APC jabs Jonathan again

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SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015 —3

30 bodies of AirAsia crash victims recovered

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HE bodies of 30 AirAsia crash victims have been recovered from the sea as rescuers continue to scour the seabed for wreckage.

Some of the bodies were discovered still strapped into their aircraft seats, according to officials involved in the search.

Among the recovered victims were two children, according to reports. So far, only four have been identified and their bodies returned to their families.

There are now 65 ships, 14 planes and 19 helicopters involved in the search and rescue mission,

six days after flight QZ8501 disappeared from radar screens over the Java Sea with 162 people on board.

The commander of one of the Indonesian naval ships involved in the search said the tail of the plane had been sighted at a depth of 29m.

The Singaporean defence minister Ng Eng Hen posted pictures of window panels recovered from the sea on his Facebook page on Friday morning.

He wrote: “RSS Supreme recovered a piece of an aircraft this morning, likely to be a window panel. They have informed the

Indonesian search authorities and will be handing over the item.”

Sonar equipment and metal detectors are being used to try to discover the black box, which will help investigators establish what caused the plane to smash into the sea.

Bad weather is known to have contributed to the disaster, which came half way through a short haul flight from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore.

The pilot had asked air traffic control for permission to climb the Airbus A320 to a higher altitude to avoid storm

clouds but heavy air traffic meant this request was denied.

Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency chief Henry Bambang Soelistyo said: “We will focus on underwater detection.”

The black box data recorder contains crucial information such as engine temperature, vertical and horizontal speed.

The search team is also hunting for the voice recorder, which will have captured conversations between the pilot and others in the cockpit.

Mr Soelistyo estimated the fuselage would be lying

at a depth of between 25m and 30m (80ft-100ft).

The victims identified and returned to their families are Hayati Lutfiah Hamid, flight attendant Khairunisa

Haidar Fauzi and passengers Kevin Alexander Soetjipto and Grayson Herbert Linaksita.

Rescue workers conveyeing one of the victims.

Prince Andrew named in sex scandal

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UCKINGHAM Palace has denied “any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors” by Prince Andrew, after he was named in US court papers.

A woman named him in documents she filed in a Florida court over how prosecutors handled a case against financier Jeffrey Epstein.

She claims that between 1999 and 2002 she was forced by Epstein to have sex with the prince when she was a minor.

According to the BBC, the palace said it would not comment in detail on the legal proceedings.

But a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: “This relates to long-standing and ongoing civil proceedings in the United States, to which the Duke of York is not a party.

“As such we would not comment on the detail.

However, for the avoidance of doubt, any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors is categorically untrue”.

•Prince Andrew

4—SA TURD A Y Vanguard , JANU ARY 3, 2015 4—SATURD TURDA JANUARY

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SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JANUART 3 3, 2015 —5

APC jabs Jonathan again!

•He can’t tackle corruption even if he spends 60 years in office •It’s nonsense, FG reacts •As US donates warship to Nigeria

By Evelyn Usman and Ben Agande

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HE United States gov ernment yesterday donated a war ship to the Federal Government to enable it checkmate criminal activities like crude oil theft, arms proliferation, piracy and other forms of insecurity in the nation’s maritime environment and the Gulf of Guinea.

The donation is coming even as the All Progressives Congress, APC, has asked Nigerians to use their votes to express their dissatisfaction with President Goodluck Jonathan’s alleged inability to fight corruption and insecurity which were the two major challenges facing the country in the last six years.

However, the warship earlier known as the United States Coast Guard Gallatin ,USCGG was designed as a high endurance cutter.

The ship which was completely overhauled in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, with about $8 million (about N1.34billion) had already been renamed as NNS Okpabana by the Nigerian Navy.

The ship was formally received by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin and other top government officials at the Nigerian Navy Dockyard at about 11am yesterday amid pomp and festivity.

In his remarks at the occasion, Vice Admiral Jubrin said that NNS Okpabana was the second of the Hamilton class of cutters to join the Nigerian Navy fleet between 2012 and 2014.

According to him, the first one , NNS Thunder had assisted the Navy in curtailing threats in the nation;’s maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea.

He expressed optimism that the additional warship would not only bolster the Navy’s zeal by addressing the menace in the nation’s maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea but also support regional and global efforts to eliminate tarns-national maritime threats.

“It is common knowledge that littoral nations, in addition to the numerous benefits they derive from sea resources , also experience challenges or threats within their maritime domain. In the case of Nigeria, the mar-

itime domain is threatened by crude oil theft , unreported and unregulated fishing, smuggling, arms proliferation, and sea robbery/piracy among others. ‘’In recognition of these challenges and in consonance with the on-going transformation agenda of the federal government of |Nigeria, the Navy evolved the transformation plan 2010-2020 with a view to enhancing its operational capability and discharging its statutory role effectively and efficiently in the coming years. ‘’One of the pillars of the transformation is fleet renewal which focuses on new acquisition and maintenance of ships in our fleet.

The actualisation of the plan can only be achieved with the support of the people and Federal Government as well as our foreign partners and allies such as the U.S.A,’’ he said.

Describing the arrival of the ship as a manifestation of the determination of the Federal Government and the USA to rid the country’s territorial waters of thieves and vandals, Jubrin assured that with such gesture, the Navy would be better positioned to guarantee security in the nation’s maritime domain, with a view to boosting trade and commerce necessary for a strong national economy.

The U.S Consul General, Jeff Hawkins who also spoke on the occasion said that the war ship was given to support Nigeria counter criminalities in the region.

“Many of the region’s challenges come from the sea and this powerful new naval platform will significantly enhance Nigeria’s ability to control the maritime environment. The Okpabana, like the NNS Thunder before her, strongly demonstrates America’s commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s security. “”We work closely with this country’s Navy and and with all of Nigeria’s service arms, to counter threats to Nigerian and African security. We have a common interest in a peaceful, well policed Gulf of Guinea and support from the USA significantly increases Nigeria’s ability to reach this shared goal” The Gulf of Guinea had

Cross section of crowd at the Ogun State Government organised musical carnival and fireworks night to usher in the new year at Sapon - Itoku bridge, Abeokuta. reportedly recorded a leap in violent crimes by sea pirates leading to loss of lives and hijack of vessels.

For instance, report by the the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence revealed recently a 25 percent increase in incidents such as vessels being fired upon, boarded and hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea, between 2012 and 2013 alone.

Meanwhile, the APC has urged Nigerians to use their votes to express their dissatisfaction with President Goodluck Jonathan for his inability to fight the two main challenges facing the country, corruption and security, despite having six years to do so.

According to the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, ‘’The President has finally admitted that the two main challenges facing the country are corruption and insecurity, and seems to be telling Nigerians to give him more time to tackle the problems. But the truth is that he lacks the capacity to fight and defeat these challenges, whether in six or 10 years. ‘’A President who has spent the last six years trying to diagnose the main problems facing the country will apparently need another four years to plan how to tackle the challenges. By then, all of us would

have been buried under the rubble of corruption and our country would have been decimated by insecurity. It is therefore time for Nigerians to vote in a President who will hit the ground running, a President who will tackle the problems of corruption and insecurity headlong, without giving excuses for failure. ‘’Mr. President said he wants to put in place the institutions to tackle corruption before taking on the canker worm that has almost destroyed the fabric of our society. Pray, whatever happened to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC? Were they not institutions specifically created for the purpose of tackling corruption, but which the Jonathan administration chose to castrate? ‘’There is no better way to say this: President Jonathan lacks the political will to tackle corruption and he will not tackle it if he spends 60 years in office.’’

It also said the President missed a golden opportunity to take on and defeat the Boko Haram insurgency in its early stages but instead chose to engage in shadow boxing. ‘’When he was not blaming everyone but his administration for the insurgency,

he was playing primordial politics with it, to such an extent that the terrorists became strengthened and emboldened to strike at times and places of their own choosing. ‘’Had the President learnt a lesson or two from the crushing defeat of the Maitatsine sect by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, which signalled the death knell of the sect that is a precursor of Boko Haram, the insurgency that is daily claiming the lives of our citizens would have been defeated early on. ‘’It is too late in the day for President Jonathan to engage in sophistry over the twin evil of corruption and insecurity.

He has reached the limit of his capacity to tackle these challenges and it is time to allow those with necessary political will and capacity to take on the challenges before they crush the country,’’ APC further stated.

Reacting to APC’s statement, the Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Media Matters, Dr. Reuben Abati, said Lai Mohammed’s statement was one of his habitual nonsense.

“It is a pity that Lai Mohammed is starting off in the new year mounting his habitual nonsense. Anybody who listened carefully to the president and has followed the activities of government closely will see very clearly that his administration is committed to fighting insurgence and corruption.

“ Has also shown political will in strengthening the security process to deepen the capacity to win the war against terror.

“Many of our security agents have had to pay the supreme sacrifice in waging this war.

When Lai Mohammed talks glibly about the efforts of government, he insults the memory and heroism of these patriots. President Jonathan has always appealed to the opposition not to play politics with issues of national security. Obviously, politics and personal ambition are more important to Lai Mohammed and his masters.

On corurption, Abati said: “this administration is committed to fighting corruption and has always done so. By bringing up the issue in his new year message, the president was reemphasising the importance of the war against corruption.

But characteristically, he and his masters saw in that an opportunity to play cheap politics.

“The president had advised the political class to be civil, state-manly and patriotic, but less than 48 hours later, Lai Mohammed chose to be uncivil and uncouth. We hope that this is not the style of campaign that the APC has chosen to deploy for the 2015 election.”

6 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

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Suspected Fulani herdsmen kill 25 in Kaduna, Plateau •As police bomb disposal unit detonates bomb near Islamic scholar’s residence in Plateau

By Marie-Therese Nanlong with agency report

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O fewer than 25 people were reported to have been killed in Kaduna and Plateau States in the early hours of yesterday, following separate attacks on the people by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

In Kaduna, 15 people were killed at AmbeMadaki village in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State at about 4am, while 10 persons were killed in Shurun village, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State where fight erupted between the Fulani herdsmen and the natives in the area.

It was learnt that several other people were seriously wounded during the mayhem which led to the razing of 40 houses, altogether.

This was even as the Plateau Police Command AntiBomb squad yesterday diffused a bomb planted close to the residence of a prominent Islamic scholar in Jos, Sheik Yahaya Jingir.

However, the incident in the Sanga area of Kaduna, however, almost sparked a religious crisis, as thousands of natives who protested the incident allegedly marched to Gwantu, the headquarters of the local government to register their displeasure over the incessant attacks despite the peace agreement the people signed with the Fulani several months ago turned violent but the prompt intervention of the Special Military Task Force stationed in the area averted further bloodshed.

The attack was said to have been carried out at about 4am, barely a week after 10 people were killed in Tattaura village in the same local government by some suspected Fulani herdsmen.

Sources told Saturday Vanguard that the suspected herdsmen who were armed with sophisticated weapons invaded the village in the early hours of the morning and started shooting sporadically while setting people’s houses ablaze.

A resident of the area, Mr. Yohanna Adamu told reporters on the telephone

Dankwambo begins disbursement of N750m loan to traders

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OV. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State on Friday flagged-off the first phase of disbursement of N750 million Trade Intervention Fund to 2,065 traders.

Speaking at the forum, Dankwambo said the loan was meant to support traders in their businesses while uplifting the standard of living of the people.

According to him, the loan is interest-free but had negligible administrative charges to be paid to JAIZE Bank.

“The state government is deliberately partnering with JAIZE Bank to administer the Trade Intervention Fund because of its banking ethics and readiness to contribute positively towards the development of Gombe State,” he said.

Out of the amount, he said N500 million would be disbursed to the Main Market, Old Market and Village Traders Market Association which constituted the three leading traders’ groups.

2015: Ogun PDP faults Olabayo’s prediction Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd l), presenting a plaque to Mr. Phaen Hillary Odion (2nd r) while the Publisher Ovation Magazine, Basorun Dele Momodu (l) and the Founder, Change-A-Life Programme, Ms Funmi Iyanda (r) look on during the 13th Anniversary of Funmi Iyanda’s Change-A-Life Programme at the NTA Network Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, recently. that 20 houses were razed while several other people sustained serious wounds during the attack, which he said lasted for some hours.

Adamu further said, “We are surprised that despite

the agreement our communities entered with the Fulani not to attack each other, they have been attacking us. They came to our village at about 4 am, armed with sophisticated

weapons and started shooting and burning houses.

“We have not compiled the casualty figure yet because some people are still missing, but we have 15 corpses of people who were killed.”

PDP woos Atiku, Kwakwanso •They may return before elections — Party scribe

By Gbenga Olarinoye, Osogbo

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HE national reconciliation committee of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP has commenced intensive efforts to bring back some of its former chieftains who defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress APC including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Kano state Governor, Dr Rabi Kwakwanso to its folk.

Fielding questions from newsmen in Ile-Ife ,the national Secretary of the Party, Prof. Wale Oladipo hinted that the party has reached out to many of its aggrieved members, especially those who have defected to other political parties.

He noted that the party’s reconciliation committee recently set up by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party will meet with all the former members of the party in the APC and other political parties before the next general elections to ensure that the PDP wins the elections in all parts of the country.

This, he said would enhance the victory of President Goodluck

Jonathan in the February Presidential poll and also brightens the chances of the PDP in other elections.

He expressed optimism that those who have left the PDP for personal and political reasons would soon join the party, going by the reconciliation efforts of the

leadership of the party.

“We are reaching out to our former members particularly those who left the party for the opposition to pursue their presidential ambitions but were humiliated. People like Atiku and Kwankwanso are definitely on their way back to PDP”, he added.

Drama as El-Rufai breaks protocol, walks out of Kagoro festival *No! he wanted to catch a flight — Aide

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HERE was drama at Kagoro, Kaduna State, Thursday, when the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, stormed out of the Afan festival, following alleged comments by the Chairman of Kagoro Development Association, KDA, Chief Paul Abiyong.

Although, el-Rufai’s supporters said that the former Minister rushed out of the venue to enable him catch a flight for an overseas trip, supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, claimed that Mallam elRufai left following the alleged overwhelming sup-

port given to both the Vice President, Namadi Sambo and Governor Mukhtar Yero of the state, over the achievements of the governor in the area.

It was gathered that elRufai who was officially invited to the ceremony was seated along with Sambo, Yero and other important personalities when Abiyong reportedly expressed appreciation to Yero for his ‘’numerous achievements in their domain,’’ saying that, ‘’like Oliver Twist, the governor should do more, especially in the areas of provision of water, completion of Kagoro Hill Project,’’ among others.

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HE Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has faulted the prediction of the founder of Evangelical Church of Yahweh, Lagos, Primate Theophilous Olabayo, that the All Progressives Congress, APC, would retain Ogun State in this year ’s election.

In a statement by the State Secretary, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo, the party said Olabayo’s prediction may have been based on events preceding the submission of the names of candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. It advised Primate Olabayo to look back at his crystal ball, he would see that God has heard the cries of the good people of Ogun State for change with the calibre of candidates the PDP is fielding.

The party noted that while some of Primate Olabayo’s predictions may have come to fruition, others have not been so.

It recalled that around 2000/2001 when former US Vice-president Al Gore squared up against George Bush (Jnr), Primate Olabayo said Al Gore would win but he didn’t.

2015: We won’t set up clearance committees over candidates’ documents —INEC

By Joseph Erunke

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HE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, said unlike the previous elections, it would not empanel clearance committees to scrutinize records of candidates seeking various elective offices in this year ’s general elections.

The development is a complete deviation from the 2007 and the 2011 general elections where the commission set up verification committees to clear or disqualify candidates from the elections, after submission of their lists by the political parties.

The commission, pursuant to the provisions of section 31 of the Electoral Act 2010, has the mandate of undertaking such exercises, shortly after it has commenced the publication of the personal particulars of candidates, otherwise known as Form CF 001 for the offices of President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Governor, Members of the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) as well as the State Assemblies.

Mr Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, told Vanguard in a telephone interview that the commission has no such arrangement in the forth coming elections.

“To the best of my knowledge, there is no such arrangement. I don’t have such information yet,” he said.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015 — 7

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We are not with Buhari’s original copies of certificates — Army

By Kingsley Omonobi, Abuja

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point of entry into the service.

According to the source, the Military only kept photocopies of credentials of officers and soldiers in their personal files that were in the military secretary’s office.

“The original certificate of any officer or soldier is only needed at the point of entry into the service either as a cadet officer entering the

Nigerian Defence Academy, or the recruitment officers when interviewing recruits to be sent to the depot for training. That is so, because they are needed to verify what were in the photocopies supplied by them or from the necessary examining bodies.”

The source further stated that anybody claiming that his original certificates were

with the Military Secretary (Army), had ‘’ulterior motive(s) or something he or she cannot explain.’’

He further added, “Let me tell you now, in the Navy, the Navy Secretary, NAVSEC, keep the documents of all Naval officers and ratings and not their original certificates which are their personal property.

EW days after the former Head of State and Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, retd, explained in an affidavit submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that all his academic credentials were with the Military Board, the Army have stated that they do not keep the certificates of any serving or retired officer or soldier.

General Buhari is contesting the presidential election for the fourth time under different political parties including the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, but the issue of his qualifications had never been controversial until the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, recently described him as a ‘’semi- From left, Kunle Sonami, Nwogu Benjamin and Ayo Ojuroye receiving award illiterate.’’ from BetaNaija organisation in Lagos recently.

However, against the backdrop of Buhari’s affidavit in court, a military source said ‘’that the Army can not keep anybody’s original certificate because RESIDENT Goodluck it is the personal property Jonathan will election.

A release by the Special Rufai Alkali, a professor, of the owner,’’ adding that inaugurate his campaign Adviser on Political on Thursday said the such original certificates team on Monday in Abuja, Matters to the President, inauguration will take were only needed at the ahead of the February 14 place at the Peoples

LASG to start conversion of water hyacinth into fertiliser — Official

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HE Lagos State Public Advice Centre (PAC) said the state government would soon start the conversion of water hyacinth into fertiliser for farmers.

An official of the centre, Mr Alex Omorodion, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that most of the water hyacinth would be used for the benefit of the people. He said that the Lagos State Government (LASG) would employ some private contractors, alongside the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) for the water hyacinth conversion project. Water hyacinth is a natural phenomenon that occurs anywhere you have a large or medium scale water body.

Buhari is unfit to rule Nigeria — Olajumoke

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

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member of Board of Trustees (BOT) of Peo ple’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Bode Olajumoke has said that the temperament and political antecedents of the Presidential candidate of the opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen Muhamadu Buhari (rtd) has made him unfit to rule the country.

Olajumoke in an interview with newsmen said that “Nigerians can no longer stand military dictatorship.

He said “People have analyzed the temperament of General Buhari and citing very many incidents in the past, his temperament, his attitude and his statements have been diagnosed and analyzed, to my mind you have to concede to the opinion of Gen. Babangida that is a very deep statesman.

“I don’t think Gen Buhari is not a proper and fit person for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this dispensation.

Under the military, perhaps but this is democratic setting.”

Jonathan to inaugurate campaign team Monday, Beneficiaries hail SURE-P Anenih, Fani-Kayode to be named directors empowerment scheme

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2015: PDP charges politicians to focus on truth *Cautions against unguarded utterances

By Henry Umoru

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HEAD of 2015 Gen eral elections, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has urged politicians to embrace peace, truth and respect for constituted authority, just as it urge politicians to ensure that their actions and utterances encourage such at all times.

According to PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, politicians must live in peaceful co- habitation and brotherhood.

Metuh said, the fact that the year 2015 unfolded with Eid-el-Maulud celebration has great significance and

presents an important lesson to all Nigerians to live in peaceful co-habitation and brotherhood.”

According to PDP, Nigerians must reflect on the occasion of Eid-elMaulud to deepen their commitment to and be guided always by the virtues of peace, truth, goodwill among one another and respect for constituted authority as taught by Holy Prophet Mohammed.

It charged the political class to desist from heating up the polity through inflammatory statements, politics of bitterness and desperation for power, adding that all must join hands to ensure the conduct of peaceful elections in February.

He said, “It is saddening that incendiary statements by some politicians fuelled violence and kill-

ing of innocent Nigerians. Indeed, this is not the way to go. The New Year and the Eid-el-Maulud therefore present yet another opportunity for a rethink. We pray that those who use false claims and inciting comments to stoke the fires of violence will retrace their steps and ensure that the New Year, with its promises, is not polluted by such actions.

“As we go along with the campaign therefore, we call on all politicians to endeavor to keep it clean, speak only the truth at all times and try to be more mature and decent in their conduct.

Nigeria belongs to all of us; her interest must be paramount, over and above all parochial interests.”

Restating its commit-

Democratic Party [PDP] presidential campaign office at Legacy House, in the Maitama District of Abuja by 2p.m.

According to the release, the Chairman of the Board of trustees of the PDP, Tony Anenih, has been appointed the national campaign adviser, while a former National Chairman of the PDP, Ahmadu Ali, will serve as the DirectorGeneral of the campaign organisation.

A former minister, Tunde Adeniran, will serve as deputy director general of the campaign’s head office, while the duo of Special Duties Minister, Kabiru Turaki and exAnambra governor, Peter Obi, will serve as Deputy Directors-General for north and south respectively.

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi FaniKayode, is the Director of Media and Publicity, while former Information Minister, Jerry Gana, heads the campaign’s contact and mobilization unit.

By Bashir Adefaka

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HE three-day training by Graduate Intensive Scheme, GIS, under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Finance, was concluded during the week in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, just as scores of beneficiaries lauded the initiative.

The programme which attracted a lot of unemployed graduates equipped the beneficiaries with the technicalities of being self employed.

A participant, Grace Oyekanmi, who expressed satisfaction with the handling of the programme, said the consulting firm did very well as the programme had opened our eyes to self discovery and development.

She, however, urged the government to ensure continuity of the programme to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country.

Also Nasiru Gbadamosi, another intern noted, “Now I can say that I have fully discovered myself. Here, I have learnt strategy, tactics and application of both. The Federal Government has really tried and I thank President Goodluck Jonathan for this laudable programme.”

Maolud: Kwara Speaker charges Muslims on piety

By Demola Akinyemi

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HE Speaker,Kwara State House of Assembly,Barrister Abdulrazaq Atunwa has urged Muslims in Nigeria to imbibe the virtues of piety, humility and modesty of Prophet Mohammed to restore peace, stability and accelerated development of the nation.

The Speaker gave the advice while felicitating with Muslims on the occasion of Maolud Nnabbiyy celebration.

Barr Atunwa in a Statement by his Media Assistant Alh Abdul Rahman Sanni described Prophet Mohammed as an epitome of piety, humility,tolerance, modesty and disciplinarian per excellence whose life should be emulated by all Nigerians.

8 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

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APC raises alarm over threat to P Amaechi’s life •As PDP accuses him of treason

BY DAVIES IHEAMNACHOR

ORT HARCOURT: The Rivers State branch of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) has insisted it will not suspend the ongoing indefinite strike by the body or involve in emergency services, adding that the strike was a national directive.

This was disclosed in a meeting with the Rivers State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Sampson Parker who appealed with JOHESU, to suspend the ongoing indefinite strike by the body and involve in emergency services owing to the efforts of the state government in the health sector.

Consequently, the union has insisted that the strike was national, stressing that the body would not even involve its members in emergency services as requested by the Commissioner adding that they would go back to service if the national issue was resolved.

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HE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has described as totally unacceptable, the kite being flown by the Federal Government about the possible arrest and trial of the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in connection with some of his recent public statements in his capacity as Director General of the General Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation (GMBPCO).

Meanwhile the Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP said that public declarations by the outgoing governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi were treasonable.

The PDP therefore, calls for the arrest and trial of Rotimi Amaechi to protect the peace and unity of the country.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s call to form a parallel government if the All Progressives Congress, APC loses the general elections and his call on soldiers to protest, are calls to arms, incitement at best from one who is the chief security officer of a State.

He cannot incite Nigerians, the military and security agencies to take up arms against the country at the twilight of his wasteful regime and we sit and watch him undermine the federal government and continue to provide aid and comfort to enemies of Nigeria.

Governor Amaechi had at several fora urged to take up arms against the police.

Amaechi is a security risk in Nigeria and should be made to face the law.

However, General Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation (GMBPCO), said: “We have every reason to be worried about the safety of our dear Governor in view of the lessons of history, especially with regard to the late Chief MKO Abiola, who was unjustifiably detained, only to die under mysterious circumstances while in government custody. We are, therefore, reluctant to dismiss reports in various media outlets suggestive of a threat to the life of Governor Amaechi in connection with his current assignment as Director General of General Muhammadu Buhari

We will not down tools — Rivers JOHESU

Ughelli NUJ decries murder attempt on member President Goodluck Jonathan (2ndleft), being received by the Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson (m), and his wife, Dr. (Mrs) Rachael Dickson (2ndright) while the President’s’son, Ariwabai Jonathan (left) and the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Mr. John KennedyOpara (right) watch with delight, during the President’s visit to the State.

Presidential Campaign Organisation,” Rivers APC said in a statement issued Friday in Port Harcourt by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.

The party strongly condemned the threat issued to Amaechi on Monday by the Department of State Security (DSS), which described Amaechi’s recent allegation of corruption in the Nigerian military as inciting and unguarded.

“This is nothing but an attempt to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it.

There is nothing inciting, unguarded or treasonable in Governor Amaechi’s statement. The governor,

while expressing his views on the factors militating against the success of the Federal Government’s war against Boko Haram insurgents in the North Eastern part of the country, blamed the challenges on corruption in the military hierarchy and not on inadequate funding as the public is made to believe.

It is unfortunate that, rather than accept the challenge of fighting corruption, the Federal Government has chosen to ignore the message and go after the messenger,” Rivers APC said.

The party warned that nothing must happen to Amaechi for patriotically exercising his freedom of

speech as a citizen of Nigeria in line with the Constitution of the country.

“We understand why the sinking PDP-controlled Presidency is resorting to intimidation as it has read the handwriting on the wall in the countdown to the 2015 presidential polls.

We, however, wish to make it clear that both Gov Amaechi and his supporters will not be cowed but remain resolute in leading the struggle to uproot PDP from the Aso Presidential Villa as the first step towards salvaging Nigeria from the doldrums occasioned by the inept 16year maladministration of PDP,” Rivers APC said.

2015:Okowa promises to focus on peace, unity of Delta

BY FESTUS AHON, Asaba

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OVERNORSHIP candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Delta State for the February general election, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has promised to focus on peace ,unity and prosperity of the State .

Okowa who spoke during the finals of the Senator Okowa Unity Football Competition being sponsored by Mr Sebastian Okoh for the 26 wards in Ika federal constituency, which was held at Ogbe Modern Primary School, Umunede ,said this year would bring about refocusing of governance in the state if elected.

While also promising a

responsive and responsible government that would create job opportunities,bring peace ,unity and development across the state , he said his experience in government and clear understanding of the state put him at advantage to tackle the challenges in the state. He said that his experience in government distinguished him from other contestants .

He said; “I represent the sum total of Delta state,” noting that “Deltans are one and that I am proud to be a Deltan”. He charged the people of the State to always emphasize “on the unity in us; the Delta in us and not ethnicity”.

He assured that if voted, his government would affect the lives of the people

from day one, challenges of the office notwithstanding. On the football competition, Okowa said “grassroots football will be harnessed across the state to bring peace, unity and development and to demonstrate that Deltans are one people”.

He commended Mr Sebastian Okoh for the initiative, which according to him, has brought about unity, peace and love among the people of Ika federal constituency.

Earlier in his address, Mr Okoh said the football competition was to galvanize grassroots support for Senator Okowa and to create an opportunity to celebrate his vision and commitments to prosperous Delta state.

BY PEREZ BRISIBE

M

EMBERS of the Nigeria Union of u r n a l i s t s , NUJ, Ughelli Correspondent Chapel have condemned in strong terms, the continuous attack on their Financial Secretary, Comrade Matthias Ogbagah by suspected assassins perceived to have been sent by someone who wanted him dead by all means.

In a release signed yesterday by Comrades Festus Ahon and Sunday Apah, Chairman and Secretary respectively, on behalf of the union, called on the security agencies within Ughelli and its environs to come to their aid by putting a stop to the continuous attack on journalists.

The statement reads, “It could be recalled that on the 15th of November, 2014, armed men spent about four hours to break into Comrade Matthias Ogbagah’s Ughelli residence in the night and macheted him to the point of death. They only left because they believed he was dead”.

Again, unidentified gunmen numbering over seven stormed his residence at Ogodo Street between the hours of 8 and 9pm on December 31st and shot at him at close range and left him in his pool of blood, thinking he was dead”.

The union, in the statement wondered who is behind these attacks. “We want to appeal to the security agencies to take the security of life of journalists residing in Ughelli seriously and put a stop to the continuous attack on our members”, it added.

J

o

Money cannot win Rivers election — Wike

T

BY DAVIES IHEAMNACHOR

HE governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State Nyesom Wike has said money cannot be used to win election in the state adding that only God that can deliver one to the number position in the state.

Wike who spoke at a sensitization rally on Nonviolent Election organized by the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI), accused the Rivers State government of trying to use money to buy over voters to secure victory in the state.

He said All Progressives Congress (APC) believes in rigging and in the use of money to buy over voters, but said all the antics of the party to rig the forth coming election will be fruitless.

He said the president will be re-elected and he will win in Rivers state because it is the will of God. In his words: “APC, believes in rigging and in the use of money to buy votes, but I want to tell them that God is involved, there is nothing they can do. When God’s hand is involved there is nothing money can do.”

SA TURD AY V anguard ARY 3 SATURD TURDA Vanguard anguard,, JANU JANUARY 3, 2015 — 9

New year tragedy: 60yr old man, baby die in fire

By Evelyn Usman

T

RAGEDY struck on New Year day after a 60- year old man and an eight month- old baby lost their lives in different fire incidents in Lagos State.

Saturday Vanguard gathered that there were eight fire outbreaks in different parts of the state between January 1 and yesterday.

One of the incidents occurred at about 2am on January 1, at Ijaniki area of the state while majority of Christian faithful were either still at the cross over services or on their way back home.

It was alleged that the inferno at Ijaniki started when the cooking stove on which an unnamed woman was allegedly frying some frozen chicken inside her one room apartment at 22

Morakinyo street exploded and burst into flames.

