programme are forging ahead regardless and I hope that they will grow up with open minds and without the poison of prejudice. Osun State after all, provides for all children regardless of differences and that is how it should be. After all, we are all Nigerians.

Let us be clear, this programme does not come cheap but the investment will pay dividend in spades for many generations to come. It will benefit Nigeria enormously. So imagine if every state was plugged into the programme, how much more, will it be? For those who cannot see its significance, then, it is sad and they only have themselves to blame. We have to learn to recognize innovation.

PRESIDENTS MEN AND CONFESSION OF FAILURE. “History will of course also pronounce its judgment on the role that my generation played during those dark, uncertain days. Did we by acts of omission or commission help wreak the havoc that came to a head on that day of reckoning, on January 15, 1966? Peter Enahoro, February 7-8, 2005, at a National Seminar on THE COLUMNIST AND HIS NATION”; Organised by Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, at Bolingo Hotel, Abuja.

Visit: www.delesobowale.com or Visit: www.facebook.com/ biolasobowale

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 11

Focus on 2015 Presidential Election is a grave error INEC for evolving what can pass for a sense of direction rather than throwing missiles at her. Unfortunately, the timing of the release of the schedule and its content are both, grave errors of judgment. To start with,

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AST week’s an nouncement of the time table for the 2015 elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no doubt opened a new vista in the nation’s political landscape. Already, it has elicited a number of viewpoints from different analysts. To some people, it is a pro-active welcome development. In fairness to such analysts, it is the first time in about 2 decades that our electoral body has been forward-looking with respect to its mandate thereby creating a path way for the nation’s electoral process.

To other people however, the time table is nothing more than the script of the ruling party. The nature of politics and elections particularly Nigeria’s winner takes all, zero-sum game system, would make it difficult for anyone to dismiss either of the viewpoints.

If one were to join in the debate, the first point to be made is that ordinarily, people ought to commend

tion it is mandated to conduct. No election is unimportant. Accordingly, the early release of the 2015 election time table about a year to its conduct clearly establishes that the governorship elections in Osun

With the history of elections in Nigeria in mind, it is easy to predict that as soon as the 2015 elections begin and a party is declared to have won the Presidential election, not many people would have the courage to vote against that party in the next set of elections

it is easy to see from INEC’s action that it is more concerned about the Presidential election. That should not be so. Considering that the conduct of every election influences public confidence in the umpire, a viable electoral body ought to be equally concerned about any and every elec-

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and Ekiti States in 2014, which is the year before the 2015 elections are not quite important, otherwise theirs would have been released in 2013.

Meanwhile, the Osun and Ekiti elections would have been concluded before the statutory date for the beginning of political campaigns

PhD, Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos,

08116759758

A report card on Alagbo’s burial to condole with me and my family to do so by coming to my residence within the university. Now, by the time I arrived the village on January 22 for the funeral proper, virtually everything was ready for a memorable event, thanks mainly to the untiring efforts of my sister.

Without wasting time, I mobilised funds to pay the disk jockey that would play music for two days, the video man, photographer and other sundries. The wake keep that took place the night before Friday 24 was good: a sizeable number of people kept vigil until the next morning while the DJ played good Christian songs and highlife music to the satisfaction of everybody.

On the day of the burial, I was in a dilemma because as an unrepentant unbeliever who considers religious burials a waste of time and resources I definitely did not wish to go to church.

Yet, as the first son of the deceased, it was somewhat obligatory for me to be in church for the funeral service. The problem did not arise during my mother’s burial because the programme was conducted in our family compound and, consequently, there was no need to go to church. Anyway, I decided to be in church out of deep respect for Alagbo who while alive

was a sincere Christian.

A retinue of clergymen, led by The Most Reverend B.C.I. Okoro, Archbishop of Orlu Anglican Diocese, conducted the funeral service. It was solemn and dignified occasion, although I did not like the fact that it lasted too long. My sister, Ihuoma, read some verses from the Holy Bible, while I gave an inspiring brief biography of Alagbo, which

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N last series of this col umn entitled “Yuletide experiences and acknowledgments,” I wrote about the death of my father, Alagbo Ebere E. Anele, at the age of ninety-four. Before travelling to the village on December 27, 2013 to commence preliminary preparations for his funeral, I was a bit apprehensive because the stress of my late mother’s burial about three years ago was still fresh in my memory.

Therefore, I anticipated that, given my father’s unsurpassed generosity and honesty, which attracted people to him the way iron magnets attract iron fillings, I tried as best as I could to prepare mentally for a more challenging outing this time around. The burial was slated for Friday, January 24, and I arrived my village, Ishiowerri two days earlier. Before then, I had sent some money to my indefatigable sister, Ihuoma, to help in the preparations.

To minimise stress and avoidable mishap, I politely turned down suggestions to get a coaster bus either from the University of Lagos or from the university’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities to convey colleagues and friends to my ancestral home for the burial. I reckoned that, overall, it would be better for those wishing

for the 2015 election. In other words, candidates for the 2015 elections are barred from electioneering campaigns until after the 2014 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states. What then justifies the release of the time table for 2014 and 2015 elections same day? We can only guess that it is because the almighty Presidential election is in 2015. It is therefore not uncharitable to conclude that INEC’s prompt reminder to candidates for the 2015 elections is more or less an official signal for them to commence electioneering now.

Yet, the same INEC has for long cried itself hoarse that politicians have been jumping the gun and engaging in illegal political campaigns before the statutory time allowed for it We are therefore empowered to conclude that the campaigns going on now about the 2015 elections are instigated by INEC. Only four days ago, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the campaign posters of aspirants for the 2015 elections in Oyo State have started appearing in different parts of Ibadan, the State capital. Those sighted included that of the immediate past governor, Adebayo AlaoAkala. The posters of the incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi and those of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja were also reportedly pasted in various parts of the metropolis such as Mokola, Iwo road, Sango,

Bodija, Molete, as well as some neigbouring towns.

As for the schedule of the elections, those who want the Presidential election to come first and those who want it last have their personal interests. To that extent, they could be ignored.

But objective analysts must seek to know why INEC wants the final contest of the 2015 game to be played before the preliminaries? Is that a decision that is more likely to stabilize the polity? These posers are germane because as the societal institution set up to manage elections, INEC has a duty to arrange the game in such a way as to avoid anarchy. With the history of elections in Nigeria in mind, it is easy to predict that as soon as the 2015 elections begin and a party is declared to have won the Presidential election, not many people would have the courage to vote against that party in the next set of elections. Here, the issue of bandwagon effect and undue influence are real.

Again, those who are dissatisfied with the process and may want to introduce violence are more likely to do so after the Presidential election. INEC ought to explain to Nigerians why we should begin with the most volatile of the contests? In addition, Nigerians are used to seeing lapses at the beginning of INEC elections which tend to improve in due course. So, why does INEC want to experiment with the Presidential election?

On its part, the Arewa Consultative Forum has suggested that all the elections should hold the same day in order to reduce cost and avoid the bandwagon effect. The forum then urged the National Assembly to make it possible for the elections to hold the same day since INEC had said there was no enabling law for that? There is doubt if INEC needs such an enabling law to carry out what it is empowered to do by the constitution because despite the deficiencies of the 1999 constitution, it is difficult to see any provision which requires INEC to seek the authorization of the legislature with respect to fixing elections. Rather, the constitution specifically provides in Section 132 that “an election to the office of President shall be held on a date to be appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission”. The same words are reproduced in Section 178 in the case of an election to the office of Governor of a State. For elections to each House of the National Assembly, the same provisions are reproduced in Section 76 while Section 116 does same with respect to an election to a State House of Assembly.

These express provisions make a lot of sense because it would be wrong to ask the players of a team to determine the day of a match. It is to be hoped that INEC is neither under pressure nor has it allowed itself to be teleguided.

ciated his childlike generosity and humane attitude.

People came in large numbers to pay their last respects to a humanist who willingly shared whatever he had and cared for those in need.

Clearly, although I was crestfallen after performing the “dust to dust” and “sand to sand” ritual, my heart dilated with joy because of the open show of affection for my father by people I never met until that day. All told, my father received a colourful, befitting and dignified burial. Three traditional rulers, including the Ishi Igbo of Owerri Nkwoji, attended the event.

My siblings and I did our best to satisfy everybody who came around. Of course, there were lapses; but with the help of rela-

sincere gratitude goes to all the officiating ministers and the choristers for a job well done.

The mortuary attendants that took care of Alagbo’s body at the morgue in Amaigbo Joint Hospital, I thank all of you. My second sister, Ngozi, was unavailable because she is currently in a hospital abroad. Her physical absence notwithstanding, she was psychologically present: through daily telephone conversations with my wife and me, she got all the necessary information about how things were going. Moreover, the money she sent was quite helpful and I am grateful. Ijeoma, my wife, was great. She moved around all the time attending to guests. I commend her graciousness and commitment. My younger brothers, Emeka and Kalu, also tried and their contributions are hereby noted.

My cousins, Franco and Emee (Emmy Don), deserve special mention for their significant contributions to the success of the programme.

Franco’s excellent generosity and driving skills together with Emee’s uncanny organisational ability and honesty helped me so much - accept my sincerest gratitude, please. To all indigenes of Ishiowerri who came from different places to honour my late father, and members of Anele family and Umuokwara kindred, particularly Chimezie and his siblings, John, Timothy, Emeka Nwosu, Dee Silva, C.J., Iheanyi, and Inspector - I say thank you very much.

My good friends, ndi enyi ka nwanne, Chiefs Innocent Egwim and Ralph Obiduba, you attended the ceremony with two traditional

rulers and a cultural musical group, which added a carnival-like atmosphere to the programme.

I salute both of you sincerely. I really appreciate my friends who gave me their widow’s mite and gifts, such as Ngozi Osarenren, Femi Adesina, Editorin-Chief and Managing Director, Sun Newspapers, Jude Uche, Soni Ajala, Ekene Obi (Kenzman), Simon Tashie, Nduka, Alogba, Gbenga Akinmoladun, Emeka Ezike, Nduka Nwabueze, Uche Udeani, Clement A. Edokpayi, Ndubisi Madubuike Ekwe, and Kalu Onuma. I thank my inlaws from Obowo for their presence and gifts. Certainly, the list above is not exhaustive. Consequently, if I omitted your name please forgive me.

Memory lapse is a universal phenomenon. All the same, I sincerely cherish your kindness. As I gazed at the lifeless body of my father, I wished I could talk to him for the last time.

Suddenly, it dawned on me that he has gone forever, and I began to understand why human beings throughout the ages have been clinging tenaciously to the notion of immortality, despite the fact that scientific evidence for life in any meaningful form after death is very tenuous. It is difficult to really accept the fact that death is the ultimate annihilation of all human possibilities encapsulated in a dead person.

For me, instead of wasting mental energy hankering after immortality, every human being, should endeavour to live a life inspired by love and guided by knowledge, in spite of delusions concerning eternal life here on earth, hell or heaven. CONCLUDED.

On the day of the burial, I was in a dilemma because as an unrepentant unbeliever who considers religious burials a waste of time and resources I definitely did not wish to go to church. Yet, as the first son of the deceased, it was somewhat obligatory for me to be in church for the funeral service

was well received with a resounding ovation. After the church service and photo sessions, everybody moved to our family house.

Another round of religious ceremony was conducted near the grave.

Shortly afterwards Alagbo’s remains were lowered into the grave around 1 pm.

Some family members and friends, particularly my sister, wept uncontrollably.

That was not surprising: Alagbo was an admirable man and most people he interacted with deeply appre-

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tives and friends we worked tirelessly to make sure that food and drinks were properly distributed.

At this point, I wish to thank those who made Alagbo’s burial hugely successful. To begin with, the event was organised almost singlehandedly by my sister Ihuoma: she worked harder than anyone I know right from the time our father died until the very last ceremony. I deeply appreciate her efforts and the support she received from her husband, Dee Sam. My

PAGE 12, SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

Notes Towards A National Conference (2) tion comes as a way of anticipating some of the arguments that might be made by critics of the Jonathan move, who have seen it as time-wasting, and a ploy by President Jonathan to distract Nigerians, legitimize his presidential campaign, and establish a claim beyond the actual achievement that

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N Wednesday just past, the federal government, through the office of the Chief Secretary of State (Secretary to the Federal Government), announced the final guidelines for the proposed National Conference to be convened in Abuja, the federal capital. It might suffice here to summarize the modalities as announced by Mr. Anyim Pius Anyim: the conference is billed tentatively to last through three months of deliberation to be managed by a Conference Management Secretariat. Delegation to the conference would come from the six regional or geo-political areas as well as nominations from special interest groups, from “traditional rulers” to professional bodies, to Labour, to “Civil Society Groups.”

The list feels slightly unwieldy and in some cases duplicated and even unnecessary. But it is all in the mix of what we might call the “stakeholders” of nation. The nomination of these regional delegations is expected to be conducted from January 30 to February 20. So, the wheel of events is actually on the spin. The National Conference is expected to cover every issue except any discussion about the possible dissolution of Nigeria. According to the release

by Mr. Anyim on behalf of the Federal government, “the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable.”

First, let me address the question of the legitimacy of the National Conference summoned by the Jonathan government by simply asking a question: what legal force backs it? This ques-

Given the criticism already voiced by the president’s critics in the opposition, it is important to anticipate that the path to this National conference will be lined with the deadly mines of cynicism

,

might come from the conference. Many suspect that the president will load the delegation with his supporters, back them with a lot of spin and spin doctors, and claim whatever outcome engineered in the process – and we do not know yet what that outcome would be – as vox populi, which will in turn become the voice of God.

Panic in Lagos as tank explodes

BY BOSE ADELAJA

T

HERE was panic in Rainbow area of Apapa, Lagos, yesterday, as an open tank laden with 16,000 litres of diesel suddenly went up in flames spilling its content on the road.

Sensing danger, residents took to their heels. Prompt intervention of the state and federal emergency responders put the situation under control.

The incident, which started around 10:00am, was confined and did not spread to residential and commercial structures

in the area. An explosion was said to have occurred as a result of a technical error occasioned by the damping down of the said tank and, in the process, four other tankers were engulfed in fire.

Three fire trucks from Federal Fire Service and four from the state fire service were said to have brought the situation under control. Confirming the incident, Information Officer, National Emergency Management Authority NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, and Lagos State Director, Federal Fire Service, Ganiyu Olayiwola, said no casuality was recorded and there was no threat to life and property.

No discrimination in Kano PDP

Amb Wali to Shekarau:

BY ADEOLA ADENUGA

A

MBASSADOR Aminu Wali has assured a former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, and his supporters who defected from the All Progressive Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that there would be no discrimination against them in their new party.

In a statement entitled, ‘No founders, no joiners; we are all members’, Wali said, “We note with angst the political travails and tribulation faced by former Governor of Kano State, Mal. Ibrahim Shekarau and his teeming followers in their former party, the APC, and we are happy to announce to them the good tidings of democratic justice, fair play and a level playing field especially as they become members of our great party, the PDP, in Kano State.

“As the hub of democratic best practices and the bastion indeed of politics of

inclusion and politics without bitterness, Kano PDP accepts all defectors as bonafide members of the party without any qualification, least of all on account of the history of their former membership status or indeed the narrative of the time and circumstances of their arrival. “ The PDP leader went on: “PDP makes no distinction, as do other parties, between the old and the new or between founders and joiners. We assure Shekarau and his teeming decampee-followers that they shall enjoy all the democratic rights, privileges and responsibilities which accrue to every member of our great party the PDP without any form of discrimination, profiling or labeling.

“They shall find especially in the Kano PDP an exemplary State Chapter which not only plays by the democratic rules but one which is a family of co-equals distinguished only by the robustness of their democratic credentials of justice, tolerance and fair play.”

Given the criticism already voiced by the president’s critics in the opposition, it is important to anticipate that the path to this National conference will be lined with the deadly mines of cynicism.

It is thus in the interest of this administration, if it truly wishes to conduct this conference, and endow it with the legitimacy that it must reflect, to show its conducts, its foundation, and its outcome to be above board and established by the law of the land. There is nothing currently in the laws of Nigeria that gives the president the power to convene a National Conference.

Already, I hear the likes of Professor Ben Nwabueze who support a conference along the line of ethnic nationalities with no issues barred staging their own battle of wits with the arrangements already made by the Federal government. The second question is about ways and means: how will the conference be funded? Are the delegates to be compensated on a per diem and by what calculation? It is true the administration included approbation for the conference financing in the current budget under review in the National Assembly.

The question however is, what happens if the National Assembly does not approbate that item of the budget and the necessary appropriation for financing the National Conference? Already the President has significant opposition in the federal legislature, and this scenario, a longdrawn debate on the federal budgets is not impossible to imagine. Indeed, the legislators might be doing us all a world of good by placing it all under scrutiny. The National Conference of the magnitude that should affect the lives of Nigerians should be a vertical and horizontal process. Which means this: It is not up to the president or the executive branch of government to announce, convene, and fund a national conference.

It should be the product of the entire process of government. The first part of that process should have required the president of the federation to seek a bill of the National Assembly to establish the necessary Act of Parliament establishing the conduct of the National Conference, and empowering the president to set out the modalities according to the provisions of that Act. I am not aware that the National Assem-

bly has convened and established the necessary legislation that would empower such a conference. Part of that process should have included convoking of the various state Assemblies who would as a matter of course, establish under the federalism principles, the basis for the selection of the regional delegations.

I think that the president’s political advisers and lawyers have not given him the right counsel on this matter, and the convocation of the National Conference might be mired in the marsh of a crisis of legitimacy. Finally, I think a National Conference convoked to discuss Nigeria must never have “no-go areas.” No issue, including the question of the continued existence of Nigeria must be off-limits to the conference. Indeed, that question itself must be the very first order of discussion by the delegates, and must be dealt with if the outcome of the National Conference is to be taken seriously.

At the core of the Nigerian crisis today is the matter of national belonging. There are many who feel deeply that the Nigeria as a nation is historically flawed; that what they call the “Lugard’s cage” is, by the very nature of deep cultural differences, incapable of melding into a coherent nation.

There are separatist movements in Nigeria and their voices too must be heard and factored into the mix of the debate if we must rest the ghost of national fragmentation. I think therefore that in outlining its modalities, the administration was fundamentally wrong in barring debate about the possible dissolution of Nigeria. It is, if this conference must hold, a legitimate question.

It is therefore crucial to take the following necessary steps (a) introduce a bill in parliament that will establish the necessary Act of the national Assembly empowering the convocation of the National Conference, and (b) open up the debate without barriers or “no-go areas,” including the debate about the viability of Nigeria as a nation.

The unity of Nigeria is negotiable. It is imperative to come to terms with these facts, otherwise, we might merely be engaged in a futile process, and the outcome might just become the work of a mutual admiration society – a thorough waste of time and energy.

I’m sure the president wants a legacy sturdier than that.

BY TONY NWANKWO

DELTA 2015: PDP chair accused of bias

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ELTA State PDP Chairman, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, should resign immediately for his alleged bias on the forthcoming governorship party primaries in the state. This demand was made at a press briefing in Lagos by Dr. Goodnews Agbi, one time governorship aspirant of the PDP in Delta and a pioneer member, PDP National Executive Committee, NEC. Agbi said the utterances of Nwaoboshi, were unbecoming, particularly his attack on the person and office of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Comrade Ovuozorie Macauley, over the latter ’s comment on the 2015 election.

The derogatory remarks on the SSG, the highest appointed Isoko man (state and federal), Agbi said, had drawn the ire of the Isoko people, who, he said, are not only demanding an unreserved apology, but want the immediate resignation of Nwaoboshi. According to Agbi, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa came a close second to Governor

Group rebukes Gbagi over Delta deputy gov

BY EPHRAIM OSUJI

F

ORMER Minister of State of Education, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, is under attack for advising Delta State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, SAN, to drop his gubernatorial ambition on the grounds of old age.

Urhobo Collective Agenda of Nigeria (UCAN), in a statement entitled, “The Urhobo Nation and Kenneth Gbagi…The Unacceptable and Unconstitutional Dance of an Aspirant”, signed by its Chairman, Ighogbado Emuesiri Esq, SecretaryGeneral, Enaowho Dominic, and Public Relations Officer, Etaneri Mudiaga, argued that Gbagi’s advice to Utuama is unsolicited, rude, unacceptable and unconstitutional.

Uduaghan in the 2007 election, not because he hails from Ika in Anioma, but because he was able to reach out to Deltans as a grassroots politician.

Agbi said his current belief in power shift to Delta North did not mean every Deltan must share the position, and asked Nwaoboshi to desist from such outbursts, adding that hacking, hounding and blackmailing non-proponents of power shift would not win him converts to the Anioma agenda. He advised him to resign as he could no longer to trusted to midwife the coming party primaries in Delta.

EKITI 2014: APC faithful in marathon prayers for Fayemi

BY GBENGA ARIYIBI

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LL Progressive Alliance in Ekiti State, yesterday, embarked on a marathon prayer session seeking the hands of God for the candidate of the party,Dr Kayode Fayemi, in the June gubernatorial election in the state.

The APC faithful in their scores thronged the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation,Ado Ekiti secretariat to pray for the success of the party and its candidate at the poll.

The session was led by the Director General of the organisation and a member of House of Representatives, Hon Bimbo Daramola, and other key members.

Speaking at the occasion, Daramola said members of the party decided to seek the hands of God before the campaign commences. “We are going to embark on agenda setting and issue-based campaign.

We are assuring you that the campaign will be violence-free”, he said.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 13

PROLOGUE

DEFECTIONS

Season of political

buccaneering!

“God grant the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the ones we can and, above all, the wisdom to know the difference”

By JIDE AJANI

T

he dislocating effects of defection from one political party to another can be debilitating.But it can only be debilitating in so far as the losing party is not sure of itself.“Indeed, that is what the All Progressives Congress, APC, is throwing at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. “And because form can always fluctuate while class remains what it is – class – the mind games going on between these parties sometimes create comic relief in a polity of clashing interests.“Block all executive bills, APC thundered.It is a devilish call, PDP responded.Yet, as the gale of defection C M Y K

continues to sweep through the political field, there is something inescapably petty going on. Whereas the APC is hinging its call to turn its members in the National Assembly into professional filibusters over the reign of impunity going on in Rivers State, a call that is a contingent one, the response of the PDP has been nothing but one of needless panic.

“In which part of the world has there not been clear, sharp divisions across party lines?

Added to the above question, what majority would form the pole on which the APC intends to hoist the flag of its threat?“Is it with the just near-equal numbers in the House of Representatives or with the yet to be equalled numerical strength of the PDP in the Senate?

Still, it must be recognized that most of those who jump into the arguments for and against the APC threat either understand next to nothing about how democracy works, or are content with trading reason for filthy lucre or both.

The first simple matters to clear are:“Does the APC have the majority? No. Not yet.“Is it humanly possible to block all executive bills in either the House of Representatives or the Senate? Yes and no.Yes, because in the House of Reps, where young, hot blood flows in the veins of its members, there has been an established form of angst against almost everything from the executive - you can trace this to the history of the emergence of Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, against the grain of Aso Rock’s intention.

Worse still, a few members in the House who survive purely by widening the gulf of difference between the House leadership and the executive, continue to mislead the Presidency on how best to engage the House and, therefore, ministers rarely enjoy decent welcome in the House.

A clear example, not purely on sound moral grounds, is the treatment meted to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, by the House Committee on Finance. Not purely their fault too, Okonjo-Iweala appears to have perfected the art of sticking her foot in her mouth regarding policy directives and her sometimes false and timid“defence of same.

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PAGE 14, SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

Season of political buccaneering!

Continued from page 13

For the Senate, the PDP is still in the majority and, therefore, the threat remains nothing more than a fool’s errand. So, if the APC had planned to excite its members with an illusory sense of self-importance, it may have succeeded.

Unfortunately, however, the type of arguments being put forward by the leadership of the PDP and those who have kicked against APC’s threat all the more present Nigeria to the world as a country where deep thinking is a very scarce commodity.“A storm or a tsunami in a tea cup!“What APC wanted achieved has already being achieved in part.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State addressed his crowd in Bori, penultimate Saturday, and the police did not disrupt the gathering.

The tough but vain rhetoric of Joseph Mbu, the state police commissioner, has been toned down.The PDP leadership needs some coaching. And like Atiku Abubakar said at

breakfast last Thursday, the problem of the PDP and the Nigerian polity goes beyond forcing resignation of one Chairman or who gets the presidency. It is about internal democracy at all levels.

This relates now to the issue of the strategies of politicking. Should Nigerians fold their hands and continue to watch prostitutes masquerading as politicians to continue to assault our sensibilities and sensibilities?

Can Nigerians change their fortunes in the hands of these bands of prostitutes?

Therefore, all Nigerians must fight this war.“For war to be just, there is required a just cause, so said Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century.

According to scholastic appreciation of Aquinas’ position, without prejudice to the pacifism that Christianity preaches, it was sometimes necessary to preserve or restore peace in the face of aggression, and there must be conditions precedent”.

Aquinas called these conditions jus ad bellum (right to war) which were different from the jus in bello (the rules of just conduct in

war).“For a just war to be hinged on a just cause, it must have rightful intention, authority of the sovereign and the raison d’etre The Nigerian people must rise and determine how their future would be. With the rascality of defection from AD to ACD to ACN, APC to PDP and back to APC and again to PDP, nobody should be surprised when some vagabonds in babanrigas, kaftans or three-piece suites go to INEC seeking the registration of Action Group, AG, or Northern Peoples Congress, NPC, or NCNC just to hood unsuspecting Nigerians that the spirits of Obafemi Awolowo, Sardauna Ahmadu Bello or Nnamdi Azikiwe are the driving force behind their parties.“In conclusion, Nigerians need to engage this war with their eyes wide open and not to get carried away with the buccaneering antics of some politicians whose only leverage is being associated with a government at the centre or some old wine in new skin being excited by a new phenomenon.“

THE SENATE DEFECTION GAME *Chamber leaders, Saraki, 10 others play hide and seek

By JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

T

he Senate has in the past weeks been turned into a political theatre with all sorts of drama and the principal characters being the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC. The drama has been characterized by confusion and intrigues while the bone of contention is the passage of the 2014 Appropriation Bill and the defection of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. To some watchers of the political development, the intrigues in the upper chamber that have divided the senators along party lines is the beauty of democracy and at the same time the struggle for dominance and relevance by the two main political parties in the land.

Defection

S

ince the beginning of the purported crisis in the PDP that consumed its former National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, there have been threats by some aggrieved members especially in the National Assembly, to jump ship.

Unlike in the House of Representatives where about 37 PDP members threatened to defect and implemented the threat, defection in the Senate has been described as the more you look, the less you see.

Initially, it was touted that 22 PDP senators had put down their names to leave the party. The number later reduced to 17. On Thursday, the national leadership of the APC announced in Lagos that 11 PDP senators had joined APC even though the purported defection seems to be controversial because there has not been any sign in the Senate that such action has been taken in view of the sitting arrangement where the ruling party occupies a wing C M Y K

Senate President, David Mark of the chamber and the opposition party another.

Besides, there has not been any formal declaration or announcement by the Senate leadership of any cross-carpeting.

The APC statement read: “Eleven senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party this morning (Thursday) defected to the All Progressives Congress. This is only the first installment of many other senators of the Peoples Democratic Party expected to defect to the All Progressives Congress soon.”

Although information has it that 11 members of the

upper chamber namely, Senators Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central), Adamu Abdulahi (Nasawa West), Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara North), Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto East), Aisha Al-Hassan (Taraba North), Magnus Abe (Rivers South East), Wilson Ake (Rivers West), Jibrilla Mohammed Bindowo (Adamawa North), Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), Ali Ndume (Borno South) and Umar Dahiru (Sokoto South), wrote to the leadership of the Senate to notify it that they were no longer members of the PDP and that they have decided to join the APC, the leadership is yet to read the letter to allow the new APC ‘converts’ to take their seat in the wing of the chamber designated for the opposition members.

Even the said letter seems to have run into a hitch as one of the 11 senators, Umar Dahiru, from Sokoto, reportedly went to Senate President David Mark to remove his name from the list.

It was also gathered that the letter initially had 16 names of senators who indicated interest to leave the PDP with seven governors but, at the appointed time, Governors Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, and Sule Lamido of Jigawa decided to stay put. Six senators whose names were said to be on the list but later declined to append their signatures are Ahmed Zannah (Borno Central), Barata Ahmed (Adamawa South), Saidu Alkali (Gombe), Basheer Mohammed (Kano Central) and Ahmad Maccido (Sokoto North).

The defection letter, which the Senate President declined to read on the chamber floor, stated, “We the undersigned Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, elected under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), wish to notify you that we have severally and jointly joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“This action and decision is as a result of the division and factionalisation of the PDP that sponsored our elections into the Senate. In view of the above, we write to inform you that following the division and factionalisation in the Peoples Democratic Party, we have formally joined the All Progressives Congress. This communication is made pursuant to Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution of

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SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 15

Continued from page 14 the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) for your information, guidance and purposes.”

Curiously, none of the affected senators was ready to confirm the controversy surrounding the defection. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one of them said, “I cannot tell you anything for now because our movement can only take effect after the letter has been read on the floor. Until then, let us watch and see how the Senate President handles this one”.

THE SENATE DEFECTION GAME

Political equation

B

ut events last week suggested that the inability of the Senate President to read the letter with him was deliberate. Though Mark did not preside over the plenary on Thursday, it was expected that he should have given brief to his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, to read the defection letter.

This development threw the Thursday plenary into a rowdy session as the defecting senators queried why their letter to the Senate leadership conveying their defection was not read on the floor during announcement session.

The presiding officer, Ekweremadu, explained that the decision to shift the announcement to Tuesday was due to the absence of the Senate President who was said to be away to Jigawa State at the instance of the state government.

The defected senators, led by Senator Bukola Saraki, wondered why, since the defection letter was submitted, Mark had refused to read it and insisted that it be read on the floor of the Senate.

S

House Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal

,,

The defection of the PDP senators to APC would change the political equation if the opposition should get the majority number. The APC had claimed that the movement would be in batches, but, as it stands now, PDP still has the majority with 62 senators from the initial 73.

APC, with the defection will have 44, while Labour Party and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, have two and one respectively.

