EBOLA: FG stops transportation of corpses into Nigeria

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IGP Suleiman Abba takes over as Abubakar bows out •Five DIGP resign

BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI

Police arrest fake PDP membership card smuggler in Delta

BY GODWIN OGHRE

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OLLOWING the appointment of Suleiman Abba as the 17th Indigenous InspectorGeneral of Police by President Goodluck Jonathan, the new IG yesterday took over from former Police boss, Mohammed Abubakar (rtd) with a pledge that “I will do whatever is necessary to bring excessive violent crimes in the country to a halt”.

Saturday Vanguard gathered The new IGP took over command just as the five former Deputy Inspectors General of Police under the former dispensation have resigned their appointments by virtue of being seniors to the new IGP. The former DIG’s are DIG Suleiman Fakai, DIG Jonathan Johnson, DIG Michael Zoukumor, DIG Atiku Kafur and DIG Peter Gana. All the DIG’s except Atiku Kafur were absent at the handing and taking over ceremony.

Speaking further, the new IG promised that the upsurge in security challenges will have his full attention noting that a very important area he would concentrate on is bringing back and building public confidence in the police force.

“To the Nigerian public, let me say we know your expectation. These include that we (police) control crime and violent crimes.

We will come out with sustainable professional crime fighting strategies that will take the public into consideration. Because when you (police) don’t have confidence of the public, don’t expect them to assist you. We will stop excesses in the exercise of power”.

On his mission and vision for the force, the new IG pointed out that the era of tying the mission and vision of the Police force to the incumbent in office was over saying rather it will be concentrated on what the force needs moving forward.

“It will have nothing to do with my name or person but with the NPF. The vision simply is for the force to be a leading national, professional and efficient law enforcement organization. The vision is to provide safety and security in Nigerian communities, protect and respect human rights in preventing crime” Abba said.

The new IGP who hails from Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa

BRIEFS

Police Handing Over: Former Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar acknowledging greetings from Police officers and well wishers as he bows out from Police in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan State holds degrees in History and Law and has attended several management and security courses within and outside Nigeria. He is an alumnus of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos. Already known for his vast experience in criminal investigation, intelligenceled policing and crimefighting operations, the new IGP also pledge to add a new tempo in dealing with the present challenges of terrorism, insurgency and other violent crimes in the country.

The former InspectorGeneral of Police, MD Abubakar enjoined the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force to extend maximum cooperation to the new IGP whom he described as a

very competent and committed officer that can take the Force to a greater height. He thanked the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for reposing confidence in him and granting him a golden opportunity to serve Nigeria as the IGP. Until his appointment was the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7 comprising the FCT, Kaduna and Niger Police Commands, enlisted into the Force as a cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in December, 1984.

In the course of three decades of service to the nation and the Police Force, IGP Suleiman Abba has crisscrossed the entire length and breadth of the nation.

He was Commissioner of Police

Rivers State 2009 – 2012.

He was Commissioner of Police in Lagos State during the 2011 general elections and was the Deputy Force Secretary twice both as Commissioner of Police and as a Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Other responsibilities he performed include: Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP Kano State Command 2007 – 2008, Deputy Commissioner of Police Kebbi 2006 – 2007. He was also the Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to the Head of State, (Office of the First Lady) 1995 – 1998 and the Commanding Officer of both 24 PMF (Presidential Escort) and 21 PMF Mobile Police Squadron Abuja. He has earned for himself several awards and commendations including the National Merit Award.

Osun: APC accuses PDP of intimidation

BY EMEKA MAMAH

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HE All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday raised the alarm that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had started terrorizing and intimidating the people of Osun State, with a view to cowing them ahead of the August 9, governorship election in the state.

This was contained in a statement issued in Lagos by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

APC wondered why ‘’the Federal Government would send suspected agents of the Department of State Services, DSS, some of them masked and clad in black, to the state to harass innocent citizens in an unprovoked and primitive show of power that can only be described as sheer gangsterism. ’’As widely reported, DSS

agents, armed to the teeth and riding in over 50 trucks, drove around Osogbo and other parts of Osun State on Wednesday blaring siren and shooting sporadically in the air, thus disrupting the normally peaceful life in the state. ’’Residents who were visibly traumatized by the shameful display of state power ran helter-skelter and wondered why their government has sent masked men, or ninjas, to terrorize them. They now understand that the masked thugs who have been following the PDP candidate around on his campaign trail were actually government sanctioned. This is a power show taken too far, even with the well-known impunity tendencies of the Jonathan Administration,’’ it said.

APC said information at its disposal shows that 5,000

more DSS men are being dispatched to the state before the election, on the basis of an orchestrated petition alleging that certain APC leaders are planning to foment trouble during the election. ’’The real purpose of this fake petition and the consequent deployment of thousands of secret police to Osun is to harass, intimidate and arrest the leaders of the APC in the state, in a repeat of what transpired in Ekiti. ’’Flooding Osun with irresponsible DSS officials to terrorize the residents is another low for a government that is notorious for abuse of power and federal institutions.

It is no longer news that the military, the police and other security agencies are working for the Jonathan Administration, rather than for all of Nigeria.“

HEAD of the October 25th, 2014, Council elections in Delta State, the police in Ozoro Divisional Police Command, Isoko South Local Government Area of the state have quizzed one Monday Iteheri, said to be a Peoples Democratic Party Councillor ship aspirant, for allegedly printing and smuggling over three thousand fake Peoples Democratic Party membership card, from a local printing press in the area.

A senior police officer at the Ozoro police Command who preferred anonymity confirmed the incident, saying the owner of the press was equally arrested and that investigation was on, and that the fleeing workers would soon be apprehended.

The suspect is said to have printed the membership card with the intent to outsmart co-contestants through using them to secure more votes to his favour in the councillorship election, under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Owhelogbo Ward 2, when he was picked up by the police in a tip off.

It was further gathered that the suspect also use manipulation to secure the consensus position of the party in a previous in house primary conducted by the party in one of the wards.

INEC recruits 10,432 ad hoc staff for Osun Guber

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has recruited about 10,432 ad hoc staff for the conduct of next Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr.Olusegun Agbaje who disclosed this yesterday at a Press Conference stated that, the adhoc staff who are mainly Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers, Supervisory Presiding Officers, Local Government Collation Officers and Returning Officers were drawn from the National Youth Service Corps NYSC serving corps members in both Osun, Kwara, Oyo, Ondo and Kogi states. Agbaje who assured of early delivery of election materials to all the 3,379 voting points across the state reiterated the readiness of the INEC to conduct a free, fair, credible and acceptable election in which he believes would meet the aspiration of all and sundry.

The Osun REC also used the medium to debunk the allegation making the round that the establishment was romancing with the Peoples’ Democratic Party PDP or to connive with the party and other political parties in the state to under supply any local government area or induce corps members using as ad-hoc staff during the election.

Agbaje warned political parties in the state to shun campaign of calumny and shun any act that may lead to polical mayhem.

Avert bloodshed here, Bayelsa community tells Military

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OLKS in Letugbene, a community in Bayelsa State have decried alleged malicious invasion, assault and arrest of residents by men of the Joint Task Force, JTF. In a petition to the National Security Adviser through their counsel, Akporiaye, Umuze, Umuko and Co, and made available to Saturday Vanguard in Warri, the community claimed that soldiers from Tunu Oil Flow Station in Ekeremor Local Government Area have been invading the community indiscriminately at the prompting of community leaders following a leadership strife set off in April this year.

The petition signed by Eseoghene Epete (Mrs) read, “These military invasions into our client community have caused women, children and other members of the community to flee into nearby forests to take refuge.

“Our client has been patient while expecting the Police in Bayelsa to curtail the situation but it only gets worse and may lead to bloodshed and uncontrollable chaos. We therefore urge you to curtail this mayhem.”

Spokesperson to the petitioners, Wilfred Ikiere indicated, over their ordeal, that five persons taken away by the army have been released while six persons were still missing. When contacted, Lt Col. Mustapha Anka, JTF Spokesman said he was on leave and not on ground to get details on the matter, referring the reporter to his deputy Lt Cdr Yeibu.

8— SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUAT 2, 2014

BRIEFS Delta South Senatorial aspirant, Gbagi storms Isoko

Distressed communities: Elumelu donates N2.5bn F

OUNDER of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony O. Elumelu, has donated the sum of N2.5 billion towards revitalizing distressed Nigerian communities.

The announcement was made at the Presidential fund-raising dinner for

the Victims Support Fund (VSF), an initiative championed by President Goodluck Jonathan, who commissioned the fund and served as chief fund raiser.

The VSF was set up as an independent corporate entity under a governing board chaired by General T.Y. Danjuma

(rtd) and Mr. Fola Adeola. The Fund’s primary purpose is to provide assistance to Nigerian communities affected by terrorist activities.

Commending the president for the initiative to bring the public and private sectors together to address the problem of insurgency, Elumelu stated: “It is important

NLC and TUC picketing banks in makurdi as a result of on going workers strike in Benue State yesterday.

that we all do what we can to provide immediate succour and relief to the victims of this senseless terror that has been unleashed on our country. But these tragedies can – and should - provide an opportunity to change the narrative for the good of the victims and our entire Nigerian family.”

Of the N2.5 billion that was committed by Tony Elumelu, N1billion has been contributed immediately to the Victims Support Fund. The additional 1.5 billion will go towards establishing and endowing a Nigeria Opportunity and Empowerment Fund over the next four years.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation will manage the endowment fund to global and professional standards. These funds will be used to make investments and grants that create opportunities and empower the people in communities around Nigeria that have been ravaged by conflict or where fundamental issues of inclusion have to be addressed such as in the Niger Delta Region.

Stories by EMMA AMAIZE

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EOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, governorship as pirant in Delta State, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, visited Emede, Delta South Senatorial district, weekend, to consult with prominent Isoko community leader, Chief Tom Egbuwoku and other leaders on his 2015 governorship ambition.

He told Egbuwoku that he was not in his residence to solicit support from him, as that was a forgone conclusion, but to ask the elder statesman, who was in the House of Representatives on the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, what went wrong with the party (PDP), which he (Gbagi), Egbuwoku, Senator Francis Nwajei and others founded in the state.

His words, “My elder and my leader, you remember when we were drawing up the charter for the formation of the PDP. I was there, you were there and Nwajei and some others were there. We formed the PDP. The question I have come to ask you sir is what has gone wrong; where did we go wrong?”

LP ’ll win Delta LG polls — Obe

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HAIR, Congress Organizing Committee, Labour Party, LP, in Delta State, Chief Fred Obe, has said that the party was prepared for the October 25 Local Government Elections in the state and will sweep the polls.

Speaking to Vanguard in Warri, the former Special Assistant to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan said: Our party is ready; we are going to win once the elections are free and fair. Our only problem is if the Delta State Independent National Electoral Commission, DSIEC, decides to rig it in favour of the ruling party, PDP.” He said the LP in the state has been rejuvenated with the entrance of the defunct DPP governorship aspirant, Chief Great Ogboru into the party, adding, “We all know the acceptability rating of Ogboru in the state, we are organizing congresses from the ward to the local government levels and it will culminate in a state congress on August 4.”

The new Delta I want to create —Orubebe

ORMER Minister of Niger-Delta, Elder Gods day Orubebe, has said the Delta State of his Epidemic feared in Asaba as filth takes over streets F dream is that which Deltans will know and believe

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA, ASABA

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ESIDENTS in Asaba, Delta State capital are gripped with fear over possible outbreak of epidemic i as refuse have taken over the streets.

Investigation by our reporter showed that virtually all parts of the city especially Cable

Point area, Ibusa road axis are eyesores to behold.

The appalling aspect of the whole scenario is that some residents have turned the pavements and walkways as places to dump their refuse instead of using dustbins in the homes that are periodically evacuated by private

refuse disposal agents on payment of a stipulated fee.

The matter is made worse due to stench emanating from the heaps of such refuse dumped right on the walkways, which at times spill over to the tarred road, thereby obstructing traffic.

A resident in the area

who gave her name as Lady Jane told our reporter yesterday that “my customers have all run away. How do you expect people to come and eat in your restaurant when they cover their nose to come in. the smell is killing us here, please help us”, she said.

Jonathan appoints Dawha, new NNPC MD

BY MICHAEL EBOH and BEN AGANDE, Abuja

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HE Federal Government, yesterday, announced the appointment of Dr. Joseph Thlama Dawha as Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The Federal Government, in a statement released in Abuja, also announced the appointment of Mr Anthony Ugonna Muoneke as the new Managing Director of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company,

NPDC. Dawha is to replace Mr. Andrew Yakubu, the erstwhile Group Managing Director of the NNPC, while Muoneke is to replace Mr. Victor Briggs, who is the erstwhile chief executive of the NPDC. The Federal Government also appointed Ms Aisha Mata Abdurrahman, Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment, NNPC and Dr Attahir Yusuf, Group Executive Director, Business Development, NNPC. Dawha hails from Borno state. He served previously as the Group

that hard work, confidence and fear of God are required to get one to where he wants to get to in life.

Speaking to Saturday Vanguard in an interview, the governorship aspirant, who was recently endorsed by the Delta Izon Congress, DIC, said, “You do not need to have a godfather to make it in the Delta of my dream, I want our children, young ones across the state to have these three virtues. I do not want any young person in the state to think that Orubebe has to be his father or Uduaghan has to be his father before he can become anything he wants to become.”

Ijaw musical maestro, King Ebizimor, driver die in Warri crash

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Joseph Thlama Dawha

Executive Director, Exploration and Production, NNPC and Managing Director of Integrated Data Services Ltd (IDSL), a subsidiary of the NNPC. Muoneke hails from Anambra state. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985, with over 29

Anthony Muoneke

years’ experience at both local and international levels in the oil and gas as well as the energy and power sectors, including serving as Executive Director, Finance & Administration, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd. (NDPHC).

JAW icon and musical maestro, King Robert Ebizimor, who promoted the Niger-Delta struggle with his lyrics, is dead. Ebizimor from Bayelsa State died in a motor crash, in Warri, Delta State, with his driver on Thursday evening.

His vehicle reportedly rammed into a trailer and the duo died before they could be rushed to the Central Hospital, Warri, for medical attention.

Saturday Vangaurd gathered that the legendary musician, who survived a cancerous attack on his leg, was scheduled to hold a “survival party” at Agalabiri town, Bayelsa state, today (Saturday).

The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, in a statement, yesterday, by the spokesperson, Mr. Eric Omare, said, “To the IYC and the entire Ijaw nation, the death of King Robert Ebizimor is a huge loss and marks the end of a chapter of musical exploit in promoting the Niger-Delta struggle.”

“King Ebizimor used his music to hugely promote Ijaw struggle and created awareness all over Ijaw nation, especially those at the hinterland. He was one of the heroes of the Niger Delta struggle,” he said.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014 — 9

FG, Dangote sign $1bn MoU on rice production

BY GABRIEL EWEPU

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HE Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Dangote Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, of $1 billion investment on rice production.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, described the MoU as landmark and historical in the country ’s rice production, as Nigeria will soon become a net exporter of rice.

Adesina who lauded the huge investment proposed by the Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said by 2017 and 2018 Nigeria will be selfsufficient in rice production and become a net exporter of the commodity.

Adesina said: “Today is a great day for Nigeria’s agriculture and a day to reaffirm the success of Mr President’s drive to transform agriculture in this country from being a net importer of food to not just being self-sufficient but to become a net exporter of food.

“The investment is landmark and historical, which will change everything and the Agricultural Transformation Agenda is working for us and Mr. President.

What Dangote has

Chairman Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, (left) , Agric Minister , Dr Akinwumi Adesina during the signing at the State House Abuja on Friday. brought here is a climax of what we are doing here.

“What the $1 billion investment will do is very transformative. This investment will cover 150, 000 hectares accumulated across five states; Edo, Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa and Kwara. The Dangote Group and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development are mindful of the importance of smallholder farmers. It will include the communities in creating wealth in all these areas.

“This single investment

by Alhaji Dangote will allow us have additional 1.4 million metric tonnes of rice produced annually and if that is translated to what is milled that means we will be producing in 2017 and 2018 from his own investment, a total of 960, 000 metric tonnes of milled rice, and that will be 46 per cent of all the total amount of rice that we are currently importing today.

Certainly in 2017, 2018 Nigeria will become a net exporter of rice.”

The Minister who commended Dangote,

described him as a Nigerian who believes in his own country and a proud Nigerian. He also described him as “once largest importer in Nigeria but today the largest exporter of cement.” He outlined areas in the MoU his ministry will implement by providing infrastructure in areas of investment declared Staple Crop Processing Zones, SCPZs, alongside with Ministries of Water, Works and Power, and also the new varieties of rice and facilitating funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

es donor s, pr omises judicious use of fund •As salutes donors, promises As Jonathan salut

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IGERIANS have shown their unanimous disapproval of insurgency by donating N58.79 billion in support of victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in northern parts of the country.

They made the hefty donation at a presidential fund-raising dinner held Thursday night at the Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.

The donation was N8.79 billion more than the N50 billion targeted by the Federal Government.

A delighted President Goodluck Jonathan immensely appreciated the kindness of all persons who responded enthusiastically to his

Jonathan lacks political will to fight terror

BY HENRY UMORU, Abuja

Boko Haram: Nigerians raise N58 bn for victims

BY BEN AGANDE

ATIKU TO VOICE OF AMERICA:

appeal for collective action by contributing generously to the Terror Victims’ Support Fund during the fund-raising dinner.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati quoted the president as saying he was overwhelmed by the expression of support, cooperation and solidarity

by Nigerians and friends of Nigeria from all walks of life.

“It shows that the public is genuinely concerned about the threat of terrorism to our common humanity and stands ready to support worthy causes and pro-people policies.

“President Jonathan notes that the

overwhelming demonstration of support for the Fund has greatly inspired and encouraged the government to continue to adopt every possible measure and do everything within its powers to bring terrorism in the country to an end as quickly as possible.

“The Federal Government’s initial target of Fifty billion Naira (N50 billion) was exceeded, a clear indication of support for the Federal Government’s counter-terrorism strategies.

“The President commends the Chairman of the Terror Victims’ Support Foundation, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) and

members of the Foundation for accepting to serve the nation in this regard. He is confident and convinced that the Foundation will make judicious and transparent use of the funds in order to ameliorate the negative impact of terrorism in the affected areas.

Jonathan said: “Do not forget the victims of terror and donate generously with cheques, cash, online with credit cards, or via your mobile phone.

Every widow’s mite will be appreciated. We cannot deviate from the spirit of good neighborliness that defines us as Nigerians.

The terrorists have succeeded in uniting us as they are enemies of all.”

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has taken a cursory look at the present security challenges in the country with massive killings and wanton destruction of property in some parts of the country by members of the Boko Haram sect, saying President Goodluck Jonathan lacked the political will to nip it in the bud.

He also described the situation as worrisome and appalling, just as he stressed that there was the urgent need to restore law and order as well as protect unarmed civilians whom he noted were often victims of terror attacks carried out by the insurgents.

Speaking with Voice of America, VOA which was monitored by Journalists in Abuja, the former presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and now a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC who noted that growing insecurity has undermined the country’s economy as well as impacted negatively on Nigeria’s reputation in the international community, said, “the security situation in the country, I must admit is appalling. I have never seen it this bad - not even during the civil war did we have this sense of insecurity all over the country.”

Atiku Abubakar who explained that Nigeria required a leadership that

has the political will and wherewithal to resolve thesecurity threats the country faces, said, “What we need to have in place is a political leadership that has the will, the courage and the determination to restore law and order. Restoring law and order is a multifaceted approach; both social, economic as well as security. You must have a political leadership that has vision, the will and the courage to pursue those multifaceted approaches.

It’s not supported by any empirical evidence. I think we should stop passing the buck at each other,” he said, adding “As long as this security situation is concerned, we should work as a team, the whole country.

Whether opposition, whether ruling party, we should work as a team to make sure that we restore peace, unity and stability.”

Speaking on 2015 Presidential election, the former Vice President who boasted that the APC has a real chance to defeat the PDP in the presidential election next year, said, “I have never seen a climate that gives the opposition so much hope than today.

Because since the return of democracy, Nigeria has been governed by only one ruling political party, and Nigerians really want to see a change. I toured the country and this sense of change is pervasive.

So if the APC can put its house in order, Nigerians will give that party the opportunity.”

BRIEF Osun Guber: PDM opts out

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HEAD of August 9 Osun State gubernatorial election, National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM yesterday opted out of the election, saying that its candidate, Oludare Timothy Akinola was no longer participating in the forthcoming poll.A statement titled, “Withdrawal of Mr Oludare Timothy Akinola as PDM Governorship candidate for the forthcoming election holding in Osun State on 9th August 2014” by PDM National Secretary, Dr. Oluwole Akinwumi, read, “The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) took the decision in June to withdraw Mr Oludare Timothy Akinola as its candidate in the forthcoming Gubernatorial Election in Osun State and the Party has not changed its position in this regard.

10—SA TURD AY 10—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , A UGUST 2, 2014 AUGUST

Are professional beggars ‘needy’ or greedy?

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN, CHIDI NKWOPARA & OLAYINKA AJAYI Fisebillilah....Babi-Alla, Allah, Allla...Babi-Alla, Akoba Adaba....Babi-Alla Abamu sadaqa....Babi-Alla

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he rhythmic lyrics are captivating; they come in different tunes and rendi tions depending on the background and area the beggar is operating. Sometimes with sonorous voice that makes you have a second gaze at the team of beggars and part with some notes. Their tatty dresses, physical challenges, and unkempt looks are enough to elicit pity and money from many well-meaning passers-by. It is a daily business and as long as there is life, they have found a means of livelihood and they wouldn’t want to quit the business for more dignified means of livelihood even when the chances C M Y K

zBeware! Some use various antics to attract pity are there. Among others types of beggars are those who flaunt the ailing (as they seem to be) parts of their bodies, claiming they need money for healthcare in order to stay alive. Whether real or misleading, the generosity and philanthropic nature of most Nigerians have added up in making the business to thrive.

Ironically, investigations reveal that many of these professional beggars may be richer than some of their generous givers, yet, they remain beggars on the streets. This is because many of such beggars apparently found begging to be very profitable, even more than some jobs and as a result, making it difficult to quit even after gathering enough resources to start some trades even if petty trading.

In the name of almajiri, some people take children away from their parents into major towns and cities

It is a daily business and as long as there is life, they have found a means of livelihood and they wouldn’t want to quit the business for more dignified means of livelihood even when the chances are there

and turn them into almajiri. So, instead of education, they are made to beg for money on the streets and perform menial jobs for the sake of money from dawn to dusk.

We gathered that some of these children and adult beggars are brought from the northern part of the country to Lagos and other major cities to beg while their mentors get a daily cut of the money they make on a daily basis.

Recently, at CMS, Lagos Island, it was a bubble bust as Adio Olorungbebe, a beggar in the area was identified by a passer-by as a landlord. The revelation which attracted a crowd of people immediately was saved by a military officer who pleaded they should allow the embarrassed beggar to live his life.

“I know him, he is a landlord in Ibarapa in Ogun State, My friend

Continues on page 11

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Vanguard , A UGUST 2 AUGUST 2, 2014—11

‘Some use various antics to attract pity’ Continues from page 10 lives just beside his house and I often visit the area .”

Olorungbebe is not only in this business, there are many others who take advantage of the situation and play on people’s sentiments. They fake ailment and pull a fast one on people with all sorts of stories with no reservations. They usually flaunt a bandaged arm, leg, or stomach claiming they need money for for surgery. But surprisingly, you see them several months even years after, yet with the same story.

A few years ago, Rashidi, in his late 30s was notorious in Ikorodu axis on this enterprise. At the major Ikorodu garage, he usually joined the Oshodi bound bus telling a story of how he survived a auto-crash that resulted into a surgery on his stomach. According to him, (displaying his stomach to prove his point) the surgery had to be repeated lest he died. Generous Nigerians responded to his antics until recently when he was bashed by an agbero (a tout), who claimed that Rashidi owned a bungalow with other properties in nearby villages and barred from coming to beg in that area. Rashidi may have found a more friendly environment to operate.

Aluko, a middle-aged man in the area remarked that beggary has gone hey wire, as some people are in the business using one form of decoy or another. “Everyday you see and hear different stories of beggars.

We don’t know which is true any more. It is hard to gauge who is sincere and who isn’t. It is nice to help people but people are getting discouraged by some of the cheats among the beggars.”

“You will see some people looking very pitiful, some knocking their heads on the ground and crying out in such grief and indignation, but you can’t believe all stories and you don’t even know which one to believe,” he said.

Segun Joseph was our Aviation Correspondent before he left for the United States. Once, he recounted his experience at Agege Train Station. Segun said that about 10 pm a supposedly blind beggar was scolding a little boy, his escort. The quarrel was over money. The boy did not know that the man was mentally recording the money people gave to him. When the boy rendered account of their collections during the day the beggar told the boy that the money was not complete. A quarrel ensued and when the beggar was about jabbing him the little boy took to his heels and the beggar, apparently forgot that he was supposed to be blind and, instinctively, gave the boy a hot chase, grabbed him by the neck and pummeled him before letting him C M Y K

go. People screamed in shock but the said blind man never gave a hoot. He left the area.

Some beggars have been known to grease their eyelids during the day and pretend to be blind.

On another occasion, a boy, about 25, simply called DanFulani at Iddo Market had been ostracized at Iddo Market for disappearing with a full load of what somebody bought and which he was conveying to the owner’s car. The market union sent him packing lest such theft chased away customers. Few months later Danfulani was seen at Orile Bus Stop distributing cards to passengers in a bus, begging for alms and claiming to deaf and dumb. A man who knew him at Iddo shouted and told him that if he did not get down the bus before the next bus stop he would call police to arrest him.

Danfulani did not wait till the next bus stop and dropped in a traffic jam.