As the fire raged, the woman was said to have rushed to fetch water from the well to contain it but the fire reportedly engulfed the entire room where she laid her baby.

Her husband and other occupants were still said to be in the church praying when the incident happened. The fire was said to have spread to the other six rooms and a shop according to the Lagos State Director of Fire Service, Mr Rasaq Fadipe, who said that the arrival of fire service men, however, prevented the fire from spreading to other buildings.

The second incident which claimed the life of the 60 year-old man occurred same day at 21/ 23 Idowu Rafiu Street in Aboru part of the state.

The deceased identified as Solomon Olukwumu was said to have locked himself up in one of the rooms of a flat of a two storey building while other members of his family went to church.

Tragedy struck after smoke was noticed from the flat. Occupants of the building were said to have later succeeded in putting out the fire, but unknown to them that someone in one of the bedrooms was roasted before then.

The body of Olukumu was said to have been discovered upon the arrival of his family members However, also confirming the incident, Fadipe said the man could have died of suffocation, noting that his body only had slight burns in the inferno which affected only one of the rooms in the building. According to him, eight distress calls were received by the fire service within 48 hours.

Man arrested 5 yrs after duping yam seller

By Tina Akannam, Dutse

J

IGAWA State of the Nigeria security and

Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) have arrested one Bashir Ali (27yrs) of Kofar Sarki, Kafin Gang in

2015: PDP risks losing Adamawa — Girei

By Umar Yusuf.

A

PEOPLE’S Democratic Party, (PDP) frontline politician in Adamawa State, Senator Abubakar Halilu Girei, has said that unless President Goodluck Jonathan and the national leadership of the party as a matter of urgency finds a lasting solution to the crises generated by non conduct of party primaries in Adamawa ,the party will stand the risk of losing all the February general elections.

Speaking to newsmen in Yola, Adamawa State Capital, Senator Abubakar Girei observed that that political jobbers, merchants and contractors have

hijacked the party in Adamawa ,who now run the PDP as personal estate at the expense of the popular will of the people.

Girei, a foundation member of PDP, described the Adamawa PDP primaries that took place in Abuja as a sham. He said that they were conducted against the popular will of the Adamawa people and validation of the candidates has led to crises in the party.

According to the former Senate Services Committee Chairman, six aggrieved governorship aspirants had submitted their petitions to the elections arbitration panel of the party, complaining about the anomalies perpetrated by the party leadership.

BirninKudu Local government area of Jigawa state after five years of duping a yam seller N116,000.00 According to investigation, the suspect collected the Yam tubers worth N116,000 under the pretense to sell and return the money but disappeared for five years.

The yam seller, Rufa’I Adamu of Makarahuta village in Kachako local government area in Kano state told the NSCDC during interrogation he later got hint that the suspect was hiding in Chad republic.

According to Malam Adamu he had made several efforts and even gone to his village in Jigawa state to look for him, and could not locate him.

His people said that he has disappeared for over 5years.

However, Malam Ali admitted committing the offense during interrogation, saying it was the work of satan

Abia state PDP Governorship flag bearer Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu presenting Rt. Hon. Udeh Okochukwu Speaker, Abia state House of Assembly as his running mate during the inauguration of 2015 PDP Campaign Committee in Umuahia.

Ikpeazu picks Okochukwu of Abia House as running mate

BY ANAYO OKOLI

A

BIA State governorship candidate of the ruling PDP, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has named the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Ude Okochukwu as his running mate for next month’s elections.

Okochukwu, from Nkporo, in Ohafia Local Government Area was said to have been selected based on his political experience and administrative ability.

Okochukwu has been a lawmaker for twelve years out of which he spent fours years as the Speaker of the House.

Meanwhile, Governor Theodore Orji has inaugurated the PDP 2015 election campaign committee with a charge to ensure that all the party ’s candidates for all the elective positions were delivered.

Inaugurating the committee yesterday at the Women Development Centre, Umuahia, Governor Orji challenged the committee to ensure that PDP wins all elective positions in Abia State.

Headed by the immediate past chairman of the party in the state, Senator Emma Nwaka, Orji charged the committee to strategize on the way forward especially with the threat coming from the

opposition and urged all PDP members in the

state to remain steadfast in the party.

APC, UPP flay INEC over redeployment of RECs as Enugu rejects new REC

BY FRANCIS IGATA The main opposition parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the United Progressives Party, UPP, at the weekend, took a swipe on the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, over the recent redeployment of Resident Electoral Commissioners,RECs, ahead next month’s general elections.

The Chairman,Enugu State chapter of APC,Mr. Ben Nwoye said,”it is bad for INEC to routinely, switch the RECs few weeks before the general elections. It shows that INEC trusted in the conduct of the elections.

He posited that these RECs must have built confidence with the political stakeholders in their various states.

The APC chieftain who described the recent exercise as a recipe for disaster, stated that the redeployed RECs already appreciate the geographical terrain of their operations as well as gasrn3ered knowledge of their states.

He lamented that their redeployment has rathered their knowledge

the state of operation useless as they are confronted with a new challenge of understand their new areas of operation.

“Enugu state do not have confidence that the new REC,Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu will be able to conduct or supervise a free and fair election because of his antecedents in Anambra State. He supervised the conduct of the most unfair election in Anambra state which is subject of litigation. INEC Charman, Prof. Attahiru Jega admitted that the election he(Onukaogu) conduct ed in Anambra last year was floored.

Similarly, the National Chairman of UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie said,”the redeployment has nothing to do with the acceptability of elections results, adding that INEC should go beyond individuals to building a strong institution that is tamper proof free from individual manipulations.

“The redeployment has not helped in the past and will not help now. It will only create an avenue for the RECs to make new friends in the new area where they are posted.”

C M Y K

10—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan (3rd right), with visiting Heads of State during the Nigerian Centenary Anniversary in Abuja. the magazine named him Man of the Year, which interestingly gave birth to its annual Man of the Year edition, and which has also become a media ritual world wide.

But throughout the year just gone by, Islamic militant leader Ibrahim Shekau and his Boko Haram boys did not, for a long period, lose media attention to another headlinegrabbing event or personality. What with their string of murderous atrocities, especially keeping the over 200 abducted Chibok Girls for more than Glo/CAF 250 days now!

Player of the Year

2014:

Not Just Another Year

BY OGHENE OMONISA

Y

ear comes and year goes.

That is how it has been and will always be. As the clock gently ticked away, bringing a year to an end, another was being born. The birth of a new year brings about the beginning of another 365 or 366 days, a duration with its symbolic nuances, tempo and memories.

C M Y K

But some years pack so much historic events that such years become unforgettable. In recording them for history, these events jostle for available media space, be it instantaneous reports as in online news updates, or breaking news in broadcasting or newspapers or newsmagazines.

The editors at TIME, U.S. leading international

newsmagazine, found similar challenges in 1927, when they chased aviator Charles Linbergh for its cover in May of that year. His historic nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic from New York to Paris was a news event which made Linbergh a deserved cover subject for the year. In justifying making him, in a news-scarcity season, a cover subject in its year-end issue,

February: Centenary Anniversary

2014 was a year which started with the exciting reminder that ours is a country which began with the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914. Our country became a century old. Thus began the old debate about where and what we were, are and ought to have been. But we, as always, eventually celebrated, inviting world leaders to the elaborate series of events. The day of the grand finale was Thursday, February 27.

January: Glo/CAF Player of the Year

True patriotism and genuine admiration for Nigerian and Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi had led many Nigerians to expect him to join African acknowledged greats by winning the 2013 Glo/CAF

Continues on page 11

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015—11

Season of Letter

Sanusi Lamido Recognition for Americanah

Continues from page 10 Player of the Year award in January. To their disappointment, the title went to Ivorian and Manchester City midfielder, Yaya Toure of Ivory Coast. But Toure deserved the award. Mikel was not in his class.

March: Recognition for Americanah

The Nigerian literary world was titillated by the news that Americanah, the third novel of our own Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, had been named one of the top 10 Best Books of 2013 by the New York Times. The choice was made by a team of editors of the newspaper, a paper which is widely regarded as the most prestigious in the world. The prizes were expected to follow.

One came in the U.S. in early

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March: the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) award.

January: Open Letters Continued The public excitements created by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s open letter to President Jonathan in late 2013 spilled over to 2014 with Chief EK Clark’s 10-page open letter to Obasanjo instigating more public reactions and debates on the extended season of letter writing, especially with the Ijaw leader accusing Obasanjo of being a trouble-maker and a hypocrite.

February: Sanusi Lamido’s Sack

If former CBN governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido has gone down in history as the

most controversial CBN governor ever, 2014 will be recorded as the year he stood up to the presidency. The mallam rattled the Presidency and elicited copies in the newsrooms when he refused to resign when President Jonathan ordered him to, following his leaked letter to the president, claiming that $49.8bn oil revenue was missing. Surprisingly, support came for the headline-grabbing governor when many lawyers, and even some federal legislators later, began quoting laws in his favour. He would later be suspended by the presidency in February over alleged ‘acts of financial recklessness and misconducts’, four months to the expiration of his five-year term in June a successor was appointed, this caused him to drag the president to court. The matter was still in court in June, when the Emir of Kano Ado Bayaro passed on and the mallam was appointed to succeed him as the 14th Emir. He has since withdrawn the case.

Bamanga Tukur’s Resignation

The wrangling in the PDP over its leadership eventually claimed its chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who resigned in January, replaced by Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, Bauch State former governor. This though would not make the decampee governors and lawmakers to return to the party. But it certainly helped to put the party in shape.

Bamanga Tukur

Nasir El-Rufai

January: Nasir ElRufai’s Arrest, Release

Colours of things to come in 2015 began to appear when Mallam Nasir ElRufai, former FCT minister and now APC Kaduna State gubernatorial candidate was detained by the DSS in January, over his comment that violence might erupt in

Continues on page 12

12—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

Continues from page 11 2015 if elections were rigged. And to protest alleged reign of impunity in Rivers State, APC legislators carried out party directives to shut down the government by shutting down government bills.

February: Atiku Abubakar’s Last Chance

Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar began his last quest for the presidency when he ditched the PDP for APC in February. The journey would continue with his eventual purchase of the APC presidential form. But he would ultimately lose out to Gen. Mohammadu Buhari in the December party primary.

Asari-Dokubo

Atiku Abubakar

February: AsariDokubo’s Arrest, Release

For alleged inflammatory remarks, Alhaji Mujahid AsariDokubo, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples’ Volunteer Force (NDPVF) was arrested, interrogated and eventually released in February.

February: Etisalat Prize for Literature

The Nigerian literary community, and by extension, that of the whole of Africa, got a fillip in February with the organisation of the first edition of the Etisalat Prize for Literature, which held in Lagos and was won by Zimbabwe’s Noviolet Bulawayo, with her book, We Need New Names. The prize is for Africa’s most prolific debut book.

Stella Oduah

National Conference

Stella Oduah’s Sack be cancelled by the federal government.

February: Stella Oduah’s Sack

April: Nigeria’s economy Is $510bn Big

Following the scandal caused by her purchase of allegedly inflated N255m bullet-proof cars the year before, Stella Oduah was eventually dropped as minister of aviation in February.

March: 2014 National Conference

At last the federal government released the names of the 483 prominent Nigerians in March, to possibly hammer out details of a new constitution for Nigeria at the National Conference, which also kicked off that month. If anything, Nigerians like talking, even if for free. Now, for being paid, the delegates were expected to talk a lot. And they did eventually talk.

A lot! Many Nigerians have since forgotten most of the things they talked about. They will be remembered when the government is set to implement the adopted resolutions.

March: Nigerian Immigration Service Recruitment Tests

Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment tests Then came the immigration job test, which claimed tens of lives across the country. The Nigerian Immigration Service had advertised for 4,500 job spaces. And hundreds of thousands of applicants had indicated interest by purchasing the N1,000 application form. Recruitment tests were slated across the country. But the number of applicants was too high to be properly managed. 69,000 applicants thronged the 60,000

capacity National Stadium in Abuja; and there were 56,000 applicants in Lagos; 23,000 in Port Harcourt; 20,000 in Benin City; 12,000 in Akure; 11,000 in Minna; and similar number across the country. Recruitment test centres were unable to accommodate them. At the end of the day, scores had died from exhaustion and suffocation, and certificates were lost. The date was Saturday, March 15.

Following public outcry, the whole exercise would eventually

It could have easily passed for an April Fool prank as it came on April 6, that Nigeria is now the largest economy in Africa and the 26th largest in the world, courtesy of a new rebase, which put its size at $510bn, as against the World Bank’s 2012 figure of $262.6bn. But it will take more than statistics to convince the average Nigerian that our economy is bigger than that of South Africa, a country which still retains the World Bank’s 2012 $384.3bn figure, a country where Nigerians troop to, to earn enough to send back to their families and loved ones, and a country with better social amenities and infrastructure.

Minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, understands these, thus she added that the government needed to build safety nets to close the income inequality gap in the country, saying, ‘inequality has been rising so we need to a

Continues on page 13 C M Y K

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Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015—13

Newspapers’ Seizure

Wole Soyinka

Newspapers

magazine of the Financial Times Group in its 2014 edition. The banks that made the list are Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, FirstBank, Access Bank, United Bank for Africa, Fidelity Bank, Ecobank and Skye Bank.

Others are First City Monument Bank, Diamond Bank, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria and Union Bank of Nigeria.

July: Wole Soyinka At 80

Soldiers court marshalled Continues from page 12 build social nets meant to take care of those at the bottom of the ladder. ’

April - July: Milestones

Death visited foremost movie producer and director, Mrs. Amaka Igwe, on April 28, at 51.

She passed on in her Udi country home, Enugu State. The creator of Checkmate and Fuji House of Commotion died of asthma. Then came the death of eminent jurist Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, May 4, at 97, in Abuja. He was the chief care-taker of the famous Oputa Panel (Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission), which was constituted by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to investigate rights abuses

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during the 15-year military rule from 1984 to 1999.

Alhaji Ado Bayero, Emir of Kano and one of Nigeria’s most prominent Islamic leaders, took a bow at his palace on June 6, at 83. He died of cancer. The next day, cancer, ovarian this time, snuffed life out of irrepressible Prof Dora Akunyili of NAFDAC fame, in far away India. She was aged 60.

Prominent businessman, Alhaji Arisekola Alao, died in his sleep at his London home, June 18. He was 69. Then former minister of transport and strongman of 2nd Republic politics, Alhaji Umaru Dikko, died of stroke July 1, in London, at 78.

June: Newspapers’ Seizure

The Jonathan government

practically took Nigeria back to the military era when, in the morning of Friday, June 6, armed soldiers and operatives of the SSS intercepted and raided newspaper distribution vans and seized and damaged copies of newspapers nationwide. Wide condemnations trailed these actions. The next day, similar actions were carried out by security personnel in Minna, the Niger State capital. It went on for a few more days.

July: Nigerian Banks Among 1,000 Global Banks

There came uplifting news from the banking sector around this time, that thirteen Nigerian banks have been listed among the Leading 1,000 Global Banks as published by The Banker

2014 is the year Prof. Wole Soyinka clocked 80! Does he need any introduction! Born on July 13, 1934 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Prof. Soyinka attended both the University of Ibadan (then known as University College, affiliated to the University of London) and the University of Leeds, in the UK. He quickly became a university teacher, playwright and poet.

Some people liken him to William Shakespeare, also of the same initials (W.S.), and refer to him as our answer to Shakespeare.

Known for his literary prowess, Prof. Soyinka won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986, the first African to do so. His 80th birthday was well celebrated.

September: Soldiers To Be Executed

Then came the news on Tuesday, September 16, that twelve Nigerian soldiers have been sentenced to death for mutiny after shots were fired at their commanding officer by Boko Haram insurgents in the restive North-Eastern city of Maiduguri,

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14—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

Ebola Outbreak

Ebola Outbreak Continues from page 13 in May. While Nigerians were still grappling with the impact of such pronouncement, another military court sentenced a different set of 54 soldiers to death in December, by firing squad for defiance against the battle against the Islamic militant group. Nigerians still await their fate.

October: Yakubu Gowon At 80

Three months after Prof.

Soyinka’s 80th birthday, it was the turn of Gen Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s civil war head of state, who also clocked 80 in 2014.

Gen. Gowon holds the record of Nigeria’s youngest leader, becoming head of state at 32 in 1966. He was even a bachelor

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when he assumed office. His was October 19. Appropriately and deservedly elaborate ceremonies were also held to mark it.

July: Ebola Outbreak

If ever there was a news item which took the “shine” off Boko Haram the longest, it was the Ebola outbreak. The story goes of a certain Liberian-American diplomat named Patrick Sawyer, who travelled to Nigeria through Lagos on July 20, with the supposed intention of attending an ECOWAS convention in Calabar. But the guy knew what he actually wanted. He had contracted the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and actually wanted it treated in Nigeria, where he believed there were better

medical facilities than Liberia.

His sister, Princess, from whom he was believed to have contracted it, had died of it two weeks before. Sick on arrival, he sought an exclusive hospital for treatment. Not diagnosing any meaningful ailment, doctors had to test him for Ebola, having just come from Liberia, where there had been an outbreak of the disease.

Confirming he was down with the virus, he eventually died three days later. But before then, he had made contact with people, on the flight to Nigeria, in the hospital. And a few of them had contracted the virus.

Thus began the race to eradicate the virus from Nigeria. Those who had contracted it were traced, quarantined and treated. But

Yakubu Gowon

some could not survive it.

Public enlightenment campaigns were intense. School resumption was delayed by one month, banks and other public places providing sanitisers at the entrance became the norm.

Nigerians started washing their hands. Sanitary masks became

Continues on page 15

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015—15

Synagogue Church of All Nations’ building collapses

Synagogue Church of All Nations’ building collapse Continues from page 14 a common sight. And Nigeria and Nigerians won. Ebola is gone, taking 8 Nigerian lives.

July - November: Nigeria Without Sports Glory

2014 gave little joy in sports, but much sadness. Joy that Blessing Okogbare gave us double gold in 100 and 200 metres at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, in July; and joy that, in October, the Super Falcons lifted the trophy at the 9th edition of the African Women Championship in Namibia. But it was sad that Nigeria did not make much impact at the World Cup in Brazil; the saddest and one of the darkest spots of the year was when the Super Eagles failed to qualify to defend the African Cup of Nations in 2015.

September: Synagogue Church of All Nations’ Building Collapses

The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), located at Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos, had since turned out to be one of the most visited places by foreigners from all over the world, as well as Nigerians from every part of the country, seeking spiritual

Seizure of $9.3m arms money solutions to their problems. Its founder and leader, Pastor TB Joshua, is equally an international figure. So, when a building collapsed there, it was world news largely due to the number of foreigners and deaths involved as well as the international standing of the church and its founder. The building, which mostly served foreigners, was a five-storey guest house within the church premises. At the last count, 116 persons lost their lives. It was tragedy. The day was Friday, September 12.

September: Seizure of $9.3m Arms Money

The news of the arrest of two Nigerians and an Israeli in September, for attempting to illegally bring $9.3m cash into South Africa was just news until further details emerged that the money was to legally purchase arms on behalf of the Nigerian government, and that the private jet used, a Bombardier Challenger 600, with Registration No. 808HG, was owned by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and an ally and personal

friend of President Jonathan.

Then the whole story took another dimension: Political dimension. Some alleged that the Christian leader was an arms dealer; others claimed the arms were for Christians to fight Muslims, while a few others believed the arms were for the 2015 elections. It easily became a source of weapon for the opposition until explanation finally came from the leader of the Christian community himself, that he actually owned the jet, but that it was being managed by another company, Eagle Air, which leased it to Green Coast Produce Limited, and what Green Coast Produce did with it was no business of Eagle Air. The presidency had to wade in that the arrested arms dealers legally acted on behalf of the Nigerian intelligence service. End of story. It later went as far as to the Senate, but the end had earlier been seen.

November: 2 Nigerians Join World Billionaires’ Club

Then came the good news in November that two more Nigerians have joined the world billionaires’ exclusive

Continues on page 16 C M Y K

16—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

to see. It was high drama.

Olusegun Obasanjo’s Book

Obasanjo took his letter-writing hobby to another height when he released his autobiography, My Watch, in December 9. A controversial book even before it was released, Buruji Kashamu, chairman, organisation and mobilisation committee of the PDP in the South-West, and a personal friend of President Jonathan, had obtained a court order stopping the publication of the book. Expectedly, Obasanjo takes on Jonathan and a few others in the book, including Soyinka. Soyinka would later respond in a treatise, promising more detailed response later.

Sure, more literary fireworks are expected on the book this year.

December: 30 Days in Atlanta Makes N85 Million

One of the most exciting news of the year came towards the end, that 30 Days in Atlanta, the comedy movie produced by Ayo Makun, popularly known as AY, has grossed N85 million in two months, showing in Nigerian cinemas only. This has made the film the highest grossing in Nigeria, beating Half of a Yellow Sun, which had held the record at N60 million. N85 million in two months! In Nigeria! Big things are going on!

Wall scaling at the National Assembly complex

December: AirAsia Plane Missing, 40 Bodies Found

AirAsia Plane

Wall scaling at the National Assembly complex Continues from page 15 club. They are Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, former Abia State governor, industrialist and publisher of The Sun and New Telegraph newspapers, and Mr. Tony Elumelu, banker and chairman of UBA. By making Forbes magazine’s 50 Richest Africans list at $1b each, both automatically joined the world’s richest, joining four other Nigerians on the world C M Y K

billionaires’ club: Alhaji Aliko Dangote ($21.6b), Dr. Mike Adenuga ($4.1b), Madam Folorunsho Alakija ($2.5b) and General Yakubu Danjuma ($1.1b).

The good thing about this news is that if there are presently four billionaires in dollars in Nigeria, more certainly are coming behind, evidence of our greatness.

November: Wall Scaling At Assembly Complex

The police tried to prevent Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and other members from entering the National Assembly premises in November 20. Then commotion broke out as the law-makers attempted to force their way through. Tear gas followed and both Tambuwal and Senate President David Mark were affected. Some members had to climb the walls to gain entry. Cameras captured them for members of the public

2014 was a year during which many Nigerians were almost forgetting the existence of air disasters until it was starkly brought to our consciousness with the disappearance of an Indonesian AirAsia’s flight QZ8501, an Airbus A320-200, carrying 162 people; especially because it happened in the festive season: Sunday, December 28. As at Tuesday, December 30, the plane was yet to be found, but the Indonesian Navy said 40 bodies and wreckage had been recovered from the sea off the coast of Borneo.

2015 2014 will be remembered for many things, positive and negative. But it will be remembered more as the year the whole Nigerians defiantly stood up in unison to confront Ebola and defeat it. 2015 is here. There are the elections. And there is Boko Haram. If Nigerians could unite in the anti-Ebola spirit and vigour, these two events, like unforeseeable others to come in 2015, should not pose any formidable threat to our unity, the palpable fears notwithstanding.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015—17

the presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari to nominate the running mate.

That honour was largely because of the role Tinubu played in the emergence of Buhari as the candidate of the party even ahead of more organised aspirants like Atiku Abubakar.

Jonathan

Tinubu Obasanjo

Anenih

2015: Amaechi

Buhari

Here come the kingmakers

BY DAPO AKINREFON

T

HE long awaited 2015 general elections are at hand. Unlike previous elections, this year’s contests promise to be keenly contested by the respective gladiators across the country.

In the build-up to the primaries for the presidential, governorship, National Assembly and State Houses of Assemblies tickets of the major political parties, a number of intrigues were thrown up, putting to public the increasing sophistication of the Nigerian electorate.

Power brokers in many cases were put to test in their attempts to ensure victory of their chosen aspirants for political offices. In the All Progressives Congress, APC for example, kingmakers who in the past had foisted their preferences on party members were now made to appeal directly to party members in their bid to push through their preferences.

The doggedness of the political machine built by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a successful trial as his favoured aspirant, Akinwunmi Ambode easily got the ticket after his mentor went above the governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola to appeal to party members on behalf of Ambode. But

not all godfathers were successful. A number of governors were humbled, one of the most prominent, being Governor Martins Elechi of Ebonyi State whose supporters in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP have now resorted to Labour Party to seek political relevance.

As the February elections approach, the power blocs will further manifest themselves as the intra-party intrigues move on to a broader plain as the candidates of the major parties contend with one another.

Indeed, pundits hold the view that the electioneering campaigns will show the stuff the candidates are made of as they traverse the nooks and crannies to canvass for votes from voters.

There is no doubt that they (candidates) will seek the support and backing of these kingmakers, who will throw their weight around to ensure their choice(s) emerge victorious in the elections.

The power brokers are expected to use their political influence and resources to ensure those they back win at the polls.

President Goodluck Jonathan He is the presidential candidate of the PDP and is also the national leader of the PDP. Every

political permutation within the PDP is being made to favour him by the party even to the extent that candidates for other elective positions who it is suspected could drag the president down are being relegated.

Many people are also throwing the name of the president in projecting their aspirations even if falsely.

There was the case of a senator from the South-South who had spread word that the president had asked him to go for the governorship, but who got the jolt of his life when the president rebuked him at a public function telling him that even his return to the Senate was still a probability.

In the end the senator neither got the Senate ticket nor the governorship ticket.

Jonathan is also the number one kingmaker in his native Bayelsa State and it is instructive that his influence was brought to bear in the selection of party candidates in National Assembly elections.

Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu The influence of Asiwaju Tinubu was demonstrated after the presidential primaries of his All Progressives Congress, APC when he was given the offer by

Given his prominent role in the politics of the Southwest, Tinubu is in good position to influence Southwest votes in favour of Buhari. It is a scenario that is for the first time putting the PDP in trouble as the prospect of the dominant power losing power for once at the national level looks possible for the first time.

At the regional level, Tinubu’s influence is also being consolidated with all Southwest governors now deferring to him.

Olusegun Obasanjo Though out of power, he remains one man with a potential to cause mortal danger to the political aspiration of some of the country’s major political figures.

Obasanjo’s power is seen in his capacity to rally political stakeholders from across the different ethnic and political divides in the country and also, to speak out when many others are cowed.

Ahead of the forthcoming general elections, President Obasanjo has had to compare notes with his former political foes remarkably consulting with the likes of Tinubu, Buhari whom he had fought against before now.

Buhari Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC is the symbol of the change many of those against President Jonathan are looking up to address the perceived defects and deficiencies in the polity.

Buhari’s influence is defined by the mass hysteria that he stokes among the masses especially in the North.

Many political office seekers had in the past ridden on his coattails to political success in the north.

Rotimi Amaechi Governor Amaechi is the directorgeneral of the Buhari Campaign Organisation. A former student unionist, Governor Amaechi has been credited with the transformation that has seen in recent perceptions of the candidate even in the dressing of the candidate.

Chief Anthony Anenih The chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, is expected to provide strategic direction for the campaign to re-elect Dr. Jonathan and also play a major role in preelection matters that may affect the chances of the PDP in all elections.

He has been a helpful link in ensuring cordiality within the party especially linking the president with the vestiges of the original PDP that remain active in politics.

State governors The 36 state governors have continued to play prominent roles in the affairs of the country since the advent of the Fourth Republic.

Though some of the PDP governors found it difficult putting their feet down during their party primaries, the governors are going to be largely influential in determining the direction of votes in all elections in their states as they pull the levers of incumbency and patronage to push aspiration of their favoured candidates at all levels.

18—SA TURD AY Vanguard, JANU ARY 3, 2015 18—SATURD TURDA JANUARY

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t is a brand new year, and all its problems—which we fondly refer to as challenges—lie in wait for us. Each year has its own brand, but not often are the forebodings of a year so brightly etched on the distant horizon as we can appreciate in the beginning of the year 2015. Within the normal forebodings that an election year generates are also the issues of insurgences and the confusion they breed. We also hear of “ wars and rumours of war” in an environment made even the spikier by messages from our leaders, both spiritual and temporal, drenched with appeals for peace.

Among the sources of these admonitions, advice and plain entreaties are the two contestants in the presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP, the incumbent, and a former Military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari. The president tries to come across forcefully as a man of peace by stating, over and over again, that no political office is worth the shedding of one drop of blood of a Nigerian.

But can he really vouch for his kinsmen of the South-south some of who are on record as vowing that there would be bloodshed if he lost the election? Some of them are even connected with news of the purchase of some military materiel.

Such equipment is not generally acquired for •Buhari peacetime deployment except, of course, as position of the Muslim weapons for maintaining the people, where has the Brotherhood, which had law and order. That, as a press been adjudged very dropped into the position of matter fact, was the basis fair to officialdom? In the the opposition, but was also of the explanation United States? In the United declared illegal to boot. forwarded for the Kingdom? Or in the Rallies were mounted to the acquisition of some naval Philippines? Definitely not fury of the government boats recently. We were in Australia or Canada— which sought to repress the still left with some countries which all have a demonstrations with all discomfort after the loud claim to a free press. force. Gunshots featured somewhat glib But the press has sensitive profusely and lives were explanation. But, at toes, so anyone in power lost. The arrest of the three least, there was an had better tread softly. members of the reputable explanation.

We have no real indication television network excited But President Goodluck that President Jonathan will no feverish emotion until Jonathan has also have a set-to with the December 29, last year when they were sentenced to terms of imprisonment.

Greste and Mohammed were sentenced to seven years each, but Baher got an additional three years for being found in possession media, should he come back of an empty shell which he warned that, if he was had picked off the ground into Aso Rock, anyway. But returned into office with during the rally. journalists have a way of this election, he was going World-wide shock first trying to weigh all sides, to “step on some toes”. greeted the judgment, and and that is why some of the That leaves us in cold then appeals and protests misunderstanding arises. If comfort as members of the took over, all to no avail. one does not see an issue press. The president has World leaders, including from the same standpoint ridden one hobby-horse President Barack Obama, with the official view, the fat through this term of office, joined the plea, but the sometimes hits the fire. and that is his ire at being journalists’ case was not That, it would appear was so consistently criticised. reviewed, though an appeal how the young In fact, he believes that no professionals, now known as is in the offing. The head of former head of state has the Egyptian government the “Aljazeera Three” got been put through the mill declared that he would not into trouble. The three by the press as he has. journalists have now spent a “interfere with the And, if the truth be told, he judiciary”, though he could year in an Egyptian prison may just be right. What because they refused to lend free the journalists on the makes it more poignant is prerogative of mercy which a twist to events they were that deserved credit has he as the president could reporting in the highly not perhaps been exercise. However, explosive political drama forthcoming to equipoise demonstrations of support which began to play out the points of disapproval. for the Aljazeera Three immediately after the ouster Well, are we admitting continue unabated though of the Muslim Brotherhood here that the press could the Egyptian authorities from power. have been slightly more refuse to budge.