Politics is a game of numbers and the class prefect of the 109 class members is aware of that. He is not just a politician but a retired military general schooled in strategy and also aware of the nitty-gritty of coup plotting. The APC has, with the defection of the 11 members, 44 senators and, if the statement credited to the party that the defection is in batches is anything to go by, it then means that the composition of the leadership of the Senate will definitely change. Obvious of the consequences of the defection to the PDP and the Senate, nothing is expected to be left to chance. It will be recalled that at the beginning of the unfolding defection drama in the chamber, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang, told the senators the action that the leadership would take should they decamp to the APC. In clear terms and in what seemed to be the mind of the Senate leadership, Enang said that any senator that defects automatically loses his seat because the ticket for the position belongs to the party and not to individuals, although the leadership, through its spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, later disowned Enang, saying that the opinion expressed was personal and did not reflect that of the chamber.

Initially, it was touted that 22 PDP senators had put down their names to leave the party.

The number later reduced to 17

Saraki raised a point of order, under the Senate Standing Order 15, which states that “a matter of privilege shall be given urgent attention by the Senate.”

He said it was important for the letter to be read on the floor to formally inform the chamber of their defection to the opposition party.

“A notice by a letter was communicated yesterday (Wednesday) to your Chair on notification of the change of political party by myself and 10 other senators from the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, APC”, the senator said.

“So, I felt that it was necessary for me to bring to your attention that the letter has not yet been read.”

Row

Senate not to treat the letter conveying the senators’ defection, explaining that a similar thing had taken place in the House of Representatives already.

Akume said: “Mr President, I speak on behalf of those of us who have sworn to protect the Constitution of this country. This country has only one Constitution that guides the country.

Therefore, what is constitutional in the House of Representatives cannot be unconstitutional in the Senate.”

But his explanations could not convince Ekweremadu who insisted that since his boss was out of town, it would be unfair to treat a letter no other person except him (Mark) knows something about.

Although he admitted that the Senate President informed him about it, he explained that Mark hinted that a meeting to discuss the issue had already been slated for Monday with the defecting senators.

“The Senate President has travelled and, before he travelled, he told me you had a discussion with him and agreed to have a meeting on Monday.

Unfortunately, this is my own understanding of your dialogue with him and he is not here. So I believe that we would stand down any issue relating to that until he comes back,” the Deputy Senate President said.

But the aggrieved senators were not ready to listen to his explanation.

Saraki, in particular, insisted that the issue of the letter had nothing to do with the Senate President’s planned meeting with the defecting senators.

This resulted in hot verbal arguments between APC senators and their sympathizers on one hand and the PDP senators on the other hand, leading to a rowdy session.

While this was going on, Senator Goje rose to say the leadership of the upper chamber should read the letter conveying their movement to the APC. “Myself and 10 others presented a letter to the Senate President formally asking him to inform the chamber that we have defected from the PDP to the APC. We thought the letter would have been read yesterday (Wednesday) but it was not and we feel that it should be read today (Thursday). I feel it is our right and privilege for that letter to be read. So, I demand that that letter be read,” he said.

But this also could not move Ekweremadu who insisted that the letter could not be treated, saying the decision to defer the matter had already been taken. He was not even in possession of the letter.

However, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, said it would be unconstitutional for the

enator Anthony Adeniyi, APC, Ekiti Central, raising a point of order under Order 39 (5) of the Senate Standing Rule, rose in support of the 11 senators, urging the Deputy Senate President to read the letter, since, according to him, the Senate can function with the Deputy Senate President presiding in the absence of the Senate President.

He was supported by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, APC, Lagos Central, who raised a point of order under Order 14 (b), which says: “Whenever a matter of privilege arises, it shall be taken up immediately”.

She urged the Senate to consider the issue at stake as a matter of urgency and treat it based on its merit but she was overruled by the Deputy Senate President, who, again, said, as far as the issue was concerned, he had ruled that it be deferred to Tuesday and called on other senators to suspend the issue so as to continue debate on the 2014 Budget.

It will be recalled that Senator Abaribe, the Senate spokesman, had, while briefing journalists, stated that defection could not be done jointly but on individual basis.

Abaribe had said, “And I have had cause to say this before that the process for anybody to move from one party to the other is very well stated in the Constitution and the process is open, clear and cannot in any way be misunderstood. ”Don’t forget that every senator did an election on his own. There wasn’t a joint election. So, senators cannot write a joint letter to the Senate President about defection. ”It must be by individuals and every person who has to leave, for whatever reason, will have to state his reason and also do it personally. And, until we see that, we assume that nobody is yet to go anywhere”.

Court case

A

nother factor that could stall the reading of the defection letter on the floor of the Senate is a pending matter in court. The PDP leadership had approached the Federal High Court to stop its senators from defecting and the matter has not been disposed of. It was gathered that the Senate President cannot read the letter to avoid being accused of subjudice because of the pending suit and the Order 53 (5) of the Senate Standing Orders (2011, as amended) states: “Reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending, in such a way as might, in the opinion of the President of the Senate, prejudice the interest of parties thereto.”

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PAGE 16 — SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

The Senate Defection Game Continued from page 15 Besides, Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, states the condition upon which a member can lose his or her seat as a member.

It states that one can vacate his seat, “being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected.”

Section 65 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, also states the condition upon which one is qualified to be elected to the National Assembly. It stated that a person shall be qualified for election if “he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by the party.”

As the intrigues and arm twisting continue, the polity is tense and whichever way the pendulum swings to, Nigerians are watching.

Fury over 2014 Budget

The supremacy battle over which political party controls the soul of Nigeria in the 2015 general elections is also taking its toll on the 2014 Budget in the National Assembly. The battle is between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress.

The Appropriation Bill started having hiccups right from the time of determining what should be the oil benchmark for the budget. The Presidency had put the benchmark at $74 per barrel while the Senate and President Goodluck Jonathan House of Representatives put it at $76.5 and $79 per barrel respectively. expenditure in the 2013 Budget was After the bickering and disagreement implemented even beyond the between the two chambers, the budgetary allocation, while the capital benchmark was put at $77.5. expenditure was less than 40 percent However, following the directive by implemented, stressing that the the leadership of the APC to block all nation’s resources were being spent executive bills over the alleged on public and civil servants and Federal Government involvement in things that were of less importance to the crisis in Rivers State, the stage the country. was set for a showdown between the According to him, the recurrent two dominant political parties. expenditure for 2014 Budget was When the budget was introduced about 74 percent which was for less by the Senate Leader, Victor Ndomathan five million of the entire Egba, on Tuesday, senators from the population leaving about 160 million APC sought its rejection and repopulation with 24 percent, even as working, saying that it was antihe noted with regret that the people while the PDP, senators government was for the rich where pressed for its quick passage.

N1.4 trillion was given by government The arrow head of the opposition as concession and waivers instead of was Senator Akume, Minority protecting the masses Leader of the Senate, who argued He blamed the dwindling fortune of that any budget passed into law and the economy on the Coordinating properly implemented normally Minister of the Economy and served as the engine of growth and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi development.

Okonjo-Iweala, who he advised budget as there was the need for line should resign from office for He called for suspension of debate by line consideration where the allegedly failing the country. on the budget because relevant chamber would thoroughly scrutinize “According to Okonjo-Iweala, the documents that would guide senators recurrent in 2014 budget proposal is in making contributions as required by it to bring out areas that are of waste.

74 per cent. 74 per cent is what was Akume frowned at a situation where Fiscal Responsibility Act were not provided in 2011 when this presented to them, adding that not all about N700 million was budgeted for administration came in . the senators are experts on budgetary VIPs (Very Important Personalities) in Subsequently, recurrent went down issues. the Presidency for the entertainment to 71 per cent, now we are back to 74 Some of the documents, he stated, of visitors while about N300 million per cent. How many people are going included the underline revenues and was allocated to State House Clinic to enjoy the recurrent? Less than five expenditure profile of government, the which is restricted to ordinary million Nigerians. 74 per cent of the revenue framework broken down on Nigerians, describing such as a waste annual budget is going to less than monthly and sector by sector and the of resources and irrelevant. five million Nigerians. 26 per cent is documents that explain the Senator Ahmed Lawan, who earmarked for the capital for over 165 performance of the 2013 Budget. represents Yobe North on the platform million Nigerians.

The former governor of Benue State “How do you create jobs? How do of APC, described the budget as the took a swipe at what the Federal you alleviate poverty, where are the worst Appropriation Bill in the history Government was doing with the social safety nets? The people must be of the country and the worst for the Subsidy Reinvestment and at the centre of the concept, masses.

Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, application and implementation of the He further argued that the Senate funds, saying that the funds had budget not some civil servants, public should not discuss the 2014 Budget become an omnibus allocation that servants, politicians and so on. We without first discussing the takes care of virtually every aspect of cannot have peace so long as we implementation and success of the life. spend much of our funds on 2013 Budget.

He advised that the Senate should ourselves. We should spend the bulk Lawan pointed out that the recurrent not be in a hurry to consider the

,,

The defection of the PDP senators to APC would change the political equation if the opposition should get the majority number

C M Y K

of our funds on the people so that everybody can have something to do and everybody would be safe.”

Senator Alkali Jajere, APC, Yobe South, claimed that the North which, he said, represents a section of the people of Nigeria was not catered for in the budget and that the budget went on head-on-collision with the Fiscal Responsibility Act. According to him, there was zero allocation to the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, which, he noted, was supposed to end by the end of 2014.

H

e said that the budget neglected important aspects of the sector that were the cardinal priority in the MDGs such as poverty alleviation and the fight against HIV/ AIDS. Senator Christopher Babajide Omowarare , APC, Osun East, accused the Senate of having surrendered its powers in Sections 80 and 81 of the Nigerian Constitution to the executive, reminding the chamber that good governance was a responsibility that it should show to the people.

In his own contribution, Senator Abubakar Sadiq Yar’Adua, said that the budget had nothing for the common man even as he accused the Minister of Finance, Okonjo-Iweala, of doing the bidding of the World Bank which he said was drastically affecting the nation.

But Abaribe, said he was impressed by the contribution of Lawan and he believed that what the APC government in Rivers State did on the Appropriation Bill was okay. “Two weeks ago, the APC government in Rivers State passed the budget in one hour, let us copy the APC”, the Senate spokesman, representing PDP Abia South, said.

Earlier, the Senate President, David Mark had advised senators “to use a national magnifying glass to look at the budget,” urging them to consider the interest of the country instead of personal or party interest.

I

ntroducing the Appropriation Bill, the Senate Leader, Ndoma-Egba, stated that all the proposal in the budget were laudable and tailored to meet the critical needs of the country so as to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

“I thereby urge you all to support the second reading of this bill and committal to the committees for detailed consideration.”

He said that the 2014 Budget, predicated on $77.5 per barrel oil bench mark, projected oil production of 2,3883 million barrels per day, an average exchange rate of N160 per US$ and also a projected growth rate of 6.75 percent up from 6.5 percent in 2013.

According to the budget, of N4,642,960 trillion, N399,687,801,891billion was for statutory transfer, N712 billion was for Debt Service, N2,430,665,361,597 trillion was for recurrent, while N1,100,606,836,512 trillion was for capital expenditure.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 2, 2014 —PAGE

17

Email: vanguardwoman@gmail.com

Why I'm stepping-up women's representation in Kaduna politics

—Hon Florence Aya, frontline politician

BY JOSEPHINE IGBINOVIA

H

ON.Florence Aya is one of the key female players in Kaduna State politics.

Her foray into politics dates back to the 1980s when her husband was Chairman of Jamal, a then local government area in the Southern part of Kaduna State, when she chaired the council's Better Life Programme for Rural Women. Her productivity on that platform made her the political choice of women and landed her in the state House of Assembly in 1992, with the approval of her husband who passed on three years ago. That government was however abruptly aborted in 1993. She later represented Kaura constituency in the House of Representatives from 1999-2003. She was Adviser to the State government on Women and Children in 2004-2006 and later on Tourism. Until 2012, she was interim Chairman of Kaura Local Government. Florence has since 2006 been the President of Aspirants Mentoring Forum, a non-partisan women political movement in Kaduna State. Feminista had an encounter with her in Abuja.

I

T’S rare to find wives of local government chairmen aspiring in politics but yours has been different; what interests you about politics?

My thirst for sharing ideas is what interests me about politics. I’m interested in ideas that bother on issues that concern my local government, Kaduna State and the nation in general.

You may have all the ideas in the world but if you don’t share them with other people, they will resort to nothing. That’s why I’m still a stakeholder both at the state and local government levels.

What are you doing to engage more women in active politics?

After my tenure at the House of Representatives, in 2006, myself and a group of women formed a body called Aspirants Mentoring Forum for women in Kaduna State.

The forum is about eightyear-old now and it cuts across all political parties.

How formidable has the forum been?

Our first experience was the 2007 elections. In that election, three women got councillorship and two went to the House of Assembly.

We however had about 14 women who lost in the councillorship elections. So, we went round to all the Chairman that were elected,asking them to give appointments to these women, and they did give appointments to a number of them. So, apart from mentoring, we also do C M Y K

advocacy for our members who lost elections.

Was the 2007 achievement a milestone compared to what obtained in the past?

Yes, it was. In the past, it was usually one female councillor in the entire state or none at all. But

All of the 62 women presently in the Aspirants Forum are either Diploma holders or graduates.

So, on the basis of education, Kaduna State has sound women in that year, three women got elected! In the 2011 elections however, we had a set back in the sense that only three women were again able to get councillorship. I call it set back because there was no increase. Worst of all, none went to the House of Representatives. All along, we've always had a woman in the House of Representatives. After myself and Binta Koji, Ruth Jumai Ango went, followed

by Saudatu Sani who is now Adviser. No woman has gone into the House from Kaduna State after Saudatu

Hon.Florence Aya

Sani. We however have Nenadi Usman, our first woman Senator, in the Senate presently.

I

n your quest for increased participation for women, which argument takes priority- their womanhood or competence?

One of the ingredients for good representation is good education, sense of judgement and vibrancy.

You must be sensitive and alert at all times, studying what is happening in other camps. Sensitivity is very important because in politics, sometimes, you may be thinking you're forging ahead while your opponents may be plotting your destruction. Education is necessary because you must be able to read and interprete the laws. You never can tell where destiny is leading one to. That's why it is good to get good education because in politics especially, you might start as a nobody and rise to become governor or even president. That's why I also clamour for the education of both sexes; not only male

children. Luckily, Kaduna is one state where parents do not joke with the education of children. Agreed, there may be few Almajirees in the Northern part and few in the Southern part where I come from, but it is not so prominent in the state.

Are you invariably saying your women are well-educated and sound enough for political positions?

All of the 62 women presently in the Aspirants Forum are either Diploma holders or graduates. So, on the basis of education, Kaduna State has sound women who can vie for any political position under any party.

What efforts are you making towards the inclusion of youths in the state's politics?

I always remind younger generations that the future of Nigeria lies in their hands. If in the past we had leaders that didn't do well, let us have leaders today that can do better and do best tomorrow. For me as an elderstates woman, I will like to see a Nigeria where younger people will be more patriotic- as patriotic as our

first leaders. Between the first leaders and the contemporary, alot of damages have been done and the spirit of patriotism has gone to the dusts.

Raped teenager delivered of baby girl

M

ISS Duke, the 14year-old indigent eight-month pregant rape victim reported by Feminista Sunday, January 19th, 2013, to be in need of N76,000 for a caesarean, was delivered of a baby girl on Monday the 20th of January, 2013.

The teen was delivered at the Igando General Hospital in Lagos State, following a fee waiver from the state Governor, Mr.Babatunde Raji Fashola, in response to the earlier published open letter signed by the Executive Director of Women Advocates Research & Documentation CentreWARDC, Dr.Abiola AkiyodeAfolabi.

PAGE 18—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

TRIBUTE

ALAERE ALAIBE

‘The virtues of Please, Sorry and Thank you’

Late Mrs Augustina Timi-Alaibe

BY JIDE AJANI

T

O those who knew her at close quarters, the visage of ALAERE AUGUSTINA TIMI-ALAIBE keeps hitting them in the face as if she is standing next to them - including this writer. Her facial expression, always alluring, can be very infectious. But all that disappeared five years ago when she passed on. Today, a special thanksgiving service holds in honour of this late gem.

As you read this, if you are one of those honoured enough to be close to her, please close your eyes; then replay the images of any encounter you had with her while she was alive.

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What do you feel? A great sense of loss! Yes! But you would also feel that gratitude for a life well spent - she would have been 50 years old this August.

For a woman whose life found immense meaning in making a meaning for, and to the life of others, Alaere's existence was defined by the virtue of two words and a phrase - Please, Sorry and Thank you.

Indeed, she once wondered aloud while having a chat with this writer privately, on how the world would be a better place for all "if everyone could appreciate the virtues of Please, Sorry and Thank you".

Expounding on that,

she had said "The words are magical and they do wonders. Please, that is, to plead for something rather than taking it by force; sorry, to apologise and seek reconciliation with those one may have offended; and thank you, to show appreciation for favours received. If the virtues of these are really appreciated, inculcated and engaged by all across board, the world would be a better place.

And that is what we are teaching our folks back home in Bayelsa and the Niger Delta region."

During the celebration of life 365 days after her death, some of the thoughts here were expressed. But they are thoughts that cannot be wished away.

She engaged a better, productive and progressive paradigm of re-engineering as a tool of uplifting her people in the spheres of welfare and education.

This need was met through her NGO, Family Re-orientation, Education and Empowerment, FREE. Through FREE, she established a co-operative for the rural women farmers. Five years after her death, that co-operative still operates and the women still have access to credit.

Then there is the first public library in Bayelsa State. There is also a hospital that functions for the rural folks as a first point of contact with medical aid in the event

of an eventuality.

Indeed, it was an American economist, Charles Kindleberger, who said there is nothing that creates depression in the mind of man other than to see a fellow being becoming more prosperous. That fits the typical Nigerian environment where being a big man is a status symbol as indeed it is anywhere in the world. The peculiarity of the Nigerian situation is that most of the rich would rather keep that club exclusive.

But for Alaere, there was always something indescribably and overwhelmingly benign, generous and kind-hearted about her.

Having risen to the echelon of comparative intellectual and material wealth in her society, Alaere was a woman who ensured that others tapped from that wealth.

And she was not given to the obviously showy, decidedly ostentatious, and needlessly bossy approach of the high and mighty in dispensing favours - no doubt, shaped by the congeniality of the happy home she shared with her husband, Timi.

In a society where the norm of talking ill of the dead is assailed without remorse, a family is lucky to have sweet things said about a departed member. For, in all things mortal, there is a tincture of ambivalence in the affairs of men.

It is that ambivalence which makes a mortal engage in a prevarication that is at once noticeable, at best unnerving but at worst despicable.

For a not so very long stay on earth, her life packed a punch.

Perhaps, this gem would be smiling away now. Looking down on us from above, Alaere, resting in the bosom of the Almighty, had a life many a wealthy would love to live - she was always comfortable in the midst of the common people.

In life, her pace was racy. She was brisk, businesslike. Fools? She suffered none. And she believed that no one should suffer fools at all, hence freedom to all. From the female fish seller in Opokuma, to the mother of 11 in Trofani village, Alaere's FREE has made things happen for the poor and down-trodden.

In her own words: "The case of Miss Ebimere Toru, 49 year-old mother of 11 is quite instructive and interesting.

When she joined our programme, she could barely express herself, and could barely understand what we were doing in the adult education programme.

"She dropped out of school in 1967 as a result of the Nigerian Civil War and she joined our Adult Education Centre in Trofani village in Bayelsa State to fulfill a yearning. Today, in spite of her work as a cleaner at the Trofani Secondary School and busy schedule as mother and business woman, she has done so well that FREE has registered her to sit for the Nigerian Junior Secondary School examinations". There were many stories like that.

Now, that is service.

Yet, in all these, Alaere never made bones about what she set out to do.

All she was more concerned about was the welfare of a people abandoned.

That mission statement of FREE says it all: "To Reorient, educate and empower the family, with the aim of bringing back real values of hardALAERE ALAIBE The virtues of Please, Sorry and Thank you work, honesty, morality and enterprise through education, counseling and skills' acquisition programmes with special attention to the womenfolk".

Only a few can give freely, move freely, work freely, stand freely and be free of the inhibiting nuances which at once would create the ill-feeling which the success or progress of a fellow human being invokes.

Alaere derived her joy from the joy of others; and this was manifestly infectious. For others who in their own corner of Nigeria and the world sop to the needs of the poor, this is a salute to service. Alaere remained one with the poor, satisfying that godly desire to do good to all men and women.

Which is why five years later, this is a life worth celebrating in thanksgiving.

Celebrate we should!

Celebrate we would.

And in a fitting tribute to their mother, Ebitimi, Ebiye, Ebitari and Ebikenie, had written four years ago: "Blessed are the dead who dies in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.' (Rev 14:13).

Mummys' works follow her forever and ever."

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 19

ROYALTY The Sultan Memo to Jonathan

‘Let there be justice!’

F

RIDAY, January 17, 2014 was two days after this year ’s edition of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day. That was the day Sunday Vanguard made its second visit to the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III. The visit to the Sultan was without prior notice, yet the Africa’s fourth most influential monarch and Nigeria’s topmost traditional and religious leader did not allow the extraordinariness that resides in his person to deny his unexpected visitor the audience he required. And it started with observing the Jumat Service with him.

Jumat Service with Sultan Observing Jumat with the Sultan is hectic. Aside the security takeover of the entire Sultan Abubakar Road up to the environment of the palace and the Sultan Bello Mosque where the Sariki was due to pray, the number of worshippers was massive that exiting the mosque with the leader would not be as easy as entering. A palace staff attached to me to take me to the mosque told me, “The best thing we can do is to pray outside the fence so that we can easily come back to the palace since you have to see his eminence today before you go.”

Royal lunch After Jumat prayer, it was time for lunch and the Sultan, usually, would always eat with people. A senior official of the palace, Alhaji Alli Maccido, told Sunday Vanguard the mode of the Sultan’s lunch: “To my knowledge, he never eats alone. Now that he has

just returned from mosque, he would eat with family members and friends. It is after that you can do anything.”

The aide was asked to bring me into the dining room where I was served food from the royal dish. Thereafter I was led into the presence of the main man of the Caliphate, who spoke with the reporter in a non-interview audience they both had together in his office.

Sultan: an epitome of humility and hospitality Naturally leaders are to be revered; some people interpret “to be revered” in this regard as “to be feared.” The Sultan invariably epitomizes an enigma that people do not have to move closer to depict or figure out what he represents.

Outside the North, he has been described by several eminent Nigerians as representing humility, peace, seriousness with leadership business and, in a particular case, he was described as a brilliant footballer of the military school

,,

BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

prominent personality like him and he makes you feel real and free. When he speaks, he allows you to argue and when you do, he does not spite you for doing so.

“I was told you said you sent me a text before you started coming but I have not read my text messages today.

Today being Friday I was going to close when they told me you were around and I quickly asked them to let you in,” said Sa’ad Abubakar III who said he had just returned to the country and that he had not done much since his return.

Justice For any journalist that is able to make his way into the Sultan’s palace, if his mission is to sit and pin the Sultan down for an interview session, he may end up achieving nothing. But if the motive is to stay around him and let loose his nose-for-catching-news about activities inside and around the palace, he has

Naturally, leaders are to be revered; some people interpret “to be revered” in this regard as “to be feared”

days.

Speaking with the Sultan is a great thing that can happen to a human being especially a reporter. There is this thing about one feeling to be dreaming being in the presence of a great, very

President Goodluck Jonathan (I) with the Sultan

abundant information to work on. This is because, it was gathered that, the Amirul Mu’muni of Nigeria is an alltime activist. The only time he has to himself is bed time.

Asked what the latest was, he said, “You know I cannot

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III. speak in an interview now but if it is what we have done, you can agree with me that there is nothing that we need to do that we have not done and we will not stop to preach peace and need for justice-to-all until we actually see peace and justice to be on hands in Nigeria. Try justice and see if peace will not come naturally. I have just returned to the country after being away for three weeks and have not done much. But I have been able to do things not only bothering on religion but also on the peace of the nation. I was in Kaduna few days ago and I was in Lagos where we did a Zakat and Sadaqat programme, an occasion that witnessed distribution of portions paid from the wealth of wealthy Muslims for the empowerment of other Muslims who are less privileged.

“You also said you need information, you said you would not sleep in town and today is Friday. I don’t think one can be able to sit down now and begin to dig out any document but whatever you are able to lay your hands on, you are a journalist and you know how to get what you want”.

When the Sultan speaks about the need for justice to restore peace, he knows what he means and what he means is not hidden from any opentruth that everybody knows, a source in the palace confided in Sunday Vanguard. “Do not forget that this is a retired army general, who understands what crisis or war situation means. Do not also forget that the personality we are talking about here is a religious leader who knows the composition of the multi-religious entity of Nigeria. You should also bear it in mind that the Sultan is a traditional ruler who has upon his shoulders the responsibility for en-

suring community peace and harmony. How can such a man now come up to say this is what is needed to restore peace that has eluded us in the country for sometime now and somebody would rise up and say no? Those who are saying no, on what grounds are they saying so? Between the Sultan and them, whose attitude towards resolving these security challenges is more patriotic?”

Sa’ad Abubakar III, who seldom speaks publicly, had spoken on what government should do to resolve the problem of insurgency in the North. And to that effect, he called on Acting President Goodluck Jonathan before he became substantial President to address the issue of justice that the Jama’at in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, had raised as reason for the violence it had unleashed on the North including his own domain; the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, who narrowly escaped death as a result of the Boko Haram attacks; Shehu of Borno who, together with the Borno State deputy governor, also narrowly escaped death in a mosque attacks, and politicians like Major General Muhammad Shua, who was killed by suspected members of the group and many others. The group has launched attacks on religious centres killing Muslims and Christians. Recently, the group launched attacks on some military formations including the Air Force Base, Maiduguri, where military aircraft were set ablaze and scores killed.

The Sultan made bold statements on two occasions; each of the statements was countered by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President of the Christian Association of

Continues on page 20

PAGE 20— SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

ROYALTY ‘Let there be justice!’

*From right: Sa’ad Abubakar III with Cardinal Onaiyekan, left, and Bishop Kukah.

,,

Continued from page 19 Nigeria, CAN, who incidentally is co-Chairman of Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, NIREC. As a cochairman of NIREC, Oritsejafor is expected to work handin-hand with the Sultan to proffer amicable solution to the problems facing the nation, especially as regards religion. While Oritsejafor and some CAN leaders saw the Boko Haram problem as Islamic strategy to stamp out Christianity in Nigeria, the Sultan remained resolute on his stand saying, “It is not possible to Islamize Nigeria just as it is not possible to Christianize Nigeria.”

There was a meeting in Kaduna, which the Sultan referred to during Sunday Vanguard visit and where he made a statement on the solution he, through NIREC, made to President Jonathan, which, according to him, had the capacity to stop the unrest in the country.

“We wrote a memo of about nine pages or thereabouts covering various issues affecting the country and the North in particular to the then Acting President and now President Goodluck Jonathan, through the Nigeria Inter Religious Council, NIREC, where we suggested solutions to the problems of Nigeria.” It was also gathered that there was a press conference addressed by the Sultan, where he looked into the genesis of what today has become the Boko Haram insurgency. He said during the press conference that the President should address the issue of injustice which the Jama’at alleged was perpetrated against it and its leader by the Federal Government.

About a year after, he called for amnesty for the Boko Haram group.

Sa’ad Abubakar III is not the only one that holds this position on the need for justice.

Former Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki and a former old Ondo State military governor, Commodore Bode George, hold the same view. Bode George was constantly speaking about injus-

Sa’ad Abubakar III, who seldom speaks publicly, had spoken on what government should do to resolve the problem of insurgency in the North

tice in the system until recently, when he got justice done to him and few others by the Supreme Court. George, who felt his imprisonment was based on injustice,said, “So long injustice continues in Nigeria, there will never be peace in the land.” Dasuki, whose son is the current National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, spoke instructively on the parasitic implications of injustice especially concerning Boko Haram.

The former Sultan, at a press conference to review his book entitled: “Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki 1993 Peaceful Co-Existence Plan,” held September 2012, in Kaduna, said for Boko Haram’s activities to be eliminated, government at all tiers must enforce justice.

His words: “Justice is very important, justice means everything. Everyone is entitled to justice and we must do justice. You asked about practical steps to end Boko Haram.

Well, first and foremost, justice must be done, because it is injustice that brought about Boko Haram. Last year, somebody asked me how do we solve the Boko Haram problem and I said let the government from local government to Aso Villa declare justice and the problem of Boko Haram will end. But if injustice continues, I don’t think the problem will be solved. The Boko Haram leader was killed and somebody who was responsi-

ble for it is still moving freely without any arrest, that is injustice. Only fairness, justice, transparency and honesty will solve Nigeria’s problems, including security challenges.

Let the government at all levels declare justice everywhere and stand by it. Our country is in a mess.”

Sa’ad Abubakar III is also on ground playing some role in resolving other chaotic situations especially in Benue, among others.

During a recent meeting in Kaduna, he lashed out at northerners for being the

cause of their own problems.

He never exonerated himself as he said the present security and developmental challenges facing northern Nigeria was self-inflicted. When he identified the cause of a problem, he comes with solution.

“Let us sit and talk freely and articulate positions that will bring us out of the quagmire we put ourselves. It is important that religious and traditional rulers from our various states sit together, so that each and everyone of us will talk freely for us to articulate a position as the way out of this problem we find ourselves.

“We northerners have put ourselves in a quagmire, because whatever that is happening in the North is our own doing. This was because we did not do what we are supposed to do. And since we know that, we have to solve our problems ourselves. So, I think, it is not a bad idea that the committee was set up,” the Sultan said at a meeting of Northern States Committee on Reconciliation which was also attended by Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan and Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Kukah.

Tolerance Although NIREC, established by the Obasanjo administration to bridge the communication gap between the Muslim and Christian communities has not been seen to work effectively, it has not worked at all under the Jonathan administration. This, Sunday Vanguard gathered, is responsible for the religious crisis in the countr y.

Nevertheless, Sa’ad Abubakar III made frantic effort to close the gap by working round the clock to ensure there is no break down of law and order on religious grounds. This, it was gathered, took him to Ibadan, Oyo State capital, where, in the presence of the governors of Osun, Oyo, Ogun and former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Bola Ajibola, SAN, he declared that it did not make sense for any Nigerian to take arm against another because of religious misunderstanding.