Encounter with Corporate beggars

Adesola Adetoun, a client service office in a outdoor advertising firm in Lagos narrates his experience with a corporate beggar “On my way to Ijora, just as I walked across the pedestrian bridge in Palmgroove to catch the next bus to Costain, a guy called out,”excuse me sir”. I stopped and turned to behold a young man of about 30, properly dressed. He looked worried as he greeted. “Good afternoon sir, please don’t be annoyed Sir, I just lost my wallet to pick pockets here now. I’m going to my office in Victoria Island, could you help me with some money for my fare? I was touched looking at a gentleman in this mess. I did not wait for him to continue his story, I just handed him a N200 note and walked away.

“You will see some people looking very pitiful, some knocking their heads on the ground and crying out in such grief and indignation, but you can’t believe all stories and you don’t even know which one to believe About three days later at Orile, I saw the same guy this time with the same story begging for money. It was then I realized that I had given my hard earned money to one of the lazy Nigerians. At first I felt like grabbing him and throwing a punch at him, but I realised he was even looking heavier than me. So, I asked him: “can you recognise me at Palmgroove three days ago? You were wearing a pink shirt on a black pant. I gave you N200 note.” He looked down, saying: ‘sorry’ and walked away fast through another street.

Kelechi, a business woman narrated: “Last month, I went to shoprite in Alausa, Ikeja, and just by the ATM machine, a man in his 40s, accosted me as said the ATM machine seized his card and he had no money on him and no fuel in his car. He was soft-spoken and looked corporate. I had to give him a N1000 note. But surprisingly, I was there

again, with my husband and we met this same man who beckoned on my husband telling the same story again. I recognised him immediately and I told my husband to ignore him. As we walked past him, I told my husband the story I told him about this man.”

But why do they hang on to the illicit business even after getting reasonable measure of what is needed to start a normal life?

Kolawole Arasi, a Sociologist, told Saturday Vanguard that while many of them may be ‘forced’ to go into begging because of their conditions, and not out of habit, they, along the line make it a profession just because they often make money out of it even more than some who have regular jobs.

He added that since it is also less tedious, they don’t have the urge to quit especially when they are not sure of any business or trade to go into.

“Most professional beggars never started with the aim of taking it as a career. However, some of them found that begging can be very profitable, even more so than some jobs.

“Begging is also not a difficult job.

You just stand on the street and ask people if they have spare change.

Imagine if a beggar makes about N2000 per hour, he can therefore make about N20,000 per day under eight hours if he at a busy walkway just by standing on the street.”

Begging not an element of Islamic culture?

Most people believe that Islam is not only associated with begging, but appears to encourage it. Investigation shows that Islam abhors the

Continues on page 12

12—SA TURD AY 12—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , A UGUST 2 AUGUST 2, 2014

‘White-garment beggars’ Continues from page 11 adoption of any form of begging as a profession.

Some Islamic scholars who spoke on the issue stated that it was outright misconception of what the teachings of Islam is all about.

Sheikh Abdul Ganiy Bello said: Others however were of the opinion that beyond what the Quran says against begging as a profession, most Muslims particularly the northern Malams encourage it and provide a fertile ground for it to thrive. “The culture of almajiri is not Islamic.

How can you have a child and you subject him to street begging, when Islam indicates how you can train your child properly giving him or her adequate education? It is unacceptable,” he said.

He therefore urged Government to spare no effort in eradicating the root of the almajiri system and put in place a robust educational and skill acquisition system that will provide food for the teeming youths in the region.

In the same vein, the President of Nasrul-Lahi-il-Fatih Society of Nigeria, NASFAT, Alhaji Sheriff Yusuff while fielding question from

newsmen at an iftar (breaking of fast) with journalist recently said begging is not part of Islam, adding that although he said that destitution was societal problem he maintained that the association through its new Zakaat and Sadaqah system would offer skill acquisition programme for the less privileged Muslims in order to put food on their table and discourage them from begging.

White-garment beggars

Another form of begging is done by those who usually deck in white garment. They are found mostly in Lagos and other parts of the SouthWest. A form of ritual, culture and tradition are attached to this form of begging. They are usually cluster in in one position. They mute some prayers to passer-by and ask for money.

Why begging thrives

Beyound the factor of poverty as a reason for begging; the attitude of Nigerians toward beggary has helped the business to thrive considerably. Sometimes people give money, food, clothing and materials

to beggars for individual reasons.

While some give to show philanthropic gesture just as the Bible says: ‘He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” (Proverbs 19:17) Others give because it is a form of sacrifice and ward off one evil or the other, or to attract more blessings; to be freed from suffering including cases of illness.

There are those who believe that giving money to beggars could protect them from evil. The process usually involves given alms to beggars. As a result, for many reasons the act continues.

Professional Beggars and those that may be called corporate beggars have become a sort of irritation to a lot of people with their antics and sometimes blackmails in getting money out of the pockets of passersby, commuters and other Nigerians although there are many genuine cases of hopelessness following ilness or some kind of incapacitation. . Government, individuals and religious bodies have a lot to do to check the nuisance that is fast turning into an obnoxious part of our culture.

Professional Beggars and those that may be called corporate beggars have become a sort of irritation to a lot of people with their antics and sometimes blackmails in getting money out of the pockets of passers-by, commuters and other Nigerians although there are many genuine cases of hopelessness following ilness or some kind of incapacitation

‘Corporate beggars in Owerri’ T

Augustine Nkaru narrated how somebody came up to him and talked of how he was stranded. He claimed that he was in Owerri to visit his relation but quickly added that he was not lucky to see him.

He then asked for some money for transport to go back to his village

here is a wise saying in Igboland that “the dressing of mechanics makes it extremely difficult for the rest of us to know the number of mad men in our society”.

This Igbo wise saying is equally applicable to beggars in Imo State.

There are the physically challenged people, who for lack of assistance, are forced to beg for alms. Some of these physically challenged persons are either blind, deaf, dumb, amputees or have one deformity or the other. There are also the poor and retched of the land, who depend on goods spirited individuals for their sustenance.

Beyond these obvious cases, there are also the corporate beggars. They are usually well dressed and can go for any company executive, but sadly beg for alms.

Last week, a corporately dressed “gentleman” approached our correspondent for assistance. He had a very pathetic story to tell. Please hear him.

“Brother, my wife is at the point of death. She is expecting a baby. The doctors have prescribed caesarean operation as the only way the baby and her mother can be saved from

imminent death. They have asked for N120,000 before they can commence the surgery. I have deposited N115,000 but the doctors are still insisting that the money must be completed before they start any work on her. I am told that you are a Rotarian and Rotarians are known for their philanthropy. You are my last resort. I see you as the only bridge between my wife’s life and death. Please assist me”, the man pleaded. The truth is that our correspondent parted with N5,000 and this man ran off with the money, as if he was heading straight to the supposed hospital. Our correspondent expected that the man would one day return to announced the safe delivery of his wife. This never happened.

Two days after this incident, another corporately dressed man came to Vanguard office, Owerri, and repeated the same story told by the former person. It was at this point that it dawned on our correspondent that he had been swindled by corporate beggars. He was not as lucky as the first one.

It has equally become a common practice to see well dressed people along the streets of Owerri, accost-

ing unsuspecting citizens and almost immediately asking for alms. One of such persons accosted a plant mechanic, Paul, in his workshop along Douglas Road, Owerri, and asked for some money to feed.

Paul was shocked at the way the man made the demand as if it was his right. Paul never parted with a dime and the man went away smiling.

Augustine Nkaru narrated how somebody came up to him and talked of how he was stranded. He claimed that he was in Owerri to visit his relation but quickly added that he was not lucky to see him. He then asked for some money for transport to go back to his village.

This same person met Augustine a few days later and told the same story without knowing that he had told the same story to the same person a few days earlier.

These are just a few of the escapades of these corporate beggars in Owerri. The number of these special beggars are increasing by the day.

They are almost taking the shine away from the real handicapped persons. How this menace can be checked remains a mirage.

C M Y K

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , A UGUST 2 AUGUST 2, 2014—13

LAGOS 2015 BATTLE:

APC leadership only interested in taking over public property and resources—PDP The next governor will be an embodiment of Tinubu and Fashola— APC Stories by DAPO AKINREFON

THE build -up to the 2015 governorship elections in Lagos State is getting hot.

Already, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are engaged in subtle moves.

In the APC, the endorsement of erstwhile Accountant-General of Lagos, Mr Akin Ambode by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, is already causing stir. The Lagos PDP, which has been in the opposition for 15 years, is not resting on its oars to ensure it forms the next government.

Spokespersons of the two leading parties in the state, spoke to Vanguard on the matter.

We’re prepared to kick APC out of Lagos—Gani Mr Taofik Gani is the state Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Lagos State. In this interview, he expressed optimism that the PDP is strategising to end the 16 years rule of the APC in Lagos State. Excerpts: How is your party preparing for the 2015 general elections?

The Lagos State PDP is well prepared more than ever before. We are indeed satisfied with the progress we have made in our preparations. Our preparation will however continue and improve till it culminates into our victory in all the elections, from House of Assembly, House of Reps; Senate, Governor and President.

Do you think your party is strong considering the various factions in your party?

Point of correction, there is no faction in Lagos PDP. All who were used as moles to always cause acrimony in the system have been demobilised and most have left the Party to their paymasters. We now have a membership that can be trusted. We shall no doubt expect betrayal. Even Jesus was betrayed. We shall however reduce that to very impotent level as we go into elections. Now, what we have is healthy competition amongst the various interests and aspirants. There is the jostle for popularity and this has increased activities in the Party.

This is indeed acceptable in ordinary Politics especially in a large political party as PDP. There are no factions at all in the Party. Ditto any life threatening bickering. All that, are things of the Past in Lagos PDP. This is one area that the State Chairman, Tunji Shelle, has left an indelible imprint. He must be commended for promoting, Fairness, Justice and Equity in the Party. His Leadership has turned around PDP in lagos State. He reorientated the members to know that we all belong to PDP and whatever differences must not be used to divide the Party, but to

Taofik Gani

Continues on page 14

APC is not prepared to leave Lagos for PDP PDP—Ologunde Chief Funsho Ologunde is the Vice chairman Lagos West of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State. In this interview , he boasts that the APC will maintain its hold in Lagos State come 2015. Excerpts:

T

Funsho Ologunde

he outcome of the Ekiti governorship elections took many by surprise espe cially chieftains of your party. What measures are you putting in place to ensure your party fortunes do not dwindle?

We had a bad experience with the Ekiti election but to us, we have taken it as an eye opener. We have doubled our efforts and fine tuned our strategies, first for Osun, which is coming up next week and also for the 2015 general elections.

We are ready for the situation. We have seen areas of our weakness and we saw where the PDP was able to manipulate the election process to their own advantage.

Just like it did in 2003, the PDP has vowed to reclaim the South west, how feasible do you think this is?

It is natural for any political party to threaten to be the best in any situation, even if it does not have supporters. The threat of the PDP is not a new thing. They were able to overrun the South west in 2003 but that does not mean that the South west is sleeping.

In 2007, our party was able to overrun them, in 2011, we kept our position. So. Maybe because of the victory they were able to record in Ekiti, they seem to be deluding themselves with fake and imaginary calculations.

How prepared is your party for the 2015 elections in Lagos considering the demand for internal democracy and the fallout of the state congress of your Party?

If you are talking about the protest by a group called the New Lagos Movement, I want to state categorically that they are members of the APC. It is incongruous for people who are not registered and card carrying members of the APC to demand internal democracy within the party.

They are being used by some faceless politicians to create upheaval and division within Continues on page 14

14—SA TURD AY 14—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , A UGUST 2 AUGUST 2, 2014

APC leadership only interested in taking over public property and resources—PDP Continues from page 13 strengthen the Party. Tunji Shelle is the game changer in Lagos PDP. Mixed reactions greeted the outcome of the Ekiti State governorship elections. Do you think your party can repeat the feat recorded by Mr Ayodele Fayose?

Before the landslide victory in Ekiti, Lagos was the surest for PDP to win. The certainty has not changed. This is because the APC is being rejected in Lagos State as a result of their own undoing. They lost Ekiti because of same reason(s), that is they run a government with no human face. There is high handedness, arrogance and Secrecy. Ask people in Alimosho, Ago, Okota and many areas of Lagos and they will tell you they can’t wait for the elections to vote out APC. The people are agitated and ready. Governor Fayemi was warned to improve his governance before the election but he chose to be arrogant and confident in the Power of incumbency. Now he is regretting.

Same way Governor Fashola will lead APC to Political perdition in Lagos State.

He is not only destroying his government, but also his Party. He has been very arrogant and harsh in his Policies for over seven years, but now that they suffered defeat in Ekiti and because election is near, he is now faking humility and even has made subtle moves to relax some of his obnoxious policies, like in the areas of

transportation, education and human rights abuse.

This is laughable and indeed coming too late. Lagosians cannot be fooled again. APC remains rejected. Our areas of campaign will remain in our kitty until when the campaign proper starts. We are convinced that Lagosians will agree with our criticism of APC and vote out the Party. We will thus equal the record achieved in Ekiti State.

What are the qualities the next governor must posses?

First is to be God-fearing. We believe this is lacking in Fashola. Second is to be close to the people. We will not reel out other attributes so that APC does not use as template. You will find all the qualities in our eventual candidate.

How do you assess the APC-led government in Lagos State?

The APC led government in Lagos state has been overwhelmingly disappointing, very deceitful and propagandists. They have failed in the delivery of actual dividends of democracy to Lagosians.

Fashola is only sustaining his government on propaganda. This type of Party must not be allowed to continue governing Lagos State, not to talk of the Centre.

A Party where leadership is only interested in taking over public property and resources. Very soon we shall make public the Lagos State Property and Resources stolen since 1999. The APC people may likely end up in jail after this tenure.

Why do you think the local government

Bola Tinubu

elections have not been conducted?

They cannot conduct the Local Government elections because they will be further exposed as weak in electoral value. They only make noise and rig Local government elections. They enjoyed the exclusive control of the local Government because PDP boycotted the Local Government elections as a result of Constitutional issues. When we eventually participated in 2011, we jolted APC. We won in several Local Government Areas, but they imposed themselves on the people, especially in such Local Government Areas as Badagry, Agbado-Okeodo, Eti-Osa, Somolu, Eredo, Epe, Ikorodu, Oshodi, Lagos Mainland. They conspired with LASIEC to announce results of elections conducted far away in Badagry, Epe, etc; as against the results announced by the returning Officers posted to those Areas.

We believe strongly that the LASIEC officials must have compromised. We avoided Street Protests but rather approached the tribunals. The Tribunals returned some of our victories, but Fashola compelled and influenced the Appeal tribunal to deny us the victories.

The APC and state government undermined the judicial process to deny PDP of any Local Government Control. They have both murdered Democracy and Justice in Lagos State. Fashola is now avoiding any Local Government election because we will be better prepared to protect our votes. Defeat will also expose them as unpopular before the next Governorship elections.

Your party is threatening to capture the

Gov Babatunde Fashola

Southwest . Do you think this is feasible?

Not Capture, but will win southwest. It is more than feasible. APC as AC and ACN never won any elections in Southwest. They got all the supports from the Court of Appeal which turned the Courts to ballot boxes. He gave them all the Judiciary support to steal Southwest from PDP. Now they have been there and the people have seen how repulsive they can be. They have come out worse in acceptance. They have lost Ondo, Ekiti. They will lose Osun. They will lose all south west states, especially Lagos State.

Will your party be zoning the governorship seat as the APC has done?

The Zoning theory is a bait by APC. We will not be caught up in that. They have the burden to Zone as they have disappointed the People and are rejected in Lagos West and Lagos Central. PDP will give to Lagosians, the best man for the Job, irrespective of the Zone. We are interested in credibility, Sincerity and ability to deliver actual dividends of democracy in Lagos State. This is without prejudice to the eventual decision of the Party’s leadership on Zoning. Such decision will be made meticulously.

How is your response to the agitation for a Christian governor by some Christians?

Another bait. Lagosians don’t play politics of religion. APC is fielding a Christian and so they want to promote the agitation. We have all it takes to diffuse such negative politicking in our system.

Oba Rilwanu Akiolu

APC is not prepared to leave Lagos for PDP PDP—Ologunde Continues from page 13 opinion.So, whatever statement he made publicly to endorse an aspirant does not translate to be the voice of the party.. The party has not adopted any candidate and in actual fact, we have a good number of people who are also party leaders in their respective rights. They have voiced out their aspirations and are busy talking to party members for endorsement at a congress that will be arranged at the appropriate time.

Is your party still interested in zoning the governorship position?

The issue of zoning should not arise any longer in the sense that, in this current political dispensation, Asiwaju Tinubu from Lagos West governed for two terms. He was succeeded by Babatunde Raji Fashola from Lagos Central.There are three Senatorial

Districts in Lagos and for equity, Justice and fairness the other senatorial district that has equal status, should be able to put up a candidate. I believe Lagos East has an array of competent persons from which the party could choose.

Is your party still in the business of consensus which has been its tradition?

The party’s constitution does not state that a consensus candidate should be picked. What our constitution states is that there should be a primary to elect our flag bearer.

What qualities should the next governor of Lagos State posses?

The next governor should be an embodiment of both Tinubu and Fashola.

Why? Bola Tinubu did excellently well for Lagos state.

He was outstanding. Fashola stepped into his shoes and used Tinubu’s achievement as a launching pad.

So, what you see today that Fashola is doing has a

base. So, whoever is going to succeed the present governor, must be able to do better.

How is your party responding to the agitations of a Christian governor by some Christians?

I don’t think people should lose sleep over the issue of a Christian governor in Lagos state.

Lagos state has both Christians and Muslims. If the immediate past governor and present governor are Muslims, nothing stops the reasoning of those who love Lagos state from angling for a Christian governor. We are not out to create a religious dichotomy in the state as we do not want it in Nigeria. So, if we have had Muslim governors and there was peace,then angling for a Christian governor should not create room for dichotomy.

It is a simple transition and I want to assure Lagosians that the leadership of the APC is capable of taking the right decision in the interest of the party and in the interest of Lagos State.

SATURDAY

Imo:

zContractors flee with mobilisation fees zRains wash away roads with ease zChief Ahamba pleads to EFCC to investigate N1.5b paid for road not constructed zGovt sets up committee to recover money

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

W

hen Chief Rochas Okoro cha came on board as Governor of Imo State, he told the world that he was in a haste to develop the state. One of the major issues he tackled almost immediately was the rehabilitation or reconstruction of the road network in the state. He went to work with electrifying speed that most citizens started wondering how he was funding the numerous projects.

Many contractors, who were largely unknown in road construction world, were engaged by the administration to execute the projects. Several roads were actually opened and this elicited high hopes and acclamation from the people.

With time, some pictures started filtering in. Pay-loaders were seen grading roads, preparatory to asphalting. Imo people equally started hearing that some of the contractors were spending their personal or borrowed monies to execute the road projects. The same was also true of the numerous but unfinished gates in Owerri municipality.

Confirming this in a recent release, Okorocha’s former media aide, who now doubles as President, South

East Progressives Assembly, SEPA, Mr. Ebere Uzoukwa, described the scenario as part of Okorocha’s “use and dump and Almajiri politics”.

His words: “Why did he (Okorocha) subject contractors to execute government projects with borrowed funds only to dump and deny them at the point of payment? Is Governor Okorocha unaware that some of those contractors have miserably lost their lives and valuables to banks that loaned them funds?”, Uzoukwa asked. Okorocha, who did not want to be drawn into the issue raised by Uzoukwa, however told journalists that since he had the final say on who gets what contract, there was no point going through the rigmarole due process.

The Minister of External Affairs 1, Professor Viola Onwuliri, and many other critics of the administration, who were not amused by the Governor ’s reply, accused Okorocha of awarding contracts for road and some other projects verbally.

It was the considered opinion of the fiery Minister that the situation explains how and why most of the road projects do no have engineering drawings or pass through the state tenders board, as well as get abandoned midway or sub-standardly executed.

Delivering a lecture organized last week in Owerri by Rotary Club of Owerri Metropolitan, on why roads fail in Imo State, Engr. Jude Ujah identified lack of engineering design and proper supervision of all road projects awarded to contracting firms by the administration as being largely responsible for the short life span of the roads.

“The construction of any road must pass through three critical stages.

These include the designing, the construction and the usage. Our problem in Imo is that we got the first phase wrong because two thirds of the roads constructed by the state government are not designed”, Ujah said.

He said that the design gives the specification, which he said “varies from a portion of the road to the other”.

Continuing, Ujah explained that the soil strata has to be studied, adding that samples are supposed to be taken to the laboratory, so as to determine the constituent materials that would be used for the construction of any road.

He expressed shock that “from the speed with which these new roads started failing in the state goes to show that the existing drainage pattern, among other parameters,

Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014—15

was not studied”.

His words: “The problem we are facing now is that the design is not there. What we have always seen is a bulldozer laying out the road. If the design is there it would determine the depth the machine would scrape the soil”.

He also identified lack of compaction as another area the state government gets it wrong, stressing that roads are usually in compact layers.

“What happens is that the contractors lay the same day and apply the asphalt. Most of the roads that are having problems now do not have stone base and some of the ones that have stone base, do not have the required thickness”, Engr. Ujah said.

In his own remarks, the President, Rotary Club of Owerri Metropolitan, Rotarian Kelechi Anyanwu, thanked Ujah for the lecture.

“We were already wondering why a good percentage of the roads have been washed away with the first rain. I think it is better to concentrate and complete two or three roads that would serve the people for years, like late Sam Mbakwe did, than build several roads that won’t survive one rainy season”, Anyanwu reasoned.

Ujah was not alone in his complaint. The people of Ehime Mbano and Isiala Mbano local government areas are having sleepless nights over the deplorable road network in the two local councils.

This was the submission of the people of the area when they received Okorocha during a tour of projects in Ehime Mbano and Isiala Mbano local council areas of the state.

Speaking to newsmen during the visit, Eze Emmanuel Ibechi, Eze Ernest Iwuji and Chief Lawrence Duruji, lamented that NzeremIkpem road was in a very bad shape and needed urgent attention to improve the commercial status of the area.

The member representing the area in the State House of Assembly, Mr. Kingsley Dimaku, regretted that most of the road projects in Ehime Mbano had been abandoned by the contractors and appealed to government to bring them to come back to site. At Isiala Mbano local council area, the story was the same, as the people also expressed dissatisfaction over the condition of their roads.

Some of the leaders in the area, Eze Oliver Ohanwe, Chief Tony Black Nduka and Chief Collins Onuoha, complained bitterly that some of the villages had been cut off from their neighbouring communities, thereby hampering commercial activities.

Speaking also, the member representing Isiala Mbano, Chief Simeon Iwunze, called for the completion of all on-going projects because of their economic benefits to the people.

A governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Capt.

Emmanuel Iheanacho, equally expressed displeasure over the poor quality and substandard projects currently executed by the state administration.

Iheanacho, who bared his mind during a chat with newsmen in Owerri, joined thousands of other Imolites to condemn what at present

Continues on page 17

16—SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, AUGUST 2, 2014

O

ne, two, three crashes in a week!

It seems the aviation industry has never had it so bad in recent times. It didn’t help that I was thousands of miles away from home that week. It didn’t help that I had four flights to connect from two airlines a few days later. It certainly didn’t help that I was on one of the two airlines—British Airways—on a long haul across the Atlantic Ocean when I stumbled across an article from the ‘Mail of London’ screaming ‘what if Hamas was to shoot down a British Airway plane?’ I didn’t read the article.

Two of the crashes happened within 24 hours of each other computers could be used as the while the third was just two next weapon of mass days before. Two involved destruction. These are indeed Asian Airlines. In fact, the air stormy times for air travellers crashes of February 16, March and the aviation industry as a 8 and June 24, all involved whole.

But I refuse to press the Asian airlines. This is unfortunate because Asian panic button; partly because of Airlines are usually among the an article I read some 35 years best in the world. They are ago in the Punch which known for efficiency, courtesy influenced my thoughts and and quality service. They are my subsequent observations also known to spoil their which reinforced the views of customers silly especially if the article. Titled ‘Unsafe at you are in the First class or any height”, the writer, I think it was Prof Akin Oyebode but Business Class cabins.

I can however understand it was so long ago— went the fears, though unrealistic, through a brief history of the industry and of many travellers who decide aviation not to patronise Asian Airlines concluded that every crash any longer. I can also made the industry safer. Facts, understand if the number of and observations through the people with the fear of flying years have proved him right. has doubled in recent weeks. very crash, irrespective Four high profile crashes of where it happens, is within a month can send the investigated until remote and chill down any spine. In the midst of all these, the US immediate causes are government issued a unearthed. Reports are written statement that terrorists were and recommendations made targeting US bound planes. which are implemented by all The intelligence report had it stakeholders. The result is that that mobile phones which air travel is still the safest and everyone carries, and fastest means of mass transportation known to man.

score a murderous point even if their parents were in it. And the fact that they do not care who they hit makes air travel potentially hazardous. But I am consoled by one fact; which is that aviation industry seems to be at least one step ahead of these people who live to kill. We had plane hijacks and bombings in the 80s. These have been brought to the barest minimum today.

Then we had 9/11 which for me, was the most heinous crime against humanity. We have not had a repeat of it and it is not for want of trying on the part of the terrorists.

I believe terrorists everywhere thrive in chaos and when there is none, they try to create one because this is their oxygen. Their raison d’etre is to create fear and insecurity and thereby destroy the world order.

Religion is just a ruse to recruit susceptible individuals who can then be indoctrinated. The greatest evil today are perpetrated by these people who claim to do ‘Allah’s will’.

They rape, they maim, they kill. And their sponsors who must rot in hell, watch.

I salute the men and women who work hard to ensure that terrorists do not control the skies and that evil will not triumph over good. They have succeeded in making air travel safer for all of us. Can a group of people stand up and be counted in Nigeria in its commitment and determination to ensure that terrorists do not take over our land? We, the people, are waiting.