It is not on record that fair to the president?

The level of support from their activities were in Where in the world has a Nigeria has been rather anyway supportive of the free press, the watchdog of

*give me freedom

, C M Y K

For some flimsy excuse, he quickly slammed prison doors on three journalists from different establishments

,

•Jonathan

low. Aljazeera is not a total stranger to Nigeria. The network has even given an award for professional proficiency to one or two of our own journalists. It is, therefore, somewhat disheartening that we have shown so little by way of solidarity with the network in its time of need. It could be our turn next. As one of the embattled journalists has pointed out, journalists are no “longer on the frontlines; they are e frontlines.”

And, as a matter of current history, it does happen here too. The perpetrator of one of the really shocking cases is the other man now looking forward to rule the nation, as he once did as a military head of state. General Muhammadu Buhari took over the administration of this country In the era of “coups” when it was fashionable for members of the armed forces to suddenly take control of the administrative powers of their countries, at gunpoint.

Journalists were beginning to acclimatize to the environment of deprivation which the rule of the jackboot imposed on each section of the populace who were identified under the generic term of “bloody civilians”, when Buhari mounted the saddle. And hardly had he found his seat than he declared, for the benefit of all and sundry, that he was going to “tamper” with the press. And so he did!

For some flimsy excuse, he quickly slammed prison doors on three journalists from different establishments. We were all amazed, and

dumbfounded, and astounded, and simply bowled over. Many of us are yet to recover from the general shock of that event. There is hardly any situation so benumbing to a journalist, the watchdog of the freedom of the populace, to remain capriciously deprived of his own.

This remains a source of personal anxiety for me.

There are other important areas of government that should occupy our attention before a national election—power, education, transportation, health, etc—and they can be arranged in any order of priority, depending on one’s own perception of the importance attached to them by the immediate circumstances or concern.

But for me, it is freedom first, and then those other things can be added to human rights and desires.

And so, when it comes to making up my mind about for whom I shall cast my vote in another two months, the question I shall be asking myself is not just who can provide electricity, or construct better roads, or make the agriculture boom, but who would do all that is “needful” under all those categories, but also grant me the right to enjoy that inalienable right— freedom!

Will you Jonathan? Or can you Buhari?

Time out.

SATURDAY Vanguard Vanguard,, JANUARY 3, 2015—19

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ne of the few things that gladdened my heart this yuletide season was an announcement by my Parish Priest that the Lagos Arch-diocese of the Catholic Church had pledged the Christmas day second collections to helping our brothers and sisters in the North East.

We were therefore enjoined to contribute generously to the project and those who wanted to do more could send personal cheques to the pool. In an identical vein, a society called ‘friends of the needy’ arranged food packs for the poor and hungry in our midst. Each pack contained gari, beans, rice, sugar, indomie, a sachet of milk and a bottle where the truly poor live. You would of cooking oil; just shed a tear or two unless your heart enough to feed a small had been turned into stone, or worse, family for a day, and a politician’s heart. And if you loathed asked parishioners to buy to go that far, just ask your cleaner as many packs as they how she survives on the money you could conveniently afford. pay her and the many mouths she has These are causes for to feed. Find out what happens to her which I have empathy household when it rains and what because they go directly access she has to drinkable water, to the needy. These are then think of the many millions who causes I wish more are unemployed.

Nigerians would identify And now, by acts of omission or with because the gap commission, a whole zone, the North between the rich and the East, has become impoverished. poor is widening every day and is fast becoming a chasm. We all have got to do something fast before it becomes ‘they’ versus ‘us’.

It was a cause for concern some five years Worse, it has become a war zone. ago when global statistics Industries and businesses have been showed that the extreme wiped out; settlements have wiped poverty ratio in Nigeria, out; families have been wiped out and that is those who cannot whatever is left is fragmented. The afford two dollars a day, Governor of Borno State said the other had reached 60% of the day that over a million people have populace. Today, that migrated; many to Chad and other figure has climbed up to neighbouring countries. The refugee over 80% and I am not camps are bursting at the seams; the sure the full effect of the figures of internally displaced devastation in the North persons are rising every day; yet they east has been included. If don’t tell the whole story because a you are sceptical, just lot of displaced people are being leave your comfort zone accommodated by good Samaritans and go into the slums and compassionate households many

Show me your friends… of whom cannot really afford the extra mouths they are having to feed. Many are finding their ways to cities not so much to find jobs but to stay alive. Even roads are fraught with danger as bandits and Boko Haram roam freely.

A young female friend told me a pathetic but increasingly common story. She was approached by a junior staff in a company where she works and begged to find a home for his niece whose home in a village not too far from Maiduguri had been incessantly raided and ravaged by

It is a shame that our politicians don’t feel the level of poverty that is ravaging the country

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you know who. My young friend has just given birth and decided to bring the girl in as a nanny. Money was not even a bone of contention as the junior staff said that could be ironed out later. He just wanted her safe.

This was two weeks ago. At the time of writing this, the poor girl has not been able to transport herself to Lagos as many routes have been blocked off either by Boko Haram or Nigerian soldiers. Every day she is entrapped in the enclave is a day too long. What we read in the papers does not tell half the story of the

,

orget about yesterday.

The F future is too bright. The

pains, shame, sufferings and humiliations that you may have gone through in the past is nothing compared to the glory that is ahead of you. The kind of joy that cannot be hidden will be tasted by you this year. You will be among those that people will congratulate shortly.

You are nothing now compared to what God has planned and prepared for you.

No matter what you may have achieved in life, know that there are still more to be attained. The fact that you experienced some results yesterday is proof of the fact that there are still more ahead to attain. Apostle Paul said “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus “(2 Phil.

3:13-14).

Don’t be deceived, your future is not in the past. Greatness, victory and better testimonies are ahead of you. I decree over your life that the long awaited testimony will be given to you this year. The truth of it is that those that were against you will join to tell of the goodness of God in your life this year. Powers that have been contending with your destiny will be disgraced by God almighty. God will make your life praise shortly. He has kept His silence but no more. Those against you will know that you serve a God that cannot be defeated. He is the Man of War

Better future ahead

C M Y K

that will never lose any battle.

Your season of victory has come. Rejoice and give Him praise and glory in advance of the manifestation.

1 Cor. 2:9 says “But it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him”. Listen no man or devil knows what you will become.

God who is your creator is the only one that knows. Therefore no man can conclude on your outcome. The conclusion of any man or devil on your life is nothing compared to what God has prepared. I was privileged to be seated at the altar at the Redemption Camp of RCCG, when I heard Daddy Adeboye said, said that

God said to him that the Redemption Camp is not the Redemption City that God promised him. If you have ever been to the Redemption Camp, you would say that Daddy Adeboye has done well. But then the God who called him has said that the camp is too small compared to what He has planned for Him. Beloved get ready for NEW GLORIOUS THINGS that God has prepared for you. Believe the Lord. He cannot lie. Don’t look down on yourself, family, business and ministries. There is so much available to you. You are entering a new season in your life. God said, behold I will do a new thing(Isa. 43:19). God will manifest new things in your life.

You will succeed beyond your imagination. Whoever God will

humanitarian disasters that have taken place and are taking place in the zone.

It is against this backdrop that I want to see the 21 billion naira that was raised in ONE NIGHT by the friends of President Goodluck Jonathan for the coming elections. Among those who dropped billions are State Governors who are finding it difficult to pay salaries. Think of what a billion naira genuinely spent can do to uplift a state hospital or health care system. Among them are briefcase businessmen who don’t have up to 50 people on their pay roll. Among them are people who had fingers in the petrol subsidy scam. Among them are names that are forever mentioned along the corridors of government but who add very little value to the society.

Many concerned people have commented on the huge donations in relation to the electoral laws. But even if the donation was legit, how much tax do these people pay? What is the level of their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility.) How many

remove for you to reach your goal will be removed. Queen Vashti was removed for Esther to become queen. This same God will do it for you.

What has never happened before in your life that is glorious will happened to you. You will experience new level of greatness.

Your enemies will congratulate you. You will encounter uncommon promotion. Favours never imagined will be your portion henceforth. The devil will not succeed in destroying your destiny. God will take you to a new level of glory and power never experienced before. The things God will do in your life will be fearful. God will make you the signpost of His glory.

It is time to walk in the new day. Get ready to go to a new level of living, prosperity, provision a n d P O R O S wholeness.

M N Get ready for A U S the blessings of God like you have O R H I never seen. L M may You have had A B B O T

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. E-mail: 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 1011711622.

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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glimpses before now but this is a new day. There’s divine flow. Get ready for this is your hour to see the promises of God like never before. By the mercies of God, you will encounter New Glorious Experiences this year. God bless you, our great nation Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan.

Have you given your life to Jesus? If not, please pray this prayer. Father, I come to you as I am. I invite Jesus into my life to be my personal Lord and Saviour. Wash me cleanse with the blood of Jesus and empower me with the power of your Holy Spirit.

Thank you, Father for saving my soul and making me your child.

Your prayer request and praise reports will be welcomed. Our contact details are below. You can also partner with us by supporting us financially.

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have contributed anything meaningful to the cause of displaced people in the country? If this is the company that the President keeps, is it any wonder that the fight against corruption has been tepid? I want to remind us at this point of the timeless words of Confucius the philosopher ‘In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of.

In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of ’.

It is a shame that our politicians don’t feel the level of poverty that is ravaging the country. Otherwise those at that venue on that day should be ashamed and embarrassed by the display of wealth. If the ostentatious display embarrassed the President, he did a good job at masking it. He could have won hearts, if not votes if he had touched on the humanitarian situation in parts of the country and pledged a percentage towards the facilities in the camps. He did nothing of the sort.

While I was still trying to digest the insensitivity of our politicians and a government that is losing touch with its people, I read on line that the presidency has put the purchase of another plane in its 2015 budget—possibly the fourth in about eight years.

This is in spite of the declining economic situation in the country and the worsening poverty level. I can only hope the report is untrue.

Otherwise, we are dealing with a leadership that has either completely lost it or just doesn’t give a damn.

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20—SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

My ordeal as a female DJ –Nana

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By

Chris

Onuoha

J Nana ( full name, Nanayate Abedoh) is one famous female DJ in the country who has gone through the hard knocks of life to attain recognition in the entertainment industry. The soft-spoken lady who is like ‘girl next door ’ speaks on how her doggedness which landed her on her dream job. Nana who was mentored by legendary Jimmy Jatt also speaks about the frustration she faced while striving to actualize her dream of becoming a professional DJ among other issues...

When did you begin your career as a DJ? I did not know I was going to become a DJ. I actually had my interest in music. But it was difficult for me to define what I wanted to earn a living on. The journey started when I was 16. Then I used to attend events and parties where I met and interacted with people who were into showbiz. The first person I came in contact with was Sound Sultan who advised me to concentrate on education then.

But I didn’t listen to him as I kept pushing and talking to friends until I ran into Sunny Neji. He eventually invited me to his office for auditioning. I told him that I wanted a dancing job, and he asked me to dance right there without any music playing. Fascinated by my dances steps, he introduced me to a popular Lagos dance group. But I could not live up to their expectations because of my age. Not discouraged, I kept calling to remind them that I was still interested in dancing.

While pursuing a Diploma programme in Law, at Lagos State University, LASU, one day I got involved in a street party somewhere around Ojo area of Lagos and a popular DJ then saw me and admired my unhoned craft.

I was moved by his action as I wondered why I wouldn’t become a DJ in future. That’s how it all started. From then on, I kept talking to

Nana

In the beginning it was tough. I was born in Lagos but I hail from Kogi State. My parents got separated when I was 6 years

everyone I knew, expressing my interest in becoming a professional DJ. This continued until I met DJ Jimmy Jatt who agreed to mentor me after a series of turn-downs.

And how long have you been in this business?

I have been in the business for about four years now, and it is like any other job to me. I take it seriously. Jimmy Jatt told me, “Don’t see yourself as a female DJ in the male dominated world but always see yourself as a regular person who wants to succeed.”

How do people see you as a female DJ? I have gotten different impressions from people.

Some get excited seeing me handle their parties while some are disgusted when my name is mentioned.

To them, a lady DJ would not give them what they wanted. Some would look down on me because they have this notion that a female DJ cannot be good. But I tell you, we have a whole lot of successful female DJs today doing the womenfolk proud. Above all, a lot of people do appreciate me and say that it is inspiring to see a female DJ performing so well.

How lucrative is the DJ business?

It’s like every other business in the entertainment industry. It is not something that comes every day or every week but when it comes, it comes good. The money is okay but I can’t mention anything now except when you are ready for business.

For us as professional DJs, it works in a different ways. Sometimes, clients can call and appreciate you on a good day for a job you did before. Sometimes, you can make do with music mixes that put food on the table. Usually, I do free music mix for friends except when business is involved.

How many events have you featured in?

I have featured in almost all the big events you can mention. AY’s live show, Basketmouth’s Uncensored, Snapp Launch event, MTN Project Fame, Airtell Music Star, Globacom event, so many that I can’t remember now.

As you know, Jimmy Jatt is my mentor and I have done a lot of things with him. I have been able to master how to handle events of all kinds and that gave me the leverage to do my own thing.

Funny enough, I was a professional DJ before I met Jimmy. But he built me up as a brand in the industry. It wasn’t easy in the first place, but my

persistence and stubbornness made him to accept me.

DJ is one job I have passion for and love doing.

How do you select your music in parties?

Most of the time, I do not select music before embarking on any party event. I just get to where I am to perform, look at the crowd and select music that suits the audience. This is the important aspect of the job. I have to study and understand the crowd, know whether they are party goers or just everyday people and select music that meets their expectations. This helps because when there is a special request, I do not disappoint.

What else do you do aside DJ? DJ is all that I do for now. If I am going to do music, it will be a remix like Jimmy Jatt did. Meanwhile, I am running a degree programme in Law at National Open University of Nigeria. May be, after graduation, I can set my eyes on other things.

Is DJ Nana married?

I am still young and single. I am not planning to marry for now. I am chasing money and of course, you know it is important to settle my bills.

What was it like growing up?

In the beginning it was tough. I was born in Lagos but I hail from Kogi State. My parents got separated when I was 6 years. I stayed with my grandmother in Kogi State, where I had part of my early school.

I also lived in Abuja with my paternal aunt.

Thereafter, I came back to Lagos and was enrolled in St Joseph’s Secondary School . While at St Joseph, I was on the hype side. Not just because of my early itinerary upbringing but I saw myself that way despite the fact that my dad was a strict religious person. It was a school where students were known for their academic excellence . But I was eventually termed a bad girl because of my lifestyle.

There was a strong opposition from my parents as they wanted me to become a lawyer. I refused to apply to read Law in any university because of my interest in entertainment. They all thought I was making a great mistake. But I made my parents to understand that if you are passionate about anything, you can be successful. But they have come to accept me the way I am because money is rolling in and that is a reality although I have been doing it without their approval.

What advice do you have for your young admirers?

Be yourself and be sure of what you want to do. It is when you are not sure of whom you are and what you actually want to do with your life that you can easily get distracted. Go for your passion and channel all your energies to it. You can’t ask God to help you while you do nothing to help yourself. Be focused, be dedicated. With perseverance you will succeed.

SATURDAY

Lots in 2014 ore s e n i l d made m de hea hat ma 014 but none nal artistes. t s l a d 2 t tio can lines in s abou nterna ities’ s Celebr s made head volving our i ations, it wa s e x u a l u n ie of stor an scandals i marriage sit h e i r s e x o r d h t d h z o t e wi t buz n’t som t i n g f u n n y arassment. at got many s a w t i t th lh If enings ody ge edition e sexua s o m e b tions or som ith wild happ eats. In this ramas/ s w orienta ne was lousy dge of their the wildest d e e e c e s p h t ap d The a fans on tra we’ve rec in 2014. r i e bo Ain h t of e Ex

By Iya lines d m i a t e w h o of Sh s that made l scanda

The infamous elevator fight between Solange Knowles and Jay Z I n May 2014 a video of Solange Knowles attacking Jay Z in an elevator at the Met Gala leaked. It showed Beyonce’s sister nastily hitting her brother-in-law until the two were forced to exit the elevator. Since the weird clash, Solange has stated that she feels “at

peace” with what happened.

“What’s important is that my family and I are all good,” the singer said in a statement to Lucky magazine. Beyonce also went further to address the odd occurrence in the remix of her hit song “Flawless.”

Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015—21

Jennifer Lawrence, Kim Kardashian and Kate Upton nude hacks

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n August 2014 a swing of private, personal photos from celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton, Kim Kardashian, and more were victim to a digital hack, as their nude selfies were anonymously posted on the Internet. In reaction to the ugly incident, Lawrence slammed the hackers during an interview with Vogue magazine, saying: “Just because I’m a public figure, just because I’m an actress, does not mean that I asked for this. It’s my body, and it should be my choice.”

Bill Cosby’s several sexual assault allegations

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ill Cosby made headlines in 2014 when multiple women accused the comedian of sexual assault.

Those who came forward included Janice Dickinson, Beverly Johnson and most recently Katherine McKee, Sammy Davis Jr.’s ex-girlfriend.

McKee, 65, recently told the New York Daily News that while delivering some barbecue to the sitcom star she was raped by Cosby. “It was so fast and so shocking and so unbelievable,” she stated. “I never said a word.

I was too uncomfortable about it.”

Bruce Jenner allegedly becoming a woman

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fter divorcing Kris Jenner in September 2014, Bruce Jenner seemed to be coping from his lengthy relationship through pampering and a lot of it. In fact, Bruce was looking so polished that some thought the Olympian was transitioning from a man into a woman. “It’s silly. They’ve been saying that since the ‘70s,” Kris said about her exhusband allegedly becoming a female.

However, others claim that Bruce’s manicures aren’t just for a cuticle cleanup. Since the divorce he reportedly feels free to become his “true self.” “His goal is to live as a woman and look as much

like one,” a source told Us Weekly. “He has been struggling for a long time with his feelings about being a woman inside.”

Bryan Singer’s sexual abuse claim B

ryan Singer shocked Hollywood after the director was accused of sexual abuse. Singer has been hit with two sexual abuse lawsuits, claiming that he fondled himself and tried to have sex with underage boys. Alleged victims claim that singer approached them on social media and tried to engage in nude webcam sessions.

Singer has since denied the allegations, and claims everything is completely false.

22 — SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

With FLORENCE AMAGIYA 08061644307 email: daise4000@yahoo.com

A

lhaji Aliko Dangote is from a very wealthy family in Kano. He is related to the late Alhassan Dantata, who was reputed to be o n e of the wealthiest Hausa merchants in Kano as at the time of his demise in 1955. However, his wealth dwindled as it was shared among 18 children.

Despite the death of their mentor, the Dantata Dynasty remains an indispensable force in virtually all spheres of human endeavour in the northern Nigeria, particularly in Kano state. Today their fortune may not equal that of some families who recently made the list of wealthy Nigerians since the death of the founder of the empire. Almost 59 years after, the death of the great Dantata of Kano seems to have washed away the fame of the dynasty, but the great grandson in the person of Alhaji Aliko Dangote has emerged to occupy the vacuum created by the exit of Dantata. In March, 2014, he was reported to worth over $25 billion USD. Dangote is ranked by Forbes Magazine as the 23rd richest person in the world and the richest in Africa. He surpassed the SaudiEthiopian billionaire's 2013 record, Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi, by over $2.6 billion, to become Africa's richest person.

Read on…

•President Jonathan and Alhaji Dangote

angote lhaji D A d n a te Bill Ga shola, a F . v o •G

•Young Aliko Dangote

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015 — 23

Alhaji Aliko Dangote

A

liko Dangote was born in April 10th, 1957 in Kano state to the family of Dr. Mariya Sanusi Dangote, a granddaughter of late Alhaji Alihassan Dantata, the founder of Alhassan Dantata & Son’s Company. As a toddler, he was desirous to make something out of life. Hence, he didn’t hesitate to grab any opportunity that comes his way. This explains why he tries his best to detach himself from the family wealth to build a business empire for himself. His quest to carve a niche in the business world started in his Primary school days where he would buy a carton of sweets and package them to school to sell to his peers. The returns from this venture generated a lot of excitement for him. Just then, the little Dangote concluded without hesitation that he would do business in life.

Perhaps to acquire the tools for his business enterprise, he proceeded to study business Administration at the Al- Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.

Upon graduation, he returned to Nigeria to begin his personal business as he didn’t want to work for anybody or join in running the family business. At 21, Aliko Dangote made his first but great business move as he took a loan of N500,000 from one of his uncles. This humble beginning however gave birth to the chain of Companies that today form the Dangote Group.

Though this feat was not accomplished with effortless ease as young Dangote had to contend with daunting challenges which were common in 1970’s when he started his business, but Aliko was resolute.

He is also the 64th most powerful person in the world.

These include Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Cement, and Dangote Flour. They have also diversified into telecommunications.

However, In the 1990’s, as part of moves to expand the business, the Group approached the Central Bank of Nigeria to allow his transport company to manage their fleets of staff buses, a proposal which was approved. Thrilled by the outcome of this partnership, the group again in 2012 approached the Nigerian Ports Authority with the idea of leasing an abandoned piece of land at the Apapa Port, which was approved.

The Dangote Group runs a cartel deal in all of their businesses. Among other companies owned by the Group are Salt factories and Flour Mills and they are also known as the major importer of rice, fiish, pasta, cement and fertilizer. Similarly, the company exports cotton, cashew nuts, coco, sesame and ginger to several countries. It also has major investments in real estate, banking, transport, textiles and oil and gas.

•Dang busine ote and som ss asso e ciates of his

Philanthropy and labour force

D

angote Group has a foundation through which most of his philanthropic work is done. One of the major works sponsored by the foundation is polio eradication in Kano state. He has also given out help in times of crises both in small and major ways. In the past, he has donated relief materials to flood and accident victims in Lagos and in the northern states. He has created avenue for employment in his numerous companies for graduates and unskilled labourers.

Recently, it was in the news that Dangote donated 150 million Naira (US$1 million) to halt the spread of Ebola in Nigeria. The Dangote Group has over 11,000 staff and is arguably the largest industrial conglomerate in the whole of West Africa.

Milestone

The man and his accolades

T

A

oday, the Dangote group is a multi-trillion naira conglomerate with many of its operations in different African countries including Nigeria.

Dangote has enlarged his business coast to include food processing, cement manufacturing and freight. The Dangote Group is one of the major sugar suppleirs to the country's companies, breweries and confectioners. The Dangote Group has moved from being a trading company to assume the status of one of the largest industrial groups in Nigeria.

te, Dango •Alikotedola and Femi Oter Obi Mr. Pe

lhaji Aliko Dangote has touched many lives and won several awards. In 2011, he was given the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR).

In 2009, he was honoured as the leading provider of employment in the Nigerian construction industry.

Again in 2011, Dangote was awarded Nigeria’s second highest honour, Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) by the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan. In 2013, Vanguard Media Limited gave him the man of the year award just to mention a few.

ting munica m o c e t o •Dang girl with a

•L-R: M r. Bill G finance ates, M inister Iweala , Dr. Ngozi O of and Al haji Al konjo iko Da ngote

wife are and u q s P ed by te flank Dango

24 — SATURDAY Vanguard, January 3, 2015

By KEHINDE AJOSE 08024212530

Entertainers re will do differe

By KEHINDE AJOSE

N

o architect can build a massive edifice without a plan. Likewise, no entertainer can make waves without a tactic. Its a new year and our entertainers are ready to up their game, taking their craft to the next level. In this eye opening exclusive, your top entertainers unveil what they will be doing differently in 2015

No big butts, no big boobs in 2015 — Maheeda

C

aroline Sam popularly known as Maheeda created a media frenzy last year when she said her vision is actually to see her posters in people’s bedrooms.

According to her: “I want to be that sex symbol one can fantasize about”. Before 2014 came to an end she disclosed on her Instagram page that in 2015 she will be making new year changes.

She puts it this way: “I stopped bleaching my skin and I am purposely losing weight .That means no big buttocks and no big breasts. If you don’t like it, see you. This is good bye New Year changes. You will be so successful in 2015 in a sexy way.

•Senator

I will introduce more innovation to my business – Ushbebe

J

ust when 2014 was coming to a conclusion, Justice Emonaerere Nuagbe popularly known as Ushbebe, acquired a new car, a Mercedes Benz ML 350.The popular on-airpersonality and comedian disclosed to Showtime that he will be introducing more innovation to his business.

“In 2015, I will be more humble, though I do that already and I will introduce more innovation to my business. I will be having my Europe tour and also, will be having my comedy show in March 2015.”

•Ushebebe

C M Y K

•Maheeda

I will be revealing in 2015 — Azadus

A

zadus is not a gr business of mus popular for his hit son was once signed on K Nigerian Music lac Showtime, he said he his fans have never se In his words: “I will b will be revealing ano have been longing fo On why he has bee he said:”Cooking a m memories is not a cooking until you get

I am going to get in 2015 — GT Da G

G

t Da Guitarman fans with his me of his guitar. The soulf singles last year has re more on promoting hi “If there is anything will be that I don’t com .I was more of the stud creative aspect of mu on the promotional a shooting more videos more. I will be introdu to my label one after differently in terms of

I will be more car making

T

h

•Azadus

SATURDAY Vanguard, January 3, 2015 — 25

By AYO ONIKOYI, 08052201215

eveal what they ently in 2015

g another side of Azadus s

reen horn when it comes to the sic. The dancehall veteran was ng Madam. The crooner who Kennis Music once stated that cks content. In a chat with will be revealing another side een before in 2015. be hitting my fans hard in 2015.I other side of Azadus that they r. en off the entertainment radar, eal that will remain in people’s a child’s play. You will keep the perfect taste.

out of the studio more Guitarman

n is one artiste who captures his elodious voice and the rhythms ful singer who released several evealed that he will be focusing is brand in 2015. g I was guilty of in the past, it me out more for Industry events dio person. I was more into the usic .In 2015, I will be focusing aspect of my music. I will be s and be pushing the Gt brand ucing a couple of artistes signed the other. I will be doing that f my music.”

reful with decisiongs — Vilara

he visually appealing actress and singer, Vilara who told Showtime that she doesn’t believe sex sells in entertainment has disclosed that she

will be more careful with decisions when it comes to her career in 2015.

Hear her:” “Truthfully, I will be more careful with decisions when it comes to my music and acting .I have realized that being too fast to get somethings done can get one into trouble. So in 2015, I will be doing songs and films I am comfortable with , instead of allowing people to tell me what sells and what doesn’t.”

Positivity will be my watchword for 2015 — Senator

I

n an industry where comedians are not difficult to find, Bethel Njoku a.k.a Senator has carved a niche for himself through his delivery and brand of jokes. The cerebral comedian said he will maintain a positive attitude in 2015.

“I rarely make new year resolutions because it has gradually become a cliché. I will just try and cultivate a positive spirit in 2015.When you make resolutions, the Nigerian government will change your resolutions with one policy or the other. Positivity will be my watchword .I will take my negatives as a learning process” he said.

•Vilera

I will be more on top of my game — Shine Begho

F

amous OAP and event compeer Shine Begho is one damsel who isn’t ashamed to flaunt her physical endowments. The sexy media personality blessed with a figure that makes guys salivate once revealed to Showtime that her hips are the sexiest part of her body.

Hear her: “My hips are the sexiest part of my body, you know, ‘hips don’t lie’. I have had cute hips since I was a kid and I love it. I love the attention it gives me and people saying ”Oh my God, you are hot”.

When asked what she will be doing differently in 2015, she said:” I will be more on top of my game, will focus more on being more original and improving on my brand.

•Shine Begho •Gt da Guitarman C M Y K

26—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

I

Exuberance and style reign at Calabar carnival 2014

t was another celebration time last Saturday at the ancient city of Calabar, the Cross River State capital, as the 2014 edition of the Calabar Carnival wrapped up in grand style. The carnival, which was in its 10th year, has grown in leaps and bounds, attracting millions of tourists and fun seekers from across the globe each year.

This year's edition was no different. Parading beautiful dancers dressed in their hot bikinis, sequins and feathers, this yea's carnival was as unique as it was memorable.

They were the sexy showstoppers of the Africa’s biggest street party. Swaying to beats of pop music, the revellers displayed spectacular costumes from all of the five carnival groups, complete with everything they have got to show to the world.

Like the previous editions, this year’s lived up to its billing as the best street party ever staged in this part of the world.While the festival lasted, the sleepy city literally went up in a blaze of glittering colours. It was indeed, a captivating display of style, exuberance, costumes, beats, imaginative choreography and gorgeous damsels dresed in colorful attires.

Elated Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and his wife, Obioma Imoke, led the way as they arrived the Millennium Park take off point of the street tour,

*Peter Okoye, Kate Henshaw and Angela Okorie engaged in street dance dressed in ancient Egyptian apparel. He was accompained by top government functionaries, captains of industry and representatives of the various participating groups. The governor’s arrival ignited the

celebration as the bands marched, danced and made different kinds of aesthetic displays to the delight of the teeming crowd of onlookers including tourists.