The Ibadan event was the

The Sultan (left) with CAN leader, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor

96th Islamic Vacation Course, IVC, of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeira, MSSN, BZone comprising the 17 states of southern Nigeria. The Sultan seized the opportunity afforded him by the occasion to call for tolerance among adherents of religious faiths in Nigeria. He said if adherents of religious inclinations could tolerate one another, there will not be religious violence. He reiterated that the act of violence being exhibited by members of the Boko Haram sect has no basis in Islam.

Sa’ad Abubakar III, who is also the head of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, SCIA, enjoined Nigerians, irrespective of religious beliefs, to live in peace and continue to tolerate one another, adding that Nigeria is not a secular state but a multi- religious one, where everyone must learn to live together in peace.

Although the Sultan did not talk much as he said he was not on for interview, the information available to me spoke volumes of his activities. His keyword is peace and the way to it, justice and tolerance. And whenever any political office holder from governor to the President comes visiting Sokoto, he would not let go until he has reminded him of the need for him to do justice so that his community of people will live in peace since peace is major tool required for any society to develop. This being the reason, according to Sokoto palace sources, when the deputy governor of Sokoto State, Muktari Shagari, paid the Sultan homage during the last Eid-ul-Kabir, the Sariki said Nigeria needed tolerance among its citizens to facilitate development.

“The Amirul-Mumuni of Nigeria observed, during the Shagari’s visit, that religious tolerance among Nigerians remains the best tool for national development.

He challenged Nigerians to see their religious and tribal differences as tools which can be used for national development. He called on Muslims in the country to always ensure unity among themselves in the interest of Islam. He stressed the need for Muslims to pursue both Islamic and western education,” the palace source said.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 2, 2014 —PAGE

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PAGE 22—SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

Brand Equity as an Asset W

enjoys at the market, its (its share of target audience or consumer-mind), its strength as a competitor at the market in the consideration bracket of those emotional or rational reasons-for within its market, versus competing brands, its market share, the quality of perception it enjoys at the market place by reason of its character and its personality in its totality. Hence a brand’s equity is the sum total of those elements that makes up the personality of the brand (some of which are broadly mentioned above) – in value terms.

To a large extent, the rate or speed of shelf off-take a brand enjoys is dependent upon the level and quality of awareness it enjoys at the given market (among its target audience/ market). So many other controllable variables that drive growth and market performance depend on the level and quality of consumer awareness the brand enjoys.

That explains why 60 to 70% of advertising objectives most times is about increasing a brand’s awareness level among its target audience.

Unfortunately, it is this predominant advertising (and marketing) objective that takes away the shine of equity as a measure of a brand’s strength and value. Rather than connecting every such tactical strategic engagement towards short term market gains as a part of building the sum total of the brand’s equity, most line-managers take their eyes off the equity and concentrate on the immediate. So, for instance, in so far as the brand post good volume in the market, the appreciation of its equity ends there.

Space will not permit us in the treatment of such other

aspects of brand equity here, but we like to emphasize the following: ·A brand’s value can be measured and stored in its equity ·At maturity, a brand’s equity becomes its most priced asset ·A brand’s asset is a very strong negotiation tool ·From birth, all that is done in form of brand management is EQUITY building ·A brand is only a success when its equity is of optimal value · A brand’s equity is the last thing to die when a brand goes down A brand equity can · last well over 20 to 30 years after it ceases to exist physi-

,

E once treated the issue of brand and brand equity in one of our past editions. In it we did establish the importance of brand equity in marketing, looking at it as a success driver, an element indicative of brand strength and/or measure of brand success at the market place. From that perspective, the measure of a brand’s equity is a direct indication of its share of market, versus competition. Looking at brand equity from that perspective is appreciating it as a measure of value.

However, brand equity is much larger than a measure of value or market success, and we intend to expand our appreciation of that brand property in this edition, such that will enable a fuller and more rewarding appreciation of its definition, importance and application.

As a concept, Brand Equity is the sum total of the entire elements that makes up the brand; it is an aggregate of a whole. The equity of a brand is the summation of its assets.

But we need to break it down further here, to enable easy relativity for our readers that are not professionals in advertising and brands management. Perhaps that better establish the position of a brand’s equity as its asset.

Perhaps we need to look at the brand in isolation of ‘equity’, to better identify equity and its importance in the life and person of a brand. A brand is basically made up of two elements; the product (offer) and a name. Where these two are not present together, other categorization other than a brand exists. So, the offer must have a name to become a brand, verse-versa.

A brand is a personification of a promise with a name.

Therefore, it possesses the following as characteristics: ·Emotions – passion, anger, feel, smell, likes and dislikes, etc ·Physical attributes – size, weight, complexion, etc ·Identity (name, address, personality) ·Friends and associates ·Responsibility ·Sensory organs – ability to perceive ·Norms, attitude, traditions, character – all such that makes up its personality or identity.

The list goes on and on.

However, the balancing part of a brand is its EQUITY – that part of its personality that bothers on its strength, value, quality and over all market performance. So, a brand’s equity will come to play in the consideration of elements such as the level of awareness it

every marketing objective and attendant marketing support initiative is about adding to the value of its equity, the easier it will be for us to connect with the relationship between a brand’s share of consumer mind (which sum total equals the brand’s market share) and its equity. As earlier stated above, a brand’s equity is the sum total of the properties that make up the brand. So on the market position pyramid, stages of brand’s market performance is broadly categorized in three: leader, follower and laggard. Each of these three categories only reflects the power and efficiency of the various brands’ equity at the market place.

No matter the amount of efforts put in capturing a brand’s desired image, the market’s perception of the brand is determined by the consumer’s firsthand experience

cally · A brand’s equity is strong enough to bring a dying brand back to life Essentially, therefore, brand equity must be properly appreciated for what it is in order to build in our practice some structures that will guide brand managers towards taking deliberate steps to work for it. If we appreciate the fact that

,

For purposes of demonstration, let us consider an aspect of brand equity as a success driver in brands management – looking at image perception. To begin with, perception is all about the consumer ’s experience in relation to the given brand. Whether a given target consumer will engage a given brand after the first

experience depends largely on the experience at the first contact. The desired image for any brand is very important; hence it is an issue of primary consideration in the strategic planning process. It is expressly captured in the creative brief forms. Deliberate effort is required in agreeing the image desired for a brand, which must align with its value-essence and promise.

However, no matter the amount of efforts put in capturing a brand’s desired image, the market’s perception of the brand is determined by the consumer’s firsthand experience. Take for example the issue of delivering on promise as a build up towards a brand’s image. It is given that a brand knows the target market’s value touch-points, prior to its making its promise and stating its desired image.

It therefore means that if that brand does not deliver on its promise, it immediately earns for itself the image of a liar.

So, if the BIC Ballpoint pen fails to “flow till the last drop” the target user immediately disconnects from it, for reason of deception (or failure – mildly put).

Looking at the larger picture, therefore, if managers of that brand appreciate the fact that ensuring the brand delivers on its promise goes far beyond actualizing sales to adding to its total equity for the long run, they will invest more to maintain that aspect of its personality. That is the essence of this article. We have also mentioned that the problem with most brand managers today is that they look at the immediate gains instead of long term benefits. That is why so much is compromised today. As a result, some brands will boldly engage in seasonal sales promotion but deliberately skew the process to make sure big value prices are not won by anybody – because nobody can immediately determine the sincerity of such exercises.

But the sad news for such brands is that the market is taking note of such sharp practices, and questions are being asked. Cumulatively, the image or market perception of the guilty brands is adding up for the day of reckoning. It may not seem threatening now, but someday a competing offer will give vent to the negatives that will disgrace all such brands.

Within the context of this topic, therefore, BRAND EQUITY must be considered in its influence and importance, more in futuristic terms. Looking at a brand’s equity, therefore, it comes across as the power of the brand and the measure of the brand’s success. A brand’s equity is its most priced and enduring asset. It outlives the brand’s physically determined values.

Our brands managers today must carry this in their subconscious.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 23

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Older men or Toyboys? One woman’s meat is another one’s poison!

I

RECENTLY came across these inter esting views on the age-old topic of the sugar daddy versus the toy-boy and have adapted them for readers’ consideration. Read the two opposing views and decide who wins hands down, the sugar-daddy or the toyboy? Joan, 52, who says she roots for the toy-boy any day declares: “Hmm, let’s see; a middle aged bore with a wobbly gut, hairy ears and the stamina of a mayfly? Or a slim, smooth, 20-something with a flat-board tummy and a randy libido? It’s not a hard choice, really.

“That’s why I only date toy-toys. I’ve been doing it for 14 years, since my marriage ended after almost two decades. I was only 38 then” I moped around my home for three months until a mate dragged me out to an allnight party packed with sophisticated young men.

‘Why not have a bit of fun?’ I thought as a gorgeous young thing started chatting me up, then surprised me with a kiss! I floated home, shocked and thrilled to have pulled a 30-yearold. I wasn’t past it after all! Locked in that lad’s

embrace, I’d felt sexy and alive. I was hooked!

“Some few months later. I met another young man and took this one home. My son; then 18, and my daughter, 16 were out so we had the place to ourselves. 1 admit I had a moment of terror - would he be put off by my stretch marks and paunchy tummy?

But it wasn’t a smooth stomach he was after. He wanted my experience.

And that night, I taught him bedroom tricks he couldn’t believe. Better still, at his young age, he wasn’t looking for a relationship or kids. After fantastic sex, we said a guilt-free goodbye.

I’ve had some sexually and emotionally satisfying experience with various young men and now my men are getting younger - my last conquest was under 30! It’s easy to pull them, even at my age. I’m proud of my figure and I dress it up well. The lads I go out with see I get a kick out of it, which adds to the thrill!

“My stomach retches at the thought of being with a man my age. I don’t want nights in front of TV. I want to speed in the seat of my

young lover ’s fast cars.

Admit it, wouldn’t you?”

Anna, 28, completely disagrees with Joan. “All teenage girls want older men”, she declares. ‘I was just 16 when I got hooked on an older man - the car, the money, rugged good looks. The only thing the boys my age had were spots. I snared John while I was’ doing work experience in an office. He came to transact some business and set me lusting after him.

He was my first lover and we did it at the back

of his Volvo Estate. All that slow, sexy skilful experience left me gasping for more. In ten months, he taught me all he knew about sex. When I found out he had a daughter, 11 months younger than me, I felt grown up and superior.

My sex life was miles better than my friends’ they just dated lanky boys our age. John had a flabby belly and greying chest hair but it made him more of a man to me.

When I found out he had a girlfriend of his own

age, I dumped him. I was mad, not sad I was immediately ready for my next confidant.

“We met at a night club and when I led him to where his car was, he couldn’t believe his luck.

You see, older men love being seduced by younger women. Right then, as I clawed at his back, I was like my favourite film stars - gorgeous, lusted after, and sizzling with power. Phil offered me more than just amazing sex - he gave me commitment as I left home and moved in with him. A year on, we got married, I had the whole adult package and I even became a mum, had two boys. But then, the arguments began. My fault looking back. I liked the stability but I wanted more. I wanted other mature men falling at my feet again and again.

When I went out with my mates, I always ended up going home with an older man. Having told Phil I was staying with a friend.

I did try out a lad the same age as me once, but the sex was terrible, over too quickly.

“Then a year later, I met Gerry. From our first kiss, I knew my marriage was dust.

He was 53, three years older than my mum. He lavished me with clothes and spoilt me rotten. So I walked out on Phil and my boys. It broke my heart, but my marriage was too unhappy to stay.

And I loved Gerry. He had been married three times, had loads of experience, and knew what women wanted. Which is why three years on, we’re married. I had people sneer that I’m just looking for a father figure. What rubbish! I don’t need another dad.

I’ve got what I needed and that’s a red-hot husband who makes me feel special. I’m number one in his world.

“If I just need a cuddle, I get one. Older men are more understanding, grateful, loving and strong. They’d rather get romantic on the sofa than go clubbing with the lads. Young men are too selfish, boring, immature and clumsy in the bed room.I think there’s nothing sexier than deep laughter lines, a hairy chest turning to silver and the beginning of a paunch.

So you can stuff your super-stud. Give. me maturity-again and again and again!”

08052201867(Text Only)

The Shoulderstand INBOX Occasionally the two lips of my anus swell out to make it painful to go to toilet. I am 78 yrs old can any of the yoga exercises help me for I fear and detest surgery.

The Shoulderstand might be of help.

T

HE shoulder stand called Sorvangasana in Sanskrit is said to be one of the best asanas, postures.

Although it is a common sight to see it done in gyms, schools and health clubs without it coupled with deep breathing it becomes of very little therapeutic value.

Another name for the shoulderstand is The CandleStand on account the body is kept straight like a candle.

Of great importance to both sexes, everyone should be encouraged to do this

asana. Age should be no barrier. I have seen people well over 70 do the shoulderstand with skill and ease.

In this posture the thyroid gland which is situated at the base of the neck and the gonads or sex organs which lie low down the trunk, below the digestive organs are influenced.

The function of the endocrine or ductless glands are inter-related, in spite of the fact each had its own duties to perform. I shall return to the glands when we get to the headstand and how it affects them all.

To do the shoulderstand, lie down on your back with palms on the floor, slowly inhale and raise both legs.

With the elbows down, bring both hands to support the hips with the body resting on the nape of the neck and shoulders. Press the chin firmly against the chest. Now, push the trunk upward while straightening the knees with the legs in a straight vertical line.

Do abdominal breathing-

in and out movement. Keep very still. You may close your eyes to avoid distractions. Remain in the posture for as long as it is comfortable.

To return to lying position, just bend the knees, then curve the spine, gradually unfolding it like when one unrolls a carpet. With

the whole back on the floor, straighten the knees and gently lower your legs to the ground.

Take a little rest flat on your back.

Benefits: The shoulderstand affects the thyroid and sex glands.

It gives vitality to the nerves, purifies the blood and promotes good circulation.

With this exercise, the lower organs are

,

The shoulderstand affects the thyroid and sex glands. It gives vitality to the nerves, purifies the blood and promotes good circulation The Shoulderstand

,

strengthened and made to stay in place. It is especially recommended for women after child birth.

Of immense help to sufferers of asthma, constipation and piles it must be practised with diligence. It is of great help in overcoming painful menstration and other female disorders. In the menfolk, seminal weakness is corrected, manly vigour preserved.

Caution: People with organic disorders of the thyroid should refrain from this exercise and should be done for short periods - thirty seconds to a minute by those afflicted with chronic nasal catarrh.

Next in line after the shoulderstand is what is called The Fish Posture.

In the shoulderstand, the head is bent towards the chest while the opposite obtains in the fish-the neck is arched, bending the head backwards.

Supta-vafrasana is San-

skrit, the fish is done by kneeling on the floor with the feet spread apart. The body is then lowered down to the point where a sitting posture between the heels is attained start reclining the body, and elbow. Drop the head far back. Continue the reclining movement until the dome of your head is on the floor. Now arrange the hands as if in prayer. Breathe normally.

The benefits of the fish are as follows: The pituitary pineal, thyroid and adrenal glands are affected.

The neck is stretched and limbered. It strengthens and tones the nervous system, the kidney, the stomach, the intestines, the pelvic organs and the nerves connected with sex-functions.

For those who cannot sit down between the heels in this posture, they may keep the feet together and stretched out but arching the back and neck till the top (dome) of the head is on the floor with hands arranged as mentioned earlier in the full posture.

Yoga classes STARTED at 32 Adetokunbo Ademola, Victoria Island, Lagos, 9.10am on Saturdays

P AGE 24— SUND AY Vanguard , FEBRU ARY 2 , 2014 SUNDA FEBRUARY

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

08056180152,

SMS only

Friends who help you ruin your marriage!

A

NDY, a marital therapist with years of experience behind her once said: “Working as a marital therapist, I’ve become convinced that, while men don’t have enough friends or emotional support, women can have far too many and too much. In fact, my heart sinks when a new female client tells me her ‘friends have been wonderful’ because time and again, whilst she thinks they ’ve been helping her save her relationship, they’ve been fanning the flames or even throwing petrol on the fire.”

When you’re going through a relationship crisis, you run to your friends. It could be when hubby hits the mid-life crisis and starts acting strangely or you caught him texting another woman. Worst of all, he could be threatening to leave you and break the family you’ve built over the years. Unfortunately, going over all the sordid details of your problems with friends is more likely to pump up your distress, make you feel angrier and betrayed.

Lara, a 42-year-old legal practitioner confided in a few close friends when her husband of eight years started demanding different things in the bedroom.

“What a fool I was”, she said much later.” I knew this particular friend::was jealous of me but not quite how much.

Not long after, I discovered that she and Sanjo, my husband were having an affair and I’d inadvertently given her the clue to turn his head”. Unsurprisingly, Lara fell out with her once-close friend - but it didn’t stop her confiding in others to get her through the difficult months. ‘

saying sorry. First acknowledge any behaviour that you regret; next, identify how this might have made him feel, and then apologise. Please don’t explain why you acted as you did - that’s for another day - because it can sound like an excuse and lessen the power of your apology.

5. Be the big one. If you love your husband - and if not, why are you spending hours talking about him to your girlfriends - do you love him enough to give without any expectation (in the short term) of getting anything back.

“What could I do?” she wailed. “I needed to get through the difficult months. I was really elated when Sanjo decided he’d made a mistake and begged for a second chance. I was shocked to realise that even though I thought friends would give independent advice they often have their own agendas too. My friends split down the middle. The ones that were divorced told me he’d always cheat on me now he’d tasted the forbidden fruit.

Those who had forgiven their husbands told me to think of the happy years and our children ... “ Whilst Lara was running her mouth to her friends, she conveniently ‘forgot’ to mention that since her third child was born two years ago, she and her husband had had sex less than a dozen times. “Everybody knows that looking after small children is ex-

Y

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

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

Fear not

"FEAR! "Right when YOU get the URGE to QUIT; throw in the towel or surrender; there is ONE thing

hausting. By the time I’d put our three kids to bed, the last thing I wanted was sex. It was one of the good friends I confided in that told me that this might not excuse my husband’s behaviour, but it made the situation less black and white. It was when Sanjo complained that when your wife doesn’t want to sleep with you, you not only feel unattractive and unwanted, but you begin to wonder what’s the point in anything?

“I then realised, albeit uncomfortably, I hadn’t been a saint myself.

When Sanjo was having his affair, my so-called friends encouraged me to ‘get out more’ and when I met this dishy divorcee at a party, they urged me to ‘go for it.’ I did and the affair gave me a lift and boosted my self-esteem.

But it made things between me and Sanjo a whole lot more complicated and probably set

back our recovery by a few months.”

According to Andy the therapist: “In many ways, it’s easier to counsel men - they aren’t struggling with contradictions or suspect advice from different friends, because most of them haven’t discussed their problems with anyone.

“Perhaps it is not surprising women urge their friends to take the same path as theirs because, when it comes down to it, everybody questions whether they ’ve made the right choices and having friends come to similar conclusion is reassuring. So while it’s fine to occasionally talk to your friends about your relationship, instead of talking about the man in your life, you should really be talking - even more important - listening to him.”

Five Steps To Save Your Marriage According to Andy, a

YOU must consider; WINNERS NEVER QUIT and QUITTTERS NEVER WIN; YOU must remember: even the STRONGEST MEN in the world get weak; when it comes to life; NEVER allow YOUR PRIDE to HIDE the true inner spirit, due to struggle and strife. YOU must be able to LOOK UP; anytime YOU feel DOWN; an YOU must be able to LOOK DOWN; even at the HIGHEST altitude above the ground; "FEAR" eliminates ALL WISHES; DROWNS ALL DREAMS; KILLS SOME of the STRONGEST SPIRITS; and BREAKS UP some of the STRONGEST TEAMS; but I DARE YOU to DRIVE SMARTER; PLAY

relationship counsellor, these five steps come in .handy when you want to save a troubled marriage:; 1. When you’re in a hole, stop digging. Under pressure, we tend to try the same failed strategy again and again.

Even though we know pushing for an answer; getting angry or going silent doesn’t work, we imagine doing it one more time (but bigger, louder or far longer) will change things. It won’t.

2.

Stop playing titfor-tat. He does something horrible and you match him. Soon it is become a race to the bottom.

3.

Just for a second, put your feelings to one side and step in your partner’s shoes.

How does your relationship look now and what would you like to do differently .

4. Make a full apology.

This is different from

A Sad Man’s Poem!

(Humour) My nookie days are over, My pilot light is out.

What used to be my sex appeal, is now my water spout.

Time was, when on its own accord, from my trousers it would spring.

But now I’ve got a fulltime job to find the bleeding thing.

It used to be embarrassing, the way it would behave.

Every single morning it would stand and watch me shave! Now as age approaches, it sure gives me the blues, To see it hang its little head and watch me tie my shoes!

Viagra, A Pathfinder?

(Humour) A family are driving to the seaside but spend ages looking for their hotel. ‘I think I’m lost,’ dad admits to Mum. ‘Daddy,’ their little son in the back pipes up, ‘ you must’ve forgotten the viagra.’

Eh?’ Dad splutters.

‘What on earth do you mean?’ ‘Well,’ the son says, “I heard mum tell Auntie Jill if, it wasn’t for the viagra, you’d be lost.

HARDER and NEVER allow YOURSELF to GIVE IN; because DANGER is REAL; but ... "FEAR" is only for THOSE who GIVE IN ..."

Chris Onunaku 08032988826/08184844015.

I miss you Whenever I remembers the distance between us I feel like shedding tears. And whenever I woke up in the morning and saw that you are not there,I die a thousand times. In fact, your absence left a vacuum and a gaping hole which nothing appears to fill. I really miss your inspiring and loving presence.

Akachukwu Ferdinand.

08063819314

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 25

08116759757 existing camera while telephony infrastructure has the capacity to carry 100,000 subscribers.

According to the commissioner, video conferencing had also been deployed to enable quick decision making among security operative.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Fashola said government was planning to expand existing camera and telephony infrastructure to support deployment of additional cameras to cover the entire state to make it safe and secure. The governor was optimistic that with all these security equipments being put in place, there would be no hiding place for criminals in the state anymore.

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

C

LOSED-Circuit Television, CCTV, is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, limited set of monitors. It differs from broadcast television in that the signal is not openly transmitted, though it may employ point to point wireless links. CCTV is often used for surveillance in areas that may need monitoring such as banks, homes, casinos, airports, military installations and convenience stores.

The increasing use of CCTV in public places has caused a debate over public surveillance versus privacy. People can also buy consumer CCTV systems for personal, private or commercial use. In industrial plants, CCTV equipment may be used to observe parts of a process from a central control room; when, for example, the environment is not comfortable for human. CCTV systems may operate continuously or only as required to monitor a particular event.

With the use of quality equipments it can provide an interface both for governments and the public to view traffic congestion, traffic flow, density, average speed and incident detection. The main aim of this system will be to eradicate crime and possibly reduce manual traffic road supervision.

In the United Kingdom, UK, one of the advanced countries, the exact number of CCTV cameras was not known but a year 2002 working paper by Michael McCahill and Clive Norris of UrbanEye, based on a small sample in Putney them.

High Street, estimated the After some months of number of surveillance painstaking manhunt, the cameras in private premises in police arrested and paraded London to be around 500,000 the suspects before the and the total number of public. The above scenario cameras in the UK to be expounded the relevance of around 4,200,000. security cameras in monitorAccording to their estimate ing, fighting and tracking the UK has one camera for down criminals activities in every 14 people. The CCTV the society, especially, the User Group estimated that most populous state in there around 1.5 million Nigeria, Lagos.

Before now, the Federal CCTV cameras in city centres, Government had deployed stations, airports, major retail 1,000 CCTVs in strategic areas and so forth. places across the state to monitor crime. The state ast Monday, Governor government added 200 Babatunde Fashola of making a total of 1,200 Lagos State led other memsecurity cameras. bers of Executive Council to a At the inception of the Public Security System initiative, there was a slight demonstration of 27-screen video wall monitors on the use misunderstanding between the FG and the state on of 1,200 security cameras implementation. While the deployed in the state by the state wanted to go ahead with Federal Government where its own plan, following delay the recorded scene of an from the central authority, the armed robbery incident at the FG stopped the former from Murtala Muhammed Internagoing ahead with the protional Airport, MMIA, was gramme due to logistics, played back on the video wall among other reasons. to a spell boind audience In 2009, the state governcomprising senior journalists, ment launched a pilot phase senior government officials, of CCTV initiative, solar among others at the Compowered, only in three mand and Control Centre in locations in the state, namely; Alausa, Lagos.

Falomo Bridge, Third MainIn the video clip, unknown land Bridge and Eko to the armed robbers, CCTV Bridge.Before then, the cameras installed in strategic Federal Government had places to monitor activities approached the state governclearly captured the robbery ment of its intention to control operation.

The police were able to close the installation and running of the project with Abuja and up on the characters involved Lagos selected for the first in the crime and went after

H

e explained that the

The Lagos crime-bursting cameras!

C M Y K

,,

L

phase The FG, under its National Public Security System programme, earmarked installation of a thousand cameras in Lagos for a start but 906 were installed then.

A demonstration of the screen-video monitors was carried out by the Permanent

In the video clip, unknown to the armed robbers, CCTV cameras installed in strategic places to monitor activities clearly captured the robbery operation

Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs Nike Animashaun, using the Lagos airport scene as a case study.

Activities, at the airport, Agege Motor Road and

Oshodi at that moment could be monitored. The screen could zoom in on individuals, numbers plate of vehicles and anything. In her presentation of the live feeds from the various points in the state, she demonstrated how the cameras could zoom into particular objects and also take snapshots in addition to making 360 degrees turns to capture events simultaneously.

T

he Director, Computer

Services in the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr Debola Omoboya, in his presentation took the audience through the emergency telephony demo and how the state had been able to leverage on the emergency telephony infrastructure. He demonstrated four key services namely, the emergency telephony system, the video surveillance system, the video conferencing system and the e-police system which is based on the call centre located in the Command Centre.

Commissioner for Science and Technology, Adebiyi Mabadeje, at the event, said the state government had concluded arrangement to add another 1,000 security cameras to the existing 1,200 to complement the efforts to reduce crime.

According to him, security equipments deployed in the state include 1,000 plus surveillance cameras, 66 basestations on CDMA technology, microwave links, normal telephony capacity, network with 3G data capabilities,

demonstration was a follow up to what was started in 2008 when a pilot scheme was located in Lekki with one camera. According to him, the demonstration was meant to show how far his administration had gone in spite of the many criticisms, cynicism and doubts cast on the project.

“Now we have moved from a zero camera state to about 1,200 camera state. We are now in a position where we are now on one camera to about 10 sq kilometers, so we are far behind other cities like New York and London, where they range between 200 and 450 cameras per sq km. How did we do it? We have merged our cameras with the ones that the Federal Government installed, so we have taken all the feeds in here. We have moved from one small screen that you saw in Lekki to 27 screens that are collapsible in all forms either to one big wall, three screens and so on,” he explained.

According to him, what was being enjoyed now started with the Security Trust Fund which provided equipment, vehicles and stuff and was followed by street signage as it was discovered that while the police could move, they could not identify streets. “We followed that with house numbering, all of which are still work- in-progress and we realize that now that we could get police to move, but how do we call them? We moved from an 11 digit number to three digit number, 767 or 112 because we did not think people in trauma will remember an 11 digit number easily and how quickly you can contact the police or ambulance is the difference between what practitioners of disaster management call the golden hour.”

Fashola maintained that the work had not finished by any measure or distance, as there is a lot of room for improvement, which is what his administration would continue to seek.

PAGE 26— SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

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The Amosuns and their 5,000 senior citizens

BY IDOWU SOWUNMI

I

t was an impressive day at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta on January 25 as over 2,000 aged people from the 20 local government areas of Ogun State took turns to offer prayers to the first family in the state as part of the activities to commemorate the 56th birthday of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

One by one, the senior citizens had the floor to express themselves. It was an opportunity for them to interact with the first family, pray for the leaders and continued reign of peace in Ogun State.

Elder Tayo Obadina, 82, from IsaraRemo in Remo North local government area of the state, prayed for God’s continuous guidance and protection upon the Amosuns. He asked God to shower the governor and his wife with more wisdom to govern the state, adding that long life and prosperity shall be their portion. He appreciated the governor and his wife for prioritising the welfare of the aged expressing satisfaction over the monumental achievements of the governor.

Another elderly woman, Mrs. Wosilat Malogun, 95, from Abeokuta, prayed for God’s blessings for the governor and his family, explaining that aged people have not had it so good since the creation of the state or received any gift or care of such magnitude from any government.

Alhaji A. Akilapo, 82, from Odeda local government area, expressed gratitude to the wife of the governor for

Mrs Olufunso Amosun UPLIFTING the aged

recognising the aged people and for keeping her promise to sustain the “UPLIFTing the Aged” programme, saying the initiative has brought relief and strength to them as well as improved their standard of living.

Also speaking, Mr. Emmanuel Obasan, 82, from Yewa prayed for long life and prosperity for the governor and his wife.

A 90-year-old man, Pa G.O Ogundipe, added his voice to pray for Amosun and his wife, saying the grace of God would never depart from the house of the first family.

T

he wife of the governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, has uplifted and cared for over 5,000 needy aged people from the state’s 20 local government areas in the last three years with the aim of reducing poverty and hunger among the vulnerable citizens through her initiative, UPLIFTing the Aged.

UPLIFTing the Aged programme was flagged off on January 25, 2012 to commemorate the 54th birthday of Governor Amosun with more than 1,000 elderly people in attendance. The aged people were given health tips, free

LAGOS-ABUJA JOURNEY OF NO RETURN

How NNPC official was intercepted, robbed and gruesomely killed - Police

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

F

OLLOWING a painstaking and diligent investigation, detectives from the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) of the Nigeria Police have solved the riddle surrounding the disappearance of Mr. Sylvester Emefiele, a staffer of the Transformation Office of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Emefiele was reported to have left Lagos. September 23, 2012, sequel to a call from his office asking him to report in Abuja the following day in order to process his visa for a trip to Hungary for a training programme.

On receiving information on the disappearance through the police email platform, – policemonitor@npf.gov.ng, the Inspector-General of Police ordered investigation into the case.

Subsequently, detectives from the FSARS, led by DCP Chris Ezike, swung into action, and, through systematic and high-level investigative technique, tracked down one Olaniyi Banjo, a 20year old resident of Ilesa, Osun State, who bought the Blackberry phone of the deceased from one of the principal C M Y K

suspects, Akindele Taiwo.