Trouble in the sky

,

E

The world became a global village because of air travels which shrank space and made commuting to hitherto unknown destinations possible. Today, there are many airports in the world where planes take off and land every 30 seconds to and from far flung places. So, in spite of all the hue and cry, the aviation industry, which is getting bigger by the day, is still

Mobile phones which everyone carries, and computers could be used as the next weapon of mass destruction

relatively safe and the industry intends to keep it that way. Last year had the safest record in aviation history and this year could still be better if crashes can be capped this mid-year.

It must bother us though, that some of the crashes took sinister turns this year. On March 8, a Malaysian Airline plane simply dropped from the open sky and disappeared— an improbable occurrence in

verything that will stand as E an attacker of your life shall be disgraced this year. The bible

God will do it Beloved, this is not your last bus stop. There is still a great journey ahead of you. The doctors or financial report is not a determinant of who you are or what God is capable of doing. The bible says now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think

,

says that any tree not planted by God shall be uprooted. Believe God and you shall be established, believe His prophet so shall you prosper. No matter the design or plan of the devil and his agents concerning you and all your concerns, know for a surety that they shall surely fail. Who is he that has spoken and shall come to pass when the Lord has not spoken? Listen, no matter your present circumstances God has the final say always. His word is final authority. His word is forever settled in heaven.

Everything that is in you that appears dead or that is dead will rise again. Once again I beseech you to just receive and believe this word of the Lord. He sent His word and healed them and delivered them from destruction.

Hear me, God’s word cannot fail.

The entire world is upheld by the power of God’s word. In John 11, Lazarus was sick and later died.

He had been buried for four days and was already stinking when Jesus got there. In this case the devil thought he has succeeded in cutting short the life of Lazarus and that Lazarus story was over but then there is a God who has a plan for His people. While people were weeping Jesus came to divinely alter the plan of satan concerning Lazarus. The one that was dead and stinking was brought back to life by His word and multitudes gathered together to see him. Hear the Spirit of the Lord, for you it is not over until you win. Don’t accept your present situation as final. The Glory of the Lord shall be seen all over you. The God who altered Lazarus situation is alive and will do the same for you. The devil shall not rejoice over you nor sing your last song.

this day of satellite and hightech surveillance. Those who believe the Super Powers are up to their dirty games and are not telling us all they know may not be day dreaming given the capabilities of these powers to spot even a shining penny from the skies. Another Malaysian plane was brought down on July 17 in Ukraine. This time, a Super Power has been fingered in a disgraceful show of blame trading. Less than a month

planner. The economic meltdown that the world is experiencing has caused nations, companies and individuals to suffer great losses.

Many have committed suicide while some are contemplating suicide. Many can’t see their way out and things are getting more difficult. Despite this condition,

Everything that is in you that appears dead or that is dead will rise again

,

before this, on June 24, a Pakistani plane was shot down.

All of this might point in one direction. The skies are becoming stormy as terrorists are taking their chilling and murderous activities to the skies. The capability to shoot down planes over 20 thousand feet high has obviously increased. These soulless people would think nothing of shooting down a plane just to

water. Barrenness and began to prosper in the was the order of the midst of lack. Instead of death day. It was a case she began to celebrate life. This of everyman for did not come as a result of her himself and God own strength but by the mercies for us all. This of God that divinely altered her widow had an destiny. Know that your destiny encounter with God is not in the hands of any man through the or devil. If you will turn to God prophet of God. and ask Him to alter any She said to God’s challenge in your life He will do prophet “as the it. No situation is greater than Lord thy God Him. He is the most High. I pray liveth, I have not a that God by His mercies shall cake, but an extend His grace to you to handful of meal in divinely alter your life into His a barrel, and a little oil in a cruise, perfect plan for you in Jesus that I may go in and dress it for name, amen. God bless you and me and my son, that we may eat it alter your life in to His perfect and die. And Elijah said unto will and bless and alter the great her…for thus saith the Lord God destiny of our great nation of Isreal, the barrel of meal shall Nigeria and bless our President not waste, neither shall the cruise Goodluck Jonathan. of oil fail, until the Lord sendeth Have you given your life to rain upon the earth…and the Jesus? If not, please pray this barrel of meal wasted not, neither prayer. Father, I come to you as the cruise of oil fail, according to I am. I invite Jesus into my life the word of the Lord, which He to be my personal Lord and spake by Elijah”.

Saviour. Wash me cleanse with From the above text the woman the blood of Jesus and empower has made up her mind to eat her me with the power of your Holy last meal and die. But then God Spirit. Thank you Father for had set out to divinely alter her saving my soul and making me situation by sending Prophet your child.

Elijah to her. M O B A D E J E I G B O At the end A A G E T L she believed O G o d ’ sR L K A N U A M O O prophet and obeyed his O M E R I M L R instruction

according to the power that there is good news for you. worketh in us (Eph. 3:20). God In 1st Kings 17, a woman was shall divinely alter the plans of in a very difficult situation just like your enemies and challenges. everyone else in the land. There Know that God is a master was great scarcity of food and For more details, contact us at Christ Reality Church, beside Gossard Hotel, opposite First Bank Sports Ground, Community Road, Satellite Town or P.O.Box, 3196, Yaba Lagos. Tel: 08023062635 08168955932; 08033378769. Email: Johnson_crm@yahoo.com. Website: www.christrealityministries.org.

Our account details are Pastor Johnson Omomadia, Guaranty Trust Bank, A/C Nos. 0005171407; Christ Reality Ministries, Zenith Bank A/C

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Worship with us on Sundays, 1st Service: 745am-9:15am; 2nd Service 9:1511:30am. Wednesdays Word Revelation 6pm. Counseling days Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. 11am-5pm daily or by appointment. Showers of blessing every 2nd - 4th Sat. of each month, 6 a.m - 7.15 am.

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SATURDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014—17

Contractors flee with mobilisation fees Continues from page 15 is tagged ‘China Projects’ in the state.

Although the former Minister acknowledged Governor Okorocha’s effort to lift the infrastructure status of the state, he however decried what he called “total disregard to due process and procedures”, as well as unquenchable appetite for cheap labour, pointing out that such tendencies have negatively rubbished the governor ’s earlier vision for the state.

Said he: “It worries me that someone who enjoys the mandate of the people would visit the people with poor quality and substandard projects that collapse even when constructions are still ongoing”.

He attributed the sad but unfortunate development to the governor’s total disregard for due process and unquenchable appetite for cheap labour, stressing that a governor should represent good quality and appreciable sense of taste to enable him bequeath to the people quality projects expected to stand the taste of time.

Capt. Iheanacho further described several billions of money being spent by the present administration on infrastructure as ‘ wasted funds’ considering the tendency of revisiting those projects by the incoming administration to enable them serve the purposes for which they were conceived.

At a different setting, the Commissioner for Finance, Deacon Chike Okafor, who affirmed that he was presenting government’s score card in response to the challenge recently thrown at Governor Okorocha by the Minister of External Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri, said government had within two and a half years, “built an average of 10 schools at a cost of N27.5 million each and a modern hospital at an average cost of N110 million.

Continuing, Okafor said the administration had constructed 15kilometer stretch of asphalted roads with drainages at a cost of N60 million each, revealing an average investment of N1.285 Billion in development of infrastructure in each local government area of the state.

Added to what the people now call “these Chinese projects” in the state, is the huge financial loss suffered by the state as a result of the payment for jobs not properly executed or not executed a all.

A company was paid N1.5 billion for a road contract that has remained unexecuted till date. It was this same road that cost Sir Jude Agbaso his job as Deputy Governor. He was accused of collecting N458 million bribe from Dina,, a company, an allegation he has been contesting vigorously.

An Owerri based legal practitioner, Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN, says Imo people are still interested in knowing what has happened to the N1.5 billion paid to the firm that did no job. Chief Ahamba, who made his feelings known during an exclusive chat with our reporter in Owerri, also said: “Some months back, there was an impeachment proceeding in Imo State. My interest in this issue C M Y K

is not about justice for the victim or those who accused him or impeached him, but justice to the citizenry who are interested in knowing where the N1.5 billion is”.

While insisting that the people must not only be told where their commonwealth is, Chief Ahamba also expressed belief that “there must be some restitutive justice in this matter to the good people of Imo, whose scarce fund has developed wings”.

He wondered why a person accused of stealing N458 million is not yet put on trial, especially as he has since lost immunity, if there are facts against him as his accusers claimed.

Chief Ahamba appealed to the leadership of Economic and Finan-

“I felt it was outrageous to pay such a bill to a firm that was yet to to move into site. So, I cut it down to 20 percent and the Governor did not like what I did”, Chief Uche said.

The former Commissioner recalled another contract which Governor Okorocha was prepared to pay 50 percent of the total sum, adding that he reluctantly approved 30percent.

“My refusal to approve what Governor Okorocha okayed led to my posting to Ministry of Public Utilities and I resigned from this new Ministry”, Chief Uche said.

He challenged the Governor to explain why and how most contractors introduced by the Governor and engaged by the state government, bolt away after collecting huge

He wondered why a person accused of stealing N458 million is not yet put on trial, especially as he has since lost immunity, if there are facts against him as his accusers claimed cial Crimes Commission, EFCC, “to ensure restitutive justice to assuage the feelings of Imo people over their N1.5 billion, which is known to have been traced, but is still treated as missing”.

Answering a question, the fiery lawyer reasoned that the fight against corruption will lose steam and meaning if any cover up is allowed in this matter.

“The issue of justice is the foundation of peace, stability and prosperity in any society, including ours”Ahamba said.

Former Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Chief Ejike Uche, has denied any complicity in the N2.2 billion contract scam involving a Spanish national and Imo State Government. Uche, who denied the allegation while speaking to Vanguard in Owerri, however accused Governor Rochas Okorocha of personally inviting and awarding all major contracts in the state to his choice firms.

“Many contract jobs in the state did no pass through due process ”, Uche said.

He recalled that the contract agreement signed in Government House, stipulated that the contractor should be paid 30 percent mobilization fee.

mobilization fees. Vanguard recalls that the Spanish firm, Hormipresa Nigeria Limited charged with the responsibility of building a 156room, four- floor office complex, a skills acquisition centre and an 88room hostel complex, bolted away with the mobilization fee.

In a bid to save the corporate image of his administration, Okorocha recently set up what he called “State Central Recovery Committee”, to recover all funds given to contractors handling government projects.

Speaking during the inauguration of the committee at the state Government House, Owerri, Okorocha made it clear that their “main function is to recover the fund given to contractors that abandoned their projects or to ensure that they complete it”.

Okorocha recalled that during his tour of local governments recently, he discovered that most rural road projects were abandoned by contractors, which he explained necessitated the setting up the committee to ensure that funds given to contractors are not lost.

“The committee is made up of top government officials, top security functionaries and royal fathers and has three months to complete their assignment”, Okorocha said.

The Governor stressed the need for

them to critically assess the level of job done by each of the contractors, and expressed confidence that the committee will assist the state government in recovering the funds given to those who abandoned their projects.

Responding on behalf of others, the Committee Chairman, who doubles as the Chief of Staff, Government House and Commissioner Special Duties, Sir Jude Ejiogu, assured that the committee will discharge its duties effectively.

He however warned contractors to go back to their respective sites and continue working, refund the monies they collected if they are no longer interested in doing the jobs or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.

However, weeks after Governor Okorocha ordered the arrest and prosecution of no fewer than 17 contractors for allegedly collecting huge sums of money and failing to deliver on the projects, none of them has been arraigned in court.

Okorocha ordered their arrest while touring the 27 local council areas of the state to personally verify the extent of work done on the rural roads. Already, some concerned citizens have started reacting angrily to what they called “the continuing waste of government fund on phantom projects”.

Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prince Ken Njemanze, SAN, opined that the administration was yet to tell Imo people the whole truth about the failed contracts.

“We are yet to be told the whole truth about the failed contracts. The Governor would not have any need to run after any contractor if he had extracted performance bond from the contractors”. According to Njemanze, “it is even doubtful if government ever entered into contractual agreement with the contractors and it would be interesting to know who ordered payments for jobs not done”. Another civil servant, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, reasoned that some top government functionaries obviously played prominent roles in the alleged fleecing of Imo people’s money.

“It would be interesting to know who ordered or approved the raising of payment vouchers. There is no way we can achieve social justice in the state, in an atmosphere devoid of rule of law”, the civil servant said.

18 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014

I get harassed by female fans —Fair Prince

By IY AB O AINA IYAB ABO

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kwa Ibom State-born Jacob Kingsley Ekpe known in the music industry as Fair Prince is a mechanical engineer who dumped the lucrative profession to pursue his dream as a musician. He has just released an album ‘I am Jacob’ and a video of one of his singles. But Fair Prince has not always been having it easy. He had to go against all odds to make it as a musician.

Here is his story: As a graduate of mechanical engineering, how did your parents react when you decided to go into music?

They practically laughed at me and said I didn’t know what I was doing.They called me a bird because they believe it is only birds that sing.It was not only my parents, but my sibling too. So, I came to Lagos on my own and had to squat with a friend. Later, the friend travelled out of the country, and when I couldn’t hold on to the house, I started sleeping under the Maryland bridge. I did that for about two years. But all that is history now as my family has realised that this is all I want to do and they are happy I am making sense of my dream now.

What do you think about gospel artistes not being recognised in the music industry ms of industry,, in ter terms endorsements?

First of all, I don’t like addressing myself as a gospel artiste or a circular artiste and talking about endorsements and all. I’m not in music for commercial reasons, my interest is in passing good news of God across to my listeners.

How do you get your inspirations?

My inspirations come from God’s word.

This is because the word of God is life. I have seen situations change and hopeless people have reasons to live and enjoy life through God’s word. My life is a testimony that one can be anything and achieve anything. So inspiration for me is not through smoking or drinking alcohol.

Sometimes, my inspiration comes from the environment and things that happen around me. For instance, I just released a single’s video” Thank You” from my album titled “I Am Jacob” and the song is just about praising God after everything that I have gone through and over what God has done .

As a married man and artiste, how do you handle your female fans?

What I do despite the fact that am married is to still chat with them. And sometimes I stop by to sign autographs for them. So, I don’t snub my female fans just because I’m married. But there was a time I was harassed by a female fan. I get harassed on daily basis by some of my female fans.

Does your stage name ““F Fair Prince” has anything to do with your complexion?

The ‘Prince’ came about as a result of my family background because I happen to come from a royal family. Back home,

•Mizz Spice

I’m jack of all trades in music — Mizz Spice

•Fair Prince

By JULIET EBIRIM

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nita Akpojotor is still an under-graduate of Delta State University, studying Maketing, but she has all her eyes on the music scene where she hopes to be a big star someday. She goes by the name Mizz Spice. In this little chat she explains who she is and her mission in music:

whenever the guards were asked to call the Prince, they always returned ‘is it the fair prince?’ because they are many other princes other than me. So, saying the ‘fair prince’ refers to me and that’s how the name stuck with me. It’s not only in the music industry they call me ‘Fair Prince’, they also call me that back home.

Why did choose music instead of acting, modelling, or even any other profession?

Well, I have always loved everything about entertainment for a very long time. But I chose music because it brings other parts of me people hardly know. I am a very quiet person who doesn’t say much but through music I say all that I have inside me and bring out my kind of person.

But what really inspired you into music?

What inspired me to go into music is the passion I have for it. I have always loved good music because it stirs my soul and I have always wanted to bring out the special thing inside me to share with people When did you start music professionally and what have you done?

I started music officially in 2011. I have done a couple of songs, but I

am looking forward to releasing my new single ‘Original’ with my record label Goody Goody records With the crowded music industry, how do you plan to break through?

It is true there are many good artistes on the scene right now but I believe I have something special to offer. I am a kind of jack of all trades in music- I play Afropop, highlife, reggae and Rn B. My unique style is to combine all these and bring out something unique, the music industry has never seen before.

Why the name, Mizz Spice, and what does the name mean?

Well, as we all know, spice is something that makes things sweet. I am Mizz Spice because I am the spice in music to spice up all the good things in the industry. When you hear Mizz Spice, you know you are seeing the spice of the music industry.

Can you use your sexuality to promote your music, like posing nude in your videos?

No I can’t.

What’s your own unique selling point?

My selling point is combining reggae, highlife, Afropop and putting them together to produce a new whole tune.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014—19

JULIET EBIRIM 08137897935

Would you marry your ex-’s brother or sister?

S

haron’s ex-husband, Raymond, abused her mentally and emotionally. He was a severe alcoholic. She endured him for three years, hoping that things would work out, but they never did. Rather, they went from bad to worse and so she left. A few months later, Sharon’s Ex-husband’s brother, Kenneth, broke up with his girlfriend because she was a real bitch. Sharon and Kenneth got real close and he told her what a good woman she was; that his brother didn’t know what he had. He treated her like a queen and was very sensitive to her feelings. Sharon had a health condition for which she underwent a brain surgery and Kenneth stayed by her bedside the entire time, while her ex-hubby never visited her once to check on her. After a while, Kenneth hit the nail on the head, asking Sharon to marry him. She was confused, even as her friends advised her to welcome the idea, believing that she was probably with the wrong person. Kenneth says he doesn’t care what anyone thinks because love could really be blind sometimes. If you were in Sharon’s shoes, what would you do?

It’s not right - Yvonne Enakena, Actress

I’d rather find love elsewhere - Ruth Kadiri, Actress

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t depends on the kind of relationship I had with the brother. But truthfully, I would rather just save myself the stress and find love elsewhere.

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o, I won’t marry him. I won’t even date him, let alone spending the rest of my life with him. I just feel it’s not right. It’s either the ex will want to reconcile with you, or your husband will not trust you.

I wouldn’t even date two sisters - Adol, Singer

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won’t do that. I will look for a wife in another family. There are still other nice ladies around. It mustn’t be from the same family. I wouldn’t even like to date two sisters.

I will, as long as...

- Prince Iyke

Olisa, Producer

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f course I will, as long as the bond between us is strong enough to lead to marriage. But before it gets to that level, we must have informed and convinced my ex on the step we are about to take because she is still part of the family.

God forbid, I can’t!

- Bella Ebinum,Actress

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od Forbid! I can’t marry my ex’s brother. Once bitten, twice shy. What happened in the past can still repeat itself. But if it’s a mutual agreement, no problem.

I don’t mind - Victor Godfrey, Actor

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es, it’s okay. I don’t mind marrying my ex’s sister. Obviously, we ( I and my ex) should have put the past behind us and moved on...

C M Y K

20 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014

With Florence Amagiya

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osunmol Abudu has no doubt carved a lasting niche for herself in a world where men are known to have called the shots. She is undeniably wealthy and is regarded by many as the “Oprah Winfrey of Africa" due to her Moment with Mo Talk show. Her EbonyLife channel alone on DSTV is worth billions of naira. In this edition, we lead you into the world of a media guru who is living her dreams in splendor: Mo Abudu as she is fondly called hails from Ondo Town in Ondo state of Nigeria.

She was born in Hammersmith Hospital in London, United Kingdom in September 1964 to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Akintunde.

She is the eldest of three sisters who lost her father at the age of 11. Mo Abudu spent her childhood in United Kingdom where she worked her way through college. She attended the Ridgeway School, Mid Kent College and West Kent College. She got her Master’s degree in Human Resources Development from the University of Westminster in London. The TV goddess started her professional career as a Recruitment Consultant in 1987 with the Atlas Recruitment Consultancy firm in the UK. Mo rose to the position of a Branch Manager within a few years. She was headhunted by Starform Group in 1990; Starform is a very successful business information group in the UK. They manage the prestigious Corporate Credit Management Exhibition. Mo successfully managed the exhibition from 1990 through 1992. She assumed responsibility for the research, design and production of several conferences and seminars whilst at Starform.

She returned to Nigeria in 1993 and was also hunted by Arthur Andersen. She worked in the capacity of Head of Human Resources and Training for Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited (Exxon).

She successfully completed her responsibilities by the year 2000.

Mo saw in Nigeria, a growing need for a trained and highly motivated talent

08061644307

MO ABUDU

The pies that made her rich •Protea Hotel

Mo Abudu is the first woman on the African continent to own a panAfrican TV channel called EbonyLife TV; "it is worth N2b" ExxonMobil after a decade to start Vic Lawrence & Associates Limited popularly known as VLA.

pool that would take Nigerian businesses into the 21st century. Taking advantage of her reputation, she resigned from a job at

Her projects

Mo Abudu is arguably the first woman on the African continent to own a panAfrican TV channel called EbonyLife TV. According to reports, "the channel is worth N2b." EbonyLife TV is a channel on DSTV which has over 15million viewers in 44 countries including United Kingdom and United States of America. It has strong backing by Cross

Rivers State government.

This is in line with the state government’s strategy for development.

EbonyLife TV is helping to build a thriving Film, TV and Music industry through strong international partnerships that can develop local talent and empower the next generation by building an Entertainment and Media hub at Tinapa

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014 — 21 that would represent Nigeria as well as Africa.

Another powerful move which the channel has made is acquisition of the services of 13 independent producers to produce film content for TV, a project which a film expert estimates will cost about N2.5 million per production.

Award

In 2013, Forbes gave her an award as the first African woman to launch a PanAfrican TV Channel. The honour came to Mo due to her consideration as an industrious and illustrious personality popular within and outside the industry.

She was called “Africa’s Queen of Talk.” An enviable position, the award, no doubt, firmly affirms and establishes Mo Abudu as

motivating, innovative and entertaining reality TV show that gives the youth of Africa a voice; Naija Diamonds, an award winning documentary series, Celebrating the Unsung Heroes of Nigeria.

Charity

Mo is also a philanthropist. She has a foundation known as Inspire Africa Foundation in partnership with Moreno Construction, The Harbour, which has completed a one hundred-bed home for street children in Lagos.

Cars, dresses and perfumes

*Mo Abudu someone who has indeed treaded grounds that many may have considered an uphill task even for some of the highest flying African women.

According to reports, She is involved in a number of business activities. In addition, Mo is co-owner of the Protea Hotel, Oakwood Park, Lekki Expressway, Lagos. The hotel is worth over N2b. Set on over a hectare of land, and comprising of state-of-theart conferencing and leisure facilities, the Protea Hotel, Oakwood Park is a 5-star hotel and no doubt among the best Proteas in Nigeria.

Mo is also the Founder of Vic Lawrence & Associates, now one of Nigeria’s leading Outsourcing firms and media.

Her special TV program “Moment with Mo,” over the past years of its existence, has hosted an impressive list of guests.

The TV program has hosted presidents, Nobel Laureates, celebrities governors, and even the US Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary RodhamClinton, when she visited Nigeria. The TV show is Africa’s first and only syndicated daily talk show.

It airs across 48 African countries and on cable TV in the United Kingdom. She developed other TV properties to include “The Debaters,” a highly intellectual, but vastly C M Y K

Mo Abudu is known to look stunning and out of the world on the red carpet.

According to reports, she gets her dresses after it is launched on the runway abroad.

Similarly, her perfumes are truly feminine and expensive. She loves beautiful expensive cars and has many of them in her garage including a black Mercedes Benz SUV priced over N20m.

•Mo-&-Christine-Lagarde

22 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014 KEHINDE AJOSE 08024212530

Don Jazzy’s Dorobucci’s video is skewed, says Charles Novia T

he video for Don Jazzy’s hit song ‘Dorobucci’ birthed amidst wild online reactions. While some believe it was a cool production some have not stopped condenming many aspects of the video.

Charles Novia, the opinionated filmmaker took to his twitter handle to express his opinions about the video.”The cinematography was cool, concept was skewed. Video only sizzled at the beginning when Donjazzy had his bit. A song composed and hitting all nooks in Nigeria gets its video shot in South Africa. There was a lack of charisma too in the ensemble segments. Only Don Jazzy and Tiwa Savage had screen presence, others looked overwhelmed. It was a good visual

effort for a fantastic audio hit but it could have been better. Maybe a Sesan or Clarence could have interpreted better.”He said Chi Ibe a writer also has this to say:” Tiwa Savage appears bored by the whole proceedings, Dr Sid is…well, Dr Sid and D’Prince look like they are hanging on tightly to Don Jazzy’s coattails. If there is any bit of excitement at all in terms of delivery, it comes from the new acts, especially Reekado Banks and Di’Ja. The whole video goes by in a repetitive blur of boring shots”.

Backlash, it hasn’t failed to thrill some fans on the social media scene as they have unofficially called it 2014’s best video.

Lynxxx re w crush revveals a ne new

*Don Jazzy

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t is no news that pop star and Utunu crooner Chukie Edozie a.k a Lyxxx is a charmer and a womaniser who has a crush on a number of women. The fair-skinned singer has openly said he fancies Chidinma, American Ashanti. Now, he’s zeroing on the Nollywood leading actress, Genevieve Nnaji as his latest object of obsession.

The Pepsi and Glo ambassador in an interview revealed his admiration and said he would give anything to be trapped in an elevator with the ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’

star.

“If I was to get trapped in an elevator with someone, it would be Genevieve Nnaji” he said. He also reveals what makes him happy .

“What makes me happy is knowing my family is good, people around me are eating and I can better the lives of myself and others through my music, achievement, and success .I love to encourage people to put their talents to use. We all have something to offer.”

*Lyxxx

*Genevieve

I hate divorce ce— Anne Idibia

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ollywood actress, Anne Idibia and Tuface’s “True love” has come out to give her opinions concerning family, marriage and her own very childhood.

In her assertion the screen diva said divorce is the worst punishment any parent could subject children to. Because it’s the children that will face the consequences of their actions. Divorce shouldn’t be considered as an option when couples face-off. It is advisable to settle rather than divorce. Why did you get married if you cannot forgive and reconcile with your partner? I don’t wish my kids to pass through my experience regarding divorce. I always use my parents-in-laws as an example and I try to emulate them in my marriage. After all these years, they are still deeply in love C M Y K

with each other. Even at their age, they still enjoy each other ’s company and that is amazing.

She also went back memory lane recalling her days of small beginnings.”I attended so many auditions after my secondary education and I also did some modeling jobs for a while, earning as little as N2000. The highest fee I ever earned was N5000 but I wasn’t discouraged. I worked with Dakova and KC Jabari and I also did ushering jobs at events. I was an usher at Queen Onokala’s first album launch. I was also second runner-up of Queen of All Nations Beauty Pageant. It was after the beauty pageant that I made my Nollywood debut.”