, w a h s n e H e t a K , e k y I m i J Psquare, treet dancers! s n r u t s r e h t o

a mini who wore Henshaw, tail; a hat with gown withnd boots, and Angela Shekini, d n a y, z feathers a ined them and z a Don J Double , t F m u f lb o a it 6th Okorie, jo as let loose as they in the spir from their laring from the loud eanwhile, al, celebrities heaven w electrifying dance b Trouble, s the carnival train the carniv o of Peter and displayed al of Psquare’s. speakers a. the du g ), in d re a steps typicshow lasted on the lu u n c in .a Psq oved o hold back, the .k m (a e y o k While the crowd went into Paul O shaw, Jim Iyke, Unable to who dressed like o h n w e , H rs o e street, the they harried, e u te th a d th K ging and o rds hit in o e s ri w s o k ir e O r o th la h frenzy as , outdid themselves vern Ange pirates wit what they know uests of go threw g e th screamed er one another to o re d d e w ddenly reet to grabbe st y su e e h k T o . t st Im e and fell ov have a glimpse of Liyel to do b e and started d and le in w o w h e th on touch and rite stars. caution to the street. e microph the fun seekers, th s in n o tw d g their favou loose singin raining ncing to their e te n th e y, rl la d da eir Particu singing ant. Soon, Kate old back th n e could not hts, listening to their o, m y enjo excitemen ased songs, Collab le re ly new *Peter and Jude Okoye with Gov. Liyel Imoke

M

Jim Iyke

Kicking off at the Millennium Park, through Mary Slessor Avenue, Marian and IBB and terminating at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, where cultural troupes were featured, depicting the rich cultural heritage of the country, the 12 kilometer walk seemed endless as the crowd could not have enough of the excitement.

The highpoint of the carnival was at the U.J Esuene Stadium, where the five bands comprising of Master Blaster, Bayside, Seagull, Freedom and Passion 4 Bands entertained the teeming crowd with music, dance, drama and visual creativity, till the wee hours of the morning. At the end of the day, Master Blaster was declared the Band of the Year, beating Passion 4, which came second, followed by Seagull (3rd), Freedom Band (4th) and Bayside Band(5th ). With the razzmatazz, the frills and the thrills that pervaded the celebration, it was another fruitful year of celebration of the vibrant cultural heriatge of the people.

'10 years after, Calabar carnival has come to stay’ A

fter 10 years of organizing Africa’s biggest street party, the Calabar Carnival has become an integral part of the state.

The Chairman, Carnival Calabar Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah, disclosed this while speaking with HVP. According to him, it will be difficult for any successive government in the state to attempt to stop the carnival for any reason. “The carnival has a life of its own, and our desire is that a carnival should represent our lifestyle and that has come to stay."

Looking at the journey so far, Onah said, the aim of setting up the carnival has been achieved. “The festival runs for 32 days, while the carnival runs for four days.

The carnival is an event built into the festival but it has become the centre of attraction. You can imagine the socio-economic impact the carnival is making on the state. This is a strategy that was introduced to change lives in the state; a vision that has been converted into a commercial success and an effort to bring a mass of people into the city, after which they will savour our products and our offerings.

It has worked for us coming from the public sector and our future is to move it to the private sector so that sustainability will be achieved. That’s why the children carnival was introduced as well as the cultural parade so that it can become our bedrock.

It is difficult to put a figure to it. The carnival route was constructed because of the festival, the cleanliness of the city, the lawns we are tendering and our hygiene are all a gamut. So, it is difficult to say, but are we getting results? Yes. Are we creating employment? Yes, safety and our existence.

The youths get employed, the art and industry behind the carnival art are huge and boundless. From beads making to raffia, costuming, dancing and make-up, are the opportunities that are thrown up for the carnival.

What you are seeing here today started from rehearsal since July."

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015 —27

N

ollywood actor, Ramsey Nouah, is bid to storm the Republic of Rwanda any moment from now where he is expected to produce a film that will help to boost the image of that country.

Rwandan Minister of Sport and Culture, Ambassador Joseph Habineza, disclosed this to HVP in a chat in Calabar.

Habineza said, the film, which will be a romantic comedy is aimed at promoting Rwanda’s tourism and investment sectors in Africa. To be sponsored by that country’s government as well as the private sector, the film will feature both Nollywood stars and Rwandan actors alike.

Disclosing that Rwandans love to watch Nigerian movies, Habineza said, the country is out to encourage

Ramsey Nouah takes Nollywood to Rwanda

filmmakers from across Africa to come and make films in Rwanda because of its beautiful landscape, saying the project will kicked off this month.

“The movie is about a love story between a Nigerian businessman and a Rwandan woman. It is Ramsey’s movie and he was inspired to make it when he visited Rwanda for Kwita Izina ceremony,”

“We’re conducting online pre-selections and the shooting should start in January next year. This film will promote Rwanda as a tourism and investment destination,” said Habineza.

The movie is estimated to cost a whopping US$1.5 million.

Habineza said several corporate organisations have expressed interest to bank-roll the movie.

•Ramsey Nouah

Odera set to produce Africa’s biggest ‘war film’

U

S-based Nigerian filmmaker, Odera Ozoka whose second feature Hollywood street is gearing up for film festivals around the United States and in Africa, has said he will commence preproduction of his 3rd ambitious feature film, Biafra: A Forgotten Place, soon.

The writer cum director and his partner, French-born actress, Clotilde Delavennat were recently spotted at a private event in Hollywood, where they were meeting with investors to talk about his new civil war drama.

Odera who won the AMAA back in 2010 for his first feature film, Soul Diaspora, and also the Audience award at PAFF said, he has enlisted business scholars to map out a strategy

for reaching the audience for a bigger scale budget. “We have a business model that was researched thoroughly because ultimately film is art, but its also a business. And the investors need to be happy. Movies like mine makes money worldwide, and you’ll see more films like it made.

So, we’re taking a business friendly approach to the whole thing. Also, I have a team of really talented individuals from different backgrounds- Asia and Europe and Africa as whole; working to make sure we’re successful in creating something visually arresting,” the director said.

“We definitely want to show Africa in it’s greatest strength. This continent is gorgeous and rich and we plan to reveal it to the world like never before. I hope to make a special film.”

•Odera Ozoka and Clotilde Delavennat

I can win Oscar, says USbased Nigerian film maker

W

ITH the Boko Haram sect and the scourge of the Ebola virus giving the African continent, especially Nigeria, some fright, the giant strides made by Nigerian-born filmmaker and director, Nnaemeka Andrew Madueke, in far away America is indeed encouraging.

The prolific director with four outstanding films in his kitty recently won yet another award for the “Best Filmmaker” with his latest film, Take the Spotlight, at the 2014 Peachtree Village International Film Festival in Atlanta Georgia in America.

Madueke, whose film, The Mystery of Birds, won the Best Film by an African in Diaspora at the 2012 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) has apparently paid his dues in the industry. With Take the Spotlight featuring notable actors and

actresses from Hollywood like Lynn Whitfield from movies like Eve’s Bayou, and A thin line between Love and Hate”and some Nollywood stars like Chinedu Ikedieze, the filmmaker believes that with the right attitude that the sky is the limit.

His debut film, "Night to Fly", produced in 2008 and Okra Principle in 2009, also made significant impact on the international film market.

Take the Spotlight parades other Hollywood actors including Glenn Morshower from movies like “Black Hawk Down”, “Transformers” and “After Earth”.

The film also features Allen Warchol, Megan Glover and Nigerian-Diaspora actors like Nene Nwoko, Roy Nwakamma, Uju Egbuji, Hayley “Gigi” Polak from South Africa and a host of others from other parts of the world.

*Cast of Take the Spotlight,

28— SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

BY ADERONKE ADEYERI AND MAHMUD HABIBAT

S

ince popular Yoruba actress, Moji Olaiya, walked out of her marriage; it has been particularly difficult to track her down.

Saturday Vanguard cornered her at an Inter House sports competition event in Gbagada, Lagos, where she was the matron of one of the Houses competing for prizes at the event.

Looking as pretty as ever, Moji decided to grant us an interview which unfolds some of the closed chapters in her life; career, marriage and religious beliefs:

W m

Many actors have complained over time that the government has abandoned the film industry, in what respect can the government assist the industry?

I think with the aid of the government, we can overcome piracy. The government has failed to help the industry and that is not what is happening abroad.

There are some who, however, make money from people in government.

Have you been a benefactor of such favour before?

No, I have not.

—

But you were appointed a brand ambassador in Ekiti state?

Yes, I am a cultural ambassador in Ekiti which happens to be a privilege bestowed upon me by the governor.

It is a gesture to appreciate and recognise my cultural impact on the youths in the state and the country Nigeria at large.

*I bu

Are you saying being an ambassador of that state has no monetary benefit?

Being a cultural ambassador of a state comes with the responsibility of promoting the state. It also means being a mentor to the youths and creating avenues for them to showcase their talents in the industry.

•Moji Olaiya

Have you ever felt like quitting acting?

Coming into the industry was borne out of passion, so I cannot quit acting for anything in the world.

Even marriage?

I can never quit acting for any marriage. I have said it in many interviews that even when I re-marry, the man will have to love me and my profession.

You once said you are an evangelist in one interview.

I have never said I was an evangelist. I only likened acting to preaching through our movies. So that is it.

You came into limelight in an English soap, Super Story, but now you feature more in Yoruba films.

I have many English soaps running at the moment so it is not as if I have left the English scene.

Are you a Muslim or a Christian?

C M Y K

I am a Muslim.

But you were once a Christian, what happened?

Yes, I converted. I fell in love with Islam. I am not saying Christianity is not an acceptable religion but as an adult, I am at liberty to choose any religion I like. I might decide not to practice any religion tomorrow.

Is this traceable to your background; having a Muslim mother that converted Christianity?

Somehow she might have influenced me because as a child I watched her go to the mosque five times a day. I love Islam; their mode of praying is peaceful.

The religion does not have the denominational problem like Christianity. I can go into any mosque to pray any time.

What is your relationship with popular Victor Olaiya as some believe you are not his child?

,

What are the things you will love to change in Nollywood?

Many of us lack discipline and the industry is now over flooded. In the past, people came into the industry because of the passion they had for acting but not anymore. Most of them now want to be famous quickly even when they do not have the talents. The ladies in particular, most of them go around almost naked. These ladies forget actors and actresses are like evangelists who preach through the television screen.

Being a cultural ambassador of a state comes with the responsibility of promoting the state. It also means being a mentor to the youths and creating avenues for them to showcase their talents in the industry

,

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015 — 29 Why did you say you have no regrets?

I have no regret leaving my marriage but I regret not being under a man’s roof. It is not respectable in this part of the world. But I try to comport myself even as a divorced woman and as a typical Yoruba woman and to avoid scandal. I have a daughter to protect and cater for.

Why I quit my marriage

— Moji Olaiya Olaiya

have no regret leaving my marriage ut I regret not being under a man’s roof

What was the cause of your failed marriage?

The marriage was not working so I had to quit. My partner went as far as abusing me so I had to leave to protect myself and my daughter.

You mean domestic violence?

Yes, domestic violence is just the right word.

Any man in the picture at present?

I am in a relationship but I am yet to be legally separated from my husband.

Were you legally married?

Yes. So at the right time I will reveal who the man is. I need somebody beside me.

Is your new film, Monsurat, born out of your marital experience?

Our mothers tell us that being over protective of one’s husband does more harm than good. Monsurat is a story of a jealous woman who became a tigress in protecting her marriage. She went diabolical and this affected her husband’s business.

Later on her husband found solace in the arms of another woman and that was how she lost all. It is a story meant to educate our women to keep their space in the hearts of their men.

Are you really a sport person?

I love sports and I still create time for it despite my busy schedules.

Which sport in particularly do you engage in?

I play Lawn Tennis and I swim very well.

On what ground did you become matron to the ‘Yellow House’ of the school?

I am very sure one of the criteria for making me a matron here was because I grew up in this environment. I stayed here for 32 years. Also the management of the school found me worthy to mentor the pupils and I am happy about that.

I don’t want to say much about this. If these people say I am his niece, does that not also make him my relative. And as relatives, I can also call him father.

So this issue is not logical regardless of their arguments. He is my father.

Which female accessories would you never be caught without?

My earrings and wristwatches.

Perfumes?

I am not addicted to any brand of perfumes. I go for any as long as it is a designer perfume and has nice fragrance.

How have you been coping after separation from your husband?

A woman needs a man in her life. There are things a man would do that you cannot do as a woman but I have no regret leaving my marriage.

Are you a product of the school?

No, I am not.

What is your perception of life?

Life is interesting when you keep a free mind towards others. When you suspect everyone around you, you cage yourself and your feelings and it means you don’t trust yourself too. Whatever situation you find yourself, know that life will go on; it will only stop when you are tired of going on.

C M Y K

Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

Lifeline

H

appy and healthy New Year! It’s time again for new health resolutions and habits. We learned quite a lot last year and certainly do not want to repeat our mistakes.

Today the focus is on personal electronic gadgets.

We all desire our iPhones, Androids, BlackBerrys and other smartphones as much as we cherish our iPads, Internet Tablets and laptops.

We are all attached to our devices, but for some, it’s a stern love affair.

We love acquiring and showing off with them.

Whether it is the cheap lowend type or the very expensive high-end smart phone, the mobile phone is an essential part of daily life.

We tend to worship these gadgets, but how much do we really know about them?

For instance, is your mobile phone a life saver or health hazard? By how much is your cellular telephone habit (including frequency of use and duration of calls) compromising your health?

I know quite a few people so in love with their devices, they go practically everywhere with them. And when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere! There are persons who never go to bed or eat or read or watch TV or do virtually anything without their handheld devices by their side. There are persons who have a habit of visiting the lavatory with their phones in their pockets. A few swear they cannot take a shower/bath without their handhelds within easy reach.

Nevertheless, numerous concerns have been raised about the potential health impacts from regular use of the mobile phone. Cell phones have been indicted in causing cancer, especially cancer of the brain. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found a borderline statistically significant link between tumour frequency on the same side of the head as the mobile phone was used on and mobile phone usage. Worse still, higher incidence of headache and disturbance of normal sleep patterns are known to follow persistent mobile phone use.

There is established link between cell phones and sperm quality which shows that heavy mobile phone users (over four hours per day) have significantly less

Don’t go to bed with your phone, tablet or iPad •There are persons who never go to bed without their handheld devices by their side

viable sperm. This is corroborated by a prospective study of normal men who found that significantly increasing their mobile phone use (over six hours each day for five days) caused a marked shortterm reduction of sperm quality.

Indeed, men, who use mobile phones on a regular basis, are believed to lose about 30 per cent of their active sperm cells. Persons who carry their mobile phones in pockets of their pants are putting their potency at great danger. Scientists say that even in sleep mode, the mobile phone is as harmful as when switched on.

Reading from a smartphone, iPad, Tab, laptop or even the TV before bed could mess with the duration and quality of your sleep, while affecting how alert you are the next day.

New research published

in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, says spending too much time on the screen before sleep can be detrimental.

The study shows comprehensive results of a

,

30—SATURDAY

straight, a process that was repeated with printed books. For some, the order was reversed: They started with printed books and moved to iPads.

The iPad readers took longer to fall asleep, felt

Men, who use mobile phones on a regular basis, are believed to lose about 30 per cent of their active sperm cells

direct comparison between reading with a lightemitting device and reading a printed book and the consequences on sleep. It is known that light emitted from screens in the evening alters sleepiness and alertness, and suppresses melatonin levels.

The study that ran for two weeks, included 12 participants who read on an iPad for four hours before bed for five days

,

less sleepy at night and had shorter REM sleep compared to the book readers, researchers found.

The iPad readers also secreted less melatonin, which helps regulate your sleep. They were also more tired than book readers the following day, even if both got a full eight hours of sleep.

It is believed that people who look at screens before bed are likely to stay up later than necessary, to the

detriment of their sleep quality. Research has shown that blue light causes more alertness and suppresses melatonin, thus hurting quality of sleep.

Sleep has its own innate benefits, so cutting it short is a bad idea. Sleep deficiency — not getting enough sleep or obtaining poor quality sleep — has been linked to other health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Chronic suppression of melatonin has also been associated with increased risk of certain cancers.

If you don’t want to feel like a zombie during the day, avoid electronic screens or read an actual, printed book if you must stimulate your mind before bed. The best recommendation would be to avoid use of light-emitting screens before bedtime. For those who must use computers or other lightemitting devices in the evening, software or other technology that filters out the blue light may help.

SATURDAY

Y

ou may have thought sex was just a pure form of physical enjoyment. Far from it, because the health benefits that come along with it just can’t be ignored. Many people don’t think having sex on a daily or nightly basis is plausible—between heavy workloads, stressful days, unintentional late-night binges, but, really, sex is what can actually make you feel relief from all of those stressors. It’s time to change the mindset that sex is “bad”.

On the contrary, sex is good for you. So it’s time to take a look at the benefits of sex that lie outside the actual act itself!

Nature’s Health

Sex: Nature’s prescription for healthy, happy life

Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015—31

Well, frequent sex encourages the releases of hormones, which is what keeps you looking young. Oestrogen, especially, aids in the softening of skin—and who wouldn’t want that?

You will definitely sleep better You may think the insane amount of physical activity you just engaged in is what is putting you to sleep afterwards, but that isn’t really the case. The endorphins that are released during sex are also those that help you relax and help you de-stress, which finally prepare you for sleep.

Pain reliever Pain endorphins like epinephrine and dopamine take over your body after an orgasm.

These are the body’s natural pain relievers. Some women who experience dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) or menstrual cramps, feel less discomfort after engaging in sexual intercourse. Experts say when a woman orgasms, her uterus contracts and, in the process, rids the body of crampcausing compounds Reduces prostate cancer risk Sex decreases risk of prostate cancer according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association said that men who ejaculated at least 21 times monthly were less likely to get prostate cancer. The best part of this is that you don’t really even need sex to accomplish it.

Boosts libido Longing for a more lively sex life? “Having sex will make sex better and will improve your libido. For women, having sex ups vaginal lubrication, blood flow, and elasticity, all of which make sex feel better and help you crave more of it.

Improves bladder control

Healthier immune system Trying to fight off the common cold?

Maybe you should head to the bedroom instead of the clinic.

Having sex numerous times weekly correlates with high levels of immunoglobulin (IgA), an antibody that protects from infections and the common cold. If it •Trying to fight off the common cold? sounds too good to be true, you can thank researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania for this A strong pelvic floor is important for lovely discovery. avoiding incontinence, something that Lowers blood pressure will affect about 30 percent of women High blood pressure is often at some point in their lives. Good sex times a symptom of heart attack, is like a workout for your pelvic floor kidney disease and stroke. A muscles. When you have an orgasm, it study published in Biological causes contractions in those muscles, Psychology found that consistent which strengthens them. sex helps to lower diastolic blood Counts as exercise pressure. The study focused on Sex is a really great form of exercise. people who lived with their It won’t replace the treadmill, but it partners, which clearly makes counts for something. Sex uses about frequent sex more of a reality than five calories per minute, four more a dream. calories than watching TV. It gives you Burns calories a one-two punch: It bumps up your It’s a lot more fun to burn heart rate and uses various muscles. calories in bed than on the So get busy! You may even want to treadmill. Obviously sex is a clear your schedule to make time for it workout, but how much of one is it on a regular basis. ”Like with really? And what could make it exercise, consistency helps maximize better? For every half hour you the benefits. spend getting it on, you can burn Improves sleep over 144 calories and the more You may doze off more quickly after you move around, the more sex, and for good reason. After calories you will burn. It relieves orgasm, the hormone prolactin is stress No this isn’t your released, which is responsible for the imagination, this is actual science! feelings of relaxation and sleepiness Research affirms that people who after sex. had sex “once over two weeks Eases stress were better able to a manage Being close to your partner can stressful situations such as public soothe stress and anxiety. Touching speaking.” and hugging can release your body’s Makes you look and feel •Frequent sex encourages the releases of hormones, which is what natural “feel-good hormone.” Sexual younger keeps you looking young arousal releases a brain chemical that You can ditch the moisturizer revs up your brain’s pleasure and reward system. Sex and anti-aging creams, says a a one-way mirror and watched as participants sat before them. and intimacy can boost your self-esteem and study done at the Royal The researchers had to guess each person’s age and realized happiness, too. It’s not only a prescription for a Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland. that those who were having sex more often were viewed as healthy life, but a happy one.

A group of researchers sat behind seven to 12 years younger than their real age. How? Why?

32—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

There’s a difference between nudity and nakedness —Segun Adejumo

BY MORENIKE TAIRE

R

ecently, veteran artist Segun Adejumo showed, in Lagos, a much anticipated body of work titled Emotions, which focused on the moods of women in a wide range of dress and undress. The little bit of an activist in him showed forth in the collection, arousing Women-towomen’s fascination with his fascination with the female mind and body. Excerpts:-

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The daughter was not smiling in the painting. Now I know the daughter… …and you know she does not smile?

On a regular basis. So why would I paint a false version of a person. The woman in very protective of her family, unconsciously. When you look at the painting carefully you’ll find she’s the one actually holding everybody together. It’s not something that is obvious: she has her hand round her son. She likes to always be in charge.

Unlike a photographer I don’t arrange, I only observe.

I wasn’t offended that they didn’t like it. I want to have an exhibition of rejected masterpieces one day.

I have another piece that I did for a spa that was rejected.

What was that one about?

I thought what could be better than the figure of a woman because it’s mostly women that come to the spa and want to enjoy the finer things. So I thought it would be nice to have an ideal figure of a woman- what a woman always wants to look like.

I did this piece of a figureno head, no arms, stops at the knees. Brilliant piece. I took a photograph of the clay work that I was about to cast for the client and to my horror the client preferred to cover the figure with a towel.

So what is the essence of the figure of you covering it with a towel?

I gave my client back the advance on the work. I had wanted a commission because I wanted the work in the public space. Eventually, I sold the work for more than

what the commission was because I now settled down to cast into stone and bronze. It was bought by one of the top Nigerian collectors. He couldn’t believe that I sculpted that, and at that level.

So, what is your ideal figure of a woman?

All women are beautiful but if you are talking about ideal figure as an artist, there is what they call the artist figure. There is the science figure and artist figure and they are not the same. The statistics are different. It is what science thinks. There is white woman, black woman, Asian woman; and they are not the same figure. The average thing when you combine everything is what a woman should look like at a particular age. Then there is the artist’s figure. The artist’s figure usually is fuller at the hips.

Like the ones we see in those Van Gogh paintings?

There are tons of them. They have thighs. They are women What is your general opinion about nudity in art?

There’s a difference between nudity and nakedness, first of all. Nakedness is when you don’t have anything on, then you stop light (laughs). Nudity is when you use your skin as a form of clothing. You are comfortable- you are wearing it.

Like people in nudist camps?

Yes, it hasn’t occurred to them that they are naked. When they see they are not wearing anything is when they are naked but they are wearing their skin and they are happy with what they are wearing. If a child grows up in a house where

,

Why women?

Emotions in men are a very difficult thing. We tend not to show too much, not that we don’t have them. There’s thinking that it’s not a man’s place to make mistakes in life. Children can make mistakes and their parents will rescue them; women can make mistakes and they can find some succour in their husbands but when the men make mistakes who do they run to?

Is it when you make mistakes that you show emotion?

No, I’m just that a man’s thinking pattern is that you contain as much as possible.

Women by disposition, I think there’s something medical about them- let me use that word.

Science has proven they are actually given to a lot of emotions so it’s easier for them to express them. It’s easier to express emotions of people who are already easily disposed to them than to try and do that with a man.

So how are you able to read their emotions and then translate them into your works?

Women always want you to see what they are thinking in the first place. They want you to know. To read it is not a big problem; to translate it is where the problem is because most of the time people miss the details. It’s like singing without soul. You can sing by following a pattern but the interjection of your person into the song is the problem.

Is this a stage in your revolution as an artist?

I did a portrait of a family and the family rejected the portrait. I knew the family well. As an old friend I wanted to translate what I saw of their family onto canvas.

Artists have seen the portrait and marvelled. The portrait was rejected. They had a photographer come and take pictures of the family. They must have compared my painting to the photograph, which is not what a painting is.

•Wrappers Delight

It’s easier to express emotions of people who are already easily disposed to them than to try and do that with a man

,

•Segun Adejumo

there are nude people around then he does not see anything wrong with running around in his pant. Africans are a lot more comfortable when Europeans are wearing skimpy dresses, but European children never complain about seeing their mothers wear hot pants. They are used to seeing their mothers that way. In art a nude figure is God’s masterpiece. Of all the things that were created by God man was the most innovative.

There was the first manufacture and the refined one. The refined one was too much that even the man was in awe and called this one woman. A woman is a mixture of a whole lot of things. There’s a word, Allure And it’s the beauty of a woman in its own separate and different way and each woman has her own peculiar way.

Finding the allure is what makes every nude painting different from the other one.

I don’t understand this allure thing.

Some in their eyes, some in their lips, some in their arm.

Some, it’s just their disposition Are some of your followers ever taken aback by some of your nude works?

No. all fish eat fish. Fish eat other fish. Very few fish eat plankton- they must be very tiny. But it’s the shark that has the bad name.

All artists must go through school and in school you paint a nude figure but it’s Adejumo that has a bad name.

You must really be watching women closely. Is that very productive?

I marvel when I see women. A woman can be enchanting and mean and vicious- a whole range of emotions that men have not been able to muster.

Men have certain emotions that form their character but every woman can change at any point in time no matter what their major characters are.

That is very amazing.

SATURDAY

•Unfaithful

Nigerian women most unfaithful wives in the world?

BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE

F

ew weeks ago, a survey surfaced, listing countries with most unfaithful wives in the world. To the chagrin of Nigerian women, the survey conducted by condom manufacturer, Durex, had

them topping the list and beating 35 other countries, including Western countries, sampled in the marital infidelity test.

Controversy has since continued to trail that judgement, with Nigerian women crying foul. This outcry is understandable though, as these are women popularly reputed for their solemn reverence for religion, more than their counterparts in any part of the world.

“We have more Nigerian women that are faithful to their marriages than other nations. Ours can be attributed to various factors like religion, which has become the standard for most of us, and then tradition.

“Despite our exposure and enlightenment, a typical Nigerian woman still holds firm to the dictates of tradition, either of her background or that of her husband’s. That aside, our men are even too egocentric to allow their wives that liberty. A man can kill any woman suspected of infidelity, whether true or not. It’s seen as a slap on the man’s face and not an emotional slip,” Rosemary Duamlong, an entrepreneur and mother of two argued firmly in defence of Nigerian women when presented with the outcome of Durex’s survey.

The survey claims that regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, or a committed relationship, Nigerian women still in the real sense tend to be unfaithful, giving a 62% prevalence of unfaithfulness, with Thailand following.

Admitting though that some women could be extremely unfaithful, some male folks debunked the percentage put forward by the survey.

“I have been married for 20 years and my wife has not cheated on me. In every way, she has been very faithful even despite my unfaithfulness,” a middle-aged Nigerian who simply identified himself as Monye said.

Another man said of his wife: “While we were still dating, I

could say she kept other men, but as soon as she became certain that I was serious about her, she personally dropped them and has since then been more than faithful to me.”

Nigeria is not a society where adultery is treated with impunity, unlike places like Britain where married couples jointly patronize so-

Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015—33

called ‘Elite Sex Clubs’ where they have sex with other men and women. Here, family values are cherished and women who cheat do so mostly in secret. Hence, it remains a puzzle how the country managed to top the list of unfaithful wives.

“Nigerian women are generally familycentred and conscious of society approval.

Only a few would therefore risk rubbishing the integrity of their families, especially that of their children, for a moment of pleasure. Our society is yet to liberate women to the level of equal rights with men. Thus, no Nigerian woman will be applauded for cheating on her husband socially. To this end, the stigma it attracts is a deterrent. Besides, what a man can do and get away with in Nigeria, a woman cannot try it and get away and this includes being unfaithful in marriage,” said a lady who’s been married for nine years.

“We’ve had instances where women commit adultery with no sense of secrecy but the percentage cannot be said to be as high as claimed by Durex’s survey. We’ve also had women getting pregnant for other men in their husband’s house but yet, the percentage is minute, compared to what obtains in other countries.

If Durex’s claims were true, why do most Nigerian men in diaspora come back home to Nigeria to pick a wife? If you ask them, they will tell you our women are more faithful in marriage than their counterparts abroad. They have lived both in Nigeria and abroad but still prefer our women.

Funny enough, foreigners are not exempted in this search for Nigerian wives. Just last year, a friend’s daughter had an Italian coming to seek her hand in marriage. They both met in Italy but this young man in his early thirties came down here with this girl to marry her traditionally and legally. I learned the man had vowed not to marry from his country because of the high rate of infidelity amongst their women,” argued another woman in her fifties.

Celebs and Talk Shows: what’s the allure?

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULAM

M

ulti- award winning actress Monalisa Chinda is definitely not resting on her oars as she has officially announced her television show titled, You and I with Monalisa.

Revealing this during a media briefing in Lagos, the screen Diva said, “the new TV show is an unconventional weekly talk show that employs engaging interactive debates inter-meshed with drama to address everyday social and trending issues. Each episode will commence with beautifully acted out script followed by endearing discussions with distinguished guests”.

“The show aims to record these unique changes and promote an ongoing debate through the idea of open source interactions. Our guests take on critical social issues with fresh perspectives and insights to highlighting possible solutions to a particular dilemma” she added.

According to her the television show which will be aired in both international and local channels would inspire, educate empower and entertain Nigerians; give hope and encourage people who are disillusioned about the realities of life and provide a medium to elevate its audience towards reaching their full potential and becoming the citizens

they desire to be. The ingenious talk show is set to inspire millions of viewers across TV, electronic and social media platforms globally.

No doubt, since her debut into the movie industry, Monalisa has consistently redefined standards, giving the veterans a run for their money.

Banky & Tiwa show If Chinda seeks redefinition, Tiwa Savage might be more in search of reinforcement.

Her show, featuring two celebrities: Banky W and Tiwa as co-hosts, is a casual laid back talk show that airs the views of the two hugely celebrated stars on topics that mean a lot to them and the topics are wide in reach- from bleaching to pastors with private jets. And though the duo brings tons of intelligence and professionalism into their show, their fans are worried the show would reduce their relevance in the music industry. Critics also refer to many of their topics as “boring” but far from losing relevance, both Tiwa and BankyW continue to top music charts as singer and producer.

Nike Oshinowo Since being crowned Most

Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 1990, style icon Nike Oshinowo has retained much public interest and admiration, but the last thing her fans and critics alike expected was to see her on the small screen.

Her talk show billed Late Night with Nike Oshinowo debuted just last month , and is already provoking much intrigue.

Says she: Of all the things I thought I would venture into, a TV talk show wasn't one of them..

"I like TV. I like watching precisely the kind of show that I am doing now. I want one show which gives me everything from current affairs to the happening music, movies as well as stars that are doing well like Genevieve, Omotola, while at the same time watching conversations with politicians, business leaders without having to change the channel - LNWNO is that show. I have a sense of humour. I also have a strong opinion which will be seen on the show.