The efforts of the police led to the arrest of the alleged masterminds of the crime on June 8, 2013, namely: 30-year old Timothy Abidemi Lekan ‘m’ alias Leksit, who hails from Osun State, and 41-year old Akinlade Taiwo ‘m’, a native of Modakeke in Ife East Local Government Area of Osun State.

The duo made very useful statements to the police in connection with the disappearance, robbery and killing of Emefiele. The suspects equally led detectives to the scene of crime - a bush close to the Iddo Campus of the University of Abuja - where the abandoned and totally decomposed remains of the deceased, now mere skeletal parts, were recovered.

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forensic examination including DNA analysis confirmed that the recovered remains were actually those of Emefiele. Personal effects of the deceased, including cash, ATM cards, Laptop, Blackberry phones, cheque books, personal apparels, etc were also recovered.

Also arrested in connection with the case was a witch-doctor, Saidi

•IGP, Mr. M.D. Abubakar Babatunde, from Osun State who was implicated by the suspects for preparing criminal charms for them.

Police investigation shows that the late Emefiele, while en route from Lagos to Abuja, dropped at Giri in Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT at about 8pm on September 23, 2012, where he

medical screening, bags of essential commodities and cash gifts. Last year, January 25, another round of 2,000 senior citizens benefitted from the UPLIFTing the Aged programme; they received free medical checks, food items and cash gifts.

The third edition of the UPLIFTing the Aged programme was the one held penultimate Saturday with over 2,000 elderly people in attendance to felicitate with the governor on his 56th birthday.

This brings the total number of the senior citizens who have benefitted from Mrs. Amosun’s UPLIFTing the Aged programme so far to over 5,000. More than 500 of these aged people have since been put on monthly plan by the governor ’s wife, receiving stipends through their UPLIFTing the Aged ATM cards.

Mrs. Amosun believed the ATM cards would reduce the rigour and other challenges often encountered in the course of distributing food and commodities to the aged scattered across Ogun State.

She explained that the cards, donated

by Ecobank Plc, was a continuation of her UPLIFTing the Aged welfare package, saying the enlisted aged people could now access their monthly stipends through the cards without having to come down to Abeokuta.

Speaking at the occasion, the wife of the governor said she has compassion and love for the cause of vulnerable senior citizens, noting that they had contributed their quota to the development of our society and they should be supported and care for by the younger ones to enable them age with dignity. unsuspectingly boarded a Nissan Sunny saloon car with Reg. No: AG-956-KEF driven by Akinlade Taiwo who further picked his accomplice, Timothy Abidemi Lekan, on the way during which they subdued their victim and led him to the bush where he was robbed.

The suspects confirmed that they forced the deceased to disclose the personal identification numbers of his ATM cards which enabled them to make an initial withdrawal of N186,000 from his Zenith Bank, First Bank and GTBank accounts at Gwagwalada.

On seeing that their victim still had an outstanding balance of over N800,000, the robbers chose to kill Emefiele by binding his wrists with twine and hitting his chest with their Talisman and other dangerous weapons until they were sure their victim’ was dead.

Thereafter, they continued making illicit withdrawals from the victim’s accounts until they were apprehended by the police.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police- IGP, Mr. M.D. Abubakar, has commended the officers that investigated the case for their diligence, dedication and professionalism, assuring Nigerians that justice will take its course as the suspects have already been arraigned before a competent court of law.

Abubakar called on the public to be wary of the kind of vehicles they enter to avoid falling victim to hoodlums. He promised increased visibility of the police on our highways through intensive vehicular patrols especially at nights for the safety and security of road users.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 27

C M Y K

PAGE 28—SUNDAY, Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

The la wmak er as the A wujale cchief hief lawmak wmaker Awujale HON. Yacoob BushAlebiosu of the House of Representatives repre-

senting Kosofe Federal Constituency of Lagos State was a toast of the

entire Ijebu nation on Saturday, January 25th when the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebu land conferred on the young politician the highly revered chieftaincy title of Otunba Fuwagbuyi.

The landmark occasion held at the palace of the monarch and it was graced by prominent sons and daughters of Ijebu land and their friends. Photos by Shola Oyelese

L-R: Mr Segun Erewa, his wife, Hon Abike DabiriErewa with Otunba and Mrs Yacoob Ekundayo Bush-Alebiosu, the Otunba Fuwagbuyi of Ijebu

L-R:Hon. Yacoob Ekundayo Adedeji Bush-Alebiosu, the Otunba Fuwagbuyi of Ijebu receiving his blessing from Alayeluwa, Oba Sikiru Adetona [CFR]Ogbagba 11, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu Land .

Otunba Bush-Alebiosu and Otunba (Mrs )H. F. Bush-Alebiosu

DESOPADEC commissioner marks anniversary L-R: Otunba Subomi Balogun, Olisa R. Adeoye Adesanya and Aremo Olusegun Osoba.

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he commissioner representing Ndokwa in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Com mission (DESOPADEC), Sir Kenny Okolugbo, marked his first year in office with a thanksgiving service.

L-R:Otunba Hon. Yomi Ogunnusi, Hon Lanre Odutola and Hon Olumide Osoba

Women in Government and Politics Conference in London

W

hile the men in suits surround Parliament in defence of its traditions, a new generation of students were in Parliament to put forward the case for

more women in politics and government.

Westminster Cathedral was taken by storm with the maiden edition of Winihin Jemide Series conference, which brought together women

L-R: Rev. Nims (Operation Black Vote- UK), Dr. Dere Awosika (Former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power), Baroness Rosalind Howells (House of Lords- UK), WinihinAyuli-Jemide (Convener), Osiyo Agama (Librarian), Ebele Ogbue (CEO UBA Capital, Europe), Rev. Helen Agama.

Mrs. Winihin Ayuli Jemide and Hon Prescovia (Uganda’s Youngest Female Parliamentarian) with student delegates C M Y K

from about 22 countries.

The conference, “Women in Government and Politics – Africa Edition,”

had its opening ceremony in the House of Commons in London.

L-R. Sen Aisha Al-Hassan- Nigeria, Mary ChineryHesse- Ghana, Dr. Elsie Scott- USA, Diezani AlisonMadueke-Nigeria, Sen. Nkechi Nwaogu- Nigeria and Hon. Sere Sereme Saran- Burkina Faso

L-R: Aarti Shah (Thomson Reuters Foundation); Debbie Thomas (Deloittes); Mrs WinihinAyuliJemide (Convener); Maria Sanchez-Marin (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

L-R: Sir Ken Okolugbo and wife, Uzo-Amaka.

Bishop David Obiosa of Ndokwa Diocese of the Anglican Church addressing the congregation.

L-R. Mr Festus Utuama, Chief Christopher Ominimini, Sir Ken Okolugbo and Lady Uzoamaka.

Sir and lady Okolugbo, Dr Nekwu Okolugbo.

SUNDAY, Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 29

Nuptial bliss for

bliss for Statue of V .B.V owell stands in Ughelli Nuptial V.B.V .B.V.. P Po Ajibola and Seun

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overn m e n t College Ughelli Old Boys Association stormed the college recently to unveil the statue of V.B.V. Powell, the first expatriate principal of the college. The ‘Old Mariners’ as they are called also seized the opportunity to make a facility tour of the college.

Olanrewaju

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eautiful Ajibola Oladejo recently signed off her maiden name to become Mrs Oluwaseun Olanrewaju after being joined in a wellattended marriage at Methodist Church of Nigeria, Oke-Ado, Ibadan with Reverend Oluwaseun Olanrewaju. Family and friends graced the deluxe occasion. Photos by Kehinde Gbadamosi

Mariners unveiling the statute of V.B.V. Powell, first expatriate principal of Government College, Ughelli.

From left; Mrs Bukola Onipede, Mr Adesina Oladejo, bride's parents, Rev Oluwaseun and Mrs Ajibola Olanrewaju , couple, and Very Revd. and Mrs Ojo Olanrewaju, groom's parents.

Engr. Joseph Akpieyi, President-General Worldwide, GCUOBA (right) making a speech as Prof.

Patrick Muoboghare, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary School and Mr. Okoro Okpako, Principal of Government College, Ughelli look on.

Engr. Joseph Akpieyi, President-General, Worldwide, GCUOBA, flanked by ‘Old Mariners’ while inspecting the Library of the College.

Engr. Joseph Akpieyi, President-General Worldwide, GCUOBA in a handshake with Olorogun Obriks Miller Uloho as others look on

L-R: Engr. Joseph Akpieyi, President-General Worldwide, GCUOBA; Chief Andrew Maduku, 1st President-General Worlwide GCUOBA and Olorogun Obriks Miller Uloho.

From left; Chief S. Amoo Olaniran, Baale Ikolaba Town, Rev Oluwaseun and Mrs Ajibola Olanrewaju, the couple , and Mr Adesina Oladejo

Images from Appealing Grace Assembly Appealing Grace Assembly (APGA) talent hunt programme tagged, Praise Up, Chop Up, took place recently.

The ocassion in pictures

From left; Mr Kabiru Laniyan, Hon. Chief S.L. Laniyan, Mr Lanre Laniyan and Chief (Mrs) S.L. Laniyan.

APGA Senior Pastor Damilare Akinola with his guests C M Y K

One of the groups that competed for prizes

The couple: Rev Oluwaseun and Mrs Ajibola Olanrewaju in a group Photograph with bride’s family,

PAGE 30— SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

Agbani Darego, Regina Askia, Elizabeth Taylor and I

—Face of Niger Delta

BY ABEL KOLAWOLE

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he Most Beautiful Girl in the Niger Delta, popularly known as Face of Niger Delta, Miss Gwendolyn Okutele, says she will use her time and resources as the Queen and Ambassador of the Niger Delta to work for the collective interest of the region and promote values that could encourage the education of the girlchild.

Okutele, who spoke to journalists before the commencement of the final match between Warri Wolf and Delta Eagles at the Otu-Jeremi Stadium in Udu local government area of Delta State, explained that her passion for the girl-child education is like an unquenchable fire burning through in her mind.

She maintained that she will work for the upliftment of the girl- child education as a value that the Niger Delta people will not only key into but will also cherish.

Speaking on her reign, the Niger Delta beauty queen asserted that it has been a wonderful mix of joyful experience and pressure associated with a rising star

ulated the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof.

Amos Utuama, on the success of the Utuama Peace Cup Competition. “l am an ambassador of peace and when l sees and event that could promote peace, I identify with it. l wish the Deputy Governor Prof. Amos Utuama, good luck in future competitions,” she said.

When asked what was next in her agenda after the Face of the Niger Delta, Okutele said she would compete for the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant this year.

She stated that if she wins, she would move ahead and contest for Miss World. She also said that she will take up an acting role in

Okutele said she would compete for the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant this year

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in dire need of success.

She posited that due to the unexpected nature of her victory, it was natural to fidget due to stage panic and other forms of discomfort associated with being having to face people, to interact with the high and the mighty in the society.

The Urhobo born beauty queen of the AdagbrasaAmukpe extraction in Sapele local government area of Delta State, however, remarked that so far it has been a sweat and very wonderful feeling. “l like it, l C M Y K

enjoy it, and it has exposed me to another experience of life,” she said, adding that she will work very hard to implement all the agenda she set for herself within the period of her reign.

Okutele, who flagged off her campaign as the Face of the Niger Delta last November with a visit to Madam Buwa Memorial Orphanage Home in Sapele where she doled out several items including bags of rice, loafs of bread, tubers of yam, vegetable oil, palm oil, clothes, shoes, tissue papers, detergents and cartons of noddles, also visited other public institutions like the prisons, the Sapele Remand Home, hospitals and schools in continuation of her charity work.

According to her, she would do more this year by sinking a bore hole in her community in Amukpe where she said the people still drink water from an unhygienic well, as well as print exercise books for distributions to schools around the Niger Delta.

She said it is her dream to set a standard for the girls in her community, noting that if she had not gone to

school, she would not have been exposed to the idea of competing in a beauty pageant not to talk of becoming the Face of the Niger Delta.

The Niger Delta Peace Ambassador commended Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan for setting up the “Education Marshall” to pick up children hawking during school hours and send them to school, insisting that the governor has, through the initiative, etched his name in gold.”

The beauty queen congrat-

the Nollywood.

On her role model, she named Regina Askia, Agbani Darego and Elizabeth Taylor.

The Niger Delta beauty queen said, it is also her dream to meet the Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, Austin Okocha, Kanu Nwakwo,

Mikel Obi and Perpetual Nkwocha, because of her passion for the round leather game.

On her dress sense, she said she loves, it simple and smart. The 400 level business administration student of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, says before the

end of her tenure, it is her dream to touch the whole Niger Delta State with her charity work.

Meanwhile, the first citizen of Okpe kingdom, HRM, Maj. Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (CFR), the Orodje of Okpe has described the beauty queen as a rising star who will go places. The monarch was elated that an Okpe girl emerged the winner in the keenly contested Face of Niger Delta beauty peagent and promised to support her in any capacity.

She also paid a courtesy visit to the Ovie of Oghara kingdom, HRM Oreki III, who prayed for her and promised to assist her in the course of actualizing her dreams.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 31

INTRIGUING EXPERIENCES

*Lady mechanics under apprenticeship. Inset: The founder of Lady Mechanics Initiative, Mrs. Sandra Aguebor-Ekperuoh, presenting some tools to Dame Patience Jonathan during a visit to the Presidential Villa, in Abuja.

Life as Lady Mechanics —Mrs. Aguebor–Ekperuoh zTeam in Aso-Rock

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he First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan got a set of span ners as gifts from a 40-man delegation of Lady Mechanics Initiative led by the founder, Mrs. Sandra Aguebor-Ekperuoh, at the conference hall of the First Lady and she remarkably demanded for a crash hands-on programme for her and the states First Ladies across the country so that, “I can fix the car of my sister, the wife of the Vice President.” Abayomi Adeshida of our Abuja Bureau captured the event.

Vice President, Hajia Amina Sambo; wives of Service Chiefs; wives of Ministers; and wives of some federal legislators. The founder of the Lady Mechanics Initiative, AgueborEkperuoh, held her audience spell-bound as she told

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The golden conference hall of the First Lady was filled to the brim when the 40-lady enterpreneurs visited the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

The visitors were warmly received by their host, supported by the wife of the C M Y K

ship with her education, Lady Sandra, as she’s popularly known, said, “We are in four states (Lagos, Benin, Kaduna and Abuja) now and we have trained more than 700 female mechanics who work in auto companies and have other ladies training under them. ”I started out in 1985, got my workshop in 1993 and decided to train out-of-school

I started out in 1985, got my workshop in 1993 and decided to train out-of-school girls, orphans, commercial sex workers and other vulnerable girls

the story of her humble beginning where she had to fight stereotype minds when she declared her vision to be a mechanic.

After scaling several hurdles to actualize her dream of fixing cars by combining auto-mechanic apprentice-

girls, orphans, commercial sex workers and other vulnerable girls. ”I will like to advise other young girls that your success is not in Europe. You can make it if you learn a skill and you don’t have to depend on anyone before

you feed”. The mother of six children went on: “I have been a lady mechanic for 29 years, we pay those under training N10,000 monthly.

“Many of the lady mechanics were brought in by their husbands and today most of them have their own workshops, while others are working with all the big name - car corporations you know in Nigeria. This is giving them hope and future. ”In a garage you are learning skill which can make you a better wife and a proud mother to your children”.

Lady Sandra said handiwork opened doors for her.

“This job has taken me to the Department of State, to the White House, and I was given the opportunity to visit seven American states with an escort from Washington DC to acquire more skills in capacity building in 2004”, she stated. ”Your success is in you, not

in Europe. Intimidation and description made me stronger. I have put my hands down to lift up those without hope.

“Many of the lady mechanics will tell you their experiences, some of them came to do industrial attachment while others wanted the practical knowledge of what they were being taught in school.

“Some of the customers when they come in and find out that a lady mechanic will fix their cars, they are usually skeptical but when they see a job well done honestly and professionally, they come back next time they need their cars fixed. ”I am like a locomotive that cannot be stopped. We have been invited to Liberia and Benin and Republic to replicate what we are doing in Nigeria. ”We are making Nigeria proud, I have been doing this on my own. We now want to partner with government agencies to create jobs for our young girls. We are all government and so we need to help government. ”We now have female mechanics repairing speed boats who we are sending to the Niger Delta. It is about economic empowerment. ”Many parents have insisted that their sons learn under me because they believe as a woman and a mother they will listen to me more and come out as well groomed professionals”.

Aguebor-Ekperouh said through funding from MTN Foundation, 50 girls were trained in 2009 while Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd/ Nigeria Bottling Company is sponsoring 100 girls that would graduate in Edo State next year.

She said 200 female mechanics had been trained by the Lady Mechanic Initiative with 80 per cent programme completion rate recorded, and 100 per cent of graduate trainees either in gainful employment or in their own businesses.

Aguebor-Ekperouh appreciated the publicity which her dream has enjoyed in the global media as the LMI has featured on various local and international media including CNN in 2001 and 2011, SABC South Africa, African Journals, BBC World News, New York Times, Voices of Africa and Del Spiegen.

Dame Jonathan accepted to be their Grand Matron. noting that the initiative is reducing the number of idle single ladies and married women.

PAGE 32—SUNDAY, Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

BENJAMIN NJOKU njokujamin@yahoo.com

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the sense that even when the challenges come, we’ve been very lucky with the kind of friends that we have had who have been very supportive. They too have their share in making sure that this marriage succeeds.

I have some very good friends and family, definitely good family on both sides.

r. Olu Jacobs and his wife, Joke, are top artistes. Inside their home, it is not all the time a bed of roses. They share their happy and challenging times in this piece.

Appreciating marriage Marriage has been good, it has been wonderful.

How I met my husband I met him at the National Theatre while we were rehearsing for Jero’s Metamorphosis by Professor Wole Soyinka in 1981. I was to play Sister Rubeka and he was playing the role of Prophet Jero and, at the same time co-directing the play. That was where we met.

Courtship before marriage We started courting before he proposed to me. But the proposal came after four years of our courtship. He proposed to me in Tunisia while he was on a movie set called, ‘The Pirate’, directed

by Roman Polansky. I was in a drama school in London.

So, I visited him briefly in Tunisia to spend some time with him, and later flew back to England. We have been married for 28 years now.

Attraction He had a lovely sense of humour. He was also very passionate about his work.

Additionally, he had a very C M Y K

INSIDE THE HOME OF OLU AND JOKE JJA ACOBS

‘We get mad at each other 10 times a day’

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What happened when I met him People had been talking about him before I arrived the country because he was based in the UK at that time.

Everybody was talking about him, especially Miss Ene, the then Artistic Director of the National Theatre and Dr. Ashiwaju. They had met in England and I guess he would have been the Chiwetel Ejiofor of that time.

Just as what Chiwetel is to this present generation, so he was then.

He was one of the top African actors in England at that time, whether on stage or on screen. He was the talk of the town. So, I was looking forward to meeting him; when I finally saw him, he was quite a handsome man. Our first meeting, if I could remember vividly, I went to call Miss Ene to come and watch our rehearsal. They were in a production meeting, and, when I entered the office, the first thing he uttered was, “This is the woman I am going to marry.” When I left the office, I said to myself, `How can anybody say it just like that?’ He always insisted that I eyed him every now and then. We started out as very good friends. Four years later we got married. We met in 1981 and married in 1985.

broad shoulder and a very lean body like that of our last child. Basically, the attraction was his sense of fun and style. He really had, and still has a sense of style.

You can never find Olu dressed shabbily, it’s not him. I remember the early years of our marriage, after 1993, things got rough with us, after pumping all our money into an investment.

We used to work ourselves to the bone. And it used to upset us that we couldn’t dress the way we liked to.

But there were responsibilities to take care of. That was an attraction as well; his sense of style, honesty and high integrity.

other’s very close friend. It’s not as if we don’t have close friends outside our marriage, but I think we are both each other’s number one close friend. The other thing is mutual respect, the fact that we both share the same passion about the area of entertainment that we are in. Of course, the various challenges that we’ve faced over the years , we’ve learnt how to surmount them together. At different times when it is necessary, we have both learnt to forgive each other. I guess the sum total of what I’m saying is that God’s grace has been present in our marriage.

What kept marriage going Friendship. We are each

People always refer to your marriage as a successful celebrity marriage. What is

They were in a production meeting, and, when I entered the office, the first thing he uttered was, “This is the woman I am going to marry.” When I left the office, I said to myself, `How can anybody say it just like that?’ the secret of being able to hold on to your marriage for 28 years and you remain inseparable?

God’s grace has kept us in

Key factor for successful marriage There has been the contribution of family and friends. We don’t have that many friends really, but the ones we have are like family, they are very close to us. They’ve been with us from day one. Our families too have been very supportive, especially, when the children were younger and we had to work. It was easy to take the children to family members while we went about what it was necessary for us to do , knowing fully well that the children were in good hands. Also we had very challenging times,; I’ll never forget a time, I don’t even know what it was that caused the quarrel, it was a long time ago, and I got so upset. I just packed all my things, took the children with me in the car and drove off and went to my mum.

That same day, I came back, my mother drove me back. (laughs). They are both so close, my husband and my mum. A lot of times when people see the two of them together, they think she is his mother. Unfortunately, by the time we got married, his mum had passed away, so his late sister was like my mother-in-law. And she was just an absolute gem, she used to call me ‘Olori’ which means ‘Queen’. She had this wonderful way of making me feel extraspecial. My sister-in-law never allowed anyone to oppress me. Our families are always so positive, so encouraging..... One good thing about both families is that whenever there is a need, everybody rises.

That’s how we are.

Causes of break-up of marriages I wouldn’t dare say that I can talk about that, I can’t; because I know that what I have is God’s grace. It would be arrogant to say this is what caused the break up of this person’s marriage. I’m not walking in their shoes. All I can say is that there are things that happen that can break up marriages, but if you can pray for strength to weather those storms and usually when these storms are happening, it’s because there is something good, there is a contention.

Marriage is an institution created by God .As a Christian, I look at it from

Continues on page 33

SUNDAY, Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 33

‘W e ge ho ther 1 0 times a da y’ ‘We gett mad at eac each other 10 day’ the Christian perspective. It is a symbol of God’s union with his Church. Marriage is always on the attack; if you remember, even in the Garden of Eden when Eve was found on her own, she was attacked and, when she succumbed, it was easy for Adam to fall. If you can ask for the grace to weather the storm, there’s always something beautiful at the end. If you’re being physically or mentally abused in a marriage, to be honest, for me, I’d go for separation. Then, we go for counselling and see if the union can continue. With a lot of prayers, it usually does come together. But for me to say this is why marriages break up, I can’t.

Intimacy in marriage I don’t think it’s possible for you to have marriage without intimacy, because if there’s no intimacy, why bother with marriage? Most people think intimacy means just sex, there’s more to it than that. There’s a meeting of minds, there’s that bonding. Sometime ago, I used to tell him (my husband) that ‘one of the reasons why I find that I can’t leave you is that the next morning, I’m likely to call to find out how you are’.

There is just this closeness.

I really don’t think marriage is possible without intimacy.

I think it is very important that there is trust in marriage. Trust can be broken, but it can be healed.

Some people believe in polygamy, I don’t. I don’t believe in sharing. It has to do with what works for you as a couple.

Display of public affection I don’t think I’d do what I see happens in the West where you see people kissing on the streets. But, yes I can hold my husband, hug him if the situation calls for it.

Combining my duty as a mother, wife and an actress One, I have had very good role models. I think that’s a key and my first role model was my mum. She was married to the same person all her life, until my father died. That’s over 40 something years of marriage they had. The people who were also my care givers because my mum travelled a lot, like Chief Mrs Olaoye, Mrs Oyin Oladapo, Mrs Laoye and my mother’s sister, Mrs Busola Olumide - all these people juggled being wives, being mothers, being professionals. One of the things I learnt is to make time for the family, you career cannot supersede the family. The family always

comes first in everything I’m doing. There is what is called prioritising, what needs attention at a particular point. Is it work, family or your husband.

They rarely do need attention at the same time, thank God, so you give attention to whatever needs attention at whatever point in time. There’s one thing I learnt from my mum which is to always have very good back up; your house helps and family members, especially when the children are very young and you are a working class lady. I also learnt that changing house helps is not the best thing to do. When someone becomes your house help, she automatically becomes part of your family. Their problems become yours as well. You operate as one family, that’s the way I’ve been brought up. And because of that, you are able to function well as a family.

My house help has been with us for over 14 years now. I used to have challenges with my drivers, I kept changing them. I had to go to God in prayer asking for a a good driver and the present one has been with us for over five years.

What is it you don’t like about your husband Of course, we get mad at each other ten times a day.( Laughs). Earlier in our marriage, when we used to snap at each other, it led to sulking on both sides for hours.But now, there is nothing like that any more.

We can get mad at each other and the next two minutes we are laughing and talking to each other. If we quarrel and it lasts for a couple of hours, it’s because we want to drive a point home. There is a beautiful way an actress put it. She said, and I quote, “Within the marriage, there are lots of weddings and divorces, but what is important is that the weddings should be more than the divorces and then you have a successful marriage.”

I saw someone who stunned me - Olu Jacobs Before I met my wife I was a bachelor. I was living on my own for so many years. I went to England as a bachelor and when I met my wife I was still a bachelor. Yes, I had some girl friends but not more than one at a time before I met my wife.

Unfortunately, they lacked the qualities I wanted in a woman at that time. It was quite easy for me when I met my wife to do away with any other casual friend that I had then. I closed all chapters with them just to

Olu and Joke...kisses only in private

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Continued from page 32

I don’t think I’d do what I see happens in the West where you see people kissing on the streets. But, yes, I can hold my husband, hug him if the situation calls for it make sure that there was no misunderstanding between my wife and myself. I wanted to give the relationship I had with her a chance to grow so that interferences would be eliminated.

Love at first sight Yes, it was the case of love at first sight. Our story runs like a novel. We were doing a production meeting for Jero’s Metamorphosis at National Theatre, Iganmu. I was playing Brother Jero and, at the same time, codirecting the play.

Suddenly, the door opened and the lady came in, I looked at her and said, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the woman I am going to marry’. She just looked at me up and down and left.

Four years later, we got married. That was how sure I was when I saw her and I have never been that kind of sure in my life. I’m not an extrovert when it comes to that. I keep my relationship quiet. But that was how I saw it at the moment when I saw her.

Attraction I saw a woman, somebody who stunned me. There was

no explanation, I looked at her and she was just the kind of woman I wanted. I saw her and she was just it and I said, ‘This is the lady I ‘m going to marry.’ After that time, I didn’t see any other girl friend apart from her. And since we got married, it has been same.

The journey 28 years after We thank God for everything. Like any other journey in life, whether by road, sea or air, you must go through turbulent times as well as smooth times. That is part of life, and that is why it is important that when you decide to marry, you must begin to think of how you are going to take care of that person. How is that person going to care of you? What kind of person do you want?

All these questions you must sincerely and honestly ask yourself. When you begin to think for two, when you are working you are working, for two in your mind.

Whatever you are doing from then on, you are doing it for two. That’s what God wants. He wants unity, He wants the husband and wife to be united. When you are thinking, you are only thinking of your partner who happens to be your best friend. Both of you have to share your plans. If you are doing something and your wife doesn’t know and if your wife is doing something and you don’t know, it means the relationship hasn’t started yet. If you are keeping money away to spend on other babes, God doesn’t support that, it is the devil that is diving in to divide the relationship and that’s what we must always avoid.

Is there anything you don’t like about your wife?

She used to keep things in mind, I never realised this on time. When you think everything has been forgotten, all of a sudden

she reminds you of it. At first, I used to be very upset, and then I realised that I used to be like that. Memory is good, but at the same time, we must make sure that we use it for good.

Instead of looking for something bad that she has done, use that same time to look for something good that she has done, then you’ll find that she has not done anything bad, when you compare both. But we exaggerate what we consider bad. The challenges are challenges and they must come in life.

It is very easy to talk about the bad things but the good things are the ones that inspire. The bad things should be remembered in order to warn you to change for the better. Use them for change. My wife is very generous, very kind and caring. If you’re having a problem, she’ll listen and take it up as her own. If you need something and she has it, she’ll give it to you. I’m very happy with her and she’s my best friend. When you have a friend at home, you want to go home.

Wherever you are, you want to finish whatever you are doing and go home. The home is attractive to you and that’s the kind of person she is. Sometimes, when we are working separately, we try to always be on phone with each other two to three times a day. If it is possible on our way to branch and say ‘hi’, have a cup of tea together which we do sometimes and spend the night. Then the next day, she’s off to her station and I’m off to mine.

We keep in touch.

Have you starred in the same movie with your wife?

What was the experience like?

Yes, we work very well together. We don’t have problems at all. When we met, we were working together. There were no unnecessary complications.

Work is work and play is play. We left our homes so that we can work.

If you are to advise young couples, what would you tell them?

First of all, young people must try as much as possible to avoid too many so-called good friends who always have advice for you. Try and be careful with them. You may listen to them, but weigh whatever they give you. Not all your so-called good friends wish you well.

Quite a lot of them want to take over your position. Pray for contentment. Pray to meet, have and keep your friend. You need the wisdom to see and recognise a friend. Always think for two ( you and your wife). You and your wife first, others can come in later. Even your parents will tell you, “This is your wife, take care of her”.

PAGE 34— SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

By CHIDI NWOKPARA Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Musa Katsina, speaks on the challenges of stemming crime in the state which became notorious for baby factories, child trafficking, kidnapping, among other vices.

H

ow did you feel when you were informed of your transfer to Imo State?

It was a very normal feeling. I was then the Kogi State Commissioner of Police. So, when the Inspector General of Police told me to get ready and come to Imo, he first gave me some tutorials about Imo State and the nature of crimes there. He particularly mentioned kidnapping, armed robbery, child trafficking, baby factory and some other heinous crimes. This done, he gave me the marching order to come to Imo and put up the structure to enable me deal decisively with crime. So, as a crime fighter, I saw my posting as a challenge. For the IGP to have recognized me as fit enough to combat crime in Imo was to me, a very wonderful recognition.

The IGP never knew that I embarked on unauthorized visit to the state before the signal came. I wanted to have first hand information about the state that will ultimately help in shaping my strategy.

Are you serious?