*Anne Idibia

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014 — 23

Nigerian music scene has addictive feel —Waliyah

By AYO ONIKOYI, 08052201215

I started rapping in Igbo when nobody was doing it — Mr Raw

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n 2011, London-based, Nigerianborn Waliyah headlined a sold out concert at London’s Jazz Café, one she organised and promoted herself.

Today, the graduate of Imperial College London is ready to conquer the Nigerian music scene.

Her hit single “Siwaju” produced by Sarz is gaining the interest of the Nigerian audience and getting massive air play .Waliyah recently opened up to Showtime on her assessment of the Nigerian music scene.

“The Nigerian music industry is booming as we all know. I love the energy, the groove and rhythm of it all. It has an addictive feel and good quality. The last couple of years has seen a bit of exponential rise in quality and output. It’s very hooky, percussion and bass heavy music with it’s own identity that we’re now exporting to the rest of the world . It’s great to see us listening to our own music predominantly with a smaller percentage of western music being played. The situation was in reverse just 7 years ago.”

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bia State-born, Ukeje Okechukwu Edwards, aka Mr. Raw, formally known as ‘Dat Nigga Raw,’ is one hip-hop artiste who has carved a niche for himself in the Nigerian music industry when he started rapping in Igbo. The RawDeal label boss in an exclusive chat with Showtime revealed what he has been up to.

“My major project right now is the artistes I want to push out on my label, Raw Deal. I will release their names when the time is right. I am trying to assist other upcoming artistes to make it entertainment wise .The Nigerian music industry is still growing and we are heading somewhere because even in Africa, Nigeria is the biggest.When you talk about influential artistes in Africa, you will mention more Nigerian artistes. It’s a plus, which means we are doing more. I started rapping in Igbo when nobody was doing it. It wasn’t that easy then for people to accept it, but now it makes a whole lot of sense. I actually feel entertained seeing other artistes do what I started. I feel great when I see people like Phyno doing what I started.

*Mr Raw

I cannot sacrifice my music career for love —Aju

By ANOZIE EGOLE

F

or so many men who think that up and coming singer, Ine Aju’s love is blind, they had better start thinking in another direction as the singer has revealed to Showtime that her love is not blind at all. The sensational singer who is ready to tell anyone who cares to listen said her love right now is her music career. “They say love is blind and that it can sacrifice anything, I can not sacrifice my musical career for love. It is my music that I love most, it comes first in my priority before every other thing.

GUS extends registration deadline

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*Waliyah C M Y K

he regional screening for this year’s Gulder Ultimate Search themed ‘The Mission’ will commence on Saturday, August 2, 2014 in Port Harcourt, Awka, Benin and Lagos, and will end on Monday, August 18. In a bid to ensure that more young Nigerians are given the opportunity to participate in the reality TV programme, the deadline for registration has been extended.

Residents of Awka and its environs now have up till August 4 to register, while interested participants in Benin are required to register on or before August 8.

The deadline for Lagos registration has also been extended to August 12. Over the weekend, visitors to the Ikeja City Mall in Lagos were surprised to find Gulder Ultimate Search registration booths manned by specially trained personnel.

*Aju

24 — SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, AUGUST 2, 2014

08111813022

•Ejike Asiegbu, former AGN President

•Zik Zulu, AMP President

•Ibinabo Fiberesima, AGN President

•Alex Eyengho, ANCOP President

Nollywood practitioners divided over MOPPICON bill

•Govt is not sincere about the bill— Ejike Asiegbu •It’s a welcome development — Zik Zulu BENJAMIN NJOKU

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ational President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria,AGN, Ms Ibinabo Fiberesima two months ago raised the curosity of stakeholders in the movie industry after she dropped a hint that the draft of the long awaited Motion Picture Practitioners Council of Nigeria Bill,MOPPICCON would be returned to them for onward review and possible approval.

Ibinabo, however, went ahead to say that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation would be releasing the draft a week after she made the discloure, so that players in the industry can make input before the bill is sent to the National Assembly. “You would recall that we asked for so many things from President Goodluck Jonathan when we visited him some months ago, and one of the fruits of the visit is the MOPPICCON Bill; its draft will be released next week by the Attorney General of the Federation so that we can make inputs,” she hinted.

Meanwhile, two months after she made the announcement, nothing much has been heard about the draft even as mixedfeelings have continued to trail her comments.

First to react to Ibinabo’s announcement was the President of the Association of Nollywood Core Producers,ANCOP, Comrade C M Y K

Alex Eyengho,who frowned at her comments. He, however, cautioned the AGN president, to concern herself with the politics of Guild, and not the entire industry.“ The draft bill is older than Ibinabo in the indsutry. Therefore, she has no right to represent the interest of the industry as far as the MOPPICCON bill is concerned,” Eyengho fumed.

Also, reacting in the same vein, former president of the actors’ body, Ejike Asiegbu accused the federal government of not being sincere about the bill.

According to him, “The government is trying to be economical with the truth. This is because every work that needed to be done on the bill has been completed and presented to them.”

He also accused the government of taking advantage of the fact that most of the current leaders in Nollywood are not well-informed about some of the key issues affecting the industry, hence its alleged decision to return the draft to the industry. “If the government is considering the possibility of returning the bill to the industry,

they should contact some of us who are knowledgeable about these key issues,” Asiegbu advocated.

On his own, veteran film maker, Chief Eddie Ugbomah argued that the bill was drafted over twelve years ago, adding that it has been ever ready before now. “They shouldn’t be fooling us. The last time, we were on the bill, myself, Zack Orji, Andy Amenechi, Ejike Asiegbu, Madu Chikwendu and Kanayo .O.Kanayo with the former Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. Frank Nweke Jr. He handed the draft to Mr Odeh when he was leaving office. Mr Odeh invited us to come and talk about the bill. After Odeh left office, the document died with Dora Akunyili when she was the Minister of Information and Communications, before Mr. Labaran Maku came on board.

This MOPPICON bill is ever before Ibinabo was born,” Ugbomah stressed.

He, however, insists that if government wants to return the bill to the industry, there is need for them to get in touch with the committee that was set up to prepare the document to read it again and ascertain whether the content has been doctored. Also, in his own reaction, Aossociation of Movie Practitioners,AMP president, Zik Zulu Okafor described the move as a welcome development. “I have not been fully briefed on it, but I heard

while the committee that the government is planning completed its task and to return the draft to the industry submitted the draft for us to look at it again. I think MOPPICON bill several the draft has been tampered years ago, owing to with, and the industry need to bureaucratic bottlenecks be sure that what we sent is between the Ministries of what we will get in return.It will Culture, Information and be a fantastic idea because we Justice, successive need to see it again and be sure administrations including that our language is what the Presidents Olusegun bill is speaking,”Zik Zulu ObasanjoandthelateUmaru reasoned.

Yar’Aduawereunabletosend For Directors Guild of thebilltotheNational Nigeria,DGN president, Andy Assemblyforpassageinto Amenechi the government’s law.If passed into law, decision to return the draft to the MOPPICON will stand as “a industry is basically to enable workingmanualofthe the players have a industry.” final look at the draft before it’s sent to the National Assembly for passage into law.

It would be recalled that in 2006, the Nigerian Film Corporation set up a steering committee for MOPPICON. The committee, which was made up of what was then considered as elected representatives of all he MTN Project Fame sectors of the motion West Africa (season 7) contestants had spent last week settling picture industry in into the Academy, attending classes from Nigeria, actually members of the Faculty, all in preparation generated the much for their very first stage performance as talked about draft bonafide contestants in the competition.

MOPPICON bill. The For the contestants, it was a night of committee reportedly making first impressions, and so they put met severally and up a breath-taking show, singing with received memoranda every passion and energy they could from stakeholders cut muster. The show began with delectable across virtually all the hosts; Joseph Benjamin and Bolanle geograhical zones of Olukanni giving highlights of the the federation.But

Project Fame:

Four cont es contes esttants on pr obation probation T

•

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, AUGUST 2, 2014 — 25

08111813022

Waiting for Yvonne Nelson’s complicated Single and Married flick A

•Yvonne Nelson

fter a successful Nigeria release of “Single and Married” movie in 2012, Silverbird Distributions Limited will on Friday, August 15, release the sequel to award-winning movie titled, “Single, Married and Complicated.”

The movie which will be released simultaneously across cinemas in Nigeria with a red-carpet premiere holding at Silverbird cinemas, Lagos. It will showcase a parade of stars from Nollywood, Ghollywood and other entertainment icons from various sectors alongside her fans and supporters who have been anticipating the release of the movie since its first part hit the cinemas two years ago.

The star-

studded movie features Yvonne Nelson, Chris Attoh, Eddie Watson, Anita Erskine, and Tana Adelana who were part of the original movie while John Dumelo, John Gardiner, Alexx Ekubo and Eazzy join the cast to make it an even more interesting sequel.

Interestingly, the steamy romantic comedy produced by Yvonne Nelson Productions is written and directed by award-winning Ghanaian director, Pascal Amanfo, whom the leggy actress described as “a natural follow up of all to give a sweet finish to a great tale.”

According to her, the movie could be likened to its original because it is no holds barred movie loaded with excitement and that movie enthusiast should brace up for a thrilling experience in the cinemas. It is a captivating movie based on an everyday story that the ordinary African can relate to. It is once again told in a narrative format, with Anita Erskine as the narrator.

Lancelot Imasuen goes spiritual

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roducer of the highly anticipated historical movie, “Invasion 1897” which is bound to raise the bar in Nollywood when it finally hits the cinemas later this year, Lancelot Imasuen has gone spiritual.

The celebrated director was recently involved in the production of a gospel documentary drama, “Faith that Rocks”which experience, he described as “awesome and refreshingly different.” The production, sponsored by The Refuge, an Abuja branch of Pastor Paul Adefarasin’s House on the Rock church was a total departure from the norm. “It was the first time in my career that I’m delving into gospel induced production.It was a great experience because it took me into a new environment. From the first time I started the production, I had this feeling of fulfillment that I

was in the right direction. I am not particularly new when it comes to gospel productions, but this documentary posed a new challenge to me,”Lancelot narrated.

He described the production as a blend of reality; telling the story of resilience, steadfastness and faith in God. Stressing further, the celebrated film director said, the documentary was produced in commemoration of the dedication of the new utra-modern church building as well as marking the 15 years existence of the church in Abuja. Established in 1999, the church is under the inspirational leadership of Pastor GoodHeart Obi C. Ekwueme, the eldest son of former Vice-President of the federation, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.

•Clement, David, Emeka and Sola previous show. Then it was time for the contestants to take every one on a journey of sensational music renditions.

The audience could barely contain their excitement as they showered the contestants with applause after each performance. It was apparent they were beginning to have favourites as the intensity of the applause varied with each performance. At the end of it all, the judges were clearly not impressed with the performances and Tee Y Mix did not keep back their views

C M Y K

regarding the evening. He advised the contestants to put in more effort in the next show. It was a good night as the contestants thrilled the audience with classic hits from world music legends.

After all performances, Emeka, Sola, Clement and David were not fortunate enough to escape probation.

The judges didn’t mince words with the contestants, as they gave their candid opinion on each contestant’s performance. Top of their concern is the need for the contestants to relax, stay focused, remember their lyrics, be flexible and above all create synergy with the audience.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

•Lancelot Imasuen

•Xolile

South African actress, Xolile TTshabalala shabalala declares!

‘I am overwhelmed becoming AFRIFF ambassador’

Top South African actress, Xolile Tshabalala has been in a happy mood since last week after she was appointed as the Ambassador for Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) 2014. The actress met with the AFRIFF team at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) in South Africa, where she held talks with the Project Director, Afie Braimoh and the Artistic Director, Keith Shiri. The organisers decided to endorse the actress whose short film, ‘Through Her Eyes,’was screened at DIFF, as Goodwill Ambassador of the festival because of their resolve to make it as a continental event.

“I am very excited as an artiste and as a female filmmaker. Also, as an African, I am so happy about anything that brings Africa together and puts us on the world map. I’m overwhelmed with the joy for being a part of the AFRIFF team,”Xolile said. Continuing, she said, “I feel excited about an opportunity for me to share my experience and belief about the beauty of Africa. More importantly, I am excited because it will also offer the opportunity to show that AFRIFF has demonstrated that she can hold a film festival equal to internationally acclaimed festivals.”

She will join Nollywood star, Rita Dominic, as an ambassador for the festival. A star of Mnet’s ‘Jacobs Cross’ and SABC1’s soap, ‘Generation’, Xolile resumed duty immediately, talking to people at DIFF about the qualities that differentiate AFRIFF from other festivals.

Wole Oni becomes UN Ambassador ...bags Crystal Lifetime Achievemnt award

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igeria’s foremost gospel music producer, Wole Oni is in the mood of celebration. Last weekend, friends, fans and family thronged his office/studio in Surulere, Lagos, to celebrate with the music maker as he celebrated his latest awards, a Lifetime Crystal Award and his appointment as a Youth UN Ambassador for Peace.

“I’m excited today and grateful to God for his numerous blessings upon my life. Words cannot express my joy. We are here to celebrate my latest additions, my UN Youth Peace ambassadorship and my Crystal Lifetime Achievement Award, which I won penultimate Sunday.

“I am most excited about the UN Youth Peace Ambassadorship because I have been looking for such a platform to preach the gospel of peace.

Before now I have been involved in peace initiatives at the grass roots but this is a whole new ball game.”

Wole Oni

Talking about how is he going to use his UN platform to promote peace, Oni said, “One of the things I am going to work on now as a peace ambassador is to use my specialty to make good music that will cut across language barries.”

26—SATURDAY

Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014

Ebola stirs noise – unlike other killers

By PETER PIOT

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HE Ebola virus, which has struck more than 1,000 people in three African countries since May, can kill as many as nine-tenths of the people it infects. It is one of the most deadly agents of disease, and an even more potent inspiration of horror.

What begins as muscle pain or a headache soon becomes a burning fever. The virus affects the brain: victims often come over in a fixed and vacant gaze, and some experience psychosis. In the late stage of the disease, blood vessels burst and there is heavy bleeding, including from the eyes and mouth. A few droplets of an infected person’s blood contain enough virus particles to claim the next victim. Infections commonly occur among those who have handled the dead.

When I first encountered Ebola at close quarters in 1976, it was an unknown virus that had yet to acquire its fearsome name. A blue Thermos flask arrived at the Antwerp laboratory where I was a young researcher, containing blood from a woman in what was then Zaire who had died from an unidentified haemorrhagic fever. Travelling to the affected region, I witnessed the suffering the virus causes in the impoverished communities where it most easily spreads. (We later relinquished our samples to a US lab with elaborate safety equipment.)

The outbreak in west Africa has affected countries where the disease has not been seen before. Infections have been found in at least 60 places.

Heightened action is needed, with better co-ordination. Frightened and therefore hostile communities must be persuaded that doctors are there to help.

E

qually important is what happens when the emergency subsides and media attention drifts away. In the four decades since the virus was discovered, successive crises have attracted the attention of the global media and western donors. But as soon as people stop falling ill, the money disappears. Little is invested in preventing the next epidemic.

Time and again I have witnessed fitful concern give way to long spells

Heightened action is needed, with better co-ordination

•Ebola victims

of indifference in which epidemics are incubated.

Without routine surveillance, outbreaks can go unnoticed for months. Without proper training, health workers do not follow procedures to prevent contamination. Without adequate water and sanitation infrastructure, disease spreads.

All of this must be remedied if epidemics are to be controlled and experimental treatments properly evaluated. Such systems take time to build. But the attention generated by an Ebola outbreak is inevitably shortlived.

The same goes for the silent epidemics that inspire less horror but claim many more lives. One is maternal mortality. In high-income countries people have forgotten what a risky business it is to have a baby without proper medical care. Sierra Leone, one of the countries affected by the Ebola outbreak, also happens to be the riskiest place in the world to bear a child. My colleague Mohammed Yilla of the MamaYe programme in Sierra Leone estimates that about 460 women have perished there from pregnancyrelated causes since the start of the epidemic in May, roughly double the number of Ebola fatalities.* But these women’s deaths will not be officially recorded – a sign that priorities lie elsewhere.

Why the apparent indifference? Perhaps because

•Ebola Doctors at work maternal mortality is not contagious, or is not regarded as gruesome. Perhaps because it is something that happens only to women – although the tragedy is surely shared. Perhaps because, too often, we focus on the illnesses we currently find most horrific, not those that cause most suffering.

Maternal mortality and other scourges like it may not fit the typical public health professional’s definition of an emergency. The monthly toll does not readily fall – there has been little improvement in Sierra Leone since the beginning of this decade – but nor does it rise. An infectious disease, by contrast, can kill at a faster rate with every

week that it is allowed to spread.

But they are emergencies all the same.

There is no contradiction between fighting maternal mortality and preventing the next Ebola epidemic. Both can be stopped with the same kind of long-term investment in health infrastructure.

These investments do not involve cutting-edge technology, although they are logistically complex. They will take time, but they will also endure.

Peter Piot is Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine .

Culled from the Financial Times Ltd.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014—27

Compiled by

Ephraim Oseji

oseji16@yahoo.com 07032769933

City planning one more deal

Barcelona have Marquinhos bid rejected

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anchester City are planning one more summer deal, with only a centre-back required to complete their squad. That is the opinion of chief executive Ferran Soriano, with City working under strict orders from UEFA. Sanctions have been handed down after breaking Financial Fair Play regulations, and that means City can no longer embark on elaborate spending sprees.

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arcelona have had a hefty •43 million bid for Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos rejected by the French club, according to Marca. Luis Enrique is looking to further bolster his defensive options after the signing of Jeremy Mathieu, but has suffered a setback, with their sizable bid for the starlet proving insufficient.

Liverpool close to signing Moreno & Manquillo

Newcastle agree deal to sign Ferrerya

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iverpool chief executive Ian Ayre has flown to Spain to try to wrap up a double transfer deal for Sevilla left-back Alberto Moreno and Atletico Madrid right-back Javi Manquillo.The deal for Manquillo is expected to be a loan with Liverpool retaining the right to make the deal permanent for £6 million. It is also believed that Brendan Rodgers has requested a two-year loan deal for the 19-year-old.

Everton set to beat rivals to sign Atsu

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verton are winning the race to sign Chelsea’s Christian Atsu on loan.

The 22 year old moved to Stamford Bridge last summer, but spent the entirety of last season at Vitesse Arnhem in the Eredivise, where he scored five times in twentyeight league appearances.

Wenger hints at move for £20m Khedira

A

rsene Wenger has hinted that Arsenal could make a move for Chelsea target and Real Madrid contract rebel Sami Khedira this summer.

The 64-year-old admitted that more deals would be done by the Gunners before the transfer window closes and whilst Wenger ruled out moves for AC Milan’s Mario Balotelli and Juan Quintero of FC Porto.

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Cech set for Chelsea exit, if...

F

ormer Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Bosnich believes Petr Cech will leave the Blues this summer if he is forced to play second fiddle to Thibaut Courtois.

The Belgian youngster has returned from a three-year loan spell at La Liga winners Atletico Madrid, having joined the west London club in 2011.

Cech has been ever-present at Stamford Bridge during that time, winning the FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League titles in the process.

But Courtois is expected to be handed the No.1 shirt at Chelsea, following his exploits with the Spanish giants, and

that could mean the end for the Czech shot-stopper, according to Bosnich.

“Petr Cech has been fantastic in the ten years he’s been at Chelsea,” he told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show.

“It’s very difficult, for a man

of his age, not to be playing though.

“Courtois is probably the best young goalkeeper in the world at the moment.

“Cech is 32 years of age, he won’t be happy just being sat on the bench. He’ll have to leave.”

West Ham pull out of Eto'o deal W

est Ham are believed to have pulled out of the race to sign Samuel Eto’o – after the striker demanded weekly wages of £120,000.

The east London side are keen to recruit a forward ahead of the new Premier

League campaign after record-signing Andy Carroll sustained an ankle injury in The Hammers’ pre-season tour of New Zealand, which will rule him out of the start of the 2014/15 season.

Gaal leaves Wenger :V ermaelen ma :Vermaelen mayy leave VNan o7 shir or Vidal shirtt ffor rsenal boss Arsene Wenger has

A

anchester United have NigeriaM international reserved the No7 shirt for

suggested club captain Thomas Vermaelen may leave the Gunners. The Belgian defender, 28, has been linked with a move to Manchester United. Speaking at a news conference on yesterday, Wenger said: “Vermaelen is injured. It is a possibility that he goes.” Vermaelen made 14 Premier League appearances for Arsenal last season.

Wenger added that should Vermaelen leave, the club will find a replacement.

Arturo Vidal. Reports says United manager Louis van Gaal has put the coveted number aside for Juventus midfielder Vidal. The No7 has most recently had been worn

by Antonio Valencia. However, he gave up the most prestigious shirt in United’s history last year after a difficult year wearing it.

EWCASTLE UNITED are understood to have completed a season-long loan deal for Shakhtar Donetsk striker Facundo Ferrerya.

The Magpies have agreed a loan fee with Shakhtar that enables them to take Ferrerya to St James' Park next season, with overseas sources suggesting there is also an agreement in place that would enable Newcastle to complete a permanent deal worth around £6m at the end of the loan if things go well.

Liverpool to launch £18m bid for Lavezzi

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IVERPOOL are preparing a bid for Paris St Germain and Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi.

According to reports, the Reds are plotting an £18m bid for the 29-year-old.

The Independent claim that Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to sign the former Napoli star this summer, and has identified him as an alternative for Loic Remy, who failed a medical ahead of his £8.5m move to Anfield.

Reports in France suggest that the Ligue 1 champions are willing to sell Lavezzi, who joined the Parisian club in 2012, in order to fund their move for Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria.

Atletico Madrid complete Ansaldi loan deal

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tletico Madrid have signed Zenit full-back Cristian Ansaldi on a seasonlong loan deal.

Ansaldi, who has been capped by Argentina on three occasions, is capable of playing on either side of the defence, with his arrival announced on yesterday after the 27-year-old passed a medical.

28— SARTURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014

By DAMILOLA SHOLOLA & KEHINDE AJOSE

new you have to fight for it But why are you leveraging on being a sex symbol?

Because sex sells. I want to make money and also, I want to make my name. It’s the only space in the Nigerian music industry that is just there, everybody is scared to tread on such a path, so I’m daring it.

You came back from Holland recently.

What were you doing there?

I went to Holland because of my daughter. She’s about to enter High School and I don’t want her to go to school over there. My husband taught me a lot. He opened my mind to see a lot of things in different ways, so, I said alright foreign education would be very

Sex is like food, it’s like shower, I’m trying to say it’s natural, it comes naturally, your body would request for it nice for my daughter. I actually sacrificed staying in Nigeria for my daughter.

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henever the name, Maheeda is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is controversy, sex, nudity and promiscuity. The goddess of X and Naija Bad Girl as she is fondly called by her fans isn’t afraid to go nude as she’s constantly releasing nude photos of herself online and sexually explicit videos. Showtime Celebrity visited her studio in Dolphin Estate, Lagos, where she opens up on her sex life and more...

What have you been up to in recent times?

I’ve been bad, I’ve been naughty…

You’ve seen Naija Bad Girl video and Lasgidi Chick. Now, I’m trying to see if I can drop one single before the end of C M Y K

the year. But I’m not sure that will be possible because I’m shooting the video in November. So, It could be next year.

What is the inspiration behind your “Naija Bad Girl” song?

I had this vision of what’s happening right now. Like I’m very bad, like I’m the baddest girl in Nigeria which is not true. So, my vision is actually to see my posters in people’s bedrooms and stuff like that.

I want to be that sex symbol one can imagine of.

Why do you want to be a Sex symbol?

Because it works abroad. It could work here too. I had my challenges. They are still there but there’s no stopping me because I know that for anything

What really made you start putting those videos online?

To attract attention. I knew it’s going to draw the desired attention to me. So, that’s why I did it and like I said, sex sells and that’s just one of the ways to show it off.

What message are you trying to convey with your nude pictures and videos?

I don’t know if I’m trying to convey any message or I’m just doing my business. I think I’m just entertaining my fans. Sometimes, you add your personal life and culture and stuff like that to it. But for me, its business right now.

Do you make money from it?

Right now, Yes. I have this Australian tour coming up and they have already paid me. I’m not going to tell you how much but imagine going online to buy tickets. So, you know how much already I’ve been paid.

What does sex mean to you?

It’s like food, it’s like shower. I’m trying to say it’s natural, it comes naturally. Your body would request for it. Sometimes my body would request for it like 4 times a day, maybe 5, maybe once but anytime sha, we go do am well Like how much do you get paid for your sex stuff?

I also do modeling in Holland. If you change the money it would run into millions of naira.

How about guys who want to get down with you and pay you for sex?

I don’t do that. I do Modeling and Entertainment also, strictly business.

Some people just want you to be a waiter and they want you to look sexy, that also goes.

Have you ever been approached by someone who is willing to pay to have sex with you?

Yes, a lot of them all over the world.

But I turn them down because of my husband.

But your husband won’t know about such game?

My husband is a very nice guy and I think I owe him that, at least. I’ve done a lot that not all guys can really tolerate.

I owe him that respect.

Do you believe prostitution should be legalized?

Yes, because I’ve been there. I’ve been with these girls and I know what they are going through and I’ve been to Holland where I think prostitution is legalised. I see the way they handle it. It won’t be bad here because it’s everywhere anyway and they’re not stopping it, so why not just legalise it and let’s just know its happening. I mean it’s everywhere.

SARTURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014 — 29

Are you addicted to sex?

I love sex, everybody is addicted to sex. Why does everybody just think I’m the only one? If there’s no sex, I won’t be normal. Everything will just be sexy to me Do you think there will be a time when you’ll stop having sex?

I don’t pray for that time. Till I’m old, I would like to have sex How long have you been in Nigeria?

I just arrived the country this week.

Within this period, have you had sex?

Yes, my husband is in Nigeria. I had sex this morning.