Nigerians will get to see that Niko Oshinowo is a well rounded human being and I have political views" In 2015, there is every likelihood for other celebs to join the bandwagon of beginning talk shows, and this can only be in the public’s interest, as they can easily draw attention to social and political issues because of the existing fan bases and personalities. Definitely a welcome development.

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34—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

J

umpsuit is one of the most fashionable pieces to wear this season. Although not every woman can wear just any jumpsuit and look stylish, this is why women need to know how to get it right wearing a romper or jumpsuit. Jumpsuits come in all kinds of styles, from formal to casual, and with a fit to flatter every body type. They can be a fun, bold fashion statement, but, perhaps for that very reason, there are certain things to consider before buying or wearing one.

Tall women should consider a

sweeping, floor-length piece, while more petite women should stick to rompers that go above the knee.

Aside from bottom length, rompers can also come in different sleeve lengths. Women who have shapely arms should go bare with halter top, sleeveless, or even tube top jumpsuits. Long-sleeved jumpsuits look elegant and classy, and can also hide some less-than-perfect features.

Solid colour jumpsuits look great on any woman, as the continuous silhouette created by the single colour lengthens the body, and creates a flattering profile.

Small prints, a few splashes of colour, or colour-blocked jumpsuits can also be acceptable if done in moderation.

•Monalisa

•Monalisa •Mercy

•Ini Edo

•Genevieve

•Toolz

•Rita Dominic

Fashion versus football: The passion continues on Malta Guinness Game On

By Esther Onyegbula

T

he TV reality show, Game On by Malta Guinness continues to thrill viewers as episode two debuts on Sunday on NTA and AIT television stations.

The reality show which is the culmination of a series of passionate debates and rivalry between fashion and football lovers in Nigeria kicked off last week with both teams led by fashion Icon Lanre Da Silva Ajayi and Daniel Amokachi respectively.

Last week on episode one, the first challenge saw both teams visiting the popular Balogun market in Lagos to demonstrate their passion in an attempt to persuade the traders and general market community about which passion suits the never-say-die spirit of the Nigerian.

At the end of the day, team football

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triumphed as they were voted the winning team by members of the community and went on to celebrate at the GET arena in Lekki Lagos courtesy of Malta Guinness. As a result of their loss, Team Fashion had to vote off Modupe who they considered their weakest link on that challenge. Lanre Da Silva Ajayi encouraged her team saying ‘We need to put all we can into the next challenge. The Game has just begun and I am very sure we will win it despite this setback”. The fashion team promised to show their resilience in the following episodes even as their rivals vowed not to rest on their oars.

Episode two of Malta Guinness Game On was a wedding challenge which had team fashion design wedding dresses for the bride and chief bridesmaid. The bride and her chief looked adorable in their lace embellished

dresses which appeared effortlessly put together by the fashion team. Team football on the other hand, had to impress the crowd at the wedding with an entertaining routine which ended with the groom scoring a goal. Guests present at the event voted in favour of team Fashion.

Team Football eventually voted off Coach Ben, who the team unanimously said was less involved in the week’s challenge. Team captain for team football, Daniel Amokachi tried to motivate his team in the face of their loss.

He said “In football if you can’t accept defeat you can’t work to the next game and win”.

Both teams are now down two members and the field is even but both team captains encouraged their members to keep the passion burning. The show airs Sunday on AIT, Spice TV and NTA, with a repeat broadcast on ONTV, Thursday.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015—35

Was the Queen Idi Amin’s friend?

Cancer Fight : Jayden wilson

Tributes as Spider -Man video boy dies A

H

e was a brutal tyrant whose regime of terror horrified the world. But when the Queen wrote to Ugandan dictator Idi Amin – just weeks before his atrocities began to be exposed – she signed off her letter with the line ‘Your Good Friend’.

The extraordinary letter is revealed for the first time in previously unpublished papers from the National Archives.

They also reveal how the Queen quickly changed her view of Amin, but maintained the semblance of diplomatic decorum because of fears for the lives of British citizens in the African country.

Amin, a former British Colonial Army officer who seized power in a 1971 coup, was left giddy with excitement after receiving a Christmas card from the Foreign Office.

He sent a gushing letter in January 1972 inviting the Queen to the tenth anniversary of Ugandan independence that October, writing: ‘It would do my government a great honour if Your Majesty could grace these celebrations with your presence in the company of your husband and the rest of your family. ’ The Queen politely declined, stating: ‘I am most disappointed that my commitments at that time will prevent my accepting your invitation.’ She concluded with her customary sign-off to heads of state: ‘I am your good friend, Elizabeth R.’ Later that year Amin expelled Uganda’s large community of Asians, including many thousands of British passport-holders, and news of widespread atrocities under his rule began to circulate.

As a result, the Queen was reluctant to send a proposed message to Uganda for Independence Day. She relented only when Foreign

Office staff warned Buckingham Palace that British lives could be at risk if Amin felt he was being snubbed.

Following the advice, a very short message was sent expressing the Queen’s good wishes to the people of Uganda –

with no mention of Amin.

During his nine-year rule, the tyrant murdered an estimated 500,000 people. He was finally ousted in April 1979 and fled to Libya. He died in 2003.

Culled from Daily Mail

FIVE year-old cancer patient who became an internet sensation when his father dressed up as Spider -Man to give him a birthday surprise has died.

Michael Wilson dressed as the comic-book character and jumped down from the family home in Basingstoke, Hampshire, to greet his son, Jayden, who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in September 2013.

A video recording of the poignant moment last month went viral and has now been viewed more than eight million times on YouTube.

Mr Wilson said his son, who idolised the superhero, died on Christmas Eve. Writing on the “Hope For Jayden” Facebook page, he described his son as “ the bravest person we know “ and said he had battled his illness “with all his might”.

Thousands of people posted tributes on Facebook in the hours after Jayden’s death was announced.

Culled from Daily Mail

Wife beater escapes jail, then kills her later A

n alcoholic with a history of violence escaped prison by apologising to his wife for brutally attacking her – then beat her to death weeks later. Now police forces have been ordered to stop the practice of ‘restorative justice’ because of fears that domestic abusers have such control over their victims that they can force them to accept an apology.

It can be revealed that the new guidelines were brought in after the horrific case of Charles Forster, who was violent towards Susan, his wife of 28 years. Forster had been visited by Durham Police four times but was never prosecuted. On April 20, 2011, officers visited the couple’s home near Bishop Auckland after one of their children reported her mother had a badly bruised face.

Mrs Forster, 51, tearfully told a female constable that her alcoholic husband had pushed her during an argument, causing her to bang her head. But she did not want to press charges, and as Forster appeared to be ‘remorseful’ police dealt with the incident by way of restorative justice.

But just 27 days later, Forster murdered his long-suffering wife, who worked as a carer. A neighbour heard him shouting ‘Get up off the floor’ and ‘I’m going to f****** kill you’. Through a window, the neighbour saw him hitting her with his metal walking stick.

Mrs Forster was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene on May

New guidelines have been brought in after the horrific case of Charles Forster (left), who was violent towards Susan (right), his wife of 28 years

17, and was later found to have suffered 11 broken ribs as well as 21 injuries to her head and neck.

Forster, then 63, was given a minimum jail term of 13 years. He died behind bars last month.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission investigated and although it did not blame any officers for what happened, it made a series of national recommendations to ensure nothing similar could happen again. Commissioner Cindy Butts said last night: ‘It was of significant concern to us that there was a conflict in two force policies that allowed restorative justice to be used to deal with the assault claim made a month before Susan Forster was murdered.

‘I hope this national recommendation will allow forces to

learn lessons from this.’ All forces were told by the Association of Chief Police Officers last year that ‘restorative justice should not be used as an alternative to prosecution until alternative ways of dealing with domestic abuse have been thoroughly evaluated’. But HM Inspectorate of Constabulary reported this year that some forces were still ‘routinely’ allowing wife-beaters to get away with saying sorry. Durham Police said: ‘This incident is still subject to a serious case review. It would not be appropriate to comment.’

A Home Office spokesman said: ‘It is not acceptable to use restorative justice in cases of domestic abuse.’

Culled from Daily Mail

36—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

Looking

08 116759 759 081 6759759

scrum-ptious!

T

hanks to the smash hit success of Calendar Girls, stripping off has become one of the most popular ways to raise money for a good cause.

Now the University of Liverpool Women’s Rugby League team has become the latest to produce a charity calendar but one of the two causes supported is themselves.

The team, who have been struggling to find enough cash to pay for equipment and travel, will benefit from some of the money, while the rest will go to Joining Jack.

The charity, which raises awareness and money to fight Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), was set up by the family of six-year-old Jack Johnson from Wigan.

DMD, which currently affects around one in 3,600 boys in the UK, only appears in males and causes progressive muscle wasting.

Now the rugby team hope their naked calendar will raise awareness of the disease, as well as raising funds to support the search for a cure.

‘We are proud to be raising money for such a good cause,’ said team member Olivia Davidson. ‘Half the profits from the calendar are going towards Joining

‘Will yyou ou marr marryy me, again?’

A

man has enlisted the help of family, friends, a 75-piece marching band and a choir to surprise his wife with an over-the-top vow renewal ceremony on their tenth wedding anniversary.

Steven Rosenwasser, of Atlanta, Georgia, pulled off the grand gesture on November 1, explaining that he had spent an entire year brainstorming a truly memorable surprise for his wife, Kelli. ‘Last year on our ninth anniversary I said to myself, “I want to do something really special and unique for her.” It took about a month or two to come up with the idea and I’ve been planning it for about ten months, and it’s amazing to see it all come to fruition,’ Steve explained in a YouTube video that captured the special evening.

Steve had one of Kelli’s friends blindfold her and take her to the couple’s home, where she was told to put on a formal dress. Steve then removed the blindfold, telling his wife: ‘You’ve told me that when it comes to love, actions speak louder than words. So I wanted to show you in actions how much I love you.’

The couple was then greeted with a festive performance by a live marching band who proceeded up their driveway, followed by a choir of young women who sang a moving rendition of ‘I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You’.

As a candlelit procession of family and friends made their way toward the couple, Kelli

clasped her hand over her mouth and exclaimed ‘Oh my God!’ as she witnessed the most touching part of the surprise: The couple’s two young daughters, clad in pink ruffled dresses, entered the scene bearing a large sign that read: ‘Will you marry me...again?’ During the vow renewal ceremony, Steve reminisced about when Kelli first caught his eye in school, three decades ago ‘It was about 30 years ago, I went into school and I saw you. You had the warmest brown eyes, prettiest smile, infectious laugh, and I knew I wanted you to be my girlfriend. ‘Over the last ten years and even recently, I realized just how deep my love is for you,’ he added.

‘I know I put up a lot of walls. You haven’t simply broken through them, you haven’t just touched my heart, you enveloped me. I will open myself up and be vulnerable to everything you have to give me and everything I can give you. To be vulnerable takes a lot of strength and you give me that strength.’

T

he UK has overtaken France to become the fifth largest economy in the world after the money made from prostitution and drugs was counted in the GDP figure for the first time.

Britain’s economy is expected to be worth a total £1.86trillion in 2014 - up from £1.63trillion the previous year - compared to £1.82trillion in France, new calculations reveal.

Government figures show that prostitution added about £4.3billion to the economy while illegal drugs provided a roughly £6.7billion boost.

This year is the first time that the GDP - an economic estimate produced every three months by the Office For National Statistics (ONS) - has included the money made from illegal drugs and sex work.

Jack to help fund research into a cure for DMD. ‘The rest of the money raised will go towards funding our club. Women’s Rugby League is not currently widely played at university level and we lack funding to afford equipment and transport to away matches.’

‘We are also trying to encourage other universities to offer the sport to women and this money will help us do this.’

The calendars are being sold for £10 by the team, at the University of Liverpool’s sports centre and via uolwrlnakedcalendar.moonfruit.com Olivia added: ‘We would also like to thank Seb Castilho, who donated his time and skill to photograph the calendar.’

The Queen’s ‘good friend’...

Idi Amin:

H

e was a brutal tyrant whose regime of terror horrified the world. But when the Queen wrote to Ugandan dictator Idi Amin – just weeks before his atrocities began to be exposed – she signed off her letter with the line ‘Your Good Friend’.

The

extraordinary letter is revealed for the first time in previously unpublished papers from the National Archives.

They also reveal how the Queen quickly changed her view of Amin, but maintained the semblance of diplomatic decorum because of fears for the lives of British citizens in

Who said crime doesn’t pay?

The darker corners of the economy are now being measured alongside traditional sectors such as farming and financial services as part of an overhaul in the way economic activity is calculated.

The change, which was introduced as part of EU rules implemented earlier this year, means that a booming sex trade or an expansion in the market for illegal

drugs can boost the Chancellor ’s outlook.

And when these more inclusive figures edged the nation ahead of France in world rankings when they were used in calculations of the size of the UK’s economy.

the African country. Amin, a former British Colonial Army officer who seized power in a 1971 coup, was left giddy with excitement after receiving a Christmas card from the Foreign Office.

He sent a gushing letter in January 1972 inviting the Queen to the tenth anniversary of Ugandan independence that October, writing: ‘It would do my government a great honour if Your Majesty could grace these celebrations with your presence in the company of your husband and the rest of your family.’

The Queen politely declined, stating: ‘I am most disappointed that my commitments at that time will prevent my accepting your invitation.’

She concluded with her customary sign-off to heads of state: ‘I am your good friend, Elizabeth R.’ Later that year Amin expelled Uganda’s large community of Asians, including many thousands of British passport-holders, and news of widespread atrocities under his rule began to circulate. As a result, the Queen was reluctant to send a proposed message to Uganda for Independence Day. She relented only when Foreign Office staff warned Buckingham Palace that British lives could be at risk if Amin felt he was being snubbed.

Following the advice, a very short message was sent expressing the Queen’s good wishes to the people of Uganda – with no mention of Amin. During his nine-year rule, the tyrant murdered an estimated 500,000 people.

He was finally ousted in April 1979 and fled to Libya. He died in 2003.

SA TURD AY Vanguard, JANU ARY 3, 2015—37 SATURD TURDA JANUARY

Ophelia Eghagha, TTon on onyy Ba Bayyagbon in nuptial bliss

A

nthony Mamuromu Bayagbon and his beau, former Miss Uyotan Ophelia Eghagha are looking into the new year as man and wife after being joined together in a Holy matrimony at Christ Embassy Church, Summit Junction, Asaba on Saturday 29th November, 2014. The traditional marriage held Wednesday November 26, 2014 at Mereje Town, Okpe Local Government in Delta State.

Inspiration FM’s Xmas Family Praise Jam

T

he management and staff of Inspiration 92.3 FM radio took to the stage days back to celebrate the Christmas in their own unique way. The 2014 Inspiration 92.3 FM Xmas Family Praise Jam which held in Lagos on Xmas and boxing day in Lagos, had families and the crew of the radio station making merry in the spirit of the season. The Midnight Crew were on hand to provide entertainment. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele

L-R: Mr. & Mrs. Uti Obioru, Mrs. Beauty Bayagbon, bride & groom, with Mr.& Mrs. E .Eghagha.

The Midnight Crew performing at the 2014 Inspiration 92.3 FM Xmas family Jam.

Bride & groom with Mr. Bayagbon Darochia

Bride & groom acknowledging pleasantries from guests.

Mr Soni Irabor, Chief Executive Officer, Inspiration 92.3 FM (left) with members of Bright Ugochukwu family

L-R: Mr. E. Eghagha, Dr. Ese Ajueyitsi, bride, Mrs. Maria Chibuogu.

Ndoni Community Lagos mar ks end of 20 14 marks 201 NOTABLE Nigerians gathered at the home of Chief Victor Oyolu to be part of the Ndoni Community end of year party 2014.

L-R: Sir Francis Olisa, Chief Victor Oyolu, Chief Enebeli Onyia, President General Ndoni Community, Mr Osita Ibenezim, Chief Barr. Sunday Obi, former President General Ndoni Community and Mr Austine Odili C M Y K

couple, Mr and Mrs Tony Bayagbon with both families

Joy and Oswald MR Oswald Enifuje Efekodha and his wife Joy were joined as man and wife at Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) Asaba , recently.

The newly wedded Mr Oswald Enifuje Efekodha (second left) his wife Joy (second right) the father of the groom Chief Anthony Efekodha (right) the commissioner for Women Affairs/mother of the groom Betty Efekodha (left)

L-R: Mrs Victoria Oku; Mrs Wura Abbe, Event/ Marketing Executive, Inspiration Radio FM and Mrs Marigold Ogunnaike

Mr Soni Irabor, CEO, Inspiration 92.3 FM Radio (4th right) with some guests

38—SA TURD AY 38—SATURD TURDA

A

Vanguard, JANU ARY 3, 2015 JANUARY

t the beginning of the year, many people make New Year resolutions. These resolutions are basically dos and don’ts they pencil down to implement during the year to make them better human beings or achieve specific goals. New Year resolutions have helped some people in turning their lives around for the better; some others go back on their resolutions even before they get started. I guess it comes down to focus, determination, discipline and will power.

But beyond New Year resolutions, how about coming up with a personal or family mission and vision statements?

A personal or family mission statement is an embodiment of core values that guide the balance family and work in Stephen person or family in both Covey ’s Seven Habits of Highly internal and external interactions. It Effective People. Check it out: sets short, medium and long term goals and it is far more detailed and I will seek to balance career and more involving than New Year family as best as I can since both are resolutions. “A mission statement is important to me. My home will be a not something you write overnight. place where I and my family, friends and It takes deep introspection, careful guests find joy, comfort, peace, and analysis, thoughtful expression and happiness.... I will exercise wisdom in often times many rewrites (over a long what we choose to eat, read, see, and period) to produce its final form.” do at home. I especially want to teach (Stephen Covey, Seven Habits of my children to love, to learn, and to Highly Effective People). Many of us laugh—and to work and develop their have one form of personal or family unique talents. mission statement or the other, but it I value the rights, is mainly in unwritten form or not freedom, and formally documented in a single document. The one I am referring to responsibilities of our here is one which has been democratic societies. I deliberately and consciously written will be a concerned and citizen, by you or your family. It is like a informed written constitution, as against an informed in the political unwritten constitution, and guides process to ensure my family members in their conduct and voice is heard and my vote is counted…

I will always keep myself free from affairs. New Year resolutions will be far more effective and easier to addictive and destructive habits. I will implement if they are microcosms of develop habits that free me from old our mission and vision statements. A labels and limits and expand my vision statement, by the way, states capabilities and choices.

My money will be my servant, not where you want to be at a stated time in the future. Both mission and vision my master. I will seek financial statements are interdependent. The independence over time. My wants mission statement guides daily will be subject to my needs and my conduct while the vision statement means. Except for long-term home and projects into the future. I came across car loans, I will seek to keep myself the mission statement of a woman, free from consumer debts. I will spend which I subscribe to, seeking to less than I earn and regularly save and

How about per sonal mission and vision sstt at ements? personal atements? invest part of my income. Moreover, I will use what money and talents I have to make life more enjoyable for others through service and charitable giving.

I

f you ask me, I will say this is a wellthought-out and comprehensive personal mission statement. Our elections are starting in six weeks, and I find the second paragraph apt.

Nigerian voters and families, should ensure their voices are heard and their votes are counted. Everywhere you see Nigerians gathered, if they are not discussing sports, they are probably

,

I will use what money and talents I have to make life more enjoyable for others through service and charitable giving

,

lamenting the prevailing socioeconomic situation. Let us stop complaining and use our votes to deny incompetent governments and elected officials at all levels continuity; let us vote for change where necessary. Let us not be afraid of change. That is partly what life is about. If the new government is also incompetent, we vote again in four years to effect a change. Let us also stop those who think governance is for personal aggrandizement and status from getting into elective positions. The Nigerian family has been terribly

brutalized; this is no time for complacency, get involved in any way you can in the process that can make the macro impact positively on your micro. No tree is impossible to uproot.

The voter, like the customer, is king. For too long we have been denied our kingship; it is time to claim it, I know it can be claimed, I have seen it claimed before and collectively we can claim it. Real development will only come when our leaders realize we are kings and treat us like kings.

There are many people in government with stolen mandates.

We must not allow that to happen this year. It is time to get kicking; it is time to kick some asses.

Individual and collective efforts will give the Nigerian people victory.

In deciding who gets your treasured vote, pay more attention to issues than religion and ethnicity.

Unnecessary sentiments and tension are being thrown up. Poverty and hardship are blind to ethnicity and religion. Nigeria is a developing country, so we are not even talking about foreign policy or environmental degradation, widespread as it is. The issues are security of lives and property, unemployment, unstable power supply, poor living standards, lack of potable water, poor and inadequate infrastructure and so on.

Are we satisfied with the performance of the various governments at all levels? Could they have done better with the available resource? Have they judiciously utilized available resources? Do those angling to take over have better track records or manifestoes? These are some of the major issues that should determine who gets our votes. Happy New Year.

(Text Only)

Rejuvenat ais t,abdominal muscles ejuvenatee bac backk,w ,wais aist,abdominal The Bow Technique: Lie face down. Bend the knees and hold the ankles with corresponding hands.

Now breathing in deeply, lift the thighs and chest off the floor.

Benefits: The bow stretches the back and shoulder muscles easing the tension in those areas.

The effect of this exercise on the spine releases energy.

A good posture to be practiced at lunch break to get rid of afternoon sluggishness.

Leg and Trunk Raise Technique: Lying on your back, interlace the fingers of both hands and place them behind the back. Breathing in, lift both legs and trunk off the floor.

Now breathe normally. Stay in the position for 5 seconds or more.

}

•The Bow

Benefits: This posture firms up the muscles of the abdomen and upper back.

•Head-to- Knee

Head-to- Knee Technique: Sit with feet stretched out in front of you.Slowly lower the trunk till the forehead rests on the knees,and with the thumb and forefinger ,form a ring around the corresponding

Yoga Classes STARTED

}

Leg and Trunk Raise

@ 32 Adetokumbo Ademola, Victoria Island Lagos.

9.00am — 10.00am on Saturdays

big toes,and with the elbows touching the floor.Retain the pose for 10 to 30 seconds while breathing normal.

Repeat the exercise for benefits that accrue.

Benefits: The Head-to- Knee stretches the back and hamstring muscles.The digestive organs receive adequate massage leading to their improved functioning.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 3, 2015—39

juliecoker100@yahoo.com

I’m dating a married woman Aunty Julie, I’m a young man in the University and very good-looking. Eight

months ago, I started dating a woman I met in the same University but she is married to an abusive husband. A little over a year ago, she and her two young children finally left her abusive marriage and she moved back in with her parents

so that she could finish her degree, which will take just about another year.

From the moment we started dating, her parents have made our relationship a nightmare. They are extremely controlling of the relationship, abusive of her and her children, and generally make it almost impossible for us to be together. I have a very hard time “just accepting” this behaviour for the next year. I don’t understand a situation where this lady after being abused by her erstwhile husband will start suffering a fresh one from her parents and what makes them think they can control us. How do I deal with this very volatile situation?

Simon, Kaduna Hello Simon, She has left the care of her husband to go under the care of her parents and she is not financially independent. As

We don’t discuss our future together Dear Julie, I met this guy over a year ago and we have been in a monogamous and committed relationship. It is a very oneday-at-a-time kind of relationship and we never talk about our future together. We are very compatible spiritually which was the key reason for the development of the relationship. We did not have sex for the first five months of the relationship which has turned out to be one of the best things that has happened in a relationship for me.

We built intimacy based on who we are together and getting to know who we are.

My question is: I want to talk about

future stuff how do I do that or should I even do that? I have subtly let him know what I want but it has never turned into a discussion about it... so I am wondering if you can help me through this dilemma?

Do I bring up the subject or not? I want to live together eventually... does he? Thank you.

Vicky, Abuja Dear Vicky, It seems you are ahead of your partner and ready for something he is not. You have two choices - do nothing and wait for him to catch up with you or initiate a conversation. There is no way to know

I love sex but ...

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

The natural Look The other night, my wife and I were going out. She sat there and put on eyebrow pencil, eye shadow, eyeliner, eyelashes, mascara, toner, blush and lipstick, then turned to me and enquired, ‘Does this look natural?

Friends and neighbours Emma and Bryan were staying at ‘The Red Lion’ pub near Castleton in the Derbyshire Peak District for a few nights. In the bar, during the evening, they became friendly with the hotel’s odd job man, Ian, and told him how much they had grown to love the area.

After several pints of beer and a couple of games of darts Ian turned to the couple and said, ‘My neighbour has a nice little cottage for sale, on the edge of the village, in case you’re interested.’

Emma and Bryan were excited and visited the

C M Y K

which choice is the better one.

Listen to your gut on this one.

Subtly letting him know what you want is not one of the choices if you want to continue to have a great relationship - it’s really nothing more than manipulation.

If you do decide to initiate a conversation, here is some language that should make it pretty palatable to your guy: “You know, we never talk about our future, and I have been starting to feel like I want to. What do you see/want for us in the future?” Good luck to 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 cottage the next day and despite its run-down appearance, they were smitten with the place and bought it straightaway, “as seen.”

Two weeks later, they moved in and naturally Ian came to see how they were settling in.

‘You got a good buy,’ Ian told them, ‘but the cottage needs some work though. Roof leaks, plumbing’s shot and the whole place needs rewiring.’

Rather taken aback, Bryan scowled angrily and asked, ‘Why didn’t you tell us that before we bought the flippin’ place?’

‘We weren’t neighbours then,’ Ian smartly retorted.

Marriage and the child Lorna Irwin was striding down O’Connell Street in Dublin, and coming in the opposite direction was Father O’Mara.

‘Hello,’ uttered the Father, ‘and how is Mrs Irwin this fine day? Didn’t I marry you two years ago?’

a student, she is still under the care of somebody and in this case, her parents. I believe the reality here is that her parents are not going to change. She obviously learned how to live with abuse by living with her parents. And you must realise that living at her parents house under such conditions is not good for her or her kids.

The question is, what are you going to do about this? And how will you support her in dealing with this situation? You have two choices: encourage and support her in finding the resources and solutions to her financial and housing problems, and help her move out or to put up with the situation, and eventually walk away because the situation is unbearable.

The past haunts him Dear Julie, I was going through a divorce and met a guy. He’s 37 and I’m 29. We dated a few times, knew we liked each other, but decided not to see each other until the divorce was final for the obvious reasons.

Divorce is final and we have been hanging out together and getting closer. However, he seems to be haunted by his past. He had a serious relationship with another woman (not the mother of his child) for five years. She ended it and he was terribly hurt. Some times things between us are so perfect. But when we get close/intimate, he seems scared and brings up the past. Its almost like he’s cheating on her or something. This guy is everything I want in a man but I’m worried (the gut feeling) that she still has a power over him. Should I give this relationship more time or just “see the light” and move on?

Thanks for your opinion.

Ella, Benin City Dear Ella, I am not sure there is a “light” to be seen here, at least not yet. It is pretty normal for a new relationship to bring up feelings from an old one. Now, you have to watch what your guy does with these feelings. He will do one of two things. He may confuse the present with the past, and only allow the two of you to get just so close. If this happens to be the case, perhaps you should move on. Alternatively, he may realize that a relationship with you is not the same as the relationship in his past, and share his feelings and fears instead of acting them out. If this is the case, you are on your way to building a solid, wonderful relationship.

Lorna replied, ‘That you did Father.’

The priest inquired, ‘And are there any little ones yet?’

‘No, not yet Father,’ murmured Lorna Irwin.

‘Well, now, I’m going to Rome next week, and I’ll light a candle for you.’

‘Thank you, Father.’

A few years later they met again.

‘Well, now, Mrs Irwin,” said Father O’Mara, ‘and how are you?’

‘Oh, very well,’ responded Lorna.

‘And tell me,’ said the Reverend Father, ‘have you any little ones yet?’

‘Oh yes, Father O’Mara,’ answered Lorna Irwin, ‘I’ve had three sets of twins, and four singles: ten in all.’

‘Now isn’t that wonderful,’ rejoined Father O’Mara, ‘And how is your lovely husband?’

‘Oh, Basil,’ she replied, ‘now he’s gone to Rome. To blow out the damn candle!’

40—SA TURD AY 40—SATURD TURDA

Vanguard, JANU ARY 3 JANUARY 3,, 2015

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk

Why it’s so hard to get over a mother’s death I

lost my mother six months ago and I’m still devastated” — wrote a reader.

“She was my best friend as well as my mum and since her death, I haven’t been able to cope. I’ve been put on sleeping tablets but I still can’t sleep. I am a single mother and my mother was very supportive when the father of my child didn’t show any interest in my daughter, and I never wanted for anything. I haven’t got many friends, so I don’t know who to talk to. I can’t talk to my dad because he is also grieving and is really bewildered. As things are now, I feel as though I can’t carry on without my mum.” would feel if his mum passed With the passing on of one’s on. Years after, his mother mother, the shape of a family died, I had the opportunity to changes abruptly. The children seek the views of both of them. are in shock, and the father, “After my mother died,” even though he’s expected to recalled Femi, an only child be strong, is most of the time and spoilt by his mum,“I bewildered. With time, the pain became adamant I wouldn’t might be dulled, but the grief do anything that would let her resurfaces from time to time over down so I never drank and I the years. “When I was in my never touched a cigarette teens,” remembers Aweni, now because she used to 36; “my mother was strict and disapprove of me doing those controlling... She forbade me to things. It took me a long time wear make-up, attend discos to face the fact that the and go out with boys. I used to situation I was in was seethe to myself a lot but I had unchangeable. I had to make no choice but to comply. When myself face the fact that I’m my mother died in a motor

She was my best friend as well as my mum and since her death, I haven’t been able to cope

,

accident, I was 19. Although I felt really sad, I felt like I could breathe again—I was free to do whatever I wanted. So I stayed out, went to parties a lot, and my father turned blind eye.

With time though, I realized my liberation was double-edged. I felt like I finally belonged with my friends, but I was still in pain because I missed my mother so much.

“We had so many arguments that I didn’t get the chance to make up with her, and I felt so guilty and just behaved the way I wasn’t allowed to before.

Things got really bad when I was getting married and there was no mum to help with my plans.”A couple of decades ago, when I was editing Happy Home magazine and doing the Love Story slot, I remember asking a particular husband the question: If you were to choose between your mother and your wife, who would you choose?