Yes. Few weeks before my transfer, I was in this place (Imo). I came and toured all the 27 local government areas; I disguised. Nobody would have had an inkling I was a policeman. I wanted to have very raw information about the state I was to preside over as the security officer in terms of law enforcement. I saw the situation, as well as looked at the attitudinal pattern of the police and other security agencies. I also got to know how big the state was and the peculiarities. I put all my findings down when I returned to Kogi State.

Thereafter, I sat down and started plotting my strategies. So, before I arrived here, my strategy was already in place in my brain. I came and rolled it out and here we are today!

Is there any particular finding you would like to share with us?

To be candid, I met a demoralized personnel and I also identified areas I could conveniently pitch my tent, in terms of my strategy. I looked at the personnel by their age and level of enterprise as a very strong pillar that will assist me put up a solid foundation. Other issues I considered included that most of the policemen here had been in the state for a very long time. This brought in dwindling productivity. I took cognizance of all these findings and I think that helped me a lot in my fight against crime and criminality in the state.

There was this story that you asked for non-existent persons from some of the units and even parted with money to get assistance.

Yes! It was all part of the strategy

ECHOES FROM ‘MADAM 1,000 BABIES HOME’

The sight of teenagers forced into pregnancy was horrendous – Imo State Police Commissioner

*Says no hiding place for baby factories, child traffickers, kidnappers anymore *‘How we eliminated China Syndrome’ my state tomorrow. I will work there not because I am from there.

I will work as a member of the Nigeria Police.

because the IGP is one of the strongest advocates of zero tolerance for corruption. He is transparent, inspirational.

In all the conferences we had with before I came to Imo, he laid serious emphasis on corruption. He also told us that when we are able to purge ourselves of corruption, we wold have succeeded in achieving more than 60 percent of whatever we would like to achieve. Corruption debases everything in you. It renders you impotent. It makes you vulnerable, weak, indecisive. When you remove corruption, you will find yourself light, smooth and able to march on and surmount all problems.

One of the allegations leveled against you was that you were sent to implement the Boko Haram script. How true?

How can a Commissioner of Police be a member of Boko Haram? I heard it too but I considered the allegation as insignificant. The allegation, at best, came from polluted minds, misinformed minds and shallow brains. It is only when you find yourself totally incapacitated in assessment of things that you begin to use the word Boko Haram to describe a law enforcement officer. My name is Mohammed Musa Katsina. There is no way you call me Mohammed Musa Boko Haram.

What led to the mass transfer of policemen on your arrival in Imo? Every policeman is a federal agent.

And every policeman’s movement, transfer or posting is part of the job.

You can’t be a policeman and you stay in one place. For me, I was in a command before coming to Imo. When the time comes for me to leave, I will gladly leave for another state. One of the greatest problems I encountered when I came was this prolonged stay in this place. Some of the officers I met

Did the spate of armed robbery, kidnapping, baby factory and other serious crimes overwhelm you on arrival?

It was a serious phenomenon, but to talk of it is overwhelming me, I will say no. It rather encouraged me, emboldened me, gave me the courage and mental state of mind to look at it and counter it.

*CP Musa Katsina on ground had really abandoned the mission and saw themselves as local police prepared to engage in local politics. As a result, some of them were no longer committed to the job. So, the transfer was nothing unusual.

As a Commissioner of Police, I cannot transfer anybody outside the state, neither can I transfer anybody to any area. But the IGP, having given directive for reorganization in Imo State Command, has helped the people because we removed this syndrome of familiarity that our efforts to fight crime and criminality in the state. So, as they find themselves in a different environment, it will also prepare them to face new challenges and overcome them. It is only in Imo that people grumble over transfer. The issue of people staying in one place for a very long time has a drawback effect to our collective endeavour. So, transfer is normal. I can find myself in

Can we now take a critical look at the baby factor syndrome in the state?

Baby factory is a place where children are, so to say, manufactured for sale. It is one of the greatest things that, today, has really affected me because it is unimaginable that our children, totally defenceless human beings, are being produced and sold like pure water. So, the baby factory syndrome is a condemnable act.

My intelligence network led me to the first one at Umuaka, Njaba local council area. My action or reaction is usually intelligencepropelled. So,I put an effective intelligence network on ground comprising members of the public and the police.

When I got the information, I looked at the structure, studied their literature and later found out that most of these so-called baby homes and motherless babies homes are nothing but an area for the perpetration of gross illegality.

The people come out with very flamboyant signboards and have an enticing environment. The whole place represents optical illusion.

People get easily deceived with the beautiful place where motherless babies and orphans are kept, but was not the case.

What is the story behind Madam 1,000 Amaefule Babies Home, Umuaka?

In the case of Madam 1,000, what we saw could shatter the strongest of hearts. It was a case of man’s inhumanity to man! This type of inhumaniContinues on page 35

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 35

Continued from page 34

What next?

I re-directed my operations department to go after all these babies homes; today, we have been able to arrest more of them. Since I arrived Imo State, we have arrested no fewer than 261 suspects in connection with baby factories. We have rescued many children and reunited them with their families. Let me also say that babies factories are not only a crime and a sin against man, it is also a sin against God. Where does adoption come into this picture?

When people want to raise the question about adoption, I look at them as being simply parochial and mischievous. There are well established international protocol for adoption of babies. Do you adopt under the cover of darkness? Do you need to go and snatch a baby from a helpless teenager? Do you need to establish a place as a decoy to attract innocent, vulnerable minds?

What is the current situation about baby factories in the state?

At this point in time, there is no single baby factory in the state. I challenge anybody to come forward and prove me wrong.

Are the perpetrators of this ugly syndrome no getting desperate?

I agree that they are getting desperate. Now that they do not have a factory to manufacture babies, now that we have dealt a death blow on them, now that it is very difficult for you to come with any camouflage name called motherless babies home, so as to groom teenagers into delivering and selling the children, they have now resorted to what we now call “the hawk”. The hawks are those, who are armed and move about looking for babies to snatch from their mothers. When the see a helpless or

*Pregnant teenagers...held in homes comparable to Nazi detention camp unsuspecting mother with her baby, they snatch the baby like a hawk. But we have also dealt a death blow on that. Even those who snatch babies from other states and make the mistake of passing through Imo are picked up with ease. The structure has been weakened to such a level that they now find it extremely difficult to operate.

What about child trafficking?

You cannot talk about child trafficking without considering the movement of a child from the source to the market where the baby is sold. You discover they move in three very important structures namely, the breeder, the pilot or the courier and the final recipient. These people are very dangerous and intelligent. They have the capacity to beat security agents. They even induce a baby to sleep. They can speak like God fearing people. They can disguise like women. They can do anything.

When you look at the fate of these innocent babies, I can authoritatively tell you that some of them are used for rituals. Some are used for domestic labour because they treat them like slaves. Their masters paid for them and the children must pay back what was spent on them. Some of them are prepared for export.

I must tell you that there are some who are naturally barren and need babies but are always ashamed to go through the legal protocol to adopt. In one of our encounters, the woman came all the way from Kwara State to Aba to buy a one-day old baby. On her way back, we caught her. We moved fast to Ilorin to her house and rescued so many babies. Unfortunately, by the time we came knocking, she had traveled to Saudi Arabia during last year pilgrimage. We are still monitoring her. She will surely come back and face justice. There is no human face attacked to child trafficking, it is illegal. It is sinful. I don’t want to be caught in the web of those who stand and watch as evil doers perpetrate their evil acts. Today, I am here to fight crime and I will fight it to the last drop of my blood. I thank God that we have achieved remarkable progress.

What have to say about kidnapping?

The situation now is cool. We have a comfortable security platform in the state. The greatest problem I faced when I came was the China syndrome or what they called international kidnappers. They come in, kidnap high profile individuals, extort money, at times they kill and go back to China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Gabon, Mali and many other countries. They go there and hibernate and come back later when they feel the heat has reduced.

How did you burst this ring of dare devil hoodlums?

It will shock you to know that I never used Interpol because in policing, there is what you call below the line or

,,

ty is special in the sense that the victims of the inhumanity are innocent babies, totally defenceless human beings. Their crime is simple: they happen to find themselves in a world or in the midst of gluttonous vultures, who understand nothing but quick money or wealth. As we went beyond the beautiful place they called Madam 1,000 Amaefula Babies Home, we saw a dungeon! Children, teenagers forced into pregnancy were kept in captivity.

They were rendered completely incommunicado. Their telephone handsets and other means of communication were taken away from them.

They were kept in unventilated rooms, subjected to all manner of forced labour and perpetual servitude. The perimeter fence was not only high but carefully laid with broken bottles and nails like a Nazi detention camp. We also discovered, to our chagrin, a horrendous spectacle. The teenagers were rescued. One of them even said that when all hopes were lost, they turned to God in prayer and fasting and, at the end of their fasting, police came to their rescue. Some of these girls are reunited with their families and are now back in school. This marked the beginning of our fight against baby factories I the state.

A total of 2,786 suspects were arrested in 2013. We nabbed 649 for kidnapping, 503 for armed robbery, 261 for baby factories related matters, 486 for cultism, 55 for murder, 302 for electoral offences, 510 for drugs and allied offences and 20 for burglary and stealing above the line. So, in every country, I know we have Imo people staying them. So, after obtaining their dossier, I was able to hook up and establish what we call expanded strategy network, where most Imolites and Nigerians volunteer and became members. So, whenever we got the dossier of any of these China syndrome issue, we passed on the information to them, to monitor and keep informing us. Through this method, we were able to arrest most of them. We were very handy at the airports and borders to receive them and straight to jail. Some of them were even lured into the country, probably

to come and strike only for such people to be entangled in our network.

So, the network is so formidable that criminals found it very difficult to escape our eyes.

Back home here, we have our strategy partners. These are those who want to see and ensure a crime-free society. I segmented Imo into land and professional groups. This enabled the operators to have a limited area to operate. These people pass credible information and I send the Ambush Squad. Today, the partnership in the state is working. We are all bound by one common goal, to fight crime, ensure security of the environment, guarantee future of the citizenry and ensure that confidence is restored.

What is the secret behind the successes in crime fighting credited to you?

The secret behind my success stems from what I call “strategic network”. I would also like to recognize the efforts of Imo State journalists. They are very courageous and stood by me in 2013, and, at times, during direct impact operations, they were always with me.

No matter the hazard, they stood behind me and captured the news fresh. Honestly, Imo journalists remained very dependable allies.

Can we have the statistics of those arrested?

A total of 2,786 suspects were arrested in 2013. We nabbed 649 for kidnapping, 503 for armed robbery, 261 for baby factories related matters, 486 for cultism, 55 for murder, 302 for electoral offences, 510 for drugs and allied offences and 20 for burglary and stealing. About 2,405 suspects are now facing charges in court. We recovered 674 vehicles, 1,009 motorcycles/ tricycles, 50 master keys, 422 arms, 3,325 ammunition, 529 telephone handsets and N28 million cash, as well as $2,700.

Le me also use this opportunity to inform that a total of 51 men of the underworld voluntarily surrendered and handed over nine pump action guns, 11 Awka made pistols and one assault rifle. They are still undergoing counseling at the Counseling and Rehabilitation Unit of the Command.

PAGE 36 — SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

2 0 1 5 A N D S INGLE TERM PACT

Northern govs misunderstood Jonathan – Prof. Jerry Gana

•‘How inordinate ambition is ruining PDP’ •On Tukur’s successor: Why Muazu was not initially in the calculation •Says Obasanjo made govs too powerful

P

rof. Jerry Gana, orator, politician and member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s Board of Trustees, is one who does not shy away from matters relating to politics. He served for many years under military and civilian administrations.

In this interview, he disagrees with those in the North opposed to President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term bid and insists that the region should reciprocate the support it had been getting from the people from Jonathan’s South-south over the years.

BY SONI DANIEL,

Regional Editor, North

I

S the current PDP meeting the dream of its founding fathers?

Certainly, in a social transformation, there are deviations from the norms and vision and because we are not God, it is not possible to have one’s dreams perfectly realised. So, I must say that there are deviations from the original vision, but they are not deviations that have completely ruined the vision. There are certain imperfections, but I must confess that in the main, the PDP is on course.

Why do I say so? The fundamental objective or vision of the founding fathers, starting from the G9, to G18, to G34, is being realised. By the way, the G9 really refers to the few of us, who gathered under the Institute of Civil Society (we had to actually incorporate it during the Abacha days) to be able to have a legitimate basis for meetings). The original members under G9 included Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Solomon Lar, Mallam Adamu Ciroma, Chief Francis Ella, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, Chief Bola Ige and myself. The major objective of the G9 was restoration of civilian rule in Nigeria because the military had been in power for many years and Nigerians were getting fed up with military dictatorship.

So we wanted to have a credible and genuine democracy. The battle initially was not ideological and that is why we formed the PDP. The PDP was a party of democracy and our objective was that when we have election, the party should be in control of Nigeria definitely so that nobody could toy with the government formed by a party like that. And it has worked and if that is the only thing we have achieved in the last 15 years, we have done tremendously well.

Democracy has stabilised because, at a time, the party was in control of 28 states and we were in control of the National Assembly and did not have to refer to any other party in making laws for the nation.

The party has done three things for Nigeria: Apart from respect for democracy, there was respect for civilian authority by the military; for the first time, we were actually, as it were, (pardon me for the use of the word) ‘sacking’ military officers for the first time and there was no coup. It was just because they knew of the power of the party and the fact that the

Jerry Gana civilian government was solid and then we have been delivering development.

Whatever anybody may say, the Nigeria of 2014 is certainly far beyond what we were in 1998.

So, what do you think is the cause of frequent crises in the party?

Ambition! It is inordinate ambition. It is unfortunate people are too ambitious; people don’t want the system to settle down; people are looking for election all the time. Democracy is not all about election. Democracy is also about development. To me, there must be a very powerful link between democracy, good governance and development. Anyone who has been elected into office should note that his duty is not to win the next election, but how to use the mandate to give the people good life. Better economy and social security should be uppermost on the minds of those who are given the mandate to manage the system. Let people see that the mandate we give to leaders bring about a change in their lives. But, unfor-

tunately, in Nigeria, you win election today and tomorrow you are already thinking about the next election. For goodness sake, we did not elect you to just go and win the next election. We want you to show results that you can govern and give people hope. This government was only elected in 2011 and, by 2012, people were already talking about 2015. It was not even up to a year when Nigerians started talking about 2015. They should allow the President to do his work and serve Nigeria well. So, ambition has been the single most dangerous factor ruining the party.

People have been too ambitious, too selfish and don’t want to cater for the ordinary people on the streets. Who cares about your winning elections? We want you to deliver good governance before anything else.

Don’t you see this development as a failure of discipline on the part of your party?

I agree with you entirely. But let me tell you that Bamanga Tukur, who has now left, was a man of discipline. He wanted

to bring about discipline in the party but he is gone. The problem here is that there must be good location of the power within the party. What happened was that when Gen Obasanjo became President, he was not there when we formed the party; he was invited to join the party and we worked for him essentially to solve the June 12 problem. That was the main thing and I thank God that we solved that problem. But when he now came in and saw that he was not on the Board of Trustees of the party, he was not among the founding fathers of the party, he sided with the governors. The elders had their own way of dealing with things. So he pandered gradually to the governors because he could not do anything about the BoT that had only two votes. So the governors became so powerful and any attempt by anyone to take that power from them, has to be very wise about it; otherwise you are a goner.

But in all honesty, do you think President Goodluck Jonathan has performed well to merit a second term in 2015?

If anybody were to be objective and to compare the last two and a half years and to compare this period for example with any of the previous administrations, which had gone through eight years or whatever time and you look at what Jonathan has been able to achieve within the period, he has done very well especially when those things were achieved when there was a decided confrontation to actually cause lack of peace. Have you ever seen this type of violence before deliberately by people who are ready to die?

So, to see that at the same time this President has been able to perform in the areas of restoring infrastructure, roads and railways-for the first time the trains are beginning to run again - people look down on this. It is a very serious transformation.

For over decades, the trains were not running and, in a vast country like Nigeria, we need the trains otherwise you cannot move your heavy goods so that you don’t destroy the roads. Power-apart from Babangida, who built Shiroro Power Station and added hydro, we haven’t had any power station until Jonathan came on board. He has not only added Gereku but Omotosho has been opened and nine more are on the line.

If Nigerians are patient, power situation would improve significantly and decisively this year. Apart from that, the whole power sector has been transformed from a government-owned sector to a private sector-driven process business with integrity. These are very profound things and because we are close to Mr. President, people think we are not objective.

The current Minister of Agriculture is the best we have had for many years. He has transformed the agric sector by introducing a value chain in Nigeria for the first time. Even the aviation sector has witnessed a serious transformation despite the problems the minister seems to be having. So, this administration has done very well in all the strategic sectors but people forget so easily about the fact that we are passing through very difficult security challenges.

There is a claim by many northerners that, legally and politically, Mr. President is not qualified to contest in 2015

Continues on page 37

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 37

‘Inordinate ambition ruining PDP’ Continued from page 36 because that would have made him to violate the Nigerian Constitution, which prohibits a president or governor from being sworn in more than two times. How do you react to that since you are also from the north?

You see, we argued in 2011 and I am prepared to argue again. There was a force majeure in the political system of Nigeria because nobody ever thought President Musa Yar’ Adua was going to die when he did. He died in office and when that happened, constitutionally, the Vice President was expected to take over and conclude that particular mandate, which they were given together. So, the election that Jonathan actually stood as a President was that of 2011 and it is left to him to have a second term if he wants. But I know that it is just politics and nothing more. But, honestly, we in the party feel that in democracies all over the world, a sitting President, who is doing well, has the right of first refusal to say ‘I want to run or I don’t want to’. In other climes, if the sitting President indicates interest to run, nobody runs against him. But here, we are very fair minded and we always allow those who want to run against the President to do so at our convention so that others can challenge the President in a free and fair primary. But to say that the President is not qualified, it is not right. That is quite unfair and undemocratic to say the least.

As a member of the BoT of the PDP, are you aware of the agreement said to have been signed between Mr. President and northern governors to run for a single term of four years in 2011?

I believe that if there was such an agreement, they would have brought it out by now. What happened was that during the campaigns, the President was in Kenya attending the AU meeting and some journalists asked him something about the contest. At that time, people were just thinking as if he was very selfish and wanted to continue to run but he said he was only offering himself for the term.

But Obasanjo, in his letter, made reference to Gov Suswam who first told him that Jonathan wanted to do only one term, which now made Obasanjo to put it in his campaign speech, which he read in one of the campaigns that Jonathan had agreed to do a term. Gov Suswam has not denied that to best of my knowledge and nobody has denied what Obasanjo has written about the agreement. Is Jonathan now distancing himself from the agreement?

What I want to say is that there is a whole lot of difference between a postulation and an agreement. People must have suggested to the President to say, ‘ why not one term’ and all that. But the truth is that there was no agreement whatsoever to do a term. But, in any case, even if he had agreed to do one term, who says he cannot change his mind? I mean, is Jonathan God? Even if he had sat with them and accepted to do a single term but now the reality is such that he cannot do so.

He comes from an area of this country that has not tasted power before now. Even if Jonathan says today that he cannot do a second term, do you think the people of the South-south would just sit down and allow him to go like that so that they wait for another 40 years before they can take power again? Then, he would not go back to Yenagoa. That is the reality and it is not a personal decision but a collective decision in a country where power continues to shift. It is the turn of the South-south and they want to do their complete term and conclude it. They seem to be telling Jonathan, ‘Look, you are the one who was given the mandate, don’t chicken out’.

That is what they seem to be saying but I am not speaking for the South-South.

I’m sure that if it were a personal thing, Jonathan would wish to say ‘let me finish and go home’. It is no longer just mere Jonathan; it is now the symbol for the South-south and now that he has that op-

*Gana...There is a difference between postulation and agreement

,,

There was a force majeure in the political system of Nigeria because nobody ever thought President Musa Yar’ Adua was going to die when he did

portunity if he does not use it, his people would make his life miserable from now till the end of his life. As his friend, I advise him to stand election in 2015 and if he loses, fine but ‘stand for your people’.

Other people have stood before; some for 40 years. Did we complain? I like to appeal to our people, particularly, in the northern states, that we have to have a very profound sense of history.

The very area where Jonathan comes from have consistently supported the power base in the North either in the days of the NPC or later NPN. Those of us, who were of the progressive stock in NEPU, NPP or PRP in the second republic were always jealous of the fact that the Southsouth minority, like us in the North, would always go above us and actually relate more with the northern establishment.

They supported the North in the first and second republics and, for goodness sake, is it too much for the North to support the South-south until they finish? Why are people in a hurry? Four years in the life of a nation is a short time. Look, if we don’t allow justice and fairness to happen, then there can’t be peace. So, justice demands that if Nigerians so prefer, let us allow Jonathan to run for a second term and then there will be justice and fairness.

After that, the North would bring a candidate and rule for eight years. Why do some people want to be in a hurry and destroy the nation? Some people think that if they don’t run now, they have lost their opportunity. They are simply selfish! In any case, many of the people who are jealous did not support Jonathan in 2011. We the people of the Middle Belt are the ones who

voted more for him. If you do the analysis, the area that has got a lot of gains from this democracy are the areas that did not really support the President’s election in 2011. In terms of projects, appointments or programmes, they have benefitted more from this government than those of us who backed the President. My people are crying out. What do they get? In most areas death. Do you know that thousands of people have been killed in the Middle Belt because of their support for Jonathan?

Please people should realise that the people from the areas that are shouting against Jonathan are the ones who are benefitting more from him. If they challenge us we name all the beneficiaries and projects.

As a member of the BoT, what led to the emergence of Ahmed Mu’azu, who was not really in the PDP Chairmanship race?

We did an analysis and we felt that because of our nasty experience in the past, we should move away from the tradition where the Chairman and the governor of the PDP would come from the same state.

We have had problems with the former chairmen having problems with their governors-is it Nwodo, is it Ogbulafor, is it Gemade or Tukur? Chairmen seem to be having problems consistently with their governors. So, this time around, we said, ‘Look, we are moving into election and we don’t want any more crisis between the Chairman and any governor. We wanted to take the Chairman from the state not controlled by the PDP. That is why we looked in the direction of Yobe and Borno states and we were serious about it. But

you see, we don’t have the kind of information that the leader of the party and others may have. There are certain things that they know that we don’t know. In the end when preference was made for Adamu Muazu, we said, ‘Fine, let him be because he is qualified to be’. And believe me, if the Chairman and the governor cause any tension in this party, having promised us that they would work together, let me use this opportunity to say as a member of the BoT that the party would be very angry and ruthless. And I am talking on behalf of the elders. If they now create any trouble, the party will take a very serious view of it because we are tired of the party Chairman and governor quarrelling.

How do we bring back the G5 governors?

In a democracy, it is right of association and if people say they want to go to another platform it is alright. I am a two-party system person. My model all along has been that. That is why when you see when we had the opportunity under Gen. Babangida, we modelled and promoted a two-party system. And I wish those parties had been allowed to grow. Every major democracy around the world is sustained by a two-party system though there may be other smaller parties in those countries.

It makes the choices to be clear and the government to work harder, sensitive and responsible to the people. For the last 14 years, we have been in power and we need a strong opposition. We welcome the challenge of another party. We actually like the idea of the APC emergence but I don’t think they are mature yet to be able to take over from the PDP. But if Nigerians vote for them, fine. But I am telling you that the PDP is very well organised and we are not threatened with the coming of the opposition. We love the challenge of another party and it is healthy for our democracy. My prayer is that both the PDP and APC will campaign not in violence and rancour but on issues, programmes, plan, vision and allow Nigerians to choose the best. But the way the APC is going about it now is wrong. They should not be abusing Jonathan over every little thing.

Why is it that no PDP National Chairman has ever successfully served and completed their term?

I would say that the kinds of forces working in the PDP are responsible for this kind of manifestation. The PDP was formed by five major groups that could have been separate parties by themselves. The PCF from the South-West, led by the late Bola Ige, Adebanjo, Falae and others. They actually went on to become the AD and controlled the South-west. We had the PSP under Solomon Lar and Rimi, we were the progressive, we could have gone ahead to control a few states, there was the PNF under Dr. Alex Ekwueme, and then PDM of Atiku, Anenih and so on. So there were five major groups that said ‘instead of going our separate ways, let us work together and restore democracy and dignity of civilian authority’. Because of this, the person, who holds this centre must be a democrat. The very nature of the formation of the PDP makes it very dynamic because there are so many forces. Secondly, the problem of one section of the party, the governors becoming very very powerful. That is a reality and you need wisdom to handle them. If you want to reduce that power, you do it wisely over time and not by confrontation because nobody will allow you to take away their power just like that. You need how to manage them and talk to them to allow party supremacy to rule. So there is always going to be some friction but a good Chairman must balance the forces. If it was one of these forces that formed the party, it would have been easier. Thirdly, intra-party democracy must be made to prevail in the party.

Let decisions not be by imposition but by democratic choice. Any Chairman who wants to impose what he wants will not last.

PAGE 38— SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

Fashola

FASHOLA TO JONATHAN 'You will hand over whether you like it or not' zStop provoking everyone, he says zExplains development strategy zExpresses worry over para-military group

in Lagos (FERMA trainees)

I

BY JIDE AJANI

n this session with Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, he explains the style of administration that has been put in place in the state such that successive governments can build and improve on what has been achieved so far.

He also takes a swipe at President Goodluck Jonathan and his aides who say no administration in the history of Nigeria has done as much as theirs.

You will find him as interesting as ever, with views that are unique both in thought and presentation.

Excerpts: Lagos has been experiencing some urban renewal. Is this renewal an C M Y K

attempt at taking Lagos back to some forgotten development plan, or a haphazard work in progress?

If you follow our communication on policy statement closely, you will notice that I said from the beginning of my tenure that this was going to be a government of method; that we are going to be methodical in things that we will embark upon. Everything that we have done so far had been based on very rigorous examination of what the problems are, what the choices of solutions are and how to prioritise in order to make them sustainable. One of the first things we did after assumption of office was to conduct a trip round the state; I commissioned a team based on this to go and ask the citizens and residents around the state to specifically

tell the governor, ‘what do you want him to do for you?’

That was the beginning of our local government tour. The results that came showed us that there were six main items: roads, drainages, schools, health, jobs and power. But we wanted to validate that and we went for town hall meetings in every local government. And while those things resonated across, they resonated differently. In some local governments, they wanted roads first. In others, they preferred schools. In some places, their drainages were their main concern. This formed the basis of our first full year budget in office (2008 budget). And we have kept faith with this approach.

Indeed, from each tour after we came back, it was to give instructions to each ministry or department. When we came back from those tours, we went straight into an executive meeting everyday giving out assignments as required; and we have kept track.

Regional plan The second point was that of regional plan. I think the last regional plan for the state was done around 1991 or so. So, we

decided to plan the state into eight towns.

We developed a new regional plan. These towns are Badagry, Ikorodu, Epe, Lagos Mainland (which covers part of Oshodi, all through to Orile, to National Theater and Iddo), Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki and Ikeja; and to link them up by transport infrastructures.

Again, we did an audit of the available water supply. And we saw that we had about roughly 45 or 48 percent water supply and we developed a plan; a short, medium and long term plan to provide water for the growing population that we were anticipating. The short-term plan was to do two million gallons per day, with facilities in 15 locations. I have commissioned about nine of them. And along with that short term plan was to get the Iju water works to run at full capacity because it was running at about 35 percent capacity because of power outages. This led to the first IGP for Iju water works; the Akute IGP now runs at about 90 percent. But it doesn’t solve the problem. Some of these facilities have aged; Iju was built around 1900. That’s why you will see we are laying new pipes through Eko Bridge.

Essentially, we have almost completed the short-term plan. The medium term plan is to build bigger water works. OtoIkosi is completed now and being tested.

That is four million gallons to feed part of Epe and support Ikorodu. We have Odomola, which is 25 million gallons.

There is also the Adiyan phase II, which is 70 million gallons a day. We have already started constructing this from the budget. We will finish that in 2016.

That will help us supply Alimosho and Agege, who are actually close to the water source (Iju) but who don’t benefit from it because the Europeans, who built it, didn’t include them among beneficiaries.

In Badagry, we want it to stand alone.

Ishashi is four million gallons. And we are also upgrading Ishashi to 12 million gallons a day.

The same thing with water treatment and sewage! The capacity was barely 10 percent. We drew up a 10-year plan. And that is why we now have a Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, which will regulate the use of clean water and recycling of used water.

We went into Yaba for massive rehabilitation of what was once a prime middle class community. Three roads were commissioned for construction and we finished substantially 80 percent of the works there. We are regenerating Apapa as well. Some of old roads in Victoria Island are being constructed. The same type of construction is going on in Alimosho. We have finished LASU-Iba Road. It is about 20 kilometers and fourlane, as well as Governor’s Road and a couple of other roads. This time last year, we handed over 11 new roads in Alimosho.

In all this, we have consciously kept one contractor; almost like a resident contractor. Once you finished, we move you to the next phase. In Ikorodu, for example, the resident contractors are two; the Chinese and Arab Contractors. The Chinese are doing the main road and the Arab Contractors are doing the inner ones.

In Mile 12 and Agiliti, there is a new bridge and about seven new roads that will finish in about June. In Ijegun-Isheri, you have Hi-Tec there, constructing the bridge to link the two communities.

So, there is a conscious effort to be methodical so that, instead of demobilizing one contractor and bringing another one, we have a network of roads and we tackle them one after the other.

As you wind down on your tenure, are there any other development plans in the offing you have not talked about? And how do you react to the allegation that some of these projects are elitist?

If it is the elite who live in Mile 12, in Agiliti, then I am happy to serve them. If it is the elite who live in Ajegunle, where we handed over a new road last week, I am happy to serve to them. Also, if it is the elite who live in Mushin, where

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SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 39

Our concerns over FERMA trainees — Fashola is working, by peer review, by peer influence and by healthy competition among the governors to succeed; that can only be good for the states.

Now, if you look at the other side that decided to join us, you cannot dismiss their achievement by a wave of the hand; even under PDP. But they have seen clearly that development cannot continue with sudden disappearance of revenues while they are expected to keep a conspiratorial silence and continue benefitting. In terms of public accountability, we bring that to the table.