Have you ever had a threesome?

I did that long time ago but now with my husband, no. I don’t want these girls to take him away from me.

What is the wildest thing you’ve ever done in the bedroom?

I was with a guy and he was really not good in bed. Suddenly, his brother came in, and I just had sex with him as well as his brother.

Was he in the same room with his brother?

No, but he disappointed me in bed. And since I needed it and his brother was available, so I had to do it with him. It was one after the other. People see me as a bad girl now, but I think it was before. It was just unbelievable.

Would you say you love sex or it’s just because of the money issue?

Don’t you love sex? The thing is sweet.

But what I’m doing is not because I love sex but I mean, when God gives you lemon then you make lemonade. I love sex so I use it and it’s all the same. That’s why it’s natural and it’s working for me.

You were once a gospel singer, why did you decide to switch over?

Gospel wasn’t really working.

Moreover, inside me, I was like I don’t think making money in the name of God is really what I wanted to do. They try to justify it, that it’s okay. You can sing and make money in the name of God but deep inside me, it wasn’t working for me then. So, I said if I wanted to make money, let me just make money without carrying the Bible.

As a woman, what turns you on sexually?

Appearance, a little bit rugged and strong presence. Also, character is part of it. He has to have a good heart.

Is it a must for you to have sex every day?

Yes, it’s a must. It’s necessary… If it doesn’t happen, that means I’m travelling or something like that.

Let’s assume your husband is not in Nigeria?

I’ll masturbate. I will use my sex toys to satisfy myself.

Would you compare it to the real thing?

Not at all, it’s impossible.

You can’t even c o m p a r e wearing condom with the real thing but it’s necessary.

Does your conscience ever prick you?

No. If you look at my neck, I have ‘Grace’ tattooed there. That is what is keeping me going. I believe its grace.

Even the pastors sin, so I believe it’s just grace that is sustaining me and allowing me to do what I’m doing today.

That’s just what I believe in, and I try not to judge myself and I don’t judge people too.

What’s your view of religion?

For me, if it’s not love, if you don’t speak with love then forget it. I don’t want to be a part of it. It has to be love.

If you want to kill me because of religion then I don’t think you have love inside.

May be, it’s wrong but that’s my belief and I believe people should respect other people’s beliefs

•Maheeda

Has your daughter watched your nude videos?

Yes. What’s her reaction?

She’s proud of me because the way you train your children here is different from the way children are trained abroad. In abroad, you have people doing soap adverts and they ’re completely naked. They just hide what I was hiding also and it’s normal

What do you consider your selling point?

I think it’s my body and now it’s becoming my life story also.

People a r e

beginning to really want to know more about me, about Caroline not even Maheeda How often do you have sex as the goddess of X? Early in the morning, maybe late at

night but when my husband is not in town then I’ll try the dildos. I have a lot of dildos, different colors and different types. I’m even thinking maybe I should just open a sex shop, it’s even better

What if she decides to do what you’re doing?

Right now, she’s under my care. I won’t allow her but when she’s up to 18 and she might say “mommy, I saw what you did and I want to do the same.”

I’ll say it’s your choice. People have to make their choices. I mean my mom wasn’t a nudist or whatever, she was a very nice woman but look at me today.

I’m not saying I’m not nice but I’m trying to say she didn’t go showing off all her body everywhere. Nobody even knew her but look at me. I mean pastors’ children also end up in club so you can’t really say because of what mommy is doing, that means the daughter would do the same. I don’t believe that.

C M Y K

30—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014

BY IYABO AINA

08184172548

aina.iyabo@yahoo.com

R. Kelly booted from music festival after sex allegation backlash

*R Kelly

R

. Kelly has been dropped from the Fashion Meets Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio, after citing past allegations levelled against him, including sexual assault. Though the “Ignition” singer was eventually found not guilty of child pornography charges in a widely publicized 2008 trial, earlier accusations against Kelly of sexual assault were

revived in an exhaustive Village Voice post last year.

The concert’s founders initially defended their choice to book Kelly as headliner, saying he filled the R&B void they had in the line-up and that he had a legally clear record.

“He was not convicted of anything. He was acquitted,” FMMF co-founder Bret Adams had told Columbus Alive in June. “If we wanted to limit our artists to people who never had brushes with the law or were not good people, then you can eliminate quite a few across the board. We’re running a festival to help brand the city of Columbus.

We’re not the morality police.”

But on Tuesday (July 29), FMMF announced that they have “decided to part ways” with R. Kelly. The singer responded in a statement to the Huffington Post where he wrote: “R. Kelly is sorry to disappoint his fans, but looks forward to seeing them in the near future during one of his upcoming tours.”

Chris Brown’s life in danger …as neighbour threatens to shoot the singer

A

*Chris Brown

merican singer, Chris Brown, is currently having some issues with his new neighbour.

The R&B singer just moved into the heart of the San Fernando Valley, and one of his new neighbours is threatening bodily harm if Chris steps onto his property.

According to report from real estate, Chris recently rented an 8,000 square foot, 6 bedroom house in Agoura near the Malibu boarder but technically part of the Valley. Chris Brown’s house is

epic. It has a commercial ice cream bar, dance studio, billiard room, as well as a tennis court and clubhouse.

Chris is known for his party boy ways. He held a party that had over 75 cars parked at his house over the weekend. This is probably why the neighbors are reeling and threatening bodily harm.

“It can be the devil. I can care less.

I don’t care if they’re having orgies.

It can even be Saddam Hussein for all I care, as long as he doesn’t trespass onto my property. If he does, I shoot him.” one of the neighbours disclosed.

Nick Jonas shows off angry side in new music video ‘Chains’ N ick Jonas is an American musician cum actor and multi-instrumentalist, best known as one of the Jonas Brothers, a pop-rock band he formed with his brothers Kevin and Joe .

Nick is set to release his new song titled Chains, first single off his debut solo album, a project the former Jonas Brothers artist hopes will introduce fans to a new side of him.

“I feel like I’m continuing to grow and develop and not that I’ve changed in anyway really, because the core of who I am is the same but I think the way I approach life and these circumstances that I’ve now been

through at 21-years-old have really shaped the way I approach things now,” he told MTV News. “I will say this, I used to not really be able to enjoy every moment I should’ve really enjoyed as part of that first part of my ride and this go around I think I’m approaching it as I just want to have fun.

And make great music, and just go on the ride again, but this time look at it with bright eyes and a bushy tail,” he disclosed during an interview.

*Jonas

*Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez allegedly turns lesbian S

everal indications have emerged that Selena Gomez and Cara DeLevingne are more than just casual friends, even Justin Bieber is reportedly getting anxious that the two are dating, following reports that went viral that Cara was supposedly dating actress Michelle Rodriguez few months ago.

According to sources, Cara and Sel recently celebrated Selena’s 22nd birthday in St.Tropez together, and their bash got Justin thinking.

Justin was said to have mistakenly dialled Cara’s line after getting drunk shortly after the girls’ birthday hangout. He asked the model questions about Selena. It was assumed he wanted to know about Tommy Chiabra, the guy Selena was reported to have been hanging out with lately but now, there’s talk he wanted to know if the women were together.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014 — 31

08116759764

I Go Save, Klint Da Drunk storm

Europe

E

urope is on fire as two Nigerian comedians, Otas I Go Save and Klint Da Drunk, are currently on tour of the continent.

In an online chat with Matinee, Sapele, Delta State-born comedian who has toured six countries so far opened up on the journey, declaring that he will never retire from comedy.

“I give God who oversees and guides my steps to the right path all the glory. There’s no retirement age in comedy, so I will never retire. It is not like music or football where you are limited; and that’s why you still find the likes of Steve Harvey in the trade.

“Presently, I’m on a European tour doing what I enjoy doing best. The idea is to get close to my fans in this part of the world and we are targeting Africans especially Nigerians. It’s not been easy though catching up with flights from one country to the other or hopping from one city to the other. It’s been a litany of long road trips and most times, short sleep time but trust me, it’s been fun because I am working with one of the best teams in the world.”

According to the rib cracker, so far it’s been a celebration of success as far as the tour is concerned and the tour has also revealed new things about his fellow comedian, I Go Save.

“The shows have been very successful and all praise goes to God Almighty. Most of the shows sold out two days before they were held. We were in Antwerp, Belgium, where the Nigerian ambassador graced the show. We have been to Germany, Czech Republic, Holland, Switzerland, Austria and Spain. We are still going to storm Hungary, France among others.

Is Lydia Owan scared of falling in love?

I

t’s difficult to find a damsel who has not fallen in love before now. But Nollywood actress, Lydia Owan seems to be making a case for herself.

The actress who is on the verge of making a name for herself in the entertainment industry is telling whoever that cares to listen that she has never experienced what it means to fall in love despite her charming looks. In a recent chat, the Ogoja-born sexy actress opened up on her love life, saying that she has not fallen in love before now. “No, I have never been in love before. I won’t tell you why I haven’t fallen in love before.”

But I think it is my personal life and I would like it to remain personal,” she hinted. However, is Lydia indirectly telling everyone that falling in love is not essentially meant for her?

Naeto C welcomes new baby girl

T

*Otas IGo Save

alented singer and Glo brand ambassador, Naeto C, is in a celebration mood at the moment.

He welcomes his second child, a bouncing baby girl with his wife recently. The talented proud father took to the social media network, Instagram, to share this good news: “ All praises to the most high. I am so grateful and thankful. Little princess, love No 2. We rejoice with the singer who has managed to stay out of controversy in his musical career.”

32—SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, AUGUST 2, 2014

Eku Edewor

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, AUGUST 2, 2014—33

Cute Outfit Idea of the week yemisisuleiman670@yahoo.com

T

here is no theme for this cute outfit idea. Here is an outfit that is perfect for the weekend day time groove.

I love the nautical style to this outfit. And the fact that the bag is Michael Kors gives it an additional glam. What do you need to put this outfit together?

• • • • •

white jeans blue and white top white wedges or sandals brown leather watch blue and white striped bag

•Cute outfit idea of the week.

Exquisite looks as Amaebi school of arts and design I graduate students

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

Model wearing a stylish Ankara dress with A model wearing a hair accessory hybrid tube dress designed by designed by the the graduating graduating students students

a model wearing a chiffon dress A male model embellished with wearing Ankara fabric, traditional attire designed by one designed by the of the graduating graduating students. students

t was a memorable day for graduating students of Amaebi integrated school of Arts and design, who recently completed a 12 months training in Fashion and designing, at the Peninsula Hotel and resort, Budo Estate Ajah. The training is part of the skills acquisition project, specially designed for young people from the communities in the Niger delta impacted by the spade of violence in the regions few years back.

The event kicked off with a fashion show from young upcoming designers from Niger Delta region, who had undergone training with Amaebi integrated school for 12 months. The fashion show had a rich display of African fabric, classy traditional wears, revealing our deep African and cultural dress sense with a contemporary touch. Beach wear and bridal wear fabric ranged from the usual Africa prints, to chiffon and lace.

Kids were not left out, as they had special collections for children.

Guests were treated to

scintillating sounds by upcoming art Double K and group.

According to the coordinator of the event Ms Ibiba Don Pedro said “the issues of the Niger delta goes beyond sitting down and praying for solutions, there is need for people to be empowered with skills so that they can take control of their destiny. And this is what Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingsely Kuku is doing.”

In his address, Hon. Kingsely Kuku special adviser to the president on Niger delta represented by Larry Pepple noted that “watching these young designer gurus that showcased their collection at the show was spectacular. It made us feels that the young fashion industry in our country has become so complacent and that we were content to glorify and elevate it on a golden pedestal”.

A total of 49 students were presented with certificates and special recognition awards to best performing students. For the first time in history, upcoming Niger Delta designers were given a large platform to showcase their collections to the world.

34—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014

08 116759 759 081 6759759

Express yourself!

A

rtists win legal battle to paint the bodies of 40 models on the streets of New York. New York really is ‘the naked city’. Artists in Manhattan painted the bodies of 40 nude models on Saturday, turning the Columbus Circle entrance to Central Park into an outdoor celebration of the human form. Artist Andy Golub says New York was the only city in the country that would allow his inaugural Bodypainting Day. And he says that only happened after a legal battle. Golub and a model

were arrested in 2011, during a body-painting project in Times Square. The city paid model Zoe West a $15,000 settlement after she sued over the arrest.

Public nudity is legal in the city if it’s part of a performance, exhibition or show.

Golub’s event Saturday included a post-painting march down Broadway and a return to Times Square for a photo shoot.

The cardiologist who’s breaking hearts S

erbian doctor swamped with patients feigning illness af ter winning bikini competition. A Serbian heart doctor appears to have set a few pulses racing after winning a medal in a bikini competition. Trainee cardiologist, Maja Pavlovic, 23, reportedly won the medal in the European leg of the Women’s Bikini Fitness Contest in Spain. Not content however with being a medical student and a beauty contestant, Ms Pavlovic is also a politician for the ruling Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS). She was elected as a councillor in her home city of Cacak in southern Serbia, and says she hopes to develop her political career alongside her work in medicine. Ms Pavlovic is currently in her fifth and final year of medical school in the central Serbian town of Kragujevac and is now practising on patients as part of her final exams.

According to daily tabloid newspaper Telgraf, which commissioned these pictures: ‘People want to get sick on purpose just to get healed by her, and turning up specifically to ask for her despite the fact that she is still only a junior doctor.’ Ms Pavlovic said: ‘I love medicine and I want to achieve great results there.

Serial rapist paraded in front of a crowd as thousands gather to watch mass public trial in China

A

former police of ficer accused of being a serial rapist is paraded before a baying crowd of several thousand onlookers. This is the latest show trial in China, where the mass public courts associated with its hardline regimes of the past have been reinstated.

Ai Kung, 30, was the suspect who was duly convicted as China’s Communist Party sought to show its de-

termination to crack down on crime. The outdoor court, in Hengshan county in western China’s Shaanxi province, was fitted with loudspeakers so the audience could hear the evidence against him.

The case was a high profile one in the region in which a series of rapes were carried out against young women by somebody who seemed to plan each attack professional-

ly. Local media reported that police suspected it was a former soldier, but in the end DNA testing and images from CCTV cameras finally allowed police to identify Kung as the man behind the attacks.

A highly decorated former police officer, Kung had only recently left the force and taken up work as a security guard in a school.

Public trials used to be a common event in China especially during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s, when large groups of people would gather to denounce and punish those accused of betraying the ideals of the Communist Party and taking the ‘capitalist road’.

And the feedback has been so positive that it seems the mass public trials of now once again the order of the day, with the practice spreading from terrorists through to more regular criminals including the recent trial against the alleged rapist Ai Kung.

Sick Chinese married man,44, discovers he is a female

A

Chinese man was left stunned after he went to the doctor experiencing stomach aches and blood in his urine — only to discover that he was a woman on his period.

The married, 44-year-old man from Zhejiang province, China, visited his local doctor with his wife in Yongkang where he made the shocking discovery that he had, all along, in fact been a woman. After a full examination, doctors discovered that he had a full set of female reproductive organs along with a penis — which he said had given him an active sex life with his wife of ten years.

But doctors doubted this. Doctors found that his genitals were different from other men and

he did not possess an Adam’s apple. A spokesman for First People’s Hospital of Yongkang said that doctors doubted that Mr Chen was a female at first.

He said: ‘He was wearing men’s clothes with short hair, so we didn’t think that he would be a female at the beginning’. However, Mr Chen said that he had known that something was wrong with him after he found himself constantly feeling fatigued with swollen face and legs.

Even worse, he constantly found blood in his urine. A CT scan soon revealed that he had a uterus and ovaries. Mr Chen was also suffering from Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, a genetic disease that causes the adrenal glands to swell due to a decrease in stress hormone and an increase in male sex hormones.

A lump was later surgically removed from his adrenal glands.

This type of medical case is extremely rare and doctors were unable to confirm whether Mr Chen was a hermaphrodite or intersex. But he did appear to have two types of genitalia. Doctors said it was too late for Mr Chen to seek medical treatment for his unusual problem as it was only effective for younger people.

S

Sundry financial issues for newly-weds they die in service. Why? The amount is mind-boggling and their spouses might be tempted to eliminate them.

In another company, recently, the husband went to demand the wife’s entitlements while she was still alive though in a critical condition. She eventually died. Was he responsible for the wife’s death? I do not know. I also have a friend who keeps sealed lips when he “hammers” (makes a lot of money). “My wife can go through a ton of dollars in a twinkle of an eye”, he says.

So, if you are in the shoes of all the above, what will you do? Will you be open? My final take here is that couples should do what suits their circumstances, but their actions should be devoid of malice and selfishness.

Newly-weds should, of necessity, designate a next of kin in important financial transactions and investments.

Unless circumstances necessitate otherwise, one’s next of kin should be one’s spouse.

Delaying Gratification: All things being equal, the financial power of newly-weds increases when they pull resources together as against when it was just the guy or the lady. So what do you do with this your new-found financial strength? You might decide to upgrade your accommodation, means of transportation, go on vacations, habitually eat out in expensive restaurants or

,

eparate or Joint Accounts — Should couples have joint or separate bank accounts? This is a question I get asked often. I know some couples who operate joint bank accounts smoothly and they seem to have mastered the act.

I do not have joint accounts with my wife, although we have access to each other ’s money, including ATM and debit cards. Even though I believe firmly that “you are no longer two but one”, I feel that couples have specific needs and require some breathing space to operate. Separate accounts (without prejudice to joint accounts) give them the much needed space. Also spouses come from varying backgrounds with peculiar needs and they should, if they agree to, be able to sort out their extended families without necessarily involving their spouses, provided it is not to the detriment of their immediate families. Ability to handle tensions that arise from financial issues vary from one couple to the other and newlyweds should know their ability before deciding the account type they want to operate.

What I consider most important in family finances is cooperation, openness and sincerity. Once these elements are present, account type becomes superfluous.

But this openness I am championing here is like common sense that is not really common. There is a multinational company where the members of staff are told, unofficially, not to disclose to their spouses (next of kin) how much they stand to get should

SA TURD AY Vanguard, A SATURD TURDA AUGUST UGUST 2, 2014—35 marathon, not a sprint. because when you purchase Watch your expenditure: It is items you really need and the an open secret that every rich seller has no change, you will man watches his expenditure, forgo the balance of your no matter how much he spends. money. Some people mistake Otherwise, he will go bankrupt such frittering away of money no matter how rich he is. for charity. Charity is planned, Newly-weds, too, must watch systematic giving and it is their expenditure. Here are good; frittering is wasteful, some of the ways you can do purposeless and dangerous it. You should plan and have a when it becomes habitual. budget— weekly, monthly or Newly-weds need to get yearly- whatever is convenient for you. Having a budget is not their priorities right. There is enough, you should work with no sense in spending tons of it. That is fiscal discipline and money on your child’s first includes avoiding impulse birthday when the child does buying; that is, buying without not have a children’s bank prior planning. I often advise account or an educational my marriage class participants endowment insurance policy. that the only impulse buying These should come first and they should engage in are low- all the cash the baby got at involvement items like sweets, birth should go into his bank small packs of biscuits, razor account or insurance policy as blades and others that cost less premium payments. than N50. These will not do In secondary school, we damage to any good economy, studied about “needs” and especially if it is not habitual. “wants” in economics; stick to Once items come in thousands your needs. Be fashionable, but also be wary of fashion trends, because they can dig a big hole in your pocket. Also, be wary of buying on credit.

Whether you are paying in August or September, the bottom line is that you will pay of naira or more, plan and put someday. them in a budget.

Finally, do not develop Also become a bargain habits you cannot sustain hunter. It does not hurt. financially. Sometimes, we get Rather you save loads of cash a windfall and “levels” on the long run. In addition, change. We conveniently do not fritter your money forget that windfalls are not away. I am not suggesting regular income but occasional you become a slave to money, occurrences. Your regular but learn to value money. If income, not windfalls, should you are the type who always determine your “levels”. carries only N1000 or N500 Financial matters have ruined denominations, chances are many marriages; handle your you frittering away money, finances with care.

Some people mistake such frittering away of money for charity

generally embrace a hedonistic lifestyle. This is called instant gratification. On the other hand, you can maintain the status quo and use your new financial strength to lay a foundation for the future. This can be in the form of investments in property, money market instruments, expanding your existing business or going into new businesses. It is called you delayed gratification.

Remember marriage is a

,

(Text Only)

Buck up with exercise Trunk Raise

Head-toKnee

Head-to-Knee (Standing) Technique: Stand straight up with the feet together. Gently

lower the trunk till the forehead is touching or almost touching the knees and make a ring with your forefingers and thumbs around the big toes. Stay in the position for about 10 seconds. Return to the upright position, rest a while and

Inclined Plane

repeat.

Benefits: •Lengthens the spine, making it supple and elastic. Can even give a little extra “growth”.

• Mobilizes the joints.

• Invigorates the entire nervous system.

• Stretches the hamstrings and muscles of the back of the legs and the lower body.

• Stretches all the muscles on the posterior side of the body.

•Rectifies shortening of the legs resulting from fractures, and can c o r r e c t

inequalities in the length of the legs.

• Increases the blood supply to the brain.

Main Benefit: The Standing Forward Bend gives a complete stretch to the entire posterior of the body, from the back of the scalp to the back of the heels. The position enables the body to take advantage of the force of gravity. If the head and neck are kept relaxed, their weight will aid the body.In stcetching a bit further, provided that the knees are net allowed to bend.

Trunk Raise

Technique:Lie flat on your belly with hands along the sides. Now, breathe in deeply and raise feet, hands, head and chest off the floor. Hold the position for 3 to 7 seconds, rest awhile and repeat.

Benefits: The Trunk-Raise strengthens the muscles of the back, buttocks and shoulders. It helps improve a double chin.

Standing Forward Bend

Technique: Stand with the feet together, bend the trunk down and with the fore finger and

thump form a ring around the big toes with the corresponding fingers of both hands. Keep the knees straight and flatter the back with the head hold up.

Benefits:This posture tones the digestive organs. Add flexibility to the spine and tones the hamstring(muscles of the back of the legs).

Inclined Plane

Technique: Sit down with legs extended,place the hands behind you and raise your body up such that you are on just your hands and feet. Retain the pose for some 20 seconds, rest and repeat.

Benefits:This posture strengthens the hands and abdominal muscles.

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

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

36—SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 2, 2014

juliecoker100@yahoo.com Aunty Julie, My boyfriend and I have been going out for more than four years; we decided to break up at when I got into the university and he started a new relationship. He went out with her for a month and broke up with her. Two months later, we got back together again and everything was great. But then, he told me that they had sex a few times and he told her he loved her. He tells me it was just a rebound relationship and that he was confused and didn’t know what he was doing.

Ever since then, I’ve felt very insecure. I know he has not done anything wrong since we were not going out at the time, but I feel so insecure that I have to know what he is doing every single minute of the day. I get very jealous. I wish I could trust him more. He would never do anything to hurt me. He loves me so much he even wants to marry me. I wish I could put it all behind me. What bothers me most is that they had sex and that he told her he loved her. I don’t

He expressed love to another know how to forget about it and go on.

Bola, Ibadan Dear Bola, It can be devastating to feel betrayed or abandoned by someone you love. Even though you and your boyfriend were broken up at the time he slept with someone else, it might not take the sting out of him having shared physical and emotional intimacy with another person. You have every right to feel jealous and shaken up. At the same time, if you want to move forward in your relationship with him, there are some steps you can consider taking to heal the hurt and the loss of trust you feel.

The power of expressing emotions is great. Whether to a trusted person in your life or on your own, it can be helpful to let your feelings flow. Allow yourself to cry, laugh, curse, get angry, or any/all of the

above. Expressing your feelings can also help you clarify what might be at the root of your jealousy and insecurity.

If you’d like to work your feelings out with someone other than your boyfriend first, you could share your feelings with people in your life who you trust and who support you like family and friends.

In order to build up your own self-confidence, it’s important to take really good care of yourself and to provide a sense of safety, acceptance, and care. Try paying extra attention to eating a balanced diet, getting plenty of sleep and exercise, and seeking out activities you enjoy. When you feel more centered and happy within yourself, you may be a more confident and happy partner in your relationship. It takes time to recover from sadness and a sense of loss. The trick here is not necessarily to “forget about it and move on.” Could you possibly use this experience to make your relationship deeper and stronger? What can you do to build confidence and trust in your current relationship? What can your boyfriend do, say, show you, that will help you to trust and feel comfortable, safe, and able to be vulnerable again?

While the future is always uncertain, it is possible to feel confident about and comfortable with the present, and at peace with the past.

She doesn’t like to hear ‘I love you’ Dear Aunty Julie, I love your column and I read it a lot. I was worried when I didn’t see it for sometime but I thank God you are back. I have a girlfriend who I love dearly, but every time I say I love her, she tells me that someday I’ll leave her for another girl just because it happened to her before she met me.

How can I prove to her that I’ll never leave her and make everything right again? Your answer may save our relationship.

Mark Anthony, Auchi Hello Mark Anthony, None of us really knows what

the future holds, and while you can’t promise your girlfriend that you’ll never leave her, there are some ways that you can try to reassure her for the time being.

By confiding in you that you’re going to leave every time you say, “I love you” to her, she’s really expressing fear, anxiety, and/or insecurity. She might have had negative, and likely painful, experiences from a past relationship, apparently powerful enough to cause her to feel awkward or undeserving when you tell her you love her. Getting close to someone emotionally leaves you vulnerable, more prone to the possibility of get-

Money-bags “Mom, Dad, sit down. I have something very important to tell you,” said Samantha, upon her return home from college after graduation. “I met a guy who lives near the college that I really like and we decided we are going to get married!” “Oh Samantha! I am so happy for you!”

Gushed her Mom giving her a big hug, “I hope you two will be really happy together! I can’t wait to meet him!” “Tell us more about him” said her Dad, “does he have any money?” “Oh Dad! Is that all you men ever think about?

That was the first question he asked me about you too!”