Without bating an eyelid, Femi, the husband replied: “My mother,” ignoring the pained expression on his wife’s face and my astonishment. He did not even try to be diplomatic with his wife right there by his side, he went on about the fantastic sacrifices his mother had made for him. He came from a polygamous family, he alleged, and it was his mother who made sure he had the best food and education even when she had to beg and borrow money! I wondered then how he

,

not supposed to have a mother any more. Even now, I still find myself talking to her, but knowing she will never be

around for the most important landmarks in my life. Her death was as if a huge part of me was ripped off. I still hear her voice to this day.”

Femi’s wife, on the other hand, was glad to see the back of her mother-in-law. She said:“She was very overbearing and was always threatening me with substitute wives whenever I fell out with her precious son. I was running a fashion house that he set up for me and she was always around like the proverbial bad penny. When Femi began looking into my business’ takings, she backed

him up. Whenever he was ill, she would be around like a shot, sleeping in his room whilst I slept in the guest room. The relationship was very unhealthy and it eroded any respect I had for my husband. He was actually lost when his mother died.

Unfortunately, he lost his job too and I had to relocate abroad with the kids as they’re all British citizens. In the end, he graciously agreed to join us there but when he started being heavy-handed all over again, I gleefully kicked him out. Let him go to his mother’s grave to ask her

Stop that anger from boiling over

S

econds out, round, one …. Every couple knows that moment when passion gives way to rage. When the one you were madly in love with is suddenly the one driving you mad. So, how do you deal with those feelings?

Do you revel in a row or shrink from a skirmish?

Counsellors say that couple shouldn’t back away from arguments because bottling up emotions only lead to trouble. But some ways of reacting are simply unhelpful. Recognise yourself in any of them?

The Sulker: When you are mad, you wander around with a long face, banging saucepans, sighing heavily.

You have to be coaxed into revealing what’s on your mind and always manage to make your partner feel he or she is in the wrong. You cannot see the funny side of things and refuse to be jollied out of your sulk.

Below the belt line, “nothing’s the matter.”

The Nagger: You just go on and on. A row is the perfect

excuse for bringing up every petty grievance you have ever felt. You’ve got the memory of an elephant and are quite capable of remembering ill or imagined slights from years ago. You can start a row just as you are about to meet friends for a night out, turning sugarsweet once they arrive, and picking up the threads as soon as they leave. You can keep a row simmering for days. Below the belt line.

“And another thing...”

The Quitter: When things get too hot to handle, you simply walk out. You might lock yourself in the bathroom or go out for a drink, and then, you have to be wooed back. Or, you wait until your partner is so worried about you that he or she apologised when you return. In any case, you win even if you were in the wrong.

Below the belt line: “We’ll talk when you calm down.”

The Martyr:You pretended to suffer in silence but when you’re annoyed, you create

an atmosphere that can be cut with a knife. You may pretend to give in but you can’t lose with good grace and you make your partner suffer. ...You develop headaches at bed time or mope around the house like a bear with a sore head. In the end, your partner can’t stand the tension and makes the peace.

,

“

what he should do with the rest of his life!”

No matter how sad you are at the death of your mother, a sociologist advises you should console yourself with the thought that she lives on in the hearts of all that loved her. According to her: “You feel her influence in caring people she raised and on her grandchildren’s faces. You will continue to live with her values and to judge yourself as she might.

When you feel down, be as kind to yourself as she would have been to you.

Whatever a grieving child does she should remember that her father needs consoling more than ever.

Allow yourself to show you love him. He may not want to talk about his grief, but a part of him very much needs to. Just popping over to ask him how he is and to volunteer to help with the cooking or shopping will permit him to feel that he is still loved, rather than isolated and bereft. Lastly, when your dad feels ready to pick up the pieces of his life by committing to another woman, don’t interfere. It’s his life after all, and you should let him get on with it!”

The doormat: You hate rows so much that you agree black was white to keep peace. You are so insecure you think that love can’t survive a few ups and downs. You can’t understand why the passivity drives your partner mad, though.

Below the belt line: “Whatever.”

The Cry Baby: You never stand up for yourself –

Counsellors say that couple shouldn’t back away from arguments because bottling up emotions only lead to trouble

The Prophet: Whenever anything goes wrong you are the first to rejoice in disaster. You refuse to accept any blame, and you take delight in discovering other people’s mistakes. Your holier-than-thou attitude is guaranteed to drive your partner around the bend while you can carry on assumption an air calm.

Below the belt lines! “I told you so.”

,

you simply dissolve into tears. You have learned that you don’t have to be tough to get your own way. So, when things look too heavy to handle, you just turn on the water works. One day though, you will try the trick too often and your partner will have become waterproof. Below the belt line! “Boo-hoo”.

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015 — 41

YETUNDE AREBI

A blue Christmas for Sandra!

F

or Sandra, there was nothing merry about the Christmas, or exciting about the New Year celebrations. In fact, the whole Yuletide was not a happy one.

While everyone dinned and made merry, it was the saddest festive period Sandra had ever witnessed so far in her 28 years on this earth.

She had spent the holidays, weeping and refused to be consoled by family and friends.

She had lost a loved one. Not to death, but to the intrigues of love and life.

Three days before Christmas, Sandra had woken up in the morning to embrace the grace of God for what she thought would be a normal, regular day. She’d checked her Whatsapp messages for her usual wake-up greeting from Ben, her heart throb with a smile filled with love, appreciation and contentment.

And she had responded with a similar message adorned with loving motifs. Neither did she suspect that they would be the last exchange of loving words and promises between her and a guy she had loved, hoped and dreamt with for two wonderful years, nor did she anticipate that their relationship would come to an end so soon, and so unceremoniously too.

For the carpet of love was rudely yanked from underneath her feet like a freak accident that would leave one disfigured and tainted for a lifetime. Her self-proclaimed soul mate had left her without a farewell wish, without a complaint, quarrel or fight. At least, she would have had an idea what went wrong between them and the likely implications too. They still spoke the night before, with plans to see each other on Christmas eve and make further plans for the rest of the holidays. A broadcast text message sent from Ben’s mobile phone number put an end to that. (End of discussion as they say) The message read “Lola weds Ben” and it was a reminder to a wedding ceremony that would take place on Saturday, 27th December, 2014. Had someone told her, it would have sounded unbelievable. But she was reading it, first hand, by herself. Unfortunately, Sandra was also in the office and in the company of colleagues when she opened the text. Her reaction drew their attention and curiosity as she repeated, “it is a lie, this can’t be true”.

Someone collected the phone from her and after reading, passed it on to the next person.

Minutes after, nearly everyone at the office knew the calamity that had befallen her.

Sandra had been jilted by her two timing C M Y K

fiancé.

In her state of shock, her boss offered the use of his car and driver to take her home with permission that she could take the rest of the week off. At home, her only explanation was to show her parents the text message. No one could believe what had happened. A relationship of two years which had everyone’s hope high on the possibility of a 2015 wedding had turned to a nightmare by the click of a text message.

Everyone demanded for answer. And they got it when Ben walked in later that evening. Obviously genuinely sorry and ashamed of his conduct and the tactless revelation, he’d thrown himself on the floor at the feet of his dream in-laws to beg for their forgiveness. He’d lacked the courage and honour to tell Sandra that they could never get married. He’d already given his promise to another lady just before they met and fell in love.

The lady, Lola, is the daughter of his parents’ friends and she’d been studying abroad for her Master Degree all these while which gave him the opportunity to cultivate a relationship with Sandra. The wedding had been in the offing for several years and he could not turn against his parents. If he could have his way, he would marry Sandra. But when was he planning to divulge this secret to her? He had no idea but had hoped he would on Christmas eve when they planned to meet. (What, two days to his wedding?) Okay, so why the text message? Tina had been responsible for that. She’d picked his phone and sent messages to all his contacts, insisting that she wanted all their friends to attend the wedding and all his contacts to know of his new status. Sandra’s parents had been at a loss for words, and simply admonished him for his lack of courage and dishonesty, while insisting that he had not done right by their daughter.

Thus, Sandra had endured a bleak Christmas, weeping for a love that no longer existed. Ironically, colleagues at the office, some of whom were not her friends came to visit and offer their condolences for a dead love affair, even though no one died.

By Monday when she turned up at work, it appeared everyone, right from the security

men, knew what had happened and looked upon her with pity laced with curiosity. (amebos). Ashamed, as though she were at fault for what had happened, she was forced to ask for permission to commence an annual leave that would not be due in over six months. Thus, Sandra had spent both Christmas day and New Year on her own, tending her wounded heart and questioning her guardian angel and creator.

When my baby sister, a friend of Sandra’s first gave me the gist, I was stunned, but advised that it was part of life’s experiences. “One you love, another you marry”, a saying goes. We can only hope and pray that life would deal us good cards, no one can control what would be, if it was destined to be. Sandra is one of the numerous Nigerians that spent the week long holiday bent over in sorrow while the world partied on around them. Those who did not know it was Christmas. Those too blinded and consumed by their unfortunate situations to bask in the euphoria of the hope and aspirations that a New Year offers. I pray that God will grant everyone full restoration in health and in spirit as we embrace the New Year. And so, my heart goes out to: *All the young men and women who have lost out in the game of love and life, jilted by their lovers for specified or undisclosed reasons. *All those in troubled relationships but can hardly do anything to change things for the myriads of reasons dictated by tradition, custom and society. *All those who have suddenly found their ways into the relationship market, either through separation, divorce or bereavement and did not have the grace to enjoy a night out gazing at the stars in the embrace of a better half. *All those who have lost children, siblings, family members and friends whose memories are hard to forget and made the holidays less fun. *All those who have lost jobs, means of livelihoods and survival, unable to provide resources to celebrate the holidays. *For those nursing an ailment secretly or publicly, the bedridden and the terminally ill, those whose ailments were wrongly diagnosed and those still searching for answers to their health issues. *For the thousands who have been displaced from their homes by the insurgency of the Boko Haram terrorist group in North/East Nigeria and are being forced to live in make shift tents, at the mercy of nature’s elements. *For all the abducted boys, girls, women and professionals by Boko Haram, especially the Chibok girls and all those being forced to live in perpetual fear of what might become their fate in the hands of some unscrupulous few. *For all those who have lost their lives to the senseless killings and mayhem being perpetuated by the sect. The dead might be oblivious of their situation, but those who feel their absence do.

And even as we battle with the realities of unwarranted and unexplained mayhem, killing and general insecurities, life and living must go on. The much predicted 2015 has finally crept in on us and yet, we are ill prepared. Those entrusted with leadership positions across the country have turned them to personal territories to be occupied only by them, their family members and so-called loyal allies. Our political gladiators have only one thing common in their quest, power, to seize, control and plunder the Nigerian land and its resources for personal and selfish reasons. The Nigerian people are mere pawns in their hands and if need be, must be sacrificed. Unfortunately, those who should know better, sit back and do nothing about it, perhaps, waiting for their turns to benefit from the crumbs from the masters’ tables. Hmmm!

(Thereris God oh!)

It is my fervent prayer that the good Lord will grant us all a New Year gift that will wipe our tears and burdens away. May God bring a smile to our faces, hope to our hearts and the grace to dream of a better tomorrow. I wish us all a happy, prosperous and peaceful New Year. Do have a wonderful weekend!

42—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

The falling price of Crude Oil, and the impact on developing economies like Nigeria

BY IKENNA IFEDOBI Approximately forty years after the OPEC stranglehold on western Economies, in what was to nations like Nigeria an “oil Boom”, a real threat has emerged that may forever loosen the grip of the paling Cartel. In what may be a historical payback for the 70s oil boom, Shale oil: an equally ‘clean’ alternative has driven global oil prices into a price ravine.

The short and long term implications are not quite the same as the previous seasons of, and reasons for, booms and slumps. Why? Well for starters, new technologies like horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” has provided alternatives for heavy Oil purchasers like USA to be less dependent on imported Oil. While previous underlying causes for global oil price fluctuation may have been incidental, as in the case of regional conflicts, or even seasonal: like the 2008 economic recession in the US, the looming reality is that this price slump may be the beginning of a permanent decline in the importance of Africa’s crude oil. in the short run Shale Oil may reduce the relevance of Sub-Saharan oil, and in the long run new sources of energy would be more prevalent as can be seen today by the encouragement of hybrid engines in cars. Ultimately, African governments may witness a reduction in Revenue and an economic paradigm shift that may not be too comfortable.

For a one dimensional economy like Nigeria, the implications are quite far reaching. Nigeria is a good case study because 90 percent of her foreign exchange earnings come from the sale of crude oil. Its annual federal budget is created based on projections made on oil prices and quantity of oil sold.

According to an article in the Guardian of November 3rd 2014 titled- ‘falling crude oil prices and Nigeria’s response’, “ at a senate committee session on October 27 on the medium term economic framework (MTEF), which serves as a basis for the preparation of revenue and expenditure estimates for the annual budget, the finance minister

and coordinating minister of the economy, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, told the committee that the Nigerian economy was facing some challenges on account of the price drop”…according to the editorial, the national budget is predicated on a benchmark of 77.50 dollars a barrel and 2.39 million bpd. Clearly not only has the value of Brent crude diminished significantly, but according to the MTEF document submitted to the senate on October 2014, “Actual oil production averaged about 2.25 million bpd (short of the required 2.39 mbpd) due to activities of oil vandals”. Therefore the value and quantity upon which the 2014 budget is based on had diminished. In the same MTEF report the minister also indicated that “the excess crude account has been depleted to the tune of 4.1 billion dollars from 9 billion dollars.” This account was specifically created in times of surplus crude revenue to cushion seasonal market slumps. The minister suggested that the account may be lower than it was in 2008, when the last market slump occurred, having come down as low as 2 billion dollars at some point. The entire economy rests on the availability of a Crude oil market!

But perhaps the real issue is Nigeria being the first country to stop selling crude oil to the US: its previous largest consumer! Over forty percent of crude oil revenue came from the United States. And while the US has even increased its purchase from countries like Canada, and Saudi Arabia, despite the shale Oil boom, Nigeria has been removed from the suppliers list. It appears odd, and smacks almost of an embargo. As at March 2007, Nigeria sold an average of 41.76 million barrels to the US, an estimated National income of approximately 2.5 billion

dollars a month, even at today’s diminishes price, By July all crude oil sales to her main customer ceases, as Asian countries like India and China, and of course Brazil scramble to fill the void but have fallen short.

According to Platt- an international oil and gas news agency, ‘crude export from Nigeria is down from 1.93 to 1.83 million bpd’. That is about 6 percent a month. So what happens when the Asian market finds a cheaper source of energy? How low can African crude oil fall? This is something that Most sub Saharan governments must strongly consider, going into the latter half of this decade.

With a continued plunge of oil prices and the glutting of the market with shale oil, one dimensional economies built on Crude Oil will face a reduction in foreign exchange and government revenue. From a macro economic perspective, the government will be forced to find other areas to make up for the apparent short fall in available resources and also consider lightening the load by reducing overlapping agencies and workforce.

Also, all subsidies will fly through the window, as government at this point will be so short of cash that it would be willing to jettison any government prop ups, just to sustain its operation.

Fuel prices may rise by as much as 200 percent. And if the Asian market fails to buy a significant portion of Nigeria’s crude for any reason, then things really get dicey.

From a microeconomic perspective, Nigeria is an import dependent economy. With very little of anything produced to a significant degree domestically, the country must rely on importation for a majority of its

economic goods, even food.

Nigeria imports food to the tune of 700 billion Naira, down from a whopping 1.4 trillion Naira annually. A more expensive dollar from falling oil prices will mean more expensive imports for the merchant. The merchant must now pass on that added expense to the consumer to break even.

Things generally become more expensive across the board, and inflation sets in, but because the nature of this type of inflation is predicated on the structure of the economy itself, it cannot therefore be controlled by monetary policy and manipulation by interest rates. Over time the government and domestic economy eventually yield to the orchestration of the international market and the helpless attachment to a single export commodity.

It takes a while for economic phenomena to trickle down, but sometime in the middle of 2015, if oil prices continue to decline, and Oil exports don’t improve, then the average Nigerian citizen will notice a sudden and dramatic increase in food and transportation costs, among a host of other things. It is important to understand that the emergence of shale oil will change the international

Continues on page 47

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 3, 2015—43

How countries emer ge in emerge world’s most valuable br ands brands B

rand Finance, one of the world’s leading brand valuation and strategy consultancy companies has released its annual analysis of the world’s leading ‘nation brands’. Using a method usually applied to companies, the Managing Director, Babatunde Odumeru, said, Brand Finance provides a comprehensive report on the world’s leading nation brands and its impact on countries, governments, investors, students and consumers.

How they stand: *The US is the world’s most valuable nation brand with a $19.3 trillion brand value. *Germany is the strongest nation brand, with a score of 75.84 out of 100 *Qatar is the fastest growing nation brand; its brand value is up 39% to $256 billion. *Ukraine is the fastest faller; its brand

value is down with a 37% to $80bn. *The impact of conflict has been felt in Russia too; its brand value is down with $90 billion. *The Scottish referendum threatened ‘Brand Britain’ but a ‘no’ vote has seen the UK’s nation brand value surge 20% to $2.8 trillion.

According to Managing Director, Brand Fiance, Babatunde Odumeru, USA continues its domination of the Brand Finance Nation Brands report. Its $19.3 trillion brand value is more than three times that of second placed China, whose brand value comes in at $6.4 trillion. Though the actions of the US on the international stage are frequently in question and polarisation and deadlock beset domestic politics, decades as the preeminent force in finance, entertainment, democracy and technology means the US should continue to top the ranking for years to come.

Most Valuable Nation Brands – The Top 10 T

Brand Value Rank 2014

Brand Value Rank 2013 Nation Brand

1 1 US 19,261 2 2 China 6,352 3 3 Germany 4,357 4 4 UK 2,833 5 5 Japan 2,458 6 7 Canada 2,212 7 6 France 2,076 8 9 India 1,621 9 10 Australia 1,555 10 8 Brazil 1,403 Odumeru said,GDP data forms a significant part of the calculation of nation brand value, another reason the US, with its huge economy, dominates. However the final figures are calculated by combining the GDP data with more qualitative information drawn from four ‘pillars’; Goods & Services, Tourism, Talent and Investment. The scores for each are combined to create a score out of 100 (and a matching letter grade on a scale from AAA+ to D similar to a credit rating) that represents nation brand strength. Looking at nation brand strength in isolation can in some ways be seen as the truest reflection of a

1,271 7% 242 4% 355 9% 478 20% 195 9% 349 19% 139 7% 255 19% 298 24% -75 -5%

17,990 6,109 4,002 2,354 2,263 1,863 1,938 1,366 1,257 1,478

AA+ AAAA+ AA AAAAAAA+ AA A

AA AAAA AA AAAA AAA+ AA A+

government’s guidance of its nation brand, as the inherent GDP advantage of larger countries is removed.

Germany’s score of 76 (75.84 to be precise) means it has just pulled ahead of neighbour Switzerland, to become the world’s strongest brand. Despite fairly flat growth of late, Germany remains Europe’s powerhouse with an almost unrivalled reputation for quality manufacturing and efficiency. Unemployment is falling and the country’s World Cup win has, to a limited extent at least, generated a positive ‘halo’ effect. In terms of overall nation brand value, Germany sits in third with a brand value of $4.4 trillion.

LIRS impr ough ttax ax improoves lives thr through compliance, empower tudents empowerss sstudents

F

ew years ago, since Lagos state introduced a new dimension of tax compliance in the state through its agency, Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), the initiative has improved the economy of many homes in Lagos beside the free education it granted to public schools in the state; Lagos state government has gone ahead empowering many students with scholarship, computers and other necessary educational facilities that enhance students’ performance at NECO, WAEC and GCE, which some parents couldn’t afford. The state introduced Junior and Senior Secondary School Easy Writing Competitions on Taxation to create the much needed awareness on tax compliance in the state, which was nowhere before that initiative. th At the 7 edition of Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS)essay defence, it was a show of skills, composure and outright class from Junior and Senior Secondary School students in Lagos.

The exercise held at Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) pavilion in Ikeja provided an avenue for both junior and senior secondary school students to defend their essay topics in the presence of selected panel of Judges and teachers.

However, the pupils, chosen from C M Y K

both public and private schools showed high level of competitiveness in their presentations, putting up remarkable performances deserving of rewards.

Tijani Adebola, from Kith and Kin College, Lagos, on her part insisted that there is a relationship between tax revenue and employment within a country.

She pointed out that tax progression helps create more employment opportunities, when the government invests the tax revenue in schools, hospitals, construction of roads, provision of electricity etc.

Ede Cynthia Kelechi, a student from Lagos Baptist Senior Secondary School, during her defence maintained that the most guaranteed sustainable means of revenue for the government is tax. According to her, “Tax also helps to control information and importation of luxury goods.

On her part, Oludotun Esther a student of Itire Community Junior Secondary School, Mushin, disclosed that the crash in crude oil in international market makes tax revenue the most dependable and sustained source of revenue for African countries.

L-R: Head, Policy and Public Affairs, Mr. Michael Onuoha; Alake of Egba land, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo; Director, Corporate Relations, Mr. Sesan Sobowale and Divisional Sales Manager, Mr. Biyi Latunji during the blessing and official presentation of Orijin by Guinness Nigeria Plc to the Monarch at his palace in Abeokuta, recently.

NBC inno es Ik eja plant, tr ains innovvat ates Ikeja trains engineer acilities engineerss on ffacilities

*Over 7,800 Nigerians gain direct employment

IT was a media tour and also an eye opener into Ikeja plant of Nigerian Bottling Company. A well innovated plant with modern facilities empowering new engineers for onward productivity, ensuring that over its 600,000 distribution partners deliver quality to growing consumers. Such innovation that is on going on the plant could actually convince you that the operation of Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd. since incorporated in November 1951 as the franchise bottler of products of the Coca-Cola company in Nigeria meant well for millions of Nigerian consumers of its products.

According to a management source, with its present 13 bottling plants, 57 distribution depots and a network of over 600,000 distribution partners, the company no doubt has reduced unemployment rate by providing direct employment to over 7,800 Nigerians, creating livelihood for households and many more across its distribution channels.

Head, Public Affair & Communications, Uzo Odenigbo, interacting with media men, said, “consumers and customers are our highest priority. Again, with the CocaCola Company in Nigeria, we take matters relating to our products very seriously and remain committed to maintaining the highest international

quality and food safety standards. Today, all NBC’s bottling locations are fully certified on all quality management systems - Quality (ISO 9001), Environment (ISO 14001), Health & Safety (OHSAS 18001) and Food Safety (FSCC 22000), he said.

However, as a key partner, he said, the Coca-Cola system inspires communities in Nigeria through relevant socioeconomic development and sustainability programmes focusing on youth development, women empowerment, safe water access, health and environment. “Again, in February 2013, Coca-Cola was voted by consumers as the Best in Product Excellence in the non-alcoholic beverage category at the Nigerian Consumer Awards organised by the Consumer Protection Council”.

In the same vein, an expatriate engineer from Sydney, Australian, John...... said the essence of the innovation is a way of training new engineers for standards and increase in productivity. It also helps in self-reliance.

“We are here to train Nigerians so that when we go they can continue with the process, quality and standard which obtains anywhere in the world where Coca Cola operates. The quality of training going on in this plant is the same thing we offer in any country and we do that to ensure that Coca Cola products remain on top of the market competition.”

OMG, Etisalat, other otherss se sett ttoo unveil Nigerian Idol 5 season, is coming in furtherance of oremost owners of entertainment the company ’s commitment to Ffranchise in the country, Optima providing young Nigerians with Media Group, in partnership with exceptional talent in music the telecoms giant, Etisalat Nigeria and carbonated drink, Pepsi has concluded plans for the successful take-off of the season five of leading TV reality, Nigerian Idol. Other sponsors include Payporte and Dabur Herbal.

The unveiling of the annual music TV reality show is billed to hold in the first week of the New Year at a venue in Nigeria’s entertainment capital, Lagos.

Beside the main task of the day, the event will also feature the public presentation of the three-man panel of celebrity judges for Season five and show modalities including procedures for participation in addition to the offer of opportunity for a press Idol to emerge through an on-the-spot singing competition that promises a reward prize of a thousand US Dollars for the top performer of the day.

The reality show, which is in its fifth

opportunity to unearth their potentials, hone their skills and develop into fulfilled music stars.

The Group Managing Director of Optima Media Group, Rotimi Pedro expressed delight in the potentials of the platform to offer talented Nigerian youths with flair for music the unique opportunity to express themselves on a global stage while creating a career path for themselves.

“We are delighted to be able to create the right and unique platforms across different fields for Nigerians to take advantage of and maximise their potentials. We have successfully done this over the years on a global stage as the Idol franchise provides. Our further commitment is to work with more partners in achieving this,” he said.

44—SATURDAY

Vanguard , JANUARY 3, 2015

Will the New Year

bring a new hope to the

education sector?

BY LAJU IREN

B

y all intents and purposes, 2015 is the year that Nigeria, among other countries are expected to achieve the Education For All, EFA goal. However, by all observations and realities, Nigeria will not meet that goal. Saturday School Life, SSL, looks at the education sector in retrospect as well emerging trends that might change the face of the sector in 2015.

Insecurity, strikes and failures in 2014 Although the six-month old strike embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU was called off nearly a year ago, its aftermath remains. Public universities across the country should have begun a new session in September, but despite collapsed timetables and make up classes, many could not meet up.

As a result many varsities will start the 2014/ 2015 academic session in January 2015-nearly five months late.

Sad as it was for the universities in 2014, the Polytechnics and Colleges of Education had a worse review for the year. The President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Dr. Chibuzor Asomugha told Saturday School Life, SSL, that for the polytechnic sub-sector the year ended with “nothing to celebrate.” He said: “There are concerns about the future of the sector as polytechnics are no longer just second place to students seeking higher education.

They have slid to third place; entrance into colleges of education is even in higher demand now. There has been low funding, low morale, high brain flight, and a lot of governance issues that haven’t been resolved.” When ASUP suspended its eleven-month old strike in July, the Federal Government promised to resolve all issues in three months. That was six months C M Y K

ago. The ASUP President opined that although there was some snail-paced work going on, nothing concrete was achieved.

The poor 2014 scorecard for the education sector is not limited to the tertiary sub-sector alone. The West Africa Senior School Certificate examinations witnessed nearly 70 percent of failures-the worst since 2010.

Only 31.28 percent of students scored five credits and above including Mathematics and English language. In the Unified Tertiary Matriculation examinations held earlier in the year, only 47 candidates scored 250 marks and above.

Terrorism especially in the North East, set back the education sector in 2014 like no other factor. Over 800 schools and about 194,664 students have been affected by the several Boko Haram attacks in the North Eastern region of Nigeria according to the Coalition of Civil Society Groups (CCSG) independent evaluation and assessment performance project report on the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

Hope in 2015?

The EFA is a global movement led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, aimed to meet the learning needs of all children, youths and adults by 2015. Even when the EFA goal was postulated in 2000, experts doubted the ability of Nigeria to meet up with the 15 year time frame. It came as no surprise therefore, when EFA monitoring report concluded that Nigeria will definitely not meet the EFA goals 1, 2, 4-expansion of early childhood care and education, free and compulsory primary education for all, and 50% increase in adult literacy-by 2015.With

10.5 million out of school children-the highest number in the world-it doesn’t take rocket science to figure out the reasons for this. Nigeria is one of the only 15 countries that UNESCO projects will have fewer than 80 per cent of its primary school age children enrolled by 2015.

The newly built Almajiri schools, which should have reduced the burden a little, are not bedeviled by the ongoing trend of insecurity in the north. And when lives are not secure, poor attendance is inevitable.

However, 2015 being an election year might usher in a lot of changes. Whether such changes would be good or bad remains to be seen. If the ruling party remains in power, there might be more room to sustain already existing initiatives and structures. If a new party takes over, this might not be the case. The new education minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau has been commended for bringing an end to the strikes as well as relative calm to the sector in his few months in office. If power changes hands, will he remain? On the other hand however, a new party might develop and follow through new programmes and structures that could be the saving grace of the sector. Another issue to take into cognizance is the decision to make some cuts in the 2015 budget as a result of dwindling oil prices. Although details of the budget are largely being kept secret, according to the Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Bright Okogu, N492.03 bn has been allocated to education. This is about 8.86% of the entire budget expenditure and barely one third of UNESCO’s stipulated 26%. A Nigerian adage can be loosely translated to mean that sweet soup can be traced to healthy expenditure.

If this is true, then irrespective of other contributing factors, it will take a miracle for education to be sweet in 2015.

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015—45

How herbalist masterminded kidnap of hotel MD *Dram as suspects trade blame over abducted victim

BY ESTHER ONYEGBULA

A

rmed men later discovered to be kidnappers, struck at about 7pm on December 4, 2014, in Ikorodu area of Lagos. The kidnappers who operated in a Toyota vehicle, veered off its lane in a commando-like manner and blocked a vehicle . Two armed men reportedly jumped out of the vehicle and ordered its lone occupant, later discovered to be the Managing Director of a popular hotel around the area, to come down.

They whisked him away.

They reportedly took their victim identified as Durodola Muwalu to a shrine in Imobi, in the Ijebu waterside area, where they kept him for a week before they relocated him to Imoru, all in Ogun state.

From their hideout , they made a call to their victim's family demanding a ransom of N60million. The amount was later reduced to N10million when it became obvious that the family was not forth coming with a reasonable response.

Unknown to the kidnappers, operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS , Ikeja, were keeping tab on every telephone conversation, consequent upon which they (operatives), swooped on their hideout in Ijebu-Ode , on December 15, 2014 , where four of the suspected kidnappers identified as Felix Ikuomola, GbengaPopoola, Adebayo Akibu and AzeezOlowu were arrested and thier victim rescued.

However, during interrogation , the suspects disclosed that they were hired by one of the traditional rulers in Itokin area of Ikorodu, whom they named as Oni Adekoya, aka Agbogidi . They further revealed that Muwalu, the victim, was later discovered not to be the actual target afterall, stating that their actual target was onwer of the hotel whom Adekoya accused of giving other chiefs cars but left him out.