Secondly, and perhaps, more importantly, like-minds are calling unto each other about the need for the development of the country. In any political arena, people are complaining that things are not moving in the country, where the national government has 52 percent of the resources. Even with the very best effort of the 36 states and over 700 local governments, if they perform at a 100 percent, in terms of risk analysis and risk allotment, if they keep less than 50 percent of resources, their 100 percent is still not a pass mark. But in spite of these complaints, people still feel that nobody can defeat this behemoth. ‘So, we will either not vote or we will vote for them because we know they will not lose.’

And that is what APC also brings to the table for Nigerians — to give them a real choice. Ultimately, it is people of Nigeria who will get the opportunity to be in absolute control of their destiny and then whip governments into line.

Continued from page 38

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hen you started out, not much of a politician was seen in you. But for sustainability of some of your projects, how concerned are you about your successor? Have you now transmuted to a political godfather enough to say, for sustainability, you prefer Mr. A or Mrs. B as successor?

The answer to that is to continue to insist that a government that is run around institutions is the most sustainable form of government.

Lagos State has been very lucky so far to have a lot of action governors. But how much we can continue to build on luck is another thing. Up to my immediate predecessor in office, they have all been very wonderful people in office. I think what we need is to move to action government, where whatever happens, the system will run. That is why we are doing a lot of human capacity development, training public servants; part of the reasons behind our last retreat that had become very frequent. We have also yielded a lot of independence to parastatals so that we can hold people responsible for implementation.

When ministries focus on policy formulation and articulation and allow parastatals to implement, you have a more efficient public service. Examples are already there. For example, the Ministry of Environment is our policy formulator in waste management, whether it is solid or liquid or polluted airwaves while an agency like LASEMA is dealing with air and liquid waste and LAWMA dealing with solid waste. So, if there is particular C M Y K

B

Fashola problem, the commissioner knows who to call. We are also seeing the same thing in the transportation sector; LAMATA is dealing with the public through the BRT system and coordinating the rail. The Lagos State Water Authority is running the water system, building the jetties and developing the regulations for the ferries.

The same thing is in the Ministry of Works. The ministry now takes over the segmented maintenance of roads, through Public Works Corporation. Last year alone they did more than 900 roads – construction and rehabilitations. There is now a separate department in charge of traffic lights. So, if a traffic light fails, the commissioner knows who the head of that department is. We are creating specialization in an organic way that cascades to the pyramid of the organogram.

,,

we handed over 16 roads, then I am happy to serve them. If it is the elite who live in Ikeja, where we just finished Kodeso and Medical Roads, it is my pleasure to serve them; they are taxpayers too.

The biggest project that we are undertaking, the transport project... from Mile 12 through Ikorodu Road, if it is the elite who live in this 17 kilometer road expansion, I am happy to serve them. If you go from Orile right through to Alaba, Mile 2 we are doing the train station and if that also is for the elite who live there, I should be so delighted to serve them.

These are places where no activity of any sustainable attention had been paid. Over the years, we have not really had this long period of government to really sit down, develop a plan and run with it. Yes, we haven’t served everybody and we can pretend we will be able to serve everybody.

But the fact that an asset is built in a community where you live doesn’t mean that it belongs to you. And the choices that we have always made, given our limited resources, is ‘where is the most impactful area of need?’

People have now forgotten what the areas around Stadium, Barracks and Alaka used to look like. There is a seven kilometer of drainage submerged under that road today, because when we started the BRT system, that was where the buses used to get trapped. It occurred to us then that instead of going to do residential roads, ‘why don’t we fix roads that take people to places of their daily bread?’

Roughly about six million commuters move around there daily. That’s one of the busiest roads. Then we went to open up Agege Motor Road and Oshodi to free traffic that used to be a daily nightmare to people. I remember that people at the Airport toll gate were not happy with us because our effort impacted negatively on their revenue. Then, people were paying to avoid that gridlock at Oshodi only to come back to Agege Motor Road.

We succeeded in putting that money back in their pockets. This debate (on elitism or otherwise) will never go away. In any case, I am proud to be serving somebody.

The pain on the other side is that, today, we don’t have electricity, but does it really matter who first got it? If some people start to get it, the rest of us can hope it will soon get to us.

appropriation for it in the budget! Or are you funding them with slush fund? Is it SURE-P money, meant for the development of Lagos State that is being used to do this?

And, again, you ask yourself, ‘what is the need for such a task force?’

There are about 10,000 roads in the state, out of which 6,000 belong to the state government. A little over 3,000 belong to the local government. Less than 120 belong to the Federal Government.

So what do you need such a large army for, unless there are some ulterior motives?

I hope we are not going back to the days of machetes.

If the resort is violence, they have served Lagosians notice. For me, if that is the way to repay Lagosians for the votes they receive here, we will review our strategies.

So what do you need such a large army for, unless there are some ulterior motives?

People choose the way they end up by choosing the way they begin. If the resort is violence, they have served us notice

So, whoever becomes the next governor, all he needs to do is to take those people’s budget, give them the money they need; because they already know what to do.

There are some new FERMA-trainees seen around the state. How much do you know about this development? And is FERMA going to replace the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC? Honestly, I really don’t know a thing about it. But when contacted, the Minister of Works said it did not have his approval.

The parastatal is under the Ministry of Works, but the question to ask is what is going on? Where is the money for this particular exercise coming from? If they are recruiting, what is the purpose? If they want to police federal highways, what is now the role of the FRSC? Is it a task force such as contemplated within the law?

Have they appropriated funding for it because you can’t have an agency in a constitutional democracy without having

With the gale of defections into the All Progressives Congress, there is hardly any difference between that party and the Peoples Democratic Party. If this were so, why would one want to cast his or her vote for the APC instead of the PDP? Even our worst critics cannot sustain any argument about the fact that in the state that we have added value; visible and demonstrable value.

Fortunately, in most of those states: Edo, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Oyo, the electorate have had the misfortune to have been governed by the PDP-led governments. The choice is now clearer to them. If you take Ogun State, for example, in less than two years, bridges have been built. If you take Oyo as another example, the bad stories about the eyesores have disappeared. They now even have a bridge, which is the first in about 34 years.

So, the electorate have seen both sides of the coin now and they are wiser. This can only suggest to you that it is a model that

ecause in the cases where you have thin margins between parliamentary representation, state representations, one bad choice and you are out because the other party stands a fair chance to win the election. Of course, there will be smaller parties. Parties can be more definitive when coalitions are necessary as we saw in Britain, where Liberal Democrats and the Conservative partnered to kick Labour out; and even they have started fighting. None of the disagreements that you have also seen here is peculiar to us.

There are appointments Obama cannot make today. You may quarrel with the morality of it, but the legitimacy of it is unquestionable. That is what lies at the heart of the doctrine of separation of powers and checks and balances. And the position our party has taken is a contingent position. You cannot hide behind a finger and say you don’t know what is going on in Rivers State. If you don’t, it must be in your enlightened best interest to know. Security of life and property is the primary reason government exists. And even if there is no legal duty, I think there is moral duty.

As things continue to unfold, you will see clearly that we are a party of method and of process and in the fullest of time we will unveil to you in a very clear detail what we are about. But again, you cannot have a party without people, and we are following our plan. Our plan was to register the party, against all the odds, against history that no merger has ever been concluded. It is a defining event in the political history of Nigeria. Having finished that, we went into contact and mobilization, we are now going into membership registration which entails producing the management of the party and, when that is done, we will tell you Nigerians why we want to be members of the APC. Your party’s directive to its members in the National Assembly to block executive bill, I read about you defending it and you have also done so here; in my word, I think it is pre mature because your party doesn’t have that majority in both houses and another thing is, what is the case of constructive engagement?

You have rushed to judgment. I don’t think that we should be repulsed by the idea, it hasn’t happened, but we are saying, if certain things do not happen as they relate to law and order, we will come

Continues on page 40

PAGE 40— SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

Continued from page 39 to a conclusion that this is a pre-meditated design to use executive power and, if there is no communication, we will bring you to the table and one of the ways to do so is by exercising our own powers; I have always said that the virtue of power is the restraint in exercising it, but it is sometimes important to remind people that that power exists.

When the party was meeting and setting up its members to withdraw operations from the executive; they were withdrawing cooperation from the executive.

If you know the way legislative business goes, you cannot have clear lines in parliament. It is also for our leadership to say, ‘Let us come together and deliberate on issues’. I think that because our democracy is just about 14 years, it is going to throw up many learning curves, it needs a lot of maturity for one to realise how much power one has and to know that you can’t act on your own. Therefore, we must see the glass as half full all the time, we don’t want the nation to collapse because we want to win and we expect that we will win.

W

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hen the income is distributed at the end of the year, there is a derivation principle that goes to the local government. In terms of how resources are allocated, the needs across the state are not the same; in some places, all you need to do is patch a road while in others you have to start from the beginning. Every time you construct a road, people take positions, capital appreciation follows road construction and the way to go is to ask where the taxes for roads like the LASU- Iba and Ijegun come from. There was a time when the kind of development and construction in Alimosho didn’t go on and so at the end of the day, it’s not easy to isolate and say this is what came from here, the only way we do that kind of isolation is if we collect capital development levies for land sold in any estate, we use the money from that estate to build its roads, drainages and infrastructure; it doesn’t go a lot but it helps.

That is why we have scheme accounts; Lekki phase one has a scheme account.

When the residents pay, the money goes back to them; after UACPDC bought 1004 Estate and paid their capital development levy, we used it to start phase two of Adetokunbo Ademola Road.

But that did not fund the road to completion of the Lekki -Epe Expressway.

The point is that all the revenues go to the consolidated revenues of the state and what we do is a budget based on input and on development plan.

Many of us are worried about the place of the local government in your development plans. Where I live there is absolutely no impact of that level of government at all...

No, they may not have served your personal needs at the moment and that will not be good to generalise; because you don’t C M Y K

Fashola

'Our development strategy '

,,

e are beginning to witness discontent on defection from APC, how is the party handling disagreements?

The more the Nigerian public gets involved in politics and understand politics for what it is, the better; it is about interests and human beings and everybody wants something. There are conflicts defined by interests that would be resolved. That is high-wire politics going on. Let’s just decompose these things and understand them, it is happening on the macro to the micro, it is local, international and global.

The taxes in Lagos, following down to the principle of federalism, which you have always preached, will it be okay if the money you get from Alimosho with the highest population and all that is spent almost exclusively in Alimosho?

I think the first thing to do is to explain that there are different sources of revenues. Taking advertising for instance, it is income that comes to the local government under the management of LASA, which is a company statutorily created, owned by the state and local government; because the local government has responsibility for advertising which takes place on the land managed by the state, so there is a joint business.

That’s the incremental contributions of your predecessors. So, how are they supposed to feel?

And you want to build a nation? You’re provoking everybody? I think there can be better tactics feel the impact, those who could see appreciate it. Local governments are driving primary healthcare and primary education, which are the foundation of development of the most important resources, the human resources-making him or her health and giving him or her skills.

You can see that we are yet to develop certain parts of Lagos. People are building at a pace higher than we are able to respond and that is not our fault or yours.

Now, it’s the understanding that we seek because how fast can we get across to you is a function of time.

We are not planning 100 rooms now but we are planning 400 rooms at once across all the local governments. So, at incremental level, the work is progressing.

For instance, in 2007, how many streets did you see with streetlight at night? But we started with Awolowo Road. There were streetlights but they were not working. What happened? It was one vulcanizer at TBS, who was heating tyre and melted the cable in one of the poles and that affected light. We fixed it and switched on. We started putting diesel and we drove on that road and it looked like our small London.

We continued like that; last year alone, we had over 50 roads with streetlights because there is an incremental capacity.

We are making poles in Lagos and this year we are looking at doing another 100 roads.

Alimosho had about 11 roads lit up last

year. And around Agege Motor Road, we lit up the road and traders can now sell till night and that means doubling their income. These are the elite that I’m serving.

In Shomolu, they used to stop selling their akara and dodo by 6pm because of fear of insecurity. We gave them light and, today, they sell into the night.

Obalende is back.

Your Commissioner for Budget and Planning gave the debt profile at N120 billion, but I’m aware that Lagos is the only state that pays salary from IGR. How sustainable is this system?

Simple, there are few things to understand.

There are upper limits of debt profiles by global standards, in relation to a certain percentage of the GDP. We are not near that threshold anywhere.

Secondly, what types of debt profile is it, is it for recurrent expenditure or capital?

It is for capital.

If in less than two years to go, I went to the stock market to raise N85billion and it was

fully subscribed and you know bankers do not want to lose money; they know what is coming from that and they keyed in; with these projects people earn income and because they earn income, they pay taxes. We are simply moving the money round.

In 1999, when my predecessor took over, we were working with N14 billion IGR and we are now having a budget of almost half a trillion naira and how do you want us to finance that? Is it the money under the pillow? You can’t build a city like that. We want rail and all that, you don’t do it waiting for people to bring kobo kobo.

For instance, the track Europeans built are still there. It is a 100-year asset. You have to finance it by debt and it will pay off.

During Tinubu’s time, when he drew N15 billion out of N25 billion bond, they said he had mortgaged Lagos.

I paid that debt in my first year in the office. The first bond that we took is maturing this year.

It is a N50 billion bond. We have N90 billion in trustees account to pay off N50billion.

If we keep waiting until the money gathers together, you can’t begin to tell me that there is no road to your house. Where am I supposed to build them? The road that Asiwaju built with N15 billion, I can’t touch again with the same amount of money. The dollar was trading at less than one to a naira, but it is almost doubled.

When I assumed office, the dollar was at $1 to N112 and we were borrowing at 10 per cent. Now you are lucky to get at 17 per cent.

Dollar is now $1 to over N170. Those are the realities and we must salute our economic team for the investment they have been able to achieve.

If not for that, would you have LASU-Iba Road, that rail, or make Ikorodu Road motorable today; Badagry expressway and others? The money we are spending on Ikorodu Road is a loan. It’s a long-term loan.

Take the money now and pay back later as long as the people continue to pay their taxes and financial capacity continues.

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as your visit to Edo State solely to endorse the presidential ambition of Governor Adams Oshiomhole?

Really, our country needs development and knowing Edo well, with the things I saw there, I think it’s a development that should come on board every state if that experience is brought to a larger theater of expression.

I’m in support of everybody, who has worked so that we will not come up to say we will not have electricity because we do not have gas.

That gas is not gotten from one alien country, it’s seated underneath us.

It baffles me each time thing I hear we have money, but we are looking for the whereabouts of 12billion dollars. Let us even say for the sake of argument, why couldn’t that money be spent on pipelines to pump fuel over the country or even repair the pipelines?

The issue is, after many years that the country has been extracting crude oil, are the pipes not due for change? I’m changing water pipes on the bridge. So we spent huge sums on power project yet there is no solution.

And I begin to wonder what the United Arab Emirate spent in their total power energy? They powered the desert. How much more can it cost? So it was in that context that I said that I will support any one who is doing well and who has done well, so that such development will come across on board.

In this moment of power shift, will the northerners in your party support him?

I can’t speak for a group. That is your fear. I have a stake. At the end, you can’t speak for a group. They decide on what to be done.

For now we are still early in our party programme to discuss the issue of candidates. Until we put in place the organs of party and officers, that question will not be addressed.

The Information Minister, Labaran Maku recently said that, at all levels, no government has done what the Jonathan administration had done. But here you are reeling out achievements. How does that make you feel, compared to the assertion that they have done the best?

All I can say is that I hope the best of Nigeria is really further ahead. I don’t want to be the best governor of Lagos. I want better governors to come after me. I think that it’s a leadership problem.

When this sort of statement is made, you must contextualize it into whether or not we really have prepared ourselves for the kind of responsibilities that we have. Would there have been a Nigeria if those who fought the war didn’t sacrifice? So, for somebody to come after that to say, ‘we are the best...’ That was governance. Keeping the peace and unity of this country, people lost their lives.

They served.

How do you dishonour their memory and service by saying nobody has done what you have done? I have never heard any government that wants to progress say those kinds of things. There must be a place for your predecessors. Its a ladder and a house built on so many blocks of blood, sweat and tears. And whether you like it or not, you will hand over the baton.

How would you feel after that, when somebody says you haven’t done anything? Let’s look at power. Did they pass the legislation? They are concluding the process.

There is pension reform today. Did they pass the legislation? It’s a process of thinking and doing sometimes. As I told people, Thabo Mbeki hosted the World Cup, was he the one who did the bidding for it? What is the value they have added to the GSM today? There are more drop calls now than when the system started.

Were they the ones who did it? It was a government that licensed private TV otherwise all of us would be locked on to NTA today and you won’t be here because there would only have been Daily Times.

That’s the incremental contributions of your predecessors. So, how are they supposed to feel? And you want to build a nation? You’re provoking everybody? I think there can be better tactics to underscore your development. We can’t show that we are good by showing that everybody is bad. Unfortunately, it’s a strategy that has also worked in some states, but I have always said, look, you must acknowledge what your predecessors have done. They may not have done as much as you have done. They may have operated at a more difficult time than you are operating, but they added value. I don’t believe that anybody is absolutely useless. Everything operates in a time and space. It’s a leadership problem.

Democracy is growing. We are building a nation undoubtedly, but we must recognize everybody’s contributions.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 41

ADAMAWA:

Their black Sunday! *I hid among the dead inside church to escape insurgents’ bullets – Worshipper

BY UMAR YUSUF

O

n January 26, 2014, the people of Chakawa village, a border community between Madagali in Adamawa State and Gwoza in Borno State woke up normally with high hopes of a crisisfree Sunday worship.

But, little did they know that danger loomed over the village, a predominantly Christian settlement.

At about 10:00am, the village of about 300 to 400 people, mainly peasant farmers, was thrown into chaos as suspected Boko Haram insurgents’ unleashed terror on the villagers and churches in the community.

The insurgents struck at the only Catholic Church in the village.

A worshipper in the church, who narrowly escaped death , Godiya Ayuba, told Sunday Vanguard that the attackers entered the village from multiple directions and, within a twinkle of an eye, the entire area was surrounded giving no escape route for any person.

He stated that the attackers, who came on motor bikes and some vehicles, numbered over 50.

According to him, the insurgents quickly surrounded the Catholic Church and locked the

doors thereby trapping the worshippers. ”The next thing, they started shooting randomly. Worshippers were slaughtered inside the church and within the premises. Then the vicinity became quiet I hid among corpses”, Godiya recounted.

He added that the insurgents operated for about two hours in the church before taking their leave. “I never believed I could survive.

Miraculously no bullet hit me. I hid among the bodies for over two hours, I was in another world”, he recounted.

Another survivor, Mr. Samuel Mshellia, narrated that when the attackers stormed the church, what was uppermost in worshippers minds was that politicians had come to campaign because of the number of vehicles used.

Samuel stated that as one of the church elders, he had gone to a nearby compound to pick an item when the killers came. ”I watched the killers doing their heinous act from the compound as crying and wailing rented the entire church premises and the suburb.

After the killings in the church, the attackers went freely around shouting war slogans”, he stated.

Giving the causality figure of the attack, the chairman of Madagali local government, Mr. Maina Ularamu, said 34 persons had been confirmed dead, even as

The military only arrived our village at about 3pm when the killings had ended and the insurgents gone more than the figure were missing. He disclosed that 20 others with various degrees of injury many of them on danger list were receiving treatment in hospital.

He maintained that after the church attack, the insurgents retired to the village where they killed many people and carted

away food items.

Ularamu expressed regret that military personnel enforcing emergency rule in Adamawa State failed to live up to expectation during the attack. ”To our surprise, the attackers came calling in Chakawa village that fateful day at about 10:00am. And immediately

they struck, I was alerted and the military authorities were accordingly informed”, he stated.

“The military only arrived our village at about 3pm when the killings had ended and the insurgents gone. ”Ordinarily, it should not have taken a military aircraft about five minutes from Yola to counter the insurgency attack, if action were taken immediately, but when they came it was too late”.

Ulamaru suggested sophisticated weapons for the security agents enforcing emergency rule in the state, even as he commended the Divisional Police Officer in area for his prompt action during the attack.

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PAGE 42—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

BORNO:

Their black Sunday! *After 55 were killed, we are still searching and burying corpses – Councillor

By Ndahi Marama, Maiduguri

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t has ben a string of attacks since Sunday, January 13 when Kawuri in Konduga LGA, Borno State was invaded by suspected Boko Haram insurgents, sacking about 37 communities with thousands of residents displaced taking refuge in Cameroon Republic and villages in Chibok, Damboa, Gwoza, Konduga council areas as well as Maiduguri, the state capital.

The sacked communities include Goskari Gana, Limanti, Mairari, Kwaljiri, Alau, Kaya, Wala, Ngawo Fate and Mude while the latest Kawuri attack has posed many unanswered questions, particularly to residents and traders who were in the town on Sunday, January, 26, a market day.

Prior to these attacks, gunmen, numbering about 80, suspected to be members of Boko Haram, invaded Wala village, a Christian community in Gwoza LGA Borno State and the country home of a federal lawmaker, representing Chibok, Damboa and Gwoza constituency, Hon. Peter Biye, and shot dead two persons, while several others sustained gunshot injuries. The gunmen set shops and residential houses ablaze before carting away livestock and food crops.

10 people were also killed by suspected insurgents in Njaba village in Damboa LGA while eight others were killed in Kaya village also in the LGA when suspected C M Y K

insurgents attacked the village.

The January 26 attack was said to have been carried out by insurgents numbering over 50 who invaded Kawuri and set ablaze over 300 residential houses and shops after killing a soldier, a policeman, 51 civilians and wounding several policemen as well as civilians.

The attack, which happened at about 5pm, led to many traders and residents sustaining injuries and are now receiving treatment in Konduga and Bama General Hospitals as well as the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

Kawuri District is one of the big towns in Konduga, situated along MaiduguriBama Expressway, about 60 kilometres from Maiduguri.

This is the third time the town was attacked. The first time was October last year when some Boko Haram suspects clashed with vigilante youths. The incident led to the killing of 10 people, 18 injured and the burning of 48 shops and 200 houses.

Immediately after that clash, the state government enjoined youths of Kawuri to form their own Civilian JTF, a volunteer vigilante group, to protect their territory from Boko Haram attacks.

Thereafter, the people of Kawuri started receiving threat letters from the insurgents domiciled in their camps in Sambisa forest, about 30 kilometres away from the town, cautioning them that anyone of their sons/ daughters who joined the Civilian JTF risked possible attack. The second attack was

the one of January 13.

Governor Kashim Shettima, who was billed to visit the town on Monday morning, a day after the January 26 incident, had to suspend the trip following intelligence report that the place was not safe, as insurgents, who attacked the town the previous day, had planted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting rescue workers and security operatives deployed to maintain law and order in the area.

Shettima on Tuesday, that is, two days after the incident,

We ran inside the house for fear of gun shots but they came and set fire to the house while shooting however, visited Kawuri.

Residents of the town told the governor they had buried 53 bodies and were still counting, as they also recovered two more bodies and buried them that morning.

A survivor, Mallam Mustapha Modu, said the attackers wore military camouflage and disguised as soldiers, but it was easy to identify them as they they didn’t wear helmets on their heads, but a red and white headtie called in Hausa Rawani with tattered shoes,

not military boots.

Another resident of the town said, “ I was in the market doing business. All of a sudden, we started hearing gunshot sounds coming from different directions. As I was about to close my shop to run for my dear life, I saw my little daughter, Aishatu, who I left

them at home with others including my wife crying that our house was on fire. As we scrambled to reach home, we couldn’t due to smoke that enveloped every nook and cranny of the town.

“As I am talking to you now, I have not seen two of my children and my wife, but I pray they are still alive somewhere”.

The village head of Kawuri, whose house was also burnt by the insurgents, while briefing Shettima at his palace, said about seven mosques were razed. The Imam of Kawuri Friday Mosque, Alhaji Mele Kawuri, according to him, was slaughtered in his mosque alongside two worshippers by the insurgents before they set the building ablaze.

The Chairman of the Civilian JTF, Mallam Lawal Musa,told the governor his men were not deterred by the attack, as they were ready to die defending their territory.

He stated that during the attack, his men killed several of the insurgents, but stressed that he couldn’t ascertain the

casualty on the side of the insurgents as, according to him, they are good in picking their corpses and going away with them in their operational vehicles, even as he said with the support they got from security agents in the area, some arrests were made in connection with the incident.

Councillor of Kawuri village, Dala Lawan, said about 40 persons with bullet and fire injuries were admitted at various health centres across Borno State where they were receiving

treatment.

“We are still searching for and burying corpses. The first burial was 53 but more corpses are still being picked in the bush and some people with serious injuries also died. We just found two more corpses which brings the death toll to 55”, Lawan told Sunday Vanguard.

Sunday Vanguard saw women, children old and young men with burnt skins screaming in pains on hospital beds in Konduga town, about 10km away from Kawuri village.

A mother, Rabi Mallam, 46, who suffered second degree burns, said she, her son and grand daughter were hiding inside the room when the gunmen set their home on fire.

“We ran inside the house for fear of gun shots but they came and set fire to the house while shooting. I and the two kids could not come out because they were shooting, we were there for hours before they left thinking we were dead. I covered the kids with heavy blanket soaked in water, but the fire still burnt us,” Rabi said.

A new couple, Mallam and Mrs Abba Usman, while narrating their ordeal, said they lost everything in their burnt house.

Meanwhile, Shettima, in tears, urged Kawuri residents to take heart and consider the attack as an act of God, promising that his administration would rebuild all the burnt houses.

He asked them not to run away from their homes as government was going to provide them with adequate security. The governor announced a donation of N250,000 each to the families of those who lost their loved ones, and promised to settle the medical bills of the injured.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 43

The lies, the half truths against Gov Nyako

By AHMAD SAJOH

“False words are not evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil” - Plato

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ne area Albert Stephen has excelled beyond all expectations is in holding meetings aimed at promoting hatred along ethnic and religious lines. This has been his stock-in-trade since he came into political lime light. Little wonder therefore that hate messages featured very prominently in all his recent rantings. His so-called Save Adamawa Movement is nothing but a concert of three religious bigots so ignorant they filed a claim in a law

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HESE timeless words kept re-echoing in my mind when I read recent utterances of one Albert Stephen on the political situation in Adamawa State. He was purportedly responding to some issues raised by Governor Murtala Nyako on developments in the state and Nigeria. Unfortunately, rather than build his arguments on facts of the matter, he dwelt more on falsehood and messages, which border essentially on mischief, blackmail and hate mongering. But then, for those of us who know him very well, we are not surprised.

Albert Stephen and his two other cotravelers in the so-called Save Adamawa Movement are just a concert of three hate mongers whose stock in trade is to promote disharmony in the state. Incidentally all three profess the same religion (as if they are saving the state from adherents of the other religion). Two of them are former local government chairmen who were removed from office by the then Governor Boni Haruna. These facts are available at the Ministry of Local Government Affairs for verification and no matter their penchant for peddling falsehood; they cannot claim to have completed their tenures as Chairmen..

Albert Stephen was Chairman of Mayo-Belwa Local Government Council between 2004 and 2006.

Listening to him claim an honest disposition and challenging others on performance makes it imperative to expose some hard facts about him.

The two years he served as Council Chairman was the lowest point in the history of the area.

Apart from the alleged auction which led to his ouster by Governor Haruna in 2006, not one project was initiated and completed throughout his unfortunate tenure. In this respect, the biggest losers are the people of Gorobi ward, a place he claims to be his home community.

After spending over N6million on a supposed water project for the people living there, all that remains as the legacy of that inglorious era are metal studs and a worthless metal tank. But then complaints about his failures to touch the lives of people he claims to support are legion. While he claims Gorobi as his home community, the people of Jamdudi ward equally claim him since the name Stephen he uses as his surname belongs to a medicine man residing in the area. No project

a fair contest. It is on record that at the primaries that saw him as Chairman in 2004, Abubakar Gengle emerged victorious. It was Joel Madaki who was the then PDP Chairman that imposed him on the electorate. At the end of the voting during the nomination process, Albert Stephen scored less than 16% of the votes. We have the results and if he or anyone disputes these facts we shall publish them raw with names, voting patterns and tallies.

After all there were open protests and petitions that accompanied the process.

To say their hatefilled campaign is sponsored by commissioners in Governor Nyako’s cabinet is to carry mischief beyond decent limits.

•Governor Murtala Nyako was sited in the area by Albert as Chairman and the people have complained bitterly about it. It was the same complaint from ‘Yolde Gubudo ward, which is his mother’s place. We brought these facts to show clearly that Albert Stephen who has failed woefully to save the people closest to him cannot claim to save the people of Adamawa State.

So his Save Adamawa project is simply a political gimmick aimed at relevance seeking and hate mongering.

However, the most visible legacy of the tenure of Albert Stephen in Mayo-Belwa is the abandoned proposed Local Government Complex, which is located adjacent to the existing one. According to

records at the Local Government Secretariat, an amount in excess of N68million was expended in laying just the foundation of the building, and that was in 2004 and 2005. The process was carried out through what was termed ‘direct labour’ supervised directly by the office of the Chairman who happened to be Albert Stephen. The N68million foundation has remained an eye sore in Mayo-Belwa since 2006. To add to its misfortune, the abandoned project had been a subject of litigation by one Chumaks who made claims related to nonpayment in respect of materials supplied, prompting questions as to what the N68million was spent on.

Albert has never been a product of

court that a loan from the Islamic Development Bank discriminates against Christians. Little did they know that the first state in Nigeria to benefit from an Islamic Development Bank loan is Anambra which is also predominantly Christian. My worry in the whole tirades by Albert Stephen stems from the apparent hate mongering contained and brazen lies that border on mischief contained thereof. To say their hate filled campaign is sponsored by commissioners in Governor Nyako’s cabinet is to carry mischief beyond decent limits. We challenge him to name the commissioners. We want to make it abundantly clear that whoever sponsors them is indeed an evil mind that promotes hate and supports religious bigotry. No one in Governor Nyako’s cabinet has such characters.

The Adamawa-German Hospital he referred to is in Yola and not MayoBelwa. It was the place Governor Danbaba Suntai was managed before being flown to Abuja. The facilities in the hospital are among the best in the

*Continues on Page 44 C M Y K

PAGE 44, SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

The lies, the half truths against Gov Nyako Continued from page 43 country. As Aldous Huxley will say “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored or wished away by ignorant minds”. Some of the statistics he bandied are not just bogus but also out rightly stupid. For the likes of Albert Stephen, the term Fulani is generic not ethnic. They are known to brand every Muslim a Fulani and all Christians non-Fulanis.