Getting started A child asked his father, “How were people born?” So his father said, “Adam and Eve made babies, then their babies became adults and made babies, and so on.” The child then went to his mother, asked her the same question and

ting hurt. Our past relationship experiences, positive and negative, can certainly influence our current and/or future ones, possibly long after those relationships have ended.

It may be useful for you and your partner to talk openly about her past relationships, as well as your feelings, to understand the sources of her concerns. Expressing her feelings could give the two of you the chance to discover how your relationship is different. You are not the same person as her ex-lover. Your girlfriend will also be able to see more clearly how much her comments have made you feel.

I love sex but I don’t want anything serious

Dear Julie, I am a woman of 28 and have gone through a lot in life to build myself. I am a working student and I train myself.

Basically, I don’t have time for any relationship and because of that, I have hurt a lot of people. You have so much information and advice for those who want to start, maintain, or end a relationship; but then there are people like me. In fact, I have no desire to be in a relationship with anyone. Sometimes I work two jobs, and I like hanging out with my friends and family when I do have spare time. I’m not interested in the feelings, emotions, and time it takes to be in a relationship. I’ll have sex with anyone before I even think about holding their hand. Then afterward, the guy will usually end up getting his feelings hurt because I don’t want to date him. Is there anything strange or unhealthy about this? I know I look good but that is that. I don’t have time for love.

Omoni, Benin City Dear Omoni, Some people love to pair off like lovebirds while others like to fly solo. There’s nothing wrong with savouring your independence, as long as you are honest with yourself and your partners about what you want and don’t want out of each connection, sexually and otherwise. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what shape your relationships will take.

But you must also understand the place of culture in relationships especially in this part of the world.

People are naturally social beings, and we spend a great deal of our time interacting with others. Sharing life’s ups and downs with friends and family can bring a sense of closeness and fulfillment that can’t be found in your professional or academic life. Likewise, some people enjoy romantic relationships for companionship, commitment, and physical and emotional intimacy. Other people partner up out of fear of being alone or pressure to “settle down.”

As you implied, society often puts a premium on romantic relationships. From age-old love stories to reality dating shows, pairing is portrayed as the romantic ideal. In our culture, marriage is a strong form of “social glue” that binds together individuals, families, and communities. However, there are many other expressions of love and togetherness that don’t require you to tie the knot.

To begin, it may be helpful to sort out your feelings, values, and desires related to sexuality and relationships. For example, are you satisfied with your current social scene, or do you to want make more time for friends or dating? Do you wish you had a “special someone” or are you truly happy on your own? And lastly, what’s your take on sex without commitment? Do you feel comfortable getting it on and then heading out, or would you prefer to get to know each other a bit more, before and/or after? There are no right or wrong answers here, so go with what feels best for you.

The tricky part is that everyone brings their own preferences to the dinner table and the bedroom. As you’ve experienced, it can cause discomfort and hurt feelings when, after a roll in the hay, your sexy someone wants to take you out on a date and you’d rather part ways. Since there’s no way to predict how your partner may feel, perhaps you could try being more upfront about your intentions. For example, before things really heat up, you could say something like, “I’m not looking for a relationship, but I’d still like to have some fun together.” Put into your own words, that warning gives your partner a fair heads-up about where you’d like the experience to go.

All that being said, one-nightstand or even steady commitments is easier said than done. Even a short fling requires some amount of time and effort, and it’s likely that emotions will come into play at one point or another.

C O C K - T A L E S she told him, “We were monkeys then we evolved to become like we are now.” The child ran back to his father and said, “You lied to me!” His father replied, “No, your mom was talking about her side of the family.”

Mr Adorable Wife: “How would you describe me?”

Husband: “ABCDEFGHIJK.” Wife: “What does that mean?” Husband: “Adorable, beautiful, cute, delightful, elegant, fashionable, gorgeous, and hot.”

Wife: “Aw, thank you, but what about IJK?” Husband: “I’m just kidding!”

Big butt A husband exclaims to his wife one day, “Your butt is getting really big. It’s bigger than the BBQ grill!” Later that night in bed, the husband makes some advances towards his wife who completely

brushes him off. “What’s wrong?” he asks. She answers, “Do you really think I’m going to fire up this big-ass grill for one little weenie?”

Parents Love After Brian proposed to Jill, his father took him to one side. “Son, when I first got married to your mother, the first thing I did when we got home was take off my pants. I gave them to your mother and told her to try them on, which she did. They were huge on her and she said that she couldn’t wear them because they were too large. I said to her, ‘Of course they are too big for you, I wear the pants in this family and I always will.’ Ever since that day, son, we have never had a single problem.” Brian took his dad’s advice and did the same thing to his wife on his wedding night. Then, Jill took off her panties and gave them to Brian. “Try these on,” she said. Brian went along with it and tried them on, but they were far too small.

“What’s the point of this? I can’t get into your panties,” said Brian. “Exactly,” Jill replied, “and if you don’t change your attitude, you never will!”

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, A UGUST 2 AUGUST 2,, 2014—37

Why older women have better chances at motherhood with toyboys !

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OW that preference for toyboys shows no sign of abating, quite a number of She couldn’t believe this sent. Because he’s learnt to women are happily making their ‘finds’ public. The more economically icing on her delicious fend for himself most of his independent a woman is, the more her desire to make her money work for her. A cake! life, he could drive, do few months ago, a good friend had a hen party for a group of her friends. “Hen’ in the minor electrical repairs in “She immediately sense that it was a girls’ only bash with no man allowed within a shouting distance. An the house and was a dam encouraged Victor to excuse for us senior girls to let it rip without any disapproving male glare. Any man that good cook to boot! It was at further his studies and showed up (and there were this juncture that Chinwe used her influence to get very few of them) just became ill and had to have him into a university dropped their wives, crained a minor operation. Victor which he now attends. their necks suspiciously virtually lived his days in She opened an account through the car windows to her hospital private room, for Victor on campus and see if they could peep into fetching and caring for her. put in a substantial the garden where the party At first Chinwe’s friends amount. She didn’t want was held, before reluctantly and family were a bit the future father or her speeding off. The host’s skeptical about the child to come begging husband had discreetly left relationship but once they any time he needed the scene and a large-screen saw how well she was taken money. The lad is so television was positioned at care of, they learnt to relax grateful and proud to be a discreet comer of the around him. where he is now that he garden. The scene was now would give his right arm “When Chinwe fully set for female mischief! for her benefactor. She recovered, she put plan to intends to have two more After a good meal and action. She encouraged children by Victor after generous helpings of booze, Victor to do more chores in which she’ll happily one of the guests, a the house and always release him to the wild! cosmetologist who runs a invited him to watch the high-tech gym, proceeded to telly with her. To show her “Victor doesn’t know of give us a pep talk on how to gratitude for his care of her all this plan of Chinwe’s look good and have when she was ill, she of course, and by the wonderful sex at the same bought him funky clothes time he’s ready to try his time. Ears perked up and shoes. The independent wings, immediately as she popped fortune that Victor, the that it was little wonder that transformation was mindChinwe’s dream of open her compact suitcase virile good lad with madam prim-and-proper ’s boggling and in no time at having children of her cramped with very daring raging hormones, found husband was all over the all, they became lovers. own would have been sex toys, and then his way to her employ. A place sampling women with Chinwe confessed she’d realised. Victor too proceeded to tell her eager few weeks later, she tighter bits! It was about this never bad sex as would be economically listeners how to have found time to have a chat time that Chinwe sauntered exhilarating as she was now independent to start prolonged and enjoyable with Victor and in, looking radiant. “What a having - any time, every another family with a sex. “You must not fail to do discovered he was transformation” I whispered time and anywhere with an future wife, knowing that pelvic floor exercise every squatting with two other to the other guests. “She interesting lad who more if anything goes wrong time you have the friends in a room. looks stunning, what than lasted the distance. in future, the mother of Chinwe promptly asked happened to her?” “She She sent her wham-bam his first children would him to move to a room in should glow my dear, the sugar daddies packing and always be around to help the boys quarters of her lucky devil is pregnant,” without consciously willing out. You can’t get a house. The lad was Godanswered the guest, it, found herself pregnant. better deal than that!”

Chinwe, a very successful business woman left a childless marriage years back when her husband got hooked to a lady who bred flavour. utritionists agree that adding more like a rabbit. Rather than fibre-rich foods to your diet can help Mushrooms — Eat 10 mushrooms a day lose her sanity chasing after control appetite and melt fat in days, so and you’re likely to consume around her husband’s children and put some of these superfoods on your being snickered at behind 450 fewer calories and 30g less fat at next shopping list! her back, she simply moved meal times. How to eat it: Grate one into one of the beautiful Bananas — Bananas contain resistant tablespoon low-fat cheese on to a large houses she had all over the starch that revs up fat-burning digestive mushroom; melt under grill. place. enzymes, so you’re less likely to store Apples— Packed with pectin, an calories as fat. How to eat it: Freeze a insoluble fibre that helps to fill you up, peeled banana to make energy-boosting wo years ago,” “ opportunity,” she began. you’re less likely to snack for several alternative to a fatty ice-cream. continued this guest, “Whenever you’re alone, hours after eating an apple. How to eat it: “Chinwe came to her office learn to tighten the muscles Eggs — Eggs contain a hormone that Chop a red apple into a bowl of natural to find this tall, handsome of your bits and when you helps control appetite. Slimmers eating yoghurt for a low-fat breakfast. and strapping lad amongst a go to have a wee, try and two scrambled eggs for breakfast eat less Asparagus — Rich in vitamin K, a natural set of newly employed sales hold the wee for a few over the next 36 hours than those having representatives. He was in diuretic, asparagus is loaded with B seconds, then let the wee toast. How to eat it: Whisk two eggs with his early 20s but my vitamins, to regulate blood sugar levels out at a few seconds tomatoes and parsley into a tasty frittata. goodness, the lad was sexy! and stop you craving a sugar fix. How to interval. The process of Chinwe had had a string of Oats — They contain carbohydrate that eat it: Drizzle steamed asparagus with keeping the wee in, means men, most of them married, digests slowly, keeping blood sugar you are using muscles that balsamic vinegar for a low-cal snack. and always scuttling back to stable, so you feel fuller for longer period. instantly tighten.”

Salmon— Packed with Omega 3 fatty their wives after the How to eat it: Swirl a teaspoon of honey Suddenly, there was a acids that help control the hormone leptin occasional quickie. The into a bowl of porridge as a natural snort of protest. It came from single ones had other sweetener. which creates hunger pangs, salmon a snooty medical doctor who female interests to attend to, prevents the sugar dips that make protested that deliberately Onions — Besides having just 60 calories scarcely candidates to give you”reach retaining a wee could lead per serving, onions also contain insulin you a child. All they ended to all sorts of dreaded that helps melt fact, and an enzyme giving her was a scratchy for a sugary snack. How to eat it: Swap infections. Nobody was crotch from time to time. quercetin improves digestion and aids meat for two portions of salmon each impressed. A guest sneered metabolism.

How to eat It: Add onions to week and you’ll boost the look of your “It was a stroke of good in a side—whispered to me stir fries and pasta to give texture and hair and skin, too.

The lad is so grateful and proud to be where he is now that he would give his right arm for her benefactor

Foods that help yyou ou burn fat N

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38—SA TURD AY 38—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014

YETUNDE AREBI

The great port and the things between (2) I

t is a fact and indeed common knowl edge that women are advised not to douche as it can disrupt the PH of the vagina, leading to infections, not cancer. But how many of us women adhere to this on a daily bases? Or how many men encourage their women to keep the place only as the good Lord created it? A guy once told me if he must make love with a woman, she must first wash out all traces of mucosa in her vagina! (He probably loves it dry!) A neighbour also once disclosed during a conversation with some other women that she washes her vagina with soap and water every morning and has also taught her little daughters to do likewise because that is the way she was trained by her own mother.

Women who douche, do so for varied reasons ranging from personal to “medical” and not a few of us are guilty too, including yours truly until a couple of years back. A habit that began way back in college as a teenager through grapevine information on sexual health and which was practised by many young girls then. It was something you must do after your monthly cycle to clean out residual blood and keep foul odour away, and it caught like wild fire.

Unfortunately, the originator of this information died about eight years ago as a result of cervical cancer, my first real life case of cancer victim. No! Second actually. My aunt died over twenty years ago from breast cancer. Last September, my sister-in-law also died as a result of breast cancer. So, perhaps you might understand my concern when I come across information about cancer which are likely to mislead people.

For your information (FYI), vagina douching is the process of cleaning out the vagina by forcing water or solutions into the cavity to flush out its contents. Douches range from ordinary water to soaps (even native black soap) and manufacturers’ brands spiced with a variety of fragrances, sold over the counter. More ridiculous are women who douche right after sexual intercourse to avoid pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases or just to feel clean and fresh down there. Earlier in the year, a friend who recently began a new relationship confided in me that she had to go shopping for several brands of douches to prepare her port because she’d not been intimate for almost two years. According to her, she developed thrush after washing with one of the products and had to undergo treatment lasting several days.

Whatever the reason might be, it is all geared at improving the sexual act by preserving the great port for the pleasures of

The port has since evolved from the place cavemen seek their sexual pleasures or ease tension and walk away, because feminism and sexual liberation has offered women a platform to explore and enjoy their sexuality and sexual experiences

the men who use them and to boost the confidence and sensuality of their owners. Studies have however confirmed that regular douching may introduce new bacteria into the vagina which can spread up through the cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes. Douching increases your chances of vagina infections and contracting STDs and will not prevent pregnancy. In fact, the American Journal of Public Health published sometime ago that douching may reduce a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant during a particular month by approximately 30%.

As if all these are not enough.

Our insecurities as women cause us to abuse our ports with our own hands, besides those inflicted by our men. The truth is that once a level of commitment and compromises have been staked in a relationship by the woman, it is not a very pleasant feeling to allow the man walk out into oblivion, especially when the decision was not by mutual agreement.

The port has since evolved from the place cavemen seek their sexual pleasures or ease tension and walk away, because feminism and sexual liberation has offered women

a platform to explore and enjoy their sexuality and sexual experiences. However, women still find themselves trapped in their own insecurities, most, a result of society’s sentiments, stereotyping and myths. Keeping the port clean and sweet smelling is not the only concern of a woman, keeping it tight and youthful, no matter the years of travelling through different turbulent, stormy weathers is another herculean task.

For this, women also have a variety to insert into the port, most of them, no matter how beautifully packaged by manufacturers may be dangerous to the body.

Generally referred to as vagina tightening products, they come in creams, tablets or solutions and are sold at all sex shops across the country and can also be locally sourced through homemade recipes (Alum).

The basic function of a vagina tightening agent is to compress the vagina walls, making the place tighter during penetration.

Many sexually active women of all ages are known to adopt this method to boost their games in the arms of their men, since men are thought to prefer virgin girls in their beds (?). It is believed that the vagina expands with use, especially so for women who have given birth to a number of children through self labour. Studies have also shown that age and hormonal changes may also compromise the elasticity of the vagina. Medical procedures and surgeries involving entrance through the vagina may also affect its size.

To buttress their points, some women do complain that after a while, they do not feel as confident and comfortable “down there” with their spouses as they once felt. Thus, a vagina tightening product is aimed at shrinking the vagina cavity, restoring suppleness and reshaping the vagina to make the woman feel young and rejuvenated, albeit temporarily. For all these trouble and probably discomfort, the tightening product will only work for a few hours. If you want to have a go again, you will need to reapply. A more drastic measure at restoring vagina tightness is through cosmetic surgery known as vaginoplasty and this is expensive and not without likely complications. All these for a few minutes tumble under the sheets? Hmm! The art of vagina tightening has been around for hundreds of years, and is deeply rooted in the Asian and Arabian cultures, though generally practised across. The popular Central Mosques on Lagos Island and Agege areas of Lagos State, are places you can find the most popular brands from Asia and the Arab world. I met Ibrahim, a native of Kano State who majors in selling “man

and woman” products and has an average command of both English and Yoruba languages. He attested to the potency of these drugs and their popularity but insisted he would only grant an interview and allow me take pictures of his stand if I parted with N10,000, 00 (ten thousand Naira). I promised to come back.

Other products available at many sex shops are; Instant Virgin Spray, Everteen Vagina Tightening Gel, Intiver (beware of fake brands of this product) 18again, Majinkani, to mention but a few.

The snag here is not their purported efficacy but the main compound in most of these products which is astringents, the most popular being alum. Though astringents have their own medical uses, used as vagina tightening agents, they disrupt the normal function of mucosal cells found in places such as the mouth, digestive tract, vulva and the vagina, causing irritation. (remember that irritation causes discomfort, itching, discharge and even infections).

When these tightening products are applied, the mucosa cells dry out, causing stinging and pain in the area. Ironically, when users feel this stinging and dryness, they get the impression that the product is working wonders for them. Long term use of astringents might lead to more serious conditions as these areas need the cells to function optimally.

So, if I were to ask you again, is manual cleaning and tightening of the vagina really worth all the dangers that we expose ourselves to? As a woman who loves life and herself, what will your answer be? Also, as a man who claims to love his woman and wants the best for her, what will your answer be? I doubt if the decision is that of the men who use the ports, but the women who own these ports! Life has no duplicate as they say. If you have any health challenge or been diagnosed of a terminal illness, you will appreciate how important it is to try to stay healthy.

The vagina does not need our help to clean up, even after use. It has been designed by God to clean itself daily with the help of the mucosa cells we dry out under the guise of cleaning and tightening our ports. If you no longer feel “that good” enough down there, there are exercises, especially the Kegel, designed specially to take care of the vaginal muscles. Several sex positions are also available to help give you and your partner achieve a tighter feeling. And if you can afford the cost, a cosmetic surgery is the quickest and perhaps safest way to go about it you can find good professional hands. Do have a wonderful weekend!

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, A UGUST 2, 2014—39 AUGUST

ICPC’s Prof Aina’s son weds in style Holy Matrimony between Segun Raymond Aina and Motunrayo Rufina Ajadi held at Catholic Church of Divine Mercy, Lekki, on Saturday, 12th July 2014. The groom, Segun, is the son of Professor Olu Aina, the Honourable member of Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC ). Many prominent Nigerians from diverse walks of life graced the occasion.

Madam Queen Dokpe Dabor with children and grand-children

M a d a m D a b o r celebrates 81

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adam Queen Dokpe Dabor celebrated her st 81 birthday a few weeks ago in Surulere, Lagos. It was a jolly good day for her, children and grandchildren.

The couple: Mr & Mrs Segun Aina and the bridal train.

Madam Queen Dokpe Dabor at her birthday

Eghafona’s son weds

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rof. Nosa Eghafona and family hosted friends and associates when their son wedded the daughter of Honourable and Mrs Paul J.C. Eghobamien. The wedding took place in Benin City, Edo State and it was a high class affair as important dignitaries from far and wide graced the occasion.

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The groom's parents; Mrs Maryam and Prof Oluremi Aina.

L-R:Mrs Theresa Alade Ajibola, the couple, Mr & Mrs Segun Aina and elder brother of the bride,Wale Ajadi, representing bride’s late dad and Princess Dolapo Oni.

Ukpe Anioma welcomes Joe Obuseh MEMBERS of Ukpe Anioma, a socio-cultural group in Delta North Local Government, came out in great numbers to welcome their chairman, Chief Joe Obuseh, the Ikejiani of Igbodo at their inaugural meeting in Lagos recently.

The bride with parents; Hon & Mrs Paul J.C. Eghobamien.

Female members of Ukpe Anioma, Delta North LGA, welcoming the Chairman, Chief Joe Obuseh, the Ikejiani of Igbodo

Chief Joe Obuseh, Chairman, Ukpe Anioma, surrounded by members of the group

Groom's parents; Prof & Prof (Mrs) Eghafona

Nosa

40—SA TURD AY 40—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, A UGUST 2, 2014 AUGUST

BY OMOH GABRIEL

try, Ovia decided to establish a bank; one that would later turn into a global brand and a dominant player in Nigeria. Ovia was promptly granted a banking license to bring his vision to fruition on July 16, 1990.

He joined IMB as a Financial Analyst in 1980 and moved to the management cadre in 1987. He headed the Corporate Finance Department of Merchant Bank of Africa from 1987 to 1990. His interest in computers was picked in 1977 when he worked as a part-time Computer Operator at Baton Rouge & Trust Company, Louisiana. This interest, those close to him said, played a large role in setting up his foundation, the Youth Empowerment/ICT Foundation, which focuses on improving the socio-economic welfare of Nigerian youths by inspiring and motivating them to embrace ICT. The foundation supports the use of ICT “ whenever and wherever possible to enhance the standard of living in the society and increase human efficiency,” according to information on its website.

He is the Chairman of the Nigerian Software Development Initiative (NSDI) and also Chairman, National Information Technology Advisory Council (NITAC). He is a member of the Honorary International Investor Council, as well as the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI).

Ovia is a member of the Governing Council of Lagos State University and also a member of the Board of Trustees, Redeemer’s University for Nations, Lagos. He was a member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (1999 – 2007) and also served on the board of American International School, Lagos between 2001 and 2003.

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ames have a way of af fecting an individual.

A man’s path and career could be tied, some how, to his name.

Perhaps when he was growing up, he might have said that he would, one day, become a colossus in the Nigeria banking scene. His detractors might have sneered at him.

You, a banker and a bank owner?

Impossible, they could have said.

Even in the days of liberalisation of banking licenses in Nigeria, he was one of the few who said banking could be a thing of joy but was mockingly described by the older generation of bankers as “cowboy banker.”

Nigerians who are much older will look back and say a little over two decades ago, Nigeria was in short supply of the human resources and infrastructure necessary to keep pace with the rapid technological and economic change in much of the developed world. Banking was a nightmare, as queues were a common sight in Nigerian banking halls.

An economic overhaul and the ensuing banking license' liberalisation in the early 1990s brought with it a wave of entrepreneurs, among them Jim Ovia, who sought to inspire progressive change in what was then a highly underdeveloped banking climate.

Ovia wanted to make a difference; he wanted a change from the past when men who had bank accounts would go to their banks and face a long queue that snaked in the banking hall. Jim Ovia introduced electronic banking that would ease the laborious work load of manual ledger entries in the bank. It was believed then that they would soon fizzle out.

But with a magic wand in his hand, he turned the industry around. His bank soon became a reference point.

Although the race was tough and stiff, he endured and today, with his Midas touch on the bank he cofounded, the bank has comfortably taken a leading position in the banking industry not just in Nigeria, but in the sub-region.

At every corner in Jim Ovia’s Victoria Island, Lagos office, shelves of plaques, awards and photographs of him with Bill Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Goodluck Jonathan, alongside pieces of literature and art, that adorn the huge office. The younger generation of bankers see him as one of the “godfathers of Nigerian banking.”

Ovia began to make his contributions to the development of banking in Nigeria more pronounced when he founded Zenith Bank in 1990.

Nigeria’s banking system prior to the advent of the Ovia-led Zenith Bank was characterised by queues, and lots of them, as the over country’s 120 million-strong population at the time, customarily crowded the inside of Nigeria’s precious few, ill-equipped and thinly spread banks.

Ovia’s first move, therefore, was to bring ATMs to Nigeria, effectively bypassing the human traffic that clogged so many banking halls and doing away with the over-thecounter culture that reigned.

“When we started Zenith Bank in 1990, it was extremely difficult as the necessary resources and infrastructure to do business, particularly banking, were not in place. There were no ATMs, no mobile phones and ICT was a rarely known concept in the business space,” he had told Forbes.

Zenith Bank has greatly impacted C M Y K

Jim Ovia’s legacy and footprint in Nigeria’s banking scene banking in Nigeria, lifting the sector from the era of over-conservatism to one of healthy conflict and dynamism, characterised by a culture of excellence and global best practices. This has been achieved through a combination of the power of vision and a skilful union of banking expertise and cutting-edge technology to create products and services that meet and anticipate customers’ expectations.

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he bank blazed the trail toward digital banking in the country, scoring several firsts. Ovia began his career in 1973, working as a clerk in Barclays Bank, now Union Bank. It was there that he was introduced to an industry he would later come to play a significant role in transforming. He obtained a B.Sc in Business Administration from Southern University, Louisiana (1977) and went on to earn a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana in 1979. He is also an

Ovia began to make his contributions to the development of banking in Nigeria more pronounced when he founded Zenith Bank in 1990 Alumnus of Harvard Business School (OPM). One of the most crucial developments in Ovia’s early career, and one that would shape his business philosophy, was at Baton Rouge Bank and Trust Company where he gained experience in the use of computers while working part-time in 1977. This stint, though seemingly inconsequential, sparked an appetite for technology and the realisation that it would signal a brighter future for his homeland.

Following a good few years of valuable experience in the banking indus-

He also serves as the Chairman of Quantum Luxury Properties Limited and as Director of Africa Finance Corporation. He served as a Director at Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) Plc. He is a motivational speaker and an avid ICT person.

He is noted for his philanthropic gestures, earning him the spot as head of numerous NonGovernment Organisations (NGO) at various times including being the first President of the Nigeria Internet Group (20012003). In 2012, he donated N1 billion to the rehabilitation of victims of the then flood disaster.

He is the founder and Chairman of Mankind United to Support Total Education (MUSTE), a philanthropic organisation which focuses on providing scholarship for the underprivileged. Today, some of the beneficiaries are qualified professionals in diverse fields.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014 — 41

42— SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014

'Why I killed my girlfriend'

BY EVELYN USMAN

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s 26 year-old girl, Gift Sunday, left her abode in Ketu , Lagos, to meet her boyfriend, Raphael Effiong, who had invited her over on phone, Monday, July 28, 2014.

Never, in her wildest imagination, did she envisage that would be her last day on earth.

Time was 8.30pm, shortly after the Anietie family whom Gift stayed with, had their dinner.

While other members of the family retired early, Gift announced that she was going to meet her boyfriend, who was well known by the family.

But apprehension reportedly set in when she did not return by midnight. Tension, heightened after efforts to reach her on the phone proved abortive as it was discovered to be switched off.