Mild drama A mild drama unfolded during interrogation after the alleged mastermind , Oni Adekoya, aka Agbogidi , exchanged banters with other suspects , over his allaged involvemnet.While he insisted he knew nothing about the kidnap , other suspects claimed he promised to share the ransom with them had they succeeded .

In an interview with Crime Guard, the suspects told all they knew about the botched kidnap.

First was the traditional ruler, Adekoya, who was allaged to be the brain behind the entire operation.

He started by taking what he assumed as an oath of truth , saying : “I swear by my profession as a herbalist

C M Y K

that I do not know what they are talking about. I have been a herbalists for 27 years . “” Gbenga ( one o fthe suspects ) called me one day to say that he wanted to kidnap Baale and I told him to go ahead. When the gang eventually kidnapped the victim, I was not there. I later I received a call from them, informing that they had succeeded in the operation and that they were in the bush.

Three days later, another member of the gang, Azeez, called to inform me that they needed money to buy fuel for the operational vehicle. I asked him why they haven't released the victim and they said it was because they were yet to get any ransom. I was afraid that they could kill the victim. I requested to speak with the victim on phone and they obliged me.

Earlier , Gbenga's mother confided in me that her son decided to kidnap the victim because he offended him” Asked why he was keen on knowing the fate of the victim since he claimed not to have a hand in the kidnap saga, he explained that : “ Gbenga is one of my clients . I knew him when he came to my shrine with his mother and wife , saying they needed me to carry out sacrifice for their unborn child. They told me that a Pastor directed them to carry out the sacrifice in order to ensure safe delievery for his pregnant wife. I prepared the sacrifice for them and they went their way.

Unfortunately the baby died few days after his wife put to bed. I later realized that they didn't complete the entire process of the sacrifice properly. This was how we started interacting. I have no hand in the kidnap ...”

You are a liar !

At this junture,

Gbenga Popoola interupted by yelling “You are a liar! ( turning to Adekoya). I was in a viewing center when I received a call from Ojurongbea (a member of the •Native doctor gang who is currently at large) that Baba Oni aka Agbogidi had a job for us. I asked him why he wanted to kidnap the owner of the hotel, he said he was a fraudster and that his fraudulent activities had affected his herbalist business.

It took us three weeks to plan for the success of the kidnap . After we concluded plans for the operation, it was Agbogidi( pointing at Adekoya) who took one of us, Felix, to the venue of the operation before we struck.

On the day of the operation he did not go with us for fear of being recognized by the victim. What he did was to give us instruction on what to do through the phone.

My role “ I was the one who carried the pumpaction rifle on that day . And I make bold to declare that Agbogidi (Adekoya) and Ojurongbe contracted me to help them deal with the hotel owner. So for him to say he knew nothing about it is a big lie!

In actual fact, our target was the owner of the hotel. Unfortunately, his car was driven by the hotel's manager on the day of the operation.

From the onset, I smelt

•Other kidnapped suspects

trouble because on the day of the operation, I noticed some foul play from Agbogidi(Adekoya). When we discovered that the kidnapped man was not the actual victim, we were disturbed . But we were reassured by Adekoya that we would get something good as ransom.

Unfortunately, the family was yet to pay anything before we were arrested.”

Immediately this reporter approcahed another suspected member of the gang, Felix Ikuomola, he collaborated Gbenga's claim.

Without mincing words, he stated “ I swear to God who created me that it was Agbogidi that contracted every member of the gang for this operation. He told us that the victim had money and that if we kidnapped him, we would make money out of it.

I personally asked him how much he was going to pay us for the job and he said that whatever amount paid as ransom would be shared equally among us. On two occassions, we even met in his office to discuss on the success of the operation. He even assurred that he would protect us if we were caught by the police in the process of carrying out the operation. He boasted also that he knew top echelons in the Police Force that would get us out” We reduced the ransom out of frustration On his part, Adebayo Abiku revealed that N60 million was initially demanded as ransom but that they had to come down to N5 million out of frustration.

According to Abiku (40) who claimed to have driven the gang's operational vehicle: “ We initially demanded for N60 million as ransom. But the person that was speaking with us begged that the amount be reduced because they did not have that much . But after a long wait in the bush and several relocations for fear of being caught by the Police, we decided to first reduce the ransom to N10 million . Yet the family was not forth coming with the amount. We later reduced it to N5 million”.

I participated because I needed money At a point, he became sober and continued in an emotional laden tone “I participated in the operation because I needed money. I drove the gang during the entire operation.

On that day, we blocked our victim's vehicle while he was driving home and asked him to come with us ” Confessing to the crime, 38-yearold AzeezOlowu said he supplied the gang with the rifle but denied being in the know of the kidnap .

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police , DSP said investigation in the case was still on going , with a view to apprehending other fleeing members of the gang.

46—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

As permutations and political calculations continue to evolve towards the forthcoming general elections, chairman of the campaign committee of All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State Chapter, Cardinal James Omolaja Odunmbaku has said that God has ordained the progressives to continue to rule Lagos and consolidate on Mega City projects which has distinguished the state.

Odunmbaku said that God has ordained the party’s candidate in Lagos Sate, Akinwunmi Ambode for the exalted Seat.

“Come May 29, 2015, by the special Grace of God, our candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode will be sworn–in as the successor to his brother –in- progress, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).”

Popularly called Baba Eto by party followers and leaders, Odunmbaku said APC would do everything legally possible to also win all the seats in the national and state assemblies.

However, Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary Ganiyu Taofik holds a contrary opinion, saying, “2015 is a year of power shift in Lagos. Society is dynamic. It is true that Lagosians have been voting for the AD, the AC and the ACN before. But, the situation will change in 2015. No political bloc can dominate the scene for too long. You will see the results of the senatorial election.”

Puncturing Taofik’s submission, his APC counterpart, Joe Igbokwe, said that the PDP was day-dreaming in Lagos.

“Lagosians and other Nigerians want President Jonathan and the PDP out in 2015. Do you think that these same people will now endorse a PDP senatorial candidate at the poll? The PDP is daydreaming in Lagos. They will fail again in 2015,” Igbokwe affirmed.

Though, the odds favour the ruling party in the state the strength of the PDP too should not be taken for granted.

It will be recalled that since the Second Republic, Lagosians have always voted for senatorial candidates from progressives parties. Senators Sikiru Shitta-Bey, Ajayi Adeyiga, Durosinmi and Habib Fashinro were elected on the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) led by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo (SAN). In the Third Republic, the three senators-Bola Tinubu (West), Tony Adefuye (East) and Kofoworola Akerele-Bucknor (Central) were chieftains of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). Tinubu, who had the highest number of votes nationwide, defeated Mrs. Kemi Nelson of the proscribed National Republican Convention (NRC). Akerele-Bucknor defeated Chief Demola Seriki with a slim margin.

In this dispensation, the PDP has made efforts, but without success. In 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011, its senatorial candidates lost at the polls. In 1999, Prince Adeseye Ogunlewe (East), Tokunbo Afikuyomi (Central) and Dr. Wahab Dosunmu (West) contested and won on the platform of the AD. Ahead of 2003 elections, Dosunmu and Ogunlewe dumped the AD for the PDP, citing the crisis in the party as the reason for ctoss carpeting. They contested for the same position, but lost. Afikuyomi, who moved from the Central to the West, was reelected. Former Home Affairs Commissioner Musiliu Obanikoro, who ran for the AD succeeded him. When the respected politician, Chief Dapo Sarunmi, rejected the AD ticket in the East District, the Speaker of the House of C M Y K

Royal battle set for Senate seats in Lagos •James Omolaja Odunmbaku

•Akinwunmi Ambode

•Durosinmi Assembly Hon. Olorunnimbe Mamora, filled the vacuum created

by Ogunlewe’s defection.

In 2007, Senator Muniru Muse (Central) became an Action Congress (AC) senator. The ticket was initially offered to Mr. Jimi Agbaje, who lost the governorship primaries to Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN). But, the Afenifere chieftain declined to contest for the Senate, saying that he was only interested in serving as governor. He emerged as the governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA). He lost to

•Obanikoro Fashola. In the East, Mamora, who made much impact as a vocal senator, was re-elected. In the West, Bola Tinubu, at the tail end of his second term as governor, stepped aside from the senatorial race. According to sources, he took the decision as the coast was not too clear. It was gathered that the Federal Government was bent on denying him the chance to return to the Senate. In the spirit of reconciliation, the slot was offered to an aggrieved governorship aspirant, Ganiyu Solomon, who became senator.

Senator Solomon from Mushin had contested against Afikuyomi in 2003. He protested against the decision of Afikuyomi to relocate to the West, saying that it was in bad faith. He was later placated with the House of Representatives ticket in Mushin, which had been won by Mrs. Kehinde Babalola-Adepoju. In 2011, Solomon was re-elected. But, Mamora and Muse were succeeded by Ashafa and Mrs. Tinubu on consensus arrangement.

This time around the PDP, like never before is mounting an aggressive campaign by embarking on combination of media advertisement and door-to-door campaign. Their candidates have a deep purse, making it easy to oil their campaign machinery. A PDP member who preferred anonymity in Kosofe said: “This mobilisation of members is another empowerment for us, apart from the SURE-P.”. She described the candidates as competent Lagosians who can represent the three districts. But, Igbokwe said none of them can match the pedigree of the APC flag bearers. Alhaji Otunba Ismail Jide Oni, is APC chieftain in the state, he said: “Political parties win elections because of their structures, power base and mass appeal to the electorate. The PDP lacks these three elements. There will be a clear battle now that we have two main parties.”

Central Senatorial District In the 2015 at the Central District, PDP is already flexing muscles. Dr. Adegboyega Dosunmu, a one time defeated PDP governorship candidate has been cleared by PDP to wrestle with Senator Oluremi Tinubu, former Lagos State First Lady and Founder of New Era Foundation who is seeking reelection into the Senate on the platform of APC which her husband and former governor in the state Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu leads.

Dosunmu is an administrator. He holds a doctorate degree in management. He worked in the civil service, rising to the position of the chief executive of one of the parastatals in the aviation sector. He became a politician in 2011, when he was drafted into the governorship race by the PDP leader, Commodore Olabode George (rtd).

Lagos residents did not give him any chance as he lost woefully to Fashola.

In 2011, Tinubu in a landslide victory defeated her challenger, Mr. Animasahun, a retired civil servant.

In three and half years, Mrs. Tinubu has emerged as a tested and trusted politician, who can make and redeem her pledges to constituents. A former teacher, she came into the limelight as the first lady, when her husband assumed the reigns as the governor. The New Era Foundation, which she founded gave succour to the needy and indigent students. It also engaged in a talent hunt.

Its Spelling Bee competition threw up egg heads, who are now graduates of various disciplines across the federation.

Senator Tinubu made a lot of promises to the Central District in 2011.

In the view of the APC leader, Prince Oluyole Olusi, she has fulfilled the promises. “We have had many senators in the Lagos Central-Oba Musediku Adeniji-Adele, Senator Adeyiga Ajayi, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Senator

Continues on pg 47

SATURDAY

Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015—47

Royal battle set for Senate seats in Lagos Continues from pg 46 Musiliu Obanikoro, Senator Muniru Muse and Senator Oluremi Tinubu. But, none has performed like Senator Oluremi Tinubu,” he said.

It is an understatement. Since 2011, Mrs. Tinubu has always rendered accounts at town hall meetings organised every three months. The senator has also instituted a scholarship scheme for students.

Indigent traders and widows have benefited from her empowerment schemes. She is not a bench warmer in the Senate. Apart from effectively participating in deliberations and passage of bills and resolutions, Tinubu is also effective in the performance of oversight functions.

She has proposed a bill on special status for Lagos, although it met obstacles.

East senatorial District The battle for the East senatorial District is between Senator Bareehu Olugbenga Ashafa, and a relatively obscure woman politician from Kosofe area, Mrs. Olabisi Owolabi Salis-Fakos, wife of the veteran PDP governorship aspirant, Owolabi Salis, a lawyer and financial expert.

No doubt, Mrs. Salis is intensifying her mobilisation in Kosofe, Ikorodu, Ibeju-Lekki and Epe in order to woo support for her ambition against Ashafa whose party has endorsed for a second term in this district. The ruling party has a formidable structure in the area.

People feel that Ashafa, a Lagosian with functional and

strategic experience in both public and private sectors is capable of defeating any contestant in the area.

Ashafa who set aside his governorship aspiration for the current APC candidate, has played leadership role as the Executive Secretary and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands of Lagos State for almost a decade. He created five and resuscitated nine moribund Government Schemes. He pioneered the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) in the Land Registry and initiated the electronic Certificate of Occupancy (e-C of O) recently launched by the Lagos State Government.

He raised the revenue base of the Lands Ministry from N1 Billion in Year 2001 to N13.23 Billion in Year 2010 before he was elected a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Lagos East Senatorial District in April, 2011 till date.

Since his inauguration as a member of the 7th Session of the National Assembly on June 6th, 2011, Senator Ashafa has sponsored 13 Bills and three Motions; Language Bill, Income Tax Holiday Bill, Treaty (Amendment) Bill, Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill, National Directorate of Employment (Amendment) Bill, Harmful waste

(Amendment) Bill, Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, Minerals & Mining (Amendment) Bill, among others.

Ashafa is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing & Urban Development and a Member of the Senate Committee on Gas Resources, Senate Committee on Environment & Ecology, Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs and Senate Committee on Senate Services. He was the Secretary of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, CAN, now APC, Senate Caucus leader at the National Assembly. He was also a member of the Screening Committee at the 1st National APC Convention held in Abuja between 12th – 13th June, 2014.

He was instrumental to the execution of Federal Constituency Projects worth over N803 Million in his Senatorial District between June 2011 and October, 2014.

In addition to this, as at October, 2014 over N697, 353, 000.00 has been channelled through the vehicle of his constituency empowerment, ‘Gbenga Ashafa Trust Fund Endowment (G.A.T.E), which has succeeded in touching the lives of members of his constituency in the following specific areas: Education, Youth Empowerment, Agriculture, Health and Community Development.

These programmes and projects revolve round his 4Cardinal Point Agenda for the Senatorial District namely; Effective Peoples’ Representation, Youth Empowerment, Educational Enhancement and Sustainable Agricultural Development.

West Senatorial District In the West, it is going to be a another fight between old foxes of House of Representatives member Hon. Solomon Adeola Olamilekan of the APC and his 2011 challenger, Mr. Segun Adewale, an astute grassroots politician from Alimosho, on the platform of the PDP. Adewale who was believed to have won in Alimosho Federal Constituency for the House of Representatives in 2011, vehemently, contested the result of the election.

But the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, insisted that the candidate of the then Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Adeola, won the election.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Adekunle Ogunmola, said that “the ACN candidate was declared the winner of the polls.” Also, an electoral officer, who simply identified himself as Ganiyu, said that Mr. Adeola clinched the seat. According to Adewale, the result announced was fictitious and an open robbery.

The falling price of Crude Oil, and the impact on developing economies like Nigeria Continues from page 42 Crude oil market for ever and OPEC as a viable cartel may become a fallacy in the near future, just 40 years after its greatest moment.

Another strong point to consider is the intrinsic political relationship that may lie in courting these international Oil companies (IOC). In a paper titled “The Petroleum Industry Bill: An evaluation of the Effect of the proposed Fiscal Terms on Investment in the Upstream sector “By Sani Saidu, Abdel Rasheed Mohammed”, the following words from the managing director of Shell Nigeria (SPDC) sums up the sentiments of the IOCs about the PIB “The PIB proposes multiple increased royalties and fiscal terms that will slow down new investments in deep water considerably.

It will also exclude a number of legitimate costs from being recovered.

Uncertainties around these issues are already stalling development of major discovered resources and

discouraging companies from undertaking the aggressive exploration programs they launched under the 1993 production sharing contracts (PSC)”.

Basically the IOCs don’t like the PIB propositions and think it a bit draconian in its nationalistic tinge. Coupled with the fact that the west is losing to china in the African market, where you would see a Peugeot a few years ago now you are likely to find a Toyota or a Nissan.

So just as a wild hunch, it may not be a coincidence that western economies play tough with Nigeria for her trade preference to Asia and gradually tighten the capital to single source economies.

As the only nation that is not selling to the US, Nigeria is completely at the mercy of Asia and Brazil…and pray nothing disrupts their demand… then

what?

Nations suffer economic crunches, and for a country like Nigeria, the impending insignificance of Crude oil, triggered by a technological drive to more efficient energy, will carry a decline in living standards many are not used to. Two things may cushion the slump, namely a massive investment in domestic refineries, and huge agricultural schemes on state and federal levels. In some countries, the correctional facilities are even merged with the agricultural sector to maximize productivity. But the ability to refine crude oil to petroleum products is a matter of national security for any serious country, and as asserted by the National president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association Of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mr Chinedu Okorokwo, “IPMAN is working seriously to ensure that the proposed 3 billion dollars refineries in Kogi and Bayelsa come on stream by 2016 to reduce cost of refining outside the country”, he said at the associations zonal meeting…such moves are welcome as only the ability to supply refined petroleum products and agricultural sustenance can save countries like Nigeria from the impending slump of crude oil demand.

The horizon is clear to see: Shale oil has come to stay and will keep crude

price low. In single source economies like Nigeria: dependent on just one commodity for her foreign exchange, the shortage of forex will create inflation and economic hardship for the average citizen. To cushion these harsh economic storms, Nigeria can invest in Agriculture, of which she has an upper hand. From a political perspective; it’s easier to control a well fed crowd than a hungry one. And the ability to refine a significant portion of crude oil domestically will ensure some kind of stability in shaky times. Taking these significant steps can begin to safeguard fragile economies like Nigeria from the brutal effects of volatile economic prices on overtly dependent economies.

Ikenna Ifedobi, is an economist and Consultant for the American Petroleum institute (API), based in USA. ikennaifedobi@gmail.com

C M Y K

48—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

Denying Amaechi VP slot good for APC —Princewill

By HENRY UMORU, Assistant Political Editor

P

RINCE Tonye Princewill is a Prince of Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State. He was the Governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress, ACN , a member of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, and until he emerged the Labour Party (LP) gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State, was a governorship Aspirant on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In this interview, he bares his mind on why he left the PDP for the LP, his vision for the people of Rivers State, his support for President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of next year’s election, the 2015 Rivers State governorship election, among others.Excerpts Some have reservations about the ideological puritanism attributed to Labour Party as they see it as a dumping ground for other political parties. How do you react to this?

Well, ideological puritanism is not an objective I am trying to achieve. I’m not saying the Labour Party is a saint.

If am leveling allegations against parties that have no ideology, that against Labour will be tempered because their ideology is somewhat more robust than others. Having said that I can’t vouch for why other people have moved. I have had the opportunity of moving to other parties, APGA is more grounded than the Labour Party. Even PDM is more grounded than the Labour Party in Rivers State. So, my choice of political party was a well thought out, a well measured one. If you have the opportunity of taking several panties’ ticket, why choose Labour? I must be very honest with you. The individuals behind it and the political ideology that exists are the reason I joined the Labour Party.

You are close to PDM. Why didn’t you go with it?

Well, if you go down to the answer I just gave, its mainly down to ideology.

I think the PDM has a bunch of very good people. PDM people are not financially driven. These are people that will work for little or nothing, putting twice the effort that the average PDP person will put in. PDM has a lot of people like that. I’m grateful for that. But ultimately the leadership of the PDM and the position of the political party at the national level was unclear as far as the relations between APC and PDP is concerned.

I have said it before, I don’t support what PDP did to me but I will not withdraw from supporting Jonathan for president.

Are you suggesting that politicians moving from one party to another is good for the nation’s political system?

I think it’s down to the political parties. What is happening, I think Obama said it. We don’t need strong individuals. We need strong C M Y K

institutions. If a political party cannot define itself, then it’s a problem. If you have no business with free education, free health, you have no job creation as your number one priority, maybe you have no business moving to Labour Party. The media have not put the political parties under the spotlight. What do they stand for? Why is is that the political parties have no ideologies and then you wonder why the individuals can move from A to B. Because the individuals should be defining themselves. If the definition of themselves does not match with the definition of the political parties, then they have no business being there. So, as far as I am concerned, the responsibility lies with the institution.

If you are a democrat in the US, people know what you stand for. If it’s to do with immigration, there’s a position that the Democratic Party has taken on immigration. If you are in the UK, if you are a member of the Conservative Party, you have a position on the European Union and you belong to it. But in Nigeria, we seem to lack that position as far as that is concerned.

People are worried and are saying, ‘you have moved from party, you will not be taken seriously.’ and I ask them, ‘why would the move from one party affect an agenda I have for Rivers State? ‘ But it is because of my agenda for my Rivers people that I am moving parties. You cannot lock me up in a room, turn off the lights and tell me that I should not find my way out.

It’s not going to happen. So, as far as I am concerned, freedom of association is what we are going to exhibit.

It is important that we understand that.

I tell people that you may hate what PDP does but you are not a member and you are not a significant member.

If you hate what they do and you are not a significant member, you have absolutely no say on what happens inside. So, if you want to vote for Tonye Princewill and the party does not produce Tonye Princewill, you are stranded.

But if Tonye Princewill is somebody who has popularity and has people who will vote for him, Tonye Princewill will not be afraid to break away from the shackles of PDP and allow

• Tonye Princewill

his people express themselves. So, I think politicians who have a support base and who have courage will be very happy to break away from something like that so that they can go to the field and let all the candidates line up and let us see who will win.

was because frankly speaking, I don’t know what the president did to him.

Having said that, for me, I’m interested in my people and this constant battle over personalities in my opinion is a distraction. What needs to happen or the people need to ask themselves is what is Tonye Princewill offering for Rivers State? Amaechi is my friend. In my opinion he got six over 10 in his first term but now in his second term if I am going to rate him, I will give him two over 10.

Let us look at the dynamics of Rivers politics. You have a suspicion that Governor Amaechi is working with Nyesom Wike for Ikwere agenda. Why do you think so?

Of course, I do. Am not going to tell you that it is conclusive but its definitely a suspicion. Am a politician but I tried to bring what I’ve learnt in my business into politics. And what I’ve learnt is to be able to read body language and see what other people don’t see. I don’t believe that there is a genuine fight between the two of them.

For those of you think that there’s a genuine fight, I have my sympathies for you. I have strong feeling that there’s an agenda there.

Amaechi and I never knew ourselves before 2007 but the impression is that we are best friends. I’m not sure why people came to that conclusion.

When he decided to break away from the president and do what he’s doing, now I look back and ask myself, what really is the problem?

You have a problem with Wike, you are fighting the president. You have a problem with the First Lady, you are fighting the president. You have a problem with Stella Oduah, you are fighting the president. I think this thing was designed to go the way it

How do you rate your chances?

I think my chances are high. I believe I can win that election from almost any party. Of all the people talking, I’m the only one that has actually contested for election before. I contested for governor under Action Congress as the candidate for Rivers State. I think am underestimated and I hope it continues to be that way.

I decided not to support Nyesom Wike because he just simply, in my opinion, cannot win. It’s just pointless to me that Nyesom Wike loses and APC wins and we are all sitting down there and watching it happen. You don’t alienate 20 plus governorship aspirants in a manner that would do nothing but offend them.

So much has been said about Rivers State, Amaechi and Jonathan. Where do you think Rivers people are likely to go as far as the presidential election is concerned?

You have to understand that I know these people so well. I know the PDP people, I know their DNA. I know APC people, I know their DNA. I was the youngest person in the room when Buhari, Tinubu, Atiku, Falae, Bafarawa were all organizing the APC, the beginnings of the APC. It failed in 2011 and so, it had to go into a merger. It has succeeded now and you now have a unified entity. I understand that and I also understand Jonathan’s dynamics. I was the go-between when the fight between Jonathan and Amaechi was at its peak. So, when I decided not to follow Amaechi to where he was going, I knew why he was doing it because I knew the DNA of that fight and I understand the way things were going.

I’m distracted by my own politics but am still keeping an eye on what’s going on. I’m not surprised that Amaechi did not emerge as the vice presidential candidate. If he had emerged as the vice presidential candidate, it would have been so much easier for Jonathan to win the election. I think APC has done a smart move there by bringing Osibanjo. He’s a good man, he’s a smart guy. People who look at him and say he doesn’t have electoral value don’t understand the way APC thinks.

SATURDAY

Urhobo must respect others in Delta State — Onuesoke

BY EPHRAIM OSEJI

C

hief Sunny Onuesoke is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Country Director of Network for Good Governance (N4GG, ). In this interview, he speaks on President Goodluck Jonathan and the 2015 general election. He also speaks on the need for the Urhobo ethnic nationality to join forces with PDP in Delta State in 2015 general elections.

Excerpts: What do you make of President Jonathan’s second term race?

Honesty, I am excited because there will be better understanding for his transformational agenda.

With the way things are going do you think he will win especially with more forces now behind Mohammadu?

Like in United States and other developed parts of the world, winning Presidential election does not come easily. But I am very confident that with past achievements embedded in his transformational agenda he will beat Buhari to win the the presidential election in 2015.

From the feelers we are getting, it appears the presidential contest between Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari is going to be a close contest. How do you see this development?

There is no where in the world presidential contest has been smooth. But I am very optimistic that Jonathan will defeat Buhari in 2015. The statistics are fully in favour of Goodluck Jonathan. In the South-South of Nigeria there will be 80 per cent votes for PDP. The Middle Belt is ultimately and totally 100 percent for PDP. North Central is also totally for the PDP. I am talking without fear or favour that in the North PDP has 12 states under its control. I am telling you that 95 per cent of the people in the South-West will vote in favour of Jonathan.

The South West are bitterly complaining about marginalisation by the Jonathan administration.

For the Afenifere to say the Yorubas did not benefit from Goodluck Jonathan’s government is unfair and not true. The Senate Speakership position was sold by the Yorubas. If you go to hallow chambers ask who nominated Aminu Tambuwal? It was Tinubu who circumvented the position and gave it to Aminu Tambuwal who is from the North. He did it with

•Sunny Onuesoke reasons best known to him.

There is this fear that 2015 election will lead to violence and possible disintegration of the country. Do you think so?

The unity of this country will be intact after the 2015 election. The unity of this country is ensured by the actions of the poor. The poverty class will be the last people to disintegrate Nigeria. If the elites decide to disintegrate Nigeria it will not work. No Northern leader that will call for the disintegration of Nigeria because it will affect them more.

What is your take on reaction trailing N21b raised for the campaign of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Those criticising the fund raising for Goodluck Jonathan campaign next month should come out and tell us where it is written in the electoral law. Didn’t an individual donate $15 million for George Bush’s campaign in 1980? Did an individual donate that amount for Jonathan’s election.

The highest an individual donated was N2b.

There are knocks on the Federal Government on the issues of security and corruption.

Goodluck Jonathan has handled both issues perfectly. Is it because Jonathan is not a noise maker? Is it because Jonathan is a quiet leader? Can you compare Obasanjo’s government with that of Jonathan with regard to corruption? Removing people unjustly without due process?

Boko Haram is not Goodluck Jonathan’s making. They created a monster they cannot control.

We need 90 percent of the leaders in the North to put a stop to the activities of Boko Haram. We did it in Niger Delta and so the Northerners should be able to do it. Do you fight someone you do not see.

What is your take on the emergence of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as PDP Governorship

Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015—49

candidate in Delta State?

PDP is one family in Delta. There is no oppression. The election of Okowa as PDP governorship candidate in Delta State was free and fair.

Do you think the Urhobos will move out of PDP for not getting the governorship ticket?

How will they move out of PDP for not getting the governorship ticket?

These are the issues we are saying.

Urhobos got Chief James Ibori as the Governor for eight years. They also got Prof Amos Utuama as Deputy Governor for eight years. Whether Igbo, Iitsekiri or Ijaw, all we need is development. Urhobo cannot do it alone. They need the cooperation of the Itsekiris, Ijaw and Delta North in

everything. I am a loyal party man. All we want is development like what Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan is doing. I do not know Uduaghan as an Itsekiri man but as a governor of Delta State providing three point agenda for the development of the state.

Your support for Okowa Governorship candidacy has set you against the Urhobos who felt your action was against ‘Uvwiamuge Declaration’. Some of them even called on Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) to sanction you. What is your reaction to this development?

I am against the idea of ‘if not me no one else’. We, the Urhobos, know that we cannot do it alone so we must throw our weight behind another tribe.

We need the cooperation of other Senatorial zones in the state to win the governorship election any time. Only Urhobo’s vote cannot deliver Delta State to PDP or any other party. Let’s stop deceiving ourselves. We should align with the present candidate and in four or eight years time we can come out again. Lets push this state ahead.

Do you think Okowa will do well?

Yes, he will do perfectly well. I have known him for long and he comes across as a good man.

Horsfall, PDP clash over ultimatum on Wike day ultimatum to the party which would expire by Monday next week, Chief Horsfall who spoke to newsmen after a •Chief Albert meeting of Horsfall his body at Omagwa, Ikwerre local government area,

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME said for sake of fairness and equity the next governor of the state should come from the ORT HARCOURT : Will the one riverine area. week ultimatum that a group, According to him, power had Rivers Elders and Leaders Council rotated between the riverine and RELC handed the leadership of the upland area of the state, noting Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to that it would be unjust for Wike substitute its guber candidate in the who is from the same Ikwerre state with a riverine candidate ethnic group in the upland part of constitute any real threat if the the state with governor Chibuike party fails to comply?

Amaechi to succeed the governor This is the question on many lips next year. since the elders issued the order.

He said if the party fails to The RELC led by a former national comply with the order from his security czar and 5th Director group the PDP should be ready to General of the Department of State lose the governorship election in Security, DSS, Chief Albert Horsfall the state as his group would on Monday had handed the seven mobilize electorates to vote

P

against the governorship candidate of the party.

“What we are saying here is that if the Peoples Democratic Party fails to substitute Nyesom Wike by January 5, 2015, all true Rivers people will vote en masse for the riverine candidate of any other party that can win election in Rivers State.

We are calling on the PDP to substitute Wike, but if they fail, we will encourage other aspirants to close rank and ensure that a riverine candidate who has the potentials to win the governorship of this state.”, he said.

Continuing, the elders said the only way there can be genuine reconciliation with Wike was for him to step aside as the party’s flag bearer.

“As elders of the state, we are not rejecting the reconciliation moves been made by Nyesom Wike, but we are against the idea of a reconciliation based on buying our conscience.