But we know that Adamawa State has 87 ethnic groups and the two religions fairly balanced. It is also a reality in Adamawa State that one could find adherents of the two major religions as blood relations in the same house in virtually all our communities.

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on Adamawa State and the attendant hardships it has visited on the people. Aside the semantics of it, Albert Stephen and all the promoters of the emergency rule cannot deny the economic losses suffered by ordinary people in the state.

While Albert spends the greater part of his life in Jos, Plateau State, he feels no qualms about the plight of Adamawa people whose businesses have suffered severe setbacks. He may equally feel comfortable with the disruption of our lifestyles or the restrictions on our spiritual activities, but we have heeded our governor’s charge to embark on unceasing prayers for protection from the evil few who do not wish us peace and progress.

Whoever sponsors Albert Stephen and his fellow hate mongers should be mindful of the fact that whatever we do today will surely be part of our records here on earth and in the hereafter. If you tell the truth it becomes part of your past, if you tell a lie, it becomes part of your future. I would like to end this response with a quotation from a modern philosopher who said “I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you”

* Sajoh is the Director, Press and Public Affairs, Government House, Yola.

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•Magaji (extreme right, arrowed), with his townsfolk. Behind them is Magaji's workshop. Inset: Governor Sule Lamido

An encounter with

Gov. Lamido’s unusual friend

BY OCHEREOME NNANNA

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HE day-long journey started from Jigawa Hotels, better known in Dutse, Jigawa State capital, as “Three Star”. There were six of us journalists, accompanied by the Director of Press, Government House, Malam Umar Kyari. Our assignment was to travel to as many parts of the state as possible to monitor the local government elections which were taking place on Saturday, January 18 , 2014. Naturally, Kyari also wanted us to see some of the projects that the state government under Governor Sule Lamido was putting in place to justify his mandate by the Jigawa electorate.

Our first port of call was the palace of the Emir of Dutse, where we went to see how the elections were going. Merely looking at the geographical surroundings, you will immediately understand why the city is called “Dutse”, Hausa word for “stone” or “rock”. The site of the palace is surrounded by billion year-old extrusive rocks which bear evidence to the ancient tectonic events that shaped these parts of the world at the beginning of time. Story has it that these rocks provided refuge for the local inhabitants of the town from series of raids by invaders centuries ago.

From there we proceeded to the Dutse International Cargo Airport on the verge of completion. It has a fourkilometer runway, easily the longest of its sort in the country.

We were informed the entire airport project cost just about

11.5 billion Naira. When you compare this with the over 60 billion Naira bill slapped on the Nigerian taxpayer by a firm for the construction of an extra runway in the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja a few years ago, you will wonder how the company and its collaborators in government arrived at that humongous cost.

From there we swung southward to Bamaina in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area.

Bamaina is the hometown of Lamido. It is also the site of the Jigawa Academy for Gifted Children. From a school for the

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hen we say we have peace and harmony in our state, what we mean is that the activities of the likes of Albert Stephen have not and by the grace of God will not engineer unmanageable ethnic or religious upheavals anymore. Imagine a statement like “So you may be a Muslim, but if you are not Fulani from Wittijo (whatever that means) too bad. Imagine the plight of Christians”.

Statements like this could only come from Albert Stephen. It’s a pity Nigeria harbours such a bigot in politics.

All his ratings on Nyako’s achievements are mere products of hatred. Apart from the lies in them and the false figures bandied, Albert Stephen cannot wish them away. Those empowered through the acquisition of life-changing skills have since found more useful things to do. They have no time for idle talk from jobless hate mongers who add no value to their lives but mislead them into hatred and wastage. Governor Nyako’s empowerment programme is based on the understanding that a restless and jobless youth is a time bomb waiting to explode. That was the view he held long before he became governor, and it was on that basis that he wrote the President long before Jonathan came in the saddle. The governor was not referring to the false letter Albert and his fellow travelers talk about which never existed anyway. But because the intention is to lie and promote hatred, Albert Stephen turned the information upside down in order to mislead the public.

One area Albert Stephen displayed extreme insensitivity is in his support for the unjust imposition of state of emergency

How many know that being a leader is not just about occupying high, powerful office and preening in the midst of the high and mighty but also paying heed to the least among us exceptionally intelligent children of Jigawa origin, it was later expanded to admit students from the 19 northern states. But following the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan some time ago, it has opened its armed to students from all over the country. Admission is strictly on merit, and students who make the mark enjoy

completely free education at the expense of the Jigawa taxpayer.

From Bamaina, we moved to the extreme northeast town of Hadejia. Hadejia is the biggest town in Jigawa State and its commercial hub, though tucked away in a fairly remote region.

Hadejia should have been the capital of the Jigawa State that was created in 1991 had its level of relative development been taken into account. In fact, there was a big riot in the area when the capital was awarded to Dutse which, in 1991, was a mere village with only one major road running through it en route to Potiskum in Yobe State.

On our way to Hadejia, Kyari decided we should pause for a few moments in Nasarawa village in Kiyawa Local Government Area. He wanted us to visit Malam Magaji Tuba, a friend of Lamido. You might wonder what was special about this friend. After all, any governor would have friends – lots of them – even if most of them are attracted in the main by powerful office he occupies.

However, we discovered that Magaji was a friend with a difference.

When we came down from our vehicles, Kyari led us into a shed made of tin. Inside the shed was a threshing machine.

There was only one occupant in the shed – Magaji. He was wearing a shabby, old brown polo shirt (obviously browned by old age and lack of regular washing). He also had on an old pair of trousers, which was frayed here and there. Magaji was smiling when we came in.

He is that kind of person who *Continues on Page 45

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 45

Gov. Lamido’s unusual friend Continued from page 44

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hen Kyari brought the story to the attention of the governor, Lamido gave him N200,000 to purchase a threshing machine for Magaji. He also instructed that a shed be built and the machine installed in Magaji’s village. When this was done, the governor also instructed that a motorcycle should be purchased for him to enable him go to the nearest town to buy gas for his machine. Thus settled in, Magaji has resumed full control of his life. He still needs a little more time for the grogginess to clear, but he is fully able to conduct his business and look after his family.

Soon after he was resettled, Lamido was on his usual inspection tours when he asked Kyari to take him to Magaji. When he arrived there, the entire village came out. He shook Magaji’s hands, to the surprise of many village folk who see governors as if they are gods.

When we came calling, the villagers, who had just finished their election duties, were out to see us. Now, they have another request to make of Lamido: they want a school built in their village. They told us they were tired of travelling long distances to attend school. These ones are not like the Boko Haram people who say they don’t want western education. When the message was conveyed to the governor, he humorously asked them to tell their “spokesman”, Magaji. Nasarawa village will soon have a school for their children.

There is a big lesson from this unusual story: these underprivileged, downtrodden ones, especially the destitute among us, need only very little to regain their humanity, not just their sanity. If the chief custodians of public funds could just spare a few sobre moments, so much can be done with so little. The question is: how many state high officials will be interested in talking to mentally ill persons on the streets?

How many governors will even want to know how they can help? How many will like to find out if the money they gave produced any result?

How many know that being a leader is not just about occupying high, powerful office and preening in the midst of the high and mighty but also paying heed to the least among us, who are also entitled to their share of the monthly federal allocation?

The park and pay problem in Jos

By MIKE C. OBEANU

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OS, the metropolitan capital of Plateau State, is fast recovering from her over two decades of multi-dimensional ethno-religious/ political imbroglio. This devastated the city cum state for years leading to massive bloodshed and exodus of nonindigenous residents with the resultant capital flight.

This development, which featured regularly from 2001-2012, made Jos synonymous with crises as the city hardly featured in the news without crises attached to it. It went to the extent that any resident on visiting any city in Nigeria or abroad and on introduction as a Jos resident is looked upon as an ‘insane’ person living in a crises-ridden city. The person would be immediately admonished to relocate to a safer state if he wished to still have his head attached to his body.

But since late 2012 when the last bomb blast was recorded in Jos, the city has recorded relative peace except for some mischievous attacks/clashes in the neighboring local government areas between Fulani herdsmen and the natives.

This relative peace in the city has encouraged the return of many ‘exodees’ who have subsequently gone back to their former businesses. Jos is also one of the major recipients of victims of the Boko Haram onslaught in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States where many relocated and established their businesses.

From this scenario, it is obvious that the greater percentage of the population in Jos metropolis had been traumatized by either loss of human life, property or source of livelihood occasioned by crises or the monumental fire incident that gutted the magnificent Jos ultra modern main market in 2002.

The population, barely struggling to pick up the pieces of the city, are currently being oppressed by the new government policy of PARK AND PAY. Park and pay is a policy in practice in designated areas of Abuja and Lagos where car owners are made to pay a token on parking in properly built parking lots off the shoulders of city roads or in well fenced and secure car parks.

This was copied by Plateau State government and introduced in mid2013 in some roads in Jos. The roads namely Ahmadu Bello Way /Beach Road,Rwang Pam Street, Tafawa Balewa and Bukuru Park area were built in the 1970s by the late J.D. Gomwalk administration. With the exception of Ahmadu Bello Way/ Beach Road ,which has been dualized, others are lacking in maintenance withdilapidated deep shoulders which often cut car tyres, damage bumpers and exhaust pots while trying to wriggle out of it. Yet, car owners are made to pay N100 for daring to park there.

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always smiles. But this time, he had a good reason. Kyari was the man who was responsible for his rehabilitation.

Magaji, not long ago, was a lunatic roaming the major streets of Dutse. It is not a common sight to see beggars and mentally ill persons on the streets of Dutse or other major towns in Jiagawa State. This is because Lamido has a welfare package that pays N7,000 per month to such persons to keep off the streets. He believes that street begging is inhumane, and that government has a duty to reserve a little portion of public funds to cater for those left behind in the rat race of modern living.

While Magaji was still on Dutse streets, Kyari told us, it was obvious he was not totally mad. He had moments of clear focus and conversed normally with the folks around. One day, Kyari stopped and engaged Magaji in conversation. He learnt what sent Magaji round the bend: he lost his means of livelihood, an experience which he could not handle. The owner of a grinding machine he was operating had suddenly taken it back. Magaji could no longer cater for himself his wife, children and aged parents. Then, he lost it.

The interesting aspect of this policy is that it is being implemented only in the Christian dominated areas where most of the victims of Jos crises and returnees from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States are relocated The other aspect is that the law does not exempt property owners (landlords), tenants, shop/office owners who live or run businesses in the areas. As soon as one is navigating to park along any of the roads, one is rudely rushed by the energetic youths engaged in this unholy task of extorting money from people in the name of PARK AND PAY. The interesting aspect of this policy is that it is being implemented only in the Christian dominated areas where most of the victims of Jos crises and returnees from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States are relocated and struggling to re-establish themselves without government assistance. Worst hit are those who survived the deadly onslaught and displacement in Dilimi, Sarki and Ayeni Streets and are managing to find their feet along Tafawa Balewa and Rwang Pam streets. Their businesses are seriously being affected as their customers who cannot afford the daily N100 park and pay fee now look elsewhere.

One of the outcomes of the various crises in Jos is the division of residential and business areas along religious lines. The Moslem businesses are located on the major streets of Bauchi Road, Murtala Mohammed Way, DilimiStreet, Masalaclin Juma’a and Enugu Road.

None of these roads is affected by the government’s policy of park and pay, yet they command high traffic flow andharbour high profile businesses.

Similarly, other government laws in revenue collection, registration of business premises, sundry taxes, ban on commercial motor cycles, etc are affective only in Christian dominated areas.

The same goes for the road patrols and frequent checks of vehicle particulars by theVehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs), Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Corps and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. They concentrate their activities in the Christian area, causing unnecessary traffic jams at peak movement periods.

The questions that inevitably arise are:

1. Why is this lopsidedness in policy implementation?

2. Why collecting money for parking on road shoulders where no value has been added since 1970s?

3. Why are there no VIO road blocks, police stop and search and Road Safety checks along Bauchi Road, Dilimi, Murtala Way, Masalachin Juma’a, Enugu Road and Rikkos area?

Let it not be seen as if some people are untouchable while others are subjugated, trampled upon and over burdened with all forms of taxes deserved and non-deserved.

Park and pay is good. It could provide a good source of revenue for government. But the road and shoulders should be properly built and demarcated for easy parking by motorists. The youths engaged in the service should also be properly orientated as some of them lack manners of approach which unfortunately claimed the life of a motorist along Rwang Pam Street late last year while in a hot exchange of words with an attendant.

PAGE 46 — SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

When it got to the stage of voting on amendment of Section 143 to empower both legislative houses to ease out the president and his vice, the APC poured out all its arsenals. PDP garnered 122 votes against APC’s 172. PDP’s saving grace was that the APC votes did not hit the required 2/3 majority to carry the day.

The lawmakers had sought an

BY EMMAN OVUAKPORIE Dust over majority party number of cross-defections in the House

One major issue that has continued to disrupt the flow of legislative business since the House resumed has been which party constitutes the majority.

Hon Pat Asadu, PDP, Enugu State, last week, dared the APC to declare the list of its Reps to ascertain which party is in majority. According to Asadu, there was no time the APC was ever in the majority despite the defection of 37 members of the PDP to APC. His words: “I want APC to publish their list and within one hour I will publish our list and you won’t hear any dissenting voice. ”But if they do publish their own list, I can assure you that more than members in that list will protest”.

For the second week running, the Minority Leader, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, at two different media chats, promised to make available their list but to no avail.

The new majority in the House

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, reclaimed its majority position in the House following the defection of a Nassarawa member from the All Progressive Congress, APC. Hon David Ombugadu, in a letter read by Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said he decided to dump his Congress for Progressive Change ,CPC, under which he was elected, for the PDP, after consulting his constituents. With the defector, the PDP now has 174 members, against the 172 of the APC, which shot it back to the majority party in the House.

Tuesday’s defection of another member from Nassarawa, Hon Joseph Haruna Kigbo, from APC to PDP had tied the two parties at 173 apiece.

Immediately after the announcement by the Speaker, PDP members shouted “PDP” in jubilation. However, the APC lawmakers stood up, chanting “APC, Change”. It took the Speaker about five minutes before he could restore order in the House. The defection brought the total

to seven, with the PDP getting four members, all from APC. The APC, which was the majority party before Christmas and New Year break, only received two members, each from PDP and DPP.

Amaechi vs Chinda

Hon Kingsley Chinda, PDP, Rivers State, will never see anything good in his governor, Hon Rotimi Amaechi.

On Monday, when the National Unity Group, NUG, was floated and the issue of Rivers crisis was mentioned, Chinda, instead of addressing the subject at hand, went memory lane. He told journalists how Amaechi was the architect of impunity in Rivers State and how he confiscated a hotel bigger than the NASS belonging to a politician and wanted to convert it to a primary school.

But he had no answer to what happened to the bullets that allegedly hit Senator Magnus Abe at a rally in Rivers State.

Lucky Chinda! If Honourables Dakuku Peterside and Andy Uchendu, proAmaechi lawmakers, were in that meeting, he would have escaped through the window because their reply would have been bloody.

New slogan

Members of a group in the House of Representatives, National Unity Group, NUG , on Monday, adopted a new slogan for the PDP, ‘ApuGA’, DPP and Labour Party Reps. The group is championed by Reps Mulikat Adeola-Akande, Bitrus Kaze Toby Okechukwu, Yakub Barde and Kyari Gujbawu. The new slogan is simply, ‘No To Anarchy’. The APC Reps from all indications may soon adopt ‘No To Impunity’ as their own slogan.

The Constitution amendment stalemate

On Thursday, the APC, knowing what it entails to vote for a new Constitution, mobilised almost all its members to plenary.

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

Okonjomonics

T

he Senate was in chaos as a result of the political parties positions on the ongoing debate on the 2014 Budget, the screening of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and Service Chiefs and the defection of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senators to All Progressives Congress.

Starting with the debate on Tuesday after the screening of the Service Chiefs on Monday outside the plenary, Nigerians, for the first time, were told the type of economic policy being practised by the present government, a policy that is said to have stunted the nation’s economic growth simply known as ‘Okonjomonics’.

The policy, according to the APC senators, is geared towards impoverishing the masses in favour of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is said to be the brain behind the policy and the senators in clear terms accused her of being planted as the agent of the World Bank and the IMF, citing the debt profile of the country, even as they argued that many countries that have fast growing economies like China, India, Brazil, Indonesia have detached themselves from the IMF and World Bank.

The PDP senators and their APC colleagues accused the minister of stifling the economy and creating unemployment and poverty to satisfy the West.

amendment to the Section to remove ambiguities in the process of impeachment and removal of the President and vicepresident from office on allegations of gross misconduct and to provide for a more transparent and democratic procedure for impeachment and removal of the holders of the offices.

But apart from the accusation against the minister, the ‘real’ PDP senators and even LP senators seemed to be comfortable with the imbalance in the allocation of resources to recurrent expenditure which gulps about 74 per cent of the 2014 Budget while the capital expenditure is 26 per cent.

Some of the PDP senators have only the mindset of frustrating any effort by the opposition to pass the budget without meaningful contribution, while also some of the opposition party senators believe that it is an avenue to hit at the ruling party.

Even some senators who hardly contribute to debates except to chorus ‘ay’ and ‘ney’ are using the budget to support the positions of their party to present themselves as loyal party members for the sake of the 2015 tickets.

The most interesting aspect of the drama in the Senate last week was the defection saga where the Senate is engaged in supremacy battle over which party controls the majority. Some aggrieved PDP senators have written a notice letter to the Senate leadership for defection, while the fear of the unknown has gripped the PDP as further increase of the number of the opposition would affect the leadership.

However, events showed that the opposition may only have its say but not have its way. Though the APC senators have explained why they participated in the screening of the Service Chiefs, it appeared they had no option as their absence would not have affected the process. Clear evidence to showcase their strength was manifested on Thursday at the plenary when the Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, refused to second the motion on the continuation of the 2014 Budget.

This didn’t stop the debate as another senator seconded the motion for the debate to continue while the opposition also contributed in the debate.

Gov Ahmed unfolds scheme to create 8,000 jobs, N300bn devt bond

BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI,ILORIN

T

he monthly media briefing of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of

Kwara State, tagged,”Governor

Explains”, was a bold initiative of the media team under the supervision of Dr Muideen Akorede,the governor’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Communications, to showcase the activities of the administration and also allow questions from the members of the public on the grey areas.

Since the inception of the programme,members of the public often look forward to the live programme on the local Radio Kwara and its sister FM stations where the erudite governor was always on hand to explain every issue raised by members of the public in English Language, Yoruba and even Hausa.

The last Wednesday programme, the first in 2014, was strategic to the governor in all ramifications because it enabled him to answer questions from both the media team and members of the public on his performances in the year ended and also give an insight into what the residents in the state should expect from the administration in 2014. Ahmed said his administration will employ 500 youths under the Quick Win Intervention Programme in different sectors such as public works, artisan training among others, adding that another 2,000 youths will be employed by the Teaching Service Commission and the mainstream civil service to address the issue of shortfall

in personnel occasioned by retirements of civil servants.

The governor further disclosed that some of the youths would be engaged in the Clean and Green programme of the government and in some other public works while some others would be enlisted for the Kwara Bridge Empowerment Scheme (KWABES) where they would work with the private sector.

He explained that the employment programme is designed for all the youths from uneducated to those with university degrees who would however be engaged differently according to their intellectual capacities. He disclosed that with the strategy on ground, 8,000 youths would be gainfully employed by the end of 2014,noting that by the first quarter of this year, 5,000 would have been recruited while the remaining 3,000 will be recruited instalmentally till December. He said the youths irrespective of political party affiliation across the sixteen local governments, seeking employment should register in their respective local government to enable government categorise them in terms of qualifications,status,age among others. Already he said Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin and the state university have been co opted to provide entrepreneurial skills to the youths who would be paid salaries while on training and after completion set them up by providing them with take-off loan. He noted that during the period of their training programme they would be made to form cooperative societies for easy access to loans they would need to float

their businesses. Ahmed added that the curriculum of international vocational centre,in Ajase-Ipo in Irepodun local government area of the state, which will

soon be completed, has been packaged by City and Guild of London so as to provide the needed skills and reputable certificate for the potential students.

I’m fit to resume —Gov Suntai Says video showing him as saying he cannot perform is fake *

By Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North

R

ecuperating Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai, yesterday, denied ever claiming he was not fit enough to resume work, blaming the report indicating otherwise on hatchet men desperate to edge him out of his office.

The governor, who spoke through his Secretary to the State Government, Mr. G. Kataps, pointed out that at no time did he grant any interview to any individual or group claiming to be incapacitated. “For the avoidance of doubt, Suntai did not, at any point, grant such an interview to any reporter in Jalingo”, he said. “If he granted it, it would have3 been with known reporters and not a faceless reporter as carried in the tale. The video in question is a product of desperation, taken out of context, and manipulated to further an interest of deceiving Nigerians.

Even a green horn in such propaganda stunt can see through this ‘monetised’ gambit. The truth though is that in most of his public appearances lately, Governor Suntai has continued to assure the state that he would return to office. “He even visited his office the other day as part of his determination to resume work at the appropriate time. Why are his traducers scared and spewing comical videos around?” Kataps said the latest media onslaught was consistent with the one that began after the crash in December 2012 when his enemies even said that the governor had died and later changed the story to his being brain-damaged and unable to recognise his environment. The SSG said, “We want to put it on record that this is just a malicious media campaign paid with Taraba State tax payers’ money to hoodwink the teeming supporters of Suntai. “Having failed to stop Suntai’s recovery, the desperados are now trying to discourage millions of Nigerians who have been praying for the governor’s complete recovery. Governor Suntai is recovering fast and would soon return to his office and complete the mandate Taraba people overwhelmingly gave him first in 2007 and then in 2011. It is only a matter of time.” Last week, many national papers ran the story that Suntai had admitted in a video clip that he was not strong enough yet to resume duties.

He was further quoted as saying that he was not certain when he would return to office.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 47

When will our shackles be broken?

BY FEMI FANI-KAYODE VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The need for our leaders to imbibe the godly virtue and eschew corruption

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N the 20th April 1653, Oliver Cromwell, who was the Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland and the greatest statesman and revolutionary that England ever knew, stormed the English ‘’Rump Parliament’’ at Westminster and courageously pronounced the following words after which he sacked Parliament and boldly took power. He said‘’It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money. Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter’d your conscience for bribes?

Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Re-

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VIEWPOINT

He risked everything, including life, liberty and limb. Yet, without hesitation, he did it all for his beloved England. He was moved and driven by his deeply religious convictions

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public? Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil’d this sacred place, and turn’d the democracy temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress’d, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors. In the name of God, go!’’ -OLIVER CROMWELL (1599-1658).

Cromwell was undoubtedly one of the greatest and most courageous men that ever lived and he is certainly one of my heroes. Not only was he moved by a compelling and irresistable zeal and thirst for righteousness in high places and by the power of the Holy

Spirit but he, like the biblical Jehu, was ready to pay the supreme price and sacrifice his life in order to effect it and bring lasting change to England. He abhorred corruption and injustice and his puritan roots and Christian fundamentalist background and upbringing caused him to oppose the excesses of the Catholic Church in his day and the awesome power and influence of the Catholic Bishops and their Pope.

Quite apart from saving her from the excesses of catholicism and the sheer brutality of the Jesuit Order and the Spanish Inquisition, Cromwell literally and single-handedly also saved England from the tyranny of absolutist monarchs and the evil of corrupt Parliamentarians. He was indeed the father of modern-day parliamentry and participatory democracy in Great Britain and it was he alone that shattered the myth and demonic philosophy of the ‘’divine right of kings’’ to rule with ‘’absolute power ’’.

Let us carefully consider the words that he spoke and read them once again. Let us imbibe their spirit and feel their power and passion. These are sacred and divinely-inspired words that were spoken 361 years ago to a sitting all-powerful Parliament that had just triumphed in a civil war against the King of England and had chopped off his head. Cromwell, who was a Member of Parliament himself, had led the armies of that Parliament into the field of battle on numerous ocassions. He was indeed the Com-

mander of its army and the main inspiration and motivator for the revolution and rebellion against the King.

Not only did he defeat the Royal Army of King Charles 1st in various battles and win the civil war but he also apprehended the King, arrested him, brought him to justice before the courts of law and had him executed. This was the first time that a King was brought to justice before a Court of Law and executed in the history of England. All seemed well and the House of Commons ruled until Cromwell noticed how the new-found power of this new Parliament had utterly corrupted its members. They were drunk with power and they wielded it with impugnity and no sense of decency and restraint.

Worse still they were hopelessly corrupt. In time he knew that they would have to go as well. He knew that a new order, which truly imbibed the spirit of justice, accountability, good governance, decency, christian sobriety, restraint and democracy, had to be put in place. He knew that only he could effect that change and that is precisely what he did by furiously storming Parliament, courageously confronting its members, speaking those chilling yet insightful words and forcefully taking power from them 361 years ago. He risked everything, including life, liberty and limb. Yet, without hesitation, he did it all for his beloved England. He was moved and driven by his deeply religious convictions and his puritanical.

Festus Goziem Okubor: Unveiling a meek, sound, and exemplary leader

BY CHUKWUDI ABIANDU VIEWPOINT IN BRIEF The contributions of Okubor to national growth and development.

T was Noel Annan (1916 – 2000) who, writing about his own generation in “Our Age” in 1990, that stated that “the cardinal virtue was no longer to love one’s country. It was to feel compassion for one’s fellow men and women.” And compassion speaks about having a deep awareness of the suffering of another and the wish to relieve such a suffering.

Many people who studied medicine when asked what influenced their interest usually end up saying that they came into the medical profession out of compassion; to ease the pain and suffering that illness afflicts people with.

As a journalist, while working for The Guardian, I once had opportunity to go in search of the late Prof. Ishaya Audu, the onetime vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State. Although, he vehemently refused to entertain questions from me on the political matters that I came for when I finally located him in the expansive hospital with a huge taint of his people’s tradition, and which was bereft of the sophistication that most hospitals are associated with in the city, but I learnt from indigenes of his tribe and community that establishing the hospital was a life line for the peo-

I

ple. You could find men, women, young and old going in and coming out after consultations with the doctor, and making their way to the pharmacy, clutching their drugs. You could tell by their mien that these are not rich folks. Of course, Prof. Audu was quite revered in the community; establishing the hospital in that place served the people well even though the premises were devoid of elegance and sophistication.

Yet, it brought medical relief to the people. And like the words of Noel Annan above, it was clear that Prof Audu, having understood the plight of the people as regards the lack of medical facility in those halcyon days and seized by compassion for his people, took up the challenge and built that hospital to ease their pain and suffering. He built, owned and ran the hospital as medical director.

In Delta State, the medical doctor that replicated Prof Audu is our own Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor, who unlike Audu is an astute politician and devout political activist. Not given to flamboyance and with a carriage of simplicity that shuns arrogance that easily besets men despite being well positioned as an elite, Festus Okubor was born at Ute Erumu in Ika North East Local Government of Delta State to late Festus Okubor and Madam Grace Okubor. He attended St. James Primary School, Agbor, and was at the famous Edo College, Benin City for his secondary education, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he studied medicine. The same compassion for one’s fellow man led him to set up the first hospital in Biu, Borno State in 1989 known

,

VIEWPOINT

With the emergent political realities in Delta State in 2010-2011, Okubor was appointed the Deputy Director General, Uduaghan Campaign Organization, which was later expanded to take responsibility for all Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elections

,

as El Shaddai Medical Centre, and was the medical officer, an institution and facility which he used to ease the people of pain and suffering that sickness afflicted them with. That singular act was an expression of his broadmindedness to national affairs; a contribution early in his life to rural development. It was his belief in the oneness and unity of Nigeria Between 1991 and 1993; he practiced as a medical officer at Kupa Medical Centre, Ajao Estate, Lagos before joining the medical insurance department of the international Standards Insurance Limited, Lagos.

While serving there, his diligence, devotion and commitment to duty were rewarded with elevations in quick succession from assistant manager to deputy manager, the manager, senior manager and assistant general manager.

When the whistle was blown by the Babangida administration lifting the ban on politics, Festus along with some eminent Nigerians that included late Chief Bola Ige, Chief Lulu Briggs, Chief

Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor Olu falae, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chief Segun Osoba, Alhaji Mohammed Arzika, Senator Onyeka Okoroafor and a host of others across the country worked together to float a political party which was among those that the Babangida administration did not allow to see the light of day.

Undaunted, Dr. Festus Okubor moved on. Between 1996 and 1998, he emerged at the Kaduna Convention as National Publicity Secretary of the defunct Grassroots Development Movement (GDM), thus opening up for him a new vista into the world of politics. In 2002, he became Chairman, Ika North East Local Government, Owa Oyibu, and subsequently moved to Government House, Asaba to become the State Director of Protocol in 2003. And very much on the upward spring in the political echelon, Festus Okubor was appointed commissioner for Special Duties in 2006 and later as Commissioner for Information and then Commissioner for

Health in 2007. In 2008, he became the chairman, Delta State Hospitals Management Board, Asaba.

With the emergent political realities in Delta State in 20102011, Okubor was appointed the Deputy Director General, Uduaghan Campaign Organization, which was later expanded to take responsibility for all Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elections. The organization was thus renamed PDP Campaign Council with Dr. Okubor retaining his position as Deputy Director General.

A Paul Harris Fellow Rotary International, Dr. Okubor is currently, the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Delta State and loves to join hands with all who believe in applying themselves diligently to the enhancement of humanity and the realization of a greater Delta State in particular, and Nigeria, in general.

As one who cherishes contributing to national growth and development, especially in politics and administration, Okubor recently presented a paper as guest lecturer at the 2013 Distinguished Alumni Public Service Lecture series of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association, Asaba chapter. In that lecture, titled “ The Limits of Ad-Hoc Approach to National Development,” Dr. Okubor proved himself a great thinker, and one who did not just go into government to merely savour the accoutrements and other advantages that serving in government confers on public office holders, but an opportunity to study the processes of government at a close range.

Abiandu sent in this report from Asaba, Delta State.

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SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 51

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

DUTY WAIVER SCANDAL REVEALED(2)

The gap between theory and practice —2

BY DELE SOBOWALE

"In addition some waivers and exemptions make up the gaps in our economy; for example waivers to bring in vehicles for sporting events and conferences.” Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

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YPICAL of Dr Ngozi Okonjp-Iweala, she pro vided no evidence that those sporting events or conferences would have been scrapped without granting those waivers.