Next day, the family’s fear was confirmed following the visit of a woman later discovered to be a management staff of Mayor Guest house located at 10 Yusuf Eleran street, Ketu. The woman was said to have invited Gift’s sister , Mrs Ume Anietie to Fine Day hospital at Elebiju street, where she was informed that Gift had passed on!

Alapere division called and instructed them to commence treatment on her that they started attending to her and we left”, the eye witness narrated.

Her Last words

Doctors at Fine Day hospital were said to have managed to revive Gift.

In an inaudible tone, she was said to have told some of the hospital staff that it was not the first time Raphael would beat her .

According to one of the hospital workers who spoke on condition of anonymity : “ She told us that was not the first time her boyfriend would beat her. She said anytime he saw her with any man, he would beat her,both in the open. She also said that was why she decided not marry him, so that he would not kill her someday” At a point, Gift could not reportedly speak, as she complained of weakness. Unfortunately, she could not owing to loss of blood.Had blood

•Suspect been transfused into Gift, she would have probably lived to share her ordeal,Crime Guard gathered.

Why I killed her

Love gone sour

Gift, as gathered, was stabbed in the arm and breast by her boyfriend, Raphael at the guest house.

A man who claimed to have witnessed it all told Crime Guard that :“I was seeing a friend off, when I heard the shout of help from the hotel. I sensed all was not well and went to the hotel to inform the staff. They told me it was normal to hear lovers shout. But I insisted that the shout was not that of pleasure but of panic and pain. It was at that point that we all rushed to the room and forced the door open. To our disbelief, we saw a lady on the floor with a deep cut in her hand from where blood was gushing out. The man with her was holding a pair of scissors .

Delay

At first ,nobody knew what to do.

We told the man to take her to the hospital but he could not carry her because she was big in size. We all carried her outside with blood still gushing out from the deep cut in her hand.

It took about 30 to 40 minutes before she was rushed to Fine Day hospital. Even when she got there, the doctors did not attend to her on time. It was not until the Police at

•The late Gift

Raphael as gathered, attempted to escape, on noticing the magnitude of his action. But he was apprehended by staff of the hotel who handed him over to policemen at Alapere,from where he was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department,SCID, Yaba, Thursday.

At the SCID, Raphael told operatives of the Homicide section that he stabbed Gift because she refused to marry him.

According to the Akwa-Ibom State suspect:“I never knew she would die. I never meant to kill her. I only wanted to threaten her with the scissors. We have been going out for a year and I loved her so much ... I proposed to her but she turned down my proposal, saying she couldn’t marry me. I have begged her several times to have a change of mind but she didn’t. I have invested so much on her with the hope of marrying her some day. But I never knew she was only deceiving me, by playing on my intelligence. I just could not stand her getting married to another person.

The mere thought of that sends me crazy”, he said, begging the deceased’s family members to forgive him. But members of the deceased’s family are of the opinion that the act

was preconceived, asking why the suspect took a scissors to the guest house in the first place.

The late Gift, as gathered, was a fashion designer. She was said to have been living with her sister since 2005, from where she went to secondary school and thereafter, learnt fashion designing. Until her death, she was said to have sewn wedding gowns for different would be brides, including those of their bridal trains,with the hope of sewing for herself someday. She was said to have boasted to close friends that she would make the best for herself when the time came, unaware that she would not live to witness the day. She had reportedly told close friends that her choice of husband was a God-fearing man, little wonder she accepted to go out with Raphael in the first instance , as they met in the church. But along the line, Raphael reportedly left the church, shortly after which he started demonstrating his battering tendency.

The deceased’s elder sister , Mrs Anietie, who is yet to come to terms with Gift’s demise, said amidst tears: “ She was a very hard working lady.

She was cheerful and was like a daughter to me. I will forever miss her”.

Spokes person for the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide , said the suspect would be charged to court at the end of investigation.

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014—43

Why I want to be Governor of Zamfara State — Sagir

BY HENRY UMORU, Assistant Political Editor

A

lhaji Sagir Hamisu Gusau, a seasoned Administrator, served as the Director of Protocol to virtually all the Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory

Administration, FCTA in the present political dispensation and retired as Director of the Federal Capital Territory administration. He joined politics soon after he retired and he is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In this interview, Sagir who is so passionate about the need to educate his people, empower them, among others, bares his mind on why he wants to govern his home state, his transformational blueprint for the state, why Jonathan must run for 2015, his respect for Muazu’s style as PDP National Chairman, among other salient issues. Excerpts:

You have been a civil servant all your life. What must have motivated you into Politics and why do you want to govern your state, Zamfara?

First, I want to thank God that I have made a career in the civil service, having served for 28years, having passed through all the ordinances of the civil service, the experiences and the challenges and having reached that far, and looking at my state, one is not happy with the state of governance. I realised that people like us who by providence are lucky to have gone to school, have acquired some reasonable education, worked in the civil service and acquired also some modern experiences and what have you; I think that it is imperative having made our

own contribution in the civil service, we should go up to also see how we can bring about the needed change that the state urgently and desperately needs at this time.

With 2015 around the corner, it affords me the opportunity to also see that this is the right time to join the political train and that is where I am now and I have joined the PDP to realise my aspiration of being the governor of the state come 2015.

What were those things you saw in your people that actually touched your heart and made you almost cry?

There were days I travelled home, went to my state during the work or school hours, what I found were children coming from both sides of the road both primary and secondary school children, some carrying water, some firewood and some begging at the filling station.

Like you rightly said, sometimes I felt like crying.

That for goodness sake, these children should be in the classrooms. Now they are on the side of the road and some in filling stations, some have not even had their bath in the last two months. You could see sand become part of their hair growth, scabies, and various skin diseases. No shoes, even during Harmattan, you see them exposed to the cold, this is unacceptable.

When you now move again, you will see the classroom by the road side again, roof blown off, room is empty, no windows, what you see coming out of those buildings are goats, and other domestic animals and when you go into the town to see relations, then you see them in empathy, hopeless situation, Sanitary condition very deplorable, and you see joblessness.

The men are always sitting down

In the PDP, we have seen that in the last three years another opportunity is knocking on our doors and here we are. We found ourselves with an absentee governor and of course where there is an absentee governor, it means there is no governance.

So where there is no governance, it means there is nobody to talk about development to provide anything. No wonder you could see that the level of educational development and infrastructure is nothing. That is the major challenge of Zamfara today.

Now in most schools, you will find only those that teach Islamic knowledge that are in the primary schools as teachers.

That is how the situation is as of today. As far as education is concerned, it is zero. We have the land as our own natural endowment and we have the population and so if we set our priority right, we would have focused on agriculture that will employ the mass of our people.

Produce enough food for our people and then produce the one that we will sell to the rest of Nigeria and set up agro-allied industries.

When you now move again, you will see the classroom by the road side again, roof blown off, room is empty, no windows, what you see coming out of those buildings are goats, and other domestic animals under the shade discussing and by the time you interact with the people, you see virtually everybody with a common diseases that can be treated; it is either they don’t have the money to go to the hospital or the hospitals have nothing to offer them. No medicine, the doctors have all gone away because of the appalling working condition in the hospitals.

You are coming into an environment people may describe as rough and dirty, especially coming from the civil Service background. Do you see yourself as relatively new or think that people will see you as a green horn in politics?

I don’t see it that way. Politics is about interaction by human beings to advance their common interest and like in any mutual

interaction or otherwise, you will find the good, the bad and the ugly and your ability to interplay, that is what will keep you in the struggle.

You say politics is about interaction, meaning your interaction with politicians, ministers, technocrats, others as Director of Protocol for many years must have equipped you to where you for going?

Definitely, and that is why I am grateful to the system that exposed me to all these, that is why it is not strange for me to see somebody collect somebody’s money now and the next hour he is raining insults on him or even aligning with the opponents. I have seen it all. So when it comes to my own turn, it will not shock me. I am excited about it.

In Zamfara, PDP is the opposition party, it used to be the ruling party, but in 2011, the incumbent, Shinkafi was defeated. How do you intend to uproot the present government of APC? First, the ANPP/APC was in government for 12years or there about and the PDP government four years out of the 11years that the APC/ANPP has been in government. Shinkafi’s government was the best in terms of laying the foundation for development in the state, be it in education at the time schools were being renovated and more classrooms were built.

And that was when the youth empowerment started, that was when the present hospital that was named after somebody who did not build it, was built. And so the 11years that the APC/ANPP has been in government, nothing substantially serious that can be described as development has taken place there.

You said the governor is an absentee governor, how do you mean?

He is always on the air, he spends one week in Abuja, two weeks abroad, maybe two to three days in Gusau and then maybe the weekend in his home town in his local government; this is how the circle is. In fact I don’t even know if Zamfara has any conference hall that anything happens. I don’t think.

The DG government house resigned because he has not seen his principal or sat with him for 3years. What can be more than that?

This is the general dis-enchantment among the civil servants because where directive is supposed to flow, there is a vacuum and you know when they say executive governor

nobody does anything without being directed, so you see there is nothing anybody can do and if the governor is not in town, the offices are virtually closed, they are on holidays.

What is the level of your consultation with stakeholders, leaders and Elders of the party in your state?

I don’t like rating myself, I always prefer to leave that to others. If you had taken time to travel with me in one of the consultative journeys. I am sure you would not be asking me this question, but be that as it may, I have to tell you that I have made tremendous consultations with all the stakeholders, right from the voter, the common man to the elite, to the party men and women and to the elders. I have done that and I can tell you that the prospect is very good and that is what encouraged me to be deeply involved because I have seen that they accepted my message of change.

44—SA TURD AY 44—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , A UGUST 2 AUGUST 2, 2014

Ugborodo peace treaty under threat

BY EMMA AMAIZE & EGUFEYAFUGBORHI THE peace accord brokered by the Federal Government in May between two warring Ugborodo factions in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, came under threat during the week.

Anarchy was let loose when members of the Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities started beating war drums, notwithstanding the ceasefire efforts of governor Emmanuel Uduaghan. Their actions further endangered the fragile peace in that part of the state. Saturday Vanguard spoke to an Ijaw leader and Benemowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom,Chief Godspower Gbenekama and Itsekiri youth leader/ Ugborodo Interface Committee on the Ogidigben Export Processing Zone, EPZ project, Mr. Alex Eyengho, both of whom are conversant with the matter, on the EPZ. They capture the unfolding developments in this special report.

COMMANDER, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta, Navy Captain Musa Gemu, who is heading the security team put in place by the Federal Government to restore peace to the troubled Ugborodo community, Warri South-West Local Government Area, was livid during the week over the anarchy that was let loose by violent youths in the area.

Two warring factions had been at daggers-drawn in the community, killing and maiming themselves before the federal government managed to bring them to a roundtable to sign a peace accord at Abuja in May. Leaders of the factions were asked to return home and facilitate the return of indigenes that fled the community on both divides, as well as surrender their weapons.

Captain Gemu’s attempt to recover the weapons was frustrated as the warring factions refused to surrender the arms and weapons in their possession.

Undeterred, Gemu continued preaching peace and forged ahead with the resettlement process, but last Saturday violence, spearheaded

by Ugborodo youths, the third in the last few months, left him wondering if the community genuinely desired peace.

He told Saturday Vanguard: “I met with leaders of the two sides the other day. They assured on being on ground to lead all displaced persons back home in their respective strongholds. On the agreed Saturday, only Isaac Botosan and Ayiri Emami of the Thomas Ereyitomi bloc were on hand to lead the displaced persons to Ogidigben and Ajudaibo, where they are in control.” ”The other faction, which gave its word never showed up to talk to the boys at Aruton to resettle displaced

*As youths resist govt’s resettlement move *Destroy houses, burn vehicles *NNS Delta boss angry

persons there. These same youths at Madangho and Aruton, who refused to allow displaced persons return home also scared people from leaving to Ogidigben and Ajudaibo,” he said.

The navy commander said: “It is not like the Aruton youths can stop the navy. Applying force now is not the spirit of the peace process. So I asked my men to pull back. I went in with just two men and interacted with the community elders and youths. They gave conditions for reintegrating the displaced persons.

This is not healthy and if it persists, the military would have to take appropriate action.”

For five successive months before federal government interface, Ugborodo community was on fire.

However, the federal mediation provided the atmosphere for the state government’s inauguration of the UgborodoInterface Committee for the $16b EPZ project.

Youths resist Navy Peace, nevertheless, snapped, last weekend, when youths at OdeUgborodo (Aruton) and Madanghon, repelled the Nigerian Navy’s move to resettle residents chased from home since January’s fight.

The resettlement of displaced persons was a critical term in the

final resolutions signed by warring factions at the Naval Headquarters, Abuja.

Mayhem Two days after the Saturday/ Sunday incident, hostilities spilled to Warri and environs, as factional youths moved against opposition leaders, resulting in the demolition of the home and vehicle of an Aruton youth leader resident at Egbokodo, a Warri South community, Ofe Pender, in what is believed to be a backlash of Sunday’s violence at Aruton.

Vice Chairman of the Thomas Ereyitomi-led Community Trust and member of the 21- man EPZ Committee, Isaac Botosan, was among immediate victims, as youths went wild following the failed resettlement of exiled residents.

Botosan told Saturday Vanguard after the destruction, “On Saturday, I was among leaders, who accompanied the Navy to return displaced persons home, and the youths had their way, resisting the Navy. I never had problems with anyone, I am at loss as to what happened on Saturday would provoke the destruction of the house I built for my mother in Aruton.

“These violent elements partially destroyed that house back in January. As they completed the destruc-

tion Sunday, they proceeded to wreck my grandfather’s house too and that belonging to national chair of Ugborodo Youths, Julius Atete.

Botosan whose mother and grandfather’s house were destroyed has already petitioned the Inspector General of Police, calling for the arrest and prosecution of perceived masterminds of the alleged arson.

“I also have complained to the Navy. But the way to achieve lasting peace is for Federal Government to stand firm at this point and stop this impunity of violence once and for all. If they do not come in now, they are encouraging the other side to take to self- help, which is not what we want as it will definitely escalate the tension,” he asserted.

Aruton, Madangho give conditions for peace An executive member of the David Tonwe- led UgborodoCommunity Trust faction, Femi Uwawah, told Saturday Vanguard that the government’s move through the Navy to resettle displaced persons was an impossible wishful thinking if executed in isolation of perceived grievances in the affected communities.

Uwawah said, “Those who offended Ode-Ugborodo cannot hide behind the Navy to come back to the homes where they committed

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014 — 45

46 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014 — 47

48—SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 2, 2014

BUSIness Flakes Bhar ti Air 00 million Bharti Airttel Adds 1 100 cust omer customer omerss in less than 2yr 2yrss

Clergy tasks go vts on yyouth outh govts empo werment at A GN inauguration empow AGN F ollowing the recent in crease in insecurity and much involvement of our youths in criminality, the President, Apostolic Global Network (AGN), Apostle (Dr.) Wale Odukogbe, at the official inauguration of the group in Lagos, has called on Nigerian leaders to embark on grassroots empowerment of Nigerian youths and infrastructural development to reduce insecurity, criminality, other evil vices that can destroy a nation, and the incessant luring of youths to crisis, as he cites unemployment as one of the root causes of crisis in the country.

In his words: There has to be an atmosphere that could allow youths to implement their ideas.

What is challenging in Nigeria is the operating environment.

The truth is that Nigerian youths are diligent, hardworking, focused and with vision, but the environment is harsh.

And when you have someone that wants to start a business, there is no capital, infrastructures are not there etc. I would advise government to create an enabling environment so that

those capable of starting their own businesses can do that and when their businesses are flourishing they can employ other people.

Again, in our educational sector, we need to rework our curriculum to suit the global development. There should be collaboration between Nigeria and other countries with economic buoyancy. I believe with these our youths can be empowered. I would also suggest moral values in our secondary schools where young people can be taught how to contribute to the society, not to grab. We are living in a society where everybody is thinking of what to grab. With this kind of value orientation, youths will realise that they should be a contributor to the economy and not always expecting from the economy.

Insecurity in the country...

Well, unemployment is one of the major factors. It is said that an idle man is a devil’s workshop.

When youths don’t see future they can easily be recruited by people who have evil motives because if someone is gainfully employed, he will not be on the

streets. Somebody gainfully employed will not think of being part of a gang committing atrocities in the society because he or she can see a future for themselves and they will like to protect their future and if you are protecting your future, you will protect the society because you will not want your future, investment and property to be destroyed. And by so doing everybody will be his brother’s keeper.

Apostolic Global Nework...

Odukogbe said, it is the official inauguration of Apostolic Global Network (AGN). It is geared towards bringing different ministers from different denominations together. It is a way of connecting fellow pastors together. It’s not limited to Nigeria alone as the name indicates, it’s global – planting the families of ministers all over the world, such that wherever a minister under our platform finds himself or herself, it’s assured, he can be taken care of.

So, it’s a way of promoting unity and also connecting with one another so that your ministry can have full expression and will not be limited to your local assembly.

B

harti Airtel, a leading glo bal telecommunications services provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, announced that it has crossed the 300 million customer mark across its operations. The milestone includes customers across mobile, fixed line and DSL, and DTH services.

Bharti Airtel, which began operations in 1995, reached the 100 million customers mark in 2009 and crossed the 200 million mark in 2012. The latest 100 million customers have joined the Airtel family in less than two years. The Company ranks as the fourth* largest mobile service provider globally and second* largest globally outside of China.

Mr. Christian de Faria, Airtel Africa CEO said, “This milestone underlines the strength of our operations, which is one of the largest on a

global scale. It is also a tribute to the ‘Airtel’ brand which is trusted by customers in 20 countries. Today, telecom is at the cusp of transformation, which, going forward will be driven as much by the force of technology as by the changing demographics in emerging markets across Asia and Africa. Accelerated data consumption by the youth is going to be the underlying story. I am confident that Airtel will continue to be at the forefront of this future growth story and continue to delight customers by adding value to their lives.”

In Africa, Bharti Airtel is the largest mobile operator in the Continent in terms of geographical footprint, which spans 17 countries with over 70 million customers.

Airtel’s mobile networks cover over 1.85 billion people across its operations in 20 countries and carry over 311 billion minutes of calls every quarter.

‘Digital platform adds value to business world’

F

or reliable informa tion that boost your business world, business owners and marketing managers have been advised to go for effective digital platform for their business news, press releases and other necessary information that would add value to business transaction and profitability.

In a modern world like ours where information technology is key to business success, you need a better platform that gives you reliable information to run your business effectively, now that social media is in vogue.

Speaking on the effective digital platform for your business press releases, Managing Director, BB Buzz, Tunde Olaomopo, said, Nigeri-

ans need a reliable blog sites for reliable information. This is the insight that gave birth to www.thebbbuzz.com. He said, this is a site that especially reports brand event and making it easy to assess by readers and also to end the constant complaints of Nigerians before the invention of this site.

According to him, it is the solution to this re-occurring problem of brand stories getting unnoticed by readers on these blogs.

IT Penetration boosts coconut production by 75%—LASG Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, said the introduction of Information Technol-

C M Y K

ogy in coconut production in the state has yielded massive output.

Lawal at the second edition of Lagos State enterprise day, tagged, “Technical and Vocational skills as a Gateway for Enterprise Development,” said that the state has recorded about 75% coconut increase annually due to the introduction of IT. He admitted that before the introduction of IT in the sector, an average of fifty coconuts per tree was recorded a year, now an average of 120-200 coconuts per tree is harvested.

While calling for more private partnership on coconut production, he re-affirmed that IT has brought new innovations and research on how to cultivate the crop to meet the increasing demand in the market.

The state is making tremendous break through in the cultivation of coconuts in areas like Badagry, Lekki-Epe, Ojo among others, the commissioner said.

Lawal admitted that in Philipine, coconut cultivation remains the main source of revenue generation, and the state is ready to tap into it as well.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , A UGUST 2 AUGUST 2, 2014—49

Bizarre account of a boy forced to have sex with British lawmakers and blackmailed to keep quiet T

he victim says sinister pimps warned his family would have an “accident” if he refused sex with their powerful clients A former rent boy caught up in the Westminster sex ring scandal, has revealed that he was blackmailed into being abused by top Tories.

He told how he was snared by two sinister pimps who threatened to send graphic pictures of him to his parents, if he tried to flee their clutches.

He was even warned his family back home in troubled Northern Ireland would have an “accident” if he refused to have sex with their powerful clients.

Now 59, the victim has come forward after reading our exclusive story last Sunday on the Tory activist who supplied boys to ministers in Margaret Thatcher’s government.

In an emotional interview, the man – who we will call David – said: “I sobbed uncontrollably after reading that story. I turned to my wife, who knew nothing of this, and said, ‘I was part of this. I was raped’.

“I had locked the matter deep in a vault inside my head. But seeing the article blew it open. All the fear, pain and anguish came flooding back.”

David agreed to talk to us at a hotel near his home in a small town in Northern Ireland. He is considering giving a statement to the Government inquiry into the scandal.

A respectable father-offour, he told how as a young man he was plied with booze by MP Charles Irving before the Tory later forced him to have sex in exchange for £30.

He also had to perform oral sex on a married senior Lord in a car – and was “rewarded” with a fountain pen.

And he attended a sordid house party where two Tories celebrated their first year as MPs by having sex with boys as young as 12.

David also rubbed shoulders at 1970s parties with top Conservatives including Sir Keith Joseph, Sir Rhodes Boyson and Sir Michael Havers.

All were named in the Sunday Mirror last week as being present at similar parties in the 1980s.

David arrived in London in February, 1975, as a wide-eyed 20-year-old fleeing the troubles in his home country in which one of his best friends had been shot dead.

He got a bed in a Catholic-run hostel and landed a job at a shop. But his life changed for ever days later.

Wandering the streets, penniless David ended up in Piccadilly Circus, then a notorious area called the Chicken Rack where young rent boys touted for

business.

Within minutes, he was approached by a man in his 20s calling himself Kevin.

David said: “He asked if I was looking for anything. I said ‘Yes, food’. Looking back I was stupid to go off with him but I was desperate too.”

He was taken to a pub to meet a smart businessman who introduced himself as Alan. The trio moved to a restaurant where they drank wine and Alan offered to loan David money. In a taxi home, he was invited back to Alan’s flat for drinks.

“I felt in danger.

But they’d been so kind

including the papers and my family. He said his friends weren’t to be messed around. “He told me ‘Don’t think you can just walk away’.”

Trapped, David quickly found himself being pimped out by either Kevin or Alan who had high-profile politicians among their clients.

Days later, he claims Charles Irving, then Tory MP for Cheltenham, arrived at his shop. David approached the politician, who died in 1995, asking if he was looking for anything. He says Irving replied: “Yes, you.”

The following day David says he was instructed to accompany the MP to a country house in Essex where they had sex.

He said: “This time I knew what was going to happen so I drunk as much wine as I could and let him get on with it.”

Next day he

to me I got swept away,” said David.

“Back at the flat I felt light-headed and got up to go. Alan pushed me into his bedroom. I felt helpless. He undressed me and pushed me on the bed. I didn’t consent. I felt I was having an out of body experience. I fear I was drugged.”

David claims he was raped twice. “I felt utterly used. He gave me £30, told me to lighten up and said, “Stop being so bloody provincial”. Alan told David he would “be in touch” and said he “knew very important people keen to meet new boys”.

Next day Kevin arrived at the shop saying how impressed Alan was. “I was mortified,” David says. “I said I wasn’t interested.

“Then he said ‘Listen, photos were taken of you in bed’. He said he could see to it they fell into the wrong hands,

found £30 in his pocket, more than two weeks’ pay. But David pleaded again with the man pimping him out to stop – only to get a more sinister threat.

“Alan told me ‘Do you have any idea about the people who I know and the power they wield?’,” says David.

“He said if ‘ we’ could murder 13 people on the streets of Northern Ireland and get away with it, there would be little trouble in arranging for an accident to befall a member of my family. I was out of my depth.”

Soon David was being taken to parties with a string of senior conservatives. Recalling one, he said: “It was a house near Whitehall. I was led to a room where several men and a few younger boys about 15 were drinking. I was

introduced as the “Irish boy”. I remember one of the men said: “Well, MY eyes are smiling”. I was offered a drink from a bowl of punch and I drank it down, glass after glass, like lemonade.

“I was made to sit between two men. I was told they were both MPs, and they began to rub their hands on my legs and thighs. I was forced to perform various sex acts on some of the men.”

David said he saw senior figures including ex-Education Secretary Keith Joseph, Michael Havers and Rhodes Boyson at the parties.

“The scene was always the same.

There was a buzz of elation. The Conservatives felt they were unstoppable,” said David. At another party, David watched as two MPs celebrated their first year in office with underage boys. His clients also extended beyond the Commons.

David said: “ One night I was taken near the House of Lords and picked up by a peer. We were driven around London while I performed a sex act on him. He gave me a fountain pen.”

One of the most sordid parties was thrown one Saturday night at a country house. “There were younger boys,” he said.

“We were placed in the centre of a room, boxed in by large leather sofas. We were told to undress and have sex together.

“I noticed a boy of about 12 or 13 being taken into a room. I assumed he’d just been ‘delivered’. He looked at me. I saw fear in his eyes. That look will always haunt me.”

The abuse soon had an impact on David’s health. He was drinking too much and had breathing problems. At rock bottom, he went to the home of one of his pimps to confront him. “He opened the door and I collapsed into the hall,” he recalled.

“He didn’t call an ambulance. He didn’t want a scene. He put me in the spare room and I cried myself to sleep. Next day he gave me £50 and told me to go home because he thought I was dying.”

David flew back home where he was diagnosed with acute bronchitis. “I didn’t say a word to anyone,” he added. “It took a year to come to terms with it, but the scars will never heal.”

David has now turned his life around. He married in 1981 and works as an office manager. He said: “I want people to know what happened. I want to see people held to account. The truth must come out.”

Culled from Sunday Mirror(UK)

50—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014

Gov Lamido

Flight from Dutse Airport

BY OCHEREOME NNANNA

Governor Lamido saw the approval of an airport for his state as a challenge and opportunity to launch Jigawa state into the centrestage of the economic and sociopolitical life of the nation

T

he atmosphere was festive on Monday, July 14th 2014 at the new ly completed Dutse International Airport, Dutse in Jigawa State.