But if Nyesom Wike is serious about reconciling with every aggrieved member of the PDP, including the governorship aspirants, he should first withdraw as the party’s governorship candidate. It is only then that we will know that his reconciliation efforts are Continues on pg 50

50—SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

Okowa’s running mate:

EMMA AMAIZE, REGIONAL EDITOR, SOUTH-SOUTH

N

OBODY situated the Commissioner representing Ijaw ethnic nationality on the board of the Delta State Oil Producing Communities Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Hon Kingsley Otuaro, as the likely running mate to People’s Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, given the political variables until the very last minute.

Otuaro, a self-effacing lawyer hails from the Ijaw ethnic nationality, precisely Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State. He has been largely effective in most of the political assignments he had undertaken in the state, but for those who know him what counts for him is his modesty.

The muscular push by the Isoko ethnic nationality for the slot which many saw as justifiable almost thwarted his date with destiny, but he shook off the challenge and that of his fellow kinsmen eying the position to win Okowa’s heart.

Clark, Tompolo affair Investigation by Saturday Vanguard, however, showed that Otuaro’s emergence was a settled matter even before Okowa’s victory at the December 8, 2014 governorship primaries. He is said to be the choice of ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, who reportedly got the backing of Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, before the pick was finally sealed.

It was learned on very good authority that Tompolo, who believes that PDP is most viable political party in the state, x-rayed the governorship aspirants on parade before he narrowed his choice to Okowa and subsequently held a discussion with him. Our source hinted, “He assessed them and found out that Okowa was accepted across the ethnic divide in the state.”

How Clark, Tompolo produced Otuaro •Hon Kingsley Otuaro What guber aspirants promised Tompolo “Both of them agreed on the strategies and Okowa ceded the deputy governorship position to him. However, I want to tell you that it is not only Okowa that understood the influence of Tompolo in the unfolding order.

Other governorship aspirants did and some offered the same carrot,” he said.

But Tompolo apparently saw Okowa as a more dependable person and went all out to work for him. One of his associates asserted, “He went into the battle for Okowa with all his might, spiritually, politically and financially to the extent that even the governorship candidate was impressed by his dexterity.”

He added, “Despite the obvious support for Tony Obuh, which was abated at the eleventh hour shift to Olorogun David Edevbi, the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, candidate, he remained unshaken in his support for Okowa.”

Our findings showed that from Tompolo’s contributions, it was difficult for Okowa to go back on his words even when the Isoko ethnic nationality spat fire over the foreseen slant to the Ijaw.

Why Isoko lost out A political expert, who spoke to

Saturday Vanguard, said, “That the running mate would come from Ijaw was already a foregone conclusion, what was at stake was who would get it among the Ijaw. The Isoko people did not understand the intrigues at play, which was why they were shouting that it was their turn.”

“The real battle Otuaro faced was getting Pa Clark to endorse him and once Tompolo was able to do that, it was all over for the other contenders.

Clark actually played the role of a father, which he is on the matter because Tompolo subjected everything to his final decision,” he added.

Clark’s decisive role His words, “Nothing was done without the approval of Chief Clark, but what actually went for Otuaro is that he is somebody that is ready to learn and can be called to order. His performance so far in office and other public outings were reviewed and he scaled the bar of hard work and loyalty.”

Otuaro is seen as somebody who will be loyal to Okowa while in office and because he is a square peg in a square hole it was conclusively wrapped.

Mesmerizing touches Besides the dawn of Otuaro and Tompolo’s deft move in Okowa’s success, the ex-militant leader’s foot works in the last few days caught professional politicians napping.

Out of the blue, Tuesday, Tompolo embarked on another

Horsfall, PDP clash over ultimatum on Wike Continues from pg 49 genuine,” he said.

Meantime, the PDP in a statement condemned the call for substitution of its guber candidate by the elders, saying they were day dreaming.

State Chairman of the party, Mr Felix Obua who spoke through his media aide insisted the party conducted a credible governorship primary election where Mr Wike emerged its flag bearer “The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP says any opinion or view demanding that its governorship candidate for 2015 general election, Chief Barr.

Nyesom Wike to step down as the party’s governorship candidate amounts to day-dreaming as such is not only nonsensical but also against democratic principles. “ Their actions is laughable and

not achievable because directing or not directing elected candidates to proceed or not to proceed with their election mandates is not the responsibility of the party or any of its leaders.”, the PDP said.

The statement further accused Chief Horsfall of fronting for the opposition All Progressive Congress, APC, stressing that the PDP would win the general polls.

“It is therefore, unthinkable and malicious of any one particularly, Chief Horsfall, who claims to be interested in the peace, security and development of Rivers State, to contemplate acting against the popular choice and judgment of the people.

This latest action of Chief Horsfall however was not received by the Party as a bolt from the blue, as he has over the period, conducted himself as an agent of the All Progressives Congress,

APC, which obviously he is.”, the party said.

It is clear that all is not well with the PDP in the state. Within the week nine out of the aggrieved 18 guber aspirants of the party came out to deny ever meeting with the guber candidate of the party, Mr Wike where they agreed to work with him as the flag bearer of the party.

There had been earlier report that most of the aggrieved aspirants had accepted to work with Wike The aspirants who said they did not reach such an agreement with Wike were Atamuno Atamuno, Gabriel Pidomson, Lancelot Anyanyan, Fafaa Dan Princewill, Bernard Mikko , S. A Ngerigbara, Pa Wariso Horsfall, Biobele Odesola and Dumo Lulu-Briggs.

It is obvious that the party needs to put its house firmly in order ahead of the general polls in February.

nimble political activity. He held a topsecret meeting for five hours with 11 traditional rulers from the Delta Central Senatorial district (Urhobo) at Jesse, Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state to drum support for President Goodluck Jonathan and People’s Democratic Party, PDP, standard bearer in the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

Ijaw ready to work with Itsekiri He also met with the Warri Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, assuring that the Ijaw was ready to work together with Itsekiri for peace in the state and dismissing the claim that he (Tompolo) was preparing to fight the Itsekiri people. Tompolo was meeting the Warri monarch for the first time and the monarch was reportedly impressed with his openness.

The ex-militant leader told the Olu of Warri that the rumors of war between both tribes being peddled in the newspapers were the figment of imagination of the detractors of the two ethnic groups.

I want peace- Olu of Warri Ogiame Atuwatse II, who met Tompolo with no fewer than 20 chiefs asserted that he was for peace between the Ijaw and Itsekiri and he urged his guest to reach him whenever need be through his chiefs. Tompolo reportedly exchanged contact information with the monarch.

His meeting with Urhobo royal fathers was hosted by the Ovie (traditional ruler) of Idjerhe (Jesse) kingdom. …Seeks Urhobo support for Jonathan, Okowa A dependable source close to one of the royal fathers, said, “He (Tompolo) spoke to them on the need to support President Goodluck Jonathan and the Ijaw ethnic nationality because they the Urhobo stand to gain from such association.”

“You know the position of the Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, on the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, President Jonathan and the party’s flag bearer in the state, Senator Okowa. He apparently came to ask the Urhobos to reconsider their position,” he added.

According to him, “You know he is among those that produced Hon Kingsley Otuaro, the running mate to Okowa and he is trying to ensure that everything works out for good for Jonathan and PDP in the state.”

“He told the royal fathers that Urhobo will benefit from supporting President Jonathan and PDP in 2015, both at the national and state level,” our source added.

We’ll consult UPU- Monarchs It was gathered that the royal fathers commended him for his initiative, but said they were not in the position to given him a clear-cut answer on the stand of the Urhobo ethnic nationality. They promised to table the matter before the UPU for appropriate action.

SA TURD AY SATURD TURDA

Vanguard , JANU ARY 3, 2015—51 JANUARY

EBONYI/ CROSS RIVER WAR:

Another bloodbath looms *Village heads write Jonathan

BY ISHOLA BALOGUN

A

full scale war is brewing between the people of Adadama Community in Abi Local government area of Cross River State and Ndiagu Amagu Community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State over land disputes. Before now, about 35 people have been killed, including a Ph.D student and a Youth Corps member beheaded recently by militants who invaded the community. As at press time, there were reports that the Amagus were allegedly planning another attack on the Adadama community, causing mass exodus from the community. The Amagu and Adadama communities have been embroiled in a land dispute for more than 50 years. Since the recent hostilities in the area broke out, hundreds of lives have been lost while properties worth billions of Naira have been lost.

The Secretary of the Traditional Rulers’ council of Adadama, Chief James Ekoro Edu who spoke with Saturday Vanguard said the community had petitioned the Presidency, urging President Jonathan including security agencies to come to their aid to avert another looming bloodshed.

We got to know of their plans and we have written a letter to President Jonathan and of course, we want the whole world to know what is going on,” he stated.

Speaking to Saturday Vanguard, Chief Ekoro said; “they have chased us out of our farmland, they have overpowered us with their numerical strength and wealth. But we will not succumb to this gross injustice” According to him, “The security men including soldiers mounted in the Buka zone have been withdrawn exposing us to our enemies.”

In a letter to President Jonathan signed by His Royal Highness, Eval Fidelis Ikor Addu, Chief James Ekoro Edu and other chiefs in the community, it reads: “On behalf of the traditional rulers’ council of Adadama, we write to draw your attention Your Excellency to the killing of innocent, harmless and voiceless men, women and children by trigger-hungry hired mercenaries from Ikwo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, which started Monday, January 14 – 15, and on Saturday, January 19, 2013 respectively. There was a repeat of the ugly incident in February 14th, March

Communal clash 16thand March 18th, when Chief Edu Nteh’s wife, late Mrs. Catherine Edu Nteh was whisked from her farmland, and again on the 2nd of September, 2013. A total of 16 dead bodies were recovered and five women kidnapped till date.”

“In fact, the September killing actually compelled His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. (Dr.) Liyel Imoke CON to visit Adadama Community, September 18th, 2013.

Perhaps, touched by what he saw and heard on his visit to Adadama Community, Governor Imoke promised our people a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis. Unfortunately, this is exactly 14 months after his visit and nothing has happened up till this very moment. What we hear rather is that the Federal Government is bringing a Police Academy to be sited at the disputed area.

“Interestingly, the Amagus’ of Ikwo Local Government Area in Ebonyi State again beheaded in cold blood the only daughter of our traditional ruler and a serving Youth Corps member, Princess Emame Fidelis I. Addu on May 1st this year. The killing of the Corps member (Princess) led to the withdrawal of all serving Youth Corps members from Adadama community. And not only that, the Amagus’ and their mercenaries are now using Guerrilla tactics to kill innocent and harmless Adadama women as they go to harvest cassava and other crops in their farms.

Your Excellency, between May and October, 2014; three women have been beheaded; the last two being Mrs Bassey Ajayi Edu and Mrs Grace Emmanuel Lebo on the 10th of October.

Apart from the alleged orchestrated attack, Chief Ekoro also stated that there were lingering claims that some powerful individuals in Ebonyi have vowed to either annex Adadama Community land or use all resources at their disposal to exterminate the people of Adadama Community.

He said: “The threat seems to be working for them

going by what their people are doing. The fact that the Amagus went and cultivated crops in the portion of land that government marked as a ‘No Go Area’ with a standing order that nobody should do anything on it is a pointer to the fact that some powerful individuals are behind this invasion,” he said.

“We are a peace loving people and we have cohabited with the Okpitomos of Ikwo for over 2000 years without a glitch, until the Amagus came from nowhere to reside where they are today. Interestingly, they attempted their mischief in 2001 by exhuming the beacon stone laid by G. G. Shute along the old South Eastern region in 1920 on the flank they are living today”.

On what the Governor Liyel Imoke is doing about the issue, Ekoro said the government seems lame and inactive because of her peaceful and gentle approach to issues.

He stated that the story of the oil rich Bakassi peninsular might repeat itself, if something was not done to bring peace and normalcy to the area.

“We crave your special indulgence to intervene expeditiously because innocent people are often the victims. We hope that the sonorous cries of our people who with Dane guns and cutlasses have to confront hired mercenaries from Ikwo in Ebonyi State armed with sophisticated weapons will prompt you into quick action. We need to also bring to your notice that the several hundreds of innocent women, children are displaced, currently facing the challenge of food and materials,” Chief Ekoro cried.

52— SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 3, 2015

Keshi not the problem with Nigerian football

By Chigozie Offor

T

HIS is a solemn plea to my fellow Nigerians to recognize football as the glue that binds the nation. Football does for us what, I am sure, we would never see from Nigeria politics.

That said, it’s about time we flattened the tires of the Keshi must go bandwagon and accord the man the respect he richly deserves. Why is it that Nigerians are quick to forget the accomplishments of Keshi and other Nigerian greats. Keshi has contributed a lot to our football, from his days in the Nigerian National League, through the junior national team, on to the national team. He was captain of the national team for years.

Won the African Cup as a player and as a coach - I’m not sure of how many Africans who have achieved this extraordinary feat. Played multiple World Cups and coached as well and equalled the best any domestic or foreign coach has managed for Nigeria in any World Cup, with a much weaker team. By the way, Keshi’s success as a coach goes beyond Nigeria having done exceptionally well with other National Teams. Did I forget to mention that he practically opened the flood gate for Nigerian footballers going abroad. If you’re opposed to erecting Keshi’s statue in front of the National Stadium (I strongly recommend it), we can debate it, but to allow these indiscriminate attack and disrespect of Keshi is absolutely unfounded and downright ridiculous.

And the suggestion of some unknown and irrelevant Nigerian that Keshi should hide his head in shame as if he is a criminal, is all you need to know about these dishonest and self serving advisers.

All ex-internationals who’re on the Keshi must go bandwagon are wrong or self serving at best - especially when

•Keshi all they could proffer was that Sampson Siasia was sacked for not qualifying Nigeria for the AFCON and for that reason, Keshi must be sacked as well. That’s rubbish because Siasia’s sacking was a huge mistake and a major set- back to Nigerian football development. You can’t right the error of Siasia’s sacking with another blunder. He had a formula that worked multiple times but was not given the time to transplant that formula to the Super Eagles.

In my opinion, the Super Eagles’ problem is “a four-wall” problem: 1) football development in Nigeria 2) football administration in Nigeria 3) the players and 4) football coaching in Nigeria.

Briefly, we no longer have a sustaining process of discovering and developing our youngsters like we used to way before football got this scientific. Nigeria was able to do this through grass root endeavors greater tomorrow and secondary school competitions. World class players like Henry Nwosu,

Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kalu, Chibuzor Ehilegbu, Adokiye to mention just a few influential midfielders were all products of these efforts.

The entire midfield of our Super Eagles as it’s presently constituted, do not possess half the quality of any of the players

mentioned above. Our best player is not even a first option at his club team. Many well meaning Nigerians who sincerely have the interest of Nigerian football at heart have impressed upon this issue of going back to our grassroots football. Nigeria would never be in short supply of talent, we just forgot our ways. To get back there, let’s get behind the current football federation. To get back there, the mentality and attitude of Nigerian football fans towards Nigerian football badly need a makeover. I don’t know how we can achieve that when legends of Nigerian football including our very own Segun Odegbami writes so illustriously about English football and about his beloved English team whichever it’s forgetting that there was a time not so long ago that his famed IICC Shooting Stars could beat any team in the present English Premier League.

This mentality has depleted our talent pool to the extent that every 12 year old in Nigeria would rather go to play football in Togo than in Nigeria. We don’t have a Keshi problem in Nigerian football. We have a problem with Nigeria’s obsession with English football and yet we expect performance out of the players from our league. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy watching football from leagues across the world but my priority is on how we can get our league to be the best and give hope and future to our budding football talents.

Contrary to the past regimes of non-accountability and non-transparency, the present NFF of Amaju Pinnick, has shown a promising and commendable start.

Sending some referees and coaches overseas was a great idea. Pledging the return of funds to the federal government was unusual and refreshing. The idea of sending coaches made a lot of sense not because they’re going to see anything they’ve not seen

•Pinnick before, but it’s good also to see what works for our competition. However, if we can mobilize these coaches upon their return with the assistance of other ex-internationals and indigenous coaches to come up with coaching curriculum that can be followed at youth levels across the nation might return us to football glory. The past regimes failed because their main emphasis was just on the Super Eagles, instead of growing our league and developing talents so we have many to choose from.

The third problem with our football is the players themselves. We have such depleted talent pool.

Although the morale of the players were often and constantly dampened from nonpayment of allowances, they are still expected to perform if they decide to step on the pitch. However, Nigerian players should be paid what they are entitled. Football is their profession but should be held accountable when they fail to perform like failing to qualify for 2015 AFCON. I don’t remember Stephen Keshi himself playing in any of the matches. When he did, he was a winner. At the end of the day, it’s about the players on the pitch, regardless of the coach.

If the players refuse to put in the work, it’s not going to work. It does not matter the coach or the country.

Nobody ever mentions the turmoil that engulfed NFF during these period and how that impacts a team. I also recall how someone from then NFF saying that Keshi was walking around as if he won the African Cup in South Africa all by himself and now that Super Eagles failed to qualify, no NFF personnel is coming out to claim that they failed together. Instead, they’re quick to suggest his replacement with a foreign coach. Foreign football administrators would do well in Nigeria as well, like

Adokiye eloquently articulated. My blame for the players is only on poor efforts. Our exit from the World Cup and subsequent non qualification was as much of poor efforts and poor administration as it was coaching. Nigerians should not be this hard wired for blind and undue criticism of someone so deserving as Stephen Keshi.

I’m by no means saying, the final analysis, that Keshi deserve no criticism at all. I’m sure there are areas he could do things differently like his relationship with his players.

I didn’t see a group of players determined to do battle and lay it all on the line in neither the round of 16 match against France nor in any of the AFCON qualifying matches.

Keshi has shown that he is not as inflexible as everyone is making him out to be. He has invited players that the nation urged him to invite. Perhaps Keshi’s stubbornness and edge to him is warranted.

Every accomplished coach should be. You cannot appoint a coach and give him a list of players to invite or feature in a match. No foreign coach would allow that.

For those who sincerely support the rebirth of football in Nigeria, not only as part of Nigeria’s export but most importantly as aunifying force, should support the new NFF for what I have seen so far; lobby Adokiye Amasiemeka to become involved in Nigerian football administration in some capacity (any capacity - because he is honest and absolutely fearless); give Stephen Keshi a long term contract.

If we shore up all “four corners”, our football would return to its past glory. Let’s give honor where it’s due and not reduce Keshi so low to zero all the way from hero.

•Offor, an Attorney in USA, was a former Spantans of Owerri and Sharks of Port Harcourt star.

SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 3, 2015—53

Emotions as Gerrard quits Liverpool L

IVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard called his decision to leave at the end of the season “the toughest” of his life.

The 34-year-old, out of contract this summer, joined the Reds aged nine and has scored 180 goals in 695 games.

“This has been the toughest decision of my life, one both me and my family have agonised over for a good deal of time,” said the ex-England midfielder.

He added he would continue to play but not for a potential rival as he could “never contemplate” facing Liverpool.

Gerrard is being linked with a move to Major League Soccer in the United States once the English season ends.

He stressed: “I won’t be playing for a competing club and will not therefore be lining up against Liverpool.

“My decision is completely based on my wish to experience something different in my career

and life and I also want to make sure that I have no regrets when my playing career is eventually over.

“From now until the last kick of the last game of the season, I will be as fully committed to the team as I ever have been and giving everything I have to help Liverpool win games.”

Gerrard, born in the Merseyside village of Whiston, joined Liverpool’s academy when he was nine years old, making his first-team debut as a substitute against Blackburn Rovers in November 1998.

He led the club to the Champions League title in 2005, scoring his side’s first goal as they came from three down to draw 3-3 against AC Milan and then win on penalties.

He has also won the Uefa Cup, two FA Cups, three League Cups, one Community Shield and two Uefa Super Cups, and earned 114 England caps before retiring after

the World Cup. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said:

“It is almost an impossible task to find the words to appropriately sum up Steven Gerrard and his importance to Liverpool.

“This is an era where the word ‘legend’ is vastly overused, but in his case it actually doesn’t do him justice.”

Liverpool striker Rick-

Egesi joins Enyimba N

EMBE City attack ing midfielder Emmanuel Egesi has joined Enyimba for the upcoming 2014/15 Glo Premier League season.

The shining star for the

demoted side in the past season is expected to resume camp with the Peoples Elephant at the weekend for the new season.

Egesi said he wants to

Wikki to name new coaches W

IKKI Tourists are expected to name a technical adviser and head coach next week for the upcoming 2014/15 Glo Premier League season.

The Bauchi-based side

•Obuh, in line for Wikki job.

are among the four teams that gained promotion to the Nigerian top flight from the Nigeria National League (NNL) in the outgoing 2013/14 season.

Others are 3SC, Gabros FC and Kwara United/ Ranchers Bees.

The experienced coaches lined up for the plum job are the side’s immediate past coaches Tunde Abdulrahman and Ahmed Abdul-Pele. Others include former Sharks coach Abdullahi Makaba, Hassan Abubakar, Zachary Baraje, Evans Ogenye and John Obuh, among others.

An official of the promoted side, Abbas Shehu Usman, said the side hope to conclude the assignment on the new helmsmen before the side start the proposed playoff in Abuja in the com-

ie Lambert, a boyhood supporter of the club, described Gerrard as “Mr Liverpool”.

“He is number one for me and he always will be. He has meant everything to me growing up,” added Lambert.

“The nights he has given the fans are unbelievable. I’ll never forget

ing days.

“About eight coaches have applied for the vacant positions of technical adviser and head coach and the committee assigned with the responsibility will be conducting interview to fill the positions next week.

“Officially, the players are expected in camp from Friday for the upcoming league season and we’ve already scheduled a playoff in Abuja to put things right for our meaningful return to the elite league.

“We want to go into the playoff with the substantive technical adviser as well as the head coach as the platform will afford the coaches the opportunity to assess the players as well as have first hand interaction with them”.

•Egesi

be a champion with the Aba-based side on the domestic and continental front.

“I’ve joined Enyimba for the 2014/15 league season and it makes me

them and I know the Liverpool fans will never forget them.”

Reds forward Mario Balotelli compared Gerrard to Italian World Cup-winning midfielder Andrea Pirlo.

“I think of him as being at the same level as Pirlo,” said Balotelli.

one of the happiest men on earth at the moment.

“Enyimba are the best team in Nigeria. Every domestic player dreams to play for Enyimba, so I’m really happy with the opportunity to play for the side.”

54— SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 3, 2015

January packs a Real punch

Xavi: I’ve been finished since four years B

ARCELONA mid fielder Xavi Hernandez has rubbished suggestions that he is no longer capable of performing at the highest level.

“I’ve been hearing that Xavi’s finished for more than four years now, but the truth is I’m fine. Everyone has an opinion, and you can either play well or badly, but I feel great,” he maintained in his interview with Sport.

“I’ve been summoned to all matches except the Copa tie [against Huesca], and I’ve played in all the big games except against PSG. I feel useful and important.

I like [Eric Abidal’s] return to Barca. He deserves it. It gives a very good illustration of us all.

He’s always been a happy guy.

“It’s not just about the Messi-Suarez-Neymar trident as Pedro is scoring goals, even Munir and Sandro.”

R

EAL Madrid are knuckling down to work on preparing for their January marathon as they head into one of the periods on their fixture list that poses the greatest challenge to Carlo Ancelotti and his crew.

‘Los Blancos’ kick off their 2015 campaign at the Mestalla, a match which marks the start of as many as nine games, if they knock Atlético out of the Copa del Rey, over the course of just 27 days, a schedule which serves up an extremely demanding encounter every three days.

Ancelotti has been focused on the first two games of the year, both

•Xavi

away trips, for a good while now. The visits to the Mestalla, in La Liga, and the Calderón in the Copa, will test Real Madrid’s mettle after 20 days in which there has been scant opportunity to get in any training of value.

The coaching staff believe a strong performance in these two games is vital for the team to continue their current form and avoid the classic questions that come as a result of any kind of slip-up, such as the friendly defeat to AC Milan in Dubai. ‘Los Blancos’ are also keen to prolong their winning streak in competitive

matches, which currently stands at 22 victories after their last two wins in Morocco.

Although winning the Champions League still remains the major objective for the season, Real Madrid are gunning for success in all tournaments and January is decisive for both La Liga and the Copa del Rey. In the league, ‘Los Blancos’ want to take advantage of Barça-Atlético on 11th January to extend their lead. And, in the Copa del Rey, the ‘Rojiblancos’ and ‘Azulgranas’ are the obstacles standing in the way of their reaching the semi-finals, scheduled for February.

Sports Celebs Zone.... Sports Celebs Zone.... Sports Celebs Zone....

Ronaldinho rings in 2015 with 13 girls I

T’s no secret that Ronaldinho loves the ladies, with the Brazilian star even stating

that part of the reason he chose to play in Mexico was the women.

The former Barcelona

star celebrated the new year in typical fashion, snapped with thirteen beautiful babes as the clock struck midnight.

F

ORMER Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou, who now plays for Hertha BSC, is really into his yoga. With an instructor this hot, we don’t blame him…

Kalou works out with hot yoga instructor

•Yoga lesson for Kalou.

Henry spends new year’s eve with hot WAGs

A

•Ronaldinho with his ladies.

RSENAL legend Thierry Henry spent New Year ’s Eve with three of his former teammates.

Henry saw in 2015 with ex Gunners Robert

Pires and Nicolas Anelka, as well as Eric Abidal, with whom he played alongside at Barcelona.

The four footballing legends were joined by four

super hot WAGs. Wives Jessica Pires, Hayet Abidal and Barbara Anelka added some glamour to the occasion, as did Henry’s girlfriend Andrea Rajacic.

SATURDAY

C M Y K

Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015—55

SATURDAY Vanguard, JANUARY 3, 2015

I won’t betray Keshi — Amokachi

•Says Eagles belong to Keshi N

IGERIA assistant coach Daniel Amokachi insists Stephen Keshi remains in charge of the Super Eagles, despite his contract having expired last year.

Keshi’s deal with the Super Eagles came to an end after the 2014 World Cup, although the tactician maintained the reins throughout their failed AFCON qualifying campaign, where they fin-

ished third in Group A. Question marks still hang over the role Keshi will have with Nigeria in 2015, but Amokachi, who is preparing the side ahead of friendly matches against Sudan and Ivory Coast, insists the coach is still very much in charge of the team.

“This is not my team I’m only sitting in for my boss, Stephen Keshi. I can;t betray him. He’s the boss

and I’m only here to do a job as a coach,” Amokachi told Cool FM. Speaking about their two upcoming matches, where a host of young players have been called up to action, Amokachi said: “These are players that we know, a lot of them we know and Keshi knows they are coming into the fold. And it’s always good to work with young players who want to learn and are willing to get to the next level and I think it’s a good start.”

CAF 2014 Player Award

Red alert for Golden Eaglets I

N his New Year mes sage to the Golden Eaglets on Thursday, Emmanuel Amuneke, Head coach of Nigeria’s U-17 team, has categorically stated that nothing but hard work would bolster the team’s campaign at the forthcoming continental cadet Championship to be hosted in Niger between February 1 and March 1st.

Addressing the players at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project in Abuja, the 1994 African Footballer of the Year said the players must be ready to work harder

•Amuneke

since much is expected from them at Niger 2015. Golden Eaglets, a record four-time FIFA U-17 World Cup winner, are one of the team’s to beat in Niamey but Amuneke has reminded the lads that they would not be champions in Niger on a platter of gold.

“First and foremost, we thank God for allowing us to see 2015 and we know he would strengthen us but on our own part, we have to do our very best,” explained Amuneke who clocked 44 last week.”Much is expected from us and we must not shy away from telling you that only hard work would see us through in Niger. ”God is not partial and he is not going to hear only own prayers but if we work hard and pray, he would crown our efforts .

“We are not going to pet you here and in the coming days, we are going to push you to the limit in order to achieve our objectives.”

RIDING HIGH......Coach Stephen Keshi is lifted by his players and crew after winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final match against Burkina Faso at FNB Stadium on February 10, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Flying Eagles will win AYC — Ugbade F

•Ugbade

LYING Eagles as sistant coach Nduka Ugbade has predicted that the team will win a seventh AYC title by winning all their matches in Senegal in March.

The Nigeria U20s are pitched in Group A alongside host country

CROSS WORD PUZZLE Across 1 Russian Prime Minister, Petro – (10) 8 L.G.A in Abia State – (4) 9 The Emir of Katsina, HRH Abdulmumuni – (5) 10 Director-General, National Agency for Food & Drugs Administration (NAFDAC), Mr. Paul – (4) 11 State in Nigeria Known as “Food Basket of The Nation”?

– (6) 13 Insect – (3) 14 Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Tony – (6) 17 Galatasaray Striker, Burak – (6) 19 L.G.A in Ondo State – (6) 21 Slovenia Currency Unit – (6) 23 Beverage – (3) 24 Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. Martin – (6) 26 Cameroun “Indomitable Lions” Defensive Midfielder, Alex – (4) 28 Nigerian Capital City – (5) 29 Former Clerk of the National Assembly, Nasir – (4) 30 Enyimba Assistant Coach, Imama – (10)

Senegal, Congo and Cote d’Ivoire.

They begin their campaign on March 8 against Senegal.

“We will win all our matches in Senegal on our way to winning the AYC in style,” said Ugbade, who has represented Nigeria at U17, U20 and full international levels.

“We have quality in the team and will continue to work hard until we have achieved our targets in Senegal before we set new targets for the World Cup in New Zealand.”

The semi-finalists of the 2015 AYC will qualify to represent Africa at the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand beginning in May.

Down 2 President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwaheed – (4) 3 L.G.A in Imo State – (6) 4 Lagos State Commissioner for Works, Dr. Obafemi – (6) 5 Number – (6) 6 State in Nigeria Known as “Sunshine State”? – (4) 7 South African Premiership Club-Side – (9) 10 Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Honourable Solomon – (10) 12 L.G.A in Bayelsa State – (5) 15 Courageous – (5) 16 Sailor – (3) 18 Yoruba God – (3) 20 Former Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dame Virginia – (6) 21 Former Adamawa State Governor, Mr. Boni – (6) 22 Zambian Capital City – (6) 25 Country in North America – (4) 27 Nasarawa United Striker, Victor – (4)

Solution on page 19

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