I live and work in Lagos and even watched some of the events; I saw the vehicles bringing sports people, officials and media. I cannot remember seeing a vehicle which could not have been available without Duty Waiver. Perhaps somebody will, after this article, show me one.

Today, Nigerians and the international community know that part of the unnecessary Duty Waiver granted to the Lagos State Government to import buses for the Lagos State Sports festival ended up being used to import vehicles by a company to procure bullet-proof vehicles for the Ministry of Aviation. That fact, already established, should tell anyone with any grain of sense, that Dr Ngozi’s theoretical pronouncement on the objectives and actual uses of Duty Waiver is a lot of baloney. The truth, which she had conveniently failed to acknowledge, is that once she

and the President sign on the dotted line to allow individuals (and it is often more of the individuals than companies) they represent, to import anything duty-free, government loses control over the eventual outcome. Instead of agricultural equipment limousines are imported with falsified waybills. Invariably, it turns out to be a matter of robbing 160170 million Nigerians to pay one person and his close associates and inevitably results in obscene gifts to government officials whenever they have anything to celebrate.

The intellectual bankruptcy entailed in what she had been defending can be illustrated by one example from the first part of this series, specifically, the duty free import licence granted to Dangote Industries to import tomato paste for two years. Unless another government publishes the details of this particular agreement, it amounted to giving Dangote Industries a MONOPOLY on the importation of that particular commodity to the Nigerian market. Which other importer could have competed successfully with Dangote, after paying the appropriate duty on their imports of tomato paste?

Furthermore, having given two years moratorium on the imports, duty-free, the government officials involved must be imbeciles not to know that the company granted the concession would, towards the end of the

The intellectual bankruptcy entailed in what she had been defending can be illustrated by one example from the first part of this series, specifically, the duty free import licence granted to Dangote Industries to import tomato paste for two years period, import more than it needs for two more years, warehouse them and continue to enjoy the benefits of duty-free importation for more years than the two they wrote on paper.

More to the point, one would have expected our former World Bank Managing Director, to show proof that all the waivers granted, when she was Finance Minister, actually yielded the benefits the government expected of them. Shockingly, there was no proof that the N52bn-plus, she and Obasanjo “dashed” out in 2003/4 actually proved to be good returns on investment. Is that the way the World Bank works? If so, may be all the nations of the world should agree

to close it.

Nobody should know better than Dr Okonjo-Iweala, from Economics 1a, at Harvard, that every MONOPOLY means that the people pay more than they should if a free market exists.

But, here, government had deliberately handed the millions of Nigerians to a company/individual to be exploited without remedy – on tomato paste.

Worse still, the two years’ monopoly granted under that Duty Waiver agreement, unless it includes a limit on how much Dangote Industries could import, had, more or less, granted the company unfair competitive advantage over all importers of tomato paste, for several years be-

yond two, not only in ECOWAS but in a wide segment of Africa south of the Sahara. At least we know that goods from Nigeria dominate ECOWAS markets.

How would tomato paste importers in ECOWAS, who paid duty compete with a Nigerian company which paid none? Even, a destitute, given the monopoly of tomato paste today will be riding a private jet in less than six months from now. OkonjoIweala is being economical with the truth many ways on this matter.

First, she had abandoned all the principles of economics by not admitting that Duty Waiver is a subsidy to a few people and that it distorts the free market mechanism; and that, generally, the beneficiaries are those well connected to top officials in government. Second, her claim that the exemptions are accessible, to all those in the business sector, is a bloody lie. How many churches or mosques received exemptions to import jeeps, cars and buses, other than Redeemed Church? Meanwhile, one company, alone had been a perpetual recipient of waivers since Obasanjo came to office till today. Yet, it competes across several sectors. Why? Government should publish the list of all the recipients of the waivers to enable Nigerians to determine for themselves if that claim is true.

But, before she provides the list, she should know that there are at least a dozen major food processors, needing tomato paste for their products, got next to nothing. She has the records from 2003, when she first came on board as the Finance Minister; she should publish the list of recipients for each year for Nigerians to see who the beneficiaries are. Third, before she does more harm to her reputation, she should stop thinking well and behaving badly. Certainly, she still has friends in the World Bank; but she is not the only one who has sources in the World Bank. Her friends would not tell her the truth regarding how much of a disappointment she had been since 2011. But, other professionals will be too glad to tell her how far she had climbed down the greasy pole of prominence.

Four, she better understand this, the 2014 National Assembly, NASS, is different from any she had ever faced before. She cannot sack them, because this is a democratic republic, despite all the attributes of a banana republic. She will go; not the entire NASS – as the President had demonstrated with Alhaji Tukur; in order to protect himself. To be quite candid, Dr Ngozi must be the only person left in Nigeria, and perhaps the whole world, who still thinks she is indispensable. On that note let me close this two part series by reminding her of the words of one of the titans of the last century.

“The graveyards are full of indispensable people” Charles De Gaulle, 1890-1970. World War II General and President of France from 1959-1969.

No disrespect intended to her as a person and the office she occupies, which is vital to our present and future as a nation.

But, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala must recognize that the country must move on without her, sooner or later. She has tried her best; but the best is just not good enough. Nobody is indispensable.

PAGE 52—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014 japhdave@yahoo.com 08056402376

OYASAF committed to devt. of artists, scholars and art--Shyllon

BY JAPHET ALAKAM INTERVIEW He did not study art and is not an artist, but there is no art event that he is not present. He is engineer, marketer, chartered stockbroker, lawyer but his love for art gave him all that he needed. Prince Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon is an avid art collector who arguably has the largest private collections of contemporary artists’ works both Nigerian and non-Nigerian artists in Africa. The Egba prince has well over seven thousand pieces of works in his collection. He is the founder of OYASAF ( Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation), a non governmental organisation committed to the promotion of art.

Last week Vanguard Art on Sunday had a chat with the man who talk, sing and breath art and he bared his mind on a wide range of issues. Excerpts:

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of course principally promoted by the private sector, stating from the various artists exhibiting in individual galleries in Nigeria. Many artists exhibited widely, Olu Amoda , Adeola Balogun, Nnenna Okorie, Omenka gallery exhibited many, of course there were a lot of photography exhibitions.

Apart from the exhibitions, the Grillo Pavilion did its annual stakeholders conference, OYASAF had their various scholars residency and lecture series too.

Expectations this year The same kind of activities are expected this year. Grillo Pavilion will hold a special exhibition, Rasheed Gbadamosi and I are already packaging it, we will bring Grillo to hold a major exhibition this year.

Of course, OYASAF will also hold its quarterly lecture series and receive scholars on residency. is planning to receive professor Laden from US on residency.

The most important thing is that we expect that the national heritage council endowment for arts will be more visible this year.

You know I am a member of the body and right now we are busy incorporating ourselves with the CAC. We are expected to drive the art sector this year.

On the springing up of galleries in the Mainland.

It is a welcome development. In the past economic activities use to revolve around Lagos Island in terms of the rich and super rich moving there, but now, we are beginning to also have the rich and super rich in the Lagos mainland.

For instance we have the GRA Ikeja, Magodo and of course the shopping complex and so on.

It is a result of changes in the socio - economic landscape of Lagos as some of the facilities that use to abound only in the Lagos Island is now existing in the Lagos mainland. And those who can afford to buy art works are beginning to see the joy in staying in the mainland.

Also, the problem of traffic jam in Victoria Island is not helping matters. You are now beginning

to see people who are willing to buy art increasing in the Mainland instead of migrating to the Island. And giving that situation, what happens is that products always move to where the market is, the market is increasingly growing in the mainland and that is why you are having increasing number of galleries in the mainland.

On what informed the idea of the OYASAF lecture series.

I embarked on it because there is always need for innovations,

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Assessment of the visual art in 2013 T was a very busy year for the visual art sector, though the activities were

Prince Yemisi Shyllon- want to develop art to attract visitors how we came about with workshops with the UNILAG, school competitions which we have done in the north, S/east and S/west.

The whole essence is to develop art so that it will form the basis to attract visitors to Nigeria, develop it around our heritage sites so that people will come and see it

when I started, I was just collecting art works during my school days. Then I discovered that I can use this art to promote our culture and the creativity of our people in Nigeria. Then we went beyond that, we started the idea of inviting scholars from outside Nigeria, but one has to design things that will also benefit Nigerians in Nigeria and that is

,

Then we came up with the idea of saying yes, if we have scholars who come from Europe and America and other parts of the world to interact with Nigerian artists and scholars, why not we have the scholars themselves discussing with the stakeholders in the industry in Nigeria about the revival of Nigeria art. And that

was how we created the lecture series and this year, we plan to expand the scope in terms of the volume. We are going to change the location by creating a new complex within the same complex that will accommodate up to 70- 80 people in order to expand the reach of the lecture series.

The whole essence is that we pick topical issues that can be relevant to the development of Nigeria visual art, we don’t just pick anyhow topic, for instance, the last one we did by Prof. Jari talked about pricing, how has it affected the development of art in Nigeria. This year, Prof.

Onuzulike from UNN flagged it off with a lecture on January, 29. He deliberated on the impact of art auctions in Nigeria, whether it has been on the positive or negative. It was well attended as the who is who inthe Nigerian art attended.

State of OYASAF fellowship.

Farofa king relaunches career at 70

By PRISCA SAM DURU MUSIC It was celebration galore at the Lagos State Chamber and Industry (LCCI) Banquet Ikeja, Lagos, venue of the 70th birthday celebration of legendary musician and ex PMAN president (Abuja chapter), Prince Adebambo Ephiphanio Joseph well known as Eppi Fanio.

The event which took place last week, had friends, family and other guests appearing in beautifully designed traditional purple outfits as they rolled out the drums in celebration of the legendary artist and 1st National Vice President of PMAN, who lit up the music scene in the 70s.

The Farofa king who also relaunched his Farofa music career, could not hide his excitement seeing the crowd that gathered to rejoice with him. Giving thanks to God, he said, “I feel

vibrant, happy and I give glory to God for keeping me up until this time because some people don’t get up to 50 while others die even at a younger age. And so, I have every reason to celebrate”.

The Farofa king’s kind of music is a mixed grill of all genres, best known for his four recordings – Farofa (1976), Farofa Dancers (1978), Farofa joy movements (1984) and Songs of gold (1994).

The singer-performer who utilised the opportunity presented by his birthday celebration to relaunch his musical career, which went off the music scene since his retirement in 1994, as an Assistant Director in the Civil Service, stated that he was happy that he is staging a come back since he was the only person playing his kind of music, which earned him the title of ‘king’.

He however expressed his concern on music of the hiphop generation, explaining that “The songs we listen to these days do

not teach anything morally. The songs of those days were better in terms of lyrical content because they fermented the art of music, which is supposed to teach. We learn everyday and so the quality of any work of art

The fellowship is on going and we have sent out our invitations to all, through the internet and we are expecting to have three scholars this year. I am going to deliver a lecture on art at the University of Miami, Oxford, Ohio in April and there is going to be a lecture to be delivered by Dr Tobenna Okwuosa unbehalf of OYASAF in Germany. So we have a lot of programmes already slated and of course the normal quarterly lecture series.

The programme has to do with, first we send the invitations and those applications have to conform with our terms, which is that whatever you want to come and do must have relevance with the development of the history of Nigerian art, for instance, many scholars that have come here and carried out research on topical issues on the development of Nigeria art. All these research are all going into Phd thesis in top European Universities, so through the programme we are sending out a bundle of rich intellectual materials that contributes to the academic or intellectual map of the of the world in terms of art.

Art as alternative to oil, how That is what the National heritage council is already looking at, that is why you have people like Nike Okundaye and I in the board. The whole essence is to develop art so that it will form the basis to attract visitors to Nigeria, develop art around our heritage sites so that people will come and see it.

Many people don’t want to know about a rock called Zuma rock, but if you have a Zuma rock and you create artistic works around it then it becomes meaningful. It will allow people to migrate to that place, for example, look at Ogudu Cattle Ranch, Tinapa project, going around the place alone is enough tourist attraction.

The whole essence is to develop our art not only in terms of creativity alone but also in using it to attract foreign exchange.

Through that we bring people from different parts of the world to come and spend their money here, stay in our hotels, fly our airlines, eat our food, interact with our people. Of course, for every 93 visitors to a country, one is a potential investor, that is the whole essence. (drama, music, poetry) should have a message. Therefore, whatever songs artistes sing should include a message and the depth of that message will show the appreciation of the song”.

A documentary film on the reminiscences of Eppi Fanio: the Farofa King, was later presented to the audience.

Award: Oborevwori hails Uduaghan

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WARDS on the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan by reputable newspapers as man of the year 2013, has been described as recognition of his landmark achievements over the years.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart and Chairmanship aspirant in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Blessing Erhiavwarie Oborevwori, who gave this commendation while speaking with newsmen at the state party secretariat, Asaba, said that the track record of Dr. Uduaghan’s administration is what has at-

tracted him the nationwide recognition.

While commending the governor on his vision of “Delta Beyond Oil”, Chief Oborevwori said that Uduaghan administration has brought succor to the people of Delta State through his three points agenda, describing him as man with high initiative to move the state to greater height.

Oborevwori pointed out that one of the major achievements of Dr. Uduaghan’s administration was the success recorded by the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara in carrying out its first kidney transplant.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 2, 2014 —PAGE

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PAGE 54, SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

Mikel targets good result at City C

HELSEA and Nigeria midfielder, John Obi Mikel has said that he was looking forward to a good result in their crunch game against Manchester City on Monday at the Ethihad Stadium.

This was after a frustrating draw against West Ham on Wednesday. And taking into congnisance that City have taken all their oppenents to the sword on their home ground with high scores, Mikel added that notwithstanding, Chelsea will get a good result.

“It’s a big game; we’ll approach it like we approach every match. We go into every game to win and it won’t be any different against Man City.

“They’re on a good run, they’re playing well and around this time the games come thick and fast,” he said.

His manager, Jose Mourinho said though City might be having a good run of form, his side will fight to get a good result at the Ethihad Stadium. He added that City have benefited from some game-changing decisions in recent weeks.

“They are lucky,” he said.

“The reality is they have many crucial decisions in their favour.

“Against Liverpool, the (Raheem) Sterling ‘goal’.

The penalty on (Luis) Suarez. Against Newcastle the goal that is a clear goal.

“Against Tottenham, (Michael) Dawson’s goal, the penalty, the (Danny

A

Harder They Come... John Obi Mikel working hard for Chelsea during a match against Derby County.

Rose) red card. They are having everything. I repeat, because I don’t want to be misinterpreted, (it is) just pure coincidence.

“The referees, they try to do their best and sometimes they make mistakes and normally during the season the mistakes are split between teams. In their (City’s) case, they have everything in their favour,” added Mourinho, who insists his side are not yet ready to win the title.

“Next pre-season, day one, I will say we are can-

didates to win the Premier League. This season, the speech is we are candidates to win the next match. It

doesn’t matter where, it doesn’t matter the opponent. “We’re just trying to win. I tell you now, before

Warming Up... Nigerian taekwondo players getting set for action LY M P I A N Emmanuel Oghenejobo Peters, said that planned martial arts festival tagged ‘Agoma Opens’ billed for Benin City May 13-18 will expose young

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and emerging martial artists that can represent Nigeria at international meets in the near future.

Oghenejobo-Peters who won a demonstration silver in taekwando at the Barce-

Man City... I will tell you before the Newcastle game next week, and then West Brom. I will repeat this.”

Why I signed Yobo—Norwich coach

N

ORWICH City manager, Chris Hughton has been explaining the reasons behind the club’s shock decision to hand Nigeria captain, Joseph Yobo a route back to the English Premier League.

The Canaries made pub-

lic the deal on Thursday which means that the defender will now stay at Norwich City on loan for the rest of the season from Turkish club, Fenerbahce.

Canaries boss, Hughton, had been keen to bring in the former Everton man to provide needed cover for injured centre-half Micha-

Oghenejobo-Peters pulls martial artists to Benin

O

Commonwealth Games: Funds threaten AFN camp

lona 1992 Olympics stated that over 800 martial artists will participate in the tournament. These include taekwando, karate, kickboxing and judo players from all over the country.

“It is going to be a festival of martial arts. We are expecting to see the very best of Nigerian martial arts practitioners and not only that there are a crop of youngsters who are hoping to upstage the older athletes. “There are lots of youths out there who are just looking for an avenue to express themselves and so in our little way we came with the idea of running the tournament to giveaplatform for martial artists to express themselves.

“The organising committee

has been meeting and things are taking shape gradually,” Oghenejobo-Peters said.

He added that overall best players in the male and female categories of each of the disciplines will go home with N50, 000. OghenejoboPeters is the first Nigerian to be certified by the taekwondo world ruling body as an international judge. He narrowly missed officiating at the last London Olympics, as he was one level short in the selection criteria. “I have been upgraded by the world ruling body. And so hopefully I will be at the Brazil 2016 Olympics as an official. I can only wish that I will be able to make an impact just like I did when I was a player.”

el Turner. “As you must know we’ve got a problem with Michael Turner, who’s got a hamstring pull which will continue to keep him out for a fair amount of time, so it’s an area we needed to fill.

“Of course what Joseph is about is that he’s someone who knows this division very well, and has great experience,” he told the club’s official website, www.canaries.co.uk.

Yobo, 33, played for Standard Liege, Marseille, Tenerife and Everton before joining Fenerbahce in August 2010. Initially joining Everton on loan from Marseille, he made a total of 258 appearances in all competitions for the Toffees and scored 10 goals.

The return of Yobo to the EPL is expected to boost his chances of featuring at the World Cup in June.

Nigeria’s most capped star Yobo has been overlooked by coach Stephen Keshi since the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations principally because of a personality clash between the two men. However, ‘Big Joe’ has also failed to stake a strong claim for a recall to the Eagles having last played for his Turkish club Fenerbache on December 4 in a cup game.

THLETICS Federation of Nigeria intention to keep its athletes in top shape for the Commonwealth Games July 23-August 3 in Glasgow, Scotland may run into a hitch as funds to keep its training camp going, is running dry.

Technical director of the AFN Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, hinted that unless there is a change of situation the programme may not be able to continue. The second phase of the camping ended on Thursday and the third phase is expected to commence after the All-Comers meet in Sagamu in Ogun State.

“My only worry is that we are breaking off the camp and I hope we are able to get resources to assemble them as fast as possible,” he said.

However, he said that the AFN has been encouraged by the response of the athletes in training, adding that some of them have already hit the Commonwealth Games standards.

“Our own set standard is higher than that of the Commonwealth Games.

“From what I have seen, 80 per cent of the athletes will make the Commonwealth Games standard without blinking their eyes.

“We are not going to work only with the Commonwealth qualifying standard; Nigeria is beyond that now because we don’t just want to go and participate, we want to go and make meaningful impact.

“That is just the minimum because we are going to have several other trials like the national competitions where we will determine the final team that will go to the Games.

“We expect that the team we will take to the Commonwealth Games will qualify based on a much higher standard than the official Games qualification standard,” Nesiama added.

Also, Thaddeus Okpara, the All Nigeria Athletics Championship high jump champion, told NAN that he had just four centimetres left to meet the standard.

SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 2, 2014, PAGE 55

The golf side of me — Elder Orubebe M

INISTER of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe has revealed his golf side of life, stating that the game, more than anything else makes him more focused in life pursuit.

The game of golf is an enjoyable one and not just because of the nature of the game as it were, but contributively because of the caliber of people playing it. One beautiful thing about golf is its universal acceptance which truncates other games to compete with it.

Golf players are passionate, focused and very intelligent people, no wonder Elder Orubebe described his love and passion for golf playing as “LIFE” itself.

Relating this to real life experiences, Elder Orubebe had explained overtime saying: “when I am on the Golf course, I focus my mind on how to get my shots perfectly with my eyes on the ball and the right swing and with the right clubs as you know. To me, this is how life plays itself.

“Holding on to the past, makes life even heavier and nothing good can come out of a heavy burdened heart. The game makes you to be more focused, “Eyes on the Ball” calculative, determined and responsible for the overall outcome” When an interesting national leader describes the game of golf as an interesting game that people need to learn to support with

Godsday Orubebe... Swinging high a view to promoting its reach and awareness; then indeed, it is a game worth eying and considered imperative to use as a tool for National UNITY as in the case of football which have been thriv-

ing so high under the President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda for the nation.

In the game of golf, every ‘tee shot’ is remarkable just like in life, no matter how bad your shot may-

be, golfers always put it behind them just to ensure a clear mind as they look forward to a better shot on the next and ensuring they keep the rules of the game.

Elder Orubebe’s expression is a clear cut that he is a man that has understudied the relevance of golf, marrying it to our everyday living even pushes further his points as a man whose interests are larger than the common minds could think.

Orubebe is not just a lover of golf, he is a golfer with a difference.

In Nigeria for instance, notable men and women are into the game of golf as it has shown true value for time over the years. There is no mouthwatering incentive for the amateur but it is an interesting game for interesting people. When you realize that men of such caliber are into the game of golf, you would agree that, surely there is something about the game that attracts people of like minds as Elder Orubebe. Meanwhile the Nigeria Golf Federation has endorsed the Orubebe Invitational championship billed for February 22, 2014 at the Sapele Golf Course. The twoday event will attract amateur players to the Sapele Athletics Club, and they are expected to test their might for prizes at stake in this maiden edition of the championship.

Basketball wild card: FIBA ignores Africa again as Nigeria loses out

rican country had ever been considered for it in the past.”

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FRICA was once again overlooked by basketball’s world governing body, FIBA as the continent’s only candidate for one of the four wild cards available for teams, Nigeria, failed to impress officials of the body ’s Central Board who looked towards Europe and South America.

Three European countries namely Greece, ranked 5 th in the world, Turkey, ranked 7 th , Finland, ranked 39 th and South America’s Brazil, who are ranked 19 th were picked as the wild card winners as announced by FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Comm i t t e e ( I O C ) m e m b e r, Patrick Baumann yesterday.

“As a result, the field is now complete for FIBA’s flagship event, (the FIBA World Cup). The 24 teams are: Angola, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Greece, Iran, Korea, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and USA,” FIBA stated on its website.

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No bitterness over bronze, says Keshi

S

UPER Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi has expressed joy over the bronze medal the home based Eagles won at the African Nations Championship yesterday.

The Eagles defeated Zimbabwe 10 in the losers final played at the Cape Town stadium.

Keshi declared after the match, ‘’I am so happy with the boys. They have got the level of mentality I expected of them. I cannot be bitter with winning bronze because it is better than nothing.’’

He said that the winning the bronze was good compensation for the players who had worked so hard throughout the tournament. ‘’This will raise their spirit and good encouragement for the players who cried like babies after losing to Ghana.’’

Continuing the Nigerian sweat merchant said, ‘’Every body want to play in the final but it was not meant to be for us. My major aim here was to expose the boys and see if one or two of them could be selected for the World Cup and I have seen a lot that I am happy with.’’

He said the preparations for the World Cup will begin with the March 5th friendly against Mexico. ‘’In three weeks time, we will meet with Mexico 5th of March. I will see my major players and I will give some of the new ones the opportunity to test them with the big boys. After that match we will have a few weeks of training before the World Cup.’’ Keshi whose wards were playing their second consecutive match against a team with ten men said it was even a tougher task having to face ten men.

Supporters Club in hotel drama STORIES BY JACOB AJOM, Cape Town

T

Ike Diogu... no chance to display his skills at the World Cup. Defending the decision, Baumann said, “Since 2006, 11 of the 12 teams that have been granted wild cards were always inside the top 24 of the FIBA Ranking Men. This proves that FIBA’s Central Board is determined to make the FIBA Basketball World Cup as competitive as possible.”

President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, Tijjani Umar however reacting said, “At the end of the behind- the-scene politics and several phone calls to all the candidates,

Fiba today (yesterday) in Barcelona, awarded the four 2014 World Cup wild cards to Brazil,Finland,Greece and Turkey.”

Continuing, he said to those who supported Nigeria;s bid, “Thanks for your great effort to make our bid a success. We will work harder to keep our team and program on top with the best,” adding, “ we put up a good bid but there is a lot of politics involved in the process. As the only African bid, we thought we had a chance especially as no Af-

HE departure of mem bers of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club from Cape Town Saturday afternoon was not without drama.

The management of Waterfront Executive Appartments had threatened to seize their belongings if they failed to settle the almost 10,000

Rands accrued debt they were owing as rent for their stay.

Frantic efforts were made, just in time for their departure to the airport for their flight to Johannesburg.

A staff of the hotel confirmed to Sunday Vanguard Sports yesterday in Cape Town. ‘’They have settled the bill.’’

The supporters club were cash strapped and barely survived throughout their stay in Cape Town.

Agbim happy over bronze win

S

UPER Eagles Team B captain and first choice goalkeeper, Chigozie Agbim has said that he is happy winning the bronze medal of the African Nations Championship.

Speaking after the 1-0 win over Zimbabwe, Agbim said, ‘’football does not always come the way you planned it.

We came to win the tournament but failed. However, we thank God we are not going empty handed. I congratulate my team mates for putting up an excellent fighting spirit.’’

Zimbabwe coach, Ian Gorrows has expressed satisfaction with the fourth placemen his team team achieved in the African Nations Championship.

In a post match briefing after his brave wards fell 1-0 to the Super Eagles, Gorrows said, ‘’As a nation it is a great achievement to be in the final of CHAN. We believe we can now be counted among the top four in Africa. In the semi final we lost on penalties. As a nation which has been starved of success for long, we are proud of our achievement here.

SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 2, 2014

Sports Minister, NFF boss, abandon Eagles T

HE Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Bolaji Abdullahi and the President of the Nigeria Football Federation Aminu Maigari

Zimbabwe make Eagles sweat for bronze •Obiozor saves Nigerians agony penalty kicks

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10-man Warriors of Zimbabwe held the Super Eagles in the third-place playoff of the CAF African Nations Championship, with the hope of trying their luck in the penalty shoot-out, bu t Chinonso Obiozor rose high above a stubborn Zimbabwe defence to head a home a cross from Ekije Uzoenyi to seal the bronze for Nigeria.

The goal, scored in he 85th minute came as a huge relief to the Super Eagles after they had laboured all day to break down the Zimbabweans who were reduced to ten men in the 17th minute when midfielder, Masimba Mambare planted a high boot on the shoulders of goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim.

Both sides were cautions from the start, but the early chances fell to the Super Eagles and they fluffed much to the chagrin of the Nigerian bench, which had hope for an early goal to calm the frayed nerves of the Nigerian team that was bruised by the penalty-shoot out loss to Ghana in the semi-final. Christian Pyagbare wasted the best chance of the game when blasted over the bar after he had been set up by Shehu Abdullah. Bernabas Imenger and Obiozor failed to convert other chances so was Abubakar Ibrahim.

He had broke into the Zimbabwean box as his dazzling footwork got him past three defenders. However the young attacker went to ground at the slightest touch and was booked for simulation by the referee. The Zimbabweans fought back and were also most getting the break through goal, but Agbim was very timely with his cover up runs.

Coach Stephen Keshi introNewcastle West Ham Cardiff Everton Fulham Hull City Stoke City Nigeria Libya

FLYING OVER... Super Eagles attacker, Abdullahi Shehu outwits Oscar Machapa of Zimbabwe during the 2014 CAF African Nations Championships 3rd/4th playoff between Zimbabwe and Nigeria at Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town South Africa. duced Uzoenyi at the break to replace Benjamin. Uzoenyi’s mission was to unlock the tight defence of the Zimbabweans. The Super Eagles kept ask questions, but they failed to nailed the Warriors. They fought back with hard tackles to frustrate the Nigerian forwards, and it worked as the Eagles failed to find the back of the net.

Kwambe Solomon saw his long range free-kick fly over the bar as the Super Eagles started to show some frustrations. Uzoenyi then waltzed his was past the Zimbabwe

FA CUP RESULTS 0 Sunderland 2 Swansea 2 Norwich 2 Aston Villa 0 S’hampton 1 Tottenham 2 Man Utd CHAN 1 Zimbabwe 0 Ghana

3 0 1 1 3 1 1 0 0

(4-3 Pen)

defence in the 78th minute but his angled shot was saved by Chigova.

However, Uzoenyi finally made good his inclusion, when he lobbed into the box and Obiozor who was at the right place picked his spot and it was game over.

were the unexpected absentees at the Cape Town Stadium when the Super Eagles took on the Warriors of Zimbabwe in the third place match of the African Nations Championship yesterday.

The two officials who were in Bloemfontein when the Eagles lost on penalties to the Black Stars of Ghana Wednesday night left the Free State capital for Nigeria the morning after. ‘’Both of them were expected to stay, if the Eagles had qualified for the final,’’ a team official told Sunday Vanguard Sports in Cape Town yesterday morning.

The minister who left soon after handing the players $100,000 gift gave the impression he was going to Cape Town.

For Maigari, his departure was sudden because he too was to stay till the end of the tournament. But the NFF hierarchy was represented by Chris Green, head of the technical committee.

Even members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club were not on the stands when the Super Eagles played Zimbabwe as they left Cape Town hours before the match.

•Maigari

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Nobel-winning Archbishop (7-4) 5.Sailor (3) 7.Consumed (5) 8.Domesticates (5) 9.Ovum (3) 10.Electricity counting gadgets (6) 13.Highlander (4) 15.Poem (3) 17.One that contests (9) 20.Nigerian tribe (5) 22.Cereal (5) 24.Demoted (9) 27.Pig’s pen (3) 29.No one (4) 30.Sulks (6) 33.Away (3) 35.Presses (5) 36.Till (5) 37. Swine (3) 38. “The Man Who Saw Tomorrow” (11)

DOWN 1.Sleeping vision (5) 2.Possessor (5) 3.Tax (4) 4.Depressing (9) 5.Argentinian dance (5) 6.Wash lightly (5) 11.Greek letter (3) 12.Distress call (1-1-1) 14.English boy’s name (5) 16.Obstacle (3) 17.Bovine animal (3) 18.Mindfulness (9) 19.Alarm (5) 21.Help (3) 23.Village house (3) 25.Gnome (3) 26.Vast age (3) 27.Condescend (5) 28.Youthful (5) 31.Circular (5) 32.Trades (5) 34.Old Russian King (4)

SOLUTION on page 5

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