The Jigawa State Government rolled out the red carpet, and the who-is-who in the top echelon of the public service, traditional rulers, invited guests from parts of the country, including members of the National Assembly – and of course, the hundreds of thrilled members of the public who jumped into the most available means of transport – had thronged the grounds of Dutse International Airport situated about twenty kilometres from the centre of the town, to witness the first commercial flight which was conducted by Overland Airways.

This was not the first flight. The state’s contingent to the Hajj in 2013 took off from this airport when it was about 70 per cent completed, en route to Mecca via Kano aboard a D-CPDR aircraft. It was piloted by Captain Ripp Christian, a German leading three crew members. Since then, flights have been taking off and landing at the airport. These were mainly chartered flights by individuals (such as former Vice President Aitku Abubakar) and government functionaries.

But today, the Jigawa State Government wanted to show it meant business by having Overland Airways operate a chartered flight out of Dutse with its ATR 42, a 72-seater propeller, to Abuja. From that day on, the commercial test flights started a Monday-Wednesday-Friday weekly routine, first to Abuja, and later on to Lagos as well. Two other private aircraft owned by Governor Sule Lamido’s invited guests perched at the hangar while the ceremonies lasted.

With the usual speeches dispensed with, the Chief Executive Officer of Overland

Airways, Captain Edward Boyo, led the Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Muhammadu Sanusi, some top government functionaries, invited guests, visiting journalists and crew of the airline to board. The flight made a rather bumpy take-off, with the pilot banking left as if to give the residents of the Dutse capital city a little show before altering route to a south-westerly direction en route to Abuja, a 50 minute-journey.

A few more ceremonies await the Dutse Airport. According to the Director of Press to Governor Sule Lamido, Alhaji Umar Kyari, President Goodluck Jonathan will be in Dutse in the first or second week of August, 2014, to perform the formal commissioning, to complete what he started on 2nd December 2012 when he performed the groundbreaking ceremony.

Dutse International Airport is a prime evidence of the great things that can happen when the federal and state governments join hands to work to uplift the people. It is part of President Jonathan’s vision of developing airports around the country with a view to using them as agents for economic transformation.

However, if it had been left to the federal government alone, the airport would not be the reality it has become in less than two years. According to officials, the federal government has only committed about 900 million naira. Governor Lamido saw the approval of an airport for his state as a challenge and opportunity to launch Jigawa state into the centre-stage of the economic and socio-political life of the nation.

What pushed him to finance the construction of the airport from the coffers of the state government was that when American billionaire philanthropist, Mr Bill Gates was supposed to visit Jigawa State some years ago, he was hampered by lack of an airport to land his aircraft. He had to stop at Kano, which is about two hours by road to

Dutse. Lamido disclosed that the state government has spent 11.7 billion naira to bring the airport to 98% completion. This is, perhaps, a showpiece in prudent management of resources. Julius Berger submitted a bill of 64 billion naira to construct a second runway at the Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja about five years ago, which caused an uproar at the House of Reps and the nation at large! The job had to be suspended.

The Jigawa State Government is very hopeful that by the time President Jonathan commissions the airport, taking into cognisance the high quality of job done on all the facilities such as the runway, terminal, control towers, fire station, alluring furnishings especially of the arrival, departure and three VIP and protocol lounges, he will be glad to refund the money spent on the facility to the state. After all, it is a property of the federal government, even if the state provided the finance and the logistics of making it a reality.

With this airport, Jigawa State is no longer in the backwater of the nation. Governor Lamido has ordered a speedy completion of the cargo warehouses and cold rooms to enable an early use of the airport to export such commodities as industrial raw materials, vegetables, meat and dairy products, minerals and flowers, as well as the importation of industrial and consumer goods required by the state and other adjoining states. The airport will not just serve the people of Jigawa State but also neighbouring towns in Kano, Katsina, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno States who may find it easier to travel from Dutse than make the perilous long journey to their state capitals. Now, the elite of the state will no longer be forced to live in Abuja and only make short, hurried visits to their state. They can now feel at home while at home and even bring their friends and show them the hidden thrills of the “Sand-Dune” (Jigawa) state.

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Vanguard , A UGUST 2 AUGUST 2, 2014—51

families and doctors to care for and ease the pain and misery of people reaching the end of their lives.

This is worrying, for I believe that such compassion and concern should be at the very heart of our society.

As a result of this growing gap between the existing law and the need for compassion, pressure is growing for change. There is now a

stated that ‘people should be able to exercise choice over their lives, which should include how and when they die, when death is imminent’.

ARCHBISHOP SPEAKS ON

Why people should have a choice on when and how to die F

or centuries the Church has upheld the sanctity of life. Here, in this aston ishing but deeply considered change of heart, a brilliant former Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey explains why he now supports helping some terminally ill patients to die.

Anyone who has had to watch a loved one go through the final agonies of a painful terminal illness is bound to ask deep philosophical questions about the nature of life and death.

I remember Dorothy, one of my congregation many years ago, at the beginning of my career, when I was a parish priest in Durham. An intelligent and faithful Christian lady, she had been an outstanding head teacher.

In retirement, she found out that she had cancer in an advanced form.

I visited her regularly in hospital. I saw the ravages of the illness on her body as she was given huge doses of morphine to try to keep the excruciating pain at bay.

Talking about her discomfort one day as she lay with tubes dripping fluids in and taking fluids away, Dorothy questioned whether she could go on, whether life was worth living. ‘It is quality of life that counts,’ she whispered, ‘not number of days.’

When I visited her again, I must

have looked very miserable because she looked up at me and said: ‘Why are you so sad, Vicar? I’m only dying, you know!’

I saw in that reply the depth of her faith. There was something else, too.

Life was precious when it was worth living. Tired and in pain, she feared nothing from its end. Indeed, she died the next day.

Even the most devout believers will find their faith tested by the sight of a dying person in torment — especially when modern medicine could swiftly bring the torment to a merciful end.

Indeed, this rapid advance of medical technology has brought us to a crucial ethical turning point.

For, while drugs might be able to hasten the end more quickly and painlessly, sophisticated medical science also offers people the chance to be kept alive far beyond anything that would have been possible only a few years ago.

Yet our laws have not caught up with the science.

For years we have had a basic, comprehensive law to prevent any person killing another.

Under the terms of the Suicide Act (1961), assisted suicide is illegal and punishable by up to 14 years’ imprisonment. Depending on the circumstances, it is regarded as either manslaughter or murder.

But now, in some cases, that law risks undermining the efforts of

These demands follow a recent high-profile case in the Supreme Court in which a man called Paul Lamb, who had been paralysed in a car crash, eloquently argued that the

Professor John Ashton, president of the UK’s Faculty Of Public Health, has urged that doctors be allowed to give dying patients a legal dose of lethal drugs if they ask for help to end their life, without any fear of prosecution powerful campaign to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill patients.

Professor John Ashton, president of the UK’s Faculty Of Public Health, has urged that doctors be allowed to give dying patients a legal dose of lethal drugs if they ask for help to end their life, without any fear of prosecution. The NHS, he said, should ‘stop keeping people going at any price’.

His call was echoed by an editorial in the British Medical Journal which

refusal to allow him the right to die was a breach of his human rights.

It was impossible not to be moved by his argument, especially when he described the horrific pain he has to endure every day.

He was supported in this legal action by Jane Nicklinson, whose late husband suffered from the terrible locked-in syndrome after he suffered a stroke.

A previously active, sports-loving

Continues on page 52

52—SA TURD AY 52—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , A UGUST 2 AUGUST 2, 2014

‘I am driven by private conscience to urge a change in the law’ Continues from page 51 family man, Tony Nicklinson had been rendered absolutely powerless, vulnerable and isolated, an experience he found intolerable.

Although sympathetic, the Supreme Court judges could not directly support Paul Lamb’s case, maintaining that it was for Parliament — not the judiciary — to change the law.

But they sent a powerful signal that politicians had a duty to look again at this issue.

A Bill on the right to die has been introduced by the former Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer.

The proposed new law would enable doctors to prescribe lethal doses of drugs to terminally ill patients who have stated a clearly expressed intention to end their lives.

Until recently, I would have fiercely opposed Lord Falconer’s Bill. My background in the Christian Church could hardly allow me to do otherwise.

I would have used the timehonoured argument that we should be devoting ourselves to care, not killing. I would have paraded all the usual concerns about the risks of ‘slippery slopes’ and ‘state-sponsored euthanasia’.

But those arguments that persuaded me in the past seem to lack power and authority now when confronted with the experiences of those suffering a painful death.

Dorothy’s words — ‘It is quality of life that counts, not number of days’ — ring in my ears.

The current law fails to address the fundamental question of why we should force terminally ill patients to go on in unbearable pain and with little quality of life.

It is the magnitude of their suffering that has been preying on my mind as the discussion over the right to die has intensified.

The fact is that I have changed my mind. The old philosophical certainties have collapsed in the face of the reality of needless suffering.

It was the case of Tony Nicklinson that exerted the deepest influence on me. Here was a dignified man making a simple appeal for mercy, begging that the law allow him to die in peace, supported by his family.

His distress made me question my motives in previous debates. Had I been putting doctrine before compassion, dogma before human dignity?

I began to reconsider how to interpret Christian theology on the subject. As I did so, I grew less and less certain of my opposition to the right to die.

It seemed to me that both the Bible and the character of God laid far more importance on open-hearted benevolence than on upholding this particular law.

As I reminded myself, one of the key themes of the gospels is love for our fellow human beings.

Indeed, Jesus’s mission was underpinned with compassion for those suffering from the most dreadful conditions, such as leprosy.

To those people, rejected by society and condemned to live apart, he brought comfort, healing and a new sense of dignity.

It hardly needs saying that I am a

The Church must start to face up to the reality of the world as it is.

In any case, the truth is that assisted dying is already a reality for people in this country.

People in desperate pain and suffering from terminal illnesses make visits to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland, which has among the most liberal euthanasia laws in the world.

Families who accompany their loved ones to the clinic are already protected from criminal charges by guidelines issued by the director of public prosecutions.

Yet this official policy of turning a

Many of us, whether practising Christians or not, have used the term ‘merciful release’. If we truly think death can be a form of mercy after suffering, should that thinking not be enshrined in law minority voice within the clergy and do not represent the views of the current Church hierarchy. But I am driven by private conscience to urge a change in the law.

Today we face a terrible paradox.

In strictly observing accepted teaching about the sanctity of life, the Church could actually be sanctioning anguish and pain — the very opposite of the Christian message.

Indeed, there is nothing antiChristian about embracing the reforms that Lord Falconer’s Bill offers.

After all, church leaders already understand that the use of pain medication such as morphine may occasionally have the effect of hastening death.

Why not extend this understanding further, so that the dying have a choice over how and when they wish their lives to end?

Many of us, whether practising Christians or not, have used the term ‘merciful release’. If we truly think death can be a form of mercy after suffering, should that thinking not be enshrined in law?

Some complain that new laws governing the right to die would allow doctors to ‘play God’. But that is an argument without substance.

Health professionals already have power over life and death in numerous ways — such as the remarkable way in which newborn babies are kept alive until they are old enough to survive outside an incubator, or through complex surgical transplants.

blind eye to clients of Dignitas is hardly adequate or compassionate.

What about those unable to travel, or unable to afford the clinic’s fees?

They, too, may be serving out their final days in extreme pain and discomfort. It is a shameful blot on our country’s great reputation for caring for others that we have not come up with a better alternative than the Zurich clinic.

Then there are all those cases conducted in the shadows, where doctors, friends or relatives privately carry out mercy killings with a high dose of drugs.

Though the risk of prosecution may be small for those genuinely acting on the wishes of the departed, the police are duty-bound to investigate any such incidents.

It would be far better if this practice were taken out of the legal twilight.

For I believe that the present approach not only fails to distinguish between assisted suicide and murder, but imposes an extra burden on families already in turmoil.

A proper, legal means of seeking assistance to die would be more compassionate to them as well as to their sick loved ones.

There must, of course, be safeguards against abuse of the socalled right to die. It would be outrageous if it were extended beyond the terminally ill to an everwidening group of people, including the disabled and the depressed.

Such a step would impose terrible pressures on some of the most vulnerable people in our society. It also conjures up the nightmare image of official death-panels that could decide the fate of individuals, as the sinister ideological eugenicists of the early 20th century advocated.

The need for caution is also shown by the experience of Holland, where assisted suicide was legalised in 2002. As a result, there are not just a few isolated cases of such doctor-assisted dying, but thousands every year.

Culled from Daily Mail

SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 2, 2014 — 53

C M Y K

54— Vanguard, SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2014

World juniors fall-out: How athletics officials planned to fail

•United we Stand... Nigerian juniors pleading for adequate training and preparations for major international meets.

BY BEN EFE

I

S it that the Athletics Federa tion of Nigeria officials do not want to learn or simply they are just a plan- less bunch? The IAAF world junior championships ended last Sunday in Eugene, Oregon USA with Divine Oduduru winning 200m silver; sparing the country the embarrassment of not winning a single medal just like the last edition 2012 in Barcelona Spain.

The team that went to Oregon, paraded some of the best juniors that Nigeria has ever produced in recent times and from all indications, these youngsters were poised to make a name for themselves and bring glory to their country, but it was a pity they weren’t well managed to achieve their true potentials.

The athletes had relatively good preparations as they camped in Sapele, Delta State for up to three months and they were hopefully looking forward to doing well in the USA, but their dreams soon fizzled out when traveling arrangements was almost bungled. This affected their performances.

A case in point was that of Ese Brume, who had a leading performance of 6.68m going to the championships. But she only arrived a day to her event and of course being an athlete who easily loses her concentration, she failed to progress to the final of the women long jump as she stumbled with a 5.18m jump in the qualifiers.

Others like Kehinde Olubodun, Bashiru Abdullahi practically collapsed in the men’s 100m and 110m hurdles respectively. Samson Oghenewegba Nathaniel and Asekunle Rilwan Fasasi failed to find their level

in the 400m. While these were going on in Day one and two of the championships, Akerele Omezia and Tega Odele who were supposed to run the 400m and 200m respectively, were still in Lagos battling to catch their flights having obtained visas late.

“We planned to fail at the World juniors, the AFN messed up,” said an athletics coach who

pleaded for anonymity.

“It was only 12 days to go that they started the visa procurement process. When actually they have been in camp for three months.

“All the team members could not get their visas at once because some of them were not even informed that they were needed at the embassy for inter-

view.

“Things were so messed up and it was a harrowing experience for the athletes. An athlete like Oluwa Tobiloba, despite the fact that her mum had to pay the visa fee did not eventually make the trip and she was our brightest hope for a medal in the hurdles. This was a girl who did a 13.8 run in Calabar during the

trials.

“Omezia and Odele arrived late and this was why we couldn’t win any medal in the relays. In the women’s 4x400m, the coaches even had to field an athlete that was not fit,” said the coach.

He absolved his colleagues, who accompanied the athletes to the tournament of any blame.

“As I am talking to you, some of the coaches who were in camp with the athletes in Sapele have not been paid their allowances.

“Even when they were in camp, the athletes were left on their own. There was no transportation for them to the venue. If not for Solomon Aliu, who made his bus available and Olu Sule, who provided finance for some of their basic needs, I don’t know what would have become of the exercise.”

He said that Nigerian athletics officials must attach much importance to the junior programme since it was the bedrock of any development that will be embarked upon in the future.

In 2012, the Nigerian juniors were subjected to ridicule at the Spanish embassy in Lagos as athletics officials in part failed to make necessary arrangements on time. This was besides the fact that some individuals with connections to officials of the embassy wrote a derogatory letter casting aspersions on the Nigerian team.

Some of the athletes were given visas and others who were the better legs were denied.

Glasgow: Women will always be on top of men — Onyali

W

HEN Team Nigeria offi cials count their blessings in the ongoing XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, much of the plaudits would no doubt be going to women for making Nigerians walk with their noses in front.

As it was in the beginning, Nigerian women have been in the vanguard of amassing medals at events more than their male counterparts and the Glasgow Games is not different. They carry the banner here and remain a priceless treasure of Team Nigeria.

Former African record holder Mary Onyali could not help but to laugh when asked why the trend has always been like this. ‘’The Ladies are on top.

Women are easier to coach than the men. Men are hard to coach and to convince. It’s a natural thing. Men have been under our shadows for a long time. It is like taking a horse to the stream. It is difficult to force it to drink water.

We’ve been supporting our male counterparts morally and financially and yet they are not hungry enough to pull their

worth. They need to put their acts together. They need to wake up!”, Onyali who has been an inspiration to the emerging force of women led

by Blessing Okagbare said.

Weightlifting coach Emmanuel Oshomah who also led Maryam Usman to win gold here, agrees that women have done better than the men in Glasgow because they are disciplined. ‘’It has to do with the level of discipline and endurance.

There are things that women cannot do for a long time. It is not so with men. It is natural.

Also, the elasticity level of women are better than that of the men. Women tend to start sports earlier than men. This is so because men want to be independent before embracing sports. And when they enter at old age, once they sustain injury, it takes longer to heal because of age. Don’t forget that men are always fending for themselves”, Oshomah said.

A break-down of Team Nigeria’s medals shows that women have won seven gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze medals

•Mary Onyali

while men have won no gold, 3 silver and 6 bronze medals.

The amazons who won gold include; Blessing Okagbare 2 gold(100m and 200m), Ese Brume(Long Jump gold), Adesanmi Oluwatoyin (Weightlifting), Usman M a r y a m ( We i g h t l i f t i n g ) , Adekuoroye Odunayo (Wrestling), and Adeniyi Aminat.

The women who won silver are Winifred Ndidi (Weightlifting), Okoli Obioma (Weightlifting), and Ebireguesele Itohan

(Weightlifting).

The men who got silver medals are Ayenuwa Yinka (Weightlifting), Dick Abibo (Wrestling) and Welson Ebikewenimo (Wrestling).

Six men won bronze while five women won bronze.

The strength of women lies in endurance and patience.

Women quietly keep working, overcoming obstacles, learning, growing, until they reach their goal. But even today, many males are threatened by strong women.

Vanguard, SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2014—55

Glasgow: Nigeria in coat of many colours

Gideon Aigbefoh lifts in a kit designed by Adidas

F

OR a glimpse into Africa’s possible future look at the great sporting talent the continent produces in the leading sports.

From Football, Athletics to Basketball, Africa exports and churns talents in hundreds.

When nations line-up their teams, more often than not there is an African bred or a naturalized athlete in their

East African nation of Kenya.

Belgium was fielding one of ‘their own’. How quick Kenyans forget that the teen had painfully turned his back on their team.

Well had Divork Origi accepted the direct ticket to play tens and tens of qualifying matches for years for Harambee Stars, he would have kissed the World Cup good bye.

allowances disputes that define our teams at the world cups, Olympics cannot let off.

With the end of the competition drawing nearer, team Kenya athletes are jittery.

“When will they pay us our allowances? They promised to pay half before we left till now…everyday a new story crops up on the hold up,” lamented an athlete still waiting to receive the first of the promised Ksh.500 000.

Oversize kits

Oversize Kits

Y

OU see, unlike Ghana, who transported their money to Brazil for their footballers in hard cash,Government officials wired money to an individual or was it to the Kenyan Embassy’s account in London to pay the al-

Ojo Onaolapo celebrates with Nigerian officials in a Mizuno kit Every athlete hope and teams.

Usually a bitter harangue dream is to play for a team centers on these sports men and even better his country. and women back in their So what happens if the team homelands. Then the dual na- never plays? And if they play tionality tastes bitter and is vil- you never feature? And when you feature, you are exhaustified.

But when they sparkle, their ed even before the competipeople go gaga, forgetting tion starts?

Interacting with the athletes dual nationality.

During the World Cup, the at the Games village in GlasBelgian team had millions of gow and at the competition supporters tucked away in the arenas has left reporters feeling drab. The ever-persistent C M Y K

•Blessing Okagbare competes in a Nike kit

lowances, that is still being cleared in phases.

The athletes some in ill-fitting tracksuits are glad to get over and done with the competition and just go back home.

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya missed the memo on the Commonwealth Games dates and therefore could not ‘get the money to get the competition and training kits from Nike to the athletes in good time’.

Nothing beats the shame of seeing officials rushing to secure competition garbs on the eve of the competition.

You kinda get a fill of what wheeled away the 2013 Tour de France winner ‘Kenyan born’ (he is one of our won) Chris Froome to swap nationality.

There are even claims that some of the Kenyan athletes have been embarrassingly sharing competition kits.

The Kenya 7s team played in their usual Samurai kits, yet all the national teams to the All African Games, Commonwealth and Olympic Games are supposed to be kitted by team Kenya sponsor Nike.

Adidas, Nike, Mizuno: Any does it for Nigeria

T

HE disturbing kitting dimen sion in Glasgow is replicated across most of the African teams even amongst the powerhouse Nigeria.

The kits too have been getting to Glasgow in bits.

Their diligent sports government officials committed all their time, money, focus and effort in ensuring the Super Eagles soar high in Brazil, justifiably so they forgot to order the kit for the Commonwealth Games, they were biding to host eight years ago…Abuja lost the bid to host the 2014 games to Glasgow. The kits were ordered just weeks to the Games.

So some athletes are competing in the official team Nigeria kits Adidas while their compatriots are in Nike.

Some weightlifters wore the recognisable green and white kits while some were in some strange blue, others were in some black and luminous green even red….

What matters is the kit isn’t it? like the Nike Blessing Okagbare wore in her dash for the gold…no one is to blame its Africanism the obnoxious way of thinking.

It is where athletes are granted the hankered entry to events if they can pay their tickets to the championships….it beats the logic why these dual nationals would forsake their motherlands…the land of opportunities that doesn’t yield anything!

NFF Continues from BP of Nations but that Maigari had out of generosity increased Keshi’s salary to N5, which in the course of the duration of the deal, the NFF at times, had difficulties in paying as and when due.

It was based on these grounds that the NFF said they will tell Keshi to accept a pay cut in the general interest of the game, adding that the federation was confident that the coach will see reasons with the football ruling house by accepting the offer..

Meanwhile, another board member has told Saturday Sports Vanguard that the NFF will request Keshi to provide it with a technical report of the Super Eagles outing at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where the African champions crashed out in the round of 16.

The NFF believes that such a detailed report from Keshi will aid it to prepare the team better for improved performance in subsequent tournaments.

Amalaha Continues from BP has committed an anti-doping rule violation and has fully suspended her from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow,” the CGF said in a statement.

“As a result, Amalaha has been disqualified from her event at the Games, with her result in the competition nullified.”

Dika Toua from Papua New Guinea has been awarded the gold medal with the India duo Santoshi Matsa and Swati Singh claiming silver and bronze.

Amalaha was Nigeria’s first gold medal winner in Glasgow, equalling the Games snatch record of 82kg with her first attempt before lifting 85kg on her third.

Her combined total of 196kg was also a Games record and, according to the International Weightlifting Federation, she was the youngest woman to win a weightlifting title in Games history.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 2, 2014

Onyali: Women will always be on top of men — Pg.54

Amalaha stripped of gold N

IGERIA teen ager Chika Amalaha has been stripped of her Commonwealth Games weightlifting gold medal after failing a doping test.

The 16-year-old, who won the women’s 53kg competition, provided positive “A” and “B” samples that contained prohibited diuretics and masking agents.

“The Commonwealth Games Federation has determined that Nigerian weightlifter, Chika Amalaha, Continues on page 55

• Keshi ... to get pay cut from NFF

NFF plans pay cut for Keshi

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

T

HE Nigeria Football Federation plans to tell Coach Stephen Keshi to accept a pay cut when he is offered a new contract, a top official of the football ruling house has told Saturday Sports Vanguard.

Keshi’s future as Eagles coach appears to have been settled, following the resolve of the new NFF Executive Committee, presided over by Mike Umeh to begin talks with the former Togo and Mali manager.

A source said last night that they were prepared to extend Keshi’s contract, which elapsed at the end of the World Cup in Brazil last month, as long as Keshi indicates his interest to coach the Super Eagles.

The source added that the NFF will tell Keshi to accept a pay cut because the new board does not want to offer something that they

cannot sustain and face bad press and general condemnation by Nigerians when salaries were owed in the future.

We learnt that the previous board of Aminu Maigari had initially agreed to pay Keshi N3m when Samson Siasia was sacked, following Eagles failure to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup Continues on page 55

Ese Brume celebrates with her long jump gold medal in Glasgow.

Nigeria in coat of many colours — Pg.55

CROSS WORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1.Lagos State Commissioner for Science & Technology, Mr. Adebiyi (8) 5.Major Ethnic Group in Nigeria (4) 7.Obtain (3) 8.Flamingoes (U-17) Striker, Uchenna (4) 9.Stationery Stores Coach, Fatai (4) 10.Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike (5) 12.Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin (9) 16.Cameroun “Indomitable Lions” Midfielder, Enoh (5) 18.Greek Alphabet (5) 20.L.G.A in Rivers State (4,5) 23.Ethnic Group in Tanzania (5) 26.Parched (4) 27.L.G.A in Kano State (4) 28.Large Deer (3) 29.Distant (4) 30.L.G.A in Lagos State (8)

DOWN 1.Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba (4) 2.Wales Striker and Real Madrid Forward, Gareth (4) 3.Kebbi State Governor, Usman (9) 4.Dolphins F.C. Coach, Stanley (5) 5.Country in Europe (5) 6.L.G.A in Osun State (8) 11.Fifth Month of the Year (3) 13.Borno State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Lawal (5) 14.L.G.A in Akwa-Ibom State (9) 15.Land Measurement Unit (4) 16.Chile’s First President, Manuel Blanco (8) 17.L.G.A in Edo State (4) 19.container (3) 21.Director-General, International Labour Organisation (ILO), Mr. Guy (5) 22.L.G.A in Benue State (5) 24.Solar Planet (4) 25.L.G.A in Jigawa State (4)

SOLUTION on page 16

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